Kirby Haizlip Midterm Thesis Essays - British Films,

Kirby HaizlipMidterm Thesis December 16, 1998English 10Mr Siuda The subject of people encountering ideas and objects that are alien is a common theme in many modern works of literature, including CS Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet and Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451. Although there are different types of alien encounters, both of these books center around one or two pivotal encounters which changes a person's perception of life forever. In Ray Bradburys' classic novel of an alternate future filled with censorship and shallowness, the average life of a firefighter named Montag is turned upside down by two encounters with people who refuse to go along with the rules of a censorship-ridden society. The first of these encounters is with a young girl named Clarisse, who always asks questions of Montag which force him to really consider life. The second of these encounters is with an old woman who strikes the match which incinerates her house, killing her and destroying all her outlawed books. As a firefighter of the alternate future, Montags' job is to set fire to houses in which people save books of literature, instead of preventing and stopping fires in houses. The reason that the firefighters' don't have to prevent fires is the fact that all houses have long since been fireproofed. The government has commissioned a new breed of firefighters to eradicate all literature, which may make people start thinking about their lives. Until Montags' encounter with Clarisse, he has never questioned anything, not his life, and not his job. However, he can't help it after Clarisse asks him questions such as what the meaning of life is and why. The free actions and thoughts of Clarisse also mystify Montag, such as when she stands in the rain, catching it in her mouth. This simple action on Clarisses' part shatters any illusions Montag has about the pleasures of life. The second encounter which shatters Montag's disillusions and makes him start thinking is with an old woman whose house has been reported as containing works of literature. The firemen move through the house, spraying everything with kerosene, until they find the old woman, who appears to be crazy. Frightened, they quickly retreat outside, watching the house for any movement. The old woman then steps out onto the porch and is given a choice by Beatty, the chief: either step out of the house or be burned with her books. The old woman, as a response, strikes a match and throws it into the house, causing the house to burst into flame, instantly killing her. Because of these two encounters, Montag's life is forever changed. He goes on the run, killing Beatty, burning down his own house, and planting books in the house of a fellow firefighter and calling in an alarm so his house will be burned. After making his escape by floating down a river, Montag joins a band of rebels who are planning to gradually reintroduce society to literature. In CS Lewis' novel Out of the Silent Planet, a Doctor by the name of Ransom is abducted by two scientists and taken on a great journey to a planet far away from Earth. After arriving on this planet and helping his captor's to set up their camp, Ransom makes his attempt at escape, running from the captors and their allies, who are native to the planet. After running as long as he can, collapsing to sleep, and walking slowly on again, Ransom collapses once again near a body of water, from which a mysterious creature emerges a short time later, frightening Ransom. "Then he saw eyes and mouth-a puffing mouth bearded with bubbles."(pg54) However, Ransom soon realizes the creature means no harm, and is trying earnestly to communicate with him through hand signals and the native language. "The creature ... opened it's mouth and began to make noises. "(pg 550After making small steps in understanding the language of the natives, Ransom is taken by the strange creature( called a hrossa) to a b oat, in which they go on a long journey to the community of Ransoms alien host( named Hyoi). Hyoi and Ransom then go on a hunting expedition for the tribe of Hyoi. While on this

120 College Essay Examples for 14 Schools + Expert Analysis

120 College Essay Examples for 14 Schools + Expert Analysis SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in- college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre. In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 14 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 120 full essays and essay excerpts, this article will be a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay! What Excellent College Essays Have in Common Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay. Visible Signs of Planning Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level. Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life. Stellar Execution A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it- check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens! A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichà ©s, include your own offbeat observations- anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else. Enchanted Prince Stan decided to stay away from any frog-kissing princesses to retain his unique perspective on ruling as an amphibian. Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus- each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Links to Full College Essay Examples Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these (plus some essay excerpts!). Common App Essay Samples Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows: 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma- anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.6. Descri be a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Connecticut College 15 Common Application essays from the classes of 2019-2022 Hamilton College 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2018 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007 Johns Hopkins These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Universal Application, both of which Johns Hopkins accepts. 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2022 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020 8 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2019 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2018 Tufts University 4 Common Application essays Essay Examples Published by Other Websites 7 Common Application essays from applicants admitted to Stanford, Duke, Connecticut College, NYU, Carleton College, Washington University, and the University of Pennsylvania 2 Common Application essays (1st essay, 2nd essay) from applicants admitted to Columbia Other Sample College Essays Here is a smaller collection of essays that are college-specific, plus 22 essay excerpts that will add fuel to your essay-writing fire. Smith College Each year, Smith asks its applicants to answer a different prompt with a 200-word essay. Here are six of these short essays answering the 2014 prompt: "Tell us about the best gift you've ever given or received." 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018 Tufts University On top of the Common Application essays students submit, Tufts asks applicants to answer three short essay questions: two mandatory, and one chosen from six prompts. 8 "Why Tufts?" short essays 6 "Let Your Life Speak" essays 8 chosen prompt essays Books of College Essays If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers. College Essays That Made a Difference- This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles. 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson- A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard. 50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe- For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays. Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson- This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay. Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them. Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long) I had never broken into a car before. We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van. Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back. "Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?" "Why me?" I thought. More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation. My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing- all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill- you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns. Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night. But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt. Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?" The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me. Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence. What Makes This Essay Tick? It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why! An Opening Line That Draws You In I had never broken into a car before. In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?). Great, Detailed Opening Story We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van. Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back. "Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?" "Why me?" I thought. More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger- he "jiggles" it. Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"- a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking. Coat hangers: not just for crows' nests anymore! (Gà ¶tz/Wikimedia) Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation. Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click." Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing- all meant my house was functioning normally. "Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things- violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family. Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill- you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed." The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness- since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant. "Mr. President? There's been an oil spill!" "Then I want our best elementary school students on it, STAT." An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?" The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me. Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence. The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control. This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life. What Could This Essay Do Even Better? Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"- just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could? Replace some of the clichà ©d language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring. Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Example 2: By Bridget Collins, Tufts Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 608 words long) I have always loved riding in cars. After a long day in first grade, I used to fall asleep to the engine purring in my mother's Honda Odyssey, even though it was only a 5-minute drive home. As I grew, and graduated into the shotgun seat, it became natural and enjoyable to look out the window. Seeing my world passing by through that smudged glass, I would daydream what I could do with it. In elementary school, I already knew my career path: I was going to be Emperor of the World. While I sat in the car and watched the miles pass by, I developed the plan for my empire. I reasoned that, for the world to run smoothly, it would have to look presentable. I would assign people, aptly named Fixer-Uppers, to fix everything that needed fixing. That old man down the street with chipping paint on his house would have a fresh coat in no time. The boy who accidentally tossed his Frisbee onto the roof of the school would get it back. The big pothole on Elm Street that my mother managed to hit every single day on the way to school would be filled-in. It made perfect sense! All the people that didn't have a job could be Fixer-Uppers. I was like a ten-year-old FDR. Seven years down the road, I still take a second glance at the sidewalk cracks and think of my Fixer-Uppers, but now I'm doing so from the driver's seat. As much as I would enjoy it, I now accept that I won't become Emperor of the World, and that the Fixer-Uppers will have to remain in my car ride imaginings. Or do they? I always pictured a Fixer-Upper as a smiling man in an orange T-Shirt. Maybe instead, a Fixer-Upper could be a tall girl with a deep love for Yankee Candles. Maybe it could be me. Bridget the Fixer-Upper will be slightly different than the imaginary one who paints houses and fetches Frisbees. I was lucky enough to discover what I am passionate about when I was a freshman in high school. A self-admitted Phys. Ed. addict, I volunteered to help out with the Adapted PE class. On my first day, I learned that it was for developmentally-disabled students. To be honest, I was really nervous. I hadn't had too much interaction with special needs students before, and wasn't sure how to handle myself around them. Long story short, I got hooked. Three years have passed helping out in APE and eventually becoming a teacher in the Applied Behavior Analysis summer program. I love working with the students and watching them progress. When senior year arrived, college meetings began, and my counselor asked me what I wanted to do for a career, I didn't say Emperor of the World. Instead, I told him I wanted to become a board-certified behavior analyst. A BCBA helps develop learning plans for students with autism and other disabilities. Basically, I would get to do what I love for the rest of my life. He laughed and told me that it was a nice change that a seventeen-year-old knew so specifically what she wanted to do. I smiled, thanked him, and left. But it occurred to me that, while my desired occupation was decided, my true goal in life was still to become a Fixer-Upper. So, maybe I'll be like Sue Storm and her alter-ego, the Invisible Woman. I'll do one thing during the day, then spend my off-hours helping people where I can. Instead of flying like Sue, though, I'll opt for a nice performance automobile. My childhood self would appreciate that. What Makes This Essay Tick? Bridget takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but her essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of her essay. A Structure That's Easy to Follow and Understand The essay is arranged chronologically. Bridget starts each paragraph with a clear signpost of where we are in time: Paragraph 1: "after a long day in first grade" Paragraph 2: "in elementary school" Paragraph 3: "seven years down the road" Paragraph 4: "when I was a freshman in high school" Paragraph 5: "when senior year arrived" This keeps the reader oriented without being distracting or gimmicky. One Clear Governing Metaphor I would assign people, aptly named Fixer-Uppers, to fix everything that needed fixing. That old man down the street with chipping paint on his house would have a fresh coat in no time. The boy who accidentally tossed his Frisbee onto the roof of the school would get it back. †¦ Seven years down the road, I still take a second glance at the sidewalk cracks and think of my Fixer-Uppers, but now I'm doing so from the driver's seat. As much as I would enjoy it, I now accept that I won't become Emperor of the World, and that the Fixer-Uppers will have to remain in my car ride imaginings. Or do they? I always pictured a Fixer-Upper as a smiling man in an orange T-Shirt. Maybe instead, a Fixer-Upper could be a tall girl with a deep love for Yankee Candles. Maybe it could be me. †¦ I wanted to become a board-certified behavior analyst. A BCBA helps develop learning plans for students with autism and other disabilities. Basically, I would get to do what I love for the rest of my life. †¦But it occurred to me that, while my desired occupation was decided, my true goal in life was still to become a Fixer-Upper. What makes this essay fun to read is that Bridget takes a child's idea of a world made better through quasi-magical helpers and turns it into a metaphor for the author's future aspirations. It helps that the metaphor is a very clear one: people who work with students with disabilities are making the world better one abstract fix at a time, just like imaginary Fixer-Uppers would make the world better one concrete physical fix at a time. Every childhood Fixer-Upper ever. Ask your parents to explain the back row to you. (JD Hancock/Flickr) An Engaging, Individual Voice This essay uses many techniques that make Bridget sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know her. Technique #1: humor. Notice Bridget's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks her younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay- you could never mistake one writer for the other). In elementary school, I already knew my career path: I was going to be Emperor of the World. I was like a ten-year-old FDR. Technique #2: invented terminology. The second technique is the way Bridget coins her own terms, carrying them through the whole essay. It would be easy enough to simply describe the people she imagined in childhood as helpers or assistants, and to simply say that as a child she wanted to rule the world. Instead, she invents the capitalized (and thus official-sounding) titles "Fixer-Upper" and "Emperor of the World," making these childish conceits at once charming and iconic. What's also key is that the titles feed into the central metaphor of the essay, which keeps them from sounding like strange quirks that don't go anywhere. Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Bridget emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences. The big pothole on Elm Street that my mother managed to hit every single day on the way to school would be filled-in. It made perfect sense! All the people that didn't have a job could be Fixer-Uppers. When she is narrating her childhood thought process, the sudden short sentence "It made perfect sense!" (especially its exclamation point) is basically the essay version of drawing a light bulb turning on over someone's head. As much as I would enjoy it, I now accept that I won't become Emperor of the World, and that the Fixer-Uppers will have to remain in my car ride imaginings. Or do they? Similarly, when the essay turns from her childhood imagination to her present-day aspirations, the turn is marked with "Or do they?"- a tiny and arresting half-sentence question. Maybe instead, a Fixer-Upper could be a tall girl with a deep love for Yankee Candles. Maybe it could be me. The first time when the comparison between magical fixer-upper's and the future disability specialist is made is when Bridget turns her metaphor onto herself. The essay emphasizes the importance of the moment through repetition (two sentences structured similarly, both starting with the word "maybe") and the use of a very short sentence: "Maybe it could be me." To be honest, I was really nervous. I hadn't had too much interaction with special needs students before, and wasn't sure how to handle myself around them. Long story short, I got hooked. The last key moment that gets the small-sentence treatment is the emotional crux of the essay. As we watch Bridget go from nervously trying to help disabled students to falling in love with this specialty field, she undercuts the potential sappiness of the moment by relying on changed-up sentence length and slang: "Long story short, I got hooked." The best essays convey emotions just as clearly as this image. What Could This Essay Do Even Better? Bridget's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved. Explain the car connection better. The essay begins and ends with Bridget's enjoying a car ride, but this doesn't seem to be related either to the Fixer-Upper idea or to her passion for working with special-needs students. It would be great to either connect this into the essay more, or to take it out altogether and create more space for something else. Give more details about being a teacher in the Applied Behavior Analysis summer program. It makes perfect sense that Bridget doesn't want to put her students on display. It would take the focus off of her and possibly read as offensive or condescending. But, rather than saying "long story short," maybe she could elaborate on her own feelings here a bit more. What is it about this kind of teaching that she loves? What is she hoping to bring to the lives of her future clients? Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: 3 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively. #1: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions: Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well? Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye? Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill? Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone? Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it. Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay. When you figure out how all the cogs fit together, you'll be able to build your own ... um ... whatever this is. #2: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world. Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan, Leslie Jamison, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Esmà © Weijun Wang to get more example of how to craft a compelling personal narrative. #3: Start Early, Revise Often Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due. Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it! For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots Leaves. What's Next? Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application, some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay, and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities. Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Dr. Anna Wulick About the Author Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. No spam ever. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: '360031', formId: '2167ba30-e68e-4777-b88d-8bf3c84579af', formInstanceId: '2', submitButtonClass: 'btn-red-light btn', target: '#hubspot-container2', redirectUrl: 'http://ww2.prepscholar.com/blog-subscribe-thank-you', css: '.post-bottom .hs-form.stacked label {display:none;} .post-bottom .hs-form.stacked .field div.input {padding-top: 55px; padding-left: 300px;} .post-bottom .hs-input {width: 220px} .post-bottom .btn-primary, .hs-button.primary {margin-top:0px; padding-left:350px} .post-bottom .hs-form-field {margin-bottom:5px}' }); $(function(){ $(".exclusive-tip-form #hubspot-container2 label").hide(); }); function replace_tag(a, b){ $(a).each(function(index) { var thisTD = this; var newElement = $(""); $.each(this.attributes, function(index) { $(newElement).attr(thisTD.attributes[index].name, thisTD.attributes[index].value); }); $(this).after(newElement).remove(); }); } $(function(){ replace_tag($(".posts-by-topic h3"), "h2"); }) Ask a Question BelowHave any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply! Search the Blog Search jQuery(function(){ var $ = jQuery; var url = 'http://google.com/search?q=site:' + location.protocol + '//' + location.hostname + ' '; var $searchModule = $('.hs-search-module.07fb04ad-40a7-4864-ab03-2938ba9e986d'); var $input = $searchModule.find('input'); var $button = $searchModule.find('.hs-button.primary'); if (false) { $input.val(decodeURIComponent(location.pathname.split('/').join(' ').split('.').join(' ').split('-').join(' ').split('_').join(''))); } $button.click(function(){ var newUrl = url + $input.val(); var win = window.open(newUrl, '_blank'); if (win) { //Browser has allowed it to be opened win.focus(); } else { //Browser has blocked it location.href = newUrl; } }); $input.keypress(function(e){ if (e.keyCode !== 13) return; e.preventDefault(); $button.click(); }); }); Improve With Our Famous Guides SATPrep ACTPrep For All Students The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section: Score 800 on SAT Math Score 800 on SAT Reading Score 800 on SAT Writing Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section: Score 600 on SAT Math Score 600 on SAT Reading Score 600 on SAT Writing Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? 15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section: 36 on ACT English 36 on ACT Math 36 on ACT Reading 36 on ACT Science Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section: 24 on ACT English 24 on ACT Math 24 on ACT Reading 24 on ACT Science What ACT target score should you be aiming for? ACT Vocabulary You Must Know ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA How to Write an Amazing College Essay What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For? Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide Should you retake your SAT or ACT? When should you take the SAT or ACT? Michael improved by 370 POINTS! Find Out How Stay Informed Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Looking for Graduate School Test Prep? Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: GRE Online Prep Blog GMAT Online Prep Blog TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Reflective Journal On Capsim Business Simulation Essay

Reflective Journal On Capsim Business Simulation - Essay Example During our engagement in teamwork, there are a number of things that I learnt. By participating in the decision making, I learnt the importance of teamwork. Teamwork involves the work done by several associates with every member of the team playing a single part, but all members contributing individually to the success of the entire process. While working in a team, conflicts are likely to arise. Initial steps of a team are marred with collision as the team members try to understand one another. As the team cohesion grows, it becomes easy to solve any form of arising conflicts. There are benefits of working in a group. Among these benefits, problem solving especially whenever a crisis arises is important. While working in a team, accomplishing a task is easier and faster as decisions are reached faster (Bell 2011, p. 93). Every member of the group contributed their individual unique knowledge into the task, subsequently improving our results. Through the simulation process, I underst ood the essence of making effective and informed decisions that are results oriented. Decision making involves selecting the most appropriate and viable course of action from available alternatives (Adair 2010, p. 12). Decision making is a process that involves reasoning and evaluation of the consequences involved. A number of factors constrain the success of a team and the achievement of its goals. To a large extent, these problems can cripple the operations of a team (Macmillan 2001, p. 17). However, identifyin

Nelson Mandela, A great leader of our Time Term Paper

Nelson Mandela, A great leader of our Time - Term Paper Example South Africa’s Nelson Mandela is one such leader who has captivated the imagination of the entire world, transcending geographical and political boundaries. He is the recipient of numerous, richly deserved awards and accolades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the 1988 United Nations’ Human Rights Award, the 1998 US Congressional Gold Medal , the 2002 US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the British Order of Merit. A commemorative stamp in Mandela’s honor was issued by the USSR in 1998. Zimbabwe declared ‘Mandela Day’ as a national holiday in 1990, and his statue was erected in London’s Parliament Square in 2007(Biography.com, n.d.). Nelson Mandela personifies exemplary leadership. Mandela himself argues that "I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances." (Brink, 1998, p.1). A study of his life and works gives us manifold insights into the workings and personality of this great leader. The mark of a leader is evident in every stage of Mandela’s life: as a young man, during his long incarceration, and as a senior citizen of the world. Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July, 1918, at Mvezo. In 1927, after the death of his father, Nonqaphi Nosekeni, principal advisor to the Thembu Chief, Jongintaba Dalindyebo, Mandela was adopted into the Xhosa chieftain’s family. He was a close observer of the tribal meetings under the chieftain, where every man was free to express his opinion on perfect terms of equality. Mandela admits that â€Å"My later notions of leadership were profoundly influenced by observing the regent and his court† (1994, Part One). Mandela, by his own admission, adopted the chieftains’ axiom for leadership, â€Å"a leader, he said, is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind† (M andela, 1994, Part One). He developed the habit of giving everyone a patient hearing before expressing his own stand and always strived for consensus. Mandela remained a staunch supporter of the institution of traditional tribal chiefs as an integral part of African culture. In this context, it can be argued that Mandela himself was ‘a great man,’ born with innate traits of a leader. Mandela’s boyhood was spent cattle-herding. At the local mission school, he was named ‘Nelson.’ He joined the protest movement against apartheid as an undergraduate at the University College of Fort Hare. He was elected to the Student Representative Council (SRC) in his second year. Endorsing the vote of the majority of the students to boycott, in their agitation for better food and more student representative power, Mandela resigned his position. The University expelled Mandela. (Brink, 1998, p. 2). Here, we see the first evidence of his leadership, and ability to gener ate support and cooperation from his followers. He completed his B.A. through correspondence, and enrolled for his LLB. In 1952, he founded the law firm Mandela and Tambo, providing free and low-cost legal counsel to unrepresented blacks, who acknowledged his transformational leadership. His full-fledged political career commenced in 1943, when he joined the African National Congress (ANC). In 1944, Mandela, showing the initiative of a leader, co-founded the

Cultural and Intercultural Communication Practices Essay

Cultural and Intercultural Communication Practices - Essay Example For example, the United States of American and the United Kingdom are countries that considered low context groups due to their standard form of communication style and tone. In these countries, communication is done in the context of messages to a large population versus a specialized group. With this understanding, low context culture is also known to communicate through words and verbal cues versus allowing people to make their own inferences through the context of a given scenario or event. Because of these aspects, people in low context cultures tend to be more logical, individualistic, action-oriented and linear than those in high context cultures (Marin n.d.). Low context communication is expected to be concise and straightforward so there is little room for error when listening to communication messages. While low context cultures center on large populations, a high context culture focuses on types of communication messages that are specific to a certain group within the cult ure. With the purpose of high context cultures being to communicate specifically between specialized groups within a culture, people have a lot more opportunity to use their own inferences to make decisions and gather information versus those in a low context culture. Examples of high context cultures include France, China, Japan, Russia and India. Within high context cultures, people generally focus more on interpersonal relationships and building trust within the groups. Communication, whether written or verbal, in a high context culture is more formal than low context with special attention being paid to the way a message is delivered. People in a high context culture will focus on a person’s tone, facial expression and demeanor when communicating just as much as they focus on the actual message itself. With the definitions of these terms established, the focus can now shift to analyzing how low context and high context cultures interact with intercultural contact and inte rcultural ethics. When people from differing cultures communicate, there is a need for each party to assess their own communication tendencies as well as those of the person they are hoping to communicate with. For example, an American who is native of the state of New Jersey may have trouble communicating with a person who lives in Japan or China. When analyzing the more formal and contextual ways in which people from many Asian countries communicate, the laid back, potentially brash way in which someone native of the state of New Jersey, which is a low context culture, communicate might not mesh well with the Asian culture. In order to understand the potential issues that can arise when cultures and contexts mix, it is important for all parties involved to do some preparation work before the meeting takes place. First, people from both cultures need to gather some background information about the culture the other person is coming from. By asking themselves if it is a high context or low context culture, they will be able to determine if the person they are going to be attempting to communicate with is comfortable with a laid back style or expects a formal tone and sense of conduct

Relational Contracts: Advantages and Disadvantages

Relational Contracts: Advantages and Disadvantages Relational contract is defined as â€Å"Contracts in which what is expected by both sides is not written out in detail but develops as an ongoing relationship.† (Chrystal: 1997 p.702) whereas referring to CRC CI (2002), it deals with identifying and endeavouring an approach of mutual benefits through developing cooperative relationships and establishing a mechanism of risk-sharing. Thus, it is not only based on expectation but also underpins the mechanism of encouraging mutual collaboration between parties. As per Kumar N (1996), relationships must have a degree of elasticity to flourish which cannot be established by enforcing legal force of contracts rather by mutual obligatory force of trust. (p.105) and as the term ‘relational refers to the expectancy situation that benefits both parties from its continuance therefore, establishing the element of trust between the parties leads to economical benefits of sustainable lower cost of performing business activities and strategic advantage of meeting organisational goals. As relational contracts rely on existence of corresponding expertise and knowledge that the parties dont need to produce or buy in order to carry out transactions therefore, it cuts down short-run transactional (informational) costs, preventing parties to spend on buying expertise and information that other party can bring. The association between the parties also encourages innovation outcomes by sharing of information and skills so this people-orientated approach leads to develop competitive advantage which in turn manages the costs effectively. Thus, saving contractual cost that would otherwise have incurred in buying information as in classical contracts where there is not a free flow of data. Nowadays, more concern is paid to manage relationships than to maintain contractual terms as Neoclassical and arms-length contractual relations are against â€Å"lean† working which ensures mistrust and defensive behaviour that adds to transaction costs therefore establishment of partnerships especially between public agencies and services requires maintenance of trust. ‘Adverse approaches to contracting in construction industry have led to reduced efficient industry with lower productivity levels however, the relational contracting approach has evidently increased the efficiency by developing partnering agreements and joint team goals and reviews that enhanced financial returns and reduced incidents and conflicts. (Latham, 1994; Egan, 1998; RCF, 1995, ECI, 1997; CIB, 1997) It also supports creation of networks and also enhances goodwill that can be beneficial at the time when one company fails to work in the required way which saves cost of switching between the compani es. Relational contracts occur in variety of play between senior and middle-level managers, administration and employees, suppliers and the company so the strength of the relationship develops through the course of dependent learning that is hard to imitate. For example, according to Chrystal.K (1997:72), the job specifications evolve over time which may not be same as when the person applied for the job. Also, there may be many problems in completely specifying the performance required by the other party. In other words, employee and employer have reciprocal obligations which the either party obliges to fulfil anyway even if they were imprecise or ill-defined earlier. If not, then the negative consequences may be evident. Therefore, having a more open-handed, relational contract approach in firms can avoid the unconstructive circumstances, allowing employer to later specify the task and exploit the skills which also save cost that can be claimed by employee for breaching of the specific ations in the formal contract. (Shore and Barksdale, 1998) however, parties may not disclose all the relevant information and interpret the terms in contract their own way which may give rise to adverse selection and moral hazard problems. This shows that presence of clauses may prevent the opportunistic approach and ensures reliability which signifies that ‘real trust does not exist in business world. (Williamson, O.E, 1993:97-107) Also, if contractual relations are based on social norms then fewer transactional relations will be observed with primitive approach as most of them will exist between the reliable known parties whereas the legal approach proposes agreements with anonymous too. Thus, reducing the cost by specification of risk allocation if transactional cost were nil, decreasing coordination and informational expenses. Also it prevents ex ante opportunistic approach by establishing legal enforcement and reduces ex post opportunism by specifying rules. Thus, formal contracts are ‘lubricant of economy. (Schafer.H Ott.C: 2004:277-278) however, its clear specification to avoid opportunism can make contracts costly. Also Nooteboom (2002) criticises this view as contracts can be based on moral values, habits and certain other factors that ensure reliable performance as in relational contracts. Moreover, empirical research by Macaulay (1963) and Beale Dugdale (1975) concludes that â€Å"Businessmen prefer relying on a mans word in a brief letter, a handshake, or ‘usual honesty and decency even though there is high risk transactional cost included†. The underlying basis for formation of relational contracts is the value that it establishes over the years to maintain contracting relationships rather than investing sole concentration on transaction taking place between firms. Different deferred remunerations like promotion based on seniority, lifetime employment, generous pension schemes all serve to the aim of establishing relational contract which develops long-term bonding. Thus, saving cost on investment in establishing future relationship. Also it can establish successful long-term bonding at the start of the relationship which saves costs by enhancing the probability ratio of establishing mutual policy objectives which can encourage alliance over the utilisation of resources that are scarcely available within the parties. (Brown et al., 2004, p.748) This relationship flourishes over time that promotes flexibility of adapting to altering situations and priorities without affecting focus on outcomes thus leading to successful transactions between companies and saving cost that would otherwise have incurred in bringing the change. (Gibbons as cited from Kleins studies: 2005, p.209) (Levin, 2003, p.837) Also contracts that are established on relational basis rely on long-term reputation factor rather than contractual time-limit. (Kragly J et al: 2007) it is also backed by Williamson (2006), that ‘parties dont renegotiate the terms in contracts as they carry symmetric knowledge in relational contracting however black and white contract involves costs that increases with the increase in number of terms in agreement (p.290). Referring to Gibbons (2005:p.237), relational contracts can remedy the imperfection of the formal contract. Thus, saving cost on written agreement. Also relational contracts overcome the hardships of formal contracts that are enforced by law as formal contractual terms need to be specified before ex ante that the third party verifies ex post but in relational contracts, only contrac ting parties can notice outcomes ex post. Also the specification of ex ante can be costly so it is avoided in relational contracting. Thus, this ‘self-enforcing nature of relational contract saves contractual costs, allowing parties to utilise their elaborated knowledge and adapt to upcoming information as in employee-employer relationship. However, the same reason could lead to a disadvantage of not being enforced by a third party as traders might face a problem with ruling out of third party enforcement as they are most concerned about the identity of trading partners. (Brown et al., 2004, p.748) and as per Levin (2003), relational contracts are based on ‘self-enforcing characteristic therefore, reneging can not only end relationship but also can make other party suffer loss which in turn increases cost. (p.836) however, the basis of establishing relational contract is the incentive that both parties share thus, halting the reneging approach. Also the violator would su ffer loss of reputation which delineates the ‘self-enforcing nature of relational contracting. (Klein Nevin, 1997, p.417) The point of concern is stated by Simon (1995), that the capability of processing information by humans is limited (Bounded rationality) which can increase relational contract costs. Also contractual rawness can be a result of ambiguity aversion which can be haggling cost because of different acknowledgements of both the parties thus increasing the cost of transaction and contract contingency. (Williamson, 1985, Mookerji, 1998) however, in relational contracts the strength of the relationship develops through the course of dependent learning that is hard to imitate and is more flexible than classical contracts which require more cost of abiding by contractual terms and as the relationship between trust and cost works inversely, the absence of trust would require compliancy to certain standards and rules so as to maintain relationship which then would increase the cost of setting conditions, negotiating, regulating and monitoring formal contracts. Thus, in medium to long term, relatio nal contracting saves costs of uncertainty by establishing reliability on trust that lowers down the degree of insecurity on accomplishing objectives as trust decreases ratio of conflicts and opportunistic conduct. Also less control of regulation means the requirement of tight control is not necessary thus saving cost. In conclusion, relational contracts approach within firms is very effective and need to develop trust across different cultures is required however, some multi-organisations with complex business dealings require formal contractual enforcements that are more cost-efficient for them whereas in construction industry, this is the most widely practised effectual form of contracting. Thus, relational contracts save cost by establishing mutual trust and encouraging multi-disciplinary approach which creates long-term tangible and intangible value that promotes mutual cost-efficient collaboration and flexible dealings however, on the other hand its non-specification can give rise to moral hazard and opportunistic behaviour problems which can further increase the cost. It is suggested that a win-win situation should be created that is founded on relational contracting to establish sustainable long-term relationships and trust which will keep the costs low as compared to formal contract enforc ement. Bibliography Chrystal.K Lipsey.R (1997), â€Å"Economics for business and management†, published by Oxford University press, New York, pg.72 Davis.D Holt.C (1993), â€Å"Experimental Economics†, Princeton University press, New Jersey McAleesee.D (2004), â€Å"Eonomics for Business-Competition, Macro-stability and Globalisation†, 3rd Edt, Published by Financial Times Pearson Education Limited, England Samuelson.P Nordhaus.W (1995), â€Å"Economics†, 15th International Edt, published by Mc-Graw-Hill, USA Kumar N (1996), â€Å"The Power of Trust in Manufacturer-Retailer Relationships†, Harvard Business Review, p 105. Williamson, O.E., (1985), â€Å"The Economic Institutions of Capitalism†, Free Press, New York Trust and relational contracting, http://www.mdl.co.nz/library/librarydocs/partnership_contracting/Relational_contracting, date accessed 2-11-09, last updated unknown Kay. J (1995), â€Å"Why firms succeed†, Oxford University Press, New York, pg 54 Kragly J et al (2007), â€Å"Relational Contracts and Inequity Aversion†, Technical University Berlin, http://www.bgpe.de/texte/paper/kragl Mouzas S Blois K, â€Å"Relational Contract Theory: Confirmations and Contradictions†, University of Lancaster, http://www.impgroup.org/uploads/papers/6764, Henderson.R et al (2008), â€Å"What do managers do (to build competitive advantage) The development of contracts the origin of organisational capability†, Harvard Business School Colledge B (2005), â€Å"Relational contracting-Creating value beyond project†, Vol.2, Lean construction journal, www.leanconstructionjournal.org, Baker.G et al (2001), â€Å"Relational contracts and the theory of firm†, Journal of Economics Anonymous, â€Å"An Investigation Of The Relational Component Of The Psychological Contract Across Time, Generation, And Employment Status†, Journal of Managerial Issues, 2001, http://www.entrepreneur.com/interstitial/default.html, Shore, L. M. and K. Barksdale. 1998. Examining Degree of Balance and Level of Obligation in the Employment Relationship: A Social Exchange Approach. Journal of Organizational Behavior 19. 731-744. Grimmer. M Oddy. M (2007), â€Å"Violation of the Psychological Contract: The Mediating Effect of Relational Versus Transactional Beliefs†, Australian Journal of Management, Vol. 32 Foss.N, â€Å"Bounded rationality and organisational economics†, http://organizationsandmarkets.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/foss-n-bounded-rationality-and-organisational-economics.pdf, Schafer.H Ott.C (2004), â€Å"The economic analysis of civil law†, published by Edward Elgar publishing Limited, UK, 277-278 Williamson, O.E (1993), â€Å"Opportunism and its critics†, managerial and decision economics, 14, pp 97-107 Simon, H.A. (1955), â€Å"A Behavioral Model of Rational Choice†, Quarterly Journal of Economics 69, 99-118. Simon, H. A. (1979), ‘Rational Decision Making in Business Organizations, American Economic Review 69, 493-513. Williamson, O.E. (1985), ‘The Economic Institutions of Capitalism, New York: Free Press. Mookerji, S. (1998), ‘Ambiguity Aversion and Incompleteness of Contractual Form, American Economic Review 88, 1207-1231. Rowlinson Steve, â€Å"Relational contracting, culture and Globalisation†, http://www.alliancingassociation.org/Content/Attachment/Relational%20Contracting,%20Culture%20and%20Globalisation%20-%20S.%20Rowlinson%20F.%20Cheung%202007.pdf, CRC CI (2002), â€Å"A review of concepts and definitions of the various forms of relational contracting†, (2002-022-a), Barisbane, Australia, unpublished report. Egan J. (1988), â€Å"Rethinking Construction†, HMSO, London Egan J (2004)., â€Å"The Egan Review: Skills for Sustainable Communities†, OPDM, London, Latham M. (1994), â€Å"Constructing the Team, Joint Review of Procurement and Contractual Arrangements in the UK Construction Industry†, HMSO, London Macaulay S. (1963), â€Å"Non-Contractual Relations in Business: A Preliminary Study†, American Sociological Review, Vol.28, No. 55 Beale and Dugdale (1975), â€Å"Contracts between Businessmen†, British Journal of Law and Society, Vol. 2, Issue 45, pp 45-48 Rowlinson, Steve and Cheung, Yan Ki Fiona (2004), â€Å"Relational contracting, culture and globalisation†, AIT, Bangkok

Online Shopping: Product Availability and Logistics Essay -- The Logis

Table of Contents Introduction 1 Online shops, Logistics and the Last Mile Problem 3 The E-Commerce Platform’s Accessibility and Availability 6 Efficient Customer Response and Quick Response 8 Conclusion 10 References 11 Introduction Online shops are an alternative to traditional shopping methods, but do they solve product availability issues in a viable way, and are traditional shopping methods preferred over online shopping? Morris, B (2013) points out that more consumers prefer online shopping as 70 % of 3,000 online shoppers surveyed in February 2013 in a study performed by the United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) say they would rather shop their favorite retailer online. This can only lead us to understand that a relatively large number of customers choose to satisfy their needs in an online platform. At first sight, it might be possible to speculate and assume that the reasons many of these customers choose to follow this path derives from qualities that include but are not limited to the ease-of-use, reliability, platform availability and accessibility as e-commerce platforms are accessible and available round the year, only as long as access to the internet is on hand (Gao, N.A.). It is accurate to pry into these qualities and strive in the possible relationship they might have with a term such as customer satisfaction, which could be prematurely answered if the fact that such terms describe the benefits online platforms have. As opposed to those found within traditional shopping methods. Moreover, Morris, B. (2013) showed that UPS (a logistics and package delivery company) had a positive overall customer satisfaction score of 83% which not only explains why the â€Å"back-end of the online shopping experi... ...s.com/sites/ashoka/2014/02/17/6459/ [Accessed April 29, 2014]. 6. Gao, J. (N.A.) â€Å"Introduction to E-Commerce† Computer, College of engineering ISE, Information & Systems Engineering, San Jose State University. https://www.uop.edu.jo/download/research/members/introduction.pdf [Accesed April 29, 2014] 7. The World Bank. (2013). â€Å"Internet Users (per 100 people). http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.P2 [Accesed April 29, 2014]. 8. Price Waterhouse Coopers. (2012). â€Å"10 myths of multichannel retailing†. http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/retail-consumer/retail-consumer-publications/global-multi-channel-consumer-survey/country-snapshots.jhtml [Accesed April 29, 2014]. 9. Weinstein, R. (2005) â€Å"RFID: A Technical Overview and its Application to Enterprise† the IEEE Computer Society, IT Pro. http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~jgao/CSE370-spring07/RFID.pdf [accessed April 29, 2014].

Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates Obesity Critique Essay

According to Wil Haygood, it’s his best opinion that the health concerns in this town of Manchester are due to the lack of exercise facilities and excess amounts of fast food restaurants and unhealthy foods offered in their local stores. I somewhat agree, to a point, that it is more difficult with so much temptation around. However, I also feel that a lack of self control is a contributing factor in any case such as this, as well as the fact that some people turn to food in times of stress, while others may also be in denial that there is a problem at all. In this story as well as actual situations, I have heard reasons and â€Å"excuses† as to why someone may be overweight. For example, in the story the Mayor of the town says, â€Å"I just don’t know a lot about obesity.† Until you realize it, you’re blinded. Then you get to an age where you suddenly say, â€Å"Oh, my God! What have I done to myself?† On the one hand, it seems as though the mayor is admitting that at one point in time, she was oblivious to the fact that she was overweight. At the same time, I do not understand how any individual could not be aware of such changes to his or her own body, especially if it is a drastic change. I would have to say that she demonstrates a definite lack of self control, and denial that the problem has or had anything to do with her own actions. By focusing on anything but the root of the issue, this woman may be overlooking the deeper problem of her health actually being in jeopardy. I feel that these type s of problems can be solved by individuals simply assuming responsibility that they have a lot to do with their weight gain. They can make better decisions, though they may be hard to follow through with, they can take action to correct their issue. Focusing on one man by the name of Charlie Rawlins, he chose to do this. He was a twenty year old man who stood five foot nine inches tall, and weighed two hundred and fifty one pounds. His weight was problematic to the point that it caused him to have to have several knee surgeries. The pain that he had to experience from his weight applying so much pressure on his body was more than he could handle. Mr. Rawlins educated himself on nutrition. He  started eating healthier, making better choices with his eating habits, and he began working as a personal trainer at a physical therapy facility inside a local hospital. With such positive choices, determination, effort and a lot of dedication, he was able to lose a total of sixty six pounds. He shows a lot of concern towards the local kids. He attempts to get them to come and see him at work, but they always refuse. His concern for them is sincere and personal because as he puts it, â€Å"The kids around here, they’ll eat corn b read and taters for lunch. They’ll get a 20-piece chicken meal. It’s killing them.† He figures that the reason that people do not go is due to a lack of resources, however he also argues that with the amount of money that these people spend on fast food they could easily afford his prices. Another local, Regina Stevens, who is the town’s pharmacist, states that it is her opinion that the residents are â€Å"unaware of the consequences of being overweight.† The pharmacist admits that a good share of the medications, which she prescribes, are â€Å"things that can be adversely affected by increased weight.† â€Å"These medications are for conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension†. She also admits that while she is most important to some people, others would not need her help at all if they would simply lost weight. Some of these individuals could be taken off of their medications all together. She even states that â€Å"they would have increased longevity in life.† If Regina Stevens is right about this, which I believe that she is, then it is a shame that so many people still believe that losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle is so difficult to attain. One former local, Jill Day who grew up in this town was astounded by the amounts of overweight people, children and adults as she looked around after coming home on a break from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. It was her opinion that the issue would make â€Å"an interesting academic study.† She did a study on the underlying causes that can lead to obesity. She conducted the study using elementary school students, by using fourth and fifth graders, although only two hundred and seventy seven students total participated out of seven schools. She did different tests, and as it turned out, exactly half of the students were either overweight or obese. Her next comments are hand in hand with what was stated before, about the problem  with denial. Day, who is now an assistant professor of human development and kinesiology says the people have a fear of talking about the issue of obesity, â€Å"a fear of knowing the truth.† She even states that some claim that obesi ty by in large is heredity however she disagrees. She states that â€Å"Since 1980, obesity has tripled in children, so we can’t totally blame genetics for this increase.† She blames the issue on a lack of physical activity combined with poor eating habits, and makes a valid point that attitude can make a large impact on willingness to make such changes. She talks about how people do not want to work hard to get to where they want to be. Instead, they just want to take the easy way out and the outcome of taking that ‘easy route’ is that these people are having severe health problems. Some other people mentioned in this story are two sisters, Carlin and Brittney Robinson. These girls are sweet and full of personality; however the main topic of conversation for them is food. Carlin states that she has started to notice that she is bigger than most kids at school and that she gets picked on. Her sister Brittney says that she would like to talk to Carlin about her weight but she does not want to â€Å"push her buttons.† She states that it is uncomfortable to talk about. Carlin even admits that she will not weigh herself because it is embarrassing. The girls do not even have full length mirrors in their home, so they cannot see the extent of their weight gain. Brittney is right that she should talk to her sister and help her in any way that she can, but she seems to be more hesitant when she claims that her reasoning for not doing so is to not upset her. It is my opinion that by not reaching out to her she is enabling the situation. At the same time, she wants to keep from hurting her sisters’ feelings, possibly making her feel worse about herself. The better thing to have done would have been to reach out, especially as a family member, which is a lot less embarrassing than an outsider, and voice her concern in a way that showed that she cared, carefully. In conclusion, I would just like to say that I hope that more people will start taking the initiative like Charlie Rawlins did, and be able to understand that it is okay to admit that they have a problem and to ask for  help if they truly need it. If you are embarrassed about your appearance, and know that you need to lose weight, it isn’t as hard as you think. It will be hard at first, but keeping a positive attitude and staying determined to reach your goal, then you will be able to succeed. References: Kentucky town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis (published in the Washington post, July 17th, 2010), by Author Wil Haygood Pages 406-416 of â€Å"They say I say† by Authors Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. Haygood, Wil. â€Å"Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis† Washington Post, 2010 July 12.

Societal Marketing Essays

Societal Marketing Essays Societal Marketing Essay Societal Marketing Essay Societal marketing based on ethics, honesty, trust, reciprocal relationship with the community and secondary focus on profitability is the pivot in the field of business which will influence uplifting changes in the interest of the organization as well as change the character of the nation. It is the need of the time, when the impact of industrialization, cut throat competition and materialism is at its peak. Societal marketing emerged in the early 1970s, promising a more socially responsible and ethical model for marketing. (2007)â€Å"The societal marketing concept holds that the organization’s task is to determine the needs, wants, and interests of target markets and to deliver the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors, in a way that preserves or enhances the consumers and the societys well-being†. (Kotler, Philip. Marketing management: analysis, planning, implementation and control 8th ed. Prentice-Hall, 1994) ( Webber, 2001)Globali zation and International investment on the rise, the premier business publication Forbes magazine undertook the responsibility of evaluating the world trend in investment and marketing on some sound ground rules which would govern their role in the arena of international player in the world market. â€Å"It sought out many of the worlds top institutions of sociological and economic theory, gathered the results of surveys, statistical studies, and socio-economic data on each of the 135 countries in its index, assigning relative per cent-rankings for each of the chambers largely qualitative principles. The magazine then aggregated scores across 10 separate categories to develop the first Forbes Capital Hospitality Index (FCHI). The Forbes Capital Hospitality Index measures macroeconomic indicators like GDP growth and international trade, along with societal factors affecting investment, including poverty, bureaucracy, technological advancement, and corruption.† (Ravindran, 2006 )Bankers will remember 2006 as the year a new king was crowned: Bank of America, once a scrappy North Carolina regional, replaced Citigroup as the nations most profitable bank. Today BofA (nyse: BAC news people ) earns the most per quarter and is first in deposits, credit and debit card transactions, small business banking, Internet banking and, with the recent acquisition of US Trust from Charles Schwab (nasdaq: SCHW news people ), private banking as well. But Bank of America continues to grow like a small bank: Analysts expect earnings to rise 9% a year for the next five years, and it earns a healthy 17% return on equity and 1.4% on assets. BofA hasnt gotten sloppy, either.Under Lewis the net margin has increased from 13% in 2001 to 18%. Shareholders have seen a 26% return over the past 12 months. Theres empirical evidence that we changed for the better, he says, and our customers saw it.The banking environment is hitting a rough patch- rising short-term rates and loan default s will hurt interest income- but Bank of America isnt big into mortgages (not yet), and its huge retail business means steady profits from fees. Lewis says hell focus next on small business, premier-level banking and capital markets in Asia and Europe. The analysts say hell also go after mortgages, and, apparently, retail brokering. The bank recently started giving away stock trades for free for qualifying customers. ( Beller , 2006)Social marketing can be used in public health campaigns (e.g., to reduce smoking and alcoholism, safe sex, and increasing physical fitness), environmental campaigns (e.g., fighting pollution, promoting recycling, saving water and power), education campaigns (to encourage literacy), and the protection of individual/group rights (e.g., racial and gender equality, gay and lesbian rights). (Kindra Stapenburs, 1998)Societal marketing based on ethical and philanthropic principle can achieve this dynamic change within a society, community and a country by rais ing the awareness of the citizens about the costs of the corruption to the country, addressing the concern about institutions within a country, increasing understanding regarding the factors of corruption within public behavior.The premier business publication said: As access to capital markets around the world becomes commonplace for individual investors and multinational institutions alike, the race is on for countries to attract the foreign investment capital needed to fuel the engines of growth at home. Addressing this need for a one-stop reference, Forbes began with a list of principles employed by the US Chamber of Commerce when considering international investments. FORBES has listed Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the US, the UK, Singapore, Australia, Estonia, Ireland, and New Zealand as the top 10 countries in the world in terms of capital hospitality. (Ravindran, 2006);

Swansong by Christopher Bruce Essays

Swansong by Christopher Bruce Essays Swansong by Christopher Bruce Essay Swansong by Christopher Bruce Essay Essay Topic: Play The chair is the only constant prop in the performance, and it is used in many ways. Firstly and most obviously it is used as a chair, in the introduction the victim is sitting on the chair and the interrogators use this to trap him in between them. By the 1st section the interrogators have pulled the victim off the chair, the chair is then used to balance the victims weight suggesting that they are keeping the victim from being free. The chair starts to become used as a shield for the victim- this shows us that the victim is starting to see the chair as some form of protection or safety net for him. This idea is developed majorly in section 2 of the performance. The victim often reaches for the safety of the chair only to have it pulled away from him, the interrogators use the chair against it pulling it away fro them victim as he goes to sit, and teasing him with it. The chair is also used in the piece as an emotional shield we know this by section 3 when the victim bends over the chair, one arm reaching forwards past his head, the other behind his back with the hands opening out from clenched fists. This could be a scream or a cry and is the first bird like gesture of the section- showing us that the victim is protecting himself using the chair but also trying to reach freedom with it. In the last few sections the chair becomes a negative image the chair is taken away from him, held as a form of bribery, then he is trapped underneath it, left almost corpse like, trapped by the chair and the surroundings. The chair becomes a burden to the victim in section 5 we know this because he lifts the chair onto his back as though carrying a great weight, he uses the back of the chair as bars of a prison cell, he stands on it to look at the light closer to become closer to freedom then crumples in frustration and the solo ends with his ankles trapped in the bars of the chair. In the piece there is not much use of other props, however there is some. In section two we see two vital uses of props, one is the red nose that is placed on the victims nose during interrogation this is used to humiliate the victim and an attempt at making him crack under the humiliation. The second is the use of baseball caps used by the interrogators. They wear baseball caps with the rims turned up- this shows the victim (and the audience) that they are playing a game with him- a game they intend on winning. Then in section 6 of swansong the Interrogators emerge holding canes, the canes slowly take on the appearance of weapons and are used to threaten and beat the victim. The use of lighting within the piece is mainly used to show the freedom the victim is missing out on. It is produced by one lone light in the centre of the stage and is prominent at several points in the performance. It is mainly seen when the victim steps toward it to show his urge, and need to escape. In section 5 on the piece the victim stands on the chair, looking up at the direction of the light clearly longing to follow and find it, He then follows the light which represents freedom but also the uncertainty of what lies ahead for him. In section 7 the victim is dead, he walks naturally toward the light, he seems happy and content that he is finally free. There are several dance styles used throughout the piece ranging from contemporary to vaudeville. The mixture of these styles creates the confused and almost surreal situation the victim is placed in, and in combining the styles of vaudeville, ballet and contemporary he has opened the piece up to more people, and broadened the target audience. Contemporary style is used to move one movement onto the next, whereas the classical style is a lot stiffer and used more to show the longing of freedom.

NASCAR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

NASCAR - Essay Example Chicken Soup for the National Association, for Stock Car Auto Racing Soul highlights one hundred and one great narrations of courage, speed, conquering adversity and dedication. NASCAR, the number one spectator sport in United States, brings you this exciting jam packed trivia article that takes the reader around the country to each of the twenty NASCAR Winston Cup Series race tracks. From Pocono to Atlanta speedway, Daytona International Speedway, to the California Speedway, you can test your skill and knowledge of National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing facts and lore. This book was tailored particularly meant for National Association for Stock Cars Auto Racing fans by David Poole and Jim McLaurin. This feature goes behind the scene of the all confidential world of the supporters, decision makers and drivers while listen in individual conversations; from colorful typescript to high speed adventures. According to John Roberts and M.B. Roberts with more than seventy five million fans, The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is one of the globals mainly well-liked sports. John Roberts, who is a Racing Broadcaster, finds out the answers to the burning questions, such as who had the highest winning streak in the race? What are the best ever cars on the circuit? Who are the most excellent female participants of all time? Among

Visit to the Contemporary Jewish Museum Assignment

Visit to the Contemporary Jewish Museum - Assignment Example e mood of the photograph, the black and white color helps reminiscence the ancient romantic feelings and the chivalry that was practiced those days (London, Upton and Stone 24). The photo is very simple in terms of its composition, the place where it has been taken has helped simplify the picture coupled with the magnificent background has drawn my attention towards the picture. In ancient days, it was generally accepted that some levels of modest should be observed in public but Cassidy and his girlfriend had the courage to defy these conservative expectations of them to go ahead and kiss. However, the disinterest displayed by most of the people in the background of the photo leaves many questions as to whether this was a manipulated scene or the photo was just taken in its natural setting. The photographer, Allen Ginsberg, was not a professional photographer but a poet who had more expertise in poetry as compared to photography. To some extent, he may have been trying to put his poetic intuitions into a pictorial form to combine with his written poetry. In this photo, Allen Ginsberg shows his paternal grandmother in a state of meditation or in deep thought, in front of her is a plate with a meal set on a table with a white surface. Allen paints a somber mood with the picture with his grandmother seemingly sulky and the monotony of colors in the picture that goes to enhance the dull mood. To draw the attention of the viewer to the subject matter of the picture, he has placed the face of the woman at the centre of the photo ensuring that the viewers attention is drawn first to the dull face of the woman and it triggers imagination as to why is the woman dull, is she in prayer or meditating? Is she disgruntled with the food before her? This leaves the viewer in suspense as he tries to look for answers to the above questions. Another attribute that draws a viewer to this picture and to a large extent most of Allen Ginsberg pictures is the simplistic nature