Thursday, October 31, 2019
Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 9
Strategic Management - Essay Example The fundamental question that the author is addressing, how does strategic HRM promote thinking about the public workforce? This is about the role of human resource and the best practice that circumvent effective management of the human resource in the postindustrial society. Such a question helps the authors showcase the myriad changes the resource itself as well as the practices to manage it has undergone along the lucrative packages attached to effective HRM in modern strategic management. The most important information of the article is that strategic significance of the human resource and its origin, particularly the alteration of the goods and services production services. The article compares that pre-industrial and post-industrial periods against the significance attached to people in the final goods and services with respect to tactical and operational importance. In the pre-modern world, the article notes how individual were operationally significance when they served as common labor that culminated in the production of physical products or services. Indeed, the pre-manufacturing and office operations saw people assigned to the certain position based on the industrial-based organizations in which organizational bundles of responsibilities, duties and tasks determined how human resources were utilized. However, in the post-industrial era people are tactical and undergoes massive training, varied and not easily interchangeable with a more complex organizational f rameworks when contrasted to the early industrial system. Thus, the deployment of human resource is currently determined by supervisory styles., morale and human connections, human learning as well as organization design. Moreover, there is a myriad change in the post-industrial system with respect to the relationships between productivity and people. This validates the significance of HRM as productivity surpasses a mere definition of
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Cross-cultural interaction Essay Example for Free
Cross-cultural interaction Essay Introduction            The peripatetic traveler is the quintessential image of a globalised man. Today’s traveler is driven by the commercial forces of globalization and improved communications in the World which has seen travel and tourism grow as an industry. In the ancient and medieval ages however, when traveling was not that simple and safe, a few adventurists quite literally walked across the globe or what ever was known of it then. These were men as Benjamin of Tudela, Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta, who covered vast spaces compared to capacity of transportation in the era in which they lived and have left rich sources of history documented in their travels. There is much debate over the relevance of the jottings made by these travelers to modern day history. Sceptics tend to question the authenticity and objectiveness as well as ability to portray a correct picture of a cross cultural interaction which these travelers tend to pursue from their own perspective. Travel literature has substantial relevance in providing authentic information of cross cultural interaction, the cross cultural trends, a perception of cross cultural association between people and is proving to be a good source of authentic and endearing history today as it provides a perspective in today’s world through an understanding of medieval religion and cultures. Information of cross-cultural interaction            The ancient and medieval times were denoted by lack of developed communications and modes of interaction for travel. There were also very limited historical recordings and what ever existed was at the behest of the ruling cliques, thereby making it biased. The historian today is left with primary records which are substantiated by such travelogues for a dispassionate view of cross cultural interaction. Thus travelogues do serve as important benchmark documents for historical purpose. This would be evident from recounting of travels through the Middle East during the medieval period in the writings of Benjamin of Tuleda, which tends to support the various historical happenings during the period by sources from both sides of the Islam and Christian divide.            Travelers as Benjamin who was a Jew could also benefit from interaction with those of his community who were spread across the region. Since the Jews were relatively unbiased during the period of the Crusades, their observations supplanted the travelers own perception providing further substance to the history of the region. While some may consider it as not the purest form of notation, in denoting cross cultural trends it could be considered more than appropriate and accurate. The excessive focus on the state of the Jews in Benjamin’s writing however to some extent indicates that the view of culture is primarily from an overly Semitic perspective of a Rabbi and authenticity is probably sacrificed but then a deeper reading would overcome this perception. Battuta’s writings span a much large cross cultural area extending from Jerusalem, Damascus, Syria, and East Africa while Marco Polo’s travelogues are also very genuine impressions of cross cultural trends. Each of the chapters he writes covers the various aspects of a particularly community that he has observed be it the cropping pattern, food habits and the monarchical way of governance. Marco very assiduously provides an overview of each facet in great detail. Perceptive Observers Providing Authenticity            The intention of the travelers in their journey was multi focal. Thus some such as Benjamin did it for the purpose of seeking opportunities of trade or to find out about the state of personnel of his own community residing in various parts of the Middle East after being persecuted in their native lands. The meticulous recording of ethnographic details in his writing provides very insightful observations on cross cultural trends which highlights the capacity of its originator. Thus we find in Benjamin’s writings the details of how and when the Egyptian monarch travels, what are the proclivities of the people during various periods and the rivalries that existed even in those time between Cairo and Baghdad. It is also relevant to see that a person traveling beyond his immediate geographical and cultural setting would also be keen to obtain fresh insights into the lives of other communities. Thus observations of Marco Polo need to be taken note off with greater acceptance of the fidelity.            The meticulous logging of the timings in terms of a virtual daily log provides an excellent record of the period, the state of development, the manner in which communities lived and the state of their culture in vivid details. Ibn Battuta who was overwhelmed by the need to travel and thus sets out from his native place at the tender age of 22 years, is also a very keen observer and thus his recordings attain a high quality of relevance particularly in the cross cultural context. His descriptive writings on Cairo or Alexandria are very perceptive providing an innate understanding of the era. The description of events, the handling of camels, the holding of ceremonies all are very effectively portrayed by the traveler, giving a good understanding of the period. The meticulous recording of customs such as movement of women naked in some societies as in Mali and cannibalism are stark etchings on the history of a cross cultural trend.            Marco Polo again has provided a wealth of material on cross cultural trends which denotes an excellent eye for detail and power of observation across a large expanse of area from Europe to China, Tibet to India and other areas. The burning of, â€Å"black stones†, is perhaps a recorded intervention by Marco, which indicates the level and depth of his observations. Marco’s observation are supplemented by a comparison between various cultures be it Chinese, Middle Eastern or Central Asian traditions of Bokhara. This provides a deep insight into cultural happenings of the era. Perspective of Modern Day Understanding            Today Islam and the West appear to be undergoing a serious crisis, some view it as a clash of civilization matching. There is very limited understanding of each others religions, traditions, culture and ideological basis. This is truly surprising given the proliferation of modern knowledge.            It is the writings of travelers as Benjamin of Tudela who traversed the Middle East in the 12th Century which provides us a deeper understanding of the roots of this civilizational divide thereby enhancing our understanding of happenings in today’s World. Being a Rabbi from Spain, Benjamin was relatively detached to enable a more objective assessment of the conflict which was occurring between Islam and Christianity in the medieval ages. His tour of the principal areas of the Middle East as well as Europe and Asia provided a fresh insight not just into the period but also the cross cultural linkages between these areas over the ages. The peace and prosperity in Egypt described so authentically by Benjamin provide an excellent insight in the functioning of well governed medieval states. The clash between Saladin and the Christians and the moves and counter moves of the period have been very vividly portrayed by Benjamin denoting how Islam was revived between the period of the Second and the Third Crusades.            Today when we see a similar up rise in Islam which is spearheaded not by the likes of Saladin, but terrorist leaders as Osama Bin Laden, Benjamin’s travels can provide a better counter cultural perspective. A similar understanding of the culture of the Middle East is provided in the writings of Ibn Battuta which can provide us a perspective from an Islamic traveler’s point of view in a different age over three centuries apart and covering some of the same areas. In each of the places that he visits Battuta makes mention of specifics which indicate a keen eye for detail. It is natural that a person with a good view of the details will remain also particular of the accuracy of his writings. Thus enhancing their historical value. The writings provide a cross cultural dimension of the transformation that has take place in these areas over these years.            Marco’s writings on Tibet are another issue which enables us to correlate between the state and relations of Tibet between the modern and the medieval periods. The fascination which the Chinese felt for Tibet even then is evident as Marco observes their repeated forays to gain hold of territory which they see as a great expanse with its many provinces, the customs of the people, their mastiffs and bamboo cropping are thus set to be matching. Conclusion            Thus it would be seen that the travelogues of Marco Polo, Ibn Batttuta and Benjamin of Tudela are important documents as they provide authentic information of cross cultural interaction, denote cross cultural trends, enhance the perception of cross cultural association between people and prove good sources of authentic and endearing history, thereby providing better modern day understanding and background of medieval religion and cultures as in the Middle East.   References Marco Polo and Rustichello of Pisa. 2004. The Travels of Marco Polo, Volume 1 and 2. E-text prepared by Charles Franks, Robert Connal, John Williams, and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10636/10636-8.txt (VOLUME I). http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12410/12410-8.txt (VOLUME II). (20 November 2006) Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354. Nd. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1354-ibnbattuta.html (20 November 2006) The itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela. 1907. Philipp Feldheim, inc The house of the Jewish book. New York. gutenberg.org/files/14981/14981-h/14981-h.htm. (20 November 2006).
Sunday, October 27, 2019
How Charles Dickens Depicts Women
How Charles Dickens Depicts Women Dickens and his view towards women- Is it really progress? The Victorian Age is a period of great progress in multiple fields such as industry, trade, literature and so on. The role of women in society also improved considerably and many laws were passed safeguarding their rights during this age. By the fin de sià ¨cle, the concept of a New Woman is born. Charles Dickens is one of the most famous novelists during this era as his novels were read widespread by the general populace. His works always favoured progression of the working class, and the effects of industrial revolution like in Hard Times. But his portrayal of women in his works easily fall under the Victorian stereotypes of women and this aspect does not really portray him as a progressive writer for women. David Holbrook, in Charles Dickens and the Image of Women, says when it came to the problems of man-woman relationship, he (Dickens) was seriously hampered, not only by the attitudes of his age but also by his own emotional makeup and psychic pattern (Holbrook, 1993. Chapter 7, Pg. 172) To establish this, I will analyse Dickens Great Expectations and attempt character sketches of the women portrayed in that novel. The reason for choosing this specific novel is due to the fact that it was fairly popular during the time of publishing and it has different types of women characters presented in the novel. This novel is also highly controversial as it has two endings because the general populace was not satisfied with the original ending and Dickens had to rewrite it to please his audience. Great Expectations follows the protagonist Pip and it chronicles his life. The novel could be even considered as a bildungsroman. Pip encounters various types of women in society and his interactions and perspective of these women gives a clear idea of Dickens mindset towards these women. The character Pip and Dickens share a lot of similarities- for example, Dickens father was arrested and the theme of prison runs strong in Great Expectations, Pip and Dickens did not have good relationships with women and so on. The women of Great Expectations can be put into categories but these categories are not definite as some characters can be a mix of two or more categories. These categories are as follows: The angels of the house, the eccentric women, and the independent women. The Angel of the house is the idealised stereotype of a Victorian Woman and how she should behave. This idea was popularized by Coventry Patmores poem, The angel of the house where he describes his wife as an angel who takes care of the household. She is someone who is meek and doesnt challenge the authority of the household leader, the man. She is subservient to him and fulfils his wishes with the utmost devotion. She is also someone who upholds moral values such as truth , charity and purity. This is the kind of woman that the Victorian society and many authors preferred. Some would say Dickens himself preferred these kinds of characters and usually, they have a good ending, like the titular character in Little Dorrit. In Great Expectations, the role of the Angel of the house is taken up by Biddy. Biddy is the childhood friend of Pip, the protagonist of Great Expectations who appears to take on the mantle of a kind and nurturing mother. The first description of this character is seen in Chapter 7, when Pip goes to Mr. Wopsles great aunt to study in her evening school. It is here he meets Biddy, who manages the shop which Mr. Wopsles great aunt runs. She was an orphan like myself; like me, too, had been brought up by hand. She was most noticeable, I thought, in respect of her extremities; for, her hair always wanted brushing, her hands always wanted washing, and her shoes always wanted mending and pulling up at heel.(Chapter 7, Pg. 76) From the above description, it is clear that Pip did not have that high of a regard towards Biddy, though they were similar in being brought up by hand. She was just a regular commoner, according to Pip. In Chapter 10, Biddy readily agrees to teach Pip everything she knows. She is also described as the most obliging of girls which is one of the traits of the Angel of the house. When Mrs. Joe gets injured by Orlick, Biddy is brought in to take care of her which instantly helps relieve some stress around the household. Biddy seems to be experienced in taking care of other people, as she has been taking care of Mr. Wopsles great aunt throughout her life. This is also another characteristic of the Angel of the house. By Chapter 17, Pips view of Biddy changes and he sees Biddy as more feminine and pretty, though not on par with the gorgeous Estella. Her shoes came up at the heel, her hair grew bright and neat, her hands were always clean. She was not beautiful she was common, and could not be like Estella but she was pleasant and wholesome and sweet-tempered. (Chapter 17, Pg. 222) Biddy is also intellectually equal or better than Pip as she manages to keep up with him in intellectual pursuits and manage the domestic household chores. In short, whatever I knew, Biddy knew. (Chapter 17, Pg. 222) But she always remains humble and never proud, which is how an ideal Victorian woman would behave. She also serves the role of a confidante and consoler to Pip as he confesses the feelings he had harboured for Estella to her and his wish of becoming a gentleman. Biddy was the wisest of girls, and she tried to reason no more with me. She put her hand, which was a comfortable hand though roughened by work, upon my hands, one after another, and gently took them out of my hair. Then she softly patted my shoulder in a soothing wayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Chapter 17, Pg. 229-230) When Biddy and Pip get into an argument, she gets accused of being jealous and it is her who apologises. Also in Chapter 35, when Mrs. Joe dies, they get into another argument and in the end she says, let only me be hurt, if I have been ungenerous. This is similar to Amy Dorrits behaviour in Little Dorrit when she gets scolded by her father for not getting along with the gatekeepers son to provide him a more comfortable life. This is also another characteristic which was expected of the Angel of the house, where the woman is subservient to the man and has no right to confront him for his misdeeds or wrongdoings, but rather apologise even if they werent at fault. In chapter 58, Biddy finally gets her happy ending by marrying Joe Gargery, the good Samaritan. She is also the only female character to get a proper happy ending unlike Estella (in the original ending), Ms. Havisham or Mrs. Joe. It is obvious that Dickens favours Biddy and the type of woman she portrays more than the others. She might be unconsciously modelled after Mary Hogarth, his first wife, who according to David Holbrook in Charles Dickens and the Image of Women, is worshipped by him (Dickens) as the epitome of ideal womanhood. Throughout his life he seemed to need to idolize this kind of devoted sister figure like Agnes in David Copperfield and Rose Maylie in Oliver Twist angelically beautiful, devoted, inspiring, and the object of pure admiration( Holbrook, 1993. Chapter 7, Pg. 168) Though Biddy is not angelically beautiful, she is angelic in quality and she earns the admiration of the audience and later Pip himself. The other character who also fall under this category is Clara Barley who marries Herbert Pocket after her abusive fathers death and also has a happy ending. The Eccentric women categorises women who do not fall under the stereotypical categories Victorians imposed on women. They are usually portrayed as mysterious, dark, cruel, cold and cunning. They are also beautiful women who take on the role of seductress and tempt the virtuous men into committing adultery or just serve as objects of temptation. They are also associated with criminality- usually portrayed as murderers or in any role which is not morally right. In Great Expectations, there are many eccentric women- the most noteworthy ones are Ms. Havisham and Estella (who will be dealt with later as she falls under two categories). Ms. Havisham is one of the stranger characters Dickens has created and she could be compared to the Wicked Witch of the West. She is first revealed in Chapter 8, when she awaits Pips arrival to be Estellas playmate. Pip is thoroughly spooked by her, as seen in his description of her in her wedding dress and comparing her to a ghastly waxwork and a skeleton . Once, I had been taken to see some ghastly waxwork at the Fair, representing I know not what impossible personage lying in state. Once, I had been taken to one of our old marsh churches to see a skeleton in the ashes of a rich dress, that had been dug out of a vault under the church pavement. Now, waxwork and skeleton seemed to have dark eyes that moved and looked at me. I should have cried out, if I could. (Chapter 8, Pg. 100) Her interactions with Pip portray her to be broken and melancholic but scary at the same time. The lingering scent of death and decay surrounded her every move and action and this impacts Pip to such an extent that he hallucinates Ms. Havisham hanging from a beam. I saw a figure hanging there by the neck. A figure all in yellow white, with but one shoe to the feet; and it hung so, that I could see that the faded trimmings of the dress were like earthy paper, and that the face was Miss Havishams, with a movement going over the whole countenance as if she were trying to call to me. (Chapter 8, Pg. 112) Holbrook, in Charles Dickens and the Image of Women, compares the hallucination of Pip as representing the death of the female element, in Dickens himself. It shows just how much Dickens has his views on women changed due to his personal experiences with women throughout his life. This is just the kind of nightmare fantasy one might expect a sensitive and imaginative childlike Pip to have. But it also belongs to the overall symbolism of the dramatic poem- and in this it is the image of female element being gone dead: emotions gone dead, sexuality gone dead, and creativity gone dead. So, it is an image characteristic of the Victorian predicament. The hanging figure Pip sees is the death of potentia in Miss Havisham, in himself, and in Dickens himself. (Holbrook, 1993. Chapter 5, Pg. 137) Pips description of Ms. Havisham during Chapter 11 reiterates the idea that she is the Wicked Witch of the West. In her other hand she had a crutch-headed stick on which she leaned, and she looked like the Witch of the place. (Chapter 11, Pg. 148) Ms. Havishams interactions with her guests seem cold and concise as she walks around the room with Pip and exchanges small talk with them. It is obvious that Ms. Havisham exudes a cold and melancholic aura as she compares herself with the rotten cake, the so-called heap of decay. Ms. Havisham is also shown to be manipulative as she poses as a fake benefactor for Pip to get Sarah Pocket jealous in Chapter 19. When Herbert narrates the story of Ms. Havisham to Pip in Chapter 22, she is shown to be a spoiled child and when she was grown up, a proud and haughty woman who didnt trust or depend on anyone. When she fell in love with Compeyson, she had loved him passionately but when she got jilted, her passion turned to fury and laid wrath upon the house and her life. What the novel doesnt portray or highlight is that her being spoiled and haughty is due to her upbringing and her sadness and hurt at losing her lover whom she had loved so passionately is just glossed upon as just a recovery from a bad illness. Ms. Havishams desire for revenge is highlighted in chapter 29 as she greedily urges Pip to love Estella. Her view on love has been skewered by her jilted lover and now she wishes the same fate upon others just to see them suffer like she did. Ill tell you, said she, in the same hurried passionate whisper, what real love is. It is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission, trust and belief against yourself and against the whole world, giving up your whole heart and soul to the smiter as I did!' (Chapter 29, Pg. 425-426) But Ms. Havishams greatest possession and achievement aka Estella turns into a cold-hearted woman who is incapable of loving anyone, including Ms. Havisham herself. Their argument during Chapter 38 shows just how much Estella has become estranged and indifferent to Ms. Havisham and her own pride and joy has turned against her. So proud, so proud! moaned Miss Havisham, pushing away her grey hair with both her hands. Who taught me to be proud? returned Estella. Who praised me when I learnt my lesson? So hard, so hard! moaned Miss Havisham, with her former action. Who taught me to be hard? returned Estella. Who praised me when I learnt my lesson? But to be proud and hard to me! Miss Havisham quite shrieked, as she stretched out her arms. Estella, Estella, Estella, to be proud and hard to me!' (Chapter 38, Pg. 543-544) This shows Ms. Havishams anguish over losing Estella, the only relationship which she actively participated after being jilted by her lover. It is Estella whom she let into her deep and crooked heart and it is through Estella and Pip that she regains some human emotions like regret. In Chapter 44, when Pip confesses to Estella and gets his heart broken, Ms. Havishams reactions are short and abrupt but it showcases her remorse and the sense of guilt at what she has done. She identifies with Pip and realises that Pip is the same as her now- with a broken heart, and it is all because of her. Though her plans succeeded, she does not derive any pleasure or comfort from it. Ms. Havisham is quite a complex character, with many flaws pointed out more than positive points in the novel. Holbrook says, Ms. Havisham has been blighted emotionally just at the moment of sexual flowering, and her bodily life in an ancient bridal gown symbolizes psychic paralysis. (Holbrook, Chapter 5, Pg. 133) and identifies this characteristic of Ms. Havisham to Dickens own fears of loving and related schizoid problems of identity. She is a woman fixated with one goal in mind but realizes that she is harming others just like others had harmed her later in the novel and seeks forgiveness. She does have a moment of realization and though she spent years of her life rotting away in the Satis house, she leads an independent life with the money provided by her father. Ideally, she would not suit the characteristic of an independent woman or the New Woman but she does have the underlying qualities of an independent woman, only if the circumstances were better, she might have developed into one of the strong-willed women who would appear in the later Victorian Age. Before focussing on Estella, other minor characters which fall under this category will be Mrs. Joe Gargery and Molly, Estellas mother. Mrs. Joe is well known for bringing up Pip by hand. She is introduced in detail in Chapter 2 where the first physical feature which is highlighted is her beauty. She was not a good-looking woman, my sister; and I had a general impression that she must have made Joe Gargery marry her by hand. (Chapter 2, Pg. 11) My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. (Chapter 2, Pg. 11-12) Mrs. Joe is just like her apron- coarse, impregnable or rather immovable, and was as prickly as those pins and needles stuck on her bib. She is described as a violent woman and she uses the so-called tickler to dish out corporal punishment for Pip. She seems to be the power of the Gargery house rather than Joe himself, as he doesnt stop her from whatever she wants to do or say. All her interactions with Pip usually have a violent undertone- for example, before sending Pip off to Ms. Havishams house, she gives him a good scrubbing which is painful for Pip to say the least. She also meets a violent end when she is attacked by Orlick in chapter 15 and by chapter 16, she has lost her hearing, could hardly see and has become crippled. These are the things which are highlighted in the novel. What is not highlighted is that Mrs. Joe had to take care of the entire household after her parents died, had to live through the deaths of her five brothers and had to take care of a child who is twenty years younger than her. She also had to shoulder the household responsibilities and social interactions with others. These aspects of Mrs. Joe are not shown in the novel and in the end, she is rendered as a crippled woman who is taken care of Biddy. She finally passes away in Chapter 34, and in Chapter 35, she also turns into a ghostly existence which haunts the protagonist Pip as he makes his way to the funeral back to Joes forge and the rest of the novel with the theme of murder and violence. The other character which falls under this eccentric woman category is Molly, the murderess who tries to kill her own daughter. She is a docile and obedient servant of Mr. Jaggers, but she has an infamous past and is the birth-mother of Estella. She is saved from the gallows by Mr. Jaggers and lives with him as a servant. Not much is known about her criminal past and she is wrapped with an air of dangerous mystery. Holbrook describes Molly as, a woman with strong muscles concealed under petiteness and a woman capable of great cruelty and perhaps murder. She is the female annihilating figure Freud called the castrating mother (Holbrook, 1993. Chapter 5, Pg. 138) Though Molly is not given that much of an importance in the novel, she represents the theme of murder and guilt, which seems to contaminate every character in the novel- including Estella, who is the daughter of a murderess and a convict. Estella is the final entry in the eccentric woman category but she does not confine herself to just this category. Estella is also introduced in chapter 8 and she brings the light into Pips dark life. To stand in the dark in a mysterious passage of an unknown house, bawling Estella to a scornful young lady neither visible nor responsive, and feeling it a dreadful liberty so to roar out her name, was almost as bad as playing to order. But, she answered at last, and her light came along the dark passage like a star. Miss Havisham beckoned her to come close, and took up a jewel from the table, and tried its effect upon her fair young bosom and against her pretty brown hair. (Chapter 8, Pg. 103-104) She is compared with a star or a jewel throughout the novel and these symbolize Estella to be bright, precious and far out of reach. Though she is mean to Pip and shows only contempt and disdain for him, she still manages to entrance Pip with her cold demeanour and her beauty, much like how a seductress traps her victim with her charms. She is perceived to be cold-hearted and cruel, but she does display signs of emotion as seen in the scene where she allows Pip to kiss her cheek. But, she neither asked me where I had been, nor why I had kept her waiting; and there was a bright flush upon her face, as though something had happened to delight her. Instead of going straight to the gate, too, she stepped back into the passage, and beckoned me. Come here! You may kiss me, if you like. I kissed her cheek as she turned it to me. (Chapter 11, Pg. 162) What is interesting to note is that Estella is delighted by an act of violence, even before any thoughts of criminality is being associated with her. This could be foreshadowing or reiterating by Dickens to show Estellas roots- her criminal parents. By chapter 22, Herbert establishes Estellas purpose in life or the reason of her being brought up by Ms. Havisham and that is to break young mens hearts. Also, when Pip returns to the Satis house to see Estella once shes a grown woman in Chapter 29, she pretends she doesnt remember Pip or any of their childhood interactions which deeply hurt Pip. She also points out the spot where Pip had seen the ghost in his childhood. This is a conflicting behaviour of Estella and she probably did it to dig deep into the scars of Pip so that he may remember her more vividly as Pip becomes emotionally hurt when Estella pretends not to remember him. That scene is also important as it brings out more foreshadowing. According to Holbrook, this scene shows the implicit connection to Estella and her roots. The association between Estella and the ghost is ambiguous. In one sense, Pip is sensing her origins: her mother was the unknown murderess who wished to kill her own child. In the background too is her father Magwitch, the criminal, who believes his child to be dead. The shadow is of murder by the woman murderer and of the child by being abandoned (by rejecting the mother and father). (Holbrook, 1993. Chapter 5, Pg. 138) As Estella grows up, she remains in her role of being the object of desire and she makes other men jealous using Pip. As for Pip himself, she warns him multiple times that shes a cold-hearted person. This could be her manipulating him further or she might genuinely care about him- it is not clear. This ambiguity is attached to Estella till the chapter where Pip confesses his love for her. You ridiculous boy, said Estella, will you never take warning? Or do you kiss my hand in the same spirit in which I once let you kiss my cheek? What spirit was that? said I. I must think a moment. A spirit of contempt for the fawners and plotters. If I say yes, may I kiss the cheek again?' (Chapter 33, Pg. 475) When she rejects Pip, she does so with a cold demeanour. She does not express her emotions, which is how a Victorian woman should be, and it further accentuates how Dickens uses this trope for this scene in an ironic way. Even as a child, Estella possessed more emotion than when she grew up as she became unmoved by everything around her, including others feelings. Furthermore, she tells Pip that shes going to marry Drummle by her own decision, just to probably spite everyone, including Ms. Havisham. Only Pips pleas for her to not marry Drummle brings out a softer reaction in her. This eventually leads to Estella being abused by her husband and depending on the two endings, she either gets remarried and still unhappy or she ends up having a future with the possibility of marrying Pip. These two endings lead to drastically different fates for Estella. Dickens original ending shows Estella reformed by her suffering- shes remarried but she still holds herself in high regard and superiority. In the second ending, she is much more humbled and reformed by her suffering. John Forster, who was Dickens friend, felt the original ending was more consistent with the draft, as well as the natural working out of the tale.[1] George Bernard Shaw says that the novel is too serious a book to be a trivially happy one. Its beginning is unhappy; its middle is unhappy; and the conventional happy ending is an outrage on it.[2] Also, the second ending was constructed only to please the audience who wanted a conventional end to that novel with marriage. The second ending pleases the contemporary critics more as they feel that the two characters have suffered enough to finally get their happy ending. Martin Price argues by saying, Each is a fantasist who has grown into maturity; each is a fantasist that has dwindled into humanity.[3] But Estella also has a positive role, according to Holbrook. He says, she is the start of Pips ambitions and it is true, though it leads him to more pain and suffering than his apprenticed life with Joe and Biddy. But he finally learns his place in life and is content with what he has through this harrowing experience. He says, Yet, with his characteristic and marvellous belief in human creativity and vision, Dickens makes Estella an inspiration for Pip. Although she cannot yet understand, and seems untouched by, the reparative impulse (the caring impulse, which, through its suffering, can cure schizoid alienation), she gives Pips world meaning. She comes along the passages like a star: she is the Stella Maris. (Holbrook, 1993. Chapter 5, Pg. 140) Estella can also be looked at as a strong independent woman towards the end. She has suffered and in consequence, humbled herself and realises how to love (at least in the second ending). She is no longer a bright shining star whos out of reach but a strong independent woman who has gotten rid of her demons and living life anew. Dickens himself is not against women or empowering women as he was fairly sympathetic towards the idea of property rights, which was the heart of the issue during the 1850s. But that applied only to the working women and not the powerful women like Ms. Havisham. In Great Expectations, Ms. Havishams house is passed on to Estella, who is the adopted daughter, and it is hers to do with as she pleases. This is not the traditional primogeniture practice which is usually practiced during the Victorian Age and it is met with discomfort by Dickens. Deborah Wynne, in Women and Personal Property in the Victorian Novel, says when women do take control of significant amounts of property and its transmission, as Miss Havisham does, the destructive qualities of their legacies are usually emphasized. When forceful women of property, owners of real estate, create for themselves a space which is inaccessible to male control, such as Betsy Trotwood, Mrs. Clennam or Miss Havisham, it is shown to be vulnerable to loss or destruction, as though Dickens half believed what English law presumed: that women had a tendency to be ineffective managers of their own property (Wynne, 2010. Chapter 2, Pg. 58) He favoured the working women and women who were destitute like prisoners and prostitutes. He opened up a home for the fallen women called Urania cottage along with Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts. Jane Rogers, in Dickens and his involvement in Urania Cottage, says Miss Coutts and Dickens planned a Home that would offer a different and more sympathetic approach to the treatment of fallen women. Other organisations such as the Magdelen Society had homes which offered a typically harsh and punishing routine. (Rogers, 2003. Pg. 1) This Urania house was a reformation centre for these fallen women to regain a proper place in the Victorian society, which still oppressed women into traditional roles. According to Jenny Hartley, in Undertexts and Intertexts: The Women of Urania Cottage, Secrets and Little Dorrit, Dickens concerned himself with everything the women of the cottage did, including how they spend their time in the house. It is quite clear that though Dickens was very progressive in his thinking, when it came to women, he was still confined by society and its rules. Coupled with his bad experiences with women in real life, his fictional women characters came to represent what was hidden away in his mind- his fears and regrets and personal insecurities caused by the society and his relationships. By analysing the character sketches of the women of Great Expectations and Dickens personal life, it is clear that Dickens is very conflicted when it comes to the topic of women. He prefers certain kinds of women like Biddy, who are the working class and little angels of the house, and as for the other women, they are subjected to hardships and punishments for their transgressions. Though he didnt make his female characters as independent like Nora Roberts from A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen, his characters like Estella or Ms. Havisham still retain some part of being an independent woman, though it is obscured by their eccentricity. So, Dickens, in a sense, is a writer who is inhibited by his personal life which narrows his views on women. Otherwise, he is a progressive writer who acknowledges the social constraints caused by the society. Works Cited: Dickens, C. (1851). Great Expectations. 1st ed. [ebook] Planet PDF. Available at: http://www.planetpublish.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Great_Expectations_NT.pdf [Accessed 28 Dec. 2016]. Hartley, J. (2005). Critical Survey. 1st ed. [ebook] Berghahn Books, pp.63-76. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41556108.pdf [Accessed 4 Jan. 2017]. Holbrook, D. (1993). Charles Dickens and the image of woman. 1st ed. New York: New York University Press. Rogers, J. (2003). Dickens and his involvement in Urania Cottage. [online] Victorianweb.org. Available at: http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/rogers/8.html [Accessed 1 Jan. 2017]. Wynne, D. (2010). Women and personal property in the Victorian novel. 1st ed. Farnham, Surrey, England: Ashgate Pub. Academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu. (2017). The Ending of Great Expectations. [online] Available at: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/dickens/ending.html [Accessed 3 Jan. 2017]. [1] All these three quotes are taken from The Ending of Great Expectations [2] [3]
Friday, October 25, 2019
Catherine des Roches Epistle To Her Mother :: Catherine Roches Epistle Letter Essays
Catherine des Roches' "Epistle To Her Mother" The "Epistle To Her Mother" by Catherine des Roches of Poitiers discusses the very close and dear relationship that exists between mother and daughter. In this letter, the daughter gives a very detailed and vibrant description of the closeness and respect that she shares with her mother. She also reveals her thankfulness to her mother for all that her mother has bestowed upon her. She does this by taking a vow of silence at the end of the letter, which will allow her mother to live a longer and fuller life. In the letter, she wrote, "Since he [the Samian] wishes to speak, I will be silent, Mother, after humbly beseeching Divine Mercy that it please Him lengthen and prosper your days so that you may live a long life as example of the graces of Heaven" (Roches 254). In this letter, Catherine des Roches states facts and details by addressing many parallel points in an easy to read manner. Catherine des Roches does a very good job of consistently using parallel points that contribute to her effectiveness in getting her point across. This means of description allows the reader to grasp the depth of her gratitude and love that she holds for her mother. In the "Epistle To Her Mother," Catherine des Roches uses a very definite pattern of imagery, which includes her use of many mythological figures and activities as references to describe her mother and the relationship that they share. Catherine des Roches also refers to things such as the earth and nature. An example of this is when she says, "You quickened me as Prometheus, the earth which he himself formed" (Roches 253). In this letter, there is also a strong appeal to the senses with the use of words such as luminosity and illumines. Catherine des Roches wrote, "And just as the body in all its proportions, and the shadow in its width cannot be seen without light, so the brilliant luminosity of your mind illumines for us the narrow path where I pray" (Roches 253). According to The Oxford English Dictionary, luminosity means shedding light and illumines means to light up or to enlighten spiritually. These two words are very strong and appeal to the senses to a great degree.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Kraft Case Coffee Pod Essay
Competition: Market Share of Competition This chart of the market share shows that Kraft Foods was the world leader in coffee sales with 15% of the global market. In Canada Kraft’s/Nabob and Maxwell had a combined share of 35%, where Nestle had 19%, Private labels accounted for 25%, and smaller companies summed 21%. With grocery markets carrying a selection of coffee brands and flavors along with major retailers such as Starbucks and Tim Horton’s selling their coffee beans in grocery outlets, competition in the Canadian coffee market remains very aggressive. There are four major coffee pod competitors in Canada and they are One-to-one, Home Cafà ©, Senseo, and Bunn My Cafà ©. One-to-one One-to-one brews coffee pods in two different sizes and has a bar quality. This machine has advantage that it can also change its spout in order to make iced tea or regular tea. They also use the biggest coffee pods at 9.7 grams vs. the other 7 gram pods used in regular machines. One-to-one also has three different varieties to choose from; You can purchase a 16 pack of pods for $4.99. These coffee pod machines are available at the Bay, Canadian Tire, Zellers, and Home Outfitters. Home Cafà © Home Cafà © has pressure brewing coffee pods while getting the full flavor of the bean. This machine has a removable platform to avoid spilling and can brew three different cup sizes. This type of coffee pod has 4 different flavors to choose from and a 16 pack of single coffee pods cost $4.99. Senseo Senseo has a specialized machine that creates a rich froth on each coffee brewed. Each blend is brewed in 30 seconds and has an automatic shutoff after one hour of no use. Senseo uses premium beans and offers four flavors that come in packages of 18 for $4.99. Bunn My Cafà © Bunn My Cafà © use special spray head and delivers maximum flavor in each cup. This machine can also brew a cup in 30 seconds and has 9 brewing settings to change the strength of the coffee. Out of all the machines listed above Bunn My cafà © machines sell in retail for $150 per machine, the highest price out of the four. The cheapest machine is the One-To-One selling in retail from $60 – $75. The best deal for retail selling price of pods is Senseo at $4.99 per 18 packs of pods Social/Cultural Canada compering to other countries work with faster technology and faster workforce. Before Canadians, coffee drinkers were taking them longer to get their coffee. Today the Canadian coffee drinker can get their coffee in one minute. These advanced technologies reflect to overall Canadian technology and the fast-paced environment that Canadians live in. Technology Even though coffee pods may cost a little bit more per cup of coffee, it has its benefits. Whit use of the prepackaging for the single serving coffee the SSP machines can deliver coffee in less than 1 min. The SSP machine measure the water tank or the amount of ground coffee for your cup, just place pod and press a button. You no longer have to throw away the nasty wet filter with used coffee you just have to recycle the little plastic pod. Pods also do not use an actual coffee pot, so you do not need to clean the pot of coffee every day. This is perfect for people that usually make only one coffee, instead of making a batch, only a single cup is processed. Different kinds are also available in terms of taste. Environment Kraft has taken some significant actions to keep the environment safe and clean. One aspect relating to environmental factors is that, the SSP machines are much easier to clean than the other pods on the market. It allows you to have cluttered ground coffee that is unable to be used, no leftover coffee to pour away and no pot to clean. When finished, users would simply dispose of the pod in the garbage or compost bins, whereas regular disposable coffee cups and filters must be thrown away in the garbage. Micro Environment The 4 P’s Price $0.50 per cup Product Single-Serve Coffee Pods (SSP) Promotion – Consumer shows, demo program booth, television sponsorship campaign, giveaways, print ad buy one get one free coupons Place – Consumer shows and big retail outlets across Canada. Three different merchandising tools: Shelf-strips with coupon AdPad that holds 12 bags and coupon holder, On-Shelf Racking that holds 14 bags, Branded Off-Shelf Bins that holds 48 bags. Mission Statement: â€Å"Helping people around the world to eat and live better.†Kraft Foods Inc., Consolidated Income Statement USD $ in millions Marketing Objectives Herzog’s goal was to obtain 45% market share at the end of 2006 He also expected 6% from a 12.5 million household in 2004 and 8% in 2006. For advertising, Kraft wants to use TV sponsorship using all television programs for 3.5 launching. Production for a 30-second English-language contest spot would cost $10000; airtime to run English language spot for one week would cost $15000, giveaways would cost $5400. Promotional execution would cost $5000. Herzog also wanted to use direct marketing through an email campaign. This is where customers would be sent an email inviting them to visit a website and register to win a fee year’s supply of coffee pods. Merchandising objectives for Kraft’s coffee pods includes shelf-strips with coupon AdPad, on-shelf racking, as well as branded off-shelf bins. The cost for the total campaign is $961400 and there would be $38600 left from the $1000000 budget. Proposed Marketing Strategy Price: To create better value for our customers we decided that price of $4.99 for 16 pods is perfect. Our competitors have the same price but we have better value. This price of $4.99 will target Melitta in direct competition since they offer the same value. Maybe a slight increase (18 pods instead of 16 pods). This will ensure that Kraft would win in the competition. The wholesale price for the coffee pods should be $49.99 for 200 coffee pods. And for market share, we recommend Mr. Herzog to start at 20% with an increase of 5% per year that will lead him to those desired 35%; 20% is very possible for Kraft and its very profitable Product: Kraft’s branding Our Branding strategy focuses on the packaging. The branding strategy for Kraft’s Maxwell House and Nabob Brand should reflect the consistent branding strategy already being implemented by the company. However, Kraft should use upscale packaging and back up the upscale high quality product that they have. An example of an upscale packaging concept by current market entrant is Melitta. The reason for my branding strategy focus on the packaging is due to the principle of first impression and mental association that a potential consumer will have especially Kraft’s target market. The target market for single serving pods is high-income individuals and families ($91,000) and well-educated individuals. Place: Most Canadians have their cup of coffee at home or at the nearest available store. Kraft should make coffee so good it enhances the time we spend with friends and family while enjoying a cup of it. A good way to go about it would be dividing the Country in regions and market the product targeted right at their consumer profiles. Furthermore delivery straight to retail stores would make the supply chain shorter hence costs will be less. Even better would be to encourage most buyers to buy it on the Website, with free delivery or a more effective promotion tactic. If the Consumer buys the product straight from the manufacturer the dividend will scale up rather then selling them in bulk to wholesalers and retailers. Promotion: Promotion is the most important element of the proposed marketing strategy; all medium must be evaluated then used to acquire as many consumers as possible. One of the things that can be used is print advertising; billboards, magazines, newspapers etc. Another option is also TV sponsorship, using almost all television programs for 3.5 months launching. Direct Marketing can also be suggested for example email invite consumers to visit the Website then put an offer like click to win a free supply of coffee pods for a year. Merchandising has its own promotional options too like on shelf racking, shelf-strips with coupon AdPad or branded off shelf bins. References Stephanie Larkin (2007) Current Trends Of Coffee Consumption. Retrieved from: http://www.streetdirectory.com/food_editorials/beverages/coffee/current_trends_of_coffee_consumption.html Ben Berry (Oct.2011) Coffee and Tea Industry Trends from the Canadian Coffee and Tea Show. Retrieved from: http://www.ats-sea.agr.gc.ca/eve/6060-eng.htm NPD Group(July 2012)More Canadians opting to brew their favourite drinks at home Retrieved from: https://www.npdgroup.ca/wps/portal/npd/ca/news/prca_120720/ Stock Analysis on net(2012)Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) | Income Statement. Retrieved from: http://www.stock-analysis-on.net/NYSE/Company/Kraft-Foods-Inc/Financial-Statement/Income-Statement Dolcera Public (August 2009)Premium Coffee Market Segmentation. Retrieved from: http://www.dolcera.com/wiki/index.php?title=Premium_Coffee_Consumers_Market_Segmentation
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Reasons Raising the Minimum Wage Can Hurt the Economy
Reasons Raising the Minimum Wage Can Hurt the Economy According to the left, raising the minimum wage and providing a fair wage is the best way to eliminate poverty and address income inequality. But doing so has consequences far beyond an employee simply getting a raise on their paycheck one day and thats the end of it. Weve already seen the consequences of the poorly thought out, expensive, and lousily executed Obamacare laws and drastically raising the minimum wage the way liberals are proposing could lead to equally unfortunate outcomes for the very people the law is supposed to help. 1. Attempting to artificially raise incomes through a minimum wage increase is more about electoral politics than it is about actually helping people achieve the American Dream. Indeed, when polled people regularly support such a raise, because who would oppose people making more money? But economics realities are more than what sounds nice, and everyone would be better off by supporting true pro-growth policies that open up opportunities for everyone willing to work for the American Dream, rather than expect it be handed to them. Artificial wage increases can set the economy back while not even finding true relief for those the increase are intended to help. 2. If the goal is to lift people out of poverty, this will not do that. Figure that a huge chunk of minimum wage jobs are part-time, and the number of part-time jobs as a percentage of the workforce are only increasing already because of Obamacare. How many people would rather make $8.50 an hour and work 40 hours a week with a company-sponsored insurance plan over making $10 an hour with hours cut back to 28 per week and left to shop at an Obamacare exchange for excessive and costly insurance they might not need? (And even if the plans are cheap because of subsidies, the Obamacare deductibles are probably out of reach for these people anyway.) 3. Do this math equation: Obamacare Higher Wages for Unskilled Labor - Cost to Replace Said Worker with a Machine Adios jobs. The high costs of Obamacare plus increased wages (which also means higher payroll taxes paid by the employer) makes it more attractive to replace low-skilled jobs with machines. Self-service food-ordering machines are already being implemented in many restaurants nationwide. 4. Minimum wage jobs are typically low-skill or entry level jobs. If the costs to fill low-skill positions become to high, consolidation can occur and businesses are likely to replace two or three employees with one employee who excels and can do multiple jobs quicker. In other words, it would probably be more attractive to hire an ambitious and talented self-starter at $18 an hour to replace 2-3 less ambitious or inefficient employees making $10 an hour each. A business could even pay the one employee some solid over-time and still be ahead in the end. The more an employee is paid, the more is expected of them. Making jobs artificially more expensive also makes employees with less skill or who are new to the workforce more expendable. And these are the people the new laws are intended to help. 5. Believe it or not, the money needed to pay these employees has to come from somewhere. Retailers - who probably employ the greatest percentage or minimum wage earners - would simply be forced to raise the price of goods and services. So even if someone makes an extra $28 bucks a week, how much more are the same workers going to have to pay for food, gas, or clothing to make up for increased labor costs? 6. Different states have different economies and the cost of living in New York is different than the cost of living in Texas. It simply does not make sense to have a one-size plan for completely different economies. This is why, of course, conservatives believe in federalism and believe that Alabamans have the right to live how they want to and Vermonters have the right to live how they want to. Nationally centralized policies rarely work when their are so many factors in play. 7. Many small businesses already struggle to survive with the current burdensome regulations offered up by the federal government. Many rely on part-time help from high-schoolers to scoop ice cream, work the car wash, or deliver flowers. Small businesses are already at a disadvantage as they typically have higher overhead costs and must make more margin on products sold just to survive. This would only make it more difficult for them to succeed. 8. The minimum wage is seemingly raised every few years, and its never enough in the long run. After all, a minimum wage at $10 is still a minimum wage. And if higher labor costs cause the price of everything to go up anyway, the power of the dollar is merely weakened and no progress has been made. Which brings us back to our first point: The American economy needs true economic growth that enables people to succeed, not a policy based on a bumper-sticker slogan that offers a temporary feel-good fix that will be just as worthless and new minimum wage increase demands roll around. 9. Higher paid employees will want raises equal to those of the minimum wage employees. If people at the bottom of the pay chain get a 20% raise, everyone who makes more than that will also expect - and perhaps rightly so - a 20% raise as well. Imagine having worked in a job for a few years and earned increases only to have some guy hired at the same rate on day one because the government says so. Now businesses either pay all of their employees more or enjoy a disgruntled workforce. In the end, minimum wage increases go beyond increasing labor costs for just the targeted group. 10. This is where the harsh reality sets in: Minimum wage jobs are not intended to enable people to raise a family of five on. They simply arent. Yes, there are circumstances where people are forced to take jobs at minimum wage, perhaps more now than ever. But minimum wage jobs are designed for entry-level workers, kids in high school (who Id assume shouldnt have the need for $20K/yr jobs), or those looking to add a little extra money through a second job. The point is to move up from there into intermediate jobs, and with enough hard work a very well-paying job. Thats pretty much the point of a minimum wage job, and the point is not to support families. Its nice to say that a full week of work means everyone who does so gets a house, SUV, and an iPhone (and how many struggling minimum wage workers have the last one?), but the reality is that is not what those jobs are intended for. The problem with the lefts over-simplified solution to the economy is that the more expensive these jo bs get, the more likely those that need them will be able to get them. And how does that help anyone?
Monday, October 21, 2019
How to Write an Introduction to Sell Your Book Fast
How to Write an Introduction to Sell Your Book Fast How to Write an Introduction to Sell Your Book Fast To learn more about how to craftthe perfect book introduction, join Chandler on this FREE webinar where he explains how to write a winning intro for your book.â€Å"There’s no second chance to make a first impression.†Not only does this apply to meeting your future in-laws, it applies to readers first impressions of your book.Alright†¦maybe not their firstimpression of your book, that comes from your book cover and title. However, their second-firstimpression is going to be formed while reading your book’s introduction.It’s easy to think an introduction isn’t important because so many people skip them, but did you know yourbook’s introductionis actually a vital sales tool if you’re a non-fiction author?Thats why were here to teach you how to write a book introduction that will actually boost book sales.But first, let’s talk aboutwhy its so important. HowtoWriteaBookIntroductionYoure about to learn about the mostwonderful p agein your book to boost sales. It’s going to be your secret weapon to stand out from the competition.Amazonoffers customers a chance to give your book a sneak peek before purchase. It’s called theLook Insidefeature, and when shoppers click on it, they’re treated to a free preview of your book introduction.This means you’ve been given the opportunity to grab their attention and make them reach for their wallets.This is why yourbook introductioniscrucialto your book’s ultimate success. Readers will pick up your story and make a decision about you as an author and your book based on those first few paragraphs.And were about to show you how to do just that.NOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Self-Publishing Program. Learn more about it hereWhats the Difference Between a Book Introduction and a Preface or Foreword?Before you write an introduction and dive in on writin g the rest of your book, you first have to check if what you’re writing is actually an introduction.If you aren’t careful it might be a preface or a foreword instead, and these are different than an introduction. While this difference might not seem like much to you, mislabeling this section will signal your book as an amateur piece of work to your reader, harming your brand and sales in the long run.Who would want to read a book (or many) from someone who cant get even the introduction right?So, what are the differences between an introduction, preface, and a foreword? Where do you use them? Can you use several of them? We’ll go through these questions in detail.What is a preface?A preface discusses how the book came about, the scope of the book, why the book was written, its limitations, and any acknowledgments the author or editor has.Though they may initially seem the same, and serve the same purpose, a prefaceisdifferent from an introduction. The author and /or editor of a book can write a preface, but no-one else can.Whatit doesn’tdo is talk about the meat of the book. It doesn’t go into the subject matter, the point of view, or arguments that the book presents.The purpose of a preface is to let the reader knowhowyou came to write the book.Without delving into the book matter, it gives the author a chance to talk to the reader and let them know your story, why you decided to write this book, why the world needs this book right now (helpful if you’re writing about something that’s been written about several times before, such as the hundredth biography of a famous figure,) where you got your information from, and why you are the best author to write this book.If you have several editions of your book, your preface is also where you discuss why there is a new edition, and what’s different from the old edition.An author’s preface requires tact; you can’t betooself-promotional.You have to a ddress your selling points indirectly. This is why it’s best to have an editor’s preface or to have someone else write a foreword.What is a foreword?According to theChicago Manual of Style, a foreword is written by someone other than the author or editor and is usually someone with authority to lend credibility to your book, with their name appearing at the end.Think of a foreword as a letter of recommendation that someone with credibility writes for your book.It’s usually by someone the reader will respect, and the foreword will contain reasons for why the reader should read the book. There are fewer rules for a foreword than a preface.For instance, it can talk about the subject matter if desired. However, forewords tend to be short usually one or two pages.Many non-fictionbook deals wouldnt have happened if it wasnt for the foreword. Publishers are less likely to offer a major advance to first-time authors as they are untested. However, this becomes a differe nt story if they can secure a foreword from someone of influence, (known as foreword deals in the industry.)John Romaniello (with his co-author Adam Bornstein) was able to get an advance of more than $1,000,000 for his first book,Man 2.0: Engineering the Alpha,a practically unheard of amount for a first-time author.How did this happen? John credits securing Arnold Schwarzeneggerto pen the foreword as a factor that helped.What is a book introduction?An introduction differs from a preface and a foreword because its written by the author and does talk about the subject matter.A book introduction can include everything that would be in a preface: how the book came about, the scope of the book, why the book was written etc.However, an introduction also supplements the subject matter of the book.Whether by presenting a point of view the reader should take, outlining to the reader what is to come, or by teasing the writer’s conclusions.Whats the purpose of a preface, foreword, and i ntroduction?Each one of these exists tosellyour book in the opening pages. They exist to hook a reader who flips to the beginning of the book and gives clear reasons as to why they should read on to the end.A potential reader or buyer will judge whether your main argument, point of view, or tone of voice is worth reading on your introduction, preface, or foreword.If someone they admire recommends your book in the foreword, they’ll sit up and listen.If your preface reveals some main sources that have never told their story before, they’ll be curious to read more. If your introduction shows that you’re a great writer and you know what you’re talking about, they’ll give you a chance by reading more.Since we’re dealing with non-fiction, we haven’t discussed prologues or epilogues, though they have the same purpose; to hook the reader and sell them on why to read on.Where do they go?So, do you only have to choose one for your book? No.Your book can have all three if you want, though you don’t want to go too overboard, as your reader might end up skipping it anyway, or might feel like you’re trying too hard.Getting a foreword can be a lot of hard work if you don’t have the network or credibility to get an influencer to write one for you. And if your reader ends up skipping it, it’ll be a waste of your time.But if you want to have all three, this is the correct formatting of where they appear in your book, (relevant sections are highlighted in bold. We provided a comprehensive overview of a books matter for reference:)Front Matter(Each point gets at least its own page.)Half titlepage (Sometimes called the bastard title, its a page that has nothing but the title. No subtitle or author name.)Blank page (Or Also by the author)Title pageCopyright pageDedication (Optional.)Epigraph (Quote, or poem that highlights the theme of the book. Can be before main text. Optional.)Table of contentsBook quot e (optional: A quote chosen by the author based on the subject matter of the book.)List of illustrations, tables or maps (Optional.)Foreword(Optional.)Preface(Optional. Editors preface comes before authors preface if you have both. If you have a separate preface for a new edition of the book it comes before the old preface.)Abbreviations (Optional. Or in back matter.)Chronology (Optional. Or in back matter.)Main BodyIntroduction(Optional.)Prologue (Optional. Not applicable to non-fiction.)Epigraph (or after the dedication and before the table of contents. Optional.)Another half-title (Optional.)Main textEpilogue (Optional. Not applicable to non-fiction.)Afterword (Optional.)ConclusionBack Matter(These are all optional.)AcknowledgmentsAppendixChronology (Or in the front matter.)Abbreviations (Or in the front matter.)GlossaryBibliographyList of contributorsIllustration creditsIndexErrataColophon (Optional brief statement by the publishers on the books production, where it was printed etc.)Authors or Editors bioInvitation to review the book [Usually found in eBook formats asking readers to consider a review if they liked the book]Dont panic if your book doesnt have up to half of these sections. Many of them are not necessary unless you are writing for a higher education audience.What matters is knowing where your foreword, preface, and/or your introduction needs to go in your book.How Your Book Introduction Will Help You Sell BooksYour book introduction serves two goals. Think of your first 1,000 words as the foundation for the rest of your book’s chapters.Writing your introduction is going to be a useful exercise to help you distill down your ideas and to succinctly encapsulate the message of your great work into a few, short paragraphs.The second goal of your introduction is to act as a sales pitch to intrigue readers so they’ll buy your book.It’s intimidating, yes, and a lot of pressure is riding on just a few paragraphs. This is why writi ng your book introduction can be one of your first major stumbling blocks as an author.Thats why were here to help you overcome this significant hurdle so you can continue merrily on the path toward your finished manuscript, and ultimately higher sales of your book once it is published.How to Write a Book Introduction in 8 StepsSelf-Publishing School created a roadmap, much like we did formind mappingand outlining, to nail down that book introduction- and also to jumpstart your writing process for the rest of your chapters.As we go through these 8 steps to writing your book introduction, we’re going to use the example of a book calledHow to Get College Scholarships.As you read, take notes, and insert your own book’s topic into your thinking and note-taking process.#1 Identify the ProblemDon’t dance around the problem. What’s the problem your book promises to solve? State the problem clearly for your readers from the outset. Bestraight-forward, unambiguou s, and concise when you identify the issue that readers hope you can solve for them.Don’t try to be all things to all people- you want readers to know the specific problem your book will solve for them.Using our example ofHow to Get College Scholarships,the problem is simple: college is expensive, and scholarships seem out of reach for most high school students.#2 Present the SolutionNow that you’ve identified the problem readers are struggling with, you’re going to make their day by telling them you’re going to share the solution in your book. You’ve helped them with a problem AND you’ve revealed that your book holds the solution on the first page. Your book’s going to be a winner!Directional phrases such as, â€Å"In this book, I am going to show you†¦Ã¢â‚¬ or â€Å"This book is going to solve your problem by†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Thinking back to our example, some solutions we’d present in our book would be teaching readers how to write a good essay so you can stand out from the competition, and how to find and apply for the top scholarships.#3 Assert Your CredibilityNow that you’ve presented a problem and posted a solution, your next step is to convince your readers that you, the author, are qualified to help solve their problem. You need to build your credibility and provide readers with a reason to trust you and follow your advice.Ask yourself these three questions:Why should people trust you?How do you know about this topic?Why are you passionate about writing this book?Sharing your own struggles and how you overcame them is the first step to building rapport with your readers#4 Show Them the BenefitsHow will your book improve your readers’ current circumstances? Now’s the time to really sell them on how reading your book is going to change their life for the better.Sold! Who doesn’t want a better life? (It’s rhetorical: We all do!)You’ve briefly touched on the solution- in our case, how to write a great essay and how to apply for scholarships. In this part of your introduction, you’re going to go a little deeper and explain what good things will happen if your readers take advantage of the information you present in your book.In short, tell your readers what they’ll get- what knowledge or skill they will gain from reading your book and how that’s going to impact their future for the better.In our example, the benefit of our book is that readers will go to school for free and live a life without the financial burden of student loans. Readers can achieve their dream of getting an education, without breaking the bank.#5 Give Them ProofShow your readers the proof of why your book is the answer to their prayers. Give the most tangible and relatable proof you can provide.In our example, we might share how we put ourselves or our children through school on scholarship. We might also include testimonials from other pe ople we know who followed our advice and got a free education.#6 Make a Promise (The Bigger the Better)Don’t make a promise you can’t keep, but make the biggest promise that you CAN keep. Aim high.To come up with your promise, circle back to your books’ purpose- what is the problem your book is solving? Now promise that this book will solvetheir problem! It’s that easy.You need to be able to deliver on your promises, but don’t be shy in stating what they will get in return for reading your book.While we can’t promise someone they’ll be awarded a scholarship (after all, their grades will have a big impact there,) we can promise that we will increase their chances of getting a scholarship by showing them where to find them and the steps to take to apply.#7 Warn Them Against WaitingYou need to create a sense of urgency to buy so your readers know that if they pass on your book, they will regret it because readers will miss out on somet hing really good.A sense of urgency is created by two magic words, â€Å"RIGHT NOW!†In our example, we would urge people to start well ahead of the scholarship application deadlines so they can submit the best applications they can.Don’t delay, or others who are in the know will snatch up those scholarships! So, let’s get started on getting you a free education RIGHT NOW!#8 Prompt Them to Read (Call to Action)You want readers to continue reading your book the second they finish the introduction. To do that, you have to hint at the juicy secrets your book will reveal to them that will change their lives.You want to intriguethemand hint at the exciting revelations you’re going to make inside the book. They will have to buy it in order to find out.Here’s how to craft a compelling Call to Action to prompt them to read your book right away:The scholarship tips and tricks you’re about to read have proven results. Each chapter provides new secrets that will help you stay in control of your financial future AND get a leg up on the competition for scholarships. If you follow the formula we reveal in this book, it’s highly possible you can enjoy the rest of your life unburdened by debt.Time to Get StartedThere you go- not too hard, is it? By applying a few principles of psychology as you draft your introduction, you can demonstrate to your readers how and why they need to read your book, right now.Take advantage of this one chance you get, to explain in a few short paragraphs how readers will benefitfromreading your book. They will thank youlaterafter they buy your book and they’re reaping all the benefits of taking your advice.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Six Rules for Making Subjects and Verbs Agree
Six Rules for Making Subjects and Verbs Agree Six Rules for Making Subjects and Verbs Agree Six Rules for Making Subjects and Verbs Agree By Michael If you want to write proper English, you have to follow a rule called subject-verb agreement. That means that if the subject is plural (ducks), then the verb needs to be plural (quack). If the subject is singular (duck) then the verb needs to be singular (quacks). This issue is not as picky and unimportant as you might think. Traditionally, American novelists who wanted to show that a character was uneducated would give them dialog with incorrect subject-verb agreement: Waall, we is just gonna have to ride after them, aint we? or But suh, dey tells me not to do dat! It could be worse. If you spoke Basque, the object would have to agree with the subject too. In many languages, such as French, pronouns and nouns, even inanimate objects, have gender, and they have to agree with each other too. In proper Turkish, some vowels need to agree. Notice that English verbs, unlike nouns, usually dont become plural by adding s. In fact, many singular, present-tense verbs end with s, while many plural verbs dont exactly the opposite of nouns. More than anything else, sentences that begin with several nouns tend to fool people. Here are some rules to guide you into what you should do with them: Two singular subjects connected with and are plural, and need a plural verb. For example, which is correct: My mother and my father are visiting me or My mother and my father is visiting me? After all, its correct to say My father is visiting me. But two parents together are plural, not singular, so you need to use are. Of course, a plural subject combined with a singular subject is still plural, and you would use a plural verb. For example, this is correct: The general and his advisers are responsible for the decision. To make it less confusing, we put the plural subject last, closest to the verb. Two singular subjects connected with the conjunctions or or nor need a singular verb. For example, My mother or my father is going to call me today is correct, because only one of them will be calling. It works the same way with andor and neithernor: Neither my mother nor my father is going to call me today. If one of the subjects is plural, use a plural verb: The general or his advisers are responsible for the decision. Again, we put the plural subject last, closest to the verb. Dont get distracted if theres another phrase between the subject and the verb. For example, you should say My sister, along with her children, is visiting me next month; even though you would say My sister and her daughters are visiting me next month. The verb needs to agree with the subject, not with other nouns that happen to precede the verb. Words such as either, neither, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, none or each, are singular and need a singular verb. As we just said, dont be fooled if a singular subject is followed by plural nouns. For example, when you write each of my daughters, make sure the verb agrees with the singular subject each instead of the plural noun daughters. And the singular subject everyone who knows my daughters should be followed by the singular predicate is impressed by them, not are impressed by them. On the other hand, fractions or portions of a plural noun are still plural. Often these are expressed with prepositional phrases: most of the students or half of the campus. Use a singular verb if the object of the preposition is singular, but a plural verb if its plural. For example, write Some of the students are wealthy, and Half of the campus is covered with trees. Time and money are singular. Yes, five is plural, and the word yards is plural, but you would write Five yards is all I need to finish my sewing project. Notice that many of these rules are really just warnings to look carefully at the sentences you write. Once you know that subjects and verbs need to agree, and you know what counts as the subject and what doesnt, you are on your way to sounding more educated. Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz In each sentence, choose the correct form of the verb. 1. Either Jack or the children ___ too loud. is are 2. Everyone ____ chocolate. loves love 3. My sister, along with her children, ___ visiting me next month. is are 4. Neither my mother nor my father ___ going to call me today. are is Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Signs and Symbols You Should KnowHomogeneous vs. Heterogeneous50 Musical Terms Used in Nonmusical Senses
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Discuss attitudes towards health and illness and the effect these Essay
Discuss attitudes towards health and illness and the effect these would have on your work as a practising nurse - Essay Example ealth and illness and use of a specific set of ideals has â€Å"important clinical implications.†An ideal is the motivational standard by which to evaluate our goals and our reasons for pursuing these goals. The â€Å"goal is the what; the ideal is the why.†(â€Å"The Edgar Cayce Primer,†Bantam Books, New York 1982.) The ideal attitude gives people a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life, making them look at illness as more of a challenge than a tragedy. Those bereft of such a lofty ideal are prone to depression and self-condemnation in the face of disease which provokes fear in them and a feeling of being victimized by something outside and beyond their control. This attitude of weakness and surrender stunts a person’s psychological initiative and weakens his/her will power to render healing more difficult and painful. Our thoughts, feelings, behavior and purpose in life contribute a great deal to health or illness, Edgar Cayce declares. To develop the ideal attitude for combating disease, we have to take some degree of responsibility for our situation by defining a course of action that takes all aspects of our experience – spiritual, mental and physical – into consideration. People who are able to make such an attitude adjustment feel more empowered to deal with their illness. (â€Å"Meditation and the Mind of Man,†H.B. Puryear & M.A. Thurston, A.R.E. Press, Virginia Beach 1987.) Functionalists believe that attitudes are â€Å"enduring systems.†Once attitude is acquired, it becomes virtually impervious to change. The reason is, attitudes serve a particular motivational function related to the ego and to change them you need to change what motivates the individual as well. This school of thought moreover holds the view that an attitude change is made more difficult by the fact that what lies behind motivation is usually unknown even to the individual as it often exists in the subconscious level. If attitudes toward health and
Friday, October 18, 2019
Gender and Work Roles in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Gender and Work Roles in Society - Essay Example Mom and Dad have changed. Moms today are many things to many people. Mothers have always been the ones that are responsible for making decisions related to the children and the home. Now fathers are accepting some of that role and Mom at the same time is accepting and appreciating some of the outside role of work. The changing role of Mom today includes career, home care, education of the children, healthy living for the family, as well as the expectation that she will remain healthy by caring for herself. Fathers have learned to do the things that were only for women to do as well as juggle family and home. It is not unusual today to see a Dad going down the street with a backpack full of baby downtown. Mom may be at work or she may just be out with the girls. What a change. Researchers have noted two particular trends in this generation of young workers. Young women are looking for more responsibility in their jobs, not less. That is the opposite of what was true in the 90's as women chose to have less responsibility in their jobs. The second is that young women do not see motherhood as a deterrent to having a career. Today women with children and women without children view their careers in the same way. (Milkie, 2007). Young working men are spending more time with their children on work days than ever before, as well as sharing household duties. Milkie, (2007) informs us that according to the results of her study, women, though still having some difficulty negotiating family demands and work are in general feeling a sense of success in that balancing act. Their imbalance comes from marital unhappiness in the fact that they feel they have no time to share with their spouse and time is missing when their children are young. Men on the other hand feel that their time is unbalanced by what they perceive as unfairness in sharing housework, and the tradeoffs they have to have at work to be able to be home for family. In all of the studies reviewed, both genders report better role balance when they have a greater amount of time for their children. Women feel that the balance is greater when they are paid better and less financial strain and when they have to work fewer weekends. Workforce Research The past 35 years have been greatly affected by the change in the workforce and family. In today's families over 64% of married couples with children under 18 and 58% of married couples with preschool children are dual earner families (Corwyn & Bradley, 2005). Research shows that as this process has progressed the gender role lines have become very grey and men and women are learning to share roles quite well. It consistently gets better. Survey in the 1990's versus those now have changed drastically in the way women and men juggle their responsibilities. Children surveys show that more and more often there is an expectation that both parents will work and that there will be times when only one parent is home. Most of the research now shows that men and women report that they have mush more in the way of gains from the changes in lifestyles than in losses. They feel that there is more money, a positive
Extended Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Extended Education - Research Paper Example This essay declares that the US president backs this suggestion with an argument that the system is not just aiming to curb unemployment but give the US population a good stepping-stone into the future. For this reason, this kind of education aims at providing the learners with skills and opportunities that they would not have achieved by 12th grade as well as providing them with measurable differentiated skills. This paper makes a conclusion that US is currently facing financial crisis and setting up a further a compulsory 2 years learning system requires a lot of financial assistance that may add to the list of the already suffering financial status of the country. Indeed according to CIA fact book and National Bureau of Economic Research the current US deficit stood at $487.2 billion by 2012. Compared to the rest of the countries in the world, the US deficit is the highest in the world. This figure indicates that the country is importing more goods and services than its exporting. The country is also in high debts from foreign countries and has a higher consumer debt. If this situation continues, the value of its currency depreciates and investors will not be willing to invest into a country that is facing such huge financial crisis. The increasing numbers of online degrees and masters courses pose a greater challenge to the extended education. This is because most of the online institutio ns are easily accessible, efficient, and cheaper in comparison to community colleges that will require an individual’s attendance. ... In addition to this, there will be need to train more teachers, experts, and technicians who will be required to offer their services to the community colleges (Jeff Zeleny). With the differences in different States around US there is likely to be a gap in this institutions based on the kind of resources and technology the State has. The difference resources in terms of technology are also likely to create a disparity in terms of professionalism. The increasing numbers of online degrees and masters courses pose a greater challenge to the extended education. This is because most of the online institutions are easily accessible, efficient, and cheaper in comparison to community colleges that will require an individual’s attendance. For this reason, I suggest that learners engage in higher institutions like universities and involve in further education and training rather than wasting 2 precious years in community college. This is likely to affect negatively on the labor market, as qualified labor will have to stay for two years before employment. The policy makers have failed to address how to close the gap that will be left when these institutions begin doing the system. Rising tuition costs especially for higher education is creating a challenge to the implementation of the extended education. Most of the community colleges are experiencing institutional funding shortfalls while the declining state of the quality of higher education is also adding to the challenges of rolling extended education. Extended education is not likely to contribute to increasingly competitive economy that requires proper education and skills of its workers. For this reason, there is need for students or the
Geographic context, political and economic attributes and identify and Research Paper
Geographic context, political and economic attributes and identify and examine the forces that hook Australia into the global ec - Research Paper Example Most of the employment in the country takes place in the capital cities of the states. Moreover, the Australian Securities Exchange is ranked 9th in the world and it acts as the home of the largest commodity companies in the world such as Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Telstra and BHP Billiton. The country is also a member of WTO, G20, APEC and OECD. In addition, globalization has allowed the country to enter into free trade agreements with countries such as Thailand, US, Chile, New Zealand and ASEAN (Lowtax). Therefore, the advances that have been observed in the global economy have contributed to improved living standards and poverty reduction. Moreover, the economic integration among countries has played a vital role in terms of boosting the prosperity of nations. For example, the advances that have been observed in the global economy have allowed Australia to increase its domestic competition thereby improving its economic performance significantly. Moreover, Australia is competitive internationally since it is regarded as one of the largest importer of goods and services (Economy Watch). Therefore, this paper will discuss the geographical, economic and political attributes that have allowed Australia to participate in the global economy effectively. ... The country has varied climatic conditions, incredible wildlife, beaches and fabulous landscapes which serve as tourist destination sites for people who visit from diverse countries around the world. It has a low plateau which are either deserts or semi-arid areas. It also has a fertile plateau in the south-east region. Moreover, it has large deposits of minerals which service the local and international markets. The mining industry serves as the main driving force of the economy (Beer). Therefore, the geographical context of Australia plays a vital role in terms of fostering the participation of Australia in the global economy. Political attributes Though Australia appears to be isolated, it is an active participant in world politics. The political links of Australia are mostly favored by its geographical location as well as the priorities that its sets with regard to trade and foreign policies. For example, Australia is seen to be facing challenges in the near future. In this case, it is feared that the performance of the global economy may deteriorate. Australia also plays a vital role by impacting on the trends that are being realized in the international business environment. For example, the foreign policies in Australia impact on globalization and the transactions that are carried out internationally (Red Apple Education Ltd). The priority areas of Australia include the US and Asia-Pacific countries such as China and Japan. Australia is linked with other countries politically because of the viability of its international treaties, investment agreements, foreign affairs, trade agreements and defense treaties. Therefore, it is evident that Australia is a major player with regard to influencing the manner in which international business activities are
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Narratives of Difference and Belonging Assignment
Narratives of Difference and Belonging - Assignment Example Interesting fact, illuminating statement, personal connection: An interesting fact mentioned in the article is that of the presence of the same set of things, starting from consumer products, to eateries, groceries, and shopping malls, which are seen everywhere in today’s globalized world. So there is a definite loss of individualism or uniqueness of a certain place, and one always ends up getting the same thing anywhere they go. This is something we are evidencing today in all parts of the world. There is always a McDonalds, a Cafà © Coffee Day or a Barista, and somehow the local flavor is slowly disappearing under the burgeoning pressure from these huge multinationals. I can personally connect to this observation, as wherever I have traveled looking for new things, I have always met these giants standing tall, dishing out the same set of standardized products. Author’s perspective/value position: The author feels that in this changed scenario of globalization and high-tech communication era, the youth needs to be first acknowledged as a source of power. Accordingly, their education should be offered in a different manner, inculcated with new values that would be more fitting in this hybridized world. To make this effective, the educators have to change their mindset or else as the author comments â€Å"We need new ways of thinking of and working with kids, otherwise we will become irrelevant as we produce education for categories of kids that no longer exist in the postmodern world†(Besley, 74). Validity/usefulness of the article for thinking about issues of cultural diversity: This article is very important in today’s context, as it speaks of the new age culture that we can see all around us.
Analysis of novels and their films Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1
Analysis of novels and their films - Essay Example For example, Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, the 1984 film directed by MiloÃ… ¡ Forman and adapted from Shaffer’s stage play, differs greatly from the original version of the story and the character development in the play and the film differs to the highest degree. The story of the movie and the film based loosely on the lives of two composers who lived in Vienna, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, has significant variations between the film version and the play. Similarly, the character development in the movie and the play fluctuates hugely mainly due to the adaptation technique, and Shaffer’s further revisions of his text. In a reflective analysis of the changes that the character of Salieri undergoes on his way from stage to screen, it becomes evident that the director of such a film version of a literary piece often brings about drastic changes by reason of the adaptation techniques of the film. Thus, the screen Salieri is Shaffer’s final and most ingenious version of this dark and tragic character, the Oscar-winning F. Murray Abraham superbly casts this character. it has been maintained that the character of Salieri remains the motivating force at the core of the action in the film, although Mozart’s personality has been considerably expanded. Significantly, the changes made in the film can be comprehended as the logical continuation of the changes that Shaffer had already made between the London and New York productions of his play. â€Å"The most important of those changes was the removal of Salieri’s servant Greybig who played the part of the masked figure in place of Salieri.†(The characters in the play and the film) As Shaffer recognized that the presence of Greybig meant more disadvantages than benefits, changes were made in the film version Salieri himself replaces this character as the agent of destruction in the film. Therefore, there are several marked alterations made by the film version of the play which
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Geographic context, political and economic attributes and identify and Research Paper
Geographic context, political and economic attributes and identify and examine the forces that hook Australia into the global ec - Research Paper Example Most of the employment in the country takes place in the capital cities of the states. Moreover, the Australian Securities Exchange is ranked 9th in the world and it acts as the home of the largest commodity companies in the world such as Commonwealth Bank, Westpac Telstra and BHP Billiton. The country is also a member of WTO, G20, APEC and OECD. In addition, globalization has allowed the country to enter into free trade agreements with countries such as Thailand, US, Chile, New Zealand and ASEAN (Lowtax). Therefore, the advances that have been observed in the global economy have contributed to improved living standards and poverty reduction. Moreover, the economic integration among countries has played a vital role in terms of boosting the prosperity of nations. For example, the advances that have been observed in the global economy have allowed Australia to increase its domestic competition thereby improving its economic performance significantly. Moreover, Australia is competitive internationally since it is regarded as one of the largest importer of goods and services (Economy Watch). Therefore, this paper will discuss the geographical, economic and political attributes that have allowed Australia to participate in the global economy effectively. ... The country has varied climatic conditions, incredible wildlife, beaches and fabulous landscapes which serve as tourist destination sites for people who visit from diverse countries around the world. It has a low plateau which are either deserts or semi-arid areas. It also has a fertile plateau in the south-east region. Moreover, it has large deposits of minerals which service the local and international markets. The mining industry serves as the main driving force of the economy (Beer). Therefore, the geographical context of Australia plays a vital role in terms of fostering the participation of Australia in the global economy. Political attributes Though Australia appears to be isolated, it is an active participant in world politics. The political links of Australia are mostly favored by its geographical location as well as the priorities that its sets with regard to trade and foreign policies. For example, Australia is seen to be facing challenges in the near future. In this case, it is feared that the performance of the global economy may deteriorate. Australia also plays a vital role by impacting on the trends that are being realized in the international business environment. For example, the foreign policies in Australia impact on globalization and the transactions that are carried out internationally (Red Apple Education Ltd). The priority areas of Australia include the US and Asia-Pacific countries such as China and Japan. Australia is linked with other countries politically because of the viability of its international treaties, investment agreements, foreign affairs, trade agreements and defense treaties. Therefore, it is evident that Australia is a major player with regard to influencing the manner in which international business activities are
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