A rough background on Aquinas

Acquiring the famous reputation as the â€Å"angelic teacher† among the rest of the medieval philosophers because of his overwhelmingly influential and prominent struggle in brilliantly standing on guard the Christian theology during his time which was saw one of the heights of the attacks on Christianity, Thomas Aquinas made use of human reason in resolving the criticisms that beset the Christian Church. Resorting to human rationality and argumentation in providing a substantial justification for the Christian doctrines that meddled specifically on the existence of God symbolized a staunch deviation from the tradition that preoccupied the minds of thinkers during the medieval period. His efforts at utilizing the Aristotelian concepts on metaphysics and epistemology alongside with reason roughly highlights his firm belief that even with the sufficiency of simple faith in establishing religious principles and the very existence of God the role of rational thinking in the strictest sense of the word can all the more fairly demonstrate the basic principles of the Christian faith. One of the most prominent arguments Aquinas proposed is his Five Ways to prove God’s existence. Although Aquinas’ attempt at proving the existence of God has startling parallels to that of Anselm’s Ontological Argument, the former claims that the argument of the latter thinker is unacceptable for the reason that man cannot explicitly demonstrate the existence of God whose nature is beyond the immediate knowledge of man through the straightest means (Oppy). Utilizing what seems to be a sprouting method of his time, Aquinas attempts at filling the structure of the Christian faith by embracing the field of rationality along with faith as the backdrop of his arguments. The Five Ways First of the arguments raised by Aquinas is the argument for The Unmoved Mover. At the center of this argument is the premise that no object moves without a mover, or that all objects move because of a mover in the sense that the leaves of the trees rustle because they are moved by the wind; that the balls in the billiard table collide with other balls or move around the table because of the force delivered through the cue stick. A hundred other more examples can be provided. Nevertheless the very essence of all these illustrations is that no object moves without a mover. Apparently, all the examples eventually lead to an infinite regress where no end can be perceived at first. However, Aquinas tells us that this is not really an infinite regress for there has to be the presence of a first mover which initiated the series of â€Å"movements†. At this point, Aquinas proceeds to remove the infinite regress by arguing that the first mover is God. In a seemingly parallel argument, Aquinas’ second argument rests heavily on cause and effect relation. That is, nothing is caused by itself. In other words, each and every effect ultimately boils down to a certain cause, or that it is of necessity that every effect for it to be an effect in the strictest sense has to be caused by something right at the onset of it being an effect. Again, it might be observed that a line of argument leads to an infinite regress. However, it is not the case for an ultimate cause above anything else has to be responsible for the chain of causes and effects. For that matter, Aquinas resolves the regress by arguing that the first cause is God. This is the uncaused cause argument. The third way offered by Aquinas in primarily proving the existence of God is the cosmological argument. At the core of this argument is the reference to time wherein material objects have not yet come into physical existence. All the objects that we may know today are virtually inexistent at such point in time. However, Aquinas goes on to argue that since all material objects already exist, there ought to be or have been something immaterial or non-physical which brought these objects into physical existence. In essence, Aquinas claims that God is the non-physical entity which brought about the material existence of these objects. Another argument which Aquinas tries to raise is the argument from degree. This argument apparently focuses its premises on certain variations of comparisons between qualities among men and other objects thereby providing a sort of background for yet another claim that all objects in the world, in their numerous manifestations, greatly differ and outweigh any traceable similarity that may hold them together. Thus, individuals may greatly differ in virtues, with one being an altruist and the rest vicious criminals aimed at furthering their personal ends. Nevertheless, even if people vary in these aspects, the contrast between them can only be achieved if we note of a certain referential point for all the degrees of comparison. The reference, then, should be one which is imminently a perfect maximum and that this maximum cannot possibly rest among men themselves. Hence, God is the perfect standard for all comparisons and is the ultimate reference. Lastly, Aquinas raises the teleological argument which is essentially the argument that seeks to prove the existence of God using the perceived design of the objects in the world. If we are to look upon the structure of the things we may either directly or indirectly perceive in the world, it will eventually dawn upon our thoughts that everything has been designed in such and such ways, serving various purposes that are derived from the very configuration of things. Similarly, it can be inferred from such premise that, since everything is so designed accordingly, there ought to be a designer of all these things which is a necessity which follows from the given observation on the design of things. The designer, as Aquinas argues, is God. Aquinas and human knowledge: faith and reason For Aquinas, knowledge is the comprehension of the supreme principles of being which define the very inseparable essences of the ultimate understanding of man—that of the sophia and phronesis. While the former is very much concerned with the individual’s intellectual capacity to exercise speculative thinking or understanding, the latter is primarily concerned with the aligning of the individual’s life in line with its fitting end through the role of practical wisdom. These two are inherently mutual in conception and are basically brought together in man’s attempt at arriving at the knowledge of everything. Moreover, this attempt of man in obtaining knowledge requires the aid of the Divine in such a way â€Å"that the intellect may be moved by God to its act.† Nevertheless Aquinas maintains that man by himself alone has the intrinsic and innate ability to grasp the knowledge of many things even without the special divine revelation. More specifically, natural revelation— ­revelations obtained through reason—is the truth which, due to man’s inherent human nature, is made accessible to each and every man. On the other hand, supernatural revelation allows man to comprehend the knowledge on the details of the existence and attributes of God requiring not merely reason but also faith. It should be noted that Aquinas is not entirely disproving the role of reason in arriving at the comprehension of things. Quite on the contrary, Aquinas strongly argues for the primal role of reason in arriving at knowledge. Nevertheless, even if he ascribes a premium weight on the significance of rationality, he qualifies this claim by stating that faith still holds central importance, specifically in acquiring knowledge of the existence of God and several other religious matters. It appears quite obvious, then, that the philosophy of Aquinas in addressing the inquiry on human knowledge of the world cannot be entirely separated from a religious perspective. In explaining the nature of man’s knowledge and how one is able to grasp an understanding of the universe, Aquinas reinforces his arguments at the bottom by infusing a religious strand in the heaps of his epistemological and metaphysical inquiry. Aquinas on Aristotle The philosophy of Aquinas, in its very focal point, is seen to be heavily tainted with the philosophy of Aristotle. Much of this claim, for one reason, rests on the historical perspective wherein several of the writings on the philosophy of Aristotle eventually reached the shores of Europe during the time of the Crusades. The ancient texts were then a part of French as well as Italian universities and institutions of education around the middle part of the thirteenth century. Like Aristotle, Aquinas himself agrees and proposes the claim that man is in fact a rational animal wherein man is able to grasp an understanding of the world and to arrive at knowledge of the Divine through this reason. Though man is an entity imbued with reason, man can merely arrive at such a comprehension of the universe through empirical means. That is, man is capable of grasping knowledge of the world through his sensory experience. As Thomas Aquinas states, â€Å"whatever is known is known in the manner in which man can know it.† Mortimer Adler argues that for the most part, Aquinas and Aristotle agree on several points. First, they both agree that the form of the state of affairs of material composites, which can be made known, must be received by the knower with the form detached from the corporeal substance. Consequently, by possessing the power to acquire such forms in such a way grants the idea that the knower is â€Å"potentially a knower† and is actualized when the knower receives these forms. Among other similarities in the ideas that exist between Aquinas and Aristotle, both in general put centrality on the rationality of man and the role of experience or sensory perception in acquiring or knowing objects. Owing much of the philosophical content of Aquinas’ ideas from Aristotle, the former has a strong belief that reason and human experience can lead man to realizing and understanding the universe and, consequently, the existence of God. And at the time where philosophy is closely knitted to religious matters, Aquinas sought to further reinforce his arguments by injecting Aristotelian philosophy for rationality during the medieval times was one of the factors that seek to explain the universe from a point of view detached from any religious ascription. Thus, Aquinas appears to have ‘Christianized Aristotle’ in the sense that the former made much use of the latter’s philosophy in a context slanted towards religion. (Jenkins) On theoretical knowledge Aquinas conceived of theoretical knowledge as something which is the result of human rationality juxtaposed with sensory observation. That is, one can arrive at theoretical knowledge primarily through an observation of one’s world and arrive at a logical structure and correlation of these things through the functioning of reason. Though Aquinas may direct us to the premise that this rationality of man is imbued to all men by God, nevertheless this same rationality alongside with sensory perception addresses the question on how men are able to satisfy his inquiries on matters which are at first unknown to him. For example, one may acquire the theoretical knowledge on the how the tides of the oceans rise and fall through visual perception first and foremost which later on proceeds with the functioning of reason in attaching causal relations to the observed phenomenon. A similar view can also be held towards volcanic activity, rise and fall of economic activity, and many others. Bibliography Dawkins, Richard. The God Delusion. Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Gaarder, Jostein. Sophie's World. Reissue ed: Berkley, 1996. Jenkins, John I. â€Å"Intellectus Principorum.†Ã‚   Knowledge and Faith in Thomas Aquinas. Cambridge University Press, 2004. 101-61. Oppy, Graham. â€Å"Some Historical Considerations.†Ã‚   Ontological Arguments and Belief in God. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. 4-46.      

International Joint Ventures

AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman In submitting this assignment, I certify that all this material is my own work, except where I have indicated otherwise with appropriate references. 0. 0 0. 1 Report on the ‘Sandford’ Joint Venture in East Timor Date: 30th September 2011 For: George Jackson From: Mizanur Rahman 1. 0 Executive Summary Freemantle Construction operates in a domestic environment against ever increasing competition in a saturated market, trying to maintain market share during economic downturn. In contrast Sandford has a strong international presence in the hotel/leisure industry and is looking at diversification to improve their competitive advantage and compliment their current offerings. The opportunity presented by this Joint Venture (JV) will assist both Sandford and Fremantle in entering a new market. It will be challenging mainly because of the fact that both firms are from different industries and may have different goals/objectives along with differing management styles. Furthermore, the JV’s first project is situated in the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste (DRTL), which will have its own complexities to contend with, be it government/business policies or technology/skills shortages etc. The JV will have to consider a decision making processes throughout the partnership, which could be difficult, with each firm’s needs possibly being different. For a successful JV, the partners need to be honest, trustworthy, committed and focus on what will be best for the JV rather than on their own needs. Beamish (2008) quoted that firms enter JVs in order to create new products/services and enter new/foreign markets. This is the key benefit to this JV, whilst there are many risk factors to consider, the rewards will possibly outweigh this but only if all the obstacles and opportunities are correctly assessed and an appropriate strategy is agreed and implemented. 2. 0 Introduction This report was commissioned by Mr Benny Garstead. The objective was to recommend an appropriate ‘Diversification Strategy’ and identify ‘Opportunities and Obstacles’ that will be encountered by the ‘Sandford & Freemantle’ JV in the DRTL. Page 1 of 8 AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman 3. 0 3. 1 Diversification via JV What form of JV Prior to engaging in a ‘Diversification’ strategy both firms will have to agree on the type of JV to be implemented for this project, integrated where profit/loss is shared against an agreed percentage, or non-integrated where profit/loss is not shared. The benefit of an integrated system is that it requires capital investment from all partners and this signifies commitment and can enhance the chances of success. These decisions along with objectives and how to manage the JV will have to be agreed prior to engaging the JV. Pearce (1997) indicated that JVs can become very demanding if the partners have differing objectives. The reasons behind the JV are simple, both parties contribute to the overall scale/skills pool, thus being in a position to penetrate new markets. However local knowledge in respect of the newly formed DRTL will be lacking. This gap will need to be filled, possibly with local partners/advisors if the JV is to be successful. . 2 Diversification Theory Ansoff’s (1965) idea of diversification (see matrix below) highlights that this is when firms enter new markets with new products. The new product here is the combined offering of both firms, in a completely new market. Berry (1975) alternatively states that ‘Diversification’ is an increase in the number of industries a firm is active in. There are numerous other definitions, but in essence it is based on de sire for growth, by expanding a firm’s existing offering with other products/services etc. which can be directly or indirectly related to current offerings or be completely unrelated. The notion that this JV needs to be identified separately from both firm’s existing operations, by diversifying, could improve competitive advantage by providing focus in a niche market, where one service compliments/leads on to the other and thus being able to provide a tailored/total solution to the DRTL, where many international/domestic firms will be vying for the same business. Page 2 of 8 AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman 3. 3 Why Diversify By integrating into related markets (related diversification, infrastructure hotels/leisure = revenue from building & tourism), Freemantle can enter into another market, which could boost their current position and secure cash flow to survive the current downturn. Rather than downsizing, they could potentially increase their turnover, albeit growth not necessarily means more profit. Sandford will also greatly benefit by being able to complement Freemantle’s offering by following on with the required tourism facilities. This type of synergy is called ‘Horizontal Diversification’. A diversification strategy is simply a ‘growth’ strategy and in this instance could be seen as ‘differentiation’. Porter (1985) states in his ‘Generic Strategies’, firms looking for competitive advantage through ‘differentiation’ must consider the additional costs incurred in re-branding, promoting etc. and the chances of recovering these, also the method is not unique and could be replicated by other competing firms. On a positive note Rumelt (1982) developed, from earlier studies of Chandler (1962) and Wrigley (1970), categories for various diversification strategies nd from this, related diversification on average outperformed other diversification strategies. Furthermore, it was found that these firms had a natural advantage by expanding their skills into related areas. In general drivers for Sandford & Fremantle’s choice to diversify would be based on: i. ii. iii. iv. v. Sandford’s desire for growth Freemantleâ₠¬â„¢s need to escape a stagnant market Both need to acquire the skills in the construction/tourism sector Both desire to spread risk Both desire to access a virgin market 3. 2. 1 Advantages & Disadvantage The principle advantages for this JV are: ? ? ? ? ? An increase in value/wealth to the firms, which would not be possible on their own. Economies of scale would be increased, assisting entry into the new market. Construction costs for Sandford would decrease. Economies of scope can be exploited by Freemantle delivering the required infrastructure and then the related tourism/leisure facilities. Provides movement away from declining activities for Freemantle. Spreading risk from interests in one area, as well as the risks involved in international JVs (IJVs). The Principle disadvantages could be: ? ? Slowing growth in its core business, if focus is shifted. Potentially would add to management costs by implementing a separate team to run the JV. Loss could be incurred during market c onsolidation process resulting in some parts of the business being subsidized by other profitable parts. Page 3 of 8 AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman ? ? Diversification across national boundaries could result in the firms having to deal with varying political/legal requirements of the different countries in which the JV firms have controlling interests. May result in failure when there is a mismatch between core competencies/experiences. Freemantle’s lack of international experience and Sandford’s lack of local knowledge/influence. 4. 0 4. 1 Obstacles and Opportunities for the DRTL project Virgin Market The DRTL is a diverse country ecologically and culturally due to its multitude of linguistic and ethnic inhabitants, built up over its history from settlements to colonisation. The DRTL have to deal with many critical issues from the lack of infrastructure, as virtually everything will have to be rebuilt from ruins left from the war. Despite the lack of facilities and the major task ahead, according to Moghe (2001) the success of the country lies with proper infrastructure, security, efficient policy and the ability to make clients and investors feel that they are on ‘neutral territory’. One point to note is that there will be mass influx that will occur from foreign firms looking to capture some market share during construction, along with the firms that will remain and operate businesses (i. e. hotel/leisure and tourist facilities). Aditjondro (2001) criticised this, as it would force the DRTL into a new form of colonisation, an economic one, thus resulting what could be viewed as simply an outpost for globalisation. 4. 2 Globalisation Society today is very global and thus making our domestic markets more competitive. This encourages firms to venture across international boundaries in order to offset seasonal fluctuations (i. e. construction during winter periods) through increased opportunities and ultimately be spreading their risk across various options. The choice to go global has many risks and potential obstacles to consider from cultural/language barriers to economic, legal and political risk. Cartwright and Cooper (1996) underline that compatibility issues may arise from IJVs due to differences in national culture, managerial styles. The proposed JV provides a gateway for international expansion, which maybe a comfortable area for Sandford but Freemantle need to fully assess their capability/competence in a foreign market by fully assessing the risks. 4. 3 Risk Bettis & Hall (1982) successfully demonstrated the link between risk and reward performance and diversification strategies. In their study they calculated return on assets to measure risk and reward performance. The result found a negative risk Page 4 of 8 AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman against return for related firms, which suggested the opportunity to simultaneously reduce risk and increase return. However, a detailed risk/reward analysis needs to be conducted to ensure that the JV is not affected by any change. Areas for consideration (UK & USA ‘v’ DRTL): Culture: Currency: Economy: Government: Legal: Labour: Language: Marketing: Transport: Technology: Homogeneous ‘v’ Heterogeneous Uniform ‘v’ Uniform (? /$) Relatively Stable ‘v’ Variable & unpredictable Stable ‘v’ Maybe Unstable Free movement of goods ‘v’ possible legal restrictions Skilled workers available ‘v’ Impossible to source Generally Single Language ‘v’ Different Languages/dialects Many media streams with little restriction ‘v’ Fewer media Several competitive options ‘v’ inadequate Latest ‘v’ Outdated An appropriate level of competency/ability and motivation is required amongst the staff, for a firm to operate effectively on the international scene. The varying strengths and weakness of both firm’s skill base would need to be fully analysed, in order to compile a competent/capable team. Thus providing a balance of all necessary attributes and improving the chances of success. 4. 4 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) DRTL is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country will still be very fragile and under the watch of the UN. Also the population may not trust outsiders as they have repeatedly been under forced control, so gaining trust for a successful JV will be imperative and thus a robust CSR policy needs to be agreed and implemented. If the CSR policy is not followed, the firm’s image be ruined, causing failure abroad and potentially back home. The JV cannot claim to be an ethical setup if it ignores unethical practices linked to its operations e. g. : ? ? ? ? Use of child labour and forced labour Production that effects the livelihoods of indigenous people Violation of the basic rights of workers Ignoring health, safety and environmental standards An ethical business has to be concerned with the behaviour of all businesses that operate in the supply chain – i. e. ? ? ? ? Partners Advisors Suppliers Sub-contractors The sticking point is if any of the above is required to be ignored, either to progress the project or to make profit. The decision needs to remain ethical to maintain long term success. Page 5 of 8 AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman 4. 0 Conclusion The capability/capacity of the existing construction industry in DRTL, like many developing nations, will be in its infancy (World Bank, 1984; Kirmani, 1988; Wells 1986). For success local knowledge will be a necessity. Although there are several strategies available for IJVs, diversification strategies provide firms with high growth potential in international markets (Capar and Kotabe, 2003). Diversification may be a fast track growth solution but if an appropriate strategy is not applied and the management fail to understand the JV, then serious financial impact is inevitable not only to the JV but also the parent firms. Available competencies and capability need to be assessed; also the product that is being provided needs to have resonance with the new market. Hence extensive research rather than internet based research needs to be conducted at ground zero. Are the firms ready for an IJV, or are there skills gaps that need filling? 5. 0 Recommendations The recommendations are, but not limited to: 1. Conduct a thorough PESTEL analysis on the DRTL situation. 2. Conduct a SWOT analysis of the JV in DRTL. 3. Agree on the percentage level of profit/loss sharing for an integrated JV. 4. Agree the JVs Objectives, Decision Making Protocols. 5. Review competencies and capabilities of senior management and assemble the correct team. . Implement a CSR policy. 7. Network with DRTL decision makers and appoint a local partner or advisor. 8. Engage with the community. Once the above has been achieved then the JV can start prospecting for work. (2020 – 24 Citations = 1996 words) Page 6 of 8 AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman Bibliography Aditjondro, G. J. (2001). East Timorese becoming guests in their own land [online]. Indonesia: Jakarta Post . Available from: http://members. canb. auug. org. au/~wildwood/febguests. htm [Accessed 27 September 2011]. Ansoff, H. I. (1965). Corporate Strategy:An Anylytical approach to business policy for growth & expansion. New York: McGraw-Hill. Beamish, P. W. (2008). Joint venturing. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. Berry, C. H. (1975). Corporate Growth and Diversification. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Bettis, R. A. , Hall W. K. (1982). Diversification Strategy, accounting determined risk, and accounting determined return, Academy of Management Journal, 25, pp. 254-264. Carpar, N. , Kotabe, M. (2003). The relationship between international diversification and performance in service firms, Journal of International Business Studies. 34, pp. 45-355. Cartwright, S. , Cooper, C. (1996). Managing Mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances: integrating people and cultures. 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Haendel, D. (1979). Foreign investments and the management of political risk. Colorado: West View Press. Hill, W. L. (2005). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace. International ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Kirmani, S. S. 1988). The Construction Industry In Development: Issues And Options, Discussion Paper, Report INU 10, February, World Bank. Moghe, C. G. (2001) A framework for East Timor's economic planning [online]. Indonesia: Jakarta Post. Available from: http://www. thejakartapost. com/news/2001/02/22/a-frameworkeast-timor039s-economic-planning. html [Accessed 27 September 2011]. Pearce, R. J. (1997). Toward understanding joint venture performance and s urvival: A bargaining and influence approach to transaction cost theory. Academy of Management Review, 22(1), pp. 03–225. Phatak, A. V. (1989), International dimensions of management, 2nd ed. Boston: PWS Kent Publishing Company. Porter, M. (1985). referred to in Hancock M. R. (2008) â€Å"Strategy in Construction† (ICM Module 6 work file. p. 2. 6, University of Bath. Ronen, S. (1986). Comparative and Multinational Management, 4th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Rumelt, R. P. (1982). Diversification Strategy and Profitability, Strategic Management Journal, 3, pp. 359-369. Page 7 of 8 AR50126 Assignment Name: Mizanur Rahman Scullion, H. 1992), Strategic recruitment and development of the ‘International Manager’: Some European Considerations, Human Resource Management Journal, 3, pp. 57-69 UN (2010). East Timor Country Brief [online]. Australia. Available from: http://www. dfat. gov. au/geo/east_timor/east_timor_brief. html [Accessed 25 September 2011]. Wild, J. J. , Wild, K. L. & Han, J. C. Y. (2000). International Business: an Integrated Approach. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. World Bank (1984). The construction Industry: Issues and Strategies in developing Countries, Washington D. C. : World Bank. Page 8 of 8

Avon - Hello Tomorrow Campaign

Avon, the oldest cosmetics company in the United States and the world’s largest direct seller, received a much needed boost with Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Andrea Jung, at the helm (Creed and Laichas). Andrea became the company’s first female CEO in 1994, marking the beginning of a brand turnaround (â€Å"Avon Products, Inc. †). From its humble beginning to becoming the cosmetic giant that it is now, Avon has had a number of trials and bounce backs. It’s most recent success, the Hello Tomorrow global campaign was launched in response to lacking sales in 2005 (Elliott). The campaign goal was to restructure the company, reinvest in the brand as well as the sales representatives, all while spreading the word that Avon understands and empowers women all over the globe (Creed and Laichas, Elliott). Avon, originally named the California Perfume Company, was born in the 1880s, when David H. McConnell, a door-to-door book salesman, began to offer small bottles of perfume to the women who would allow him to come into their homes and talk about his books. It did not take him long to figure out that the women were more interested in the perfume than they were the books he was selling. Taking a leap of faith, Mr. McConnell stopped selling books completely to focus on the perfumes. Working from home in New York City, he brewed five different scents which he named the â€Å"Little Dot Perfume Set,† consisting of heliotrope, hyacinth, lily of the valley, violet, and white rose. He intended to sell the perfumes directly to customers utilizing all of the contacts he had made during his time as a traveling door-to-door salesman (â€Å"Avon Products, Inc. †). The first Avon Lady he recruited was the wife of a U. S. senator, Mrs. P. F. E. Albee, of Winchester, New Hampshire. Mrs. Albee was able to recruit and train a sales team of one hundred within the first six months. That number continued to climb steady, to over five thousand after twelve years. The company, excited about the growth, wasted little time in offering new scents to the perfumes along with other products. Ten years after the company’s beginning the first catalog was made, complete with illustrations, and a new production facility was built in Suffern, New York. This is also when the first products bearing the Avon name were released. Mr. McConnell was inspired by the landscape around their new facility, stating it reminded him of William Shakespeare’s home of Stratford-on-Avon, England. This product line consisted of cleanser, a toothbrush, and a vanity set (â€Å"Avon Products, Inc. †). Avon’s sales suffered during the Depression and World War II, however after the war more women began to look for ways of making money that would not interrupt there family life, quadrupling the sales force. In 1954, Avon launched its first television advertisements with the famous, â€Å"Ding Dong, Avon Calling,† slogan. They also jumped into the Latin American market by opening up offices in Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Three years later in 1957, the first office in the United Kingdom was opened with the name, Avon Cosmetics, Ltd. (â€Å"Avon Products, Inc. †) Today, Avon is sold via direct sales by over five million independent sales representatives in one hundred forty three countries, to nearly three hundred million customers (Avon Products, Inc SWOT Analysis 2008). The year 2005 was described by Business Week magazine as a year of collapse for Avon, with the United States, Mexico, as well as Central and Eastern Europe sales less than expected. CEO Andrea Jung stated that it was a tough year, but one that she would learn from. She learned a lot about both herself and the business. Publically making these statements were seen by many to be on of her defining moments, she practiced humility, which is one of Avon’s founding principles. The Hello Tomorrow campaign was a long time in the making, one that required changes not only in their marketing strategy, but also in the entire company’s way of operating (Creed and Laichas). Turing the company around was not an easy task. The company had always been run according to its entrepreneurial beginning; it had to be transformed into a globally integrated and managed business. In order to accomplish this transformation and remain the top spots in both the direct selling and cosmetics industries would require a large monetary investment. CEO Andrea Jung stated, â€Å"We needed to sustain investment in the brand, step up investment in our channel, and continue to drive out costs and manage for the long term. † Avon had to completely reorganize itself. CEO Jung believes that you have to base your organizational structure according to your strategy. With Avon, the company had become too large to function properly on the way it had been organized (Creed and Laichas). The Avon management team decided to do what they could to free up just over seven million from restructuring and analyzing costs, along with other changes, and then reinvest the money back into the company through both representatives and the brand (Creed and Laichas). Avon hired the advertising firm, Soho Square in New York, to begin developing the creative aspect of this global campaign, set to launch in the spring of 2007. Nicola Bell, a client services director for Soho Square, knew that the Avon name was a classic; they just needed a fresh jump start to firm the brand into the minds of consumers (Elliott). While analyzing costs, CEO Jung discovered that the current fifteen layers of management were no longer necessary. It could easily be cut back to eight layers, saving the company two million dollars. Four thousand five hundred, middle to senior management, representatives from all around the world would be removed from their positions. CEO Jung went to meet with all members of management face-to-face to let them know about the â€Å"de-layering,† as she called it. This was done before any decisions on who would go and who would stay were made (Creed and Laichas). Holding true to the decision to invest in the representatives, Avon changed the compensation plan to a universal multilevel plan and also reevaluated the commission rates, which vary depending on the market. They also took a close look at the frequency of the advertising campaigns they ran in Central and Eastern Europe, deciding to put more into their marketing efforts there (Creed and Laichas). One of the company’s biggest investments was in technology. A more user friendly website was created for representatives to use. It quickly became a much more efficient way for independent sales representatives to run their business. They can easily place orders, check product availability and process returns. Independent sales representatives even have the ability to generate prospective emails from the website. They can choose one for a given campaign or they can design their own. This investment in technology proved to be one of the company’s strengths, making Avon’s SWOT Analysis, compiled by Datamonitor, in April of 2007 and June of 2008 (Avon Products, Inc. SWOT Analysis 2007, 2008). The company also invested over ninety million dollars on brand advertising. The Hello Tomorrow campaign integrated both brand and channel, another first for the company. CEO Jung was quoted as saying, â€Å"The channel or the brand, that’s a very deliberate and strategic question, and I think the power of Hello Tomorrow, and Avon in its second chapter, is we can do both,† when asked about the strategy. She believes that by the company raising the brand so highly excites the representatives as much as it does the final customers, motivating them to drive their campaigns harder (Creed and Laichas). In yet another first for Avon, they made all prospecting and marketing materials around the globe look the same, from handouts, to television commercials, to the brochures. By using this massive, uniform, global campaign Avon hopes to portray the company’s enthusiasm for both the beauty industry and their channel onto others and building morale among the remaining workers (Elliott). The first two commercials Avon launched for the Hello Tomorrow campaign were focused on recruiting more independent sales representatives. One was based primarily on the traditional sales techniques of door-to-door selling, emphasizing the excitement of the sale as well as the strength of the brand. The other commercial focused on the flexibility of running an online Avon business, thus allowing women who may not have enough time for traditional sales the option of sticking strictly to sales via the internet. Avon is confident that the products will sell themselves once people try them, the more sales representatives they have pushing their product the better off they are (Elliott). Happy with the results of the campaign in Avon test markets, including Brazil and China the Hello Tomorrow campaign was officially launched. The company found that their two different advertising strategies would payoff by targeting women on an emotional level (Elliott). Continuing to fulfill what Avon views as their social obligation to women, it was announced on August 1, 2007, that actress Reese Witherspoon had joined the Hello Tomorrow team as the first ever Avon Global Ambassador and honorary Chairman of the Avon Foundation. The Avon Foundation was developed to focuses on improving the lives of women, ending domestic violence, finding a cure for breast cancer, and instigating emergency relief standards. During her induction speech Reese said, â€Å"Avon is more than an iconic world class beauty leader. It is a company that is known the world over as a crusader for women’s causes. I’m] proud to be joining the great philanthropic work [that Avon has established],† (â€Å"Reese Witherspoon is An Avon Woman†). In addition to adding the fresh faced beauty on board, Avon also set up a global Hello Tomorrow Fund. In the United States, five thousand dollars is given out weekly to women who submit their name to Avon. The compa ny chooses people with ideas, projects, or programs that empower women and improves society. Each country where funds are received have set up their own guidelines unique to their culture (â€Å"Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund†). The re-branding strategy Avon used with the Hello Tomorrow campaign is listed as an opportunity on the company’s SWOT Analysis dated June 18, 2008. One of Avon’s biggest threats is their competition; L’Oreal, Revlon, Procter Gamble and Estee Lauder are all waiting in the wings for Avon to stumble. From the time the Hello Tomorrow campaign rolled out until the time the 2008 SWOT analysis was compiled, Avon had a sixteen percent growth in profit from their Color Line and a twenty percent growth in their fragrance line (Avon Products, Inc. SWOT Analysis 2008). Now that CEO Andrea Jung restructured the management team, those at the higher levels are closer to both representatives and the market; they believe that this will help them keep a handle on this ever changing business. Andrea stated that â€Å"We now manage this business for the long term and make the decisions not just for the next quarter but for what is good for the business in the long term,† (Creed and Laichas). Avon’s next global launch will be for a new fragrance, Bond Girl 007, which they have teamed up with James Bond entertainment franchise to develop, it will be released October of 2008 (Avon Products, Inc. SWOT Analysis 2008). https://help.ebsco.com/interfaces/EBSCOhost/EBSCOhost_FAQs/How_do_I_set_up_direct_links_to_EBSCOhost_profiles_and_or_databases http://www.bellarmine.edu/library/proxy_link_ebsco/ http://bu-branding.blogspot.com/2007/03/ http://coelhathoughtsjland.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-freedom-dayfridayreese.html

Anything Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Anything - Research Paper Example Microeconomics on the other hand would focus mostly on how for instance a company would boost and reorganize its production capacity so as to reduce output and at the same time maximize output. As a matter of fact and retrospect, this paper will focus in details in relative terms the Microeconomics and Macroeconomic issues relating to the United States of America and China. To begin with the United States of America by fact and reason happens to be one of the richest countries in the world today if the number of industries and billionaires is anything to go by. This is the reason as to why the current Gross Domestic Product which is informed by per capita income stands at the $16.8 trillion. China on the hand has a Gross Domestic product of $9.24 trillion, which is relatively lower than that of the United States of America (White, Jude and Xiaoyuan, 12). One of the reasons that has been given as the possible justification and reasons for the growth of the US economy comparative to the Chinese includes the economic policies. From the outright and face value, the United States of America happens to be a free society and thus a free economy by extension. This is to say that the amount of fiscal and monetary interventions that the United States government invokes are on the minimum. Thus, the free markets forces would interact and meet at their optimum or equilibrium. China on the hand, employs a stringent mode of rules and policies which includes the inclusion of monetary and fiscal policies in any event that they are needed or necessary. It goes without mentioning that once the interventional rules and policies are involved then some side effects would be incurred. For instance, if the policies are enforced by a government, then the tax rate would increase which implies that the level of investment would reduce. This stems

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Case Study - Essay Example Therefore to cope up with this problem, the company decided to expands its market by distributing beer in clubs, bars, restaurants and cafes. There has been a growing trend of health awareness and Aitkin’s diet, people of Australia are becoming more conscious about the diet particularly related to food and beverages. Moreover, people are following different kind of diet plans not to reduce the weight but to maintain a good healthy body and their fitness in terms of physical appearance and personality. From the year 2000, people have started focusing on low carbohydrate products so businesses in the industry have started focusing towards low carbohydrate products. With this changing environment of market and changing of taste and preferences of consumer, The Fosters group has analyzed that this should also be considered in the today’s beer market because a large number of people drinks beer regularly. However, some are diet conscious and are always thinking about the dis advantages of drinking beer particularly because of high carbohydrates. This concept was first identified and capitalized in 1960’s when Cooper launched a diet beer in the market. Bond Brewery then launched Swan Gold in 1980’s. However, both these products were struggling with their diet beers in the market and were losing their market share. Finally both these brand stopped selling the products in 1990’s because of the continuous decline in the sales. The Foster group has already identified that the image of their premium beer in the mind of their consumers and customers from a long period. So with this advantage of brand equity, the Fosters has conducted research to identify the wants and desires of that particular segment who wants the low carbohydrate beer

Violence Against Women especially on Dowry Murder and Honor Essay

Violence Against Women especially on Dowry Murder and Honor Killings.The Agents That Control Women's Reproductive Choice and health, especially on Government and the Global Economy - Essay Example In chapter 2, when discussing violence against women, Burn discusses two key points as the very underpinnings of dowry murder and honor killings. Particularly, Burn is categorical that dowry murder has its underpinning in male’s greater economic power. To Burn, men are more economically endowed than women, so most societies have socioeconomic systems that are patriarchal in nature. Thus, the tradition of paying dowry is one of the starkest manifestations of male economic domination. Upon entering marriage, a couple does not start from a point of equality, since dowry has been paid. Thus, Burn sees the dowry as a subtle signifying of ownership of the man over the woman. This becomes a breeding ground for domestic violence and murder. The other factor that underpins honor killings is men’s greater political power. This inordinate concentration of power in the hands of men makes men control institutions and use the same institutions to oppress women who go against the grain. In highly patriarchal and undemocratic societies, men control the instruments of coercion to subject women to honor killings. In chapter 3, Burn contends that the government holds a large sway on women’s reproductive choices through legislation. For instance, many states have legislations that proscribe abortion, while there are others which provide very meager funding for women’s reproductive health. Secondly, Burn states that the global economy undercuts women’s reproductive choices when policies touching on demography and reproduction are mooted and implemented without the consideration of women, who are the child bearers. There are several shreds of evidences that Burn uses to underscore her point. For instance, she uses statistical provisions to show how the government can derail the exertion of women’s free will in reproductive matters. For instance, Burn quotes the UN statistics which show that in 2003, there were 35

Preceptor Scenario Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Preceptor Scenario - Coursework Example 3). Jackie, a thirty-one-year old Japanese with two children was complained by her preceptor. The preceptor approached the manager and stated that the new nurse doesn’t listen to her and might be the least intelligent person she has ever met. The preceptor wondered how this new nurse made it to nursing school and wanted to be demoted as the new nurse’s preceptor. The manager told the preceptor to wait until she finds a replacement. While walking through the unit, the manager overheard the senior nurse belittling the new nurse in front of a group of peers. No one dared to say anything to the senior nurse and the new nurse was already upset of the situation. As the manager, the uncomfortable situation between the preceptor and the new nurse seems to be alarming and needs to be addressed promptly to avoid serious complications. The manager may call the senior nurse and the new nurse in a private conference so that none of them will feel intimidated and can freely verbalize issues and conflicts. The case of preceptorship is like meeting two strangers (Fitzpatrick& Wallace, 2009, p. 132) and by having a conversation, the senior nurse might understand the reason why the new nurse does not listen to her (e.g., language barrier) and the new nurse might address areas of change (e.g., enhancing comprehension).

Market Analysis and Marketing Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market Analysis and Marketing Plan - Assignment Example Samsung mobile phones are of cheaper and affordable prices therefore making them to sell more and increase penetration of the smartphones in the market. It yields high profits to the company (Michell, 2010). Environmental analysis is performed by Samsung companies enabling them to come up with long-term plans for the production of Samsung phones. It consists of political factors whereby the government’s policy such as tax imposed on Samsung mobile phones affects prices and influence production of the headsets. Social, economic factors where changes in peoples lifestyles and buying patterns of new trending Samsung smartphones provides an opportunity for the Samsung company. The opportunity ebales smart phone to make profits and improve on its products hence adding to improvement in the economy. Technological factors impact prospects for the company to implement new designs and inventions to engrave costs and develop new sets of Samsung phones with advanced features (Song & Lee, 2015). It entails the introduction of new smartphones with different features and designs low costs on an invention. The invention focuses on the environment that will influence the phones and the capability to market the phones (Pousttch, & Wiedemann, 2010). Focusing on producing too many Samsung smartphones of the same features will reduce demand as this will be monotonous in the product market. Companies and low-profit margin will interfere with the production system of the Samsung smart phones (Henry, 2008). Demand for Samsung tablets is an opportunity to the company as this will raise the supply and increase profits. Advertising the smartphones creates awareness o their existence and features designed and increase in the smartphone market for example in India (Majumdar, 2007). Samsung smartphones face high competition from other smartphone markets saturated in developed countries. There has been an increase in technologic

International Money and Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Money and Finance - Assignment Example Wilson Cobbett Ltd during 1870s (Yahoo Finance 2007). With this humble beginning, the business organization has risen to become one of the world's recognized aviation companies capitalizing on its leading market position and strong growth potential. BBA Aviation reports annual sales of 1 million, employs approximately 10, 700 individuals, and operates in 11 countries. The company's major markets include the United States, Asia, the United Kingdom and Europe, while maintaining its headquarters in London, England (BBA Aviation Plc 2007). BBA Aviation Plc focuses on the provision of flight support services and aftermarket services and systems. The company's Annual Report 2006 states that it focuses on extending primary services such as "providing flight support to business and commercial aircraft at almost 150 locations worldwide; overhauling turbine engines together with the supply and repair of related components; licensing components from OEM s [Original Equipment Manufacturers] and assuming responsibility for their support in the Aftermarket; designing, manufacturing, and repairing of aircraft landing gear and hydraulic systems; and training pilots and the provisions of other services at Oxford airport." During 2006, BBA Aviation reports a total turnover of 950.1 million, 556.4 million (59%) of which is shared by its flight support division while the remaining 393.7 million (41%) is accounted for by its aftermarket services and systems (Annual Report 2006). Figure 1 further divides the company's total turnover in 2006 among its business units. Figure 1. Shares of Business Units in BBA Aviation's Total Turnover (2006, in million) III. The Global Aviation Market Armed with its commitment in the provision of excellent products and services to its customers and its cultivated expertise gained through its experience in the market, BBA Aviation is recognized as one of the leaders in the global aviation market. Based on the total value of its turnover in 2006, BBA Aviation's biggest market is the business and general aviation market which accounts for 65% of its total revenue. The company also captures a large share in the commercial aviation primarily on flight support as this segment provides 30% of its turnover. The business organization has a very limited presence in the military market which shares a meager 5% to its gross earnings (Annual Report 2006). Figure 2. The Markets of BBA Aviation (based on sales percentage) A. General and Business Aviation The company's operation in the general and business aviation market has been challenged by the historically high crude oil costs coupled with the rise in average retail jet fuel prices. Amidst these threats in the market environment, BBA Aviation Plc reports a generally "robust growth" as "business aircraft utilization recovered and remained strong" after the "temporary softening in flying hours during the early 2006" (Annual Report 2006). The business organization's outlook for this market segment is bright as demand for its products and services are expected to rise driven by "the continued growth of traditional corporate flight

The American Heart Associations Importance To Todays Generation Research Paper

The American Heart Associations Importance To Todays Generation - Research Paper Example widespread of deaths and disabilities resulting from cardiovascular diseases, which are accompanied by the current state of health and the high risk lifestyle of today’s generation. Cardiovascular diseases account to about 40 percent of death each year (Kochane & Ed 5). Cardiovascular diseases are lifestyle diseases that become more widespread as nations become more industrialized. These diseases are, however, preventable, and can be controlled with changes in lifestyle, environment and diet. Sedentary lifestyle, which is a common phenomenon in today’s generation, is one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In 2003, 62 percent of men and 48 percent of women above 15 years follow sedentary lifestyle in America (Kochane 2). However, evidences are clear that this lifestyle causes heart diseases including its risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol level and diabetes (Kochane 2). For example, a statistical results indicated that 27 percent of girls and 22 percent of boys watched TV for more than four hours per day. They were established to be overweight as compared to their active counterparts (World Health Orga nization 73). It is also estimated that 4 percent of women and 3 percent of men over 30 years, die as a result of cardiovascular diseases due to lack of regular physical activity. Regular physical exercise provides health benefits and reduces most of the risk factors that cause cardiovascular diseases. Population that is physically active has about half the number of cardiovascular disease cases as compared to physically inactive population (Al-Maskari 1). Moderate physical activities are essential in the human body as they encourage metabolism processes (Al-Maskari 1). It also helps in burning the excess fat in the body, and eliminating salts from the bloodstream. The American Heart Association suggests that all adults should do at least 20 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on most days

Current Trends in Technology Essay Example for Free

Current Trends in Technology Essay School is no longer limited to simple reading, writing and arithmetic. The use of technology has expanded the prospect for education, giving us never-ending possibilities. Therefore, technology deserves significant school attention in order for students to possess technological survival skills. The positive effects of how it can be used in the classroom to enable learning for teachers and students will be explored as well as the need to ensure job stability in the future. What lesson ideas can teachers do using technology? Assign a digital presentation. Students can express themselves more clearly using technology. Technology can be used extensively for language arts. Student reports no longer have to be limited to a written report. Students now are able to have access to unlimited books online. Therefore, teachers are only limited by the student’s ability to access a computer. Web quest is also a tool used for literature exploration. Teachers are able to use media clips to show in class. Videos are available online that help many teachers provide a visual aid to the lesson that they are teaching. Power point presentations enhance instruction in the language arts classroom by storing daily objectives in a PowerPoint presentation and begin each class session by sharing the daily objectives. Creating PowerPoint presentations for essential notes and providing students the slides using the handout option will prevent students from focusing on simply copying the notes from the board or overhead. They will listen to teacher comments and make meaningful notes in the spaces provided. The amount of information on each slide should be limited to one or two important bullets. Students should be encouraged to use PowerPoint presentations when they are required to present to the class. Their self-expression and creativity can be explored with the program’s design options. Reading strategies can be done with the use of technology. During reading teachers can help students activate prior knowledge and generate predictions in order to comprehend text. Teachers can do this when they introduce a reading lesson or topic. Using a multi-media approach, the teacher shows pictures, slides, or clips that is similar to the story concept. Real life connections can also be made with the help of these visuals, as well as helping them create mental images. Students can be asked to make predictions on what they think the story is about. Their answers and responses can be recorded and played back to them after the story is over. This stimulates their interest in the current reading lesson. They will be keener to paying attention and listening. They will be eager to hear their responses played back to them to see if their predictions were correct. Internet provides access to public domains. It also gives students the freedom to read some of the greatest written books and materials. Using websites provides students with a greater knowledge of historical and social foundations in which many pieces of literature rest upon. Printouts of short stories found on line can be distributed to the class. They can be required to read the text and highlight the story concepts such as setting, characters and etc. Teachers and students can also set up a blog that is viewed by their class only. This allows the students to express their ideas and thoughts with the teacher and vice versa. Students can share ideas with classmates and also read one another’s post. This helps tighten the bond between teacher and student and bring classmates closer together. They will all have something in common that they are a part of. There are a number of strategies that can be used in the teaching of reading for students. If a teacher is uncertain how they can integrate technology into their reading instruction, there are many websites that gives lesson plans and ideas. Technology also can be used with writing. Teachers are able to have advance writing instruction with the help of technology. Projectors can be used for students to see the writing process modeled by their teachers. This gives students a chance to see how the procedure works from rough drafting to final revisions. There is a lot of software available that help kids make their story come alive. Programs are available that read their story back to them. How awesome is that? Kids can hear what their writing sounds like and this offers a chance for them to critique it even farther. Microsoft Word is a poplar application program that is used widely in education. This program allows and helps students recognize grammatical and spelling errors. This provides students with guidance on writing a correct composition. It also guides students as well as help them overcome and accomplish the task of terminology difficulty. They are provided with a vast selection of terms. Websites are available that demonstrate proper organization and correct format for writing. It helps with the building and organization of thoughts for a paper. These websites serve as a learning tool. They assist teacher and students in recognizing rational and well thought-out writing ideas. Researching these web sites inspire students with many writing ideas they may have been blocked from. Not to mention, the expansion of the writing curriculum for students with disabilities have greatly been expanded. These students are now able to use voice and touch screen programs as a way to express their ideas. This method is much more effective than the use of paper and pencil. These programs assist these students in developing language skills as well as writing skills. The internet allows for the publishing of student’s work. This procedure makes the idea of an audience more real to them. It can motivate students to become authors and possibly encourage a future in the writing field. There are many websites that offer contests for student’s writing. Teachers should take time to find challenges for their students and inspire them to write for profit. There are many schools that don’t have the privilege of having available reference books. Many publishers have made their reference books available online. Another way to get students to write is student produced newspapers. This is a great practice for their writing skills. It also allows them to be creative, productive and organized. Technology can be used as a written language convention. Students reinforce their grammar skills with online games and activities. This is a way students can have fun with dry material. Oral language can be improved with the use of technology. PowerPoint presentations allow students to organize their speeches and make the audience follow along with the presenter and the teacher to assess a student’s performance. Project based learning can greatly be increased with the use of technology. This is a way students can use technology in proportion to real life situations. Students are able to make decisions in small groups based upon their design, problem solving, resolutions, and analytical measures. This allows students the freedom to be n charge and have full control over their own project. They will be digging deep into those critical thinking skills in order for their project to run smoothly. It gives them more creative independence. This serves as a hands-on learning experience in order for students to answer and relate to the main ideas and standards of the subject area. These encounters are related to e veryday life. Students will be able to take what they’ve learned and apply it in their own life. Students are also able to get involved with projects which connect classes together around the world. The internet provides structure and resources for students to do research on an international level. The use of technology broadens student’s horizons, their goals and beliefs. They can actually connect to another part of the world. They can learn cultural information about places they’ve only heard about. It gives them a chance to explore what’s out there in the world from inside their classroom. What better way for a child to learn about new things than being in a school environment? This is safer for our kids. It takes down the risk of them exploring outside of school on their own. A lot of children don’t know what’s out there because they’ve never been exposed to new surroundings. Children tend to stray away more so out of being curious. Why not fulfill that curiosity by exploring it in class? Project based learning allows children to feed their curiosity by allowing them to choose and have control over what they want to learn. What about drugs, sex and weapons? These are all subjects that kids can explore using technology as a guide. They can research the most harmful drugs in the United States and compared it to the harmful drugs in another country. Teenage pregnancy rate and STD’s can be compared or examined around the world. Weapons that are used to kill children and or our soldiers can be brought to the student’s attention. These subjects are also crucial one’s that need to be discussed with our youth. Students can present their information and their results to the class. They can also come up with a way they feel these problems can be solved or minimized. There might be a student who’s considering having sex, once they research and see the effects of sex up close and personal (i. e. regnancy and STD’s) maybe their mind will be changed. Another one might be interested or all ready taking drugs. They will gain knowledge about what drugs really do to your body. Guns are growing more and more poplar. Students can see first hand the consequences of these weapons. The innocent lives that is lost due to carelessness. As a result of the use of technology, project based learning can be upgraded trem endously and provide a whole new level of learning experiences, which will be beneficial to the student in the long run. Technology can be used to provide visual learning. Digital storytelling challenges students to take their written ideas and translate them into a visual medium. They could write a script then produce a video. Teachers can create rubrics for assessing students, writing and speaking. Teachers can use projectors in the classroom to show photographs, videos or slides. These visual aids keep students engage in the instruction they are receiving. A teacher can integrate a video to go along with the lesson they are teaching. A student can only get so much from a lecture. Most people are visual learners. A video can reemphasize the information that the teacher is trying to convey. That allows those students who weren’t able to grasp the understanding or the concept of the lesson an alternative measure. Teachers can also use technology as visual aids by printing out statistical information for students to see. They can make printouts of graphs and charts to reiterate a particular subject. There are many websites available that provide many resources and tips teachers can use to create hands-on visual aids in their classroom. This will be a great way to allow students to work together as a team. It will decrease isolation among students. They all can work in teams to research a project on the internet. Teachers can also ask students to use the internet to come up with an audio visual project they can share with the class. Students have fun and learn more when they can see what they are learning. Point blank students will be excited and eager when they are able to participate and contribute to their own learning. Shouldn’t they be able to donate and feed their own minds? Technology as visual aids is a way they can connect their interest to learning. Another visual aid that the teacher can use is handouts. Handouts are a way to reinforce the instruction that is given. It gives students a general overview of the material as well as identifying the key points. This will cut down on confusion and students will be clearer on the focus points. Visual aids, especially audio visual help many students that have different learning styles. This strategy brings mode of students who don’t have the so called, â€Å"norm† learning style. In history this can be used for students to see some of the places they are iscussing. Students can view pictures and artifacts through the web that will really make the lesson come alive for them. They will be like, â€Å"Wow this really happened! † or â€Å"Wow this really did exist! † There are many websites that provide simulations for certain subject areas for students. Science is a subject where there is no limit to what students can explore and research with the help of the i nternet. Students can look up all types of animals and insects. This will be much more fun than just reading about them in their textbooks. They can even print out certain information they have found, with teacher approval of course. Visual aids are an awesome way to turn a classroom into an adventurous experience instead of a place. Teachers can benefit tremendously from the use of technology. Technology can help boost the relationship between students and teacher. It affects the way teachers instruct and give a lesson. Technology is a level where students and teachers can relate and identify on. Teachers can use computer tools to reorganize record keeping and clerical tasks, in order to free up time for instruction or professional development. Teachers are able to keep track of grades, behavior and other classroom information with the use of a computer. This information can be saved and always be available for the teacher to pull up at the demand of a parent. This cuts out paper work that can often be misplaced. Teachers can input their lesson plans and goals on the handout for parents to have a record as well. Therefore isolation will be decreased by using e-mail and the Internet to communicate with colleagues, parents, and the outside world. What grown up doesn’t have an e-mail? E-mail is a great way for parents to communicate with teachers effectively when face to face is not possible. Teachers are so busy; often they don’t have the time to call each individual parent. Simple questions and information can be exchanged through e-mail. This mode also help out working parents who can’t often answer a phone call when their busy. A click in their e-mail and this problem can be eliminated. Professional development activities can be increased by taking distance education courses, accessing educational research, and accessing classroom materials such as lesson plans. Teachers will be able to take courses that their principal may suggest through the use of the internet. They can also take classes that can help further their education online. Also, teachers will not have to leave their classroom when they are looking for additional activities for their students. They can search the internet for educational ideas that will help productivity in their classroom. Teachers can find video clips and other materials that will go hand in hand with their lesson plans. These can serve as great visual aids and teaching tools when giving instruction. If a student poses a question that the teacher may be unclear of the answer, they can look it up together. There are a wide variety of tools that are available to help teachers transform their classroom into a more exciting place for learning. Smart boards are growing more and more poplar. These non traditional boards are a way for teachers to transmit information from their computer screen to the class. Their also software available that help teachers set up websites for their class. Teachers can create websites that are designated specifically to the concept they are teaching, for the purpose of helping their students. This eliminates those web sites teachers are not comfortable with their students exploring. The teaching of technology to our kids will help secure them a successful career in the future. In a demanding economy, technology skills are required to stay ahead. Jobs are being lost everyday. Why not ensure our children a spot in the years to come? Technology is used even in the simplest profession. Students not only need to learn the skills that are evident in the workforce today, but also be ready and prepared for the technology changes that will happen in the future.

Plessy Versus Ferguson

Plessy Versus Ferguson Cobe Hill Lynn Jenks Homer Adolph Plessy was a black man who had dealt with oppression his entire life. He was born in the late 1800s after all. That happened to be prime time for racism in America. Homer was the type of man that faced his problems and stared them down. This lead him to sitting in the All Whites car in the East Louisiana Railroad in 1892. This was a mistake in the eyes of the white people, so they decided that it was about time to kick this kid off. The security guards laid down a beating on him then kicked him off the train. They kept his name and information though, as they were going far enough to sue him in the pending future. This is exactly what he wanted to happen, as he was a part of a black civil rights organization that opposed the recently passed Separate Car Act. He wanted them to put him in the courts, to show he was ready to fight for his rights as a black man. This case began locally, and Homer fought his way through many courts leading up to the Supreme Court. The most important was that of the Louisiana Supreme Court. This court upheld the law and declared it constitutional according to their interpretations. This set Homer off, and he knew that there was only one court left for him to appeal to and gain the freedom he knew he deserved. He had to go all the way up to the Supreme Court. Simply because there were so many black civil rights cases trudging their way up to the Supreme Court at that time, many people didnt believe whole-heatedly that this case was going to be reviewed. Homer wrote his appeal and submitted it to the Supreme Court within days of the rulings in Louisiana. Homers appeal was reviewed by the Supreme Court, just as every other case is and it was thought to be a potentially grounds-setting case. A committee was assigned the case and reviewed Homers facts against Louisiana and vice-versa. The case was deemed appropriate by the committee so they proposed it to the rest of the Court. They all seemed to be on board, so they decided to see the case as soon as they could. This just happened to be a long time later; 1896 to be specific. The states had created a law that was known as the Separate but Equal Act, and this acted just like it sounded. It upheld the fact that black and white men and women were equal, but they must be separated in the public facilities. This included areas like bathrooms, restaurants and of course, trains. There were plenty more segregated areas that were specifically designated to black people or white people respectively, but these werent supposed to be what was on trial here. Rather than the Separate but Equal Act as a whole, what was supposed to be on trial here was the Separate Car Act. For Homer Plessy, this Separate Car Act was the least of his issues, and he knew that there was more to fight for than good seating in a train. He was fighting for true equality for all people of color, and starting with trains didnt seem like enough for him. He wanted to just end it all in one court case, and had big plans to fight the entire Separate but Equal Act, which was a large bite to chew. He gathered all of his facts and took them with him to D.C. His lawyer was all for supporting equality between races and genders, but he knew that this was a large law to be attacking with such a small base. Only having gone through the courts fighting against the Separate Car Acts meant a lot for this Supreme Court case. They would have to change many things about their approach and their plea. He couldnt support Homer in this endeavor, but what he could do was broaden the picture of their case. He was going for the Supreme Court to overrule the Separate but Equal Act, not among the entirety of the United States, but just within Louisiana. This would potentially set the precedent for further cases, and if they won this case, that precedent would push the equality agenda more than ever before. When the case was accepted by the Supreme Court, the public opinion was that this law should be upheld. There wasnt very much budge in the public eye, and the courts had all seen that. Juries were impossible to be chosen without some sense of prejudice and or hatred within it. This was a problem that had plagued this case. This made all of the juries biased, and because the public was always against him, Homer lost all of the juries votes as soon as they were selected. With that all behind him and a fresh new court without such elegances as a jury, Homer believed that this was his chance to change peoples minds for real. He didnt have to sway an entire jury, just the Supreme Court, who had shown a similar bias towards cases like this one. They had voted that separation in the school system in Alabama was legal, which is concurrent to the effect of this case. It was a ruling that allowed Separate but Equal to be voted through by each state individually. Since this ruling, many states in the south decided to apply Separate but Equal to their public facilities. Louisiana was one of the states that had extended the power and use of Separate but Equal to every possible situation. Even in restaurant seating and in the public drinking fountains. There was still a very obvious distinction between the quality of these areas as well. Every area that was specifically for the white people was treated well and kept up, while the areas that were black only were trashed and never cleaned. This was all that was going through the state, and there wasnt an area that they could all go to get away from it. Homer knew that this had to end here, so he fought and fought with his lawyer to help him destroy the precedent and set his own. Pleading like he was already in court, Homer begged and begged. In a surprise turn, Homers lawyer decided that it might actually be a good idea to broaden there plea on the court, and chase after that freedom that blacks were in dire need of. He figured that it would be a better way to show the brutality of the separation and the way that they were treated. If they could give examples of every situation that included the separation, it might tear through the hearts of the Justices. They were people after all. It would be hard to show them the pain that the black community had been going through with just a little train car incident. That was the least of their problems, and attacking that wouldnt work, they needed to show everything that had been tormenting them, and Homers lawyer knew exactly how. He wanted to show that there was legally no difference between black people and white people. There was no legal way to treat them different, simply because of their skin color. He wasnt trying to prove that they were the same, just equal. There shouldnt be a way to treat white people in court or in public, and a way to treat black people. In the system of laws that were in place at this time, it would have been completely acceptable to just deny someone service because they were black. Finally the case came along, which was an incredibly stressful but exciting experience for Homer. He was ready to prove his point that he shouldnt be treated so poorly, but that wasnt what was going to happen that day. He didnt know it yet, but the case had been laid out against them from the start. The precedents set before this case were so overwhelming that it would only take a shred of evidence that Homer was in the wrong, and it would be over. That is exactly what happened on that day. Homer went from being excited to prove his innocence and show the world that it was wrong to segregate based on skin color to being depressed about the fact that he failed to represent his people. The cases ruling came to be that it wasnt above the law to imply a legal distinction between peoples of different skin color. Despite the fact that this seemed to be in complete contrast with the 13th and 14th amendments of the constitution, it was ruled this way. Homer was a precedent setting case that sadly held firm until a very closer time to our own. The case that finally ended the segregation and the Separate but Equal Act was the Brown vs. Board of Education case of 1954. This ended the torment that black men and women had to live through for over 100 years.

Obesity in the Southern United States

Obesity in the Southern United States Marion T. Stevens Introduction Obesity has emerged as one of the leading causes of death in the United States of America. In the Bible belt (Southern States) obesity is very common which complicates health and the economy as well as treatment to individuals. Furthermore, obesity in the southern states is a result of culture, economic status and ethnicity. According to Akil (2011), obesity is basically a manifestation of energy imbalance mainly defined as the balance between the consumed energy, by drink as well as food, and the energy expended through physical activity and metabolism. Obesity, which correlates to lifestyle behaviors, can be characterized by reducing levels of physical activity or increased consumption of diets that are energy-dense, or even both. Over the past three decades, the US has witnessed a dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity as well as reports on disparities among the population. With regard to the disparities in the prevalence of diabetes among the US population, the Southern States of the US record the highest obesity rates in the country based on the new report by the Institute for America’s Health. According to the report obesity rates increased in twenty eight states by 2010 with a decline only reported in Washington, DC. Out of the 11 states recording the highest rates, 10 of them are situated in the South, with Mississippi recording the highest rate for six consecutive years (World Health Organization, 2013). Statement of the problem There has been an increasing debate and the controversy over the appropriate intervention measures to be taken in order to curb the prevalence of diabetes in the southern states. The issue is whether the government should intervene and take a stand on the daily recommended dietary consumption. For instance, as a response to this and for the very first time, the Southern Obesity Summit, the largest regional obesity prevention unit, held its 7th Annual Southern Obesity Summit in November, 2013, drawing a majority of the participants from the sixteen southern states. Looking at it from a broader cultural perspective, the increased rate of diabetes can be attributed to the lifestyle of the Southerners and their nutrition. The high prevalence of obesity in the southern states of the US (the Bible Belt) poses challenges to both the government as well as health institutions. This phenomenon complicates the health and the economic situation of the region as well as the high cost of treatment. As pointed out in Wang and Beydoun (2007), the cost of treatment stood at $ 117 billion annually. Today, the cost has almost tripled (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). The CDC survey report goes further to indicate that over 30 percent of the population in the Southern States is obese. Studies have shown that obesity in these Southern States is mainly as a result of socio-economic factors, ethnicity, as well as the culture of the Southerners. Review of Literature According to the Institute for America’s Health Report (2010), obesity in America in 2008 cost the nation approximately $147 billion in weight-related medical bills that is double the amount in the previous decade. Parham and Scarinci (2007), point out that people with obesity have an annual medical bill of $ 1,429 higher than the normal-weight people. The leading states in the south for obesity rate include: Mississippi (33.8%), Alabama and Tennessee (31 % tie), West Virginia (31.3 %), Louisiana (31.2%), Kentucky (30.5%), Arkansas (30.1%), South Carolina (29.9%), and Michigan (29.4%) tied with North Carolina (29.4%) (United States Census Bureau, 2009). According to Akil (2011), the higher rate of obesity can be linked to socioeconomic factors such as income, poverty, and unemployment, among others. The study indicates that the higher rates of obesity were recorded among the Southerners as compared to the Northerners. The prevalence was highest in Mississippi, which also recorded the highest level of poverty with 21 percent of its residents living below the poverty line. Alabama and West Virginia, which rank second and third in obesity prevalence rates respectively, are both ranked the fifth poorest (Ezzati, Martin, Skjold, Vander Hoorn, Murray, 2006). Generally, the south has a poverty rate of 14 percent being the most impoverished part of the country (U. S. Census Bureau, 2009). The income disparities among the population is considered as a contributing factor to this trend in the US and more so in the Southern States. The southerners have limited access to healthy food with little purchasing power. The cultural lifestyle of the southerners predisposes them to obesity. Southerners enjoy feeding on fried food ranging from chicken, onions, green tomatoes, and pickles, to corn bread. Nutritional educators attribute the increased rate of obesity to the regional feeding habits. This situation is aggravated by poor physical exercise among the Southerners, since it is difficult for them to exercise outdoors when an opportunity arises, it is often hot, at times over 100 degrees, and humid. Furthermore, states such as Mississippi and Tennessee lack abundant sidewalks and have narrow roads, hence jogging and biking becomes hard for them (Wang Beydoun, 2007). Nutritional education is a significant contributor to the increased rate of obesity among the residents of the southern states of America. Nutrition educators have put concerted efforts in educating the people on the proper eating and exercise habits (Balluz, Okoro Mokdad, 2008). The majority of the population feed on junk food, fried food, and do not engage in regular physical exercise, thus predisposing themselves to obesity. For instance, Arkansas passed a body mass index-screening program, in elementary schools to assess weight and then send the results to the parents. Tennessee, on the other hand, encourages schools to purchase fresh ingredients from the local growers. In 2007, the state of Mississippi adopted certain nutritional standards for its school lunches. All these nutritional interventions are taken in a bid to combat this affliction (Powell, Stater, Mirtcheva, Bao Chaloupka, 2007). Methods The study used descriptive survey design where data was collected and analyzed (CDC, 2013). Since it is hard to study the whole population in the southern United States, the research sample was selected using random sampling technique. The following southern states were selected for the study: Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Colorado was also selected in the sample for comparison. The study was mainly qualitative, and qualitative data was collected and analyzed. Data was presented using texts, to describe the prevalence of obesity among the Southern Unites States. This research paper derives from secondary sources, mainly the obesity and obesity-related health studies conducted in the Southern States and the United States at large, and the above stated southern states in particular. Factual data has been retrieved from articles published in Peer Reviewed Health Journals as well as from world fact sheets. The study collected demographic data such as ethnicity, sex and geographic location. Data analysis was done using regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results and Discussion The research study found that obesity in the Southern States is exacerbated by inadequate significant policies to address issues of community design, such as suburban sprawl and sidewalks, as well as wider accessibility and affordability of healthy food options including the ‘urban grocery store gap’ (World Health Organization, 2013). The results indicated that there is a correlation between ethnicity and obesity in the southern United States. This high prevalence is mainly attributed to the lifestyle of southerners who mainly feed on fried foods. For instance, in 2004, a study by the University of North Carolina found out that majority of the food-shopping options in most part of the southern region fall under the category of ‘convenient stores’ since traditional grocery stores are situated too far away, hence the aforementioned gap. The lifestyle of Southerners is a predisposing factor to obesity due to their dietary habits. In addition, the high rate of o besity in the southern states is as a result of economic constraints. The majority of the states in the southern region are ranked among the poorest in the country (Ezzati et al, 2006). Colorado recorded the lowest rate of obesity, according to the study results (Akil, 2011). The researcher included Colorado in the study sample so as to check for any disparity and/or offer a comparison. The findings of this study provided a justification for hypothesis that there is a significant relationship between obesity and the Southerner’s nutrition education. Conclusion Deriving from the finding of this study it is evident that the rate of diabetes is highest among residents of the southern states of the United States. The causes are mainly attributed to socioeconomic factors, culture and lifestyle, as well as ethnicity. However, the US government has put in place policy measures to combat the affliction. The intervention measures are mainly skewed toward provisional of nutritional education and implementation of poverty reduction strategies. The health status was found to improve with the rise in incomes. The poorer people have a limited access to groceries and health care. Limitations of the Study Since it was hard to study all the states in the south, only a few states were selected for the study. Moreover, there could be other predisposing factors for obesity rather than those focused on by the researcher. The demographics of the study also need to be more detailed, the study did not address race and income levels nor did it cover the environment of green space available for exercise within the studies. Recommendation for further Research There is need for further research to check for any relationship between obesity and other factors such as education, gender, heredity, climate and age. Similar studies should be extended to other states in the north to establish other causal factors that could be leading to the increased obesity rates in the south as compared to the northern states. Routine (BMI) Body Mass Index calculation, weight, height and blood pressure should be conducted at all routine patient visits. If the BMI is above 85 percentile, initiate farther screening. Obesity warrants immediate attention; consider using the HEAT clinical practice guidelines (McAdams, 2010). The key to battling obesity is prevention in the early stages; this will be led by promoting health eating and exercise to the new generation of youth. References Akil, L. (2011). Effects of Socio-economic Factors on obesity rates in four southern states and Colorado. National institute of Health Journal. 21 (1): 58-62. Balluz, L. S., Okoro, C. A, Mokdad, A. (2008). Association between selected unhealthy lifestyle factors, body mass index, and chronic health condition among individuals 50 years of age or older, by race /ethnicity. Ethnicity Dis. 18(4):450–457. CDC, (2013) Health Disparities and Inequalities Report United States. Retrieved on February 20, 2014 from: www.cdc.gov Ezzati, M., Martin, H., Skjold, S., Vander Hoorn, S. Murray, C. J. (2006). Trends in national and state-level obesity in the USA after correction for self-report bias: analysis of health surveys. J R Soc Med. 99:250–257. McAdams, Cynthia (2010). The environment and pediatric overweight: a review for nurse practioners. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 22 (9), 460-467. Dio 10,1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00537.x Parham, G. P. Scarinci, I. C. (2007). Strategies for achieving healthy energy balance among African Americans in the Mississippi Delta. Prev Chronic Dis. 4(4): A97. Powell, L. M., Stater, S., Mirtcheva, D., Bao, Y. Chaloupka, F.J. (2007). Food store availability and neighborhood characteristics in the United States. Prev Med. 44(3): 189–195. The Institute for America’s Health. Retrieved on January 23, 2014 from: www.healthy-america.org United States Census of Bureau (2009). Cen-Stats Database. Retrieved on January 23, 2014 from: www.censtats.census.gov Wang. Y., Beydoun, M. A. (2007). The obesity epidemic in the United States—gender, age, socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and geographic characteristics: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Epidemiol Rev. 29:6–28. Word Health Organization. (2013). Obesity and overweight. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/index.html

Much Ado About Nothing Essay: The Importance of Word Choice :: Much Ado About Nothing Essays

Much Ado About Nothing:   The Importance of Word Choice  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      The choice of words used by the characters in Act 5, Scene 1, of the play, Much Ado About Nothing, clearly presents the characters emotions and constructs their characters for the audience. In contrast to his confrontation with Claudio and Don Pedro earlier in the scene, where he is reduced to begging them to hear him out ('My lord, my lord!'; Act 5, Scene 1; l. 106 ), Leonato's speeches are marked with a stateliness and self-assurance, as he has been fortified with the knowledge that his righteous indignation is justified. He is stern and dominates the scene, barking orders 'Which is the villain?' (l. 260), 'Bring you these fellows on.' (l. 333), and using the conversation to entrap, as Claudio and Don Pedro did to him during the aborted wedding: Art thou the slave that with thy breath hast killed mine innocent child?. No, not so, villain! Thou beliest thyself. Here stand a pair of honourable men; A third is fled, that had a hand in it. I thank you, princes, for my daughter's death. His true purpose is manifested to the audience in the way he addresses the prince and Claudio: this time he doesn't bluntly insult them, but uses more subtle language - 'Record [Hero's death] with your high and worthy deeds. 'Twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it.'(l. 270-271) - because he intends to perform one last deception, to get Claudio to marry Hero, so his strategy must be to play on their guilt, not to antagonize them: '.since you could not be my son-in-law, Be yet my nephew. And so dies my revenge' (l. 288-289, 293). He seems to see himself as the rightful patriarch, restoring order - '.This naughty man Shall face to face be brought to Margaret, Who I believe was packed in all this wrong, Hired to it by your brother.' (l. 298-301) - and his speeches have an air of stateliness and dignity (all are in verse), as well as an air of busyness, exemplified in the orders he gives, lines 280-294: Possess the people in Messina here How innocent she died; and if your love Can labor aught in sad invention, Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb, And sing it to her bones, sing it tonight. Tomorrow morning come you to my house. The emotion of earlier in the scene seems to have been spent - this meeting can be seen as Leonato's personal revenge, restoring his authority and reputation: his fatherly concern about Hero's reputation is no longer necessary, her name is merely an instrument to shame the princes.

Hysteria Changes People Essay -- essays research papers

Hysteria is a mental disorder marked by excitability, anxiety, or imaginary disorders. It can play an important role in people’s lives. Hysteria supplants logic and enables people to believe that their neighbors, whom they have always considered highly respectable, do things they would never expect them of doing. In â€Å"The Crucible†, hysteria causes people to believe their friends are committing deplorable acts. The townsfolk accept and become active in the hysterical climate not only out of genuine religious piety but also because it gives them a chance to express repressed sentiments and to seek reparations from grudges. Hysteria suspends the rules of daily life and allows the acting out of every dark desire and hateful urge under the charade of righteousness. In â€Å"The Crucible† by Arthur Miller, the hysteria due to the paranoia of witchcraft causes Abigail to lie in order to save herself, Danforth to ruin the community, and Proctor to be convicted of w itchery. The hysteria surrounding the witchtrials causes Abigail to lie in order to save herself. She is affected by the hysteria because she does not want to exposed as a liar. She forgets about the people that are close to her in order to protect her reputation and identity. Abigail abandons Tituba, and accuses her of "sending her spirit on me in church; she makes me laugh at prayer" (41). Abigail also says Tituba "comes to me every night to go and drink blood (41). Abigail reacts like this only to save her fro...

King Solomons Mines Essays -- Henry Rider Haggard

Henry Rider Haggard sets out to create an epic tale of courage, a breathtaking drama that attempts to capture, within its limits, the universal spirit of adventure. He appeals in particular to the proverbial young male that seeks an audacious inspiration in life by which to model his own. He entices his readers because his motives lie simply in his desire to entertain, to delight, and to enthrall anyone with a prolific imagination. However, this purely entertaining account of an eclectic and adventuresome trio clearly manifests its motives by the simple elimination ambiguity, leaving little or nothing to the whims of infinite interpretation. As it is, everything within the novel seems to have the intention of being taken â€Å"with a grain of salt.'; Haggard knew his audience, a pretentious and nationalistic society bent on world domination or at the very least determined to reduce the rest of the world to nothing more than a means to meet their desires. And with these precepts in m ind, Haggard creates a fantastical tale, taking heed of what is socially acceptable and what is not, all the while maintaining western superiority over the rest of the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The fact of the matter is, that I thought that the best plan would be to tell the story in a plain straightforward manner†¦I cannot help thinking that simple things are always the most impressive, books are easier to understand when they are written in plain language, though I have perhaps no right to set up an opinion on such a matter.'; (Haggard 6).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this introduction/disclaimer, Allan Quatermain as our narrator, comes clean with his intentions, providing a stabilizing retrospective for the ensuing epitaph. He seems well aware of the vague line between words intended for fiction and those intended for controversy. And by designating the jolly old Quatermain as narrator, Haggard vicariously endear himself to his readers by exuding a simple humility in light of his grander than grand exposà ©, all the while disposing of the pretense intrinsic to most literary works. Haggard, due to the relative sensitivity of his subject matter, has no desire to have his novel the target of unwarranted and unwanted social and literary criticism. In that, he makes certain that he reaffirms his intentions of entertainment rather than controversy. In addition, despite Haggard’s prevalent use of juxtaposition throughou... ... complexion Twala is described as â€Å"Twala the One-eyed, the Black, [and] the Terrible'; (Haggard 118), not coincidentally the only true â€Å"Black'; among them. The plot is action-packed, carried along by one dramatic scene after another in which we as readers are witness to amazing feats of strength, bravery, and guile, leaving little or no time for readers to dwell much on any aspect of the novel except the plot. Haggard even goes so far as to implement a divisive source of comic relief in the form of Good, whom we see deified by the Kukuanas, who delight in the sight of his â€Å"bare legs,'; â€Å"transparent eye,'; â€Å"half-haired face,'; and â€Å"vanishing teeth'; (118 Haggard). By the end of the novel we see all strings tied, imparting a sense of conclusive triumph without controversy. Haggard’s audience gets exactly what it wants, the black evil doers are vanquished; peace, justice, and tranquility are returned to Kukuana land; our deserving white and pseudo-white heroes are the benefactors of the plunders of Solomon’s fabled mines; and we as readers are left thoroughly entertained. Work Cited Haggard, H. Rider. "King Solomon's Mines." 1989. Oxford, New York: Oxford World Classics 1998