Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Puritan womens place in society during Colonial America essays

Puritan womens place in society during Colonial America essays The Puritan Revolution of 17th-century in America endorsed an intimate classification of women with domestic life that achieve a wide acceptance throughout the 18th century. Women were thus locked in the created domestic sphere while men were busy in the political sphere. However, Anne Hutchinson was a religious dissenter and she challenged the Puritan principle of conformity with religious laws was a symbol of godliness and that the Bible as the sole source of those laws. Nevertheless, Hester was a feminist and she challenged the Puritan belief of women belonging in the cult of domesticity. Up to this time, Puritan women were very restricted to life at home and therefore judged as inferior to men. For example, in my research I found that women were sent to the colonies as prospective wives for the settlers and the women lived in homes with married couples where they would receive suitors if they chose (source 1, 24). This exhibits how women did not come to America for the same reason as men did because the men came here for religious, economical reasons, or more. Nevertheless, women were immigrating to America to be the wives of the settlers; this demonstrates that women were expected to live in the household for the rest of their lives. In addition, in The Scarlet Letter, as Hester is standing on the scaffold in the beginning of the book, a judge, a general, and the minister of the town; all of whom sat or stood in a balcony of the meeting house, looking down upon the platform of the spectacle without risking the majesty or reverence of rank and office...(55) Thi s shows how men are looking down at Hester implying that she is inferior. The reason they stand on a balcony is to protect their majesty or reverence of rank and office since they think their reputation will be ruined if they are at the same level as women. Hence, women were separated into a differe...

Friday, November 22, 2019

The 7 Things That Really Look Good on a College Application

The 7 Things That Really Look Good on a College Application SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What looks good on a college application? It’s the question nearly every high school student will ask at some point while applying to college. But is there a clear answer? Fortunately, theanswer is yes! Read onto learn what colleges look for in applicants, what looks really good on a college application, and what kinds of myths there are about good things to put on a college application. What Are Colleges Looking for in Applicants? Everyone applying to college has wondered, "What exactly are colleges looking for in applicants?" In other words, what looks good on a college application? While all colleges are different, of course, with some valuing certain qualities or skills more or less than other schools, allcolleges generally look forsmart, studious, ambitious, and passionate students. Therefore, your college application should emphasize your best, most impressive qualities. For example, if you play the violin and want to study music in college, you’ll want to touch on this interest you have in different areas of your application. A good college application will also showcase your sincere interest in the school.You wouldn’t be applying to a college unless you had a reason to want to go there, right?Make sure to explain (especially if you need to write a "Why This College" essay) exactly how you became interested in the school and why you think it's a good fit for you and your goals. You don’t need to be the next Marie Curie or Stephen Hawking (though it certainly doesn’t hurt if you are!), but you should be open to new opportunities and willing to challenge yourself. Overall, the basic point of a college application is to make you stand out from other applicants in a positive, memorable, and unique way. This fact is especially important in light of how many first-year applications colleges receive each year.According to the 2018 report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the number of first-year applications received by US colleges increased by 4% from fall 2016 to fall 2017. The report found that "the average number of applications for each admission office staff member (excluding administrative staff) for the Fall 2017 admission cycle was 791 for public institutions and 426 for privates." These trends indicate that your application will definitely need to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee if you hope to get into that school. The degree by which you must stand out from other applicants will depend on how selective a particular school is.In general, the more selective a college is, the more impressive and unique your application will have to be. Finally, what looks good on an application will vary depending on the college and what the college values.For instance, at colleges that don’t place a big emphasis on standardized tests, a high SAT score likely won’t be much of a factor in admissions. This is just a general overview of what colleges look for in applicants. So what looks really good on a college application? Up next, we look at the specific qualities you should strive to include on your application so you can raise your chances of getting accepted. What Looks Good on a College Application? 7 Key Elements In addition to key personality traits, such as ambition, passion, genuine interest, and academic curiosity, what looks really good on a college application? In general, a great application will have most or all of the following elements: A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have) A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement A unique extracurricular interest or passion (a "spike," as we like to call it) Volunteering experience with measurable impact Compelling letters of recommendation written on your behalf Work experience, particularly jobs related to your academic or professional interests It’s OK if you don’t have every single quality listed above, but if you do, your chances of getting accepted to the college of your dreams will go way up! Now then, let’s take a look at each of these qualities in more detail. #1: Excellent Grades in Challenging Courses The first important part of the college application is the transcript, which consists of your GPA and the names and types of classes you’ve taken in high school. Most people believe a high GPA (the definition of which can vary at different colleges) will make an application stronger.And this is true! According to NACAC, 80.9% of colleges ranked grades in high school classes considerably important.In fact, this factor was ranked the most important of any in the report. What’s truly important, though, isn’t that you simply have a high GPA overall but rather that you have a GPA that's higher than the average GPA of admitted students at the college you're applying to. To find a college's average GPA, search "[School Name] PrepScholar admission requirements" on Google and then click our database link to that school.This page will show you what the school's average GPA is, in addition to other admission requirements. For example, if you want to apply to Notre Dame, you would search for "Notre Dame PrepScholar admission requirements" and click the link to our Notre Dame admission reqs page, which looks like this: As you can see, Notre Dame's average (weighted) GPA for admitted applicants is 4.04.As a result, if you're applying here, you’ll want to have a GPA of at least 4.04, preferably higher so you will be an above-average applicant. It’s not just about getting a high GPA, though; you must also take a range of challenging courses throughout high school if you really wish to impress an admissions committee.This means you’ll want to take not just basic-level classes but also someAP, honors, and/or IB courses, particularly in subjects you are good at and might want to continue to study in college or major in. The 2018 NACAC report found that a whopping 80.6% of colleges ranked an applicant’s rigor of curriculum moderately or considerably important. Think about it: though a perfect 4.0 might look great at an initial glance, if you got this high GPA by only taking the easiest classes available and didn’t challenge yourself with higher-level coursework, your transcripts aren’t likely to impress college admissions officers that much. Even if you started high school with lower grades, an upward grade trend is a great point to emphasize on your application.This suggeststhat you’re capable of bouncing back from any difficulties you might face and are willing to put in the work necessary for excelling in college. #2: High Test Scores Test scores, mainly SAT/ACT scores, are another key part of college applications (unless, of course, you’re applying to colleges that don’t require test scores). On the NACAC report, 83.1% of colleges believe admission test scores are at least moderately important.This is why it’s vital that you try to get as high an SAT/ACT score as you can, ideally one in at least the 75th percentile for your colleges. The 75th percentile means that 75% of admitted students at a particular school achieved this score or lower. Reaching (or surpassing)this threshold means that you’re scoring higher than most other admitted applicants are- and well above that college's average score. To find the middle 50% (that is, the 25th and 75th percentile SAT/ACT scores) for a school, search on Google for "[School Name] PrepScholar admission requirements."Click the link to our page for the school to see its requirements, including its average SAT/ACT scores. For example, say you’re planning to apply to NYU.Here's what the SAT scores section on NYU’s PrepScholar admission reqs page looks like: Here, we can see the average SAT score for NYU is 1410- that’s pretty high, in the 95th percentile! To really stand out as an applicant, though, you’ll want to aim for at least the 75th percentile. For NYU, that's1500, whichcorresponds to the 99th percentile, or the top 1% of test takers. Since you’re likely applying to more than just one school, you’ll need to set an SAT/ACT goal score, that is, a score high enough to get you into all the colleges you're applying to. To set a goal score, start by making a chart of all the schools you're applying to.You can make your own chart or download a blank template. Below is a sample SAT goal score chart: School Name 25th Percentile Score 75th Percentile Score Marquette University University of Wisconsin- Madison Michigan State University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Next, look up the 25th and 75th percentile SAT scores for each of the schools you’re applying to using our PrepScholar admission requirements pages. (Follow the steps above for NYU to learn how to do this.) Once you've got these scores, write them in your chart as so: School Name 25th Percentile Score 75th Percentile Score Marquette University 1140 1370 University of Wisconsin- Madison 1280 1470 Michigan State University 1050 1310 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 1310 1480 Now, look at all the 75th percentile scores in your chart.The highest score will be your goal score, as this is the one most likely to get you into all the schools you’re applying to. With our example chart, the highest score is 1480, or the 75th percentile score for the University of Illinois.By getting a 1480 or higher, you’ll be getting an impressive score not just for this school but also for Marquette, UW Madison, and MSU, thereby raising your chances of getting into all colleges you’re applying to. #3: Sincere, Specific, and Well-Written Essays The personal statementis an important part of your college application as it’s one of the only areas where you can really showcase your personality. According to the 2018 NACAC survey, 53.6% of schools consider application essays moderately or considerably important.While some colleges don’t require essays, those that do usually place at least moderate importance on them. So how can you ensure your essay will impress the admissions committee? Generally,colleges are looking for three main qualities in a personal essay: Honesty: What you write about should have actually happened to you and should be how you actually feel. Exaggerating details and outright lying are big no-noes here! Specificity: Using concrete details to effectively convey your thoughts, view, and experiences will make your essay a lot more memorable, personable, and- most importantly- unique. Eloquence: Don’t expect to get accepted anywhere if your essay is poorly written and full of grammar and spelling errors. A great personal statement has a sensible organization, tells a compelling story, and is completely free of technical errors. Below are some steps you can take to guarantee that your essay will have all three qualities. Step 1: Brainstorm Significant Moments From Your Life What you write about for your college essay will vary depending on the prompt(s) you’re given from your school or the prompt you choose (for example, the Common App and Coalition App allow you to choose from among several prompts for your essay). In general, you’ll want to pick a topic that meets the following criteria: It really happened and was significant to you: If you’re writing about a specific incident, it should be something that actually happened and that had a large impact on how you define yourself, your goals, and/or your interests. It’s specific and interesting: Don’t write about a broad, universal topic that can apply to tons of other applicants as well. Instead, focus on an event, issue, person, or struggle that’s unique to you and your life. It reveals something important about you: The essay is meant to highlight something you think the admissions committee should know about you, such as a personality trait you have, how you overcame some sort of challenge, or how you became interested in a field of study. It has a positive lean: While you don’t need to pick a topic that’s overly light or cheery, it should still have an ultimately positive lean that reveals something good about you rather than something bad, controversial, or immoral. Step 2: Write Your Essay The next step is to actually begin writing your essay.Don’t worry too much about grammar and flow at this point; just get down your ideas and start deciding which details and examples might work well in your essay. As you write, remember to channel your inner voice.This essay should sound like the real you, not an imitation of what you think colleges want to hear.So if you’re the sarcastic type, you might want to include a joke or two, for instance. Don't forget that the essay is a way for the admissions committee to learn more about you, so don’t shy away from your true self! On that same note, it’s OK to get creative here. The essayisn't an academic essay you’d write for English class- it's a story. Feel free to inject your writing with various literary techniques, such as a non-chronological organization, realistic dialogue, and memorable imagery. Lastly, make sure you’re sufficiently answering the prompt and are abiding by all technical requirements (such as length).You can check a college's essay requirements by referring to its application requirements page or by reading the instructions on the Common App, Coalition App, or Universal College App websites (if submitting your application through one of these platforms). An essay that's too long might get cut off when you submit it electronically, so be sure it adheres to all the requirements. Step 3: Edit and Proofread Several Times Once you have a rough draft of your college essay, it’s time to polish it up for submission. The best way to edit is to put your essay away for a few days.This will give you some distance away from your writing, allowing you to look back at your essay later with a fresher perspective. As you reread your essay, mark any areas in it that are unclear, awkward, or irrelevant to the main point you're trying to make with it.You should also correct any obvious typos or errors,such as mistakes in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Once you’ve done this process a few times, give your essay to someone to read.Ideally, this will be a person you trust, such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or tutor.Have the person you choose offer clear feedback on your essay and check that you've met all requirements.Edit your essay as needed in accordance with the comments you get. After you’ve finished all of this, you should now have a perfect college essay to submit with your application! #4: A Spike in Your Extracurriculars Almost every college will want to know what kinds of extracurricular activities you do or have done in your spare time. Indeed, 38.5% of colleges surveyed regard students' extracurricular activities moderately or considerably important.Ask yourself: what are your interests outside of school and how do you engage in them? The trick here is to provide not a list of all the random activities you've done but rather a detailed overview of one to two of your most passionate interestsand any big achievements you've made in them. In other words, you need to figure out what your "spike" is, a concept which PrepScholar co-founder and Harvard alum Allen Cheng describes in his expert guide on how to get into the Ivy League. To put it simply, aspike is deep accomplishment in and knowledge of a particular field. As an example, say you plan to major in biology. You’ll stand out as an applicant if you have tons of biology- or science-related experiences under your belt.Maybe you’re part of your school’s biology club, or maybe you volunteered at a local research lab, which taught you the basics of handling lab equipment. In addition to having a variety of experiences and sufficient background knowledge in the field, you want to highlight any relevant major accomplishments you have.For instance, maybe you won a science fair your sophomore year of high school; most recently, you submitted an award-winning invention idea to a national contest As you can see, this concept of the spike is the opposite of being well rounded, which most students assume they need to be (read the next section to learn more about this myth). If you’re not sure what your spike is just yet, take some time to try out new activities and explore any interests you have, both in and outside of school. Over time you should start to get a feel for what you're passionate about and what you can see yourself committing to in the future. #5: Compelling Letters of Recommendation Most colleges require at least one letter of recommendation from either your high school counselor or a high school teacher (or both). The 2018 NACAC survey indicates that 53.5% of colleges consider teacher recommendations at least moderately important, while a higher 56.9% consider counselor recommendations the same. Therefore, we can say it’s pretty important to secure great recommendation letters for your application. If you’re asking for a letter from a teacher, make sure tochoosesomeone whose class you got a high grade in (ideally an A) and who is familiar with your abilities, ambitions, and interests. Typically, you'll need to submit at least one letter from a teacher who taught a core class (so math, English, science, or social studies/history). It’s a good idea to also get a letter from a teacher who works in the field you plan to major in.So if you got an A in AP English and plan to major in English, asking that teacher for a recommendation letter would give a great boost to your application. While you don’t have to be best buddies with the teacher you ask, they should definitely know you well, beyond the classroom, so they can effectively explain to admissions committees what makes you special, that is, what makes you worth admitting. For example, if you did research with a particular teacher, are part of a club this teacher coaches or leads, or helped out this teacher with a project, this would be a good person to ask to write a letter for you. Once you’ve secured a recommendation letter writer, be sure to provide them with any materials or information they might need to help them craft a compelling letter. #6: Volunteering Experience With Measurable Impact Colleges love it when an applicant has not simply volunteered but has also made a measurable impact with their volunteering efforts.What does this mean exactly? If you have volunteered somewhere or for an organization, your assistance should have resulted in a noticeable, positive change to the group, community, or area you were aiming to help. For instance, say you volunteered at a local library.Maybe the library was struggling to get funds to continue operating, and you came up with the idea to hold a 24-hour reading marathon in order to raise money.The fundraiser ended up making more than $5,000, a figure that would be a concrete indicator of the positive impact your service had on the library. Withyour college application, then, you could specifically mention how your initiative allowed the library to remain open. Note that you don’t need to have assumed a leadership role in order to have made a positive impact through your service. That said, college admissions committees are often very big fans of students who show evidence of their budding leadership skills. #7: (Relevant) Work Experience Although you’re certainly not required to work a part-time job in high school, having some work experience on your college applications, especially any jobs that are related to what you want to study or do professionally, will help you stand out in a positive way. Even if your job isn't connected to a long-term academic or career goal you have, any (part-time) work experience you have will be great to put down on your application because itemphasizes your sense of responsibility, maturity, and willingness to work for your goals,key qualities that are usually considered important for success in college. Also, if you have any room on the application to elaborate on your job, I suggestexplaining why you initially took the job and what values or skills it's taught you, such as the importance of responsibility or how to work with certain equipment that you’ll likely use again in the future. 4 Myths About What Looks Good on a College Application What looks really good on a college application?Many students think they know, but the truth is that there are a lot of myths out there about what you should include on your application. Below, we introduce to you the top four myths about what looks good on college applications. Myth 1: Being Well Rounded Is Critical for Success One of the most pervasive myths out there about what looks good on a college application is the idea of being well rounded. Many students assume they'll need to have tons of extracurricular activities on their applications; this, they believe, will emphasize their array of interests as well as their knowledge of a variety of fields. But all this really tells admissions committees is that you’re stretching yourself too thin and (most likely) lack focus on a specific endeavor in your life. What colleges actually want to see is a spike,that is,a single passion. This allows colleges to get a clearer feel for who you are, what you’re interested in, and what your goals are. Having a spike lets you stand out in a truly meaningful way, whereas being well rounded will make you forgettable and seem too similar to other applicants. Spikes are especially important at highly selective colleges and universities, such as Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League-level schools. You can read more about how to develop a spike in our guide to getting into the Ivy League. If you aim for well rounded, you'll start to look like everyone else. Myth 2: Essays Aren’t That Important After Time published a 2014 article onwhy college application essays don’t actually matter all that much, students began to fear that all their hard work on their statements wouldn’t mean much in the end, if at all. But while some colleges don’t require personal essays, most colleges do require at least one or two essays- and will place a decent amount of emphasis on it, especially if it is being used as a deciding factor between two otherwise equally qualified applicants. Even though you should approach the essay seriously, it’s still generally rare for an exceptionally well-written essay to make up for tons of low grades and poor test scores.On the flip side, if you have a great application but a badly written essay, that essay alone could get you rejected! Therefore, make sure that you’re following all the steps listed above so you can craft the perfect statement for your application. Myth 3: An A in an Easy Class Is Better Than a B in a Hard Class Many students believe it’s better to stick to the classes you know you’ll get As in, but this piece of advice is misguided when it comes to college applications. In general, colleges prefer students who challenge themselves by taking an array of difficult classes, such as AP and honors classes. And you don't have to get perfect grades in them.If you get a B in a tough AP class, for example, this will emphasize to the admissions committee that you are willing to take on new challenges and test your limits, traits that are necessary for succeeding in and after college. On the other hand, getting As in all easy classes, though not totally unimpressive, is not nearly as interesting to colleges, as it suggests you’re unwilling to push yourself and further hone your higher-level critical thinking skills. All of this being said, try to avoid getting very low grades in any classes you take (regular or honors/AP). C and D grades obviously won’t look great to an admissions committee, even if you got these grades while challenging yourself in AP classes. If you can’t get at least a B or B+ in a difficult class, it’ll probably be better for you to drop it and switch to either the regular version of that class or an entirely different class altogether. Myth 4: Only Perfect Applicants Get Admitted Many students assume that if they have one little flaw in their application, such as a below-average test score or slightly low grade in a class, their chances of getting admitted to college will be slim to none. This just isn’t true. Yes, a very low test score or a very poor transcript may cause you to get rejected from a college, but many colleges use a holistic admission process, meaningthey look at and consider each individual applicant as a whole. So even if your application has a not-so-stellar component on it, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a reject. In fact, at particularly selective colleges, such as the Ivy League, you’ll often hear of cases in which ostensibly "perfect" applicants got rejected. This is most likely because they didn't have a spike in their applications (i.e., something that made them stand out). Overall, just try your best to produce the best application you can, and then hope for a good result! Takeaways: What Looks Good on a College Application Applying to college is tough, and knowing what to put on your applications to make yourself stand out is even tougher.What looks really good on a college application? Generally speaking, colleges want to see your passion, intellectual curiosity, willingness to challenge yourself, and academic accomplishments. More specifically, though, colleges typically prefer applicants who have most or all of the following characteristics: Good grades and a challenging course load Strong test scores Honest, specific, and eloquent essays A spike in your extracurricular activities Compelling letters of recommendation Volunteer experience with clear impact on the groups or places you’ve helped Any relevant or impactful work experience Finally, as you apply to college and try to think of good things to put on a college application, make sure you’re aware of the following truths about the application process: It’s better to have a spike than to be well rounded Essays are important! A B in a hard course is more impressive than an A in an easy course You can still get into your dream school even if your application isn’t perfect What’s Next? A great college application will get you admitted.Use our college acceptance calculator to get an estimated percentage of your chance of getting into your dream school, based on your SAT or ACT score and GPA. One thing a great college application can have is a high SAT or ACT score.Get expert tips in our guides on how to get a perfect 36 on the ACT and how to get a perfect 1600 on the SAT. Need help figuring out which colleges to apply to? Our guide teaches you how to narrow down your college choices so that you're applying to the best schools for you. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Organizational culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organizational culture - Essay Example Thus effective leadership requires accomplishment and influencing. Leadership requires trust and commitment of others, which they can achieve through their own behavior and integrity. Leaders create and deal with change; leadership requires vision, direction, strategies, motivation and inspiring. The model of leadership developed by Kouzes and Posner is known as The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. These qualities include modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act and encouraging the heart (Wiley, 2000). Developing and inspiring a shared vision requires leadership because it has to be realistic and credible (Nahata, 2001). If the vision is shared, the individuals can find their own roles, which contribute to their personal and professional growth. The strength of a leader lies in his ability to inspire others to give their best. For instance, there is always a resistance to change in the face of environmental pressure and uncertainty when it is caused by the organization culture, says Schein (Lakomski, 2001). A leader plays a crucial role in such cases where he has to inspire them to understand and accept the vision or the corporate goals. The individuals have to be inspired to deal with the external and internal environment. The leader can transform the current stagnating culture into a productive culture. When the resistance to change appears to be non-rational, the dynamics of culture have to be understood. The leader would first need to unfreeze the old assumptions after which c ognitive restructuring takes place. Thereafter refeezing takes place which means that changed behaviors and new assumptions become embedded and reinforced as the new culture through which the organization can solve the problems. In this change model, the role of the leader in managing change becomes

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The subject of war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The subject of war - Essay Example By working around the central theme, the narratives powerfully show the nature of humans, their response to challenges of the environment and the endeavors they are willing to undertake as means towards an end. With that said, it is interesting to note what caused the war in Homer's epic and how it compares with Sheri Tepper's feminist science fiction. The Iliad, narrating the events of a short period in a very long battle, continues from the Trojan war which was caused by Paris' capture of the Spartan queen Helen. In the text itself, it is said that two lovely women, Chryseis and Briseis, are the root of all rampage. When their town is defeated by the Achaean forces, the camp's ruler Agamemnon demands to have Chryseis as prize while Achilles gets Briseis. Succeeding circumstances force Agamemnon to give up his reward Chryseis but then asks Achilles to hand Briseis over to him as replacement. Insulted by Agamemnon's order, Achilles refuses to join the Acheans in their fight against the Trojans and even prays to Zeus through his mother Thetis to punish the Acheans. Zeus addresses this by coming to the Trojans' rescue, signaling that the battle between the Trojan and Achean forces have resum ed despite their peace treaty. While it is shown that it is the women who caused the war in The Iliad, it is the men who caused the war in The Gate to Women's Country. The author, Tepper, elaborates on men's desire for power, the things they do in order to obtain it and the things they sacrifice in exchange for the accomplishment of their pursuits. Sheri Tepper book considers these as manifestations of men's innate character. Homer's epic makes use of women as instruments of war. On a deeper analysis, though, it is the competitive nature of men that has driven them to war. Every strong male character is tested for bravery, valor and loyalty. On the other end, women are depicted as slaves. The poem emphasizes the existence of a struggle in the world and the ability to win over this battle dignifies and glorifies humanity. This is an idea contemplated by a male. Ages later, Tepper would intervene with a story written from a perspective of a modern-world woman, dissatisfied with patriarchal rule, motivated towards change, with a proposal of her own. Figuratively, Tepper's women respond to Homer's men. In Tepper's country, Tepper's women downplay conflicts and emphasize cooperation among members of the society. The ultimate goal is peace, as if the main motivation for this writing is the lack of it in an earlier society. To Tepper's women, war in unnecessary and all their efforts will be poured towards preve nting it. As we look into the causes or war in each story, an underlying factor that heightens the conflict is discovered. More than gender issues, a more realistic cause of strife is social disorder. The story of The Iliad progresses in a patriarchal setting while the plot of The Gate to Women's Country proposes a revolution by a matriarchal structure. Both are stories dealing with gender issues which are about power and dominance. Agamemnon exhibits dominance over Achilles by demanding for Briseis and Achilles' reaction exposes the need to soothe the male ego. Were it not for Agamemnon's aggression and Achilles' yearning for revenge, the Acheans and the Trojans would not resume their battle since a peace treaty

Sunday, November 17, 2019

How Technology Affects the Business Environment Essay Example for Free

How Technology Affects the Business Environment Essay During the last century, the world has been through a technological revolution. We have in few years moved from being a world where it could take months to receive a message, to being a world where it takes microseconds. Within most industries, technology is a very important factor to succeed. Especially in certain industries, like energy, transport and financial services, technological innovations have been vital to make those industries develop into what they are today. Companies are always struggling to acquire better technology, so that they in a more efficient way can produce their products or carry out their services. It is therefore important for companies to keep an eye on new technological innovations. The technological elements of the external environment are a part of the LoNGPEST analysis, which is being used to scan a firms environment, so it in a best possible way can adopt to it. In this essay, I will attempt to explain how technology has been a vital reason for the globalization, and how it has made the world more efficient. There is no doubt that the development of information and communications technology is one of the causes for globalization. The table below shows the reduction in communicating and travelling prices. According to the table, the price of a 3 minutes phone call have been reduced by 98,6%. The reduction in air transport costs per mile is 74%. There is no doubt that such reductions encourage companies to expand geographically. In addition, the rapid growth of the internet has made it possible to share information with the rest of the world in microseconds. Eric Samuels states that one of the industries that has grown because of information technology is the financial service industry. He states that â€Å"delivery of services has become more efficient because of the application of technology.† What he is saying, is that the financial services provided are being done more effective and at a lower cost than before. By using the internet, companies can reach out to the whole world without spending a pound. In addition to claim that the financial service industry has grown due to the information technology, Dr. Nicolas Pologeorgis also states that the industry, since 1998, has gon e through a rapid geographic expansion. This especially applies to wealthy nations, like countries from Europe and USA. He claims that â€Å"customers previously served by local financial institutions are now targeted at a global level.† Dr. Pologeorgis believes that one of the reasons for this, besides deregulation and more trading between countries, is the information technology. Services like ATMs and websites is being used to develop a more efficient relationship between long distance customers and suppliers. A study about globalization of the banking industry, states that improvements in technology â€Å"have facilitated greater geographic reach by allowing institutions to manage larger information flows from more locations and to evaluate and manage risks at lower cost without being geographically close to the customer.† One example of a company from this industry that expanded geographically in the 90’s is Goldman Sachs (GS). I 1990, Robert Ruding and Stephen Friedman decided to focus on GS global operations. During the 1990’s, GS went through a rapid geographical expansion. Today, GS has offices located in all major financial centres around the world. I have made a comparison between the growth in the financial service sector and the use of internet worldwide. It was in the 90’s that the internet use exploded. In 1995, 16 million people were connected to the internet (0,4 of world population). The table below shows that the use of internet exploded about the same time that the financial service industry, according to Pologeorgis, really started expanding geographically. However, it is not only the improvements in communication and information technology that has contributed to a more efficient and globalized world. Another industry that has been affected by improvements in technology the last century is the oil and gas industry. An article made by naturalgas states that â€Å"new innovations have reshaped the industry into a technological leader9.† A report made by the U.S. Department of energy in 1999 shows that if technology had stagnated in 1985, America would have needed twice as many wells to produce the same amount of oil and gas. However, because of technological improvement, we only need half as many wells to produce the same amount in 1999. In 1999, the America used 22 000 less wells to produce the same amount as they did in 1985. A statistical review of world energy made by BP illustrates how much oil and natural gas that has been produced in each country and worldwide from 1965-2010. Worldwide, the total development of oil has increased from 31,806,000 barrels daily in 1965, to 82,095,000 barrels daily in 2010. The development of oil has increased from 96,9 billion cubic feet daily in 1970, to 309 billion cubic feet daily in 2010. The main reason to the increase in production is off course the growing demand, but according to naturalgas it would have been impossible without the improvement in our technology. Consumption of oil increased from 30,783,000 daily in 1965 to 87,382,000 barrels daily in 2010 and consumption of gas increased from 63 billion cubic feet daily in 1965 to 306,6 billion cubic feet daily in 2010. Another industry that has developed because of new technology is the nuclear industry. Numbers taken from NEI shows that 13,5 of the world’s electricity production IN 2010, was provided by nuclear power. Furthermore, NEI states that â€Å"in total, 15 countries relied on nuclear energy to supply at least one-quarter of their total electricity†. According to NEI, one example of a country that is dependent of nuclear energy is France. 74,1 percent of the energy produced in France was generated through nuclear energy. The statistical review published by BP, shows that the consumption of electricity generated from nuclear power has increased tremendously since 1965. In 1965 the global consumption of terra hours has increased from 25,7 in 1965 to 2767,2 terra hours in 2010. FINN UT OM DAILY In this essay, I have tried to show how technology has been a vital part of both the globalization and the development of a more efficient world. I have found that information and communication technology has been important for globalization. Lower costs of travelling and communicating overseas encourage people to expand geographically. In addition, the fact that use of internet has developed into a common thing, especially in developed countries, makes customers able to do services that they could not do before. My essay also shows how the oil and gas industry have become more efficient, and how the nuclear industry has grown due to technological improvements. Reference list: Department for Business Enterprise Regulatory Reform (2008) Globalisation and the changing UK economy, page 3 [online]. Available from: http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file44332.pdf accessed at 22.11.2011. British Petroleum (2011) Historical data [online]. Available from: http://www.bp.com/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=7500contentId=7068481 (then click on historical data) Accessed at 23.11.2011. U.S. Department of energy (1999) Environmental benefits of advance oil and exploration and production technology [online]. Available from: http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/publications/environ_benefits/4envben.pdf Accessed at 22.11.2011. U.S. Department of Energy http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/publications/environ_benefits/3innov.pdf Funding Universe, The Goldman Sachs group INC [online]. Available from: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/The-Goldman-Sachs-Group-Inc-Company-History.html Accessed at 22.11.2011. Goldman Sachs (2011), who we are – at a glance [online]. Available from: http://www2.goldmansachs.com/who-we-are/at-a-glance/index.html Accessed at 22.11.2011. Internet World Stats (2008), internet growth statistics [online]. Available from: http://www.internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm Accessed at 21.11.2011. Internet World Stats (March 31, 2011), internet usage statistics [online]. Available from: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm Accessed at 21.11.2011. Dr. Nicolas Pologeorgis (2009), The Globalization of Financial Services [online]. Available from: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-theory/09/risk-free-rate-return.asp#ixzz1eNeBhksO Accessed at 20.11.2011. Eric Samuels (2011), Marketing of Financial Services [online]. Available from: http://www.measurethat.com/?cat=5 Accessed at 20.11.2011. Natural Gas (2010), Natural Gas and Technology [online]. Available from: http://www.naturalgas.org/environment/technology.asp Accessed at 22.11.2011. Nuclear Energy Institute (2011), world statistics, nuclear energy around the world [online]. Available from: http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/nuclear_statistics/worldstatistics/ Accessed at 22.11.2011. Wall Street Journal (2010), A Brief History of Goldman Sachs [online]. Available from: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704671904575193780425970078.html Accessed at 21.11.2011 Allen N. Berger, Qinglei Dai, Steven Ongen, David C. Smith (2002) To What Extent Will the Banking Industry be Globalized?A Study of Bank Nationality and Reach in 20 European Nations, page 3 [online] Available from: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTFR/Resources/banking_industry_globalization.pdf Accessed at 22.11.2011.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Free Candide Essays: The Search for Truth :: Candide essays

The Search for Truth in Candide Voltaire's Candide is a novel which contains conceptual ideas and at the same time is also exaggerated. Voltaire offers sad themes disguised by jokes and witticism, and the story itself presents a distinctive outlook on life. The crucial contrast in the story deals with irrational ideas as taught to Candide about being optimistic, versus reality as viewed by the rest of the world. The main theme which is presented throughout the novel is optimism. Out of every unfortunate situation in the story, Candide, the main character, has been advised by his philosopher-teacher that everything in the world happens for the better, because "Private misfortunes contribute to the general good, so that the more private misfortunes there are, the more we find that all is well" (Voltaire, p. 31). Pangloss, the philosopher, tries to defend his theories by determining the positive from the negative situations and by showing that misfortunes bring some privileges. As Candide grows up, whenever something unfortunate happens, Pangloss would turn the situation around, bringing out the good in it. Candide learns that optimism is "The passion for maintaining that all is right when all goes wrong " (Voltaire, p.86). According to Rene Pomeau, "Voltaire-Candide...have made him [Candide] acquainted with the bad and the good side of human existence. The moral of Candide is born out of its style; it is the art of extracting happiness from the desolate hopping-about of the human insect" (Adams; Pomeau p.137). Pomeau explains that Candide shows both sides of humanity; how both great and terrible events are standard in a human life. Also according to Pomeau, the whole point of the story is to debate between good and bad; for example, as Candide becomes more independent, he starts to doubt that only good comes out of life. Pangloss is a very hopeful character in the story because he refuses to accept bad. He is also somewhat naive and believes that he could make the world a better place by spreading his theories on optimism. When Candide had met up with Pangloss after a long period of time, Pangloss said that he was almost hanged, then dissected, then beaten. Candide asked the philosopher if he still thought that everything was for the better, and Pangloss replied that he still held his original views. No matter how little Pangloss believed in the fact that somehow everything would turn out well, he still maintained his original views.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Cosmic Education

Rachael Jacobson Cosmic Education Exiled to India during World War II, Maria Montessori developed one of the basic tenets of her philosophy of education. This tenet is what she called cosmic education. In To Educate the Human Potential (ed 2007 p9) Montessori said that, â€Å"the stars, earth, stone, life of all kind form a whole in relation to each other, and so close is this relation that we cannot understand a stone without some understanding of the great sun†. This interconnectedness, the interconnectedness of every element of the universe, is at the heart of cosmic education.As Dr. Montessori explains, â€Å"all things are part of the universe, and are connected with each other to form one whole unity. The idea helps the mind of the child to become focused, to stop wandering in an aimless quest for knowledge. He is satisfied having found the universal center of himself with all things†. Montessori believed that children who received a cosmic education would grow to have a clearer understanding of themselves because they had a better understanding of the natural world and their place in it.She also believed that children are much closer to nature than adults. Therefore, the ideas of cosmic education can be impressed upon them more easily so that they can grow up with an appreciation and sense of wonder about the natural world and keep it as adults. An awareness of the interdependence between humans and the universe and the sense of gratitude that comes from that awareness are absolutely necessary if a child is to grow into a peaceful human being.Montessori believed that providing a cosmic education to children would be a means to this end because children who are exposed to all the elements and forces of nature gain a sense of importance, purpose, and responsibility, which they carry into their adult lives. It was her belief that the future was in the hands of children and that their education would determine whether or not the future humankin d was a peaceful or one fraught with destruction, violence, and war. Cosmic Education is held together by aâ€Å"glue† known as The Great Lessons. The Great Lessons introduce the overall scope of cosmic education .There are five Great Lessons. â€Å"Montessori believed that storytelling was an ideal way to introduce knowledge to elementary children, engaging both their imaginations and their developing powers of reason†. All of these lessons are accompanied by illustrations and charts, and many by scientific demonstrations. They are all told to the children in the first months of school, and are re-told each year to the returning children. They help children build a context for the knowledge that they will acquire throughout their years as EC, EI and E2 students. The Five Great Lessons are: 1.The Coming of the Universe: This lesson introduces scientific thought on the origins of the universe and our own planet. Using charts and experiments, this first Great Lesson desc ribes how minerals and chemicals formed the elements, how matter transforms to three states of solid, liquid, and gas, how particles joined together and formed the earth, how heavier particles sank to the earth's core and volcanoes erupted, and how mountains were formed and the atmosphere condensed into rain, creating oceans, lakes, and rivers. From this story, students are introduced to lessons in physics, astronomy, geology, and chemistry.For example, they learn about light, heat, convection currents, gravity, galaxies, planetary systems, the earth's crust, volcanoes, erosion, climate and physical geography. 2. The Coming of Life: This lesson represents the beginning of life on Earth from the simplest forms through the appearance of human beings. The second Great Lesson explains how single-cell and multi-cell forms of life became embedded in the bottom of the sea and formed fossils. It traces the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and the Cenozoic periods, beginning with the kingdom of trilobit es and ending with human beings.The teacher indicates on a time line where vertebrates began, followed by fish and plants, then amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In this lesson students are introduced to the basics of zoology and botany. 3. The Coming of Human Beings: This lesson is an introduction to prehistory and history that continues the exploration of life on Earth, with an emphasis on the development of humans. The aim is for the children to imagine what life was like for early humans. This lesson is the basis for lessons in history and the development of ancient civilizations.They also learn how climate and topography influenced various civilizations. 4. The Story of Our Alphabet: This story is an introduction that follows the development of writing from its appearance in primitive cultures to its role in modern times. From this lesson, students use grammar materials, which help them examine how language is put together, and refine capitalization and punctuation. Stu dents are introduced to the study of the origin of English words from other languages, the meanings of prefixes and suffixes and different forms of writing such as poetry and prose. 5.The Story of Our Numerals: This story is an introduction that emphasizes how human beings needed a language for their inventions to convey measurement and how things were made. The story describes how number systems evolved throughout time and within different civilizations. This story is the basis for the children's learning of mathematics, which is integrated into all studies. The first three stories are what Duffy (2002 p30) calls â€Å"the story of our origin and past,† while the last two stories are illustrations of â€Å"human cultural accomplishments and the evolution of human ideas. Stoll Lillard (2005 p134) calls this â€Å"a core of impressionistic knowledge that is intended to inspire the child to learn more. † The Great Lessons simultaneously raise and answer questions. How d id the universe come to be? Our solar system? Our planet? Our oceans, lakes, mountains, forests, flowers, and animals? The Great Lessons helps children see how interrelated all things are. They instill in children the understanding that all people are one and that we must all be our brother’s keeper. Most importantly, The Great Lessons provide the child with a macro view of the world.Through the stories told in each of the five lessons, the child is introduced to â€Å"the big picture†. â€Å"Children become aware that the universe evolved over billions of years, and that it is based on the law and order through which all the plants, animals, and the rest of creation is maintained. From that point, students are introduced to increasing levels of detail and complexity within these broad areas and gradually understand that they are part of this order and are participants in the ongoing life of the universe.Thus, The Great Lessons provide a springboard of sorts from whic h children can develop their individual interests and shape their own learning. The Great Lessons allow the child to move between macro and micro levels of knowledge. The basic premise of cosmic education maintains that no subjects should be taught in isolation. Rather all elements of the curriculum are viewed as interdependent upon one another. The outcome of cosmic education allows children to become thankful for the world around them and an understanding of their place in it. They will begin to understand that they have been given many gifts from the past and present.They also develop wonder, gratitude, a sense of purpose, and a feeling of responsibility to others, to the earth, and to future generations. If young children grow up with love and respect and the knowledge that they matter, they have the best chance of growing up and meeting their full potential†¦no matter their circumstances. Duffy, M ; D (2002) Cosmic Education in the Montessori Elementary Classroom Parent Ch ild Press: Hollidaysburg. Montessori, M (ed 2007) To Educate the Human Potential The Montessori Series: Amsterdam. Stoll Lillard, A (2005) Montessori: The Science behind the Genius Oxford University Press: Oxford