Differences Between The Paintings Starry Night And...

Vincent Van Gogh Kayla Grade-8 Ruby Ms. Margret January 22, 2017 Research Question: What are the differences between the paintings ‘Starry Night’ and ‘Sunflowers’? Abstract This research paper aims to find out the differences between the paintings ‘Starry night’ and ‘Sunflowers’ which are painted both by Vincent Van Gogh. The purpose of this paper is to compare these two paintings in different points of view. For instance it includes the time period of the paintings, the color scheme, the mood of the picture and brush strokes. Who, what, where and why will also be focused in both paintings. For example who painted it, what is the size of each painting, where is it located now and why did Van Gogh painted them. I will survey people†¦show more content†¦I had found out various points of views and opinions from them. First I will tell what I have analyzed from the survey about the painting ‘Starry Night’. As I had surveyed 46.6% of them felt lonely and peaceful as they could feel the silence surrounding the painting. Mostly they said it was peaceful, quiet and could experience the cool breeze that enclosed t he scenery. â€Å"It complicates my mind because there are spirals and mix of colors† said one of my friends. I learned that the painting looks scary to 46.6% the people. And 16.7% of them said it looks realistic as they seem to pop up. For the color scheme, there are different type of ideas I knew from the poll. 16.7% of them said the color looks powerful and used too much blue in the painting while the other 83.3% of the respondents said it was so colorful that the painting resembles complication. The painting has two sides where one side consist of dark colors and the other side is made up of bright colors. My tutor told me that the painter used colorful background which made the painting vibrant. The painting â€Å"Sunflowers† appears to be quite dull to me but there were numerous dissimilar responds about that painting. 25% of the respondents said the picture freshen their imagination since the painter used yellow which made the picture brighter. One of the subject also stated â€Å"I am inspired by this piece of art seeing as there are withered flowers which will bloom if there isShow MoreRelatedEssay about Censorship1703 Words   |  7 Pageswere used to wrap old food. Bach and Mozart are now arguably two of the greatest musicians ever. Flowers and Stars. In his lifetime he had one painting sell and was ridiculed by his peers insistently. Starry Night and Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh are two of the most highly recognized pieces of art viewed today. Hamlet, MacBeth, the Coronation Mass, Starry Night. Censorship would have eliminated these now classic works of art. During their point of conception, the masses did not see them as outstandingRead MoreIwc1 Literatur e, Arts and Humanities Essay10028 Words   |  41 Pagesis a. Yellow is a primary color. Question 5: Multiple Choice A watercolor painting to which an opaque white has been added is called a ________________. a) fresco b) tempera c) gouache d) acrylic Feedback: The correct answer is c. A gouache is a watercolor painting to which an opaque white has been added. Question 6: Multiple Choice Which of the following artistic disciplines fostered Pictorialism? a) Painting b) Printmaking c) Photography d) Landscape Feedback: The correct answer

The Federalist Papers By James Madison, Alexander...

The Federalist Papers written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay are one of the greatest collections of literature from the time period of 1787 to 1788 when the Constitution was being ratified by the states. This collection of eighty-five essays was written for the states, to help them better understand and grasp a concept of why they should vote for the ratification of The Constitution. Why did the Madison, Hamilton, and Jay write The Federalist Papers and what is there underlying meaning? Who were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay? What was Madison trying to say in regards to the concept of federalism, separation of powers, republics and ratifying the Constitution and why? Each of these questions can be further explored and answered in Madison’s Federalist #51. By analyzing #51, with the addition of #10, clarity can be gained on the meaning behind these essays and there obvious importance to the nation’s history. In September of 1787, many of the delegates from the states for the Constitutional Convention had approved the papers and documents that were being decided on. But, the Constitution still had to be reviewed by the people of the nation. On the 28th of that month, Congress decided to turn the ratification decision over to the states, instating that each state would hold its own convention, and ruling through Article VII, nine states had to vote yes for the ratification to take effect. Though only nine had to ratify, other statesShow MoreRelatedThe Federalist Papers, By Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, And John Jay1715 Words   |  7 PagesThe Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, can be argued to be one of the most quintessential contributions to United States history. The series of eighty-five essays was published in 1788 to increase support for the ratification of the Constitution. The Federalist Papers were written to suppress Americansâ⠂¬â„¢ apprehensions regarding the creation of a stronger national government. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution was fixated on how the newRead MoreThe Federalist Papers By Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, And John Jay1176 Words   |  5 PagesBut the Federalists would not easily forfeit. They argued that the Constitution didn’t require a Bill of Rights. The Federalist Papers written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, summed up the thoughts of many Federalists. In Federalist Paper No. 84 Publius, a pseudonym under which they wrote, addressed Antifederalist worries, â€Å"Bills of rights†¦ are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous.† Publius argued that because the Constitution was â€Å"foundedRead MoreThe Federalist Papers, By Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, And John Jay1357 Words   |  6 Pages The Federalist Papers were a series of eighty-five articles in 1787-88 written most ly in part to persuade the colonies to ratify the United States Constitution. The papers were written anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym â€Å"Publius† and addressed major concerns that the colonists expressed about the Constitution. One of their major concerns was the proposed bicameral legislature’s ability to cooperate. The Constitution established a two-part CongressRead MoreThe Federalist Papers By James Madison, Alexander Hamilton And John Jay1513 Words   |  7 PagesThe Federalist papers are a group of eighty-five essays written collectively by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. The papers were written as an attempt to advocate and further the progress of the ratification of the United States Constitution. Federalist Number Ten is the first essay of the series written by James Madison. In this essay, Madison is attempting to convey the dangers of factions or political divisions within a governing bod y. He believes that any well thought out unionRead MoreThe Federalist Paper, By Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, And John Jay1297 Words   |  6 PagesThe Federalist Papers are a series of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, which argued the reasons why the Articles of Confederation should be strengthened. These articles support the new constitution as well as seek ratification from the states. On November 7, 1787 John Jay published The Fourth Federalist Paper. In The Fourth Federalist Paper John Jay explains that the U.S should be unified under a central government rather than function as multiple independentRead MoreThe Federalist Papers By John Jay1184 Words   |  5 PagesThe Federalist Papers Essay The Federalist Papers written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison were wrote to convince the people of the states that the newly written constitution would be a vastly better system of government than the articles of confederation, and that the states should ratify it. The purpose of Federalist Paper No. 51 is to inform the reader of safeties created by the constitutional convention to maintain separate branches of government, and to protect theRead MoreHamilton Madisons Role in the First American Political Parties778 Words   |  4 PagesThe role Alexander Hamilton and James Madison played on the first political parties. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison were both very important political figures in the early years of our nation and their paths led them to two different political factions, The Federalist Party and the Democratic Republican Party, respectively. The years after the American Revolution were very hard on most Americans. The former colonies had huge debts to pay off from the war and the soldiers of the ContinentalRead MoreFederalist Paper No. 51, by James Madison561 Words   |  3 Pagesgovernment to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself,† are words written by James Madison in The Federalist Papers No. 51. The Federalist Paper No. 51 is one of several documents that compose the Federalist Papers, a series of essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton promoting the ratification of the Constitution. In this particular paper, several principles are used as arguments for ratification. Specifically, a main argument discussed is theRead MoreFederalist Papers : The Federalist Paper1617 Words   |  7 PagesPeriod 1 10/27/15 The Federalist Papers The Federalist Papers Ten and Fifty-One were the ideal papers written by Madison to support th ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬e ratification of the Constitution. Out of all the federalist papers, these are two of the most important federalist papers. So what were the federalist papers? They were 85 essays written by three gentlemen: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay that explained particular provisions of the Constitution in detail. Alexander Hamilton goes on to be the firstRead MoreThe Constitution Of The United States1338 Words   |  6 PagesConfederation and supported by the Federalist Papers which we will touch more on later. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson all wrote or influenced The Constitution in a very important way. Alexander Hamilton was a Federalist Representative from New York who has been credited with the initial ideology expressed in The Constitution. James Madison, a federalist, along with Alexander Hamilton was a co ntributor to the federalist papers and is widely considered to be the

New class proposal Free Essays

It is clear that many students have not developed a love and appreciation for the written word during the time before they arrived at college. Though the classical works of Nathaniel Hawthorn and Charles Dickens and others may have deep appeal to those who have already learned to enjoy the written word, the truth of the matter is that many students these days never develop that appreciation. Therefore, I am proposing an introduction to literature class that will play to the visually-based nature of most students and encourage a love of reading: I am proposing a graphic novels introduction to literature class. We will write a custom essay sample on New class proposal or any similar topic only for you Order Now With novels like Maus and V for Vendetta, students can be exposed to political ideas and strong writing in a manner that is likely to keep them turning the pages and not thinking of it as work. I think most students will expect this class to be â€Å"easy† and be surprised to discover that they actually learn something while â€Å"reading comics†.   I think an educator familiar with the twists and turns of the Marvel universe and American politics could give students a better understanding of current events, including the Patriot Act and other destructions of civil liberties, via a reading of Marvel’s new â€Å"Civil War† series. I think that this type of glass would appeal to many different people within the university structure and could be an innovative way to teach ideas ranging from equality and politics to morality and history. Please consider adding this class to the curriculum. Sincerely, Sign here How to cite New class proposal, Essay examples

Of the many types of entertainment and past times Essay Example For Students

Of the many types of entertainment and past times Essay we have today, theatre is still oneof the most loved. For this we have to thank the very earliest forms of ancient Greekand Roman theatre. These ancient time plays were staged often in honor of a god andhave paved the way for theatre as we know today. A particular aspect that has had aremarkable effect on the way theatre has evolved is the architecture of ancienttheatres. The architecture of ancient Greek and Roman theatres have had aremarkable effect on future theatre designs including the architecture of the greatElizabethan theatres. The Elizabethan time period in England was ever so popular and well accepted thatspecialised theatres were having to be built to cope with the large audiences. Beforethis plays were being held in grape cellars and old farm houses, and so were not ableto provide a large enough venue or provide the larger than life atmosphere playhouses needed. By the time Elizabethan theatre was in the British mainstream theplays were being held in two types of theatre, the public and private. The public Elizabethan theatres were much larger than the private ones and were thepreferred theatre of Shakespeare and other great playwrites to stage a production. The first such theatre was built by James Burbage in 1576 and was called simply thetheatre. Soon after other public theatres were built, including Shakespeares own TheGlobe which was built in 1599. They could appear round, square or many sided andwhere built surrounding a central courtyard. Performances were only during daylightbecause there was no artificial lighting, even though many plays had night scenes. Inmost theatres it consisted of three levels of viewing galleries and stood about 10metres high. As well as being viewer platforms the part of the upper two galleriesthat went behind the stage were used as a balcony to give the play vertical action aswell as horizontal. The courtyard, called the pit, measured about 17 metres indiameter. Those wishing to watch the show from the pit could do so for a minimalamount of money. People viewing a play in the pit surrounded the stage from threesides, thus giving the audience a sense of being right in the action. For those thatwere willin g to pay a bit more there were the galleries with seats. But although thesegalleries provided a seat to sit on they also stank of urine and sweat since there wereno toilets and people those days didnt bath much. These rather large theatres couldhold as much as 5600 people and were generally the choice of theatre for poorerpeople, but built around an attractive courtyard with an open roof these theatres werefar from something shabby intended for lower class citizens. Proof that the publictheatre was not a cheap alternative for poorer people is the fact that Shakespeare andother well known play writers wrote almost all their plays specifically for the publictheatres and often despised performing a play in the smaller rich persons privatetheatre. The Private Elizabethan theatres charged higher admission prices and were designedto attract upper class citizens. Although these theatres were often owned by royaltyand attracted rather rich people to view plays they quickly went out of fashion andeventually ceased to excist because Shakespeare wrote all his plays for publictheatres. Because of the unpopularity of these theatres not much is known about theirarchitecture except that they were small, had little equipment or basic machinery toassist behind the scenes work and had artificial lighting in the form of petrol lanterns. .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 , .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .postImageUrl , .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 , .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696:hover , .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696:visited , .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696:active { border:0!important; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696:active , .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696 .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud7518d1bc4bd5766b93f6d5a2064b696:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Barefoot Running EssayIn typical Ancient Greek tradition, where grander and bigger was better thearchitecture of ancient Greek theatres truly were traditional, in that they were hugeand grand. During the time that drama competitions were beginning to take place inancient Greece large ampitheatres were needed to be built in order to keep up withthe massive popularity of such drama competitions. Three major theatres wereconstructed, notably the theatre at Delphi, the Attic Theatre and the Theatre ofDionysus in Athens. The Theatre of Dionysus, built at the foot of the Acropolis inAthens, could seat 17,000 people and during their heyday, the competitions drew asmany as 30,000 spectators. It was common for these large audiences to be noisy,lively, emotional and unrestrained. They hissed, applauded, cheered and sometimesbroke out into a riot if they were unhappy with a play. These huge open air theatreswere always built where a steep hill met flat ground so that the tiers of seating couldbe on the hill and the stage on the flat. The stage and stage wall were elaboratestructures made of wood and sandstone that provided a large set for actors to moveand dance in. Although scenic sets werent created and no props were used toindicate a particular setting there was one permanent structure on the stage thatrepresented a temple and served as the door through which actors entered the stage. There was no curtain and the play was presented as a whole with no act or scenedivisions. Dionysus the wine god of which Greek tragedy originated to worship was at thecentre of every play around the time of the great tragedy era and so was included inthe architecture of ancient Greek theatres. At every theatre in ancient Greece therewas a statue of Dionysus the god of wine and tragedy at the centre of the stage. It wascommon for a temple of Dionysus to be adjoined to the theatre and a processionwould occur from the temple to the stage of the theatre in honor of the god. This godof Greek tragedy and wine was paid homage to during plays by actors acting out ahuman sacrifice at the altar on stage. The architecture of ancient Roman theatres were typically Italian in that they werelarge, elaborately decorated and extremely tasteful to an artistic eye. The theatres ofthe Roman world were quite different from those in Greece. They were built on flatground, not a hillside, with a large round surrounding wall of masonry that was welldecorated with pictures of gods and battle scenes. The focal point of the Romantheatre was the high stage, with an elaborately decorated stage wall two stories high. Seating started at the front of the stage and went back to a standing area were peoplecould stand and watch for free. It can be concluded from the many paintings on wallsand stage curtains that many plays of the time were based on the adventures of Zeusand Hercules. As the popularity of Roman theatre began to rise so did the number of Romantheatres being built around Italy and the World. Roman theatres had been built allover Italy, in Spain, France and North Africa. The overly garnished theatres includeda curtain which disappeared into a trough at the front of the stage, vividly paintedinner walls and a amazingly decorated stage wall. Spectators could indulge under theshade of an awning while eating fruit that was sold at the theatre and if hot enough gofor a shower in perfumed water. The plays witnessed in these truly majesticplayhouses could not be compared with those seen in the simpler less visuallyappealing theatres of the ancient Greek kind. .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb , .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .postImageUrl , .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb , .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb:hover , .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb:visited , .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb:active { border:0!important; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb:active , .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u30a268149594f3c5cc9cad83a57f3ccb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Air Strike EssayTechnology has become one of mans best friends and for all the reasons in the world. It has affected us in ways that make our life easier, more enjoyable and morebareable. There isnt anything on this earth that has remained unaffected by it. Andno exception is the modern theatre as we know it today which has undergone changesthrough various technology advances since ancient Greek and Roman times. Inparticular the architecture of ancient Greek, Roman and Elizabethan theatres havepaved the way for the modern theatre buildings we have become to enjoy today.

American Democracy Essay

American Democracy Essay American Democracy Essay Democracy is a political arrangement that, at its most basic, demands that there be collective decision making and equality in the mechanisms of coalition building and deliberation (Christiano, p.1, 2008). The strictest definition would imply that decisions are made directly by the citizens and no electoral process is employed to select legislative representatives who would, in turn, make decisions for the citizens (Christiano, p. 2, 2008). Where representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the electorate, such a system is defined as a republic. Although a republic system is not entirely a pure democracy, it is built on democratic principles and normative theory would argue that this distinction is irrelevant as it can be accommodated into the very definition of democracy: practical democracy can involve the election of representatives or it can involve the direct decision-making powers of a citizen class (Christiano, pp.2-4, 2008). In fact, democracy, and its more practical offshoot republicanism, both demand that there be equal political opportunity and voice and a government responsive to the demands of its citizens. Democracy is justifiable for three main reasons: it forces law and policy makers to consider the opinions, rights, and interest of virtually all interest groups within a society (strategic reason), it provides for enhanced decision making abilities as it is better able to direct decision making efforts more appropriately/correctly (epistemological reason), and it improves the collective character of citizens as they are aware that failure to think through new rules or elections could lead to catastrophic results (character improvement reason) (Christiano, pp. 2-3, 2008). The system of democracy as practiced in America holds several principles in high regard, and as such, qualifies it to being referred to as a democracy. These are: the rule of law, inalienable human rights and freedoms, a separation of powers between the three arms of government, a representative system that makes laws and acts as a check and balancing point for the Execute, the Judiciary that polices over the general population and the legislative and executive branches, a responsive government, a multi-party system, civil society freedoms, citizen and political equality, and universal suffrage (Christiano, p. 4, 2008). The American political system creates an opportunity where interest groups can compete for power. This party-based system is the basis of competition for legislative and executive mandate by the elite in the democracy system (only a few people are elected to represent voters and are thus known as the democracy elite). This system is manifest through periodic elections where voters (those who satisfy the criteria for voting, but each of whim has an equal right as the other) (Christiano, p. 9, 2008). Elections are the means by which the citizenry assesses the democratic leadership: the voters may punish or reward the leadership depending on if they were responsive to their demands or if they were responsible in their leadership. Since elections occur only in cycles, the civil society and a free press are important components of the democratic system: they challenge malpractices and expose bad leadership. The Judiciary polices over the other arms of the government: instances of where the Supreme Court ruled that a particular (Executive) policy or (Congressional) law was illegal are countless (Okpala, p. 2, 2009). Indeed, democracy is a rule by the law. As such, everybody and every institution are at the behest of the law and no one can act in contravention of it without a punitive measure. Despite this, penal punishment cannot be exacted without following due process: the accused has rights and these are protected through a fair trial process. Furthermore, every citizen has inalienable rights, many of which are revolutionary in the American context. There are social, economic, and political rights and demand that nobody should be discriminated against for any reason, be it race, religion, or any other standard of discrimination. Though the people are the supreme source of power, they are not allowed to reject the authority of the government. Additionally, every citizens should practic e own rights and freedoms without unjustly interfering with that of others. These are the premises of democracy that are evident in the American democratic model (Okpala, p. 4, 2009). The American party system has been dominated by two parties, namely, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party (Intelligencesquaredus, p.1, 2011). Though these parties have dominated American politics in one way or the other for the past two centuries, there are third parties that have an influence over provincial voting patterns. These parties range from the hilarious United States Marijuana Party to the peripheral Communist Party of the United States. These parties, numbering in the tens, could play a watchdog role or raise awareness on a number of interest issues such as taxation and healthcare. Examples include the Constitution Party that has a presence in over 30 American states and the regional Alaskan Independence Party. Despite their presence, they are generally minor and are dwarfed by the influence and resourcefulness of the two dominating forces in American politics. This two-party system ahs been the hallmark of American politics: going into the 19th century, the political arena was at the stranglehold of the Federalists and Republicans who, for all intents and purposes, were not so different in their political philosophy while the mid-19th century political crisis that eventually led to the American Civil War was due to the breakdown of the two party system of the Whigs and the American Party (that is, the Second Party System). The Whigs would eventually form the Democratic Party in opposition of the South’s clamor for an end to the onslaught on slavery. These distinctions, nevertheless, became only concrete in the post- World War I period when the Republicans managed to dominate national politics for the better part of a decade (1921-1933) (Intelligencesquaredus, p.1, 2011). Political p ositions solidified hardened even further during the Reagan era to yield the present dispensation. An understanding of this history is important because only by knowing the weaknesses of this two-party system will one be better able to appreciate its inherent faults. American history is replete with instances of how this system broke down to yield either a violent confrontation (American Civil War) or a legislative assault. An example of the latter is the impasses generated by inability of the Republicans and Democrats to reach a conclusive deal on fiscal policies in the Obama administration (Intelligencesquaredus, p.2, 2011). In effect, this two-party system has only made America ungovernable. Political compromises are becoming much more difficult to reach and with the resurgence of the Tea Party phenomenon, it is only responsible to assume that Right-wing Republicans may overshadow the conservatism of the Grand Old Party, in turn, making legislative negotiation impractical and ineffective. Clearly, the silent majority of conservative party members are muffled at every election cycle (Intelligencesquaredus, p.1, 2011). Additionally, this two-party system does not provide the electorate with sufficient alternatives, which leads to dampened voter sentiment and participation. This system is susceptible to manipulation by Big Business, meaning that public interest may be sidelined. The American model is, in this sense, far from perfect. This system is hugely dependent on the ability of citizens to make informed decision during voting. This is not always the case in electoral systems like the American one (Okpala, p. 3, 2009). Voters are held hostage by special interests and emotions and make irrational electoral decisions. The electorate is usually won over by the most charismatic candidates, meaning that it is not the most qualified candidates that usually make it to office. In addition, those adept at winning election cycles end up dominating politics. The mass media is especially culpable. It distorts the truth about certain candidates and policies, and drowns the electorate with biased, ‘expert’ information (Okpala, p. 5, 2009). Indeed, the electorate does not have the capacity nor resolve to govern a country. This is best exemplified by the present conundrum: the election cycles have failed to address the failure of public management and force leaders to make tough choices on such important issues as the financial crisis. The electorate the world over, whether in debt-stricken Greece or in America, lack the resolve to make tough decisions and usually pass the baton to the murky world of elite democratic leaders (Okpala, p. 11, 2009). Leaders brave enough to propose tough measures such as austerity and equitable taxing of the rich and wealthy find themselves unpopular. Leaders are also incentivized to prop up populist polices to shore up their popularity. This is usually done by ramping up the entitlements spending. Entitlements, in turn, push the deficit burden and, despite this retrogressive development, the electorate still elects such leaders (back) into office. The democratic system also creates persistent minorities. These are the class of the electorate that loses after every election cycle. A candid example is the Indigenous Americans that live amidst a highly urbanized and developed society (Okpala, p. 9, 2009). What this has done is that it has marginalized their interest and as a result, minorities have lower standards of quality of life, have greater inequalities of income, lower access to and success in education, and political marginalization. The end result is usually referred to as majority tyranny, but even in the absence of it, minority communities still experience largely insurmountable odds in accessing resources and influencing the course of policies and laws (Okpala, p. 8, 2009). In the U.S., however, majority tyranny is not a huge problem as affirmative actions polices, an indication that the minorities have been historically sidelined, are attempting to re-dress this issue. Another challenge with democracy in America is the effect of legislative and judicial over-reach. A number of American states are now seeking to limit voting rights come the 2012 election cycle. Georgia, for example, is seeking a reduction in the time available for voting to a mere 21 days. South Carolina, on the other hand, is seeking to place restriction on voters by demanding that they produce identification documents during voting. These restrictions are unashamedly aimed at restricting the ability of a number of interest groups from voting (Okpala, p. 8, 2009). The proponents to these voting changes claim that it will crack down on the (assumedly) fraudulent voters, that is, African-Americans, college students, Hispanics, the disabled and urban dwellers. This makes it hard for these groups to vote as they generally do not either have access to driving licenses (the disabled and urban dwellers where they public transport) for instance or identification documents themselves (such as Hispanics).The democratic model is not the best political arrangement, but easily beats the other political system for its attempt to be inclusive and representative. Do you need a custom essay on Democracy? At you can order high-quality custom written essays starting at $12/page!

In Hobsons Choice Essay Example

In Hobsons Choice Essay Example In Hobsons Choice Paper In Hobsons Choice Paper Maggie: I am. Willie however has other ideas. He does not want to marry Maggie; he disagrees with her and thinks that they would not be happy, as he does not love her. He tells her that she is a shapely body and a brilliant sales clerk but as a couple, they would not get far in life without love. Maggie is very strong willed about her idea and no matter what excuse Willie comes up with; Maggie is set on marrying him and leaving her fathers shop. Willie tells Maggie that he is tokened to a girl called Ada Figgins, a helpless girl with whose mother he lodges. Willie is a caring man who is willing to protect Ada, a woman with whom he will have no real future other than what he does now. Maggie however is determined to marry Willie so that he can do well in life. When Maggie finds out that Willie is set to marry Ada Figgins, who is due to arrive at the shop soon with Willies dinner, Maggie is determined to talk to her when she arrives and persuade her or force her not to marry Willie. Willie feels he should protect Ada and he would rather be with her than Maggie. Maggie is ambitious but Willie does not think of himself in that way. Ada arrives at the shop and Maggie immediately confronts her. Maggie: I want a word with you. Youre treading on my foot, young woman. Ada: Me, Miss Hobson? (She looks stupidly at Maggies feet) Maggie realises that Ada Figgins is a poor-spirited and meek woman and Maggie takes full advantage of this. She stands over her and demands to know what is happening between Willie and her. Ada is not very intelligent and she does not realise what Maggie is trying to make clear. Willie tries to intervene on one occasion; to tell Ada that he is against Maggies idea, but is immediately shot down by Maggie. Willie: Ada, she- Maggie: You hold you hush. This is for me and her to settle Willie is trying to speak to Ada to explain that he is not to blame in any way for what Maggie is proposing. Maggie has full control over who speaks, what is said in the discussion, and as she disallows Willie to speak, and Willie obeys her. Afterwards Willie only speaks when he is spoken to and throughout the discussion Maggie is in control of who speaks and what is said. Willie tries to tell Ada that he is against Maggies idea. Willie is stopped speaking by Maggie and when Ada continues to argue, Maggie ends the discussion by asking her what idea she has of Willies future. Ada chooses to let Willie make up his own judgement to which Maggie tells Willie he is to wed her and not Ada. Willie expects Ada to stop this happening, asking her to fight for him. Ada can only weakly complain, while Maggie continues to ignore all other opinions. Willie is again avoiding an argument, asking Ada to stop Maggie, although the audience can clearly see that both Ada and Willie feel threatened by Maggies assertiveness and stubborn attitude. Ada: (weakly) Its daylight robbery. Willie: Arent you going to put up a better fight for me than that, Ada? Youre fair giving me to her. Maggie: Will Mossop, you take orders from me in this shop. Ive told you, youll wed me. Both Ada and Willie dare not argue with Maggie. Maggie knows that Willie does not want to marry her and the way that Maggie forces him into marrying her, lets the audience see that Willie is not a strong willed man, he is submissive towards Maggie and expects Ada to argue on his behalf. When Maggie informs her father of her marriage decision and Hobson is furious. Maggie demands that she is paid a wage and that Willie is employed at the same wage. Maggie and Willie want to be treated as if they are no relation to Hobson, just employees. Maggie: Ill work eight hours a day in future and you will pay me fifteen shillings by the week. if Willie goes, I go Im a value to you, and sos my man Maggie wants to be employed by Hobson so she is no longer employing Willie. It makes them equal as a couple and neither will be superior or inferior as far as class is concerned. Her cheek to him angers Hobson and he calls for Willie to come up from the cellar, unbuckling his belt. Willie comes up out of the trap as Hobson conceals the strap whilst he talks to Willie. Hobson claims that he must beat the love out of Willies body, and Willie tries to explain that the love cannot be beaten out of his body, as there is none there. Hobson promises Willie that he will beat him upon entering work every morning until he does not love Maggie. The audience sees Willie answering Hobson honestly and with respect until Hobson strikes Willie. Here we see a dramatic change as Willies temper flares. Willie: Im none wanting thy Maggie but if you touch me with that belt Ill take her quick, aye and stick to her like glue. Hobson: Theres nobbut one answer to that kind of talk (He strikes with belt) Willie: And Ive nobbut one answer back. Maggie Ive none kissed you yet but, by gum, Ill kiss you now and if Mr Hobson raises up that strap again Ill do more. Ill walk straight out of shop with thee Here we see a dramatic change in Willies character. He is standing up to Hobson and not waiting for Maggie to tell him what to do. Even though Hobson attacks him verbally and physically, Willie does not lose his nerve. Hobsons anger and threats fuel Willies courage. Brighouse has shown that Willie has already begun to change with the support of Maggie. With Maggie backing him, he feels more courageous and he stands up for himself instead of letting Hobson be the master. Act Two Maggie returns to Hobsons in Chapel Street to visit her sisters, Vickey and Alice, and arrange for her own wedding day. Maggie plans to help her sisters also get married and Vickey comments on how Maggie has made it more difficult for herself and Alice to find a suitable husband. Vickey: You havent made it any easier for you, you know. Willie: It wasnt my fault, Miss Vickey, really it wasnt. Maggie: You call her Vickey, Will. Vickey protests to Willie being authorized to call her by her Christian name, and Maggie tries to point out to her that although Willie was once a boot hand employed by Hobson, he is now his own master with his own business and Vickey should accept him as one of the family. Brighouse brings up this point to show that marrying Maggie has changed him because of her influence onto him and also because he is now part of a family, and he is beginning to be accepted in this family. From the last time the audience saw him in the boot shop, Willie has changed from a shy, rabbit around Maggie and her sisters, to someone who is beginning to talk to Hobsons daughters easily. Although he still obeys Maggie, he has begun to speak at times other than when he is requested to speak. Willie does not think it right to call Maggies sister Vickey and not Miss Vickey and he tells Maggie to leave it when she tells Vickey that Willie is theoretically higher in society than both Vickey and Alice. Willie modesty denies the fact and tells Maggies sisters that he may have his name written in the windows but he does not know about being his own master. Willie is a modest and considerate man. Maggies words to her sisters could have been taken, as cutting remarks and Willie is trying not to upset Vickey and Alice by making them feel inferior to a man who was once their inferior. Maggie proudly presents Willies business card, and reads it out to her sisters. She then tells her sisters in a commanding way to kiss Willie, beginning with Vickey who takes a bit of convincing. Maggie: Thats his business card: William Mossop, Practical Boot and Shoe Maker, 39a Oldfield Road, Salford Ill do more than let you call him in his name. You can both of you kiss him for your brother-in-law to be. Willie: Nay, Maggie, Im no great hand at kissing. Maggie: Im waiting, Vickey. Willie: I dont see that you ought to drive her to it Maggie. Brighouse has written the play with Maggie showing her sisters the card, mainly to let the audience see how proud she is of the new business beginning to take shape. Maggie is probably proud because she has done all the work to set the business up. She will have scheduled to have the business cards made and she arranged the loan from Mrs Hepworth. At the first idea of kissing Alice and Vickey Willie is not too keen. He makes an excuse by saying that cannot kiss very well, and Maggie dryly agrees with him. Although Willie is beginning to change, he still obeys Maggie, and as Vickey stated, Maggie always gets her way when she tells someone to do something. Maggie is a very strong person and some of this strength is beginning to wear off onto Willie, his confidence is growing and his personality is starting to become apparent, but Maggie still has the power to control his actions. Willie weakly protests, as he did when Maggie proposed, in a pleading way, as if hoping Maggie will just tire of the idea. He does not try to stop anything happening himself or physically, he attempts change Maggies opinion on her idea to stop things. Although Maggies sisters do not want to kiss Willie and Willie is just as unconcerned, they kiss him and Maggie is satisfied. After the girls kiss Willie his opinion changes from earlier and he enjoys be kissed by the two girls. Vickey kisses Will, who finds he rather likes it Willie: Theres more in kissing nice young women than I thought. Brighouse has made Willie a very innocent character, which may imply that, although he said he was in love with Ada, and she with him, may not have had a physical relationship with her or anyone else, as he is new to kissing. He was nervous before but after kissing both, he realises that he likes it. Brighouse could have written this as a hidden meaning to describe how when Willie follows Maggies advice he is introduced to new and better things. Maggie is showing him what the world outside of the boot shop is like and trying to introduce him to middle class. Maggie comes to the boot shop to pick up some old furniture, which is broken slightly, from the attic, so that Willie can repair it and they can use it in the house. Willie is about to be married and has had time to get accustomed to the idea, but is still respectful and shy towards Maggie. Maggie: Get upstairs, Will. I told you what to bring. Alice: Wait a bit. Maggie: Go on. Willie goes into the house Maggie: Put the chairs on the hand-cart, Will. Willie goes out to street. Maggie speaks to Willie in a calm yet commanding tone, she does not ask him to do things, and she tells him to get on with it but without raising her voice. Alice tells Willie to wait a while, but it is Maggies order that he obeys. Willie respects Maggie and will do anything for her without an argument. Maggie is in control of the situation at all times. Brighouse has left some of Willies stark characteristics that would be expected by the audience to remain, for example, the way he obeys Maggie, the way he used to when she employed him. Although he is about to become her husband, he is so accustomed to being told what to do by Maggie that he still acts as though she is the employer and he the worker. Willie and Maggie discuss their wedding before they leave for the church and Willie becomes determined that he is ready for this marriage. His newfound self-determination shows through and he speaks confidently to Maggie. Willie: its taking summat on to go to church with a wench, and the lord knows what. Maggie: parson going to ask you will you have me and youll either answer truthfully or not at all Willie: Ill tell him yes. Yes, Maggie. Im resigned. Youre growing on me lass. Ill toe the line with you Willie is now sure of himself that he is ready for this wedding and he has made up his mind that he wants to marry Maggie, the answer he gives the parson will be the truth. He has realised that Maggie has already changed his life for the better and he knows that she was correct in thinking that they would make a successful partnership in marriage and business. Brighouse has chosen to have Maggie give Willie an escape route by saying that if he was not sure he did not have to go through with it, this shows that Willie has changed enough to make up his own mind without Maggie telling him what to do. Act Three After the wedding ceremony, Willie stands to make a speech, thanking his guests for attending the wedding. The stage direction tells the audience that he rises, nervously, and rushes his little speech like a child who has learnt a lesson. Willie is confident enough to speak in front of others but his rushing of words shows the audience he is still feeling nervous. Willie: Its a very great pleasure to us to see you here tonight. Its an honour you do us, and I assure you, speaking for my- my wife, as well as for myself, that the the- Maggie: (in an undertone) Generous. Willie: Oh, aye. Thats it. That the generous warmth of the sentiments so cordially expressed by Mr Beenstock and so enthusiastically seconded by no, Ive gotton that wrong road round Willies speech is spoken rushed and prepared, as if he has been taught and rehearsed it to memorise it for this occasion. A child would memorise a role in a play and speak it as though it was being read from a piece of paper in a similar way to Willie, and in reality Willies education makes him like a child. He has not been through school, just life and so being educated in English and so on now is as it is for a child, a completely new experience. When Willie was complimented on his speech, Maggie admits that she has been teaching him, she also tells of the hopes she has of him for the future, and in twenty years time she remarks that Willie will be thought of more than Mr Prosser and Beenstock at the bank. This lets the audience know that Willie has a future and with Maggies help, it is going to be a rich and prosperous future. Although Maggie and Willie are now officially married, the roles and attitudes to one another have not changed. As Maggie prepares to leave she tells Willie that she will need the table on her return and so he better get on with clearing away the used cutlery and crockery and do the washing up. Willie does what Maggie asks; so far, he has listened to Maggies ideas, carried them out and seen his life improve. Willie is not an intelligent man and so Brighouse may have wanted to show the audience that Willies character has not changed, he still carries out Maggies orders but now for different reasons. Before Maggie employed him and so he was paid to do what she said, but now he may have realised that if he does what she suggests or tells him to do, his life changes for the better. When Hobson arrives, Maggie makes a point of asking Willie if he can come in to show Hobson Willies authority. Maggie: Will, its my father. Is he to come in? Willie: (loudly an boldly) Aye, let him come. Maggie is making a huge show of asking Willie permission, and Willie plays along, soundly masterly to show Hobson how he has changed. Had it been any other visitor, Maggie would have invited them in herself without asking Willies consent but as it is her father, she makes sure Hobson knows that Willie is the master of the house and he has changed from being a boot hand to a boot maker with his own firm. Hobson begins to tell Maggie of the trouble of trespassing he is in, something that Maggie already knows about, and something that is also a part in her plan. As soon as he mentions that he is in trouble however, Maggie stands up and walks from the room telling Hobson that she is only in the way. Hobson does not understand, he tells Maggie that he came to speak to her and after some convincing, which would have been unneeded had Maggie not wanted to prove her point to her father, that Willie was a changed and capable man. However, Maggie agrees to sit at the table with Hobson and Willie and, luckily for Willie, help him with his problem. Maggie strengthens Hobsons relationship with Willie and this makes Willie feel uncomfortable and strange. Willie: Sit down Mr Hobson Maggie: You call him father now. Willie: (astonished) Do I? Willie is shocked that he can call Hobson father after years of being employed and paid to call him sir. After hearing Hobsons problem, Willie begins to speak freely about the publicity Hobson will gain when the court case comes near, and his remarks are said with no malicious intent just simplicity. Other peoples troubles is mostly what folks read the paper for, and I reckon its twice the pleasure to them when its trouble of a man they know themselves. (He is perfectly simple and has no malicious intention. ) Brighouse has changed Willies attitude towards Hobson now. Willie used to be very respectful, shy and quiet when speaking to Hobson but now he speaks his mind even though it may not be the correct thing to say at the time. Willie is much more out-going and confident around Hobson when Maggie is there and he tries to help as much as he can, although all he can think of to say to Hobson is no comfort. From the stage directions, we can clearly see who is actually in charge of the household, and who is being made to appear in control. Willie sits right of table. Maggie stands at the head of the table. Hobson sits on sofa. From this stage direction, we can be given the impression that it is, in fact, Maggie in control of the household. It is custom for the head of the house to be seated or positioned at the head of the table, with guests and other along the sides. To an audience this little detail would show that Maggie is the dominant one in the household, Willie comes next in the ranking with Hobson most submissive seated away from the table. When Hobsons patience begins to wear thin with Willie, Willies reaction does not go in the same way. He keeps his temper perfectly calm and reasons with Hobson, explaining his statements. Im not much good at talking, and I always seem to say the wrong things when I do talk. Im sorry if my well-meant words dont suit your taste Willie does not become annoyed when Hobsons becomes angered; he apologises but also defends himself from Hobsons verbal attacks. He tells Hobson that he did not mean any harm by these comments, he was simply speaking his thoughts without realising they could offend anyone. His self-confidence shows through again, more so than the last argument he had with Hobson, as he does not leave to escape any more conflict. He stands his ground without using violence. After all the guests have left Maggie and Willie alone Maggie again reassures Willie that he will be better thought of than either of his new brothers-in-law and then she tells him to bring his slate from the bedroom so she can set him a sentence to copy, thus improving his writing ability gradually. Maggie sets the work and comments on the progress he is making. She tells him to take off his coat to stop it spoiling and asks to see the work he did the night before just as a teacher would set work and then mark it when completed. After setting him a sentence to copy, Maggie makes her way to her bedroom, telling Willie to finish his writing before he comes to bed. Willie finishes his writing and nervous about going into the bedroom he gets undressed and then prepares to sleep on the sofa as he feels he cannot enter the bedroom. He is confused and nervous, and he tosses and turns as he tries to fall into a sleep. Maggie comes back on stage from the bedroom dressed in a nightgown to get Willie into the bedroom. She comes to Will, shines the light on him, takes him by the ear, and returns with him to the bedroom Willie only really does as he is asked, and only if it is Maggie who asks him. He does not really make his own decisions; he relies on Maggie to do the deciding for him. His character is a lot more confident and outgoing from the Willie at the beginning of the play, although inside he is still shy and unsure, and of course obedient to Maggie. Act Four A year later, the scene opens at Hobsons living room at the back of the shop. It is early in the morning and Hobson has called the doctor to visit, as he is unwell. His excessive drinking has led to him becoming so ill, he will have to rely on one of his daughters moving back into the boot shop to care for him. Maggie arrives first and explains that she will have to ask Willies opinion and do as he commands her. Alice refuses to move back, telling her audience that she is too used to a grander life. Vickey arrives lastly and when she hears that she may be chosen to move back she whispers to Maggie, and the audience later finds out that Vickey was explaining that she is pregnant and so cannot be expected to leave her husband. Alice and Vickey scorn Maggie for her excuse, as they say that Maggie will do as she pleases and Willie could not stop her. Maggie informs them that Willie has changed a great deal since their last meeting him. This allows the audience to realise that within the year that has passed Willie has changed in the charming man that was hard to see underneath the lack of intelligence at the beginning of the play.

Social Learning Theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Learning Theory - Assignment Example This assignment discusses the Social Learning Theory developed by Berger, that primarily focuses upon that a child develops while observing the sequential patterns that go on around him/her. Thus, it is through modeling and repeating or doing things that are already done by others is an important way a child learns different behaviors and adopt certain attitudes. However, while observing and modeling, one feature that is in a continuous functioning state is the child’s own cognition. The cognition works in a way that if a child sees someone getting acknowledgement and rewards upon his behavior or deed, the child would him/herself like to receive the same kind of acknowledgement and appreciation from others. This desire leads the child to incorporate the same attitude in his daily practice so that he too can be socially recognized and accepted. Once the child gets success due to the modeled behavior, he learns to practice the same thing throughout his lifespan. The problem migh t occur when the child is not able to model the exact behavior to receive acknowledgement. In such a situation, he/she modifies the same behavior multiple times and in multiple ways as long as he might achieve success. In the same way, punishment and discouragement act as negative stimulators for the child not to adopt a certain behavior if someone else is punished on its basis. In conclusion, the researcher states that this further retains throughout the child’s lifetime shaping his personality in a particular direction.

Pesonal invenstmnt in UK - Is it a science or a matter of good fortune Essay

Pesonal invenstmnt in UK - Is it a science or a matter of good fortune - Essay Example Participation by the people in the investment activity of United Kingdom is a long history. Personal investment is done by the individual. Personal investing constitutes an important part in personal financial investment. Personal investment is done for future expenditure plans such as to buy real estate, pay for family expenses and also to pay off outstanding loans. Now, the question is how an individual invest. He may begin to build up his financial assets in order to pay for long term financial goals. He may want assets accessible to make down payments on housing and may also want to guarantee that human capital is low risk by buying disability insurance and term insurance (Schewart, 1999, pp.1-2). Personal Investment is done in order to create a safe financial cushion which will be used in after years. The cushion includes various types of investment such as participating in pension plans, individual saving accounts, investment trusts, unit trusts, open ended investment companies , endowment policies, annuities and other transaction of gilts and bonds, shares, property, liquidity funds and other options (Nestpensions, pp.1-2). Personal investor should create an investment portfolio in order to better manage their investment which in turn helps them to improve their standard of living. In personal investment, portfolio plays very important role. Markowitz’s theory indicates that successful combination of a portfolio present a given level of risk with maximum expected return, or a given expected return with low level of risk (Ou, 2005, pp.31-39). If personal investor will be able to manage their portfolio in a well manner, then market will be defeated by them and they will get good return. However, it is impossible for everyone to get good return in investment in the United Kingdom. For this particular reason, there can be a debate that â€Å"the personal investment in UK – is it a science or a matter of good fortune†? Evaluation: It is a Science If personal investors in UK want to get higher return and to decrease investment risk, then they should learn and use some principles, theories and approaches in order to manage their portfolio in a significant manner and to make predictions on the trend of investment to achieve their goals. With the growth of investment theory, more principles, theories and approaches are coming up with the experts, scholars and investors. Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) Modern portfolio theory (MPT) is published by Harry Markowitz in 1952. It offers a framework for the systematic selection of portfolios which are based on expected return and risk principles. MPT principles are used by the financial advisors in advising their individual investor client and MPT terms are used by the financial commentators in discussing the current investing environment. The theory focuses on how risk averse investors can build a portfolio to formulate the best on expected return in view of a given level of ris k. Markowitz was the first to develop the portfolio diversification concept. He showed quantitatively, how portfolio

General Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

General Question - Essay Example The main purpose of this method of teaching reading to schoolchildren is to provide them with instructional support and a strong basis for the development of reading skills. It requires teachers' involvement in the reading process before, during and after the reading of a basal text. Stages of DRA There are several approximately eight steps in the Direct-Reading Activity. Each step comes with some expectations and advantages to the learning of reading skills amongst children. Step 1: Choose a text and the aim of reading The first step involves the teacher identifying a given text in the basal reader. This means the teacher will have to identify a portion of the reading text and identify the main reading techniques and new vocabulary that can be learnt through the reader. This step is to set the aims, objectives and basis for the whole exercise. This step sets the framework of the entire reading and here, the teacher will know the exact objectives that must be met by the class. This c an be an avenue for the teacher to guide students through the various stages of the reading process. This will enable the students to progress gradually through important stages in the process of learning how to read and comprehend information in a given text. Step 2: Select vocabulary to be pre-taught After the teacher concludes on the aims and objectives of the reading exercise at hand, the next step is to identify new and unusual words in the text. These words are often words that the students have not met before or words that have links to other situations that the children are likely to meet in the future. These words are to be identified and written on the board for the children to understand. It usually helps if the teacher explains the meaning of the words as well as the linkage of the word with other contexts within which the students are likely to meet in the future. The immediate reason for this exercise on vocabulary is to enable the children to get familiar with the mor e difficult words that they are going to meet in the reading. It enables comprehension during the reading process because the students become familiar with the implication of those words and the context within which they are used in the text. The longer term aim of the pre-teaching of words is to help the children to improve their vocabulary. This will help them to acquire new words that will enable them in the future. Additionally, teaching vocabulary before reading also builds the conception of predicting the meaning of words by examining the context within which unfamiliar words are used. This will help students in future comprehension assignments and examinations like SAT and other English language examinations. Elicit prior knowledge on the topic of text After the vocabulary is taught and discussed, the teacher will have to take opinions and knowledge brought forward from the class. This will include discussing matters from the known to the unknown. This implies that the childr en will be called upon to share basic knowledge about what they know about the subject. Thus for example, when you are to talk about a fox in the reader, the teacher can ask about the similarities between the foxes and other animals. Obvious answers that are likely to come about might include a dog and other animals. Then the attributes of a fox as a sly creature or a creature that is not so straightforward can be brought up by drawing into similar tales like sly fox and

Marketing Strategy For The Chevy Volt Marketing Essay

Marketing Strategy For The Chevy Volt Marketing Essay In November of 1911, Louis Chevrolet, William Little and Edwin Campbell integrated the Chevrolet Motor Company. Chevrolet offers an assortment of motorized vehicles to the general public such as subcompact cars, sports cars, luxury cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. Chevrolet made the cut and will continue to serve its customers for years to come, stated Nick Kalapos the Times leader in a documentary about Chevrolet being the leader in their community (15). Chevrolet continues to be on top with performance, price, fuel economy, and value leader for General Motors North America (13). Many people are becoming more aware of global warming and they are trying to find various ways to become more environmentally friendly. Record oil prices have pushed consumers toward fuel efficient vehicles and have prompted many governments to consider electric transportations as a way of traveling (5). Research shows that consumers want eco friendly cars. About 68 percent people say that they are willing to buy an eco friendly car within the next couple of years (1). Will Buss said that in reference to Newtons Third Law of Motion, consumers have reacted to gas prices, which have soared to record levels, by buying fewer gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and more of the fuel-efficient and hybrid-powered variety. As consumers become more aware of how harmful emissions are and how much oil prices continue to rise they will be more willing to buy and the need for electric cars and hybrids will take over the automotive marketplace (1). Chevrolet is searching for those who are willing go the extra mile to be early adopters for the new Volt that will hit the market in late 2010. The people who are going to be more interested in the Eco friendly cars are the Generation Y consumers, says James Schroer. As Generation Y grows up they are going to demand for their vehicles to become more environmental friendly. Gen Y consumers have grown-up up to be technology savvy and they are known to be more familiar with technology than any other generation (1). By developing high technology that could be appealing to the consumers it would entice drivers to plug in rather than filling up (5). Chevy Volt has soaring technology that will give buyers a smart phone application that will let the owners control key vehicle functions along with On star. I phones, blackberries and android phones will be available with the electric car. Remote access will also be possible from a cell phone web browser that will have applications for starting , locking and unlocking the doors, security system arming and disarming commands, and trunk popping. Also there are applications for honking the horn so people will be able to locate their cars easily. The Chevy volt has new technology innovations for the generation Y. As this generation matures and gains more power, their influence will spread across the country (4). There are also some cultural issues to deal with when it comes to electric cars. Some Issues about the electric car depends solely on the time the vehicle will come out, the cost of the Volt and most importantly the consumers (5). Americans want to do good things for the environment, as long as they do not have to compromise performance, convenience, or comfort which causes a major issue (1). Americans only want to do what is suitable and as long as it does not affect their everyday life. Many Americans have a large family which requires them to need a bigger vehicle like a SUV making a gas eating vehicle more suitable than a small electric car. Bigger issue that arises is the lack of batteries that are available. Many car manufactures have been slow to commit to their decisions about electric vehicles, because they are unsure about how many people will want to purchase the electric car. Without orders being placed battery manufactures cannot invest in the time and money that is necessary to produce the batteries at a timely fashion. Gassenheimer says that he has concern that the United States will trade their dependence on the Middle Eastern oil for a reliance on Asian batteries (5). Many experts say that Western companies have more experience in technology and Asians are the leaders in producing Lithium-iron batteries for electronics. A concern for the U.S is that they really dont know if they have the resources or capabilities to produce mass loads of Lithium-iron batteries and the same concern goes for Europe. So a major concern arises about where the Lithium-iron batteries are going to be made. This is a huge issue due to Asians being the only ones that are experienced in making loads of Lithium-iron batteries. An issue about shipments of the Lithium-iron batteries is that its on a strict International Regulation that would be placed on goods making these goods being labeled in the dangerous goods category. Tollefson stated, When the first generation of anything comes out, to a certain extent car manufactures are rolling the dice and this is the biggest roll of the dice anybody has ever made (5). With the rising gasoline prices and consumers growing preference for environmentally-friendly technologies, the hybrid car market has grown tremendously. Toyota, being a huge competitor to General Motors captured the largest percentage of the hybrid car market. Automobile companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors (GM) have agreed to double their annual production of energy efficient vehicles by 2010. With all the environmental issues going on, nearly all automobile companies are scrambling to be the first and best new electric or hybrid on the market. Shane Donahue stated, Our competitors and others are pursuing similar technologies and other competing technologies, in some cases with more money available. There can be no assurance that they will not acquire similar or superior technologies sooner than we do. With that being said, it can be recognized that General Motors feels that their competitors are one step-ahead of them in the hybrid car market. The GM Chevy Volt will enter the market as a direct competitor to the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Honda Insight hybrid. The Toyota Prius is only a conventional hybrid, the Volt is essentially a plug-in car that has to affirm the companys ability to innovate and turn the company around. However, Nissan has announced that it will beat the Volt to market in fall 2010 with its Nissan Leaf, which boasts a 100 mile range on a charge. The Leafs target launch date will beat General Motors Volt plug-in hybrid, and while Japans Mitsubishi and Subaru both launched EVs for sale to fleets in Japan last month, the cars are smaller, lower-speed, city cars with far less range than the 100 miles-per-charge, claims Nissan for the Leaf. With the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf threatening to steal the green car market, Nissan is accelerating its plans for a plug-in version of the Prius (19) Ford has also announced that it will produce a battery-powered version of its Focus, called Focus EV, in late 2011. As well as many other companies are working on electric cars such as the BMW City, Dodge Circuit, Tesla Model S, and Chinas BYD E6. Although they are way more expensive, Tesla has actually sold a few of its cars, which gives it some advantage. Another eco friendly competitor of Chevrolet is Zenn. Their marketing slogan is Zero Emission and No Noise. The Zenn does not use gasoline but is all electrical The Zenn companys idea on eco friendly cars is about purity and original feeling. The Volt needs at least 8 hours for it to charge fully, but the Zenn can take as little as 4 hours to get a full charge. The price of owning a Zenn is half the cost of the 2010 Volt which has not even hit the market yet. The Zenn has been stated in Time magazine as small, inexpensive electric vehicles that can be charged to cover enough miles to handle the daily commute. (20) The Zenn is a Canada based company which has already launched the car in Canada and in the United States. Its sales are increasing with the concerns of a bad economy. A Zenn has significantly less parts than a regular vehicle that will have to be maintained on a regular basis. The owner will never have to worry about changing the oil, replace a filter or muffler and there i s absolutely no need for an emission test. Chevrolet has many routes to take its new innovations with its worldwide channels of production and distribution. GM has organized its brands into four channels: Chevrolet, Buick-Pontiac-GMC, Cadillac-Hummer-Saab and Saturn. Now it has changed the job responsibilities and titles of several of its channel leaders (3). A channels brand name depends on where the vehicles are being produced and sold in. Channels use different brand names to make their vehicles appear more localized. Many of the changes made to the cars are designed specifically to meet the customer needs of where their production is being made. GM took over bankrupt Daewoo Auto and technology to help regain Daewoo reputation at home. GM received a big achievement with Daewoo with their exports. Chevy Europe is a swiss-based firm that sells rebranded products of the GM Daewoo. Chevy Europe sold few United States domestic markets that were modified to suit the European regulations. Chevy Europe sold the Camaro, Beretta, Co rvette, Blazer and the Trailblazer. In 2005 Chevy Europe rebranded its ownership to the Ssangyong, however the Daewoo name retained its name in South Korea and Vietnam after 2005. The Suzuki badge is in the U.S and Canada, Pontiac Badge Canada, the Holden badge in Australia and New Zealand, and the Buick badge in China for some certain GM Daewoo models. Marketed in different distribution channels operated by the Netherlands-based Kroymans Corporation group are the Corvette and Cadillac. Kroymans Corporation going to sell German GM vehicles such as the Opel and they will also sell Netherlands and Belgium made brands. Kroymans is going to stay focused only on importing, distribution, marketing car and retail sales in the Netherlands. The reason for this is because the Chevy Brand represents value-driven cars in Europe. The Corvette name was made into different brand for Europe and Japan. With this World wide vast coverage GM will be capable of designing and marketing vehicles to diffe rent parts of the world. By having this wide coverage GM will be able to draw knowledge and cultural differences from engineers around the world (2). Market Approach The Chevrolet Volt is a hybrid electric automobile. The cars main source of power comes from lithium-ion batteries stored underneath its hood. The batteries can receive charge through one of two ways. They can store electrical energy from the small, gasoline powered engine, or can be charged by using 120-240V AC outlets. On a full battery charge, the Volt is capable of traveling over 40 miles (22). A study found that this distance satisfies nearly three quarters of Americans daily commutes. In addition, Chevrolet expects the batteries to last for up to ten years. The Chevrolet Volts main target market is middle class families that share similar opinions, interests, and hobbies. Segmenting the market and choosing this group is reflected within GMs marketing strategy. They will adapt a strategy that is tailored to attract consumers with related lifestyles and purchasing behaviors. With all the Green Marketing focus in todays world, many consumers are looking for vehicles that are environmentally friendly. Also, with the recent state of the economy, many consumers are seeking a car that provides good value and quality at a fair price. The Volt is a new kind of hybrid that runs primarily off of electricity which greatly reduces its fuel consumption. With increasing gas prices and a poor economic state, this makes the Volt attractive to these eco-friendly customers. As GM seeks to be a part of the Go Green initiative, many consumers who value this idea will begin to become loyal to General Motors. When GM set out to price the Volt, they had a good idea of where to position their product. Some other big automobile companies have already dipped into this market and give the Volts marketers a good idea of a fair price for this type of vehicle. Nissans Altima Hybrid is priced at $34,000, followed by Hondas Accord ranging from $35,000-$40,000 (23). The Toyota Camry Hybrid rounds off this vehicle class with a standard price tag of $37,000 (24). These prices made it apparent to Chevrolet that for the Volt to be competitive it should be priced somewhere in the range of $30,000 to $40,000 depending on available options. The anticipation of the introduction of the Volt is growing, according to Chevrolet. They have over 30,000 potential buyers that cannot wait to drive one of these fascinating cars. Chevrolet wants consumers to see the car as more than just an inexpensive way to travel. They want to the vehicle to reflect style, and be a car that people aspire to own (24). However, some automakers are skeptical of the Volt. Some of the more luxurious competitors feel that most consumers will not pay a higher premium for a car that really doesnt offer much more than a basic automobile. Chevrolet hopes to shock them as well as the consumers it captures with the Volts release. Chevy and GM have worked hard to make the Volt a user friendly and customizable car. One of the features they are offering will be a few different gauge interfaces from which the driver will be able to choose. One set contains a standard, traditional gauge set with all normal gauges placed directly over the steering wheel, while a second set displays the gauges from the center of the dash. This second set is impressive, in that it uses touch screen technology and backlit LED lighting for a bright, clear display. Both sets allow drivers to see how they are using the cars energy, which can let them adjust driving patterns to reduce lost energy (25). Still, the location of the interface is strictly up to the driver, and consumers like the idea of being able to customize a vehicle to their liking. Another advantage the Volt has over foreign electric vehicles is its federal rebate program. The government offers $7,500 off for buying the Chevrolet brand. This becomes quite a bargaining chip when talking about a sticker price of 30-40K. General Motors is planning to produce tens of thousands of these new vehicles to be sold around the world. An actual price has not been set but the pricing strategy and final MSRP will factor in gasoline prices (26). Chevrolet offers many services that other companys lack. An important service that Chevrolet has is a life saving service called On-Star. The Chevrolet Volt will be equipped with On-Star, but not just any On-Star, it will come with On-Star EV Lab. This version is offered to give the Volt a more high tech appeal (6). One of the features includes communicating with the Volt by telling it to charge during the night at off peak times to take advantage of lower rates; this technology is called smart charging (6). On-Star automatically runs hundreds of diagnostic and maintenance checks on your vehicles key operating systems and deliver a summary report right to your inbox every month (7). Chevrolet has been a loyal company that has always been superb when coming up with new ideas for vehicles. Chevrolet has been working hard to process this new advanced automobile. Volt is an electric vehicle with a range extender. Volt runs on electricity from its battery, and then it runs on electricity it creates from gas. Depending on the weather, the electrical features that are turned on and how you drive, you can drive up to 40 miles on the electricity stored in the battery totally gas and emissions free(8). After this takes place, the range-extending generator automatically kicks in to provide the electrical power. This allows the Volt to go for several hundred additional miles, until it is plugged in again. Chevrolets brand is becoming more solid after GM filed for chapter 11 bankruptcies and has just recently emerged. Chevrolet is one of the leading automobile brands in America. The automakers are continuing to launch fuel efficiency options, while also introducing safety and security packages for the new models. Trailing the American urban congestion, the Chevys hybrids are poised to surpass their mainstream competitors. Above all, the most visually arresting feature for the brand of Chevrolet vehicles is the Chevrolets corporate logo that creates a distinct look for the exterior(9). Financials: The Chevrolet Volt has an estimated price of around $40,000, in the U.S. market. Due to the capacity of the Volts battery pack it qualifies for the maximum US $7,500 federal tax credit. The former vice president Bob Lutz initially wanted the Volt to be sold at around $30,000. Electricity is an extremely affordable way to power a car the average American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. If the average American drives less than 40 miles, it will cost about a dollar a day for electricity (8). This is about the same cost as running a basic household appliance. To save even more, some utility companies recommend charging overnight for off-peak rates and may even offer incentives to customers who do so (8). The Volt is being endorsed by Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario government in Canada. The province will provide a $10,000 subsidy, and will purchase 500 Volts for the Ontario Public Service fleet. The subsidies are part of McGuintys target to have electric vehicles make up 5% o f all cars in Ontario by 2020. (10) At the Sydney Motor Show in October 2008, Holden stated that the Volt would be available in Australia by 2012 for more than $30,000. At the U.S. average cost of electricity (approximately 11 cents per kWh), a typical Volt driver would pay about $2.75 for electricity to travel 100 miles, or less than 3 cents per mile. GMs average annual sales growth over the past five years is a low 0.7 per cent. It has accumulated losses of $51 billion (U.S.) since 2005, and the shareholder value of GM, with 2007 sales of $297 billion, is a humbling $12 billion. (21) An analysis of the financial statements of the Chevrolet Volt show that the accounts receivable remain at about $500,000 throughout the year; not including a seasonal fluctuation in sales. The accounts receivable turns over once every 60 days. The inventory on the other hand remains about $800,000 and turns over every 90 days. The accounts payable remains at $400,000 and turns over about once every 45 days. With an accounts receivable collection period of 60 days and an average balance outstanding of $500,000, results show that $750,000, is the amount that should be collected on the receivables in 90 days. If the inventory of $800,000 valued at cost turns over once in 90 days and if the average markup is about $200,000, cash sales should amount to about $250,000. If there is no seasonal factor, the total amount divided by four should be an approximate test on the amount budgeted for the next 90 days. A Chevy Volt owner could theoretically drive 15,000 miles for less than $300.00 a year, assuming current rates for electricity stay the same. Volt uses about 2500 kWh annually, which is an extremely affordable way to power a car as the average American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. In other words, if you drive 40 miles or less that could work out to be about a dollar a day. And that can add up to big savings. (27). Depending on the weather, the electrical features that are turned on and how you drive, you can drive up to 40 miles on the electricity stored in the battery totally gas and emissions free. After that, its gas-powered, range-extending generator automatically kicks in to provide electrical power. Assuming the EPA estimates $2,000 a year in fuel cost for a compact car, like the Chevy Cobalt or Honda Civic cost savings in fuel would go a long way toward offsetting the cost of a $40,000 electric vehicle. Battery and size and vehicle cost should fall rapidly as pr oduction rises.   (27). In Flint Michigan, General Motors Company is investing more than $230 million in four different GM plants in the greater Flint area to support the production of the fuel-efficient 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and Volt, according to the automaker.   The four GM plants include Flint Engine South, Flint Metal Center, Flint Tool Die, and Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center.   At the Flint Engine South nearly $202 million dollars have been invested to renovate the former I5/I6 manufacturing operations for production of a 1.4L four-cylinder engine generator for the Chevrolet Volt.   In the Flint metal center, $1.7 million has been invested to refurbish press lines that will produce sheet metal stampings for the Volt.   All dies for the Chevy Volt were engineered at Flint Tool Die. Approximately 50 percent of dies for the Volt were designed at this facility. At the Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center, approximately $30 million invested in this facility to build the robotic weld tool cells that will ass emble the Volt body at the Volt assembly plant. Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center also built the robotic weld tool cells for the body shop to assemble the Chevrolet Cruze at Lordstown (Ohio) Assembly (28). When GM CEO Rick Wagoner testified that the Volt is being pushed into production for 2011, he added that, It will not be at that point fully cost competitive.   GM has actually spent about three quarters of a billion to develop the Volt, and much of that is in battery research. GM recognizes the importance of staying ahead of the competition in developing new technology. They are willing to take the risk of spending a large amount of money even in these desperate times of recession. Without doubt, some of that money will eventually be spread across the automobile industry when the Volts power train and battery advances get shared with other GM models. However, it is still unlikely that the Volts addition will bring down the bottom line until a second generation model is introduced, which may not be until 2014 to 2016   (29). Electricity is defiantly the way of the future when talking about the automobile. Electricity runs clean in a vehicle, therefore there will be no tailpipe emissions. And if the electricity is generated using alternate power sources such as wind, hydro, solar or bio-fuels, there is the potential to considerably reduce the emissions associated with personal transportation. Advancements in electricity production along with reduction in emissions from electric-powered driven cars can make our world a cleaner place.(30)   General Motors Corporation will open the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing plant in the United States in Michigan with production expected by 2010. The lithium-ion battery cells will be supplied by Compact Power Inc., a subsidiary of South Koreas LG Chem based in Troy, Michigan for Volt prototype vehicles until GMs battery facility is operational. GM has also signed a joint engineering contract with Compact Power and LG Chem to develop Volts lithium-ion batt ery technology. The advanced battery strategy is expected to strengthen GMs capabilities to develop hybrid and electric vehicles (30). By using the battery as a power source, we will in the long run help cut back our dependency from other countries. Since almost all of our electricity is produced domestically, its a great way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. has a variety of electricity sources, all with the potential to help us become more energy-independent. (31) Because the market of electric cars is still forming, there is not any real information available about cash flows.   There are a few known factors, though.   First of all, GM has spent about $750 million to develop the Volt, and will probably still spend even more.   For another, there is no way to break even on this investment for at least another several years (and several models) have passed.   Only time and 2011 income statements will tell how well GMs bottom line fairs with its new Volt.

retail image study :: essays research papers

SUMMARY OF RETAIL CONCEPT AND BRAND PERSONALITY In a contemporary market place, retail branding is considered paramount in the retailing industry to influence customer perceptions and drive store choice and loyalty. Ailawadi (2004). Digital Marketing Group (2004) defines effective branding as the proprietary visual, emotional, rational, and cultural image associated with a company or a product. The purpose of having people remember the brand name and have positive associations with that brand is to make their product selection easier and enhance the value and satisfaction they get from the product. The first store examined, being Worldwide Appliances at Glendale, would be categorized as a â€Å"premium home electrical and appliance store.† The store has a wide offering from luxury high end audio visual equipment to common need based items such as kettles, irons and ovens. Worldwide Appliances branding consists of a long running slogan â€Å"Where the worlds best brands, compete for your prices!† This statement asserts the organizations desire to be considered as a provider of high quality products, whilst still remaining price competitive. This branding diversification allows Worldwide to compete for multiple niche markets. Levy and Weitz (2004) classify the retail concept as â€Å"a management orientation which is aimed towards determining the needs of the retailer’s target market and directing the firm to satisfying those needs† When considering the retail concept that Worldwide Appliances have adopted, it has created a mixed or unique concept that has been well absorbed by consumers. Through the combination of high end products and the exploitation economies of scale utilized through its large size, it can offer warehouse style prices on its upper range of electrical products. This creates an immediate competitive advantage over smaller electrical stores. A holistic brand image integrates entities such as values, colours, name, symbols, words and slogans (Chernatony: 2000) Worldwide can not be completely classified with a singular holistic brand image, in fact their strength lies in their ability to be related with two contrasting images. One of simplicity, discount prices and availability when common place electrical products are considered such as small electrical goods; and that of a high quality, knowledgeable, want –based supplier when products such as home theatres and imported boutique brands are considered (eg. Audioloop) KEY DRIVERS OF RETAIL IMAGE The second examined store was The Good Guys at Kotara. This store, through its branding, does an excellent job of defining itself to its potential consumers. The recent addition of