Net Present Value, Mergers and Acquisitions Essay

One financial goal of financial managers is to maximize the shareholders’ wealth. Therefore, merger and acquisition decisions should be consistent with shareholder wealth maximization, and financial characteristics of the targets to consider in the decision-making process. The net present value method is one of the useful methods that help financial managers to maximize shareholders’ wealth. The capital budgeting decision mergers Acquisitions Net Present Value Financial managers are working for the shareholders and their primary goal is profit maximization in order to maximize the wealth of the company and the shareholders. The Capital budgeting decision focuses on the net present value method, the payback period, and the internal rate of return method. This paper has two parts, where the first aspect relates to the capital budgeting decision. This paper will recommend if Goggle should accept a new project by using the net present value method. Next, the paper will discuss Google’s potential acquisition of Groupon and if it will add value to the shareholders of both corporations. Finally, this paper will make a recommendation to Goggle and Groupon on the best course of action for a merger or acquisition. Part I First, a financial manger has to make optimal decisions they will benefit the company. A financial manger has to know how to make money and smart investments in order to raise capital and put the money back into the company. The net present value is an important concept and useful tool to use to help financial managers make informed financial decisions. For instance, the net present value concept works with the capital budgeting decision to make an informed decision on a project and the potential for profits. In addition, net present value compares the value of a dollar today to the value of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account because dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future. The time value of money concept takes into considerations that money has a different buying power in the future because of inflation and changes in interest rates. For example, if the net present value of a project is positive, then the company should accept the project, but if the net present value of the project is negative then the company should not accept the project. Calculations 1) Calculate present value (PV) of cash inflow (CF) Initial Cash Outflow PV of CF = CF1 / (1+r)1 + CF2 / (1+r)2 + CF3 / (1+r)3 + CF4 / (1+r)4 + CF5 / (1+r)5 PV of CF= $1,750,000 (1+ 2) Calculate NPV NPV = Total PV of CF – Initial cash outflow -Initial cash outflow + Total PV of CF r = Discount rate (14%) Part II Rumors about potential mergers and acquisitions are often a hot topic in the business press. Mergers and acquisitions can have advantages and disadvantages for a company because it has both rewards and risks. Companies want to have successful and profitable mergers that would have value to their shareholders. â€Å"One of the most common motives for mergers is growth. There are two broad ways a firm can grow. The first is through internal growth. This can be slow and ineffective if a firm is seeking to take advantage of a window of opportunity in which it has a short-term advantage over competitors. The faster alternative is to merge and acquire the necessary resources to achieve competitive goals† ( Google’s potential acquisition of Groupon would add value to the shareholders of both corporations, especially Groupon. The recent price per share for Google is $1,130. 18 and the recent price per share for Groupon is $11. 56. The Groupon company was a new company that made over one billion dollars in sale their first year in business. In 2010, when Groupon first started it was a new idea and a new site that offered daily deals. Google wanted to buy Groupon for six billion dollars but the deal â€Å"the daily-deals site that became the quickest firm to rack up $1 billion in sales and the second-quickest, behind video behemoth YouTube, to hit a $1 billion valuation. Online acquisitions didn’t get any bigger than this† (Sennett, 2012). The impact on Google shareholders would be a negative impact on their stock. For example, â€Å"there is also a perception in the market that Google would not acquire Groupon as it will have a negative impact on Google’s stock. This might be true for the shorter-term but not for the longer-term period as Groupon grows and delivers better performance† (Seeking Alpha, 2012). In addition, if Google was to acquire Groupon then Google will face tax losses. The impact on Groupon shareholders would add value to the company because Google would back it and the company could come up with more innovative ways to keep and attract new customers. The business concept for Groupon could lead to duplications by other businesses. Groupon stock would increase and the company could have made millions of dollars off a merger with Google, since Google is already a profitable company. The financial conditions of both corporations prior to the merger were outstanding. For example, Groupon had an annual revenue of more than $500 million and the company was estimated at $1. 4 billion. On the other hand, Google was already a successful company with shares of over $600. â€Å"Google Investors, however, seemed focused on Groupon’s valuation, which was estimated at 1. 4 billion during its last fund-raising round in April. Shares in Google fell 4. 5 percent, to $555. 71; the stock was battered by news that European regulators had opened an antitrust investigation† (Rusli, Worthham, 2010). Google and the Groupon Company would be more profitable if they remain separate companies because Google was already very successful. For instance, Groupon business model could be easily copied. In addition, Groupon expanded to fast, and their stock sold for over $20 then dropped to $13 in less than a year. For example, the leaders at Grouon wanted to grow the company as fast as possible, and then cash out on the company. â€Å"This was an outrageous offer for a company that had reported just $30 million in revenue for all of 2009, and any ordinary startup would have taken it. But Groupon’s growth in 2010 was off the charts, and bankers from Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs were salivating at the prospect of leading its public offering. Goldman chief Lloyd Blankfein made the trip to Chicago personally to woo Groupon. â€Å"The bankers broke out all these charts,† said a source familiar with the meetings. â€Å"They showed Eric a growth matrix that projected Groupon would be worth $25 billion in a few years. When he saw that, Google was toast† (Popper, 2013). Finally, a merger between Groupon and Google could take years because of the antitrust laws. An acquisition is successful when the company has a clear plan with specific objectives and a timeline to complete the deal. In addition, successful acquisitions also include a way to finance the acquisition whether it is equity financing, cash reserves, or debt financing. A merger is successful when there is effective communication, effective leadership, and clear objectives and planning. In addition, successful mergers also involves the elimination of power struggles and Potential pitfalls – might the combined entity actually be less profitable than either company operating independently? What are the risk factors with this potential acquisition? Explain and discuss financing options for financing mergers and acquisitions â€Å"Even though bidding firms will pay a premium to acquire resources through mergers, this total cost is not necessarily more expensive than internal growth, in which the firm has to incur all of the costs that the normal trial and error process may impose. While there are exceptions, in the vast majority of cases growth through mergers and acquisitions is significantly faster than through internal means† Apply principles of risk and valuation analysis to mergers and acquisitions

How to create a civilization

How to create a new civilization In the past, civilizations have been created. For example the Roman Empire was a very successful one. The Romans discovered many Ideas that we as a civilization, still use today. The empire did not appear over night. It took many years for It to obtain Its foothold In the world. To start building a collocation many people are needed for the task. People such as civil servants and workers are required.Call servants are seed to create a government that Is stable enough to create Jobs for people, keep the peace, and uphold laws. Workers are required to build buildings and service the city In any way necessary. These people will provide homes for the residence and public offices for the civil servants. Once there are basic buildings, a town center should be built so that people can gather for public speeches and other information they might need. A form of currency should also be created so that people can make money from the jobs that they do.The governm ent can use this currency to help the people start their lives. This currency would be used to buy and sell goods. Eventually this will create an economy. Once a stable city has been built, a voting system should be put in place to allow the people to vote on changes in the city. An example of a change would be that the people might want a new street put in. They would then be able to give a vote to the government which will then go with the majority of the votes. The government will have the choice to make a change or not make a change pending on their budget.Also the government will have to issue taxes to the residence of the city so they can have a stable amount of income. The poor will not how to create a civilization By Justine-Chasing very successful one. The Romans discovered many ideas that we as a civilization, still use today. The empire did not appear over night. It took many years for it to obtain its foothold in the world. To start building a civilization many people ar e needed for the task. People such as civil servants and workers are required.Civil servants are used to create a government that is stable enough to create Jobs for people, keep the peace, and uphold laws. Workers are required to build buildings and service the city in any way necessary. These people will provide homes for the residence and public offices for the civil servants. Once there are basic buildings, a town center should be from the Jobs that they do. The government can use this currency to help the people put in place to allow the people to vote on changes in the city. An example off

Biology Essay Research Paper Term paperPrinciples of

Biology Essay, Research Paper Term paper: Principles of Ecology 310L New Ecological Penetrations: The Application of Fractal Geometry to Ecology Victoria Levin 7 December 1995 Abstraction New penetrations into the natural universe are merely a few of the consequences from the usage of fractal geometry. Examples from population and landscape ecology are used to exemplify the utility of fractal geometry to the field of ecology. The coming of the computing machine age played an of import function in the development and credence of fractal geometry as a valid new subject. New penetrations gained from the application of fractal geometry to ecology include: understanding the importance of spacial and temporal graduated tables ; the relationship between landscape construction and motion tracts ; an increased apprehension of landscape constructions ; and the ability to more accurately exemplary landscapes and ecosystems. Using fractal dimensions allows ecologists to map carnal tracts without making an unwieldy flood of information. Computer simulations of landscapes provide utile theoretical accounts for deriving new penetrations into the coexistence of species. Although many ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an highly utile tool, non all concur. With all the new penetrations gained through the appropriate application of fractal geometry to natural scientific disciplines, it is clear that fractal geometry a utile and valid tool. New penetration into the natural universe is merely one of the consequences of the increasing popularity and usage of fractal geometry in the last decennary. What are fractals and what are they good for? Scientists in a assortment of subjects have been seeking to reply this inquiry for the last two decennaries. Physicists, chemists, mathematicians, life scientists, computing machine scientists, and medical research workers are merely a few of the scientists that have found utilizations for fractals and fractal geometry. Ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an highly utile tool for depicting ecological systems. Many population, community, ecosystem, and landscape ecologists use fractal geometry as a tool to assist specify and explicate the systems in the universe around us. As with any scientific field, there has been some discord in ecology about the appropriate degree of survey. For illustration, some being ecologists think that anything larger than a individual being obscures the world with excessively much item. On the other manus, some ecosystem ecologists believe that looking at anything less than an full ecosystem will non give meaningful consequences. In world, both positions are right. Ecologists must take all degrees of organisation into history to acquire the most out of a survey. Fractal geometry is a tool that bridges the # 8220 ; spread # 8221 ; between different Fieldss of ecology and provides a common linguistic communication. Fractal geometry has provided new penetration into many Fieldss of ecology. Examples from population and landscape ecology will be used to exemplify the utility of fractal geometry to the field of ecology. Some population ecologists use fractal geometry to correlate the landscape construction with motion tracts of populations or beings, which greatly influences population and community ecology. Landscape ecologists tend to utilize fractal geometry to specify, depict, and theoretical account the scale-dependent heterogeneousness of the landscape construction. Before researching applications of fractal geometry in ecology, we must foremost specify fractal geometry. The exact definition of a fractal is hard to trap down. Even the adult male who conceived of and developed fractals had a difficult clip specifying them ( Voss 1988 ) . Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s foremost published definition of a fractal was in 1977, when he wrote, # 8220 ; A fractal is a set for which the Hausdorff-Besicovitch dimension purely exceeds the topographical dimension # 8221 ; ( Mandelbrot 1977 ) . He subsequently expressed sorrow for holding defined the word at all ( Mandelbrot 1982 ) . Other efforts to gaining control the kernel of a fractal include the undermentioned quotation marks:# 8220 ; Different people use the word fractal in different ways, but all agree that fractal objects contain constructions nested within one another like Chinese boxes or Russian dolls. # 8221 ; ( Kadanoff 1986 )# 8220 ; A fractal is a form made of parts similar to the whole in some way. # 8221 ; ( Mandelbrot 1982 ) Fractals are # 8230 ; # 8221 ; geometric signifiers whose irregular inside informations recur at different scales. # 8221 ; ( Horgan 1988 ) Fractals are # 8230 ; # 8221 ; curves and surfaces that live in an unusual kingdom between the first and 2nd, or between the 2nd and 3rd dimensions. # 8221 ; ( Thomsen 1982 ) One manner to specify the elusive fractal is to look at its features. A cardinal feature of fractals is that they are statistically self-similar ; it will look like itself at any graduated table. A statistically self-similar graduated table does non hold to look precisely like the original, but must look similar. An illustration of self-similarity is a caput of Brassica oleracea italica. Imagine keeping a caput of Brassica oleracea italica. Now break off a big floweret ; it looks similar to the whole caput. If you continue interrupting off smaller and smaller flowerets, you # 8217 ; ll see that each floweret is similar to the larger 1s and to the original. There is, nevertheless, a bound to how little you can travel before you lose the self- similarity. Another placing feature of fractals is they normally have a non- whole number dimension. The fractal dimension of an object is a step of space-filling ability and allows one to compare and categorise fractals ( Garcia 1991 ) . A consecutive line, for illustration, has the Euclidean dimension of 1 ; a plane has the dimension of 2. A really jaggy line, nevertheless, takes up more infinite than a consecutive line but less infinite so a solid plane, so it has a dimension between 1 and 2. For illustration, 1.56 is a fractal dimension. Most fractal dimensions in nature are about 0.2 to 0.3 greater than the Euclidian dimension ( Voss 1988 ) . Euclidian geometry and Newtonian natural philosophies have been profoundly frozen traditions in the scientific universe for 100s of old ages. Even though mathematicians every bit early as 1875 were puting the foundations that Mandelbrot used in his work, early mathematicians resisted the constructs of fractal geometry ( Garcia 1991 ) . If a construct did non suit within the boundaries of the recognized theories, it was dismissed as an exclusion. Much of the early work in fractal geometry by mathematicians met this destiny. Even though early scientists could see the abnormality of natural objects in the universe around them, they resisted the construct of fractals as a tool to depict the natural universe. They tried to coerce the natural universe to suit the theoretical account presented by Euclidean geometry and Newtonian natural philosophies. Yet we all know that # 8220 ; clouds are non domains, mountains are non cones, coastlines are non circles, and bark is non smooth, nor does lightning go in a consecutive line # 8221 ; ( Mandelbrot 1982 ) . The coming of the computing machine age, with its sophisticated artworks, played an of import function in the development and credence of fractal geometry as a valid new subject in the last two decennaries. Computer-generated images clearly show the relevancy of fractal geometry to nature ( Scheuring and Riedi 1994 ) . A computer- generated coastline or mountain scope demonstrates this relevancy. Once mathematicians and scientists were able to see graphical representations of fractal objects, they could see that the mathematical theory behind them was non capricious but really describes natural objects reasonably good. When explained and illustrated to most scientists and non-scientists likewise, fractal geometry and fractals make sense on an intuitive degree. Examples of fractal geometry in nature are coastlines, clouds, works roots, snowflakes, lightning, and mountain scopes. Fractal geometry has been used by many scientific disciplines in the last two decennaries ; natural philosophies, chemical science, weather forecasting, geology, mathematics, medical specialty, and biological science are merely a few. Understanding how landscape ecology influences population ecology has allowed population ecologists to derive new penetrations into their field. A dominant subject of landscape ecology is that the constellation of spacial mosaics influences a broad array of ecological phenomena ( Turner 1989 ) . Fractal geometry can be used to explicate connexions between populations and the landscape construction. Interpreting spacial and temporal graduated tables and motion tracts are two countries of population ecology that have benefited from the application of fractal geometry. Different tools are required in population ecology because the declaration or graduated table with which field informations should be gathered is attuned to the survey being ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Insect motions, like works root growing, follow a uninterrupted way that may be punctuated by Michigans but the tools required to mensurate this uninterrupted tract are really different. Plant motion is measured by detecting root growing through exposure, insect motion by tracking insects with flag arrangement, and carnal motion by utilizing tracking devices on larger animate beings ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993, Shibusawa 1994, Wiens et Al. 1993 ) . Spatial and temporal graduated table are of import when mensurating the place scope of a population and when tracking carnal motion ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993, Wiens et Al. 1993 ) . Animal waies have local, temporal, and scale-specific fluctuations in tortuousness ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) that are best described by fractal geometry. The function of insect motion besides required usage of the proper spacial or temporal graduated table. If excessively long of a clip interval is used to map the insect # 8217 ; s advancement, the sections will be excessively long and the elaboratenesss of the insect # 8217 ; s motions will be lost. The usage of really short intervals may make unreal interruptions in behavioural moves and might increase the sampling attempt required until it is unwieldy ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Movement tracts are one of the chief features influenced by the landscape. Motion tracts are influenced by the flora spots and spot boundaries ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Root warp in a growth works is similar to an carnal tract being changed by the landscape construction. Waies of carnal motion have fractal facets. In a continuously changing landscape, it is hard to specify the country of a coinage # 8217 ; s home ground ( Palmer 1992 ) . Application of fractal geometry has given new penetrations into carnal motion tracts. For illustration, carnal motion determines the place scope. Because carnal motion is greatly influenced by the fractal facet of the landscape, place scope is straight influenced by the landscape construction ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Animal motion is non random but greatly influenced by the landscape of the place scope of the animate being ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Structural complexness of the environment consequences in Byzantine animate being tracts ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) , which in bend lead to ragged place scope boundaries. Gautestad and Mysterud ( 1993 ) found that place scope can be more accurately described by its fractal belongingss than by the traditional area-related estimates. Since limit of place scope is a hard undertaking and place scope can # 8217 ; t be described in traditional units like square metres or square kilometres, they used fractal belongingss to better depict the place scope country as a composite country use form ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Fractals work good to depict place scope because as the sample of location observation additions, the overall form of Thursday e place secret plans takes the signifier of a statistical fractal ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Fractal dimensions are used to stand for the tracts of beetling motion because the fractal dimension of insect motion tracts may supply penetrations non available from absolute steps of pathway constellations ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Using fractal dimensions allowed ecologists to map the tract without making an unwieldy flood of information ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Insect behaviour such as forage, coupling, population distribution, predator- quarry interactions or community composing may be mechanisticly determined by the nature of the landscape. The spacial heterogeneousness in environmental characteristics or patchiness of a landscape will find how organisms can travel about ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . As a beetle or an other insect walks along the land, it does non travel in a consecutive line. The beetle might walk along in a peculiar way looking for something to eat. It might go on in one way until it comes across a shrub or bush. It might travel around the shrub, or it might turn around and head back the manner it came. Its way seems to be random but is truly dictated by the construction of the landscape ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Another betterment in population ecology through the usage of fractal geometry is the mold of works root growing. Roots, which besides may look random, do non turn indiscriminately. Reproducing the fractal forms of root systems has greatly improved root growing theoretical accounts ( Shibusawa 1994 ) . Landscape ecologists have used fractal geometry extensively to derive new penetrations into their field. Landscape ecology explores the effects of the constellation of different sorts of environments on the distribution and motion of beings ( Palmer 1992 ) . Emphasis is on the flow or motion of being, cistrons, energy, and resources within complex agreements of ecosystems ( Milne 1988 ) . Landscapes exhibit non-Euclidean denseness and perimeter-to-area relationships and are therefore suitably described by fractals ( Milne 1988 ) . New penetrations on graduated table, increased apprehension of landscape constructions, and better landscape construction patterning are merely some of the additions from using fractal geometry. Troubles in describing and patterning spatially distributed ecosystems and landscapes include the natural spacial variableness of ecologically of import parametric quantities such as biomass, productiveness, dirt and hydrological features. Natural variableness is non changeless and depends to a great extent on spacial graduated table. Spatial heterogeneousness of a system at any graduated table will forestall the usage of simple point theoretical accounts ( Vedyushkin 1993 ) . Most landscapes exhibit forms intermediate between complete spacial independency and complete spacial dependance. Until the reaching of fractal geometry it was hard to pattern this intermediate degree of spacial dependance ( Palmer 1992, Milne 1988 ) . Landscapes present beings with heterogeneousness happening at a myriad of length graduated tables. Understanding and foretelling the effects of heterogeneousness may be enhanced when scale-dependent heterogeneousness is quantified utilizing fractal geometry ( Milne 1988 ) . Landscape ecologists normally assume that environmental heterogeneousness can be described by the form, figure, and distribution on homogenous landscape elements or spots. Heterogeneity can change as a map of spacial graduated table in landscapes. An illustration of this is a checker board. At a really little graduated table, a checker board is homogenous because one would remain in one square. At a somewhat larger graduated table, the checker board would look to be heterogenous since one would traverse the boundaries of the ruddy and black squares. At an even larger graduated table, one would return to homogeneousness because of the form of ruddy and black squares ( Palmer 1992 ) . An increased apprehension of the landscape structures consequences from utilizing the fractal attack in the field of distant detection of forest flora. Specific advantages include the ability to pull out information about spacial construction from remotely sensed informations and to utilize it in favoritism of these informations ; the compaction of this information to few values ; the ability to construe fractal dimension values in footings of factors, which determine concrete spacial construction ; and sufficient hardiness of fractal features ( Vedyushkin 1993 ) . Computer simulations of landscapes provide utile theoretical accounts for deriving new penetrations into the coexistence of species. Fake landscapes allow ecologists to research some of the effects of the geometrical constellation of environmental variableness for species coexistence and profusion ( Palmer 1992 ) . A statistically self-similar landscape is an abstraction but it allows an ecologist to theoretical account fluctuation in spacial dependance ( Palmer 1992 ) . Spatial variableness in the environment is an of import determiner of coexistence of rivals ( Palmer 1992 ) . Spatial variableness can be modeled by changing the landscape # 8217 ; s fractal dimension. The consequences of this computing machine simulation of species in a landscape show that an addition in the fractal dimension increases the figure of species per microsite and increases species habitat comprehensiveness. Other consequences show that environmental variableness allows the coexistence of species, lessenings beta diverseness, and increases landscape undersaturation ( Palmer 1992 ) . Increasing the fractal dimension of the landscape allows more species to be in a peculiar country and in the landscape as a whole ; nevertheless, highly high fractal dimensions cause fewer species to coexist on the landscape graduated table ( Palmer 1992 ) . Although many ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an highly utile tool, non all concur. Even scientists who have used fractal geometry in their research point out some of its defects. For illustration, Scheuring and Riedi ( 1994 ) province that # 8220 ; the failing of fractal and multifractal methods in ecological surveies is the fact that existent objects or their abstract projections ( e.g. , flora maps ) contain many different sorts of points, while fractal theory assumes that the natural ( or abstract ) objects are represented by points of the same kind. # 8221 ; Many scientists agree with Mandelbrot when he said that fractal geometry is the geometry of nature ( Voss 1988 ) , while other scientists think fractal geometry has no topographic point outside a computing machine simulation ( Shenker 1994 ) . In 1987, Simberloff et Al. argued that fractal geometry is useless for ecology because ecological forms are non fractals. In a paper called # 8220 ; Fractal Geometry Is Not the Geometry of Nature, # 8221 ; Shenker says that Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s theory of fractal geometry is invalid in the spacial kingdom because natural objects are non self-similar ( 1994 ) . Further, Shenker states that Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s theory is based on want and has no scientific footing at all. He conceded nevertheless that fractal geometry may work in the temporal part ( Shenker 1994 ) . The unfavorable judgment that fractal geometry is merely applicable to precisely self-similar objects is addressed by Palmer ( 1982 ) . Palmer ( 1982 ) points out that Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s early definition ( Mandelbrot 1977 ) does non advert self-similarity and therefore allows objects that exhibit any kind of fluctuation or abnormality on all spacial graduated tables of involvement to be considered fractals. Harmonizing to Shenker, fractals are eternal geometric procedures, and non geometrical signifiers ( 1994 ) , and are hence useless in depicting natural objects. This position is kindred to stating that we can # 8217 ; T usage Newtonian natural philosophies to pattern the way of a missile because the missile # 8217 ; s exact mass and speed are impossible to cognize at the same clip. Mass and speed, like fractals, are abstractions that allow us to understand and pull strings the natural and physical universe. Even though they are # 8220 ; merely # 8221 ; abstractions, they work rather good. The value of critics such as Shenker and Simberloff is that they force scientists to clearly understand their thoughts and premises about fractal geometry, but the critics go excessively far in demanding preciseness in an imprecise universe. With all the new penetrations and new cognition that have been gained through the appropriate application of fractal geometry to natural scientific disciplines, it is clear that is a utile and valid tool. The new penetrations gained from the application of fractal geometry to ecology include: understanding the importance of spacial and temporal graduated tables ; the relationship between landscape construction and motion tracts ; an increased apprehension of landscape constructions ; and the ability to more accurately theoretical account landscapes and ecosystems. One of the most valuable facets of fractal geometry, nevertheless, is the manner that it bridges the spread between ecologists of differing Fieldss. By supplying a common linguistic communication, fractal geometry allows ecologists to pass on and portion thoughts and constructs. As the information and computing machine age advancement, with better and faster computing machines, fractal geometry will go an even more of import tool for ecologists and life scientists. Some future applications of fractal geometry to ecology include clime mold, conditions anticipation, land direction, and the creative activity of unreal home grounds. Literature Cited Garcia, L. 1991. The Fractal Explorer. Dynamic Press. Santa Cruz. Gautestad, A. O. , Mysterud, I. 1993. Physical and biological mechanisms in animate being motion processes. Journal of Applied Ecology. 30:523-535. Horgan, J. 1988. Fractal Shorthand. Scientific American. 258 ( 2 ) :28. Kadanoff, L. P. 1986. Fractals: Where # 8217 ; s the natural philosophies? Physicss Today. 39:6-7. Mandelbrot, B. B. 1982. The Fractal Geometry of Nature. W. H. Freeman and Company. San Francisco. Mandelbrot, B. B. 1977. Fractals: Form, Chance, and Dimension. W. H. Freeman. New York. Milne, B. 1988. Measuring the Fractal Geometry of Landscapes. Applied mathematics and Computation. 27: 67-79. Palmer, M.W. 1992. The coexistence of species in fractal landscapes. Am. Nat. 139:375-397. Scheuring, I. and Riedi, R.H. 1994. Application of multifractals to the analysis of flora form. Journal of Vegetation Science. 5: 489-496. Shenker, O.R. 1994. Fractal Geometry is non the geometry of nature. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. 25:6:967-981. Shibusawa, S. 1994. Modeling the ramification growing fractal form of the corn root system. Plant and Soil. 165: 339-347. Simberloff, D. , P. Betthet, V. Boy, S. H. Cousins, M.-J. Fortin, R. Goldburg, L. P. Lefkovitch, B. Ripley, B. Scherrer, and D. Tonkyn. 1987. Novel statistical analyses in tellurian carnal ecology: dirty informations and clean inquiries. pp. 559-572 in Developments in Numeric Ecology. P. Legendre and L. Legendre, eds. NATO ASI Series. Vol. G14. Springer, Berlin. Turner, M. G. 1989. Landscape ecology ; the consequence of form on procedure. Annual Rev. Ecological Syst. 20:171-197. Vedyushkin, M. A. 1993. Fractal belongingss of forest spacial construction. Vegetatio. 113: 65-70. Voss, R. F. 1988. Fractals in Nature: From Characterization to Simulation. pp. 21- 70. in The Science of Fractal Images. H.-O. Peitgen and D. Saupe, eds. Springer- Verlag, New York. Wiens, J. A. , Crist, T. O. , Milne, B. 1993. On quantifying insect motions. Environmental Entomology. 22 ( 4 ) : 709-715. Thomsen, D. E. 1980. Making music # 8211 ; Fractally. Science News. 117:187-190.

A Miscommunication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Miscommunication - Essay Example In one particularly funny scene, the two are poring over video tape evidence and just as one of the pieces of information the are studying has Richard Castle quite frustrated that he tells her that they should "sleep on it". Misunderstanding what he meant, she gave him this look of wonder and bewilderment as she wondered about the sexual connotation of his statement. He reacts with a very funny "Separately. Katherine Beckett, I never..." before he walks away from her. Had Beckett been played as a male character, there would have been a lesser chance of miscommunication because, as a straight male, he would not have seen any double meaning to the statement Castle made. He would have understood it for what it actually meant. That there are these 2 tired people who have been working long and hard on a case and they need to take a break in order to be able to be able to properly analyze the evidence before them and interpret them properly. This scene in particular shows how miscommunicat ion can easily occur between people. It also leads us to understand that given a different set of circumstances, such as having 2 males in the scene instead of a male and female, would have totally changed the outcome of the scene. References Davis, Elizabeth (Writer) & Barret, David (Director). (2011). One Life To Lose (Television series episode). Marlowe, Andrew (Producer), Castle. Los Angeles CA: ABC Mangas, Luciana. Sneak Peeks: Castle 3.18 "One Life To Lose".

End of Module assesment work Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

End of Module assesment work - Assignment Example One similarity is that both articles are exploring the issues of school pupils and students, together with the problems that they face. One article examines how pupils in mixed secondary schools within the UK together with their teachers experience pupil voice. It problematizes the philosophy of pupil voice, examining the idea of young people being enabled to influence the outcomes of their own education, highlighting the need for them to speak out about issues concerning them. The other article explores the feelings of students towards the literary lessons in an academic year, together with their behavior towards it (Carter-Steel & Al-Hakim 2009). A difference occurs in that while one article is a study of the feelings of several students over a course of time, the other is just an article that examines the experiences of teachers and students about a certain issue, and it does not involve an actual study. The pupil voice article applies visual methods to find out how the pupilsâ₠¬â„¢ voice, discipline, and engagement are carried out within a school, while the primary classroom article applies an actual study of the pupils involved. It uses a typology of the pupils on a basis an analysis of the school policy’s documentation (Fisher 2011). ... The pupil voice article is a study of how secondary school students express their feelings and ideas to their teachers such that they will be heard and understood. It offers advice on how the pupils and students can do this in the best possible way. The primary classroom article on the other hand, explores the perception of the students towards their lessons and the academic year as a whole, providing examples of how they are dissatisfied with the learning process although they comply with the rules and regulations. This is an apparent similarity in scope that is present in the two articles (Fisher 2011). Perhaps the only difference in the scope of the two articles occurs in the study area explored. In the primary classroom article, its study involved only the pupils that are in year six of their primary education. Although it sampled over 100 pupils, it limited its study area to just a certain class year, as opposed to the pupil voice article. The pupil voice article has a wide stud y area that is an urban secondary school for students aged between 11 and 16 years old. This means that unlike the classroom article, it examines students of several class years, not just one, thus it has a wider sampling data (Carter-Steel & Al-Hakim 2009). Similarities and differences in paradigm Paradigm involves a set of forms all of them containing a certain theme. In the two articles, the common theme is the expression of pupils and students’ feelings while they are at school. Both articles explore this theme using several ways or forms, both of which have similarities as well as differences. One similarity in the forms is the use of study techniques and study methods, involving the examination of a certain group of pupils and students. The primary

Human Resource Management Master Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Human Resource Management Master - Case Study Example They have been, and continue to be, committed to Equal Opportunity Employment regardless of creed or any other factors that are not job related (Wall and Wood, 2005, 429-462). The company policy is to remove barriers to employment opportunities and to ensure that access to jobs is based strictly on an individual's competencies. Role of senior management and the line management (Wall and Wood, 2005, 429-462): The MAS Competencies represents the range of competencies that supports successful performance in job roles within the organization. It describes behaviours that will make a person competent and successful. MAS's competency framework (Noe, 2007, 4): Once the Induction program is completed the recruit will be directed to his/her respective department. The employee will first undergo on the job training for duration depending on the position and the department (Daft and Marcic, 2005, 145-327). During this period the employee is required to understand the core functions of the job. Thereafter he/she will undergo a further training on other departments, which are directly relevant to his / her day-to-day activities. The departmental manager and HR manager will identify duration and the schedule of this program. (Wall and Wood, 2005, 429-462) MAS being an ethical apparel manufacturer believe that the employees are the most valuable asset. Linea Aqua, as an SBU of MAS, offers a large number of reward schemes to its employees with the intention of uplifting their living standards and to motivate them to perform at best in their job role (Kane & Grant, 2009, 494-515). Transport, Food, Medical facilities, Scholarships to their children, EPF and ETF contributions are some of the basic hygiene factors that they offer (Schweiger and Sumners, 2007, 3-7). Apart from above, there are number of work/performance related reward schemes that Linea Aqua offers to

The Circular Economy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Circular Economy - Coursework Example It plans to implement practices that will streamline its production process and reduce its energy flows. It wants to achieve a circular economic model by which it can recycle and reuse its manufactured products to minimise its resource utilization as well as cost. Developing manufacturing facilities that use less energy and reduces emission will create greater sustainability as well as reduce the impact on the environment. It aims at procuring the used products from its customers at an agreed price or by offering them discounts on their new purchase. This will not only help the garden tools manufacturing company to reuse various structural and functional parts in the assembly of new equipments but will also market its strategy successfully which is aimed at long term sustainability. The gardener’s job became much easier in the year 1830 when first mechanical land mower was invented (Jenkins, 2015). Now days most of the land mowers are either powered by electricity or gas. It turns blades that either cut like scissors or rotate like a propeller in order to chop the grass. The gas mowers have rotary plates that spin horizontally on a vertical crank shaft. In order to make the blade housing which is called the deck, a machine first applies a lubricating chemical to sheet steel that is coiled when it first comes to the factory (Bralla, 2007). The chemical helps flatten the steel so that it is easier to cut the steel. A press is then used to perforate the sheet every 60 cm. After the press separates the sheet and rounds it off the corners a robotic arm is used to move each segment on to a dock (Koren, 2010). The 500 tonne press then bends the steel like steel foil in between two loads in order to give the steel its basic shape. A robot then leaves the oily deck with the suction cups and then they are moved to another press. The new machine trims the excess around the decks edges. Then

Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program within a Safety Assurance Research Paper

Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program within a Safety Assurance - Research Paper Example In the United States, they called Voluntary Safety Programs. In other words, they are particularly named Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA), Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA), Aviation Safety Action Partnership (ASAP), and Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Programs (VDRP) (Kelloway & Cooper, 2011). The absence of these "voluntary" programs, it would imply that the capacity for a specialist to have a fruitful SMS is restricted in that the reporting society and structure important to help and drive the motors of SMS (Safety Risk Management (SRM) and Safety Assurance (SA)) might not be set up. While these voluntary wellbeing projects are presently basically develop inside the U.s. Air transport industry their development has brought about information sources that, while extremely strong, are not organized to backing the framework wellbeing process that is so imperative for SMS to be fruitful or successful. As of now, the Safety Information being gathered inside the carriers brings about a colossal wellspring of information about the operation and the dangers/perils that are intrinsic inside. The accessibility of this data has become altogether in the previous 10-15 years. This is credited to the enormous endeavors of the business to create, push and secure these projects. The consequence has been an emotional change in mischance and episode anticipation. While it is difficult to demonstrate an immediate connection, the lethal mishap rate decrease in the previous 10 years, and the happenstance of the development and development of the Voluntary Safety Programs cant be released. It was resolved early that the simple some piece of the improvement of these projects was the obtaining of this data (in spite of the fact that any individual who has actualized one of these projects realizes that information securing is not an insignificant interest). What got obvious

Substance abuse among teens Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Substance abuse among teens - Article Example y get into substance abuse owing to peer pressure or just for the sake of pleasure, the long term consequences are extreme and thus, they must be educated on the issue which makes them direct stakeholders in the issue. Thus, both parents and their children as a family unit make an important stakeholder to the issue. For instance, if the child is indulged in the perils of substance abuse, it would be the family who will have to bear the brunt while the child is in rehab, also medical expenses would also be borne by the family. Thus, in any way, the family unit has the most stakes in the issue (Monty, Suzzane & Tracy 22-23). Similarly, the community of the teachers and instructors directly associated with these teenagers also has stakes in the issue since they will be ones looking after the well being of the community. Thus, as an institution these teachers, professors and instructors must also be directly engaged in a meaningful discussion since they understand the behavioral patterns of the issues well, which makes them stakeholders in the debate. On a macro level, the policy makers who are looking after the demand supply pattern of these drugs involved, and thus awareness over the issues is also significant for them. For instance, these policy makers have to be mindful of developing strategies over the age limit of legal availability of certain legalized drugs, similarly, of the level of taxation to be imposed on the purchase of such drugs. Thus, on a holistic level, advocates, community mobilzers, family units and other similar institutions stand to be significant stakeholders in this context. The study aims at addressing the gap in information specifically for the stakeholders identified. In other words, assessing substance abuse with a focus specifically on teenagers is the need of the time since the issue is now affecting stakeholders at a macro level. The paper will thus offer information for these stakeholders who are looking for figures and estimates in a

Tan Dun Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Tan Dun - Essay Example During the 1980’s Tan moved to New York City and enrolled in Cambridge University where he was educated in both classical and contemporary composition and music. From here Tan realized that he could take and combine all these musical influences and produce his own unique sense of style and form. Tan’s creative and broad works have left an everlasting mark on the world of music, distinctly reflecting his own concepts, ideas and individuality. Tan takes both western and eastern music and combines it with natural elements like paper, water, and wood producing a rich style of unique and exceptional composition. Some of Tan’s earlier and notable works are the Ghost Opera featuring a string quartet in 1994, Marco Polo an opera composed in 1995, and Symphony 1977: Heaven, Earth, Mankind an orchestra played in 1997 with bianzhong bells (â€Å"Tan Dun†). One of his most famous and praiseworthy works is the masterpiece for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for which he deservedly received an Oscar Award as the best original score. In 2003, Tan brought the world of western music to the rural villagers of Hunan is his performance of The Map. That same year he also premiered the Paper Concerto at the opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (â€Å"Tan Dun†).

Marketing an Introduction Essay Example for Free

Marketing an Introduction Essay Micro environment Marketing management their job is to build strong relationships with customers by creating customer value and satisfaction. But marketing managers cannot do this alone. Marketing success will require building relationships with other company departments, suppliers , marketing intermediaries , customers , competitors and various publics. The company Marketing managers must work closely with other company departments. Other departments have an impact on the marketing departments plans and actions. All of these functions must â€Å"think consumer†. Suppliers Suppliers form an important link in the company’s overall customer value delivery system. They provide the resources needed by the company to produce its goods and services. Supplier problems can seriously affect marketing. Rising supply costs may force price increases that can harm the company’s sales volume. Marketers build strong relationships with its suppliers. Marketing intermediaries Marketing intermediaries help the company to promote , sell and distribute its products to final buyers. Includes resellers , physical distribution firms , marketing services agencies and financial intermediaries. * Resellers : distribution channel firms that help the company find customers or make sales for them. These include wholesalers and retailers who buy and resell merchandise. * Physical distribution firms : Help the company to stock and move goods from their points of origin to their destinations. * Marketing services agencies : Marketing research firms , advertising agencies , media firms , and marketing consulting firms. * Financial intermediaries : Banks , credit companies , insurance companies and other financial institutions or insurance institutions against the risks associated with the buying and selling of goods. Today’s marketers know the importance of working with their intermediaries as partners. Competitors A company must provide greater customer value and satisfaction than its competitors do. Marketers need to do more than simply adapt to the needs of their customers. You need a strategy as a firm. Publics Public is any group that has an actual or potential interest in or impact on an organization’s ability to achieve its objectives. There are seven types of publics 1) Financial publics : This group influences the company’s ability to obtain funds 2) Media publics : This group carries news , features and editorial opinion. 3) Government publics : Management must take government developments into account. (Product safety , truth in advertising and other matters) 4) Citizen-action public : A company’s marketing decisions may be questioned by consumer organizations , environmental groups , minority groups and others. PR can help to stay in touch with consumers and citizen groups 5) Local publics : Relation with neighborhood residents and community organizations. 6) General public : The general public and their opinions and the company and their products 7) Internal publics : Workers , managers , volunteers and the board of directors. Customers Customers are the most important actors in the company’s micro environment. The main point is to serve the consumer and make them your customer. 1) Consumer market : Households and individuals 2) Business market :buy goods or services for further processing. 3) reseller markets : Buy goods or services to resell it at a profit 4) Government markets : Buy goods or services to produce publics services or transfer the goods to those who need them. 5) International markets : Buyers in other countries could be consumers , business , resellers and governments. Macro environment External factors that may be a threat to a company. There are 6 macro environmental elements: Demographic Demography is the study of human populations in terms of size , density , location , age , gender , race , occupation and other statistics. Demography has a huge impact on marketing because it involves people and people make up markets. The world ‘s large and highly diverse population poses both opportunities and challenges. Marketers have to keep a close watch on the demographic trends and developments in their markets , at home and abroad. Generations : * Baby boomers : Born between 1946-1964. One of the most powerful forces shaping the marketing environment. They have had many good years but now with a sharp decline in stock prices and home values , many baby boomers are now spending more carefully and planning to work longer. * Generation X : Born between 1965-1976. They lie in the shadow of the baby boomers. Not materialistic. First generation of parental divorce and working moms. â€Å"The MTV generation†. They are spending more carefully. Many companies are focusing one Generation X als target segment. * Millennials/Generation Y : Born between 1977-2000 This group includes several age cohorts Tweens (9-12) Teens (13-18) Young adults (19-32) With a big purchase power they are an attractive market for business. This generation is fluent with the digital technology. They don’t embrace technology , it is a way of life. Generational Marketing : Do marketers have to make different products for each generation ? Defining people by their birthdate may be less effective than segmenting them by their lifestyle , life stage or the common values they seek in products they buy. The traditional household has disappeared and marketers must increasingly consider the special needs of non-traditional households , because they are now growing more rapidly than traditional households. Each group has distinctive needs and buying habits. Geographic shifts : People move all the time. Such population shifts interest marketers because people in different regions buy differently. (Migration from North to South , East to West , City to suburban areas etc) Better educated population : The rising number of well educated people will increase the demand for quality products , books , magazines, travel , personal computers and internet services. Increasing diversity : Countries vary in their ethnic and racial make up. One nation has just one culture and another nation has loads of cultures within their own culture. Marketers have to take that in account nowadays. They make products to one or more groups. But it can also be differences in your sexual orientation that marketers take in account. Another diversity segment is for adults with disabilities. Marketers take advantage of opportunities in fast growing segments. Economic Environment Consists of factors that affect consumer purchasing power and spending patterns. Marketers must pay close attention to major trends and consumer spending patterns. Nations vary greatly in their levels and distribution of income. Some countries have industrial economies , which constitute rich markets for many different kinds of goods. Subsistence economies : They consume most of their own agricultural and industrial goods. In between are developing economies which can offer outstanding marketing oppurtunities for the right kind of products. Changes in income and spending : People could spend loads of money until the economic crisis showed up. The economic meltdown has been psychologically wrenching after a quarter century of prosperity. People live back to basic and adopted their lifestyle , and their spending pattern. Marketers are now trying to give people good quality for a good and fair price. Marketers should pay attention to income distribution as well as income levels. Changing consumer spending patterns : Consumers of different income levels have different spending patterns. Engel’s law : When the income increases , the percentage spent on food declines , the percentage spent on housing remains constant and the percentage spent on most other categories and that devoted to savings increase. Natural Environment Involves the natural resources that are needed as inputs by marketers or that are affected by marketing activities. Environmental concerns have grown the last three decades. Global warming is a hot issue. Marketers should be aware of several trends in the natural environment. First involves growing shortages of raw material such as water pollution and air pollution. Second is increased pollution : The industry will amost always damage the quality of the natural environment ( Chemical and nuclear wastes) Third trend is increased government intervention in natural resource management. One government cares more than the other. Today companies are developing strategies and practices that support environmental sustainability an effort to create a world economy that the planet can support indefinitely. The consumer responds with an increasing demand for environmental responsible products. Other companies are developing recyclable or biodegradable packaging , recycled materials and components , better pollution controls , and more energy-efficient operations. Technological environment The technological environment is perhaps the most dramatic force now , shaping our destiny. Technology has created miracles with medicines , surgery , electronics and internet. But also horrors as nuclear weapons m chemical weapons and assault rifles. The technological environment changes rapidly. New technologies creates new markets and opportunities. However every new technology replaces an old one. Marketers should keep themselves up to date or soon their products will be outdated. As products and technology become more complex , the public needs to know that these are safe. Thus the government agencies investigate and ban potentially unsafe products. Political and Social Environment Marketing decisions are strong affected by developments in the political environment. It consists laws , government agencies and pressure groups that influence or limit various organizations and individuals in a given society

Mid Term Review Essay Example for Free

Mid Term Review Essay 1. For each pair of terms, explain the differences in their meanings. A. Diffusion, osmosis Diffusion is the process where molecules move from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration. Osmosis is basically the same, but with water. B. cell division, mitosis Cell division is part of mitosis, when a cell splits into two. Mitosis has more steps than just cell division. C. facilitated diffusion, active transport Active transport is where a cell uses energy to move molecules. Facilitated diffusion is the same as diffusion, just when they pass through integral proteins. D. endocytosis, exocytosis Endocytosis is when useful nutrients are put into a cell. Exocytosis is when useful materials are removed from the cell. Multiple Choice: 2. Voltage sensitive channels help cells communicate by A. electrical signals B chemical stimuli C. binding to molecules D. insulin molecules 3. Cells sense chemical signals by using: A. hormones B. receptor proteins C. signaling messengers D. surface markers 4. The process by which water moves into and out of the cell is: A. facilitated diffusion B. osmosis C. active transport D. diffusion 5. A cell uses some of its energy to move molecules by A. osmotic pressure B. active transport C. diffusion D. osmosis 6. The sodium-potassium pump A. requires no energy B. moves potassium out of the cell. C. enables sugars to enter cells. D. works independently of channels. 7. Which is an example of active transport? A. sodium-potassium pump B. electron pump C. endocytosis D. facilitated diffusion 8. Particles too large to pass through protein channels in the cell membrane may enter the cell by: A. exocytosis B. selective transport C. endocytosis D. osmotic pressure 9. During mitosis: A. chromosomes are copied B. chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cell C. cytoplasm divides in half D. a new cell wall forms in the center of the cell. 10. If a cell has 8 chromosomes before cell division, how many chromosomes will each of the two new cells have at the end of cell division? A. 16 B. 8 C. 4 D. 32 11. During cell division in bacteria A. a circle of DNA is copied B. chromosomes coil and move C. the cell splits into 3 parts D. two new nuclei are formed Completion: 12. After mitosis, the cytoplasm of cells is pinched in half. In cells of plants, cell walls are formed. 13. If placed in water, a cell would swell and possibly burst due to osmotic pressure being too high. 14. A type of active transport system that uses light or chemical energy to move molecules that are required for cell metabolism is called the proton pump Short Answer: 15. What two helpful jobs are performed by the surface markers on cells? Cell markers tell your cells what type of cells they are and where they are to go, plus what type of cells they can join with. 16. Explain why animal cells do not burst due to osmotic pressure. When the amount liquid in the animal cell rises, the difference between that pressure and the osmotic pressure decreases. When the pressure levels even out, the cell intake stops. 17. Describe the events that result in the formation of two complete nuclei in a eukaryotic cell. This process is called mitosis and it has four phases, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. First, the cell breaks down and bound together at one point. Next, the chromosomes separate into two. Then, the plasma membrane of the cell pinches the middle of the cell so the entire cell can divide into two separate cells.

Students Perception Toward The Learning Of Ict Education Essay

Students Perception Toward The Learning Of Ict Education Essay The undersigned have examined the thesis entitled A comparison of students perception and satisfaction toward the learning of ICT employing blended learning and traditional face-to-face instruction at Satit Bilingual School of Rangsit University. presented by CARLOS J. VEGA, a candidate for the degree of Master of Science in eLearning Methodology and hereby certify that it is worthy of acceptance. Teachers all over the world design develop and implement innovative teaching methods in order to capture students interests. Sometimes these initiatives are also undertaken to address subject related issues. The author has encountered many problems in the teaching of ICT in the last 5 years. In this research, Blended Learning was implemented in primary school ICT lessons to measure students perception towards this approach. We have seen an increase in many countries on the use of ICT in schools. It seems schools are moving away from blackboards, a projector and a television to an increase on the use of the internet, interactive boards and e-learning. In England, for example, the government feels that it is critical that all schools are able to expand the use of ICT, so it is not only those who have access to these technologies the ones who benefit (DfEE 2001). Furthermore, very little studies have been done at the Primary School level as to the perception of students towards the use of e-learning and also the use of blended learning to teach the subject of ICT. This research is a way to demonstrate whether or not the use of Blended Learning in the teaching of ICT has any effect in the perception of Primary School students when learning the subject of ICT. Research Questions Is there a statistical difference between Thai primary school students perception towards the use of blended learning and the use of face to face instruction in ICT class? What is the students perception towards learning ICT using both traditional face to face and blended learning methods? Importance of the Study This research aims to explore the Primary school students perception towards learning an ICT course using Blended Learning vs Face to Face learning and examines the qualitative data gathered after the experiment. This type of research would be a pioneering research project at Satit Bilingual School of Rangsit University (SBS), Thailand for studying the efficiency and effectiveness of the Blended Learning system. This research compares Blended Learning with traditional face to face teaching in ICT class. The results of this study will be used to develop more effective Blended Learning systems. There is a trend in education to use technology as a means to enhance or, sometimes, teach entire courses fully online or as integration in the classroom. Some problems in a traditional classroom setting can be, lack of teacher attention, boredom, outdated knowledge, and inappropriateness for a diverse population (Gardiner, 1997; Hara Kling, 1999). Researchers support concepts such as active learning, student-centered principles, effective use of technology, and collaborative learning (American Psychological Association, 1997; Bonk and Kim, 1998). There are expectations that technology and e-learning will transform education. The demand for the use of technology in education and e-learning has affected developing countries in South East Asia, such as Thailand. Therefore, it is important for educators to explore students attitudes towards and experience of new technology such as Blended Learning. The authors problems stem from the teaching of ICT and the complexity of keeping students attention and interest while teaching two skills at the same time. The challenge with teaching ICT lies in that there are cognitive as well as psychomotor skills that need to be learned at the same time. It proves almost impossible to do both and keep the learners attention on the task. The authors experience is that in order to do both the lesson has to be constantly interrupted because it is too difficult for the students to remember all things taught, and also there are different levels of skills in the same classroom and it proves almost impossible to go at a pace that satisfies all students. There will always be ones that can keep up, ones that are slow and ones that do not understand at all. Assumption Blended Learning is a way to give students an opportunity to practice and learn the skills taught at the same time and at their own pace. Definition of Terms What is e-learning? ELearning is learning at all levels, be it formal or informal, that uses a network, wsuch as a intranet (LAN), WAN or the Internet, for the delivery of courses and learning. So, what is elearning? Very simply, elearning is utilizing technology to increase the effectiveness and accessibility of learning. This may include CD ROMs, or a discussion thread to enrich a regular classroom, or a course delivered completely online. All other terms related to learning are subsets of elearning. What is blended learning? Another term that is gaining currency is blended learning. This refers to learning models that combine traditional classroom practice with e-learning solutions. For example, students in a traditional class can be assigned both print-based and online materials, have online mentoring sessions with their teacher through chat, and are subscribed to a class email list. Or a Web-based training course can be enhanced by periodic face-to-face instruction. Blending was prompted by the recognition that not all learning is best achieved in an electronically-mediated environment, particularly one that dispenses with a live instructor altogether. Instead, consideration must be given to the subject matter, the learning objectives and outcomes, the characteristics of the learners, and the learning context in order to arrive at the optimum mix of instructional and delivery methods. What is Face to Face instruction? Face to face instruction refers to any learning where the instructor and the student are in the same classroom at the same time in a traditional classroom setting. The definition of traditional education varies greatly with geography and by historical period. The chief business of traditional education is to transmit to a next generation those skills, facts, and standards of moral and social conduct that adults deem to be necessary for the next generations material and social success (Dewey, 1938). As beneficiaries of this scheme, which educational progressivist John Dewey described as being imposed from above and from outside, the students are expected to docilely and obediently receive and believe these fixed answers. Teachers are the instruments by which this knowledge is communicated and these standards of behavior are enforced (Dewey, 1938). Historically, the primary educational technique of traditional education was simple oral recitation (Beck, 2009). In a typical approach, students sat quietly at their places and listened to one individual after another recited his or her lesson, until each had been called upon. The teachers primary activity was assigning and listening to these recitations; students studied at home. A test might be given at the end of a unit, and the process, which was called assignment-study-recitation-test, was repeated. In addition to its overemphasis on verbal answers, reliance on rote memorization (mindless memorization with no effort at understanding the meaning), and disconnected, unrelated assignments, it was also an extremely inefficient use of students and teachers time. It also insisted that all students be taught the same materials at the same point; students that did not learn quickly enough failed, rather than being allowed to succeed at their natural speeds. This approach, which had bee n imported from Europe, dominated American education until the end of the 19th century, when the reform movement imported progressive education techniques from Europe (Beck, 2009). CHAPTER II Hypothesis Students will have a positive attitude and have a preference towards the use of Blended Learning instead of face to face learning in the teaching of ICT. Background and Literature Review The increase in the use of technology has impacted our everyday lives and developing countries, such as Thailand, are also seeing an increase in the demand for use of technologies. The demand for the use of eLearning has increased. According to IDC Research, an increase of 30 percent in yearly spending on eLearning was expected by 2008, which is an increase from 14 billion dollars in 2004 (SmartPros, 2005). In Thailand, there is a target from the government to boost ICT literacy and computer use. A Smarter Thailand with Smarter People and a Smarter Government this is the main goal of Thailands second Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plan for 2009-2013, drafted by the National Electronic and Computer Technology Center. The initiative from the ICT Ministry in Thailand to encourage 50 percent of the population over the age of 15 to be ICT literate and be able to use computers in their everyday lives and enable to country to become a major competitor in the global market. According to Assoc Prof Dr Thanomporn Laohajaratsang, director of Chiang Mai Universitys Information Technology Service Centre, Progress in the use of ICT in education has been very slow and uneven. Its utilization lacks continuity in terms of government support, budget and professional development. (TAN, L. C., et al., 2009). In 1984, computers were introduced to Thailand in the study of mathematics. Studies show that the achievements of Thai students in the core subjects at both primary (prathom) and secondary (mathayom) schools were below the international averages. The findings prompted several education reforms, with ICT seen as an innovative intervention to help develop a knowledge-based society. (TAN, L. C., et al., 2009). The first ICT Master Plan in 2002 and the current ICT Master Plan are seen as instruments for providing vision and strategies for the use of learning technologies to improve the quality of education in the country. According to the vice-president of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching and Technology Dr Pornpun Waitayangkoon, the government in Thailand does not provide enough funds to meet the ICT needs. Also, the Ministry of Educations Model ICT Schools project aims to make student-centered learning a reality and the Cyber University project tries to provide more opportunities for distance higher education. To support these efforts, more online teaching and learning resources are encouraged and increased. A recent sample survey suggested the following issues for Thai educational professionals to contemplate (Unesco, 2003): Much of the current use of ICT in the classroom still focuses on the drill and practice type of learning. There would appear to be an inadequate basic infrastructure. Lack of technical support. Integration of ICT in the teaching of subjects has been weak. The absence of policies and management support. There is also a lack of research concerning the use of Blended Learning in primary school. Most research regarding online or Blended Learning focus on tertiary education institutions. Some research has been done in the teaching of various subjects with secondary school students. An example of this would be the development and research of the Getsmart website (Chandra et al., 2009). The study showed that the website enabled them to undertake learning activities at their own pace and convenience. The results of this study were positive towards the used of Blended Learning in a high school environment. However, this research represents the reason for further research. The students in this study were in high school and it focused on junior science and physics. This type of research is typical of the research found. There is no evidence to show if the use of Blended Learning is useful in a primary school environment and how it can be used in the teaching of the subject of ICT. Hybrid or blended learning environments seem to be less controversial than pure e-learning courses and less likely to be resisted by academic staff in the tertiary sector (Young, 2002; Bonk, Kim and Zeng, 2006). There is still a believe that a teacher relating to a student face to face is the simplest and least expensive way for a teacher to establish a relationship with the student (Fungaroli-Sargent, 2000). The pure e-learning proponents may now acknowledge the merits of a blended approach as the pure e-learning model may still be viewed with some skepticism. This move towards Blended Learning has happened quietly with most tertiary institutions adopting a blended approach to eLearning without great publicity. A study conducted in Taiwanese schools find that there was a direct correlation between student satisfaction in the face to face or real world classroom and enjoyment of the web-based learning, which implies that the right mix or blending can be satisfying to students (She an d Fisher, 2003). There is a need for a teacher present in the classroom to not only teach but entertain, convey enthusiasm, expertise, experience and context (Bersin, 2004), things that may be difficult to convey in a pure eLearning environment. Students appear to appreciate the face to face lectures by the teacher when they occur less frequently within a blended learning environment. This shows that a face to face environment is not necessarily the best or the standard by which everything should be measured. Depending on the course, the mix of face to face and online may differ. Allowing the teacher full control over their courses is important to allow the teacher to decide what is that best mix for his/her particular course (Young, 2002). Review of literature on online learning show that the research is mostly focused on the outcomes of learning rather than the process of learning (Cumming et al., 2002; Gudzial and Turn, 2000; Hara and Kling, 1999; Hendrinks and Maor, 2003). These types of research then focus, primarily, on quantitative data that measures scores and learning outcomes rather than how the learner interprets or views his learning experience. The author, therefore, is taking a qualitative approach to this research to observe and test a Blended Learning environment in a primary school setting to shed light on perception and experience of the blended learning and find an optimal mix for the learning of ICT. Blended Learning is a type of approach to eLearning. ELearning is the delivery of any learning by electronic means. E-learning involves the use of a computer or electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) in some way to provide training, educational or learning material. (Stockley 2003). There are different types of eLearning and these can be categorized by the students degree of interactivity, students time of presence and blending approach to name a few. For the purposes of this research, the author will take a blending approach to eLearning, meaning that it blends the approach using face to face as well as online learning. According to a report published by the Sloan Consortium entitled Blending In: The Extent and Promise of Blended Education in the United States, Blended Learning is divided into four types: Table 1: Types of Blended Learning (Sloan-C, 2007) Proportion of Content Delivered Online Type of Course Description 0% Traditional Content delivered either orally or written with no technology used. 1 to 29% Web Facilitated Essentially a face to face course that uses technology, such as a webpage, to post a syllabus or an assignment. 30 to 79% Blended Learning/Hybrid It blends face to face and online instruction. A substantial proportion is delivered through electronic means. 80% to 100% Online Most or all of the content is delivered online with little or no face to face meetings. A blended learning approach can combine face-to-face instruction with computer-mediated instruction. It also applies science or IT activities with the assistance of educational technologies using computer, cellular or iPhones, Satellite television channels, videoconferencing and other emerging electronic media. Learners and teachers work together to improve the quality of learning and teaching, the ultimate aim of blended learning being to provide realistic practical opportunities for learners and teachers to make learning independent, useful, sustainable and ever growing (Graham, 2005). Conceptual Framework This research attempts to find if a students learning experience in ICT is affected by the use of face to face vs blended learning in the teaching of ICT. Independent variables: Blended learning instruction in ICT class. Face to Face learning instruction in ICT class. Dependent variables: Students perception towards the use of blended learning in ICT. Students perception towards the use of face to face instruction in ICT. Students perception towards the learning experience in ICT. The following is a schematic representation of the variables. The aim is to investigate students perception of their learning in ICT using two different delivery methods, Face to Face instruction and Blended Learning. Then, gather qualitative data to determine if the method of delivery influences their perception of the learning experience in ICT class. Figure 1: Conceptual Framework underlying the relationship between variables. Perception of the learning experience in ICT class Perception of the learning experience using blended learning in ICT class Blended Learning instruction in ICT. Perception of the learning experience using face to face learning in ICT class Face to face instruction in ICT. CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY CHAPTER IV RESULTS CHAPTER V CONCLUSION REFERENCES American Psychological Association (1997). Learner-centered psychological principles: A framework for school redesign and reform. http://www.apa.org/ed/lcp.html 2/9/2003. Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) 2001 Curriculum Online a consultation paper. DfEE, London Beck, Robert H. (2009). The Three Rs Plus: What Todays Schools are Trying to Do and Why. U of Minnesota Press. pp.  3-6. Bersin, J. (2004) The blended learning book: Best practices, proven methodologies, and lessons learned, Pfeiffer, San Francisco. Bonk, C., Kim, K. J., and Zeng, T. (2006) Future directions of blended learning in higher education and workplace learning settings. In C. Bonk and C. Graham, The handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives local designs. San Francisco: Pfeiffer, 550-567. Cummings, J. A., Bonk, C. J. and Jacobs, F. R. (2002). Twenty-first century college syllabi: Options for online communication and interactivity. The Internet and Higher Education, 5 (1), 1-19. Dewey, John (1938). Experience and education. Kappa Delta Pi. pp.  1-5. Fungaroli Sargent, C. (2000) Traditional degrees for non-traditional students: How to earn a top diploma from Americas great colleges at any age, Farrar, Straus Giroux, New York. Gardiner, L. F. (1997). Producing dramatic increase in student learning: Can we do it? National Teaching and Learning Forum, 6 (2), 8-10. Graham, C. R. (2005). Blended learning systems: Definition, current trends, and future directions.. in Bonk, C. J.; Graham, C. R.. Handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives, local designs. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer. pp. 3-21. Gudzial, M., and Turns, J. (2000). Effective discussion through a computer-mediated anchored forum. The Journal of Learning Science, 9 (4), 437-69. Gunawardena, C. N., Lowe, C.A., and Anderson, T. (1997). Analysis of an online global debate and the development of an interaction analysis model for examining social construction of knowledge in computer conferencing. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 17 (4), 397-431. Hara, N., and Kling, R. (1999). Students Frustrations with Web-Based Distance Education Courses. http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue4_12/hara/index.html 1/10/2003. Hara, N., Bonk, C. J., and Angeli, C. (2000). Content analysis of online discussion in an applied educational psychology course. Instructional Science, 28 (2), 115-52. Hendriks, V., and Maor, D. (2003). Qualitative methods in evaluating the quality of online learning. World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunication. http://dll.aace.org/13307 7/9/2003 Ramage, T.. (2001). The No Significant Difference Phenomenon: A Literature Review. e-Journal of Instructional Science and Technology . 5 (1) She, H. C. and Fisher, D. (2003) Web-based e-learning environments in Taiwan: The impact of the online science flash program on students learning, In M.S. Khine D. Fisher, Technology-rich learning environments: A future perspective, Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, 343-365. SmartPros Editorial Staff. (7 January 2005 ). E-learning Demand to Double in 2005. Available: http://accounting.smartpros.com/x46477.xml. Last accessed 17 February 2010. TAN, L. C., MANOWALAILAO, R. (2009 , July 28). Bangkok Post. A smarter Thailand through ICT , p. 1. Unesco, (2003). Strengthening ICT in Schools and SchoolNet Project in the ASEAN Setting,Experts Meeting for Documenting Experiences in the Use of ICT in Education and SchoolNet Operations: 7-8 July 2003. University of Minesota, Duluth. (11 February 2010). Web Design Glossary. Available: http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/support/Training/Online/webdesign/glossary/i.html. Last accessed 17 February 2010. Young, J. R. (2002) Hybrid teaching seeks to end the divide between traditional and online instruction, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 48, 28, A33-A34. Appendix A Type or paste your appendices here. Appendices are a place to organize and include all of the extra material that is important to your research work but that is too detailed for the main text. Examples can include: specific analytical methods, computer code, spreadsheets of data, details of statistical analyses, etc. But, these materials do not speak for themselves. There should be a reference to these materials from the main chapters (complete details included in Appendix A) and there should be some text at the beginning of each appendix to briefly explain what the information is and means that is included in that appendix.

ADHD Prescription Abuse at Northeastern :: College Study Drugs Education Essays

ADHD Prescription Abuse at Northeastern Northeastern middler Gary Brown* reclines his small frame on a couch in his Mission Hill apartment. He looks like a patient on a psychiatrist's couch as he dictates his history of abuse with Ritalin and Adderall. â€Å"I started going to concerts with a friend who had a prescription and whose nickname was Bradderall,† Brown said. Ritalin and Adderall are prescription drugs commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Brown has never been diagnosed with ADHD but he started taking the drugs recreationally as a college freshman to have energy for concerts and for partying into the early morning hours. Soon after, Brown began taking Ritalin to study for exams. Brown was taking the pills about six times a week. â€Å"It’s pretty easy to get,† Brown said. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) cites Ritalin, or Methylphenidate, as a central nervous system stimulant that has a focusing and calming effect on children and adults diagnosed with ADHD. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 3–5% of the general population has ADHD, which is characterized as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. This statistic indicates that one child in every classroom in America has ADHD. But Brown is not part of this 3-5% of the population. For Brown and others without the disorder, ADHD medications increase dopamine levels in the brain, giving the user a sense of euphoria similar to cocaine. Students at Northeastern University as well as other campuses are consuming these drugs for better academic performance and a cheap high on the college party scene. Students are taking Ritalin, Addrall, and the newest drug on the market, Conserta, either orally or crushing and snorting them to study, party, or lose weight. In some cases, kids are melting them down and shooting them up. According to Northeastern students, the drugs are very cheap and very accessible. â€Å"Drugs like Adderall, Ritalin, and Conserta that make you focused and industrious can be very useful,† said Jeff Smith*, a Northeastern student. Like Brown, Smith had never taken these prescriptions commonly called â€Å"study drugs† before coming to college. Smith cites increasing academic pressure as a reason for using the pills to focus and gain an edge. Both Brown and Smith receive free pills from their friends who have prescriptions but they would expect to pay $2-$5 a pill if they had to. In 2000 , NIDA’s Community Epidemiology Work Group found the abuse of methylphenidate (Ritalin) in Boston to be prevalent amongst middle and high school students; especially in middle- and upper-middle class communities.

Humang Genome Project :: Science Genetics Technology Papers

Humang Genome Project The Human Genome Project (HGP) is an internationally collaborative venture to identify and mark all the locations of every gene of the human species. The HGP in the United States was started in 1990 and was expected to be a fifteen year effort to map the human genome. There have been a number of technological advances since 1990 that have accelerated the progress of the project to a completion date sometime during the year 2003. The U.S. HGP is composed of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) which hopes to discover 50,000 to 100,000 human genes and make them available for further biological study (1). There are a number of other countries that are involved in the project, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom (1). Besides numerous countries involved in the project there is also a number of commercial companies that are involved in sequencing (6). The collaborative 3 billion dollar price tag will be us ed to sequence the possible 3 billion DNA base pairs of human DNA. The possibilities from the information that will be obtained from the project are virtually endless. It will most likely change many biological and medical research techniques and many of the practices used by our medical professionals today. The knowledge that will be obtained will help lead to new ways of diagnosing, treating, and possibly preventing diseases. Through the discovery of the human genome, the possibilities are endless for agriculture, health services, and new energy sources also. The end result of the HGP will be information about the structure, function and organization of DNA, as we know it today. Technical Aspects of HGP There are a number of goals that have been set forth by the HGP that they hope to have finished by their completion date in 2003. One of the first goals of the project is to identify the 50,000 to 100,000 genes that are found in DNA (2,3,4). The second goal of the HGP is to sequence the 3 billion chemical bases that make up human DNA. DNA sequencing is the process of determining the order of the chemical building blocks "bases" that make up the DNA of the human chromosome. This information will then be stored into a large database so that information can be used by other individuals'. The HGP hopes to then be able to develop tools for the analysis of this data.

Van Goghh - There Are Several Van Goghs :: essays research papers

Art historian Griselda Pollock, in her documentary entitled The Legend of van Gogh, stated that ‘there are several van Goghs.’ To agree or disagree with this statement, one must firstly understand the point Pollock is attempting to get across. One could interpret this opinion as meaning that there are various artistic styles and several facets of van Gogh’s life that can be critically analysed; having this understanding of Pollock’s attitude toward van Gogh, it would be difficult not to agree with her. Using phraseology similar to that of Pollock, one could say that there are four van Goghs: the failing peasant, the successful sophisticate, the eccentric meaningful lover, and the van Gogh of the present day. All who have knowledge of the artist would know how complex his life was, and so it is not incredible to believe that he was all these things during his relatively short life. (Born in 1853, he died at the age of only 37, in 1890.) An alternate definition of Pollock’s statement is the following: He was prolific and protean: He was a scholar and a sufferer, an art-world pro and a destitute outsider, an evangelical bohemian, both sordid and sublime. There are as many ways to see his pictures as there are ways to read his life. Some are stolid brown and gray. Others seem to detonate in a shrapnel burst of color, as if his world had begun to fly apart. Some are piercingly original. Others closely imitate other artists' art. Apparent in these paintings – from "Van Gogh's Van Goghs: Masterpieces From the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam" – are the combustible components that he mixed in his art. Firstly, van Gogh as the failing peasant. Van Gogh was not always a painter; although many claim he realised his artistic potential early in life , he did not seriously consider devoting his life to it (de Grausen , Eurie ). There is little known information about the artists first fifteen years, yet it is possible to find out the basics: after a few years of education in Holland, he left his studies at the age of 15, and never returned to them. In 1869, he joined a firm of art dealers in The Hague, called Goupil & Cie. (The van Gogh family had been involved in the art world for many years: both Vincent’s uncles, Cornelius and (Vin)Cent were art dealers, as was, of course, Vincent’s brother Theo.

Dickens’s other novels Essay

This passage shows how Joe is willing to inconvenience himself, and make himself look stupid, to protect what he has with Pip. The fact that the hat will never stay where Joe puts it highlights the precariousness of the relationship, and shows that try as he might, there are other forces, namely Pip’s expectations, working against him to ruin the relationship. â€Å"†¦ finally splashing it into the slop-basin, where I took the liberty of laying hands upon it. † (p183) The hat ending up in the slop basin is symbolic of how the relationship has broken down. And Pip finally picking it up and taking it away from Joe, is symbolic of Pip not wanting Joe to keep trying to save it. This incident is an example of how humour is combined with symbolism in Great Expectations to convey a serious message to the reader in a light-hearted, unsentimental manner. The effect of this is entertaining the reader whilst at the same time giving them deeper insight into the important relationships in the story. Dickens uses understatement to create humour in the opening of the book. When the convict says ‘Darn me if I couldn’t eat (Pip’s cheeks), Pip ‘earnestly expressed (his) hope that he wouldn’t. This creates humour because obviously Pip would be more adamant about not being eaten alive. This light-hearted portrayal of the situation diffuses the tension of a potentially terrifying moment, allowing the reader to feel less concerned for Pip, and therefore less afraid of the convict. This prepares us to like the convict later in the story. Wemmick, the dry lawyers clerk who leads a double life as the whimsical architect and smallholder at Walworth, provides a lot of the humour in the novel though his eccentric behaviour. He refers to his profoundly deaf father, as ‘the Aged’ there are several comic scenes in which Pip and Wemmick nod exaggeratedly at him as a means of communication. Wemmick, his Walworth home and his humorous ways are used to diffuse tension. For example, Wemmick’s rushed marriage to Miss Siffkins is sandwiched between the Magwitch’s capture and his trial. Dickens also uses irony to entertain and engage the reader, and point to some of themes of the novel. The first obvious example of irony is about Mrs Joe Gargery. She has taken her husbands names, and this is usually a symbol that a wife is her husband’s property. However, their relationship is completely the opposite, and he treats Joe as no more than a child. This reverts the typically stereotype that women are more weak-willed than men are. Satis house is also ironically named. It means enough, and is the root of the word satisfaction. However there can be no satisfaction there for Miss Havisham, Estella or Pip. Dickens uses the mists as a metaphor for Pip’s mind. When he is about to leave for London, he says, â€Å"the mists had all solemnly risen now and the world lay spread before me† (p152), it shows that in Pip’s mind, everything has been resolved, and he is on his way to where he belongs. There are many themes interlaced with the story. Firstly that of class and what makes a true ‘gentleman’. Pip associates being a ‘gentleman’ with having money. However through the characters in the story, Dickens shows that this is not true. Bentley Drummle is rich, yet has many undesirable characteristics. He is Pip’s nemesis. Herbert Pocket on the other hand is poor, but Pip admires and loves him. Miss Havisham also represents a paradox in Pip’s world of money = happiness. She is extremely rich; however, her money is the worst thing that happened to her. It is the reason Compeyson started a relationship with her and then broke her heart. Through the story, Pip learns that money is not the most important thing in the world, when he accepts the convict as his benefactor and friend. Another theme central to the novel is that of justice. Justice is always done. Joe behaves admirably throughout the novel, and Pip does not. In the end Joe is rewarded by winning Biddy. Estella mocks Pip for being common and breaks his heart. However, she marries Drummle who treats her badly, and in the end it is she, with a convict as a father, who is of the lowest class. Compeyson and Magwitch are both criminals, but Compeyson is by far the worse of the two. They both die, as penance for their crimes, but Compeyson’s death is horrific and painful, whereas Magwitch’s is a more dignified affair. Another theme is that pride and revenge are destructive. Miss Havisham sets out to destroy the male sex, but in the end only ruins the lives of two females, her and Estella. The historical context is another reason why Great Expectations is a great novel. Britain had just undergone an industrial revolution, which had widened the gap between the rich and urban dwelling poor. A similar situation in France had led to a political revolution. The British authorities were mindful of this and thus imposed a harsh regime – executions and transportations were commonplace. Dickens felt that this was wrong, so one of the ‘good’ characters in the story was executed to highlight this and the law that transported convicts were not allowed to return is one of the obstacles in the story. Dickens own family situation is also shown in the novel, which makes it not only entertaining, but also informative and reliable. His father was a criminal and Dickens spent some of his childhood living in a debtor’s prison. This gave him an unfavourable impression of the British justice system and this is shown in the novel when Pip first comes to London, and sees the gallows and the prison. Also, Jaggers is the main exponent of the law and he is cold and unforgiving. So in conclusion, Dickens combines complex characters, a wide range of underlying themes and many literary techniques with other things to create a successful novel. These wide ranges of techniques and devices help the play to engage the audience on many different levels, by stimulating them verbally, emotionally and intellectually. The novel also entertains and informs at the same time. Although, for analytical purposes, I have divided these things up, the reader responds to them as a whole and they all work together to make an impact. However, literature, by definition is an art. So although great Expectations is technically a good novel, due to the subjective nature of the literature, it is up the individual whether they enjoy it or not, and whether they prefer it to any of Dickens’s other novels.

Definition of Lyric Poetry

Definition of Lyric Poetry Lyric Poetry consists of a poem, such as a sonnet or an ode, that expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet. The term lyric is now commonly referred to as the words to a song. Lyric poetry does not tell a story which portrays characters and actions. The lyric poet addresses the reader directly, portraying his or her own feeling, state of mind, and perceptions. â€Å"Italian Sonnet† by James DeFord, written in 1997: Turn back the heart you've turned away Give back your kissing breathLeave not my love as you have left The broken hearts of yesterday But wait, be still, don't lose this way Affection now, for what you guess May be something more, could be less Accept my love, live for today. Written by William Shakespeare: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is h is gold complexion dimmed, And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed. Poem by Emily Dickinson named â€Å"I Felt a Funeral in my Brain. † It describes a person who is going insane, or thinks they are: I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro Kept treading – treading – till it seemed That Sense was breaking through – And when they all were seated, A Service, like a Drum -Kept beating – beating – till I thought My Mind was going numb – And then I heard them lift a Box And creak across my Soul With those same Boots of Lead, again, Then Space – began to toll,As all the Heavens was a Bell, And Being, but an Ear, And I, and Silence, some strange Race Wrecked, solitary, here – And then a Plank in Reason, broke, And I dropped down, and down – And hit a World, at every plunge, And Finished knowing – then – Nonsense Poetry Nonsense poetry is a for m of poetry that many people are familiar with, even if they didn’t know they were reading nonsense poetry. The many limericks (both family friendly, and otherwise) that people have read and heard over the years are a form of nonsense poetry.The works of Edward Lear are some of the finest examples of the form. So are the many classic nursery rhymes that we read to our children. Sometimes the language doesn’t make obvious sense and other times the stories being told seem impossible or illogical. Either case can be a technique for writing nonsense poetry. Many of the works of Lewis Carroll are classics of the form. Ronald Dahl is another writer who has entertained us with his strange tales. Words such as silly, strange, bizarre, illogical, whimsical, and fantastic are often used to describe nonsense poems.