The Debate On Gun Control - 2134 Words

Guns Do Not Belong on Campus The debate on gun control has been an issue in the United States since the country began. The founding fathers of the nation considered the issue so important it was addressed in the second amendment to the Constitution which states, A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed (US Const. amend. II). Of course these words have been interpreted differently through the years. When I began working in campus law enforcement 15 years ago, a person found with a concealed firearm in their possession outside of their home could have been arrested. Many cities in Kansas also had laws prohibiting the transportation†¦show more content†¦The law defines adequate security measures as: â€Å"†¦the use of electronic equipment and personnel at public entrances to detect and restrict the carrying of any weapons into the state or municipal building, including, but not limited to, metal detectors, metal detector wands or any other equipment used for similar purposes to ensure that weapons are not permitted to be carried into such building by members of the public. Adequate security measures for storing and securing lawfully carried weapons, including, but not limited to, the use of gun lockers or other similar storage options may be provided at public entrances† (K.S.A.75-7c20L) As the law is written right now the four-year exemption will expire in July of 2017 at which time universities will no longer be able to restrict concealed carry of firearms on their campuses. Although there are no signs the Kansas legislature is going to change course, there are some very compelling reasons why they should. In the United States the leading cause of death amongst people of college age (15-24 years old) is accidents, followed by suicide and homicide (Centers for Disease Control). Data shows that for Americans under the age of 30 years old these three categories account for 79% of all deaths, with chronic and infectious disease accounting for only 21% of deaths (Mcintosh). These statistics highlight the propensity for risky behavior amongst people of college age. As a married 40-year-old man, after

Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe - 1452 Words

Imperialism has been characterized as the expansion of rule or even impact by a specific government to the next, or the impact of one general public to the next. In history, imperialism came to its peak during the time of the Roman Empire. In Europe there has never been another empire to rise above and assume control over the Roman Empire. However, imperialism in Africa remained a recorded element from 1750 to 1945. This paper visits how control and changes were influences over the Africans during this time period as seen through Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart. (UKEssays, 2015) Europe was experiencing a few financial and political changes that forced the major European forces to investigate abroad regions to add to their resources during the seventeenth century. In order for the European forces to settle in Africa, it was important to apply finish control over the African lifestyle. Political and social control would be essential for the Europeans to build a supportin g domain for acknowledgment of their interests. One of the most intense difficulties to accomplish such control was to embrace the resistance that Africans had against control of their territory by white men. (European Colonization of Americas, 2015) The first important control that would help the recognition of the whole frontier task was to place neighborhood political organization under the imperial power. There were different reactions from the local groups concerning the Europeans powers. A fewShow MoreRelatedThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1415 Words   |  6 Pagesbook Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe does just that. This book should be taught in schools because it shows the values and traditions of Achebe’s Igbo culture, persistently teaches life lessons throughout the book, and shows the darker reality of European colonialism in Africa. Chinua Achebe is known as one of the most influential and famous authors to ever write. Chinua Achebe originates from an Igbo background and he expresses that through his writings very well including Things Fall ApartRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe1324 Words   |  6 Pages Chinua Achebe chose to write his novels in English to reveal a deep response of his people to colonisation and to make that response understood to people all over the world. Things Fall Apart was written in English to teach people worldwide of the struggles he faced and the people of Nigeria faced growing up. Many authors and critics have written about Achebe’s ‘Things fall apart’ adding their valued opinion on what he was trying to say and his decision to write in English. In the followingRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe Essay1203 Words   |  5 Pages who took their land for monetary gain. This was a dark period of time for Africans that live there. The U.S. Civil War and The Great Depression both can be related, in this instance, to how down their people were because of what happened. Chinua Achebe said it best, â€Å"I would be quite satisfied if my novels...did no more than teach my readers of their past...was not a long night of savagery from which the first European acting on God’s behalf delivered them†(qtd. in â€Å"Morning Yet† 45). In theRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe2361 Words   |  10 PagesThings Fall Apart Book Critique Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a historical fiction novel describing the life of Okonkwo in a Nigerian village succumbing to European ways, in order to portray Achebe’s view on imperialism. It was chosen for us to read by our teacher because it describes imperialism and its effects in an Ibo village of Nigeria. It also shows the treatment of natives by the Europeans and how the natives reacted. Things Fall Apart is useful to our course of studies because itRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1265 Words   |  6 PagesThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is markedly relevant to our current course of studies in World History, as it tells a story based on European Imperialism in Africa. Coming off the heels of our Imperialism unit, this post-colonial novel provides very helpful context on different civilizations’ perspectives throughout the Age of Imperialism; aside from analyzing death tolls, descriptions of conflicts, and names of countries, it was previousl y hard to envision what life was actually like during thatRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 735 Words   |  3 PagesThings fall apart. Achebe. Ernest Gaines once said, â€Å"I write to try to find out who I am. One of my main themes is manliness. I think Im trying to figure out what manliness really is.† Indeed, every society or culture has its own understanding of an ideal man. Even though these characteristics are different in various parts of the world, the significance of masculinity can never be overestimated. â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe is considered as one of the best examples of a riseRead MoreThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe692 Words   |  3 Pagesthe way to go. Through commercial trading Islam spread into Igboland, and this led to more Igbo people leaving the Igbo way of life for another, whether it be Islam or Christianity which divide the country in two. In the novel Things Fall Apart written by Chinua Achebe British colonialism and the migration of Muslims to Nigeria led to the change in the faith, social and economic changes in the Igbo society. Traditional Igbo faith believes that there is only one creator or god known as ChinekeRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe897 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel, â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe the Igbo tradition revolves around structured gender role. Everything essential of Igbo life is based on their gender, which throughout the novel it shows the role of women and the position they hold, from their role in the family household, also planting women crops, to bearing children. Although the women were claimed to be weaker and seemed to be treated as objects, in the Igbo culture the women still provided qualities that make them worthyRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe Essay1851 Words   |  8 Pageschoice and styles are critical not only to the reader’s understanding of the text but to his appreciation as well. How language is effectively manipulated in their writings enhances the reader’s valuing of the works. The selected novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a representation of Igbo culture and their language. It explores the life of an Igbo tribe at the time of when colonization hit Africa. It could be considered as a post-colonial text, as the protagonist of the story and the otherRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1948 Words   |  8 Pageswellbeing or their absence. Things Fall Apart is a novel that was written by Chinua Achebe, who is a supporter of multiculturalism as depicted in his book through the appreciation of the differences between cultures. In his novel, Achebe has used the Igbo society as a representation of the African cultural roots. He demonstrates that interactions between cultures have both the constructive and unconstructive consequences. The primary purpose behind Achebe writing Things Fall Apart was to respond to the

Contemporary Views of Leadership free essay sample

Contemporary Views of Leadership Somina Membere University of Phoenix Commonalities and Disparities of Contemporary Views of Leadership In evaluating the various contemporary leadership models, I will start with a definition of leadership within the contemporary context. There have been several definitions, research studies commonalities and disparities about leadership and leadership theories. According to Burns (1978), the father of contemporary leadership thinking, leadership is the leader encouraging the follower to act for the goals that characterize their common beliefs and for the benefit of both follower and leader. According to Wren (1995), the complexity and variation of leadership definition stems from all the variables involved including the leader, the followers and the circumstances. Bass (1985) defines leadership along the lines of transforming followers, by creating visions, goals and the path for followers to the achieving the goals. The brilliance of leadership lies in the ability of the leader to transform him and to act on behalf of the interest of both himself and the follower. The ways in which a collective group of people are motivated towards achieving their objective (Roach Behling, 1984). However, Burn’s work on transactional and transforming leadership is the Holy Grail from where other contemporary leadership thoughts have evolved. Every definition, acknowledges the relationship, of the three ingredients in the leadership mix; the leader, the follower and the purpose. Other contemporary models have evolved since, including spiritual leadership, situational leadership, contingency leadership, charismatic leadership and eastern leadership. In evaluating contemporary leadership models, I have chosen to explore the commonalities and differences of writings of three views involving spiritual leadership, transforming leadership and contingency models. I will analyze each model within the context of a developing country; particularly Nigeria, where corruption, education and governance are major handicap to development. Spiritual Leadership Spiritual leadership according to  Spiritual Leadership As Intrinsic Motivation  (2013), is â€Å"intrinsically motivating and inspiring workers through hope/faith in a vision of service to key stakeholders and a corporate culture based on  the values of altruistic love to produce a highly motivated, committed and productive workforce† (para. 1). The word spirituality quickly brings religion and its tenets to mind. Crossman (2003), differentiates spirituality from religion as a private experience, and religion as an organized process involving the public, using sacred writings and ceremonials (Crossman, 2003). Within the context of this paper, spirituality transcends religion and any particular religious beliefs and bias, because in general, spirituality is seen by many writers as an intimate and private relationship and experience (Houston Sokolow, 2006, Speck, 2005). According to Speck (2005) it is a matter of ones own heart (pp. 8-12). The law also protects and provides for individuals to practice and define their personal spirituality (Lowery, 2005). There are divergent views for the resurgence of spiritual leadership. Crossman (2003) attributes the resurgence to recent interest to find answers to social ills, the influence of all-inclusive ideas and change in scientific ideas that have influenced society. Cavanagh and Bandsuch (2002), have attributed the resurgence to disclosures by notable public figures about the positive influence of spirituality on their careers. These ideas have motivated other leadership scholars to revisit the subject. Others have found increasing annoyance and displeasure with greediness as the reason for the reemergence of spiritual leadership (Hoppe, 2005). All of the above reasons, point to one singular fact, a displeasure with the leadership status quo and need for new way of thinking about the leadership phenomenon. There appears to be more commonalities in the spiritual leadership discourse than there are disparities. A leadership style aligned with faith and hope draws many sympathizing views. Benefits of spiritual leadership such as improved self-confidence and stress management have been identified by both Crossman (2010) and Fairholm (2003). Every profession, organization and society will benefit from a leadership style that will improve the morale of staff, improve shareholder value and help staff reduce stress. This is of particular benefit to developing countries like Nigeria, where spiritualism is highly revered. Having a system of leadership that the people already believe in, will significantly improve employee morale and productivity for organizations. Other areas where spiritual leadership scholars share identical views, is in the area of the relationship of spiritualism and business. Both Sumner (1959), and Durkheim (1915/1968) share similar view. Sumner states, that because of the difference in purposes between spirituality and business, they have never been successfully associated. Durkheim (1968) stated, â€Å"the sacred and the profane cannot co-exist in the same place† (pp. 344-349). A more graphic representation was by Metcalfe (2008), referring to the relationship as a fearful prospect if spirituality sets up tent with businesses; which he terms as irrational, manipulative and insane. Drawing from their discomfort with the integration of spirituality with business, one is left to question, in which environment and organization, is the leader with spiritual attributes most suited and in what context could it be implemented. Crossman (2003), answers this question by citing several organizations that have incorporated spiritual perspectives into their corporate proclamations. Example include Amway, Pratt, Toms of Maine, Tickler and Ford. Within the context of a developing country such as Nigeria, the spiritual leadership model will be well received. Nigerians perceive everything spiritual with holism and sacredness. It follows therefore, in a country where corruption and governance is rife, a leadership model that is akin to values of faith and hope will attract the followers to the leadership for a common goal. According to Sendjaya, Sarros, and Santora (2008)  Ã¢â‚¬Å"serving others in organizations and the wider society as an act of obedience and gratitude to a higher power† (pp. 404-408). This quality of service, beyond self, is a necessary ingredient for elevating the morale of followers; which is a desperately needed remedy in the Nigerian context. Transformational Leadership Burns, the father of contemporary leadership thinking, as part his seminal work on leadership, also propagated the now popular transformation and transaction leadership theories. As expected, his work has generated plenty interest and variation. The most popular variation of the transformation leadership theory, is the work by Bass. Burns (1978) and Bass (1985) are different sides of the same coin. Bass (1985) transformational theory was an offshoot of Burns (1978) initial transformation concept. Beyond the initial idea and the similarity in name, little more related the works of both men. Bass’s work was changed from transformation leadership to transformational leadership. To Burns, the difference between transformational and transactional leadership is about what they offer each other. Transformational leaders, he argues, provide a solution that transcends immediate satisfaction, but instead focuses on higher order fundamental needs (Judge Piccolo, 2004). Bass transformational leadership is about the transformation of the follower, in a one-way directional influence, dissimilar to Burns, where through the interaction of leader and follower, the leader also gets transformed (Cuoto, (1993). In the area of usage, Bass’s work was focused in formal organizations i. e. schools, military, businesses whilst Burns leadership research is within politics and social sectors (Cuoto, 1993). In contrast, Burns (1978), researched on the relationship between leaders and followers, within a political environment. Bass’s focus on traditional organizations is an indication that his work is most applicable to corporate organizations, whose objective is profit maximization and value creation for shareholders. According to Cuoto (1993), Bass’s focus was in formal 20th century organizational setting, where profit maximization, management and strategies blend. Both Burns (1978) and Bass (1985), transformational theories could easily be applicable in the context of a developing nation such as Nigeria. Burn’s model will suit a political setting to groom leaders with character and empathy and Bass’s proposal will help transform leadership in a corporate environment, for the maximization of profit and growth. Contemporary Leadership There are two popular contemporary models of leadership that will be analyzed; Fiedler’s contingency theory and Vroom and Yetton’s normative approach. Feiedler’s work is centered around task motivated and relationship motivated leadership styles, while Vroom and Yetton’s work is focused on three decision making styles of leadership; autocratic, consultative and group (Chemers, 1984). However, they both agree that, there is no one best way for leaders to make decisions, rather the characteristics of the situation determines the best approach. This approach is reminiscent of flexibility in the decision making process and the ability to respond to change effectively. Other similarities between Fieldler and Vroom and Yetton, is their identical predictions concerning the effectiveness and efficiency of autocratic and participative decision styles (Chemers, 1984). Interestingly, Bass also contributes to the conversation, regarding decision-making styles in leadership. He identified five decision-making styles called directive, negotiative, consultative, participative, and delegative (Chemers, 1984). Their most notable disparity between these two models of contemporary leadership scholars, is in the area of leadership ability to quickly change their decision styles. The normative model argues, that leaders can quickly change their style to adapt to situational circumstance, whilst Fielder argues that leaders are of a certain type, with well-formed attributes that are difficult to reshape (Chermers, 1984). Conclusion In conclusion, all the contemporary leadership models we have analyzed, bear their roots from the great work by Burns (1978), giving recognition to the follower and exalting the sacrosanct role of the leadership function. The leader he argues, provides a need beyond material and tangible satisfaction which uplifts the follower. In return, the follower responses to every suggestion and direction given by the leader. This dynamics of this leader, follower relationship set the ball rolling for other seminal work in leadership, including Bass (1985), Chermers (1984) and (Avolio Bass, 1995). African countries, such as Nigeria and other third world countries, seriously lack effective leadership, which is effecting economic development (Guest, 2013). A testament to the fact is, the Mo Ibrahim Leadership Award, has only been won three times since its inception seven years ago. We have here, a blue print for tackling most kinds of leadership challenges. Our leaders should lend their ears and eyes to the transformational change and wise counsel of leadership scholars.

The Crucible Power and Manipulation Essay Example

The Crucible Power and Manipulation Paper Abigail Williams is one of the major characters; she is easily established and is clearly the villain of the play. Abigail is a good liar, she can be very manipulative and overall she is a very vindictive character. Abigail is an orphan and an unmarried girl; therefore she occupies a low rung on the Puritan Salem social ladder (the only people below her are the slaves like Tituba). In the play John Proctor has an affair with Abigail Williams; however, by terminating their affair he unexpectedly stimulates her spiteful jealousy. It is for this reason that Abigail begins to manipulate the truth and abuse her power. By aligning herself, in the eyes of others, with Gods will, she gains power over the Salem society and her word becomes virtually indisputable. Abigails motivations never seemed more complex then simple jealousy and a desire to take revenge on Elizabeth Proctor (John Proctors wife), who fired Abigail as a maid from their home after she discovered that Abigail and her husband (John) were having an affair. Abigail is driven by sexual longing and desire for power. Gaining power meant that Abigail could now express withdrawn feelings and act on long-held grudges. Abigail took full advantage of the situation which was occurring in Salem by accusing Elizabeth Proctor of witch craft; hoping to have her sent to jail or even killed. Abigail was conscious of the fact that this lie would result in pure success, having made prior preparation for this charade. Such explicit evidence could not be doubted nor questioned so Abigail took this opportunity to seek revenge on Elizabeth; the woman whom she despised for being the wife of her ex-lover John Proctor, and since Elizabeth had discharged Abigail from their home after the affair was exposed, Abigail was extremely motivated to get vengeance. We will write a custom essay sample on The Crucible Power and Manipulation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Crucible Power and Manipulation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Crucible Power and Manipulation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Moreover, at the end of Act 3, Mary Warren is defeated by Abigail and has no choice but to side with her once more. Abigail succeeds in defeating Mary Warren by again, lying and manipulating the truth. Mary stands before the court to expose the truth about how Abigail and the other girls were not in compact with the devil and that they were all lying about their convention with the devil as well. Mary also attempts to reveal that everything the girls had done and were doing was entirely pretence. However, it is not long before Abigail begins to twist and manipulate the truth. Abigail fallaciously claims that she can see Mary with the devil and that she could also feel a strong wind. Abigail pretends to feel threatened by both Mary and the devil before the court. At first Mary pleads with Abigail and asks her to put a stop to her acting; Abigail: (looking about in the air, clasping her arms about her as though cold) I- I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come. (Her eyes fall on Mary Warren) Mary: (Terrified, pleading) Abby! Abigail: (Shivering visibly) It is a wind, a wind! Mary: Abby, dont do that! However when she realises that her efforts are pointless and she would be much better off lying along with the girls, she points the finger at John Proctor and tells Judge Danforth that John is in touch with the devil and that John had threatened to kill her if she did not attend court to give a testimony. Mary: (hysterically pointing at Proctor fearful of him) My name he wants my name. Ill murder you he says if my wife hangs! we must go and overthrow the court, he says! Proctor: (turning, appealing to Hale): Mr Hale! Mary: (her sobs beginning) He wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign Mary: (Sobbing, she rushes to Abigail) Abby, Abby, Ill never hurt you more! Furthermore, even though Abigail is unsuccessful in this attempt she still tries to abuse her power and use it to her full potential by lying to Judge Danforth that a woman, whom she believes to be Reverend Hales wife, comes to her every night threatening to kill her. However, Danforth rejects this accusation made by Abigail as he claims that it is impossible for a ministers wife to be in compact with the devil. The reasons as to why Abigail may have abused and manipulated her power throughout the play might have been the following: To take revenge on Elizabeth Proctor, to be recognized by the Salem society and more importantly to be recognized and acknowledged my John Proctor. A further character in the play who also abused her power was Tituba. Tituba was Reverend Parriss West-Indian slave originally from Barbados. Tituba initially agreed to perform voodoo at Abigails request and lead the other girls to dance around a fire in the forest, at the beginning of the play. Tituba, whose status is lower than that of anyone else in the play by virtue of the fact that she is black, manages to deflect blame of herself by confessing apologetically and then condemning others who she claimed were also in touch with the devil. Not only did Tituba abuse her power but she succeeded in manipulating the situation by lying to Parris about her session with the devil. Tituba manages to rise even as a black slave who was substandard when she obtains a voice; this voice gives her power as well as control over the situation.

Free Essays on E - Commerce

Table of Contents I. E-Commerce: An Introduction II. History of E-Commerce III. Economic Impact IV. Advantages of E-Commerce V. Disadvantages of E-Commerce VI. The Future of E-Commerce VII. The Conclusion E-Commerce: An Introduction With the astonishing growth of the Internet, many companies are finding new and exciting ways to expand upon their business opportunities. There are very few successful companies that do not use computers in their everyday business activities, which also means there are few companies that do not use E-commerce. To emphasize the point that the effect of the Internet is so widespread in today’s business communities, one online article stated that more than 100,000 companies have Internet addresses, and 20,000 companies have Web-sites on the Internet as of February 1999 (DataQuest, 1999). These numbers have more than tripled since 1995, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. But, what exactly is E-commerce? To most casual Internet surfers, E-commerce means online shopping; â€Å"for workaholics pointing their web browser to Amazon.com to order an emergency present because they forgot someone’s birthday again.† (Weiss, 1999) As we will soon find out, this is far fr om the case. Simply put, E-commerce is the exchange of business information between two or more organizations. An example of this would be buying and selling products or services over the Internet. E-commerce became very popular soon after it proved to be an efficient means to conduct long distance transactions. The purpose of this report is to discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of E-commerce, as well as examining its potential for the future of business. Electronic commerce, or E-commerce has developed very rapidly in the last few years and has left some people wondering what it is all about. "Most people think E-commerce is just ... Free Essays on E - Commerce Free Essays on E - Commerce Table of Contents I. E-Commerce: An Introduction II. History of E-Commerce III. Economic Impact IV. Advantages of E-Commerce V. Disadvantages of E-Commerce VI. The Future of E-Commerce VII. The Conclusion E-Commerce: An Introduction With the astonishing growth of the Internet, many companies are finding new and exciting ways to expand upon their business opportunities. There are very few successful companies that do not use computers in their everyday business activities, which also means there are few companies that do not use E-commerce. To emphasize the point that the effect of the Internet is so widespread in today’s business communities, one online article stated that more than 100,000 companies have Internet addresses, and 20,000 companies have Web-sites on the Internet as of February 1999 (DataQuest, 1999). These numbers have more than tripled since 1995, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. But, what exactly is E-commerce? To most casual Internet surfers, E-commerce means online shopping; â€Å"for workaholics pointing their web browser to Amazon.com to order an emergency present because they forgot someone’s birthday again.† (Weiss, 1999) As we will soon find out, this is far fr om the case. Simply put, E-commerce is the exchange of business information between two or more organizations. An example of this would be buying and selling products or services over the Internet. E-commerce became very popular soon after it proved to be an efficient means to conduct long distance transactions. The purpose of this report is to discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of E-commerce, as well as examining its potential for the future of business. Electronic commerce, or E-commerce has developed very rapidly in the last few years and has left some people wondering what it is all about. "Most people think E-commerce is just ...

What Is SAT Score Choice Why Should You Care

What Is SAT Score Choice Why Should You Care SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips . College Board's SAT Score Choice policy, started in 2009, means just what it sounds like. Well, you can't choose your scores - "I'll take a 2400, please!" - but you can choose which score reports you send to colleges. If you take the SAT more than once, then you can decide which scores get sent and which ones remain for your eyes only. Since we're always thinking strategically when it comes to the SAT, this article will discuss not just how Score Choice works, but also how you can use it to your advantage. First, what exactly is SAT Score Choice? What Is SAT Score Choice? If you're a high schooler taking the SAT, it's probably safe to assume you're applying to college. Part of your application is sending your SAT score reports, which is done through your College Board account. The Score Choice option lets you choose which score reports get sent and which ones don't. You can choose a score report by test date, or by individual test for an SAT Subject Test. You can't choose individual sections, like just sending your math score from January and your Reading and Writing scores from April, for example. Many colleges superscore your SAT, or take your highest section scores across all test dates, anyway, so this shouldn't cause much concern. If your schools have a policy of superscoring the SAT, is there any reason to use Score Choice and leave some score reports out? I'd say probably not, unless you have one that's a real outlier, like you were sick that day or performed way belowthe level you expected to. If you think it could look bad to admissions officers, then you might use Score Choice to leave that score report out. If you don't elect to useScore Choice, then College Board will send all your available scores to the colleges you listed as score recipients. Before this policy was implemented in 2009, students had no option of leaving out score reports. Sounds stressful, right? According to College Board, Score Choice is meant to reduce stress, improve the test day experience, and give students more control over their test results. I suspect that College Board is also trying to remain competitive with its ever more popular counterpart, the ACT, which has always allowed students to choose whichscore reports to send by test date. While I touched upon the logistics of this optionalready, let's look in more detail at exactly how SAT Score Choice works when you're sending your scores to colleges. The College Board carrier pigeons are ready at your command. How Does Score Choice Work? Your College Board account is your one stop to register for the SAT, view your scores, and send your score reports. When you register for the SAT, you can add four score recipients for free. You can edit these up to 9 days after your registration. After that, additional colleges cost $11.25, unless you qualify for an SAT fee waiver. If you've taken the SAT more than once, then you can use Score Choice to decide which score reports go to which colleges. You'll see a screen that looks something like this: If you don't use Score Choice, then College Board will send all your scores to the schools you indicate. There is one important limitation of Score Choice to be aware of when you're listing out your score recipients. Limitation of SAT Score Choice As I mentioned above, you can list up to 4 score recipients for free when you register for the SAT or for up to 9 days after.That means the scores from your future test, which you won't have taken yet, will be automatically sent to those 4 schools. Unfortunately, you can't signin and cancel those score reports if you're disappointed with your scores, since they'll be sent to your colleges at pretty much the same time they become available to you, about three weeks after you test. If you want to see those scores before they're sent off to admissions officers and have the financial means to do, then you might consider forgoing those 4 free score reports. Of course, this is only a possibility if you have enough time before your deadlinesto receive your scores before sendingthem. If you want total control over which score reports get sent, then you might not want to use the 4 free score reports at the time of registration. WhileCollege Board offers Score Choice to improve the test day experience for students, sadlynot all colleges are so amenable. There are some schoolsthat are strongly anti-Score Choice. Before using it, make sure you research your schools' policies toward SAT scores. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today! Know Your Colleges' SAT Score Policies Not all colleges look at your SAT scores in exactly the same way. Some colleges, like Brown, Columbia, Harvard, University of Connecticut, and University of Virginia, superscore your test and take your highest section scores across all test dates. If your colleges superscore, then there might not be much reason to use Score Choice, unless you had a really off test day and wanted to keep that score report private. Other schools, like Arizona State, Colorado State, and University of Wisconsin, will look at your "highest sitting," meaning they won't take a math score from one date and a reading score from another. If this is the case, then you might use Score Choice to just send the score report from your best test date. Regardless of whether they have a superscoring or "highest sitting" policy, some of these schools tell you not to use Score Choice and to send all your available scores. For instance,Cornell says it "requires students to submit all scores from SAT tests taken and does not participate in the College Board's Score Choice." Stanford has the same policy, which it extends to the ACT, as well: "Applicants may not use the College Board's Score Choice feature or "hide" any scores with either testing agency." While College Board has done its part to improve the test day experience and give students more control over their test scores, unfortunately not all colleges are on board. Some other schools that have a "send all scores" policy are Duke, University of Pennsylvania, and Rice University. While these schools technically can't stop you from using Score Choice, they consider it a matter of integrity and honesty in your application that you'll abide by their policies. Before using Score Choice, make sure you research your colleges' policies towards SAT scores and score reporting so you know whether you should or are even allowed to use Score Choice. If you can't find this information on their admissions website, you can call an admissions office directly and ask what their stance is on SAT scores and College Board's Score Choice. Besides allowing you to leave out SAT scores that you don't think are up to par, does SAT Score Choice have any other advantages for students? Actually, it could affect how you prep and when you take the SAT. What Does SAT Score Choice Mean to You? Having the option of SAT Score Choice is another good reason to take the SAT more than once. Students almost always improve when they retake the SAT, especially if they do focused test prep on their areas of weakness between tests. Some students even take advantage of superscoring policies to build up a high composite score section by section. With this strategy, you might prep intensively for math before one test date, forreading for the next, and for writing for the third date. This approach could help focus your studying, reduce pressure, and maximize your overall scores to a higher peak than you could reach on any one single test date. Even with the option of leaving some score reports out, I wouldn't recommend taking the SAT any more than 5 or 6 times. The time and money spent on all these official tests could probably be better spent on test prep. If you're studying effectively, then you should be able to achieve your target scores within 6 tests. If not, you would probably be better served by adjusting your approach to test prep than by taking the SAT one more time. Of course, not every student has the luxury of time nor money to retake the SAT this many times. In a sense, Score Choice favors those who can afford multiple test dates and prep materials. While it's a policy that works in students' advantage, it also could be viewed partly as one more way that students from higher socio-economic backgrounds have an advantage when it comes to achieving strong SAT scores for their college applications. SAT Score Choice is a great option if you have a fluke testing day or scores you'd rather not share with admissions officers. It's another good reason to take the SAT multiple times, if you have the time and means to do so. While it may or may not impact your testing strategy, let's sum up the major takeaways you can gather from this SAT Score Choice policy. Takeaways of SAT Score Choice SAT Score Choice lets you choose which scores to send to colleges by test date at no extra cost. You can customize your score reporting toeach individual college you're applying to. Make sure to research your colleges' policies, so you know if they superscore, taking the highest sitting, and/or require you to send all your scores. Retaking the SAT (if possible) is a very good idea, especially since Score Choice allows you to pick and choose which scores to send to colleges. If you're strategic about your testing plan and schedule, then you can use these policies to your advantage and earnstrong SAT scores. Plus, you can breathe easy if you happen to have an off day or don't achieve the scores you want the first time around. As the old saying goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! And then use SAT Score Choice." What's Next? For the full list of colleges that superscore the SAT, check out our complete guide here. You can also see all the schools that require you to send all your scores. For whatever reason, they're not big fans of SAT Score Choice. Are you deciding when to take the SAT for the first time (or second or third)? Read about how to choose your test dates and schedule your test prep around your testing plan. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

French BA Hons undergraduate.1. Why was there a considerable delay to Essay

French BA Hons undergraduate.1. Why was there a considerable delay to the introduction of universal suffrage in France - Essay Example The second section will provide a detailed description of the Napoleon laws and how they were regressive to women’s right. An examination of the socio political doctrines of French legislators and the dynamics that hindered women’s rights to vote including the role of the fight for power in the delay will follow. Further discussions on the limitations and lack of structured leadership of the women’s right movement will also indicate the reasons for the delay. Eventually the essay will discuss the changes in French law that allowed women to vote and contend for official positions. Daley (1994) defined suffrage as individual’s right to vote and provision of an opportunity to vote. Similarly, universal suffrage refers to extension of provision of voting rights to adult members of the society, both male and female. Daley (1994) further argued that universal suffrage is mainly intended to safeguard members of the public from being excluded in the voting process either as a voter or a candidate based on one’s religion, social class, knowledge, race and gender. France became the first country to grant universal suffrage to male citizens irrespective of their religion or race during the French revolution. The French revolution began as noble campaign by members of the Third estate who were agitating for a head count voting system as opposed to voting as parts of an estate in 1789. The fall of Bastille on July 14 1789 led to constitutional revolution that culminated to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens. Under the declaration, only white men who had attained stipulated property provisions were allowed to vote. However, in 1972, the property provision was excluded and the voting process was based on universal manhood suffrage. Alarmingly, political emancipation of French women was never achieved until 1945. Women in France voted for the first time on 29th April in 1945 during the municipal elections and for the

PR campaign Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

PR campaign - Assignment Example The institution’s mission statement has played an important role in guiding it towards excellence performance through the fifty years that it has existed since its inception. The institution believes that it’s upon this mission statement that it will transcend greater heights into becoming one of the universities with a global influence on various issues that affect the normal lives of people. The institution has done a lot to ensure that it lives to its vision; it has combined the efforts of all its stakeholders to ensure that staying on course on this vision remains a matter of top priority. The vision statement that the institution has found a lot of self-esteem in it reads as follows; In order to live and achieve its vision, the institution intends to rely on the majority youthful population that characterizes the student population, the excellent and strategic location that keeps it within reach to many students. At the same time, the excellent association between the student body and the faculty proves to another vital ingredient in achieving the vision, thus establishing itself as one of the forerunner institutions in the United States of America The university enjoys a corporate culture that is characterised by active and free interaction among students and the faculty representatives. The institution has committed to admitting different student from all walks of life in a bid to encourage cultural interaction and diversity. The university has derived a lot of strength from the fact that it is providing an environment that values different races and knowledge sharing. This is something that seems to add impetus in the efforts being done towards innovations and inventions in the different areas the university address. The institution enjoys state of the art technology that is used in instructional

Case study-outbreak of MRSA Essay Example for Free

Case study-outbreak of MRSA Essay 4P: explain possible priorities and responses when dealing with two particular incidents or emergencies in a health and social care setting. 3M: explain why it is important to maintain respect and dignity when responding to incidents and emergencies. 2D: Justify the need to review policies and procedures following critical incidents. Neonatal: Neonatal means new-born it’s a specialised unit for premature babies who have not fully developed yet because they are born way too early. The article is a case study based on a neonatal unit in a hospital in Lancashire. The neonatal unit have been shut down due to an MRSA outbreak which affected six babies from which five only had only bacteria on the surface of the skin whereas one baby had an MRSA bloodstream infection. I will investigate how they dealt with the situation with regards to priorities and responses and also well maintain respect and dignity of those included. It is an critical incident because as it affected the six babies there are more people who have been affected because they were either workers, visitors or patients as all of them are on risk off carrying the bacteria all of them have to come back in to get screened and checked. The neonatal unit was shut down and they spoke to parents of the babies to keep them up to date the hospital will not accept any new babies or patients onto the unit who are supposed to give birth or are in labour until doctors and nurses are 100% satisfied that there is no risk and the unit is clear of MRSA. They dealt with it very well as the health of the babies and the patients was their priority however they could have dealt with it a bit faster and warn people earlier because the impact they had on staff was that they think that it’s their fault of carrying poor hygiene and there are chances of losing their job. As mothers were already very depressed because their babies were premature they felt worse and more stressed when they got to know about the risk of having MRSA. Microbiology laboratories across the UK were asked to be vigilant and have been requested to send any suspicious samples of PVL for further analysis. It is very important to maintain respect and dignity when dealing with the incident as it is a neonatal unit patients and staff already know that it’s a specialised unit and therefore special and extra care is needed so that means everybody has to be ready for whatever comes up. It is also necessary to have policies and procedures because then it makes easier and quicker to do things right at the first time and there is less frustration and stress helping the staff by doing everything peacefully and accurate. MRSA: The full name for MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aurous. This bacterium is resistant to medicines called methicillin-type antibiotics, which means that it isnt killed by these antibiotics and can be very difficult to treat. Its sometimes called a superbug. It is normal for healthy people to have staph on their skin. Many of us do. Most of the time, it does not cause an infection or any symptoms. This is called â€Å"colonization† or â€Å"being colonized.† Someone who is colonized with MRSA can spread MRSA to other people. A sign of a staph skin infection is a red, swollen, and painful area on the skin. Pus or other fluids may drain from this area. It may look like a boil. These symptoms are more likely to occur if the skin has been cut or rubbed because this gives the MRSA germ a way to â€Å"get in.† Symptoms are also more likely in areas where there is more body hair due to hair follicles. MRSA infections in patients in health care facilities tend to be severe. These staph infections may be in the bloodstream, heart, lungs, or other organs, urine, or in the area of a recent surgery. Some symptoms of these severe infections are: Chest pain Cough or shortness of breath, Fatigue, Fever and chills, General ill feeling, Headache, Rash and Wounds that do not heal.

Robert Aldrich :: essays papers

Robert Aldrich Robert Aldrich Robert Aldrich was born into an extremely wealthy family. He became an assistant director in Hollywood, working in the 1945 - 1952 period with many directors. A notably high percentage of these were in the extreme left: Jean Renoir, Lewis Milestone, Robert Rossen, Joseph Losey, Charles Chaplin. Kiss Me Deadly Kiss Me Deadly (1955) is Aldrich's most remarkable film. Aldrich began directing in 1953, and by then, the film noir cycle had run its course as a Hollywood phenomenon, peaking in the years 1942 - 1951. However, film noirs were still being made steadily through the 1950's, and many of these works were classics of the cycle. There is a remarkably detailed visual analysis of the film in "Kiss Me Deadly: Evidence of a Style" by Alain Silver, in Film Noir Reader (1996), edited by Alain Silver and James Ursini. The remarks below are simply intended to point out a few more things about this film, one of the most complex and creative of all film noirs. 3D Camera Tec hnique The staging in Kiss Me Deadly shows a three dimensional quality. Partly this is due to depth of field. Many scenes keep in focus far into the rear of the scene. This is a technique associated in Hollywood with Orson Welles. Aldrich is often considered to be a Welles disciple. There are other techniques that aid in the film's 3D quality: 1) The showing of an irregular wall along one side of the shot. When Mike Hammer's car pulls up to a gas station near the beginning of the film, we see the entire front of the gas station along the right side of the shot. The gas station facade is by no means smooth; it contains many projections. All of these are fully lit up. The gas station is shot as if it were an elaborate piece of sculpture, like one of Louise Nevelson's friezes. As the camera moves past it, it emphasizes the station's complex 3D qualities. The projections on the station all are "rectilinear": they are "box" like, with flat, perpendicular walls. A shot with even greater depth of field shows Mike Hammer knocking on a door in the Angel's Flight neighborhood. Behind him we see first a long narrow alleyway, then a huge depth of field showing a Los Angeles city scape.

Huck Finn: Opposition to Racism

Megan Patton John Rohrkemper February 28, 2010 American Lit Exposing the Racist, Opposing Racism Since its original publication in 1884, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has proven to be one of the most controversial when it comes to the reoccurring issue of race in American society. Many argue that Mark Twain held the racist ideals that most people had in the 1830’s, while others know that Twain was a social satirist, mocking the ignorance of society. In order to be considered a racist novel Huck Finn would have to advocate racism.The evidence thus far has lead me to believe that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn promotes a strong set of antiracist ethical values as the main character, Jim, a runaway slave is displayed as the best, most honorable character, while other white characters are depicted as ignorant and self centered, lacking ethical reasoning. The immorality of racism is periodically satirized throughout the novel. The unethical thinking of the time period of s lavery is an issue that Twain recognizes, mocks, and clearly presents his opposition toward.One of the main concerns consistently brought up by those who argue that Twain is racist is that simply based on the dialogue and use of the word â€Å"nigger,† Twain is being insensitive toward blacks. He must be a racist if he is using such a derogatory term. However, they fail to realize that he is telling a story how it would have happened and he avoids beating around the bush in order to lay out the reality of the time period when people engaged in such communication.Justin Kaplan uses powerful words on the matter when he questions people who have â€Å"allowed him or herself even the barest minimum of intelligent response to its underlying spirit† (378) and still â€Å"accuse it of being racist because some of its characters use offensive racial epithets† (378). On the surface, this can easily be detected as racism but when taking a look at particular circumstances of ignorance, Huck’s internal battling experiences, and satiric element, the intent is clear. Jim, one of the main characters of the novel, is undoubtedly the most moral character in the novel.Julius Lester argues in his piece â€Å"Morality in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† that Jim is a â€Å"childlike character† and is not taken seriously since he â€Å"runs away and does not immediately seek his freedom† (365). However, Jim has been brought up in a time where he himself feels some sort of inferiority complex to whites in society. Lester is partially correct in his philosophy that Jim is childlike, but wrong in the idea that this is a negative aspect of his character. His â€Å"childlike† quality characterizes his humility, nobility, and kindness.He is much more one of the wiser characters in the novel as he recognizes the mistakes he has made and even expresses his guilt to Huck. He tells Huck a story about a time when he asked his four ye ar old daughter to â€Å"’Shut de do’ â€Å"(154) and she just stood there smiling at him, deaf to the fact that her father was instructing her to shut the door. Since he did not realize she had scarlet fever and had grown deaf, he beat her for her disobedience. When he realized that she was deaf, he â€Å"bust out cryin’ en grab her up in [his] arms, and say â€Å"’Oh, de po’ little thing!De Lord God almighty fogive po ol Jim’†(155) After beating his daughter, he realizes that what he did is wrong. He learns from his mistakes and asked for forgiveness from God who he believes is all powerful with the power to forgive man of his sins. In this scene Jim demonstrates wisdom. He takes what he knows, puts it to use, and repents. While he may not be the most educated character in the novel, he seems to have the most caring attitude based on the principles he has learned. According to Bennett Kravitz, Jim is â€Å"portrayed as noble, lo yal, and the ultimate friend and family man. On the contrary to his ‘’childlike† trait that Lester believes Jim has, he is actually a father and acts much more like a caregiver. In a scene where Huck plays a trick on Jim, Jim grows seriously worried for Huck’s life. He even announces after an angry rant that Huck scared him half to death, that â€Å"my heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los’, en I didn’t k’yer no mo’ what become er me en de raf’†(99). He goes on to express how he was so excited to see Huck alive that tears almost came.This is a critical point in the novel, for it is the first time the friendship of Huck and Jim is revealed by one of the characters themselves. Of course, Jim being the gentle person he is, is the first one to call this relationship a friendship. Besides becoming worried over what he thought was the loss of his friend Huck, Jim shows his care giving qualities towards the end of the novel when he stays behind to help nurse Tom back to health. Jim bases his actions on what he thinks Tom Sawyer would do in the situation and insists n getting a doctor. His persistence is so strong that he says, â€Å"’I doan budge a step out’n dis place,’ dout a doctor: not if it’s forty year! ’(249). † Upon the doctor’s arrival, Jim comes out of hiding and aids the doctor, knowing that he will be recaptured. Not only is he being a concerned care giving man, but Jim is risking his freedom for a person he barely knows. He has that father like instinct that Julius Lester seems to have missed. It is the other characters in the novel who demonstrate weak ethical values.Many of the characters who have racist credentials are portrayed as lowly, immoral, and uneducated. They rarely show remorse and are entirely self-centered. On the other hand, Jim is an easygoing, loving person who as uneducated as he is, consistently cares for other s, is loyal to his friendships, and feels guilt in his mistakes. After being visually described as having â€Å"been drunk over in town and [laying] in the gutter all night,† (52) Pap goes on to find fault in the government for not only taking away his son, but for allowing a â€Å"nigger† from Ohio to become a professor.Ironically, Pap thinks he is superior to a highly educated man who â€Å"could talk all kinds of languages, and knowed everything† (52) and is angry with the government for allowing a â€Å"nigger† to teach. He is so wrapped up in the skin color that he does not realize his own faults and idiocy. Additionally, Pap is quite the opposite of Jim who loves his family, articulates his longing to be with them as well as his guilt for beating his daughter. Pap came back into Huck’s life demanding the money he received in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, not because he loved Huck and wanted to be more involved in his life.He does not have a c are in the world for Huck, his only son. When finally Pap kidnaps Huck and has the chance to develop that father, son relationship, he locks him in a cabin while he goes out and gets wasted, and when he returns, Pap beats the boy. In Huck’s words Pap â€Å"got too handy with his hick’ry and I couldn’t stand it. Welts all over† (50). Incongruously to Jim’s remorse, Pap is not phased by his wrongdoing. Twain certainly did this on purpose. The racism held by Huck’s father, as well as many other Americans preceding the Civil War when blacks and other minorities were seen as inferiors, is displayed throughout the novel.Through the constant use of the derogatory term â€Å"nigger† and the maltreatment of Jim as well as other blacks and slaves, Twain is able to illustrate society’s ignorance. This way, as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is taught throughout the country, young people, or any person for that matter can see the veraci ty and severity of racist attitudes. Pap is not the only character in the novel who displays a loose set of moral values. The escapade with the Duke and the Dauphin is another encounter in the novel where whites are displayed as weak, self centered people who are blindly racist.Twain uses their constant conniving deeds to show a diversity of white characters in this society as horrible people. In Justin Kaplan’s â€Å"Born To Trouble: 100 Years of Huckleberry Finn†, he describes Jim and Huck being on the run because of a â€Å"nightmare society driven by bigotry, violence, exploitation, greed, and ignorance (379)† These words are perfect in describing the Duke and the Dauphin as they move from town to town tricking people out of their money.In one particular scenario, it is not even possible to feel sorry for the townspeople who are getting tricked out of their money because then they go and act like the â€Å"play† was great so that everyone else in the town gets tricked out of their money as well. Along with Pap, the Duke, and the Dauphin are the â€Å"religious† characters who seem to have it all together but definitely do not. By displaying even the â€Å"best of the best† characters with racist attitudes, Twain shows how it was society as a whole who held racist ideals, not just the lowlife criminal types.An example of a character that seems to have herself together is Ms. Watson. She is supposed to be a smart, religious, good-intending family woman. Even the good woman who took Huck into her home to raise him â€Å"sivilized† has flaws. While in the end she is the one to grant Jim his freedom, preceding this she put her selfish desires for money ahead of Jim and though he was her slave, Jim was someone she had known for quite a while. To Jim’s knowledge, he was someone she cared about on some level even if she did not see him as an equal. Jim overheard Ms.Watson talking about selling Jim â€Å"down the river,† which is the very reason he ran away. Another supposedly wholesome, good intending character is Aunt Sally. When Huck first meets Aunt Sally he describes an accident on the boat he was traveling on. Aunt Sally exclaims â€Å"Good Gracious! Anybody hurt? † to which Huck replies No’m Killed a nigger† (206). Sadly, this quote is often seen as racist but in actuality it contains a very satirical element and according to Kaplan is â€Å"a frequently, brutal, painful realism† (379). The novel is simply showing the corruption of the adult world.Peaches Henry argues that â€Å"In order to believe in Twain’s satirical intention, one has to believe in Huck’s good faith toward Jim† (390). It is easy to identify Huck’s good faith toward Jim throughout the novel. Aside from the idiocy of a majority of characters, Huck’s internal battles with himself throughout the novel demonstrate Mark Twain’s antiracist bel iefs. Though Huck, in his conscience believes blacks to be worthless, his somewhat naive personality and â€Å"conscience† can be blamed. He has been spoon-fed everything he knows about Africans by a society which has enslaved them and had a superior attitude towards them.It is a tough situation to examine, as by today's standards slavery is seen by the overwhelming majority of American citizens as morally wrong, but in Huck's time and place the majority saw it as the natural order of things. However, despite his upbringings and learned racism, Huck periodically has instances where he believes Jim â€Å"seems white† or, in other words, seems to be like any other human with feelings, emotions, and close family relations. Earlier, in a moment where Jim shows his care giving qualities, Huck shows one of his first signs of affection toward â€Å"a nigger. † He shows his first signs of remorse as he apologizes to Jim.Though he does mention â€Å"it was fifteen minut es before I would work myself up to go and humble myself to nigger† (100)† Huck does apologize, feels remorse, and admits to the audience that what he did â€Å"made [him] feel mean† (99). The second time Huck has a moment of realization about Jim that surprises him is when Jim talks about his family. When Jim goes on to describe them, and the regret he had for beating his daughter for something she didn’t deserve, Huck sees something in Jim that he had probably had been taught that blacks did not posses. He was probably taught that they did not have feelings.He realizes in this moment that Jim must have feelings and therefore makes that statement that Jim is â€Å"white inside. † Additionally, in the moment earlier discussed in Tom’s injured state where Jim uses logic to decide on calling a doctor, Huck states, â€Å"I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he’d say what he did say – so it was alright, now. † The most climactic moment in the novel is the ultimate battle Huck faces when he is forced to choose between the societal values he has been taught and raised to believe is right or to help Jim which he feels in his heart is the right thing to do.Huck has been raised to believe that blacks were uneducated, inferior, and most certainly not people to become friends with. For all Huck knew, blacks were placed on the earth to work and lacked the ability to love and care. Huck definitely believed that aiding a black man in an escape would send him to hell. This moment directly indicates how foolish Twain believed the people of the time period to be. Huck states, â€Å"I was trembling, because I’d got to decide forever betwixt two things, and I knowed it.I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’ –and tore it up. † By this point in the novel, through their adventures and development of friends hip, Huck is willing to risk eternity in hell to save his friend. Surely, even if he may not admit that he and Jim were friends, someone would not risk their lives for a stranger, or even an acquaintance. Not only does Huck begin to see Jim as an equal in his heart, though it may not be in his â€Å"conscience†, he is also constantly seeing how awful society is.In order to detect racism there must be a middle step of realization that ill treatment of people based on their skin color is wrong. In order to see that this is wrong, it is important to notice the problems within society to begin with. In his experience with the Duke and Dauphin, Huck witnesses their tar and feathering, another cruel punishment by society, and states that, â€Å"It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race† (160). The fact that Huck even acknowledges a problem in the human race would not have been part of the story if Twain had agreed with society’s view on slavery.It demonst rates his antiracist approach. One of the purposes of the novel is for the reader to develop sympathy towards Jim. Because the people around him lack morals while he consistently shows a moral and accepting view towards life, his character develops superiorly to the rest of society despite his lack of education. His lack of education exists because of Twain’s realist approach to the novel. People like Julius Lester and Peaches Henry who believe the novel to be racist, are only looking at the surface and the degrading dialogue.The novel was not made to be politically correct. â€Å"Twain takes issue with the major racial theories of his day, and those critics who are convinced only of the racist potential of the text and/or Mark Twain would do well to examine the â€Å"unsaid† of the text. †(Kravitz) If it was rewritten to appease the masses and use more accepted terms for today’s day and age, reality would be misrepresented, race would cease to be an issu e, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would not exist as one the greatest pieces of American Literature.

American Education Systems

Imagine a world without words: no reading, no writing, no communication. It is difficult to imagine such a place existing. Surely in this day and age when technology is advancing at a rapid pace and knowledge is the key for success, such a â€Å"communication-less world† has been eliminated. Yet for some people, this imaginary world without words is still a reality. A world of darkness and suffocating ignorance presses in around them leaving few and narrow possibilities for survival in a success-driven society. How do adults and teens end up in circumstances such as these? They simply slipped through the gaps of the American education system, the largest of which is the absence of emphasis on literature. The value of great literature extends far beyond simply reading printed words on a page. Of course the primary focus of reading books, especially at an early age, is to learn how to read. However, as students learn these basic, everyday skills, the possibilities become endless. Great works of literature contain much more than words. Incredible insights into the time period of the author†s life or of the subject on which the author has written are readily available. It is a history lesson without the textbook. History comes alive through reading. Literature also presents the opportunity to learn about new ideas and cultures previously unknown to the reader. Possibly the greatest advantage gained through literature is that students learn to write by constantly reading excellent writings. Overall, a strong emphasis on literature produces a well-rounded individual. The problem with the public education system in this country is that somehow student graduate from high school without ever reading great works of literature. It happens time and time again. Either teachers do not assign students to read excellent literature, or students find one of the many loopholes to escape actually reading anything. The results can be disastrous. It is amazing how many high school students can not write a paper. Some can literally not even write a sentence. There is absolutely no reason why any student in high school should not possess the ability to write a cohesive sentence and even an intelligent paper. Yet it still happens, and it is because students have not read enough and seen enough examples from great authors. The best way to teach students how to write is to show them through literature. It is almost impossible to be a well-read individual and not be able to write well also. Throughout the majority of the twelve years spent in school, my personal education was based primarily on literature. During those seven years, incredible emphasis was placed on reading and also on writing. The schooling received at home was and continues to be invaluable in various ways. Specifically, the study of literature has been invaluable in school and in everyday life. It has been of great assistance in writing all of the many compositions required, and also in recalling specific aspects of history, science, cultures, and more. It is amazing how much easier it is to succeed having this knowledge gained through much reading. The most important change that could ever be made to the public school system is to place a much larger emphasis on literature at all levels of education. All of the difficulties students are experiencing in high school with reading and writing could be avoided if the right steps are taken. Literature must become a main focus. It will greatly aid students in all aspects of school and learning simply to be required to read more. Perhaps they will even begin to love the written word and dive into great literature all on their own.

To find out which liquid the ball bearing will fall quickest or slowest through Essays

To find out which liquid the ball bearing will fall quickest or slowest through   Essays To find out which liquid the ball bearing will fall quickest or slowest through   Essay To find out which liquid the ball bearing will fall quickest or slowest through   Essay Essay Topic: Quick The Variables (The factors that could change the results are) Name of variable Input or Outcome Distance Input Liquids Input Forces Input Time Outcome In this investigation there are many variables that will affect the terminal velocity of ball bearings as they pass through the five different liquids Glycerol, Teapol, Water, Motor oil and cooking oil. The variables are; Temperature An increase in temperature decreases the viscosity of a fluid and therefore decreases the friction opposing the motion of the ball bearings. However, since the investigation takes place over a number of days, the temperature was monitored closely. Friction due to the sides of the tube may also play a part if the vertical tube is narrow. To minimize this, in the investigation, ball bearings were dropped from the center of the tube so that they were less likely to experience friction due to the sides of the tube. Distance In order to make accurate measurements on the terminal velocity of the ball bearings the distance over which their speed is measured must be kept constant and must be selected so that accurate times can be made. Material Ball bearings with a smooth shiny surface were selected for this investigation as these were less likely to have a worn surface that would increase the friction independent of radius. My Prediction I predict that the ball bearing will fall quickest through the water because all of the other liquids are sticky so the ball bearing would take longer to fall through. I also predict that the ball bearing will fall through the motor oil the slowest because the motor oil has a high density. The Scientific Explanation for my prediction is Many different forces will act upon the ball bearing being dropped through the different liquids these are Friction, Gravity and Air resistance these will all affect how fast the ball bearing will fall to the bottom of the test tube. The equipment I will need is 5 test tubes, Glycerol, Teapol, Water, Motor Oil and Cooking oil, Test tube rack, wax pencil and a ruler. Labeled Diagram Method The set up of the apparatus was designed to allow the terminal velocity of ball bearings to be determined accurately. We labeled the five test tubes accordingly to which liquids were in each test tube. Each tube was filled with 5cm beneath the top of the tube of the labeled liquid. This ensured that none of the liquids will spill from the top and that the surface of the liquids would be high enough to allow the ball bearings to be released from rest. The ball bearing was then held at the surface of the liquid and released. The time taken for the ball bearing to travel to the bottom was measured by using a stop watch and a centre metre ruler which we later recorded in a table. This process was repeated until three readings for this distance had been recorded. During the investigation each experiment was repeated three times. This allowed any anomalous results to be spotted immediately. Safety Measures I will make sure me and my group will be careful when handling all equipment which includes all of the liquids. We must also be careful when handling all of the liquids. I will make it a fair test by I will make it a fair test by repeating each experiment five times each to make sure my results are acurate and fair. We will have the same person to time the experiments and another person to measure the experiments with a cm ruler. Results Chart Liquid Density Weight of ball bearing in liquid Viscosity Averages Motor Oil 0.845.0 (1.950g) 0.01991 N 3.84 3.84 Water 0.995.6 (1.991g) 0.01991 N 124.38 1.21 Cooking Oil 0.923.6 (2.13168) 0.0213 N 97.125 1.66 Teapol 101.0 (2.17568) 02176 N 39.093 4.22 Glycerol 124.84 (2.4970) 0.02176 N 13.89 13.89 Conclusion What I found out from the experiment was that my prediction was right I predict that the ball bearing will fall quickest through the water because all of the other liquids are sticky so the ball bearing would take longer to fall through. I also predict that the ball bearing will fall through the motor oil the slowest because the motor oil has a high density. The water had a viscosity of 124.38 while the motor oil had a viscosity of 3.84. Which shows that the ball bearing took longer to fall to the bottom of the motor oil. Evaluation I found this experiment quite difficult because in the sticky liquids it was harder to see the ball bearing and made it difficult to time and measure acurate results. To reduce these errors, a more accurate method for measuring the speed of the ball bearings should be found. This might be done in several ways: Reducing speed whilst glycerol is a fairly viscous fluid, the ball bearings were still able to travel relatively fast through it. If a more viscous fluid could be found, the speed should be reduced increasing the accuracy of the time measurements. Increasing distance by increasing the distance over which the time taken by the ball bearings is measured, reaction times associated with using a stop watch would be less significant and accuracy would be increased. However, increasing this distance would decrease the accuracy of finding the exact point at which terminal velocity was reached. Apparatus the experiment could be redesigned so that apparatus such as light gates could be used to provide an accurate method to obtain data for the speed of the ball bearings. Throughout the experiment I monitored the temperature using a thermometer. This was because temperature affects the viscosity of the glycerol and therefore the friction opposing the motion of the ball bearings. Variation of temperature A thermometer measures to the nearest degree This meant variations in viscosity of the liquids within the tube and difficulty in maintaining a constant temperature when reached. Friction Frictional forces acting from the sides of the tube may have had significant effect on the ball bearings by opposing their motion. This may have produced anomalous results. To eliminate this in a future investigation, a much wider tube should be used.

Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs

Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs An  introductory paragraph, as the opening of a conventional essay,  composition, or  report, is designed to grab peoples  attention. It informs readers about the topic and why they should care about it, but also adds enough intrigue to get them to continue to read. In short, the opening  paragraph  is your chance to make a great first impression. Writing a Good Introductory Paragraph The primary purpose of an introductory paragraph is to pique the interest of your reader and identify the topic and purpose of the essay. It often ends with a thesis statement. You can  engage your readers right from the start  through a number of tried and true ways. Posing a question, defining the key term, giving a brief anecdote, using a playful joke or emotional appeal, or pulling out an interesting fact are just a few approaches you can take. Use imagery, details, and sensory information to connect with the reader if you can.  The key is to add intrigue along with just enough information so your readers want to  find out more.   One way to do this is to come up with a brilliant opening line. Even the most mundane topics have aspects  interesting enough to write about; otherwise, you wouldnt be writing about them, right? When you begin writing a new piece, think about what your readers want or need to know. Use your knowledge of the topic to craft an opening line that will satisfy that need. You  dont want to fall into the trap of what writers call chasers  that bore your readers (such as The dictionary defines....).  The  introduction should make sense and hook the reader right from the start. Make your introductory paragraph brief. Typically, just three or four sentences are enough to set the stage for both long and short essays. You can go into supporting information in the body of your essay, so dont tell the audience  everything all at once. Should You Write the Intro First? Keep in mind that you can always adjust your introductory paragraph later. Sometimes you just have to start writing. You can start at the beginning or dive right into the heart of your essay. Your first draft may not have the best opening, but as you continue to write, new ideas will come to you and your thoughts will develop a clearer focus. Take note of these and, as you work through revisions, refine and edit your opening.   If youre struggling with the opening, follow the lead of other writers and skip it for the moment. Many writers begin with the body and conclusion and come back to the introduction later. Its a useful, time-efficient approach if you find yourself stuck in those first few words. Start where its easiest to start. You can always go back to the beginning or rearrange later, especially if you have an outline completed or general framework informally mapped out. If you dont have an outline, even just starting to sketch one can help organize your thoughts and prime the pump as it were. Successful Introductory Paragraphs You can read all the advice you want about writing a compelling opening, but its often easier to learn by example. Lets see how some writers approached their essays and analyze why they work so well. As a lifelong crabber (that is, one who catches crabs, not a chronic complainer), I can tell you that anyone who has patience and a great love for the river is qualified to join the ranks of crabbers. However, if you want your first crabbing experience to be a successful one, you must come prepared.(Mary Zeigler, How to Catch River Crabs) What did Mary do in her introduction? First of all, she wrote in a little joke, but it serves a dual purpose. Not only does it set the stage for her slightly more humorous approach to crabbing, but it also clarifies what type of crabber shes writing about. This is important if your subject has more than one meaning. The other thing that makes this a successful introduction is the fact that Mary leaves us wondering. What do we have to be prepared for? Will the crabs jump up and latch onto you? Is it a messy job? What tools and gear do I need? She leaves us with questions, and that draws us in because now we want answers. Working part-time as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly has given me a great opportunity to observe human behavior. Sometimes I think of the shoppers as white rats in a lab experiment, and the aisles as a maze designed by a psychologist. Most of the rats- customers, I mean- follow a routine pattern, strolling up and down the aisles, checking through my chute, and then escaping through the exit hatch. But not everyone is so dependable. My research has revealed three distinct types of abnormal customer: the amnesiac, the super shopper, and the dawdler.(Shopping at the Pig) This revised classification essay begins by painting a picture of an ordinary scenario, the grocery store. But when used as an opportunity to observe human nature, as this writer does, it turns from ordinary to fascinating. Who is the  amnesiac? Would I be classified as the  dawdler  by this cashier? The descriptive language and the analogy to rats in a maze add to the intrigue, and  readers are left wanting more. For this reason, even though its lengthy, this is an effective opening. In March 2006, I found myself, at 38, divorced, no kids, no home, and alone in a tiny rowing boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I hadn’t eaten a hot meal in two months. I’d had no human contact for weeks because my satellite phone had stopped working. All four of my oars were broken, patched up with duct tape and splints. I had tendinitis in my shoulders and saltwater sores on my backside.I couldn’t have been happier....(Roz Savage, My Transoceanic Midlife Crisis.  Newsweek, March 20, 2011) Here we have an example of reversing expectations. The introductory paragraph is filled with doom and gloom. We feel sorry for the writer but are left wondering whether the article will be a classic sob story. It is in the second paragraph where we find out that its quite the opposite. Those first few words of the second paragraph- which a reader cannot help but skim- surprise us and thus draw us in. How can the narrator be happy after all that sorrow? This reversal compels us to find out what happened. Most people have had streaks where nothing seems to go right. Yet, it is the possibility of a turn of fortunes that compels us to keep going. This writer appealed to our emotions and a sense of shared experience to craft an effective read.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 10

Assignment Example The use of information technology resources enables Hertz to facilitate its consumers through an efficient and sound online booking and reservation system. The business operations are expanded in more than 145 nations and there were nearly 9500 locations during 2009 - 2010. Nevertheless, USA, Australian and developed European economies are considered as its core markets unlike Asia and Africa. (Internet: Hertz.com) Hertz Car Rental focuses heavily on brand recognition, awareness, brand equity, customer satisfaction and loyalty. The company is in a transformation process as it has been paying special attention to update internal structure and to meet contemporary business requirements and challenges. New company logo, employee uniforms and induction of technologically advanced fuel-efficient vehicles in fleets are all the steps towards differentiation and positioning to obtain clear and distinctive image in the minds of customers (Hein, 2009). As far as other businesses of company are concerned, it has Equipment, Truck and Van rental and Car Sales units because of its business development strategy. The rental businesses deal directly with end-users; however, the Car Sales division is responsible to resale all used vehicles from company’s existing fleet of automobiles so that the old ones could be replaced by new ones. Safety, quality and reliability are the core principles of Hertz and the strategic planners never compromise upon these values for short-term monetary gains. Some of the major departments in the corporation are Finance, Sales, Process Improvement and Project Management, Marketing, HRM, Information Technology and Vehicle Maintenance. The top management is determined to facilitate internal communication and collaboration among employees, because information sharing is viewed as the actual asset in today’s workplace. The organization could not be called as absolutely complex in nature; however, co mplexity is observed at Hertz

Information interview for a job Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Information interview for a job - Assignment Example Sukirti: MKSK features a humble beginning in planning and urban design as a product of a merger in 2011. The company has worked for private and public clients under the parent companies namely KKG and MSI Design (Mkskstudios.com). The company prides itself in exceptional planning and design, and that is where I derived my inspiration as an urban designer and planner. Sukirti: Currently the company has an open position for outstanding six principals and associates following promotion in the recent past. The positions will be advertised soon through local dailies and company website. Sukirti: It took me several weeks to figure out the perfect plan for getting a subordinate role at MKSK. You must have excellent skills in designing, passion and talent in urban planning to become a part of the MKSK team. The current leaders in our team consist of exceptional figures from different countries who have experience in accounting, grant writing and geography among others. Therefore, you must have a unique quality and extra skills besides urban design and planning to become a part of MKSK. Sukirti: The Company does not look into unique skills in a prospective employee but the requisite knowledge on urban design and planning. However, your individual abilities and contribution to the team will propel your career further. Sukirti: Personally, I invested in teamwork and an inquisitive nature because I did not have deep knowledge in the work. The company expects you to take up challenges from private and public entities and look for a mentor from the executive level. Interacting with Sukirti at a personal level opened a new chapter in urban planning career. Gaining a foothold in a profession demands passion, talent and an experience other career fields besides urban planning. Mentorship is an inevitable need when you join an international team that serves communities and private entities. The company awards its principals and associates who offer a valuable

Tourism system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tourism system - Essay Example A large amount national income comes from the tourism industry. Such vast amounts of information and data have to be stored and processed and should be distributed to the customers as efficiently as possible. Information technology plays a very important role in the tourism industry because through the use of information technology, several devices can be implemented which are used to store large amounts of information. Tourism industry was never a very renowned industry and people were not very interested in tourism industry. IT was only recently due to the technical advancements in technology. The advancements in Information Technology resulted in both the quantitative and the qualitative aspects of the economy of a nation and also advancements in the tourism department consequently fueling and sustaining an impressive growth rate over the years (Franke, 2003). This brings into focus the role of IT in tourism education geared at nurturing the necessary skills in potential managers in the industry to make the industry influential and effective. The benefits of implementing Information Technology in tourism industry can only be observed through the development in the tourism industry all over the world. Information Technology when applied to tourism industry, it takes the level of the tourism industry to a whole new level where touris... ome into play while implementing Information Technology in tourism - the information about the tourist places, the kind of places people would like to live in, the type of technology to be used and many such factors (Baggio, 2006). Each one has an important role to play in tourism. Tourism is characterized into three different components: Transport Sector Accommodation Sector Attraction Sector Transport Sector Transport is a major contributor to the development of the tourism industry. Transport helps link the origin and the destination areas through some means of transport. This means of transport could be any moving vehicle. Transport includes many entities such as holiday makers, business travelers, relatives, travelers, and other such entities. Transport facilitates the movement of these entities from one place to another. Before setting out on a journey of any kind, every traveler makes sure which Transport Company has a good safety record (Vich-I-Martorell, 2002). To this effect, airplanes coaches and even taxis are equipped with good communication equipment. An airplane requires highly sophisticated and highly advanced technical instruments to ensure passenger safety. Today's airplane has this highly advanced technical instruments and flies with the help of modern information technology equipment. A deep understanding and detailed weather information, altitude information and other such small but important information is provided by Information Technology. This information is given to the pilot. Using this information the pilot can communicate with the ground control during emergencies. With information technology in place, it is easy for airplanes to communicate to any airport during emergencies. In-flight entertainment is also a product of information

A Look At Three Types Of Price Searchers Economics Essay

A Look At Three Types Of Price Searchers Economics Essay A monopoly is a firm producing a commodity for which there is no close substitute. There are usually some forms of barriers of entry. It is difficult to define a pure monopoly as close substitutes are difficult to define. For example, there are no close substitutes for cigarettes, but there are many substitutes for Marlboro. 1.1 Characteristics à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Features (a) Only one seller. (b) Restricted entry by barriers. (c) Market information is not free and perfect. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Barriers to entry (a) Legal barriers create legal monopolies. (i) Public franchise: exclusive right to run a business, e.g. TVB. (ii) Government licence: exclusive right to entry into a business, e.g. taxi licence. (iii) Patent: exclusive right to use an invention, e.g. right to produce a drug. (b) Natural barriers create natural monopolies. (i) The average cost falls over a large volume of output before it rises. LRAC would be lower if an industry were under monopoly than if it was shared between two or more competitors. (ii) Control the supply of an essential raw material, e.g. most diamond mines in the world are controlled by De Beers Ltd. (iii) Economies of scale: The large fixed cost of production requires a large output to pull down the average cost, e.g. electricity generated by China Light Power Ltd. 1.2 Output And Price Decisions Definition A single-price monopoly is one that charges the same price for every unit of output it sells. The monopoly must decide how much to produce and what price to charge. It is a price-searcher. Definition A price searcher is a seller with sufficient market power to set its price by adjusting supply. Since there is only one firm in the industry, the demand curve of the firm is also the demand curve of the industry, and the seller faces a downward sloping demand curve. Table 1 illustrates the demand function of a petrol station. The marginal revenue is less than and falls faster than the price charged. The price is also equal to average revenue (AR). Table 1: Demand and marginal revenue Price (P, $/Litre) Quantity Demanded (Q) Total Revenue (TR = P x Q, $) Marginal Revenue (MR = ΆTR = ΆQ) ($/Extra Litre) 18 0 0 16 1 16 16 14 2 28 12 12 3 36 8 10 4 40 4 The monopoly maximises its profit by producing the level of output to MR = MC. Given the total cost as in Table 2, we can find that the best output level to maximise profit is at three litres, where both MC and MR are equal. The price charged is $12. Table 2: Demand and marginal cost Price (P, $/Litre) Quantity Demanded (Q) Total Revenue (TR=P x Q, $) Marginal revenue (MR = ΆTR / ΆQ, $/Extra Litre) Total Cost (TC, $) Marginal Cost ($/Extra Liter) 18 0 0 15 16 1 16 16 18 3 14 2 28 12 22 4 12 3 36 8 30 8 10 4 40 4 41 11 Graphically, the same conclusion can be derived in Figure 1. Figure 1 A monopolys output and price The price is determined by demand curve corresponding to the equilibrium quantity at which the MR equals to MC. The profit or loss is again determined by the ATC with reference to the quantity sold and the price charged. Owing to barriers to entry, economic profits will not be eliminated away in the long run. The only difference between short-run and long-run equilibrium is that in the long run, the firm will produce where MR = LRMC. 1.3 Single-price Monopoly Versus Perfect Competition A monopoly and perfect competition are two completely different market structures leading to different price and output decisions. We can summarise their differences as follows: Perfect Competition Monopoly à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Price-taker à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Monopoly influences its price à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Produce where MR = MC à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Produce where MR = MC à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ P = MR = MC à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ P > MC; P > MR à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ No barriers to entry à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Restricts output, charges a higher price In terms of output, a monopoly is always accused of restricting output in order to push the price above the marginal cost. This is known as allocative inefficiency, leading to loss in social welfare. In Figure 2, PM and QM are the price and output decisions of a monopoly, which are less than the corresponding output and price decisions in perfect competition. We can see that the PC and PM for perfect competition are set at P = AR = MR = MC. Figure 2 Price and output decisions in a monopoly and in perfect competition Similarly, the output level is reduced from QC to QM, which will hurt both consumers and producers in terms of loss in consumer surplus and producer surplus. The sum of such loss is known as deadweight loss. Definition A deadweight loss is a loss to society that cannot be recovered. Figure 3 Inefficiency of a monopoly In Figure 3, some of the losses of consumers have been captured by the producer as monopoly gain. However, there is still deadweight loss as illustrated by the area of the triangle. In this respect, a monopoly reduces the potential gain to society in term of social welfare. 1.4 Shortcomings Of A Monopoly A monopoly has the following shortcomings: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Higher price and lower output than under perfect competition in both short run and long run. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Possibility of higher cost due to lack of competition. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Unequal distribution of income as income concentrates on monopolies. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Lack of incentive in invention and innovation. 1.5 Advantages Of A Monopoly A monopoly has the following advantages: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Economies of scale. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Possibility of lower cost curve due to more research and development and more incentives. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ I nnovation and new products. 2. Monopolistic Competition The second type of price-searcher is monopolistic competition. Definition Monopolistic competition consists of features of perfect competition and monopoly. A firm in such a market structure is also referred to as open market price-searcher as it is not protected by barriers. 2.1 Characteristics à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Large number of sellers (a) Each firm has a small market share. (b) This implies independence of firms. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Freedom of entry à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Product differentiation Each firm has some market power over its loyal customer. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Each sellers product is a close substitute for many other sellers products (a) Products are made slightly different from others, i.e. differentiation. Definition In differentiation, products are made slightly different from others by brand, packaging, sales location and services. (b) Non-price competition is common. 2.2 Demand Curve Because of product differentiation, a firm can raise its price without losing all its customers. Therefore, the demand curve is downward sloping because a price rise results in the loss of some, but not all customers. The demand curve is relatively elastic because of substitutes from other firms. However, the actual elasticity depends on the degree of product differentiation. Generally, the less differentiated the product is, the more elastic the demand will be, and vice versa. 2.3 Price And Output Determination 2.3.1 Short run A firm in monopolistic competition faces a downward sloping demand curve. The marginal revenue (MR) curve of the firm in monopolistic competition is downward sloping. The profit is maximised where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. The profit-maximising output level is determined by the intersection of MR and MC curves. The profit-maximising price is determined by the demand curve. The firm can make a normal profit, an economic profit or a loss, depending on the difference between the price and the average total cost. Since each firm is small and has market power, no single firm can effectively influence what other firms do. If one firm changes its price, this action has no effect on the actions of the other firms. Figure 4 Monopolistic competition in the short run 2.3.2 Long run Economic profits in the short run will attract new entrants. When new firms enter, they share the market demand. The existing firms demand curve shifts inwards, representing less demand. This process continues until all economic profits are exhausted. When only normal profits remain, there is no incentive for new entrants. In Figure 5, the price and quantity are $140 and 60 units respectively. As the price is just equal to ATC, there is no economic profit. Figure 5 Monopolistic competition in the long run The long-run equilibrium will be a position where the downward sloping demand curve is tangent to the LRAC curve. However, the demand curve will never be tangent to the bottom of LRAC because it is downward sloping. The profit-maximising output is 60 units and price is $140. The firm in monopolistic competition has excess capacity as it does not produce at the optimum level of output where the LRAC is the lowest. Figure 6 Excess capacity in monopolistic competition 2.4 Shortcomings Monopolistic competition has the following disadvantages: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Owing to monopoly power, long-run equilibrium brings a higher price and lower output than perfect competition. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Owing to downward sloping demand curve, the firms demand curve will never be tangent to the bottom of the LRAC curve, implying that it will not produce at the least-cost point. Therefore, product differentiation in monopolistic competition creates excess capacity (i.e. creates inefficiency). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Less scope for economies of scale as share among many sellers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Lack of economic profits in the long run for research and development. 2.5 Advantages Monopolistic competition has the following advantages: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Demand curve is highly elastic due to the large number of substitutes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Diversity of products is available. (However, it has been argued that the cost of diversity is excess capacity which is a type of inefficiency.) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Greater freedom of entry when compared with monopoly. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Absence of economic profits in the long run helps to keep prices down for consumers. 3. Oligopoly Definition An oligopoly occurs when only a few firms share a large proportion of the industry. 3.1 Characteristics à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Few number of sellers Competition among a few, e.g. two to 20. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Products may be identical or differentiated à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Barriers to entry Entry may be relatively difficult or impossible (e.g. petroleum). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Interdependence of firms Oligopolists react to the pricing policy of rivals. The outcome is that there is no single generally accepted theory of oligopoly. Firms may react differently and unpredictably. A firms policy will depend on how it thinks its competitors will react to its move and the consequence depends on how its competitors really react. 3.2 Collusion And Competition The interdependence of firms in an oligopoly drives firms into one of the following two incompatible policies: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Collusive oligopoly: Oligopolists have formal or tacit agreement to limit competition among themselves to reduce uncertainty. For example, they may set output quotas, fix prices and limit product promotion. The typical collusive oligopoly is a cartel price leadership. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Non-collusive oligopoly: There is no formal agreement among oligopolists. Firms compete for bigger shares of industry profits. 3.3 Collusive Oligopoly A typical collusive oligopoly has these features: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cartel Firms acts like a monopoly to maximise industry profits. (a) Cartel by non-price competition: Market price is set by joint profit maximisation and each firm observes that price. However, they compete for customers in the form of non-price competition. (b) Cartel by quotas: Another way is to set the price by joint profit maximisation. Each firm observes that price, but each firm will take its share or quota of the total quantity demanded at the controlled price. Thus, both cases require adherence to the price-setting by joint profit-maximisation among oligopolists. The only difference is whether the quantity demanded at the controlled price is competed among the firms in the form of non-price competition or is divided among themselves in the form of quotas. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Price leadership The demand curve of price leader represents the market share of the leader. The leader first maximises its profits at the point where leaders MC = MR. The corresponding price of leaders demand curve becomes the market price which every other firm has to follow. The leader supplies at its equilibrium quantity and the followers supply the rest representing the difference between market demand and leaders supply. 3.4 Kinked Demand Curve Model There are many theories to explain different kinds of phenomena in oligopoly. One such theory, the kinked demand curve, is put forward by Paul M. Sweezy to explain the price rigidity or sticky price in an oligopoly industry. Assumptions: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If a firm raises its price, others will not follow. Thus, the demand curve will be more elastic in this range. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If a firm cuts its price, so will the other firms. The demand curve in this range will be less elastic. These assumptions result in the kinked demand curve. In Figure 7, because the demand curve has kinked, the MR has broken as is illustrated by the gap between a and b on the graph. And the output and price would be the same even though the MC rises due to the same level by the equality of MR and MC. Thus, the price will be sticky when the cost increases within a certain range. Figure 7 The kinked demand curve 3.5 Shortcomings An oligopoly has the following disadvantages: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Shares all the same disadvantages of monopoly, as discussed earlier in this chapter. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Less scope for economies of scale than monopoly. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ More extensive advertising than monopoly, e.g. non-price competition. 3.6 Advantages An oligopoly has the following advantages: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Economic profits: returns for research and development. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Incentive for innovation: for capturing larger market share. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Greater choice: non-price competition through product differentiation. 4. FACTOR MARKET For the production of goods and services, a firm has to acquire factors of production. The markets for factors of production are similar to those of the product market, as they can be categorised into perfect or imperfect markets. The demand for a factor of production is dependent upon the demand of goods that use the factor. Hence, the demand for factors of production is a derived demand. Definition Derived demand is demand for a productive resource that results from the demand for the goods and services produced by the resource. Figure 8 Illustration of the factor and product markets Factor payment is the income for the owner of the factor of production for use of the factor over a period of time. The factor income for labour, land, capital and entrepreneurship are wages, rent, interest and normal profit respectively. In a perfectly competitive factor market, the factor payment is determined by the forces of demand and supply. Figure 9 Demand and supply in the factor market 5. MARGINAL PRODUCTIVITY THEORY This theory explains that the demand for a factor depends on the marginal revenue product (MRP) of the factor. Definition Marginal revenue product (MRP) is the additional sales revenue resulting from employing an additional worker. Marginal product (MP) is the extra output produced by the additional worker. The MP curve is downward sloping because of the law of diminishing returns. MRP = MP (factor) x MR (goods) The MRP curve is downward sloping from left to right. It is identical in shape to the MP curve because MR (i.e. price of a good) is constant under perfect competition in the product market. Figure 10 Marginal product for labour and marginal revenue product 6. DEMAND FOR A FACTOR Marginal cost (MC) is the extra cost of employing an additional unit of factor of production. In a perfectly competitive factor market, a firms MC graph for a factor is horizontal because the firm is facing a perfectly elastic supply of the factor. Therefore, MC = Price of the factor (i.e. MC of labour = Wages) 6.1 Profit Maximisation The firm maximises profits when: Marginal cost of hiring an extra unit of labour = Marginal revenue from the labours output to the firm In equilibrium, MC (labour) / Wages (factor price) = MRP Hence, the firms demand curve for labour is identical to its MRP curve. Figure 11 Demand for labour The market demand curve for labour is the sum of quantities of labour demanded by all firms at each wage rate. Chapter Review à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A monopoly is a price-searcher who is a seller with sufficient market power to set his price by adjusting supply. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The monopoly maximises its profit by producing the level of output to MR = MC. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A monopoly restricts output in order to push price above the marginal cost. Such allocative inefficiency leads to a loss in social welfare. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Because of product differentiation, a firm in monopolistic competition can raise its price without losing all its customers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The firm in monopolistic competition has excess capacity as it does not produce at the optimum level of output where the LRAC is the lowest. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Due to the interdependence of firms, oligopolists react to the pricing policy of their rivals. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The kinked demand curve explains that the price will be sticky when the cost increases within a certain range. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A firm will maximise profits when the marginal cost of hiring an extra unit of labour = the marginal revenue from the labours output to the firm What You Need To Know à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Monopoly: A firm producing a commodity for which there is no close substitute. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Deadweight loss: Loss to society that cannot be recovered. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Single-price monopoly: Monopoly that charges the same price for every unit of output it sells. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Monopolistic competition: This market structure consists of features of perfect competition and monopoly. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Differentiation: Products are made slightly different from others by brand, packaging, sales location and services. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Oligopoly: Only a few firms share a large proportion of the industry. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Derived demand: Demand for a productive resource that results from the demand for the goods and services produced by the resource. Work Them Out 1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a monopoly? A The monopolist faces an inelastic demand for its product B There is only one seller in the market C Barriers of entry exist D The monopolist can influence the price 2. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A As an oligopolist responds to competitors actions, it can be considered a perfectly competitive firm. B Products in an oligopoly may be differentiated. C A cartel is like a monopolist with power to maximise industry profit. D Oligopoly is a market structure favourable to collusion. 3. The characteristic of a monopoly is A its large scale of production B the existence of barriers to entry C the huge initial investment D the necessity for a large market 4. A natural monopoly exists when A a franchise is granted to a firm B economies of scale are necessary C a firm can prevent the entry of competitors D a firm specialises in natural resources extraction 5. The monopolist can make economic profits because A entry is prevented B it charges a high product price C it has low promotion costs D it has a large market share 6. Economic profits earned by a monopolist are most likely due to A barriers of entry B an unexpected rise in the price of its product C good luck D the rate of return allowed by the government 7. Which of the following is NOT a feature of oligopoly? A Only a few firms dominate the industry. B There are no barriers to entry into the industry. C The product may be either homogeneous or differentiated. D Firms in an oligopoly face downward-sloping demand curves. 8. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of monopolistic competition? A A single price exists for similar goods. B Only normal profit exists in the long run. C Products are differentiated. D Excess capacity exists in the long run. 9. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A There are numerous sellers in perfect competition. B Products are differentiated in monopolistic competition. C Firms in perfect competition maximise profits. D Information is perfect in monopolistic competition. 10. What is the likely market structure of coffee shops in Hong Kong? A Monopoly B Oligopoly C Monopolistic competition D Perfect competition SHORT QUESTIONS What factor(s) enable(s) a monopoly to earn economic profits in the long run? Why do perfectly competitive firms maximise their profits by producing so that their marginal cost equals the price, but monopolists maximise their profits by setting a price that is greater than marginal costs? What are the characteristics of a market that allows a monopolist to successfully price discriminate between groups? Explain how a firm in an oligopoly can differentiate its product. ESSAY QUESTIONS 1. Peters Toy Factory, a single-price monopoly, has the following demand schedule and total cost for luxury toys: Quantity (Toys) Price ($/Toy) Total Cost ($) 0 10 1 1 8 3 2 6 7 3 4 13 4 2 21 5 0 31 Calculate Peters total revenue schedule. Calculate Peters marginal revenue schedule. Calculate Peters profit-maximising levels of : (i) output (ii) price (iii) marginal cost (iv) marginal revenue (v) profit 2. Mr Ma started a recycling business in Hong Kong this month. He employs students to sort and collect bottles, paying 10 cents for each bottle collected. The students can sort the following number of bottles in an hour. Number Of Students Number Of Bottles 1 200 2 450 3 750 4 1,150 5 1,450 6 1,700 7 1,900 8 2,050 9 2,150 (a) Why does the students marginal product decline? (b) If all other firms pay the students $25 an hour to collect bottles, how many students will Mr Ma hire? If the fee for each collected bottle rises to 12.5 cents and the students wages increases to $37.50 an hour, (c) Calculate and show the changes to the students marginal revenue product in a table. (d) How many students will Mr Ma hire?