Thursday, October 31, 2019
Corporate Financial Reporting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Corporate Financial Reporting - Assignment Example Suncor energy inc. declared force majeure under a contractual obligation, suspended and ceased its operations as a result of a political unrest. Since there has been no resolution of the political situation at the end of second quarter of the year 2012, an impairment test was conducted in the company’s assets in Syria. Consequently, the company identified after-tax impairment charges and write downs worth $694 million. The impairment losses identified were recorded as part of depletion, depreciation, amortization and impairment expense and were charged against property plant, and equipment ($604 million) as well as other current assets worth $23 million. Thereafter the company wrote off the remaining Syrian receivables in Syria for $67 million. Previously in December 2011, receivables worth of $64 million were written off. In 2012 (4th quarter), the company received risk mitigation proceeds worth $300 million that were associated with its Syrian operations. After the proceeds were received, the impairment test was conducted in December 31, 2012, implementing the value-in-use methodology. Unexpected cash flow approach was adopted by the company which was based on the year end reserves data of 2011 which were updated with three scenarios for the company’s best estimate of price realizations as well as remaining revenues. The scenarios represent: recommencement of operations in a year, recommencement of operations is 5 years, total loss. The scenarios where the companies recommence their operations include repayment of the risk mitigation proceeds according to the terms within the agreement. The scenarios were weighted equally on the basis of the company’s best estimate and were valued according to the risk adjusted discount rate of 19%. On the basis of this assessment, the company identified an impairment reversal worth $177 million which were related to the company’s
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Case analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5
Case analysis - Essay Example It operates under a decentralized management approach based on the belief that the leaders maintain a close contact with patients and customers by addressing their needs. The company has maintained the values of their customers employing a business performance in providing its services. The strategic move adopted by J&J to reach this position is the operation under a competent diverse board of directors. The corporate strategy of J&J has enabled it expand its markets in America’s competitive health sector. It currently operates 134 manufacturing facilities and 8 innovation centers globally. That enables it to innovate new products and achieve customer satisfaction in service delivery. Synergy has helped J&J manufacture and produce better products and deliver services that satisfy customers’ demands through improved growth and innovation. CEO Weldon formed a corporate office that encouraged J&J’s business units to work with other firms in promoting and identifying opportunities. The cooperation between J&J and H4+ has helped reduce mortality rate in children and reduce pregnancy and birth related complications in women. Weldon employs his persuasive skills in luring firms to work with them and convince Doctors and Hospitals to try their products. Weldon uses his leadership skills to implement synergy at J&J by promoting collaboration and participation within and across cross-functional business units. Weldon has succeeded in drawing the diverse skills of J&J’s business units across the three divisions as a way of promoting innovation. Gorsky needs to maintain good communication with other firms to promote synergy. That consequently expands J&J’s domination in the economic
Sunday, October 27, 2019
St Thomas Aquinas Five Ways Philosophy Essay
St Thomas Aquinas Five Ways Philosophy Essay St. Thomas Aquinas is most famous for his Five Ways. He regarded that the ontological argument as invalid. We cannot prove that God exists, merely by considering the word God, as the ontological argument in effect supposes. For that strategy work, we would have to presume to know Gods essence. The proposition of God exists is not self-evident to us mere mortals. Although people can prove Gods existence in several ways, we cannot do it just by examining the concept of God. We have to consider what it is about nature that makes it manifest that it requires God as its original cause. According to Aquinas, the existence of God can be proved are in fact five, and it is his most famous Five Ways The first way to prove that God exists is to consider the fact that natural things are in motion. According to Aquinas, a first mover must exist. If first mover do not exists, there would be no other mover and nothing would be in motion. It means all the natural things are in motion, and it needs another moving thing to move it. As we look around the world and survey move things, it becomes clear that they do not put themselves into motion. But all things are all in motion, and they cannot move by their own, therefore, a first mover must exist and it is not moved by other, and that thing is God. The most important idea Aquinas wants to say is that things do not put themselves into motion, do not suppose that he thought that people cannot get up out of their chair and walk across the room. He means that things do not just bring themselves into existence, there must be someone put themselves into motion. The second way of proving Gods existence is kind of similar to the first one. Aquinas says in the world of sensible things, nothing causes itself. It means everything is causes by something else. It has to be a first cause, if there have no first cause exist, there would be no first effect. In fact, there would be no second or third effect either. If first causes must exist, then we must admit that is God. Aquinas did not say anything in either of the first two proofs about things being moved or caused by earlier motion or causes. The various motions and causes he is talking about are simultaneous. In Aquinass opinion, there is no philosophical reason that the chain of causes could not go back infinitely. But there cannot be an infinite series of simultaneous causes or movers. His argument is that things must be causes by something earlier, and because this chain of causes cannot go back infinitely, therefore, it must have a first cause, and it is God. The Big Bang theory is a good example to proof Aquinass theory. The Big Bang is accepted by most scientists that the universe is an explosion. The Big Bang is the beginning of space and time of matter and energy, and it is the beginning of our expanding universe. But the universe does have an absolute beginning, which was a first physical event. It is difficult to believe that the first physical event has no explanation, for that amounts to saying that the entire universe is just a chance occurrence. If the physical event is explicable, then it would seem that the explanation must refer to some sort of nonphysical phenomenon, which is God. The third way is the most complicated of the Five Ways, God is the necessary of our being existence. Aquinas says everything can lay our hands on belongs to need-not-exist category, if everything belongs to this category, then at one time nothing existed, and then it would have been impossible for anything to have begun to exist, and thus even now nothing would exist. There must exist something the existence of which is necessary. Aquinas believed that he had not yet ruled out the possibility that the necessity of this necessary being might be caused by another necessary being, whose necessity might be caused by another. He asserted that it is impossible to go on to infinity in necessary things which have their necessity caused by another. Therefore, he concludes that there must be some necessary being that has its own necessity, and that is God. Aquinass first three proofs of Gods existence are versions of what today is called the cosmological argument. The cosmological argument is actually not one argument but a type of argument. This type of argument means that the existence of contingent things, things that could possibly not have existed, points to the existence of a noncontingent or necessary being, God, as their ultimate cause or source of being. Aquinass fourth way to prove God is the gradation to be found in things. It has to consider the fact that all natural things possess degrees of goodness, truth, nobility, and all other perfections. The gradation in things in the sense that something can be more good. Therefore, there must be that which is the source of these perfections, namely, pure goodness and truth, and this is what we call God. The fourth proof about the existence of goodness or good things is called the moral argument. This argument is supporting the existence of God, it argues that God is the best and is the only explanation for morality. God is the best moral for everything; God must exist to support that moral order exists. The last way to proof of Gods existence is predicated on the observation that natural things act for an end or purpose. That is, they function in accordance with a plan or design. Accordingly, an intelligent being exists by which things are directed toward their end, and this intelligent being is God. Arguments like Aquinass fifth proof, according to which the apparent purposefulness or orderliness of the universe or its parts or structure points to the existence of a divine designer, are called teleological arguments. The teleological argument suggests that, given this premise, the existence of a designer can be assumed, typically presented as God. According to Aquinas, some theological truths, truths of revelation, are such that philosophy could never discover them. For example, philosophy cannot establish that the universe had a beginning and is not eternal. And not everything discovered by philosophy is important for salvation. But philosophy and theology, although separate disciplines, are not incompatible, they complement each other. From standpoint of theology, that God exists is a given, a truth that people start out knowing. Thus, Aquinass proofs of Gods existence are philosophical proofs. They do not depend for their soundness on any religious principles.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Free Essays - All Quiet on the Western Front :: All Quiet on the Western Front Essays
Paul Bäumer, the narrator and protagonist in All Quiet on the Western Front, is a character who develops extensively within the course of the novel. As a young man, he is persuaded to join the German Army during World War I. This three year ordeal is marked by Paul's short, but tragic trek into adulthood as he learns to cope with the trials and tribulations of war. In the wake of a struggle which claims millions, Paul loses his precious innocence as he is further isolated from society and engulfed by bloodshed. Paul's evolution throughout the novel is a result of his having to adapt in order to survive. Paul's experiences in combat shatter his former misconceptions of war; consequently, he gains the ability to reflect on events with his own accord. His naive ideas are severely challenged when he first witnesses the ugly truth of war. "The first bombardment showed us our mistake, and under it the world as they had taught it to us broke in pieces"(13). Paul's first engagement in combat reveals that everything he was taught as a young recruit are lies; consequently, he can now form his own conclusions. Through the ongoing course of the war, Paul comes to grips with the reality of the situation. "They are strong and our desire is strong-but they are unattainable, and we know it"(121). Paul realizes that the soldiers former lives are all but distant memories. His maturing personality gives him the insight to see past the facade of war and expose it for what it truly is. Paul loses his innocence and childhood during the war; as a result, he becomes a man. When Paul and his companions encounter some French women, they exchange food for sexual intercourse. "We unwrap our parcels and hand them over to the women. Their eyes shine, it is obvious they are hungry"(148). Through this transaction, Paul uses the women as an outlet for his sexual urges. Shortly after this rendezvous, Paul receives a leave of absence; however, he finds it difficult to leave the war behind. "Speak to me - take me up - take me, Life of my Youth - you who are care-free, beautiful - receive me again - "(172). Paul can no longer conjure up the feelings of happiness which accompanied his youth, in essence his childhood is lost. The war has stripped Paul of his innocence and taken away everything that he treasured.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Ethics in Ir Essay
Introduction: when thinking about how the world works IR scholars usually subscribe to one of two dominant theories, realism or liberalism. One, classical/neo-realist thought, is more pessimistic about the prospects of peace, cooperation, and human progress whilst the other, liberalism/idealism, is more upbeat and sanguine about human nature and human possibilities. In this lecture, we examine each worldview in depth†¦ at the end I’d like you to think about which, if any, view you subscribe to†¦ II. International Relations Theory A. What is theory? One word often used to describe theory is â€Å"paradigm†. According to Ray and Kaarbo, a paradigm is simply a way of thinking about and approaching an area of scientific or scholarly inquiry that is widely accepted within a particular discipline. 1. In other words, a paradigm provides a simplified map of reality; it takes the complexity of the real world and reduces it to a core set of assumptions that make global events that seem so isolated, unrelated and complicated more comprehensible. 2. So thats what theory and paradigms are all about: they help us systematize and simplify a very complicated world. Good theory is generally simple (see Ockham’s Razor†¦ William of Ockham said [a long time ago! ] that â€Å"when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better. â€Å"), accurate, and elegant. -William of Ockham 3. Note that to be valuable, a paradigm of world politics needn’t explain every event. This is b/c theory, by nature, simplifies reality so that certain things are missed. This simply can’t be helped. 4. Ray and Kaarbo (p4) make the point that studying theories â€Å"allows students of international relations to analyze global politics in the future, long after they finish reading this book or taking courses on the subject. When students learn only history or contemporary issues†¦ their knowledge of global politics is limited in time because new issues and events are always arising. †In short, by studying theories of IR, you will be able to see events in a broader, more analytical, more systematic framework rather than a limited and time bound one†¦ analytically, that’s vital. 5. In this lecture we will be examining two dominant paradigms in world politics: Realism and Liberalism (along with sub-theories within the same larger paradigm) III. The Realist Worldview A. Let’s start with a quote from Thomas Hobbes (1651), whom many characterize as probably the major citidel of the modern theory we call classical realism: -The stylish Mr. Hobbes                                                                          – Cover of his seminal work, â€Å"Leviathan†â€Å"Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man†¦ To this war of every man against every man, this also is consequent: that nothing can be unjust. The notion of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place. Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no injustice. Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues. †1. You should note from the above that realism embraces a more pessimistic view of world politics, state relations, and the possibility of â€Å"perpetual peace††¦ That’s why I started with this b/c Hobbes’ more pessimistic view of the world really underscores the theory we call classical realism (and which is now called structural/neo realism) B. Definitions and Description of Realist Theory. 1. According to professors Kegley & Wittkopf (31), classical realism is â€Å"a paradigm based on the premise that world politics is essentially and unchangeably a struggle among self-interested states for power and position under anarchy, with each competing state pursuing its own national interests†2. Ray and Kaarbo (p4) write that realism is â€Å"a theoretical perspective for understanding intl. relations that emphasizes states as the most important actor in global politics, the anarchical nature of the intl. ystem, and the pursuit of power to secure states’ interests. †3. The founding father of this theory is the Greek historian Thucydides, who wrote the seminal account of the war between Athens and Sparta. In his history of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides argues that the war broke out b/c Athens was concerned about Sparta’s growing power. His writings greatly influenced theorists and statemen ali ke through the next two thousand years, including the modern proponents (Morgenthau, Kissinger, Waltz, James et al) of classical and neo-realism†¦ 4. In short and in sum, realists see international relations as driven by the unrelenting and competitive pursuit of power by states in the effort to secure state interests. 5. For realists, the most important source of power is military capability, and the acquisition and use of that military capability makes the realists’ world one prone to violence and warfare. 6. At the core of this theory is that world politics takes place within a context of anarchy (ie the absence of world govt. which is different than how the world of domestic politics functions), which Thomas Hobbes likens to a state of nature. In this state of nature, Hobbes argues that because there are no rules, no laws, no enforcement mechanisms etc, that conflict turns into war (he calls it a perpetual â€Å"war of all against all†) which is why INSIDE countries, people consent (ie the so-called social charter) to live under a government that makes and enforces laws, order, security, etc. In this state, people don’t have absolute freedom BUT they sacrifice some liberty to that govt. in order to get order and security†¦ 7. In world politics, we don’t have this, ergo, realists argue that we live in a â€Å"state of nature†, or in a world of perpetual conflict. Therefore, the violence, chaos, death and destruction that often accompany world politics reflect the â€Å"war of all against all†that intl. anarchy directly implies†¦ 8. Realists also assume that states, or countries, are the â€Å"key actors and determine what happens in the world†(Ray and Kaarbo: 5). Ray and Kaarbo (p. 5) add that â€Å"states can, if they choose, control all other actors, according to realism. †9. State interests, rather than human rights or ideological preferences, are the reason behind every state action. Ray and Kaarbo (p. 5) suggest that â€Å"it is the maximization of power that is in a state’s interest. Thus, everything a state does can be explained by its desire to maintain, safeguard, or increase its power in relation to other states. †10. In the world of anarchy and state sovereignty, there is no higher authority to impose order, and there is no intl. 911 number for states to call when their interests are threatened. States must therefore provide for their own defense and protection. Realists refer to this effort by states to defend their own interests as SELF-HELP (usually though the acquisition of military capacity or joining alliances†¦ ) 11. In short and in sum, without an â€Å"intl. orld authority, they must look out for their own interests†which realists suggest is all about securing and maintaining their power. To realists, this is the only rational way to behave in an anarchic intl. realm†¦ 12. The implications of all of the above for realists is somewhat obvious: war is inevitable†¦ this is b/c in a world with no higher power to impose orde r and resolve disputes, with almost 200 sovereign actors looking to defend their interests via self-help, and where efforts at self-help and self-defense can threaten other actors in the system, states sometimes need to use force to resolve disputes with other states†¦ 3. Realists conclude a few other things–the possibility of cooperation and change is limited, that world politics is not primarily about good and evil, that power trumps justice, and that the road to order lies through the balance of power†¦ a. Ray and Kaarbo site Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait as an example of how states act to maximize their power above all else†¦ C. The core of classical realist theory is best summarized in the form of 10 assumptions: 1. People are by nature narrowly selfish and ethically flawed 2. Of all people’s evil ways, none are more prevalent or dangerous than their instinctive lust for power and their desire to dominate others 3. The possibility of eradicating these instincts is a utopian â€Å"pipedream†4. International politics is a struggle for power, â€Å"a war of all against all†5. The primary objective of every state–the goal to which all other objectives should be subordinated to–is to promote its NATIONAL INTERESTS 6. The anarchical nature of the intl system dictates that states acquire sufficient military capabilities to deter attack by potential enemies and to exercise influence over others 7. Economics is less relevant to ntl security than is military might 8. Allies might increase a state’s ability to defend itself, but their loyalty and reliability should never be assumed 9. States should NEVER entrust the task of self-protection to intl security organizations or intl law 10. If all states seek to maximize power, stability will result by maintaining a balance of power IV. The Liberal Worldview A. As in classical realist theory, I will start the discussion of liberalism with a quote from one of the founders of this paradigm, Immanuel Kant (1795): -The perspicacious Dr. Kant                                                   -Kant’s towering â€Å"Toward Perpetual Peace†â€Å"But the homage which each state pays (at least in words) to the concept of law proves that there is slumbering in man an even greater moral disposition to become master of the evil principle in himself (which he cannot disclaim) and to hope for the same from others†¦ For these reasons there must be a league of a particular kind, which can be called a league of peace (foedus pacificum), and which would be distinguished from a treaty of peace (pactum pacis) by the fact that the latter terminates only one war, while the former seeks to make an end of all wars forever. †1. You should note from the above that liberalism, or idealist theory, embraces a more optimistic view of world politics, state relations, and the possibility of â€Å"perpetual peace††¦ That’s why I started with this quote by Kant’s more optimistic view of the world. B. Definitions and Description of Liberal Theory 1. According to Kegley & Wittkopf (2006: 28), liberalism is â€Å"a paradigm predicated on the hope   that the application of reason and universal ethics to international relations can lead to a more orderly, just, and cooperative world, and that international anarchy [lack of a hierarchy/world government] and war can be policed by institutional reforms that empower international organizations and laws†2. Ray and Kaarbo (p. 7) define intl. liberalism as â€Å"a theorectical perspective emphasizing interdependence between states and substate actors as the key haracteristic of the intl. system. †3. Liberalism, or what many also call idealism/idealist theory, can be traced back to Kant’s â€Å"Toward Perpetual Peace†though more recently, in the period b/n WWI and WWII, the major intellectual challenger to the realist paradigm was idealism. Idealists questioned many of the basic tenets of realism a nd suggested that it would be possible to transform the world of power seeking and war into one in which peace and cooperation among states might prevail†¦ 4. Idealism, in contrast to realism, suggests a well-intentioned but utopian perspective that realists believe was out of touch with how the real world actually works†¦ which is why the word idealism was shelved for the world liberalism, which couldn’t be tarred as fuzzy headed and out of touch†¦ 5. Unlike realists, liberals believe that significant global cooperation is possible and that we can move beyond the power politics at the heart of the realist paradigm. 6. For liberals, the key assumption is that peace and cooperation among states can produce absolute gains for all. As long as your state is better off as a result of cooperating with others, the gains of others should not matter†¦ realists are only concerned with relative gains (why intl. trade isn’t the end all be all for classical realists, esp. if you will empower a rival) 7. BTW, whilst Kant argued that the natural state of humankind is one of war and conflict he also importantly suggested a state of peace can be established. He argues that this â€Å"perpetual peace†can be established, esp. through the (1) the creation of a loose â€Å"federation of free states†whose members were committed to maintaining intl. rder and security, (2) the â€Å"spirit of commerce†which in Kant’s view is â€Å"incompatible with war†and which â€Å"sooner or later gains the upper hand in every state†, and (3) the creation of republican govts in which executive power is checked by an independent legislature 8. Liberals argue that realist explanations of an archy and self-help are wrong b/c they miss the REAL nature of world politics in the modern world: COMPLEX INTERDEPENDENCE, which has become the â€Å"dominant feature of global politics†(Ray and Kaarbo: 9). a. Complex interdependence means that there are multiple channels among a variety of actors in intl. politics. b. Where realists see states as the only important actors, liberals see a world where there are a variety of non-state actors (such as multi-national corporations, intergovernmental organizations, and governmental organizations), share the world stage with countries. c. They also argue that multiple issues, not just military security, are vital to the global agenda†¦ C. Modern Liberalism based on the following set of assumptions: 1. Human nature is essentially â€Å"good†2.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Christian liberty Essay
According to the page, Martin Luther’s argument revolves around two basic proposition of liberty. Which states that: â€Å"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none†(Luther). By this statement he meant that once a person is freed by Jesus Christ, there shouldn’t be any other thing that would have a true dominion on the person on earth. So if Jesus sets you free, indeed you are freed. He explained that man has two folds nature: the inner soul, the spiritual and the carnal, outward flesh. A Christian does not become righteous by doing anything that has to do with flesh but only by the faith in Jesus. Nothing on earth should have any influence on Christian liberty. The second principle was that a Christian â€Å"man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone†(Luther). The two propositions appeared to be contradictory but Luther was able to explain further on both making it clear. He asserts that only one thing alone is necessary for a Christian liberty and that is the Gospel of Christ. He defines Christian liberty as the freedom from the law putting it that the law is not meant for a righteous man. It is the belief in Christ that brings peace and liberty. While Freedom of the soul and its justification comes by faith alone and not by work, he said â€Å"it is evident that by no outward work or labor can the inward man be at all justified, made free, and saved†(Luther). In conclusion, Freedom comes when one belief in the word of God, that is one’s soul get freed and one become saved. Whereas, one get liberty after one has believed wholeheartedly in the Gospel of Christ, it is the word of God that teaches liberty. The freedoms mentioned by Martin Luther all have an element in common: they are all divine freedoms from things of the world. In contrast, Christians should be voluntary servants to God and other men, motivated by love for God and the changes made by salvation. Reference Luther M, Concerning Christian Liberty. Retrieved May 09, 2010 From http://homepage. mac. com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/mlchrlib. htm
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Choosing the Most Effective Learning Environment
Choosing the Most Effective Learning Environment There are several alternatives available when it comes to the type of education that a child can receive. Parents today have more choices than ever. The primary factor that parents have to weigh is the overall setting that they want their child to be educated in. It is also important for parents to examine the individual needs and make up of the child and the financial state they are in when deciding which learning environment is the right fit. There are five essential options when it comes to education a child. Those include public schools, private schools, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual/online schools. Each of these options provides a unique setting and learning environment. There are pros and cons of each these choices. However it is important that parents understand that no matter which option they provide for their child, they are the most important people when it comes to the quality of education their child receives. Success is not defined by the type of schooling you received as a young person. Each of the five options has developed a lot of people who were successful. The key factors in determining the quality of education a child receives is the value that their parents place on education and the time they spend working with them at home. You can put almost any child in any learning environment and if they have those two things, they are typically going to be successful. Likewise, children who do not have parents that value education or work with them at home have odds that are stacked against them. This is not to say that a child cannot overcome these odds. Intrinsic motivation plays a major factor too and a child that is motivated to learn will learn no matter how much their parents do or do not value education. The overall learning environment does play a role in the quality of education a child receives. It is important to note that the best learning environment for one child may not be the best learning environment for another. It is also important to remember that the importance of the learning environment decreases as parental involvement in education increases. Each potential learning environment can be effective. It is important to look at all the options and make the best decision for you and your child. Public Schools More parents choose public schools as their child’s option to education than all of the other options. There are two primary reasons for this. First public schooling is free and many people cannot afford to pay for their child’s education. The other reason is that it is convenient. Every community has a public school that is easily accessible and within reasonable driving distance. So what makes a public school effective? The truth is that it isn’t effective for everyone. More students will end up dropping out of public schools than they will any of the other options. This doesn’t mean that they don’t offer an effective learning environment. Most public schools provide students who want it with terrific learning opportunities and provide them with a quality education. The sad reality is that public schools receive more students than any other option who don’t value education and who do not want to be there. This can take away from the overall effectiveness of public education because those students typically become distractions who interfere with learning. The overall effectiveness of the learning environment in public schools is also affected by the individual state funding allotted to education. Class size is particularly affected by state funding. As class size increases, the overall effectiveness does decrease. Good teachers can overcome this challenge and there are many excellent teachers in public education. The educational standards and assessments developed by each individual state also impact a public school’s effectiveness. As it stands right now, public education amongst the states are not created equally. However the development and implementation of the Common Core State Standards will remedy this situation. Public schools provide students who want it with a quality education. The main problem with public education is that the ratio of students who want to learn and those who are only there because they are required are much closer than those in the other options. The United States is the only education system in the world that accepts every student. This will always be a limiting factor for public schools. Private Schools The biggest limiting factor concerning private schools is that they are expensive. Some provide scholarship opportunities, but the truth is that most Americans simply cannot afford to send their child to a private school. Private schools typically have a religious affiliation. This makes them ideal for parents who want their children to receive a balanced education between traditional academics and core religious values. Private schools also have the ability to control their enrollment. This not only limits class size which maximizes effectiveness, it also minimizes students who will be distractions because they don’t want to be there. Most parents who can afford to send their children to private schools value education which translates to their children valuing education. Private schools are not governed by the state laws or standards that public schools are. They can create their own standards and accountability standards which are usually tied to their overall goals and agenda. This can strengthen or weaken a school’s overall effectiveness depending on how rigorous those standards are. Charter Schools Charter schools are public schools that receive public funding, but are not governed by many of the state laws concerning education that other public schools are. Charter schools typically focus on specific subject area such as mathematics or science and provide rigorous content that exceed state expectations in those areas. Even though they are public schools they are not accessible to everyone. Most charter schools have limited enrollment which students must apply for and be accepted to attend. Many charter schools have a waiting list of students who want to attend. Charter schools are not for everyone. Students who have struggled academically in other settings will likely fall even further behind in a charter school as the content can be difficult and rigorous. Students who value education and want to earn scholarships and further their education would benefit from charter schools and the challenge that they present. Homeschooling Homeschooling is an option for those children who have a parent that does not work outside the home. This option allows a parent to be in total control of their child’s education. Parents can incorporate religious values into their child’s daily education and are usually better attuned to their child’s individual educational needs. The sad truth about homeschooling is that there are many parents who try to home school their child that are simply not qualified. In this case, it deeply impacts a child negatively and they fall behind their peers. This is not a good situation to put a child in as they will have to work extremely hard to ever catch up. While the intentions are likely good, the parent should realistically have an understanding of what their child needs to learn and how to teach them. For those parents who are qualified, homeschooling can be a positive experience. It can create an endearing bond between the child and the parent. Socialization can be a negative, but parents who want to can find plenty of opportunities through activities such as sports, church, dance, martial arts, etc. for their child to socialize with other children their age. Virtual/Online Schools The newest and hottest educational trend is virtual/online schools. This type of schooling allows students to receive public education and instruction from the comfort of home through the Internet. The availability of virtual/online schools has exploded over the past few years. This can be a terrific option for children who struggle in a traditional learning environment, need more one on one instruction, or have other issues such as pregnancy, medical issues, etc. Two major limiting factors can include the lack of socialization and then need for self motivation. Much like homeschooling, students need some socialization with peers and parents can easily provide these opportunities for children. Students also have to be motivated to stay on schedule with virtual/online schooling. This can be difficult if a parent is not there to keep you on task and to ensure that you complete your lessons on time.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Colonization and Latin America essays
Colonization and Latin America essays Do you ever wonder why some countries are poor; and why is the U.S so rich? Most Civics and History classes throughout our life as students have taught us about third-world countries. They give the explanation of why these countries are poor by saying, third-world countries have communism, theyre not industrialized, and theyre not developed. Realistically, Countries do not begin poor, but something happens to them, and something also keeps them that way. That something is colonization. Colonization is the reason why many countries around the world, particularly in Latin America, are in an extreme state of destitution. Indigent countries of Latin America are due to Colonization in early history, the effects of colonization that are still intact today, and the U.S helping to maintain these effects. Colonization dates back to thousands of years ago, when the powerful Indigenous tribe, the Aztec, existed. They proved not to be strong enough for the gold thirsty Spanish explorers. Led by Herdendaz Cortez, the Spanish troupes traveled to Mexico and captured the Aztec King and seized all of its gold. Then they killed off the rest of the Indians in the most horrible manner. To the Spanish, killing indigenous was a game. They launched babies in the air and shot them like targets. Others were gruesomely tortured with special tools. Those who survived were captured and used as slave labor. Many Priests from Spain and Portugal traveled to Mexico and created missions for the indigenous. These missions tried to violently force religion and western culture onto them. Why tamper with their way of life, when they had already established a religion and cultures of their own? The Spanish justified the mass murders of indigenous by saying They are creatures of the jungles, not human. They had no weapons or ways to fight back so they were eventually killed. Mass murders of indigenous ...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
How to Build Sentences With Appositives
How to Build Sentences With Appositives An appositive is a word or group of words that identifies or renames another word in a sentence. As weve seen (in the article What Is an Appositive?), appositive constructions offer concise ways of describing or defining a person, place, or thing. In this article, you will learn how to construct sentences with appositives. From Adjective Clauses to Appositives Like an adjective clause, an appositive provides more information about a noun. In fact, we may think of an appositive as a simplified adjective clause. Consider, for example, how the following two sentences can be combined: Jim Gold is a professional magician.Jim Gold performed at my sisters birthday party. One way to combine these sentences is to turn the first sentence into an adjective clause: Jim Gold, who is a professional magician, performed at my sisters birthday party. We also have the option of reducing the adjective clause in this sentence to an appositive. All that we need to do is omit the pronoun who and the verb is: Jim Gold, a professional magician, performed at my sisters birthday party. The appositive a professional magician serves to identify the subject, Jimbo Gold. Reducing an adjective clause to an appositive is one way to cut the clutter in our writing. However, not all adjective clauses can be shortened to appositives in this fashiononly those that contain a form of the verb to be (is, are, was, were). Arranging Appositives An appositive most often appears directly after the noun it identifies or renames: Arizona Bill, The Great Benefactor of Mankind, toured Oklahoma with herbal cures and a powerful liniment. Note that this appositive, like most, could be omitted without changing the basic meaning of the sentence. In other words, its nonrestrictive and needs to be set off with a pair of commas. Occasionally, an appositive may appear in front of a word that it identifies: A dark wedge, the eagle hurtled earthward at nearly 200 miles per hour. An appositive at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma. In each of the examples seen so far, the appositive has referred to the subject of the sentence. However, an appositive may appear before or after any noun in a sentence. In the following example, the appositive refers to roles, the object of a preposition: People are summed up largely by the roles they fill in society wife or husband, soldier or salesperson, student or scientistand by the qualities that others ascribe to them. This sentence demonstrates a different way of punctuating appositiveswith dashes. When the appositive itself contains commas, setting off the construction with dashes helps to prevent confusion. Using dashes instead of commas also serves to emphasize the appositive. Placing an appositive at the very end of a sentence is another way to give it special emphasis. Compare these two sentences: At the far end of the pasture, the most magnificent animal I had ever seen- a white-tailed deer- was cautiously edging toward a salt-lick block.At the far end of the pasture, the most magnificent animal I had ever seen was cautiously edging toward a salt-lick block- a white-tailed deer. Whereas the appositive merely interrupts the first sentence, it marks the climax of sentence two. Punctuating Nonrestrictive and Restrictive Appositives As weve seen, most appositives are nonrestrictivethat is, the information that they add to a sentence is not essential for the sentence to make sense. Nonrestrictive appositives are set off by commas or dashes. A restrictive appositive (like a restrictive adjective clause) is one that cannot be omitted from a sentence without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence. A restrictive appositive should not be set off by commas: John-Boys sister Mary Ellen became a nurse after their brother Ben took a job at a lumber mill. Because John-Boy has multiple sisters and brothers, the two restrictive appositives make clear which sister and which brother the writer is talking about. In other words, the two appositives are restrictive, and so they are not set off by commas. Four Variations 1. Appositives that Repeat a NounAlthough an appositive usually renames a noun in a sentence, it may instead repeat a noun for the sake of clarity and emphasis: In America, as in anywhere else in the world, we must find a focus in our lives at an early age, a focus that is beyond the mechanics of earning a living or coping with a household. - Santha Rama Rau, An invitation to Serenity Notice that the appositive in this sentence is modified by an adjective clause. Adjectives, prepositional phrases, and adjective clauses (in other words, all of the structures that can modify a noun) are often used to add details to an appositive. 2. Negative AppositivesMost appositives identify what someone or something is, but there are also negative appositives that identify what someone or something is not: Line managers and production employees, rather than staff specialists, are primarily responsible for quality assurance. Negative appositives begin with a word such as not, never, or rather than. 3. Multiple AppositivesTwo, three, or even more appositives may appear alongside the same noun: Saint Petersburg, a city of almost five-million people, Russias second-largest and northernmost metropolis, was designed three centuries ago by Peter the Great. As long as we dont overwhelm the reader with too much information at one time, a double or triple appositive can be an effective way of adding supplementary details to a sentence. 4. List Appositives with PronounsA final variation is the list appositive that precedes a pronoun such as all or these or everyone: Streets of yellow row houses, the ochre plaster walls of old churches, the crumbling sea-green mansions now occupied by government offices all seem in sharper focus, with their defects hidden by the snow. - Leona P. Schecter, Moscow The word all is not essential to the meaning of the sentence: the opening list could serve by itself as the subject. However, the pronoun helps to clarify the subject by drawing the items together before the sentence goes on to make a point about them.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Company Resources and Capabilities of Abercrombie and Fitch Case Study
Company Resources and Capabilities of Abercrombie and Fitch - Case Study Example In the following intangible assets i.e. human assets and brand and image assets of company are described.Human assetsAbercrombie and Fitch as a big retailer of clothing recruit the young boys from colleges, as they look like the catalog models. American look is used to judge the personality of a new candidate. Shoppers prefer to buy the products from stores where staff looks as they act in the advertisements. In some respects hiring a good looking person is not illegal but discrimination is found in regards of sex, age and ethnicity. People having retail experience complain as they are not hired; instead of that young good looking people having no retail experience are recruited (Barlow and Stewart, 2006). Brands and imageCompany focuses on the customers’ demands and continues moving along the customers’ value chains. Company targets the youth people aged between 14 and 22 years old to sell the sports and other products. Some important brands of company include as Aberc rombie & Fitch, Ruhel No 924, Hollister Co., Gilly Hicks and Abercrombie. All of these brands are produced ensuring the focus and engagement of customers. Company operates at different segments and caters to potential and existing customers at different stages.This part is focused to see the distribution capabilities and strategic flexibility as capability resources of the company. Distribution capabilities of company to fulfill the orders of its customers as well as other companies are an enhanced feature.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Home work 4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Home work 4 - Assignment Example considering the enterprise as a whole (2) deciding which jobs to analyze; (3) collecting information; (4) recording them; and, (5) to be analyzed and interpreted according to the needs of the company (p. 29). Today, many software programs are now being designed to carry out this basic yet complicated task of maximizing the human resources of a business organization. Descriptions Now is one of these software programs that help HR managers and supervisors in making certain that the people being hired possess the abilities to perform the tasks and duties that come with the positions they are hired for. Published by the SofoText Incorporated, the software, which offers a 14-day free trial for potential subscribers, provide blank forms and standardized questionnaires which enable those who do the job analysis to determine what a position specifically needs from those who will be assigned to it. The forms describe: the general purpose of the job; the essential duties and responsibilities; the competencies needed, the qualifications, education and experience requirements; the language, computer and mathematical skills; the persons reasoning ability; his or her certificates, licenses, and registrations; what the physical demands of the jobs are and the work environment with which the person shall work (â€Å"Descriptions Now,†n.d.). It also provides features that will enable one to check and update the software library of job descriptions and others which may be acquired through the Internet as well as storage for previously made reports. Other links are also maintained to connect subscribers with sites that supply these
Markecting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Markecting - Essay Example hael Porter the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School has commented that any business and its standing at any point in time can best be evaluated through making it go through a value chain analysis. Best value can be defined as the difference between total revenues and total costs. The company that can maximize this difference is adding value. This difference can be enhanced in a better manner when the firm is aware of where its costs are high and where they are low (Schmitz, 2005). Thus, this model basically entails the breaking down of organizational activities into various small units and then assigning costs to each unit so as to determine the amount that it is costing the company. This calculation of costs is important because a company can then see where it can curtail costs and where a slight cost relaxation would not harm the value chain. Value chain activities take place in almost every organization. From buying the raw materials to the product design, from the product development stages to the distribution of the product, such activities are easy to identify. They have to be broken down into the smallest units possible, so that identification of those activities where cost curtailment would help can be carried out. From industry to industry, the activities will differ slightly (Miguel, 1996). For example, the hotel industry will have sub-activities within customer service such as room service and telephone services, whereas the advertising industry, which is the subject of discussion of this report, will have activities such as conducting research and creating advertising briefs. Through such a process of analysis, VCA helps companies in assessing their own strengths and weaknesses and then comparing them to the VCA of their competitors, as well as their own VCA trends seen over time. This comparison helps companies to decide upon their core competence and distinctive competence and to capitalize on those strengths,
Personal Statement for Admission to UCSD Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
For Admission to UCSD - Personal Statement Example I did not have the usual experiences that children have. I never asked my mom to buy anything special for me because I knew how hard she was working just to put food on the table. During middle school, when my mom gave me lunch money each day, I chose not to buy anything. In fact, when I came home, I put the money back into her purse without her knowing about it. When I was 14 year-old, I found my first job doing construction work. As soon as I finished school, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and went straight to my job; I wouldn’t get home until 11 p.m. While I was there, I mopped, painted, and operated jackhammers and drills to break up concrete. The job was physically hard; at times I was left with dry blood around my finger nails. Moreover, my feet hurt so bad due to the cheap shoes I was wearing, but I did not let my mom notice how difficult life was for me. I did not give up on my schoolwork because school was incredibly important to me. The reason is that I wanted somethi ng better for my family! I did not want my would-be kids to experience what I did. However, attaining an education in Baghdad was difficult due to the limited resources we had; there were no internships, field trips, labs, technology, or anything like that. To make it even worse, the standard of education deteriorated after the war because everyone was scared to go to school; even the teachers did not care about their students. I had no choice but to come to the United States to seek for a better future. When I was 16, I heard about the UN refugee agency. I applied right away and explained that I wanted a better future. As soon as I realized that I might be coming to the United States, I began improving my English skills; I started working twice as hard in school. A couple of years after I made an application to the UN refugee agency, I was accepted and received a flight appointment. I first came to the U.S. in 2009. In two months after I arrived I got my first job where I was event ually promoted to the position of manager. After this, I was able to buy my first car and put some money aside for my savings. The reason why I am writing this personal statement to apply to UCSD is because I want to accomplish the dream that I have always wanted for myself and my family. Coming to the U.S. was the proudest moment in my life; it helped give me a different perspective on things. Furthermore, it made me see how important education is. I now have confidence in myself and I realize that I can do anything in this world: there is nothing that I cannot achieve. What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field - such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities - and what you have gained from your involvement. Ever since I was a small child wandering around aimlessly at the clinic of our neighborhood dentist, I found myself constantly gazing at the anatomical diagram of the human body that hung on the front door. This was the same diagram that all the other kids were scared to look at. All that blood, flesh, and bones did not intimidate me; it actually perked up my interest. I have always been extremely fascinated by the human body and how it functions. After the war began in Baghdad in 2003, there were a couple of explosions in the neighborhood next to my family. These
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Doubt over Tunisian 'Martyr' who Triggered Revolution Article
Doubt over Tunisian 'Martyr' who Triggered Revolution - Article Example This research tells that a revolution process has always been bloody and it has kept the tradition in the Middle East too, especially Libya, where government-backed crimes have been gruesome enough to cross borders and become an international security concern. â€Å"According to an independent survey, civilians - including children - have been murdered, tortured and sexually assaulted†. The weaker majority, in all the Middle Eastern countries, has come under the wrath of unjust dictators, who had still not had enough of power. Security forces are killing the unarmed people upon the higher orders. The situation is of concern for the whole world and the concern is personified in Arab league’s economic threats to Libya. Revolution is in the air of Middle East now and a majority of public and youngsters are determined to stand against the stronger minority of governments. It is shocking to know that even in the 21st century; there are places like Tunisia where people would commit suicide because they are desperate to be heard and to be taken notice of. The centuries-old suppression is showing itself in full bloom throughout the Middle East yet the authorities are showing no justice whatsoever. The purpose is right and justified and people of Middle Eastern countries like, Libya and Tunisia, have every right to raise their voices but it will not happen without undue interruptions like Security forces crimes against the public in Libya and Total denial of justice to Mohammad Bouazizi. Damascus receives an economic embargo as a result of its unlawful killings of public and denial of democracy in the country. â€Å"The foreign minister of the country declares it a war against Damascus†. Damascus is trying to demonstrate a false image by showing public rallies in favor of the government through national media but the world is aware of this old trick. Whereas it has been an open show of intolerance in Syria, we see that in Tunisia individuals have be come prey to the undignified wrath of Ben-Ali.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The perception of branded hotel in global world Essay
The perception of branded hotel in global world - Essay Example In this paper an attempt has been made by the researcher to describe and explain the research method which will be used in order to accomplish the aims and objectives of the particular research project. The main aim of this chapter is to present and justify the different research philosophy and methods which are used by the researcher in order to find answers to the research questions. It is beneficial for the researcher to describe and define the research methodology and design in effective manner as this research design and methodology act as a guiding map for the researcher during the whole research process, and the researcher is able to find comprehensive and relevant answers to the research questions under investigation. The research design helps the researcher in collecting, analysing, and explaining the data. The research design presented in this chapter will facilitate the researcher in the search of the appropriate and thorough answers to the research questions under study a nd to accomplish the aims and objectives of the research study being conducted. The research purpose of this particular research study is to identify, investigate, and explain the concept of the branded them hotels within United Kingdom. Apart from this the research study is looking forward to explore the different factors which will directly influence the consumer behaviour in the selection of the branded theme hotels. Hence it can be said that the research purpose of this research study is ‘descripto-explanatory’.... Apart from this the research study is looking forward to explore the different factors which will directly influence the consumer behaviour in the selection of the branded theme hotels. Hence it can be said that the research purpose of this research study is ‘descripto-explanatory’ (Saunders, Thornhill, & Lewis, 2009, p.140). This concept of descripto-explanatory research has been generated from the combination of the exploratory research and descriptive research. In the descriptive research the researcher tends to present and explain the overall prevalent situation which is being investigated in order to get a clear idea of the overall condition (Aanstoos, 1983). In reference to this research study, the researcher has gone for the descriptive study in order to explore and describe the current situation in the hospitality industry of United Kingdom with high focus on the trends and patterns related to the concept of the branded theme hotels. On the contrary to this, the explorative research is used by the researcher in order to explore and create a proper causal relationship i.e. cause and effect relationship between the important variable and factors being investigated or studied (Patton, 2002). In reference to this research study the researcher has implemented the explorative research in order to investigate that the relationship between the different consumer behaviour variables and the growth of the branded theme hotels sector. This specific strategy or approach of integrating the both research purposes i.e. descriptive research and explorative research will in turn facilitate the researchers to come up with better and more thorough answers to the research questions being investigated. Research Approach: In order
Doubt over Tunisian 'Martyr' who Triggered Revolution Article
Doubt over Tunisian 'Martyr' who Triggered Revolution - Article Example This research tells that a revolution process has always been bloody and it has kept the tradition in the Middle East too, especially Libya, where government-backed crimes have been gruesome enough to cross borders and become an international security concern. â€Å"According to an independent survey, civilians - including children - have been murdered, tortured and sexually assaulted†. The weaker majority, in all the Middle Eastern countries, has come under the wrath of unjust dictators, who had still not had enough of power. Security forces are killing the unarmed people upon the higher orders. The situation is of concern for the whole world and the concern is personified in Arab league’s economic threats to Libya. Revolution is in the air of Middle East now and a majority of public and youngsters are determined to stand against the stronger minority of governments. It is shocking to know that even in the 21st century; there are places like Tunisia where people would commit suicide because they are desperate to be heard and to be taken notice of. The centuries-old suppression is showing itself in full bloom throughout the Middle East yet the authorities are showing no justice whatsoever. The purpose is right and justified and people of Middle Eastern countries like, Libya and Tunisia, have every right to raise their voices but it will not happen without undue interruptions like Security forces crimes against the public in Libya and Total denial of justice to Mohammad Bouazizi. Damascus receives an economic embargo as a result of its unlawful killings of public and denial of democracy in the country. â€Å"The foreign minister of the country declares it a war against Damascus†. Damascus is trying to demonstrate a false image by showing public rallies in favor of the government through national media but the world is aware of this old trick. Whereas it has been an open show of intolerance in Syria, we see that in Tunisia individuals have be come prey to the undignified wrath of Ben-Ali.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Why Medical Marijuana Is a Good Choice for the Economy Essay Example for Free
Why Medical Marijuana Is a Good Choice for the Economy Essay Medical marijuana is full of possible opportunities, some large and some small. One of the largest opportunities would be the governments ability of taxation. Medical marijuana can be used to relieve many types of conditions. It can be used to effectively relieve pain for individuals that suffer from serious conditions such as AIDs and Cancer, and also less serious conditions such as nausea and eating disorders. Marijuana is by far less toxic than most of the prescription drugs that are prescribed every day to people suffering with a range of medical conditions. The pharmaceutical companies already have plenty of money to go around, why not let the government make some in tax. There are only fourteen states that have passed medical marijuana laws since 1996. America needs to listen to the thousands of very satisfied medical users and the thousands of scientists that prove medical marijuana is a smart choice, on top of the numerous economists that support and back it. It is time to change the federal laws on marijuana to allow medical use in every state and to be allowed to benefit from the revenue created by marijuana. The government would be able to charge a sin tax on medical marijuana, making this a highly profitable item for them. The same type of sin tax that is on tobacco sales and liquor sales. A sin tax is normally a higher percentage than a regular sales tax. A Harvard economist has estimated that the government could raise $7billion in annual revenues if marijuana is taxed (Bineli). There is an estimated forty million users of marijuana either for medical use or recreational use in the United States. A recent government survey found one in ten people in the United States use marijuana on a semi regular basis, this includes medical and recreational.(NORML) Billions of dollars being brought in though the taxation of marijuana could be used to dwindle away our national debt and possibly help pull our economy out of the current slump. By allowing people to legally purchase medical marijuana this would help stimulate the nations GDP. Its been here, probably in an illegal capacity, for a long time, but now theres an opportunity for industry, said Sumaya Abu-Haidar ,mayor of Nederland a town in Colorado where medical marijuana is legal and generally accepted. Theres an opportunity for free enterprise, an opportunity for people to make a living in a way that wasnt available before (Johnson). While many communities around the nation were still pushing through tough economic times, sales taxes collected in Nederland came in 32 percent higher than the month before that did not include marijuana (Johnson). From growers to sellers at a storefront, and every step in between there are many types of new jobs that would become available directly and indirectly. If the federal government made medical marijuana legal, the cost of medical marijuana would go down, with more and more farmers being able to grow it there would be more of it so it just goes down to basic rules of supply and demand. This would allow the government to set a higher tax rate, while still maintaining fair prices for consumers. Farmers of medical marijuana could also use the left over stalk to produce hemp and other profitable products. The marijuana plant is one of the most useful plants known to man today. Practically every piece of the plant can have some purposeful use. Kevin Bonsor’s Book reveals the following The marijuana plant has many uses. Its stiff, fibrous stalk can be used to make lots of products, from food to ship sails. The stalk is comprised of two parts ,the hurd and the bast. The bast provides fibers that can be woven into many fabrics. These fibers (also called hemp) are woven to create canvas, which has been used to make ship sails for centuries. The hurd provides pulp to make paper, oil to make paints and varnishes, and seed for food. Marijuana plants produce a high-protein, high-carbohydrate seed that is used in granola and cereals(Bonsor). As Kevin shows, marijuana has multiple beneficial uses that people tend to over look. The flowers of the plant are the only part that are actually used for medical purposes. Marijuana would be a very profitable crop to grow. In California there is a place called the Emerald Triangle, which consists of Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity county. These are three neighboring counties where there is an abundance of legal medical marijuana growers. An article by Mark Bineli in the Rolling Stone magazine about the Emerald Triangle states, there would be numerous other new revenue streams, beyond just the sale of marijuana itself. The Emerald Triangle could market pot tourism, much as Napa Valley does with its wineries. And naturally, there will also be elaborate new types of vaporizers and pipes and rolling papers to serve the growing market. Britains GW Pharmaceuticals, for instance, has been developing an asthma-type inhaler to regulate the exact amount of medical marijuana one might inhale (Bineli). The billions of dollars wasted on incarcerating tens of thousands of people for simple possession of marijuana could be spent on healthcare or schools or even other more desirable uses (Bobbiesi). In the present time almost every city has a problem not having enough space in jail for inmates, and many inmates dont even have a bed and are forced to sleep on the floor. If medical marijuana became legal it would help free up jails across the nations for more serious offences like murderers and rapists. Many debate that marijuana should not be legalized for medical use because it is addictive. There is no physical evidence that marijuana is even addictive in the smallest way so the government wouldnt have to waste money on rehab or quitting programs like they do now with cigarettes. Smoking anything is not the best thing on your lungs, but there are plenty of other ways to get the positive effects from marijuana without smoking, such as vaporizing and ingesting. What is the government trying to tell us by legally allowing people to smoke tobacco that is much worse to inhale due to having nicotine in it to make a user addicted to it, along with the hundreds of poisonous ingredients added to cigarettes, such as rat poison? Marijuana is an all natural plant with not a single chemically added ingredient that has actual health benefits unlike tobacco. People have been smoking marijuana for thousands of years for medical purpose, and they are going to continue to do so. The jails are full of people that are just trying to medicate themselves in a way that works for them better than prescription drugs. As taxpayers we are paying for the thousands of marijuana users to be wrongly imprisoned. The number of individuals who use marijuana for medical purposes are growing as more and more states allow medical marijuana, which means the government is already missing out on the possible proceeds. And these smart states that already have pro medical marijuana laws are making a nice healthy revenue, the federal government is foolishly missing out on free money. When will the federal government accept the truth that marijuana does indeed have a medical purpose, and open up the endless possibilities of a great revenue source?
Monday, October 14, 2019
Classical management theory and scientific management
Classical management theory and scientific management The Classical Management Theory is thought to have originated around the year 1900 and dominated management thinking into the 1920s, focusing on the efficiency of the work process. It has three schools of thinking: Scientific management, which looks at the best way to do a job; Bureaucratic management, which focuses on rules and procedures, hierarchy and clear division of labour; and Administrative management, which emphasises the flow of information within the organisation. Scientific Management Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915) is known as the father of scientific management. His approach emphasised empirical research to increase organisational productivity by increasing the efficiency of the production process. In the United States especially, skilled labour was in short supply at the beginning of the twentieth century. The only way to expand productivity was to raise the efficiency of workers. Scientific management theory states that jobs should be designed so that each worker has a well-specified, well-controlled task and specific procedures and methods for each job must be strictly followed. Taylors management theory rests on a fundamental belief that managers are not only superior intellectually to the average employee, but that they have a positive duty to supervise staff and organise their work activities. Thus, it was only applied to low-level routine and repetitive tasks that could be managed at supervisory level. Taylor developed four principles of scientific management: 1. A best methodology should be developed scientifically for each task. 2. Managers should select the best person to perform the task and ensure that the best training is given. 3. Managers are responsible for ensuring that the best person for the job does the job using the best methodology. 4. Remove all responsibility for the work method from the worker and give it to management. The worker is responsible only for the actual job performance. Taylor based his management system on production-line time studies. Using time study as his base, he broke down each job into its components and designed the quickest and best methods of performing each component. He also encouraged employers to pay more productive workers at a higher rate. Scientific management became very popular in the early part of this century as its application was shown to lead to improvements in efficiency and productivity. Advantages of Scientific Management à ¢Ã‚ - Introduced a scientific approach to management. à ¢Ã‚ - Improved factory efficiency and productivity. à ¢Ã‚ - Used as a model upon which the creation of modern assembly lines was based on. à ¢Ã‚ - Allowed managers to reward workers for higher performance and productivity through the differential rate system. à ¢Ã‚ - Built a sense of co-operation between management and workers. Disadvantages of Scientific Management à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Limited by its underlying assumption that workers were primarily motivated by economic and physical needs. It therefore overlooked the desire of workers for job satisfaction. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Led, in some cases, to the exploitation of workers and it has been often suggested that scientific management was at the centre of many strikes prevalent in those days. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Excluded the tasks of management in its application. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Instilled an authoritarian leadership approach. à ¢Ã… ¾Ã‚ ¢ Focused only on the internal operations of the organisation. Bureaucratic management Max Weber (1864-1920), known as the father of Modern Sociology, was the first person to use the term bureaucracy to describe a particular, and in his view superior, organisational form. He considered the ideal organisation to be a bureaucracy whose activities and objectives were rationally thought, whose divisions of labour were explicitly spelled out. He believed that technical competence should be emphasized and that performance evaluations should be made entirely on the basis of merit. Weber defined the key elements of a bureaucracy as: I. 1. A well defined hierarchy with a clear chain of command where higher positions have the authority to control the lower positions. II. 2. Division of labour and specialisation of skills, where each employee will have the necessary expertise and authority to complete a particular task. III. 3. Complete and accurate rules and regulations, in writing, to govern all activities, decisions and situations. IV. 4. Impersonal relationships between managers and employees, with clear statements of the rights and duties of personnel. V. 5. Technical competence is the basis for all decisions regarding recruitment, selection and promotion. Webers model of bureaucratic management advanced the formation of huge corporations such as ford. Bureaucratic Management Contributions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Ensured that the organisation would be operated and managed by qualified/high calibre personnel only. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Allowed many organisations to efficiently perform routine organisational tasks through job specialisation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Allowed management and employees to be more objective in their judgement and approach due to rules and procedures for doing specific tasks being clearly set. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Placed emphasis on job position, specialised employees and job continuity thus providing the organisation with long-term perspectives and quality employees. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Surpassed the loss of any employee or even of any manager due to the nature of job specialisation. Hence in such a bureaucracy, anyone can be replaced. Bureaucratic Management Limitations o Overwhelming concentration on authority discourages innovation and creativity; o Imposed a formal and structured chain of command which is not compatible with organisations that require flexibility and rapid decision-making. This is truer today where organisations are constantly faced with a turbulent external environment of increased competition. o the emphasis on impersonality and division of labour leads to boredom, dissatisfaction and discontent within the workforce o rules and procedures may become so important in their own right that there is a tendency to forget the underlying processes that they are meant to make more efficient. Administrative Management Henri Fayol (1841-1925) was a French industrialist and one of the most influential early management thinkers. Scientific Management was concerned with increasing the productivity of the shop floor. Classical Organisation Theory grew out of the need to find guidelines for managing such complex organisations as factories. An early attempt was pioneered by Fayol to identify the principles and skills that underlie effective management. He believed that sound management practice falls into certain patterns that can be identified and analysed. He focused on management, which he felt had been the most neglected of business operations. Based on his experience in management, he developed fourteen general principles of management: 1. Division of Work and specialisation to produce more work for less effort. 2. Authority to give orders and the power to exact obedience. 3. Discipline and respect between a firm and its employees. 4. Unity of command where an employee receives orders from only one superior. 5. Unity of direction where there is only one central authority and one plan of action. 6. The general interest is superior to individual interests. 7. Remuneration is fair and provides satisfaction both to the employee and employer. 8. There is centralisation, where there is always one central authority. 9. There is a scalar chain, where a chain of authority exists from the highest level to the lowest ranks. 10. Order, where the right materials and people are in the right place for each activity. 11. Equity, kindliness and justice are seen throughout the organisation. 12. Stability and tenure of personnel to maintain a stable work force. 13. Initiative is encouraged to motivate employees. 14. Esprit de Corps is recognised as important, and teamwork is encouraged. Before Fayol, it was generally believed that managers are born, not made. Fayol insisted, however, that management was a skill like any other one that could be taught once its underlying principles were understood. Chester Barnard (1886-1961) developed the concepts of strategic planning and the Acceptance theory of Authority, which states that managers only have as much authority as their employees allow them to have. It suggests that authority flows downward, but depends upon acceptance by the subordinate. Barnard considered that the acceptance of authority depends on four conditions: 1) That the employee understands what the manager wants them to do. 2) That the employee is able to comply with the directive. 3) That the employee thinks that the directive is in line with organisational objectives. 4) That the employee does not think that the directive is contrary to their personal goals. Barnard believed that each person has a zone of indifference within which the individual will willingly accept orders without consciously questioning authority and that it is up to the organisation to broaden each employees zone of indifference. Advantages of Administrative Management o Viewed management as a profession which can be trained and developed. o Offered universal managerial guidelines. o Promoted communication between managers and employees. o Highlighted the needs of employees through the unity of command, unity of direction, equity, etc. o Encouraged employees to act on their own initiatives. Disadvantages of Administrative Management à ¢- ª Lacked consideration for organisations environmental, technological and personnel factors, due to the blind application of Fayols concepts. à ¢- ª Fayols recommendations are too experience-based and therefore not driven by formal research. Hence its concepts have not been tested. Although these schools, or theories, developed historical sequence, later ideas have not replaced earlier ones. Instead, each new school has tended to complement or coexist with previous ones. The ideas of classical theorists have many applications in the management of todays organizations although with some modifications. Many of the internal challenges faced by managers during earlier periods were similar to those faced by managers today. For example, Taylors concern for the productivity of employees is still shared by managers. Even today, the Scientific Management Theory is still relevant. While not as popular as in the past, this method of job design is still used. This sort of task-oriented optimization of work tasks is nearly ubiquitous today in industry, and has made most industrial work menial, repetitive, tedious and depressing; this can be noted, for instance, in assembly lines of car manufacturers and fast-food restaurants like McDonalds and KFC. McDonalds divides its com plete operation into a number of tasks such as supervising, cooking operations or operating a deep fryer and assigns people to carry out these tasks. The modern mass car assembly lines pour out finished products faster that Taylor could have ever imagined. In addition, its efficiency techniques have also been applied in the training of surgeons. Todays armies employ Scientific Management. Of the key points listed a standard method for performing each job, select workers with appropriate abilities for each job, training for standard task, planning work and eliminating interruptions and wage incentive for increase output all but wage incentives for increased output are used by modern military organizations. Wage incentives rather appear in the form of skill bonuses for enlistments. Furthermore, industrial engineers today are still taught the methods of Scientific Management including time and motion studies, job-tasks analysis, wage-incentive determination and detailed production planning with respect to the field of operation research and management. The Bureaucratic Management is still used in the USA by service-based organizations such as libraries. One concrete example where Fayols Bureaucratic Management ideas are still in use is at the Wichita State University Libraries. Bureaucracy is also still being used in the US Postal Service. In Mauritius, mass production lines and piece rate systems are used in the garment and manufacturing industries. Another industry where the Classical Management Theories are still in use is in the sea-food hub, more specifically at the Mauritius Tuna Processing Plant. Mauritius and its economy are at a pivotal point. The pace of change is exhilarating. That is why in his budget speech 2008-2009, Hon. Rama Sithanen, Minister of Finance pointed out the urgency for our economy to shift from the traditional pillars to a service-oriented economy and to a knowledge-based society. For instance, he advocated that the ICT sector must add to the pillars of the Mauritian economy. Business leaders expect ICT to have a greater impact on their business. The industries experiencing the greatest change are the technology, telecommunications and financial services. The Minister also stressed on the development of the SMEs as he formulated that in terms of job creation, new jobs will come mostly from small businesses and medium-sized companies. But since the formulation of the Classical Management Theories in the 18th century, the economic landscape has changed. Businesses do not exist in a vacuum. They are in fact open systems with constant and dynamic interaction with the environment. Todays business environment is global and highly competitive. Managers are becoming increasingly aware of the effects of the business environment There are two aspects of the business environment, namely the internal and the external environment. The internal environment relates to those factors that the organisation can relatively control. These are the owners, employees, customers, suppliers, authorities and pressure groups. But the external environment that constitutes the PEST (Political, Economical, Social and Technological) factors is relatively remote from what the organisation can control. Without the ability to analyse the strength and weaknesses of the internal and the opportunities and threats of the external environments, managers risk making decisions that are not in the best interest of the organisation. At the same time, worldwide concern about the natural environment has emerged. Current natural environmental concerns are pollution, climate changes, ozone depletion and other global issues like biodiversity, adequate water supplies, population and food security. As McDonalds concluded, todays managers have to be concerned not only with the scientific facts but with public perception. Todays business environment is characterized with changes, innovations and uncertainty. It is becoming more challenging amid global economic slowdown and turmoil in the financial sector. Businesses must at all cost adapt or die. Out of five businesses experiencing a disaster or extended outage, a) Two never re-open their doors. b) One of the remaining three will close within two years. The business environment is exceedingly tough and competitive. Competition is intensifying in many sectors. Technology is constantly creating new opportunities and threats. There are changes to the regulatory environment: the advent of the Equal Opportunities Act being a clear example. Customer tastes are also changing providing a moving target. Smart companies operating in highly competitive business environments are working very hard to improve efficiency and productivity, test high-yielding new initiatives, and differentiate themselves from competitors. Command and Control Management style (as stated in the Classical Management Theories) is effective in an environment where both change and competition are limited and there is plenty room for error (high profit margins). Such is not the case in the age of computing and communications. In todays business environment, things change very quickly and profit margins are reducing. In addition, more things are happening on a continuing basis. Because of the speed at which things are changing, it is important to push decision-making down in the organization to the level that has all of the information at the time when a decision must be made. This calls for very different management attitudes, it demands a democratic and flexible point of view and of course accountability must be delegated. All these are not present in the Classical Management Theories. Rapid change that is sweeping through every aspect of the business environment today prompts managers to rethink the ways they do things. Although the Classical Management model has evolved quite a bit, it is still geared to a rigid structure and command-and-control mentality. This model was well tailored to an environment where change was slow and evolutionary rather than rapid and revolutionary. It helped organise processes and foster a sense of accountability, order and discipline. What it lacks is flexibility, making the organisation irresponsive to continuous internal and external environment changes. We have reached a limit to what can be accomplished using the Classical Management approaches. But by changing the way managers do things, that constraint can be removed. This is not to say that the basics of Classical Management should be ignored, but they are just not enough to get the job done in todays business environment. Although Classical Management Theories are quite useful in the early stages of economic development, they are not an adequate explanation of how to administer organisations in a complex, developed society. When it comes to seeking cost, efficiency, productivity and profitability improvements, the Classical Management Theories have a limited field of action. Managers need to get used to the idea that what worked yesterday wont tomorrow. They need to work on tomorrow today. When the business environment becomes more challenging, it is actually an opportune time for managers to think about ways to reinvent their business. We find that new managers are willing to investigate innovative solutions to business problems because they are unhampered by the limitations of tools and methods of the past. It is not so much that established managers are not willing to change; it has more to do with that fact that they are using methods that were designed for different circumstances. And they worked . So, established managers have to be prepared to discard something that has been effective for them. Managers need to use todays tools to solve todays problems. They must be willing to learn about new ways of doing things. To compete successfully in the global arena, managers must now act as entrepreneurs and create new business models rethink, re-plan, strategize, innovate and learn continuously. Innovation is the most important source for organisations to gain competitive advantage, and advanced innovation management is critical to a businesss sustainable development. Classical Management theories cant catch up with the dramatic changes of the business environment. Once-reliable guides for managerial actions no longer exist. In an environment virtually bereft of the old rules of conducting business, there is no safety net. Every process, procedure, rule of thumb and standard ratio is being challenged, re-engineered and morphed into a new form. This fundamental change has brought a daunting new reality to the challenge of growing and managing business. Conclusion Today, organizations are mostly influenced by the external environment (fierce market share competition, continuous technology change, globalisation, hiring and retaining qualified executives and front line workers) that often fluctuate over time. Yet Classical Management Theories present an image of an organisation that is not shaped by external influences. Classical Management Theories are now gradually fading for the principal reason that people and their needs are considered by Classical theorists as secondary to the needs of the organisation. Nowadays, The Scientific approach is very seriously challenged by Human Resource Management. Furthermore, The Bureaucratic Management is fast giving way to the Matrix Structure in organisations. However, Classical Management theories are important because they introduced the concept of management as a subject for intellectual analysis and provided a basis of ideas that have been developed by subsequent schools of management thought.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
The Future of Genetic Engineering Essay -- Expository Essays Research
Any time in this modern era where one talks about the science of genetics, it is nearly impossible to think about the moral implications and ethical decisions that the future possesses. Currently, there aren’t many laws that govern this field of science, and one must wonder what will happen and how genetics will be governed. Two articles that I have recently read gave me a better insight on what to expect. In one article, the author, Deborah Gridley, discusses the heated topic of genetic discrimination. Genetic discrimination is defined as â€Å"discrimination against an individual or against members of that individual’s family because of real or perceived differences from the ‘normal genome†(Gridley 973). The benefits of genetic advances are quite clear. â€Å"As the genetic causes of many diseases are found, effective treatments and cures may be developed†(Gridley). However, with genetic benefits come risks – many of which are evident in America’s history of genetic discrimination (Gridley 974). Exclusionary immigration laws, forced sterilizations, employment and insurance hardships, ... The Future of Genetic Engineering Essay -- Expository Essays Research Any time in this modern era where one talks about the science of genetics, it is nearly impossible to think about the moral implications and ethical decisions that the future possesses. Currently, there aren’t many laws that govern this field of science, and one must wonder what will happen and how genetics will be governed. Two articles that I have recently read gave me a better insight on what to expect. In one article, the author, Deborah Gridley, discusses the heated topic of genetic discrimination. Genetic discrimination is defined as â€Å"discrimination against an individual or against members of that individual’s family because of real or perceived differences from the ‘normal genome†(Gridley 973). The benefits of genetic advances are quite clear. â€Å"As the genetic causes of many diseases are found, effective treatments and cures may be developed†(Gridley). However, with genetic benefits come risks – many of which are evident in America’s history of genetic discrimination (Gridley 974). Exclusionary immigration laws, forced sterilizations, employment and insurance hardships, ...
Saturday, October 12, 2019
George Orwell and Animal Farm :: essays papers
George Orwell and Animal Farm The British author George Orwell, pen name for Eric Blair, achieved prominence in the late 1940's as the author of two brilliant satires. He wrote documentaries, essays, and criticism during the 1930's and later established himself as one of the most important and influential voices of the century. Eric Arthur Blair (later George Orwell) was born in 1903 in the Indian Village Motihari, which lies near to the border of Nepal. At that time India was a part of the British Empire, and Blair's father Richard, held a post as an agent in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service. Blair's paternal grandfather, too, had been part of the British Raj, and had served in the Indian Army. Eric's mother, Ida Mabel Blair, the daughter of a French tradesman, was about eighteen years younger than her husband Richard Blair was. Eric had an elder sister called Marjorie. The Blairs led a relatively privileged and fairly pleasant existence, in helping to administer the Empire. Although the Blair family was not very wealthy, Orwell later described them ironically as "lower-upper-middle class (Gross, p.109)." They owned no property and had no extensive investments; they were like many middle-class English families of the time, totally dependent on the British Empire for their livelihoo! d and prospects. Even though the father continued to work in India until he retired in 1912, in 1907, the family returned to England and lived at Henley. With some difficulty, Blair's parents sent their son to a private preparatory school in Sussex at the age of eight. At the age of thirteen, he won a scholarship to Wellington, and soon after another to Eaton, the famous public school (Gross, p.112). His parents had forced him to work at a dreary preparatory school, and now after winning the scholarship, he was not any more interested in further mental exertion unrelated to his private ambition. ^At the beginning of Why/Write, he explains that from the age of five or six he knew he would be, ^must be,^ a writer (Gross, p.115).^ But to become a writer one had to read literature. But English literature was not a major subject at Eaton, where most boys came from backgrounds either irremediably unliterary or so literary that to teach them English Literature would be absurd. One of Eric's tutors later declared that his famous pupil had done absolutely no work for five years. This was, of course, untrue: Eric has apprenticed himself to the masters of English prose who most appealed to him, including Swift, Sterne and Jack London (Gross, p. George Orwell and Animal Farm :: essays papers George Orwell and Animal Farm The British author George Orwell, pen name for Eric Blair, achieved prominence in the late 1940's as the author of two brilliant satires. He wrote documentaries, essays, and criticism during the 1930's and later established himself as one of the most important and influential voices of the century. Eric Arthur Blair (later George Orwell) was born in 1903 in the Indian Village Motihari, which lies near to the border of Nepal. At that time India was a part of the British Empire, and Blair's father Richard, held a post as an agent in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service. Blair's paternal grandfather, too, had been part of the British Raj, and had served in the Indian Army. Eric's mother, Ida Mabel Blair, the daughter of a French tradesman, was about eighteen years younger than her husband Richard Blair was. Eric had an elder sister called Marjorie. The Blairs led a relatively privileged and fairly pleasant existence, in helping to administer the Empire. Although the Blair family was not very wealthy, Orwell later described them ironically as "lower-upper-middle class (Gross, p.109)." They owned no property and had no extensive investments; they were like many middle-class English families of the time, totally dependent on the British Empire for their livelihoo! d and prospects. Even though the father continued to work in India until he retired in 1912, in 1907, the family returned to England and lived at Henley. With some difficulty, Blair's parents sent their son to a private preparatory school in Sussex at the age of eight. At the age of thirteen, he won a scholarship to Wellington, and soon after another to Eaton, the famous public school (Gross, p.112). His parents had forced him to work at a dreary preparatory school, and now after winning the scholarship, he was not any more interested in further mental exertion unrelated to his private ambition. ^At the beginning of Why/Write, he explains that from the age of five or six he knew he would be, ^must be,^ a writer (Gross, p.115).^ But to become a writer one had to read literature. But English literature was not a major subject at Eaton, where most boys came from backgrounds either irremediably unliterary or so literary that to teach them English Literature would be absurd. One of Eric's tutors later declared that his famous pupil had done absolutely no work for five years. This was, of course, untrue: Eric has apprenticed himself to the masters of English prose who most appealed to him, including Swift, Sterne and Jack London (Gross, p.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Little Women speech
What is the point, Jo, my darling Jo, has just blatantly displayed that she does not, nor does she wish to, love me. She says that she loves me dearly as a friend but how can that be true if she could refuse me in the way that she did. How could she refuse me†¦ me of all people? We have been the best of friends for such a long time. She mustn't be as smart as I once thought. She speaks of how wonderful life would be if she had some money and I am offering that to her, but she has refused. Maybe I was wrong to love her. How could I have fallen in love with a girl who is so incredibly masculine and different? But I have and just knowing that she does not love me back, I know she would if she would just try. There isn't much I can do about it now though, she has made up her mind and if I know Jo as I know I do, once her mind is made up, not even she can change it. Maybe grandfather is right, maybe it is best for me to go away. I do not wish to waste my life here in this room, staring out this window watching the girls all day every day. But I do not wish to leave my Jo behind. She is the reason that I went to college. I graduated with honours for goodness sake, and all for nothing. I suppose I could go and join the family business but I would really rather focus on my music. I don't understand. Last night she seemed so happy to see me – I was sure she would accept me – she called me a hero. What girl in her right mind would not want a hero? But Jo is not a normal girl, she is †¦ well different and that made me love her all the more. She and her sisters are so incredibly wonderful and their mother reminds me of my own. I have always wanted my mother back and Marmee is so much like her it almost pains me to hear her speak. The way that she looks at the girls, the same way my mother used to look at me and Mr March is like Father. Father went away to war and a couple of weeks later we received news that he died in battle. Mr March, although is not like him, reminds me of him. I guess partly it could have been the thought of having a mother and a father again that I really fell in love with. Maybe Jo, my beautiful Jo, was just a way of getting that again. Good morning/ afternoon Dr Mayne and fellow students. The recount that I have just presented was told from Laurie's perspective and takes place after Chapter 35, Heartache. This chapter is the scene when Laurie asks Jo to marry him and she refuses. In this recount, Laurie is sitting at his window looking out at the March's house and contemplating why he asked Jo to marry him and his upcoming trip abroad. Theodore Laurence, or Laurie as he is known, plays a very important role in the book Little Women. He is a member of the wealthy Laurence family and is the heir to the Laurence business. He is a member of the middle-upper class of society. Laurie demonstrates a very different point of view from other men of the time. Being of this class, and asking Jo, a girl who is very much beneath him, to marry him, he challenges the discourse of class very strongly. In the time of the 1860s, it was very much frowned upon to marry beneath you. However, Laurie does not believe that class matters when he asks Jo to marry him. Also he challenges this discourse in that he has always associated with the March family. Laurie challenges both this discourse and the discourse of gender by not wanting to join the family business, as was the custom of the time for men, instead wanting to focus on his music. In addition, he challenges the gender discourse as the males of this time were supposed to be the â€Å"dominant†person in the marriage; however it is clear that he would allow Jo to be dominant. He also challenges this discourse simply by asking Jo to marry him as she is perceived to be very masculine and does not act as a young lady of that era was expected to act. In saying this, however, he also endorses this discourse. As he is wealthier than Jo, Laurie would be the â€Å"breadwinner†for the family, a role traditionally accepted by men at the time. Laurie not only supports Jo and her â€Å"masculine†ways but he often says that the girls are lucky. He does not like the fact that he has to study and he often wishes that he could be like the March girls and not have to study. He also falls in love with Jo even though she does not conform to the ways of the 19th century. In fact, that makes him like her more. Laurie is very kind and respectful towards women, unlike other men of his time, and has a very positive attitude towards them. Although he is expected to, he does not wish to join the family business, however in this recount, he begins to change his mind and feels that the business would actually be good for him. Up until he asks Jo to marry him, Laurie is quite careful with his money. After Jo refuses him though, he begins to spend it all. He wishes he could be freer and be able to do what he likes, like the March girls. This again, challenges the discourse of gender in a way, as he does not wish to act like a male is supposed to act. Laurie is very strong in his belief that women are equal. To coincide with this, he also believes in the equality of class. This is evident throughout the book and most obviously in his interaction with the Marches as a poorer family. A stereotypical male and upper class man of the time would not have associated with a family such as this especially because they are women of a lower class. It is very clear that Laurie is not like these men especially when he asks Jo to marry him. There are many gaps and silences that surround Laurie in this book. One gap that was addressed in the recount was the issue of Laurie's mother and father. It seems that Laurie's mother was a lot like Marmee and his father went to war like Mr March. It could be said that this is the real reason that Laurie wants to marry Jo and be a part of the March family. As he says in the recount, â€Å"he has always wanted his mother back†and being a part of the March family may fulfil that desire. While it is very clear in the recount that Laurie is not the typical male – he does not want to study or work in the business and seems to have a more feminine mind – other traits are only hinted at throughout the book. He could have a bit of a temper which is shown in the recount. It could also be said that he is quite selfish as he could just want to marry Jo to be a part of the March family and â€Å"have†a mother and father again. He also spends a lot of the family's money to make himself feel better after Jo refuses him. The audience is positioned to respond to Laurie in a mixed way. In some cases, the audience is positioned to like Laurie as he does not conform to the â€Å"rules†of the 19th century. He treats women equally and, although they are considered beneath him, treats the Marches as friends. The audience could also sympathise with him when Jo turns him down as he becomes very quiet and is genuinely upset. Theodore Laurence is a very submissive character in the book Little Women. He is very respectful towards women. He is not the stereotypical male due to his belief in the equality of gender and class. Throughout the book he develops a very strong love for Jo March, however, when he asks her to marry him, she refuses. Yes grandfather I will prepare for our trip. I know it will be good for me to travel abroad – I just wish that I wasn't going alone. I wish with all of my heart that Jo would come with me.
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