Jodi Picoult Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jodi Picoult - Research Paper Example Her first novel titled ‘Songs of the Humpback whale’ was written when she was pregnant with her first child and she found it quite difficult to strike a balance between work and motherhood. It was all these experiences that influenced her second novel titled ‘Harvesting the Heart.’ The basis for this book comprised partly of her balancing act between her career and her life as a mother. As Picoult states - "It took me a while to find the balance," Picoult says, "but I'm a better mother because I have my writing†¦ and I'm a better writer because of the experiences I've had as a parent that continually remind me how far we are willing to go for the people we love the most."  (Jodi Picoult, 2007) ‘Nineteen Minutes’ by Jodi Picoult, is a rather shocking story that is very much relevant in today’s contemporary society. This very interesting story revolves around a young boy named Peter Houghton, who was a victim of bullying right from h is kindergarten up to his High School. The bullying included slamming him into the school lockers, snatching away his lunch and breaking his spectacles to smithereens. (Nann Blaine Hilyard, 2007) Hate builds up over the years and one fine morning in March, Peter goes to school with a gun and shoots down a teacher and nine students within 19 minutes. The author has given a very apt title for this story and with her keen sense of analyzing the current scenario of today’s society, she has the ability to trigger feelings and emotions of people involved in different relationships. Her fictional stories such as ‘Nineteen Minutes’ seems almost lifelike because we see it happening in our lives even today. Her philosophy of life goes beyond sensationalism and creates an awareness not only among parents but also among students, of some of the social issues that face us today. ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ is another enlightening story by Picoult who makes use of multiple narrators to drive home the message of social awareness in contemporary society. The central theme in this story is dependency, that is clearly brought out by 13 year old Anna Fitzgerald who has an older sister Kate. It is rather unfortunate that Kate was afflicted with a rare kind of leukemia and depended on her sister Anna for a variety of blood products. Anna being an allogeneic donor was a fitting sibling match for Kate. (Dignan Jennifer, 2005) Picoult pulls at the heart strings of her audience by making use of different narrators who express their feelings and emotions regarding the happenings in the Fitzgerald household. She involves the readers by shedding light on what life would mean to the donor, the recipient, parents and other children in the family and comes out with the moral, ethical and legal issues that can confront them at every stage of their lives. Though Anna’s parents show a lot of love and concern for her, in the bigger picture Anna understand s that she is there for a purpose and the purpose was to save her sister Kate. (Dignan Jennifer, 2005) Anna feels used and does no quite believe her mother when she says that she and her father love her a lot. This point clearly expresses Anna’s doubt when she states that her mother ‘made sure to say’ that her parents loved her. The bond and respect between both the sisters is very strong even though they quarrel sometimes. Jodi Picoult’s ‘A Change of Heart’ is the gripping tale of a murderer who was on the death row

Create topic, because you are writing the paper, not me Essay

Create topic, because you are writing the paper, not me - Essay Example What she discovered can best be explained using Malcolm Gladwell's discussion of strong-tie and weak-tie relationships. By understanding both strong-tie and weak-tie relationships as they are experienced by Nathan, it may be possible to develop some more successful strategies toward achieving community and diversity on college campuses. Nathan starts her essay off by describing the experience of the freshman student from the moment of registration, possibly before. "As a student, one is immediately enlisted to join the group, to get involved, to realize that one has become a part of the AnyU 'community" (Nathan, 41). The primary aim of the mandatory freshman class she describes is clearly intended to kick-start the kind of strong-tie connections Gladwell says are necessary to effect significant change. Although he's talking about motivating people to take physically dangerous action as part of the civil rights movement, the reasons people decide to keep participating in a difficult, long-term task or to withdraw from it remains consistent - those who have strong-tie connections to others engaged in the same pursuit were more likely to remain while those who had few strong-tie connections were more likely to leave. Citing another study, Gladwell says "high-risk activism ... is a strong-tie phenomenon." However, the attempt to foster a strong-tie connection among freshman students at Nathan's AnyU college failed because students strongly resisted the effort. Their resistance was largely based on their lack of choice - in taking the class and in the reading material - and on their perception that the course contributed nothing toward their educational pursuit. Students did show evidence of strong-tie connections, such as when they chose to get together for dinners, small group events, and other activities. "It seemed telling to me that so many dormitory residents were watching the same game in different places, the great majority preferring to pass the time with a carefully chosen group of personal friends in their own private space. It spoke in a more general way to how community really worked in the university" (Nathan, 54). These were self-selected communities within the university space that shared strong ties of friendship and inter-reliance, a characteristic that Gladwell identifies as essential to maintaining strong-tie relationships. However, as Nathan is suggesting as she discusses the desolation of the common rooms in favor of crowded dorm rooms full of small, isolated bands of students, a strong push toward individualism within our society coupled with the convenience of social media technology is weakening these ties. In the freshman orientation program, she notes that "what holds students together, really, is age, pop culture, a handful of (recent) historical events, and getting a degree" (Nathan, 42). Attempts to bring students together are often discouraging as only a handful will appear even when well publicized and a popular activity. "They [students] genuinely want to have a close community, while at the same time they resist the claims that community makes on their schedule and resources in the name of individualism, spontaneity, freedom, and choice." (Nathan, 47). Rather than the kind of strong-tie connections that used to once bind large groups of people together, filling those common rooms with

Chemistry of Essential Oils

Chemistry of Essential Oils Rhea Hughes Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Basic Chemical Structure 2.1 Hydrocarbons Monoterpenes Sesquiterpenes 2.2 Oxygenated Compounds 3. Extraction Methods 4. How essential oils are analysed 5. Discussion 6. Conclusion 7. Bibliography 1. Introduction Essential oils are used as alternative medical treatments, fragrances for perfumes and also as flavours in food and beverages (Djilani Dicko, 2012). They are made up of fragranced mixtures that are found in different parts of plants such as the seeds, stems or flowers. (doTERRA, 2014). In this essay the following topics of essential oils will be discussed; the chemical structure, how they are extracted from plants and how to determine their components through analysis. 2. Basic Chemical Structure Essential oils are extracted from plants as the compounds that make up essential oils are created naturally by chemical reactions that occur in different plants. Essential oils are released when oils are chemically extracted from the herb or when the herb is compressed (EBSCO, 2014).There are two groups of chemicals that are made from nature; they are classified into primary and secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites can be divided further into carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins. Secondary metabolites are divided into alkaloids, polyketides, shikimates and terponiods (Baser Buchbauer, 2010). The secondary metabolism of a plant is responsible for their scent and also plays a role in the defence system of the plant protecting it from pests Essential oils are made up of hydrocarbons and their derivatives oxygentated compounds that are created from plants secondary metabolism (Chamorro et al., 2012). As it can be seen in Figure 1 in the biosysthesis of secondary metabolites, water and carbon dioxide are converted to glucose through photosynthesis. Phosphoenolpyrutave is a main element in the shikimate group of natural products. Decarboxylation of phosphoenolpyrutave produces acetate which is esterified with coenzyme-A to produce acetyl CoA. Acetyl CoA is a starting point for Mevalonic Acid, which is the starting compound for terpenoids. Figure 1 shows the chemical structure of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. (Baser Buchbauer, 2010). Figure 1: Biosythesis of secondary metabolites (Baser Buchbauer, 2010). Essential oils molecules are prepared mainly from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (essentials, 2014). Essential oils can be divided into two groups hydrocarbons and their derived oxygenated compounds (Martin, 2014). The hydrocarbon group is divided into monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Hydrocarbon chains are kept together by carbon atoms that are linked together. At different points in the chains atoms are attached to make up alternative oils (essentials, 2014). The oxygenated compounds can be broken down into smaller compounds such as Phenols, Alcohols, Aldehydes, Ketones, Esters, Lactones, Coumarins, Ethers and Oxides (EsotericOils, 2014). 2.1 Hydrocarbons Terpenes are made up of isoprene units. Isoprenes are five-carbon molecules. Isoprenes are assembled in different formations to make up terpenes (Cyberlipid, 2014). Terpenes are a group of molecules that is based on a number of isoprene units in a head to tail fashion. Figure 2 : Isopene Unit (Cyberlipid, 2014) Modified terpenes (terpenoids) are where methyl groups have been moved or removed or oxygen atoms added to the structure. Terpenes are easily decomposable under different effects such as air light and moisture which can cause spoilage of the oil. Terpenes have a narrow boiling range, making them difficult to purify. (Parry, 1922). Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are the main components of essential oils as they are adequately volatile (Cyberlipid, 2014), (Baser Buchbauer, 2010). Monoterpenes Monoterpenes have 2 isoprenes units linked together. Monoterpenes are very volatile due to the molecular structure (Chamorro et al., 2012). Monoterpenes increase the therapeutic functions of other components in the oil and stop the collection of toxins (Martin, 2014). An example of an essential oil that is a monoterpene is menthol which is a cyclic monoterpene. Menthol has cooling properties and has a unique scent of the oil residue that is extracted from it (Kamatoua et al., 2013). There is a difference in the content of methone and menthol detected, as the plant mature there is a higher content of menthol and menthyl acetate content (Baser Buchbauer, 2010). Figure 3: Steoreoisomers of menthol (-) –menthol is the most commonly used synthetic and natural form. Menthol has microbial properties but is not a principal compound in essential oils as it is only a component in of a restricted number of aromatic plants (Kamatoua et al., 2013). Sesquiterpenes Sesquiterpenes have 3 isoprene units linked together. They are common in essential oils and are less volatile than monterpenes so they blend well with volatile oils (Martin, 2014). An example of a sestquiterpene is Zingiberene that is used in the oil. It is acquired by fractional distillation under reduced pressure (Parry, 1922). Figure 4: Structure of Zingiberene (Chemistry, 2014). 2.2 Oxygenated Compounds Oxgenated compounds or terpenoids are derivates of terpenes. They have a stronger aroma and are normally more stable as they do not oxidise as easily under different conditions (Fresholi, 2014). Some examples of oxygentated compounds are alcohol, ketones and esters. Alcohols can further be divided into monoterpene alcohol and sesquiterpene alcohols (EsotericOils, 2014). Alcohols are found in in their free state and in the form of esters in essential oils. Methyl alcohols which are soluble in water which are main components in essential oils are removed during the distillation process so they are not actually found in the essential oil but can be found in the distilled water. But when in ester form methyl alcohols can be found in essential oils such as winter green. (Parry, 1922). Alcohols are beneficial components that have antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Esters are naturally occurring in plants. Esters such as terpineol attribute to the aroma in essential oils (Pharmacognosy, 2012). They also have calming and sedative properties (Oils, 2007). Linalyl acetate is a naturally occurring ester that is found herbs and flowers. It is used to make Lavender oil (Hermitageoils, 2014).Ketones have skin healing properties and also helps break down fats (Oils, 2007). Verbenone is an example of a natural ketone that is extracted from plants. It is an ingredient in the oil Rosemary Other examples of oxygenated compounds are aldehydes that have anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious agents such as geraniol found in Rose Geranium. Oxides that have anti-inflammatory properties such as eucalyptole are found in Eucalyptus. Phenols have anti-pathogenic properties (Oils, 2007). Thymol is an example of a phenol, it is a compound of thyme and ajowan seed oil (Parry, 1922) and ethers help regulate hormones and the central nervous system such as chavicol found in basil (Oils, 2007). 3. Extraction Methods There are different extraction methods that are used for the extraction of components for essential oils. There are two main types of extraction methods these are distillation and expression. Solvent extraction and CO2 extracts are also other techniques that can be used for the release of essential oils from plants. Different distillation methods that are used are steam distillation, water distillation and steam and water distillation. For distillation process the material from which the material is being extracted is placed on a grid in the still, the steam or/and water depending on which method is being used breaks through the plant material and removes the volatile compounds in it. The volatile compounds rise up into the condenser which cools the vapour into liquid form. This oil liquid will be form a separate layer with water and can be drawn off separately from the water (NAHA, 2014). Expression of essential oils is done through a technique known as ecuelle a piquer. This technique involves placing the rind of a fruit in a container with spikes that puncture the peel while it is being rotated. This technique allows the essential oils that are contained in the fruit to be released when it is punctured. Centrifugal force can then be used to separate the fruit juice from the essential oils (NAHA, 2014). Solvent extraction is used when the plants are too fragile to go through the distillation process. In solvent extraction the odoriferous lipophilic is extracted from the plant along with other tissues in the plant. This causes a thick solution to be extracted that contains waxes, fats and other odoriferous material. This solution is then mixed with alcohol which extracts the aromatic compounds (NAHA, 2014). Hypercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction involves putting C02 under pressure to turn it into a liquid from a gas. This liquid is then used as an inert liquid solvent which can extract aromatic compounds from the plant by diffusing through it. C02 can contain some elements that are not found in the corresponding essential oils. During extraction methods some main considerations must be addressed such as the cost, pesticide residue on the plants and also the safety and therapeutic benefits of the essential oil being produced. These considerations help decide which extraction method is most beneficial (NAHA, 2014). 4. How essential oils are analysed Terpenes are structurally varied therefore the methods used for analyses have to account for a great number of molecular compounds (Baser Buchbauer, 2010). With essential oils there are cheaper versions available on the market. Sensory tests are preformed first to help determine if the oil is poor quality. The clarity, colour, odour and viscosity are looked at to determine the quality. When these sensory tests are completed, physical parameters are measured through refractive index, optical rotation and their specific gravity (Lyth, 2014). Chromatography techniques are then used in the separation and identification of compounds (Baser Buchbauer, 2010).Gas chromatography/Mass Spectrometry is widely used in the separation and identification of compounds in essential oils. In gas chromatography the identification and quantification of the different chemical compounds in essential oils can be detected. Each individual compound can be identified by the retention time of the peaks. The data collected can then be compared against standards to determine the purity. (Lyth, 2014).One of the main objectives in separation is the resolution of the compound with a short retention time. To achieve this, the appropriate parameters must be provided. Chiral stationary phases allow for the separation of compounds with optical isomerism. When identifying essential oils in gas chromatography the temperature must be changed as essential oils contain votaile compounds and less volatile compounds. The temperature must start off low and then be raised every minute until 200C to obtain elution of heavy terpenoids. This allows for shorter elution times, separate and narrow peaks (Baser Buchbauer, 2010) 5. Discussion The chemistry of essential oils is important as they have such diverse effects. The different structures of the compounds is what causes the effects of the essential oil (EBSCO, 2014).It also depends on what part of the plant is being used and also the development stage of the plant. There are also changes in the amount of oil yield and the different compounds that are observed between the process of the bud of a flower forming and full flowering (Baser Buchbauer, 2010). But a plant’s compounds can have different effects depending on the country of origin, the type of soil it was grown in and also the climate conditions of where it was grown. These factors can all effect natural variations in the essential oils that are extracted from the plant (Lyth, 2014). Even though essential oils are known for their healing properties it is difficult to prove that they work because of the unique aroma of essential oils it is also difficult to have a control group. A lot of published studies on essential oil fail to reach accurate and reliable scientific standards (EBSCO, 2014) 6. Conclusion Essential oils are used in a variety of industries, but it is important to know the chemistry behind the process of producing them. This helps produce high quality and pure products that will produce better results. The extraction of them from the plant and also where the plant was growing and the conditions that it grew in are important factors when analysing the product for quality and purity. 7. Bibliography Anon., 2014. Organic facts. [Online] Available at: https://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/list-of-essential-oils.html [Accessed 05 November 2014]. Baser, K.H.C. Buchbauer, G., 2010. Handbook of essential oils : science, technology, and applications. Boca Raton: Taylor and Francis Group. Chamorro, E.R. et al., 2012. INTECH. [Online] Available at: http://www.intechopen.com/books/gas-chromatography-in-plant-science-wine-technology-toxicology-and-some-specific-applications/study-of-the-chemical-composition-of-essential-oils-by-gas-chromatography [Accessed 16 October 2014]. Chamorro, E.R. et al., 2012. Study of the Chemical Composition of Essential Oils by Gas Chromatography. Gas Chromatography in Plant Science,Wine Technology, Toxicology and Some Specific Applications, pp.307-25. Chemistry, R.S.o., 2014. ChemSpider. [Online] Available at: http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.83751.html [Accessed 28 October 2014]. Cyberlipid, 2014. Cyberlipid centre. [Online] Available at: http://www.cyberlipid.org/simple/simp0004.htm [Accessed 08 November 2014]. doTERRA, I., 2014. doTERRA. [Online] Available at: http://www.doterra.com/sgen/essentialDefinition.php [Accessed 05 November 2014]. EBSCO, C.R.B., 2014. NYU Langone Medical Centre. [Online] Available at: http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=37427 [Accessed 05 November 2014]. EsotericOils, 2014. Esoteric Oils. [Online] Available at: http://www.essentialoils.co.za/components.htm [Accessed 08 November 2014]. essentials, T.r., 2014. The Real Essentials. [Online] Available at: http://www.therealessentials.com/chemistry.html [Accessed 05 November 2014]. Fresholi, 2014. Fresholi. [Online] Available at: http://www.fresholi.com/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=653:essential-oil-componentscatid=88:aromatherapy [Accessed 28 October 2014]. Hermitageoils, 2014. Hermitageoils. [Online] Available at: http://www.hermitageoils.com/essential-synthetics/linalyl-acetate [Accessed 06 November 2014]. Inc, M.W.P., 2013. International WellnessDirectory. [Online] Available at: http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/therapies/essentia02.htm [Accessed 30 October 2014]. Kamatoua, G.P.P., Vermaaka, I. Viljoen, A.M., 2013. Phytochemistry. Menthol: A simple monoterpene with remarkable biological properties [Online], 96, pp.15-25. Available DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.08.005 [Accessed 14 November 2014]. Martin, N., 2014. Experience-Essential-Oils.com. [Online] Available at: http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/chemistry-of-essential-oil.html [Accessed 08 November 2014]. MintNews, 2014. MintNews. [Online] Available at: http://www.mintnews.in/Product-Directories.php?id=cpbThD2wlbs- [Accessed 06 November 2014]. NAHA, 2014. National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. [Online] Available at: http://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/how-are-essential-oils-extracted [Accessed 05 November 2014]. NobelMediaAB, 2014. Norbal Prize.org. [Online] Available at: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1910/press.html [Accessed 29 October 2014]. Oils, N.O., 2007. NHR Organic Oils. [Online] Available at: http://www.nhrorganicoils.com/frame.php?page=info_21 [Accessed 05 November 2014]. OMICS, 2013. Open access Scientific Reports. [Online] Available at: http://omicsonline.org/scientific-reports/srep129.php [Accessed 25 October 2014]. Parry, E.J., 1922. The chemistry of Essential oils and Artifical perfumes. 4th ed. London: D. Van Nostrand Company. Pharmacognosy, 2012. Pharmacognosy. [Online] Available at: http://www.epharmacognosy.com/2012/05/ester-volatile-oils-esters-of-aliphatic.html [Accessed 03 November 2014]. Wikipedia, 2014. Wikipedia. [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbenone [Accessed 06 November 2014]. Wikipedia, 2014. Wikipedia. [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymol [Accessed 06 November 2014]. http://www.biospiritual-energy-healing.com/essential-oil-chemistry.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil http://www.zenitech.com/documents/Toxicity_of_essential_oils_p1.pdf http://depa.fquim.unam.mx/amyd/archivero/LipidosPaulaYurkanis_11315.pdf Page 1 of 10

Educational Goals and Philosophy Essay -- Education Teaching Essays

Educational Goals and Philosophy As a student of education, I have been able to gather many ideas and opinions about practices and ideals I want to implement in my future classroom. My philosophies about education are still being formed and continually change with every class I visit and with every educator I encounter. My ideas, admittedly, come from random experiences and intangible texts, but as I gain more experience in the field through my courses, my philosophies about teaching will become more clearly defined. These few ideas I have now will undoubtedly be added upon as I enter student teaching and my professional career, nevertheless, they are concepts of which I hope to never lose sight. I believe teaching is a privilege and a serious profession. There are few other careers in which you have as great of an effect on other people. The responsibility is great and I take it very seriously. At the same time teaching can be fun and intellectually stimulating. As a teacher, I will have the opportunity to explore and define a subject area that I have committed my career to---Science. What better way to show my enthusiasm for the subject than to teach it? Additionally, I know that there is nothing more rewarding than reaching a student through my teaching and having a profound influence on their curiosity. Good teaching should extend beyond the classroom, and it will if students are inspired to continue their studies on their own. Honestly, I believe that there is no other job that is equally as rewarding. Science education often receives an inaccurate stereotype of being boring or too complex for the average person to comprehend. I have an extreme passion for Science and teaching. ... ...wish to pursue board certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards after I have taught for three years. It is important to me that I never stop learning. I want to exude this quality for the well being of myself and for my students. Maybe through me, students will see that education is not a hassle, but a completely rewarding experience. My philosophy of education has been shaped by experiences within my own life and education, as well as learning about education in college. As I enter the profession, my philosophy will most likely evolve somewhat as I grow and gain experiences as a teacher in the classroom. However, the foundations of my educational philosophy will continue to guide me in the way which I will interact with students and teach within my classroom.

Mgt 301

Case study page 600: Question one: What has sustained Southwest culture? Southwest Airlines has a strong culture that lasted for 32 years. The organization’s core values are intensely held and widely shared by the whole organization, meaning that all employees believe in and stick to the organizational culture which makes sense why it’s regarded as having a strong culture. Which is reflected through their performance, loyalty and commitment, even when others competitors rose in the market, employees still never left the organization although they demanded better pay. Other reasons might be: Selection: workers were selected on the basis of having a sense of humour and other qualities but sense of humour has been a basic criterion. Top management: always motivated employees by portraying the airline as the underdog. Also allowing a large portion of the compensation to be in the form of stocks ,therefore sharing profits. Finally the provision of job security. Socialization: as mentioned in the case study that the company encouraged it’s employees too work hard and at the same time have a good time. Question two: Do you think upstart airlines can successfully duplicate this culture? It might be able to duplicate part of the culture but not all of it, since they already penetrated the market with their competitive edges as offering reserved seats, free live-satellite TV, more fuel-efficient planes and younger lower paid workers. Which makes sense why they can hardly see themselves as the underdogs, since they are likely to win being the top dogs of the market. Question three: Now that the company is no longer the underdog what can Southwest’s anagement do to retain it’s high-productivity culture? The organization should motivate employees to work as hard as they were before. The case now is that part of their compensation is cut due to the decrease of their shares’ value and dividends. Which justifies their aggressive demand for having higher wages and less working hours. Southwest should try to enhance it’s service and attract new customers through th e provision of in-flight entertainment, purchasing new jets and other benefits that would make them competitive in the market place. At that, time employees would be able to work harder. Question four: What dose the case imply about sustaining culture in a changing environment? Any organization should constantly evaluate the market for new technological developments and customer’s needs, because changing organizational culture is the hard way. As it involves changing people’s behavior; how they think, how they act and interact with one another in order to achieve the organization’s objectives.

Reasons for a Dysfunctional Family Essay

Reasons for in case of dysfunctional families/child abuse + neglect * Drugs/alcohol * Parents leaving kids to fend for themselves * Less belonging to churches + moral life lessons * Parent separation + divorce * Baby bonus may encourage people to have children for the wrong reasons What are the positive effects of a positive (good) self-esteem? ]Positive outlook Positive thoughts Good self-esteem level Good confidence Self Confidence 1. Self-confidence is the belief or feeling that a person has about themselves, which assists them to achieve in life. The development of self-confidence may be influenced by culture, environment, age, ability, life experiences, gender, parenting expectations. 2. The factors that may contribute to the positive or negative development is a poor outlook, poor body image, dysfunctional family. Your culture, environment, age, ability, life experiences, gender, parenting expectations. 3. The perceptions of femininity and masculinity on an individual’s development of self-confidence is strong gender classifications and stereotypes can make –girls in particular- feel less than boys. In some cultures, even in our own, females are pushed into a lesser mental state, not being able to achieve as much. 4. A) Achieves poor academics – negative B) Struggles to make friends – negative C) Takes on new challenges – positive D) Feels good about their achievements – positive Heredity 1. Heredity is the variation in individual growth and development is partly a result of heredity or genetic factors. Genes contribute to differences between males and females and between individuals of the same gender. They also contribute to the similarities between people. Accepting physical appearance and difference, along with other inherited traits, is an important part of development. Genes directly determine an individual’s hair, skin and eye colour, and certain health conditions. Heredity also has a strong influence on other individual characteristics, including height, weight, and even personality. Body shape is largely controlled by genetic characteristics and, although it may be altered by factors such as diet and exercise, it cannot be dramatically changed. 2. The factors that may impact positively or negatively on an individual’s development through heredity are: Positive – olive skin doesn’t blush, good health, tall, fast metabolism Negative – inherited disorders/illnesses, fair skin burn easily, very short, slow metabolism – prone to weight gain easily, drug/alcohol – negative traits (e.g. foetal alcohol syndrome), physical appearance that draws negative attention from peers, allergies (e.g. beestings, peanuts, grasses etc.) Environment Environment refers to the external (pressures) factors that influence an individual’s development. Environmental influences on individuals change as they move through their life cycle. Example – Baby is influenced by family, a child is influenced by child care/grandparents/carers, kid/teenager is influenced by peers and teachers at school. * Low socio-economic household * Unhappy/unsatisfied parents (angry household, lack of attention, child may be scapegoat, low esteem) * Loving, secure, stable household

Verbal Aggression Essays - Behaviorism, Aggression, Free Essays

Verbal Aggression Essays - Behaviorism, Aggression, Free Essays Verbal Aggression Verbal aggression is message behavior which attacks a person's self-concept in order to deliver psychological pain.(Infante, 1995) Studies of verbal aggression have focused primarily on children and adolescents in educational and social settings. Very few studies were found to examine verbal aggression in adults in the workplace.(Ebbesen, Duncan, Konecni, 1974) The consequences of verbal aggression in the workplace can lead to social isolation, job related stress, health related problems, as well as problems in career advancement. It therefore should be considered important, for the individual and management, to identify and address the causes of verbal aggression. This program attempts to understand verbal aggression by 1) identifying the various functions of verbal aggression. 2) identifying the antecedent conditions of verbal aggression. 3) Avoiding the antecedent conditions of verbal aggression. Method Subject The subject, Shirley J., is a 49 year old African American female. Shirley J. has several advanced degrees and is employed as a school psychologist in a metropolitan school district. She is married with two adult children. The subject readily agreed that the target behavior, verbal aggression, is a problem as it interferes with her relationships with others. She was enthusiastic in her desire to reduce, if not eliminate, this behavior. It would seem that self-monitoring for verbal aggression and antecedent control would be valuable as it would allow for consistent avoidance of verbal aggression. As a school psychologist the subject was very familiar with the basic principles of applied behavioral analysis and frequently offered programmatic suggestions. A behavioral contract was developed jointly between the therapist and subject. The contract outlined the target behavior, success criteria, and individual responsibilities of the therapist and subject. (see Appendix A) Apparatus A basic checklist was used to document the frequency of verbal aggression on a daily basis. The checklist was designed to track only the occurrence of the behavior. It was felt by the therapist that the content of the verbally aggressive message would be too open for subjective interpretation and that no meaningful data would be gained from such documentation. In addition the subject made frequent comments of significant success or failure in avoiding verbal aggression for discussion with the therapist. The weekly discussions were used to evaluate the appropriateness of the procedures used and make any necessary adjustments to the program. Procedure For the first two weeks of the program no intervention was applied. Given that the subject self-reported that verbal aggression was a problem it was important to determine if the frequency of the behavior merited intervention. Therefore, the subject documented the daily frequency of verbal aggression. The results of the baseline period revealed a high rate of verbal aggression. (see Appendix B) Given the results of the baseline data as well as the demanding, often stressful, nature of the subjects job, it was mutually agreed that reducing verbal aggression would be the focus of the program. Verbal aggression was defined as cursing, yelling, and screaming at others. The agreed upon goals of the program was to decrease verbal aggression by 75% of baseline for four consecutive weeks. Treatment would consist of identifying and avoiding the antecedent conditions to verbal aggression. Avoidance of the antecedents is considered less restrictive, more proactive, and most effective. During the initial consultation it was determined that the antecedent conditions included, but was not limited to: work stress, time of day, verbal behavior of others (ie. tone of voice, inflection of voice and content of conversation, etc.), and non-verbal behavior of others (ie. facial expression, body posture, eye contact, etc.). In addition, the subject was required to self monitor for the following antecedents: clenched fists, tight jaw, rapid heart beat, and the emotions of anger, frustration and disappointment. Lastly, it was suggested by Infante (1995) that appropriate strategy must be taken to prevent verbal aggression from escalating. Successful avoidance of the antecedent conditions consisted of removing oneself from stressful situations, when possible, as well as not responding verbally when provoked. Weekly consultation revealed that verbal aggression was most often used to: 1) Escape demand situations. 2) Avoid demand situations. 3) Relieve job stress. The subject was to document the frequency of verbal aggression and record the circumstances of significant success or failure during the work week for discussion at weekly consultation sessions. A schedule of

The Chemistry Behind Sparkler Fireworks

The Chemistry Behind Sparkler Fireworks All fireworks are not created equal! For example, there is a difference between a firecracker and a sparkler. The goal of a firecracker is to create a controlled explosion. A sparkler, on the other hand, burns over a long period of time (up to a minute) and produces a brilliant shower of sparks. Sometimes sparklers are called snowballs in reference to the ball of sparks that surrounds the burning part of the sparkler. Sparkler Chemistry A sparkler consists of several substances: An oxidizerA fuelIron, steel, aluminum, or other metal powderA combustible binder In addition to these components, colorants, and compounds to moderate the chemical reaction also may be added. Often, firework fuel is charcoal and sulfur. Sparklers simply may use the binder as the fuel. The binder is usually sugar, starch, or shellac. Potassium nitrate or potassium chlorate may be used as oxidizers. Metals are used to create the sparks. Sparkler formulae may be quite simple. For example, a sparkler may consist only of potassium perchlorate, titanium or aluminum, and dextrin. Now that youve seen the composition of a sparkler, lets consider how these chemicals react with each other: Oxidizers Oxidizers produce oxygen to burn the mixture. Oxidizers are usually nitrates, chlorates, or perchlorates. Nitrates are made up of a metal ion and a nitrate ion. Nitrates give up 1/3 of their oxygen to yield nitrites and oxygen. The resulting equation for potassium nitrate looks like this: 2 KNO3(solid) → 2 KNO2(solid) O2(gas) Chlorates are made up of a metal ion and the chlorate ion. Chlorates give up all of their oxygen, causing a more spectacular reaction. However, this also means they are explosive. An example of potassium chlorate yielding its oxygen would look like this: 2 KClO3(solid) → 2 KCl(solid) 3 O2(gas) Perchlorates have more oxygen in them but are less likely to explode as a result of an impact than are chlorates. Potassium perchlorate yields its oxygen in this reaction: KClO4(solid) → KCl(solid) 2 O2(gas) Reducing Agents The reducing agents are the fuel used to burn the oxygen produced by the oxidizers. This combustion produces hot gas. Examples of reducing agents are sulfur and charcoal, which react with the oxygen to form sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), respectively. Regulators Two reducing agents may be combined to accelerate or slow the reaction. Also, metals affect the speed of the reaction. Finer metal powders react more quickly than coarse powders or flakes. Other substances, such as cornmeal, also may be added to regulate the reaction. Binders Binders hold the mixture together. For a sparkler, common binders are dextrin (a sugar) dampened by water or a shellac compound dampened by alcohol. The binder can serve as a reducing agent and as a reaction moderator. How Does a Sparkler Work? Lets put it all together: A sparkler consists of a chemical mixture that is molded onto a rigid stick or wire. These chemicals often are mixed with water to form a slurry that can be coated on a wire (by dipping) or poured into a tube. Once the mixture dries, you have a sparkler. Aluminum, iron, steel, zinc or magnesium dust or flakes may be used to create the bright, shimmering sparks. The metal flakes heat up until they are incandescent and shine brightly or, at a high enough temperature, actually burn. A variety of chemicals can be added to create colors. The fuel and oxidizer are proportioned, along with the other chemicals, so that the sparkler burns slowly rather than exploding like a firecracker. Once one end of the sparkler is ignited, it burns progressively to the other end. In theory, the end of the stick or wire is suitable to support it while burning. Important Sparkler Reminders Obviously, sparks cascading off of a burning stick present a fire and burn hazard. Less obviously, sparklers contain one or more metals to create the sparks and any colors, so they can present a health hazard. For example, they should not be burned on cakes as candles or otherwise used in a manner which could lead to consumption of the ash. So use sparklers safely and have fun!

Business Strategy Essay Example for Free (#2)

Business Strategy Essay In 2006, Starbucks’, the ubiquitous coffee retailer, closed a decade of astounding financial performance. Sales had increased from $697 million to $7.8 billion and net profits from $36 million to $540 million. In 2006, Starbucks’ was earning a return on invested capital of 25.5%, which was impressive by any measure, and the company was forecasted to continue growing earnings and maintain high profits through to the end of the decade. How did this come about? Thirty years ago Starbucks was a single store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market selling premium roasted coffee. Today it is a global roaster and retailer of coffee with more than 12,000 retail stores, some 3,000 of which are to be found in 40 countries outside the United States. Starbucks Corporation set out on its current course in the 1980s when the company’s director of marketing, Howard Schultz, came back from a trip to Italy enchanted with the Italian coffeehouse experience. Schultz, who later became CEO, persuaded the company’s owners to experiment with the coffeehouse format—and the Starbucks experience was born. Schultz’s basic insight was that people lacked a â€Å"third place† between home and work where they could have their own personal time out, meet with friends, relax, and have a sense of gathering. The business model that evolved out of this was to sell the company’s own premium roasted coffee, along with freshly brewed espresso-style coffee beverages, a variety of pastries, coffee accessories, teas, and other products, in a coffeehouse setting. The company devoted, and continues to devote, considerable attention to the design of its stores, so as to create a relaxed, informal and comfortable atmosphere. Underlying this approach was a belief that Starbucks was selling far more than coffee – it was selling an experience. The premium price that Starbucks charged for its coffee reflected this fact. From the outset, Schultz also focused on providing superior customer service in stores. Reasoning that motivated employees provide the best customer service, Starbucks executives developed employee hiring and training programs that were the best in the restaurant industry. Today, all Starbucks employees are required to attend training classes that teach them not only how to make a good cup of coffee, but also the service oriented values of the company. Beyond this, Starbucks provided progressive compensation policies that gave even part-time employees stock option grants and medical benefits – a very innovative approach in an industry where most employees are part time, earn minimum wage and have no benefits. Unlike many restaurant chains, which expanded very rapidly through franchising arrangement once they have established a basic formula that appears to work, Schultz believed that Starbucks needed to own its stores. Although it has experimented with franchising arrangements in some countries, and some situations in the United States such as at airports, the company still prefers to own its own stores whenever possible. This formula met with spectacular success in the United States, where Starbucks went from obscurity to one of the best known brands in the country in a decade. As it grew, Starbucks found that it was generating an enormous volume of repeat business. Today the average customer comes into a Starbucks’ store around 20 times a month. The customers themselves are a fairly well healed group – their average income is about $80,000. As the company grew, it started to develop a very sophisticated location strategy. Detailed demographic analysis was used to identify the best locations for Starbuck’s stores. The company expanded rapidly to capture as many premium locations as possible before imitators. Astounding many observers, Starbucks would even sometimes locate stores on opposite corners of the same busy street – so that it could capture traffic going different directions down the street. By 1995 with almost 700 stores across the United States, Starbucks began exploring foreign opportunities. First stop was Japan, where Starbucks proved that the basic value proposition could be applied to a different cultural setting (there are now 600 stores in Japan). Next, Starbucks embarked upon a rapid development strategy in Asia and Europe. By 2001, the magazine Brandchannel named Starbucks’ one the ten most impactful global brands, a position it has held ever since. But this is only the beginning. In late 2006, with 12,000 stores in operation, the company announced that its long term goal was to have 40,000 stores worldwide. Looking forward, it expects 50% of all new store openings to be outside of the United.i 1. What functional strategies at Starbucks’ help the company to achieve superior financial performance? 2. Identify the resources, capabilities and distinctive competencies of Starbucks? 3. How do Starbucks’ resources, capabilities and distinctive competencies translate into superior financial performance? 4. Why do you think Starbucks’ prefers to own its own stores whenever possible? 5. How secure is Starbucks’ competitive advantage?What are the barriers to imitation here? Starbucks 10K, various years; C. McLean, â€Å"Starbucks Set to Invade Coffee-Loving Continent,† Seattle Times, October 4, 2000, p. E1; J. Ordonez, â€Å"Starbucks to Start Major Expansion in Overseas Market,† Wall Street Journal, October 27, 2000, p. B10; S. Homes and D. Bennett, â€Å"Planet Starbucks,† Business Week, September 9, 2002, pp 99–110; J. Batsell, â€Å"A Bean Counters Dream,† Seattle Times, March 28th, 2004, page E1; Staff Reporter, â€Å"Boss Talk: it’s a Grande Latte World†, Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2003, page B1. States. C. Harris, â€Å"Starbucks beats estimates, outlines expansion plans†, Seattle Post Intelligencer, October 5th, 2006, page C1 Business Strategy. (2017, Jan 06). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Project Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Project Management - Case Study Example The project is to be completed within one month and has a budget of 50,000 dollars. The marketing team at Nigel Longford would be responsible for the marketing and launch of the website across various mediums so as to expand the reach of the website. The marketing team would consist of a team of 10 people. The project scope does not include designing and programming the website, which has already been conducted by the companys design and development team. The domain name has also been bought. In this phase, the project contract is developed. This contains the scope of the project, the Gantt chart, selection of team, risk planning and identifying deliverables. The scope of the project is to market and launch the website of Nigel Longford and to reach the maximum number of customers. The team would be based on 10 people. One of these people would be the team leader or the manager of the project. Three of the team members would work on the testing of the website. This includes checking and proofreading content, testing website and its link, user testing and also launching the website on the given date. This team would work closely with the design and development team. The other team, consisting of 6 people, would be responsible for marketing the website. A creative designer and an art director would be responsible for designing the marketing campaign. Two team members would be responsible for overseeing print and outdoor advertisement while the remaining two would be responsible for submitting and marketing the website across search engines, social networking websites and business directories (Barbara, n.d.) In the end, the team would be responsible for a workable website that should be launched on the given date. Also a marketing campaign, both print and digital , should be delivered as a project outcome. In this stage, the team would work in mostly pairs to achieve their objectives. Daily meetings would be conducted where all team members would be required to

Thesis comments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thesis comments - Essay Example Instead Coase focused on factors within the organization which impacted economic activity. Coasian theory later became the foundation for what is today called internalization theory, one of the most significant theories to emerge in the study of multinational enterprises (Rugman & Verbecke, 2008). This theory suggests that foreign production and sales of a multinational business take place in response to imperfections in the goods and services markets. Buckley and Casson (1976) established the modern conception of this theory by suggesting three premises: 1) firms maximize profit in a world of imperfect markets, 2) the imperfect nature of the markets for intermediate products motivates firms to bypass them by creating internal markets, and 3) internalization of markets across national boundaries generates multinational enterprises. Thus, the multinational organization is seen as a device for raising efficiency by replacing external markets with an internal market within the company . Caves (2007) suggests that the establishment of a subsidiary by a multinational enterprise amounts to the entry into one national market based on needs created by another market. One type of entry is horizontal expansion whereby a subsidiary produces the same product (or product line) as the parent company. Another is vertical expansion or integration across national borders either backwards in order to obtain raw materials or other intermediate products needed by its main operations, or forwards to provide a distribution channel for its exports. Consequently there are three types of organizations potentially relevant to multinational enterprises. The first is a horizontally integrated firm, meaning a firm which produces essentially the same product line for each of the geographic markets where it has a presence. The second is a vertically integrated firm, meaning a firm that produces outputs in some of its plants which serve as inputs to others of its plants. The third is a diver sified company, whose plant outputs are neither horizontally nor vertically related to one another (Caves, 2007). Hymer’s (1976) theory of international operations highlighted two major motivators of international operations, namely the exploitation of oligopolistic advantages and the removal of conflict between firms to strengthen market power by means of collusion. He states, It frequently happens that enterprises in different countries compete with each other because they sell in the same market or because some of the firms sell to other firms. If the markets are imperfect, that is, if there is horizontal or bilateral monopoly or oligopoly, some form of collusion will be profitable. One form of collusion is to have the various enterprises owned and controlled by one firm. This is one motivation for firms to control enterprises in foreign countries. (Hymer, 1976, p. 25). Hymer emphasizes that direct foreign investment is not motivated by interest rates but rather by potenti al profits which can be derived by controlling a foreign enterprise. Vernon’s product cycle model (1966) is an important macroeconomic approach to understanding international business. This theory describes the product cycle as consisting of three primary phases: innovation, growth, and maturation. During the last, maturation stage of the product, the

Coco Chanel & Vivien Westwood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Coco Chanel & Vivien Westwood - Essay Example Modernism was not conceived as a style but a loose collection of ideas. Where and when it was born is anybody's guess, but it flourished in Germany and Holland, as well as in Moscow, Paris, Prague and New York. Modernists wanted to build a better world, a world that could achieve social improvement through technology. The modernist's principles were frequently combined with social and political beliefs which held that design and art could, and should, transform society. Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel belonged to this school of thought. (V&A, Modernism-Designing a New World 1914-1939, www.vam.ac.uk)1. Modernism which presume the existence of clear-cut distinctions between different types of aesthetic endeavors, are perceived as elitist in comparison with postmodernism, in which high culture is no longer viewed as aesthetically superior to popular culture and dominant cultures are no longer more significant than minority cultures. The shift from modernist to postmodernist styles is viewed as a consequence of social, political, and cultural changes that have altered the relationships between different social groups and the dominant culture, as well as the ways in which these social groups can be plausibly represented by cultural categories (An Excerpt from Diana Crane’s 1933- "Postmodernism and the Avant-Garde: Stylistic Change in Fashion Design", . The reign of Prince Regent (1820-1830) came to be known as the Regency era. Empress Josephine, during Emperor Napoleon’s (1804) time was a great fashion leader for the slender fashions of the day designed by Leroy. From fak e pearls and strass paste gems to parures and Cameos, these fascinating jewellery made under the influence of Greek and Roman architecture, came to be symbolic of the 18th and 19th century fashion world. The high waist styles of early 19th century known as the Empire style, evolved in the late 1700s. It began as a chemise shift gathered under the breasts and at the neck.It had a very dcollet low square neckline, a short narrow backed bodice and separate skirt. The small neat puff sleeves barely capped the shoulder. They were pulled back by the narrow cut of the bodice and this restricted arm movement. The fabric for Empire dresses was usually made of fine white lawn, muslin or batiste. The predominant styles followed during the regency fashion period were those of Spencer, Pelisse, and Redingote (Pauline Weston Thomas, Regency Fashion History, 1800s Costume History, for Fashion-era.com, www.fashion-era.com). 2.0 Definition of Modernism and Post-Modernism Between World Wars I and II, there was the rise of a puritanical style of design popularly called Modernism or the International Style. Many designs during this period represented a form known for its overall severity and geometry, combined with symmetry, order and simplicity. What was conspicuous was the absence of colour and applied decoration. When colour was applied, it was rarely spontaneous, and seen in geometrical formats and clear-cut,

Why Did Vietminh and NLF Win the Vietnam War Essay

Why Did Vietminh and NLF Win the Vietnam War - Essay Example Unfortunately, the Vietnamese side of the conflict is persistently disregarded. Why and how the Vietminh and National Liberation won the Vietnam War remains obscured from the public. Nevertheless, the success of the Vietminh and the NLF during the Vietnam War can hardly be overestimated. The party and the Liberation Front greatly contributed to the success of the political and military operations against the United States. That the Communists won the Vietnam War was both remarkable and unbelievable: active propaganda, local support, sophisticated military strategies and the undisputable leadership capacity of Ho Chi Minh altogether laid the groundwork for advancing the victory of the Communists during the Vietnam War. It should be noted, that the fact of the Communist victory during the Vietnam War remains one of the most remarkable elements of modern history. Needless to say, before and even during the Vietnam conflict, the United States could not even suspect that the Vietnamese co mmunists would have a chance to outperform Americans, in all senses. Andrew Jon Rotter writes that â€Å"the most significant fact about the Vietnam conflict is not that the United States lost but that the Communists won† (180). In this sense, the most confusing is the fact that the main factors responsible for the Communists’ victory during the Vietnam War often remain beyond the scope of historical analyses. One possible reason is that, for many years, the United States did not want to shed light on the Vietnam War controversies that could affect its political image. It is also possible that more than one factor was responsible for the Communists’ victory, making the overall historical analysis extremely complicated. It is widely established that not the errors made by the United States in Vietnam but the actions made by Washington’s adversaries in Hanoi were at the heart of the Communists’ military and political achievements in Vietnam (Rotter 1 80). From the very beginning to the very end of the war, an interplay of factors created conditions needed to support Vietnam in its fight against the U.S. These factors included political propaganda, local support, effective military strategies, and the unprecedented authority and leadership of Ho Chi Minh. Historically, the Vietminh was created by one of the most outstanding Vietnamese leaders, Ho Chi Minh, in 1945 (Spartacus International). Later, in 1960, the National Liberation Front (NLF) was established (Moise). It is interesting, that the NLF was initially established with the goal of leading the guerilla against Vietnam’s Prime Minister Diem (Moise). South Vietnamese professionals, including artists, youth leaders and peasants, organized the NLF (Levy 19). At that time, the growing corruption in the country and the lack of positive political and economic changes raised the wave of public dissatisfaction with the prime minister’s actions and decisions. That was also the time when the NLF could not yet anticipate that it would play a crucial role in the Communists’ victory over the U.S. Political propaganda became one of the most important factors driving the NLF’s popularity and the public opposition to the actions of the U.S. in Vietnam. It is no secret that the NLF propagandists were well trained to work with the local population. Propaganda schools were scattered widely across the Southern regions of Vietnam, which helped to spread the NLF’s ideology against the United States (Friedman). The public messages sent to the local people were full of optimist about the future victory over the

Canadian Market Economic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Canadian Market Economic - Research Paper Example To accomplish this pure, here an effort has been to made to examine the macroeconomic structure of Canada. In chapter 1, the paper will discuss the economic and political structure of Canada, the economic social values of the country and characteristics of Canadian factors of production. Chapter 2 will explain the demand and supply structure of the Canadian economy. Finally, Chapter 3 will talk about the price control mechanism of the country. Chapter 1 1.1. Types of the economy and political structure Canadian economy is one of the wealthiest economies in the world as it is one of the top ten net exporters of energy. It is a member of OECD whose full form is Organization Of The Economic Cooperation And Development. As other developed nations, Canadian economy is also dominated by the service sector. There are two major economical sectors in Canadian economy. One is the service sector which comprises of seventy-five percent of the country’s population. The contribution of the service sector to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product is nearly about seventy percent. The other sector is the agricultural sector. Although this sector contributes only two percent to the country’s Gross domestic Product, a huge proportion of the labor force of the country is employed in the agricultural sector. ... His tenure is for about five years. (Lympany, n.d) The house of Parliament is situated in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. The Canadian parliament consists of the Head of the state represented by the Queen, the Senate and the elected House of Commons. The Federal Government of Canada has the power to make laws on various subjects like defence, immigration, criminal law, international peace, border control and customs. (Lympany, n.d) 1.2 Social values of Canada One of the social values in Canadian culture is peace. Canadian people are basically peace loving people and that is very much reflected in their business dealings. Thus hostile business attitudes are not quite common in the Canadian market economy. Of course, competition is there in every economic sphere, but entrepreneurs are generally involved in healthy business competition. Another social value is that they maintain a unique blend of collective responsibility and individual autonomy. They also have an attitude of tolera nce and acceptance. Canada is also known for the level of economic freedom that it offers. In the world, one of the highest level of freedom in economic terms is available in Canada. (Canada25, 2010) 1.3. Characteristics of Canadian Factors of production There are various factors of production in Canadian economy. One of them is land. It is one of the primary factors of production. It is one of the natural resources gifted by GOD and its tangible. But its supply is limited to an extent. It cannot be moved from one place to the other nor can be destroyed. It varies in terms of fertility depending on the nature of location. In terms of land ownership, absolute ownership is not present in Canada. In this second largest country of the world, the

World Trade Organization - The Problem of Dumping in World Trade Essay

World Trade Organization - The Problem of Dumping in World Trade - Essay Example This essay states that classic economic literature defines dumping from various perspectives. One such aspect relates to the distinction of dumping according to its various types. This follows that dumping can be distinguished by the nature and intent behind it. As a consequence, predatory and non-predatory dumping done by companies comes into perspective. There can be various motivations behind dumping of goods and services. From a business point of view, dumping is a type of predatory pricing or price discrimination. Price discrimination refers to the act of selling the same good or service at different prices. In conclusion, the researcher suggests that anti-dumping is the most used â€Å"contingency protection† of the WTO agreements today, and is used not only in transatlantic trade, but also by the United States and the EU. Dumping is defined as lowering of the prices of the imports in the foreign market. There are various classifications of dumping, i.e. predatory and no n-predatory as well as reverse dumping, sporadic dumping and persistent dumping. There is a lot of debate regarding dumping and attitudes towards it differ greatly. Dumping offers short-term benefits to the customers but on the global scale, it can be deleterious to the country where the prices of the imports have been lowered. However, the researcher states that despite the weaknesses of the current anti-dumping system, the WTO is the most effective institutional instrument for regulating international trade.

Canadian Market Economic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Canadian Market Economic - Research Paper Example To accomplish this pure, here an effort has been to made to examine the macroeconomic structure of Canada. In chapter 1, the paper will discuss the economic and political structure of Canada, the economic social values of the country and characteristics of Canadian factors of production. Chapter 2 will explain the demand and supply structure of the Canadian economy. Finally, Chapter 3 will talk about the price control mechanism of the country. Chapter 1 1.1. Types of the economy and political structure Canadian economy is one of the wealthiest economies in the world as it is one of the top ten net exporters of energy. It is a member of OECD whose full form is Organization Of The Economic Cooperation And Development. As other developed nations, Canadian economy is also dominated by the service sector. There are two major economical sectors in Canadian economy. One is the service sector which comprises of seventy-five percent of the country’s population. The contribution of the service sector to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product is nearly about seventy percent. The other sector is the agricultural sector. Although this sector contributes only two percent to the country’s Gross domestic Product, a huge proportion of the labor force of the country is employed in the agricultural sector. ... His tenure is for about five years. (Lympany, n.d) The house of Parliament is situated in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. The Canadian parliament consists of the Head of the state represented by the Queen, the Senate and the elected House of Commons. The Federal Government of Canada has the power to make laws on various subjects like defence, immigration, criminal law, international peace, border control and customs. (Lympany, n.d) 1.2 Social values of Canada One of the social values in Canadian culture is peace. Canadian people are basically peace loving people and that is very much reflected in their business dealings. Thus hostile business attitudes are not quite common in the Canadian market economy. Of course, competition is there in every economic sphere, but entrepreneurs are generally involved in healthy business competition. Another social value is that they maintain a unique blend of collective responsibility and individual autonomy. They also have an attitude of tolera nce and acceptance. Canada is also known for the level of economic freedom that it offers. In the world, one of the highest level of freedom in economic terms is available in Canada. (Canada25, 2010) 1.3. Characteristics of Canadian Factors of production There are various factors of production in Canadian economy. One of them is land. It is one of the primary factors of production. It is one of the natural resources gifted by GOD and its tangible. But its supply is limited to an extent. It cannot be moved from one place to the other nor can be destroyed. It varies in terms of fertility depending on the nature of location. In terms of land ownership, absolute ownership is not present in Canada. In this second largest country of the world, the

Victorian era Essay Example for Free

Victorian era Essay The Hound Of The Baskervilles is an intricate crime detective novel, which is a part of the classic British detective genre. It is set in romantic landscapes surrounded by more land giving the tale the perfect setting for supernatural behaviour. In association with the required Victorian taste, justice prevails at the end of the novel where the detectives discover the true culprits of the crime showing the reader that wrong doings can be overcome as well as reassuring them morally and socially that they are safe. Chapter 14 is one of the most important chapters in the novel because all the unknown events finally become answered in a manner, which would be believable in the 18th century. In the climatic chapter Conan Doyle uses heavy atmosphere and mood to develop variable psychological effects from using devices like fear, shock, surprise or and unexpected twist in the plot from unsuspected occurrences. In this 18th century story, pathetic fallacy is used to accentuate the weather scenarios and environments, which is of the Victorian era, particularly at the time where ghostly mysterious tales were very popular. Any classic British detective always traditionally has a sidekick. In the case of Sherlock Holmes his sidekick is Dr Watson who is an incredibly intelligent character and is addicted to opium. The relationship between Watson and Holmes is a very strong one and is held together by a grand admiration on Watsons part. Watsons admiration is proven in the quote: He had never said as much before, and I must admit that his words gave me a keen pleasure. This shows us Watson is incredibly excited by the fact that Holmes had recognised him and that he has an extreme admiration for him that any accomplishments would be a pleasurable experience. Holmes thinks of Watson as a friend, companion and an assistant if not his conductor of light, this means that Watson is not a genius but he occasionally gives Holmes inspiration to see unseen factors. In Chapter 14 we see the character of Holmes to be very much a genius as he has completely unravelled the curse and has proved it to be physical so that he can actually deal with it, therefore it is definitely a murder case, and the idea of it been supernatural has been dismissed. This is proven in the quote, Its dead whatever it is, said Holmes, We laid the familys ghosts once and forever. Watsons character as the sidekick is shown immensely well in chapter 14, as he witness and tells of Holmess physical and mental superiority and Watson is shown average compared to Holmes. Never have I seen a man run as Holmes did that night. I am reckoned fleet of foot, but he out paced me as much as I out paced the little professor. But in the next instance Holmes had emptied five barons of his revolver into the creatures flank. These quotes illustrate that even though Watson is good physically and mentally quite sharp, more so even than the little professor, Lestrade, but compared to Holmes he is inferior. Holmes is proven to be an amateur detective shown to us by the presence of Lestrade, the actual police officer who is there to make lawful arrest. Are you armed Lestrade? The little detective smiled as long as I have my trouser, I have a hit pocket, and as long as I have a hit pocket I have something in it. This statement can also be interpreted to be a very inappropriate joke and clashes with the serious detective genre. The use of melodramatic speech in chapter 14 is of such an extent that to the modern era it would be out of place but for the Victorian era, which it was written for, it seems intricately placed relating to the strong beliefs of the Victorians. Watson clearly describes the use of melodrama in the quotation, As her beautiful head fell upon her chest I saw the clear red weal of a whiplash across her neck The brust! cried Holmes. This speech is very melodramatic and re-enforces how significant harming a women was in the time of the Victorian. Conan Doyle, in chapter 14 of the Hound of the Baskervilles uses a vast amount of melodramatic description of the hounds to create tension. For example, fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowing with a smouldering glare. This portrayal of the hound would be immensely alarming to the reader forcing them into the belief that it would almost be impossible for any man to defeat a beast with such fearsome characteristics. Conan Doyle generates atmospheric suspense by explaining how the facial expressions relate to exactly to what is happening to them. We see this in the quotation; Sir Henry looked back, his face white in the moonlight, his hands raised in horror, glaring helplessly at the frightful thing which was hunting him down. The melodramatic description used here explaining the fear that had amounted on Sir Henry as the hound was ready to pounce on him effectively shows us the horrific situation he is in and that the death, and the curse of the Baskervilles is finally coming to an end. Conan Doyle conveys the mood and atmosphere through using exceptionally detailed descriptions of the surrounds, and much usage of different weather patterns to set a certain ambience, all giving out a fairly tense and mysterious effect. In chapter 14, Dartmoor is described as having a glooming curve with jagged, and sinister hills these adjectives have connotations of depression, and not anything being smooth as if something is wrong. This description darkens the atmosphere and prepares the audience for bad forthcoming events, which makes the reader feel menacing atmosphere. One of the most important senses known to man is sight. As there is lack of light on the moor the detectives result in using their hearing to its full extent. Their hearing seems to be amplified somewhat making any sound that is heard become an eerie one of danger and supernatural behaviour. In the beginning of the chapter there is very heavy fog, which creates a dismal yet mysterious atmosphere, it states the fog to be so heavy that it might have impaired their vision when they were tracking down the hound. The fog in this chapter plays a key part because it stands for the ignorance of the characters, and acts as an excuse to explain what they do not fully understand. To Holmes the fog is, The one thing which could have disarranged my plans. As the story become less of a mystery when they find that they can explain the bizarre antics of the hound the fog dies out. Phosphorus. I said. A cunning preparation of it, Holmes said. This quote explains, using scientific reasons, for the hound behaviour. All the questions have become answered and in the Victorian era, the much-appreciated use of scientific knowledge helped to resolve them, leaving the reader feeling at ease and satisfied.

Realism In Narrative Fiction Film Studies Essay

Realism In Narrative Fiction Film Studies Essay John Ellis has remarked that there is no realism but there are realisms. Explore the implications of this comment in relation to television drama. There is no universal, all encompassing definition of realism, nor is there agreement amongst academics and film-makers as to its purpose and use. But what we can say is that there are many realisms and these realisms share an interest in presenting some aspects of live as it is lived. (Lay, 2002, pg.6) This quote really helped me to understand the question in hand and what John Ellis meant when he said that there is no realism but there are realisms. In the context that I am writing in, about television drama, it means that different television dramas represent different aspects of reality and each one has its own unique function and purpose. For example, soap operas use realistic, life-like situations and issues such as divorce, death, teenage angst and relationships. These are topics that every person has had to deal with at some point in there life. Obviously the storylines on these programmes are greatly exaggerated but they can either help by showing people ways of getting through them or by showing them that their own lives are not as bad as they may think compared to those on screen. Other television dramas present other aspects of reality such as The Bill or Doctors illustrate what live is like in different institutions (i.e. the police force and a doctors surgery) and the struggles that they face in the professional and personal life. To begin with I shall present and explore the views and opinions on realism of other writers that I have researched into and observe their position on Ellis statement that there is no one realism. In addition to this, I am going to be looking at two case studies. These studies will be regarding television dramas of different genres so that I can make comparisons between them. I will also look at how realism is used in these dramas and which theories relate to them. Then I shall look at Desperate Housewives, which is an American drama set in a cul-de-sac in suburbia where the residents are best friends but all hide dark secrets from one another. I will review Holby City, a drama set in a British hospital that explores not only the situations and issues of the patients, but also follows on going storylines about the lives and relationships concerning the staff. I shall then do my own analysis of each drama individually and comparatively, looking at conventions and how they relate to th eories of realism such as British Social Realism and the Classic Realist Text. John Ellis wrote about realism in his book Visible Functions cinema, television and radio, which is where the quote in the title is cited from. In his chapter on realism he says that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the word realism is used to cover a whole series of ideas and expectations, some of which can conflict each other (1992, pg.15). By this he is saying that there are so many different theories and ideas into what realism is, this means that we cannot talk about realism as having one definition because there is no one realism. Therefore we can only refer to these theories as realisms because there is no one way of describing what is it. Ellis goes on to say how he believes that realism can often be over complicated as the word is used to describe a range of artist construction and of audience expectation. In his realism chapter he also talks about how it is not just a realistic portrayal of character and events that makes a television programme realistic. He says that the programme also nee ds surface accuracy and to confirm the perceptions of what an audience expects to happen within a television programme that you would be expecting from preconceived ideas and common sense. It also needs to explain itself fully to the audience to fill in the gaps of what they do not figure out from these preconceptions made from previous viewing. However, these aspects to programme making are not enough on their own. For example, when thinking about surface accuracy media producers will also need to be thinking about all features that make up this one area, such as characters costumes, settings and props. In his book Ellis talks about realism as being a way of trying to depict things as they either are or as they were. He goes on to dispute this by saying that the demand that a representation should explain itself adequately to the audience cuts right across the desire that it should show things as they were' (1992, pg.16). By this I think that he is saying that an adequate represent ation may not necessarily show events as they were. This is because programme makers are sometimes more absorbed in making sure that a programme is entertaining to its audience than that it is a completely accurate representation. According to Ellis there are 4 ways in which realism can be used and shown. However, because of how society constantly changes and develops these descriptions will also be in need of changing so that they are more appropriate to todays society. Programme makers are also trying to break the conventions of realism and try out new techniques and methods to create a new sense of reality and how we recognise it. The other books that I looked in for research said very similar things about how there can be no one explanation for what realism is. In the book Picture of Reality they talk about how knowledge is socially constructed and say that for realism, no formal criteria can be adequate to the task of characterising scientific explanations (Lovell, 1980, pg.17). Later on in this book they go on to talk about how people try to find patterns in realism when there really isnt any to find. I have also been doing some research on this topic in the book Television Drama realism, modernism and British culture. In this book John Caughie talks about what he calls serious drama, which is what he refers to as a scare quote by which he means that he uses this term just to make people realise that studying television drama is not just as simple as watching ER. By this term he means that we should look at dramas in a more cultural way and although it is a series drama, he means that it is series in ways other than just its content. He says à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦legitimate cultural territory within television from other areas which are legitimated by the official discourse of cultural approval (Caughie, 2000, pg.3). In this introductory chapter to his book Caughie also talks about how we stereotype genders to certain television dramas, for example women are more associated with soap operas whereas men are seen as more likely to watch action dramas. Then, because of this we then slip in to what he calls a natural order. To put Ellis theory about how there is no one realism into context I am going to be looking at and analysing the television drama that is Desperate Housewives (fig.1). I will be talking about what the drama is about, where it is set and the characters in it. As well as this I will be exploring how this supports the opinion of Ellis that this drama will only be representative of one type of realism and portray one aspect of live. Desperate Housewives is a drama made mainly for the purpose of entertaining its target audience. It is based around four main female characters, and narrated by a woman who used to be in their circle of friends but committed suicide in the first episode. The programme follows these women through their lives and the challenges and traumas that they face in the weekly episodes. Like a soap opera the events that take place are usually the type of situations that people are confronted with in every day live. However, the frequency of the events is exaggerated imm ensely in order to make the programme more appealing and entertaining to its audience. This means that Desperate Housewives both does and does not display realism, because the events and the way they and handled are realistic, yet the regularity at which they are occurring are not realistic for a setting such as the one in which this drama is situated. This location of this programme is another aspect to consider in terms of realism. By this I mean that Desperate Housewives is set in a quiet col-de-sac called Wisteria Lane (fig.2) in the fictional town of Fairview. This is another issue that could be deemed realistic or not because the town itself is not a real place, but it is realistic in the sense that it is representative of suburban towns and streets in America. Looking at even these view issues we can begin to unravel what Ellis means when he says that there can be no one definition of what realism is. This is because even in this one television drama there are many different areas that we have to look when considering if it is realistic. We cannot declare that the programme is realistic as a whole when some areas may lack in realism. In certain ways Desperate Housewives does relate to some aspects of the Classic Realist Text. I mean this is the sense that it will quite often use dominant specularity, where we as the viewer know more than the main characters. This will happen in the majority, if not all of the episodes because even though the main characters are a group of women who are best friends, they still have many secrets from each other. As the audience we are aware of everything that happens on Wisteria Lane, whereas if there is a scandalous event occurring that involves one of these women no one else will be conscious of it. Desperate Housewives also deals with some of the issues raised within Social Realism, but not in the sense that it deals with working class characters because the families are very middles class. However, in the way that it deals with contemporary issues such as homosexuality, suicide and racial issues. I also decided to examine Ellis theory in relation to a different type of television drama so to make comparisons between to the two. To do this I chose to look at Casualty (fig.3), a hospital drama which is broadcast on BBC1. Casualty is the longest running medical drama (first broadcast in 1986) and it follows the lives of the staff and patients in the Accident and Emergency department at the fictional Holby City Hospital which is located in Bristol. The programme not only concentrates on the goings on within the hospital, but also explores the private lives of the staff. It also does not only focus on the one profession of people in the hospital (i.e. the doctors), but centres around surgeons, nurses, receptionists etc (fig.4). This makes the drama seem a lot more realistic because obviously all the staff in a hospital are of equal importance. The makers show this by not having just a few main characters; instead they have many characters that get roughly the same amount of screen time and storylines each. Each episode will start off with the back story of the person, or the family of the person, who is going to be the main patient within that episode. We will see the events leading up to their incident and see how it happens. Obviously the majority of the programme is set in the hospital but we also follow to ambulance drivers when they go on call outs. This makes Casualty fit in with certain aspects of Social Realism which is often filmed on location. There are ways in which Casualty is both realistic and not. It shows good realism from a medical perspective, they manage this because they have real medical staff on set at all time to make sure that everything is represented accuracy. They also have to make sure that they always use the correct terminology and get all of the medical concepts exactly right as to make sure medically it is 100% accurate. However, similarly to Desperate Housewives, the lack of realism is down to the frequency at which events ar e occurring. Every week in Holby City hospital there are many more disastrous accidents and much more disease than any real life hospital would see, but again the incidents obviously all need to be exaggerated greatly to keep the audience interested in the programme. I can make a similar observation of Casualty that I did of Desperate Housewives. This is that Ellis was write in his theory that there is no realism is correct, not only over television drama itself (that is to say that all programmes represent different aspects of reality) but in each drama individually. This becomes more and more obvious when analysing television dramas because, as I said before, there are so many elements to a drama that some could be realistic and some could not be. Therefore, event within one drama series there are what can only be described as realisms. Both of these television dramas that I have been studying have a lot of similar conventions to those of social realism. To begin with they both deal with the contemporary issues that I mentioned before (e.g. homosexuality) in a very open way and do not try to hide this type of issues away, because that is not what we should and do act like in society. They are also contemporary in the sense that, unlike watching a film, we never know what is going to happen in the end because there is no end, and the programme makers may not even know so it is impossible for anyone else to. In addition to this, they fit the convention of being secular; an extension of real life, because they use real life situations and adapt them to entertain their target audience. In contrast to Ellis views about how there are many realisms, some people do believe in Anti-realism. This theory basically says that realist theories only show the surface and that we need to question the understanding behind it. Lukacs would say that realism fails to look at underlying social structure within television dramas and that it should advance our knowledge of society by focusing more on the programmes narratives. He also goes on to say that new social realities are in need of new forms of representation to get them across to the viewer. Although I do agree with some one the anti-realist policies and that some realist theories do need to grow with the development of society, I still think that Ellis was correct in his quote that there is no realism, but there are realisms. This is because in my eyes there can be no one definition of realism because every film or programme that we watch show reality it a different way. Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4.

Ancient Babylon :: essays research papers

The code of Hammurabi was one of the most important documents in Babylon history. It was adopted from many Sumerian customs that had been around for a while before the Babylonians. Though many of the Laws were adopted from Sumeria they were published by Hammurabi and thus known as the code of Hammurabi. This code had four main parts to it. They were: Civil Laws, Commercial Laws, Penal Laws, and the Law of procedures. The Civil Law was an important one to the people. It set up a social class system based on a hierarchy based on wealth. The Babylonians had three classes according to the code. They were the freeman or wealthy people, the semi- freeman who were able to become slaves at any time, and the slaves who were of course the lowest class. The next section in the code was the Commercial Law. This had to do with business transactions and most things relating to business. It set up 20% interest rates. There was a political economy based on economic status. The wealthy classes were the creditors and the poorer class was the debtors. After the Commercial Law came the Penal Law. This had to do with the issue of crime. The laws were unusually harsh do to their ineducation. Despite this the wealthy class usually enjoyed more freedom from the law than the lower classes. There was no jury in the court back in the times of Babylon. The code of Hammurabi was like an eye for an eye punishment. If you killed someone than you would be killed. The last law was the Law of Procedures. This dealt with the way all of the other laws were carried out. It also had to do with the way ceremonies were carried out. These ceremonies could include marriage and other religious ceremony. The first group of people to take over the Mesopotamia region was the Akkadians. They took over around 200 BC and they were lead by their leader Sargon the Great. Sargon was not a good leader and Akkad the empire they built was not organized at all. It had no society and no civilization. Soon after the Akkadians came the Amorites. They were also known as the old Babylonians. They built the city of Babylon and made it one of the biggest trade centers in the Middle East. Hammurabi was the King of the Amorites and was famous for the code of Hammurabi. Ancient Babylon :: essays research papers The code of Hammurabi was one of the most important documents in Babylon history. It was adopted from many Sumerian customs that had been around for a while before the Babylonians. Though many of the Laws were adopted from Sumeria they were published by Hammurabi and thus known as the code of Hammurabi. This code had four main parts to it. They were: Civil Laws, Commercial Laws, Penal Laws, and the Law of procedures. The Civil Law was an important one to the people. It set up a social class system based on a hierarchy based on wealth. The Babylonians had three classes according to the code. They were the freeman or wealthy people, the semi- freeman who were able to become slaves at any time, and the slaves who were of course the lowest class. The next section in the code was the Commercial Law. This had to do with business transactions and most things relating to business. It set up 20% interest rates. There was a political economy based on economic status. The wealthy classes were the creditors and the poorer class was the debtors. After the Commercial Law came the Penal Law. This had to do with the issue of crime. The laws were unusually harsh do to their ineducation. Despite this the wealthy class usually enjoyed more freedom from the law than the lower classes. There was no jury in the court back in the times of Babylon. The code of Hammurabi was like an eye for an eye punishment. If you killed someone than you would be killed. The last law was the Law of Procedures. This dealt with the way all of the other laws were carried out. It also had to do with the way ceremonies were carried out. These ceremonies could include marriage and other religious ceremony. The first group of people to take over the Mesopotamia region was the Akkadians. They took over around 200 BC and they were lead by their leader Sargon the Great. Sargon was not a good leader and Akkad the empire they built was not organized at all. It had no society and no civilization. Soon after the Akkadians came the Amorites. They were also known as the old Babylonians. They built the city of Babylon and made it one of the biggest trade centers in the Middle East. Hammurabi was the King of the Amorites and was famous for the code of Hammurabi.

Comparing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Sign of Four Essay -- compar

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde â€Å"has left such a deeply painful impression on my heart that I do not know how I am ever to turn it again† -- Valdine Clemens That which is willed and that which is wanted can be as different as the mind and the heart.   The Victorian age in English Literature is known for its earnest obedience to a moralistic and highly structured social code of conduct; however, in the last decade of the 19th Century this order began to be questioned.   So dramatic was the change in thought that Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (published in 1883) and Doyle's The Sign of Four (published in 1890) can be used to display this breaking away from strict social and moral standards.   Stevenson's character Mr. Utterson can be used to personify the earnest social morality that the Victorian age is known for, while Doyle's protagonist Sherlock Holmes personifies the shift to more individualistic pursuits.  Ã‚   In their search for answers, Mr. Utterson and Sherlock Holmes exhibit very different motivations for investigating:   the fulfillment of social and moral obligations, and persona l satisfaction, respectively.   This can be shown by comparing and contrasting these two characters' reasons for getting involved, their methods of dispensing information during their investigations, and their results at the cases' conclusions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The characters' actions in the first paragraphs of each of these works is very revealing; Sherlock Holmes is injecting himself with cocaine and Mr. Utterson is described as having resisted the theater (that he enjoys) for over twenty years.   From these beginnings, it is obvious who the pleasure seeker is and who adheres to a strong sense of morals.   Although Mr. Utt... ... Valdine. The Return of the Repressed: Gothic Horror from The Castle of Otranto to Alien. Albany: State University of New York, 1999. Print. Doyle, Conan. The Sign of Four in The Complete Sherlock Holmes Barnes & Noble, Dayton, New Jersey, 1988. Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales Of Horror. London: Penguin, 2003. Print. Works Consulted Charyn, Jerome. â€Å"Who Is Hyde?† Afterword: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Bantam Books. Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1981. 105-114. Hume, David. â€Å"Of Moral and Social order.† An Introduction to Philosophy. Ed. G. Lee Bowie, Meredith W. Michaels and Robert C. Solomon. 4th ed. Harcourt College Publishers, 2000. 348-352 Mighall, Dr. Robert. A Geography of Victorian Gothic Fiction: Mapping History’s Nightmares. Oxford University Press, 1999. 166-209.

Farming land Essay

In the late 1800s, many farmers were trapped in a vicious economic cycle. Crops prices began falling and farmers were often forced into mortgaging their farms so they could buy more land and produce more crops to break even. Good farming land was becoming rare and the banks took over the mortgages of farmers who couldn’t make payments on their loans. The railroads, on the other end, took advantage of farmers by charging them extreme prices for shipping and storage. Both equally frustrating the farmer, who pretty much resembled a larger economic problem because if he wasn’t doing well then the whole nation can’t do well either. Banks controlled the farmer, they watched the farmer’s and had input on everything they did. The Banks relentlessly took over the mortgages of farmers who couldn’t make payments on their loans (doc d). Generally, the average farmer struggled during the late 1800’s due to the huge increase of agriculture worldwide. Because of many technological improvements, which boosted competition, now farmers faced foreign competition, and are now forced to adjust the prices of their crops to stay competitive. An increase of production repaid the farmer’s losses only temporarily. However, farmers soon realized the limitations of farming land. Also they realized that their own surplus of crops just lower the cost so in the end they don’t make as big of a profit. (doc e). The troubles of a farmer were part of a larger economic problem that was affecting the entire nation. Deflation followed the Civil War, which made the amount of money in circulation decreased therefore the value increased. This was bad for the farmer because products took up a lower value. Loans that needed to be repaid with dollars are now worth more than what the farmers had originally borrowed, so many farmers lost money. The farmers saw a solution. It was the use of â€Å"cheap money† to reverse the effects of deflation. Farmers demanded the increase of greenbacks with the addition of unlimited coinage of silver (doc b). With the passage of the Bland-Allison Act in 1878, around 2 to 4 million was added to the silver supply. Yet that only eased it, and didn’t solve the main problem (doc). To make things even worse, railroad companies added more load on the  farmer’s by taking advantage with prices to transport grain. A lack of competition among the railroads enabled them to put high costs, sometimes making a shipment of grain nearly unprofitable (doc h). Also, railroads gained control over grain storage prices, enabling their influence over the market of price of crops. Justifying the transport prices became unchallengeable due to the lack of competition (doc g). There’s not much farmers can do than hope for some reforms since they’re stuck in a cycle of credit that meant longer hours and more debt with every year. Good farming land quickly became rare and the banks took over the mortgages of farmers who couldn’t keep up with payments on their loans. The railroads took advantage of farmers by charging them excessive prices for shipping and storage. As a solution the Bland-Allison Act in 1878 was pasted. The issue of the farmer’s debt stuck around. There validity of the farmer complaints is totally acceptable due to all the struggles and hardships they went through.