Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Information Systems Increases Revenue free essay sample
According to a research project completed by CFO Research Services, a Senior Vice President of a large U. S-based global services firm stated, ââ¬Å"The CFO should always allow IT organization to innovate, to experiment, and [should] understand that there is financial risk associated with innovation. Not every IT investment will have an ROI, but allowing IT to be thought leaders is imperative in todayââ¬â¢s evolving technology landscape. â⬠Therefore, technology and IT is central to building relationships with customersââ¬â¢ thereby increasing revenue for the company. The research project also noted that business intelligence, mobility, and cloud computing will be the most important technologies for business over the next three years. Using technology is difficult in today because it is constantly evolving. According to the research conducted by CFO Research Services, it states that ââ¬Å"old models based on enterprise silos are giving way to a new hybrid ââ¬â business technology ââ¬â as IT organizations, finance functions, and business operations alike acknowledge you canââ¬â¢t have one without the other. By increasing the integration of advance technology to its fullest potential a company can accurately and effectively meet the customerââ¬â¢s needs and operate efficiently, thereby increase revenue. In order for companies to build relationships with their customers they must be able to gain the customers trust. According to Jean-Pierre Lauzier of Jean-Pierre Lauzier Communications, ââ¬Å"trust is based on a feeling, in impression or a perception ââ¬â meaning something intangible ââ¬â and is not based on anything rational or logical. Studies have shown that 15% of a customerââ¬â¢s trust in [a company] comes from the [companyââ¬â¢s] technical competency, and 85% from the [companyââ¬â¢s] human qualitiesâ⬠¦ To build trust it must be natural and authentic. â⬠In order for a company to effectively build trust with a customer they have to make the customer feel that they know them and are sincerely interested in helping them. One great way for a company to do this is through the use of Customer Relationship Management software (CRM). According to Dr. Ruth N Bolton, ââ¬Å"CRM is a strategic approach concerned with creating improved shareholder value through the development of appropriate relationships with key customers and customer segments. CRM unites the potential of relationship marketing strategies and IT [information technology] to create profitable, long-term relationships with customers and other key stakeholders. CRM provides enhanced opportunities to use data and information to both understand customers and co-create value with them. This requires a cross-functional integration of processes, people, operations and marketing capabilities that is enabled through information, technology and applications. â⬠Therefore it is the CRM system that makes it possible for a company to effectively and efficiently communicate with any number of customers so that each customer feels unique. At a high level companies interact with their customer in four ways: Strategic Marketing, Pricing and Revenue Optimization, Tactical Marketing, and Customer Experience Management. Successful companies are efficient and effective in all four categories. Customer Relationship Management software make this possible. CRM provide detailed information about a customerââ¬â¢s interactions with the company as well as analytical information geared to enable the company to successfully provide tactical marketing and enhance the customer experience. They do this by allowing a company to track and record all of the customerââ¬â¢s interaction with the company so that the company can customize their interaction with the customer based on the customerââ¬â¢s previous behavior. According to a Computerworld survey in 1996, companies implement CRM systems in order to 1) increase customer retention, 2) respond to competitive pressures and 3) improve customer service. CRM systems are able to also reduce company costs by reducing employees time spent with customers by eliminating repetitive tasks that might be required if the company did not have a CRM system. For example, when a customer is transferred from one customer service representative to another the CRM system would transfer all customer information and conversation notes so that the employee does not have to waste time asking all the same questions that the first representative asked before being able to attempt to help the customer. However, CRMââ¬â¢s primary focus is to create higher revenue by helping companies build a larger percentage of loyal customers through the use of building trust and relationships with their current and future customers. Acquiring new customers is extremely costly for a company. Surveys have shown that it could cost a company six times more to acquire a new customer than to keep a current customer. Not only that, but if a company is able to build a loyal customer base those loyal customers are worth much more than their own personal purchase volume. A loyal customer is likely to share their experience with others about companies that they are very loyal to and have a close relationship with. Therefore, the company is able to acquire repeat sales to the current customer and able to obtain new customers without any additional cost required to try to attract a new sales and customers. In addition, it has also been shown that it is 16 times easier to sell to an existing customer than it is to sell to a new prospective customer. Therefore, CRM systems recognize the long-run value in potential and current customers. Building customer relationships also require companies to communicate effectively with customers in a multitude of different methods. In todayââ¬â¢s environment people are constantly connected and on the go. Companies need to be able to meet the customerââ¬â¢s needs when and how the customer want their needs met. Therefore, it is imperative for companies to offer multiple avenues for customers to communicate with them. Some of those methods include the ways for the older generation such as via the telephone and letters know now days as ââ¬Å"snail mailâ⬠. However new technology methods are now being required such as through the companyââ¬â¢s website, e-mail, and Social Customer Relationship Management system (SCRM). According to Chris Bucholtz of CRM Outsiders, Social Customer Relationship Management is ââ¬Å"the response of businesses to the advent of social media and the eager adoption of the new communications channels by B2B [Business to Business] and B2C [Business to Customer] buyers alike. It creates a new environment for customer conversations, a new opportunity to learn about customers, and a new opportunity to engage, build peer-to-peer relationships and strengthen brand perception. â⬠He goes on to state that SCRM is more of a strategy than a process or product. It can include many different technology platforms and tools. CRM is the foundation of SCRM and not a replacement for CRM. A company must have a good CRM in place in order to effectively utilize SCRM. According to Bucholtz, the definition of Social CRM ââ¬Å"is a philosophy and a business strategy, supported by a technology platform, business rules, workflow, processes and social characteristics, designed to engage the customer in a collaborative conversation in order to provide mutually beneficial value in a trusted and transparent business environment. Itââ¬â¢s the companyââ¬â¢s response to the customerââ¬â¢s ownership of the conversation. This definition simply states that it is about people (customers) interacting with people (businesses) and not people (customers) interacting with machines. Due to new technology and people having unique styles of communication, SCRM is about businesses using social media in order to best meet the needs of the customers in the best style of communication for each unique customer. Social media comprises of various online technology tools and can include: text, audio, video, podcasts, and various social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Google+. Social Media can increase revenue and growth of a company by 60% versus only 8% for companies that do not use social media, according to Daya Baran on PRWeb. com. The article goes on to state that ââ¬Å"consumers are spending more time and conducting more business online and businesses that have incorporated social media are reaping the benefits as they are gaining visibility with the consumer across the entire online purchase cycle. Social media technologies are fundamentally changing the sales, marketing and operations process. It is redefining the way businesses acquire customers, generate leads, creates competitive differentiation, customer response, branding and manage crisis. â⬠Therefore, Social CRMââ¬â¢s aim is to enhance the customerââ¬â¢s experience and relationship thereby building loyalty with the company. And as we have already discussed, a customerââ¬â¢s loyalty is worth much more than their customersââ¬â¢ individual value thus increasing revenue for the company. Another customer relationship building mechanism is Customer Experience Management. The e-zine, Customer Experience Exchange, states that companies sometime have a hard time seeing what they look like in the customerââ¬â¢s eyes therefore companies have to invest in technology tools to inject that accurate outside-in view from customers. In the past, companies spent much effort on ensuring the share holders were happy rather than customers. Now with new social media outlets customers are able to make themselves heard to companies much easier than ever before. Take for example the recent backlash that millions of Bank of America customers showed when Bank of America announced they were going to implement a new $5. 0 debit card fee. Never before have we seen customers be able to so quickly pull together and force big corporations to think twice before acting. Bank of America was in jeopardy of losing over 300,000 customers if they did not listen closely. Another company that needed to listen to their customers was Netflix. Netflix issued a price increase of 60% to subscribers that wanted both online streaming of movies and home DVDââ¬â¢s. This cause Netflix to lose more than 200,000 subscribers which in turn made Netflix CEO offer a public apology to customers and eliminate their original plan of separating the two companies. With all this being said, it can be seen how imperative it is to a company to be able to attentively listen to their customers. Without an attentive ear and without a company being focused on Customer Experience Management, a company will have difficulty growing and increasing revenue. Anna Fiorentino, of Customer Experience Exchange stated that in order to develop the best customer experience through CEM systems companies not only need to listen as shown in the Bank of America and Netflix examples, but they must also measure and monitor customer conversations and feedback. Through the use of CRM systems a company is able to analyze customer satisfaction. She stated that Coca Cola, Inc. established a customer reward system called My Coke Rewards. This system enables Coca Cola, Inc. the ability to not only listen to their customers but to also measure customer satisfaction and ââ¬Å"deliver real time results creating value for its members as well as internal and external partners. â⬠Kaitlyn Dennihy a strategist at Engauge, the social media agency of record for My Coke Rewards states, ââ¬Å"Measurement is key. Translating business goals into measurable actions within social has allowed us to track the impact of our communities as well as manage and exceed expectations for the social space. Every content piece in social must include a call to action for the user that can be measured. My Coke Rewards provides insight into areas such as customer service, product merchandising and exclusivity. â⬠ING Direct, an online-centric bank that is part of Netherlands-based ING, also believes that meeting customer needs is the basis for creating a thriving social media campaign. ING Direct was able to increase their evenue by listening to online consumer conversations with the help of a program called Radian6. Radian6 is a social media monitoring platform that allows companies the ability to know whatââ¬â¢s being said about their brands, industries and competitors online, but to also help them measure, analyze and report on their social CRM efforts. There are many tools on the market now that provide business the ability to obtain statistical information on company website visitors, Google analytics for summarizing search trends, as well as the ability to summarize searches for tweets known as text mining. Radian6 tells companies such as ING Direct who is saying what and whether customers are communicating through a news site or blog and what percentage of influence the customer will have on the company based on web traffic. Gloria Chik, social media lead at ING Direct stated, ââ¬Å"If we get a client complaint, itââ¬â¢s been fantastic to get a full profile of that person. â⬠Companies should be prudent in privacy issues when handling confidential client financial information, making sure to look at each client complaint or compliment individually. No matter what method companies use to track return on investment on Customer Relationship Management, one thing is certain, business must focus on providing excellent customer satisfaction and when faced with unsatisfied customers they must listen. Without satisfied customers a company will have a much more difficult and sometimes impossible climb toward growth and increased revenue. In todays technologically advance world business must constantly be evolving in order to meet the customersââ¬â¢ needs. No longer are businesses able to simply dictate what customers will pay for a product or service. With the todayââ¬â¢s generation companies must be diligent in building strong lasting relationships with their customers. Business should look at their customersââ¬â¢ relationships like a marriage. Just as in a marriage a couple must communicate and listen to each other so should a business communicate and listen to their customers. When a company does this they will be able to reap the rewards by having increased revenue and growth. In order to reap these rewards companies must effectively utilize a CRM system and also incorporate SCRM as well as a myriad of other platforms such as mobile apps, mobile websites, QR Codes and much more. By utilizing technology business are able to develop stronger customer relationships by knowing the customer better. Research Comments When I started this research project I struggled at first trying to find enough information on the subject I had chosen. However, once I got started and finally developed an outline and thought process as to what I was going to talk about, I was able to find all kinds of information. Some of the websites listed below were uncovered during the research phase but not necessarily used. Some of the websites were not used because I found the information redundant and others had to be eliminated due to the need for limiting material so that it did not go over the stated maximum for the paper.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
The Crucible Fight for Integrity Essay Example For Students
The Crucible Fight for Integrity Essay Authur Millers, The Crucible takes a close look at John Proctors, conflict between his raw deeds and his conception of himself. Throughout the play John Proctor is tormented by this conflict. He struggles against his own weakness to achieve a view of himself that he can accept. Proctor has to overcome tremendous emotional and moral hurdles and as a result his character develops into a different person. His battle for integrity is lost many times before it is finally won in the plays final minutes. In the beginning of the play John Proctor was nothing more then an average man. John was well respected in the community and renown for his honesty. Even though he is considered such an honest man, few know that he is guilty of adultery with his old teenage servant Abigail Williams. This compromises his honesty in the eyes of his wife and causes him to be doubted and not given the trust he deserves. This also causes John to view himself as a sinner and as someone unworthy of the respect he is given. After the accusations of witchcraft arouse, John assumes a more prominent role in the community. We will write a custom essay on The Crucible Fight for Integrity specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now He assumes a leadership position in the movement to free Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Mrs. Corey from the prison. Although he fails in his motion to free his wife and friends from prison we see different sides to his character. When the deposition stating Mary Warren had lied in court begins to falter John displays a very aggressive and violent attitude. John, who is unnerved by the lying of Abigail Williams, grabs and shakes her. This displays a very bad tempered individual who wont hesitate to resort to violence. This is also shown when Ezekiel Cheever comes to arrest Elizabeth Proctor and John tears up the warrant. From these events we can learn that when confronted by an issue which involves his loved ones, he becomes aggressive, bad tempered, inpatient and violent. After his arrest, John Proctor is presented with a very difficult moral choice. This is when we witness the greatest alteration in his character. John needs to decide weather he prefers to lie and live or to be truthful and die. Because of Johns low self esteem and damaged public image he believes that the best decision is to lie and live longer. This means that he would have to live in a lie for the rest of his life. John soon adopts high moral principles and decides to be truthful and die. This also tells us that he wants redemption for his acts of lust with Abigail. These acts inform us that John has accepted the evils of his sins and in order to protect his own self esteem, he will not commit any more sins. This signifies that he would not lie to save his own life, he would rather die then live in sin. This is an act of redemption. Even though Proctor thinks that he has given himself over to evil, there are lengths to which he will not go. He refuses to testify against any of his friends. He also refuses to hand over a signed confession for the courts use against his friends. Although Proctor knows he is dammed in the eyes of God, he cannot bear to be dammed in the eyes of his neighbours. John gives the most climatic speech of the play, when he goes on as to how he cannot sign his confession. Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!. .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 , .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .postImageUrl , .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 , .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883:hover , .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883:visited , .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883:active { border:0!important; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883:active , .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883 .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0f8b401a58c66c8ab84d72bcae35d883:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: College Sports Essay..I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (p.143, l.22-26) Throughout the play Proctor has separated his soul from his name and his actions from his ideals. John had lost his soul when he seduced Abigail, and his efforts to protect his name only drove his soul further from him. When presented with a moral choice, John Proctors character changed from a person with a very low self esteem and a negative realist view on the outcome of his life to a person that believed he could recuperate his lost honour and morality. Johns death was worthwhile. As he prepares to die .
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
A Brief History of the Tower of London
A Brief History of the Tower of London If you watch a British entertainer on their home soil make a joke about the Royal Family, youll probably see them follow it up with a quip like oh, theyââ¬â¢ll take me to the Tower! They dont need to say which tower. Everyone growing up in the mainstreams of British culture hears about The Tower, a building as famous and central to the national myths of England as the White House is to the myths of the United States. Built on the north bank of the River Thames in London and once a home of royalty, a jail for prisoners, a site for executions and a storehouse for an army, the Tower of London now contains the Crown Jewels, guardians nicknamed Beefeaters (they arent keen on the name) and legend securing ravens. Dont be confused by the name: the Tower of London is actually a huge castle-complex formed by centuries of addition and alteration. Described simply, the nine hundred-year-old White Tower forms a core surrounded, in concentric squares, by two sets of powerful walls. Studded with towers and bastions, these walls enclose two inner areas called wards that are full of smaller buildings. This is the story of its origins, creation and the near continual development which has kept it at the center of an, albeit changing, national focus for nearly a millenia, a rich and bloody history that easily attracts over two million visitors every year. Origins of the Tower of London While the Tower of London as we know it was built in the eleventh century, the history of fortification on the site stretches back into Roman times, when stone and wooden structures were built and marshland reclaimed from the Thames. A massive wall was created for defence, and this anchored the later Tower. However, the Roman fortifications declined after the Romans left England. Many Roman structures had their stones robbed away for use in later buildings (finding these Roman remains in other structures is a good source of evidence and very rewarding), and what remained in London was likely foundations. Williams Stronghold When William I successfully conquered England in 1066 he ordered the construction of a castle in London, using the site of the old Roman fortifications as a base. In 1077 he added to this stronghold by ordering the construction of a huge tower, the Tower of London itself. William died before it was completed in 1100. William needed a large tower partly for protection: he was an invader attempting to take over a whole kingdom, one which needed pacification before it would accept him and his children. While London seems to have been made safe quite quickly, William had to engage in a campaign of destruction in the north, the Harrying, to secure that. However, the Tower was useful in a second way: the projection of royal power wasnt just about walls to hide in, it was about showing status, wealth and strength, and a large stone structure that dominated its surroundings did just that. The Tower of London as Royal Castle Over the next few centuries monarchs added ever more fortifications, including walls, halls and other towers, to an increasingly complex structure which became referred to as The Tower of London. The central tower became known as the ââ¬ËWhite Towerââ¬â¢ after it was whitewashed. On the one hand, every successive monarch needed to build here to demonstrate their own wealth and ambition. On the other hand, several monarchs had need to shelter behind these imposing walls due to conflicts with their rivals (sometimes their own siblings), so the castle remained nationally important and a military keystone in controlling England. From Royalty to Artillery During the Tudor period the use of the Tower began to change, with visits from the monarch declining, but with many important prisoners held there and an increase in the use of the complex as a storehouse for the nationââ¬â¢s artillery. The number of major modifications began to decline, although some were spurred on by fire and naval threats, until changes in warfare meant the Tower became less important as an artillery base. It wasnt that the Tower was any less formidable to the type of people it had been built to defend, but that gunpowder and artillery meant its walls were now vulnerable to new technology, and defences had to take markedly different forms. Most castles suffered a decline in military importance, and instead transformed into new uses. But monarchs were looking for different sorts of accommodation now, palaces, not cold, draughty castles, so visits fell. Prisoners, however, did not require luxury. The Tower of London as National Treasure As the military and government use of the Tower declined, parts were opened up to the general public, until the Tower evolved into the landmark it is today, welcoming over two million visitors annually. Ive been myself, and its a striking place to spend time and muse on the history its seen. It can get crowded though! More on the Tower of London The Tower of London Ravens: Ravens are kept at the Tower of London, in part to fulfill the demands of an old superstitionâ⬠¦ this article explains why.The Beefeaters / Yeoman Warders: The Tower of London is guarded by people called Yeoman Warders, but theyââ¬â¢re better known by a nickname: the Beefeaters. Visitors to the Tower should keep an eye out for, what by modern standards, are their unusual uniforms.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Free Essays on Literature
There are many pieces of literature that are different from one another yet, each contains some of the same language and qualities. This is the case with Richard Connellââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Most Dangerous Game,â⬠Ernest Hemingwayââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,â⬠and Thomas Wolfeââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Child by Tiger.â⬠Each piece is different from the next but, each share a few common themes such as irony and a personality change for the characters. In ââ¬Å"The Most Dangerous Game,â⬠a worldly, experienced hunter (Mr. Rainsford) winds up on another hunterââ¬â¢s island and becomes the hunted. This is ironic because he is usually the hunter. Being as the other hunter, General Zaroff is as experienced as he is; all of his tricks are easily discovered and leave Mr. Rainsford fighting for his life. He was previously cynical and brushed off any comments other people made about the animals feelings or thoughts. However, the personality change comes when he is being hunted and starts to realize true fear for his life like his previously hunted had felt. He then knew what it felt like to run and hide for his life. ââ¬Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomberâ⬠follows a hunter, and a husband and wife on a hunting excursion. While attempting to hunt a Lion, Mr. Macomber cowers and runs from the Lion, fearing for his life and living the hunter to kill his prey. On the next dayââ¬â¢s outing, after successfully hunting some buffalo, Mr. Macomber has a complete personality change when he feels a sudden rush of not fearing anything anymore. This is the first time in his life that he feels no fear. Ironically, however, while being braver then the others and attempting to get a second shot at one of the buffalo, he is shot by his wife. The Ironic part about this is the fact that his wife was the one person he never feared. Wolfeââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Child by Tiger,â⬠however, was slightly different from both of the previous works. While it hold... Free Essays on Literature Free Essays on Literature There are many pieces of literature that are different from one another yet, each contains some of the same language and qualities. This is the case with Richard Connellââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Most Dangerous Game,â⬠Ernest Hemingwayââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber,â⬠and Thomas Wolfeââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Child by Tiger.â⬠Each piece is different from the next but, each share a few common themes such as irony and a personality change for the characters. In ââ¬Å"The Most Dangerous Game,â⬠a worldly, experienced hunter (Mr. Rainsford) winds up on another hunterââ¬â¢s island and becomes the hunted. This is ironic because he is usually the hunter. Being as the other hunter, General Zaroff is as experienced as he is; all of his tricks are easily discovered and leave Mr. Rainsford fighting for his life. He was previously cynical and brushed off any comments other people made about the animals feelings or thoughts. However, the personality change comes when he is being hunted and starts to realize true fear for his life like his previously hunted had felt. He then knew what it felt like to run and hide for his life. ââ¬Å"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomberâ⬠follows a hunter, and a husband and wife on a hunting excursion. While attempting to hunt a Lion, Mr. Macomber cowers and runs from the Lion, fearing for his life and living the hunter to kill his prey. On the next dayââ¬â¢s outing, after successfully hunting some buffalo, Mr. Macomber has a complete personality change when he feels a sudden rush of not fearing anything anymore. This is the first time in his life that he feels no fear. Ironically, however, while being braver then the others and attempting to get a second shot at one of the buffalo, he is shot by his wife. The Ironic part about this is the fact that his wife was the one person he never feared. Wolfeââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Child by Tiger,â⬠however, was slightly different from both of the previous works. While it hold... Free Essays on Literature American Literature: Prose, fiction and nonfiction of the American colonies and the United States, written in the English language from about 1600 to the present. This literature captures Americaââ¬â¢s quest to understand and define itself. For its first 200 years American prose reflected the settlement and growth of the American colonies, largely through histories, religious writings, and expedition and travel narratives. Fiction appeared only after the colonies gained independence, when the clamor for a uniquely American literature brought forth novels based on events in Americaââ¬â¢s past. With a flowering of prose in the mid-1800s, the young nation found its own voice. By then fiction had become the dominant literary genre in America. In the early 1800s America faced a difficult challenge: how to create its own culture. Calls for an American literature began during the Revolution and became more frequent and urgent as independence was assured. Over the course of the 19th century the country progressed from an agricultural economy concentrated on the Eastern seaboard to an industrialized nation that spanned the continent. With the dramatic changes in the nation came dramatic changes in its literature. When the century opened, only a handful of novels had been written, but by mid-century American fiction rivaled the best in the world. Biography and history remained strong; religious writing, on the other hand, had substantially declined in importance. B American Romanticism During the late 1700s and early 1800s, romanticism was the dominant literary mode in Europe. In reaction to the Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason, romanticism stressed emotion, the imagination, and subjectivity of approach. Until about 1870 romanticism influenced the major forms of American prose: transcendentalist writings, historical fiction, and sentimental fiction. B1 Transcendentalism Like romanticism, transcendentalism rejected both 18t...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
How to do good in school Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
How to do good in school - Essay Example First and foremost, a student needs discipline. This may seem difficult but what is really needed is for a person to decide to take all possible actions to plan and stick to his plans of action. It is then important to list activities and arrange them according to how they impact school performances. Allotting desired period of time is another important matter to consider in scheduling activities and sticking to the schedule regardless if the task is completed or not. This allows the student to adjust his pace in performing an activity rather than sacrificing other important tasks, allowing him to complete all that has been set for a dayââ¬â¢s work. This could sometimes be discouraging during the first days however, once one has gotten into the habit of working in a timed manner, the body adjusts to the demands of discipline. Lectures are very helpful in improving a personââ¬â¢s school performances so it is also important to listen well and take notes. When a student takes notes while lectures are going on, he is strengthening his understanding of the topic and his retention of the information being discussed. In addition, during reviews, a person can always verify discussions with other resources based from what has been noted during lectures. Therefore, one has to learn how to take notes, study shorthand writing or make personal codes for an understandable outline, which will then be re-written if needed. Before every lecture, it is also most helpful for students to read in advance to have some idea what is to be discussed in class. This will enable an individual to grasp more details as compared to having no foreknowledge of the topic. Taking notes about important information that could possibly be discussed in class is also helpful, making note-taking during lectures easier and more complete. In taking personal notes during advance readings, a student should make an outline with special marks like asterisks, boxes,
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Biology - Plant Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Biology - Plant Diversity - Essay Example The most important of all radiations for land plants occurred in the early Devonian period. This was when the first rhyniophytes appeared in the fossil record and made this fossil discovery very important for paleobotany. They had some distinguishing features such as their reproductive structures which contributed to their success. Some important species that dominated their eco-system included anthropods and sporopytes and gametophytes. 2. Describe and discuss the third land flora (the ââ¬Å"Gymnosperm Floraâ⬠) that evolved on Earth. Your answer should include the following: â⬠¢ references to geologic time of origin and/or decline, â⬠¢ factors that may have influenced its distribution, success and/or decline, â⬠¢ names and brief descriptions of the most important plants that dominated this flora. Gymnosperm flora Gymnosperms are known as primitive seed plants. Their evolutionary history is long. Gymnosperms appeared in the Paleozoic and then soon became the most do minant plants world over in the Mesozoic and Caenozoic periods. They were also seen in the Tertiary Period, survived the Glacial period and have multiplied till date. While gymnosperms are only 0.36% of angiosperms, they are seen in vast areas in coniferous forests and are widely distributed world over. They are found in great abundance in China in particular. Their leaves are needlelike and evergreen. They can produce cones. A very important feature of gymnosperms is that their female sex germs reside in the ovules as in regular flowers. However the ovules are not enclosed inside the flowerââ¬â¢s ovaries as is found in most flowering plants. It should be noted though that gymnosperms donââ¬â¢t produce fruits. In the biological terms, fruits are produced from maturing flower ovaries where the seeds develop in the ovules inside the ovaries. They are found in vast quantities in coniferous forests which have straight tree trunks and high timber yield of gymnosperm plants. Thuja s utchuenensis, an important specie of gymnosperm is extinct. Cycas revoluta, C. taiwaniana and C. szechuanensis, three other species of the plant are now the only cultivated plants. Some other species are as following: Cycas multipinnata, Keteleeria pubescens, K. oblonga, K. hainanensis, Abies beshanzuensis, A. yuanbaoshanensis, Picea likiangensis var. montigena, P. neoveitchii, Larix chinensis, Pseudotsuga brevifolia, Pinus squamata, Cephalotaxus lanceolata, Amentotaxus formosana and A. yunnanensis. (Cummings) Most of the aforementioned species are critically endangered and nowhere to be found today. 3. Describe and discuss the fourth land flora (the ââ¬Å"Angiosperm Floraâ⬠) that evolved on Earth. Your answer should include the following: â⬠¢ references to geologic time of origin, â⬠¢ factors that may have influenced its distribution and success, (Hint: pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms, including convolution of the animal groups often involved in these mechan isms, should be a prominent feature of your answer.) â⬠¢ Names and brief descriptions of some of the most important types of plants that dominate this flora. The evolution of angiosperms is a matter of great mystery to date. There are a lot of issues concerning their evolution today. There are speculations regarding their time of origin, the
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Public image and social status Essay Example for Free
Public image and social status Essay As we can see, the two generations react differently to questioning by the Inspector. Mr. and Mrs. Birling are at first indignant and resistant to the Inspectors queries, and when they learn what is going on fully they rack their brains for a solution to the problem that has arisen, namely that the family name will be publicly disgraced and that they may lose custom at the office, resulting in a degradation of their lifestyle, public image and social status. However, Eric and Sheila show totally different reactions to Mr. and Mrs. Birling, when the Inspector questions them. Both members of the younger tell the truth to the Inspector, and both are, at one time or another, strong advocates of the truth, believing that repentance for their collective crimes is by far more important than saving face in public. Throughout the whole play, Sheila encourages the entire family to tell the truth and admit their crimes. Eric, in turn, tells the truth and advocates acceptance of the truth and repentance once the Inspector has left. The two different generation groups show different reactions to the incident, and neither can understand the mentality of the other when it comes to the way they deal with the situation after the Inspector leaves. After the Inspector leaves, the Birlings and Gerald discover that Inspector Goole was not a real Inspector at all, but a fake. Mr. and Mrs. Birling and Gerald are overjoyed when they discover that they are not in jeopardy of being linked to the untimely death of a young girl, but Eric and Sheila maintain that this turn of events changes nothing, they should be sorry for the actions they have taken and learn from the events that transpired that evening. Then, on the last page of the text and in the last few seconds of the play, there is a telephone call to tell the Birlings that a girl has just died in the infirmary and an inspector is on his way to visit them. This could lead the audience to think that perhaps the Inspector was an anthropomorphic personification of the collective consciences of the Birlings and Gerald, who was sent to the Birlings to teach them their lesson before it was too late. During this saving of the Birlings we learn that it is the younger generation who, contrary to popular belief, are accepting of their wrongdoing and prepared to change and learn from this event, whether its repercussions reached as far as degrading their lives or not. However, the older generation, who may normally be expected to act as the younger generation have, refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions and are only concerned with maintaining the lifestyle they have carved out for themselves, whether it remains spiritually and conscientiously empty or not. For a full and true understanding of An Inspector Calls, one must first have a knowledge and understanding of how the dates of the play (the date it was set, the date it was first shown, and the dates of major world events that occurred between the time of its setting and the time of its first showing) are all inextricably linked, and combine to magnify the impact of the message Priestley is trying to convey to his audience. It would be sensible to assume that the Inspector in the play represents Priestley himself, as the morals and values exhibited by the Inspector reflect Priestleys own; they both believe that all people should be treated as equals, for example. The representation of Priestleys political and philosophical opinions in the play is reinforced in the younger generation (Gerald and Sheila Birling) as they both exhibit a preference for social responsibility and care towards fellow humans. Conversely, Mr. Birling brings together all of the personality traits and attitudes that Priestley so hated and fervently campaigned against, the arrogance of those left over from the Old Edwardian era, the perception of we, the rich and they, the poor, and the unwavering confidence that this state of affairs could never change, coupled with an inability to see any possible breakdown of this system. This character profile and viewpoint is backed up by Mrs. Birling who shares Mr. Birlings views, and provides a supporting role to reinforce the contrast between the Inspector/Priestleys Socialist views and the Edwardian upper-class views of Mr. and Mrs. Birling. The diametrically opposed views and personalities of these two characters in itself would be enough to highlight just how strong Priestleys views are, but this is coupled with a superb manipulation of the timing of the plays setting and first showing. The play was written in 1944-45, first shown in Moscow in 1945 and in London in 1946, and was set in 1912. In the first act of the play, Mr. Birling makes an impassioned speech that details his political views and makes several statements in the aforementioned arrogance of his peer group; namely, that there will be no war Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two; the Titanic is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable; that all the fuss about the Labour party will have blown over; and that Russia . . . will always be behindhand. These statements, in the intervening years between the date of the plays setting and the date of the plays showing, prove to be wholly inaccurate. Two World Wars have broken out, both heavily involving the Germans, the Titanic has sunk after a collision with an iceberg, the Labour party has been voted in several times and will have continued success even though the war is won under a Conservative Churchill, and Russia will become a great 20th Century world power and birthplace of fabulous wealth due to its abundance of natural resources. As well as Mr. Birlings predictions for the future being dashed to pieces by world events of the next 20 years, his very philosophies on how society should operate were proven to be outdated and incompatible with modern life by the new Socialist movement. The twelve years between 1906 and 1918 proved to be the turning point that defined our current political system in this country and the advent of the nanny state. In this period the vote for parliamentary elections was rolled out to all persons aged 18 and over, education became compulsory up to the age of 12, and the Social Security system was founded, providing pensions and unemployment for people who needed them. Granted, these systems were not perfect, but this interlinked lattice of world events, the socialist movement, and the timing of the play serves to make Priestleys point just as eloquently and effectively as the play itself does.
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