Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Cranes The Red...

Expectations versus Reality in Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage The notion that war is an exciting, romantic endeavor full of glory and heroism has existed for centuries. Stephen Crane set out to demystify war through his novel The Red Badge of Courage, which traces the experiences of a young soldier in the American Civil War. Crane shows the true nature of war by contrasting Henry Flemings romantic expectations with the reality that he encounters. This contrast between romantic vision and cold reality can be seen early in the novel, with Henrys departure from home. Driven to a prolonged ecstasy of excitement by the rejoicing crowd, Henry enlists in the army and says good-bye to his mother with a light of excitement†¦show more content†¦The contrast is again evident in Henrys army experiences before going into battle. His treatment before leaving town only serves to increase his romantic expectations as his former classmates [throng] about him with wonder and admiration (710). Henrys regiment is then treated so well on its journey to Washington that he is led to believe that he must be a hero with the strength to do mighty deeds of arms (711). In keeping with his romantic beliefs, Henry imagines that his regiment will be involved in a series of death struggles with small time in between for sleep and meals (711). Yet again, Crane presents a more realistic view in Henrys actual experiences. Instead of automatically being a hero, as he had anticipated, Henry faces uncertainty and a little panic-fear as to his own ability to withstand battle (712). Filled with self-doubt, Henry dreams of a thousand-tongued fear that [will] babble at his back and cause him to flee (718). In addition, Henry must put up with months of monotonous life in a camp, not the constant action he anticipated (711). Even when his regiment does move out, it moves from place to place with apparent aimlessness, leaving a frustrated Henry to feel that he is merely one part of a vast blue demonstration (722). It is in the scenes of battle and death, however, that the contrast between Henrys romantic expectations and his actual experiences

Angels Demons Chapter 93-97 Free Essays

string(25) " teeth in their sockets\." 93 Langdon had no idea where he was going. Reflex was his only compass, driving him away from danger. His elbows and knees burned as he clambered beneath the pews. We will write a custom essay sample on Angels Demons Chapter 93-97 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Still he clawed on. Somewhere a voice was telling him to move left. If you can get to the main aisle, you can dash for the exit. He knew it was impossible. There’s a wall of flames blocking the main aisle! His mind hunting for options, Langdon scrambled blindly on. The footsteps closed faster now to his right. When it happened, Langdon was unprepared. He had guessed he had another ten feet of pews until he reached the front of the church. He had guessed wrong. Without warning, the cover above him ran out. He froze for an instant, half exposed at the front of the church. Rising in the recess to his left, gargantuan from this vantage point, was the very thing that had brought him here. He had entirely forgotten. Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa rose up like some sort of pornographic still life†¦ the saint on her back, arched in pleasure, mouth open in a moan, and over her, an angel pointing his spear of fire. A bullet exploded in the pew over Langdon’s head. He felt his body rise like a sprinter out of a gate. Fueled only by adrenaline, and barely conscious of his actions, he was suddenly running, hunched, head down, pounding across the front of the church to his right. As the bullets erupted behind him, Langdon dove yet again, sliding out of control across the marble floor before crashing in a heap against the railing of a niche on the right-hand wall. It was then that he saw her. A crumpled heap near the back of the church. Vittoria! Her bare legs were twisted beneath her, but Langdon sensed somehow that she was breathing. He had no time to help her. Immediately, the killer rounded the pews on the far left of the church and bore relentlessly down. Langdon knew in a heartbeat it was over. The killer raised the weapon, and Langdon did the only thing he could do. He rolled his body over the banister into the niche. As he hit the floor on the other side, the marble columns of the balustrade exploded in a storm of bullets. Langdon felt like a cornered animal as he scrambled deeper into the semicircular niche. Rising before him, the niche’s sole contents seemed ironically apropos – a single sarcophagus. Mine perhaps, Langdon thought. Even the casket itself seemed fitting. It was a sctola – a small, unadorned, marble box. Burial on a budget. The casket was raised off the floor on two marble blocks, and Langdon eyed the opening beneath it, wondering if he could slide through. Footsteps echoed behind him. With no other option in sight, Langdon pressed himself to the floor and slithered toward the casket. Grabbing the two marble supports, one with each hand, he pulled like a breaststroker, dragging his torso into the opening beneath the tomb. The gun went off. Accompanying the roar of the gun, Langdon felt a sensation he had never felt in his life†¦ a bullet sailing past his flesh. There was a hiss of wind, like the backlash of a whip, as the bullet just missed him and exploded in the marble with a puff of dust. Blood surging, Langdon heaved his body the rest of the way beneath the casket. Scrambling across the marble floor, he pulled himself out from beneath the casket and to the other side. Dead end. Langdon was now face to face with the rear wall of the niche. He had no doubt that this tiny space behind the tomb would become his grave. And soon, he realized, as he saw the barrel of the gun appear in the opening beneath the sarcophagus. The Hassassin held the weapon parallel with the floor, pointing directly at Langdon’s midsection. Impossible to miss. Langdon felt a trace of self-preservation grip his unconscious mind. He twisted his body onto his stomach, parallel with the casket. Facedown, he planted his hands flat on the floor, the glass cut from the archives pinching open with a stab. Ignoring the pain, he pushed. Driving his body upward in an awkward push-up, Langdon arched his stomach off the floor just as the gun went off. He could feel the shock wave of the bullets as they sailed beneath him and pulverized the porous travertine behind. Closing his eyes and straining against exhaustion, Langdon prayed for the thunder to stop. And then it did. The roar of gunfire was replaced with the cold click of an empty chamber. Langdon opened his eyes slowly, almost fearful his eyelids would make a sound. Fighting the trembling pain, he held his position, arched like a cat. He didn’t even dare breathe. His eardrums numbed by gunfire, Langdon listened for any hint of the killer’s departure. Silence. He thought of Vittoria and ached to help her. The sound that followed was deafening. Barely human. A guttural bellow of exertion. The sarcophagus over Langdon’s head suddenly seemed to rise on its side. Langdon collapsed on the floor as hundreds of pounds teetered toward him. Gravity overcame friction, and the lid was the first to go, sliding off the tomb and crashing to the floor beside him. The casket came next, rolling off its supports and toppling upside down toward Langdon. As the box rolled, Langdon knew he would either be entombed in the hollow beneath it or crushed by one of the edges. Pulling in his legs and head, Langdon compacted his body and yanked his arms to his sides. Then he closed his eyes and awaited the sickening crush. When it came, the entire floor shook beneath him. The upper rim landed only millimeters from the top of his head, rattling his teeth in their sockets. You read "Angels Demons Chapter 93-97" in category "Essay examples" His right arm, which Langdon had been certain would be crushed, miraculously still felt intact. He opened his eyes to see a shaft of light. The right rim of the casket had not fallen all the way to the floor and was still propped partially on its supports. Directly overhead, though, Langdon found himself staring quite literally into the face of death. The original occupant of the tomb was suspended above him, having adhered, as decaying bodies often did, to the bottom of the casket. The skeleton hovered a moment, like a tentative lover, and then with a sticky crackling, it succumbed to gravity and peeled away. The carcass rushed down to embrace him, raining putrid bones and dust into Langdon’s eyes and mouth. Before Langdon could react, a blind arm was slithering through the opening beneath the casket, sifting through the carcass like a hungry python. It groped until it found Langdon’s neck and clamped down. Langdon tried to fight back against the iron fist now crushing his larynx, but he found his left sleeve pinched beneath the edge of the coffin. He had only one arm free, and the fight was a losing battle. Langdon’s legs bent in the only open space he had, his feet searching for the casket floor above him. He found it. Coiling, he planted his feet. Then, as the hand around his neck squeezed tighter, Langdon closed his eyes and extended his legs like a ram. The casket shifted, ever so slightly, but enough. With a raw grinding, the sarcophagus slid off the supports and landed on the floor. The casket rim crashed onto the killer’s arm, and there was a muffled scream of pain. The hand released Langdon’s neck, twisting and jerking away into the dark. When the killer finally pulled his arm free, the casket fell with a conclusive thud against the flat marble floor. Complete darkness. Again. And silence. There was no frustrated pounding outside the overturned sarcophagus. No prying to get in. Nothing. As Langdon lay in the dark amidst a pile of bones, he fought the closing darkness and turned his thoughts to her. Vittoria. Are you alive? If Langdon had known the truth – the horror to which Vittoria would soon awake – he would have wished for her sake that she were dead. 94 Sitting in the Sistine Chapel among his stunned colleagues, Cardinal Mortati tried to comprehend the words he was hearing. Before him, lit only by the candlelight, the camerlegno had just told a tale of such hatred and treachery that Mortati found himself trembling. The camerlegno spoke of kidnapped cardinals, branded cardinals, murdered cardinals. He spoke of the ancient Illuminati – a name that dredged up forgotten fears – and of their resurgence and vow of revenge against the church. With pain in his voice, the camerlegno spoke of his late Pope†¦ the victim of an Illuminati poisoning. And finally, his words almost a whisper, he spoke of a deadly new technology, antimatter, which in less than two hours threatened to destroy all of Vatican City. When he was through, it was as if Satan himself had sucked the air from the room. Nobody could move. The camerlegno’s words hung in the darkness. The only sound Mortati could now hear was the anomalous hum of a television camera in back – an electronic presence no conclave in history had ever endured – but a presence demanded by the camerlegno. To the utter astonishment of the cardinals, the camerlegno had entered the Sistine Chapel with two BBC reporters – a man and a woman – and announced that they would be transmitting his solemn statement, live to the world. Now, speaking directly to the camera, the camerlegno stepped forward. â€Å"To the Illuminati,† he said, his voice deepening, â€Å"and to those of science, let me say this.† He paused. â€Å"You have won the war.† The silence spread now to the deepest corners of the chapel. Mortati could hear the desperate thumping of his own heart. â€Å"The wheels have been in motion for a long time,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"Your victory has been inevitable. Never before has it been as obvious as it is at this moment. Science is the new God.† What is he saying? Mortati thought. Has he gone mad? The entire world is hearing this! â€Å"Medicine, electronic communications, space travel, genetic manipulation†¦ these are the miracles about which we now tell our children. These are the miracles we herald as proof that science will bring us the answers. The ancient stories of immaculate conceptions, burning bushes, and parting seas are no longer relevant. God has become obsolete. Science has won the battle. We concede.† A rustle of confusion and bewilderment swept through the chapel. â€Å"But science’s victory,† the camerlegno added, his voice intensifying, â€Å"has cost every one of us. And it has cost us deeply.† Silence. â€Å"Science may have alleviated the miseries of disease and drudgery and provided an array of gadgetry for our entertainment and convenience, but it has left us in a world without wonder. Our sunsets have been reduced to wavelengths and frequencies. The complexities of the universe have been shredded into mathematical equations. Even our self-worth as human beings has been destroyed. Science proclaims that Planet Earth and its inhabitants are a meaningless speck in the grand scheme. A cosmic accident.† He paused. â€Å"Even the technology that promises to unite us, divides us. Each of us is now electronically connected to the globe, and yet we feel utterly alone. We are bombarded with violence, division, fracture, and betrayal. Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history? Does science hold anything sacred? Science l ooks for answers by probing our unborn fetuses. Science even presumes to rearrange our own DNA. It shatters God’s world into smaller and smaller pieces in quest of meaning†¦ and all it finds is more questions.† Mortati watched in awe. The camerlegno was almost hypnotic now. He had a physical strength in his movements and voice that Mortati had never witnessed on a Vatican altar. The man’s voice was wrought with conviction and sadness. â€Å"The ancient war between science and religion is over,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"You have won. But you have not won fairly. You have not won by providing answers. You have won by so radically reorienting our society that the truths we once saw as signposts now seem inapplicable. Religion cannot keep up. Scientific growth is exponential. It feeds on itself like a virus. Every new breakthrough opens doors for new breakthroughs. Mankind took thousands of years to progress from the wheel to the car. Yet only decades from the car into space. Now we measure scientific progress in weeks. We are spinning out of control. The rift between us grows deeper and deeper, and as religion is left behind, people find themselves in a spiritual void. We cry out for meaning. And believe me, we do cry out. We see UFOs, engage in channeling, spirit contact, out-of-body experiences, mindquests – all these eccentric ideas have a scientific veneer, but they are unashamedly irrational. Th ey are the desperate cry of the modern soul, lonely and tormented, crippled by its own enlightenment and its inability to accept meaning in anything removed from technology.† Mortati could feel himself leaning forward in his seat. He and the other cardinals and people around the world were hanging on this priest’s every utterance. The camerlegno spoke with no rhetoric or vitriol. No references to scripture or Jesus Christ. He spoke in modern terms, unadorned and pure. Somehow, as though the words were flowing from God himself, he spoke the modern language†¦ delivering the ancient message. In that moment, Mortati saw one of the reasons the late Pope held this young man so dear. In a world of apathy, cynicism, and technological deification, men like the camerlegno, realists who could speak to our souls like this man just had, were the church’s only hope. The camerlegno was talking more forcefully now. â€Å"Science, you say, will save us. Science, I say, has destroyed us. Since the days of Galileo, the church has tried to slow the relentless march of science, sometimes with misguided means, but always with benevolent intention. Even so, the temptations are too great for man to resist. I warn you, look around yourselves. The promises of science have not been kept. Promises of efficiency and simplicity have bred nothing but pollution and chaos. We are a fractured and frantic species†¦ moving down a path of destruction.† The camerlegno paused a long moment and then sharpened his eyes on the camera. â€Å"Who is this God science? Who is the God who offers his people power but no moral framework to tell you how to use that power? What kind of God gives a child fire but does not warn the child of its dangers? The language of science comes with no signposts about good and bad. Science textbooks tell us how to create a nuclear reaction, and yet they contain no chapter asking us if it is a good or a bad idea. â€Å"To science, I say this. The church is tired. We are exhausted from trying to be your signposts. Our resources are drying up from our campaign to be the voice of balance as you plow blindly on in your quest for smaller chips and larger profits. We ask not why you will not govern yourselves, but how can you? Your world moves so fast that if you stop even for an instant to consider the implications of your actions, someone more efficient will whip past you in a blur. So you move on. You proliferate weapons of mass destruction, but it is the Pope who travels the world beseeching leaders to use restraint. You clone living creatures, but it is the church reminding us to consider the moral implications of our actions. You encourage people to interact on phones, video screens, and computers, but it is the church who opens its doors and reminds us to commune in person as we were meant to do. You even murder unborn babies in the name of research that will save lives. Again, it is the ch urch who points out the fallacy of this reasoning. â€Å"And all the while, you proclaim the church is ignorant. But who is more ignorant? The man who cannot define lightning, or the man who does not respect its awesome power? This church is reaching out to you. Reaching out to everyone. And yet the more we reach, the more you push us away. Show me proof there is a God, you say. I say use your telescopes to look to the heavens, and tell me how there could not be a God!† The camerlegno had tears in his eyes now. â€Å"You ask what does God look like. I say, where did that question come from? The answers are one and the same. Do you not see God in your science? How can you miss Him! You proclaim that even the slightest change in the force of gravity or the weight of an atom would have rendered our universe a lifeless mist rather than our magnificent sea of heavenly bodies, and yet you fail to see God’s hand in this? Is it really so much easier to believe that we simply chose the right card from a deck of billions? Have w e become so spiritually bankrupt that we would rather believe in mathematical impossibility than in a power greater than us? â€Å"Whether or not you believe in God,† the camerlegno said, his voice deepening with deliberation, â€Å"you must believe this. When we as a species abandon our trust in the power greater than us, we abandon our sense of accountability. Faith†¦ all faiths†¦ are admonitions that there is something we cannot understand, something to which we are accountable†¦ With faith we are accountable to each other, to ourselves, and to a higher truth. Religion is flawed, but only because man is flawed. If the outside world could see this church as I do†¦ looking beyond the ritual of these walls†¦ they would see a modern miracle†¦ a brotherhood of imperfect, simple souls wanting only to be a voice of compassion in a world spinning out of control.† The camerlegno motioned out over the College of Cardinals, and the BBC camerawoman instinctively followed, panning the crowd. â€Å"Are we obsolete?† the camerlegno asked. â€Å"Are these men dino-saurs? Am I? Does the world really need a voice for the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the unborn child? Do we really need souls like these who, though imperfect, spend their lives imploring each of us to read the signposts of morality and not lose our way?† Mortati now realized that the camerlegno, whether consciously or not, was making a brilliant move. By showing the cardinals, he was personalizing the church. Vatican City was no longer a building, it was people – people like the camerlegno who had spent their lives in the service of goodness. â€Å"Tonight we are perched on a precipice,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"None of us can afford to be apathetic. Whether you see this evil as Satan, corruption, or immorality†¦ the dark force is alive and growing every day. Do not ignore it.† The camerlegno lowered his voice to a whisper, and the camera moved in. â€Å"The force, though mighty, is not invincible. Goodness can prevail. Listen to your hearts. Listen to God. Together we can step back from this abyss.† Now Mortati understood. This was the reason. Conclave had been violated, but this was the only way. It was a dramatic and desperate plea for help. The camerlegno was speaking to both his enemy and his friends now. He was entreating anyone, friend or foe, to see the light and stop this madness. Certainly someone listening would realize the insanity of this plot and come forward. The camerlegno knelt at the altar. â€Å"Pray with me.† The College of Cardinals dropped to their knees to join him in prayer. Outside in St. Peter’s Square and around the globe†¦ a stunned world knelt with them. 95 The Hassassin lay his unconscious trophy in the rear of the van and took a moment to admire her sprawled body. She was not as beautiful as the women he bought, and yet she had an animal strength that excited him. Her body was radiant, dewy with perspiration. She smelled of musk. As the Hassasin stood there savoring his prize, he ignored the throb in his arm. The bruise from the falling sarcophagus, although painful, was insignificant†¦ well worth the compensation that lay before him. He took consolation in knowing the American who had done this to him was probably dead by now. Gazing down at his incapacitated prisoner, the Hassassin visualized what lay ahead. He ran a palm up beneath her shirt. Her breasts felt perfect beneath her bra. Yes, he smiled. You are more than worthy. Fighting the urge to take her right there, he closed the door and drove off into the night. There was no need to alert the press about this killing†¦ the flames would do that for him. At CERN, Sylvie sat stunned by the camerlegno’s address. Never before had she felt so proud to be a Catholic and so ashamed to work at CERN. As she left the recreational wing, the mood in every single viewing room was dazed and somber. When she got back to Kohler’s office, all seven phone lines were ringing. Media inquiries were never routed to Kohler’s office, so the incoming calls could only be one thing. Geld. Money calls. Antimatter technology already had some takers. Inside the Vatican, Gunther Glick was walking on air as he followed the camerlegno from the Sistine Chapel. Glick and Macri had just made the live transmission of the decade. And what a transmission it had been. The camerlegno had been spellbinding. Now out in the hallway, the camerlegno turned to Glick and Macri. â€Å"I have asked the Swiss Guard to assemble photos for you – photos of the branded cardinals as well as one of His late Holiness. I must warn you, these are not pleasant pictures. Ghastly burns. Blackened tongues. But I would like you to broadcast them to the world.† Glick decided it must be perpetual Christmas inside Vatican City. He wants me to broadcast an exclusive photo of the dead Pope? â€Å"Are you sure?† Glick asked, trying to keep the excitement from his voice. The camerlegno nodded. â€Å"The Swiss Guard will also provide you a live video feed of the antimatter canister as it counts down.† Glick stared. Christmas. Christmas. Christmas! â€Å"The Illuminati are about to find out,† the camerlegno declared, â€Å"that they have grossly overplayed their hand.† 96 Like a recurring theme in some demonic symphony, the suffocating darkness had returned. No light. No air. No exit. Langdon lay trapped beneath the overturned sarcophagus and felt his mind careening dangerously close to the brink. Trying to drive his thoughts in any direction other than the crushing space around him, Langdon urged his mind toward some logical process†¦ mathematics, music, anything. But there was no room for calming thoughts. I can’t move! I can’t breathe! The pinched sleeve of his jacket had thankfully come free when the casket fell, leaving Langdon now with two mobile arms. Even so, as he pressed upward on the ceiling of his tiny cell, he found it immovable. Oddly, he wished his sleeve were still caught. At least it might create a crack for some air. As Langdon pushed against the roof above, his sleeve fell back to reveal the faint glow of an old friend. Mickey. The greenish cartoon face seemed mocking now. Langdon probed the blackness for any other sign of light, but the casket rim was flush against the floor. Goddamn Italian perfectionists, he cursed, now imperiled by the same artistic excellence he taught his students to revere†¦ impeccable edges, faultless parallels, and of course, use only of the most seamless and resilient Carrara marble. Precision can be suffocating. â€Å"Lift the damn thing,† he said aloud, pressing harder through the tangle of bones. The box shifted slightly. Setting his jaw, he heaved again. The box felt like a boulder, but this time it raised a quarter of an inch. A fleeting glimmer of light surrounded him, and then the casket thudded back down. Langdon lay panting in the dark. He tried to use his legs to lift as he had before, but now that the sarcophagus had fallen flat, there was no room even to straighten his knees. As the claustrophobic panic closed in, Langdon was overcome by images of the sarcophagus shrinking around him. Squeezed by delirium, he fought the illusion with every logical shred of intellect he had. â€Å"Sarcophagus,† he stated aloud, with as much academic sterility as he could muster. But even erudition seemed to be his enemy today. Sarcophagus is from the Greek â€Å"sarx† meaning â€Å"flesh,† and â€Å"phagein† meaning â€Å"to eat.† I’m trapped in a box literally designed to â€Å"eat flesh.† Images of flesh eaten from bone only served as a grim reminder that Langdon lay covered in human remains. The notion brought nausea and chills. But it also brought an idea. Fumbling blindly around the coffin, Langdon found a shard of bone. A rib maybe? He didn’t care. All he wanted was a wedge. If he could lift the box, even a crack, and slide the bone fragment beneath the rim, then maybe enough air could†¦ Reaching across his body and wedging the tapered end of the bone into the crack between the floor and the coffin, Langdon reached up with his other hand and heaved skyward. The box did not move. Not even slightly. He tried again. For a moment, it seemed to tremble slightly, but that was all. With the fetid stench and lack of oxygen choking the strength from his body, Langdon realized he only had time for one more effort. He also knew he would need both arms. Regrouping, he placed the tapered edge of the bone against the crack, and shifting his body, he wedged the bone against his shoulder, pinning it in place. Careful not to dislodge it, he raised both hands above him. As the stifling confine began to smother him, he felt a welling of intensified panic. It was the second time today he had been trapped with no air. Hollering aloud, Langdon thrust upward in one explosive motion. The casket jostled off the floor for an instant. But long enough. The bone shard he had braced against his shoulder slipped outward into the widening crack. When the casket fell again, the bone shattered. But this time Langdon could see the casket was propped up. A tiny slit of light showed beneath the rim. Exhausted, Langdon collapsed. Hoping the strangling sensation in his throat would pass, he waited. But it only worsened as the seconds passed. Whatever air was coming through the slit seemed imperceptible. Langdon wondered if it would be enough to keep him alive. And if so, for how long? If he passed out, who would know he was even in there? With arms like lead, Langdon raised his watch again: 10:12 P.M. Fighting trembling fingers, he fumbled with the watch and made his final play. He twisted one of the tiny dials and pressed a button. As consciousness faded, and the walls squeezed closer, Langdon felt the old fears sweep over him. He tried to imagine, as he had so many times, that he was in an open field. The image he conjured, however, was no help. The nightmare that had haunted him since his youth came crashing back†¦ The flowers here are like paintings, the child thought, laughing as he ran across the meadow. He wished his parents had come along. But his parents were busy pitching camp. â€Å"Don’t explore too far,† his mother had said. He had pretended not to hear as he bounded off into the woods. Now, traversing this glorious field, the boy came across a pile of fieldstones. He figured it must be the foundation of an old homestead. He would not go near it. He knew better. Besides, his eyes had been drawn to something else – a brilliant lady’s slipper – the rarest and most beautiful flower in New Hampshire. He had only ever seen them in books. Excited, the boy moved toward the flower. He knelt down. The ground beneath him felt mulchy and hollow. He realized his flower had found an extra-fertile spot. It was growing from a patch of rotting wood. Thrilled by the thought of taking home his prize, the boy reached out†¦ fingers extending toward the stem. He never reached it. With a sickening crack, the earth gave way. In the three seconds of dizzying terror as he fell, the boy knew he would die. Plummeting downward, he braced for the bone-crushing collision. When it came, there was no pain. Only softness. And cold. He hit the deep liquid face first, plunging into a narrow blackness. Spinning disoriented somersaults, he groped the sheer walls thatenclosed him on all sides. Somehow, as if by instinct, he sputtered to the surface. Light. Faint. Above him. Miles above him, it seemed. His arms clawed at the water, searching the walls of the hollow for something to grab onto. Only smooth stone. He had fallen through an abandoned well covering. He screamed for help, but his cries reverberated in the tight shaft. He called out again and again. Above him, the tattered hole grew dim. Night fell. Time seemed to contort in the darkness. Numbness set in as he treaded water in the depths of the chasm, calling, crying out. He was tormented by visions of the walls collapsing in, burying him alive. His arms ached with fatigue. A few times he thought he heard voices. He shouted out, but his own voice was muted†¦ like a dream. As the night wore on, the shaft deepened. The walls inched quietly inward. The boy pressed out against the enclosure, pushing it away. Exhausted, he wanted to give up. And yet he felt the water buoy him, cooling his burning fears until he was numb. When the rescue team arrived, they found the boy barely conscious. He had been treading water for five hours. Two days later, the Boston Globe ran a front-page story called â€Å"The Little Swimmer That Could.† 97 The Hassassin smiled as he pulled his van into the mammoth stone structure overlooking the Tiber River. He carried his prize up and up†¦ spiraling higher in the stone tunnel, grateful his load was slender. He arrived at the door. The Church of Illumination, he gloated. The ancient Illuminati meeting room. Who would have imagined it to be here? Inside, he lay her on a plush divan. Then he expertly bound her arms behind her back and tied her feet. He knew that what he longed for would have to wait until his final task was finished. Water. Still, he thought, he had a moment for indulgence. Kneeling beside her, he ran his hand along her thigh. It was smooth. Higher. His dark fingers snaked beneath the cuff of her shorts. Higher. He stopped. Patience, he told himself, feeling aroused. There is work to be done. He walked for a moment out onto the chamber’s high stone balcony. The evening breeze slowly cooled his ardor. Far below the Tiber raged. He raised his eyes to the dome of St. Peter’s, three quarters of a mile away, naked under the glare of hundreds of press lights. â€Å"Your final hour,† he said aloud, picturing the thousands of Muslims slaughtered during the Crusades. â€Å"At midnight you will meet your God.† Behind him, the woman stirred. The Hassassin turned. He considered letting her wake up. Seeing terror in a woman’s eyes was his ultimate aphrodisiac. He opted for prudence. It would be better if she remained unconscious while he was gone. Although she was tied and would never escape, the Hassassin did not want to return and find her exhausted from struggling. I want your strength preserved†¦ for me. Lifting her head slightly, he placed his palm beneath her neck and found the hollow directly beneath her skull. The crown/meridian pressure point was one he had used countless times. With crushing force, he drove his thumb into the soft cartilage and felt it depress. The woman slumped instantly. Twenty minutes, he thought. She would be a tantalizing end to a perfect day. After she had served him and died doing it, he would stand on the balcony and watch the midnight Vatican fireworks. Leaving his prize unconscious on the couch, the Hassassin went downstairs into a torchlit dungeon. The final task. He walked to the table and revered the sacred, metal forms that had been left there for him. Water. It was his last. Removing a torch from the wall as he had done three times already, he began heating the end. When the end of the object was white hot, he carried it to the cell. Inside, a single man stood in silence. Old and alone. â€Å"Cardinal Baggia,† the killer hissed. â€Å"Have you prayed yet?† The Italian’s eyes were fearless. â€Å"Only for your soul.† How to cite Angels Demons Chapter 93-97, Essay examples

Affect Influence In Work Place

Question: Discuss about the Report for Affect Influence In Work Place. Answer: Introduction Affect is a broad range of feelings that individuals experience, including feeling states to examine the importance of affect in organization life as affect has a critical or significant association with organization life and its outcome. Studies have been done to determine how understanding feelings can help researchers, managers, and employees themselves, explain and predict attitudes and behavior in organizations from turnover to decision making to leadership and address how research is seen through the lens of affect causing people to think differently, examine specific relationships between affect and decision making, creativity, group dynamics, and individual behaviors such as turnover, helping behavior, negotiation, and leadership among individual, groups and in organization, determine if there challenges that is brought by affect in organizations and if present what kind of challenges people face in day to day operation at work place or in organization that will help in drawi ng conclusions on the way forward in dealing with affects in organization (Barsade Gibson, 2007). Theoretical base Affect has been viewed as an umbrella encompassing a broad range of feelings that individuals experience, where human affective experience is summarized in an affective circumflex based on two factors pleasantness and energy. In cooperating empirical test of state versus trait affective measures where dispositional affect is more easily measured than mood, and much easier than measuring discrete emotions, and emotional intelligence model that is founded in four factors: Perceiving Emotions, this is the extent to which a person is able to attend to their emotion and being able to read emotions of others, putting emotions into practice by using emotions that promotes cognitive affectivity, being knowledgeable and well informed on emotions through understanding all complicated and dynamic emotions and managing emotions by being able to regulate and control owns and others emotions (Barsade Gibson, 2007). Literature review Literature on creativity that have been made for the influence of positive against negative affect states and traits on creativity (James, Brodersen, Jacob, 2004) it states that positive affect leads to a more complex, flexible thinking, allowing a broader choice of elements to come together and increasing chances of people putting together all of the cognitive elements that are available at that particular moment, Psychological literature that explains how positive mood is associated with helping behavior in general (Salovey, Mayer, Rosenhan, 1991) It states that workers who possess positive moods at work are more likely to engage in Prosocial behavior both in terms of what their job requires and even outside their job description by either engaging in community work or helping peers, Literature of affect in psychology, that deepens understanding on affect has on expansion of affect via the study of discrete emotions, the affective circumflex, emotional labor, emotional contagion, and emotional intelligence. Lastly is Literature on cost to masking authentic emotions that emphasizes on acting on feeling that arent there but one can fell like there actually present, that lead to experiences of emotional dissonance and lose touch with our authentic selves (Barsade Gibson, 2007).. It also suggests that employees would be better off if they could engage in less emotion regulation and that employees need organizations where they can express themselves more in their desired state. Underpinnings Affect is based on emotional intelligence which is the ability to monitor ones own and others feelings and emotions and being able to use this information to guide ones thinking and actions (Salovey Mayer, 1990). It is also involved with Emotion Regulation and Emotional Labor that deals with degree to which employees manage or regulate their emotional expression towards others to comply with normative which can be a mechanism for increasing performance. It is also involved with emotional contagion which is a process of transferring emotions from one individual to other group members (Hatfield, Cacioppo, Rapson, 1994). Positive affect is a significant predictor of effective decision-making, interpersonal performance and ratings of managerial potential where employees who overcomes work obstacles in a positive affect tend to reap more favorable outcomes and benefits an there work place. Methods There is a strong relationship between trait positive affect measures and various measures of work performance. These measures are: job satisfaction and surveys but due to complexity in this measure more methods are required, these are; controlled mood inductions, diary studies, daily experience sampling research, coding of behavior in situations and video coding (Barsade Gibson, 2007). Applicability Affect can be applied by managers at work place in different capacity: Decision making; managers affect influence decision making in either in a positive or negative manner altering the outcome, creativity where Positive affect influences creativity positively by leading to a state of cognitive processing, turnover/Absence positive affectivity is associated with reduced absence and intention to turnover where else negative affectivity is associated with increased absence (George Jones, 1996), prosocial behavior where employees who experience positive affects at work are more likely to engage in Prosocial behavior beyond their job description. Negative affect make anti-social behaviors (George, 1991), leadership where positive affectivity is useful in transformational leadership behaviors that can be applied in an organization by the leaders, and performance positively associated with customer evaluations of service quality (Pugh, 2001). The leaders positive mood influence group coor dination and effort (Sy, Saavedra, 2005). Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in the sense that managers with positive mood will be at better position to resolve any conflict occurring at work place this is through induced innovative conflict resolving strategies. Collective affect and team behavior that can be done through two ways; diversifying the degree of difference in affective traits that exists between group members to influence outcome and affective composition of the various affective attributes of the groups members in order to influence emotions and outcome. Contribution Affect has sparked new research on ignored constructs such as attachment relationships and their influence on individuals behaviors in organizations and life. It has focused on conscious feelings and expressions by tracing them to their source to regulate them. It induces particular emotional expressions to influence others (Gibson Schroeder, 2002), and it has an ability to conduct rigorous empirical research to better understand how these phenomena occur (Glassman Andersen, 1999). Impact on our conscious feelings and behavior by developing research on affective processes on subconscious or unconscious emotions levels include the automatic mimicry of others emotions characterizing emotional contagion, automatic emotion regulation and emotional unconscious that explains the state at which an individual is aware of his or her current emotional state, but not being aware of the source of that state that can come from current or previous experience. Lastly, it shape current behaviors c onsciously or even people are unaware of changes in their emotions and feelings. Conclusion In conclusion Affect influences critical organizational variables as when expressing positive emotions and moods tends to enhance performance at individual, group, and organizational levels. Also negative affect influence is complex, where this can poison organizations culture by negatively influencing leaders perception leading to violence. Measurement for work related affect has really changed by becoming more sophisticated, Affective experiences arise through face-to-face interactions with little occurring through text however text-based technology on emotions must be explored this is because most of communications in organizations takes place through messages or text based means to express nonverbal emotions and tones. Lastly Affect is instrumental because employees are emotionally active as they bring themselves to work together with their traits, moods, and emotions, and their affective experiences and expressions which at long run influence others either positively or negative ly, making it worthwhile studying and understanding how these affective experiences and expressions operate as they influence organizational outcomes. Reference Barsade, S. G., Gibson, D. E. (2007). Why does affect matter in organizations? The Academy of Management Perspectives, 21(1), 36-59. George, J.M., Jones, G.R. (1996). The experience of work and turnover intentions: Interactive effects of value attainment, job satisfaction, and positive mood. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81(3), 318325. Gibson, D.E., Schroeder, S. (2002). Grinning, frowning, and emotionless Managing Emotions in the Workplace (pp. 184211) Glassman, N. S., Andersen, S. M. (1999). Activating transference without consciousness. Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J., Rapson, R. (1994). Emotional contagion. New York: Cambridge University Press. James, K., Brodersen, M., Jacob, E. (2004). Workplace affect and workplace creativity: A review and preliminary model. Human Performance, 17(2), 169194. Pugh, S.D. (2001). Service with a smile: Emotional contagion in the service encounter. Academy of Management Journal, 44(5), 10181027. Salovey, P., Mayer, J. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9, 185211. Salovey, P., Mayer, J.D., Rosenhan, D.L. (1991). Mood and helping: Mood as a motivator of helping and helping as a regulator of mood prosocial behavior (pp. 215237). Stearns, C.Z., Stearns, P.N. (1986). Anger: The struggle for emotional control in Americas history Sy, T., Cote, S., Saavedra, R. (2005). The contagious leader: Impact of the leaders mood on the mood of group members, group affective tone, and group processes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(2), 295305

Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited Market entry

Executive Summary Suncoast Gold Macadamias Limited is the leading macadamia product processing company in Australia. In an effort to maximise profit, the firm has incorporated the concept of product diversification. As a result, it has managed to develop a strong product portfolio.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited: Market entry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On average, the company’s annual turnover amounts to AUD $ 30 million. Over the years, the firm has nurtured a strong base with regard to tangible and intangible resources. Suncoast Gold Macadamia Limited has also developed numerous unique capabilities and core competencies that have contributed to considerable improvement in the firm’s competitive advantage. In a bid to deal with the problem of climate change, it is critical for the firm to formulate programs that would minimise its weakness with regard to decline in nut production. As its target investment destination, Saudi Arabia presents numerous opportunities for the firm to exploit as illustrated by the country’s characteristics such as the wage rate, population size, economic growth, exchange rate, the political environment, and government policy on trade. The firm will be required to develop effective competitive strategies to deal with the prevailing competition in the market to penetrate the market successfully. Some of the modes of entry that the firm can consider include sole-ownership, joint ventures, and exporting. Of the three options, exporting is the most appropriate entry point into the Saudi Arabian market. In a bid to be successful in its market entry, the firm should conduct comprehensive market research to understand the market dynamics of Saudi Arabia. Upon entering the market successfully, the firm should consider adopting foreign direct investment. Introduction Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited is a public company that operates within the Australian macadamia industry. The company was founded in 1985 and it operates as a cooperative.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Its core line of business entails production, processing, and supplying of high quality macadamias. Since its inception, the firm has been very successful due to incorporation of effective business and corporate level strategies (Suncoast Gold Macadamias 2010). In an effort to attain its profit maximisation objective, the firm has adopted market expansion as one of its business level strategies. Suncoast Gold Macadamias Limited has successfully managed to establish itself in both the local and international market. Currently, the firm ranks as the global leader in the macadamia industry. Despite its presence in the international market, there are some economies where the firm has not penetrated. One of these countries is Saudi Arabia, which is currently an emerging economy according to business scholars. The purpose of this assignment is to analyse the market entry modes that Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited can incorporate in its international market entry strategy. Ownership Over the past 28 years, Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited has undergone significant growth from being a small business establishment to becoming an international leader in the macadamia industry. Currently, the firm has a substantial annual turnover of approximately AUD $ 30 million. More than AUD $ 21 million of the firm’s total sales are generated from exports, while the domestic market only accounts for AUD $ 9 million (Suncoast Gold Macadamias 2010). Tangible resources Since its inception, the firm’s management has been committed towards establishing a strong competitive advantage. One source of the firm’s competitiveness is effective nut processing technology. The firm has implemented modern nut processing facilities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited: Market entry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited has been conducting major plant upgrade by integrating state-of-the-art technology. In 2012, the firm purchased two machines of the most modern sorting technologies in the industry, which significantly enhanced the firm’s competitiveness. For example, its output increased with 50 per cent (Pilcher 2012). In a bid to improve its competitiveness with regard to plant technology, the firm has also purchased a multi-scan machine. The machine has made separation of bad and good nuts more easily in addition to separating nuts based on their weight and colour before cracking. The firm has also established a supplier network of 135 suppliers to ensure that its products are easily accessed in its domestic mark et. Intangible resources In addition to tangible resources, Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited has accumulated various intangible resources. The management team appreciates that the firm’s success is greatly dependent on the effectiveness and efficiency of its human capital. Employee development is one of the elements that the firm has taken into account and to achieve this, the firm has formulated a staff training and education program. The program aims at imparting new knowledge to employees. In addition, the firm is committed to nurturing a strong relationship with its customers, suppliers, and employees (Suncoast Gold Macadamias 2010). In its domestic and international market, the firm has nurtured a strong positive reputation due to its operational efficiency, provision of high quality services, and development of an all-inclusive client service, which has contributed towards development in the level of customer loyalty.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Capabilities The firm has developed numerous macadamia brands to appeal the diverse customer product needs. The firm has integrated the concept of value addition. The firm supplies different variety of macadamia products such as macadamia oil, chocolate coated, macadamia shortbread, and macadamia nuts. The firm has also developed sufficient capability with regard to packaging. Additionally, the firm ensures that its brands are packaged according to customer specifications. The firm has also developed the capability with regard to supplying fresh and high quality macadamia (Suncoast Gold Macadamias 2010). Core competencies The firm’s success in an industry that is characterised y intense competition has arisen from development of effective core competences. One of the firm’s core competences relates to the provision of high quality macadamias. The firm ranks as the first macadamia company to attain internationally recognised quality within the industry. The firm is also effective in quality management, which it has attained through assimilation of effective quality management systems. Suncoast Gold Macadamias core competencies also emanate from the high rate of innovation that it undertakes. Its innovative ability has played a critical role in enhancing the firm’s competitive advantage. The firm utilises macadamia waste products by generating energy and thus it has managed to minimise the cost energy necessary for its operation. Weaknesses The major source of the firm’s weakness is the high degree of susceptibility to nature. The firm has experienced a poor season due to bad weather over the past few years (The Australian Business Journal 2011). Bad weather adversely affects the firm’s profitability due to decline in the volume of production. However, with numerous environmental conservation measures being undertaken by the government and other environmental stakeholder, the firm expects that climatic conditions will improve c onsiderably. Location advantage Saudi Arabia’s economy is mainly oil-based. The country has the largest proven oil reserves globally. Its rich oil reserves have played an important role in the country’s economic growth and development. In 2011, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated to be $676.7 billion, which is an increment from its $635.6 billion in 2010 (Index Mundi 2012). By the end of 2011, it was estimated that the country would undergo a real GDP growth rate of more than 6.5 per cent. The country’s total population is estimated to be 28 million. Additionally, the country has a relatively low rate of unemployment. By the end of 2011, unemployment rate stood at 10.9 per cent (Index Mundi 2012). The country’s snapshot shows that there is a high probability of Suncoast Gold Macadamias succeeding in its profit maximisation by entering in Saudi Arabia. The high rate of economic growth coupled with the relatively low rate of unem ployment means that the country will experience an increment in per capita income. Ultimately, there will be an increment in consumer’s purchasing power. The country’s high population means that the firm can increase its customer base by identifying relevant target customer group. The attractiveness of the country is also enhanced by Saudi Arabia’s recent ascent to the World Trade Organisation. Its ascent will present an opportunity for Suncoast Gold Macadamias to increase its customer base. Customers Saudi Arabians are becoming more concerned with consumption of healthy food products. This transformation has arisen from an increment in cases of diabetes and obesity problems amongst the old and young. A report by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health showed that the rate of diabetes in the country is approximately 30 per cent. Some of the factors that have been attributed to cause diabetes include increased introduction of western diets to the country, adopti on of sedentary lifestyles, and growth in the number of supermarkets. Growth in the level of awareness regarding the health risk of such food products will contribute towards change in consumer purchasing behaviour. Therefore, the shift in consumer purchasing habits presents a high opportunity for Suncoast Gold Macadamias attracting more customers. Saudi Arabia is also characterised by a large number of middle and high-income customers and educated customers. This customer category is the largest consumer of diet products such as the macadamia products produced by Suncoast Gold Macadamias. These customers are more concerned with the nutritional value and quality of the food products in their purchasing patterns (Al Swailem Consulting Group n.d). Politics In 2011, the country experienced an increment in calls for speedy reforms with regard to governance mainly from intellectuals. However, the country has not experienced major incidences of political instability in the recent past com pared to other Arab countries, which experienced the effects of Arab Spring in 2011. The political stability being experienced in Saudi Arabia presents a good opportunity for Suncoast Gold Macadamia to enter the market. According to Klug (2006), a country’s attractiveness is increased by the prevailing peace and tranquillity due to political stability. Government policy (taxes and tariffs) The Saudi Arabian government is greatly concerned with enhancing the country’s economic growth. Promoting foreign investment is one of the strategies that the government has adopted. A number of measures such as the abolition of taxes and trade restrictions have been implemented in an effort to foster foreign investment. The government has designed the country’s economy based on free enterprise and thus no limitations on imports and exports of goods and services. This aspect means that Saudi Arabia has a favourable business environment for foreign firms (Al Swailem Consulting Group n.d.). Wage rate For a considerable duration, the Saudi Arabian government had not imposed any minimum wage for employees. However, in an effort to deal with unemployment, the government recently instituted SAR 3,000 as the minimum wage (Al Swailem Consulting Group n.d). Exchange rate The Saudi Arabian Riyal is relatively stable to most major currencies such as the Australian dollar. The current exchange rate of the Riyal to the Australian dollar is AUD $ 1 to 3.7 Saudi Riyal. This rate of exchange will make it possible for the firm to venture into the Saudi Arabian market more cost effectively for the firm will require a few AUD dollars to enter the market. Competitor analysis In its operations, Suncoast Gold Macadamias will face intense competition from other confectionary companies operating in Saudi Arabia. Some of these companies include: Al Nukaly International Trading Company: -This firm has been in operation in Saudi Arabia for a number of decades, since its inception in 1932. In its operation, the firm has developed a strong workforce of approximately 100 employees. Bahadi Company: – Since its inception, this firm has established itself effectively in the international market. Currently, the firm has established an effective operational base in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and Africa. Anwar Al-Mustafa: – The firm was established in 2000 and has over the past decade managed to penetrate the nuts industry in Saudi Arabia. It has also managed to develop a substantial financial base with its turnover estimated to be US $ 0.5 million. Competitor threats The above-mentioned competitors pose a number of threats to Suncoast Gold Macadamias. One source of threat arises from the fact that these firms have incorporated the concept of product diversification in their operations. Some of the products that these firms deal with include nuts, dried fruits, coffee, spices, chocolate, nuts, bakery, candy, and crackers. Consequently, the firms hav e managed to offer consumers a wide range of products. Ultimately, competitors have managed to develop a substantial level of customer loyalty. Therefore, Suncoast Gold Macadamias will experience a significant challenge in developing a substantial market base. Suncoast Gold Macadamias opportunities Despite the intense competition in Saudi Arabia, Suncoast Gold Macadamias has a considerable competitive edge that will contribute to its success. One source of the firm’s competitiveness relates to its ability to produce high quality macadamia products. The firm has incorporated the concept of quality assurance in an effort to ensure a high level of food security. Considering the increase in the degree of health consciousness amongst the consumers, there is a high probability of Suncoast Gold Macadamia attracting customers. This arises from the fact that its products have high nutritional values. For example, macadamia oil is not in any way associated with the rise in cases of obe sity. Additionally, the high population in Saudi Arabia also presents an opportunity for Suncoast Gold Macadamias to increase its sales revenue by employing aggressive marketing. Modes of market entry Firms seeking to venture the international market should consider making effective strategic decisions on the mode of market entry to adopt (Agarwal Ramaswami 1992). Some of the entry modes that a firm can choose include joint ventures, licensing, wholly-owned enterprises, and exporting. A substantial amount of resources is required for a firm to venture the foreign marketing by employing any of these market entry modes. Changing the selected mode of entry is costly after its commencement because it would lead to loss of money and time (Agarwal Ramaswami 1992). Consequently, it is important for firms intending to venture the international market to select the most effective market entry mode. Sole ownership This market entry mode entails the establishment of a wholly-owned business e nterprise and two main strategies exist for a firm to incorporate in order to own a firm wholly. The first method entails undertaking acquisition of a firm within the respective industry in the host country. Secondly, a firm might decide to undertake foreign direct investment, which entails establishing a business entity from scratch (Chon Yu 2008). Sole ownership comes with a number of advantages. First, the firm acquires total control of the business venture. Undertaking an acquisition will also be beneficial to the firm with regard to infrastructure. The acquired firm may have well developed distribution networks, an effective workforce, and efficient technologies. Therefore, the firm can gain higher economic rewards (Chon Yu 2008). However, the major disadvantage is that undertaking either acquisition or building own business establishment will require the firm to have a substantial investment. Additionally, the firm may incur substantial loss in the event of the host country experiencing incidents of political instability (Chon Yu 2008). Joint ventures This business venture is a form of partnership between a foreign company and a local company. Joint ventures are established with the objective of creating a business entity that is owned jointly by the two partners. However, for a joint venture to be established, the two companies must have mutual interests (Fisher, Hughes, Griffin, Pustay 2006). Joint venture is an effective market entry mode especially if the foreign company is not conversant with the degree of stability within the foreign business environment. Therefore, using joint venture as a mode of entry minimises the probability of failing by avoiding risk. However, the downside of joint venture is associated with business control. Joint ventures vary from one country to another especially with regard to structure. The foreign company may be required to hold the minority (49 per cent) of ownership while the domestic company holds the majority ownership (51 per cent). This element is a limitation to the foreign company for it might not be possible to make high profits compared to if it held the majority ownership (Chon Yu 2008). Considering the fact that Suncoast Gold Macadamias intends to maximise its profitability, adoption of joint venture is not an effective strategic decision because its profitability potential will decrease substantially. Additionally, there is also a likelihood of the firm having trouble with regard to coordination. According to Agarwal and Ramaswami (1992), lack of coordination between joint venture partners emanates from divergence in their source of motivation. Consequently, it is important for parties of a joint venture to evaluate the degree of fit between their business enterprises before commencing on joint venture negotiations. Exporting (Best recommended method of market entry for Suncoast Gold Macadamias) This mode of entry entails producing goods or services in one country and marketing them in another. According to Andexter (2008), exporting is one of the most effective ways that firms can adopt in their internationalisation strategy. A firm may adopt different modes of exporting. Firstly, a firm may decide to undertake indirect exporting. This strategy entails selling a firm’s product in the foreign market without undertaking special marketing activities, which means that the firm does not engage in international marketing (Ireland, Hoskisson, Hitt 2008). Secondly, a firm might decide to undertake cooperative exporting. This strategy entails entering into a contract with other firms in the industry with regard to certain export activities for example promotion, distribution, and market research. The firm may enter in a contractual agreement with Export Trading Companies (ETCs) or the Export Management Companies (EMCs) within the foreign market (Andexter 2008). This exporting strategy provides the firm with an opportunity to gain a relatively higher contr ol of its international sales despite the lack of sufficient capital to establish its own export sales firm (Tielmann 2009). Alternatively, the firm may decide to undertake direct exporting by establishing its export network within the host country. In a bid to ensure success, it is paramount for the firm to focus more on establishing an exporting network that will enhance its long-term survival in the host country. In an effort to venture into the Saudi Arabian macadamia industry, Suncoast Gold Macadamias should consider adopting exporting as its mode of market entry. Through exporting, Suncoast Gold Macadamias will access customers relatively easy. Exporting will also provide an opportunity for the firm to maintain total control of its operations within the foreign market. Suncoast Gold Macadamias Limited will also benefit the firm by gaining sufficient knowledge and experience regarding the foreign market. Therefore, it will be possible for the firm to implement effective expansi on strategy in the future. Despite its advantages, exporting has a number of disadvantages. Exporting to some countries may result in high cost for the exporting firm. This cost may emanate from prevailing export barriers such as quotas and tariffs. Fortunately, by venturing into Saudi Arabia through exporting, Suncoast Gold Macadamias will not incur such trade barriers because Saudi Arabia has eliminated all trade barriers (taxes) with regard to exports. Recommendations Suncoast Gold Macadamias should consider a number of issues to ensure success in venturing the Saudi Arabian market as outlined below. The firm should undertake a comprehensive market research. The market research should focus on both the consumer and the competitor. Consumer market research will play an important role in understanding the consumers’ product demands. Consequently, the firm will develop and introduce macadamia products that are in line with the prevailing market demands. On the other hand, com petitor market research will enhance the firm’s effectiveness in formulating its competitive strategies. For Suncoast Gold Macadamias to be successful in its initial market entry to Saudi Arabia through exporting, its management team should ensure that it contracts well-established Export Management Companies. This element will play an important role in its effort to gain market ground. Upon gaining successful market entry in Saudi Arabia through exporting, it is paramount for the firm to consider reviewing its mode of operation in the host country. Suncoast Gold Macadamias should consider undertaking foreign direct investment based on the market knowledge gained to increase its economic benefits. This aspect will significantly result in the firm operating more cost effectively. Reference List Agarwal, S. Ramaswami, S. 1992, ‘Choice of foreign market entry mode: Impact of ownership, location, and internalisation factors’, Journal of International Business Studie s, vol. 1, pp. 1-27. Al Swailem Consulting Group: Doing business in the Kingdom. Web. Andexter, T., 2008. Analysis and evaluation of market entry modes into the Asia-Pacific region, Grin, London. Chon, K. Yu, L. 2008. The international hospitality business: Management and operations, Routledge, New York. Fisher, G., Hughes, R., Griffin, R. Pustay, M., 2006. International business: managing in the Asia Pacific, Pearson Education Australia, New South Wales. Index Mundi: Saudi Arabia economy profile ,  2012. Web. Ireland, R., Hoskisson, R. Hitt, M., 2008. Understanding business strategy: concepts and cases, South-Western Cengage Learning, Mason. Klug, M., 2006. Market entry strategies in Eastern Europe in the context of the European Union: An empirical research into German firms entering the Polish market, Univ-Verl, Wiesbaden. Pilcher, R., 2012. Going for gold in a nutshell. Web. Suncoast Gold Macadamias: Australian packaging covenant action plan 2010. Web. The Australian Busines s Journal 2011, ‘Suncoast Gold Macadamias’, via George Media Network Database. Tielmann, V., 2009. Market entry strategies: International marketing management, Grin, London. This essay on Suncoast Gold Macadamias (Aust) Limited: Market entry was written and submitted by user Kason Holland to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Is Online High School Right for You 3 Steps to Deciding

Is Online High School Right for You 3 Steps to Deciding SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Have you heard of online high schools and are wondering if they’re a good option for you?Are you unsure whether they’re a flexible way to get a high school diploma or just an internet scam? Read this guide to learn what an online high school is, what the pros and cons of attending one are, and how to decide if enrolling in a virtual high school is the right decision for you. What Is an Online High School? Like the name suggests, an online high school is a school or program where students can earn their high school diploma by taking classes online.Most of these classes are completely online, but some require students to visit a testing center or other location to take certain tests or hand in assignments.Some of these programs are affiliated with traditional brick and mortar schools while others are solely online. If you enroll in a virtual high school, you can either take a few classes to supplement your degree at your regular high school, or you can earn your entire high school diploma online. There are fourtypes of online high schools: Public schools: These are programs that are government funded, usually accredited, and available for free if you are a resident minor in the state or district in which it's offered. They usually follow curricula similar to that of your state's traditional high schools. Public online high schools have to follow strict guidelines in order to receive funding, and because of this they often have fewer course offerings than the other options listed. Charter schools:Online charter schools have many of the same characteristics as online public schools; however, they often have a wider variety of classes and may use more innovative and non-traditional teaching methods. Private schools: This is one of the fastest growing groups of online schools. Because they are not as regulated as the other groups, thequality and costs of private online schools can vary widely. However, they can offer a largevariety of classes and typically don't require students to live in a certain state in order to enroll. There are also specialized online private schools available such as Christian schools, schools that focus on math and science, and others. Schools affiliated with a college or university:Because they are sponsored by a college or university, these online schools often allow students to receive dual high school and college credit for the classes they take. These programs often offerhigh-quality classes, but they can be quite expensive to take. Some popular examples include Stanford University Online High School and Indiana University Virtual High School. Who Attends Online High School? What kind of people decide to pursue high school online?Most online high schools are open to both teenagers andadults returning to school to earn their high school diploma. Some of the people who enroll in high school online include: Teenagers who are unable to attend traditional high school or prefer to take classes online. Home-schooled students looking to supplement their education. Adults taking classes after being out of school for several years. Advanced students looking to take more rigorous classes than those their high school offers. International students who want to take classes offered by the country where they hope to attend college. From this list, it's clear that people decide to pursue virtualhigh school for a variety of reasons. Read on to learn more about the benefits that online schools can offer. What Are the Benefits of Online High School? Benefit #1: Flexible Schedule For many students, the most important benefit of attending high school online is that you don’t need to attend school during regular hours.This can be extremely helpful for students, both teenagers and adults, who are trying to balance completing their high school education with a job or other responsibilities.If you can only take classes and study in the evenings or on certain days, online high schools make that possible. Another benefit of this flexibility is that it allows you to learn at your own pace.This isbeneficialfor students who want to work at a slower pace to make sure they understand the material completely, as well as students who prefer afaster pace and are possibly looking to earn their high school diploma ahead of schedule.Flexible schedules can also benefit students who are ill, travel frequently, or otherwise can’t attend a traditional high school. Benefit #2: More Class Options Many times, online schools will have more class options than traditional onesbecause they are not restricted by a limitednumber of classrooms or teachers like traditional high schools are.This can benefit students looking to take specific classes not offered by their regular high school, including certain advanced or AP classes.Some online schools evenoffer specializations or the opportunity to tailor your courses to subjects that interest you more. This is also an important benefit for home-schooled students and their parents who may be thinking about onlineclasses. Taking an online class can allow you to learn about a subject your parent or homeschool teacher isn't an expert in, such as advanced math classes, so that you can remain home-schooled but also get the benefit of a well-rounded education. Benefit #3: No Traditional School Environment Some people also choose virtualhigh schools because they don’t enjoy or do well in a traditional school.This may be due to difficulties with classmates, trouble learning in a traditional classroom environment, or a different reason. Attending an online high school also often results in fewer distractions. When you are taking classes online, you don’t have to worry about what to wear, if your friends are in the same classes as you, or if you got invited to that party on Friday.When you sit down in front of your computer to work on your classes, you can devote your entire attention to learning and doing well in them. Attendinghigh school online can make it possible to take classes where and when you want. What Are the Drawbacks to Online High School? While virtualhigh schools undoubtedly have benefits, there are drawbacks as well. I’ll discuss four potential drawbacks below, and for each drawback I'll give ways to minimize it or avoid it all together. Drawback #1: Not Always Legitimate Unfortunately, not all online schools will provide you with a quality education, and some are little more than online scams that will award you with a â€Å"diploma† as long as you pay their fee. Attending a school that isn’t high quality can result in you getting a poor education, and this can make future schooling and jobs very challenging because you don’t have the knowledge you were supposed to have learned in high school.It can also result in your diploma not being accepted by most colleges and employers, which means you can spend a lot of time and money on a piece of paper that’s essentially worthless. How to avoid:Make sure to only attend an online high school that is accredited. Schools can only become accredited if they are found to meet a certain level of education quality, and many employers and colleges only accept diplomas from accredited high schools. A school’s website will usually state if they’re accredited, and you can check out our guide to learn more about accreditationand online high schools.and online high schools. Drawback #2: Can Be Expensive While some virtualhigh schools are free, others can cost thousands of dollars, and that can be difficult for many people to afford.Some online high schools cost over $10,000 a year to attend. How to avoid: The cost of an online high school depends on several factors, including your age, whether government funding is available, and what type of high school it is. Research different types of schools to find the best value for you. Public and charter online high schools are government funded and free to resident minors (so you must live in the state where it’s offered and be 18 or younger). Private online schools are typically more expensive. Each state’s department of education has a list of funded online programs, and you can look through these to potentially find an online school you can attend for free. Look on your state’s department of education website to find more information. Drawback #3: Less Social Interaction Another potential drawback of onlineprogramsis that they have much less social interaction than traditional schools. There are no friends sitting next to you in class, no sports teams, no prom, no lunch in the cafeteria. Some people may not mind this, but others find the relationships they form to be one of the most important and enjoyable parts of high school. Not having these experiences may cause you to feel like you’re missing out on an important part of high school, and it may cause you to enjoy your studies less and become less motivated. How to avoid: While you won’t be able to recreate all aspects of a traditional high school experience, you can still form friendships and interact with people. Look for online high schools that offer a chat function and group projects so you can talk with your classmates. You can also join clubs and sports teams in your community so that you can still spend time with others in-person. Why doesn't my laptop ever ask how my day has been? Drawback #4: Requires More Self-Motivation Unlike a traditional school, virtualhigh schools don’t have a classroom you need to be sitting in at a certain time, you won’t have a teacher you’ll see every day, and you won’t have nearby friends working on the same assignments. This means that it will be your responsibility to make sure you are doing the work you need to in order to graduate. For students used to being regularly assigned work, this can be a difficult adjustment. If you struggle with staying motivated, your grades could slip, and you could end up delaying your graduation. How to avoid: Create a study schedule that lists the work you need to accomplish each day and stick to it. You can also look for schools that offer more teacher interaction and have more frequent deadlines to help you stay on track. Should You Attend an Online High School? So, is attending a virtualhigh school the right choice for you? There is no one right answer, but follow the three steps below to help make the best decision for you. Step #1: Think About Why You Want to Attend an Online School The first step is to ask yourself why you want to attend high school online. Is it because it’s the only way you can fit taking high school classes into your schedule? Is it becauseyou need to finish high school early? Whatever the reason, make sure you know exactly why you want to attend an online school so that you can look for schools that give you the benefits you want. Step #2: Research Potential Schools The most important step is researching schools. The number of online high schools is growing rapidly, and trying to find the best one can be overwhelming. Look on your state’s department of education website to get started, and ask yourself the following questions for each school you are interested in: Is it accredited? How much will it cost? How much teacher and classmate interaction is there? How will you be graded? What classes do they offer? How much of a time commitment is required? When will you be able to graduate? You should think about the answers to each of these questions and decide if the school offers what you want. You can also search for online reviews from past students to see what they say about a particular school. It looks like these kids just discovered a great online school. Step #3: Think Honestly About How Much You Would Enjoy Online High School Some people want to attend high school online because they think it will be fun to take classes in their pajamas and be on the computer all day. While this may be true, online school can also be lonely, challenging, and monotonous. Before you decide to take online classes, think carefully about what it would be like to be alone all the time while doing schoolwork, not have a teacher able to explain things in person, have to plan your own study schedules, and not have nearby classmates to work on assignments with. Some people don’t mind this, but for others this environment can make completing high school a miserable and challenging experience. One low-risk way to try out online learning and see if it is for you is to take a massive online open course, often known as a MOOC. While you likely won’t receive any school credit for it, there are a huge number of MOOCs you can take for free. A simple Googlesearch for MOOCs will show you a wide variety of options. Try one class and see how you like online learning, then use that information to help decide if attending a virtual high school is the right decision for you. Bottom Line Online high schools can be a great way for people who need flexible schedules to complete their high school studies, but there is also the risk of enrolling in a disreputable school, feeling isolated, and having to spend thousands of dollars to complete your degree. In order to decide if you should attend an online school, research multiple schools carefully and see if they fit what they are looking for. You should also think carefully about what it would be like to attend school entirely online, and you may want to consider taking a free online course first before you decide to pursue high school online. What's Next? Interested in learning more about accreditation? We have a guide that explains exactly what accreditationis andhow you can make sure an online school is accredited. Trying to figure out your class schedule? Check out our expert guide on which classes you should take in high school. Want an in-depth look at an online school? Read our guide onStanford online high school,including reviews from current and past students. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The Jury Trial Stage of a Criminal Case

The Jury Trial Stage of a Criminal Case A criminal trial is scheduled if a defendant continues to plead not guilty after the preliminary hearing and plea bargain negotiations have ended. If pre-trial motions have failed to get evidence thrown out or the charges dismissed, and all efforts at plea bargaining have failed, the case proceeds to trial. At the trial, a panel of jurors determines if the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt or not guilty. The vast majority of criminal cases never get to the trial stage. Most are resolved prior to trial in the pre-trial motion stage or the plea bargain stage. There are several distinct phases of a criminal trial proceeding: Jury Selection In order to choose a jury, typically 12 jurors and at least two alternates, a panel of dozens of potential jurors are summoned to the court. Usually, they will fill out a questionnaire prepared in advance that contains questions submitted by both the prosecution and the defense. Jurors are asked if serving on the jury would present a hardship on them and they are usually asked about their attitudes and experiences that might lead them to be biased in the case before them. Some jurors are typically excused after filling out the written questionnaire. Questioning Potential Jurors Both the prosecution and the defense are then allowed to question the potential jurors in open court about their potential biases and their background. Each side can excuse any juror for cause, and each side is given a number of peremptory challenges which can be used to excuse a juror without giving a reason. Obviously, both the prosecution and the defense want to choose jurors who they think are more likely to agree with their side of the argument. Many a trial has been won during the jury selection process. Opening Statements After a jury is selected, its members get their first view of the case during the opening statements by the prosecution and the defense attorneys. Defendants in the United States are presumed innocent until proven guilty, so the burden is on the prosecution to prove its case to the jury. Consequently, the prosecutions opening statement is first and goes into great detail outlining the evidence against the defendant. The prosecution gives the jury a preview of how it plans to prove what the defendant did, how he did it and sometimes what his motive was. Alternate Explanation The defense does not have to make an opening statement at all   or even call witnesses to testify because the burden of proof is on the prosecutors. Sometimes the defense will wait until after the entire prosecutions case is presented before making an opening statement. If the defense does make an opening statement, it is usually designed to poke holes in the prosecutions theory of the case and offer the jury an alternate explanation for the facts or evidence presented by the prosecution. Testimony and Evidence The main phase of any criminal trial is the case-in-chef in which both sides can present witness testimony and evidence to the jury for its consideration. Witnesses are used in order to lay  a foundation for the admitting of evidence. For example, the prosecution cannot just offer a handgun into evidence until it establishes through witness testimony why the gun is relevant to the case and how it is linked to the defendant. If a police officer first testifies that the gun was found on the defendant when he was arrested, then the gun can be admitted into evidence. Cross-Examination of Witnesses After a witness testifies under direct examination, the opposing side has the opportunity to cross-examine the same witness in an effort to discredit their testimony or challenge their credibility or otherwise shake their story. In most jurisdictions, after the cross-examination, the side who originally called the witness can ask a question on re-direct examination in an effort to rehabilitate any damage that might have been done on cross-examination. Closing Arguments Many times, after the prosecution rests its case, the defense will make a motion to dismiss the case because the evidence presented did not prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Rarely does the judge grant this motion, but it does happen. It is often the case that the defense does not present witnesses or testimony of its own  because they feel they were successful in attacking the prosecutions witnesses and evidence during cross-examination. After both sides rest their case, each side is allowed to make a closing argument to the jury. The prosecution attempts to strengthen the evidence they presented to the jury, while the defense attempts to convince the jury that the evidence falls short and leaves room for reasonable doubt. Jury Instructions An important part of any criminal trial is the instructions that the judge gives to the jury before they begin deliberations. In those instructions, in which the prosecution and the defense have offered their input to the judge, the judge outlines the ground rules the jury must utilize during its deliberations. The judge will explain what legal principles are involved with the case, describe important concepts of law such as reasonable doubt, and outline to the jury what findings they must make in order to come to their conclusions. The jury is supposed to abide by the judges instructions throughout their deliberation process. Jury Deliberations Once the jury retires to the jury room, the first order of business is usually to elect a foreman from its members to facilitate the deliberations. Sometimes, the foreman will take a quick poll of the jury to find out how close they are to agreement, and get an idea of what issues need to be discussed. If the initial vote of the jury is unanimous or very one-sided for or against guilt, jury deliberations can be very brief, and the foreman reports to the judge that a verdict has been reached. A Unanimous Decision If the jury is not initially unanimous, discussions between jurors continue in an effort to reach a unanimous vote. These deliberations can take days or even weeks to complete if the jury is widely split or has one holdout juror voting against the other 11. If the jury cannot come to a unanimous decision and is hopeless split, the jury foreman reports to the judge that the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury. The judge declares a mistrial and the prosecution has to decide whether to retry the defendant at another time, offer the defendant a better plea deal or drop the charges altogether. Additional Stages: Stages of a Criminal Case

How can cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) be modified to fit the needs Outline

How can cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) be modified to fit the needs of young children - Outline Example This paper will address some of the ways in which cognitive behaviour therapy can be modified to fit the needs of young children. As it is usually the case with almost all paediatric procedures, they are usually tested with adults before they can be brought to children; therefore, cognitive behaviour therapy is no exception. Due to children’s limitations in metacognition and their inability to classify feelings, clinicians need to adjust their pacing of therapy’s content and the speed of therapy (Butler, Chapman, Forman & Beck, 2006, p22). One of the things that psychiatrist need to adjust in cognitive behaviour therapy for children is the time frame with which they carry out the therapy (March et al, 2005, p813). Children do not have fully developed metacognition abilities therefore the speed at which they will respond to therapy will be slower than that of adults. Due to these challenges, therapist need to ensure that the spacing of the whole course of the therapy is in such a way that the child will not be overburdened by the therapy due to congestion of the therapy or it will be too spaced such that the effectiveness of the therapy will be compromised. The inability of children to express their feelings, which may help in easier diagnosis of the disorders, will require the time required for full cycle of therapy to increased (Wood et al, 2006, p315). Due to the stage of development in children cognitive abilities, cognitive behavioural therapies for children will always focus on the behavioural aspect of the therapy since it will be more effective, however, the behavioural aspect too will require the children to be trained in social and problem solving skills (Nauta, Scholing, Emmelkamp & Minderaa, 2003, p1273; Kendall & Hedtke, 2006, p101). These characteristics among children requires that the therapy be combined with other skills or at least provide an opportunity for the child to learn

Research Methods in Criminal Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Research Methods in Criminal Justice - Essay Example ion that making the commander ultimately responsible will serve to ensure that the commander himself/herself is extremely careful as to the fact that all regulations and protocol are followed down to the smallest detail, this also has a weakening effect on the level of change that the commander is able to institute as he/she is perennially concerned with the fact that he/she might be held responsible for one of the employees in their charge (Maxfield, 2011). In the way that the text described, the commander’s efficiency in handling the daily task load he/she is responsible for would likely be decreased by the paranoia that such a policy would necessarily instill. A better manner of responsibility would include a healthy balance of the two. A situation in which the commander has to report for any wrongdoings of his/her officers concurrent with a high level of personal responsibility being instituted for the offending officer would likely be a far superior model. As such, it is the recommendation of this author that the proposed model be balanced in a way that both support ultimate responsibility of management while emphasizing traits of personal responsibility of the offending

Summary of Story of an Hour Essay Example for Free

Summary of Story of an Hour Essay Audience Analaysis I am writing this paper to be reviewed by my fellow peers and my English 111 Instructor. The paper would not be very interesting if read by anyone that has not read â€Å"The Story of an Hour. ’ The audience that I am targeting is for those that would like to know the purpose of the short story, â€Å" The Story of an Hour†, written by Kate Chopin. I believe the story to not be intended for s specific age or gender, but I would have to say that women would be more prone to understanding and sympathizing with the story. I expect the reader to understand the story deals with the pro’s and cons of marriage. I was able to understand the story due to my experiences in marriage, the up and downs that go along with it. I can relate to the feeling of relief when something that is not making you happy suddenly disappears, how extremely happy you can be, but when the good news turns in to being devastating news, how it can turn your world upside down, that it could cause you to have health problems. The Story of an Hour Author Kate Chopin, grabs her audience’s attention in this short story by introducing the main character, Mrs. Mallard; a woman with â€Å"heart trouble. (Chopin 527) who must be gently told the news of her husband’s untimely death in a railroad accident. The opening marks a sad scene with Josephine, her sister breaking the difficulty news to her in â€Å"broken sentences. † (Chopin 527) Mrs. Mallard’s reaction, â€Å"wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment in her sisters arms† (Chopin 527) may be unlike most wives reaction to horrifying, unexpected news. Seemingly grief stricken, Mrs. Mallard retreats to her room in solitude. She drops her heavy body into a comfortable chair contemplating her feelings of the past, present, and future. Mrs. Mallard struggles with mostly internal conflicts with regards to her true feelings of the recent death of Brently her husband. One example, being when she repeatedly whispers from her lips â€Å"Free! Body and soul Free! † (Chopin 528) Her sister begs her to come out of the room â€Å"Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door—you will make yourself ill. † (Chopin 528) She orders her to go away but within a good length of time reveals her strong self and accept Josephine’s comfort. Suddenly, a man comes through the front door. It is her husband, Brently, alive and well. To everyone’s surprise it was, and especially to his wife. She dies there of what the doctors say was â€Å"heart disease—a joy that kills. † (Chopin 529) Once Mrs. Mallard hears of her spouse death, her behavior and internal feelings may or may not be questionable to the reader. I believe Chopin wants us to see the main character’s internal emotional struggle. This keeps us wanting to know more about what life was like with Brently Mallard. Was she really sorrowful about his death? â€Å"And yet she had loved him—sometimes. † (Chopin 528) Was she truly a happy person, heart and soul? She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines be spoke repression and even a certain strength. † (Chopin 527) t times she is overcome by a mixture of emotions such as sadness, quiet, and yes even joy. â€Å"She did not stop to ask if it were not a monstrous joy that held her. † (Chopin 528) Mrs. Mallard finally settles in the belief and thought of being on her own now. â€Å"She would live for herself. † (Chopin 528) After reading â€Å"The Story of an Hour’, I realize that the man character is a lonely woman when it comes to her emotions. The whole story reminds me of what a woman goes through when she is controlled by her spouse. Mrs. Mallard doesn’t even have a first name in the story, only her descriptive emotions that she holds deep inside. Through out this story the author uses symbolism. For example, â€Å"there were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds. † (Chopin 527) I think the clouds represent disparity and the blue parts of the sky meant hope for her. The big open window is her life’s picture window! She sees â€Å"new spring life† (Chopin 527) and takes in a â€Å"delicious breath of rain.

Black Studies Paper :: History

Black Studies Paper African's past can be dated back to millions and millions of years. People from every continent is a descendant of the African origin. This essay will explain African's isolation to the rest of the world and some of the famous contributions and some of Africa's contributions to our world. Researchers have found that African people were the home of the first human beings. They have found fossils and archaeological findings that support thus evidence and by genetic research. These findings date back to 4.4 million years ago in Ethiopia. Actually human beings date back to 40 thousand years, these people were discovered also in Ethiopia. Around 10 thousand BC the Fertile Crescent had a large agricultural lands that produced vegetation, economic wealth, and brought people together. 7000 thousand years later the land became unagricultural and started to look the way it looks today in the Sahara Desert. This divided the continent into 2 parts, the North and the South. This made trade and contact to others extremely difficult. Poor soils due to shortage of water have taken its toll on Africa too. This is because poor soils lead to bad vegetation, which leads to less food, and then there are fewer jobs and less wealth. Fewer good also lead to diseases related to not eating well. Also Africa doesn't connect to any particular place. It has no rivers leading into the seven oceans, so there is not transportation or communication to those in the middle of Africa. This means no imports or exports therefore, any economic wealth. Africa is made of 400 million people throughout 50 countries with 800 different languages, which is probably difficult for communication and understanding of each other's. Leading again to Africa taking power of the world. Europe had labeled Africa as the "Dark Continent" because they didn't know much about it. Even though thousands of years ago their customs and ways of doing things originated from Africa. Africa's contributions to our world date back to about six thousand years in Egypt. It begins with the agricultural revolution which wheat and barley were grown with methods of irrigation, terracing, and crop rotations. Raising and domesticating animals was also a practice. The developing of better tools such ones made of metals like iron and bronze. Hieroglyphics, which are picture painting, were carved into stones to show what was going on. African's contributed the 365-day calendar and are the first people to divide the year into 12 months. Black Studies Paper :: History Black Studies Paper African's past can be dated back to millions and millions of years. People from every continent is a descendant of the African origin. This essay will explain African's isolation to the rest of the world and some of the famous contributions and some of Africa's contributions to our world. Researchers have found that African people were the home of the first human beings. They have found fossils and archaeological findings that support thus evidence and by genetic research. These findings date back to 4.4 million years ago in Ethiopia. Actually human beings date back to 40 thousand years, these people were discovered also in Ethiopia. Around 10 thousand BC the Fertile Crescent had a large agricultural lands that produced vegetation, economic wealth, and brought people together. 7000 thousand years later the land became unagricultural and started to look the way it looks today in the Sahara Desert. This divided the continent into 2 parts, the North and the South. This made trade and contact to others extremely difficult. Poor soils due to shortage of water have taken its toll on Africa too. This is because poor soils lead to bad vegetation, which leads to less food, and then there are fewer jobs and less wealth. Fewer good also lead to diseases related to not eating well. Also Africa doesn't connect to any particular place. It has no rivers leading into the seven oceans, so there is not transportation or communication to those in the middle of Africa. This means no imports or exports therefore, any economic wealth. Africa is made of 400 million people throughout 50 countries with 800 different languages, which is probably difficult for communication and understanding of each other's. Leading again to Africa taking power of the world. Europe had labeled Africa as the "Dark Continent" because they didn't know much about it. Even though thousands of years ago their customs and ways of doing things originated from Africa. Africa's contributions to our world date back to about six thousand years in Egypt. It begins with the agricultural revolution which wheat and barley were grown with methods of irrigation, terracing, and crop rotations. Raising and domesticating animals was also a practice. The developing of better tools such ones made of metals like iron and bronze. Hieroglyphics, which are picture painting, were carved into stones to show what was going on. African's contributed the 365-day calendar and are the first people to divide the year into 12 months.