Essay for Hamlet-Character Analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

For Hamlet-Character Analysis - Essay Example Cynthia Gravlee writes, â€Å" Hamlet’s Gertrude ia vindicated by Rebecca Smith(â€Å"A Heart Cleft in Twain: The Dilemma of Shakespeare’s Gertrude†), who proves that while Gertrude is generally assumed to be conniving and lascivious, her words and actions really delineate her as a â€Å"compliant, loving, unimaginative woman whose only concern is pleasing others†¦.†(1981,p.120) One point incidentally. A woman, when she enters into wedlock, possesses the supreme confidence, that she will be able to mould her man according to her choices. Her expectations in this regard may or may not come true. Gertrude has similar faith. With this backgrounder information one needs to understand and judge the personality of Gertrude. Gertrude is more to be pitied rather than condemned as vicissitudes in her life are beyond her control. Can two walk together, except they are agreed? In the case in point, the two are mother and son. Hamlet is her antithesis, but nothing wrong in it. Hamlet is a scholar and a philosopher, with an inquisitive mind to find out the deeper meaning of life. In contrast, Gertrude is as worldly. She is proud of the charm of her body and the secular pleasures of her life. She likes to be pampered. She sees her paradise in soft pillows, warm baths, fine clothes and trinkets. Hamlet is internally devastated by her action in marrying his uncle. That too within a short time of his father’s death! The Ghost intervenes to give more disturbing information about her, which upsets Hamlet thoroughly. The death of Gertrude’s husband is a fact. The question that is often posed by the critics is why she marries in a hurry. Hurry from whose point of view? With the death of Hamlet’s father, her Christian marriage vow comes to an end. She is the queen, accustomed to live with supreme comforts of life. She is eager to restore and secure her position. If Claudius marries some other woman, she will

Stages of Criminal Trial Essay Example for Free

Stages of Criminal Trial Essay There are eight stages in a Criminal Trial, the trial initiation, jury selection, openings statements, presentation of evidence, closing arguments, judge’s charge to the jury, jury deliberations and the verdict. In this essay I will focus on the jury selection stage. A criminal petit jury is very important in a trial. The jury is responsible for deciding whether a defendant committed the crime as charged. In a criminal trial there are usually 12 members in a jury. The jury selection is conducted by both the prosecution and the defense attorneys. An examination process called voir dire is performed on each potential juror, to ensure any unbiased or preconceived notions of guilt or innocence doesn’t exist. Any person desiring or summoned by a judge to sit on the panel must meet certain qualifications. An individual must be 18 years of age, be a citizen, live in the judicial area for one year, and speak English, no mental or physical conditions or any felony charges. Certain people are excused from juror duty; armed forces, professional fire, police and public officers. The Jury Act will excuse a person from jury duty on the grounds of undue hardship or an extreme inconvenience. In Florida the case of Casey Anthony vs. The State of Florida, the jury selection was difficult. The problem with this case is that the media made a big mess of the information released. Many people saw, read or heard about the case, potentially causing them to be unbiased or perceiving a notion to whether Casey was guilty or innocent. The charges and details of the evidence were released to the public. Due to the nature of this case it was titled as a high profile case. Casey Anthony’s name was all over the country; I remember during the time of the trial, the only thing on television was something about her case. There were pictures of her daughter, family and personal life. A lot of suspected evidence was shared with the public as well as information about where evidence was found. A jury selection could normally take about one day. Jurors could be removed from the selection process for any reason. The judge (Belvin Perry) dismissed more than two dozen potential jurors. The potential jurors discussed the case while in a private room with other jurors. One male juror was held in contempt of court and fined $450.00 for attempting to talk about the case with a television producer. After the long process of selecting a juror panel, the trial lasted about eight weeks and the jury was sequestered. Sequestered is when the jury is isolated from the public  during the trial and deliberation. A decision was made and Casey Anthony was found not guilty. .

Adderall, Ritalin, AD/HD, and Abuse Essay examples -- Biology Essays R

Adderall, Ritalin, AD/HD, and Abuse Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are behavioral disorders affecting attention span, impulse control, and self-discipline. They are usually associated with children, although adults can suffer from the same disorders. It is estimated that 4% - 6% of the U.S. population suffers from AD/HD, and children with the disorders carry them into adulthood more than half the time. Typically medicated with psychostimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall, (methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine, respectively), concern over these disorders surrounds problems such as over-diagnosis or misuse of the prescription medications. ADD is characterized by an inability to concentrate, poor self-control, and short attention span. ADHD is essentially characterized by the same deficiencies except it includes hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The two are generally grouped together in the acronym AD/HD and are treated the same way, although each diagnosis can be labeled with a subtype of predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, or a combination type. Treatment involves psychological, educational, and social remedial measures along with medication, but frequently the more time-consuming efforts for treatment are disregarded in today's impatient world, with parents and patients hastily looking to medication for a quick solution. Ritalin is the brand name for methylphenidate hydrochloride, a stimulant which was introduced in 1956 and affects the way the brain filters and responds to stimuli. This can be helpful to a person with AD/HD who feels bombarded by stimuli and is easily distracted. Although its workings are still largely not understood, meth... ...DMA (ecstasy), with the exception of seratonin for dopamine. Everything in moderation--methylphenidate and amphetamines can be beneficial for academic focus, but dangerous if their guidelines are not respected. References 1)Biopsychiatry, Methylphenidate/Cocaine Comparisons http://www.biopsychiatry.com/ 2)CHADD Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, http://www.chadd.org/ 3)National Attention Deficit Disorder Association, http://www.add.org/ 4)Erowid, http://www.erowid.org/ask/ask.cgi?ID=2846 5)Assessment of Adult AD/HD, http://www.erowid.org/ask/ask.cgi?ID=2846 6)ADD Drug Abuse Rising, http://www.detnews.com/2001/health/0111/20/a02-347551.htm 7)Overdiagnosis Unlikely, http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n16/ffull/jlt0428-4.html 8) Self-Test for AD/HD, http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/addtests/adult.asp

Website Plan

————————————————- Website Plan ————————————————- cake shop 1220HSL (Information Systems for Services Industries) Table content Introduction This website plan is a blueprint for the website which includes background, goals, analysis of competitor websites and some other important issues in creating a website. The website is a cake shop called icake, the cake shop which offers purchase online, new advance preview, Member Services, Design cake yourself.Background to the business and business goals * Founded in 2005,our business is about innovating and creating distinctive flavors to satisfy your palate. * In recent years, we have opened several new stores, 20 varieties of cakes available to meet the needs of different consumer groups * Organizes promotional activitie s, participate in community public service, advertising on popular websites, to gain public recognition, and increase awareness to achieve the maximum business profitGoals of the website, how these fit into goals of the business The web is not just a marketing tool – it's a business tool as well. While it is perfectly okay to have an Internet billboard that simply contains contact information. Even the smallest local business can utilize the power of the Internet to be more efficient and to build revenue. * Build trust with prospects * Grow the client base * Strengthen customer loyalty * Get the jump on competitors Develop and stay â€Å"Top of Mind† * Extend your reach * Diversify: add new streams of income * Through the purchase online, We will delivered fresh and delicious cakes to your home or office, so people who busy with work or hold parties at home can be able to enjoy our cake * Advertising in the top website to let more people know * Website membership appli cation and coupons can attract more customers to shop Analysis of competitor websites strengths| weaknesses| Do not often update their websites * Payment complexPages load slowlyDo not attract customers to visit the websiteDo link with other websitesWithout Search engine| Can easy to find the products * Search engine is easy to use * The detailed about classification and description of goods| Our websites should learn the benefits of competitors and avoid their weaknesses, while also make the content is easy to understand, search engine is easy to use, purchase online products, the operation is convenient and simple, update faster. Target audience / market for website and use environments Suitable for people who works in office, students, housewife, companies and families parties * Age from 10 to 50 * Customer who likes the Internet * Customer who likes stay at home, busy at work/study and do not like cooking People can use their mobile visit website and booking. An incredible advan tage of using cell phone internet is that customer can gain the freedom of being able to work anywhere, not just from the office or from home. As long as there is an internet facility, they can use their mobile to browse, download. The number of people accessing websites of their mobile phones is increasingly rapidly.They can be given a much better user experience by following these guidelines: 1. Reduce the amount of content 2. Single column layouts work best 3. Present that navigation differently 4. Minimise text entry 5. Decide whether you need more than 1 mobile site 6. Design for touchscreen and non-touchscreen users User tasks-specific breakdown * Set tasks that are essential to the new site's success, such as: Buying products Paying bills Contacting the client * When online, people read very differently than when they're reading a book or magazine.On the Internet people try not to read until they feel they're found what they are looking for, until they reach the content they need. Up to that point they scan, looking for keywords. There are several ways to try and reduce the problem: 1. Reduce the word count of each page (ideally by half) 2. Try to remove/minimise instruction text 3. Highlight key words 4. Use lists/bullet points where possible 5. Break up text using clear sub-headings 6. Try to start each page/paragraph with the conclusion, so that users can decide whether to read the page/paragraph early 7. Use images instead of words where possible People are often in a hurry. This means that owner may only have between 10 and 30 seconds to capture your visitor's attention. To minimize the load time, keep graphics small. Compress them where possible. Use flashy technology JavaScript, Flash, Streaming Audio/Video, etc. sparingly and only if it is important to owners’ presentation. Make it want to attract the people that will bring traffic to website. Sell a product on the website, owners will need to be able to accept secure credit card payments . They can apply for a merchant account, which charges a per-transaction fee, or use a free payment service like PayPal.Information and tools Basic E-commerce Tools * A Shopping Cart service allows visitors to select items for purchase, calculates shipping costs and any other costs and discounts, such as coupons or promotions, and then passes the total to your credit card merchant account for payment. Google Checkout is a combination of a merchant account and a single-item shopping cart. This is the easiest way to get started with an online store by selling single items. Just sign up for Google Checkout and you can make Buy Now buttons that you can just paste into your web page. Mailing List – It is important to collect the names and email addresses on visitors to website so you can stay in touch with them to invite them back to the website and also market other offers to them. If website host does not include a mailing list service, a dedicated email list service like AWeber . com or GetResponse. com, also can get a hosting service that includes a mailing list like Site Build It. They manage the collection of names and the list, send out emails, give you the stats on how many were read, and remove any invalid addresses. They keep the list safe, and the list is money. Accepting credit cards is a must for online commerce. Paypal it's pretty easy to setup. With Paypal, people don't have to rent or purchase any equipment because they take the orders for you and then send your revenue directly to your bank account. They take a small percentage of every order you receive. This is much more convenient than having to apply for a business license, rent out the equipment and handle all the orders yourself. PayPal makes it quick and easy Storyboard * Home page—Background photo of cake, headline and links to inside pages * About us-Photo, text * Products-Photo of cake, classify, price Purchase online-Still photo, text * Membership-Text * Contact us-Location of Google maps, phone, address, E-mail Figure 1: Diagram of storyboard Page templates * Home page—background photo of cake, headline and links to inside pages * About us-company introduction * Products-photo of Various types of cakes (wedding / birthday / festival / celebration) * Purchase online-How to Order, How receipt, How to Check Out, Delivery range * Membership – Personal Home, My information, Delivery Address, My Vouchers * Contact us-phone, email, address Figure 2: Diagram of page templatesIMAGE IMAGE MINI LINK MINI LINK HOT HOT image image search search Contact us Contact us membership membership Purchase online Purchase online products products Home page Home page image image LOGO LOGO About us About us Website content owners and authors * Products, Purchase online, Membership — information and organizing department * Why choose us — marketing department Process analysis and update process and schedule * Enable relationships with visitors: 1. C ontact Forms protect email address on site and also provides a more structured format for visitors to contact or ask questions. 2.Q ; A – A powerful way to establish trust and provide information to visitors, and also it helps to bring visitors to site. 3. Build Mailing List – Offer a free newsletter or free report of useful information in exchange for the visitors' email address so it can promote to them in the future. * Website Maintenance involves: 1. Keeping website up-to-date:? Content editing can be accomplished with updated information, such as special offers, product changes, pricing changes, new product and services announcements, employee information changes and all those things that keep visitors properly informed. . Maintaining & managing site:? Using newest technologies, we can monitor site and make changes that improve site performance for faster download and improved content spread. 3. Secure & Protect your site 😕 Server side programming used for form processing, database management, search and display functions, shopping carts etc. require regular update to implement fixes for security holes discovered from time to time. We should manage ASP, PHP and Perl codes for all sorts of applications. 4. Re-structure site contents 😕Using site access statistics like how many visitors the site has, and what they look at while visiting, we should re-structure the site contents and navigation elements for increased business. * Most maintenance job include the following: 1. Modification and Addition of Website Content ? 2. Image Manipulation and Addition (client supplied images) ? 3. Newsletter & email list maintenance? 4. Shopping cart product updates? 5. Update announcements, articles, etc. ? 6. Replace images i. e. pictures & graphics? 7. Adding/removing pages? 8.PDF creation and uploading How you will get people to your website * The ‘Big 3' – Google, Yahoo and MSN Live also offer ads for sale. These are called P ay-Per-Click ads, or PPC. People can buy PPC ad space on other websites and also on the search results pages. When people do a search with these search engines, the paid ads appear at the top and to the right of the search results, and these ads also appear on websites that have added content ad code to their pages. * Affiliate Marketing – Recommending the products and services of others.This little-known aspect of e-commerce involves placing specially coded links on your site that take the visitor to the online store of another company. * The Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords is the best overall introduction and guide to the Google advertising program, and is focused on promoting owners’ website. * Yahoo Cash for Idiots is an excellent introduction to using the Yahoo Search Marketing ad program for promoting your own products or the products of others. References Mal Warwick Associates , â€Å"http://www. malwarwick. om/learning-resources/articles/10-ways-to-get-more. html† ,Reference 2011 Projectsmart , â€Å"http://www. projectsmart. co. uk/work-breakdown-structure-purpose-process-pitfalls. html†, Reference 2000-2011 Wikihow , â€Å"http://www. wikihow. com/Make-a-Website† Webcredible , â€Å"http://www. webcredible. co. uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/usability-testing. shtml† Breadtop ,â€Å" http://www. breadtop. com. au/† Breadtalk , â€Å" http://www. breadtalk. com/†, Reference 2009 Couturecakes ,† http://www. couturecakes. com. cn/ â€Å", Reference

Power of Government

Throughout history the power of government plays a leading role in the turning points of how the government should expand its branches and support its country. In the events of the Nullification Crisis and the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions, both opposed how the government grew its power. Although the power of the national government increased during the early republic, this development often faced serious opposition. As the government throughout the years increase its power, states government can't help but fight for their rights. States began opposing the national government's decisions as their decisions questioned civil liberties. In order to strongly support their cause, state governments began to declare federal laws null and void. In the events of the Nullification Crisis and the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, these events help embody the clear differences between two opposing principals of government power- states' rights and federalism. The Nullification Crisis arose during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, as the people of the South strongly agreed to nullify, avoid and ignore federal law, they disagreed with Congress rulings. As the new president, Jackson did not properly prepare to handle his presidency, he did not properly handle the protests against the Tariff of 1828. Members of the South felt that the tariff affected the south more than the north. As the federal government began to increase its power, the fear of a corrupt government and power hungry officials, with accordance with John. C. Calhoun beliefs, the south began to nullify and ignore national law. These attempts challenged the federal government and caused disputes between states and federal law. However, as states eagerly began to protest against tariffs and rulings the Federal government did not allow southern states to nullify their tariff. This shows how strong their power is and how they clearly display that their rulings are important. The motives of the southern states protesting against federal law is due to unfair attention between the southern and northern states. The Nullification Crisis of 1832 expressed the idea that states representing the people have the right to judge the constitutionality of federal decisions. Before the Nullification Crisis, the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions began doubting federal actions as well. The resolutions were passed in opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts which were ruled by federal law. As the Jeffersonian Republicans first enacted the Kentucky resolutions, it was an attack to the Federalist interpretation of the constitution. Also, the resolutions protest against limitations on civil liberties. They interpreted that the national government would extend its powers over the states. The resolutions expressed that the constitution established an agreement between states and the federal government. In which the federal government has no right to expand its powers under the terms of the agreement. But just like the nullification crisis, other states disagreed and ignored their statements. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions declared that states have the right to decide on the constitutionality of federal rulings. Throughout history the rise of federal power has states disagreeing with their decisions. Although neither the south states or the federal government won the conflict of the Nullification Crisis, it resulted great tension between the two groups. Citizens realized that President Jackson became untrustworthy to their motives of refusing federal law. The crisis defined that the powers of both the federal government and the state government. As both events lead up to the Civil War, these events marked that the voice of the states should be heard. Although the resolutions did not meet their goal, it revealed that the clash between states and federal government embodied principal roles of government.

Packaging design course Stuart Werle essay

Packaging design course Stuart Werle essay Packaging design course Stuart Werle essay Packaging design course Stuart Werle essayThe OCAD University is located in Toronto. Many art students want to study at the OCAD University. The Art Education Practice program in Humber College offers me a chance to attend one of the classes in OCAD of an Art educator, who teaches art at the OCAD University. Packing Design is a course that combines marketing and art. This course is about how to design or help to create a brand with the help of visual art to make the brand successful and very interesting. Mr. Stuart teaches the packaging design course. He has designed many drinks packaging and has forty years experience in packaging design. Stuart Werle is a successful packaging designer and art educator as well.The physical space setting of the classroom is useful. The most important thing is the design of the classroom that makes me think of art. The classroom is bright even without the light. Two big-sized triangle tables are in the middle of the room. They allow students to gather and communicate in the center area. There are three huge windows on the left side, blackboard next beside the platform, and projector sets on the right wall. In addition, the three-windows on the left wall caught my attention, when I entered the classroom for the first time, because the windows were painted by different colors, such as yellow, red, and green. When one gets closer to the window, the viewer or student can browse the view of CN tower clearly. Additionally, the back door and front door were painted by green color. Thus, the physical space was successful due to the colors used within the classroom. The decoration and design of the classroom contribute to the student’s inspiration, ideas and learning.The limitation of the space is the projector on the right wall, because the triangle table sets in the center of the classroom and chairs were surrounded by the table. Therefore, student, who face the windows can watch the PowerPoint harder, than students, who face th e projector directly and watch the PowerPoint clearly.Stuart Werle always has a lecture or discussion of the assignment with PowerPoint. If I can do any change, I would rearrange the setting of the classroom. I would move the projector to the front, so that everyone can watch the PowerPoint clearly. Overall, the setting and design of the classroom is perfect for art students. The small size of the room (compared with Lecture class) makes the educator closer to discuss and communicate with student. During the lecture, Stuart loves to use gestures to make his presentation more interesting. This kind of teaching method is a good way to get closer to student. In addition, I agree, when he says â€Å"who supports the brand, we support the brand, and the packaging designer supports the brand†.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, the day of observation of the art educator is the best lesson for me. I have learned what packaging design is and I have understood how art can relate to business. While observing other schools’ learning format and school designs, I was inspired by the idea of creating my micro-presentation for the next project.

13 Critical Thinking Essay Topics on Consumer Behavior

13 Critical Thinking Essay Topics on Consumer Behavior Studying consumer behavior allows today’s students and tomorrow’s professionals to identify consumers’ needs better, allowing them to become more consumer-oriented and more likely to succeed. This field also helps them ensure their employers’ survival, profitability, and growth in the current competitive marketing environment. It further advances their career as it makes them capable of predicting market trends, adapt to changes in the market, and create and retain consumers. Realizing the importance of consumer behavior, your instructor may want you to delve head on in this subject. That is why they entrusted you with the task of coming up with a critical thinking essay related to this field. If you are having trouble coming up with a topic for your essay, especially if the deadline is too close for comfort, here are 13 facts that can help you grow more creative. Society and personal attitudes shape buying decisions. A person’s attitude and motives drive their consumption patterns. However, internal factors are not the only ones which determine consumption. There are external factors which come into play, including cultural backgrounds, family influences, advertisements, and the Internet. All these help shape people’s thoughts and actions. Understanding consumer behavior is important. Consumer behavior allows marketers to understand what drives their clients’ consumption behaviors. As a result, they can ensure better sales when their products are pushed to the market. Moreover, it gives marketers a competitive edge since their companies’ products meet consumers’ needs specifically. This, in turn, ensures their success. Finally, companies that effectively predict how consumers respond to their offerings can churn better products and guarantee high customer satisfaction. Motivation shapes consumer attitudes. Motivation is the main factor that drives the behavior of consumers. Every consumer has a set of goals or motives behind every buying decision. Some of these motives are physiological; for example, thirst drives a person to purchase a beverage. On the other hand, motives can be quite obscure. A good example in this regard is the motive to buy designer clothes to gain social status. The modern consumer is highly empowered. Social media has driven up the levels of digital interactivity. This exciting new technology has empowered consumers by giving them access to a wealth of information related to specific products or their categories. As a result, the role of a typical consumer has shifted from passive consumption to active information-generators. This has led to a major shift in the marketing and branding landscape. Companies need to learn how social media has changed the consumer if they want modern technology to become mutually beneficial. External factors affect consumer attitudes. Social factors (such as family relationships, cultural identity, geography, and other environmental aspects) play a major role in shaping consumer behavior. Marketers need to be aware of these factors and understand the extent of the influence. The main use of these categorizations, however, is market segmentation. Marketing decisions regarding product advertising, design and pricing can be customized according to the values, goals and needs of each group. The groups consumers are categorized into exert three types of influences. People belong to distinct groups. These groups exert different kinds of influences on an individual. From a sociological perspective, these influences fall into three major types: Comparative - how the individual’s self-identity is defined in context of the group identity Informational - where the group is considered as a source for expert opinion Normative - the guidelines set by the group to specify sanctioned and unsanctioned behavior amongst the individual members All three types, along with product characteristics, tend to influence how a consumer will react to a product. Information consumption on UGC sites is higher than posting. User Generated Content (UGC) are active online forums where consumers can exchange information related to products. Research uncovered that these sites have a high discrepancy among information contributors and information consumers. On the other hand, the level of active participation is low on social media sites. Focus groups and interviews are very important. Marketers use a variety of tools to gather consumer opinions and thoughts, but two stand out prominently: in-depth interviews and focus groups. These serve as opportunities for consumers to express opinions and discuss their thoughts about products. Researchers moderating these interviews are trained to spot the motives and values which might point to how consumers behave. Techniques such as sentence completion tests and Thematic Appreciation Tests (TAT) are utilized to gain a deeper understanding of consumer psychology. Consumers are driven by the values they hold. Consumers are driven primarily by values. Their personal value system dictates which product they will buy. As a result, they will choose products that have attributes which they deem desirable, i.e. based on their values. Understanding this concept puts the marketer in a position where they can create highly effective promotional and advertising content. Brand re-positioning is a successful tactic. Brands keep themselves alive in consumers’ minds by using clever re-positioning tactics. As time passes, the brand’s image becomes a little diluted or faded. In order to make sure the consumer continues to associate the brand with favorable concepts, marketers rely on repositioning. This is accomplished by different marketing and advertising tools, all of which will help create positive links and discard negative links. The cultural aspect to consumer behavior has grown complex due to globalization. The cultural aspects of consumer behavior are becoming complex and multilayered due to globalization. Therefore, in the world of marketing, it has become important to understand and respect cultural differences. Marketing strategies can be standardized to an extent, but a cookie-cutter approach does not work. Distinctions across cultures and geographical regions are so vast that the strategies have to be localized in order to be effective. There are five stages in the consumer decision making cycle. A typical consumer goes through five different stages when making a purchase. The first stage involves identifying and recognizing a need. Next, the consumer moves on to the information gathering stage. This involves actively searching for a possible product that will meet the need recognized during stage one. The search process is internal (own knowledge) and external (family, friends, salespeople). This step also helps refine the criteria for selection. The criteria for comparison results in a set of rules which line up with the consumer’s need. The options are assessed in detail in the third stage of the process. The relative strengths and weaknesses of the alternatives are also evaluated and analyzed. The fourth step involves the actual purchase. After the purchase, the consumer is at the post-purchase stage. This is when the consumer judges how well the product meets their needs. The evoked list is an important element for understanding consumer behavior. Consumers evaluate a list of products when making a buying decision. This list is referred to as the evoked set and contains a small number of items. The criteria used by a typical consumer when weighing the pros and cons is mainly the psychological and functional benefits of the product. Companies need to understand exactly what these benefits are in order to build better products and marketing campaigns. You can use these facts to come up with your own critical thinking essay. However, if you want a shortcut, check out our 20 topics on consumer behavior for a critical thinking essay. If you need help with writing this academic paper, refer to our guide on how to write a critical thinking essay on consumer behavior. References: Schwartz, Barry (2004), The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, Ecco, New York. Solomon, M.R. (1994), Consumer Behavior, Allyn Bacon, London. Wilkie, William L. (1994). Consumer Behavior (3rd ed.). New York: Wiley. Schiffman, L.G. (1993), Consumer Behavior, Prentice Hall International, London. Shell, Ellen Ruppel, Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture , New York : Penguin Press, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59420-215-5 McNair, B. (1958), Retail Development, Harper Row, New York, NY. Blackwell, Miniard and Engel (2006). Consumer Behaviour (10th Ed.). Thomson Learning.

Brooklyn Bridge Disaster

Brooklyn Bridge Disaster The walkway of the  Brooklyn Bridge was the site of a shocking disaster on May 30, 1883, only  a week after it opened to the public. With businesses closed for a patriotic holiday,  crowds had flocked to the bridges promenade, the highest vantage point in New York City at the time. Near the Manhattan  side of the great bridge a pedestrian bottleneck  became tightly packed, and the shoving of the crowd  sent people toppling down a short flight of stairs. People screamed. The crowd panicked, fearful that the entire structure was in danger of collapsing into the river. The crush of people on  the walkway became intense. Workmen  putting finishing touches on the bridge  raced along trusses to the scene and began tearing down railings to alleviate the crowding. People picked up babies and children and tried to pass them overhead, out of the crowd. Within just a few minutes the frenzy  had passed. But 12 people had been crushed to death. Hundreds more were injured, many seriously. The deadly stampede placed a dark cloud over  what had been a celebratory first week for the bridge. Detailed accounts of the mayhem on the bridge became a sensation in the highly competitive world of New York City newspapers. As the citys papers were still congregated in the neighborhood of Park Row, only blocks from the Manhattan end of the bridge, the story could not have been more local. The Scene on the Bridge The bridge had officially opened on Thursday, May 24, 1883. Traffic during the first weekend was very heavy, as sightseers flocked to enjoy the novelty of strolling  hundreds of feet above  the East River. The New York Tribune, on Monday, May 28, 1883, printed a front page story indicating that the bridge might have become too popular. It ominously mentioned that bridge workers, at one point on Sunday afternoon, feared a riot. The pedestrian promenade was popular on the Brooklyn Bridge. Getty Images Decoration Day, the precursor to Memorial Day fell that  Wednesday, May 30, 1883. After morning rain, the day turned very pleasant. The New York Sun, on the front page of the next days edition, described the scene: When the rain was over yesterday afternoon the Brooklyn Bridge, which had its crowds in the morning, but had become comparatively open again, began to threaten a blockade. With the hundreds who came down town to the New York gates were hundreds of men in the uniform of the Grand Army of the Republic. Most of the people strolled over to Brooklyn, and then turned back without leaving the bridge. Thousands were coming over from Brooklyn, returning from cemeteries where soldiers graves had been decorated, or taking advantage of the holiday to see the bridge. There were not so many on the bridge as on the day after the opening, or on the following Sunday, but they seemed inclined to loiter. There would be an open space of from fifty to one hundred feet, and then a dense jam. Problems became intense at the top of a nine-foot high flight of stairs built into the walkway, near the point at which the main suspension cables passed by the promenade on the Manhattan side of the bridge. The pressing of the crowd pushed some people down the stairs.   Did You Know? Predictions of the Brooklyn Bridges collapse had been common. In 1876, at about the halfway point of its construction, the chief mechanic of the bridge crossed between the Brooklyn and Manhattan towers on a cable to publicly demonstrate confidence in the bridges design. Somebody shouted out that there was danger, reported  the New York Sun. And the impression prevailed that the bridge was giving way beneath the crowd. The newspaper mentioned,  A woman held her baby over the trestle work and begged someone to take it. The situation had turned desperate. From the New York Sun: At last, with a single shriek that cut through the clamor of thousands of voices, a young girl lost her footing, and fell down the lower flight of steps. She lay for a moment, and then raised herself on her hands, and would have got up. But in another moment she was buried under the bodies of others who fell over the steps after her. She was dead when they got her out more than half an hour afterward. Men sprang upon the rails at the side and waved the crowds back from both the New York and Brooklyn sides. But the people continued to crowd on toward the steps. No police were in sight. Men in the crowd lifted their children above their heads to save them from the crush. People were still paying their pennies at both gates and swarming in. Within minutes the frantic scene had calmed. Soldiers, who had been parading near the bridge in  Decoration Day commemorations, rushed to the scene.  The New York Sun described the aftermath: A company of the Twelfth New York Regiment worked hard at dragging them out. Twenty-five seemed to be nearly dead. They were laid along the north and south sides of the pathway, and the people from Brooklyn passed on between them. Men and women turned faint at the sight of the swollen and blood-stained faces of the dead. Four men, a lad, six women, and a girl of 15 were quite dead, or died in a few moments. They had been found at the bottom of the heap. The police stopped grocers wagons coming from Brooklyn, and, carrying the bodies of the wounded and climbing down the planks to the road, laid them in the wagons, and told the drivers to hurry to the Chambers Street Hospital. Six bodies were laid in one wagon. The drivers whipped up their horses and drove with full speed to the hospital. Newspaper accounts of the dead and wounded were heartbreaking. The New York Sun described how one young couples afternoon stroll on the bridge turned tragic: Sarah Hennessey was married on Easter, and was walking on the bridge with her husband when the crowd closed in upon them. Her husband injured his left arm a week ago, and clung to his wife with his right hand. A little girl fell in front of him, and he was thrown upon his knees and kicked and bruised. Then his wife was torn from him, and he saw her trampled upon and killed. When he got off the bridge he searched for his wife and found her in the hospital. According to a report in the New York Tribune of May 31, 1883, Sarah Hennessey had been married to her husband John Hennessey for seven weeks. She was 22 years old. They had lived in Brooklyn. Rumors of the disaster spread quickly through the city. The New York Tribune reported:  An hour after the accident it was told in the vicinity of Madison Square that 25 persons were killed and hundreds wounded, and at 42nd Street that the bridge had fallen down and 1,500 had lost their lives. In the days and weeks following the disaster the blame for the tragedy was directed at the management of the bridge. The bridge had its own small police force, and officials of the bridge company were criticized for failing to place policeman at strategic place to keep crowds dispersed. It became standard practice  for uniformed officers on the bridge to keep people moving along, and the Decoration Day tragedy was never repeated. The fear  that the bridge was in danger of collapsing was, of course, completely unfounded. The Brooklyn Bridge has been renovated to some extent, and the original trolley track was removed in the late 1940s and the roadways changed to accommodate more automobiles. But the walkway still stretches down the middle of the bridge and is still in use. The bridge is crossed every  day by thousands of pedestrians, and the promenade with striking views that drew revelers in May 1883 is still an attraction for tourists today.

Dealing with Bullying and Domestic Violence in Schools Essay

Dealing with Bullying and Domestic Violence in Schools - Essay Example Bullying among kids is usually defined as intended, recurring hurtful deeds, words or other performance, like threatening, name-calling, also rejecting. This is being carried out by one or more kids against another. These harmful acts are not purposely motivated by the victim, also for such deeds to be identified as bullying; unevenness in real or apparent power should exist involving the bully along with the victim. Domestic violence inside the school organizations has lived for a stretched period of time. School violence is illustrated as vandalism, fights, and shootings, along with any deed that physically or psychologically damages another child. Any of these performances should be taken seriously, even among kindergarten children. Several people would declare that the reason for domestic violence is amplified technology. Previously MTVs, video games, and even great action movies violence amongst children was at a low pace. Since the beginning of these doings children have turned out to become more aware of imposing pain on other kids. The media has been a great influence on teaching children to pull out their fury in an unconstructive manner. These children are incapable to understand the distinction between realism and fiction. 3. Emotional bullying and violence includes terrorizing, rejecting, extorting, humiliating, defaming, blackmailing, rating/ranking of individual characteristics like ethnicity, race, disability, or alleged sexual orientation, influencing friendships, isolating, excluding and peer stress. 4. Sexual bullying and violence includes several of the performances listed above along with voyeurism, exhibitionism, sexual harassment, sexual propositioning, and abuse concerning real physical contact and sexual mugging. Bullying together with domestic violence among schoolchildren is quite familiar in the United States. Various appearances of hazing -

Problems Stemming from the Economic Crisis and Potential Recovery Research Paper

Problems Stemming from the Economic Crisis and Potential Recovery - Research Paper Example The policies adopted by the governments are aimed at enhancing sustainable economic growth by ensuring that the structural and macroeconomic causes of the recession are addressed. Through adoption of effective policies that ensures the stability of the supply side of the economy, macroeconomic benefits would ultimately emerge. First, they ensure fiscal sustainability since they add credibility to the borrowing demands by the government. Secondly, they enhance redeployment of resources due to the fact that they use the opportunities that emerged after the structural changes that emerged after the recession. One of the implications of the recession was the reduced level of research and development (R&D). This was due to the contraction of the retained earnings which is the major source of financing R&D. In addition, many financial institutions have become more risk averse thus making it hard for companies to get external funds to support their research and development initiatives (OECD 12). ... In order to encourage development of new industries and to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship that is important in addressing the negativities of recession, most governments have emulated two essential strategies. First, governments have encouraged the growth of firms by reducing the administrative costs incurred by companies during their establishment. This also involves establishment of more favorable conditions for restructuring of poor performing companies. Secondly, government authorities have adopted easing of liquidity problems faced by small companies. In order to solve the liquidity problems, governments emulated strategies such as reduction of tax, factoring of tax receivables as well as export credit (OECD 8). Human investment Increasing investment in people is another strategy that is adopted by government authorities. This entails improving training and education so as to prepare individuals for the emerging job opportunities in various industries. Some of the polici es emulated by government authorities include, improving educational infrastructure system, integrating ICT and provision of school programs that encourage innovation (OECD 21). In addition, the economic recession is used by government as an opportunity to undertake reforms in higher education. Implication of economic recession on performance of General Motors Company General Motors (GM) is a US based automobile company that was largely affected by the economic recession. For example in 2007, the company lost $50 billion, while in 2008 the stock value of the company reduced by 76% (Emily and Phil 34). In its effort to enhance the performance of the

Children's Development, Health and Well-being Essay

Children's Development, Health and Well-being - Essay Example This paper will now discuss the different ways by which children develop in their early years and primary settings, with specific focus on their health and wellbeing. First, a discussion on the developmental needs and conditions of children in their primary school years would be presented, followed by a discussion on the theories and key educational initiatives and how these impact on children’s development. Legislation pertinent to the topic will then be discussed, including the key elements which impact on children’s development, health and well-being. Legislation relevant to schools and children will also be made part of this discussion as a means of understanding the connections between policy and classroom practice. Body During the primary years, learners are highly energetic and highly engaged in physical activity. They are also entering a period of experimentation with various possible identities (Fabian and Dunlop, 2002). They explore themselves and their relati onship and similarities to their peers, including the differences between the male and female gender. They are also able to participate enthusiastically in various activities, as well as to expand their mental development in ways which may be considered reflective (Fabian and Dunlop, 2002). These learners have needs which relate to the application of complicated, dynamic, interactive and cyclical activities. The learning process for these children would have to call for them to elaborate, reformulate, and reflect upon their knowledge and values (Fabian and Dunlop, 2002). In other words, they have to be supported on how their develop responsibility for their learning. The years following conception until birth to the first eight years of the child’s life are crucial to their complete and healthy mental, emotional, and physical growth (Robinson, 2007). Their brain’s rapid development often starts as early as the prenatal stage and continues until after the child’s birth. The cell formation of the child is often already complete before their birth with a newborn infant having about 100 billion brain cells (Robinson, 2007). Their brain maturation as well as the development of their neural pathways is however continued after birth until their early childhood. In effect, early childhood is a time where the environment also has a crucial role to play in determining the eventual direction of the child’s development. The environment impacts on the number of brain cells and connections made, but also how these connections would be wired (Waller, 2009). The goal of removing excess neurons and synapses from the immature brain is a process which goes on until the child’s adolescence, but is especially dramatic during the child’s early years (Waller, 2009). This process is also guided to a significant extent by how the child is experiencing the outside world. According to different studies, if the brain does not gain enough stimulat ion during this critical period, it would be very difficult for the brain to later rewire itself at a later time (MacIntyre, 2007). Poor nutrition before birth and in the first years of the child’s life can also seriously impact on brain development and cause neurological and behavioural issues including learning disabilities and mental retardation (MacIntyre, 2007).

To write a news release( Exxon mobile- new plan to invest 75% of Essay

To write a news release( Exxon mobile- new plan to invest 75% of profits into development of alternative energy source) - Essay Example 2008 will be the start of a new era for the energy industry and ExxonMobil will be taking the lead and showing other companies the way to do it. [Body] The world is hungry for fuel and ExxonMobil has been proud to supply oil, gas and petroleum for much needed industrial development across six continents. These services will carry on while the company and its affiliates engages in a radical transformation process over the next two decades. Their first commitment is to reduce exploration for fossil fuels in the next 10 years and explore instead alternative energy sources. The ExxonMobil world renowned research and development facilities are engaged on a rapidly expanding programme that explores every avenue of sustainable and renewable energy sources. Aside from the hybrid car types that are already well on the way to commercial success, there are plans to harness the earth’s own massive power which is currently locked into the wind, the waves, and geo-thermal sources. Many people are urging the politicians and the industrialists of the developed world to rethink priorities and create a new blueprint for energy provision. In collaboration with the government ExxonMobil is stepping up to this challenge. They have worked out a plan to invest a staggering 75% of their own profits along with some federal tax credits into the EarthSafe initiative. This demonstrates a deep commitment to the future of the whole planet which ExxonMobil sees as a far more worthy goal than short term profits. They are determined to leave a legacy of fossil-free energy provision within the next 20 years. The next generation will benefit from this exceptional leadership now, and Exxon Mobil is calling on other fossil fuel companies to join with them in this bold move. Strategic planning director Jim Witson said today that â€Å"out of these courageous beginnings a tremendous new chapter will soon be underway. We are making a historic pact with the planet, and we do

Iker Casillass Girlfriend Sara Carbonero and Real Madrids Dressing Assignment

Iker Casillass Girlfriend Sara Carbonero and Real Madrids Dressing Room Scandal - Assignment Example This research tells that Iker revealed much of the team’s information to Sara, which she reported to her channel. This helped her to grab the attention of the viewers as well as the readers but it definitely had a negative impact on the career of Iker. According to the management team, what Iker did was unethical and therefore it made him sit on the bench for almost half of the season as the result of which the performance of â€Å"Real Madrid† suffered. The Media in this situation played a very critical role. Sara Carbonero and Iker Casillas were accused several times of leaking the information from the team’s locker room to the media that Sara worked for, but the media made the situation worse by broadcasting it and making it available for the competitors of the â€Å"Spain’s Football Team† and â€Å"Real Madrid†. The media on several occasions exposed some controversial information such as the weakened relationships between players or the views of management on the poor performance of any specific team player. Every time the media Sara worked for broadcasted any such news it created an atmosphere of distrust in the team’s dressing room, affecting the relationships of the players to some extent. Team players clashed because of the media issue. There have also been occasions when Iker thought about leaving the club that has been the most important part of his life. One of the sources also revealed that Iker was so close to leaving the club due to all the issues created by the media, but he changed his mind at the very last moment. Audiences become informed or misinformed by many channels and so do journalists as well. Ethical practice is important for media as it holds the power of influencing a large number of people. Although the fundamental rights of a citizen in Spain also include the right to know information, when it comes to journalists, they must use their right of expression within certain limitations.

Human Existential Needs individual response 1 Essay

Human Existential Needs individual response 1 - Essay Example In those, the person is seen as but one unit in a greater whole, be that a familial institution, a cultural group, or a religious entity. Self identity gives the person freedom from having to conform to an external norm, and from being obligated to sacrifice their desires, interests and gifts to the will of others. It dissolves the notion that children are the property of their parents, freeing them to pursue their own goals. It destroys the ability of controlling authority figures to use guilt to manipulate individuals into surrendering their autonomy and individuality for a so-called â€Å"greater good.† It also centers responsibility on the individual for their choices and their consequences, as they alone decided on them. One can no longer say â€Å"I was just following orders† or â€Å"it’s what mother or father demanded of me.† Like all of Fromm’s eight values, though, this one is not without its negative side. Humans are not simply individual s wandering through life with no need of others. We all must depend on others for some things, including items we cannot make ourselves. We are also social creatures by nature, and find fulfillment in joining with relatives, business partners, adherents of the same belief system, and those with similar interests. Families, churches and other religious institutions, office parties and fan or hobby clubs help the individual to express themselves within a context of shared affection and responsibilities. Extreme forms of individualism deny these truths, but they fail as workable models, simply because they deny these all too human traits. A healthy person will find a balance between their self identity and their role in cooperative efforts. By so doing they will experience the benefits of relatedness, rootedness and unity, three other existential needs Fromm cites. I saw a positive example of the quest for identity express itself in a female friend who was in an abusive relationship. H er boyfriend verbally belittled her and on occasion struck her. When I spoke with her about this she admitted that she was terrified to leave him because she felt she had no sense of self outside of a relationship. As time went on, however, she embraced her own identity apart from her abuser, took responsibility for her allowing him to mistreat her, and ended the relationship. She is now happily married to a wonderful man who treats her with great respect. She is also employed as a social worker and counselor, a position which empowers her to help others is dysfunctional relationships. This nourishes her desire for effectiveness.. The need for effectiveness is drawn from the desire to believe that one’s life has meaning and purpose, that it in some way makes the world a better place than it was before one was born. It’s what inspires people to work for more than monetary reward; for example, in volunteer positions. Effectiveness is directly related to identity, in that it facilitates the idea that one is a unique actor in the play of life, with a role that makes a substantive difference in the plot. That difference need not be momentous. For example, a person may simply try to brighten other’s days in small ways, with a smile or small gift. Others who believe they have unusually high levels of personal potential may strive to affect the world in larger ways. They may work to achieve business success, run for a political office or strive for

Iker Casillass Girlfriend Sara Carbonero and Real Madrids Dressing Assignment

Iker Casillass Girlfriend Sara Carbonero and Real Madrids Dressing Room Scandal - Assignment Example This research tells that Iker revealed much of the team’s information to Sara, which she reported to her channel. This helped her to grab the attention of the viewers as well as the readers but it definitely had a negative impact on the career of Iker. According to the management team, what Iker did was unethical and therefore it made him sit on the bench for almost half of the season as the result of which the performance of â€Å"Real Madrid† suffered. The Media in this situation played a very critical role. Sara Carbonero and Iker Casillas were accused several times of leaking the information from the team’s locker room to the media that Sara worked for, but the media made the situation worse by broadcasting it and making it available for the competitors of the â€Å"Spain’s Football Team† and â€Å"Real Madrid†. The media on several occasions exposed some controversial information such as the weakened relationships between players or the views of management on the poor performance of any specific team player. Every time the media Sara worked for broadcasted any such news it created an atmosphere of distrust in the team’s dressing room, affecting the relationships of the players to some extent. Team players clashed because of the media issue. There have also been occasions when Iker thought about leaving the club that has been the most important part of his life. One of the sources also revealed that Iker was so close to leaving the club due to all the issues created by the media, but he changed his mind at the very last moment. Audiences become informed or misinformed by many channels and so do journalists as well. Ethical practice is important for media as it holds the power of influencing a large number of people. Although the fundamental rights of a citizen in Spain also include the right to know information, when it comes to journalists, they must use their right of expression within certain limitations.

Classroom Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Classroom Comparison - Essay Example Also, there are many ways in which both classrooms are different. In American classrooms, individuality is encouraged and the students participate freely in the classroom. This is very different from the classroom from my childhood, where conformity was expected. Another difference is that there is not very much homework in American classrooms. The classroom from my childhood had lots of homework and every student was expected to complete it. I feel that I learn best in American classrooms because I can freely ask questions of the teacher. In the classroom from my childhood, if I did not understand something then there was no way of finding out about it. I would also say that the well-being of the student is first and foremost in American classrooms. I feel that school should be focused on the students because they need it for a future career. The classroom from my childhood included a lot of respect for the teacher and students were expected to be

Pollution in China Essay Example for Free

Pollution in China Essay Introduction China, with its rapid industrialisation seems to have paid its price by witnessing steeply rising levels of pollution. With millions of largely unregulated industries, the vast rivers, streams and lakes have become easy avenues for chemical, textile and tanning industries to discharge their toxic contents at will. The paper discusses the pollution in China, its impact on the environment and how it has affected the lives of people.   An Overview of Pollution in China   A report by the World Bank (China 2007) has pointed out that China is facing increased levels of pollution that has kept pace with the rising industrialisation of rural China. The report points out that the use of energy in China has went up by 70 % between 2000 and 2005. The use of coal has also increased by 75% and this has created a corresponding increase in the air pollution. The report points out that China’s emissions of SO2 and soot were respectively 42 percent and 11 percent higher making it the largest polluter in the world. The report also points out that pollution of water, rivers, lakes has also increased to alarming levels. Water pollution is also a cause for serious concern and during 2001 and 2005, about 54 percent of the seven main rivers in China contained water deemed unsafe for human consumption. The report points out that the economic burden of premature mortality and morbidity due to air pollution was157.3 billion Yuan in 2003, or 1.16 percent of by WHO. The report suggests that pollution costs China more than 147 billion Yuan a year in the form of increased health related costs. A report from CBS news says â€Å"Chinas air pollution seems like a problem just for that country, think again. The stuff spewing out in China has now been detected in the United States, and some suspect its beginning to affect the U.S. climate Chinas far-reaching dust and soot cloud travelling to the West Coast hits Hawaii first, and that may be why temperatures in Hawaii are rising. A lot of early-computer modelling of Chinese pollutions effects on the global climate is turning out to be just plain wrong. This is why a massive new study with ground and air monitoring across Asia starts next year† (Yinchaun, 31 March 2000). Following table shows the air quality in China Table 1. Trends in Air Quality in China’s Cities (%) (China, 2007) The following table shows the distribution of particulate matter in air Table 2. Distribution of PM10 and SO2 Levels in 341 Cities, 2003 and 2004 (China, 2007)   The list of pollutants that infect China re provided in the following table. Table 4. List of major pollutants and their categories (China, 2007)   Clare (Clare D’Souza, 2002) reports that â€Å"Energy consumption, especially coal consumption, is the main source of air pollutants such as particles, SO2, NOx, and CO in most cities of China. As the primary energy source, coal has accounted for about 65 to 70 percent (China Statistical Yearbook 2004) of total energy consumption in recent years, which has caused many environmental and human health problems. Crude oil consumption has been increasing because of the rapid expansion of the motor vehicle fleet in many cities. In recent years, epidemiological studies conducted around the world have demonstrated that there are close associations between air pollution and health outcomes. PM10 and SO2 are chosen in many studies as the indicative pollutants for evaluating the health effects of ambient air pollution. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, epidemiological evidence suggests that outdoor air pollution is a contributing cause of morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological studies have found consistent and coherent associations between air pollution and various outcomes, including respiratory symptoms, reduced lung function, chronic bronchitis, and mortality†. The author suggests that industry â€Å"size† is controversial with respect to environmental issues. In some studies large enterprises have been deemed to be more pollution intensive in comparison with small enterprises. The author reports that small enterprises as being more environmentally friendly due to their size and found small plants to be far more pollution intensive because they are difficult and costly to regulate. Empirical research has suggested that enterprise size is inversely correlated with emissions intensity in developing countries. World Bank and other institutions have found that small enterprises are pollution intensive (Mani, 1997).   Karshenas (1992 author has pointed that the Winter’s (model of business and the environment may be a more appropriate way of approaching the problem. According to the author, â€Å"enterprises may not have mastered perfection in terms of ecological sustainability but enterprises can make a systematic assessment of the areas where improvements can be introduced. Although Winter goes beyond traditional management theory, the model emphasizes ecologically sound processes and practices right throughout a firm, from company policy, employee relations, supply chain, public relations and marketing. A firm should consider prevention, reduction, recycling and disposal of wastes throughout its operations. They should use sustainable inputs in environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that result in greener outputs (i.e. maintaining environmentally friendly processes for a product from cradle to grave). This would prove to be profitable, provided that the end users, be they industry or consumers, are committed to using green products. Ideally, enterprises should take control of their own operational structure by viewing cleaner manufacturing as a competitive and strategic challenge, they should resort to manufacturing life-cycle analysis, environmental auditing and environmental reporting. The reality is that an enterprise cannot consider making a product ecologically sound without considering how its raw material acquisition, development, manufacturing, distribution, sales and disposal systems impact on the environment. The author suggests that has gone one step further by stating that managers in a green venture start from a different mindset. They recognise that becoming green is an opportunity to establish a unique position in a niche market or, by being able to produce a higher value product with fewer resources, to gain a competitive advantage. He proposed a trisect by which sustainable business is based on the concept of balancing ecological, economic and social factors†..   Action to fight pollution   The government of China has redoubled its efforts in fighting pollution and has organized task forces at the local levels. The structure is shown in the following figure. Figure 1. Main Government Partners in the Project   The report has identified a number of measures to fight pollution and these are displayed in the following table. Table 4. Sectors and Pollutants Included in the CECM (China, 2007) The team has implemented certain steps to fight the pollution and these are illustrated in the following figure.   Figure 2. Flow Chart for Estimating the Economic Cost of Pollution (China, 2007)   The following steps have been proposed: Step 1: Identify the pollution factors, polluted area, and related conditions. Step 2: Determine affected endpoints and establish dose-response relationships for pollution damage. Step 3: Estimate population (or other) exposures in polluted areas. Step 4: Estimate physical impacts from pollution using information from steps 2 and 3. Step 5: Convert pollution impacts in physical terms to pollution costs in monetary terms. Indiscreet reaction by the Chinese government Wang (Wang Xiangwei. 4 Jun 4, 2007) reports that the Chinese government is paranoid about maintaining a good image about China, for fears that it may hurt its business stakes. The author reports that the most convenient way for China to control pollution is by jailing activists who point out the problems of pollution. The author reports about the village of Wuxi and how it was affected by pollution. For hundreds of years, Wuxi , on the edge of Tai Lake, was the envy of the nation. In the heart of the Yangtze River delta and known as the land of fish and rice, it was bestowed with fertile land and abundant waterways, and was also home to famous poets, painters and industrialists. Since recently however, the city has become a stinking hell for its five million residents as a blue-green algal bloom from the heavily polluted lake contaminated the citys tap water, making it foul-smelling and undrinkable. After scrambling for six days with emergency measures, Wuxi officials said yesterday the tap water was drinkable. But the residents, who have relied on bottled water for drinking and cooking, have every reason to be suspicious. Xinhua has reported that after the usual cleaning aids such as activated carbon failed to remove the odour, the city adopted what Mayor Mao Xiaoping called a bold move by pouring huge amounts of potassium permanganate (Condys crystals) into water-intake points. This allowed the strong oxidising agent to remove foul-smelling matter from the pipes. But Xinhua failed to explain that potassium permanganate is hazardous and can be a health risk. As the Wuxi officials brazenly claimed credit for winning the battle against the water crisis, none of them yet had the decency to apologise to the suffering residents. All of them have blamed factors beyond their control higher- than-normal temperatures that helped to foster the growth of the algae, a lack of rain and favourable wind conditions, and the lowest water level in the lake in five decades. In fact, the fundamental cause of the crisis is the lakes heavy pollution as several mainland environmentalists have repeatedly warned the authorities in the past decade. Wu Lihong, 39, is one of them. He has spent large sums of his own money over the past 16 years collecting evidence of pollution at Tai Lake, the mainlands thirdlargest freshwater lake, and petitioning the local authorities to shut down the polluters. Now, with a water crisis on its hands, one would imagine any government that claims to put the people first would give Wu a medal of honour and make him a hero. Instead, Wu, known as the Tai Lake anti-pollution warrior in overseas media, is languishing in jail and awaiting trial on June 12 on trumped-up charges of blackmail. A farmer turned businessman who grew up in Zhoutie town in Yixing a small, booming industrial city under the jurisdiction of Wuxi Wu witnessed the lake turn into a cesspit. He then made it a personal crusade to petition authorities to shut down more than 2,000 chemical factories in Yixing that spewed toxic pollutants into the lake every day. By passing the local bureaucracy and filing reports to higher- level government officials has led to limited success he is welcomed, even liked by many central government officials and national media in Beijing. In 2005, he was chosen as one of mainlands top 10 environmentalists and honoured at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People. But he incurred the wrath of local officials and has been constantly harassed by local policemen, officials and thugs. He was arrested again in April on charges of blackmail after the local officials set a trap for him. They offered him 40,000 yuan for a mission to attract investment from other mainland cities, and then laid charges of blackmailing the authorities. His lawyer, Zhu Xiaoyan , said that Wu had told her that he was whipped while in custody, and she was not allowed to see him until more than six weeks after his arrest. Like Gao Yaojie , a retired Henan doctor who refused to keep quiet about Aids, Wu has refused to stand down despite the threat of jail. The mainland leadership should learn from the fiasco of trying to muzzle Ms Gao and release Wu immediately.(Wang Xiangwei. 4 Jun 4, 2007).   Conclusion Pollution in China has assumed the proportion of an epidemic with wide ramifications on the health of the people, the environment, air and water. The paper has presented discussed various aspects of the problem and presented statistics to show the extent of pollution. Certain recommendations have also been made so that the pollution could be averted and reduced to some extent. References China, 2007. Cost of Pollution in China. Retrieved 18 January 2008 from www.worldbank.org/eapenvironment. Clare D’Souza, 2002. The nexus between industrialization and environment. Journal of Environmental Management and Health. Volume 13 Number 1 2002 pp. 80-97 Karshenas, M (1992), Environment development and employment: some conceptual issues, in Bhalla, A.S (Eds),Environment Development and Employment, WEP Study, ILO, Geneva, Mani, M, Pargal, S, Huq, M (1997), Does environmental regulation determine the location of new manufacturing?, World Bank, Washington, DC, Policy Research Working Paper Wang Xiangwei. 4 Jun 4, 2007. Release the man who first raised the alarm about Tai Lakes pollution China Briefing. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. P. 5 Xinhua, 26 December 2006. Chinas Energy Conditions and Policies. Xinhua News Agency CEIS. p: 1 Yinchaun. 31 March 2000. A Global Problem: Chinas Pollution. Retrieved 18 January 2008 from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/03/31/archive/main178697.shtml

History Of English Language Teaching

History Of English Language Teaching Today, English is the worlds most widely studied foreign language. Five hundred years ago, Latin was the most dominant language to be studied because it was the language of business, commerce and education in the western world. In the sixteenth century, however, French, Italian and English gain in importance as a result of political change in Europe and Latin gradually became displaced as a language of spoken and written communication (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). Latin became a dead language. It was being started to read in the books as classic language. Children started to enter in the grammar school in sixteenth and eighteenth centuries to learn grammar rules of Latin. To learn Latin language became a mental gymnastic. In the eighteenth century, when modern languages began to enter in the curriculum of the European countries, these languages were taught by the same methods as Latin language was taught. Grammatical rules were memorized. Written practices were done. The passages were translated from the second language to the first language and vice versa (ibid). By the nineteenth century, this method was considered as a standard method of teaching language. The textbooks were divided into chapters. Each chapter contained a certain grammatical rule and rule was practices with a lot of written exercises (ibid). Methods and Approaches of English Language Teaching According to Asher and James (1982), Methods are the combination of techniques that are used and plasticized by the teachers in the classrooms in order to teach their students and approaches are the philosophies of teachers about language teaching that can be applied in the classrooms by using different techniques of language teaching. For example, if a teacher has an approach that language is the communication and learning a language is in fact learning the meanings, functions and uses of language. So the techniques will be based on the communicative language teaching and task based methods. According to Freeman (2000), Methods which are taught to the teachers make a base and give them thinking about the applicable techniques and principles according to the situation where they stand. They are clear about their attraction towards certain methods and also think that why have they repelled certain method. The knowledge of method is very necessary because their knowledge is base of teaching. Grammar Translation Method Grammar translation method was the most popular and widely used method for language teaching between the ages of 1840 to 1940. But this method was first used for teaching and learning Latin language which was not the language of common use at that time. Latin was considered as a classic language. The learners were made able to study the literature of Latin language through learning the grammatical rules of language and learning the vocabulary so that learners may translate the language in their first language and in the second language. Grammar translation method was criticized intensively in the nineteenth century because it was considered that this method cannot fulfill the demands of language learning in nineteenth century. Direct Method The direct method was the outcome of the reaction against the grammar translation method. It was based on the assumption that the learners of foreign and second language should directly think in English. This method is against the translation of written and oral text and focuses on telling the meanings of the words through action, demonstration or real objects. This method focuses on directly thinking, doing discussion and conversation in second language (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). Purwarno (2006) described the aims of the direct method. He described that direct method is an attempt and effort to form a link between thought and expression and between experience and language. Direct method was criticized due to the following reasons: Direct method is successful in private language schools because this method can be applied only in small classes where all the learners can get individual attention. In Direct method, the teachers extravagantly excel in keeping the mother tongue of the learners away from them. Direct method demands the learners to do oral communication in the second language and it also demands the pronunciation and accent to be just like the native speakers so there is need for the language school to hire the native speakers which actually can be very expensive. The success of the direct method depends on the teachers skills and personality more than on the methodology (Richards and Rodgers, 1986). Structural Approach The structural approach mainly employs the techniques of the direct method but the reading and writing skills are not wholly neglected. The structural approach is based on the sound principles of language learning. The structural approach says that the arrangement of the words in such a way as to form a suitable pattern and that pattern may make the meanings of the language clear to us. Any language has its own structure and skeleton which gives this language a decent appearance. A structure is a pattern and a particular arrangement of words which to indicate grammatical meanings. It may be a word, a phrase or a sentence (Gauridushi, 2011). Structural approach was criticized because it was only suitable for lower grades. Continuous teaching of structures and their repetition make the atmosphere dull and boring. It also neglected the reading and writing abilities and there was also a lack of skilled teachers (Sharma, 2011). Oral Approach/ Situational Language Teaching The oral approach is a method in which children to use whatever hearing they get from their surroundings. They also take help from the context to understand and use language. The target is to develop the skills in the individual so that he can communicate and function independently. This approach helps in the development of reading and writing skills (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). The oral approach was developed from 1930s to the 1960s by British applied linguistics such as Harold Palmer and A.S. Hornsby. The main difference between oral approach and the direct method was that the methods which were developed under this approach had theoretical principles about the selection, grading and presentation of the content and material. This sequencing of the content would lead to better learning with a good knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical patterns. In this approach all the points of language were to be presented in situations which led to the second name of the approach i.e. situational language teaching. Although, the teachers are not aware of this approach today but it had long lasting impact on language learning. However, its focus on oral practice, grammar and sentence patterns is still supported by the teachers (ibid). Audiolingual Method Audiolingual method is also known as Army Method because after the outbreak of World War II, the army soldiers decided to be proficient in the languages of their enemies. So a new learning method of foreign languages was discovered which is known as audiolingual method. This method is based on a linguistic theory and behavioral psychology. The audiolingual method was widely used in the 1950s and 1960s and the emphasis was not on the understanding of the words rather on acquisition of structures and patterns in common everyday dialogues (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). The teaching of the oral skills with accurate pronunciation, grammar and the ability to respond quickly and accurately is the main objective of audiolingual method. Reading and writing skills may be taught but they are dependent on the oral skills (Richard and Rodgers, 1986). Total Physical Response In Total Physical Response (TPR), the teacher gives the students instructions and the students follow the instructions by using whole body responses. James J. Asher, a professor, of psychology at San Jose State University developed the method Total Physical Response in late 1960s to help in learning second languages (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). According to Asher (1977), TPR is based on the premise that the human brain has a biological program for acquiring any natural language on earth including the sign language of the deaf. We can see this process if we observe the language learning process of an infant. The communication between parents and the child consists of both verbal and physical aspects. When the child is not able to speak, at the time he/she is internalizing the language. This is the time when code breaking occurs. After this process the child becomes able to speak and reproduce language. In TPR, the teacher repeats the process in the class. Students respond to the commands of the teacher which require physical movement. TPR is most useful for beginners. TPR is also used for teaching students with dyslexia or related learning disabilities. Silent Way Silent way is the method of language teaching which was proposed by Caleb Gattegno. This method is based on the view that the teachers should be silent in the classroom as much as possible but the teacher must encourage the students to speak and use the language. The most important aspect of this method is its elements that are used for language teaching i.e. colored charts and colored rods (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). This method focuses on the learners to discover on their own rather than they remember or memorize something. The learners are facilitated in learning by giving them some problem to solve which involves the materials that are needed to be learnt (ibid). Communicative Language Teaching Communicative language teaching was developed in the era of revolutions in British language teaching traditions from late 1960s. Before communicative language teaching, situational language teaching was in practice in Britain for language teaching. Communicative language teaching was actually developed in the opposition of audiolingual method which focuses on drilling and memorization. Communicative language teaching focuses on developing the ability of communication in learners in real life situations. It focuses on meaning rather than accuracy (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). Natural Approach In 1977, Tracey Terrell proposed the natural approach of language teaching. This approach was influenced by Stephen Krashens theory of language acquisition. The natural approach focuses on communication as the major function of language. In this approach, language is considered as the vehicle or means of conveying a message and information. The natural approach was actually based on the observation and understanding of the acquisition of the first and the second language in informal settings (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). Task-based Language Teaching Task- based language teaching is an approach that is based on the assumption that tasks are the major unit of language learning. This approach is based on the problem solving view that the learners should be given some tasks to be solved. These tasks are related to the language structures that are required to be learnt. The learners interact and communicate with each other during solving these problems. In these way, they learn the language (Richards and Rodgers, 2001). Comparison between Grammar Translation Method and Communicative Language Teaching Grammar Translation Method Grammar translation method was first known in the United States as Prussian Method. Grammar translation method dominated European and foreign language teaching from 1840 to 1940. Characteristics of grammar translation method. According to the Richards and Rodgers (2001), the principle characteristics of Grammar Translation Method are: In Grammar Translation Method, the goal of learning a second or foreign language is mainly to be enabling to read the literature of that language and is to get benefit from intellectual development that results from foreign and second language study. Grammar Translation Method enables to learn detailed grammatical rules of target language and enables to translate into and out of the target language. In Grammar Translation Method, reading and writing skills are focused while listening and speaking skills are totally ignored. In Grammar Translation Method, the memorization of grammatical rules of foreign language and of the vocabulary items is focused. Vocabulary items are limited to the text that they are taught. Vocabulary items are memorized with the help of their meanings in the native language. In Grammar Translation Method, sentenced is the basic unit of teaching and language practice. The learners are enabled to do detailed analysis of a sentence through this method. The learners are enabled to translate a sentence into and out of the target language. In Grammar Translation Method, accuracy is emphasized rather than fluency. The basic purpose of this method used to be able to pass the written examinations. In Grammar Translation Method, grammar is taught deductively i.e. by presenting and practicing the detailed grammatical rules of target language. A syllabus of grammatical rules if followed in which rules are systematically put in to a sequence starting from the simple rules to the complex rules. In Grammar Translation Method, students are directed and instructions are given in the students native language so that they may easily understand the instructions. The students native language is used to explain new items and to enable them to compare two languages i.e. native language of the learners and foreign language. Main techniques associated with grammar translation method. There are some major techniques that are adopted in the teaching of second or foreign language through Grammar Translation Method. Translation of a literary passage. Students translate a reading passage into and out of the target language. In checking of the translation, the focus of the teacher is on vocabulary and grammatical structures. The translation may be written or spoken or both. Students should not translate idioms but must understand their meanings. Reading Comprehension Questions. A passage for reading and understanding is given to the students and they have to answer the questions given at the end of the passage in the target language. The questions are put into a sequence. The first group of questions is related with the information drawn from the passage, second group of questions require students to make inferences based on their understanding of the passage. The third group of questions requires students to relate the passage with their own experiences. Antonym and synonyms. Students are given a list of words and a passage. The students have to find out the antonyms of those words in the passage. Similarly, the students can also be given a list of words and can be asked to find out the synonyms of the given words from the passage. Deductive application of rules. Grammar rules are presented before the students with the all possible information that can be given to the students relating to the grammatical rules. The rules are also explained with examples. Once students understand a rule, they are asked to apply it for some different examples. Fill in the blanks. The students are given a series of sentences with some missing words. The students have to fill in the blanks with some suitable grammar items such a preposition and verbs with different tenses Memorization. The students are given a list of vocabulary to memorize them with their meaning in the native language. Students are also required to memorize the grammatical rules. Use words in sentences. In order to check the understanding of the meaning and sue of vocabulary, the students are asked to use the list of typical words in their own sentences. Composition. The teacher gives a topic to the students to write about that topic in the target language. The topic is based on some aspect of the reading passage of the lesson (Freeman, 1986). Advantages of grammar translation method. Nazir (2002) narrated as The structure of a foreign language is best learnt when compare and contrasted with that of the mother tongue. According to Ishtiaq (2005), the Grammar Translation Method is based on a system and is in a sequence because in this method all the grammatical rules are arranged into a sequence for the convenience of the students. This sequence starts from the simple rules and eventually leads to the complex rules. When a book is written by an author on grammatical rules keeping in view the sequence, he writes one lesson that is completely based on one rule of grammar. Each lesson is divided into certain rules and these rules dominate the lesson. Larson (1986) narrated importance of Grammar Translation Method as in Grammar Translation Method, students are made to learn new words. Therefore, this method helps in improving vocabulary. Reading and writing are the two primary skills that are developed most so as to enable the students to read the literature in target language. Grammar is taught deductively and it makes use of students mother language. Disadvantages of grammar translation method. Neilson (2003) stated that in Grammar Translation Method, oral skills i.e. speaking and listening skills are totally neglected while the whole attention is given to just reading and writing skills. Through this method, the students become able to read the literature of the target language by translating it into their native language but cannot communicate into the target language and even cannot understand the target language spoken by any native speaker. In Grammar Translation Method, the authority of the classroom is totally in the hands of the teacher and teacher is at the centre of the classroom. The communication is just from teachers to students not from student to teacher and not even from students to students. The students are considered empty minded which have needed to be filled with all the possible vocabulary and grammatical structures that can be filled in their minds (ibid). The main disadvantage of the Grammar Translation Method is that it is almost impossible to translate all the phrases and sentences into the target language because the main focus is the translation of this method so such students who have been taught through this method become fail to communicate well in the target language (ibid). In the Grammar Translation Method, accuracy is emphasized rather than fluency and students go on thinking to accurate the grammatical rules which actually hinder their fluency. In Grammar Translation Method, the teacher abruptly interferes and stops the students wherever they make the mistakes so they become conscious while speaking and communicating in the target language and become unable to be fluent (ibid). Criticism of the grammar translation method. There have been various criticisms on the use of Grammar Translation Method for the teaching of modern language particularly English. There are some objections that have been put on the Grammar Translation Method. Grammar Translation Method emphasizes on the reading and writing skills on the expense of listening and speaking skills. But learning the listening and speaking skills of a language is more important than leaning reading and writing skills because it is a natural way of learning a language. In Grammar Translation Method, writing gives learners a reflective chance to look at their writing that whether they have written correct spellings, vocabulary and grammatical rules. The main aim and goal of most of the learners in learning modern languages is not just to develop reading and writing skills whereas they want to communicate well and understand the native speakers language. Grammar Translation Method demands the arrangement of the grammatical rules in a structure starting from the simple rules and leading to the complex rules. While most of the learners especially adult learners want to start using the language straight way because they have not got time to learn all the grammatical rules one by one and start using them after then. Grammar Translation Method emphasizes to make the students learn each rule and practice it one by one and after commanding a rule move to the next one. So there remains the need to revise all the rules again and again so that they may not get washed out of the learners mind. In Grammar Translation Method, sentence is the basic unit of the language. The learners are made able to memorize certain rules of grammar and certain vocabulary which they have to fit everywhere they find a chance to use them. But if learners find some unusual situation they become unable to fit their memorized rules to fit in that situation. In Grammar Translation Method, grammatical rules and vocabulary is memorized in modern ways of teaching a language memorization is not regarded while exposure of a language, experience and use of language is preferred and recommended. People have different learning styles. Some people like to learn vocabulary, grammar rules, phrase and sentences through memorization. But when they have to sue them, they must have time to stop and recall the memorized items. In Grammar Translation Method, the focus of the learners is the manipulation of the grammatical rules and words to write correct sentences with prescribed content. But in learning the modern languages, it is recommended that the major focus should be more and more on the oral practice and expression of the personal meanings. The expression of the personal meanings may spoil the structure of the grammar rules and sentences. In Grammar Translation Method, the teachers and the learners mostly speak in their first language or native language. While it is highly recommended that use of second and target language should be maximized in learning the language but here maximization does not mean teachers and learners should all the time speak in the target language. The speaking of the second language is also advantageous because in language classrooms we may also have multilingual learners that may belong to different languages so a single language i.e. second or target language will be convenient to use without pointing a single native language. In Grammar Translation Method, teacher should explain, describe the grammatical rules, tell the meanings of the words, translate the passages, conduct grammar practices, correct mistakes and teacher should authorized the classroom and learners. But now it is highly recommended that teachers role in the class should be as a guide and facilitator. Teachers role in the language classroom should be less. Teacher should act behind the scene. Teacher should give the problems to the learners to solve, interact among each other and generally it leads the learners to be independent learners. In Grammar Translation Method, translation is the basic technique. Translation is a way of understanding the meanings of the written and oral texts by converting the texts into the first or native language of the learners. Translation is a way of comparing and contrasting two languages i.e. first language and second language. But now it is highly recommended that translation should be avoided because it leads to such a mental process which hinders or stops learning. The learners should be encouraged to speak and even think in second language as much as possible. In Grammar Translation Method, accuracy is emphasized rather than fluency but it is now highly recommended that accuracy should come at the last and fluency should preferred first. If the learners are corrected on their mistakes from the very beginning, they will become hesitant to speak in the target language. When they will start to speak, their minds will abruptly become read to look upon the grammatical rules that they are using so I this way they will become unable to be fluent in language (Jonathan, 2012).

Dracula characters :: Essays Papers

Dracula characters Bram Stoker’s characters  · Dracula - central character of the book: An old vampire who lives in a crumbling castle in Transylvania. As the book begins, he is planning to move to England, where he can feed on fresh blood. When we first meet him, Dracula is described as an old man with a white mustache, and he appears courtly and charming; as the book progresses and feeds upon his victims, he grows younger and becomes more like a beast.  · Van Helsing – A professor, who is described by his former pupil Dr. Seward as "a philosopher and metaphysician, and one of the most advanced scientists of his day." Van Helsing knows a lot about vampires, and when he is called in to help with Lucy Westenra's illness, he realizes that he is dealing with a vampire. Because of his intelligence, he is Dracula's main problem and the leader of the group that attempts to destroy the vampire.  · Jonathan Harker - A young English solicitor, or lawyer, who is sent to Transylvania to finish up a real estate transaction with Dracula. He becomes a prisoner in the castle and barely escapes by running down the castle wall. He is engaged to Mina Murray and marries her during the novel.  · Mina Murray - Jonathan Harker's fiancee and later wife, she is a practical young woman who works as a teacher. She is best friends with Lucy Westenra, the Count's first victim in the book, and also gets sucked by Dracula as well.  · Lucy Westenra - Mina's best friend and an attractive, young woman. She is loved by Arthur, Quincey, and John and becomes engaged to Arthur.