The Media And Gun Violence - 894 Words

Media and Gun violence A current most spoken issue among the public media is gun violence or mass shooting however the crime is not as many as it was twenty years ago. The term mass shooting does not have an official set of definition yet, but the term indicates crime which is killing as many people as possible in a short time frame. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines it as â€Å"actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area† (Sam Brock, Rachel Witte, and Joe Rojas). A mass shooting can begin due to several reasons: it could be background history, media, despair, or something else. Nico Lang, the author of America’s White Masculinity Complex and The Myth of The â€Å"Senseless† Mass Shooting says, mass shooting can also be related to mental â€Å"functions like the specter of ‘mental illness.’† A number of mass shooters have serious, often undiagnosed mental problems. Are the mass media addressing the ba sic issue clearly? Of course, the media address the issue more than the violence expects to be addressed, but it is not overt enough. †¦.. By examining a variety of news media coverage on the subject of mass shooting, this essay concludes that when choosing stories to cover, the news media must take the general audience into consideration. Ultimately, what is at stake here is the media exaggerate the crime and report it disproportionally, and the distortion of reality can have variety of effects on the viewer or the general audience. The more theShow MoreRelatedGun Violence And Social Media1510 Words   |  7 Pages Gun Violence and Social Media: Rise and Fall Max Barrett ECPI University The Rise and Fall of Gun Violence in the United States I live in and around Richmond Virginia, A place some would consider the northern tip of the bible belt, and a place that is mostly pro-gun. With the recent spate of shootings, mass or otherwise, it is widely believed that the number of deaths caused by the incidence of gun violence in the U.S. has exponentially risen. While gun violence, or the incidence thereofRead MoreHuffprumps Declination Of Gun Violence In The Media887 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the day on October 9, 2017, The New York Times website covered a variety of stories, featuring numerous articles concerning the Las Vegas tragedy and gun violence in the United States, as well as pieces highlighting President Trump’s declination of the Iran Nuclear Agreement and cutback of employer birth control coverage. The outlet also published stories regarding Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment allegations and Steve Mnuchin’s $800,000 travel expenses. Across that Friday, the digitally-initiatedRead MoreC riminal Justice Department Of The Country1377 Words   |  6 PagesThe media plays a significant role in the functioning of society; it forms the primary source of information regarding the matters in the wider community. It is apparent that most people depend on the media coverage of news and gaining opinions towards critical matters concerning the society. Particularly, the issue of gun violence and control has raised controversial debates between the media and law enforcers with different opinions arising from each party. This paper seeks to reflect on gun violenceRead MoreThe Debate Over Gun Laws1672 Words   |  7 Pagesthe legal right to own a weapon that could end your life? Gun control in America has been a long fought out debate. Republicans typically believe that it should be entirely legal for Americans to own guns because it is their right from the Constitution and they need it to defend themselves. Democrats typically believe that guns should not be legal because they are dangerous weapons and they can be abused by violent people. The debate over gun laws has continued to divide American because of the manyRead MoreEssay about Guns and Violence610 Words   |  3 Pagesrecent years the availability and number of guns in the United States has increased. With the media tracking and recording violence, some Americans have begun to question the 2nd amendment’s relevance. With the spree of school and adolescent shootings over recent years there has been an outcry for the prohibition of gun ownership. However, will banning guns stop the rising violence in American culture? It is my belief that we cannot ban guns to solve the violence in our country. In Michael Moore’s filmRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Violence1618 Words   |  7 PagesAs we all know gun violence has become an increasingly conflicted issue in the world and specifically in the United States. Gun violence is the leading cause of premature death in the United States as it kills almost 30,000 people and causes about 60,000 injuries annually. But guns are not the main cause of this problem. The problem is Americas culture of violence. We need to understand that guns are not what’s killing people, people are what’s killing people. Although guns may enable killers toRead MoreCrime Prevention906 Words   |  4 Pagespast thirty years, gun-affiliated injuries and deaths have increased among youth. Most of the youth involved in accidental shootings and suicides most often acquire the gun from their own home. Hands Without Guns (HWG) was started in 1995 by the Educational Fund to End Handgun Violence, to tackle this growing problem. The mission of Hands Without Guns is to advocate a public health and education campaign to transform attitudes of 12 to 18 year old youth about violence and gun ownership by emphasizingRead MoreEssay On Teenage Gun Violence1314 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Teenage gun violence is on the rise. Gun violence has become a major problem for America. We have more privately owned guns than any other country. This could be one of the reasons that guns are being used by teens, because of the access they have to guns. The availability of guns to our youth is making the world unsafe. Although lawmakers are working on gun control laws, I wonder is the problem too far gone. Social Welfare Issue: Teenage Gun Violence Teenage gun violence is caused by individualsRead MoreThe Issue Of Teenage Gun Violence1320 Words   |  6 Pages 1 Teenage Gun Violence Nicole Minor Union University . Abstract Teenage gun violence is on the rise. Gun violence has become a major problem for America. We have more privately owned guns than any other country. This could be one of the reasons that guns are being used by teens, because of the access they have to guns. The availability of guns to our youth is making the world unsafe. Although lawmakers are working on gun control laws, I wonder is theRead More Youth Violence Essay1223 Words   |  5 Pages Youth Violence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Youth violence is an escalating problem in American society today. There are many different factors that can be blamed for this problem. During the last decade of the twentieth century people began searching for answers to this dilemma which is haunting America. Many tragic school shootings have taken place within the last decade that have gained the attention of the public. As of now, no one can give the right answer to the problem or the reason that it happens because there

The Most Successful People With Adhd - 1741 Words

The national institutes of health writes that individuals diagnosed with ADHD experiencing symptoms in a more severity more frequently and their symptoms directly affect their functions at school or work. (4) I would argue that in some cases the heightened symptoms these individuals deal with are the same symptoms that any one individual deals with throughout their life. There are certainly those individuals that thrive because of these symptoms. Elite Daily wrote an article titled The 10 Most Successful People With ADHD these individual include but aren’t limited to: Walt Disney; The Founder Of Disneyland, Jim Carrey; Actor/Comedian/Producer, Will Smith; Actor/Producer/Rapper, John F. Kennedy; The 35th President Of The United States, and†¦show more content†¦I Believe this is a good point because all to often people try to conform others to one base line standard of behavior when in reality there are those who are more extrinsically motivated and those that are intri nsic motivated. What is normal in today’s society, diversity should be welcomed because it insures the success of any given species. Those individuals who have the ability to recognize their passions and pursue them with such determination should be seen as a higher intellect than those that fall in line with everyone else. When applying for a job often times you hear employers specified that they’re looking for out-of-the-box thinkers often times those thinkers are people that possess the symptoms of this alleged disorder. Consider if every individual pursued their passions and could learn through their passions. Take for example the child who hyper focuses on dinosaurs; this child doesn’t show any interest in math or science–but loves to read and talk about dinosaurs. Two things can happen Child refuses to associate himself anything not having to do with dinosaurs, or an instructor/parent recognizes the opportunity to introduce dinosaurs into other asp ects in a child’s life such as math and science. If you have two tyrannosaurus and five Alamosaurus how many dinosaurs you have? An instructor could discuss the difference between a

Quantitative Management Concepts Technique -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Quantitative Management Concepts Technique? Answer: Introduction The project that I have managed is a development of a small coffee outlet in Hong Kong. Although it was a construction project, the size of the project was considerably small. The project included the constructional work of development of the coffee shop along with a proper launch of the outlet. The project plan was formulated by identifying the major requirements and deliverables of the project. Project Scope The project aimed at building and launching of a coffee shop. The project is not very complex as it deals with the development of a small coffee outlet. The constructional work will be followed by the interior decoration of the outlet and launch. The project plan includes incorporates the major stages of the accounting such as identification of the requirements, developing a plan and architectural design of the coffee shop, estimating the resource required for the project, identifying and managing the project risks, implementation of the project and launching the coffee shop (Kerzner and Kerzner 2017). For proper administration and management of the project, proper supervision of the project progress is ensured. It was the responsibility of the project team members to report the project progress to the project manager. This helped in proper record keeping and managing the project progress (Larson and Gray 2013). Furthermore, the resources needed for the project are allocated at the beginning of the project. This helps in proper resource management as well. Risk management, is a process of identifying, analyzing and responding to the risks associated with the project lifecycle. As a risk management approach, the major project risks are identified. A risk registered is made for classifying the risks according to their impact and intensity. After proper risk assessment, different risk mitigation strategies are applied in order to eliminate the impact of the identified risks on the project (McNeil, Frey and Embrechts 2015). Therefore, the overall risk management process included different stages such as risk identification, analyzing the risk, evaluation of the risk, treating and monitoring the risk (Christoffersen 2012). Monitoring of the risk was essential in order to ensure that the mitigated risk does not returns back or gives rise to a new risk. The information that is collected for finalizing the project includes the feasibility report, the cost requirement and the budget, time required for overall project completion and the resources required in the project. Proper information about the requirements of the project is essential to finalize the project. In order to conduct the final review of the project, the information about the project progress and project implementation is required to conduct the final review of the project. The experience and knowledge about proper project estimation and project progress helps in planning the future projects. The knowledge I gained from this project will help me in implementing the future projects in a more structured way. The knowledge about the importance of the feasibility analysis of the project helps in understanding the project requirements as well. For successful implementation of the project, it is very essential to properly identify and allocate the resources required in a project. All these experiences will help me in effectively planning the future projects. References Christoffersen, P.F., 2012.Elements of financial risk management. Academic Press. Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017.Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Larson, E.W. and Gray, C., 2013.Project management: The managerial process with MS project. McGraw-Hill. McNeil, A.J., Frey, R. and Embrechts, P., 2015.Quantitative risk management: Concepts, techniques and tools. Princeton university press.

With These Words I Can Sell You Anything free essay sample

â€Å"With These Words I Can Sell You Anything† is an article written by William Lutz, explaining the tactics of marketers to sell their products. It is an excerpt from his book Doublespeak, published in 1990. William Lutz has been called â€Å"the George Orwell of the 1990s†, and indeed many of his books are titled in direct reference to Orwell’s works. Lutz claims in his article that there’s a big conspiracy where the people trying to sell us things are giving us ineffective products disguised as something much better. Unfortunately, he comes off as paranoid; someone making a big fuss over that which in reality isn’t a big deal and as someone late to the party, only discovering something long after everyone else. The first issue with Lutz is his hatred of the word ‘help’. He says that when a product claims to ‘help relieve your cold fast’ that consumers should be wary before buying the product. We will write a custom essay sample on With These Words I Can Sell You Anything or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He says that the word ‘help’ doesn’t mean ‘cure’, and at best this medicine will only relieve your symptoms. He also claims that ‘fast’ could really be any period of time. Unfortunately, if people stop beating up the advertisers and look at their words rationally there’s no problem with buying their product at all. There aren’t many products out there that will instantly cure a cold the moment it’s taken, and surely it isn’t cheap. If there’s an alternative that can relieve the symptoms, hasn’t it basically helped to cure the cold? If someone buy this medicine and takes it for the duration of a colds natural cycle, that person is much better off than if they took nothing at all. Of course ‘fast’ could mean any period of time, but if it took more than a day to take effect nobody would buy it more than once. See, Lutz has the proper idea when it comes to paying attention to words, but he fails to see the big picture when it comes to how effective the product is despite the words. An unpopular product would never last on the market. Lutz gives numerous examples of â€Å"weasel words†, which are defined by him as words meant to seem reassuring but in reality mean nothing. He devotes paragraphs to each phrase, such as ‘virtually spotless’, ‘new and improved’, and ‘like magic’, picking them apart like a vulture until nothing left remains. Again, using common sense it’s almost insulting to think that anyone would be fooled by these words. When someone sees an ad for something and its bottom line for making you buy a product is that it works ‘Like Magic! ’ how could they help but laugh? It’s disturbing to think that anyone would be fooled into buying these products multiple times if they’re so ineffective. When a person see a product they need like laundry detergent that claims it can completely erase stains, why wouldn’t they go test it? It can clean their clothes like any other detergent, and if it removes stains they might have a great product on your hands. If it doesn’t, they simply look for a different product. Lutz acts like once something is bought the consumer gets stuck with that for life, with no alternatives. The beauty of a free market is that there are countless products for the same thing, and they all work differently. Nobody will be fooled into buying something that doesn’t work more than once. While Lutz does correctly examine that advertisers use different methods to persuade consumers to buy products, he falls flat on his face when he takes up 11 pages explaining things that should be obvious to any high school graduate. If you pick apart someone’s words enough you can make anyone seem like the devil, and unfortunately that’s what has happened here with advertisers. Consumers have friends and family buying alongside them and all of them can communicate what’s effective and ineffective to each other. It’s simply foolish to assume that a product that does nothing is going to get more than a few purchases before the word gets out that it’s worthless. Hopefully people learn to determine the effectiveness of products for themselves, and not look up to a pale imitation of Orwell, who uses the better mans words in an attempt to further his own career. Use your own judgment, not that of someone who ends their articles in a ridiculous and amateurish parody of Twenty-third Psalm.

Marketing Plan of Private Country Club

Marketing Plan of Private Country Club Introduction The purpose of this report is to prepare a marketing plan for the Private Country Club in Saudi Arabia and this club has different facilities including gym, pool, spa, ballrooms, sport center, food courts, and so on.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Plan of Private Country Club specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marketing Plan SWOT Analysis of the Private Country Club Figure 1: SWOT analysis of the Private Country Club Source: Self generated Strengths This club would have a number of strong points, such as – Wide range of products and services would help the club to attract target customers within very short period; It will recruit well-trained and efficient employees; The environment of this club would be outstanding; The management of this club would try to provide services at reasonable price; Innovative ideas, location of this club, strong supply chain management, efficient human r esources, business structure, and integrity of the management would also be potential strengths of this club. Weaknesses This club would face some internal problems – It would be difficult to start business in KSA due to high operating cost for rent of the shop, remuneration of employees, taxes, legal costs, and so on; Lack of experience of some employees and top management; High price of the products and services would reduce customer base; Technological problems, and lack of budget for promotional activities are other weakness for this club; Opportunity This club would experience enormous opportunities Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The marketers of this club would consider different marketing strategy for different services to gain competitive advantages by drawing attention of both local and foreign customers; This club has the opportunity to open new outlet in new area to expand its business; This private club would include a small sports zone and food courts, then many parents would be interested to come here for refreshment; Threats This club has also many external threats besides potential scopes – It would be difficult for this club to develop strong brand image and loyal customer base because a number of competitors offer similar products and services in this market; The purchasing power of the customers has decreased due to global financial crisis; as a result, it would be difficult for the entrepreneurs to carry on business in such economic condition. Marketing Mix Product The country club business will mainly offer services though it will also include different products; however, the key services will include facilities like gym, pool, spa, cigar lounge, business areas, ballrooms, food courts, and sport activities. Price The country club business will set the prices of the products and services by keeping the idea about the quality and production costs of its offerings in mind; however, it will also consider the income levels of its target customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that is, their purchasing power parity. Place At first, the placement of this club will be made at a busy city center in the capital of Saudi Arabia, that is, Riyadh; however, the owners have plan that after it turns into a profitable business, they would expand the business all over the country by placing new club buildings in different places. Promotion The business will promote itself through different media, for instance, it has plans to offer promotional packages depending on Eids, new year festivals, Christmas Eve, mothers day, fathers day, etc. for attracting more and more customers. PESTEL analysis Figure 2: PESTEL Analysis of private country clubAdvertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Plan of Private Country Club specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Source: Self-generated Political Factor The current political condition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is quite stable and ideal for setting up a new business; in addition, the taxation policy of the government of Saudi Arabia is quite liberal for the corporate world. However, it is important to bear in mind that the political factors of the country are greatly related to religious and other ethical issues; as a result, it is important for this private country club business not only to comply with the rules and regulations of the country, but also to comply with its political customs and conventions. Economic Factors The economic factors of Saudi Arabia is encouraging for the new private country club as the people of this area are wealthy enough to spend money for their fitness, and for other services like gym, pool, spa, cigar lounge, business areas, ball rooms, food courts, and sport activities. The Saudi economy has based on highly expensive oil resources and so Saudi people experienced huge economic growth in recent times (for example, the people of KSA benefited from the highest oil price of $47 per barrel even during the recession); therefore, most customers have strong purchasing power; additionally, other indicators like the national GDP are impressive as well Social Factors It is important to note that Saudi Arabia is a highly conservative country that follows strict Muslim rules and regulations in the social life; however, this means that although the country club business will try to obey the Islamic traditions, it is doubtful to what extent the people of this country will take its facilities like pool, spa, ballrooms, etc. positively. Technological Factors It is notable that Saudi Arabia has improved greatly in terms of technological advancements as the success of the club highly depends on the integration of modern technologies, the entrepreneurs of this business will use advance technologies to execute promotional and other m arketing strategies; moreover, introduction of IT will develop its supply-chain, quality of services, and customer-relationship management.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Environmental Factors The club will focus on environmentally friendly services and its owners will highly comply with their corporate social responsibilities to ensure environmental sustainability; at the same time, the club will efficiently dispose waste materials, and control draining and carbon emission. Legal Factors The legal system of Saudi Arabia has developed in accordance with the Islamic law and all citizens and businesses are bound to follow the rules; at the same time, the entrepreneurs of the club also need to follow the law strictly to form the business and carry out the function in accordance with it. BCG matrix of The Private Country Club: The following figure shows the position of the Private Country Club in BCG matrix- Figure 3: BCG matrix of The Private Country Club Source Self generated Stars: Many competitors in Riyadh occupy this segment due to high growth rate and high-relative market share; Question marks: The above figure demonstrates that Private Countr y Club occupies this segment as a new business; however, the management of this club would try to change its position to stars; Cash cows: this position has not matched with the position of this club; Dogs: According to the figure 2, the position of Dog indicates that it experiences both low market share and market growth; so, it should require huge investment to recover market position Porter five forces of Private Country Club The competitive position of the Private Country Club in accordance with Porter’s five forces has presented below Figure 4: Porter’s five forces for The Private Country Club Source: Self generated Bargaining power of buyer This power is high for the Private Country Club as customers can select different companies for different services, for instance, there are some food courts and sports zone in KSA, so, the demand of this club depends on so many external factors like brand image, quality, rapid services, product price, and so on. Threats of new entrants The threats from new entrants are moderate in the industry because setting up requires a large amount of fund, while newcomers lack sufficient knowledge and expertise; however, the government is business friendly, which means the newcomers get some benefits overall. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers of the company play vital role to establish and develop a business because operating costs and service quality mostly rely on this issue; however, the supplier’s power is moderate because supplying of the product particularly machinery and other necessary equipment for gym, spa, sport activities, and food courts are available all over the world. Rivalry among competitors This power is too high for this club; Threats of substitute product This power is moderate for this club because there are many clubs in KSA, but most of the clubs provide gym and sport facilities while this Private Country Club would offer more services to attract customers like food courts, b usiness areas and ballrooms would serve multi purposes.

Love Themes in Romeo and Juliet

Love Themes in 'Romeo and Juliet' Romeo and Juliet has become forever associated with love. The play has become an iconic story of love and passion, and the name â€Å"Romeo† is still used to describe young lovers. Shakespeare’s treatment of love in the play is complex and multifaceted. He uses love in its many guises to thread together the key relationships in the play. Fickle Love Some characters fall in and out of love very quickly in Romeo and Juliet. For example, Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the start of the play, which is presented as an immature infatuation. Today, we might use the term â€Å"puppy love† to describe this. Romeo’s love for Rosaline is shallow, and nobody really believes that it will last, including Friar Laurence: Romeo. Thou chidst me oft for loving Rosaline.Friar Laurence. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine. Similarly, Paris’ love for Juliet is borne out of tradition, not passion. He has identified her as a good candidate for a wife and approaches her father to arrange the marriage. Although this was the tradition at the time, it also says something about Paris’ staid attitude towards love. He even admits to Friar Laurence that in his haste to rush the wedding through he hasn’t discussed it with his bride-to-be: Friar Laurence. On Thursday, sir? the time is very short.Paris. My father Capulet will have it so;And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.Friar Laurence. You say you do not know the ladys mind:Uneven is the course, I like it not.Paris. Immoderately she weeps for Tybalts death,And therefore have I little talked of love; Romantic Love Our classic idea of romantic love is embodied in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare presents this as a force of nature, so strong that it transcends societal conventions. This idea is established in the play’s prologue with the line â€Å"a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.† Perhaps Romeo and Juliets love is fate - there love is given cosmic significance which can, therefore, overturn the social boundaries of â€Å"fair Verona.† Their love is disallowed by the Capulet and Montague households, and Juliet is to marry Paris – Yet, they inevitably find themselves drawn together. Other Types of Love Many of the friendships in the play are as sincere as Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another. The close relationships between Juliet and her Nurse, and between Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio are meaningful and heartfelt. They care deeply for another and protect each others honor – this ultimately costs Mercutio his life. This platonic love is offset by the sexual innuendos made by some characters – particularly Juliet’s Nurse and Mercutio. Their view of love is earthy and purely sexual, creating an effective contrast with Romeo and Juliet’s romanticism.

Ethical Decision Making Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethical Decision Making Process - Essay Example On one hand, she could choose to pay the customs agent $500 and have the customs process expedited faster. Secondly, Jane could choose to be honest and politely request for her case to be handled on first. The third option would involve being fair to everyone and standing in the queue to wait for her turn. A careful evaluation of each option gives a clear picture of the consequences. In the first option, if Jane chooses to pay the customs agent, she would be committing an irregularity in light of the organizational rules and policies. Such a decision would raise economic, legal and ethical issues that may malign the name of the employer. From an economic standpoint, Jane would be able to earn $1 million to the firm and individual bonuses. Legally, corruption is illegal and punishable under the law and such an action would be illegal. The ethical issues related to corruption are unacceptable. The decision would be immoral. If Jane chooses to be honest and politely request for her case to be handled first, there are no legal issues. Kindly asking people to allow her move faster in the line makes no harm. From an ethical perspective, kindness and honesty are virtues commonly associated with good behavior. The second choice is ethical acceptable. If her request is accepted, the economic benefits described in the first choice will be realized. Thirdly, if Jane chooses to stand in the queue and wait for her turn, the economic benefits described for the first and second options would be lost. The employer would lose $1 million and Jane would not qualify for the bonus payments. The third option has no legal issues and is ethically sound. The action creates no harm to others and is consistent with company policy of ‘being fair to others’. The best alternative would be for Jane to politely and kindly request for her case to be handled first. The ethical intensity of the action prescribed for Jane takes into consideration factors such as the magnitude of

To read the syllabus and write about your oppinions Coursework

To read the syllabus and write about your oppinions - Coursework Example Quite often, I disagree with the writers and many a times, I feel that the writers of novels and scripts tend to project their personal opinions in their texts. Those opinions are understandably motivated by their personal experiences, but the writers tend to make a biased approach about discussing the subjects. Such exercises would provide me with a platform to criticize the writers and project my own response to their texts, which would be satiating and interesting. The syllabus suggests that the developers have not only carefully selected the course content, but have also planned and scheduled the delivery by students at different points throughout the course. The contents and exercises have been declared week by week in order to provide the students with a thorough insight into the course from the outset. It is great that the course content or any exercises mentioned in the syllabus. A very important part of the syllabus is the way students’ performance would be analyzed and graded. The grading as mentioned in the syllabus is well-suited to a class at college level and does justice to the activities both that are conducted within the class and outside. Another very appealing aspect of the syllabus is the fact that the professor has clearly outlined the assignments’ criteria and formats right from the beginning. This will help the students develop their assignments to the point. Also, the grading will be fair as everybody would have submitted the assignments in the same format. The syllabus addressed the requirements of a college-level English program and is centered around a range of essentials that include but are not limited to the research process, finding and quoting credible sources, mechanics of writing, and developing an understanding of diction and rhetoric. I am eagerly looking forward to the leadership roles my class-mates and I will be assigned by the professor in the class. Such activities not only enhance group

Opportunity Network Application Essay Example for Free

Opportunity Network Application Essay The best-selling author and motivational speaker Roger Crawford once said, â€Å"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.† I have encountered numerous obstacles in my life, but none were as difficult as learning my second language, English. When I moved to the United States in 2009, I knew no English. Thus, my dad enrolled me into a bilingual school, hoping that I would learn English quickly with the help of Chinese-speaking teachers. Instead, all of my classmates spoke in Chinese and so I learned English much more slowly. By the time I entered high school, my relatively poorer English skills prevented me from doing homework efficiently and making friends. After half a year, my teachers noticed how depressed I was. They helped boost my self-esteem by complimenting my academic achievement. That was when I realized I had strengths, too. I began striving for excellence, because I realized that my dedication and hard work would ultimately be recognized and rewarded. Gradually, more classmates talked to me and I began to feel like I belonged in my community. I am grateful for this challenge as it opened my heart and taught me to be determined. Not only do I like making new friends, I also like challenges. Even though some challenges seem beyond my reach, I demand myself to do the best I can. I don’t always succeed, but I see each challenge as a learning experience. I know that, as a Chinese proverb says, an intense storm is always followed by a beautiful rainbow.

Difference Between Greek and Roman Warfare :: essays research papers

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GREEK AND ROMAN WAREFARE   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main difference between Greek and Roman warfare was the formations that they fought in. The Grecian armies all used the phalanx as a fighting formation while the Romans used the maniple. The phalanx was one mass formation that consisted of infantry eight deep. The maniple formation was actually a group of formations in a checkerboard pattern. Each maniple consisted of about 120 men and when employed in Italy, the Romans used thirty maniples. The maniple proved to be a better formation, because the phalanx left no room for maneuvering after engagement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Greeks basic soldier was a foot soldier that was trained for close combat. The basic combat soldier in Rome was a horse rider and an expert bowman. This was also due in part to the increase in technology as well. The Grecian hoplite would also carry a spear that compared to the Roman pilum as a predecessor. The pilum was much longer and could be thrown a lot further.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another difference in warfare was the way that the different regions treated their opponents after a victory. The Greeks would enslave and control a defeated people while the Romans would not treat a defeated nation as slaves, but would â€Å"invite† them to ally and basically become part of Rome. This was the case of the Sicilians after they were defeated during the first Punic War.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Roman Empire split into two different empires, the eastern or Byzantium and the western. The two empires mirrored each other politically, but not religiously. The Greeks never allowed themselves to split territory into two different powers, although some Greek city-states had dual kings, but never on a national level.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The political system of both Roman empires was based on virtue and the republic was founded with the Senate as the center. The magistrates were elected annually and also had control of the armies. The key to Roman superiority was the patriotism and training and drills.

Fahrenheit 451

This woman had a tremendous impact on Montag. She burned with her books. When he is talking with Mildred about it later, he says â€Å"There must be something in books, things we can't imagine to make a woman stay in a burning house, there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing. † (pg 51) Mildred tries to say that the woman was simple-minded and that it is water under the bridge. Montag knows that the experience will last him a lifetime. He cannot put it out of his mind. He goes on to explain that for the first time he realized that a man wrote the books He had to think them up and put them down on paper, and then he came along and in two minutes burned it all up and it was over. It seriously bothered him. montag becomes kinder: he sees the self-destructing, depressed people and is affected by them, instead of merely moving on in his life and not caring. He is so moved by his new change that he states, â€Å"It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was. he decides to stand for a real purpose: he decides to rebell against this terribly corrupted government by remembering his book. Quote: It didn't come from the Government down. There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with, no! Technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick, thank God. Today, thanks to them, you can stay happy all the time, you are allowed to read comics, the good old confessions, or trade journa ls. Quote: If they give you ruled paper, write the other way. Fahrenheit 451 Most people today think nothing of knowledge and take it for granted because they think it is easy to gain. In fact, many young adults tend to resist gaining knowledge and would rather entertain themselves with games, television or partying. However, authors Ray Bradbury and Stephen Vincent Benet would pity their indifference. In science fiction story, Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury tells the story of Guy Montag whose search for meaning and knowledge leads him to make difficult decisions throughout his journey. In â€Å"By the Waters of Babylon† a science fiction story, a boy, John, discovers the truth while on a journey to become a man. Both stories teach an important lesson about gaining knowledge, that it cannot be gained passively-it requires sacrifice. Primarily, both stories show that the cost to gain knowledge is to lose part of one’s old self. In Fahrenheit 451, we see the main character, Montag, doing actions that require him to abandon his old routines. He had to give up his job, his wife, and his house to gain the books and knowledge he so desires. Bradbury quotes Montag in his description stating, â€Å"You want to give up everything? After all these years of working, one night, some women and her books-,† (page 51). This quote shows that Montag wants to quit his job just for the sake of gaining books and finding knowledge so he can be happier. This is necessary to gain knowledge because it shows how he had to abandon of all the stuff he did over so many years because he can’t gain knowledge with the other luxurious life right in front of him. He needed to let it go so he won’t go back to it. Montag did not quit his job at that point (but did later) because of opposition from his wife, Mildred, but learned that he had to let go of Mildred because she did not want to gain knowledge. Similarly, â€Å"By the Waters of Babylon† is like Fahrenheit 451 when approaching this idea of losing part of one’s old self. John, the main character is on a journey to become a man. He wants to gain knowledge and truth. He must go to a forbidden land where the Gods used to live, but soon finds out that they were men before his time. Benet mentions John in the following quote, â€Å"It is not for the metal alone we go to the Dead Places now—there are the books and the writings. They are hard to learn. And the magic tools are broken-but we can look at them and wonder. At least, we can make a beginning,† (page 509). This is when John finds out the truth and decides to abandon his old life. He finds this necessary because he knew the truth and knew that he can no longer follow his old life because it wasn’t true. He wants to make a new beginning and begin right where the â€Å"gods† left off but more slowly. He wants it slowly because he knows that too much knowledge will eat anyone up. All in all, both stories show that losing part of one’s old self is necessary in order to gain knowledge. Without doing so, the journey will be more difficult. In addition, one must take risks in order to gain knowledge. not finished lost other part Fahrenheit 451 Fahrenheit 451 Most people today think nothing of knowledge and take it for granted because they think it is easy to gain. In fact, many young adults tend to resist gaining knowledge and would rather entertain themselves with games, television or partying. However, authors Ray Bradbury and Stephen Vincent Benet would pity their indifference. In science fiction story, Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury tells the story of Guy Montag whose search for meaning and knowledge leads him to make difficult decisions throughout his journey. In â€Å"By the Waters of Babylon† a science fiction story, a boy, John, discovers the truth while on a journey to become a man. Both stories teach an important lesson about gaining knowledge, that it cannot be gained passively-it requires sacrifice. Primarily, both stories show that the cost to gain knowledge is to lose part of one’s old self. In Fahrenheit 451, we see the main character, Montag, doing actions that require him to abandon his old routines. He had to give up his job, his wife, and his house to gain the books and knowledge he so desires. Bradbury quotes Montag in his description stating, â€Å"You want to give up everything? After all these years of working, one night, some women and her books-,† (page 51). This quote shows that Montag wants to quit his job just for the sake of gaining books and finding knowledge so he can be happier. This is necessary to gain knowledge because it shows how he had to abandon of all the stuff he did over so many years because he can’t gain knowledge with the other luxurious life right in front of him. He needed to let it go so he won’t go back to it. Montag did not quit his job at that point (but did later) because of opposition from his wife, Mildred, but learned that he had to let go of Mildred because she did not want to gain knowledge. Similarly, â€Å"By the Waters of Babylon† is like Fahrenheit 451 when approaching this idea of losing part of one’s old self. John, the main character is on a journey to become a man. He wants to gain knowledge and truth. He must go to a forbidden land where the Gods used to live, but soon finds out that they were men before his time. Benet mentions John in the following quote, â€Å"It is not for the metal alone we go to the Dead Places now—there are the books and the writings. They are hard to learn. And the magic tools are broken-but we can look at them and wonder. At least, we can make a beginning,† (page 509). This is when John finds out the truth and decides to abandon his old life. He finds this necessary because he knew the truth and knew that he can no longer follow his old life because it wasn’t true. He wants to make a new beginning and begin right where the â€Å"gods† left off but more slowly. He wants it slowly because he knows that too much knowledge will eat anyone up. All in all, both stories show that losing part of one’s old self is necessary in order to gain knowledge. Without doing so, the journey will be more difficult. In addition, one must take risks in order to gain knowledge. not finished lost other part Fahrenheit 451 This woman had a tremendous impact on Montag. She burned with her books. When he is talking with Mildred about it later, he says â€Å"There must be something in books, things we can't imagine to make a woman stay in a burning house, there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing. † (pg 51) Mildred tries to say that the woman was simple-minded and that it is water under the bridge. Montag knows that the experience will last him a lifetime. He cannot put it out of his mind. He goes on to explain that for the first time he realized that a man wrote the books He had to think them up and put them down on paper, and then he came along and in two minutes burned it all up and it was over. It seriously bothered him. montag becomes kinder: he sees the self-destructing, depressed people and is affected by them, instead of merely moving on in his life and not caring. He is so moved by his new change that he states, â€Å"It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was. he decides to stand for a real purpose: he decides to rebell against this terribly corrupted government by remembering his book. Quote: It didn't come from the Government down. There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with, no! Technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick, thank God. Today, thanks to them, you can stay happy all the time, you are allowed to read comics, the good old confessions, or trade journa ls. Quote: If they give you ruled paper, write the other way. Fahrenheit 451

Fall of Ibm

CASE 15: THE FALL OF IBM Justin Marc C. Tariman B. S. B. A. MKTG 4March 14, 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Purpose The purpose of this case study analysis report to understand and formulate a set of actions for the case of a company that is experiencing rapid environment changes and difficulty in protecting its core business such as how IBM perceived its mainframes as king of computers. Problem IBM biggest problems include its huge size, highly bureaucratic decision making approach,and its management's difficulty in accepting the fact mainframes become obsolete sooner.The company lost on its focus toward meeting the needs of customers and instead over-emphasizing the needs of the mainframes. Methods of Analysis Methods of analysis used in the case were S. W. O. T. Analysis and Porter's 5 Forces of Industry Attractiveness to identify IBM's competitive advantage in a rapid changing environment and where in particular area the company failed to achieve in maintaining its position as market lead er. Alternative Course of ActionTake advantage – Enter into systems integration, outsourcing, and consultancy services to fully provide a package of IT products and services. Sustain – Using IBM's â€Å"contention† system to achieved scale economies in production and cost advantages. Build – Building competitive advantage on every division while maintaining interdependence among these divisions and prevent rivalry among these divisions. Avoid – Avoid building one-side selling on product lines by giving each division its own sales force instead of having a separate division for sales force.Recommendations It is recommended for IBM to ready its company in entering into systems integration, outsourcing, and consultancy services to fully provide a package of IT products and services. It's a new business but it could greatly give more value on its products. This is also an advantage for IBM to used the size of its organization to outsource some of its r esources to successfully create a niche in the industry. Outline of the Action Plan Objective |Activities |Targets |Resources |Indicators | |To enter into systems |Going into outsourcing and |Within 5 years, IBM will be |Research and development |The changes of demand in | |integration, outsourcing, |system integrations business|able to take lead in | |outsourcing | |and consultancy services to| |outsourcing and integrate |Talents and skills of IBM's | | |fully provide a package of | |this business to other |employees |Market share | |IT products and services. | |product lines | | | | | | |Global divisions |Share of revenue earned from| | | | | |outsourcing and services. | | | | |IT infrastructures | |

Emerging Adults Essay Example

Emerging Adults Essay Example Emerging Adults Essay Emerging Adults Essay nonprofit), â€Å"The average student graduates with about $22,000 in debt. Generation Y uses their debt as a reason to delay working because they only want extremely high paying jobs. They believe that only the perfect job is good enough for them and are not willing to settle for anything less. Ironically, they also use their indebtedness as a reason to stay in school longer- in order to prepare themselves for higher paying jobs: In the 1970s, a bachelor’s degree could launch a career and support a family. Not anymore. Now, graduate school is almost a necessity, and that means greater expenses, often when students are already saddled with college loans. Financial independence is but a dream for many. (Jayson 85) In reality, this approach to life just postpones entering the workforce and growing up. The longer they stay in school, the longer they have to figure out what to do with their life. This gives them more time to just meander through life without making any difficult decisions. With the large amount of debt and the unwillingness to move on, these young adults choose to take their time when it comes making life decisions. Their attitudes are completely unrealistic. They are actually harming themselves by building up more debt and delaying entrance into the workforce. They think that whatever they want to accomplish can be done, even without hard work and effort. Another aspect of the economy that members of Generation Y use to prevent them from having to grow up is the struggling job market. The monthly U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics â€Å"reports†¦that among all 20-24 year-olds the unemployment rate was 17. 2 percent in April† (Zappe). These â€Å"emerging adults† use this as a reason to just hang out and wait for the right job to come to them, instead of actually going out and finding work. These twenty-somethings are lazy and refuse to work hard in order to succeed. For example, â€Å"Many are increasingly declaring themselves unwilling to work more than 40 hours a week† (Warner 12). They only want jobs that fit into their schedules and ones that do not require hard work and long hours. They think that everything is just going to be handed to them. Jeff Arnett, a psychology professor at Clark University in Worcester says, â€Å"that young men and women are more self-focused than at any other time of life, less certain about the future, and yet also more optimistic, no matter what their economic background. † This optimism is a false sense of security. Because their parents have led them to believe that they are the centers of the universe, members of Generation Y focus only on themselves and, and the idea that eventually the universe will provide them with what they want; they will eventually find the perfect job, so there is no need to find one any time soon. This sense of idealism is reflected in the statistic that â€Å"over 90 percent think they have the perfect resume† (Warner 12). This overconfidence and sense of entitlement is how they rationalize not growing up. They believe that they are too good for most jobs- so much so that â€Å"41 percent of job seekers this year turned down offers† (Warner 12). The long path to adulthood that Generation Y is taking has significant negative effects on Generation X, their parents. Generation Y is still very dependent on their parents, even as 20 year olds. For one, â€Å"American parents give an average of 10 percent of their income to their 18- to 21-year-old children† (Henig 8). This means that the parents of Generation Y must work later into their lives to support their unemployed children. As Sharon Jayson points out, the term â€Å"boomerang kids† refers to those members of Generation Y that â€Å"return home after college. According to Twentysomething Inc. , a market researcher that tracks youth trends, 65% of this year’s grads expect to live with their parents after earning degrees† (86). These parents have worked their entire life to finally be able to retire and relax, but instead they â€Å"are helping pay bills they never counted on paying† and expenses that these twenty-somethings should be paying for themselves (Henig 10). The expectations that parents will take care of Generation Y because they do not want go out and find work or because they want to live at home â€Å"places a terrible burden on the parents who might be worrying about their own job security, trying to care for their aging parents or grieving as their retirement plans become more and more of a pipe dream† (Henig 11). 0 somethings parents have their own troubles to worry about and because Generation Y refuses to grow up, their own problems become even harder for them. Generation Y should be more considerate of their parents and understand that it is time to support themselves. 20 year-olds are taking advantage of their parents because they know how much their parents loved and wors hipped them as children. Most parents will always be there for their children, but the â€Å"emerging adults† should realize that it is time to give their parents a break, and finally become responsible for their own lives. Generation Y is now â€Å"emerging† into adulthood. Many of them, however, still refuse to grow up, rationalizing that they must take their time to examine all their options in order to find their perfect niche in this imperfect world. These young adults are lazy, overconfident, and self-indulgent. They believe that everything is just going to work out in the end for them, so hard work is not necessary. Not surprisingly, then, it is taking longer and longer for these twenty-somethings to finally figure it out. It is time for them to stop relying on their parents and to stop using today’s poor economic conditions as an excuse to delay becoming independent. It is time for the â€Å"emerging adults† to realize that their life is in their own hands and that in order to succeed they need to grow up and start taking responsibility for their own lives. College Grads Face IOUs, Worst Job Market in Years Washington Times. Washington Times Politics, Breaking News, US and World News. Web. 5 Nov. 2010. . Henig, Robin Marantz. The Post-Adolescent, Pre-Adult, Not-Quite-Decided Life Stage. The New York Times Magazine 22 Aug. 2010: 28(L). Custom Newspapers. Web. 24 Aug. 2010. Jayson, Sharon. Its Time to Grow Up- Later. Reading Culture. Eds. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. 84-87. Print. Warner, Judith. The Why-Worry Generation. New York Times 30 May 2010: 11-12. Web. Zappe, John. Facing Tough Job Market, New Grads Accepting More Offers, Lower Salaries – ERE. net. ERE. net Recruiting News, Recruiting Events, Recruiting Community, Social Recruiting. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.

Careers for a Communications Major

Careers for a Communications Major Youve probably heard that being a communications major means a lot of job opportunities will be available for you after graduation. But what exactly are those opportunities? What are some of the best communications major jobs?   In contrast to, say, having a degree in molecular bioengineering, having a degree in communications allows you to take a variety of positions in a variety of fields. Your problem as a communications major, then, is not necessarily what to do with your degree but what industry youd like to work in. Communications Degree Jobs Do public relations (PR) for a large company. Working in the PR office of a large regional, national, or even international company can be an exciting experience simply because of the size of the PR team and the messaging.Do PR for a small company. A huge  company not your thing? Focus a little closer to home and see if any local, small companies are hiring in their PR departments. Youll get more experience in more areas while helping a smaller company grow.Do PR for a nonprofit. Nonprofits focus on their missions the environment, helping kids, etc. but they also need help running the business side of things. Doing PR for a nonprofit can be an interesting job youll always feel good about at the end of the day.Do marketing for a company with interests that parallel your own. PR not quite your thing? Consider using your communications major in a marketing position at a place that has a mission and/or values you are also interested in. If you love acting, for example, consider work ing at a theater; if you love photography, consider doing marketing for a photography company. Apply for a social media position. Social media is new to lots of folks but many college students are very familiar with it. Use your age to your advantage and work as a social media expert for a company of your choosing.Write content for an online company/website. Communicating online requires a very specific skill set. If you think you have what it takes, consider applying for a writing/marketing/PR position for an online company or website.Work in the government. Uncle Sam can offer an interesting gig with reasonable pay and good benefits. See how you can put your communications major to use while helping your country.Work in fundraising. If youre good at communicating, consider going into fundraising. You can meet lots of interesting folks while doing important work in a challenging job.Work at a college or university. Colleges and universities require a lot of communication jobs: admissions materials, community relations, marketing, PR. Find a place you think youd like to work possibly even your alma mater and see where you can help out. Work at a hospital. People receiving care in a hospital are often going through a difficult time. Helping to make sure that the hospitals communication plans, materials, and strategies are as clear and effective as possible is noble and rewarding work.Try going freelance. If you have a bit of experience and a good network to rely on, try going freelance. You can do a variety of interesting projects while being your own boss.Work at a start-up. Start-ups can be a fun place to work because everything is starting from scratch. Consequently, working there will provide you with a great opportunity to learn and grow with a new company.Work as a journalist at a paper or magazine. True, a traditional print press is going through a rough period. But there can still be some interesting jobs out there where you can put your communications skills and training to use.Work on the radio. Working for a radio station either a music-based local station or something different, like National Public Rad io can be a unique job that youll end up addicted to for life. Work for a sports team. Love sports? Consider working for a local sports team or stadium. Youll get to learn the ins-and-outs of a cool organization while helping with their communications needs.Work for a crisis PR company. Nobody needs good PR help like a company (or person) in crisis. While working for this kind of company can be a bit stressful, it can also be an exciting job where you learn something new every day.

London ships of historic interest partnership Essay - 1

London ships of historic interest partnership - Essay Example From the fact that Britain is a maritime country, the income of most of the citizens is derived from maritime activity. The London’s ships partnership has a major obligation of increasing the maritime activity and the number of visitors coming to the country. This has to be done through enacting various strategies and ways. The partnership should make the whole world aware of the existence of the historic ships and the uniqueness in them. This paper will explore how the partnership can increase the global awareness of the uniqueness and existence of the historic ships in London, means and ways to tap into the market and PEST analysis in relation to the same. The paper is to explore the best marketing mix in international and global marketing especially during overseas expansion. The main objective is to identify the most appropriate international market place to target to ensure tourists are aware of the brand and will view the member vessels as must see attractions when they visit London. The subsidiary objectives are as stipulated below: Tourism is a major player in the economy of Britain with tourist coming from both local and international markets. This has boosted the economy of the country and efforts to increase the tourist volume are being put in place each and every day. The London ships of historic interest partnership being a major player has also implemented actions to increase awareness among the residents and foreigners of the tourism facilities available. This has boosted the tourism industry in a major way. International tourists are well informed of existence of the maritime tourism and are well aware of the kind of tourism facilities they are to view and interact with when they pay a visit to the city of London. There are various factors both internal and external that have contributed to the success of the organization in response to marine tourism. The coming

Similarities and Differences between Baboon and Human Being Term Paper

Similarities and Differences between Baboon and Human Being - Term Paper Example Based on social behavior studies, psychological and physical stress levels remain exceptionally higher amongst individuals within the lower hierarchy. The social behaviors results include high blood pressure, suppressed immune system and increased stress hormones. It is imperative to note that due to the social behaviors baboons can differentiate real menace and neutral factor in a similar manner as behaviors of neurotic persons. In addition, both human beings and baboons believe that violence control implicates less stress and good health. Mostly, the highly sociable baboons normally have a healthier lifestyle and with minimal stress in a similar manner to human beings. Minimize social stress directly relates to reduces mental and physical torture with consequent comfort in health. The social build up is indispensable in a realization of least social stress, and it begins at birth amongst both baboons and human beings. Besides health-related stress similarities, baboons also have a strong tendency towards competition and aggression just like human beings. In a similar way as human beings, baboons develop inherent competitive urge when relating to each other. In addition to competitiveness aggression, baboons also directly get involved in decision-making processes in a similar way as human beings. Typically, baboons develop thinking and take sides during discussions both emotionally and rationally just like human beings. However, human beings slightly differ with baboons mainly because their decisions may surpass the immediate situation and environment. Furthermore, both the baboons and humans manifest wickedness and envy friendship in all their social associations. Another important social behavior relates to the unique personality developed by an individual and baboons.  

CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model) - Essay Example and expected returns which is denoted as r. The ? is used as a measure of non diversified risk and implies that the expected return is the return on a risk free asset in addition to a risk premium (Laubscher, 2002). The risk premium will be equivalent to the market return in surplus of the risk free rate which is multiplied by the share portfolio. This is the reason that ? is regarded as the difference between the returns on various share portfolio. The formula for CAPM model is denoted below: R = Rf + ?(Rm - Rf) R = Expected return on the share/portfolio. Rf = Risk-free rate of return. ? = Beta (volatility of the share/portfolio relative to the market portfolio). Rm = Expected return on the market portfolio. Rm - Rf = Market risk premium (Laubscher, 2002). In the CAPM model risk is defined as the extent to which returns on share portfolio have covariance and variance with the market returns. ? is used for measuring risk and the basis for expected market returns. It is used as a meas ure for non diversified risk and is a relative measure of risk relative to the market portfolio. ... Government bonds and Treasury bills are used instead of this instrument (Laubscher, 2002). 2. Return in the market: The market portfolio constitutes of all kinds of risky assets and is one of the most available diversified portfolios. After the valuation of portfolio is done then it will be difficult to diversify the risk. The market return is the return on the market portfolio which constitutes of all risky assets. The rate of return is actually measured by the approximation of the stock indices which is used a proxy to the market. However, the problem arises regarding the choice of the index to be used as a proxy (Laubscher, 2002).The expected rate of return depends upon the market risk but it also depends upon the nature of the benchmark of the portfolios. However, investors are satisfied in investing in a limited number of benchmark portfolios. 3. Beta (?): This is one of the most crucial aspects of the CAPM model; as it helps in determining the difference between the expected ma rket return and the actual market rate of return. Portfolio betas are usually derived from the historical data and are useful in the measurement of the betas of the future (Rai University, n.d.). According to economic analysts the high beta shares tend to have a higher returns and lower betas shares tend to have low returns. The relationship between the average returns and beta is linear but the slope of risk and return relationship is not as steep as estimated by the CAPM model. Beta measures the relationship based on past returns and the derived results are more accurate than the standard deviation used to measure the relationship between risk and returns (Laubscher, 2002). Figure 1: Relationship of risk & return as per CAPM Model (Source: Myers, 2003) From the

3-D Magnetic Data Inversion with Physical Bound

3-D Magnetic Data Inversion with Physical Bound A new method Mohammad Rezaie1*, Sahar Moazam2 1 PhD in mineral exploration, Faculty of Mining, Petroleum and Geophysics, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran. 2 MSc in mineral exploration, Faculty of Mining, Petroleum and Geophysics, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran. Abstract Inversion of magnetic data is an important step in the interpretation of practical data. Smooth inversion is a common technique for inversion of magnetic data. Physical bound constraints can improve the solution of the magnetic inverse problem. However, how to introduce the bound constraint into the inversion procedure is important. Imposing bound constraints makes magnetic data inversion a non-linear inverse problem. In this study, a new algorithm for 3D inversion of magnetic data is developed which use an efficient penalization function for imposing bound constraints and Gauss Newton method to achieve the solution. An adaptive regularization method is used for choosing regularization parameter in this inversion approach. The inversion results of synthetic data show that the new method can produce models which adequately match with real location and shape of synthetic bodies. The test carried out on the field data from Mt. Milligan Cu-Au porphyry deposit shows that the new inversion approach could produce the magnetic susceptibility models consistent with the true structures. Keywords: Magnetic data, Inversion, physical bound, Gauss Newton, Regularization. 1. Introduction Magnetic surveys can provide useful information about the Earths interior. Magnetic measurements are usually used to delineate magnetic anomalous bodies and indicate their locations and depths. One of the most important topics in the quantitative interpretation of potential field data is the inversion of practical data (Rezaie et al. 2015). Inversion can be defined as a mathematical procedure that constructs a subsurface property (susceptibility) model using measured (magnetic) data by incorporating a priori information as available. The recovered models must predict the measured data adequately (Foks et al. 2014). 3D inversion of potential field data such as magnetic data is generally difficult (Jin et al. 2013). The main difficulty is the non-uniqueness of the solution in magnetic inverse problem. There are infinite equivalent source distributions that produce the same measured magnetic data set (Blakely 1996). The standard approach to overcome this issue is applying a priori infor mation. Several approaches have been introduced for incorporating priori information into the inversion process (Last and Kubik 1983; Barbosa and Silva 1994; Li and Oldenburg 1996, 1998, 2003; Pilkington 1997, 2008; Portniaguine and Zhdanov 1999; Farquharson 2008; Lelievre et al. 2009; Zhang et al. 2015). Last and Kubik (1983) developed the compact inversion method which produce compact and structurally simple model. Guillen and Menichetti (1984) minimize the moment of inertia of the body with respect to the center of the body or along single axis passing through it. Barbosa and Silva (1994) generalize the moment of inertia functional to impose compactness along several axes. Li and Oldenburg (1996, 1998) developed a model objective function that produce smooth models. This method can locate anomaly sources accurately nevertheless, the values of the recovered model are smaller than the true values due to the smoothness effect of the objective function. Portniaguine and Zhdanov (1999) developed a focusing inversion method based on compact inversion method for potential field data. Barbosa and Silva (2006) developed an interactive method for inverting magnetic data with interfering anomalies produced by multiple, complex, and closely separated geologic sources. Farquharson (2008) used L 1 measure of Li and Oldenburgs model objective function to recover dipping structures and models which have angled interfaces.   Lelievre et al. (2009) used Li and Oldenburgs (1996, 1998) model objective function and developed advanced constrained inversion by geological information. Zhang et al. (2015) improved Li and Oldenburgs method by applying Lagrangian multipliers in the model objective function to add geological constraints. In the 3D inversion of potential field data, particular bounds of the physical property may be known. This physical bound constraint can improve the solution and make it more feasible (Rezaie et al. 2017a). Consequently, how to introduce the bound constraint into the inversion procedure becomes an important issue. Portniaguine and Zhdanov (1999, 2002) used a penalization algorithm to impose bound constraint in focusing inversion of potential field data. Li and Oldenburg (2003) chose a logarithmic barrier method incorporating bound constraints on the re covered smooth model. Zhang et al. (2015) imposed bound constraint in smooth inversion of potential field data via a method using Lagrangian multipliers. However, imposing bound constraint makes magnetic data inversion a non-linear inverse problem. Therefore, the logarithmic barrier and Lagrangian multipliers methods increase computation time. Another issue in solving non-linear inverse problem is choosing regularization parameter that can increase computation time (Farquharson and Oldenburg, 2004). In this study, we develop a new 3D magnetic data inversion method based on the Gauss- Newton (GN) algorithm that can incorporate bound constraints on the recovered model using penalization algorithm introduced by Portniaguine and Zhdanov (1999, 2002). Also, we will use an adaptive regularization method for regularization parameter selection in our magnetic data inversion method. Finally, the capabilities of the proposed method are illustrated by its application to the inversion of a synthetic data set and to the 3D inversion of magnetic data from the Mt. Milligan deposit at British Columbia, Canada. 2. Methodology 2.1. Forward model for 3D magnetic anomalies Susceptibility distribution in the sub-surface () produce magnetic field (T) at the surface. The purpose of forward modeling is to compute this magnetic field. The total component of the magnetic field is given by (Blakely 1995): (1) where (Henry.meter-1), R denotes the volume occupied by causative body. is distance and is magnetization vector which can be obtained as a vector sum: (2) where is earths magnetic field and is remanent magnetization. If we ignore remanent component, the magnetization will be in the direction of the earths field and can be obtained simply as: (3) To compute total component of the magnetic field in Eq. (1), it is required to discretize the subsurface under the survey area into rectangular prisms of known sizes and positions with constant susceptibilities. The formulation for computation of magnetic response for each rectangular prism was presented by Bhattacharyya (1964) and later simplified into a form that is more suitable for fast computer implementation (Rao and Babu 1991). We use the formulation developed by Rao and Babu (1991) to compute magnetic response resulting from individual prisms. If the observed magnetic anomalies are caused by M subsurface prisms, the magnetic field at the field point i is given by: (4) where N is the number of observation point. The forward modeling of magnetic data using Eq. (1) and Eq. (4) can be written as following matrix equation: (5) Here, G is forward operator matrix that maps the physical parameters space into the data space. denotes the vector of unknown model parameters and is data vector that is given by measurement data. There are some error in measurement data because of noise that is usually assumed to be uncorrelated and have Gaussian distribution (Rezaie et al. 2017b), So (6) where, is vector of observed data and is vector of data error. The main purpose of the magnetic inverse problem is to find a geologically plausible susceptibility model ()based on G and some measured data () at the noise level. 2.2. Inversion method In the typical minimum-structure inversion procedure, subsurface of the survey area is discretized into rectangular prisms (cells) of known sizes and positions with the values of the physical property (e.g. susceptibility) in the cells that are called the model parameters to be estimated in the inversion (Rezaie et al. 2015). The solution can be obtained by minimization of an objective function, which is a combination of a measure of misfit between observation and predicted data and a measure of complexity of the model subject to a physical bound constraint (Li and Oldenburg 1996): (7) where is a regularization parameter. L is lower susceptibility bound, U is the upper susceptibility bound and the misfit functional is defined as (8) Here, is data weighting matrix given by . Where,stands for the standard deviation of the noise in the ith datum, and is a stabilizing functional (stabilizer) which measure minimum norm of model structure (Li and Oldenburg 1996, 1998, 2003): (9) where are coefficients that affect the relative importance of derivative components in different directions. resembles first-order finite-difference matrices in x, y and z directions. We have to use an additional depth weighting matrix for compensating lack of the data sensitivity to the deeper model parameters (Zhdanov 2015): (10) Now, Eq. (9) can be reformulated to apply the depth weighting matrix to the objective function. (11) where is the cumulative first-order finite-difference matrix. Eq. (7) is reformulated using matrix notation to incorporate depth weighting easily: (12) where and . Eq. (12) is transformed into a space of weighted model parameters by replacing the variables and (Rezaie et al. 2017a): (13) The solution of Eq. (13) is obtained according to the regularization theory similar to the classical minimum norm optimization problem (Tikhonov et al. 1977). The solution of the magnetic inverse problem is obtained by minimizing this equation using the GN method. The upper (U) and lower (L) susceptibility bounds can be imposed during the inversion process to recover more feasible model. If an achieved susceptibility value falls outside the bounds, the value at that cell is projected back to the nearest upper or lower susceptibility bound (Portniaguine and Zhdanov 1999). To solve Eq. (13) with GN method, assume the obtained solution denoted by at the (n − 1)th iteration, and the predicted data corresponding to this model are .Then at the nth iteration, a model perturbation can be achieved by solving following equation so that the inverted model can be updated by (Aster et al. 2013): (14) where is the regularization parameter in nth iteration. Then the solution of the inverse problem in Eq. (7), is given by (15) In order to recover a more feasible model of the subsurface, upper (U) and lower (L) physical bounds of susceptibility are imposed in each iteration to force. If a given susceptibility value falls outside the bounds, the susceptibility value of that cell is projected back to the nearest physical bound value. The solution to Eq. (14) is also equivalent to the least-squares solution of (16) The least-squares solution of the Eq. (16) is obtained by a fast iterative method such as Lanczos Bidiagonalization (LB) (Pagie and Saunders 1982) at each GN iteration. therefore, the proposed algorithm would be suitable for large scale problems (Rezaie et al. 2017a,b). The GN iterations stop when the RMS misfit reaches an acceptable level or the model corrections become small enough (Pilkington 2008). We have used an adaptive method for choosing regularization parameter similar to which was proposed by Farquharson (2008) which is a fast and efficient algorithm for choosing regularization parameter. The regularization parameter is started at 100 () which is a relatively large value. If an inversion is performed with the regularization parameter fixed at this value, a model would be produced that had a small amount of structure and predicted data under fit the observations. At each iteration, the regularization parameter is damped to give a slow but steady progression of models with increasing structure and decreasing data misfits: (17) where    based on empirical experiments. 3. Synthetic test We apply our algorithm to a synthetic test to evaluate the reliability of the introduced method. The synthetic model consists of two different blocks with dimension 200 m 200 m 200 m which are embedded beneath the surface so that susceptibility of uniform background is zero. The Susceptibility of each block is 0.06 (SI). Perspective view of the true model is displayed in Fig. (1a). Fig. 1 perspective view of the synthetic model with 2 blocks (a). Magnetic anomaly produced by the synthetic model with 5 % Gaussian noise of the accurate datum magnitude. Depth to the top of the shallower block (block (1)) is 50 m and depth to the top of the deeper block (block (2)) is 100 m. The total-field anomaly data have been generated above the surface assuming an inducing field with inclination (I) of 75, declination (D) of 25 and a strength of 50000 nT. The data generated over a grid of 1000 m 1000 m with sample spacing of 25 m. There are 1600 data and 5 % Gaussian noise of the accurate datum magnitude has been added (Fig. 1b). The subsurface is divided into 40 40 20 = 32000 rectangular prisms with the same size of 25 m for inversion. The inverse problem has been solved using the proposed method that is described in the preceding section (). The solution obtained after 5 iterations with RMS of 0.05. Fig. 2 shows a plan section and a cross section through the recovered model from proposed inversion method. The result indicates acceptable smooth reconstruction of the synthetic multisource blocks at different depth levels below the surface. The recovered bodies in the model are smooth and adequately matched with real location of synthetic bodies. Fig. 2 Plan sections through the recovered susceptibility model obtained from the 3D inversion of magnetic data at depth= -125 m (a). A cross-sectional slice of the susceptibility model at Northing= 500 m (b). The borders indicate the true position of each body. 4. Inversion of field data Mt. Milligan is a Cu-Au porphyry deposit situated in central British Columbia. Geological information obtained from a major drilling program show the host rocks of the deposit are Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks and contain intrusive monzonitic rocks that have accessory magnetite. There is an intensive hydrothermal alteration primarily in the region near the boundaries of the monzonite stock. The monzonite body is known as the MBX stock (Oldenburg et al. 1997). The copper and gold are concentrated in the potassic alteration zone, which is mainly around the contact of the monzonite intrusions (MBX) and may extend outward and into fractured volcanic rocks. However, magnetite is one of the strong indicators of the potassic alteration. In this region, magnetic data are acquired at 12.5 m spacing along lines in the east direction that spaced 50 m apart (Li and Oldenburg 1996). We use the data at 25 m spacing which yields 1920 data points. The reduced magnetic anomaly map is shown in Fig. (3). Fig. 3 The magnetic anomaly map of Mt. Milligan. The data are on 25 m 25 m grid. The direction of the inducing field is I= 75 and D= 25.73 with a strength of 58193 nT. It is assumed that each datum have an error whose standard deviation is equal to 5 percent of its magnitude (Li and Oldenburg 2003). To invert these data, the subsurface of the area is discretized into 48 40 18 = 34560 cells each of size 25 m. The positivity constraint was imposed which means lower (L) physical bounds of susceptibility are set to 0 SI. The solution is obtained after 112 iteration with RMS error of 0.05 which is about the predicted noise of the data. The recovered model is shown in Fig. (4) as one plan-section and one cross-section. The true edge of MBX stock and mineral assemblage which were derived from the drilling results overlaid on the cross-section. Fig. 4 The recovered susceptibility model shown in a plan-section at the depth of -80 m (a). A cross-section at the northing of 600 m overlaid by true boundary of monzonite body (MBX) with black line and mineral deposit with red shaded polygon (b). The results indicate that the anomalous body of magnetic susceptibility highs are mostly associated with the monzonite intrusion. There is a moderate anomalous body at the center of cross-section which is probably caused by magnetite content of potassic alteration. This area coincides with mineral deposit. Thus, the obtained solution is in a good agreement with true geologic boundaries of Mt. Milligan deposit. 5. Conclusions We have developed a new algorithm for inversion of magnetic data using Gauss Newton method. In each GN iteration LB method is used for solving least- square problem. Therefore, the proposed algorithm is efficient for large scale problems. We used an adaptive regularization method for choosing regularization parameter in each iteration which is a fast and efficient method for choosing regularization parameter. In the new algorithm, the physical bound constraint can be imposed during the inversion process via penalization function which does not need any transformation. Therefore, this method of imposing bound constraint is more efficient. The obtained results show the new developed 3D inversion method is able to produce a smooth solution which define the shape and extent of synthetic bodies adequately. Furthermore, the application of this inversion algorithm for a field magnetic data from Mt. Milligan deposit produced a model that is consistent with the available geological information. Compression methods such as wavelet compression which can compress the kernel matrix and using parallel programing that decrease the required memory and computation time will be subject of future works for large scale problems.

Customer Service Essay -- Business Management Studies

Customer Service Many business organisations have different definitions of customer service. For example, according to the Chartered Institute of Marketing, â€Å"Customer Service is what your business delivers to achieve customer satisfaction†. Another example is, according to the ACA Group, â€Å"Customer service is the ability of an organisation to constantly and consistently give the customer what they want and need†. All business organisations need to make certain that their customers are satisfied with the service they receive because; customers are the most important part of any successful organisations. Businesses such as, Barclays aim to exceed customer expectation in order to ensure that customers enjoy themselves, leave having enjoyed themselves and return in the coming future. Good customer service makes customers satisfied by fulfilling their needs first. Good customer service requires all staff to place themselves in the position of their customers. All staff should be aware of how they would like to be treated if, they were a customer, and deal their customers, for that reason. All business organisations should complete the A.R.T. of great service, to carry out a good customer service: Approachable- An organisation must create an open and friendly environment that will influence customers to come in with self-assurance so that, their matter can be dealt with. R esponsive- All staff should take responsibility of their action. Customer service should be flexible and provide precise and honest information, at all times. Timely- All customer services provide their services accurately and efficiently to new and existing customers, at all times. The following are the main activities of customer service: Ø Providing information Ø Giving advice Ø Providing assistance Ø Providing credit facilities Ø After-sales service Providing Information The type of information will depend on the product or service. Here are some examples, is the wool jumper flammable; how much is that laptop; when can you deliver the double-sized bed, what after-sales facilities do you provide? Getting the correct answers to these questions depends on the product and service knowledge of the sales staff, i.e. how well they have been trained. Giving Advice Advice is more accurate than information because, it involves more detail, greater specialist knowledge and modified to t... ... For example, to be faithful to the customers 3. Lost customers-For example, to encourage dissatisfied customers to complain 4. Employees- For example, to give staff training, to deal with complaints and problems quickly When receiving a complaint from an unhappy customer, the business must carry out the following: Ø Listen to the customer’s story Ø Ask for invoice/receipt to show date of purchase Ø If customers is angry, report to a manager Ø Examine the product When dealing a complaint from an unhappy customer, the business must carry out the following: Ø Advise customers of their views such as, legal requirements Ø Make an offers to customer such as, refunds or replacements Ø Give a receipt for products Ø Write on credit note any expiry date Many businesses record customer complaints so that, they can review the matter, and to improve its customer service. Details of each complaint can be recorded in several ways. For example, IKEA records all telephone complaints and directs them to the call centre at Stockport. Details of each complaint can be recorded onto the computer. Also, details of each complaint can also be recorded onto the ‘Customer Complaint Form’.

Literary Devices Essay

LITERARY DEVICES Copyright  © 2007 by Jay Braiman www. mrbraiman. com Literary devices refers to specific aspects of literature, in the sense of its universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language, which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Literary devices collectively comprise the art form’s components; the means by which authors create meaning through language, and by which readers gain understanding of and appreciation for their works. They also provide a conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others, both within and across genres. Both literary elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary devices. Literary elements refers to particular identifiable characteristics of a whole text. They are not â€Å"used,† per se, by authors; they represent the elements of storytelling which are common to all literary and narrative forms. For example, every story has a theme, every story has a setting, every story has a conflict, every story is written from a particular point-of-view, etc. In order to be discussed legitimately as part of a textual analysis, literary elements must be specifically identified for that particular text. Literary techniques refers to any specific, deliberate constructions or choices of language which an author uses to convey meaning in a particular way. An author’s use of a literary technique usually occurs with a single word or phrase, or a particular group of words or phrases, at one single point in a text. Unlike literary elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every text; they represent deliberate, conscious choices by individual authors. â€Å"Literary terms† refers to the words themselves with which we identify and designate literary elements and techniques. They are not found in literature and they are not â€Å"used† by authors. Allegory: Where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept or important historical/geopolitical event. Lord of the Flies provides a compelling allegory of human nature, illustrating the three sides of the psyche through its sharply-defined main characters. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds within close proximity, usually in consecutive words within the same sentence or line. Antagonist: Counterpart to the main character and source of a story’s main conflict. The person may not be â€Å"bad† or â€Å"evil† by any conventional moral standard, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Anthropomorphism: Where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being given arms, legs, facial features, human locomotion or other anthropoid form. (This technique is often incorrectly called personification. ) †¢ The King and Queen of Hearts and their playing-card courtiers comprise only one example of Carroll’s extensive use of anthropomorphism in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Blank verse: Non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter. †¢ Most of Shakespeare’s dialogue is written in blank verse, though it does occasionally rhyme. Character: The people who inhabit and take part in a story. When discussing character, as distinct from characterization, look to the essential function of the character, or of all the characters as a group, in the story as a whole. †¢ Rather than focus on one particular character, Lord assembles a series of brief vignettes and anecdotes involving multiple characters, in order to give the reader the broadest possible spectrum of human behavior. Golding uses his main characters to represent the different parts of the human psyche, to illustrate mankind’s internal struggle between desire, intellect, and conscience. †¢ Characterization: The author’s means of conveying to the reader a character’s personality, life history, values, physical attributes, etc. Also refers directly to a description thereof. †¢ Atticus is characterized as an almost impossibly virtuous man, always doing what is right and imparting impeccable moral values to his children. Climax: The turning point in a story, at which the end result becomes inevitable, usually where something suddenly goes terribly wrong; the â€Å"dramatic high point† of a story. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of structure; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) †¢ The story reaches its climax in Act III, when Mercutio and Tybalt are killed and Romeo is banished from Verona. Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story. The outcome of any story provides a resolution of the conflict(s); this is what keeps the reader reading. Conflicts can exist between individual characters, between groups of characters, between a character and society, etc. , and can also be purely abstract (i. e. , conflicting ideas). †¢ †¢ †¢ The conflict between the Montagues and Capulets causes Romeo and Juliet to behave irrationally once they fall in love. Jack’s priorities are in conflict with those of Ralph and Piggy, which causes him to break away from the group. Man-versus-nature is an important conflict in The Old Man and the Sea. Context: Conditions, including facts, social/historical background, time and place, etc. , surrounding a given situation. †¢ Madame Defarge’s actions seem almost reasonable in the context of the Revolution. Creative license: Exaggeration or alteration of objective facts or reality, for the purpose of enhancing meaning in a fictional context. †¢ Orwell took some creative license with the historical events of the Russian Revolution, in order to clarify the ideological conflicts. Dialogue: Where characters speak to one another; may often be used to substitute for exposition. †¢ Since there is so little stage direction in Shakespeare, many of the characters’ thoughts and actions are revealed through dialogue. Dramatic irony: Where the audience or reader is aware of something important, of which the characters in the story are not aware. †¢ Macbeth responds with disbelief when the weird sisters call him Thane of Cawdor; ironically, unbeknownst to him, he had been granted that title by king Duncan in the previous scene. Exposition: Where an author interrupts a story in order to explain something, usually to provide important background information. †¢ The first chapter consists mostly of exposition, running down the family’s history and describing their living conditions. Figurative language: Any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. There are many techniques which can rightly be called figurative language, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, verbal irony, and oxymoron. (Related: figure of speech) †¢ The poet makes extensive use of figurative language, presenting the speaker’s feelings as colors, sounds and flavors. Foil: A character who is meant to represent characteristics, values, ideas, etc. which are directly and diametrically opposed to those of another character, usually the protagonist. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. †¢ The noble, virtuous father Macduff provides an ideal foil for the villainous, childless Macbeth. Foreshadowing: Where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story (such as by the use of a narrator or flashback structure), such information does not constitute foreshadowing. †¢ Willy’s concern for his car foreshadows his eventual means of suicide. Hyperbole: A description which exaggerates, usually employing extremes and/or superlatives to convey a positive or negative attribute; â€Å"hype. † †¢ The author uses hyperbole to describe Mr. Smith, calling him â€Å"the greatest human being ever to walk the earth. † Iambic pentameter: A poetic meter wherein each line contains ten syllables, as five repetitions of a two-syllable pattern in which the pronunciation emphasis is on the second syllable. †¢ Shakespeare wrote most of his dialogue in iambic pentameter, often having to adjust the order and nature of words to fit the syllable pattern, thus endowing the language with even greater meaning. Imagery: Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery. Also refers to specific and recurring types of images, such as food imagery and nature imagery. (Not all descriptions can rightly be called imagery; the key is the appeal to and stimulation of specific senses, usually visual. It is often advisable to specify the type of imagery being used, and consider the significance of the images themselves, to distinguish imagery from mere description. ) †¢ The author’s use of visual imagery is impressive; the reader is able to see the island in all its lush, colorful splendor by reading Golding’s detailed descriptions. Irony (a. k. a. Situational irony): Where an event occurs which is unexpected, in the sense that it is somehow in absurd or mocking opposition to what would be expected or appropriate. Mere coincidence is generally not ironic; neither is mere surprise, nor are any random or arbitrary occurrences. (Note: Most of the situations in the Alanis Morissette song are not ironic at all, which may actually make the song ironic in itself. ) See also Dramatic irony; Verbal irony. Metaphor: A direct relationship where one thing or idea substitutes for another. †¢ Shakespeare often uses light as a metaphor for Juliet; Romeo refers to her as the sun, as â€Å"a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear,† and as a solitary dove among crows. Mood: The atmosphere or emotional condition created by the piece, within the setting. Mood refers to the general sense or feeling which the reader is supposed to get from the text; it does not, as a literary element, refer to the author’s or characters’ state of mind. (Note that mood is a literary element, not a technique; the mood must therefore be described or identified. It would be incorrect to simply state, â€Å"The author uses mood. †) †¢ The mood of Macbeth is dark, murky and mysterious, creating a sense of fear and uncertainty. Motif: A recurring important idea or image. A motif differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single word or fragmentary phrase, while a theme usually must be expressed as a complete sentence. †¢ Blood is an important motif in A Tale of Two Cities, appearing numerous times throughout the novel. Onomatopoeia: Where sounds are spelled out as words; or, when words describing sounds actually sound like the sounds they describe. †¢ Ouch! EEK! Crash! Oxymoron: A contradiction in terms. †¢ Romeo describes love using several oxymorons, such as â€Å"cold fire,† â€Å"feather of lead† and â€Å"sick health,† to suggest its contradictory nature. Paradox: Where a situation is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out. †¢ In 1984, â€Å"doublethink† refers to the paradox where history is changed, and then claimed to have never been changed. †¢ A Tale of Two Cities opens with the famous paradox, â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. † Parallelism: Use of similar or identical language, structures, events or ideas in different parts of a text. Personification (I): Where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are seemingly endowed with human self-awareness; where human thoughts, actions, perceptions and emotions are directly attributed to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. (Not to be confused with anthropomorphism. ) Personification (II): Where an abstract concept, such as a particular human behavior or a force of nature, is represented as a person. †¢ The Greeks personified natural forces as gods; for example, the god Poseidon was the personification of the sea and its power over man. Plot: Sequence of events in a story. Most literary essay tasks will instruct the writer to â€Å"avoid plot summary;† the term is therefore rarely useful for response or critical analysis. When discussing plot, it is generally more useful to consider and analyze its structure, rather than simply recapitulate â€Å"what happens. † Point-of-view: The identity of the narrative voice; the person or entity through whom the reader experiences the story. May be third-person (no narrator; abstract narrative voice, omniscient or limited) or first-person (narrated by a character in the story or a direct observer). Point-of-view is a commonly misused term; it does not refer to the author’s or characters’ feelings, opinions, perspectives, biases, etc. Though it is written in third-person, Animal Farm is told from the limited point-of-view of the common animals, unaware of what is really happening as the pigs gradually and secretively take over the farm. Writing the story in first-person point-of-view enables the reader to experience the soldier’s fear and uncertainty, limiting the narrative to what only he saw, thought and felt during the battle. Protagonist: The main character in a story, the one with whom the reader is meant to identify. The person is not necessarily â€Å"good† by any conventional moral standard, but he/she is the person in whose plight the reader is most invested. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Repetition: Where a specific word, phrase, or structure is repeated several times, usually in close proximity, to emphasize a particular idea. †¢ The repetition of the words â€Å"What if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  at the beginning of each line reinforces the speaker’s confusion and fear. Setting: The time and place where a story occurs. The setting can be specific (e. g. , New York City in 1930) or ambiguous (e. g. , a large urban city during economic hard times). Also refers directly to a description thereof. When discussing or analyzing setting, it is generally insufficient to merely identify the time and place; an analysis of setting should include a discussion of its overall impact on the story and characters. †¢ The novel is set in the South during the racially turbulent 1930’s, when blacks were treated unfairly by the courts. †¢ With the island, Golding creates a pristine, isolated and uncorrupted setting, in order to show that the boys’ actions result from their own essential nature rather than their environment. Simile: An indirect relationship where one thing or idea is described as being similar to another. Similes usually contain the words â€Å"like† or â€Å"as,† but not always. †¢ The simile in line 10 describes the lunar eclipse: â€Å"The moon appeared crimson, like a drop of blood hanging in the sky. † †¢ The character’s gait is described in the simile: â€Å"She hunched and struggled her way down the path, the way an old beggar woman might wander about. † Speaker: The â€Å"voice† of a poem; not to be confused with the poet him/herself. Analogous to the narrator in prose fiction. Structure: The manner in which the various elements of a story are assembled. †¢ The individual tales are told within the structure of the larger framing story, where the 29 travelers gather at the Inn at Southwark on their journey to Canterbury, telling stories to pass the time. †¢ The play follows the traditional Shakespearean five-act plot structure, with exposition in Act I, development in Act II, the climax or turning point in Act III, falling action in Act IV, and resolution in Act V. Symbolism: The use of specific objects or images to represent abstract ideas. This term is commonly misused, describing any and all representational relationships, which in fact are more often metaphorical than symbolic. A symbol must be something tangible or visible, while the idea it symbolizes must be something abstract or universal. (In other words, a symbol must be something you can hold in your hand or draw a picture of, while the idea it symbolizes must be something you can’t hold in your hand or draw a picture of. ) †¢ Golding uses symbols to represent the various aspects of human nature and civilization as they are revealed in the novel. The conch symbolizes order and authority, while its gradual deterioration and ultimate destruction metaphorically represent the boys’ collective downfall. Theme: The main idea or message conveyed by the piece. A theme should generally be expressed as a complete sentence; an idea expressed by a single word or fragmentary phrase is usually a motif. †¢ Orwell’s theme is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. †¢ The idea that human beings are essentially brutal, savage creatures provides the central theme of the novel. Tone: The apparent emotional state, or â€Å"attitude,† of the speaker/narrator/narrative voice, as conveyed through the language of the piece. Tone refers only to the narrative voice; not to the author or characters. It must be described or identified in order to be analyzed properly; it would be incorrect to simply state, â€Å"The author uses tone. † †¢ The poem has a bitter and sardonic tone, revealing the speaker’s anger and resentment. †¢ The tone of Gulliver’s narration is unusually matter-of-fact, as he seems to regard these bizarre and absurd occurrences as ordinary or commonplace. Tragedy: Where a story ends with a negative or unfortunate outcome which was essentially avoidable, usually caused by a flaw in the central character’s personality. Tragedy is really more of a dramatic genre than a literary element; a play can be referred to as a tragedy, but tragic events in a story are essentially part of the plot, rather than a literary device in themselves. When discussing tragedy, or analyzing a story as tragic, look to the other elements of the story which combine to make it tragic. Tragic hero/tragic figure: A protagonist who comes to a bad end as a result of his own behavior, usually cased by a specific personality disorder or character flaw. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) †¢ Willy Loman is one of the best-known tragic figures in American literature, oblivious to and unable to face the reality of his life. Tragic flaw: The single characteristic (usually negative) or personality disorder which causes the downfall of the protagonist. †¢ Othello’s tragic flaw is his jealousy, which consumes him so thoroughly that he is driven to murder his wife rather than accept, let alone confirm, her infidelity. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Verbal irony: Where the meaning of a specific expression is, or is intended to be, the exact opposite of what the words literally mean. (Sarcasm is a tone of voice that often accompanies verbal irony, but they are not the same thing. ) †¢ Orwell gives this torture and brainwashing facility the ironic title, â€Å"Ministry of Love. †