Affirmative Action Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Affirmative Action - Research Paper Example This would remind everyone of the fact that change has been taking place and it will be more progressive and imminent in the future. Taking into account the idea of affirmative action, there is a strong point to consider that it could be a form of reverse discrimination because for instance, it could limit employer’s freedom to hire employees on the basis of race and sex (Rabe 113). This point is a bit clearer because affirmative action is historically more associated with the workplace, but its application can span into a larger field (Erasmus and Schenk 105). However, affirmative action does not mean giving preferences to any group or people but it only ensures giving equal opportunity for everyone, disregarding the issue of sex and race (Shaw and Lee 561). Furthermore, affirmative action only makes sure of active steps for employers to ensure equal employment opportunity for everyone (Dempsey and Forst 188). Original belief So here is one perspective of affirmative action t hat needs to be critically considered. It is a form of giving equal opportunity for everyone, but on the basis of employment activity, employers always have the choice to select and employ employment criteria for specific jobs or tasks with associated functions and responsibilities. So the original belief of the proponent concerning affirmative action is the thought that it could be a form of reverse discrimination. This is contradictory to what Shaw and Lee pointed out as a corresponding myth associated with affirmative action. Affirmative action would turn out as a way of neutralizing everything, but the point may be a bit more different when applied in specific context. Hiring women for instance on a particular job is definitely covered by affirmative action in order to ensure equality. However, one should also try to take a look at it on the context of employers’ perspective. Employers have also the freedom to select the best employees suitable to the continuation of thei r quality operation. However, some may try to look at this approach as highly discriminatory especially on the part of employers who are employing the working concept of affirmative action. So at this point, a clear policy is necessary, creating a balance within the context of employment. There are some requirements in the company that would require competency, skills and even other related factors and some of them may essentially point out to the concept of discrimination. However, there are certainly companies that would only require men rather than women for the purpose of ensuring continuation of quality, standard and efficient operation. The problem with employing affirmative action would be to consider these companies for discrimination and even passing on the idea of being able to justify things for the sole purpose of ensuring their profitability. Changed stand Based on the actual observation, policies concerning inequality are changing and improving. For this reason, affirm ative action is consistently moving forward to its refinement for the purpose of serving everyone with all equality. So at this point, it has become clearer that affirmative action’s main intention is to only promote equality for everyone as stated by Shaw and Lee. However, some policies on the other hand may try to reinforce inequality (Shaw and Lee 562). For this reason, affirmative action is trying to make sure everyone is embracing the policies associated with it that would only promote maximum level of equality for all, and this is evident on how it stands for no one but for everybody’

Medieval and Renaissance Art Essay Example for Free

Medieval and Renaissance Art Essay The most significant difference between medieval and renaissance art is that renaissance art paid more attention to the human body, and to detail. Both, however, focused mainly on religious themes, although not necessarily Christian. Renaissance artists are remembered because they brought about the changes that led to the art of today. When looking at medieval art, such as The Notary of Perugia Writing a Document it is quite obvious that very little attention to detail is included. There is no depth to the painting, the writing on the parchment bares no resemblance to actual text, and everyone in the picture has the same face. In contrast, when looking at a renaissance painting, like Christ the Redeemer by Titian quite a bit more attention is given to detail, even though the scene does not encompass nearly as much. It is possible to see shadowing in the painting, as well as to the behavior of fabrics. There is also a good feel of depth with much attention paid not only to making a nice background, but separating it from the foreground as well. There are many similarities in the two styles; they are, after all, separated by a short period in history. One similarity might be a choice of colors, as the most visually appealing color combinations had yet to be discovered. Another similarity would be the lack of understanding of how to accurately represent the human body, as this was considered sinful by the church; Leonardo di Vinci did began to change this with some of his works though. The short period in time left similarities between the styles of art, but they were few, far between, and diminished fast. Renaissance artists put forth much greater effort into these works and it really shows in the quality, rather then the quantity produced.

The Greed of Music Industry Executives and Declining Record Sales Essay

The Greed of Music Industry Executives and Declining Record Sales The music recording industry is in trouble. For several years now, sales of new and popular music have steadily declined and show no sign of changing. The record companies are quick to blame the growing popularity of the Internet; music is being traded in a digital form online, often anonymously, with the use of file-sharing programs such as Morpheus, KaZaA, and Imesh, to name a few. The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) succeeded in disbanding the pioneer Internet file-sharing program, Napster, but is facing confrontation with similar programs that are escaping American copyright laws. While there is an obvious connection between declining popular music sales and increasing file sharing, there is more going on than the RIAA wants to admit. I will show that the recording companies are overpricing their products, and not sufficiently using the Internet as an opportunity to market and sell their products. I shall begin by describing in greater detail the problem that the recording companies are facing, as well as the growing epidemic of online music trading. From there, I will show the correlation between the two and describe the other factors affecting record sales, and how these trends could be turned around to help the industry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Record Industry is in trouble,† says Jann S. Wenner in an editorial appearing in a recent issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. â€Å"Album sales are now down almost 20% from two years ago, and the record business is facing the biggest retail slide since the Great Depression† (Wenner). People are buying less and less products released by the recording companies. â€Å"Nobody doubts that the music business is in trouble. Last year, global sales of CDs were down by 5% from 2000, the first fall since the format was launched† (NAPSTER R.I.P). The Nielsen SoundScan, used to report final sales to consumers, revealed some of its figures in a September 2002 issue of Billboard Magazine. â€Å"Nielsen SoundScan reports that overall music sales compared with the year before were off by 12.6%†¦while album sales were off by 9.8%. Total first-half units sold fell to 317.7 million units from 363.4 million; the number of albums sold slipped to 311. 1 million units from 344.8 million – an 8.1% drop† (Garrity). Even the number of albums that become hits is... ...election and convenience of P2Ps. Because of consumer’s tendency to download single songs by many varying artists, many may wonder if increased Internet use will eventually exterminate the record album from existence. Personally, I do not foresee the death of CDs and albums as a product. The MP3 format is not quite CD quality, and the singles that are typically downloaded by consumers do not always reflect the talent or best product of a certain performer. Singles are what will make money, but B-sides, the songs that people do not buy the CD for, are also a culmination of an artist’s hard work. B-sides make an album good or bad, and consumers simply do not download B-sides. I fear that buying an entire album will become more rare as these new programs emerge that allow consumers to buy one song at a time, but the album will prevail. Newspapers and Magazines are now available online, but they still appear for retail in stores and by offline subscriptions. Online musi c purchasing shows no signs of dropping, and the consumers show no sign of listening to less music. The industry just has to take the initiative to make the music more accessible to music listeners at a fairer price.

Importance of manners

Manners are the buildings blocks, of character they build and construct the character and present it as a model or a diamond in front of others, it gives rising shining respect to you. Manners are very useful and even free of cost, lust use them and get benefit from them, by good manners you can have respect In front of others manners also means respecting others and by respecting others we are respecting ourselves.Manners can be adopted by following footsteps f those persons who good manners, act as they act live as they live one day you will also have priceless manners rich for your respect Without manners life can be difficult and many problems can come In front of you, Manners doesn't really deal with religion. It Is a part of the human characterless. Everyone either has good or bad manners. Having manners will let people respect you. They will be kind towards you and they won't hesitate to talk or be your friend.A person with good manners is honored everywhere while a person wit h bad manners is spoken about badly. A person with bad manners will have people treat him as if he is a piece of trash' that they won't even bother to look at. They'll think that your parents didn't bring you up. Also, the Prophet pub had amassable wonderful manners. The Prophet pub is the example to all Muslims. We all are supposed to have good manners. It will help take you far in life.

Marketing mix success of Xiaomi Essay

Background Founded in 2010 in Beijing, Xiaomi first began by launching custom Android-based firmware- MIUI. Backed by tech savvy early adopters and  enthusiast, it thrived on feedback to improve usability. A year later they entered the hardware market with their flagship phone, the Mi One which featured the top specifications at a low price. Today, Xiaomi has launched it’s 4th series of their flagship phone the Mi 4 and have expanded their product line to mid tier smart phones, smart TV, routers, set-up boxes and other accessories. In just four short years, Xiaomi has become the third largest smartphone manufacturer just behind technology giants Apple and Samsung (Appendix B). Introduction This essay will discuss the marketing mix, a combination of marketing tactics which consist of four elements known as the 4Ps- product, price, place, and promotion that is derived from the marketing strategy of the company (Kotler and Armstrong, 2012) and the efforts made to adapt each mix to reach it’s intended audience in a foreign market. Price Xiaomi aims to provide similar specifications phones to competitors but at a much lower price. Currently they offer 2 series of flagship phones, the Mi and Redmi (or Hongmi). The Mi 3 has specifications that is similar to Sony’s Xperia Z1 that is priced only at CNY 1,999 (USD$322.62) as compared to Z1 retail  price of USD$935 (Appendix C). The Redmi series, a mid tier range is priced at CNY 799, targeting the lower income in emerging markets such as China, India with plans to expand into Brazil and Mexico. As the first company with such an aggressive penetration pricing strategy, Xiaomi changed the perceived value of smart phones (Ramesh Kumar, 2007). Anticipating that consumers would be skeptical about the quality of it’s low priced Redmi series, Xiaomi chose to first launch their top tier Mi before launching Redmi in each new market so that the reduction in market price would not be too drastic and that consumers could gain confidence in the quality (Snoj, Pisnik Korda and Mumel, 2004) of it’s Redmi series. Product Unlike other phone manufacturers that make their products obsolete with product refreshes within a year, Xiaomi’s phones have a longer product life cycle of 24 months. As the product enters the maturity stage, volume sales starts declining. Yet from a technological standpoint, Moore’s law dictates that a longer product life meant that it’s cost to manufacture the same product becomes lower. This decline in volume sales profit will be counteracted by a higher profit margin achieving overall profit sustainability. Similar to Apple & Amazon, Xiaomi has developed an ecosystem of software & services such as cloud service, messaging app, theme store and app store which preloaded to it’s custom firmware. An integral part of this ecosystem is Mi Market (app store) since Android’s default app store is not accessible in China. China’s market for apps has fragmented into many app stores birthed from startups to the likes of search giant Baidu. Thanks to the popularity of Xiaomi’s phones, Mi Market is currently one of the largest app stores in China. Place To eliminate the cuts that retailers and distributors would get, Xiaomi has sold their products entirely online, on their own website. However since expanding into new markets, Xiaomi has more recently adopted a horizontal marketing system to build upon retailer’s expertise in the region. In India, Xiaomi chose a partner to sell exclusively through Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce company. Xiaomi needs to understand the local distribution methods in order to mitigate the loss of potential customers especially when they employ exclusive distribution which would impair the availability of their products (Pride and Ferrell, 2011). For instance, due to purchasing behavior, cash-on-delivery remains as one of India’s primary mode of payment. Buyers would perform an inspection of the product before payment. In short,  accounting for less than 1% of the total retail market, e-commerce is still in it’s infancy stage in India. As Xiaomi’s mobile phones shifts into the maturity or even decline stages of its product life cycle, it might want to employ selective distribution through traditional brick and mortar stores. Bilgin and Wà ¼hrer (2014) points out that products not adapting to maturity stages will find themselves soon in the decline. In order to prolong it’s product’s life, Xiaomi should change their distribution strategy. Though it may not be economically feasible to sell their phones with thinner profit margins or perhaps even selling at a loss, it should be noted that Xiaomi’s goal is to make profits through services and apps rather than purely hardware sales- similar to the relationship between printers and ink cartridges (Appendix D). Promotion Releasing fixed amount of handsets at specific times, Xiaomi primarily engages in flash sales for new products that often results in phones selling out within seconds. Xiaomi meticulously limits supply to artificially create more demand than supply- a strategy known as â€Å"hunger marketing† (Chen et al., 2014 p. 1950-1957). â€Å"Hungry† consumers through word of mouth created buzz which in due time transits into hype where consumers mimic one another in the buying craze (Mourdoukoutas and Siomkos, 2009 p. 82), further raising demand. In Xiaomi’s advertisements, it is evident that marketing messages are focused on hunger marketing. There is always emphasis on how fast their products have been sold (Appendix D) , editorial tone that communicate a sense of  urgency (Appendix E), statistics to provide an impression of popularity (Appendix F), and multiple teasers for product launch over a period of time to create hype (Appendix G). Conclusion Xiaomi’s marketing mix is a combination of both Apple’s strategy of producing high quality products and limiting supply to magnify consumer hype as well  as Amazon’s kindle strategy of making products as widely as possible and to profit primarily from its services. Though Xiaomi has seen exponential growth in retailing smart phones, it’s key focus should remain in distributing mobile applications and services while maintaining the quality of smartphones instead of diversifying into other electronics. Without the access restrictions in China, Google remains dominant for app distribution as well as its services which are preloaded to every Android phone. Xiaomi must continue to innovate and integrate it’s solutions and services even tighter to it’s own firmware to remain competitive and profitable. It needs to pry it’s customers away from the many alternatives available in the heavily saturated mobile app market perhaps through technological acquisitions or strategic partnerships. References ASSOCHAM, 2014. E-Commerce Evolution in India: Creating the bricks behind the clicks. India: PricewaterhouseCoopers. Bilgin, F. and Wà ¼hrer, G. (2014), International marketing compact, Wien: Linde Verlag GmbH. Chen, E., Huang, K. and Cheng, L. (2013), Xiaomi: China’s answer to Apple, http://asiaresearch.daiwacm.com/eg/cgi-bin/files/china_tech_food_chai n_130925.pdf, Date accessed 15/12/14. Chen, Y., Kuo, C., Jhan, Y. and Chiu, P. (2014) ‘Hunger marketing on smartphone’, Proceedings of the Management of Engineering & Technology (PICMET), 2014 Portland International Conference, Kanazawa, 27-31 July. United States: IEEE Xplore, pp. 1950-1957. Kotler, P. and Armstrong, G. (2012), Principles of marketing, Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall. Kumar, A. (2014), What India taught Xiaomi: On Flipkart, lessons and future plans, http://yourstory.com/2014/09/india-lessons-xiaomi-flipkart-future-plans -hugo-barra/, Date accessed 15/12/14. Pride, W. and Ferrell, O. (2011), Marketing express, Mason, Oh.: South-Western Cengage Learning. Ramesh Kumar, S. (2007), Marketing and branding, New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley (India). Ridge, M. (2014), e-commerce in India: not just cash on delivery to a man on a bike, http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2014/09/22/e-commerce-in-india-notjust-cash-on-delivery-to-a-man-on-a-bike/, Date accessed 15/12/14. Siomkos, G. (2009), The Seven Principles Of Wom And Buzz Marketing, New York: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Snoj, B., Pisnik Korda, A. and Mumel, D. (2004) ‘The relationships among perceived quality, perceived risk and perceived product value’, Jnl of Product & Brand Mgt, 13, 3 156-167. Triggs, R. (2014), Hugo Barra talks business models and Xiaomi success, http://www.androidauthority.com/xiaomi-business-model-success-5596 81/, Date accessed 13/12/14. Appendices Appendix A (Selected case article: Xiaomi Flash Sales Prove Popular in India) Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, which has overtaken Apple and Samsung in China, is working its way into the Indian market using sudden online sales and high-end handsets priced at close to cost. On Tuesday alone, Xiaomi says it sold 100,000 of its 5,999 rupee ($97) Redmi 1S smartphones in 4.2 seconds. It has sold about 500,000 total handsets using similar sales since its July launch in India, it says. The Beijing-based company sells its products exclusively online through Flipkart, one of India’s largest online retailers, via flash sales at specific times. The phones are sold at close to the manufacturing cost, with Xiaomi making profit through services such as mobile applications. Xiaomi has used the sales tactic in other countries, as well. Analysts say Xiaomi is taking off in the world’s second-biggest telecommunications market because Indians see value in its low-cost products. Word of mouth has created a buzz surrounding the brand, and the  flash sales help create a scarcity of the company’s products. â€Å"The way they carried out their PR was key to the success,† says Karan Thakkar, an analyst with research firm IDC. â€Å"With the flash sales they have created a competitive spirit among the consumer.† While Xiaomi’s market share isn’t yet known, IDC says competition among companies selling low-cost smartphones is expected to increase in the coming quarters thanks to similar low-cost makers, such as Mozilla, which offers a $33 smartphone. Indeed, smartphone sales in India should double through 2018 as devices priced below $200 enter the market, IDC says. Meanwhile, rivals such as India’s Micromax remain skeptical of Xiaomi’s success. â€Å"Selling for PR is different from selling for business,† Micromax Chief Executive Vineet Taneja told media at a launch event for a new phone last month. Micromax, India’s second-biggest smartphone seller by market share after Samsung, sells about three million phones every month through its 130,000 outlets spread across the country. But that hasn’t stopped Micromax from adopting an online sales model. In September it began offering one of its devices on Snapdeal.com, a Flipkart rival. Source: Wall Street Journal http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/10/17/xiaomi-flash-sales-prove-popular-in-i ndia/ Appendix B (Top Five Smartphone Vendors, Shipments, Market Share and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q3 2014 Preliminary Data (Units in Millions) ) Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, October 29, 2014 Appendix C (Smartphone pricing and specification comparison) Source: Companies, Daiwa Appendix D (Net revenue comparison of hardware vs supplies (Units in millions) ) Source: Hewlett-Packard Annual Report 2011 Appendix E (Typical post flash sale update to inform customers that the sale has ended) Source: Mi India Facebook page Appendix F (Announcement of flash sale) Source: Mi India Facebook page Appendix G (Post Christmas sale infographic) Source: Mi Singapore Facebook page Appendix H (Teaser for new product) Source: Mi Singapore Facebook page

Enhancing international dimensions in apparel Essays

Enhancing international dimensions in apparel Essays Enhancing international dimensions in apparel Essay Enhancing international dimensions in apparel Essay Enhancing international dimensions in apparel and merchandising curricula in the USA A practitioners perspective Hong You School of Fashion, Reason University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Bongo Jinn Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA Abstract Purpose For many years, the textile and apparel industry has been on the forefront of globalization. To prepare students in the global business environment, this study seeks input from the US business communities and provides suggestions for enhancing the international dimensions of the apparel and merchandising auricular in the USA. Design/methodology/approach Two sets of data were collected and compared: the general data were collected from various business sectors via telephone interviews, and the product-specific data were gathered from US apparel manufacturers using a modified Dilemmas mail survey method. Findings Results indicated that the most important benefit of doing business internationally was expanded market,while the obstacle identifiers oftenest cultural differences. The study also found that understanding (I. E. Cultural/business practice differences, etc. ) is more critical than application or competency (I. E. Pacific skills) for college international education and that taking general and product-specific approaches is most efficient to enhance international dimensions in textile and apparel curricula. Practical implications Practical implications discussed were: first, international education in the textile and clothing field should be developed with a strong focus on small businesses; second, the international dimensions of apparel design, production, and merchandising curricula should be developed using a region-specific, rather than a one-fits-all approach; third, students in the textile and clothing field should be fully prepared in understanding, rather than in application or competency; and fourth, educational modules that help the students better understand international markets should be incorporated into curricula. Originality/value We hope this report raises attention with regard to why and how international dimensions can be incorporated into instruction. Based on this report, we expect more practical and innovative international education dialogues to begin. Keywords Textile industry, Garment industry, International business, Higher education, curriculum development, Unlit Paper type Research paper EAI states AT America The Emerald Research Register for this Journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this Journal is available at www. Merchandising. Com/ architectures www. Nearsightedly. Com/1361-2026. HTML Partial funding support for this project was provided by the US Agricultural Experimental Station Fund. This paper has been reviewed in the same manner as an academic paper. JEFF 232 Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management Volvo. 9 NO. 2, 2005 up. 232-243 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1361-2026 DOI 10. 1108/13612020510599376 Introduction It is a well-estab lished fact that the textile and apparel industry is an important actor in the US and global economies. The textile and apparel supply chain is one of the most globalizes industries, involving more than 10 percent of the world business (Clock and Junk, 2000). It is a common business practice that some aspects of textile and clothing products, such as raw materials, components, labor, and assembly, are sourced from overseas, and the finished products are marketed elsewhere in the world. In the USA, the textiles and apparel sector sources 88 percent of its products internationally for the domestic market (Elevate, 2000). The apparel companies are owe faced with a rapidly changing industry landscape that requires forward-looking global strategies (Rabin, 1999) and visionary leaders. Nonetheless, can we claim that higher education in textiles and clothing has sufficiently prepared its students for the challenges in this global environment? Probably not. While internationalization of the business curriculum has drawn attention in past years and there are good resources available regarding international business concepts in general business education, these resources are not targeted to a specific product category and largely focus on multinational companies. As the small US companies exports were as high as 51 percent in 1997 (National Security and International Affairs Division, 2000), adopting general international business concepts with a large company focus does not appear to be sufficient preparation for textile clothing students. While a growing number of major four-year universities in the USA have implemented some international-related courses, this effort is not prevalent. One recent curriculum analysis of textile and clothing programs reveals that more than half of the four-year colleges in the USA do not offer any international courses Non, 2002). Given that globalization is impacting very phase of sewn product manufacturing and marketing, the absence of international perspectives in curriculum results in a critical gap between higher education and the needs of the industry. How does one enhance international dimensions in the current curricula? What content and skill training needs to be Included ? An Important source Tort answers to tense Stetsons Is Industry professionals who are involved with international business operations on a regular basis. This paper reports on two current surveys with US business communities and provides suggestions for enhancing the international dimensions of apparel and reconsidering curricula. As textile and apparel related business requires both general and product-specific knowledge, this study colleted two data sets, one from the general business community and one from the product-specific (I. E. Apparel) business community. Literature review The importance of international business education in apparel curricula For many years, the textile and apparel sector has been on the forefront of globalization. No industry is more broadly dispersed around the world than the textile and apparel industry. Approximately 200 nations are involved with apparel production for international markets. In addition, a single apparel item produced and marketed within one country is a rarity. In the USA, more and more textile and apparel companies have engaged in international business, whether sourcing production or marketing products. About half of apparel sold in the USA is imported, and most of this imported apparel is sourced by Us-based companies (Junk, 1998). Apparel and merchandising curricula 233 Wall-Mart, the worlds largest company, not only sources from numerous suppliers worldwide, but also sells merchandise in more than 5,000 stores in 11 countries around the globe (Wall-Mart, 2004). Lands End, Inc. , a successful catalog company, ships products to consumers in 185 countries and is receiving significant return from its worldwide business on the web (Slaw, 2001). Many US apparel specialty store retailers, such as Gap, Liz Collarbone, Ann Taylor, Limited, etc. , source internationally without having any production facilities in the States, then market throughout the world. The Gap sources in nearly 50 countries and has 3,000 stores in Canada, the I-J, France, Germany, and Japan. Liz Collarbone sources globally, using 240 factories in 31 different countries to meet its needs Non, 2001). This tremendous trend of global sourcing can be observed easily in developed countries other than the USA. Most global apparel brands heavily leverage global sourcing strategies. Hennas Mauritius ABA (H M), the worlds second largest clothing retailer, sources from 1,600 suppliers throughout Europe and Asia, and operates more than 700 stores in the world Non, AAA). Along with the proven importance of global sourcing and marketing, the need for efficient global supply chain management is highly regarded among practitioners. Due to numerous SKU in a season to handle, the customers appetite for variety, increased rates of product introduction, product proliferation, and shortened product cycles, the ability to respond quickly to the markets needs has become a critical competitive advantage of a firm Non, Bibb). Speed is the competitive tool used by Ezra of Spain to achieve its success. Ezra, launched in 1975 as a local store, is now the worlds third largest clothing retailer with $2. 6 billion (USED) total sales per year. Ezra has stores in 34 countries with 80 percent of its 1,160 stores in Europe. It takes less tan two weeks Tort a SKI art to get Trot Larvas eagles team In span to a store In Paris or Tokyo. This is as much as 12 times faster than competitors. With shorter lead times, Ezra can ship twice a week (compared with once every 12 weeks for some competitors) to each store (McGuire, 2001). The textile and apparel production- distribution supply chain involves many fragmented nodes: agriculture (fiber sources such as cotton, linen/flax, wool, mohair, and silk), manufacturing at various levels (yarn and fabric production; apparel production; and wet finishing), distribution, and consumers. Coordinating these nodes agile with overseas suppliers requires the most sophisticated management skills. Despite these remarkable changes in apparel production, marketing, and management, our understanding of the important changes is vague. The current status of the international component in apparel curricula in the USA A great body of academic papers, reports, and anecdotes address the importance of international business education. Kodiak and Daniels (2003) survey with top managers clearly indicated continuing need for international business education in the USA. They claim that with the projected growth of international operations, additional international business education programs should be developed, particularly orgasm with a focus on Asia. Among many subject matters, Kodiak and Daniel (2003) found that, at minimum, all business graduates need to have an appreciation for cross-cultural differences and a global perspective. Although the importance of international business education is widely accepted among many scholars, practitioners, and policy makers, international perspectives in clothing and textiles education have not been systematically discussed. Only one report, to our knowledge, provides exploratory findings. Jinns (2002) analysis of the SEEM current status of international components in the apparel curriculum provides strong evidence of the lack of international education. Jinn systematically selected every other clothing-related department in US four-year colleges from the membership directory of the International Textile and Apparel Association (IOTA) and analyzed 62 valid curricula provided on college web pages. Surprisingly, the results showed that more than 50 percent of the four-year colleges did not offer any international courses. To better prepare students for the global business environment and to provide a more realistic view and vision, the international dimensions of apparel design, production, ND merchandising curricula need to be enhanced. Method Data collection We collected two sets of data, general and product-specific. To gain broader international business perspectives, general data were collected from various business sectors via telephone interviews. We employed structured and open-ended questions to allow depth of information. This was particularly important when no prior data existed. Trained interviewers from a Bureau for Social Research at a US university conducted the series of telephone interviews. In addition, product- and industry-specific data were gathered from US apparel manufacturers using a mail revue moment Respondents General sample: 47 companies were selected from a list of participants at a conference on doing business internationally. Due to their established international contacts, the respondents could identify what they need for success in the international marketplace and provide a realistic perspective on how to best prepare college students for global competition. A broad range of companies were included in the sample, including those producing chemical products, instruments, equipment, metal products, electronic components, and apparel and other sewn products. More than half of the respondents led small businesses (small business is defined as a company that has fewer than 500 employees according to the US Small Business Administration). Product- and industry-specific sample: a list of 1,500 US apparel companies was purchased from Dun Broadsheet. Data were collected using Dilemmas (2000) mail survey method, which included a first mailing, a follow-up postcard a week after the first mailing, and a second mailing two weeks after sending out the postcards. A cover letter explaining the purpose of the research, a questionnaire, and a self-addressed, stamped return envelope were included in the iris mailing. Each questionnaire was addressed to the president of the company, and the president was asked to transfer the questionnaire to the person who was most qualified to complete it. All questionnaires received after the first mailing cutoff date were checked for moroseness bias according to a procedure proposed by Babble (1990), with no statistical evidence of moroseness bias identified in demographic characteristics. Most of the respondents were in a top-level management position (e. G. President, chairman, CEO, COO, etc. ) (75. 2 percent) or in a manager/director level position (18. 6 recent). A total of 127 questionnaires were returned, resulting in an overall response rate of 8. 5 percent. Among the returned questionnaires, 113 were identified usable and Apparel and 235 were included in data analyses. Among them, 95. 2 percent (100 out of 105 valid cases) were identified as small businesses. We consider the two sets of data as complementary. First, general data provided us with a broad picture of international involvement across different sectors in the USA, while the product- and industry-specific data yielded more focused information about the textile and apparel industry. By analyzing the two sets of data together, we can reach a more comprehensive understanding on how the textile and apparel industry compares with other industries in international business endeavors. A better understanding of the current international business involvement of the textile and apparel industry will help prepare the students in the field. Second, since business operations vary significantly among industries, needs in international business education identified across diverse fields are broader in scope and can provide guidelines for product-specific curriculum content development. That is, utilizing interdisciplinary output can help educators think out of the box for clothing an e Ill curriculum Improvement. However, product- Ana Industry-spectral knowledge and skills for doing business internationally are also critical to the success of students in this field. Therefore, in order to reach a more holistic view of the areas needed to enhance international dimensions in the textiles and clothing curriculum, we should integrate the findings at two levels, general and product- and industry- specific. Measurement and data analysis General data: the respondents were first asked questions related to the company, such as number of employees, product/service the company provided, the companys primary customer, and if the company was doing business internationally. If the answer to this last questions was no, the respondents were asked to explain why not and the interview ended. If the answer was yes, the interview continued with questions related to the companys international business operations, such as in what country/countries the firm was doing business and the business relationship between the company and its partners (contractor, vendor, supplier, branch office, joint-venture partner, or other). In the last section of the interview, the respondents were asked three open-ended questions: (1) What do you perceive as the benefits of doing business internationally? 2) What do you perceive as the obstacles/challenges in doing business internationally? (3) If an educational unit in raising global awareness is to be developed with college students as target audience, what would be the areas you think need to be addressed? Descriptive analysis was performed on quantitative data using SPAS for Windows 1 1. 0. The qualitative data were coded by th e researchers collaboratively, and the themes were identified. Product- and industry-specific data: we began by asking if the company was doing business internationally (I. E. Rouging), and how much the firm sourced from each of seven regions using seven-point Liker scale (1 livery little, 7 h frequently). Each respondent was asked if he/she believed a college education was needed in five specific areas (understanding international markets, global product development process, global supply chain management, understanding other cultures, and global sourcing) JEFF 236 using seven-point Liker scales (1 h not needed, 7 h essential). In addition, company anemographic variables, such as number of employees and sales volume, were included . Descriptive statistics were performed, and the results were compared with those from the general data. Results International involvement General data showed that of the 47 firms interviewed, approximately 80 percent of the companies were doing international business. Regarding the business relationships with the partners, about 50 percent of the companies reported that their partners were the contractors. The survey with US apparel manufacturers (product- and industry-specific data) showed that of the 113 firms, 90 firms (79. Percent) indicated that they source globally. Considering the US apparel industry sourced B percent AT Its products Trot overseas In AY (Elevate, our data reflect this trend. From this result, we can conclude that there are definite needs for international education in general as well as apparel-specific areas. Countries with which the firms were doing business General data indicated that the international markets in which respondents were conducting business we re in rank order, Asia, South America, Europe, North America, Africa, and Australia (Figure 1). A survey with product- and industry-specific data infirmed this finding. That is, US apparel manufacturers were also doing business with the East Asia countries most, followed by South Asia, Middle Asia, Pacific Basin, Mexico, Italy, and South American countries (Figure 2). This finding correlates with Kodiak and Daniels (2003) study, which found that Asia was the most important market of current US businesses. This finding suggests that region-specific international education in the apparel design, production, and merchandising curriculum may be more effective than a one-to-fit-all approach. It would be ideal to repaper students to Figure 1. Countries with which US firms were doing business: general 237 work with all the countries in the world; however, if the resources for developing educational materials are limited, focusing on Asian countries may be an economical solution. On the other hand, it is also crucial to be aware that the world apparel industry is changing rapidly. In the recent past, Latin America apparel manufacturers emerged as competitive suppliers, accounting for 24 percent of the US apparel import (Grief, 1997). Therefore, the apparel design, production, and merchandising auricular should be tailored to the global shifts in regions. Benefits and obstacles of doing business internationally According to the companies interviewed, the most important benefit of doing business internationally was expanded market, followed by low cost, higher quality, manufacturer flexibility, and worldwide recognition. Regarding obstacles (Figure 3), cultural difference was identified most often, followed by legal environment, business operation and process difference, commercial and political risk, and trust between business partners. These findings shed light on the areas that international business education should emphasize in order to develop efficient professionals who are capable of maximizing benefits in the global business environment, while innovative overcoming barriers they face in doing business internationally. Areas of international education In terms of the areas that need to be included for raising global awareness in college students, the responses from the general business data were content analyzed by the authors and classified into three categories: Understanding, Application, and Competency (Figure 4). When classifying into the categories, generous discussions ere held until the authors reached the same conclusion. The three areas were Hogue apparel 238 conceptualized by the authors reasoning that instead of Just listing the areas of need, presenting the findings in a meaningful interpretation would provide better insight. In Figure 4, the size of the diagram denotes the rate of response. That is, a large diagram indicates a higher rate of response. Respondents wanted college students to be prepared to the greatest extent in understanding, rather than in application and competency. Further analysis suggested that an understanding of ultra/business differences was the most important, followed by an understanding of legal environment, marketing/market development, international trade, political environment, and networking. The importance of an understanding of Figure 3. Perceived obstacles of doing business internationally Figure 4. Important areas of international business education: general 239 cultural/business differences corresponds to a study done by Kodiak and Daniel (2003), which found that an understanding of cross-cultural differences was the most important international skill sought by companies for both professional staff and line management employees. Data from US apparel manufacturers also indicated a strong need for college international education. Overall, the US apparel manufacturers considered understanding international markets as the most important area in which to educate college students, followed by global product development process, global supply chain management, understanding other cultures, and global sourcing (Figure 5). In particular, small firms showed stronger interest in all aspects of international education (Figure 6). These needs assessment studies suggest an urgent need for mall business-focused training. The results from the two data sets generally agreed that understanding is more critical than application or competency (I. . Specific skills) for college international Figure 5. Education: apparel (mummer notes mean value) Figure 6. Education: large US apparel firms vs. Small US apparel firms (number denotes mean value) 240 education. While the US apparel manufacturers favor a more product-oriented approach, such as international product development and global sourcing, we believe that taking both general and industry- and product-specific approaches is the cost efficient for enhancing international dimensions of apparel design, production, and merchandising curricula. The general approach guides students in the big picture, while the industry- and product-specific approach leads the students to more specific contents tied closely to their major area of study. Conclusion and recommendations There is little doubt that the textile and apparel industry is operating in an interconnected global environment. Companies involved in international business are faced with increasing challenges in intense global competition, changes in nonuser tastes, trade-offs between cost and quality, communication obstacles, legal and political risk, etc. To survive and succeed in global competition, the industry needs effective strategies and proficient leaders. Meanwhile, textile and apparel programs in higher education have been slow in providing the most appropriate education and training to the students who will be the backbone of the industry in the near future. To investigate possible strengthening of the international dimension of apparel design, production, and merchandising curricula, this research invited input from industry professionals. Two sets of data were collected and compared. The general data were collected from 47 companies in various business sectors in order to obtain general guidelines for international business education. A separate set of product- and industry-specific data were collected from a survey of 113 US apparel manufacturers. Based on the findings, we believe there is a compelling need for enhancing international education in apparel design, production, and merchandising curricula. Therefore, we provide the following suggestions and recommendations. First, international education in the textile and clothing field should be developed tit a strong focus on small businesses. Despite the significant contribution of the small business sector to the US and global economies, many international business courses and education/training materials were developed from the perspective of large multinational companies. While these companies have capabilities to train their employees, small businesses lack resources to provide training to address international business issues. Considering the fact that the small business sector also proposes many entry-level positions (Harrison, z ten needs Tort International education with a small business focus for college students is imperative. Second, the international dimensions of apparel design, production, and merchandising curricula should be developed using a region-specific, rather than a one-fits-all approach. Educational materials should be developed with a clear focus on the regions with which the US businesses are most involved. Regarding the textiles and apparel industry, this region is Asia. Additional educational materials may be developed for other regions using a parallel approach. Third, students in the textile and clothing field should be fully prepared in understanding, rather than in application or competency. Specifically, educational materials should help students develop a sound understanding of cultural/business differences, as well as an understanding of the legal and political environments in which the international trade takes place. A thorough understanding Apparel and 241 is a prerequisite for application and specific skills that the students will need in their professional positions. Finally, educational components that help the students better understand international markets should be incorporated into curricula. Since an understanding f international markets was identified by industry practitioners as the areas most needed for college students, significant efforts should be devoted to teaching students various aspects related to international markets. How should these suggestions be incorporated into international education in apparel design, production, and merchandising curricula? We propose that an international module be developed in every course in the apparel and merchandising area. Instead of developing a single international course which requires time and commitment, perhaps it is more efficient and economical to evolve educational modules that can be integrated into the subject matter of a course already developed and taught. For example, the importance of international markets and global branding may be included in the introductory course to fashion industry; how goods are mass produced overseas may be taught in the apparel mass production course. In the visual merchandising course, cultural differences in preference of visual merchandising and advertising presentations may be introduced. In addition, how apparel goods are sourced from and marketed to international markets may be discussed in one of the merchandising acquisition and allocation courses. An easy method of enhancing students understanding of cultural/business practice differences and international markets is to utilize government data. Government data may include country reports and market reports by the US Department of Commerce. Newspaper and trade magazine articles may also be used. Enhancing international dimensions in textile and clothing curricula is imperative. We posit that this effort should be collective within a program, not Just the effort of an individual instructor in one course. Therefore, administrative support and team

The Graduate Essay

The Graduate Essay The Graduate Essay The Graduate The Graduate is 1967 film that was based on a 1963 novel, The Graduate. I have viewed both the screenplay and the trailer of this film. The trailer took important scenes and presented them in such ways that could actually change the plot of the movie in some ways. The trailer combined so many key shots of the film that gives you just enough to engage you emotionally and spark your curiosity. As the trailer begins you immediately hear an asynchronous sound (Sikov, 79) of background music. The song playing is The song of Silence by Simon Garfunkel (wikipedia.com). The trailer opens up with a long shot of a young man sitting outside in front of a fountain and there’s a flag waving right above him. The camera then cuts to an extreme long high shot to capture the entire landscape of the university and students walking around the campus behind the young man. The next few shots are various close-up shots complied together that shows several people coming up to Ben rubbing his head a nd hugging him congratulating him on his graduation. You hear a one lady ask him â€Å"what are you going to do now?† And his reply was â€Å"I was going to go upstairs for a minute†. This showed that he was definitely clueless that the question pertained to his future career. In the first thirty seconds of the trailer you are already aware that the movie is based on a guy named Ben who just graduated college and with only a few spoken words you can derive to the conclusion that he is undecided about his future. The trailer then shoots to a close-up shot of Ben sitting in front of an aquarium with a very depressed look on his face. From this shot you can assume that Ben is troubled or in some sort of way. A nervous looking Ben is seen sitting with a drink in his hand staring at something or someone. You then see a women who he refers to as â€Å"Mrs. Robinson† sitting on a chair with a cigarette in her hand giggling as she lifts her leg onto a chair. This is an eyeline match shot due to the fact that you see Ben staring at someone but you don’t actually see the person and in the very next shot you see Mrs. Robinson staring back at Ben, but you don’t see physically see Ben in this shot. In the next shot Ben is now standing up in front of Mrs. Robinson, but you only see her leg that she has raised up on a chair next to her. The framing of the camera is shooting Ben through the opening under Mrs. Robinson’s leg. You hear him say â€Å"You’re trying to seduce me† and she giggles and then he ask â€Å"aren’t you†. This to me implies he was confused but yet curious as well when he asked for confirmation. Also, from this shot you can assume that â€Å"Mrs. Robinson, is married. It’s never shown in this clip whether or not Mrs. Robinson confirmed or denied Ben’s allegations. The trailer then immediately takes you to another scene where Ben and Mrs. Robinson are sitting at a table in an establishment. They exchange a few words regarding if Ben had gotten a room. So this leads you to believe that they are in a hotel and Ben’s allegations may have been true but it also tells you that he may have taken her up on the offer. In the next scene you see the both Ben and Mrs. Robinson in a low key lit room and she’s is trying to remove her clothing and states that she’s about to get undressed as a nervous he watches as the scene ends. This leads viewers to assume that believe that they have had sexual intercourse but it is not shown. In the film they do engage in sexual intercourse for the first time, not realizing that this would be a full on affair. In the next scene you see Ben and a younger women sitting in what looks like a car, due to part of the steering wheel that you see in the corner of the shot. With a concerning look on her face she asks Ben â€Å"Are you having an affair with someone?† This raises eyebrows as it makes you wonder what made her ask that question and also who is this young woman. She calls him Benjamin which makes me think she close to him, maybe a

Definition and Examples of Ethos in Classical Rhetoric

Definition and Examples of Ethos in Classical Rhetoric In classical rhetoric, ethos is a persuasive appeal (one of the three artistic proofs) based on the character or projected character of the speaker or writer. Also called  ethical appeal or ethical argument. According to Aristotle, the chief components of a compelling ethos are goodwill, practical wisdom, and virtue. As an adjective: ethical or ethotic. Two broad types of ethos are commonly recognized: invented ethos and situated ethos.  Crowley and Hawhee observe that rhetors can invent a character suitable to an occasion- this is  invented ethos. However, if  rhetors  are fortunate enough to enjoy a good reputation in the community, they can use it as an ethical proof- this is  situated ethos (Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. Pearson, 2004). Pronunciation EE-thos Etymology From the Greek, custom, habit, character Related Terms IdentificationImplied AuthorLogos and PathosPersonaPhilophronesisPhronesis Examples and Observations A Universal Appeal Everyone makes an appeal to ethos if only an ethos of choosing never to stoop to such matters as ethos. No speech with intent is non-rhetorical.  Rhetoric is  not everything, but it is everywhere in  the speech of human  arguers. (Donald N. McCloskey, How to Do a Rhetorical Analysis, and Why. New Directions in Economic Methodology, ed. by Roger Backhouse. Routledge, 1994) Projected Characters Im not a doctor, but I play one on TV. (1960s TV commercial for Excedrin)I made my mistakes, but in all of my years of public life, I have never profited, never profited from public service- I earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that I could say that in my years of public life, that I welcome this kind of examination  because people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I am not a crook. I have earned everything I have got. (President Richard Nixon, news conference in Orlando, Florida, November 17, 1973)It was a highly inconvenient thing for them in our debates that I was just a country boy from Arkansas and I came from a place where people still thought two and two was four. (Bill Clinton, speech at the Democratic National Convention, 2012)If, in my low moments, in word, deed or attitude, through some error of temper, taste, or tone, I have caused anyone discomfort, created pain, o r revived someones fears, that was not my truest self. If there were occasions when my grape turned into a raisin and my joy bell lost its resonance, please forgive me. Charge it to my head and not to my heart. My head- so limited in its finitude; my heart, which is boundless in its love for the human family. I am not a perfect servant. I am a public servant doing my best against the odds. (Jesse Jackson, Democratic National Convention Keynote Address, 1984) Contrasting Views The status of ethos in the hierarchy of rhetorical principles has fluctuated as rhetoricians in different eras have tended to define  rhetoric in terms of either idealistic aims or pragmatic skills. [For Plato] the reality of the speakers virtue is presented as a prerequisite to effective speaking. In contrast, Aristotles Rhetoric presents rhetoric as a strategic art which facilitates decisions in civil matters and accepts the appearance of goodness as sufficient to inspire conviction in hearers...The contrasting views of Cicero and Quintilian about the aims of rhetoric and the function of ethos are reminiscent of Platos and Aristotles differences of opinion about whether or not moral virtue in the speaker is intrinsic and prerequisite or selected and strategically presented. (Nan Johnson, Ethos and the Aims of Rhetoric. Essays on Classical Rhetoric and Modern Discourse, ed. by Robert J. Connors, Lisa Ede, and Andrea Lunsford. Southern Illinois University Press, 1984) Aristotle on Ethos If Aristotles study of pathos is a psychology of emotion, then his treatment of ethos amounts to a sociology of character. It is not simply a how-to guide to establishing ones credibility with an audience, but rather it is a careful study of what Athenians consider to be the qualities of a trustworthy individual. (James Herrick, The History and Theory of Rhetoric. Allyn and Bacon, 2001)Fundamental to the Aristotelian concept of ethos is the ethical principle of voluntary choice: the speakers intelligence, character, and qualities comprehended by goodwill are evidenced through invention, style, delivery, and likewise incorporated in the arrangement of the speech. Ethos is primarily developed by Aristotle as a function of rhetorical invention; secondarily, through style and delivery. (William Sattler, Conceptions of Ethos in Ancient Rhetoric. Speech Monographs, 14, 1947) Ethical Appeals in Advertising and Branding Some types of oratory may rely more heavily on one type of proof than another. Today, for example, we note that a great deal of advertising uses ethos extensively through celebrity endorsements, but it might not use  pathos. It is  clear from Aristotles discussion in Rhetoric, however, that, overall, the three proofs work in conjunction to persuade (see Grimaldi, 1972). Moreover, it is equally clear that ethical character is the lynchpin that holds everything together. As Aristotle stated, moral character . . . constitutes the most effective means of proof (1356a). An audience is just not likely to respond positively to a speaker of bad character: His or her statement of premises will be met with skepticism; he or she will find it difficult to rouse the emotions appropriate to the situation; and the quality of the speech itself will be viewed negatively. (James Dale Williams, An Introduction to Classical Rhetoric. Wiley, 2009)On its face, personal branding as reputation managemen t shares some basic traits with the ancient Greek concept of ethos, which is commonly understood as the art of convincing ones audience that one is prudent or exercises good judgment (phronesis),  is of good moral character (arà ªte), and is acting with good will toward ones audience (eunoia). Historically, scholars of rhetoric have seen the basis of persuasion as a speakers capacity to understand and tailor ones message according to the complexities of social situations and human character. Ethos, broadly speaking, is understood as the rhetorical construction of a speakers character. (Christine Harold, Brand You!: The Business of Personal Branding and Community in Anxious Times. The Routledge Companion to Advertising and Promotional Culture, ed. by Matthew P. McAllister and Emily West. Routledge, 2013) Ethical Proof in Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal The specific details by which Swift builds up the ethical proof fall into four categories descriptive of the projector: his humanity, his self-confidence, his competence in the immediate subject of the proposal, and his reasonableness...I have said that the projector is a bit cocksure. He is also manifestly humble and modest. The proposal is a modest one. It is introduced in generally modest terms: I SHALL NOW therefore humbly propose my own thoughts ...; I do humbly offer to public consideration. . . . Swift has blended these two qualities of his projector in such a way that both are convincing and that neither quality overshadows the other. The result is a pleader whose humility is justifiably tempered by the sure knowledge that he has something to offer Ireland, to her everlasting benefit. These are the explicit indicants of the moral character of the pleader; they are reinforced and dramatized by the whole tone of the essay. (Charles A. Beaumont, Swifts Classical Rhetoric. Univer sity of Georgia Press, 1961)

Structural Frame of Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Structural Frame of Leadership - Assignment Example Since teaching staffs are the most important employees in an educational organization, their responsibility to maintain this discipline is greatest. The teachers must enforce and exhibit productive, ethically acceptable activities. If formal rules, policies, and procedures are provided to the teachers, they can manage their responsibilities better since ambiguity regarding division of labor will be controlled. Rules, policies, and procedures will act like guidance for the teachers. Since the beginning of human civilization, corruption has been a significant problem. Corruption in the form of bribery, espionage, theft, forgery, etc. can be seen in modern day organizations as well. However, if accountability is enforced onto the management of an organization, they will be compelled to handle their subordinates in more responsible manner. Accountability helps to foster transparency. Education is a process that involves evolution of human mind. If a structural frame is rigidly imposed on the educational system, the necessary room for innovation and experiment will be lost. And this will be a colossal loss for the schools, since schools are like the laboratories of education and ethics. However, a certain degree of structured approach is necessary for the schools too. Structural frame, when applied to a school, can define the hierarchic relationships better and help to resolve conflicts among peers by setting up clearer codes of

Equity and Trusts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Equity and Trusts - Essay Example These recent legal decisions have contributed a lot in refining the traditional stipulations surrounding. This been well illustrated in the amounts of emphasis currently attached to beneficiaries’’ loss as a result of a trustee’s actions. The law provides that a trustee should manage a trust property (in this case a fund) on behalf of beneficiaries. This is a discussion that surrounds misappropriation of trust funds by a trustee and focuses on the best legal advice to be given to the beneficiary. Introduction A trust is defined as an equitable duty that binds one person to handle property owned by him or her (but not his or her private property) on behalf of other persons in which any of these other persons my enforce the obligation; including the person himself or herself. This person is called a trustee while the others are beneficiaries and, as stated, the trustee could also be a beneficiary. The writer of the trust is called a settler. Hepburn insisted that o bligation is equitable1. Some scholars have clarified that the popular obligation of conscience is not necessarily the same as ‘equitable obligation The prime obligation of a trustee is to run, handle and manage the trust on behalf of the beneficiaries. Over time however, it has been established that trustees could misappropriate the trust property; which led to the development of rules of equities to act as checks and balances. For instances, rules of equity stipulate that trustees cannot invest trust funds in their own private businesses but only beneficiary-authorized ventures. The beneficiaries are said to own the equitable interest in the trust fund or property and are required to demand for good management of the trust. Beneficiaries can sue trustees for mismanagement or breach of trust. The beneficiaries are entitled to proprietary interest emanating proceeding from the trust property or fund; and are entitled to pass it to others2. The beneficiaries have a legal duty t o terminate the trustees’ legal titles to them. However, their age and absolute entitlement to the trust must be unquestionable. Jeremy Versus Kevin and Joint Trust In advising Kevin and the Joint Trust, there are a several features of a trust to be considered. It should be noted that the principle of equity is effected by the owner, trustee, in his or her own conscience. This is popularly known as implied or express trust. But if law comes in and forces the trustee to perform functions for which the property was conferred, that becomes a constructive. Using this power and the legal disposition discussed above, Kevin should go ahead and instruct his father to confer the legal title to him; otherwise seek court’s direction. The second advice to Kevin would probably rhyme with the second feature of trusts: conscience. For all intends and purposes, Jeremy, the trustee’s conscience is affected by at least some factors. This is illustrated by his decision to transfer the trust fund to his private account; which was of course not the original purpose of the trust. It means therefore that the trustee automatically rendered the trust from being implied or express. Establishment of a trust depends on a property that can be identified. In this case, Jeremy, by dishonestly transferring the trust fund, breached the trust and the ‘property is not identifiable’3; thus a trust cannot be established and if it was prior established, it should end. Alternatively, since the trustee is already under constructive trust terms, through a court process, then he should be made to refund the trust fund. After a trust is up and running, a proprietary interest on the part of the beneficiary starts to build up. Jeremy should be compelled by law to transfer legal title of the trust, refund the trust’

Compare the way the Aztecs dealt with Cortes to the way the Powhatans Essay

Compare the way the Aztecs dealt with Cortes to the way the Powhatans dealt with the English - Essay Example In both cases, there was an uprising as a retaliation to the enemy’s act, but after incorporating the enemy in the society. For example, Carrasco and Sessions (229) assert that Cortes was welcomed by the Motecuhzoma. The Aztec ruler offered the Spaniards with high-class accommodations, touring them around the gardens, city, marketplace, and zoo something which the people did not want. A rebellion rose up when Cortes’ second-in-command in the Aztec capital murdered a group of unarmed warriors and priests at the Main Temple of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs, under the leadership of Cuitlahuac led a massive attack in the night of June 1520 driving the Spaniards out of the town. Kupperman (174) argues that the Powhatanss incorporated the English settlers as clients so as to learn their economic and political arrangements. This made the English think they had submitted to King James which was not so. In both conquests, there were numerous casualties. White notes that during the Aztec’s resistance, â€Å"over 2,000 Tlaxcalan soldiers and 500 Spaniards were killed in the battle† (467). The Powhatans riddled the colonists with arrows, killing 347 settlers. Divine intervention was also used to fight off the enemy. The soothsayers informed Aztec emperor Montezuma II as well as the people of calamities to come. The Powhatans hatched the plan to attack the English settlers based on their religion. In both native groups, the captives were tortured and humiliated. The Aztecs ate the flesh of the enemies they had captured in the battle (Carrasco and Sessions 231). The Aztecs carried out campaigns to capture the enemy warriors for sacrifice and humiliation as much for killing on the battlefield. The Powhatans performed rituals on the captured enemies and killed them (Axtell 67). Captain John Smith, in December 1607, was almost executed by the king after being captured. The Aztec empire used conquests, wealth, a series of alliances, forced payments of the

Warfare welfare and citizenship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Warfare welfare and citizenship - Essay Example People are more loyal to their nations than before because of improved political environment. Governments on the other hand have struggled to empower their citizens either politically, socially, intellectually and religiously. In the modern society, there is a general notion that people are all pluralist. This paper will therefore discuss warfare, welfare, pluralism and citizenship from both the historical and modern perspective. The three terms warfare, welfare and citizenship largely influence each other, making it hard to analyse one without discussing the others. From a political perspective, scholars regard warfare as an ideological struggle in which people try to dominate their ideas over others. More often, many people refer to this struggle as propaganda or psychological contest to implement conditions in the political arena. Warfare is a broad field that encompasses various components, ranging from military operations, through morale warfare to psychological wellbeing of the citizens. The military struggle seems to harbour all the other aspects in a war such as propaganda and publicity. Nations for example, were eager to demonstrate their military prowess during World War I and II. It involved the use of military machines, political influence, religion and social integration among nations (Richards 2005). Welfare on the other hand entails the effort of a particular government to provide its citizens with economic security. As a result, a government guarantees its citizens with the fundamental necessities such as food, health care, shelter, security, as well as protection in the old age (Light n.d). The government fulfils this role using two methods. First is direct assistance, where it provides the citizens with their needs on a one-on-one basis. The other method is indirect assistance, where a particular administration implements programs that reduce problems faced by the citizens. Such programs include

Mind of Great Companies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mind of Great Companies - Research Paper Example This is exactly what the present development of the organization has been about. Writing on â€Å"What is on the minds of great companies?† Blanchard (2007) noted that â€Å"many companies develop a corporate culture over time, but if it wasnt actively sculpted with the companys long term vision in mind, it may not reflect the companys ultimate mission† (p. 11). What this means is that the organization’s vision is very key to judging the company’s development rate. In this, it would be said that Marriott has developed positively because the company has been able to live within its goal and vision of making customer satisfaction a central focus of their service, where the turnover received in terms of customer patronage has confirmed such an expanded form of customer satisfaction. Due to the fact that customers generally patronage the services of a company of which they are pleased with their service, it can be said that the company’s stage of development is reflected in its vision and value statement because the customer has had a long standing vision of using customer satisfaction as a competitive advantage. Meanwhile, customer satisfaction is the product of high customer patronage and thus high revenue turnover for the

Brain-based Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brain-based Learning - Essay Example Since the brain has a finite amount of storage space, it attempts to connect and reconcile new information with previous information. The ultimate result of this process is a blending into general concepts called schema. As we acquire, process, and store more information concerning a specific schema, the neural connection grows and learning takes place (Hardiman, 2003; Huitt, 2003). While the specifics of the schema-forming process are not yet known, research in language acquisition has shown that humans are genetically predisposed to process information in specific ways. Thus scientists have created several learning theories which attempt to better explain the specifics. One such prevailing theory is the levels of processing theory which says that "learners utilize different levels of elaboration as they process information. This is done on a continuum from perception, through attention, to labeling, and finally, meaning" (Huitt, 2003, p. 1). But what does this mean in the classroom Educators must realize that students come to them with perceptions about life and school already in place. Skillful teachers will attempt to find out where their students are coming from and what prior knowledge they have before introducing new information. Review activities should be provided so students with a chance to repeat a specific learning task.

Mind of Great Companies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mind of Great Companies - Research Paper Example This is exactly what the present development of the organization has been about. Writing on â€Å"What is on the minds of great companies?† Blanchard (2007) noted that â€Å"many companies develop a corporate culture over time, but if it wasnt actively sculpted with the companys long term vision in mind, it may not reflect the companys ultimate mission† (p. 11). What this means is that the organization’s vision is very key to judging the company’s development rate. In this, it would be said that Marriott has developed positively because the company has been able to live within its goal and vision of making customer satisfaction a central focus of their service, where the turnover received in terms of customer patronage has confirmed such an expanded form of customer satisfaction. Due to the fact that customers generally patronage the services of a company of which they are pleased with their service, it can be said that the company’s stage of development is reflected in its vision and value statement because the customer has had a long standing vision of using customer satisfaction as a competitive advantage. Meanwhile, customer satisfaction is the product of high customer patronage and thus high revenue turnover for the

Business Articles Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Articles Review - Essay Example In feminine cultures cooperation is more frequent which leads to people seeking the best joint outcome for society. A weakness of feminine culture is that people tend to be naively altruistic and sometimes get taken advantage of. Another negative aspect of feminine is that sometimes the economic expectations of such a society are too low. Participation of women in societies across the globe has increased during the past 60 years. A feminine culture does not necessarily increase the participation of women in economic and social life. I thought that the article was well written and it pointed out a lot of important arguments in regards to masculinity and feminine. I consider the United States a masculine society. Evidence of this is the fact that there has never been a women president in the history of the United States. Women are still being held back into positions of power by the glass ceiling effect. Despite my opinion that the U.S is a masculine society the article mentions other cultures in the world in which women do not enjoy the same freedoms and rights as in the U.S. In most Arab countries the women are seen as second class citizens. Men in Arab countries have all the power and women must obey the men at all times. In such a society women seldom hold positions of power such as managerial positions. ... Cultural barriers caused communication problems and conflicts and the team was very ineffective. â€Å"Cultural differences can create substantial obstacles to effective teamwork-but these may be subtle and difficult to recognize until significant damage has already been done† (Brett, Behfar, Kern, 2006, pg. 86). Work teams are supposed to be self-sufficient and managers should not intervene in interpersonal conflict because doing so is usually counterproductive and wastes valuable managerial time. It is imperative to avoid single culture approaches to solving problems among multicultural teams. Four types of challenges associated with multicultural teams are direct versus indirect communication, trouble with accents and fluency, differing attitudes toward hierarchy and authority, and conflicting norms for decisions. Some of the most effective strategies identified by the author to deal with conflict are adaptation, structural intervention, managerial intervention, and exit. T eamwork has become more important than ever in the workplace of the 21st century. Due to the rise of the globalization movement many multinational corporations are exposed to forming multicultural teams as part of the day to day business activities. These teams can bring tremendous benefits to a company because diversity helps foster innovation and creativity. I agree with the author that managerial intervention to solve internal conflict in a team is a strategy that should only be used as a last resort. The multicultural team is supposed to go through the same team formation stages of any team which are forming, storming, norming, and performing. An

Alfred the Great Essay Example for Free

Alfred the Great Essay Alfred the Great ruled between the years of 871- 899. He was a son born to Aethelwulf, King of Wessex and his queen, Osburga, in 849 in Wantage, Berkshire London. He was born of the royal house of the Jutes of Wight. He was the fourth son born and had one younger sister. He became king only after each of his older brothers had ruled for some time. When he did rule he ruled at a time that they were battling the Vikings. In his period of ruling he defended the Vikings and became the dominate ruler of England. Alfred the Great was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself King of the Anglo-Saxons†. He was a king who encouraged education and improved his kingdoms legal system and military system. King Alfreds education as a child was important to his reign. He did not have a formal education and learned to read and write only after he became king in 871, but he did receive great instruction throughout his life. At the age of four, Alfred went to see Pope Leo IV in Rome for instruction. The Pope later adopted King Alfred as his spiritual son. Most of the Popes instruction to Alfred was concentrated on Christianity and not the liberal arts. This instruction was well giving for his future role as he would spend most of his reign defending the Christian Anglo-Saxons The word great was given to Alfred because of his great leadership of a king and of a leader of the military defeat. Although Alfreds greatest achievement during his reign was the defeat of the Danes, he also had other accomplishments. He pushed for better education and helped make learning important in the lives of the people of his land. This was necessary during his reign because education had declined due to the fact that the Danes were looting the monasteries and churches which were the center of education. Alfred believed that learning makes life more rewarding and enjoyable; the worst thing of all is ignorance. He also kept the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and established a code of law based on the teachings of the Bible. This helped maintain social order. King Alfred the Great died on October 26, 899 and was buried in the Old Minster at Winchester. His death brought sadness to the people in his land that looked forward to Alfred the great being their leader. Alfred the Great was a great leader, Christian, and ruler of England for many years. His people established trust in him because of the battle he won for his people in his land. Alfred the Great is forever known in history. He is the only English monarch to be known as the Great. He is well-deserving of this title. He defeated the Danes and protected his people, but he also contributed his ideas for better education and social order.

The Liberation Of The Peon Film Studies Essay

The Liberation Of The Peon Film Studies Essay The Liberation of the Peon uses art to communicate a political theme, much like Osiris and Isis by Kiefer. Although similarities do not end there. Both pieces feel relatively earthy. Riveras piece is earthy because of the way he chose to do his mural, in fresco. This is a technique of mural painting done on plaster right after it has been laid.  [2]  We see this in Kiefers piece as well. However, the main difference is that Kiefer uses it a paint application and contributes meaning to his piece, while Riveras decision was based on doing a mural for the purposes of reaching out to as many people as possible. Although, the earth tones do add to the themes of origin and history as both pieces suggest similar themes. In Kiefers piece, he is relating to his own past and the past of Germany. The struggles he faced as an individual in a society that was not very kind toward Germans. Kiefer portrays a stepped temple that is the central focal point of the piece. The work is physically overwhelming, measuring 150 inches by 220 inches. The piece feels very messy, the colours are all over the place. Jumping out yet, they still seem to produce a strong image. For example, on the middle-left on the piece, there are vertical strokes going over from the bottom of the page at the way to the sky. Yet, it still feels like its a part of the piece, creating a glowing-like effect. It is painted with an array of earth tones, grays, browns, beiges. All the colours have a little bit of each other of them. For example, if you look at the highlights, the whites arent pure white they have a mixture of the colours around them. He also includes mixed media into the piece. At the top of the piece, one can find an odd use of a television circuit board. The board connected by copper wires to pieces of what seems to be plumbing fixtures. These pieces of porcelain plumbing fixture can be found all over the canvas. Furthermore, they represent Osiriss lost body parts. This use of multi-media adds layers of meaning to the piece, in which one has to slowly peal back to really know what he intended. Rivera designed his composition such that it reflects the Lamentation. Similarities can be found on the naked body of the peon, and the cloth used to surround him. It draws on a piece by Giotto di Bondones Lamentation at the Capella degli Scrovegni of which Rivera had studied first-hand.  [3]   References to Mexican artistic traditions specifically, the Pre-Columbian influence, which can be seen in the rounding of the hands on the revolutionary soldier; who is covering the Peon with a red blanket, add to Liberation of the Peons impact. In his portable mural, Rivera carefully depicts the individual whip-wounds that cover the peons broken body. The piece seeks to answer the purpose of the Mexican Revolution. He uses muted greens, browns and yellows with an earthy tone because it emphasizes the brighter colours and thus the objects like the blanket. The blanket is a symbol of comfort and warmth. Two things that a peon would not be familiar with and the people providing this would be the Rebels. The use of colour does add to the propaganda theme of the piece. It also simply isnt coincidence that the blanket is the same colour as the dominant Communist Red. This then increases the popularity of the current government. Using those colours in that way, it also creates a center of interest around the Peon. The viewers eye is drawn to it because the blanket pops out and the theme becomes even easier to understand as a result as the slave now becomes the center of interest, not the soldier or the burning buildings. All movement leads to the focus. For example, that revolutionary soldier is using a knife to cut the rope. Movement is also created when the viewer follows the direction in which the revolutionaries are looking-directly at the peon. This ultimately creates visual movement toward the focus. Interestingly, the eyes of the horses are not pointing toward the slave, but the horses look directly at the viewer. This cunning trick draws the viewer into the grouping of figures and horses. Now, with Kiefer size is normally not an issue with mixed media paintings or paintings of any sort of that matter, size does play a role and does have a connection with his theme. Unlike Rivera who did his piece large because it was to be a public piece and because he wanted it shared with as many people as possible. Kiefer may have done a large painting because it could have reflected the large issue he was dealing with.  [4]   In terms of colour, Kiefer uses dirty, earthy and undesirable colours creating a doomsday atmosphere over the painting. He uses computer boards and other mixed media to specifically achieve a different set of meanings adding more depth to the value of his piece. Before the Mexican Revolution, haciendas, were large farms owned by very wealthy individuals, dominated the countrys social and political landscape.  [5]  In under fire, hinting that these individuals were the ones that inflicted the wounds on the peon. The mural depicts the reasons for the Mexican Revolution, making the theme relatively obvious for individuals who probably did not receive a formal education and individuals whom were likely illiterate. Although both pieces are extremely political, they both try to achieve completely different goals. In one sense they are similar because both pieces are about telling a story that has deep connections to the painters and they are both making references to the past. However, the way Rivera is depicting the past and Kiefer is depicting the past are two very diverse takes. For one, Kiefers piece is messy, dark, and somewhat mute. To someone without a background in Kiefers life or Egyptian mythology would not be able to understand what hes really trying to say. However, with Rivera although he has a personal connection to the piece, his background is not required to understand what the piece is about. Based on what we see we can assume that this is taking place in Mexico and that the people in the foreground, are the good guys because they are freeing the Peon, an innocent slave to a cruel master. We know those individuals were cruel because of the lash marks on the back. And we get the basic idea that these men likely burned the buildings in the background and because we know these guys are good, they must have burned the masters home, the bad guy. With Kiefer its a lot harder to peel back those layers without some form of background knowledge. There is no direct symbolism to the aftermath of Germany during the Post-WWII Era in the piece. His links are brilliant in that sense because the choosing of the Egyptian myth as an allegory for what took place could not be more fitting. Kiefer has pieces of porcelain all over the piece. Symbolically they represent the fragmented dismembered body of Osiris and he is literally in the piece because of this, Kiefer directly and physically links the tale of Osiris and his personal link, Germany after World War II. There is an obvious Pre-Columbian Influence to the Liberation of the Peon, seen in the rounding of the hands, the face and the fingers. Also, because this is a fresco, we tend to see a lot of washed out colours, this is because fresco is a technique of mural painting executed upon new plaster that has not set yet. Although, I personally feel that the Kiefers piece, Osiris and Isis, is cleverer in terms of how he depicts his artwork. He combines so effectively the different Egyptian and German civilizations and relates it all to his theme under multiple layers. However, if I had to choose which piece I felt was the better artwork in terms of which artist had more efficiently met their goals I would pick the Rivera piece. There are a number of reasons, the first being the fact that it is very easy to understand the theme and what Rivera was saying about the subject. Everyone who lived in Mexico would have been able to piece together exactly what Rivera wanted them to. He used the composition effectively, embracing a religious-esque approach to the way the Peon was depicted. The piece would have also met its goal of substantially helping the Party gain more members and the piece was very inspirational. The relationship between the background and the foreground is emphasized with what those sectio ns depict. With the foreground containing the victim and the good guys. We assume that they must have burned the estate, owned by the same person that caused the harm on the Peon. Justifying the actions of the good guys. His genius relies on how the piece seems relatively simple, however in reality we are dealing with a very cunning and intelligent use of space.

Financial Analysis of Scholastic and Daktronics Essay -- Financial Ana

Evaluating a company’s financial condition can be done by looking at its profitability or its ability to satisfy long-term commitments. These measures can be viewed through an analysis of a company’s financial statements, including the balance sheet and income statement. This paper will look at the status of Scholastic Company’s (Scholastic) ability to satisfy its long-term commitments and at the profitability of Daktronics, Inc. (Daktronics). This paper will include various financial ratio calculations and an analysis of the notable trends. It will also discuss the profitability and long-term borrowing positions of the firms discussed. Scholastic Company is a multibillion dollar children’s book publisher and distributor with more than 9,000 worldwide employees (Scholastic Inc., n.d.). Scholastic leases some of its physical office and storage locations and equipment (as cited in Gibson, 2011). Cornaggia, Franzen, and Simin (2013) noted the reasons firms lease may be the result of a company’s financial distress which prevents sufficient capital being raised to purchase instead of leasing. They also suggested if profitability of the firm is not at issue, leasing can be used to reduce taxes thus reducing borrowing costs. Though the reason for maintaining material lease obligations is not disclosed in its financial statements (as cited in Gibson, 2011), Scholastic’s ability to satisfy its long-term commitments is important for investors, creditors, and management. The long-term borrowing capacity of Scholastic can be determined through an analysis of its times interest earned, fixed charge cove rage, and debt ratios. The times interest earned ratio uses a company’s income statement to assess its ability to meet long-... ... Cited Cornaggia, K. J., Franzen, L. A., & Simin, T. T. (2013). Bringing leased assets onto the balance sheet. Journal of Corporate Finance, 22345-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016 /j.jcorpfin.2013.06.007 Damodaran, A. (n.d.). Operating versus capital leases. Retrieved from http://pages.stern.nyu.edu /~adamodar/New_Home_Page/AccPrimer/lease.htm Daktronics, Inc. (n.d.). Our company. Retrieved from http://www.daktronics.com/en-us/about-us Gibson, C. H. (2011). Financial reporting & analysis: Using financial accounting information. (12th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Monea, M. (2009). Financial ratios – Reveal how a business is doing? Annals of the University Of Petrosani Economics, 9(2), 137-144. Retrieved from http://www.upet.ro/eng Scholastic Inc. (n.d.). About Scholastic. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com /aboutscholastic/index.htm

Prohibiting Smoking in Public Places

Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous—much more to children who are directly exposed to the smoke. Canada should implement a no-smoking policy, not just inside cars,but in all public places where there is an threat of secondhand smoke. It is a fact that secondhand smoke is more toxic than smoke directly inhaled by smokers. It is known to cause cancer and there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It takes at least three hours for cigarette smoke to clear in an average-sized room. Hazardous components of the smoke can remain present much longer (Office of Tobacco Use Prevention). Although â€Å"the simplest, least expensive and most effective solution against secondhand smoke is not smoking in any enclosed indoor area† (Office of Tobacco Use Prevention), Canada should legislate laws that would ban smoking in public places to reduce deaths related to tobacco use and second hand smoke just like what many other countries have already been doing. Eliminating smoking is the only way to effectively reduce the harmful effects associated with cigarette smoke. Ventilation could prove to be an effective way of eliminating secondhand smoke indoors if the exhausted air leads outside but it not effective in eliminating its harmful components. Parents should be responsible enough to keep their children away from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. As a sign of respect, smokers should get out of the room when other people will be exposed to the smoke that he/she will exhale. This in turn also limits the number of people that will be exposed to secondhand smoke. Because secondhand smoke is much more harmful than the smoke inhaled, the government should consider legislating laws that would prohibit smoking in public places because this already proved effective for other countries.

Bakhtin’s Theory of Self Knowledge

Mikhail Bakhtin in his theory of Self-Knowledge was primarily concerned with the freedom that a â€Å"fictional† character could have and its connection to the author. Accordingly, Bakhtin have suggested, what he calls, the theory of â€Å"surplus-vision† which corresponds to the inability of the character to obtain a self-knowledge which is only possible through having the chance to observe him self.In a more simple terms, Bakhtin explained that the character could or any other human being for that instance that exist outside of a person’s mind could not contemplate and think about the same things that the person who is contemplating has been thinking. Thus, when a person is contemplating about someone else, he would â€Å"see and know somethingâ€Å"that the character that the person has been contemplating could never see and know†.In such case that someone whom the person is contemplating, or that character that the person have been thinking could not act independently on his own without author, as its creator could have thought. Put plainly, this means that the character could never be in a situation wherein he can decide and write about himself without the authors will or foreknowledge. Bakhtin have further discussed that the character’s ability to act liberally would depend upon his being able to act in surprising manner. Such that, a free action is an action that no one else have thought of or have predicted.However, in the case of the character in its relation to its author, it seems to be very impossible for it to be able to act freely from the author’s wishes. This is where Bakhtin’s theory of self-knowledge plays an important role. It is when the analogy of the author and God that Human self-knowledge was put into question. Yet, according to Joseph Bartlett, even without the analogy to God, any person’s action is still predictable or can still be predicted by other person for instance, by someo ne who has known the other person for quite a long time.Thus the only way, in a view that divine intervention is not counted, that the person could be free is through knowing the expectation of other people and acting surprisingly (2005). Bakhtin believes that this was the only way that the person could act freely and not determined, having a self-knowledge of thy self is the only way to free thyself. For instance one of my friends has been living a very active lifestyle. He joins different sports and was engaged in interdisciplinary activities and courses.This is when he was to choose a humanities course for his senior year; I along with some of our friends have been really surprise when he took up an art course. It was really surprising and even more, when I asked him about his decision, he simply stated that he wants to surprise himself. References Bartlett, J. (2005). Freedom And Self-Knowledge In The Dramatic Works Of Anton Chekhov. University of Missouri-Columbia.

A Book Review on “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”

In the political and social satire A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur†s Court, Mark Twain demonstrates his excessive pride and glory in the political, economic, and technological advances of his time by developing an interesting plot in which an 19th century mechanic travels back to the time of a cruel feudalistic Camelot and attempts to modernize and improve it. Overall, in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur†s Court, Mark Twain compares the basic political, social, and technological principles of the 19th America to the medieval ages of Great Britain. On a political scale, the novel denounces that the medieval period exemplified strict rule by the monarch, unity between church and state, and showed that many of the people had extremely harsh judgment. On a social scale, Mark Twain demonstrated that the Middle Ages carried a strict separation of classes where the nobility and clergy had much control, while the peasantry had almost non. Last, on a technological scale, Mark Twain implies that magic is not real and he goes on further to prove that the technology and tools of his time frame could have greatly improved the Middle Ages. All in all, Mark Twain creates an ideal character from his time that ends up creating a semi-utopian environment in Camelot. When Hank Morgan awakened into the medieval world of King Arthur and Camelot, he saw political injustice. To compensate for this injustice, Morgan used his status as a beneficiary tool and combated against the church and the royal privileged. Overall, he made the people of Camelot aware of the injustice of their time and gave them the hope for an optimistic future. From this, we can see that Mark Twain believed that his time frame possessed the best type of government in which church was separated from state. Furthermore, Mark Twain implies that the people of his time had better judgment. For example, in order to save himself from death, Morgan remembers that an ellipse occurred on that day and informs the people that he will cover the whole world in darkness. As he said those words, the ellipse occurred thus making all the gullible citizens of Camelot to believe that he was extremely powerful. As a result, he was spared. Thus from this example, it is evident that the people of the middle ages were quick to rational supernatural phenomenon even though it was just pure science at work. Conclusively, Mark Twain glorified his time period to an extent that the he used the horrid faults of the Middle Ages as an example in his novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur†s Court. The next major point that Mark Twain wanted to concentrate on was based on the social conditions. In the novel, Hank Morgan is a witness of injustice and social inequality that he believes needs to be altered. Once again, it is noticeable from this that Mark Twain shows bias towards all other types of social distinctions, and rather favors the American democratic way. Furthermore, Twain enforces various principles of what he believes to be â€Å"good government† in which the nobility and commoners alike enter into a life of respect, dignity, and purpose towards each other. Moreover, through Morgan, it obvious to see that Twain is against slavery and is pro-education. All of these characteristics are evident because Morgan eventually abolishes slavery and builds various schools including West Point. Lastly, Mark Twain shows great respect for the technological advances of his time through the characterization of Morgan. For example, as a mechanic, Hank Morgan realized that his life would be unbearable with out technology. As a result, he begins inventing various equipment like telephone, telegraph, and even bicycles; inventions that otherwise would seem preposterous to exist at that time but were greatly revered in the 19th century. It also becomes evident that Mark Twain had great respect for education and very little in superstition or magic. For example, because of Morgan†s scientific knowledge, he was able to predict the eclipse and he was even able to turn aside a half-dozen charging knights by simply blowing a column of pipe smoke from beneath his armored face shield. Furthermore, another example of where education outpoured magic was when Morgan restored the flow of water to a fountain by simple mechanics, while Merlin†s â€Å"magical† methods did not work. In conclusion, the social and political satire, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur†s Court, by Mark Twain, uses a character from 19th century America as a type of savor to the horrible feudalistic times of the Middle Age Camelot. By stressing bias beliefs about the political, social and technological advance of his time, Mark Twain creates a nearly utopian environment for Camelot. Oppression, social injustice, and slavery were abolished, while education, inventions, just government, new professions like engineering and even belief of a virtuous approach to life was introduced. All in all, by showing mans inhumanity and then its victories through a utopian type of middle age society in a satirical fashion make this literary pieces one of the best literary works of our time.