A Wrinkle in Time Book Report Tips

A Wrinkle in Time was written by Madeleine L’Engle and published in 1962 by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux of New York. Setting The scenes of A Wrinkle in Time occur in the home of the protagonist and on a variety of planets. In this type of fantasy novel, the willing suspension of disbelief is essential to a deeper understanding of the story. The reader must embrace the other worlds as symbolic of larger abstract ideas. Main Characters Meg Murry, the protagonist of the story. Meg is 14 and considers herself a misfit among her peers. She is an adolescent lacking in maturity and confidence who embarks on a quest to find her father.Charles Wallace Murry, Meg’s five-year-old brother. Charles is a genius and has some telepathic ability. He accompanies his sister on their journey.Calvin O’Keefe, Meg’s close friend and, though popular at school, also considers himself odd next to his peers and family.Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who Mrs. Which, three angelic aliens who accompany the children on their journey.IT The Black Thing, the two antagonists of the novel. Both creatures represent the ultimate evil. Plot A Wrinkle in Time is the story of the Murry children and their search for their missing scientist father. Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin are guided by three aliens who act as guardian angels, and who battle the force of The Black Thing as it tries to overcome the universe with evil. As the children move through space and time with the Tesseract, they are met with several challenges that require them to prove their worth. Most important is Meg’s journey to rescue her brother as it is during this time that she must overcome her fears and self-serving immaturity to succeed. Questions and Themes to Ponder Examine the theme of maturity: How does Meg transform over the course of the book?How does Charles Wallace act as a foil to Meg?Why does Charles Wallace become susceptible to the influence of IT? Examine the theme of good vs. evil: Archetypes are recurring symbols that are used repeatedly in art and literature.What archetypes are found in this book and how do they contribute to the development of this theme? What roles do the Murry parents play? How do the goals of IT threaten the Murry family and society at large? Consider the role of religion in the novel: Is there irony in the fact that one of the main characters is named Calvin? Why?How is the Christian ethic depicted? Possible First Sentences â€Å"Good and evil are concepts that transcend the finite regions of time and space.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fear keeps individuals from succeeding and societies from evolving.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Physical journeys often parallel journeys taken within oneself.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Maturation is a common theme in children’s literature.†

ACT Reading Test Questions, Content, and Scores

Getting ready to master the ACT test? For those high school students who have decided to take the ACT as your college admissions test, and for those required to take it as a high school exit exam, youd better prepare yourself for the ACT Reading portion of the exam. The ACT Reading section is one of five sections upon which you will be during the ACT Test, and for many students, it is the most difficult. Not only will you need reading strategies to master it, but you will also need to practice, practice, practice. The other test sections youll need to prepare for are as follows: ACT EnglishACT MathematicsACT Science ReasoningThe Enhanced ACT Writing Test The ACT Reading Basics When you flip open your testing booklet to the ACT Reading portion, youll face the following:   40 questions35 minutes4 reading passages with 10 multiple choice questions following each reading passage.3 of the reading passages contain one long passage. One of the reading passages contains a pair of related passages.   Although it seems like it would be relatively easy to answer forty questions in 35 minutes, this test is difficult because you also must read the four accompanying passages or sets of passages in addition to answering the questions. Alone, or in pairs, the passages are roughly 80 to 90 lines in length.   ACT Reading Scores Just like the other ACT sections, the ACT Reading section can earn you between 1 and 36 points. The average ACT Reading score is approximately a 20, but your fellow test-takers are scoring higher than that to get into the really good schools. This score is also combined with the Writing score and English score to give you an ELA average score out of 36.   ACT Reading Skills The ACT Reading section does not test your memorization of vocabulary words in isolation, facts outside of the text, or logical skills. Here are the skills on which youll be tested: Key Ideas and Details: (approximately 22 to 24 questions) Finding the main ideaSummarizing  Making an inferenceUnderstanding sequence of eventsUnderstanding cause and effect relationshipsMaking comparisons Craft and Structure: (approximately 10 to 12 questions) Understanding  authors tone  Understanding  authors purposeAnalyzing characters points of viewUnderstanding vocabulary words in contextAnalyzing text structure Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: (approximately 5 to 7 questions) Analyzing and evaluating authors claimsDifferentiating between fact and opinionUsing evidence to connect texts ACT Reading Test Content The good news is that you wont have to interpret poetry. All the text on the ACT Reading section is prose. As  stated before, you will not be held accountable for knowledge outside of the text, so you dont need to check out books from the library to cram on these topics. Just keep in mind that you could be reading passages about one of the following subjects, so at least youll know what youre up against. Social Studies: anthropology, archaeology, biography, business, economics, education, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology.Natural Sciences: anatomy, astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, geology, medicine, meteorology, microbiology, natural history, physiology, physics, technology, and zoology.Prose Fiction: short stories or excerpts from short stories or novels.Humanities: memoirs and personal essays and in the content areas of architecture, art, dance, ethics, film, language, literary criticism, music, philosophy, radio, television, and theater. ACT Reading Strategies Its imperative that you prepare for  ACT Reading strategies  for this test. Since youll have to answer 40 questions in just 30 minutes and read the four passages (either one long passage or two shorter, related passages), you will not have enough time to just go at it like you usually would in class. You must use some strategies before plunging in, or else you may only get to two or three of the passages. Incorporating even some of the reading strategies along with reading comprehension activities can help boost your score.

Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay - 1213 Words

Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian writer, poet, professor and critic born in Ogidi, Anambra a Igbo village in Nigeria. Achebe is the first author that illustrates the European colonization from the viewpoint of an African in his novel, Things fall Apart. The novels Achebe writes addresses the issues facing Nigeria in the 1890’s. The main issue in this novel is the clash between the traditions and culture of the native Umuofians and the forceful colonization of the missionaries. One of the main points in African Diaspora is to discuss the effects of European colonization around the world. Achebe’s work emblematizes the effects of European invasion in his community. The teachings of African Diaspora and the teachings in Achebe literary work coincide with one another. This novel is one of the most influential piece of literature for African Americans to learn about their history, Achebe uses characters, setting, writing style, and a dramatic plot to liberate minds from European claims of Africans uncivilization. Things fall apart is set in 19th century Nigeria and highlights pre and post colonial imperial era. The novel is first published to â€Å" present a complex, dynamic society to a western audience who perceived African society as primitive, simple and backward† (Achebe). The novel showcases the impact of European missionaries invasion of his igbo village along with the change that erupted within the society as a result of the invasion. The aim of this novel is to educateShow MoreRelatedChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1719 Words   |  7 PagesThings fall apart is a classic novel written around the turn of the century, the novel focuses on the protagonist who we can also call a hero, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a wealthy and respected leader within the Igbo tribe of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. Strong individual with a passionate belief in all the values and traditions of his people. Chinua Achebe presents Okonkwo as a particular kind of tragic pro tagonist, a great man who carries the fate of his people. Okonkwo is a man who is inflexible andRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1033 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Chinua Achebe is a famous Nigerian novelist in worldwide. Things fall apart is Chinua Achebe’s first novel published in 1958, the year after Ghana became the first African nation to gain independence. And this novel is one of the first African novels to gain worldwide recognition. (Phil Mongredien, 2010) This novel presents people a story of an African Igbo tribal hero, Okonkwo, from his growth to death. The fate of Okonkwo also indicates the fate of Africa caused by the colonizationRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart883 Words   |  4 Pagesdehumanize the native population and convince themselves that they are helping. Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart attempts to correct these misguided views of African societies by portraying a more complex culture that values peace, and the art of conversation. Achebe also tries to portray the idea that not all European people they come in contact with are aggressive, and misconstrued in their view of the African societ ies. Achebe tries to show us the value of his society through repeated views into conversationsRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1410 Words   |  6 PagesTeddy Manfre Ms. Blass ENG 209-001 April 24, 2017 Things Fall Apart In 1958, Chinua Achebe a famous Nigerian author publishes one of his most famous novels Things Fall Apart. The novel takes place in a Nigerian village called Umuofia. During the time that this novel is published Nigeria is being criticized by the Europeans for being uncivilized. In response, Achebe uses his brilliance in this novel to express the valued history of his people to his audience. His focus in the novel is on the pre-colonizedRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1015 Words   |  5 PagesIn his novel Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe utilizes his distinctive writing style in order to accurately capture the culture and customs of the Igbo people despite writing his story in a foreign language. Five aspects of Achebe’s style that make his writing unique is the straightforward diction present in dialogue, the inclusion of native parables convey Igbo life authentically, the inclusion of native Igbo words and phrases, detailed descriptions of nature and the usage of figurative languageRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1702 Words   |  7 PagesTitle: Things Fall Apart Biographical information about the author: Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. He had an early career as a radio host, and later became the Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nigeria. After moving to America, he became an English professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Achebe has won numerous awards for his poetry and fiction, including the Man Booker prize and Commonwealth Poetry Price. He currently teaches at Bard College. Author: Chinua AchebeRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesCulture is an Important Element of Society Chinua Achebe is the author of when Things Fall Apart while Joseph Conrad authored Heart of Darkness. Conrad and Achebe set their individual titles in Africa; Achebe is an African writer whereas Conrad is Polish-British. The authors draw strength from their backgrounds to validity the authenticity of their fictional novels. Conrad writes from his experiences in the British and French navies while Achebe uses his African heritage. The theme of culture isRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1248 Words   |  5 PagesChris Lowndes Ms. Cook A.P.L.C. 21 October 2015 We Are Family: Hardships in One s Family in Things Fall Apart Specific attributes correlate with each other to help create or not create the ideal strong family. However, through those attributes arise conflicts and major disputes. This issue of trying to achieve and create a strong family is of immense importance in one’s life, especially in Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, a milestone in African literature. For instance, the father leaves his legacyRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1682 Words   |  7 Pagescertain degree of the priest class, libation, holidays, creation stories, divine systems of punishments and rewards. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a story of tragic fall of a protagonist and the Igbo culture. Achebe demonstrates different examples and situations of where an African culture, in the instances of tribal religions, did certain things because of their tradition is and the way they developed into. African cultures pondered life mysteries and articulated theirRead Mo reChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1314 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebe masterpiece â€Å"Things Fall Apart† (1959) is the classic story of Okonkwo, a young man who strives to be revered by his village and family but because of his own internal character flaws meets his own demise. In the Igbo culture, family traditions are an important narrative throughout the novel. Okonkwo, the protagonist character of this story, begins with many attributes of what would be concluded as a hero with his cultural society. He is hard working, a material provider, feared and

Corrective Essay Military Bearing and Respect - 857 Words

According to Field Manual 6-22, â€Å"Military Bearing is defined as having or projecting a commanding presence and a professional image of authority†. The United States Army is structured on several values and principles that it upholds, among these are military bearing, discipline and respect. Leaders should be able to make these big decisions with all his confidence projecting out with his military bearing. A leader should look like a leader, disciplined, confident, and has the skills and abilities to persuade and provide their subordinates with the motivation, direction and purpose so as to accomplish a mission without being easily rattled by problems that arises. The Three General Orders of a Soldier, The articles of UCMJ, as well as†¦show more content†¦Dependability is a major aspect of military bearing. Without dependability, one can neither perform properly in the workspace nor be depended upon by their coworkers, or chain of command to carry out their military duties adequately. A military member is required to be punctual, and reliable. Duty requires a willingness to accept full responsibility for your actions and for your subordinates performance. It also requires a leader to take the initiative and anticipate requirements based on the situation. Duty means accomplishing all assigned tasks to the best of your ability. The proper and faithful performance of duty is the standard. The value and efficiency of the soldier is measured, and the measure of his efficiency and value is not determined by the prominence of the duty which he performs. Military bearing is to conduct yourself with dignity and in such a manner to reflect credit upon the armed services. Military bearing exists when this individual is proud of their military service. When you exhibit military bearing you are showing lower enlisted soldiers how to act and giving them an example to follow. Knowing how to properly march, stand at attention, parade rest, as well as all other facing movements establishes one’s ability to follow orders precisely. A lot of self-discipline comes with having good military bearing, which explains and reinforces the necessity to have it. Not everyone has good military bearing. MilitaryShow MoreRelatedCorrective Action for Disrespecting Higher Ranking Military Personal1268 Words   |  5 PagesThis essay is on tact, professionalism, respect and disrespect, as part of my corrective action for disrespecting higher ranking military personal. I will start this essay off with defining each of the subjects so that the reader may have a full understanding on what each mean. Tact is the first subject on which I am suppose to include in this essay, tact is defined as a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations. The secondRead MoreNon-commissioned Officer and United States Essay1160 Words   |  5 Pagesdefinition of disrespect is lack of respect, discourtesy, or rudeness. In the United States Military, there are rules and regulations you must follow, one of them being respect to a non commissioned officer. No matter the circumstance, whether you agree or not, you are not allowed to talk back, physically fight back, or question judgment. If this does happen, there are consequences and repercussions from the actions taken on your part. 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As I’m often told it’s the little stuff that really matter because all the little things amount to bigger things. Each and every soldier is responsible for their appearance, being on time, physical fitness and a good deal of other thing that form their responsibilitiesRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesPHILADELPHIA Temple University Press 1601 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122 www.temple.edu/tempress Copyright  © 2010 by Temple University All rights reserved Published 2010 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Essays on twentieth century history / edited by Michael Peter Adas for the American Historical Association. p. cm.—(Critical perspectives on the past) Includes bibliographical references. 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[pic] Jai Mahadik Assistant Project Director , DRDO In Military parlons it is said Time spent in recce is never wasted eventaully is the major cause of the result of a military operation In PM terms it refers to the scope definition. Which certainly mayRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesPerformance Management and EEO 235 The Appraisal Process 236 Establish Performance Standards 236 Communicate Expectations 236 Measure Actual Performance 236 Compare Actual Performance with Standards 237 Discuss the Appraisal with the Employee 237 Initiate Corrective Action if Necessary 237 Appraisal Methods 237 Evaluating Absolute Standards 237 Critical Incident Appraisal 238 Checklist Appraisal 238 Graphic Rating Scale Appraisal 238 Forced-Choice Appraisal 239 Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales 240 RelativeRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesexploring organization theory the book increases the understanding of a field that in recent years has become ever more fragmented. Organization theory is central to managing, organizing and reflecting on both formal and informal structures, and in this respect you will find this book timely, interesting and valuable. 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Unions in Canada Free Essays

Abstract Unions have been struggling in Canada’s current economy. The rate of workers joining unions is on a downward slide, noticeably so in the public sector, despite the fact the unions helped to stabilize and grow the economy in the past. Due to the current economic turmoil, unions have had to resort to strategies that will allow them to lower operating costs and compete with global competitors. We will write a custom essay sample on Unions in Canada or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although unions are facing difficulties, they are still of benefit to workers. History of Unions in Canada and their Effects on the Economy Unions have been apart of Canadian history since the early 1800’s. Records show tradesmen in the Maritimes having unions during the war of 1812 despite such organizations not being legalized in Canada until 1872 (Maple Leaf Web). Approximately 31% of all workers in Canada belong to unions (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada)(Canadian Labour Congress). The public sector – including schools, hospitals, and crown corporations – have a unionization rate of 71%, while in the private sector the rate is 16% and falling (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2012). Historians have credited the growth in Canada’s middle-class to unions because they offered higher wages and job security, which allowed for members to have extra income to spend on commodities such houses, clothing, cars, etcetera. This increased the demand for those items, and helped grow and stabilize the economy (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada). Although unions were of benefit in the past, membership has been on a 30-year decline (Figure 1) and the usefulness of such organizations has come into question due to unionized workers pay and benefits lagging behind workers who are non-unionized (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2012). This report will cover the history of unions in Canada, and their impact on the Canadian economy. The factors covered suggest that unions are still of benefit at the present. History of Unions in Canada The Canadian union movement was influenced by Britain and the United States (Class Net)(Maple Leaf Web). British tradesmen brought over the tradition of the organizations and caused several British unions to open branches in Canada. However, unions weren’t legalized in Canada until 1872 after the Toronto Printers’ Strike (workers were protesting for nine-hour work days), and the first national labour organization was the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada (TLC), which was formed in 1873 (Maple Leaf Web). Early legislation of unions was derived from the British structure, while the current legislation has been developed from post-World War 2 United States unions (Class Net). Members have historically been those in the trades – electricians, miners, construction workers, etc -, nursing, teaching, journalism, artistic fields, and athletics (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada). Unions and the Economy In the past unions helped stabilize and grow the economy by decreasing the divide between rich and poor. In current economic times, unionization rates have fallen (Figure 1) causing the pay difference between unionized and non-unionized workers to grow (Figure 2) (Mine Mill 598). This has resulted in workers not having the excess income to spend to help the economy recover, or the money to pay extra taxes to support public services such as schools, roads, and health care. Despite this difference, United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW) has stated that even workers who have never belonged to a union have benefited by their existence, and that Canada is one of the top five most prosperous countries in the world because of them (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada). The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) states that union members earn almost $7 per hour more then non-unionized workers, and that number increases to $7. 95 per hour for many women. They also state that 88. 5% of members receive benefits not related to wage, such as prescription drugs and dental plans, and that 92. 3% of large workplaces have pension plans, where as only 68. 4% of non-unionized workplaces have them. For small, non-unionized workplaces, 31. 1% offered health-related benefits, and only 12. 5% had pension plans. In small workplaces that were unionized, those numbers climb to 47. 6% and 34. % respectively (Canadian Labour Congress). However, due to global rivals in various fields of work operating at lower costs, Canadian unions have begun to implement two-tier wages; a technique that was used in the 1980s and 1990s. It involves workers under new contracts to start a lower wages then previously contracted members. New workers will be on par with existing workers after 10 ye ars, though some industries – the auto manufacturing industry, for example – have fought to ensure new workers never converge with current employees wages. It is believed such strategies will be common in the future (Globe and Mail, 2012). Conclusion Unions were extremely beneficial for workers when they were first introduced due to the bonuses they offered, increased wages, job security, and the effects such extras would have on the over all economy. In the current economy unions are viewed as unneeded, which has stemmed the decline in unionization rates and prevented the organizations from being as useful as they could be. Unions are facing struggles in the current economy, but despite such troubles they are still of use in the present because their impact reaches further then just their members, and helps to stabilize the economy. References Maple Leaf Web. History of Unions in Canada. Retrieved From: http://www. mapleleafweb. com/old/education/spotlight/issue_51/history. html United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW). Facts About Unions. Retrieved from: http://www. ufcw. ca/index. php? option=com_contentview=articleid=29Itemid=49lang=en#link3 Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). Union Advantage. Retrieved from: http://www. canadianlabour. ca/about-clc/union-advantage Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC). (2012). Unions on Decline in Private Sector. Retrieved from: http://www. cbc. ca/news/canada/story/2012/09/02/unions-labour-canada-decline. html Class Net. History and Development of Unions in Canada. Retrieved from: https://classnet. wcdsb. ca/sec/StB/Gr12/History/law/Shared%20Documents/Labour%20Law/(A)HistoryandDevelopmentofUNIONSinCanada. pdf Mine Mill 598. (2009). Unionization Fact Sheet. Retrieved from: http://www. minemill598. com/PDF/editorials/UNIONIZATION_FactSheets_Sept2009. pdf Globe and Mail. (2012). Two-Tier Wage Scales on the Increase in Canada. How to cite Unions in Canada, Essay examples

Creative Writing World War I Letter Home Essay Example For Students

Creative Writing World War I: Letter Home Essay Creative Writing World War I: Letter HomeDear Mum,How are you getting on? I hope that Dads cold is better. Send my bestwishes to everyone!I am writing to you from the barracks of our regiment. My training isgoing well; I have many good friends here, and although the training I have beengetting is necessary, I cannot wait to finish it, and get out to the Front,because the chances are that the war will be over within a few months, and Iwant to get a good chance to have my go at the Boche. All kinds of rumours are spreading through the regiment about the thingsthat the Boche are doing. They are supposed to have committed all sorts ofatrocities in Belgium, such as butchering defenceless, innocent women andchildren, and also raping and pillaging. I cannot understand why anyone would not want to take their place inKitcheners New Army; it makes me angry that cowards should be able to duck outof their responsibility to their country. The whole idea of conscientiousobjection seems absurd to me; it is just a front used to cover cowardice. Conchies dont object to war, they are just scared that they might get hurt. They should see this war for what it is: a chance to help and serve theircountry, and earn some glory, both for themselves, and for Britain. The Boche needs to be taught a lesson; they cannot expect to just marcharound the globe, invading countries for no reason, other than selfishness. Ifwe do not step in and act decisively soon, who knows where they will stop?How can the army act decisively if many of the men who should besoldiers decide to stay at home because they are scared?Those who claim that their religion stops them from fighting are in thewrong as well; I am a religious man, and God has said to me (and I believe him)that He agrees with our fighting the war; God is on our side!Lots of Love- END FIRST LETTERDear Mum,I am writing this letter to you from one of the support trenches, abouthalf a mile back from the front line. I am sorry that I have not been able towrite properly to you for the past few weeks, but you can probably guess how itis out here. Everywhere you look, dead bodies are piling up, as we (ourbattalion) sit here, there is an almost constant flow of dead and injuredsoldiers from the front. When you hear about the glorious victories achieved byour boys, dont forget that we are losing men too; it is so depressing to hearthe numbers at roll calls gradually going down. Whether you, or the man who isnext to you dies, and also when it happens is completely random, there is nojustice to it; great men, generous, cheerful men, who are lights to us all, theyjust disappear without warning, just like everyone else. It is impossible to get any real sleep here; yes you can shut your eyes,and call that being asleep, but you never really relax; there is always the fearlingering over you that the Boche might overrun the trenches at any time, orthat the perpetual thunder of the shells crashing down on the trenches mightstart to move in this direction, and the whistling projectiles might startslamming into the ground around you, throwing mountains of earth into the sky,or releasing their deadly cargoes of choking, blinding, gas into your lungs. .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c , .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .postImageUrl , .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c , .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c:hover , .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c:visited , .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c:active { border:0!important; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c:active , .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u366058c25b390e51289b28e0fcc1b04c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Southern Voting behavior since EssaySometimes you do not take your boots off for days and days on end, and when youdo, you suffer from Trench Foot, a rotting disease. The conditions here are worse than you could imagine; when it snows, itis so bitterly cold that quite a few of us get gangrene. But the worst thing isthat generally the drainage in the trenches is awful when the snow melts, ithas nowhere to go to, the ground is already sodden, and so huge puddles build up. But they are not normal puddles; they have a consistency like treacle, and inplaces they are so deep that it is not unusual for injured Tommies who fall intothem to drown, especially if they are trying to make their own way to a firstaid post. I expect that we will be sent back up to the front-line trenches inthree or four days. The atmosphere in the trenches just before the order isreceived to go over the top is about the most depressing imaginable you lookaround at the men who you are serving with , and you realise that this may wellbe the last time you see some, or all of them. The number of casualties wesustain in this action is the highest of any of the action we perform. Theground in no-mans land is more like glue than treacle, because it is churned upso often by the shells that rain down on it. You are supposed to advance calmlyas a line, but the line breaks up quickly, as men fall from machine gun fire, ordrop behind because they cannot move through the thick mud. Then we reach therazor wire, which is supposed to have been cut by shellfire, but hardly ever has,so you have to stop, and pick your way through it. While you are doing th..is, youare a sitting duck for Fritzs machine guns. If you do take the Boches tren chthen they will probably counter-attack within the hour. The whole cycle repeatsendlessly. Some of the Tommies, upon realising the sorry state of affairs thatexists here, resort to getting a self inflicted Blighty a wound that isserious enough to merit their return to Blighty (hence the name), but notserious enough to cause any permanent damage. You may think that such behaviouris understandable, given the circumstances, but I urge you to withhold anycompassion you may feel for them, because they, like Conchies, are just cowards. Their course of action could be seen as even more cowardly than that of Conchies They are abandoning their share of the fighting, and increasing the burdenupon others, who are supposed to be their friends. Conchies, though, are the worst without exception; they openlydisapprove of the war, they claim that their consciences forbade their takingpart in the war, and also from helping in the factories, because that would beencouraging the war effort. Yet they are more than happy to eat the food thathas been brought to England for the nation by sailors who risked life and limbto bring the food to them from abroad past the Boche and their mines, and ships. How are you and Dad getting on at home? I hear that the Zepp. raids aregetting quite bad around you. All that you need to do is to pray to God; by amiracle, He has kept me safe and alive here, and if He will do that, then Hewill surely guard you if you ask him to. We were all so misguided and naive to believe that the war would be overas quickly as by Christmas, but I think that this war cannot go on for muchlonger; we are gradually pushingFritz back, and we have been told that theyhave been taking far worse casualties than we have. I think that the Boche willget fed up of this war before we do. .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 , .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .postImageUrl , .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 , .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12:hover , .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12:visited , .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12:active { border:0!important; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12:active , .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12 .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1c9a9203ee5cb2a7cc0239c06c45dc12:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Human Rights Watch International Condemns Greece f EssayPray to God that He should keep me safe here until the Boche admitdefeat, and I will pray that you and Dad are kept safe from the Zepp. raids. Lots of love,- END SECOND LETTERDear Mum,I am still in the St. Marys Nursing Home in Broadstairs. They say thatI have almost completely recovered from the trauma, and I should be able toleave this place within the next two months. I think that I should be impatientto leave, but being here gives me a lot of time to think do I really have thatmuch to leave for? I know that I will always have you and Dad, but have I reallyreturned to A Land Fit for Heroes, as had been promised by the politicians?The country to which we have returned seems to be an entirely differentone to the one that we left when we left, the country was full of enthusiasm,we were encouraged to enlist indeed, anyone who did not enlist for service wasmade into a pariah. The country to which I have returned is recession-hit, andscarred by battle. No-one here can even start to understand the loss experiencedby all of the Tommies who fought. That is not their fault, it is impossible tounderstand how it feels to watch yo ur best friends dying one by one, and beingtotally unable to prevent it, or the fear that the next attack of the Bochemight be the one where a bullet hits you in the head, that that you might notmake it back from the next offensive, or that maybe you wont be killed but justbe left stranded in no-mans land, with one of your legs blown off, that thenext shell might explode on you. That this moment might be your last. Very few realise that the scars carried by Tommies are not just thosefrom amputations, but also from the things that we saw, and heard. Thecontinuous drumming of the deluge of shells that continued for four years hassent large numbers of Tommies mad. The evil shells that spewed mustard gas intoour trenches will be remembered for ever by those who saw them and their effects. Men who are in this nursing home still complain that the pernicious gas hascaused them permanent damage, they say that their hearing has been impaired, ortheir eyesight, or their breathing. What am I supposed to do upon being discharged? I have been trained onlyin how to kill, but I couldnt stand up to a life in the army. I have killedenough people for one lifetime. What kind of job can I get? I couldnt go andstudy books now, not after what I have seen and done. For four years, I have lived close to all of the friends I had in theworld; the friends changed, but the camaraderie was always the same -now Ihave no-one in the world apart from you. The loss is not just my own. The country has been robbed of an entiregeneration of young men, and what have we accomplished, in return for this greatloss? We are called the winners, but what does that mean? Have we actually wonanything? It feels as though we have been betrayed, not just by the politicians,but by everyone. Yours,

Comparison of Partnership & Joint Venture-Free Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Key Features of Partnership as Compared to Joint Venture. Answer: Partnership Risks and rewards In a partnership the risk and rewards of the business is shared by all individuals Share of profits In a partnership every partner has the right to share profit and losses equally if the contrary is not mentioned in the partnership agreement. The sharing may also depend upon the investment made by the partners. Unlimited Liability The partners in a partnership business are severally and jointly responsible for all the obligations and debts of the business to an unlimited extent. This includes damages and loss from wrongful omissions or acts of the other partners and the potential liabilities towards any third party. Decision Making All partners have the right to make decisions in relation to the business which they own unless they are not dormant partners. Ownership sharing The ownership of the assets of the business is shared by all the partners of the business. However there may be an agreement that the business may utilize the assets which solely belongs to one of the partners. Flexibility The structure of partnership is flexible and provides freedom in relation to how the business should be financed and managed as in case of a sole proprietorship. Privacy the constitutional and financial matters of a partnership are totally private and confidential. Any disclosure in relation to such matters are undertaken as per the interest of the partners Taxation The partnership business does not have any separate business identity and therefore it does not have to pay any tax. The partners are liable to pay all the tax in relation to the business as they and the business are the same. Tenure A partnership is not dine for the purpose of one or two projects but it is initiated for long term business End A partnership comes to an end by the death of its partners Joint venture A joint venture is carried for the purpose of a specific project and comes to an end once the purpose has been received. It is a form of special partnership which does not have a firm name The going concern accounting concept is not followed by a joint venture The parties to a joint venture are called co-ventures. It is a form of temporary business activity Profit and losses are distributed in agreed proportion and where there is no agreement than equally It is an agreement for poling business abilities and capital to make profit (Mann and Roberts 2011) Legislations governing partnership and Joint venture in Australia There are legislation which given partnership in Australia. However Joint ventures do not have any specific law and are governed by common law such as Contract law, Negligence and Agency Law. List of partnership legislations in Australia Jurisdiction Legislation Commonwealth Partnership Act 1963 New South Wales Partnership Act 1892 Queensland Partnership Act 1891 Tasmania Partnership Act 1891 South Australia Partnership Act 1891 West Australia Partnership Act 1895 Victoria Partnership Act 1958 Northern Territories Partnership Act 1997 Source: Created by Author Differences Between partnership and Joint venture A joint venture is a contractual agreement which take place between two or more individuals of companies which aims to undertake a prescribed operation. On the other hand a partnership is an agreement between two or more parties through which they agree to share both profit and losses. The partnership comes to an end only where there are differences among the partners or one of the partners have died or a new partner has been admitted. On the other hand a joint venture comes to an and as soon as the specific purpose of the venture has been accomplished (Mann and Roberts 2011). Advice to the parties For the purpose of choosing a business structure it is important to assess the features of the structure and the requirements of the business. It has been provided that Xiaojing, Lance and Nick wish to work together to operate an herbal product business. This is a form of business which needs to be continued in the long run. Therefore the structure required for the purpose of carrying out the business activity has to be in accordance to the business needs. Upon the analysis of joint venture and partnership it can be clearly identified that partnership is a better form of unincorporated business as compared to a joint venture for carrying out long term business operations. According to Werneck and Saadi (2015) people or organization who carry out joint ventures usually has the purpose of property developments, transportation agreements, Mining syndicates or publishing agreements. These activities are generally for a short term period. Therefore it can be said that partnership is the b est possible unincorporated business structure for the herbal product business as it would only be successful in the long run. In a partnership the partners would be more responsible for the overall functioning of the business and not only take care of their own functional areas but also the operational areas of their partners as they would be directly affected by it. It may be argued that a joint venture may provide the parties advantages in relation to tax benefits. However a partnership business may give them scope for significant expansion and the tax implications are to an extent which may persuade selecting joint venture as a form of business. The courts do not assess whether a business is a joint venture or a partnership based upon the name which has been provided to it but based on the features of the business. Here it is clear that the business is to be carried out on a permanent basis and not a temporary basis by the three individuals. The structure of partnership would also allow the partners to have significant control of the business and change the structure to an incorporated company in the future. In addition it has been provided by Hynes and Loewenstein (2011) that in joint venture although functions are sorted out the commitment of the co-ventures are not as much as that in a partnership business. Therefore it is advised to Xiaojing, Lance and Nick to carry on the herbal product business in form of a partnership. References Cheeseman, H.R. and Garvey, J.R., 2014.Business law. Pearson. Hynes, J.D. and Loewenstein, M.J., 2011. Agency, Partnership, and the LLC: The Law of Unincorporated Business Enterprises: Cases, Materials, Problems. LexisNexis. Mallor, J., Barnes, A.J., Bowers, L.T. and Langvardt, A., 2012.Business law. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Mann, R.A. and Roberts, B.S., 2011.Smith and Robersons business law. Cengage Learning. Werneck, B. and Saadi, M. eds., 2015.The public-private partnership law review. Law Business Research Limited.

Terms of poetry Essay Example For Students

Terms of poetry Essay Stanza: grouped set of lines within a poem. Prosody: the study of metrical structure. Rhythm: a regular, repeated pattern of sounds or movements. Rhyme: a word agreeing with another in terminal sound. Rhyme scheme: the pattern of rhymes used In a poem. Sound devices: elements of literature and poetry that emphasize sound. End rhyme: rhyme of the terminal syllables of lines of poetry. Alliteration: stylistic device In which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together In a series. Assonance: resemblance of sounds. Onomatopoeia: the formation of a word by Immolation of a sound. Couplet: a pair of successive lines of verse, especially a pair that rhymes and Is of the same length. Sonnet: A 14-Ellen verse form usually having one of several conventional rhyme schemes and each line has 10 syllables. Quatrains: a stanza or poem of four lines, usually with alternate rhymes. Meter: a poetic measure: an arrangement of words in regularly measured, patterned, or rhythmic lines or verses. We will write a custom essay on Terms of poetry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Iambic pentameter: a kind of rhythmic pattern that consists of five iambs (a metrical foot that consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one) per line. Ballad: a simple narrative poem of folk origin composed in short stanzas and adapted for singing. Rhyme scheme: the pattern of rhymes used in a poem. Rhyme of the terminal syllables of lines of poetry. Alliteration: stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a Onomatopoeia: the formation of a word by imitation of a sound. Couplet: a pair of Sonnet: A 14-line verse form usually having one of several conventional rhyme usually with alternate rhymes. Meter: a poetic measure; an arrangement of words In kind of rhythmic pattern that consists of five lambs (a metrical foot that consists of an poem of folk origin composed In short stanzas and adapted for singing. Successive lines of verse, especially a pair that rhymes and is of the same length. Usually with alternate rhymes. Meter: a poetic measure; an arrangement of words in poem of folk origin composed in short stanzas and adapted for singing. Stanza: grouped set of lines within a poem.

Laws governing joint ventures and competition

buy custom Homeland Security Management System essay

buy custom Homeland Security Management System essay It is of paramount significance that the operations of al Qaeda are understood. This is will make it possible for the authorities to make the necessary plans to counteract their operations. The Homeland Security management System has come up with a cycle consisting of four steps which makes it possible to counteract terrorism by putting up measures to prevent a terror activity and, in case it takes place, what steps are to be undertaken to avoid a similar occurrence. According to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive -8 which was issued in 2003 the homeland security should focus on the National Preparedness Guidelines (NPG). In order to ensure that all the stakeholders are being effective in the fight against terrorism, a new Homeland Security Management System has been put in place. The new management involves four phases (check the appendix diagram 1) which are aimed at continually and mutually reinforcing a cycle of activity (Bush, 2007, par. 8). The four phases are explain ed as below and are meant to counter the loopholes which the terrorists can use by training and preparing all the stakeholders involved. Guidance For the nation to effectively fight terrorism there will be a need for guidance to given from those who better understand how terrorism should be fought.Bush (2007) argues that the first phase encompasses the overarching homeland security guidance. Furthermore he writes that this phase is meant to ensure that all the directives are duly followed in a clarified manner to ensure that there is effectiveness in the fight against terrorism. This will involve at times the training of the stakeholders (Bush, 2007, par. 8). Well guided efforts are likely to bear fruits as they will be more effective. Planning Planning is an essential part of any project if the expected results have to be achieved. Apart from just guiding the efforts aimed at fighting terrorism, planning the fight is significant to ensure that the battle is won. According to Bush (2007), planning is positioned in the second phase. Bush (2007) indicates that this is aimed at making the homeland management system a dynamic system that is quite effective in executing its plans. At this the directives are to be translated into a way that will make the execution of the policies a possible process. All the stakeholders are informed on the planning issues (Bush, 2007, par. 9). This therefore will induce cooperation among the members who are involved in the fight against terrorism. The execution The planned efforts are to be executed in an orderrly manner. This stage is as important as the ones already covered above and as such should be given due attention. Bush (2007) lists execution as the third stage of the whole cycle. This phase involves the execution of the plans which were strategized to thwart strike attempts. This can be in form of an actual occurrence or in the form of an exercise prepared in order to prepare the stakeholder on how to respond in case of a similar event (Bush, 2007, par. 9). Executing the efforts which have planned is quite important as it helps to make the war against terrorism quite effective because it reveals the weak areas which ought to be worked on. Assessment and evaluation After the planned efforts have been executed, it becomes possible to make an evaluation which will make it possible for further recommendations to be made. According to Bush (2007), this forms the forth phase. This stage, as Bush (2007) argues, involves a continuous assessment and evaluation of exercises and operations. This stage is meant to measure the effectiveness of the plans with respect to response given to a testing exercise or an actual occurrence (Bush, 2007, par. 10). This therefore means that the homeland security management system is a dynamic project which keeps on changing with respect to changes and dynamism manifested by terrorism. Buy custom Homeland Security Management System essay

What the sub-editor saw - Emphasis

What the sub-editor saw What the sub-editor saw Hello, Im Cathy, and Im a sub-editor (scourge of the newsroom, pedant and dictionary botherer). As such, my job is to spot inaccuracies, correct typos, clean up grammar and write headlines. I spend most of my time working at the broadsheets, where the copy is of very high quality. Even so, there are still plenty of opportunities for words to go crazy and cause mayhem, as they have a way of doing. Ill be keeping an eye out while Im on my rounds, and reporting in to Emphasis from time to time on the mistakes I find. After all, what better way to learn than from the mistakes of others? (Far less painful than ones own!) This week From triplets to tautology, the wrong Teresa to the wrong Labour politician, heres a round-up of a few corkers I spotted this week. Youve probably heard the nursery rhyme As I was going to St Ives, I met a man with seven wives; each wife held seven sacks, each sack had seven cats Well, I was reminded of that when I spotted this sentence, which features a common tautology (tautology: using multiple words to describe the same thing). Farhana Shaukat, a mother of three triplets, gave a clue as to why the pupils were queuing up outside. They get bored with the holidays, she said. Three triplets? So how many were going to St Ives three or nine? Triplets only has one meaning: three children born at the same time. The addition of three is unnecessary, but surprisingly common (along with the other favourite two twins). Its not a big mistake, by any means. But its worth avoiding even if only for the reason that some stickler will always pick you up on it otherwise (erm, yes, thats me). Health risk Moving on swiftly, we go from an extraneous word to a missing word and this time, an important one. This is a good example of how one word can completely change the meaning of a sentence. And its so easy to do, especially when youre in full flow and thinking faster than you can write. The following was very nearly published as the headline to a piece on the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. Spot the missing word. World Trade Centre attacks left rescuers and bystanders with raised risk of physical and mental health, Lancet reveals Its not only missing words that can cause mischief letters can be equally troublesome. The following sentence has a letter missing. Can you spot it? The inquiry, ordered by Teresa May, is being carried out by Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary. Its an h. The home secretary is a Theresa, not a Teresa. Pah! you say. Thats just a typo, nothing to sweat over. And yes, thats fair. But a Teresa May does exist, and she has a profession that our Theresa probably wouldnt appreciate being associated with. Ahem. (Shes a porn star.) Lets play spot the letter again, in a similarly scandalous vein. This time, though, youre looking for an extra one, not a missing one. Ready? This month a 51-year-old officer will answer police bail after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public officer over alleged unauthorised leaks from the Operation Weeting phone-hacking inquiry. Misconduct in a whaaat? Madre mia! That should, needless to say, read misconduct in a public office. Brown, in the farmhouse, with the Okay, thats more than enough smut. Back to serious things. This final example is one of those mistakes that is terrifyingly easy to make when youve been working on something at length and suddenly your brain turns bad and attacks you. This came at the end of a very long and detailed story on Alistair Darlings new book, in which the words Brown and Darling occurred many times over, and always in the right place until That weekend, Brown reveals that he held a secret meeting with Miliband at a farmhouse in Essex. Grammatically, its fine. No typos, no dodgy apostrophes. So whats the problem? Simply that its wrong. It was Darling, not Brown, who revealed and attended the secret meeting and the scary truth is that no spellcheck can pick up that kind of (potentially libellous) mistake. The moral of the story? Proofread, proofread and proofread. Ideally, ask someone else to proofread for you and dont feel bad if they pick up errors. None of the mistakes Ive mentioned above were made through ignorance or stupidity simply through human error. We all make em. The best protection is knowing it. This is a guest blog post by Cathy Relf, a freelance sub-editor.

My Old Publisher Made Mistakes I Wouldnt Tolerate

My Old Publisher Made Mistakes I Wouldnt Tolerate "My old publisher made mistakes I wouldn't tolerate"  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The story of Greg White's The Pink Marine Digital formats have opened countless new ways to publication for authors,  and if you aren't afraid of taking advantage of those, you can pretty much turn any situation in your favour. Greg White, author of The Pink Marine, came to Reedsy a month ago and told us he had left his publisher shortly after his first book's publication. Immediately, we thought "that's an interesting story for our blog!" So here's Greg sharing his experience with us, and his advice for newer authors.Hi Greg, thanks for being with us today! Let's jump into it: can you tell us a bit about your book and what made you leave your publisher?Thank you for having me, and helping with my book. Although I’ve been a TV writer for a while, The Pink Marine is my first memoir. Yet I always remember that I’m a United States Marine first –  and we strive for excellence. My book is important to me and I’m proud of it. My old publisher made mistakes that I wouldn’t tolerate – so I cancelled the contract. It was difficult; but as I write about in my book, nothing is easy but everything is possible.What were the main challenges from the point when you decided to leave your publisher?Reviews. He failed to get reviews in advance of publication, so it will be a struggle for me to convince media outlets to see the book as fresh meat. But we Marines†¦ love a good challenge. I’m getting good media response already.The book is new and I am tireless. I have every confidence that influential bloggers and other reviewers will find it story-worthy. Kirkus reviewed it (non-paid) and they call The Pink Marine â€Å"a heartwarming coming of age, inspiring memoir.† There’s a lot to discuss in the book. Not only do I write about my lifelong best friend (that I enlisted with) but also seventy other boys that I served with. I bet you find yourself in one of those characters. It has themes with global relevance and I wrote it with humor.You have actua lly set up your own imprint and are working with Ingram for the distribution. How did that happen?Yes, my imprint is AboutFace Books! Norman Lear writes my book’s foreword. He gave me my first job writing television. He taught me, among other things, to be nice to everyone. Ingram asked to meet me last year based on the Food Network show I host – food brings us all together, right? The day I left my publisher, I called Ingram to set up the imprint. They were enthusiastic and continue to be incredibly supportive. Ingram led me to Reedsy.Now, you came to Reedsy looking for a typesetter to create a print-ready file for Ingram. How did you choose your typesetter, and how did the collaboration go?I judged a book by its cover. I studied not only the experience and genre of each designer; but also their graphics. My designer  Jason Storey clearly was the best decision – his art blew me away. That he, and my book, turned out to be fantastic, is no surprise.Jason is fa st, thorough and precise. He’s smart and communicative. Those qualities are very important to me and he represents them all in the outstanding work he did on my book.What are your plans now for The Pink Marine in terms of promotion and marketing? And how is the book selling?Being a publisher helps when I reach out to TV and radio shows, magazines, newspapers, bloggers and reviewers. In my pitches, I’m able to speak about the book more in the third person. My pitch is: â€Å"How about a story on a guy that served six years as a U.S. Marine now serving up pie on Food Network?†I travel a lot and schedule bookstore appearances and local media well in advance.I’m as excited as I am grateful to report that the book is selling well, particularly the e-book. Everyone, and especially every veteran of the armed forces, has a story. This is mine. From my sales reports I notice British readers are snapping it up, proving the themes are universal. Facing challenges, b oth emotional and physical during our teenage years everyone in the world goes through that. In my case they shaved my head and gave me a rifle†¦. And humor always helps.I maintain a strong social media presence and built a fun and informative website www.thepinkmarine.com. I joined the affiliate program for every bookseller, so when buyers purchase the book from clicking the retailers via my site, I earn a fee (and it costs the buyer nothing extra).Next week I go in the studio to record the book for Audible. Having something new to promote helps. I want the book to exist in every format. Look, if it were possible, I’d bake it into a pie and serve it up personally.If you had to do it all over again, for a second book, would you look for an agent/publisher or would you go straight to â€Å"self-publishing†, using your imprint?I still have an agent, but unless I’m presented with a powerful marketing plan and generous profit participation from a traditional pu blisher, I’ll continue to publish under my imprint. Any prejudice or apprehension I had about driving down the self-publishing avenue was swept away in the first week of The Pink Marine’s sales reports.As you’ve experienced both â€Å"worlds†, what would be your main piece of advice for a debut author who is just finishing up their first manuscript?Ask for help; take advantage of the vast resources for authors. Through those, build your marketing platform with equal energy (and at the same time) that you’re writing your book. Adopt a U.S. Marine attitude and conquer both the creative and business sides. Relish in the support and camaraderie of other authors we are a community. And buy my book.You can find The Pink Marine on Amazon here, and Greg White's website here.Would you be ready to leave your publisher to self-publish? Or maybe you've done so already? Tell us about your experience, or ask Greg any question in the comments below!

DESCRIBE AN OBSTACLE YOU'VE OVERCOME AND HOW IT HAS DEFINED YOU Personal Statement

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Response Paper #3 - Essay Example The short story ‘Recitatif’ by Toni Morrison brings out the racial relations in America even after the country became free and slavery was system was destroyed. The story essentially focuses on the friendship between two girls of opposite races meeting as children. They meet at St. Bonny’s and are roommates. They are similar in many ways. The most ambiguous part is the identification of their race, which is not clearly mentioned for any of them. Initially it seems that Twyla is white and Roberta is black but later in the middle of the story it seems the opposite and then again the vision somewhat changes towards the end of the story. However after careful examination of the details one would say that Roberta is black. The most important part here is the racial difference. The difference is so severe that it is carried over to the children in schools. Towards the end of the story one finds the mothers (racially opposite groups) fighting for their rights. The story outlines the typical life style of an Afro-American girl who drops in and out of school and could not read. She (Roberta) is taken to drugs and wears large earrings, curls and has an appointment to meet Jimi Hendrix, a black singer. However when she meets Twyla after several years, she behaves coldly towards her. Later she explains it was because of the racial social structure –â€Å"Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black-white. You know how everything was† (Morrison, 255). The inner bonding between the two girls is quite strong and prominent but the social structure prevents them from free expression of the affection they share. They make it up in the end and Roberta, who accused Twyla of kicking a black woman Maggie (who perhaps was not black at all), clarifies her mistake to Twyla and explains that she need not carry the guilt anymore. The friendship

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Homework - Essay Example aw imposed by John Adams, it was required to deliver the commissions who were selected by him, where one of the members of â€Å"Midnight Judges† was William Murbury. But the commissions were not legally accepted till John Adams was the president of US. When Thomas Jefferson had become president, he rejected to admire the commissions. It had been claimed that the commission was invalid as they had not been delivered by expiration of John Adam’s presidency (Landman, 2002). Therefore, William Murbery who was the proposed addressee of â€Å"Justice of The Peace† by means of commission smeared straightforwardly to the supreme court of US for an injunction of mandamus to induce the Secretary of State, James Madison in order to bring the commission. In the year 1803, the Supreme Court had rendered an undisputed decision that court did not possess the authority to deliver commission. This decision proved that court had lacked jurisdiction and it was the win for Democratic Republicans because the claim for injunction of mandamus had been rejected (Cornell University Law School, n.d.). The American system enjoys mutual authority among state, federal and local governments and comprises a requirement for collaboration, synchronization and communication. In the American system, the local government possesses the right to conduct responsibilities for dealing with any emergency or disaster. The federal government is intended to deliver economic support and resources, and state government acts on behalf of applying the federal rules and policies. Notably, the three main elements of American system are: Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch (The White House, n.d.). The executive branch is controlled by the governor who is straightforwardly elected by citizens of US. The other members of the executive branch are also designated by the public such as deputy governor, counsellor general, commissioners, and secretary of state among others. The legislative

Medtronic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medtronic - Essay Example Help analyse the underlying causes, strengths and weaknesses, market forces and factors that affect performance to determine the optimum objectives that the organization may target. Having briefly defined the role of the Board we look at how the Board of Directors of Medtronics has performed. Details provided in the case study paint a very positive picture of the proactive role that the Board has played in the success of the Company. It has done all that is required and gone several steps further. The role that the Board has played in strict adherence to the mission statement of the company and, in the drive of the company to excel in technology and quality initiatives is indeed commendable. The Board has been a friend and guide for management, evidenced by the comment of Bill George, "In addition to its traditional role of governance, the Medtronic board is very effective as a sounding board, to advise and consult with management on the challenges we face." (p1) or that of Earl Bakken, "As we have grown and evolved, we have leaned on our board of directors for their direction." (p3). The active interest that the Board has taken in the operations of the company, their focus on the long term, regardless of below par performance on the financial front, represent some of the peculiarities of the Medtronic board that may not be found in most companies. It is usual for boards to look at only financial performance for the quarter and stop at that. It is truly amazing to find a board that has such faith in the future of the company that temporary setbacks on the earnings per share (see performance results) have not led to the typical automatic reaction. As Bill George points out in his book "Authentic Leadership", the board was successful in grappling with the larger ethical issues of what an organization owes to the public and its employees beyond the narrow obligation to increase shareholder value. The relationship between the CEO, Bill George and the board are similarly cordial and mutual understanding and respect at a very high level exists. While the CEO handles operational management, he does not consider the careful watch that the board keeps

Behaviour of Democratic Leaders in organisation Research Paper

Behaviour of Democratic Leaders in organisation - Research Paper Example Organizational behavior addresses the study of how individuals, rather than organizations, behave within the organizational situation. The field of study devotes itself to understand, explain and consequently improve the behaviors and attitudes of people and groups within organizations. A leader who is democratic shares the vision and decision-making processes with others in an organization and promotes higher morale. Studies have shown that democratic leadership has the potential to lead to higher levels of commitment, involvement, satisfaction and productivity among followers (Lee & Rosenbloom 69). This project will research the democratic aspect of organizational behavior of leaders, using a company case study to put more emphasis on the findings. It will further address the problems and challenges facing democratic leaders and propose solutions. A democratic leader is the force behind the motivation and success of an organization. Underlying their behavior is a strong trait of se lf-efficacy, which is also referred to as the social cognitive theory. The democratic leaders apply these concepts to define different areas within the organizational framework. The single aspect that sets leaders with democratic behavior apart from other leaders is the sharing of the processing of making decisions (Choi 249). Democratic leaders focus on arriving at decisions through winning consensus. This is because whenever there is consensus, there is always a greater commitment to tactics, strategies and targets because trust is a key feature of this style of leadership, which correlates well with the conduciveness of the working climate. Even for leaders who are open enough to admit that they are not sure about what needs to be done, a pool of talented employees can contribute excellent input that will move the organization towards it goals (Montana & Bruce 149). The democratic leader understands that employees who have been supported and given time to grow in their careers ca n make efficient team members that understand the organizational culture. On the other hand, being autocratic only suppresses their potential, hindering their growth which is detrimental to themselves, the leader and the organization (Montana & Bruce 112). In the decision-making role of leaders, the democratic ones will acknowledge that as a process, perception is a concept all employees pass through in their everyday activities, in or out of the work setting. They recognize that when employees meet colleagues and other leaders and evaluate performances, pass judgments and ultimately make business decisions, it is their perception of those events that will inform the next action they take. Therefore, whether flawed or accurate, their perception is their reality. The distorting or causal factors to employees’ perception considerably affect the impact of organizational behavior and productivity. Unlike the autocratic or coercive leaders, a democratic leadership will influence i ts followers to shift from tendencies of developing perceptive shortcuts capable of inflecting both negative and positive effects in their making of judgments (George & Jones 31). Therefore, they model and integrate guidelines that direct team members in their processes of making decisions. Such models have an emphasis on shaping corporate perceptions. For instance, although not to mean that they lack authority, a democratic leader does not impose directives on followers. Rather, this style of lea

Cultural Oppression Essay Example for Free

Cultural Oppression Essay Women has come a long way from being the gods of the feminist society, oppression from the paternal Roman Catholic, and the continuous struggle to uplift itself from the discrimination in out society. Therefore it is not correct to say that â€Å"The world has evolved in a huge way, but for the groups that remained oppressed it does not seem like evolution has even touched them. † It seems a very narrow way of putting the struggle of women from centuries of oppression when in fact before World War I there were no women in the military, no women in college, no women in office, and no women in the library. Same goes for the homosexuals. There are already four states that allow same sex marriage in the United States and the world is not so unforgiving 50 years ago when homosexuals where killed. Indeed, homosexuals and women have come a long way and it is rather fitting that we recognize them in their accomplishments in pursuing their common good. I agree with Miss Johnson. This society is so bent on discrimination based on color when in fact African Americans are just as able as Caucasians in getting every job done. As long as there are equal opportunities for both races then there won’t be some dumb Joe lying around. We claim to be the most advanced nation in the world but it seems we still have prehistoric traces of slavery in our society. We still think that just because African Americans came to America as slaves then they are a backward race. What the people of America should remember that the very same slaves built this nation with their bare hands and they wouldn’t be slaves had we not made them that way. It seems that we have a double standard when we talk about freedom and liberty for all Americans. That shouldn’t be so because history has proven that it’s never a war of colors, it’s only a war of interests and power. The author mentioned about the struggling African Americans who are in the upper class. Well, money can’t erase prejudice from people especially the prejudice that is rooted in our history. That’s why the weak should fight for its liberation because nobody will save them from it but themselves. Reference

Marketing and Organisation’s Micro- and Macro-environment

Marketing and Organisation’s Micro- and Macro-environment Marketing Macro Organisation Marketing and the organisation’s micro- and macro-environments 1. The micro-environment The term micro-environment denotes those elements over which the marketing firm has control or which it can use in order to gain information that will better help it in its marketing operations. In other words, these are elements that can be manipulated, or used to glean information, in order to provide fuller satisfaction to the company’s customers. The objective of marketing philosophy is to make profits through satisfying customers. This is accomplished through the manipulation of the variables over which a company has control in such a way as to optimise this objective. The variables are what Neil Borden has termed ‘the marketing mix’ which is a combination of all the ‘ingredients’ in a ‘recipe’ that is designed to prove most attractive to customers. In this case the ingredients are individual elements that marketing can manipulate into the most appropriate mix. E Jerome McCarthy further dubbed the variables that the company can contr ol in order to reach its target market the ‘four Ps’. Each of these is discussed in detail in later chapters, but a brief discussion now follows upon each of these elements of the marketing mix together with an explanation of how they fit into the overall notion of marketing. 1.1 The ‘four Ps’ and the marketing mix The ‘four Ps’ stands for: Product Price Place and Promotion Product and price are obvious, but perhaps place and promotion need more explanation. Place, it is felt, might better be termed ‘placement’ because it comprises two distinct elements. The first element is channels of distribution that is the outlets and methods through which a company’s goods or services are sold. Thus a channel can be certain types of retail outlet or it can be salespeople selling a company’s industrial products through say a channel which comprises buyers in the chemical industry. The other part of place refers to logistics that relates to the physical warehousing and transportation of goods from the manufacturer to the end customer. Thus, placement might be a better descriptor as it refers to the placing of goods or services from the supplier to the customer. In fact, place has its own individual ‘mix’ which is termed the ‘distribution mix’. Promotion also has its individual ‘mix’ that is called the ‘promotional mix’. This comprises advertising, selling and sales promotion. In fact promotion is a misnomer, because in advertising agency circles the mention of promotion usually means ‘sales promotion’. Some writers are now separating selling away from promotion and calling it ‘people’ because it is too important an element of marketing to be lumped in with promotion, although in reality it is still promotion (through word of mouth). This fifth P (people) are those who contact customers on a regular basis with the objective of ultimately gaining orders and these people comprise the salesforce. We can thus see that selling is a component part of overall marketing. There are two more Ps for service marketing, but these are dealt with later. 1.2 Models of marketing Figure 1 attempts to sum up what is meant by marketing at a very simple level. In fact it is one of the earliest models ever attempted to explain the meaning of marketing. Information Firm Customer Operation Figure 1 Simple diagrammatic representation of marketing In Figure 1 we see information coming from customers to the supplying company. This information is noted and goods or services are supplied to customers in line with customer needs. The information flow represents an exchange of ideas whilst the operation flow represents an exchange of meanings. Figure 2 is perhaps a more precise diagram of what is meant by marketing and one which we can begin to understand from what has already been said. Marketing Sales Research Forecasting Buyer Behaviour Supplier Customer Product Price Distribution Promotion Personal Segmentation selling targeting positioning Channels Logistics Advertising Sales promotion Figure 2 Model of the process of marketing This more complex model better explains what we are now beginning to understand about marketing. The bottom line represents the elements of the marketing mix over which a company has control. These elements are manipulated in such a way as to best suit customers’ needs and tastes and this represents an operational flow where things have to be done in order to arrive at the optimum marketing mix. Remember that there are sub-mixes within the individual elements of the marketing mix. This bottom line also equates to the earlier notion of the four Ps, or rather the five Ps, as personal selling has been separated from promotion and becomes ‘people’. The top line represents an information flow from the market to the firm. Data is collected through discussions and interviews with customers on and informal and formal basis. A whole range of techniques is available for this process and this is collectively termed marketing research. A more advanced strategic model that incorporates marketing research is embodied in a marketing information system (MkIS) and this is dealt with in a later lecture. In addition, data is collected from customers in relation to their likely future purchases and this is known as sales forecasting. Another raft of techniques is available for the subject of sales forecasting which lies at the very heart of marketing and business planning. Thus we begin to see how marketing orientation works. Customers are the starting point and sales forecasting and marketing research determine their likely requirements and tastes. This information is processed internally within the organisation and products and promotional messages are devised to suit customers’ needs, to allay their purchasing fears and to reinforce their expectations. Goods and services are supplied as and when required in the quantities needed and when they are requested not later and not earlier. This latter point is reinforced, because modern marketing dictates that customers demand their goods as needed and this lies at the base of the latest notion of ‘just-in-time’ manufacturing which relates to raw materials and components. This is covered later in the text and it has tremendous implications for modern marketing. 1.3 The place of marketing alongside other elements of business Marketing is but one function within business. Arguably it is the most critical function because it interprets customers’ needs and requirements into products and services and repeat business without which a business cannot continue. In fact a modern view of marketing puts customers in the centre and marketing as the interpretative function surrounding the customer with other major functions of business around this as shown in Figure 3. The idea is that all functions of business should be geared towards the satisfactions of customers’ requirements and this has led to the new notion of customer care. Figure 3 The place of marketing in the modern organisation At a more traditional level, marketing is often found alongside other major functions within business and Figure 4 illustrates this relationship. This organisation chart does not, of course, refer to all business organisations and to a large extent it is the ‘ideal’ theoretical structure. Companies tend to evolve and develop in a non-textbook manner, and in practice many different organisation charts can be found as a result of all kinds of illogicalities that defy modern management thinking. Such illogical functions might well exist because of the forceful personality of a head of department, whose department has assumed a position of power within an organisation through his or her own personal disposition, and there is no managerial justification for putting it in such a position of power in line management. An example could be the material control department that might report direct to the managing director rather than being a sub-function within the purchasing depart ment. Another example, quite commonly found, is a situation where a sales director can be found in the line alongside a marketing director. In such a situation, it might be a forceful sales director in a sales driven organisation who will not assume the responsibility for marketing, but who is too powerful to put into a subordinate position under marketing. With this background in mind, a ‘textbook’ organisation chart might be as shown in figure 4 (next page): Board of directors (responsible for policy making) Company Secretary General Manager Corporate Strategy Production Marketing Research Development Purchasing Finance Human Resource Management Management Services (Computing) Figure 4 A Traditional Organisation Chart In this organisation chart we can see the place of marketing alongside other major functions of line management. At the top there is the board of directors who are responsible for giving the organisation its strategic direction. Members of the board are not necessarily full-time employees of the company. Indeed, in many larger companies, they tend to be from outside the organisation and the expertise they lend to the board can be on a variety of criteria. Such people might, for instance, be strategy experts, financial experts, people who lend distinction to an organisation (e.g. somebody with a title) and people who are there because they are on the board of directors of other companies and can bring a cross fertilisation of ideas, financial linkages and potential inter-firm dealings. The general manager is the person who translates policy into tactics and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. In most companies the general manager is a member of the board of directors and in such cases his or her title would then be managing director. The company secretary is responsible for legal and administrative matters in addition to serving as the secretary to the board of directors. This person also ensures that board meetings take place at intervals stipulated in the company’s articles of association, and that policies that are decided are implemented. For this reason, the role of company secretary is a lateral relationship and is not in the line of command. This also applies to the relatively new function of corporate strategy whose function may be carried out by general management, but is often a separate, relatively small, function whose role it is to ensure that all subdivisions in the organisation have a plan (e.g. a marketing plan) and that each of these plans fits into the overall corporate plan without there being any mismatches (e.g. marketing might plan to market more than the firm can produce). The major line functions are responsible for translating strategy into tactics in terms of the organisation’s everyday operations and this includes such matters as manufacturing, training and recruitment, design and selling. As was discussed in the first chapter, marketing is a relatively modern function and it encompasses the function of selling (although as discussed earlier, in many organisations the two functions are sometimes separated). In many organisations, heads of these line functions are sometimes members of the board of directors in which case they would then have ‘director’ behind their title (e.g. marketing director, financial director). In such cases their responsibilities would cover both strategic matters (being a member of the board of directors) and tactical matters (being a functional head of department). 2 The proximate macro-environment The term macro-environment denotes all forces and agencies external to the marketing firm itself. Some of these forces and agencies will be closer to the operation of the firm than others, e.g. a firm’s suppliers, agents, distributors and other distributive intermediaries and competing firms. These ‘closer’ external constituents are often collectively referred to as the firm’s proximate macro-environment to distinguish them from the wider external forces found, for example, in the legal, cultural, economic and technological sub-environments. This consists of people, organizations and forces within the firm’s immediate external environment. Of particular importance to marketing firms are the sub-environments of suppliers, competitors and distributors (intermediaries). These sub-environments can each have a significant effect upon the marketing firm. 2.1 The supplier environment This consists of other business firms or individuals who provide the marketing firm with raw materials, product constituents, services or, in the case of retailing firms, possibly the finished goods themselves. Firms, whether they be retailers or manufacturers, will often depend on numerous suppliers. The buyer/supplier relationship is one of mutual economic interdependence, both parties relying on the other for their commercial well-being. Although both parties are seeking stability and security from their relationship, factors in the supplier environment are subject to change, such as industrial disputes which will affect delivery of materials to the buying company, or a sudden increase in raw material prices which forces suppliers to raise their prices. Whatever the product or service being purchased by the marketing firm, unexpected developments in the supplier environment can have an immediate and potentially serious effect on the firm’s commercial operations. Because of this, marketing management, by means of the marketing intelligence component of its marketing information system, should continually monitor changes and potential changes in the supplier environment and have contingency plans ready to deal with potentially adverse developments. 2.2 The distributive environment Much reliance is placed on marketing intermediaries such as wholesalers, factors, agents and distributors to ensure that their products reach the final consumer. To a casual observer, it may seem that the conventional method of distribution in any particular industry is relatively static. This is because changes in the distributive environment occur relatively slowly, and there is therefore a danger of marketing firms failing to appreciate the commercial significance of cumulative change. Existing channels may be declining in popularity over time, while new channels may be developing unnoticed by the marketing firm. Nowhere has this ‘creeping’ change been more apparent over recent years in the UK and other parts of the world than in the retailing of fast moving consumer goods (fmcg). In the 1960s well over half of all fmcg retail trade was accounted for in the independent sector plus a further large proportion to the Co-operative Societies. Nowadays, the sector represent ed by the larger food multiples has well in excess of this proportion. 2.3 The competitive environment Management must be alert to the potential threat of other companies marketing similar and substitute product whether they are of domestic or foreign origin. In some industries there may be numerous world-wide manufacturers posing a potential competitive threat and in others there may only be a few. Whatever the type, size and composition of the industry, it is essential that marketing management has a full understanding of competitive forces. Companies need to establish exactly who their competitors are and the benefits they are offering to the market. Armed with this knowledge, the company will have a greater opportunity to compete effectively. 3 The wider macro-environment Changes in the wider macro-environment may not be as close to the marketing firm’s day-to-day operations, but they are just as important. The main factors making up these wider macro-environmental forces fall into four groups. Political and legal factors Economic factors Social and cultural factors Technological factors (Often referred to as the ‘PEST’ factors in the marketing analytical context, a useful aide-memoire, although in some texts it is sometimes referred to as ‘STEP’). To this is sometimes added ‘Competitive factors’ and although ‘PEST’ analysis relates to a specific organisation ‘Competitive factors’ tend to be subsumed under ‘Economic factors’. Such a PEST analysis means listing all possible points that may affect the organisation under review under each of the P.E.S.T. headings. Recently, some texts have added ‘L’ (standing for legal) and ‘E’ (standing for environmental) to this classification, making the acronym ‘PESTLE’. Even more recently, some writers have incorporated yet another ‘E’ (standing for ecological) with the new acronym ‘STEEPLE’. 3.1 The political and legal environment To many companies, domestic political considerations are likely to be of prime concern. However, firms involved in international operations are faced with the additional dimension of international political developments. Many firms export and may have joint ventures or subsidiary companies abroad. In many countries, particularly those in the so-called ‘Third World’ or more latterly termed ‘Developing Nations’, the domestic political and economic situation is usually less stable than in the UK. Marketing firms operating in such volatile conditions clearly have to monitor the local political situation very carefully. Many of the legal, economic and social developments, in our own society and in others, are the direct result of political decisions put into practice, for example the privatization of state industries or the control of inflation. In summary, whatever industry the marketing firm is involved in, changes in the political and legal environments at both the domestic and international levels can affect the company and therefore needs to be fully understood. 3.2 The economic environment Economic factors are of concern to marketing firms because they are likely to influence, among other things, demand, costs, prices and profits. These economic factors are largely outside the control of the individual firm, but their effects on individual enterprises can be profound. Political and economic forces are often strongly related. A much quoted example in this context is the ‘oil crisis’ caused by the Middle East War in 1973 which produced economic shock waves throughout the Western world, resulting in dramatically increased crude oil prices. This, in turn increased energy costs as well as the cost of many oil-based raw materials such as plastics and synthetic fibres. This contributed significantly to a world economic recession, and it all serves to demonstrate how dramatic economic change can upset the traditional structures and balances in the world business environment. As can be seen, changes in world economic forces are potentially highly significant to marketing firms, particularly those engaged in international marketing. However, an understanding of economic changes and forces in the domestic economy is also of vital importance as such forces have the most immediate impact. One such factor is a high level of unemployment, which decreases the effective demand for many luxury consumer goods, adversely affecting the demand for the industrial machinery required to produce such goods. Other domestic economic variables are the rate of inflation and the level of domestic interest rates, which affect the potential return from new investments and can inhibit the adoption and diffusion of new technologies. In addition to these more indirect factors, competitive firms can also pose a threat to the marketing company so their activities should be closely monitored. It is therefore vital that marketing firms continually monitor the economic environment at both domestic and world levels. Economic changes pose a set of opportunities and threats, and by understanding and carefully monitoring the economic environment, firms should be in a position to guard against potential threats and to capitalize on opportunities. 3.3 The socio-cultural environment This is perhaps the most difficult element of the macro-environment to evaluate, manifesting itself in changing tastes, purchasing behaviour and changing priorities. The type of goods and services demanded by consumers is a function of their social conditioning and their consequent attitudes and beliefs. Core cultural values are those firmly established within a society and are therefore difficult to change. They are perpetuated through family, the church, education and the institutions of society and act as relatively fixed parameters within which marketing firms are forced to operate. Secondary cultural values, however, tend to be less strong and therefore more likely to undergo change. Generally, social change is preceded by changes over time in a society’s secondary cultural values, for example the change in social attitude towards credit. As recently as the 1960s, personal credit, or hire purchase as is sometimes known, was generally frowned upon and people having such arrangements tended not to discuss it in public. Today, offering instant credit has become an integral part of marketing, with many of us regularly using credit cards and store accounts. Indeed, for many people it is often the availability and terms of credit offered that are major factors in deciding to pu rchase a particular product. Marketing firms have also had to respond to changes in attitude towards health, for example, in the food industry people are now questioning the desirability of including artificial preservatives, colourings and other chemicals in the food they eat. The decline in the popularity of smoking is a classic example of how changes in social attitudes have posed a significant threat to an industry, forcing tobacco manufacturers to diversify out of tobacco products and into new areas of growth. Changes in attitudes towards working women have led to an increase in demand for convenience foods, ‘one-stop’ shopping and the widespread adoption of such time-saving devices as microwave cookers. Marketing firms have had to react to these changes. In addition, changes in moral attitudes from the individualism of the ‘permissive society’ of the 1960s and early 1970s to the present emphasis on health, economic security and more stable relationships, are all contributory factors to a dynamically changing socio-cultural environment that must be considered by companies when planning for the future. 3.4 The technological environment Technology is a major macro-environmental variable which has influenced the development of many of the products we take for granted today, for example, television, calculators, video recorders and desk-top computers. Marketing firms themselves play a part in technological progress, many having their own research department or sponsoring research through universities and other institutions, thus playing a part in innovating new developments and new applications. One example of how technological change has affected marketing activities is in the development of electronic point of sale (EPOS) data capture at the retail level. The ‘laser checkout’ reads a bar code on the product being purchased and stores information that is used to analyse sales and re-order stock, as well as giving customers a printed readout of what they have purchased and the price charged. Manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods, particularly packaged grocery products, have been forced to respond to these technological innovations by incorporating bar codes on their product labels or packaging. In this way, a change in the technological environment has affected the products and services that firms produce and the way in which firms carry out their business operations. 4 Other macro-environmental factors The macro-environmental factors discussed are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but merely to demonstrate the main areas of environmental change. Other sub-environments may be important to marketing management, for example, in some countries the religious environment may pose an important source of opportunities and threats for firms. In the UK, demographic changes are considered important by a number of firms. In general, the UK population has been stable at approximately 56 million for a number of years, but the birth rate is falling, while people are living longer. Firms that produce goods and services suitable for babies and small children (e.g. Mothercare) have seen their traditional markets remain static or decline slightly. Such companies have tended to diversify, offering products targeted at older age groups. A larger older sector of the population offers opportunities for firms to produce goods and services to satisfy their particular needs. The over-55 age group is the modern marketer’s current major opportunity. In all advanced economies such as the Australia, UK and USA it is this age group that has the largest disposable income, and special products and services such as holidays and pension-related financial services are being marketed to this sector. 5 Summary The company’s micro-environment has been discussed in terms of variables over which it has control relevant to the marketing mix. This led to a description of marketing and its various sub-divisions including information from the market-place in terms of forecasting and marketing research. Marketing was then looked at alongside other business functions and its place in line management was noted. The company’s proximate macro-environment was then examined under supplier, distributive and competitive environment environments and finally the wider macro-environment was examined under the headings: political and legal, economic, socio-cultural and technological environments. This can best be summed up by looking what has been covered in terms of a number of layers in the environment from customers, to marketing and resources of the company, to the organisation’s proximate macro-environment and finally to its wider macro-environment. This is illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 5 An Organisation’s various environments The outer layer consists of the wider macro-environmental PEST factors. The next layer concerns the proximate macro-environment factors cited under section 2. This also includes the organisation’s ‘publics’ that is a public relations term dealt with later, but which essentially means any group of individuals who are affected by or are in touch with the company in any context (e.g. those who supply finance or those who live near the company’s manufacturing plant). The next layer is the organisation’s strategic marketing planning and control system. The tactics that deliver the strategy are the four Ps and these are in the next layer. The final inner circle is the most important and it is customers from which all planning must start. The phrase of being a ‘customer led’ organisation is at the very heart of marketing orientation and indeed tactics of customer care help to cement long term customer relationships.