Correctional Institution , Criminology major Essay - 3

Correctional Institution , Criminology major - Essay Example Other issues that arise from prison rape are contraction of conditions such as HIV / AIDS which can be fatally devastating. Murder and assault: this is mostly because of hate crime in prison. When prisoners disagree, they are not likely to consult prison authorities as they prefer to settle their differences personally. Crimes are a means of exacting revenge. Weapons dealing: aside from using natural means such as physical strength to fight, assault and even murder, prisoners also use weapons. Most of the weapons they use are crude ones such as knives or improvised sharp objects. These weapons are within the prison walls or from outside the prison. Drug dealing: there is a positive correlation between drugs and crime. For prisoners arrested for drug possession and use there is still an urge to continue using drugs, this creates ready market. Through smuggling, prisoners are able to get access to money. This money funds drug deals and purchase of weapons (Mà ¸ller, Gatherer, Jà ¼rge ns, Stà ¶ver & Nikogosian 55). The psychology of the inhabitants of the correctional institutes: persons in correctional institutes reside in the institution because of committing crimes. In this light, therefore, there is a likelihood of them carrying on these activities even while in prison. Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment in most cases do not see the need of being model citizens. They, therefore, perpetrate crimes at will because they are of the view that the worst that could happen to them has already happened (DeRosia & Victoria 101). Another contributing factor to this issue is public opinion. The public views prisoners as awful people incapable of reform. This kills the moral of an individual, and they do not see the need of change especially while in prison. The public and the prisoners get their influence from the media. There are one too many programs

Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Essay The Great Depression took place in the United States in the 1930s. Northern California, Salinas Valley was affected by the Great Depression. Many farmers lost their properties and were forced to find other work. Banks were forced to foreclose on mortgages’ and had to collect debts. Hundreds of thousands of farmers packed up their families and few belongings, and headed for California. The Great Depression left many people in poverty and caused them to face unpleasant events. This is how life was like for the characters in Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men. Mostly all the characters in this novel suffered from loneliness. Some of the men desired to come together in a way that would allow them to be like brothers to one another. Given the harsh, lonely conditions under which the men live, it is no surprise that they idealize friendship between other men in such a way. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses characterization of dialogue and actions to show that everyone is lonely in some way even if they are surrounded by others. John Steinbeck uses characterization to show that loneliness causes people to reveal their feelings through dialogue. When Curley’s wife walks into the farm, she sees Lennie and begins to talk to him. He tries to avoid her and she says â€Å"‘I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely’† (86). Curley’s wife has no one to talk to, and even Lennie tries to avoid her. Her words reveal that she is very lonely and even though there are so many people around her, nobody wants to talk to her. These words are significant because it shows how lonely she really is and how everyone tries to keep away from her because they know she causes drama and that she is married to Curley. George and Lennie also experience loneliness that they show through dialogue. As George and Lennie walk to the ranch together, George says, ‘â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliness guys in the world. They got no family and they don’t belong to no place†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (121). In addition, George and Lennie have no real home. They work the season, and then move on. They have no family, no relatives, and no ties except to each other. George’s words reveal that the life style of migrant workers such as themselves gives the way to a lonely life. This dialogue is significant because it shows how George and Lennie are lonely and that even though they travel and meet new people they still possess some kind of loneliness. Even though George was surrounded by many of the men, he sat quietly by himself at on the table all alone. â€Å"George cut the cards and began turning them over, looking at each one and throwing it down in a pile† (27). George is occupying his time by sitting alone at the table and organizing cards. George’s actions show that he is lonely and has nothing better to do then organize a deck of cards. His actions are significant because it reveals how George is lonely and how he spends his time by himself organizing cards. Also, when Crooks experiences loneliness he occupies himself with books. Even though Crooks is surrounded by so many men, he often feels lonely, but he tries to convince himself that he is not lonely. ‘â€Å" S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books. ’ Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. ’ Books ani’t no good. ’ A guy needs somebody to be near him†¦ he goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (72). Crooks is very lonely and he wishes that he could have someone to talk to, but he tries to be busy by playing horseshoes and reading books. His actions show that he is extremely lonely, and that he occupies himself with little things to keep himself from suffering. Crook’s actions are significant because loneliness cause people to spend their time by themselves. In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses characterization of dialogue and actions to reveal that one can be surrounded by a group and still be lonely. The use of dialogue proves that the characters are lonely even though they are working closely together. Also, through the characterization of actions the author reveals that most of the men are lonely and that the men occupy themselves even though they are with a group of people. John Steinbeck’s theme applies to the entire would because it proves that loneliness affects everyone at one time or another. It changes the way a person thinks and behaves. When people feel lonely their actions and way of life are affected. Nobody can run away from loneliness even if they live with a group of people. It’s a trait that no one can get rid of.

Sole trader and partnership business

Sole trader and partnership business http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sole_proprietorship http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98214,00.html http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCESitemId=1073789609 http://www.myownbusiness.org/s4/ http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/19/19_1/what-is-a-sole-trader.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/business/aims/partnershipsrev1.shtml http://www.company-wizard.co.uk/Glossary/Private_Limited_Company.htm Among the similarities between a sole trader and partnership business is that they both have unlimited liability. Unlimited liability means in the event that the business becomes insolvent, the owner will have to be responsible for paying all the debts of the business even if it means selling off his personal assets to settle the debts. In a partnership, a partner will also have to pay off all the debts of the business if other partners become insolvent but if only the business becomes insolvent the debts can be shared among partners. This however is not applicable to the sleeping partner. The way both businesses are financed is also similar. For example, they are financed with bank loans, personal savings and contributions from friends and family. The two businesses need to be registered under the Registration of Business Act and operates in the private sector. This means that none of this structure of businesses is owned by government. The owner of a sole trader and partners in a p artnership are taxed at a personal tax rate according to the profits the business makes. Dealings of both types of business are confidential and only need to be revealed to the government. Both are easy and cheap to set up. Among the differences between a sole trader and partnership business is a sole trader business has only one owner whereas a partnership has 2-20 owners. The sole trader is fully responsible for the running of the business from day to day so, the success of the business is limited to the abilities of the owner. In a partnership, business decisions are made by casting votes among the partners and they assigned specific work in the business. There are more people to contribute skills and expertise. All profits gained in a sole trader business are received by the owner whereas in a partnership the profit is split according to the ratio which was previously agreed in the partnership agreement. When dissolving the business a sole trader can dissolve by himself whereas a partnership needs consent from partners. One of the similarities between sole trader business and private company is that both of them are created to generate profit for the owners. Also both are private companies. Both need to be registered as private entities. Therefore they do not have to make reports on their business to be released to the public. Such reports need only be disclosed to the government. This maintains confidentiality in the business. Among the differences between the two business structures are the number of owners. A sole trader has only one owner while a private company has 1-50 owners which are called shareholders. A private company is a different person from the owner. This means the owner and management of the company is separated. The liability of a sole trader business is unlimited whereas in a private company its limited. This means that in the event that the company goes bankrupt the maximum shareholders of a private company can lose are the amount they have invested in the company. A sole trader business has limited life whereas a private company has perpetual existence. This means that the company will still exist even if there is a change in ownership. A private company business is taxed at a fixed tax rate of 30% whereas the sole trader can get a personal tax rate of 30% or more. Decisions of a sole trader business is made by the sole trader whereas in a private company they are made by the managemen t group. It is easier and cheaper to set up a sole trader business compared with a private company. The Sole Trader can have unlimited borrowings subject to the limit of its financial standing but for the Company, its borrowings are guided by articles as contained in their Memorandum of Association. It is easier for a Private Company to raise finance compared to a Sole Trader. I would advise Lydia to convert the business into a partnership. Assuming that the business hasnt been doing well for the past three years, extra capital that can be raised by potential partners can help the business to acquire better equipment and teachers. Also assuming that the potential partners are experts in the IT field or good businessmen they can bring in fresh ideas and expertise to help the business grow. Fresh ideas will help because a business has to always adjust according to the ever changing needs of consumers and because. Other similar businesses are always improving themselves. Therefore Lydias business has to improve too in order to stay competitive. Extra capital, expertise, and ideas from potential partners will help the business in that way. Not only that, work gets done even faster when there are more people running it. Therefore the running of the business is more efficient. Furthermore it does not take a lot of money to convert the business to a partnership. Assuming that Lydia is a friendly person, personality clashes between partners would be rare. The partnership is not likely to bankrupt assuming that Lydias potential partners have a solid financial background. It is not advisable for Lydia to form a company because it is costly to set up. Since the business has only been running for three years it wouldnt have generated enough revenue to be converted into a company. Moreover turning it to a company will increase government regulation on her business. This will greatly decrease the businesss flexibility.   It is also not advisable for her to stay as a sole trader because she needs new capital to upgrade equipments that have been in use for 3 years now and that is hard to do if she stays as a sole trader. Also assuming that she is married, the business wouldnt have to shut down temporarily because of her taking a maternity leave. This is because her partner would be able to take over the business for the mean time.

Edgar Allan Poes The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar Essay -- Facts

Edgar Allan Poe's The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar Edgar Allan Poe's The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar is one of his more interesting works. Granted, this is one of his lesser-known works, but nevertheless this short story is clear example of the obsession theme that is so prominent in the majority of Poe's work. In fact, the obsession the narrator in the story closely resembles Poe himself because he was somewhat obsessed or infatuated with mesmerism for a while. This could be one example where Poe allows the reader into himself (as the narrator) or this could be yet another of Poe's tricks on his audience. In either case, this is a fascinating work that combines his trademark Gothic style with numerous customs and ideas of the day in a short yet substantial work. It would be somewhat accurate to call Poe "the inventor of American Gothic." American gothic did exist before Poe, but he was the man who took this genre to its zenith. Poe's stories generally have some element of the supernatural or mysterious in them, a solitary speaker who is normally "not normal" (many ask "Am I mad?" or insist they are not mad), usually set somewhere in Europe in some remote place at midnight. His brand of American Gothic allows for both the supernatural and physiological interpretations. Many of his narrators show some degree of madness and obsession. In fact, obsession seems to be evident in nearly every Poe tale. Poe's concept of madness is two-fold: physiological and mental/ psychological. Roderick Usher in The Fall of The House of Usher is an example of being mad from a psychological condition of his family practicing incest. The narrator in Ligeia is another example of this physical madness, this man was suffering from al... ...ffman, Daniel. Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe Poe. New York: Doubleday, 1972. Howarth, William. Twentieth Century Interpretations of Poe's Tales. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1971. Forclaz, Robert. "Psychoanalysis and Edgar Allan Poe: A Critique of the Bonaparte Thesis." Ed. Eric W. Carlson. Critical Essays On Edgar Allan Poe. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1987. 187-195. Gauld, Alan. A History of Hypnotism. Cambridge UP, 1992. Matthews, Terry C., . Writing Scientific Papers. Decatur, Il: Millikin University Biology Department. Ostrom, John Ward. The Letters of Edgar Allan Poe. Vol 2. NewYork: Gordian Press, 1966. 2 vols. Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Facts of M. Valdemar's Case." The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe, 1850. The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore. 19 Nov. 2001. 9 Dec. 2001. http://www.eapoe.org/works/tales/vldmard.htm.

Descriptive essay: Harry Potter Essay

The soft white carpet that stretches throughout the house stops, at the doorway of the room. The chocolate brown and polished, wooden floor takes the place of the carpet. The room is surrounded by earth tone colored walls giving it a feel of nature. On top of the walls are uniquely designed molding frames that present a stylish statement. Abundant natural light shines through wooden blinds of the window which is located on the left side of the room. The full sized bed is against the wall and has floral sheets, fluffy pillows, and pattern designs that complement the theme of the room. The desk next to the bed is cluttered with scraps of paper, workbooks, and erasers crumbs. Pencils, pens, and markers are neatly placed in a purple pencil box at the left corner of the desk. Two feet away from the desk stands a tall built in closet that is six feet away from the foot of the bed. Across the closet is the wall that has an entire section filled nearly dozens of collages of captured memories. There is a fleeting aroma of a collection of different fragrances purchased at Bath and Body Works. The perfumes and lotions are lined up on top of the bookshelf. The first row of the bookshelf has a music player and two picture frames of family and friends. The second row is stacks of school textbooks starting with Pre-Calculus to AP Psychology and ending with SAT workbooks. The last row has boxes filled with old photos, colorful paper, and an old, rusty pile of old school assignments. Next to the shelf is an old ladder that protrudes from the wall adjacent to the keyboard. Accessories like rings, necklaces, and bracelets are either hanged or placed carefully on the ladder. The black and gray keyboard stands next to the ladder and has an assortment of dusts lying on the surface of the white and black keys. The top pile of clothes touch the right side of the keyboard and the clothes, are stacked on the comfy white couch waiting to be washed. The white couch sits idly against the wall, and a taller white bookshelf is next to it. The first row of the bookshelf has different albums with genres like country, pop, and rock music standing up. The next three rows has books in an arrangement of books starting with childhood favorites, progressing to chapter books, and a collection of many different series of books like Harry Potter, all the way to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The final row consists of colorful and creatively designed scrapbooks and yearbooks. This tall shelf is also the shelf next to the door, and ends the exploration of the personalized bedroom.

Heroism in Gattaca (Film)

Heroism in Gattaca (Film) Free Online Research Papers â€Å"Identify and evaluate what human qualities Gattaca considers to be heroic. Do you agree with the film’s views?† Gattaca is a film that conveys many messages regarding what human qualities constitute heroism. Vincent Freeman is usually the character through which these qualities are highlighted and explored. It is often suggested that Vincent’s journey through Gattaca (both the film and the institution) qualify as heroic. Thus, it could be asserted that the qualities that Vincent exhibits throughout this journey are considered by the film to be heroic. A hero’s plight, as remembered by history and represented by Hollywood, seldom deviates from its clichà ©d formula: a self-sacrificing, determined, courageous, and possibly oppressed person who is, at first, not popularly expected to succeed, ultimately achieves their dreams and receives some form of reward – often a woman. Vincent’s journey through Gattaca cannot be entirely seen through this filter of glowing commendability. Rather, Vincent is a character whose negative qualities conform to Greek mythology’s definition of a hero: a person, often of divine descent, endowed with great courage and strength, and favoured by the gods. A Greek hero’s title can be maintained whilst they exhibit qualities such as; disobedience, anti-social tendencies, selfishness and arrogance. Vincent’s courage is demonstrated repeatedly in the film. His courage can be observed, at the widest level, through Vincent’s choice to cheat the system. The legal implications of Vincent’s path, although not specified, are suggested to be extreme – thus his willingness to be subject to such imperilment underlines this aspect of his courage. Vincent is assured by his family and society, from a young age, that: â€Å"†¦the only way [he will]†¦see the inside of a space shuttle is if [he is]†¦cleaning it. This condemnation should discourage Vincent from aspiring to a better life, but it only seems to cement his ambition. For a person to stand up against an entire institution, and his own family, could be seen as courageous. However, it is through circumventing the system, that many of Vincent’s less commendable qualities are made explicit. It would be expected of a hero to challenge that which is unjust, rather than cheat it. Vincent’s aforementioned actions are considered by his society to be criminal, thus his heroic image would appear to be diminished. However, in the eyes of Greek mythology, these actions diminish his character no more than many Greek heroes’ flaws, for example; Odysseus’ hubris, Jason’s unfaithfulness, Ballerophon’s murderous habits or Zeus’ promiscuity. This path of dishonesty, however, leaves Vincent’s character open to criticism once again, as it accounts for his more violent episodes. Vincent brutally beats an innocent police investigator, whose only crime was doing his job. Vincent’s actions, although reprehensible, are comparable to those committed by many Greek heroes. Heracles’ more antisocial tendencies is one example of this. It is interesting to note that the name of our hero’s mother is Marie a variant of â€Å"Mary† – who was/is a pivotal figure of western â€Å"mythology†. A characteristic of a Greek hero is often divine decent thus Vincent’s divine ancestry is subtly alluded to. This quality in Vincent accounts for other qualities that are central to the profile of a Greek hero: being blessed with strength and favoured by the gods. The strength of Vincent can be observed through his courage, and his being endeared by the gods, in his ultimate success and his dreams being granted. Self sacrifice is considered by many to be a compulsory quality in a hero. However, Vincent is entirely self interested he acts only to further his own cause. Not once in the film does Vincent help anyone directly – with his most selfless actions being the possible inspiring of Lamar’s son and supplying Eugene with â€Å"closure†. This quality, again, has parallels in the characters of many Greek heroes. Arrogance is another â€Å"unbecoming† quality that Vincent demonstrates near the end of the film, as he says: â€Å"Just remember†¦I was as good as any, and better than most† Again, this quality is very common in Greek heroes. A protagonist’s background of oppression can often be the prelude of their path to heroism. Vincent does deal with much adversity with his society and family dooming him to a life of unattractive public service. This criterion of the heroic formula is common to both western and Greek mythological heroes. All of these heroic qualities present in Vincent’s character, serve to supply him with the title of a â€Å"hero†. However, Gattaca is a film that deals with far more than heroism and its human application. Gattaca, for the most part, utilizes Vincent and his heroic qualities as a means of communicating its more central themes of; discrimination, identity, society, the human condition and eugenics. Vincent is a; victim of discrimination, a â€Å"particularly detested segment of the population†, a social outcast, and the medium through which the film’s disdainful views on eugenics are conveyed. Without Vincent and his role as a hero, these themes would have been communicated to a far less convincing extent. Overall, Vincent’s heroic qualities serve to convey Gattaca’s unique view of heroism: that heroism can be constructed of an anachronistic conglomeration of heroic characteristics and qualities. Research Papers on Heroism in Gattaca (Film)The Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseWhere Wild and West MeetHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Spring and AutumnIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in Capital

Star Wars Darth Vader Comics Facts

Star Wars Darth Vader Comics Facts 10 Facts From Darth Vader Comics After Star Wars expanded universe was removed from canon, the Darth Vader comic succeeded in bridging the gap. However, the aim of Darth Vader was to humanize the classic villain which was illustrated multiple Darth Vaders quests. The circulation was eye-popping with the characters presented in an absolutely new light and the establishment of a new canon which differs from what we see on the screen. Some Insights into the Major Changes Which Are Now Officially Regarded as Canon Creating His Lightsaber It goes without saying that Darth Vader is widely distinguished by his red lightsaber. Up to this time, fans could only make speculation about the origin of the sword. However, it has been recently elaborated in the comics. Since Legends erased much of the expanded universe from canon, the comics provide new elucidation of the rationale behind the red color. Upon his transposition in his signature armor, Vader was entrusted with finding a lightsaber. Emperor Palpatine makes it clear to Vader that a Sith lord gains his lightsaber by vanquishing a Jedi in battle. Having found a Jedi who pulled through Order 66, Vader does away with him and gains his weapon. However, everything is not that white and black as it seems. Palpatine divulges to Vader that a Sith lightsaber was turned red by putting all of the wielders fury into the Kyber Crystal. The secret of Vader’s lightsaber takes an even more frightening and unexpected course when it becomes patent that the Kyber Crystal struggles against this process. After giving an insight his last chance to get back to the light side, Vader gains the crystal and the blade turns red. Hunting Down Jedi While creating his lightsaber, we observe another piece of evidence of Darth Vader expanding into canon that had only been alluded to. In the comics, we can observe multiple happenstances in the expanded universe except for the scene of Vader hunt down surviving Jedi. In an attempt to find a Jedi to gain their lightsaber, Vader finds out about the existence of Jedi named Kirak Infil’a. Kirak had made an oath not to meddle into anything but the force and pulled through the eradication of the other Jedi. Hunting him down being armed with the sole force, we observe the moment of Vader striving to wipe out the Jedi order. Vader’s Weak Points Although the Anakins weak sides in the prequel trilogy are quite patent, after the transformation into Darth Vader, he becomes an irresistible menace. The comics have shed light on a new vulnerable side to Vader that we could not spot in the original trilogy. While hunting down Kirak Infil’a, Vader sustained a defeat at first. It was a pivotal moment since it was instrumental in humanizing Darth Vader. It proved that he is able to be defeated, and we observe a genuine struggle on his path to turn into the Vader that we all know and fear from the original trilogy. Remembering The Past There was one more occurrence in the comics that was fundamental in humanizing the Darth Vader. In  Darth Vader  #20, the situation revolves around Vader who is rebuked by Emperor Palpatine. The latter adopts an extreme method to make him become his apprentice. Palpatine took him to the Naboo Royal Starship which transported Padmà © and the Jedi to his home planet of Tatooine. Vader responds to this blast from his past quite vehemently, destroying a droid that is meant to repair the ship. This moment is suggestive of the fact that Vader still feels strongly about his previous life. Tested By The Emperor The initial aim of the new Darth Vader comics was not only to give insights into Vader himself but also his interaction with the Emperor. In the previous comics, we get an impression that Vader is more of a servant to the Emperor than an Apprentice, but in the new series of comics, we just have a splendid opportunity to see that it is in fact true. Vader is dismissed and maltreated by Palpatine in ways that are indicative of him being a lapdog to the Sith Lord. While it enables us to understand their relationship in a broader sense, it also serves as a rationale behind his betrayal of his master. Vader’s Castle On Mustafar While Darth Vader in the extended universe has been clearly linked with mythology, the comics provided a brand-new story about the origin of Vader’s castle on Mustafar. Vader stumbles across a mask with the ghost of a Sith Lord called Momin. He is endowed with the ability to communicate with the ghost which enables them to design some plans for the castle. According to Momin, the castle is constructed like a giant tuning fork enabling him to get through to the dark side of the force. Momin enchants Vader by promising that it will enable him to go through the veil of death and reunite with Padmà ©. Vader adheres to the instructions which give rise to some intriguing developments and the establishment of his iconic castle. The Start Of The Rebellion While Darth Vader  revolves around the titular character, the comic also unveils some essential secrets about the surrounding world, particularly the start of the rebellion. Vader appears to be enraged at how the Rebellion has mounted, and we can see what sparks off the opposition of the Empire. The comic perfectly succeeds in depicting the deplorable situation of the Rebels following the collapse of the Jedi Order and provides the back-story which is linked to the original trilogy. Force Limitations Darth Vader was quite effusive in using the force. In the previous trilogy, we observe the reach of his power and just how frightening he can be. However, in the comics, Vader’s use of the force is limited. While fighting back against Grand Moff Tarkin, the only weapon Vader uses after Tarkin takes away his lightsaber is force. Tarklin then sacrifices some men to come to know how far Vader can go using this force. Eventually, we see that Vader is not that potent in terms of using his force powers. Noooooo In the first run of Darth Vader, we can observe a subtle but positive change from previous prequels. One of the most hateful moments from Revenge of the Sith is the process of transforming from Anakin to Vader followed by a long-winded â€Å"NOOOOOOOOO.† In  Darth Vader #1, we still observe this moment but with a text bubble just reading â€Å"NO.† Anakin’s Father The revelation of Anakin’s father identity seems to be the most eye-popping turn in the Darth Vader Comics. In the prequels, it was said â€Å"there was no father† and people just concluded that he was the child of the force. In the comics, we see a brand-new explanation. Vader envisions Emperor Palpatine manipulating Anakin’s mother’s womb which gave rise to the imbalance in the force and led to him coming into this world.

Free Essays on What Does It Really Mean To See

What Does it Mean to See? â€Å"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found. T’was blind but now I see.† This song is very old, but it’s message is timeless. This song is not talking about the physical as much as the spiritual. It talks about being saved by God and His grace, and how this saving has allowed the song writer to live and see through his heart. This new sight allows him to see God in everything, and by seeing God, the true light, he is never going in the wrong direction. â€Å"Amazing Grace† says a lot, and it speaks directly to us as a class as we learn to take a step back a put on our spiritual glasses as I’ve always called it. In particular we are learning what a sacrament is, beyond those given to us through scripture. As a class we are using each other’s stories and the stories of published peoples to aide us in our quest. We are learning what it truly means to see, looking beyond the physi cal and into the spiritual, connecting us to God. One of the first people we were introduced to was Dewitt Jones, a photographer for National Geographic. He helped us to understand the power of perspective in a very tangible manner, by using photography as an analogy for life. This enabled him to give us great instructions for seeing. One thing he said that struck with me was, â€Å"We have the ability to look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary.† In my opinion, the real message behind this statement, instructs us to take a more active role in seeing. It means no longer can we look in the direction of something and say we saw it, we have to dig deeper than that. We have to look beyond the general picture, and really notice the intricacies, all the parts that make up the whole. Jones also says, â€Å"Reframe difficulties or dullness into opportunities.† This is great because so often we miss life’s most beautiful art because we can’t see past the frame it i... Free Essays on What Does It Really Mean To See Free Essays on What Does It Really Mean To See What Does it Mean to See? â€Å"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found. T’was blind but now I see.† This song is very old, but it’s message is timeless. This song is not talking about the physical as much as the spiritual. It talks about being saved by God and His grace, and how this saving has allowed the song writer to live and see through his heart. This new sight allows him to see God in everything, and by seeing God, the true light, he is never going in the wrong direction. â€Å"Amazing Grace† says a lot, and it speaks directly to us as a class as we learn to take a step back a put on our spiritual glasses as I’ve always called it. In particular we are learning what a sacrament is, beyond those given to us through scripture. As a class we are using each other’s stories and the stories of published peoples to aide us in our quest. We are learning what it truly means to see, looking beyond the physi cal and into the spiritual, connecting us to God. One of the first people we were introduced to was Dewitt Jones, a photographer for National Geographic. He helped us to understand the power of perspective in a very tangible manner, by using photography as an analogy for life. This enabled him to give us great instructions for seeing. One thing he said that struck with me was, â€Å"We have the ability to look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary.† In my opinion, the real message behind this statement, instructs us to take a more active role in seeing. It means no longer can we look in the direction of something and say we saw it, we have to dig deeper than that. We have to look beyond the general picture, and really notice the intricacies, all the parts that make up the whole. Jones also says, â€Å"Reframe difficulties or dullness into opportunities.† This is great because so often we miss life’s most beautiful art because we can’t see past the frame it i...

Forecasting financial statements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Forecasting financial statements - Essay Example The third step is the area of activity to be covered in the activity (Danielsson, 2011). In order to improve the accuracy of forecast, the forecasted financial statements should only cover a small period such as only a month. This is because forecasted financial statements that cover a long period are prone to distortion or inaccuracies arising from external factors that were unforeseen and therefore, not considered during the forecasting process. Markham (2006) stated that in 2005, the American Insurance Group engaged in an improper corporate valuation scheme whereby they told their traders to inflate their stock prices, which in turn lead to an inflated valuation of the company. In order to avoid such a scandal that occurred at AIG it is necessary to create rules that govern how corporate decisions should be made and they should be written in the corporation’s article of association. Secondly, the corporation’s decisions should based on a simple majority vote and incase a director of the corporation has a conflict of interest on the matter being addressed then the director should not be allowed to

HR Hiring Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

HR Hiring - Essay Example The project aims to develop a personnel selection procedure for the position of the Human Resource Manager with specialization in Human Relations. The procedure requires making a thorough analysis of the job requirement based on which selection system would be developed. The procedure would include the different aspects of recruitment, selection, hiring and acculturation. The recruitment procedure primarily uses the behaviorally based structured interview technique for assessing the abilities of the candidates. Moreover, the strengths of using the techniques have also been stated and its relevance in measuring the knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics (KSAPs) of candidates. Based on the answers that the interviewer provides, the rater must assign specific ratings and add notes to those answers. The researcher concludes that the candidate must also be observed in terms of his behaviors, mannerisms, attitudes and body language. After the interview, the rater must s um up the ratings beside each question to being out the total score of the candidate. This score along with the observed qualities of candidates by the interviewer must be analyzed to evaluate his fitness in the specific role. It is mentioned that the main advantage of such structured interview is its reliability, validity and fairness and legal defensibility. Also, the researcher explores the performance management system, that designs, plans and implements the entire performance of employees in terms of their goals and objectives.

The elements of a conflict of the Soviet-Afghan war Research Paper

The elements of a conflict of the Soviet-Afghan war - Research Paper Example All types of conflicts, be they political, economical, social or ethical, have stemmed because of the occurrence of the war itself. It would be imperative, therefore, to study the causes of the war so that the basis of the conflicts can be analyzed. The Soviet occupation of the Afghan territory had a myriad of reason, including political as well as economic factors. It started with the Soviet interest in the natural mineral deposits of Afghanistan, including the huge stores of natural gas that were discovered not long before the occupation (Assifi, 1982/83). There were also hopes of finding other minerals like coal, iron, and oil (Assifi, 1982/83). Afghanistan, although a land-locked country, holds a key position geopolitically due to its placement on the map (Assifi, 1982/83). The Soviets could make their way to the Indian Ocean, and into the neighboring territories, such as Pakistan, which many believe to be next on the Soviet’s war list (National Review, 1987). To make matt ers easier, the Soviets had, two years prior to the official occupation, installed a pro-communist regime in the Afghan government (Assifi, 1982/83). The major players of the war were of course the USSR and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (Assifi, 1982/83). USSR, a communist force rising in the world against the capitalist Western giants like the United States posed a serious threat to the Western world (National Review, 1987). ... ly made their way into their homeland owing to the cooperation of the pro-communist regime installed in the country a couple of years back (Assifi, 1982/83). The population itself was divided into different sects and groups, which made the freedom fight slightly ineffective (Lamothe, 2004). The major parties that influenced the war were the Jamiat-i-Islami, Hizb-i-Islami, Mujahideen, and the Taliban (Lamothe, 2004). Individuals such as Ahmad Shah Massoud (Lamothe, 2004) also played pivotal role in the Afghan resistance against the Soviet invasion. Apart from the key players of the war, several countries took part in the resistance against the invasion although not directly becoming a part of the war. Such states are said to play a supportive role in the conflict. Pakistan was one of major supporters of the freedom fighters (Chapman, 1982). It couldn’t help getting involved in the war, though, given its geographical closeness to the Afghan territory. Also, it was believed that it was the next target of the Soviets (National Review, 1987), who had apparently greater aims than just occupying Afghanistan. Therefore, Pakistan fought the invasion politically and with manpower. It provided a constant supply of trained soldiers, called Mujahideen, to the Afghan freedom fighters, most of whom were Pashtun and of Afghan nationality (Lamothe, 2004). These soldiers were trained in military and religious camps all along the border of the two countries, and a huge fraction of these camps were funded by the United States government (Chapman, 1982). Pakistan, suddenly, was very prominent on the world map due to its geopolitical role in the conflict (Assifi, 1982/83). It also provided health care facilities to the wounded soldiers, both on the battlefield and on its own land among

Discuss the main barriers to business development in the assigned Essay

Discuss the main barriers to business development in the assigned country. Croatia - Essay Example 2011). Croatia was one of the wealthiest Yugoslav republics before the break up. It suffered badly during the 1991-95 period when output collapsed and the Croats missed the early opportunities of waves of investments in Europe that was followed after the collapse of the Berlin wall. But due to increased and sustained efforts to build the battered economy, its recovery started during 2000 and 2007. It had a moderate and steady GDP in between 4% and 6%. There was a rebound of the tourism industry which contributed well to the GDP growth. Moreover credit driven consumer spending also was another reason for the growth of GDP. Inflation was controlled and the currency Kuna was stable. But in spite of these growth potentials, difficult times still remain in Croatia. There are growing unemployment, increase trade deficit and unbalanced regional development. In Croatia, the state retains larger part of the economy. Privatization efforts are often met with stiff public resistance. Although ma croeconomic stabilization has been achieved in the economy, there is a lag in structural reforms because of the resistance against privatization and lack of interest shown by politicians. Joining to the EU may somewhat change things in Croatia. It could accelerate fiscal and structural reforms in the country. ... However during recent years the Croatian economy has shown signs of revival. Its latest GDP purchasing power parity is estimated to be $78.52 billion; the GDP official exchange rate is $59.92 billion. But the real GDP growth rate has gone down to negative 1.4% in 2010. The GDP per capita income is $17500 making its rank to 67th in the world. The unemployment rate in the country is 17% and the public debt is 55%. It has an external debt of $59.7 billion (The world fact book. 2010). Over the last three years, the Croatian economy has undergone vast changes. Thousands of new private enterprises have sprung up. Government owned enterprises are in the process of transformation and privatization. It has abundant natural and human resources as well as a long standing business tradition. Moreover after the collapse of communism, new legal systems which would steer the economy are being developed in Croatia. There is tremendous hope that the economy would be a market driven economy in the fut ure (How to do Business with Croatia?2010). One among the significant barriers that has affected the business sector in Croatia is the hangover of communist regime. Even though Croatia is now very well advancing towards attaining membership in the European Union, the aftermath of communist rule in the country has significantly damaged some developments with regard to privatization. Many large commercial companies in Croatia still are supported alone by the state, notably the shipyard industry. Attempts made to sell of the assets to private enterprises have failed due to tough resistance. It is inevitable that a renewed effort is needed to address these problems effectively. The economy of the country has contracted over the last two years due

Social Psychology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Psychology - Assignment Example In primitive cultures infanticide was an acceptable means of birth control. The social interactions of primitive cultures showed the hardness of life, with hunger and war the way of life. The cognitive processes would convince the mother’s that the environmental factors of their life were too much for a baby. The cultural context would approve of infanticide. Biological factors would include a mother’s love or bonding with the newborn baby. Infanticide would be expected out of primitive cultures due to research and study of text and uncovered ancient burial grounds. In today’s society infanticide is not an acceptable practice. Abortion is a practice that has become acceptable in the United States and other countries. Most abortions are due to environmental reasons, such as a woman feels too poor, does not want the baby, or other reasons. The biological factors are women that become pregnant accidently or find themselves having an unwanted pregnancy. In China wher e economic restraints are placed on couples with more than one child, gender profiling has caused the rise in abortion of the female gender. That is the Chinese culture. Contraception is also accepted in the United States and European countries. On the other hand, abortions and birth control are outlawed in Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran. The culture dictates the practice. Different societies practice different means of birth control. The birth control issue is based on social interactions. The obvious social interactions are between a man and woman of childbearing age. However the interaction between the sexually active woman and men and their social group is also important. A young married couple will probably receive a positive reaction. A young thirteen or fourteen year old would not receive a positive reaction. A couple with more than three or four children would not be positively received in the

Current Business Process Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Business Process Summary - Essay Example The network configuration has two segments linked by a network bridge (Apollo Group, 2013). administration network set up. The company uses an integrated method to satisfy their network requirement (Apollo Group, 2013). The network configuration is 1000BaseT and every department applies on different standard. For instance, the radiology utilizes 1000 BaseF. On the general idea of the logical network configurations, it is revealed that the hospital utilizes 1000 BaseT applying CAT6 cable to wards, labs, emergency room, and pharmacy. The 1000Base permits existing copper line to be utilized instead of having to re-cable with optical fiber. The 1000BaseT utilizing CAT6 is linked to 1000baseF with single mode fiber by a structure bridge. It provides more cabling strategy to assist a support cable setting up that is inexpensive (Apollo Group, 2013). Company applies 1000BaseT since they already utilize CAT-S wiring so 1000BaseT can be enforced easily. According to network work experts such as Healey (Tyler, 2007), 1000Base-T is intended to function over 4-pair UTP data cable. The 1000baseF is a 1000-Mbps bundle specification for Ethernet interconnection over optical fibers. The Hospital also utilize backbone network configuration of 1000 BaseT. The business process of the company is to expand and the network overview above gives bit the chance to implement such expansion. FPCH is currently opting to expand its functions and is faced with three choices: going communal through an IPO, acquisition or merging with a different hospital. In order for this health facility to make the best choices, the management must compare and contrast the diverse strategies by considering the subsequent: strengths and weaknesses, threats, opportunities and effects of globalization. The strength and opportunity that has been revealed in this paper is the present network capability that gives them advantage and also provides opportunities for

Discuss the main barriers to business development in the assigned Essay

Discuss the main barriers to business development in the assigned country. Croatia - Essay Example 2011). Croatia was one of the wealthiest Yugoslav republics before the break up. It suffered badly during the 1991-95 period when output collapsed and the Croats missed the early opportunities of waves of investments in Europe that was followed after the collapse of the Berlin wall. But due to increased and sustained efforts to build the battered economy, its recovery started during 2000 and 2007. It had a moderate and steady GDP in between 4% and 6%. There was a rebound of the tourism industry which contributed well to the GDP growth. Moreover credit driven consumer spending also was another reason for the growth of GDP. Inflation was controlled and the currency Kuna was stable. But in spite of these growth potentials, difficult times still remain in Croatia. There are growing unemployment, increase trade deficit and unbalanced regional development. In Croatia, the state retains larger part of the economy. Privatization efforts are often met with stiff public resistance. Although ma croeconomic stabilization has been achieved in the economy, there is a lag in structural reforms because of the resistance against privatization and lack of interest shown by politicians. Joining to the EU may somewhat change things in Croatia. It could accelerate fiscal and structural reforms in the country. ... However during recent years the Croatian economy has shown signs of revival. Its latest GDP purchasing power parity is estimated to be $78.52 billion; the GDP official exchange rate is $59.92 billion. But the real GDP growth rate has gone down to negative 1.4% in 2010. The GDP per capita income is $17500 making its rank to 67th in the world. The unemployment rate in the country is 17% and the public debt is 55%. It has an external debt of $59.7 billion (The world fact book. 2010). Over the last three years, the Croatian economy has undergone vast changes. Thousands of new private enterprises have sprung up. Government owned enterprises are in the process of transformation and privatization. It has abundant natural and human resources as well as a long standing business tradition. Moreover after the collapse of communism, new legal systems which would steer the economy are being developed in Croatia. There is tremendous hope that the economy would be a market driven economy in the fut ure (How to do Business with Croatia?2010). One among the significant barriers that has affected the business sector in Croatia is the hangover of communist regime. Even though Croatia is now very well advancing towards attaining membership in the European Union, the aftermath of communist rule in the country has significantly damaged some developments with regard to privatization. Many large commercial companies in Croatia still are supported alone by the state, notably the shipyard industry. Attempts made to sell of the assets to private enterprises have failed due to tough resistance. It is inevitable that a renewed effort is needed to address these problems effectively. The economy of the country has contracted over the last two years due

Current Business Process Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Current Business Process Summary - Essay Example The network configuration has two segments linked by a network bridge (Apollo Group, 2013). administration network set up. The company uses an integrated method to satisfy their network requirement (Apollo Group, 2013). The network configuration is 1000BaseT and every department applies on different standard. For instance, the radiology utilizes 1000 BaseF. On the general idea of the logical network configurations, it is revealed that the hospital utilizes 1000 BaseT applying CAT6 cable to wards, labs, emergency room, and pharmacy. The 1000Base permits existing copper line to be utilized instead of having to re-cable with optical fiber. The 1000BaseT utilizing CAT6 is linked to 1000baseF with single mode fiber by a structure bridge. It provides more cabling strategy to assist a support cable setting up that is inexpensive (Apollo Group, 2013). Company applies 1000BaseT since they already utilize CAT-S wiring so 1000BaseT can be enforced easily. According to network work experts such as Healey (Tyler, 2007), 1000Base-T is intended to function over 4-pair UTP data cable. The 1000baseF is a 1000-Mbps bundle specification for Ethernet interconnection over optical fibers. The Hospital also utilize backbone network configuration of 1000 BaseT. The business process of the company is to expand and the network overview above gives bit the chance to implement such expansion. FPCH is currently opting to expand its functions and is faced with three choices: going communal through an IPO, acquisition or merging with a different hospital. In order for this health facility to make the best choices, the management must compare and contrast the diverse strategies by considering the subsequent: strengths and weaknesses, threats, opportunities and effects of globalization. The strength and opportunity that has been revealed in this paper is the present network capability that gives them advantage and also provides opportunities for

Stalins aims for the transformation of the Russian economy Essay Example for Free

Stalins aims for the transformation of the Russian economy Essay To what extent did Stalin succeed in achieving his aims for the transformation of the Russian economy? Under the NEP, Russia had managed to recover from seven years of warfare, but by the late 1920s Russia had still not been able to develop its economy beyond the level of 1914 and its agriculture was still very backward. Stalin felt that under the NEP, the Russian economy was underperforming and he felt he had to change this as he wanted to modernise Russia and move it forwards to a truly Socialist society. Stalin wanted to transform Russian economy in order for Russia to be a socialist society there had to be more workers than peasants and the country had to be at industrially advanced. This would mean that the Russian economy, which relied heavily on agriculture, would have to be changed and modernised industries would have to be developed and Russia would have to become an industrialised country. In 1929 in the Great Turn, Stalin introduced the collectivisation of agriculture; this set of policies, along with the Five Year Plans, created the framework for what became known as the Soviet centrally planned economy and transformed the Soviet economy. Stalin, through collectivisation and industrialisation, managed to transform the Russian economy. One of Stalins aims for the transformation of the economy was to build up heavy industry and increase the industrial output of the Soviet Union through the Five Year Plans, and to catch up with the industrialised West. Stalins policy of industrialisation was based on central planning the state produced three consecutive Five Year Plans that set production and output targets for all areas of industry, with emphasis on building up heavy industry and creating new industry. In order to provide capital to finance industrialisation, Stalin introduced collectivisation, which modernised Russias agricultural system. These Five Year Plans broadly achieved Stalins aim. There was a huge increase in the productivity and output of heavy industry. Whole new industries were developed in Russia, like the chemical factories, tractor and machine tool plants. Many new factories were built, whole new industrial centres like Magnitogorsk were created and cities grew rapidly. Russia was gripped by gigantomania there was an emphasis on large-scale projects like the Dniepostroi Dam. Communications improved, the transport links in Russia were better than before and electricity became available to the masses. Russia had managed to industrialise and catch up with the West at a time when much of the Western world was suffering from an economic depression. However, the goods produced were often of a poor quality, as quantity was more important than quality for Stalin. There was also a great deal of wastage, raw materials were wasted and the production of goods was often inefficient. The Five Year Plans often had unrealistic production targets which factories struggled to meet. Another of Stalins aims was to modernise agriculture and increase productivity through collectivisation. He believed that the peasant-based farming methods used were inefficient and large collectivised state farms would vastly increase production. Stalin needed to carry out the collectivisation of agriculture to finance industrialisation and feed the workers in the cities. Large, collective farms were created, where peasants worked to increase production of grain. This was, to some extent, a success all agriculture was collective by 1941. By 1939, Russia had reached the same levels of production as 1928 with less peasants working on the farms. Also, farming was modernised, there was increased use of machinery and tractors on the collective farms, which made the work easier. However, the human cost of collectivisation was great. In 1932, there was a Great Famine, which was caused by a drop in production in the early 1930s this affected the Soviet Union badly, especially Ukraine where 5 million people died. By 1941, Russia had only just regained the production levels of 1928; there was no increase in production. Also, animals were not used efficiently, and in this sense the Russian farms were still quite backwards. Stalins final aim to transform the economy was to transform Russia into a truly Socialist economy, by turning peasants into workers and introducing central planning into the system. In order for Russia to be a truly Socialist society, there would have to be a greater number of workers than peasants a Socialist economy would be more focused on industry rather than agriculture. This would mean developing industry, so the number of workers would exceed the number of peasants. This would also mean eliminating the privileged classes such as the Kulaks, who were better off than ordinary peasants. Kulaks that refused to join collective farms and co-operate with the state were either exiled or sent to forced-labour camps. Stalin also aimed to get rid of the last vestiges of Capitalism this would mean getting rid of the NEP and replacing it with central planning. However, the Russian economy did not become truly Socialist. Wage differentials and bonuses created a privileged class among the workers. The working and living conditions for Russians were still very poor. The system relied heavily on force, in order for the transformation of the Soviet economy to take place. In conclusion, Stalin did partly succeed in achieving his aims for the transformation of the Russian economy. Stalin managed to industrialise and modernise Russia, many new key industries developed and Russia no longer relied solely on agriculture for its economy. The new, collective farms were more efficient than the old farms, the same amounts were produced with less peasants. By the 1940s, there were more workers than peasants and, generally, Russia was a more Socialist society. However, there were limits on this there was still a small privileged class, and working and living conditions in the Soviet Union were poor. Also, the transformation of the Soviet economy came at a human cost, and many people died as a result of the Great Famine and dangerous working conditions in factories.

Representation Of The American Dream Film Studies Essay

Representation Of The American Dream Film Studies Essay Independence Day is a film directed by Roland Emmerich WHAT HAPPENED RELEASED in 1996, which shows the planet under an alien attack, where the U.S. is the center of the problem and the country that saves the world. In relation to this film several elements can be analyzed belonging to the American culture. One of the most significant is The American Dream. An ideal of American culture that is based on democracy and equality and aims to maintain the welfare of society, in order to achieve the fulfillment of the dreams of its members. Based on this, the question that this paper attempts to answer is: To what extent the movie Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich reflects the American dream? In this paper is exposed how there is a relationship between The American Dream as a cultural element that represents an American ideal and the script of the film, where elements, the film presents such as leadership, equality in terms of race, gender and social context, and the image of a perfect democracy REPRESENT THIS FEATURE. So we can see IN THIS WAY that the film represents to a great extent and very clearly the American Dream, because it reaffirms the central role of American culture on a global context by exposing the values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹of the American Dream as the country defends the planet from the Alien attack, it also brings these values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹to a global context as it takes the independence Day as a celebration of global importance, and showing America as a country where the dreams of an entire nation and its members are fulfilled. Word count: 262 INTRODUCTION Nowadays The United States is one of the most influential countries in the global context, taking into account its economic and military power. However its importance worldwide is also due to their culture, a culture that has strongly expanded in the Western Hemisphere by spreading a set of customs, traditions and ideals. Among the strongest and representative ideals of American culture is what is known as The American Dream, a concept that has transcended through history and has strongly consolidated American culture by showing that in this country people can achieve an ideal lifestyle where all of its members fulfill their dreams in a country that enforces their rights and welfare. Taking this into account it is important to analyze how these ideals are represented and displayed as part of American culture by focusing on a specific cultural artifact, in this case the film Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich released on 1996. Roland Emmerich is a German film director, screenwriter and producer known by his science fiction productions which usually show humanity under catastrophic and risky situations. That is why on Independence Day a catastrophic context can be seen a context in which Planet Earth is under an Alien attack and places The United States in the center of the tragedy and as a country that puts all of its efforts to save the planet. The aim of this paper is to show: To what extent the film Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich reflects the American Dream. For this IT IS NECESSARY TO analyze the concept of The American Dream as part of their culture in relation to the elements that the film shows, an analysis of the script by showing the different situations and characters, and an analysis of the symbols used throughout the film. THE AMERICAN DREAM AS REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CULTURE The concept of the American Dream was introduced by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic America, where he talks about this concept as a social ideal representative of American culture, which seeks equality in terms of opportunities and a comfortable lifestyle for everyone, based on a proper use of democracy to achieve it. The American dream is the cultural expression of North American identity and, even if it was occasionally transformed into the American nightmare, it remains one of the most motivating forces of American civilization and a still viable token of American exceptionalism. (Stiuliuc, 2011). According to this, Diana Stiuliuc in her text The American Dream as the Cultural Expression of North American Identity claims that the American Dream despite the different interpretations that may have, will always refer to the American culture as a unique factor that represents the American national identity. Taking these definitions into account we can see how this concepts fi t the American culture, because it is based on democracy and equality, concepts that were consolidated as part of that culture since they were mentioned in the American constitution and the declaration of Independence. On the other hand, referring to Ferdinand Lasalle who said on his book On the essence of constitutions (YEAR) that culture is related with public consciousness, we can consider a relationship between the Constitution and culture. It means that the constitution has to reflect the aspects of society that are determined by their customs, their morality, their ideas about good and evil and in general all kind of aspects that represent the members of a society, in order to make people identify with the constitution and actually obey the laws. According to this and focusing in the movie, it is significant to stand out some concepts that clearly reflect The American Dream because they are based on democracy and equality, the concept of The United States as a country with a perfect democracy, a multicultural country and a global leader. ANALYSIS OF THE SCRIPT Throughout the film America is depicted in many ways as a model of democracy. Several ideas present in the classic documents mentioned appear as concepts in the films plot, there are mainly four ideas represented in the film, they are: America depicted as a progressive country, America depicted as a land in which goals can be fulfilled with enough effort, America as a country in which peace and the due processes are a priority, and America as a country which authority comes from the consent of the governed. America is shown as a progressive country in terms of its political structure, as the movie shows how the country is worried about social progress and welfare. One of the main characters in the film is the President who takes on many roles depending on the situations he faces throughout the film; one of these roles is that of a young yet wise politician. In the film America is shown as a land in which youth is not a hindrance in terms of wisdom. This is shown at the beginning of the film when the Presidents communication director Constance Halbrook, another important character, shows the news to the President arguing that people are attacking not his policies but his age. Other types of progressive thinking are shown throughout the movie such as the presence of debate and protest among the citizens. The President is shown as a human being despite his role as a hero, if he is not defeated at the end of the film, it is due to his prowess as a politician and soldier instead of a set of special abilities inherent to himself. Protestors are shown when US police and military forces take place close to the Alien ships. And debate is implied in occasional TV broadcasts shown as secondary plot devices. America is depicted as a land in which dreams can be fulfilled throughout the entire film. Almost each character starts his or her journey with a certain frustration, David failed as a scientist, Constance failed in her previous relationship with David, Steven could not get a job in NASA and Jasmine struggles with keeping her family together. At the end of the film after each character is forced to grow and has to put huge efforts in developing their skills or going through great risk, is able to accomplish his or her goals, David and Steve succeed in their attack to the alien ship, Constance and Jasmine are able to put their families together. America is also shown as a peaceful country that wont attack unless it is attacked first. After Alien ships are positioned over each major city in the United States the President gives the order to approach them in a peaceful way by having a group of helicopters get close to one of the space ships and broadcast a welcome message. Following an offensive by the Aliens the President gives the order of a counterattack. Also it is implied at several moments that America is a country that respects the supremacy of others, it is only after the United States supremacy is threatened that open war begins. This is closely related to the idea mentioned before that America is a country in which authority comes from the consent of the governed. Most scenes in the movie show scenarios of political life, TV debates, the Oval Office, the White House and so on, democracy is a central theme to the movie. A very representative moment of this idea is when the President decides to prepare a nuclear attack just after receiving a message from the Aliens that describes their method; Aliens are compared to locusts, their essence is that of the exact opposite to the freedom of a democratic government. Some of the mentioned ideas have a parallel in classic documents. The fifth amendment of the United States constitution mentions due process as one of the main components of justice in the United States; this thinking is re-enacted several times during the film. Nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. (U.S constitution. Amendment. 5). The Declaration Of Independence states that the source of authority of each country should be the consent of the governed and not the authoritarian rule of a monarch, and that idea is reflected in the movie as it shows the concerns of the president anytime he is making a decision that may or may not benefit people. Another notorious idea is the representation of America as a multicultural country. Different genders and ethnicities are shown in the movie occupying different important roles, as it is an idea of equality that reaffirms The American Dream. Scientists are shown as people from Caucasian, Asian and African-American descent as well as one of the main characters, David, who is clearly of Jewish descent. Women have important roles during the film too, Constance and Margaret, the First Lady, are shown as brave and dedicated women among the world of politics, and Jasmine is shown as a strong woman and mother willing to do what it takes in order to survive and protect her family. It is important to mention about this element of the film what Hanson said on her work American Dream in the 21st Century an idea that shows a close relationship between the film and the American Dream. The American Dream represents a state of mind that is an enduring optimism given to a people who might be tempted to succumb to the travails of adversity, but who, instead, repeatedly rise from the ashes to continue to build a great nation. (Hanson, White, 2011). Soldiers that are one of the main components of the plot are also from different ethnic backgrounds. There is representation of Caucasians, African-Americans and Latinos, each person is compelled to fight for the independence of the United States regardless of their ethnic background or occupation as is mainly shown with Russell a farmer who is considered crazy and drunk during most of the film but turns into a hero by the end. Both the 15th and 19th amendments to the United States constitution defend gender and race diversity by protecting the right to vote of people from all genders and ethnicities. This idea is an essential part of The American Dream and their culture, and is therefore represented in the film repeatedly. Aside from that, it is important to mention how the military forces of the United States of America are shown throughout the film. Military forces are important since they are the first institution of the American government to appear in the film after the aliens have appeared and have been identified, they are the first group to face the threat and set research and analysis into motion. They are also the first ones to establish a defensive stance towards the invaders. This is shown in the movie since a Pentagon official who discovers the Aliens presence takes as first measure the action of summoning the Secretary of Defense. A very prominent idea shown in the film is the American position in regards of conflict against enemies. It is very important to stand out their role as negotiators and a peaceful society at the beginning of the film, they initially will not attack unless they are attacked. In the film, the first approach to the aliens by the American government is a peaceful one. After this peaceful attempt goes terribly wrong and the aliens attack, the army is given the green light to retaliate. This response as we mentioned before was of course more than ready. This peaceful feature of the American society has as well parallels in the official documents. In the Declaration Of Independence, it is stated that the King of England had attacked first by placing troops in American territory even in times of peace. It also says that America will stay in peace with all its allies and friends but will be in war with any enemy. Doing an analysis of the main characters points of view we can see that they always keep an attitude of braveness and enthusiasm. First of all we can see how the President always keeps a brave image and is never afraid or intimidated by the Aliens; he is always present at every moment, refusing any invitation to a shelter and doing everything possible for his country. This idea is reinforced when he decides to be a member of the final offensive fighting like any other soldier. Another element depicted in the film that reinforces this idea of America as a peaceful and caring country yet ready to battle, is how solidarity is an essential characteristic of all characters personality. This idea is prominently shown once again in the President. He is constantly shown as a loving family man. He appears for the first time during the film while receiving a call from his wife and being with his daughter. He stays with his daughter throughout the entire film and has his wife in mind. On the other hand, David is shown as a character attached to moral integrity, an environmentalist always concerned about taking care of the planet and the greater good. He is because of that the first one to go against the decision of launching a nuclear assault. Another recurrent theme in the film is the characterization of the United States as a technological super power. Scientists are during the story more than support characters, they are heroes. Since the beginning of the film scientific facilities are shown. In fact the first character to appear in the film is a scientist. The film goes back and forth between political and scientific scenarios in which all characters interact. America displays power in the film through politics, the army and technology. All these three scenarios are closely intertwined and together form what makes the United States a super power in the film. As mentioned, science appears in the film very early. The first image is a shot of the American flag placed on the moon showing one of the biggest achievements of humanity in terms of space exploration. Then it continues by depicting a scene of a Hi-tech facility in which scientists discover for the first time the presence of the Alien invaders. The importance of science in the movie not only as a tool of survival but as an icon of American pride is reinforced every time that characters face an obstacle in terms of technology. Very early in the film a member of the military is aggravated when an employee of the Pentagon admits that they are confused about what is going on. Another feature of the film related to the depiction of technology is the way that other countries technology is represented. Iraq and Russia are shown as countries in ruins after the alien attack, the Russian satellite is shown as old and is immediately destroyed, it is implied that the only network the Aliens use is the American one. David is therefore the most important character in the film in terms of technology. His personal journey goes from being a scientist who failed professionally despite his studies and intelligence to being the one who discovers the alien communication system and the one who learns how to destroy their defenses. David is the genius who represents the true power of America which is not the brute display of force but the use of knowledge, technology and progress. It is because of him that the world has to follow Americas lead during battle. Another very prominent representation of America in the film is that of the country being shown as a brave and resilient nation. Americans are shown as heroes who overcome adversity no matter how strong their opponents may be, always willing to defend themselves and their people, American scientists, politicians and soldiers seem to be utterly resilient and indestructible. That characteristic though is not shown as the starting point of the film, in fact, Americas most powerful cities are destroyed and all of their military efforts are rendered useless before the attack is successful displaying a story of heroes who had to sacrifice everything in order to win and who to be able to defend their freedom had to rely on their braveness only. Indeed America is shown as the Land of The Free and the Home of The Brave many times during the movie. The figures of the President and the First Lady are examples of courage, unwilling to hide, both decide to stay with the people of America during the alien attacks even after they are offered protection. The First Ladys sacrifice is therefore the ultimate display of braveness and will to resist against the oppressors. Even right before her death she is shown as a warrior who has set her mind on the only goal of defending her country even at the point of surrendering her life, she says she trusts her husbands capabilities in winning the battle turning her death into the moving force of the Presidents determination to win. The President is then the most important figure of braveness and resilience. Not only he is challenged in terms of his job he is also personally attacked and has his family destroyed before he can stand against the aliens. This mixture of professional and personal obligation comes together in his role as a soldier. The President is also a soldier with special abilities in the fields of air combat, he personally leads the final battle against the aliens, because of this reason he is fundamental to Americas victory, he embodies the might of the State, the braveness of Americans and the peoples will to resist and thrive through great efforts. Other main characters are symbols of courage and resilience. Russell is the everyman who even after being described as a bad father and mediocre man saves the day by showing that nothing else is more important than serving his country and fulfilling his duties as an American soldier, the President grants him the status of hero, because of this reason Russell receives the approval of his family and in spite of his previous failure he turns into a hero because of his braveness and willing to sacrifice. Steven is also the soldier who is willing to lose everything if it is for his country and his loved ones. His motivations are fulfilling his dream of being an astronaut, serving his country and protecting the family he wants to form with Jasmine. He puts himself at great risk by being a part of the stealth mission to destroy the enemy defense and does it without any hesitation. The same goes for David who as a member of this mission risks everything in name of the things he believes in, he is shown as an environmentalist who would do anything in order to save his country. Jasmine on the other hand shows another type of resistance. She is the one that as a main character represents the people of America. The everyday fighter, the passionate mother, she can only resist by doing what every civilian can do, being brave and trusting her state leaders. This is another prominent feature of the film. People are shown as hopeless yet brave citizens, they dont have the strength to fight against the aliens but do so by putting their trust in their government. The American civilians have anyway a common characteristic with the military and government their weakness that turns into braveness and finally victory. Then war is not between two equally powerful opponents, humans are obviously outnumbered and overpowered. Their machines and weapons are shown as tiny next to the huge weaponry of the aliens, even the final weapon against their defenses is tiny, a computer virus, showing that intelligence, courage and sacrifice are worth more than raw force. USE OF SYMBOLS One of the most prominent symbols shown in the movie is the speech given by the President to the soldiers prior to the battle against the aliens, where not only are displayed patriotic ideals but also America is depicted as a country that fully represents the promises of the American dream. One of the main symbolic references is the declaration of the 4th of July as a worldwide celebration extending the idea of The United States national independence to the entire world declaring that way that the ideals of the American revolution and its independence values are applicable to the entire world and should therefore be celebrated by all nations since they represent what is good for every nation. This reference to the 4th of July, which is of course a main idea in the film considering its relevance in relation to the title, places America as the leader of the world. The United States government and its military institutions are the ones to begin and lead the attack against the alien threat; the mentioned speech keeps a strong moral and military rhetoric style. The response from the listeners of the speech is highly emotional as they are all willing to defend these universal values in a clear reference to The American Dream. On the other hand we can talk about the symbols displayed visually. Throughout the film different places are shown and many are representative of American culture. Mainly, government buildings like the Pentagon or the White House and national monuments like the Statue of Liberty are shown, also the skylines of New York City and the city of Los Angeles are repeatedly featured. These symbols are a representation of the main aspects of American culture in relation to The American Dream; government buildings represent the power of the United States, its importance in keeping peace and order, as they show the importance of democracy. Cities like New York or Los Angeles are not only the main economic centers of the country but the most renowned touristic destinations in America. CONCLUSIONS Finally it can be seen how the concept of the American Dream has a very important role in everything related to the American culture, from it, the bases for a great amount of social ideals that represent and promote American culture and identity have been formed. The American Dream attempts to fulfill all ideals of equality and common well-being a nation where the dreams of all its members can become a reality depending on the extent to which they belong to the American society. It is very interesting also to analyze how these concepts go back to classic texts like the Declaration Of Independence and the Constitution of the United States since the importance of creating a global country had already been stated. Taking this into account, it can be seen how this film includes clear references reaffirming the cultural importance of the American Dream in a global context by showing how this nation has the capacity of being a world leader and keeping a society together. In the film, the concepts that depict the United States as a country with a perfect government system can be seen. America achieves through democracy a society that has equal rights for everyone regardless of ethnicity, gender and social differences but most of the film depicts America as a country able to keep a society in harmony where collective objectives and individual dreams are fulfilled. Finally, in terms of the inquiry that guides this paper, it can be seen that the film greatly represents the American Dream. Even from the title which refers to an American holiday but places it on a global context we can see how this film shows American values as the answer the world needs to be able to survive the invasion. We can see in the film how the United States is tested and destroyed just so it can reaffirm itself as a powerful nation in all its aspects, mainly culturally, showing the importance of the American Dream at a national and international level. Word count: 3974

Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay -- Wilde Dorian Gray Pi

Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel by Oscar Wilde. The genre of this novel can be classified as a comedy of manners or a gothic novel. The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in 1890 in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. Another version with an additional six chapters was published in 1891. One of the major themes in the novel was the Supremacy of Beauty and Youth. A very attractive man has a portrait painted of himself, and after being warned of the mortality of his youth the man, Dorian, trades his soul to remain young while his portrait bears the markings of his age and evil deeds. Dorian becomes increasingly evil thoughout the novel, while constantly being encouraged by Lord Henry Wotton. Eventually Dorian can no longer bear the person he sees in his portrait so he tries to destroy the painting but ultimately he destroys himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In The Picture of Dorian Gray, the characters are predominantly aristocratic males. The main character is Dorian Gray, a wealthy young man who is both a handsome and a very impressionable young man. Basil Hallward is an artist who was obsessed with Dorian, naming him his muse and source of inspiration. Lord Henry Wotton is a friend of Basil Hallward who makes young Dorian his protà ©gà ©, teaching him his philosophy of â€Å"new Hedonism.† Sibyl Vane was a young actress who caught the eye of Dorian during one of her performances, after being spurned by Dorian she is heartbroken and commits suicide. James Vane is the brother of Sibyl Vane. He did not approve of Dorian from the start, so he wanted to murder Dorian to avenge the death of his sister.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The setting of The Picture of Dorian Gray is London, England. The story takes place from the years 1890 to 1908.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the years between 1890 and 1908, Dorian succumbs to the influence of Lord Henry Wotton. Because of this, Dorian disregards morality and follows Wotton’s â€Å"new Hedonistic† philosophy. Dorian became a very loathsome man on the inside while still remaining young and beautiful on the outside.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In The Picture of Dorian Gray, there were quite a few symbols. Three of these symbols were opium dens, James Vane, and the yellow book. The opium dens represent Dorian Gray’s state of mind. He uses the opium to try to forget his actions, just as he tries to rationalize these actions so he can ignore his consci... ...to find, Dorian, an old disfigured man lying dead on the floor with a knife in his heart.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the novel Dorian Gray was a bright and charming young man. By the end of the novel, because he was so easily influenced, he became a selfish and cruel person. Various conflicts in the novel cause Dorian to change. In every traumatic event Lord Henry was there leading him into the lifestyle of selfish pleasure. Dorian Gray was physically attractive but that did not matter because he was such a foul creature on the inside.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Picture of Dorian Gray was very well written. Wilde used witty and colorful dialogue to grab the reader’s attention. This is an enjoyable novel that is still somewhat relevant in modern times. Dorian got away with his sins longer because he looked youthful and innocent on the outside so people did not want to believe he had a bad character. This proves that sometimes, appearances can over rule reality. This is an enjoyable novel that is still somewhat relevant in modern times. Works Cited  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Ed. Donald Lawler. New York: W. W. Norton, 1988.

Monster Hunters :: Essays Papers

Monster Hunters Monsters are hunted. The lore of their destruction is excessive, glowing, and dispersed. It is a crucial component of their mythology. There is no eluding the hunter, armed with the vampire stake and crosses and the werewolf’s silver bullet. But then it is the hunter whose tale it is to begin with. Beowulf cannot stay hidden forever, or he would not be Beowulf. Monstrosity relies, in this sense, on its exposition for its production, and it is in this superficial sense of vitality by revelation that two theorists of monstrosity concoct a fantastic world of ‘society’ to keep themselves at bay. Michael Uebel’s â€Å"Unthinking the Monster† and Mark Dorrian’s â€Å"On the Monstrous and Grotesque† represent similar though distinct theorizations of monstrosity in terms of otherness, difference, relation to self, and production in/by rhetoric. The articles consider the relation between monstrosity and the terms against which it is defi ned. Yet the pieces are also monsters, and the worlds they sing of are the ones they behold with rapt attention. It is their theorization of monstrosity that allows for the continuation of both insides and outsides in a way more immediate than their encapsulation of such a movement considers. Dorrian takes Uebel’s general form of abjection seriously as a description of aberrations of the body, the human body it even seems. â€Å"As a starting point we will assume the conventional understanding of the monster as a being whose existence runs against, or is contrary to, nature - with the proviso that for ‘nature’ we understand as ‘what has been naturalized’† (Dorrian 310). The article’s understanding of monsters departs little from the starting point, for the terms outlined here. What of the understanding itself? It seems accurate to require that monsters enact renditions of living bodies. However, this assumes monstrosity not only contrasts some pre-selected canon of bodies, but also is to correspond to a set body of monsters, which is of course never set, and thus monstrosity is to predict what might be called monstrous. But the term is not only part of an effort to describe some referent. Monstrosity is also to think t hrough or around the functioning of monster as agency - how does the idea of a monster matter. Or, how does the monstrous feeling fragment representations? In any case, it is to be a study of monstrosity, for both Dorrian and Uebel, that is aware of the impossibility of identifying a definition or set of definitions of monstrosity.

An Argument of Existentialism in ‘The Metamorphosis’ by Franz Kafka Essay

Argument: A person’s will to live is strongly linked to the opinions of loved ones have of that person. While some persons allow the will of their lives to become influenced to the opinions of their loved ones, others do not forget to factor the ideals of human existentialism. In order to appropriately approach the point brought across, one must factor in the underlying tone of the existentialist values of ‘The Metamorphosis’ as written by Frank Kafka. Although many existentialist philosophers hold conflicting values across the board, there are many key traits that follow existentialism. Therefore, I am inclined to, due to my level of understanding remain impartial towards both sides of the argued statement. Humans, as sentient beings, have free will and are responsible for the effects of what they decide to do. Existentialism also rejects the concept of ‘human nature’, a generalization that has become popular in attempting to identify objective external truths rather than the subjective for the individual approach. Thirdly, I say this because existentialism shows the indifference of the world towards us. Firstly, we all possess free will as independent entities apart from our society. As Gregor is dehumanized by his transformation, his family quickly deserts and rejects him of his former place in the household. The transformation can be seen as dehumanization as Gregor loses his human aspects to his self-sacrificial working ethic due to his family’s wages. One must make the balance between himself and society. When Gregor chooses work over himself, he quickly loses his humanity, hence, the transformation. Although being alienated from his family through his dehumanization causes him to ultimately lose his will for life, Gregor is yet a prime example of how free will creates a ‘cause and effect’ ripple due to the individual which is not influenced by another’s opinion but one’s subjective tastes. Additionally, a generalization cannot be approached for this situation. Existentialism as whole, strives to reject the idea of a human nature obtained by the external objective truths that cannot be applied to the subjunctive self. Instead, humans are radically liberated by their free will in order to shape their own life and defy any generalized ‘nature’. This is not seen in Gregor’s life or in Kafka’s novel. Irregardless, the existentialist value must be factored in an argued due to the underlying tone of the philosophy throughout the novel. Moreover, this approach dictates the world’s indifferent existence towards human beings. As possibly symbolized by Kafka where the household represents society’s indifference to its people, the Samsa family never cared for Gregor as the universe does to society. The absurdist branch of existentialism is then clearly revealed throughout the novel. The absurd nature of the novel highlights Gregor’s quest for purpose, for which he has lost due to the world’s indifference. It can only be here that existentialism can justify as an appropriate response. However, for some, this might not be a worthwhile approach due to the subjective nature of the mind. In conclusion, I remain indifferent to both sides due to the inability of existentialism to pinpoint whether or not this is appropriate. Human beings have free will, and this philosophy rejects the ideal of the objective truths of ‘human nature’. The will may be affected by absurdist, but infinitely varying across the board.

Guideline for Article Review Essay

1. Full Bibliographic Reference State the full bibliographic reference for the article you are reviewing (authors, title, journal name, volume, issue, year, page numbers, etc. ) Important: this is not the bibliography listed at the end of the article, rather the citation of the article itself! Grading: -3 if missing 2. Introduction: Objectives, Article Domain, Audience, Journal and Conceptual/Emprical Classification Note: For the on-line reviews done in some class sections, this category may be broken up into several separate subcategories. For the written review, please discuss all of these subcategories together as follows. Paragraph 1: State the objectives (goals or purpose) of the article. What is the article’s domain (topic area)? Paragraph 2: †¢ Audience: State the article’s intended audience. At what level is it written, and what general background should the reader have; what general background materials should the reader be familiar with to understand the article? †¢ Appropriate Journal? : Why is the journal appropriate (or inappropriate) for this article? (Check the mission statement or purpose of the journal itself from its cover or its Web site. ) Paragraph 3: State whether the article is â€Å"conceptual† or â€Å"empirical†, and why you believe it is conceptual or empirical. Empirical articles and conceptual articles have a similar objective: to substantiate an argument proposed by the author. While a conceptual article supports such an argument based on logical and persuasive reasoning, an empirical article offers empirical evidence to support the argument. Empirical articles offer substantial, detailed evidence which the authors analyze using statistical methods. Empirical articles must include hypotheses (or propositions), detailed research results, and (statistical) analyses of this empirical evidence. Empirical research includes experiments, surveys, questionnaires, field studies, etc, and to limited degree, case studies. Conceptual articles may refer to such empirical evidence, but do not provide the detailed analysis of that evidence. Of course, both types of articles can use real life examples to back up their points. Just because an article provides examples, does not necessarily mean that it is empirical. (The lesson to take home is not to consider a conceptual article to be an empirical one just because it provides some summarized or some unanalyzed data. ) Grading: Objectives: great – 3; ok – 2; poor – 1 Grading: Audience/Journal Appropriateness: great – 3; ok – 2; poor – 1 Grading: Conceptual vs. empirical: great – 2; ok/poor – 1 3. Very Brief Summary Prev Page For our article reviews, we do not want you to spend much space summarizing the article. Instead we are more interested in your analysis of the article. Thus, in this section, summarize the article only very briefly (2-3 paragraphs). If possible, use the IS research paradigm as the format of your summary, but remaining very brief: †¢ Paragraph 1: what is the problem or opportunity being addressed †¢ Paragraph 2: which solution is proposed (the solution could be a new model or a theory that explains the problem) †¢ Paragraph 3: what evidence is put forth that this solution is appropriate (If this is an empirical article, be sure to briefly describe what kind of empirical study was done as part of the evidence) Grading: great – 4; ok – 2; poor – 1 4. Results. Very briefly summarize the important points (observations, conclusions, findings) and â€Å"take home messages† in the article. Please do not repeat lists of items in the articles – just summarize the essence of these if you feel they are necessary to include. Grading: great – 8; ok – 5; poor – 2 5. Class Readings 1. Does this article directly cite any of the class readings, i. e. , does any class reading appear explicitly in its bibliography or reference section? If not, state this explicitly. If so, clearly describe how the authors use the cited article. How does the article you are reviewing relate to and/or build upon the class article it cites? If this article does not cite any class readings then just state this. (If you do not state this explicitly, you will not receive credit for this section. ) Do not discuss any other readings, such as other readings on the same topic or by the same author. Save any discussions of similar articles for your synthesis section below. 2. Do any of the class readings cite your article (besides the textbook)? If so, clearly describe how. If no class readings cite your article, then write in your review â€Å"No class readings cite this article. † (If you do not state this explicitly, you will not receive credit for this section. ) Be sure to add all references you cite to the bibliography. Grading: great – 4; ok – 2; poor – 1 {If none, then score 4 by default if this has been stated explicitly. } 6. Contributions An article makes a â€Å"contribution† by adding to the knowledge of researchers in a research field. An article can make a contribution to the research field in many ways. Does it provide a new way to look at a problem? Does it bring together or â€Å"synthesize† several concepts (or frameworks, models, etc. ) together in an insightful way that has not been done before? Does it provide new solutions? Does it provide new results? Does it identify new issues? Does it provide a comprehensive survey or review of a domain? Does it provide new insights? Also, is it salient (relevant and current) to a particular scientific issue or managerial problem? Are the issues addressed introduced in a way that their relevance to practice is evident? Would answers to the questions raised in the article likely to be useful to researchers and managers? Note: Do not discuss the contributions of the technologies the article describes, but rather the contributions of the article itself! The article’s contributions should be original. To the best of your knowledge, are they? Are the article’s take-home messages new? Describe each contribution clearly in a separate paragraph or bullet point. Discuss why the contribution is important. Alternatively, if you believe the article makes no contributions, explain why clearly. Grading: great – 8; ok – 5; poor – 2 7. Foundation Good research often is built upon theories and frameworks that other researchers have developed. Sometimes articles will be substantially based upon this prior work, and refer back to it in some detail. (Not all research articles will do this. ) Which theoretical foundations does this article and research build on, if any? In what ways? Include references/citations of the foundation work. (You can determine this in part from the works the article Prev Page cites. ) Note, however, that most works cited are not core foundational work, but rather just support certain aspects of the article. Similarly, do not confuse a general discussion of related topics as foundational work. If the article does not build upon key pieces of prior research, then write in your review â€Å"This article does not build upon any foundation research. † (If you do not state this explicitly, you will not receive credit for this section. ) Grading: great – 4; ok – 3; poor -1 {If none, then score 4 by default if this has been stated explicitly} 8. Synthesis with Class Materials The synthesis section should be at least one full page. Synthesis means analyzing a particular topic by comparing and contrasting it with, and thinking about it from the viewpoint of, the class materials from across the semester. These materials include the articles, models, frameworks, guidelines and other concepts we’ve covered. (Of course, only certain materials will be relevant for any given article. ) Note: You have to do this synthesis! You need to relate this article to other things we have studied, so by definition you will not find this analysis in the article itself! Discuss the article’s research ideas and results in terms of any relevant materials covered in class or which you have found in the readings. You can also check the concepts in the â€Å"to know† link on the â€Å"quick links† portion of the course Web site. Cite these readings explicitly, including their source in the bibliography and a bibliographic marker in the text (e. g. , [Turoff et al. , 1999]). You also could analyze the approach the author took to the article’s analysis and discussion. Discuss the article’s approach and results in terms of one or more of the frameworks, etc. , from the text or readings, or any you find elsewhere. For example, if the authors discuss any type of information system, you could use Alter’s WCA analysis to examine how they approached that information system. Try to do this for all the models and frameworks, etc., which apply to your article. As part of this analysis, reference other articles you’ve read, when appropriate. Compare the approach, results and contribution with all articles about similar topics or with a similar approach. For example, if your article develops a new framework, compare it with Bandyopadyhah’s Prev Page framework criteria (and vice versa – whoever does Bandyopadyhah’s article could test his criteria on frameworks from the other readings). Include any articles you cite in the bibliography and use bibliographic markers in the text. For all of these, do your synthesis comparison in as much depth as you can! Grading: four items up to 20 points total (12 points plus 8 points extra credit) – for each item: great – 5 ok – 2; poor – 1 Great: discussed deeply and relating the article in detail with the synthesized models and frameworks. OK: the synthesized information is only discussed in general 9. Analysis Note: Many people assume this category is the same as â€Å"General Critique†. It is not. General Critique is a different category from this, and follows below. What has changed since the article was written? How do it’s lessons, ideas and theories still apply? To what extent has its issues been resolved? Grading: great – 4; ok – 2; poor – 1 Additional Analysis Optionally, try applying the article’s models, frameworks and guidelines, etc. yourself. Do you find them useful? In addition, you may optionally add your own additional analysis in a separate subsection. (Do not repeat the author’s analysis in the paper – you could summarize this as part of the results section. ) Grading: this section is extra credit only: great – 8; ok – 5; poor – 2 10. General Critique In this section you should state your opinions of how well (or poorly) the authors did their research and presented the research results in the article. Your critique can contain both positive and negative comments. Justify and explain in detail each of your critique points in a separate paragraph of at least 4-5 sentences. The following are suggestions only: †¢ Does it build upon the appropriate foundation (i. e. , upon appropriate Prev Page prior research)? †¢ Did the authors choose the correct approach, and then execute it properly? †¢ How confident are you in the article’s results, and why? †¢ Are its ideas really new, or do the authors simply repackage old ideas and perhaps give them a new name? †¢ Do the authors discuss everything they promise in the article’s introduction and outline? †¢ What are the article’s shortcomings (faults) and limitations (boundaries)? Did it discuss all of the important aspects and issues in its domain (topic area)? †¢ In what way should the article have made a contribution, but then did not? †¢ Do the authors make appropriate comparisons to similar events, cases or occurrences? †¢ How complete and thorough a job did the authors do? Do the authors include an adequate discussion, analysis and conclusions? Did they justify everything adequately? Did they provide enough background information for the intended audience to understand it? For you to understand it? †¢ Were there adequate and appropriate examples and illustrations? For full credit, ask yourself these questions when justifying your critique points: †¢ why/why not? †¢ how? †¢ what distinguishes the differences/different approaches, and in what ways? Grading: four items up to 16 points total (10 points plus 6 points extra credit) – for each item: great – 4; ok – 2; poor – 1 11c. Further Critique of a Conceptual Article *** only for conceptual articles {adapted from guidelines from Dr. Dan Robey, Georgia State University} A critique of a conceptual article examines the logic of the arguments made by the authors. Both strengths and weaknesses should be identified in a critique. Explain and justify each of your critique points in at least 3-4 sentences. Give examples whenever possible. To the best of your abilities, discuss each of the following categories in a separate paragraph: 1. LOGICAL CONSISTENCY: Do any parts of the article or research contradict or invalidate other parts? If so, have the authors acknowledged and explained this adequately? 2. COHERENCE: Does the article make sense? Did the authors approach this article (and this research) sensibly? Does the article develop Prev Page  an argument that follows a coherent line of reasoning? Are the boundaries of the argument reasonably well defined? Does the argument anticipate most, if not all, rival arguments? Does the article flow in a logical sequence? Do later parts build logically upon earlier parts? 3. SUBSTANCE: Does the article provide an argument or a line of reasoning that offers insight into important issues, or does it merely summarize previous studies in a shallow way that does not reflect depth of analysis? Does the article provide ways (a model, framework, guidelines, etc. ) to guide future thinking about the issue(s) the author is addressing? 4. FOCUS: Is there a clear audience that the authors address? Was the article written at the appropriate level for this audience? Grading: for each: great – 3 ok – 2; poor – 1 11e. Further Critique of an Empirical Article *** only for empirical articles {adapted from guidelines from Dr. Dan Robey, Georgia State University} A critique of an empirical article examines the strength of the empirical evidence supporting the author’s argument. Both strengths and weaknesses should be identified in a critique. Explain and justify each of your critique points in at least 3-4 sentences. To the best of your abilities, discuss each of the following categories in a separate paragraph: 1. CLARITY: Is the article’s purpose and argument clear? Do the researchers clearly develop a major research question, proposition, or hypothesis that is to be evaluated in the empirical study and discussed in this article? If the study is exploratory (preliminary), is sufficient justification for an exploratory strategy given? 2. THEORETICAL GROUNDING: Is the researcher’s argument grounded in more basic theory? Is it clear whether the structure of the empirical study (i. e. , what they do) was derived from theory, or just made up? In theory-building articles, is the need for new theory adequately established? 3. DESIGN OF RESEARCH INVESTIGATION: Is it clear exactly how the empirical study was carried out? Is the design of the research approach (field study, experiments, questionnaires, etc. – both contents and how they will be used) adequate to address the common threats to internal and external validity? Have appropriate controls been established, and is the selection of research sites justified? Are the hypotheses and experiments, Prev Page etc. , significant? 4. MEASUREMENT: Empirical studies can have quantitative measurements (i. e., numeric results) and qualitative or subjective measurements. Are the measures used adequately described (i. e. , what is measured in the study and how)? Are data on the reliability and validity of these measures reported? Does the article feel anecdotal or solidly supported with evidence? For example, in case or field studies, are the results well documented? Is it clear who the subjects were, and with whom interviews were carried out? Were important results cross-checked, i. e. , determined across a range of subjects or just gotten from one or two subjects? 5. ANALYSIS: Is the analysis of empirical data conducted properly? Do the data conform to the requirements of any statistical tests used? Are qualitative data adequately described and presented? 6. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In discussing the results of the empirical study, do the authors remain true to the actual findings of the study? Are the claims made in the conclusion of the article actually supported by the empirical data? If the study is exploratory, do the authors offer research questions or hypotheses for future research? 7. BIASES: Do the biases of the authors affect the design of the research or the interpretation of the results? Are the authors aware of potential biases and the affect on the study? Grading: for each: great – 2 ok/poor – 1 12. Issues (listed by the author) What open questions or issues has the author stated remain unresolved? Discuss each in a separate paragraph of 5-10 sentences. Each issue’s paragraph should take the following format: †¢ what is the issue? †¢ why do you believe this is an important issue? †¢ in what way is it unresolved †¢ suggestions for resolving it – if you give your own suggestions (instead of or in addition to the authors’, then precede each with â€Å"I would propose †¦ † If it has been resolved since the article was written, then state how it was resolved. Note: If you have any critiques in this section, they most likely belong in the General Critique section instead. Grading: 3 items up to 9 points total (6 points plus 3 points extra Prev Page credit) – for each item: great – 3; ok – 2; poor – 1 13. Issues (in your opinion) List several open questions or issues which remain unresolved in your opinion? For example, what possible future research questions could arise from this article? Discuss each in a separate paragraph of 5-10 sentences. Each issue’s paragraph should take the following format: †¢ what is the issue? †¢ why do you believe this is an important issue? †¢ in what way is it unresolved †¢ suggestions for resolving it Note: If you have any critiques in this section, they most likely belong in the General Critique section instead. Grading: 4 items up to 12 points total (6 points plus 6 points extra credit) – for each item: great – 3; ok – 2; poor – 1 14. Impact To determine how much impact this article has had, do a citation analysis. Discuss what this citation analysis shows, and why; don’t just list the citations! (See the Citation Analysis Guidelines (.doc) and Handout (. pdf) posted on the course Web site. ) If the article has no citations, then write in your review â€Å"I found no citations in the Science Citation Index, the Social Sciences Citation Index or on the Internet. † Then clearly explain why you believe there were no citations at all. If you found citations in some indexes or on the Internet but not the others, then explain this as well. Include your citation lists in an appendix to your review (see below for details). Grading – impact discussion: great – 3; ok – 2; poor – 1 15. Questions List three insightful questions of your own, arising from this article. Do Prev Page not ask definitions, but rather questions that really make one think. Grading: 3 questions, up to 6 points total – for each question: great/ok – 2; poor – 1 16. Annotated Bibliography For every item you have cited in your report, you need a full reference and an annotation explaining it. This includes references to any class materials, as well as the three additional citations utilized in sections 6-14. 1. List the full bibliographic references (authors, title, journal name, volume, issue, year, page numbers, etc. ) for anything you have cited in your review. IMPORTANT: This is NOT the bibliography listed at the end of the article. It is the bibliographic references for any readings you yourself referred to inside your review. 2. Write 2-4 sentences describing the article. 3. Write 2-3 sentences describing why you cited it. Also, be sure that you have included a bibliographic marker to each (such as [Bieber & Smith, 2001]) in the text of your review. Grading: -5 if missing references; -3 if you mention the authors explicitly in your text and put the references in this bibliography section, but forget to explicitly place citation markers in your text. 17. Citation Analysis Appendix There is a separate page on the course Web site describing citation analysis. This appendix will have three sections: †¢ the citations you found in the Science Citation Index †¢ the citations you found in the Social Sciences Citation Index †¢ the citations you found through a thorough Web search on the Internet If the article has no citations for any of these three, then write in that section â€Å"I found no citations in the [Science Citation Index or the Social Sciences Citation Index or on the Internet]. † Note, if your article has more than 20 citations, you only need to include a selection of them: †¢ State how many citations each index has and the Web search found †¢ List Prev Page 1-2 citations for each year in which the article has been cited. Try to include citations from several different journals spread over your selection ? Include a citation analysis to see who has cited it and how.