Company Profile Of Cheesecake Factory - 1735 Words

I. Industry Introduction The chain restaurant industry comprises both chain and franchised food service restaurants that enable customers to order food and receive services while being seated. A company has to have multiple operational joints and the ability to offer consistency in the food and service provided throughout the branches before it can be considered a chain restaurant. Over the past five years to 2016, the US chain restaurant industry posted a comfortable annualized growth of 4.3%. The industry generated a revenue stream of US$107.6 billion domestically as of last year and accounted for over 780 businesses in the United States. The chain restaurants industry is currently at its maturity stage of the life cycle, and is coming†¦show more content†¦Grand Lux Cafà © is also an upscale casual dining restaurant that serves classic American dishes, with over 150 different varieties in their menu. Currently, there are 12 Grand Lux Cafà © operating in the United States, primarily in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cheesecake Factory, being the most well-known out of the three brands, is a casual dining setup restaurant that serves over 200 different food menu and an additional 50 more items in its Skinnylicious menu that offers customers food with 590 calories or less. The Cheesecake Factory brand is the only brand in the company that has operations outsi de the United States and currently has over 190 restaurants running worldwide, making it the most successful brand the company is currently running. In total, Cheesecake Factory has over 200 restaurants globally, with more than 200 restaurants operating domestically and up to 12 restaurants operating internationally in Latin America (Mexico and Chile) and Middle East (United Arabs of Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia). The company is planning to expand its market further to other countries, primarily to the Asian market. Out of the restaurants carrying the brand name, 201 are company-owned, while others are franchised or licensed to companies, such as Alshaya that currently runs Cheesecake Factory franchises located in the Middle East. Fortune Magazine ranked Cheesecake Factory ‘The top 100 Best Companies to Work’ for, with 97%Show MoreRelatedBalance Sheet and Income Statement Commentary Essay1488 Words   |  6 Pagesequity in the company. These statements are often analyzed by financial institutions when a company comes to them needing a loan. Stockholders and other investors also look at these statements to make sure their investment will return a profit for them. This paper will look at four different companies and their balance sheets and income statements. The companies are Eastman Chemical Company, Covenant Transportation Group, The Cheesecake Factory and BBamp;T. In 1994 Eastman Chemical Company was the 10thRead MoreCheescake Factory2029 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated is in the â€Å"Restaurant Industry.† It started in the 1940s in the home of Oscar and Evelyn Overton. The business was so successful that in 1971, they moved the cheesecake business to Los Angeles and named it â€Å"The Cheesecake Factory†. In 1978, their son David founded The Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Beverly Hills and 30 years later you can find their restaurant in towns and cities all over the United States with new businesses opening all the timeRead MoreChipotle Case Study3907 Words   |  16 Pages As Chipotle began to grow and expand, Steve took the initiative to learn about the way most of the food in the US is produced and processed. He was quite disturbed when he discovered that pigs were raised in confinement, produce was grown on factory farms with very little respect for the environment and dairy cows were confined and injected with hormones (Ells). This experience prompted Steve to meet with ranchers and farmers who were dedicated to raising livestock and growing produce naturallyRead MoreThe Hunger Of The World1777 Words   |  8 Pagesexcursion into somalia in 1992-1993 he describes the desolate condition of the populace as a gigantic board of clue, to which the answer was everybody in shack with the AK-47. In this part of the world famine is as common as checking your facebook profile, and just as detrimental to your health. There was an abundance of food donated to the country from across the world, however whatever didn t spoil in the 115 degree heat was Howard 2 controlled by local gangs and sold for prostitution servicesRead MoreSecret Recipe Plan10552 Words   |  43 PagesCakes and Cafe to expand and build the brand name and increase the company sales and profit. Across Malaysia the cafe business has seen an explosion growth in these few years. In our market research, there are few competitors such as Old Town Cafe, QSR branch, Starbucks and Coffee Beans provide the food and beverage service. The explosion growth in cafe business provides the variety choice for customers to dine out. Therefore, company should be able to provide the food and service based on the domesticRead MoreSecret Recipe Plan10568 Words   |  43 PagesCakes and Cafe to expand and build the brand name and increase the company sales and profit. Across Malaysia the cafe business has seen an explosion growth in these few years. In our market research, there are few competitors such as Old Town Cafe, QSR branch, Starbucks and Coffee Beans provide the food and beverage s ervice. The explosion growth in cafe business provides the variety choice for customers to dine out. Therefore, company should be able to provide the food and service based on the domesticRead MoreChipotle External Analysis Essay3420 Words   |  14 Pages(EFE) Matrix 4 APPENDIX – 3 4 Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM) 4 APPENDIX – 4 4 APPENDIX – 5 4 Content Topics 4 Bibliography 18 Chipotle Overview Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a â€Å"fast-food service restaurant† under limited service category. It was formed in 1993 and went public in 2006. It has the largest market share in the Mexican-type food segment with a net income of more than $126M in 2009 (Mergent online, 2010). The company spans over 35 states and has over 1000 restaurantsRead MoreEssay about Example Restaurant Concept/Marketing Plan3960 Words   |  16 PagesLand/Sun splash, and 15 miles from the Desert Botanical Museum and Old Town Scottsdale. This location, tentatively aimed at being built in 2007, will be primarily used as a major shopping center and for retail purposes according to the brokerage company DeRito. The property is surrounded by high-density housing, offices, and high-tech employment. There is a substantial frontage on both arterials, and a ramp onto the Loop 202, Santan Freeway located one mile to the south, which makes this site easilyRead MoreEssay on Thorntons Case Study.Doc5 972 Words   |  24 Pagesplanning period aimed at achieving a turnaround in the company’s performance. While company turnover had been increased to  £167m (= â‚ ¬250m) providing Thorntons with an 8 percent share of its core market, boxed chocolates, profit after tax had declined to the lowest level for seven years (Exhibit 1). During that time Thorntons had set out to follow a series of strategic initiatives involving the reorientation of the company towards becoming a retail-focused business, increasing the scale of the company’sRead MoreSecret Recipe10299 Words   |  42 Pagesapproaching the nearest Secret Recipe cafà ©. Moreover, the member of Secret Card owners can enjoy the discount privilege that is provided by Secret Recipe. There are four group of consumer, and these are shown in the table below: Segment Demographic Profile Core Essence Products Fun Leisure Kids, teenagers Kids and teenagers are fond of ice-cream, cake and junk food. Kids’ meal, side order such as French fries, Cheese Cakes, Brownies, Orange Juice, Green Apple Juice, Soft Drink, Coffee beverages.

Short Story - 1492 Words

â€Å"I don’t want more help,† said Audra. â€Å"I don’t need it. That’s why I had this nursery built here, so I could be close to my child and take care of him.† That was partially true, but it was also true that Audra experienced anxiety at the thought of being parted from Rory. Though irrational, she worried if she did not keep him in sight, she might lose him, just as she had lost Maxen. Rignuth took a knee before her. â€Å"You need to take better care of yourself and accept ‘elp. This was just a warning, my lady. What if you grow sick and cannot care for Rory at all? What then?† â€Å"But what if he needs me, Rignuth?† He gave her a sympathetic smile. â€Å"If ‘e cried for you and needed you, your mother or the ladies would bring ‘im right away. Don’t you†¦show more content†¦He turned her to face the throng. â€Å"My queen kneels before no one. She has given me a son, and Aber Hael our prince. On this day, I bless my boy and my wife before all. It is my pleasure to introduce our cherished and beloved son, Rory, Crown Prince of Aber Hael.† The crowd cheered so loudly the window panes rattled, and Rory started crying. Audra handed him over, and Carlton held the child aloft, which made the baby turn red and squall. Right away, Carlton gathered Rory in his arms and kissed him, and the baby calmed. Audra leaned over and kissed her son, too. Let the people see royals could love their children, that babies were far more than bargaining tools used by kings and queens to achieve land and secure alliances. Rory would be loved first as a son, always. The rest would come later. As the people’s jubilant voices chorused: â€Å"Long live Prince Rory!† Audra and Carlton traded smiles. They had parented together for a full week, but something in this moment seemed to change between them. They stood united as mother and father, declaring before all that their baby was, in fact, loved beyond measure. The two of them locked eyes. â€Å"I love you,† said Carlton. â€Å"And I, you.† Carton wrapped his arms around Audra and kissed her. It reminded her of their wedding, a declaration that they would be united from this point forward. Audra,Show MoreRelatedshort story1018 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Short Stories:  Ã‚  Characteristics †¢Short  - Can usually be read in one sitting. †¢Concise:  Ã‚  Information offered in the story is relevant to the tale being told.  Ã‚  This is unlike a novel, where the story can diverge from the main plot †¢Usually tries to leave behind a  single impression  or effect.  Ã‚  Usually, though not always built around one character, place, idea, or act. †¢Because they are concise, writers depend on the reader bringing  personal experiences  and  prior knowledge  to the story. Four MajorRead MoreThe Short Stories Ideas For Writing A Short Story Essay1097 Words   |  5 Pageswriting a short story. Many a time, writers run out of these short story ideas upon exhausting their sources of short story ideas. If you are one of these writers, who have run out of short story ideas, and the deadline you have for coming up with a short story is running out, the short story writing prompts below will surely help you. Additionally, if you are being tormented by the blank Microsoft Word document staring at you because you are not able to come up with the best short story idea, youRead MoreShort Story1804 Words   |  8 PagesShort story: Definition and History. A  short story  like any other term does not have only one definition, it has many definitions, but all of them are similar in a general idea. According to The World Book Encyclopedia (1994, Vol. 12, L-354), â€Å"the short story is a short work of fiction that usually centers around a single incident. Because of its shorter length, the characters and situations are fewer and less complicated than those of a novel.† In the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s DictionaryRead MoreShort Stories648 Words   |  3 Pageswhat the title to the short story is. The short story theme I am going conduct on is â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ by James Thurber (1973). In this short story the literary elements being used is plot and symbols and the theme being full of distractions and disruption. The narrator is giving a third person point of view in sharing the thoughts of the characters. Walter Mitty the daydreamer is very humorous in the different plots of his dr ifting off. In the start of the story the plot, symbols,Read MoreShort Stories1125 Words   |  5 PagesThe themes of short stories are often relevant to real life? To what extent do you agree with this view? In the short stories â€Å"Miss Brill† and â€Å"Frau Brechenmacher attends a wedding† written by Katherine Mansfield, the themes which are relevant to real life in Miss Brill are isolation and appearance versus reality. Likewise Frau Brechenmacher suffers through isolation throughout the story and also male dominance is one of the major themes that are highlighted in the story. These themes areRead MoreShort Story and People1473 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Title: Story Of An Hour Author: Kate Chopin I. On The Elements / Literary Concepts The short story Story Of An Hour is all about the series of emotions that the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard showed to the readers. With the kind of plot of this short story, it actually refers to the moments that Mrs. Mallard knew that all this time, her husband was alive. For the symbol, I like the title of this short story because it actually symbolizes the time where Mrs. Mallard died with joy. And with thatRead MoreShort Story Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesA short story concentrates on creating a single dynamic effect and is limited in character and situation. It is a language of maximum yet economical effect. Every word must do a job, sometimes several jobs. Short stories are filled with numerous language and sound devices. These language and sound devices create a stronger image of the scenario or the characters within the text, which contribute to the overall pre-designed effect.As it is shown in the metaphor lipstick bleeding gently in CinnamonRead MoreRacism in the Short Stor ies1837 Words   |  7 PagesOften we read stories that tell stories of mixing the grouping may not always be what is legal or what people consider moral at the time. The things that you can learn from someone who is not like you is amazing if people took the time to consider this before judging someone the world as we know it would be a completely different place. The notion to overlook someone because they are not the same race, gender, creed, religion seems to be the way of the world for a long time. Racism is so prevalentRead MoreThe Idol Short Story1728 Words   |  7 PagesThe short stories â€Å"The Idol† by Adolfo Bioy Casares and â€Å"Axolotl† by Julio Cortà ¡zar address the notion of obsession, and the resulting harm that can come from it. Like all addictions, obsession makes one feel overwhelmed, as a single thought comes to continuously intruding our mind, causing the individual to not be able to ignore these thoughts. In â€Å"Axolotl†, the narr ator is drawn upon the axolotls at the Jardin des Plantes aquarium and his fascination towards the axolotls becomes an obsession. InRead MoreGothic Short Story1447 Words   |  6 Pages The End. In the short story, â€Å"Emma Barrett,† the reader follows a search party group searching for a missing girl named Emma deep in a forest in Oregon. The story follows through first person narration by a group member named Holden. This story would be considered a gothic short story because of its use of setting, theme, symbolism, and literary devices used to portray the horror of a missing six-year-old girl. Plot is the literal chronological development of the story, the sequence of events

Greenhouse Gases Free Essays

We know electricity is a form of energy and energy is the ability to perform work or make things happen, we also know there are several sources of energy and â€Å"wind† happens to be one of those sources. Since â€Å"wind† is simply air in motion, what then is â€Å"wind energy† and how can we generate electricity from it? Well, based on my research, wind energy is the result of the sun’s energy interacting with the earth’s surfaces. It is also an ideal renewable energy source that is infinitely sustainable; pollution free; doesn’t use fuel; and doesn’t produce greenhouse gases, toxic or radioactive waste. We will write a custom essay sample on Greenhouse Gases or any similar topic only for you Order Now This type of energy is considered a green power technology because it has minor impacts on the environment. When using wind to generate electricity we use machines known as turbines and this turbines use blades that are connected to a drive shaft to collect the winds’ kinetic energy which creates a lift that causes them to turn and then produces electricity using an electric generator. Okay now we know basics, how does this energy source reduce greenhouse gases? First of all, what are these â€Å"greenhouse gases†? Greenhouse gases are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range . The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide (the principal greenhouse gas), methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. From definition, we know that generating electricity for wind does not produce any of these GHG. Before analyzing how efficient wind energy is in reducing GHG, let us consider some other sources of energy. These other sources include: hydropower (water), solar (sun), geothermal (heat) and nuclear. How to cite Greenhouse Gases, Papers

Paul Gauguin A Life Essay Example For Students

Paul Gauguin: A Life Essay Something youll notice about the way people who knew  Gauguin  tend to recall him, wrote a young man in 1929. They may speak of him with love or loathing: none speaks of him with indifference. In  Paul  Gauguin: A Life (Simon Schuster, 600 pp), David Sweetman does not improve upon that description of the irascible artist. But he does do an impressive job of conveying  Gauguins passion, unrelenting self-regard and painterly genius, which have engulfed other biographers. The artist was born in Paris in 1848 and died in the Marquesas Islands in 1903 of syphilis, a month short of his 55th birthday His father, Clovis, a rising journalist, came from a long line of gardeners. His mothers family, far more interesting, were Peruvian aristocrats, some of them famous.  Gauguins grandmother was the feminist Flora Tristan, a friend of George Sands and well-known in European radical circles during the first half of the 19th century as author of The Emancipation of Women and Peregrinations of a Pariah. On his mothers side, too,  Gauguinwas a direct descendant of Alexander VI, that most notorious of all popes, through the pontiffs eldest son, Juan. This means his more remote aunts and uncles included Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia. In 1883,  Gauguin  famously abandoned his career as a stockbroker and businessman (among other pursuits, he sold tarpaulin in Copenhagen) to paint every day. He painted highly regarded scenes in Britanny A productive trip to Martinique in 1887 aroused a deep hankering for the colors and sunlight of the South Pacific and solidified a desire to rid himself of bourgeois France. He eventually abandoned not only wife and family but Europe itself for Tahiti and then the Marquesas. Gauguins paintings and sculptures, with their idiosyncratic mixture of sensuality, religious longings and vivid colors and forms, aroused interest throughout the 1880s and 1890s as they made their way into Parisian galleries. His first major retrospective after his death came in 1906 and was attended by Henri Matisse (who was so moved by the colors that he later visited Tahiti), Andre Derain, Raoul Dufy and other artists who gave the world Fauvism and Expressionism. As Sweetman shows,  Gauguin  himself always resisted pure abstraction, believing that art must be grounded in reality. Nonetheless, his influence on abstraction in this century has been considerable. The painting is great, the life was not. Sweetman points out that  Gauguin  did not provide for the care and sustenance of any of the children he fathered in the South Pacific. He bought, for a bolt or so of cloth, the 12-, 13- and 14-year-old daughters of Tahitian and Marquesan chieftains to be his wives. Sweetman notes that he preferred those brought up in the obedient ethos of non-European cultures, showing none of the independence of mind encouraged by even a limited Western education. Fascinated by lines of native girls on their way to Catholic school, for example  Gauguin  would stop and attempt to charm them while reaching under their smocks to touch them intimately At the same time, Sweetman notes this is not the message of his paintings, which time and again create a uniquely feminine universe in which women dominate. Gauguins last young companion abandoned her husbandperhaps, Sweetman speculates, because she had been repulsed by the weeping sores on his legs a result of his syphilis. He hobbled around supported by a cane that sported an obscene carving. The natives giggled when, nearly blind, he flirted with grandmothers as easily as nubile maidens, according to Sweetman. Interestingly, at least until the last months of his life,  Gauguin  was no champion of South Pacific natives, often taking the side of French colonists in disputes and sometimes not even making short trips to view major works of Polynesian art. .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b , .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .postImageUrl , .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b , .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b:hover , .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b:visited , .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b:active { border:0!important; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b:active , .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud2213e549898183e7c9c6cf43d143c6b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: In My Short Life On This Planet I Have Come To Question Things That Ma EssaySweetman tends to be matter-of-fact about this protean artist and personality, but the result is no lame read. Out of the material emerges a convincing portrait of a man capable of wringing impressive achievement from a life deeply flawed life. The author ends his biography with  Gauguins revealing last letter to an old friend in Europe: Artists have lost all their savagery, all their instincts, one might say their imagination. I can say: no one taught me anything. On the other hand it is true that I know so little! But I prefer that little, which is of my own creation. And who knows whether that little, when put to use by others, will not become something big?

Intercultural Awareness

The Biography of Francisco Morazan

The Biography of Francisco Morazan Jose Francisco Morazan Quezada (1792-1842) was a politician and general who ruled parts of Central America at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He was a strong leader and visionary who attempted to unite the different Central American countries into one large nation. His liberal, anti-clerical politics made him some powerful enemies, and his period of rule was marked by bitter infighting between liberals and conservatives. Early Life Morazan was born in Tegucigalpa  in present-day Honduras in 1792, during the waning years of Spanish colonial rule. The was the son of an upper-class Creole family and entered the military at a young age. He soon distinguished himself for his bravery and charisma. He was tall for his era, about 5  feet 10 inches, and intelligent, and his natural leadership skills easily attracted followers. He became involved in local politics early, enlisting as a volunteer to oppose Mexico’s annexation of Central America in 1821. A United Central America Mexico suffered some severe internal upheavals in the first years of independence, and in 1823 Central America was able to break away. The decision was made to unify all of Central America as one nation, with the capital in Guatemala City. It was made up of five states: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In 1824, liberal Jose Manuel Arce was elected president, but he soon switched sides and supported the conservative ideals of a strong central government with firm ties to the church. At War The ideological conflict between liberals and conservatives had long been simmering and finally boiled over when Arce sent troops to rebellious Honduras. Morazan led the defense in Honduras, but he was defeated and captured. He escaped and was put him in charge of a small army in Nicaragua. The army marched on Honduras and captured it at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on Nov. 11, 1827. Morazan was now the liberal leader with the highest profile in Central America, and in 1830 he was elected to serve as president of the Federal Republic of Central America. Morazan in Power Morazan enacted liberal reforms in the new Federal Republic of Central America, including freedom of the press, speech, and religion. He limited church power by making marriage secular and abolishing government-aided tithing. Eventually, he was forced to expel many clerics from the country. This liberalism made him the implacable enemy of the conservatives, who preferred to keep the old colonial power structures, including close ties between church and state. He moved the capital to San Salvador, El Salvador, in 1834 and was re-elected in 1835. At War Again Conservatives would occasionally take up arms in different parts of the nation, but Morazan’s grip on power was firm until late 1837 when Rafael Carrera led an uprising in eastern Guatemala. An illiterate pig farmer, Carrera was nevertheless a clever, charismatic leader and relentless adversary. Unlike previous conservatives, he was able to rally the generally apathetic Guatemalan Native Americans to his side, and his horde of irregular soldiers armed with machetes, flintlock muskets, and clubs proved hard for Morazan to put down. Defeat and Collapse of the Republic As news of the successes of Carrera came to them, conservatives all over Central America took heart and decided that the time was right to strike against Morazan. Morazan was a skilled field general, and he defeated a much larger force at the battle of San Pedro Perulapan in 1839. By then, however, the republic had irrevocably fractured, and Morazan only effectively ruled El Salvador, Costa Rica and a few isolated pockets of loyal subjects. Nicaragua was the first to officially secede from the union, on Nov. 5, 1838. Honduras and Costa Rica quickly followed. Exile in Colombia Morazan was a skilled soldier, but his army was shrinking while that of the conservatives was growing, and in 1840 came the inevitable result: Carrera’s forces finally defeated Morazan, who was forced to go into exile in Colombia. While there, he wrote an open letter to the people of Central America in which he explained why the republic was defeated and laments that Carrera and the conservatives never tried to really understand his agenda. Costa Rica In 1842 he was lured out of exile by Costa Rican Gen. Vicente Villasenor, who was leading a revolt against conservative Costa Rican dictator Braulio Carrillo and had him on the ropes. Morazan joined Villasenor, and together they finished the job of ousting Carrillo: Morazan was named president. He intended to use Costa Rica as the center of a new Central American republic. But the Costa Ricans turned on him, and he and Villasenor were executed on Sept. 15, 1842. His final words were to his friend Villasenor: â€Å"Dear friend, posterity will do us justice.† Legacy of Francisco Morazan Morazan was correct: Posterity has been kind to him and his dear friend Villasenor. Morazan is today seen as a visionary, progressive leader and able commander who fought to keep Central America together. In this, he is sort of the Central American version of Simon Bolà ­var, and there is more than a little in common between the two men. Since 1840, Central America has been fractured, divided into tiny, weak nations vulnerable to wars, exploitation, and dictatorships. The failure of the republic to last was a defining point in Central American history. Had it stayed united, the Republic of Central America might well be a formidable nation, on an economic and political par with, say, Colombia or Ecuador. As it is, however, it is a region of little world importance whose history is most often tragic. The dream is not dead, however. Attempts were made in 1852, 1886 and 1921 to unite the region, although all of these attempts failed. Morazans name is invoked anytime there is talk of reunification. Morazan is honored in Honduras and El Salvador, where there are provinces named after him, as well as any number of parks, streets, schools, and businesses.

To what extent did the end of the Cold War provide an impetus for the Essay

To what extent did the end of the Cold War provide an impetus for the United Nations to try to re-establish itself at the heart of multi-lateral action - Essay Example Of the many possible reasons behind these wars, two, which could easily be identified, are identity of the people and the distribution of resources among them (Harris & Reilly, 1998). To resolve these ethnic based wars is a big challenge for major actors in the international politics like the UN and for the international political and security environment. The end of the Cold War saw an expanded process of decision making in the multilateral organizations like United Nations Organisation based on multilateral mechanisms contained in the Charter of the United Nations.These were mainly to be used to reduce the actual number of armed conflicts . The periods since the end of the cold war also gave rise to new complexities. The Cold War had presented a fragmentation of the global strategic balance. Things were made worse by the bitter realities of the Post Cold War era which had a negative perspective to conflict resolutions and peacemaking. There was an over whelming baggage of leftover conflicts from the conflicted post war atmosphere and a need was felt to create the awareness of the importance of addressing these conflicts effectively through multilateral action and to address these difficulties of conflict prevention and conflict resolution. On another level this impetus can be labelled as being mainly based upon the political agenda of â€Å"democratisation and globalisation† of the world through multilateral agenda. This may involve the use of international law ,UN political resolutions and â€Å"peacekeeping efforts† to prevent another threat of Communist take over which was a major fear of the Western powers during the Cold War.My essay examines the extent to which this â€Å"impetus† is tainted by political agenda and economic interests in a critical right. The essay concludes that this impetus is not based mainly upon the â€Å"fear of another communist takeover† which is still a Western Nightmare but that there is a more profound

Dance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Dance - Essay Example Indeed, the term â€Å"confiscation† as used in Lesson 1 sought to integrate African dance traditions into the American culture. The terms â€Å"fusion† and â€Å"confiscation† are very significant in the American culture especially with reference to the American dance and society since they play a huge role in creating a new American dance form. The term fusion refers to the aspect of creating a singular and original, high quality show, which blends dance, fashion, and music to establish a high-end performance (â€Å"York Media† 1). Fusion brings a diverse collection of best dancers, models, musicians, artists, fashion designers, hairdressers, and make-up artists to create an original and unique music and dance performance in America (â€Å"York University† 1). In terms of dance and society, confiscation refers to the adoption of techniques and effects from native cultures into the American dance and society (Rogers 10). With reference to cultures and dance, confiscation integrates the conflicting association between the African dance traditions and the American culture. The Ghost dance is a dance practice that exemplifies "confiscation" of dance forms to "create" a new American dance form. From the Ghost Dance, we can indeed derive the fact that there was a confiscation of techniques and effects from native cultures into the American dance and society. The immigration of Indians and the integration of Wodziwobs teachings with the American traditions led to the confiscation (â€Å"United States History† 1). Notably, the American belief systems adopted the religious attributes of Ghost Dance movement. This is clear where the dancers performed the dance with a belief of getting cure for their illness. This related to the ritual intentions as depicted by Wodziwob who started the dance. They disregarded the ritual beliefs and adopted

King Lear and his relationships with his daughters Research Paper

King Lear and his relationships with his daughters - Research Paper Example A later version, The Tragedy of King Lear was included in the 1623 First Folio. As a rule, the present-day editors conflate the two; however some maintain that each version possesses its individual integrity that ought to be preserved. After the Restoration, the play used to be revised to have a happy end for the audiences who hated the plays depressing and dark tone, yet since the nineteenth century William Shakespeare’s original version has been esteemed one of his most outstanding achievements. The tragedy is especially noted for its observations upon the nature of human kinship and sufferings. Elderly King Lear wishes to retire from his throne. He makes a decision to divide his kingdom among the three daughters of his. Moreover he offers the largest portion to the one who is the favorite one. Regan and Goneri flatter the father claiming that they love him more than anything else in this world and their speeches please him much. Cordelia has nothing to compare her love to. Furthermore she has no words to express it as eloquently as her sisters do. She speaks frankly, honestly though bluntly, so that is her manner to speak that eventually infuriates Lear. Being infuriated he disinherits Cordelia and divides his kingdom between Goneril and Regan. Earl Kent objects to such an unfair treatment. Lear gets still more enraged by the protests of Kent, so he banishes the Earl from the kingdom. The Duke of Burgundy abandons his suit having learnt that his fiancee has just been disinherited, though the King of France is so impressed by Cordelia’s honesty that marries her as she is. The King announces he is going to live alternately with Regan and Goneri and their husbands, the Duke of Cornwall and the Duke of Albany respectively. The King reserves to himself as a suite of a hundred knights to be supplied by his daughters. Egan and Goneril speak tete-a-tete and agree that Lear is foolish and old. Edmund resents his status and plots to restore his legitimat e elder brother Edgar. He deceives Gloucester, his father with forged letter and thus makes him think that Edgar plots to usurp the realm. Kent comes back from exile disguised as Caius, so King Lear hires him as his servant. Lear finds out that Goneril has power now. Moreover she does not respect him any more. She demands that he behave himself better and eventually reduces the number of her father’s suite. Infuriated, Lear leaves for Regan’s home. The Fool jeers at his master’s misfortune. Edmund simulates an attack by Edgar so Gloucester absolutely taken in. Thereupon he disinherits Edgar and proclaims the latter outlaw. Then Kent meets Oswald at the home of Gloucester, quarrels with the former. As a result Reagan and Cornwall have him put in stocks. When Lear arrives, he protests yet Regan takes the same course as Goneril. This infuriates the King yet he finds himself impotent to do anything. Eventually Lear indulges his rage. He goes out into the storm to ye ll at his dishonest daughters, attended by the jeering fool. Then Kent follows to protect Lear. Gloucester argues against the King’s maltreatment. Wandering through the field after the storm, King Lear meets Edgar disguised as Tom O’Bedlam, who is mad. Edgar babbles foolishly while the King denounces the daughters of his. Gloucester leads them all to the shelter. Then Gloucester is betrayed by Edmund to Goneril, Regan

Nora And Torvalds Relationship English Literature Essay

Nora And Torvalds Relationship English Literature Essay A Dolls House is a play written by the dramatist Henrik Ibsen in three acts. Throughout the play, his effective use of minor characters such as Dr. Rank, his illness, death and relationship with the main protagonist, Nora Helmer serves a symbolic purpose towards Nora and her husbands relationship. The play is set in the 19th century which makes it out to be controversial and critical of the marriage norms of the time due to the way Ibsen portrays certain characters values and morals. Ibsen critiques the cultural norms through the play and its characters by asking more questions than answering them. As A Dolls House progresses, problems associated with obligations, values and gender roles which took place in a typical upper-middle class society of the time arise. At a first glance, Torvalds best friend, Dr. Rank comes across as one of the minor characters in the play who shows to be unconcerned with what others think of him. What shows significance in Dr. Ranks character is when he is noted for his calm and stoic acceptance towards his ill-fate, of how he is incurably diseased and is dying. This characteristic of Dr. Rank also shows to be in contrast to most of the other characters in the play such as Nora and Trovald. He also is portrayed as honest and sincere. Dr. Rank comes across as an extraneous character in as he does not further into the plot as much as Nil Krogstad and Mrs. Linde. However, he may be portrayed as a symbolic figure for many messages that Ibsen wished to illustrate throughout A Dolls House regarding the social and cultural expectations of the 19th century. Firstly, Ranks character may symbolize moral corruption within society. On the other hand, because of the many sincere and humble aspects of his character, that view upon him is highly debatable. Furthermore, although Ibsens use of Rank does not meddle with the main conflict or climax, this minor character plays a role which is also symbolic towards Nora and Torvalds marriage, which is the main aspect and focus of A Dolls House. Moreover, Ibsens use of the name Rank may be a clever technique which creates irony as his name creates contradiction towards the way his character is shown in the play as none of the other characters consider him of high thought. Dr. Ranks presence in the play also creates a contrast between the way Trovald and himself treat Nora through the way he acts towards her. Dr. Rank first appears during Nora and Mrs. Lindes conversation and there is an obvious contrast between the way he treats Nora and the way Torvald treats Nora. Ranks treatment of Nora is that of an adult, whilst Torvalds is of a child. Further into the play, it can be seen how Nora feels comfortable in Ranks presence and shares insight on personal details about herself that she would think twice before sharing with Torvald. At one point in the play, she admits to Dr. Rank: Torvald is very like being with papa. (196), which shows how Nora is completely herself around Ranks company-and how Rank treats her with dignity, something that lacks in Torvalds treatment of her. This quote also contributes to the theme of honour as she does not wish to further dishonour Torvald any more than she already has, as honour is of overwhelming importance to Torvald and it is what motivates his behaviour towards Nora in the first place. Therefore, Nora does not feel comfortable enough to share the same thoughts with her husband that she is able to share with Rank. Nora also states at one point, In the early days [Torvald] used to get quite jealous if I even mentioned people Id like back at home, so of course I gave it up. But I often talk to Dr. Rank, because, you see, he likes to hear about them (184) this shows how Dr. Rank and Noras very friendly relationship with one another also allows further understanding of Nora and Torvalds marriage as it shows the distance that lies between them. Rank is also able to help Nora in understanding her self-worth, which contributes to the theme of growth and development of her as a character as he indirectly influences her future decisions on whether or not being with Torvald is the right decision to make albeit the social pressures and expectations of society she is a part of at the time. Another significant aspect of Ranks character is he is important in revealing things about other characters as the story progresses. At one point in the play, he tells Nora, Helmers too sensitive to be able to face anything ugly-I wont have him in my sick-room (191). This shows how Rank does not trust Torvald to be there, but he trusts Nora. This also shows how Rank is well aware of how Torvald reacts to certain unfortunate situations, and it shows a paradoxical shift in the role that Nora had been portrayed in with how Torvald is being portrayed at this point in the play, because Torvald is the one who is being portrayed as a child-like character. Statements like this made by Rank about Torvald also shows how Torvald may have been the sheltered one in his marriage from Nora, which contributes to the theme of deception. Dr. Ranks progressive illness may also plays of a symbolic purpose to interpret Nora and Torvalds relationship as ceasing. At the same time, Nora faces conflict with herself and in her marriage with Torvald as she is restricted from being herself. Rank tells Nora, I shall send you my card with a black cross on it and then youll know that my disgusting end has begun, (191) which shows foreshadowing towards not only the end of Dr. Ranks life, but also towards the end of Nora and Torvalds marriage. Although Dr. Rank may be portrayed as a minor character in A Dolls House, his role as his character is crucial in terms of understanding the plot. This is because the functions that Dr. Rank performs as a character allows the play to progress and develop whilst including connections with him and other factors which allow the readers a fair view on the personalities of the characters, specifically Nora and Torvald. The most significant function of Dr. Rank in the play is when he influences Nora to evolve and grow by breaking down the pressures of society that Nora is conflicted against-this is linked to one of the main themes of A Dolls House, which is growth. Dr. Rank is not only a symbolic figure for Nora and Torvalds ceasing relationship, but his illness also symbolises the corruption of society. Towards the end of the play, when he sends the letter to Nora and Torvald, it is received at the same time as Krogstads letter. This is a clever technique used by Ibsen as it shows a connection between Dr. Ranks death and Noras ceasing relationship with Torvald, because right after the letters from Dr. Rank have been read, she lets Torvald read the letter from Krogstad which foreshadows the end of their marriage. This wraps up the entire play well as Dr. Ranks death is not only symbolic for the deterioration of society, but Ibsen uses him as a strong symbolic representation for the death of Nora and Torvalds marriage. PART 1 WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT LANGUAGE A-LITERATURE HL A: Fulfilling the requirements of the reflective statement. To what extent does the student show how their understanding of cultural and contextual elements was developed through the interactive oral? NOTE: The word limit for the reflective statement is 300-400 words. If the word limit is exceeded, 1 mark will be deducted. B: Knowledge and understanding How effectively has the student used the topic and the essay to show knowledge and understanding of the chosen work? C: Appreciation of the writers choices- To what extent does the student appreciate how the writers choices of language, structure, technique and style shape meaning? D: Organization and development How effectively have the ideas been organized, and how well are the references to the works integrated into the development of the ideas? NOTE: The word limit for the essay 1200-1500 words. If the word limit is exceeded, 2 marks will be deducted. E: Language How clear, varied and accurate is the language? How appropriate is the choice of register, style and terminology? (Register refers, in this context, to the students use of elements such as vocabulary, tone, sentence structure and terminology appropriate to the task). 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. 0 The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below. 1 Reflection on the interactive oral shows superficial development of the students understanding of cultural and contextual elements. 1-2 The essay shows some knowledge but little understanding of the work used for the assignment 1-2 There is some mention, but little appreciation, of the ways in which language, structure, technique and style shape meaning. 1 There is some attempt to organize ideas, but little use of examples from the works used. 1 Language is rarely clear and appropriate; there are many errors in grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction, and little sense of register and style. 2 Reflection on the interactive oral shows some development of the students understanding of cultural and contextual elements. 3-4 The essay shows knowledge and understanding of, and some insight into, the work used for the assignment. 3-4 There is adequate appreciation of the ways in which language, structure, technique and style shape meaning. 2 Ideas are superficially organized and developed, with some integrated examples from the works used. 2 Language is sometimes clear and carefully chosen; grammar construction is fairly accurate, although errors and inconsistencies are apparent; the register and style are to some extent appropriate to the task. 3 Reflection on the interactive oral shows development of the students understanding of cultural and contextual elements. 5-6 The essay shows detailed knowledge and understanding of, and perceptive insight into, the work used for the assignment. 5-6 There is excellent appreciation of the ways in which language, structure, technique and style shape meaning. 3 Ideas are adequately organized and developed, with appropriately integrated examples from the works used. 3 Language is clear and carefully chosen, with an adequate degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction despite some lapses; register and style are mostly appropriate to the task. 4 Ideas are effectively organized and developed, with well-integrated examples from the works used. 4 Language is clear and carefully chosen, with a good degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction; register and style are consistently appropriate to the task. 5 Ideas are persuasively organized and developed, with effectively integrated examples from the works used. 5 Language is very clear, effective, carefully chosen and precise, with a high degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction; register and style are effective and appropriate to the task.

Imprisonment of Women Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper -- Yellow Wallpa

Imprisonment of Women Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper When asked the question of why she chose to write 'The Yellow Wallpaper', Charlotte Perkins Gilman claimed that experiences in her own life dealing with a nervous condition, then termed 'melancholia', had prompted her to write the short story as a means to try and save other people from a similar fate. Although she may have suffered from a similar condition to the narrator of her illuminating short story, Gilman's story cannot be coined merely a tale of insanity. Insanity is the vehicle for Gilman's larger comment on the atrocities of social conformity. The main character of "The Yellow Wallpaper" comes to recognize the inhumanity in society's treatment of women, and in her awakening to this, visualizes her torment in the faded yellow wallpaper that hangs in her chambers, her jail. The unnamed narrator of the tale is purposefully left unnamed; the narrator could be any wife, any mother, any woman. Gilman transforms the hysterical, insane female of early 19th century literature into g enius. The first striking image that readers of "The Yellow Wallpaper" are presented with is not that of a room, it is not of the house, but of the character of John, the husband. John is described as a man of a "practical and extreme" nature (246). His presence throughout the tale provides for the narrator's motive. John refuses to accept her wife's condition; he does not believe that there is anything truly wrong with her. If a physician of high standing, and one's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression, a slight hysterical tendency - what is one to do? (246) The narrator is possessed by her hus... ...ion. Sven Birkerts. Boston, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon, 1992. 387-400. Haney-Peritz, Janice. "Monumental Feminism and Literature's Ancestral House: Another Look at 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Women's Studies 12 (1986): 113-128. Johnson, Greg. "Gilman's Gothic Allegory: Rage and Redemption in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Studies in Short Fiction 26 (Fall 1989): 521-530. King, Jeanette, and Pam Morris. "On Not Reading Between the Lines: Models of Reading in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Studies in Short Fiction 26.1 (Winter 1989): 23-32. Knight, Denise D. "The Reincarnation of Jane: 'Through This' - Gilman's Companion to 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Women's Studies 20 (1992): 287-302. Rigney, Barbara Hill. Madness and Sexual Politics in the Feminist Novel: Studies in Bronte, Woolf, Lessing, and Atwood. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1978.

Reflection On End Of Life Care Essay

Experience Whilst working on a morning shift I was asked if I would assist with washing and making a patient comfortable. She was an elderly lady with advanced inoperable cancer, subsequently on an end of life pathway receiving palliative care. The World of Health Organisation (WHO) defines palliative care as: â€Å"The active total care of patients whose disease no longer responds to curative treatment. Control of pain, of other symptoms, and of psychological, social and spiritual problems is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families† Towards the end she could not communicate, only making short groans if she was in pain when we moved her. She was given a bed bath, change of sheets and a clean nightie. Throughout the nurses helped protect her dignity by keeping the door and curtains closed and keeping the patient covered as much as possible. The nursing staff continually spoke to her and reassured her, whilst I held her hand. The patient died a few days later with dignity and respect and peacefully with her friends by her side. I was involved in the last rites. Reaction I felt quite self-conscious when standing by the bedside. I did not know how conscious the patient was of the situation around her. It was obviously important to talk to her but initially I found it difficult to know what to say and was conscious of others listening to me and wondered if I was saying or doing the right things. The nurse present was very concerned she may die whilst we were washing her as he recognised Cheyne-Stokes breathing. I had never seen anyone this way before. I felt more upset seeing her deteriorate than I did when she died purely because I felt she was now free of the discomfort. Analysis The care plan for the last days of life had been met. The patient’s psychological, social and spiritual needs had been addressed, and the patient was comfortable and free from pain (Kemp 1999). The care that was carried out protected the patients’ dignity and respected her as a human being. I found it very rewarding to be part of the team that helped this patient, in her last days of life, die with the dignity and respect she deserved. Everything that could be done for the patient was done in a very  professional, but also a very caring manner. The NMC guides us to: â€Å"Make the care of people your first concern, treating them as individuals and respect their dignity†. I feel that we had achieved this for the patient. If I find myself in this situation again I would be confident enough to implement palliative care in a professional caring manner, which hopefully will mature with personal experience and by observing other nurses. I would talk to the patient wh ether or not they were conscious and also aim to provide support for the family.

Individualism in Szuma Chiens Historical Biographies †History Essay

Individualism in Szuma Chiens Historical Biographies – History Essay Free Online Research Papers Individualism in Szuma Chien’s Historical Biographies History Essay Through the course of China’s development of the written word, the aged tradition of recording history has played an indispensable role. The Chinese have long valued historical accounts as precedents to guide their own lives, and in the past it was these writings that gradually gave rise to later literary forms such as fiction. The historical biography, or zhuan, appeared as an intermediate genre, and many still consider it as the quintessential narrative form. Supplying commentary for early recorded history, these pseudo-historical accounts attempted to explain the cause and motivation behind actual events. Scholars and advisors then referenced these commentaries as models for their own situations, so these biographies were more concerned with education than painting detailed portraits of individuals. Of the vast number of historical biographies composed throughout China past, Szuma Chien’s Shi Ji stands out as the most well-known and arguably most important piece of Chinese historical writing. Completed around 100 BC and Comprising 130 chapters, it presents a model that influenced subsequent writings of the genre as well as other mor e modern types of literature. Moreover, it illustrates central ideas about society and, more importantly, the individual as a microcosm of society. In the stories â€Å"Hsiang Yu† and â€Å"The Assassins†, for example, Szuma Chien uses the lives of failed heroes to exemplify desirable qualities that make the men appear ideal while also pointing out faults and peculiarities that show their innate humanness. In a sense, these men represent exemplary models of behavior that still resemble the reader. This makes the subjects and their valuable qualities accessible, thereby encouraging readers to place emphasis on the self and emulate the heroes’ righteousness, courage, honor, determination, and other values. Yet, although the central characters have been normalized, these stories fail to address aspects of life seen in other literary genres, such as emotion, religion, and the supernatural. On the other hand, this disregard helps to add emphasis to the self and do not take away from the overall effect and importance of Szuma Chien’s work. In the biography â€Å"Hsiang Yu†, the author normalizes a flawed hero in order to articulate the traditional Chinese belief that, to attaining success in life, one must first instill desirable qualities in the self. The narrative portrays Hsiang Yu as a strong-willed, courageous, and virtuous man whose own arrogance and rash character ultimately leads to his defeat to Liu Pang. The storyline can be broken up into two parts of a parabola shape: a steady rise to power followed by an equally progressive decline. During Hsiang Yu’s ascension, the author highlights the man’s heroic qualities by enlacing his account with a reverent tone. Even early in the story, when Hsiang Yu kills the governor of Wu to raise an army against Chin, the narrative describes: â€Å"Hsiang Yu killed several scores of them. The whole office cowered in terror and no one dared stand against him† (â€Å"Records of the Historian†, p206). The image showing the officials cow ering implies their cowardice and illustrates Hsiang Yu’s bravery by comparison. As the defeated are portrayed unfavorably here, the author elevates the protagonist as a strong and fearless victor, the archetypal hero. In fact, Hsiang Yu’s strength and courage become increasingly accentuated as he repeatedly leads his men to victory against the oppressive Chin’s forces. During the battle to capture the Chin capital, a climatic point in the narrative that ultimately sets Hsiang Yu at his prime, Szuma Chien draws attention to another heroic quality of this man: his strength of mind. Resolved to defeat Chin, Hsiang Yu kills Song Yi, who has advised against immediate action, and unhesitatingly â€Å"led his entire force across the river. They sank all their boats, smashed their cooking vessels, burned their huts, and carried only three days’ rations with them, to allow their determination to fight to the death and never to turn back. They†¦defeate d it utterly† (212-3). In vividly detailing the absolute resolve involved in this battle, the narrative emphasizes determination and shi, the ability to seize the moment, as notable values to uphold. Only by adhering to his own beliefs and imposing absolute resolve, could Hsiang Yu attain total victory over Chin and eventually conquer a vast territory and become the Overlord of West Chu. In addition to bravery and determination, Szuma Chien presents his subject’s virtue, or de, as a desirable quality that plays an essential part in his rise to power. One can see Hsiang Yu’s virtuous nature when he derides Song Yi for delaying the attack on Chin: â€Å"‘The harvest has failed, the people are destitute†¦yet he holds a great banquet’† (212)! Hsiang Yu’s primary concern for the community evidences his compassion and high Confucian morals over personal benefit, and this de helps to win him loyalty from his troops as well as new fol lowers, which prove indispensable in his accumulation of power. Hence, in recounting the life of Hsiang Yu, Szuma Chien emphasizes the importance and benefit of possessing attributes such as bravery, determination, and virtue. In the second part of his narrative, in giving equivalent attention to Hsiang Yu’s downfall as his rise, Szuma Chien promotes the cultivation of desirable values in the self. Firstly, the historian depicts a man who falls prey to his own deep-rooted flaws. As a child, he was clever but never saw his studies to the end. As an adult, he allowed his victories to inflate his ego to the point where he ignored advisors and grew increasingly ruthless and arrogant. Impetuous and headstrong, he never believed himself to be at fault. Rather than decry his subject, however, Szuma Chien paints his demise in a sympathetic tone. In fact, he actually uses others’ points of view to present the victor, Liu Pang, unfavorably. Fan Hseng, for one, disparages him as one who â€Å"was greedy for wealth and fond of beautiful women† (216). In contrast, Hsiang Yu’s ability to attract numerous subordinates shows that others find his character much more worthy. Clearly Sz uma Chien holds a similar view, for he instills sympathy in the reader when associating the failed conqueror’s final hours with a tragic song and tears for his beloved concubine. This sympathetic tone prevents the reader from regarding the protagonist with disdain or derision. Instead, the failed hero’s fatal flaws normalize him so that the reader identifies with him and realizes the potential power of the individual that comes with the adoption of the same desirable values that Hsiang Yu possessed. While one might have read the first part of the biography believing that the subject’s achievement elevates him high above the common man, this latter part of the narrative presents Hsiang Yu as an individual who is, in fact, flawed like the reader, but whose exceptional qualities raise him above the everyman. This historical biography, therefore, is vehicle to the idea that one can attain greatness by implementing the right values and behavior in himself. At th e same time, it serves a didactic purpose in modeling favorable qualities such as courage and virtue while also cautioning against the faults that led to Hsiang Yu’s demise. Szuma Chien reinforces the emphasis on the self in a commentary at the end: â€Å"What a fool he was to say that Heaven was against him and that it was not his generalship that was at fault (237)! This commentary asserts that each person succumbs to the consequences to his own actions and character, in opposition to the belief that life is preordained by a greater power. One must nurture a worthy self before they can control larger entities such as the family or even the state. Thus, in depicting the life of a heroic but flawed man, Szuma Chien emphasizes self-cultivation and encourages values modeled after Hsiang Yu’s strengths: his courage, resolve, and virtue. In his historical biography â€Å"The Assassins†, Szuma Chien again emphasizes the importance of individual achievement through depiction of exemplary lives. While â€Å"Hsiang Yu† describes a life of great renown and achievement, this collection of narratives about various assassins in history focuses on commoner, lesser-known men who are nevertheless instilled with many of the same desirable values that led Hsiang Yu to power and fame. As with Hsiang Yu, Szuma Chien portrays these men as heroically as the embodiment of character ideals that serve as models for the reader. One such heroic value, which Szuma Chien illuminates in his Hsiang Yu biography as well as all assassin stories, is bravery. None of the men hesitate to risk their own lives for some ultimate goal, whether it is repayment, righteousness, or recognition. One can attribute this courage largely to the assassins’ absolute moral certainty, which cements their resolve and stays them from turni ng back on their goal. In Chuan Chu’s murder of King Liao, for instance, he â€Å"broke open the fish and stabbed the king with the dagger, dispatching him in an instant† (â€Å"The Assassins†, 387). In showing no reluctance or uncertainty in taking action to eradicate King Liao, Chuan Chu sets himself apart from the everyman, who is often riddled with indecision and need for compromise. Szuma Chien, then, depicts how a value such as moral certainty can elevate a person to distinction and heroism. This certainty also infuses the assassins with unwavering loyalty. In many of the stories, the assassins commit themselves to repayment, or bao, for patrons who gave them a name by recognizing their merit. For instance, Yu Jang, who inflicts physical mutilation upon himself in order to repeat attempts at avenging his patron, reflects that, â€Å"‘This way is very hard, but my aim is to shame all those who in future are guilty of disloyalty to their lordsâ €™â€  (388). Although Yu Jang ultimately fails in his goal, even his enemy recognizes his worth and offers the assassin his coat before taking his life. Szuma Chien therefore uses secondary points of view in illustrating the importance and nobility of loyalty and repayment. While Hsiang Yu shows his virtue when refusing to kill Liu Pang in adherence to Confucian ritual, or li, the assassins show similar greatness in pursuing bao. While the more common reader might not identify with li, he will most certainly understand the motifs of bao and loyalty, and Szuma Chien hence uses these assassin biographies to promote these ideal values. In the story of Nieh Cheng, the assassin honorably seeks repayment for his patron’s kindness, but his sister Jung is admirable for showing a different type of loyalty. She bestows fame upon her brother by identifying his body and perishes besides him, showing faithfulness to family. The community recognizes the two’s honor, a nd even the narrator praises their patron for being â€Å"a good judge of character able to find loyal helpers† (302). Szuma Chien again uses varying points of view to reveal his subjects’ merit, thus promoting their loyalty as a precious virtue that raises these otherwise ordinary persons to greatness. The grand historian’s narratives moreover reveal his subjects as pursuers of justice, or yi, a Confucian value. The assassins in the biographies sacrifice themselves to set things right according to their beliefs. The famous Prince Tan story vividly exemplifies this unrelenting desire for justice, as the pursuit of it eventually leads to the sacrifice of not only the assassin Ching Ko, but also of Fan Yu-chi, Chin Wu-yang, Kao Chien-li, and eventually Prince Tan himself. Before carrying out the assassination Ching Ko sings movingly, â€Å"‘The wind is wailing, cold the River Yi,/ And a hero sets forth, never to return’† (399). Here Szuma Chien uses an unconventional verse form and shows that Ching Ko does not yield to fear or despair and upholds his obligation to justice and bao even in the face of imminent death. Although Ching Ko fails in his mission to attain yi for his patron, Szuma Chien gives him fame by portraying him as one of the most noble failed heroes who even inspires others such as Kao Chien-li to continue his pursuit of justice. In doing so, the historian encourages this virtue in his audience. At the same time, by using unorthodox characters who are nevertheless heroic and honorable, he makes his point accessible to a larger audience. The peculiarities of these exemplary roles diverts them from the model imposed by the state, and because of this they bear greater resemblance to the reader. Szuma Chien asserts that the fame and honor in these men come from their individual values and not predestined capabilities. He thereby encourages the readers to emulate the virtues of these heroes, and to n urture nobility in themselves by adopting heroic qualities such as bravery, moral certainty, faithfulness, and righteousness. The author, in essence, uses his stories as a means of conveying the traditional Chinese belief that success in life begins with perfecting the self. Although Szuma Chien breaks literary barriers in using unconventional roles as character models and expanding narratives to include more genres and points of view, he ignores aspects of life explored in other forms of Chinese literature. For one, he does not incorporate personal sentiments, a subject that appears later in more fictional writings. The narratives, for the most part, merely recount assumedly factual information without describing the opinions, emotions, and reactions associated. The few passages that do reveal emotion, such as when Hsiang Yu and Ching Ko despair over their doom, are confined to verses instead of being incorporated into the main narrative. Yet, failing to include emotions does not weaken Szuma Chien’s argument for the potential of the individual. By presenting a frame of exemplary morals and behavior rather than a detailed personality, the author draws emphasis to his subjects’ model values and diverts attention from the rest of his c haracter. This way, he strengthens his belief about the importance of nurturing these model values in the self. Another aspect of life that is widely explored in Chinese literature but ignored by Szuma Chien is the role of otherworldly beings. These include gods that dominate early Chinese mythology as well as spirits and officials of the Heavens and underworld that appear in writings such as anomaly tales. In fact, Szuma Chien purposely remarks that the Heavens did not play a role in Hsiang Yu’s failure. By rejecting the idea of destiny, or ming, he stresses that people craft their own fates through their own actions. This fits with his emphasis on the importance of self-cultivation and individual action in taking control of life. Thus, by ignoring subjects such as personal sentiments and higher otherworldly powers, Szuma Chien promotes developing a noble self through the adoption of the heroic values modeled in Hsiang Yu and the assassins. In the in his famed work Shi Ji, the grand historian Szuma Chien uses the historical biographies â€Å"Hsiang Yu† and â€Å"The Assassins† to convey the traditional Chinese cultural belief about the importance of nurturing the self. The individual is a smaller replica of larger entities such as the family and the community, and only after one develops a worthy self can he attain control over those larger areas. To guide his audience, the author promotes values such as courage, determination, virtue, loyalty, and righteousness by modeling them in the protagonists of his biographies. Instead of portraying these subjects as ideal, however, he afflicts them with faults, failures, and oddities that normalize them without effacing their exemplary heroic qualities. In doing so, he allows the audience, who are themselves plagued with common flaws like weakness, indecision, and insecurity, to identify with the stories’ central figures. The text thereby promotes indi vidual accomplishment through the pursuit of the same values that elevate the flawed heroes above the ordinary man and win them fame. In drawing attention to the individual, Szuma Chien’s masterpiece establishes precedents in his time that are mirrored in later Chinese literature. For example, he is the first to sign his name to his work and incorporate multiple types of writing and points of view, including that of his own. In doing this, he presents a bias in factual accounts that lead readers to acquire similar inequitable opinions of different historical figures. It is this vivid characterization that continuously wins Shi Ji, as well as the zhuan narrative form, high regard over the centuries and today. Bibliography: Yang Hsien-yi Gladys Yang, Selections from Records of the Historian by Szuma Chien, Peking, Foreign Languages Press, 1979, p. 205-237 (â€Å"Hsiang Yu†), 385-402 (â€Å"The Assassins†) Research Papers on Individualism in Szuma Chien’s Historical Biographies - History EssayWhere Wild and West MeetCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsMind TravelHip-Hop is ArtEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionBringing Democracy to AfricaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

A Schools Website Makes an Important First Impression

A Schools Website Makes an Important First Impression Before a parent or student physically sets a foot into a school building,  there is an opportunity for  a virtual visit. That virtual visit takes place through a schools website, and the information that is available on this website makes an important first impression. That first impression is an opportunity to highlight the schools best qualities and to show how welcoming the school community is to all stakeholders-parents, students, educators, and community members. Once this positive impression is made, the website can  provide a wide variety of information, from posting an exam schedule to announcing an early dismissal because of inclement weather.  The website can also effectively communicate the schools vision and mission, the qualities, and the offerings to each of these stakeholders. In effect, the school website presents the personality of the school. What Goes on the Website Most school websites have the following basic information: Calendars for school activities, school schedules, and bus schedules;  Policy statements (ex: dress code, Internet use, attendance);School news on individual student achievements or group achievements;Information on the school learning activities including academic requirements, course descriptions, and prerequisite course work;Information on school extra-curricular activities (ex: clubs and athletic program);Links to teacher web pages and also staff and faculty contact information; Some websites may also provide additional information including: Links to organizations or websites outside the school that support the schools academic program (ex: College Board-Khan Academy)Links to software that  contain student data  (Naviance,  Powerschool, Google Classroom)Links to forms (ex: permission slips, course registration, attendance waivers, transcript requests, free and reduced lunch) that can reduce the  costly reproduction of paper copies;Board of Education resources such as contact information for board members, minutes of meetings, agendas, and meeting schedules;District policies, such as those policies on data privacy;Photos of students and faculty;A forum or discussion page for  teachers, administrators, students, and parents to exchange information such as news and calendars of events;Links to school social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, etc). Information placed on the school website will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Therefore, all the information on the school website must be timely and accurate. Dated material should be removed or archived. In real time information will provide stakeholders confidence in the information posted.  Up to date information  is particularly important for teacher websites that list assignments or homework for students and parents to see. Who Has Responsibility for the School Website? Every school website must be a reliable source of information that is communicated clearly and accurately. That task is usually assigned to a schools Information Technology or IT Department. This department is often organized at the district level with each school having a  webmaster for the school website. There are a number of school website design businesses that can provide the basic platform and customize the site according to a schools need. Some of these include Finalsite, BlueFountainMedia,  BigDrop, and SchoolMessenger. Design companies generally provide the initial training and support on maintaining the school website. When an IT Department is not available, some schools ask a faculty or staff member who is particularly technologically savvy, or who works in their computer science department, to  update their websites for them.  Unfortunately, building and maintaining a website is a  large task that can take  several hours a week. In such cases, a more collaborative approach of assigning responsibility for sections of the website might be more manageable. Another approach is to use the website as a part of the school curriculum where students are given the task of developing and maintaining  portions of the website. This  innovative approach benefits both the students who learn to work collaboratively in an authentic and on-going project as well as educators who can become more familiar with the technologies involved. Whatever the process for maintaining the school website, the ultimate responsibility for all content must lie with one  district administrator.   Navigating the School Website Possibly the most important consideration in designing the school website is the navigation. The navigation design of a school website is particularly important because of the number and variety of pages that may be offered to users of all ages, including those who may be unfamiliar with websites entirely. Good navigation  on a school website should include a navigation bar, clearly defined tabs, or labels that clearly differentiate the pages of the website. Parents, educators, students, and community members should be able to travel throughout the entire website regardless of the level of  proficiency with websites.   Particular attention should be given to encouraging parents to use the school website. That encouragement might include training  or demonstrations for parents during school open houses or parent-teacher meeting. Schools could even offer technology training for parents  after school or on special evening activity nights. Whether it is someone 1500 miles away, or a parent living down the road, everyone is afforded the same opportunity to see the schools website online.  Administrators and faculty should see school website as the front door of the school, an opportunity to welcome all virtual visitors and make them feel comfortable in order to make that great first impression. Final Recommendations There are reasons to make the school website as attractive and professional as possible. While a private school may be looking to attract students through a website, both public and private school administrators may be seeking to attract high-quality staff who can drive achievement results. Businesses in the community may want to reference a schools website in order to attract or expand economic interests. Taxpayers in the community may see a well-designed website as a sign that the school system is also well-designed.

Warren Buffett and His Proven Strategies for Investing Research Paper

Warren Buffett and His Proven Strategies for Investing - Research Paper Example A noted philanthropist, he is contributed much of his money for notable causes via the Gates foundation. Born to a stockbroker turned congressman, he was the second of the three children. From a very young age, he displayed a keen interest in business and money. With his unique ability to calculate numbers at the top of his head, he impressed many. Just when he was six years old, he bought 6 packs of Coca Cola from his grand father’s grocery store and sold it for a nickel out of which he made five per cent profit. Although his age of friends played games such as jacks and hopscotch, Warren on the other hand was making money. When he was 11 years old, he put his foot in the world of finance. When he was 11 years old, he bought 3 shares of Cities Service preferred. It costed him and his sister $38 per share. Sometime later, the stock fell flat at a rate of $27 per share. Warren became extremely afraid but he tired to remain calm till the stock rebounded to $40. He rapidly sold i t, a mistake that he regretted when the Cities Service shot up to $200. This one was one of the most enlightening experiences of his life and he realized one of the key elements of investing- patience is virtue (Kennon) At the age of 17, he graduated from high school although he had no such plans of going to college since he had already made lots of money by going and selling newspapers. Despite all that, his father had other plans for him. He wanted him to attend the Wharton Business School situated at the University of Pennsylvania. In order to please his father, he stayed for some teachers claiming that he knew more than his teachers did. In 1948, when Howard was defeated in the Congressional race, Warren came back home and got himself enrolled in the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Apparently, with his dedication and working full time, he graduated in just three years time. Even when it came to graduate studies, he expressed similar resistance initially. After much conviction, h e applied to the Harvard Business School which was rejected on the basis that he was too young and came out to be the worst admission decision in history. After that, Warren applied to Columbia where he had an encounter with the very eminent investors,  Ben Graham  and David Dodd. While in Columbia University, he studied under the guidance of the very legendary Ben Graham who became an inspiration to Warren Buffet due to his intelligent investment strategies. This person had a major impact on Warren Buffet’s life. Ben Graham searched for stocks that were dirt cheap and completely free of risks. He also tried to acquire a job at Graham’s company but failed in the beginning. After much ado, he finally got the job and till today, he lavishly praises him for all that he has learnt about stock investment. Graham wrote a book, â€Å"The intelligent investor† which Warren also describes as the greatest book written on investment. He also published another book â₠¬Å"Security Analysis in which he talked about Intrinsic business value which was completely independent of the stock price. After some time, Graham retired and Warren started his own work whose capital was mainly provided by family and friends. The partnership proved to be very successful and Graham averaged an annual rate return of 23% which was by far leading the market rate (Kennon). Warren Buffet is also celebrated in history for being the most successful investor. He has been referred to as the, "The Oracle of Omaha" for his amazing investment techniques. In September 2007, he

ICT system and blending learning strategies Essay

ICT system and blending learning strategies - Essay Example The reason for the school of thought is because the student will have more engagement with the teacher.The other model suggests minimal contact with the teacher’s involvement in the actual learning process. Blended education can be used to enhance the learning capabilities of children in a number of ways. The primary scope of the system focuses on the nature of the communication channels provided to support the children in their earlier years. The method relies on a face-to-face that is provided to the students in the learning environment with an unlimited scope for technology-facilitated communication (Bonk et al., 2012). In the recent times, ICT has proven to be a powerful learning channel in the academic institutions by providing several online learning platforms that are tailor-made to the students’ needs. E-learning can be linked to the learning model, and in the scope of the document, has a vast impact on the early school years of the learners. By combining traditional methods with current technological advancements especially in the ICT sector, there has been the evolution of both synchronous and asynchronous learning tools that provide modern training and learning progra ms with very powerful methods. The simultaneous training process via the internet is useful to learners in the early years because it provides exposure to the limited learning experiences that will help guide the student to their career path (Luwangula, 2013). The system provides a strong learning platform for e-learning and online applications in children’s learning and higher education as well. Blended learning provides the learners with a greater time flexibility, convenience, and freedom by the party engaging in the online class activities at home (Tucker, 2012). For children, this will provide an opportunity to develop cognitive abilities by making independent learning choices based on their preferences.

The Methods of Anthropological Demography Assignment

The Methods of Anthropological Demography - Assignment Example On that note, the morning hours were most convenient. This implied that the study was to be performed during the morning session, from around eight o’clock to around one o’clock. The identification of this study period was based on the study patterns exhibited by the population. The students preferred to perform their study during the morning session and take a break by midday as they head for their midday meals. The senior populations also exhibited a preference of performing their study either in the morning or by the course of the day, especially from ten o’clock to twelve o’clock. The flow of traffic into the library facility offered a convenient opportunity to observe elements such as dress codes of the visiting members while a visit in the facility assisted in the identification of the rest of the behaviour. The evening session also provided an opportunity to study the behavioural patterns of the same population in the non-formal hours. WhoThe observ ation was based on the behaviours of the learning population who spend a significant proportion of their time in the facility. The observation focused on their mode of dressing of all the attendants of the facility. A comparison on the anticipated contrasts can be fetched from the variation of the population that will be visiting the facility. This ranges from the staff to the library attendants. Subsequently, the staff will vary from the staff assigned to ensure efficient flow of information across the facility and the staff assigned to ensure.... exhibited a preference of performing their study either in the morning or by the course of the day, especially from ten o’clock to twelve o’clock. The flow of traffic into the library facility offered a convenient opportunity to observe elements such as dress codes of the visiting members while a visit in the facility assisted in the identification of the rest of the behaviour. The evening session also provided an opportunity to study the behavioural patterns of the same population in the non-formal hours. Who The observation was based on the behaviours of the learning population who spend a significant proportion of their time in the facility. The observation focused on their mode of dressing of all the attendants of the facility. A comparison on the anticipated contrasts can be fetched from the variation of the population that will be visiting the facility. This ranges from the staff to the library attendants. Subsequently, the staff will vary from the staff assigned to ensure efficient flow of information across the facility and the staff assigned to ensure there exists a convenient platform for studies. Others will include, the staff who are assigned with the maintenance of the resources in the facility, as well as supplementary services. In a simplified model, these differences can be categorized as being exhibited between the employees and visitors of the facilities. With respect to the dressing code for the visitors, aspects such as a mode of logistic would be utilized to ensure their presence or access to the facility will contribute to their dressing. Those who walked would rarely compare to those who drove to the facility. Subsequently, the nature of the task that they intend to perform at the facility will determine the load that they will carry. This

Fate and Destiny Essay Example for Free

Fate and Destiny Essay The Epic of Sundiata is meaningless without the concepts of fate and destiny. When the Mandinka king receives the divine hunter at the royal court, and the hunter predicts that the king’s marriage to an ugly woman would grant him a mighty king for a son; the Mandinka king must honor the prophecy. It is for this reason that the king, before his death, gives to Sundiata – his son born of an ugly woman – a griot. When Sundiata is older, he too believes in the importance of harnessing powers of a supernatural nature (Niane). Prophecies are, of course, made through supernatural powers. Seeing that the kings of the Mandinka people believe in supernatural powers, their subjects must also be believers in the same. Moreover, fate and destiny appear real to the Mandinka people, which is the reason why the prophecy is honored by the king. But, even if most of the Mandinka people do not believe in supernatural powers, the belief system of the king is expected to be superior to that of his people. Belief in prophecy entails that one’s fate is determined, and there is nothing that one can do to change his or her destiny. Prophets are believed because they know the fate and destiny of others. By informing people about their respective fates and destinies, they save their people from being misled. At the same time, however, the concepts of fate and destiny entail that the Mandinka king would have married an ugly woman, with or without the prophecy of the hunter. The king would have had Sundiata, too, regardless of the prophecy. The only useful part about the prophecy was that the king gifted Sundiata with a griot because he knew that Sundiata would be a mighty king in the future. Just as the Epic of Sundiata cannot be understood without reference to fate or destiny, Things Fall Apart focuses on a hero and his community, unable to change circumstances in the face of destiny. Things Fall Apart makes repeated references to chi, a concept that refers to a personal deity that is available to all people to guide them to fulfill their individual destinies. It is impossible for a human being to struggle against the chi, or his or her spirit force. This is the reason why Okonkwo, a courageous and intelligent individual, cannot change his circumstances or that of his community even as things fall apart for everybody except the colonialists (Achebe). In other words, the human being is powerless against the decisions of the chi or his or her personal deity who establishes the fate and destiny of every soul. The personal deity of all people has determined that Okonkwo and his people would suffer, and there is nothing they can do about it (Achebe). Okonkwo is a distinguished leader of a village in Nigeria. He is rich, powerful, brave as well as wise. He has worked hard to achieve his high status in his village. Thus, the village elders choose him to be the guardian of a boy named Ikemefuna, who has been made prisoner by Achebe’s tribe. Okonkwo must keep the boy with him until the Oracle decides otherwise (Achebe). This shows that man has no free will, and that, in fact, fate and destiny are determined by another. Human beings are not even allowed to make decisions by themselves. If they attempt to make decisions by themselves, they must be severely punished, as Okonkwo was. When the village elders decided that Ikemefuna must be killed, Okonkwo went against the advice of the oldest man of the village by killing the boy himself. Subsequently, things started to fall apart for Okonkwo. He accidentally killed another individual at a funeral ceremony. For this act he had to be sent into exile with his family for a period of seven years. After all, he had offended the deities by committing the murder (Achebe). When Okonkwo returned to his village, he struggled for his people against the colonialists. In the end, however, he had to kill himself (Achebe). The forces of change were too strong for him to resist. This reveals that man’s determination, intelligence, and courage have no power over destiny and fate. Even though I believe in fate and destiny, I do not agree with this grim vision of the same. Neither do I trust the fact that man has been rendered powerless by fate and destiny. In my understanding of these concepts, God, who is all-knowing, has written the fate and destiny of all people. His knowledge of all people’s past, present and future is their fate and destiny, in fact. At the same time, He has given unto human beings the power to make decisions for themselves. The Bible confirms this view. Although there is nothing that a human being can do to fight destiny and fate, individuals are free to use their intelligence in the best possible ways. Our use of intelligence – in my belief – is also determined by God. He allows some people to prosper at the expense of others. All the same, in the Biblical sense, such circumstances are a trial from God. He cannot be blamed for giving one man a life of riches, happiness and peace while his brother is poor and living in a violent neighborhood. In the Biblical view, both men are loved by God. However, by severely testing the homeless man, He would like the man to turn to Him in prayer. The rich man, on the other hand, is required to be of help to the poor man. If he does not help his brother, however, God would continue giving him opportunities to do so in future. In this view of fate and destiny, God also knows the people who would go to Heaven as opposed to those who would enter Hellfire for eternity. Even so, I know that people have free will to choose what they would like to do with themselves and where they would like to go. God does not stop us from using our minds to do as we please. But, as I have already mentioned, it is He who ultimately decides what we would think. So, while one man concentrates on spirituality, another spends his entire lifetime thinking about the theory of relativity. It is our personal destiny to think, do, and wish as God pleases. Of course, my understanding of fate and destiny is not the same as that of the Mandinka king or the people of Okonkwo. I do not visit soothsayers, and neither would I believe in all of them. Furthermore, even if it is unfashionable in our times to believe in God and supernatural powers, I continue to believe in fate and destiny. Works Cited Achebe, C. Things Fall Apart. New York: Doubleday Co. , Inc. , 1994. Niane, D. T. (trans. ). Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. Harlow: Longman, 2006.

Introduction to Meta Tags

Introduction to Meta Tags Meta tags are small bits of text that will describe the page content; the tags do not appear on the web page itself, but only in the page code. They help search engines to determine what a web page is about, which further helps with search engine optimisation. The tags are only visible to search engines and not to the user/client. There are 4 types of Meta tags: Meta Keywords Attribute These keywords are relevant to the information on the page. The pros to this are that they allow to direct traffic that are searching for specific things, towards particular pages. The cons of this is that one, they dont work anymore, and two, it allowed people to put random tags unrelated to their page into the HTML and essential Pirate traffic for other pages. Title Tag This is the title of the page that will appear on the search engine. It is one of the most important tags as this has the most impact on search rankings, and are visible to the users of the search engine. This will be the first thing users will see for themselves that will tell them what the page is about. Pros of this is it tells users what the page is about immediately, however the cons can be that if the wrong title is used or not specific enough, it can effect search engines results massively but showing the titles of the wrong web pages on search engines when the user is searching for a different unrelated web page. Meta Description Attribute This gives a description of the page. It gives a brief description of the page below the title tag in the search engine results. The advantages are it can entice users to click on the webpage after reading the description and being interested. The disadvantages are that this does not affect the search results ranking of the page. Meta Robots Attribute This is an indication to the search engine bots what should happen to the page when opened. These can give two commands: Index/NoIndex: This tells the search engine whether the page should be shown in the search results or not. Follow/NoFollow This tells the search engine whether the links to the page should be followed or not, depending whether or not it is safe. Newsgroup and forums Advantages of newsgroups and forums are that it allows people to express their own opinions freely with other people. It lets people with similar opinions to conjugate and this means information about an organisation can spread fast, whether it is a good or bad point and regardless of whether its true or not. This is a disadvantage of forums as it allows false information to travel fast and rumours spread quickly however forums and newsgroups are commonly monitored by the company or by the site owners to make sure false information is kept to a minimum. Banners and Popups The advantages of banners and popups are they allow for intrusive advertisement, which means it is hard for people to miss the advertising and can sometimes mean people visit an organisations webpage may enjoy the content of the webpage. The disadvantage of this type of promotion is that it can irritate people because it is intrusive so may annoy more customers and cause more trouble than its worth if it is done on mass. Spam The advantages of spam are similar to banners and popups as it is also intrusive, it means people will find it hard to avoid it and because spam is sent via email, it means promoters can send it to hundreds of thousands of emails every minute, every day to maximise the chances of someone clicking on the link to a webpage. The disadvantages of this is that most email providers will filter out spam into separate inbox folders or just delete it all together so only a small percentage of spam sent reaches the target. Site Name The advantages of a site name are that, if named correctly, they can intrigue people to visit a site even if it is not what the client originally wanted, they will allow for subtle advertising that a customer may not even realise which makes it less intrusive to the customer. The disadvantages of a site name are that, if they are not named correctly, they can damage promotion, as the customer may not think that the site is not what they are looking for or will not intrigue people to visit at all. An example of this can be a website which sells both beds and headboards but if the site name only advertises beds and not headboards, a customer may think this site does not sell headboards and move onto another site. Direct Marketing The advantages of direct marketing are customers can get information about the product being offered easily and can place orders for delivery their house or place of work. It also allows customers to ask questions directly to the organisation/company via telephone. Online direct marketing can allow social media sites to increase the amount of exposure people have to direct marketing. The disadvantages of direct marketing are that organisations/companies can send unwanted junk mail to people with no interest in the products. Unwanted calls to people can mean a company will sometimes be trying to convince people to buy products they do want and annoy the customer. Bibliography http://www.wordstream.com/meta-tags