The Getting Of Wisdom, Coonardoo And Summer Of The...

The characters in these three literary text, The Getting of Wisdom, Coonardoo and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, all demonstrate the traditions of gender roles in the early twentieth century. The first text by Henry Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom in 1910, a Bildungsroman story of a protagonist, Laura, as she develops to gain wisdom through her boarding school life. Richardson’s work undercovers what it is to be a â€Å"proper† woman in the early twentieth century through Laura. The traditions of women sexualities in the early 1900s were set quite strictly as genders were set to play a certain role in order to become a ‘fully-grown’ adult. The Getting of Wisdom describes the progression or the failure of Laura to become a â€Å"proper† woman throughout the narrative. The next literary text, Coonardoo, is a literary novel written by Katharine Susannah Prichard in the 1920s about the romantic life between an Aboriginal woman and a white man. Althoug h her work struck many issues about interracial relationships as Corbould mentioned that Coonardoo uses ‘bold and unconventional elements’ in the narrative, (415) it reveals many sexual identity of the Aboriginals and the Australian whites, through the narrative voice of a minority. Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler is an Australian play and was originally set in the mid twentieth century. This last literary text uses its characters to demonstrate their struggle with their identity and Olive’s failure to conform to the

Cash Flow Ratios For Investing - 2036 Words

As an investor or shareholder, one needs to learn and know how to calculate financial ratios before investing, otherwise an investor may risk investing in a debt filled firm with low profitability. Financial ratios are primarily tools for turning the data contained in financial statements into information used by managers and executives to better understand what is happening in a company. Like all tools, they can be used for things other than their original design, such as evaluating an acquisition, creating pro-forma statements related to potential courses of action, or figuring out which stock to buy. Cash flow ratios measure how much cash is generated and the safety net that cash provides to the company to finance debt or grow the†¦show more content†¦Generally speaking, investors are more confident in putting their money in riskier options. Financial ratios help investor in determining the financial health of an organization (Lai Ping-Fu Cho Kwai-Yee, 2016). The most i mportant ratios to a bond investor in a corporate bond issuance fall under the liquidity, solvency and profitability ratios. Profitability is the ability of a firm to generate earnings (Gibson, 1987). Liquidity ratios have the ability to be quickly converted to cash without losing significant value. Liquidity refers to the company’s ability to access cash in order to pay its short term obligations (Gibson, 1987). They include current ratios, acid test ratio, and operating cash flow per share among others. The bond investor needs to know the acid test ratio because it shows whether a company has enough short-term assets to cover its immediate liabilities without selling inventory (Mahboobinejad, 2015). The higher the acid test ratio, the safer a position the company is in (Gibson, 2013). The acid test is very similar to the current ratio except that it excludes inventory because inventory is often illiquid (Gibson, 2013). The nature of the inventory and the industry in which the company operates will determine if the acid test or the current ratio is more applicable. Acid test = Current Assets – Inventory/ Current Liabilities. Price /earnings ratio - investors view the P/E ratio as a gauge of future earning power of the firm.

Religion Is Necessary free essay sample

Date Everyday people turn on the television or the Internet and see all sorts of stories, murders committed, hunger strikes, boycotts, elections, company mergers, etc. All of these things make people look at the world in a different light. Even though people want to believe that this information is completely accurate, it is mostly biased or one sided, just like religion. With this being said one of the main factors in government that causes so much conflict and collision is religion. This is because religion is a worldwide phenomenon that can lead to both conflict and peace, depending on the way one looks upon it. Although in some cases religion may cause strife between countries, the reality of it is that without religion correlating with state affairs at all, the government would simply not function. Joseph Ashby seconds that statement in his article â€Å"Is Religion Necessary† when he states how important religion is in order to have freedom. Albright furthers this argument when she portrays the importance of the role religion has on diplomatic efforts in her essay â€Å"Faith and Diplomacy†. Thomas Freidman also touches upon the topic of international diplomacy when he encourages peace and cooperation between nations that may not always see eye to eye in his essay â€Å"The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention†. All three authors show how the government of the United States is far more complicated than what meets the eye and paints a vivid picture of how there is a brighter future in store for the world if only nations would use their differences to their advantage. â€Å"They should develop the ability to recognize where and how religious beliefs contribute to conflicts and when religious principles might be invoked to ease strife. (Alrbright 24). The role of in foreign policy has the potential to impact the world and make connections between nations stronger and more efficient if only we would let it. It is important to recognize the conflicts of human dignity and exemplify the relation to society before improvements can be made, one of them being the way people are governed. The founding fathers originally intended for the people to govern themselves since there were few restricting laws. However â€Å"Self governance cannot function without morality. As morals decline, laws xpand and freedoms necessarily contract† (Ashby 1). Since society is changing so fast there are several steps that the government should take in order to increase cooperation amongst nations. Few mountains must be climbed in order to see the true value religion and other factors can have on ties between nations. Separation of church and state, as stated in the first amendment, is our government’s policy to keep religion and governmental affairs separate from one another. This being said, Americans find it extremely difficult to let the role of religion take place in diplomatic affairs. The only Constitutional solution to these problems is to depend on citizens sense of morality† (Ashby 1). Due to the separation of church and state, many argue that r eligion has no place in diplomatic affairs at all. â€Å"There are so many who take personally any mention of religion in a public context, perceiving it as an attack on non-religious, moral individuals† (Ashby 1). People should however instead take the comments about religion as a way of announcing the basic moral principles of life. What society is not opening their eyes to is that if the U. S ambassadors can relate to religion without taking faith-based approaches towards diplomacy for their own personal advancements, than religion can contribute to several foreign situations in numerous ways. â€Å"The resurgence of religious feeling will continue to influence world events. American policy-makers cannot afford to ignore this; on balance they should welcome it. †(Albright 31). When religious input is used for the right reasons, it can do tremendous things. â€Å"These and many other classic geopolitical conflicts could erupt at any time and either slow the flattening of the world, or seriously unflatten it. (Friedman 124) Although there is a chance that the role of religion could cause conflict, it is a chance worth taking. There are so many powerful actions that can be made based on faith and politics that can benefit America and the ties with other nations especially with all of the modern communication. From video streaming to the Internet to television broad casting, people are relayed all sorts of information all around the world. Friedman’s Dell theory is a perfect example yet very complex and there is both good and bad parts when it comes to this theory. Friedman states, â€Å"Countries whose workers and industries are woven into a major global supply chain know that they cannot take an hour, a week, or a month off for war without disrupting industries and economies around the world and thereby risking the loss of their place in that supply chain for a long time, which could be extremely costly† (Friedman 126). People who are part of a chain, as in the Dell Company, think twice before causing a war with countries that are also a part of that chain. They do this mainly because a war could result in the loss of that chain of work. Being that big companies such as different franchises bring in a lot of profit for that country, war with another country working with the same company would be very detrimental. This kind of work tends to have people feel differently about countries in which they might have felt badly about originally. It also makes countries become allies in the sense that they need each other in order for business and for profit to be able to continue on. Even though the conflict prevention theory can keep countries together and sane not all people agree with this sense of connectivity. From an outside perspective people grasp a total different perception on the countries, usually this is due to diverse religious beliefs. People still resort to terrorism to get these points across and businesses and franchises cannot do anything to stop that. Friedman says, â€Å"since the Dell Theory offers no hope of restraining the suicide supply chains, the only strategy we have is to limit their worst capabilities† (Friedman 133). Unfortunately the Internet makes this concept extremely difficult because anyone can access the Internet at any time and the security of online data is not one hundred percent reliable. This information and the easy access to it changes the way people view their world. One may argue that faith must be common between two nations in order for them to cooperate. If two nations have enough respect for one another and are willing to share faith based ideas in order to benefit each other, than that should be substantial enough for peace to be maintained. This is why Nations can no longer put the idea of faith behind closed doors. When welcomed into diplomatic affairs, religion can cause beneficial advancements between nations and do so much more, but that is only if we use it for the right reasons. Faith is an extremely strong force that most individuals hold near and dear to their heart. Faith is not just something one can leave out of their every-day lives. â€Å"There are people who are willing to die-and kill-for their faith. † (Albright 26). Therefore there is no avoiding the idea of religion and faith completely. Religion was around before the government was even established. As long as it has been around faith has played a part in the functionality of the government, whether people were in favor of it or not. Faith has effected laws since discrimination in the 1950’s, and continues to have an effect on laws today dealing with things such as abortion. Rather than trying to dismiss the ideas of religion in diplomatic affairs, one should try and interoperate religion from another point of view and see what ideas it can bring to the table. In any conflict, reconciliation becomes possible when the antagonists cease dehumanizing each other and behind to see a bit of themselves in their enemy† ( Albright 28). We can try and ostracize religion from our diplomatic affairs as much as we want, but we all know it will always remain present. â€Å" But religious motivations do not disappear simply because they are not mentioned; more often they lie dormant only to rise up again at the least convenient moment. †(Albright 28). As human beings, we have very strong and distinct beliefs based off of faith engraved in our brains since a young age. These beliefs do not just diminish over-night. We stand firm by these beliefs and connect them to things that occur in our every-day lives. There is no escaping faith. â€Å"The rights enumerated in the Constitution are wholly inadequate in creating a well-ordered society† (Ashby 1). Therefore, as a whole, nations should embrace the impact religious factors can have and open-mindedly use them to their own benefit. Works Cited Albright, Madeleine. â€Å"Faith and Diplomacy,† Emerging: Contemporary Readings for Writers Ed. Barclay Barrios. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. Pp 23-33. Print. Friedman, Thomas. â€Å"The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention,† Emerging: Contemporary Readings for Writers Ed. Barclay Barrios. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. Pp 120-140. Print. Ashby, Joseph. Is Religion Necessary? Archived-Articles:. Archived-Articles:, 3 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. lt;http://www. americanthinker. com/2009/01/is_religion_necessary. htmlgt;. DON’T KNOW IF THE CITATION IS RIGHT HERE IS THE LINK IF YOU WANT TO REDO IT †¦ http://www. americanthinker. com/2009/01/is_religion_necessary. html

Who Killed Romeo Kenny Lee 10S Essay Example For Students

Who Killed Romeo? Kenny Lee 10S Essay Romeo and Juliet is the perfect example of the term love and loss. It is a tragic tale where two young lovers are restricted from each other because of tensions between their families. Misfortune, chance and their love for each other, triggers events, which soon lead to their deaths. It is clear that the two lovers had killed themselves but we cannot say that it was entirely their faults. There are many factors, which play a big part in the events leading up to this tragic ending. If we were to trace the events of the book all the way back, we would notice that one of the most obvious reasons for their deaths is the family feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. A very good example of a scene which shows this is where Tybalt and the other Capulets challenge the Montagues and Mercutio to a fight, simply because they didnt like the idea of Romeo, a Montague showing up at a Capulets ball. Mercutio is killed in this scene, and Romeo enraged, avenges his friend by seeking and killing Tybalt. This leads up to his exile and finally to his death. We will write a custom essay on Who Killed Romeo? Kenny Lee 10S specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The feud also had very significant effects on the lovers themselves. This quote from Romeo, Is she a Capulet, O dear account, my life is my foes debt, and this from Juliet, My only love has sprung from my only hate, proves that they were quite upset and knew that trouble would surely come out of their love for each other. If the feud between the families had not existed, they would have been able to announce their love openly. They need not be afraid of anyone restricting them for each other thus avoiding many unnecessary incidents, such as Paris death. If we take the matter further, we can see that a lot of the dreadful events leading up to the lovers deaths were plainly due to chance. This is even mentioned in the prologue, which states, whose misadventured piteous overthrows. We can see this in the beginning when Romeo and Benvolio just so happens to come across Peter, a Capulet servant. Peter, an illiterate asks them for help in reading an invitation card to the Capulet ball. Benvolio, seeing Romeos melancholy mood, grabs the chance and convinces Romeo to the ball. If Romeo hadnt gone to the ball, he would have not met Juliet then and there would not have been any problems. We can also class the death of Mercutio as an accident. When Tybalt and Mercutio start fighting, Romeo tries to stop them. His interference however is fatal for Mercutio who is stabbed by Tybalts blade. This quote from Romeo, I thought all for the best, shows that he had not meant in anyway for anything like that to happen. It was merely an accident but Romeo, angered and lost in his own thoughts, kills Tybalt anyway. In contrast with this, we can also say that it was fate, and that the whole tragedy was already foretold in the stars. The story itself has made such a suggestion in the prologue, which describes Romeo and Juliet as star- crossed lovers. Fate and destiny has always been connected with the reading of stars and astrology. Perhaps it was the lovers fate to die and to mend the centuries old feud between the Montagues and Capulets. As we progress through the story, we can see that some of the blame concerning Romeo and Juliets deaths can be rested upon the other characters in the story. An example is Capulet who forces Juliet into marrying Paris. Juliet is enraged with the arrangement by her father and goes into a desperate frenzy. Juliet, lost and quite scared, follows the friars plan without much considering of the possible consequences. Indirectly, Juliets father can be blamed for the death of the lovers. .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd , .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .postImageUrl , .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd , .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd:hover , .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd:visited , .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd:active { border:0!important; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd:active , .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2de84ea86b0e1f3d0b086d4db2db18dd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: With close reference to the text explore Shakespeare's presentation of Romeo through reference to at least three key scenes EssayFriar Lawrence also had quite a significant part in the whole fixation. He clearly plays a big part in the causes of Romeos and Juliets deaths. Although his motives were for good, as proven in this quote, To turn your households rancor into pure love, he still takes many unnecessary risks for in the process. The fact that he also tries to conceal himself from the public in each deed he does, shows that he was never quite sure of his motives. Friar Lawrence was responsible for marrying the two lovers secretly, which could have very well caused hug e fights between the two houses. He takes this risk anyway, not thinking of probable consequences. He is also responsible for devising the plan where Juliet was to take drug and pretend to be dead for 40 hours until her Romeo would come. The plan is very unstable as much of it depends on the letter being sent to Romeo in time. His plan simply backfires when he could not manage to send his letter. Romeo comes back, sees Juliet dead and kills himself. Juliet then wakes up and sees Romeo dead and kills herself too. Friar Lawrences folly clearly has a part in the causes of Romeo and Juliets deaths. However, we must not avoid the fact that it was still Romeos and Juliets own folly that led them to their deaths. Other than the fact that they killed themselves, the two lovers have also proved to be quite spoilt in some ways throughout the story. Romeos one main tendency is that he always obsesses. We can see this in the way he talks of Rosaline. He talks of her as the sun and thinks that no one can be as beautiful as she can. There is also very little we know of her character except that she is beautiful because Romeo only cares about her physical appearances. This reflects on Romeos attitude towards women. He does the same to Juliet whom he had just met. This tendency to obsess clearly has a part to play in his decision to kill himself and to lie with Juliet even in death. Although we have managed to place some of the blame of Tybalts death and Romeos exile on other reasons, we cannot use them as excuses for the fact that Romeos own faults. Romeo was a victim of his own lust for vengeance. He does not think of the possible consequences but instead tries to dismiss them and only realizes them at the last minute. He says this after he kills Tybalt, O, I am fortunes fool. He realizes what he has done is also fatal for himself and regrets the killing. Juliet acts a lot like a child throughout the story. This can be seen in the scene where she suddenly hates the nurse simply because she did not agree with her on not marrying Paris. She also cries in order to convince the Friar on helping her. This child- like behavior proves that she is irresponsible and that she does not care of the possible consequences but only on what is happening at that present time. She does not think twice and quickly demands the potion from the friar when offered to her, Give me, give me; tell me not of fear. As already explained, many factors play a part in the events leading up to the main climax where the lovers die. It might not be entirely the fault of the lovers, but a lot of the blame should still lie on their shoulders. We cannot dismiss the fact that the one true killers are still the lovers themselves.

Metamorphis By Franz Kafka

Metamorphis By Franz Kafka Family duty January 14, 2002 Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Family Duty In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, family duty to Gregor meant to pay all the debts that his family had and also to pay all of their bills. In order to do make his family happy, he went to the same boring job every day. Gregor dedicated all of his earnings to his family; he thought that he owed it to his family to stay at home and be miserable so his family could be lazy and stay home and live off of him. Gregor felt he had no choice, no free will about how life was going to be; he couldn't change anything. Even if Gregor had second thoughts about doing something different, he would then think again about what he originally thought about, and felt remorseful for thinking anything different than what life had brought him.Then one morning Gregor woke up and this weird change had happened, he was a dung beetle.Gregor Books and Giraffe HeroesHis alarm clock didn't go off, and now he heard his boss out in the living room talking to his family. Gregor knew that if he didn't work, his family would get mad at him and wouldn't have any money to eat on. Then they would have to get jobs; but that wouldn't work because then they would talk trash at Gregor for not working, even though he had been supporting the whole family for a long time now.When Gregor looked out into the living room, everyone saw him and almost panicked. His boss ran out of the room and even fell down the stairs. Seeing this Gregor then realized his horrible appearance and tried to talk to his family. Thinking that they (his family) could hear him, he explained that everything was...

Optical Illusions essays

Optical Illusions essays The question What is an illusion? is one that, at first glance, is strikingly simple to answer. Yet, it has eluded many a psychologist until the latter half of the twentieth century, when the workings of our psyche and the processes that underlie it became apparent to those that devoted their lives to the cause of its understanding. Upon further inspection, one realizes that optical illusions are not simply just that they consist of the misinterpretations of sensory stimuli that can be attributed to many reasons, which vary from depth cues to the context within which an image is viewed. Thus, considering the complexity and depth of such a subject matter, it becomes evident and understandable that our quest to understand perceptual illusions has been a long and arduous journey. In order to define the concept of an illusion, an idea central to our discussion, we must refer to the psychological processes of sensation and perception. Let us begin by examining the processes that concern sensation. Our bodies, and for that matter most living things, have special cells called sensory receptors. They can detect light, sound, temperature, pressure, odour, taste, pain, pressure, and balance, among other things. Most of these receptors are on or near the surface of the body such as our eyes, ears, and tongue, but some are internal. Thus, we sometimes classify feelings of pain that are generated from certain regions of the body as those resulting from such elusive, but commonplace, conditions as a toothache or a headache. Each sensory receptor detects its own special form of energy, transduces the aforementioned energy, and transmits a signal to the brain. The reception of the signal in the brain represents sensation. How the brain interprets these signals and makes them meaningful is called perception. Most of the time the interpretation of the received energy is consistent with it. Sometimes, however, our interpretation...

State Research Elements that Influence State Government Essay

State Research Elements that Influence State Government - Essay Example Members are encouraged to vote for these state and local leaders presented by the union. Another way they seek to influence state government is through their Political Action Committee called Political Action Committee for Education (PACE). Pace contributions are given separately from union dues. This money is used for lobbying and election contributions. PSEA spent nearly $1,000,000 on lobbying salaries and efforts for FY 2006-2007. Democratic candidates are the main recipients of PSEA member and PACE contributions. Many of these candidates favor increased funding for public schools, blocking voucher programs that would send public money to private schools and merit pay for teachers. These initiatives have been identified as some of the most troubling issues for teachers and PSEA members in Pennsylvania. Traditionally, Democratic candidates have been able to count on PSEA as an ally in most elections in districts where education is an issue. Republicans in Pennsylvania have usually been in opposition to PSEA in every way. The whole concept of unionized public sector employees upsets many Republicans. They often point out the fact that some school districts require all members to pay a portion of dues even if they do not join the PSEA. These sorts of ideological and structural differences between the PSEA and Republican Party have traditionally kept them on opposite sides of legislation that seeks to weaken unions or change rules. The effects of the PSEA on state elections is debatable, especially in a weak economy. Pennsylvania has experienced a record number of teacher furloughs since the economic downturn began in 2008. The localized structure of public education in Pennsylvania weakens the effectiveness of PSEA at the state level as well. Pennsylvania is divided into 501 independent local school districts. Each one of these districts has a school board that oversees local expenses and

Animal Testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Animal Testing - Essay Example Animal testing has also contributed to understanding how to treat malaria, Leukemia, and other major diseases that eliminated a very high number of human populations in the past. The animal is the best research subjects because they share similar characteristics with human beings. For instance, Chimpanzees has 99% DNA similarity with humans (Hayhurst, 2000). In addition, mice are almost genetically similar to human beings. Due to these similarities, they are susceptible to the same diseases that affect human beings. There are very many ethical considerations that might be observed when using human subjects. This is mainly when testing medicines that are of high toxin levels. In such cases, the lives of human beings should not be put in any form of danger (Watson, 2009). Therefore, the test of human beings should be preceded by that of human beings.Animals have also benefited immensely in the testing. Many deadly diseases such as rabies, tetanus, anthrax, etc could not have been contr olled if animal testing was not conducted. Moreover, more animals could have been swept off by the diseases and become extinct. As a result, the testing has major benefits on animal species (Watson, 2009). Animals used for testing have a shorter lifespan than human beings. For instance, a mouse has a lifespan of two to three years (Hayhurst, 2000). Therefore, while testing a medicine that affects a whole lifespan of a human being, it’s easier to get quick results when using animals rather than human beings.

Position of women in 16 and 17 century Essay Example for Free

Position of women in 16 and 17 century Essay Women were challenged with expressing themselves in a patriarchal system that generally refused to grant merit to womens views. Cultural and political events during these centuries increased attention to womens issues such as education reform. Though modern feminism was non-existent. The social structure women limited opportunities for involvement; they served largely as managers of their households. Women were expected to focus on practical domestic pursuits and activities that encouraged the betterment of their families, and more particularly, their husbands. Education for women was not supported—harmful to the traditional female virtues of innocence and morality. Women who spoke out against the patriarchal system of gender roles, or any injustice, ran the risk of being exiled from their communities, or worse; vocal unmarried women in particular were the targets of witch-hunts. The seventeenth century women continued to play a significant, though not acknowledged, role in economic and political structures through their primarily domestic activities.They often acted as counselors in the home, tempering their husbands words and actions. Women were discouraged from directly expressing political views counter to their husbands or to broadly condemn established systems; nevertheless, many women were able to make public their private views through the veil of personal, religious writings. Marriage: The seventeenth century represents a fascinating period of English history, drawing the attention of whole generations of historians. This turbulent age saw three major events that had a deep impact on England’ s political as well as social life—the English Revolution, the Restoration of the Stuarts in 1660 and the Glorious Revolution in 1688. Amidst the turmoil of the events, people’s everyday lives unfolded. While it was men’s preoccupation to keep the country’s political and economic affairs going, women had an indispensable, though far less public, part to play. This paper aims at providing an outline of the seventeenth-century English marriage, viewed from the woman’s perspective. It touches upon topics such as concluding marriages, basic marriage values, duties of a married woman and possibilities of divorce. Attention is paid to the areas in which the  seventeenth-century reality was different from today’s. In seventeenth-century England, marriage and sexual morals played a far more important social role than nowadays. A family centred around a married couple represented the basic social, economic and political unit. In the Stuart period, a husband’s â€Å"rule† over his wife, children and servants was seen as an analogy to the king’s reign over his people—a manifestation of a hierarchy constituted by God. A woman was regarded as the ‘weaker vessel’ (a phrase taken from the New Testament)—a creature physically, intellectually, morally and even spiritually inferior to a man; therefore, the man had a right to dominate her (Fraser 1981: 1). In a society strongly influenced by Puritan values, sexual integrity and the status of a married person gave a woman respectability and social prestige. This, together with the fact that it was very difficult for women to find ways of making an independent living, meant that securing a husband was a matter of great importance. Theoretically, it was possible for two people to marry very young. The minimum legal age was 12 years for women and 14 years for men. In addition, it was possible for the couple to get engaged at the age of 7, with the right to break off the engagement on reaching the minimum age of consent (Stone 1965: 652). However, early marriages were rather rare—the average age of the newlyweds was about 25 years. Interestingly, the basic requirement for a legally valid marriage was not a formal consecration in a church, but the completion of a marriage contract, commonly called ‘spousals’. Spousals were an act in which the bride and groom said their vows in the present tense—‘per verba de prasenti’ (Ingram 1987: 126). In a majority of cases, this procedure was accompanied by a church ceremony (banns). Yet if the marriage was concluded without witnesses and not consecrated in a church, it had the same legal validity. This practice had existed in England since the twelfth century and lasted till 1753. Not having to go through a church ceremony made it possible for lovers to marry secretly, without the knowledge of their parents. In this way, they could escape the dynastic scheming of their families.

The Role of Mental Variation in Cognitive Science :: Cognitive Sciences Scientific Essays

The Role of Mental Variation in Cognitive Science ABSTRACT: What is the role of mental variation in cognitive science? I will attempt to answer this question by dividing it into two separate questions: (1) what role does mental variation already (or implicitly) play in cognitive science? and (2) would cognitive science benefit by inquiring (explicitly) into the role of mental variation? I will attempt to show that mental variation already plays an important (though not always explicit) role in cognitive science. Additionally, I will suggest that explicating the role of mental variations in cognition may be seen as a vital component of maintaining the strength of certain approaches and "schools" of cognitive science. (1) Preliminary Remarks (a) Introduction What is the role of mental variation in cognitive science? I will attempt to answer this question, as it often happens in philosophy, by dividing it into two separate questions: (1) What role does mental variation already (implicitly) play in cognitive science? and (2) Would cognitive science benefit by inquiring (explicitly) into the role of mental variation? I will attempt to show that mental variation already plays an important, although not always explicit, role in cognitive science. Additionally, I will suggest that explicating the role of mental variation in cognition may be seen as a vital component of maintaining the strength of certain approaches and "schools" of cognitive science. To illustrate this, let me present the relevance of variation in disputes between the connectionist and more traditional theories of cognition. The dispute between more traditional (propositional and "language of thought" based) understanding of cognitive science and recent connectionist theories may be seen as centred, in part, on the role of variation (manipulation) in cognition. More traditional account would appeal to the fact that the correspondence between formal languages and propositional content may be seen as dependent upon the combinatorial structure of strings of symbols. Thus, one may claim that sentences have parts with both fixed and adjustable meanings and that we form new meaningful sentences by rearranging these parts in new combinations. In this case, the ability to vary parts of structured sentences may be seen as quite significant: this ability would help us account for our understanding of propositions we never encountered before. Instead of appealing to the paradigms of cognition which involve either strings of symbols or some sort of propositional structure, connectionists would rather appeal to some type of neural architecture. They argue that the properties of some sort of functional networks in cognition represent the properties of neural activity much closer than the properties of any sequential symbol-processing system.

Interaction Between Teenagers and Their Parents Essay

In my opinion, there is not enough interaction between teenagers and their parents these days. I think it is true because of career of their parent, modern technology, and distance between them. The first reason is the career of their parent. The parents always hope their children were life in the best condition and were taken care in the best services. So they try to earn more money in order to pay for the fee of education of their children. It make them word harder, and they lost the time for talking and playing with their children. Therefore, more and more children feel familiar with butler than their parents. The second reason is the distance between them. Their parent attempt to get promote in their work so they work more than another coworker. They make more money and their children have better teacher, life condition and the butler who take care the children replacing their parent. The children grow up in the butler hand so the children feel familiar with butler and sometimes think butler is more important than their parents. Finally, the modern technology is a big trouble made increasing the distance between them. Nowadays, there are many modern technology staff to children enjoy such as, the computer, PlayStation, and entertainments. The children have many friend online and they spend much time on internet with friend instead of helping their parent do housework or get actually experience from their parents. In short, interaction between teenagers and their children is less and less so the parents need care their children more and make them become a useful and responsible person. The children need to be grow up in loving.

Problems of Youngs in the Society: Violence

Youth violence is prevalent in almost every country, and in an effort to lessen it, it is important for us to understand the primary reasons behind it. If we observe keenly, violence is extremely prevalent among youth from different walks of life. There seems to be a driving force (or forces), that urges these young people to engage in such violence. It is very common nowadays to hear news about teenagers or high school students taking part in brutal killings, homi-cide, murder or even suicide. However, I think youth violence is not restricted to such forms. Bullying, for ex-ample, happens everyday in almost every school in this country. The very fact that violence is becoming more widespread in our time is enough reason for us to identify and understand the main reasons behind such vi-olence. The environment where a person grows up plays a major factor in his/her participation with vi-olence. I believe that a young man or woman can be directly influenced to do violent acts if he/she has wit-nessed or experienced it on a personal level. If a child grows up in an environment where violence seems to be a normal part of daily life, then it is almost certain that the child will adapt the same tendency to engage in violent acts. For example, if a boy often sees his father hurting his mother, this could lead to two things. Either the child will adapt the same attitude of cruelty towards women, or he will develop a strong anger against men who hurt women. Eventually, as the child grows up and becomes a teenager, he might find ways to bring out his or her pent up emotions by engaging in similar violent acts. The content behind modern media and entertainment can also be a major cause of youth violence today. Parents may be able to discipline and guide their kids at home, but when these same kids open the television, they can watch the news where people are being murdered, folks are hurting each other and crimes are being committed everyday. In many television shows and movies, brutal acts of murder and torture are shown as if they are a normal part of daily life. Other films teach young people the value of revenge, and portray violence as the righteous way to vindicate the characters. The fearful thing is that these acts of violence can be watched by children and teenagers unrestricted. They do not need to personally experience crime and brutality because these things are already fed daily into their heads: through the television, news, movies and the internet. There are thousands of websites where young people can freely watch videos with graphic content and gore. In this way, violence becomes a part of a young person’s daily thinking. Suddenly, it stops being a scary thing to him or her. Instead, violence becomes more and more appealing and interesting to the young person. He then finds ways to do these same things in real life. Just a few years ago, news broke out about a young, introverted student who one day went to school with a firearm and entered the classroom shooting all her classmates. Similar events have occurred in previous years in different parts of America. Homicides happen in schools where young people are supposed to be safe. What is the reason why seemingly harmless and meek young people have engaged in brutal killings? I believe one of the reasons is social alienation. The current society we live in is full of racism, minority branding and social biases. Some young people find themselves in school environments where they are treated as outcasts possibly because of their nationality, religious beliefs and other unique characteristics. Every young person is longing for genuine belongingness and attachment, an environment where he or she is accepted. Unfortunately, some teenagers’ needs for social belongingness are not being met. Instead, they are exposed to a cruel world where people are cold, indifferent and judgmental. In my opinion, this leads to feelings of anger or resentment against the world in general. This anger or resentment may be kept deeply hidden in the thoughts of a young person. It could grow stronger as years go by, until at last, it reaches a certain level where the young person gives in to his strong feelings and resorts to acts of violence towards others. In conclusion, a young person’s environment, exposure to violence through the media, and feelings of social alienation, all contribute to youth violence. There are many other reasons and causes, and we could not possibly point out all of them. However, I believe the important thing is that we are aware of what’s happen-ing around us. It is my conviction that learning, studying and fully understanding the main causes of youth violence will help us become better citizens and effective parents in the future. There are some solutions that can help to avoid or to solve teenage violence: Parents and others who care for young people can help them learn to deal with emotions without using violence. Because violence results from conflicts between people, it can be prevented by learning nonviolent ways to control anger and solve problems. Teaching your teen, through words and actions, that violence is never an acceptable form of behavior is very important. The tips provided here can help you. Quick Facts †¢Almost 16 million teens have witnessed some form of violent assault. †¢About one in eight people murdered in the United States each year are younger than 18 years of age. †¢Research shows a link between violent television programs and aggressive behavior in teens who watch those programs. †¢Most injuries and violent deaths occur between people who know each other. If there is violence in your family, it increases the risk of your teen becoming involved in future violence. †¢A gun in the home is more likely to be used to kill a family member or friend than to kill an in-truder. Tips for Parents 1. Start talking about ways to reduce or eliminate violence. †¢Team up with other parents and get involved in your community; join your neighbors in activities to reduce violence. †¢Talk to your teen about ways to solve arguments and fights without weapons or violence. †¢Advise your teen to talk to you or a trusted adult to avoid potentially violent situations. If you suspect a problem with your teen, start talking about it. 2. Monitor the media. †¢Limit the amount of television your teen watches to 1 to 2 hours a day (includ-ing music videos and video games). †¢Do not allow your teen to watch violent movies or TV programs. †¢If something violent comes on the TV, talk about what is wrong with the pro-gram and how the situation could have been handled in a nonviolent way. 3. Be a role model by handling problems in nonviolent ways. †¢Don't hit your teen. Model non-physical solutions to problem solving. †¢Count to 10. Cool off. If you can't control your anger, tell your teen you need some time to get your thoughts and feelings under control. †¢Problem solve with your teen. Think together about options and consequences for behaviors. †¢Set limits, make sure your teen knows the rules and consequences, and follow through. †¢Don't carry a gun. This sends a message to your teen that using guns solves problems. 4. Reduce the threat of gun-related violence to your teen. †¢Make certain your teen does not have access to guns. If you have a gun, re-move it from your home or store it unloaded and locked up. Lock and store bullets separately. Tell your teen to stay away from potentially dangerous situations and from guns in homes of friends or places where he or she may visit or play. †¢Keep in mind that teens don't always follow the rules. Also, teens are attracted to guns and see guns as symbols of power. Since you can't always count on teens to stay away from guns, you have to keep guns away from them. 5. Help your teen deal with anger. †¢Anger is a normal feeling. Anger does not have to be bad if it is expressed ap-propriately. Teach your teen that it is okay to be angry, but it's not okay to throw a punch. People must control their anger before they can control a situation. †¢Sometimes counseling is necessary to help teens deal with their anger appro-priately. Steps your teen can take to avoid violence or injury 1. Recognize situations or events that are likely to escalate into violence. 2. Stop whatever you are doing and count to 10 backward. This will help you think about your feelings before they get out of control. 3. If you can't control your anger, get away. Take a time out. 4. Think about the options and consequences of your actions. For example, hitting someone could result in suspension from school or injury. 5. If necessary, get help from a third party to solve differences. 6. Cool off. Make sure you are calm and then talk to the person. 7. Listen carefully to the other person's opinion. 8. Be assertive, not aggressive. Stand up for your ideals. Begin every sentence with â€Å"I† For example: â€Å"I feel this way†¦ † or â€Å"I don't like it when†¦ † 9. Be willing to admit and be responsible for something you may have done wrong. 10. Respond with your HEAD, not your fists, threats, or weapons.

Gd topic Essay Example

Gd topic Essay Example Gd topic Essay Gd topic Essay Essay Topic: Hilarious Points to remember before you participate in this discussion: Assume, you one Of the member Of a real group discussion. Take the initiative to participate and contribute your thoughts. Express your positive attitude towards providing the solution. M. Sir said: (Moon, Mar 23, 2015 PM) Hi friends. In my point of view, depending on computers is in some situations good and bad also. Now a days, small children also addicted to computer games like 34 years babies. But it is very useful to us to know the world about information. In software jobs they are very important and useful but after invention of the amputees a lot of members lost their jobs because the computers do their work also. In this way depending on compute RSI is some ways good and bad. Thank you. Rate this: +9 Abashes said: (Moon, Feb. 9, 2015 1 PM) India. Com/graciousness/ kids once chemotherapeutics MGM/ 1/19 4/20/201 5 Is Dependence on Computers a Good Thing? Group Discussion Hi friends as think computer has became a very essential part of our life, no w without it we cant imagine ourselves, but for everything which have advantages will also have the disadvantages. o now a days children are habituated for the computer games and all, due to which children at under the age of 65 are getting spectacles, so keeping many aspects in mind I think computer is the m aching which is made by us human, which is to be controlled by us, not by the computer. Rate this: +8 4 Ghee said: (Fri., Jan 9, 2015 PM) Hi friends, Computer is a good things because it fastest to access any information. So ma NY technique are involved in the system. Now a days all are dependent on it. We can you get more knowledge from co imputer. : Rate this: +15 7 Tehran said: (Moon, Jan 5, 2015 1 PM) Computer made our life advanced, sharing information became easier, it incur eased our exposure, storing and reviewing information became our habit. It has negative aspects too increase in eye pro bless decrease in physical exercise are some of those. Recent studies show software engineers are more prone to mental illness. Fin ally I conclude that dependence on computer is a good thing but everything has its limits this dependence is no e exception. Thank you friends. Rate this: +15 Russian said: (sat, DCE 20, 2014 0686: 18 PM) I think, using computer is good but after the of 15 or 16, because at this stage we are able to know that what is good for us or bad for us. And also our base been got strong. After it we all know come utter (all technical devices) makes our life easy and knowledgeable. Rate this: +21 6 Unheard said: (Moon, DCE 15, 2014 PM) Due to me, computer has both good and bad uses depending on the man SSI Eng this. Because it has no brain and life It do whatever we say it to do. It is a boon of science for someone. And Curse for to hers. Rate this: +6 8 Madrid said: (Sun, Novo 23, 20141 1:31 PM) According to me depending on computers is a good thing only but not at all it mess because computers make people lazy a bit. But, on the other hand computers provide useful information to us which alps in many forms but everything has a limit. So, computers should be used in a proper way rather than using it for u unwanted means. Also nowadays many mobile phones, smartness have replaced computers and people who are u sing these is also increasing so any technology should be used effectively to avoid harmful impacts. Rate this: +28 Parmesan said: (Fri., Cot 10, 2014 02:33:50 PM) For only depending upon the computer is very bad because there is no knoll edge developed in our mind just only use computer for example 1+1 also calculated using computers. Rate this: +5 27 bin said: (Fri., seep 26, 2014 PM) According to me the computer is very useful to us. It saves our time and make s our works easy. But one thing we should remember that every things has some limits. We can use computers to very L useful purposes. It can use in institutions offices and some professional institutes. But nowadays we can see that peep sees especially children using computers for playing games and watching movies. It changes our attitudes. It will affects idly to us. Its reduces our reading habits. Rate this: +47 13 Kudus said: (sun, seep 21, 2014 PM) http://windbags. Com/graciousness/ SD ependenceoncomputersagoodthi Eng/ 2/19 4/20/2015 With electronic equipment we can create new things we can also create new inventions with the use of computers, Makes our life easier, reduce work and can say everything to a person. Now; says companies, schools, colleges, everywhere all work is done by electronic devices {computer}. NO one wants to use a pen and paper in hand when there is a better options. Electronic devices such as a computer makes childrens learning process wonderful to be more precise foundations. Nowadays the most important factor to our lives is time and in such a tedious arts of life all we need is such type of devices that save time. Electronic devices changes simpletons to super mans by teaching many unknown things, computers are also useful, common and inseparable to our kind. Also disagree on this as most of the children of this area are misusing electro nice devices, they totally waste the time in chatting gossiping. We can say we are taking help but not at all dependent. Rate this: +17 Emmanuel said: (Fri., seep 1 9, 2014 6 PM) think computer is just a way of luring you to do bad things! Computers can b e in us for necessary. Or just for some time cause the consequences are bad. So what Im saying is that computers can be used sometimes. Rate this: +12 21 Servants said: (Wed, seep 17, 2014 PM) Without computers, it wouldnt be possible for the world to become a global v illegal. Computer are a boon for us. We should utilize technology to compete with this fast world. But too much deep indecency on anything is good for nothing. Every coin has two sides. Its up to us to receive good and to leave bad. Rate this: +10 14 Proven said: (Due, seep 2, 2014 PM) Hello friends my point of view on the excess use of computer that we do not pendent upon computer. But we have to know the real use of computer so that we can create new things, new invention n with the use of computer. Now a days we use computers for playing games, watching movies, surfing social network inning sites and always want to live in this virtual world and dont want to see the real world. Some major health problems like weak eyesight, depression, stress in life is the e bad part of the use of computer. So the conclusion is that everything has two parts good and bad so should ad opt good part. Rate this: +18 Neal said: (sun, Jug 17, 2014 11 PM) In my view. Everything should be done in limit. Whether its technology or ant hint. Computer is a wonderful invention in human life. It made our work easy, reduce work load and can say everything g to a person. In todays life. Every company, school, colleges, everywhere all works has done with help of comps term. No one wants to use pen and paper in hand. They want to just click mouse and work should be done. So this makes I fife easy. On other side, computer makes people less interactive. People spend whole d ay on computer, unnecessarily. Kids are not going out to make friends, not interested in outdoor games. This is also change inning the world which is not good indication for future. Rate this: +26 3 Ashland JOY said: crude, Jug 12, 2014 AM) Dependence on computer is not at all bad because it is through these type of devices that our India has become such a wonderful nation technically and in all aspects. We can take a small example t hat is even if you want a small bit of information Of anything you can immediately have an access to the Google an d you get acquainted with the complete detail of what you want. Even the small kids nowadays have a complete knoll edge of everything because a device like imputer has made the learning process wonderful to be more precise faint bulbous. Computers have made our life easy in the very old days even bayou wanted to send letters to anyone it was a very much hilarious task but now all you need is to drop a mail to whomsoever you want to do it, and the same moment that person receives it or else earlier it used to take days and months and so on. N doodads the most important factor of our life is TIME almost all run short of time all are just running to achieve their goes Is and in such a tedious part of life all we need is such type of devices that save our time and make our life easy.

Child Development

Child Development Introduction Child development is an essential process that takes place in the life of an individual. This process commences immediately after birth when an individual highly relies on others for sustenance and ends towards the end of adolescence when the said individual approaches independence (Graham, 2010). In the process of child development, there are various factors that determine the cognitive and psychological development of an individual.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Child Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The genetic constitution and prenatal care are some of the factors that influence the development of an individual during this phase of development. Consequently, ecological factors also play a significant role in child development. This paper will therefore focus on the impact that ecological factors have on child development. Ecological Factors In the process of development, ther e are various factors that determine the rate of development in a child. According to Urie (2006), ecological factors play a significant role in the process of child development since a child responds to various environmental cues that surrounds him/her. Thus, there are various environmental systems that a child interacts with that are influential in his/her development. The microsystem is the first environmental system that determines child development. This system comprises of the institutions and groups that immediately surround a child. The family is perhaps the most influential segment of this system. The behavior and personality of a child highly depends on the influence that arises from his/her family (Urie, 2006). In this respect therefore, family members have always been encourage to offer support and positive guidance to children to support their process of development. Consequently, educational and religious institutions also play a significant role in the process of chil d development especially in setting up their values, morals, goals, and beliefs. The influence that a child gets from his/her peers also determines his/her process of development. In most cases, children tend to imitate or adopt behaviors from their peers. For instance, the interaction that children have plays a significant role in speech development (Graham, 2010). Thus, a child who interacts more stands a high chance of learning how to speak fluently as compared to a child who does not interact with children of his/her age. The macrosystem is another environmental system that affects the process of child development. The macrosystem highly concentrates on the culture in which a child is brought up in. The level of economic development in the nation/region that a child is brought up in plays a significant role in determining his/her level of development.Advertising Looking for critical writing on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, a child who is brought up in an industrialized country that is economically stable is expected to be different in terms of cognitive and psychological development as compared to a child who is brought up in a third world country. The child in a developed nation has a lot of resources and opportunities that will enhance his/her process of development. Ethnicity and cultural background are also significant factors in the process of development. An African American child is expected to have different values and beliefs as compared to a White American child despite the fact that they might be living in the same neighborhood. The chronosystems involves the transitions that a child experiences in the process of development. It has been identified that transferring a child to a new school or moving him/her to a different neighborhood, state, or nation will have a psychological effect that will definitely affect his/her development. Consequently, issue s such as divorce, separation, and death will have effects that will affect the psychological and cognitive development of a child. Conclusion This paper has therefore identified that there are several ecological factors that affect the development of a child. It is therefore essential that necessary measures are taken to ensure that a child is exposed to the right environmental cues to ensure that his process of development is effective. This will play a significant role in ensuring that the child grows to be a morally and psychologically stable individual as an adult. References Graham, D. (2010). Environmental Factors Affecting the Growth of Children. The  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2(1), 44-50. Urie, B. (2006). Ecology of the Family as a Context for Human Development: Research Perspectives. Developmental Psychology, 22(6), 723-742

Giovanni Carestini Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Giovanni Carestini - Research Paper Example In the period of late baroque, newly introduced genres and techniques were enhanced and expanded: the range of musical instruments was expanded, music forms evolved owing to efforts of composers, vocal techniques were developed. Such prominent composers like Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Bach, Telemann, Corelli and many others created the precious music legacy of the epoch. Among them, there was the most famous court composer of German origin, George Friedrich Handel, who granted special attention to vocal genres in his works. Having composed the first oratorio in 1708 , Handel became engaged in working with vocal genres for the rest of his life. Vocal techniques and styles, in their turn, became more exquisite and complex in Baroque era, and – as Pleasants wrote, 1720’s – 1740’s signified the first golden age of singing in the 18th century . Particularly, a variety of male and female singers performing in the period of late Baroque demonstrated magnificent ornament ation and impressing vocal range. Moreover, Baroque traditions introduced homophony – a type of polyphony, emphasizing a leading voice with help of accompanying ones – and unobtrusiveness of accompaniment. As composers became interested in making voice the central figure in certain genres, the new form of musical thinking emerged: the vocal part should be supported and complemented in a subtle way, which would point it out and lay emphasis on the verbal message it conveyed. Thus, the composers attached much importance to composition of vocal parts.

Childrens nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Childrens nursing - Essay Example Telephone: 91-080-26995200, 26995255 Email : ms@nimhans.kar.nic.in Website : www.nimhans.kar.nic.in Part B and Case Study: Childrens NursingChildren's Nursing refers to nurturing children from the stage of infancy, till the stage of adolescence. Along with case study, this topic discusses emotional problems faced by children and role of parents, family, nurses, schools, society and government in nurturing and helping them to become good citizens. The captioned subject ' Children's Nursing ' throws light on the poor emotional state of mind of children - a product of present day nuclear family system, wherein the working couple has no time to give personal attention to the child's needs and usually entrusts the same to a care taker. In the event of separation / divorce, the child has to adjust to the new circumstances without much choice. In all these situations, the child is the worst affected person whose emotional needs are least cared for by parents and the surrounding people. As a result, it becomes a victim of depression, insecurity, hatred, addiction and no wonder; it becomes a 'threat' to the society in the long run. The significant issues involved in the subject are : 1. Children's poor mental health and the resultant insecurity , hatred ,emotional disorders, and suicidal tendencies 2. Role of Parents , Family, Nurses , School and Government 's role in developing child's mental health 1. Children's poor mental health : A child's poor mental health can be recognized by symptoms like excessive anger, fear, sadness , depression and anxiety. Sudden changes in the child's behavior, exercising too much , hurting (Charlotte's act of...In the event of separation / divorce, the child has to adjust to the new circumstances without much choice. In all these situations, the child is the worst affected person whose emotional needs are least cared for by parents and the surrounding people. As a result, it becomes a victim of depression, insecurity, hatred, addiction and no wonder; it becomes a 'threat' to the society in the long run. 1. Children's poor mental health : A child's poor mental health can be recognized by symptoms like excessive anger, fear, sadness , depression and anxiety. Sudden changes in the child's behavior, exercising too much , hurting (Charlotte's act of hurting herself), destroying things. Some of the mental disorders commonly seen in children are depression, ADHD, and conduct disorder. As many as one in ten children between ages six and twelve experience persistent feelings of sadness - the hallmark of depression. Since children may not be able to express or understand many of the core symptoms that would indicate depression in adults, parents should be aware of some key behaviors-in addition to changes in eating or sleeping patterns-that may signal depression in children: Treatment is essential for children struggling with depression so that they can be free to develop necessary academic and social skills.

Strategic management as science Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic management as science - Case Study Example The report highlights differentiation strategies through marketing, the role of internal business culture, and a variety of methodologies which contribute to successful business strategy. The evidence would seem to suggest that strategic management is more of a science than an art. Michael Porter, a renowned strategic business expert, discusses his Five Forces model which recognises a variety of external forces which can significantly impact business direction. From a competitive viewpoint, this model suggests that the threat of substitute products can impact sales and growth success (Quickmba.com, 2008). Substitute products represent similar product offerings in similar marketplaces which can detract from sales success simply due to these products creating excess competition in a firm's market environment. Bean and Radford (2000) identify that product innovation, creating unique product offerings, is one method to overcome competition and will create a sense of differentiation in different consumer buyers. Innovation might be categorised as an art form, as this is often based on internal staff ingenuity, however innovation would seem to be more scientifically-founded as before an innovative product can be launched, examination of competing products and their function must occur. This requires analysis of the external competitive environment which is grounded more in scientific research on behalf of a company. With the high level of competition in a wide variety of different product markets causing problems with being able to compete successfully, innovation as a strategic tool would seem to point toward business success. Porter's model also identifies threats to businesses in terms of supplier power, such as the level of control which suppliers have over raw material delivery or the development of a low-cost distribution infrastructure. Cohen and Roussel (2005) offer that a successful strategic business practice involves designing a supply-chain metric which measures the impact of supplier power on the ability to launch new and innovative products. The first proposed task is to set up a supply chain strategy objective which examines costs and the feasibility of distribution in a method which is both efficient and satisfies budget restrictions. This again would point toward supply chain considerations as being more of a business science, as it involves face-to-face negotiations with different suppliers and a strategic analysis of the strengths and weaknesses along the existing supply chain network. The role of strategic management in regards to suppliers is to identify whether deficiencies exist in t he supply chain and work consistently to improve efficiency and budget. In terms of supply, luck and opportunism would seem to be aspects of business strategy which are not relevant to creating a workable supply network. From a marketing viewpoint, Porter's Five Forces model also recognises the threats stemming from different consumers in terms of their price flexibility (the

Rhetorical Analysis of Jfk Inaugural Speech Essay Example for Free

Rhetorical Analysis of Jfk Inaugural Speech Essay In early 1961, the United States of America was enduring racial tensions and inequalities on the home-front, as well as waging war against Communism and the Cold War internationally. Chaos and fear had penetrated the minds of the American people because the Cold War was near its pinnacle; the American people longed for a strong, reassuring leader. John F. Kennedy provided that reassurance in his Inaugural Address. Taking the current national and international turmoil into account, Kennedy sought to persuade the Nations people to Join in his efforts and unify together in order to achieve peace. The inaugural address is saturated with rhetorical strategies seeking to flatter the American People and utilizes words of encouragement to evoke unification. Kennedy was able to effectively establish a profound kairotic moment at which his discourse can make the most difference or have the most influence. The speech persuades the American people by providing motivating propositions through appeals to ethos, logos and pathos. Kennedys inaugural address plays to an irrefutably persuading rhythm. Strong, motivational verbs are Joined with sophisticated adjectives in a manner that would make the most nane speech capable of swaying an entire population. In order to capture the minds of the American people, Kennedy begins with an antithesis, calling his victory, a celebration of freedom-symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning. This statement is to ensure the people that they are embarking in a new era of reform and peace, the end of turmoil, and the beginning of prosperous tranquility. Similar to the Declaration of Independence, Kennedys speech emphasizes the unification of the country through the use of parallelism and Juxtaposition. Kennedy appeals to his udiences ethos through visions of freedom and American values. He does this through the Juxtaposition of freedom from the tyranny of man and the reliance of God to provide such freedom. By utilizing a quote from Isaiah, .. to undo heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free, Kennedy persuades all who listen to pursue freedom because it is both their God given right and their patriotic duty. Kennedy emphasizes his argument for patriotic unification by effectively using anaphora to break his pledges and propositions into segments. The repetition of declarative lements exemplifies his pledge that he will continue to pursue peace and encourage action. He declares, to those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, and, to those peoples in huts and villages across the globe in order to evokes nationalistic feelings through the appeal to pathos. This pledge of calm persuasiveness exemplifies his stasis of remaining strong and unified amongst the division of tyranny. Kennedys choice of such language caused his audience to find it hard to disagree with such an amiable stance. He stated, United, there is little e cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. This statement exemplifies the importance of international and national unification. Due to the Cold War, Kennedy is extremely intent on bringing liberty to the world much more than protecting the liberties already present. However, it is evident that there was an underlying fear in his pledge; almost a plea to advisories for union and non violent where disagreeing with him would seem unpatriotic and weak, In your hands, my ellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Kennedy chose words such as, national loyalty, in order to evoke an appeal to ethos and logos and graves of young Americans to appeal to their pathos. He points to the resiliency of the United States and the need for the people to continue to support the ideals of freedom that ave seemed forgotten. The people were challenged to Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. Kennedy successfully appeals to the pathos and ethos of the audience in order to establish his views of the inane strength and duty within all Americans. In the conclusion of his speech, Kennedy cleverly positions one of the most memorable quotes of history. While the audience is full of excitement and atriotic duty because of his previous statement calling for strength and faith, he pauses for a moment and states And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what you r country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. This statement attenuates itself to the rhetorical instrument of kairos because the placement and the time in which Kennedy chose to speak the words provided its long lasting impact. The influence of this statement has persuading many Americans to act upon their own stasis and exemplify true freedom and strength for their country.

The Battle of Stalingrad :: essays research papers

The Battle of Stalingrad   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The battle of Stalingrad may have very well been the most important battle over the course of World War II. Not necessarily remembered for its course of fighting, the battle is more known for its outcome. Not only did the battle turn out to be a major turning point in the war, it may have saved most of Eastern Europe from incomparable destruction. The battle included two of the biggest political and military icons of their time, Stalin and Hitler.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World War II was seen around the globe as a war to end all wars. Combat like this had never been experienced before and it was the largest scale battle in recent history. The death tolls for all sides skyrocketed to heights that had never been reached in any battle ever before. There was one man at the center of it all, one man who came to personify the root of living, breathing evil. That man was Adolf Hitler and to the rest of the world, he was a superhuman military machine who had no other goal but to achieve world domination through destruction. But the roots of the Battle of Stalingrad all began in 1941 when Hitler launched operation Barbarossa. Hitler’s powerful army marched across the east, seemingly unstoppable to any force. Stalin’s Red Army was caught completely off guard and their lines were completely broken apart. A majority of the country’s air force was destroyed when airfields were raided and many of the planes never even got t he chance to leave the ground. Hitler’s army finally came to Leningrad where the city was besieged. The city held for 900 days and never gave way to the relentless Germans. At the cost of 1.5 million civilians and soldiers, the Red Army stopped Hitler from advancing further and postponed his plan to sweep over the south. Another cause for the retreat of Hitler was the brutal Russian winter, which Hitler and his army were completely unprepared for and the icy cold deaths would continue to haunt the Germans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The time would soon come for Hitler to seek out his revenge on the nation that delayed his imminent world domination. One year after the siege at Leningrad, Hitler’s once indestructible Axis power had begun to weaken. Hitler began to see his dream fading away. He realized that to maintain hope, he and his army must remain on the offensive, so he decided to go after his most glaring defeat, which was Russia.

Importance of Organisational Design

THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANISATIONAL DESIGN AND ITS IMPACT ON ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR The impact of globalization and new technologies on business environment has made it vital for organisations to constantly reassess their structure. French et al (2008), stresses that an organisation should be able to design its tasks and delegate some duties so that it can achieve its mission and vision. It is necessary to explore the importance of organisational design and how it can help in understanding the behaviour of informal and formal groups.Organisational design refers to the roles and formal reporting relationships that exist within an organisation. According to French et al (2008), it is selecting and implementing a structure for an organisation. The structure of an organisation is the assigned interrelationships and networks that exist among organizational resources (Schermerhorn, Hunt and Osborn, 2005). Organisational structure can be flat or hierarchical, bureaucratic, organic or hybrid. There are arguments that organisations are now less hierarchical in structure (Molinsky et al, 2012).In contrast, there are several who claim that the modern organisational structures are still very controlling with top-down power (Diefenbach and Sillince, 2011). The purpose of the organisational design is to prepare a layout for which the objectives of the organisation are achieved as it is to align with the organisation’s core competencies. Organisational design has to flexible and must be in alignment with the organisation’s strategy (Goold and Campbell, 2002). When the organisational strategy changes, components of organisation design such as structures roles and functions should be realigned to cater for this change (Corkindale, 2011).If there is a misalignment of organisation design with the organisation’s strategy, the result will be frustrating as employee performance will not drive organisational goals. Every organisation has both formal and informal s tructures. The formal structure represents the different types of design (i. e. hierarchical, matrix, flat etc. ) where the positions are clearly distinguished while the informal structure is built on individual associations and social processes (Mullins, 2011). This informal order cuts across the formal structure and is needed to keep the formal structure in order.An organisational structure that emphasises the formal structure over the informal structure will lead to bureaucratic and rigid organisation. Also, organisation design dictates the communication and decision loop within an organisation. Huber and McDaniel (1986) argue that organisations design should be carried with the objective of facilitating organisational decisions. Poor organisation design might lead to top management totally detached from the base operation of the business, missing out crucial details on every day realities of the business.A good organisation design should provide us with an insight into the organ isational strategy, its communication and decision making loop and if it takes advantage of its formal and informal structures. Where the organisation design cannot provide these insights, it is most likely ineffective. Therefore Managers should always therefore strive to get feedback from the employees about the organisation structure and if it affects the ways they relate with one another and if it helps to fulfil their achievement needs (French et al, 2008).

Social Capital has been described as involving egocentric, weak ties and socio-centric types of relationships

Social Capital has been described as involving egocentric, weak ties and socio-centric types of relationships. How might these concepts help to improve the way organisations generate new knowledge. Might some these concepts also act as a barrier to generating and sharing knowledge? Explain your answer. Introduction In contemporary, highly developing business environment, the success factors of many organisations have been affected with the rapid advancement in communication and ways of sharing knowledge. The knowledge economy has changed the basis of trading and doing business. Success and wealth of businesses no longer depends on their wealth of organisations but on the abilities and knowledge of their employees and the degree to which an organisation harnesses and develops those skills. The more effective the relationship between supplier and customer, the more successful an organisation is. This success depends on their abilities to operate in today's fast moving global marketplace. Defining the notion of Social Capital The notion of social capital first appeared in discussions of rural school community centers by Lyda Judson Hanifan's. Hanifan addressed the cultivation of good will, fellowship, sympathy and social intercourse among those that ‘made up a social unit.' More recently however, the work of Robert D. Putnam (1993, 2000) launched social capital as a focus for research and policy discussion. Putman defined the concept of social capital as â€Å"Features of social organisation, such as trust, norms and networks that can improve the efficiency of society by facilitating coordinated action† (Putnam, 1993). This definition of social capital can be criticised for adopting a single view, and being too narrow, as it ignores the fact that social capital can generate negative externalities as well as positive. Putman assumes ‘trust, norms and networks' to have positive outcomes for an individual, or a group however fails to recognise that it can be harmful for an organisation as a whole. Michael Woolcock on the other hand defined social capital as â€Å"the norms and social relations embedded in the social structure that enable people to coordinate action to achieve desired goals† This definition not only recognises both positive and negative externalities of social capital but focuses solely on sources of social capital, rather than also including the outcomes derived from it. One of the most famous examples where social capital is commonly referred to is in Silicon Valley (San Francisco). Silicon Valley is in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. It contains many high tech businesses that are supplying the global market with many innovating technologies and silicon microchips. In Silicon Valley, there is a very high level of knowledge held within individual firms, but this would be true whether they were located in clusters or in isolation. There is also a very high level of knowledge about the firms as well. This information is differentially more available to those in the Valley and in the network. This knowledge is not just technical, it is knowledge about who is a good manager or well connected. It is embedded in the social setting, a knowledge that comes from learning and being in the place where the knowledge is being used, and having an opportunity to use it in that setting. It is about knowled ge use and production in action. Social Capital – promotes knowledge sharing and communication Many contemporary theorists who conducted studies on social capital identified two differing perspectives within the concept. These concepts are socio-centric, and ego-centric. The socio-centric approach argues that the social structure of interpersonal contacts is important for organizational success (Sandefur and Laumann, 1998). A business can benefit from a strong social structure, by allowing employee cooperation that will enable flexibility and innovation. Knowledge sharing helps employees perform their jobs more effectively, retain their jobs, and guides them in personal and career development. It also rewards them for successful achievements, and brings more personal recognition so that knowledge sharing will become more practiced. By sharing and collaborating with others an employee is more likely to succeed in providing solutions to his/hers own jobs and by helping others achieve their objectives. The philosophy of modern knowledge management exponents is that ‘intrinsic motivation' is the only real motivator of knowledge sharing. This is where an individual, group or community are sympathetic to each other's goals, those of the organisation work for collective goals-if these are best achieved through sharing then this is what happens. Intrinsic motivation is making sure that individuals feel part of the business and culture through reward and recognition. The second perspective of social capital is concerned with the relationships between individuals. Sandefur and Laumann (1998) refer to this as the egocentric approach of social networks, where â€Å"an individual's social capital is characterized by their direct relationships with others and by the other people and relationships that they can reach through those to whom they are directly tied†. From this perspective, social capital is able to explain the differences in the success of individuals and firms in a competitive environment (Adler and Kwon, 1999). A learning organisation views its future and subsequent competitive advantage based on continuous learning and adaptive behaviour. It develops a culture and processes to improve its ability to learn and share both at an individual and organisational level. The main aim is to create a flexible, agile organisation able to handle uncertainty and then hopefully organisations will use this uncertainty to generate new ways of working, to build on this success and learn by mistakes. For example: a large multinational company, British Airways (BA) identified its culture as the biggest barrier it had to learning and sharing so it set out to create an environment where this was made easy. BA developed facilities for staff to access knowledge, libraries, have meeting rooms, training rooms that enhanced its culture. Therefore the facilitation of personal contacts and network, and the enhance role of training and development being a core was British Airways success for its new culture. Social capital – barrier to knowledge sharing and communication As developed in Ronald Burt's theory (1998), the socio-centric notion can act as a barrier to generating and sharing knowledge in an organisation. The socio-centric perspective includes the concept of power benefits acquired by individuals that control structural holes. This idea shows how certain individuals within an organisation may have power over groups of employees and act as the link between them. Such individuals are said to be ‘filling a structural hole', therefore their relative contacts have no direct contact with one another. This allows such an individual to have a certain level of manipulation over knowledge sharing between the two groups and benefit from the social capital derived from them. This can be both an advantage and disadvantage to the firm. It can be an advantage to the individual in that their social capital is increased, and that it allows the two departments to communicate ideas effectively. However the filling of structural holes with one individual could also act as a barrier to generating and sharing new knowledge within the firm. Because when implemented in a firm it means that individuals in different departments do not need to communicate between each other eliminating knowledge sharing within the individuals in each department. Within an egocentric network, sharing of knowledge can be one of the most difficult problems faced by knowledge organisations. In most organisations knowledge sharing requires a change in corporate culture, from ‘information is power' to ‘knowledge sharing build power.' Many organisations decide that the most effective way to encourage individual sharing appears to be through appraisal systems where individuals are asked to assess their own knowledge-sharing behaviours and consider their colleagues view of their sharing performance. The most obvious disadvantages are: an employee may fear senior experts or a supervisor. This fear can have an impact on the way the employee conveys his/her opinions. Another disadvantage is that employees can get compromising solutions from a group of experts with conflicting opinions. This would not give the knowledge engineer an accurate view of the knowledge needed. Also, there can also be a Lack of confidentiality as employees may feel threatened by knowing that their contributions will be shared with and evaluated or validated by other domain experts. However, the results of the appraisals may affect promotion and salary but their use is part of the development culture that includes knowledge sharing as a core competence. Conclusion Social capital has been described as a non-tradable form of capital that will depreciate if not used. Social capital increases in value through use, as relationships get stronger and weak ties are increased (Klaus Nielsen, 2003). In this article we have established that social capital is a rapidly growing notion, more commonly referred to by theorists when discussing issues of economics and organisational knowledge sharing. The concept has been criticised for the diversity of its definition, measurement challenges, and over-versatility (Woolcock and Schuller, 2000). These theorists concluded that social capital can have both a positive and a negative impact on the overall success of an organisation. Positive, in the aspects that a well working network of sharing knowledge can lead to innovation, and greater efficiency of the employees working relationships. Negative in the sense that strong social capital for an individual, or a group of employees does not necessarily guarantee a benefit on a macro scale for the organisation.

Twelve Books for College Students

Twelve Books for College Students Reading reaches a whole new level when you enter college: papers, reports, textbooks. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep up with all the readings, there’s still nothing like a good book to pass the time. We have a few titles to help you get through the semester, whether you’re looking to feel a little smarter, laugh or just feel inspired, we’ve got you covered. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise The novel is a classic tale of a recent Princeton grad coming to terms with how different the real world is from his privileged upbringing as he falls in love. This witty romance is Fitzgerald’s debut novel and a favorite among many. Not only will you relate, you’ll have some great quotes to share in your next English class. Anyone? Sigmund Freud’s Civilization and Its Discontents This is one book every college student should read to gain firsthand insight into the mind of Freud and society as a whole. Freuds ideas had a huge hand in shaping our current culture and will enlighten many of the views and philosophies you’re learning about right now. Isabel Allende’s In the Midst of Winter This novel, rated one of the best reads of 2017, chronicles several Brooklyn-based immigrants whose chance meeting in a minor traffic accident lead to a deeply, moving and reflective tale of love, life and humanity. It’s a timeless tale that takes you from Brooklyn to Brazil, 2017 to 1970 and all the places your imagination will go after you’re finished. Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities If for no other reason, A Tale of Two Cities of one of the literary masterpieces every adult should read, and with the novel taking place before and after the French Revolution, you’ll get a bit of history lessons in while you’re reading. Sprawling, passionate and poetic, this novel is a must-read. James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On the Mountain This American classic is lyrically sound, direct, powerful and compassionate. It chronicles a single day in the life of a fourteen-year-old boy coming of age in 1935 Harlem as the stepson of a minister. Baldwin’s first major work, this novel will touch you and challenge you page by page. Your professors will be impressed too. Josh Waitzkin’s The Art of Learning This is the book that will help you learn almost anything. This pro-self-educating non fiction book will keep you entertained and enlightened. Chessmaster Josh Waitzken will explain how to make mistakes work for you and ways to optimize your performance in any life or professional setting, key tips for this crucial part of your life. Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? The talented and super funny comedian has many quirky, comedic stories during her rise to fame and she shares them all with good-natured self-deprecating humor that puts today’s awkward social moments in great context. Her observations are sure to give you a good laugh. Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking A book about the year after the author’s husband died? Sound depressing, doesnt it? Not a chance! One of America’s greatest authors takes readers through a whirlwind of family medical emergencies, love and loss with an uncanny ability to share strength, enduring faith and perspective. Sheryl Sandberg’s Option B The subtitle to this book is Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, three challenges every college student faces at some point in their journey. In this touching business book named one of the Best Books of 2017, Sheryl uses a massive loss to share her growth in learning how to overcome hardships, how to build compassion and help other people in times of crisis. Life lessons abound in this raw memoir. William Deresiewicz’s Excellent Sheep If you’re a student with good grades who feel you’re not â€Å"jumping through hoops,† this is a must-read. It shows how many top students often don’t think for themselves and instead fit the mold of the educational structures and expectations set by family, teachers and peers. This Yale professor will challenge your thoughts on education in the best way. B.J. Novak’s One More Thing If you like randomness this is for you. A quick read with great sections for a commute, or those boring moments in the bathroom, One More Thing takes you from a kid winning six-figures in a cereal box to a woman hoping to seduce Tony Robbins. Whether humor, strange, or inquisitive there’s something here for everyone. George Orwell’s 1984 If you haven’t already been made to read this book several times (or even if you Cliff-Noted through it in high school), now is the time. This classic and prophetic novel will have you feeling quite haunted by the similarities between today’s political and social climate and the dystopian depiction of the government in Orwell’s masterpiece. Have you read all of these books? Wow! Thats impressive.. and a bit terrifying. Heres the list with even more books to read. Enjoy!

buy custom Financial Reporting essay

buy custom Financial Reporting essay Deegan (2009) states that financial reports should represent faithfully the underlying transactions and events and should be neutral and complete. However, the question still remains whether we can really accept that accounting can be 'neutral' or objective. Transparency and compliance is the expectation of many in matters of financial reporting. There is a wide gap of communication in annual reports in matters of disclosure and compliance. In various aspects, it is a troubling report since it comprises information on public relations and results of finance (Ball, 2006). Even with the inclusion of sophisticated standards, the financial report still has traces of inconsistencies. The accountants, analysts and regulators with an understanding of finance complexities have taken an advantage of the situation and have compromised with the set standards. Transparency has thus been compromised in financial reports. Therefore, this essay seeks to state that some financial reports can no long er be regarded as neutral and will in most cases be compromised. Footnotes in financial reports have become too extensive and technically complex for individual investors. The complexity of the documents has made interpretation difficult. Individual investors have been struggling to bring sense out of the high volume of expert information. The footnotes are an inclusion that aims at satisfying the transparency legal form. It has however been used for the wrong reasons. Investors along with their accountants, regulators and analysts seek to use footnotes to provide authentic-world disclosures aimed at establishing direct solutions to simple although very crucial questions to the investor. Such issues include seeking to establish the viability of the investment on long-term basis. Again, it has also been used to establish the capital strength of the investment (Glen, 2005). Such inclusions in the financial report have led to some level of compromise which has interfered with the integrity of the documents (International Accounting Standards Board, 2 007). The main differences in the process of producing financial reports for companies in various countries have led to many problems. These begin right from the process of preparation, consolidation and the interpretation of the published financial reports. The efforts that have been put in place to harmonize the statements of finance in the reports on a global scale have been established by such bodies like IASC, the EU and even the IASB. All the same, they have not produced a significant change in the financial documents. The annual accounts of a company provide information concerning the financial status of the company. Even though the main objective is all the same in different parts of the world, there is a difference in the influences of these financial accounts. Thus, different countries have shown different approaches in coming up with their documents. One of the causes of major flaws in financial reports is the concern about financial provision. Companies have been increasing in scale. Private capital has thus become insufficient to support the company activities. Based on this fact, companies react differently to the increased need for money to finance these activities (Alexander et al. 2007). Some parts of the world like in America and UK saw shareholders as thesource of the needed extra funding. As a result of this, some companies relied more on equity funding. This is where problems begin to emerge. In companies where there is equity funding, the financial statements tend to have an orientation by the investor. The financial statements should make available the relevant information for the investor to come up with the best decision. However, the case is ever different from regions with companies relying on debt funding. The financial statements in this case normally have a creditor orientation. The information is very imperati ve as it tells whether a company will be in a position to pay debts or not. Different legal systems are a major cause of the differences realized in accounting practice. These differences account for the many flaws that are evident in financial documents. In such places like USA and England, there is a common law system. The system is established through case law and cannot provide specific regulations which could be applicable universally. Therefore, rules of accounting are set out by established private bodies in the accounting profession. The rules are not a section of the law. However, Spain, Scotland and France apply a Code Law system that offers a large set of rules that attempt to work for any kind of situation (Alexander et al, 2007). The regulations in accounting are in the hands of the federal government and in most cases set in the company law of the country. In such regions, financial reports have sometimes been reduced to a mere compliance to a set of legal requirements by the law. Well, the authenticity of the financial reports is in a worrying situation. Financial statements have been used in some countries to establish the taxable income of a company. In such a scenario, financial reports can be influenced by tax. This is mainly because a company will seek to cut down the tax imposed on them. This is mostly found in such countries where there is no an explicit approach of the investor in their financial reporting. Norway, Italy and Sweden are such examples where financial reporting relies on taxation (Alexander et al., 2007). Countries like Ireland and the Czech Republic have different accounts for purposes of tax. Therefore, the relationship is not that strong. All these differences highlighted above will have a big effect on accounting and the use of financial reports. Such differences will often lead to confusion in investors and ultimately affect the process of decision making in companies at large. To reduce any suspicion in these documents, harmonizati on is required so that the authenticity in financial reports can be maintained (Elliot and Elliot, 2004). Accounting reports reacts to the environment generally. It is thus logical to assert that various environments have different systems of accounting. On the other hand, similar environments have similar systems of accounting. This has led to the emergence of different standards in accounting. Financial reporting has different characteristics. They could either have shareholder or stakeholder orientation. In such places where shareholders tend to be the main users of reports of finance, high quality information is required. Investors do not really have the internal information needed for them to make important decisions. The lack of high qualiity information at such levels has left a lot of questions amongst investors. The confusion occasioned by the different standards used has compromised the quality of data available in financial reports. The pressure to have a disclosure of the information needed is higher than in such regions where those who offer funding can get access to interna l information. The information quality must really be very good regardless the geographical location. A standardization process is required to eliminate these shortcomings (Zingales, 2000). The representation of the companys financial situation is also a great concern in maintain transparency in the reports. As provided in the common law nations, financial reports must exhibit a just perception of the situation in a company. In code law nations, the focus is on compliance with the set legal requirements. Therefore, many accountants will manipulate data upon the request by the investor to attain compliance. This is usually done through a well planned collusion. The investor is ever ready to pay off the regulators and the analysts. The accounting handling of lease contracts have drawn a major concern. In the UK for instance, lease contracts can be accounted for in the company balance sheet while companies may not really be in possession of assets legally. All the same, a situation in which legal compliance has a greater influence, the lease contracts are usually kept off the balance sheet. This is because there is normally no legal ownership. This difference can have a ve ry big impact on the equity/debt of a particular company (Alexander et al., 2007). The need to harmonize financial reports is apparently obvious because it may possibly affect investors. The investors who look in between geographical locations in order to invest will greatly be influenced by the lethargy seen in financial reporting. Transparency has not really been described on an expanded level in financial reports. The kind of definition needed clearly includes the need to have harmony in the standards of financial reporting as well as the format. This will help investors to find similar sections of the financial report in a similar order from time to time. The lack of harmonization creates loop holes for fraudulent activities. The coherence of financial reports can be made possible with the establishment of a standard compliance procedure. Other changes will also be required in the footnotes. The main purpose of these footnotes was initially to provide support for the numerical information summarized in the financial reports. The lack of a standardized sequence in using the footnotes usually tends to be a difficult condition for the investors (Michael, 2006). Finally, since financial reporting has undergone a variety of changes, the authenticity of the reports needs to be maintained. It is clear that there is a lot of difficult in accepting that accounting can be 'neutral' or objective. There are a number of standards that have been employed in drafting financial reports and have put the entire process in question. It is evident that a standard harmonization procedure is needed to make financial statements easy to analyze. It is no doubt that financial reports have been greatly influence by legal systems of compliance. There is a lot of bias which needs to be addressed. Buy custom Financial Reporting essay