Who Was the Protagonist in the Scarlet Letter

Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1) If Hester and Dimmesdale had the same â€Å"teachers† (Shame, Despair, Solitude), why didn’t they learn the same lesson? 2) The life-changing event happens to Hester when she is in the forest away from her community. What do you think this says about the role of community in the outcome of her life? ) What is Pearl’s function in the story and how does Hawthorne make this evident to the reader? 4) Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use irony to portray his point? 5) Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use symbolism to portray his point? 6) â€Å"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great sce ne of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor for ever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. † What is the â€Å"spell† that was broken? ) What was Hawthorne’s purpose for writing this novel and what tools did he use to relay that message to the reader? 8) What is one theme from the novel and how does Hawthorne develop that theme throughout the story? 9) This novel revolves around a strong central female character. Readers may consider her role as a statement about the status of women. What was the status of Puritan women as reflected in The Scarlet Letter and what was the changing status of mid-19th century women, the period in which the novel was written? 10) Some critics say that Hester Prynne was the first American heroine.Others, however, say that her somewhat silent suffering isn’t truly heroic. Name a hero in The Scarlet Letter and discuss what qualities and actions make that character a hero. 11) Who is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter? 12) Choose a symbol from The Scarlet Letter and explain how this symbol brings greater meaning to the story. The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support.Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use symbolism to portray his point? 2. This novel revolves around a strong central female character. Readers may consider her role as a statement about the status of women. What was the status of Puritan women as reflected in The Scarlet Letter and what was the changing status of mid-19th century women, the period in which the no vel was written? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, hink about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. â€Å"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor for ever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. † What is the â€Å"spell† that was broken? 2.Some critics say that Hester Prynne was the first American heroine. Others, however, say that her somewhat silent suffering isn’t truly heroic. Name a hero in The Scarlet Letter and discuss what qualities and actions make that character a hero. T he Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1.Choose a symbol from The Scarlet Letter and explain how this symbol brings greater meaning to the story. 2. Who is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. What is Pearl’s function in the story and how does Hawthorne make this evident to the reader? 2.Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use iro ny to portray his point? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use symbolism to portray his point? 2. This novel revolves around a strong central female character. Readers may consider her role as a statement about the status of women.What was the status of Puritan women as reflected in The Scarlet Letter and what was the changing status of mid-19th century women, the period in which the novel was written? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use symbolism to portray his point? . This novel revolves around a strong central female character. Readers may consider her role as a statement about the status of women. What was the status of Puritan women as reflected in The Scarlet Letter and what was the changing status of mid-19th century women, the period in which the novel was written? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support.Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use symbolism to portray his point? 2. This novel revolves around a strong central female charact er. Readers may consider her role as a statement about the status of women. What was the status of Puritan women as reflected in The Scarlet Letter and what was the changing status of mid-19th century women, the period in which the novel was written? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWERPlease read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use symbolism to portray his point? 2. This novel revolves around a strong central female character. Readers may consider her role as a statement about the status of women.What was the status of Puritan women as reflected in The Scarlet Letter and what was the changing status of mid-19th century women, the period in which the novel was written? The Sca rlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. â€Å"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken.The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor for ever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. † What is the â€Å"spell† that was broken? 2. Some critics say that Hester Prynne was the first American heroine. Others, however, say that her somewhat silent suffering isn’t truly heroic. Name a hero in The Scarlet Letter and discuss what qualities and actions make that character a hero. The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWERPlease read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. â€Å"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor for ever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. What is the â€Å"spell† that was broken? 2. Some critics say that Hester Prynne was the first American heroine. Others, however, say that her somewhat silent suffering isn’t truly heroic. Name a hero in The Scarlet Letter and discuss what qualities and actions make that character a hero. The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support.Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. â€Å"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor for ever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. † What is the â€Å"spell† that was broken? 2. Some critics say that Hester Prynne was the first American heroine. Others, however, say that her somewhat silent suffering isn’t truly heroic.Name a hero in The Scarlet Letter and discuss what qualities and actions make that character a hero. The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO AN SWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Choose a symbol from The Scarlet Letter and explain how this symbol brings greater meaning to the story. . Who is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Choose a symbol from The Scarlet Letter and explain how this symbol brings greater meaning to the story. 2. Who is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter?The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Pl ease read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Choose a symbol from The Scarlet Letter and explain how this symbol brings greater meaning to the story. 2. Who is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWERPlease read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Choose a symbol from The Scarlet Letter and explain how this symbol brings greater meaning to the story. 2. Who is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please r ead the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an ffective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. Choose a symbol from The Scarlet Letter and explain how this symbol brings greater meaning to the story. 2. Who is the protagonist in The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support.Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. What is Pearl’s function in the story and how does Hawthorne make this evident to the reader? 2. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use irony to portray his point? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE Q UESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1.What is Pearl’s function in the story and how does Hawthorne make this evident to the reader? 2. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use irony to portray his point? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. What is Pearl’s function in the story and how does Hawthorne make this evident to the reader? . Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use irony to portray his po int? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. What is Pearl’s function in the story and how does Hawthorne make this evident to the reader? 2.Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use irony to portray his point? The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions—CHOOSE ONE QUESTION TO ANSWER Please read the following questions carefully, choose one of the questions, think about it and meticulously organize a clear response that includes an effective thesis statement and evidence for support. Your response should be in the form of a five paragraph essay. 1. What is Pearl’s function in the story and how does Hawthorne make this evident to the reader? 2. Why did Hawthorne write this novel and how does he use irony to portray his point?

A Research Proposal on Wive’s Income and Marital Quality

1. Increases in wives† income over time will contribute to increases in marital discord. (Expect strong effect on husbands† report of marital discord.) 2. Increase in wives† income over time will contribute to decreases in marital discord. (Expect husbands and wives to be about the same.) 3. Increases in perceived marital discord over time will contribute to increases in wives income. (Expect marital discord on wives† income stronger for wives than husbands.) Used data from Marital Instability Over the Life Course Study (1991). This was a 4-wave panel study that began in 1980 with random telephone interviews of 2,034 married individuals (not couples), younger than 55 using the clustered random-digit dialing procedure. Of the people called, 65 % completed the survey, 18% refused, and 17% were unreachable after 10 or more callbacks. Respondents were similar to national population of married individuals on age, race, region, household size, presence of children, and home ownership. Attempts to reinterview the same respondents took place in 1983, 1988, and 1992. Successful reinterviews were 78%, 66%, and 58% respectively. A decision was made to use date from 1980-1988 as these years showed the most dramatic change in married women†s employment and earnings. Also, the results of the 1992 interview had slight underreporting of younger, renter, African-American or Hispanic, and those without a college education in 1980. Respondents consisted of a total of 455 women and 316 men who were in a stable marriage from 1980-1988; a first marriage for both spouses. The study was restricted to continuous first marriages because previous evidence suggested relationships between income and marital quality differs depending on marriage order. Remarried families have lower incomes, fewer assets on average. Remarried women are more likely to be employed 40 hours or more per week than continuously married women. Marital discord was measured in three areas: marital instability (12 item scale that taps propensity to divorce), relationship problems (14 problems like easily angered, jealous, moody, not home enough), and marital conflict (assessed the amount and severity of conflict between spouses). Structural equation modeling was used. This allowed the investigation of the directional relationship and testing of the relative strength of each. Study took into account husbands† unemployment and the birth of a child. The model used to test 4 demographic characteristics: children, race, age, yrs of education. They didn†t affect the model substantially or alter conclusions. The average respondent had 14 years of education, was 35 years old, 92% were white, 41% were male. Data does not support either hypothesis 1 or 2. Data does support #3. Wives increased their income over a period of 8 years due to their own perceptions of increased marital discord. Husbands† perception of marital discord didn†t have an effect on wives† income. In 1980 54% wives employed, 96% of husbands. Income of wife is $7277 vs. $40559 for a family. In 1988 69% wives employed, and 94% of husbands. Income for a wife, $9495; and for a family, $42,420. ($ figure is adjusted to reflect 1988 constant dollars.) By 1988, 20% more wives entered the workforce and 10% dropped out. 24% of the husbands experienced some unemployment and 24% had experienced a birth of a child. Earnings gender gap went from 60% to 71%. By the end, women were contributing 30-40% toward the family income. Increases in wives† income do not significantly affect either spouse†s perception of marital discord. Instead increases in marital discord contribute significantly to increases in wives† income by increasing the likelihood that non-employed wives will enter the workforce. It isn†t clear if wives enter the labor force to prepare for divorce or to improve their own lives and perhaps their marriages by seeking additional personal challenges. More women responded than men. Also, if couples would have been interviewed so a clearer picture between spouses response could have been analyzed (couple-level data). Also gender role attitudes of spouses were not included. The role of social class was not taken into consideration. Another item is that the study began 19 years ago, concluding 11 years ago. This country has experienced a bull market and a low unemployment rate.

“Life is the most Spectacular Show on Earth!”- Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants.

â€Å"All I can do is put in time waiting for the inevitable. Observing the ghosts from my past, rattling around in my vacuous present. They crash and bang and make themselves at home, mostly because there's no competition. I've stopped fighting them. † says Jacob Jankowski, who is now ninety (or ninety three). Mr. Jankowski reflects upon memories of himself as a young man, tossed by an unnerving past into the lively world of the circus. Without a home, friend to call, or penny to his name- the circus must be ideal for Jacob, but is it? Page by page, this new life proves to be both a sanctuary and a literal hell for Jacob.Revealing the horrors of the circus, the beauty of all things living, and the reality that life that never stops moving forward, Sara Gruen presents; Water for Elephants- a profound, brilliantly written novel that lives, teaches, and captivates far beyond the last page. â€Å"I had my whole life planned, I knew exactly where it was taking me.. † said J acob Jankowski- before fate threw him into a whole new world; a world filled with freaks and secrets, a world with it's own set of rules, and it's own way of life. A youthful Jacob proves to be intelligent and compassionate, as well as honest and independent.Studying at Cornell, Jacob appears to be on a road to success. One moment he is taking the final exam at Cornell. And the next, Jacob's road to success is taken from beneath his feet. Both of his parents have died in a car accident, now orphaned and without a home or money, Jacob leaves Cornell and before he can blink he has jumped onto a train owned by the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. â€Å"Age is a terrible theif. Just when you're getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back. It makes you ache and muddies your head and silently spreads cancer throughout your spouse.†Says a now older Jacob Jankowski in his ninties, predestined to await his death in a nursing ho me. With his life now behind him, Mr. Jankowski is a defiant, frustrated old man with the same independence he had as a student at Cornell. His soul now weathered, we learn that he is a man with an old soul, he has lived his life honestly. However, life in this home has suffocated his independence, and frustrated him deeply. He feels he is being treated like an animal in the circus, not as a respected human being. He reminises, asking himself many of the questions that we ask ourselves; am I happy?Am I successful? am I at peace?. Mr. Jankowski is a man who lived through one of the biggest circus disasters in history, yet no one has found the time to listen to him, Mr. Jankowski is left alone to reflect on his life. Though his memory fails him at times in the present, his life in the past remains vivid and evident, he recalls every last detail of his life in the circus. Mr. Jankowski's memories, written as he remembers, become the unforgettable story- Water for Elephants. Jacob Janko wski is studying at Cornell, an Ivy league college, he is extremely successfull.At this moment, Jacob seems to have a healthy, successfull life in the palm of his hands, but Jacob soon finds himself in complete despiration, confusion, he has nothing. Both of Jacob's parents have died in a car accident, Jacob is notified that at the time of their death, his parents did not have a dollar to their name. They had stopped paying mortgage, in order to pay for Jacob's tuition. Jacob's home, and all of his parents possesions are now property of the state. Jacob has no friends to call, no money to support himself, and no family other than his deceased parents.Jacob is in shock, he is cold, he feels he is watching himself walk aimlessly throughout life. During Jacob's final exam at Cornell, Jacob discovers that his life has suddenly lost all meaning. Jacob leaves in the middle of his exam, and he never looked back. These events have brought Jacob to a river, where he finds, and boards a train . He did not know where this train was going, or why he was on it. All he knew was that his new life now lied within wherever the train was heading. Jacob finds that this train is owned by Benzini Brother's Most Spectacular Show on Earth. This begins the journey that turned Mr.Jankowski into the man he is today. On the train- Jacob meets Camel, an old, fatherly figure, and a harmless drunk. Camel warns Jacob about life in the circus, and advises him that if he has a home, to go back to it, that life on the train will prove to be more of a nightmare than whatever he's left behind. Jacob assures Camel that he has left nothing behind, all that he has lies ahead of him. With this said, Camel speaks to Uncle Al (the ringmaster), who is very insterested in Jacob. Having an Ivy league veterinarian makes Benzini Brother's one step closer in comparison to their rival, Ringling Brother's.Jacob now has a job, a home, and more or less, a family on the train. Jacob is staying in a car with a per former named Walter, and his dog Queenie. Jacob does his job, and goes far beyond that. He sees that the animals are being mistreated, underfed, and are not supplied with clean water, this is unsettling to Jacob, who does what he can to help these abused animals. Jacob meets August (head of the animal acts) and his wife, Marlena (one of the show's stars, lead of the equestian act). Jacob is attracted to Marlena, but August and other workers have made is clear that Marlena is off limits, and August will do anything to make that clear.Jacob quickly falls in love with life under the big top, and discovers the beauty in circus ‘freaks'. They are all people just like him, with nothing in their past but sorrow, and no way of continuing forward, besides the train. Jacob discovers all the the show's secrets, some beautiful, some horrifying. As the show travels from city to city, the effects of the Great Depression become more apparent, more people get redlighted, less animals get fed, the conditions for all life depending on the Show get drastically worse. Benzini Brothers eventually accumulate a circus elephant named Rosie.She was the ‘great gray hope' the new act that was going to put Benzini Brothers on the map, Rosie would be the salvation of the show. Unfortunately, Rosie is deemed useless. August cannot communicate with her, therefore he cannot train her, and she may not preform and save the show. August's anger and mental instability cause him to abuse her on a regular basis. Jacob sees this, and it upsets him. Jacob learns that Rosie is indeed intellegent, she can be trained, and she can perform. The barrier between August and Rosie was that Rosie did not understand English.With Jacob's help, August trains Rosie in her vernacular- German. Meanwhile, Camel has become incredibly sick. Jacob searches restlessly for answers, from town to town looking for a doctor with answers. Camel has become useless to the show, now paralyzed, and slowly dying, he co uld no longer work. In the times of the Great Depression, Benzini Brothers couldn't afford to feed a man who can't do his job. It is apparent to Walter and Jacob that if Uncle Al hears of Camel's illness, he would be redlighted that evening. Jacob discovers that Camel has Jake Poisoning.Jake Poisoning was common during the 1930s Prohibition Era, it came from drinking Jamacian Ginger extract. Jacob and Walter hid their old, now paralyzed friend in their traincar, planning to meet up with Camel's son in one of the cities of Benzini's performances. Unfortunately, Uncle Al discovers Camel before he could be taken to safety. This is during one of the shows most financially tragic times in the Great Depression, in order to stay in bussiness and be able to feed the animals, they must cut more performers, and more workers. Walter and Camel are redlighted, Jacob escapes death.Jacob and Marlena become closer, they share an unconditional love for the animals, and a passion for eachother. They are both running from their pasts, and reaching out for someone to hold. Their romance must remain secret to ensure their safety. They are cautious, but August suspects that Marlena is unloyal. August becomes progressively more violent, and eventually lashes out- beating both Marlena and Jacob. Marlena explains to Jacob that August charmed her during her earliest days in the circus she felt lust for him and they married, but this perfect image soon turned dark. August was abusive, bipolar, and very angry.In conclusion, Marlena leaves August and is finally able to aknowledge her love her Jacob. A surviving group of men that were redlighted during the Depression catch up with the show, and start an animal riot during one of it's performances. With animals running wild in the bigtop, there is chaos amoungst the performers. During this, Jacob struggles to find Marlena to ensure her safety. As Jacobs eyes lock onto Marlenas, he sees Rosie behind her, lift the stake the once constricted h er from the ground. She ‘lifted the stake high in the air and brought it down splitting his (August's) headlike a watermellon'. Jacob and Marlena live happily together, they marry, and have children. Jacob gets his degree at Cornell, Rosie, Bobo (Jacob’s baboon), and four of Marlena’s beloved horses accompany them in Ringling Brothers Circus. Jacob's children grow up, Marlena dies of cancer, and Jacob retires to a nursing home. prohibition era important to plot- caused camels death. came from jamacian ginger extract, jamacian ginger itself was not dangerous, but during prohibition the government recognized it as a source of alochol, and changed its contents.Setting- Setting greatly impacts the course of this novel. In fact, many of the struggles Jacob faced as a young man in the circus were a direct outcome of the time period this novel was set in. One major setting of this novel is the Benzini Brothers circus. Where a young Jacob runs to in a time of complete de spiration, where he is hired as a veterinarian, meets and falls in love with Marlena, a star in the show. After leaving Benzini Brothers, Marlena and Jacob work at Ringling. This later impacts his life one final time; Mr. Jankowski leaves the nursing home to return to the circus, his real home.In the final pages of this novel, Jacob resorts back to the circus, the only place he feels accepted. Jacob becomes the tickmaster for Ringling. Another main setting of this novel is the retirement home. This retirement home is where he relives his youth, and tells it in story form, which is what we read. It is here that Jacob reflects on his life, and we watch and understand his thoughts and frustrations. This retirement home was set next to a park, Jacob looks out his window and sees the circus is in town, which sets this story into action.In the retirement home, Jacob feels alienated, alone, and forgotten. The time period also greatly effected this novel- both the Great Depression and the 1 930s Prohibition took place during this novel. Due to the Great Depression, the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth was sturggling financially, resulting in it’s workers being ‘red lighted’. The Prohibition evidentially caused Camel’s death. The prohibition was a national ban of the transport, consumption, and sale in the United States from 1920 to 1930.As a result, the government Jamacian Ginger as a potential alcohol source, and because of this, required manufactures to change its contents before sale. It was later dicovered that these modifications to Jamacian Ginger cause paralayzation, which Camel suffered from. Symbolism- Symbolism is an important, and commonly used element in this novel. One symbol used in this novel is the stake that holds Rosie to the ground. August chained her up, in order to control and confine her. This stake represents captivity, and pain.Later in the novel, this stake also symbolizes freedom. The stake that was on ce used to confine Rose, fulling exposing her to August’s abuse, was used to kill August, freeing Rosie, Marlena, and Jacob. Included in the title, water is another evident symbol in this novel. Throughout the entire novel, water represents purity, and a fresh start. When Jacob left his final exams and walked to the trains, there was a river nearby which he rinsed his feet on. Being by this river led him to the train tracks, which led Jacob to a whole new world.Throughought the book, each of it’s characters carry heavy burdens, mistakes, and haunting memories from the past, water represents an escape from these horrors. The train tracks represent life’s way of continually moving forward, never pausing to wait for it’s passengers. Rosie’s desperation represents the American’s struggle during the Great Depression. Conflict- Man vs. Nature (Barrier between domesticated animals and the humans that try to train and confine, rather than understand them. ), Man vs. Self (Mr. Jankowski vs. Jacob Jankowski), and Man vs. Man (Jacob vs.August over both Marlena and the animals) are all represented throughout this novel. Flashback- Flashback is another literary element used throughout this novel. Flashback greatly impacts the mood of this book, allowing us to see the conflict between young Jacob and old Jacob. This flashback also allows us to see Mr. Jankowski’s yearning for young love, young passion, and feeling accepted. Foreshaowing- Foreshadowing is introduced within the first few pages, revealing to us that Jacob has witnessed a murder, this keeps the reader’s attention, the details of the murder are not revealed until the final chapter.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, page after page it captivated me. I would find myself reading for hours on end, Gruen’s imagery made you, yourself feel like you were living a hectic life in the circus. Each page pulled you farther into a world of freaks, ringmasters, anger, love, and above all, passion. Water for Elephants taught the lifechanging lesson, that in the end, everyone returns home. I storngly suggest this novel to a mature audience who wants to be enchanted by rich memories of the circus, and an old man’s fight to maintain dignity and sanity in a changing world.

STRATEGY, PROJECT MANAGEMENT & SUPPLY CHAIN Case Study

STRATEGY, PROJECT MANAGEMENT & SUPPLY CHAIN - Case Study Example It is difficult to manage a project in the energy sector where there is friction with the government and, in this case, issues with the extension of the PSA have made it difficult for companies to achieve profit estimates. Failure by some companies, in this case Agip KCO, to respect the production schedule and compliance with environmental regulations have resulted in friction between international consortiums and the government (Esty & Bitsch, 2013: p4). Scharffen Berger is rapidly expanding and the most important issue at such a point is to decide on how to increase its capacity across its production system, as well as the technologies to use (Snow et al, 2010: p9). In such a situation, a company like Scharffen Berger should consider marketing requirements, effects of reputation and quality, and alternative approaches aimed at increasing output both in the long and short term. This issue is exacerbated by Toyota’s use of offline systems to address these problems, which is a deviation from the Toyota production System’s procedures and policies (Mishina & Takeda, 1995: p2). Sinopec’s implementation of the vendor-managed inventory system provides important insight into potential challenges facing the implementation of such supply chain strategies, including poor integration of information systems. In implementing the VMI strategy, such challenges could lead to an increase in inventory stored by the supplier, especially if there is lack of mutual trust in the chain of supply (Zhao et al, 2006:

Renting versus Buying a Home Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Renting versus Buying a Home - Essay Example Before a person can go ahead to acquire a home, it is highly important for him to weigh the merits and demerits of the method he is intending to use i.e. either buying or renting, in order to avoid regretting later. For example, different persons have different tastes and preferences when it comes to colors or structural designs. This means that once a person acquires a house, he would want to modify the already existing designs to suit his tastes. Buying a house thereby becomes the best option as you thereby become the rightful owner, enabling you to do whatever you want with it, whether to repaint, change the doors, modify the roofing among other activities. In fact, you can go ahead to build other permanent structures on the compound such as parking lot, without necessarily having to request for approval from any other party. Renting a house denies you this opportunity as the decision to conduct such modifications is the prerogative of the landlord (Hanson, 2010). In fact, most la ndlords expect you as a tenant to maintain the existing standards of the house and if any repairs are needed, you have to contact them so that they can carry them out, a process which may end up inconveniencing you. Say for example there is leakage of water from the roof and the rain continues to fall, waiting for someone to rectify the problem at his or her own pleasure may turn out to be discomforting. Buying a home is recommendable as the current markets indicate that it facilitates capital appreciation

Action Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Action Research Proposal - Essay Example The ELP program will be executed once a week for three hours for one semester in collaboration with teachers who are trained to provide a family atmosphere to the students. The trained ELP staff will take every opportunity in and out of classrooms to follow up on the students and to coordinate with their classroom teachers as to student behavior and to guide them accordingly in the formation of their character and developing good school habits. ELP teachers shall be in regular communication with parents, counselors, administrators and non-ELP teachers to monitor each student’s progress. Results will indicate if the ELP program is effective in motivating the students to stay in school and prevent dropping out. Adolescence is a very trying time in a person’s life. It is when an individual struggles to establish his own identity in the face of changes and challenges that come his way. High school freshmen are vulnerable to a lot of adjustments. Not only are they adjusting to physical changes, but also emotional and social changes as well. For some, there is more to it than the usual adjustment to change, as some factors gravely affect their school performance. Research has unearthed information that school drop out rates are mostly coming from the population of high school freshmen. A large suburban school district in the United States was the community selected for study. This school district has more than 100 schools and serves close to 90,000 students annually (Zvoch, 2006). School enrollment is composed of large numbers of White and Latino students. The usual composition of the student population is approximately 46% Latino, 44% White, 4% American Indian, 3% African American, 2% Asian and 1% other (Zvoch, 2006). This district also serves many economically disadvantaged and language minority students (Zvoch, 2006). 15% of the students are

C2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

C2 - Essay Example The K-12 reform in education was a significant move towards improvement in the country’s higher education system (Bahry and Marr, 2005). It was meant to promote post-secondary education through scholarships, which are important in supporting the students who might be ambitious and capable to learn but are unable to pay the tuition fees. There were also strategies aimed at promoting higher education in Qatar to world class level, which included encouraging prestigious global institutions to establish in the country. Qatar University was restructured to conform to the modern requirements of higher education institutions. In all the reforms, women and men were accorded equal opportunities for education. Affirmative action encouraged women to take advantage of the reforms, which led to the emergence of an educated population of women ready to take up challenging roles in healthcare, legal profession, business and other economic activities (Goldman et al. 2007). Without limitations as to the sex that should be educated, boys and girls are competing on equal grounds, which have made it possible for women to outcompete men in higher education. Bahry and Marr (2005) noted that there is high retention of girls in schools than it is for boys. The number of girls who are completing secondary level is therefore higher than boys. Moreover, studies indicate that girls are passing exams without special treatment (Planning Council, 2005). Opportunities for boys are many since some employers are still clinging to the conventional believes, which might be the reason for boys to discontinue with education in favor of unskilled labor. On the other hand, such tendencies are motivating girls to continue to higher education for the reason that there are no employment opportunities for them in the unskilled low paying labor intensive jobs. The women who are therefore joining various professions in the country are

Equality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Equality - Assignment Example In the 19th century, the American society thrived on a subsistence economy where women typically did home-based work and reproductive roles. At the onset a market economy, women called for equal social and political representation in the affairs governing the society. In a seemingly patriarchal society, the French feminism of the nineteenth century grew at a very slow rate (Roth 23). On the face of it, the republican political system was reluctant to support the women and refused them the voting rights until after the Second World War, in 1945 (Paletschek & Bianka 12). According to the various reports by human rights organizations, some countries are yet to conform to the observation of women’s right. In the contemporary world, the modern woman faces the challenge of balancing work and social life. Nevertheless, the protection of women from gender discrimination is paramount for any society. Unfortunately, some countries, including the US, have loose gender policies that aim at giving insurance to the social existence of women (Gardiner  11). The pursuit of gender equality is a major controversial debate that surfaces the modern

Home Schooling and Traditional Schooling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Home Schooling and Traditional Schooling - Essay Example As a result, there have been debates whether it is a good idea to home-school children or if it would be better to send them to traditional schools. One of the arguments presented against homeschooling is that there is no guarantee of quality education because not all parents and tutors have the proper training to teach. Moreover, the lessons that might be presented to the student may not be on the same level of the nationally accepted curriculum such as those taught in school (kidshealth.org). On the other hand, the same argument can also be presented in the traditional school because not all licensed teachers really have the skill of effectively teaching students. In relation to the quality of education given to students, homeschooling prides itself on an intensive program that could be designed for the student depending on the student’s learning speed. The one to one teaching and learning experience can be a catalyst for quantity learning. In contrast to this matter, traditional schools have set schedules that need to be followed so that the quality of learning is greatly affected (Baker & kidshealth.org). For instance, slow learners are often left behind while fast learners get bored with the lessons that are repeatedly discussed for those who have difficulty following the lesson. Another problem that is said of homeschooling is the absence or limited access to the development of social skills in students. Home-schools may organize groups for their children in order to compensate for the socialization they miss while learning alone at home and join group activities such as tours and sports but it is so limited in contrast to the exposures of students in traditional schools. Moreover, the facilities used in homeschooling are far limited than in traditional schools.  

Orensic Anthropology Field School Essay Example for Free

Orensic Anthropology Field School Essay Assignments: Detailed descriptions, expectations, and grading rubrics will be posted for each assignment and made available for students to download from blackboard. Late Assignment Policy: Late assignments will not be accepted. Students will receive a 0 for any assignment not turned in on time. Hard copies of assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date (except for labs, which are due at the  end of the lab class). If you are ill and have a doctor’s note, you may email the assignment to me prior to the class in which it is due. Policies regarding religious holidays and accommodations for religious activities from Section 3.1 of the 2006-2007 Faculty Handbook: Absent for Religious Holidays: †¢ The general tenor of the University’s policy regarding accommodations for religious observances is that no student should suffer academic penalty because of the observance of their faith. For example, students may wish to be excused from classes or examinations for religious reasons on Holy Days or on the Jewish Sabbath (one-and a-half hours before sunset Friday to one-and-a-half hours after sunset on Saturday), or on Friday at 1:00 p.m. for Muslim community prayers. †¢ Students have a responsibility to alert members of the teaching staff in a timely fashion to upcoming religious observances and anticipated absences. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling tests, examinations or other compulsory activities at these times. If compulsory activities are unavoidable, every reasonable opportunity should be given to these students to make up work that they miss, particularly in courses involving laboratory work. When the scheduling of tests or examinations cannot be avoided, students should be informed of the procedure to be followed to arrange to write at an alternate time. †¢ While the University’s policy makes no special provision for Holy Days of other faiths, the same general consideration is understood to apply: no students should be seriously disadvantaged because of their religious beliefs. Final Grades: Final grades will be calculated according to the weights listed in the Grading Scheme. There will be no make up assignments or extra credit assignments. The grades you earn on your assignments are the grades you will receive. The breakdown of percentages into letter grades, GPA, and grade definitions is viewable here: http://www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/calendar/rules.htm#grading Student Participation Policy: Students are expected to do the required readings before attending lecture/lab. There will be no time to read the text before starting the lab. Each lab is based upon text and assigned materials. Lectures will NOT be posted online. It is the student’s responsibility to come to class and take notes. A handout listing tips on efficient note taking is linked in the recommended reading section, below. Students are encouraged to take advantage of workshops in note taking and other study skills provided by The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills centre. Student questions are encouraged during lecture and lab. Course Rationale: This course provides students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to searching for, documenting, and recovering human remains and associated exhibits from outdoor scenes. Crime scene protocols and the role of the forensic anthropologist during crime scene investigations are emphasized. This course encourages students to develop their critical thinking skills and focuses on a reflective learning approach to create an experience-based learning opportunity. Goals and Learning Objectives Goals: ââ€" ª Introduce students to the main techniques used in a forensic anthropological search, recovery, and analysis of human remains at outdoor scenes ââ€" ª Highlight the importance of collaboration and teamwork in forensic science ââ€" ª Show students how to incorporate the scientific method in crime scene analysis and reconstruction ââ€" ª Help students develop public speaking skills and professionalism ââ€" ª Emphasize the importance of ethics and safety in forensic anthropology and forensic science ââ€" ª Build critical thinking and reasoning skills through an iterative process as new variables are introduced Learning objectives By the end of the course: ââ€" ª Students will have the skills to volunteer as members of a search team  in cases of found human remains and missing persons presumed dead ââ€" ª Students will be able to verbally explain their rationale for adopting particular protocols ââ€" ª Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the proper methods of processing a crime scene Required Reading: Gardner, R. 2005 or 2012. Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation. CRC Press. Please see the class schedule for assigned readings for each lecture. Recommended Reading: How not to plagiarize: http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/plagsep.html) Writing tips and study skills (including note-taking, referencing, lecture listening, test writing): http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc/Students/tips.htm E-Culture Policy: Students should treat email as professional correspondence, using a formal tone and phrasing questions clearly. Email without ANT306 in the subject line will not be answered. Students must use their UTOR email to ensure that their messages get delivered and is not filtered out as spam. Blackboard will be used to inform students of important course-related information. It is the student’s responsibility to check the website regularly. Statement on Learning Technology: Laptops are permitted in class for word processing only. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, the use of voice recorders, digital photography and video recorders is prohibited. Classroom Conduct: Disruptive behaviour during lectures (e.g. cell phones ringing, chatting,  text messaging, etc.) is a show of disrespect to the speaker, as well as an academic offence (see Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters), and as such, will not be tolerated. If someone is being disruptive, he/she will be asked to leave. During the field component of the course we will follow briefing and debriefing protocols – students are expected to be aware when the person in charge of briefing enters the room and should immediately give that individual their undivided attention. Note taking is permitted and expected. What I expect from students: Students are expected to arrive at lecture/lab prepared to work on their mock cases. In this context, prepared means having read the assigned textbook chapter; generating and bringing relevant data sheets, such as inventory forms; etc. Forensic anthropology is a field requiring attention to detail, professionalism, careful, and critical analysis. I expect students to bring these qualities to the field and the lab What students can expect from me: I will provide as complete, organized, and detailed an overview of the process of a forensic anthropological search and recovery, including crime scene protocols, as possible to give you the most realistic experience possible. I will make your health and safety a priority, outlining the potential hazards one can encounter at a crime scene, and addressing the ethical issues associated with the excavation and recovery of human remains in a medico-legal context. I will emphasize professionalism and help you achieve a professional note taking style, demeanor, and manner of public speaking. I will be available to discuss your course work and career goals during office hours or by appointment. I want you to do your best and will support you in your efforts to achieve success. Academic Integrity: From the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters: It shall be an offence for a student knowingly: (d) to represent as ones own any idea or expression of an idea or work of another in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work, i.e. to commit plagiarism. Wherever in the Code an offence is described as depending on knowing, the offence shall likewise be deemed to have been committed if the person ought reasonably to have known. The full policy can be found here: http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm Plagiarism is considered an academic offense and will be dealt with according to the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. Please be advised that while it is necessary and desirable to work in groups to complete the mock case, generating discussion and leading to additional learning opportunities, each student must write his/her own reports. Copying sections from someone else’s report (with or without a few word changes) is considered plagiarism. Drop Policy: Nov 5, 2012 is the final day to drop this course from academic record and GPA. By this time students will have completed 45% of their final grade. Academic Support: Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre: The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (Room 390, Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre) offers a range of workshops, seminars and individual consultations to help students develop the academic skills they need for success in their studies. For more information on the Centres services and programs, go to www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc or phone 905-828-3858. AccessAbility Policy: â€Å"Students with diverse needs are welcome in this course, although it is physically demanding. The UTM AccessAbility Resource Centre offers services to assess specific student needs, provide referrals, and arrange appropriate accommodations. Students with questions about disability/health accommodations are encouraged to contact their instructor and/or the  AccessAbility Resource Centre when the course begins. The AccessAbility Resource Centre staff can be contacted by phone (905-569-4699), email ([emailprotected]) or in person (Room 2047, South Building).†

Unilever SWOT and PESTLE analysis

Unilever SWOT and PESTLE analysis Company background and mission statement Unilever is a global company that can trace its origins to 1929, when a merger between a Dutch margarine manufacturer and a British soap maker was negotiated (Jones, 2002). Given the distinct sectors in which the two organisations were located, the merger was considered somewhat of a ‘curiosity’ (Jones, 2002, online), but it set the stage for a multinational corporation producing a wide portfolio of goods. Some of the world’s most recognised brands are produced by the company, including Surf, Lipton, Dove, Lynx, Magnum and Hellmann’s. Today, Unilever is one of Europe’s largest companies, and in terms of sales, it is the third-largest consumer goods firm in the world, after Nestle and Procter and Gamble (Thain and Bradley, 2014). The company has been floated twice, and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index and the AEX Index. The stated aim of the company is to â€Å"provide people the world over with products that are good for them and good for others† (Unilever, 2014, online). Strategic Audit A strategic audit comprises a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of a company’s business environment and internal assets. There are two key elements to the audit: the external environment and the internal environment. The external environment identifies issues concerned with customers and competition, and examines the social, economic, technological, environmental political and legal elements impacting the business. A typical tool used at this stage is the PESTLE analysis. The internal analysis focuses on the resources the company possesses, such as the product distribution, product portfolio, sales and profit margins. A typical tool used at this stage is the SWOT analysis, in which the strengths and weaknesses, and the advantages and disadvantages of a company compared to its competitors are listed. Below, these tools are in turn applied to Unilever. The External Environment PESTLE analysis The PESTLE framework below analyses the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental dynamics of the environment in which Unilever operates. Political Unilever is co-headquartered in London and Amsterdam. Both the Dutch and the British political systems are in a time of flux. The British government currently comprises the first coalition government in the post-war period, with another expected after the General Election in 2015 (Taylor-Gooby and Stoker, 2011), while in the Netherlands, coalitions are standard. Such governmental frameworks have important implications for the conduct of business, for there tend to be policy ebbs and flows over short periods of time. For instance, in the Netherlands, the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) for businesses has changed three times since 2010 (Wolf, 2014). Both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are original members of the European Union (EU) which facilitates trade among member states by the harmonisation of certain rules relating to business and the removal of trade barriers. There is some political impetus in both countries, however to leave the EU. For instance, in 2012, the prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, threatened to pull the country out of the Eurozone as a means of easing the local Dutch economy (Dutch News, 2014), while in the UK there is a lobby for a referendum on EU membership. Exiting the EU would have massive implications for a co-headquartered business like Unilever. For this reason, Unilever has been vocal about its preference for both countries to remain in the Union (The Guardian, 2014). There is growing political unrest in the Middle East, and while Unilever does not currently operate there, 53 per cent of its business comes from developing markets (Unilever, 2014), and globalisation means that it may not be shielded from the effects of conflict and instability overseas. For example, in 2012, oil prices reached unprecedented levels (Smith, 2014). This is a matter of concern for the company because it directly impacts on transportation costs. Economic Shoppers in Europe are still suffering from the effects of the longest and deepest recession in the post-war period. Data from Eurostat shows that household consumption fell drastically across Europe following the recession, and while there has been some recovery in recent years, household consumption is still not back to its pre-2008 level (Gerstberger and Yaneva, 2013). In addition, unemployment has risen and wages have stagnated in several of the economies in which Unilever supplies consumers. Low household consumption, high unemployment and falling wages bring about drops in consumer demand which adversely affect manufacturers like Unilever. During recessions, households tend to cut back on non-essentials, which might impact some parts of the companys product portfolio. While the West has suffered from the financial crisis, economies in other areas, such as Latin America and China, are booming, providing considerable opportunities for the company. For instance, in 2013, sales of the companys products to emerging markets grew by 8.7 per cent (The Guardian, 2014). Social Life expectancy has been increasing over time in wealthy nations. For instance, in the UK in 1980, life expectancy stood at 70.4 years for men and 79.8 for women. By 2010, it had increased to 79.3 years and 83.6 years, respectively for men and women (Blossfeld, Buchholz, and Kurz, 2011). At the same time, the fertility rate has been falling over time. The increase in life expectancy and a below replacement fertility rate coupled with the ageing of the so-called ‘baby boom’ generation (those born between 1946 and 1965) are accelerating population ageing. The UK government has estimated that the proportion of the population aged 30 and under is set to fall, while the proportion aged 60 and above will increase. By 2034, it is estimated that 23 per cent of the British population will be aged 65, while just 18 per cent will be aged 16 or below (Office for National Statistics, 2009). There are important ramifications of the ageing population for businesses like Unilever. Firstly, there are likely to be changes in the structure of demand in future. Older people have unique needs and desires that will need to be met by Unilever. For instance, there is a greater demand for frozen ‘ready meals’ by older people (Ahlgren, Gustafsson and Hall, 2004) which will directly impact Unilever’s ‘Sara Lee’ brand. Secondly, there may be labour shortages in the future. Expanding businesses like Unilever will need to respond to this by encouraging workers to work longer or recruiting migrant workers (Maestas and Zissimopoulos, 2010) As a direct result of some high profile public campaigns, people are becoming more health and ethically conscious. This has led to an increase in demand for ethically produced and healthy products and heightened concern regarding genetically modified goods. This trend has already had a direct impact on Unilever’s product portfolio, with sales of two of its margarine brands (I Can’t Believe its Not Butter and Flora) seemingly in free-fall (The Guardian, 2014) Technological Increasingly, consumers, particularly younger individuals, utilise social media, retailing websites and mobile forms of communication to connect with retailers, to discuss with members of their social networks their purchasing decisions, and to review past purchases (Sashi, 2012). This means that consumables companies like Unilever need to harness the Internet and mobile technologies in accessing these customers. For instance, a growing number of companies now include social networking websites such as Facebook and micro-blogging sites like Twitter in their promotion mix as a means of engaging their current consumer base and recruiting new customers. At the same time, constant connectivity makes the selling environment for consumer products increasingly competitive. The readiness of product price and promotional information, the ability of shoppers to access online stores quickly and the aggregation of online content and offline information all mean that, in the digital age, firms like Unilever must carefully craft their marketing activity (Sashi, 2012). Legal Unilever has a presence in some 190 countries worldwide which means that it must abide by their national laws. The extent of the company’s multinational activity means that it must devote considerable resources to scanning the legal horizon and ensuring that it responds to changes accordingly. There have been significant legislative changes in the area of people management. For instance, across Europe many countries have enacted anti-discrimination laws which companies like Unilever must adhere to. In the United Kingdom, under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, businesses are not allowed to discriminate against individuals on the basis of factors such as gender, age, disability, religion and ethnicity in their recruitment, selection, training and promotional practices (Hyman, Klarsfeld, Ng, and Haq, 2012). Legal frameworks have also been put in place as a response to the ageing of the population (Maestas and Zissimopoulos, 2010). For instance, the mandatory age of retirement has been removed in both the UK and the Netherlands, which means that Unilever can no longer compel employees to retire once they reach the age of 65. Large companies also must put adequate pension provisions for workers in place under a new British scheme, which has a direct impact on business costs Environmental There is increasing political impetus to respond to environmental degradation, and the onus is on large manufacturers like Unilever to use fewer resources and produce less waste. In Europe, a major development affecting the company is the establishment of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which was set up in 2005 as part of a concerted and collaborative attempt to reduce carbon emissions under the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. The EU ETS is a system under which polluters emissions are ‘capped’; in order to pollute more, manufacturers must purchase credits from other polluters. Participation in the EU ETS is mandatory for all large factories and plants that produce more than 25 thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide and that use ammonia or petrochemicals (Ellerman, Converey and Perthuis, 2010). The Internal Environment SWOT analysis The second element of a strategic audit is an analysis of the internal mechanisms of the business. This part of the paper uses a SWOT analysis to identify and critically examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing Unilever Strengths The size of the company is its major strength. Unilever manufactures more than 400 brands which it sells to some 190 countries (Unilever, 2014, the Guardian, 2014). In addition, it employs over 167,000 people and expends 928 million euros on research and development annually (Unilever, 2013). In terms of performance, the company has bucked recent economic trends. In 2013, the company reported profit growth of 9 per cent over the previous year, reporting a net profit of  £4.4 billion. In addition, global sales grew by over 4 per cent that year, with sales to emerging economies growing by 8.7 per cent (the Guardian, 2014). As well as its sheer size, a major source of strength for Unilever is its longevity and brand recognition. The company has been in existence since 1929 and is the world’s oldest multinational enterprise (Thain and Bradley, 2014) Another strength of the company is its geographical spread. Unlike some consumable manufacturers, which are headquartered in just one country and found on just one public index, Unilever has headquarters in two countries, is floated on two indexes and is secondarily floated on the New York Stock Exchange. Another of the company’s strength is its human capital. Human capital is the volume of skills, knowledge, experience and competencies embodied in individuals that staff and run the business. This is important for there is a good deal of empirical research that links high levels of human capital with firm performance (Huselid, Jackson and Schuler, 1997). The company’s chief executive officer, Paul Polman, who held senior positions at both of the companys major competitors, Nestle and Procter and Gamble, has been termed a ‘rainmaker’ that has taken the company from strength to strength (The Telegraph, 2014). On taking the reins in 2009, Polman set out a plan to double the size of the business, to double sales to  £80 billion and to boost efforts at environmentalism and sustainability. Weaknesses Some analysts have argued that the companys broad product portfolio is a source of weakness (the Guardian, 2014). The firm produces goods in four broad product categories – cleaning agents, food, personal care products and beverages. It is argued that such a broad portfolio can prevent the business from focusing its marketing efforts appropriately (Putsis and Bayus, 2001). Thus, in order to consolidate its activities, the company may need to divest some brands or product ranges in the future. Indeed, the company already seems to be taking steps in this regard, selling popular brands Peparami, Slim-Fast, Ragu and Bertolli in 2014 (The Telegraph, 2014). In addition, most of brands produced by the company are multinational brands which may prevent them from being tailored to the needs of local markets. A further weakness of the product line concerns the prices offered to consumers. The prices of Unilever brands are generally higher than those of its competitors (Thain and Bradley, 2014). The company has explained that prices are high to represent the quality of the goods, while analysts have attributed the high prices to the enormous amount the company spends on research and development and its massive marketing budget (Thain and Bradley, 2014). In 2010 alone, Unilever spent 6 billion euros on advertising, and today, the company is one of the world’s largest purchasers of advertising media (The Telegraph, 2011). Threats The company is facing a number of threats, particularly from competitors, the market and consumers. Firstly, while Unilever’s broad product portfolio might be conceived as unusual, it is not unique in this respect. Procter and Gamble and Nestle have very similar business models and product lines (Thain and Bradley, 2014). Indeed, in terms of sales, Unilever is outperformed by both of these competitors. A large proportion of Unilever’s products are premium brands aimed at consumers with relatively high levels of disposable income. This might be considered a threat in the context of the current economic downturn. Increased financial uncertainty might lead households to move away from these brands to own-brand and lower value products, negatively affecting both net sales and sales margins. Food prices have risen substantially worldwide (Headey and Fan, 2008). This represents a significant threat to the company because it must pass the cost of food inflation to customers in order to maintain current profit margins. This might explain why the firm’s CEO is starting to consider refocusing the company strategy on alternative product lines, such as sundries or hard lines (The Guardian, 2014) Although the company has a stated aim to double its sales levels, analysts have noted that the company is still far short of accomplishing that aim. As the Telegraph (2014, online) notes, â€Å"the acquisitions of TRESemmà © shampoo maker Alberto Culver and Radox bath foam have added almost â‚ ¬3bn in turnover†¦However, these deals have hardly moved the needle and Unilever is still sitting on a big pile of cash. With growth slowing in emerging markets where 60pc of the group’s sales are generated, investors may start pushing for Unilever’s leader to be a bit bolder if he is to reach his ambitious â‚ ¬80bn sales goal†. In the context of the recent economic downturn, there have been some demergers and sell-offs in some of the sectors in which Unilever operates. While in some cases this has proven to be an opportunity for the company (for instance, the firm has recently been able to purchase top hair care brand TRESemmà ©), it also poses a threat should any of these product lines fall into the hands of its competitors. For instance, the 2008 purchase of shaving brand Gillette by Procter and Gamble immediately made it the biggest company in men’s personal care (The Telegraph, 2014) An increased social ethic and concern for the environment among consumers should also be considered a threat to the company. In Japan, Thailand and particularly in India, Unilever has attracted heavy criticism for the manufacture of so-called ‘fairness’ products. These are products that are typically aimed at women and used for lightening the skin. While such brands are a major source of income for the company allegedly, one skin lightening agent produced by the company, Fair and Lovely, is used by 80 per cent of the population of Bangladesh (Unilever Bangladesh, 2014) – the company has also come under fire for promoting Westernised standards of beauty. In Thailand, an advert for one of the company’s fairness creams was withdrawn from media outlets after widespread censure because it correlated white skin and high levels of intelligence (The Guardian, 2014). Opportunities Social media offers considerable opportunities to Unilever, particularly given its aim to reduce its advertising expenditure (The Telegraph, 2014). Social media sites are increasingly used by companies to update consumers on new products, to offer discounts and special promotions, and to invite consumers to special events that are either held online or physically (Sashi, 2012). Unilever may be able to capitalise on this trend either through corporate accounts or through brand accounts. There are considerable opportunities to the company through its extensive research and development efforts. Unilever has research facilities in England, Shanghai, Bangalore, New Jersey and Connecticut, which are working continually to develop new product lines and refine existing ones. Through this investment the company is able to regularly introducing new brands or reintroduce redesigned brands to the market. Conclusion Unilever is a unique company. The firm is dual listed, co-headquartered in two of Europe’s wealthiest cities and it offers the market a vast and very broad range of products. This strategic audit has shown that while the company is operating in a turbulent business environment, it is managing to perform well, both in terms of sales and growth. Despite the company’s strengths, there are some external threats posed by market developments, customer attitudes and the actions of its key competitors. The company leadership will need to monitor these aspects if Unilever is to meet its objective to become the largest consumables multinational company in the world. References Ahlgren, M., Gustafsson, I. B., Hall, G. (2004). Attitudes and beliefs directed towards ready-meal consumption. Food Service Technology, 4(4), 159-169. Blossfeld, H. P., Buchholz, S., Kurz, K. (Eds.). (2011). Aging populations, globalization and the labor market: Comparing late working life and retirement in modern societies. Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar. Dutch News (2014). Opposition MPs call on premier to explain quit the euro claims. Retrieved from http://www.dutchnews.nl/elections/election_news/opposition_mps_call_on_premier.php on 11 October 2014 Ellerman, A. D., Convery, F. J., De Perthuis, C. (2010). Pricing carbon: The European union emissions trading scheme. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Gerstberger, C. and Yaneva, D. (2013). Household consumption expenditure national accounts. Retrieved from http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Household_consumption_expenditure_-_national_accounts on 09 October 2014 The Guardian (2014). EU exit could see Unilever cut investment in UK. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/21/unilever-warning-uk-withdrawal-european-union on 09 October 2014 Headey, D., Fan, S. (2008). Anatomy of a crisis: the causes and consequences of surging food prices. Agricultural Economics, 39(1), 375-391. Huselid, M. A., Jackson, S. E., Schuler, R. S. (1997). Technical and strategic human resources management effectiveness as determinants of firm performance. Academy of Management journal, 40(1), 171-188. Hyman, R., Klarsfeld, A., Ng, E., Haq, R. (2012). Introduction: Social regulation of diversity and equality. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 18(4), 279-292. Jones, G. (2002). Unilever – a case study. Business History Review 32(12). Retrieved from http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/3212.html on 09 October 2014 Maestas, N. Zissimopoulos, J. (2010) How longer work lives ease the crunch of population aging. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 24(1) pp. 139-160. Office for National Statistics, (2009), Health: ‘Life expectancy continues to rise’. Retrieved from http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/58499152/life-expectancy-continues-rise on 09 October 2014 Putsis Jr, W. P., Bayus, B. L. (2001). An empirical analysis of firms’ product line decisions. Journal of Marketing Research, 38(1), 110-118. The Telegraph (2011). Unilever to shake up  £5.1bn global advertising spend. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/8954352/Unilever-to-shake-up-5.1bn-global-advertising-spend.html on 09 October 2014 Sashi, C. M. (2012). Customer engagement, buyer-seller relationships, and social media. Management decision, 50(2), pp. 253-272 Smith, D. (2014). The State of the Middle East: An Atlas of Conflict and Resolution. London: Routledge. Taylor-Gooby, P., Stoker, G. (2011). The coalition programme: a new vision for Britain or politics as usual?. The Political Quarterly, 82(1), 4-15. Thain, G, and Bradley, J. (2014). FMCG: The Power of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods. London: Design Publications Unilever (2014). About us. Retrieved from http://www.unilever.co.uk/aboutus/ on 09 October 2014 Unilever Bangladesh (2014). Our brands. Retrieved from http://www.unilever.com.bd/our-brands/detail/Fair-and-Lovely/366071/ on 09 October 2014 Wolf, R. (2014). Dutch Turnover Tax or EU VAT? On the Permeation of EU VAT Rules in the Dutch Turnover Tax Practise. Intertax, 42(8), 525-537.

The effects of teenage acne on the individual’ psyche

The effects of teenage acne on the individual’ psyche Adolescence, from the Latin word adolescere means to grow up. Adolescence is the period of life where teenagers will undergo puberty, which is a transitional stage between childhood and adulthood that involves biological, cognitive, and socioemotional changes (yan yans adolescence). During puberty, teenagers experience a rapid physical growth and psychological changes due to a surge in hormone production. Examples of the effects on puberty on teenagers are development of facial and genital hair, development of breast in girls and changes in voice in boys. The development tasks of teenagers during puberty also include developing a sense of identity and self-worth, and hence, teenage acne has a high potential to cause adverse psychological and societal effects on teenagers (5). In this essay, the focus will be on the psychological and societal impact of teenage acne developed during puberty on teenager. Acne vulgaris, also known as acne, pimple or zit, is very common in teenagers, over 90% of males and 80% of females will be affected by the age of 21 years [1](1). Teenage acne is a skin disorder results from the action of androgen, a male sex hormone released during puberty. Male sex hormone is not only found in men but also found in lesser amount in women. Therefore, both male and female teenagers have the tendency to suffer from teenage acne. The hormone causes the sebaceous gland on the skin to secrets sebum, an oily substance on skin. Sebum is then secreted onto the skin surface via the hair follicles opening. Mixture of oil and cells allows the growth of bacteria in the follicle openings. When the growth of bacteria happens, pore of skin will become clogged, inflammation may occur, and acne is developed. [2](web2) Teenage acne commonly appears on the face and the back, but it is also possible to have acne on the chest, arms, buttocks, groin and armpit area. Basically, acne can be formed at anywhere where there are the presence of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Apart from being the largest organ of the body, skin has long been recognised as the organ of expression and communication. Skin serves as the boundary between ourselves and the outside world [3](Sack, pg1). Skin can react to physiological stimuli such as rash caused by allergies and also react to psychological stimuli such as blushing when feel embarrassed [5](van moffaert pg1). Skin is like a mirror to reflects our soul. A healthy skin, like a healthy soul, is essential for individual physical and psychological well-being and self-confidence [4](2). During adolescence, teenage tend to be more concern about their appearance and the judgment of their peers. As appearance and conformity are warmly valued by teenagers, therefore when a teenager suffers from acne, they may feel socially devalued and repelled by their peers.[6](web1). Due to the fact that adolescence is a point of increase in sensitivity, where they are exuberant and want to look the best. Therefore, even mild acne will produce significant psychosocial impact to a teenager. Being in a society that emphasises greatly on appearance, teenage acne sufferers often feel uncomfortable and embarrassed (web 3). Generally, people will perceive that formation of acne is due to the lack of personal hygiene. Others tend to judge a person according to their physical appearance, this will cause harmful effects on a teenage acne sufferers self-esteem. Teenagers with acne will have lower self-esteem as they have no confidence about themselves and constantly worry about their skin (4). As teenagers are more self-conscious about their appearance, they may felt guilty and shameful as they think that they are responsible for their skin conditions. Teenagers may have a tough time socialising normally, and have trouble making eye contact as they feel ashamed of their appearance. Hence, teenagers may withdraw themselves from the society as they do not want to be judged or to be commented on their skin conditions. An example of social withdrawal is a teenage girl may be so self -conscious of her appearance that she refused to be in the family pictures during a reunion outing. (web1) A study was conducted on teenagers in New Zealand to examine the association between acne and depressive symptoms, anxiety and suicidal behaviours. The study shows that teenagers presenting with teenage acne are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and suicide attempts.(5) Further studies show that formation of acne and mental health are interrelated. Stress, depression and anxiety could increase the severity of acne. Acne condition of patient having depression improves after treatment.(5) On the other hand, acne could lead to depression and anxiety on teenagers. This is due to the negative self image, lower self-esteem and social withdrawal of teenage acne sufferers. However, it was found that girls had higher level of anxiety and depression than boys(6). This can explain that the effects of acne on the body image may be more important for teenage girls, and teenage girls are more vulnerable to the negative psychological effects of acne.(6) All these negative psychological effec ts may exert too much pressure on teenagers and leads to suicidal attempts when teenagers failed to seek treatment to cope with it. Besides psychological impact, acne also causes societal effects on teenagers. Teenage acne sufferers find themselves hard to make new friends because of their own view on their skins appearance, as they believed that most people will judge others according to their physical appearances. Moreover, lower self-esteem and being embarrassed with their skin conditions also making it hard for teenagers to make new friends. At late adolescence, teenagers tend look for or to be involved in intimate relationships. However, physical appearances are often linked to sexual attractiveness. Therefore, teenage acne sufferers will find themselves ugly and not attractive enough. As a result, teenage acne sufferers will have decrease in confidence around opposite sex. Other than the emotional effects of teenagers, teenage acne sufferers may be bullied and teased by their peers in school (4). They may be called insulting names such as bumpy face and walking human zits by others. Because of all these bul lying that happened in school, teenage ace sufferers may refused to attend school as they does not enjoy school and hated it when being bullied by others. Therefore, acne will affect teenagers education as they will be skipping school very often to avoid being bullied. As acne may also presence on teenagers body other than on the face. Teenagers may not want to participate in sports as they would feel vulnerable because they have to expose their face or their upper body where acne is presence (web 4). Sports that required them to expose some portion of body such as gym class and swimming would be a problem for teenage acne sufferers. (web1) The look they get from their peers in school makes teenagers feel so socially insecure that some of them will fake injuries to avoid going to gym class. (web 4) Teenage girls may use cosmetics such as foundations and concealer to cover up their acne problem, at the same time, gives them a slight increase in self-confidence. Even though cosmetics may spread and worsen their acne conditions, teenage girls will still prefer to use cosmetics to veil their acne when they are in contact with others or doing sports due to their low self-esteem. On the other hand, teenage boys may feel at a disadvantage compared to teen age girls as boys have no ways to conceal their acne problem. Therefore, acne will have a bigger impact on teenage boys compared to teenage girls as they are lack of the aid of cosmetics to increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. There are some tips to prevent and control acne. Do not over wash or use harsh scrubs on skin as acne is not caused by dirt. Too much cleaning can leave skin dry and irritated, which then triggers glands to produce more sebum that will increase the formation of acne. Besides, use oil-free or non-comedogenic products on face as these products will not clog the pores on skin. Lastly, do not squeeze or pick acne. Squeezing and picking acne can drive acne bacteria deeper into skin and leads to more inflammations as well as permanent scarring on skin (web2). The cruelest truth about acne is that the more you think and worry about it, the more outbreaks of acne occurs. (web5) The pursuit for flawless skin will be really exhausting for teenagers and may cause them to lose interest in their studies. Parents play an important role in supporting teenagers when they are suffering from the psychosocial effects caused by teenage acne. If parents are not supportive enough, it will be very difficult for teenagers to overcome the emotional difficulties they are facing. Parents should be thoughtful and should not blame their children for the outbreaks of acne, saying that it is their daily diet and activities that is causing their acne. Besides supporting teenagers emotionally, parents can give support by taking teenagers to a dermatologist as dermatologist can help to reduce the outbreaks of acne which will then give some peace of mind to teenagers. Besides dermatologist, a psychologist or a counsellor is helpful to counsel teenagers with psycholog ical problems and relieve them from stress and tensions. Apart from relieving stress, they are able to help teenagers to build up their self-esteem and face the world with more confidence. Generally, teenagers suffer from acne have higher sense of awareness with their bodies and appearances. This causes them to have difficulties to comply with the social standards and hence causes them to be under tremendous pressure. This pressure will leads to psychosocial effects in teenagers such as depression, a decreased sense of body image and self-esteem, sexual and relationship difficulties, and a general reduction in quality of life. (pg 6) However, teenagers should understand that having flawless skin is not a crucial thing in life and real beauty should actually come from within (web6). Therefore, teenagers should focus on living life to the fullest instead of being too concern about their appearances. 1. http://www.acnereplies.com/acne_affects_a_teenager_s_psyche.html 2. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/teenage-acne 3. http://acne.about.com/od/livingwithacne/a/effectsofacne.htm 4. http://www.articlealley.com/article_637472_23.html 5. http://www.4acnecure.com/articles/acne-and-psychological-problems

Network Security :: essays research papers

Over the last 10 years, computers have increased in speed and capacity while decreasing drastically in price. Computers that where once used in the corporate environment, are now slower than typical household computers. While this change occurred, telecommunications have improved to allow computers to communicate easily from remote locations, adding great opportunities for illegal activities. Data can be changed or destroyed, systems can be made to malfunction and long distance charges can be avoided. One of the biggest challenges today is to control the network security. Network security is having protection of networks and their services from unauthorized access, destruction, or disclosure. Malicious acts bring up the important topic of disaster recovery. Companies must have up to date copies of their important documents and software to prevent extended downtime. The saved information will let the company’s employees continue to work while the IT department deals the damage d media. In 2002, computer virus attacks caused companies roughly $20 billion to $30 billion up from $13 billion in 2001. This number continues to grow as more computers are sold. Users must realize the risk of the internet and file sharing before the statistics can decline. Examples are peer-to-peer download software, instant messaging channels, and email. These examples sound like home user issues but the reality is that employees are always finding ways to use this software in the working environment. In the end, it jeopardizes the network and costs companies money. Software companies have developed ways to deal with computer viruses and email spam in an automated fashion. Some can be free for personal use and others are expensive intended for corporate level networks. Confidentiality in computer systems prevents the release of information to unauthorized people. Individuals who trespass into someone else’s computer system or exceed their own authority in accessing certain information, violate the legitimate owner’s right to keep private information secret. Integrity of electronically stored information ensures that no one has tampered with it or modified it without authorization. Any unauthorized corruption, impairment, or modification or computer information or hardware constitutes an attack against the integrity of that information. Many of the malicious hacking activities, such as computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses, fall into the integrity category. The same is true for individuals who purposefully change or manipulate data either for profit or some other motivation, such as revenge, politics, terrorism, or simply for a challenge. Internal computer crimes are alterations to programs that result in the performance of unauthorized functions within a computer system.

Considerations When You Buy an Existing Web Site :: Sell Websites Buy Websites

Considerations When You Buy an Existing Web Site Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com Almost everyone in the business of selling new websites offer impressive presentations projecting future sales and growth, but it's really just an educated guess about what may happen with any particular website in a given market niche. When all is said and done, all projected revenue and earnings on a new website are, to a certain extent, just hanging on a hope and a prayer. If you want to greatly improve your chances of success on the internet then should buy an existing website. A website that's already established and successful will allow you to get on the internet quickly while already having a track record of success. It just makes sense that your chances for success will be much greater. While it is not always easy to locate successful websites that the owners are willing to sell, there are still plenty of them around. The best way to find one is to use the services of an established website marketplace. We developed VotanWeb as the ideal platform to allow website owners to present their websites to the public. It is also the perfect tool for anyone with an interest in purchasing established turn-key websites. What is your perception of a "turn-key" website? Do you believe that if you purchase a turn-key website then you can just sit back and let the money roll in? Remember, although the table has been set by the current website owner, the website still requires your input and management to ensure it is a success. Buying an existing website does have some advantages, but it is by no means a guarantee of success. The website developer may have already done demographic and marketing studies evaluating the existing customer base, profile of website traffic, etc. Of course, the website seller cannot guarantee your success nor will they guarantee any projected revenues or profits. Probably the most attractive feature of buying an existing website from the buyer's point of view is that you can investigate any existing website much easier than you can research an idea for a non-existing website. The reason for this is because you will be able to research the existing website as well as other websites in the same or similar markets. You can also communicate with the current website owner and they will be a wealth of information for you. Considerations When You Buy an Existing Web Site :: Sell Websites Buy Websites Considerations When You Buy an Existing Web Site Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com Almost everyone in the business of selling new websites offer impressive presentations projecting future sales and growth, but it's really just an educated guess about what may happen with any particular website in a given market niche. When all is said and done, all projected revenue and earnings on a new website are, to a certain extent, just hanging on a hope and a prayer. If you want to greatly improve your chances of success on the internet then should buy an existing website. A website that's already established and successful will allow you to get on the internet quickly while already having a track record of success. It just makes sense that your chances for success will be much greater. While it is not always easy to locate successful websites that the owners are willing to sell, there are still plenty of them around. The best way to find one is to use the services of an established website marketplace. We developed VotanWeb as the ideal platform to allow website owners to present their websites to the public. It is also the perfect tool for anyone with an interest in purchasing established turn-key websites. What is your perception of a "turn-key" website? Do you believe that if you purchase a turn-key website then you can just sit back and let the money roll in? Remember, although the table has been set by the current website owner, the website still requires your input and management to ensure it is a success. Buying an existing website does have some advantages, but it is by no means a guarantee of success. The website developer may have already done demographic and marketing studies evaluating the existing customer base, profile of website traffic, etc. Of course, the website seller cannot guarantee your success nor will they guarantee any projected revenues or profits. Probably the most attractive feature of buying an existing website from the buyer's point of view is that you can investigate any existing website much easier than you can research an idea for a non-existing website. The reason for this is because you will be able to research the existing website as well as other websites in the same or similar markets. You can also communicate with the current website owner and they will be a wealth of information for you.