The effects of invasive species on recreational fishing Research Paper

The effects of invasive species on recreational fishing - Research Paper Example First is that the species show very high rate of reproduction. The plant species that are invasive have a much higher rate of reproduction than any other species, which raises the second reason why they are so (Coulatti 138). Second is that the species fall prey to little or no predation at all. This fact gives the species leeway to reproduce and not worry about any form of predation. Thirdly, the invasive species are mostly hardy in nature. Being hardy means that the species can thrive in virtually any kind of environment, including different climates and habitats (Coulatti 140). The impact that invasive species cause on the environment are gross and sometimes irreversible (Verling 272). Destruction of landscape and severe loss of habitats and loss of life by both animals and humans are just but a few of the impacts. The effects the invasive organisms have on the environment include negative impact on bio-diversity, they can cause species extinction, soil erosion and land degradation and change in life cycles of organisms (Verling 273). The weeds found in lakes and rivers, for example the water hyacinth could cause destruction to water bio diversity. First, the weeds in the water destroy all other plant organisms in the water in order to establish their roots some of them even feed on other organisms. This ensures that the weeds remain the apex plant organisms on these water sources thus getting rid of any chance of bio-diversity in the water sources (Callaway 265). Second is the cause of species extinction in water sources (Coullatti 57). In order to fish, it is logical that there be something to catch in the water sources. The invasive species make sure that fishing does not happen. They do this by first, as mentioned above, eating up all the plant life in the water and thus rendering the fish without food. This the main reason for fish extinction. Land and soil

Hassan and Amir Essay Example for Free

Hassan and Amir Essay The texts in section A focus on cosmetic surgery on teenagers. Write a paper (700-1000 words) in which you answer the following questions. Answer the questions separately. 1. Give an outline of the various views on plastic surgery for teenagers, which are presented in texts 1 and 2 2. How dies Valerie Ulene engage the reader in the subject in text 1? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text. 3. Taking your starting point in text 3, discuss whether cosmetic surgery on teenagers should be banned. 1. Both given texts, â€Å"Plastic surgery for teens† by Valerie Ulene and â€Å"Seeking Self-Esteem. Through Surgery† by Camille Sweeny, have very similar views on plastic surgery for teenagers in America. They both hold the view that teenagers are pressured by set beauty standards, which are displayed by media and other industries. In the first text â€Å"Plastic surgery for teens† Valerie Ulene, the author and a specialist for preventive surgery in the US, says that America’s teenagers feel the need to undergo plastic surgery because they think of the beauty standards as the given norm and want to achieve those norms. Ulene is of the opinion that plastic surgery shouldn’t be the alternative to diets and exercise, because most teens are very impatient and change their opinions quickly, so they might regret their choice shortly after. She believes teens will obtain a better view on themselves, as they grow older and go through the process of growing up. It’s not entirely unwise to get a plastic surgery, according to Valerie Ulene, she thinks some teenagers, who have had the wish for a long time, should have the opportunity, but preferably when they are legally aloud to sign consent, until then parents and doctors should determine whether or not the teen should turn to a surgeon’s knife. The second text â€Å"Seeking Self-Esteem Through Surgery† by Camille Sweeny, the author is of the fairly same opinion as given in the first text. Sweeny also believes that the growing figures of teenage plastic surgery emanate from unreachable beauty standards. She quotes critics who think that the growing number of plastic surgery, especially among adolescent girls, stems from the fact, adolescents have low self esteem and because plastic surgery has become easy to access. Sweeny also thinks a lot of teenagers are unaware of the long-term effects, like pain Elena Haig 2C English or follow-up surgeries. She feels it is important to challenge the given standards and preach different ones, also it is important to accept one’s own appearance. 2. Valerie Ulene engages the reader by telling about herself and how she â€Å"disliked [her] nose as a teenager would be an understatement† (l. 1), this way the reader feels like she is honest and respectable. Furthermore she uses pronouns like â€Å"I† (l. 2, l. 3) to make clear that she states her own opinion. Ulene also makes use of modern terms like â€Å"getting it â€Å"done†Ã¢â‚¬ (l.3) and â€Å"fixed† (l. 62) and by doing that she seems closer to the teenagers, whom she wants to reach. Ulene appeals to logos and persuades the audience by reason, an example of this is â€Å"The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that more than 330,000 adolescents (†¦)† (l. 6) where she uses data from a respected American institution and thus the reader trusts her and her opinion and she seems credible. Expressive adjectives like â€Å"ridiculous† (l. 17) or â€Å"tremendous† (l. 60) underline her statement on plastic surgery or beauty standards. Later on in the text she makes use of pathos to appeal to the readers’ emotions and convince them to believe in her argument by creating an emotional response. â€Å"With a 14-year-old daughter of my own, I recognize how difficult that [saying no to plastic surgery] can be. While I’d like to think that I’d dissuade – if not forbid – her from having cosmetic work done†. (ll. 58-59) With this quote the reader empathizes with Ulene, because it’s now a lot more understandable why she’s against plastic surgery on teenagers, and in the next paragraph she uses another example from her life where she diminishes the wish for plastic surgery by saying â€Å"as far as my own nose goes, I’ve never really grown to love it. I have grown used to it, however, and have no regrets that it was never fixed† (ll. 61-62). 3. â€Å"If they aren’t old enough to sign their own surgical consent for a medically necessary procedure, then they shouldn’t be able to induce their parents to do it for cosmetic surgery which is a personal, subjective, value-based decision, not a decision of medical necessity. † Dr. Pete Costantino According to this quote, the ban of cosmetic surgery for teenagers is a good idea. The topic of plastic and cosmetic surgery has been open for a lot of debate. The question whether it should Elena Haig 2C English be banned or not bears more than one problem and can be viewed from different sides. The main question is though, where a medically necessary procedure ends and becomes cosmetic surgery? On the one hand, there is the problem of the promoted unreachable beauty norms, which teenagers are exposed to everyday. These norms make some teenagers believe that their features are ugly or an abnormality, but they are mostly completely normal. A general ban of cosmetic surgery could help them rethink the view on their bodies. Also, a lot of teenagers are very impatient, and if they don’t have access to these kinds of surgeries, they are forced to wait and maybe they’ll rethink their decision. In contrast to this, some teenagers are so unbearably unhappy with their features that they don’t go to school, don’t interact socially or are confronted with bullying from their classmates. If cosmetic surgery is prohibited for citizens under 18 years, they don’t have any chance of improvement in their lives. Often, parents have very different morals and convictions than adolescents, and wouldn’t understand their child’s struggle, and in the long run the adolescent is the one who has to live with the given facial or physical features. All in all, I am only partly for a general ban of plastic surgery for minors. I think there should be a certification that the person undergoing plastic surgery is completely aware of the consequences the procedure will have and that this person has considered positive and negative effects of this decision. What I don’t agree with is that the government decides what distinguishes necessary medical surgery from cosmetic surgery. It’s not always visible if the person needs this surgery or not, there are often mental problems linked to the choice that is made. Words: 963 (without quote) Elena Haig 2C English 1) Later on in the text she makes use of In diesem Satz war ein Kongruenzfehler, denn in der 3. P singular â€Å"she† muss dem Verb ein â€Å"s† hinzugefugt werden. 2) By doing that she seems closer to the teenagers, whom she wants to reach. Hier muss â€Å"whom† verwendet werden, da es sich auf das Praposition â€Å"to† bezieht. 3) Nachstes mal werde ich in meiner Outline darauf achten, keine bis wenig Fluchtigkeitsfehler zu machen, um meine Sprache zu verbessern. Auch die grammatischen Strukturen mochte ich mehr beachten, so dass sie komplexer, vielfaltiger und korrekt sind. Auch von dem Inhalt her mochte ich versuchen ein wenig mehr auf Standpunkte einzugehen die ich eventuell nicht als wichtig empfinde. Um den Text leichter lesbar zu machen, versuche ich alle dargestellten Haltungen klarzustellen und genau zu erlautern. Beim zitieren versuche ich nachstes mal noch mehr auf das Integrieren in den Text zu achten, damit er flie? ender zu lesen wird. View as multi-pages Topics in this document Surgery, Plastic surgery, Reconstructive surgery, Microsurgery, Adolescence, Hand surgery, Hospital Related Documents Plastic Surgery Essay An Ugly Trend Plastic surgery is defined as repair, restoration, or improvement of lost, injured or defective body parts. It can also be used as a synonym for â€Å"fake† or â€Å"superficial. † Although the meaning of plastic surgery fluctuates between different people, the origin of the word â€Å"plastic† comes from the Greek â€Å"plastikos,† meaning able to be molded. † Throughout history, society values beauty. Individual’s pursuit in 1267 Words | 6 Pages Plastic Surgery Essay. PLASTIC SURGERY Plastic surgery is a special type of surgery that greatly improves not just your appearance, it improves self esteem and health at the same time it gives you a better quality of life. The name â€Å"Plastic surgery† which includes the word plastic doesnt mean patients who have this surgery end up with a face full of fake stuff. The name isnt taken 1267 Words | 3 Pages Essay on Teenage Girls and Plastic Surgery Mr. Archer English 11 AP 1 April 2011 Underage Girls Going Under the Knife Should teenage girls under the age of eighteen be allowed to undergo plastic surgery? According to recent statistics, rhinoplasty was performed on nearly 35,000 patients between the ages of thirteen and nineteen in 2009. The procedure accounted for nearly fifty percent of all cosmetic surgical procedures performed on this age group. If all cosmetic procedures like chemical peels, 1267 Words | 5 Pages Plastic Surgery Superficial or Necessary? Essay Plastic surgery is a very necessary form of surgery. It is needed by millions of Americans every year, not only to improve life, but in some cases, to save it. There are two types of plastic surgery: cosmetic and reconstructive. Cosmetic surgery consists of certain procedures used to â€Å"improve† a person’s natural features, or give a more youthful appearance, while reconstructive surgery is used to 1267 Words | 7 Pages Essay about rationale of plastic surgery ? The Rationale of Plastic Surgery Plastic surgery is a controversial issue among the society now. For some people, there is not agreed about undergo plastic surgery because they are grateful and appreciative with their natural beauty appearance what god gave to them and for Muslim’s religion does not give Muslim’s change appearance have been given by Allah. Every countries now has a 1267 Words | 5 Pages Plastic Surgery Beauty or Beast? Essay Swan 2, she morphed into a beauty queen after a slew of plastic surgery proceduresa brow lift, lower eye lift, mid-face lift, fat transfer to her lips and cheek folds, laser treatments for aging skin, tummy tuck, breast lift, liposuction of her inner thighs and dental procedures. The Fox show gives contestants plastic surgery and then has them compete in a beauty pageant, which last year Stiles won. The Swan and other such 1267 Words | 5 Pages. Essay about Plastic Surgery Cosmetic surgery is very common these days it is no longer only accessible to rich and famous. Any person in the world can have the procedure they want done, most people think cosmetic surgery is unsafe but it is only unsafe if your surgeon is not qualified. Here are the 5 top reasons why most people get cosmetic surgery. 1. Health Reasons. Some people may have gone through rough times caused by sickness or massive weight loss, so its only 1267 Words | 5 Pages Should Teenagers Be Discouraged from Doing Plastic Surgery? Essay. doing plastic surgery? What is plastic surgery? Plastic surgery is ‘the process of reconstructing or repairing parts of the body by the transfer of tissue, either in the treatment of injury or for cosmetic reasons’ (Oxford Dictionaries, 2010). Sushrutha from India, who is known as the ‘Father of Plastic Surgery’, had carried out plastic surgery a 1267 Words | 5 Pages Cite This Document APA (2015, 04). plastic surgery outline.

Conscience Essays -- essays research papers

Conscience Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary defines conscience as "the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or good." In A Man for All Seasons, each character's conscience plays the ultimate role in the outcome of the story. "Individual conscience" is trait that each character possesses. This trait differs in intensity throughout the play in each of the main characters. Sir Thomas More and King Henry VIII show their unchangeable conscience, by their actions. More refuses to accept the King's divorce of Catherine, and marriage to Anne. The King appoints More to Lord Chancellor, hoping to persuade Sir Thomas to accept his marriage. King Henry wants everyone to accept his divorce. He believes he is right for going against Pope's ruling, and he wants all his royal subjects, and men of popularity to accept his decision. This is the King's "individual conscience" talking . He fears that without the acceptance from Thomas, Lord Chancellor, that he has made God angry, and he will pay for his unsupported decision. Sir Thomas More was the only character that believed and stuck with his conscience, by doing so, it cost him his life. Sir Thomas was a very prominent member of the King's council, he was the only member whom did not take bribes to sway his decision. Sir Thomas had always trusted ...

The Last Holy Book

Quran is the last Holy book of Allah revealed upon His last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Surah Al-Fatiha means â€Å"The Opening† as it is the first chapter of Holy Quran. It contains seven verses which are a prayer for the guidance, lordship and mercy of Allah. The meaning of the entire Quran is summarized in this Surah. It has its different names indicating it as a special blessing of Allah. Surah Al-Fatiha is one those chapters of Quran which holds great importance as Allah (SWT) said in the words given below:†And, Indeed, We have bestowed upon thee seven of the often repeated (verses), and this sublime Quran.†Surah Al-Fatiha is very important as one has to start with it when he begins his prayer. Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha five times a day shows the nature of its greatness as a chapter as well as a Dua so that we can be benefitted. In any situation a person may be, be it a difficulty, an illness or a state of suffering or any other problems a person may face in his life Surah al-Fatiha is the cure of all the sufferings. This Surah is a prayer to your Lord for seeking guidance and mercy so that He showers His blessings upon us.Virtues of Surah Al-FatihaThere are many virtues of Surah Al-Fatiha. Starting with the first virtue, it is the greatest chapter in the Quran. It mainly covers the topics discussed in Quran. Another virtue is that as it is recited five times a day during prayers so it is a pillar of prayer. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:†Whoever does not recite Surah Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid.†This Surah is contains the cure for the diseases as a companion once recited Surah Al-Fatiha to a person who got bit by a Scorpio and he was cured. It is not just a cure for diseases but it is also a cure for the heart from the evil. It is a light to direct us towards the righteous path. As it has so many virtues it is known as the Mother of Quran.b)Tafseer of Surah Al-Fatiha1. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, and the Most Merciful†In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, and the Most Merciful† is the first ayah of this Surah. This is also known as Bismillah which is good to recite before doing anything so that we are showered with the blessings of Allah Almighty.The letter BaaThe letter Baa can have three different meanings. First is with/ in the name of Allah. The second is seeking help of the name of Allah and the last seeking blessings with the name of Allah.Al-Rehman and Al-Raheem Al-Rehman and Al-Raheem are the names of Allah which mean mercy. They are derived from the words raa, haa, meem and their meaning is mercy. Whether someone is a Muslim or a non-Muslim, good or bad he is always bestowed with Allah's mercy. Not only humans but animals and every creature in this universe have His mercy. â€Å"My mercy encompasses all.†The difference between both of them is that Al-Rehman shows the vastness of mercy of Allah and Al-Rehman refers to the Allah's (SWT) mercy which is specific for the believers. 2. All praise to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds All praise to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds is the second ayah.Many scholars consider that there is not any difference between hamd and shukar. Hamd means praise which is done in love for someone but shukr is different. Shukr is thanking someone in return of something. The meaning of Rabb The word Rabb usually refers to Lord but it also means sustainer, master, nourisher and cherisher. Rabb usually shows the mastery and someone who has control over everything. The meaning of Aalameen The Arabic word Aalameen comes from the root word ‘Ayn-Lam-mim' which means to know, be aware, knowledge, science or by means of which something can be known. It comes from the word Alam and carries the significance of the meaning world or universe. 3.The Beneficent, the Most MercifulThis is the third ayah of Surah Al-Fatiha. The meaning of these words are already given before but the reason to repeat it again is that Allah (SWT) is giving emphasis on the fact that He is the only Lord who is forgiving and merciful. 4. The Only Owner of the Day of the RecompenseThe fourth ayah is: â€Å"The Only Owner of the Day of the Recompense†. God is the Lord of the Day when all generations of mankind gather together on order to render an account of their conduct, and when each person will be finally rewarded or punished for his deeds. The description of God as Lord of the Day of Judgment following the mention of his benevolence and compassion indicates that we ought to remember another aspect of God as well-namely, that He will judge us all, that He is so absolutely powerful, that on the Day of Judgment no one will have the power either to resist the enforcement of punishments that He decrees or to prevent anyone from receiving the rewards that He decides to confer. Hence, we ought not only to love Him for nourishing and sustaining us and for His compassion and mercy towards us, but should also hold Him in awe because of His justice, and should not forget that our ultimate happiness or misery rests completely with Him. 5. You (alone) we worship and you (alone) we ask for help The fifth ayah is: You (alone) we worship and you (alone) we ask for help. In this ayah it is being addressed that we worship Allah. The concept of worship is often misunderstood by people that it is only about prayers, fasting, and charity etc. Basically worship is everything one says or does for the pleasure of Allah. In other words worship is to obey. The ayah affirms the Lordship of Allah and affirms that worship is due to Him.6. Guide us on the straight pathThe sixth ayah is: Guide us on the straight path. This ayah is a Dua which make to Allah asking Him to guide us on the straight path. We humans get so much involved in the daily affairs of our life and living with different people who may get us involved in bad deeds. Thus we ask for guidance from Allah so that He helps us stay away from the bad deeds and we follow the right path, the one He wants us to follow which is Siraat-e-Mustaqeem. Siraat means path which should reach its goal and should be the shortest route to get there. Mustaqeem means straight, correct etc. thus Siraat-e-Mustaqeem is the straight path or in other words the right path. 7. The path of those you have blessed, not of those with anger on them, nor of those who are astrayAllah (SWT) has explained the above ayah in another ayah:†Whosoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, they are with those whom Allah has favored, and the Prophets, the sincere, the martyrs and the righteous, and these are the best company. † The people who have who have anger on them and who are astray are like Jews and Christians and are not favored and blessed by Allah the way the righteous people are. c)Impact of Surah Al-Fatiha on the life of a Muslim as servant of AllahSurah A-Fatiha has a great impact on the hearts of a Muslim as we recite it five times a day in our Namaz or Salah. And to start our Duas we need to recite it first. This is because of the nature of its greatness as a Dua and as a chapter of Holy Quran. Whenever a person is suffering from any difficulty or problem he needs to recite Surah Al-Fatiha. This Surah contains guidance and cure. Whoever reads Surah Al-Fatiha with belief he will definitely find guidance. Surah al-Fatiha is a cure for physical and also spiritual ailments. Without this Surah, even the daily prayers are incomplete. It is indeed a great treasure that has been given to us by Allah (SWT) through the Holy Prophet (PBUH). As a servant of Allah this Surah guides us towards the right path and good deeds. It creates a sense of gratitude among us as we realize that the hardships were actually the tests which were supposed to bring us closer to Allah (SWT). This makes us praise and thank Allah for all his blessings. This Surah makes us realize that as a servant we have to worship Allah only and ask Him for help so that he guides us on the right path and we are blessed by Him on the Day of Judgment.

The Criminal Justice System

Assignment 1 The Criminal Justice System April 26, 2010 According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the criminal justice system is a â€Å"system of law enforcement, the bar, the judiciary, corrections, and probation that is directly involved in the apprehension, prosecution, defense, sentencing, incarceration, and supervision of those suspected of or charged with a criminal offense† (Mifflin, 2007). The criminal justice system aims to reduce crime by bringing more offences to justice and rise public confidence that the system is fair and will deliver for the law of abiding citizens. The criminal justice system consists of three areas (1) law enforcement (police), (2) adjudication (courts), and (3) correction (jail, prisons, probation, and parole). These agencies operate together in the criminal justice system under the rule of law and as the principal means of maintaining the rule of law within society. However, in the three areas, the police solve crimes and make arrests, the court sentences the offender and the correction system carry out the punishment and rehabilitate the offenders. The criminal justice system primary goals are justice for individual, personal liberty, dignity of human beings, and the right to due process. Justice for the individual requires that all should have what belongs to them, and so the just man will render to the society, or State, of which he is a member, what is due to it. Personal liberty means freedom from unlawful physical restraint or harm and freedom from arbitrary interference with one’s privacy and lawful belongings. On the other hand, human dignity is an expression of moral concept that human beings should not be treated as objects. One implication of human dignity is that every human being should be acknowledged as a valuable member of the human community and as a unique expression of life. Last but not least, due process is the principle that the government must normally respect all of a person’s legal rights instead of just some or most of those legal rights when the government deprives a person of life, liberty, or property. The due process clause in the Fourteenth Amendment protects against state of local government abuse of power. In conclusion, a criminal justice system that is honest, fair and effective is one of America's most important institutions. All law abiding citizens are govern by due process according to the criminal justice system. Therefore, it is very important for all citizens to follow the law according to the police statues, the court statues, and the correction systems statues because there is always improvement in this field. References American Heritage Dictionary A History of American Criminal Justice, http://www. en. wikipedia. org

A Comparison of EVA and NPV Essays

A Comparison of EVA and NPV Essays A Comparison of EVA and NPV Essay A Comparison of EVA and NPV Essay Finance executives are required not only to crunch numbers and generate forecast but to think critically, not Just seeing the numbers but understanding their implications. This is what Melon (1994) refers to as conducting a financial assessment which often involves; the comparisons of the firms profitability in elation to its competitor, a determination of the magnitude of its investment, estimating the likelihood of premiums, and projecting the impact stockholders may sustain. (Melon, 1994, p. 454) While all sectors of an organization contribute to its success, it is the finance department that often drives major decisions. Do we invest, can we afford to invest, and if so, how much? This is a basic example of the type of questions asked frequently of a finance executive. Through analysis of the numbers generated by the accounting department, or by conducting a financial assessment of the organization, enhance executives are often able to guide the decision making process, and in ideal situations, generate revenues and growth for their company. This of course, is not to imply that the finance department has the final say, according to Melon (1994), decision making at the organizational level involves integration, considering all the issues raised by executives in various roles, considering all the lines of reasoning that might be generated, and deciding how best to combine the collective knowledge and beliefs (Melon, 1994, p. 439). This informative paper will review academic literature to draw a comparison between woo financial theories, EVA (Economic Value Added) and NAP (Net Present Value). Arranged in four sections, this paper will: (1) define EVA and NAP highlighting their similarities and differences; (2) explain why companies choose to adopt EVA; (3) discuss some of the issues faced when implementing EVA; (4) and finally chronicling McKee Foods Corporations experience while implementing EVA. Similarities and Differences between EVA (Economic Value Added), and NAP (Net Present Value).

Profile

Marissa Mayer Bio / Profile Name: Name Marissa Ann Mayer Current Position: Chief Executive Officer and President of Yahoo!, Inc. - July 17, 2012-present Former Positions at Google: Vice President, Local, Maps and Location Services - October 12, 2010 to July 16, 2012Vice President, Search Products and User Experience, November 2005-October 2010Director, Consumer Web Services, March 2003-November 2005Product Manager, July 2001-March 2003Software Engineer, June 1999-July 2001 Born: May 30, 1975Wausau, Wisconsin Education High SchoolWausau West High SchoolGraduated 1993UndergraduateStanford University, Bachelor of Science in Symbolic Systems specializing in Artificial IntelligenceGraduated with honors June 1997GraduateMaster of Science in Computer Science specializing in Artificial IntelligenceGraduated June 1999Honorary DegreesHonrary Doctorate of Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology - 2008 Family Background: Marissa Ann Mayer is the first child and only daughter of Michael and Margaret Mayer; the couple also have a son, Mason, born four years after his sister. Her father was an environmental engineer who worked for water-treatment plants and her mother was an art teacher and stay-at-home mom who decorated their Wausau home with Marimekko prints a Finnish company known for its brightly colored designs against a clean white background. This design esthetic influenced Mayers own choices for Googles user interface years later. Childhood and Early Influences: Mayer states her childhood was wonderful with a world-class ballet school and many opportunities right in town. Both parents were dedicated to nurturing their childrens interests. Her father built a backyard ice-rink for her younger brother and her mother drove her to numerous lessons and activities over the years. Among those she sampled: ice skating, ballet, piano, embroidery and cross stitch, cake decorating, Brownies, swimming, skiing and golf. Dancing was one activity that clicked. By junior high, Mayer danced 35 hours a week and learned criticism and discipline, poise and confidence according to her mother. Other influences figure prominently in her childhood. Her teal-painted bedroom featured Techline furniture (establishing early on her preference for clean lines and minimalist design), and one concession to girlhood was her Jackie Kennedy doll collection. Laura Beckman Anecdote: Mayer frequently mentions a valuable life lesson she learned from Laura Beckman, the daughter of her piano teacher and a talented volleyball player. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mayer explained: She was given the choice of joining the varsity team...[and] sit on the bench for the year, or junior varsity, where she would start every game. Laura shocked everyone and chose varsity. The next year she came back as a senior, made varsity again and was a starter. The rest of the players who had been on junior varsity were benched for their entire senior year. I asked Laura: How did you know to pick varsity? Laura told me: I just knew if I got to practice and play alongside the best players every day, it would make me better. And thats exactly what happened. High School: Mayer was president of the Spanish Club, treasurer of the Key Club, and involved in debate, Math Club, academic decathlon and Junior Achievement (where she sold fire starters.) She also played the piano, took babysitting lessons, and continued to dance; her years of classical ballet training helped her earn a place on the precision dance team. Her debate team won the state championship her senior year which helped her hone her skill of identifying problems and solutions quickly. She credits her work ethic to a job as a supermarket cashier where she memorized produce codes in order to check out items as fast as employees whod been there 20 years. Her highly competitive nature was apparent in her interview with the LA Times: The more numbers you could memorize, the better off you are. If you had to stop to look up a price in a book, it totally killed your average. While experienced cashiers averaged 40 items per minute, Mayer held her own, averaging between 38-41 items per minute. College and Graduate School: As a high school senior, Mayer was accepted to all ten colleges she applied to, eventually turning down Yale to attend Stanford. She entered college thinking shed be a pediatric neurosurgeon, but a required computer course for pre-med students intrigued and challenged her. She decided to study Symbolic Systems which included courses in cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics and computer science. While at Stanford she danced in The Nutcracker ballet, engaged in parliamentary debate, volunteered at a childrens hospital, was involved in bringing computer science education to schools in Bermuda and began teaching her junior year. She continued on at Stanford for graduate school where friends recall she pulled all-nighters and often appeared in the same clothes she wore the day before. Early Career Path: Mayer served at the UBS research lab in Zurich, Switzerland for nine months and at SRI International in Menlo Park prior to joining Google. Interview with Google: Mayers initial introduction to Google was decidedly inauspicious. A graduate student in a long-distance relationship, she recalls pathetically eating a bad bowl of pasta in my dorm room by myself on a Friday night when a recruiting email arrived from a tiny search engine company. I remember I’d told myself, New emails from recruiters - just hit delete. But she didnt because shed heard about the company from one of her professors and her own graduate studies focused on the same areas the company wanted to explore. Although shed already received job offers Oracle, Carnegie Mellon and McKinsey, she interviewed with Google. At that time, Google only had seven employees and all the engineers were male. Realizing that a better gender balance would make for a stronger company, Google was eager for her to join the team but Mayer didnt immediately accept. Over spring break, she analyzed the most successful choices shed made in her life to see what they had in common. Decisions about where to go to college, what to major in, how to spend summers all seemed to revolve around the same two concerns: One was, in each case, I’d chosen the scenario where I got to work with the smartest people I could find....And the other thing was I always did something that I was a little not ready to do. In each of those cases, I felt a little overwhelmed by the option. I’d gotten myself in a little over my head. Career at Google: She accepted the offer and joined Google in June 1999 as he 20th employee hired by Google and its first female engineer. She went on to establish the look of Googles interface as a search engine and oversee the development, code-writing, and launch of Gmail, Google Maps, iGoogle, Google Chrome, Google Health, and Google News. She heavily influenced the companys biggest successes such as Google Earth, Books, Images and more, and she curated Google Doodle, the morphing of the familiar homepage logo into designs and images celebrating special events around the world. Named a Vice President in 2005, Mayers most recent role had her supervising the companys mapping products, location services, Google Local, Street View and many other products. During her 13-year tenure she led the product management effort for more than a decade during which Google Search grew from a few hundred thousand to over a billion searches per day. Several patents in artificial intelligence and interface design carry her name as inventor. She has been very vocal in her support of smart product design, intense corporate teamwork and girl power. Move to Yahoo She assumed the reins at Yahoo as CEO on July 17, 2012, where she faces a tough battle to restore morale, confidence and profitability. Mayer is the companys third CEO in a year. Move to Yahoo: She assumed the reins at Yahoo as CEO on July 17, 2012, where she faces a tough battle to restore morale, confidence and profitability. Mayer is the companys third CEO in a year. Personal: Mayer dated current Google CEO Larry Page for three years. She began seeing internet investor Zach Bogue in January 2008 and they married in December 2009; the couple are expecting a baby boy October 7, 2012. She owns a $5 million luxury penthouse atop the Four Seasons hotel in San Francisco and later purchased a Palo Alto Craftsman home, but not before looking at more than 100 properties. An aficionado of fashion and design, she is one of Oscar de la Rentas top customers and once paid $60,000 at a charity auction to have lunch with him. Mayer is an art collector and commissioned preeminent glass artist Dale Chihuly to create a 400-piece ceiling installation featuring blown glass sea flora and fauna. She also owns original art by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Sol LeWitt. A cupcake aficionado, shes been known to study cupcake cookbooks, create spreadsheets of ingredients, and test versions of her own before writing new recipes. I’ve always loved baking, she once told an interviewer. I think it’s because I’m very scientific. The best cooks are chemists. She describes herself as really physically active and told the NYTimes that shes run the San Francisco half marathon, the Portland Marathon, and plans on doing the Birkebeiner, North Americas longest cross country ski race. Shes also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She regards her ability to anticipate trends as one of her assets: Back in about 2003, I correctly called cupcakes as a major trend. It was a business prediction, but its been widely interpreted as [that] I just like them. Other frequently-mentioned details about Mayer include her love of Mountain Dew and how little sleep she requires only 4 hours a night. Board Membership: San Francisco Museum of Modern ArtSan Francisco BalletNew York City BalletWal-Mart Stores Awards and Honors: Matrix Award by the New York Women in CommunicationsYoung Global Leader by the World Economic ForumWoman of the Year by Glamour magazineNamed one of Fortunes 50 Most Powerful Women in Business at age 33 making her the youngest woman ever to be included Personal: Mayer dated current Google CEO Larry Page for three years. She began seeing internet investor Zach Bogue in January 2008 and they married in December 2009; the couple are expecting a baby boy October 7, 2012. She owns a $5 million luxury penthouse atop the Four Seasons hotel in San Francisco and later purchased a Palo Alto Craftsman home, but not before looking at more than 100 properties. An aficionado of fashion and design, she is one of Oscar de la Rentas top customers and once paid $60,000 at a charity auction to have lunch with him. Mayer is an art collector and commissioned preeminent glass artist Dale Chihuly to create a 400-piece ceiling installation featuring blown glass sea flora and fauna. She also owns original art by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Sol LeWitt. A cupcake aficionado, shes been known to study cupcake cookbooks, create spreadsheets of ingredients, and test versions of her own before writing new recipes. I’ve always loved baking, she once told an interviewer. I think it’s because I’m very scientific. The best cooks are chemists. She describes herself as really physically active and told the NYTimes that shes run the San Francisco half marathon, the Portland Marathon, and plans on doing the Birkebeiner, North Americas longest cross country ski race. Shes also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She regards her ability to anticipate trends as one of her assets: Back in about 2003, I correctly called cupcakes as a major trend. It was a business prediction, but its been widely interpreted as [that] I just like them. Other frequently-mentioned details about Mayer include her love of Mountain Dew and how little sleep she requires only 4 hours a night. Awards and Honors Matrix Award by the New York Women in CommunicationsYoung Global Leader by the World Economic ForumWoman of the Year by Glamour magazineNamed one of Fortunes 50 Most Powerful Women in Business at age 33 making her the youngest woman ever to be included Board Membership San Francisco Museum of Modern ArtSan Francisco BalletNew York City BalletWal-Mart Stores Sources: Biographical details on Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Associated Press at Mercurynews.com. 17 July 2012.Cooper, Charles. Marissa Mayer: The bio that made her Yahoos next CEO. Cnet.com. 16 July 2012.Executive Profile: Marissa A. Mayer. Businessweek.com. 23 July 2012.From the Archives: Googles Marissa Mayer in Vogue. Vogue.com. 28 March 2012.Guthrie, Julian. The adventures of Marissa. San Francisco Magazine at Modernluxury.com. 3 February 2008.Guynn, Jessica. How I Made It: Marissa Mayer, Googles champion of innovation and design. LAtimes.com. 2 January 2011.Hatmaker, Taylor. 5 Surprising Facts About Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Readwriteweb.com. 19 July 2012.Holson, Laura M. Putting a Bolder Face on Google. NYTimes.com. 28 February 2009.Manjoo, Farhad. Can Marissa Mayer Save Yahoo? Dailyherald.com. 21 July 2012.Marissa Mayer. Profile at Linkedin.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012.Marissa Mayer: The Talent Scout. Businessweek.com. 18 June 2006.May, Patrick. New Yahoo CEO and former Google star Marissa Mayer has her work cut out for her.Mercurynews.com. 17 July 2012.May, Patrick. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayers Bio: Stanford to Google to Yahoo. Mercurynews.com. 17 July 2012.Netburn, Deborah. New Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is a cheesehead, Wisconsin proclaims. LAtimes.com. 17 July 2012.Taylor, Felicia. Googles Marissa Mayer: Passion is a gender-neutralizing force  CNN.com. 5 April 2012.

25 Legendary Excuses for Not Doing Homework

25 Legendary Excuses for Not Doing Homework What’s an excuse but a certain special perspective? One man’s excuse is another man’s explanation. Now, rather than going through the typical excuses that you’ll find through any basic Google sear, below is a list of legendary excuses for not doing homework. Do with them what you will, but regardless, there’s some good material here! Before we start, find out more about our writing service, and theres a chance you wont need an excuse anymore. 1. You’re preoccupied building a new 21st century startup. It’s not easy to assemble effective virtual teams, handle the project management, take care of sourcing and retaining freelance talent, etc. 2. You’re too busy taking advantage of this unprecedented era of technological innovation. 3. Sometimes it’s best to disengage the mind completely from a certain topic so that the information can marinate a bit longer. Hey, it pays off in the end†¦usually. 4. Instead of doing the homework you compromise and watch a few relevant online documentaries which turn into a gauntlet of YouTube videos that leave you drooling into your palm half zombified. 5. You don’t actually need to do the homework because your brain is to intelligence what the knife is to peanut butter sandwiches. 6. You decide to go study with some friends and on the way home. 7. Wait, homework? Simply shrug your shoulders and act completely disheveled because you must have missed the memo! 8. Well, you tried to do the homework (for about 30 seconds) but then it became clear that you needed to ask a couple questions first, or perhaps a tutor. 9. An inexplicable EMP shook your neighborhood and you weren’t able to save your work without warning. 10. You were too busy solving world hunger, fairly redistributing the world’s wealth and getting rid of threat of rogue asteroids. 11. You’ve got extracurricular activities coming out of your ears and collapsed seconds after getting home. 12. While on the way to class you were going over it one last time when an eerie gust of wind snatched it from your hands and for all you know it’s still sailing somewhere over Wisconsin right now. 13. Apparently due to current economic realities high quality homework is a valuable commodity. You got mugged! 14. There you were minding your own business when suddenly a drone descended from on-high and literally stole it. 15. You got stuck trying to sign up for Obamacare. 16. First your dog died in grandma’s hands. Then she died. What’s worse is it was only after burying fluffy that you realized he’d eaten your homework. 17. You have no idea what anyone is talking about. You did the homework and turned it in on time (fingers crossed). 18. While fervently engrossed in your homework you spilled some soup on the keyboard and your laptop exploded. 19. Wait what? You totally emailed it to the right address and there hasn’t been a bounce-back yet so†¦ 20. Didn’t the Supreme Court just find that excessive homework is cruel and unusual punishment? You’re just standing up for your rights! 21. On the way home from school a nice man with a sign explained that the end of the world was nigh, and no sane person does homework on the eve of the Apocalypse. 22. You had a nervous breakdown with three helpings of a panic attack with extra-crushing procrastination on the side. 23. In fact, studies have shown the many of the smartest people who have ever lived were procrastinators. Your not turning in homework on time is really just the inner creative genius expressing its unique sovereign identity. 24. To get a really thorough understanding of human handwriting from the western culture, aliens abducted your homework but promised to have it back to you in time so that it may be turned in tomorrow. 25. Someone called in sick and you really had no other choice but to work a double. Life is hard, what can ya do? 3 Tips for Employing Epic Excuses Here are three tips you can use when it comes time to let the excuses fly. With these three things in mind you’ll be better prepared no matter what excuse you choose. Know Thyself: If you hope to get an extension or have the teacher give you a break you better be able to pull this off with a straight face. If you’re horrible at fibbing you need to practice your excuse in the mirror until you actually begin to believe it. Expect Unbelief: Walk into the experience expecting the professor to not believe a word you have to say. That’s humbling and humble is a good place to be in. Admit Defeat: Turn the excuse into an explanation by admitting defeat first. Yes, you messed up. It was your responsibility and you goofed. But, here’s why. See the difference between that and just straight out trying to lie? What do you think, will it work for you? Tell us in the comments!

Roosevelts New Deal and American Federalism Assignment

Roosevelts New Deal and American Federalism - Assignment Example In the same clause, it postulates that the congress shall impose taxes and duties in a uniform manner across all the states of the United States of America. The third clause is very important as it defined the power of the congress with regard to commerce issues. It states that the congress will have power to regulate powers among the US states and also between the Unites States of America and the rest of the world as well as with the Indian tribes. This clause gave the congress and thus the federal government exclusive power over the state governments, to regulate trade and commerce as well as make, establish and enforce laws regarding commerce. By giving such powers to the federal government, the role of the states was being trampled underneath the federal government and this clause was to later play a big role in defining the power boundaries between the federal government and the state governments. Commerce is definitely very important for any government and giving commercial sup remacy to the federal government meant that the power of the state government was minimized and the power for the federal government was increased.Supreme Court judgements in the past have also helped in defining the parameters of the powers of the federal government of the United States of American over the state level laws. These decisions by the United States include the Supreme Court decisions in McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden. In this McCulloch, the second bank of United States found itself in a row with the state of Maryland. The state of Maryland had passed a law that required all banks, local or federal, to only issue local notes and also to pay taxes on these. The second bank of United States did not however want to pay tax because this was not in line with federal bank regulations. As a result, the state of Maryland took the case to court and the case was eventually decided in favour of the second bank of the United States. The Supreme Court quoted the supremac y clause of the United States constitutions and said that the state did not have the power to override the federal laws and that the court should be able subscribe to the federal laws as a guidance to its decision. The same issue was also repeated in the case of Gibbons v. Ogden (1824). In this case, the issue was about the monopoly given to Ogden on the use of the navigation waters of the New York area. The state of New York had given Ogden a monopoly over the waters of the area and also tried to convince the other neighbouring states to do the same but they refused. Gibbons, appealed to the Supreme Court which overruled the decision and argued that the state did not have powers to override the federal laws. The Supreme Court quoted the third clause of the eighth section of article I of the United

Outline the distinctive properties of group decision-making and Essay

Outline the distinctive properties of group decision-making and negotiation. Compare and contrast the conditions under which the - Essay Example Group decision making brings in certain amount of analogical reasoning which gives managerial cognition a significant and purposeful direction. It emphasizes on facts like strategy making, such as pattern recognition, judgment and wisdom. These aspects are prominent among practitioners to develop strategies that are powerful. Group managerial decision lays emphasis on working in the best interests of the companies that bring about rationality in the managerial decision making. Group decision making helps in analogizing the way the philosophers and practitioners think. Conceptualizing and analogizing over a topic will help in developing a computational response which will also help in suggesting powerful analogies based on industry features and situations which affect the high level policies. These high level policies are highly interdependent to each other and deals with breadth of experience which is more beneficial than depth of experience. These dominant analytical and experimenta l approaches would help in antagonizing the situations, which are useful from the managerial perspective. It also requires the adopting of a qualitative approach and exploring situations which help in tackling difficult managerial situations. This theoretical framework will enable the development of different decision models that help in solving varied managerial problems and also developing methods for tracking the different managerial situations. This computational perspective helps the managers to create an environment which is verifiable and posing demands based on the cause effect relationships and cost benefit analysis. This model will also help in the development of a conceptual contribution which concerns discrepancies between managerial thinking and rationale decision model. The complexity of the environmental models increases with the environmental problems, which deal with the risk taking capacity of the organization. This perspective deals with the accuracy of perception s and suffers from various shortcomings, evidences and natural environments The group decision making consist of several steps which include the following: Problem identification: The fundamental step would be to identify the problem which would help in determining the future direction of the organizational unit. The issues would be recognized and would be aligned with the appropriateness of the mission statement and current strategies for achieving goals (University of Rhode Islands, 2013). Problem Diagnosis: When a specific problem emerges then it would be manifesting itself in some form or the other and hence it should be treated with appropriateness and suitable tools. The long range problems would be discussed and diagnosed with recurring solution (University of Rhode Islands, 2013). Solution Generation: All the solutions are evaluated and the best decision is selected with thoughtful consideration (University of Rhode Islands, 2013). Solving the Evaluation and Choice: Evaluati on meetings are held to improve the business process and also address the specific operational problems. Solution Generation: The best solution is generated after matching the needs and requirements with the criteria, cause effect and alternatives. The different types of decision is evaluated and the best decision is selected which can solve managerial problems. The commitment to decision is taken after much thoughtful consi

Adaptation of Hills Like White Elephant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Adaptation of Hills Like White Elephant - Essay Example Women and men; seduction stories bring to the screen three stories each of which is focused on a man and a woman. Ernest Hemingway perfectly describes the setting of the story it a description of the view of River Ebro and white hills from a point at the train station in Spain. The girl likens the mountains to elephants which the American had never seen. These hills across the valley of Ebrol are described to be long and white with no shade or trees on the inside unlike the setting in the movie which shows the American and the girl seated with drinks on the table as they continue with their journey. The settings in the novel as well as in the movie do not show any variation as they are similarly outlined. The American and the girl are the main characters of the story. However, the American does not reveal his name; neither does the girl address him by his name. The American’s convincing nature is clearly shown as he tries to convince the girl undergo an operation without carin g about the girl. The girl is the female protagonist in the story. The American addresses her as jig although her real name is not revealed in the story. The girl being less sure of what she wants tempts the American to convince her to have an abortion. The girl seems not to care or worry about her self-worth as she is ready to undergo abortion (operation) as long as the American loves her. She is not straight forward about what she actually wants. â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† consists of the dialogue between the American man and the girl with only few narrated segments in the story as opposed to the lengthy stage direction and frequency of occurrence in the women and men; seduction stories movie. This keeps the reader in the dark about the previous actions of the character and their motives. The aspect of flash is well captured in the women and men; seduction stories movie which helps the viewer to keep pace with previous actions, character’s actions and intentio ns or motives. This helps to set the mood and also establishes the landscape in understanding the conflict of the characters. The inability of the girl to speak Spanish with the bar attendant is an illustration of how dialogue is emphasized and her independence on the American and also shows the difficulties she had in expressing herself to other people. The American and the girl as well as the underlying conflict are characterized by the content and the manner of conversation which demonstrates radical compression and a higher degree of suggestiveness and implication. This is demonstrated during the first interaction between the American and the girl regarding the choice of a drink in which the girl asks the American. This conversation outlines the lack of the girl’s free will to ask for a drink while showing the manipulating character of the man. Conversation is also evident when the girl begs the man to stop talking after she realized that their conversation were futile. T he girl begs him ‘†¦.please, please, please, please†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Language and communication between the American and the girl become intense and more focused as the couples’ relationship is in a crisis due to the girl’s pregnancy. The couple seems to struggle in their conversation on the course they relationship will take especially when in public. To make matters worse, the readers are left not knowing whether the couple was able to find a common ground as the story ends

The role of perceived value in the relationship of switching cost and Essay

The role of perceived value in the relationship of switching cost and customer loyalty in e-commerce 04242 - Essay Example In the contemporary world of consumer marketing, customer loyalty has received immense importance as the success of an organisation is dependent on it (Reichheld and Schefter, 2000). There are many studies related to customer loyalty; however, there are few which highlight the role of perceived value in relation with switching cost and customer loyalty. In this project, eCommerce industry is selected and the relation is examined with the help of primary and secondary research. There are many studies pertaining to customer loyalty and switching cost; however, there are few regarding the affect of perceived value on both the factors. This prompted the researchers to do extensive research on the topic and examine the relation in the eCommerce industry. The researchers have defined customer loyalty as the behavioural and attitudinal measures for assessing the success of an organisation. With regard to attitudinal perspective, it is viewed as particular desire for continuing the relationship with the service providers (Anderson and Cunningham, 2008; Yang and Peterson, 2004). However, the behavioural view explains that customer loyalty can be defined as the repeat patronage of the individuals towards a particular brand. It is dependent on the number of times a purchaser has chosen the product or service from a definite category. This frequency is compared with the total number of purchases that is made earlier in order to examine the level of customer loyalty (Anderson and Cunningham, 2008). Customer perceived value is significant for examining the purchase behaviour of an individual (Yen, 2009). The customers get a number of opportunities during any online shopping; hence, the brands have to maintain a good relationship with the customers so that the switching cost is not high. Nevertheless, perceived value contributes loyalty towards the consumers by providing a number of alternatives (Anderson and

Modern Foreign Languages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Modern Foreign Languages - Essay Example As such learning of MFL should be given prime preference in order to make our young citizens to become global citizens, in the matter of social integration.(http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_7348.aspx, viewed on 14th March 2009). This is why the researcher has intended to analyse the issues such as (i) how is the study of languages implemented within primary schools, and (ii) which languages are offered to primary school children, and (iii) how is this being taught etc., in schools The necessity for teaching of Modern Foreign Languages had not been felt strongly till the beginning of the last decade.The National Curriculum implemented widely in the EU between the 1880s and the 1890s entitled the students between 11 and And therefore this research is focused on the modus operandi of MFL teaching at primary level schools in London. The details of the report on the research conducted by me are elaborated in four main chapters, viz., (i) review of literature (ii) methodology (iii) data collection, and (iv) conclusion. This dissertation is conceived by combining theory and practice propped by the information acquired from the review of literature along with a brief research conducted in primary schools adopting different methods such as survey, observations and interviews. Its aim is to collect data on the study of modern languages at primary levels in London and on how it is implemented by teachers, and how it is conceived by the children. The findings arrived at, established beyond doubt that MFL learning should get the prime position in the National Curriculum, and the present system of teaching must be improved to some extent, so that this will make our young citizens well acquainted with international understanding and harmony through cultural awareness. Such a step will make them ideal citizens. KEY WORDS: Modern Foreign Languages National Curriculum Key stage 2 Additional Language Linguistic Cultural 3 Social Integration DfES (The Department for Education and Skills) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In the outset I must express my heartfelt thanks to my learned Guide who helped me a lot with timely directions and advice to complete this assignment well in time. And I do extend my thanks to the lecturers and professors of the University as well, who supported me with their revered wisdom and guidance throughout, so as to enable me to fulfil my assignment. I take this opportunity to thank my friends and parents who have imparted their knowledge in a friendly and loving manner, and the librarian of the University, without whom this project would not have been materialised. My

The role of perceived value in the relationship of switching cost and Essay

The role of perceived value in the relationship of switching cost and customer loyalty in e-commerce 04242 - Essay Example In the contemporary world of consumer marketing, customer loyalty has received immense importance as the success of an organisation is dependent on it (Reichheld and Schefter, 2000). There are many studies related to customer loyalty; however, there are few which highlight the role of perceived value in relation with switching cost and customer loyalty. In this project, eCommerce industry is selected and the relation is examined with the help of primary and secondary research. There are many studies pertaining to customer loyalty and switching cost; however, there are few regarding the affect of perceived value on both the factors. This prompted the researchers to do extensive research on the topic and examine the relation in the eCommerce industry. The researchers have defined customer loyalty as the behavioural and attitudinal measures for assessing the success of an organisation. With regard to attitudinal perspective, it is viewed as particular desire for continuing the relationship with the service providers (Anderson and Cunningham, 2008; Yang and Peterson, 2004). However, the behavioural view explains that customer loyalty can be defined as the repeat patronage of the individuals towards a particular brand. It is dependent on the number of times a purchaser has chosen the product or service from a definite category. This frequency is compared with the total number of purchases that is made earlier in order to examine the level of customer loyalty (Anderson and Cunningham, 2008). Customer perceived value is significant for examining the purchase behaviour of an individual (Yen, 2009). The customers get a number of opportunities during any online shopping; hence, the brands have to maintain a good relationship with the customers so that the switching cost is not high. Nevertheless, perceived value contributes loyalty towards the consumers by providing a number of alternatives (Anderson and

Human Resourses Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resourses - Case Study Example This paper analyses the human resources department of a Canadian multinational company called Alcan, in order to evaluate its HR functions. Presently, the concept of human resources have taken an important place in the policies of not just organizations, but of governments as well. There are many functions related to human resources. It starts from having a strategy for recruitment, because finding the right employee to fill a certain job vacancy is an advantage. The hiring process comes next with applications being scrutinized and different levels of interviews being conducted. Then comes the actual selection process by which the best possible candidates become employees or trainees in the company. The next process is to train the new recruits. Training includes activities directly related to the nature of a person's job. Then comes training in areas that are common to all employees. They include code of conduct, avenues of career advancement, safety procedures, bonus and other compensation plans etc. Performance appraisal is also a part of the HR department's functions. Devising plans for promotions and redundancy and their implementation come next. Another important function is employer employee relations. Maintaining a good relationship with company trade unions is of crucial importance. Proper recording of all relevant data of the employee including personal data, attendance, performance appraisal, eligibility for bonus and promotions is also a responsibility of this department. Another area is maintaining confidential and self appraisal reports of the employees. One of the most important functions of HR department is handling the career development possibilities of its more productive employees. Alcan: Alcan was incorporated in 1902 as Northern Aluminum Company. At that time it was the largest aluminum company in Canada and the world's third largest, next to its parent company Alcoa. It was renamed as Aluminum Company of Canada in 1925, and separated from the parent company Alcoa in 1928. In 2001, the company was renamed as Alcan Inc. Alcan and Rio Tinto Aluminum joined forces in the year 2007 to create Rio Tinto Alcan, in order to create new leader in the aluminum business. Alcan Inc is a leading global material company delivering high quality products and services worldwide. Alcan provides world class technology and operation in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions, packaging materials, delivery increasing productivity, competitiveness and profitability to customers around the world. The organization's aim is to serve the interest and needs of global and regional customers in all aspects of the al uminum, fabrication and packaging markets in order to deliver best value to the company's shareholders. Alcan's head offices are at Montreal, Canada and Paris, France. It mainly focuses on corporate strategy and growth initiatives, human resources and strategic capital allocation, corporate governance and compliance function. Another important focus is developing a strong leader and empowering employees. Alcan's strength is based on synergy of skilled people, market driven solution, advanced technology and its value creation.

Program, curriculum development and instructional strategies Essay Example for Free

Program, curriculum development and instructional strategies Essay I. Programs Bridges Learning System: This program uses five step processes involving submit, evaluate, outline, extend, success to develop the students aptitudes and talents that are very important in the classroom through evaluating test results and constructing a profile each student skills and abilities. By then, students’ necessities are known and a particular program will be developed for its learning exercises needs (Brock, 2003). Cognitively-Guided Instruction (CGI): This model is a product of research of students thinking that teachers able to restructure their knowledge and understanding to what the students need. This done through direct-modeling actions, reasoning to the problem, and moving to other strategies that are needed for the improvement of the students (Carpenter, 2003). Four Blocks Literacy: The four blocks represents four different approaches to directed comprehension, self-selected comprehension, inscription and working with terms. Through this students don’t just learn, at the same time they provided with the needed instruction according to the personality of the student. These blocks are multi-level depending on the performance and needs of the student (Cunningham, 1989). Spalding Method: This method is a total language arts approach in spelling, writing, listening and reading comprehensions. This approach is very effective to both regular and special education (Christie, 2000). II. Curriculum Development and Instructional Strategies. Cooperative Learning: Through optimistic interdependence, driven interaction, and personal responsibility, mutual efforts could be a useful tool to promote the groups’ objectives and success rather than viable and personal efforts (Stefl-Mabry Powers, 2005). Direct Instruction: Learning is hastened up through comprehensive presentations, ruling out misconceptions, and assisting generalizations. Students are properly monitored to evaluate the performance, periodically assessed for perceptions and immediately corrected for their errors (Oregon, 2003). Mastery Learning: Learning is centered on the methods of mastering rather than the content but it works best with the conventional substance-centered curriculum through distinct objectives and varieties of instructional techniques and suitable series of results (University, 2004). Modeling Instruction: This method of instruction is done through creating scientific models and providing primary theoretical apparatus for modeling intended to appreciate the physical world and to familiarize and develop the students’ insights on how scientific knowledge fits with the real world (Wells Hestenes, 2003). These programs, curriculum and instructional instructions are developed and evaluated by Arizona K-12 Center’s Technical Review Council and found to be effective in meeting the instructional and educational needs of diverse student population. References Brock, B. (2003). Bridges Learning Systems ® [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 6, 2007 from http://azk12. nau. edu/bestpractices/recognizedprograms/. Carpenter, T. (2003). Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 6, 2007 from http://azk12. nau.edu/bestpractices/recognizedprograms/. Christie, B. (2000). Topic teamwork: A collaborative integrative model for increasing student-centered learning in grades K-12. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation Dance, 71(8), 28-32. Cunningham, P. (1989). Four Blocks Literacy [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 6, 2007 from http://azk12. nau. edu/bestpractices/recognizedprograms/. Oregon, E. (2003). Direct Instruction [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 6, 2007 from http://azk12. nau. edu/bestpractices/recognizedprograms/. Stefl-Mabry, J. , Powers, J. G. (2005). Collaborative, Problem-Based Learning: University and K-12 Partnerships. Knowledge Quest. ProQuest Education Journals, 33(4), 14-16. University, N. A. (2004). Instructional Strategies and Commercial Programs [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 6, 2007 from http://azk12. nau. edu/bestpractices/recognizedprograms/. Wells, M. , Hestenes, M. (2003). Modeling Instruction [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 6, 2007 from http://azk12. nau. edu/bestpractices/recognizedprograms/.

Singapore English

Singapore English Introduction The range of domains and depth of use of English are closely related to the degree and manner of nativization in a non native variety. For the second category of users, however, the use of English is restricted to international purposes and the elite of societies in certain very specific domains like academic discussions and publications. The Singapore award-winning poet, Edwin Thumboo, expresses: We were very conscious of writing in English but not writing in England. We had to domesticate the English Language, give it a local habitation. For instance, I have never published a poem about a nightingale. But, of course, you cannot substitute one bird for another; you have to make the language your own. We were looking for an identity while using English to express it. (The Straits Times, 1989, November 1) Countries are institutionalized varieties, which have developed over an extended period of time and are now used in many domains. In his arguments for recognizing these varieties, Kachru says that non-native users of English have internalizations which are linked to their own multilinguistic, sociolinguistic and sociocultural contexts (B. B. Kachru, 1991, p. 5). The varieties differ from native varieties, in range and depth of their nativized features. The deviations from native norms occur at almost all linguistic levels -phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, style and discourse, and they are systematic and productive. These latter varieties of non-native English (or new English (for examples of non-native English, see (Moag, 1982), as they have been called recently, have been accorded status by both native and non-native speakers and have received much attention from linguists, educators and writers. Some linguists have gone to the extent of advocating use of the educated nativized variety of English as the standard for teaching (Tay Gupta 1983; Gupta 1986). Historical Background of English in Singapore and Malaysia Any historical discussion on Singapore, especially relating to the period before its independence in 1965, is almost always linked to historical development in Malaysia. This is inevitable as Singapore was one of the Straits Settlements in British Malaya and, in 1963, it became a political component of the independent Malaysia. Therefore, until its separation from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore and Malaysia constituted a single political entity. The establishment of British settlements in Penang (1786) and Singapore (1819) and the British take-over of Malacca in 1824 from the Dutch in Great Britains attempt to control access to the Straits of Malacca, essential to its tea trade with China, mark the beginning of the influx of immigrants and the development of large and diverse speech communities in Malaya. The increasing British influence on the Malay Peninsula coincided with the further influx of large groups of Chinese from the south-eastern provinces of China and the Tamil-speaking Indians from South India. This was a result of increased production of tin and, at the beginning of twentieth century, the establishment of the rubber industry (Platt Weber, 1980). Platt and Weber note that by the twentieth century there had developed in the British Straits Settlements and the Malay States a series of complex communities consisting not only of ethnic subgroups speaking their own native languages and dialects but also belonging to different social classes and backgrounds and engaged in different forms of employment (Platt Weber, 1980, p. 4). At the beginning of nineteenth century, British interests in Malaya and the Straits Settlements expanded, and it was clear to some members of non European ethnic groups that English was an important, powerful language. It was the language of the colonial masters; it was the language of government and administration, and it was used extensively in the judiciary. Thus, a good command of the language was certainly an asset. However, with the rapid expansion of their interests in the region, the British soon saw the need for a group of English-educated non-Europeans who could assist them in their duties. They thus authorized the establishment of private secular mission-supported schools in the Straits Settlements at the beginning of the nineteenth century (for a brief account of the history of English education from 1819 to after 1978, see Chua, 1990). These schools were at first available only to children from the well-to-do families of the different ethnic groups but later medium families were able to use these education. These English-educated school children would use English at home with their neighbors who also attended English-medium schools. Their younger siblings, being impressed by the new language, also acquired some English even before starting school. Thus, the use of English spread from the school domain to the home domain, and later, to the employment and friendship domains (Platt Weber, 1980). It is thus clear that unlike some other varieties of English, Singapore-Malaysian English has developed through education. Some varieties of English like American English, Australian English, Canadian English, New Zealand English, etc. have evolved in a natural way because of mixing of settlers over a period of time, while others like creoles have developed though pidgin English (Platt Weber, 1980). The post-colonial era in the history of Malaysia and Singapore is marked by two major political changes. One was the independence of Malaya in 1957 from British rule, followed by the formation of Malaysia incorporating the Federation of Malaya, the crown states of Sabah and Sarawak and the then self-overned Singapore in 1963. The other was the separation of Singapore from the political union of Malaysia in 1965.These political changes have had an immense influence on the spread and use of English in Malaysia and Singapore. English spread in Singapore Unlike Malaysia, where the use of English is gradually decreasing, Singapore has seen an expansion in its use. This is mainly due to increased enrollments in English-medium schools (Doraisamy ,1969).At the end of 1983, when the Ministry of Education decided that all schools, starting from January 1984, would be gradually converted into National Stream schools and English will be taught as first language. However, as more people are educated in English and with fewer people speaking Malay, English is slowly replacing Malay as the language for inter-ethnic communication, especially among the younger generation (for discussions on interethnic communication, see Platt Weber, 1980, and Tay1982a) . As English is now the common language in all schools we can thus assume that it will play an even more important role in international domains like trade, diplomacy, cultural exchange, conferences and intranational domains such as government administration, law, education, home and friendship communication in the near future. The widespread use of English within the nation itself inevitably means that English has gone through the process called indigenization (Moag Moag, 1977; Moag, 1982; Richards, 1979a) or nativization (B. B. Kachru, 1983a). To use B. B. Kachrus words (B. B. Kachru, 1982b), English has been transplanted from its source country (Britain) and acculturated to the local environment. What this means is that certain features in native British English have been permanently modified in view of the new cultural setting in Singapore which involves the interplay of the distinct ethnic cultures of Malays, Indians, and Chinese. These features manifest themselves in the phonology, lexis, syntax, semantics and styles of discourse in Singapore English. Therefore, when Singaporean English users speak or write English, there are telling signs that distinguish them from native English speakers or writers from Britain, America, Australia or New Zealand, although educated Singaporean speakers or writers have little problem making themselves understood. What are the features that distinguish the English of Singaporeans from that of, for example, the Englishmen or Americans? Characteristics and features of Singapore English The pioneering work done on Singapore and Malaysian English is the book by Tongue entitled The English of Singapore and Malaysia (1974). The book contains useful data on the phonology, syntax and lexis of Singapore English but it lacks theoretical foundation. The data are categorized under the dichotomy of standard and sub-standard forms. Some of the sub-standard forms given are actually not wrong but used in the variety of English. More importantly, Singaporean English is not treated as a system on its own, and the sociolinguistic contexts surrounding the use of sub-standard forms are not considered. Crewes works (1977, 1978a, 1978b, 1979) reflect his purist attitudes towards Singapore English. He regards Singapore English as a foreign language and implies that the English-educated Singaporean is a helpless and pitiable person. Later, Crewe came forward with the book British English and Singapore English.Exercises in Awareness (Crewe, 1979). The book claims to help Singaporeans to get rid of â€Å"Singaporeanisms† with a series of exercises where individual sentences have to be corrected so as to make them look more like British English. A more scholarly and systematic treatment of Singapore and Malaysian English is by Platt and Weber in their book entitled English in Singapore and Malaysia (1980). Using the methods of statistical correlation designed by Labov (1972a, 1972b), they observe that there is a direct correlation between the degree and frequency of divergence from Standard British English and variables such as formality, topic, domain and relationship of interlocutors. They looked at Singapore English as a system. Singapore English have been discussed from different views and therefore variety of characteristics and features have been mentioned and discussed. This study covers parts of these characteristics. Rythem: Deterding (Deterding, 2001; Deterding, Brown, Low, 2005) investigated the contrasting rhythmic properties of two varieties of English: Singapore English, which is often described as syllable-timed, and British English, which is more usually assumed to be stress-timed. Deterings (2001) study showed that there is a significantly greater variability in this measure of syllable-to-syllable duration for British English, which supports previous indications that, by comparison, Singapore English might indeed be regarded as being more syllable-timed. Additionally, it was found that there is little evidence of the influence of speaking rate on the measured differences in rhythm, but there is some evidence that the greater frequency of reduced syllables with a schwa in British English contributes to the difference between the two varieties. Grammar: Difference between Singapore and British English grammar has been discussed by scholars (Deterding, Low, Brown, 2003; Lim, 2004). †¢ Verbs:Verb generally appears in an uninflected form (Wee, 2004).For example, as Wee shows, â€Å"the verb eat is not marked for tense or number. Because the verb are uninflected, time and aspectual information are conveyed via words (using words like yesterday or already). o A.He eat here yesterday o B. He not yet eat lunch o C. They eat already Aspect is marked via forms like always, already or still. Thus, always is used to mark habituality o The bus always late The progressive aspect is marked by still o Late already, you still eat. Be and got: Platt and Weber (1980) noted that Singapore English clauses that are attributive or equative tend not to use the verb be o The house very nice The verb got is used variously in Singapore English as a perfective, a possessive, and an existentional marker o He got go to Japan o You got buy lottery? o You got nice shirt o Here got many people †¢ Nouns: As Wee (2004) mentioned: â€Å"Within the noun phrase, Singaporean tends to make use of articles. It treats non count nouns and its relstive clauses are ordered rather differently than their counterparts in more standard varieties of English†(p. 1058) †¢ Objects: Object preposing is another characteristic of Singapore English. â€Å"The object, (direct or indirect) is commonly preposed, giving rise to example like following†: o To my sister sometimes I speak English o The movie dont know whether good or not †¢ Question forming:† In wh-interrogatives, the interrogative pronoun typically remains in situ†(Wee, 2004, p. 1063) o You buy what? o This bus go where? For yes/no questions, they make use of the invariant tag is it. It also has another tag or not o The food good or not? o You busy or not? †¢ The passive:† Singaporean use kena passive phrase† (Wee, 2004, p. 1064) o The thief kena caught (by the police) †¢ Adjective reduplication: â€Å"Adjective reduplication in Singapore English intensifies the meaning of the base adjective†: o Dont always eat sweet-sweet (very sweet) things. La and Lah: These two Variables perform an important part in Singapore English and are interesting topics for linguistic experts. For instance, findings from Bell and Ser (1983) concluded that: â€Å"The existence of strict rules governing the occurrence of La not only in sentences but also inside the structure of noun phrases and verb phrases. La demonstrates the value of solidarity, friendship, a reduction of social distance between participants, in contrast with Lah dignals hostility and social distancing function†(p.17) References Bell, R. T., Ser, L. P. Q. (1983). To-day la? Tomorrow lah!; the LA Particle in Singapore English. RELC Journal, 14(2), 1-18. Deterding, D. (2001). The measurement of rhythm: a comparison of Singapore and British English. Journal of Phonetics, 29, 217-230. Deterding, D., Brown, A., Low, E. L. (2005). English in Singapore : phonetic research on a corpus. Singapore ; New York: McGraw Hill. Deterding, D., Low, E. L., Brown, A. (2003). English in Singapore : research on grammar. Singapore ; New York: McGraw Hill. Lim, L. (2004). Singapore English : a grammatical description. Amsterdam ; Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Platt, J. T., Weber, H. (1980). English in Singapore and Malaysia : status, features, functions. Kuala Lumpur ; New York: Oxford University Press. Wee, L. (2004). Singapore English: morphology and syntax. In E. W. Schneider B. Kortmann (Eds.), A handbook of varieties of English : a multimedia reference tool. Berlin ; New York: Mouton de Gruyter.

Essay --

Opportunity Create Opportunities for Success Success begins with opportunities. For a young doctor, an opportunity could mean being assigned to work with the best doctor in the hospital. For an artist, it could be a last-minute offer to show at a famous museum. For a student, it could mean being rewarded a scholarship to travel around world and do research. â€Å"Once a king had a huge rock placed on a middle of the path. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone removes the rock. Some of the king’s affluent merchants and helpers came by and simply walked around it. Many people who passed the way loudly blamed the king for not keeping the road clear, but no one did anything for removing the stone from the way. Then a farmer came who carried heavy load of vegetables, upon approaching the rock, the farmer laid down his load and tried to move the boulder and cleared the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the farmer picked up his load, he noticed a small bag laying in the road where the rock had been. The bag contained many gold coins and a note from the king which indicating that who removed the bag from the road he will win the gold. The farmer learned what many of us never understand. Every barrier provides an opportunity to improve our condition.† Opportunity is the time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. If discovering these opportunities were a subject of simply going around into a store, rifling through a basket of opportunities, picking one, and then checking out, the order of power in the world would look completely a bit distinct. Of course, it doesn’t work that way. It’s up to us—with the cooperation of our social and personal connection—to go out, acquire and ... ...ferently? How would you treat it differently? What would you say or do differently if this were your chance? You should be ready with the answers of all these questions. Success in life, be it in some job or any area brings happiness and courage, once reached must be won over and over again. It’s not easy, but in the complex situation if we find the opportunity, its benefits are great, but it pays only to those have brave souls, who have the trust and believe in themselves. Who identify an opportunity when it comes their way, seize it, make the all efforts for it and continue to go ahead towards success. The Champion says- It may be challenging, but possible. The failure says- It is very difficult may be impossible. Now which category do you want to belong to? The champion or The failure? â€Å"Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity† H.Jackson Brown

Foreshadowing in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men Essay

The word foreshadow is a literary term used to describe how the author discreetly gives clues to the reader of the events later to occur. The touching realistic fiction novelette Of Mice and Men is written by John Steinbeck. George and Lennie, two men who have become close friends over time, travel together to a ranch to pursue their dream as a team. George is considered to be Lennie’s caretaker, for Lennie is mentally challenged. Throughout the novelette Of Mice and Men, foreshadowing takes a considerable role in the most important chapters of George and Lennie’s journey together. The events that develop foreshadow other events that will echo the primary event in a distinctive way. John Steinbeck uses foreshadowing and other literary elements as the structure of his many literary works of art. The three events that foreshadow the future are George telling Lennie to return to the river if trouble occurs, Candy having to kill his dog, and a heron killing a snake. In the beginning, when George and Lennie are at the river, George tells Lennie to return to that exact location to silently hide in the brush and wait for him if he gets in any trouble. Lennie has done bad things in the past, and George wants to make sure that Lennie has somewhere to go that’s out of harm’s way. â€Å" ‘Lennie – if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush’ † (15). In the past, Lennie has gotten into trouble while working on a ranch, and both George and Lennie didn’t have anywhere to go. George knows that Lennie is bound to have history repeat itself, and make the same mistakes, so he tells Lennie to remember where the river is located. George’s action foreshadows that later on, Lennie will have to return to the river. George makes sure that he can get Lennie away from any danger that can harm him, but would also know where heà ¢â‚¬â„¢d be. As the story progresses, Candy tells George that he should have shot his dog himself instead of a stranger, because he knew the dog the best and his moment of lacking authority allowed him to regret his decision. Candy has had his dog since it was just a puppy, so he has a strong connection with his dog. Carlson thinks the dog is smelly, ancient, and becoming more and more useless everyday, so he convinces Candy to allow him to shoot his dog. â€Å" ‘I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t have ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog’ † (61). When Candy confides in George, he admits that he is in the wrong when he decides to allow a complete stranger kill his dog instead of doing it himself. Candy, wanting to have shot his dog himself, foreshadows how George will feel about how Lennie will be disciplined. Although Candy didn’t have the strength to kill his own dog, George realizes that he’s strong enough to discipline Lennie i n a fair and painless way. Lastly, when Lennie is hiding in the brush at the river, a water snake is killed by a motionless heron off in the distance. The water snake was gliding on the river and is unaware of the heron that was standing still awaiting its arrival. â€Å" A water snake glided smoothly up the pool . . . and came to the legs of a motionless heron that stood in the shallows. A silent head and beak glanced down and plucked it out by the head . . .† (99). The snake was gracefully moving across the water, and swims to its death, negligent of its future. When Lennie is killed, he is looking at the scenery of the mountains and at the river imaging his and George’s dream, completely unaware of George, standing behind him with a gun. In the end, both Lennie and the snake met their fate of death. Overall, Steinbeck’s usage of foreshadow is applied to show how life’s events are clues to the future. George wants to protect Lennie, but he also wants to make sure that Lennie has a safe place to run to. Candy fails to accomplish a difficult task and helps George to identify if he’ll have the strength to do what is right or not. Death meets Lennie and the snake face to face unexpectedly. In life, has the reader ever looked at a painting and thought, â€Å"What did every brush stroke accomplish?† The creator of a work of art wants the viewer to see their artwork as a whole, but to view the specifics that created the image as desired. Each brush stroke accomplishes forcing mankind to experience various emotions, memories, inspirations, and an understanding of the meaning the piece was supposed to contain. A single brushstroke can foretell what the future may hold, although it’s not always distinct.

Critical Approaches Paper: The Wife of Bath Essay

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400) was an English author, poet, philosopher, courtier as well as a diplomat. Sometimes referred to as the father of English literature, the man is most famous for The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s major works also include the translation of Roman de la Rose; The Book of the Duchess; The House of Fame; Anelida and Arcite; The Parliament of Fowls; the translation of Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy as Boece; Troilus and Criseyde; The Legend of Good Women; and the Treatise on the Astrolabe (Geoffrey Chaucer, 2007). Being a well-rounded intellectual, Chaucer was aware of the gender stereotypes permeating his medieval society. As a matter of fact, men of the Middle Ages deeming marriage â€Å"a full great sacrament† took most seriously the woman’s promise â€Å"to honor and obey. † The slightest breach of this vow of obedience was hailed as a crying offense to both God and man. The principal vice of the medieval times was pride. Disobedience was but an offshoot of this self same vice. And so, obedience was due not only unto God and one’s parents, but, as the old phrase went, â€Å"to husbands and other benefactors and sovereigns. † Women were known to be subjected to men, and there was not as much thought poured over women’s equal right to manage affairs. Thus, we find in medieval literature instances such as the ones briefly touched on by Frederick Tupper (1968) in Types of Society in Medieval Literature: An old Parisian benedict of the fourteenth century, playing mentor to his young bride offsets Petrarch’s story of the obedient Griselda with the example of a wife rightly burned for the disobedience into which she was led by her pride – quite as CRITICAL APPROACHES PAPER: THE WIFE OF BATH Page # 2 grievous an offense this, so he tells us many times, as the fault of Eve or of Lucifer. It was during this period that Chaucer chose to represent his woman in literature – the Wife of Bath – as an extraordinary lady who believed in subjecting her men to her desires. The lady is open to express her views about a different role that women can play despite the essential gender stereotypes of medieval society. The Wife of Bath has control of her husbands’ property, presumably acquired through successive marriage settlements. She therefore has no need to make efforts to please her mates, if such efforts would have given her greater authority over her men in terms of wealth or pleasure. According to her Prologue, her first three husbands had â€Å"bad luck in bed,† for which they are chided by her. The woman would demand payment in bed, in return for which she would make payment (sexually) of the marriage debt she owed them (Nelson, 2002). Knowing that all medieval women do not behave like her when it comes to controlling their husbands’ property or getting money out of them, the Wife of Bath is asking young girls to back out of marriage altogether. Why please a man when it is more fruitful over all to please and serve God? – is her final argument on the question of marriage. The Wife of Bath says that three of her husbands were good, and two were bad. The first three were rich, old, and submissive, although she tormented them with accusations that were total lies – she confesses to the rest of the pilgrims. She accused her husband of having an affair, for example, and then launched into a tirade in which she charged him with a bewildering array of accusations. If one of her husbands got drunk, the Wife of Bath claimed that every wife was out to destroy her husband in particular. She also made her husband feel guilty this way, and so CRITICAL APPROACHES PAPER: THE WIFE OF BATH Page # 3 he gave her what she wanted. The Wife of Bath admits that she deliberately caused her husbands grief. She teased them in bed by refusing to give them full satisfaction until they had promised her money. She says that she made them work at night, in fact, to pay her marriage â€Å"dette. † What is more, the woman admits proudly that she used her verbal and sexual power to bring her husbands to total submission. In point of fact, the Wife of Bath uses the same tactic, i. e. , verbal power to bring the young knight to total submission in her Tale. She confesses in her Prologue that she failed to follow the marriage rule of â€Å"biheste is dette. † But when the young knight in her Tale is sentenced to death by King Arthur’s court for raping a defenseless young woman, his only chance to escape the penalty of execution is to find the answer to the question, ‘What do women want most? ’ The young man’s search for the answer is fruitless until he meets an old woman who promises to give him the answer if he would promise her, in return, to grant the request she makes of him. The rapist promises to keep his word, and after he has supplied Arthur’s queen with the answer that can save his life, the old woman asks him to marry her. In this case, as in the personal story of the Wife of Bath, the woman is subjecting the man unto herself by asking him to make a promise for something in return (Nelson). The Wife of Bath is knowledgeable enough to admit that more than a few Fathers of the Church, including the Apostle Paul, had proclaimed the importance of virginity. But if virginity was so critical, there would be someone still to produce virgins! Thus, she would leave virginity to the perfect, and allow herself instead to use her gifts as best as she could. Besides her use of intellect in marital affairs, undoubtedly the gift that she refers to is sexual power. She uses this power not only to enjoy her life to the full, but as an instrument to manipulate her men as well. CRITICAL APPROACHES PAPER: THE WIFE OF BATH Page # 4 Patricia Clare Ingham (2002) calls the Wife of Bath one of the most ingenious readers in the history of literature, and sees the aggressive â€Å"re-reading of scripture† on the part of the Wife of Bath as a means of displaying and resisting the medieval anti-feminist tradition or misogyny. The Wife of Bath frequently misquotes the scriptures. Scholars believe that these â€Å"misreadings† of texts were a mark of political and cultural acuity on the part of the Wife of Bath, as these bad readings give us a clearer picture of the culture of the time and the medieval gender relations (Schibanoff, 1986). The Wife of Bath’s re-readings of scripture have additionally been referred to as a â€Å"utopian group fantasy,† whereby the women would direct themselves against the anti-feminist tradition of the time, which was actually a social institution that was neither necessary nor the only face of truth of the Middle Ages. This idea of â€Å"group† or sorority was, in fact, explored by Brian W. Gastle, who wrote that although it is difficult to prove that women had gathered forces to beat the odds, there may have been a sorority of this kind that functioned outside the boundaries set by the established guilds to which working women also belonged. The Wife of Bath, as we know, is into the cloth making business (Ingham). The lady blasts clerkly writers for their biased perspectives, and in so doing, activates the literary tradition for an entirely new set of social uses, such as understanding the importance of women. Her assessment of the politics of writing is interlinked with her representation of the politics of reading. She desires the production of an entirely different kind of literature, the kind that the feminist classroom would read. Her Tale is included in this category, of course, and it is revolutionary. Still, critics worry that the Wife of Bath may be strangely affirming masculine desire through her Tale. As Lynne Dickson (1993) puts it, the Tale may really â€Å"reward the CRITICAL APPROACHES PAPER: THE WIFE OF BATH Page # 5 concession of masculine ‘maistrie’ with the very thing patriarchy wants to begin with. † The Tale is, after all, about a rapist knight who can turn magically into a dutiful husband; and about an aged lady who becomes a sweet young thing yet again; apart from an old middle-class woman, â€Å"comen of so lough a kynde,† who gains status and rule from her aristocrat husband. Most scholars have interpreted the Wife of Bath’s interest in sovereignty of wife over husband as an expression of her dissatisfaction over the rule of her nation. Sovereignty extends beyond the confines of the bourgeois household in this case, given that the Irish were concerned about sovereignty over a nation at the same time as Chaucer and his contemporaries were writing about sovereignty over a husband (Eisner, 1957). Indeed, there do appear to be political questions posed in the Wife of Bath’s Tale, especially when the recalcitrant knight objects to his marriage to the old lady, saying, â€Å"Alas, that any of my nacion/ sholde evere so foule disparaged be! † The old lady wonders aloud if the knight’s rejection comes through his subjection to the laws of the court: â€Å"Is this the lawe of Arthures hous? † she asks; â€Å"Is every knight of his so dangerous? † Only a lady of charisma, of great political insight coupled with leadership qualities, could have addressed intricacies of the political life of the nation at the time of the Wife of Bath when gender stereotypes were comprehensively controlled by the authorities, including the Church. The woman seems to know how to tackle legal terminology to boot (Ingham). She truly is remarkable for the Middle Ages, and deserves a continual round of applause from everyone today. CRITICAL APPROACHES PAPER: THE WIFE OF BATH Page # 6 References 1. Dickson, Lynne. (1993). â€Å"Deflection in the Mirror: Feminine Discourse in the Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale. † SAC, 15, 1993, p. 61-90. 2. Eisner, Sigmund. (1957). A Tale of Wonder: A Source Study of the Wife of Bath’s Tale New York: Burt Franklin. 3. Geoffrey Chaucer. (2007). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer. (24 February 2007). 4. Ingham, Patricia Clare. (2002). Pastoral Histories: Utopia, Conquest, and the Wife of Bath’s Tale. Texas Studies in Literature and Language, Vol. 44, Issue 1. 5. Nelson, Marie. (2002). Biheste Is Dette: Marriage Promises in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Papers on Language & Literature, Vol. 38, Issue 2, 2002, p. 167. 6. Schibanoff, Susan. (1986). â€Å"Taking the Gold out of Egypt: The Art of Reading as a Woman† In Gender and Reading: Essays on Readers, Texts and Contexts (Ed. Elizabeth Flynn and Patrocinio P. Schweickart). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. CRITICAL APPROACHES PAPER: THE WIFE OF BATH Page # 7 7. Tupper, Frederick. (1968). Types of Society in Medieval Literature New York: Biblo and Tannen.