Research Paper on Oil Prices Essay Example

Research Paper on Oil Prices Essay Oil prices is an important indicator of International crude oil trade, as well as the intermediate petroleum products and the finished products trade, which are centralized in two markets, located in New York NYMEX and London’s ICE. There are other places, but they only relay these two markets through the Internet. The listing of different crudes is refreshed every day and most oil produces company are subscribed to the pages issued by Reuters and Platt’s Oilgram Price Reports that provide this listing. In Europe, on the basis of the data provided by Platts, oil traders negotiate with Asia in the morning and, after the opening of the New York market, with the United States later in the evening until about 11 pm. This trading system is comparable to the financial markets. Indeed, the value of a given quantity of crude, usually one metric ton, reflects the FOB (free on board) price of the gross plus transportation costs (freight), insurance, the impact of loss, the cost of refining, and a certain profit margin for the refiner. Thus, there is always a correlation between the price of finished products and FOB price. We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper on Oil Prices specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper on Oil Prices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper on Oil Prices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This valuation is done every day by interposed calculation in order to know the daily market value of each of the grades of crude on the market. As for the stock exchanges, transactions between traders are made by telephone or over the Internet and are confirmed by fax or email. As for financial markets, there is also a futures market. In this market, the crude is bought or sold by lot, at one or more months delivery in advance. It is the same for intermediate products such as naphtha or kerosene, or for finished products such as fuels, jet fuel, diesel, or heavy fuel oil. In a word, everything that has been made from crude, including residues, is salable and buyable. World consumption in 2008 was estimated at 86.5 million barrels per day (bpd), with a current price between 65 and 145 U.S. dollars this year, it is a daily market ranging from about 5.6 billion to 13.5 billion. The daily production of OPEC in September 2008 is 32.47 million barrels per day. These values were relatively very important in the 1980s, have become of much smaller financial importance for transactions in the 2000s. If you are planning to compose a top-notch research proposal on the subject, it can be helpful to use free sample research paper topics on oil prices, which will let you know that crude oil and its products can be sold as FOB (free on board) or CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight). In the first case it is the buyer who pays the charges after purchase (expense corresponding to the charter of the ship, freight, and cargo insurance) and in the second case it is the seller who pays the bills; in the first case the price is lower. Are you looking for a top-notch custom research paper on Oil Price topics? Is confidentiality as important to you as the high quality of the product? Try our writing service at EssayLib.com! We can offer you professional assistance at affordable rates. Our experienced PhD and Master’s writers are ready to take into account your smallest demands. We guarantee you 100% authenticity of your paper and assure you of dead on time delivery. Proceed with the order form: Please, feel free to visit us at EssayLib.com and learn more about our service!

Free Essays on The Role Of Men In Ancient Greece

â€Å"We do not simply regard a man who does not participate in the city's life as one who just minds his own business, but as one who is good for nothing.† Pericles’ Funeral Oration The role of men in ancient Greece was one of power, prestige and honour. Men were given the most responsibility and therefore considered to be the most important people in archaic Greece. Societal status was based upon the quality of ones character- knowledge, strength and integrity- rather than on ones wealth, political position or ancestry. Men were the citizens who held power in city-states; it was the men’s character, behaviour and important values that were praised and celebrated by society. Writers from ancient Greece reflected these values of masculinity in their works. In Homers the â€Å"Iliad†, the set of principles his characters adhere to are qualities that became known as Homeric values: honour, status, and power. Each of the characters in the â€Å"Iliad† is trying to achieve these. In Sophocles’ tragedy â€Å"Oedipus the King†, depending on perspective, the character Oedipus demonstrates two different sets of values. Oedipus displays all the virtues of an ideal Greek citizen, yet from the reverse perspective he embodies the exact opposite. Sophocles’ also depicts the moral values of archaic Greece in his play â€Å"Antigone†. He displays the relationship and reactions between men and women in effect portraying the differentiating gender roles in ancient Greece. In factual historical accounts of ancient Greece, the historian Thucydides described the values that held significance in his era of Greek society. Through the works of ancient Greek playwrights, story tellers and historians, it is made evident what personified the men that were valued by Greek society. To be able to identify with the values of ancient Greece one must know a little of the history of these people. It shows the roots of the moral codes and clar... Free Essays on The Role Of Men In Ancient Greece Free Essays on The Role Of Men In Ancient Greece â€Å"We do not simply regard a man who does not participate in the city's life as one who just minds his own business, but as one who is good for nothing.† Pericles’ Funeral Oration The role of men in ancient Greece was one of power, prestige and honour. Men were given the most responsibility and therefore considered to be the most important people in archaic Greece. Societal status was based upon the quality of ones character- knowledge, strength and integrity- rather than on ones wealth, political position or ancestry. Men were the citizens who held power in city-states; it was the men’s character, behaviour and important values that were praised and celebrated by society. Writers from ancient Greece reflected these values of masculinity in their works. In Homers the â€Å"Iliad†, the set of principles his characters adhere to are qualities that became known as Homeric values: honour, status, and power. Each of the characters in the â€Å"Iliad† is trying to achieve these. In Sophocles’ tragedy â€Å"Oedipus the King†, depending on perspective, the character Oedipus demonstrates two different sets of values. Oedipus displays all the virtues of an ideal Greek citizen, yet from the reverse perspective he embodies the exact opposite. Sophocles’ also depicts the moral values of archaic Greece in his play â€Å"Antigone†. He displays the relationship and reactions between men and women in effect portraying the differentiating gender roles in ancient Greece. In factual historical accounts of ancient Greece, the historian Thucydides described the values that held significance in his era of Greek society. Through the works of ancient Greek playwrights, story tellers and historians, it is made evident what personified the men that were valued by Greek society. To be able to identify with the values of ancient Greece one must know a little of the history of these people. It shows the roots of the moral codes and clar...

Ongoing UN Peacekeeping Missions in Africa

Ongoing UN Peacekeeping Missions in Africa There are currently seven United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Africa.   UNMISS The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan began July 2011 when the Republic of South Sudan officially became the newest country in Africa, having split from The Sudan. The split came after decades of war, and the peace remains fragile. In December 2013, renewed violence broke out, and the UNMISS team was accused of partisanship. A cessation of hostilities was reached 23 January 2014, and the UN authorized further troops for the Mission, which continues to supply humanitarian aid. As of June 2015 the Mission had 12,523 service personnel and more then 2,000 civilian staff members. UNISFA: The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei began June 2011. It was tasked with protecting civilians in the region of Abyei, along the border between The Sudan and what became the Republic of South Sudan. The Force is also tasked with helping The Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan with stabilizing their border near Abyei. In May 2013, the UN expanded the force.   As of June 2015, the Force was comprised of 4,366 service personnel and more than 200 civilian staff members and UN volunteers. MONUSCO The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo commenced 28 May 2010. It replaced the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While the Second Congo War officially ended in 2002, fighting continues, particularly in the eastern Kivu region of the DRC. The MONUSCO force is authorized to use force if need be to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel. It was due to be withdrawn in March 2015, but was extended into 2016.   UNMIL The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was created 19 September 2003 during the Second Liberian Civil War. It replaced the UN Peace-building Support Office in Liberia. The warring factions signed a peace agreement in August 2003, and general elections were held in 2005. The UNMILs current mandate includes continuing to protect civilians from any violence and providing humanitarian aid. It is also tasked with assisting the Liberian government with strengthening national institutions for justice. UNAMID The African Union / United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur began 31 July 2007, and as of June 2015, it was the largest peacekeeping operation in the world. The African Union deployed peacekeeping forces to Darfur in 2006, following the signing of a peace accord between The Sudan government and rebel groups.   The peace agreement was not implemented, and in 2007, UNAMID replaced the AU operation. The UNAMID is tasked with facilitating the peace process, providing security, helping establish the rule of law, providing humanitarian aid, and protecting civilians. UNOCI The United Nations Operation in Cà ´te dIvoire began in  April 2004. It replaced the much smaller United Nations Mission in  Cà ´te dIvoire. Its original mandate was to facilitate the peace agreement that ended the Ivorian Civil War. It took six years, though, to hold elections, and after the 2010 elections, the incumbent, President  Laurent Gbagbo, who had governed since 2000, did not step down. Five months of violence followed, but it ended with the arrest of Gbagbo in 2011. Since then, there has been progress, but the UNOCI remains in  Cà ´te dIvoire to protect civilians, ease the transition, and ensure disarmament. MINURSO The  UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) began 29 April 1991.   Its outcomes were to   Monitor the ceasefire and troop locationsOversee POW exchanges and repatriation Organize a referendum on  Ã‚  Western Sahara  independence from Morocco The mission has been ongoing for twenty-five years. During that time, MINURSO forces have assisted in maintaining the ceasefire and removing mines, but it has not yet been possible to organize a referendum on Western Saharan independence. Sources Current Peacekeeping Operations,  United Nations Peacekeeping.org.  (Accessed 30 January 2016).

The primary function of human resource management Essay

The primary function of human resource management - Essay Example t kinds of units within the organization and those that encourage directed learning as well as promoting inter-agency communication across the entire company are being increasingly viewed as having paramount importance. Furthermore, Human Resource department must develop a system of recognition and reward for the staff in regards to their contributions to the agency. To create value and deliver results, HR professionals must begin not by focusing on the work activities or work of HR but by defining the deliverables of that work. HRs roles in building a competitive organization include management of strategic human resources, management of transformation and change, management of firm infrastructure, and management of employee contributions (Ramlall, 2003, p. 51) The role of the Human Resource department has gone through substantial changes over the past century. Human Resources (HR) had its beginnings during the industrial revolution and by the early 1900’s many of the modern components of the HR department were falling into place. With the influx of unions, the Civil Service Commission, the industrial welfare movement and scientific research into management and the birth of industrial psychology, personnel departments became essential components of any well run business, from the 1920’s forward. Then as now, HR departments became the responsible sections for areas such as employment (hiring and firing), employee welfare (housing, medical, educational and financial), wage setting, safety, training, and health as well as employee benefits. (Jamrog, and Overholt, 2004) Then, during the middle part of the Twentieth century the human relations’ movement along with the application of knowledge and research from the disciplin es of the behavioral sciences and systems theory enhanced HR’s responsibilities and overall requirements. However, in spite of the tremendous amount of research showing that happy and well trained employees were more productive

Problems encouter by patients without health insurance in America Essay

Problems encouter by patients without health insurance in America - Essay Example Nearly 46 million people living in the United States are uninsured, majority of them of color, are likelihood of not receiving medical advice that they cannot afford and it is a reality. As per the survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that works to advance health care quality and insurance coverage, national health care spending is growing at a rate of 7% per year that is faster than the U.S. economy. There are 16 million American people who are considered underinsured and many people who are unable to pay for these rising rates will become one of them or they will join the ranks of the uninsured. As per the Kaiser Family Foundation reports 40% of uninsured adults do not have a regular primary health care checks. That means no annual physicals or other preventive care. Consequently, many uninsured patients are ignorant that they have a medical problem until they have an emergency situation. Tribal and ethnic minorities are overly affected by the absence of health care coverage. A report by the U.S. Census Bureau 2004, discloses that almost one third of Hispanics, 20% of African Americans, 29% of American Indians/Alaska Natives and 17% of Asians lack health insurance. These facts indicate that there is a substantial portion of population lacks adequate health insurance or has no coverage at all. Health care is a mounting problem in the United States. Medicine has developed great ways to deal with many of the problems, but the treatments are not cheap and the combination of improved life expectation and an enormous growth in the population of the United States has increased health care costs very high.

Bebop Research Paper Essay Example for Free

Bebop Research Paper Essay Bebop music was the next evolutionary change of Jazz music that succeeded swing music. This paper’s aim is look at musicians who impacted this era, exploring more in depth Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. In the early 1940’s, the swing bands began to all sound the same as well as work along predictable chord changes.1 The music was now not used for dancing. Some people believed that this would let the music go away from the elite social groups, and now be for everybody. Also just because a musician could play swing music well, there was no guarantee that the same musician would be able to perform Bebop. This new style of music was defined through adventurous soloists such as Dizzy Gillespie. Although swing music did have some creativity, in Bebop the chorus was done once at the beginning and once at the end, the middle was mostly up to the soloist’s creativity and inventiveness. Bebop music really took hold during the years of American involvement in WWII. During this time there was a major strike from the Musicians Union because they wanted more money from labels because of money lost on free radio.2 The strike led to musicians jamming with each other and not being able to record. Since there was a lack of recorded material for the music, when recording started again, and people heard Bebop they were very taken aback. They had no warning that this new style of music was being created, let alone how different it was from swing. The musical style itself differed quite a lot from anything that had ever been done in Jazz up until this point. Along with the chorus only being repeated at the end of a musical number, there were fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, and intricate melodies. The only things that held Bebop together were underlying harmonies that were played by the rhythm section. Other then this, most of the music ended up being improvisational as discussed earlier. The chord progression which was used for the music was actually not much different from the swing era, but the melody was new and much more complex. At the end of the Bebop era, musicians were using harmonic substitutions instead chords. This style and era of Jazz took people by surprise. The music was different, unique, and really let the musicians express who they were as Jazz musicians. Dizzy Gillespie was born John Birks Gillespie in South Carolina on October 21, 1917.3 He was youngest of nine children. His childhood was not one that he wanted to remember much. His father was very abusive towards him and his siblings. â€Å"I was scared, scared of my father. He was super austere, and never showed any emotion. He’d give me a whipping every Sunday morning, me and my brothers,† said Dizzy speaking of his childhood. 4 Gillespie got into a lot of trouble as a child. But at the age of ten or so, an English teacher introduced him to music, which lead him to joining the school band. 5 He 3 Alyn Shipton, Groovin High: The life of Dizzy Gillespie, New York: Oxford University Press, 1999, 6 started his young music career playing the trombone. The instrument changed once he borrowed a neighbor’s trumpet for the first time.6 Dizzy began playing in the loc al bands all around town. After his younger years, Gillespie attended a school that was a boarding school and day college, called the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. 7 While he was there it is thought that he was struggling for money for clothes. Although tuition and board was covered for him, he had worked in the field to make extra money. 8 Dizzy Gillespie’s mother moved up to Philadelphia while he was at the end of his career at the Laurinburg Institute and moved up to be with her in 1935.9 He began playing in bands about Philly and in the area. This was done for a few years between 1935-1937, before he moved up to New York City.10 While he was in Philadelphia he got his reputation and subsequently his nickname, â€Å"Dizzy†. He was known for the unpredictable nature in which he would play the trumpet and act outside of performing. When he arrived in New York City, he was hired by the Teddy Hill Orchestra for a European tour.11 Before being hired, Dizzy was playing around town and making a name for himself. There he lived with his brother in an apartment in New York City. He went out all night so that his brother could come home form working all day and go to sleep. Gillespie’s first recordings were with the Teddy Hill Orchestra Band. After being with Hill for a few years, Gillespie joined Cab Calloway in the summer of 1939. 13 They played at the Cotton Club but Calloway was touring a lot. This gave Dizzy the opportunity to develop his musicianship through style and knowledge through playing at all night jam sessions. Then, in 1942, Gillespie joined Earl â€Å"Fatha† Hines band. Unfortunately, in 1943, lots of band members left, including Dizzy Gillespie. He began to form his own bands that started by opening at Onyx Club on 52nd St in New York City.14 Dizzy had begun to play â€Å"bebop† in 1940, and was now able to do it full time. The venue became a hot spot for this new evolutional sound in Jazz. In 1956 Gillespie and his band went on a state department tour of the Middle East, which earned another nickname â€Å"Ambassador of Jazz†. He continued to work as a Jazz ambassador for the rest of his career, going to Cuba in 1977, and working with United Nations Orchestra. At the end of his life he took up educating young musicians. He unfortunately died from pancreatic cancer in 1993. He left us with a new style of music, and left his mark by helping educate a new generation of Jazz musicians. Another great artist, and considered the second founder of Bebop was Charlie Parker. He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. Parker was raised here until he was seven years old and then his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri that was thriving culturally at the time.15 It was an important city for African-American music as well. Parker had his irst bout with music in public schools in Kansas City, Missouri.16 In high school, Charlie Parker began by playing the baritone horn, then later on switched to the alto saxophone in 1933, which he stuck with. At the age of 15, the determined in yet not very talented yet, Parker left school to pursue his music career. The young man had a hard time at first getting yelled at by fellow band members, and then practicing for fifteen hours a day.17 From 1935 to 1939 he worked in Kansas City playing with local groups developing his talent through practice and performance.18 In 1939 Charlie Parker moved from Kansas City to New York City. When he arrived he worked as a dishwasher and attended jam sessions during the nights.19 While he was in New York City, he ended up meeting trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. He would end up collaborating and working with Gillespie to create what we now know as Bebop.20 From 1940-1942 Charlie Parker played in Jay McShann’s that toured in the southwest and Chicago, and then recorded with them in Dallas.21 At this time, the recordings were more swing-based and were also made for broadcasting.22 In 1942 he joined Earl Hines band, this would prove to be a great move because him and Gillespie together were able 16 Ken Burns, Charlie Parker, to experiment. As this â€Å"big band† style of music began to decline, the up-beat improvisational style of Parker began to show. This style of Jazz caught on with the younger generations of musicians throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s. Parker’s success was cut short because of addiction. When he was a child, he had an accident that he got addicted to morphine from. In 1951, he had his cabaret license revoked.23 Parker was banned from performing at nightclubs and later attempted suicide twice, and died in 1955. As one of the founders of Bebop, Charlie Parker contributed quality work in Jazz for the future generations. When he was playing, the older generations did not take to his new form of Jazz, now people look back and call him and innovator. Max Roach is another great innovator, and is one of the best jazz percussionists to ever play. Roach grew up in Brooklyn in a house that was already full of music. His mother was a gospel singer and began to play instruments in gospel bands when he was 10 years old.24 The first instrument he played was the bugle, and then later switched to the drums. When he was 16 he played in his first big performance, he substituted in Duke Ellington’s band. 25 When he was 18, he began going down to 52nd street and 78th street to begin jamming with other Jazz musicians. He was influenced by Kenny Clarke and was one of the few bebop drummers of the time. Roach would keep time on the cymbal instead of the bass drum, as swinger drummers did.26 This technique allowed for more 23 Burns  space to create rhythmic accompaniment. Throughout his career, Max Roach played with all the greats of the Bebop jazz style. He was able to play with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Coleman Hawkins, and Bud Powell.27 Roach actually played on most of the recordings of Charlie Parker, including Savoy 1945, an important turning point in recorded Jazz.28 He also played on Miles Davis’s recording Birth of the Cool in 1950 and Jazz at Massey Hall in 1952.29 Max Roach is the percussionist who took Bebop took the next level and is one of the best percussionists there was in Bebop jazz. Miles Davis, born in 1926, came from middle class beginnings and was raised outside of St Louis.30 His mother raised him in an integrated in an integrated suburb and began music through playing trumpet after his father bought him one. Davis’ first teacher encouraged him to play the trumpet unlike Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge, using straight, vibratoless tones.31 After a visit by Billy Ecksteins Band to St Louis, which included Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, he applied to the Julliard School of Music in New York City in 1944. Some people say that he only went there to find his idol Charlie Parker.32 The formal teaching at Julliard was not enough for Davis and he ended up 27 All About Jazz seeking out Jazz clubs such as the Savoy and Minton’s. He joined Charlie Parker in live appearances and recordings between 1945 and 1948.33 In 1948, Miles Davis started his own Bebop groups. He participated in a workshop with arranger Gil Evans. This led to collaborations with Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, and Johnny Carisi, which ended up being recordings. They were recorded for Capitol under Davis’ name and later reissued as Birth of the Cool. 34 Miles Davis career at this point was marred by a heroine addiction. He was unable to perform much and when he did, it was with inferior accompanists, and performed infrequent recordings for labels. Miles Davis did not spearhead the Bebop movement as Parker or Gillespie did, but he was nonetheless very important in the Jazz revolution of the time. Davis’ jazz is some of the best in the 20th century. Thelonius Monk was a Jazz pianist who helped spur bebop during the height of this new revolutionary sound. Monk was born in 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.35 He grew up with a piano in his house, and that became his first exposure to music at a very young age. He taught himself how to read music when he was five or six by looking over his sisters shoulder as she was rec eiving music lessons.36 Before Monk was ten years old, his family moved to New York City, near the Hudson River. His father left his family after becoming ill and moving back south, leaving Monk’s mom to raise him and his siblings. She was able to get him a piano when he was eleven and he began taking formal lessons at this point.37 He started playing piano in the church choir which is mother sang in, while also being surrounded by the Jazz scene in New York City. In 1939, Monk created his first jazz group.38 Monk’s first notable moment was in 1940 when he was hired at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem as the house pianist. 39 While at Minton’s he was able to playwith the house quartet, and got to play with Jazz pianist Bud Powell, Roy Eldridge, and Don Byas. In 1944, Theolnius Monk made his first visit to the recording studio as a part of the Coleman Hawkin’s Quartet. 40 In 1944 he also recorded Round About Night, and ended up joining Dizzy Gillespie’s Orchestra and playing on 52nd street at Spotlite Club.41 Then in 1947, Monk made recordings under his own name in a sextet session for Blue Note. Thelonius Monk was falsely arrested in 1951 for narcotics possession.42 He had his cabaret license taken away from him therefore inhibiting him from playing in the Jazz clubs in New York City. He played in out of town gigs and made some records for Prestige Label during this time.43 Then in 1954 he traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to play in the Paris Jazz Festival. While there he recorded his first solo album for Vogue, which would prove to be the way people would remember him, as one of the most imaginative solo pianists. The Bebop era was filled with musicians that are still talked about today as having great influence on 20th century music. Bebop let jazz artists express themselves through extended solos that were not very common yet. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker really took the scene abruptly and changed the way one can play jazz. This evolution in Jazz evoked fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, and rhythm sections expanding their roles in the band. The Bebop era gave listeners great Jazz in an evolutionary style, that people still enjoy today.

Students with Learning Disabilities Offered Success in College :: School Education Essays

Students with Learning Disabilities Offered Success in College Registering for college courses can be straining for even the most organized college student. Knowing which courses to take, and what order to take them in, can be more than confusing to the already over-stressed student body. This process is even more strenuous for students with learning disabilities. Registering for classes is just the beginning for learning disabled students. Kyle Turin, a freshman with Dyslexia, at Northeastern University is dismayed at the lack of attention he feels he is getting. Turin was diagnosed at a young age. He was never officially tested for a learning disability, but he was put into a specialized reading class until he went to high school. Kyle learned how to compensate for his difficulties but felt he slipped through the cracks in the system. â€Å"They (teachers) figured out in like sixth grade that I had missed a crucial part of my reading comprehension stuff that other kids did get. I was put into reading courses. But now that I’m in college, I’ll have a class of like 150 kids where the only basis of the class is the textbook and in-class lectures, so I don’t have the opportunity to compensate in class the way that I used to.† said Turin. Kyle Turin transferred to Northeastern University after his first semester at Hudson Valley Community College. â€Å"They asked me if I had Northeastern insurance, and I said no and they basically said I was out of luck. They said I had to contact my own insurance company and see if they covered the disability test that I would need in order to get extra attention through Northeastern. But my insurance company won’t cover it because I’m over 18 years old. † A learning disability is defined as any one of various conditions that interfere with an individual's ability to learn, resulting in impaired functioning in language, reasoning, or academic skills. The National Center for Learning Disabilities explains it as a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive process, store and respond to information. Basically, among people with learning disabilities there is a noticeable gap between their level of expected achievement and their actual achievement. Doctors and professionals agree there is no way to pin-point any specific causes for learning disabilities. The NCLD says some possible causes may include heredity, problems during pregnancy or birth, head injuries or nutritional deprivation after birth, and exposure to toxic substances.

Dove’s campaign for real beauty Essay

Introduction and Problem Statement Unilever, with annual revenues of approximately $50 billion and a staff of 250,000, ranks among the world’s largest companies in consumer products. One of its most famous labels is the personal care brand Dove. In an attempt to reposition the brand and rid it from its â€Å"conservative† image, in 2004, Dove launched its radically new â€Å"Campaign for Real Beauty†. In-house consumer research had revealed major insecurities among women concerning their physical appearance. Hardly any female considered herself to keep up with the standards depicted in regular beauty advertising. Based on these findings, Dove redefined beauty in a way that had been ignored by other players before. Targeting women aged 30 to 39, the campaign’s purpose was to show real female beauty, reflected in different shapes, sizes and ages. The core message was â€Å"No models – but firm curves.† The campaign received enormous attention; sales of Dove-branded products nearly quadrupled and market share increased significantly in various core markets. (for further information please refer to 5.1). Nevertheless, after this great success and image shift, Dove’s major brand management challenge for the upcoming year is how to continue the promotional campaign. The problem can thus be formulated a follows: What should Dove do to prepare for the re-launch of Dove beauty products to the next level and successfully keeping this competitive advantage for global use over time? Alternatives 1. Alternative A: Reap the benefits of brand awareness One possibility for Dove is to seize the opportunity of high brand awareness to extend the brand and enter new target markets while largely continuing  with the women’s marketing mix. A beauty care line for middle-aged men would be introduced, as this segment is not well explored by competitors yet and, age-wise, goes in line with the current female target. Products would connect the moisturizing and mild benefit with attributes like â€Å"energetic† and â€Å"self confident†. Regarding advertisement, this would be communicated using â€Å"normal, average† males and thus stay with the â€Å"Real Beauty† paradigm. However, it is assumed that men are less prone to be self-conscious about their looks. Therefore, perceptions would be assessed in further studies and advertising messages focused on the issues regarded as most critical. 2. Alternative B: Continue to evolve With the current success of the campaign, it might also be reasonable not to introduce significant changes. The idea would thus be to simply extend the brand communication and promotion for two aspects: To give consumers some new insights and keep them excited, advertisements would not merely depict happy, normal women. They would now also include storytelling, showing how average women’s self-confidence helps them in different situations (such as job interviews or dates). Additionally, Dove products would be featured more prominently in these advertisements. Their connection to â€Å"Real Beauty† and self-esteem would be communicated more clearly by showing the women use Dove products prior to making a self-confident experience. 3. Alternative C: It’s all in the product Seeing how the prevalent image in the beauty industry is still one of perfection, Dove might be well-advised to provide for the possibility that identifying with â€Å"imperfect† women loses its appeal to the customer base. Without returning to classic beauty models, the brand could hence decide on detaching the products from body images altogether. The self-esteem topic would still be key, but the main focus lies on the product. For example, women would no longer be shown in campaigns, but merely close-ups of skin and the products – packaging as well as ingredients – themselves. Issues 4. How easy is it for competitors to imitate the strategy? With Dove’s focus on â€Å"Real beauty† seeing such great success, it is likely for  competitors to try and get their piece of the cake by imitating Dove’s strategy. When utilizing a more product-focused strategy, communication will rather be on brand attributes than on the brand image that has successfully been established. As attributes are easier to copy and, consequently, convey, alternative C runs at a respectively higher risk of being imitated. For alternative A, as there will be a new target group to win over, competition is likely to be dangerous from beauty brands that already enjoy a high standing among the relevant consumers (e.g. Gillette). Alternative B builds the most on the current communication strategy, where Dove is well-established and simply needs to keep consumers interested in order to reap its â€Å"first-mover† benefits. 5. In how far are current brand associations held up? As Dove’s â€Å"Real Beauty† campaign was exclusively focused on women, it might be hard to stretch the brand associations to fit the new consumer segment targeted by the portfolio extension (i.e. men). As a consequence, prospective customers could experience difficulty identifying with the brand, whereas current customers could perceive brand values as somewhat diluted by the new attributes. Alternative B will clearly remain the most consistent with the current image; alternative C, on the other hand, runs at a risk of not diluting but rather reducing the brand image by taking away its â€Å"human† dimension. On top of this goes the fact that it is harder to convey brand values when they are not placed in a reference frame (e.g. that of curvy women enjoying themselves). While the core message and self-esteem concern will still be pursued, losing the edge of directly opposing competitive clichà © images might harm the brand’s credibility. 6. Will consumers in the long run withstand the attraction of idealized advertising? Although the move away from idealized models has brought Dove high brand awareness and appealed to many women, it is questionable whether consumers will not fall back into their â€Å"learned† habits of trying to become more perfect. The consequence would be that they are again attracted by competitors. As explained above, alternative C would somewhat prepare for that backward shift. Alternative A, with going into a new target, still has some room for maneuver to introduce slight changes back towards higher  idealization. Alternative B, however, is completely tied to alternative beauty models and thus most exposed to the risk of backward-changing consumer preferences. Conclusion The brand management faces a constrained budget, which makes conducting a combination of these alternatives unfeasible, at least in the short and medium run. The task is hence to select the one most promising alternative. Addressing the issue of sustaining a unique positioning first, it is clear that alternative C provides the least protection against copycat behavior of competitors as it even partly abandons the original concept and thus leaves more space for the rivals to also associate their brands with attributes such as genuineness or sincerity. Similarly, alternative A opens a window for imitation even though it is, arguably, not likely to happen, as the market for men’s personal care is not as profitable as to allow rivals to simply establish themselves as followers in this way. Under alternative B, Dove further elaborates on its positioning which is deeply ingrained in the minds of customers, thus rendering imitation by competitors especially hard and therefore unlikely. As already mentioned, the question of compatibility of the current brand with men’s mindset is questionable. Even though, option A does not have to necessarily alienate the current target group, provided the advertising message is adapted seamlessly and promotes the idea that real beauty comes regardless of sex as it comes regardless of age, ethnicity or shape. Alternative B stays close to the message and does not pose a threat in this regard. Alternative C, however, moves away from the concept, producing incongruity within the brand image. This fact, together with the previous issue, makes alternative C seriously undermine the strategy that Dove has been following and we hence drop it from subsequent discussion. Regarding the risk that people regress to their old habits of following an idealized concept of beauty, alternative B fares better than alternative A. While not reverting to the standard approach to fashion advertising, the  storytelling technique expands the consumers’ understanding of the issues and leads them to process the brand’s benefits more consciously. This should, in turn, inhibit the customers’ inclination towards idealized images in advertising. In this regard, Dove might be worse off under alternative A, as a positioning for two partly distinct target groups can reduce the degree to which each of them associates themselves with the brand. Also alternative B is a mere evolution of the current campaign. From an economic point of view, the fact that the target segment remains the same, the future returns are severely limited. Albeit option A is associated with a higher risk, it has to be concluded that a successful implementation would also enable Dove to unlock a whole new market, making this choice more appealing. The final decision between the two options is difficult. While being somewhat weaker on the side of economic potential, alternative B ultimately outperforms alternative A in regard to other issues. Higher revenues can still be made by expanding geographically, while the image needs to be adapted to fully resonate with the customers. Yet, these alternatives are mutually exclusive only to the extent of the disposable funds. Alternative A might hence very well be the logical extension of Dove’s efforts and the natural next step for a â€Å"phase 3† of its brand relaunch. Additionally, several other factors should be taken into account, such as a possible conflict with other Unilever brands, such as Axe/Lynx. These inconsistencies should be countered with a clear positioning in non-overlapping segments and appropriate PR measures. Also the global dimension of the decision should be kept in mind and the campaign continuously adapted to local circumstances in order to display a high level of fidelity, which is completely crucial if the brand is to sustain its image. Provided Dove manages to avoid pitfalls as these, the brand is best off by evolving its brand communication to further curb female insecurities about themselves while strengthening the link between the image the brand evokes and the products. (For further detail pleas refer to 5). Appendix 7. The company and campaign Dove was originally developed in the United States as a non-irritating skin cleaner for pre-treatment use on burns and wounds during WWII. Nowadays, Dove products are available in more than 35 countries, generating revenues of $3 billion. The Dove product line includes body washes, beauty bars, deodorants, hair and facial care products and lotions. Before Dove set up the marketing strategy, they wanted to understand the relationship of women to beauty, without a special focus on any beauty care products. Therefore the company charged a global research firm, StrategyOne to conduct a research study. Hence, StrategyOne surveyed 3,200 women from around the world. The result of the survey showed a wide disparity between the ideal of beauty pictured in the media and the perception by women themselves. Based on this report, the company redefined beauty in a way that all competitors have ignored. To launch a new campaign Dove used a new and unconventional ideal of beauty, thus they differ si gnificantly from their main competitors. To strengthen the emotional ties to Dove’s target group, the brand and not the single products should be in the foreground. The campaign was launched to increase also revenues and to re-brand Dove. Therefore the advertising budget approximately accounted for $ 27 million in Europe alone. The â€Å"Campaign for Real Beauty† began in September 2004, when a website for beauty debates was established. The main target group was 30- to 30-year-old women who could identify with the new brand mission statement â€Å"to make more women feel beautiful every day, by widening today’s stereotypical view of beauty and inspiring women to take great care of themselves†. To transmit the core message Dove’s ads contained no models, but firm curves. The promotion also showed a group of women of different ages, shapes and racial backgrounds that were just having a good time in bras and knickers. Therefore the models were chosen in a â€Å"street casting† to achieve a great acceptance among the observers. Traditional television and magazine advertising was supported by outdoor ads, such as billboards, posters and signs. The results were dramatic, because the advertisement gained a massive media coverage. The brand had a sophisticated image shift and is now described by adjectives like â€Å"open†, â€Å"active† and â€Å"self-confident†. The  turnaround was really striking. [1] 2. PEST Analysis [pic] Figure 7: PEST Analysis Political factors: As Unilever and therefore also Dove are globally acting brands, there are several political and legal factors that could influence the performance of the company. For example the political stability in different countries is not as stable as in Europe. Therefore a quick change in laws can occur, like the employment laws, health and safety laws, consumer laws etc. It is also possible that new import tariffs are introduced. Hence, regarding those  changes the costs for Dove could increase and the demand for the products could be reduced. Economic factors: Economic factors can have major impact on business and future decisions. Those factors include an economic downturn, volatile exchange rates and inflation rates in the operating countries. It is possible that Dove has to increase prices due to different circumstances like increased ingredients price and therefore the demand for the products could decrease. Social factors: Social factors as lifestyle and cultural values vary from region to region. As Dove launched the unique campaign they have to be careful that they adapt it to the different cultural environments and lifestyles around the globe. But also brands have a great impact on peoples’ lifestyle and can change it. Technological factors: Technology is also necessary for Dove’s success and competitive advantage. This includes for example research and development activities and information technologies (with their interactive website). To maintain the competitive advantage being a moisturizing product, Dove has to rely on the technological progress and has to be a first mover. 3. Porter’s five forces [pic] Figure 8: Porter’s five forces Threat of new entrants: As Dove had great success with their â€Å"real beauty campaign† there is a potential risk for new entrants. But Dove is one of the best brands over the world and competitors have to face that. They have an outstanding marketing strategy and high quality products. But barriers to enter the market are low threat of new entrants can therefore be rated as medium. Bargaining power of suppliers: Dove is a sub-brand of Unilever that as lots of suppliers over the world. Therefore Unilever as the parent company has power to influence the suppliers and switch them easily. So Dove has also a sort of pressure on their suppliers and can cut down prices and establish tight relationships with suppliers. Hence, bargaining power of suppliers is low. Bargaining power of buyers: As there are many competitors within the industry, Dove’s customers can easily switch to another label. But the Dove brand stands for high-quality products and promotes real beauty in their campaigns so they rely on loyal consumers. However, you cannot only trust in the sustainability of the campaign in the long run, the bargaining power of buyer has to be rated high. Competitive rivalry within the industry: The main competitors of Unilever are Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive, because their sub-brands are quite similar to Dove. In the beauty industry there is verly little product differentiation and similar product offerings, as well as little trade secrets. This leaves little room for competitive advantage, but Dove has always remained at number one, because of their loyal consumers and their moisturizing skin quality products. However, it is easily to switch to other high-end products and also to private label brands, therefore competitive rivalry is high in the operated industry. Threat of substitute products: There is a treat of replacing Dove products by competitors’ products, but people will always need toiletries and therefore cannot easily substitute the line. They can only switch within the existing industry, but as people love Dove and their campaign there is just medium threat of its replacement with present products. 9. Alternative/Issue weight |Issues |Alternative A |Alternative B |Alternative C | |Threat of imitation 50 % |- |+ |- | |Brand consistency 30 % |~ |+ |- | |Ideals 20 % |~ |- |+ | Table 2: Alternative/Issue Weight As you can see from the alternative/issue weight table above, the threat of imitation is the most serious one. As only alternative B is to be forearmed against this risk it is the most desirable one. Also in line with brand consistency alternative B scores highest, followed by alternative A that would try to win over a new target group, but with the same values. Alternative C is the most promising one if it comes to society’s ideals. As markers want to sell hope, this alternative would fight against the society’s upcoming doubts about â€Å"average, normal† models. All in all, you can see that alternative B is due to our table the most promising one. References †¢ Hips feel good† – Dove’s campaign for real beauty, Richard Ivey School of Business, Northeastern University, College of Business Administration, Canada, 2009 ———————– [1] Adapted from â€Å"Hips feel good† – Dove’s campaign for real beauty, Richard Ivey School of Business, 2009, p. 3ff ———————– Figure 1: Unilever logo, source: http://www.greenerpackage.com/certifications/unilever_adopts_paper-sourcing_policy_meet_sustainability_goals Figure 2: Dove logo, source: http://quizbazaar.blogspot.co.at/2010/07/animal-logos-trivia-series-3.html, Figure 3: Hips feel good, source: http://greatness-with-gumption.blogspot.co.at/2010/10/beauty-in-bottle-why-dove-can-kiss-my.html Figure 4: The campaign, source: http://www.adverbox.com/ads/dove/ Figure 6: The campaign, source: http://www.adverbox.com/ads/dove/ Figure 5: The campaign, source: http://www.adverbox.com/ads/dove/

Hamlet and His Characteristics Essay

The classic Tragic Hero â€Å"A hero is a man who does what he can. † Romain Rolland What is a tragic hero? Are tragic heroes considered to have better qualities, and yet suffer from the many shortcomings of life? I believe that a classic tragic hero is a person that has many excellent qualities for a hero, and yet dies due to the mistakes that he makes. As Romain said, â€Å"A hero is a man who does what he can† and Hamlet is a perfect example on how he had to give up everything to commit to his revenge. This is why I believe Hamlet is the perfect classic tragic hero, because although he did not do anything that was wrong, he still suffered and died because of his characteristics. This is why I believe that the seven soliloquies of Hamlet, show the progression of his characteristics, and show the multiple qualities of a hero, thus making him a perfect example of a classic tragic hero. The first soliloquy in Hamlet (Act I, Scene II), talks about the suffering that Hamlet is going through as he realizes that his father is dead and his mother has married his uncle. But two months dead! — nay, not so much, not two: So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr;† (I. II. 137-140) Hamlet doesn’t get why his mother married so fast and gets extremely mad about that. He wonders if she even loved his father and this causes his to think about suicide, but back in the Elizabethan era, suicide was looked down upon, which is seen in Act I, Scene II, Line 132-133. â€Å"†¦His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! † This is the only reason why Hamlet can’t kill himself. Hamlet felt that he was the only one that thought that this marriage was an unnatural and starts to dislikes Claudius. Back in the day, women were not allowed to marry after their husbands died, so when Gertrude marries Claudius, Hamlet feels that something weird was going on. â€Å"Would have mourn’d longer†¦dexterity to incestuous sheets! † (I. II. 151-157) I think that he felt that his mother only married Claudius so that she wasn’t alone at nights and so that she could still remain queen over Denmark. He also doesn’t think Claudius can compare to his dad and a beginning of hatred and disgust rises within Hamlet for both Gertrude and Claudius. The first soliloquy also shows the multiple good qualities that develop Hamlet as the play goes on. â€Å"It is not, nor it cannot come to good; But break my heart, — for I must hold my tongue! †(I. II. 158-159) This is the first main quality that Hamlet, he knows when to speak his mind and only talks about his true self with only people he trusts like Horatio, and yet that might be the reason he was able to kill Claudius in the end, it also the reason why Ophelia and Gertrude died too. Since Ophelia died because she felt that Hamlet didn’t love her the way she did to him. His mother thought that Hamlet was really mad, and tried to help him in many a way, one of them was to drink the cup that would promote Hamlets health but which was actually poisoned. This is how the first soliloquy helps in developing his characteristics while showing his true qualities. The second soliloquy(Act 1, Scene 5) in Hamlet which takes place in Act I, Scene V, which when the ghost of his father tells him that he was murdered, and how he was murdered and, who killed him. He doesn’t believe that his father was murdered by Claudius when he says, â€Å"O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else? And shall I couple hell? O, fie! — Hold, my heart ;†( I. V. 92-93) He never thought that Claudius would commit murder to get the throne of Denmark, and he understands why he and his mother married so fast. â€Å"O most pernicious woman! O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! †(I. V. 105-106) This is the beginning of his hatred towards Claudius, and this is also where he swears to the ghost to kill Claudius. Hamlet also feels confused when this unnatural act of nature happens. He knows that there is a chance that this ghost is either his father or the devil trying to make Hamlet commit a sin. This â€Å"ghost† also sparks a need to connect once again with his father as he continually keeps saying â€Å"Remember thee? † This shows that Hamlet misses his dad a lot, and is willing to do anything to allow King Hamlet rest in peace. This soliloquy furthermore brings out qualities in Hamlet that we have never seen faithfulness and also being honour bound. The perfect in this soliloquy that shows this is, â€Å"So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word;  It is ‘Adieu, adieu! emember me. ‘  I have sworn’t. † (I. V. 111-112). Hamlet feels that unless he swears to the ghost, he won’t find the motivation to kill Claudius. This also shows that he was faithful to his father ghost, even though he knew there was a chance it was actually the devil trying to trick him into committing a sin. In the third Soliloquy (Act 2, Sc ene 2), is quite a long soliloquy as he realizes that both his mother and Claudius had sent his two best friends to spy on him, and betraying him. This is also the same soliloquy where he plans and prepares for Claudius’s downfall. This is where the story of Hamlet truly begins and the introduction to Hamlet’s inner feelings. This is the first time Hamlet actually tell the audience what he feels inside, and what he will plan to do in the future. This soliloquy also reveals his inner fear on whether the ghost was the devil, seen in line 585 to 590 in Act II, Scene II- â€Å"†¦ The spirit that I have seen May be the devil: and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, — As he is very potent with such spirits, — Abuses me to damn me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hamlet starts to doubt if the ghost was even his father, and if this is the case he needs to get more proof that Claudius killed his father, and then realizes that the actors were his tools to catch Claudius. I think that Hamlet felt that if Claudius had a reaction to the play in a manner that was ‘weird’ it would he knew that the ghost had told the truth. This soliloquy furthermore shows how restless Hamlet is as he wants to complete his vow to the ghost and kill his uncle. This is seen, â€Å"Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab† (II. II. 571-573). He is angry and impatient that something as easy as killing as a person is so tough. I think that Hamlet, at this point doesn’t want to use words, and instead thinks that actions is the only thing that will help get him to his goals. This is why he uses the actors to re-enact, â€Å"The murder of Gonzago† which was similar to how Claudius killed the King. The one main quality that I found in the soliloquy, and throughout the book, Hamlet, is the fact that he thinks logically and doesn’t try to rush into things too fast. An example in this soliloquy is, â€Å"†¦I’ll have grounds, more relative than this. the play’s the thing, Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king† (II. II. 590-592). He thinks that the devil might be trying to fool him and he needed more proof that his uncle murdered King Hamlet. The fourth soliloquy (Act 3, Scene 1) is the most acknowledged soliloquy to the world, â€Å"To be or not to beâ₠¬ . This is where Hamlet talks about life and death, and although we know Hamlet is thinking about death, he says, â€Å"But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover’d country from whose bourn, No traveler returns, puzzles the will† (III. I. 78-80). This means that he is worried on what happens after he dies, and the fact that â€Å"afterlife† hasn’t been proven, he is scared to kill himself. At this point he starts arguing with himself on what happens after death and talks about the multiple trouble and pains of life. Then he realizes that since there is no proof that life after death exists, he might as well continue with his revenge. I believe that this soliloquy is also hints about whether he should continue with his revenge or not. This â€Å"indecision† within Hamlet is what causes the most amount of problems in the book, Hamlet, and with Hamlet himself. This soliloquy doesn’t particularly show any qualities within Hamlet, but one quality that I saw really made me realize how great Hamlet was, was the fact that no matter how he felt, he didn’t give up or deter from his path of revenge, making him a extremely faithful son to the king. The fifth soliloquy (Act 3, Scene 3) is before the play has its climax, before Hamlet talks to his mother and unknowingly kills Polonius. Hamlet is extremely mad with his mother, and wants to hurt her emotionally. He still thinks that she married Claudius so that her nights wouldn’t be lonely. He was so angry with her that he could have killed her, but he instead says, â€Å"Let me be cruel, not unnatural† (III. III. 379), which meant that he would be rude to her but, not commit a sin by killing her. â€Å"I will speak daggers to her, but use none† (III. III. 380). This meant that he felt that he needed to speak severely for what she did, but not physically hurt her. This soliloquy shows one main characteristic of a hero within Hamlet, which was not to harm women. Hamlet ad every right to physically hurt Gertrude for how she disgraced her gender, but he refrained from raising his hands as he felt as though it would be â€Å"unnatural†. The fact that he didn’t lose control till now, over what Gertrude did, shows how noble he is and how he still follows the rules of his era, even though his mother didn’t. This is my most favorite quality of Hamlet, and b ecause of this, Gertrude drank to his health, which caused her death. The sixth soliloquy is Act III, Scene III, lines 73-96 where Hamlet has a chance to kill his uncle, Claudius. As Hamlet enters the room, he sees Claudius â€Å"praying† and runs forwards to take his revenge. Eager Hamlet has a perfect chance to kill Claudius but then realizes that he would just send Claudius to heaven. â€Å"A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. † (III. III. 76-79) This soliloquy shows the eager and crazy side of Hamlet. After quite some time of planning, Hamlet finally sees an easy and quite way to kill Claudius but then like all other soliloquies, he over thinks about what might happen if he kills Claudius and postpones Claudius’s death. He thinks that he needs to catch and kill Claudius while he is committing a sin so that it guarantees that Claudius will go to hell. This soliloquy also shows the multiple good qualities within Hamlet, mainly, the quality of forgiveness and calculating. This is seen when he says, â€Å"As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. † (III. III95-96). This shows the forgiving nature of Hamlet as Claudius pretends to pray. Hamlet had every right to kill Claudius for his sins. Yet to make sure that Claudius went to hell, he made sure he killed him while Claudius was committing a sin. This is how the sixth soliloquy shows the characteristics and the qualities within Hamlet. The final and the seventh soliloquy is personally my most favorite soliloquy (Act IV, Scene V). This is the scene is where Fortinbras is talking with Hamlet and how steadfast he is on getting â€Å"revenge† on Denmark. He is annoyed when he realizes it takes so long for him to complete a simple plan, and decides to finish his revenge. We also see that he is quite unsure on what might happen, but is still honour bound to his oath, when he says, â€Å"When honour’s at the stake. How stand I, then, That have a father killed, a mother stained†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (IV. V. 56-57) He feels that Claudius deserves to die, even if it meant his own death. When he says, â€Å"To hide the slain? O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! †(IV. V. 65-66). We see that he is preparing himself for what is about to come and know that he might lose his life too. The main quality of a hero that is seen in this soliloquy is courage and determination. Hamlet knows that he might die, and but he also knows that there is a chance that he will be able to kill Claudius. Hamlet feels that till now he was a coward and he needs to honour his father. He is so faithful to his father that he doesn’t care of the consequences that might occur. This is also the downfall of Hamlet’s as he does die in the end. The final soliloquy finalizes his inner feelings and commitments towards himself and his father and shows multiple qualities of a hero. This is why I believe that the seventh soliloquy is the strongest proof that Hamlet is indeed a tragic hero. Hamlet is quite the enigma as he keeps changing his mind about his commitments, but as the story continues we see that no matter what he faces, he continues to accomplish his duty to his father’s ghost. He is strong, philosophical, courageous, faithful, and quite the over-thinker, but overall has the perfect qualities to be called a tragic hero. In conclusion, I believe that the seven soliloquies of Hamlet, show the progression of his characteristics, and show the multiple qualities of a hero, thus making him a perfect example of a classic tragic hero. Works Cited BrainyQuote. Xplore, n. d. Web. 03 Nov. 2012. <http://www. brainyquote. com/quotes/authors/r/romain_rolland. html>. â€Å"Hamlet’s Fifth Soliloquy – Original Text and Summary. † HubPages. N. p. , n. d. Web. 03 Nov. 2012. <http://hunbbel-meer. hubpages. com/hub/Hamlets-Fifth-Soliloquy-Original-Text-and-Summary>. â€Å"Hamlet’s First Soliloquy (Act 1, Scene 2) – Original Text & Summary. † HubPages. N. p. , n. d. Web. 03 Nov.

The making of a torturer essays

The making of a torturer essays How have various social psychological perspectives sought to explain the making of a torturer? OByrne (2003, p.192) Torture is an unlawful and immoral act which pain and suffering is inflicted upon a human being for many purposes, one of them being to extract information. There are a number of torture methods which are commonly used even today and this raises the question why and how torturers are brought about, which social and psychological factors contribute towards the making of a torturer and how do these factors explain it altogether? Although the impulse for aggression and destruction is part of a basic human instinct (OByrne 2003, p. 181) there are a number of theories that attempt to explain the making of a torturer such as Adornos theory of the authoritarian personality, Milgrams theory of obedience, and Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance in the studies by OByrne (2003 p.181). Adorno identified the authoritarian personality type as having these characteristics; the authoritarian personality does not want to give orders, their personality type wants to take orders. People with this type of personality seek conformity, security and stability. (Rebecca Riehm 2000, p007). This theory might help to explain the making of a torturer in a way that they are easily manipulated into performing the act as they tend to get anxious and insecure when events or circumstances modify or upset their previously existing world view. While a torturer might be a result of a social construction, studies were made into the willingness of people to inflict pain upon others. It is common for torturers to justify their actions as merely the carrying out of orders (OByrne 2003 p.182). An Example of this would be the torturing of the Iraqi soldiers by American soldiers in the Iraq war. One s ...

Case Study on a Day Care Essay Example for Free

Case Study on a Day Care Essay When couples are engaging in family planning, there are several things that they have to take into consideration. One such thing is the care of the child or children when it is time for them to return to work. A common option over the years has been that of the day care or child care center. Parents today are realizing the importance of daycare centers in their children’s development. They are looking for daycare centers that not only will take care of their child while they are away but also will provide quality, real-life learning opportunities and experiences. These learning opportunities will ensure that children are prepared not only for their academic life in school but also for real life situations outside the daycare center and their own homes. There are five basic categories of day cares: Child care centers, educational day care, family day care, non-profit day care and subsidized day care. A child care center is a large day-care provider and is often franchised under a brand name. They often have extensive facilities, including swimming pools and large playgrounds. They also provide day care for multiple ages divided into smaller groups by age. Educational day cares are intended to provide children with pre-school learning and skills to prepare her for kindergarten or elementary school. They strive to provide children with rounded spiritual, physical, mental and emotional support to prepare them for life’s challenges. A family day care is provided in the care-giver’s home, usually with the provider’s children present. They provide a familiar and comfortable setting for your child. A family day care often is smaller than other types of day care. Non-profit day cares are run by non-profit organizations, such as churches or synagogues. They sometimes include religious schooling and are often more affordable than other types of day care because of their non-profit status. Subsidized day care programs are those that provide financial assistance either through the federal or state government or an employer. The day care visited by group five, was an educational daycare. The daycare caters to children between three (3) months and three (3) years old. At the beginning of September, there were a total of forty (40) children. Currently, there are twenty-six (26) children there. Space and Equipment The day care is clean and sanitary. There is no garbage lying around, floors are clean as they are constantly mopped when messes are made. The kitchen is large enough to facilitate the free movement when 2-3 persons are in there making food preparations. It is also away from the areas where diapers are changed and away from the bathroom. It is clear that great consideration was taken in regards to inclement weather, as the space in the day care is large enough to separate sleeping children from playing children and those who are learning. The area is large enough for everyone to play when they are unable to go outside even though the tables where they have their meals are there. There are five smoke detectors throughout the building, a fire aid kit and a fire extinguisher that are strategically places. Standard childproofing techniques are utilized, (covered outlets, safety gates, door latches). The center is secure, having a buzzer that is working and therefore, strangers are not able to just walk in from the streets. The building is properly lit and ventilated and doors are placed strategically as well to facilitate emergency exit if necessary. There is short term parking space at the front for parents and guardians who come to drop off and pick up their children. Caregivers’ Credentials/Qualifications Because the caregivers are expected to create a safe and stimulating environment for the children to develop in, it is important that the staff get formal training that will equip them with the tools necessary to do so. All the members of staff are qualified. The qualifications held are varied. There are members of staff who have Level 1 and 2 Certificates in Early Childhood Care and Development from HEART Trust NTA. Other qualification held by staff is a Certificate in Practical Nursing and Heart care and a Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education. Programme Activities At this stage of the child’s development, it is important to have activities that engage the children’s minds and develop skills that will be needed in further learning. At the day care, there is a structured schedule that includes plenty of time for physical activity, quiet time (including daily reading sessions for groups and individuals), group activities, individual activities, meals, snacks, and free time. The activities cover the duration of time that the children are at the day care from the moment of arrival to the time of departure. The physical activities come in varied forms including music movement (dance) and play time- outdoor play and free play. Free play is for the children to do whatever they feel like doing, whether it is engaging in imaginative play with their little friends or by themselves, playing with toys, or looking through their picture books. Outdoors, there is a slide, a swing, a monkey bar and some tires for the children to crawl through. Group activities include some aspects of the physical activities and story time, as well as their varied creative, manipulative activities. Such creative/manipulative activities include finger painting, drawing, and making things out of clay dough. This is done with the assistance of the staff. A lot of the stories are made up based on a series of pictures that are taped to the walls of the daycare. Caregivers also engage the children in picture games. The children form a ring and are shown pictures that they are to identify. Those who correctly identify the pictures get an extra treat at meal time. They are also taught nursery rhymes such as â€Å"hey diddle diddle†, and â€Å"itsy bitsy spider† and the alphabet song. There are designated times for snacks, and other meals. They do not allow the children to eat right throughout the day but encourage the habit of eating at intervals. There is also designated naptime and quiet time for the children. The activities are very appropriate as they are in keeping with Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. In the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development, which is the first stage, Piaget stresses the importance of discovery through a child’s active interaction with the environment. Between birth and age two (2), children discover the world using their senses and motor activity because they are limited by their inability to use language or symbols at this stage. Therefore, the hands on activities that they are engaged in, helps to enhance cognitive development at this stage. Teacher-child Relationships According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development, trust is identified as the first major developmental task of early childhood, and is established in children’s first relationship with their caregivers, parents and teachers. Trust is the first pre-requisite for effective learning. It encourages a sense of well-being and emotional security in young children, creating a solid foundation for future learning from the dynamic experiences of childhood. Without the support of early trust relationships with caring adults, children are ill-equipped to take the kinds of risk essential to the learning process. Trust develops when children come to anticipate positive experiences in the child care settings. If trust is to develop, children need sensitive and perceptive caregivers that understand children’s needs and consistently offer tender, responsive care. Having received formal training for the purpose of taking care of the children, they have an understanding of the importance of their interactions with the children and therefore treat the children accordingly. It is evident that the children trust their caregivers as they affectionately refer to them as â€Å"Auntie† and warm smile light up their tiny faces whenever they see the members of staff walk through the door. The staff plays with the children during their playtime. There is prompt responsiveness to the cries or outbursts of the children and reassurance is given when the infant is crying, except in cases when the child is throwing a tantrum. In such instances, the infant is spoken to firmly but gently. The ratio of teacher to child is 1: 6. However, the caretakers try to share their attentions evenly among the children. They tend to group the children together when they are interacting with them so that none is left out. There were demonstrations of positive reinforcement from the caregivers. When a child did not like what was prepared for them to eat, he or she was coaxed into eating by the use of various methods, one of which was to pretend that the spoonful of food was an airplane loaded with niceties. The child was praised when he or she would chew the food and swallow it. The caregiver would also reward the child with the option of having their juice before the water if the food was eaten. A sense of autonomy is identified as the second major developmental task of early childhood and is developed when a child is allowed to practice newly acquired physical skills. At the daycare, the children are encouraged to do things for themselves. There are toddlers who prefer to feed themselves, even though they make a bit of a mess when they do. Nonetheless, they are allowed to do so. They are encouraged to pick up after themselves and therefore run around picking up toys when they are done playing. During outdoor play, the older and stronger children are allowed to climb the monkey bars by themselves with the ‘Auntie’ hovering close by to give assistance if it is needed. Recommendations A good day care is one that has a good reputation. No one will want to send their child/children to a daycare that has a bad track record. Established ground rules and policies are important and this is something a good day care has. These rules and policies should include what to do when a child gets sick, or has an accident while at the daycare, schedule pick up times (even though there should be some amount of flexibility with this), safety policies, etcetera. A good day care has a stimulating curriculum that is age appropriate. As these are the formative of a child’s life, activities should be geared at setting a foundation of later learning. The day care should have a license that is current. This is an indication that the day care is in legal operation. Qualified staff is also important. Parents want to know that when they drop their children off at the day care, they are in good hands. The facilities should be clean and safe as well. The day care of study can be considered to be a good one. However, there are a few things that could be done to improve the facility. The acquisition of more qualified staff is something that should be looked into. Even though the caregivers try to pay attention to all the children in their care, it can be taxing for one staff member to have to oversee six children at once, especially during play time. There is a need for more toys for the children, especially building blocks. There is presently a toy drive going on to help with the endeavor of procuring more toys. In doing so, they can look into getting another slide as the tiny one that is there cannot suffice for all the children that want to use it during outdoor play. They need to also look into getting straps or bars put on the swing as there are children who have a habit of getting in and out of the swing while it is in flight. This can be very harmful to them. The monkey bar is also a cause of concern as it is very dangerous, especially for the smaller children. The spaces between each bar are too wide and therefore adjustments may have to be made by putting plastic or wooden bars in between each space to reduce the width that the children will have to climb on. There is a gate at the end of one of the driveways that is too far from the ground and so the ball continues to go under the gate when the children play in the driveway. They need to lower the gate or put something to block the opening so that the ball does not run onto the road. Closing Remarks Members of group five (5) can conclude that the visit to the day care was a productive one. The time spent with the children was thoroughly enjoyed as there was more than mere observation. The day care is a great one and should become better if the things in the afore mentioned recommendations are taken into consideration. Group five would recommend this day care to parents and guardians seeking one as they take into consideration the holistic development of the children. Case Study on a Day Care. (2016, Dec 21).

Resource,learning and talent mgt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Resource,learning and talent mgt - Essay Example Graphic models, data and regression statistics support studies on leadership. Barker (2001) finds that management and leadership are two diverse topics. The statement by Barker shows that leadership and management cannot be used in an interchangeable manner because of their diverse nature. The differences between management and leadership show that it is difficult for an individual to become a good leader and manager at the same time. Organizations offer platforms for learning and developing effective management and leadership practices. An individual has the capabilities of navigating the two positions with the right knowledge and experience (Darr, 2011, p. 4). Leaders identify possible areas that require change and pursue them. These changes are facilitated by organizational theories of action that enable employees and followers to map their actions. Leadership begins with an individual’s choice to pursue and begin the process of change. Organizations, groups and teams requi re effective managers and leaders who can successfully run operations. Leaders and managers influence their employee’s job satisfaction and the operations of a learning organization. This means that leaders influence people’s actions and their abilities to map their actions in order to align with expected outcomes. ... e, Bill Gates assumes the state of both a leader and a manager though the two fields have different definitions, skill sets and behavioral consistency that contribute to effective leadership and management (Lesinski 2009 p. 45). For example, he motivates the workers by setting the vision of the organization, but also participates in providing operational guidelines as evident in the launch of various products within the company (Su-Chao, and Ming – Shing 2007 p. 156). Differences between Leadership and Management Leadership involves acting on possibilities that can influence an organization. This means that leaders see possibilities, describe the possibilities and plan to pursue the possibilities (Lain & Judy 2001 p. 21). For example, Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic has assumed the role of a leader by providing a vision that contributes to the growth of the company. This has improved his standing in the society because he seems to understand the needs of the company bey ond the management, and administrative roles (Carter 2013 p. 2). Conversely, management occurs as the act of coordinating efforts of people in order to accomplish objectives and goals. For example, the Manager at Bank of America seems to focus on goals stipulated by the administrative entities as well as the vision of stakeholders. He rarely acts on his own since the organization works as a system. Leadership begins with an individual who is willing to act as an agent of change. The main role of a leader is to envision a future and become an agent of change for the achievement of the future. Leadership starts with an individual’s choice to begin the processes of change. According to Dessler (2004), leadership, â€Å"is one person influencing another to willingly work towards a predetermined