Footlocker

Rakann Ammari Fin 431, Exam #1 February 17, 2010 Foot Locker Incorporated: Risk Prevention Methods Foot Locker Incorporated (ticker symbol: FL) is a U. S. based company that operates worldwide. Their services include the sale of various athletic equipment, sports apparel and products. According to their company background, as of the beginning of 2009 Foot Locker operates roughly 3,600 retail stores in 21 countries worldwide (â€Å"About Us†).Although Foot Locker provides their goods through both local retail stores and an online based â€Å"direct-to- customers† program, my risk management tactics will primarily focus on local retailers and warehouses and their risks. The five risks I have chosen are employee theft within the local branches and through bank accounts, customer theft within the store, physical injuries to customers and employees on Foot Locker property, property damage to Foot Locker property due to obscene weather conditions and the risk of fluctuating p rices of necessary inputs that are used in the production of various Foot Locker goods including footwear.One of the most essential inputs in the production of footwear is rubber. As a risk manager, I must take into account the possibility of the cost of rubber increasing. According to the commodities index ran by indexmundi. com, the price of rubber has increased every month for the past 6 months. In January 2010, the price of rubber increased to $139. 73 from $92. 86 merely 6 months ago in August of 2009 (â€Å"Rubber Monthly Prices†). This nearly 34% increase in the commodity price of rubber could have devastating effects on Foot Lockers cost of production.This increase will potentially increase the cost of producing foot and athletic wear, which in turn will increase retail prices. The need for consumers to purchase high end Foot Locker products will then decrease as retail prices increase. Rubber remains the main input in producing footwear; however the leather used in e veryday footwear is prevalent enough to be looked at. Due to the fluctuating productivity and efficiency during the current economic downturn, buyers tend to be less predictable. â€Å"Earlier, the buyers anticipated sales trend and placed orders well ahead of time.But now they wait to ensure retail off-take before placing orders. Improving speed of operations even as one keeps cost down is important (â€Å"Business Line†). † This efficiency has brought down leather prices. â€Å"Leather prices are also dropping and this contributed to leather costs coming down to 50-60 per cent from 70 per cent (â€Å"Business Line†). † Although this decrease in leather costs could potentially help the cost of footwear production, the main input in footwear production is rubber. As the price of the main input of my product increases, I must be ready to counteract this risk.In doing so, I am also performing another risk by hedging the cost of my inputs. I must be willing to set a pre-determined price of rubber to be purchased from my wholesaler for a set amount time. Although I take the risk of the price falling below my set price, since the prices have increased at a constant rate for the past 6 months my current risk is dramatically lower. By setting the price 6 months ahead of time I, as a risk manager, potentially prevent the 34% loss that could have occurred over the past 6 months. Along with the speculative risk of price fluctuation, there are many pure risks that come when providing goods to consumers.Employee theft is one of the most common risks an employer or company takes on when doing business. â€Å"Every year billions of dollars are lost by businesses nationwide to employee fraud and theft and the number of incidents are rising. † (Schaefer 1). Employees could steal cash, merchandise, and illegally redirect customer account information to a private account. â€Å"A former Foot Locker employee was sentenced to five years probati on and ordered to pay nearly $26,000 in restitution for taking the company’s money to cover his Internet gambling debts (The Maui News). Although a prison sentence and or a large fine may be the consequences of such employee theft, the $385,000,000 of cash and cash equivalents (2009) available for theft seems to lure in potential thieves (â€Å"Balance Sheet†). The $1,120,000,000 in merchandise inventory available for possible theft is a savoring number to employees and even Foot Locker customers. Shoplifting is a prevalent crime within the United States that must be controlled by risk managers.During December of 2009, a Foot Locker in Atlanta, Georgia was robbed when â€Å"police arrested two adults and four juveniles in a smash and grab job. † (CBS Atlanta 1) Unlike employee theft, customer theft is limited to the $1,120,000,000 in merchandise inventory (â€Å"Balance Sheet†). Although the inventory and cash could potentially be recovered from the emplo yee(s) or customer(s) through a lawsuit, as a risk manager I would need to take preventative action. I would create loss control by having surveillance cameras both watching customer and employee actions.This includes surveillance on all cash registers and credit card machines. Also, I would inform both the customer and employee they are being watched and remind them of the potential prison punishment for any crime committed by posting signs throughout the store. For employees I would conduct thorough background checks to prevent the hiring of former high profile convicts. I would also spread the finances among various managers; I would not allow a single manager to keep track of or control the finances of any single retail store or warehouse.Finally, as a risk manager I would follow up on any customer complaints with any banking issues and take into account any reported suspicions by employees about other employee or customer theft. In order to further prevent loss, I would purchas e an insurance policy to insure any outsized amount of fraud or crime committed. Another risk held by business owners is the possibility of a lawsuit by customers and or employees for sustaining bodily injuries. Customers or employees may slip on an unmarked wet spot causing a concussion or other bodily harm.Also, a tall person might hit an unmarked metal shutter or sign. Injuries may range from a â€Å"no problem† scrap or bump to a serious lawsuit involving several injuries. An employee may sever his or her spine after falling off a 20 foot latter while trying to stock merchandise; or be severely harmed while operating footwear machinery within a company warehouse. The potential loss and costs can be irreparable depending on the lawsuit. Several precautions should be set in place. Prior to employment, I would mandate all employees to sign a contract indicating that a lawsuit against Foot Locker cannot be conducted.The contract would include bodily injuries. However, a sever ance package under workers compensation will be rewarded to all deserving employees pending a full investigation. As of 2009, company severance packages totaled $13,000,000 (â€Å"Balance Sheet†). I would also provide training on how to stock merchandise within a retail store; warn customers of a wet floor or potential harmful area; and teach employees how to operate equipment within a warehouse. For customer lawsuit prevention, I would have managers post clear signs where potential harm may occur.Also, I would post a sign right outside of every retail store transferring injury risk to all customers that step foot into a Foot Locker location. Furthermore, I would purchase several insurance packages against high stakes lawsuits from employees or customers that obtained bodily injuries on Foot Locker property. Using these measures reduces Foot Locker’s liability to customers and employees. However, the risk to Foot Locker’s property is always rampant due to prospe ctive weather disasters. The potential cost during a weather disaster such as a flood or a hurricane can be enormous.Although the idea of all of Foot Locker’s stores and warehouses being affected at the same time is highly improbable, the potential can be exceedingly high. The net value (purchase price subtracted by accumulated depreciation) of Foot Locker’s buildings, furniture, fixtures & equipment reached $223,000,000 in 2009 (â€Å"Balance Sheet†). This amount of loss could potentially bankrupt Foot Locker without the possibility of coming back into business. To prevent such a loss, Foot Locker could place their warehouses in locations with a lower potential for harmful weather conditions.Locations that tend to have a hotter climate with low wind gusts are ideal due to the low probability of property damage. Also, I would purchase insurance on all property, furniture and equipment that would covered a loss due to catastrophic weather. A precautionary mea sure to minor damage could be using flood bags during a flood and making sure exposed sections of property are sufficiently covered to prevent wind from damaging interior assets. To add on, in order to protect employees from harm a risk manager should make sure all emergency equipment is working roperly and all employees understand emergency procedures. As a risk manager, assessing risks and developing the appropriate amount of precautionary methods to prevent potential risks is essential. Keeping track of these risks while evaluating the possible loss is just as essential; and a well developed report will help subordinate these risks.ReferencePage Footlocker. com. â€Å"About Us. † 2010.   http://www. footlocker-inc. com/company. cfm? page=aboutâ€Å"Gambling Debts Over Internet Tied to Thefts. † Former Footlocker Theft Case. 2010. The Maui News. 7 February 2008. http://www. aproundtable. org/gamblingsruinedlives/im. htmlIndex Mundi. â€Å"Rubber Monthly Prices. â €  2010. http://www. indexmundi. com/commodities/? commodity=rubber&months=300Schaefer, Patricia. â€Å"Employee Theft a Big Problem. † Business Know-How. 2006. Attard Communications. http://www. businessknowhow. com/manage/employee-theft. htm

The Idea of Order at Key West

â€Å" The Idea of Order at Key West† Wallace Stevens, a imaginative poet, created a wonderful world of desire in the poem â€Å"The Idea of Order at Key West†. Line after line, new perspectives and curious thoughts popped into my head. Stevens creates the desire to want to decipher his puzzle of a poem. Stevens is a poet of many themes and perspectives, which led me to understand why I was coming up with so many different meanings behind this poem. In this particular poem, Key West being the muse, Stevens writes down the keys to the mystery, only to be unlocked if you dig deep into his poem.However, once unlocked, understanding the passion and mystery with each written word is a whole other activity. The speaker opens up the poem stating that â€Å"She sang beyond the genius of the sea. †Automatically, I am hit with a vision of a women standing on the shore, running away from the water as is grew closer to her toes, laughter being the song the sea couldn’ t amount to. The speaker then goes on to say that she was not mind nor voice. Nonexistent? No. This presence was very much alive in the sense of motion. The speaker, draw in by it's â€Å"empty†¦ mimic motion†, somehow understands the ovement. Emphasis on there being no physical form, but a being none the less. This possibly gives the speaker a sense of comfort. Being surrounded by a presence the speaker knew, but had a great desire to know more about it. In return, the speaker and company have empathy, constantly hearing a cry. The focus on a feminine figure was very obvious to me in the beginning of this poem. However, as the poem carries along, I am torn between what I think and what Stevens meant it to be. Continuing along, the presence becomes more mysterious. An open book for she was not a mask no more than was the sea.Water, for the most part, is a transparent substance. It makes sense that the speaker would use this metaphor, being in Key West where the water is crystal. The speaker makes it apparent that the sound is not that of the sea, but of the presence, â€Å"The song and water were not medleyed sound†. The speaker starts to clearly separate the presence from the surroundings of Key West. On the other hand, using the surroundings, the speaker defines the presence. Up to this point in the poem, I was sure that the feminine figure he so carefully described was a love of his. A women he longed for, but couldn't have.Once I read â€Å" she was the maker of the song she sang†, I changed my mind about who the muse was. It made sense that now, the feminine figure could possibly be a depiction of Mother Nature. A women who controlled the motion of the waves but herself had no motion. She was the cry they knew but was not of there own. The song was not the water, it was the wind as it crashed itself against the water, always pushing against that barrier. Every and all aspect led to this idea that the love was not a love of a woma n, but a love for the nature of women itself. The presence, something much larger than im, controlling all of the wonderful things he so desired and felt for. I was so sure about this notion, because I felt reassured by a verse. When the speaker said â€Å"it was she and not the sea we heard† I knew I had come across it all. Despite my reassurance, I instantly withdrew that notion when I came upon this verse, â€Å"repeated in a summer without end†. If the womanly figure was Mother Nature, then seasons would not be an issue. I was then left to recollect my thoughts. Sound, one of our five sense that allows us to soak up the chirping of the birds, crashing of the waves, and the beating of hearts.It seems to be the main drive of the speaker. Everything that the speaker explains comes from the song of Key West, the sound of Key West. Not knowing where it is from or what it is, the speaker so infatuatedly talks about a song and cry. I find it really ironic that the speaker creates a sense with the use of a sense. As you read you are painted a picture with the desire to listen to this song as well as ponder about the origin. The song, I believe, creates the desire to be at Key West and gives it life. To the speaker, the song becomes a song of tranquility amongst chaos, it calms him.The idea of order comes from the sounds that create the song of Key West. Once the song has stopped, the life it sang about trudges on. There is a kind of emptiness to the song, but it moves everyone who listens to it. It creates a connection with the listeners as well as brings their love of Key West to life â€Å"And when she sang†¦ whatever self it had, became the self†. This tune could be of their own life or the reason they come to Key West. It definitely paints the picture everyone goes there for. Sadly, when the song is over, it seems as if the love for the West isn't as strong.When the speaker turns away, the song no longer is a beautiful melody of the o cean, but a cry. The cry, a constant longing of Key West to have visitors and of the speaker to return again. Only during the summer does the speaker visit the Keys. Since he is only able to visit once every year, the need to visit as well as the Keys need for visitors builds up. Both with the longing to reunite, the cry is heard. There is a strong connection with the speaker and Key West. The speaker carefully describes the beauty of the beach as if it were a women. Every hour spent at the beach is precious. As the sun egins to set, the speaker gets an unsettling feeling. Even though he comes back every summer, it is painful for him to leave such a hypnotizing place. As the day comes to an end, the song seems as if it becomes slower. Creating everything that Key West is, as the song comes to an end, so does its surroundings. Fishing boats go back out to sea, the light begin to turn on, and the speaker has to tear himself away from his love. Time is of the essence and in no sense wa sted when the speaker visits Key West. â€Å"She measured it to the hour†, the song is perfectly measured out between sunrise and unset. This then makes it easier for the speaker to leave the beach, allowing him to go about his daily life. Then there is the mention of another man, Ramon Fernandez. The speaker looks up to him, asking if he knew why the melody was ending. I just came to the conclusion that Ramon was nothing but a man who was along for the ride. The speaker probably just asked him if he was interested in seeing Key West. Ramon has no deep connection with the coast unlike his chaotic friend. Although, he seems as if he is good company. He provides the speaker a chance to express his displacement with the song nding as well as the day coming to an end. Key West as a whole can be interpreted as something desired. Expressed like a love for a women, the beaches of Key West provides the speaker with a peaceful place. He longs for the passion, comfort, and peace that t he coast grants him. The possibility arises that the speaker was never able to truly express his love until arriving at the coast. There is no sure reason that the speaker feels such a deep connection with Florida. Maybe he lived there as a child, hearing the sounds of the ocean, wind, and creatures daily. Then when he would come back summer after summer, the sounds and sights hanged much like he did with each passing day. The speaker is constantly going back to a later time when things were as they picture them as a child. The song could represent the passing of time, as the day ended, he came to the realization that the beach was not what it used to be. The beach lifestyle being calm and easygoing, allowed the speaker to feel at peace. So then when the speaker left this lifestyle behind for another one, he realized the chaos was too much for him to handle. Sadly he was not able to return for whatever reason, except once a year, every year when the weather was at its hottest.A poss ibility could be that there was a job, family, and or life experience that was calling his name. Something of a forceful nature that caused him to leave. In his absence, the coast cried out for him, desperately trying to bring him back to peace. He did not know the cry was for him at the time, but once he came back, it became real. His love for Key West, for his old life was no longer in his grasp. The speaker could no longer turn back time and enjoy all those years he had flash before his eyes. Another interpretation could be that the need to be that Key West represents some sort of psychical or emotional need.Something that cannot be fulfilled by every day life. Key West is a tropical place, there are always exciting, fun, and new things to try. It is a freeing place where anything and everything is accepted. It is easy to find yourself in a social acceptable setting. Depending on the person, different settings can be more opening to others. For example, many people go to New York because they are widely accepted. All in all, Wallace Stevens wrote a cavern of a poem. Always going in deeper, seeing new perspectives, and discovering something new. The Idea of Order at Key West could be interpreted into ust about anything for anyone. Stevens so delicately thought out every single detail, making it such a beautiful read. Carefully unwrapping each sentence, I find myself longing to know more. In the end, what Stevens really wanted was an admirer. Someone who craved the words written by him. An adorer who would stop for nothing to know what his next thought would be. What creator doesn't want someone to admire their work ? Creating a vivid picture with every word, Stevens captured the essence of the thirst for love and desire. The Idea of Order at Key West was only just the foot in the door of this new way of writing.

Battling Boycotts Essay Example for Free

Battling Boycotts Essay 1) Question: What type of boycotts the article is addressing? Answer: The type for the boycott is the company’s nationality, it would seem that nothing could be done. The business is boycotted through no fault of its own. And a growing class of boycotts has very little to do with the actions or policies of an individual company. Instead they are related to the company’s country of origin. After all, it is neither easy nor desirable to change the nationality of a company to shield it from a boycott attempt. 2) Question: What are the two dimensions along which the four strategies are developed? Explain? Answer: The two dimensions along which the four strategies are developed are: the visibility of the brand and the intensity of the boycott. Brand visibility is defined as an extent to a brand which is related to a country in its customers’ minds all over the world. The more visible the brand, the more likely it is to be targeted by boycotters. In people’s eyes, visibility is very important. For example, the brand is very popular in a given country where the customers don’t strongly consider about its original country. However, another situation is that, the foreign brand is associated with a country in customers’ minds. Intensity can be measured in terms of size, duration and aggressiveness. Size which means how many people are boycotting the brand or product. Duration refers to how long the boycott is likely to continue. And aggressiveness takes into account whether, in addition to boycotting products, violent acts are conducted against the outlets or offices of the company being boycotted. 3) Question: What strategies does the article suggest for businesses to adopt to handle boycotts of this type? Answer: The strategies that the article suggest for businesses to adopt to handle boycotts of this type are: emphasizing their connections to the local community, to countering misinformation with advertising and public-relations campaigns, to simply adopting a low profile. McDonald’s is a high-visibility U.S. brand that has faced boycotts in different parts of the world. An anti-U.S. boycott was initiated in Egypt in recent years and has spread to other Arab countries. This action was because of the supporting to Israel by U.S.. Thus, local McDonald established some management to connect with their communities including tailoring menus to local tastes, including the introduction by McDonald’s Egypt of the McFalafel sandwich, which was launched with the help of an ad jingle by a famous Egyptian singer. McDonald’s franchisees in the Middle East and elsewhere also have long made contributions to local charities. What’s more, McDonald’s franchisees also presented a local face in Islamic countries, Argentina, and the Philippines, such as launched TV ads, wore traditional clothing, changed slogan and set charitable programs. For P&G, they also changed logo and set some slogans to respond quickly to the rumors. In the case of a high-visibility brand facing a low-intensity boycott we suggest a strategy of monitoring and blending in. in a high-intensity boycott environment, a company with low visibility may be better off adopting a strategy of lowering its profile, rather than actively trying to offset any potential damage by touting its local connections. For example, a Saudi furniture store in Khobar that sells American furniture has tried lowering its visibility by changing its name from the Saudi-American Furniture Store to the Saudi Furniture Store. Because furniture isn’t often distinctly associated with countries in the public mind, at least in the Middle East. A low-visibility company in a low-intensity boycott environment can simply maintain the status quo. But, they still must pay attention to the potential threats. 4) Question: In your opinion, what can companies do to influence their home governments policies that may affect their success in international markets? Answer: In my point of view, I think we can not leave our own national interests in dealing with foreign affairs of other countries. Of course, we are not only talking about the national interests, but also the fact of reason in a rational and favorable circumstances to select the struggle strategy. In addition, we must also realize that, in today’s globalization economic, countries in economic are interdependent which is extremely popular. To be successful, there are some factors. First, they must make sure they have an appropriate team, such as the CEO, the CFO, legal counsel, auditors, accounting. Then, they have to fit the actual schedule and the host countries’ customs. Secondly, they need to know some of the weaknesses in their own businesses, identify problems that may arise in other countries, employ a high-quality team, and improve operational efficiency. Finally, there is a high level of management support. Battling Boycotts. (2016, Sep 10).

Responsibility of International Organisations , Outline

Responsibility of International Organisations , - Outline Example f it is possible for the organization to claim reparations for harms to its interests, harm inflicted by the UN on other parties is also liable for claims, particularly in activities that are well established like peacekeeping operations. This involves the conduct of UN administrators and peacekeepers. However, the limitations, scope, and practical applications of international responsibility principles are as of yet to be determined, especially in such areas as accountability mechanisms for non-judicial and judicial establishment2, as well as the responsibility for other projects in areas like science, education, or culture. The UN Security Council is given primary responsibility by the UN Charter to maintain international security and peace and, in fulfilling their responsibility; the UN Security Council can constitute a peacekeeping mission3. The UN Charter is the foundation for all work undertaken by the UN. Although not stated explicitly in the Charter, peacekeeping has ended up as one of the main instruments of the UN in maintaining international security and peace. The UN Security Council may adopt several measures to fulfill this responsibility. Chapter VI of the Charter involves the pacific settlement of disputes and most peacekeeping operations are associated with this chapter, although it has never been invoked. Chapter VII entails actions in terms of; respect to peace, peace breaches, and aggressive acts, which has been invoked to authorize peacekeeper deployment in post-conflict situations where states are unable to maintain public order and security4. Finally, Chapter VIII provides regional agencies and arrangements to maintain international security and peace as long as they are consistent with Chapter 1 of the Charter. Depending on the challenges that various conflicts bring, peacekeepers are normally mandated to act as catalysts in several activities. These are mine action, disarmament and reintegration of combatants, human rights promotion and

Breast Cancer Treatments Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy Essay

Breast Cancer Treatments Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy - Essay Example Consequently, both are the main choices of patients and physicians in treating the disease. Both procedures are also found to have equal survival rates. However, with the increasing awareness of women afflicted with breast cancer on the impact of surgery on their psychological state related to loss of their breast, more and more women are resorting to a less invasive treatment which is lumpectomy and adjuvant therapies. Added to this is the notion that mastectomy is over used. Lumpectomy is a surgical removal of the breast lump including some normal tissues. Although, lumpectomy and adjuvant therapies are preferred methods of treatment for most women with breast cancer, their use is bombarded with several controversies. Body One distinct issue with lumpectomy includes the inadequate outcome data to the extent of its use and efficacy. Clinical trials included insufficient size to establish a convincing result of its application. Although, there had been multiple randomized trials of l umpectomy in patients with or without radiation, it was found out that the survival rates are based solely on unpublished analysis. In addition, participants in several studies were over treated producing a bias result. This was revealed in the study by Cumming (n.d) where he added that using a meta- analysis pose a risk on grounds that methods might be a concern. Cumming also found out that in the case of ductal carcinoma alone, data is limited to show importance of lumpectomy and other treatments following it. Consensus among pathologists on pathologic staging is also a question because there is no recommendation as to the exact stage lumpectomy is effective. It was further revealed that studies on radiation therapy after lumpectomy had no uniform techniques in using different radiotherapy agent such as iridium, electron beam, and cesium needle brachytherapy. Added to the above problem is controversy surrounding the falsified claim that lumpectomy with adjuvant therapy was as effe ctive as mastectomy. The lead investigators are found to commit misconduct with the result of their study of not providing the correct result of their study. Although, lumpectomy has been found to be effective with the early stages of cancer, its credibility was damaged because of the controversy which ruined the trust not only of patients but the public in general towards lumpectomy and adjuvant therapies. This shows that not only the lack of data on the efficacy of lumpectomy combined with adjuvant therapies is a problem but is accompanied with several other problems. Interestingly though, the study published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute ( 2004) reported that there is a significant decrease in the recurrence in the number of patients who went through lumpectomy with radiotherapy however not in lumpectomy alone. There is also no survival advantage even with the addition of radiotherapy. Similar with the study of Cumming, the JNCI reported that information from curren t and previous studies are found to be deficient in attesting that lumpectomy in combination with adjuvant therapy is more promising. Whether lumpectomy is a choice of the patient or the physician, cost is also an issue for the choice of therapy among women with breast cancer. Lumpectomy with radiation therapy is more costly than mastectomy. Munoz and company (1986) found out in their

On the road Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On the road - Research Paper Example Perhaps the most obvious theme running through â€Å"On the Road,† is one of religion. When Sargeant first arrives in town he is turned away by the good Reverend Mr. Dorset. He feels the chill of racism and seeks sanctuary in a white man's church. This same church he breaks into just as police beat him on the head and he begins to hallucinate. Sargeant's hallucinations are telling. He saw Christ only in a glimpse through a soft, round window. Yet Christ becomes a central figure in his delusions. Not a traditional Christ, but a Christ burdened by the pain of religion. This is a metaphor that draws obviously on Hughes's own experiences with religion as an organization. Experiences that all but traumatized him as a child. In his autobiography, The Big Sea, Hughes relates his â€Å"salvation† at the age of twelve. Attending church with his aunt/guardian, he was placed in a situation of overwhelming social pressure to accept Jesus. He did this, though he did not feel any con verting power. Afterwards, he wrote, That night, for the last time in my life but one-for I was a big boy twelve years old-I cried. I cried, in bed alone, and couldn't stop. I buried my head under the quilts, but my aunt heard me. She woke up and told my uncle I was crying because the Holy Ghost had come ino my life, and because I had seen Jesus. But I was really crying because I couldn't bear to tell her that I had lied. That I had deceived everybody in the church, that I hadn't seen Jesus, and that now I didn't believe there was a Jesus any more, since he didn't come to help me (Hughes, 21). This childhood trauma affects Hughes's story profoundly. He not only depicts Sargeant's interactions with religion in a cold, white, and distant way, but he also humanizes Christ's dismay at being held captive by the church. As if Christ may have been a wise prophet but not on interested in deriving a cult of personality from his name. A negative perception that only softened in Sargeant's min d when he was able to find refuge among the grayness of the hobo jungle. For Sargeant, who had been traumatized by the stony whiteness of the town, by white preachers, white churchgoers, and white cops, his escape to the outskirts, to that world where his color was less important than his employment status, offered mental refuge from the racial trauma of his youth. In the hobo, too, Hughes raises another theme, one of movement. According to Kenneth Allsop, a hobo â€Å"was homeless and unmarried. He freeloaded on the freight trains whose tracks he laid and whose tunnels he blasted. He lived in bunk houses or tents or jungle camps or city flophouses. He was a marginal, alienated man, capriciously used and discarded by a callous but dynamic system, yet he was proud of the mode he devised out of an imperative mobility. He was a unique and indigenous American product† (Allsop, Prefatory Note). The hobo was always on the move. â€Å"In one of his aspects he was the Ancient Marine r of this oceanic land, the albatross of failure hung about his neck† (Allsop, Prefatory Note). Hughes grabs hold of this theme, and references Biblical fables, when he walks Sargeant and Christ from the white town to the gray hobo jungle. Movement is not the only theme, either, that Hughes drew from the Great Depression setting of

Should the Government provide health care Essay

Should the Government provide health care - Essay Example This implies that there needs to be a partnership between healthcare providers, social workers and the government to undertake this effectively. In the end, the well-being of the public will bring about a positive impact on the economy as opportunities for innovation and productivity will be ensured. â€Å"Strategies such as community oriented primary care are needed to address the upstream causes of social inequities in health and to foster intersectoral cooperation† (van Weel et al 469). Therefore, one would say that it is the responsibility of the government to be involved in the provision of health care to ensure accessibility of health services to many, especially the poor, health care industry regulation, and to enhance fairness in the distribution of funds allocated to health care. It is essential to define the role that the government should play in providing health care, as it is clear that this will be an advantageous step in ensuring citizens live healthily. It can be argued that the government’s role in provision of health care primarily should be to ensure access in two ways: availability and affordability. Health care services are a right to every human being thus they should be at their reach and at a cost that is within their capability. However, the government should not overspend on the provision of health care at the expense of other issues such as education and infrastructure. The best way to control this is by â€Å"playing a preventive role where the significance of public programs becomes clear as they create awareness† hence reducing costs that would be otherwise incurred on treatment (â€Å"What should be the Government’s role† 20). Therefore, government health care is defined as â€Å"direct payments made to doctors, medical facilities and supplementary health care providers† (White). Moreover, through the government taking a preventive as opposed to a reactive position drives down costs, and t his caps the debate on relevance of health care benefits to the poor who lack food shelter since health benefits are essential and indeed an income to the poor. Nevertheless, this debate is already countered by the fact that when measuring progress of a nation, the issue of accessibility to health care is considered alongside food, housing and other utilities. It has been suggested, â€Å"that the poverty threshold should be raised so that health benefits don’t vault the poor over the line† (Porter). In this case, health benefits would not merely be in terms of funds dispensed to the poor, but also information that makes them aware of costs that could be avoided through preventive measures. Moreover, it can be argued that the government should be involved in the provision of health care to ensure there is regulation and control. This advocates for the government to become concerned with optimizing costs that insurance companies impose in terms of add-on costs; for exam ple, processing claims and distributing insurance forms, which end up deterring people from seeking treatment in the event of illness. More importantly, the government should ensure that services offered are of good quality and equal to all in order to streamline the basic system in existence. This is an advantage because it improves â€Å"

CAUSAL ANALYSIS ESSAY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

CAUSAL ANALYSIS - Essay Example It seemed like a trend among my peers to get married a few years after completing high school. My best friend and classmate in high school got married a few months after we had cleared high school. I was tempted to take the same path but took a different path eventually. I knew I needed to join college but also knew that I could study online. I met Jenny in junior high in my first year; she perfectly fitted what I termed as the girl of my dreams. We were in the same class but not the same stream. We were both chosen to represent our school in an inter-school competition. I am a generally introverted and so I decided to sit alone at the back of the bus. For most of the trip, I pondered about different things and tried to think of what the future held for me. At some point, I dosed off only to be woken up by this beautiful girl standing besides me. I thought I was dreaming at first as I raised my head for a split moment before and dosing off again. She went ahead and sat next to me and nudged me to wake up. I eventually did and she introduced herself to me. Through out the trip we engage in a positive and constructive chat. Jenny was every man’s or should I say every boy’s dream in school; she was a smart, sharp, eloquent, beautiful, and hardworking. She seemed to know everything about everything. She was outgoing and a favorite of every teacher for her intelligence. Many of the boys in school had tried to befriend her but felt belittled by her smartness and level of intelligence. Although everyone in school thought we were dating, it never got into my head that I was engaged in a serious relationship. Gradually, I realized we had so much in common and my reserved nature gradually became more accommodative of her. We had a normal relationship with normal challenges for a long time until one day she brought up the subject of marriage. Not that we had never discussed the subject before†¦ she only brought up the subject without mincing words. We made a

Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Homework - Essay Example Douglas has expressed his desire for â€Å"citizenship for whites only†; meanwhile, Lincoln insisted the equal rights of every living man-including African American-for life, fruits of their labor, and liberty (as cited in Hakim, 2007, p. 158). He further argued that the struggle against slavery reflects an internal turmoil of distinguishing the right from wrong throughout the world. Lincoln supported the â€Å"Fugitive State Law†; however, he strongly opposed the interference with slavery in certain states where it has already existed (as cited in Hakim, 2007, p. 158). Douglas and Lincoln have participated in seven debates in front of approximately 15,000 individuals and travelled for estimated 10,000 miles for their campaigns (as cited in Hakim, 2007, p. 158). The immediate result of these debates was deemed as inconclusive. However, in the long run, the debates became fatal to Douglas and favorable to Lincoln. Lincoln has managed to gain national stature from performance in the debate. He later regarded as a serious presidential contender. In contrast, Douglas has split the Democratic Party and diminished his chance of becoming a U.S. president (â€Å"Results,† 1987). Question 2. Both Grant and Sherman pursued a new type of warfare. Explain the change in strategy these men employed. Note a battle or campaign in which each man used this new strategy. Finally, was this strategy effective? Why or why not? Grant and Sherman introduced a â€Å"new type of warfare,† which has defeated the south (as cited in House, 2008, p.53). The increased lethality of weapons has impelled armies to disperse in order to survive. Battlefield expansion has doomed the concentration at one particular point. The distribution of forces led to the distributed operations. Campaigns began to consist of various actions (House, 2008, p. 53). It contained numerous operations with several maneuvers

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 89

Assignment - Essay Example Then analyzing and interpreting data by tabulating and interpreting in order to draw conclusions of the results is necessary. Finally, preparing the report of the research by including an executive summary, research methods description, discussion of the study results, limitations and concluding as well as recommendation are the required steps in the research (Sontakki, 2010). There are two types of data collection, which are primary and secondary data. In our case, the preferred method is the primary research method of data collection. Exploratory involves focus groups, case studies, customer interviews, projective techniques and ethnographies. In determining what the consumers’ needs, the best method is through exploratory research where through customer interviews and focus groups, necessary information will be obtained concerning Google in Chicago. Moreover, it is to the befit of the customers to give genuine information over the research to conduct. Using customer interviews, projective techniques and focus groups has aided in determining of SWOT analysis. Strengths include product integration, open services and products source, strong portfolio patents, and the primary products are customer and quality experience. Weaknesses include unprofitable products, one income source reliance, and patent litigations. Opportunities are mobile number users’ increment, Google fiber cables, patents obtain via acquisitions and expanding to electronics industry. Threats featured are such as unprofitable products, competition from Microsoft, mobile internet users’ increment and EU antitrust laws (Sontakki, 2010). In the Google ads and consumer needs, the basis for market research project has featured all challenges and solved in accordance to the seven steps. The groups have enabled the company to improve on some

Resistance to Change Essay Example for Free

Resistance to Change Essay Introduction – Change Concept Resistance to change is a response given by individuals or groups when they perceive that a change occurring is a threat to them, (â€Å"Resistance to Change†, 2002). Resistance to change from employees can cause the change initiative to fail as a result of not properly implementing the change strategy. Approach – Change Agent In order to implement change effectively in an organization, it is very important for a change agent to know the signs of resistance before developing a plan. Having the knowledge of how employees may respond to change will aid a change agent in developing a strategy to prevent or even reduce the effects of resistance. Resistance to change can best be handled by proposing a meeting with lower-level employees and gaining some insight in regards to their feelings towards the change. In other words, a change agent can direct upper-management to meet with employees to discuss the changes that must be implemented in the organization and why the changes are important. Employees should also know how these changes will affect their day-to-day operations, such as, changes in specific duties/tasks or even schedules. Research Plan The direction in research will be to gain a better understanding as to why an effective strategy to preventing resistance to change can be incorporated in a change agent’s approach. In concluding the document, the reader should be able to notice the signs of resistance, develop a better strategy to prevent or reduce resistance, and implement the change agent’s plan effectively. References 1. Palmer, Ian et al. (2008). Managing Organizational Change, 2nd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions. The course text is the basis for this research paper. It provides all the necessary information to formulate what resistance to change entails. 2. N/A – due to being unsure as to what other references will provide the best or most important information on the topic.

Nutrition programs Essay Example for Free

Nutrition programs Essay Traditionally, nutrition programs were targeted to the indigent and poor populations in developing countries. Many of todays Americans are malnourished also, but they are inundated with unhealthy foods and require a multidisciplinary approach to nutrition education. What would be the three most important points to include in a public nutrition program? Provide current literature to support your answer and include two nutritional education community resources. Answer: Although we already know it is essential to eat a healthy diet, we may find it more challenging to sort through all of the information about nutrition and food choices. Nutrition is the provision to cells and organisms of the materials necessary (in the form of food) to support life. Healthy eating helps prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure and helps reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Many people today in America are malnourished and it is mostly due to indulging in unhealthy/poor dietary intake. These problems can be controlled by utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to public education. The doctors, social workers, nurses, dieticians and other health educators involved in health promotion should all have a part in ensuring and promoting healthy dietary intake with appropriate food portions and increasing physical activity. The three most important points to include in a public nutrition program are (a) the relationship between food choices and chronic disease such as high blood pressure (high salt intake), high lipids (high fat intake), obesity/diabetes (high sugar/carb intake/low activity) and much more. Educating the public on how to use natural herbs/ seasonings, or salt substitute, reading labels for nutritional contents and ingredients and eating low carb food are all vital factors to know. It is also very important to increase your physical activity daily. Another important point to include is (b) the nutritional assessment. Individuals need to be assessed for their nutritional status and risk. This will help to â€Å"tailor the food packages, design appropriate nutritional education and make referrals to health and social services† (USDA, 2015). The next would be  the nutrition for mothers and children in regards to lactation counselling and school lunch programs. Newborn maternal nursing along with children’s’ nutrition is also a very important point to address. There are a lot of mother/baby classes in the community to help promote breastfeeding, infant meals, and children lunch box ideas. Schools are also in a unique position to promote healthy eating and help ensure appropriate food and nutrient intake among students. There are many nutritional education community resources that helps families in America to improve their nutritional status. They are (A) MyPlate Program: This was created by Michelle Obama in 2011 to serve as a reminder for people to create/make healthier food choices. It put emphasis on eating lots of fruits, grains, vegetables, protein foods and dietary foods. (B) The woman, infant and children program (WIC): This program assist pregnant women, new moms and young children obtain and eat healthy foods. Qualified individuals can only purchase healthy food items. Nutritional education is also provided for qualified individuals at no cost to them. References: MyPlate, 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate WIC Program Nutrition Education Guidance, 2006. Retrieved from: http://www.nal.usda.gov/wicworks/learning_Center/ntredguidance.pdf Edelman, C.L., Kudzman, E, C., Mandel, C. L., (2014). Health promotion throughout the Lifespan. St. Louis: Elsevier.

The human brain

The human brain Today it is common to compare the human brain to a computer, and a human mind to a program running on a computer. Once seen as just a poetic metaphor, this viewpoint is now supported by most philosophers of human consciousness and most researchers in Machine Intelligence. If we take this view literally, then as we can ask how many gigabytes of RAM a PC has we should be able to ask how many gigabytes of memory the human brain has. Machine intelligence researchers have used a digital computer as a model of the human mind in two ways. Most obviously, the computer has been used as a tool, on which simulations of thinking-as-programs are developed and tested. Less obvious, but of great significance, is the use of the computer as a conceptual model of the human mind. This essay traces the sources of this machine-modeled conception of cognition in a great variety of social institutions and everyday experiences, treating them as cultural models which have contributed to the naturalness of the mind-as-machine paradigm for many people, the roots of these models antedate the actual and cognitive landscape of modernity. The essay concludes with a consideration of some of the cognitive consequences of this extension of machine logic into modern life, and proposes an important distinction between information processing models of thought and meaning-making in how human cognition is conceptualized. (Tugui 2006) Kn?wledge i? defined by the ?xf?rd Engli?h Di?ti?n?ry (i) ex?erti?e, ?nd ?kill? quired by ? ?ern thr?ugh ex?erien?e ?r eduti?n; the the?retil ?r ?rtil under?t?nding ?f ? ?ubje?t, (ii) wh?t i? kn?wn in ? rti?ul?r field ?r in t?t?l; ft? ?nd inf?rm?ti?n ?r (iii) ?w?rene ?r f?mili?rity g?ined by ex?erien?e ?f ? ft ?r ?itu?ti?n. Philosophical debates in general start with Platos formulation of knowledge as justified true belief. There is however no sigle agreed definition of knowledge presently, nor any prospect of one, and there remain numerous competing theories. Knowlegde asquisition involves complex cognite processes: perception, learning, communication, association and reasoning. The term knowledge is also used to mean the confident understanding of a subject with the ability to use it for a specific purpose if appropriate. (Bergeron, 20008) Belief is the psycological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true. Epistimology is the phisolophical study of knowledge and belief. The primary problem in epistimology is to understandexactly what is needed in order for us to have knowledge. In a notion derived from Platos dialogue Theaetetus, philosophy has traditionally defined knowledge as justified true belief. The relationship between belief and knowledge is that a belief is knowledge if the belief is true and if the believer has a justification (reasonable and nessesary evidence/guidance) for believing it is true. A false belief is not considered to be knowledge, even if it is sincere. A sincere believer in the flat earch theory does not know that the Earth is flat. Similarly, a truth that nobody belives is not knowledge, because in order to be knowledge, there must be some person who knows it. Basic psychology and related disciplives have traditionally treated belief as if it were the simplest form of mental representation and therefore one of the building blocks of concious thought. Philosophers have tended to be more abstract in their analysis and much of the work examining the viability of the belief concept stems from philosophical analysis. (Denning Metcalfe 2007) The concept of belief presumes a subject (the believer) and an object of belief (the proposition). So, like other propositional attitudes, belief implies the existence of mental states and intentionality, both of which are hotly debated topics in the philosophy of mind whose foundations and relation to brain states are still controversial. Beliefs are sometimes divided into core beliefs (those which you may be actively thinking about) and dispositional belifs (those which you may ascribe to but have never previously thought about). For example, if asked Do you believe tigers wear pink pijamas? a person might answer that they do not, despite the fact they may never have thought about this situation before. That a belief is a mental state has been seen, by some, as contentious. While some philosophesrs have argued that beliefs are represented in the mind as sentence-like sonstructs others have gone as far as arguing that there is no consistent or coherent mental representation that underlies our common use of the belief concept and that it is therefore obsolete and should be rejected This has important implications for understanding the neurophyshology and neuroscience of belief. If the concept of belief is incoherent or ultimately indefensible then any attempt to find the underlying neural processes which support it will fail. If the concept of belief does turn out to be useful, the this goal should (in princible) be achievable. Philosopher Lynne Rudder Baker has outlined four main contempory approaches to belief in her controversial book Saving Belief Our common-sense understanding of belief is correct Sometimes called the mental sentence theory, in this conseption, beliefs exist as coherent entities and the way we talk about them in everyday life is a valid basis for scientific endeavour. Jerry Fodor is one of the principal defenders of this point of view. Our common-sense understanding of belief may not be correct, but it is close enough to make some useful predictions This view argues that we will eventually reject the idea of belief as we use it now, but that there may be a correlation between what we take to be belief when someone says I believe that snow is white and however a future theory of psycology will explain this behaviour. Most notably philosopher Stephen Stich has argued for this particular understanding of belief. Our common-sense understanding of belief in entirely wrong and will be completely superseded by a radically different theory which will have no use for the concept of belief as we know it Known as eliminativism, this view, (most notably proposed by Paul and Patricia Churchland), argues that the concept of belief is like obsolete theories of times past such as the four humours theory about medicine, or the phlogiston theory of combustion. In these cases science hasnt provided us with a more detailed account of these theories, but completely rejected them as valid scientific concepts to be replaced by entirely different accounts. The churchlands argue that our common-sence concept of brain is similar, in that as we discover more about neuroscience and the brain, the inevitable conclusion will be to reject the belief hypothesis in its entirety. Our common-sense understanding of belief is entirely wrong, however treating people, animals and even computers as if they had beliefs, is often a succesful srtategy The major proponents of this view, Daniel Dennett and Lynne Rudder Baker, are both eliminativists in that they believe that beliefs are not a scientifically valid concept, but they dont go as far as rejecting the concept of belief as predictive device. Dennett gives the example of playing a computer at chess. While a few people would agree that the computer help beliefs, treating the computer as if it did (e.g. that the computer believes that taken the oppositions queen will give it a considerable advantage) is likely to be a succesful and predictive strategy. In this understanding of belief, named by Dennett the intentional stance belief based explanations of mind and behaviour are at a different level of explanation and are not reducible to those based on fundamental neuroscience although both may be explanatory at t heir own level. (Mesarovic Pestel 2008) Reality Vs Model of Reality Reality, in everyday usage, means the state of things as they actually exist. In one sense it is what is real; in its widest sense the term reality includes everything that is, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible. Reality in this sense includes being and sometimes is considered to include nothingness, where existence is often restricted to being (compare with nature). A common colloquial usage would have reality mean perceptions, belief and attitudes toward reality, as in My reality is not your reality.

Comparing My Father and My Brother Essay -- comparison compare contras

Comparing My Father and My Brother To find extreme viewpoints, I need look no further than my own family. My family has members whose opinions vary widely. These opinions often result in interesting conversations, debates, and occasional disagreements at family gatherings. The differences in opinions appear relatively minor but often lead to hours of spirited, verbal exchanges. Some of these discussions are nothing more than good-natured kidding which helps pass the time during long vacation trips in the family car. Two contrasting members of my family are my brother and my father. I understand both of them fairly well, but their attempts to understand each other are less successful. My father and my older brother sometimes assume diametrically different viewpoints. My brother is artistic and creative while my father is pragmatic and technically minded. One of the more humorous differences between them is their taste in music. My brother is a born musician who loves music with soul. He is currently a Jazz Studies major at the University of North Texas. On the other hand, my father is a scientist, has no musical talent, and listens to "muzak." This situation often presents a problem during long car trips. The family often becomes polarized between those who want to listen to Mantovani and those who want to listen to something more tasteful. Compromises are usually reached by our first listening to Mantovani and then listening to something else. My father owns the car and manages to stay in the front seat most of the time. As a result, we hear a lot of Mantovani. Another often humorous difference between my father and brother is the way they wear their hair. My brother wears his hair down to his sh... ...eople in all walks of life. He studied music at an early age and was encouraged to develop his interest in the field. Although talented in math and science, my brother's true love was music. He was determined, upon graduating from high school, to make a career in music. Although my brother and father disagree on many things, they manage to get along very well. Both of them are open-minded and can appreciate each other's differences. Though they are different in many ways, they share a few interests, such as fishing and working on cars. They also enjoy lively discussions on topics about which they disagree. It is probably a good thing that all people are not born exactly like their parents. If everybody were alike, the world would be a very boring place. One thing is certain: long car rides would be less interesting without arguments about Mantovani.

Michael Jordan Essay -- essays research papers

In Jim Naughton’s book Taking To The Air, the main character is Michael Jordan. The book is Jordan’s life and talents. Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the fourth child and the youngest of three boys. Michael Jordan is by any measure, the most popular athlete in America and perhaps the best-known figure in the world. I have chosen to use Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy of Need to analysis Jordan’s personality. I will do my analysis by focusing on Jordan’s healthy personality, which is marked by his continued personal growth. Michael Jordan’s parents are James and Deloris Jordan. James began work as a forklift operator for General Electric, rose to dispatcher and retired as a supervisor. Deloris took a job after her children were in school at a drive-through window for United Carolina Bank. She worked her way up to head teller and retired as chief of Customer Service. Jordan has two brothers and two sisters; James Ronald, Larry, Deloris and Roslyn. He married Juanita Vanoy. Juanita, who was a loan officer at Chicago Bank before marring Jordan, Michael and Juanita, have two sons; Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James. Jordan’s friends admired him and value his friendship because he is a considerate and noble man. The Jordan’s are "pretty laid-back people". (Naughton, 1997, Pg. 19) Fred Whitfield, a friend of Jordan states, "he was just a real clean-cut guy with his head on straight." (Naughton, 1992, Pg. 18) "He hates to be embarrassed, he can’t take that. He can dish it out all the time, though. "If you make a mistake, he’ll let you know about it," states Buzz Peterson, a college roommate. Kevin Jones, another college friend, to whom Michael gave one of his tailored tuxedos, states "these gifts are Jordan’s way of making sure his buddies don’t get left behind." (Naughton, 1992, Pg. 23) Rod Higgins of the Golden State Warriors, who is Jordan’s best friend in the league states "to deal with him, you have to go right back to him just to make the night not so long." (Naughton, 1992, Pg. 22-23) Adol ph Shiver was Michael’s summer time playmate at Empire Park in Wilmington, his classmate at Laney High School and began again Chapel Hill. Jordan has a big circle of friends but these were a few of the closet. Beneath this verb... ...tain a fresh appreciation of the world around them. Socially, they are sensitive to others’ needs and enjoy rewarding interpersonal relations. At the Henry Horner Homes Project, Michael has written his legend. "It is sentimental to pretend that he can solve the many problems that beset this pace, irresponsible to imagine that he owes a greater responsibility to these kids than one owes them one’s self. But he could focus attention on these children’s problems simply by crossing the street. These kids, and others like them, are not Jordan’s obligation, but they are his opportunity. And with so much on the lives, who would you rather see with the ball?" (Naughton, 1992 Pg. 250-251) Michael Jordan has not only grown as a great athletic but also as a good human being. Jordan loves children and he will help those he can. Through Maslow’s Theory, I could see Michael Jordan Personality. He shows that he fulfills one’s potential and has a nature of the healthy personality. He strikes a nice balance between many polarities in personality. Michael Jordan, indeed, by any measure, is the most popular athletic in America and perhaps the best-known sports figure in the world. Michael Jordan Essay -- essays research papers In Jim Naughton’s book Taking To The Air, the main character is Michael Jordan. The book is Jordan’s life and talents. Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the fourth child and the youngest of three boys. Michael Jordan is by any measure, the most popular athlete in America and perhaps the best-known figure in the world. I have chosen to use Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy of Need to analysis Jordan’s personality. I will do my analysis by focusing on Jordan’s healthy personality, which is marked by his continued personal growth. Michael Jordan’s parents are James and Deloris Jordan. James began work as a forklift operator for General Electric, rose to dispatcher and retired as a supervisor. Deloris took a job after her children were in school at a drive-through window for United Carolina Bank. She worked her way up to head teller and retired as chief of Customer Service. Jordan has two brothers and two sisters; James Ronald, Larry, Deloris and Roslyn. He married Juanita Vanoy. Juanita, who was a loan officer at Chicago Bank before marring Jordan, Michael and Juanita, have two sons; Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James. Jordan’s friends admired him and value his friendship because he is a considerate and noble man. The Jordan’s are "pretty laid-back people". (Naughton, 1997, Pg. 19) Fred Whitfield, a friend of Jordan states, "he was just a real clean-cut guy with his head on straight." (Naughton, 1992, Pg. 18) "He hates to be embarrassed, he can’t take that. He can dish it out all the time, though. "If you make a mistake, he’ll let you know about it," states Buzz Peterson, a college roommate. Kevin Jones, another college friend, to whom Michael gave one of his tailored tuxedos, states "these gifts are Jordan’s way of making sure his buddies don’t get left behind." (Naughton, 1992, Pg. 23) Rod Higgins of the Golden State Warriors, who is Jordan’s best friend in the league states "to deal with him, you have to go right back to him just to make the night not so long." (Naughton, 1992, Pg. 22-23) Adol ph Shiver was Michael’s summer time playmate at Empire Park in Wilmington, his classmate at Laney High School and began again Chapel Hill. Jordan has a big circle of friends but these were a few of the closet. Beneath this verb... ...tain a fresh appreciation of the world around them. Socially, they are sensitive to others’ needs and enjoy rewarding interpersonal relations. At the Henry Horner Homes Project, Michael has written his legend. "It is sentimental to pretend that he can solve the many problems that beset this pace, irresponsible to imagine that he owes a greater responsibility to these kids than one owes them one’s self. But he could focus attention on these children’s problems simply by crossing the street. These kids, and others like them, are not Jordan’s obligation, but they are his opportunity. And with so much on the lives, who would you rather see with the ball?" (Naughton, 1992 Pg. 250-251) Michael Jordan has not only grown as a great athletic but also as a good human being. Jordan loves children and he will help those he can. Through Maslow’s Theory, I could see Michael Jordan Personality. He shows that he fulfills one’s potential and has a nature of the healthy personality. He strikes a nice balance between many polarities in personality. Michael Jordan, indeed, by any measure, is the most popular athletic in America and perhaps the best-known sports figure in the world.

Investigation in to the factors that affects the rate of fermentation o

Investigation in to the factors that affects the rate of fermentation of Glucose Aim: To investigate the factors that affects the rate of fermentation of Glucose. Background knowledge. ENZYMES Fermentation is a form of an anaerobic respiration where by glucose is partially broken down so only a small amount of energy is released. The yeast cells use the enzymes, ZYMASE to break down sugars unable to obtain. GLUCOSE CARBON DIOXIDE + ETHANOL(+ENERGY) C6 H12 O6 6CO2 + C2H5OH (210KJ) Enzymes have several properties. 1) Specific actions-Zyamse in yeast works on glucose. 2) A small amount is required as the enzyme is used again and again as it is uncharged at the end therefore one of my variables could be varying the quantity of yeast. 3) Each enzyme has its own specific temperature at which it works best. This is the factor at which I am going to investigate zymase in yeast. There are some enzymes which work best in cold eg. Fridge. And others that can stand considerably high temperatures. All enzymes are proteins as they are made by living cells. Therefore high temperatures cause protein to become DENATURED, destroyed, exaclty the same way as the cooked white of an egg cannot be changed back to its runny state. When proetin of an ezyme is denatured it no longer functions as a catalyst. COLLISION THEORY 'Rate of reaction simply depends on how hard and often the reacting particles collide with each other.' The basic idea is that particles have to collide with each other in order to react. MORE COLLISIONS INCREASE THE RATE OF REACTION. 1) Temperature increases the number of collisions. 2) Concentration (or pressure) in creases the number of collisions. 3) Sizes of solid particles (or surface area) incr... ...ature of 40-50Â °, therefore the molecules reacted faster and harder, collision theory, which starts to give off a gas, CO2. The glucose changes into a gas, Kinetic theory. My graph of my results shows that the Carbon Dioxide produced did not react as fast as the enzyme which is working as a catalyst has either stopped or died. My prediction has been a success. GLUCOSE CARBON DIOXIDE + ETHANOL(+ENERGY) C6 H12 O6 6CO2 + C2H5OH (210KJ) Evaluation: I really enjoyed doing this experiment, which is unusual! I did my research well. Using different types of materials, Internet, Library, Revision books. I think it would have been better if I had of done each temperature three times so that I could have found an average. It would have been abit more fairer and bit more accurate. I also missed the first week so it was a little bit confusing at first but it turned out okay.

Extracurricular Activities

Contents 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3 2. Literature Review†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 4 3. Survey Findings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 10 4. Analysis of Data†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦15 5. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 17 6. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 18 Effect of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Performance at NSU Introduction Music, volunteer work, community service, sports, debating, etc—all of these have an influence on how university students perform academically.The way students choose to spend their free time can affect their academic performance; it is not simply traditional in-class instruction that impacts academic achievement. â€Å"A study by the U. S. Department of Education revealed that students who participate in co-curricular activities are three times more likely to have a grade point average of 3. 0 or better† than students who do not participate in co-curricular activities (Stephens & Schaben, 2002, para. ). In addition to co-curricular or extracurricular activities, â€Å"analyses revealed that regardless of students’ background and prior achievement, various parenting, volunteering, and home learning activities positively influenced student grades† (Simon, 2001, para. 1). Numerous studies have examined the factors influencing students’ academic achievement, and many activities were found to have a significant influence.According to BUGS (Bringing Up Girls in Science), a program for young girls and their parents at the University of North Texas, â€Å"the home environment is among the most important influences on academic performance† (Bringing Up Girls in Science, 2003, para. 2). A correlation appears to exist between the activities that students choose outside of the classroom and their academic performance. One of the main controversies is the effect that television viewing of students has on their academic achievement. â€Å"The relationship between cognitive development and television viewing has been the one most widely studied.Investigators disagree about the effects of this relationship† (Shin, 2004, para. 2). The amount and quality of television viewing and family involvement are not the only influences of academic performance. The effects of music and sports are also controversial in their relation to academic performance. University Deans are interested in the relationship between academic achievement and participation in interscholastic sports at university level these days implying that sports do have some sort of influence on how students perform academically.All of these activities appear to have some sort of effect on students’ academic performance; however, the issue of whether they benefit or hinder is unknown. The research would be described as a descriptive study because it observes behaviors â€Å"as they occur naturally, describes behav ior, explores a phenomenon, and tests hypotheses about behavior† (Brown, Cozby, Kee, & Worden, 1999, p. 75). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine whether or not the club activities that students of North South University (where I study currently) take part in have an effect on their academic performance.I believe that extracurricular activities (club activities) have a positive effect on a student’s academic performance at NSU. | | | | Literature Review The History of Extracurricular Activities The development of extracurricular activities was slow in the beginning, with many seeing it simply as a fad that would pass and quickly fade out of style (Millard, 1930, p. 11). One of the early philosophies behind extracurricular activities was that they should, wherever at all possible, â€Å"grow out of curricular activities and return to curricular activities to enrich them† (Millard, 1930, p. 2). Eventually people, including educators, began to see th e benefits of extracurricular activities, but it took a while to inure themselves to them. In fact, before 1900, educators were skeptical of participation in extracurricular activities, believing that â€Å"school should focus solely on narrowly defined academic outcomes. Non-academic activities were viewed as being primarily recreational and therefore were detrimental to academic achievement, and consequently were discouraged† (Marsh & Kleitman, 2002, para. 5).Deam and Bear, early experts on extracurricular activities, said, â€Å"Extracurricular activities supplement and extend those contacts and experiences found in the more formal part of the program of the school day† (Millard, 1930, p. 16). It was not until recently that â€Å"educational practitioners and researchers have taken a more positive perspective, arguing that extracurricular activities may have positive effects on life skills and may also benefit academic accomplishments† (Marsh & Kleitman, 2002 , para. 5). It is obvious that extracurricular activities have an impact on academic performance and education ever since their inception.The question is, how are extracurricular activities affecting academic performance today? Extracurricular Activities and Academic Performance Numerous studies have been conducted concerning the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance. Total extracurricular activity participation (TEAP), or participation in extracurricular activities in general, is associated with an improved grade point average, higher educational aspirations, increased college attendance, and reduced absenteeism† (Broh, 2002, para. 8).Guest and Schneider (2003), in looking at the previous research on this subject said, â€Å"Researchers have found positive associations between extracurricular participation and academic achievement† (para. 2). Although researchers agree that extracurricular activities do, in fact, influence academic pe rformance, the specific effect that various activities produce is debated. One study, conducted by the National Educational Longitudinal Study, found that â€Å"participation in some activities improves achievement, while participation in others diminishes achievement† (Broh, 2002, para. ). Many extracurricular activities have proven to be beneficial in building and strengthening academic achievement, even if the activities are not obviously related to academic subjects (Marsh & Kleitman, 2002, para. 9). â€Å"A number of studies revealed that students participating in extracurricular activities did better academically than students who did not participate† (Marsh & Kleitman, 2002, para. 7). Researchers have particularly studied the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance in adolescents.One study found that â€Å"adolescents who participated in extracurricular activities reported higher grades, more positive attitudes toward school, an d higher academic aspirations† (Darling, Caldwell, & Smith, 2005, para. 1). Darling, Caldwell, and Smith (2005) conducted a longitudinal study concerning extracurricular activities and their effect on various aspects of development, including academic performance. A survey containing a list of twenty different extracurricular activities was distributed to students; they were asked to check which extracurricular activities they participated in that year.Demographic questions, such as their favorite activity, gender, and ethnicity were asked in order to take the social factors and influences into account when calculating the results. The students were also asked what their academic goals were and their grade point average. The results showed that the students who participated in school-based extracurricular activities had higher grades, higher academic aspirations, and better academic attitudes than those who were not involved in extracurricular activities at all (Para. 3-35). S ocial Influences of Extracurricular Activities and Academic Performance Numerous studies indicate that extracurricular activities do, in fact, promote academic performance in students. However, are the extracurricular activities themselves, regardless of outside or social influences, responsible for this impact on academic performance? Guest and Schneider (2003) conducted research on what influence various social factors had on the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance.They found that most of the studies previously conducted on the relationship between these two factors had not taken into account the meaning that participation in extracurricular activities â€Å"[held] for individual participants within distinct social contexts† (Para. 3). They believed that every school and community assigned certain values to the various activities, putting more importance on some over others. The value that is placed on each activity affects the relations hip between that specific activity and academic performance (Guest & Schneider, 2003, para. ). Guest and Schneider (2003) concluded that there are three factors which influence this relationship. These factors are the â€Å"what,† the â€Å"where,† and the â€Å"when† (Para. 7). The â€Å"what† suggests that â€Å"the type of participation or activity undertaken influences developmental outcomes† (Guest & Schneider, 2003, para. 8). The â€Å"where† suggests â€Å"that the school and community context in which extracurricular activity takes place matters† (Guest & Schneider, 2003, para. 9).Finally, the â€Å"when† suggests â€Å"that the developmental and historical context in which extracurricular participation takes place influences both how it is valued and its effects on subsequent development† (Guest & Schneider, 2003, para. 10). All three of these factors work together to influence the relationship between participa tion in extracurricular activities and academic performance, because each one places a different value both on activities and academics. Formal Versus Informal Extracurricular Activities Some researchers have divided extracurricular activities into informal and formal activities.The formal activities include activities which are relatively structured, such as participating in athletics or learning to play a musical instrument. Informal activities, on the other hand, also known as leisure activities, include less structured activities, such as watching television. Some literature on leisure studies has â€Å"suggested that formal and informal activity settings have different influences on motivation and feelings of competence,† two factors which influence academic performance (Guest & Schneider, 2003, para. 8).One study found â€Å"that more time in leisure activities was related to poorer academic grades, poorer work habits, and poorer emotional adjustments,† while mor e time in â€Å"structured groups and less time watching TV were associated with higher test scores and school grades† (Marsh & Kleitman, 2002, para. 15). Guest and Schneider (2003), in their study, found that â€Å"the type of participation or activity undertaken influences developmental outcomes (Para. 8). This involves the â€Å"what† factor and is the concern of this research project.There have been many studies conducted on the influence that extracurricular activities have on academic performance. Their effects have â€Å"differed substantially for different activities. There were a total of seventy-six statistically significant effects, fifty-eight positive and eighteen negative† (Marsh & Kleitman, 2002, para. 11). The Relationship Between Volunteer Work and Academic Performance A dearth of literature on the relationship between volunteering and academic achievement exists; nevertheless, it is becoming more popular in academic settings as a way of improv ing academics, as well as society.Many schools now require their students to complete a mandatory number of hours of volunteer work per year or semester. Schools have implemented â€Å"service learning,† which incorporates community service and volunteer work into the curriculum, because it has been proven to have a positive effect on academic performance (Hinck & Brandell, 1999). Service learning â€Å"can and does have a positive impact on the psychological, social, and intellectual development of adolescents who participate† (Hinck & Brandell, 1999, para. 11).Usually the services performed are related, in some way, to some academic subject, but most forms of volunteer work and community service can be tied to academics in one way or another. As a result, â€Å"more and more studies are finding that increased academic growth is the result when service is combined with intellectual content† (Hinck & Brandell, 1999, para. 17). One study, conducted on over 2,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade, found that student performance improved as a result of service learning (Hinck & Brandell, 1999, para. 17).The Texas Council of Chief State School Officers reported that â€Å"involvement in service learning affects students’ higher level thinking skills, motivation to learn, application of learning, insight, and basic academic skills† (Hinck & Brandell, 1999, para. 18). One study performed to determine the relationship between academic performance and community partnerships found that â€Å"regardless of students’ background and prior achievement, volunteering activities positively influenced student grades, course credits completed, attendance, behavior, and school preparedness† (Simon, 2001, para. 1).All of the literature concerning the relationship between academic performance and volunteering presented a positive relationship. (Citied in Fujita, 2005) Survey Findings Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Analysis of Data When asked whether their CGPA improves when they are actively involved with club activities and events, eighty percent members of North South University Social Services Club, sixty percent members of North South University Sports Club and eighty percent members of North South University Shangskritik Shanghatan responded with ‘no’.They also answered ‘negative’ when asked what kind of effect their chosen extracurricular activity has on their academic performance in the same percentages. This clearly shows that the majority of the members of these three clubs feel that they perform poor in their academics when they are involved with club works. The activities of the club, although it may provide satisfaction to the active members, it does not help them with their studies. The courses they take at NSU have no relation with the activities of the club.Therefore, they get ex hausted after doing the activities of the club and do not get time to concentrate on their studies. And also, since the activities of these three clubs have no relation with the courses offered at NSU, it does not help them with their academics in any way. However, a totally different picture can be seen when the responses of the active members of Young Economists’ Forum (YEF) and North South University English Club are analyzed. Here, it should be mentioned that all the members who filled up the questionnaires from these two clubs were from the Economics and English departments respectively.Although it is not mandatory for the members of YEF to be from the economics department and for the members of English club to be from the English department, my sample included all YEF members from the Economics department and all English Club members from the English department. So, this is one of the major reasons for eighty percent of YEF members and sixty percent of English Club memb ers to respond with ‘yes’ when asked whether their CGPA improves when they are actively involved with club activities.Respectively, they also answered ‘positive’ with the same percentage when asked what kind of influence their chosen ECA has on their academic performance. This shows that since the extracurricular activities chosen by the members of YEF and English Club from the selected sample are related to their field of study at NSU, they feel their CGPA improves and that the activities have a positive effect on their academic performance. Finally, when the CGPA of the total sample is analyzed, it can be seen that sixty percent of the total sample have a bad CGPA between 1. 05 and 3. 00.The rest forty percent have a very good CGPA between 3. 01 and 3. 97. The students with good CGPA belong to clubs which organize activities related to the student’s academics. This further strengthens the argument that students who are involved in club activities w hich complements their studies perform well in their studies than those students whose club activities are unrelated to their academics. Conclusion From the conducted survey, it can be concluded that my hypothesis is partially proved correct. Extracurricular activities in the form of club activities do have a positive effect on a student’s academic performance at NSU.However, the club activity must be related to the courses taken by the students or their field of study. It helps the students perform better in their academics and score better grades if the club activities they are involved in helps broaden the students’ knowledge about his chosen field of study at NSU. If students’ choose to become a member of a club whose activities have no relation with their academics, although they may become very skilled at those activities but this will hamper their study, and their academic performance will go down in the form of a low CGPA.All being said and done, student s should not base their decision of getting involved in club activities or participating in any other extracurricular activity from the findings of this study. This research is only a small attempt to find out the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance at NSU. Students should set their priorities themselves and choose their extracurricular activity accordingly or choose them according to their interests. They have the liberty to do so as they are mature adults.However, it would be wise if students chose their extracurricular activities carefully. At the end of the day, academic performance matters the most. NSU’s reputation depends on the quality of the students who study here. If NSU is filled with active ‘clubbers’ who are very good at their club activities but poor in studies then NSU’s reputation will go down in the eyes of all who see NSU as a place of quality higher education. References Bringing Up Girls in Science. (2003). Bugs—parents (University of North Texas). Retrieved February 26, 2005, from http://www. oe. unt. edu/bugs/parents. index. html Broh, B. A. (2002, January). Linking extracurricular programming to academic achievement: Who benefits and why? [Electronic version]. Sociology of Education, 75, 69-96. Brown, K. W. , Cozby, P. C. , Kee, D. W. , & Worden, P. E. (1999). Research methods in human development. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publications. Darling, N. , Caldwell, L. L. , & Smith, R. (2005). Participation in school-based extracurricular activities and adolescent adjustment [Electronic version].Journal of Leisure Research, 37, 51-77. Fujita, K. (2005). The Effects of Extracurricular Activities on the Academic Performance of Junior High Students [Electronic version]. Undergraduate Research Community. Available at http://kon. org/urc/v5/fujita. html Guest, A. , & Schneider, B. (2003, April). Adolescents’ extracurricular participation in context: The mediating effe cts of schools, communities, and identity [Electronic version]. Sociology of Education, 76, 89-105. Hinck, S. S. , & Brandell, M.E. (1999, October). Service learning: Facilitating academic learning and character development [Electronic version]. National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin, 83, 16-25. Marsh, H. W. , & Kleitman, S. (2002). Extracurricular activities: The good, the bad, and the nonlinear [Electronic version]. Harvard Educational Review, 72, 464-512. Millard, C. V. (1930). The organization and administration of extra curricular activities. New York: A. S. Barnes and Co. Shin, N. (2004, December).Exploring pathways from television viewing to academic achievement in school age children [Electronic version]. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 165, 367-382. Simon, B. S. (2001, October). Family involvement in high school: Predictors and effects [Electronic version]. National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin, 85, 8-20. Stephens, L. J. , & S chaben, L. A. (2002, March). The effect of interscholastic sports participation on academic achievement of middle level school activities [Electronic version]. National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin, 86, 34-42.

Genre Text Essay

The Real Inspector Hound When you think of the term ‘genre’, what does it exactly mean to you? Well I’m sure it’s without a doubt that you all commonly believe it constitutes either a kind or category of text, but in actual fact does it really? Good morning Year 11. The prime focus of your studies during the HSC course next year, I’m going to discuss how the genre of crime fiction has extended through time, whereby a variety of notions and characteristics exhibited throughout a text may either reinforce, challenge or extend on genre parameters. So what is genre then? Although genre is quite difficult to define, there are numerous interpretations of the term since the confines between genres are constantly evolving due to changing values. As Daniel Chandler states, â€Å"defining genres may not initially seem particularly problematic but it should already be apparent that it’s a theoretical minefield. † However, Jane Feuer believes â€Å"genre is ultimately an abstract conception. † These critics therefore prove that yes, while it may be easy to classify a text to a particular genre, we must understand genre as a concept that can apply to varying applications rather than its fundamental relevance to a text. In saying this, as changing contexts and values have developed over time, resulting in new-found conventions, I’ve come to agree with Stephen Neale’s understanding; â€Å"Genres are instances of repetition and difference†¦ difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre. † (Neale, 1980). This my friends, effectively reflects constant changing cultural values and attitudes in our social milieu, don’t you think? Hence, my aim today is to focus on the conventions of the genre of crime fiction and how they have been recreated in a number of ways to reflect the social and cultural aspects that are dynamic to their survival within the popularity of a text. As Neale further suggests, â€Å"genres exist to assist in shaping values. † Subsequently, I will discuss how and why Alfred Hitchcock’s film Rear window and Tom Stoppard’s play The Real Inspector Hound have re-worked and extended upon crime conventions prevalent in crime writing through genre, often defying audience expectations in one way or another. As a result, Rear Window highlights and expands upon the cosy conventions of its contemporary society by paralleling the post-war issues of voyeurism and women and subverting them, reflected through its social milieu. The Real Inspector Hound also utilises cosy conventions but parodies them instead, challenging the classical Golden Age’s ‘whodunit’ storyline in a satiric way, so as to query the restoration of justice and the idea of reality vs. allusion. Thus, whilst both texts seek to extend and challenge crime conventions, they also serve to explore society’s human conditions and issues at the time in order to become seminal texts of the genre. Directed in 1954, Hitchcock’s Rear Window reinforces the fact that very few works exemplify all required characteristics of a particular genre, by cleverly breaking the ideal conventions of a suspenseful circumstance in a crime fiction text. The film is rather based around the notion of both solving the crime and proving that it happened. Rear Window further revolves around the concepts of the changing roles of women and queries the morality of voyeurism. Such notions reflect the contextual concerns of the post-war era where a revolutionary social change was clearly prevalent in society, thus endangering the traditional gender restrictions marked by WW2. Through the mis-en-scene of Jeff holding his camera looking outside the window as blinds are swiftly raised to reveal vignettes of apartments, it’s evident that a didactic message outlining the unethicalness of voyeurism is contained within Rear Window. As voyeurism further exposes hidden worlds within the film, Hitchcock manages to reflect upon American society through each of these blocks acting as a microcosm. But it stops there. Quite similarly to our other text The Real Inspector Hound, Hitchcock withdraws from typical crime conventions by not showing the occurrence of the crime itself. This was due to growing conflict between the conservative American government and growing acceptance to sexuality by society at the time, as a result of censorship on films. The concept of voyeurism is cleverly employed by Hitchcock via subverting a cosy setting, a convention to reflect the concept of McCarthyism where there was a fracturing of society due to the paranoia of communism, which was most prominent during the Golden Age. This is illustrated as the camera pans across Jeff’s apartment, focusing on his photography tools and emphasising his infatuation for observing life. Thus, Jeff’s dilemma of being entrapped in his apartment persuades him to do â€Å"something drastic† to remove him â€Å"out of the swamp of boredom,† which metaphorically foreshadows his forthcoming hobby of spying on his neighbours. I’m certain you all must think he’s strange, but the aspect of social insecurity and fear at the time was what Hitchcock was seeking to embody. Where spying begins as an innocent obsession, it soon becomes a neurotic effort to prove Thorwald’s criminal actions. Therefore, after the growing tension depicted through continual panning shots, Jeff takes action which exposes clues in Thorwald’s apartment. However, the consequences of voyeurism are made apparent through the non diagetic sound and quick motion of Jeff falling out the window. Hitchcock hence questions the moral ambiguity of voyeurism due to society’s fear of maintaining social order, by focusing on the depraved aspect of society becoming â€Å"a race of peeping toms. † Despite changing perceptions of females in the workforce, how exactly did Lisa become an amateur detective and femme fatale, whilst presenting the evolving independance and roles of women? In actual fact, Hitchcock broke a key crime convention – there must only be one detective! A high angle shot first characterises Jeff as bound to his wheel chair, and the cast around his injured leg is symbolic of the identity boundary he endures. Consequently, Jeff is left helpless, a frequent motif that’s prevalent throughout the film in which Jeff is metaphorically incapable of embracing his male dominance, hoping to â€Å"emerge from his plaster cocoon. † Thus when Lisa emerges, the dark lighting and shadows surrounding her signifies Jeff’s intimidation, as men were startled by the role of women in the post-war period. By having Jeff restricted at home in a feminised position, Hitchcock underpins Lisa as the amateur sleuth, sustained through her constant dominance over Jeff within the framing. Hitchcock further challenges the authority of women in crime fiction as femme-fatales, whereby negative connotations strengthen the presence of conceited masculinity. Yet Lisa’s strong persona and sheer determination leads to her fatal participation in â€Å"the next assignment,† exhibited in the panning tracking shot of her investigating Thorwald’s apartment, underlining Lisa’s unusual role as a detective and the film’s conclusion of restoration. Subsequently, Hitchcock illustrates the development of crime conventions by challenging traditional crime conventions, via representing the shift in the growing independence and role of women in society, by maintaining both genders as main detectives. Thus, Rear Window not only reinforces and extends upon crime genre parameters, but also reflects society’s changing values, hence explaining why it’s considered a critical crime fiction text even today. Unlike Hitchcock who reinvented some crime writing rules, Stoppard completely goes against them. Whilst Stoppard experiments with the classical Golden Age crime conventions, the crime genre is seen to continuously mirror society’s changing attitude and values. In successfully challenging the audience to interpret whether the perceived distinction between what is real and an allusion in crime is essential, Stoppard also leads them to question the restoration of justice. The perceived distinction between reality and allusion is no longer relevant in today’s post-modern world as it was in the Golden Age, due to changing societal expectations, like Stoppard suggests. He breaks traditional conventions, as the margins of a play-within-a-play have been intersected, demonstrating the blurring of reality. Whilst Rear Window uses a cosy setting to depict society’s issues, Stoppard instead parodies it to demonstrate that a crime isn’t always within its confines, and hence defies crime conventions to outline the irrationality of society. The cosy method of contrivance supports this, being parodied through Mrs. Drudge’s absurd dialogue about the â€Å"somewhat isolated Muldoon Manor, which is surrounded by deadly swamps and fog. † Thus Stoppard criticises S. S Van Dine’s code where â€Å"the detective himself† â€Å"should never turn out to be the culprit,† by forwarding the murderous role onto Puckeridge, whom the audience come to learn as Inspector Hound and Magnus also. This is depicted in the final scene through an exaggerated climax of a string of revelations. For eg. â€Å"I am not the real Magnus Muldoon! It was a mere subterfuge. Stoppard effectively emphasises the melodramatic and absurd situation of the play, by demonstrating multiple pauses and an overuse of explanation points in union with stage directions. Through a variety of dramatic devices, the distinction between reality and allusion is dissolved, as Stoppard denounces the lack of innovation and irrelevancy of crime fiction conventions. Society is further challenged by Stoppard to query the relevancy of the nature of truth and justice within the traditional crime fiction genre. So must there always be a hero within the context of the text? The authorities within the play are not central figures, just like the police aren’t in Rear Window, as justice isn’t achieved. But whilst the police in Rear Window are idiotic, Inspector Hound doesn’t even convey detective traits. Alternatively, Inspector Hound is continuously ridiculed through stage directions. For eg. He is wearing â€Å"inflatable swamp boots and carrying a foghorn,† in his entrance. Therefore, The Real Inspector Hound has eloquently challenged the conventions of crime fiction, leading the play to become a significant crime fiction text as it crucially contributes to the revolution of crime over time. In summation, it’s without a doubt that Hitchcock’s Rear Window skilfully challenges the conventions of crime fiction in such a way that classifies the film as unlike your traditional crime film, as he endeavoured to reflect the cultural values of the post-war era. Moreover, Stoppard also extended upon genre parameters in The Real Inspector Hound by satirising the classic conventions of characters and plot from the Golden Age, whereby he duplicated postmodernist beliefs at a point where it was seen as time for change. Thus, both texts have grown to become seminal crime fiction texts, by cleverly reinventing already established crime conventions in numerous ways.