Women In Shakespeare Henry V And Merchant Of Venic Essay Example For Students

Women In Shakespeare Henry V And Merchant Of Venic Essay eShakespeares presentation and portrayal of his female characters in TheMerchant of Venice and Henry V follows a typical pattern that is present in allof the Shakespearean plays that I have read so far. When looking closely at thefate of his female characters, this pattern becomes even more evident for itrepeats itself no matter how different the plays are. For instance, Henry V andThe Merchant of Venice are different in every respect. The female characters notonly come from different backgrounds, they also have very differentpersonalities. However, as different as these plays and their characters are,the female characters end up suffering the same fate. It doesnt seem tomatter whether they are born into a life of peasantry, nobility, or come fromroyalty, for they ultimately will end up being no better than a piece of land,or cattle, or some possession that a man can own and do with as he pleases. We will write a custom essay on Women In Shakespeare Henry V And Merchant Of Venic specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Scholars have been debating for centuries now as to whether Shakespeareswomen reflect his societys attitudes or that of his own. Henry V isdefinitely geared more for the male audience. There are only two or three actsin which a female character is present at all. When we first get a glimpse ofKatherine, she is trying to learn the English language. This scene is supposedto be somewhat comical, but are we really supposed to believe that while thereis a war raging throughout her country, that all Katherine is concerned about isthe fact that she cant speak the language of her enemy? This scene in whichwe get our first glimpse of Katherine is somewhat degrading to her character aswell as misleading. This leaves the audience with the inaccurate perception thatKatherine, and thus all women in general, care very little about whats goingon around them, and more about making themselves presentable. Afterall, isntKatherine the Grand Prize that will be awarded to the winning side? I findit very insulting that Shakespeares only significant female role in the wholeplay, is being used as a Prize to be given away. Shakespeare doesnteven try to hide the fact that he is setting Katherine up as a prize. I findthis kind of arrogance to be offensive and very belittling to women. While themen are off fighting the battle, Katherine, the future Queen of France, does notappear to be a bit concerned over the fate of her own country. Instead, shereadily accepts her fate as she prepares herself for the role of Queen ofEngland. This play is very biased and one-sided. Most of the English men areportrayed as noble, humble and superior to the French. Henry himself can do nowrong, and is portrayed through out the play as the best leader that the Englishhave ever had. This image that he can do no wrong and is as close to beingperfect as one can get, only holds up if you dont go digging around inHenrys past, in which he had been portrayed as a spoiled, pampered partyingboy. The French, in contr ast to the English, are presented as arrogant,incompetent, and weak, very similar to what Henry had been not to long ago. There is, however, one thing lower than a Frenchman, and that is, a Frenchwoman. The fact that Shakespeare subjected Katherines character, (she, whohad been born into royalty which was the highest social position one can reach),to being treated as a possession or prize for a man, only adds credence to theargument that Shakespeare had very little respect for women. Katherinecharacter, for the most part, adds very little, if anything at all, to the play. In fact, the role of Katherine could have easily been omitted altogether, andpersonally, I wish it had been The last act, in which Henry easily manages towin the affections of Katherine, is a weak attempt on Shakespeares part toend the play on a an uplifting note. Its a shame that Shakespeare put it inat all because it definitely changes the way I feel about this play, inparticular, as well as the others. The women characters in The Merchant ofVenice are treated with much more respect than Katherine had been. However, Ihave a feeling that its only due to the fact that Shakespeare thinks less ofJews than he does women. The Merchant of Venice, does have a strong castof women who play very important roles throughout the play. These women are muchmore impressive than those found in Henry V. Portia, in particular, is by farthe superior one of the play. Like Queen Elizabeth herself, Portias characteris a blending of femininity and masculinity. Portia has great strength ofcharacter, a quick wit, and is very well educated in the affairs of the worldaround her which is not a common theme in Shakespeares women. She is in everyrespect far superior to the fools she ends up being surrounded by. This mightnot have been the case if it werent for the fact that she, with all herintelligence and wit is still being dictated by a male. Her dead father dictatesher life through his will. I guess Shakespeare does not miss an opportunity toput even the most superior of all women in her place as he does just that toPortia. For all her power, riches, and strengths, she still is no better thanthe man she marries. Her new husband, Barsenio, is no match for her, and yet heis handed over everything that belongs to her, including her soul. AlthoughShakespeare gives the very best of qualities and traits to the female characterPortia, he knows that in spite of her superiority and domination over all theother characters including the male characters, he can later strip her of allher greatness a t any time, and does just that at the end of the play. What Ifind so unbelievable is the way that Shakespeares women just hand overeverything including themselves, no questions asked, to a man they hardly knowand yet willingly and happily marry. I have a hard time believing that women ofhis day did this duty so graciously. Portias portrayal of being such a strongfigure and at the same time, a woman who is subservient to her times, makes mequestion whether Shakespeare really knew what was gong on in the minds of theElizabethan women. Just the fact that he disguises his women characters up asmen in order to bring them to higher levels, leads me to believe that he is justmaking it all up as he goes along. Dont get me wrong, I love most ofShakespeares work. Its just his female characters that I have a problemwith. When reading Shakespeare it is easy to question what his motives mighthave been. Scholars have been doing this for centuries. We will never be sure asto whether or not Shakesp eare was reflecting the times or his own feelings. Onemust keep in mind when reading Shakespeare that hs writings are not historicallyaccurate and therefore most likely only reflect his views on things. I only hopethat is the case, for I cant imagine women ever being so passive. Could wehave really been the passive beings that Shakespeare portrays women as, Iseriously doubt it. Kelley Vickers-Sullivan Engl. 141-Mid-Term Essay March 30,2000 Youve Come a Long Way Baby! Shakespeares presentation and portrayalof his female characters in The Merchant of Venice and Henry V follows a typicalpattern that is present in all of the Shakespearean plays that I have read sofar. When looking closely at the fate of his female characters, this patternbecomes even more evident for it repeats itself no matter how different theplays are. For instance, Henry V and The Merchant of Venice are different inevery respect. The female characters not only come from different backgrounds,they also have very diff erent personalities. However, as different as theseplays and their characters are, the female characters end up suffering the samefate. It doesnt seem to matter whether they are born into a life ofpeasantry, nobility, or come from royalty, for they ultimately will end up beingno better than a piece of land, or cattle, or some possession that a man can ownand do with as he pleases. Scholars have been debating for centuries now as towhether Shakespeares women reflect his societys attitudes or that of hisown. Henry V is definitely geared more for the male audience. There are only twoor three acts in which a female character is present at all. When we first get aglimpse of Katherine, she is trying to learn the English language. This scene issupposed to be somewhat comical, but are we really supposed to believe thatwhile there is a war raging throughout her country, that all Katherine isconcerned about is the fact that she cant speak the language of her enemy?This scene in which we get o ur first glimpse of Katherine is somewhat degradingto her character as well as misleading. This leaves the audience with theinaccurate perception that Katherine, and thus all women in general, care verylittle about whats going on around them, and more about making themselvespresentable. Afterall, isnt Katherine the Grand Prize that will beawarded to the winning side? I find it very insulting that Shakespeares onlysignificant female role in the whole play, is being used as a Prize to begiven away. Shakespeare doesnt even try to hide the fact that he is settingKatherine up as a prize. I find this kind of arrogance to be offensive and verybelittling to women. While the men are off fighting the battle, Katherine, thefuture Queen of France, does not appear to be a bit concerned over the fate ofher own country. Instead, she readily accepts her fate as she prepares herselffor the role of Queen of England. This play is very biased and one-sided. Mostof the English men are portrayed as nobl e, humble and superior to the French. .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 , .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .postImageUrl , .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 , .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3:hover , .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3:visited , .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3:active { border:0!important; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3:active , .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3 .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue07906095363db72e964c571d82128f3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Physics Of Scuba Diving: Swimming with the Fish EssayHenry himself can do no wrong, and is portrayed through out the play as the bestleader that the English have ever had. This image that he can do no wrong and isas close to being perfect as one can get, only holds up if you dont godigging around in Henrys past, in which he had been portrayed as a spoiled,pampered partying boy. The French, in contrast to the English, are presented asarrogant, incompetent, and weak, very similar to what Henry had been not to longago. There is, however, one thing lower than a Frenchman, and that is, a Frenchwoman. The fact that Shakespeare subjected Katherines character, (she, whohad bee n born into royalty which was the highest social position one can reach),to being treated as a possession or prize for a man, only adds credence to theargument that Shakespeare had very little respect for women. Katherinecharacter, for the most part, adds very little, if anything at all, to the play. In fact, the role of Katherine could have easily been omitted altogether, andpersonally, I wish it had been The last act, in which Henry easily manages towin the affections of Katherine, is a weak attempt on Shakespeares part toend the play on a an uplifting note. Its a shame that Shakespeare put it inat all because it definitely changes the way I feel about this play, inparticular, as well as the others. The women characters in The Merchant ofVenice are treated with much more respect than Katherine had been. However, Ihave a feeling that its only due to the fact that Shakespeare thinks less ofJews than he does women. The Merchant of Venice, does have a strong castof women who play very important roles throughout the play. These women are muchmore impressive than those found in Henry V. Portia, in particular, is by farthe superior one of the play. Like Queen Elizabeth herself, Portias characteris a blending of femininity and masculinity. Portia has great strength ofcharacter, a quick wit, and is very well educated in the affairs of the worldaround her which is not a common theme in Shakespeares women. She is in everyrespect far superior to the fools she ends up being surrounded by. This mightnot have been the case if it werent for the fact that she, with all herintelligence and wit is still being dictated by a male. Her dead father dictatesher life through his will. I guess Shakespeare does not miss an opportunity toput even the most superior of all women in her place as he does just that toPortia. For all her power, riches, and strengths, she still is no better thanthe man she marries. Her new husband, Barsenio, is no match for her, and yet heis handed over everything that belongs to her, including her soul. AlthoughShakespeare gives the very best of qualities and traits to the female characterPortia, he knows that in spite of her superiority and domination over all theother characters including the male characters, he can later strip her of allher greatness a t any time, and does just that at the end of the play. What Ifind so unbelievable is the way that Shakespeares women just hand overeverything including themselves, no questions asked, to a man they hardly knowand yet willingly and happily marry. I have a hard time believing that women ofhis day did this duty so graciously. Portias portrayal of being such a strongfigure and at the same time, a woman who is subservient to her times, makes mequestion whether Shakespeare really knew what was gong on in the minds of theElizabethan women. Just the fact that he disguises his women characters up asmen in order to bring them to higher levels, leads me to believe that he is justmaking it all up as he goes along. Dont get me wrong, I love most ofShakespeares work. Its just his female characters that I have a problemwith. When reading Shakespeare it is easy to question what his motives mighthave been. Scholars have been doing this for centuries. We will never be sure asto whether or not Shakesp eare was reflecting the times or his own feelings. Onemust keep in mind when reading Shakespeare that hs writings are not historicallyaccurate and therefore most likely only reflect his views on things. I only hopethat is the case, for I cant imagine women ever being so passive. Could wehave really been the passive beings that Shakespeare portrays women as, Iseriously doubt it.

Biblical Truths Essays - Prophecy, Christian Fundamentalism

Biblical Truths Essays - Prophecy, Christian Fundamentalism Biblical Truths The Bible Teaches many truths about itself. 1. It claims God as its author All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. -2 Peter 1:20-21 2. It claims that it is innerant and infallible The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:7-8 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His word, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6 3. It claims that it is complete For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19 4. It claims to authoritative All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproff, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 5. It claims to be effective So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 6. It claims to be interpretive He who is of God hears Gods words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. John 8:47 The Bible offers limitless

Validity of research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Validity of research - Essay Example The study conclusions not only reflect the main aim of the research but also reveal the impact of formal and informal learning in major enterprises in Scotland. The research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with the managers as well as line managers. Observing the employees was another method of doing the research to ensure the unspoken details regarding company websites and annual reports were covered. Data collection and analysis was performed through interviews and observation which were appropriate for the study. However, another more effective and efficient method of doing the same would have been through the use of questionnaires, because the study involved various companies in different geographic areas. The researchers did have impacts on the study as they came up with other findings regarding lifelong learning in European countries through formal and informal learning. The timing of the study is one of the factors that impacted the findings of the study as it determines the method of data collection and analysis. Further research on small companies should be necessary to draw a better conclusion for the study because there are more small companies in European countries. The study by Swain and Hammond (2010) examines outcomes and motivations of higher education students who take part-time classes in UK. The study was successful in measuring and testing the efficiency of the research. The study has explored and measured other details regarding part-time students in UK including their mental health difficulties and their daily routine. The conclusion gives details of the provision of high quality tuition for both part-time students and mature learners in UK, which reflects the aim of the research. The research was conducted via data collection and analysis through face to face interviews in various locations, including the students’ homes and their place of work. Face to face

Thoreaus Masculinity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Thoreaus Masculinity - Essay Example He also served as an abolitionist against slavery for his entire life by lecturing across the country against the Fugitive Slave Law. Every man's search for wisdom can be connected to Thoreau's simple search for truth, in which he praises these three main characteristics as the most admirable qualities of the American man. Thoreau's theoretical energy was inspired by the wild. He found it necessary to live free in the wilderness provided by Walden Pond for two years and two months , in order to find the clarity he needed to search for truth. He followed the notion set by Plato, that wisdom is attained through the continuous pursuit of truth. This was a concept originated by Plato's mentor Socrates through his ideals of continuous self analysis. All, of which, is presumed will lead one to the most meaningful life. In his piece, Natural History of Massachusetts he says, You cannot go into any field or wood, but it will seem as if every stone had been turned, and the bark on every tree ripped up. But, after all, it is much easier to discover than to see when the cover is off. It has been well said that "the attitude of inspection is prone." Wisdom does not inspect, but behold Thoreau, pp. 130-131). Here as Thoreau teaches patience through the appreciation of nature. He also argues in favor of self preser vation in that he promotes the preservation of nature and believes man to be as equally a part of nature as any other animal in the wild. Virtue is also a core ideal that Thoreau aspires for in his writing and in turn convinces the reader to aspire for as well. He would often contrast virtue with popular ideals at the time which he felt were unbefitting to the ideal American male, but he also often spoke directly on the concept of morality and virtuous behavior. In his 1849 piece, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers he says, Absolutely speaking, Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you is by no means a golden rule, but the best of current silver. An honest man would have but little occasion for it. It is golden not to have any rule at all in such a case (Thoreau, p.74). In his chapter on economy, Thoreau contrasts the popular view of inherited wealth. Where most people would consider inheriting great wealth as a blessing, Thoreau's take is the opposite. He believes it impedes a man's freedom to live his own life, by inheriting a subservience to, what he calls, necessity. In his piece On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, which he wrote in 1849, he communicates this concept to the reader in his text when he says, The rich man ... is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue. Here Thoreau contrasts the concept of wealth with that of virtue. He makes the direct statement that one born into wealth is not free but sold into never being able to be virtuous. It's very ironic that he is able to flip one of the most desired and admired origins in American Capitalist society on its head. The American Dream in essence is the pursuit of wealth/ha ppiness; by Thoreau denouncing the pursuit of money he is indirectly redefining, or disregarding, the American Dream. One might assume that this disdain for the American Dream and its detrimental affect on manhood was a reoccurring theme that developed over time in Thoreau's writing, because in his 1854 work

Paragraph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Paragraph - Essay Example more, the authors also emphasize that the number of individuals that develop diabetes would mean an increase in government expenses to fight the disease. Moreover, Cresswell states that there are 275 Australians who develop diabetes per day, which matches Robotham’s statement that 100,000 Australians develop diabetes annually. While both Cresswell’s and Robotham’s articles have many similarities, they also have some differences. First, Cresswell discusses in his article a study in 1999 to 2000 involving 11, 247 participants while Robotham did not mention this at all. Second, Cresswell also mentions that aside from the 275 individuals who develop diabetes daily, there are already one millions Australians who have the disease. Robotham does not mention this in her article either. Third, Cresswell again is very specific when he writes that the government expenses in fighting diabetes would cost around $3 billion annually, while Robotham merely says that the diabetes epidemic will have a big impact on the government’s health budget. Finally, Cresswell states that 25% of schoolchildren are already overweight, while Robotham mentions that younger individuals gain weight faster than middle age adults

Benefits of Video Conferencing

Benefits of Video Conferencing VIDEO CONFERENCING WHAT IS VIDEO CONFERENCING? A Video Conference (known as video teleconference) is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. It has also been called visual collaboration and is a type of groupware. In other word Video Conferencing is a communications technology that integrates video and voice to connect remote users with each other as if they were in the same room. Each user needs computer, web cam, microphone, and broadband internet connection for participation in video conferencing. Users see and hear each other in real-time, allowing natural conversations. Video Conferencing differs from a videophone calls in that its designed to serve a conference rather than individuals. It is an intermediate form of video telephony, first deployed commercially by A T T during the early 1970s using their picture phone technology. Video Conferencing is becoming increasingly popular as a way to facilitate meetings, and save time and money on travel and accommodation. HOW IT WORKS Video Conferencing can be used in a host of different environments, which is one of the reasons the technology is so popular. General uses for video conferencing include business meetings, educational training or instruction and collaboration among health officials or other representatives. Thus far video conferencing has been helping in different sphere of life. The most usage field of Video conferencing Interviewing prospective students and staff Presentations Seminar presentations to remote audiences Business meeting Distance Learning Telecommuting Telemedicine BENIFICIAL OF VIDEO CONFERENCE The biggest advantage or benefit Video Conferencing has to offer is the ability to meet with people in remote locations without incurring travel expenses or other expenses associated with face to face communication. Business meetings, educational meetings, healthcare conferences and more can all be easily conducted thanks to video conferencing technology. Individuals living in remote areas can also use video conferencing to keep in touch if you will, with the world at large. More people are easily accessed and contacted using video conferencing. Because of this technology information and knowledge are often disseminated at more rapid rates, and collaboration between people occurs more willingly and freely. Students can take advantage of video conferencing to take classes at distant locations that would normally be unavailable. They can also take classes that will accommodate busy schedules. Video Conferencing can stimulate better brainstorming, knowledge sharing and information gathering. Businesses can use video conferencing to provide presentations to key members of an organization or to solicit new clients in a professional manner, regardless of their location. The possibilities for communication are virtually endless thanks to video conferencing technologies. Video Conferencing provides with the ability to meet and to work with others over a distance. The following list includes several examples of the benefits for businesses using video conferencing: Reduce travel costs. Improve use of executive time. Speed up decision-making. Keep meetings brief and more focused than face-to-face meetings. Enable top management to quickly and effectively communicate with employees sitting in multiple locations. Allows virtual project management via video and data conferencing with geographically dispersed peer groups at short notice. Provides an effective way of delivering cost-efficient training to individuals without the requirement to consistently travel to central locations. Creates a medium for conducting interviews. Working out of home has never been easier or more practical. Videoconferencing makes it possible to stay connected with people in a very real way. Videoconferencing allows users to save resources by meeting with clients and/or colleagues via videoconference. This reduces travel expenses, while maintaining face-to-face contact. For a minimal cost, it is possible to set-up a fully functional videoconferencing system that works in a professional and reliable way from your home office. HOW TO DO THIS Video Conferencing used to be something of a black art. Today, easy-to-use and manage technology means that users need know little about how the equipment actually works, Whats important is what it can do, now how it does it. Video Conferencing has become popular over the last decade. Video conferencing is when two or more parties communicate in real time in separate locations with both video and audio signals. Technology used in Video conferencing Video Input Video Output Audio Input Audio Output Data Transfer Data Compression Software Acoustic Echo Cancellation This is the technology/software used for video conferencing. The software is usually used for Video Conferencing. So start video conferencing in your preferable work and make your world easy and trouble free.

Antony’s Speech and the Rhetoric Used

Vengeance is a powerful. Caesar’s slaying by Brutus sets Antony in motion to deceive his murderers into allowing him to speak to Rome. In his speech to the Romans, Antony turns Rome against Brutus using repetition to convey the irony in his own speech and discredit Brutus, as well as, applying meter to add emphasis to the mutiny, and contrast Brutus’s speech allowing him to connect with his countrymen. Repetition is used powerfully throughout Antony’s speech to convey a multitude of thoughts, however, the repetition particularly lends to the irony of the piece. †¦let me not stir you up / To such a sudden flood of mutiny. † (188-189) is a prime example of the irony in his address. His intent from the beginning is to lead a revolt against Brutus and Caesar’s other murderers, the fact that he actually states he does not want to create a mutiny while stirring up these very same people to revolt is very ironic. Antony uses an ironic repetition to adv ance his efforts for a mutiny in the discrediting of Brutus. Before Antony takes the stage to talk to Rome, Brutus has just given a very lively speech and the Romans are partial to him.It is then necessary for Antony to use dramatic irony to deceive his countrymen that he believes that â€Å"†¦Brutus is an honourable man;† (61). When Antony first describes Brutus as honourable the audience agrees it is only after the fourth time he says this that the whole crowd realize the irony behind what he is saying.. Antony uses this irony to discredit Brutus’s honour and sway the Romans to join in a mutiny against Brutus. The meter in Antony’s speech is also a very key part in adding emphasis to the mutiny he wishes to instill in the Romans.Most lines have ten syllables however there are several lines with only nine syllables to add affect. Not only do these sentences have less syllables in common but also they end with ambition. For example â€Å"Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;† (72) the lost syllables place is taken by a pause that allows the Roman and the reader to reflect on the repeated word ambition. This pause allows the Antony to inflict the thought that it was not Caesar that was ambitious but Brutus instead. This meter allows Antony to incite the doubt of Brutus in the minds of Antony’s countrymen and incite them to revolt.Interestingly enough the meter in Antony’s speech also serves as a contrast to Brutus’s who spoke in prose. Antony is a nobleman as is Brutus and throughout the whole play the only part where their dialogue is not written in meter of some sort is when Brutus addresses his countrymen. Antony however speaks as if he is addressing another noble conveying the message that he sees them as equals to him, and that while Brutus speaks down to their level, Antony lifts them up to his equal. This allows him to then sympathize with his countrymen and relate to them so that it is easier to coax the m to mutiny.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Dreaming a Reality

Thesis:Martin Luther King was a leader that was born in a segregated world but was determine to change it so everyone live in a equal nation. And he did this by his words and action that don’t need any bloodshed. He used brain over bronze to accomplish what he set out to do. Martin Luther King jr. was as born as a middle child in Atlanta Georgia in January 15th 1929 into a family which was actively involved in the civil right movement. Martin father and grandfather was lead preacher at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Martin Luther King mother was a teacher and thought him how to read, she also try to taught Martin about prejudice and the Jim Crow law that separated Black and White . Martin father was preacher , and was strong Blackman who help black get job and black teacher that same pay as white teacher. Martin got married to Coretta Scott in Alabama in June 18, 1953. Martin Luther King Jr. had four children Yolanda Denise, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice Albertine. Martin Luther King began his education at Yong Street Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia he attended Booker-T Washington High and later on graduated and went to Morehouse College with a scholarship from his high because he got an high school entrance examination he even skip ninth and twelve grade he entered at age fifteen. He graduated collage with a Bachelor of Divinity in sociology King then began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University and received his Doctor of Philosophy on June 5, 1955. Martin inspiration was a civil rights leader, theologian, and educator Howard Thurman who was actually Martin father friend use to mentor The Kings and his friend. King played a big role in the founding of Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957; this organization was created so non-violent black people to protect. King also organized and led marches for the right to vote, desegregation, and labor rights in addition to basic civil rights. One of Martin most famous rallies(marches) was the March On Washington where lack people from all over the nation came together to fight for their God given right at that event their were many speeches given one of them was the famous â€Å"I Have A Dream Speech† all this was held August 28, 1963. Other things you might find interesting about that event was that their wasn’t only black people their even white that had the same mind set as black were their trying to fight along with them for civil right and what they believe in . There were performance by Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson who sang â€Å"How I Got Over†, also musician Bob Dylan performed several songs, including â€Å"Only a Pawn in Their Game. Their criticism from many people and this might even surprise that â€Å"black nationalist Malcolm X, in his Message to the Grass Roots speech, criticized the march, describing it as â€Å"a picnic† and â€Å"a circus†. The March on Washington isn’t the only event that happen for the civil right of the black, another event that happen was a Boy Cott which Martin Luther was still a pastor back then, well by now you are asking what really happen to cause that Boy Cott?. And the answer was that a African-American amed Rosa Park who was an seamstress came from a hard day of work and went to the back of the bus and a white told her to get up so he can sit there and she refuse for doing that she arrested for this anger was spark in the Alabama community. And so a meeting was called by the black community and an overflow crowd came to Ebenezer Baptist church for a meeting concerning Rosa Park situation and so Dr. King told them the only way that they could them was to Boy Cott the bus company. So on Dec. 5, the African-American residents of the city refused to use the buses. Most walked, those few with cars arranged rides for friends and strangers, some even result to even riding mules. Only a very few numbers of African-Americans rode the bus that day. Martin Luther king gave a lot of speeches such as the famous â€Å"I Have a Dream†, â€Å"The Purpose of Education† speech, and his other famous â€Å"Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech† and I See the Promised Land (a. k. a. I've been to the Mountain Top) which was his last speech. The â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech was famous because King talk about the dream he has for the nation and the peech goes like this I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. † I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream th at one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, â€Å"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father’s died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring. † And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, â€Å"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! † This speech was the captivate the nation because of the words behind that it meant behind it. Martin Luther King Jr. as such a hard worker and a strong believer of equality and worked so hard on his nonviolence protect for civil right that he was even recognize as a modern prophet and even a modern day Moses. For all his hard work he was given the most honorable reward of all time which was the Noble Peace Prize on December 10, 1964 this prize which is only given to a person that done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of sta nding armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses when Martin receive his prize he gave a very good acceptation speech. Unfortunately on April 4, 1968 while Dr. King stood on a Memphis motel balcony probably taking a fresh breath of air was shot with a sniper bullet and died on the spot the shooter James Earl Ray was opposite of Martin Luther King’s Jr. motel where it was easy to aim and shoot at king . James Earl Ray was arrest in London at a airport, on March 10, 1969, Ray entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee state penitentiary. Even though the killer was found and punished it wasn’t even to filled the sadness in people hearts. Dr. King’s death wasn’t only a family issue it was a nationwide issue because he was a Great man who was trying to make the world a better place for every race. Conclusion: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was black man who was born into unequal world but tired his all best to change it without bloodshed he was willing to die for his believes. He was even critics by many people that don’t have the same mind set as him; his life and family life were put in danger but No that didn’t stop him he kept moving on. Like the old saying goes â€Å"Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven† and Martin did a lot for us and gave us a big push toward equality so he probably in his grave or in heaven smiling down at the nation because his dream finally came to pass.

Discuss Is Socila Stratification Functional Essays

Discuss Is Socila Stratification Functional Essays Discuss Is Socila Stratification Functional Essay Discuss Is Socila Stratification Functional Essay Sociology gives us an in depth insight into social stratification and how it effects our lives. We as individuals are social beings who are ranked in categories within the hierarchy of society, but within our society we have the means to progress up the hierarchy and become part of the elite. Social inequalities are functional for the elite as they are the ones with the power and control over us as we are socially controlled. Social stratification affects the way we think about life. If were born in Ethiopia you would be illiterate and you would expect the same from your children. You would not be surprised when your children died young. Social stratification is a system in which groups of people are divided into layers according to their relative power, property, and prestige. It is a way of ranking large groups of people into a hierarchy according to their relative privileges. Every society stratifies its members. Some societies have greater inequality than others, but social stratification is universal and can vary due to gender, age and ability When we look at the social stratification system we must take into consideration the five key features: Social stratification is a characteristic of society, not just a reflection of individual differences. Social stratification persists over generations. Social stratification is universal but variable. Beliefs are central to social stratification. Social stratification engenders shared identities. We will also need to explore ‘Open and Closed’ stratification. In describing social stratification in particular societies sociologists (Tumin, 1985) often stress degrees of social closure and mobility that is allowed in the society ‘Closed’ systems allow little change in social position, while ‘Open’ systems permits some mobility. ‘Open stratification social class gives us some degree of social mobility Saunders (1990) believes that Britain is a true meritoracrcy because rewards naturally go to the most able. Saunders uses data from the National Child Development study to show that children who are bright and hard working will succeed regardless of social advantages they experience some misunderstanding. ‘Closed’ stratification refers to systems where social position is ascribed at birth and various social institutes reinforce the stratification system and there is little opportunity to change position ie: The Caste system (Giddens) is extremely elaborate and varies in its structure from area to area, so much so that it does not really constitute diversity of varying beliefs and practices. Through out our lives we will be confronted with certain types of social stratification in our everyday lives within certain cultures and societies therefore we need to explore the Functionalist approach and the Marxists Approach. Like the functionalists, Marxists agree that education is functional in that it maintains the dominance of certain powerful groups in society. Unlike the functionalists, however, Marxists do not believe that it works for the benefit of all. Instead Marxists argue that the education system sustains one small group’s ideas about appropriate forms of schooling and assumptions about what knowledge is. The system also maintains different levels of access to knowledge for different groups and thereby prohibits the widespread dissemination of knowledge to everyone. From a functionalist perspective, the main parts of society (its institutions such as education, religion and the family) are the foundations for social structure. These institutions have interconnected roles and interrelated norms to form a complete system. All of the institutions have a role to meet the functional prerequisites (society’s basic needs). Integration between the parts is necessary so therefore integration is a functional prerequisite in itself. Social relations are organized, in result of values providing general guidelines for behavior. These state that the function is a consequence, which adds to the stability of the system. A dysfunction is a consequence, which takes away stability from the system of social stratification. There are certain institutions, among them include the family, religion and economy, etc. , which aid the structure of society. These institutions, working in order, with harmony, will not only increase the stability of social stratification, but will add to it. The functionalist will then point out that these institutions, while independent of each other, have a shared system of values which guides them and helps hold the society together. To find out what function each institution performs in the whole social stratification system, one must ask themselves the question of what are the consequences of each institutions contribution to the social stratification of the society Functionalists view on social stratification of our society is centered on their basic interpretations. The role of education is to educate individuals within society and to prepare and qualify them for work in the economy as well as helping to integrate individuals into society and teach them the norms, values and morals of society. Yet there are two sociological theories that differ greatly between them on the role of education. These are Functionalism and Marxism. Like many functionalists, Talcott and Parsons believe that stratification systems derive from common values, it follows from the existence of values that individuals will be evaluated and therefore placed in some form of ranking order. In Parsons words â€Å"Stratification, in its valuational aspect, then is the ranking of units in a social system in accordance with the common value system†. In other words those who perform successfully in terms of society’s values will be ranked highly and they will be likely to receive a variety of rewards. Most societies have different value systems, the ways of attaining a high position will vary from society to society. Parsons argument suggests that stratification is an inevitable part of all human societies and there is a general belief that stratification systems are just, right and proper since they are basically an expression of shared values. In Parsons words he sees social stratification as both inevitable and functional for society, it is inevitable because it derives from shared values which are a necessary part of all social systems and functional because it strives to integrate various groups in society. Functionalists view the role of education as a means of socializing individuals and to integrate society, to keep society running smoothly and remain stable. Durkheim believes that society can only survive if its members are committed to common social values and that education provides these to children and young people as well as raising awareness of their commitment to society. Durkheim also believed that schools teach young people that they must co-operate with their peers and be prepared to listen and learn from their teachers. Individual pupils eventually learn to suspend their own self interests for those of society as a whole, work together and that success in education, just like in society, involves commitment to a value consensus. Bowles and Gintis, writers of ‘Schooling in Capitalist America’ (1976) believe in the ‘Correspondence Principle’, where they suggest that the hierarchy in work is similar to the hierarchy in school, particularly in the differences in social class between state school pupils and fee paying school pupils. Bowles and Gintis also believe that schools are no longer about the teaching of a subject but the social principle or control of the pupils meaning that schools concentrate more on the hidden curriculum than the knowledge process. Equally, schools don’t reward independence and innovation; therefore meritocracy cannot exist within our capitalist society as capitalism is based on the principle of the ruling class (the bourgeois). Bowles and Gintis (1976) refer to the social reproduction theory as a ‘Correspondence Principle’ between schooling and career. This theory suggests that school and careers are closely related and that this correlation is essential for the production of an efficient workforce. For example, the hierarchical structure at school, with the principle at the top and the pupil at the bottom can correspond with life in the workforce where the manager or boss is located at the top and the manual staff at the bottom. Pupils also have little control over what they learn, when they learn it and how; this is, to some extent, decided by the teacher and the curriculum. This is much the same in the workforce where a person may have little option over their task and is set tasks by people above them in the hierarchy. Similarly, Davis and Moore (1945), believed that education is strongly linked to social stratification by members of society and that education ‘sifts, sorts and allocates’ people to their correct place in the economy and society. By rewarding the most talented and most dedicated by allowing them into the highest paid and highest status jobs, education performs the function which is always necessary to Functionalists – differentiating all members of society so that the system runs smoothly. Davis and Moore argued that social stratification exists in every known human society and that all social systems share certain functional prerequisites’ which must be met if the system is to survive and operate efficiently. They regard social stratification as a functional necessity for all societies, and seen it as a solution to a problem faced by all social systems, that of placing and motivating individuals in the social structure, they offer no others means of solving this problem and imply that social inequality is an inevitable feature of human society. Davis and Moore concluded that differential rewards are functional for society, because they contribute to the maintenance and well being of social systems. The Marxists theory on social stratification can be found out by asking the simple question of Who benefits? from the social arrangements of the day. One must look at those who hold the power of the day to find out who benefits. The power elite control the wealth, and impose their will on those who dont control the wealth. This class system of social stratification dates back to the days of Andrew Carnegie, and John D. Rockefeller who where the owners of big business who controlled the lives of their workers. Whoever the power elite want to be in power will be in power. This structure of social stratification will lead to conflicts that have been pre-determined to happen. These conflicts include all social institutions. Marxists, in general, argue that equality is impossible in a class-based society. Like functionalists, they think there is a belief in the link between education and the economy. Functionalists see the link as a positive one, which serves to benefit industrial society, However, Marxists see the education system, existing in order to put children into their class-defined roles in order to benefit capitalist society. Thus, it serves the bourgeoisie well and keepstheproletariatdown. Some researches supported the view that class differences played a role in classrooms. Hargreaves (Luzzo) demonstrated that teachers constantly under-estimated or were ignorant of the power of the peer group in regulating the behavior of pupils. Hargreaves found that boys placed in lower streams were associated with failure at school. Keddie(Luzzo) found that teachers in the humanities department of a mixed comprehensive school tended to see students from the top stream as displaying middle class conforming behaviors, and students from the lower streams as having working class noisy behaviors. Marx predicted a new and final epoch. A society would have complete equality. There would be no new force of production but the relations of production will be transformed. The ownership of production would be collective, as the members of society would share the wealth. The ruling class would no longer exploit or oppress the workers. It is interesting how Functionalists see people as unequal a positive thing and Marxists believe it a negative one. Karl Marx was struck by the inequalities the capitalist system creates. Marx’s theory was that there are two main classes in society, those who own the means of production and those who do not; he recognized that class systems are much more complex. Marx believed that there are splits which can occur among the classes. Examples of these are within the upper classes there are often conflicts between financial capitalists and manufactures. Marx’s concept of class directs us towards objectively structured economic inequalities in society and that class does not refer to beliefs people hold about their position, but to objective conditions which allow some to have greater access to material rewards than others. Marx believed that large scales of inequalities would persist within industrialized countries as the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. American sociologist Erik Olin Wright has developed a theoretical position which owes much to Marx, but also incorporates ideas from Weber (Wright 1978-1985). According to Wright, there are three dimensions of control over economic resources in modern capitalist production, and these allow us to identify the major classes which exist ie: 1)Control over investments and money capital. 2)Control over the physical means of production (Land or factories and offices. 3)Control over labour power. Those who belong to the capital class have control over each of these dimensions within the production system and members of the working class have control over none of them. In between these two main classes, however there are groups whose position is more ambiguous. These people are what Wright called contradictory class locations because they are able to influence some aspects of production but are denied control over others. Wright terms the class position of such workers as ‘contradictory’ because they are neither capitalists nor manual workers, yet they share certain common features with each. Melvin Tumin a critique of Davis and Moore argues that they have ignored the influence of power on the unequal distribution of rewards. Tumin concludes that stratification by its very nature can never adequately perform the functions which Davis and Moore assign to it. Tumin argues that those born into the lower strata can never have the same opportunities for realizing their talents as those born into the higher strata. Tumin believes that stratification can weaken social integration by giving members of the lower strata a feeling of being excluded from participation in the larger society. Tumin concluded that their enthuastic search for positive functions of stratification Davis and Moore have ignored or tried to play down its many dysfunctions. The time I have spent looking at social stratification has brought me to the conclusion both the structural-functionalist and the social conflict theorists have very strong and explained theories. I believe that in today’s world the structural-functionalist theory is very accurate and seems to be true in our everyday lives. The media makes it so clear to everyone that an education is the only way to make it in the world. The world has advanced tremendously in the past century and continues to expand in technology, making it essential to have a college background and extensive educational background. It’s our choice on where we want to go in life and I feel that no one can shape it for us, we must do it ourselves. We can not live in this world without structure, although personally I think the Marxists approach works better for society as people can change their positions within our society through hard work. The functionalist approach works better for certain societies therefore why would we change it if it is working effectively, although within certain cultures social stratification produces a lot of inequalities which is vital for that society to work. Giddens. (1997). Stratification and Class Structure. In: Anthony Giddens Sociology third edition. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers ltd. 240-282. Ken Browne. (1998). Social Stratification. In: Polity Press an introduction to Sociology. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Haralambos and Holborn. (1995). Social Stratification. In: Micahel Haralambos and Martin Holborn SOCIOLOGY Themes and Perspectives. 4th ed. London: HarperCollins Publishers. 21-122. Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore with a response by Melvin Tumin. (1996). Class readings in Sociology. Available: soc. iastate. edu/sapp/DavisMoore. html. Last accessed 18th Nov 2010. ________________________________________

Evaluation of Walmart

Evaluation of Walmart Cost Leadership Walmart’s main business strategy focuses on building and maintaining cost leadership in the market. The company’s slogan reads, â€Å"Everyday low price†. This highlights its main focus on cost leadership. The strategy entails offering the same market products offered by rival firms at lower costs, but without compromising the quality.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluation of Walmart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Walmart manages to achieve this objective by relying on a highly efficient supply chain management that only avails products to the consumers at the right time when they need them. This eliminates additional costs that come from holding stock within the company’s premises (Schermerhorn 223). Walmart uses a sophisticated technology to interconnect its operations with those of the suppliers. In essence, information about stock levels within the company is rel ayed in real time. The sophisticated IT system relays the information to the suppliers immediately every time consumers purchase a commodity from the retailer. This makes it possible for the suppliers to monitor the stock-levels at any given time. Thus, restocking occurs at the opportune time just when the clients need the products and in the exact quantity. The ‘in-time’ logistics in the company has been the main reason behind its cost leadership in the market. The retailer also sells products in smaller quantities to allow its customers to pay less (Schermerhorn 223). Walmart acquires goods packed in large quantities, but it repacks them in much smaller quantities for sale at reduced prices. This sustains its â€Å"Everyday low prices† slogan. The true meaning of the slogan would not be achieved if the firm decided to sell the commodities in the large packaged quantities that it acquires from the supplier. Differentiation Strategy Walmart pursues a differentiat ion strategy whose main objective is to offer products and services that are unique in the market. Although the firm is not involved in manufacturing, Walmart stocks products that are specifically packaged in branded material. The company has invested heavily in repackaging materials to enable it achieve the differentiation mission.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, Walmart offers unique warranties that other rival retailers in the market do not offer (Daft 253). This creates a unique feeling among the consumers, making them believe that the experience is only available in Walmart and not from any other retailer. Acquisition Strategy Walmart has focused its efforts on market acquisition as a way of expanding its market presence. The firm considers acquiring other already existing retailer firms in foreign markets and maintaining their original names to cope with the globalization phenomenon and increasing market competition among rival retailers. This is the case in most conservative markets where a foreign trade name may not augur well with the company. Walmart also considers acquiring and merging with other businesses outside the retail industry as a way of expanding its portfolio. This also helps in spreading the company’s risks evenly (Daft 255). Walmart, for instance, acquired Kosmix, which is a social mobile platform. Walmart operates under the ASDA trade name in the United Kingdom after the latter was acquired in 1999 by Walmart. Product Quality Concerns Walmart has instituted a mechanism that focuses on maintaining high product quality. All Walmart stores around the world are required to fulfill the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This GFSSI procedure calls on all food suppliers to be subjected to the factory audit checks as a way of ensuring that the products meet the desired quality. The retailer has worked together with The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) since 2009 as a means of developing measurement, as well as reporting systems. The target is to enhance product sustainability and eliminate problems attached to product quality. In this arrangement, TSC performs research on metrics and the reporting systems. The research, in turn, helps Walmart to engage suppliers while clearly understanding the products sold.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluation of Walmart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In recent times, however, there have been rising concerns over poor quality of products sold by Walmart. For instance, the fresh foods sold by the firm have been found to suffer from poor quality. This problem is mainly linked to another challenge being faced by the firm, the challenge of staffing and related issues (Weiss 472). Walmart’s fresh foods have only managed a low market share in comparison to other market p layers. This could be an indicator of the worsening product quality concerns. Labor Practices Walmart has been involved in accusations with labor union bodies, religious organizations, and community groups over its labor practices and policy. The retailer was taken to court over what its accusers termed as discrimination of its staff along race and gender. Three women employees filed a sex discrimination complaint against the retailer in 2012, accusing Walmart of failing to promote them because they are women. The accusations leveled against the company also mention the fact that female employees generally earn less compared to their male counterparts (Daft 122). Workers in the firm have also accused their employer of failing to observe acceptable labor practices, resulting in poor conditions of work in the various stores owned by the retailer. Business Ethics Walmart considers ethics as the strongest aspect of its success in business. The organizational structure has an established global ethics office whose main mandate is to promote its culture of integrity (Walmart para 1). The office also develops and helps in upholding the policies that relate to ethical behavior concerning all the stakeholders. Ethics education is offered on a routine basis to the employees. In this case, all workers undergoing training in the firm are subjected to consistent integrity lessons. Walmart supports a special award related to business ethics, the Integrity in Action Award, to further emphasize on the need to enhance business ethics (Walmart para 1).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The award is offered in recognition of individuals or associates of the firm who demonstrate a greater level of integrity through their consistent actions. Such recognized associates must also have inspired others to do the right thing while dealing with Walmart in one way or the other. The retailer practices integrity itself when selecting winners for the award by allowing the associates to conduct their own voluntary nominations. The resultant global votes determine the perfect recipient of the award. Walmart also takes consideration of each of the countries where the firm has a presence (Walmart para 3). Market Share The retailer has the biggest market share compared to its competitors in the USA, which is Walmart’s traditional market. Walmart’s heavy presence throughout the country and its business model that makes it stock virtually all kinds of commodities have been critical in sustaining market share leadership. On the global front, Walmart serves up to 94 milli on customers every week through its 5,651 established stores in 26 countries. However, a paltry 5.5% market share was registered in the year 2011 in China where the company is still in its early stages of development. The failure by Walmart to register a strong market share in China is attributable to the conservative nature of the Chinese. Market share growth in India has also been hampered in recent years following decisions by authorities in the country to shift foreign direct investment. The North-American market of Canada has equally posed great challenges to Walmart. The Dollarama Inc. is emerging as the fiercest competitor in the mass retail market in the rich Canadian market. Walmart trails Dollarama with the second best market share of 26%. This percentage of market share is 16 points less the share of Dollarama, which stands at 42% market dominance. Target Corp. is the third with a market share of 23% (Bloomberg News, 2012, para 1). However, Walmart’s subsidiary ASD A in the UK maintains an 18% market share, which is the second biggest in the country. Tesco still maintains the largest market share in the UK retail industry, standing at 30.2% overall (â€Å"Walmart: Update on International Markets† para 5). The African market equally has a strong Walmart presence of more than 300 stores that spread across 12 countries in the continent. Massmart, which is Walmart’s subsidiary in the region with a 51% stake ownership, has the fastest growing market rate, especially in the sub-Saharan region (â€Å"Walmart: Update on International Markets† para 6). The pie chart below depicts Walmart’s market share situation in the traditional US market. Source: Catala para 3 The chart shows that Walmart has a commanding share of more than half the market size. The second strongest competitor, Costco Wholesale Corp., does not even command a third of the market size. Advertising Strategies Walmart is adopting the use of technology in its advertising. In this strategy, the company focuses on developing a mobile app to reach its targeted markets. Shoppers using the app are able to see additional content, such as product information and the recipe. The company’s target is to reach a larger number of existing and potential buyers by exploiting the growing popularity of mobile devices as a result of the advancement in the ICT platform. The mobile app is a more interactive way of advertising because it allows the user to obtain more details about products and services. Walmart has adopted the use of popular social media platforms to create market awareness to further utilize the power of technology in its advertising. For instance, the firm has a Facebook page where a large community of customers and potential buyers meet virtually and discuss issues about their retailer. This increases market awareness because of the strong word of mouth power as customers share their experiences amongst each other. The company a lso uses the opportunity to communicate directly with individual customers while seeking to address some of the unique issues that affect them, thus learning more about the tastes and preferences of their customers. The company’s use of the social media platform in advertising also helps it to maintain its operating costs at a lower level, thus building on its competitive edge more. Evaluation of the Analysis Walmart has a greater potential of expanding in Asia and should be considered as Tech-Shield’s best choice as far as investing is concerned. Its cost leadership focus and strategy will attract more buyers in the region, resulting in higher profits. Most Asian economies are still considered as developing and have a weaker buying power compared to North America and Europe. Walmart will utilize its low price policy to attract more buyers with inferior disposable income and make the firm to benefit from the resultant economies of scale. Tech-Shield will receive a bigg er dividend rate coming from the huge profits amassed. This will be positive for the growth of the company. The low price policy pursued by Walmart has seen the company introduce a new business modality of selling products in smaller quantities. This will further attract customers towards the firm because most of them will find buying products from Walmart to be a more affordable practice. The more customers will appreciate the retailer, the more it will have its chances of making huge profits and increase the potential for Tech-Shield to get better returns. The differentiation strategy by Walmart equally increases the potential of the company to make better profits. Walmart stands a better chance to attract more customers and make higher sales than its rivals because of the increased market competition within the retail industry. Buyers increasingly feel that whatever commodity or service they purchase from Walmart is unique, thus they get attached more to the firm. The attachment increases their level of satisfaction and enhances their loyalty towards the firm. Walmart is poised to maintain high profitability for longer periods given such a positive business environment. The company can, therefore, sustain to pay attractive returns to all its shareholders for long. The acquisition strategy that is pursued by Walmart is another significant consideration that should influence Tech-Shield’s decision to invest in Walmart. Walmart is sure of expanding in the market in many other countries in the world through the acquisition approach. The experience that the company has gathered over the years through its subsequent acquisition of different retailers to gain access into new foreign markets eliminates the possibility of making over ambitious plans to a great assistance. Such successful acquisitions in high potential markets will translate to a larger market for both firms. Walmart will register bigger profit margins because of the expanded market. This will enable Tech-Shield to earn higher returns as one of the shareholders. Walmart’s future prospect is still promising, although its global market share has been threatened in some regional markets. The retailer still enjoys a strong lead in the highly lucrative US market. The US market contributes a significant profit portion to Walmart’s overall corporate profit. Walmart has maintained a strong market share position in other significant European markets, such as the UK. This portrays the company’s strong market position going forward. Going with this trend, it is appropriate to conclude that no other global retailer brand will find it easy to topple Walmart as the global leader in terms of the overall market share. Walmart’s extensive global expansion is unrivaled. This goes further to highlight Walmart’s potential of sustained industry leadership in as far as the overall market share is concerned. To this extent, a decision by Tech-Shield to invest in the company is the most strategic because of definite greater market revenue, which transforms to higher returns. Recommendation I suggest that Tech-Shield should invest in Walmart. Walmart has a positive business profile that reassures a higher return on the part of Tech-Shield. There is no present threat to Walmart’s growing global market, strong market leadership in the highly valuable US market, and the sustainable cost leadership strategy that it has implemented. This implies that the strong market leadership position that Walmart enjoys is set to prevail for long. In turn, a move by Tech-Shield to invest in Walmart will see it earn good returns for a long period. This will eventually improve Tech-Shield’s capital base. Conclusion Walmart offers the best investment alternative for Tech-Shield. The company’s cost leadership strategy gives a greater market growth assurance. The firm is capable of maintaining its operating costs at a low level compared to many of its industry rivals. This is a significant aspect in as far as building a competitive edge in the market is concerned. This will continue attracting more buyers for the company and maintaining the already existing customers. It also gives the company the confidence that profitability will remain high. The strong business ethics that focuses on maintaining integrity amongst the entire firm’s associates also gives hope for a greater business fortune for the firm. Integrity is a critical aspect that attracts customers and enables them to build strong loyalty towards the firm. Walmart will evidently reap maximum profits as it strives to enhance integrity. This will, in turn, trickle down to Tech-Shield as a shareholder. However, it is critical to note that Walmart also faces potential distractions that could derail its future ambitions in case no efforts are made to rectify them. As a shareholder in the firm, Tech-Shield should push for a renewed commitment on the part of Walmart to address the concerns of poor labor practices. Workers are significant players towards the greater performance of a firm, thus Walmart should ensure that it focuses on improving the plight of the workers before concentrating on the external customers. The firm should equally put additional measures in place to ensure quality concerns raised over its products are addressed fully. â€Å"Walmart: Update on International Markets.† Guru Focus. 2012. Web. Catala, Raymond. Walmart Market Share Analysis, n.d. Web. Daft, Richard. New Era of Management, Mason, OH: Cengage, 2008. Print. Schermerhorn, John. Management, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2010. Print. Walmart. Home. 2013. Web. Weiss, Joseph. Business Ethics: A Stakeholder and Issues Management Approach, Mason, OH: Cengage, 2008. Print.

Building a Personal Learning Network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Building a Personal Learning Network - Essay Example Accessing the social networks through the e-mail, twitter feeds blogs and linked-in is one of the best ways for a learner to share his interests with others (Grantham, 2012). To foster new connections in these social sites there are many ways that learners can consider. Question1: Text you might include in a professional profile, which you could use on a social media site (like Twitter, or LinkedIn) to identify yourself and your interests for those who might be interested in following you or joining your PLN The text a person may use in a professional profile on social sites may be informative, controversial or inappropriate. The best texts to use would be to include text which is informative on a learner’s professional profile. For example, posting texts containing personal updates, religious or political views and cat pictures among other forms of updates that are not related to learning is strongly discouraged. To establish stronger relationships with other people included in the PLN, it would be wise to use words that are inspirational or informative. Texts such as â€Å"learner’s guide to successful studying† or â€Å"ways of succeeding in school† are some of the examples that one can use in their professional profiles. Another way to create new connections would be to give texts that explain what twitter is or Linked-in to the people the learner interacts with in their professional pages. Explaining the benefits of using the social sites would attract more people to create a learning network. For example, using texts such as â€Å"social profiles like Linked-in not only connect learners to other professionals, but it is also a useful tool in business† is useful. Question 3: For each person or group, give a brief (1-2 paragraphs) rationale for why you would include the person or group in your PLN. Then, give a 1- to 2-paragraph description of the process by which

Inclusion of Children in South Korea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Inclusion of Children in South Korea - Essay Example Special education is focused on providing education to children or individuals with special needs. In the past, Koreans used to have a negative opinion towards people with disabilities. (Americans with Disabilities Act, Ohio State University) They used to think that having a family member who has disabilities is something to be ashamed of. (Kim and Kang) For them, disability was a problem that was for the individual to overcome for himself, all by himself. Over the years, with a number of developments in Korea's legislation that have provisions for the rights of the disabled, this negative concept has made a 180-degree turn. With this very positive development, and their keen interest in how to improve their education system, Koreans are very much intent to leave no stones unturned. For children who have minor disabilities, the Korean education system has embraced inclusive education. Inclusive education is defined as system of education or a school system wherein all children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities are all considered active components of the school community. Inclusive education aims to provide an academic environment where all students are given equal opportunities and therefore leaves little or no room for discrimination. (Kim) Students who have minor disabilities are recommended to attend regular schools. ... (Kim) B. Vulnerable Children defined A vulnerable child, in general, is defined as a child 18 years old and below who lost their parents or guardians. This could be a permanent situation, as there are those who lost both parents through death, and some were temporarily displaced because of certain unfortunate events and are in need of care. (Smart, 2003) In general, this includes orphans, street children, children who have certain medical conditions, children with certain disabilities and others. (Unicef, n.d.) C. Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model Urie Bronfenbrenner is considered as one of the world's leaders in the study of developmental psychology (Wikipedia, 2006). One of his most significant contributions is the development of the Ecological Systems Theory. Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory discusses the major factors that affect a child's development. According to his concept, relationships and environment play a major role in a child's development. As child matures, the more knowledge, culture and values he acquires from his education, cultural heritage, parents and peers. His interactions in his affinities and his environment form in him a set of what he considers "norms'. A child's needs vary as he goes through the cycle of life. These transitions that he will encounter will slowly reveal how his influences affect the development of his personality as he deals with them head on. Bronfenbrenner has identified four levels of systems that make up the Ecological Systems. These are the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem and chronosystem. These so-called systems are actually environments and situations that have a great influence in a person's development. (The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of