The American Dream Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The American Dream - Research Paper Example dreamed of racial equality. Both men supported their arguments perfectly, hence making scholars to separately view the varying perception for the American dream. Attainment of this dream, however, is still in doubt (Stigliz n.pag.). Initially, American excellence was thought as possessing property and having enough money to be able to provide for their family basic needs. In fact, most citizens wanted to get wealthy and prominent as it is these days. Currently, the American dream has changed into insatiable materialism that has made most Americans think of how to be millionaires and own a yacht and perhaps a private jet. Few Americans are millionaires compared to the entire American population. However, most Americans still believe that this dream is achievable, and that they will join the millionaires club eventually. The belief by a good number of people that it is possible to move from rags to riches is unrealistic, because the modern day wealth is almost not viable to reach (â₠¬Å"Davos† n.pag.). The thought of the American Dream has had a very hopeful influence on the American people, as every person believes that at least one day they will earn enough money, having freedom and riding in high social circles. Just like some other Americans are positive about the achievement of the American excellence, so there is the belief by people from other countries. Most foreigners have travelled to America to get at least a fraction of opportunity in America. However, I believe that the American dream is just a deceptive hope that will never be attained. This article explains the difficulties of achieving the dream especially among the less privileged individuals who literally start from nothing. Even when you try to save money or work extra hard, achieving excellence in the American dream is absolutely impossible (Stiglitz n. pag.). Although Americans’ economy is growing and the wealth increases, many individuals think that it is easy to achieve excell ence by achieving it through hard work and diligence. It leaves many questions still about what the American dream is. Is it possible for a housekeeper and a waitress in a diner to succeed in achieving the so called American Dream? Even if someone has a bit of head to start some business, the beginning of the individual’s activity is very difficult to obtain the American Dream. Some people may work double shifts just to earn enough money, but still their needs are not fully satisfied. Generally, what is important is the chance and where someone starts from (â€Å"Wake Up America†). It is not justified to say that American excellence is still obtainable, yet some people rent hotels so that they can sleep and shower in them due to inability to afford homes. It is so obvious that this dream is not achievable unless I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt. In fact, hard work does not reward as it is initially thought, and, therefore, it is not the key in obtaining the Ameri can Dream. People wake up in the morning to work very hard, yet they are no better off than before, thus proving that no matter how hard an individual works the person cannot just succeed. It is clear that the American Dream is just an illusion that cannot be attained and, therefore, should not be in anyone’s future. People should not cling to the hope that will never come to pass because the track record shows that only

Avon: Manage Change in Organizational Behaviour

Avon: Manage Change in Organizational Behaviour INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Change is something vital in todays environment for very organisation due to the various factors like economic change, technology changes and competition change etc. The organizational behaviour is presentation of the organizational culture, structure and individuals working in the organization. So the change in any factor will ultimately effect on the behaviour of the organisation (Ajzen, 1988) and it is essential to manage these changes in appropriate and systematic manners in order to avoid failures at strategic level. Have used the Avon the company for women in recent years; have gone through the structural changes very often due to the economic ups and downs in past couple of years and fierce competition in market which have demanded the high cost efficiency and quality. Avon American based cosmetic company which have only product portfolios for women providing the range of products starting from cosmetics to beauty and fashion. Avon is known for their unique distribution channels where products are not sold in traditional shops displays instead the products are sold door to door by the Avon representatives leading to make the largest team of representatives with more than five million over the globe. REASONS FOR CHANGE AVON COMPANY In recent years the change is essential for every organisation to survive for long term and sustain in highly competitive environment. Organisations fail to change the systems and themselves in modern environment loss there market and standings example are many IT and related companies which come to near extinguish. However there following typical reasons in modern era which have lead the organizations to made changes in their structures and behaviours; Technology updates: In recent years the organization efficiency and cost savings is dependent on the use of suitable technology solutions and they need the technology to maintain themselves in the highly competitive market. So the organizations which did not adopt the suitable technology may be the victim of inefficiencies, slow productions growths and less profit margins, further the use of appropriate technology and making it part of the strategy is biggest challenge for todays organisations. Competition situation: competition have changed it selves to the highly volatile and fierce where it survive the organizations have to change themselves continuously in order to remain ahead in the game, where international organisations have adopt the competition strategy by making themselves highly sustainable, ethical values and updated for the changing environment with more focus on competing through digital world. Economic conditions : A few years ago the economic conditions was almost stable and according to the pattern but recent credit crunch have left the organisations uncertain about their future and prove there planning for their future may need the minor or complete revision. So in that case the organizations are expecting the uncertain and unseen economic conditions in the future and best strategy to deal these uncertainties is that the companies change their structure and behaviour flexible enough to incorporate the changes. Changes reasons in Avon; Avon has particularly driven to change by the following factors; Cost savings: like other cosmetics companies the Avon also facing the challenge to maintain their profitability level with minimizing the cost and efficiency. Te Avon have initiated the cost saving scheme in 2008 which will be further linger till 2015 which will ensure the huge changes in the organisation with in this time period including the individuals focus to save cost much as possible and ensure the cost savings in future time period. Sale representatives: the economy down fall left the human resource jobless and dissatisfies where Avon took the opportunity and make their strategic aim to increase their sale representative base strong and change the way organisation deals with their work force making them the most compatible with the new environment. More skills development: Traditionally Avon have worked with the limited but high class skills which were limited to the top level , however Avon is now focusing more on delegation and skill development in all level of staff so the organisation emerged as the highly compatible. CHANGE STRATEGY AND CHANGE PROCESS Organisational change requires the complete strategic standing and concern and should be adopted and made on the higher level, where this process begins with making the clear vision of the organisation after change and how the different aspect and contexts will be dealt in course of making the strategy for change. Change Philosophy; Change philosophy may consist of the organisations standing and vision about the change and how they perceive it like Avon has taken the change as the mean of competition and incorporating the recent external changes in the organisation however the most organisations have taken it as the art of the organisations casual operations and part of the organisational life cycle for others it is rare and one off event after long time and due to the extreme reasons. Change Approach: This can be representatives of how the organisations will be managing the change process and how the change process will proceed. The approach can be either top down or bottom up where the top down approach means the lower staff are driven to change by higher management however the bottom up approach means the lower staff have been the factor which have realized the upper management drive the change process. The most common approach is mixer of each approach as the leads is unable to bring the change without employees consent. Style: The style may present the perceptions of the management about the change like either they are taking as the very crucial and making redundancies to bring the changes or the organisation are bringing the change through the involvement of employees with continuous contribution from them. Role of others: The change is driven by the individuals in the organization which should clearly identify the hierarchy of personal taking part in the process and there should be the clear line of responsibilities and role. Change implication models; The change models are systematic approach of the company to adopt the change, where many researchers have combined many factors and challenges to make standards processes to bring the changes in the organisation. There are number of models used for change implementation and there is no standard about each model to be adopted for the change for every organisation and circumstances. However there are following common models are adopted by the majority of organisations; Balance score card: is the method where the change is implemented in various areas of the business with different perspective and finally the overall impact is calculated to make the overall change happen in the organisation. The main change areas are financial, operational, supply chain and technology etc. Kaizen: this is the model which have based on the philosophy that the change is the part of the organisational operations and there must always the increments in the system and improvements through the company without any pause. The Kaizen suggest that the change is the function which organisation adopt like all other functions like marketing or production etc. The Kaizen model is suggesting the manufacturing with the philosophy of zero effect and total quality management in the organisation. Kotters change model: this model presents the step by step approach to change process where the change could be adopted as the side operation of the organisation over the period without much interference in the primary functions however his model also equally adoptable in changes which require the total spin off the company. The Kotters model allows the organizations to identify and manage the challenges in the change process like the resistance from stakeholders and motivation etc. Kotters eight step ensure the organisation have gone through the careful process to manage the change in structure with minimum risk factors. Business process reengineering: is the philosophy for change where the focus of the management to change the style of working and ways the functions are performed before so to perform the particular task the organization is more focus on the changing the ways of working eliminating the inefficiencies and slacknesss making it more efficient and productive. Other methods are balance score card, Lewins model and action research model etc The above stated models are more effective in individual and unique circumstances and there should be analysis conduct by management in order to find the model is best suitable to the organizations unique circumstances and it is recommended to stay on one model once being adopted. There are following questions which the managements should consider before recommending any model to the company; How frequently the change happen in the organisation for example for frequent change the kaizen model is best suitable or other wise How much Time allocated to the change process happen for example Kotters model allow the both short term or long term change however the Lewins change model is used for change in short time period is use What is the Reason of change itself define the model adopted for the incremental change the Kotter model or the Kaizen is adoptable however the economic crunches or any emergency change may require the spin off change process suggesting the Lewins or Action Research method base What are the organisation and their business nature and type, manufacturing prefer the process reengineering etc Recommended for the Avon Avon have been changing themselves because of both factors like the economic downturn and as part of continuous improvement also the Avon is both service oriented and production base company so need the model which could coped easily in each situation and possible solution is Kotters eight step model; where the changes will precede as follows; 1-First of all the Urgency for change will created by identifying the factors which required the proposed change and what worse could happen if Avon could not change the behaviours in the organisation and implement the proposed solutions and afterwards gets the solution from the management. 2- After approval Avon will form the team which lead the change and assist the organization to overcome the hurdles for change to happen. These are influential people of the organisation which management thinks could easily convenience the resistance from the stakeholders. 3-Along with the team the Avon will create the vision of future of the organisation, where the organisation will consider the strategic objectives and how the change will obtain the strategic objectives. 4-Communication is essential throughout the change process and information asymmetry may cause the resistance and delays in the process of change so the Kotters fourth step allow the organisation to first allow the organisation to mange there communication aspect easily so do not face the problem in the coming stages. 5- Resistance could be any forms in the change process wither due to the stakeholders especially the employees or there are resources delays, which should be managed in the fifth stage of the change. Here Avon may feel restricted due to the technology delays will be managed before proceeding to actual stage. 6- By creating the vision and awareness may not enough for the employees to make them realize that the actual changes are on the way and may fruitful so if they are given the taste of the outcomes might be better able to give the organisation the maximum contribution from the employees. 7-This stage is crucial as on this stage as the organisation will create the actual activities in the organization. 8-Reviews and monitoring: On this stage the change process is finished and the company stable the organisational operations and outcomes are measured to find the extent to which the set objectives are achieved. STAKE HOLDERS INVOLVEMENT Stakeholders are crucial to any change implementation to the successful, have been indicated any studies there are following Stakeholders which affected by the organisational activities. The personals, which are most influenced by the organisational activities especially change activities are they stake holders which should be managed in an appropriate ways to avoid the conflicts of interested and resistance from them Aon have Shareholders, customers, employees and suppliers as the ka stakeholders. According to the Mendlows are the key stakeholders, where the where by adopting the following grid the organisation can manage the stakeholders. According to these mapping the stakeholders involvement will differ for each stakeholder according to their interest and power in the organisation. Shareholders are managed closely as they have high interest and power in the company Employees are keep satisfied and informed because the although have the highest interest in the company and low influence but could fall in the high power category by lobbing and other ways Customers should be informed so they know what is going around in the company Suppliers with low interest and low power are monitor effectively. Here the each can involve in change by following ways; Shareholders: The shareholders have interest of wealth in the organisation ain any for also they have attitude towards the risk taken in any change ad project and according to the stakeholder mapping they have the highest power and interest in the company. So, Avon must closely monitor them and gave them the true picture of what is happening ad progress of the project. The shareholders involvement could be achieved in following ways Taking suggestions and decisions about the critical matters like risk and investors in particular areas Face to face individual meetings are essential where the influential shareholder s is concern or the management is expecting the lobbing from the minor shareholders, which can create the big problem in future In Periodic and annual meetings Avon should convey and gave presentation on the progress of change process and there should be written report to the shareholders about the progress of the change process. Employees: Employees involvement is important where the case studies have revealed that the change plans without the much contribution from the employees mostly fails to achieve the required level of outcomes. Employees are most affected by the organisation plan of changes in form of either they can lose their jobs in result or have fear to change her position on which they feel comfortable. In the stakeholders grid the employees have lower influence on individual level and high interest so must be keep satisfied as if they do lobbing can create the problem for the organisation. The employees if not kept satisfied any result in the delay in the process and their involvement in the process increase the chance for the change. There are following methods or systems could be adopted to take their contribution in the process; Schedule and managers meeting with each individual in the organisation because he mangers are more confronting point so the employees feel satisfied and can easily share their doubts and ideas about the change Presentations and seminars after intervals are best source to gave the employees what is actual progress and where the company is standing now and what possible issues can arise and finally at that point the employees can assist the organisation in that change process. Online portals and blogs which will encourage the employees to discuss the change openly rather than involving in typical office politics and management should carefully mange the suggestions coming from employees with appropriate feedbacks and rewards which will encourage others as well to take part in the process. The change in behaviours requires the change in the culture and working environment which is done by the management and of course by changing the role models. Customers; Avon almost affected by the requirement and need of their ladies which also can e priceless resource in the organisations change process for unique ideas and living the image after or before change happens. Customers are also most influenced by the staff services and convince in ordering and quality of product so their contribution importance could not be denied. In stakeholder grid the customer have high influence and lower interest so they must keep informed and their contribution may obtain by either through the surveys or tailored interviews. Suppliers: Suppliers although are least influential in the organisation however they can be a delay in the change process through the inconvenient supplies or become the major stakeholders. So before proceeding the change Avon must consult their suppliers for the details to avoid the unseen circumstances. APPLYING THE SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY The successful strategic implication require s the minimum challenge faced from the stake holders if the employees restrict the change they can abort change procedures and company will not be able to apply the changes in the organisation as required. The change restriction could be due to no reasons like The rights or interest of personals are affected and not considered in the company so make agreements with them The person is restricting due to being facing difficulty in adjusting in the new process so unable to cope creating the resistance to change processes, so there is need to consider them by giving training and consultation They are creating problem because they think change is not what is required for company or unable to understand the outcomes achieved from the change process. So management should educate them or gave them the appropriate awareness about the matter. The organization can manage them by making them the system as on the planning stage and reviewing the system after periodic period to avoid conflicts and minimizing the negative impacts of the changes to the people and processes as change is not essentially did not bring always the positive outcomes so should managed carefully. Conclusion: The change in organisation or behavioural changes require the change in the working styles, structure and culture of the organisation where all these changes are further dependent on the cost savings, skills developments and changing the way of working could be best approach for Avon Company. The change implementation may require appropriate change strategy and suitable model, where Avon may be best suited for the Kotters eight step model. The change may results in failure if the stakeholders are not managed appropriately where the stakeholders are managed through these of gridding system ad allocating them according to their interest and power.

Anorexia Nervosa Essay -- Health, Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder in which an individual starves them self, characterized by the refusal to consume adequate food or loss of appetite, and therefore endangers their health that originates from emotional or psychological causes. â€Å" (Paraphrased from Eating Disorders. Page 3) Anorexia nervosa (â€Å"nervous anorexia†) is an eating disorder that is characterized by a loss of appetite that endangers an individual’s health that originates from emotional or psychological causes. Under certain circumstances, anorexia nervosa may develop because of a physical disease or conditions, such as shock, nausea and allergic reactions (Shannon, 2007). The signs and symptoms of anorexia include but are not limited to dramatic weight loss, refusal to maintain minimum body weight that is normal for their age and height, consuming a specific selection of foods like those low in fat and calories. Also avoiding food in social situations like cooking, social events, and making up excuses for their refusal to eat. In addition, another sign is frequently focusing on preoccupations with their body image and weight and constantly in pursuit for flaws. Their distorted body image that they have of themselves is apparent in statements about being overweight even though they are thin. Focusing on an excessive exercise regimen and wearing baggy clothes are also signs. In females, a symptom of anorexia is missing three consecutive menstrual periods and in males a decrease in sexual desire. The types of anorexia depend on whether it is combined with bulimia, and they are classified as classic anorexia and binge eating and purging anorexia. Classic anorexia or restricting anorexia, is when an individual consumes small amounts of food an... ...e evaluated by a medical doctor, which consist of vital signs, hydration level, and electrolytes (Shannon, 2007). A balanced diet according to one’s specific needs, in order to gain weight, is constructed by a dietitian. In combination with therapy, medication can be prescribed by a medical doctor or psychiatrist to help cope with the symptoms of anorexia, for example, antidepressants can be prescribed to alleviate depression and anxiety. In addition, other medications prescribed focus to increase one’s weight and to decrease obsessive-compulsive behaviors (Shannon, 2007). Recommendations of residential and inpatient treatment by a medical doctor are given if the physical and psychological problems are severe and may take place in a hospital setting or eating disorder treatment center and of course include outpatient treatment for anorexia (Shannon, 2007).

Genetically Modified Organisms: The European Union vs. The United State

Genetically Modified Organisms: The European Union vs. The United States "By increasing the fertility of the land, it increases its abundance. The improvements of agriculture too introduce many sorts of vegetable foods, which, requiring less land and not more labor than corn, come cheaply to the market." -Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Book I.XI.n The United States and the European Union are currently in dispute over the trade of genetically modified organisms. These altered plants produce more fruit per acre than traditional methods of farming while protecting the species from insects, environmental changes, and mutations. The output coupled with the benefits of environmental protection yield better products at a cheaper price for consumers. Adam Smith would favor the technologies of genetic modification because the fertility of the land increases, as well as its abundance. This growth results in more agricultural products on the market that require less land for cultivation, and no increase in labor. The consumer is then presented with a cheaper price because there eliminates the need to incur great labor costs and, at times, crop protection inputs such as pesticides. The European Union should allow these products to enter their market freely, to provide the maximum gain to EU consumers. BIOTECHNOLOGY What is a GMO? GMO stands for a ‘genetically modified organism’. A GMO is artificially developed by scientists to produce specific results such as sustain life through a drought or produce a greater quantity of fruit per plant (Monsanto Corporation:1999). This practice began centuries ago when plants and animals were selectively bred and microorganisms were us... ...ld dominate trade talks." Voice of Agriculture. http://www.fb.org Smith, Adam. 1981 [1776]. An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Indianapolis, Indiana: Liberty Press. Trans-Atlantic Business Dialouge. 1998. "Agri-Foods Biotechnology Group Progress Report and Summary of Findings." http://www.eabc.org/progress.htm The United States Department of Agriculture. 1998. "Biotechnology." http://www.useu.be/AGRI/biotech.html The United States Mission to the European Union. 1999. "EU Committee Accepts Two Labeling Proposals For Biotech Food." http://www.useu.be __________. 1999. "USTR Official Position on Biotechnology and Trade." http://www.useu.be __________. 1998. "Genetically Modified Organisms." http://www.useu.be Wambugu, Florence. 1999. "Why Africa needs agricultural biotech." Nature. Volume 400. http://www.nature.com Genetically Modified Organisms: The European Union vs. The United State Genetically Modified Organisms: The European Union vs. The United States "By increasing the fertility of the land, it increases its abundance. The improvements of agriculture too introduce many sorts of vegetable foods, which, requiring less land and not more labor than corn, come cheaply to the market." -Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Book I.XI.n The United States and the European Union are currently in dispute over the trade of genetically modified organisms. These altered plants produce more fruit per acre than traditional methods of farming while protecting the species from insects, environmental changes, and mutations. The output coupled with the benefits of environmental protection yield better products at a cheaper price for consumers. Adam Smith would favor the technologies of genetic modification because the fertility of the land increases, as well as its abundance. This growth results in more agricultural products on the market that require less land for cultivation, and no increase in labor. The consumer is then presented with a cheaper price because there eliminates the need to incur great labor costs and, at times, crop protection inputs such as pesticides. The European Union should allow these products to enter their market freely, to provide the maximum gain to EU consumers. BIOTECHNOLOGY What is a GMO? GMO stands for a ‘genetically modified organism’. A GMO is artificially developed by scientists to produce specific results such as sustain life through a drought or produce a greater quantity of fruit per plant (Monsanto Corporation:1999). This practice began centuries ago when plants and animals were selectively bred and microorganisms were us... ...ld dominate trade talks." Voice of Agriculture. http://www.fb.org Smith, Adam. 1981 [1776]. An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Indianapolis, Indiana: Liberty Press. Trans-Atlantic Business Dialouge. 1998. "Agri-Foods Biotechnology Group Progress Report and Summary of Findings." http://www.eabc.org/progress.htm The United States Department of Agriculture. 1998. "Biotechnology." http://www.useu.be/AGRI/biotech.html The United States Mission to the European Union. 1999. "EU Committee Accepts Two Labeling Proposals For Biotech Food." http://www.useu.be __________. 1999. "USTR Official Position on Biotechnology and Trade." http://www.useu.be __________. 1998. "Genetically Modified Organisms." http://www.useu.be Wambugu, Florence. 1999. "Why Africa needs agricultural biotech." Nature. Volume 400. http://www.nature.com

Importance Of Tertiary Education

For many individual students preparing to graduate from high school, wondering whether or not they should pursue a higher education at a university or other learning institute is an issue that weighs heavily on their minds. It is a very difficult decision that depends on many different factors, such as the individual’s personal goals. Some students choose to go straight from high school directly into the workforce after graduating. Other students choose to go into the military after graduating from high school. While these are all different options, recent research indicates that higher education is extremely valuable.Recent research indicates that higher education is extremely valuable. For, individuals whom attended a university and obtained at least a four-year bachelor’s degree make more money on average than people who have never obtained a university degree according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a study conducted by the United States Bureau of Labor conducted in 2009, it was concluded that someone with a four-year bachelor’s degree makes on average $20,748 more per year than someone without the degree.In a report done by the United States Census Bureau published in the â€Å"Current Population Report† by ? Jennifer Cheeseman Day and? Eric C. Newburger, it is estimated that high school graduates earn on average $1. 2 million throughout the course of a lifetime. It is also estimated in the report that individuals with a bachelor's degree will earn on average $2. 1 million total throughout their lifetime. As you can see, the facts show that getting a higher education is worth more value financially than stopping an education after graduating from high school.In addition to the high financial value of higher education, higher education also makes individuals much more intelligent than what they would be with just a high school education. The more intelligent an individual is, the better quality of life they a re likely to have. In â€Å"Wechsler's Measure and Appraisal of Adult Intelligence, 5th Edition† by Joseph D. Matarazzo, Matarazzo states that the average intelligence quotient (IQ) of a high school graduate is 105 points. He also states that the average intelligence quotient (IQ) of a college four-year graduate is 115 points.To quote Sociologist Linda Gottfredson of the University of Deleware, â€Å"IQ scores predict a wider range of important social outcomes than perhaps any other psychological trait; †¦ bright people have a tail wind in virtually all aspects of life. † What she means by this quote is that the higher an individual’s intelligence quotient, the higher the quality of life that they will have. This is true because those with higher intelligent quotients have higher problem solving abilities that correlate to better life qualities.In an Australian study studied by Gottfredson, motor vehicle fatalities were studied, correlating intelligence quo tients with motor vehicle fatalities. In the study, there was a direct correlation discovered between those with lower intelligence quotients, and higher death rates per 10,000 people. Ian Deary of the University of Edinburgh, in the United Kingdom did another study that shows how those individuals with higher intelligence quotients have higher qualities of life than those with lower intelligence quotients. For his study, he looked into the childhood intelligence quotient scores of a group of 80 year olds.In his study, he found that those who scored the highest on their childhood intelligence quotient tests were also the healthiest at age 80. These studies serve as evidence that having a higher intelligence quotient improves the quality of your life. College students who graduate with at least a Bachelor’s degree have on average higher intelligence quotients than those students who didn’t attend college, which means that those students who do graduate college with a de gree will have a better quality of life than those who don’t.Another reason why getting a higher education is very valuable is because it offers many new opportunities to students that they would be unable to get without having attended a university. Most, if not all, universities and other higher education systems offer many activities in which students will get to meet many other new students. Many students will meet new friends who often become some of the best friends that they’ve ever had. There are also almost always sports, clubs, and other activities to get involved with that would be unavailable to those not attending a higher education system.Many people participate on sports teams in high school such as football, baseball, field hockey, soccer, basketball, wrestling, track and field, and softball, to name a few. After they graduate high school they do not have many opportunities to participate in their favorite sports ever again. Whether it is for competitiv e purposes or just for enjoyment purposes, universities offer the opportunities to participate in some of their past favorite sports, or experiment with new ones.Another opportunity that students of higher education systems have exposure to that those who do not attend higher education systems do not have as readily available is the opportunity to study abroad. Studying abroad means taking educational classes in a country other than one’s own. Unless they are particularly financially wealthy, the majority of the individuals that do not attend higher education systems never get the opportunity to live in foreign countries for the entire length of a semester.According to a BBC news report, about 114,000 higher education system students study abroad each year at universities in foreign countries. Studying abroad is a great opportunity for higher education system students to take advantage of. When one studies abroad, they get the chance to learn about another culture through fir st hand experience, they get the chance to learn how to fluently speak a foreign language by merely being exposed to it for a period of time, and it is very prestigious to have on a resume. Author W. E. B.DuBois among other successful celebrities studied abroad. He studied at the university of Berlin in Germany for two years. Studying abroad is just another example of a way that higher education systems give their students more opportunities than those who do not attend them. Higher education systems can also be considered very valuable because they provide individuals with life skills that are essential to being successful in life. While studying at a higher education system, one is forced to develop essential time management skills much more so than at the high school level.With time needed for studying, attending classes, completing homework, relaxation, and doing fun things as well, one needs to manage their time in order to avoid failing out. These time management skills help o ut individuals later on in life. Another important life skill that individuals who attend higher education systems gain is money management skills. Some higher education system students work part-time jobs, but the majority are unable to find the time to do so on top of their schoolwork, so the only money they have for spending is either money their parents give to them, or money that they saved up before going to college.Either way, most students are on tight financial budgets that require discipline to maintain. Students learn to only spend money on things that they absolutely need, and to save up their money rather than spending it all at once. These money management skills help the students later in life. While attending a higher education system offers many positives, it also offers certain negatives. One negative is the fact that higher education schools are often very expensive. Colleges are expensive, and it is hard for a lot of families to afford to pay for, however this is not a good reason for not attending.If one starts early enough, they can save money, look into financial aide opportunities, and apply for scholarship opportunities to help pay for their tuition. It has already been shown that the amount of money that college students will make after graduation is much higher than the amount of money those who do not attend will make, so if someone can make sacrifices in order to pay for college then when they have a career someday they will make it all back plus more. Another negative to going straight to a higher education system is that people are getting later starts to their careers.Some people choose to work minimum wage jobs, or take other opportunities like opening their own businesses. These options are all respectable, and sometimes do end up making people large sums of money, but the facts given to us by the United States Bureau of Labor show that the vast majority of the time this is not the case. No matter how tempting it may be to tak e a good wage job right after high school, it is always more financially beneficially to attend a higher education system.In conclusion, the evidence shows us that attending higher education systems is extremely valuable. One reason that it is extremely valuable is that it offers many great financial benefits. Another reason is that it makes individuals more intelligent. Those who attend higher education systems also have more opportunities available to them than those who do not attend them. Attending higher education systems also teach great skills that are essential for being successful in life. In short, higher education systems are extremely valuable

Edgar Allan Poe Essay

Edgar Allan Poe was evil genius for his time and a great literary forerunner of today. He created the mind set for current writers such as Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Robin Cook by creating the horror story. Poe invites the reader to enter the mind of the narrator by using our senses as a way to provoke terror, suspense, and awe. His writing was influenced by many tragic losses in his life, and this would explain why Poe was a writer of such morbid short stories and poems. Poe’s experiences in life definitely influenced the remarkable literary work he produced. In his early life he had to deal with the death of both his parents, a difficult experience, but Poe accepted it as time went on. Later on in his life Poe’s stepfather disowned him. Young Edgar’s life was changed due to abandonment, alcoholism, and depression. In 1832 Poe moved in with his aunt and his 11 year old cousin in Baltimore. Poe then married his younger cousin in 1836. However, Poe did not know that he would suffer yet another terrible loss, the loss of his love, his wife. Poe’s ability to write literature was the window for him to express his feelings. All of Poe’s tragic losses affected the way he wrote. Poe used his life experiences to make his writing a lot more interesting. Poe’s writing is remarkably interesting. The poem â€Å"The Raven† showed how Poe erected a crazed state of mind, as the poem shows how the loss or a loved one drove a person crazy. This poem was possibly created for his wife that he had lost. While reading the poem it seems as if the stresses of the life of Poe, and his thoughts and feelings were all put into this poem. Throughout Poe’s life, many factors have contributed and influenced his writing style. He lived a difficult life, because he was raised in a dysfunctional household. But the final product of Poe’s mind is printed in his short stories and poems. Poe’s stories all have similar motifs and composition that would suggest suppressed emotions from life experiences are being discharged through his writings. The most prominent feature of Poe’s writing is his obsession with death. Poe’s writing does more than entertain the reader. It can be an insight into the dark and somber world of Edgar Allan Poe. One does not understand the meaning of Poe if one reads at the superficial level. One has to read into Poe, and understand the hardships of his life and how he maintained them that way. He knew that death was an inevitable part of life, it is the price of life, but he tried to fight it as if it was an unnatural part of life. He was an extremely intriguing man from all viewpoints, and he was and is, the dark side of all of us. It is difficult not to link Poe’s fictional stories with his real life. Evidence shows that Poe had a heart condition during his later years in life. Could â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† be his own fear of the disease? Who knows? Could Poe have been expressing his fears that his alcoholic rages may cause him to hurt the one’s he loved most in his tale â€Å"The Black Cat†? Finally, was â€Å"the Pit and the Pendulum† an allegory of his life? Did he find himself caught â€Å"between the pendulum of financial adversity and the pit of degradation of death†? Poe made the reader feel as if the reader were there, in the story, struggling with the same terrors of the characters. All his famous mystery thriller works give the reader a sense of nervousness, a sense of fear, and a sense of evil, by making our five senses awaken by reading every word. Critics say that Poe did not merely imitate the Gothic tales, but he also â€Å"enriched them by preserving a central action while adding philosophical speculations and lore that deepened the impressions of the tales†. As a result of the traumas he endured, Poe was â€Å"unafraid of taking his readers for a walk on the dark side, where lines between life and death were sometimes blurred†. His ability to tap into humankind’s deepest fears and his consistency in portraying such intriguing and captivating themes is what has kept the work of Poe timeless. In short, Edgar Allan Poe has created many great stories for us. He liked to illustrate the dissolution of an individual’s mind and body, as he had suffered it himself for quite a long time. He thought death is unavoidable, because he experienced keenly deaths all around him and its threat on his own life. He was obsessed by the loss of love of ideal women, for he had the same experience in life. Now, we can understand why Poe had a tendency of choosing such themes. Poe is an author of the inner world and his writings are his psychological autobiography to some extent. In this respect, Poe pioneered a new field in literature. He is the first one who focused on man’s mental and spiritual activities, and his writings have deep influence on many of later writers.    WORKS CITED Poe, Edgar Allan. Introductory Notes and Editor’s preface by Phillip van Doren Stern. In Selected Tales and Poems. The Viking Portal Library, Penguin Books, 1993. Moore, R. â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart: Discussion.† 2002.Online. Internet. 11 November 2002. Available WWW: http://www.allpoe.com Murphy, Sally. â€Å"Poe’s Poetry.† 2002.Online. Internet. 12 November 2002. Available WWW: http://www.allpoe.com Meyers, Jeffrey. Edgar Allan Poe His Life and Legacy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992. Peters, James. â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe.† April 1, 2002.http://www.island-of-freedom.com/POE.HTM Silverman, Kenneth. Edgar A. Poe: A Mournful and Never-Ending Remembrance. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991. Death of Edgar Allan Poe. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1998

Musculinity and drinking

1.   Does the study meet the scientific requirements?It cannot be denied that scientific study has become of great importance to any profession.   Everyone is aware of the fact that knowledge is increased through study and that critique of that study can also provide a basis for improving the study practices.  This study, â€Å"The Glass Phallus Pub (lic) Masculinity and Drinking in Rural New Zealand by Hugh Campbell meet the scientific requirements as it involved an intensive analysis of a particular site.2.   Is it a research study?Moreover, it is a scientific study utilizing the ethnographic fieldwork research methods.   Ethnographic research or fieldwork is considered an essential part of the training towards becoming a social scientist such that it is said to play a role in â€Å"consciousness raising† by extending one’s view of the world and challenging one’s assumptions about the nature of things (Robson, 1993).   Through ethnographic research the fieldworker gains an appreciation of the diversity and complexity of the human social condition and, at the same time, of the ultimate unity of human-kind.3.   Is it a quantitative study?No, it is not a quantitative study since it did not use any notation system. It must be noted that quantitative researchers assign numbers to observations and produce data by counting and measuring things.   Further, this study did not use any counting and measuring of things.4. Is it a qualitative study?Yes, this is a qualitative study since the researcher did not make counts or assign numbers to his observations. But rather, the researcher gain access into the â€Å"life-world† of his subjects and male groups; that is, to discover their motivations, their sources of meaning, their emotions and other subjective aspects of their lives because it is only in doing so that a researcher will be able to see, to describe, and to understand human behavior and social phenomena with greater d epth.   In addition, the researcher employed a qualitative research method which is participatory ethnographic fieldwork (p.262)5.   Is it clearly written?Yes, it is clearly written as the researcher used the first person and based on his experiences and analysis6.   Assess the title.The title is somewhat vague though as the author used a metaphor and one may not be totally familiar with â€Å"The Glass Phallus.†   So, one has to read the article thoroughly first before understanding the meaning behind the title.7.   Assess the authors` affiliations.Not much of the authors` affiliations were included in the study except that he has lived in the research area or community for five years as this is a participatory ethnographic fieldwork (p.262)8.   Assess the abstract.The abstract is clearly stated and includes the necessary things to include in an abstract such as the subjects and locale of the study, design of the study, the results, and the conclusion.9.   Asse ss the references.The references used were comprehensive and suited to the given study.10.   Is there a centrality of purpose between the introduction, method, and results?Yes, more or less there’s a centrality of purpose between the introduction, method, and results. But lesser centrality between introduction and method as the introduction is more of a myth about the rural pub, a nostalgic fiction of yesteryears as described in the introduction.   The method and results has more centrality as the author was able to connect the method used which is ethnographic fieldwork to the results of the study which is more qualitative.   The results of the study presented are ethnographic data which are the product of systematic and sustained observation.11.   Critique the introduction according to:– the literature reviewThe authors’ review of literature was conducted and integrated in the discussion part of the article although previous studies were not referred t o by specific articles, the names of authors and publication years were given. Moreover, the literature reported supported the selected qualitative method used in the study.–      study purposeThis study, â€Å"The Glass Phallus Pub (lic) Masculinity and Drinking in Rural New Zealand† by Hugh Campbell, examined the various ways in which pubs operate as a social site, where male power is constructed in rural communities.   Another is to examine the way in which symbolic notions of rurality are integral to the construction of gendered power in rural space.12.   Critiques the Method according to– the sample selectionThe sample of the study population was large (150-200) men who worked in farm service industries, were farm workers, owned or managed small farm service firms, or (a minority) were bachelor farmers.   Manual laborers on farms and in the farm service industries constituted the majority, but men from the agricultural petite bourgeoisie also were presented consistently.The participant sample selected basically on their performance known as the after-work drinking session.   The temporal parameters of after-work drinking strongly influenced which local men could join the pub (lic) performance of masculinity.   In addition to the fact that this study was the result of two periods of fieldwork within 5 years of ethnographic research, all the above mentioned criteria achieved the data saturation required.– the study designA participatory ethnographic study using formal and informal interviews was conducted to frame the design of the study (p.262). The method used was appropriate for this study as it sought to examine the various ways in which pubs operate as a social site, where male power is constructed in rural communities.   Also to examine the way in which symbolic notions of rurality are integral to the construction of gendered power in rural space.In addition, the qualitative interviews were undertaken to und erstand the experiences and all that they entail.– data collection proceduresData collection procedure used which was formal and informal interviews and were consistent with the purpose of the study since the study was a qualitative.   Moreover, 200 hours of participatory ethnographic fieldwork (in the pubs), made an even greater abundance of informal discussion and dialogue with members of the community.– researcher’s roleThe researcher’s role is to conduct interviews (formal or informal) using the participatory ethnographic fieldwork.– the issue of timeThis study was done for approximately 5 years of living in the community. The researcher has done interviews and discussions not just in the pubs but also in various locales such as sports clubs, churches, and voluntary organizations, and in the subjects` workplace.– materials/instruments usedThe strategies and tools involved in data collection includes ethnographic audiotaped interviews w hich includes open-ended, broad â€Å"grand tour† questions followed by more focused and in-depth discussions; participant observations were conducted in a variety of places; photography was extensive.13.   Critique the Results according to– findingsAnalysis from data obtained revealed two major characteristics of pub drinking performance, which are the conversational cockfighting and the disciplines of drinking. These two combine to ensure that a particular version of masculinity, here called pub(lic) masculinity reproduce itself.   A further finding is that masculinity in this kind of performative situation develops a degree of invisibility.– tables, graphs or chartsNo tables, graphs, or charts were included in the study.– statistical data and tests usedNo statistical data or tests were used as this is a qualitative study. So no sample data were given.   Only some conversation or descriptive data were presented.-discussionThe discussion of the res ult was done comprehensively and thus thoroughly-limitationsThe researcher realized the difficulties of analyzing an invisible masculinity and argues that rendering masculinity is an important task for any sociological analysis of both public leisure sites in rural society.-implications– The significant implication of this study is that rural sociologists must move quickly beyond viewing rural pub as just another aspect of the rural idyll but it is more of the operation of gendered power in rural communities, and as a site where rural masculinities are enacted and defended.ReferenceRobson, C. (1993) Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists andPractitioner-Researchers. Blackwell.