“My Bondage and My Freedom”

My Bondage and My Freedom is Frederick Douglass’ second autobiography, written in 1855.   It is important to remember that this work was written before Abraham Lincoln was elected President and before the Civil War. Slavery was becoming a volatile issue in the South and was threatening to split our young nation in two.   Additionally, it is important to remember that while slavery had some supporters in other sections of the nation, it was mainly a Southern issue. This is where the slaves were bought and sold and this is where the plantations depended so heavily on slave labor to be able to produce a product that was then sold and reaped great profits.   White American’s attitude differed depending on where they lived and how close they were to the issue; for the purpose of this paper the focus will be on attitudes in the South. In 1790 all white persons were granted citizenship in the United States.   This indicates how most white people felt about African Americans.   They were seen as, at best, a lower class and, at worst, no better than the animals that helped around the farm; the cows and the horses.   However, in some small towns slaves became part of the family and the family worked alongside their slaves to ensure survival.   This, unfortunately, was not Douglass’ experience.   Douglass writes, â€Å"After the valuation, then came the division.   This was an hour of high excitement and distressing anxiety.   Our destiny was now to be fixed for life, and we had no more voice in the decision of the question, than the oxen and cows that stood chewing at the haymow.† (138) Choices afforded to slaves were few and far between.   They were told where they would work, live, and be.   If they were lucky, they worked in a home where it was warm and relatively comfortable.   If they were unlucky or rebellious they were sent to slave breakers who were considered professionals at breaking the will of slaves who constantly ran or disobeyed their owners.   Douglass writes of his experience with one such man whom he calls Mr. Covey.   â€Å"I was a victim of his violence and brutality.   Such a narration would fill a My Bondage and My Freedom   volume much larger than the present one.   I aim only to give the reader a truthful impression of my slave life, without unnecessarily affecting him with harrowing details.† (170)   As any reader could see, slaves really had no choices.   Little more, yet enough more to make it appealing, were afforded free African Americans in America.   Douglass writes of the isolation of being a free slave, â€Å"For a time, every door seemed closed against me.   A sense of my loneliness and helplessness crept over me, and covered me with something bordering on despair.   In the midst of thousands of my fellowmen, and yet a perfect stranger!† (253) In his life Douglass chose not to give into the helplessness or despair that he writes of.   He chose to speak out and found himself at home with the abolitionist cause.   Douglass was an eloquent orator who constantly strove to bring his people into a different light.   One of his main objectives was to, â€Å"Chang(e) the estimation in which the colored people of the United States were held.† (xxiii)   He would do this through educating himself, through the speeches he gave, through the books he published and through newspapers like the North Star.   It seems he chose to educate rather than violate. The ramification of Douglass’ life and his choices were felt far and wide.   From the early beginnings of the abolitionist movement to the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment, to the eventual de-segregation of schools in the 1950’s, early pioneers of the anti-slavery movement set the wheels in motion for later events. Douglass closes his book by saying, â€Å"I shall labor in the future, as I have labored in the past, to promote the moral, social, religious, and intellectual elevation of the free colored people; never forgetting my own humble origin, nor refusing, while Heaven lends me ability, to use my voice, my pen, or my vote, to advocate the great and primary work of the universal and unconditional emancipation of my entire race.† (300)   His work and his words still continue today.

Intelligent Traffic System for Islamabad

Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) for Road Network Management in Islamabad Mohammad Imran (Sp-2011/PhD EM/001) Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering, Islamabad Author Note Mohammad Imran, Department of Engineering Management, Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering, Islamabad Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mohammad Imran, Department of Engineering Management, Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering, Islamabad. E-mail: [email  protected] com Abstract Traffic congestion is a vexing problem felt by residents of most urban areas. Despite of high gasoline prices, rush hour gridlock and pollution, seemingly nothing can interfere with people’s love affair with the car. Building more roads cannot provide the answer to better traffic management as it cannot keep pace with the ever increasing vehicle population as well as limitation of the environment’s ability to sustain the impact. Unlike authorities in cities across the world where people are encouraged to make greater use of public transport, residents of Islamabad are handicapped to exercise this option due to absence of a mature and well integrated mass transit system. An intelligent traffic management system which can ensure smooth flow of traffic to manage congestion (delay, reliability and network resilience) for all people and freight movement on the road network is required for Islamabad. This paper therefore argues the case for a better integrated approach towards road network management for ensuring mobility of people and goods through integration of governance management issues, information technology and traffic routing systems. 1. Background Interest in ITS comes from the problems caused by traffic congestion and a synergy of new information technology for simulation, real-time control and communications networks. Traffic congestion has been increasing worldwide as a result of increased motorization, urbanization, population growth, and changes in population density. Congestion reduces efficiency of transportation infrastructure and increases travel time, air pollution, and fuel consumption. In the developing world, the migration of people from ural to urbanized habitats has progressed differently. Many areas of the developing world have urbanized without significant development of road network as well as unplanned formation of suburbs. In Islamabad for instance the population is supported by a multimodal system of walking, bicycle transportation, motorcycles, mini buses, taxis and cars. Many urban poor, living on the outskirts of Islamabad, cannot afford to travel to economically active areas. Those who can are dependen t on a public transport system, which generally has a low service level. In many cases, informal minibuses or taxis provide the only public transport available. Many vehicles used in this informal system are not road worthy. For those who cannot afford the minibuses or taxis, the only option is walking or riding bicycles. In case of affluent urban inhabitants private car ownership is high and public transport is not considered an option. Highways and secondary roads provide access to all parts of the city. Moreover, private cars are expected to play an even greater role for transportation of the urbanites in the future as well. The data held with Motor Vehicle Registration Authority of Islamabad indicates that the number of vehicles using the road network of the city continues to be higher than the month before. The high fuel prices do not seem to have a restricting effect on car usage in the city. The ever increasing vehicles plying on the city’s roads pose a significant safety risk due to limited space available on the road network, exert pressure on the ever increasing conflict between further developments of road network in relation to other land uses, degrade air quality and exacerbate feelings of inequities in the society. This trend re-emphasizes the need for ITS and efficient road network management system. 2. Traffic Control Systems and Road Network of Islamabad The Islamabad Metropolitan Area is composed of Islamabad, the old city of Rawalpindi and the National Park. The latter is a hilly area, containing two large lakes, the National Sports Centre, the National University and the National Research Centre. Four major interurban roads delineate the above three major components of the Metropolitan Area. Islamabad is planned according to a hierarchical system of communities of various classes, each class comprising the functions corresponding to its ize. These communities are properly served by a major transportation system developed within wide corridors of a grid-iron configuration, surrounding and defining the higher class communities. Local and collector low speed roads, wide sidewalks, pedestrian roads and bicycles lanes within the lower class â€Å"human communities† provide access to the major transportation system. The above hierarchical system of communities and transportation facilities, contributes to the reduction of travel distances/times and accidents, and to the promotion of â€Å"green transport† (walking, cycling, public transport). Traffic congestion in urban areas and related environmental problems such as air/noise pollution, through car movements in residential and other sensitive areas, road accidents, etc. are mainly due to the development of these areas before the explosion of car ownership as well as to the lack of proper combined transportation –land use planning, to cope with this explosion. The standalone traffic control signals and limitations imposed by the existing road pattern designed in 1960’s do not allow for the development of the configuration, spacing and capacity of the road network required under the current scenario. As a result, the ever increasing traffic imposes its rules. When existing as well as possible new arteries are saturated, new arterial routes are created through collector and local streets within residential areas, deteriorating the quality of life and increasing traffic accidents in these areas. The limitations of infrastructure are further compounded by improper behavior of road users, (lack of respect to traffic lights, to lanes for opposing traffic, etc), by the public transport drivers (stopping anywhere to drop and pick up passengers), by improper design and signage of intersections, by lack of systematic police enforcement, etc. Efforts are therefore required to obtain sustainable mobility through proper traffic and demand management, improving Public and other â€Å"Green Modes† of transport, using Intelligent Transportation Systems, etc. Parallel efforts are also required to convert the existing road network into a system of properly spaced arteries, collectors and local roads, each category serving the proper through and access movements generated by the existing and planned land uses. 2. The Global Perspective on ITS Traffic congestion is a vexing problem felt by residents of most urban areas. Despite of high gasoline prices, rush hour gridlock and pollution, seemingly nothing can interfere with the growing number of vehicles plying on the road. The relief from traffic congestion through the construction of highways is temporary as new commercial and residential growth follows the path of every project. Building more roads therefore cannot provide the answer to better traffic management as it cannot keep pace with the ever increasing vehicle population, other potential uses of land as well as limitation of the environment’s ability to sustain the impact. Efficient use of the existing road network using the emerging advancements in technology represents itself as the appropriate solution towards better traffic and road network management. The traditional solution to combat vehicle congestion has been to construct more and larger highways. Martin, Marini & Tosunoglu (2008) analyzed the potential solutions provided by technology for efficient traffic control and management of the road network. There work revealed that high financial, social and environmental costs of new road projects can be curtailed by efficient use of technology. They identified remodeling of existing road network, improved traffic-signal controllers, changeable highway signs, rerouting of rush hour traffic, creation of traffic-control centers which monitor and display gross traffic conditions, use of preplanned alternative traffic solutions based on repeated daily traffic patterns as some of the many innovations offered by modern technology which can potentially be used for better road network management and traffic control. Deakin (2006) examined the current thinking about sustainable transportation as part of a broader strategy of transportation and land use based on existing traffic patterns. Her work revealed that demand management, operations management, pricing policies, vehicle technology improvements, clean fuels, and integrated land use and transportation planning are the components which have to be pursued in an integrated manner as a part of transport sustainability strategy. The interest in creating intelligent transport systems as a means of achieving satisfactory safety levels is dependent on the need for powerful databases able to manage the data. Maria and Ruiz (2005) examined the different areas in which geographic information system technology (GIS-T) can be used for efficient traffic control and management of road network. Their work revealed that GIS-T integrates land management, planning of new infrastructure, integral traffic control, inter-modal integration of transport plying on the road network and management of road space to ease the flow of traffic thereby controlling congestion. Xu (2003) indicates, telemetric products and services for individual means of transport are based on the integration of digital maps and radio data systems / traffic message channels for the transmission of traffic data, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) for the transmission of travel data and mobile telephone communications and other additional sensors needed to gather travel information in real time. The role of GIS is therefore pivotal towards development of ITS. Traffic congestion is a vexing problem felt by residents of most urban areas. Traffic control and road network management in real-time is a complex field. Remodeling of roads as well as the number of ways to interface with vehicle drivers and travelers is increasing. A top-down, strategic approach is needed to ensure that technology is used in an appropriate and effective way for efficient traffic control and management of road networks . New technology offers the capability for rapid collection, processing and dissemination of data and information that would enable efficient traffic control as well different strands of road network to be managed collectively and coherently. 3. Research Methodology Our experience with solving local problems is based on importing solutions from other countries. It would be out of context to say that these solutions do not assist in circumscribing the problem but more often than not they fail to deliver the optimum results. Adapting international practices to the local setting can help improve the impact and sustainability of solution to the problem shortlisted for implementation. Learning from indigenous knowledge by investigating first what local communities know and have, can improve understanding of local conditions and provide a productive context for activities designed to help the communities find solution to the problem. Indigenous knowledge about the various contours of the problem therefore provides the necessary data which when utilized in consonance with best international practices delivers the desired results. The methodology which will be applied in the study has been chosen in order to acquire information and deduce conclusions about the selection of appropriate traffic control initiatives combined with initiatives designed to efficient management of road network for Islamabad. 3. 1Purpose of Study and Type of Investigation This paper argues the case for ITS through a better integrated approach towards road network management for ensuring mobility of people and goods through integration of management issues, information technology and traffic routing systems. For the above reason, this research will take an exploratory approach. According to Sekaran (2002) an exploratory study is undertaken when not much is known about the situation at hand, or when sufficient information is available on how similar problems or research issues have been solved in the past. The aim will be to gain familiarity with the issues, and to gain a deeper understanding about the topic. 3. 2Data Collection For the purpose of this research both primary and secondary data was collected and utilized. Primary data was collected in two ways. Firstly, interviews were carried out with commuters to identify areas and issues which need to be addressed in Islamabad for improving traffic control and better road network management. Secondly, a questionnaire survey was conducted to prioritize the issues and recommend solutions. The secondary data used has contributed towards the formation of background information, needed by both the researcher in order to build constructively the project and the reader to comprehend more thoroughly the survey outcome. 3. 3 Sample Design Ideally one desires to study the entire population. However, usually it is impossible or unfeasible to do this and therefore one must settle for a sample. According to Black (2006), sample is a portion of elements taken from a population, which is considered to be representative of the population. In order to collect primary data the questionnaire survey technique was used. For the purpose of this study random probability sampling was selected. According to Akhtar (2000), sample sizes larger than 30 and less than 500 are appropriate for most researches. Accordingly, the sample size consisted of about 100 respondents. 4. Results 4. 1Interviews The issues identified due to interviews conducted with commuters within the context of integrated issue of traffic control and road network management in Islamabad are as under:- †¢Future Development oWider roads. oDesign of roads to allow expansion. oSufficient roadside drainage facilities for surface runoff. oIncorporate passage of utilities. oCohesion between various line departments. oModeling to ease flow of traffic. oTransit, pedestrian and bicycle friendly development. †¢Conventional Traffic Flow Improvements oTraffic signal timing. oTraffic signal coordination. oBottleneck removal. Restructuring of security checkpoints. oDensity calculation. oImposition of toll based on vehicle occupancy. oDiversion of traffic on connecting roads. oTicketing on vehicles parked on roads to pick up school children. oPrevent walking on busy roads. oShoulders to be converted into lanes for use by bicycles / motorcycles. †¢Modal Substitution oTransit, ridesharing, cycling improvemen ts and incentives. oMass transit system. oRevamping of public transport system. †¢Intelligent Traffic System Improvements oSmart roads. oCorridor flow of traffic. oRouting and scheduling enhancements. Accident and incidence management. oCentralized nerve system. †¢Awareness Programs oRadio updates. oDriver education. oLeaflets. oRoad billboards. †¢Pricing Incentives for Easing Road Usage oImposition of road tax on vehicles not registered in Islamabad. oVehicle tax to be assessed on fuel efficiency, fuel consumption, road space occupied, weight and expected life. oVehicle registration based on residency verification and not on property holding. oOther impact fees based on assessed usage. 4. 2Survey The results of survey yielded the following results:- 4. 2. 1. Valid Driving License 4. 2. 2. Mode of Traveling 4. 2. 3. Importance of Values 4. 2. 4. Means to Ease Traffic Congestion 4. 2. 5. Traffic Police Performs to Manage Flow of Traffic and Road Network 4. 2. 6. Maturity of Traffic Control System 4. 2. 7. Technology Intervention Can Improve Traffic Flow and Road Network Management 4. 2. 8. Better Facilities for Pedestrians and Cyclists Can Ease Flow of Traffic 4. 2. 9. Improvement of Public Transport and Introduction of Mass Transit System Can Help Ease Traffic Congestion 4. 2. 10. Best Initiative(s) for Easing Flow of Traffic 4. 2. 11. Support for Implementation of ITS 4. 2. 12. Faith on Civic Managers to Deliver on ITS 4. 2. 13. Financial Commitment for ITS Conclusion Intelligent Transport Systems aim to tackle the problems of road network management. Most proposed systems are already technically feasible. †¢ Various safety systems exist that warn of hazards or that automatically intervene to assist the driver. †¢ Safety systems need to be carefully implemented to avoid giving the driver too much or too little to do. †¢Congestion could be reduced by road charging, and by better network management and information provision. †¢ Road charges could reflect the costs of congestion and pollution. However, such a system could be expensive. †¢ Integrating different systems can reduce costs. References Hernandez , Ossowski S. , and Garcia-Serrano (2002). Multi agent architectures for intelligent traffic management systems, Transportation Research Part C 10 473–506. Martin, Marini & Tosunoglu (2008). Geographic Information Systems and Intelligent Transport Systems: Technologies used to form new communication networks, NETCOM volume 17. Deakin, E. (2006). Sustainable Development and Sustainable Transport: Strategies for Economic Prosperity, Environmental Quality and Equity. Central London Congestion Charging: Impacts Monitoring, Sixth Annual Report, Transport for London, 2008. 10 Implementation of Road Pricing System, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, The Netherlands, 2008. Annexure A Questionnaire 1. Do you have a valid driving license? a. Yes b. No 2. What is your mode of traveling? a. Car b. Minibus c. Taxi d. Motorcycle e. Bicycle f. Walking 3. What is more important to you when you are traveling? a. Cost b. Time c. Convenience d. All of above 4. Congestion on roads can best be managed by:- a. Building new roads. . Better Management of road network. 5. Are you satisfied with performance of traffic police in managing flow of traffic and road network management? a. Yes b. No 6. Is the traffic control system mature or requires improvement? a. Mature b. Requires improvement 7. Can induction of technology improve the flow of traffic and road network management? a. Yes b. No 8. Can better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists imp rove the flow of traffic? a. Yes b. No 9. Can improvement of public transport and introduction of mass transit system help ease traffic congestion? . Yes b. No 10. Which initiatives can best ease flow of traffic and ensure effective road network management? a. Corridor flow. b. Smart road. c. Communication of information. d. Remodeling roads. e. Introduction of toll. f. All of above. 11. Should the Intelligent Traffic System be implemented? a. Yes b. No 12. Do you have faith in the current civic managers to deliver if the initiatives are implemented? a. Yes b. No 13. Will you be willing to pay for initiatives to implement an Intelligent Traffic System for better road network management? a. Yes b. No

A Review Of TVs Motor Company

A Review Of TVs Motor Company What exactly is marketing and why is it important to you as an entrepreneur? Simply stated, marketing is everything you do to place your product or service in the hands of potential customers. It includes diverse disciplines like sales, public relations, pricing, packaging, and distribution. In order to distinguish marketing from other related professional services, S.H. Simmons, author and humorist, relates this anecdote. Marketing is your strategy for allocating resources (time and money) in order to achieve your objectives (a fair profit for supplying a good product or service). Though it may feel counter-intuitive, marketing doesn’t begin with a great idea or a unique product. It begins with customers — those people who want or need your product and will actually buy it. People have their own unique perceptions of the world based on their belief system. The most innovative ideas, the greatest products, or a superior service succeed only when you market within the c ontext of people’s perceptions. Context can be many things, singly or simultaneously. To name a few, you may market to your customers within the context of their wants, needs, problems solved, or situation improved. Entrepreneurs need to be aware of many other contexts, such as social and economic trends or governmental regulations, which we’ll discuss another time. People don’t just â€Å"buy† a product. They â€Å"buy† the concept of what that product will do for them, or help them do for themselves. People who are overweight don’t join a franchise diet center to eat pre-packaged micro-meals. They â€Å"buy† the concept of a new, thin, happy and successful self. Without a plan, your entrepreneurial dream is really wishful thinking. While a marketing plan can be a map for success, remember that the map is not the territory. A strategy that ignores the customer isn’t an accurate reflection of the landscape. A good marketing pla n can help you focus your energy and resources. But a plan created in a vacuum, based solely on your perceptions, does not advance the agenda. That’s why market research, however simple or sophisticated, is important. Introduction TVS Group TVS Group is one of India’s oldest business groups. It is a giant conglomerate with presence in diverse fields like automotive component manufacturing, automotive dealerships and electronics. Today, there are over thirty companies in the TVS Group, employing more than 40,000 people worldwide and with a turnover in excess of USD 2.2 billion. TVS Motor Company is the third largest two-wheeler manufacturer in India and one among the top ten in the world, with annual turnover of more than USD 1 billion in 2006-2007, and is the flagship company of the USD 4 billion TVS Group. A bike for anyone TVS Motor currently manufactures a wide range of two-wheelers from mopeds to racing inspired motorcycles. Motorcycles (TVS Apache, TVS Star, TVS Flame) Variomatic Scooters (TVS Scooty Pep +, TVS Scooty Teenz) and Mopeds (TVS XL Super, TVS XL Heavy Duty) TVS Motor Company – Vision We are committed to being a highly profitable, socially responsible, and leading manufacturer of high value for money, environmentally friendly, lifetime personal transportation products under the TVS brand, for customers predominantly in Asian markets and to provide fulfilment and prosperity for employees, dealers and suppliers.

Land law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Land law - Essay Example Different types of ownership stipulate different rights and liabilities of co-tenants. The type of ownership determines guidelines on the property in terms of attempts to sell it, and methods by which the property can be transferred. In this case, each owner is referred to as a tenant in common. The freehold property that the four pioneer owners (Allan, Ben, Chris and David) bought by contributing different amounts makes them tenants in common (TIC). Unless otherwise stated, most courts assume that a tenancy in common exists whenever several persons take concurrent possession of a single piece of land. When land is granted, transferred, conveyed, assigned or bequeathed to two or more persons, other than as executors, administrators or trustees in either fee simple or any lesser estate, legal or equitable, and the tenancy is not specified in the document creating the estate, the co-owners hold as tenants in common1. Each member has an interest in a particular part of the parcel and th e right to access the parcel as a whole. Each co-owner is allowed to choose who will inherit his or her ownership interest upon death. In cases where no will exists, then the share of the deceased would go to the persons entitled under the rules of intestacy. Each co-owner is liable to the others if they cause any deterioration in the value of the property. Tenancy in common only has the unity of possession and has no right of survivorship. Unity of possession is achieved when each co-owner is entitled to possession of the whole property. In situations where the conveyance in favor of the co-owners includes how the co-owners should hold the equitable interest in the property, this agreement is conclusive2. Each tenant in common enjoys autonomy in dealing with his interest, including the decision to dispose of the interest by will. Each tenant in common holds undivided proportionate interests. Tenants in common cannot hold unity of interest because their interests are not proportiona te. Each tenant is awarded interest according to his contribution. Initially, the shares of Allan, Ben, Chris and David are determined by how much each owner contributed to the purchase of the property. After Chris retired and sold his shares to Fiona, Fiona owned Chris’ shares and hers as well. The sale of Chris’ shares to Fiona does not alter the arrangement between the remaining owners. However, a transfer must be used and fees should be charged on the value of the proportionate interest being transferred. On the other hand, Elsa took over David’s shares after David died. After Elsa died, Gerry and Harry became co-owners, each entitled to the share Elsa assigned him. It is permissible for Harry and Garry to hold Elsa’s interest in joint custody. In that case, Harry and Garry can be joint tenants so that they are both tenants in common with the other co-tenants. As joint tenants, they enjoy the right of survivorship which presumes that when one dies, th e other takes over ownership of the entire parcel which they shared before the death. This minimizes delays when handing over property. Incase Garry, having inherited property does not desire to claim any ownership interest, the interest to the property can be transferred to the other tenants in common. As joint tenants, Harry and Garry have four unities which include: interest, time, title and possession. Joint tenancy mandates owners to have the same interest, developed under the same conveyance, starting at the same time and held under the

Cell phones and how they have changed us socially Research Paper

Cell phones and how they have changed us socially - Research Paper Example The 20th century witnessed an explosion of technological growth. Telephone technology dates back to the late 19th century through the inventions of Alexander Graham Bell and the subsequent Bell Telephone Company. Still, it wasn’t until the 20th century through American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) that the Western world experienced the profound impacts of this technology, and not until the late end of this century that cell phones would come to dominate the social landscape. Indeed, between 1990 and 1998 cell phone subscribers increased from 11 million to 312 million (Stevens 2010). Along with the Internet, cell phones would come to profoundly impact the way humans interact and function in the contemporary world. This essay examines the way cell phones have changed us socially. The most prevalent impact of cell phones on social life has been in the very fabric of humanity’s daily existence. Within this context of understanding it’s demonstrated that individuals have gained considerable social freedom from the implementation of cell phone technology. Hindel (2008) argues that cell phones and this corresponding freedom have resulted in advancements in time management and efficiency that have profoundly altered the modern world. Today people are more independent and confident – considering having a cell phone on a long drive – in navigating the modern social landscape. Still, individuals such as Davis (2010) argue that the infusion of cell phone technology has had a negative impact on human social relations. This perspective contends that cell phones have resulted in a generation of people who have learned to communicate primarily through the mediation of these devices. This has resulted in a populace that is unable to deal with so cial problems on a face-to-face level. Individuals also argue that such changes have resulted in decreased ethical responsibility. With the high

Success in Social Commerce Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Success in Social Commerce - Research Paper Example As the result, Google Analytics and Facebook Connect (Tonkin, Whitmore, & Cutroni, 2011) have now come up with tools and strategies that are showing positive ROI to marketers. In addition, a number of market research companies have carried out researches to understand the relationship of social media experience with consumers’ purchasing decisions. The results indicated that ‘like’ button acts as a significant factor that influences users to purchase a product/service from a specific retailer. In this regard, marketers are now looking at different ways of transforming experiences into measurable returns that will allow a rapid evolution of social commerce (Blanchard, 2011).While the paper is focusing primarily on ‘return on investment’, it is imperative to understand that ‘return on investment’ is usually considered as metrics that is not the case. ROI itself requires metrics for measurement of its business value, and business experts hav e come up with the following equation to calculate return on investment of something:ROI = Benefits - Costs x 100 = Percentage Return on the InvestmentThe equation of ROI is self-explanatory; however, the paper will now include an example that will clarify the applicability of ROI in social commerce largely. Sea World San Antonio is a venture of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (2013). The company created different content based on interests and attitudes of these roller coaster fans.... This paper is an attempt to understand different aspects of social commerce that will allow a comprehensive understanding of complexities that revolve around success of the notion. Discussion While social commerce presents an interactive shopping platform to consumers, it is imperative to see the potential of social commerce from businesses’ perspective. From retailers’ point of view, it has been an understanding that the social commerce has been successful in providing opportunities to retailers to engage people in exploration of their products by creating viral experiences (Ickler, Schulke, Wilfling, & Baumol, 2009). In addition, social commerce enables retailers to bring their products to a place where people interact with each other that is contrary to traditional shopping trend where people have to reach to the place to buy something. Another distinction from traditional commerce is that social commerce focuses on socially enriched relationships rather than one-to- one relationships that usually exist in traditional commerce settings. Rather, social commerce promotes dependence on interaction and experience of users with users; in other words, consumer-to-consumer communication that results in buying or selling of any product or service. The reason this paper is including detailed discussion on distinction of social commerce from other traditional types of commerce is the need for realizing the complexity that exist in social commerce, which will only enable its critical understanding that is essential for understanding different aspects of its success. For instance, as discussed earlier, ‘return on investment’ (Marsden, 2010) is the metric that business organizations usually use in traditional commerce setting, and

Abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Abortion - Essay Example Canada has totally different policies regarding abortion. It has been legal since 1969 and women have a right to decide whether they want to keep a child or not. Restrictions are imposed by Canadian health regulations and they vary in different provinces of Canada. Abortions were illegal before 1969; however, in 1969 new regulations allowed women to resort to abortion if their pregnancy threatened them by mental or physical harm. In 1989 Canadian Supreme court rules that existing criminal laws restricting abortion were unfair; as a result Canada is one of the nations were there are no criminal restrictions to abortion (Norman, 2012). Even though there are still difficulties in access of therapeutic abortion, it is quite common in Canada. According to Norman (2012), almost one third of Canadian women experience abortion in their reproductive years. Around 50-52% of these women are in their 20-s. There is a tendency that young people tends not to risk their health and do abortion being pregnant for the first time. Overall, women in Canada can do abortion if child birth threatens their health. It is very liberal as women can access quality medical services and care if they happen to be in this situation. The situation in South Korea is totally different because abortions are illegal there. According to Sung (2012), there are 440,000 childbirths registered in South Korea every year. At the same time, there are 340,000 abortions performed each year. There is a controversy between legal background in South Korea and reality because many women search for illegal opportunities to do abortion. Moreover, Korean women want to legalize abortion since they are becoming more important for social and political life in the country but social expectations and role of females in Korean society. Despite great progress of Korean women they are still oppressed by these expectations. The truth is that being technically

Assessing your Program of Study & Recommendations Essay

Assessing your Program of Study & Recommendations - Essay Example Prison populations are increasing not only because of an increase in media attention in regards to all crimes being violent, but also that in terms of a set of parameters for recidivism of violent crimes, the state and federal prisons are receiving less violent criminals and more parole violators and drug users. â€Å"Reversing a 20-year trend toward ever-tougher criminal laws, a number of states this year have quietly rolled back some of their most stringent anticrime measures, including those imposing mandatory minimum sentences and forbidding early parole† (Butterfield, 2001). Law enforcement workers can help these inmates get the services they need like rehabilitation. They can work as advocates for these incarcerated individuals, and be proactive in their advocacy. I am happy with the program generally. However, if I am to make a recommendation, it is that the courses focus more on ethics. The society in which the debate over police ethics, political and otherwise since politics is a reflection, sets the ethical code, in a sense, since it is at least theoretically there to determine a positive relationship between the individual and the society through models of good behavior that does not bring harm upon others, or socially positive behavior. The specific concept of noble case corruption refers to the tendency of police misconduct to have its origins in circumstances where the behavior in question may be justifiable, but only in the context of the means. Training in ethics, to many commentators, may be compared to some arguments about training in art—some argue that one either has artistic talent or doesn’t, and if one doesn’t, no amount of art classes are going to make them a talented successful artist. However, I donâ⠂¬â„¢t subscribe to this idea, and I think that ethics training should be a part of the curriculum.

Family in Europe History Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Family in Europe History - Coursework Example However, kinship ties were also important to people who were poor. They kept up connections with family in the mother country when they traveled abroad for work and even when slaves were separated from each other. Kinship was thus important as a last means of sustenance when things went bad or as a responsibility for those who had done well. Among the lower levels of society, kinship ties seem to have been traced only about as far as they are traced today, from the grandparents down through the parents, aunts and uncles to the children – the siblings and first cousins of the nuclear group. Beyond that, or beyond the village in which they were born, most people tended to forget their kinship ties unless it was to some grand house elsewhere. Much of the importance of kinship at this level was determined by how to disperse the property following death and who should be invited to important social occasions such as weddings and funerals. Blood lines were important because they suggested an unbreakable link backwards into the distant past of the family. Those who shared the same blood could not deny kinship with others of the same line. This carried weight in that noble blood, once noble, would remain noble even if family circumstances brought them low. Blood linkages were recognized in terms of inheritance and in social practices, such as the passing down of the family name. Women often kept track of their bloodline as well, perhaps more so because of the need for her to relinquish her family name and home upon marriage. This was also more true in areas where lineages had been more traced through the female line in the distant past. However, marriage ties were also important because they were able to forge desired connections between family. Sometimes they took the place of blood ties such as when a sonless farmer’s daughter married and the resulting son-in-law gained the status of a true-born son to inherit the family lands.

Solutions for Stay at home fathers and mothers from a marketing Essay

Solutions for Stay at home fathers and mothers from a marketing perspective - Essay Example most people become stay at home mums and dads not out of their will but as victims of circumstances, they tend to become highly depressed and lonely with this new trend of role. It is not surprising therefore that latest reports show high rates of cases of heart diseases (Watkins and Mohr, 2001). But as long as the cause of most cases of stay at home fathers and mothers is as a result of economic factors, marketing philosophies, which are directly related to economics could be used to salvage the problem. Two of these are discussed below. Support network is an important marketing perspective that can be used to address one of the issues commonly faced by stay at home fathers and mothers, which is the problem of dilemma between traditional and untraditional gender stereotypes. Especially for stay at home fathers who function in backgrounds where much premium is placed on traditional roles of husbands and wives, they often become confused as to roles they have to take up and those they have to abandon as they stay at home. But should these people use the marketing strategy of support network, which deals with the setting up of connections and networks with people who are involved in similar trades, they would be presented with the opportunity of learning from one another, how they cope with their individual dilemmas and the eventual decisions they take to come out of these dilemmas. Then also, the support network can help them in learning new strategies of generally overcoming their weaknesses and threats and turning t hese into strengths and opportunities, just as it happens in SWOT analysis (Wheatley, 2007). Another marketing perspective from which these confused and isolated stay at home mothers and stay at home fathers can have solutions to their problem has to do with packaging. In marketing, packaging is often used to describe the medium through which the product is conveyed to the consumer (Flick, 2008). In the present circumstance, packaging can be used the

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Essay Example for Free

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Essay Sandra Bullard November 27, 2011 Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Dr. Chan Body Ritual Among the Nacirema The Nacirema are a North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles. According to the Nacirema mythology, their nation was originated by a culture hero, Notgnihsaw, who otherwise known for two great fears of strength- the throwing of a piece of wampum across the river Pa-To-Mac and the choppin down of a cherry tree in which the Spirit of Truth resided. The focus of the Nacirema culture is the activity of the human body, appearance and the health of which loom as a dominant concern in the culture of the people. The belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. In the hierarchy of magical practitioners in the Nacirema culture, second in the lineup are the holy-mouth-men. The Nacirema have a pathological horror of and fascination with the mouth, the condition of which is believed dto have a supernatural influence on all social relationships. If it weren’t for the rituals of the mouth, they believe that their teeth would fall out, their gums bleed, their jaws shrink, their friends desert them, and their lovers would reject them. People seek out a holy-mouth-man once or twice a year. Holy-mouth-men have an impressive set of paraphernalia, consisting of a variety of augers, awls, probes, and prods. The use of these objects are for the exorcism of the evils of the mouth. The holy-mouth-man opens the client’s mouth and, using the above tools, enlarges any holes which decay may have created in the teeth. If there are no naturally occurring holes in the teeth, large sections of one or more teeth are gouged out so that the supernatural substance can be applied. In the client’s view, the purpose of these ministrations is to arrest decay and to draw friends. The natives return to the holy-mouth-men year after year in order to keep sacred and traditional character of the rite. The medicine-men of the Nacirema community have an imposing temple, also called latipso. The latipso is a very elaborate ceremony that is required to treat very sick patients only. These ceremonies are so harsh that it is amazing that the sick natives who enter the temple ever recover. When the supplicant first enters the temple, they are first stripped of all off his or her clothes. In every-day life the Nacirema avoid exposure of his body and its natural functions. Once in the latipso, the body secrecy is lost and the man finds himself naked and assisted by a vestal maiden in which he then performs his natural functions into a secret vessel. These procedures are necessitated by the fact that the excreta are used by a diviner to ascertain the course and nature of the client’s sickness. Female clients who enter the lapitso, find their naked bodies are subjected to the scrutiny, manipulation and prodding of the medicine men. One way that these people address wealth is with shrines. Every household has one or more shrines. The most powerful individuals in society have several shrines in their houses. The shrine rooms of the more wealthy are walled with stone. Poorer families imitate the rich by applying pottery plaques to their shrine walls. Another way I think wealth is defined in their community is the gifts that are given to guardians of temples. The lapitso’s guardian for example, will not admit a client if he cannot give a rich gift to the custodian. And once a client is admitted, they must be able to give the custodian another rich gift before being let out. Cultural relativism is demonstrated by Horace Miner and his capability of understanding and gaining trust of the individual’s culture. The individuals of the Nacirema community opened up to Miner and let him see their sacred and traditional rituals. It was his willingness and openness that let the Nacirema community to trust him. It’s hard for me not to display ethnocentrism towards their community and rituals because it’s completely different from what I have learned and grown up with. None of their rituals that they perform make any sense to me. For example, the women putting their heads in the oven and letting them bake for an hour is hard for me to understand and conceptualize. So, it’s hard for me to say that I think that they’re strange, because that’s their culture and that’s the only think they have ever known. When I put it in perspective and think about their opinions on our culture, they wouldn’t know why we do the things we do within our community. It is very interesting to read about people who once lived in North America and maybe still do live in North America that perform these types of ritual.

Manufacturers Inc. Compensation Stratagies Essay Example for Free

Manufacturers Inc. Compensation Stratagies Essay

Strategic Analysis Of Wholesale Company Costco Marketing Essay

Strategic Analysis Of Wholesale Company Costco Marketing Essay This report has performed a brief strategic analysis of the internal resources and external factors that affect Costco. The report includes an over view of the firms strategies using Porters five force model as well as a SWOT analysis of the firm. The report illustrates why Costco remains the Anti-Wal-Mart using aggressive scare tactics to achieve the lowest possible prices for its customers even if it means dropping high brand names. The report includes recommendations for the wholesalers, the main one being to carry on with their current successful strategies in order to maintain the fight for industry leadership and further their globalisation in to Eastern countries 1.0 Introduction to Costco Costco is a wholesale cash and carry, which operates through warehouses using a membership only service. The company sells high quality, private label merchandise at low prices to businesses buying for commercial use as well as individuals that are members of specific employment groups , for example NHS or government employees. The basis of the company is to achieve high sale volumes and rapid inventory turnover, offering a limited array of merchandise, with a wide product category at low prices (www.costco.co.uk). Additionally Costco operates customer services ranging from health insurance to financial planning. The main competitor of the company is Wal-Marts -Sams club within the US, although they have 200 more stores operating in ten more states than Costco , Sams club does not experience the same revenues. Yet there is still a constant battle for increased market share with newer entrants such as BJs Wholesale Club (Hughes, 2007). Operating internationally the company has divisio ns in the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, Australia and an internet site operational in the US and Canada. Some of the stores include pharmacies, food courts, opticians, photo centres, travel desks and hearing aid centres within the warehouses. The company also operates 307 petrol stations with some of the US and Canada stores. Named as the only company Wal-Mart fears James Signal (2004) of Costco has captured a breed of urban sophisticates, who trade up for exiting products and trade down to private labels of more prosaic products (Duff,2009). 2.0 Costco existing missions/strategies Costcos Mission Statement; To continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices (www.findarticles.com) In order to sell at the lowest possible prices Costco implement various pricing strategies through bargaining with suppliers and only adding a maximum mark up of 14% to each product, even in cases where demand is high as CEO Signal stated you always give the customer the best deal'(Shapiro, 2004). Costco falls into the Overall Price Leadership category one of Porters four generic competitive strategies (Mitchell, 2001). Price leadership is achieved by implementing a successful strategy using continual exceptional efforts to reduce costs, without excluding services or products which customers perceive to be essential. There strategies include; ? Low advertising costs to keep merchandise price down, using word of mouth ? High employee wages to retain employees and reduce new staff that would require training ? Merchandise stock on pallets to reduce labour and allow for maximum sales ? Inventory system detects items that are reaching thresh hold for re order ? Just in time approach to reduce over stock, buying direct from manufacturers and sent directly to warehouses within 24 hours ? Provide low prices through volume buying ? Willing to change manufacturers to gain the best possible price on a product 3.0 Strategic Management Costco Strategic management shows an ability to develop and sustain competitive advantage, resulting in of added value to their brand (Ramachandran et al, 2006). Illustrated by Costcos rise in net income by 1.1% to $266 million and revenue soared to $71.4 Billion compared to Sams club at $46.8 billion and BJs at $10 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended Nov 22nd 2009 (Business News, 2009) compared to Wal-Mart net sales which increased by 1.2%. The just in time approach implemented by the company means products are sold for cash before the payment to the suppliers is due ,creating a high operating cash flow. This operating advantage improves Costcos working capital and efficiency, resulting in a long lasting value difference in the product, compared to the competitors and as perceived by the customers (Duncan et al, 1988). 4.0 Porters Five Forces The nature of competition in an industry rely on five forces including; the threat of new entrants, the bargaining power of new entrants, the bargaining power of customers, the bargaining power of suppliers and the threat of substitute products or services (Porter, 1979). These are all competitors that may be more or less prominent or active depending on the industry. A companys awareness of Porters five forces can allow the organisation to stake out a position within its industry that is less vulnerable to attack (Bruton, 2008). 4.1 The threat of new entrants- medium threat There are many potential new entrants into the industry, which could pose as a threat including, wholesale clubs, discounters and hypermarkets such as Aldi and Netto, which are both limited range discounters. Other large existing wholesale competitors such as Wal-Mart could gain market share through acquisition giving them new resources. However, barriers to entry in to the wholesale food industry are relatively high, as huge costs would be involved in imitating established distribution networks, brand name and financial capital that Costco have established. Furthermore it is unlikely customers will switch to a competitor when they have already paid a yearlong membership fee (Costco reported 85% of cardholders renewed their membership in 2009, www.phx.corporate-ir.net). 4.2 Bargaining power of suppliers-low/medium threat The bargaining power of Costco sells to many business owners, the power over their suppliers is very high, as suppliers are forced to cut prices to lessen the risk of them losing their contract. Costco have a small range of brands for each product, yet sell high quantities. They could be losing a large amount of sales compared to Wholesalers like Wal-Mart, whom give customers a larger amount of choice and therefore spread their sales between suppliers. Furthermore Costco have proven they are willing to lose even major brands to improve their leverage, margins and lower prices, forcing suppliers to compete amongst themselves and with the wholesalers cheaper own brand products. Highlighted through Costcos most recent decision to stop selling Coca-Cola in a pricing dispute due to growing power of private labels, by using details received from loyalty cards retailers are more aware of which brands to keep and lose (Neff, 2009). 4.3 Bargaining power of customers- low threat According to Bruton (2007) the threat is low because there is only a small concentration of wholesale buyers, predominantly middle class consumers, small business owners and families. The latter two however have a greater power over the higher and middle class customers as they would buy to satisfy needs rather than luxury items. They are likely to resort to finding alternative stores such as competitors to get what they want at the price they can afford to pay for their regular purchases, due to the growth and alternative availability in discount stores. 4.4 The threat of substitute products- low threat The threat of substitutes limits the profit potential of the wholesale industry by identifying the effectiveness of volume of sales at a particular price level. Substitutes include specialised stores, for instance The Home Depot in America and BQ in the UK competing against the non-food sales through discounting as well as hypermarkets. For these reasons, the threat of substitutes is low for the wholesale notion. However, there is an increased threat to particular sections such as furniture and electronics especially because supermarkets are now selling a wider array of products for example Tescos. A further threat is e-commerce businesses and sites such as EBay focusing on the customer directly (Bruton, 2007). 4.5 Rivalry among competitors-medium threat Rivalry between competitors in the growing wholesale industry is particularly low because the three main competitors concentrate on different consumer groups. Furthermore price wars are minimal due to the lack of advertising with the rivals especially Costco. However as Costco is gaining strength through globalisation, there are different levels of threats in particular countries. 5.0 SWOT analysis The basis of strategic management is the notion that strategy creates an alignment between an enterprises internal strength and weaknesses as well as its opportunities and threats (SWOT) in its external environment (Andrews, 1987). The following table illustrates alignments factors within and outside of Costco; 6.0 External factors Focusing on the external, broader environment in which the company operates it is clear the next stage in the Costco globalisation process would be expansion. Due to the fierce market in the US and saturation a large opportunity for the company would be to enter the Chinese and Eastern European market and according to Baker (2001) Globalisation of the markets is at hand. Competitor Wal-Mart have already entered the fast growing market in China through purchasing 35% of the recognised hypermarket- Trust-Mart. The alliance benefits Wal-Mart , gaining expertise in operations and logistics and allow Chinese consumers to build trust with their brand name- an important part of their culture. Globalisation forms markets where economies of scale lead to reduction of costs and prices according to Baker (2001). Therefore, Costco may have to adapt their strategy when entering new countries due to the barriers of entry; it would be difficult to compete with local companies that are already established as well as suppliers to cut prices as low as they do in the West. The main threat to Costco currently is online speciality stores, which can compete through lower operating costs and manufacturing abroad thus increasing the power of existing buyers. The economic slowdown in 2007 with the credit crunch attracted more customers to the company due to its low prices and bulk products which allowed customers to stretch their money in the economic crisis enabling sales to grow by 13% by 2008. However the net income still decreased by 15.3% by 2009 as of the weakened economy. Even fiercer pricing strategies reduced the impact of the recession by reducing costs on a range of popular products two weeks before the reduction came through anticipated from manufacturers. Thus allowing them to get ahead of competition by taking advantage of the opportunity to attract customers through surrendering their profit (Duff, 2009). 7.0 Conclusions From carrying out the report on one of the leading wholesale suppliers it is clear they refuse to buy from suppliers that are not willing to pass on the reduction in manufacturing costs on to Costco. They are willing to remove high named brands from their shelves if they think they are being charged too much for the product. Through these publicly made choices it seems clear that Costco are on the customers side when it comes to prices, and are willing to lose profit to satisfy their customers. Both the Porters Five Forces Model and the SWOT analysis identify the main internal and external threats to the company, the highest threat of all being the power of suppliers. Costcos strategy of merging high wages with innovative ideas, and low cost products highlights that consumers, workers and shareholders can all benefit from a cost-leadership strategy. 8.0 Recommendations ? Continuation with their current successful pricing strategies of low prices and high volumes in order to maintain barriers against buyer power, supplier power and new entrants. Porters low cost leadership will also allow growth in revenues from further international expansion. ? The main threat to Costco currently is the threat of substitutes especially in discount stores and hypermarkets and the alternative to this is online speciality stores which can compete through lower operating costs and manufacturing abroad thus increasing the power of existing buyers. ? In order to compete with the threat of e-commerce businesses a further development in the online sales capability is likely to increase the companys strengths. Cannibalisation is unlikely to occur until the industry becomes completely saturated in the US in which case the company can then be ahead of competitors through the internet or through global expansion. ? Subsidiaries or Joint venture are a possibility as in Mexico where the 31 warehouses are 50% joint ventures, this strategy may benefit within the foreign Indian and Chinese market, to allow for a better integration and brand loyalty ( www.slideshare.net). The firm is likely to have the logistical capabilities to enter the Chinese market as they have entered nearby Japan successfully, and some networks would be partially formed through transportation. ? More strategic alliances with manufacturers as with Kirkland in expanding countries to gain trust from customers, enabling them to recognise brand names and build loyalty 9.0 References Andrews, K.R (1987), The concept of Corporate Strategy, Homewood: Irwin Baker.M.J Critical perspectives on business and management, Routledge, London Bruton. A, (2007) Five Forces Analysis, www.books.google.co.uk/books?id=9lmR75vPpEACprintsec=frontcover#v=onepageq=f=false accessed 21/02/10 Costco Financial Report 2009, www.phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83830p=irol-reportsannual, accessed 16/02/10 Ducan, W.J, Ginter, P.M Swayne, L.E (1998), Competitive advantage and internal organisational assessment, Academy of Management Executive Duff. M (2009) Costco Surrenders Profits To Make a Point www.industry.bnet.com/retail/1000461/costco-surrenders-profits-to-make-a-point/ accessed 19/02/10 Hughes, M.T (2007) Costco wholesale strategic analysis, Washington College Business Management Ireland, R.D, Hitt, M.A Simon, D.G (2003), A Model of Strategic Entrepreneurship: The construct and its dimensions, Journal of Management, 29, 963-989 Mitchell. R.C, (2001), Strategy Formulation, TAOFS Formulation, www.csun.edu/~hfmgt001/formulation.doc, accessed 20/02/10 Neff, J (2009) From CVS to Costco, retailers put the screws to brands, Advertising Age,Business Source Premier, 11/30/2009, Vol. 80, Issue 40 Porter. M.E, (1979) How competitive forces shape strategy, Harvard College, Harvard Business Review Porter, M.E, (1985), Competitive advantage: creating and sustaining superior performance, New York: The Free Press Prahalad, C.K Hamel, G. (1990), The Core Competence Of The Corporation, Harvard Business Review, 68, 79-91 Ramachandran, J.M Sud. M, (2006) Strategic Entrepreneurship in a Globalising Economy: Evidence from Emerging Economies, IIMB Management Review, 28, 291-302. Trout. J, (2004), Trout on Strategy: capturing mindshare, conquering markets, McGraw-Hill (Jan 14th 2008) Food industry , BNET UK, www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3235/is_1_25/ai_n29402690 accessed 16/02/10 Shapiro, N. 2004. Company for the people. Seattle Weekly, December 15. Retrieved from www.seattleweekly.com/ generic/show_print.php on 15/02/2010. www.slideshare.net/guestce0202a/costco-strategic- plan accessed 20/02/10 www.findarticles.com/121753md5=91af14cebe7ede4/c72/169594b2badc8b accessed 20/02/10 www.costco.com accessed 21/02/10 Contents Page Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction to Costco 2 2.0 Costco existing missions/strategies 2 3.0 Strategic Management 3 4.0 Porters five forces 3 4.1 The threat of new entrants 3 4.2 Bargaining power of suppliers 3 4.3 Bargaining power of customers 4 4.4 The threat of substitute products 4 4.5 Rivalry among competitors 4 5.0 SWOT analysis 5 6.0 External Factors 6 7.0 Conclusion 6 8.0 Recommendations 7

Repressed Personality and Sexual Subtleties in Robert Louis Stevenson D

Repressed Personality and Sexual Subtleties in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde The Tragedies of repression In the reference book Victorian Britain: An Encyclopedia Stevenson is noted for saying that "fiction should render the truths that make life significant" (760). We see this most closely in his Jekyll/Hyde experiment when Jekyll explains why he invented his infamous potion. Jekyll says: "I concealed my pleasures; and when I reached years of reflection...I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life" (Stevenson, 42). Because of this feeling of being one thing in the public's eye, well respected and controlled, and another on his own, Hyde invents an outlet. This outlet becomes, at least symbolically, a representation of male hysteria, a psychological disorder stereotypically associated with women. Jekyll says "my two natures had memory in common" (48). Thus, Hyde is free to express his base and immoral self without conscience while Jekyll is voyeuristically allowed to watch without regret since the actions are not his own, but a different entities altogether. Jekyll is described crying like a woman behind closed doors because Hyde has become the dominant personality (Showalter, 114). Stevenson's narrative reflects some of the effects of socialization and their influence on the repression of certain forms of sexuality, specifically homosexuality, which we will explore a little later. Jekyll begins waking as Hyde, suggesting that when his social controls are weakest, Hyde is free to come out. The story dramatizes social norms, the search to deviate from them, and rid oneself of responsibility for one's actions that go against these norms. As Jekyll gets used to becoming Hyde, the socialized and repressed Je... ...nd abnormal for their feelings. This is quite different than facing explicitly one's repressed feelings or sexualilty, which the public often reacts violently against. Works Cited Showalter, Elaine."Dr. Jekyll's Closet." Sexual Anarchy: New York: Penguin Books,1990. 105-126. Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. New York: Dover Publishing, Inc., 1991. Waters, Chris. "Robert Louis Stevenson". Victorian Britain: An Encyclopedia. Sally Mitchell and Michael J. Herr. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc, 1988. 760-761. Swade. "Lesbian Tribal Chant History page". http://www.swade.net/swadepages/les_hist.htm Accessed 4/20/99. Ennis, Jane. "VICTORIA Digest - 27 Mar 1998 to 28 Mar 1998 ". Accessed 4/20/99. http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/englit-victorian/1998-04/0003.html

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Gawain Finds The Green Knight's Castle PASSAGE ANALYSIS LINES 763-841 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian story about the first adventure of Sir Gawain (King Arthur's nephew). The author and date of this romance are not exactly known but may be dated circa 1375-1400, because the author seems to be a contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer. From the very start of the story, the author gives a grand introduction for Arthur and his court, and then Arthur's men are described as "bold boys" (line 21) which means that they are brave, but only boys. If they are so brave why then did the author not describe them as men? Chaucer uses this kind of irony to describe his characters in "The General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer made no direct judgements on his characters in the "General Prologue," nor does the unknown author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This particular passage (lines 763-841) from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight deals primarily with Gawain, Arthur's most courteous and well-mannered knight, finding the castle of the Green Kn ight, whose name is Bercilak, and then there is a lengthy description given of the castle. Gawain is on a journey to find the Green Knight almost one year later. He promised to take his hits from the Green Knight. The most important item in this passage is the description of the castle. Bercilak's castle is well protected and similar to other castles during this period. This castle is unlike others, however, because it is magical and because of its symbolism. Castles in the Middle Ages A Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Analysis of Passage In this particular passage, Gawain is a knight who is on a journey with deep faith in his religion. This is expressed through his fervent prayers to Christ and Mary. No one is here to help him except God who he speaks to and asks to hear mass on Christmas Eve. He humbles himself "meekly before God" in the snow and cold. His prayers are then answered immediately. Bercilak's castle appears out of nowhere, green with trees and grass as if it were springtime. It is almost as if the castle were provided for Gawain by God. He is at Bercilak's court, but of course, does not know this until the end. After praying, he crosses himself three times and then this grand estate appears before him like magic. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Gawain Finds The Green Knight's Castle PASSAGE ANALYSIS LINES 763-841 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian story about the first adventure of Sir Gawain (King Arthur's nephew). The author and date of this romance are not exactly known but may be dated circa 1375-1400, because the author seems to be a contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer. From the very start of the story, the author gives a grand introduction for Arthur and his court, and then Arthur's men are described as "bold boys" (line 21) which means that they are brave, but only boys. If they are so brave why then did the author not describe them as men? Chaucer uses this kind of irony to describe his characters in "The General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer made no direct judgements on his characters in the "General Prologue," nor does the unknown author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This particular passage (lines 763-841) from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight deals primarily with Gawain, Arthur's most courteous and well-mannered knight, finding the castle of the Green Kn ight, whose name is Bercilak, and then there is a lengthy description given of the castle. Gawain is on a journey to find the Green Knight almost one year later. He promised to take his hits from the Green Knight. The most important item in this passage is the description of the castle. Bercilak's castle is well protected and similar to other castles during this period. This castle is unlike others, however, because it is magical and because of its symbolism. Castles in the Middle Ages A Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Analysis of Passage In this particular passage, Gawain is a knight who is on a journey with deep faith in his religion. This is expressed through his fervent prayers to Christ and Mary. No one is here to help him except God who he speaks to and asks to hear mass on Christmas Eve. He humbles himself "meekly before God" in the snow and cold. His prayers are then answered immediately. Bercilak's castle appears out of nowhere, green with trees and grass as if it were springtime. It is almost as if the castle were provided for Gawain by God. He is at Bercilak's court, but of course, does not know this until the end. After praying, he crosses himself three times and then this grand estate appears before him like magic.

Capote Essay -- Analysis, Journalism, Literary Adaptations

Even though it is problematic to define the happening of an event as a â€Å"text† or â€Å"hypotext†, works of literary journalism are closely related to the framework of adaptations because an adaptation is defined as the process of making a work of art upon the basis of elements provided in a different medium; furthermore, works of literary journalism often resemble the filmic construction of a screen play. Before I support my argument by using Stam’s theories about literary adaptations into film from his essay "Beyond Fidelity: The Dialogics of Adaptation", I will start with a short summary of Stam’s article. He starts his essay by complaining â€Å"The language of criticism dealing with the film adaptation of novels has often been profoundly moralistic, awash in terms such as infidelity, betrayal, deformation, violation, vulgarization, and desecration, each accusation carrying its specific charge of outraged negativity† (54). He claims that a more effective criticism will be based in â€Å"contextual and intertextual history† (75), and less concerned with vague ideas of fidelity. He believes that absolute fidelity is impossible due to (1) the difference in medium between novel and film, (2) the lack of a single absolutely correct reading of a novel, and (3) the intertextuality of all novels and films. He claims that: â€Å"Each medium has its own specificity deriving from its respective materials of expression† (59), and explains that the written word is the novels only component of expression, while the film has more components such as â€Å"moving photographic im age, phonetic sound, music, noises, and written materials† (59). Therefore, certain changes are inevitable. Stam is also concerned with the term ‘faithfulness’ in film adaptations. Is it... ...e subdivided into eighty-six scenes which tell the facts of the case by constantly alternating the viewpoint (132), which is obviously a technique of screen writing. In his biography Capote, Clarke also identifies Capote’s style as cinematic when he claims that: â€Å"Despite Brook’s effort, it [the movie In Cold Blood], has little of the book’s impact. Paradoxically, it is also less cinematic than the book† (386). To conclude, the similarities in the process processes of transforming a body of hypotexts, the similarities between mediation filters in the process of adapting a novel into a film and adapting a factual case into a non-fiction novel, as well as the fact that most adaptations are realized in a style that creates a cinematic experience for the reader, are factors that proof my proposal that works of literary journalism can also be seen as adaptations.

Differences and Inequalities Essay

This essay will provide examples of inequalities and differences using information from City Road (The Open University, 2014) and the observations I have made which are similar on my street and how they affect society. Class, age, wealth, education, disability and even sexuality are seen as differences among those who lack access to these resources and therefore experience inequalities. Inequality is when a person is unable to do the same as someone else due to barriers. As seen in Connecting Lives (The Open University, 2014a) the inequalities that Stephen Sweetman (who uses a wheelchair) endures are due to the design of the built environment and due to this I see the physical exclusion this has on his life. One of the main issues on my street is most shop entrances have steps. This makes it inaccessible for people who have a disability and these impact their choices and their access to resources. The recent location change to our Bus Station which use to be located in the town centre where easy access to the high street and all the shops was quick and virtually obstacle free, now it has been moved outside the high street and to get to the main shops you now have to walk along way and it is harder on the elderly, disabled and families with young children in pushchairs. The new location is a lot smaller but has the same volume of people using the area, currently the pathway is being used as a waiting area bringing disorder and people’s safety is at risk the pathway is crowded and you have to walk in the road to get by. Local councils can help to ensure differences do not develop in to inequalities by clearing rubbish frequently and making sure the streets are clean from things like dog mess, chewing gum and that the street lights are maintained and bollards, signage and road markings are visible. John Arthur’s story The Life and Times of the Street: Part 1 [Video], (The Open University, 2014a) is another clear example of inequalities and differences on City Road. He is a homeless person but his life experiences connect with other people in similar circumstances. Looking at these connections I see patterns of inequalities and differences but also on a  wider scale within the homeless, unemployed and people on a low wage in British society. On my street homeless people are often seen in doorways, sleeping rough, begging for money or food. What, how and why have their individual experiences led them to live their lives this way and make them feel excluded from society? The Mackintosh Centre, The Life and Times of the Street: Part 1 (The Open University, 2014a) explains that the sports centre is perceived by some local people as an exclusive place and they know its history, how it was transformed from the home of a wealthy landowner to a community sports centre. However the stigma of the wealth surrounded by the history of the building and the financial inequality barrier has lead to people assuming they would not be welcome. Changes in individual circumstances can lead to variations in differences which also affect how they see themselves within the society. The Food Bank (The Open University, 2014a) offers people help while they have financial misfortune. The people that use the food bank do so out of necessity and do not have a choice in the food they are given. This is in great contrast to the people who go to the supermarkets or the farmers’ markets and choose what they like. City Road has many different businesses and over time as on my street these businesses have changed making and remaking the street introducing different ethnic groups. One building on my street was once a bank, now it is run as an American themed restaurant and sells food and beverages based on America. Their clientele who frequent this establishment do so as a choice, whereas people who are less fortunate and have limited or no income have to use food banks. This essay has covered Differences and Inequalities on City Road (The Open University, 2014) and how these are comparable or diverse to my street. I have found patterns in social life regarding individual stories and how people’s life experiences change how they perceive their belonging to the street. I have looked at Inequalities and how the order and disorder on the street can influence how people go about their everyday lives. References Blakeley, G. and Staples, M. (2014) ‘The life and times of the street’, in Allen, J. and Blakeley, G. (eds) (2014) Understanding Social Lives, Part 1, Milton Keynes: The Open University. The Open University (2014a) ‘The Life and Times of the street: Part 1’ [Video], DD102 Introducing the social sciences. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/veiw.php?id=443760 §ion=2.3 (Accessed 4 November 2014). The Open University (2014a) ‘Inequalities on the street’: Part 2’ [Video], DD102 Introducing the social sciences. Available at https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/veiw.php?id=443760 §ion=2.2 (Accessed 4 November 2014).

DH Lawrence’s The Rocking Horse Winner Essay

Tormented family relationships stem from a number of occurrences. Jealousy, death, abuse, and many other factors can stress relationships to the point of demise. They can often originate from an individual’s character and personality, or further affect it. Much of Lawrence’s writing contains the common theme of tormented family relationships. This theme can be seen in the short story The Rocking-Horse Winner through: â€Å"the terrible mother† Hester, â€Å"the anti-wise man† Oscar Cresswell, and â€Å"the sacrificial scapegoat† Paul. Hester is portrayed as cold and shallow, accurately demonstrating the terrible mother archetype. Thus, she is a perfect example of the theme of tormented family relationships, present in the short story The Rocking-Horse Winner. When the authour describes what, â€Å"Everyone else said of her: ‘She is such a good mother. She adores her children.’ Only she knew herself and her children themselves this was not so† (Lawrence 19). Hester’s character is simply more concerned with wealth and her social image than her own children. She is very corrupted by society, and what society thinks of her. As a result of this, she neglects her children, and pays little attention to their needs. Hester proves to fit the terrible mother archetype, and this shows the present theme of tormented family relationships. Also, Hester’s brother, Oscar Cresswell, advances the theme of tormented relationships by portraying the â€Å"anti-old man† archetype. It is evident that jealousy and family issues are present based on Oscar’s relationships with both his nephew Paul, and his sister Hester. The authour explains, â€Å"The Uncle was delighted to find that his small nephew was posted with all the racing news† (Lawrence 22). Oscar inherited the family fortune, as Hester was left with her husband to depend on. Oscar does make an effort to help Hester’s financial situation, although he is also very concerned with wealth and social status, neglecting to realize the near trouble Paul is faced with. Oscar uses his nephew, by exploiting Paul’s â€Å"gift† for his own personal wealth, while Hester is struggling to meet her own desires. Oscar is portrayed as the opposite of a saviour, and more as a selfish man. This character archetype further proves the theme of tormented family relationships in the story. As well, Paul, Hester’s son and Oscar’s nephew, is the young protagonist, who is searching for â€Å"luck†, but proves to be the â€Å"sacrificial scapegoat†, further proving the present theme. Neglected by his own mother, Paul is desperately trying to get her approval and her love. This is shown in the short story when Paul asks, â€Å"Do you think I’m lucky mother? I knew Malabar, didn’t I? Over eighty thousand pounds! I call that lucky, don’t you mother† (Lawrence 33)? Even on Paul’s deathbed, he is desperately scrambling to finally get his mother’s approval. His luck ran out, and his quest as a hero was not fulfilled. Paul simply wanted to be enough for his mother. To finally prove himself, and win her love. His character can be classified as the â€Å"sacrificial scapegoat† archetype. Paul’s desperate attempt for his mother’s love proves the theme of tormented family relationships present in this story. Through the character archetypes of Hester, Paul, and Oscar Cresswell, the theme of tormented family relationships is proved to be shown in many aspects of the short story The Rocking-Horse Winner. Hester’s lack of care and compassion towards her children, Oscar’s greed, and Paul’s desperate attempt to prove himself to his mother, are only a few examples of this clear theme. This theme is not only present in the story, but in the lives of many. These tormented family relationships are often looked over, rather than interpreted as a part of an individual’s personality.

Guide for Assignment Presentation

Introduction An assignment should be regarded as a piece of academic writing. The following comments and suggestions about the construction and presentation of assignments are intended to provide a guide.They are not intended to be considered as rigid rules. However, there are a number of academic conventions which should be met in academic work. Of most importance in academic writing is an overriding need for internal consistency in presentation. Internal consistency is achieved by thoroughness and attention to detail in the presentation of work. The purpose of an academic piece of writing is to report the results of an investigation to other members of the discipline for their information, evaluation and criticism.Communication of the results of academic activity is important as it allows the dissemination of information and is fundamental to the establishment of groups of people who are interested in similar problems and who are interested in applying similar analytical techniques to identify solutions to these problems. Writing an assignment is an exercise in effective communication and requires more than just learning of techniques of analysis and facts about the economic process. There are a number of books available that assist with writing assignments.See for example, Betts and Seitz (1986) Writing Essays in the Social Sciences and Anderson and Poole (1994) Thesis and Assignment Writing. It is recommended that students consult these for information about how to research and write an assignment. 2. Assessment Criteria Each units/modules offered through the HND Programme will have stipulated the criteria for assessment of assignments in the Course Outline. A number of assessment criteria that may be relevant for all courses are listed below. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Relevance of your answer to the question or task set. Clarity of expression. Supporting documentation for arguments.Proper acknowledgement of documentation and t he use of a bibliographic convention. Logical planning and sequence. Overall presentation, including correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. Comprehensive coverage reflecting mastery of set readings and text. 3. Presentation of the Assignment You should always ensure that you prepare two hard copies of your Assignment and keep a copy on disc. On occasions assignments go missing, or second copies are required by University/College. †¢ Each Assignment should be clearly marked up with your name, your study centre, your Student registration number and at the end of the assignment a word count.The assignment should be word-processed. 1 TEG 2007 †¢ The assignment presentation format should directly meet the requirements of the assignment brief (i. e. reports and presentations are the most called for communication formats). You must ensure that your assignment does not appear to be an extended essay. If it does, you will lose grades. †¢ The word limit will be included in the assignment brief. These are specified by Lecturer/Tutor and must be adhered to. †¢ Appendices should clearly link to the assignment and can be attached as supporting documentation at the end of the report. However, failure to reference them by number (e. . Appendix 1) within the report and also marked on the Appendix itself will lose you grade. Only use an Appendix if it is essential and clearly adds value to the overall Assignment. The Appendix is not a waste bin for all the materials you have come across in your research, or a way of making your assignment seem somewhat heavier and more impressive than it is. 4. Time Management for Assignments One of the biggest challenges we all seem to face day-to-day is that of managing time. When studying, that challenge seems to grow increasingly difficult, requiring a balance between work, home, family, social life and study life.It is therefore of pivotal importance to your own success for you to plan wisely the limited amount of t ime you have available. Step 1: Find out how much time you have Ensure that you are fully aware of how long your module lasts, and the final deadline. If you are studying a module from September to December, it is likely that you will have only 10-12 weeks in which to complete your assignments. This means therefore, that the meeting of deadlines is vitally important, as submission schedules are extremely tight. Step 2: Plan your timeEssentially you need to work backwards from the final deadline, submission date, and schedule your work around the possible time lines. Clearly, if you have only 10-12 weeks available to complete three assignments, you will need to allocate a block of hours in the final stages of the module to ensure that all of your assignments are in on time. Late submissions will not be accepted, and no extensions will be allowed. Students who do not submit will be treated as a ‘no show', and will have to re-enter for the next assessment period and undertake an alternative assignment. Step 3: Set prioritiesYou should set priorities on a daily and weekly basis (not just for study, but for your life). There is no doubt that this mode of study needs commitment (and some sacrifices in the short term). When your achievements are recognised by colleagues, peers, friends and family, it will all feel worthwhile. Step 4: Analyse activities and allocate time to them Consider the range of activities that you will need to undertake in order to complete the assignment and the time each might take. Remember, too, there will be a delay in asking for information and receiving it. 2 TEG 2007 †¢Preparing terms of reference for the assignment, to include the following. 1 A short title 2 A brief outline of the assignment purpose and outcome 3 Methodology (the methods you intend to use to carry out the required tasks) 4 Indication of any difficulties that have arisen in the duration of the assignment 5 Time schedule 6 Confidentiality – if the assig nment includes confidential information ensure that this is clearly marked on the assignment 7 Literature and desk research undertaken †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ A literature search in order to undertake the necessary background reading and underpinning information that might support your assignmentWriting letters and memos asking for information either internally or externally Designing questionnaires Undertaking surveys Analysis of data from questionnaires Secondary data search Preparation of first draft report Always build in time to spare, to deal with the unexpected. This may reduce the pressure that you are faced in meeting significant deadlines. 5. Planning and Sequence of an Assignment The assignment should contain at least three well defined and distinct sections: (a) An introduction (or ‘a beginning’) (b) The body of the assignment (or ‘a middle’) (c) A conclusion (or ‘an end’) †¢The introduction, whi ch occurs at the beginning of the assignment, should include a statement of the aims or objectives of the assignment. The introduction provides a clear statement of the problem or question to be considered; the limitations or assumptions you plan to use when examining the problem, and the analytical techniques used. Although the task set will frequently determine the question posed for the assignment, there is still scope for the introduction to define more precisely the question/task or to set the bounds of the assignment. Do not simply state the title of the assignment or repeat the task posed by the lecturer. The body of the assignment contains the argument that you present in support of the question you have posed in the introduction. The argument should be logical and embody the standard techniques of analysis as well as display familiarity with standard economic concepts and doctrines. †¢ The conclusion should complete the assignment by following up discussion points rais ed in the previous sections. It should relate clearly to your statement of aims and purpose provided in the introduction. As a general rule, no new material should be introduced in 3 TEG 2007 the conclusion.The conclusion normally should draw conclusions and point to further directions one could take from matters which have been argued fully and stated in the body of the assignment. Do not simply repeat, or summarise, what you have already said in the body of the assignment. Repetition is regarded as padding. 6. Common Specific Instructions used in Assignment Questions or Tasks Define Set down the precise meaning of a word or phrase and show why the distinctions implied in the definition are necessary by expanding on particular elements that may be sources of confusion or misunderstanding.Discuss Investigate an issue by examining the positive and negative arguments and by exploring interesting alternatives. Illustrate Use a model to clarify a particular point or use examples taken f rom everyday reality. Explain Clarify by the use of explanation, model and example. Compare Describe the similarities and differences and evaluate likely outcomes. Contrast Present an overview of two points of view and set them in opposition to bring out the differences. Describe Give a detailed explanation and clarification. EvaluateMake an appraisal on the basis of pre-established criteria, explore other points of view and, perhaps, include your personal opinion. Interpret Expand the meaning of a particular issue or event. Justify Show the basis for a decision or conclusion by the use of an appropriate model or relevant evidence. Outline Describe the major features of an issue or theory omitting minor details and emphasising structure and key conclusions. Relate Show how things are connected to each other and how they influence each other. State Present in brief, clear form. SummariseGive a brief overview of the key points of a matter, omitting details and examples. Trace Follow t he development of a topic from some point of origin. 4 TEG 2007 7. PRESENTATION The style and presentation of assignments are important. Your assignment should be easy to read and be presented in a way that shows you have organised your material to present your argument clearly. In addition, your assignment should be referenced where appropriate and literature cited in the text should be accurately documented. 7. 1 Writing Report Students often ask ‘what do they mean by a report? ‘ or ‘what should the report format include? ‘There are a number of approaches to reports, formal or informal: some report formats are company specific and designed for internal use rather than external reporting. For Assignment-Based Assessment process, you should stay with traditional formats. Below is a suggested layout that might assist you when presenting your assignments. A Title Page – includes the title of the report, the author of the report and the receiver of the re port Terms of reference – who ordered the report, when and why, any conditions (Optional) Contents page – providing a clearly structured guide to the contents of the report with page number references for each item.All section numbers and titles, using exactly the same wording as in the report. Executive summary – a brief insight into purpose, nature and outcome of the report, in order that the outcome of the report can be quickly established (Optional) Introduction – background information Main body of the report includes findings, description, facts, opinions, etc. This must be well structured and divided into sections, which are clearly labelled. Decimal numbering is common. Here is brief example. 1. 0 Introduction 1. 1 Situation Analysis 1. 1. 1 External Analysis 1. 1. 2 Internal AnalysisConclusions – draw the report to a conclusion, highlighting key points of importance that will impact upon any recommendations that might be made. It’s also summary of results. Recommendations – clearly outline potential options and then make your recommendations. Where appropriate, justify recommendations in order to substantiate your decision. Appendices – ensure that you only use appendices that add value to the report. Ensure that they are numbered and referenced within the text. If you are not going to reference it within the text, then it should not be there.Appendices (not always necessary) – additional details, tables, graphs, detailed analysis. 5 TEG 2007 Bibliography – whilst in a business environment a bibliography might not be necessary, for an assignment-based report it is vital. It provides an indication of the level of research, reading and collecting of relevant information that has taken place in order to fulfil the requirements of the assignment task. Where possible, and where relevant, you could provide academic references within the text, which should of course then provide the basis of your bibliography.References should realistically be listed alphabetically and in the following sequence Author's name and edition of the text; Date of publication; Title and sub-title (where relevant); Edition number; Place of publication; Publisher; Series and individual volume number where appropriate. 8. Tips for Writing Assignments Everybody has a personal style, flair and tone when it comes to writing. However, no matter what your approach, you must ensure your assignment meets the requirements of the brief and so is comprehensible, coherent and cohesive in approach. Think of preparing an assignment as preparing for an examination.Ultimately, the work you are undertaking results in an examination grade. Successful achievement of all four modules in a level results in a qualification. There are a number of positive steps that you can undertake in order to ensure that you make the best of your assignment presentation in order to maximise the grades available. Step 1 – Work to the Brief Ensure that you identify exactly what the assignment asks you to do. †¢ †¢ †¢ If it asks you to be a marketing manager, then immediately assume that role. If it asks you to prepare a report, then present a report, not an essay or a letter.Furthermore, if it asks for 2,500 words, then do not present 1,000 or 4,000 unless it is clearly justified, agreed with your tutor and a valid piece of work. Identify whether the report should be formal or informal; who it should be addressed to; its overall purpose and its potential use and outcome. Understanding this will ensure that your assignment meets fully the requirements of the brief and addresses the key issues included within it. Step 2 – Addressing the Tasks It is of pivotal importance that you address each of the tasks within the assignment.Many students fail to do this and often overlook one of the tasks or indeed part of the tasks. Many of the assignments will have three or four tasks, some wil l have even more. You should establish quite early on, which of the tasks requires you to collect information and which provides you with the framework of the assignment, i. e. the communication method. Possible tasks will include the following. †¢ Compare and contrast. Take two different organisations and compare them side by side and consider the differences and contrasts between the two. 6 TEG 2007 †¢ Carry out primary or secondary research.Collect information to support your assignment and your subsequent decisions †¢ Prepare a plan. Some assignments will ask you to prepare a plan for an event or for a marketing activity. Provide a step-by-step approach, rationales and a time-line. Ensure your intended outcomes are measurable and achievable. Make sure your actions are very specific and clearly explained. †¢ Analyse a situation. This will require you to collect information, consider its content and present an overall understanding of the situation as it exists . This might include looking at internal and external factors and how he current situation evolved. †¢ Make recommendations. The more advanced your studies, the more likely it is that you will be required to make recommendations. Consider and evaluate your options and then make justifiable recommendations. †¢ Justify decisions. You may be required to justify your decision or recommendations. This will require you to explain fully how you have arrived at as a result and to show why, supported by relevant information. In other words, you should not make decisions in a vacuum; as a marketer your decisions should always be informed by context. †¢ Prepare a presentation.This speaks for itself. If you are required to prepare a presentation, ensure that you do so, preparing clearly defined PowerPoint or overhead slides that are not too crowded and that clearly express the points you are required to make. †¢ Evaluate performance. It is very likely that you will be asked to evaluate a campaign, a plan or even an event. You will therefore need to consider its strengths and weaknesses, why it succeeded or failed, the issues that have affected it, what can you learn from it and, importantly, how can you improve performance or sustain it in the future.All of these points are likely requests included within a task. Ensure that you identify them clearly and address them as required. Step 3 – Information Search Many students fail to realise the importance of collecting information to support and underpin their assignment work. However, it is vital that you demonstrate to your tutor ability to establish information needs, obtain relevant information and utilise it sensibly in order to arrive at appropriate decisions. You should establish the nature of the information required, follow up possible sources, the time involved in obtaining the information and likely gaps in information.Consider these factors very carefully. Tutors are very keen that stude nts are seen to collect information, expand their mind and consider the breadth and depth of the situation. Submitting a bibliography is a good way of illustrating the level of information collection and application within the assignment. 7 TEG 2007 Step 4 – Develop an Assignment Plan Your assignment needs to be structured and coherent, addressing the brief and presenting the facts as required by the tasks. The only way you can successfully achieve this is by planning the structure your Assignment in advance.Earlier, we looked at identifying your tasks and, working backwards from the release date, in order to manage time successfully. The structure and coherence of your assignment needs to be planned with similar signs. In planning the Assignment, you should aim to include all the relevant information requested. You should also plan for the use of models, diagrams and appendices where necessary. Plan contents †¢ Introduction †¢ Content †¢ Main body of the assig nment †¢ Summary †¢ Conclusions and recommendations where appropriate Step 5 – Prepare Draft AssignmentIt is good practice to produce a first draft of a report. You should use it to ensure that you have met the aims and objectives, assignment brief and tasks related to the actual assignment. A draft document provides you with scope for improvements, and enables you to check for accuracy, spelling, punctuation and use of English. Some tutors provide you with an opportunity to review a draft assignment. If this is the case, you should take every opportunity to let them provide you with support. Step 6 – Prepare Final DocumentIn the section headed ‘Presentation of the Assignment' in this guide, there are a number of components that should always be in place at the beginning of the assignment documentation, including labelling of the assignment, word counts, appendices numbering and presentation method. Ensure that you adhere to the guidelines presented, or alternatively those suggested by your tutors. 9. Group Working †¢ Group work is necessary to develop the skills to be effective in real work situations. Very rarely do you work completely on your own †¢ Group work can be more productive as there are more people generating ideas †¢Group projects are often more interesting as the task can be more complex †¢ Group members can motivate and support each other Group problems: †¢ Domination – one or two members take over, and the others lose interest 8 TEG 2007 †¢ Critical – in order to sound knowledgeable, some members are always critical. Sometimes competition emerges †¢ Conflict – sometimes open, sometimes not †¢ Sexism and racism – you must inform your Tutor, or Equal Opportunities Co-ordinator †¢ Avoidance – whole group avoiding the task, often due to fear of failure †¢ Inactive listening – nobody listens – people working as individuals , not as a groupSome suggestions: †¢ Analyse the skills and strengths of each member †¢ Brainstorm ideas and form a plan of action †¢ Allocate tasks and set dates for task completion and regular meetings †¢ Set up communications – phone numbers, room numbers, e-mail addresses †¢ Set meeting places – this is absolutely essential at a first meeting †¢ Keep reviewing progress on the task and on any problems with the group †¢ Discuss any problems openly and with all group members 10. Effective Reading Before you start: †¢ Is this the correct book/article for your purpose? Check date/author/scope †¢Scan the contents, is it the right level? Read a section/chapter to check †¢ What questions are you trying to answer? †¢ Clarify before you start Reading: †¢ Read with purpose (what questions to be answered? ) †¢ Read selectively – scan and skim – only read in detail what you need to †¢ Mentally r ecite what you have just read †¢ Make notes at appropriate points – bullet points, do not rewrite the whole book. Review: †¢ Did I answer the questions I wanted to? †¢ Do I understand and remember what I read? 9 TEG 2007 11. Oral presentation Plan: †¢ What is the purpose? What are your objectives? †¢Who are your audience? †¢ What facilities can you use? – flip chart, OHP, PC, etc. †¢ Structure your presentation -the old rule is: Tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em, then tell 'em, then tell 'em what you told 'em. i. e. an introduction, the contents, a conclusion †¢ Make sure any visual aids can be seen and read †¢ Rehearse and time your delivery Delivery: †¢ A good start – make an impact, and make your audience want to listen †¢ Don't read – use crib cards, OHP slides as notes †¢ Speak slowly and clearly †¢ Look at your audience, don't talk to the wall, your feet, or the OHP screen †¢ Vary the speed and pitch of your voice †¢ Make sure you are not standing in front of the visual aids †¢ If it is a group presentation, make sure that you link well together †¢ Be lively and finish on a high note 12. Punctuation Why use it? It is to guide the reader in the natural pauses in writing. It is also there to show how the grammar of a sentence is supposed to work; a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence and a full stop at the end. Punctuating your sentence need only involve: colon, semicolon, full stop, question mark, dash, apostrophe, comma, quotation marks, brackets. †¢Colon (:) is most often used to introduce a quotation or a list. †¢ Full stop (. ) Use full stops more than you expect to. When in doubt, your instinct should always plump for a full stop. Semicolon (;) Represents a pause longer than a comma but shorter than a full stop. (If in doubt about its use don’t use it. ) †¢ 10 TEG 2007 It is used between clauses when the second clause expands or explains the first e. g. neither of them moved; they waited to see if the intruder made a quick exit. It is also used before clauses which begin with â€Å"nevertheless†, â€Å"therefore†, â€Å"even so†, and â€Å"for instance† e. . He looked before he leaped; even so he landed in the water. It is used to mark off a series of phrases or clauses which themselves contain commas. e. g. You will need the following ingredients: four eggs, preferably size 3; 4oz caster sugar; a few drops of vanilla essence; and 2oz almonds, which must be ground. †¢ Question mark (? ) Use a question mark every time there is a genuine direct question. That means Are you going? but not I asked if he was going? (wrong because it is a reported question). †¢ Dashes (-) Use dashes but don’t overdo them.You can use a pair of dashes – in place of brackets – or a single dash to mark a break in the sentence before a punch line or a throwaway remark: In life, two things are never with us – death and taxes. †¢ Apostrophes (‘) They do not make things plural. They are not used to make things plural e. g. 1990’s, MP’s HQ’s. The general rule is: if something belongs to someone you write someone’s or for example, the student’s. If it belongs to several people (the students), you write the students’. Plurals like people and children, that aren’t made with an s, take apostrophe s i. e. children’s.Apostrophes are also shown where letters are missed out – can’t play, won’t play. It’s is short for it is. Beware of : its, (meaning â€Å"of it†)yours, hers, ours, theirs, and whose. None of them takes as apostrophe. †¢ Commas (,) Commas, like buses, often come in pairs. It is wrong to write The reason is as it always was, to save money. Two commas should be used, like brackets, either side of the phrase as it al ways was. The test is whether, grammatically, the sentence would hold up if the section between the commas were removed. The common mistake is to forget the second comma.Commas are needed, and are not optional, when someone or something is being addressed. Kiss me, Hardy must take the comma after me. Yes Minister should have be Yes, Minister. Pairs of commas should be used when however, say, meanwhile and for instance are interjected into sentences – he might be paid, say, ? 50,000 a year. 11 TEG 2007 At the beginning of a sentence, these words or phrases need to be cordoned off with a single comma – However, investigations into†¦ , For instance, if we look at†¦.. Commas are used to mark off separate items in a list, except, usually between the last two items.You can put a comma in before and if it's needed to make the sentence clear Goods are transported by lorry, horse and cart, and even handcart. A strong adjective usually takes commas after each one excep t the last – old, crabby, pedantic Dr Johnson. †¢ Quotation marks (â€Å") Use double to enclose direct speech. Use a colon, not a comma before quotes – Mr. Smith said: â€Å"This is good news for all poor students. † Use a comma after quotes (before the second quotation marks) – â€Å"It will help many students,† said Jim. Quotations direct from a book or journal also need to have double quotation marks (â€Å") Davis et al. 1991, p243) stated that â€Å"Equilibrium is the sense which tells you when your body is balanced and when it is tipping, turning or inverting. † Unless the length of the quotation is more than three lines of your text, in which case it is indented and no quotation marks are necessary. †¢ Brackets ( ) The use of brackets (whose technical term is parenthesis) should be kept to a minimum. They are used to indicate a supplementary remark, or a qualification of some sort. Grammatically they work like commas, but the remarks inside the brackets tend to be less important than those inside commas.Brackets are always used in pairs. If the brackets surround an entire sentence then the full stop at the end of the sentence stays within the brackets. (This is the procedure you should follow. ) If the brackets only surround part of the sentence, the full stop goes outside. This is the procedure you should follow (under normal circumstances). †¢ Square brackets [like these] Square brackets are used to indicate your changes or your own comments on somebody else’s writing. The report that 25000 had been killed in battle [a figure shown to be greatly exaggerated] changed the course of the war. 3. Plagiarism Plagiarism is the act of passing off as your own work another person’s writing, words, or ideas. You must make it clear which ideas and which words you have obtained from someone else. Superficial and minor changes do not disguise your use of the words of someone else. You commit plagiarism if you do not acknowledge the source of a direct quote, or a specific piece of writing that you have paraphrased, or even if you describe an idea or concept that you have heard or read somewhere without a reference or acknowledgement.University / College rules will apply into plagiarism and also subject to disciplinary action. 12 TEG 2007 14. General Guidelines Follow these stages while you are doing your reading/note taking. Generating ideas †¢ What are the implications of the title? †¢ What ideas lie behind the title? †¢ What are you being invited to explore? †¢ Put your ideas on paper †¢ Things should become more complex at this stage †¢ There should be a mixture of fact/description and theory/argument Finding your perspective †¢ Try to sort the complexity into a clear, logical pattern †¢Is there an obvious sequence such as: intentions/results; pro/anti; before/after; cause/effect; hypothesis/evidence? †¢ What's most relevan t/interesting, convincing/contentious? †¢ What evidence supports your argument? †¢ What is the basic question/problem here? †¢ Diagrammatic structure of ideas may help A draft plan of the essay †¢ Roughly, the structure of the content †¢ Sequence of the argument †¢ You may be able to plan your paragraph structure †¢ A diagram plan may be useful †¢ Plan to go from the general to the specific Write a draft version †¢ Amend as you go along Maybe start each section on a separate page †¢ Several drafts may be needed †¢ Should new paragraphs be added/ some be divided? The final version †¢ Ask someone else to proof-read it for you. 13 TEG 2007 BTEC Higher National Grade Descriptors The assessment of BTEC Higher National qualifications will be at unit level and there will be no overall grade for either the Certificate or the Diploma. Each unit will be graded as a pass, merit or distinction. A pass is awarded for the achievement of all outcomes against the specified assessment criteria.Merit and distinction grades are awarded for higher-level achievement. In order to demonstrate achievement, learners typically undertake assessment activities that include a series of tasks or assignments, reflecting typical practice in the sector concerned. In order to judge the level of achievement, assessment criteria are used for the pass grade and grade descriptors for the merit and distinction grades. Achievement of a pass grade – a pass grade is achieved by meeting all the requirements defined in the assessment criteria for each individual unit.Achievement of a merit or distinction grade – all the assessment criteria and merit grade descriptors need to be completed within a unit to achieve a merit grade. All the assessment criteria, merit and distinction grade descriptors must be completed within a unit to achieve a distinction grade. The generic merit and distinction grade descriptors need to be viewed as a qualitative extension of the assessment criteria within each individual unit. The grade descriptors will be contextualised to meet the needs of the unit and be incorporated into the design of the assessment activities.Any single assignment however, as with BTEC Higher Nationals, will only be able to indicate that the learners has achieved some of the descriptors, say M1 and D2 unless it is a project style assessment that covers the whole unit (i. e. all learning outcomes and criteria). For example, if an assignment task requires the learner to: To pass the task you need to explored the organisational structures and cultures of the two organisations and prepared a suitable comparison in terms of the unit content requirements — types of organisation and associated structures, organisational networks and linkages, organisational culture.The qualitative aspect of the work, that will be used to determine your achievement of M1 on this occasion, will be the level of detail of both understanding of the subject matter (effective approach to study) and the depth to which you have taken this in the comparisons (effective approach to research). The approach taken in the example above shows how the indicative criteria can be adapted to better fit the work being undertaken in the task. In some cases the indicative characteristic could be used just as it is with no more than an identification of the evidence to which it relates (e. g. report, presentation, diagram, etc. ).