A Golden Age: 1960s

The 1960s era, commonly referred to as the â€Å"Golden Age†, represents a fascinating turning point for economic and post war policies world over. It was a decade stretch that lasted soon after the Second World War to initial oil crisis that began in 1973.Recognized economists, politicians and senior government officials have deliberated upon the socio-economic policies and their consequences during that period.There has been much speculation concerning whether there were errors in the 1960s economic policies that could have contributed to the great inflation of the 1970s. Key players’ roles in that era’s major economic decisions are scrutinized to establish their positive and negative contributions to the great economic boom and the negatively perceived inflation.Some of these figures included Lord O’Brien who was the Bank of England’s Governor between 1966 and 1973. The considerations were both from an official or a political position held by the individuals.However, even with the inflation, the 1960s decade seem to be an economic golden age as viewed from the 1990s perspective due to the major economic reformations and inventions that took place during the period. It is in this respect regarded as an economic apogee whose high/crest preceded the tribulations decent that followed. National income’s growth rate was faster than ever in history (Jason, 2001, p.45).The unemployment level in Britain for example remained below 2.5% of the total labour. In many instances, it remained below 2%, far much below the proceeding two decades. For most of this golden decade, the inflation averaged below 4% even though it was a reason for major concern especially as it rose to between 5-6% in and within the last 2 years of the decade.The 1967 balance of payments devaluation particularly led to surplus that was very healthy after it was affected to abide to post war years problems.Generally, 1960s is regarded as a social and economic policy experimental period where major innovations took place and resulted to admirably noteworthy economic revolutions. In Britain for example the endless departures successions in the countries fiscal policies including gains in capital tax, regulatory tax, selective employment and corporation tax were major economic factors on the one side of the ledger whereas grants on investments and regional employment premiums comprised the other (Diller, 1995, p.23).The National Plan and the National Economic Development Council were the major economic organs of the government that attempted to accelerate the economic growth rate especially through the use of long successive experimentation of income policies to control inflation.Industrial restructuring was done through the industrial reconstruction corporation as a concerted effort to have an overhaul of the industrial. The 25% premium surrender on investment currency on temporary surcharged imports played a vital role in the balance of payments operations as efforts were made to join the European Community.Other methods included opening of new universities as well as relaxation of procedures of Open University Learning system. This was facilitated by relaxations in the â€Å"permissiveness† law.However, the golden age survivors usually do not see back to it with any particular individual resounding success. Most of them don’t have the feeling that they had singularly been carried or blessed for the successes but are sometimes retrospective on the fact that this period was also characterized by crises especially the balance of payments crisis.Notably, the long uncertainties of currency, the 1968 catastrophic prediction of the following years and the long deferred 1967 devaluation to reduce difficulties in the balance of payments were some of these crises. And several years later, a number of the 1960s experiments were abandoned (Caircross, 1992, p.13).Furthermore, the 1990s reappearances of difficulti es in the balance of payments may perhaps revive the experiments and crises of the 1960s.Considering for example the narrowly fixed exchange rate limits within the European monetary system, and the external deficit that is enormously increasing, the temptation to revert to the golden age policies and innovations is quite strong. Britain’s dilemma comes from an inclination of great magnitude of restoring her competitive power.Other countries of the world have also experienced these difficulties as well although different world industrial economies experience substantiated differential effects.This is especially considering the fact that continental countries had a faster growth rate as compared to the UK but in the 1950s they grew less fast than the UK did. All countries therefore had their unique problems.Paris experienced riots and a strike that almost brought the government down early in 1968, between 1969-70 Germany suffered a great inflation than at any other time after t he war whereas French franc devalued within one year after the sterling pound and again towards the end of the golden decade (Stuart, 1999, p.32).

Short Critical Reflection Essay

Some might say the crime of the 21st century will be white collar. If that is true, what will be the major types of cybercrime? How can we safeguard against it? As technology evolves, and monetary transactions become more commonplace over the internet, it is almost like an invitation is being sent out to give dishonest people an open arena for many types of cybercrimes. Computer viruses have evolved from the Brain, introduced in 1986 as a preventative measure against copying programs on floppy disks, to more dangerous ones today. Over the years, computer viruses became a tool for criminals targeting internet banking and government websites. † (Groot-2011) Cyber criminals use such things as botnets (cybercrime infrastructures which consist of ‘hijacked' computers used for illegal activities), phishing (using fake websites or e-mails pretending to be your bank or credit card company to collect your passwords and logins for internet banking), and Trojan, which disguises itse lf as a useful application, but allows third parties to gain access to personal data on your computer.There are tens of thousands of forms of malware out there, and they can do anything from compromise and wipe out bank accounts to access and threaten top secret government programs. One thing we as users can do is to remember that banks never ask for passwords or pin numbers through email, so if by chance we receive an email asking for this, DELETE it. Another way to safeguard against potential threats is by using security software. â€Å"The best protection is to install a virus protection application on your computer. (Bowles-2010) To help track down cyber delinquents, around 200 CERT (Cyber security and Incident Response Team) teams are in place in 43 countries around the world, which, originally established by the Dutch government, â€Å"doesn't have investigative powers, but works closely with the police and Public Prosecution Office and uses the expertise of anti-virus compa nies to limit damage. † (Groot-2011) Our own Department of Justice â€Å"has a Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section that is responsible for finding those individuals who are abusing the powers of computers and breaking the law. (Bowles-2010) Hopefully, more and more of these types of cyber agencies will emerge and help slow down the instances of cybercrime. Online education has evolved over the last ten years as much as the cell phone. Given this, what have been some of the major improvements and changes in the digital classroom? One of the major improvements in the digital classroom, at least the ones at Ashford, is having the accessibility of online text books. My 19 year old daughter is taking college classes online through another school, and she has to order all of her text books and wait for the mailman to deliver them.More than once, the books have arrived after her class began, which left her so behind in her studies. Online education also offers the benef it of working and studying at our own pace and leisure, while also offering us (students) the ability to connect to learning opportunities anywhere, anytime. Being a mom, I have also noticed how my children’s’ school has started adopting technology in their classrooms; for example, using smart boards instead of the traditional chalkboards that we had in our day. The teachers post homework assignments online, as well as grades, attendance, and schedules.My three high school students email back and forth with their teachers, coaches and musical directors. As stated in our text book, â€Å"Most educators see online learning as essential for the long–term success of their schools. † (Bowles-2010) I am inclined to agree with that, as I see daily interactions between my teenagers and their teachers. In addition, with all the crazy laws out there de-personalizing the school relationships between students and teachers in the school setting, where a simple hand on the shoulder could lead to a teacher’s dismissal, this at least gives students the sense that their teachers view them as important. Technology can fundamentally change the learning process so it's more engaging and tailored to students' needs and interests. † (ed. gov-2010) If I post a poem on my Facebook site and someone cuts and pastes it on their site is that a case for stealing my intellectual property? The answer to this lies in another question. Who is the original author? If you post a poem that is the creation of someone else in the first place, (and if you did and it is, you had better give credit to said author! ), then the answer would be a resounding no.Someone else cutting and pasting an already referenced work cannot be considered an act of plagiarism. However, if the poem in question is an original example of your own talent as a poet, then I would say you have a case for that person stealing your intellectual property. That being said, if you post a po em online, then you obviously had intent of sharing it, which anyone proud of their accomplishments would want to do. At the same time, you wouldn’t wish for someone else to take credit for your idea(s). â€Å"One option is the traditional copyright, and another is available from Creative Commons. (Bowles-2010) The traditional copyright gives the originator of innovative creation absolute rights to it, usually for a limited time. It also â€Å"gives the copyright holder the right to be credited for the work, to determine who may adapt the work to other forms, who may perform the work, and who may financially benefit from it. † (Wikipedia-2012) Nevertheless, if the copyright runs out, the content becomes public domain, where anyone can use, distribute, or otherwise utilize the work, without legal implications.Another alternative is Creative Commons, a nonprofit organization that promotes legal sharing and remixing. â€Å"Authors and artists can submit their work with copyright terms attached, such as â€Å"all rights reserved,† â€Å"some rights reserved,† or â€Å"no rights reserved. † (Bowles-2010) References: Willemien, Groot (2011) Cybercrime is the threat of the future Retrieved from http://www. rnw. nl/english/article/cyber-crime-threat-future ed. gov 11/09/2010 The Digital Transformation in Education: U. S.Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's remarks at the State Educational Technology Directors Association Education Forum Retrieved from http://www. ed. gov/news/speeches/%E2%80%9C-digital-transformation-education%E2%80%9D-us-secretary-education-arne-duncan Bowles, M. D. (2010) Introduction to computer literacy. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc Retrieved from https://content. ashford. edu/books/AUINF103. 10. 2/sections/sec8. 1 The United States Department of Justice Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section Retrieved from

An Effective Manager of Home Depot Essay

According to Robbins and Coulter (2005), effective managers all over the world acknowledge the role that strategic management plays in their organization’s performance. Moreover, Drucker (2004) said that the gauge of an effective manager or executive is the ability to get the right things done. This typically entails doing what other individuals have ignored in addition to avoiding what is unproductive. Imagination, intelligence, and knowledge might all be wasted in an executive job without the attained habits of mind that form them into results. I believe that Bob Nardelli is exhibiting these characteristics and management style of an effective manager as he leads Home Depot to become continually successful in its operations. As he triumphed over various problems in managing the company and a s a result oh his managerial strategy, Home Depot is now has now increased sales by 60 percent and earnings per share by 105 percent (Business Week Online, 2006). During his first day as CEO at Home Depot in the year 2000, the company has various problems to deal with, some of which, were as follows: it lacked the necessary infrastructure to send even a companywide electronic mail, Home Depot stores were already run-down and was being known as a store with poor customer service, the stores’ shipments were logged using pencil and clipboard, and Home Depot stores did not have automated inventory systems (Sellers, 2001). Being a visionary leader that he is, Nardelli believed that better processes must lead to better quality ad higher profits for Home Depot. He employed strategic management in planning to improve the company. As asserted by Robbins and Coulter (2005), the prevailing belief in management theory and society on the whole is that managers are completely responsible or accountable for an organization’s success or failure. However, Nardelli demonstrated that aside from the fact that much of an organization’s success or failure is because of external forces outside of the manager’s control, the manager has a big responsibility in making decisions for the success of the organization. A major component of Nardelli’s far-reaching move to reform Home Depot, which is considered to be the world’s third-largest retailer, into a more centralized company, include importing people, ideas, and platitudes from the military (Business Week Online, 2006). This might be an unwelcome concept in management circles; however, Nardelli couldn’t care less. He believes that it is a vital aspect of his strategy to lead in a cumbersome 2,048-store chain and get ready for its next leg of growth (Business Week Online, 2006). In an uncertain and dynamic environment, real world organizations employ strategic decision-making when making decisions offers managers with a comprehensive and systematic means for taking into consideration the external environment, concentrating on an organization’s strength, reducing weaknesses, and recognizing opportunities in which an organization can have a competitive edge (Shafritz & Hyde, 2004). As maintained by Holstein (2004), the Nardelli decision-making model might help create a pattern for other CEOs who have been extremely frustrated and disillusioned by their lack of success in harnessing technology. In transforming Home Depot to what it is now, Nardelli increased information technology spending by almost 20 percent (Sellers, 2001). Then in year 2003 Nardelli spent a total of $400 million on inventory shipping and tracking systems (Sellers, 2001). Aside from these, Nardelli also spent around $250 million refurbishing Home Depot stores (Pellet, 2001). This included the installation of self-checkout systems in 800 stores to lessen customer lines and ease up salespeople. This also included the establishment of two-way cordless scanners, which enabled products to be price-scanned in the shopping cart, in this manner shortening lines. Being an effective manager, he also paid attention to motivating the organization’s workers. Armstrong (2002) said that in providing rewards to employees, supervisors and managers should identify what rewards will succeed for specific employees at any given time. Even though supervisors and managers might not be able to have power over certain rewards like benefits or wages, they have the liberty to give out rewards like recognition and praise. In Home Depot, Nardelli instituted innovations in providing rewards and in human resource management. First, he substituted 157 different employee evaluation forms with two (Pellet, 2001). In addition, coworkers, above and beneath them, rated aalaried personnel from the CEO down and salaries were derived from the scores. Then during a period when Home Depot was planning to hire approximately 100,000 new employees, Nardelli did not automatically fire those employees with poor scores (Pellet, 2001). Nardelli first requested for the advice of others and informed underperformers precisely what they were doing wrong. This way, Nardelli showed that it is important for a manager to vigorously seek opposing opinions and inquire regarding the basis for those opinions before selecting a course of action is being stressed, instead of acting on the basis of tacit or pre-arranged agreement. Necessarily, this needs constantly listening with real curiosity so as to promote development of different opinions and supporting rationales, instead of merely setting forth suggestions and working to make agreement around them (Drucker, 2004). Furthermore, Nardelli seemed to follow step two in Peter Drucker’s model (204) that executives require both themselves and their staff or subordinates what they contribute presently to the organization and what they could contribute to the organization in the future. In Home Depot, Nardelli asserted that in spite of whether a person’s belief of what he/she now contributes, or could contribute, equals his/her manager’s belief, emphasizing and bringing out the importance of everybody’s role as a contributor is necessary to the organization’s general effectiveness. In initiating change in Home Depot, Nardelli showed that everybody in the organization makes decisions; nevertheless, decision-making is specifically vital in a manager’s job. I think that he followed what Robbins and Coulter (2005) said that decision-making is part of all four managerial functions – planning, organizing, leading, controlling, and that decision-making is synonymous with managing. Holstein (2004) has written that when Nardelli joined Home Depot, the challenge of improving the company’s supply chain and logistics became apparent because the company is way behind other stores in these areas. Hence, he established a model called â€Å"full truckload to the store,† which means that the more you brought, the more it would oblige you to sell, since you get kind of jammed (Holstein, 2004). In terms of information technology, at Home Depot, Nardelli has established a system of checks and balances (Sellers, 2001). The manner is which Nardelli is managing the technological transformation is attracting attention and interest from other executives and managers. Sellers (2001) said that Nardelli has borrowed from the CE playbook to establish a system of checks and balances on how technology is managed, and Nardelli has likewise incorporated technology decisions deeply into his business strategy in runring and managing Home Depot. Furthermore, Nardelli likewise employed building deeper relationships with fewer vendors. As stated earlier, the Nardelli decision-making model might possibly help create a pattern for other CEOs who have been exceedingly frustrated and disillusioned by their lack of success in utilizing technology. In conclusion, in transforming Home Depot to become the earning company that it is now, I believe that Nardelli demonstrated that leadership is the capability to influence people or groups toward the accomplishment of goals. As a process, Nardelli showed that leadership forms the goals of an organization or group, inspires behavior toward the attainment of those goals, and helps characterize organizational or group culture; hence, it is fundamentally a process of influence. # References Armstrong, M. (2002). Employee Reward (3rd Edition), CIPD: London. Drucker, Peter. â€Å"What Makes an Effective Executive,† Harvard Business Review, Vol. 82, No. 6, June 2004. Holstein, W. (2004). â€Å"The Depot goes digital: how CEO Bob Nardelli is managing a $2 billion technology transformation,† The Chief Executive. Pellet, J. (2001). â€Å"Mr. Fix-It Steps In,† Chief Executive. â€Å"Renovating Home Depot. † (2006). Business Week Online. Robbins, S. , & M. Coulter. (2005). Management, (8th ed. ). Prentice Hall. Sellers, P. (2001). â€Å"Exit the Builder, Enter the Repairman: Home Depot’s Arthur Blank Is Out. New CEO Bob Nardelli Is In. His Job: To Tackle the Company’s Renovation after Two Decades of Nonstop Expansion,† Fortune. Shafritz, J. M. & A. Hyde. (2004). Classics of Public Administration, 5th ed. Belmont , CA : Wadsworth/Thompson

Critical response essay to You're Thinking of getting a What by John

Critical response to You're Thinking of getting a What by John Gray - Essay Example Student’s response Even if the tattoo may seem weird to most of us, it was an ancient art form in the Meiji period of Japan. Clifford J. Kurkowski refers to â€Å"The Tattooer† by Junichiro Tanizaki and says –â€Å"he vividly describes that Japanese men, who were performing in the Kabuki Theater, received tattoos in order to satisfy their upper class audiences and enhance their beauty.† The ethical standards of permanently painting one’s body during that era in Japan was surely much above what it is today – even though it is still considered to be a form of art. I agree with Gray that the sight of a tattoo can hinder any conversation or stall further relationship building platform. As he says â€Å"people either have tattoos or they do not† there are no in-betweens. However, the same can be said about any other idiosyncrasies of a human being – a certain hair style, a nose ring, a navel ring, certain attitude, and many more. You either have it or you do not, you either fall in the same group or you do not. The only difference is that these fads and foibles do not encounter any sense of complete isolation – these are tolerated within the social network. ... ily on the basis of geographical convenience.† I feel this itself is the answer to the puzzling â€Å"laissez-fair craft† – the mental state of the person and the easily accessible tattoo parlors work in a conducive manner. The psychological condition of the person before going in for the drinks plays a good part in giving him or her ‘Dutch courage’ to act brazen, as in audacious. The close by parlor gives the ‘come hither’ looks and lo and behold the person is marked for life. The unfortunate part is that the fashionable statement becomes permanent – something the person never gave much thought to before having it done. The damage is done and most often done in highly unhygienic manner and conditions. It is true that as Gray points out – â€Å"the tattoo parlor is a breathtakingly unregulated industry. Although the city health inspector may call now and then to update the crumbling certificate on the wall, only the tattooi st’s personal ethic prompts him or her to maintain sanitary premises†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Finally, I must say I do not agree with the â€Å"a tattoo, however, is a threat† statement. This is a result of an impetuous decision, and each one of us has taken such rash steps in our lives. Fortunately, for us from the ‘no tattoos’ segment of human kind our reckless actions did not leave any prominent and ugly scars for life. We feel the threat from the other side, the people with the tattoos do not, but it is our reaction that tends to drive them into a separate corner, away from the rest of us. Moreover, there is little knowledge about this form of expressing one’s revolt. It is necessary to have more literatures and information about tattoos. Information regarding the 'ifs' and 'buts' of getting a tattoo done and stressing on the permanent factor:

Corporate Governance Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Governance - Coursework Example In addition, the 2007 global economic crisis can be attributed to the corporate governance failure to a great extent. This paper will explore the practical strategies which would improve current corporate governance system in UK. Corporate governance The concept of corporate governance underwent tremendous changes from period to period since its origin. Managements always pay attention to update their corporate governance strategy in accordance with the needs of time. The corporate governance policy also maintains the relationship among the stakeholders and the objectives of the organisation (OECD). In case of contemporary business concerns, the external stakeholder groups mainly include shareholders, creditors, suppliers, and customers while board of directors, executives, and employees. Top level mangers always focus on the impact of their corporate governance strategy on economic efficiency in addition to a strong emphasis on shareholder values. Since a series of corporate failure s in 2001 were attributed to accounting fraud, today organisations give focus on internal check policies while formulating their corporate governance strategy. ... The corporate governance practices are largely different across the globe. The Continental Europe’s multi-stakeholder model gives first priority to the interests of workers, customers, managers, and suppliers whereas the Anglo-American corporate governance model mainly recognises the interests of shareholders (Vasilescu, 2008). Continental European countries like Germany and Holland possess two-tiered Board of Directors with intent to improve their corporate governance practices. The main point of difference in corporate difference between United Kingdom and United States is that in UK, the CEO generally does not hold the chairmanship of the board whereas in US, the CEO also serves as the Chairman of Board. Corporate governance in UK In the opinion of Roberts (2011), the balance of power between the board of directors and the general meeting primarily constitutes corporate governance of a UK company. Generally, the term â€Å"governance† is used to refer to principles m entioned in the UK Corporate Governance Code. The UK Corporate Governance Code 2010 is a set of corporate governance principles which aim the improved performance of the listed companies on the London Stock Exchange (Harbottle and Lewis). Financial Service Authority’s Listing Rules demand the public listed companies to disclose how they have abided by the proposed code and explain where and why they have ignored the rule. Private companies are also encouraged to follow these corporate governance guidelines even though it is not a compulsory requirement in private firm accounts. This Code contains a principles-based approach and a rules-based approach; the former provides strategies for best practice while the

The Inhumanity of the Death Penalty in Truman Capotes In Cold Blood Research Paper

The Inhumanity of the Death Penalty in Truman Capotes In Cold Blood - Research Paper Example Hickock and Smith mistakably comprehended that Clutter used to keep a lot of money in his house. So both of them planned that immediately after their release they would go and rob Clutter and escape with his money. Therefore, I support that Perry and Richard were justified to be given death penalties. Perry and Richard were justified to be hanged since both characters were a threat to society. After their release, they did as planned but they didn’t get the money since Clutter rarely kept any money in the house. The two criminals ended up killing the whole family and escaped. Church mates are noted to be the ones who first noted the disappearance of the Clutter’s family in Church and decided to make a follow-up. Their efforts led them to Clutter’s house in which they found only dead bodies. This is said to be realized on the second day after when the criminal event had taken place. The police were notified and in the process of making investigations, Wells informed the authorities that he had discussed Clutter’s richness with Hickock and Smith and so they became the first suspects. Further investigations are mentioned to lead to the arrest of the two criminals a month after in Los Vegas and were brought to Kansas where they were charged for the murder c ase of the Clutter’s family. The two confessed while agreeing with the charges but their statements contradicted each other about who killed who. Nevertheless, the two murderers were both charged and sentenced to death by hanging and which took place in 1965.

Examine the shifting values of civil liberties in the new millennium Research Paper

Examine the shifting values of civil liberties in the new millennium that has seen greater public tolerance of government surveillance and record-keeping - Research Paper Example There have been several events that have triggered the re-evaluation of the way civil privacy protection is balanced with police surveillance. During the period that has passed after the terrorist attack of 9/11, there have been diverse changes being implemented in the technological advances; federal law and the interpretation of privacy safeguards by the courts have created an expansion in the ways through which the police may facilitate surveillance of different civil activities or in the ways through which they can frisk citizens in public places for any particular reason. The rationale of this article is to scrutinize the different factors that may promote the escalation of police surveillance with regards to the type of effects that police surveillance has on civil life and privacy rights while also drawing conclusions on newspaper reports on the situations whereby issues have been raised in regards to stop-and-frisk policy. (http://www.surveillance-and-society.org/articles4 (3) /escalating.pdf‎) The way people view privacy and surveillance have been dramatically altered over the years and the change has been more evident in the balance between individual privacy rights and police surveillance authority. A significant section of the American public attributes the change to the 9/11 event to have catalyzed the search authority that has been related to the police surveillance. Surveillance has been modified and made quite inclusive of elements that were not previously connected to threat warnings, and with the advances made in the technology platform, a thin line has to be drawn as to what is acceptable by law and what should be considered as interference with the rights of an individual. Any form of threat to the safety of the American public has been defined in the constitution with the recommendations on the specific ways through which these issues of threat to national security have to be handled

Explain the difference between a change in demand and a change in the Essay

Explain the difference between a change in demand and a change in the quantity demanded. List and discuss at least 5 factors tha - Essay Example Thus the factors that determine demand can broadly be categorized into two categories; price determinants and non-price determinants. Presence of these two distinct determinants of demand gives rise to two different but equally important concepts; change in quantity demanded and change in demand. 1. Change in Quantity Demanded. A change in quantity demanded refers to the variation in consumers’ demand of a commodity due to a change in its price, other factors remaining constant. Thus, the only factor that causes a change in quantity demanded is price. In case of change in quantity demanded there is upward or downward movement along the same demand curve. The change in quantity demanded is depicted in fig 1. As the price falls from p to p1, the quantity demanded increases from q to q1 and there is movement along the same demand curve from A to B. A ‘fall’ or ‘increase’ in quantity demanded due to the change in price is also termed as ‘contraction ’ or ‘extension’ of demand. Fig 1: Change in Quantity Demanded 2. Change in Demand. A change in demand refers to an increase or decrease in demand that is brought about by a change in the other factors, except price. Thus a change in demand is a result of non-price determinants coming into force. ... Unlike, change in quantity demanded, a change in demand entails a shift in the demand curve; either to the left or to the right of the original demand curve. The change in demand is depicted in fig 2. There is an increase in demand when the demand curve shifts from D1 to D2. On the other hand, decrease in demand occurs when the demand curve shifts from D1 to D3. Fig 2: Change in Demand There are numerous non-price determinants of demand that lead to a change in demand. Some of these are discussed below: 2.1 Tastes and Preferences. Tastes and preferences play a pivotal role in shaping the demand for a product or commodity. In fact, the endeavor of any marketer of goods or services is to alter the tastes and preferences of the consumers so that they like the product that is being sold. The tastes and preferences of consumers are affected by numerous factors like advertising, promotions, cultural environment, government reports etc. For example, if the findings of a government funded re search study suggest that ingestion of carbonated drinks like Coke or Pepsi may be harmful to the human body, people may refrain from drinking these products and this may lead to a decrease in demand. 2.2 Prices of related products. There exist products in the market that may be substitutes or complements to the product in question. It is reasonable to expect that the prices of these related products have a bearing on the demand of a particular product. It is worthwhile to mention that if the price of a substitute changes, the demand for the product under consideration moves in the same direction as the change in the substitutes price. For e.g. in case the price of Coke increases, quantity demanded of Pepsi, a

Oscilloscope User's Guide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Oscilloscope User's Guide - Essay Example ...24 Appendices†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....25 Abstract This is a user guide for an oscilloscope, an electronic instrument used to observe constantly variable signals from electric charges. It entails first part which is introduction containing the different types of oscilloscope like; cathode ray oscilloscope as called the analog, digital storage oscilloscope, dual beam oscilloscope, analog storage oscilloscope and mixed domain oscilloscope. Introduction also highlights brief history of the oscilloscope. There the graphics and symbol section which discusses the various parts of the oscilloscope including; probes, input, time base controls, vertical amplifiers, front panel controls, and the hold off control. In the written analysis and statement, the tests; compliance test, production test and commissioning tests are discussed. Outcome of tests are explained. In this document pictures have been used to create a more realistic image of what an oscilloscope looks like. There is a concluding statement which discusses further the reports from the test and finally giving a concluding recommendation. Other parts of this document include the glossary; a list some terms which preferably user ought to have known, and appendices which include some information which may be of importance to the user of this manual. Introduction An oscilloscope is an electronic instrument or tester which is used in the observation and reading of a constantly varying electrical signals like voltages and current. (Witte, 2002) The observations and the readings are made from a series of potential differences; voltage drops which are displayed in a two dimensional graphs which entails axes y (vertical rise) and x (horizontal change). Electrical signals like sounds always cause a change in electrical potentials over time thus inducing or are conve rted to voltages. The created signals (voltages) are displayed in this graphs; forming a constantly repeated and periodic patterns. Since the signals are often repeated they always appear as a steady picture. In most cases, oscilloscopes have been used to capture sample of non-repeating wave forms. For this to be used to derive a meaningful information, the capture of the wave forms have to be done for some period of time (specified) and be stored to show a steady display of the captured segment. This enhances the exact observation of the wave shape of a signal which is electrically created, for example signals from sound wave. For proper observation, these instruments; oscilloscopes are as a rule calibrated. (Lee,2004) From such calibrated devices, voltages and time can be easily read by human eye with a lot of ease. The calibrations are done in such a way to allow for the measurement of the peak voltages of the wave form under study, frequency of the induced signals, rise time for the full amplitude, time taken between consecutive pulses and the timing of the signals which are related to

Microeconomic Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Microeconomic Questions - Essay Example How would, therefore, their profits differ from each other? 11 Is the elasticity of demand useful in terms of predicting the new equilibrium price and quantity in a market following a shock to the supply curve? When there is an increase or a decrease in the supply, the effect on the market is dependent on the elasticity of demand. The more inelastic is the demand curve, the less amount of quantity is sold as well as the price changes keeping all other things equal. When the demand curve is more elastic, the more changes in quantity bring fewer changes in price in a situation of ceteris Paribas. The magnitude of the effect of the supply side shock is not independent of price elasticity. In a situation of inelastic demand firms have the ability to raise prices as they will have to suffer from only a small drop in demand conditions. The responds of the producers as well as the consumers can affect the supply side shocks. The supply of fast food is elastic. The lesson from the elasticity concepts is more elastic is the curve, the more quantity changes and the more inelastic is the curve the more price changes. The elasticity is not only useful in order to predict the events of the markets but also to analyze the policies of the government. If a new subdivision is built near the shopping complex of a fast food company, the price of hamburger is not rise as much as the sales mainly because the fast food company is too small to generate such a demand that have the potential to increase the price. The elasticity of demand is of course useful in predicting the new equilibrium price as well as quantity because the shift or the trend of the demand curve because of the shock can be judged by the value of the elasticity. Under perfect competition, describe the long and short run outcomes if a demand curve were to shift to the left. A large number of small firms comprise the market for perfect competition. Each firm is small compared to the entire market. The comprising firm s set the identical products. The customers as well as the firms are well informed about the prices. There are no barriers to entry for other firms to enter into the market. In the short run the firms can change only the variable factor namely labor. The other decisions are predetermined. In the long run the firms have the potential to change their scale. In the short run when the existing price is less than the average cost curve it is better for the firm to close down. When the price is above the minimum point of average total cost, the firm makes profits. In the long run when a certain firm makes profits, new firms enter into the market. In the long run unlike monopoly or oligopoly it is not possible for a firm in perfect competition to earn economic profits. In a situation of perfect competition, the firm will be able to earn only normal profits and the demand curve will touch the total average cots curve at the minimum point. The firm must decide whether to continue with the bu siness in the long run and cover up the expenses. The decisions in the long run are based on the dependence between the price and the average cost curve in the long run. If the price is greater than or equal to average cots, the firm will continue to operate and close down otherwise. The above diagram represents a situation under perfect competition. In this case there is leftward shift of the market demand curve due to some reasons. The initial equilibrium price

Desert Survival Situation Essay Example for Free

Desert Survival Situation Essay The desert survival scenario taught me how to think rationally and demonstrate effective interpersonal skills. There is a certain time when we need to act as a group to achieve a goal, maybe to survive. The SDI and the desert survival scenario were intertwined especially during discussions. In a group. In SDI, we have four colors red, hub, blue and greed and each represent behaviors. Red characteristic behaviors tend to be competitive, forceful risk taker and self confident, Blues trust, helpful, modest, devoted, caring and supportive. Green characteristics are cautious, principled, fair and reserved. Hubs posses the three characteristics combined. All these four colors have an overdone side of each. In our discussion during the desert survival, were put in group and each group had members who were in these categories of colors. Interestingly,some group agreed to rank the items in a different ways, while others were able to almost come up with a list almost the experts rankings, Why?.Looking at their color characteristics, if a group had only gree, blue and hub, they were most likely to come up with no challenge. On the other hand, if we had all reds in a group there was not going to gain anything because all the will do is everyone compete and try to dominate. If all were green, they were likely to avoid and start talking out of the discussion. The Kilman conflict mode also can be applied in this analyses.For example,if in our discussion ,we had a competing member and all the others are avoiding mode,what will happen?. The red(competitor) will control all what the others say. No one will object anything and I thing the discussion will yield nothing at the end. If we have majority of accommodating members and avoiders, what will happen?.Everything will be â€Å"yes, I will do it† or avoid all. In order for the group to function, we need to have all the above members balanced. In an organization, if the manager is competing and a subordinate staff answerable to the manager is accommodating, that will lead to overworked, overwhelmed and misuse. In my society, women do not hold powers like men in every aspect of their lives. Although it is now changing the perception has not changed much. They are not entitled to posses or inherit properties. Not like in this country. In our class discussions, the professor does divide students into small groups to discuss the certain topic. I like how small group play because in this class we have members, who are adults and have experiences from their ages. They know how to handle and talk about issues. There personalities and attitudes are positive in how they interact with others. I have not been contributing much to the class and I think that is not being rude but this is something that I have struggle all along in my life.

Concert Orchestra experience Essay Example for Free

Concert Orchestra experience Essay The first piece was Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky, Op. 35a (1894) by Anton Arensky (1861-1906). The piece was written in 1894, in tribute to Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). It was based on the theme from the poem Legend†, written by Richard Henry Stoddard (1825-1903). This poem portrays the crucifixion of Christ. Arensky admired Tchaikovsky so much that he used the theme of â€Å"Legend† for a set of variations in the second movement of his Second String Quartet. This piece’s style is a themes and variations. Its instrumentation includes Cello solo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (A), 2 Bassoons + 2 Horns (F) + Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, and Double Basses. The second piece was Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, Op. 34 (1957) by Robert Kurka (1921-1957). This piece introduced the marimba, which proved to the musical world that it could contend with instruments that had been used in orchestras and also provide a unique sound to the traditional orchestras played in regular concerts. This piece’s style is solo concerto. Its instrumentation includes the marimba and the orchestra. The third piece was Pictures at an Exhibition (1874) by Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881). This piece was inspired by the paintings of the artist Viktor Hartmann (1834-1873). This piece’s style is an orchestral suite. Its instrumentation includes 3 Flutes (2nd and 3rd doubling Piccolos), 3 Oboes (3rd doubling Cor Anglais), 2 Clarinets in A and Bb, Bass Clarinet in A and Bb, Alto Saxophone, 2 Bassoons, Double Bassoon, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpet in C, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion (xylophone, triangle, rattle, whip, side drum, bass drum, cymbals, suspended cymbal), 2 Harps, Celesta, and Strings. I picked the pieces was Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky, Op. 35a (1894) by Anton Arensky and Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, Op. 34 (1957) by Robert Kurka. Both of these pieces were distinctly different than one another. The piece by Arensky depicts a sense of deep sadness and despair as a whole. It starts out containing elements of intimacy and moves towards a slow moving harmony. The structure of the music matched the structure of the original poem. The variations of sounds expressed many shifting moods such as a dialogue between instruments. Mood changed quickly throughout the piece and showed different parts of the melody, from increments of joy, to sadness, to a deep sorrow. The rhythm seamlessly continued throughout the piece acting towards each of the different themes described in its construction. The piece by Kurka produced a new and different type of classical music that is unique to the orchestra. The use of the marimba stood out from the traditional orchestral instruments. The first movement begins with an alternation between the marimba and the orchestra. Its upbeat sound resonates in a catchy chiming sound whose rhythm is clear yet unexpected. It provides a playful side to a usually stern and focused orchestra. As the second movement begins, it as if the marimba is communicating to the orchestra itself. As if it is trying to fit in with these classic types of instruments through its unique dynamics and resounding tone. It seems to clash with its orchestral counterparts. By the third movement, it seems as if all the instruments reach an agreement on the legitimacy of the marimba through its colorful and exciting solo. Although both pieces are completely different than one another, they both exhibit emotion. Arensky exhibits cruel sounding music that discusses the importance of religion and a series of events that affects a wide variety of people. It evokes a sense of despair that expresses a deep sounding melody. Kurka exhibits a different type of music that discusses the marimba’s rise to becoming a part of classical orchestra. Its colorful timbre expresses a joyful and unique melody that pleases the human ear. Anton Arensky (12 July 1861 -25 February 1906), was a Russian composer of Romantic classical music, a pianist and a professor of music. Pyotr Tchaikovsky was the greatest influence on Arenskys musical compositions. Indeed, Rimsky-Korsakov said, In his youth Arensky did not escape some influence from me; later the influence came from Tchaikovsky. He will quickly be forgotten. The perception that he lacked a distinctive personal style contributed to long-term neglect of his music, though in recent years a large number of his compositions have been recorded. Therefore, his values are seemingly non-existent because of the major influence of Tchaikovsky and absence of his own personal work. Throughout the performance I did perceive a strong sense of historical value and defines not who Arensky was, but his role model Tchaikovsky and how his music conveyed a strong sense of religious value. Kurka’s Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra was the first marimba work to enjoy both widespread public appeal and widespread recognition of having a high level of musical sophistication fit for the concert hall. It debuted during the modern style period. It provided important historical value by Kurka finally representing everything that early marimba composers set out to do in one piece: create a sophisticated and serious musical work that is both challenging to the performer and which has widespread public appeal. I perceived an ongoing struggle throughout the piece, but as the performance continued it conveyed the struggle the instrument had to do in order to become a prominent part of the classical orchestra. Citatation Keunning, G. (1999). Symphony of the canyons. Retrieved from http://lasr. cs. ucla. edu/geoff/prognotes/mussorgsky/pictures. html Strain, James. Vida Chenoweth. Percussive Notes 32. 6 (1994): 8-9. Print. Stevens, Leigh Howard. An Interview with Vida Chenoweth. Percussive Notes 15. 3 (2002): 22-25. PAS Online Archive . Weir, Martin. Catching up with Vida Chenoweth. Percussive Notes 32. 3 (1994): 53-55. Print.

The Youth And Islam Theology

The Youth And Islam Theology A man came to the Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam and said: My camel starts crying whenever i go into my bed for sleep, i do not know the reason behind it and i am very much worried. Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam asked him if he offers his Namaz e Isha. The man answered: No!I do not. Our Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam told the man that your camel cries because he sees the fire under your bed when you go into it without offering your Namaz. The man offered his Namaz e Isha and that night, his camel did not cry anymore.[Muslim] This incident shows the importance of Namaz e Isha and there are many incidents which tell us about the importance of every Namaz. But today, people have forgotten their religion. They feel shame of acting upon it. They have restless nights and joyless life because they do not follow their religion. Especially our youth is going to the very wrong path, who has the responsibility of the nation on their shoulders. It is a ve ry terrible condition to be sight.

Feminist Critique of Tess of the DUrbervilles :: Essays Papers

Feminist Critique: Tess of the D'Urbervilles Tess of the D’Urbervilles November 19, 1999 Ellen Rooney presents us with a feminist perspective which addresses a few key conflicts in the story, offering qualification if not answers. Essentially, Rooney argues that: Hardy is unable to represent the meaning of the encounter in The Chase from Tess’s point of view because to present Tess as a speaking subject is to risk the possibility that she may appear as the subject of desire. Yet a figure with no potential as a desiring subject can only formally be said to refuse desire†¦Hardy is blocked in both directions. (466) According to Rooney, we do not hear from Tess in this instance, for if we were to, it would only reinforce the notion of â€Å"Tess the seductress.† Yet, in various versions, Tess is presented as a seductress. Even by her nature as a beautiful women, Hardy presents the reader mixed messages; should we see her as a willing seductress, or as a victim who must suffer because of her body’s e ffects on others? Rooney argues that Hardy never comes to a conclusion on this issue, but â€Å"enables Tess to give over [her body], utterly silenced and purified, not by Hardy’s failure to see that she might speak, but by his unflinching description of the inexorable forces that produce her as the seductive object of the discourses of man† (481). Rooney writes a capable piece of gender criticism, in that it is defined as â€Å"how women have been written.† Gender issues seem permeate the story and the author doesn’t take a definitive stand on them. Rooney attempts to examine what role Tess plays in the story, how her interactions with Alec and Angel Clare form her identity, and how she triumphs over her afflictions. Ironically, her biggest affliction is her natural beauty; it’s something men simply cannot pass up, and just by her looks, she becomes seductive. Rooney brings this point up, but much to her credit, does not unleash an attack on Hardy or men because of it. Often feminist critics bear the burden that they are out to â€Å"get† men, yet when there is an apt argument for doing so in Tess, Rooney refrains and simply addresses the issues. Overall, her article was quite helpful in addressing the most resonate conflict in the whole story.

Biography of Louisa May Alcott Essay -- Louis May Alcott Writers Essay

Biography of Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott, an educator and philosopher, and Abigail May, the energetic, philanthropist. Louisa grew up in Concord and Boston, suffering from poverty as a result of her selfish idealist father's inability to support his family. Bronson Alcott habitually sacrificed his wife and daughters by refusing to compromise with a venal world, most conspicuously when he subjected them to an experiment in ascetic communal living at Fruitlands farm in 1843. However, the Alcotts' intellectual environment was rich and stimulating: Louisa's parents assidously encouraged her writing, and her friends included leaders in abolition and women's rights, including the Transcendental philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Henry David Thoreau. Louisa took nature walks with Thoreau and had the run of Emerson's library. By the time she had reached her teens, she felt a responsibility to help her mother and older sister provide for the family. She taught, sewed, worked as a domestic and a companion, and wrote fairy tales and romantic thrillers. When the Civil War broke out, she was eager to participate, animated by her dislike of female passivity as well as her hatred of slavery. She enlisted as a nurse ans served for three weeks in an army hospital in Washington, D.C., until she contracted typhoid fever. She was treated with mercury, which permanently undermined her health. The experience did, however, provide material for her Hospital Sketches, which vividly combines heartbreaking pathos in death of a gental, stoical blacksmith, indignation at male official callousness and mismanagement, and humorous self-portrayal as the warmhearted, hot- tempered, down-to-earth Nurse Tribulation Periwinkle. In that year, she proudly recorded in her journal, she earned almost $600 "by my writing alone," of which she "spent less than a hundred" for herself. From then on, she provided the major financial support for her family, while remaining obligated to help them with the heavy housework and nurse them when ill. She never married. Later on, a publisher approached Louisa to do a girls' book, she accepted the offer only because she needed the money. The result was Little Women , one of the bestsellers of all time. Within four years it had sold 82,0... ... her characters who rebel against conventionally defined female goodness. Alcott, however, did not let her resentment surface in behavior: she constantly sacrificed her personal comfort and the artistic quality of her works to the demands of her family. She "plunged into a vortex" to write Work but had to stop to nurse her sister Anna through pneumonia; when she finished the book, it was "Not what it should be,-too many interruptions. Should like to do one book in peace, and see if it wouldn't be good." When her father was dying, she regularly dragged herself out to see him, although very ill herself; two days after his death, free at last of family obligations, she died in Boston. Alcott will always be remembered for Little Women , the classic American story of girls growing up. In her own time, it established her reputation as a purveyor of perceptive and sympathetic, but always morally uplifting, literature for young people. The subversive, feminist element in her books has only recently been clearly recognized. We now see not so much "the Children's Friend" as a deeply conflicted woman whose work richly expresses the tensions of female lives in nineteenth-century America. Biography of Louisa May Alcott Essay -- Louis May Alcott Writers Essay Biography of Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott, an educator and philosopher, and Abigail May, the energetic, philanthropist. Louisa grew up in Concord and Boston, suffering from poverty as a result of her selfish idealist father's inability to support his family. Bronson Alcott habitually sacrificed his wife and daughters by refusing to compromise with a venal world, most conspicuously when he subjected them to an experiment in ascetic communal living at Fruitlands farm in 1843. However, the Alcotts' intellectual environment was rich and stimulating: Louisa's parents assidously encouraged her writing, and her friends included leaders in abolition and women's rights, including the Transcendental philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Henry David Thoreau. Louisa took nature walks with Thoreau and had the run of Emerson's library. By the time she had reached her teens, she felt a responsibility to help her mother and older sister provide for the family. She taught, sewed, worked as a domestic and a companion, and wrote fairy tales and romantic thrillers. When the Civil War broke out, she was eager to participate, animated by her dislike of female passivity as well as her hatred of slavery. She enlisted as a nurse ans served for three weeks in an army hospital in Washington, D.C., until she contracted typhoid fever. She was treated with mercury, which permanently undermined her health. The experience did, however, provide material for her Hospital Sketches, which vividly combines heartbreaking pathos in death of a gental, stoical blacksmith, indignation at male official callousness and mismanagement, and humorous self-portrayal as the warmhearted, hot- tempered, down-to-earth Nurse Tribulation Periwinkle. In that year, she proudly recorded in her journal, she earned almost $600 "by my writing alone," of which she "spent less than a hundred" for herself. From then on, she provided the major financial support for her family, while remaining obligated to help them with the heavy housework and nurse them when ill. She never married. Later on, a publisher approached Louisa to do a girls' book, she accepted the offer only because she needed the money. The result was Little Women , one of the bestsellers of all time. Within four years it had sold 82,0... ... her characters who rebel against conventionally defined female goodness. Alcott, however, did not let her resentment surface in behavior: she constantly sacrificed her personal comfort and the artistic quality of her works to the demands of her family. She "plunged into a vortex" to write Work but had to stop to nurse her sister Anna through pneumonia; when she finished the book, it was "Not what it should be,-too many interruptions. Should like to do one book in peace, and see if it wouldn't be good." When her father was dying, she regularly dragged herself out to see him, although very ill herself; two days after his death, free at last of family obligations, she died in Boston. Alcott will always be remembered for Little Women , the classic American story of girls growing up. In her own time, it established her reputation as a purveyor of perceptive and sympathetic, but always morally uplifting, literature for young people. The subversive, feminist element in her books has only recently been clearly recognized. We now see not so much "the Children's Friend" as a deeply conflicted woman whose work richly expresses the tensions of female lives in nineteenth-century America.

An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays

An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet    Day after day on television, in the movies, and even in some modern literature we see characters falling within those same old categories of "good guy" or "bad guy".   Life would be much easier to figure out if human beings were so definitely good or bad, but we're not.   Four hundred years ago William Shakespeare wrote a play that presented characters how human beings truly are, neither all good nor all bad.   Hamlet is a play twisting and turning so much in human emotion that at times it almost seems to come alive and give us an accurate depiction of inner-torment, death, and humanness. In such scenes as the one where we see Claudius praying for forgiveness for the murder he has committed, guilt is seen in who would be the easy-to-hate "villain" in other stories.   He is depicted as a human being with the capacity to be sorry for what he has done.   The good and bad qualities of characters in Hamlet makes it harder for the audience to know who is right or who they want to see succeed.   This duality is seen in many other Hamlet characters and it is most interesting to examine this mix of good and bad in Hamlet, because he is the play's supposed "good guy".   Since Claudius wronged Hamlet and his father the audience wants to sympathize with Hamlet and see him triumph over Claudius.   When his decency and moral appeal are seen as questionable Hamlet becomes a story immersed in the positive and negative qualities of character and the ambiguity of life. In the beginning of the play the audience sees Hamlet struggling with his father's death and his sincere mourning appeals to us; it is something that makes us feel for him.   After his encounter with the ghost we are given a Hamlet with a horrible mission, to murder.   Anyone can imagine how being faced with the truth of his father's death would anger Hamlet, but to murder in cold blood is something that wouldn't come easily to a young man.   The audience longs to see Hamlet find a way to make better what has happened, because he is innocent, young, and a man who lost someone he loved.   To deal with the murder of his own father and then being asked to murder are things that make us pity him and his confusing situation. An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays An Analytical Essay on the Duality of Man in Hamlet    Day after day on television, in the movies, and even in some modern literature we see characters falling within those same old categories of "good guy" or "bad guy".   Life would be much easier to figure out if human beings were so definitely good or bad, but we're not.   Four hundred years ago William Shakespeare wrote a play that presented characters how human beings truly are, neither all good nor all bad.   Hamlet is a play twisting and turning so much in human emotion that at times it almost seems to come alive and give us an accurate depiction of inner-torment, death, and humanness. In such scenes as the one where we see Claudius praying for forgiveness for the murder he has committed, guilt is seen in who would be the easy-to-hate "villain" in other stories.   He is depicted as a human being with the capacity to be sorry for what he has done.   The good and bad qualities of characters in Hamlet makes it harder for the audience to know who is right or who they want to see succeed.   This duality is seen in many other Hamlet characters and it is most interesting to examine this mix of good and bad in Hamlet, because he is the play's supposed "good guy".   Since Claudius wronged Hamlet and his father the audience wants to sympathize with Hamlet and see him triumph over Claudius.   When his decency and moral appeal are seen as questionable Hamlet becomes a story immersed in the positive and negative qualities of character and the ambiguity of life. In the beginning of the play the audience sees Hamlet struggling with his father's death and his sincere mourning appeals to us; it is something that makes us feel for him.   After his encounter with the ghost we are given a Hamlet with a horrible mission, to murder.   Anyone can imagine how being faced with the truth of his father's death would anger Hamlet, but to murder in cold blood is something that wouldn't come easily to a young man.   The audience longs to see Hamlet find a way to make better what has happened, because he is innocent, young, and a man who lost someone he loved.   To deal with the murder of his own father and then being asked to murder are things that make us pity him and his confusing situation.

The Zigzag Way portrays the character

Colette Rossants memoir, Apricots on the Nile, portrays the authors mother in a negative light, as a selfish woman concerned only about her own needs. Anita Desai’s novel, The Zigzag Way, portrays the character of Dona Vera in a similar way, as a selfish older woman who is full of herself and does not treat her servants or assistants with much consideration.Analyze the ways both of these texts, one fiction and one an autobiography, portray European women who came of age right before the second world war as self-centered tyrants. Which women serve as contrasts to the mother and Dona Vera in each narrative? I just need a good intro paragraph for this topic. Can you underline the thesis statement? Also, I do not need any other references, other than the 2 books: Apricots on the Nile, and The Zigzag Way.Colette Rossant’s French mother in her autobiography and Dona Vera in Zig Zag way of Anita Desai’s fiction are of European by origin and belong to the World War II ge neration. These seem to be the only similarity between the two of them, their continent and their age. Other than they are entirely different in every aspect.At the outset, both women come from contrasting classes of the society, Dona Vera from the middle Class and Rossant’s mother from the upper strata of the society. Dona Vera flees Austria as a result of her connections with the Nazis whereas the other lady has been forced to move to Egypt because of her husband’s sickness. Dona Vera is a self made woman but Rossant’s mother is privileged to live luxurious life because of her status in the society.Therefore the two women actually act as a foil to each other rather than being similar in any other way except the period of time in history and the dislike of the respective protagonists of the two books, Rossant and Eric. Instead of calling them tyrants who are inconsiderate to the people around them or self centered women, we can simply say that they have success fully survived the perils and troubles in their own varied but familiar way.They do not know any other way. Interestingly, Dona Vera’s contrast is Betty Jennings, and French lady’s contrast is her own daughter, Colette Rossants.ReferencesColette Rossants Apricots on the Nile Anita Desai The Zigzag Way

Swot Analysis of Meru

SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths: Meru Cabs was one of the first companies to launch metered â€Å"Radio cabs† in India under its brand â€Å"Meru. † Meru has captured the first mover advantage in this segment. Meru is very famous among its customers so much that when people think of air conditioned cabs they associate it with Meru. Meru cabs offer good training to their drivers so that they can maintain the Meru level of consumer service. They also regularly maintain their cabs which make it neat and clean and so commuters enjoy their ride.They have digital tampered proof meters so there is no chance cheating. Weakness: Meru cabs largely depend on technology right from the moment to pick up customers to drop them. They use GPRS system to track the customers and to drop them to their location and also to show them the real estimated time. So if there is any server failure or breakdown it becomes difficult for the cabs to function smoothly. Usually Meru cabs are available when cu stomers call for it. So there is time lag between the call time and actual ride. They are not as easily available as local non air conditioned cabs.People usually prefer meru cabs for long distance travel. Opportunity: Meru so far is catering only to major metro cities. They should consider upon extending their services to tier two cities because these cities are growing rapidly. They can also consider upon renting cars without chauffeurs. They can also update their customers with real flight time schedules through Infotainment services. Meru should also think for strategic partnership with various travels portals so that they can extend services like pick up and drop to customers to their hotels and so on. Threats:Although Meru was the first player in this segment; it is now facing stiff competition from players like Tab Cab, Mega Cabs and so on. There is very less level of differentiation among all these cabs. So this is eroding the market share of Meru. Air conditioned buses star ted by BEST in Mumbai is also competition to Meru cabs. Driver unions also prove to be a problem many a times. Government regulations and sudden changes in policies is also a threat. CRM of Meru to retain customers * No additional or hidden charges because of tamper free meters * Printed receipts produced at the end of every trip In case of any complaints, feedback etc. , passengers can call Customer Service Center at 44224422 * Lost and found belongings due to trustworthy drivers * Usage of clean green fuel because it uses LPG and CNG cars now a days to reduce pollution * Thoroughly trained Chauffeurs in a smart MERU uniform, fluent in English and Hindi and regional languages * Users are encouraged to make profiles on the website for faster and easier bookings next time * Round the clock availability of cabs backed by a location tracking GPS – based dispatch technology and a 24Ãâ€"7 Customer Service Center.This means a quicker pickup and faster response time to call for a c ab. * Tamper-proof digital cab meters, integrated with the GPS-system to ensure that every fare is tracked, thereby ruling out any possibility of overcharging by the driver. * Ability to track the location of the cab ‘real-time’ through the GPS technology * Emergency security features installed in the taxi for complete safety, including display of our Customer Service Center numbers inside each cab – provides security in case of an emergency-PANIC BUTTON BENEFITS OF CRM * Customer segmentation Market analytics like records of customer profiles, profile, payment history etc. * Generation of accurate leads and SMS bursts that target only the right customers based on their segmentation is possible * First time retention has increased from 40 % to more than 90 % * Customized and simplified bill formats, payment collection through cards * Better value added services were provided * It facilitated knowledge sharing amongst employees * Option of booking a cab in less th an 60 seconds * Reduced cost of customer acquisition * Has resulted in savings because of fewer calls

Cultural Relativism: A Way of Life Essay

â€Å"If you are my baby, it don’t matter if you’re black or white.† These words reverberate in my mind as I heard the news about Michael Jackson’s death. His song, Black or White is one of my favorites because it talks about a father’s acceptance of his child despite the baby’s color. Later, when I encountered the term cultural relativism in school, I understood better what the song wants to promote, and how this can be accomplished. Cultural relativism is commonly known as the practice of accepting and living harmoniously with people of different cultures. If we observe our society today, we will notice different kinds of people—Africans, Caucasians, Asians, Latinos, and a lot of mixtures coexist. Cultural relativism is what allows them to live in peace with each other, to accept and respect other cultures like they do their own. Considering the present scenario, we may say that cultural relativism is not just a practice or aspect of life, it is already a way of life, a must for every person to live and prosper. Ideally, a society that adheres to cultural relativism allows the existence and exchange of different cultures. Although this has not been fully realized in many places, we can guarantee that it is already a common aspect of the learning environment. In school, students get the chance to interact with others, and discover aspects of different cultures. Everyday interaction with Asians, African-Americans, and Latin Americans allows us to see that after all, it is not difficult to coexist with different people. Often, all we need is to provide opportunities for interaction and sharing. Specifically, in my dealings with different cultures, I learned to appreciate the hard work of the Chinese, the ingenuity of the Japanese, the friendliness of Filipinos, the family values of the Latinos, and the cool attitude of the African-Americans. Cultural relativism has helped me appreciate different cultures, and allowed me to grow more maturely. To practice cultural relativism, I personally follow three steps. First, I try to analyze why people are behaving the way they do. I rely on my background knowledge to analyze the situation. Next, I observe and see the positive effects of their practice, and third, I try to find more information about the practice by inquiring from the person or researching online. For example, seeing the Chinese sip the soup out of the bowl without using spoon initially made me felt indifferent. However, in applying cultural relativism, I tried to analyze why they do this instead of using a spoon. Then, I realized that the Chinese use chopsticks instead of spoon, making it impossible to have the soup without sipping it directly from the bowl. Also, one time I encountered a Japanese documentary showing a man perfecting a sword. He seemed mindless of the fire he used to shape the sword, and from there I wondered why the Japanese give such importance to swords when guns are more reliable for protection. Due to this, I searched the Internet for answers, and found out that perfecting swords is part of the Japanese Samurai culture, the military men in the history of Japan. I learned that the Samurais treat swords as their companion in battle, and swords serve as representations of them. Therefore, a Samurai’s sword should be well-kept at all times because it is a family inheritance and symbol of honor. Knowledge of others’ culture definitely helps us understand and appreciate them. However, there are also practices which I believe I cannot accept even though I already have a good grasp of cultural relativism. One of these is the suicide killing done by 9/11 hijackers. Unlike the Japanese version of suicide which hopes to express a person’s regret for a mistake committed, suicide killing among the Muslims intends to kill non-Muslims on the bases of religious and political conflicts. What makes it truly wrong is killing innocent people for some selfish intent. Considering this, cultural relativism becomes a difficult aspect of reality, similar to pushing a child to swallow a whole fresh egg straight to the stomach.

Race in Down These Mean Streets

Qing Xu HCOM 345 Prof. Nava 5/2/12 Race in Down These Mean Streets â€Å"Este es un mundo brillante, estas son mis calles, mi barrio de noche, con sus miles de luces, cientos de millones de colores mezclados con los ruidos, un sonido vibrante de carros, maldiciones, murmullos de alegria y de llantos, formando un gran concierto musical (Thomas, Down These Mean Streets, 1998, p. 3)†, is how Piri Thomas describes his birthplace, East Harlem. The diversity of cultures, the vibrant street life, the passion and conflicts of everyday life and media portrayal in movies such as West Side Story make East Harlem an exciting and mysterious place.But hidden under the dirty faces of the children is the struggle in the search for acceptance and belong, as painfully narrated by Thomas in Down These Mean Streets. In this essay I will analyze how racial identity is constructed through his story and the relationship between racism and social problems such as gangs and crime in a place like East Harlem. Piri Thomas’ parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico during the 1920s before he was born in 1928.Piri reflects upon a hard childhood of growing up in a lower class family at the time of the Great Depression, through the cold winters of New York City, a place whose people Piri’s mother described as having snow in their hearts. But the most difficult thing of all was the racial prejudice that he had to endure because of his black skin and the confusion of his own racial identity caused by his family’s denial of their Afro-Latino heritage. One day, Piri confronted his younger brother Jose, pointing out the hypocrisy of his family’s claim to Whiteness: Jose’s face got whiter and his voice angrier at my attempt to take away his white status.He screamed out strong: â€Å"I aint’t no nigger! You can be if you want to be†¦. But—I—am—white! And you can go to hell! † â€Å"And James is blanco, too? † I asked quietly. â€Å"You’re damn right. † â€Å"And Poppa? † †¦ â€Å"Poppa’s the same as you,† he said, avoiding my eyes, â€Å"Indian. † â€Å"What kind of Indian,† I said bitterly. â€Å"Caribe? Or maybe Borinquen? Say, Jose, didn’t you know the Negro made the scene in Puerto Rico way back? And when the Spanish spics ran outta Indian coolies, they brought them big blacks from you know where. Poppa’s got moyeto blood. I got it. Sis got it. James got it. And, mah deah brudder, you-all got it†¦.It’s a played-out lie about me-us-being white (Thomas, Down These Mean Streets, 1998, p. 145). Piri had always felt that he was being treated differently in the family because of his skin color. He wanted to find a racial identity with which he could feel a sense of belonging. Hoping to find out whether his skin color, his face, his hair made him a black in America even though he’s a Puerto Rican, he joi ned the merchant marines and traveled to the South. He came to accept that he was black after experiencing racism everywhere: on the ship, in restaurants, even in prostitution (Thomas, Down These Mean Streets, 1998, pp. 20-87). Piri’s world came crashing down when his mother died while his father was having an affair with a white woman, whose whiteness fed his father’s insecurity about his own blackness, according to Piri. Piri’s rejection toward whites came to a boiling point and he left home, joined gangs where his companions were black and took drugs. Eventually he went to prison for shooting a policeman. â€Å"Jesus, I thought, I finally shot me some Mr. Charlies. I shot ‘em in my mind often enough (Thomas, Down These Mean Streets, 1998, p. 259),† he wrote.It was the years in prison that gave him time to really reflect and think about who he was and his own worth. In the end of the book he came out of prison back into the neighborhood that he mi ssed so much. He fought hard to resist drugs and violence. Eventually he became a famed writer and a lecturer, and worked to steer troubled kids away from gangs and crimes. Puerto Ricans have historically been discriminated by U. S. institutions. As Angel Oquendo explains in â€Å"Re-imagining the Latino/a Race†, Puerto Ricans arrived in the U. S. as a result of U. S. mperial invasion and colonization of the island. They became one of the most impoverished groups and were â€Å"systematically perceived and treated as a conquered people (Oquendo, 1998, p. 70)† Puerto Ricans could sometimes pass as whites, like Piri’s family did. However, Piri was treated badly by the school, public transportation, workplace and the government. In an interview conducted by Ilan Stavans, he recalled that in the classroom the â€Å"teacher came roaring upon me and said ‘listen, stop talking in that language [Spanish],’ and I said ‘well, I am speaking my motherâ⠂¬â„¢s language.My mother’s from Puerto Rico, I was born in this country,’ and she says ‘well you stop talking that, you have to learn English, you are in America now. ’ (Thomas, Race and Mercy: A Conversation with Piri Thomas, 1996, p. 345)† He also recalled going to the South with his friend Billy on a bus. The driver ordered all colored people to go sit in the back. When Piri tried to tell the driver that he was Puerto Rican, the driver said, â€Å"I don’t care what kind of nigger you are† and reached his hand into his side pocket.To avoid the risk of being killed, he quietly went to the back of the bus (Thomas, Race and Mercy: A Conversation with Piri Thomas, 1996, p. 351). In a chapter of his book titled â€Å"How to Be a Negro without Really Trying,† Piri recalls another occasion where he and his fair skinned friend Louie went to a job interview for a sales position. The company hired Louie instead of him. â€Å"I didnâ₠¬â„¢t feel so much angry as I did sick, like throwing-up sick,† Piri’s hatred started growing and he started to think of himself as black. â€Å"Later, when I told this story to my buddy, a colored cat, he said, ‘Hell, Piri†¦ a Negro faces that all the time. ‘I know that,’ I said, ‘but I wasn’t a Negro then. I was still only a Puerto Rican. ’ (Thomas, Down These Mean Streets, 1998, p. 108)† When Piri and his mother applied for Home Relief, he hated the condescending and suspicious attitude of the government officials. The fact that Piri was perceived as black even though he was a Latino and that he was the only that received all the prejudice out of all his siblings, shows that U. S. society perceives all races in Black-White terms. According to Oquendo, this racial dualism is due to the prominent history of slavery and discrimination of people of African ancestry.He explains that the division of white Puerto Ricans and black Puerto Ricans is non-existent in Puerto Rico. Modern Puerto Rican society emphasizes its African heritage (Oquendo, 1998, p. 63). Berta E. Hernandez-Truyol explains that all Puerto Ricans share the same identity: â€Å"I grew up in Puerto Rico†¦ We were big and small, brown-eyed and blue-eyed, blondes and brunettes, but one significant factor we shared was that we were all de Borinquen. Sure, we were diverse peoples, but we were all united—we were all boricua (Hernandez-Truyol, 1998, p. 381). Because of the different social context in the U. S. , Piri were perceived differently from his siblings, which dramatically altered the course of his life. Perhaps the process of Piri becoming black can be best explained by Ian F. Haney Lopez’s theory on the social construction of race. He argues that an individual’s racial identity is constructed by interplay of chance, context, and choice. By chance he means the morphology and ancestry of a person which are not chosen by the person, i. e. skin color. Piri’s morphology is the foundation of his search of racial identity.When his family moved to Long Island, the white children at his school taunted him for trying to pass as Puerto Rican because he couldn’t pass as white. By context, Lopez means â€Å"the social setting in which races are recognized, constructed, and contested (Lopez, 1998, pp. 9-11). † Piri has ancestral ties to three continents: Europe, Africa, and America. Therefore to conclude that Piri is Black is unreasonable. However, in the social context of America, skin color is mostly directed associated with race. President Obama, Tiger Woods are both widely perceived to be Blacks, even though only a portion of their blood is Black.Same thing happened to Piri. Lopez further explains that morphology and ancestry are constant, but context is inconstant and unstable and shifts in time and space. Nevertheless, context gives interpretation to morphology and ance stry, such as a person’s dark skin makes him/her Black. In Puerto Rico, Piri’s family was neither Black nor White; they suffered no prejudice based on their skin colors. But the social structure of race in New York in the 1930s is based on the racial dualism, which forced Piri and his family to define them as either Black or White.As a result, Piri believed that he and his family were black biologically. However, he was not black because of his features but because of the interpretation of these features by the racial ideology of his society. Moreover, social ideology of race changes from place to place, as evident in his travel from â€Å"Spanish Harlem, where he was Puerto Rican, to Long Island, where he was accused of trying to pass, to the South, where he was Black (Lopez, 1998, p. 12). † Finally, the last component of racial construction is choice, which means whether a person accepts the meanings of his morphology and ancestry given by the context.Piriâ₠¬â„¢s father not only shared the same social context with Piri, he also shared the same skin color and features. However, he chose to be white, like his son Jose. Lopez explains that choices about racial identity are heavily influenced by racial prejudice and hatred, as revealed in Jose’s claim to be White: â€Å"I ain’t black, damn you! Look at my hair. It’s almost blond. My eyes are blue, my nose is straight. My motherfuckin’ lips are not like a baboon’s ass. My skin is white. White, goddamit! White (Lopez, 1998, p. 14)! † The social problems that Puerto Ricans face include poverty, gangs and crimes.The â€Å"presumed solutions† to these social problems would be welfare programs, education, more law enforcement patrolling the Barrio, etc. However, new problems will arise with each of these solutions. If we provide more welfare to the Puerto Ricans, it would further drain the national budget, which is already tight in the current eco nomic situation. It would also anger many nativists who are opposed to immigration, especially whites with lower economic status, because they might fear that the Puerto Ricans are taking their resources.There are already many voices accusing the Latino immigrants of coming to their country and sucking up all their welfare. Education definitely helps prepare a more skilled work force, which means more income for the Puerto Rican households. However, with the current budget cuts, increased financial aid to Puerto Rican students will likely be met with opposition from the rest of the population. The DREAM act which allows alien students to obtain financial aid in college has already been met with opposition arguing that the aliens would take away educational funds that could be awarded to native students.Granting more aid to Puerto Rican students will probably be met with the same opposition. However, education does serve as an important tool to pull a community out of poverty. Gangs not only create violence and crime in a community, but their culture is harmful to the vital institutions of society such as the family, the church, the school, and the government. In â€Å"Beating the Barrio: Piri Thomas and Down These Mean Streets†, James B. Lane states that â€Å"The social disorganization of the ghetto bred cynicism, hatred of authority, confused identity, inability to defer pleasure, and violent impulsiveness (Lane, 1972, p. 17). † Piri, tormented by racial prejudice and confused identity, leaved his family to be on the streets because he found a stronger sense of belonging there. So do countless number of kids in the present. To Piri religion seemed an obligation. He hated school and resented government. Although gangs like the ones Piri was in are harmful to the society, villanizing them will only make matters worse. MS-13, the biggest gang in the world, started with a couple persons but grew so much partly because police cracked down on them an d sent them back to El Salvador; many of them were born and raised in the U. S. which made them more organized and bigger. That policy only aimed to remedy the problem but failed to address the root of the problem: how the kids joined the gang. We need to recognize that criminals weren’t born criminals. Many gang members are victims of racism and oppression. Racism plants a seed of hatred in each of its victim, as in Piri’s case: â€Å"A big hate of everything white grew inside of me. I was scared of the whole fucking world (Robinson). † This hatred eventually led him to shoot a white cop. It is also no surprise that he had no interest in school and government, where he encountered racism.Gangs also provide protection for the oppressed, give them strength to fight back the authority that oppresses them, and give them a sense of belonging. In order for there to be no gangs, racism must be eliminated. In order for racism to be eliminated, everyone, kids and adults , need to be educated about racism in contemporary society, because racism starts in the mind. Schools need to make it mandatory for students to learn how racism starts, the social structures that breed racism in our society and all the ways that racism affect different ethnic groups today.Piri Thomas had a good idea of what needed to be taught to children: Children become what they are taught or not taught. For thousands of years we have heard propaganda about white supremacy and â€Å"might makes right. † Because if you conquer people by might, strip away their education, their beliefs, their culture, and their land, then in two or three generations their children will be in the dark ages again. We had very bright minds when we first went into their schools, because children are not born stupid.The world has no right to judge intelligence by the color of one’s skin†¦ this is the struggle that we have had to wage, to allow all the colors to express their humanity through literature and the other arts to learn from each other, as a people, for we are not only geographic locations, colors, sexes, or preferences. We are earthlings who share a common bond—our humanity (Thomas, Race and Mercy: A Conversation with Piri Thomas, 1996, p. 352). It’s because of the lack of awareness and ignorance that racism is still so prevalent today.There needs to be more representatives for under-represented groups such as Puerto Ricans in the political arena who could voice their needs. Puerto Ricans should be given voting rights in the general elections, since they are citizens of the United States. Puerto Ricans can also empower themselves through strengthening their identity as a whole. Oquendo suggests that â€Å"just as African Americans seek to base their self-understanding on their resurrection from slavery, Latino/as should trace their identity back to their resurrection from imperialist conquest (Oquendo, 1998, p. 70). Indeed, Puerto Rica ns and other Latino groups have proven to be resilient peoples with a great deal of stamina to live in their harsh environments while keeping their dignity. Oquendo also suggests that Latino/as should use Spanish as a source of support for Latino/a identity, since Spanish is their shared heritage. I agree with Oquendo. Language is the central part of a cultural heritage, if they all speak the language that their mother and grandmother speak, they can be closer to their roots and thus secure a sense of belonging. It is important for Puerto Ricans in the U. S. o know their homeland and its culture in order to have a stronger identity. Piri said in the interview that he was not recognized in Puerto Rico because he didn’t write in Spanish, and â€Å"the only reason why I knew of Puerto Rico is because I sat in the corner and listened to the grown-ups speaking about places like Fajardo, Bayamon†¦ I finally went to Puerto Rico when I got out of prison at the age of thirty-two . My God, as that wall of green humidity enveloped me, it was like I was entering into my mother’s arms (Thomas, Race and Mercy: A Conversation with Piri Thomas, 1996, p. 347). Through speaking Spanish, different Latino groups can relate to each other, which can be a source of support. He suggests that Spanish be brought to adult schools, unions, church organization, prisons and rehabilitation programs, so that the adult population can learn, too (Oquendo, 1998, pp. 70-71). It’s also vital that children living in the Barrio know their own value and realize their potential. In the video Every Child is born a Poet: Life and Work of Piri Thomas, it shows Piri working with teenagers in a juvenile hall inspiring them to express themselves and find their values through poetry.It also shows testimonials from local youths telling stories of how Down These Mean Streets had helped them find their identities and connect with their neighborhood (Robinson). There should be social w ork agencies and after-school programs geared towards teenagers helping kids find passion in learning and keep them away from the streets. Piri Thomas’ memoir is not only a testament to the harsh life of immigrants growing up in the United States and the dangers of racism; its wisdom teaches us all of the importance of identity and heritage.Its lessons will benefit generations to come. Works Cited Hernandez-Truyol, B. E. (1998). Bringing International Human Rights Home. In R. Delgado, & J. Stefancic, The Latino/a Condition (p. 381). New York and London: New York University Press. Lane, J. B. (1972). Beating the Barrio: Piri Thomas and â€Å"Down These Mean Streets†. The English Journal. Lopez, I. F. (1998). Chance, Context, and Choice in the Social Construction of Race. In R. Delgado, & J. Stefancic, The Latino/a Condition (pp. -11). New York and London: New York University Press. Oquendo. (1998). Re-imaginning the Latino/a Race. In R. Delgado, & J. Stefancic, The Lati no/a Condition (p. 70). New York and London: New York University Press. Robinson, J. (Director). (n. d. ). Every Child is Born a Poet: Life and Work of Piri Thomas [Motion Picture]. Thomas, P. (1996, Autumn). Race and Mercy: A Conversation with Piri Thomas. (I. Stavans, Interviewer) Thomas, P. (1998). Down These Mean Streets. New York: Vintage Books.

Should I Focus on STEM-Specific Classes in High School?

The acronym STEM, referring to the academic and professional fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, has become a popular buzzword in the world of education. This is not without merit, as STEM-related careers are projected to experience rapid job growth over the next decade. Many STEM fields have strong, easily identifiable career prospects in prestigious and cutting-edge careers, such as biotech, tech startups, software development, and medicine. In fact, in 2016, nine out of 10 of the most desirable jobs ranked by CareerCast were STEM-related, ranging from audiologist to information security analyst. With all the hype, you might be wondering if you should focus your academic efforts towards a higher education path in the STEM fields. Should you load up on STEM area classes during high school, even if doing so may shortchange other areas like the humanities, arts, or social sciences? If you’re considering a focused pursuit of STEM classes and you’re curious as to what degree you should focus your work, this post is for you. Here, we outline the importance of a STEM education for intended STEM-majors and non-majors alike, its application in a competitive job market and beyond, and the bottom line for how to decide how much weight STEM classes will get in your high school class selections. There’s no question that it’s a good idea to get a strong STEM background while you’re still in high school, especially if you plan to pursue STEM-related classes in college. Many schools are now devoting resources to STEM-specific programs or even creating entirely new departments within the school. There’s no doubt that without a solid STEM foundation in high school, you’ll be at a disadvantage to pursue any of these fields seriously in college. So, what does this mean for your class selection in high school? Should you be dropping English classes to take more science classes? Which science classes should you choose? In STEM classes, as in other subject areas, you should generally be taking the most challenging classes available to you if you want to be a competitive candidate for top-tier colleges. The specific STEM classes you take will vary depending on class availability at your school, but generally you will need to enroll in whichever track is specified as the most challenging one. This usually means you’ll be taking AP Calculus , AP Chemistry , and AP Physics , along with perhaps some coding classes or robotics extracurriculars. In addition to qualifying you as a competitive candidate, these challenging classes will often prepare you for college-level work in the STEM fields. They may also possibly mean you won’t have to take big, basic lecture classes to get started if you can place out of introductory classes through placement tests or AP scores. The bottom line is if you know you want to pursue a STEM field, getting serious about it in high school is a good idea. That said, you should not do so at the expense of fulfilling your graduation requirements in other subject areas, such as English, and you shouldn’t drop core classes to facilitate your STEM path. While your early preparation and focus can set you apart as a college applicant and make your academic pursuits in college one step easier, don’t take your specialization so far that other subject areas suffer. Our Early Advising Program helps students in 9th and 10th grade discover their passions and build strong academic and extracurricular profiles to succeed in high school. STEM classes are important even if you don’t intend to pursue a related major in college. Programming, familiarity with technology, basic engineering skills, or basic knowledge of fields like chemistry and biology could come in handy in many different fields and jobs. These skills can set you apart in a competitive job market, even if the job isn’t directly related to STEM work. As more and more industries and businesses become dependent on technology, STEM skills are relevant in many different, unrelated fields. You become a more desirable job candidate if you know the field and also have skills in programming, web development, or other relevant technologies. STEM-skills can even make you more self-sufficient outside of the workplace. Computer knowledge can help you to fix technical issues yourself, while basic chemistry can make you a better gardener, and engineering knowhow can help you with home or car repairs. Even if you really dislike math or science or feel like they are subjects that just don’t come naturally to you, you should still work to develop basic proficiency in these areas. Although you may not plan a career focused on a STEM field, you should plan on a life that requires a basic knowledge of STEM skills. As with anything else, there can be too much of a good thing. If you’re interested in STEM fields, you should definitely pursue them and even prioritize them over your other classes, but you should not write off your other classes entirely. For one thing, most high schools have core classes that are required for graduation. Without a set number of classes in English, history, and other subject areas, you might not be allowed to graduate. Be sure to check the requirements at your school so that you know what’s expected in advance. Beyond that, many colleges also require or at least strongly recommend that you take a certain number of classes in various non-STEM areas in order to enter or even be a strong applicant. This ensures that you are a well-rounded candidate with skills that extend beyond the STEM field. Even if it’s not explicitly clear to you from application instructions, taking the most challenging classes available to you in multiple areas (not just STEM) matters to colleges. Ultimately, STEM professionals need to be able to communicate effectively through a variety of mediums and taking a broad base of classes ensures that you’re prepared to do this. Finally, the important standardized tests (SATs or ACTs) required for many college applications are cross-curricular in nature. Even if you score perfectly on the math or science portions of the test, your overall score will suffer significantly if you can’t also perform well on the humanities sections. Often, your overall score is used as an initial screening tool for college admissions, so if it doesn’t meet a certain threshold, the admissions committee may never even see your perfect score on the math section. This is a difficult question because the answer will vary depending on your personal strengths, goals, and other priorities. Ultimately, everyone should give STEM-classes some serious consideration and time because in an increasingly tech-based world, this skill set will always be of some value. Obviously, if you plan to pursue STEM in college, you should take advantage of your high school’s STEM class offerings. Take as many as you can without comprising your work in other fields. Also, join STEM-related clubs or other activities. You can be STEM-focused without having to jeopardize your studies in other subject areas. If you don’t want to pursue STEM in college or you’re simply not yet sure, you should consider STEM as one of many options. There are many valuable, interesting, and necessary fields of study available, especially while you’re still in high school. Take advantage of the opportunities that high school gives you to learn broadly, explore different fields, and become as well-rounded as you are specialized in your studies. Lay the foundation for a basic STEM background in case you change your mind later or need those skills in life or work, but don’t focus solely on STEM if your interests and talents lie elsewhere. To learn more about pursuing STEM-fields, both in high school and in college, consider the benefits of the Near Peer Mentorship Program , which provides access to practical advice on topics from college admissions to career aspirations, all from successful college students.