Accounting Roles in the Company and Importance of Accounting Essay

Accounting is an information and the measurement that system identifies, records and communicates information about an organization business activities. In business we used accounting in all the aspects. The most common contact through accounting is through credit approvals, checking accounts, and payrolls. In a layman term accounting is a language of business because all the organization set up an accounting information in order to communicate information to help people to take decision.. There are 2 kinds of decision makers: 1) External Users and Internal Users External users: They are not directly involved in running the business. So, they will have a very limited access to an organization details. Still their business decisions depend on the information that is reliable, comparable and relevant. . External users include people like Lenders, Government shareholders, external auditors and regulators.. Example: External auditors use financial statements to verify that they are properly prepared according to GAAP. 2) Lenders would look into the information whether an organization will repay its loan and interest. 3) Customers use financial statement to check the power of the suppliers. See more: Homeless satire essay Internal Users: They are directly involved in managing and operating an organization they will help in improving the efficiency of the business. They include managers, officers(employees), internal auditors, and sales staff . Example: Managers would look into the information about the project cost and revenues in order to makes changes in products and services. Both Internal and external users rely on internal controls in order to control, monitor company activites.

Biographical Data

This paper intends to answer the following questions: 1) Where can a manager find biographical data about an employee? 2) What can biographical data tell a manager about their employees? ; and 3) What can a manager do to get a compatible ability-job fit? It also aims to provide examples to support the answers. Where Can a Manager Find Biographical Data About an Employee?A manager can always look for credible biographical data with regards to an employee by requesting such information from the high school or college he or she attended (HR Guide to the Internet: Personnel Selection: Methods: Biographical Inventories, 2001, n. p. ). In addition to that, employment records may also be looked into since one’s former employers are the ones who may convincingly attest to the employees’ behavior, consistency, truthfulness, flexibility, as well as, one’s ability to think critically (HR Guide to the Internet: Personnel Selection: Methods: Biographical Inventories, 2001, n. p. ).Furthermore, special requests to look into court records may also be carried out to check if the employee has been or has not been involved in a crime; this will guarantee an employee’s character (HR Guide to the Internet: Personnel Selection: Methods: Biographical Inventories, 2001, n. p. ). The same is true with credit history; if an employer knows about this then he will also know if one may be trusted, for instance, in terms of finances or monetary handling (HR Guide to the Internet: Personnel Selection: Methods: Biographical Inventories, 2001, n. p. ).Last but not least, if a manager wants to know a bit more about personal qualifications or characteristics of an employee, then he or she may always look into the recommendations provided by the employees’ friends since they are the ones who know the real personality of the employee (HR Guide to the Internet: Personnel Selection: Methods: Biographical Inventories, 2001, n. p. ). What Can a Biographical Data Tel l a Manager About their Employees? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Reference HR Guide to the Internet: Personnel Selection: Methods: Biographical Inventories. (2001). Retrieved April 11, 2008 from http://www. hr-guide. com/data/G313. htm

American Experiences Abroad - Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Experiences Abroad - Assignment - Essay Example Starting with the explorations of Gene Savoy and Christopher Gist, Americans have been able to travel far and wide in the search for the discovery of new worlds. At the inception of a more perspective based thought process, Americans were under the impression that the world was confined to their land; however, when their famous travellers set sail, they discovered and let the people know that there was more to life than just the piece of territory that a group of people were surviving upon. Discovery is an extremely interesting part of life because it talks about finding out information regarding the yesteryears; it involves looking at things that the past left behind, or finding out about new things in life. The best feeling involved with discovery is when one may understand it present on a different territory or land. Americans, like Gene Savoy, have been heavily influenced by archaeology; he alone has been able to discover 40 lost cities in Peru. Peru has history of the Mayan and Inca civilizations which were brought to light primarily under the guidance of Savoy, who discovered Vilacabamba, the place where the Incas had taken their last refuge during the time of the Spanish conquest and he has also been known to be named Gran Pajaten. His expeditions have been recorded in various books and journals which have proved to be extremely helpful for the purpose of both archaeology and exploration. He has, thus, been able to singlehandedly teach American people about the beauty of being able to discover more; he was able to condemn the notion of living with a single view regarding life and not going out and finding out more about life. In his wake, more and more explorers began to travel to far off destinations like India, Japan, China and other Asian countries, in order to settle with their lives there and find out more about the local extracts of these places. For example, there are a number of Americans that have settled in India today; this is because they hav e been able to find refuge in aspects of life like yoga, worship of the divine individual, self realization and actualization etc. Americans are also fascinated by the medicinal use of the marijuana plant in parts of India which helps them to think and wander around plains and foothills, meeting new people and living a new way of life. They say that this helps them to connect more with nature and helps to provide a stark difference from living within the hustle and bustle of the cities in America. Heavy industrialization, they say, has taken the charm of living for oneself away completely in the modern world, thus, they roam in order to change their lifestyle and live a more happy life, which they may find in ashrams in India, as depicted in the movie ‘Eat Pray Love’. Let’s move to modern forms of media: they have helped to show how Americans have abandoned their views about life restricted to their own country. In ‘Casablanca’, the backdrop of the S econd World War helps to depict a man torn inside -- whether or not he should listen to his heart or help his love’s husband fight against the Nazis in Casablanca, Morocco. The protagonist is an expatriate living in Casablanca and, thus, as an American, he is able to figure out new aspects of himself while living abroad altogether1. When people are forced to leave the country due to social or

Solar panels in Burkina Faso Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Solar panels in Burkina Faso - Essay Example Lastly the paper conveys the advantages and disadvantages of solar panels and its status in the upcoming years. Keywords: Burkina Faso, Solar cells, P-N junction, Electron-hole pairs Poverty is one of the major problems in many of the undeveloped countries throughout the world. Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, currently ranked by UN as the third poorest country in the world is facing a multitude of problems as a consequence of its increasing poverty (BBC News). With a nation of about 16 million of which 80% are dependent on agriculture, the 2009 West African floods which displaced 150000 people and also resulted in destruction of homes, shortage of food and water supplies, lack of access to the hospital and a massive decrease in power supply after the destruction of leading power plants caused severe problems for the people (CNN). Western Africa is one of those areas which are facing extreme energy problems especially in the electrical sector. According to an articl e by Itai Madamombe (African Renewal) blackouts are routine in almost all West African countries. Being a landlocked country Burkina Faso is unable to achieve its required electricity production via hydroelectric power stations. According to the CIA world factbook the electricity production of Burkina Faso in 2009 was 664.4 million kWh which was well short of the electricity consumption of the previous year. This led to imports of around 144.6 million kWh. ECOWAS has thus drawn plans to employ alternative sources of electrical energy with special emphasis on solar power so as to provide regular electricity at a much cheaper cost. Rollo, a small town near the capital Ouagadougou with a population of just 7783 people was deeply affected in the 2009 floods (Wikipedia). Lack of clean water supply and poor sanitation resulted in an increased infant and under-five mortality rates. As the population increased and agricultural land extended the need for this clean water is soaring. To achie ve the above mentioned goals, photovoltaic solar panels can be installed within water pumps so as to provide this precious commodity. The mechanism behind its working along with its installation procedure, and its efficiency are all discussed below. Solar photovoltaic energy conversion is a one-step conversion process changing the incoming light energy from the sun into the required electrical energy. According to The Physics of Solar cells the light energy comprises of many tiny and minuscule particles known as photons. When light energy is absorbed by the panel, the electrons are excited. The built-in structure of the panel however herds the electrons in a single direction of the external circuit creating an electromotive force (E.M.F). This force then helps in driving the electrons through the load to do the electrical work. A Solar panel consists of many solar cells arrayed together. A blocking diode or a bypass is used to prevent total loss of energy in case one of the cells st ops working. Figure 1 shows a structure of a typical solar cell. A solar cell is made of semiconductor usually silicon. It has three layers, a top layer of N-type semiconductor, an absorber layer consisting of a P-N junction and a back layer of P-type semiconductor. An anti-reflective coating is used so as to prevent reflection and increase efficiency. Also a protective covering of some material like glass is used which allows

Dessertation on ''stress on international students Dissertation

Dessertation on ''stress on international students - Dissertation Example To determine the specific stressors affecting the students, I structured questionnaires intended to be filled by the international students. In the the questionnaires the students are required to fill whether they are stressed or not by the following factors. They include financial challenges, university fees, getting job in the United Kingdom, language and accommodation. In addition, the questionnaire will determine whether international students pay more fees than the local students do. The questionnaires were sent 100 the international students through the internet and they were supposed to send back the results after one day. The study will target undergraduate and graduate students and all genders. This study is informed by recent findings by Amposah (2010) which established that international students in Manchester University have considerably higher levels of stress than the local students in spite of them facing equal academic challenges. This has resulted to the students ado pting poor stress coping mechanisms including drug abuse, dropping out of school and prevalence of psychological disorders. According to Agnes and Harriet (1993), stress is the emotional feeling a person experiences while under pressure. In this regard, stress is a response of preparing the body to face anticipated tough challenges, with renewed focus, strength and high level of concentration. According to Abe, et al. (1998:21) regulated stress is a motivational factor and it enhances output of the affected person. However, too much stress arising from excessive pressure is counterproductive and it could lead to physical and mental illness. A research conducted by Amposah (2010) established that international students are very prone to stress because of enormous pressure of excelling in their studies, meeting their living expenses and adjusting in the foreign country. Stress often happens in situations that require immediate attention, but in some cases, it extends for long periods causing a lot health and behavioral problems to a person. The effects of long-term stress normally results to feelings of being overwhelmed by the challenges at hand and low energy levels to cope (Mind for better mental health, 2010). Abe, et al (1998:442) established that congested schedules that hardly leave enough time for relaxation and rest as the most prevalent stressors among international students. Though most international students face similar stressors, they have different ways of handling and coping with the stressing situations. Some externalize it by projecting their anger to other persons while other internalize the pressures resulting to mental and physical disorders .These can subsequently develop into severe health and behavioral conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks , drug abuse, suicidal tendencies among others(Mind for better mental health, 2010). This study investigates stressors on international students, undertaking their studies in Manchester University in the United Kingdom. Manchester University in United Kingdom has an ancient tradition of attracting and admitting students from different countries in the world. The most common feature that attracts foreign students to universities in the UK is the high academic standards that often lack in the institutions of higher learning in their home countries. British universities are credited for producing prominent personalities in the world in their respective areas of specialization. In this respect, they attract numerous

Nitrates tolerance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nitrates tolerance - Essay Example While long-term nitrate tolerance treatment induces the body to intrinsic vascular changes, nitrate tolerance treatment overly rely on nitro-vasodilator responsiveness (vascular tolerance). Vascular tolerance is always caused by an increased vascular superoxide production. The vascular superoxide production ultimately relies on unbalanced oxidation to the vascular cells. Additionally, super sensitivity to vasoconstrictor secondary to tonic protein kinase activation may result to nitrates tolerance (Antman & Sabatine, 2012, p. 11). For effective and efficient nitrate toleration clinically, C.NADPH oxidase(s) inclusive of various uncoupled endothelial nitric oxides synthase have been researched on. These oxidant elements have thus been proposed to be some of the richer superoxide sources for nitrate tolerance (Arcangelo & Petterson, 2005, p.134). Vascular NO and superoxide simultaneously form a rapid peroxy-nitrite. Put differently, both super oxide and vascular NO concomitantly aggravates tolerance by promoting NO synthesis. NO synthase uncouple in bonding and inhibit the solubility of both prostacyclin synthase and guanylyl cyclase (Faassen & Vanin, 2007, p.145). Nitrate tolerance has overly gone overboard clinically. This is because tablets designing formula must considerably look into nitrate tolerance in order to come up with effective and efficient tablets formulas (â€Å"Radicals for life the various forms of nitric oxide† 2008, p.133). The oxidative stress concept in nitrate tolerance may purportedly explain the reason as to why radical substances and scavengers have the relief ability to tolerance and endothelial dysfunction (Golan & Tashjian, 2012, p.156). Recent pharmacology research works have defined a newly initiated nitrate tolerance mechanism. This definition is the ability to inhibit mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase. Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase is the enzyme that ensures the completion of

Explain how different definitions and contrasting theories trying to Essay

Explain how different definitions and contrasting theories trying to explain the causes of dyslexia have shaped your understanding of the syndrome. Discuss the implications for a diagnosis of dyslexia - Essay Example These models are widely related to some biological make-up of victims. The concepts are, therefore, referred to as the biological systems of dyslexia (Wagner, 1973). The theories have been developing as researchers continues to investigate the causes of the disease. Their motivation is derived by their search that could mitigate the disease. One of the theories that have been placed onward in explaining the occurrence of dyslexia is the Cerebellar Theory (Stein & Kapoula, 2012). The model explains that dyslexia is caused by the malfunction of the cerebellum (Beaton, 2011). The lack of proper functioning of the cerebellum may lead to impairment of the brain and therefore the information may lack a good processing when reading. Theorists to this knowledge came up with the idea after a thorough investigation of the information entering the brain at a given time. When a person has some defects on the brain, the signals sending the message got distorted, and their response fails. The theory also suggests that the brain disorder makes the patient have no room to store what he or she is reading. Even though, they read they lack to comprehend whatever they are reading. Another concept that explains the existence of dyslexia is an evolutionary model (Stevens, 2010). The theory outlines that dyslexia may occur as a result of a problem during the human evolution. Human being changes their behaviour as they evolve, and their young ones should also develop these changes, failure to which they will be left behind in development. Majority of communities uses speech as a way of communication rather than written methods. The lack of exposure in writing and reading causes dyslexia according to the theory. The theory has similar reasoning with the cerebellar theory in that the symptoms associated are caused by the lack of proper development of cerebellar vestibular. Cerebellar vestibular malfunction,

The value of Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The value of Life - Essay Example There is a challenge in addressing issues such as killing for the societal good. The case of the drug peddler avoiding police arrest and continues creating havoc creates a serious challenge especially when eliminated in non-legal manner. The difference between the non-legal manner and the legal approach is handling the matter creates a minimal difference in the society. In the case of the drug peddler, the taking of the law into their hands by the headmaster presents a challenge for the case when ethics and law is compared. Personal ethics is governed by a personal code of conduct which stipulates how a person will relate to each other. Personal code of ethics contains ten main aspects that must always be looked into so as to have a perfect relationship with the society. Honesty is a value with utmost importance because it will encourage the development trust of the society on the individual. It will also help in the creation of identifiable character of a person. The creation of int egrity will be associated with the image created on issues such addressed by the person. Responsibility is a virtue that must be present in every individual, because it creates harmony on the activities undertaken by individual by associating him with the activities and activities undertaken. ... As seen in the action of the police, the society developed distrust in the police. Trust is a value that is built over time but indispensable in the harmony of the society because it gives freedom to the individuals within the organization. It is vital that one does not change who he is, because others want him to, but create a personal image that will be appreciated by others. However, it times of crisis such a drug problem in the society, individuals in the society can view the solution taken by the Head teacher is the best. The support given to the Head teacher and the admission to the teacher on the matter makes the situation complex. In fact, even after accepting the responsibility, the lawyer has adamantly stated that the clients not guilty of the murder. Legal environment offers a challenge to the ethical belief of the society. The society teaches of honest and truthful as the virtues essential in maintaining harmony. However, telling the truth in such a case will lead to seri ous imprisonment for the Head teacher. Telling the truth is a value in the personal ethics that help in understanding of the prevailing conditions of every situation due to the truth shared in the context. The action of the Head teacher is justified through the action of the society. The society appreciates the involvement of the teacher in solving the perennial problem of drugs within the society. Initially, the society had experienced peace and tranquility until the arrival of the bad apples in the society. The appreciation of the harmony and tranquility witnessed in the past indicated the level of personal ethics and social responsibility of the society. Appreciation is a value in personal ethics paramount, in relationship building, because it will influence

The Obama Administrations approach to the Democratic Revolution in Research Paper

The Obama Administrations approach to the Democratic Revolution in Egypt - Research Paper Example Albeit most historical literatures are inclined to cut the genocide and bondage that is attributed to the European series of invasion that comprises the North American continent, hardly any have any delusions regarding the real motives of Rome, Great Britain, Spain and other nations regal escapades. Correspondingly, when prospective learners of history study about the assignment that the US government has undertaken to proliferate democracy at the tail-end of the 21st century, they will likewise realize its real motivations way better than the thinkers and political analysts who oftentimes being seen on television nowadays. Not so long ago, a chaotic military and political demonstration took place in Egypt that desires the downfall of Mubarak from power. â€Å"Security forces and military police, swinging batons, firing birdshot and driving armoured personnel carriers, stormed the square late Sunday afternoon, chasing out protesters and burning tents.† (Fleishman & Hassan, â€Å"Frustrated Egyptians Come Out in Force†). The latest democratic revolution in Egypt delivers numerous visions into the margin between the United States governments apparent and genuine dedications to democracy in the continental regions of North Africa and in the Western Asia. â€Å"An alternative interpretation of Washington’s response to the Egyptian revolution, however, suggests that US officials have no desire to see democracy establish itself in the North Africa or West Asia, their public pronouncements---repeated endlessly by the major news media---notwithstanding.† (Napoletano, â€Å"The Egyp tian Revolution and Democracy†). Concurring to the most accurate versions of the media, the Obama Administrations interest for the democratic revolution was strengthened by its craving for stability and constancy in these regions. Particularly, some United States officials, concurring to this outlining of the revolutionary end, desired to

War Fare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

War Fare - Essay Example Accordingly, trench warfare, a particularly brutal type of warfare undertaken in armed trenches, and resulting in huge human casualties and loss of life, was a key feature of the battles which occurred as part of the First World War. Difficult conditions coupled with widespread disease and poor sanitation were features of this insidious type of armed conflict. Seeking to explore the devastation which occurred as a result of trench warfare during World War One, this essay will analyze the conditions of trench combat, the types of disease prevalent throughout the trenches and will explore how British soldiers endured fighting under these inhospitable conditions. We begin now with an overview of the preconditions which led to one of the most traumatic episodes in world history. There were a variety of important preconditions to the emergence of the conflict, which up until that date, had been the largest that the world had ever seen. The First World War represented the dueling alliances of the Triple Entente - composed of Britain, France and Russia – and the Triple Alliance – comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. Pre-conditions are best described as the precursors to conflict and there were many underlying long-term causes for the belligerent behaviour of the states of Europe in 1914. An arms race, underway for years, and growing at a rapid pace just prior to the emergence of the First World War set the stage for violent conflict between the major states of the region. Accordingly, the arms race occurring at the time exacerbated the global balance of power and led to an increased likelihood of aggressive behavior between the armies of Europe. As the European armies grew and competed with one another for size, manpower and prestige, the naval race between German and Britain contributed to a partition of the major states of the continent into two

Vanity Fair Essay Example for Free

Vanity Fair Essay Vanity Fair, an English novel written by William Makepeace Thackeray (United Kingdom: Punch Magazine, January 1847 July 1948), epitomizes the early 19th century of British society of the duplicity of social climbers, sabotages, avarices, lovelessness, pretentiousness, selfishness. It, at the same time, captures mix pack of emotion of people who have their origin and counterpart in society as a whole. Furthermore, it is a satirical expose of William’s masterpiece which exposes every chunk of the repulsive truth in the real society, not only in the 19th century, but also in our contemporary world. In the story Vanity Fair, it depicts a few decades time of a group of British people’s life in 19th century. The novel opens at Miss Pinkertons Academy, where we are introduced to Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp (Becky), the novels female protagonists. Amelia and Becky are friends, but they are completely the opposites. Amelia is kind and innocent and comes from a loaded family. Becky, in contrary, is cunning, clever, and scheming and emerges from a deprived condition. The story continues when Becky spends her time at the Sedleys and ingratiates herself into the family and tries her best to entice Amelia’s brother, Joseph, an obese inept man. She practically succeeds her attempt, when George Osborne presents and foils this plan; he intends to marry Amelia and does not want a governess for a sister-in-law. Then, Becky works as governess at Queens Crawley, and marries Rawdon Crawley, second son of Sir Pitt Crawley. Consequently from this marriage, Rawdons rich aunt, Matilda, disinherits him. Meanwhile, Amelia pines over George, who disrespects and disregards her while he is in the military. Dobbin, Georges closest friend who is also surreptitiously in love with Amelia, begs him to treat her kindly. George eventually agrees to marry Amelia, but just as his father prophesied, the Sedleys come to business crisis. Georges father disowns him because of the marriage. Both couples endeavor to live arduously. Sadly, George dies in the battle field at Waterloo. Both Amelia and Becky deliver babies. Amelia sends Georgy, her son, to live with the Osbornes because of her dreadful situation. When Sir Pitt dies, young Mr. Crawley, Rawdon’s elder brother, inherits the estate and Aunt Matildas money. Becky again ingratiates herself with a man named Lord Steyne, who brings her out into high society. After Rawdon discovers that Becky neglects to get him out of prison, where he has landed himself for unpaid debts, he is finally convinced that money means everything to Becky, and he finally decides to leave to Coventry Island where he dies of yellow fever. At the end, Dobbin returns to England, and he finds Amelia. Dobbin stays to help Amelia care for her son. Mr. Osborne dies and leaves his money for Amelia and Georgy, and three of them set off to Europe, where they find Becky. Becky confesses to Amelia that she had been developing a relationship with George, and Amelia finally sees George for who he really was, and marries Dobbin. I was feeling excited and miserable simultaneously by the author’s writing that truly indicates about social discrimination, emphasizing on wealth and social rank/status, which immensely reflected the reality world. I learned that everything is all about the prominent reputation: â€Å"If Mr. Joseph is rich and unmarried, why shouldnt I marry him? I have only a few weeks, to be sure, but there’s no harm in trying(P. 3 L. 2) Becky wanted to climb up from where she was, the place she did not really think she belongs to, by seducing and alluring a rich guy. Although, she didn’t succeed at first place, when George ceased the marriage on the account of not wanting a governess for sister-in-law, still she perfectly managed to scheme her way up to the top of the heap without demonstrating and being cautious about morality; she used all her adeptly cunning and deceiving ability to obtain what she desired; social ranking and money. Moreover, the marriage of Amelia and George was undermined by Georges father. It infers that social status and wealth can determine everything, it even thoroughly eradicates your massive effort: In fact, unless Sedley’s can pay me ten thousand pounds now, there will be no marriage between you and Amelia Sedley. (P. 24 L26) I was really upset with this false values and practices of society, even though I know that there still exists in our real world. However, the author did not just portray one side of a thing, he also provided the mixture of evil and good in the story, just as in our recent real contemporary world. There were some good people such as Amelia, Lady Jane, William Dobbin and more. Due to the good-naturedness and generosity of Amelia, she was truly loved by the gentleman, Dobbin throughout the whole story. I have loved and watched you for fifteen years, (P. 110 L2) At the end of the story, I could see that they lived happily ever after, except for Becky who is so despicable that even her own son didnt consent to have her as a mother, and she deserved it. It opens up my eyes and makes me realize that you may encounter some horrendous time in life, but once and for all, you will be rewarded from what you have conceived. I also caught the book so very interesting of how the author has created the factual truth by implying the power of charm and beauty can sometimes be unpredictably venomous. According to the book: â€Å"In fact, he was convinced that Becky was in love with him, unable to resist such a handsome, charming fellow as himself† (Page 43 Line1) It obviously showed that Rebecca has successfully concocted trap to deceive George to fall for her and gained all the benefit to herself by pulling George to play porker with her adept husband. These are all done by the adeptly ingratiating and the undoubtedly talented nature of a person. After I read this story, I was once again alarmed to see that a person like Becky can be so meretricious she can take advantage over other people around her just to achieve her falsely audacious goal. To my perspective, I strongly admire her aptitude in manipulating and convincing other to be enthralled by her charming appearance in order to survive in the high society: â€Å"George thought Becky clever, amusing, stylish, and altogether delightful. (Page 32 Line15) However, I am extremely repulsed and disgusted by her achievements. From what men have observed and understood, they should be cautious with the woman like Becky, even though they usually fail in doing so and eventually get poisoned by the delicate little venomous snake. â€Å"What a slippery little snake that woman is! † (Page 42 Line14) As Khmer old saying say that women are full of tricks (not necessarily all are bad) and Rebecca is definitely one of those. Not to be harsh to women, but I am not saying that all women are not trust-worthy, yet for men, we ought to be aware of what women are capable of doing and not be too hasty to trust someone. As living in Vanity Fair, money, possessions and positions are being enormously valued more important than human beings. The setting could be applied in modern times, and it can still be true today. There are many people who are constantly trying to reach the top of the heap, selling themselves for popularity, money, or position, and some fighting over money/inheritance. However, people will eventually realize that those things will not remain immortal. Last but not least, the author wants to inform us that although we may live in vanity, the greatness of reputation and possession, it does not mean that we are slaves to its values, which in the final analysis turn into futility and emptiness. We should value more on the relationship, harmony and loyalty that are not easily attained. Vanity Fair is a long yet worthwhile reading. From my perspective, â€Å"Vanity Fair† is a classic and must-read novel that you would not want to miss reading it.

Will ethical behavior pay off in long run?

Will ethical behavior pay off in long run? Answer: I do believe that ethical behavior will pay off in the long run, however I do not believe it will pay off as much as people expect it to. People want ethical behavior to be widespread and change the world, but the truth is that some people will never be ethical. Plus, what is ethical to one person is unethical to another. It depends all in the way individuals interpret things. So although I think that consistently acting ethical and passing those beliefs down through the generations will pay off, I do not believe it will pay off as much as people want it to. Definition: Pearson Custom Publishing (Pearson, 1998-2002) defines ethics as the standards of conduct and moral judgment. Markula Center for Applied Ethics (1995-1998) defines ethics as those standards that compel one to refrain from committing crimes against another person such as stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud. It is also the standards that encourage honesty, integrity, compassion and loyalty. Ethics is not a religious principle, nor is it based on feelings about a particular problem. It cannot be defined as a legal practice because laws are created to protect rights, not manage ethical principles. While the definition may seem clear, ethics as a practice is somewhat ambiguous since interpretation plays a big part in how people perceive right from wrong. The Markala Center for Applied Ethics (1995-1998) states that in order to understand the meaning of ethics we must find answers the following questions, According to what standards are these actions right or wrong? What character traits (like honesty, compassion, fairness) are necessary to live a truly human life? Defining ethics is relatively easy compared to practicing ethics in the work place. Since the primary concern of most businesses is the bottom line, the ethical views may differ based on the type of business. Ethical views of employees may also differ from the views of the company. This can cause conflict among workers and management as companies strive to improve the bottom line. Personal ethics may be compromised in an effort to keep a job. Most Renowned companies like Enron, Satyam, Lehman Brothers, Tyco, Worldcom, Adelphia, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Arthur Anderson à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Came tumbling down. They were the darling of the masses as well as the bourses. They were seen to be responsible to employees, shareholders, suppliers, customers. All the reputation and trust built over years was wiped off due to unethical practices. For a business to be successful, it need not compromise with mortality. The more the business does something unethical or illegal the more likely that it will be caught. When ethical environment is poor, organizational performance suffers because of poor group dynamics and suppressed communication. In unethical organizations the employee morale is badly affected leaving organizations vulnerable to setbacks. Sound ethics is necessary precondition of any long term business enterprise. Excellence in business must exist on foundation of values that most of us hold dear. Without a base of shared values, trust and mutual benefits, todays national and international business would fall apart. Basic principles of integrity and fairness can build an enduring reputation. No separate ethical laws are required; we already have a plethora of laws encompassing every facet of business The Factories Act Indian Contract Act Sale of Good Act Companies Act The Consumer Protection Act The Indian Forests Act Prevention of Corruption Act The Mines and Minerals (Regulation Development Act) Agriculture Marketing Act Prescription Drug Marketing Act Accounting Act In the 21st century in the age of instant noodles and instant information, stakeholders can not be taken for granted and they evaluate the business on the following yardsticks Is the business complying with the law of the land? Does the business have a sense of propriety? Do product claims match reality? How forth Coming is the company with information sharing How does the company handle third party ethics How charitable is the company? How does the company react when faced with negative disclosures? Responsible Business Business should not be considered as a commercial activity aimed at maximizing profit. Profit to be maximized but not at the cost of responsibility to shareholders, suppliers and customers. Business should always take into consideration aspects of human rights and social responsibility. Wealth and knowledge must always be shared with the community as water in village pond unlike water in a private well. Pay Back Time Ethical behavior induces further ethical behavior. Employees who are treated ethically will be more likely to behave ethically with customers and business associates. Ethical behavior/decision making will overtake unethical or immoral practices in the long run. Ethical behavior results in confidence, stability of mind and soundness of position, restful sleep and hassle free life. Energies are freed for maximum productivity, creativity, flow of knowledge, information and reasoning capabilities. While practicing unethical behavior one has to engage in exhaustive subterfuge, resulting in diminished effectiveness and reduced success. Satisfy your Inner self Being ethical is doing the right thing when no one is watching Integrity has no need of rules. Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobodys going to know whether you did it or not-Oprah Winfrey. Most Reversed Tatas were among the first families in India to spread their wealth and wisdom for the benefit of humanity, some examples: In 1998 the Tata Mills failed to pay a dividend. The name Tata was at stake. Sir Jamesedji Tata risked his personal fortune to save a public company, displaying that people mattered to him before profits. In 1924 when Tata Steel was its lowest ebb with no money to pay co-workers, Sir Dorabji Tata risked his entire personal fortune of Rupees One Crore(of that time) which also included his wifes jewelry to get a loan from Imperial Bank of India, for public limited company to save the name of Tatas. One of the guiding principles of JRD Tata was- No success or achievement in material terms is worthwhile unless it serves the needs or interests of the country and its people and is achieved by fair and honest means. Business as a spiritual pursuit encapsulates JRDs philosophy and the ethos of the group he symbolized by stating that we (in Tatas) have retained the fire of idealism and in its glow we have come to recognize that no wealth or power can be more valuable than our dignity; no loss or profit can be more critical than loss of our credibility; no skills or qualification can substitute the integrity of our character. Conclusion Utilizing the principles of ethics in the decision making process will help to ensure that decisions made are fair and respect the rights of those parties involved. Unfortunately, ethical decision making is only as morally sound as the person making the decision. If the person making the decision is does not live by an ethical code, the decision will be swayed in the direction of that belief. Therefore, in order to make sound ethical decisions, decision makers must constantly evaluate their own beliefs and strive to live in an ethical manner and that will definitely pay off in longer run. References http://www.sptimes.com/News/110200/NIE/Treat_others_as_you_w.shtml http://www.powerhomebiz.com/books/ethics101.htm http://essaysforstudent.com/tag/ethical%20behaviour/page1.html http://www.allbusiness.com/buying_exiting_businesses/3503597-1.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_leadership http://www.businessballs.com/ethical_management_leadership.htm 7. Fu, Jie, and Joshua Hall. Forthcoming. Fremont General Corporation. In Booms and Busts: An Economics Encyclopedia, Mehmet Odekon, editor. New York: M.E. Sharpe. 8. Morningstar. 2009. Our 2009 CEO of the Year Nominees. Online at: http://news.morningstar.com/articlenet/article.aspx?id=269242. Question 2 Within the business context business are expected to have good ethical values and act socially responsible. The problem is that the ethics of a business is a mixture of individual sets of ethics. This is why it is important to have good individuals as employees. It is also equally important that when you go to work somewhere that you feel like you share the values of those you work with. Ethics is not just talking about the right thing. It is doing what is right in every decision that is made. Based on the above observation discuss the impact on society that ethical leaders can make. American corporations dole out an estimated 15 billion dollars per year on training and consulting for up and coming mangers and leaders. Some target high performers and potential leaders within the organization. Others believe that leadership is more about what you do rather than who you are and, therefore, everyone in the organization is capable of becoming a leader. We have been arguing and writing about the science and practice of management since the early 1900s, and about leadership for at least 2000 years, all in an effort to demystify both. Is management, in fact, a practice, an art, or a science? Are leaders born or made? What do managers actually do? The argument continues. :- It is important to have good individuals as your employees but it is also important that those employees should be ethical because only they make the right decision and make others to follow. Some of the theories that tells us about the leadership ethics are being given to us by some of the philosophers as they are really heplfull they are given below:- Heifetzs Theory -Leadership involves authority to help followers uphold values in the workplace. Burns Theory Emphasizes the moral development of followers and maintains high standards of moral conduct. Greenleafs Theory Strong ethical overtones, true leadership is service to others. Moral development plays a vital role in building up good ethics. Acc. To john locke A new born child is a blank tablet on which life script can be written. Experience and learning shapes the content, structure and direction of a persons life. Examples of Great Ethical Leaders Cyrus the Great (590 BC-529 BC) The study of Cyrus the Great and establishment of his ethical Persian empire some 2500 years ago is a good indication that in our time the concept of world order based on ethics, ethical state, peace and harmony among nations are not an impossible goal and illusion. In this century the most fundamental and essential ingredients of an evolution towards these goals are democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of choice, freedom of religion, cultural toleration, human rights, political feedback mechanism, open trade policy, and open communications among people in this globe. The ethics of life are the pursuit of awareness for us and others. The ultimate goal is total awareness. Ethical Government is a means of achieving that goal by raising man to a higher state of total awareness. Ethical leaders can lead men toward Ethical Government and Society, which can lead man to total awareness. To increase mans power is always ethical. However, only men who use power to expand awareness are et hical. Men who use power to diminish awareness are unethical. Business ethics in the field As part of more comprehensive compliance and ethics programs, many companies have formulated internal policies pertaining to the ethical conduct of employees. These policies can be simple exhortations in broad, highly generalized language (typically called a corporate ethics statement), or they can be more detailed policies, containing specific behavioral requirements (typically called corporate ethics codes). They are generally meant to identify the companys expectations of workers and to offer guidance on handling some of the more common ethical problems that might arise in the course of doing business. It is hoped that having such a policy will lead to greater ethical awareness, consistency in application, and the avoidance of ethical disasters. An increasing number of companies also require employees to attend seminars regarding business conduct, which often include discussion of the companys policies, specific case studies, and legal requirements. Some companies even require their employees to sign agreements stating that they will abide by the companys rules of conduct. Many companies are assessing the environmental factors that can lead employees to engage in unethical conduct. A competitive business environment may call for unethical behavior. Lying has become expected in fields such as trading. An example of this is the issues surrounding the unethical actions of the Saloman Brothers. Not everyone supports corporate policies that govern ethical conduct. Some claim that ethical problems are better dealt with by depending upon employees to use their own judgment. Others believe that corporate ethics policies are primarily rooted in utilitarian concerns, and that they are mainly to limit the companys legal liability, or to curry public favor by giving the appearance of being a good corporate citizen. Ideally, the company will avoid a lawsuit because its employees will follow the rules. Should a lawsuit occur, the company can claim that the problem would not have arisen if the employee had only followed the code properly. Sometimes there is disconnection between the companys code of ethics and the companys actual practices. Thus, whether or not such conduct is explicitly sanctioned by management, at worst, this makes the policy duplicitous, and, at best, it is merely a marketing tool. To be successful, most ethicists would suggest that an ethics policy should be: Given the unequivocal support of top management, by both word and example. Explained in writing and orally, with periodic reinforcement. Doable.something employees can both understand and perform. Monitored by top management, with routine inspections for compliance and improvement. Backed up by clearly stated consequences in the case of disobedience. Remain neutral and nonsexist. The effectiveness of ethics officers in the marketplace is not clear. If the appointment is made primarily as a reaction to legislative requirements, one might expect the efficacy to be minimal, at least, over the short term. In part, this is because ethical business practices result from a corporate culture that consistently places value on ethical behavior, a culture and climate that usually emanates from the top of the organization. The mere establishment of a position to oversee ethics will most likely be insufficient to inculcate ethical behavior: a more systemic programmed with consistent support from general management will be necessary. The foundation for ethical behavior goes well beyond corporate culture and the policies of any given company, for it also depends greatly upon an individuals early moral training, the other institutions that affect an individual, the competitive business environment the company is in and, indeed, society as a whole. The caring leaders focuses on the welfare of : Customers : Employees : Shareholders : Community : Define problems : Find out best alternatives : Collect information Religious views on business ethics The historical and global importance of religious views on business ethics is sometimes underestimated in standard introductions to business. Particularly in Asia and the Middle East, religious and cultural perspectives have a strong influence on the conduct of business and the creation of business values. Examples include: Islamic banking, associated with the avoidance of charging interest on loans. Traditional Confucian disapproval of the profit-seeking motive. Quaker testimony on fair dealing.

Steganography, Cryptography And Watermarking

Steganography, Cryptography And Watermarking Steganography has been derived from Greek word Stego which means Covered and Graphia which means writing. Steganography is an ancient technique of covert communication. The earliest form of Steganography has been reported by the Chinese. The secret message was written in very fine silk or paper, and then it was rolled into a ball and covered with wax. The messenger would either swallow the ball or hide it in his nether parts. Herodotus has mentioned in one of his seminal works of history, Histories during the 400B.C about the tradition of secret writing. In his writings he has mentioned about the conflicts between Greece and Persia. A king named Histiaeus encouraged the Aristagoras of Miletus to revolt against the Persian king. He used to tonsure the head of his most trusted servants and tattooed the scalps with secret message and waited for the hair to grow. The servant used to travel between the borders without carrying anything contentious freely. At the reception end his head wou ld be tonsured again and the message will be conveyed. Similarly during the World War II, the Germans invented the use of microdots. Image containing great details were scaled down to the size of microdots. The German usage of secret sharing is regarded as the recent evolution of Steganography. Another example of Steganography is during the Vietman War were the captured US armed force showed hand gestures during a photo sessions to convey some military secrets. The field of Steganography is limitless and any kind of cover media can be used for carrying secret messages. Cover medias can be text, images (grey, binary, color), audio, video etc. An example is illustrated as follows. Siva and Adam dined happily. The following message is not simply a plain text but it carries a secret message within it. By extracting every second letter from each word we derive a secret message as follows. India Other methods of non technical Steganography is using lime and other citrus liquids to write secret data. The message will be imperceptible to the eye. When it is shown over a flame the writings will become perceptible. Steganography is method of information hiding. Steganography can be considered as an art as well as science for secret communication. The best way to explain the purpose of using Steganography is the Prisoner Problem. Now let us consider two prisoners Alice and Bob, and Wendy to be the warden. Now if Alice and Bob want to devise a plan for escaping then they got to communicate with each other. If Wendy is a passive warden then he wont interfere in there communication but if he is an active warden then he will interfere and extract the secret message sent. Hence Alice and Bob got to communicate in such a way that Wendy is not able to decipher there plan. This can be done by the technique of Steganography. Steganography is been used in order to enable secret communication. It is also being used by terrorist for covert communication which is potential for endangering our national as well as world security. Despite the ill effect there are positive sides of Steganography. For example a photographer can store the aperture size, future references etc while taking a picture. Steganography has a wide application in medical imaging were the details of the patients are embedded within the medical image. Similarly Steganography can be used for different friendly applications. It is also used for copy right protection using it along with Watermarking. The use of Steganography also has an important role in strengthening national security. Steganography is defined as secret hiding. It can also be regarded as secret sharing since messages can be shared secretly without being hacked or corrupted. COMPARISON BETWEEN CRYPTOGRAPHY, STEGANOGRAPHY AND WATERMARKING The other forms of data hiding are cryptography and watermarking. Cryptography is a technique in which the secret message is encrypted and sent in an unintelligent format. The basic difference between Steganography and cryptography is that Cryptography scrambles the data whereas Steganography just hides the data. Cryptography scrambles the secret data in such a way that it appears to be gibberish to any unintended user. The secret data to be communicated is a mixture of permutation and substitution and hence any unintended user cant receive the message. Steganography is different from Cryptography. Steganography rather hides the data whereas Cryptography encrypts the data. Steganography provides much more security when compared to cryptography because there is no chance of any unintended user to know that a message is being sent whereas in Cryptography there will always be a suspicion that a message is being sent. Hence these are more prone to be hacked or suppressed. Watermarking is generally used for authentication and copyrights protection. Watermarking can be used for creating a image in order that it is recognizable. It can also be used to mark a digital file so that it is intended to be visible (visible watermarking) or visible to its creator (invisible marking). The main purpose of watermarking is to prevent the illegal copying or claim of ownership of digital media. CHARACTERISTICS OF STEGANOGRAPHY, CRYPTOGRAPHY AND WATERMARKING The common characteristic between Steganography, Cryptography and Watermarking is that they transmit the secret information in such a way that only the receiver is able to decrypt the data. These techniques had been prevalent during the ancient times have been transported to the digital world. It has become nearly impossible to extract or detect the secret messages. In digital domain Steganography and watermarking have a tie and it is majorly used in digital images. These have other uses as well. Both cannot exist by themselves and hence they require cover objects. Steganography requires a cover media to carry the secret information and watermarking requires a carrier object which it is intended to protect. These similarities create a link within them and hence some modifications can lead the transportation from one technique to another. Due the similarities present between these it is difficult to distinguish between the both but actually there is a remarkable difference between the m. Cryptography encrypts data in two methods secure or unbreakable (e.g. One-time pad) systems and breakable (e.g. RSA) systems. Through both the systems communication carried out is known to all. But it is time consuming and often fruitless to crack a code. The robustness of the code lies upon the difficulties faced while reversing the code in different permutations and combinations. Due to its robustness it is used for security purposes. For example Cryptography is used for online shopping, banking etc. The credit card number, expiration etc and other crucial informations are encrypted and sent so that an unintended user cant access the details. Steganography offers high carrier capacity keeping embedded message invisible and maintaining the fidelity of the cover media. The efficiency of the Steganographic method is that one shouldnt know that a media file has been altered in order for embedding. If the malicious user knows if there is some alteration the Steganographic method is defeated and less efficient. The embedded message is very fragile and hence if any modification is done to the stego image th e whole secret message is corrupted. The effectiveness lies on the ability to fool an unintended user. The layers of communication can be more than one layer. A secret message can be embedded with a digital image which in turn can be embedded within another digital media or video clippings. Watermarking is required in order for authentication and copyright protection of digital files. The embedded watermarking is required in an object to make it impossible to remove completely. If the embedded watermarking is removed, then the marked object is either distorted or destroyed making it useless for anyone. This is the reason why watermarking is more robust when compared to the other image processing techniques, such as compression, cropping, rotation etc. hence even if a tiny bit of information is extracted by modification and tempering the rightful owner can still claim ownership. If the owners name is embedded in the digital image and the particular image then the original information is tampered and destroyed. Unlike Steganography, it is acceptable for everyone one to see the watermark embedded in it including the invisible ones. COMBINED EFFORTS OF STEGANOGRAPHY, CRYPTOGRAPHY AND WATERMARKING Cryptography is used as a paisano of the other two data hiding techniques. Data is encrypted in both the techniques in order to increase the randomness of the Steganography to avoid the statistics-based attacks and to protect the hidden data in watermarking. Commonly it is a practice to first encrypt the data and then use any one of the embedded techniques. The importance of watermarking can be stated as follows. Suppose Rs 100 bill is introduced in December 2009 then watermarking is required in order to prevent illegal copies. If the bill is shown in light a small image will appear within the large image. The watermarking is actually a part of the large paper and is visible on both sides. Hence it becomes difficult to produce a paper with such features. In addition to these features some tiny writings which are invisible to the human eyes are present in the paper. A banker having the necessary equipments (magnifying glass) can tell the difference between the original bill and the fake bill. Steganography makes its play here. The tiny printing done on the bill represents Steganography. It is implemented in order to achieve high security. The tiny printing done in the paper cannot be copied since any commercial printer is incapable to print such a fine and thin print leading to black spots. These are the reasons why Steganography is used for high security. Cryptography is actually implemented in the bill. A serial number is been printed in the bill which may contain information about the location and date of bill is printed or any other confidential information. The unique serial number for each bill can be used for tracking purposes. Using Steganography, Cryptography and Watermarking it becomes impossible to reproduce Rs100 bill. It must be kept in mind that all three are different and have different functionality. REQUIREMENTS OF STEGANOGRAPHY Any digital media can be used as a cover media. The cover media can be a text, image (color, gray), audio or video etc. Cover media is required in order to hide and carry the information. Usually digital images are required in order to hide secret messages. The secret message is hidden within the digital image. After the message is embedded within the cover media An innocuous image consisting of scenery, people and other objects are the nominees for cover media. The availability of natural images is not a problem due to the affordable price of digital cameras nowadays. Natural images are the best candidates for cover image since they have higher resolution providing flexibility and other necessary need. Images are selected because the cover media is selected depending upon how the human visual system works. The gray image consists of pixels with intensity value from 0 to 255. The human eye cannot differentiate between a pixel intensity of 244 and 245. It will appear both the pixel intensities to be same. Also natural image s contains lots of noise and hence there is lots of pixel value intensity difference especially in the edges. This variation in the pixel intensity is known as randomness and can be exploited to embed the data without providing any suspicion to human eye. The human visual system wont be able to distinguish between the image before modulation and the image after modulation. The secret data is embedded within the cover image. The resulting image is called a stego-image. The stego-image will appear to be the same as the original image. The human eye cannot usually distinguish between the stego-image and the original image except there is a significant change between the images. In that case the Steganographic method employed is ineffective. Hence there are certain Stego-system criteria which we have to follow while doing a Stegagraphic implementation. They are stated as follows. The major criteria of Steganography that the cover media shouldnt be significantly altered or modified. The embedded data should be directly encoded in the cover and not in the header or wrapper. The embedded data should be immune to modifications of the cover. That is if the cover media under goes any change then data embedded within it should be unaltered. During transmission there are chances of noise to occur and hence distortion due to noise cannot be eliminated. Due to this issue error coding algorithms should be included where ever it is required. It is advisable to avoid the suspicious portions while embedding the message in the cover. This because after embedding in these regions they become open to suspicion. For example by embedding in smooth portions of the image, the resultant image becomes distorted and open to suspicion. Hence such portions are often avoided and portions where there is variation in the pixel intensity are preferred. The embedding efficiency must be improved. Efficiency of the embedding capacity depends upon the number of pixels in the image used for embedding purposes. The stego-image should be robust to steganalysis. Steganalysis is a method of identifying the difference between the original image and stego-image. Using steganalysis one can derive the information about the secret message. The stego-image should reassemble the original image and there should be any suspicion. The cover image should have high carrier capacity. That is the embedding capacity should be large. The amount of information present in the image should be resistant to distortion and should be comparable to the number of pixels present in the image. The three basic requirements of Steganography are robustness, capacity and imperceptibility. All these requirements should be satisfied for having an effective Steganographic method.

Evaluation Of The Lord Of The Flies Essay -- essays research papers

Evaluation of The Lord of the Flies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lord of the Flies is a 202 page long adventure story written by William Golding in 1954 about a number of boys marooned on a tropical island and left to fend for themselves. While on the island, they discover quite a bit of evil within themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A few years after World War 2, a planeful of boys as young as 5 or 6 but most no older than 11 or 12 crashes near an uninhabited tropical island. As soon as they land, one of the eldest assumes leadership of the others, but not before befriending an overweight, asthmatic boy nicknamed Piggy. Ralph takes control of the boys and organizes a small expedition up the mountain. He meets Jack Merridew, the chief antagonist. Jack is then a leader of choir boys, but will soon turn into a leader of savages. On the mountain, Jack hunts but does not kill a pig. He vows to kill it the next time. On their return, Ralph holds an informational meeting and informs the boys that they will be safe, but that they must start a signal fire and set up temporary shelters until help can be found. A rumour of a beast is heard, but is quickly discounted as a nightmare. It will later be a major theme in the book. On the mountain, fire is created, but only through the use of Piggy's glasses. After Jack goes off to hunt and comes back, Ralph discusses the problems of people not working with Jack. Simon goes into the jungle alone and contemplates. The boys become used to the daily tasks on the island. The small children play all the time while the older ones do most of the work. The first flash of Jack's future warrior/hunter position as leader is shown as he comes back to camp with his face painted. A ship is spotted, but they find that the signal fire on the mountain has gone out, and the ship passes them by. Jack finally kills a pig, but Piggy criticizes him. In return, Jack slaps Piggy and breaks one of the lenses on his glasses. Ralph warns Jack to stop this destructive behaviour. Jack starts roasting the pig he had killed earlier. Jack does not initially give Ralph any food, but he does finally get some. Ralph calls an assembly after the feast. He verbally attacks all the boys for their neglect for the daily tasks that must be completed such as building shelters and keeping the fire lit. The fear of the beast grows even larger. Piggy begins t... ... government and rules must be carefully imposed to preserve order, like Hobbes, I would also be interested in knowing what his other philosophical positions were as he wrote this novel. Finally, I would be interested in knowing what particular event he witnessed or was part of in real life drove him to write this book. Could it have been an experience he had in World War II? What could have been so bad as to inspire a book of this passionate intensity?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although I disagree with Golding's view of the world as basically evil, his book is certainly a good argument for that position. It shockingly reveals that none have innocence and even the best among us can be brought down to a near-beast state, as even Ralph was by the end of the book, consigned to mindless running from the evil. I find it interesting how Golding made the Beast, the Lord of the Flies, the apparent evil in this book and the focus of the hunter's search, but in fact the Beast is the hunters themselves and the evil they represent. I think that although the brutality in the book may be a bit much for some, I do not think that Golding would have been able to get his point across without it.

Physiological Effects of Ventolin :: essays research papers

Physiological Effects of Ventolin Ventolin is a brand name of the drug albuterol sulfate HFA, and its generic name is adrenergic bronchodilator. It is mostly taken as an inhalator, but can also be taken as tablets or syrup. It treats the symptoms of bronchospasms. Bronchospasm is an abnormal contraction of the smooth muscle of the bronchi, narrowing and obstructing the respiratory airway, resulting in coughs, wheezing or difficulty in breathing. The chief cause of this condition is asthma, although it may also be caused by respiratory infection, chronic lung disease or an allergic reaction to chemicals. The mucosa lining of the trachea may become irritated and inflamed, which secretes mucus, causing it to be caught in the bronchi and triggers coughing. On the handouts, there are three different pictures of the inside of the trachea, showing the difference between a normal healthy trachea, and inflamed one and another with a mucus plug from the left main bronchus. These pictures were taken from the internet, with the address on the handout. A Ventolin inhalator is breathed in through the mouth to open up the bronchial tubes of the lungs. It relaxes the smooth muscles of all the airways, from the trachea to the terminal bronchioles. Ventolin also clears the mucus in the bronchi, making it easier for patients to breathe and reduces coughing. For Ventolin to work optimally, situations that may trigger an asthma attack must be avoided. These situations include exercising in cold, dry air; smoking; breathing in dust; and exposure to allergens such as pet fur or pollens. Relating to the case study, a few of these may apply to the patient, such as exercising in the cold morning air and perhaps breathing in dust and allergens such as pollens or maybe from the eucalyptus in the Blue Mountains might have had an effect on his condition. There are two forms of bronchodilators, a short acting and a long acting form. Short acting relieves or stops asthma symptoms and is very helpful during an attack. They are also called ‘rescue’ medications because they are best for treating sudden or severe asthma symptoms. Long acting bronchodilators are used to control asthma, they take longer to work but they also last longer, up to 12 hours, whereas a short acting would only last for about 4-5 hours. Ventolin is a short acting form, it is the recommended medication to use 15-20 mins before exercising.

Small Pox Journal :: Journals Diary Small Pox Essays

Small Pox Journal April 22, 2005--I had a long week so I decided I should write about it on my web journal. After having several papers, quizzes, and having to work 40 hours I have been feeling a little under the weather. However, I mostly assume it has been from the lack of sleep I have been getting. But no worries, since I intend on making it up during the weekend. But tonight I have decided to party it up and go to my friend's apartment. Till then I'll just take some aspirin and lay down till I go out. I'm sure I will be fine by then. April 23, 2005--Well to recap last night events, I woke up from my nap; the aspirin appeared to have not worked. I was feeling really achy but I did not let that impede my wanting to party. I asked my mom to feel my forehead, to see if I was hot, and she confirmed it. So I decided to take my temperature, 102 degrees, not good. But I still went to the party, being stubborn. I ended up drinking too much, to try and ease the achy feeling, and it did not sit well. I ended up having to throw up in the bushes. People were laughing at me, telling me I could not handle my liquor. Ha-ha, it was funny though. April 24, 2005--However, when I did wake up I noticed some kind of bumps forming in my mouth. This is really strange since I never have had bumps like these in my mouth. Oh well, I am sure they will go away in a few days. I am not feeling well at all. I don't think it was just the long week that was affecting my health, but I might be genuinely sick, maybe just a fever or the flu? My girlfriend told me she has been going through the same thing. I don't think this is a good sign. However, being a typical guy I will wait it out and see what develops. April 25, 2005--Still feeling unwell and apparently the bumps in my mouth seem to be breaking, which I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not. There were several of them and only but a few have yet to burst.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line based in the Doral suburb of Miami, Florida (Carnival Cruise Lines, n. d. ). The company offers vacations that appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Carnival was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison. The cruise line company became known as the world’s most popular cruise line and in 1987 it made an initial public offering of 20 percent of its common stock. The public offering provided the company with an influx of capital that allowed the company to begin expanding through acquisitions.The company formed Carnival Corporation & plc in 1994 and Carnival Cruise Lines became its flagship brand (Mission & History, 2010). Carnival Corporation has acquired representation in virtually every market segment of the cruise industry. In April 2003, agreements were finalized to combine Carnival Corporation with P&O Princess Cruises plc, creating the world’s first global cruise operator. Carni val Corporation & plc encompass 12 highly recognizable brands and the company became one of the largest and most profitable leisure travel companies in the world.The company is now one of the 11 individual worldwide cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc. The corporation operates 97 ships and Carnival Cruise Lines is its largest and leading brand in North America, based on passengers carried under the Carnival Corporation. Carnival is also the corporation’s most profitable cruise line in the world. The cruise line has 22 ships in operation and two future ships in development. Carnival has 3,800 shore side and 33,500 shipboard employees. *Carnival pioneered the concept of shorter, less expensive cruises.Howard Frank, the chief operating officer of Carnival Cruise Lines, says their ships are called the fun ships because unlike its competitors, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival offers a wide range of activities on boar d instead of just delicious cuisine (Beesley, 2010). Frank said their innovative new ships feature popular amenities that meet the increasingly sophisticated desires of all guests yet provide a fun and exciting environment for all ages. Carnival hit record-breaking business so far this year.The bookings for the company were the highest they have ever been because of its new booking system. The earlier in advance a passenger’s cruise is booked the more economical the price. A cruise can cost as low as $175-$200 per person in advance. The cruise line also offers last minute bookings at discount prices. Carnival can be cheaper than airfare without the fear of terrorist attacks, excessive baggage fees, delays and extreme boarding procedures or hassles. In 2009, the corporation revenued $13. 2 billion with a net income of $1. billion, and are projected to make their highest profit ever this year. The company carries a record of 3. 9 million passengers and the up-to-date record is the most in the cruise industry. *Executive control of Carnival Cruise Lines is provided by the North American division of Carnival Corporation in Doral, Florida. Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, the cruise line, function as a single economic entity. They also function through contractual agreements between separate legal entities (Investor Relations, 2010). Carnival Corporation common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.Carnival plc is traded on the London Stock Exchange and has an ADS on the New York Stock Exchange. Carnival is the only company in the world to be included in both the STP 500 index in the US and the FTSE 100 index in the UK. Carnival Cruise Lines has a hybrid structure divided under Carnival North America, Carnival Australia and Carnival UK. The hybrid structure is under Carnival Cruise Lines which is only one of the brands under Carnival Corporation & plc. The corporation doesn’t have a long hierarchy of authority instead it has a few layer s of corporate officers and board of directors (Officers, 2010).There are six corporate officers that consist of executive, operating and financial officers, as well as vice presidents of shared services for the multiple brands, general counsel and controller for the corporation. The cruise line only has one executive officer. Gerald R. Cahill is Carnival Cruise Lines’ only president and chief executive officer except for the executives over the Australia and UK divisions. Majority of the company’s employees are shipboard. There is a one-to-three ratio of staff to passenger on every carnival ship, ensuring excellent customer service.Carnival has a horizontal communication amongst the six corporate officers and board of directors. Corporate governance extends from the ship, through the operating lines and senior corporate management to the board of directors. *Carnival is a profitable company and is now the leader in the contemporary cruise sector. The line has launched a $250 million enhancement program on its eight fantasy-class ships. The enhancement will include installation of a water park on board, an adult-only retreat, tropical-themed mid-ship pool area, and other innovative features.Carnival’s former image was a party ship reputation for younger travelers. The cruise line is now known as large, modern and extremely elegant, yet still a profitable and fun line. Historically, Carnival Corporation’s growth has been driven by the expansion of their portfolio of core brands through an aggressive ship building program. Now the brand, Carnival Cruise Lines, competes globally because they invest time, money and effort into product development and wide varieties of amenities on board. The company enhances the excursions offered in port destinations, as well as programs, activities and attractions on the ship.Carnival children programs provide the same level of variety, fun and attraction for their age, as the amenities available to a dults. No matter the age, lifestyle or budget the goal is consistent. The cruise line’s goal is to provide everyone with a safe and healthy place to live, work and have fun. Carnival strives to provide an innovative and exceptional vacation experience on land and or at sea (Phillips, 2009). *Last week I sailed on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship to Nassau, Bahamas for a four days and three nights weekend cruise.The Cruise was inexpensive to book for a typical vacation. We were a party of four people and we each only paid around $200 a person in advance. If we would have booked the vacation at the last minute it could have cost each person $300-$400, which is still inexpensive for an all-inclusive cruise. At first you don’t understand how the cruise line makes a profit because almost everything is free except alcohol, soda and excursions. Unlimited food all day and night, shows, the gym, and activities are free. It didn’t take long to realize the company’s str ategy on making money.Once Carnival booked the customer at a low price, they up sell the customer with backend products and services that passengers feel are definitely worth spending money on during a vacation. There were additional products and services like an onboard casino, excursions, internet services, and photographers everywhere ready to take memorable pictures to sell. As well as, massages facials, hair treatment, wholesale liquor prices and onboard shops and stores. Carnival provided relaxing services and duty or tax free products.The cruise made lots of money and the marketing cost went down because their exceptional services built loyal customers. The company probably spends more money capturing a customer, maybe even lost money initially on the booking transaction because of the specials and low rates but created lifetime customers in the end. The more products and services a company can offer or sell to a customer, the more valuable they become and the more you can sp end on acquiring a customer. Wants you acquire a customer and satisfy their needs, you can gain more from a buying impulse that is pleased and devoted to the company and its brands.

Delivery of Human Service Program

Delivery of Human Services Program Jakiya Burse BSHS 471 Deborah Machold October 28, 2012 Delivery of Human Services Program Many people rely on human service programs. This paper will discuss the delivery of  human service program for men, women, and teenagers. There are various men, women, and teenagers that need help with reproductive health care education. Planned Parenthood provides sex education to men, women, and teenagers. Planned Parenthood acts as an advocate for their clients. Planned ParenthoodAccording to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Planned Parenthood†Ã‚  (2012),  Ã¢â‚¬Å"for nearly 100 years, Planned Parenthood has promoted a commonsense approach to women’s health and well-being, based on respect for each individual’s right to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning† (Planned Parenthood). Planned Parenthood healthcare providers offer men and women affordable medical care. How Services are Delivered Planned Parenthood has be en able to be around for so long because this organization provides their clients with trustful healthcare services and information.According to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Planned Parenthood†Ã‚  (2012), services are delivered to clients through â€Å"preventive, primary care, which helps prevent unintended pregnancies through contraception, reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections through testing and treatment, and screen for cervical and other cancers. Caring physicians, nurse practitioners, and other staff take time to talk with clients, encouraging them to ask questions in an environment that millions have grown to trust (Planned Parenthood). Planned Parenthood offers supports group to clients who have had an STD before or who have terminated a pregnancy in the past.Depending on the location the services offered by Planned Parenthood are abortions, birth control, emergency contraception (morning after pill), general health care, HIV testing, LGBT services, men’s health c are, pregnancy testing and services, STD testing, treatment and vaccines, and women’s health care   (â€Å"Planned Parenthood†,  2012). Some of the  services offered require an appointment to be set up. Others can be seen on a walk-in basis. Educating According to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Planned Parenthood†Ã‚  (2012),  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Planned Parenthood known for provided reproductive services to their clients.Planned Parenthood offers easily understandable and  honest data that allow women, men, teens, and families to make informed choices and lead healthy lives. Planned Parenthood is proud of its very important role in providing young people with honest sexuality and relationship information in classrooms and online to help reduce the nation’s disturbingly high rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Nearly 1. 2 million youths and adults participate in Planned Parenthood educational programs every year (Planned Parenthood). EvaluationAccording to  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Planned Parenthood Of New Mexico†Ã‚  (2012),   medical services are provided in accordance with high medical standards set forth by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and are closely monitored by the Medical Director. The affiliate is evaluated on a regular basis by PPFA to ensure that PPNM meets all standards for accreditation. PPNM went through this process in April 2007 and received a four-year accreditation. PPNM's Standard and Guidelines as well as other, manuals were recommended or used as models for other affiliates (Our History). Conclusion Planned Parenthood has been around for 95 years.In those 95 years this human services program has continued to provide clients with reliable healthcare that the client can trust. Planned Parenthood advocates for public policies to make sure clients have access to the services provided. Planned Parenthood also provides education to men, women, and teenagers around the world about human sexuality. References P lanned Parenthood. (2012). Retrieved on October 28, 2012 from http://www. plannedparenthood. org/about-us/who-we-are-4648. htm Planned Parenthood of New Mexico. (2012). Retrieved October 28, 2012 from http://www. plannedparenthood. org/new-mexico/our-history-3150. htm

Organisational structure of British Airways Essay

1.0 Introduction The following assignment aims to highlight the organizational structure of a major player in the aeronautical sector which is BRITISH AIRWAYS. For that purpose, it is necessary to consider fundamental management’s principles in order to understand at best the factors which may influence the result of the company, without forgetting the importance of the interactions between the internal and external environments which play a major role in the success or the failure of the strategies undertaken by the company. It will be then necessary to find aspects to be improved by the company to propose solutions and so optimize the general performances of British airways. 1.1 British airways â€Å"to fly, to serve† With more than 93 years of existence, British Airways acts as an expert of aeronautical services whether it is at the airport or aboard the planes which compose the fleet of the company or for the business trips. The  company employs more than 39 900 persons in 2010 in UK and overseas while the head office is based in Waterside. Web 1: http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/microsites/ba_reports0910/financial/notes/note7.html 2.0 The organizational structure 2.1 Definition According to H. Mintzberg  «The organizational structure is the total sum of the employees to divide the work into different tasks and to insure then the coordination between the tasks ». The organizational structure can also be defined as the way the authority is considered through the relations hierarchical or the way the activities are specified and distributed and still the way the systems of communication inside organizations are established. The organizational structure can be divided into macrostructure and into microstructure: while the macrostructure relates to the totality of the divisions or the organization, the microstructure relates to the organization of the activities and the hierarchical relations inside a certain department of the organization. 2.2 How to determine the best organizational structure for British Airways? In order to determine the organizational structure which will meet the needs at best of the company and which will allow her to use its resources in a effective and efficient way it is important to estimate two important aspects which are the departmentalization as well as the amplitude of control. The departmentalization consists in group the common resources to exploit them at best whereas the amplitude of control determines the degree of authority which exercises an immediate superior in front of his subordinate. There are several organizational structures offered to companies to respond to their needs such as the tall structure, the flat one or the functional organization. 3.0 Which are the organizational structures adopted by British Airways? 3.1 The tall structure: Having made a current inventory of fixtures of the resources that possess the company, managers decided to opt for a tall structural organization to remain long-lasting. This structure distinguishes the various levels of decision where the highest person in the organization chart detains most power. As for executives, they take care to oversee the work of the subordinates. So, they act as intermediary as shows hit the organization chart below which reveals the position of every manager in the organization chart of the company. The structure consists of three levels where Willie Wash is the chief executive; he controls the customer and operations executive which group the communications sector which is important because the brand image depends on this department, the customer service which is always trying to improve this service, the engineering one, the flight operations and the operations. There is also the management board which includes two departments of customer and operations executive, which are customer and engineering, and also the finance and performance sector, people and organisational effectiveness which verifies if the employees make correctly the tasks which were attributed to them by their superiors, sales and marketing and strategy and business units. Finally, investments, legal and government and industry affairs and safety and security are directly supervised by the chief executive in order to improve these important sectors. British airways organizational structure: Web 2: http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/microsites/ba_reports0809/our_business/workplace.html 3.1.1 How this structure helps the company to achieve it goals? This structure chosen by the company allows every employee of British Airways to be situated in the organization chart in a clear and detailed way without any ambiguity. So, it allows avoiding any misunderstanding as for the authority which detains every employee on his colleague or his hierarchical  superior what pulls a healthy climate and thus urges the employees to put a lot at best into their tasks. These tasks are determined through the objectives fixed by the managers so every employee is in front of his responsibilities and feels as being a part of the project of the company. This structure also allows the managers to optimize at most the performances of their human resources through trainings offered to the employees to be constantly up to date at the level of the skills. Indeed, it is more and more asked to the employees to be versatile and efficient at the same time. Finally, this structure allows the managers to supervise in a direct way their subordinates what allows t o adjust the problems if they exist. 3.2 The customer structure: This structure considers the importance which represent the customers without whom, no organization can remain long-lasting and show good results. This structure consists in determining need for every specific category of customers of the company to satisfy them at best. The structure which adopts British Airways articulates around the baptized project â€Å"Compete 2012† to answer the bigger and bigger customer requirements and to become eventually the leader regarding customer service in the aeronautical sector. This program turns around three essential entities in the survival of the company which are the partners with whom the relations must be stable and cordial. We also find the colleagues who play an important role there because they represent the direct contact between the company and the customers. And finally the customers among whom needs and expectations must be clearly defined to satisfy them at best and so create a relation on the long term between the parts. Thi s project thus bases itself on two essential qualities that are the excellence as well as the performance as summarizes it the figure below. British airways customer structure: Web 3: http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/microsites/ba_reports0910/our_business/strategy.html 3.2.1 How this structure helps the company to achieve it goals? This structure contributes largely to the success of the objective of the company which is to become the world’s leading global premium airline world. To reach this objective and in spite of a difficult context there, the company put on the excellence of the services proposed to the passengers and by developing new projects to satisfy them at best. Beyond that, this project contains 5 strategic objectives: Be the airline of choice for long haul premium customers, Deliver an outstanding service for customers at every touch point Grow our presence in key global cities Build on our leading position in London Meet our customers’ needs and improve margins through new revenue streams. Web 4: http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/microsites/ba_reports0910/pdfs/Strategy.pdf 4.0 Recommendations The tall organizational structure has to be improved because we find inconveniences such as the slowness of decision-making; a decision has to pass by all the hierarchical levels before being approved or rejected. This considers a brake when we know the importance of the speed of transmission of information and data within organizations. So, they can change for a flat organizational structure which will accelerate the time of decision-making. The responsibilities as well as the freedom of the employees are restricted because they have to conform to the decisions taken by their immediate superiors without being necessarily consulted. This entails a lack of motivation or investment on behalf of the employees, so managers have to empower employees by increasing bonuses. The implementation of this structure turns out very expensive because of the administrative costs. In view of the context current, it would be recommended to the company to reduce its costs by opting for a cheaper structure.

American Literature Essay

When the English preacher and writer Sidney Smith asked in 1820, â€Å"In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book? † little did he suspect that less than two hundred years later the answer in literate quarters would be â€Å"just about everyone. † Indeed, just a few years after Smith posed his inflammatory question, the American writer Samuel Knapp would begin to assemble one of the first histories of American literature as part of a lecture series that he was giving. The course materials offered by American Passages continue in the tradition begun by Knapp in 1829. One goal of this Study Guide is to help you learn to be a literary historian: that is, to introduce you to American literature as it has evolved over time and to stimulate you to make connections between and among texts. Like a literary historian, when you make these connections you are telling a story: the story of how American literature came into being. This Overview outlines four paths (there are many others) by which you can narrate the story of American literature: one based on literary movements and historical change, one based on the American Passages Overview Questions, one based on Contexts, and one based on multiculturalism. TELLING THE STORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE Literary Movements and Historical Change American Passages is organized around sixteen literary movements or â€Å"units. † A literary movement centers around a group of authors that share certain stylistic and thematic concerns. Each unit includes ten authors that are represented either in The Norton Anthology of American Literature or in the Online Archive. Two to four of these authors are discussed in the video, which calls attention to important historical and cultural influences on these authors, defines a genre that they share, and proposes some key thematic parallels. Tracking literary movements can help you see how American literature has changed and evolved over time. In general, people think about literary movements as reacting against earlier modes of writing and earlier movements. For T E L L I N G T H E S T O R Y O F A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E 3 example, just as modernism (Units 10–13) is often seen as a response to realism and the Gilded Age (Unit 9), so Romanticism is seen as a response to the Enlightenment (Unit 4). Most of the units focus on one era (see the chart below), but they will often include relevant authors from other eras to help draw out the connections and differences. (Note: The movements in parentheses are not limited to authors/works from the era in question, but they do cover some material from it. ) Century Fifteenth– Seventeenth Eighteenth Era Renaissance American Passages Literary Movements. (1: Native Voices) 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise (3: Utopian Promise) 4: Spirit of Nationalism (7: Slavery and Freedom) 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 6: Gothic Undercurrents 7: Slavery and Freedom (1: Native Voices) 6: Gothic Undercurrents 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism (1: Native Voices) 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 12: Migrant Struggle 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Enlightenment Nineteenth Romanticist Nineteenth Realist Twentieth Modernist Twentieth Postmodernist Each unit contains a timeline of historical events along with the dates of key literary texts by the movement’s authors. These timelines are designed to help you make connections between and among the movements, eras, and authors covered in each unit. 4 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Overview Questions The Overview Questions at the start of each unit are tailored from the five American Passages Overview Questions that follow. They are meant to help you focus your viewing and reading and participate in discussion afterward. 1. What is an American? How does literature create conceptions of the American experience and American identity? This two-part question should trigger discussion about issues such as, Who belongs to America? When and how does one become an American? How has the search for identity among American writers changed over time? It can also encourage discussion about the ways in which immigration, colonization, conquest, youth, race, class, and gender affect national identity. 2. What is American literature? What are the distinctive voices and styles in American literature? How do social and political issues influence the American canon? This multi-part question should instigate discussion about the aesthetics and reception of American literature. What is a masterpiece? When is something considered literature, and how is this category culturally and historically dependent? How has the canon of American literature changed and why? How have American writers used language to create art and meaning? What does literature do? This question can also raise the issue of American exceptionalism: Is American literature different from the literature of other nations? 3. How do place and time shape the authors’ works and our understanding of them? This question addresses America as a location and the many ways in which place impacts American literature’s form and content. It can provoke discussion about how regionalism, geography, immigration, the frontier, and borders impact American literature, as well as the role of the vernacular in indicating place. 4. What characteristics of a literary work have made it influential over time? This question can be used to spark discussion about the evolving impact of various pieces of American literature and about how American writers used language both to create art and respond to and call for change. What is the individual’s responsibility to uphold the community’s traditions, and when are individuals compelled to resist them? What is the relationship between the individual and the community? 5. How are American myths created, challenged, and re-imagined through this literature? This question returns to â€Å"What is an American? † But it poses the question at a cultural rather than individual level. What are the myths that make up American culture? What is the American Dream? What are American myths, dreams, and nightmares? How have these changed over time? T E L L I N G T H E S T O R Y O F A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E 5 Contexts Another way that connections can be made across and between authors is through the five Contexts in each unit: three longer Core Contexts and two shorter Extended Contexts. The goal of the Contexts is both to help you read American literature in its cultural background and to teach you close-reading skills. Each Context consists of a brief narrative about an event, trend, or idea that had particular resonance for the writers in the unit as well as Americans of their era; questions that connect the Context to the authors in the unit; and a list of related texts and images in the Online Archive. Examples of Contexts include discussions of the concept of the Apocalypse (3: â€Å"Utopian Visions†), the sublime (4: â€Å"Spirit of Nationalism†), and baseball (14: â€Å"Becoming Visible†). The Contexts can be used in conjunction with an author or as stand-alone activities. The Slide Show Tool on the Web site is ideal for doing assignments that draw connections between archive items from a Context and a text you have read. And you can create your own contexts and activities using the Slide Show Tool: these materials can then be e-mailed, viewed online, projected, or printed out on overhead transparencies. Multiculturalism In the past twenty years, the field of American literature has undergone a radical transformation. Just as the mainstream public has begun to understand America as more diverse, so, too, have scholars moved to integrate more texts by women and ethnic minorities into the standard canon of literature taught and studied. These changes can be both exhilarating and disconcerting, as the breadth of American literature appears to be almost limitless. Each of the videos and units has been carefully balanced to pair canonical and noncanonical voices. You may find it helpful, however, to trace the development of American literature according to the rise of different ethnic and minority literatures. The following chart is designed to highlight which literatures are represented in the videos and the units. As the chart indicates, we have set different multicultural literatures in dialogue with one another. Literature African American literature Video Representation 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation Study Guide Representation 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 6 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Native American literature 1: Native Voices 5: Masculine Heroes 14: Becoming Visible 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 2: Exploring Borderlands 5: Masculine Heroes 10: Rhythms in Poetry 12: Migrant Struggle 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 9: Social Realism 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity 9: Social Realism 11: Modernist Portraits 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 6: Gothic Undercurrents 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity 2: Exploring Borderlands 5: Masculine Heroes 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Latino literature 2: Exploring Borderlands 10: Rhythms in Poetry 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity Asian American literature 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity Jewish American 9: Social Realism literature 11: Modernist Portraits 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Women’s literature 1: Native Voices 2: Exploring Borderlands 3: Utopian Promise 6: Gothic Undercurrents 7: Slavery and Freedom 8: Regional Realism 9: Social Realism 11: Modernist Portraits 12: Migrant Struggle 13: Southern Renaissance 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity Gay and lesbian literature 2: Exploring Borderlands 5: Masculine Heroes 10: Rhythms in Poetry 11: Modernist Portraits 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity T E L L I N G T H E S T O R Y O F A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E 7 Literature cont’d Working-class literature Video Representation 2: Exploring Borderlands 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 9: Social Realism 12: Migrant Struggle 16: Search for Identity Study Guide Representation 2: Exploring Borderlands 4: Spirit of Nationalism 5: Masculine Heroes 7: Slavery and Freedom 9: Social Realism 10: Rhythms in Poetry 12: Migrant Struggle 14: Becoming Visible 15: Poetry of Liberation 16: Search for Identity LITERATURE IN ITS CULTURAL CONTEXT When you study American literature in its cultural context, you enter a multidisciplined and multi-voiced conversation where scholars and critics in different fields examine the same topic but ask very different questions about it. For example, how might a literary critic’s understanding of nineteenthcentury American culture compare to that of a historian of the same era? How can an art historian’s understanding of popular visual metaphors enrich our readings of literature? The materials presented in this section of the Study Guide aim to help you enter that conversation. Below are some suggestions on how to begin. Deep in the heart of the Vatican Museum is an exquisite marble statue from first- or second-century Rome. Over seven feet high, the statue depicts a scene from Virgil’s Aeneid in which Laocoon and his sons are punished for warning the Trojans about the Trojan horse. Their bodies are entwined with large, devouring serpents, and Laocoon’s face is turned upward in a dizzying portrait of anguish, his muscles rippling and bending beneath the snake’s strong coils. The emotion in the statue captured the heart and eye of critic Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, who used the work as the starting point for his seminal essay on the relationship between literature and art, â€Å"Laocoon: An Essay on the Limits of Painting and Poetry. † For Lessing, one of the most common errors that students of culture can make is to assume that all aspects of culture develop in tandem with one another. As Lessing points out, each art has its own strengths. For example, literature works well with notions of time and story, and thus is more flexible than visual art in terms of imaginative freedom, whereas painting is a visual medium that can reach greater beauty, although it is static. For Lessing, the mixing of these two modes (temporal and spatial) carries great risk along with rewards. As you study literature in conjunction with any of the fine arts, you may find it helpful to ask whether you agree with Lessing that literature is primarily a temporal art. Consider too the particular 8 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? strengths of the media discussed below. What do they offer that may not be available to writers? What modes do they use that complement our understanding of the literary arts? Fine Arts Albrecht Durer created some of the most disturbing drawings known to humans: they are rife with images of death, the end of the world, and dark creatures that inhabit hell. Images such as The Last Judgement (below) can be found in the Online Archive. In Knight, Death, and the Devil (1513), a devout Christian knight is taunted by the Devil and Death, who gleefully shakes a quickly depleting hourglass, mocking the soldier with the passing of time. Perhaps the tension and anxiety in Durer’s print resonated with the American poet Randall Jarrell in his struggle with mental illness. In â€Å"The Knight, Death, and the Devil,† Jarrell opens with a description of the scene: Cowhorn-crowned, shockheaded, cornshucked-bearded, Death is a scarecrow—his death’s-head a teetotum . . . Jarrell’s description is filled with adjectives in much the same way that the print is crowded with detail. The poem is an instance of what critics call ekphrasis: the verbal description of a work of visual art, usually of a painting, photograph, or sculpture but sometimes of an urn, tapestry, or quilt. Ekphrasis attempts to bridge the gap between the verbal and the visual arts. Artists and writers have always influenced one another: sometimes directly as in the case of Durer’s drawing and Jarrell’s poem, and other times indirectly. The Study Guide will help you navigate through these webs of influence. For example, Unit 5 will introduce you to the Hudson River [7995] Albrecht Durer, The Last School, the great American landscape painters Judgement (1510), courtesy of the of the nineteenth century. In the Context focusprint collection of Connecticut ing on these artists, you will learn of the interCollege, New London. connectedness of their visual motifs. In Unit 11, William Carlos Williams, whose poems â€Å"The Dance† and â€Å"Landscape with the Fall of Icarus† were inspired by two paintings by Breughel, will draw your attention to the use of ekphrasis. Williams’s work is a significant example of how multiple traditions in art can influence a writer: in addition to his interest in European art, Williams imitated Chinese landscapes and poetic forms. When you encounter works of fine art, such as paintings, photographs, or sculpture, in the Online Archive or the Study Guide, you may find two tools used by art historians helpful: formal analysis and iconography. Formal L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 9 [3694] Thomas Cole, The Falls of Kaaterskill (1826), courtesy of the Warner Collection of the Gulf States Paper Corporation, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. analysis, like close readings of poems, seeks to describe the nature of the object without reference to the context in which it was created. A formal analysis addresses such questions as Where does the central interest in the work lie? How is the work composed and with what materials? How is lighting or shading used? What does the scene depict? What allusions (mythological, religious, artistic) are found in the work? Once you have described the work of art using formal analysis, you may want to extend your reading by calling attention to the cultural climate in which the work was produced. This is called an iconographic reading. Here the Context sections of the Study Guide will be useful. You may notice, for example, a number of nineteenth-century paintings of ships in the Online Archive. One of the Contexts for Unit 6 argues that these ships can be read as symbols for nineteenth-century America, where it was common to refer to the nation as a â€Å"ship of state. † The glowing light or wrecked hulls in the paintings reflect the artists’ alternating optimism and pessimism about where the young country was headed. Below are two possible readings of Thomas Cole’s painting The Falls of Kaaterskill that employ the tools of formal analysis and iconography. W R I T E R A : F O R M A L A N A L Y S I S In this painting by Hudson River School artist Thomas Cole, the falls that give the painting its name grab our attention. The shock of the white falls against the concentrated brightness of the rocks ensures that the waterfall will be the focus of the work. Even amidst this brightness, however, there is darkness and mystery in the painting, where the falls emerge out of a dark quarry and crash down onto broken tree limbs and staggered rocks. The descent is neither peaceful nor pastoral, unlike the presentation of nature in Cole’s other works, such as the Oxbow. The enormity of the falls compared to the lone human figure that perches above them also adds to the sense of power the falls embody. Barely recognizable as human because it is so minute, the figure still pushes forward as if to embrace the cascade of the water in a painting that explores the tension between the individual and the power of nature. W R I T E R B : I C O N O G R A P H Y I agree with Writer A that this painting is all about the power of nature, but I would argue that it is about a particular kind of power: one that nineteenthcentury thinkers called the â€Å"sublime. † Cole’s portrait of the falls is particularly indebted to the aesthetic ideas formulated by Edmund Burke in the eighteenth century. Burke was interested in categorizing aesthetic responses, and he distinguished the â€Å"sublime† from the â€Å"beautiful. † While the beautiful is calm and harmonious, the sublime is majestic, wild, and even savage. While viewers are soothed by the beautiful, they are overwhelmed, awestruck, and sometimes terrified by the sublime. Often associated with huge, overpowering natural 10 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? phenomena like mountains, waterfalls, or thunderstorms, the â€Å"delightful terror† inspired by sublime visions was supposed to both remind viewers of their own insignificance in the face of nature and divinity and inspire them with a sense of transcendence. Here the miniature figure is the object of our gaze even as he is obliterated by the grandeur of the water. During the nineteenth century, tourists often visited locales such as the Kaaterskill Falls in order to experience the â€Å"delightful terror† that they brought. This experience is also echoed in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay â€Å"Nature,† in which he writes of his desire to become a â€Å"transparent eyeball† that will be able to absorb the oversoul that surrounds him. The power that nature holds here is that of the divine: nature is one way we can experience higher realms. How do these readings differ? Which do you find more compelling and why? What uses can you see for formal analysis or iconographic readings? When might you choose one of these strategies over the other? History  As historian Ray Kierstead has pointed out, history is not just â€Å"one damn thing after another†: rather, history is a way of telling stories about time or, some might say, making an argument about time. The Greek historian Herodotus is often called the father of history in the western world, as he was one of the first historians to notice patterns in world events. Herodotus saw that the course of empires followed a cyclical pattern of rise and fall: as one empire reaches its peak and self-destructs out of hubris (excessive pride), a new empire or new nations will be born to take its place. Thomas Cole’s five-part series The Course of Empire (1833) mirrors this Herodotean notion of time as his scene moves from savage, to pastoral, to consummation, to devastation, to desolation. This vision of time has been tremendously influential in literature: whenever you read a work written in the pastoral mode (literature that looks back with nostalgia to an era of rural life, lost simplicity, and a time when nature and culture were one), ask yourself whether there is an implicit optimism or pessimism about what follows this lost rural ideal. For example, in Herman Melville’s South Sea novel Typee, we find the narrator in a Tahitian village. He seeks to determine if he has entered a pastoral or savage setting: is he surrounded by savages, or is he plunged in a pastoral bliss? Implicit in both is a suggestion that there are earlier forms of civilization than the United States that the narrator has left behind. Any structural analysis of a work of literature (an analysis that pays attention to how a work is ordered) would do well to consider what notions of history are embedded within. In addition to the structural significance of history, a dialogue between history and literature is crucial because much of the early literature of the United States can also be categorized as historical documents. It is helpful, therefore, to understand the genres of history. Like literature, history is comprised of different genres, or modes. Historian Elizabeth Boone defines the main traditional genres of history as res gestae, geographical, and annals. Res gestae, or â€Å"deeds done,† organizes history through a list of accomplishments. This was a popu- L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 11 lar form of history for the ancient Greeks and Romans; for example, the autobiography of Julius Caesar chronicles his deeds, narrated in the third person. When Hernan Cortes and other explorers wrote accounts of their travels (often in the form of letters to the emperor), Caesar’s autobiography served as their model. Geographical histories use travel through space to shape the narrative: Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative is an example of a geographical history in that it follows her through a sequence of twenty geographic â€Å"removes† into Indian country and back. Annals, by contrast, use time as the organizing principle. Information is catalogued by year or month. Diaries and journals are a good example of this genre. These three genres can also be found in the histories of the Aztecs and Mayans of Mesoamerica and in those of the native communities of the United States and Canada. For example, the migration legend, a popular indigenous form of history, is a geographical history, whereas trickster tales often tell the early history of the world through a series of deeds. Memoirists also mix genres; for example, the first section of William Bradford’s Of Plimouth Plantation is a geographical history, whereas the second half is annals. Today the most common historical genres are intellectual history (the history of ideas), political history (the story of leaders), and diplomatic history (the history of foreign relations). To these categories we might add the newer categories of â€Å"social history† (a history of everyday life) and â€Å"gender history† (which focuses on the construction of gender roles). Finally, history is a crucial tool for understanding literature because literature is written in—and arguably often reflects—a specific historical context. Readers of literary works can deepen their understanding by drawing on the tools of history, that is, the records people leave behind: political (or literary) documents, town records, census data, newspaper stories, captivity narratives, letters, journals, diaries, and the like. Even such objects as tools, graveyards, or trading goods can tell us important information about the nature of everyday life for a community, how it worshipped or what it thought of the relationship between life and death. 12 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Material Culture [6332] Archibald Gunn and Richard Felton Outcault, New York Journal’s Colored Comic Supplement (1896), courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division [LC-USZC4-25531]. When you look at an object, it may call up associations from the past. For example, for the first-time viewer the clown figure in the image above may seem innocuous, yet at the end of the nineteenth century his popularity was so intense that it started a newspaper war fierce enough to spawn a whole new term for sensationalist, irresponsible journalism—â€Å"yellow journalism. † Objects such as this comic supplement constitute â€Å"material culture,† the objects of everyday life. In Material Culture Studies in America, Thomas Schlereth provides the following useful definition of material culture: Material culture can be considered to be the totality of artifacts in a culture, the vast universe of objects used by humankind to cope with the physical world, to facilitate social intercourse, to delight our fancy, and to create symbols of meaning. . . . Leland Ferguson argues that material culture includes all â€Å"the things that people leave behind . . . all of the things people make from the physical world—farm tools, ceramics, houses, furniture, toys, buttons, roads, cities. † (2) When we study material culture in conjunction with literature, we wed two notions of â€Å"culture† and explore how they relate. As critic John Storey notes, the first notion of culture is what is often called â€Å"high culture†Ã¢â‚¬â€the â€Å"general process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic factors†; and the second is â€Å"lived culture†Ã¢â‚¬â€the â€Å"particular way of life, whether of a people, a period or a group† (2). In a sense, material culture (as the objects of a lived culture) allows us to see how the prevailing intellectual ideas were played out in the daily lives of people in a particular era. Thus, as Schlereth explains, through studying material culture we can learn about the â€Å"belief systems—the values, ideas, attitudes, and assumptions—of a particular community or society, usually across time† (3). In reading objects as embedded with meaning, we follow Schlereth’s premise that â€Å"objects made or L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 13 modified by humans, consciously or unconsciously, directly or indirectly, reflect the belief patterns of individuals who made, commissioned, purchased, or used them, and, by extension, the belief patterns of the larger society of which they are a part† (3). The study of material culture, then, can help us better understand the cultures that produced and consumed the literature we read today. Thomas Schlereth suggests a number of useful models for studying material culture; his â€Å"Art History Paradigm† is particularly noteworthy in that it will help you approach works of â€Å"high art,† such as paintings and sculptures, as well. The â€Å"Art History Paradigm† argues that the interpretive objective of examining the artifact is to â€Å"depict the historical development and intrinsic merit† of it. If you are interested in writing an â€Å"Art History Paradigm† reading of material culture, you might look at an object and ask yourself the following questions, taken from Sylvan Barnet’s Short Guide to Writing about Art. These questions apply to any art object: First, we need to know information about the artifact so we can place it in a historical context. You might ask yourself: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is my first response to the work? When and where was the work made? Where would the work originally have been seen? What purpose did the work serve? In what condition has the work survived? (Barnet 21–22) In addition, if the artifact is a drawing, painting, or advertisement, you might want to ask yourself questions such as these: 1. What is the subject matter? What (if anything) is happening? 2. If the picture is a portrait, how do the furnishings and the background and the angle of the head or the posture of the head and body (as well as the facial expression) contribute to our sense of the subject’s character? 3. If the picture is a still life, does it suggest opulence or want? 4. In a landscape, what is the relation between human beings and nature? Are the figures at ease in nature, or are they dwarfed by it? Are they one with the horizon, or (because the viewpoint is low) do they stand out against the horizon and perhaps seem in touch with the heavens, or at least with open air? If there are woods, are these woods threatening, or are they an inviting place of refuge? If there is a clearing, is the clearing a vulnerable place or is it a place of refuge from ominous woods? Do the natural objects in the landscape somehow reflect the emotions of the figures? (Barnet 22–23; for more questions, see pp. 23–24) Material culture is a rich and varied resource that ranges from kitchen utensils, to advertisements, to farming tools, to clothing. Unpacking the significance of objects that appear in the stories and poems you read may help you better understand characters and their motives. 14 W H AT I S A M E R I C A N L I T E R AT U R E ? Architecture. Most of the time we read the hidden meanings of buildings without even thinking twice. Consider the buildings below: Above: [9089] Anonymous, Capitol Building at Washington, D. C. (1906), courtesy of Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress [LC-USZ62-121528]. Right: [6889] Anonymous, Facade of the Sam Wah’s Chinese Laundry (c. 1890 –1900), courtesy of the Denver Public Library. Even if we had never seen either of these buildings before, it would not take us long to determine which was a government building and which was a smalltown retail establishment. Our having seen thousands of buildings enables us to understand the purpose of a building from architectural clues. When first seeing a work of architecture, it is helpful to unpack cultural assumptions. You might ask: 1. What is the purpose of this building? Is it public or private? What activities take place within it? 2. What features of the building reflect this purpose? Which of these features are necessary and which are merely conventional? 3. What buildings or building styles does this building allude to? What values are inherent in that allusion? 4. What parts of this building are principally decorative rather than functional? What does the ornament or lack of it say about the status of the owners or the people who work there? 5. What buildings surround this building? How do they affect the way the building is entered? 6. What types of people live or work in this building? How do they interact within the space? What do these findings say about the relative social status of the occupants? How does the building design restrict or encourage that status? 7. How are people supposed to enter and move through the building? What clues does the building give as to how this movement should take place? L I T E R AT U R E I N I T S C U LT U R A L C O N T E X T 15 These questions imply two basic assumptions about architecture: (1) architecture reflects and helps establish social status and social relations; and (2) architecture