Gender Roles Social And Behavioral Actions Essay

Gender roles are known as the social and behavioral actions that are considered to be acceptable for individuals of a specific sex. Gender roles have been around for as long as human existence first appeared on earth, but then eventually started to affect future generations. The 1950’s were known as a pretty strict decade when it came to enforcing masculine and feminine roles. The gender roles were so strict during the 50’s that a man named Talcott Parson had developed a model. The model involved total role segregation; men and women would be trained and educated in gender-specific institutions , and high professional qualifications and the workplace would be intended for men (â€Å"Gender Roles in the U.S.† 16). This deeply divided the tasks that are assigned to all women and men. Men are now assumed to deal with jobs that are associated with aggression, strength, and independence. Women are assumed to deal with jobs associated with nurturing, sensitivity, and empathy. The world has been brought up on the idea that males do more of the difficult and manual labor and females do more of the caring and protective work. If those gender roles are crossed by men or women then society tends to be judgemental and discouraging. Such as a group of men wanting to go into nursing studies and society telling them to find a more masculine career. This profession was performed exclusively by women and was considered an extension of their caregiver role (Stanley, 2012). Society will then lookShow MoreRelatedA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen818 Words   |  4 Pagesacceptable form of gender role. The stage that is already set from birth within a family. Placed in the world then carried on with the world, reinforced by the way that society portrays what is passable, thus maintaining the overall picture that certain roles appear allocated to a certain gender type. As with Nurture – which is the experiences, values, environment in addition to upbringin g that defines who we are - along with socialization which is the lifelong process by which through social interactionRead MoreSoul City Television Essay1568 Words   |  7 Pagestelevision series, concerning it is entertainment function and how its behavioral and social perspective is geared towards shaping society and serve as an entertainment function (Yach, 1992). This is a South African television series that was started in the early nineties. It also has, this television series reflects the social and improvement challenges looked by poor groups all over the place. It meshes wellbeing and social issues into genuine stories for the huge number of individuals who haveRead MoreCountry Music Has Proven For The View Of The Contemporary Culture Essay1147 Words   |  5 Pagesthe changing climate of social and political ideologies. During the 60’s defined gender roles dominated social lifestyle and was were? mimicked in music. In recent years, a resurgence of idealistic, ste reotypical gender-specific roles have cropped up in country songs, creating a subgenre labelled â€Å"bro-country.† Jody Rosen of the New York Times first coined the term â€Å"bro-country† in order to describe songs that use lyrical tools idealizing dominant, hegemonic gender roles present in culture. SongsRead MoreIdentity is the Complete Satisfaction of Oneself831 Words   |  3 Pagesimpact. Situations where one is a minor such as gender, religion, behavioral, and personal relationships are more static and less fluid, but as one undergoes puberty those identities become more fluid and less static and when one becomes a fully matured adult the identities can change again and become more static and less fluid. When we are born, the first identity is encountered when the doctor identifies our gender. Gender plays an important role as the first identity that is encountered and contributesRead MoreCountry Music Has Proven As A Powerful Medium Essay1133 Words   |  5 Pagesto the changing climate of social and political ideologies. During the 1960’s defined gender roles dictated social lifestyles and were mimicked in music. In recent years, a resurgence of idealistic, stereotypical gender-specific roles have cropped up in country songs, creating a subgenre labelled â€Å"bro-country.† Jody Rosen of the New York Times first coined the term â€Å"bro-country† in order to describe songs that use lyrical tools glorifying prevailing, hegemonic gender roles present in culture. SongsRead MoreStructural Functionalism : A Complex System1060 Words   |  5 Pagescontributions to social stability. Structural functionalism attempts to explain why society focuses the way it does by targeting relationships such as race, religion, law etc. Each member of society fulfills certain functions to meet the needs that contribute to society’s stability and survival known as norms. Race provides an important way of understanding various parts of the social process. When social institution such as race, that provides meaning and stability in the social environment seemRead MoreBehavioral Jealousy872 Words   |  4 PagesBehavioral jealousy are actions that occur between an individual who is experiencing envious thoughts and how they internalize and react to the stimuli. Pfeiffer and Wong (1989) â€Å"conceptualize jealous behaviors as the detective/protective measures a person takes when relationship rivals (real or imaginary) are perceived. Detective actions include questioning, checking up on the partner, and searching the partner’s belongings† (p.183). Research suggests that behavioral jealousy is used to maintainRead MoreGender Identity Paper147 5 Words   |  6 Pagesdetermination of gender identity is much deeper than whether a person is born a male or a female. The exact identifier that separates gender identity is currently unknown but researchers believe that genetics, hormones, reproductive organs, biological, and environmental factors all play a role in distinguishing a person’s gender identity. A person’s physical gender and their sense of gender are formed at two different times in two different parts of the body. A person’s gender is whether they areRead MoreGender Identity Disorder Essays1031 Words   |  5 PagesLiving a life feeling out of place, with the wrong feelings, and in the wrong body, for a person with Gender Identity Disorder, this is how they feel day to day. According to the DSM-IV-TR, Gender Identity Disorder is characterized by a strong, persistent cross-gender identification, persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of inappropriateness in their gender role of th at sex. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), children, adolescents and adults who exhibit a preoccupationRead MoreFeminism: Womens Status in Higher Education1448 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout human history, customs derived from mythical and religious social traditions have provided cultural explanations regarding the evolution of the roles of men and women and the variations between the structures of the lives of the sexes (Sapiro 28). Although many see America as a country of equal opportunities for all, including women, most forget the struggle and hardship thousands faced to earn this God-given right. Professor Barry Bull of Indiana University speculates on the current infrastructure

Karl Marx And The Communist Manifesto - 993 Words

Karl Marx published The Communist Manifesto in 1848, and with it a public warning to capitalists that the entire economic, social and political systems would soon crumble. His prediction continues by stating where society was headed as a result of bourgeoisie economics: a revolution by the workers and the eventual ushering in of socialism. Soon after Marx publicized the reasons communism would come to conquer capitalism, riots, strikes and general unrest surfaced in France – just as he predicted. However, the revolution that transpired in France over the next four years disappointed Marx. Marx harnessed that frustration into motivation and published The Eighteenth Brumaire, which can be viewed as the latter half of his bookend to the French Revolution. If the Communist Manifesto is the declaration of purpose for the communist party and the reasons capitalism will falter in the face of socialist revolution, then the Eighteenth Brumaire is an assessment of how and why Marxâ€⠄¢s prophetic revolution failed in France. To begin his work Marx studies history and produces an analysis of class struggles to set the premise that the history of society is a history based on opposing groups involved in class struggles. He concludes that throughout human societies there are people who own the surplus and those that work to supply that surplus, and this is the basis for the class struggle. Further, Marx posits these groups – or classes – were formed as a result of the economic forces ofShow MoreRelatedKarl Marx And The Communist Manifesto1044 Words   |  5 Pagesworld was forever changed when Karl Marx published The Communist Manifesto, the ideas of a stateless and classless society would inspire many, and forge the path that many nations would follow, and give rise to numerous conflicts throughout the 20th century. Karl Marx was born in Trier, Germany on May 5th 1818. During his early years he studied philosophy and law, in 1834 Marx had moved to Paris and had adopted a radical view of socialism known as communism. Marx met and became friends with aRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx1364 Words   |  6 PagesThe Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, has become one of the world s most significant pieces of political propaganda written to this date. The main contributor to the book was Karl Marx. Marx was born on May 5th, 1818 in Western Germany. When he turned seventeen he enrolled at the University of Bonn to study law. Due to his social misbehavior, his father had him transferred to the University of Berlin, which had a stricter regime. During this time at college, heRead MoreKarl Marx And The Communist Manifesto1185 Words   |  5 PagesIn their work called The Communist Manifesto, which was created in 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are exploring their ideas and thoughts on the situation that was taking place in their time : the distinction that was more and more visible between two social classes - proletariat and bourgeoisie. The two authors are explaining how the bourgeoisie is exploiting the working class. They are encouraging the oppressed workers to rise and to confront this injustice in order to make their life betterRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx1094 Words   |  5 Pagesthe rich and the o ppressed would battle the oppressor. During the time â€Å"The Communist Manifesto† was written, we can see two distinct classes battling out as well. These two classes are the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. According to Karl Marx in â€Å"The Communist Manifesto†, the battle will end â€Å"either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes† (Marx 8). Marx argues that in the end the proletariat would remain because the bourgeoisie areRead MoreKarl Marx And The Communist Manifesto1112 Words   |  5 PagesFail- Past, Present, and Future Karl Marx was born in Prussia in 1818. Later in his life he became a newspaper editor and his writings ended up getting him expelled by the Prussian authorities for its radicalism and atheism (Perry 195). He then met Fredrich Engels and together they produced The Communist Manifesto in 1848, for the Communist League. This piece of writing basically laid out Marx’s theory of history in short form (Coffin 623). The Communist Manifesto is mainly revolved around how societyRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx Essay1374 Words   |  6 PagesKarl Marx is undoubtedly one the the most influential and controversial writers in modern history; Robert Tucker, a noted political scientist at Princeton University, once asserted, â€Å"[Marx] profoundly affected ideas about history, society, economics, ideology, culture, and politics [and] about the nature of social inquiry itself. No other intellectual influence has so powerfully shaped the mind of modern left-wing radicalism in most parts of the world.† (9). Indeed, his innumerable works, in particularRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx Essay1426 Words   |  6 PagesKarl Marx is undoubtedly one the most influential and controversial writers in modern history; Robert Tucker, a noted political scientist at Princeton University, once asserted, â€Å"[Marx] profoundly affected ideas about history, society, economics, ideology, culture, and politics [and] about the nature of social inquiry itself. No other intellectual influence has so powerfully shaped the mind of modern left-wing radicalism in most parts of the world.† (9). Indeed, his innumerable works, in particularRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx1678 Words   |  7 PagesThe Communist Manifesto composed by Karl Marx in 1848 is noted as a standout amongst the most powerful political archives on the planet. The distribution of the book earned Marx the notoriety of a conspicuous humanist and political scholar. Regardle ss of his eminence, there are numerous discussions concerning the thoughts and ideas of socialism figured in the papers that are still heatedly faced off regarding even today. Marx (1998) opened the book with, The historical backdrop of all up to thisRead MoreKarl Marx And The Communist Manifesto1453 Words   |  6 PagesIn the Communist Manifesto, a document that first proclaimed the ideology of communism itself, Marx declared that the â€Å"history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles† (Marx, Karl and Frederick Engels). As a man who spurred resentment of governments and inspired revolutionaries, Karl Marx is often regarded as a man who led to the rise of 20th century tyrannical dictators such as Stalin and Mao to take power. His ideas are regarded as failures and, by some, are seen asRead MoreKarl Marx And The Communist Manifesto Essay1691 Words   |  7 PagesKarl Marx (1818-1883), in collaboration with his benefactor and friend, Friedrich Engels (1820-1895), founded the Marxist Theory. Both men were philosophers, however were referred to as revolutionaries. ‘The Communist Manifesto’, was written collaboratively by both Marx and Engels, as they explored the argument that â€Å"history and progress can be seen dialectically as societies shift from one mode of production to another†. This will be argued through a contextual account of Marxism, its development

The Road to TQM Free Essays

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a comprehensive and structured approach to organizational management that seeks to improve the quality of products and services through ongoing refinements in response to continuous feedback. TQM requirements may be defined separately for a particular organization or may be in adherence to established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 9000 series. TQM can be applied to any type of organization; it originated in the manufacturing sector and has since been adapted for use in almost every type of organization imaginable, including schools, highway maintenance, hotel management, and churches TQM processes are divided into four sequential categories: plan, do, check, and act (the PDCA cycle). We will write a custom essay sample on The Road to TQM or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the planning phase, people define the problem to be addressed, collect relevant data, and ascertain the problem’s root cause; in the doing phase, people develop and implement a solution, and decide upon a measurement to gauge its effectiveness; in the checking phase, people confirm the results through before-and-after data comparison; in the acting phase, people document their results, inform others about process changes, and make recommendations for the problem to be addressed in the next PDCA cycle. Intro Total quality management (TQM) consists of organization-wide efforts to install and make permanent a climate in which an organization continuously improves its ability to deliver high-quality products and services to customers. Total Quality Management (TQM) is a participative, systematic approach to planning and implementing a constant organizational improvement process. Its approach is focused on exceeding customers’ expectations, identifying problems, building commitment, and promoting open decision-making among workers. The Road to TQM (Growth) Until around 1950, Japanese products were perceived in markets all over the world as being very inexpensive, but with poor quality. By the 1980s, the same markets were recognizing MADE IN JAPAN as a sign of high quality and reliability. What happened during those three decades? Mass production systems were developed mainly by U. S. industries in the early 20th century. Other countries that were then emerging as new powers adopted variations of this scientific management of companies according to their individual contexts. After the World war, the devastated Japanese economy moved vigorously to restore its previous production level through full-on importation of technologies and ideas from the U. S. and Europe. In the postwar period, Japanese industries absorbed many modern concepts. The quality management systems were typical examples. However, Japanese-made still had a connotation of being inexpensive but with poor quality until the early 1950s. A number of factors contributed to reversing the notorious reputation of Japanese products in the subsequent two decades TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT ADAPTION: Japan introduced development of applied technologies, creative reception of imported systems, successful introduction of industrial policies in harmonization with the private sector, expansion of world trade, gradual liberalization of domestic markets for foreign capital, and so on. Among them, what calls our particular attention in relation to management systems is Japan’s 1950s and early 1960s adaptation of Total Quality management. The Japanese management philosophy, system and practices, all focusing mainly on people and work is also termed as â€Å"Total Quality Management†. The common goal of TQM is to produce and serve the quality the customers need in a most economic manner. To achieve this goal, common approaches adopted in TQ M are: Policy deployment (PDCA cycle), Small group activities (QC circle) Systematic problem solving (QC story) Statistical methods ( QC tools) We can consider Total Quality Management (TQM) as an umbrella under which many components of Japanese management practices work simultaneously for improvement of productivity and quality. Refer to Exhibit-XII for some examples. How to cite The Road to TQM, Papers

Cuban Embargo Essay Research Paper The Cuban free essay sample

Cuban Embargo Essay, Research Paper The Cuban Embargo: Punishing the Children for the Sins of the Father The key to understanding the foreign policy of a state province is understanding that province? s national involvement. The key to successful foreign policy is, as Henry Kissinger stated in 1998, specifying? an accomplishable aim? . Therefore United States policy towards Cuba fails because it neglects these two key ingredients of foreign policy. The United states trade stoppage of Cuba is four decennaries old and no longer serves the state? s national involvement, instead it has proven to be a economic and political hinderance for the US. The trade stoppage besides falls short in footings of holding an accomplishable end, since many of the petitions that embargo statute law calls for are merely non within the ability of the Cuban province. By analyzing the countenances and their economic, political, and human-centered affect on both the Us and Cuba a strong instance can be made for a alteration of US policy. United states policy towards Cuba and the authorities of Fidel Castro has, since the 1960? s, been a policy based on the aims of taking Castro, establishing a democratic system, and deriving reparations for confiscated US retentions. The initial countenances were instituted because the US considered the close propinquity of a Communist province to be a national security menace, and besides because Castro? s government confiscated US retentions, and therefore US control, on the island. By ordaining a policy that one-sidedly cut Cuba off from economic and political contact with the US, the US felt that it could coerce Castro from power. In the decennaries since the trade stoppage? s construct statute law has been created to even further implement these constructs. In 1992 Congress passed the Cuban Democracy Act, which prohibited US subordinates abroad from holding concern dealingss with Cuba ( Ratliff and Fontaine 22 ) . This jurisprudence pushed Cuban net incomes even further from the appreciation of US concerns. Three old ages subsequently when the economic countenances of the Cuban Democracy Act had failed to throw out Castro from power, the US Congress one time once more increased the criterions Cuba most adhere to for the trade stoppage to be lifted. It accomplished this by go throughing the Helms-Burton Law. Three of the declared intents of the helms-Burton Law focal point on the democratisation of the Cuban authorities, two trade with protecting the US, and the last one is concerned with planetary countenances. The jurisprudence besides increases the sum of compensation Cuba most wage before the US will drop the countenances. The Helms-Burton jurisprudence, by take a firm standing that Cuba pay compensation to over 400,000 Cuban Americans, makes it literally impossible for the Cuban province to make the US? s footings. Embargo protagonists claim that countenances against Cuba must be maintained because Cuba is still a national security menace to the US, nevertheless current facts about security reveal this to merely be untrue. Initially, Castro? s socialist platform and confederation with the Soviet Union did so present a menace to American security. The ground for this is that the province of international political relations in that epoch was one of bipolarism between liberalism and communism. This meant that the US felt that its balance of power in its ain hemisphere was being threatened by the Soviet? s presence in Cuba. Besides the Soviet? s armament of Cuba posed a terrible menace to US security, as was seen during the Cuban missile crisis. However, with the autumn of the Soviet axis, Cuba ceased to be an issue of national security. Present twenty-four hours Cuba does non hold the economic ability or military ability to be a menace to the US. This decision was purportedly supported by a classified study issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency in 1998 ( Ratliff and Fontaine 31 ) . Many embargo protagonists disagree with this statement stating that Cuba is still a base for intelligence activities and that Castro could develop biological arms to utilize against the US. If these concerns are really warranted, so would non US security be better served by raising the trade stoppage so that the US intelligence community can break proctor these Cuban? menaces? ? The US trade stoppage proves to be uneffective in both democratising Cuba or taking Castro from power. US countenances against Cuba have been held for the last 40 old ages or so and Cuba is still really socialist society. Besides Castro? s power has non wavered in any important manner that would bespeak that the trade stoppage was working. US policy shapers feel that by enfeebling the Cuban economic system that it will be able to influence the Cuban people to lift up in rebellion against Castro. In many ways the trade stoppage has precisely the opposite consequence on reformists with in Cuba. By fastening countenances on the island the US is aching those people who would be the most likely to rebellion, the people of Cuba. Sanctions have made it necessary for the Cuban people to rely really to a great extent upon the authorities for basic demands like vesture and nutrient. Since there are no outside markets for Cubans to purchase from they most accept what the Castro authorities doles out. It would travel against a individual? s common sense to arise against the individual or people on whom he or she was wholly dependent. If Cubans need Castro they are really improbable to take the hazard of subverting him for fright of penalty. The countenances besides increase the unlikelih ood of rebellion because it has increased the category divisions. Class mobility is really hard in even the most booming economic systems and is really about impossible in a non-solvent economic system. Therefore those with power maintain that influence while those without power have no hope of deriving more influence than that which they were born into. Of those who have power the armed forces is most decidedly in this class. The Cuban armed forces, which is controlled by Castro, has a great trade of authorization and has made it clear that it will utilize all its force to quash manque reformists. Dependence on Castro? s authorities, a deficiency of economic independency, and fright of a strong loyal military brand reforms really rare and really unsafe for those who would establish them. Current United states policy towards Cuba does non function US economic involvements because it blocks off a really profitable market from US husbandmans and concerns and hinders consumers from acquiring the best possible monetary values. In 1999 the American Farm Bureau Federation stated that without US countenances agricultural trade with Cuba would amount to $ 500 billion ab initio. It besides estimated that this would rapidly turn to $ 2 billion in five old ages or less. An article written in May 2000 for CNN.com entitled US Farmers Lobby to Ease Cuba Sanctions states that Cuba imports $ 700 million dollars of nutrient a twelvemonth. For fighting US husbandmans this immense market would be vastly helpful in doing usage of their untapped and severely needed wheat and rice markets. Farming is non the lone concern enduring from the trade stoppage. A lifting of US countenances would besides assist US pharmaceutical companies. Currently Cuba has really small entree to medicate, particularly new medicines. Most late developed medical specialties are created by US companies. Cuba? s terrible deficiency of medical supplies would do it a really profitable country of export for the pharmaceutical companies. The trade stoppage besides effects the monetary value of some goods in the US. The goods noticeable effected are citrus and sugar, which are produced in copiousness in Cuba. Opening the United states market to merchandise with Cuba would make competition between Cuban manufacturers of these goods and US manufacturers which would finally lead to lower monetary values for consumers. Not merely would competition take down the monetary value of goods but cheaper importation costs would besides take down the monetary value since the US could import some goods from Cuba instead than from states that are farther off. An moderation of countenances on Cuba would assist better US concerns and therefore should be in the state? s national involvement. The US has frequently claimed ethical motives evidences for the trade stoppage, and yet US imposed countenances on Cuba are considered by the international community to immoral as they badly compromise the wellness and safety of Cubans. A 1997 study by the American Association for World Health concludes that the US trade stoppage has caused a important rise in suffering-and even deaths-in Cuba. It states that the trade stoppage has caused malnutrition among Cubans, hapless H2O quality, and a terrible lessening in the handiness of medicines and medical equipment. The US trade stoppage denies Cuba entree to interventions for diseases such as AIDS, chest malignant neoplastic disease, kid leukaemia, and cardiac unwellness. The US authorities has spent tremendous sums of clip and money on research to prevent these unwellnesss because of their atrocious impact on human life and yet the United states is wittingly leting the Cuban people to endure. The status of the Cuban medical pattern is in many ways that of a 3rd universe state, even though it is merely 90 stat mis from the seashore of a universe world power. It is obvious that the trade stoppage is non impacting its desired mark, Castro and his protagonists. Alternatively it is doing unneeded agony amongst the common people of Cuba. While it is clear that both the US and the Cuban people would greatly profit from a one-sided lifting of the trade stoppage, it is besides clear that due to Cuban-American buttonholing influence merely partial alterations can be made. Cuban-Americans are one of the most to a great extent politicized minority groups and stand for a big vote block in the state, but most particularly New Jersey and Florida. Cuban-American influence in Florida is really of import because of the province? s 25 electoral ballots. The anteroom can utilize these ballots to derive favour with any presidential aspirant. It is obvious that countenances on Cuba can non merely be lifted but instead must be peeled off one bed at a clip to be successful. A skining off of the first bed started in October 2000 when Congress passed statute law to let nutrient and medical specialties to be sold to Cuba. A canvass in the Miami Herald indicated that this measure had the support of over 60 % of the Cuban-American community. This step, nevertheless, is unequal because it still prohibits US funding of these gross revenues, public or private. That proviso makes the new statute law fundamentally null. The US authorities should to the full drop statute law against the sale of nutrient and medical specialty to Cuba. The US should in respects to these two points allow and endorse trade with Cuba as it does with other states. Such a policy, while apparently little, would profit American concerns and assist increase the wellness of the Cuban people and besides would receive plenty support to be passed through Congress.

The Alliances of World War 1 free essay sample

This was called the ‘Three Emperors League’. In 1890 Wilhelm II became Kaiser of Germany. Austria and Russia were fighting over who should rule the Balkans. IN the end, Germany sided with Austria, which led to the ‘Three Emperors League’ breaking and Germany and Austria formed an alliance with Italy (‘Triple Alliance’). Russia then formed an alliance with France, this meant that Germany had enemies on both sides, which could result ‘War on two fronts’. Since France was in the west and Russia was in the East. Germany tried to form an alliance with Britain to scare off Russia and France. But when Britain knew that Germany was expanding their navy, they took this as threat towards them since Britain had the largest navy, even more than the world’s put together. This left Britain the only country without an alliance. Germany offered Britain an alliance with them, but they also had to stop building their navy. We will write a custom essay sample on The Alliances of World War 1 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Britain disagreed and formed an alliance with France. Germany made up the Schlieffen Plan. Because France and Russia were allies, war with one of them means war with both. If Germany goes into war with either one, they should move first, defeat the French by sending the army through Belgium then unleash the whole German army on Russia. In this way, Germany could avoid a war on two fronts. Britain signed an alliance with Russia in 1907 which created the Triple Entente of Russia, France and Britain. This matched the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria and Italy. In 1908, a British newspaper called the Daily Telegraph interviewed the Kaiser og Germany. He wanted to present himself as friend of England but lost his temper when he remembered the times that Britain had refused his offer of an alliance. He called British Mad as March Hares which made Britain very mad. This destroyed any chance of an alliance forming between Germany and Britain. The Kaiser of Germany gave Austria a â€Å"Blank Cheque† in July 1914 and promised them to give them full support to whatever happens. Russia started to mobilize her army. Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and Tsar Nicholas of Russia exchanged messages and tried to sort things out. But when Germany asked Russia to demobilize, Russia replied that only Austria was being threatened, not Germany. Germany did not want France to get involved and asked France to promise that they wouldn’t, they did not reply. Britain did not want to get involved unless Belgium was going to be attacked. When Germany declared war on Russia, they had no choice but to declare war on France too because France and Russia were allies. They would attack Germany even if they did not declare war because they were allies and would create ‘The war on two fronts’. But when Germany barged into Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan, even though Britain then promised to defend Belgian neutrality, which resulted to Britain declaring war on Germany. And this is what started World War 1.

How to Write a History Research Paper Comprehensive Guide from Expert Writers

How to Write a History Research Paper Comprehensive Guide from Expert Writers A research paper in History is exactly what it says on the tin – a written endeavor to research some events, factors, situations or conditions in the past to prove a certain point. In this sense, it is rather close to a term paper, and indeed, the difference between the two is often vague. The main distinctive feature is that a research paper isn’t tied to any particular period. You may have to write one over either a shorter or a longer period of time than a semester, and it may be larger or smaller than an average term paper, so you should adapt the following advice to the specifics of your particular task. Choice of Topic You may have a varying amount of freedom in your choice of topic. Sometimes the path is already decided for you by your professor, and the most you can do is to ask for a slight alteration. Sometimes you are given a free hand. Either way, you should strive to write about something you are both interested and well-versed in. One of the two can do, but try to avoid writing on topics that are both unfamiliar and boring to you. Remember, you will have to spend many hours gathering information and analyzing it, so don’t approach this choice lightly. Laymen often perceive history as a mechanical record of events that happened in the past. The reality is much more complicated. History is not only concerned with what happened (although it is extremely important, and figuring out the nature of past events based on fragmented, incomplete and often biased sources is a major part of a historian’s work), but with why it happened and what were its consequences. At the same time, it isn’t the job of history to evaluate the moral nature of the events. Any academic work is to a considerable degree based on existing bibliography on the subject. However, for History it is especially important as written sources are, by and large, all you have to rely on. You can’t run practical experiments, you can only glean some understanding from something somebody has written on the subject. Therefore, your choice of topic is to a great degree based on the existing body of work on the subject. Ask yourself the following questions: Do scholars agree on your topic? If not, what is the point of contention? Do you consider the argument to be meaningful? Can you offer another approach to the problem? How well-researched is your topic? Are you the first to approach it in this particular way? Were there any recent findings that call for its reassessment? How much freedom do you have? Limitations aren’t always bad – when you are given a direction and a list of relevant documents to study, you already have something to build upon; Are there any assumptions about the topic that you and others take for granted? Are you sure these are correct? Will you have an opportunity to alter your choice later on, and if yes, to what extent? In the end, your topic should deal with an interpretation of events, their causes and effects, be neither too general nor too narrow and, ideally, be something you would write about willingly. Here are some examples: Satsuma Rebellion: Reasons for Its Premature Start and Failure; Fall of Constantinople in 1453 And Its Immediate Influence on the European History; Erwin Rommel and His Role in the Plot Against Hitler; Intermarium Federation Proposal of Joseph Pilsudski and Its Potential Implications for The World History; Operation Overlord and Its Role In Bringing World War II To a Close. Preparation and Research: Tips from Our Writers You Can’t Neglect The first order of business is to prepare the sources you are going to use in your research. All sources can be roughly divided into two types: Primary – all the relevant materials created during the time period you research. This, however, doesn’t mean that they are the most useful and trustworthy: while people who wrote at the time the events in question took place have an advantage of seeing them play out in front of them, they don’t see them in perspective, are often biased and don’t possess complete information. Secondary – all the materials created after the time period in question. These are mostly analytical works that perceive the past events in perspective, see their connections with other factors and usually make a certain argument. You will mostly deal with such sources, and your own work will become such a source when you complete it. As your time is limited, you should be very selective about the sources you use. Before choosing a work to use as a source, you should check how relevant and trustworthy it is. Find out the following: Who is the author? Is his background relevant for the problem in question? How objective he is likely to be? Is he biased? What is his reputation in academic community? When and where was the source created? Could these factors have influenced the author’s viewpoint (things like dominant views at the time, ideological constraints in the country of origin, limited information on the subject); What were the reasons for the creation of a source? Are they stated? Is it a scholarly work, a piece of propaganda, a work of fiction or art, or one of these things masquerading as another? How does the source look in the context of other sources on the subject? Does it represent a common point of view? Does it omit important pieces of evidence? If yes, can this omission be intended? Does it promote particular viewpoints? Remember – a history research paper is only as good as the sources it is based on. Even if your reasoning and analytical abilities are impeccable, if they are based on disreputable, untrustworthy or one-sided sources, it immediately devalues your work. Select a limited number of sources representing different points of view but unlikely to be strongly influenced by factors not related to the subject matter (politics, author’s views, etc.). Don’t try to encompass them all – even the narrowest subjects usually have enough sources to last you a lifetime. When you start reading, know when to stop: don’t fall into the trap of reading for reading’s sake, for you can collect information and corroborative evidence indefinitely. Start writing when you feel you have an absolute minimum to work on, and read up on things that require additional attention as you go along. Outline/Thesis Statement Once you’ve clearly formulated your topic and made about a third of the necessary research, you should start working on your outline. In the outline you are supposed to define the main points of your research, decide how they relate to each other and to the main topic of your work, in what order they are to be mentioned and what supporting details you should provide. Remember – this isn’t a plan set in stone. It is an outline that you write mostly for your own convenience. If, in the course of your work, you find out that some facts are better mentioned in different order, or have unexpected similarities and connections and thus have to go hand in hand, make these changes. Right now, your paper is a work in progress. Title Once you’ve defined and narrowed down your topic, you won’t have particular problems with the title of your paper. A history research paper doesn’t need its title to be overly creative and unusual – its main purpose is to clearly and unequivocally denote the topic and, if possible, your main argument. Consult your instructor if you feel any doubts. Body Paragraphs This is where most of your work lies, and it is where you should start after you finish preliminary work. Introduction comes later, possibly last, when you already know how your research turned out. In writing the main part of your paper, it is important to follow certain conventions. They may differ in different colleges, but some things are accepted almost everywhere: Use of past tense. As everything related to your subject matter by definition happened at some point in the past, this is the tense you should use. If you’ve carried out the habit of sometimes falling into â€Å"literary present† from your creative writing course or somewhere else, forget about it – it does not belong here. Analyze the events of the past in context of what happened next, but don’t fall into the mistake of viewing them from the position of a modern human. Remember that the people you are writing about lived in another time, in completely different conditions and shared sets of values and assumptions completely different from those of your generation. Today, some of these values may seem quaint, barbaric or alien, but at the time they were quite natural. Analyze but do not judge. Use formal, academic voice. Don’t use informal words, expressions and sentence structures. Avoid passive voice. Don’t use first and second person pronouns. Use a consistent citation style. Find out the format your college uses, get your hands on a style guide and start using it from the very beginning. It will save you a lot of time later on. Avoid general statements. Whatever people may say, history is an exact science. Don’t make sweeping statements. If you know the year, say it. If you know the number, mention it. If you don’t, make no assumptions. Don’t rely on quotes too much. A paper that has too many quotes looks as if you don’t have anything of your own to say. You should use quotations only when it is absolutely necessary. Paraphrase in all other cases. Employ your own writing and analytical skills when possible. Introduction and Conclusion Once you’ve finished with the main body of research, you can write an introduction based on it. Point out the main topic of your paper, what arguments you intend to make, what conclusion you expect to draw and so on. To a considerable degree, it is a formal part built around the main part of the paper, and it is exactly the reason why you should start working on it when everything else is already done – otherwise you will have to rewrite it multiple times to reflect the changes your research underwent in the course of work. Conclusion mostly recounts the same ideas as introduction does, only now you mention whether research went as planned, whether you achieved the expected results, what you believe to be the significance of your research, what work remained undone and what can be done in the future. Editing and Proofreading Check everything you’ve written so far. Correct any grammar, syntax and spelling mistakes you could have made. You can use online spellcheckers for that purpose, but don’t expect much from them – the best course of action would be to hire a professional editor or proofreader. Check the facts. You could’ve made a mistake when quoting somebody, or used incorrect notes or something else – the larger the amount of data you had to deal with, the higher the likelihood of errors is. Go through the paper with the style guide in hand once again. The rule of formatting and quoting may seem trivial and unimportant for you, but academic community has different views on the subject. Refine your text. This means eliminating all informal expressions and structures (like contractions), repetitions, filler words (like â€Å"the fact that†, â€Å"in order to†, â€Å"as a matter of fact†, â€Å"somewhat†, â€Å"fairly†, â€Å"considerably†) and overly complex sentences. If you have a long and complex sentence, either break it up or remove parts of it completely – chances are, you can say the same things in a much simpler way. Don’t try to sound smart and sophisticated by using long, multi-clause sentences. If a 6-syllable word has a 1-syllable synonym, use the shorter variant. Give your paper to a trustworthy person to read and review. They can point out many mistakes that eluded you throughout the process of writing. If necessary, don’t hesitate to correct, revise and even rewrite parts of your paper. Even if you find flaws at such a later date, it is better to spend some additional time on corrections than to hand it in as it is and hope nobody would notice.

MCDONALDS Corp Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

MCDONALDS Corp - Research Paper Example McDonalds was established in the year 1955 by Ray Croc in USA as a retailer of snack foods like burgers. The company since then has grown by leaps and bounds with the company presently having its dedicated presence in about 118 diverse nations across the globe and an attractive product offering that includes famous products like Big Mac, Mc Nuggets, Quarter Pounders etc. McDonalds has about 33000 restaurants across the globe that provides the best experience at largely affordable price to the customers. McDonalds serves its customers through a dedicated employee base of over 1.7 million active employees who are determined to provide the best experience to the customers with a touch of excellence to satisfy the needs of the customers (McDonalds, 2011). The mission statement of the company is â€Å"be our customers favourite place and way to eat†. The company believes in creating a marketing mix that is essentially in line with the mission statement of the organization. McDonald s prepares a menu that is in tune with the market demands in an innovative manner that tends to satisfy the demands of the target market audience (McDonalds-b, 2011). The history of McDonalds began in the year 190 when the founder of the organization opened up a Bar-B-Que restaurant in California. This was essentially a drive in restaurants that provided snack items for individuals on the drive. However after a few years this restaurant was closed off an official McDonald’s restaurant brand was launched in 1955. The restaurant met with good success and eventually sold 100 million burgers by the end of the third year into the business. By the year 1963 there were about 500 restaurants operating under the McDonalds brand name. Subsequently the company went public in the year 1965 with IPO of 22.5 US dollars as the price of a share. After three years the company went about to launch the product Big Mac that is one

U.K.FILM INDUSTRY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

U.K.FILM INDUSTRY - Essay Example On waking up, The Bride sets out on a bloody trail of vengeance killing her ex-colleagues one-by-one, leaving Bill for the end, thus deriving the eponymous name of the movie. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, the movie is divided into ten chapters, five per volume. Chronological fragmentation leaves the viewer guessing till the start of Volume 2 (Chapter six: Massacre at Two Pines) as to the exact motivations behind The Bride's gory path of violence. Most reviews were positive with some critics calling it a masterpiece. Detractors pointed to its questionable morality, pop-culture dialog and graphic depictions of extreme violence. Many scenes were filmed on location in China, Japan and North America and completed over eight months of shooting. Produced by Miramax Films a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (Disney), it had an initial budget of US $42 million which shot to $60 million plus under the direction of Miramax' golden boy -Tarantino. Miramax, founded by brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein in 1979, started life as a independent film distribution company before being acquired by Disney in 1993 for $80 million. From the beginning, the Weinstein brothers focused on the independent film segment, generally shunned by the big studios due to the perceived lack of commercial viability. A string of stellar hits made them an acquisition target for Disney and Harvey Weinstein grew to become the "darling" distributor of the experimental and independent feature film world and ultimately emerged as one of the most powerful and influential moguls in Hollywood.2 Kill Bill was distributed in the UK by Buena Vista International, the global distribution arm of Disney. Research Methods: The primary source of information in researching this paper has been the Internet. Material on subjects of popular culture like movies is exhaustively available, giving one a wide range of perspectives to study and analyze. One of the dangers with Internet based research is the larger scope for factual errors due to source inaccuracies. This has been largely mitigated by cross verifying the information from different sources. For example, the Harry Weinstein biography referenced here has been reviewed at Wikipedia3 as well as IMDB (Internet Movie Database)4 and Yahoo! Movies5. Evidence of Commercial Relevance: Originally, Kill Bill was written and filmed as a single movie extending slightly over four hours. Harvey Weinstein fearing audience fatigue over such a long movie hit upon the idea of editing it and shrewdly released it as two films during the last quarter of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004. The timing proved to be a stroke of marketing genius. The films featured in the top ranks in two consecutive years in addition to raking in a huge commercial gross. They were a big success ranking in the top 25 at the UK box office in both years of release, with combined worldwide receipts exceeding US $331 million6 ( 190 million). In the UK, their combined box office gross was over 20 million7. Video rental and DVD sales have also shown very strong numbers with rental figures touching $25 million (as of 25th April 2004) and first day US DVD sales reaching $40 million. Background: Movie genre classification is problematic in that most movies have long since crossed over from a rigid formulaic approach to entertainment with central themes spanning

Contemporary Middle East History using books The Modern Middle East Essay

Contemporary Middle East History using books The Modern Middle East (Gelvin) and Sources in History of the Modern Middle East (K - Essay Example At the end of the 19th century, in light of this increasing anti-Semitism in Europe, Zionist leaders encouraged massive immigration to Palestine through the purchase of these lands using the Jewish National Fund. Soon the Arabs who were the predominant owners of this land started feeling aggrieved. This land dispossession of the Arab land by the Jews soon erupted into sporadic violence between the two communities (Smith, 2006). During the First World War both the Arabs and the Jews fought on the side of the British against the Turks who were allied to the Germans. Their reasons were however very different. On the side of the Arabs the British encouraged them to revolt against the Turks with the promise that after the war the British would establish nation states for them including for the Palestine territory which by then had huge numbers of Jews (Schindler, 2008). Jews on the other hand were also encouraged to revolt with the promise that after the war the British would establish fo r them a Jewish state. This was done through the Balfour Declaration to the Zionist leaders. Following the end of the war however the British could not simultaneously satisfy the promises made to both the Jews and the Arabs in Palestine which had been placed under its mandate. Meanwhile violence between the Arabs and Jews increased as more Jews continued emigrating from Europe into these Arab lands especially after the Nazi ascendance to power in Germany on an anti-Semitic platform. After the Second World War and in light of the Holocaust, the state of Israeli was formed 1948 resulting in war with the Arabs which have continued sporadically since then with major ones being in 1948, 1952, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982 and 2006. The major stumbling blocks to the Arab-Israeli peace include the continued construction of Jewish settlement housing schemes in what the Palestinians consider their own territory. This has resulted in the Palestinians claiming that that the Israelis deliberately want to ensure that if they ever get a state then it won’t be a viable one (Fawcett, 2005). Another stumbling block is the refusal of powerful forces within the Palestinians like Hamas to recognize the state of Israel. There is also the contention of the state of Jerusalem on where exactly it should be given that it is considered a Holly City by both the Arabs and Jews. (Fawcett, 2005). The First World War is considered a turning point in the affairs of the Middle East. During the war the British had given both the Jews and the Arabs in Palestine promises it could not fulfil. The British, in a bid to defeat the Turks had encouraged both Arab nationalism and Zionism to spur both the Arabs and the Jews in fighting the Turks (Sachar, 1976). Following the defeat of the Turks Arab states were curved from the former Ottoman Empire while some became British Mandates. One of these mandatory states was the Palestinian state which was occupied by both the Arabs and the Jews. Since the Brit ish could give the land to neither the Arabs nor the Jews conflicts continued between the two groups especially after the influx of Jews continued to grow leading to severe pressure on the land. The influx was mainly due to the Russian Revolution and later on in the 1930s to the violent anti-Semitism in Germany which

Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Advantages and Disadvantages

Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Advantages and Disadvantages Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act and describe how an IT department can meet the challenge of implementing SOX compliance Over the past ten years we have been exposed to a series of financial scandals. The effect has been catastrophic and society has required regulation to restrain corruption. In 2002, the USA senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Mike Oxley sponsored the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act. It is generally called the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act and was put in place in order to regulate the accountability of financial reports and prevent risks occurrence However, the deployment of SOX compliance costs a lot of money, resources and efforts. It not only affects the finance department, but also the information technology (IT) department. The risk prevention and cost concern of SOX Act will be described in the first paragraph; the pros and cons of process control, documentation and responsibility will be discussed in the next; the strengths and drawbacks of security control will be indicated after that; then the challenge of an IT department for SOX compliance will be examined. Finally, a case study on the Enron scandal will be introduced. This essay will help prove that the SOX system is worth the price despite certain drawbacks and discuss how an IT department meets the compliance. It is worth preventing potential risks by effectively performing the SOX regulation in spite of extra costs and workload. To begin with, SOX Act provides a guideline of internal control for financial statement to prevent any potential risk, all the financial events and accounting activities will be managing by this mechanism. Thus, the financial statements would be more accurate and reliable (Anand 2006: 2). In addition, through regular internal and external auditing to ensure there has no unscrupulous behaviors in the financial operations. Consequently, the potential risks can be minimized and unethical behaviors can be prevented and deterred. However, the finance and IT departments must budget the expenditure of SOX implementation at the beginning and also need to pay external accounting firms for regular examinations every year. The estimation of its cost was around USD 91,000 with an extra 383 man hours in 2003, and the cost is still increasing every year (Jahmani and Dowling 200 8: 59). Staffs have an increased workload by collaborate with consultants for the auditing. Those employees not only have to document routine activities, but also need to prepare a lot of evidences for auditors investigation. Although employees may suffer through these additional tasks, some unexpected benefits will be gained from them as well. The transparency of documentation gives a company more integrity even though some process changes are required. The standard operating procedure (SOP) of each department must be documented, especially for those operations involve to financial activities and SOX compliance. Namely, the internal or external auditors will investigate any potential risk of process control according to the documentation. It is thought that the establishment of SOP and documentation would be an advantage to companies, because it demonstrates the system of a company and employees are easy to follow, and it also improves the effectiveness and efficiency of business process. In addition, the segregation of duties is also a critical control point to the SOX compliance for the risk prevention (Anand 2006: 53). Employees are required to request accounts to the system administrator according to their responsibility, and other colleagues are disallowed to process information systems through other peoples system ac counts. Thus, every single detail is filed into the information system with regular backup solutions. It provides the traceability for auditors investigating any suspected issues. Conversely, companies may need to change business process flow and modify related system flow in order to align with SOX Act guideline. They must pay extra costs of business process re-engineering and IT staffs must enhance information system to meet those requirements as well. The regulation of security control will avoid inappropriate behaviors happening although employees may feel frustration. The IT department performs a very important role to assist and reduce the effort of manual jobs. However, they usually have more authorities in system to support user needs. For this reason, IT members are also divided into different roles, and those roles are usually separately assigned into server, database, security and application systems. Every change and modification must be approved and documented into the system. Moreover, those changes must be regularly reviewed by the management team in the change management meeting (Sentt and Gallegos 2009: 408). Thus, it will be more safety and the risk of system change can be diminished. In sum, employees have clear understanding of their roles and their performance can be easily traced from the information system. Potential risks can be also minimized by the restriction of system design and security control. Despite t his benefit, more staffs may need to be hired to prevent the conflicts of job duties, because employees cannot validate the rule of segregation of duties. Finally, owing to those complicated restrictions of SOX compliance regulation, employees may feel frustrate of against rules. They may prefer focusing on their routine tasks rather than extending their capability to involve another area because of risks taken. IT department often plays an important role of implementing SOX compliance for the information system perspective. There are some approaches suggested for an IT department to cope with the challenge of SOX compliance. To begin with, a sophisticated information system is fundamental in implementing SOX compliance. The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system automatically calculates financial reports and its operations usually can meet Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements (Pathak 2005: 72). Next, the system change and program version control are also mandated. Therefore, the introduction of a change management system would be helpful for executing these changes. In addition, cross check of those changes would help companies prevent any unexpected disaster as well as some frauds in purpose. Furthermore, system logs, backup solutions and security controls are also critical for an IT department meeting the criteria of SOX implementation. Ultimately, documentation is a basic element for the s uccess of SOX compliance implementation. Therefore, system manuals, user manuals, transaction logs, security control sheets, schedule jobs and change request logs must be archived and categorized in the file system. In short, as long as IT department follows above guidelines, then it will not be difficult to meet the challenge of implementing the SOX compliance. Let us now look at the Enron scandal, a crucial example not least because of its impact on the USA government and society. The aftershocks were felt globally. Enron was an energy company which supplied electricity and gas in the USA. This company was also providing bandwidth service, paper and metal commodities. However, those investments seemed not successful and profitable. Enron therefore had created a lot of overseas special purpose entities for hiding Enrons losses on their financial reports, and it had also created the illusion of profitability which was actually losing money. Besides, Enrons audit firm Arthur Andersen had a long term relationship and it assisted Enron to hide losses by destroying related documents. Eventually, their conspiracy was exposed to society due to revelation of a huge amount of undisclosed losses USD 586 million. The stock price had a dramatic fall from approximately USD 90 dollars to 30 cents. Finally, Enron was filed bankruptcy in 2002 (Welytok 200 6: 26). People should learn the harmful from this incident, particularly the US government and the entire corporate must prevent such kind of scandal occurring again. Therefore, the implementation of SOX Act would be a good approach to curb corruption. The evidence shows that implementing and sustaining SOX compliance could minimize fraud or crime risk up to 95 per cent of a company, if that company performs it appropriately and effectively(Anand 2006: 196). It demonstrates the significance and effectiveness of SOX compliance. In conclusion, there are several advantages and disadvantages for implementing SOX compliance in companies. First, financial reports would be more transparent and reliable through auditing controls, and potential risks will be reduced. Next, both companies and employees will benefit from the creation of documentation. Because it meets SOX compliance and helps employees understand the business processes. After that, it is more safety for the restrictions of system account and authority, and those possible swindles would be minimized. Conversely, there are some disadvantages of SOX compliance to companies. First, SOX compliance implementation will cost a lot of expense, and companies have to budget for SOX auditing every year. In addition, the processes change of a company is inevitable to conform to the guideline. Furthermore, employees may lose their enthusiasm for job due to the limitations of SOX Act, employees would become frustrated of involving the other areas. Finally, some str ategies are advisable for IT department implementing the SOX compliance. For instance, a sophisticated ERP system can be easier to adapt the change of SOX compliance implementation; change management and version control must be under controlled; preparing all documentations as possible as you can. Above all are basic elements for the success of SOX compliance implementation. Reference list: Anand, S. (2006) Sarbanes-Oxley guide for finance and information technology professionals. New Jersey: John Wiley Jahmani, Y. and Dowling, W. (2008) The impact of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Cluteinstitute-Onlinejournal [online] 6(10), 57-66. Available from [26 August 2010] Pathak, J. (2005) Information Technology Auditing An Evolving Agenda. New York: Springer Sentt,S. and Gallegos, F. (2009) Information technology control and audit(3dn). Florida: Taylor Francis Welytok, G. (2006) Sarbanes-Oxley For Dummies. Indiana: Wiley

The Feudal System :: essays research papers

"The Feudal System" The feudal system was a political, military, and economic system based on the holding of land. The system was developed since the whole entire basis of rule from all the civilizations before the Middle Ages was lost. Early Europe was in desperate need of such a system since they were constantly being raided by the Vikings and other outsiders. Man was lonely during the Middle Ages. Life was very harsh and everyone worked except the king. The usual life expectancy was 35. People lived in small farming communities. Everyone lived in constant fear of being raided by foreign invaders such as the Vikings. When they were not worrying about being invaded they were scared of plague and other living conditions. Man's position in the world was unknown. Knowledge, wealth, and governing body had to be recreated. Cities were far and few between and much less populated and developed like today's cities. The Middle Ages was a religious age. Man clung to God as creator. People painstakingly built churches. Religion was what was the most important to people for a long time, and to be excommunicated was horrible. As time progressed the feudal system was created. It was designed to divide the lands and protect from attack. The king first gave a fief or a piece of land to a royal vassal. As proof for this exchange in land a vassal would swear to the lord to be his man all the days of his life and protect him against "all men who may live or die." Next came investiture. Investiture was a symbolic gesture when a King or a lord presented a royal vassal or a vassal a stick, a small rod, or a clod of earth to show that he has given him a fief. Now this royal vassal was in charge of a huge piece of land. In order to defend it he would then divide his land into smaller pieces. He would take these smaller pieces and give them to warriors or who agreed to be his own vassals. Thus, the royal vassal became a lord to other vassals. The vassals now under this lord would now divide their lands and grant fiefs to warriors of their own. Last in the dividing of land was the knight whose parcel of land was too small to be divided. Everyone in the feudal system worked except the king.

How Far Do the Sources Suggest That James I’s Extravagance?

How far do the sources suggest that it was James I’s extravagant giving was the cause of his financial problems? On the face of it the sources seem to disagree on this issue. Sources ten and twelve seem to show that James’ extravagant giving was the cause of his financial problems however source eleven seems to show that it was not James’ extravagant giving that caused his financial problems.In source ten, ‘Matthew Hutton’ states that, â€Å"His Majesty’s subjects hear and fear that King James’ heroical and excellent nature is too inclined to giving† and that this will soon ‘exhaust the treasury of his kingdom’, thus implying that James’s extravagant nature was and will be the cause of his financial problems. This is further backed up by source twelve as it states that James ‘is very generous with his gifts’ and that ‘gifts to the scots are causing an incurable leak from the cistern, this is demonstrating how James’ extravagance is causing him financial trouble.Whereas on the face of it source eleven seems to disagree with the other two sources as it demonstrates how it was not James’ extravagance that was causing him financial trouble. In this source it states that payments to the king, for example taxes are not paid or collected and also ‘The Earl of Dorset’ goes on to say that the fact James I has a family is another reason for his financial trouble.Furthermore as this this is a letter from the ‘Lord Treasurer’ to ‘The Chancellor of the Exchequer’ this is the most reliable source about whether it was James’ extravagance that was causing him financial problems as between them they are the people who look after and maintain the treasury. However it can be argued that all three sources agree to a large extent that it was not James’ extravagant personality that caused his financial problems.Firstly in so urce twelve it does not specifically say that he is ‘extravagant’ also at the time it was written, 1604, James the I was not actually in debt and so this is not a very reliable source to find out whether James’ extravagance caused him financial problems. Source twelve can also back up the point that it was not James’ extravagant giving that caused him financial difficulty as it states that, â€Å"Parliament could replenish the treasury of his Majesty’ Treasury.This implies that it was parliament who caused James’ financial troubles as they did not give him the funds needed to suffice all of his needs, and so in order to negotiate with others he had to resort to giving as he was not given the money needed to create an army. Also, in source twelve the person who wrote the letter was not a part of the government and so this means that he would not have been that close to James to be able to judge whether he was an extravagant giver or not.This is backed up further by his statement, â€Å"I understand from common talk† thus implying that these are just rumours and so they are not a reliable source of information for the listener, in this case John More, and as the information was not reliable that makes the source not reliable. Furthermore, as source ten was written a few years before the rest it was not that reliable and this was further proved by the fact that it is written before the time that James ends up in debt.Therefore the sources, when taken together, show that it was not James I’s extravagant giving that caused his financial difficulties, but that there were a lot of contributing factors stated in source eleven which is the most reliable source and should therefore have the most weight put onto it. This is because the source is between the two leading members who are looking after James I’s money.And sources ten and twelve are not that reliable so they do have so much weight put onto them th us backing up further that it was not James’ extravagant personality as on the face of it that was they suggest but. But when the sources are looked at collectively they show that it was not James’ extravagant giving that caused him financial trouble. Brendon Head Word Count (686 words)

The Definition of a Bar Graph

The Definition of a Bar Graph A bar graph or a bar chart is used to represent data visually using bars of different heights or lengths. Data is graphed either horizontally or vertically, allowing viewers to compare different values and draw conclusions quickly and easily. A typical bar graph will have a label, axis, scales, and bars, which represent measurable values such as amounts or percentages. Bar graphs are used to display all kinds of data, from quarterly sales and job growth to seasonal rainfall and crop yields. The bars on a bar graph  may be the same color, though different colors are sometimes used to distinguish between groups or categories to make the data easier to read and interpret. Bar graphs have a labeled x-axis (horizontal axis) and y-axis (vertical axis). When experimental data is graphed, the independent variable is graphed on the x-axis, while the dependent variable is graphed on the y-axis. Types of Bar Graphs Bar graphs take different forms depending on the type and complexity of the data they represent. They can be as simple, in some cases, as two bars, such as a graph representing the vote totals of two competing political candidates. As the information becomes more complex, so will the graph, which may even take the form of a grouped or clustered bar graph or a stacked bar graph. Single: Single bar graphs are used to convey the discrete value of the item for each category shown on the opposing axis. An example would be a representation of the number of males in grades 4-6 for each of the years 1995 to 2010. The actual number (discrete value) could be represented by a bar sized to scale, with the scale appearing on the X-axis. The Y-axis would display the corresponding years. The longest bar on the graph would represent the year from 1995 to 2010 in which the number of males in grades 4-6 reached its greatest value. The shortest bar would represent the year in which the number of males in grades 4-6 reached its lowest value. Grouped: A grouped or clustered bar graph is used to represent discrete values for more than one item that share the same category. In the single bar graph example above, only one item (the number of males in grades 4-6) is represented. But one could very easily modify the graph by adding a second value that includes the number of females in grades 4-6. The bars representing each gender by year would be grouped together and color-coded to make it clear which bars represent the male and female values. This grouped bar graph would then allow readers to easily compare the number of students enrolled in grades 4-6 both by year and by gender. Stacked: Some bar graphs have each bar divided into subparts that represent the discrete values for items that constitute a portion of the whole group. For instance, in the examples above, students in grades 4-6 are grouped together and represented by a single bar. This bar could be broken into subsections to represent the proportion of students in each grade. Again, color coding would be needed to make the graph readable. Bar Graph vs. Histogram A histogram is a type of chart that often resembles a bar graph. However, unlike a bar graph, which represents the relationship between two different variables, a histogram represents only a single, continuous variable. In a histogram, the range of values is divided into a series of intervals, known as bins or buckets, which are labeled on the charts x-axis. The y-axis, when the bins are evenly spaced, measures the frequency of the given values. Histograms can be used to produce models of probability and to estimate the likelihood of certain outcomes. How to Make a Bar Graph The easiest way to create a bar graph is to use the Charts tool in Microsoft Excel. This tool allows you to transform spreadsheet data into a simple chart, which you can then customize by adding a title and labels and by changing the chart style and column colors. Once you have completed the bar graph, you can make updates and adjustments by changing the values in the spreadsheet. You can also create simple bar graphs using free online tools such as Meta Chart and Canva.

Alternative Sentencing

Alternative Sentencing Free Online Research Papers If we are to be a serious society then we need to address the human element seriously, and that means addressing the worst of the human element along with the best. As humans are raised differently and their amount of self control varies with each individual there can be no constant as to the degree of behavior. Athletes who have had even the most stringent upbringing may enter the professional world as polite and decent human beings, and then after super stardom and the total collapse of inhibition and self control takes hold what once was a stellar upstanding member of society becomes a variant of the criminal class. Dennis Rodman would be a perfect case study as to what a decent human being can become.Given the microcosm which is the professional sports world we can easily leap into the macrocosm which is the rest of us in society. Humans of different degrees of self control and civility will engage in various degrees of activity which range from the saintly to the â€Å"hell-bound†. As a society that wishes to remain humane and just we must address these variant levels of behavior and establish a system of law and reward to match and measure the proper punishment that will meet the needs of mankind in it’s effort to maintain a civil society. For the most violent offenders of the laws of mankind this discussion can be brief and for the most part with the exception of the death penalty little is needed in gaining a consensus. However when the crimes fall under the categories of not so heinous, or even the sub-category of â€Å"super sillious lawmaking†, more prudent minds have come up with an idea that is as old as time. Alternative Sentencing. Now this idea isn’t new by any stretch of the imagination, the new part of it is that like any advancing society, new ideas can come up at any time and more than likely have some merit no matter it’s nouveau. While it is entirely proper and fills it’s calling it can be the subject of many discerning eyes. And for the most part it is worthwhile in pursuing even if a few eyebrows will be raised when a sentence is handed down that sounds more like a treat than a punishment. Now before getting too far ahead of ourselves as for the justice involved lets take a look at some of the â€Å"Alternative Sentencing† that is out there. A main staple for criminals who arguably are not criminals just a person caught up in foolish thinking or just lacked enough self control for the moment to wind up on the wrong side of the law†¦we have†¦ †HOUSE ARREST†. or Home Detention as it may be called. Most of the time but not always this may involve what some have endearingly called, â€Å"an anklet†. An electronic bracelet usually fitted around the ankle of the subject to send a signal to authorities if that individual leaves a certain area, usually the person’s home. Then there is the â€Å"WORK RELEASE PROGRAM†, sometimes called the â€Å"Work Furlough Program†. This program typically has an alternative to Jail housing while the individual goes to work routinely they must return to the facility of choice with no other stops on the way. Do not pass go, do not collect 200.00. Okay in this case they do collect their financial rewards. Also there is Drug Treatment Options or as they are so endeared by their participants†¦Ã¢â‚¬ DRUG COURTS†. Sounds ominous indeed but it is merely the pass or fail of random drug testing that these courts preside over. For Drug offenders this is an intelligent alternative to filling up prisons with addicted people who are not living the life of career criminal. â€Å"CITY JAIL† or Private Jail, this is like voluntary jail. You do your time when you can allowing to participate in a normal life yet still do the prescribed penalty for your crime. Kind of like Otus in Mayberry who would come in at night and sleep it off. Sort of, or maybe not. â€Å"SOBER LIVING†, affectionately called halfway houses. Halfway between Jail and living free. Mainly for alcoholics who have committed crimes but for the sake of their addiction maybe would have chosen better. â€Å"DIVERSION PROGRAMS†, or a more accurate term would be Addiction Education classes. Pass this class and maybe your minor crime is paid in full. And lastly we all know the ever-loving slap on the wrist†¦Ã¢â‚¬ COMMUNITY SERVICE†. Unfortunately I am not rich enough to know too much about this sort of punishment. Saw it on TV. but doubtfully will never experience it. This program can consist of cleaning up your freeway or being on a television sitcom. Whatever the judge feels like. So there you have it, a cornucopia of mental solutions for the inexperienced or novice criminal. Truth be told when mankind puts it’s collective minds together, they don’t do half bad. Now while the idea here is not to have a one-size-fits-all mentality, it is necessary to have programs readily available to keep the â€Å"Eigth Amendment† in the spirit it was intended. Unlike other societies around the world who have neither the time nor the inclination to fit the punishment to the crime, we have come up with a rather strong argument for why these â€Å"Programs† need to be implemented. For one they free up tax payer dollars. Another argument could be made it doesn’t create a career criminal which housing someone in with other career criminals could create. ( I couldn’t find exact evidence of this in my research but I strongly believe it and believe evidence does exist to corroborate it ). But even more compelling is the compassion of it. Now statistics could be made to say anything and while researching the topic of â€Å"Statistics of alternative sentencing† I came away with so much conflicting data I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. But it doesn’t stop me from coming to conclusions of what I read. Inasmuch as some say Alternative Sentencing is a farce and a waste of time, some important statistics did jump out. Alternative Sentencing produces much less repeat offenders. Now if you consider the types of crimes that are committed that receive alternative sentencing you could call that rubbish. But there is real meat in there and that has to be considered. It would matter not the category, if you get less repeat offenders, something has to be working. That is just plain common sense. Now where we can offer these programs where I think statistics would lead us is obviously the addicted. Unfortunately we have made addiction a crime. The use of illegal narcotics while is arguable in and of itself creates an instant criminal. While it might be easier to separate the â€Å"salesman† from the buyer never-the-less they both are criminals in the courts of our land. So here we are with a person who has stolen nothing, injured no one save his or herself and in a moment of weakness that person is now a criminal. Well for a crime like that would it make sense to put that person in prison? Don’t even ask yourself that ridiculous question, because right now in this country alone the prisons are filled with them. Now I don’t argue that after the person falls into the addiction usually bad things happen. Addicted people are famous for doing what they need to or have to; to continue on the addicted path. For those who use their addiction as an excuse to forgo any self control, well depending on the degree it leads to will depend upon where in the criminal justice system they land. But this does not deter my argument that drug addiction in itself isn’t criminal. So a reasonable mind would have to come up with a reasonable reward for such an action and â€Å"Alternative Sentencing fits that bill nicely. For crimes which society deem to be harmless enough Alternative Sentencing and Diversion must play the central role. It is fruitless and inhumane to do otherwise. In the case where rehabilitation is the keyword in all of criminal justice; over reaction to and heavy handedness to sentencing does nothing to help someone who has made a redeemable mistake. Humans will for the most part like an airplane be off course most of their destination, while making the final corrections just before their landing. It makes sense to be understanding of human behavior and use the rewards of the justice system to merit the crime, so that people who have a chance for rehabilitation are in an environment where they can feel like they can be redeemed. Over reaction and heavy handedness by judges is just as damaging as leniency. It has it’s place and wise men have done society a great justice in making sure we do not create a vengeful creature out of a minor mistake. Whether or not the system is working to the best of it’s creators hopes is not the real question here. The real question is, what would it be like without Alternative Sentencing? That is not an answer I would look forward to hearing. Research Papers on Alternative SentencingCapital PunishmentQuebec and CanadaThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenGenetic EngineeringNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceTrailblazing by Eric AndersonPETSTEL analysis of IndiaThe Spring and Autumn

AB Volvo within the last three years (2014, 2013, and 2012) Research Paper

AB Volvo within the last three years (2014, 2013, and 2012) - Research Paper Example †¢ In order to evaluate the potential of investing in a business, the first step is to evaluate the profitability of the business by determine how the business has performed based on its recent history. †¢ The analysis will involve digging into financial reports for AB Volvo within the last three years (2014, 2013, and 2012). The financial factors to consider in the analysis will determine the business’s current net worth, its sales and expense trends and identify the company’s strengths and weaknesses. o The company’s budgets and tax returns since 2012 o An analysis of the company’s balance sheet to determine a list of current assets, liabilities and net worth o An analysis of the current accounts receivables o Analyzing the cash flow projections o Analyzing the profit and loss statements †¢ The analysis will also consider an evaluation of ratios that are key to making investment decisions. The ratios will evaluate the performance activity, liquidity, financing, and activity within AB Volvo: †¢ Performance Activity o Book Value Per Common Share o Cash Return On Assets o Vertical Analysis o Dividend Payout Ratio o Earnings Per Share o Gross Profit Margin

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES - THE PENGUIN AN THE UTOPIA Essay

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES - THE PENGUIN AN THE UTOPIA - Essay Example The paper analyses the possible connections that exist between the 1934’s Penguin Pool and the modern Utopia. In so doing, the paper explores the relation between architecture and zeitgeist in terms of ideologies and the material production of space. Discussion Life and ideas of Berthold Lubetkin Berthold Lubetkin is considered one of the best architects ever in history. Many of his works have been landmarked in Britain. To add on this, his ideas are still being used in architectural discourse, as well as education worldwide (Allan & Sternberg, 2002). He pioneered design in Britain in the 1930s, with his works including the famous London Zoo penguin pool. According to Fisher (2007), Lubetkin viewed the world as a collection of static facts. These facts, he said, were never to be moved or disturbed. He added that however, that could not be the reality. To him, life was not all about creation or enjoying fixed values but rather humans enjoy processes. The whole is like a burning candle that result into change in one thing or another. To him, people were not built structures that looked as if they just landed there from the sky. As such, he looked at design as being something that could be manipulated to fit onto a given environment, at a given season. Things are not to look so permanent. Thus, dynamism is essential in architecture as it is a transformation process (Sheppard & Lousada, 2010). Using the transformation idea and dynamism, Lubetkin created the London Zoo penguin pool in 1934. He endeavoured to use the building as an opportunity to explore existing possibilities of the reinforced concrete in a creative manner. By 1934, reinforced concrete was a new building material (Perrin, 2002). He studied the behaviour of penguins and utilised the idea in coming up with the idea of the building. He created a penguin enclosure as well as a pool that provided an interesting environment for the penguins. There were also numerous viewing angles specifically for spectators to visit the place. It was a Modernist building that envisaged true clarity and style. Additionally, there was a large elliptical blue pool which provided the birds with a large swimming area. The blue pool, moreover, offers a contrast to the white concrete which was used in most of the design. The design included a shaded area which protects the birds from direct sun. Having gently curved walls is essential as it echoes the penguins’ cries. Through these aspects of design, Lubetkin demonstrates the need for relating architecture to the existing housing conditions. Thus, he showed this through satisfying the needs of the penguins. Furthermore, the structure demonstrates the need for coming up with a solution, which could be different in its appearance, as compared to the natural environment. However, the vital thing is for the solution to function as expected (Shore, 2010). Source: Allan & Sternberg, 2002. Modern architecture in 1920’s and 1930’s Ther e is a misconception that architecture in the 1920’s and 1930’s was old style. However, this period experienced art deco and the emergence of the modern style. The emphasis was on the streamlining of buildings and minimal use of colour. According to Page (2012), in her article titled â€Å"Period Houses: The 1920’s and 1930’s†, she looks examines modern design in 1920’s and 1930’s. Here, she explores the Villa Savoye in Paris which she

Roles of Nurses in the Camps Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Roles of Nurses in the Camps - Research Paper Example Over 10 million Syrians have fled from their homes as presidents Bashar al-Assad’s military fight with those against his rule as well as the jihadist military from the Islamic state. Violence increased and the country went into civil war, hence forcing Syrians to flee to refugee camps, for example, Zaatari refugee camp. Â  Nurses in the refugee camp counsel the traumatized patients. Many of the displaced people witnessed the death of their family members. (Choo, Hutchinson, & Bucknall, 2010). However, it is the role of a nurse to make them feel safe and help them adapt to the new environment. Provision of health education to the vulnerable displaced people, for example, the hepatitis A outbreak in the Za’atari camp due to unhygienic conditions. The nurses visited schools explaining the importance of washing hands after visiting the toilet and before handling food. The nurses do vaccination of measles on people under the age of 30 before getting in the camp, in addition to undertaking prenatal care and delivery of babies in the camp. They also taught the women the importance of family planning asks for better working equipment in the refugee camp to increase saving lives. One of the nursing values is promoting the health of a patient and their well-being. Sometimes nurses have to make autonom ous decisions, for example breaking shocking news that an individual is tested positive for HIV/AIDS (Choo, Hutchinson, & Bucknall, 2010). Â  Empowered nurses are allowed to admit/discharge patients. Support of patients living with HIV/AIDS is a role of a nurse. Patients who are supported feel accepted and loved. The researchers in the Zaatari camp health care center look for ways to improve the healthcare services. The research nurses uncover ways to improve the lives of patients living with chronic diseases such as cancer (Wintersgill & Wheeler, 2012).

Sonnets of Shakespeare Essay Example for Free

Sonnets of Shakespeare Essay Shakespeares sonnets are a collection of 154 sonnets, dealing with themes such as the passage of time, love, beauty and mortality, first published in a 1609 quarto entitled SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS. : Never before imprinted. (although sonnets 138 and 144 had previously been published in the 1599 miscellany The Passionate Pilgrim). The quarto ends with A Lovers Complaint, a narrative poem of 47 seven-line stanzas written in rhyme royal. The first 17 poems, traditionally called the procreation sonnets, are addressed to a young man urging him to marry and have children in order to immortalize his beauty by passing it to the next generation. [1] Other sonnets express the speakers love for a young man; brood upon loneliness, death, and the transience of life; seem to criticise the young man for preferring a rival poet; express ambiguous feelings for the speakers mistress; and pun on the poets name. The final two sonnets are allegorical treatments of Greek epigrams referring to the little love-god Cupid. The publisher, Thomas Thorpe, entered the book in the Stationers Register on 20 May 1609: Tho. Thorpe. Entred for his copie under the handes of master Wilson and master Lownes Wardenes a booke called Shakespeares sonnettes vjd. Whether Thorpe used an authorised manuscript from Shakespeare or an unauthorised copy is unknown. George Eld printed the quarto, and the run was divided between the booksellers William Aspley and John Wright. - Structure [edit] The sonnets are almost all constructed from three four-line stanzas (called quatrains) and a final couplet composed in iambic pentameter. [18] This is also the meter used extensively in Shakespeares plays. The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg. Sonnets using this scheme are known as Shakespearean sonnets. Often, the beginning of the third quatrain marks the volta (turn), or the line in which the mood of the poem shifts, and the poet expresses a revelation or epiphany. There are a few exceptions: Sonnets 99, 126, and 145. Number 99 has fifteen lines. Number 126 consists of six couplets, and two blank lines marked with italic brackets; 145 is in iambic tetrameters, not pentameters. There one another variation on the standard structure, found for example in sonnet 29. The normal rhyme scheme is changed by repeating the b of quatrain one in quatrain three, where the f should be. Characters [edit] When analysed as characters, the subjects of the sonnets are usually referred to as the Fair Youth, the Rival Poet, and the Dark Lady. The speaker expresses admiration for the Fair Youths beauty, and later has an affair with the Dark Lady. It is not known whether the poems and their characters are fiction or autobiographical; scholars who find the sonnets to be autobiographical, notably A. L. Rowse, have attempted to identify the characters with historical individuals. [19] Fair Youth [edit] Main article: Shakespeares sexuality. Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton at 21. Shakespeares patron, and one candidate for the Fair Youth of the sonnets. The Fair Youth is the unnamed young man to whom sonnets 1–126 are addressed. [20] Some commentators, noting the romantic and loving language used in this sequence of sonnets, have suggested a sexual relationship between them; others have read the relationship as platonic love. The earliest poems in the sequence recommend the benefits of marriage and children. With the famous sonnet 18 (Shall I compare thee to a summers day) the tone changes dramatically towards romantic intimacy. Sonnet 20 explicitly laments that the young man is not a woman. Most of the subsequent sonnets describe the ups and downs of the relationship, culminating with an affair between the poet and the Dark Lady. The relationship seems to end when the Fair Youth succumbs to the Ladys charms. [citation needed] There have been many attempts to identify the young man. Shakespeares one-time patron, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton is commonly suggested, although Shakespeares later patron, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, has recently become popular. [21] Both claims begin with the dedication of the sonnets to Mr. W. H., the only begetter of these ensuing sonnets; the initials could apply to either earl. However, while Shakespeares language often seems to imply that the subject is of higher social status than himself, the apparent references to the poets inferiority may simply be part of the rhetoric of romantic submission. [citation needed] An alternative theory, most famously espoused by Oscar Wildes short story The Portrait of Mr. W. H. notes a series of puns that may suggest the sonnets are written to a boy actor called William Hughes; however, Wildes story acknowledges that there is no evidence for such a persons existence. Samuel Butler believed that the friend was a seaman. Joseph Pequigney argued in his book Such Is My Love that the Fair Youth was an unknown commoner. The Dark Lady [edit] The Dark Lady redirects here. For other uses, see Dark Lady. The Dark Lady sequence (sonnets 127–152), distinguishes itself from the Fair Youth sequence by being overtly sexual in its passion. Among these, Sonnet 151 has been characterised as bawdy and is used to illustrate the difference between the spiritual love for the Fair Youth and the sexual love for the Dark Lady. [22] The distinction is commonly made in the introduction to modern editions of the sonnets. [22] The Dark Lady is so called because the poems make it clear that she has black hair and dusky skin. As with the Fair Youth, there have been many attempts to identify her with a real historical individual. Mary Fitton, Emilia Lanier and others have been suggested. The Rival Poet [edit] Main article: Rival Poet The Rival Poets identity has always remained a mystery; among the varied candidates are Christopher Marlowe, George Chapman, or, an amalgamation of several contemporaries. [23] However, there is no hard evidence that the character had a real-life counterpart. The speaker sees the Rival as competition for fame, coin and patronage. The sonnets most commonly identified as the Rival Poet group exist within the Fair Youth sequence in sonnets 78–86. [23] - Themes [edit] One interpretation is that Shakespeares sonnets are in part a pastiche or parody of the three-centuries-old tradition of Petrarchan love sonnets; Shakespeare consciously inverts conventional gender roles as delineated in Petrarchan sonnets to create a more complex and potentially troubling depiction of human love. [24] He also violated many sonnet rules, which had been strictly obeyed by his fellow poets: he plays with gender roles (20), he speaks on human evils that do not have to do with love (66), he comments on political events (124), he makes fun of love (128), he speaks openly about sex (129), he parodies beauty (130), and even introduces witty pornography (151). http://www. bardweb. net/poetry. html ontents * The Sonnets * Venus and Adonis * The Rape of Lucrece * Other Poetry In the summer of 1592, an episodic outbreak of the plague swept through London. Theatres were among the public gathering places to be shut down. William Shakespeare decided to stay in London rather than follow a theatrical company on tour. Shakespeare needed a way to earn a wage until the theatres reopened. He also desired to be taken seriously as a writer. Playwrights of the era were considered little more than populist hacks, writing largely disposable entertainment. Shakespeare instead found a way to earn both money and acclaim through the patronage of the third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley. Poetry was the art of nobles and gentlemen, and Shakespeare—a rustic interloper without the usual college-educated wit—lucratively introduced himself between1593 and 1594. Venus and Adonis would become Shakespeares most widely printed work during his lifetime. The following year, Shakespeare published The Rape of Lucrece. Both were poems calculated to bolster Shakespeares reputation and wallet. On the opposite end of that spectrum is the body of poetry that comprises Shakespeares more mysterious and controversial work. If Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece represent Shakespeares quest for immortality, his sonnets of the early 1590s represent the passion and introspection behind it. The Sonnets At some point in the early 1590s, Shakespeare began writing a compilation of sonnets. The first edition of these appeared in print in 1609. However, Frances Meres mentions Shakespeare sharing at least some of them among friends as early as 1598, and two (138 and 144) appear as early versions in the 1599 folio The Passionate Pilgrim. Shakespeares seeming ambivalence toward having the sonnets published stands in remarkable contrast to the poetic mastery they demonstrate. Why sonnets? The sonnet was arguably the most popular bound verse form in England when Shakespeare began writing. Imported from Italy (as the Petrarchan or Italian sonnet), the form took on a distinctive English style of three distinctively rhymed quatrains capped by a rhymed couplet comprising 14 total lines of verse. This allowed the author to build a rising pattern of complication in a three-act movement, followed by the terse denouement of the final two lines. Conventional subject matter of the Elizabethan sonnet concerned love, beauty, and faith. Shakespeare as a poet could hardly have ignored the sonnet as a verse form. He appears to have written a sequence of them, dedicated to a Master W. H. , and the sequence as a whole appears to follow a loose narrative structure. Of the 154 sonnets, there are three broad divisions: * Sonnets 1-126, which deal with a young, unnamed lord, the fair youth of the sonnets * Sonnets 127-152, which deal with the poets relationship to a mysterious mistress, the dark lady of the sonnets * Sonnets 153-154, which seem to be poetic exercises dedicated to Cupid The sonnets are poignant musings upon love, beauty, mortality, and the effects of time. They also defy many expected conventions of the traditional sonnet by addressing praises of beauty and worth to the fair youth, or by using the third quatrain as part of the resolution of the poem. The first edition of 1609 could very well have been an unauthorized printing. The dedication is enigmatic, and the sonnet by that time had waned in popularity. Whether or not Thorpe published the 1609 quarto with Shakespeares blessing, the sonnets as they are printed comprise the foundation for all later versions. Points of debate have ensued ever since as to: * The order of the arrangement * Whether or not the sonnets are autobiographical * Whether or not Shakespeare actually intended them to be published * The identities of W. H. , the fair youth, and the dark lady, among others * The exact nature of the poets relationship with those he addresses in the sonnets Venus and Adonis Shakespeare dedicates Venus and Adonis as the first heir of my invention. In doing so, Shakespeare acknowledges that even he considered his plays as literary works inferior to poetry. The poem, a brief epic, evokes comparisons to Marlowes Hero and Leander, to which Venus and Adonisowes at least some debt. Equal parts comic and erotic, the poem is Shakespeares take on a story told by Ovid in which Venus falls for the handsome youth Adonis. Shakespeare, however, makes one crucial twist to Ovids Metamorphoses. Ovids Venus is an irresistible, tragic goddess whose love Adonis returns. Venus and Adonis portrays the goddess as a comically frustrated seductress who cant seem to distract Adonis from his love of hunting. Shakespeare also includes elements from Metamorphoses from the tales of Narcissus and Hermaphroditus. Venus and Adonis is a microcosm of Shakespeares writing: taking a classical source and infusing it with both heightened formality and a playful humanity. Of course, the poems comic overtones and animal sensuality caused it to lapse into critical disfavor. The Rape of Lucrece The Rape of Lucrece was published the year after Venus and Adonis. Because of their proximity and Shakespeares dedication of both works to Southampton, the two poems are often thought of as companion pieces. In fact, its believed that Lucrece is the graver labour to which Shakespeare refers in the dedication of Venus and Adonis. Written in rhyme royale stanzas, The Rape of Lucrece also borrows from Ovid. While Shakespeare sticks fairly closely to the narrative of Ovid, in The Rape of Lucrece, he expands significantly on the action through the characterization of both Tarquin and Lucrece. Shakespeare creates as a result a tense drama with both moral and political overtones. The verses are thick with rhetorical flourishes and wordplay. Like its predecessor, The Rape of Lucrece sparked much critical debate over the years, mostly regarding how Lucreces language often works against her emotion. Other The 1599 volume The Passionate Pilgrim was a collection of twenty poems that the publisher attributed entirely to Shakespeare. Only five works can be traced to Shakespeare: versions of sonnets 138 and 144, and three poems presumably taken from a quarto edition of Loves Labours Lost. Thomas Heywood actually complained about a later reprinting of the work in which his poetry was published but still credited to Shakespeare. Heywood also noted that Shakespeare was unhappy with the publisher, William Jaggard, who presumed to make so bold with his name. It seems apparent that Jaggards printing was an unauthorized enterprise. A Lovers Complaint was printed with Thorpes 1609 edition of Shakespeares sonnets. Like The Rape of Lucrece, A Lovers Complaint is written in rhyme royale stanzas but is much shorter, at just over 300 lines. The poem tells the story of a woman seduced by a womanizing young man. In 1601, an untitled poem by Shakespeare appeared in a collection entitled Loves Martyr. Scholars have given it the title The Phoenix and the Turtlebased on the thematic subject of the collection. Based on computer-aided analysis, a 1612 poem published by Thomas Thorpe as A Funeral Elegy and signed W. S. was thought to be attributable to Shakespeare. Further study has pointed toward Jacobean dramatist John Ford, rather than Shakespeare, as the poems author. Sir John Falstaff is in financial difficulties. On top of that, Justice Shallow and his youthful cousin, Slender, have come to Windsor because he has conned them out of money. Falstaff decides to woo the wives of two of Windsor’s leading merchants, Page, and Ford, to get money out of them. He sends his page, Robin, to each of the wives with a letter. The wives compare the letters and find that they are identical. They decide to teach him a lesson and devise a plan. They invite him to Mistress Ford’s house at a time when Ford will be out bird shooting. Falstaff’scompanions, Pistol and Nym, tell Ford about Falstaff’s intentions and Ford, a naturally jealous man, resolves to catch his wife out. He disguises himself as a shy man, Master Brook, with a passion for Mistress Ford, and goes to Falstaff and offers him money to woo her on his behalf. Falstaff tells him that a meeting has already been arranged and agrees to Master Brook’s request. Slender has made friends with a local clergyman, Parson Evans. Slender has fallen for Page’s daughter, Anne, who is already secretly meeting a young courtier, Fenton, of whom Page disapproves. Anne’s mother, Mistress Page, is determined that she will marry the French doctor, Caius. When Caius hears  about Slender’s suit he challenges Parson Evans to a duel. The landlord of the Garter Inn confuses matters by setting different places for the duel, which results in the antagonists making up their differences. Falstaff arrives at Mistress Ford’s house but his wooing is interrupted by Mistress Page’s announcement that the men are returning. They hide Falstaff in a large laundry basket and he is carried out. Ford searches the house. Falstaff is tipped out on a muddy river bank. The wives, amused by the incident, decide to repeat the incident and invite Falstaff to come again. He is reluctant but Master Brook persuades hnbim to accept and his visit is again interrupted by Ford’s return. Ford searches the laundry basket but this time Falstaff is disguised as the elderly aunt of one of the servants. When Ford finds nothing in the laundry basket he loses his temper and angrily beats the ‘aunt’ out of the house. The wives laughingly tell their husbands about the trick and Page suggests that they should publicly humiliate Falstaff to stop him from preying on honest wives. Mistress Ford invites Falstaff to meet her at night in Windsor Park, disguised as Hearne the Hunter. Parson Evans organises Anne and some children to dress as fairies. Anne plans to elope with Fenton, while her parents are plotting her kidnapping by Caius and a secret marriage to him. They all meet in the park and Falstaff is pinched and taunted by the fairies. Anne escapes and returns as Fenton’s wife, while Cauius and Slender both find that they have eloped with boys. The play ends with the Pages giving their blessing to Anne’s marriage and everyone laughing at the evening’s antics and the humiliation of Falstaff. Henry-1 Henry Bolingbroke has usurped his cousin, Richard II, to become King of England. News comes of a rebellion in Wales, where his cousin, Edmund Mortimer, has been taken prisoner by Owen Glendower, and in the North, where Harry Hotspur, the young son of the Earl of Northumberland, is fighting the Earl of Douglas. The king’s problems mount up and he is forced to postpone his proposed participation in a crusade. Moreover, his heir, Henry, known as Hal, shows no interest in princely matters and spends all his time in the London taverns with disreputable companions, particularly one dissolute old knight, Sir John Falstaff. Falstaff will do anything to finance his eating and drinking. He carries out a robbery with two of hisfriends but Hal and Poins rob them in turn. Hal protects Falstaff from the law and returns the money to the victims. Although Hotspur has been forced to agree to support the king he joins a plot with his father and his uncle, Worcester, to support Glendower, Mortimer, and Douglas against the king. Hal returns to the court, makes his peace with his father, and is given a command in the army that is preparing to meet Hotspur. Falstaff has also been given a command but he has taken bribes and filled his ranks with beggars instead of recruiting able men. The King offers to pardon Hotspur if he will withdraw his opposition. Glendower’s troops and those of Northumberland have been unable to contact Hotspur and Worcester withholds the King’s offer from Hotspur and the battle of Shrewsbury begins. Falstaff’s conduct in the war is disreputable and behaves in a cowardly way, while Hal saves his father’s life in combat with the Scotsman, Douglas. He encounters Hotspur, who is killed. Falstaff, having feigned death to avoid injury, claims to have fought and killed Hotspur. The King’s army triumphs over the rebels and Worcester is condemned to death. Hal frees Douglas while Henry takes his troops to continue the war against Mortimer and the Welsh, and the remnants of the Northumberland forces. Henry-2 King Henry IV has been victorious at the battle of Shrewsbury but the Earl of Northumberland hears rumours that his son, Harry Hotspur, has been the victor. Northumberland and the Archbishop of York decide to oppose the king’s forces, led by Prince John. The news of Hotspur’s death finally comes, however, and Hotspur’s widow and Lady Northumberland urge them not to continue with their rebellion. The Lord Chief Justice criticises Sir John Falstaff for his behaviour during the wars but gives his blessing to him in his intention to join Prince John’s forces. Before Falstaff can leave he is arrested for his debt to Mistress Quickly, the landlady of the Boar’s Head tavern. They both land up in court where Falsaff persuades her to patch up their differences. Prince Hal and his friend Poins, arrive at the tavern, disguised as servants. Acquaintances between Hal and Falstaff and his companionsare renewed. Pistol arrives and tells Falstaff that he should have departed for the wars by now. Hal and his friends remain, still dressed as servants, although the king is sick, and worried about the succession. Falstaff recruits men, conforming to his usual corrupt methods. York, Mowbray and Hastings prepare for battle. The Earl of Westmorland arrives from Prince John to hear their grievances and they come to a peace arrangement. However, as soon as the rebel armies disperse, Westmorland arrests the three leaders for treason. The king is very ill. Hall arrives from London. He thinks the sleeping king is dead and he lifts the crown and tries it on. The king wakes up and is angered by that. They make up and are reconciled before the king prepares himself for death. When Falstaff hears of the king’s death and Hal’s succession he sets out to attend the coronation, expecting to be given high office, but the king denies knowing him and banishes him, commanding him to come no nearer than ten miles of his court. The play ends with Falstaff left hurt and hoping that the king will change his mind, while the King Henry plans a war against France. Henry-5 Henry V’s father Bolingbroke (Henry IV) was never able to rule comfortably because he had usurped Richard II. On his succession King Henry V is determined to prove his right to rule, including over France. An ambassador arrives from the French Dauphin with a provocative gift of tennis balls. Henry responds by preparing to invade France. Three of the king’s friends, Scroop, Cambridge and Grey, are discovered to be plotting against him and he condemns them to death. Pistol, Nym, and Bardolph, the companions of Henry’s dissolute days in London, join the king’s forces and set off for the wars. The news comes of Sir John Falstaff’s death. The English take the town of Harfleur and the king moves on towards Calais. The two armies prepare for battle near Agincourt. The night before the battle the king visits his troops in disguise. The French numbers are superior but Henry inspires his troops with a powerful patriotic speech. The battle begins and the French are defeated, with heavy losses, whereas the English losses are light. Henry returns to London in triumph before making peace with the French king. Henry woos the French Princess Katherine and their marriage links England and France. HEney-6-The play opens in the aftermath of the death of King Henry V. News reaches England of military setbacks in France, and the scene shifts to  Orleans, where ‘La Pucelle’ (Joan of Arc) is encouraging theDauphin to resist. She defeats an English army led by Talbot. In England, Richard, Duke of York, quarrels with John Beaufort, 1 st Duke of Somerset about his claim on the throne. The lords select red or white roses, depending on whether they favour the House of Lancaster or that of York. Edmund Mortimer, a leading claimant to the throne, is a prisoner in the Tower ofLondon and declares Richard his heir. The young Henry VI honours both Richard and Talbot. Talbot dies bravely in his next battle against the French. In the meantime, King Henry is married off to a young French princess, Margaret of Anjou. Suffolk intends to control the king through Margaret. Ill feeling between him and the Duke of Gloucester continues to grow. This play ends without a resolution, and is Henry-6-21This play begins with the marriage of King Henry VI to the young Margaret of Anjou. William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, aims to influence the king through her. The major obstacle to this plan is the regent of the crown, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who is very popular with the people. Queen Margaret vies with his wife, Eleanor, for precedence at court. Eleanor is lured by an agent of Suffolk into dabbling in necromancy, and then arrested, to the embarrassment of her husband,Gloucester. Nevertheless, the demon she has summoned delivers some accurate prophecies concerning the fates of several characters in the play. Gloucester is then accused of treason and imprisoned, and afterwards assassinated by agentsof Suffolk and the Queen. Meanwhile, Richard, Duke of York, who has a tenuousclaim to the throne, schemes to make himself king. The Earl of Suffolk is banished for his role in Gloucester’s death and killed by Walter the pirate, leaving Margaret without her mentor. Meanwhile, Richard of York has managed to become commander of an army to suppress a revolt in Ireland. York enlists a former officer, Jack Cade, to lead a rebellion that threatens the whole kingdom, so that he can bring his army from Ireland into England and seize the throne. As Cade’s rebels are routed, York, who has brought his army over on the pretext of protecting the King from Somerset, declares open war on the king, supported by his sons, Edward (the future King Edward IV) and Richard (the future King Richard II). The English nobility now take sides, and the Battle of St Albans ensues. The Duke of Somerset is killed by the future Richard III. Young Lord Clifford, whose father has been killed by the Duke of York, vows revenge on the Yorkists, and allies himself with King Henry’s other supporters. Henry-6-3 The Earl of Warwick (Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick) is presiding over a dispute between Richard, Duke of York and the reigning King Henry, in the course of which Henry agrees to make York his heir. The Queen, Margaret, makes it clear that she will not agree to this, and declares war on the Yorkists, with the assistance of the young Lord Clifford and other supporters, including her son, Edward, Prince of Wales. The Yorkists are defeated at the Battle of Wakefield. Cliffordmurders York’s young son, the Earl of Rutland. Margaret andClifford taunt the duke of York before killing him. The Earl of Warwick now takes York’s eldest son, Edward (King Edward 1V of England) under his wing. At the Battle of Twoton, they take revenge on Margaret’s army, and Clifford is killed. Following the battle, Edward is proclaimed king, and his two brothers, George and Richard, are created Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester respectively. Warwick turns against Edward when he marries Lady Grey, and he changes sides, joining Queen Margaret and allowing his daughter to marry her son, the Prince of Wales. The Duke of Clarence goes over to Warwick, marrying his other daughter, and Edward IV is taken prisoner. He is rescued by his brother Richard and the faithful Lord Hastings. King Henry VI has been restored to the throne, and the young Earl of Richmond (the future King Henry V11) goes into exile in France to escape the Yorkists. Edward defeats and kills Warwick at the Battle of Barnet. In a subsequent battle, he kills the Prince of Wales and captures Queen Margaret. Richard of Gloucester begins his campaign to remove all obstacles in his path to the throne by murdering King Henry VI who is a captive in the Tower of London. Henry prophesies Richard’s career of villainy and his future notoriety. However, King Edward’s wife has just given birth to a son, the future King, Edward V of England, and the play ends here. Cardinal Wolsey, a close advisor to Henry VIII’s father, Henry VII, has framed the Duke of Buckingham for treason, who is executed. The Queen, Katherine, hates Wolsey and he is also hated by the people because of the plot against Buckingham and the harsh, unfair taxes he is imposing in the King’s name. The King goes to a party hosted by Wolsely and falls in love with Anne Bullen, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. Henry, married to Katherine for twenty years, decides that the marriage is not legal because she is the widow of his brother, and it is therefore incest. He asks Wolsey for his advice. Because of that Wolsey becomes even more hated, both by Katherine and the people so he can’t agree to Henry’s solution of a divorce, but he agrees to put it the Pope, who will send someone to investigate and make a ruling. Katherine regards the marriage as sacred but she has to submit to the proceedings. Wolsey’s enemies are active and, the situation compounded by some bad luck, he begins to lose the confidence of Henry. Also, Henry sees him as a stumbling block to the divorce. Wolsey knows that Henry is determined to marry Anne Bullen so he advises the Pope to postpone a decision. With Wolsey in disgrace Henry goes ahead with the divorce and the remarriage with out any regard to the Pope’s opinion. Wolsey then dies, followed soon after by Katherine. The new Archbishop of Canterbury has a plot hatched against him by Wolsey’s secretary, Gardiner, who is tried and executed for treason. Henry has a daughter, Elizabeth, by Anne Bullen. Cranmer christens her and makes a speech foretelling a noble rule for Elizabeth and a glorious period of history during her reign. King John settlement with the French King. John is, in the meantime, having a problem with the Pope. The Pope has excommunicated him, and his envoy, Pandulph, orders the French King to resume hostilities with John. During one of the battles John captures his nephew, Arthur. He gives orders for his execution but his chamberlain, Hubert, disobeys the order. While trying to escape, Arthur falls to his death. The nobles accuse John of murder and defect to the French side. John is forced to hand over his crown to Pandulph, although receives it back, but his kingdom is now under the Pope’s control. Pandulph now tries to stop the conflict but the French won’t co-operate and the armies meet at Edmundsbury. The nobles don’t trust the French King and they return to John. The French King comes to terms with John through Pandulph but John is not there to see that as he is poisoned by a monk while he is staying at Swinstead Abbey. He is succeeded by his son, King Henry III. Richard-3 Richard, the Yorkist Duke of Gloucester, has not stopped plotting since the defeat of Henry VI. He conspires to play his brothers, Edward (now King Edward IV) and George, Duke of Clarence, against each other in an attempt to gain the crown for himself. By insinuating charges of treason against George, Richard has him arrested. He also brazenly woos Anne, widow of the murdered Prince of Wales, in the midst of her husbands funeral procession. In the course of events, Edward IV, who is deathly ill at the beginning of the play, dies; Richard has already arranged for George to be murdered while imprisoned, and so it stands that Richard will serve as regent while Edwards son (also named Edward) can come of age. In order to protect the Prince of Wales and his younger brother, Richard has them stay in the Tower of London. He then moves against Edwards loyalist lords; Vaughan, Rivers, Hastings, and Grey are first imprisoned, then executed. Then, with the aid of Buckingham, Richard declares that Edward IVs offspring are technically illegitimate. In an arranged public display, Buckingham offers the throne of England to Richard, who is presumably reluctant to accept. By this time, Richard has alienated even his own mother, who curses him as a bloody tyrant. By now, Richard needs to bolster his claims to the crown; the young princes locked away in the Tower of London must be disposed of. Buckingham, until now Richards staunchest ally, balks at this deed. Richard gets a murderer to do the deed, but turns on Buckingham for his insubordination. Now Richard—conveniently a widower after the suspicious demise of Anne—makes a ploy to marry the late King Edwards daughter, his niece. Elizabeth, Edwards widow, makes Richard believe that she agrees to the match; however, Elizabeth has arranged for a match with the Earl of Richmond. Richmond, at this point in the action, is bringing over an army from France to war against Richard. Buckingham, finding himself out of favor with the king, gives his allegiance to Richmond. However, Buckingham is captured when his army is thrown into disarray by floods, and Richard has him executed immediately. Richmond, who has undergone his own troubles crossing the English Channel, finally lands his army and marches for London. The armies of Richard and Richmond encamp near Bosworth Field; the night before the battle, Richard is visited by the sundry ghosts of the people he has slain, all of whom foretell his doom.