The eNotes Blog 5 Things to Avoid While TeachingShakespeare

5 Things to Avoid While TeachingShakespeare Introducing Shakespeare to high school students is daunting. Getting them to care about Shakespeare is even more intimidating. Though we often have the best intentions, many of us fall into the following teaching traps when we turn to the Bard. Im certainly guilty of doing this, and Ive tried to make up for these transgressions by doing things a little differently. Lets look at these five (extremely common) things  to  avoid  doing while teaching Shakespeare to high school students as well as how Ive tried doing things instead.   1. Force Students to Read the Play Aloud as if They Were Actors The theater lover in me opens Shakespeare and wants my  students to experience the magic firsthand. Have students  read it aloud; have them perform it! They will make  it their own and fall in love with the characters the way I did in the theater.This seems like such a good idea. But, its actually an easy way to make your students cringe at the mention of Shakespeares name and fake sore throats to get out of reading.What I love about seeing Shakespeare performed in a theater is how well the actors  perform  the  lines and make them easy to understand using the right inflection. Students approaching the material for the first time have a hard enough time working through what the text is saying, let alone performing in a way that  is entertaining and  meaningful to everyone else in the room. (Not to mention it generally embarrasses the more introverted students and makes them feel quite negatively towards the play.) Instead, I try  to  let professionals, like Branagh, take the stage: Find a recording of the play and have students follow along while the tape reads. Youll be surprised to find how much better the students are able to understand the language  in the play when it is performed properly. Stop the tape frequently to discuss the metaphors and ask them questions about the text. If you want students to perform the lines, assign them a particular scene to learn and memorize. This will help them fully understand how the language works  and  make the material their own. Win win! 2. Consider  (or call)  Shakespeares Language  Old English All of my students start off calling Shakespeare Old English because it seems so alien to them. However, Old English is actually an entirely different language. Beowulf  was written in Old English. It looks like this: HWÆT, WE GAR-DEna in geardagum, à ¾eodcyninga à ¾rym gefrunon, hu à °a à ¦Ãƒ ¾elingas ellen fremedon! Shakespeare is written in  Early Modern English. Arbitrary, technical, and unnecessary distinction, you might say? Think again! Telling your students that Shakespeare is not Old English but  Modern  English can help make the text more accessible. He does  use some archaic puns, metaphors, and vocabulary, but what students are calling old is his syntax and poetic phrasing, not so much his language. They dont have to learn a whole different language to understand the play- they just have to figure out how  he plays with the language they already speak (which is so much easier!). I  try to dust off the old language with the following: Do a lesson on iambic pentameter and poetic phrasing (Shakespeares weird syntax). If students know why the language sounds so strange, they will feel more competent  approaching  it, instead of dismissing it as something old that they dont think they can  understand. Analyze  something like hip-hop or lyric syntax to help students understand how Shakespeare played with the language. In other words, people in Shakespeares time didnt necessarily talk like this, but they  understood his language  the way we understand songs today. For a fun way to help them play with Shakespeares syntax and form, have students try to write a Shakespearian sonnet in iambic pentameter. Proposing they write about particularly absurd topics (Sonnet to a Squirrel) makes this exercise informative and entertaining. 3. Read the Play  for Its Plot The  best  part of a Shakespeare play in the theater is watching the characters and plot unfold on the stage. But whats even better is being able to break down all of the metaphors, irony, allusions, and off-the-wall metaphors. And there is no better place to do that than an English classroom! While spoilers  for  Game of Thrones may be blasphemy, spoilers in Shakespeare allow students to get into the really fun bits of these plays. Shakespeare borrowed most of his plots from historical events, mythology, or other playwrights. The fun of Early Modern Drama was not what was depicted, but  how  it was depicted. I try  to  indulge in spoilers: Encourage students to look up a synopsis of the play online before reading it as a class. Create a plot outline and post it somewhere in the classroom (or online) so that students know exactly what they are reading about when they get lost in the language. Spend class time focusing on the specific metaphors, irony, characters, etc. This  will help students remember the play and its themes long after the class is over. 4. Treat Shakespeare Like the Almighty Bard and Master  of the English Language This one was really hard for me to accept. As an English teacher, theater lover, and metaphor enthusiast, Shakespeare  is  the almighty master of the English language.  However, my tendency to nerd out over Shakespeares brilliance before my students even got to the text tended to make them less open to reading (or loving)  it. Why? Because Shakespeare already comes with a lot of baggage. Chances are, your students have associations that align Shakespeare with high-class, complicated, and unquestionably brilliant literature. When in reality, Shakespeare was the low, popular entertainment of his time. Shakespearian theater was performed outside the city walls near bear-baiting pits and whore houses. Treating Shakespeare texts like they contain all of lifes answers will dissuade students from engaging in, questioning, and appreciating the text for what it is. Shakespeare is full of body humor, insults, innuendos, and, yes, flaws. If you introduce Shakespeare as undeniably great, your students will miss all of this (or worse, think they cant talk about it). I try  to put Shakespeare back in the bear pit: Introduce Shakespeare in his Early Modern context. Bring in modern  books, short stories, or play adaptations by authors with ethnically diverse backgrounds to show students how authors have taken up the same themes as Shakespeare (many even doing it better). Fun Fact: The Bodleian Library (one of the most famous libraries and the site where  they filmed Harry Potters library scenes) originally  rejected  Shakespeares plays. Sir Thomas Bodley claimed that he had built the library as an ark to save learning from the deluge and had to keep out  very unworthy matters such as Shakespeares plays. 5. Lecture About What the Play  Meant to Say Many of Shakespeares plays are extremely controversial (see  The Merchant of Venice) or extremely cryptic (see  King Lear). When I first started teaching, I thought offering a resolution to these problems would help students better understand and connect to the story. It did not. Resolving textual problems only solidified the idea that the text was perfect rather than helping the student learn. Grappling with these controversies and inconsistencies can be one of the most rewarding and empowering exercises a student can do in an English class. I tried to get cozy with ambiguity: Hold a classroom discussion or debate about what is going on in the text and why. Rather than offering solutions, ask students  a lot of questions and never resolve the problems.  The question is often better than the answer anyway. Even if you avoid all of the donts and do all of the dos, some students will never get happy feet when you pull out a Shakespeare play. But, if you give the students the space to engage with  the plays, they will  leave the class with something even more valuable: critical eyes and confidence. Ultimately, the best thing you can do to teach Shakespeare is to make it fun for your students and yourself. Who knows, you might even  create another anglophile.

Passion, or something like it - Emphasis

Passion, or something like it Passion, or something like it It probably wont surprise you to find out that were pretty keen on the English language here at Emphasis. And we like to know that others are too. Fortunately, evidence of this is easy to find: look no further than the comments section at the bottom of just about any online article about our language. Take this Guardian blog about the growing use of the phrase right now: what follows is a veritable hotbed of debate and rancorous ravings on some uses of English people just love to hate. It seems many members of the public take deep and personal offence at everything from classic management speak (blue-sky thinking, window of opportunity) to misplaced reflexive pronouns (yourself for you; myself for me); from starting every sentence with look to peppering them too generously with like. And a fight might yet break out between the haters of Americanisms and the haters of haters of Americanisms. It may get pretty ugly sometimes, but they do say that the opposite of love is actually not hate, but indifference. And while passionate certainly isnt a word to use lightly, its safe to say there are obviously some ticks and traits of our language that get people pretty hot and bothered. This can only mean that they care. So show us you care too. Leave a comment here in our writing blog on any aspect of the language that raises your ire, your interest, or anything else.

Reflective Learning Nursing Personal Statement

Reflective Learning Nursing - Personal Statement Example Discussion During the actual encounter with the patient, I had to make the patient comfortable by introducing myself, and telling her I was her nurse, asking how the patient feels prior to inviting her to sit down and giving her instructions, with eye contact while we talk. I made sure that I was attentive, not only listening, but also mentally taking note of the patient’s body gestures, facial expression, and fears, if any. Through these gestures towards the patient, I was able to make her feel relaxed and comfortable (Tollefson, 2010). During the interview establishing identity of the patient and the reason for the visit, I had to note how the patient feels and limit the question and answer on matters with regards to her health, current condition and history. This way, I was able to maintain professionalism as well as make the patient feel safe and respected (Kuiper and Pesut, 2004). I also noted if there were communication problems, such as language barrier, or communicatio n discomfort on the part of the patient. Fortunately, the patient was easy to talk with. Throughout the interview, I encouraged her to talk about her health issue or issues but avoiding much prodding as well as repetition of topic. I was able to accomplish this by taking notes on her answers and with my focus on her alone. Where there was unclear information given by the patient, I had to paraphrase and ask through a question answerable by yes or no for confirmation. After sufficient information was provided by the patient, I summarize the information and confirm from her if the information was right. I also checked if the patient had identification band in order to compare data provided. I then proceed to take the vital signs but I failed to explain to the patient why these were needed. After getting her consent to perform the procedures, I washed my hands. I had to ask every step of the process if the patient felt comfortable, and make the right adjustment if not such as the posit ion of the chair, or even the air conditioning. Throughout, I maintained eye contact. I first took the temperature. I committed a slight error by not immediately taking note of her temperature or recorded in her chart. In taking the pulse rate, I had to prepare the equipment, prepare patient about the procedure, provide privacy, identify the landmarks, palpate lightly with finger pads in identifying pulse, then note the rhythm and strength. I counted then calculated the rate per minute, and made sure to note whether or not there was irregularity. I terminated the encounter, then replaced and disposed the equipment, wash my hands based on standard precautions, and then filled up the form or chart of the patient (Daly et al, 2006). Where there was irregularity of pulse, I had to inform the patient of my role. In taking the blood pressure, the same procedure of routine hand wash was undertaken. This will ensure sanitation and safety. I then check on the patient documentation then the p atient status. If the patient is new or whom I have not established familiarity, yet, I introduce myself and asks for her identity, too, such as how may I call her (O’Toole, 2010). Then, I informed her procedure to be done and why it is needed. I then ask for consent to perfo

Segmentation and Target Market Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Segmentation and Target Market - Coursework Example The process is guided by several factors including behavioral, demographic, psychographic, and geographic factors (Reid & Bojanic, 2010). Apple has used behavioral segmentation with impressive effectiveness. It refers to the division of the market based on the actions of consumers. In addition, the process involves an evaluation of the consumer information available to the organization (Rollins & Perri, 2014). The release of new iPhone models is informed by the knowledge that consumers will be attracted by the possibility of upgrading their mobile phones. In addition, the iPod was released to meet the need for a portable and convenient device that can allow users to listen to music on the go. The need to create a platform from which users can access music led to the creation of the iTunes store. Apple has created a culture of brand switching due to the disruptive technology that they have consistently pioneered. Consequently, it has enabled it to create a perception as an innovative company, something that most consumers find attractive. The organization understands consumer behavior. Although consumers are willing to acquire new technologies, they also value the existing ones. As a result, they need products that integrate the two technologies. In addition, it has features that support the integration of features of other organizations. For example, it has made it possible for consumers to access Microsoft Exchange e-mail. Consumers are attracted to technologies that enable them to retain the features they had before. It is evident that the organization considers demographic factors as it develops its products. Firstly, products such as the iPhone have so many features that make it suitable for people of all ages from children to adults. Children can play the games that are available in its App store. Teenagers can listen to a lot of music from the iTunes store. In addition, the

Sufism is the heart of Islam Essay Example for Free

Sufism is the heart of Islam Essay Sufism (tasawuf in Arabic) represents the mystical dimension of Islamic religious life. The phrase mystical itself can be problematic in the sense that it can sometimes be used to depict the occult or the quasimagical quackery of new age thinking or new religious movements. It may also at times be used to express the sense of the mysterious felt by those who assert some class of spirituality, yet Sufism has little, if anything to do with these. Through following a series of devotional practises, which lead to higher levels of ecstatic state, Sufis aspire to realise a condition in which they are in direct communion with God. Sufism itself has been defined in many ways, some view it as a continuous striving to cleanse ones self of all that is bad or evil in order to acquire virtue, others view it as the path followed by an individual who is seeking to free himself or herself from human vices and weaknesses in order to acquire angelic qualities and conduct pleasing to God. Sufism has been criticised heavily by Muslims as well as non-Muslims, while some have argued from the perspective that Sufism is the ultimate heart of Islam. If Sufism despite having differences from conventional Islam, is actually the heart of Islam, then if so, why cant the other sects of Islam such as the Shiite or the Wahabi also be seen as the heart of Islam? The phrase heart of Islam must be given a pinned definition in this context, as some will see it as being the most important thing of the Islamic religion while others will see it simply as Islams truth. Both interpretations of the phrase heart of Islam are vitally the same yet evidence can adjust whether they are the primary hearts of Islam or even secondary. Sufism originated as a reaction to certain features of orthodox Islam. They regarded the mere observance of religious law as a matter of outer conformity and they encouraged a desire for inner, personal experience of the divine through meditation and other means. They encouraged the rejection of wealth and class distinctions and based themselves on the simpler lives led by the prophet Muhammad s.a.w and the first caliphs i n contrast to the worldliness of the Umayyad and Abbaasid caliphates. Sufis are characterised by their particular attachment to zikr (remembrance of Allah) and asceticism (seclusion). The early Sufis focused on the central idea of the love of God, which was introduced by Rabia-al- Adawiyah in the eighth century. From the earliest history of Islam, Sufism gradually developed to take on an organisational form. Pious individuals formed groups or brotherhoods known as turuq (plural of tariqah, which means path) . Each tariqah would be headed by a Sheikh or a spiritual guide and consist of devotees who saw the Sheikh as a true teacher on the path to God. In the course of time, different turuq developed, each having its own teachings and instructions for purifying the heart . If Sufism really is the heart of Islam then there must be factual evidence to support this view, which I am now going to analyse and interpret. Firstly, although Sufism mostly concentrates on the inner world of man and deals with the meaning and effect of religious commandments on mans spirit and heart and is therefore abstract, it does not contradict any of the Islamic ways based on the Quran and the Sunna. In fact its source is the Quran and the Sunna, as well as the conclusions drawn from the Quran and the Sunna via deduction by the purified scholars of Islam. The Quran for Muslims is their most holy book, which lays down for them the law and commandments as well as containing a comprehensive religious philosophy. The Sunna for Muslims is the deeds, sayings and the manners of the prophet, which are to be emulated by Muslims all over. Both the Quran and theSunna are of great importance for Muslims and for their religion Islam. So if Sufism derives its sources from the Quran and the Sunna then it must also be the heart of the religion itself. Sufism dwells on the fundamental virtues of Islam, knowledge of God, sincerity, perfect goodness, and other similar fundamental virtues. The priorities of Sufism have never been different from those of the Shariah. The Shariah is the body of Islamic religious law. Both groups have always depended on the Quran and the Sunna, which are the two main sources of Islam. Both disciplines stress the importance of belief and of engaging in good deeds and good conduct, the only difference is that Sufis emphasize deepening the meaning of good deeds and multiplying them. Sufism must be the heart of Islam since it makes the superfluous endeavour to increase the good deeds that make Allah pleased. Another notable fact is the meaning of the word Islam surrender. True surrender is not only concerned with the will of a Muslim, as it must also involve their whole being. Islam states that a person must be the perfect servant of God in the sense of following his commands. Clearly Allah has given Muslims many faculties such as free will and intelligence, therefore the surrender of Muslims to Allah must be complete and total and not limited to certain faculties. It must occupy the entire individual because otherwise unknown thoughts and emotions as well as false ideas can combine with a misleading sense of external surrender of ones will to God to produce acts in the name of religion that can have disastrous consequences. Sufism is the heart of Islam because Sufis themselves surrender internally as well as externally to the will of God, as it not only is one of their core beliefs but also they make the extra effort to surrender to the will of God, instead of mainstream Muslims who limit themselves to following the legalistic side of the religion. Sufis are the ones who show the greatest attachment to the Shariah, whose inner significance they seek to reach. A different explanation as to why Sufism is the heart of Islam is because although the Quran emphasizes that all Muslims stand equally before God, it also insists that human beings are distinguished in rank according to their knowledge of the truth and virtue, as in the verses, are those who know equal with those who know not? (Quran39:9) and one of Sufisms main goals is ultimate knowledge, knowledge of God, which is why they must be the heart of their religion, as they create extra emphasis on the fundamental virtues of Islam. In Islam itself, Sufism has been over the centuries the hidden heart that has renewed the religion intellectually, spiritually, and ethically and has played the greatest role in its spread and in its relation with other religions. As this person noted in their book , Sufis themselves have visualized Islam as a circle whose hub is the haqiqah. Haqiqa refers to the inner Truth or inner Reality that Sufis believe is at the heart of Islamic revelation. The radii of the circle are the tariqah, and the circumference is the Shariah. Tariqah means the path that one follows through spiritual practise in order to reach the ultimate truth (the haqiqa). Each Muslim is like a point on the circumference, whose totality composes the Islamic community or ummah. To reach the haqiqah one must first stand on the circumference, that is, practise the Shariah, and then follow the tariqah, or path to God, whose end is the centre, God himself, or the haqiqah. This raises the truth that Sufism is the heart of Islam, as here it undoubtedly explains how. All the evidence noted above bestows the suggestion that Sufism is the heart of Islam yet the confirmation has not been revised from both sides and is therefore not balanced yet. To balance our answer to the main question Sufism is the heart of Islam then we must now take into consideration reasons for why Sufism might not be the heart of Islam. Firstly Sufism has come across many problems by fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. For instance, much Sufi poetry refers to intoxication, ( Intoxicated by the Wine of Love. From each a mystic silence Love demands) (Poem by famous Sufi poet Farid ud Din Attar) which Islam expressly forbids as haraam. Some Sufi orders use music, drugs and alcohol to produce ecstatic states. Wine is even a symbol of divine intoxication in the Sufi language of ecstasy. Not only are these haraam in Islam but they also divert the spiritual focus of Sufism. How may Sufism be the pure, uncontaminated heart of Islam when those things that are prohibited in Islam are not forbidden in Sufism? Consequently this leads to doubts being cast over the validity of Sufism as a part of Islam. Not only that but some groups have emerged that consider themselves above the shariah and discussed Sufism as a method of bypassing the rules of Islam in order to attain salvation directly, this has been dissaproved of heavily by muslim scholars. Many Muslims have even considered Sufism as a corruption of Islam drawing on the Sufi concept of fana, passing into Allah and feeling Allahs presence combined with the use of mystical experiences. Fana is interpreted, as being at one with Allah, which is crucially erroneous as Allah is the one and only and the major offence in Islam is to unite an additional with the most glorious Allah. A key theme in Islam is tawhid which is the concept of monotheism and firmly holds that God is the one and only. Further so why Sufism has no site in being the heart of Islam is that the Sufis say: When you unite with the Beloved (God), then there is neither command nor prohibition in matters of religion. Sufis here have customarily discarded the doctrine of the fear of God, the wrath of the Day of Judgment, the fury of the Hell-Fire and the promise of Jannah. They say Faith based on compulsion is slavery, and God has created man with intelligence, free will and love. Hence the mainspring of Sufism is love not fear and obedience to the religious laws. Yet the one and only Allah the Exalted describe his believers as: Verily those who fear their Lord with reverence, and those who believe in the signs of the Lord, and those who ascribe no partners to their Lord, and those who give what they give while their hearts are full of fear, because to their Lord they will return.(23.57-61) Thus it has been clearly stated here using verses from the Quran that Sufism has gone against the doctrines of Islam, as the love of Allah necessitates following the commands of the Messenger of Allah with hope for reward and fear of punishment in the Hereafter. Muslims deem that any particular act of devotion must be substantiated by the Quran and Sunna only. Allah the Exalted says: Say (to them), Produce your proof if you are truthful. [2: 111], and the Prophet (s.a.w) said, The created is not to be obeyed over the Creator. However the sheikhs in Sufism are given the standing of a deity, when attributes which belong to only Allah, are also assigned to their Sheikhs. How can Sufism be the heart of Islam when they are going against Allah in terms of whom to praise and to what extent. Never the less orthodox Muslims may condemn fundamentals of Sufism yet they never habitually outlaw Sufism as completely incorrect. In this sense if there are elements of Sufism criticised heavily by Muslims as well as non-Muslims alike, and there are other elements that are not usually criticised, then how may Sufism be the true heart of the religion of Islam when it is clearly not accepted fully and truly by all Muslims of all sects. To understand the true heart of Islam it is essential to understand the significance of the prophet Muhammad s.a.w from the traditional Muslim point of view. The Quran asserts clearly that the prophet was a man and not divine but also adds that he was given the most exalted and noble character and that he was chosen as a model for Muslims to emulate. For Muslims the prophet is a mortal man but also Gods most perfect creature, or what the Sufis call the universal man. As Sufis seek spiritual closeness with God then they are also putting themselves on the same level as Muhammad s.a.w. If Sufism is subsequently not the heart of Islam, in that case then what is? Could the five pillars: Shahada, Salah, Zakah, Sawm or Hajj be the hearts of Islam. Or the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, the ummah, the concept of jihad, the Quran, possibly Sunnis or shias or a sect of Islam? These are all elements of the religion Islam, yet what is that which stands out above the rest? If the holy Quran is the source of Islam, then it must also be the heart of Islam? This book of divine guidance and direction for mankind was revealed to the prophet Muhammad s.a.w through the angel Gabriel. The prophet Muhammad s.a.w on the other hand is considered to be the central human figure in the religion of Islam as well as being the restorer of the uncorrupted original monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, and Jesus etc. what if the prophet Muhammad s.a.w a Sufi? More over I mean this central religious text of Islam cannot be unaccompanied in being the heart of Islam, meaning the prophet Muhammad s.a.w must in addition be obliged to be the heart of Islam, or if not entirely at leas t a component of it? This gives rise to the reality that every mainspring idea in Islam (such as the five pillars, ummah, jihad) is thought of in elevated significance but yet none single-handedly can fit the true hearts of Islam. All either must be combined totally in order to allow the heart of Islam to be formulated or there is something that is of even greater importance, which is veiled yet. If no one thing can be the true heart of Islam then there must be a variety of things which when thought of together make up the ultimate hearts of Islam, (one of which could be mysticism.) Conclusion After evaluating all the evidence drawn upon I have come to the conclusion that Sufism and the mystical experiences are not at the heart of Islam because their negative aspects outweigh their positive aspects, and rather the oneness of Allah (tawhid) is the true heart of Islam. As Syed Hossein Nasr has said in his book The Heart Of Islam, at the heart of Islam stands the reality of God, the one, the absolute, and the infinite. Greater then all we can conceive or imagine, yet closer to us then our jugular vein. Allah is the central reality of Islam in all of its facets, and attestation to this oneness, which is called tawhid, is the axis around which all that is Islamic revolves. The oneness of God is for Muslims not only the heart of their religion, but also that of every authentic religion. The uncontaminated pure and true heart of Islam is to testify to this oneness, using the formula there is no God but God and Muhammad s.a.w is the last messenger of Allah. This testament is not only the heart of Islam as well as the foundation from which all other beliefs and practises of Islam are sought, but it is also the first words a newborn will hear. Bibliography Books- The other side of Sufism by A. Tabari The heart of Islam by Syed Hossein Nasr The mystics of Islam by The basics Islam by Colin Turner Sufism By Sri Swami Sivananda The mystical doctrines and methods of Islam by William Stoddart Websites- Wikipedia Sufism Sufi Islam Muhammad s.a.w Quran

vera drake :: essays research papers

Vera Drake Vera Drake is a film nominated for several Oscars, and a completely successes for Mike Leigh, who is both director and writer. The film is set in London in the early 1950s. Vera Drake lives with her husband Stan, and her two grown children Ethel and Sid, in a small middleclass flat. Vera is a domestic who cleans the houses of rich women, while Stan works at a mechanic shop run by his brother Frank. Vera has a heart of gold, and is cheerful at anytime, even though she got plenty of work to do, and lots of people to take care of. She sings and smiles anyhow, and has a tremendous care and compassion for others. She also has time to help out women in need, as she calls it. This is her big secret that no one in her family knows of, and a secret that she intends to keep secret. When she says â€Å"help women in need† she means poor pregnant women who are not willing or able to give birth to a child. She works closely with Lily, a friend from her childhood, who sells households goods on the black marked and find women seeking abortions. She charges the women for money, while Vera does not take anything for helping them out. Vera’s secret comes to a brutal end, after one of the girls she has treated gets deadly sick, and the police get involved. Abortions were not legal in the 1950s in England, and therefore Vera is committing a crime. By the time Vera and her family is g athered to celebrate the announced wedding between Reg and her daughter Ethel, the police comes knocking on their door. Vera is taken in to custody and is very afraid to tell her family the truth, but still does not think what she has been doing as anything wrong. The theme of the film is obviously abortion, and those plenty questions concerning abortion. This has been a well debated theme for a long time, but Mike Leigh sees no obstacle in that. The question whether abortion should be legal or not, is still a big political issue, and it does not seem like politicians round the world has come to an agreement just yet. Even though this theme is highly debated beforehand, it does not make this a boring film. It is more opposite, and that is why I feel that Mike Leigh give us viewers a different angle than many others would have.

Accounting: Final Exam Essay

For each of the following course objectives, explain in 200-400 words what you learned in this course and how you could apply your learning of this course objective to your personal life or career. Refer to the syllabus to assist you in understanding what material was covered under each objective. 4pts each 1) CHANGING DYNAMICS OF ACCOUNTING The steps of accounting cycles are revenues, expenditures, conversion/ production, financing, fixed assets, and financial reporting. Revenues most often occur as the result of the selling of a service or product. These transactions are recorded in the form of cash receipts and sales orders. Expenditures are a result of the materials and labor need to generate revenues. For example a dry cleaning business would need certain chemicals, bags and hangers for cleaned clothes, and employees to operate the business. Conversion represents the production or the good or service sold by the company. In other terms the time/ cost to produce and market the good or service. Financing is also known as and outstanding debt, such as stocks or any outstanding bonds. The fixed asset details the purchase, disposition, and depreciation of company assets. See more:  Masters of Satire: John Dryden and Jonathan Swift Essay Once all journal entries have been posted and all accounts closed a trial balance is prepared and is used to identify errors and eventually prepare the financial reporting for the company. Accounting systems have become more automated and the need for human intervention is becoming more limited. Automation of these systems does allow for increased efficiency and accuracy and has allowed manual accounting task to be performed more quickly. Human intervention is necessary though to ensure the data being entered is correct. Human intervention can also help to identify errors that may have been made in the initial inputting of information. As technology evolves it is near  impossible to not have some interaction with the internet. Companies often have multiple locations as the internet opens the company to customers they could not otherwise reach. While the internet opens companies for increased commerce, there is also increased risk to the company’s data. We have recently heard in the news how the State of South Carolina’s Department of Revenue’s systems were hacked and thousands of tax payer’s personal information such as social security numbers were stolen. (http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=pc160442). To ensure company security, many it department limit users ability to access certain websites and download programs, games, and even pictures. 2) INFORMATION SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE (to earn full credit meet word count of at least 200 words) Accounting Information Systems (AIS) is what business use to collect, manage, and report financial information. AIS is a mix of people, procedures, raw data, software, and control. Internal controls are specifically vital as they work to maintain the integrity of data being entered and reported as well as protocol to protect sensitive data. A company’s internal controls must also meet or exceed SOX in order to be in compliance. Companies employee a mix of general and application controls to meet these requirements. Application controls include financial application controls to detect errors such as incorrect keying of raw data. This could also include pre-coding bank transactions so that deposits are accidently recorded as withdrawals and vise versa. General controls include items such as segregation or duties, documenting and processing data, reconciliation of accounts, and even restricting access to certain systems to the employee who needs the system to perform their job. AIS can include not only the internal controls one thinks of (such as segregation of duties) but also systems restrictions and requiring key card access for entry to various sites and departments. These items protect stored data and also allow for tracking of individuals needing this type of access. As accounting systems become increasingly automated, firms are seeking individuals who have not only the understanding of GAAP and SOX, but also solid understanding of IT controls and process. 3) DATA MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION (to earn full credit meet word count of  at least 200 words) I found week three to be the most challenging for me. While I regularly use excel, learning correct terminology and how to build a database was especially difficult. While some terms were easy to grasp (such as field, record, and queries) truly understanding how tables and data relate to each other was difficult to grasp. When I realized that a primary key is unique and is defined in one table and that primary key would be the foreign key on another table and is what is used to join the tables, building a database became clearer. Because the internet has changed the face of business, some companies find integrating reports from various divisions challenging. Software often has to be developed or modified so all reporting divisions have access to properly report expenditures and revenue. The data must also be organized and maintained in a logical way. Maintenance of the data is as important as the reporting. Without proper maintenance, future queries will not reflect the true numbers. Good maintenance and relation within a database also allows for companies to easily query the wealth of information within their own records to gain additional insight into buying trends, possible room for more efficient production, and quick review of possible errors. 4) BUSINESS MODELING PROCESSES AND SYSTEM DESIGN (to earn full credit meet word count of at least 200 words) SDLC is the process which should ensure a quality product. SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. The SDLC includes planning, system analysis and design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance. In planning the company would identify the need, set a timeline for completion and outline the recourses needed for completion. The planning phase would also include what the company hopes to accomplish with new software. After the need is identified, analysis of current procedures and software is performed. This would include documentation of current procedures and identifying gaps in the system and best practices. This is most often accomplished by reviewing requirements of each job, speaking with managers and employees. Once these needs and shortfalls are identified, then the development process begins. The software should then been tailored/ purchased with the identified need and the company’s current shortfalls in mind. Once this is completed companies will often test the new software either in theory or in a small division of the  company. For instance due to system and accounting needs my company recently developed a new ordering system. Rather than deploying the new system nationwide, one smaller district is being used to test and improve. After this is completed my company will move onto the implantation process. Implementation includes not only actually beginning to use new software but also transferring of old data to the new system, training employees on new procedures and how to use the new software. Once a system is implemented it should be maintained. Companies should continually review for issues and correct and adjust the system as needed. AIS should cover all levels of the co mpany’s financial reporting needs 5) INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND AUDITING (to earn full credit meet word count of at least 200 words) The auditing of a company’s information system is vital to ensuring the company’s records are accurate and well protected. Also, it is imperative that the information systems are compliant with GAAP and SOX. SOX was enacted to address possible weakness on company’s internal controls and as a result of the scandal at companies Enron and Worldcom. Upon examination of why these companies failed, it was determined that the internal controls that should have been in place to ensure proper and truthful reporting were lacking. The internal controls govern the integrity of the data collected, processed, and disclosed on financial reports. SOX requires external/ independent auditors to test whether a company’s internal controls and procedures are sufficient and report this on the company’s financial report. To prevent CFOs and CEOs from claiming no knowledge of misreporting, SOX now requires that these individuals identify their knowledge of the company’s finances, how it was reported, documentation of their own involvement and the internal controls used to govern this. SOX also provides providing criminal and financial penalties for individual non-compliance. . In order to complaint with GAAP a company’s policies should include organizational structure outline, descriptions of transaction types, summaries of revenue, as well as a list of unacceptable practices. While SOX was enacted to prevent fraudulent reporting some smaller companies do struggle with ensuring they are compliant with the internal controls outlined.

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Five

The full moon was directly overhead when Stefan came back to the boarding house. He was giddy, almost reeling, both from fatigue and from the glut of blood he'd taken. It had been a long time since he'd let himself feed so heavily. But the burst of wild Power by the graveyard had caught him up in its frenzy, shattering his already weakened control. He still wasn't sure where the Power had come from. He had been watching the human girls from his place in the shadows when it had exploded from behind him, sending the girls fleeing. He had been caught between the fear that they would run into the river and the desire to probe this Power and find its source. In the end, he had followedher , unable to chance her getting hurt. Something black had winged toward the woods as the humans reached the sanctuary of the bridge, but even Stefan's night senses could not make out what it was. He had watched while she and the other two started in the direction of town. Then he had turned back to the graveyard. It was empty now, purged of whatever had been there. On the ground lay a thin strip of silk that to ordinary eyes would have been gray in the dark. But he saw its true color, and as he crushed it between his fingers, bringing it slowly up to touch his lips, he could smell the scent of her hair. Memory engulfed him. It was bad enough when she was out of sight, when the cool glow of her mind only teased at the edges of his consciousness. But to be in the same room with her at the school, to feel her presence behind him, to smell the heady fragrance of her skin all around him, was almost more than he could bear. He had heard every soft breath she took, felt her warmth radiating against his back, sensed each throb of her sweet pulse. And eventually, to his horror, he had found himself giving in to it. His tongue had brushed back and forth over his canine teeth, enjoying the pleasure-pain that was building there, encouraging it. He'd breathed her smell into his nostrils deliberately, and let the visions come to him, imagining it all. How soft her neck would be, and how his lips would meet it with equal softness at first, planting tiny kisses here, and here, until he reached the yielding hollow of her throat. How he would nuzzle there, in the place where her heart beat so strongly against the delicate skin. And how at last his lips would part, would draw back from aching teeth now sharp as little daggers, and- No . He'd brought himself out of the trance with a jerk, his own pulse beating raggedly, his body shaking. The class had been dismissed, movement was all around him, and he could only hope no one had been observing him too closely. When she had spoken to him, he had been unable to believe that he had to face her while his veins burned and his whole upper jaw ached. He'd been afraid for a moment that his control would break, that he would seize her shoulders and take her in front of all of them. He had no idea how he'd gotten away, only that some time later he was channeling his energy into hard exercise, dimly aware that he must not use the Powers. It didn't matter; even without them he was in every way superior to the mortal boys who competed with him on the football field. His sight was sharper, his reflexes faster, his muscles stronger. Presently a hand had clapped him on the back and Matt's voice had rung in his ears: â€Å"Congratulations! Welcome to the team!† Looking into that honest, smiling face, Stefan had been overcome with shame. If you knew what I was, you wouldn't smile at me, he'd thought grimly. I've won this competition of yours by deception. And the girl you love-you do love her, don't you?-is in my thoughts right now. And she had remained in his thoughts despite all his efforts to banish her that afternoon. He had wandered to the graveyard blindly, pulled from the woods by a force he did not understand. Once there he had watched her, fighting himself, fighting the need, until the surge of Power had sent her and her friends running. And then he'd come home-but only after feeding. After losing control of himself. He couldn't remember exactly how it had happened, how he'd let it happen. That flare of Power had started it, awakening things inside him best left sleeping. The hunting need. The craving for the chase, for the smell of fear and the savage triumph of the kill. It had been years-centuries-since he'd felt the need with such force. His veins had begun burning like fire. And all his thoughts had turned red: he could think of nothing else but the hot coppery taste, the primal vibrancy, of blood. With that excitement still raging through him, he'd taken a step or two after the girls. What might have happened if he hadn't scented the old man was better not thought about. But as he reached the end of the bridge, his nostrils had flared at the sharp, distinctive odor of human flesh. Humanblood . The ultimate elixir, the forbidden wine. More intoxicating than any liquor, the steaming essence of life itself. And he was so tired of fighting the need. There had been a movement on the bank under the bridge, as a pile of old rags stirred. And the next instant, Stefan had landed gracefully, catlike, beside it. His hand shot out and pulled the rags away, exposing a wizened, blinking face atop a scrawny neck. His lips drew back. And then there was no sound but the feeding. Now, as he stumbled up the main staircase of the boarding house, he tried not to think about it, and not to think about her-about the girl who tempted him with her warmth, her life. She had been the one he truly desired, but he must put a stop to that, he must kill any such thoughts before they were started from now on. For his sake, and for her own. He was her worst nightmare come true, and she didn't even know it. â€Å"Who's there? Is that you, boy?† a cracked voice called sharply. One of the second-story doors opened, and a gray head poked out. â€Å"Yes,signora -Mrs. Flowers. I'm sorry if I disturbed you.† â€Å"Ah, it takes more than a creaky floorboard to disturb me. You locked the door behind you?† â€Å"Yes,signora . You're†¦ safe.† â€Å"That's right. We need to be safe here. You never know what might be out there in those woods, do you?† He looked quickly at the smiling little face surrounded by wisps of gray hair, the bright darting eyes. Was there a secret hidden in them? â€Å"Good night,signora .† â€Å"Good night, boy.† She shut the door. In his own room he fell onto the bed and lay staring up at the low, slanting ceiling. Usually he rested uneasily at night; it was not his natural sleeping time. But tonight he was tired. It took so much energy to face the sunlight, and the heavy meal only contributed to his lethargy. Soon, although his eyes did not close, he no longer saw the whitewashed ceiling above him. Random scraps of memory floated through his mind. Katherine, so lovely that evening by the fountain, moonlight silvering her pale golden hair. How proud he had been to sit with her, to be the one to share her secret†¦ â€Å"But can you never go out in sunlight?† â€Å"Ican , yes, as long as I wear this.† She held up a small white hand, and the moonlight shone on the lapis ring there. â€Å"But the sun tires me so much. I have never been very strong.† Stefan looked at her, at the delicacy of her features and the slightness of her body. She was almost as insubstantial as spun glass. No, she would never have been strong. â€Å"I was often ill as a child,† she said softly, her eyes on the play of water in the fountain. â€Å"The last time, the surgeon finally said I would die. I remember Papa crying, and I remember lying in my big bed, too weak to move. Even breathing was too much effort. I was so sad to leave the world and so cold, so very cold.† She shivered, and then smiled. â€Å"But what happened?† â€Å"I woke in the middle of the night to see Gudren, my maid, standing over my bed. And then she stepped aside, and I saw the man she had brought. I was frightened. His name was Klaus, and I'd heard the people in the village say he was evil. I cried out to Gudren to save me, but she just stood there, watching. When he put his mouth to my neck, I thought he was going to kill me.† She paused. Stefan was staring at her in horror and pity, and she smiled comfortingly at him. â€Å"It was not so terrible after all. There was a little pain at first, but that quickly went away. And then the feeling was actually pleasant. When he gave me of his own blood to drink, I felt stronger than I had for months. And then we waited out the hours together until dawn. When the surgeon came, he couldn't believe I was able to sit up and speak. Papa said it was a miracle, and he cried again from happiness.† Her face clouded. â€Å"I will have to leave my papa sometime soon. One day he will realize that since that illness I have not grown an hour older.† â€Å"And you never will?† â€Å"No. That is the wonder of it, Stefan!† She gazed up at him with childlike joy. â€Å"I will be young forever, and I will never die! Can you imagine?† He could not imagine her as anything other than what she was now: lovely, innocent, perfect. â€Å"But-you did not find it frightening at first?† â€Å"At first, a little. But Gudren showed me what to do. It was she who told me to have this ring made, with a gem that would protect me from sunlight. While I lay in bed, she brought me rich warm possets to drink. Later, she brought small animals her son trapped.† â€Å"Not†¦ people?† Her laughter rang out. â€Å"Of course not. I can get all I need in a night from a dove. Gudren says that if I wish to be powerful I should take human blood, for the life essence of humans is strongest. And Klaus used to urge me, too; he wanted to exchange blood again. But I tell Gudren I do not want power. And as for Klaus†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She stopped and dropped her eyes, so that heavy lashes lay on her cheek. Her voice was very soft as she continued. â€Å"I do not think it is a thing to be done lightly. I will take human blood only when I have found my companion, the one who will be by my side for all eternity.† She looked up at him gravely. Stefan smiled at her, feeling light-headed and bursting with pride. He could scarcely contain the happiness he felt at that moment. But that was before his brother Damon had returned from the University. Before Damon had come back and seen Katherine's jewel-blue eyes. On his bed in the low-roofed room, Stefan moaned. Then the darkness drew him in deeper and new images began to flicker through his mind. They were scattered glimpses of the past that did not form a connected sequence. He saw them like scenes briefly illuminated by flashes of lightning. His brother's face, twisted into a mask of inhuman anger. Katherine's blue eyes sparkling and dancing as she pirouetted in her new white gown. The glimmer of white behind a lemon tree. The feel of a sword in his hand; Giuseppe's voice shouting from far away. The lemon tree. He must not go behind the lemon tree. He saw Damon's face again, but this time his brother was laughing wildly. Laughing on and on, a sound like the grate of broken glass. And the lemon tree was closer now†¦ â€Å"Damon-Katherine-no!† He was sitting bolt upright on his bed. He ran shaking hands through his hair and steadied his breath. A terrible dream. It had been a long time since he had been tortured by dreams like that; long, indeed, since he'd dreamed at all. The last few seconds played over and over again in his mind, and he saw again the lemon tree and heard again his brother's laughter. It echoed in his mind almost too clearly. Suddenly, without being aware of a conscious decision to move, Stefan found himself at the open window. The night air Was cool on his cheeks as he looked into the silvery dark. â€Å"Damon?† He sent the thought out on a surge of Power, questing. Then he fell into absolute stillness, listening with all his senses. He could feel nothing, no ripple of response. Nearby, a pair of night birds rose in flight. In the town, many minds were sleeping; in the woods, nocturnal animals went about their secret business. He sighed and turned back into the room. Perhaps he'd been wrong about the laughter; perhaps he'd even been wrong about the menace in the graveyard. Fell's Church was still, and peaceful, and he should try to emulate it. He needed sleep. September 5 (actually early September 6-about 1:00 a.m.) Dear Diary, I should go back to bed soon. Just a few minutes ago I woke up thinking someone was shouting, but now the house is quiet. So many strange things have happened tonight that my nerves are shot, I guess. At least I woke up knowing exactly what I'm going to do about Stefan. The whole thing just sort of sprang into my mind. Plan B, Phase One, begins tomorrow. Frances's eyes were blazing, and her cheeks were flushed with color as she approached the three girls at the table. â€Å"Oh, Elena, you've got to hear this!† Elena smiled at her, polite but not too intimate. Frances ducked her brown head. â€Å"I mean†¦ can I join you? I've just heard the wildest thing about Stefan Salvatore.† â€Å"Have a seat,† said Elena graciously. â€Å"But,† she added, buttering a roll, â€Å"we're not really interested in the news.† â€Å"You-?† Frances stared. She looked at Meredith, then at Bonnie. â€Å"You guys are joking, right?† â€Å"Not at all.† Meredith speared a green bean and eyed it thoughtfully. â€Å"We have other things on our minds today.† â€Å"Exactly,† said Bonnie after a sudden start. â€Å"Stefan's old news, you know. Passe.† She bent down and rubbed her ankle. Frances looked at Elena appealingly. â€Å"But I thought you wanted to know all about him.† â€Å"Curiosity,† Elena said. â€Å"After all, he is a visitor, and I wanted to welcome him to Fell's Church. But of course I have to be loyal to Jean-Claude.† â€Å"Jean-Claude?† â€Å"Jean-Claude,† said Meredith, raising her eyebrows and sighing. â€Å"Jean-Claude,† echoed Bonnie gamely. Delicately, with thumb and forefinger, Elena drew a photo out of her backpack. â€Å"Here he is standing in front of the cottage where we stayed. Right afterward he picked me a flower and said†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Well,†-she smiled mysteriously-â€Å"I shouldn't repeat it.† Frances was gazing at the photo. It showed a bronzed young man, shirtless, standing in front of a hibiscus bush and smiling shyly. â€Å"He's older, isn't he?† she said with respect. â€Å"Twenty-one. Of course,†-Elena glanced over Tier shoulder-â€Å"my aunt would never approve, so we're keeping it from her until I graduate. We have to write to each other secretly.† â€Å"How romantic,† Frances breathed. â€Å"I'll never tell a soul, I promise. But about Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Elena gave her a superior smile. â€Å"If,† she said, â€Å"I am going to eat Continental, I prefer French to Italian every time.† She turned to Meredith. â€Å"Right?† â€Å"Mm-hmm. Everytime.† Meredith and Elena smiled knowingly at each other, then turned to Frances. â€Å"Don't you agree?† â€Å"Oh, yes,† said Frances hastily. â€Å"Me, too. Every time.† She smiled knowingly herself and nodded several times as she got up and left. When she was gone, Bonnie said piteously, â€Å"This is going to kill me. Elena, I am going to die if I don't hear the gossip.† â€Å"Oh, that? I can tell you,† Elena replied calmly. â€Å"She was going to say there's a rumor going around that Stefan Salvatore is a narc.† â€Å"A what !† Bonnie stared, and then burst into laughter. â€Å"But that's ridiculous. What narc in the world would dress like that and wear dark glasses? I mean, he's done everything he can to draw attention to himself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her voice trailed off, and her brown eyes widened. â€Å"But then, that may bewhy he does it. Who would ever suspect anybody so obvious? And he does live alone, and he's awfully secretive†¦ Elena! What if it's true?† â€Å"It isn't,† said Meredith. â€Å"How do you know?† â€Å"Because I'm the one who started it.† At Bonnie's expression, she grinned and added: â€Å"Elena told me to.† â€Å"Ohhhh.† Bonnie looked admiringly at Elena. â€Å"You're wicked. Can I tell people he's got a terminal disease?† â€Å"No, you cannot. I don't want any Florence Nightingale types lining up to hold his hand. But you can tell people whatever you want about Jean-Claude.† Bonnie picked up the photograph. â€Å"Who was he really?† â€Å"The gardener. He was crazy about those hibiscus bushes. He was also married, with two kids.† â€Å"Pity,† said Bonnie seriously. â€Å"And you told Frances not to tell anyone about him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Right.† Elena checked her watch. â€Å"Which means that by, oh, say two o'clock, it ought to be all over the school.† After school, the girls went to Bonnie's house. They were greeted at the front door by a shrill yapping, and when Bonnie opened the door, a very old, very fat Pekingese tried to escape. His name was Yangtze, and he was so spoiled that no one except Bonnie's mother could stand him. He nipped at Elena's ankle as she went by. The living room was dim and crowded, with lots of rather fussy furniture and heavy curtains at the windows. Bonnie's sister Mary was there, unpinning a cap from her wavy red hair. She was just two years older than Bonnie, and she worked at the Fell's Church clinic. â€Å"Oh, Bonnie,† she said, â€Å"I'm glad you're back. Hello, Elena, Meredith.† Elena and Meredith said â€Å"hello.† â€Å"What's the matter? You look tired,† said Bonnie. Mary dropped her cap on the coffee table. Instead of answering, she asked a question in return. â€Å"Last night when you came home so upset, where did you say you girls had been?† â€Å"Down in the-Just down by Wickery Bridge.† â€Å"That's what I thought.† Mary took a deep breath. â€Å"Now, you listen to me, Bonnie McCullough. Don't youever go out there again, and especially not alone and at night. Do you understand?† â€Å"But why not?† Bonnie asked, bewildered. â€Å"Because last night somebody was attacked out there, that's why not. And do you know where they found him? Righton the bank under Wickery Bridge .† Elena and Meredith stared at her in disbelief, and Bonnie clutched at Elena's arm. â€Å"Somebody was attacked under the bridge? But who was it? What happened?† â€Å"I don't know. This morning one of the cemetery workers spotted him lying there. He was some homeless person, I guess, and he'd probably been sleeping under the bridge when he was attacked. But he was half dead when they brought him in, and he hasn't regained consciousness yet. He may die.† Elena swallowed. â€Å"What do you mean, attacked?† â€Å"I mean,† said Mary distinctly, â€Å"that his throat was nearly ripped out. He lost an incredible amount of blood. They thought it might have been an animal at first, but now Dr. Lowen says it was a person. And the police think whoever did it may be hiding in the cemetery.† Mary looked at each of them in turn, her mouth a straight line. â€Å"So if youwere there by the bridge-or in the cemetery, Elena Gilbert-then this person may have been there with you.Get it ?† â€Å"You don't have to scare us anymore,† said Bonnie faintly. â€Å"We get the point, Mary.† â€Å"All right. Good.† Mary's shoulders slumped, and she rubbed at the back of her neck wearily. â€Å"I've got to lie down for a while. I didn't mean to be crabby.† She walked out of the living room. Alone, the three girls looked at one another. â€Å"It could have been one of us,† said Meredith quietly. â€Å"Especially you, Elena; you went there alone.† Elena's skin was prickling, that same painfully alert feeling she'd had in the old graveyard. She could feel the chill of the wind and see the rows of tall tombstones all around her. Sunshine and Robert E. Lee had never seemed so far away. â€Å"Bonnie,† she said slowly, â€Å"did you see somebody out there? Is that what you meant when you said someone was waiting for me?† In the dim room, Bonnie looked at her blankly. â€Å"What are you talking about? I didn't say that.† â€Å"Yes, you did.† â€Å"No, I didn't. I never said that.† â€Å"Bonnie,† said Meredith, â€Å"we both heard you. You stared out at the old gravestones, and then you told Elena-† â€Å"I don't know what you're talking about, and I didn't sayanything .† Bonnie's face was pinched with anger, but there were tears in her eyes. â€Å"I don't want to talk about it anymore.† Elena and Meredith looked at one another helplessly. Outside, the sun went behind a cloud.

Franchising

Franchising Introduction In the business world, there are many ways of getting into business. These entry areas vary depending on the type of the business. The interest of the businessperson is also a major factor. As such, many people wishing to get into business seek one of the many avenues that are open to them.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Franchising specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This includes business models such as sole proprietorship and business partnerships. A person can also enter into mergers or form a limited liability company among others. One of the most effective ways of getting into business is through franchising. There is a conclusive argument that this is one of the most effective ways of getting into business. In the corporate world today, getting into an entirely new business is very difficult due to the many entry inhibitors facing the corporate world. These include difficulties in raising the necess ary fees like business permits and the all-important capital. There are also many other statutory requirements. In case of a partnership, such requirements as articles of association or memorandum of association may be one of the requirements that the state demands to authenticate any entry into partnership (Michael and Hitt, 2010). In the case of a company, depending on whether it is Limited Liability Company or liability company, the entry requirement is a tiring task. So what is franchising? A franchise refers a privilege given to an individual or a group of people to be able to market or sell products or services of a certain enterprise within a certain location/locations. In other words, franchising means the rights granted to a person or a group of people by a certain company to use its name or trademark in marketing and distributing its goods and services. In the today’s corporate world, there are popular franchises. The most famous are the McDonalds, domino’s p izza, subway etc. Advantages of Franchising There are many types of franchising. They have come with their unique characteristics and this depends on their suitability to the franchising party. Their different types could be the reasons it has been argued that franchising is the most efficient and innovative form of business yet devised to distribute products and services.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Because of the success of the franchising form of business in the food industry, many people have come to associate franchising with only fast food like the MacDonald and the domino’s pizza. This is however not the case because a part from being a success in the fast food business, franchising has also been a success in other fields such as the finance automotive, cleaning and maintenance health etc. In the introduction of this paper, we began by conclusivel y saying that franchising is a major growth area for business and as such, the most efficient and innovative form of business yet devised to distribute products and services. In order for us to conclude this way, it is paramount about our reasoning that we look at how franchising work so that when we say that franchising is the major growth rate for business our utterance shall hold water. It is from understanding the working of franchise shall we then come to appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of franchising (Noora et al. 2005). In franchising, there are some important concepts that one has to understand. These are the franchisee and the franchisor. We ask ourselves, who are these? In clear terms, a franchisee is the individual who embarks on purchasing and consequently running a franchise. On the other hand, a franchisor is the person from whom the franchisee buys the franchise. In order for the franchise to work, there are always some rules and regulations that the franc hisee must adhere to. These in most of the time are the established rules of e.g. the company from whom the franchisee is buying the franchise (Scarborough, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Franchising specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order for the franchisee to be fully been incorporated in the franchising company, payment of a certain fee called franchising royalty is necessary. In today’s corporate world, like mentioned earlier, franchising is one of the most fashionable ways of getting to do or enter into business. It is quite popular in the marketplace. From the 1850s when Isaac singer invented his sawing machines and started selling licenses to entrepreneurs to be able to distribute his machines to date when you cannot walk many blocks without coming across a franchise, we realize that franchising has come to revolutionize the business scene. It has come to help the individual entrepreneurs to be in business for themselves but actually not for themselves. The ideas behind being in a franchise rather than trying other forms of entry into business such as buy out or starting an entirely new business lies on the fact that in franchise there is always already proven business formula and structure that is in place. This therefore presents a high possibility of success for an individual opening a business than to the one who is getting into start up or other forms of business entry. This is further proven by the fact that in franchise, the products and services that one wants to deal with are already in the market and are already established.a good example of this is for a person wanting to get into pizza business.he can choose to buy a franchise from the domino’s pizza. His pizza business will perform well because the new entrant into the pizza business will meet an already established market (Beer, 1999).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This then saves the franchisee the problem of having to incur cost of introducing his products or services, cost that could include advertising and distribution. The reason as to why this form of business is revolutionary in the corporate world is that, the corporate image and the awareness of the bland of the company selling the franchise is already there. A new entrant in the market then does not make expenditures in trying to establish his new bland. This is because, the products or services are already known to the consumers, they continue purchasing the products or services since they are familiar with them. This is an evident advantage of franchising. It makes it appealing to franchise as they are saved the problem of convincing the consumers to buy their goods. A person wanting to get into hotel and hospitality industry may take years before establishing his industry. However, buying a franchise of established hotels like Day Inn and Supper 8 will prove beneficial in establis hing his hotel. (Christensen, 2006). Most of the franchisees are new entrants into the corporate world. In most of the time, they have little or no experience in running the business they are starting. In other cases, they are merely equipped with only the theory from the school. In such a case, franchising becomes a useful tool in gaining some knowledge about the business. This is because the franchisor in most of the time provides wide-range preparation and support to the franchisee. As such, this becomes a strategy beneficial to the franchisee since he is not faced with risks of making mistakes caused by doing guesswork in running the business. In clearly analyzing franchising as an effective way of getting into business, we realize that in franchising a lot of useful time is saved. This is because the business model and the franchise company already is in place and thus the time the individual in establishing the model of a new business is saved could use that. Because the franc hisee gets into an already existing company, he is in a position to concentrate in the successful running of the business. Starting an entirely new business offering financial services may prove difficult due to the many logistics involved. However, by choosing to buy a franchise from established firms like HR Block will help the new entrants in establishing his business. This is because such a firm is already established. Therefore, it has curved its niche among the customers (Zutshi, 2010). Because the franchise runs for a specific time and operates within a specific location, a franchisee can then aim at managing many of such locations. In franchising, the entry and exit becomes another advantage that makes this form of business be considered as a major growth area in business. Franchise can last from five to thirty years. One can then chose short franchise so that if it does not work the franchisee can then chose to exit into other forms of business. In addition to this, there a re no laws that demand the profitability of the franchisor be displayed. This however could at times be listed in the franchise disclosure document (FDD).but like said earlier it is not necessary. To a franchisee, this is an advantage because if the franchising company is not making profits, the franchisee can opt to quit from that franchise and seek for an alternative performing franchisor with little embarrassments. The franchisor offers national and international advertising. This too including other support services is provided to the new entrants into the business world. Franchise brokers offers services that come in handy to help the franchisee to seek the most appropriate franchise. Such a franchisee seeking to get into business can enlist the servicers of master franchisors who can then work to help the franchisee in obtaining rights to sub franchise in the location (Millmore, 2007). Franchising has been seen as the most effective and innovative form of business devised to d istribute products and service bases on the fact that franchising like explained here above is based on a proven idea. The franchisee is in a position to check and prove the success of The Company before committing resources. In so doing, the franchisee can compare between different franchisors and then chose the best according to his interests. The availability of established and recognized brand names makes his entry into business easier. As opposed to businesses such as start ups, buying a franchise proves to be helpful to the franchisee as he can enjoy the protected reputation of the franchisor. This legal and procedural protection includes legal departments set aside to handle legal issues such as lawsuits. It also takes care of difficulties with the employees. Having the protection of the franchisor is an important factor that can keep the franchisee surviving in the corporate world as with it come the positive expectations that keep the customers loyal to the products or the services offered by the franchisee. This benefit in addition to the already established body of legal protection is an important factor in the success of the new franchise (Bowles, 2011). Getting into start up for example may prove very challenging. Before a start up establishes enough to command recognition by the customers, it may take many years of continued effort in advertising. This problem is however solved by getting into franchise. In the today’s corporate world, people want a guarantee on the product and services they are purchasing. As such, recognition across the board (name, brand etc) gives the company assurance. This is exactly what the company might be looking for. Name recognition in the corporate world is very important because it creates the confidence in the customers such that they always know that they will always be assured of the product or services they are looking for. Franchising is aimed at risk minimization. To reduce this, the franchise investmen t enables the franchisees to thoroughly research on the franchisor before he commits any investment are made. The franchisee is able to acquire detailed information from other franchisees and this enables the franchisee to try on various businesses before purchases it. Concerning the risks mitigation efforts of a franchise, therefore, we find that franchising reduces the risks associated with business considerably. An example of this is getting in printing and postal services. This kind of business will require a lot of capital and knowledge on how to run the business. Committing resources to this kind of business without enough capital or information is a risky phenomenon. As such, buying franchise from firms like park mail will help save on such risks. Because of the group purchasing ability provided by a number franchises, franchisees are able to procure commodities and stores supply at a comparatively lesser cost from the franchisor. This too serves to make the argument that fra nchising is a major growth area for business. In franchising, a uniform system of operation is provided. The franchisee uses this factor to his advantage. As such, a uniform system of operation enables the consumers to acquire products and services of quality efficiently and at an effective cost. This in turn brings the benefit of growing the purchasing ability and the customer brand loyalty. It also brings brand identification among the potential markets. The franchisee capitalizes on this factor to establish himself in the business (Hanson et al. 2011). It has come to help the individual entrepreneurs to be in business for themselves but actually not for themselves. The ideas behind being in a franchise rather than trying other forms of entry into business such as buy out or starting an entirely new business lies on the fact that in franchise there is always already proven business formula and structure that is in place. Disadvantages In this paper, I have looked at the factors th at make franchise be considered as the major growth area in business. The above arguments have been made after a careful weighing of the shortcoming of franchising. The weighing of both the merits and the demerits of the franchise has left us with the weigh inclined to the merits. The shortcoming that could challenge this form of business could be the fact that the initial cost of purchasing franchise is high. As such, the cost may be higher than one expects. Franchising may come with detrimental strings attached. For example, the franchisee might be forced to buy products from the franchisor. This may then make the franchisee look a slave to the franchisor, as he cannot seek for other suppliers offering better deals. The above argument lies on the fact that the franchise agreement has restrictions on how the business will be operated. In such a case therefore, the franchisee is in no position of playing effectively in the dynamic local market. In case the franchisor goes out of the market, the franchisee is left like an orphan. It may take years to fully re-establish him in the business again as the franchisee fully depends on the success of the franchisor. This includes all the logistics involving the successful running of the business like advertising, legal processes, training etc (Carnal, 2007). In franchising, another important factor worth noting, which could be detrimental to the running of the franchise, is the fact that all profits, which include a certain percentage of all the sales made, are shared with the franchisor. This sometimes is done to the benefit of the franchisor leading to low profits on the part of the franchisee. On the other hand, a franchisee wishing to sell his franchise can only do so with the approval of the franchisor. This too is a demerit of franchising because, though the franchisee claims to own the business, he can do very little without the approval of the franchisor. A franchise is not flexible. Conclusion In conclusion, therefore, though demerits of franchising are there, it remains to be an effective way of getting into business. The various merits make this form of starting business be popular, unlike other forms like start up. It therefore turns out that franchising is a major growth area for business. As seen in this paper its disadvantages compared to its demerits, in comparison with other types of businesses are many. As such, we can conclusively say that franchising is a revolutionary approach to business. Effective strategies in this line of business can prove to be a benefit for new entrants in the business world and to established businesspersons wishing to venture into new areas or diversify in their current work. We can then conclusively say that ,in the corporate world today, franchising is an effective and innovative form of business yet devised to distribute products and services and as such a major growth area for business. Reference List Beer, M. (1999) Readings in Human Resource M anagement. New York: Free Press. Bowles, M. (2011)  External Environment. The Institute For Working Futures. Web. Available from:  marcbowles.com/publications.html   . Carnal, C. (2007) Managing Change in Organizations. Essex: Pearson Education. Christensen, R. (2006) Roadmap to Successful Strategic HR Management. New York: American Management Association. Hanson, D. et al. (2011) Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization. Southbank, Victoria: Cengage. Michael A. Hitt, R. D. (2010) Strategic Management: Competitive and Globalization, Concepts. London: Wiley. Millmore, M. (2007) Strategic Human Resource Management: Contemporary Issues. Essex: Pearson Education. Noora, et al. (2005) The International Business Environments of Franchising in Russia. Academy of Marketing Science Review, 12.3: 2-3. Scarborough, N. M. (2010) Effective Small Business Management an Entrepreneurial Approach. London: Wiley. Zutshi, S. (2010) Property Magic 2010: How to Buy Property Using O ther Peoples Time, Money and Experience. Wiley: London.

Example Sentences of the Verb Hit

Example Sentences of the Verb Hit This page provides example sentences of the verb Hit in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. Base Form hit / Past Simple hit/ Past Participle hit / Gerund hitting Present Simple:Â  He often hits balls with his son in the park.Present Simple Passive:Â  Home runs are often hit out of this ballpark.Present Continuous:Â  He is hitting the ball hard today.Present Continuous Passive:Â  The ball is being hit hard today by all the players.Present Perfect:Â  She has hit fifteen home runs this season.Present Perfect Passive:Â  Fifteen home runs have been hit by Susan this season.Present Perfect Continuous:Â  Jack has been hitting that punching bag for the last twenty minutes.Past Simple:Â  Mary hit a home run out of the park yesterday.Past Simple Passive:Â  A home run was hit out of the park during yesterdays game.Past Continuous:Â  Hank was hitting the punching bag when his trainer walked into the gym.Past Continuous Passive:Â  The punching bag was being hit when the trainer walked into the gym.Past Perfect:Â  She had already hit four home runs when she hit the grand slam!Past Perfect Passive:Â  A grand slam had already been hit when the g ame was canceled due to the rain.Past Perfect Continuous:Â  Alan had been hitting the punching bag for twenty minutes when the trainer walked into the gym. Future (will):Â  She will hit the roof when she finds out!Future (will) passive:Â  The ball will be hit out of the park.Future (going to):Â  Jack is going to hit the ball out of the park today.Future (going to) passive:Â  The ball is going to be hit out of the park today.Future Continuous:Â  This time tomorrow we will be hitting the punching bag in the gym.Future Perfect:Â  William will have hit three home runs before the game is finished.Future Possibility:Â  She might hit him if he doesnt shut up!Real Conditional:Â  If she hits a home run, the team will celebrate.Unreal Conditional:Â  If she hit a home run, the team would celebrate.Past Unreal Conditional:Â  If she had hit a home run, the team would have celebrated.Present Modal:Â  You should hit a punching bag to get rid of your anger.Past Modal:Â  She must have hit a home run. Quiz: Conjugate With Hit Use the verb to hit to conjugate the following sentences. Quiz answers are below. In some cases, more than one answer may be correct. Mary _____ a homerun out of the park yesterday.She _____ fifteen homeruns this season.He _____ the ball hard today.The punching bag _____ when the trainer walked into the gym.A grand slam _____ already _____ when the game was canceled due to the rain.She _____ the roof when she finds out!William _____ three homeruns before the game is finished.If she _____ a homerun, the team would have celebrated.A homerun _____ out of the park during yesterdays game.He often _____ a punching bag to relax. Quiz Answers hithas hitis hittingwas being hithad been hitwill hitwill have hithad hitwas hithits

Winterbourne View Hospital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Winterbourne View Hospital - Essay Example On 12th of May 2011, the South Gloucestershire Council got a forwarded letter, which was addressed to the Castlebeck Ltd. The letter had been originally delivered by means of hand to the Wiltshire County Council. The letter, which consisted of five pages and was updated, came from a certain BBC Panorama Programme’s producer (Department of Health 2012). It had allegations that some patients at the Winterbourne View Hospital were subjected to abuse, and this included the patients from Wiltshire, who was within the Winterbourne Hospital. Wiltshire County Council, upon the reception of the letter, forwarded it to the South Gloucestershire Council since Winterbourne was within the location of the council. The prime purpose of the forwarded letter to the Castlebeck Ltd was to illustrate defined examples to the company on how the patients were being subjected to systematic mistreatment by the staff. The main concerns of the letter was the staff’s abusive treatment of patients, the staff’s motivation in the utilization of illegal and dangerous methods of restraint, the pointless suffering of Winterbourne’s patients, the care philosophy abused by some members of staff, the practice of water-based method of punishment, and the professional boundaries transgression (Emerson, E., Robertson, J., Hatton, C., Knapp, M., Walsh, P. and Hallam, A. 2005). Therefore, following the Winterbourne case, the Mental Health Act and the Human Rights, in general, have a big part to play. The Mental Health Act of 1983 was subjected to an amendment in 2007 and is a law in Wales and England that allows for admission to hospital for individuals experiencing a mental disorder.  Ã‚