Top paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Top - Research Paper Example enic activities such as burning of fossil fuels and emission of green house gases have been said to be the prime suspects many conservative scientists still believe that Global warming is a natural phenomenon and not a man-made one. After the Earth’s origin the temperature of the earth has changed continuously throughout the geologic time period. As a matter of fact global warming is an important phenomenon that is important for survival of life on Earth without which the earth’s temperature would drop drastically. Conservatives believe that till date there is no credible or reliable information about the phenomenon of Global warming. A thorough study of the Geologic time scale would reveal that instances of global warming has even occurred in the past with temperatures of Earth exceeding than what it is today. The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is one of the most recent cases of Global warming said to have occurred almost 56 million years ago (Bowen et al, 2004, p.495). This not only caused warm temperature conditions but also caused release of almost 2000 x 109 metric tons of carbon  into the ocean waters causing ocean acidification, a phenomenon which can be seen today (Zachos et al, 2005, p.1611). Today rapid acidification is attributed to global warming however such acidification is known to occur thousands of years ago when man’s harmful anthropogenic activities did not exists. Global warming is known to be the major cause of melting of ice caps and rising of the water level. However, recent studies of the polar ice caps have shown that in most areas of the Arctic the ice caps have thickened. GIS images have shown that in 2012 polar ice-caps covered almost 3.91 square kilometers whereas as of 2014 the polar ice-caps cover almost 5.62 million square kilometers which is in contrast to the global warming model (Rose, 2014). If man’s activities were to be the cause of global warming then such a phenomenon would not have occurred since Man

Structural approaches to systems of signification are rooted in linguistic theory Essay Example for Free

Structural approaches to systems of signification are rooted in linguistic theory Essay A general analysis of language assists in the deconstruction of meaning as it inscribes in different types of narratives (whether verbal or non-verbal). This analysis can be divided into 4 processes. The first process is the identification of sign systems used in particular social situations. The second process is the determination of body movements, sounds, or letters that individuals use to express the sign system. For example, when an individual refer to the term ‘funeral’, then all individuals in a particular social group must know the proper reference to a funeral. The fourth process is called social convention. Every individual in a community or group must agree on a common set of meanings for the sign system. The fifth process is the rate by which signs changes meaning. This phenomenon is common in Western societies where words and symbols often change as a response to social, economic, and political changes. One of the leading figures of semiotics is Roland Barthes who applied the structuralist linguist theory of Saussure to the study of mythology. His research paved the way for the development of a ‘contemporary mythology. ’ The findings were as follows: 1) The elements involved in narratives are often objects which assume meaning that transcends beyond their aesthetic and normative value. The development of this set of meanings is often expressed in the so-called ‘second level language’; 2) Barthes also identified the so-called ‘second order semiological system’, a sign system which enables people to communicate with each other; 3) An object assumes meaning when society attaches a particular value to a place, object, and entities. However, the significance of an object, idea or place may also be ambiguous and may assume a set of meanings that may be hard to deconstruct. The ability to deconstruct meaning depends on a number of factors: 1) the complexity of the social situation, 2) the relationships of the actors involved, 3) the complexity of the general sign system used, 4) the range of possibilities, and 5) the biases of the researcher. Deconstructing meaning is a process by which an individual attempts to relate one set of meaning to another in a particular situation; that is, the repercussions of motives and intentions are always embedded in behavioral orientation. 2) Language is a system of distinct signs which correspond to distinct ideas (Saussure 1966:16). Please explain the nature of sign according to Saussure’s theory of language. With the publication of the Course of General Linguistics, Ferdinand de Saussure established a formal theory of language. Some of the assumptions of his theory were as follows: 1) There is a distinction between language and parole (speech). According to Saussure, language is the system of symbols in which individuals communicate. Parole refers to actual utterances. Since individuals communicate in an infinite number of utterances, it is the symbolic system which is deemed more important. In providing distinction between uttering and language, one is also separating: a) what is social from what is individualistic, and b) what is essential from what is supplemental. Saussure likened this proposition to a chess game. The chess game has rules which define the overall essence of the game. Utterances are the actual moves of the players. The rules reflect the language used in the game; 2) Languages do not produce different versions of reality; they in fact produce different realities. According to Saussure, the differences in language reflect the general differences not only in the interpretation of what is real but also the notion of what ought to be real. In short, if a language does not have a word for ‘natural’ then individuals who use such language will in effect submerged in a world which is unnatural. Here, the term ‘natural’ is both ambiguous and vague because individuals have no common assumptions of what is ‘natural’; 3) Language is the means by which social meanings is communicated through the use of signs. A sign or a word defines the relationship between the assumed image of a set of sounds or signifiers and the actual image in an individual or group’s consciousness. A sign is a mediator between the assumed and the actual, between the real and the immaterial. According to Saussure, signs define the conceptual outlook of particular objects, entities, and even other ideas (Wittgenstein called this as referent idea). For example, the word ‘family’ describes both the ideal notion of a ‘family’ and the actual image of a family (reality). In short, a sign define the ideal and realistic boundary of specific ideas, objects, and entities. The bond, however, between the signifier and the signified is both arbitrary and necessary. The principle of arbitrariness is predominant when all ideas about the boundary of language are assumed to be in unity. Here, language is assumed to be a matter of social convention; that is, a general creation of collective consciousness. Hence, the set of signifiers (signs) becomes a means to describe and define the image of an object, idea, or entity. Signs become, as what philosophers of language called, an ‘arbitrary assumption of events’ – events which are either singular or plural in orientation. Signs therefore are subject to social change – as actors periodically change the meaning and application of signs in a sign system. In some cases, the change is radical that the original symbolic meanings are radically altered. Here, the signs remained intact, but the associated meaning greatly changed. This radical change is though not separated from changes that occur in a larger social environment, for it is the social environment which is the initial source of change. Saussure defined language as both a ‘social phenomenon’ and a ‘psychological phenomenon. ’ It is a social phenomenon because the significance of signs is dependent on social context or milieu. Social context here refers to a state of perpetual change in language over time. In fact, Saussure argued that all languages are equal in complexity. This assumption may be ambitious, but it has not without basis. Languages change because the social contexts to which they are located also change. A good example of language change is the creation of new words in many of the leading world’s languages. This process of language ramification is perhaps due to the rapidly increasing communication among individuals, groups, and institutions. However, much of the newly created words are ambiguous and vague in form. Many individuals either attach multiple meanings to a word or simply fail to attach a clear cut meaning to such word. 3) Debord states: ` an earlier stage in the economy’s domination of social life entailed an obvious downgrading of being into having that left its stamp on all human behaviour. The present stage, which social life is completely taken over by the accumulated products of the economy, entails a generalised shift from having to appearing: all effective `having` must now derive both its immediate prestige and its ultimate raison dentre from appearances` (Debord 1994:16). Explain in your own words Debord’s analysis of the society of the spectacle. Much of Debord’s ideas of the society of the spectacle were derived from Marxian theory. According to Marxian theory: 1) Society is divided into two structures: the superstructure and the substructure. The superstructure is the set of institutions functioning in the society. The substructure is the economic system utilized by the society. There is a dialectic relationship between these two structures. Initially, the substructure influences the creation of the superstructure. The economic system determines the type of institutions that will be developed in the society. The superstructure then either reinforces or alters the substructure, depending on the needs of the society; 2) The behavior of human wants is always conspicuous. Every individual desires not only the basic needs of life but also the ideal notion of fruitful living. Here, Marxian theory suggests that human want is both arbitrary and unlimited. Individuals will strive to attain what is socially acceptable and what is necessary. Consumption is a means to ‘show’ that these ends are met (echoes Veblen’s idea on conspicuous consumption). Individuals therefore, disregarding the efficacy of moderation, engages in subtle confrontation with the sources of frustration. The end: the individual becomes more and more attuned to the affairs of the market, and subject to the whims of the ruling class – whom unconsciously is fueling individual frustration to obtain higher market value for their products. Debord expounded on the development of a modern society in which genuine social life has been displaced with its representation – that is, its image. Debord argues that the history and essence of social life can be understood as the ‘decline of being into having, and having into merely appearing. ’ Debord notes that this condition of human life is the event in which commodity completely colonized the virtue of social life – an unconscious process of colonization of the ideal notion of life. The term ‘spectacle’ connotes a social system characterized by the affluence of advance capitalism, the mass media, and capitalist led governments. The spectacle is the general opposite image of society in which the relationship between commodities have, in general, displaced the relationships between people. The worship of the commodity becomes not just a rule but the aspiration of social life. In the society of the spectacle, the quality of life is poor, human perceptions greatly altered by both the market and mass media, and a general degradation of genuine knowledge. Knowledge becomes a tool for distorting reality – obstructing the true essence of the past, and promising a bright future of mass consumption and happiness. Here, individuals becomes attune to the calls of the promise and prevent themselves from realizing that such ‘spectacle’ is only illusory – that the society of spectacle is only a moment in history which can be overturned by collective action. The responsibility therefore of the ‘drugged’ individual is to free himself from the chains of spectacular images through radical action. This radical action will restore the beauty and essence of social life – life defined not by the relations between commodities but by the relations between individuals. 4) Basing yourself on first Levi-Strauss and then Barthess analyses, describe how myths function as types of narratives that carry a message. Levi-Strauss applied the structural linguistics of Saussure to the analysis of family. Traditionally, the family is seen as the fundamental object of analysis and as a self-contained unit consisting typically of a husband, wife, and children (offspring). Levi-Strauss argued that families only acquire determinate identities through relations among units. Levi-Strauss fundamentally altered the classical view of anthropology, putting the secondary family members first and analyzing the relationships among units instead of the units themselves. Levi-Strauss’ application of structural linguistics is also evident in his work Mythologiques, a series of work on myths and legends. According to Levi-Strauss, myths are a type of speech in which a symbolic system could be discovered. This theory attempted to explain the similarities of myths across cultures. Levi-Strauss argued that there is no such thing as ‘singular authentic version of a myth’ rather a general manifestation of the same language. In order to understand this language, the fundamental units of myth, the mytheme, must be examined. To find the mythemes, Levi-Strauss deconstructed each version of a myth into a set of sentences, consisting generally of a relation between a function and a subject. Sentences with the same function and subject were given the same number. Both Levi-Strauss and Barthess analysis of myths revealed striking results. First, the coagulation of myths is a message of a common language. Second, the myth itself not only expressed social, economic, and political values, but also the means in which people throughout the ages communicate. Third, binary opposition is a common characteristic of language – that is, people communicate through binary opposites. And lastly, myths function as a kind of lingual illusion which drives individual to act on the basis of the myth itself (the myth is a self-sufficient source of action). Here, the degree of which an individual communicates the myth to another individual is related to the preponderance of a myth. Hence, the survival of a myth depends on the way and degree to which it is communicated.

Relationship Between Lennie And George Essay

Relationship Between Lennie And George Essay Analysing the relationship between George and Lennie in Steinbecks Of Mice and Men In the opening section of the novella, Steinbeck wishes to portray the relationship between George and Lennie as leader and follower. Steinbeck highlights that they walked in single file down the narrow path and when they came into the open, one stayed behind the other; which immediately indicates that George is dominant in this relationship, therefore Lennie is somewhat irresponsible, dependent and incapable of looking after himself. This image illustrates that George acts as a parental figure and Lennie is similar to a shy child hiding behind a father. Furthermore, in Chapter 2 this idea is developed when George also carries Lennies work card, knowing that Lennie would lose it if he was responsible for it Think Id let you carry your own work card?. This quote shows how George acts as a parental figure for Lennie; George must look after Lennies important possessions, as George knows that he will just lose them because of his simple-mindedness. The rhetorical question also shows Geor ges frustration with Lennies small mental capacity as he is always creating problems. Also, when we are first introduced to Lennie and George, the main physical differences between them are highlighted. Lennie is huge, shapeless of face and often dehumanized to be that of a bear. However, George on the other hand, is small, quick and thin with, restless eyes and slender arms. This description is a form of juxtaposition, as the two characters contrast in appearance. It would form an image in the readers minds of two characters that differ greatly, and could supposedly be the opposite of one another. I think the authors intentions of using of this language technique, would be to make a point of their differences and suggest that their personalities also greatly contradict each other. So this makes us read on to find out why we find these two opposing characters together in the story. Throughout the passage, Lennie is referred to as a bear, and a huge companion with dragging feet. This creates an image in the readers mind of a man who is giant-like in size and is supposedly clumsy and uncoordinated. The authors use of the animal Bear to compare Lennie to, symbolizes that he can be the dangerous, strong bear, or the cuddly teddy bear. It indicates that whilst Lennie is a big and strong man, he is also just a playful, childish boy who needs guidance. Steinbeck also metaphorically compares Lennie snorting into water like a horse; Lennies actions are similar to an animal, unlike humans who cup their hands to drink water. This emphasizes that he will act upon an animal instinct and his animal characteristics convey Lennies great strength that he is unaware of; this holds immense importance in the novel as it foreshadows the downfall of Lennie due to his powerful strength and animal instincts. Verbs and adverbs are chosen specifically to reflect Lennies and Georges attitudes and characteristics. Generally actions and descriptive words attached to Lennie show a lack of confidence and maturity, for example words such as dabbled and timidly displays Lennies hesitancy and unassertiveness, whilst George on the other hand has words adverbs such as sharply and gently which suggests that he is thinks a lot before all his actions. Overall the reader can deduce without any explanation required, that Lennie most likely needs supervision from George, and looks up to him as a role model because he admires his intelligence and general behaviour/demeanour. In the books dialogue, Steinbeck uses slang,colloquialism, and non-standard terms (aint, would of, brang, and so on) to convey an authentic sense of the characters. This casual dialect(shes a loo loo, Curleys got ants in his pants) helps recreate a particular time, place, and social background that make the book sound real as well as the characters more relatable. Whats more, is that the lack of standard English is constant throughout all speech, characters dont speak with more refinement to other specific characters. Even Lennie, though hes slow, isnt less able to communicate with words than others.This aspect equalizes the characters and gives them a lack of identity or purpose. Overall it addresses the theme of power and each characters lack of control over their own destiny. Readers may interpret these aspects negatively, because it is symbolic of the lack of importance or significance people had back in the contexts day. However, on the other hand you could interpret it as a goo d thing that all of society was equal, everyone had equal chances and people felt a good sense of community and belonging. Towards the end of chapter 6, as Lennies captors advance towards him, Steinbeck gives a brief description, using pathetic fallacy, of the landscape in which the story is unfolding; Already the sun had left the valley to go climbing up the slopes of the Gablian Mountains, and the hill tops were rosy in the sun. I believe Steinbecks desired intentions of using this specific technique, is to reflect that all hope of the American dream has been lost, due to the death of Curleys wife. The sun is the light, which represents hope and happiness, and the fact it has left the valley represents the reality of the situation; that Lennie has ruined any chance they once had of fulfilling the dream. The use of the word already in particular, depicts the idea that all hope vanished as soon as Lennie killed her; there was no way he could have made amends. This would make the reader feel sympathy/pity for Lennie, as they have grown attached to his character throughout the book, and they know the death was unintentional. Also, embedded frequently throughout the book, is the use of structural motifs. In particular, the recurring element of the American Dream, and its dismal achievability, is used to signify the relationship between Lennie and George. It exemplifies one of the reasons why we find the two characters together; their differences are made apparent yet they both share and hold onto this strong sense of longing for this scenario, no matter how out of reach it is. Additionally, each time George repeats this dream to Lennie, his intonation and demeanor in which he says it, reflects its current state of achievability. For example, in chapter one, where Lennie and George have no job and no comfortable sanctuary, George is reluctant to finish describing the dream, I aint got time for no more, this hesitancy shows that he has obvious doubt in fulfilling it due to the current circumstances he and Lennie is in. However, in chapter 3, when Candy offers his savings into the purchasing of the house, George becomes excited as he believes the dream is now within reach. Steinbeck shows this through the use of short sentences and informal dialect, Jesus Christ! I bet we could swing her, because we relate excitement with uncontrollable language, colloquialism and the inability to produce sophisticated sentences, therefore it creates authenticity and pace for the reader, thus making it more believable. Lastly, in chapter 6, the dream is again repeated, back where the story first began. Yet now, the dream is fragmented, separated with the use of ellipses, Youan me. This punctuational technique symbolizes the loss and feebleness of the dream, as well as Georges despair of having to kill Lennie to save him from the oncoming lynch mob. Now, its no longer a chore for George; he wants to take it slow and let Lennie enjoy it fully before he dies, it truly reflects that George needs Lennie just as much as he needs him. Overall the reader would sympathize for both of them, because we can understand that George only did this for Lennies benefit, and despite their disputes; they cared about each other very much. The plot in Of Mice And Men is also an example of a circular narrative; it concludes in the same location, and George and Lennie are once again fleeing from trouble. This structure is used to offer a valuable moral about difficult the American Dream is to fulfill, as well as to reveal the sad absurdity of dreams in general. Overall this highlights Steinbecks pessimistic views towards the dream as he adapts his story to portray the dream to be impossible for all, Curleys wife included. However, on the other hand, Lennies death was inevitable because of the escalating destruction he was evoking, so others could interpret it as a blessing that Lennie died at the hands of a man he trusts, painlessly and still believing in his dream. So readers may believe Steinbeck wrote this to emphasize the beauty of friendships and highlight how important it is for mankind to uphold them.

Against Marijuana Legalization :: Marijuana Should NOT Be Legal

Against Marijuana Legalization Should Marijuana Be Legalized? In society today, many people look for a feeling of freedom. Many people go on vacation and spend money. The most common escape for people is drugs. Our American society is facing a tremendous drug problem. In order to eradicate the drug problem, a public debate is going on to find some solutions to this drug dilemma. It has become a highly controversial issue whether drugs such as marijuana should be legalized or not. Some people advocate this issue and believe that legalization is the only solution left for the nation while others oppose because it will increase the number of drug users and drug related crimes. Marijuana is a drug that is illegal in the United States. This drug as you know is bad and causes severe side effects to your brain and body. Scientist have found that smoking marijuana can cause you to loose your memory. Marijuana has many psychological and physical effects. People usually smoke marijuana in cigarettes or pipes, but it also can be mixed with food and beverages. Short-term effects of marijuana include both psychological and physical reactions. These reactions usually last for three to five hours after a person has smoked marijuana. The psychological reaction, known as a high consists of changes in the user ´s feelings and thoughts. Such changes are caused mainly by THC. The effects of a marijuana high vary from person to person and from one time to another in the same individual. In most cases, the high consists of a dreamy, relaxed state in which users seem more aware of their senses and feel that time is moving slowly. Sometimes, however, marijuana produces a feeling of panic and dread. The different reactions result partly from the concentration of THC in the marijuana. Other factors, such as the setting in which marijuana is used and the userÕs expectations, personality, and mood, also affect a personÕs reaction to the drug. Long-term effects of marijuana are not completely known, but studies have shown that some people have used marijuana regularly for several months or longer have develop serious long-term problems. Among males, marijuana use can reduce the production of sperm and of the male sex hormone testosterone. Among females, it can cause menstrual irregularity and reduced fertility. Extended use of marijuana also has a long-term psychological effect on many people. These individuals loose interest in everything.

College Goals Essay

Attending college is the first step to a better future. Throughout life there will be many goals to accomplish but some of the most important goals to accomplish will be during the time you are in college. My first goal is to pass every class this semester. After completing this goal my next goal to complete will be to graduate from Hudson County Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts. Finally my last goal to complete is to further my education and get the job I want. Passing every class this semester will help me feel positive and confident about my future and future goals. In order to complete this goal I will have to attend every class and be on time. By missing one class I will miss out on a lot of work and may not be able to catch up. I will have to finish every assignment on time because if I write the best essay I could possibly write but hand it in late, my grade will drop dramatically. Finally I will have to ask for help if I need it. Even though it is my first semester of college and I do not know what to expect, asking for help is easy and can help improve my college experience. To be able to obtain my Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts by August 2015 I will have to work harder than I ever have. I will have to be sure to complete all my assignments and be sure to attend all my classes. I will have to put school first in life and avoid activities that will have a negative impact on my education. Prior to achieving this goal I also want to choose the career I want so I can know what direction my life is going. My final long-term college goal is to go on to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree and possibly my Master’s Degree, depending on the career I choose. I have not chosen the career I want yet but I want to have the best education possible to qualify me for the job. To be able to obtain the best education possible I want to keep my grade point average high and be able to attend a good university. I have not really thought about all the details since I have not chosen a career yet but I am going to better my education as much as I possibly can. After completing all my education I will have the job I want and be happy and financially stable. In conclusion, my college goals are some of the most important in my life because they greatly help shape my future. By passing all my classes this semester I will have the confidence to continue my education and do well. By obtaining my Associate’s Degree I will be able to go on and obtain my Bachelor’s and possibly Master’s Degrees. And finally when I finish completing all my education I will be able to get the career I want and be happy with my life. My entire future depends on the choices I make in college.

What is Plagiarism

What is Plagiarism Plagiarism is a growing problem in today’s world, thanks, no doubt, to the growing number of sources available to be plagiarized from. Now, we not only have books and magazines, television and movies, we also have the wide world of the internet. There is an unbelievable amount of stuff to be plagiarized, and many people are building entire websites, books and college theses entirely out of others thoughts. With that in mind, I thought I would answer some common questions about this: How close is too close for plagiarism? Plagiarism is the use of style or ideas that belong to others. Thus, if you take information from another source, even if it’s common knowledge, it is a very good idea to cite it. If you cannot remember or find the original source of information, then you should not use it in your work. The introduction of the term â€Å"language† into the definition makes for an even more complex idea. Quoting is acceptable as long as you include quotes, and paraphrasing is also acceptable, but taking any single section of two words together from a single source is probably not a good idea. Is it still considered plagiarism if I purchase the work from someone else (such as hiring an article writer for your blog, or purchasing a college thesis from a writer)? If the article comes with rights to you, then it is not plagiarism to use it. If it does not include rights, you absolutely cannot use it. More often than not, it will come with rights, but it is always best to ask exactly what you can and cannot do with it, since it may come back to haunt you. Also note that almost every college and high school will consider the same punishment for plagiarism as if they find you had your papers written for you, so make sure you know it back to front. Finally, it should stand to reason that you should always check the final document for plagiarism by looking through some of the sources that were chosen for the work. What are the punishments for being caught as a plagiarizer? If you’re plagiarizing in a college level course and caught, you will almost certainly fail the course, and you could be kicked out of the university all together. Degrees have also been revoked in cases of extreme plagiarism. If you are caught plagiarizing online, the punishment can include a lawsuit, but unfortunately, until now, only a small portion of the plagiarism is actually punished. Some cases are more complicated than others, particularly thanks to the development of RSS feeds, which by their nature, help to encourage people to reuse other content. Sometimes this is allowed by the authors, but most of the time it is not. To report online plagiarism, contact the ISP or Hosting company of the offender, and be prepared to offer significant amounts of proof that you are the original author. Is plagiarism the same thing as copyright infringement? No.   While they’re both bad, copyright infringement only overlaps plagiarism in rare circumstances where you plagiarize a copyrighted phrase.   The major difference between these two crimes (yes, crimes) is that plagiarism is where you take other’s content and claim that it’s your own.   Copyright infringement recognizes that it’s the work of others that you are attempting to use or profit from. Is it still plagiarism if I don’t intend it to be? Yes. Even if you don’t mean to, it’s still plagiarism. If someone finds your work to be too similar to their own, or a collection of others’ works, it can be considered plagiarism, and you can get in trouble for it. My best advice is to cite everything you possibly can, and to check your work with a sentence matching tool that compares your document to everything available online. While Copyscape is probably the #1 name on the internet, it’s a paid service, and I’ve always found Article Checker to be just as good, and perhaps a bit more flexible.

An Assessment of Clean Up Australia advert We Want You

An Assessment of Clean Up Australia advert We Want You Introduction Clean up Australia is a non-governmental organization which is at the fore-front of environmental conservation. The organization uses community based events as its main tool in environmental conservation. The organization was founded by Ian Kiernan in 1989(Clean Up Australia, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on An Assessment of Clean Up Australia advert ‘We Want You’ specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This was after he had witnessed the level of pollution in various oceans around the world. In 1989, he organized the clean up Sydney Harbour which got an overwhelming response. The first Clean up Australia day was organized in 1990. Clean up Australia has internationalized its operations. Through UNEP, a Clean up the World day was introduced in 1993. Clean Up Australia has launched a campaign through which it intends to raise funds from individual sponsors. Clean Up Australia day has enjo yed support from both individual and corporate sponsors. The campaign is dubbed ‘We Want You’ is a request to Australians to contribute $ 2 Australian dollars (Clean Up Australia day, 2012). Also, businesses can contribute towards the course. They are several incentives that have been set up to ensure that individuals and businesses contribute towards the course. A role of honour has been established for individuals and businesses that contribute towards the course. Businesses that contribute more than $ 5000, a company is given a special honour where they will be featured in by Clean Up Australia as a case study which will be posted on the organization’s website. High effort behaviour is characterised by several things. One of the aspects associated with high effort behaviour is increased personal cost (Barr et al., 2011). Personal cost can be incurred through direct monetary donations. Secondly, an individual can invest time and thus forego income generating ac tivities to engage in alternative activities. Low effort behaviour, on the hand, does not require huge monetary or time investments. The above advert involves low effort behaviour as the amount required is low. An individual is required to contribute only $ 2 only towards the initiative.Advertising Looking for assessment on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Clean Up Australia has shifted focus from big corporate donations to community donors. After the 2008 global financial, companies suffered a dip in their profits (IMF, 2009). This led to constrained resources thus reduced amount allocated for community service projects. The above campaign is aimed to solicit funds from ordinary citizens. Citizens, also, incurred constrained resources after the global crisis in 2008. This was caused by escalating cost of living. Therefore $ 2 contribution is quite reasonable thus more people can afford to contr ibute. Also, individual including young person’s can contribute towards the course. There leads to increased awareness on the environmental conservation when an individual contributes towards the course. The individual is keen on initiatives introduced by Clean Up Australia for the utilisation of the funds. The campaign has set up a role of honour where individuals who contribute towards the campaign are recognized (Clean Up Australia Day, 2012). Recognition acts as an important reinforcement tool. Individuals feel appreciated for the contribution that they make towards the course. The campaign is also an alternative for individuals for individual who may not be in a position to participate in clean up events. By using the ‘We Want You initiative’, Clean Up Australia aims at increasing environmental awareness through donations. Analysis An advertisement is tool of communication used to encourage individuals to take up new products or services. AIDA theory outline s four critical aspects that are associated with an advertisement. They include attention, interest, desire and action (Stern, 2000). In order for an advertisement to be successful, it must generate the above elements. The structure of ‘ Join?You’ advert is meant attracts ones attention. This is because the advert has question mark which is framed into word ‘you’.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on An Assessment of Clean Up Australia advert ‘We Want You’ specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, one is attracted to the advert due to the creativity exhibited on the presentation of the advert. The structure of the advert, also, arouses ones interest. The need to know what’s behind the question mark pushes one into opening the adverts’ slides. The low amount of contribution is one incentive that arouses ones desire to contribute towards the project. Another incen tive is the role of honour introduced by the organization for recognizing individuals who have contributed towards the course (Clean Up Australia Day, 2012). The desire to participate in the project is fulfilled by one contributing towards the project. Success of an advert is linked to increase in sales in various firms. Therefore, success of the above advert can only be analysed by the amount of contribution received. Theory of attention Selective attention theories indicate that individuals choose to concentrate on specific characteristics of an object. Selective attention is divided into two main stages. The first stage encompasses attention to all characteristics of the object. An individual focuses on the object as a whole. This is based on mental shortcut known as schemas. There are formed from encounters with similar objects in the past (Meyers-Levy Tybout, 1989). The second stage encompasses focus on a specific characteristic of object. Focus on the characteristic could be as a result of its uniqueness. Therefore, it is a source of new information which an individual tries to process and interpret the new information. Thereafter, the new information and thus is part a schema is constructed for perception of similar characteristics in future. The above advert provokes interest where an individual is firstly drawn to structure of the advert. The imagery portrayed on the advert is quite unique and thus individual are drawn to it.Advertising Looking for assessment on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The creativity on the above advert provokes increased attention to specific characteristics including the intricacy of the artwork. Therefore, one is interest is drawn towards unravelling the initiative behind the advert. Thereafter, incentives arouse ones desire into participating in the initiative. Cognitive based attitudes An attitude encompasses an evaluation of an object. The evaluation is based on several aspects including the perceived conditions of excellence or quality of an object (Campbell Kirmani, 2000). Where the object does not meet the conditions, a negative attitude is developed towards the object. The multi-component theory of attitudes identifies three critical components of cognitive based attitudes. These components include judgements, thoughts and beliefs (Festinger, 1957). Understanding cognitive based attitudes is a basis from which advertising is premised. An advert acts as persuasion tool used for development of a positive image about a product or service. Cognitive based attitudes, therefore, are based on information and consequent use of a company’s product or service. A cognitive based attitude is thereby developed through a continuous evaluation process. Cognitive based attitudes are based on a multi-dimensional structure. Cognitive attitudes are based in specific attributes of a product or service. Attributes can be either positive or negative. Therefore, they are quite distant from affective based attitudes which are more uni-dimensional thus specific attributes about a product are not observed. Specific attributes refer to specific characteristics about the product or service (Campbell Kirmani, 2000). An evaluation based on preset standards forms the basis from where either positive or negative attitudes are formed. There are two main factors that determine the level of persuasion of an advert in relation to cognitive based attitudes. Firstly, the strength of an attitude heavily influences consumers towards purchasing p roducts from a particular company. The strength of an attitude is based on the duration of evaluation of a brand (Alba Hutchison,1987). Where an individual has used a company’s product or service, the attitude towards the brand is usually well-established. On the other hand, first time buyers attitudes are not well established thus rely more on the information provided by the company. Information about the product can be contained in advert detailing use and benefits of product or service. Where a positive attitude towards the brand in well established, there is increased likelihood that the customer repurchases a product from the same brand. Secondly, attachment generated towards a specific brand is also a critical component that influences success of adverts. Attachment to a brand arises when a customer can relate to directly to a brand. A positive attitude towards a brand results in increased loyalty from the customer (Alba Hutchison,1987). He or she, therefore, overlook s some of the faults that may be present in the company’s future products or services. Also, the customer markets the product through word of mouth. This is an important marketing tool where customers act as trusted sources for potential customers The success of the ‘We want You’ campaign is premised on several aspects. One of the critical components is the image of the company. This is based on aspects as transparency in the organization’s financial policies. Clean Up Australia has maintained prudent financial practices thus has continuously enjoyed support from individual and corporate sponsors alike. The role of honour is a tool that will be used to increase sponsor’s attachment to the initiative. Increased attachment gives the initiative momentum by marketing through word of mouth. Businesses that contribute also get recognition by being featured in the Clean Up Australian’s website. Individual contribution has been put at $ 2 Australian dollars. This is important as more individuals can take part in the initiative. Participation of young people is particularly imperative to the initiative. This is because by encouraging positive environmental conservation behaviour in young people, young people will be conscious of environmental conservation (Whitmarsh, 2009). In the long term, this translates to reduced consumer waste thus reduced impact on the environment. This is in line with Clean Up Australia’s long term objectives of reducing environmental pollution across Australia and the world. Conclusion The success of the ‘Join?You’ initiative is premised on the successful marketing of the campaign. Clean Up Australia has designed an advert and placed it on its website. Individuals visiting the website can see the advert and thus is bound to attract their attention. The advert is a combination of a question mark and the word ‘you’. The aim of the initiative is to raise money towards Clean Up Australia day which is observed across Australia. Individual and business sponsors alike can contribute towards the initiative. A role of honour has been established to recognize individual and business sponsors. Through encouraging individuals to make small contributions, Clean Up Australia can use the initiative as a tool of raising awareness on the importance of environmental conservation. Reference List Alba, J.W., Hutchinson, J. (1987). Dimensions of consumer expertise. Journal of  Consumer Research, 13, 411–454. Barr, S., Gilg, A. et al. (2011). Helping People Make Better Choice: Exploring the  Behaviour change agenda for environmental sustainability. Applied Geography,  31, 712-720. Campbell, M.C., Kirmani, A. (2000). Consumers’ use of persuasion knowledge: The effects of accessibility and cognitive capacity on perceptions of an influence agent.  Journal of Consumer Research,27, 69–83. Clean Up Australia Day. (2012).  Join? You A Major S ponsor Of Clean Up  Australia Day  2012. Web. Clean Up Australia.(2012). The Clean Up story. Web. Festinger, L. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford: Stanford University  Press  IMF.(2009). World Economic Outlook. Web. Meyers-Levy, J., Tybout, A. (1989).Schema congruity as a basis for  product evaluation. Journal of Consumer Research, 16, 39–54. Stern, P. C. (2000). Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behaviour.  Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407-424. Whitmarsh, L. (2009). Behavioural responses to climate change: Asymmetry of  intentions and impacts. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29, 13-23.

Characterization of Democratic Republicans essays

Characterization of Democratic Republicans essays The Democratic Republicans were almost always characterized as believing in following the strict construction of the constitution. They were opposed to the loose interpretation the Federalists used. The presidencies of Jefferson and Madison proved this characterization to be somewhat accurate. It is true that both Jefferson and Madison supported the ideas of the Democratic Rebublicans but, they also did many things that contradicted them. In Thomas Jefferson's letter to Gideon Granger, Jefferson shows his ideas on how the Constitution should be interpreted and how they oppose that of the Federalists. Jefferson tells Granger that he believes they will be able to obtain a legislature which will preserve states rights. He also states that he disagrees with the Federalists ideas, that would "sink the state governments, consolidate them into one, and monarchise that." He also shows in this letter that he believes the theory of the Constitution is that the states should be in control of everything internal, and the central government should have control only of that which deals with foreign nations. In Jefferson's letter to Samuel Miller, he states that the president of the United States had not been delgated any power regarding religious exercises. This is exactly what a Democratic Republican would believe. They wanted a smaller, weaker central government which gave more power to the states. The longer Jefferson remained in office the more he went against the principles of the Democratic Republicans, he began to realize the importance of a strong central government. This can be seen in his Louisiana Purchase and in the Embargo Act. The Constitution does not specifically empower the federal government to acquire new territory by treaty. Even so, Jefferson purchased Lousiana from Napolean and it came into the United States possession on December 20, 1803. After the purchase Jefferson stated that he "stretched the constituti...

Spotlighting municipal goverments in Texas Research Paper

Spotlighting municipal goverments in Texas - Research Paper Example The paper will also consider the policies put in place by the city’s government to promote economic growth in the city. Houston is the largest city in Texas. It is also the fourth largest city in the whole of the United States of America. The form of government in the city of Houston is a strong and stable mayoral form of municipal government. There is devolution of power from the central Texas government to the city, in which the municipal government sets up rules that are relevant to the city. The city council in Houston consists of three major categories of officials, that is, the mayor, the city controller and 16 members of the city council. The city mayor holds several functions that include but not limited to The city’s chief administrator An executive officer to the city council An official representative of the city in the central government The general manager of the city Ensuring that law and order are enforced within the city The city controller, on the other hand, performs mainly the function of certifying the funds available to the city council before these funds are used and/or disbursements are processed. The 16 members of the city council operate in conjunction with the city’s mayor. ... The elections of the city officials are culturally non-partisan, in which the party affiliation of a particular candidate, plays an inferior role in his/her election. Elections are carried out after every two years for all the city officials (mayor, city controller or council members), and they can serve to a maximum of three terms in office. The city controller’s election is customarily independent of the election of the mayor and the city council members. For the 16 council members, elections from districts contribute eleven members while the remaining five are at large, elected by all voters of the city (Feld and Donald 896) The fact that the districts, as well as the city at large, participate in the elections of the city council officials, it implies that these are very strong positions. The eleven council members from the districts represent the districts at large, indicating that the views of the citizens in these districts have a representation at any council meeting. The mayor’s position is a very strong seat given the powers bestowed upon him/her from the Houston’s 1991 referendum (the roles listed above). The mayor’s role as the chief executive officer, as well as the city’s chief administrator, makes him/her an important official in ensuring a progressive development in the city. The city’s ratio of revenue spending to available resources balance is a crucial role the mayor must give a consideration (Feld and Donald 912). The issuance of social services like schools, health facilities, recreation, and security has at times been a challenge to many cities. Financial issues like health insurance, pensions, and employee pay also add up to the many challenges that

Consumer behaviour Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Consumer behaviour - Case Study Example A number of factories have been closed and retail network for distribution of its products reduced. The company just hired a highly competent CEO1 who has experience in business make ups and creating and sustaining brands, image and customer loyalty. A SWOT2 analysis of the company indicates that it stands to enjoy a number of business opportunities if certain things are achieved. The firm has several strengths that would increase its competitive advantage. The company, however, faces challenges in terms of potential threats from the market as well as internal weaknesses, which may be minimized. Several strategies and action points are suggested as measures to restore the company’s glory and regain its market share to improve business performance. Among them is the implementation of an elaborate marketing and promotion campaign, putting in place a comprehensive customer relations program, re-establishment of retail distribution networks, expansion to new markets and diversific ation of existing product range. Introduction Levi Strauss & Co is an all-time American brand clothing store that has been in the San Francisco apparel market for many decades. It faces a number of hurdles in sustaining business growth momentum. ... The company has for the last three years faced a rough business terrain with plummeting sales, layoffs, occasional plant closings, and a failure to woo certain market segments to take up its products. The company just appointed Mr. Philip Marineau, a vigilant and veteran marketing executive from PepsiCo Inc., as CEO to turnaround its fortunes and rejuvenate its presence in the market for growth. Philip’s mission is to bring back the company to its earlier business glory and more by re-establishing effective customer relations, launch more relevant products and improve existing ones guided by the needs of customers and undertake effective promotions, advertising and marketing for the products. This paper will provide an analysis of Levi Strauss by addressing the problem, conducting a situation analysis, assessing alternative options and making firm and implementable decisions to help the chief executive achieve his desired objectives (Case Study notes). Problem Statement The ma in problem of Levi Strauss as explained in the foregoing background is the failure to respond to different needs of different customer classes in its market. Specifically, the company has failed to quickly respond to fashion trends for its youthful market in the textile industry thus losing a significant market share to competitors such as JNCO and Kikwear among others. The fall of a majority of the company’s retail distribution networks has also been a big problem in terms of maintaining sustained or even stronger presence in the market. The company has continuously failed to embrace dynamic market needs and is stuck on traditional styles that currently

Discuss the implications for managers that work with different Essay

Discuss the implications for managers that work with different national cultures - Essay Example There are both negative and positive repercussions on the management and managers brought out in the course of interacting with different national cultures, which end up causing changes in the corporate management functions and control. Companies need to hire employees from the local regions; meaning management could find face several challenges in their managerial roles, due to barriers arising from differences in national cultures, which come with their distinguished values that the managers or the organization struggles to identify with. Development of Effectual Cross Cultural Communication Skills As businesses are set up across the globe, and the companies intend to capture the market attention, managers have to be equipped enough to overcome the communication barrier that exists when they are taken into different regions, the cultures and languages of which are different from their local settings or previous organization environment. It is definitely very difficult for manger to work with colleagues who speak a different language, since the communication is interfered with. Miscommunication happens to be a common problem that human resource managers deal with while working with teams from different national cultures. ... At times, managers may be in foreign nations or could be working with team members who have been allocated to the managers or organizations local settings. Some ways which managers can facilitate effective cross cultural communication entail practicing active listening, reading out the signs or symbols and watching out for cultural assumptions, accessing brief teachings or using language guides, understanding language of space, time and context (HCareers n. p.). Of late, dealing with such challenges has enabled management to use technology in order to facilitate standard communication; this could include groupware and websites for sharing of information and to improve communication (Jones and George n. p.). The implications for managers that work with different national cultures include: 1. Creativity and innovation Working in different national cultures provides opportunities for managers to think critically, first of all on how the organization’s operations and objectives co uld be accomplished, and how to motivate employees’ performance in the different cultures. The existing components and architecture of the organization may not always work best at all situations and cultures. Similarly, even the products produced by a company in a certain region may not perform well in different markets, due to different cultures the organization’s branches may be operating in. Sometimes managers prefer to have a specific brand for their products across the globe, but this only proves to be successful if the market perceives a good image of the brand and its quality of products. Therefore, managers need to assess the culture they operate in, study the consumption behavior, preference, and limitations to success of the existing products or

Management Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Management Case Study - Essay Example by â€Å"jobs low in specialization (with a broad variety of tasks and responsibilities), no clear chain of command (team based approach), and a wide span of control, and are highly decentralized with a low level of formalization.† These two organizational configurations as stated previously lie on polar extremes and there is a huge possibility that other organizational structures exist which are in between these two extremes. Mason Electric Service Company will be evaluated to determine its organizational configuration depending on the six elements of organizational namely work specialization, chain of command, centralization, span of control, formalization, and departmentation. To simplify the discussion of these elements and their application to the company, a table which summarizes the evaluation is presented below. This will be supported by a more detailed discussion to elaborate the evaluation. In terms of division of labor, Mason Electric follows a mechanistic structure as tasks are simple, specific and repetitive. As discussed in the case, the top management became so overwhelmed with the employee turnover which often result to hiring persons who are not familiar with the previous’ employees job description. To answer this dilemma, the management sought to establish â€Å"Standard Practice Instructions† which are specific job functions for the employees. The case also highlighted that the employees’ role in the organization is rigid as specific task directives flow downward to the organization. The utilization of this standard procedure also signifies a high level of formalization within the company. Adherence to the chain of command is strict as each employee reports and is evaluated by his immediate superior. The strict adherence to the chain of command is also shown by the specific guidelines received by the employees from their supervisors. It is apparent that employees are not empowered but are being directed and subjected to the company’s

Knowledge Is Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Knowledge Is Power - Essay Example From this paper, it is clear that the teachers encouraged us to analyze and critically evaluate topics that will result in the effective incorporation of knowledge in a future career. I work independently, as the classroom environment provided me hands-on experience. This experience provided me opportunities to develop proficiency and skills required to manage tasks/activities. The diversity of topics in this course helped me in building my communication skills. I can communicate effectively as at Flinders, frequent group discussions with classmates and senior colleagues are part of everyday routine. This has helped me boost my confidence and develop skills required to actively participate in discussions as well as conveying my point of view to others. I can work collaboratively because development of my communication skills provided me the confidence to take risks and share my opinions, reasoning, and decisions with my fellows. I value ethical behavior as being at a multicultural un iversity has helped me understand views, social norms and cultural beliefs of others. This had made me value intricacies of several issues. The multicultural experience has enhanced my vision and broadened my spectrum of the world. I connect across the boundaries because studying in a diverse university such as Flinders has provided me the opportunity to share my beliefs and cultural values to fellows. The comfortable environment offers me the opportunity to incorporate my values into the system as well as adapt certain morals and ethics from other parts of the world.

Supply chain relationship management Research Proposal

Supply chain relationship management - Research Proposal Example The first benefit is that it results in job creation. Such kind of jobs results in various roles for the employees like managers, sales, distributors, warehousing etc. There are mainly two classification of retailing depending on the identification of products. It was necessary to allow grouping of the products on the basis of the forecast methods, replenishment methods, planning system etc. The two classifications are Functional or staple products and Innovative Products. There are many challenges in retail supply chain. One challenge is that it can be very costly if the supply chain is not properly designed. There are many other glitches which are both external and internal to the business. Another major problem facing them is Suppler Reliability. If any supplier fails to do any of his function then there will be no product for them to sell (Coyle, Langley, Gibson, Novack and Bardi, 2008, p. 211). This can result in result in loss of consumers, lost profits and declining sales turn over. Hence in the process of selection of supplier it is very important to choose any reliable supplier. In today’s scenario, potential markets and outsourcing can have a major impact on the way a retail supply chain is structured. Presence of low cost for innovative products from Asian and China countries has resulted in paradigm shift to global manufacturing from local manufacturing. Hence this affects the supply chain in terms of cost and complexity. Bullying happens in retail sector where the companies like Wal-Mart have been accused of bullying small retail outlets. Retail stores are now taking full potential of the technology by carrying out many of their activities online. Hence such devices have increased the efficiency of small and medium retail business. But the main point of contention is that it could take forever for the company to generate returns on their investment (Mentzer, 2001, p. 186). The data

Management Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Management Case Study - Essay Example by â€Å"jobs low in specialization (with a broad variety of tasks and responsibilities), no clear chain of command (team based approach), and a wide span of control, and are highly decentralized with a low level of formalization.† These two organizational configurations as stated previously lie on polar extremes and there is a huge possibility that other organizational structures exist which are in between these two extremes. Mason Electric Service Company will be evaluated to determine its organizational configuration depending on the six elements of organizational namely work specialization, chain of command, centralization, span of control, formalization, and departmentation. To simplify the discussion of these elements and their application to the company, a table which summarizes the evaluation is presented below. This will be supported by a more detailed discussion to elaborate the evaluation. In terms of division of labor, Mason Electric follows a mechanistic structure as tasks are simple, specific and repetitive. As discussed in the case, the top management became so overwhelmed with the employee turnover which often result to hiring persons who are not familiar with the previous’ employees job description. To answer this dilemma, the management sought to establish â€Å"Standard Practice Instructions† which are specific job functions for the employees. The case also highlighted that the employees’ role in the organization is rigid as specific task directives flow downward to the organization. The utilization of this standard procedure also signifies a high level of formalization within the company. Adherence to the chain of command is strict as each employee reports and is evaluated by his immediate superior. The strict adherence to the chain of command is also shown by the specific guidelines received by the employees from their supervisors. It is apparent that employees are not empowered but are being directed and subjected to the company’s

Supply chain relationship management Research Proposal

Supply chain relationship management - Research Proposal Example The first benefit is that it results in job creation. Such kind of jobs results in various roles for the employees like managers, sales, distributors, warehousing etc. There are mainly two classification of retailing depending on the identification of products. It was necessary to allow grouping of the products on the basis of the forecast methods, replenishment methods, planning system etc. The two classifications are Functional or staple products and Innovative Products. There are many challenges in retail supply chain. One challenge is that it can be very costly if the supply chain is not properly designed. There are many other glitches which are both external and internal to the business. Another major problem facing them is Suppler Reliability. If any supplier fails to do any of his function then there will be no product for them to sell (Coyle, Langley, Gibson, Novack and Bardi, 2008, p. 211). This can result in result in loss of consumers, lost profits and declining sales turn over. Hence in the process of selection of supplier it is very important to choose any reliable supplier. In today’s scenario, potential markets and outsourcing can have a major impact on the way a retail supply chain is structured. Presence of low cost for innovative products from Asian and China countries has resulted in paradigm shift to global manufacturing from local manufacturing. Hence this affects the supply chain in terms of cost and complexity. Bullying happens in retail sector where the companies like Wal-Mart have been accused of bullying small retail outlets. Retail stores are now taking full potential of the technology by carrying out many of their activities online. Hence such devices have increased the efficiency of small and medium retail business. But the main point of contention is that it could take forever for the company to generate returns on their investment (Mentzer, 2001, p. 186). The data

My Summer Vacation Essay Example for Free

My Summer Vacation Essay Relaxing out in the sun in the middle of a lake that stretches for miles and miles, is probably one of the most amazing things you could ever see in life. The best part about that, I get to enjoy that every summer. Every summer my family goes to a small cabin on Lake Rainy in Canada. The most memorable time I have ever had with my family was at our family cabin in Canada. It was the summer of 2007 and also one of the hottest trips weve had at our cabin. One of my favorite things about the cabin is that it has no electricity unless we have the generator on. My brothers whined about that for the first couple days! Bubba even tried to convince Aunt Linda to turn on the generator just so he could watch a movie. With no success with my aunt he asked Uncle Tom and got his way. After the kids got the idea that there would be no more turning the generator on for little things like charging their Game Boys, things actually started to get better. With almost all technology set aside we did things unheard of in this day in age. One night we decided we were tired of being bored and I thought my little brother to play Kings Corner, they didn’t like that game very much. I decided it was time for a little easier game; it would have to be easy to catch Bubbas attention. Uno was the game we played most nights. Playing Uno at the cabin was great, the entire family was ordered to play by my Aunt Linda and since she is the boss, no one would have even thought otherwise. Don’t get me wrong we didn’t spend all of our time indoors. We went swimming very frequently, most of the time just to stay cool. It was usually too hot to go fishing, unless you had a death wish. One day when it was cool enough to fish, Kelsey caught the most beautiful Walleye I have ever seen. My little cousin Kimmy wasnt to excited about eating fish so the made her chicken every night we had fish. (This was most nights. ) The only thing I hated about Canada honestly was leaving. On the last day were at the cabin everyone is usually pretty sad to be leaving. It was always nice to get home, but as soon as we would get home we would instantly start to miss watching the sunset on a lake that stretched for miles and miles.

What is a Good Life?

What is a Good Life? Human beings have an inherent drive and passion for finding absolution in what they deem the good life. For decades however, philosophers have struggled to argue a solid case for such. It can be suggested that many facets work in unison to allow a good life, but what is it that could give a unified answer to this great philosophical question? This essay will attempt to clarify such uncertainty, considering two perspectives of the good life. Firstly, are there any characteristics, needs, abilities and sorted other elements that are shared by all humans? Secondly, if there are elements which exist, then what do these require the good life to include, or what must the good life be like, given the properties we all share? To attain the answers to these questions, reference will be given to Natural Law, Virtue Theory, Eudaemonia and happiness. We are all striving towards it, the good life, happiness, well-being, a well-lived life, fulfilment. But what is it that makes us feel good? Though difficult to give a comprehensible definition, goodness is generally referred to as specific traits or properties of a real object or set of objects. More so, the concept of goodness can be divided into other, subsidiary concepts (Goodness and Value Theory, 2004). That is, a series of events which lead to innate goodness. In essence, both are deemed circular and leave no meaningful definition for discussion. The good life is a condition in which a person will be the most happy. Such happiness can be researched through a deductive perspective, which has been done by many philosophers over time (Wernqvist, 2007). Two such philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, deem the good life as the state in which a person exhibits total virtue. Throughout this essay, their works will be compared and contrasted to give clear argument to the meaning a good life for humans. Humans, their characteristics and their activities can be evaluated in relation to the parts they play in human life (Meyers-Levy, 2009). Alternatively saying, that every facet of human life can contribute to what is deemed good. Humans, being a subject of creation, ultimately entail goodness. Such a life is one in which actions someone does and feels leads to what is otherwise known as happiness. Such happiness is neither just an experience; nor is it found as a result of following moral laws. Rather, happiness is an activity. It is the events of the individual which lead to the life of good. INSERT REFERENCE Over time, philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle have tried to highlight the concept of goodness by defending various accounts. Such accounts do not require that a person who is well off merely experience any feelings of happiness or satisfaction. What they do require is that their desires are consciously fulfilled, which does not come down to the same thing (Angner, 2009). Plato argues that a person will exhibit total virtue when their desires have been quenched (Cooper and Hutchison, 1997), while Aristotle believes the perfect state of the individual will bring their ultimate virtue (Solomon, 1984). Cooper and Hutchinson (1997) write that Platos argument for the good life is stemmed from love because through this, individuals can rid themselves of desires. That is, love is actually the quest for that good. Aristotle argues that the good life is different for each individual because it comes from living ones life according to ones virtues, and each person has different virtues (Solomon, 1984). Through analysis of their works, both Plato and Aristotle agree the good life is a demonstration of perfect virtue. However, they disagree on the particular definition of virtue and its relationship to happiness. Therefore, both disagree on the ways of attaining such happiness. Plato sees the good life as being attained through the perfect love and lack of desire (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997), while Aristotle believes that the good life is achieved through a perfect state which causes its citizens to act upon their virtues (Solomon, 1984). The original Platonic view of the world, (cited Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997) is that it is a two tiered place, the upper tier being the world of perfection, the lower tier being the world of reality, and love falling somewhere in between. The theory is that the plane of reality is an imperfect copy of the plane of perfection. According to the Platonic view, humans only see glimpses of the good while existing in the plane of reality. Plato believes that love is the midpoint between reality and perfection, mortality and immortality. Love does not fall into the sphere of immortals and perfection because how could love be a god if he is not in possession of beautiful and good things? Since Love is the love of beautiful things, Love must have desires and therefore cannot be a god Yet Love is greater than mortals because love has and always will exist. Thus Love is a great spirit, a halfway point between the realms of existence (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997). To Plato, the good life is one in which a person is exhibits perfect virtue and is therefore closer to the higher realm of existence. Virtue is comes from the absence of desires, so true happiness means being satisfied to the point one does not have desires. This satisfaction and happiness occur when a person arrives at the mystical understanding of the world (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997). According to Plato, through Diotima and Socrates dialogue, love is the medium in which humans will attain the knowledge of the good, and come upon this understanding. It is human nature to seek out happiness, and ownership of good things makes one happy. (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997). Solomon (1984) illustrates that in order to show that happiness lies in virtue, Aristotle first splits forms of the good into three parts, external goods, goods of the body, and goods of the soul. He goes on to say that goods of the soul (virtues) are the most important because with them, a person can gain material wealth and pleasure. Aristotle defines happiness and therefore the good life as the realisation and perfect exercise of excellence. This is subsequently referred to as Eudaemonia. Aristotles view of such is typically regarded as an objective account of well-being. Nonetheless, subjective stances do evidently play some role in well-being even according to Aristotle (Phillips, 2005). This is where the existence of goodness becomes a subjective account, because it describes a persons well-being as a function of his or her feelings, experiences, desires, and so on, thus making it a conscious attribute of human life. From a basic Greek translation, Eudaemonia is that of supreme life with fulfilment and happiness, identified after ones death. Such life is built of variable actions of excellence which are both intrinsic and extrinsic in their nature (Urmson, 1988). Recognised, are three types of excellence by Aristotle. They are Bodily excellence, the excellence of Character and the excellence of Intelligence. Two of these excellences (character and intellect) fall within the realm of human choice and rationalism. Bodily excellence is paramount to Eudaemonia, however exhibits little reference in this context (Urmson, 1988). There are also a number of influences that determine such excellence, often as a result of our actions through life. Controlled intrinsic actions are separated into two forms: the Moral and the Intellectual. The Moral includes ones courage, piety, fairness and equality. The other form is that of Intellectual influences which include ones fine mind, wisdom and intuition. In contrast are ones extrinsic actions, which are often uncontrollable. They include our appearance, friends in high places (social connections) and wealth (Urmson, 1988). Our actions per sae can be defined as either a chain; those actions that help you attain an end which in turn leads to a further end or as a direct result; which is an action that helps you attain an end in itself. For supreme fulfilment, these actions work in unison with one another (Urmson, 1988). It is through such, as detailed by Urmson (1988) that happiness and fulfilment is an objective good, as opposed to a subjective state of living. This is not conditional, but absolute (Solomon, 1984). This in layman terms means ultimate happiness occurs when a persons actions are all virtuous and have goals which are virtuous. It also implies that in order to live the good life, there must be no action which is unnecessary, but for the sake of virtue. This implies that the good life must be a universal goal because unless all people are perfectly virtuous, action must be taken to maintain virtue for those who are not virtuous. Take for example, ones ambition to become a Primary School Principal. It is through relevant studies and experience that the individual is able to achieve such a goal. Though there may be monetary benefits for holding such position, it is not something that would drive the individual to achieve. Their character and intelligence hold the greatest motivation for fulfilment. Such an example utilises Aristotles Eudaemonic theory of unison between chained and direct actions as well as the forms of excellence, as previously adhered to. Basing such a goal on pleasurable or political instincts, such as salary or power, is not a means by which Aristotle would deem leading a fulfilled Eudaemonic life. There are however three things that make men good and excellent; these are nature, habit and reason (Solomon, 1984). The road to happiness is through formation of habit and reason which create virtuous action, in addition to possessing a nature that compliments them. Both Plato and Aristotle see happiness as being virtuous, but disagree on the nature of virtue, causing their ideas to follow varied paths. They do however meet at key points. Plato sees happiness as being close to godliness. By living virtuously one can obtain this godliness (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997). To Aristotle, happiness is the result of being virtuous because by being so, one obtains pleasure and external wealth (Solomon, 1984). Plato and Aristotle further agree that education is the means to attain virtue, but they disagree on how a person should be educated because of their differing views on the cause of virtue. According to Aristotle (Solomon, 1984), virtue comes from the agreement of the nature, habits and reason in a humans conscience. Therefore, Aristotle states that education should begin from birth and it should involve changing the childs habits and forming his reason so that their nature, habits and reason will align. Plato believes that virtue stems from an understanding of true Beauty, which exists only in the higher plane of the world. Thus Plato believes that education of a human being should begin when the child is ready to love another. Platos ideal education involves bringing a person along by having him experience different forms of love between people, so that he may begin to love physical beauty and then beauty of the mind. Through this he sees the beauty in all things and eventually, with guidance understands all forms of beauty, ultimately understanding formless beauty (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997). Another key agreement between Plato and Aristotle is the importance of interpersonal relationships in the quest for the good life. Both agree that interpersonal relationships account for the education of individuals, but Aristotle goes further because he sees attaining the good life as societal. He recognizes that if one is forced to take action because of others misdeeds, he cannot lead the good life, and therefore each person must be equal to the next so that nobody has to act on account of another (Cooper and Hutchinson, 1997). Human happiness is the foremost concern for both Plato and Aristotle in their works of literature. Since happiness is almost a universal emotion their conclusions on the cause of happiness is similar. But, Plato and Aristotle are completely different individuals, so the causes of their happiness are, at the same time, completely different. In personal evaluation, I am inclined to side with Aristotles point of view for ultimate fulfilment. It is through the result of actions of excellence (both direct and chained) that we can demonstrate our way of life. This in turn fortifies perceptions of us having led a fulfilled and happy life. If one opted to follow fulfilment through mere pleasurable circumstances, i.e. because the money is good, then in Aristotles eyes, their life would be one deemed lavish, suitable for beasts pulled by desire and compulsion. Happiness cannot be placed on material things. It is a matter of setting a goal and looking past the superficial things that stand in the way. It is therefore relevant to say that to lead a flourishing life, one needs to take ownership of the actions which lead to their lifelong goal. Actions often speak louder than words do. We as humans should do whatever it takes to produce the most fulfilment for ourselves. There is a distinct difference between feeling happy and merely being happy.

Plath’s Daddy Essays: Language in Plath’s Daddy :: Plath Daddy Essays

Language in Plath’s Daddy The speaker of "Daddy" might be seen as our collective inner child, the voice of a world that has "fallen a long way." There is an implied gain in the poem -- of catharsis, liberation -- but "Daddy" is fundamentally a poem about loss. The speaker has finally and irrevocably disabused herself of the notion of a "recovered" childhood, the dream of "the waters off beautiful Nauset." There is no going "back, back, back" to some illusory idyllic existence, no way to make whole that "pretty red heart": the first oppressor in this poem is the unrealized past ("You died before I had time--"). The poem exemplifies this in its form, the nursery-rhyme sound, the ooh, ooh, ooh of the end rhymes, so jarring in contrast with its substance, its images of stark brutality. Childhood and innocence are corrupted herein by the inescapable internalization of "wars, wars, wars." Conventional images have undergone a desecration: "Not God but a swastika"; not father but devil; not husband but vampire. Langu age, rather than a means of connection, has become an obstacle, confining the self ("The tongue stuck in my jaw. / It stuck in a barb wire snare. Ich, ich, ich, ich . . . ") Language, as a conveyor of images, is itself the subject of this poem -- the "foot" in line three is as much metrical as it is metaphorical, one could argue. Plath's "Colossus," her apprenticeship in the Western poetic tradition, with this poem is junked in the "freakish Atlantic," just another thrown off oppressor. The language of this world has conveyed the speaker to a place of horrors: "obscene," it is "An engine, an engine / Chuffing me off like a Jew. / A Jew to Dachau, Auschwitz, Belsen." In this sense, Plath's appropriation of Holocaust imagery, much castigated, must be seen as subsequent to that imagery's appropriation of her -- and, by extension, of us all. Plath demonstrates in this poem that the horrors of history are fundamentally personal, that human history is simply personal! history writ large, that the brutalities of the age inform every childhood, that the notion of innocence is a sham, a game of cowboys and Indians, to use a less highly charged analogy, against a backdrop of the Trail of Tears.

College Admissions Essay: Moving Beyond Pastry :: College Admissions Essays

Moving Beyond Pastry A few days ago, I innocently happened upon what, according to the bakery sign, was an almond croissant. Delighted, I ordered one, and dreamily handed over my two dollars as memories of bustling Parisian streets and morning bakery smells drifted back to me. However, as I took my first bite a record screeched in my head, violently thrusting me out of my daydream and landing me back into the reality that I was not in Paris, but in the middle of the USA, eating what amounted to a dry piece of wonder bread with two barely distinguishable almond bits on top. Ah, Paris! If you were to ask me why one should live, visit, or return to Paris my answer would undoubtedly be, "Pastry." But on a more serious note, as much as I love pastries and sweets, I didn't take out student loans, search for scholarships and cross the Atlantic Ocean so I could eat a crepe or a pain au chocolat as shamelessly thin, stylish people wearing black walked by. I thought I was going to France to study French. And this I certainly did. My classes were all in French, including a religious studies class at the graduate level (funny how no one mentioned this to me before it was too late to drop it!). But the true benefits of my studies abroad continue to become more and more apparent the longer I am home in the United States. In short, I understand that the world is great big place with all kinds of places and people not in an abstract sense, but as a result of experience. When I see the Mona Lisa on television I think of my first visit to the Louvre as I stared awestruck at her small, mischievous face. When I heard that 200,000 Germans gathered in solidarity at the Brandenburg Gate to express their sympathy for the US citizens in the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks I think about the German people I met this summer and the day that I walked through that gate myself. And when I heard that the Paris traffic and metro stopped as a display of sympathy and grief, I felt my eyes sting with tears.

Turn Off the Phone

I reasonably know many people who are constantly on social networking sites and updating pictures of their everyday life. For some reason, we care so much about other people's lives and what they are doing every second of the day. But I believe that we need to ask ourselves, â€Å"Is this even relevant to me? â€Å", â€Å"Does this help my life in any way? † I can completely relate to what this article is saying because I have also had these thoughts in my head. The one thing that most people will always bring when they go out somewhere is their phone. I use to feel naked if I didn't have my hone with me wherever I went.I had the tendency to constantly check on Backbone for my friends' updates and pictures. But the first time I had no choice but to leave my phone behind was when I went to Outdoor Science Camp in eighth grade. When I found out that we weren't allowed to bring our phones, I was completely lost and didn't Unguent 2 bare the thought of not having my phone with me. But when I was away from my phone and the internet, I felt more free and alive than I had in a long time. I forgot the feeling of Just living in the moment and not always having to show people online hat I was up to or to check on updates that were irrelevant to me.From then on, I limited myself from using my phone and going on the internet. Being away from all the advance technology that we have today is very difficult. L, myself, admit that I can not be away from my phone and the internet for a long time. But I believe that as long as you can keep your balance with your life and the technology around you, you will embrace the moments that you have with things that are much more important. Many people have forgotten what it is like to live in the moment and to enjoy it.If people Just tried going a couple of hours a day without their phones, I believe that their thoughts and feelings would be more soothed. Ever since I've limited myself from my phone, I've been putting my attent ion on things that matter more such as my family and education. This article spoke to me because I see what it is like without my phone and most people don't realize that there is more to life than media and technology. I hope that more people will realize what I have and try to enjoy their lives more without their phones. Turn Off the Phone, Turn Off the Tension By playground

Chick Fil a – Performance Management

MGT 760 Chick-fil-A – Performance Management and Key Business Factors Performance Management is a process for establishing a shared understanding about what is to be achieved and how it is to be achieved. It is an approach to managing people that increases the probability of achieving success. In regards to the definition, Chick-Fil-A has a consistent and calibrated performance management process. They have been focusing on how to develop enough leaders, fast enough to create healthy growth. Leadership is the main part of the company’s success formula.They have a do-it-yourself leadership development culture. First of all they defined leadership at Chick-fil-A. They interviewed leaders within the company. After discussions they realized they needed more information. They decided to supplement their internal interviews with a survey of global best practices. As final part of process they read 200 books on leadership. They had a picture of leadership definition which is s imilar to iceberg. According to this model, like iceberg’s 90 percent is underwater, leadership character is hard to see. 0 percent is represents the skills of leaders. And they want to combine leadership and characteristic skills. They have seen character is 90 percent of what makes a leader. They want to do their best to select men and women of character and focus on helping them develop their skills as leaders. After that, they identified best leader skills. These are; 1- See the future: It is the vision skill, ability to improve business for future. 2- Engage and developed others: They want managers reach and develop their employee’s potential. – Reinvent continuously: It means that the leader is the catalyst for continuous improvement and innovation. It involves the leader’s continued growth and development. 4- Value result and relationship: They agree the idea that results are critical. But also they believe that results alone not sufficient. They w ant to maintain tension between results and relationship. 5- Embody the values: The leaders that know their values, share their values and live their values earn the trust of people. Their actions become an important shaping tool in the culture.As a result of definition of leadership and defining the skills that a leader should has, their goal is to select the right people, provide them the skills they need, and challenge them to guard their motives. In addition to performance management process, Chick-fil-A has successful business practices. They escaped the effects of recession well. One of the key factors that they were not affected by recession is the ability to absorb and pollinate great ideas. They could find very useful but cost nothing ideas. They have been always trying new things and experiments.As an example, he mentions the idea of inviting the first 100 customers who come in when they opened a new store to eat at Chick-fil-A for a year. That created millions and million s of dollars worth of publicity for Chick-fil-A. Besides that, they have a very rigorous hiring process. They are looking for competence, character, and chemistry. Competence is the knowledge and skills to do the job. As mentioned before, in the evaluation of character, moral choices and decisions are very important. In chemistry, they are looking for the ability to inspire, excite, and motivate other people.The company has a 97 percent retention rate. They have free food, free fitness center with hot showers, towels and child care center. When an employee has a problem, they try to help and got him or her into a rehab program. They influence on people’s life. They do a review annually with their executives committee. Everyone has a performance assessment. They look at fast trackers and people who need extra mentoring to be sure that they are developing them at the right rate. They change with changes. They saw a big shift in 1990s and they simulated what the whole operation would be like. It helps them to be ready for changes.Innovation is a very important topic for them. They are getting ready to open an innovation laboratory. They want everyone to be a part of the innovation process. To improve customer service, they had conversations with people outside their industry. When customers pay them $6, they get what they really want and they feel good about the transaction. And relationship follows the service. Also they see social media as leveraging influence. In conclusion, their corporate purpose is glorifying God by being a faithful steward. The long view and the purpose of this whole enterprise is to positively impact people’s lives.

A humble people

List the positive and the negative things Bingham says about the British. In the text are positive and negative things said about the British. Bingham is of the opinion that the positive things about British are that they are Imaginative and original, permissive and that they are at least not French. But he also believes that there are many bad things too. Firstly, he mentions that there are problems in society. Secondly he says that there is a lack in education. Additionally the managers and politicians combine worse attributes like greedy, incompetent and sleazy. And finally other bad things about British is according to Bingham that they hate their weather, the public services extremely bad, the house prices are very high, the roads Jammed, the football team not so good and that they drink to much. b) How does the author view multiculturalism in Britain today? Describe how, according to him, multiculturalism was different in the past. The authors view is that multiculturalism In Britain today causes less difficulties than in the past. He mentions that some people say that multiculturalism causes problems because of racial and religious tensions (1. 27-28) but he is convinced that this wont be a new challenge if it exists. According to him, multiculturalism in the past was always combined with bad manners like a sword in the belly (1. 31) in the age of the Vikings or bonfires, stakes and heretics (1. 32) in the sixteenth century. 2. Analysis Examine the style of the text think about *tone and *irony. Describe the effect on the reader. The author makes use of formal language but also incorporates colloquial elements. He is distinguished by his eloquence. Combining an elevated style with colloquial language gives a comic effect. The text varies in the use of simple and complex sentence construction. The text is written in an ironic style and contains many ornamental epithets. The text contains many comic elements. The tone of the text Is humorous. The vocabulary Is extensive. Essay about A humble people By Pantapon 1 . Comprehension opinion that the positive things about British are that they are imaginative and jammed, the football team not so good and that they drink to much. The authors view is that multiculturalism in Britain today causes less difficulties than because of racial and religious tensions (1. 27-28) but he is convinced that this wont ornamental epithets. The text contains many comic elements. The tone of the text is humorous. The vocabulary is extensive.

Terrorism in Southeast Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Terrorism in Southeast Asia - Essay Example In spite of that fact if US being the most powerful state on the planet up till now, as well as that US has its assertive role in the region, the regions and the countries that have been facing the terrorism have not exactly been backing the US in case of the terrorism. It is to be seen as to why that is he case. Now the case has changes to some extent as we shall see in the case of Indonesia (Capie 2004., pp 1-3). South East Asia has been having periodical episodes of terror campaign as well as the episodes of political violence. Both scenarios are related ad counted in the terrorism heading. The terrorist activities include the communists group that is based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. The activities are linked against the socialist regimes in these countries. In many cases, the terrorist activities have been directed against some states. As it happened in case of Christian anti-separatist groups in the southern Philippines who were opposing Muslim secessionists and militia groups in East Timor, Papua and various other parts of Indonesia. There have been some developments taking place after the war in Afghanistan in the era of 1980s. In this war, US supported mujahhedin guerillas fought against the soviet occupation forces. Since the 1980s, there have been changes in the face of the terrorist groups and the terrorism in the region (Manyin 2003., pp 12-17). Analysis The role of Afghans has been central to the development of the terrorist networks in south East Asia since many years. There are approximately 230 million Muslims in south East Asia, which is just the 20% of the total percentage of the Muslims in the whole world. This 20% of the Muslim population has moderate views about other religious groups. However, the extreme forms arose from other parts of the world including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The terrorist groups in these areas were making an appeal to the people to join them. The appeal was strengthened and heightened when there was a recruitment process that went on to recruit the people to fight against the resistance forces of Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Many powerful leaders of the Islamic groups based in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia joined the terrorist groups and were trained, and they served in Afghanistan. After this recruitment stage, there was a boost in the Islamic resistance in Afghanistan on a large scale. This added a lot to the new changes in the face of the Southeast Asian Islamic separatism. The funding was also being gained from stronger movements that were based on an international level having strong financial backgrounds. The role of socio economic factors The socio economic status has further added to the activities of the fundamental Islamic groups in Southeast Asia. All the Islamic movements need to have autonomy. Nevertheless, their mission of gaining autonomy has been under resistance. The resistance has been shown by many central governments. Alternatively, in some cases, the autonomy has been gained but it has been used or implemented in an ineffective way as in the case of southern Philippines. The madrasaas The world saw Asia drown in the financial crisis in the year 1997. Since than there has bean a pressure on the regional