Thoreau Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Thoreau - Essay Example Thoreau questions the power of majority stating that the decision of majority does not necessarily ensure superior wit or justice. In the same way, it will be a fallacy if any one thinks that individual choices are inferior to the decision of majority. Regardless of the utmost virtue, governmental decisions are often subjected to the interest of majority groups. Thoreau was influenced by the social conditions in which slavery had been the major characteristic. Yet his convictions are of great relevance today as the modern democracies like the United States, UK, and India have been testing this ‘game of right and wrong’ (voting) for decades. The political settlements in these multicultural nations have become a sort of ‘betting’ as Thoreau envisaged because representation is the inevitable, perhaps the sole strategy for minority groups to negotiate their privileges with majority. It is believed that democratic representation will help control the majority by promoting a win-win atmosphere. Moreover, important decisions could only be taken after detailed discussion and debate. Minority groups are given chances to achieve their goals and to limit the interests of other groups as well. In contrast, though minority groups and other weaker sections are given constitutional backup for proportional representation in legislation, justice has always been left to the choice of majority. Thoreau suggests that people should not allow government to weaken their conscience. He also states that if any one hold back one’s conscience in favor of law, the person is badly serving the state. Moreover, the power of majority might curtail the freedom and rights of other communities. Therefore, he believes that a wise man can not leave the right to the mercy of chances. Leaving the justice to the choice of majority is highly irresponsible act that can bring ultimate

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Essay Example for Free

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Essay Tony Morrison became the prominent American writer of the second half of the 20th century mainly because of her novel â€Å"The Bluest Eye† published in 1970. The novel is narrated by a young black girl, Claudia MacTeer and the reader realizes through her perception the atmosphere in the family of her friend Pecola Breedlove. The family relations in the Pecola’s family are very hostile. The topic of racial inequality is one of the central topics. African Americans and their tragedy of the lost culture are in the center of the novel.   The novel is built on the passionate desire of Pecola to be loved by her family and her school friends. Pecola thinks that the reason of the hostile attitude towards her is her black skin and she wants to resemble the American idols like Shirley Temple. Shirley Temple is just an ideal created by the mass culture, an idol which is a part of American dream. The conventional American perception of beauty is connected with the blue eyes and white skin like those of Shirley Temple. Tony Morison studies the position of the blacks in America. She names the things which sometimes are not in public but in minds. American society is divided according to the racial principle and nobody can do anything with it.    The author states that America treats its black citizens like people of a lower grade, pariahs, â€Å"There are several levels of the pariah figure working in my writing. The black community is a pariah community. Black people are pariahs. The civilization of black people that lives apart from but in juxtaposition to other civilizations is a pariah relationship. In fact, the concept of the black in this country is almost always one of the pariahs. But a community contains pariahs within it that are very useful for the conscience of that community.†(The Bluest Eye. Review). American culture has produced a utopian image of America, called â€Å"an American Dream†. It is not bad at all; it indicates, at least the standards to be reached and the goals to be gained.   This collective image is an image of a rich country populated with the nice successful people. There is only one problem in this image. The country is rich and the society is successful, but people personifying this success are narrated with the blond hair and white skin. This is just what great American Martin Luther King said about. The racial inequity is in the very essence of the American society. Pecola identifies her personal position in the community with the position of the black community in the American society, i.e. as soon as the Blacks are pariahs in the society; she feels herself a pariah within the community. What is more, she understands the position of the black community in the American society and naively associates it with her personal position in the black community. Her dream of blue eyes is a naà ¯ve attempt to break through the concept of the faceless, i.e. it is a protest against her position of a pariah. Tony Morison intentionally uses a dream of a small girl which would never come true to underline the improbability of such a dream to resemble an American icon Shirley Temple in the same way as black community would never become an equal part of the society. The values of the society imposed on the black children are destructive. Pecola is morally suppressed by the values she accepts. These values are dominant and black children are not able to evaluate them critically. Pecola is destroyed by the cultural values she has to adopt. The white culture influences the personalities of the black people especially young ones. The Anglo Saxon standards of beauty follow the children outside the class. Movie blondes with blue eyes catch their sight from the cinema screens, billboards, newspapers and magazines. There is no place to hide from the bluest eyes. These beauties keep telling the children that if they were white with blue eyes they would achieve success. This destroys the girl’s identity. She mistakenly associates her physical appearance with the wealth and happiness. White mass culture shows white skin, blue eyes and blonde hair in association with wealth, happiness and success and a young girl realizes erroneously that her life is defined by her appearance. Pecola’s admiration of Sherley Temple is one of her personal tragic illusions. The success of the movie star Temple poisons the life of Pecola. The mass culture shows the physical beauty in the context of prosperity. This self humiliation develops the complex of inferiority of the girl. â€Å"Long hours she sat looking in the mirror, trying to discover the secret of the ugliness, the ugliness that made her ignored or despised at school, by teachers and classmates alike, She was the only member of her class who sat alone at a double desk.†( Tirell, Lynne) A utopian desire to resemble an American idol became an obsession for Pecola. â€Å"Each night, without fail, she prayed for blue eyes. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ She would see only what there was to see: the eyes of other people.†( Morrison, Toni, p.45) The Pecola’s aspiration to resemble the American idol drives the girl crazy. She looses the connections with the reality. As soon as the world does not understand her desire and does not want to give her a chance to become closer to her idol she decides to lock in herself and find a piece of mind keeping her dreams in herself without letting them out. The hate of people, ideal dream on the movie star physical appearance, the hostile atmosphere at school and in the family and the rape by her father followed by the hate of her mother made the girl crazy. But she is still dreaming of her ideal. It is not the white community that has directly destroyed Pecola, but the black community and her parents. They should have insulated her from the white communitys values and have protected her (Hinda Barlaz). The words of narrator about the destructiveness of the physical beauty and romantic love are given in the context when Pauline, pregnant black American woman was watching history of romantic love in the movie theatre. She broke her tooth then as if recapitulating the comparison of romantic love in the movie with her current position. The image of Jean Harlow from the screen destroys the Pauline’s identity as a woman, her belief in American dream and her own beauty. The broken tooth symbolizes her belief in happiness which is destroyed. Toni Morrison and a great American Martin Luther King, Pecola and Pauline, Hero of the Doctorow’s Ragtime and The Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, all of them have the common feature. They are all looking for identity as well as other best representatives of the humanity. Martin Luther King and Pecola, no matter how strange it may seem had the same dream, a dream of equality for all disregarding the color of the skin. Hero of the Doctorow’s novel and Oedipus Rex were looking for their lost identity. John Lennon joined Great American King in his dream of â€Å"a brotherhood of men† in his â€Å"Imagine†. Martin Luther King was looking for the identity of the black people of America and paid his life for it. Pecola was looking for her own identity and paid her mentality. John Lennon was looking for a â€Å"brotherhood of men† and paid his life for his search. These principles can not come from the outside; they should be in the people’s mind which is an identity. A hero of one Russian classic (Bulgakov, The Heart of the Dog) kept threatening himself, â€Å"there is a devastation in the country!!!† and he got a respond â€Å"this devastation is in your mind†. The same could be said of identity. We create the identity in our minds and then we apply it to the entire society. Bibliography I Have A Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr, Delivered on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. Source: Martin Luther King, Jr: The Peaceful Warrior, Pocket Books, NY 1968, available at http://www.mecca.org/~crights/dream.html, retrieved 7.04.2005 Tirell, Lynne. â€Å"Storytelling and Moral Agency.† Toni Morrison’s Fiction: Contemporary Criticism. Ed. David Middleton. New York: Garland, 2000. 3-25. Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Penguin, 1994. Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, Review, available at http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/lit_term.html#pv Hedin, Raymond. The Structuring of Emotion in Black American Fiction. Novel 16 (1982): 35-54. Edmund A. Napieralski, Morrisons The Bluest Eye., 1994 Heldref Publications, The Explicator, Fall 1994 v53 n1 p59(4), available at http://www.cofc.edu/~farrells/Farrell/oedipus.html, retrieved 6.04.2005 Hinda A. Barlaz, A Reading Guide to Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, available at http://students.adelphi.edu/learningcenter/pdfs/tonimorrison.pdf, retrieved 6.04.2005 Trudy Mercer. Female Childhood Icons in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, available at http://www.drizzle.com/~tmercer/write/morrison/bluesteye.shtml Chris Booker, The Social Status of the African American Male: 1999, available at http://www.pressroom.com/~afrimale/status99.htm Gibson, Donald B. (1989), â€Å"Text and Countertext in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye†, Taylor, Paul C., Journal of Aesthetics Art Criticism, MALCOLMS CONK AND DANTOS COLORS; OR, FOUR LOGICAL PETITIONS CONCERNING RACE, BEAUTY, AND ,  , available at http://www.lib.tjfsu.edu.cn/ymwx/essay/The%20Bluest%20Eye1.htm Bjork, Patrick B. The novels of Toni Morrison: the search for self and place within the community. NY: P. Lang,1996.

Interpreting The Descent of Odin :: Descent of Odin Essays

Interpreting The Descent of Odin  Ã‚   There are several different ways to interpret a poem. Each word can either be a metaphor for something else or the words can mean exactly what they say. Either way there can really never be a completely wrong interpretation of a certain poem because everyone is going to see things in their own way. For example, an object or a phrase could have a double meaning. A conversation that seems somewhat insignificant could be very important to the meaning and the tone of the entire poem. This is the case in â€Å"The Descent of Odin† by Thomas Gray. The poem has several different hidden meanings and messages that might not be visible to the untrained reader. The poem has several interesting aspects to it. The first is the very obvious, over active id of Odin. He is trying to retrieve information from the Prophetess when all she wants is to be left alone. In the beginning he is very demanding about what he wants. He will not let her rest until he finds out all of the information he wants. â€Å"Yet a while my call obey; Prophetess, awake, and say,† (Gray, pg. 43). Odin’s child-like characteristics are very obvious. Finally after whining enough, he was able to obtain all of the information he needed, his superego takes over and represses the id from carrying on and tormenting Prophetess. He is able to let his superego take over, unlike Prophetess who is very selfish and is not in control of her own free will. Prophetess was also guilty of doing a little bit of whining herself. Instead of helping Odin right away, she complained about the fact that he had disturbed her. â€Å"What call unknown, what charms presume to break the quiet of the tomb? Who thus afflicts my troubled sprite, and drags me from the realms of night?† (Gray, pg. 41-42) She is annoyed that someone dared to wake her. Her selfish little id is rearing its ugly little head and causing her to complain and be grumpy. She is supposed to help people when they ask about the things that Odin asked about, hence the name Prophetess. Instead of being completely selfless, like she should be, she decides that being stubborn and rude is the way to treat people. Both characters are guilty of giving into their ids, but Prophetess is much more unwilling to let her superego take over to subdue her id.

Social Networking Essay: Boon or Bane

IntroductionPeople who live in the past can only communicate through the way of Telegrams, Letters and Telephone Calls. But with the birth of modern Technologies, wireless mobile phone and computers were invented. Then, social networking begins.With this study, there are many questions that we have to consider such as: What exactly is Social Networking? Does it have anything to do with this modern society? What are their advantages and disadvantages and what are the effects of this social networking to an individual.This study intends to tell us the use and effects of social networking and will help us to widen our knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of social networking.BodySocial Networking is way of communicating with people whether far or nearby places with the use of computers and other devices which connects to World Wide Web. It is also a simple act of expanding the number of people you know by adding friends of your friends and meeting them in social network or i n social community.In fact, many of business oriented associated person nowadays promote their existing and upcoming business with the use of it and some people looking to connect with other business contacts usually move to social networking sites. For students, social networking is the easiest way of collecting information’s about their assignments, research papers and even world’s information or job opportunities.I have list some common networking sites for references:Facebook : Facebook was founded in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow Harvard University students Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes.[8] The founders had initially limited the website's membership to students of the University of Harvard, but later expanded it to colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. It gradually added support for students at various other universities before it opened to high-school st udents, and eventually to anyone aged 13 and over.Facebook now allows anyone who claims to be at least 13 years old to become a registered user of the website.[9] Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as friends, exchange messages, and receive automatic notifications when they update their profile. Additionally, users may join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics, and categorize their friends into lists such as â€Å"People from Work† or â€Å"Close Friends†Twitter: Twitter is a very simple service that is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about social networking service providers. When you have a Twitter account, you can use the service to post and receive messages to a network of contacts, as opposed to send bulk email messages. You can build your network of contacts, and invite others to receive your Tweets, and can follow other memb ers' posts. Twitter makes it easy to opt into or out of networks. Additionally, you can choose to stop following a specific person’s feed.Linkedln: LinkedIn is an online social network for business professionals, which is designed specifically for professional networking, to help them find a job, discover sales leads, connect with potential business partners. Unlike most of the other social networks, LinkedIn does not focus on making friends or sharing media like photos, videos and music. LinkedIn offers many resources for entrepreneurs. Brand yourself as an entrepreneur, find service providers or partners, and participate with your LinkedIn network to strengthen your profile.Myspace: On MySpace, your social network starts growing from the first day. When you join MySpace, the first step is to create a profile. You then, invite friends to join there and search for your friends on already profiled on MySpace these friends become your initial Friend Space. Once the friendship i s confirmed all the people in your friends' Friend Space become part of your network. In that sense, everyone on MySpace is in your Extended Network.Blogs: A blog is a discussion or informational site published on the World Wide Web and consisting of discrete entries (â€Å"posts†) typically displayed in reverse chronological order (the most recent post appears first). Until 2009 blogs were usually the work of a single individual, occasionally of a small group, and often covered a single subject. More recently â€Å"multi-author blogs† (MABs) have developed, with posts written by large numbers of authors and professionally edited.Hi5 : Hi5 shares many similarities with many social network sites; however, it introduces some twists that make it worthwhile for people who love trying out new and interesting online communities. However, it is not one of the popular sites in the United States. This was a strategic move from the founder, therefore, Hi5 claims around 60 millio n members from more than 200 countries other than the US. One of the site's biggest transformations is the addition of many entertainment options, including games.Tagged: Tagged is a blend of social networking features that MySpace and Facebook users will find very familiar. Tagged was designed to help users meet lots of new people with similar interests in a short amount of time. You can access and register directly or be invited by a friend to join Tagged. This is a free social network that allows you to view your friends’ newly uploaded Tagged photo album. Tagged encourages its users to meet strangers based on shared interests, with the idea of growing your network to meet as many people as possible.And Electronic Mailer or Email: This social site is the first step of all. Without this email address you will not be able to join any social  networking site although you have to register here as well but you can use this email as the key to join any social networking sites. I have list few advantages and disadvantages of social networking. The advantages are as follows:Easiest ConnectionThere is no easier on fastest way to make a connection than via social networking. Through such sites, individuals make new friends or business connections or extend their personal base by connecting and inter-acting with friends. These connections can help one with a variety of things such as finding romance, seeking a new job or seeking advice on personal issue or even in career.In many ways, social networking communities are the visual equivalent of meeting everywhere to exchange news and get update on friends and families. Plus, social networking websites can access anywhere around the globe. For other people it can help an individual to establish communication with their love ones and friends through which they can strengthen their relationships and knowledge.Increase News CycleSocial networking has revolutionized the speed of news cycle. Many news organizations ar e now partner with social networking sites in order to both collect and share information. You can understand what is going on in the world just by watching trending topics from many of these sites.Common InterestWhen you participate to a social networking community, you can pick and choose those individuals whose likes and dislikes are similar to yours and built your network around those who share your interestModern EncyclopediaUnlike to manual book, in social network one click of the mouse and the data you were looking for will appear in front of your eye. Assignment, definitions and research is just as easy as you hear it.There is a saying that â€Å"there’s no perfect in this world† meaning whenever there is advantages, disadvantages also comes into picture as always.So here are the disadvantages of social networking:Waste of TimeSome of the students used to spend hour in those social networking sites which can obviously degrade the student’s academic perfo rmance. Some of them may tend to use Facebook till midnight or even more because of the applications like farm ville to monitor their crops or whatever it is which can lead to health related problems. And children’s these generation spend more time in using social networking sites through which they lack to spend more time with their family.Personal RiskUse of social networking can expose individuals to harassment on inappropriate contact from others. Personal details like you full name, names of family members, birthday, address, phone numbers, schedules, place of employment, photos and etc. you can be easily stalked by strangers or even acquaintances and even identity thieves to replicate your online presence.Actions in the digital world can have far-reaching consequences in real life. Inappropriate posts on social media can have severe repercussions on a student's academic career, and students can lose jobs, internships and even interviews because of the information potent ial employers are finding out about students on their social networking accounts.Compromising and inappropriate pictures, statements or other information on student social networking accounts can hurt students' chances to gain employment. Employers take the images that students are portraying on social networking sites very seriously as a reflection of personal character.Real life ConnectionsA huge advantage of this social networking has a reverse side effect that is also a big disadvantage of social networking which is, they reduce face to face socialization. Because of autonomy afforded by the virtual word,  individuals are free to create a fantasy and pretend to be someone else. It’s incredibly easy to unfriend or unfollow someone or simply block their efforts to make a connection. Just one click of the mouse and your problems are over. Unfortunately, this feature of online socialization cheats people of the opportunity to learn how to resolve conflicts in the real world and it could retard or cripple ones social skills development.SummaryIt is true that this generation has a lot of changes together with the way of communication but it doesn’t mean that you have to be part of new ways because your own choice is what matters the most. If you decide to join or you’re already part of it, you should be and have to be responsible for your own safety. One wrong click and I’m sure all your effort will be waste.So, in evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of social networking it is best to be on the side of caution and information. Then, I would like to conclude that social networking is definitely a boon for those who are aware that they are using it for the right purpose.

Of Mice and Men Essay

The American dream was almost impossible in the 1930’s to achieve due to the Wall Street crash in 1929. This then started of the American depression throughout the 1930’s. I believe that John Steinbeck might have chosen to write of mice and men during this time to show what life was like for the last few migrant ranch workers travelling the country from job to job looking for work. Steinbeck would have been able to do this as he himself had grown up in the same area on a ranch that his father owned, he had also worked on the ranch so he would know what the ranch hands were like, what they dreamed of achieving, how they treated each other and acted towards one another. Steinbeck would have been able to describe in detail what the area and the ranches would have looked like, and also what the workers would have been like he might have used descriptions of actual workers that worked on his father’s ranch. The novel it’s self is written like a theatre play as it is only a short novel but it gives the reader great detail in its descriptions of how the scenery would have been set. â€Å"For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool†. The second scene in the book is when they arrive at the ranch and go into the bunk house â€Å"against the walls, were eight beds, five of them made up with blankets and the other three showing their burlap ticking†. There is also a lot descriptive detail of the characters. Curley’s wife in particular has an in depth character description which I believe will make up for her having no name. There are no chapter numbers in the novel but the novel is structured like acts in a play with each act having scenes of rising and falling tension at the beginning and end to entice the reader to read on. There are a limited number of characters in the novel which are all based in one place in the novel rather than spread out over several locations all over the Salinas River. The plot structure used for this novel is a classic linear quest narrative structure and is a very common way of western story telling. This type writing is where the main character of the story usually sets out to fulfil a dream. The dream in this novel for George is of buying his own land and being his own boss but it ends up with the George main character righting a wrong that Lennie has committed. The story usually ends up following a straight line from beginning to end following a line of causes and events throughout the novel. The story starts of with the initial situation where we meet the main characters and learn about their characteristics. The story continues onto the inciting incident where we meet Curley’s wife, and then follows onto the problem phase where we learn of any obstacles that the characters need to over come. The climax comes next where the protagonist must overcome the antagonist in order to achieve their goal; this then leads to the resolution of events where everything settles down in preparation for the end of the novel. Steinbeck introduces his characters George and Lennie as the two main who has to overcome the antagonist character which is Lennie. The readers will most relate to the character of George because he appears to the reader to be kind gentle hard working. You can tell these traits about him with the way he looks after Lennie and the fact that they move all over the country together, where as most farm hands travel on there own â€Å"guys like us quote†. Lennie is the antagonist of the story he is the character that is stopping the protagonist from succeeding at their dream. Lennie is a child like character who likes to pet nice things and this results in him attacking and killing. We see evidence of this throughout the novel when carry’s a dead mouse round at the beginning which he says he has accidentally killed and then when he kills the puppy given to him by the character Slim. This all ends with him killing Curley’s wife in the barn. This results in George final ly overcoming Lennie by killing him. The character that I have chosen is Curley’s wife she is portrayed as a femme fatale where as I see the character as being more than that. I see that she is a lonely woman looking for attention and someone to talk to as her husband Curley doesn’t speak to her. â€Å"Well I ain’t giving you no trouble. Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time†. We here about the character before we actually meet her when Candy is gossiping to George and Lennie about her just after they have met curly he says she is pretty and gives everyone the eye also that she is blamed for everything that goes wrong on the ranch, leading the reader to see her a tart â€Å"Well, I think Curley’s married†¦.. a tart† when we do meet her later on in that scene she is given an in depth character description. She is described as a girl who is heavily made up full lips, red nails, hair hung in clusters. After George and Lennie have met her George refers to her as jail bait and warns Lennie to stay away from her. This is where we are first given the impression that the dream is going to fail to become reality. Lennie can’t stop starring at her and she leans against the door frame pushing her body forward flirting with them. She says she is looking for Curley which is what she always says. I would say out of all the characters in the book she relates best to slim as he is the only person who doesn’t think that she is a tart. We meet her three times in total in the novel the third time ending in her death thus ending the dream for George and Lennie. The second time we meet her is in crooks room where I she is also heavily made up again she is mean to the guys that are left behind she calls them all a name â€Å"nigger, an’ a dum dum, and a lousy ol’ sheep†. The dialogue that is used after the scene is set is used to help move the story forward and develop the characters. The dialogue used is quite simple to start off with at the beginning and developing into more detailed and heavy the further through the scene we go. The dialogue is also very descriptive of what the character that is being spoken to is doing at that particular moment. Curley’s wife dialogue is mostly I would say heavy to give the indication that she is a complex character in the story â€Å"sure I gotta husban’. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain’t he? Spends all his time sayin’ what he’s gonna do to guys he don’t like, and he don’t like nobody. Think I’m gonna stay in that two-by- four house and listen how Curley’s gonna lead with his left twice, and then bring in the ol’ right cross† the main function of that quote is to say what she thinks of the life that she has got and how she is treated by her husband. The dialogue used by Curley’s wife is mostly about her being a lonely character â€Å"I get lonely, you can talk to people but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody†. She is also sympathetic to Lennie when she learns he has killed his puppy â€Å"don’t you worry none. He was jus’ a mutt. You can get another one easy. The whole country is full of mutts†. The main function of this dialogue is that you see she found someone who wants to talk back to her and someone she can talk to who isn’t scared of Curley but Curley is scared of them. Steinbeck has structured the whole story so that it leads the reader to the expectation of the dream failing for George and Lennie. The novel title is the first clue that we get of this idea as it is taken from the poem to a mouse by Robert burns â€Å"But, mousie, thou art not alone, improving foresight may be in vain, the best laid schemes of mice and men, go oft astray and leave us nought but grief and pain, to rend our day†. The next one is what we learn about Lennie liking to stroke and pet nice things, and finding out what happened in weed their last place of employment. Lennie is the character who is the most dedicated to the dream and he is also the one who expresses it the most, George however supports him. We then find out about the mice that Lennie keeps on accidentally killing before he progresses up to the killing of the puppy in the barn, this leads to the accidental killing of Curley’s wife also in the barn. There is also when Carlson shots Candy’s dog in the back of the head which is setting us up for George killing Lennie which is does in exactly the same way. When George is telling slim why they left weed he says â€Å"if I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ‘stead of doin’ all the work and not what comes up outta the ground† I think means that George does not realty think the dream will ever become reality. I believe that Steinbeck may well have chosen to write Of Mice and Men at the time he did in 1937 as it was a time when both the story and the reality would have been very similar, as all over America migrant workers were being replaced by machines and it will show what life was like for the remaining migrant workers on ranches. He made the story a tragedy to show that all people dream and that sometimes their dreams will fail. Steinbeck wanted the reader to understand what it was like being a migrant worker on a ranch during the depression and to show how they were treated by the owners. He also wanted the reader to know that everyone dreams of a better life for themselves and that they will strive hard to try achieve it. The story its self does still have some relevance today as there are not enough jobs and so people are still continuing to rely on agencies where they will travel from job to job

12 Good Friday Quotes

12 Good Friday Quotes Good Friday is the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the triumph of good over evil. It is a day to reflect on spiritual thoughts, the Bible, and the meaning of sacrifice and salvation. These Good Friday quotes explore the meaning of the day. Bible, 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self-bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. John Ellerton Take with you the joy of Easter to the home, and make that home bright with more unselfish love, more hearty service; take it into your work, and do all in the name of the Lord Jesus; take it to your heart, and let that heart rise anew on Easter wings to a higher, a gladder, a fuller life; take it to the dear grave-side and say there the two words Jesus lives! and find in them the secret of calm expectation, the hope of eternal reunion. Charles Wesley Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Madame Anne Sophie Swetchine Death is the justification of all the ways of the Christian, the last end of all his sacrifices, the touch of the Great Master which completes the picture. Augustus William Hare The cross was two pieces of dead wood; and a helpless, unresisting Man was nailed to it; yet it was mightier than the world, and triumphed, and will ever triumph over it. Thomas De Witt Talmage We see that brow bruised; we hear that dying groan; and while the priests scoff and the Devils rave and the lightning of Gods wrath are twisted into a wreath for that bloody mount, you and I will join the cry, the supplication, of the penitent malefactor, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Martin Luther Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf in springtime. At Sussen, the Devil carried off, last Good Friday, three grooms who had devoted themselves to him. Bible, Isaiah 52:13 See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Bible, John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Frederic William Farrar By the cross, we, too, are crucified with Christ; but alive in Christ. We are no more rebels, but servants; no more servants, but sons! Let it be counted folly, says Hooker, or fury, or frenzy, or whatever else; it is our wisdom and our comfort. We care for no knowledge in the world but this, that man hath sinned, and that God hath suffered; that God has made Himself the Son of Man, and that men are made the righteousness of God. Phillips Brooks We may say that on the first Good Friday afternoon was completed that great act by which light conquered darkness and goodness conquered sin. That is the wonder of our Saviour’s crucifixion. There have been victories all over the world, but wherever we look for the victor we expect to find him with his heel upon the neck of the vanquished. The wonder of Good Friday is that the victor lies vanquished by the vanquished one. We have to look deeper into the very heart and essence of things before we can see how real the victory is that thus hides under the guise of defeat.

American Romanticism in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Essay Example

American Romanticism in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Essay Example American Romanticism in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Essay American Romanticism in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Essay Name: Tutor: Course: Date: American Romanticism in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Several aspects of American Romanticism are evident in Abraham Lincoln’s â€Å"Address Delivered at the Dedication of the Cemetery at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863†. Much of the Romantic language used in this excerpt illustrated the nation’s state and the Civil War. An aspect of American Romanticism stems from the theme of the Civil War. In the beginning of the address, Lincoln commences by asserting that, â€Å"our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal†. This statement verifies an aspect of Idealistic Philosophy regarding the reason for immigration in America. Additionally, it also provides a philosophy for the reason regarding the Civil War. This illustrates the Romantic superlative of being discontent with the present circumstances. It also symbolizes a belief in positive change. Consequently, Lincoln surmises, â€Å"†¦we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this ground† because â€Å"the brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This statement illustrates the countless lives that soldiers lost for a laudable cause. It provides an indistinct scrutiny of the Civil War and propels the Union to believe that the cause is sacred. At the conclusion of the address, Lincoln progresses his argument further by asserting that the ones who sacrificed themselves â€Å"shall not have died in vain† and â€Å"this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom†. After three years of intense war, the citizens of the Union question the integrity and incentive of the war. Additionally, Lincoln also incorporates democratic values, which comprise American Romanticism. His statement, â€Å"-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth† depicts support for democracy and individual freedom.

Should You Take AP English Literature or AP English Language

Should You Take AP English Literature or AP English Language SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you considering taking an AP English class at some point during high school? You might have noticed that AP offers two English courses – AP English Literature and Composition and AP English Language and Composition. (Those titles are a mouthful, so we’ll just refer to them as AP Literature and AP Language in this post.) So what are some of the differences between the two classes? Is one class harder than the other? Should you take both or just choose one? In this guide, we'll explain the similarities and differences between the two courses to help you decide which option is best for you. AP Literature vs. AP Language Overview Some schools offer AP Literature and AP English Language as a sequence, with AP Language and Composition as a sophomore or junior course, and AP Literature as a junior or senior course. But some schools only offer the courses during senior year, and students have to choose between them. Or your school might not have strict requirements at all, and you might be wondering if you should take both, one, or none. First we will reveal which course is more difficult. Then we'll discuss the similarities between the two courses as well as the differences. Finally, we will ask you some guiding questions to help you decide between the two classes. Which Is Harder: AP Literature or AP Language? You’re probably wondering...out of the two AP English courses, which one is harder? Well, it turns out both AP Literature and AP Language are not super easy to pass, and quite difficult to get a 5 (the highest score) on. (For more on AP test scoring, see our post.) Both exams have low pass rates and very low 5 rates. AP Literature has a pass rate of about 52%, while AP Language's pass rate is about 55%. This makes them the making them the 7th and 10th lowest-passed AP exams in 2017(out of the 38 total exams). Their 5 rates are also low. AP Language has a 9.1% 5 rate. AP Literature has just a 6.8% 5 rate. To put that in context, on other AP exams, it’s typical for between 10% and 20% of students to earn a 5. There are a few factors that could explain why both AP English exams have low pass rates and low 5 rates. The first is the fact that they are both very popular exams. AP Language is the number one most popular AP exam – nearly 580,000 students took the test in 2017 alone! AP Literature is the third most-popular AP exam, withover400,000 exams taken in 2017. This means that both tests have a very wide pool of exam-takers, which suggests there might be more students who take the exam who are unprepared. However, the fact that their 5 rates are so low suggests that both exams are more difficult than average to do well on. Given that the difference in pass rates is so small between the two tests, it’s unlikely one AP English class is dramatically harder than the other. Which test is harder for you will depend on your strengths and weaknesses, as both AP English classes have different readings and goals. Instead, to figure out which exam is best for you, we'll compare the two classes and the content they cover. First, we will note how the classes are similar, and then we will explain what makes each AP English class unique. What’s the Same for AP Language and AP Literature? So what are the similarities between AP Literature and AP Language? We will compare both the AP tests and the classes. The Exam The exam format is very similar for both AP English classes. The first part of AP Literature has 55 multiple-choice questions, and the first part of AP Language has 52-55 multiple choice questions. On both tests section I is worth 45% of your total score. These questions mainly have you read passages and analyze them. The AP English Literature questions focus on literary devices, character, and theme while the AP English Language questions focus on rhetorical strategies and tone. However, both tests include comprehension questions and require you to be able to read complex passages quickly and understand them. The second part the exam is worth 55% and has three essay questions. This means that both exams also require very fast writing skills. You need to plan, outline, write, and edit three essays in two hours, or in about 40 minutes per essay. Both exams also require you to be able to very quickly read and analyze a text by writing an essay, since the essay questions often ask you to analyze a piece of writing. The only major difference in exam format is that the AP Language exam has a 15-minute reading period before the free-response section, while AP Literature does not. This is to give you time to prepare for the synthesis question, which is unique to the AP Language test. The synthesis question has you incorporate several different sources into a coherent argument. To sum up, the format of the two AP English exams is very similar. You can expect the AP exam for either class to be quite challenging. The Class Both AP English classes are English courses and thus will mainly consist of reading and writing assignments. In particular, both emphasize writing clear, analytical essays. This is very different than just summarizing a book or writing your own stories like you might have in done previous English classes. Since both classes are meant to teach the same skills as an introductory college English class, the emphasis is on analyzing and writing about texts, rather than just reading, summarizing, and creating your own work. However, even though the exam and class formats are quite similar, the subject matter they tackle is very different. Next we will explore which makes each AP English course unique. What Sets the Two Classes Apart? There are some key differences between AP Language and AP Literature. This means that one AP English class might be more useful for you than the other. In this section we'll explain five of the main differences between the two classes. Looking at examples of actual prompts for both classes can also help you get a sense of how they differ. For AP Language, you can readall of the recent past free-response topics here, and you canread all the recent past AP Literature free response questions here. Difference 1: AP Language Is Broader Than AP Literature The main difference between the two courses is thatAP Literature focuses mostly on analyzing literature and poetry, while AP Language has a much broader scope. APEnglishLanguage and Composition teaches you to deconstruct arguments and rhetorical strategies in mostly non-fiction works.Non-fiction is a broad term, and can include journalism, memoirs, essays, satire, comics, and even photography.In other words, you will read (and watch!) material that is likely much more far-reaching than your past English classes. For AP Lang, you will also do lots of writing, learning to maximize your argument and/or effectiveness across different forms, from persuasive essays to memoir writing. As an example, in my AP Language course,our writing assignments included persuasive essays, reports on current events, memoir writing, and keeping a nature journal,a la Henry David Thoreau inWalden. (If you don’t know who that is, you probably will after taking AP Language!) For AP Literature, the works you read will be much less broad. They will be primarily literature, although the class will also include some poetry. You'll primarily be reading novels and plays, and the texts you read will be less broad compared to what you read in AP Language. Difference 2: AP Literature Is More In-Depth Than AP Language APEnglishLiterature teaches you to read and analyze works of literature and poetry with different lenses - for example, characterization, tone, or description. In that sense,it has less breadth but more depth than AP Language. You will work to discover a work’s theme or intent via use of literary devices, as opposed to analyzing its argument or effectiveness. Your essays for AP Literature will be mainly analytical. For example, you will explain how a novel achieves a certain tone by closely analyzing quotations. In most cases, you won’t be arguing for a point or saying how good or bad something is. You will simply read literature closely and try to figure out what makes it tick. For AP Language, you typically won't be diving so deep into one source; you'll instead be making broader comparisons and arguments for a variety of texts. You won't be referring to specific quotes as often as you would in AP Lit because you're taking more of a high-level look at the texts. Difference 3: AP Language Is More Applicable for Other Subjects Than AP Literature The skills you learn in AP Language are broadly applicable to not only the humanities, but to the social sciences as well.If you’re interested in political science, sociology, or economics, the skills you learn in AP Language will be directly applicable to your college coursework. AP Language is also a good choice if you are interested in natural science or engineering, since learning to break down arguments and read non-fiction texts will likely be more helpful in your chosen field than analyzing poetry and literature. In any field, having strong writing skills is very helpful. The essays on the AP Language exam are designed to â€Å"test your skill in composition and require close reading, thoughtful rhetorical analysis, andpurposeful argumentation.† As we mentioned above,AP Language has a synthesis prompt that requires you to pull together several different sources and write a cohesive argumentative essay.The synthesis prompt is similar to the Document-Based Question you’ll find on AP history exams. For AP Literature, you'll gain writing skills useful in any field, but this class has a very specific humanities/fine arts focus.You'll be studying primarily fiction texts, including poetry and literature. You'll spend more time studying how literary pieces are composed and how literary devices are used. Even if you rarely read newspapers anymore, you might encounter them in AP Language! Difference 4: You'll Likely Do More Reading in AP Literature You'll have to do a fair amount of reading for both classes, but AP Literature is generally a more reading-intensive course. For AP Literature,you need to read several books just to prepare for the AP exam, so expect regular reading assignments.For example, my class read several novels, including very long ones likeCrime and Punishment, as well as plays, short stories, and poetry. We also had to read six full-length books the summer before the class even started. You'll also be doing reading for AP Language, but the readings will often be shorter, and many won't be full-length novels or plays. If you're worried about having enough time to complete the required reading, it's an important factor to consider when deciding between the two classes. Difference 5: The Final AP Literature Prompt Is Especially Difficult Many students find the final prompt on the AP Literature exam to be especially challenging. For the last prompt, the AP Literature test does not give you relevant quotes or summaries of the works you can write about. This means you have to be familiar with at least a few books and be able to write about them without having the books with you when you take the exam. As an example, here is the 2014 open response prompt: The prompt gives you a wide variety of books and plays that you could write about, but also allows you to analyze any work of â€Å"comparable literary merit.† (Twilight isn’t going to cut it.) But the prompt doesn’t give you any more info than the work’s title – you need to be able to supply the evidence from that particular work based on memory. Some students memorize important quotes and page numbers to be prepared for this question, but this isn't essential if you have a strong grasp of the plot, characters, tone, themes, motifs, and so on.Furthermore, to write these essays well, you need to know literary devices, like allegory and hyperbole, to name a couple, and be able to use them as evidence. In contrast, the AP Language exam provides most of the sources for you to analyze. Just one essay asks you to consider outside sources, but it doesn’t require specific books, and in fact allows you to draw from your own experience. Again, this shows that you'll have to do a lot more reading for AP Literature so that you have a wide pool of books you can potentially use for the final essay prompt. How Do You Decide Which AP English Class to Take? Both AP English classes have key similarities – like exam structure – and differences, like the type of reading you’ll do. So how will you pick which one to take? Consider each of the following factors before making your decision. What Are You Planning on Majoring In? As a general rule, AP Language has a broader focus and will be more directly applicable to your work in various college majors, while AP Literature is a great choice if you are interested in the arts or humanities. For example, if you know for sure you want to pursue engineering in college, then AP Language is probably the best choice. You’ll pick up some writing skills but not be overloaded with tons of reading – saving you time for other challenging courses in math and science. But if you know you want to study the humanities – including philosophy, history, English or World Literature – the depth of reading you’ll do in AP Literature will give you a solid base of knowledge to build on in college. But what if you have no clue what you want to study in college? Keep reading! What Do You Like To Read? AP Literature and AP Language have very different focuses and reading lists. So think about what you tend to enjoy reading! If you like the reading for a class, you are much more likely to complete it all and be interested in the assignments – meaning you’ll get a better grade. For example, if you follow the news, read lots of blogs or magazines, and enjoy non-fiction books, you’ll probably enjoy the AP Language reading. If you read fiction books for fun and enjoy writing your own stories, you might prefer AP Literature. Sure, you won’t be doing lots of creative writing, but studying what makes literature great will help you be a better writer. Who Teaches These Classes at Your School? Preferences and future major aside, your experience in the class will really depend on how it’s taught at your school and how good the teacher is. If you can, get a syllabus from both of this year’s classes. There isn’t required reading for either course, although AP Literature has many suggested authors, so teachers have a lot of freedom in designing their reading lists. You might be much more interested in one class’s reading than another, and that will help you decide. You can also ask upperclassman and your guidance counselor about the reputation and pass rate of the different classes at your school. Chances are, both AP English teachers will be pretty good, if not excellent. But if, for example, everyone raves about the AP Literature class and say that they learned a ton and loved the teacher, consider taking it even if you’re leaning towards AP Language. Never underestimate the effect of an amazing teacher! Is It Possible to Take Both AP Language and AP Literature? If you really can’t decide, see if it’s possible to take both classes. Colleges want to see that you are taking a challenging course load based on what’s available at your school. That could mean fitting in both AP English courses, but if that causes you to have to sacrifice other AP classes or an extracurricular, taking one is plenty. Again, this will also depend on your intended major. For example if you’re a future engineer, taking both AP English classes won’t vastly strengthen your college applications,while fitting in both AP Calculus and AP Physics will. But if you are interested in the humanities, it would make sense to take both. Personally, I took both AP English classes: AP Language in 10th grade, and AP Literature in 11th grade. They were both challenging, but I liked taking them in that order, since Language was broader and gave me an introduction to writing AP essays. I was able to use the skills I developed in Language to do well in Literature. For me, Literature was more challenging, mainly because I had to know a few books and plays inside and out to be ready for the free-response section of the AP test. I found both test’s multiple-choice sections equally challenging. I found the skills I built in both classes to be incredibly useful to me across a range of college classes – from economics to political science to English. Don't choose just one path! Bottom Line: AP Lang vs AP Lit Both AP English classes will improve your writing skills. Both AP English classes have challenging exams. The main difference between the two is what types of reading they focus on. Hopefully reading about the two classes gave you an idea about which one you are leaning towards. If not, make an appointment to talk to your guidance counselor to discuss which class is best for you. What’s Next? Whether you decide to take AP Literature, AP Language, or both, you might also be wondering how many AP classes total you should take in high school. See our guide to choosing the right number of AP classes. Also studying for the SAT or ACT? Learn which reading section is harder, and get tips for an 800 SAT Reading score from our full-scorer. Still deciding between the SAT or ACT? Find out for sure which you will do the best on. Also read a detailed comparison between the two tests. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Prepare an overview of the Banking Sector of INDIA. Mention your Essay

Prepare an overview of the Banking Sector of INDIA. Mention your sources - Essay Example This has led to competition and generated new level of expectations among the consumers. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of the country and it closely monitors the developments in the financial sector. The banking sector is dominated by Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) including 27 Public Sector Banks (PSBs), 31 Private, 42 Foreign and 196 Regional Rural Banks as of March 2002 (Research & Markets, 2009). In addition, there were 67 scheduled co-operative banks consisting of 51 scheduled urban co-operative banks and 16 scheduled state co-operative banks. State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest bank in India with a market share of 20 percent while ICICI is the second largest bank in India. The commercial banks include the former development financial institutions (DFI) such as the ICICI and the IDBI. The commercial banks have on their books very long-duration GOI securities with some banks holding as much as 45 percent in these securities (Mor, Chandrasekhar & Wahi, 2005). The GOI and the RBI together direct and govern the functioning of the banks (Ra vichandran, 2003). The initiatives or the stimulus package by the GOI has transformed the banking industry which reflects in the significant growth in the banking sector as studied by Dun & Bradstreet, an international research body. Taking into account all banks of India, as of 2009, there are 56,640 branches or offices, 893,356 employees and 27,088 ATMs (IBEF, 2009). Public sector banks dominate the industry comprising of 87.7 percent of all offices, 82% of staff and 60.3% of all ATMs. As on 2nd January 2009, the aggregate bank deposits stood at 21.2% while the ban credit touched 24% against 21.4% as on January 4, 2008. There has also been an increase in the total flow of resources from the banking sector to the commercial sector which stood at US$ 58.83 billion up to January 2, 2009. Credit expansion varies across bank groups.

Poetry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Poetry - Essay Example The man has to pass through the narrow road, but in the presence of the doe, it could be difficult and might end up causing another accident. While throwing the doe in the river would mean killing the fawn inside the doe’s womb, it was certain that the fawn could not be born anyway. He could still ignore it, since was not his duty. It is a poem of love and compassion that causes the narrator emotional discomfort, between ignoring the situation and moving on, or acting responsibly. Even if doing the right thing is not his duty, even if doing the right thing would disrupt his journey, the heart still insists on doing the right thing. This is a complex real life situation, that presents a battle between the mind and the heart, where the heart insists on compassion, but the mind calls for making a decision based on the line duty. The sense of compassion is calling on him, but the sense of duty urges him to progress. The narrator has to act and stop ignoring the situation. He knows very well that leaving the doe still laid on the road, when it is dark, is likely to cause more accidents. Therefore, he opts to sacrifice his time and remove the doe from the road, for the benefit of other road users. This way, he drags the doe out of the street and into the river, thus clearing the road. This is a poem of responsibility, a poem of self-sacrifice, a poem of performing duty, for the benefit of all. A poem of human compassion for others. â€Å"My Papa’s Waltz† This is a poem of nice memories of a son who spend time with his drunken father waltzing around the house, messing up his mother’s kitchen and disorganizing the house in the name of fun. It is a poem expressing disapproval of the father’s drunkenness, but still expressing the unconditional love the son had for the father. This is a narration of a real life situation, where the relationship between parents and their children could go soar within a family, but one fact remains clear, they are one blood. Therefore, regardless of the bad blood and soar relationship, a child will still love his parents. It is a narration of a family setting where the father is irresponsible and uncaring, messing up the house setting notwithstanding the wife’s concern. It is a story of a father trying to engage his son despite being drunk, a fact that causes more harm than good to the son. Nevertheless, the son is still fond of his father, and has to continue clinging to him even when the dancing turns nasty and disorderly. For the love of his father, the son has to withstand the pain caused on his ears and his wrist as waltzing around the house continues. It is a poem narrating the lifestyle of a family made up of a father who does manual work, and takes alcohol to cool off the pressure caused by his hard labor, but still wants to spend a perfect evening with his children. It’s a poem telling the story of a not so well-to-do family in pursuit of balancing the nature o f their job and the family life. Achieving the balance is quite difficult. Nevertheless, the attempt made, though not wholesomely pleasing, is still worth appreciation. â€Å"Digging† This is a poem narrating the hard work of the old folks, who could do nothing else but sustain their families through tilling the land. It is a reflection of the changing times, when the

Week 6 reading Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Week 6 reading - Article Example It has contributed to medical technology especially by helping treatment. Porter Beer is a dark beer made from brown malt. Brown malt was pale in color and was made from barley that was sprouted and then toasted. The process involved heating towards the end where some of the barley grain was burnt. This process also gave a smoky taste to the porter beer. However, this smokiness was not fit to be consumed which is why it was kept in wooden vats to reduce the smoky flavor2. The result of the process was a dark beer with a thick consistency that also included a tinge of yeast. Porter beer is significant in technology because it was an innovation of the time as coffee-roasting technique got to be applied at malt brewing. A whipstaff is a bar which is attached to the tiller. It is a mechanical component that helps in steering. It is an important component and its invention was a huge success in engineering the sailing ship. It was a sophisticated technology of its time. The history of the ship steering wheel lends itself to the whipstaff which aided turning of the wheel. Moreover, it added convience for steering because it held the tiller. It is one of the earliest form of engineering design that added convenience for steering and paved way for further innovation in steering technology, especially for sailing ships. 2. London was an active site of production during the period of industrialization. With the onset of industrialization, it grew to become one of the fastest growing industrial city. The presence of River Thames provided a great opportunity for the construction of a canal and dock complex so as to help with the transportation of goods. London soon became a trade hub and a growing site of textile production. Textile mills were initiated as industrialization hit the city. London soon became an industrialized city with mills and factories characterizing its routine life where often families including children and women were employed. With growing

Problem-solution essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Problem-solution - Essay Example Increased consumption of food and reduced physical activity provides for an imbalance of energy and hence an individual becomes obese (Verdiun et al 2595). Obesity is a matter of concern due to the rise in the number of Americans suffering from this issue and this problem can be solved with the coordination and cooperation of the government, the health care authorities, the food industry and the media by creating awareness and education amongst the masses. The BMI is used as a predictor of the normal weight of an individual and people with a BMI ranging from 25 to 29.9 are labeled as overweight whereas those with a BMI of above 30 are marked to be obese. There has been an increase of 34 percent in the obese individuals since the year 1960 in the United States (Begley). According to statistics of the year 2009, greater than 65 percent of the residents of the United States had weight above the normal limits. Furthermore, in the last three decades, the number of children who are overwei ght has increased almost thrice. This increase amongst children as well as adults has raised the morbidity and mortality associated with the medical issues that arise owing to obesity. The young children do not have a good quality of life and have a susceptibility of becoming obese when they become adults. The adults are at greater risks of developing pathological conditions that are associated with obesity. Obese individuals have a greater susceptibility than the normal individuals to develop diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular conditions as well as hypertension. The probability of a few carcinomas is also increased with obesity. The mortality that has been linked with obesity and its associated pathologies is approximately 400,000 on an annual basis in the United States. Thus, there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from obesity and this has led to a subsequent rise in the pathologies associated with it (Huber; Verduin et al 259). Obesity not only affects the in dividual on a personal level but its effects on the economy of the United States have also been revealed. It has been assessed that obesity has been linked with alarming increases in the healthcare costs incurred upon the government. A burden of 190 billion dollars on the annual national healthcare cost has resulted owing to obesity. This cost is greater than the spending of the government on smoking which is also an important public health issue. The health care costs of obese males are 1,152 dollars greater than the normal weight men and the costs of obese females are 3,613 dollars greater than the non-obese females on an annual basis. The healthcare costs of an obese individual are more than six times greater in comparison to a person having normal weight. Healthcare researchers have also cited the fact that in comparison to smokers, obese people pose a greater burden on the healthcare spending even in the long run. This is because most of them live up to the normal age of life e xpectancy unlike the smokers and hence the spending on their nursing homes and old age issues is also increased (Begley; Ungar). Costs other than the healthcare expenditures have also increased owing to obesity. These include the increase in the costs of fuel. Owing to increased weight, greater energy is required by the vehicles and this accounts for greater fuel used. An additional cost of 4 billion annually has been accounted due to this. There has been increased spending on

Transnational Media Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Transnational Media Globalization - Essay Example Frames are seen as a perfect metaphor for media because they're diverse and indefinite, that is, they allow for a measure of flexibility, of definition, and use. According to Watson "we have picture frames into which we insert images that in turn, in some way or another, provide us with representation; something that has been subject to a number of wider frames, each one manipulating and influenced by the other (2007, p. 107)." It is critical to identify the difference between frames that are visible, immediately identifiable and those that are invisible, whose presence you sense but is often difficult to single out. These are identified as subliminal. The newspaper page is a frame, from its headlines, headings and subtitles, to the position of photographs, to the shifts in print size: the bigger the story, the bigger the type. Well, not exactly and not always, with television we can readily recognize framing devices (Creeber 2001, p110). In his novel, "Putting 'Reality' together: BBC News, Philip Schlesinger refers to a specific case in which the BBC in collaboration with the British government exercised the act of gate-keeping to prevent an originally green-lit investigative report from being broadcast. In the book Schlesnigner notes "the New Statesman journalist,, Duncan Campbell, was, commissioned by the BBC in November 1985 to make a series of six programmes called Secret Society originally to be broadcast on BBC-2 in November 1986. The series as a whole was controversial, its topics including the abuse of private data, problems of British radar systems, freedom of information, the powers of the Association of Chief Police officers, and government authority during nuclear emergencies (Schlesinger, xxv)." The piece was set to reveal many vulnerabilities in public policy that gave elites and government figures the privilege to exploit their positions. Schlesinger goes on to point how the specific aspect of the pro gram that would make controversial stemmed from a government cover-up by Parliament not to reveal the details of a secret satellite project, codenamed Zircon , for which funding had been passed through the House of Common's Public Accounts Committee (Schlesinger, xxv). While the program was cleared to be aired on December 4th 1986 by the Assistant Director-Genreal of the BBC, Alan Protheroe, it was eventual banned by the Director-General, Alasdair Milne on January 15th 1987 on the grounds of national security (Schlesinger, xxv). This is a classic example of gate-keeping and censorship practiced by the BBC for the sake of protecting the policy makers and elites of the country. The gate swings shut

Problem-solution essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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International Trade Theories Essay Example for Free

International Trade Theories Essay 1. Theory of Mercantilism Introduction: Mercantilism is a trade theory holing that a country’s wealth is measured by its holdings of â€Å"treasure† which usually means its gold. The mercantilists proposed theory of mercantilism. They were a group of economists who preceded Adam Smith. The foundations of economic thought between 1500 and 1800 were based on mercantilism. Mercantilists believed that the world had a finite store of wealth; therefore, when one country got more, other countries had less. Mercantilists restricted imports and encouraged or subsidized exports as a conscious policy to make their citizens better off. Mercantilists judged the success of trade by the size of the trade balance. Mercantilism was a sixteenth-century economic philosophy that maintained that a country’s wealth was measured by its holdings of gold and silver. This required that the countries to maximize exports and minimize imports. The logic was transparent to sixteenth-century policy makers that if foreigners bought more goods from us than we bought from them, then the foreigners had to pay us the difference in gold and silver, enabling us to amass more treasure. With that treasure we could expand the nation’s global influence. Mercantilists pressed for favorable balance of trade (BOT) or balance of payments (BOP) as against the unfavorable one. In a way it is good because your currency appreciates with mounting surplus on the Fore front, and the country can attract more foreign capital infusion further strengthening the country’s economy, infrastructure, etc. Now China and Japan with enormous favorable BOT and BOP get all the benefits envisaged by mercantilists. According To Adam Smith- -Mercantilism is an economic theory popular in the 1500s and was the biggest reason for Europe’s desire to colonize new lands the theory states that there is a certain amount of wealth in the world and it is in a nations best interest to accumulate it through wealth, a nation can achieve power a country achieves wealth through producing and exporting more good then they import this theory was invented to serve the interest of the empire, not the colony Evaluation of Mercantilism Theory: Mercantilist writers have been lauded and criticized in the literature on foreign trade at least since Hume’s Political Discourses in 1752. Mercantilists have been criticized for everything from their views regarding the gains from trade to their self-promotion of the merchant’s role in society as being important. Mercantilist writers assumed that the economy will generally operate at a pace that leaves resources –land and labor – idle, but in reality the economy naturally tends to full employment. This is a â€Å"flaw† in the logical foundation of mercantilist thought. The regime of WTO has moved the world away from mercantilism by pressing for free trade with reduced protectionism. Theory of Neo-Mercantilism: Mercantilism is still in vogue. Mercantilist policies are politically attractive to some firms and their workers, as mercantilism benefits certain members of society. Modern supporters of these policies are known as neo-mercantilists, or protectionists. The neo-mercantilists want higher production through full employment and that every industry produces an exportable surplus leading to favorable BOT. Consciously or otherwise, every country is concerned about increasing export earnings. The merits of surging Fore surplus built through exports speaks well of a country’s capability to cater to world’s needs qualitatively, quantitatively and in varied product/service ranges. Every country does what is possible to meet this end. But the modern trade emphasis is ‘Export more and Import more’. Finally: The main economic system used during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. The main goal was to increase a nations wealth by imposing government regulation concerning all of the nations commercial interests. It was believed that national strength could be maximized by limiting imports via tariffs and maximizing exports. This approach assumes the wealth of a nation depends primarily on the possession of precious metals such as gold and silver. This type of system cannot be maintained forever, because the global economy would become stagnant if every country wanted to export and no one wanted to import. After a period of time, many people began to revolt against the idea of mercantilism and stressed the need for free trade. Mercantilism is a theory developed by the merchants; hence the name. It rests on the role of a strong state in supporting (state-granted) monopolies and protecting shipping and trading lanes. Mercantilism encourages exports and discourages imports. Gold and silver are used to keep score of the game played between nation-states, and represent the wealth of the nation. _______________________________________________________________ 2. Absolute Advantage theory Introduction: Adam Smith, in The Wealth of Nations, postulated that under free trade, each nation should specialize in producing those goods that it could produce most efficiently. Some of these would be exported to pay for the imports of goods that could be produced more efficiently elsewhere. Smith ridiculed the fear of trade comparing nations to households. Since every household finds it worthwhile to produce only some of its needs and to buy others with products it can seal, the same should apply to nations: It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy. The Taylor does not attempt to make his own shoes, but buys them from shoemaker What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom. If a foreign country can supply us with some part of the product of our own industry, employed in a way in which we have some advantage. The theory of absolute advantage is based on the assumption that the nation is absolutely better (i.e., more efficient) at production of certain goods than are its trading partners. Smith showed by his example of absolute advantage that both nations would gain from trade. ADAM SMITHS TRADE THEORY OF ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE: The first classical theory of international trade was propounded by Adam Smith, the founder of classical economics. His theory is known as the Theory of Absolute Advantage. It may be possible for all the countries to produce all the commodities they need, in spite of resource constraint. But, the cost of production of goods for which a country is deficient in its resources would be exorbitantly high. It is better to import such goods rather than produce them. Most Countries therefore tend to specialize in producing commodities in which they have absolute advantage in cost of production. Therefore, most countries export goods which they can produce at a lower cost and import what they can produce at a higher cost. This common sense logic of international division of labor suggested by Adam Smith marks the beginning of modern theories of foreign trade. The theory of absolute advantage states that the basis of trade between the nations is the absolute advantage a country has in producing a commodity over the other countries. In simple words, two countries are able to trade between them because each one of them is able to produce at least one commodity at a comparatively lower cost. Assumptions: The theory of absolute advantage was advanced to buttress Smiths argument that if there was no government involvement in trade, and if each individual was left to do what in his or her own best interest, then there would be more goods and services available, prices would be reduced, and the wealth of each nation, measured as the welfare of the citizens, would increase. Smiths theory was offered to replace mercantilism. The Theory of Absolute Advantage and the Theory of Comparative Advantage rest on very strong assumptions, as follows: Two countries, two commodities assumed in both theories. The theories are obvious for this case. The three-by-three case (and those beyond) cannot be established analytically, and it is not even clear how the principle should be formalized. (See p. 3 of Ronald Jones, The Positive Theory of International Trade, Handbook of International Economics, R. Jones and P. Kenen (eds.), 1984.) Efficiency objective The Absolute and Comparative Advantage theories assume that total world production, and therefore efficiency, is the objective. Efficiency is not always a country goal. Zero Transportation Costs both theories presume that transportation costs between and within countries are zero. Factor Mobility/Immobility both theories presume that resources are absolutely mobile within a country and absolutely immobile between countries. Full employment Both theories assume full employment in each country. Comparative Advantage versus Absolute Advantage: As we can see from the example above, a country can have a comparative advantage in producing a good even if it is absolutely less efficient at producing that good. To understand this more clearly, think of an example of a doctor in private practice: A young doctor opens her own practice, working by herself, and within a few months has developed a substantial clientele. At first, she was performing all her clerical work—filing, typing and answering the phone—by herself. With an ever-busier schedule, however, she realizes that she could spend more time seeing patients, and thus see a greater number of patients, if she hired an assistant. As it turns out, the young professional is not only a brilliant doctor, but is also lightning-fast at typing and filing. She is, in fact, better at doing both jobs than the clerical assistant she hires. In other words, she has an absolute advantage at both tasks: medical diagnosis and clerical work. Does it make sense then for the doctor and her assistant to share both tasks, each spending part of the day diagnosing patients and doing clerical work? The answer is no. By having the assistant perform all the clerical work, the doctor is able to maximize her specialization and see more patients. The patients are undoubtedly better off too. In other words, even though the assistant is worse at performing both tasks, an economist would say that he nonetheless has a comparative advantage at clerical work. As you can see, by working together – trading their services – the doctor and the assistant are able to maximize their skills, making both better off. As these examples show, trade allows countries to specialize in the production of what they do best and make the most efficient use of their resources, thereby decreasing the price of both goods. No matter how inefficiently a country produces every kind of good, it can always be said to have a comparative advantage in at least one of those goods. That is the theory of comparative and absolute advantage. It helps explain what happens in the real world of international trade, and it offers broad guidance to countries as they decide which goods and services to produce and subsequently export, and which, in turn, to import. Trade in Theory and Practice: In reality, of course, trade specialization does not work precisely the way the theory of comparative advantage might suggest, for a number of reasons: No country specializes exclusively in the production and export of a single product or service. All countries produce at least some goods and services that other countries can produce more efficiently. A lower income country might, in theory, be able to produce a particular product more efficiently than the United States can but still not be able to identify American buyers or transport the item cheaply to the United States. As a result, U.S. firms continue to manufacture the product. Finally: The Scottish economist Adam Smith developed the trade theory of absolute advantage in 1776. A country that has an absolute advantage produces greater output of a good or service than other countries using the same amount of resources. Smith stated that tariffs and quotas should not restrict international trade; it should be allowed to flow according to market forces. Contrary to mercantilism Smith argued that a country should concentrate on production of goods in which it holds an absolute advantage. No country would then need to produce all the goods it consumed. The theory of absolute advantage destroys the mercantilist idea that international trade is a zero-sum game. 3. Comparative Advantage theory Introduction: David Ricardo, in 1817, enunciated his refinement of Smiths concept by postulating the principle of comparative advantage (as opposed to Smiths concept of absolute advantage). The theory of comparative advantage states that even if a country is able to produce all its good at lower costs than another country can, trade still benefits both countries, based on comparative costs. His writings demonstrated what has become known as: the principle of comparative advantage: a nation, like a person, gains from the trade by exporting the goods or services in which it has its greatest comparative advantage in productivity and importing those in which it has the least comparative advantage. The key word is comparative, meaning relative and not necessarily absolute. There are gains from trade whenever the relative price ratios of two goods differ under international exchange for what would be under conditions of no trade. In addition, the theory of comparative advantage demonstrates that countries jointly benefit from trade (under the assumption of both goods). With the theory of absolute advantage, Ricardos theory of comparative advantage does not answer why production cost differ within each country and also no consideration is given to the possibility of producing the same goods with different combinations of factors. Assumption: A situation in which a country, individual, company or region can produce a good at a lower opportunity cost than a competitor. This theory that global efficiency gains may still result from trade if a country specializes in those products it can produce more efficiently than other products-regardless of whether other countries can produce those same products even more efficiently. It denotes gains from trade will occur even in a country that has absolute advantage in all products because the country must give up less efficient output to produce more efficient output. Assumptions underlying the concept of comparative advantage Perfect occupational mobility of factors of production resources used in one industry can be switched into another without any loss of efficiency Constant returns to scale (i.e. doubling the inputs in each country leads to a doubling of total output) No externalities arising from production and/or consumption Transportation costs are ignored comparative advantage and international trade: Comparative advantage exists when a country has a margin of superiority in the production of a good or service i.e. where the opportunity cost of production is lower. The basic theory of comparative advantage was developed by David Ricardo Ricardo’s theory of comparative advantage was further developed by Heckscher, Ohlin and Samuelson who argued that countries have different factor endowments of labor, land and capital inputs. Countries will specialize in and export those products which use intensively the factors of production which they are most endowed. If each country specializes in those goods and services where they have an advantage, then total output and economic welfare can be increased (under certain assumptions). This is true even if one nation has an absolute advantage over another country. Worked example of comparative advantage consider the data in the following table: | Pre-Specialization | CD Players | Personal Computers | | UK | 2,000 | 500 | | Japan | 4,000 | 2,000 | | Total Output | 6,000 | 2,500 | After trade has taken place, total output of goods available to consumers in both countries has grown. UKs consumption of CD players has increased by 200 and they have an extra 100 PCs. For Japan, they have an extra 200 CD players and 200 PCs. If businesses exploit increasing returns to scale (i.e. economies of scale) when they specialize, the potential gains from trade are much greater. The idea that specialization should lead to increasing returns is associated with economists such as Paul Romer and Paul Ormerod Determinants regarding comparative advantage: Comparative advantage is a dynamic concept. It can and does change over time. Some businesses find they have enjoyed a comparative advantage in one product for several years only to face increasing competition as rival producers from other countries enter their markets. For a country, the following factors are important in determining the relative costs of production: The quantity and quality of factors of production available (e.g. the size and efficiency of the available labor force and the productivity of the existing stock of capital inputs). If an economy can improve the quality of its labor force and increase the stock of capital available it can expand the productive potential in industries in which it has an advantage. Investment in research development (important in industries where patents give some firms significant market advantage) for more information on this have a look at this page Movements in the exchange rate. An appreciation of the exchange rate can cause exports from a country to increase in price. This makes them less competitive in international markets. Long-term rates of inflation compared to other countries. For example if average inflation in Country X is 4% whilst in Country B it is 8% over a number of years, the goods and services produced by Country X will become relatively more expensive over time. This worsens their competitiveness and causes a switch in comparative advantage. Import controls such as tariffs and quotas that can be used to create an artificial comparative advantage for a countrys domestic producers- although most countries agree to abide by international trade agreements. Non-price competitiveness of producers (e.g. product design, reliability, quality of after-sales support) Criticisms: However, the principle of comparative advantage can be criticized in a several ways: †¢ It may overstate the benefits of specialization by ignoring a number of costs. These costs include transport costs and any external costs associated with trade, such as air and sea pollution. †¢ The theory also assumes perfect mobility of factors without any diminishing returns. The reality may be very different. Output from factor inputs is likely to be subject to diminishing returns. This will make the PPF for each country non-linear and bowed outwards. †¢ Complete specialization might create structural unemployment as some workers cannot transfer from one sector to another. †¢ Relative prices and exchange rates are not taken into account in the simple theory of comparative advantage. For example if the price of X rises relative to Y, the benefit of increasing output of X increases. †¢ Comparative advantage is not a static concept it may change over time. For example, nonrenewable resources can slowly run out, increasing the costs of production, and reducing the gains from trade. †¢ Many countries strive for food security, meaning that even if they should specialise in non-food products, they still prefer to keep a minimum level of food production. †¢ Finally, the principle of comparative advantage is derived from a simple two good/two country model. The real world is far more complex, with countries exporting and importing many different goods and services. Finally: It seems obvious that if one country is better at producing one good and another country is better at producing a different good (assuming both countries demand both goods) that they should trade. What happens if one country is better at producing both goods? Should the two countries still trade? This question brings into play the theory of comparative advantage and opportunity costs. The everyday choices that we make are, without exception, made at the expense of pursuing one or several other choices. When you decide what to wear, what to eat for dinner, or what to do on Saturday night, you are making a choice that denies you the opportunity to explore other options. ______________________________________________________________ 4. Heckscher-Ohlin theory Introduction: the Heckscher–Ohlin theorem is one of the four critical theorems of the Heckscher–Ohlin model. It states that a country will export goods that use its abundant factors intensively, and import goods that use its scarce factors intensively. In the two-factor case, it states: A capital-abundant country will export the capital-intensive good, while the labor-abundant country will export the labor-intensive good. Definition: This theory said that differences in countries’ endowment of labor compared to their endowment of land or capital explain differences in the cost of production factors. Assumption: The critical assumption of the Heckscher–Ohlin model is that the two countries are identical, except for the difference in resource endowments. This also implies that the aggregate preferences are the same. The relative abundance in capital will cause the capital-abundant country to produce the capital-intensive good cheaper than the labor-abundant country and vice versa. Initially, when the countries are not trading: the price of capital-intensive good in capital-abundant country will be bid down relative to the price of the good in the other country, the price of labor-intensive good in labor-abundant country will be bid down relative to the price of the good in the other country.Once trade is allowed, profit-seeking firms will move their products to the markets that have (temporary) higher price. As a result: the capital-abundant country will export the capital-intensive good, the labor-abundant country will export the labor-intensive good. Features of the model: †¢ Relative endowments of the factors of production (land, labor, and capital) determine a countrys comparative advantage. Countries have comparative advantages in those goods for which the required factors of production are relatively abundant locally. This is because the profitability of goods is determined by input costs. Goods that require inputs that are locally abundant will be cheaper to produce than those goods that require inputs that are locally scarce. †¢ For example, a country where capital and land are abundant but labor is scarce will have comparative advantage in goods that require lots of capital and land, but little labor — grains. If capital and land are abundant, their prices will be low. As they are the main factors used in the production of grain, the price of grain will also be low—and thus attractive for both local consumption and export. Labor intensive goods on the other hand will be very expensive to produce since labor is scarce and its price is high. Therefore, the country is better off importing those goods. Factor Proportions Theory: Trade theory, like all of economic theory, changed drastically in the first half of the twentieth century. The factor proportions theory developed by the Swedish economist Eli Heckscher and later expanded by his former graduate student Bertil Ohlin formed the major theory of international trade that is widely is still widely accepted today. Whereas Smith and Ricardo emphasized a labor theory of value the factor proportions theory was based on a more modern concept of production that raised capital to the same level of importance as labor. Factor Intensity in Production: The factor intensity in production theory considered two factor of production, labor and capital. Technology determines the way they combine to form a product. Different products required different proportions of the two factors of production. It is easy to see how the factor proportions of how a product is produced differs substantially among groups of products. For the manufacturing of leather footwear is still a relatively labor intensive process even with the most sophisticated leather treatment and patterning machinery. Other products such as computer memory chips, however although requiring some highly skilled labor require massive quantities of capital for production and development and the manufacturing facilities needed for clean production to ensure the extremely high quality demanded in the industry. The concept of factor proportions is very useful in the comparison of the production processes of goods. According to factor proportions theory, factor intensities depend on the state of technology and the current method of manufacturing a product. The theory assumed that the same technology of production would be used for the same goods in all countries. It is not therefore differences in the efficiency of production that will determine trade between countries at it did in classical theory. Classical theory implicitly assumed that technology or the productivity of labor is different across countries. Otherwise there would be no logical explanation as to why one country requires more units of labor to produce a unit of output than another country. Factor proportions theory assumed no such productivity differences. Factor Endowments, Factor Prices, And Comparative Advantage: If there is no difference in technology or productivity of factors across countries, what then determines comparative advantage in production and export? The answer is that factor prices determine cost differences. And these prices are determined by the endowments of labor and capital the country possesses. The theory assumes that labor and capital are immobile, meaning they cannot move across country borders. Therefore the countrys endowment determines the relative costs of labor and capital as compared to other countries. Each country is defined or measured by the amount of labor and capital that it possesses. If a country has when compared with other countries more labor and less capital it would be characterized as relatively labor abundant. That which is more plentiful is cheaper; so a labor abundant country would therefore have relatively cheap labor. For a country such as China possesses a relatively large endowment of labor and a relatively smaller endowment of capital. At the same time Japan is a relatively capital abundant country with a relatively smaller endowment of labor. China possesses relatively cheaper labor and should therefore specialize in the production and export of labor intensive products. Japan possesses relatively cheap capital and should specialize in the production and export of capital intensive products. Comparative advantage is derived not from the productivity of a country, but from the relative abundance of its factors of production. Using these assumptions, factor proportions theory stated that a country should specialize in the production and export of those product that use intensively its relatively abundant factor. (i) A country that is relatively labor abundant should specialize in the production of relatively labor intensive goods. It should then export these labor intensive goods in exchange for capital intensive goods. (ii) A country that is relatively capital abundant should specialized in the production of relatively capital intensive goods. It should then export these capital intensive goods in exchange for labor intensive goods. Finally: The Heckscher-Ohlin theory states that international and interregional differences in production costs occur because of differences in the supply of production factors: Commodities requiring for their production much of [abundant factors of production] and little of [scarce factors] are exported in exchange for goods that call for factors in the opposite proportions. Thus indirectly, factors in abundant supply are exported and factors in scanty supply are imported (Ohlin, 1933).These simple statements lead to an important conclusion: under free trade, countries export the products that use their scarce factors intensively and imports the products using their scarce factors intensively.