Machiavelli, Lao-Tzu and Carnegie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Machiavelli, Lao-Tzu and Carnegie - Essay Example Generally, when leaders need to make regular decisions that deal with the day to day running of the organization, they may choose to use democratic leadership to involve their subjects and other subordinates. Where there is the need for most executive and finance based decision to be made also, leaders may keep their cards close to their chest, exercising authoritative leadership. However, judging from the fact that some trend of leadership; not necessarily concerned about leadership style have produced more exemplary results of organizational success than others makes it possible to generally say that one concept of leadership is more effective and relevant than others. In this paper therefore, the works of Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu are compared to argue on which of the two authors offers a more proactive and relevant approach to modern leadership. Relevance and Effectiveness of advice in a Modern day Society To pass judgment on the advice on leadership that is most relevant and effec tive in a modern day society, it would be important to consider the kind of setting within which each of the two leaders gave out their advice and compare that to the kind of society we have today. Machiavelli wrote â€Å"The Prince† from a perspective of authoritarianism, where the prince is seen to be a superior, whose offenses to his subjects must be expected, but cannot be questioned. It is for instance stated specifically that â€Å"the prince cannot avoid giving offence to his new subjects, either in respect of the troops he quarters on them† (c. 3). Meanwhile in modern society, democratic practice is hailed in all facets of life, right from an individual level, to organizational level, then to state levels. On the other hand, â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching† can be said to have been written in a state of general peace and calmness in the land. This notion is exemplified with a quote such as, â€Å"The good I meet with goodness; the bad I also meet w ith goodness. Thus I actualize goodness† (p. 121). Given the fact that modern society is currently backed by several pressure groups, international organizations and non-governmental organizations that champion the course of global peace and goodness as against war and violence, the advice given by Lao-Tzu on the need to embrace all with goodness can be said to be the most relevant and effective in a modern day society. There would be several justifications for pointing to Lao-Tzu’s advice on leadership as the most relevant and effective in modern day society. In the first place, most modern theories of leadership can be seen as directed towards the need for current leaders to raise the next generation of leaders right within their midst and in their presence. But to do this, it is important that followers will see diligence and trust in their leaders. It is for this reason Lao-Tzu states that â€Å"Not priding oneself on one’s worth forestalls the peopleâ€℠¢s envy. Not prizing treasures that are difficult to obtain keeps people from committing theft† (p. 98, line 18-20). That is to say that, leaders must see the need to create value in their followers rather than depending on the values of their worth and treasures. Meanwhile, when the advice of Machiavelli on the establishment of

Public and Private Schools Essay Example for Free

Public and Private Schools Essay There are many advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools. As a parent, both options must be explored and the choice must be based on what is right for each particular child.   Public schools often have a larger variety of subjects available, especially when it comes to electives. However, what is learned is somewhat decided by the state because public schools need to do well on standardized testing. Private schools, on the other hand, whether parochial or private have much more freedom of choice in curriculum and can choose to make their own assessments. Because of the individualized instruction, private schools tend to do generally better on standardized testing, that is, if they choose to use it. Private schools, many times, have more demanding curricula and have a higher rate of students who go on to attend college. Public schools are larger and also have larger class sizes. Public schools also have larger student-teacher ratios. According to a web site called Public School Review, â€Å"Private schools average 13 students per teacher, compared with an average of 16 students per teacher in public schools† (publicschoolreview). However, public schools have certified teachers. Private schools typically have teachers who are not state-certified and who may not have expertise in their subject matter.   The biggest difference between public and private schools probably is that public schools are required to educate all students. They cannot deny any student admission. On the other hand, private schools have complete control about who they accept and can kick students out much more easily.   Public schools are funded by tax revenue whereas private schools are funded privately. That means private schools cost money to attend called tuition. Taxpayers pay for public schools so the payment is included in what people pay. However in private schools, the payment is upfront for students to attend. Overall, there is no one right answer for which kind of school a student attends—public or private. The decision must be made for each individual student as there are advantages and disadvantages of both. Works Cited Public School Review. Public Versus Private Schools. Retrieved Nov. 15, 2007 at Web

Theories Of Planned Change Management Essay

Theories Of Planned Change Management Essay Most companies today are facing the problem of globalization. An organizational change, refers to the planned change in theory, while Organizational Development (OD), refers to a long-term effort undertaken to improve problem solving capabilities and adapting to changes of the external environment. At a Government Business Conference held in 2007, Jeffrey Lucy AM, Chairman of Australian Securities and Investment Commission gave a speech. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦So, if we were on par with other organizations, well funded to continue doing our job, and our people were committed to our agency goals, one might therefore reasonably ask: Why change anything? In my view, this would be a dangerous way of leading our agency and, while continuing to strive for improvements can be challenging, I believe that our staff agree we must never rest on our past achievementsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. (ASIC 2007) From the above abstract, Chairman Jeffrey is putting forth the message that in order for an organization to attain long-term sustainability, changes and improvements have to be made continuously. THEORIES OF PLANNED CHANGE There are three major organizational change theories being used to help organization members manage change: Lewins change model provides a general framework for understanding organizational change. This involves increasing forces pushing for change while decreasing forces maintaining the current state, producing less tension and resistance to change. Action research model depends on information gathered about the organization to guide subsequent actions. Results are then being evaluated and decided whether new actions are needed. Contemporary approaches to change is adapted from action research model, with the difference being there is a higher level of member involvement in the change process. This involves organization members to learn about their organizations and how to change it. In actual practice, steps in planned change have to be modified or adjusted to suit the different organizations needs and goals. Planned change can be used to solve problems, improve organizations performance, adapt to external changes especially when coping with unplanned changes and also influence future changes. It is of utmost importance to bring about more effective organizations. FORCES FOR CHANGE Two major forces affects change in an organization. First, external forces comprising of changing market trends, new competitive entrants and improved technologies. Next, internal forces comprising of change of leadership beliefs and culture. These two forces will cause an organization to change in order for the organization to remain competitive. CHANGE LEADERS In order for an organization to implement changes, Organizational Development (OD) practitioners, also known as change agents, have to be hired or trained. OD practitioners refer to at least three kinds of people. First, people who may be internal or external consultants offering professional and specialized services to organization clients. This group of people specializes in OD as a profession. Second, OD practitioner refers to people who do not have specialized training related to OD. These professionals gain competence in OD from working with OD professionals, and applying in their own respective specialized fields of work. Third, OD practitioner refers to managers or administrators who have gained OD competence by working with OD professionals in actual change programs. In organizations, OD professionals who have been selected and empowered to make changes are known as change leaders for the organization. These leaders are further divided into internal consultants, people who are members of the organization, and external consultants, people who are not members of the client organization. EFFECTS ON DIFFERENT STAGES OF CHANGE Organizations hire both internal and external change leaders for their different expertise, specialization and influences at the different levels of change. Further elaboration would be done below at stage levels to understand their roles and impact. First, at the entering stage, internal change leaders have an advantage as they have access to ready clients and relationships of clients have been built. They know the organizations goals and problems faced, and have direct access to different information of the organization. This allows more efficient and smoother entry. Whereas external change leaders would need to spend more time obtaining data and information of the organization. Second, at the contracting stage, internal change leaders have informal contracts and have lesser worry about expenses, but they must complete projects assigned to them. Whereas external change leaders have formal contracts and they can choose whether their skills and specialties matches the organizations goals and needs before agreeing to undertake the assignment. Third, at the diagnosis stage, internal change leaders tend to enjoy a basic level of trust and rapport with most organization members. Whereas external change leaders have to spend more time interacting with the organizations member. But external change leaders enjoy higher status compared to internal change leaders which allows them to investigate more difficult issues and assess the organization more objectively. Fourth, at the intervention stage, both types of change leaders must rely on valid information, making informed decisions, and having commitment internally to ensure success. However, an internal change leader would be overly cautious when making these decisions due to strong ties to the organization and someone with higher authority or power would be able to affect the decisions made. Whereas internal forces would have minimal or no effect on an external change leader. Lastly, at the evaluating stage, internal change leaders can see change being implemented and take form. This allows them to make minor adjustments along the way as they have worked alongside professional OD practitioners and gained needed experience as mentioned in the beginning of change leaders. Whereas external change leaders seldom see long term results, meaning if adjustments need to be made along the way while the change is taking place, they are usually no longer available. CASE STUDY The following case highlights the need for external change leaders and their expertise: The Blue Group, founded in 2002, by Ruby Lampard and Robin Sinclair, helps clients develop and maintain long-term profitable relationships through up selling and retention strategies. When Ruby and Robin first started, they did not have any idea regarding the types of clients they wanted to work with and the type of work they wanted to do. This led to random projects being accepted, resulting in long working hours clocked with minimal returns. After a year and a half, Ruby and Robin decided to seek help with an external consultant, who led them to plan and work for larger clients with long-term potential. Even though both Ruby and Robin were creative people, they still need the expertise of an external consultant. The external change leader understands the external environment better regarding market shifts, different competitors and technologies available. Whereas Ruby and Robin were able to act as internal change leaders regarding the planning, organizing and controlling side for the change to take place. The external and internal change leaders were then able to come up with a strategy and structure for the organization. This resulted in a change of values with how Ruby and Robin worked. They were able to reap better rewards and management practices and structures were changed allowing them to hire workers which they didnt dared to in the beginning. CONCLUSION Therefore, an organization cannot rely solely on an internal or external change leader to reinforce and implement changes. A mixture of both would be needed to bring about changes as they each possess different types of knowledge and skills, forming an internal-external consulting team. Internal change leaders can provide inside knowledge regarding the organization and allow external change leaders to be accepted easily. Internal change leaders would also be able to maintain in constant contact with clients. Whereas external change leaders would be able to combine their special expertise, vast experiences and objectivity with internal change leaders. External change leaders can also help train organizations and their counterparts, hence transferring OD knowledge and skills to the organization. A balance needs to be struck in everything done. Since the opportunities an organization faces is huge and business markets are vast, organizations need to rely on not individual, but groups of people who are able to complement each other with their knowledge, continuous feedbacks and commitment to learn from one another, hence making it more effective than individuals working alone. If internal and external change leaders are not able to work together, they would be less effective than consultants working alone.

Behind Convicts Eyes by Cerceral Prison Essay -- Behind Convicts Ey

"Behind a Convict's Eyes" by K.C. Cerceral Introduction This paper is about the book 'Behind a Convict's Eyes' by K.C. Cerceral. This book was written by a young man who enters prison on a life sentence and describes the world around him. Life in prison is a subculture of its own, this subculture has its own society, language and cast system. The book describes incidents that have happen in prison to inmates. With this paper I will attempt to explain the way of life in a prison from an inmate's view. Understanding Prison Life After reading the book I have gained a new understanding of what inmates think about in prison. Working in an institution, I have a certain cynical attitude at times with inmates and their requests. Working in a reception facility, this is a facility where inmates are brought in from the county jails to the state intake facility, we deal with a lot of requests and questions. At times, with the phone ringing off the hook from family members and inmates with their prison request forms, you get a little cynical and tired of answering the same questions over and over. As I read the book I begin to understand some of the reason for the questions. Inmate(s) now realize that the officers and administrative personnel are in control of their lives. They dictate with to get up in the morning, take showers, eat meals, go to classes, the need see people for different reason, when to exercise and when to go to bed. The lost of control over their lives is a new experience for some and they would l ike to be able to adjust to this new lost of freedom. Upon understanding this and in reading the book, I am not as cynical as I have been and try to be more patient in answering questions. So in a way I have changed some of my thinking and understanding more of prison life. Describe Strategies and Compare with Voices from the Field Some of the adaptation strategies used by ?Anonymous? and the other inmates in prison where to use nicknames to feel more individual and unique. Being in prison can cause you to lose your identity as a person, most inmates are known by numbers. Another strategy was to conform to the schedule of the prisons. You can not eat when you want, shower, get up, go to recreation and go to bed. Everyone has a schedule and working with this schedules helps to learn how to cope. Also Anonymous and other inmates would take cla... ...y. As the book showed ?dad yells and blames everyone, mom yells at the kids, the older children yell at the younger children, and the youngest child kicks the cat.? (Carceral, 2004, pp. 200). The youngest child is not able to understand what is really going on and feels worthless and not loved without conditions. This child will turn to where they will get attention. This can lead to undesirable associates and into crime. As the child grows older, and has children of this/her own the syndrome is passed on. Conclusion I have to say the reading gave me a different outlook on what inmates? do and think while in prison. They become a number not a person and do have needs that have to be address. Addressing these needs will help in running an institution smoothly and more safely. Finally Anonymous makes a powerful statement in the writing of this book on some policies that should be changed in prisons. I really enjoyed reading this book and having maybe a new outlook in dealing with inmates. References Carceral, K.C., (2004), Behind a Convict?s Eyes, Wadsworth, Thomson Learning Schmid, Thomas & Jones, Richard, (2001), Voices from the Field, Wadsworth, Thomson Learning

The Indigo Spell Chapter Three

TRUE TO HIS WORD, Adrian made no other mention of the relationship – or lack thereof – between us. Every once in a while, though, I could swear I saw something in his eyes, something that brought back an echo of his proclamation about continuing to love me. Or maybe it was just his typical impertinence. A connecting flight and an hour-long car ride later, it was night by the time we finally reached the small resort town in the Pocono Mountains. Getting out of the car was a shock. December in Pennsylvania was very, very different from December in Palm Springs. Crisp, frigid air hit me, the kind that freezes your mouth and nose. A layer of fresh snow covered everything, glittering in the light of the same full moon that Ms. Terwilliger and I had worked magic by. The stars were out here in just as much force as the stark desert, though the cold air made them glitter in a sharper way. Adrian stayed in our hired car but leaned out as the driver handed me my small suitcase. â€Å"Need any help with that?† Adrian asked. His breath made a frosty cloud in the air. It was an uncharacteristic offer from him. â€Å"I'll be fine. Thanks, though. I take it you aren't staying here?† I nodded toward the bed-and-breakfast the car had stopped at. Adrian pointed down the road, toward a large, lit-up hotel perched on a hill. â€Å"Up there. That's where all the parties will be, if you're interested. They're probably just getting started.† I shivered, and it had nothing to do with the cold. Moroi normally ran on a nocturnal schedule, starting their days around sunset. Those living among humans – like Adrian – had to adapt to a daytime schedule. But here, in a small town that must be bursting with Moroi guests, he'd have the chance to return to what was for him a more natural schedule. â€Å"Noted,† I said. A moment of awkwardness followed, but the temperature gave me an excuse for escape. â€Å"Well. I'd better get in where it's warm. Nice, uh, traveling with you.† He smiled. â€Å"You too, Sage. See you tomorrow.† The car door closed, and I suddenly felt lonely without him. They drove off toward the towering hotel. My bed-and-breakfast seemed tiny by comparison, but it was cute and in good shape. The Alchemists had booked me here precisely because they knew the Moroi guests would have other accommodations. Well, most of them. â€Å"Are you here for the wedding, dear?† asked the innkeeper as she checked me in. â€Å"We have some other guests staying with us as well.† I nodded as I signed my credit card slip. It was no surprise that there'd be overflow to this inn, but there'd be a lot less here than the other hotel. I'd make sure to lock my door. I trusted my friends in Palm Springs, but all other Moroi and dhampirs were questionable. Towns like this, and the inns within them, always seemed intended for couples on romantic getaways. My room was no exception. It had a California-king-size bed draped in a gauzy canopy, along with a heart-shaped Jacuzzi by the fireplace. It screamed love and romance, which brought Adrian back to my mind. I ignored it all as best I could and jotted out a quick text to Donna Stanton, a higher-ranking Alchemist who oversaw my assignment in Palm Springs. Arrived in Pocono Hollow. Checked into inn. Her response came quickly: Excellent. See you tomorrow. A second text followed a moment later: Lock your door. Stanton and one other Alchemist were invited to the wedding as well. But they were already on the East Coast and could simply travel here tomorrow. I envied them. Despite my uneasiness, I slept surprisingly well and dared to emerge for breakfast in the morning. I had no need to worry about Moroi, though. I was the only person eating in the sundrenched dining room. â€Å"How strange,† remarked the innkeeper as she delivered my coffee and eggs. â€Å"I know many of the guests were out late, but I thought at least a few might be here to eat.† Then, to emphasize the oddness of it all, she added, â€Å"After all, breakfast is complimentary.† The nocturnal Moroi, who were all still in bed, emboldened me to explore the town a little that day. Even though I'd prepared with boots and a heavy coat, the weather change was still a bit shocking. Palm Springs had made me soft. I soon called it an early day and spent the rest of the afternoon reading Ms. Terwilliger's book by the fire. I flew through the first section and even went on to the advanced one she'd told me to skip. Maybe it was the fact that it was forbidden, but I couldn't stop reading. The scope of what the book described was so gripping and consuming that I nearly jumped a foot in the air when I heard a knock at the door. I froze, wondering if some confused Moroi had mistaken my room for a friend's. Or, worse, for a feeder's. My phone suddenly chimed with a text message from Stanton: We're at your door. Sure enough, when I opened it, I found Stanton standing there – with Ian Jansen, an Alchemist the same age as me. His presence was a surprise. I hadn't seen Ian since he, Stanton, and I had been detained by Moroi for questioning in the escape of a dhampir fugitive. Back then, Ian had had an unwelcome crush on me. Judging from the dopey smile on his face when he saw me, things hadn't changed. I gestured them inside, making sure to lock the door when I closed it. Like me, both Alchemists had golden lily tattoos on their left cheeks. It was the sign of our order, tattoos infused with vampire blood that gave us quick healing and were magically designed to stop us from discussing Alchemist affairs with those who didn't know about them. Stanton arched an eyebrow at the heart-shaped tub and then settled into a chair by the fire. â€Å"No trouble getting here?† Aside from traveling with a good-looking vampire who thinks he's in love with me? â€Å"None,† I replied. I regarded Ian with a frown. â€Å"I didn't expect you to be here. I mean, I'm glad you are, but after last time . . .† I paused as something hit me. I looked around. â€Å"It's all of us. All of us that were, uh, under house arrest.† Stanton nodded. â€Å"It was decided that if we're going to foster good relations between our groups, the Moroi would start by making amends to the three of us specifically.† Ian scowled and crossed his arms, leaning against a wall. He had brown eyes, with matching brown hair that he wore in a neat haircut. â€Å"I don't want any ‘amends' from those monsters after what they did to us this summer. I can't even believe we're here! This place is crawling with them. Who knows what'll happen if one of them drinks too much champagne tonight and goes looking for a snack? Here we are, fresh humans.† I wanted to tell him that was ridiculous, but by Alchemist reasoning, it was a very legitimate concern. And, reminding myself that I didn't know most of the Moroi here, I realized perhaps his fears weren't that unfounded. â€Å"I guess we'll have to stick together,† I said. That was the wrong word choice, judging from Ian's happy smile. The Alchemists rarely had social time, and this was no exception. Stanton soon got us down to business, going over our plans for the wedding and what our purpose was here. A file folder provided background on Sonya and Mikhail, as though I knew nothing about them. My mission and history with Sonya were secret from other Alchemists, so, for Ian's sake, I had to nod along with everything as if it was as new to me as it was to him. â€Å"Festivities will probably last until almost sunrise,† said Stanton, gathering up her papers once she'd finished the briefing. â€Å"Ian and I will be departing then and will drop you off at the airport on our way out. You won't have to spend another night here.† Ian's face grew darkly protective. â€Å"You shouldn't have stayed here alone last night. You should have had someone to look after you.† â€Å"I can look after myself,† I snapped, a bit more harshly than I intended. Whether I liked it or not, Ms. Terwilliger's training had empowered me – literally and figuratively. That, and recent self-defense classes had taught me how to watch out for myself and my surroundings. Maybe Ian meant well, but I didn't like the idea of him – or anyone – thinking I needed coddling. â€Å"Miss Sage is quite well as you can see,† said Stanton dryly. Ian's crush had to be obvious to her, and it was equally obvious to me she had no use for such frivolity. Her gaze drifted to the window, which was glowing orange and red with the setting sun. â€Å"Well, then. It's nearly time. Shouldn't you be getting ready?† They had arrived in their dress clothes, but I still needed to prepare. They talked together while I got ready in the bathroom, but each time I emerged – to get a hairbrush or earrings or something else – I'd see Ian watching me with that sappy look. Great. This was not what I needed. The wedding was being held in the town's claim to fame: a huge, indoor garden that defied the wintry conditions outside. Sonya was a huge lover of plants and flowers, and this was pretty much her dream location for a wedding. The glass walls that composed the building were steamed from the drastic difference between inner and outer temperatures. The three of us stepped inside, into an entry area that was used to sell tickets during the greenhouse's normal operating hours. Here, at last, we found the Moroi that had been hidden to me in daylight. There were about two dozen of them milling around in this entryway, dressed in rich clothing and eerily beautiful with their slim, pale features. Some were ushers and other attendants, helping organize the event and guide guests into the atrium farther into the building. Most Moroi were simply ordinary guests stopping to sign the guest book or chat with friends and family they hadn't seen in a long time. Around the sides, dhampirs in neat black and white suits stood sentry, watchful for any sign of danger. Their presence reminded me of a far, far greater threat than some drunken Moroi mistaking us for feeders. Holding the event at night meant exposing us to attack by Strigoi. Strigoi were a very different type of vampire – so different, in fact, that I almost felt foolish being unnerved in this group. Strigoi were undead, made immortal by killing their victims, unlike the Moroi, who simply drank enough blood from human volunteers to sustain themselves. Strigoi were vicious, fast, and strong – and only came out at night. The sunlight that Moroi found simply uncomfortable was lethal to Strigoi. Strigoi made most of their kills on unwitting humans, but Moroi and dhampirs were their preferred food. An event like this – Moroi and dhampirs crammed into a small space – was practically like offering up a Strigoi buffet. Eyeing the guardian dhampirs, however, I knew any Strigoi would have a difficult task breaking into this event. Guardians trained hard their entire lives, honing skills to fight Strigoi. Seeing as the Moroi queen was attending this event, I suspected the security I'd seen so far didn't even begin to scratch the surface. A number of those gathered here stopped talking when they saw us. Not all Moroi knew about Alchemists or how we worked with their people. So, the attendance of three non-feeder humans was a bit of an oddity. Even those who knew about Alchemists were probably surprised to see us, given the formality of our relationship. Stanton was too experienced to let her unease show, but Ian openly made the Alchemist sign against evil as Moroi and dhampir eyes studied us. I did a pretty good job of keeping my cool but wished there was at least one familiar face in this crowd. â€Å"Miss Stanton?† A round-cheeked Moroi hurried forward. â€Å"I'm Colleen, the wedding coordinator. We spoke on the phone?† She extended a hand, and even tough Stanton hesitated before shaking it. â€Å"Yes, of course,† said Stanton, voice cool and proper. â€Å"Thank you for inviting us.† She introduced Ian and me. Colleen waved us toward the atrium's entry. â€Å"Come, come. We have your seats reserved. I'll take you there myself.† She swept us past the curious onlookers. As we entered the atrium, I stopped and momentarily forgot the vampires around us. The main greenhouse was magnificent. The ceiling was high and vaulted, made of that same steamed glass. A central area had been cleared and set with seats draped in flowers, very much like what you'd see at a human wedding. A dais at the front of the seating area was covered in more flowers and was obviously where the couple would take their vows. But it was the rest of the room that took my breath away. It was like we'd stepped into some tropical jungle. Trees and other plants heavy with brightly colored flowers lined the sides, filling the humid air with a perfume that was almost dizzying. Since there was no sunlight to light up the greenhouse, torches and candles had been cleverly placed throughout the greenery, casting a mysterious – yet still romantic – light on everything. I felt as though I'd stepped into some secret Amazonian ritual space. And of course, nearly hidden among the trees and bushes, black-clad guardians paced and kept watch on everything. Colleen led us to three seats on the right side of the seating area, marked with a RESERVED sign. They were about halfway back – not as esteemed a spot as family would get, of course, but enough to show that the Moroi thought highly of us and really were trying to undo the strained relationship caused by our detainment. â€Å"Can I get you anything?† Colleen asked. I realized now her exuberant energy was partially nervousness. We made her almost – but certainly not quite – as uneasy as she and the others made us. â€Å"Anything at all?† â€Å"We're fine,† said Stanton, speaking for all of us. â€Å"Thank you.† Colleen nodded eagerly. â€Å"Well, if you need anything – no matter how small – don't hesitate to ask. Simply grab one of the ushers, and they'll find me immediately.† She stood there a moment longer, wringing her hands. â€Å"I'd best check on the others. Remember – call if you need anything.† â€Å"What I need is to get out of here,† muttered Ian once she was gone. I said nothing, not trusting any response. If I reassured him we were safe, I'd be regarded with suspicion. Yet if I acted like our lives were in danger, I'd be lying. My views were somewhere in the middle of those extremes. Someone handed me a program, and Ian leaned a bit more closely than I would've liked in order to read over my shoulder. The program detailed a list of songs and readings as well as the members of the wedding party. I could tell from Ian's face that he was expecting to see â€Å"Unholy Bloodletting† right after the Corinthians reading. His next words affirmed as much. â€Å"They do a good job making it seem so normal, huh?† he asked, not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice. I was a bit surprised at how vicious his attitude was. I didn't remember him being quite this extreme last summer. â€Å"Like it's a real wedding or something.† He also wasn't regulating his volume, and I glanced around anxiously, making sure no one overheard. â€Å"So you're saying it's not a real wedding?† I whispered back. Ian shrugged but at least took the hint and lowered his voice. â€Å"With them? It doesn't matter. They don't have real families or real love. They're monsters.† It was ironic that he mentioned â€Å"real love† just then because at that moment, Adrian and his father were ushered to the opposite side of the atrium. Adrian was always a nice dresser, but I'd never seen him in anything so formal. I hated to admit it, but the look was great on him: a navy suit and vest that was nearly black paired with a pale blue shirt and blue-and-white-striped tie. It stood out from the more somber black and gray suits most men here were wearing, but not in an outlandish or tacky way. As I was studying him, Adrian glanced up and caught my eye. He smiled and gave me a small nod. I almost smiled back, but Stanton snapped me back to reality. I allowed him one last, lingering look, and then I turned away. â€Å"Mr. Jansen,† Stanton said in a stern voice. â€Å"Please keep your opinions to yourself. Regardless of their validity, we are guests here and will behave in a civilized way.† Ian nodded grudgingly, flushing slightly as he glanced in my direction – as if being so openly chastised might ruin his chances with me. He didn't have to worry, seeing as he didn't have any chance to begin with. Colleen sent an usher to check on us, and while he spoke to Stanton, Ian leaned toward me. â€Å"Am I the only one who thinks it's crazy that we're here?† He nodded toward Stanton. â€Å"She thinks this is okay but come on. They held us captive. It's unforgivable. Doesn't that make you mad?† I certainly hadn't liked it at the time, but I'd come to understand why it had happened. â€Å"I hate that they did that,† I lied, hoping it sounded convincing. â€Å"I'm angry every time I think of it.† Ian actually looked relieved enough to drop the topic. We sat in blessed silence as the atrium continued to fill up. By the time the ceremony was about ready to start, there must have been close to two hundred people in the room. I kept looking for familiar faces, but Adrian and his father were the only ones I knew. Then, at the last minute, a brightly clad figure came scurrying in. I groaned at the same time Stanton tsked with disapproval. Abe Mazur had just arrived. Whereas Adrian had made color work with formal wear in a stylish way, Abe used color to offend the sensibilities. To be fair, this was one of the more subdued ensembles I'd ever seen Abe don: a white suit with a bright, kiwi green shirt and paisley ascot. He wore his usual gold earrings, and the sheen of his black hair made me think he'd been hitting some hair oil pretty voraciously. Abe was a dubiously moral Moroi and also the father of my friend – and Adrian's former dhampir love – Rose Hathaway Abe made me nervous because I'd had some secret dealings with him in the past. He made Stanton nervous because he was a Moroi the Alchemists would never be able to control. Abe seated himself in the front row, earning a horrified look from Colleen the coordinator, who was supervising everything from the side of the room. My guess was that wasn't part of her seating chart. I heard a trumpet sound, and those sitting in the back suddenly fell to their knees. Like a wave, those seated in the rest of the rows began following suit. Stanton, Ian, and I all exchanged confused looks. Then I understood. â€Å"The queen,† I whispered. â€Å"The queen is coming.† I could see from Stanton's face that was not something she had considered. She had a split second to decide on protocol for this situation and how to maintain our â€Å"civilized† guest status. â€Å"We don't kneel,† she whispered back. â€Å"Stay where you are.† It was a valid call, seeing as we owed no fealty to the Moroi queen. Still, I felt flustered and conspicuous at being one of the only people in the room not kneeling. A moment later, a ringing voice declared, â€Å"Her Royal Majesty, Queen Vasilisa, first of her name.† Even Ian caught his breath in admiration as she entered. Vasilisa – or Lissa, as Adrian and Rose continually insisted I call her – was a picture of ethereal beauty. It was hard to believe she was the same age as me. She carried herself with a poise and regality that seemed ageless. Her tall, willowy body was graceful even among Moroi, and her platinum blond hair fell around her pale face like some otherworldly veil. Although dressed in a very modern lavender cocktail dress, she managed to wear it as though it were some grand Victorian ball gown. A black-haired guy with piercing blue eyes walked at her side. Her boyfriend, Christian Ozera, was always easy to spot, providing a dark contrast that worked perfectly with her lightness. Once the royal couple was seated in the front row – seeming very surprised to find Abe waiting for them there – the throng returned to their seats. An unseen cellist began to play, and everyone released a collective breath as we fell into the comfortable ritual of a wedding. â€Å"Amazing, isn't it?† Ian murmured in my ear. â€Å"How fragile her throne is. One slip, and they'd fall into chaos.† It was true, and it was why Jill's safety was so important. An old Moroi law said that a monarch had to possess one living family member in order to hold the throne. Jill was the only one left in Lissa's line. Those who opposed Lissa because of her age and beliefs had realized killing Jill would be easier than going after a queen. Many opposed the law and were trying to change it. In the meantime, the political fallout from Jill's assassination would be monumental. The Alchemists, whose job it was to keep the Moroi world hidden and protected , needed to prevent their society from falling into chaos. And on a slightly more personal level, I needed to prevent Jill's death because against all odds, I'd grown to care about her in the short time we'd been together. I shifted my mind from those grim thoughts and focused on the next stage of the wedding. Bridesmaids in deep green satin led the procession, and I wondered if Abe had been attempting to match them with his suit. If so, he'd failed. And there, I spotted my first friendly face, aside from Adrian. Rose Hathaway. It was no surprise she'd be a bridesmaid, seeing as she'd been responsible for the happy couple getting together. She'd inherited her father's dark hair and eyes and was the only dhampir among the bridesmaids. I didn't need to see the surprised looks of some of the guests to know that was pretty unorthodox. If Rose noticed or cared, she didn't show it. She walked proudly on, head held high and face glowing with happiness. With that humanlike dhampir appearance, she was shorter than her Moroi companions and had a more athletic build than the slender, small-chested Moroi. Rose had what was a very normal, very healthy body among humans. Yet when I compared myself to Moroi, I felt enormous. I knew it was ridiculous – especially since I wore a smaller size than Rose – but it was a hard feeling to shake. Adrian had recently had an unwelcome intervention with me, going so far as to claim I was on the verge of an eating disorder. I'd been outraged and told him to mind his own business . . . but ever since then, I'd taken a hard look at my behaviors. I now tried to eat more and had gained exactly one pound, something that had felt torturous and wrong until my friend Trey had recently commented that I was â€Å"looking pretty good these days.† It had reinforced the idea that a few more pounds wouldn't kill me and might actually be good for me. Not that I'd admit any of that to Adrian. We all stood when Sonya entered. She was glorious in ivory silk, with tiny white roses adorning her fiery hair. The queen had been magnificent, but there was a glow about Sonya that dwarfed even Lissa's beauty. Maybe it was just something inherent to brides. There was an air of love around Sonya that made her shine. I was surprised to feel a pang in my chest. Ian was probably disappointed when no bloodletting followed, but the ceremony was sweet and filled with emotion. I couldn't believe how stone-faced my Alchemist companions looked – I was on the verge of tears as the couple recited their vows. Even if Sonya and Mikhail hadn't been through hell to be together, this was the kind of ceremony that couldn't help but pull at the heartstrings. As I listened to them swear they'd love each other forever, I found my gaze drifting to Adrian. He didn't see me looking at him, but I could tell the ceremony was having the same effect on him. He was enraptured. It was a rare and sweet look for him, reminding me of the tortured artist that lived beneath the sarcasm. I liked that about Adrian – not the tortured part, but the way he could feel so deeply and then transform those emotions into art. I had feelings, just like anyone else, but that ability to express them into something creative was an area I would never, ever have expertise in. It wasn't in my nature. I sometimes gave him a hard time about his art, especially his more abstract pieces. Secretly, I regarded his skills with awe and loved the many facets of his personality. Meanwhile, I had to fight to keep my face blank, to look as though I was a normal Alchemist with no concern for unholy vampire events. Neither of my companions questioned me, so apparently I pulled it off. Maybe I had a future in poker. Sonya and Mikhail kissed, and the crowd erupted into cheers. They only got louder when he brazenly kissed her a second time – and then a third. The next stage of the festivities, the reception, was being held in the hotel where Adrian and most of the other Moroi were staying. Sonya and Mikhail left first, followed by the queen and other high-ranking royals. Stanton, Ian, and I waited patiently for our row to be dismissed so that we could line up for the limos that were ferrying guests the half mile to the hotel. It normally wouldn't have been that bad of a walk, even in heels, if not for the freezing temperature. Our turn came, and the three of us got into the back of a limo. â€Å"Now we just have to get through the reception,† said Ian as the driver shut our door. â€Å"At least we've got our own car.† Suddenly, the door opened, and Abe slid in beside me. â€Å"Room for one more?† He beamed at Stanton and me. â€Å"So nice to see you lovely ladies again. And you must be Ian. A pleasure.† Abe extended his hand. At first, it looked as though Ian wouldn't shake it, but a sharp look from Stanton dictated otherwise. Afterward, Ian kept looking at his hand as though he expected it to start smoking. The drive only took about five minutes, but I could tell from the other Alchemists' faces that it felt like five hours for them. â€Å"I think it's wonderful that you three were invited,† said Abe, perfectly at ease. â€Å"Considering how much we work together, we should have more of these pleasant interactions, don't you think? Perhaps you'll invite us to one of your weddings someday.† He winked at me. â€Å"I'm sure you have young men lining up for you.† Even Stanton couldn't keep a straight face. The look of horror in her expression said there were few things more profane than a vampire coming to a human wedding. She looked visibly relieved when we reached the hotel, but we weren't free of Abe yet. Some thoughtful person – probably Colleen – had put us at his table, probably thinking it would be nice to be seated with a Moroi we knew. Abe seemed to take great delight in the awkwardness his presence provided, but I had to admit, it was kind of refreshing to have someone who openly acknowledged the strained relations between us rather than pretending everything was okay. â€Å"There's no blood in that,† Abe told us when dinner was served. The three of us were hesitating over cutting into our chicken marsala, even me. â€Å"The only blood is in the drinks, and you have to actually ask for those at the bar. No one's going to sneak you something, and the feeders are being kept in another room.† Ian and Stanton still looked unconvinced. I decided I would be the brave one and began eating without any more hesitation. Maybe vampires were unnatural creatures, but they certainly had excellent taste in caterers. A moment later, the other Alchemists joined me, and even they had to admit the food was pretty good. When the plates were cleared, Ian bravely left for the bathroom, giving Stanton a brief opportunity to lean toward me for a hushed status report. â€Å"Everything was okay when you left?† Strained relationship or not, our mission to keep the Moroi stable hadn't changed. â€Å"Fine,† I said. â€Å"It's all quiet back there. No sign of trouble.† She didn't need to know about my own interpersonal drama. Keeping my tone casual, I asked, â€Å"Any news about the Warriors? Or Marcus Finch?† Stanton shook her head. â€Å"None. But I'll certainly let you know if we uncover anything.† I answered with a polite smile, seriously doubting her words. I hadn't always liked my Alchemist missions, but I'd spent most of my life following orders without question because I believed my superiors knew what was best and were acting for the greater good. Recent events now made me wonder about that. In thwarting some crazed vampire hunters who called themselves the Warriors of Light, Stanton had withheld information from me, citing that we were on a need-to-know basis. She had brushed it off, praising me for being a good Alchemist who understood such policy, but the incident had made me seethe with anger. I didn't want to be anyone's pawn. I could accept that fighting for a greater cause meant tough decisions, but I refused to be used or endangered because of â€Å"important† lies. I'd given my life over to the Alchemists, always believing what they did and told me was right. I'd thought I was important, that they would always look out for me. Now I didn't know. And yet . . . what could I do? I was sworn and sealed to the Alchemists. Whether I liked what they'd done to me or not, there was no way out, no way to question them. . . . At least, I'd thought that until I learned about Marcus Finch. I'd only found about him recently, after discovering he'd once crossed the Warriors of Light by helping a Moroi named Clarence. Although the Warriors usually only went after Strigoi, a rebel group had once decided to target Clarence. Marcus had stepped up and defended Clarence against the Warriors, convincing them to leave him alone. I'd almost believed Clarence was making up the story until I saw a picture of Marcus. And that was where things got really weird. Marcus seemed to have also crossed the Alchemists. In fact, Clarence and one of the Warriors had hinted that Marcus had at one time been an Alchemist – but was no longer. I hadn't believed it until I saw his picture. He didn't have a golden lily – but a large tribal-looking tattoo done in blue ink that was large enough to cover the golden one, if you were trying to hide it. Seeing that was life changing. I'd had no idea it was possible to tattoo over something so powerful. I certainly hadn't thought anyone could leave the Alchemists or that anyone would even want to, not with the way our purpose was drilled into us practically from birth. How could someone consider abandoning our missions? How could someone go rogue and just walk away from the Alchemists? What had happened that would make him want to do that? Had he had experiences similar to mine? And would they let him go? When I'd asked about him, Stanton claimed the Alchemists had no knowledge of Marcus, but I knew that was a lie. She didn't know I had his picture. His blue tattoo was big enough to cover a lily, and I'd seen metallic hints of one underneath, proving he had indeed once been one of us. And if he'd had the Alchemist mark, then they most certainly knew about him. They were covering him up, and that just intrigued me further. In fact, I was a little obsessed with him. Some instinct told me he was the key to my problems, that he could help me uncover the secrets and lies the Alchemists were telling me. Unfortunately, I had no clue how to find him. â€Å"It's important no one here knows what you're doing, so remember to be discreet,† Stanton added, like I needed to be reminded. A small crease appeared between her eyebrows. â€Å"I was particularly worried about that Ivashkov boy coming to this wedding. We can't let anyone know you two have more than a passing acquaintance. Little things like that could compromise our mission.† â€Å"Oh, no,† I said quickly. â€Å"You don't need to worry about Adrian. He understands how important our work is. He'd never do anything to compromise it.† Ian returned, and our discussion ended there. Dinner soon gave way to dancing. With the atmosphere more relaxed, a number of Moroi came over to introduce themselves to us. I felt nearly as popular as the bride and groom. Ian shook so many hands that he eventually became immune to it. And as uncomfortable as it was for my companions, I could tell this event was actually accomplishing its goal of smoothing relations between Alchemists and Moroi. Stanton and Ian were by no means ready to be best friends with any of them, but it was clear they were pleasantly surprised at how friendly and benign most of the guests seemed. â€Å"I'm glad we got this chance to be together,† Ian told me during a lull in our public relations. â€Å"It's so hard with our jobs, you know? I'm in St. Louis now, in the facility archives. Where do they have you?† Secrecy was key in Jill's protection. â€Å"I'm in the field, but I can't say where. You know how it is.† â€Å"Right, right. But you know, if you ever wanted to visit . . . I'd show you around.† His desperation was almost cute. â€Å"Like for a vacation?† â€Å"Well, yeah. Er, no.† He knew as well as I did that Alchemists didn't get vacations easily. â€Å"But, I mean, they're doing all the holiday services, you know. If you decide to come to one, well, let me know.† Alchemist priests always conducted special services around Christmas in our main facilities. Some Alchemist families made a point of going to them every year. I hadn't been to any in a while, not with the way my missions kept jumping around. â€Å"I'll keep that in mind.† There was a long pause, and his next words came haltingly. â€Å"I'd ask you to dance, you know. Except it wouldn't be right in this kind of unholy setting.† I gave him a stiff smile. â€Å"Of course. That, and we're here on business. We've got to focus on building good relationships with them.† Ian had started to respond when a familiar voice interrupted us. â€Å"Miss Sage?† We looked up and found Adrian standing above us, dashing in his shades of blue. His face was the picture of perfect politeness and restraint, meaning something disastrous was probably about to happen. â€Å"It's so nice to see you again,† he said. He spoke as though it had been a while, and I nodded in agreement. As I'd assured Stanton, Adrian knew too much familiarity between us might create a trail back to Jill. â€Å"Did I just hear you two talking about building good relationships?† I was tongue-tied, so Ian answered. â€Å"That's right. We're here to make things friendlier between our people.† His voice, however, was most decidedly unfriendly. Adrian nodded with all seriousness, like he hadn't noticed Ian's hostility. â€Å"I think it's a great idea. And I thought of something that would be an excellent gesture of our future together.† Adrian's expression was innocent, but there was a mischievous sparkle in his eye that I knew all too well. He held out his hand to me. â€Å"Would you like to dance?†

How to Write a Compare #038; Contrast Essay in Sociology a College-Level Guide for Students

How to Write a Compare #038; Contrast Essay in Sociology a College-Level Guide for Students The principle of writing a compare and contrast essay is seemingly simple: you take two or more things (concepts, phenomena, events, organizations, etc.) and analyze them side-by-side, indicating what they have in common and what makes them different. However, when it comes to realization, many students find out that the task is much more complicated than they were led to believe. An essay of this type should be more than just an enumeration of similarities and differences – you should offer an overarching idea that brings all the points you discuss together and offers a bigger-picture conclusion. It may be especially complicated in case of sociology, because this discipline usually deals with relatively abstract topics, and analyzing them properly requires skill and deep understanding of the underlying principles at work. Using this guide, however, you will be able to find your way through these difficulties even if you do not have a prior experience of writing such essays. How to Choose a Rewarding Topic for a Compare and Contrast Essay in Sociology Choosing a topic may be troublesome, especially if your professor does not limit you in any way. Sociology is a broad subject, and trying to pick a topic without having any indication of where to look leaves many students confused. If you do not already have a topic you would like to write about, follow these steps. 1. Define Your Limits Is your choice limited in any way? Did your professor delineate a general theme you should cover? If he/she did not, better do it yourself, it will make your job easier. Here are a few suggestions of what you can limit your choice to: Topics related to your current course. If you have studied some information that can be relevant for your essay, it can save you time you would otherwise spend looking for sources; Topics you know a lot about. What we mean here is not just personal background knowledge about a particular subject, but rather an access to a source of information that is not immediately available for public – e.g., if you know somebody from an organization that has records relevant for a particular venue of sociological research; Topics you have a strong personal opinion on – writing when you are personally invested in the subject matter is always easier and faster than when you try to deal with a topic that does not particularly interest you. It produces better results as well. 2. Brainstorm After you have more or less delineated the area you intend to cover, start brainstorming for viable ideas. Sociology is a convenient discipline in the sense that it is possible to find suitable subject for research in the most mundane things. The format of a compare and contrast essay demands that you run a comparative analysis of two or more entities. Consider looking for things to compare based on the following: Geographical or national differences. E.g., if you intend to write about the measures of controlling and limiting criminal activities, you can compare approaches to this problem in different countries; Cultural differences. A society’s approach to dealing with a problem is vastly dependent on its culture. Compare two or more cultures in how they deal with an issue in question; Differences in time. Society changes over time, and a society in its current state can have little to nothing in common with itself just a decade or two ago. Compare a state of an issue at two different points in time; Technological differences. The emergence of new technologies causes vast changes to the way society operates. Compare an issue based on how it is treated in more and less technologically developed societies. 3. Gather General Information Once you have decided upon the entities you intend to compare, start gathering information about them, starting with the most basic sources: encyclopedias, dictionary entries and so on. This will help you decide if there are enough points of contact between the subjects (meaningful comparative analysis requires its subjects to be relatively similar, even if you intend to focus on the differences between them). If you run into trouble at this stage, it is better to look for another topic than to try and salvage this one. 4. Define the Frame of Reference Frame of reference is the context within which you put the entities you intend to compare. It may be an idea, a theory, a sociological issue, a common theme, a group to which all these entities belong, etc. It is better to build your frame of reference on the information from a specific source rather than your own thoughts. For example, if you compare the approach of dealing with unemployment in two different countries, try to find a reliable scholarly source covering the subject. 5. Word Your Title and Formulate Your Thesis Statement Choose the final wording for your title, but first you have to create a specific thesis statement. A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that points out the main idea of your essay. It is different from title or topic – these tell what your essay is about. A thesis statement tells what you think about its subject matter. For example, â€Å"Crime prevention in the USA and China† is a topic. â€Å"Compared to the American approach, crime prevention in China relies on constant and all-encompassing surveillance and easily encroaches upon basic human rights under the pretext of efficiency† is a thesis statement. A thesis statement should be: Short (a sentence long, two at the very maximum); Specific (no ambiguities or vague wording); Focused (containing a single point. An essay is too short a paper to hold more). If you cannot write a thesis statement that would fit these requirements, it may be the sign that you need to modify the topic and title. Here are some topics you can come up with using this approach: Social Views on Marriage and Cohabitation in the USA of 1950s and Today; Balancing Work and Family: How Women Deal with the Problem in the USA and France; The Role of Family Ties in Great Britain and Spain: A Comparative Analysis; Single Parents in the USA and India: Common Issues and Notable Differences; American and Japanese Parenting Styles: Differences, Similarities, Results. Writing and Structuring a Compare and Contrast Essay in Sociology The most important issue about writing a compare and contrast essay in sociology is how you decide to structure it – otherwise it is quite similar to all other types of essays. There is a number of structure types to choose from: Lens/Keyhole Comparison If you use this approach, you not so much compare two entities, but analyze one of them using another as a lens. As a result, A and B are not present in the essay on equal terms, but you use A as a framework or context for discussing B. This approach is particularly useful if you want to show a subject from an unusual point of view, challenge the stability of how it is perceived or provide unusual critique of a status quo that seems obvious in isolation but becomes questionable when viewed from a rarely considered direction. For example, we are all so used to American parenting and upbringing style that we do not question its viability. However, if we look at it through the lens of a drastically different cultural approach (e.g., Chinese or Japanese one), we can discover that the things are not as clear-cut as we used to believe. Point by Point In this approach, you identify a number of crucial characteristics according to which you compare A and B, and analyze how they stand in relation to them side by side. This approach is especially useful if A and B stand in clear opposition to each other and have definite and recognizable stances on a variety of issues. However, use it carefully, as a long essay written in this way starts looking as a Ping-Pong game. You can prevent this effect by limiting the number of times you alternate between A and B – either by cutting on the number of points you cover or grouping two or more of them together. If you do the latter, make sure these groupings are relevant. Don’t try to pay equal attention to similarities and differences – remember, your purpose is not to mindlessly compare two things but to discover an interesting pattern. For example, you can point out that although two schools of thought have notably different views on most subjects, they come to remarkably similar conclusions on a particular issue. Or on the contrary, an issue is treated almost identically in two societies, except for a single aspect that makes all the other similarities insignificant in comparison. Subject by Subject With this approach, you first analyze A in its entirety, then go on to B. To keep your essay organized, try to analyze comparable points of A and B in the same order. The order in which you analyze A and B is also important – if you have to refer to important aspects of A when you analyze B, it is better to discuss A first. The problem with this approach is that A and B are too separated from each other, and it is easy to lose connections between them. Sometimes such essays turn into simple descriptions of two entities without much in terms of conclusions. To avoid this, either refer to the first subject when you analyze the second one or write a separate fragment dedicated to summing everything up. How to Effectively Proofread a Compare and Contrast Essay in Sociology If you think that after doing an in-depth analysis your job is done, you are mistaken. 9 times out of 10, the first draft of your essay contains serious blunders that can harm your chances of getting a good grade. At the very least, by spending some time editing, proofreading and polishing it you can significantly improve its quality. 1. Take a Break Ideally, you should spend a day or two away from your essay to let your memory of its details get a little vague – this way you will see it from a fresh perspective. Of course, this is not always possible due to time constraints, so judge by your situation. Take at least a 30-minte break if you cannot afford to delay for longer. 2. Use Proofreading Tools but Do not Rely on Them Proofreading tools like Grammarly or Wordrake are somewhat better than Word’s spellchecker and can be useful in spotting some of the more blatant mistakes, but do not take what they say at face value. They often underline words and phrases without any errors and miss obvious mistakes. In other words, they can attract your attention to mistakes you did not notice, but if you have even the slightest doubts about their suggestions, don’t use it. 3. Read Your Essay Backwards By proofreading your essay backwards, either sentence by sentence or paragraph by paragraph, you disrupt the flow of argument and logical connections within the text, which forces you to focus on mechanical errors. 4. Proofread Your Essay Multiple Times Each time focus on a different aspect of your text: grammar, spelling, punctuation, word repetitions, excessive adverbs and adjectives, paragraph and sentence structure. 5. Ask Another Person to Proofread for You For example, collaborate with another student to proofread each other’s works. A person unfamiliar with the text is more likely to spot mistakes than its author. 6. Change the Way Your Text Looks Print it out and proofread on paper. Alternatively, change the font size and type. This will break your existing perception of the text, allowing you to find more mistakes. 7. Check for Missing Words Our brains are hard-wired to fill in the gaps, especially in familiar texts. As a result, you may have omitted some words and never noticed it. Reread your essay slowly and carefully, paying special attention to it. Now you simply have to print out the final draft of your essay and submit it. We hope this guide will help you get an excellent mark the next time you get such an assignment!

Paying for Private School in Tough Times

Paying for Private School in Tough Times We all know that private school is expensive, and its not uncommon for parents to sometimes have trouble paying private school tuition. Dr. Wendy Weiner, Principal of Conservatory Prep Senior High in Davie, Florida answers some of the questions parents have and explains their options. 1. The major breadwinner in the family has been laid off. The family has one child in tenth grade at private school. They cannot afford to pay the next four months of tuition. What do you suggest they do? This is a phenomenon we are seeing more and more. Individuals with high paying jobs being laid off. First, go through your finances and determine your budget and what you can realistically afford for the next four months. Even if it is $200 per month, rather than $1,500. The economic situation, although may seem bleak, can turn around quickly and you may be wanting to place your child back at the school. Speak with the administration regarding your financial situation. Be up front and honest. Is there a service you can provide to the school for the next four months? Schools dont want to lose their students midway through the year, especially good students. 2. If parents have savings for college, should they use these funds to pay for private school tuition? I am asked this question regularly. What is most important is if your child is thriving in a particular school during the teen years, both academically and socially, dont move. I cant emphasize this enough. The high school years are very difficult and to find an environment where your child excels is very important. I have seen students placed in a large high school, feel very lost and not involved in activities and earn poor grades. The parents dont want to move him to a private school, because the money is being saved for college. However, if the child continues to earn low grades and does not develop extra-curricula interests, paying for college wont be a problem. Granting acceptance will be. The reality is that there are more scholarships available for colleges than for private high schools. Even with the turbulent economy, there are many options including scholarships and very low-interest loans for college. 3. Arent parents obliged by contract to pay tuition and other expenses? Yes. Parents sign a contract that they agree to pay tuition for the year. The schools count on this money to meet their expenses. The school is put in a very bad predicament when teachers are hired, leases are signed for buildings, etc. and then students do not fulfill their contracts. If you are not sure if you will be able to fulfill your contract, speak with the school about your concerns. Sometimes schools may put in provisions in the contract for special circumstances. 4. Cant parents go back to the school and renegotiate their financial aid package for the current year? Definitely. Schools are businesses and need students to survive. Often you can re-negotiate a new payment plan or financial aid package. The institution would rather receive some money to cover basic costs than ​to  receive nothing. However, there are some students who drain the system with their needs. Be realistic with your expectations and your childs needs. 5. What advice can you offer parents who are looking at private school for the coming year? With all of the negative, there is a positive side. Private schools have been forced to up their game. Faculty who were not of the highest standards have been let go and programs which are of low quality have been cut from the budget. Schools know that parents have choices and are competing for each child. The schools have had to re-evaluate their own programs, curriculum and expectations. Those schools which are not able to offer a high standard of education will be closing, while those which are strong will flourish. Parents will find a higher quality of school at a fair price than they have known in the past. With budget cuts in the public schools, academic standards and expectations have been lowered, therefore making it difficult to obtain a publicly funded quality education.    Updated by Stacy Jagodowski

Expert Guide How Long Is the SAT

Expert Guide How Long Is the SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Studying for the SAT isn’t just about practicing math problems and passage reading- it's also an exercise in timing and pacing. The sheer length of the SAT test, as well as its difficult content, can make it an intimidating challenge. Read on for our guide to the SAT’s length, individual section times, and section ordering. Moreover, learn how to deal with fatigue during the test. Detailed Guide: SAT Test Length The SAT is three hours (180 minutes) long in total, excluding the optional essayand breaks. With the optional essay, the total test time increases to three hours and 50 minutes. Here's an overview of the SAT test length: Section Order on Test Total # of Questions Total Time (Minutes) Reading 1 52 65 Break 1 2 - 10 Writing and Language 3 44 35 Math No Calculator 4 20 25 Break 2 5 - 5 Math Calculator 6 38 55 Break 3 7 - 2 Essay (Optional) 8 1 50 The Math section is the only section separated into two pieces: a No Calculator and a Calculator section. As you can see, the No Calculator section comes first and asks 20 questions in 25 minutes, while the Calculator section comes second and asks 38 questions in 55 minutes. Altogether, then, you'll get 58 questions and 80 minutes for Math. You'll also get a total of three breaks (two if you're not taking the optional Essay): A10-minute break after the Readingsection but before the Writing and Language section Afive-minute break after the Math No Calculator section but before the Math Calculator section A very short two-minute breakafter the Math Calculator section (if you're staying for the Essay section, that is- otherwise, you're done and may leave!) The SAT Isn't Just Long- It's Also Intense The SAT is a long test- more than four hours, from check-in to the end (if you're doing the essay)! However, it can feel as though it moves fairly quickly because of the number of questions you have to answer on each section. Here is an overview of the number of questions you'll have on each SAT section, in addition to the approximate time you'll have to answer each question: Section # of Questions Total Time Time per Question Reading 52 65 minutes 1 minute 15 seconds Writing and Language 44 35 minutes 47 seconds Math No Calculator 20 25 minutes 1 minute 15 seconds Math Calculator 38 55 minutes 1 minute 26 seconds Even though your approximate time per question is usually more than a minute, on the actual SAT things will be a little more complicated. First of all, you'll likely move through easier questions much more quickly and need more time for harder questions. Secondly, if you want to leave time at the end of a section to check your answers, you'll have to spend less time on each question. Keep in mind that for the Reading and Writing sections, you will also have to spend some time reading the passages. In addition, note that stamina is incredibly important. While the old SAT broke up the test into 10 small sections, the current SAT forces you to tackle each subject in one large chunk. Two out of four sections are just about an hour long.So not only do you have to move quickly question-to-question, but you also need to maintain your test-taking speed for a long period of time. Building that kind of stamina takes practice! How to Prepare for the SAT Exam Length: 3 Tips Below, we go over our three best tips for preparing for the SAT exam length. These will help you feel prepared for test day and teach you how to stay focused during the exam. #1: Take Full-Length SAT Practice Tests The best way to prepare for the timing and intensity of the SAT is to take full-length, strictly timed practice tests.This way, even if you're someone who easily gets tired during long stretches of testing, you can get used to the SAT’s format and time expectations. Make sure you're usingofficial practice tests (i.e., those created by the College Board). Don't rely on old practice tests to help you out since these differ a lot from the current SAT structure. Be sure to print out your test ahead of time and find a quiet place to take it, such as a library. As you take your test, time yourself as you'll be timed on the actual SAT.This means no giving yourself extra time on a section and no skipping ahead if you finish one early! You should also take the breaks as described in the table at the beginning of this article. You need to build up endurance and practice your pacing for the SAT- just like training for a race. #2: Do Practice Tests on Weekends The best time to take official SAT practice tests is on a Saturday or Sunday morning so you can get a good idea of what your energy level will be like the day of the actual test. Sure, it might be easier to fit in a practice test late on a Sunday night, but you'll have to take the real test in the morning, so you should practice with that time in mind. Pretend you're waking up for the actual test. Waking up early and jumping into an SAT practice test probably isn’t your ideal way to start a Saturday,but it’s the best way to be prepare for the actual SAT. Plus, it'll preserve your Saturday afternoon and evening for more fun activities! #3: Time Yourself on Individual Practice Sections As you study for the different SAT sections, make sure to periodically take an entire practice section with only the time you're given on the test. For example, after a week of focusing on SAT Reading, take one or two Reading practice tests and give yourself 65 minutes- the time you'll have on the actual exam for that section. This will allow you to get used to the timing on the SAT and furtherbuild up your test-taking stamina. What’s Next? Now that you know how long the test will take, read about the best places to take the SAT. Want additional SAT help? Get tips on how to work quickly and save time during the SAT. Preparing for test day?Check out our top test-day tips so you can be both mentally and physically ready to take on the SAT. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today!

Cost-Quality Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cost-Quality Relationship - Essay Example The prevention cost therefore works towards trying to control the reduction of possible defects that can be experienced that may have effect on the quality and hence making it difficult to implement the required costs that will work well towards making the organization to grow. Prevention cost tries to employ prevention of defects by enabling companies to employ various techniques such as statistical process control, personnel training or even quality engineering (Festinger, 2001).  Under this kind of cost that regards quality for its operations, there are activities that relate to quality circles as well as the statistical process control. In this regard, the quality circles under this program talk greatly in detail about small numbers of employees that will always have a meeting regularly to discuss the initiatives to select that will help them improve on quality. These circles often include both the employees as well as the management. Some firms tend to provide various forms of technical support to suppliers so as to avoid and prevent defects that could occur in the company. In JIT (just in time) systems for example, there are deliveries of parts from the suppliers in good time as well as in good quality. Parts that have defects can not be accepted and hence the supplier is expected to use sophisticated programs of quality control to enable them supply good parts that lack defects (Festinger, 2001).A company should have adequate programs for the identification of defects in good time within the production process. The appraisal costs are the ones that are set aside for that effect. They are the costs incurred in the endeavor to identify products that are defective before they are actually transported to the consumers. However, maintaining an up to date system of appraisal could be quite expensive as they are for problems that will always be there. The employees are therefore given the responsibility of being responsible for their departments and the produ cts involved so as to avoid much spending on the same mistake continuously. The management that lacks insight may always prefer keeping things in order only when they go wrong and such firms are the kinds that are mostly interested in this kind of cost. The other type of firms is the ones that use fewer funds to control a defect and use the idea to avert future issues that are similar (Festinger, 2001). External Failure Cost: This is the third type of cost that can be applied in the real sense to facilitate quality of services offered in a company. This is mostly applicable in instances whereby the product has already left the company premises and has reached the consumer of the product. This kind of cost includes the provision for repairs, products recall, warranty, replacement or even costs that arise from the legal actions lodged against a company. The warranty, for example, is implemented to pay for any form of defect that may be witnessed in a product within a given period of time, mostly a year or so. Such kinds of problems can decimate the profits of a company (Festinger, 2001). Some managers have in the past embraced the notion that they should supply

1. Individualism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

1. Individualism - Essay Example Additionally, the process of decision-making must be such that it follows a universal rationality approach. Systemic rationality refers to the occurrences of the majority as defined by traditions, fiscal prices, communal norms, and customs, all of which cause free men to develop things that are superior to their understanding (Hayek 7-8). The implication is that true individualism values ordinary efforts by community or group, and family. Conversely, Hayek (22) the understanding of individuals is done best through separating them from the shared processes since the society and the individuals exist autonomous of each other. According to Hayek, the assumption is that individuals are strictly rational (10) and in order to participate in social processes, individuals are expected to readily and willingly adjust to alterations and remain submissive to standards that are beyond knowledgeable design (22). Additionally, false individualism disregards collaboration and the joint efforts of small groups to acknowledge coercive rules forced by states as responsible for establishing social ties. In this case, the state liberates individuals from forceful powers imposed on them by small groups. Rene Descartes and John Stuart Mill among others expressed this view. Hayek, however, warns that the individual has to be free in order for the society to be greater than the individual, but provided man is controlled and directed, the individual greater than the society (Hayek

Business Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility Case Study

Business Ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility - Case Study Example One moral standard is core ethical values. The first component of core ethical values is trustworthiness. The recall and transparency in dealing with the crisis was effective in restoring the trust and confidence of consumers. The second component of core ethical values is responsibility. McCain took an important step in affirming that Maple Leaf was assuming full responsibility for the Listeria situation. The third component of core ethical values is caring. After realizing that Listeria had caused 21 deaths, Maple Leaf recalled its products. This is because the company did not want to be the cause of any more deaths in Canada. McCain said that if he had known in advance that Listeria in the meat products would cause 22 deaths, he would have taken all measures to save those lives. The fourth component of core ethical values is citizenship. As of 2009, Maple Leaf was following the new Listeria policy that was set up by the federal government. Because Listeria is ubiquitous in the env ironment, Maple Leaf has also taken measures to educate people about the fact that Listeria is resident in most processed foods, and as such it is important to boost one’s immune system as this is the basic way to fight the routine exposure to Listeria. The second moral standard is relativism. Maple Leaf failed to report that Listeria had been detected in their products as early as March 2007. This is because, unlike other meat processing plants, Maple Leaf felt confident because the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) kept approving their products. The spokeswoman for Maple Leaf, Linda Smith, felt confident that if the USDA did not sanction the company, then any Listeria that had been detected was manageable and there was no need to cause mass panic. The third moral standard is egoism. Instead of focusing on the 22 people who had died from Listeria and the numerous sick people who consumed Listeria-infected products, Maple Leaf was more

Political Science-the book, Privilege, Power, and Difference and 19 Essay

Political Science-the book, Privilege, Power, and Difference and 19 minutes - Essay Example Alex Cormier was Josie’s mother and a high court judge who was presiding Peter’s case. She was going through emotional upheaval, on one side is her relationship with Josie, her daughter, and on other side is the biggest case of her life. Josie witnessed the shooting but could not narrate what exactly happened. Later, Josie admits to shoot Matt Royston before Peter as she also a victim of Matt’s abusive behavior. In the dramatic narrative of trial Peter’s parents, Lacy and Lewis wonder about the past events and his brother’s death that might have compelled Peter to be such a violent and cruel person. The story continues in the flashback of events before and after the shooting. Trial proceeded and Peter was sentenced for life but he committed suicide after one month in prison. Josie is sentenced for five years and Alex got married and pregnant with detective Patrick. Nineteen minutes delves us into the logical consequence of 17 year olds’ sufferings in a cruel society where schools have become center of oppression. Picoult points out the victimization of a culprit and our role in this whole process as a silent observer, as society! Instead of just blaming the culprit, â€Å"Nineteen Minutes† look into the physical and emotional torment of incessant act of oppression that pushed Peter to go over the top and take revenge. It discusses school system, responsibility of society, parent’s negligence and peer’s insensitivity that ends up in such horrible consequences. Reading â€Å"Nineteen Minutes† obscures the line between victim and culprit and the idea of right and wrong as it invite us to rethink the reality. Picoult presented a harsh reality in a straight forward but compelling manner. The novel is fully loaded with emotional and psychological insight about peer pressure and cruelty. It points out the cultural and social structure of school that is infected with the desire to

Why US foreign policy towards Cuba has not thawed since the end of the Dissertation

Why US foreign policy towards Cuba has not thawed since the end of the cold war - Dissertation Example s in the field of foreign relations. More specifically, most of the researches involving this particular topic focused on the development of the foreign relations between the two. Indeed, the relationship between the United States of America and Cuba can be traced as far as the Spanish-American war, when Cuba attained its independence. The two began a good relationship but eventually became bitter after accession of Fidel Castro into power. This research offers an extensive review of the foreign policy of the United States of America towards Cuba, focusing on the primary sources such as the speeches of Fidel Castro, his books and the like. Chapter 1: (Condensed to 1,420 words) Introduction Background of the Study The relationship between Cuba and the United States started when the Spanish-American war ended. Spain was defeated by the United States in this particular war (Osieja, 2006; Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). As such, the United States granted the then colonies of Spain their ind ependence with the condition that the United States could intervene in their internal affairs if it becomes necessary (Aronson, Rogers, Sweig & Meid, 2001; Gibbs & Gibbs, 2011). In line with this agreement, Cuba has also granted a perpetual lease in favor of the United States of its naval base at Guantanamo bay (Haney & Vanderbush, 2005). The two countries cooperated with one another for the next fifty years after the independence of Cuba (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). The United States play an important role in terms of aiding Cuba in quelling down rebellions (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). Furthermore, the United States also began to pour in economic investments into the country in order to help them develop. However, things began to change with the 1959 Cuban Revolution (Gibbs & Gibbs, 2011). Primarily, the United States expressed support towards Castro by imposing an arms embargo against the administration of then-President General Fulgencio Bautista. In fact, the United States imm ediately recognized the government of Castro (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). However, the Castro government began seizing private lands and nationalized private companies, including those of American origin (Haney & Vanderbush, 2005; Osieja, 2006). As a result thereof, the administration of then-President Eisenhower responded by imposing trade restrictions except for the basic necessities such as food and medicines (Gibbs & Gibbs, 2011). As a response to the alleged â€Å"Yankee-Imperialism,† Castro decided to start trading with the Soviet Union instead (Meacham, 2009). In this regard, the United States dissolved all diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and from then on, the unfriendly relationship between the two begun (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). Indeed, the bitter relationship between Cuba and the United States worsened upon the accession of Fidel Castro in 1959. The relationship between the two has evolved into bitter arguments, political grandstanding and eventually resorted to an international crises (Wittkopf & McCormick, 2007). In fact, since 1961, the two countries have failed to enter into a bilateral agreement and would often call upon Switzerland as their mediator should they need to negotiate on certain matters (Aronson, Rogers, Sweig & Meid, 2001; Haney & Vanderbush, 2005). The relationship

Analysing organisation. Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Analysing organisation. Wal-Mart - Essay Example A firm existence in the American market and exploitation of every opportunity and space during the initial establishment years has enabled Wal-Mart to enjoy a unique brand name. It was a successful strategic move for Wal-Mart to concentrate on the US market, and establish firmly on home soil. From the exploits of the home market, Wal-Mart had enough experience and sufficient resources to make investments abroad. Wal-Mart has coverage for retail business in more than fifteen countries today, with branches in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa and the UK among many others (Wal-Mart, n.d.). This presentation highlights the various concepts that can be associated with Wal-Mart as a global player in the retail industry. SWOT analysis is relied upon in the design, with the initial part highlighting the strengths and opportunities that an insider at Wal-Mart would quickly give while the second section highlights threats and weaknesses that are critical to the company. General review is a biased outlook on the positives of the company as opposed to the critical review that criticises various business concepts and approaches adopted at the company. Data Collection Information on SWOT from primary and secondary sources made the bulk of research, with an explanation and discussion on the main issues making up the presentation. SWOT as the main theme of the paper identifies with the needs of understanding the operations from an internal as well as an external perspective (Broughton, n.d.). The discussion is not exhaustive on the SWOT analysis but only a selected few items picked formed the discussion on which to base the presentation. General Review (Strengths and Opportunities) Ownership Wal-Mart began and remained as a family business as Walton dedicated his entire to the service and development of the company. Such level of commitment for the management of business usually enables the manager to set organisational objectives above any other interest. Evidently, the success of the corporation as one of the main global players in the retail industry owes much to the man-management techniques that Walton applied (Walton and Huey 1993, p32). As an individual, the president of the United States recognised Walton’s contribution to business and awarded him for his achievement just before his death. This is a milestone achievement for an individual leading an important business player as Wal-Mart in the global economy. Walton retained great influence on the decision making processes at the company in many aspects, despite the fact that the listing of the company implied that he donated some of the leadership to the shareholders. His contribution to the running of the business is undisputed and perhaps, therefore, Wal-Mart’s successes owe much to his roles in the company. The demise of Sam Walton in 1992 paved way for another Walton, Robson who took over as chairperson of the Wal-Mart Board a few days later. Tradition Since its establishment in 1962, Wal-Mart has kept off temptations of changing the market approach from the initial vision of the pioneer (Frank 2006, para.6). Sam Walton envisioned a retailing busines s with a unique pricing strategy that would target the lower end markets by initiating price cuts. Targeting the specific market niche in the retail business and making it possible to stick to it was perhaps the strongest business ideas adopted by Walton. In the modern business strategy applied at Wal-Mart, pricing is a uniquely important tool implemented for the initial objective laid down by Walton several decades ago. In all the retail outlets

Political Science-the book, Privilege, Power, and Difference and 19 Essay

Political Science-the book, Privilege, Power, and Difference and 19 minutes - Essay Example Alex Cormier was Josie’s mother and a high court judge who was presiding Peter’s case. She was going through emotional upheaval, on one side is her relationship with Josie, her daughter, and on other side is the biggest case of her life. Josie witnessed the shooting but could not narrate what exactly happened. Later, Josie admits to shoot Matt Royston before Peter as she also a victim of Matt’s abusive behavior. In the dramatic narrative of trial Peter’s parents, Lacy and Lewis wonder about the past events and his brother’s death that might have compelled Peter to be such a violent and cruel person. The story continues in the flashback of events before and after the shooting. Trial proceeded and Peter was sentenced for life but he committed suicide after one month in prison. Josie is sentenced for five years and Alex got married and pregnant with detective Patrick. Nineteen minutes delves us into the logical consequence of 17 year olds’ sufferings in a cruel society where schools have become center of oppression. Picoult points out the victimization of a culprit and our role in this whole process as a silent observer, as society! Instead of just blaming the culprit, â€Å"Nineteen Minutes† look into the physical and emotional torment of incessant act of oppression that pushed Peter to go over the top and take revenge. It discusses school system, responsibility of society, parent’s negligence and peer’s insensitivity that ends up in such horrible consequences. Reading â€Å"Nineteen Minutes† obscures the line between victim and culprit and the idea of right and wrong as it invite us to rethink the reality. Picoult presented a harsh reality in a straight forward but compelling manner. The novel is fully loaded with emotional and psychological insight about peer pressure and cruelty. It points out the cultural and social structure of school that is infected with the desire to

Analysing organisation. Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Analysing organisation. Wal-Mart - Essay Example A firm existence in the American market and exploitation of every opportunity and space during the initial establishment years has enabled Wal-Mart to enjoy a unique brand name. It was a successful strategic move for Wal-Mart to concentrate on the US market, and establish firmly on home soil. From the exploits of the home market, Wal-Mart had enough experience and sufficient resources to make investments abroad. Wal-Mart has coverage for retail business in more than fifteen countries today, with branches in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa and the UK among many others (Wal-Mart, n.d.). This presentation highlights the various concepts that can be associated with Wal-Mart as a global player in the retail industry. SWOT analysis is relied upon in the design, with the initial part highlighting the strengths and opportunities that an insider at Wal-Mart would quickly give while the second section highlights threats and weaknesses that are critical to the company. General review is a biased outlook on the positives of the company as opposed to the critical review that criticises various business concepts and approaches adopted at the company. Data Collection Information on SWOT from primary and secondary sources made the bulk of research, with an explanation and discussion on the main issues making up the presentation. SWOT as the main theme of the paper identifies with the needs of understanding the operations from an internal as well as an external perspective (Broughton, n.d.). The discussion is not exhaustive on the SWOT analysis but only a selected few items picked formed the discussion on which to base the presentation. General Review (Strengths and Opportunities) Ownership Wal-Mart began and remained as a family business as Walton dedicated his entire to the service and development of the company. Such level of commitment for the management of business usually enables the manager to set organisational objectives above any other interest. Evidently, the success of the corporation as one of the main global players in the retail industry owes much to the man-management techniques that Walton applied (Walton and Huey 1993, p32). As an individual, the president of the United States recognised Walton’s contribution to business and awarded him for his achievement just before his death. This is a milestone achievement for an individual leading an important business player as Wal-Mart in the global economy. Walton retained great influence on the decision making processes at the company in many aspects, despite the fact that the listing of the company implied that he donated some of the leadership to the shareholders. His contribution to the running of the business is undisputed and perhaps, therefore, Wal-Mart’s successes owe much to his roles in the company. The demise of Sam Walton in 1992 paved way for another Walton, Robson who took over as chairperson of the Wal-Mart Board a few days later. Tradition Since its establishment in 1962, Wal-Mart has kept off temptations of changing the market approach from the initial vision of the pioneer (Frank 2006, para.6). Sam Walton envisioned a retailing busines s with a unique pricing strategy that would target the lower end markets by initiating price cuts. Targeting the specific market niche in the retail business and making it possible to stick to it was perhaps the strongest business ideas adopted by Walton. In the modern business strategy applied at Wal-Mart, pricing is a uniquely important tool implemented for the initial objective laid down by Walton several decades ago. In all the retail outlets

The death penalty Essay Example for Free

The death penalty Essay During act1 the play starts were a group of people in Salem go dancing in the woods with a slave woman called Tituba, Reverrand Parris sees this but is spotted doing so, the girls run away.  The next day reverrand Parris is beside Betty who is ill, the doctor suspects the girl has been taken over by supernatural forces. Parris questions Abigail, who was with her, he asks her about witchcraft and Tituba, he then sends for reverrand Hale, an authority on witchcraft. Mr Mrs Putnam see how Betty is and says that she sent her daughter Ruth to raise spirits of her dead babies to see who murdered them so that is another reason for the happenings in the woods that night. Later the girls who were dancing in the woods joined Betty beside her bedside, theyre all woried that they may be tried for witchraft. Abigail has them on their own, she slaps Betty to try to sustain her, she also worns the other girls not to breath a word of when she drank blood in the woods, she uses scare tactics. Abigail and Proctor starts talking about their affair and their affections for each other, while Betty is next to them in bed hearing every word they say, Betty then screams to stop them. Parris, Rebbecca, and Giles come to see whats happened with Betty, Rebbecca manages to restrain her. Parris wants to have a witch hunt, but proctor doesnt believe in witches, they start to argue. The Putnams continue to disagree with the rest of the towns people of Salem about land rights, which creates a lot of tension.  Reverrand Hale tries to wake Betty but doesnt succeed, he then turns to Abigail questions her about the witchery, in hesitation shes quick to accuse Tituba. She accuses two others, realises Titubas escape by naming others, she chants the names of the other girls in the villiage that she believes has seen the devil, Hale is pleased shes confessed and tells her to continue talking. Crucible: A melting pot where basic elements are mixed together to give an explosive force.  This is the title of the play, I think this title is very fitting with the contents of the play, it seems to be like when the characters (basic elements) are put together, they produce arguments, action, tension, fear(explosive force).  Arthur Millers background He was born in New York, 17th October 1915, he was brought up in the brooklyn area. His father owned a clothing factor which collapsed, following this lead Arthur Miller to produce the play Death of a salesman and A view from a bridge set in Brooklyn. During his college years he managed to write plays although he had college and other jobs at the same time.  His first success was All my sons which was about a father forced to realise dangerous moral comprimises changing the American dream of wealth. His biggest hit was Death of a salesman in 1949 which won the Pulitzer Prize. The crucible won an award in 1953, but wasnt an immediate commercial success, this was the time of Mc Carthyism. Mc Carthyism is an issue in which to consider in the play, with Salem being a very theocratic society. In the arrly 1950s Joseph McCarthy, a senator, managed to create a national campaign against communists, ex-communists and anyone who assoiated with them. He made many unfounded statements about the numbers of secret communists in important positions, as chairman of a senate commitee he interrogated many witnesses and tried to make them inform on friends and colleagues. As the anti-communist hysteria increased many people were hounded from their jobs or were prevented from working. McCarthys unproven accusations and aggresive interrogations gradually brought him into disrepute. Witchcraft is an important scene in which act 1 is dramatic, witchcraft was a serious matter in those days, and even more in a religious community. Witchery led to deaths, fall outs, false accusations, murders, tortures, exectutions, being burnt etc which if used in the play, which it was, it can be used to build extreme dramatic situations which can have a powerful effect on the audience. Witches were thaught to be in league with the devil, who was their master, the devil/satan is believed to roam the world for human souls to tempt into hell. He is a supreme enemy of everything thats good and holy. The Christian churches persued and persicuted supposed witches. A common test for a person accused for being a witch was pricking with a needle. All witches were supposed to have somewhere on their bodies, a mark made by the devil himself which was insensitive to pain. Any who were found guilty suffered the death penalty. Whichcraft trials in Salem were common, I think Arthur Miller used it in his play to worry the audience into thinking death was appartant and inevitable, when witchery was present. Whenever death is present in a play, the dramatic tension is bound to rise because death is a most serious matter to anyone. If ever witchery or satanic happenings occured in Salem, it would most probably be taken to court until someone was proven guilty and hanged, maybe Arthur Miller knew this and thaught that the audience would know it too? therefore rising the dramatic tension in the play.