Free Essays on Symbolism In The Necklace And The Lottery

The necklace in â€Å"The Necklace† symbolizes several things, one of which is materialism. By picking a possession as the title of the story, Maupassant’s intent is to point out that materialism is the main focal point of the story. This is because the necklace is representative of the riches and expensive possessions Mme. Loisel so desperately wants. She doesn’t have the money for nice jewelry so she has to borrow some from her friend. When she borrowed the necklace it was very glamorous. Mme. Loisel mysteriously loses the necklace and she and her husband go into debt trying to replace it. You learn that material possessions aren’t nearly as important compared to the value of a good time. Mme. Loisel attended a black tie dinner and wore the necklace she had borrowed. At that time she thought the necklace was made of diamonds and she felt like a princess. She has no idea that the necklace is actually made of clay. Mathilde eventually discovers that, as fa te would have it, the necklace was worthless. She has spent ten years trying to replace the necklace when it actuality it really wasn’t worth anything. Fate interacts with the characters every time the necklace comes into the story, and the title helps focus the reader on the necklace’s implications. The villagers are very superstitious about the powers of the stones in â€Å"The Lottery.† The author uses the stones to symbolize evil. It reflects the evil nature of society as a whole. The towns, wanting to have a superior crop that year, believe they must hold a lottery in which the unlucky person, whose name is drawn, will be stoned to death, thus producing a superior crop. The villagers in the story are aware that the sacrifice is inhumane but would not let those feelings known. In stoning Tessie, the villagers treat her as a scapegoat. The only person who shows their rebellious attitude is Tessie. She doesn’t take the stoning seriously. She actually rushes to the square ... Free Essays on Symbolism In The Necklace And The Lottery Free Essays on Symbolism In The Necklace And The Lottery The necklace in â€Å"The Necklace† symbolizes several things, one of which is materialism. By picking a possession as the title of the story, Maupassant’s intent is to point out that materialism is the main focal point of the story. This is because the necklace is representative of the riches and expensive possessions Mme. Loisel so desperately wants. She doesn’t have the money for nice jewelry so she has to borrow some from her friend. When she borrowed the necklace it was very glamorous. Mme. Loisel mysteriously loses the necklace and she and her husband go into debt trying to replace it. You learn that material possessions aren’t nearly as important compared to the value of a good time. Mme. Loisel attended a black tie dinner and wore the necklace she had borrowed. At that time she thought the necklace was made of diamonds and she felt like a princess. She has no idea that the necklace is actually made of clay. Mathilde eventually discovers that, as fa te would have it, the necklace was worthless. She has spent ten years trying to replace the necklace when it actuality it really wasn’t worth anything. Fate interacts with the characters every time the necklace comes into the story, and the title helps focus the reader on the necklace’s implications. The villagers are very superstitious about the powers of the stones in â€Å"The Lottery.† The author uses the stones to symbolize evil. It reflects the evil nature of society as a whole. The towns, wanting to have a superior crop that year, believe they must hold a lottery in which the unlucky person, whose name is drawn, will be stoned to death, thus producing a superior crop. The villagers in the story are aware that the sacrifice is inhumane but would not let those feelings known. In stoning Tessie, the villagers treat her as a scapegoat. The only person who shows their rebellious attitude is Tessie. She doesn’t take the stoning seriously. She actually rushes to the square ...

Behavioral Science in the Armed Forces

Behavioral Science in the Armed Forces Military sociology is the sociological study of the military. It examines issues such as military recruiting, race and gender representation in the military, combat, military families, military social organization, war and peace, and the military as welfare. Military sociology is a relatively minor subfield within the field of sociology. There are few universities that offer courses on military sociology, and only a handful of academic professionals that conduct research and/or write about military sociology. In recent years, most of the studies that can be classified as military sociology have been done by private research institutes or in military agencies, such as the Rand Corporation, the Brookings Institute, the Human Resources Research Organization, the Army Research Institute, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Furthermore, the research teams that conduct these studies are generally interdisciplinary, with researchers from sociology, psychology, political science, economics, and business. This by no means implies that military sociology is a small field. The military is the largest single government agency in the U.S. and the issues addressed surrounding it can have important ramifications for both military policy and the development of sociology as a discipline. The Basis of Service One of the most significant issues in military sociology in the U.S. post-World War II is the shift from drafting to voluntary service. This was a huge change and one whose impact at the time was unknown. Sociologists were and still are interested in how this change affected society, who the individuals were who entered the military voluntarily and why, and whether this change affected the representativeness of the military (for example, are there more uneducated minorities who enter voluntarily than were selected in the draft)? Social Representation and Access Social representation refers to the degree to which the military represents the population from which it has been drawn. Sociologists are interested in who is being represented, why the misrepresentations exist, and how representativeness has changed throughout history. For example, in the Vietnam War era, some civil rights leaders alleged that African Americans were overrepresented in the armed forces and therefore accounted for an unfair amount of casualties. Gender representation also developed as a major concern during the women’s rights movement, generating major policy changes concerning the participation of women in the military. In more recent years, when President Bill Clinton overturned the military ban on gays and lesbians, sexual orientation became the focus of major military policy debate for the first time. This topic has come into the spotlight once again after President Barack Obama repealed the Don’t ask, don’t tell policy so that gays and lesbia ns can now serve openly in the military. Sociology of Combat The study of the sociology of combat deals with the social processes involved in combat units. For example, researchers often study unit cohesion and morale, leader-troop relations, and motivation for combat. Family Issues The proportion of military personnel who are married has increased greatly over the past fifty years, which means there are also more families and family concerns represented in the military. Sociologists are interested in looking at family policy issues, such as the role and rights of military spouses and the issue of child-care when single-parent military members are deployed. Sociologists are also interested in military benefits related to families, like housing improvements, medical insurance, overseas schools, and child care, and how they impact both the families and the larger society. The Military as Welfare Some people argue that one of the military’s roles is to provide the opportunity for occupational and educational advancement to the less advantaged in society. Sociologists are interested in looking at this role of the military, who takes advantage of the opportunities, and whether the training and experience of the military offer any advantages compared to civilian experiences. Social Organization The organization of the military has changed in many ways over the past several decades – from the draft to voluntary enlistment, from combat-intensive jobs to technical and support jobs, and from leadership to rational management. Some people argue that the military is changing from an institution legitimized by normative values to an occupation legitimized by a market orientation. Sociologists are interested in studying these organizational changes and how they impact both those in the military and the rest of society. War and Peace For some, the military is immediately associated with war, and sociologists are certainly interested in examining different aspects of war. For example, what are the consequences of war for societal change? What are the sociological impacts of war, both at home and abroad? How does war lead to policy changes and shape the peace of a nation?

Henry Adams Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Henry Adams - Research Paper Example Adams was in a Classical sense a man of intellectual temperament, and the literature created by him extends a true insight into the intricacies and complexities of his time. Life Henry Adams was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 16 February 1838 (Adams 17). His father, Charles Francis Adams was a writer and an influential diplomat (Adams 19). Henry’s mother was Abigail Brown Brooks (Adams 19). Henry Adams was the grandson of the sixth American President, John Quincy Adams, and the great grandson of John Adams, the second American president (Adams 21). There is no denying the fact Henry was born in an environment marked by opportunity, influence and accomplishment. Henry was definitely influenced by this propitious family standing, which facilitated certain advantages to young Henry. It is said that Henry Adams used to spend a significant time in summers, at his grandfather’s home, which was known to be a hub of culture and wealth. The personal library at the disposal of Adams family was considered to be the largest collections of books on varied subjects and topics in those times (Adams 41). Henry Adams spent hours in the family library, satisfying his voracious appetite for knowledge, by reading books on a variety of subjects like astronomy, the Roman and Greek literature, physics, politics and mathematics (Adams 41). It goes without saying that young Henry’s readings extended to him a sound grounding in the essentials of Western civilization. Henry also accrued ample exposure to the intricacies of politics and diplomacy, courtesy his father’s position as a congressman and a politician, and a Vice Presidential candidate in 1848 (Adams 43). Henry joined Harvard in 1854 and turned out to be an able student (Adams 47). However, it needs to be mentioned in those times marked by rigid college regulations, Henry managed to avoid being a stringent conformist (Adams 46). Henry was chosen the Class Day Orator on his graduation in 1858 (Adams 49). He also used to write for Harvard Magazine and tried a hand at acting in Hasty Pudding Club (Adams 49). The very fact that Henry Adams graduated sans any academic distinction made it difficult for people fathom the depth and extent of his knowledge and versatility. Henry went to Germany to study law; however, his lack of proficiency in German led him to travelling across Europe for two years (Adams 64). When Henry Adams returned to America, his father got appointed by President Lincoln as a minister to Great Britain (Adams 21). In the mean time, while Henry left with his father, as his secretary, to England, the Civil War had already begun (Adams 21). Henry Adams aspired to solicit a commission in the army, but at the request of Charles, his elder brother, who was himself an army officer, Henry decided to stay in England to support the Union cause (Adams 83). During this time, as a writer, Henry got published some reports in the New York Times. During his stay in England, Henr y Adams also met John Stuart Mill and Sir Charles Lyell, who urged him to study the works of Herbert Spencer and Auguste Comte (Adams 101). These readings were to reorient the mindset of Adams towards science, economics and politics. During this time Henry also managed to get published three well received articles in North American Review (Adams 103). On his return to America in 1868, Henry Adams actively served as a reporter in many news papers. He aspired to be an avid commentator on and critic of his times. In 1870 he left for Boston to serve as

Supply chain exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Supply chain exam - Essay Example The concept of Food Miles was conceived in 1990 by Andrea Paxton in a research paper and was further elaborated in a report (Paxton A. 1994), by the SAFE Alliance, now Sustain, which highlighted concerns over the negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of increasing transport of food. The follow up report from Sustain in 1999 (Hird V et all 1999) showed a continued trend in the UK for food to travel further between farms and consumers, and highlighted more pollution from transport, increased packaging, loss of land and agricultural biodiversity, and greater use of chemicals required in food transit and storage. It attributed the closure of many small country shops and failure of small-scale farms to the activities of a small number of powerful retailers able to source lower-priced food from overseas. The development and application of Food Miles is out of two main concerns: 1. Environmental concern: further a product travels, more greenhouse gases (GHG) are released 2. Regi onal development concern: buying food locally stimulates the local economy 1.2 Why the CO-OP might consider it? The CO-OP today is the fifth largest retailer in UK with 9% market share in the retail sector in UK. As a senior player in the retail market, it is a moral responsibility of the CO-OP to address the issue which impacts not only the long-term business strategy but also the consumer sentiments towards sustainability and climate change. In fact, there is a compelling business case for the food industry as a whole to improve energy efficiency and reduce dependence on fossil fuel and its corresponding emissions. According to a 2005 study conducted by Lippincott Mercer for â€Å"The Carbon Trust† for the UK market, the subject of climate change is bound to get more and more important in the consumer mind. Also, and the food and beverage industry was found to have the highest risk (?6.6bn – 10% of the total market value) of tangible value from climate change. Finall y, the CO-OP ethical plan states that â€Å"We will reduce the gross GHG emissions from our operations by 35% by 2017†. So, tackling this issue of â€Å"Food Miles† should clearly be a priority for the CO-OP. 2. â€Å"Food Miles†: The two sides of the coin 2.1 Arguments in favour of adopting â€Å"Food Miles† In order not to be left behind, there is a case to adopt â€Å"Food Miles† in the overall business strategy. There is evidence that the retailers in UK and worldwide have already started initiatives with â€Å"Food Miles† in mind: 1. Sainsbury has annual targets for emissions reduction, and has increased (as part of its low-food miles strategy) the proportion of products sourced domestically to 90% for food that can be grown in the UK. 2. Safeway UK has developed a distribution system, introducing measures to reduce its food miles and the energy consumption of its fleet. 3. In 2005/06, Wal-Mart CEO announced that it plans to boost energ y efficiency, increase organic food sales and reduce GHG emissions by 20% by 2012 worldwide. Even the government policy seems to have â€Å"Food Miles† concept in the long-term view. In the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy published in 2006, the UK government has proposed key performance indicators for food transportation that include road distance travelled, emissions from land and air transport. Finally, in terms of supply chain issues,

Compulsory Education Essay Example for Free

Compulsory Education Essay There are many forms of research for compulsory education. When I started to dig for Information, I was quite amazed in how far back it actually goes. It may have been a little different then, but the concept behind it were and still are the same. With that, you will see multiple questions that need to be answered. What function does compulsory education serve in the United States, what are the advantages and disadvantages to compulsory education, and how can we make school better for todays young learners? Compulsory education is the attendance required by all students. In reading, michaeladuffy’s research, I understand what he is trying to say in more clarity. How does it affect our children? He states, â€Å"As I continue to ask questions about why we have CE in the United States the answer most often I receive is that it increases literacy. † He brings us back by saying, â€Å"I am often told of the condition of the youth in the eighteenth century where children ran rampant in the streets and committed all sorts of crimes and vandalism. † Is it at this time we started to think about the youth’s education? During those times of hardship they still managed to keep a literacy rate of ninety percent. Through hard work and learning, at the same time, they managed to raise the rate to ninety-eight percent by 1852. By upping the literacy rate, in the United States, we see a great improvement in our children. â€Å"In fact the high literacy rate one hundred years before compulsory education was primarily due to the focus of Bible reading that spread throughout Europe and the new world. Perhaps it was a Biblical interest that accounted for black literacy in the south which was around eighty percent before CE came into effect† (Zhang 29). Michaeladuffy also points out that there are troubling times in our schools to the extent of dropouts and absenteeism. By reading his one paragraph on, â€Å"why children would miss class† (par 4) he lists five reasons they would. It ranges from being an obese child all the way to having poor eyes sight and not wanting to ask question for the fear of being teased. I can see why this is. Children these days will drop out if they are not treated correct. When kids are picked on their insecurity level falls at an all time low. The only option they have left is to not go to school and live with themselves. During my research the answer was never there. It is ones interpretation of the compulsory education and how it serves in the United States. In the early years of a child they continue to have more of independence for learning to develop each of their demands. Decades ago children opted not go to school, but instead work with their families and that is how they survived on such a low income. Compulsory education levels that bar for the unfortunate families who cannot afford it. With compulsory education more people have access to education, now whether they choose to use it is up to them. The one main disadvantage, I think every one might agree with me, is that the government dictates the age for the grade and what the kids are suppose to be doing. In other words they are forced into it. Are children ready for the grade they are in or going to be in? No, they’re probably not. Not one child is the same in learning. In order for our children to be ready for society interaction, activities are needed. How can we make school better for todays young learners? Children’s intellectual growth, in their early years, are constantly growing. Learning new things everyday whether in school or in the social environment. They are more aware of the world they live in through the use of technology. Technology, for children these days, is one of the most important learning tools we have. The child’s learning ability is acquired through countless ways. Some examples may include, but not limited to are; questioning techniques, investigating and interaction with one another. Children are creative and have an eagerness to learn. Emphasizing on their curiosity, their creativeness shows by the use of technology. Providing them with opportunities to use their creative nature we can see a vast improvement in problem solving and thinking of solutions to problems based on their age. Having that teacher to student interaction will vastly help them in the social skills they need to better acquaint themselves with the world they will soon be leaving to. Not one child is alike. By finding what works, the child can receive the proper curriculum. Paul Goodman proposes two countermeasures in this situation. They are good ones at that, but with that said one particular really stuck out amongst the other. By abolishing grading and strictly going on the fact of the teachers knowledge and know how, I believe we can see a great improvement in students’ knowledge. Its because of the grading criteria, we struggle in some subjects. If we drop the grading and base it on experience of life and work, there will be more students eager to learn and striving for that education. Just picture yourself taking a test, you studied day and night for it, but yet you still failed it. Now picture yourself taking the same test with life experience and work experience, it comes to you a little easier. Knowing that the grade you were going to get is not there lingering on your mind. Who do think is going to feel better about themselves after the test is done? Because of the grading system our fear of failing has kicked in. It shows that in life experience over a degree can be beneficial in some areas of expertise. With that being said, I do agree with the two year of maturing before entering school. You never know what experience you will receive in the world. In concluding my research of what functions does compulsory education have in the United States, we see that it is a tricky question. It does have a purpose but its purpose is still unclear to some, including me. We see the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of compulsory education. There are many things we can do to help our young ones to enjoy schooling. From the time of the eighteenth century, we have been striving to educate the younger children and make learning enjoyable. Hartman 5 References: * michaeladuffy. wordpress. com/2012/07/02 Date of access Aug 20 2012 * bestvolunteer. org †º More News †º Other News Date of access Aug 20 2012 * https://www. det. nsw. edu. au/ /Our_young_learners Date of access Aug 20 2012 * http://voices. yahoo. com/our-fundamental-future-eliminating-compulsory-education-5570. html Date of access 22 Aug 2012 8:47pm * Does School Time Matter? On the Impact of Compulsory Education Age on School Dropout Cabus, Sofie J. ; De Witte, Kristof Economics of Education Review, v30 n6 p1384-1398 Dec 2011. 15 pp. ISSN: 0272-7757 Date of access 22 Aug 2012.

Comparing the Public Use of Shopping Malls in Australia and America Ess

The Public Use of Shopping Malls in Australia and America Shopping malls are a prevalent part of both Australian and American societies. People of all races, creeds, ages, and social status flock to malls to participate in what John Fiske labels as the â€Å"conflict of consumerism† (284). However, he calls it the â€Å"conflict of consumerism† because recently there have been problems with disruptive teenagers interfering with potential buyers and posing a safety threat both to other shoppers and each other. It is shocking how many people come to malls in both countries with no intention, or means, to buy. According to Fiske in his essay, â€Å"Shopping For Pleasure; Malls, Power, and Resistance,† a study shows that â€Å"80 percent of unemployed young people visited the mall at least once a week, and nearly a 100 percent of young unemployed women were regular visitors† (285). As a result, some malls have even imposed restrictions to limit this. In Robyn Meredith’s essay, â€Å"Big Malls Curfew Raises Questions of Rights and Bias,† she explores issues concerning a recent restriction imposed on younger teenagers at the Mall of America in Minnesota. However, it is a real problem that mall owners have to cope with. In fact, malls here in America are very similar to those in Australia, because in both countries, the malls are turning into a type of indoor park where citizens participate in a variety of their own personal activities regardless of the intent of the mall owners. According to Fiske, malls are no longer solely for shopping anymore. Fiske says that the malls in Australia are now being used for a variety of other activities including underage drinking, sale of drugs, making general mischief, and â€Å"proletarian shopping,† or â€Å"... ...clear that older persons here in America and in Australia act similarly in the malls too, not just teenagers and younger people. From these essays and my personal experience, it is clear that malls are now being used for purposes other than shopping. They are becoming like indoor parks used for activities not intended by the malls’ owners. Adults as well as children are participating in these activities, and they are happening in Australia and the United States in a very similar fashion. Works Cited Fiske, John. â€Å"Shopping For Pleasure; Malls, Power, and Resistance.† Reading Culture. 4th ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2001. 283-286. Meredith, Robyn. â€Å"Big Malls Curfew Raises Questions of Rights and Bias† Reading Culture. 4th ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2001. 288-291. Comparing the Public Use of Shopping Malls in Australia and America Ess The Public Use of Shopping Malls in Australia and America Shopping malls are a prevalent part of both Australian and American societies. People of all races, creeds, ages, and social status flock to malls to participate in what John Fiske labels as the â€Å"conflict of consumerism† (284). However, he calls it the â€Å"conflict of consumerism† because recently there have been problems with disruptive teenagers interfering with potential buyers and posing a safety threat both to other shoppers and each other. It is shocking how many people come to malls in both countries with no intention, or means, to buy. According to Fiske in his essay, â€Å"Shopping For Pleasure; Malls, Power, and Resistance,† a study shows that â€Å"80 percent of unemployed young people visited the mall at least once a week, and nearly a 100 percent of young unemployed women were regular visitors† (285). As a result, some malls have even imposed restrictions to limit this. In Robyn Meredith’s essay, â€Å"Big Malls Curfew Raises Questions of Rights and Bias,† she explores issues concerning a recent restriction imposed on younger teenagers at the Mall of America in Minnesota. However, it is a real problem that mall owners have to cope with. In fact, malls here in America are very similar to those in Australia, because in both countries, the malls are turning into a type of indoor park where citizens participate in a variety of their own personal activities regardless of the intent of the mall owners. According to Fiske, malls are no longer solely for shopping anymore. Fiske says that the malls in Australia are now being used for a variety of other activities including underage drinking, sale of drugs, making general mischief, and â€Å"proletarian shopping,† or â€Å"... ...clear that older persons here in America and in Australia act similarly in the malls too, not just teenagers and younger people. From these essays and my personal experience, it is clear that malls are now being used for purposes other than shopping. They are becoming like indoor parks used for activities not intended by the malls’ owners. Adults as well as children are participating in these activities, and they are happening in Australia and the United States in a very similar fashion. Works Cited Fiske, John. â€Å"Shopping For Pleasure; Malls, Power, and Resistance.† Reading Culture. 4th ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2001. 283-286. Meredith, Robyn. â€Å"Big Malls Curfew Raises Questions of Rights and Bias† Reading Culture. 4th ed. Ed. Diana George and John Trimbur. New York: Longman, 2001. 288-291.

Evalue The Benefits Of Pursing A Specic Essay

Abstract A hobby is more than just something that you do in your leisure time. It is something that you make time to do and look forward to doing. Insurmountable pleasure and relaxation can be obtained from doing something that you consider fun to do. It can be described as creative, fascinating, practical, inexpensive, enjoyable, different or unusual. Evaluate the benefits of pursuing a specific hobby Hobby is described as a regular activity that is done for pleasure. Common misconceptions about hobbies are that some think that hobbies or recreations are just for people who live a relaxed life or people who have been retired and have time on their hands, while others believe that hobbies are just a waste of time. On the other hand, people with full, busy, even stressful lives can benefit from hobbies just as much if not more than the average person. I would like to explorer specifically the benefits of pursuing a hobby like hiking. Hiking outdoors has plenty of perks: nice views, fresh air, and sounds of different things and smells of nature. It exercise your mind, body, and soul and is a simple way to challenge yourself. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes. In fact, turning this into a healthy habit can lead to a healthy lifestyle. It’s a great way to start an exercise program that is beneficial to the proper upkeep of the body. Hiking is a powerful cardio workout tool. Studies have shown that obesity is associated with a modest increase in risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. For people who find it uncomfortable to run or job, walking is a great form of cardio that burns about 240 calories an hour! There are a wide variety of hiking trails. Many people in my community take up walking early in the morning and sometimes late evenings. I would like to briefly  discuss the benefits of pursing hiking as a hobby. There are many definitions for the word hiking. Hiking in Canada and the USA is the preferred term for a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails, in the countryside, while the word â€Å"walking† is used for shorter, particularly urban walks. Another source gave the meaning to hiking as â€Å"In its most basic definition, Hiking is simply Walking for recreational purposes. A good summary is: â€Å"In Hiking, the Journey is more important that the Destination. The Encyclopedia Britannica from Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service: Walking as a recreational activity and sport. Among those with sedentary occupations, hiking is a natural exerci se that promotes physical fitness, is economical and convenient, and requires no special equipment. Because the hiker can walk as far as he wants, there is not physical strain unless he walks among hills or mountains. I am sure we could find many definition for the word hiking, but despite the many variations derives from this word â€Å"hiking† they all have to do with some form of walking. Hiking is one of the most sought out hobbies in what world today and is used in academic and professional sports organizations around the world. Our US military and police forces use this hobby as a part of their routine training for fitness and training purposes. I remember my first experience hiking to the top of the tallest mountain in Jamaica West Indies. I was only 16 years of age, just a boy trying out this new adventure called hiking. My self and 14 other boys hike to the mountain top of the tallest mountain in St. Andrew, Jamaica known as the Blue Mountain Peak. Its elevation is 7,402 (2,256 m) It was breath taking to see this creation, to see different mountains overlapping each other, to hear and see different types of birds that are not usually seen in the city, to see the different plants and trees, hills and valleys in this cold elevated piece of Jamaica. This was an adventure of a life time I cannot forget. It would have been an experience that would have shaped my life forever and have taught me courage, bravery, it has also fostered closer and stronger relationship the scout brothers. In my research I have discovered that hiking is not just a hobby or a form of recreational interest or just another activity, but it also can lower your risk of colon and breast cancer, and possibly lung and endometrial cancer. Just 30 minutes of aerobic activity 3-5 times a week can lower your risk pf breast cancer by 30- 50 percent. In addition to this, it is good to know that you can turn hiking into a healthy habit! Hiking releases adrenaline and endorphins, which can decrease tension, anxiety, and blood pressure levels. This can reduce risk of depression and will leave you feeling better physically and mentally, which will encourage you to continue your new healthy habits. Studies have shown that exercising during and after treatment with people with cancer can benefits these patients in several ways, ranging from improved fitness and higher quality of life to reduced rates of recurrence and a longer life. Cancer patients who exercise may experience less nausea and less fatigue. It’s never too late to use exercise to fight cancer. If you’re coping with cancer or its aftermath, now is the time! Hiking offers additional health benefits such as: lowering your risk of heart disease, improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, boosts bone density, since walking is a weight-bearing exercise, build strength in your gluteus, quadriceps, hamstrings, and muscles in your hips and lower legs, it helps to control your weight, strengthen your core and boost your mood. Research have shown that hiking has a positive impact on combating the symptoms of stress and anxiety. In conclusion, based on the benefits highlighted above, hobbies is shown to have a rewarding outcome. When people think about Hiking, they mostly think of nature, the great outdoors, a backpack and a tent. For most people, Hiking is an escape back to nature and a great way to get a good workout while forgetting all about the day to day hassles of city life. Why should you do hiking? Hiking is a great body exercise which will realty improve your overall physical condition. The natural waling motion provides you with a relatively low impact but effective workout. In its easiest form, Hiking is a very safe walk using clearly defined trails. Many people take a walk to clear their heads or to think about issues. Hiking could be a way of relaxing or something that can test your own capabilities and foster relationships with people who share the same types of recreational interest. REFERENCE Lee, Jamaica Travel and Culture .com (2009). Blue Mountain Peak – The Blue Mountains. Retrieved from http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/destinations/the_blue- mountains//blue-mountain-peak.htm The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (2014, September 25). What is hiking? Retrieved from http://www.abc-of-hiking.com/info/article-printer-version.asp?id=544 Scott, E., (2014), The Importance of Hobbies For Stress Relief. Retrieved from http://stress.about.com/od/funandgames/a/The-Importance-Of-Hobbies-For-Stress-Relief.htm Robinson, K. M., Smith, M.W., WebMD Magazine – Feature (2013, September 15). How Hiking is Good for Body and Mind. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/fitness- exercise/features/hiking-body-mind

Fast Food Nation Essay

Summary: All Americans effect the huge growth of fast food but adolescents play even more of a vital role in than the average consumer. Not only do teenagers consume fast food, but they work for it and steal from it because they are attracted to it the most. The fast food industry provides the easiest way for young people to get started and continue to succeed in our â€Å"Fast Food Nation. † Our country loves fast food, there is speedy service with cheap tasty food in over one million restaurants world wide. Though we all love it, we do not like the stories behind it. In 2004, Americans spent over 110 billion dollars on fast food, that’s more than higher education, computers, computer software and new cars combined (Scholosser, 3). Teenagers provide a huge role in the fast food industry. Teenagers work at these restaurants, eat at these restaurants, are objects of advertisements by these restaurants and steal from these restaurants more than any other age group. Ever since the age of three more than 75 percent of American children can recognize the face of Ronald McDonald. Since our nation is currently being raised around fast food it is only inevitable that as children grow, they only become more of a part of it everyday. The average American child begins to work around the age of 16 doing low wage low labor jobs. At anytime a teenager can walk into any fast food restaurant and apply for a job. Fast food restaurants prefer to employ teenagers because they are easily trained, less expensive to tend to than adults and are easier to control. Also since most teenagers still live at home they can afford to work for wages too low to even support an adult. â€Å"No other industry in the United States had a workforce so dominated by adolescents. About two-thirds of the nations fast food workers are under the age of twenty† (Scholosser, 68). Working in McDonalds is not difficult, but just tedious and long. Since most fast food restaurants are run my machines, it is up to these 17 year-old employs to push buttons and say commands. All Burger King wants is for things to get done faster, not how much effort is put into work, so teenagers feel working at Taco Bell or KFC won’t be as difficult as it will a strain. Any teenager working behind the counter at any fast food restaurant is given less respect than animals at the pet store. .†.. she hates the job and is desperate to quit. Working at the counter she has to deal with rude remarks and complaints. She is often yelled at by strangers angry that their foods taking to long or that something is wrong with their order. One elderly woman threw a hamburger at her because there was too much mustard on it† (Scholosser, 81). Though rudeness is a downside to a fast food job, there are perks for kids who do not need a lot. Many of the 200 dollar a week salary is used for teenage spending; clothes, nights out, cars and other desirable things. Teenagers run and continue the fast food work force every day, not because they have to but because it’s the best option available to them. Though we may not like the way the food is cooked or served; the way it tastes is still great. McDonalds makes a huge profit off of everything; soda fries and sandwiches all profit so largely, and teenagers are one of the most popular customers. A medium soda in McDonalds is $1. 29, it cost McDonalds $4. 25 per gallon of soda syrup, only about 9 cents worth of syrup is used in a medium drink, giving McDonalds almost a 95% profit. Soda consumption among teenagers has doubled within the past 20 years, reaching an average of twelve ounces of soda a day per child. (Scholosser, 54). With French fries McDonalds buy them frozen for 30 cents a pound, then sells them reheated in oil for 6 dollars a pound, pure profit pulled from the hands of teenagers. McDonalds makes billions upon billions of dollars annually by selling things for such a low price but really making the largest profit possible. Recently, fast food restaurants have become more attractive to armed robbers than a clothing store or gas station. Since fast food industries do almost all of their business in cash, others rely on credit card transactions. Robbery in fast food chains is not uncommon at all, even when most of it happens by their own employees, underage teenagers who are desperate for money. Though most of these robberies occur early in the morning or late at night when few people are working. â€Å"The typical employee stole about $218 a year and according to industry studies, about two thirds of the robberies at fast food restaurants involve current or former employees. † (Scholosser, 84). Employees have low pay, high turnover and know the restaurant, why not steal? McDonalds is already a billion dollar industry, many of the people think, its not going to hurt their business, they won’t even notice. However these robberies have led to deaths and injuries, and make teenagers realize what horrible conditions they are working in. All Americans effect the huge growth of fast food but adolescents play even more of a vital role in than the average consumer. Not only do teenagers consume fast food, but they work for it and steal from it because they are attracted to it the most. The fast food industry provides the easiest way for young people to get started and continue to succeed in our â€Å"Fast Food Nation. â€Å"

Study of Consumer Behaviour on Soaps Essays

Study of Consumer Behaviour on Soaps Essays Study of Consumer Behaviour on Soaps Paper Study of Consumer Behaviour on Soaps Paper Our research project studied the influence of price as the major factor in the purchase behavior of Indian consumers by studying the purchase behavior of soap in a sample of students. As price is traditionally considered as one of the most important of 4 P’s of marketing, and a review of past literature showed an existing link between price and the purchase behavior, the topic was chosen to study. A convenient sample of 40 students was asked to respond to questionnaire containing multiple choice, scale and dichotomous questions with a focus on price of soaps. The results were analyzed with the emphasis on finding the important attributes of soap considered by consumers and how they ranked of price among the most important attributes in soaps. Gender analyses of the results were also done to find the change of the perception of price among men and woman. Respondents were also tested on their knowledge of the phenomenon of hidden pricing. The results were analyzed and were plotted in graphs to arrive at the proof for testing our hypothesis. A. Introduction 1. Problem Statement Consumer behavior is a complex, dynamic, multidimensional process, and all marketing decisions are based on assumptions about consumer behavior. The 4 P’s (Price, promotion, product and place) are considered to be the marketing-mix variables that influence the consumers of a product. From a seller’s view, these four are the marketing tools available to influence buyers. From a buyer’s point of view, each of these marketing tools is designed to provide a customer benefit. Out of the marketing-mix variables, traditionally, price has been the major determinant of a buyer’s choice. This is still in case with large segments of buyers across the globe. Although non-price factors have gained a lot of importance in the last few decades, price still remains an important factor in determining sales and profitability. Price exerts its influence in FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods) and marketers have tried to introduce new factors such as superior packaging, better advertisements, and increased number of choices to reduce the influence of price. The increased efforts are more visible in this product category as there is more competition for all segments in this market. Despite the extensive research, marketers still have poorly understood pricing and pricing strategies have become very important in determining the success of a product and a company. 2. Research Objectives/Hypotheses The objective of this research is to provide the insight into the degree of influence of price as the most important factor in the purchase decision of soap by a consumer, in order to provide a clear insight into the effect of price and the change of price in product sales which will help marketers to develop better pricing strategies and to plan for the optimum mix of the marketing-mix variables. Null hypothesis: Price is the most important attribute that influences the purchasing decision of soaps. Alternate hypothesis: Price does not play a significant role in the purchase decision of soaps. 3. Rationale for Approach The study started with collecting and reviewing existing literature in consumer behavior to ascertain the various factors of influence. Pricing related studies are also taken into account to find and conclude the presence of a research gap in studies relating FMCG sector (soaps in particular) and price to the behavior of consumers in southern India. 4. Value: in terms of Possible Outcomes The outcomes will provide the answer to the research questions of whether price plays a role in consumer’s minds while evaluating soap as a product and how much of an influence does price play in the buying decision. It will also give us an insight into whether price has the effect of overcoming customer loyalty and change habits and buying pattern. 5. Limitations of the study 1. The sample was fairly homogenous in terms of education level and income level. 2. The shopping behavior of the sample was not varied. 3. The study did not focus on the discount offers given on soaps. B. Methodology/Approach 1. General Research Design 2. Specific Research Questions 1. What are the factors that play a role in consumer’s decision of purchase of soaps? 2. Is price the most important attribute on which the consumer bases his purchase decision? 3. Will a change in price of the soap influence the buying decision? 4. Will a price change lead to shift in the customer loyalty to particular brand? 3. Data Collection Population – The shopping population of the campus and surrounding areas Sample Design 40 (Convenience sample). Measurement methods Survey using personal, structured questionnaire composed of be multiple-choice, dichotomous, scale questions. 4. Questionnaire Format: This Questionnaire was structured in such a way that it includes the profile of the consumer and the following factors related to the consumer behavior. 1. Product/brand attributes 2. Buying pattern/behavior 3. Purchase frequency/ quantity 4. Price of the product 5. Influence of price on the purchase 6. Shift in customer loyalty due to price change 5. Research Schedule: Task |Proposed date of completion | |Collecting responses to questionnaire |30/11/2009 1/12/2009 | |Interpreting the responses from the questionnaire |03/12/2009 | |Discussion regarding analysis of data using statistical tool |05/12/2009 | |Application of the statistical analysis to the data collected. |09/12/2009 | |Forming the results and conclusion |11/12/2009 | C. Literature review: An Exploratory Study of Sales Promotion Activities in Toilet Soap Category: An Insight into Consumer and Retailer Perceptions Kureshi Sonal and Vyas Preeta. In this research paper, an attempt has been made to examine the nature of sales promotion activities in toilet soap category in In dia, study retailer perceptions with respect to these activities and also get an insight into consumer perceptions of these activities. Findings indicate that with respect to the nature of the schemes, premiums (free gifts) were found to be the most frequently used in both premium and popular toilet soap category, followed by price offs. Retailers’ perceived price offs had relatively greater impact compared to any other forms of sales promotion. In line with the retailers’ perceptions, the findings of consumer perceptions indicated that price offs were the most preferred type of sales promotion. Supplier Attributes That Impact Institutional Buying Behavior A study on FMCG supplies to Hotel Industry Githa S Heggde and D. Sudharani Ravindran. The study on the functional gap implied how and why a particular buyer or a group reacted to the decisions of the producer in selecting a particular product and its utilization. The study of this functional gap proved that effective positioning of the product made the market place work better so that the buyers make better decisions to buy the product. The study involved the consumer involvement in the decision making process through the involvement theory. This theory is about consumer learning, which presumes that the degree of interest in purchase of an item depends upon the risks involved. The involvement is also dependent on nature of the product or service and the psychology of the customer. Consumer buying behavior in Asian markets Mark Speece. The findings of this study indicated that Asian middle-class was primarily value-orientated. The specific criteria for choice that Asian consumers used was different for various product characteristics. There was strong value orientation for product quality issues and price. Asian consumers looked more closely at product characteristics to ensure a purchase was worth the price they were being asked to pay. Consumers balance off quality and price, which means that they wanted good products, but not necessarily the best which they consider too expensive, or the cheapest which they do not trust in quality terms. Within that, how consumers across Asian markets reach their decisions is not so different from how western consumers reach theirs. Consumer Buying Behavior of, and Perceptions towards, Retail brand baby products Adelina Broadbridge and Henry Morgan. For some consumers, retail brand products were regarded as superior to well known manufacturers brands (Gallup, 1997). A successful brand was perceived as possessins sustainable unique added values (de Chernatony and McDonald, 1998) or representing a variety of ideas and additional attributes (Gardner, 1955)and this was extended to many retail brand products. A higher risk tolerance usually occurred when the consumer required greater assurance about quality rather than price although for high priced items, social and performance risk slowed the growth of retail brands. D. Analysis of results: [pic] Fig 1. Ranking of soap attributes in purchase of soap Finding 1: Contrary to the assumption, Quality was ranked first by the majority of the people. [pic] Fig 2 Ranking of price by customers while purchasing soap Finding 2: 41. 6% of the respondents ranked price as the second most important attribute they consider while purchasing soap. The price sensitivity of the sample was checked. There were asked to identify for which price range increase they would change their brand. As shown in the bar chart below, most people said that they would change the brand only for a price increase of greater than 15%. [pic] Fig 3 Price sensitivity of consumers buying soap Segmenting the sample on the basis of the gender, the price sensitivity was checked again. It was seen that females showed greater price sensitivity towards higher levels of price increase, while the males showed greater price sensitivity at lower levels of price increase. [pic] Fig 4. Soap price sensitivity difference in males and females. Another aspect that was evaluated was if the respondents were aware of the phenomenon of hidden pricing in soaps. While a majority, i. e. , 85% knew about hidden pricing, a surprising percentage of only 68% said that they would change their brand due to hidden pricing. [pic][pic] Fig 5. Knowledge of hidden pricing among consumers and change in purchase behavior E. Summary: 1. After the analysis of results, we come to conclusion to reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternate hypothesis. 2. Hence, â€Å"Price is not the most significant factor in the purchase decision of soaps. â€Å" We can also see a number of other interesting conclusions – We can see that in the purview of soaps based on the considered sample, they are Majority of the respondents felt that quality is a stronger deciding factor than price. Most of the respondents were price sensitive only to the higher levels of price increase. Females are more brand loyal than males in the lower price ranges. They change brands only for a higher price increase. Though a majority of the respondents knew about the phenomenon of hidden pricing, some of them still don’t view it as a reason strong enough to change brands. F. Conclusion: G. Scope for further studies:

Every Company Is a Publishing Company

Every Company Is a Publishing Company Every Company Is a Publishing Company Every Company Is a Publishing Company By Mark Nichol A recent Wall Street Journal article that beamed a spotlight on sophomoric speaking and grammar gaffes in the workplace covered the issue fairly thoroughly but left unsaid some pertinent points. The article discussed the epidemic of informality in critical corporate settings such as staff meetings and in-person communication with clients: What do you do when employees seem ignorant of expectations for adopting the appropriate linguistic register in these contexts, using chatting vernacular (â€Å"You guys, like, cut it out!†) when a moderate degree of formality (â€Å"Please, let’s just have one person talk at a time†) or even a sober formality (â€Å"I wish to remind you to raise your hand if you wish to be called on to comment†) may be expected? It also discusses disturbingly colloquial correspondence, or that which is rife with typographical errors and poor grammar. The answer, for some companies, is to require employees to have one or more colleagues review letters and emails before they are sent out. Others hire consultants to train workers to become better writers. But both strategies have their weaknesses: Two or three heads are not necessarily better than one, especially if they are empty when it comes to writing skills. And writing workshops can only accomplish so much unless they are intensive and extensive and expensive. A combination of these approaches is best but still won’t produce flawless results, and many businesses are not willing or able to invest in the effort. Is this issue such a big deal? It depends on who you ask. This word nerd says, â€Å"Hell, yeah!† (or, depending on the pertinent linguistic register, â€Å"Indubitably.†). What does every enterprise have in common, besides selling a product, a service, or an idea? The answer: communication. All businesses must connect with current and prospective customers or clients, and partners, through transmission of language (usually at least primarily written language). Even if the only text the recipient sees is a business card, an invoice, or an email, the company’s reputation is on the line on every line. What’s the ideal solution? Every business publishes information (and, believe it or not, clients and customers notice poor and careless writing, even if they don’t recognize specific errors). So, treat your business like a publishing company, and institute an editorial process. At my last job before I began the current freelancing phase of my editing and writing career, I was responsible for the presentation of all content on the website of a prestigious educational foundation. Therefore, I considered it of paramount importance that the content be of outstanding quality. In addition to editing the journalistic content, I insisted on editing all marketing and advertising copy, I vetted job postings, I even pored through the site’s terms of use. Eventually, this comprehensive quality control became onerous and I delegated some responsibilities, but visitors had to work hard to find errors on that site. If you work at a sizeable company and you have responsibility for or are otherwise involved in the generation of business-to-business, business-to-client/customer, or even internal content, I urge you to consider or recommend designating the resident grammar geek, or a hiring a staff or contract editor, to serve as the conduit for at least the most significant communications or correspondence. Of course, only the smallest enterprises can monitor all messaging, and even then, requiring inspection of all email messages seems repressive. But the solution discussed above, perhaps combined with workshops and one-on-one consultation conducted by the designated editor, will have a significant positive impact on the quality of your company’s communications. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Types of RhymeOne Sheep, Two Sheep, One Fish, Two Fish . . .While vs. Whilst

Critically discuss Plato's theory of the psyche and relate it with Essay

Critically discuss Plato's theory of the psyche and relate it with managing today - Essay Example Plato understood that the human psyche is in constant exchange with the external social, cultural and political environment. The similarities between Plato’s and Freud’s conceptions of the psyche are relevant to modern business management because Freudian psychoanalysis is well entrenched in Human Resources Management practice. The continued utility of Plato’s theory of the psyche to modern managers is illustrated by its perusal in management seminars and workshops. Even the process of knowledge creation and transfer prevalent in management practice today has parallels to Plato’s ideas on knowledge. Plato’s theory of psyche remains an eminent source of wisdom and counsel to leaders in various fields today. Introduction: Plato is one of the most influential philosophers from the Hellenistic Age, whose ideas are still relevant to modern times. Business management as we know it today was not a preoccupation of Plato. For that matter, management of busi ness enterprises under a capitalist framework is a modern phenomenon ushered in by the Industrial Revolution of late 18th century. But Plato was a polymath, who forwarded treatises on a range of subjects. Questions of what constitutes good governance under a monarch was a focus of his thought. When we look closely, there are many parallels between the structure of a kingdom and that of a business corporation. Both are more or less authoritarian institutions with a top-down power hierarchy. With the net worth of many Fortune 500 corporations is equivalent to the GDP of some nations, corporate houses are rightly referred to as ‘empires’ in management literature. Hence, although the thoughts of Plato and that of Peter Drucker are separated by two millennia, the former can be seen as a management guru in his own right. In particular, Plato’s speculations and assertions on the nature of human psyche have withstood the test of time and are a useful aid to modern manage rs. This essay will flesh out this thesis in detail. Body of Essay: It is fair to state that of all ancient Greek philosophers, it was Plato, who defined and characterized the nature of the psyche in great detail. Plato was the one who â€Å"defined the abstract and the rational as equivalent to the moral good. He equated self-knowledge with self-restraint, and proclaimed that knowledge is virtue.... Lack of knowledge and the irrational, were equated with moral evil, and then, with madness.† (Buckley, 2001, p. 452) For Plato, the ‘soma’ makes up the physical body, while the psyche is the what animates a body and gives it life. Psyche is what distinguishes a living creature from a dead one. The body, on the other hand, plays host to the psyche and can either restrict or extend the expression of psyche. According to Plato, the psyche is not made of substance and it is immortal. Plato divided human psyche into three components – the rational, affective and ap petitive. In simple terms, examples of appetites or desires are thirst, hunger, etc. The ability to overcome the appetites is the function of the rational. And the appetitive, also called the Spirit is the moral compass as attuned by social norms. He defined conflict as a â€Å"struggle between the rational and the appetitive portions with each trying to enlist the affective portion on its side." (Buckley, 2001, p.453) For example, conflicts could arise in simple situation like these: I know it is wrong to lie, but can’