Business Leader Essay

Business leaders have the ability to create opportunities, build products and systems, and inspire others to action. Please describe a time you created an opportunity, built a new product or system, or inspired others to act. The example you provide and elaborate upon may come from your professional endeavors, academic pursuits or civic engagements. I had my first taste of business activity when I just finished my high school. In that summer break, I was invited by three best friends to run a small business with a night market stall in a college zone nearby. We were so excited to take a tiny adventure independently as young adults. In the first several days, we tried our best with zealous cries of selling and lavish hospitality. However, due to the bleak business, the team was overcome by big frustration when we burned out our impulsive passion. Honestly speaking, the idea of giving up kept running in our mind. When the team sat down and started to talk about how to finish this littl e adventure properly, the sadness on our faces suddenly triggered my fighting spirit. As a future freshman at business school in xxx University, I didn’t feel resigned to terminate my first business trial without any hard effort yet. Meanwhile, I felt responsible for cheering them up as a good friend. Thus, I made a proposal and convinced them to have another try together. Firstly, we called off our regular attendance as venders, and took field observation for several days instead. We went to the night market respectively and talked to different venders every evening. Through communication with various venders, we learned some practical knowledge and skills, and further figured out our weaknesses and relevant solutions. Secondly, after taking personal conversations with some college students about their demands, I found out that our goods couldn’t meet their needs. Therefore, I optimized our purchase list and volunteered myself to take the duty of purchasing new goods. After several days of teamwork, we surprisingly noticed that our team spirit, confidence and passion had been revitalized, and restarted our business. As a result, our business began to make profit gradually. A month later, we not only sold out all of our goods, but also made a good profit, which was much mor e than our previous loss. Although it was a tiny business trial for about a month, I valued it as an opening show of my personal business world.

The Process of Mongol Invasions of Japan

The Process of Mongol invasions of Japan As soon as Koryeo (Korean Dynasty) had succumbed to Mongolia, Kublai Khan sent ambassadors through the Koryeo Dynasty to convey the meaning of friendship in 1268. The Japanese government was encouraged to send a reply, but the Hojo clan who was shikken(ruler) refused and also didn’t send a reply. Later, the Mongol government sent an envoy many times, but the Japanese rejected the demands of Mongolia. Finally, the war started. There were three invasions of Mongolia.The First invasion was in November 1274, the Mongolian troops first invaded Japan with Koryeo of Kimbanggyeog leading the Korean Dynasty army and Yuan Holdon leading the Mongol army, using 900 vessels ships and 40,000 military soldiers. They started to invade Happo ( , Masan) and then Tsushima(? ?) in October 5th. After 9 days, they raided Iquique(? ?) and arrived at the Hakata seaport of Kyushu. Finally, they annihilated Hirado (? ) Â · Takashi ? Do (? ?)and then retreated t he next day.There is a claim that they retreated because of a storm, but it wasn’t the season for storms or seasonal typhoons from cyclones. Additionally, the Japanese don’t have the record to support this. It’s common opinion that the Mongol government had the purpose of establishing a country with military action in Japan. The second invasion was in 1281. Koryeo troops led the second invasion. They failed completely because of a typhoon. The defeat was caused by lack of awareness about the Japanese climate of the maritime.There were other reasons. The first reason was stiff resistance from the Japanese Kamakura Shogunate who held the regime at the time. Secondly, Mongolia couldn’t focus on the conquest of Japan because of Mongolian domestic matters. Ultimately, the Mongolians prepared the third conquest, but there was a rebellion in the Song Dynasty. That’s why the invasion was cancelled. The results of Mongol invasions in Japan In Mongolia, The Japanese conquest was a good strategy from the Mongol government to develop.During the process of the development and growth of the Mongol empire, Kublai Khan’s ruling was an important turning point. It was an opportunity to convert from a nomadic country to an agricultural country and also from undeveloped grasslands to autonomous central country. Even if the Mongols didn’t start the Japanese conquest, Mongolia was powerful enough and was equipped to become a world empire but the plan failed. If the Mongolians had success in the Japanese invasion, it would have built the most powerful universal empire in the history of mankind but it didn’t happen.They failed twice and the third time they abandoned the invasion in the middle of the Japanese occupation . It caused them to feel pressure in the administration and the effect was division in the country. The gigantic empire disappeared just after 70 years. The Japanese had the biggest national crisis because of the large-scale invasion of the Mongol-koryeo troops. In Japan, the first Japanese occupation is called the ‘Inverse of Moon young’ and the second one is called ‘Inverse of Red Face’.Japan succeeded in protecting the country during the first two big invasions but the economy suffered a vast blow. The Japanese could control the warriors by mobilizing them across the country during the Mongolian invasions. However, they suffered economic damages because of the huge military. On the one hand, they were affected in emotional aspects. First, they prayed for victory. This showed people’s shock and anxiety for the second invasion. Secondly, the ‘kamikaje’ word appeared. Kamikaje means god and wind. This reminds the Japanese that thanks to a typhoon they were saved.

Online Tracert Study of BS in Information Management and Information Technology

One way of assessing the success of a school or university is by looking at how many graduates it has produced that have become famed figures – celebrities, politicians, executives, business owners, artists, entertainers, NGO founders, or prime movers of their own rights. Analytically, If one has to investigate the contributing factors that lead to the formation of topnotch graduates, one would notice that not all of these factors have to be present to produce such graduates.Some schools boast of the discipline that makes determination and success possible. Other schools highlight the pool of intellectual candidates who had been prequalified, preselected, and therefore belong to the elite group and the cream of the crop. Others exalt their line of curricula and multi-faceted training programs that are claimed to be able to produce topnotch graduates without the need for pre-selection. In any case, any matching combination of these factors is guaranteed to produce success if ex ecuted with consistency, good planning, and monitoring.Background of the StudyPhilippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), dubbed as the number one performing Aeronautical School in the country, once again PhilSCA reached another milestone as it undergoes Accreditation. Being the only state college of aeronautics, PhilSCA is proud to say that it passed the level one accreditation conducted by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP) last November 2012 and take note it is the only aeronautical school that is accredited. Dr. Bernard R. Ramirez, College President stated that the institution is already subjected for Level 2 Accreditation. This means that a much better PhilSCA will soon be rising, making our institution the center of excellence and development in aeronautics.Its vision stated that â€Å"PhilSCA is a leader institution of higher learning committed to the scientific and  technological advancement of aeronautical sci ences responsive to the dynamic and emerging demands for world – class professionals of the industry and a mission to prepare world – class Aeronautics professionals who are imbued with commitment, excellence, responsibility and integrity through advance level of instruction and research.† One strong factor that springs out here is the high morale of its workers, employees, and faculty members. This high morale boosts the teachers’ self esteem and drives them to perform to an excellent level. A working atmosphere created in such manner naturally ascends from progress to progress, and one criterion of progress is creating stricter standards.One of the standards PhilSCA maintains is the continuous refinement of its curricula for all offered courses. Refinement is a dynamic effort of upgrading every curriculum to be able to produce topnotch graduates who will excel in their chosen career or endeavor. It entails not only monitoring of its products, which are t he graduates, but also of the trends and requirements in the field of career or industry where the graduates go. By way of this pioneering tracer study, the researching intends to locate where the graduates are and how well they are doing in their chosen career.Statement of the ProblemThis study aims to locate and identify the work status and professional development of PhilSCA graduates under the Institute of Computer Studies within the last five years.Objectives of the StudyThis study aims to track down the graduates of PhilSCA under the ICS programs, to wit: 1. Bachelor of Science in Information Management Major in Airline Operation and Procedures (BSIM-AOP) 2. Bachelor of Science in Aviation Information Technology (BSAIT) For the following objectives:To establish the location of our graduates,  To determine the connections or relations of the work they now occupy with the education they obtained in PhilSCA and To identify the levels of accountabilities or responsibilities atta ined by the graduates.Significance of the StudyThis investigation will be the first concrete tracer study of PhilSCA graduates, particularly under ICS Department. Its conduct will initiate succeeding tracers of the same programs as well as other programs in ICS, Department. The study will help strengthen the alumni program of the school by providing the Alumni Office with a database of all PhilSCA graduates which the office can use in corresponding with alumni for the school events and possible employment. Strengthening the alumni program would serve the school in the future by successful alumni giving back to the institution.Conceptual Framework INPUTPROCESS OUTPUTFigure 1.1 Conceptual frameworkThe researcher use Microsoft access visual basic 6.0 to make a system of Employability of Graduates students in the field of Information Management and Information Technology, The more the higher education expands, the more the knowledge becomes a key factor of productivity as a means of imp roving the professional and work development of graduates. The study will identify the demographic profile of PhilSCA graduates and determine their work and professional developments based on their individual profiles. Determining their work and professional developments will update their profile as ICS professionals. The researcher gathered the student information through the used of questionnaires or through the used of social networking site by means of immediate response . Scope and DelimitationsThis study covers selected representatives of the graduates of the Philippine State College of Aeronautics from the year 2012 until 2013, in the following programs: 1. Bachelor of Science in Information Management Major in Airline Operation and Procedures (BSIM-AOP) 2. Bachelor of Science in Aviation Information Technology (BSAIT)Their whereabouts, contact numbers, and email addresses will be located initial dissemination of the Tracer Study Survey form will be by email. Those who fail t o respond by email will be followed up by phone, fax, snail mail, relatives, friends or contacts, which ever mode is available and most feasible. The study will be limited to determining current work status of ICS alumni, but will not cover assessment or evaluation of the school’s curriculum based on alumni’s performance in the workplace.Definitions of Terms ICS Graduates – refers to students of Philippine State College of Aeronautics under the Institute of Computer Studies who have completed a degree course (i.e., Bachelor of Science in Information Management Major in  Airline Operation and Procedures , Bachelor of Science in Aviation Information Technology ) from the year 2008 to 2013, regardless of years of residencyICS Professionals – refers to alumni students of Philippine State College of Aeronautics who are presently employed or self – employedProfessional Development – refers to any career – related trainings, workshops, sho rt – term courses, or further studies undergone for self – improvement and promotion.Profile – refers to characteristics and attributes of respondents in terms of demographics (i.e., age, sex, statics, educational attainment, etc.)Programs – refers to the courses under the ICS, INET and ILAS Department. Tracer Study – refers to the investigation undertaken with an attempt to locate the desired sample, monitor or oversee their developments in terms of the connections of the work they now occupy with the education they obtained in PhilSCA, and identify the levels of accountabilities and responsibilities they have attained. Work status – refers to the previous and present work handled by the respondents in this study, whether employed or self employed, with the following specifications: work position or designation, classification or ranking of work position or designation, length of stay in work, average gross monthly income, and reasons for c hoosing the work.

Option Pricing Model in Valuing a Company in the Context of Pfizer Dissertation

Option Pricing Model in Valuing a Company in the Context of Pfizer - Dissertation Example His constant guidance and positive attention helped researcher to concentrate more on the research topic. The researcher would also like to thank his other professors for acting as a support system when required along with helping and guiding when needed and required. The support and cooperation of the University in allowing access to the library helped in referring to different study materials that further help in understanding the research topic in a sound manner. The researcher would also like to thank his family for being there as a strong support system often guiding and supporting along with enhancing the level of motivation and excitement through kind and positive feedback. The researcher feels blessed to have friends who not only shared their views and opinions on the research topic bust also brainstormed to add more value to the research topic. Overall, the researcher would like to acknowledge the efforts and support of everyone playing an important role in the entire resear ch process. Without the support and cooperation of above mentioned people, the research would have been an aimless journey lacking depth and understanding. The researcher expresses his deep gratitude for all the support and guidance along with being thankful to everyone for being so kind and supportive throughout the research journey. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1.Introduction 4 1.1 Introduction to the Research Topic 4 1.2 Research Aims and Objectives/ Questions 5 1.3 Scope of the Research 6 1.4 Rationale for the Research Topic 7 1.5 Limitations of the Research 8 1.6 Methodology 9 1.7 An Overview of Pfizer 10 1.8 Summary 11 Chapter2.0 Literature Review 12 2.1 Introduction 12 2.2 An Overview of Options 12 2.3 Types of Options 14 2.4 Factors Affecting Options 16 2.5 Application of Option Pricing Model 18 2.6 Option Pricing Model in Real World 19 2.7 Option Pricing Model and Historical Data 20 2.8: Summary 21 Section 3.0 Research Methodology 22 3.1 Introduction 22 3.2 Research Philosophy 22 3.3 Research Approach 23 3.4 Data Collection Methods 23 3.5 Data Analysis Methods 24 3.6 Ethical Considerations 24 3.7. Strengths of the Methodology 25 3.8: Limitations of the Methodology 25 Chapter 4.0 Findings and Analysis 26 4.1 Introduction 26 4.2 Value based Management 26 4.3: Economic Value Added 28 4.4: Market Value Added 29 4.5: Option Pricing Models 30 4.6: General Findings 32 4.7: Summary 34 Chapter 5.0 Conclusion and Recommendations 35 5.1 Introduction 35 5.2 Conclusion 35 5.3: Recommendations for Future Research 36 5.4: Recommendations for Pfizer 36 5.5: Reflection 37 5.6 Summary 37 BIBLIOGRAPHY 38 CHAPTER-1.0: INTRODUCTION 1.1: Introduction to the Research Topic Business environments have always been unpredictable and hard to understand and therefore, it becomes important to understand the intricacies of business environments and financial concepts that will help in understanding the growth and development of organsiations. In finance, the time value of assets and o rgansiations is calculated through the analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic values that vary in a great manner (Aswath, 2008). In finance, the concept of â€Å"Option† is defined as a derivative financial instrument specifying a contract between two parties for a future transaction revolving around an asset at a reference price (Aswath, 2008) In today’s time, the concept of option pricing has emerged as a safeguarding tool for a number of organsiations willing to

Fund investment and management in venture capital market Research Proposal

Fund investment and management in venture capital market - Research Proposal Example The most critical aspect is the management of the venture capital because it determines the success of the market that are also influenced by the status of the markets. The research would incorporate the introduction, research findings, result analysis, discussion, conclusion and recommendations. The objectives of this research concerns the financial attributes that relate corporate to the market status and the competitors capabilities that influence the performances in the economies. This project intends to generate critical information on the financial investment and management of the capital. The research also seeks to produce insight on the financial information through the utilization of the previous works in finances. The provision of explicit relationships on the fund investments and management of capital is also key in the analysis of this topic. The research will incorporate several techniques to attain the most substantial information concerning the topic. There will be involvement of appropriate data collection techniques such as observations, interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and surveys. The research would embrace the most advantageous techniques to mitigate the errors that might deter accurate findings, critical analysis and resolute recommendations. There will be applications of primary and secondary data sources to avail adequate information throughout the research exercise. Surveys will involve the performance of a passive evaluation exercise on the marketing and developing trends of the business as manifested in different locations. Surveys can be applied when determining financial investments, capital provisions, customer requirements and specifications. There would be a decision on the persons to be surveyed and the most appropriate survey model. The survey would be tested before its availability for the actual research activity. Direct information involves a process of both

Human Development-Babies Documentary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Development-Babies Documentary - Essay Example . then the prospects for the future are bright†. Yet, the obvious impediment to this actually taking place is the fact that the provision of developmental education and knowledge must be specifically focused on issues pertaining to what components of this development make the opportunity important, what examples of development exist with relation to such opportunities, and how each developmental domain (physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional) inter-relate to this over-arching goal. As a result of this level of research that has been ongoing for the past few decades, scientists have definitively determined that the patterns and strengthening of bonding synapses is primarily influenced and aided by the existence of physical activity within the regime of the child. This should not be understood to mean that a level of sports or competitive games must be engaged in order for this physicality aspect to be positively correlated to brain activity (Balmes, 2010). Rather, almost all of the accident research which is been conducted on this topic has determined that physical activity in the form of play, kinetic learning, and many other forms are equally as beneficial; perhaps more due to the fact that they do not oftentimes behave within rigid norms or regulations. In effect, the inclusion of creativity alongside physical activity seems to be as something of a magic formula with regards to stimulating brain development and maximizing the overall levels of connections th at can be made within the adolescent mind. Perhaps most importantly of all, scientists have determined that there is a â€Å"sweet spot† with regards the timeframe in which this can be affected. As sociologists and psychologists have understood for many years, childhood development cannot be understood in something of a monolithic appreciation. Rather, just as with any

Leadership Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership Theory - Essay Example This means that Schultz had a preconceived idea that in the nature of his business, those people with the opportunity to lead others in their organization should have got people skills in order to become effective leaders. In its broader sense, Schultz was combining the basic principles of leadership from the point of view of trait and behavioral theories. The very proof is the thought that this can also be explained using the contingency point of view of leadership particularly the Fiedler model which particularly highlights the match between the leader’s style of interacting with subordinates on certain situation in order to achieve high group performance (Arrmandi, Oppedisano & Sherman 2003). This may also fall on implicit theories of leadership where there is emphasis on mental models that substantially includes the combined idea of traits and behaviors of a person (Schyns 2006). Starbucks’s nature of business requires effective group performance, which can only be obtained if there is a leader who according to Schultz has the potential for people skills. At Starbucks, it is about combination of different talents or skills in order to come up with product or service offerings that would place high value for customers. It requires manager in this case who is a leader that at some point could influence the people to maximize their creativity or potential to do well in performing their respective role in the organization. This must be achieved not because of the power of that manager to hire or fire people, but because of his or her people skills that would influence the subordinates. A strong will and loud voice may be integral parts of a boss, but an effective leader requires people skills (Williams & Denney 2010). Modern organizations applied the concept of team-based principle, where leaders’ leadership is assumed to be assigned (Appelbaum, Audet & Miller 2003). In fact, this is another reality at Starbucks. Leadership is assigned to those with

Everyday uses of mathematics 0920 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Everyday uses of mathematics 0920 - Essay Example One simply cannot cook unless one is not able to get the proportion of varied ingredients that need to be put in a particular dish. One cannot cook varied recipes given in cook books and magazines if one does not know the basic mathematics to be able to calculate the quantity of varied spices and ingredients that one needs to put in a dish one is cooking. Once again, driving a car is a fairly common activity. Yet, the thing is that to know as to when one will reach one’s destination one need to know about the distance at which a place is located and the speed of one’s car. Only then one is able to calculate the time when he will reach the intended destination. Once again, this requires knowledge of basic mathematics. Students and household people do keep weekly and monthly budgets to keep an eye on their expenditure and savings. Again it is not possible to make and manage household budgets unless one does not know how to count the money one has at one’s disposal and as to how to add, subtract, divide and multiply varied sums of money. The one other thing students and professionals do is to keep a weekly and monthly planner to be able to manage their routines and to keep an eye on the time they have at their disposal. Again, one really cannot keep oneself organized and punctual by keeping a track of one’s t ime if one does not know how to watch time and the basic mathematics to be able to add and subtract time. The other commonly known activity that requires the knowledge of mathematics is the maintenance of personal statistics. People losing weight do keep a track of the pounds they have gained or lost and the change in the circumference of their waist and arms and legs. One really cannot do these things without knowing a little bit of mathematics. Isn’t it interesting to note that one even cannot lose weight without having knowledge of mathematics? People often go to shopping and while

FRS 5 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

FRS 5 - Case Study Example The principle of FRS says that legal characterisation of the transaction should not be affected. The principle of the FRS 5 can be discussed through two factors. 1) Features of more complex Transactions. The link between the transactions should be created as that the commercial effect can be made out, considering the entire series. It should be ensured that with the separation of legal title, exposure of the risk inherent in the benefits can also be possible. Inclusion of the option is also necessary. There are certain transactions, those are accompanied by an option instead of commitment to the original owner or to the owner to repurchase or to the buyer to resell.2) Assessing commercial effect by considering the position of other parties. While assessing the commercial effect, it is important to consider the position of the related parties to it along with the motives of agreeing to its apparent expectation. It is important to have commercial logic to all of the related parties irr espective of whatever the substance of transaction is. Regarding the recognition of an item in the balance sheet, there are two conditions that it has to fulfil after meeting the definition of assets or liabilities. Those conditions are as follows: If there is an appropriate evidence of the benefit of future inflow or outflow along with the sufficient evidence of the existence of the item.The item should be measured by the monetary aspects.. Basically, FRS 5 has two key paragraphs which indicate the disclosure required for the complex transactions.

Ethical and Moral Principles in a Business Environment Essay

Ethical and Moral Principles in a Business Environment - Essay Example Wal – Mart is one of the biggest retailers in the world and stands at the first position in the list of the fortune 500 companies. Wal-Mart has been in the industry since 1962. Wal-Mart has wide operations spread across 14 markets, 7390 Wal – Mart stores. The company employees over 2 million associates. It is the largest employer in the US. The company was started with a vision of becoming the world leaders in retailing. Over the past years, the company has been able to gain the position of the world’s largest retail company and is thrice as big as its closest competitor. The company’s mission has always been to provide the customers with best products and services at reasonable prices. The company’s main values and beliefs are – respecting individuals, service to the customers and striving for excellence. The company’s signature for almost five decades has been Everyday low prices.The company has been said to keep a watch on the repor ters and critics as well. This is not a good idea as it cannot repair the reputation of the plaguing company. Wal Mart has a serious health issue and the thug-like tactics only create a bigger scope for the critics of the company. The company has been known to take a lot of interest in the spy toys and the criticism of their business is not well received by the company. The company has also led up the extent of recording the calls of the employees to spy on them. The company has highlighted that this is mainly in the case of extreme cases.

Electrical & electronic principles ( lap report ) in transistor Assignment

Electrical & electronic principles ( lap report ) in transistor - Assignment Example Whenever they are, used a small BJTs’ number is integrated inside a high-density chip complimentary. This integration is referred to as the BICMOS especially when BJT is integrated with CMOS. This report explores the bipolar transistors and the characteristics of its DC gain transistor. The word bipolar is used to explain the idea that all holes and electrons take part in the BJT operation. This implies that the minor diffusion carrier plays a key role in a similar way to the PN diode junction. The term junction implies that the PN junction is crucial to the BJTs operation. The BJT could be referred to as the bipolar transistors. It is normally made of emitters that are heavily doped, N-type collector, and P-type base. This implies that the device would be a NPN BJT (Harame, et al. 2005). The transistors with NPN display high transconductance and speed compared to the transistors that are PNP. This is so because the mobility of electrons is increased compared to the mobility of the hole. The junction of a base emitter is a junction in which the electrons are sent towards the more base that is lightly dropped. The electrons diffuse over the base towards the base collector junction that was reverse biased and washed away to the collector. This leads to the production of current referred to as the collector current (IC). IC is normally VCB independent unless VCB is a reversed bias. On the other hand, IC could be found by identifying the rate of injected electrons to the base from the emitter. This is established by the injection electron rate into the base from the injector. Emitters are normally linked to the ground. The curve of IC is always plotted versus VCE. In cases where by VCE is more than o.3v, its value would be equal to VCE= VCB+ VBE. When VCE is less than 0.3V the junction of the base collector is strongly biased forward making the IC to reduce. The IR Parasitic drops are hard to

Parenting Styles and Their Effects on Children Essay Example for Free

Parenting Styles and Their Effects on Children Essay There is a woman in Wal-Mart shopping for groceries. She is a mother with of kids ranging in age from two to ten. The four-year old grabs a pack of cookies off the shelf and places them in the cart. Her mother notices and asks her to put the cookies back. The little girl stomps her feet and begins to scream â€Å"I want cookies! † at the top of her lungs. The other customers stop and stare, anticipating her mother’s reaction. Taking advantage of the crowd, the little girl launches into a full-blown temper tantrum. Feeling the eyes of strangers watching, the mother desperately tries to calm her daughter down. When all else fails, the mother gives in. How should the mother have handled it? What does this say about her style of parenting? â€Å"The idea of being a parent is exciting but its a little scary; what if you get it wrong? Theres so much you have to know and so many things you have to decide† (Gurian, 2011). Parenting is arguably the toughest, yet most rewarding full-time occupation. There is no universal manual on how to raise the perfect child or how to be the perfect parent. Parents are responsible for raising a child from birth to adulthood. How a child is raised differs from household to household. What works in one family may or may not work in another. Parenting styles can be based on culture, socioeconomic status, or the kind of parenting the parent received as a child. In the 1960s, a psychologist by the name of Diana Baumrind studied more than one hundred preschoolers. Baumrind identified four significant dimensions of parenting through naturalistic observation, parental interviews and other various research methods. They are warmth and nurturance, communication styles, expectations of maturity and control, and disciplinary strategies (Cherry, 2011). Baumrind is also responsible for identifying the three main parenting styles. Based on her research, others were able to come up with a fourth and highly unfavorable style of parenting. The four styles of parenting are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, negligent or uninvolved parenting (Cherry, 2011). An authoritarian parent enforces rigid rules and demands strict obedience to authority. Children raised in authoritarian households are expected to accept without question what the parents tell them (Coon, Mitterer, Talbot and Vanchella, 2010, p. 91). An authoritative parent is similar to an authoritarian parent when it comes to enforcing rules and establishing guidelines. The children are expected to abide by these rules and guidelines. However, an authoritative parent allows the child to voice his or her opinion making this style more of a democracy than a dictatorship. The child is allowed to make mistakes without the guilt of disappointing the parents. Permissive parents demand very little of their children and rarely discipline them. They are more of a friend than a parent to their child (Cherry, 2011). Negligent or uninvolved parents are unresponsive, uncommunicative, and have few demands. They fulfill the basic needs of children – food, shelter, clothes—but are emotionally detached from their child’s life. They have very little knowledge of what goes on in the child’s world. What effect does the parenting style have on children? Diana Baumrind (2012) researched the qualities of children based on the parental style in their home. Her results are as follows: Authoritative Parenting: †¢lively and happy disposition †¢self-confident about ability to master tasks well developed emotion regulation †¢developed social skills †¢less rigid about gender-typed traits (exp: sensitivity in boys and independence in girls) Authoritarian Parenting: †¢anxious, withdrawn, and unhappy disposition †¢poor reactions to frustration (girls are particularly likely to give up and boys become especially hostile) †¢do well in school (studies may show authoritative parenting is comparable) †¢not likely to engage in antisocial activities (exp: drug and alcohol abuse, vandalism, gangs) Permissive Parenting poor emotion regulation (under regulated) †¢rebellious and defiant when desires are challenged †¢low persistence to challenging tasks †¢antisocial behaviors Dr. Dan Bochner (2012), author of â€Å"The Essentials of Parenting,† states the essentials of parenting are kindness and affection balanced with consistency and firmness. Children need kindness and affection to know that they are loved and that their parents understand mistakes will be made. Consistency and firmness are crucial as well in order to establish rules and guidelines for children to obey. Bochner thoroughly elaborates on how kindness, affection, consistency and balance are necessary when raising a child: * â€Å"Kindness: In essence, kindness involves putting yourself in the shoes of your child, thinking about your childs motivations or intentions, and realizing that what theyre going through, or the way theyre acting, is related to their age, and the vulnerability of their situation. When we disapprove of a childs behavior, we are likely to over-react if we see their actions exclusively from the adult perspective. It is common to think children should know better without considering what they are experiencing. When were tired or stressed it can intensify a less than empathic reaction. Likewise, when children are acting in ways that we like, we have to remember that their actions require effort on their part, and if we do not demonstrate our appreciation, our children might feel little desire to make similar effort in the future. * Affection: One way that we can show our appreciation is through affection. It feels good to be hugged and snuggled as long as its invited. The desire of most children for affection is so great that theyll often rub up against their parents, or flop into their laps, like hungry kittens. Sometimes children will behave in positive ways just because they want affection. But it is also often the case that a child is in a moment where they want and need independence. It is important for parents to understand the independent spirit of their children and to refrain from being too affectionate when their child desires, or should be developing, independence. As much as a parent must recognize that their child needs affection, they must also realize that holding off on being affectionate might be almost as crucial since a child can perceive overwhelming affection as thwarting independence. Consistency: Consistency is made difficult by our own changing moods and by our differences with our partners. Children are better able to negotiate the family and watch their behavior when parents expectations are clear, and the consequences are set for what will occur when expectations are not met. If we are able to remain consistent in spite of stress or unpredictable circumstances, we b uild stability into the family environment. Nothing can be more important than the ability of parents to support one another in their views and their interventions if consistency is to be maintained. The confidence children develop as a result of parental consistency carries over into other parts of life, and into your childs future. * Firmness: Firmness, of course, goes hand in hand with consistency. When a parent is serious and behaves in accordance with their feelings, children feel it in their bones. This is not a recommendation for angry or mean behavior. Rather, tone of voice, body language and facial expression easily reveal seriousness. Children, who are used to a consistent, yet loving and affectionate, home, know when they should not cross the line. Testing of parental limits occurs with almost all children, but if children know with certainty that parents will stand firm when theyve had enough, children learn their limits while simultaneously learning the limits they should set in their interactions with others. † Lastly, Dr. Bochner (2012) ties them all together with parents making an effort: * â€Å"Make the Effort: There is one point that is essential to repeat. As a parent it is necessary to make the effort to keep these attributes in mind and in balance. But it is not always going to be easy, and sometimes it may not seem possible. Parents need to give themselves a break when they are impatient or snap in frustration. As long as there is an effort to be kind, affectionate, consistent, and firm, children will get the message that they are loved, valued, and cared for in a consistent and knowable world. If they internalize that message, they will carry it with them throughout their lives, and they will pass it on to the next generation. † Parental styles also come into play when dealing with temperaments of children. Since children in the same household may have different temperaments, it is crucial parents are aware of it and adjust accordingly. The differences in temperament can be detected early in infancy. They are classified as easy, difficult and slow to warm up. Easy children are very adaptable, calm, interested in trying new things, cheerful and usually content. Difficult children are the exact opposite. They are fussy, easily upset, fearful of unfamiliar situations and people, aggressive and have low adaptability. Children that are slow to warm up have a tendency to be shy, somewhat inactive, withdraw or negatively react to new experiences but over time their reactions become more positive ( Gurian 2011). As the children get older, their temperaments change based on their understanding of different situations. For example, before shy children reach adolescence, they are considered a â€Å"slow to warm up† child. Once they are familiar with their new surroundings, they will interact with other children. Parenting is a responsibility that can’t be taken lightly. There is more to being a parent than just conceiving a child. How a child is raised effects their development into adulthood. Most parents raise their kids based on how they were brought up with a few modifications. I was raised in an authoritative household and will raise my kids the same way. Parents strive to give their kids the best life possible and will sometimes go beyond their means to ensure this. Joshua Becker (2012) made a list of ten things all children need that give more to the child than anything of monetary value: love, time/attention, encouragement/affirmation, stability, opportunity, discipline, a good laugh, your lap, room to make mistakes, and hugs/kisses. Proverbs 22:6 states: â€Å"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. † The best parents nurture and are not afraid to discipline their kids. They parents teach and instill morals that their children will never forget. As young adults, children will make decisions built on morals and conduct themselves as if their parents are watching. Although they won’t always agree with their parents, they will appreciate how they were raised. Most are thankful their parents were just that – parents- and didn’t try to be their best friend.

Film Auteur Theory

Film Auteur Theory ‘The auteur theory can be summarised most simply as an acknowledgement of the director as the primary and shaping force behind a film (Craig Keller). How is Godards ‘primary and shaping influence detectable, if indeed, it is? Introduction The auteur theory or la politique des auteurs was a principle developed in the 1950s by a group of French film critics namely: Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. These critics wanted to see an end to the â€Å"literary†, â€Å"lifeless† and not â€Å"truly cinematic† conventional cinema of the 1930s and 1940s. Inspired by fellow film critic Alexandre Astrucs camera-stylo theory which argued that â€Å"filmmakers should use their equipment as spontaneously, flexibly and personally as a writer uses a pen† these young critics wanted to break the constraints of conventional cinema. Through the experimentation of different cinematic techniques they began to implement their own personal artistic values in films, as directors. It was therefore their belief that an auteur is â€Å"the single individual most responsible for whatever personal expression (if any) a movie yielded up under critical analysis†. This definition has become the most universally understood of the auteur theory and therefore the one which will be referred to during this essay. Prior to the development of the auteur theory, a large majority of films were produced, shot and edited in a similar style. Large studios, with fixed cameras and the scriptwriter having overall control were the order of the day thus creating a rigid style of film production. The auteurs became the primary shaping force behind a movie, manipulating scenes to fit their style rather than employing the traditional method of following scriptwriters prompts. The auteur theory was initiated in the 1950s by a group of French Film Critics including the likes of Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard and Jacques Rivette. These critics spoke out against la tradition de la qualità © of cinema from the 1930s and 40s a period coined le cinà ©ma de papa claiming it to be â€Å"literary†, â€Å"lifeless† and not â€Å"truly cinematic†. In terms of the auteur theory Jean-Luc Godard was seen as the truly radical auteur. By most he is today seen as one of the most innovative and artistic directors having created his own ‘Gordards style. Whilst for others such as Susan Sontag he is ‘the deliberate destroyer of cinema. Either way Godard epitomizes a director out to challenge traditional cinema. Through his early films, such as Vivre sa Vie: Film en douze tableaux (1962) and Une femme est une femme he began to interrogate and illuminate conventional cinema via new cinematic and artistic techniques. He has since become very much the pivotal protagonist of the auteur theory. Objectives This essay will assess the extent to which Jean-Luc Godards ‘primary and shaping influence is detectable in his films. In the main body of this essay I will consider Godards ability to implement his own cinematic style through several inventive techniques. I will consider his ability to challenge the barriers between off screen and on screen reality through his use of sound and editing techniques. I will however, also argue that any kind of definition of the auteur theory oversimplifies the realities of a film making process and can therefore not be seen as a definitive theory. Andrew Sarris explains, one of the premises for an auteur is that the director must ‘exhibit certain recurring characteristics of style which serve as his signature†¦over a group of his films. It is therefore my intention to make reference to four of Godards films to highlight his during the Nouvelle Vague period. I will, therefore, make reference to four of Godards films: A bout de Souffle (1960), Une femme est une femme (1961), Vivre sa vie: Film en douze tableaux (1962) and Le Mepris (1963) to demonstrate†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ When cosidering these films one of the most common trends noticeable is his need to challenge the barriers of off screen and on screen reality. Prior to the Nouvelle Vague, films were predominantly revised novels put on screen. To most directors As Kreidel suggested in 1980 â€Å"[N]o one has yet made a more modern cinema than Godard†. Indeed, Godard through his reaction against traditional realism typifies someone who represents reality with recourse to conventional cinema. Prior to the Nouvelle Vague, directors followed very strict rules in their film making process in which they filmed in large studios with artificial lighting and with scripts which prevented improvisation. Godard completely reversed these rules in his films by directing them in a very spontaneous manner. Following the release of A Bout de Souffle actor Jean-Pierre Melville who played Parvulesco in the film said Godards movie was â€Å"anything shot anyhow†. Godard himself confirmed that â€Å"on A Bout de Souffle I used to write the evening before shooting.† According to Godard, the reason for him doing this was because â€Å"I liked to be surprised. If you know in advance everything you are going to do, it isnt worth doing. If a sh ow is all written down, what is the point of filming it? What use is cinema if it trails after literature?† This idea of filmmaking was revolutionary at the time and was a way in which Godard was implementing his own directional style to his movies. One of Godards earliest artistic influences came when directing his first motion picture A Bout de Souffle. Despite the film being a simple naturalistic movie with the camera following the characters in a deliberately real world filming realistic images, several factors led to the film being cut, mainly due to the length of the film. This created one of Godards most innovative filming techniques, the jump shot, and an editing method which would truly show Godard ability as a cinematic artist. The jump shot essentially create discontinuity in his films as it would catapult the action from one scene to the next with no palpable transition. One of the most noticeable examples of Godards jump shots in A Bout de Souffle came in the scene when Jean Seberg who plays Patricia is a passenger in the scene when Jean-Paul Belmondos character Michel drives her round the centre of Paris in a stolen convertible. During this scene there are up to seven jump shots in rapid succession of the position of Patricia head and the streets of Paris. In creating such a deliberately jagged shot Godard reminds the audience that they are watching a film, and not life itself, a concept vital to Godard when directing his films. One of the most innovative ways in which Godards primary and shaping force is evident in his films can be shown through his use of colour. In conventional cinema, colour was generally used in order to increase the commerciality of films. When it was occasionally used, it enhanced the mood in separate scenes. Godard as a notable auteur employed a far more ambitious use of colour. In his first two colour films Une femme est une femme and Le Mà ©pris he predominantly used primary colours due to him being influenced by â€Å"modern art: straight color, ‘pop art†. Godard uses bold primary colours to indicate the characterisation and narrative development in his films but in such a way that it does not act upon the viewer in a directly sensual way. In Godards first colour film Une femme est une femme, Angela is intent on having a child with her husband Emile. Emile however, is not so keen on the idea and comes across as rather blasà © about the subject; he predominantly wear s blue in the film which symbolises his rather laid back nature. After being repeatedly refused by Emile on the topic of having a baby, Angela goes to Emiles friend Albert to have an affair in the hope to conceive. Albert despite being happy to oblige feels no real affection for Angela and this is shown as he mainly wears grey to symbolise his disinterest in her. In Godards second colour film Le Mà ©pris Godard continues the pattern of using colour to represent characters personalities but tends to also use colour thematically. In the opening scene, when Camille is lying in bed with Paul discussing how much they love each other, Godard uses colour filters which are seen as a representative of what is going to happen in the film. If one considers that red symbolises love, white incertitude and blue coldness then it maps out what happens in the film, love to ambivalence to contempt. Furthermore, when examining the colours that are worn by the characters in the film, the reoccurring theme of Godard using colour to represent personality reappears. Paul the scriptwriter in the film is seen in a grey suit with blue specks highlighting his passive personality during the film. Jerry the ambitious American film producer is mostly seen in a blue suit, red tie and driving a red sports car which in turn highlights his dominant greedy and selfish nature. In addition, Camille is shown in several coloured dresses throughout the film so as to emphasize her continual change of emotions. Finally Francesca, Jerrys secretary wears a red jumper in the scene when she seduces Paul which again emphasizes Godards attempt to symbolise emotional currents in the film. It is important to note that several critics have suggested that on top of Godard using colour thematically the primary colours are also a referent to American musicals, a genre which fascinated Godard. This referent is most evidently seen in the opening credits of Une femme est une femme when bold colourful words flash up on the screen like neon lights reflecting the lavishness of the American musical. Furthermore, other critics suggest that the primary colours are a referent to either the French flag or American flag which again represents Godards primary and shaping influence within this film. A pivotal part in defining Godard as the primary and shaping force of his films can be seen in his use of sound. Prior to the Nouvelle Vague, sound was employed in film to replicate audibly the visual emotion of a scene in order to captivate the audience and make a scene appear more ‘realistic. Martin Heidegger highlights this tradition by saying that viewers have become accustomed to sounds â€Å"elegant effects† and thus treats them as real. Godard however, firmly believed that in ‘faking sound to captivate the audience, one is taking away the realism which he wanted in films. A point agreed by Richard Roud who suggested that â€Å"even in the most so-called realist film, sound has always been an exception†. It was therefore Godards intention to restore sound so that it would captivate ‘real life by refusing to edit or remix any previously recorded track, which he defined as sonic realism. One of Godards most notable examples of this was seen in A Bout de Souffle. Due to the sound being naturally recorded there are several scenes in the film when some of the characters conversations are muffled by natural or real noises. The use of natural sound reaches a peak during the scene in Patricias apartment when the noise of the sirens bellowing in through the open window actually drowns out the characters dialogue. Rather than being a distraction that takes the viewer out of the moment, the use of natural sou nd here, and throughout the film, only heighten the realism. After all, in life, it would be unrealistic to sit in a room with an open window in the centre of Paris and not hear any intrusive sounds. Jean Colet praises Godards creation of realism through sound stating â€Å"[Godard applies] to sound the same demands as for the pictures. [He captures] life in what it offers to be seen-and to be heard-directly.† Godards artistic use of sound can also be seen through his use of music in his films. In Godards Une Femme est une Femme he begins to break up music in short bursts. This use of music gives the sense of the film as a sort of assemblage different bits of the material world put together in a particular way. This further exemplifies Godards use of experimentation as when asked about his use of sound and music he said Things are there: but lets see how they work. Second Section It is undeniable that Godard has produced some of the most inspiring and innovative films through his use of story line and cinematic techniques. His exploitation of light, colour, and sound, editing and alienating the audience showed Godard had revolutionised traditional French cinema and in doing so has inspired modern day film directors such as Quentin Tarrantino. However, in using Kellers summary that an auteur is simply the primary and shaping force of his films it is unquestionably oversimplifying the realities of the film making process. As Godard changed so much in his films compared to traditional cinema it is not possible for him to be praised for every aspect of his films creation. Godard said in an interview in 1983: â€Å"I find it useless to keep offering the public the ‘auteur. In Venice, when I got the prize of the Golden Lion I said that I deserve only probably the mane of this lion, and maybe the tail. Everything in the middle should go to all the others who work on the picture: the paws to the director of photography, theface to the editor, the body to the actors. I dont believe in the solitude of†¦the auteur with a capital A†. Furthermore, Godard admitted that him and the likes of Truffaut, Rohmer and Rivette whilst taking the plaudits for the auteur theory, exaggerated the significance of the theory so as to establish personal expression as one of the primary values in Nouvelle Vague films. Several theorists have also raised doubts as to the significance of the auteur. Foulcault and Roland Barthes suggest that all creative ideas are moulded by the social and political forces that surround us. They go on to state that ideas are contrived from the knowledge that one has gained from past experiences. If one puts this in the context of Godards films it would suggest that Godards cinematic ideas and techniques were influenced by what he has learnt from past experiences. An example of this can be seen in his indirect use of Brechtian distanciation. Whilst it is evident that he was inspired by Brechts idea of alienating the audience to prevent them from being passive observers can one really claim that Godards cinematic techniques were not the result of Brechts indirect influence? Furthermore, when analysing many of Godards films, Godard refers to several quotes from the likes of William Faulkner and Edgar Poe. These are quotes which could have been easily edited but instead G odard â€Å"taste for quotation† suggests that he is not the primary and shaping force in his films.

Do objects exist independent of the mind?

Do objects exist independent of the mind? This essay will investigate the question of whether mind independent objects exist according to John Locke and George Berkeley. John Locke reasons that objects do exist independently of our mind but this is not without some caveat. George Berkeley on the other hand argues that no material substances exist other than ideas or perceptions in our minds. Hence there are no mind independent objects. I will argue that John Lockes reasoning is actually stronger than Berkeleys and therefore the case for mind independent objects existing is coincidentally stronger as well. Lockes argument in support is that we can be sure of the limits of our knowledge of their existence because of the ideas we obtain from our senses. I will firstly detail how Lockes reasoning supports this contention. Secondly I will explore Berkeleys claim which denies that any form of material substance and hence mind independent objects do not exist independently. I will argue that Berkeleys claim fails because of inadequacies raised during his rejection of Lockes argument. Berkeley relies on an appeal to the supernatural (e.g. God) to counter the universal proposition that he inevitably draws himself into with the existence of other minds in external human bodies and in his contention that external objects only exist as ideas in the mind. Locke adopts a pragmatic approach to this inquiry because he uses the senses in a practical everyday way to assess the degree of certainty of knowledge. Importantly, Locke accepts the limitations of human knowledge which then defines the inquiry question of what level of certainty there is for the existence of external objects (Bennett, 2007). Locke says that an idea is; whatever is the object of the understanding when a man thinks (Bennett 2007 p2). This is an important definition because it suggests an idea to be more than just a representation of an external object. What Locke alludes to here is that we have a cognitive ability to obtain knowledge of the external world through a relationship in our mind between simple (sensations from experience) and complex (abstracted from particular to universal principles) ideas and are thus able to pass judgement (subjective) about the certainty of that knowledge. Locke states that; Knowledge, then, seems to me to be nothing but the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement and incompatibility, of any of our ideas. That is all it is (Bennett, 2007, p196). So knowledge then becomes the outcome of complex ideas created in our mind from sensations. The mind has no innate ideas and starts out as a tabula rasa (or blank sheet) but with mental faculties which thus enable the creation of ideas from experiences of the external world (Bennett, 2007). This is not unproblematic though because it raises the question of exactly which faculties are then innate. However, the ideas created come into being from when a person first has sensations. Locke says that: Since there appear not to be any ideas in the mind before the senses have conveyed any in, I think that ideas in the understanding arise at the same time as sensation (Bennett, 2007 p22). These ideas fashioning our knowledge are thus derived from our experience. They are also built upon the immediate impression of external objects in our mind through our senses. More complex and abstract concepts result from our own introspection. Locke then talks about three types of knowledge which are important in our understanding of the certainty of the existence mind independent objects. He claims that these three types of knowledge are; 1. Intuitive Knowledge which is the immediate agreement or disagreement between ideas without an intervention of other ideas; 2. Demonstrative Knowledge which does not immediately perceive the agreement or disagreement of ideas. It therefore brings into itself more ideas and creating complex ideas thus calling it reasoning; 3. Sensitive Knowledge which is knowledge gained through the senses (Bennett, 2007 p22). Sensitive knowledge is the key element of his claim that external objects exist independent of the mind. Whilst it is readily conceded by Locke that sensitive knowledge is not as certain as intuitive knowledge or demonstrative knowledge, it nevertheless goes beyond probability (Bennett, 2007, p202). It follows then that the level of certainty in establishing a case for the existence of external objects knowledge using the senses is limited. But I contend that the degree to which it is limited does not discount its use. Locke also asserts that whilst some philosophers question whether external objects exist even though they may have an idea in their mind, there is a degree of evidentness which puts the question beyond doubt (Bennett, 2007, p202). So he postulates that we can feel the sun, notice the difference at night without the sun and appreciate the contrast between a dream and an idea coming into our mind through the senses (Bennett, 2007, p202). So for all practical purposes, I contend along with Locke that this is all we need to establish a high level of certainty about the existence of mind-independent objects. This is not to say, that his logic is not without some openings for criticism such as the probabilistic certainty of sensitive knowledge. However I argue that the strength of Lockes reasoning for the existence of mind independent objects lies in its pragmatic simplicity. If we have the idea that something exists independently of our mind and we confirm this with our senses, then it is highly probable that it does exist independently of our mind. If we have the idea that the ground we walk upon is solid, then the idea comes from our experience of solid ground through our walking upon it. Using Lockes reasoning then, the idea of solid ground (as a mind independent object) can be held to be certain; to the limit that sensitive knowledge allows. In contrast to Locke, one can postulate as does George Berkeley, that material substances (and hence mind independent objects) do not exist. In his inquiry, scepticism surfaces amidst the proposition that we think only about the idea and not the actual external object. This scepticism charges the materialism of Locke for example, with implying that it leads to disavowing God (Downing, 2011). This aspect of Berkeleys rejection of Lockes materialist conceptions of the existence of external objects is also a key element of my rejection of Berkeleys Idealism. Berkeleys main argument for the mind independent objects not existing is structured thus; That we perceive ordinary objects and I wouldnt have known them if I hadnt perceived them by my senses; Things perceived by the senses are immediately perceived; and Things that are immediately perceived are ideas; and Ideas cant exist outside the mind. So it follows that; The existence of things I perceive by my senses consists in being perceived. When they are actually perceived [the existence of things], therefore, there can be no doubt about their existence (Berkeley P41). Unfolding what Berkeley means by this hinges upon his use of the word perceive. If the definition of perceiving is to become aware of something through the senses, then it seems that what Berkeley is saying is that we can have knowledge of the existence of external objects. But in fact that is not what he is saying. In #1, #2, #3 #4 he is arguing that our perception or awareness of ordinary objects (external) is based upon the use of our senses creating ideas which can then only exist in our minds. Premise #5 makes his argument look remarkably circular but I will grant that it isnt for this purpose. What he is saying is that external objects only exist because we are able to be aware of them. His conclusion at #6 reiterates the thrust of his claim that when we are made aware of external objects by our senses, then we cannot doubt their existence. He does not mean the external object. He means the idea of the external object. So, if the external object is not a representation and it is not anything other than an idea brought about by a perception or awareness through the senses, how is it that we come by the idea of knowledge of the external world? And more so, how is it that when we are not present or are denied our senses for any reason, that other people continue to experience the external world. Berkeley answers this by saying that When I say that sensible things [external objects] cant exist out of the mind, I dont mean my mind in particular, but all minds. Now, they clearly have an existence exterior to my mind, since I find by experience that they are independent of it (Berkeley p42). I argue here that this sentence inherently disrupts Berkeleys claim that there are no mind independent objects. How is it that there can be other independent minds (assuming them to be within external human bodies) which have an existence exterior to his and which perceive external objects whilst Berkeley is say, asleep? How is it that they are not considered to be external mind independent objects? There must be some other explanation. So Berkeley finds himself having to refer to the supernatural deity for relief; God. There is therefore some other mind in which they [external objects] exist during the intervals between the times when I perceive them; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. it necessarily follows that there is an omnipresent, eternal Mind which knows and comprehends all things and lets us experience them in a certain manner (Berkeley p42). In my assessment this appeal to the omnipotence of God diminishes Berkeleys argument dramatically. It is not a question of having or not having a belief in God. It is about establishing a level of certainty that the external world exists independently of our mind. In contrast to Lockes argument which allows for a probabilistic consideration about the certainty of knowledge; Berkeley simply refutes the external mind independent world and fills the void he creates with that of a supernatural deity. It is contextually understandable but I argue that it severely reduces the plausibility and explanatory power of his claim that mind independent objects do not exist. This essay has argued that Lockes assertions about the existence of mind independent objects are stronger than Berkeleys claim that no mind independent objects exist and to this I offer my support. Lockes probabilistic approach to sensitive knowledge assists him to overcome the vicarious connections between the mind and the external world. This is not without its problems though as I have discussed in the paper. Locke struggles with innateness of ideas and faculties along with proving the level of certainty against a measure of probability. In contrast, Berkeley simply rejects mind independent objects outright, which leaves him with the problem of how to then deal with the issue of other minds and human bodies. To this he simply defers to a supernatural deity in God. This I contend creates a most significant weakness in his argument and causes me to reject it. ConAgra Foods, Inc: Economic Analysis ConAgra Foods, Inc: Economic Analysis Author: Artem Zaiets(36981) Summary This paper’s purpose is to look through and analyze the activities of ConAgra Foods within food processing industry. It will touch the areas of the financing of the company as well as those of the business strategies and compare the company’s major competitors’ operations over the past 5 years. The statistics will also project the expected future growth under the rate of 5% over a 3 year period and look at the sensitivity analysis. Using the projected data, this paper will also show the internal growth rate of the company as well as the external funds required for the future. Introduction ConAgra Foods, Inc. is an American packaged foods company that is located in Omaha, Nebraska that was founded a whole century ago in 1919. The company produces and sells products under 27 different brand names, most of which are popular and known only within the North America. Some of ConAgras major brands include Hunts, Healthy Choice, Marie Callenders, Orville Redenbacher, Slim Jim (snack food), Reddi-wip, Egg Beaters, Hebrew National, P. F. Changs, and Bertolli ready meals. The products of the company diverse from cooking oil to hot dogs, frozen dinners, peanut butter, hot cocoa and many more. As was mentioned earlier, the company’s brands are known mostly in North American, including Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, nevertheless, the company still competes with European and Asian packaging food companies in the market and holds a quite strong position in the list. Financial Strategy There are many tools and ratios that can be useful in order to find out a firm’s financing strategy over a course of period. In this passage, I will be discussing 3 of them: debt to equity ratio, payout ratio and retained earnings during the period from 2010 to 2014, and will compare them with other major competitors that the company has in the food processing industry. The first tool that will be used is debt to equity ratio. This ratio indicates the proportion of equity and debt that a company uses to finance its assets to know whether it is conducting a riskier but more profitable business or vice versa. From the chart we can observe the comparison of this ratio with 2 other industry-related companies (Appendix Table 1). As can be seen from the chart, over the course of these 5 years, the ratio for ConAgra Foods, Inc. jumped drastically from 0.7862 to 1.752 in December 31st of year 2013. This can be explained by the fact that the company decided that it did not have sufficient revenue in order to operate further, and as was mentioned earlier the higher the ratio is, the more risk the company takes but the more money it receives as a turn-over at the same time. We can observe the same situation with Kraft Foods, an American company which was founded in year 2012 as a grocery manufacturing and processing conglomerate. A new company has relatively à ¢â‚¬Ëœless’ to lose than an older one, especially when a company such as ConAgra Foods is nearly 100 years old. Indeed, in the short run, according to microeconomic rules of companies, the latter need to have as much revenue as possible in order to operate in the long run. That is why the ratio for the second company is relatively high. As for Nestle which was founded in year 1905 and that is headquartered in Switzerland, we can observer that the situation is rather more stable compared to the 2 other companies. In year 2012, it reached a maximum of 0.4494 ratio in debt to equity which is quite low considering this industry is capital-intensive. The payout ratio, on the other hand, shows the amount of dividends per share to earnings per share that a company makes. For investors, the ratio can show whether the company’s dividend payments seem to be appropriate and sustainable or whether the company’s paying out more than it can sustain. New and-or fast growing companies usually focus on re-investing their earnings so the business can grow, and as a result, tend to have lower dividend payout ratios. Conversely, larger companies usually have a higher payout ratio. Let us analyze the data from Table 2 (Appendix Table 2). ConAgra Foods company’s payout ratio during the period of 2010 to 2011 has been always higher than 40%, and in 2012 even reached 84.8%. This shows that the company decided to increase the relations with their shareholders, or increase the amount of people contributing to the company by having a more attractive dividend payment. As for the new company Kraft Foods, in 2012 the ratio was at 18.2% which is not surprising. However, the company in the next year decided to increase the dividend payments to 48.2%. The reasons may be the same as ConAgra Foods company’s and also that the company does not have much operating cost at this stage. Nestle in years 2010 to 2011 was quite low, but increased to a reasonable amount in the next years. Yet another tool can be used in defining a company’s financial strategy and it is the retained earnings. Retained earnings are usually used to pay off debts and/or gain additional assets (Appendix Table 3). Table shows the relationship between the retained earnings with long-term, short-term debts, as well as non-current assets and stockholders’ equity for ConAgra Foods company. The short-term debt in the company is kept relatively low at all times in the company, which shows that it spends its earnings to keep them down. Non-current assets, however, get increased by twice as much in year 2013. The explanation for this may be that the company decided to increase investments for its many brands recognition, as well as some new equipment. 1.2. The relationship between the financing strategy and the business strategy Since ConAgra Foods, Inc. has so many brands under its name, a wise strategy for the company would be to increase their investments on those brands that have the highest potential, make them more recognizable around the U.S. The company has, therefore, undertaken a few financial actions that would reflect on their business operations. An example of that is the dividend action. The dividend continues to represent one of the highest payout levels among consumer food companies today. As was shown earlier in the chart with the payout ratios of the company and its competitors, we could indeed see that the ratio was the highest for ConAgra Foods, Inc. Restructuring charges is the next strategy that the company recently implemented. The balance of this charge will reflect upon the volatile and non-volatile costs relating to the implementation of restructuring activities, including programs designed to reduce the company’s ongoing operating costs. In other words, the company also focu ses on reducing operating costs. This does make sense, knowing that this industry is quite capital-intensive. The company also announced plans to divest its seafood and domestic imported cheese businesses. 1.3. Internal Growth Rate The internal growth rate of a company illustrates the highest level of growth which is achievable by the company without obtaining external financing. The formula for calculating the growth rate is as following: IGR = Plowback ratio Ãâ€" return on equity Ãâ€" . The plowback ratio is simply 1 subtracted by the payout ratio (1 – payout ratio), and the return on equity is the net income divided by the shareholders’ equity (ROE = ). Using the latest financial data of the company for year 2014, we get that IGR = (1 – 0.527) Ãâ€" Ãâ€" =0.473Ãâ€"0.058Ãâ€"0.272=0.00746 or roughly 0.75%. A conclusion of this is that without external financing, the growth rate of the company is mediocre. In case of any questions considering number (Appendix B Balance sheet of the company). 2.1. ConAgra Foods spreadsheet Assumed growth rate 0,05 Comments Comments Income statement 2014 2015 2016 2017 Revenue 17 702 600 18 587 730 19 517 117 20 492 972 5% increase Cost of goods sold 13 980 000 60,4% of sales 14 679 000 15 412 950 16 183 598 5% increase EBIT 955 400 1 003 170 1 053 329 1 105 995 5% increase Interest expense 379 000 379 000 379 000 379 000 Earnings before taxes 576 400 EBIT-I.expense 624 170 674 329 726 995 Taxes 298 000 51,7% of EBT 322 696 348 628 375 856 Net income 315 100 EBIT I.expense taxes 301 474 325 701 351 139 Dividents 166 057 Payout ratio = 0,527 158 877 171 644 185 050 Reatined earnings 149 043 Net income-dividents 142 597 154 056 166 089 Balance sheet Assets Net working capital 1 588 400 1 667 820 1 751 211 1 838 772 5% increase Fixed assets 15 123 600 15 879 780 16 673 769 17 507 457 5% increase Total assets 16 724 000 17 547 600 18 424 980 19 346 229 Equity and liabilities Long-term debt 8 767 600 8 767 600 8 767 600 8 767 600 Shareholders equity 5 258 500 5 401 097 5 555 154 5 721 242 Increase due to Retained earnings Other liabilities 2 601 200 2 601 200 2 601 200 2 601 200 Minority interest 96 700 96 700 96 700 96 700 Total liability and s.equity 16 724 300 Equal to total assets 16 866 597 17 020 654 17 186 742 Required external finance 0 681 003 1 404 326 2 159 487 Total assets Total liab. and s.equity From this table we can observe how much external finance company needed to maintain future growth. It means that company will either sell equity or borrow debt to obtain extra cash for future growth. Required external finance was calculated, simply, by subtracting future total assets from future total liabilities and shareholders’ equity. In case of any questions considering number (Appendix B Balance sheet of the company). Appendix A 2.1. Financing strategy Table 1 DEBT TO EQUITY 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 ConAgra Foods (CAG) 0.6543 0.6183 0.7862 1.752 1.522 Kraft Foods (KRFT) N/A 0.0021 2.79 1.924 2.298 Nestle (NSRGY) 0.3249 0.3928 0.4494 0.3475 0.3024 The numbers were taken from December 31st of each consecutive year. Table 2 PAYOUT, % 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 ConAgra Foods (CAG) 43 46.8 84.8 82.1 52.7 Kraft Foods (KRFT) N/A N/A 18.2 48.2 53.1 Nestle (NSRGY) 17 18.5 60.6 72.2 47.5 Table 3 Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Retained Earnings 4417 4854 4765 5130 5011 Short-term Debt 261 364 78 703 226 Long-term Debt 3226 2870 2859 8887 8768 Non-current Assets 7778 7509 8223 16026 15136 Stockholders Equity 4924 4702 4440 5264 5259 Appendix B 1.3. Internal growth rate; 2.1. ConAgra Foods spreadsheet Balance sheet of the company 2014 Assets Current Assets Cash And Cash Equivalents 183,100 Net Receivables 1,393,200 Inventory 2,292,600 Other Current Assets 361,900 Total Current Assets 4,230,800 Property Plant and Equipment 3,822,800 Goodwill 7,836,500 Intangible Assets 3,205,800 Other Assets 270,500 Total Assets 19,366,400 Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable 2,416,400 Short/Current Long Term Debt 226,000 Total Current Liabilities 2,642,400 Long Term Debt 8,767,600 Other Liabilities 2,601,200 Minority Interest 96,700 Total Liabilities 14,107,900 Stockholders Equity Common Stock 2,839,700 Retained Earnings 5,010,600 Treasury Stock (3,494,400) Capital Surplus 1,036,900 Other Stockholder Equity -134,3 Total Stockholder Equity 5,258,500 References conagrafoods, (2015).Investor Relations and Investor Information | ConAgra Foods. [online] Available at: http://www.conagrafoods.com/news-room/news-ConAgra-Foods-Announces-Strategy-for-Strengthening-Long-Term-Operating-PerformanceStreamlined-PortfolioIncreased-Marketing-on-Key-BrandsAggressive-Cost-Programs-and-Lower-Dividend-Shape-New-Financial-Profile-1008563 [Accessed 29 Jun. 2015]. Financials.morningstar.com, (2015).Balance Sheet for ConAgra Foods Inc (CAG) from Morningstar.com. [online] Available at: http://financials.morningstar.com/balance-sheet/bs.html?t=CAGregion=usaculture=en-US [Accessed 29 Jun. 2015]. Gurufocus.com, (2015).ConAgra Foods Inc (CAG) Debt to Equity (%). [online] Available at: http://www.gurufocus.com/term/deb2equity/CAG/Debt+to+Equity+%28%25%29/ConAgra+Foods+Inc [Accessed 29 Jun. 2015]. Markets.ft.com, (2015).Nestle SA, NESN:VTX financials FT.com. [online] Available at: http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Tearsheets/Financials?s=NESN:VTX [Accessed 29 Jun. 2015]. Finance.yahoo.com, (2015).CAG Balance Sheet | ConAgra Foods, Inc. Common Stoc Stock Yahoo! Finance. [online] Available at: https://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=CAG+Balance+Sheetannual [Accessed 30 Jun. 2015]. Finance.yahoo.com, (2015).CAG Income Statement | ConAgra Foods, Inc. Common Stoc Stock Yahoo! Finance. [online] Available at: https://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=CAG+Income+Statementannual [Accessed 30 Jun. 2015].

Sponsership Speech :: essays research papers

Sponsership Speech   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In which direction does the future lead us? What obstacles will we have to overcome to survive? Many of these questions and many others are pondered and weighed by scientists and economists throughout origins around the world. They have described that slowly, but surely, our beautiful planet will come to it?s end. Our polution and destruction of the ozone layer has caused a great deal of damage to to life on earth, from plants to animals. Certain causes of destruction include vehicular polution, forrest fires and other related causes, leathal and nonleathal gasses produced by factories and other objects, and many others. It is slowly reducing the percentage of servival, yet it is a well known fact that the world is becoming overpopulated. For every minute that passes by, more and more infants are brought into this world. Our ambition to expand and grow may very well bring us to our end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It has been said time and time agian that every parents dream is to see their children grow old and have children of their own. What if the world enforces a law that restricts the sexual activity between males and females? Will there be a planet left to continue lives of our own as well as the lives of our future loved ones? These reasons have lead us to believe that our bill should be enforced allowing increased funding and focus on space exploration to find a new home; allowing us to begin anew.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The era through this time period has been intellegent names by our scientists as ?Mankinds Future Iinto Space.? It has been shown through current budget proposals for the year 2002, made by President Clinton, that more will be spent towards the NASA Corporation rather than environmental protection agencies. An increase from 14.3 billion dollars to 14.5 billion dollars towards NASA will be on of the drastic changes pleading to take place. A decrease of .5 billion dollars will be given to environmental agencies giving them only 7.3 billion dollars. Billions of dollars alone have been put towards the recovery from the terrorist attacks on the United States. Also, more money has been wasted by the attack on Afganistan due to the fact of expensive and unnecessary bombing. [Description of Visual]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of the devices made by our Federal and Executive branches of government are going to play key rolls in our future. Our research and development team will also play a key roll in the future we wish to have. This is because they will determine if it is Sponsership Speech :: essays research papers Sponsership Speech   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In which direction does the future lead us? What obstacles will we have to overcome to survive? Many of these questions and many others are pondered and weighed by scientists and economists throughout origins around the world. They have described that slowly, but surely, our beautiful planet will come to it?s end. Our polution and destruction of the ozone layer has caused a great deal of damage to to life on earth, from plants to animals. Certain causes of destruction include vehicular polution, forrest fires and other related causes, leathal and nonleathal gasses produced by factories and other objects, and many others. It is slowly reducing the percentage of servival, yet it is a well known fact that the world is becoming overpopulated. For every minute that passes by, more and more infants are brought into this world. Our ambition to expand and grow may very well bring us to our end.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It has been said time and time agian that every parents dream is to see their children grow old and have children of their own. What if the world enforces a law that restricts the sexual activity between males and females? Will there be a planet left to continue lives of our own as well as the lives of our future loved ones? These reasons have lead us to believe that our bill should be enforced allowing increased funding and focus on space exploration to find a new home; allowing us to begin anew.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The era through this time period has been intellegent names by our scientists as ?Mankinds Future Iinto Space.? It has been shown through current budget proposals for the year 2002, made by President Clinton, that more will be spent towards the NASA Corporation rather than environmental protection agencies. An increase from 14.3 billion dollars to 14.5 billion dollars towards NASA will be on of the drastic changes pleading to take place. A decrease of .5 billion dollars will be given to environmental agencies giving them only 7.3 billion dollars. Billions of dollars alone have been put towards the recovery from the terrorist attacks on the United States. Also, more money has been wasted by the attack on Afganistan due to the fact of expensive and unnecessary bombing. [Description of Visual]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of the devices made by our Federal and Executive branches of government are going to play key rolls in our future. Our research and development team will also play a key roll in the future we wish to have. This is because they will determine if it is

Impact of Imagery Essay -- essays papers

Impact of Imagery The use of imagery in a short story has a great deal of effect on the impact of the story. A story with effective imagery will give the reader a clear mental picture of what is happening and enhance what the writer is trying to convey to the reader. William Faulkner exhibits excellent imagery that portrays vivid illustrations in ones mind that enhances, â€Å"A Rose for Emily†. The following paragraphs will demonstrate how Faulkner uses imagery to illustrate descriptive pictures of people, places and things that allow Faulkner to titillate the senses. â€Å"It was a big, squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies, set on what had once been our most select street† (287). Faulkner starts the story off with a mental picture of Emily’s house to be an old Victorian house. It is on a street that is commercializing which makes the house stand out and appear out of place. A description of Emily discloses her similarity to the house. â€Å"She looked bloated, like a body, long submerged in motionless water, and that of palled hue† (288). Faulkner describes her like this so that the reader may picture a pale, older woman, who seemingly hasn’t done much but eat, having no muscle tone, and clumps of fat more or less clinging to her body. She was sickly old woman. An even closer look at her face reveals â€Å"her eyes, lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal pressed into a lump of dough† (288). This description enhances the mental picture of Emily even more. The overly chubby face, gives the reader a definite mental picture of an old and obese woman. Faulkne... ...uched for many years, collecting dust and fading in color. As the room is being described, the reader almost should feel as if he or she is one of the neighbors who just broke down the door. If the reader felt as if he or she was in the story, Faulkner successfully and effectively created imagery. When the writer successfully creates imagery, the reader should be able to have a clear mental picture of what is happening and feel as if they are looking through the narrator’s eyes. William Faulkner displays excellent imagery which helps the reader better understand the real meaning of the story. Faulkner’s imagery of the people, places, and things in his stories, creates a painting type image, which truly titillates the senses. Bibliography: Works Cited 1. Barnet, Sylvan. An Introduction to Literature. Eleventh Edition. Longman Inc. New York, 1997.

Ethics and Regulation in the Professional Asset Management Industry

Ethics and Regulation in the Professional Asset Management Industry 11 December, 2011 Whenever a person is hired to perform a service or look after the interest of another, the question of rules for interactions and transactions behavior arises. This is particularly important for the financial industry were portfolio managers may be entrusted with portfolio value of trillions of dollars , the inherent risks associated with financial investments and the fact that portfolio managers are often exposed to ethical conflicts. Hence, it is no surprise that the financial industry is highly regulated to ensure that there is a minimum level of acceptable practice. Guidelines are built on two legs – formal legally enforceable regulations and ethical standards. Both follow the overall principle that â€Å"portfolio managers will always act in the best interest of their investors†. Legal regulations are complex often with an interaction between state and federal laws. At the very basic level they establish adequate disclosure of information related to the investment process and provide anti-fraud protections. These cover aspects like documentation, reporting, fairness, timeliness and accuracy of information. At a more complex level, regulations cover specific investments types like for example retirement / pension assets that have different risk management requirements. Following are the principal Securities Laws for the Asset management industry and their primary target user: * Securities Act of 1933 for security issuers * Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for security brokers * Investment Company Act of 1940 for mutual funds Investment Adviser Act of 1940 for advisors and private managers * Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for retirement asset managers and fiduciaries * Pension Protection Act of 2006 for pension fund sponsors and managers Several agencies / institutions are responsible to ensure these industry regulations are managed and followed: * SEC – U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the main federal agency) * U. S. Department of Labor (pension plans inc luding 401 (k) plans) * NASDR – National Association of Securities Dealer rules * U. S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission * U. S Internal Revenue Services (tax policies) These financial regulations are the â€Å"1st leg† of regulating investor/agent relationships and they provide the legally binding and enforceable framework of conduct. The â€Å"2nd leg† comprises voluntary ethical behavior standards. They follow the same overall principle of â€Å"investors come first† but describe in much more detail how the clients/investors interest must always take precedence over the interests of investment professionals and their employers. Ethical guidelines are the indispensable as they fill a void space. Policies and regulations may punish illegal behavior but cannot prevent such abuses from happening in the first place. Also while some financial transactions may not have violated any laws but could still be to the disadvantage of investors because of unethical behavior. Thus, Ethical guidelines aim to establish a self-regulating, voluntary behavior to prevent abuses before happening and to provide guidance for aspects of financial transactions not covered by formal policies. Leading institute is the CFA, the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute https://www. cfainstitute. org/Pages/index. aspx, previously AIMR – (Association for Investment Management and Research), which established a code of ethics for its members. Key elements are: * act with integrity, competence, diligence, respect and in an ethical manner. * place integrity of the investment profession and interests of clients above own personal interests. * use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, recommendations and taking investment actions. This ethics code is complemented with precisely defined conduct and actions that are acceptable (or unacceptable). The Centre of Financial Markets Integrity founded by the CFA has created a comprehensive â€Å"Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct† providing more detailed minimum standards for providing asset management services to clients. These standards extend the rules for individuals to those of entire investments firms. Of note, agents and companies strictly adhering to ethical standards may achieve higher trust and preference ratings from investors as well as employees. Therefore, it is in the own interests of financial institutes and agents to be a CFA member and follow their ethics code. However and despite these wide-ranging regulations in place investors’ interests are not always followed. Two reason fall mostly in two categories 1) Ethical dilemmas: these are situations where the â€Å"investor interest† evaluation is not straight forward, therefore posing an ethical dilemma for the agent. Examples include where an agent may occur expenses for costly company research or other expenses which may not be clearly to the benefit of the client. ) Guidelines must be put into daily practice. A policy by itself is not sufficient to achieve compliance. The responsibility is with the leadership of financial companies by creating a corporate culture that reinforces ethical behavior, by always leading with best example and by establishing a regulatory compliance framework with capability trainings, frequent internal communication, and by stric t enforcement. Closing remarks Much progress has been made in updating and raising the standards of legislation to be more comprehensive and to avoid a repetition of historical financial crisis. However, no matter how detailed regulations may be â€Å"the question really boils down to staying true both the spirit and the letter of the law. † (Carlo V. di Florio) This is the reason why ethical codes such as provided by CPA are a critical complement to legal regulations as they provide behavioral guidelines. In fact, efforts are being made to make the ethical behavior standards legally mandatory. 913 study submitted in 2011 for the Dodd-Frank act as well as FINRA and the code framework itself is in a constant process of updates and expansion (e. . the Shingle theory). This is encouraging and will provide further guidance â€Å"how to put the investors’ interests first†. The investor is playing an important role in the process as well: Being very specific about individual investment priorities, by selecting only CPA proven financial partners and, last not least, by staying in close contact with the agent to ensure the steady flow of information. After all à ¢â‚¬â€œ asset ownership also carries the owner responsibilities. References Brown,C. , & Reilly, F. K. (2009). Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management. (9 ed. ). Mason, OH, Cengage Learning. Carlo V. di Florio, director of the U. S. SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE). downloaded on 08 December 2011, http://blogs. cfainstitute. org/marketintegrity/2011/11/30/fatally-flawed-compliance-without-ethics-in-the-investment-industry/ Carlo di Florio, Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, Nov 25-2011, downloaded on 08 December, http://blogs. law. harvard. du/corpgov/2011/11/25/compliance-and-ethics-in-risk-management/ â€Å"913 Study†: Study on Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers as Required by Section 913 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act (January 2011), downloaded on 8 December 2011 http://www. sec. gov/news/studies/2011/913studyfinal. pdf Jon Stokes â€Å"Fatally Flawed: Compliance without Ethics in the Investment Industry† (30 November 2011)  · Enterprise Risk Management- Integrated Framework, Com mittee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (September 2004)

A Prryhic Victory Analysis

ENGL 2, MWF 12:10 Jordan Morgan November 9, 2012 â€Å"A Pyrrhic Victory† Analysis For years there has been the never-ending controversial issue regarding condom being distributed within the United States high schools. January 8, 1994, Anna Quindlen publishes her article, â€Å"A Pyrrhic Victory,† in the New York Times, where she states that not allowing condoms to be distributed in high schools is self-defeating, harmful to students, and inconvenient for parents.Quindlen attempts to persuade readers, but is not completely successful. Quindlen provides a rhetorical example that is intended to demonstrate a need for condom distribution within the schools. She, then, introduces Dr. Cohall as an authority figure and explains that the opt-out idea, from the previous example, is likely to be used. Quindlen provides raw numbers about sexually transmitted diseases and gives specific examples that are intended to demonstrate that parents are not adequately teaching their childr en.Furthermore, she claims that many of her opponents live in Fantasyland and then provides a specific example that is intended to demonstrate this. Finally, Quindlen claims that condoms are not the real issue, but deeper parent-child difficulties are. Quindlen was aiming for a specific reaction from the reader. Her main goal is to persuade the reader enough that they will end up viewing her opinion on condom distribution as if it were their own. Because her article reaches out to readers of all ages, she is hoping that it would move her readers into taking action upon this issue.She wants students in high school to starting demanding that their schools provide them with condoms, and she hopes that those who are faculty at schools stand up and start distributing them. As a result of her article, Quindlen is hoping to make a difference just by publishing her article. In the very first sentence of Quindlen’s article she says, â€Å"Pop quiz. † By using his statement she is identifying roles. In school, the teacher is the person who would give a pop quiz after teaching something. So by saying this she creates a subject position that makes her the teacher, and the readers are the students.By stating this phase she is assigning the responsibilities of the teacher and student. Quindlen, as the teacher, has the right to teach that condom distribution is the right thing to do, while the readers are expected to just intake this information as if there are no other options. She provides a scenario of a high school boy who was denied a condom from the school nurse and in result, he got a sexually transmitted disease. After this scenario, she provides a multiple choice question that implies that there is only one correct answer, hers.Although Quindlen has identified who the student and teacher are, her tool fails because students, quite frequently, despise their teachers. By immediately springing a pop quiz on the reader, she has irritated the readers by mak ing them emotionally inferior to her. This tool is inefficient because Quindlen blindsides her readers with unexpected emotion. Quindlen introduces Dr. Cohall, a pediatrician into her article where she refers to him as a â€Å"champion of condom distribution. † Just because Dr. Cohall is a pediatrician does not make him a champion of condom distribution, let alone a champion at all.Pediatricians work with young children who are not sexually active, therefore sexually transmitted diseases would not be present and there would be no reason to be distributing condoms in that profession. Dr. Cohall later states that there were one hundred and fifty cases of sexually transmitted diseases within the three high school clinics that he put on in 1992. Quindlen rephrases Cohall’s statement and writes it as â€Å"150 cases† to purposely catch the readers’ attention and to make them react as if that is a large number of cases. Also, these cases could possibly be a rep eated case for the same person.For example, one student can have five cases, another could have three, and so forth. This number misrepresents how many students are reporting sexually transmitted diseases. Also, Dr. Cohall does not state the total number of students at each of the three schools. There could be two hundred students and one hundred and fifty cases could have a sexually transmitted disease, or there could be one hundred and fifty cases out of two thousand students. The total number is not explained which weakens her argument. She also represents the number of cases combined within three schools, which means that each school has approximately fifty cases.That does not sound nearly as outstanding as what she stated. Dr. Cohall is simply providing raw numbers, which leaves a lot of uncertainty. If Dr. Coholl had reported his numbers as a general population he would have a much higher authority. Therefore, Dr. Coholl has little creditability and is not much of a resource f or Quindlen. Quindlen refers to Dr. Cohall, again, and tells the story of what happened to a girl whose mother found out that she is sexually active. According to the teenage girl, her mother found her birth control pills, seized her by the throat and said, â€Å"I brought you into this world; I can take you out of it. After this threat, the girl squeezed out of her mother’s grip and jumped out her window to escape her mother and in result, broke her leg. Quindlen uses this story as an example of her idea of parent-child sex talks. This example is not logical. The reason the girl was trying to escape her mother in the first place is because she feared for her life, so it would make no sense for her to turn around and risk her life by jumping out of the window. Again, this source is not credible. The typical parent approaches this subject in a very sensitive matter and avoids attacking their child.Due to the fact that her source in not credible and her example is too extreme, Quindlen’s argument is flawed and ineffective. Quindlen explains the problems she has with ABC Network because they have removed the commercials about condoms during primetime television. ABC complained that condoms were too inappropriate for family-oriented television, when in fact, the condom commercials were mild and informative. Quindlen provides an analogy between condom commercials and the primetime television show Roseanne. She states that the show is much more candid about sexual activity than the condom commercials.Roseanne shows the indiscrete sexual relationship between her and her husband. Roseanne’s sister, Jackie, is known on the show for having one night stands and being openly lesbian. Quindlen claims that ABC is being hypocritical in the sense that they are showing Roseanne on the, so-called, family-oriented network during primetime, but refuses to show mild condom commercials. Quindlen makes an efficient argument by stating that children are left mor e curious about sex after watching Roseanne than they would be after seeing a condom commercial.This analogy does support and strengthen her argument in her article. In her article, Quindlen shows a persona of superiority and sarcasm. She clearly proves in the first paragraph that she feels the reader is ignorant and that she, being superior, must teach the reader the correct way to think. Quindlen is only weakening her argument by implying that her readers need to be taught what to think. Quindlen is showing her sarcasm by say things, such as â€Å"Don’t you just love those mother-daughter sex talks? † not only to entertain readers, but to also entertain herself.Her persona comes across as arrogant when she uses sarcasm in certain situations. For example, a girl throwing herself out of a window should be a tragic event, but Quindlen is sarcastic about it which makes it seem as though she is not taking it seriously. Sarcasm, used correctly, can be effective, but in thi s case, it was facetious. When talking about serious matters such as sexually transmitted diseases and condoms, readers are stuck questioning Quindlen’s egocentric persona instead of focusing on the matter at hand.In her New York Times article, â€Å"A Pyrrhic Victory,† Anna Quindlen takes her stand on condom distribution in high schools throughout the United States. She claims that we are harming students by not distributing condoms in schools, and that it shouldn’t be the parents’ responsibility because they are too ignorant to handle the situation. Her attempt to persuade the reader of her beliefs is flawed and ineffective. She starts the article by providing a subject position that creates emotions within the reader against Quindlen personally. Her statistics from Dr.Cohall are incomplete and her reference to the girl in the story involves a source that is not credible. On the other hand, she does provide a strong analogy about Roseanne and condom com mercials, but it is not strong enough to compensate for the rest of the weaknesses throughout the article. Finally, Quindlen’s persona of sarcasm and superiority harms her argument by creating questions and doubt within the reader. Quindlen fails to convince readers that condom distribution is essential, and irritates the reader by pointing out their incompetence.