Postcolonial Novel Essay

To fully understand Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart, one must not fall for the idea that there is one main purpose for the novel. Simply stated the story is much too rich and complex for that. The themes of Okonkwo’s life, and the Ibo culture, are twofold: it is the relation of the conflict between an individual and society, and also the description of the conflict between the larger forces of cultures clashing. Support for this dual thesis is overwhelming. To begin with the text itself demands that interpretation. Things Fall Apart clearly begins with a focus directly aimed upon the main character of Okonkwo. It is going to revolve around his life. However, at the very same time, the protagonist is not mentioned even one time early on without being connected simultaneously with thoughts of both his home village and the larger culture of the Ibo people. This cannot be ignored. One could argue that rather than being a larger purpose book Things Fall Apart is just a novel of the life and growth of one man, but this is rather silly and simple. The title of the book puts one right on the path to refuting this, giving context to a larger meaning. It is clearly encouraging one to look at larger ‘things’ as opposed to a person. This is coupled with the basis for the title itself, quoted on the flyleaf: The Yeats’ poem The Second Coming: Turning and turning in a widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. (Quoted in Things Fall Apart). Therefore given the context of a large chaotic world it would be more than naive to assume a different interpretation, that of a more concentrated work based upon an individual. To best prove the ambivalent statement of purpose about Achebe’s novel it is vital to review critical and popular commentary. This book has struck a highly resonant chord with readers in the fifty years since its first publication. It unabashedly describes an African culture in such a way that the power of the society is shown, and the power of the African individual is also demonstrated. Naturally, all minority groups and oppressed people can find inspiration within the pages. As a result, as may be expected, strong opinions have been catalogued as analysis over time. This paper reviews two such supports for each purpose stated in the thesis. The first part deals with the conflict between individuals and society. The primary source naturally is the book itself. Briefly paraphrased Okonkwo is a well known warrior. He is extremely self centered and important at the beginning of the novel. This has as its roots a severe cynicism regarding the life and experiences of his father Unoka. In a world where the society of Ibo is stronger than the individuals, this lack of respect seeps into Okonkwo’s world. The foible is too much and eventually pits him at odds with his society. Charles H. Rowell held a conversation regarding this aspect of Things Fall Apart with the author himself. What resulted was a fine understanding and awareness of this thesis through the words of Achebe. One example of his thought process and the workings of the story of Okonkwo on a personal level is this answer. â€Å"People are expecting from literature serious comment on their lives. They are not expecting frivolity† (250). Or as Rowell comments, the creation of Achebe’s stories such as Okonkwo’s are not made just to entertain. They are to connect with readers about their own experiences and then instruct them from there. Rowell’s interview shows an awareness of the importance of the social story. His questions aim to reveal this oft overlooked aspect of writings such as Things Fall Apart. It is tempting, he relates to merely dismiss (if this is even fair wording) the book as commenting only on the larger theme of Ibo society and what happens when an established social realm is invaded by foreigners. Instead he and Achebe through the discussion point to the power of a narrative surrounding the conflict that one can have on a smaller, more concentrated level: the conflict that occurs when one runs counter to their own society’s expectations. When Okonkwo becomes too heavily involved on a personal level with the sacrifice of the neighboring Mbaino culture, he runs into direct opposition to the world directly around him. That and his character traits create early conflict and show to the world a story based upon that – an important revelation to readers across the spectrum that may find themselves sometimes in this predicament. The biography of Achebe by Ezenwa-Ohaeto reveals this purpose to be true as well. And this comes from a treatment of just where Achebe was in his own personal life and the moods and hopes that he possessed while writing the book. He was working as a controller at the time in Eastern Region when he first began attempting to introduce Things Fall Apart to the publishing world. At this time, he ran into the sort of direct conflict with his own society, ironically, that he would develop in the story of Okonkwo. There was great objection to a book about Africans by Africans at the time. The 1950s were not exactly a compassionate moment for the words of Africans. Independence was on the horizon for many countries, but there was also a great deal of fear. This desire of many to not rock the boat, so to speak, put those who would speak out in a path of intersection with their own society (65). This only encouraged Achebe to produce a vision of that for his protagonist. There must be the strong character trait in one that wishes to change his social culture for the better, he reflects in his novel. The experience of Okonkwo is the experience of an individual in conflict with his society and the results that may come, unexpected or not, from that. The second section concerns itself with the conflict inherent when two cultures clash. This is the broader perspective, necessarily, compared to the experience of the individual. This also is the more basic and popular understanding of the novel. It is very easy to see all of the reasons why. Again, a look at the primary source of the novel is the starting point for any discussion. Commentary on the book will never quite serve the reader as well as the book itself. And what does it indicate? Most of the second section of the story is examining what happened to the Ibo people and their culture when the white culture insidiously worked their way into it. It broke the home culture into pieces. Things did, indeed fall apart. Consider this quote directly from the book: If we fight the stranger we shall hit our brothers and perhaps shed the book of a clansman. But we must do it. Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing, they never killed their brothers. But a white man never came to them. So we must do what our fathers would never have done. (Achebe 203). There is no better analysis of this second theme of Achebe’s work. Two cultures clash. Chaos results. And yet that is only the superficial layer of the problem, as this quote clearly shows. The problem that occurs when cultures come into contact and then conflict with each other is the assimilation effect. There will always be faction that fall prey to the invaders and their attractive ideas. Sometimes that is enough for them to forget the values of their peoples. This conflict then with their own home society can cause open resentment and actual warfare. Then the culture falls into shambles even worse as shared societal values are discarded. In the end there are not only two social cultures left: the home and the invaders. There are three: the home culture, the invaders, and the home culture that is infected by the invaders. None of them are true allies and only further conflict can be expected. Chapter three of John Ball’s book Satire and the Postcolonial Novel (79-114) examines this issue and the breakdown that results from it. He takes the even larger view that is used often as well when looking at the clashing of the Ibo with the whites that have come into their world. He reviews this setting of Things Fall Apart to be a criticism and revelation of the greater issues of colonialism in Africa (and other parts of the world, for that matter) as seen through one African author’s eyes. Rather than look too thoroughly at the early parts of the novel, he focuses rather on the part of the book in which the two cultures come into contact. This is the point of departure for this second theme. It is accurate to say that most of the pages from that spot and onward deal with this cultural clashing issue. I think, too, that it is accurate that this does work as a satire. That is to say that I fully believe that Achebe is trying to achieve this effect. Only too well did he personally understand what happens when two completely variant cultures meet. His hope and the hope of the Africans around him was that if treated peacefully, the foreign culture would come in and only benefit them, but he also saw the harsher side of the realities. This is how Things Fall Apart deals with the situation. Ball is not the only one who could see this expression in the novel and in other works by Achebe. It is a strong defense of the idea that one of the two main themes of the book is that of what happens when two cultures clash. A final proof would use is Isidore Okpewho’s commentary on Achebe in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. She sees too this problem with assimilation, cultural conflict and resultant expectations. These are all the values and stories of Things Fall Apart. Seen from the outside she has several comments and thoughts about how these topics are addressed by connecting them to the outside world at the time of the writing. She describes the authorship of this book as being a â€Å"succession of forces controlling his [Achebe’s] development as a writer† (5). This is a great assessment. It sets the stage for understanding the direction of his landmark work Things Fall Apart. It is indeed this stage that the book concerns itself with. There is a succession of forces, to use Okpewho’s words, that are acting upon the Ibo culture. These control the development of the world of that African region and create mass conflict between the two cultures. The assimilation effects, she continues, were strongest in the Ibo part of the world. This is accurately reflected, too, in the sinister ways in which the foreigners crept in with their influences. That is the warning cry of Okonkwo with the text. He sees that the policy of indirect rule is only designed to place one group of people into opposition with another group of their own people. This splinters and fragments the strength of the initial cultures. It created enemies where there weren’t any other, as reflected in the quote concerning the killing of brethren, used above. This was the white way. It is no surprise then, that this theme would find its way so strongly into Things Fall Apart. The topic is addressed as a cautionary tale. Achebe had already seen this happen in his own world. He saw the sad results. He knew how destructive the penetration of home cultures could be. All of these can be found in Part Three of the book. â€Å"It is already too late,† said Obierika sadly. â€Å"Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. They have joined his religion and they help to uphold his government† (176). It is the despondent tone of the theme describing the clash of cultures. All of the above commentary from several sources, combined with a close and analytical reading of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart reveals the thesis to be strongly supported. Of the novel’s purpose, two things then are true: it aim to relate an expression of conflict between an individual and society, while concurrently exploring the description of conflicts resulting from the larger forces of cultures clashing. References Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1994. Print. Ball, John C. Satire & the Postcolonial Novel: V. S. Naipaul, Chinua Achebe, Salman Rushdie. New York: Routledge, 2003. 79-114. Print. Ohaeto, Ezenwa. Chinua Achebe: A Biography. Oxford: James Currey, 1997. Print. Okpewho, Isidore, Ed. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. Oxford: UP, 2003. Print. Rowell, Charles H. â€Å"An Interview with Chinua Achebe. † Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. Ed. Isidore Okpewho. Oxford: UP, 2003. 249-272. Print. Conversations with Chinua Achebe. Ed. Bernth Lindfors. Jackson, MS: UP, 1997. Print.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

After his mother dies giving birth to him on the day of victory in World War I in 1918, Benjamin is taken by his father, Thomas Button (Jason Flemyng), and deposited on the doorstep of a home for the elderly. That is fitting since the infant looks like an 80-year-old man with sagging skin, cataracts, and wrinkles all over is body. Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), an African-American attendant at the place, finds him. She immediately decides that baby who is â€Å"as ugly as an old pot† is a child of God who must be cared for, no matter how difficult that may be. And so Benjamin (Brad Pitt) the man-child grows up in the presence of elders who share their stories with him and accept him as one of their own; they are all outsiders in a country where youth is worshipped and the elderly are viewed as obsolete. Benjamin starts out in a wheelchair and proves himself to be a great listener: everyone wants to tell him what they've been through in life. A man with a poor memory points out again and again that he was struck by lightening seven different times. â€Å"God keeps reminding me I'm lucky to be alive. A wealthy woman who keeps to herself teaches him to play the piano. A gregarious visitor, an African bushman (Rampai Mohadi), takes a fancy to the man-boy and introduces him the joys of sex in a bordello. At the age of 12, Benjamin looks about 70. He meets Daisy (Elle Fanning), the granddaughter of one of the residents at the home. They become instant friends and forge a bond which will last for a long time. In fact, Benjamin's story is shown i n flashbacks as Daisy lies near death's door in New Orleans at the time of Katrina. As the winds howl outside, her 40-year-old daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond) reads to her from a diary filled with pictures and postcards about this strange man who played such a major role in her life. At age 17, Benjamin is much younger and stronger. He leaves New Orleans for life aboard a tugboat that is piloted by Mike (Jared Harris), a colorful character with tattoos and a love of liquor. He travels to many cities and in Murmansk encounters Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton), who is intrigued by his mysteriousness. Although married, she begins a brief affair with Benjamin and introduces him to the pleasures of caviar, night-time dialogue, and sex. Benjamin also tastes the rush of adrenalin in war when he and the tugboat crew take on a Nazi U-boat that has just sunk a troop transport in World War II. Many of his shipmates are killed in the clash. Benjamin returns to New Orleans in 1945 and encounters his father, a rich entrepreneur who runs a button business. He is a lonely old man who is dying and wants to reconnect with the boy he ditched years ago. Instead of showing anger or seeking revenge, Benjamin treats him with kindly compassion for he has come to realize that death is a tender moment that must be treated with respect and dignity. Daisy (Cate Blanchett) is now a renowned dancer in New York who stops by for a visit. She has read his postcards from around the world and still feels they are soulmates. She tries to seduce him, but he is not ready for the changes that he sees in her. But after he inherits his father's estate, he travels to New York to be with her. But now she is too caught up in the drama and excitement of her career and artist friends. There is more to their relationship as new twists and turns bring them together again as Benjamin grows younger and more handsome. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is one of the best films of the year with its complex story, idiosyncratic characters, and treatment of the themes of love, time, aging, youth, change, death, and the impermanence of life. David Fincher directs this soulful movie with a marvelous attention to detail and pacing. The secret to the film's powerful impact is the terrific screenplay by Eric Roth who wrote Forrest Gump, a 1994 movie that was also a picaresque tale about a strange outsider and his wild adventures. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald that has been substantially changed for the screen. Another plus is the melodic and impressive music by Alexandre Desplat. What does Benjamin learn from his odd condition that makes him grow younger instead of older? What are the lessons of his adventures that take him around the world and back home again? At one point, he says: â€Å"You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. You can make the best or the worst of it. † Benjamin always keeps an open mind and uses each encounter as an opportunity to soften his heart. He makes the best of bad situations and does not allow them to bring him down. He demonstrates an equanimity that enables him to handle failure and success, defeat and victory, with calm. One of his favorite mantras is â€Å"You never know what's coming for you. † It is best to see everything as a mystery that does not need to be solved or explained away. Just live in the present moment and savor what presents itself to you. A sense of wonder is a trademark of Benjamin's personality. As a man-child in the home for the elderly, he listens to the house breathing. As a child-man he savors the start of the day looking out over the water just like his father did. Benjamin learns how to let go and not to cling to anyone: â€Å"We're meant to lose the people we love. How else will we know how much they meant to us? † From start to finish, this character tries to be himself, accepting his flaws and celebrating his strengths as a human being: â€Å"It's never too late or too early to be whoever you want to be. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button reminds us that the best thing we can do is make the most of our journey and be thankful for the people we meet along the way. It's all gift. Benjamin embodies the zest for life described in one of our favorite quotations by Diane Ackerman: â€Å"The great affair, the love affair with life, is to live as variously as possible, to groom one's curiosity like a high-spirited thoroughbred, climb aboard, and gallop over the thick, sunstruck hills every day. . . It began as mystery, and it will end in mystery, but what a savage and beautiful country lies in between. â€Å"

Ict Causes Social Ills

? 1. THEME :REVISIONTOPIC :MEC MID YEAR2009 Q2SKILLS :WRITING ? 2. QuestionInformation and communicationstechnology (ICT) is the cause oftoday’s many social ills. What isyour opinion? Support youranswer with examples. Youshould write at least 350 words. [60 marks] ? 3. Definition †¢ digital products, communication device/ application/ service ICT †¢ radio, TV, mobile phone, satellite system, Internet, computer, software †¢ causing troubles or suffering to the society and relations betweensocial ills people †¢ truancy, violence, erosion of culture, drug abuse, cyber-relationship ? . OUTLINE agree : ICT is the cause of today’s many social ills addiction obsession depression a condition of the state of being a persistent general emotionalenslaved to a habit preoccupation, dejection and or practice idea, or feeling withdrawal; great sadness SNS, online gambling, entertainment, SNS, anonymity, online games fashion, sports bullying, harassment ? 5. Sample answer MUET Trial 1/2013 ICT is the cause of today’s many social ills. I agree. ICT is thecause of today’s many social ills because it causes addictions, obsessionsand depressions.First, ICT causes addictions. Internet, satellite TV and onlineactivities are all accessible to anyone with no age, gender, religious orcultural restriction 24 hours a day. Having unlimited access to theInternet turns many people to addicts. Before ICT, there is no onlinegame, online gambling and pornographic addiction. For example, ICTcauses online game addiction which have even caused deaths. In Chinaand South Korea, there are cases of young parents neglected theirnewborn baby while busy creating new scores online for days.They didnot feed their child because to them, playing online games is moreimportant . Besides, with ICT, gambling is done around the clock. So,online gambling makes gambling accessible even to those who are faraway from gambling venues thus creating more gambling addicts. Otherthan that, ICT causes pornographic addiction. With endless access to allsorts of pornographic materials, people turn into addicts in no time. Before ICT, pornographic materials are not that easily available and now,by only ticking a certain box to indicate your age, even young kids couldaccess these types of unsuitable content.It is obvious that ICT givesway to addiction with its unrestricted accessibility and this leadsto social ills. ? 6. Second, ICT causes obsessions. ICT makes people obsessed withcelebrities of many kinds, entertainers, sportsmen and public figures. Before ICT,we read about celebrities on newspapers or magazines but ICT provides moresources. Worse, ICT permits and even encourages stalking. Social networkingsites like Twitter, glorifies stalking because a user gets to ‘follow’ anyone theywant . It used to be that a stalker needs to physically follow a celebrity but nowone can stalk anybody, not just celebrity.Before ICT, stalking is not announc edand not publicly done. Besides, a trend used to take some time before reachingour shore but with ICT it’s just a matter of seconds. Any trend is a worldwidetrend with ICT. Therefore, more people become fashion victims because they areobsessed with anything new. For example, one who is obsessed with fashionmight emulate a fashion trend of an idol but it might not be in accordance withour cultural values or even weather. In addition, with ICT, obsession gets moreoutlets.Fan forums and groups are created to encourage obsession where allobsessed fans gather. For example, in the 60s, teens all over the world wereobsessed with The Beatles but none of them could beat the obsession teensnowadays have on Justin Bieber. The ‘Beliebers’ wear, eat, drink and sleep Bieber. This causes social ills because in the long run, the fanatics might resort tosomething illegal such as stealing and cheating to get what they want. Theymight also develop a psychological disorder like â⠂¬ËœCelebrity Worship Syndrome’. They might neglect their responsibility.From this, it is clear that ICTprovides for obsessive behaviour and this leads to social ills. ? 7. Third, ICT causes depressions. ICT makes people depressed becausethey feel inferior. When other people flaunt their amazing life on SNS, some willfeel lacking thus feeling sad and self-pity. They will try to overcome theirdepression by turning to recreational drugs or even vandalism to forget theirinferiority. With ICT, one knows too much about others and jealousy could be thebeginning of depression. Some people are depressed because they do not feelbelonged.They might suffer from low self esteem because nobody likes theirFacebook updates or nobody comments on the uploaded pictures. Before ICT, onemight feel that sometime, but with ICT, the evidence is for others to see too andthis causes greater depression. Other than that, ICT makes people depressedbecause with ICT, bullying has greater impacts. School b ullies continue to bullyeven after school hours. Cyber bullying happens even amongst office workers. Bullying is not only physical but mostly emotional and virtual. Slanders are spreadmuch faster and reach more people thus reating more harmful effects. Thevictims suffer from great depression because they are alienated not only in thereal world but online. Some victims resort to self-destructive behaviour such asinflicting pain on themselves. Some turn anorexic and bulimic. Some developtrauma. The worst case scenario is the many cases of suicides due to cyberbullying. ICT facilitates bullying because harsh remarks are done anonymously,with no time limit. It is evident that ICT causes depressions and this leadsto social ills. ? 8. As a conclusion, ICT is the cause of today’s many social ills.ICT causesaddictions, obsessions and depressions and these negativity eventually will leadto social ills. Undeniably, ICT has its positive impacts but we have to be carefulof its detrimenta l negative impacts. We should take preventive measures so thatthe negative effects will not outweigh the positive effects. Social ills are thepublic’s concern and we should do our part to curb the problems. Task 1. Identify the opening statement, stand, thesis statement, topic sentences, elaborations, examples, micro-conclusion and conclusion. 2. Look up for meaning of new words you have encountered.

Home and School Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Home and School Relationship - Essay Example In order to obtain detailed information concerning classroom processes I interviewed the teacher. She provided useful information and structure sheets that I used to learn about the relationship between the families of students and school. Parental Communication On the first day I noticed a table labeled â€Å"The Parent Communication Table.† This table was located near the front door where the parents could see it while bringing the kids to school. On this table there were information sheets available to keep the parents updated on school events, tutoring programs, weekly newsletters, and financial assistance. This newsletter also included activities that the parents and children could do at home. One of my favorite informational resources within the newsletter was the parent bulletin board. As another way to help parents stay updated, it provides advice for working parents about how to balance their job with their child’s learning. In addition, the teacher puts commun ication letters in her children’s green take-home folders. She said that this helped to ensure that the student’s parents received the letters because the children had to bring the folders back signed. The teachers also used other methods to communicate with the parents, such as through email, phone, and notes on STI. STI is a state-run internet program that offers information on the kid’s behavior, grades, and any school communication currently available. The teacher I interviewed said that email was the best way to deliver information and maintain good communication with parents. Unfortunately, this method is entirely successful as this school had a high number of students from low income families which means that some parents have no access to computers. The teacher also informed me that all of her children have information cards. She also uses the information cards to teach the kids their names, parent’s name(s), address, and phone numbers. By the com bination of tools and techniques employed, it is clear that ‘Best Practice’ methods were being used in this classroom to enhance communication between the parents and teachers. I read in an article entitled, â€Å"8 Tips for Elementary School Success† by Koup-Larsen and Stopper (2011) which stated that good communication with parents helps both the teacher and the children. I believe that it is the parents that are best equipped to tell a teacher about their child’s learning behaviors and I will make sure to provide a well-structured communication system to keep my parents informed. According to Dworkin, Gonzalez, Gengler, and Olsen (2010) in â€Å"Using Newsletters to Improve Parent’s Communication with Their Early Adolescents†, they conducted a survey which involved testing 77 parents in five states to see the effectiveness of newsletters. This study showed that newsletters could be useful in transporting information back to the parents. Di versity in the Classroom In this classroom of 17 students there was only one student with a learning disability. This child has a type of speech impairment, but is not singled out due to this during any of the group activities. When I interviewed the teacher she said that the student works best in small groups with other children. She also told me that he has a speech-language pathologist that works with him one hour every day. The speech-language pathologist teaches the child how to pronounce words and how to better socialize with

Defining Racial Profiling and Utilitarian Argument Essay

Defining Racial Profiling and Utilitarian Argument - Essay Example The article will also deals with delineating the incongruence in the arguments in favor of racial profiling and reinforce the arguments against racial profiling. Finally, it will be argued that a number of utilitarian objections that have been leveled against racial profiling are impenetrable by those that support racial profiling that. Definition of Racial Profiling In order to maintain the logical soundness and defensibility of any argument, one must clearly define racial profiling the before marching into any discussion about the moral problem it poses. The term â€Å"racial profiling† was coined to criticize certain abusive investigation methods of the police force and, as a result, has widely been associated with being unjust and the unjustifiable (Gross & Livingston, 2002). In this essay, however, the term will be used without any bias and the implication of illegitimacy. When racial profiling will be referred in the article, it would be on the basis of Risse and Zechhau ser’s (2004) broad definition that will be introduced later in the article. Ramirez (2000) defines racial profiling as â€Å"any police-initiated action that relies on the race, ethnicity, or national origin, rather than the behavior of an individual or information that leads the police to a particular individual who has been identified as being, or having been, engaged in criminal activity.† Here, the definition puts together race, ethnicity, and nationality along with the use of an individual’s behavior or information. By doing so, Ramirez describes profiling in a way seeks moral disapproval against the complete reliance on race and ethnicity in police investigation. It is clear that according to this definition, the unjustified racial profiling is when the race and ethnicity are the sole motivation for a police action (Risse & Zeckhauser, 2004). Despite its general soundness at a first glance, the definition fails to consider the cases that involve a combinat ion of race and information (Risse & Zeckhauser, 2004). Hypothetically, if the police stopped disproportionately more blacks than whites for petty violations of the law, such as driving with a broken tail light or exceeding a speed limit by 10mph, it should be considered racial profiling. However, Ramirez’s definition cannot be used to establish whether this case is racial profiling or not because in this example, both race and information are used in the police action (Risse & Zeckhauser, 2004). On the other hand, Risse and Zeckhauser (2004) define racial profiling in a more comprehensive manner by suggesting that racial profiling is â€Å"any police-initiated action that relies on the race, ethnicity, or national origin and not merely on the behavior of an individual.† Through this definition, it can be deduced that racial profiling is when police action relies on a combination of information and race to punish those involved in committing crime. Tests for Justified Racial Profiling Even though, Risse and Zechhauser’s definition of racial profiling is comprehensive and helpful in understanding the kind of police action that

Needs Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Needs Assessment - Essay Example The greatest area of need is the family support that these students are accorded by their families while handling stress. The educational program that the children go through is quite demanding and occasionally puts them under undue stress. That was the opinion of most parents. In reference to the educational staff at school, most parents were of the view that they made students work harder and thus put them under so much stress. In spite of the presence of the families, the stress needs to be managed well. In fact, most parents had a fair understanding of the processes that their students underwent during their therapy sessions at school. From the interviews, it is obvious that the students observed had shown incredible improvements since the first time that they attended the therapy sessions. It should be noted that the levels of motor coordination of the students directly affect their motor activities. This directly affects their concentration while doing activities, like dressing and eating. Overall, most parents thought that the performance of their children was improving. The progress that most parents would want to see is an exponential improvement in the physical performance of activities. The set goals that most parents needed to achieve were material support from the institution. Most parents shared their sentiments with other parents as well as the therapist. The biggest problem that affects the performance of the therapist is the overwhelming workload. He or she has to tend to the needs of the diverse student population alone. The biggest strength of the therapist is his/her understanding of the individual needs of the students. A therapist has a personal relationship with the students and thus is able to attend to their needs more effectively. Such a specialist’s biggest weakness is the fact that he/she lacks additional human resources to assist in delivering services. The priority that the therapist uses

Discuss the major problems a firm might face in attempting to Essay

Discuss the major problems a firm might face in attempting to standardize advertising among different countries. How might product branding be affected - Essay Example Different countries have different languages they use in communication as their national languages in their countries. For instance, most of the countries now are majorly using English as their business language. There are many more countries that use different languages like French, Chinese, German language to mention only but a few. This means that for the marketing manager to think of standardizing the advertising internationally, he has to first think of how the message will reach the audience or target market. Communication language is usually an issue when it comes to the international business. The language has to be translated into the national language of the countries among which the advertising has to be standardized. It is therefore very expensive to translate the adverts into the foreign language before it is advertised. Besides, the advertisement manager finds it very hard to effectively supervise international business because he may not understand the language at a gl ance. It is more convenient to standardize advertisement among countries with same language speaking citizens than those countries that vary in the language speaking. Communication media has remained a question unanswered when it comes to international advertising, especially international standardization of advertising. This is due to a number of issues that follows. First there is a question of whether the advertisement media is available in the foreign countries or not. The standardization of international advertising to work there must be availability of the advertisement media among all the countries into which the advertising is to be practiced. For example some third world countries have limited access to the internet because of poverty while others like United States of America have computer technology advantage. It means then that for the standardization of the advertising among countries to prosper the communication media should not only be available

MOTIVATION AND COMMUNICATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MOTIVATION AND COMMUNICATION - Essay Example Below is an assessment of three employees. Shanika has the potential to increase the productivity of the organization. The fact that she is satisfied with her job highlights her ability to require minimal control. Obviously, minimal control for the company translates to savings on the part of the company in as far as supervisor costs are concerned. More importantly her disconnect with emotional judgments or rushed decisions ensures she makes sound decisions. Decision -making is extremely critical in any organization. At all times, the policy-makers are supposed to exhibit sobriety while making decisions and avoid emotions clouding their sense of objectivity. On the other hand, she pauses a danger to the organization in as far as dealing with challenges is concerned. The life cycle of organizations involves alternating periods of success and recessions. However, her ability to cope with challenges is distorted. The implication here is that in the case of any serious setback, the company would be grounded indefinitely. Shanika is an asset to the company, but more investment is required to eliminate her downsides. Terrence has the potential for causing disharmony at the workplace. It is quite evident that she is not as motivated to work as the previous employee. This only means that the organization has to spend immensely to provide her with incentives to work. This resources could very well be directed to other productive activities. Moreover, her inability to take charge of her emotions or thought process predisposes her to making so many errors. Additionally, it highlights her failure to work under minimal control. Terrence Randall gives an impression of an arrogant employee who will create disharmony at the workplace. Ronda is a competent employee capable of enabling the organization meet its set objectives. Of great significance is her job satisfaction. She remains enthusiastic about what she

M Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

M - Assignment Example It may also refer, it seems to instances that are out of the box or the mold of what I would normally expect in such events or circumstances. Reason for Choosing the Vignette I find from my experience teaching Arabic that the daily circumstances of that has yielded a lot of surprising twists and turns, especially when it comes to how my students actually react to the lessons, and to the way their attitudes and energy for the class seem so different from my expectations, but in a positive way. Their reactions sometimes get me thinking about just how much Arabic can mean to students, and just how the teaching has also taught me a lot. Far from being a monotonous chore, teaching Arabic is a daily source of surprise and insight for me. As such, it seems to me the vignette is the best way to represent these everyday startling things. Also, I have had this startling exchange with some students in my mind that I wanted to share. It seems from the texts the vignette is the best way to captur e these exchanges. The vignette is essentially story-telling, and I do have this story to tell, one of many actually. The vignette is supposed to capture the essence of something that strikes me, and this indeed is what I want to convey. There is something striking about what really motivates some of my students to study Arabic intently. It is not for the reasons that I thought they had. Moreover, from where I am coming from, it is the opposite of what I expected from students coming from a wealthy country. The vignette is the perfect vehicle to transmit this sense of being surprised that things are not what they seem as far as my students are concerned and what motivates them. Mode of Use of the Vignette The text prescribes a way to go about writing and sharing experiences via the form of the vignette. This paper follows that prescription in a series of steps. The mode of use is the application of the instructions to narrate some classroom exchanges between me and my students. The focus is on the reasons that students choose to apply themselves very hard in order to learn Arabic. The vignette is sued to be able to bring out the insights into the motivations of the students. The texts describe vignette-writing as a process with specific elements. The important thing here is that this current paper made use of the commentary feature of the vignette, so that I may share my insights into the surprising responses of my students regarding what motivates them to learn Arabic and attend my class. Sample of Collected Data This exercise made use of data collected from responses to the questions on motivation that were administered to members of another class. For this I was able to get the good cooperation of the teacher of the other class, Qassem. The objective was to gauge what motivated the members of that other class to study Arabic. I then compared their responses to the questions on motivation with my own observations in my class. The Vignette- Teaching Arabic My vignette is a story that I want to share relating to some interesting experiences during my time teaching Arabic as secondary language for Americans and immigrants of Arabian descent. This has been the focus of my action research so far, and I find it to be a very fulfilling experience. Everyday I learn something new and surprising. Moreover, I can see a little of myself and my struggles in the struggles of my own students learning Arabic.

Ethics of Dignity and Freedom by Kant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics of Dignity and Freedom by Kant - Essay Example The researcher of this essay states that Kant was the first philosopher who proposed the notion of deontological ethics, which is the study of duty. This essay provides a detailed analysis on the topic of ethics as a branch of philosophy that was presented in Kant's works: The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785), The Critique of Practical Reason (1787). The researcher analyzed the most important Kant’s criticism of previous ethical theories, that is the most obvious in his theory about symbol. Kant’s ethics is remarkable for the new interpretation of the notion of symbol. The connection between Kant’s ethics and his theoretical philosophy, the genesis of his ethical ideas, formation of his thoughts in frames of study about freedom and ethics, dignity study (the central category of his moral philosophy) – these problems are at the centre of his ethical concept, that was analyzed in the essay. There is one more important issue mentioned in the es say from Kant’s philosophy of dignity and freedom – the connection between freedom and morality. The philosopher insists that person exists in two worlds: the one is the world of physical existence and another is the world of spirit. It is also suggested in the study that Kant’s philosophy of history and the idea of progress are closely connected with the ethical theory. In conclusion, the researcher states that it is worth saying that Kant’s activity had a great impact on the development of modern ethical philosophy and philosophy in general.

Nintendo, sony, video game case Essay Example for Free

Nintendo, sony, video game case Essay The video game industry has gone through six generations of consoles, and the seventh is now underway with new consoles from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. Atari led the first generation of the video game industry. They were able to create the first home video game Pong in 1972, and they were the first to develop the interchangeable cartridge and the joystick. The creation of the interchangeable cartridges allowed for third party independent video game developers to enter the market. Atari failed to develop a system that controlled who could develop games for Atari consoles, so the company eventually failed when low quality games created by independent developers flooded the market and caused prices to plunge. Nintendo was able to become the leader of the video game industry in the next generation by entering licensing agreements with third-party game developers and by instituting a â€Å"Seal of Quality† policy where no game could be published without Nintendo’s approval. Nintendo’s success with developing popular in-house games like Super Mario Brothers also contributed to their success in the second generation. However, Nintendo let Sega enter into market and take over as the next leader in the industry when Nintendo mistakenly delayed the release of their 16-bit console to avoid cannibalizing sales of the 8-bit console. Sega took advantage of Nintendo’s mistake by offering lower prices for their new console and games. Sony took control from Sega as the leader in the video game industry from 1988-2005 by targeting more mature audiences for their video games and being the first to install DVD-playing capability and Internet connectivity in the consoles. However, Nintendo was able to take over the lead in the most recent generation from â€Å"forward looking† Microsoft and Sony by being able to attract demand from younger and older audiences. This has caused Sony to reevaluate their strategy for the upcoming new generation of video game consoles. Sony’s target market has traditionally been core gamers, Males aged 14-34. The Wii, while popular with a wide audience, was unpopular with this core demographic because it did not feature the games core gamers loved like Grand Theft Auto and Halo. The Playstation brand is strong because it’s the most powerful system available with the best graphics and games that core gamers love. The poor sales of the PS3 thus far are attributable to Microsoft’s first mover advantage and release delays, similar to Nintendo’s problems in the 16-bit generation. Now that the PS3 has been released, Sony can make its push towards industry leadership by focusing on this core demographic, offering exclusive games, and using its superior graphics and system power as a competitive advantage over Microsoft. While games for more mature audiences should be Sony’s focus, they cannot ignore the expansion of the video game industry into new demographics. However, marketing the PS3 too heavily to these new audiences could dilute the PS3’s cool factor to core gamers by casting it as something their grandparents can play. The Wii has already captured the cool factor for non-typical gaming demographics, and pushing the PS3 in this direction would alienate its core users. Instead, Sony should allow third-party developers to create games for younger audiences so that the younger siblings and kids of core gamers will not be left out on the PS3, but avoid focusing marketing campaigns for the PS3 on these new demographics. This would make the console inclusive for new demographics, but avoid alienating core users while pushing for dominance in the core gaming market. Sony should also continue to move the PS3 towards being a digital living room hub. The Xbox 360 is marketed as an all-encompassing living room experience that replaces the need for movie and music players, and sometimes PCs. Not recognizing this shift in how consoles are used in the home would be harmful to the PS3, and they could lose buyers based not on their video game experience but because it is lacking digital hub features that are becoming basic. Sony should expand their living room experience by allowing third party downloadable apps that add on to the digital hub, and take advantage of Blu-Ray’s industry victory by packaging the system with movie discs. Sony can regain its industry lead by becoming the go-to console for core gamers and pushing for games that are inclusive of all demographics. This can be accomplished by heavily marketing the system as the most powerful system on the market while offering an extensive catalog of games, especially their exclusive game catalog.

Discipline and Improve Students Behaviour in Classroom Education Essay Example for Free

Discipline and Improve Students Behaviour in Classroom Education Essay The problem of how best to discipline and improve students’ behaviour in classroom is of permanent interest. This review is oriented to searching different methodologies concerning students’ behaviour in classrooms, teachers’ discipline strategies and behavioural management. Different points of view and different examples for appropriate behaviour have been discussed referring to the topic. The sources reviewed present different solutions. This paper examines also the classroom environment and its relation to successful behaviour implementation. The first paragraphs give different definitions conversant with behaviour and discipline according to the authors’ view. The continuation of the literature review is presented by different approaches and strategies concerning a good behavioural management. This elaboration sets out some of the arguments and recommendations which are discussed in more detail. Charles C. M. submits several definitions corresponding to behaviour: Behaviour refers to everything that people do. Misbehaviour is behaviour that is not appropriate to the setting or situation in which it occurs. Discipline†¦ are strategies, procedures, and structures that teachers use to support a positive learning environment. Behaviour management is a science that puts an accent on what teachers have to do to prevent misbehaviour (Charles 1). Students’ behaviour depends on several factors such as traditions, demographic settings, economic resources, family, experiences, and more. Some authors have made important contributions in managing classroom discipline related the twentieth century. Jacob Kounin (1971), one of them, reports that appropriate student behaviour can be maintained through classroom organization, lesson management, and approach to individual students. Rudolf Dreikurs (1972) on the other hand emphasizes the desire to belong as a primary need of students in school. He identifies types of misbehaviour and gives ideas about how to make students feel a part of the class or group (p. 63). William Glasser (1986) shows another view, making a case that the behaviour of someone else cannot be controlled. He reckons that everybody can only control his own behaviour. Personally I support this idea that we must control ourselves. According to the opinion of the other authors, Linda Albert’s, Barbara Coloroso’s, Nelson and Lott’s a good discipline in the classroom can be achieved through Belonging, Cooperation, and Self-Control. A similar idea of classroom management is also presented by Rackel C. F who declares that the teachers, considered it was necessary, â€Å"to develop students’ sense of belonging to the school† (p. 1071) The author supports the opinion of the significance of a good school climate and tells that it might be precondition for facilitating positive youth development (Rackel C. F 1071). In order to attain to a good classroom atmosphere there is a need of growing positive relationship between students and teachers, motivation the students’ participation and clear rules to control classroom discipline (Rackel C. F 1072). In addition these above-mentioned views can be defined as a positive outlook as regards to improving the classroom management. Another point of view inside the subject of managing discipline is through active student involvement and through pragmatic Classroom management (Charles, C. M. 2007, p. 7). Discipline through raising student responsibility is also positively oriented approach for classroom management. The three principles that improve behaviour presented in the article â€Å"Self-assessment of understanding† are positivity, choice, and reflection (Charles, C. M. 12). There the author explains the principles meaning. He states that being positive means being a motivator. When students have opportunity to share their choices they can present themselves with a good behaviour. â€Å"Asking students questions that encourage them to reflect on their behaviour can help them to change behaviour† (Charles 14). Rebecca Giallo and Emma Little (2003, p. 22) from RMIT University Australia give their comments also on classroom behaviour management. They claim that confidence is one of the most important characteristic that influence teachers’ effectiveness in classroom management. Giallo and Little (2003, 22) based on the previous statement of Evans Tribble accept that less confident teachers seem more vulnerable to stressful classrooms. They maintain the theory that the classroom stress is a reason for giving up a teacher’s career. In school the stress can be overcome through involving of drastic measures concerning managing a good discipline. One of the most popular strategy for solving behaviour problems is punishment. By reason of the popularity of the subject in the field of education, many experts have written articles and books as well as given lectures on discipline and punishment. Anne Catey based on Dreikur’s words considers that there is no need of using punishment in class. Based on Catey’s words kids need to have a chance they can share their ideas in the class (1). This is the best way to â€Å"smooth, productive functioning in schools† (Charles, C. M, 1999). Anne Catey from Cumberland High School gets an interview from several teachers in Illinois district about their discipline practices. She accepts the suggestion given by Lawrence as mentioning that, â€Å"very effective technique is a brief conference, either in the hallway or after class, with the misbehaving student† (Punishment, 1). Anne Catey has her own techniques for classroom management. She disagrees with Lawrence viewing about humour as one of the bad strategies for effective discipline and believes that using of humour can be effective if done without abasing the students (Punishment, 1). In this way she gives each one a bit of individual attention. When some of her students are a bit distracted on one task, talking to friends instead of reading Catey says, â€Å"Since I always assume the best of my students, I assume the noise I hear is students reading aloud or discussing their novels. However, it’s time to read silently now instead of reading aloud† (Punishment, 1). This sounds as a good strategy but personally I disclaim this thesis. This doesn’t work all the time. I am trying to be strict with my students and according to this the pupils have to observe the rules in my classes. That doesn’t mean that I admit the severe punishment but rarely the stern warnings. I agree with the following techniques used by Anne Catey (2001) to modify behaviour including giving â€Å"zeroes for incomplete, inappropriate, and/or missing work and taking points off at the end of a quarter for lack of participation and/or poor listening†. As expected, these methods are effective for some of the pupils but not for the others. Related to the above-mentioned topic it could be noticed some of the classroom discipline strategies utilized in Australia, China and Israel. On the basis of elaborated research in these countries some psychologists and school principals (Xing Qui, Shlomo Romi, 2005) conclude that Chinese teachers appear less punitive and aggressive than do those in Israel or Australia. Australian classrooms are presented as having least discussion and recognition and most punishment. In Australia (Lewis, 2005) as concerned to the study the teachers are characterized by two distinct discipline styles. The first of these is called â€Å"Coercive† discipline and comprises punishment and aggression (yelling in anger, sarcasm group punishments, tc). The second style, comprising discussion, hints, recognition, involvement and Punishment, is called â€Å"Relationship based discipline† (Lewis 7). Coercive discipline according to the above-mentioned authors means the teacher’s behaviour is such as â€Å"shouting all the time, unfairly blaming students, picking on kids, and being rude, to stimulate student resistance and subsequent misbehaviour† (Lewis, Ramon 2). The importance of classroom discipline arises not only from students’ behaviour and learning as outlined above. It depends also on the role of the teacher. Sometimes it is obvious that teachers are not be able to manage students’ classroom discipline and it can result in stress. So,â€Å"classroom discipline is a cohesion of teacher stress† (Lewis 3). Chan (1998), reports on the stressors of over 400 teachers in Hong Kong, claims that student behaviour management rates as the second most significant factor stressing teachers. In the article Teachers’ Classroom discipline several strategies have been presented for improving classroom management. They are Punishing (move students’ seats, detention), Rewarding (rewards, praises), Involvement in decision-making (decides with the class what should happen to students who misbehave), Hinting, Discussion and Aggression. Another strategy for improving discipline in class is conducting questionnaires between the students. It is an appropriate approach for defining students’ opinion about behaviour problems. In each Chinese and Israeli school a random sample of classes at all year levels have been selected. As a research assistant administered questionnaires to these classes their teachers completed their questionnaires (Yakov J. Katz 7). In comparison to all of the mentioned countries the model in China is a little different in that students support use of all strategies except Aggression and Punishment. Based on the conducted research the only strategy to range within a country by more than 2 ranks is Punishment, which ranks as the most common strategy in Australia, and the fourth and fifth most commonly used strategy in Israel and China. The author, Xing Qui generalises that, â€Å"there is not more Punishment at the level 7-12. Classroom discipline techniques showed that students in China, compared to those in Australia or Israel, report less usage of Punishment and Aggression and greater use of Discussion and the other positive strategies. At the end of their article â€Å"Teachers’ classroom discipline and Student Misbehaviour in Australia, China and Israel â€Å"(p. 14) the authors recommend that teachers need to work harder to gain quality relationships with difficult students. What I have drawn from reviewing literature so far is that teachers are able to use different techniques for enhancing classroom management in their profession. After making a thorough survey on the above-mentioned issue I would like calmly to express my position. It is harder for the teacher to keep the student focused on any frontal instruction. That’s why as with all classroom management practices, the teachers should adapt what they like to their classroom, taking into consideration the age, ethnicity, and personality of the class as a group, and of them as teachers. Much of the disruptive behaviour in the classroom can be alleviated before they become serious discipline problems. Such behaviours can be reduced by the teacher’s ability to employ effective organizational practices. These skills are individual for each teacher. The lecturer should become familiar with school policies concerning acceptable student behaviour and disciplinary procedures. Establishing rules to guide the behaviour of students is also important. Once these standards are set up the teachers have to stick to them. I agree with the authors who prefer involving the positive approach in behaviour management. But I also accept that some situations are more complicated than the others and in this case the teachers must take drastic measures against inappropriate students’ behaviour.

Impacts of the Mass Media on Enculturation

Impacts of the Mass Media on Enculturation Popular America CultureIntroduction Mass media and popular culture are quite interconnected. Mass media has a great influence on culture construction. This term paper discusses the impacts of mass media on enculturation. It will look at the relationships among media and the normative cultural values formation. Finally the paper will discuss the influence of the internet on culture and communication means. Real world examples are given to substantiate the paper. Part IImpact of the mass media on enculturation Enculturation can be viewed as the process through which persons learn the contents of a culture and assimilates them to their lives. Mass media has grown in popularity and has formed part of our daily enculturation. This is due to the huge impact of mass media on enculturation. The Random House Unabridged Dictionary (1997) defines enculturation as a process whereby persons learn group culture by experience, observation, and instruction. The society is accessing technology more easily with time. The mass media communication devices are quickly flooding every corner of the society making dissemination of information quite easily to all the ages of people. Media has been able to make some of the topics which were never discussed freely to be so discussed. This has impacted both negatively and positively on the people receiving the information. Age groups which were not in a position to access some information in the past can access it freely and to whatever level they desire. A lot of research has been conducted on the antisocial and prosocial impact of the media. According to Motion Picture Research Council movies have a potential of causing antisocial behaviors in children. It is claimed that many of the things which are learnt from movies have antisocial overtones. In the 1950s the comic books were also added to the list of the contributors to the antisocial behaviors (Wertham, 1954). The 1950s saw many experiments conducted on the TV shows. These included the Bandura experiments which implicated violent media with aggressive behaviors among children. The Media has also been associated with sex. Some media houses have got programs which exclusively talk about sex. Some TV shows have taught the teenagers and the public in general how to dress sexily and live what is commonly called a sex lifestyle. Walking around in any city it is very easy to meet sexual sentiments. Broadcasts have shaped sex to be a popular way of self expression (Bandura, 1977). The Sesame street program is an example of TV series which has shown much [positive impact among its views. According to Minton (1975) the program was able to prepare children in readiness for school (Minton 1975). According to CBS Broadcast Group (1974) Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was quite helpful in teaching prosocial lessons to children (CBS Broadcast Group 1974). Most action movies for instance Prison break shows how authorities can be successful fooled and any evidence of crime committed erased. This can possibly have a bad impact on some third world countries whose security system are still shaky and people criminals ca n easily imitate what they see in movies with much success. MTV is a good example of a modern influencer on popular culture. This is especially pronounced for the case of the youths who from the major part of viewers of MTV. Take for instance the Saturday Night Show. The program is designed with adverts cutting in e very other minute. Due to the popularity of the show the adverts made surely have the eyes and ears millions listeners. The teenagers who form the majority of the views of this show are prone to be influenced by the adverts. Everyday millions of impressionable teenagers watch a show called Saturday Night Live. Part II The relationship among the media, advertising and formation of normative cultural values In explaining how the media can influence the formation of normative cultural values, Van Evra (1990) proposes the script theory. He argues that since most views have little experience on life matters the media brings these matters to the views frequently. For instance if a person has never experience violence in life, the experience can be felt virtual when one is exposed to the violence in media frequently given pattern of violence is created. This pattern is dictated only by the media being the major source of knowledge of violence to the person watching (Van Evra, 1990). The media, being a major source of information on many issues in life, the views are inclined to adopt the culture portrayed by the media concerning the topic in question. Comstock and Paik (1991) try to shed some light on how the media can help in shaping up a culture among the fans. They argue that in most cases the media portrays life issues in unique, compelling and unusual manner which is likely to attract and arouse the attention of the fans. This makes the way life issues are handled in the media to be the most attractive way of adoption. They quote the social cognition theory which claims that patterns which are portrayed repetitively and redundantly are likely to prompt the fans to adopt the patterns unconsciously (Comstock Paik, 1991). Comstock and Paik (1991) also claims that the way characters are framed in the media makes their way of handling issues the only way of handling a real life issue in which some one has no experience on. It should also be noted that media stars like musicians are popularized by the media. Fans of such stars tend to imitate what these stars do. A good example is the popularity of soap operas especially among the youth. These are mostly based around love issues. Most youth have resolved to adapt to the way love issues are handled in the soaps. Another good example is how music is spreading dressing code among the youth. It is very conspicuous among the black American musicians to dress in a unique way. This is especially for the case rap and hip hop music which is very popular among the youth all over the world. Most youth have adapted to these musicians way of dress codes and way of life especially in the African countries (Comstock Paik, 1991). Part III The social impact of the internet The internet connection has contributed much to globalization. Globalization has much impact on blending different cultures and homogenizing them. Through the internet information flow is possible to all the corners of the earth. Research has shown the usage of internet is quickly replacing the other media especially TV watching. This is because the time traditional dedicated to watching TV is being used for internet surfing (Weaver, 1998). Basically the net is used for information, communication, entertainment and affiliation. The internet is so broad that it covers almost every part and issues of life aspects. The internet is likely to have a great influence than all the other forms of media because of its unique. The internet can actual substitute all the other forms of communication. Through the internet one to one communication is possible almost everywhere. Through the use of blackberry, one is able to get in touch with other people at any time. The internet has all the attractive features of all the media and thus easily influences its users very easily (Weaver, 1998). The internet is also quite addictive due to its unlimited potential of accessing information. A good example of how the internet has influenced its user is through the facebook. Facebook is able connect people who are any distance apart. Their easy to use make them popular and as a result make the dissemination of information faster. Through this features various cultural aspects are exchanges among the users of such sites. Through such sites cultural values are transferable to different parts of the world. Conclusion Media is quite influential in the formation and dissemination of cultural values. This is because media has taken the center stage of information source of any kind. Through the depiction of life issues in a unique way, the users of media are tempted to adapt the media way of doing things and as a result end up adapting a way of life which is depicted by the media probably from a different part of the globe. Through such culture values are spread to different parts of the earth. The internet has of late become the most popular way that information is passed around. References Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. CBS Broadcast Group. (1974). Fat Albert and the Cosby kids. New York, NY: Willey Sons. Comstock, G., Paik, H. (1991). Television and the American child. New York, NY: Academic Press. Van Evra, J. (1990). Television and child development. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Weaver, A. (1998). Net worth Working Woman, 23(1), pp. 20. Wertham, F. (1954). The seduction of the innocent. New York, NY: Holt Publishers.

Local Breast Cancer Hot Spot :: Beaches Breast Cancer Health Essays

Local Breast Cancer Hot Spot With the waves crashing in front of you, the sun warming your body, and a slight breeze coming just over the dunes, you would never think you were sitting on a beach considered to be a breast cancer "hot spot." Unfortunatly, if you were sitting on certain Cape Cod beaches, that's just what you'd be doing. "It's an unfortunate situation, I lost two sisters and my mother-in-law to breast cancer, all of us lived on the cape most of our lives. Their doctors were pretty sure it was caused from our contaminated drinking water," said Joan Swift, of Dennis, MA. In Massachusetts, determining the causes of breast cancer has been a top priority since 1990 when the Massachusetts Department of Public Health published a town-by-town cancer statistics for 1982-1990. The figures showed breast cancer incidence was significantly elevated in nine of the 15 towns that make up the Cape Cod region. What is significant? Research showed that breast cancer was about 20% higher on Cape Cod than in the rest of the state. In some of the towns - such as Dennis, Harwich, Chatham, Orleans and Falmouth - they are even higher. While women in this region continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer at an alarming rate, it is only normal for residence to want answers. Many years of research have found a couple of possibilities for this tragic problem. According to researchers at Silent Springs Institute in Newton Massachusetts, a possible reason behind the high cancer rates is the use of pesticides in marshes, cranberry bogs, golf courses and residential areas. Researchers are also looking into the possibility that synthetic chemicals found in common household products are to blame. Cheryl Osimo, Silent Springs Cape Cod coordinator, called the study's discoveries an important step. "It is not only about Cape Cod. The findings have implications for breast cancer research throughout the country," said Osimo. Silent Springs Institute, a nonprofit research organization, was founded in 1994 by the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and a group of Cape Cod citizens. Its goal is to find preventable causes of breast cancer, the most common cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women 35-46 years of age. The Institute focuses on measuring exposures Cape women may have had during the past 40 years to more than 100 chemicals known to mimic estrogen, a know risk factor for the disease.

Writing and Architecture :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Writing and Architecture A story is not a story until it is told. The way that this is done gives it depth, meaning, and tone. A house is not a house until it is built. The way that this is done gives it character, purpose, and life. Writing and architecture are very similar in that the idea of the piece is expressed through the choices that are made. It is up to the author or designer to determine how the idea will be interpreted and what method will be used to communicate the idea. Choosing the means that will express the idea is a critical decision that will affect the outcome in dramatic ways. When designing a house, an architect will establish an architectural idea that will be an underlying factor in the design. After choosing an idea, a means of articulating the idea is determined that will suit the client and relate to the context of its surroundings, whether it be sympathetic or contrastive. The basic form or shape of the house begins to give it meaning and locates the frame of reference. An important factor in building a house is whether the house is built to replicate past periods, such as Victorian, or has a modern design. The actual design of the house, where the walls, doors, and windows will be placed, brings out the architectural idea. In a book dealing with the architecture of houses the author has this to say: "Windows do more than let in light and air. The way they are placed in a wall affects our understanding of the whole house" (Moore, Allen, Lyndon qtd. in Allen 203). The materials bring another level of understanding to the design. The difference between cedar shingles and modular steel panels is significant when determining the tone of the house. I shall always remember how as a child I played on the wooden floor. The wide boards were warm and friendly, and in their texture I discovered a rich and enchanting world of veins and knots. I also remember the comfort and security experienced when falling asleep next to the round logs of an old timber wall; a wall which was not just a plain surface but had a plastic presence like everything alive. Thus sight, touch, and even smell were satisfied, which is as it should be when a child meets the world. (Norberg-Shultz qtd.

Monster Essay -- Biography, Kody Scott

Kody Scott, also known as â€Å"Monster† for his viciousness in beating of a man and further crimes, forms a realistic and brutal picture of gang violence in America. Throughout his story, Scott views his gang participation as the only viable means of survival. Killing is done through the necessity to promote oneself in order to become an O.G., or Original Gangster, the pinnacle of gang member status and achievement. The urge to become an O.G. seems to be paramount in Scott's eyes, and he outlines his plan: first he must build his reputation, then his influence as part of his set, and finally as a â€Å"promoter† of the Crips (Shakur, 1993, pp. 14-15). By age eleven Scott's sole desire is to become a gang member of his local set, the Eight Trays. He disregards education, at one point stating how he paid no attention to his middle school teacher, focusing only on the streets and his â€Å"homeboys† as source of lifestyle and adventure (Shakur, 1993, pp. 3-4). He c learly reaches his goal, putting the entirety of his mental and physical being into being a gangster, even though it leads him to a life wreaked by violence and prison sentences. While many factors can be reported to showcase the reasons why an individual would be led to such violence, ethology remains the single most accurate theory in explaining the many facets of gang violence by showing the parallels between animal behavior and the lifestyle of gang members. Ethology also attempts to explain the violence exhibited by humans as corresponding to violence displayed by animals. For predatory animals, violence is necessary for survival and adaptation to the surroundings is vital. Genetically humans are closest to chimpanzees, which â€Å"routinely engage in murder, assassination, rape, raid... ...suit of a promoted street war and personal achievements of status and further violence. Kody Scott's tale of the street war in Los Angeles in which he witnessed and played a dramatic part in is punctuated by the reasons behind his deviant behavior and adherence to a lifestyle focused on violence. By studying the behavioral patterns of animals in ethology, the traits of predatory animals which must fight and guard in order to stay alive is the same intensity of the battle to survive in the case of Monster's reality. Each of Monster's action's proved to be founded in the culture he was born into along with his personal desire to see his acts of violence glorified. Without the drive to commit himself to a rational lifestyle, Kody is swept into the maelstrom of gang-banging, all of its twisted faculties accepted due to an equally twisted and antisocial personality.

Customer Service Essay

Introduction: â€Å"The customer is always right† is a famous business slogan. The underlying truth behind this statement is recognizing that customers are the life blood for any business. Understanding the importance of good customer service is essential for a healthy business in creating new customers, keeping loyal customers, and developing referrals for future customers Important of Customer Service: Customer service is important because customer service does more than simply provide a means to drive sales. It is also said that when companies have a commitment to a customer service this raises the bar of competition. There are following tip for good customer services.  Excellent customer service begins at the initial greeting. In this situations, using good people skills will increase the chances for a positive first impression. For example, saying hello with a smile to a customer who just walked in the door will invite that person in and make them feel welcome. Acknowledge the customer within a minute of them entering the premises, no matter how busy you are. This immediately helps make the customer feel welcome and at ease. Make eye contact with the customer. This makes both you and the customer feel more comfortable with each other. Finally, In terms of the general ambience, make sure premises are kept at an adequate temperature. Make sure don’t skimp on heating in th e winter, and in the summer if it’s too hot install cooling systems. This doesn’t have to cost a fortune but can make a big difference to the environment your customers enter. Too hot or too cold, and your customers will turn straight round and leave. Key point to Friendly Service:- Smile Talk to customer whenever possible Show to regular customers that you recognise them Use the steps below as guide but, above all, be yourself 1.Promptly welcome the Guest 2.Take the order clearly 3.Collect the payment accurately 4.Assemble the order completely 5.Deliver the order politely. Conclusion: You need to give support and guidance to your team to encourage them to improve their customer service delivery. It is about having a passion for customer service and sharing this enthusiasm with your colleagues and staff team. It is about leading by example. Lead a team to improve customer service 1.Be able to plan and organise the work of a team 2.Be able to provide support for team members 3.Be able to review performance of team members 4.Understand how to lead a team to improve customer service Be able to plan and organise the work of a team 1.Treat team members with respect at all times 2.Agree with team members your role in delivering effective customer service 3.Involve team members in planning and organising your customer service work 4.Motivate team members to work together to raise their customer service performance Be able to provide support for team members. 1.Check that team members understand what they have to do to improve their work with customers and why that is important 2.Check with team members what support they feel they may need throughout this process 3.Provide team members with support and direction when they need help 4.Encourage team members to work together to improve customer service

Mississippi Burning Essay

Burning is a movie about racial hate and bigotry. How has the director Alan Parker presented the genre through the use of Camera, Music and other techniques? Racial hate has been one of the biggest issues in society over the past 100 years. Film has traditionally been considered a very effective medium in presenting a message about this. Mississippi Burning is a heart wrenching film based on racial hate and bigotry. Alan Parker is the director of the film and has incorporated many techniques such as, camera angles and lighting, costume and language and sound. All of these techniques are to suit particular scenes in the film and or to highlight certain attributes. Alan Parker provides a theme and or message with in his film, and his techniques used without help to provide the message and or theme he wishes to portray. Camera Angles and Lighting are highly influenced in the film as they help symbolise certain objects and highlight hidden meanings. SCENE displays this as once the FBI men have had the fright of their life they spot something outside, to then see it is a burning cross. At this point the cross is burning bright and the environment around is dull, almost not there. This is highlighting the fact that at this point of time the police are winning and their ways are brighter and better then there’s. This proves that the police believe that treating black people like dogs is okay. Throughout the film there are dramatic camera angles, the best one that highlights the whole movie is the opening scene, where we are looking directly at a white mans’ drinking fountain and a black mans’ drinking fountain, the differences in the fountains show that black men have no rights and white men have too many. Alan Parker uses language and costume to highlight certain characters and their actions. Language being a strong point throughout the film, Alan highlights the fact that the police for example are pig headed by the way they speak. They have a lot of slag and a lot of attitude. Alan highlights the fact that the black people have a voice as when they do speak, they are polite and confident. The way the characters all dress reflects them too, as Alan tries to portray a message that the black people cannot afford not only nice clothes but a better life, that the white men can afford to dress nice but cannot afford a nice attitude. Sound is used to help maintain a scene, to help make it more dramatic, to make you more excited, to prove a point or make you sadder. Sound helps portray messages in such a way that words cant. Mississippi Burning without fail reaches to enhance these points as the film carries out many strong ‘sound’ points. SCENE when the three civil right men are found, the funeral is withheld and a black woman with a strong voice take the scene as she evokes the point that the two white boys were not allowed to be buried near the black boy and not only she, but the whole black culture has had enough of being treated like dirt. This scene shows a rise up, a community of black people standing together for the last time as dirt and rising up together as strong-willed people. Mississippi Burning uses a wide range of techniques to provoke messages being hidden throughout the film. Racial hate and bigotry are constantly highlighted behind mixed messages and a hidden meaning as Alan Parker allows a viewer to withhold their own opinion on not just the film, but racism itself.

History of modern psychology Essay

Psychology’s history cannot be understood adequately without knowing something of philosophy’s history. All of the important issues that concern modern psychologists have been addressed by philosophers (2008). I will discuss how the philosophers: Descartes, Locke, Hume, Mill, and Berkley. These individuals life work greatly influenced the development of modern psychology. The End of the Renaissance and the 17th century brought to history, the man who is â€Å"sometimes considered the father of modern philosophy, mathematics, physiology and psychology†, the great philosopher, Rene’ Descartes (Goodwin, 2008). Descartes was born in La Haye on March 31, 1596 of Joachim Descartes and Jeanne Brochard. He was one of a number of surviving children (two siblings and two half-siblings). His father was a lawyer and magistrate, which apparently left little time for family. Descartes’ mother died in May of the year following his birth, and he, his full brother and sister, Pierre and Jeanne, were left to be raised by their grandmother in La Haye. At around ten years of age, in 1606, he was sent to the Jesuit college of La Fleche. He studied there until 1614, and in 1615 entered the University of Poitiers, where a year later he received his Baccalaureate and License in Canon & Civil Law (2012). Goodwin (2008) summarized that, Descartes was a rationalist, believing that the way to true knowledge was through the systematic use of his reasoning abilities. Because he believed that some truths Were universal and could be arrived at through reason and without the necessity of sensory experience, he was also a nativist. In addition, he was a dualist and an interactionist, believing that mind and body were distinct essences, but that they had direct influence on each other. It is Descartes’ who is most likely responsible for many of the themes that came from the late Renaissance that are incorporated into the science of psychology today, but since that time there are many philosophers in the Western tradition that contributed to the formation of psychology as a discipline. Western Philosophers that Contributed to the Formation of Psychology as a Discipline John Locke (b. 1632, d. 1704) was a British philosopher, Oxford academic and medical researcher. Locke is often classified as the first of the great English empiricists. Locke, according to Goodwin (2008) â€Å"is important to psychology as a consequence of the concepts expressed in two of his books, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690/1963) and Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1693/1963) (p. 38). Goodwin (2008) explains further that the â€Å"former explains Locke’s views on how knowledge is acquired, how we as humans come to understand our world† (p. 38) and the â€Å"latter is based on a series of letters to a friend and shows how empiricist thinking could be applied to all aspects of a child’s education† (p. 38). David Hume was born near Edinburgh, Scotland. David Hume, was an empiricist/associationist that Goodwin (2008) summarizes was â€Å"known for making a distinction between impressions, which result from sensation, and ideas, which he said were faint copies of impressions† (p. 59). It is also said that he â€Å"identified the rules of association as resemblance, contiguity, and cause/effect† and â€Å"he believed that we cannot know causality absolutely, only that certain events occur together regularly† (Goodwin, 2008, p. 59). George Berkeley was born in or near Kilkenny, Ireland on 12 March 1685. He was raised in Dysart Castle (Flage, 2005). He was a bishop of the Anglican Church in Ireland and was one thinker that was especially concerned about the materialistic implications of seventeenth-century science (Goodwin, 2008, p. 43). Berkeley was one of the three most famous British Empiricists. (The other two are John Locke and David Hume. ). George Berkeley wrote a detailed analysis of visual perception based on empiricist arguments, in the process describing visual phenomena such as convergence, accommodation, and the effects of the inverted retinal image. He rejected Locke’s primary/secondary qualities distinction, and to counter materialism, he proposed (subjective idealism) that we cannot be sure of the reality of objects except through our belief in God, the Permanent Perceiver (Goodwin, 2008). Nineteenth-Century Development of the Science of Psychology John Stuart Mill was a child prodigy and one the leading British philosopher of the nineteenth century (Goodwin, 2008). Mill’s politics derived from and contributed to his psychology. As an empiricist, he believed that all knowledge came through experience and that under the proper circumstances, anyone could become knowledgeable. Thus, he favored government support for universal education and was appalled at the traditional English system that favored the landed gentry, an elite minority (Goodwin, 2008). According to Goodwin (2008), He brought British associationism to its zenith and he provided an analysis of scientific thinking that guides psychological research to this day. He was a key transition figure in the shift from the philosophy of the mind to the science of the mind. Immanuel Kant agreed with the empiricists that our knowledge is built from experience, and he argued that the more important question was how the process occurs. Kant derived the fundamental principles of human thought and action from human sensibility, understanding, and reason, all as sources of our autonomy; he balanced the contributions of these principles against the ineliminable inputs of external sensation and internal inclination beyond our own control; and he strove both to demarcate these principles from each other and yet to integrate them into a single system with human autonomy as both its foundation and its ultimate value and goal (Guyer, 2004). Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) is known as the founder of experimental psychology. He founded the first â€Å"school† of psychology, called structuralism. The main goal of Wundt’s school was to analyze the contents of the mind into its basic structural components or elements, using introspection of mental contents as the chief method (Goodwin, 2008). According to Goodwin (2008), Wundt is justifiably considered the first true psychologist of the modern era and although it is difficult to identify a single Wundtian among the early American psychologists, he had a strong influence on the origins of American psychology. Psychology, as a science is rooted in its origin of philosophy. Descartes, Hume, Mill, Berkeley, Locke, Kant, and Wundt were some of the brightest of their time. The development of modern psychology and its many branches would not be possible without the hard work and contributions of these individuals.

Culture and Cultural Norms Essay

Culture can be referred to as a people’s way of life. It can be used to refer to the way we live and all that goes along with our life. That means that for us to have a life we have to be affiliated to a certain culture or to belong to a certain culture. To be in a certain culture, one has to comply will the cultural values, norms and expectations. Cultural values can be used or rather the term can be used to refer to the way we have our things done. Wee can not be able to have statistical averages on cultural norms. There are expected and also accepted practices in our society. Sometimes they may not be in line with the law or our policies. An example is a case where it is understandable and very normal to drive 5 miles above the speed limits. (http://www. changeculture. com/Webpages/Norms/Norms. htm) Norms have varying strength and thus they have very different consequences incase one violates these norms. If one lacks norms, this is referred to as economies and it is mostly associated with social breakdown and mental illness. This means that depending on the offense that one has committed they may be punished by their culture differently. They may be excommunicated by their community or anything that this community may think. (Westing, 1988) However, culture keeps changing and people in that culture move in pace with the change. This is why some people are more civilized than others. Due to this we find that some people have or seem to be more advanced then others. This can be used or is used in reference to some elite activities such as classic music, museum caliber art. There are times that one will move place to or one continent to the next and find that he can not fit in the next. This is because he finds that he really having a different way of life from the other people or the people that he meets. (http://www. changeculture. com/Webpages/Norms/Norms. htm) I once visited South America for one month in Peru. I was expecting a very normal life but I got some things that I least expected. Life was very different and that is when I realized I was in another world with quite a different culture. I was used to a life where we had a simple nuclear family where we have dad, mom and my brother and my two sisters. Down there I found that life is quite different. A simple family I realized consisted of the father, mother, children, uncles, aunties and the grandparents. All these were living in the same house under the same roof. There was a very different way of life here. Then when Sunday comes, I am a Christian and we go to church every Sunday. Here there were no churches and people used to pray under different groups at different places. I have never seen this before. There were sacrifices at the places where they prayed and they would slaughter animals and roast meat. This was very different from what we are used to in Florida. I also understood that there congregations were headed by old men and they spoke in their own native language. I later understood that some they did not understand English no wonder they communicated in their language. (Wolfgang M 2001) These people were little light in skin color more reddish than most of us. Most of them had not gone to school and thus they would not communicate or rather they did not know any other language. This made it very difficult for them to communicate. Most of their children used to go to look after their animals in some forest. I had led this only on papers but I never thought it happens on real life. However, there were those who were civilized for example in the towns. There were more advanced. Majority of them knew how to read and write and they would communicate in even in English. I realized that I was in a different world with quite different civilization. However, the culture of the people was quite different from what I was used to. Also, in this area there were very poor communication systems. Very few people had mobile phones and they were very expensive. I found this very different from what I am used to in our country. This gave an advantage as since people knew that we were foreigners they never concentrated so much on us. I would see that even if we go to a public place we were given a first priority in service. Life was very different here and people had to notice us everywhere we were going. I remember one time we were walking late at night and the police were rounding up all those who were walking around. When they came to us and realized that we were foreigners, they just passed but told us to go to our house while they arrested those who were behind us. In conclusion, it happens that people will have very different cultures in different places and they will have different way of life. If people from a different culture come, they will experience the change and they have an advantage of being foreigners. This makes them to have an advantage of being served or rather being attended to first. This shows that culture is complex and mostly resistant to change. (http://www. changeculture. com/Webpages/changeprocess. htm) Reference Westing H. A(1988)Cultural Norms, War and the Environment. Oxford University Press Wolfgang M (2001)The Subculture of Violence: Towards an Integrated Theory in Violence Routledge Publishers http://www. changeculture. com

Air and Sea Travel Case Study

During April, the business provided travel services for clients. It is now April 30, and investors wonder how well Air Sea Travel performed during its first month. They also want to know the company’s financial position at the end of April and its cash flows during the month. The following data is listed in alphabetical order. Prepare the Air Sea Travel financial statements at end of April 20X6. Accounts payable |$100 |Land |$18,000 | |Accounts receivable |2,000 |Office supplies |500 | |Adjustments to reconcile net | |Payments of cash: | | | income to net cash provided | | Acquisition of land |40,000 | | by operating activities |(2,400) | Dividends |2,100 | |Cash balance at the beginning of April |0 |Rent expense |1,100 | |Cash balance at the end of April |33,300 |Retained earnings at the beginning of April | | | | | |0 | |Cash receipts: | |Retained earnings at the end of April |? | | Issuance stock |50,000 |Salary expense | 1200 | | Sale of land |22,000 |Service revenue |8,500 | |Common stock |50,000 |Utilities xpense |400 | |Dividends |2,100 | | | 1. Prepare the income statement, the statement of retained earnings, the statement of cash flows for the month ended April 30, 20X6, and the balance sheet at April 30, 20X6. 2. Answer the following questions: a. How well did Air Sea Travel perform during its first month of operations? b. Where does Air Sea Travel stand financially at the end of April? ASSETSLIABILITIES Cash33,300Account payable100 Account receivable2,000Land 18,000 Insurance stock50,000Office supplies500 Sale of land 22,000Payment of cash Common stock50,000 Acquisition of land40,000 Dividends2,100 Dividends2,100 Service revenue8,500Rent expense1,100 Salary expense1,200 Utilities expense400 Adjustment to reconcile 2,400 net income to net cash provided by operating activities 1. |Air Sea Travel Inc. | |Income Statement | |April 30, 20X6 | |Revenues |8,500 | |Expenses |2,700 | |Rent expense 1,100 | |Salary expense |1200 | |Utilities expense |400 | |Net income |5,800 | |Air Sea Travel Inc. | |Statement of Retained Earnings | |April 30, 20X6 | | | | |Beginning of Retained Earnings |0 | |Net income |5,800 | |Cash dividends |(2,100) | |Ending Retained Earnings |3,700 | |Air Sea Travel Inc. |Balance Sheet | |April 30, 20X6 | | | | |Assets | | |Cash |33,300 | |All other assets |20,500 | |Land |18,000 | |Office supplies |500 | |Account receivable |2,000 | |Total assets |53,800 | |Liabilities | | |Acount Payable |100 | |Total liabilities |100 | |Stockholder’s equity | | |Common stock |50,000 | |Retained earnings |3,700 | |All other equity |0 | |Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity |53,800 | |Air Sea Travel Inc. |Statement of Cash Flows | |April 30, 20X6 | |Net cash provided by operating activities | |3,400 | |Net income |5,800 | | |Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities |(2,400) | | |Net cash used for investing activities | |(18,000) | | Sale of land |22,000 | | |Acquisition of land |(40,000) | | |Net cash provided by financing activities | |47,900 | |Issuance stock |50,000 | | |Dividends |(2,100) | | |Net change in cash | | 33,300 | |Beginning cash balance | |0 | |Ending cash balance | | 33,300 | 2. a) They performed very well, since they got profit in the end of the month. They do not pay too much salary and they don’t have too many depts. To be a financially well-managed company, it must generate profit, meaning there is more money coming in than going out. This looks to be well managed company since there is a lot of profit in the end of the month. Income Statement, Statement of Retained Earnings, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows are all on the plus side. Nothing seems to be out of order. b) They have 33,300 retained earnings at the end of April, which means a good profit. Air and Sea Travel Case Study During April, the business provided travel services for clients. It is now April 30, and investors wonder how well Air Sea Travel performed during its first month. They also want to know the company’s financial position at the end of April and its cash flows during the month. The following data is listed in alphabetical order. Prepare the Air Sea Travel financial statements at end of April 20X6. Accounts payable |$100 |Land |$18,000 | |Accounts receivable |2,000 |Office supplies |500 | |Adjustments to reconcile net | |Payments of cash: | | | income to net cash provided | | Acquisition of land |40,000 | | by operating activities |(2,400) | Dividends |2,100 | |Cash balance at the beginning of April |0 |Rent expense |1,100 | |Cash balance at the end of April |33,300 |Retained earnings at the beginning of April | | | | | |0 | |Cash receipts: | |Retained earnings at the end of April |? | | Issuance stock |50,000 |Salary expense | 1200 | | Sale of land |22,000 |Service revenue |8,500 | |Common stock |50,000 |Utilities xpense |400 | |Dividends |2,100 | | | 1. Prepare the income statement, the statement of retained earnings, the statement of cash flows for the month ended April 30, 20X6, and the balance sheet at April 30, 20X6. 2. Answer the following questions: a. How well did Air Sea Travel perform during its first month of operations? b. Where does Air Sea Travel stand financially at the end of April? ASSETSLIABILITIES Cash33,300Account payable100 Account receivable2,000Land 18,000 Insurance stock50,000Office supplies500 Sale of land 22,000Payment of cash Common stock50,000 Acquisition of land40,000 Dividends2,100 Dividends2,100 Service revenue8,500Rent expense1,100 Salary expense1,200 Utilities expense400 Adjustment to reconcile 2,400 net income to net cash provided by operating activities 1. |Air Sea Travel Inc. | |Income Statement | |April 30, 20X6 | |Revenues |8,500 | |Expenses |2,700 | |Rent expense 1,100 | |Salary expense |1200 | |Utilities expense |400 | |Net income |5,800 | |Air Sea Travel Inc. | |Statement of Retained Earnings | |April 30, 20X6 | | | | |Beginning of Retained Earnings |0 | |Net income |5,800 | |Cash dividends |(2,100) | |Ending Retained Earnings |3,700 | |Air Sea Travel Inc. |Balance Sheet | |April 30, 20X6 | | | | |Assets | | |Cash |33,300 | |All other assets |20,500 | |Land |18,000 | |Office supplies |500 | |Account receivable |2,000 | |Total assets |53,800 | |Liabilities | | |Acount Payable |100 | |Total liabilities |100 | |Stockholder’s equity | | |Common stock |50,000 | |Retained earnings |3,700 | |All other equity |0 | |Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity |53,800 | |Air Sea Travel Inc. |Statement of Cash Flows | |April 30, 20X6 | |Net cash provided by operating activities | |3,400 | |Net income |5,800 | | |Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities |(2,400) | | |Net cash used for investing activities | |(18,000) | | Sale of land |22,000 | | |Acquisition of land |(40,000) | | |Net cash provided by financing activities | |47,900 | |Issuance stock |50,000 | | |Dividends |(2,100) | | |Net change in cash | | 33,300 | |Beginning cash balance | |0 | |Ending cash balance | | 33,300 | 2. a) They performed very well, since they got profit in the end of the month. They do not pay too much salary and they don’t have too many depts. To be a financially well-managed company, it must generate profit, meaning there is more money coming in than going out. This looks to be well managed company since there is a lot of profit in the end of the month. Income Statement, Statement of Retained Earnings, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows are all on the plus side. Nothing seems to be out of order. b) They have 33,300 retained earnings at the end of April, which means a good profit.