Comparing and contrasting Silver Blaze and Finger Man Essay Example for Free

Comparing and contrasting Silver Blaze and Finger Man Essay When one thinks of detective fiction stories images of crime, murder, hero detective and villains enter a persons mind. These images have been constantly changing over years, but they are not very different from when detective stories first began in 1828. The birth of detective stories came about in 1828 with a novel called Memoires supposedly written by Vidocq a chief of Frances detective force known as Surete. In 1841 a number of short stories were composed and collected to form The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allen Poe but it was in 1892 when detective stories finally emerged and become known by the people. It was in 1892 when The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was published in the Strand magazine that detective fiction had become a great success. The years of Sherlock Holmes stories are considered as the Golden Age of detective fiction, after this authors began to take different approaches towards detective fiction writing, the writing was most notoriously named Hard Boiled detective fiction. Both types of approaches varied in different ways with each other, the Golden Age era consisted of stories with closed settings and focused its characters in the middle and upper classes. In the Hard Boiled era the plot would be mentally just as challenging as a story from the Golden Age era, but would unfold and lead to violent twists and turns. In Hard-boiled stories the detective solves the mystery by creating more trouble and being tough but does not return society to order or vindicate the power of reason. It was this new Hard Boiled setting that Raymond Chandler set his stories, and created his hard boiled detective Philip Marlow. Philip Marlow was first introduced in 1921 through a magazine called The Black Mask, which contained his short stories.  Both Silver Blaze and Finger Man are fictional Detective stories, but differ in many different ways from language and dialogue to cultural changes shown between both stories. This is because the stories were written at two different times, Silver Blaze is a pre 20th century piece of text where as Finger Man was created within the 20th century. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle a British author created Silver Blaze which featured one of the most renowned detective characters, Sherlock Holmes. His fictional character became so famous and loved by the public they actually embraced his identity and grew to believe that Sherlock Holmes was a real person and lived at 221b Baker Street. Finger Man was created by an American author called Raymond Chandler and starred a private detective by the name of Philip Marlowe. This fictional character appealed to a wide audience and was in most of Raymond Chandlers stories, eventually Hollywood used these stories and the character Philip Marlowe to create motion pictures.  In Silver Blaze Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr Watson travel to Devon to uncover the kidnapping of a prize-winning horse. In this detective novel any clue will help towards the case and anybody having some relevance with the horse will be a suspect. In Silver Blaze the plot mainly revolves around a few individuals such as. Whereas in finger man the story includes many characters who each play some small yet important part within the story. In Finger Man we see a tale of false framing on the main character Philip Marlowe who is set up by gangsters. It starts happening when he takes a job for a friend, but his friend dies and Marlowe becomes the prime suspect. When I read both stories there were many differences in character between Sherlock Holmes and Philip Marlowe. Sherlock Holmes is a more thoughtful and clue based detective where as Philip Marlowe relies on tip-offs and violence to resolve a situation. Sherlock Holmes is a methodical detective and relies in his wits to solve a case whereas PM uses his instincts. Within Silver Blaze Sherlock Holmes has a partner called Watson, the story itself is narrated by Watson and told through his view. PM is a one-man army and doesnt depend on anybody for assistance unless in dire circumstances.  The change in text and dialogue is clearly shown once reading both stories. Pre 20th century text is very descriptive which is used as a feature of Holmes personality. In Finger Man the dialogue is very abrupt and direct, which also constructs an image of the stories setting and the characters persona.

The Scarlet Letter | Plot and analysis

The Scarlet Letter | Plot and analysis In this section, the book describes a nameless character who coincidentally shares the same occupation and desires as the author of this book, Nathaniel Hawthorne. The narrator works as a chief executive officer at the Salem Custom House, meaning that he collects tariffs on foreign goods. Unfortunately, not many ships dock at Salems Port for whatever reason, so the narrator often finds himself with little to do during the work week. One gloomy day, the narrator tries to keep himself entertained by exploring the abandoned second floor of the custom house. While checking out a room upstairs, he discovers a scarlet A and an old note written by a former chief executive officer at the Custom House nearly 200 years earlier. While examining the scarlet letter, he holds it over his chest, but drops it immediately because he feels a burning sensation in his chest. He then reads the note, which tells a story about a woman who committed adultery. This inspires him to write his own spin on the n ote, even though it wouldnt be factually accurate. At the end of this section, a new president is elected, and he loses his job, which forces the narrator into following his dream of becoming a writer to make a living. Questions about the Custom House: Who is this nameless narrator who works in the Custom House? Why didnt the narrator follow his dream of becoming a writer? If the narrator hates his job and is bored because there is no work for him to do, why doesnt he quit and follow his dream? What inspired the narrator to go up to the second floor of the custom house knowing that it was unused and probably empty? Why did he feel a burning sensation when he held the scarlet letter up to his chest? Why did the narrator lose his job after a new president was elected? My Reactions towards the Custom House: I was kind of surprised to see that the narrator shares so many traits as the author, but wasnt given a name. I would have assumed that if the author intended to put himself in the story, he would have named his character after himself. I wonder why he did this. The book described the building he worked in as being run down and rotting. I believe that this adds to the narrators resentment of his job because I think it makes him feel as if his job isnt important enough to work in a building that isnt falling apart. The narrator also described that his Puritan ancestors would have looked down upon his desire to become a writer. This shocked me because back in Puritan times, Monks Priests wrote a vast majority of all books, and they were held in high esteem. One would think that his or her ancestors would be proud to have a writer in their bloodline because a studious person was looked up to. Journal Entry: Chapter 1 The Prison Door and Chapter 2 The Marketplace Summary of Chapter 1 In chapter 1, the scene is set at the Jailhouse in Salem. A throng of hooded people dressed in somber clothing are gathered around the jailhouse door to scorn and belittle the offender who is about to be released. The area around the Jailhouse is described as being dreary and dead, even the trees and grasses have died because of the gloom radiating from the jailhouse, except for 1 lone rosebush, which provides a relief for the condemned because it is a sweet moral blossom which shows a sign of forgiveness. Summary of Chapter 2 In chapter 2, Hester is released from the Jailhouse, holding an infant and is escorted up onto the scaffold where she will stand for 3 hours as people stare and taunt her. As she is standing up on the scaffold she reminisces about her parents and their house, until her attention is drawn to an old, misshapen man. This misshapen man is the person she married while in Europe before coming to America. By this point, her attention has been drawn back to the crowd, which scares her briefly, causing her to squeeze her baby out of instinct. Questions about Chapters 1 and 2: Why are people dressed in hoods as they gather around the Jailhouse? How has the Rosebush survived the sullen atmosphere it is growing in? Has Hester seen the rosebush? Has it affected her feelings in any way? Why was Hester allowed to take an infant into a dangerous environment such as the Jailhouse? Didnt the Puritans consider the safety of the baby? While standing up on the scaffold, why did Hester choose to reminisce about her parents? My Reactions towards Chapters 1 and 2: Why do the Puritans consider the suffering and punishment of others as a source of entertainment? Based on their morals, wouldnt they want to alleviate some of Hesters suffering, rather than add to it? I find that the lack of compassion shown by the Puritans in the Scarlet Letter very disturbing. If the Jailhouse was designed to detain violent and destructive criminals, why was Hester held there? Hester did not harm or endanger anyone; therefore I believe that she didnt need to be treated as someone who is dangerous. Was the rosebush planted in front of the Jailhouse intentionally? Or was it a sign of forgiveness from God? I find this very odd that something so beautiful would even survive in an environment so dreary and dead. If wearing the scarlet A was not a repercussion of Hesters offense, why did she even bother making it? If I committed that sin and had to face severe ridicule because of it, I wouldnt want to attract more scorn unto myself by wearing a big, extravagant scarlet A. Journal Entry: Chapter 3 The Recognition and Chapter 4 The Interview Summary of Chapter 3 In this chapter, Hester is continuing her punishment on the scaffold. She sees her husband, who is dressed in Indian clothing. He makes a gesture to Hester, telling her not to draw attention to him. After making this gesture, he begins asking a man in the crowd about Hesters crime and who the co-sinner was. The man replies that she was the wife of a wealthy Englishman from Amsterdam and that she committed adultery, but refuses to reveal the father of the child. For some reason, Chillingworth makes a comment about how such an old man could keep a young woman such as Hester happy. After this, we are introduced to Reverend Dimmesdale, Reverend Wilson, and Governor Bellingham, who question Hester in attempt to get her to confess to who the real father is but to no avail. Then Reverend Wilson attempts to make her reveal the father by giving her a sermon on sin, which makes her scarlet A glow. After the three try everything they can think off, they give up, and Hester is taken back to the Jailhouse. Summary of Chapter 4 In chapter 4, Hester meets her husband face to face for the first time since the beginning of the novel. Since he is a physician, he is called into the Jailhouse to drug Hester, and make her more susceptible to interrogation. When he enters Hesters jail cell, he offers her a potion, but Hester refuses it out of fear of being poisoned for revenge. Chillingworth tries once more to get Hester to reveal the father, but she refuses. As Chillingworth is walking out of the entrance of the cell, he makes Hester promise to keep his identity secret. Because of his evil facial expressions, Hester calls her husband a reincarnated version of the devil. Then Chillingworth vows to find the father of her baby, and leaves the Jailhouse. Questions about Chapters 3 and 4: Did Roger Chillingworth think that Hester would take him back after abandoning her in America for many years? Why didnt Chillingworth want attention drawn to him as Hester was standing on the scaffold? Why did Chillingworth lie about his identity when he asked the man about Hesters crime? Why did Hester withhold the name of the father of her child? Isnt she a little bit angry towards the father for not sharing any of the punishment? My Reactions towards Chapters 3 and 4: I was surprised that Chillingworth sent Hester to America instead of keeping her with him until he finished his work. Wouldnt newlyweds want to stay together no matter what? On top of what was said above, I also wanted to know what Chillingworth was up to in Amsterdam after Hester left. Finishing up some work before he left obviously wasnt the only thing he was up to while in Amsterdam for multiple years after Hester left. When I read his remark about how her husband must have been foolish to think that he could keep a young wife happy, I wondered why he married Hester. Typically, when one is in love, they look out for the best of the other. In this relationship, it seems as if Chillingworth just wanted Hester as a trophy wife. After Reverend Wilson gave Hester the sermon about eternal damnation and sin, I felt really bad for Hester. After all she had been through that day, she must have been feeling many unpleasant emotions, and Reverend Wilson just amplified the feeling of guilt within her. Journal Entry: Chapter 5 Hester at Her Needle and Chapter 6 Pearl Summary of Chapter 5: In chapter 5, the author focuses on Hesters life after being released from prison. Hester is granted her freedom to live wherever she pleases, but she chooses to stay in Boston. Even though many years have passed, Hester was still considered an outcast and was forced to live on the outskirts of town. To support herself and Pearl, she works as a seamstress, and sells her goods in town. Her skill as a seamstress was described as being so great, that even the Governor wore her garments, despite their shameful source. Her work was held in such high regard that people asked her to craft things such burial shrouds, priestly vestments, and officials robes. All of this work afforded both Hester and Pearl a good life, but Hester still felt alienated from her community. Summary of Chapter 6: In chapter 6, the author focuses on Pearl for the first time through the entire novel thus far. Much like the rosebush in chapters 1 and 2, Pearl is the only consolation for Hester as the rosebush is the only consolation for the prisoners. Hester dresses Pearl in fine clothing, despite Puritan ethics. In addition to the scarlet letter, Pearl is another symbol of Hesters sin. Pearl is described as being a defiant child, for example, when Hester attempts to teach Pearl about God, Pearl refuses to listen, and she constantly produces mischief. Pearl also seems to be a little more aware of her surroundings than other infants. While many other 2 or 3 year olds would have disregarded the scarlet A entirely, Pearl asks Hester about it constantly. Questions about Chapters 5 and 6: Why doesnt Hester leave Boston after she is granted her freedom? Why hasnt her community let bygones be bygones and re-accepted Hester back into their community? Why does Hester violate Puritan dress ethics with her sewing? Hasnt she offended the Puritan community enough? Even though Hesters products violate the dress code for Puritans, why do people still purchase them? If Pearl wasnt an illegitimate child, would her behavior have changed? My Reactions towards Chapters 5 and 6: I was shocked to read that Hester decided to stay in Boston, despite her reputation there. If I were in this situation, I definitely would have left and started anew in a new colony or even Europe, that way Chillingworth would have been off of my back, and I wouldnt have to face any more scorn. It was a very brave mood on her part. While reading this section, I half-expected Hester to be allowed back into the community, because people started to interact with her in a positive way for the first time in a long time, by buying her stuff. Unfortunately for her, that was the only positive interaction she would ever receive from them. Towards the end of chapter 5, I was disgusted to read how she was treated by the poor people she served. Even though she made them clothes free of charge, the poor people still treated her in a disrespectful manner. The least they could have done was treat her with respect. After reading chapter 6, I discovered that Pearl was nothing like what I expected her to be. When I first saw the title of chapter 6, I expected a sweet little girl, who was perfect in every way, and caused no trouble, but in actuality, Pearl was every parents nightmare. Journal Entry: Chapter 7 The Governors Hall and Chapter 8 The Elf Child and the Minister Chapter 7 Summary In this chapter, Hester is summoned to the Governors hall to defend her custody over Pearl. While on the way to the Governors hall, a group of children harass Hester and Pearl, but Pearl throws a tantrum and scares the group of children off. Rumors have spread that Pearl is a demon child, and it is questionable if Hester should raise her, because she is alone, and Pearl is a handful in addition to her work to support them. It is also questioned if Hester can raise Pearl in a moral and God-infused environment. While entering the hall, Hester and Pearl take notice of the ornate portraits and suits of armor which decorate the hall. While passing an especially lustrous set of armor, Pearl points out her mothers reflection in the statue, which frightens Hester because the fiery scarlet A dominates the reflection. Chapter 8 Summary In this chapter, Hester meets with the Governor, Reverend Wilson, and Reverend Dimmesdale. Upon entering the conference room, Hester is asked why she feels she deserves to keep Pearl. She points out that she should keep Pearl because she can teach Pearl not to make the same choice she did. Then Wilson tests Pearl on her knowledge on religious topics. Unfortunately, this doesnt seem to sway any of their choices in her favor, so Hester begs Dimmesdale to speak on her behalf. Dimmesdale says that Pearl is both a blessing and a curse from God. Pearl is a blessing because she is a smart and healthy child, but also a curse because on top of being mischievous, she is a constant reminder of her sin. He also says that the best place for a child to be is with its mother because there is a sacred bond between them. After this, the Governor and Reverend Wilson decide to let Hester keep Pearl. Infuriated that Hester was allowed to keep her child, Chillingworth went to the Governor, demanding that he reopen the case to determine who Pearls father is, but he refuses. Hester is also asked by Mistress Hibbins if she would like to join a sà ©ance, but she refuses because she got to keep Pearl. Questions about Chapters 7 and 8: How was Pearl able to scare off a group of children easily twice her age? Why does Pearl point out the scarlet letter often, knowing that it causes her mother pain each and every time she is reminded of it? How did rumors of Pearl being a devil child spread? Hester lives on the outskirts of town and doesnt appear to be in the loop. Why does Pearl refuse to answer any of Reverend Wilsons questions, knowing full well that will allow her to stay with her mother? What makes Reverend Dimmesdale vouch for Hester? Considering he is the moral guru for the town, one would think that he wouldnt be inclined to speak on a sinners behalf. My Reactions towards Chapters 7 and 8: While reading the body of Chapter 7, I was confused on how the townspeople questioned whether or not Pearl was human. I assumed that this question arose from Pearls bad behavior and extreme awareness for her age, which made me seriously consider the theory that Pearl was the spawn of the devil. Also while reading the body of Chapter 7, my perspective of the Governor changed. When he was first introduced, I imagined him as a shorter and wider fellow, but when I learned that he fought battles against the Indians with the suit of armor in the hall, my picture of him changed. Instead of a short, stocky man, I re-imagined him as a taller, well built character. While glancing at the title of Chapter 8, I noticed that it is titled The Elf Child and the Minister. The title made me wonder if little Pearls facial figures had literally begun to look like those of an elf. Even having finished the book, I still cannot make sense of the title. After reading the beginning of Chapter 8, I was flabbergasted at Reverend Dimmesdales, Reverend Wilsons, and Governor Bellinghams treatment of Pearl. Upon entering the room these 3 fully grown men begin to tease a toddler by calling her a bird and demon child. On top of being fully grown men, these are the town leaders who are teasing Pearl. These men are supposed to be the epitome of morality and good behavior. Journal Entry Chapter 9 The Leech and Chapter 10 The Leech and his Patient Summary of Chapter 9: In Chapter 9, Chillingworth has changed his name, and nobody knows his real past, except for Hester, who is bound to secrecy. He has become the town doctor, and has been accepted by the townspeople because they dont have access to quality medical supplies. The town sometimes refers to Chillingworth as a leech, because the use of leeches to cure diseases was common at that time. He is also referred to as a leech because Dimmesdale has been suffering from health problems because of Chillingworths prodding and interrogation. It is also noted that Dimmesdale clutches his heart often. Because Dimmesdale has no wife or companion to live with, Chillingworth demands to live with him for health reasons. The ministers room is hung with pictures showing biblical scenes of adultery biblical punishment. As time passes, Chillingworths trust is questioned because rumors spread of his past. Summary of Chapter 10: In this chapter, the ministers signs of torture are becoming more and more visible. To make matters worse for Dimmesdale, Chillingworth is showing incredible persistence when it comes to discovering what Dimmesdale is hiding. Despite all of his attempts, Chillingworth still cannot determine what secrets Dimmesdale struggles to keep hidden. One day, Dimmesdale inquires Chillingworth about an odd herb. The doctor says that he found it above the grave of someone who buried their sins with them. Then Chillingworth begins to prod Dimmesdale more about buried sin, but Dimmesdale backs out. Suddenly the sounds of Pearl playing are heard from Dimmesdales window, but Pearl drags her mother away when she sees Chillingworth because she thinks that he is the devil. The doctor asks Dimmsdale about his spiritual condition, but Dimmesdale basically tells him that its Gods business. The minister then apologizes for his behavior and then goes to bed. While Dimmesdale is sleeping, Chillingworth pulls back his shirt and reveals the ministers deepest secret. Questions about Chapters 9 and 10: Why didnt Dimmesdale refuse when Chillingworth insisted on living with him? He knew that Chillingworth was after something that he was hiding. Why is Dimmesdale punishing himself so severely? How did the townspeople catch wind of Chillingworths secret past? Can Pearl detect evil in people she hasnt been in contact with? (I.E. Chillingworth?) My Reactions towards Chapters 9 and 10: Since the Puritans believed in superstitions such as witches, etc, I cannot believe that the townspeople trusted a man with such an evil appearance. After learning that Dimmesdale had a secret earlier on in the novel, Chillingworths body transformed from a tired, and old man to a nasty, dark being from all of his attempts to get Dimmesdale to reveal it. After reading that Chillingworth insisted on living with Dimmesdale for health reasons, I cannot believe that Dimmesdale actually accepted and allowed him to move in. He knew from previous chapters that Chillingworth would stop at nothing to find out about his secret. After finishing Chapter 9, I learned that the term leech had 2 meanings when referring to Chillingworth. Originally it was a term used for all doctors at that time period, but as the chapter progressed, Chillingworth sucked all of the life out of Dimmesdale from his persistent questioning. While reading Chapter 10, I was stunned that Pearl detected that Chillingworth was evil. She didnt really have any prior contact with him, and she doesnt live within the community. I believe that she is either really smart or observant or she has a special power. Journal Entry: Chapter 11 Interior of a Heart and Chapter 12 The Ministers Vigil Summary for Chapter 11: In this chapter, Dimmesdale is at the peak of his misery. Chillingworth will not stop playing games with him, and he is getting no sleep because of his guilt. Even though he is suffering mentally, physically, and even spiritually, he keeps his secret bottled up. While Dimmesdale feels worse, his sermons on sin keep getting better and better. To make things harder, he punishes himself physically, by whipping his back repeatedly with a lash, in addition to extreme fasting. One night, he plans to have a vigil where Hester once stood in an attempt to relieve his sin. Summary for Chapter 12: In this chapter, Dimmesdale carries out his plan for a vigil on the scaffold. While standing up there, he fantasizes about revealing his sin, until Reverend Wilson, who is coming from a funeral for Governor Winthrop, passes by the scaffold. He thought about laughing when Wilson passed, but decided against it. After Wilson is gone, Dimmesdale laughs a little bit, which is accompanied by Pearls laugh, who is also standing on the scaffold with Hester. The three hold hands and Dimmesdale feels energized. Pearl asks if Dimmesdale will stand with them tomorrow, but he says no. Suddenly, a meteor flies across the sky, which is in the shape of an A, which frightens Dimmesdale because its a sign of his sin. After the meteor is out of sight, Chillingworth gets Dimmesdale off of the scaffold and takes him home. My Questions about Chapters 11 and 12: Is Dimmesdale even worried about being caught anymore? Or has his guilt focused all of his energy to punishing himself? How didnt Wilson notice Dimmesdale up on the scaffold? Is the meteor a coincidence? Or a sign from God? My Reactions towards Chapters 11 and 12: I was really shocked when I read that Dimmesdale was at the point that he was hitting himself to express his pain inside. I am really puzzled as to why he just doesnt confess now. He is at the point of death, is his secret really worth his life? I could understand why he chose to stand on the scaffold to release his guilt. He chose to stand on the scaffold to mimic Hester punishment because he is the co-adulterer. I believe that it took real strength to do that because anyone could have seen him doing that, and then he would have had to face his worst fear. At first, while reading, I was a bit confused when Pearl asked if the minister would stand with them again tomorrow, because I thought that they had to keep standing up on the scaffold as a continuation of their punishment, but then it hit me that they were only standing up there because Dimmesdale was up there. Chapter 13 Another View of Hester and Chapter 14 Hester and the Physician Summary for Chapter 13: In this chapter, Hester is becoming more and more active in the town. She frequently makes trips into town to donate food to the poor and to nurse the sick and injured. While she is still subject to prejudice even after 7 years, she is gradually being accepted back into the community. The weight of Pearl, her jobs, and prejudice have finally taken their toll on Hester. Much like Dimmesdale, the weight of their suffering has taken a toll on their physical appearances. She is no longer the beautiful woman she once was. Summary for Chapter 14: In this chapter, Hester tries to alleviate some of Dimmesdales suffering by telling Chillingworth to back off of him. When they go to speak with him, he tells her that he has heard that she can take off the scarlet letter, but she describes that it cannot be removed by human hands. She also thinks that it is time to tell Dimmesdale who Chillingworth really is, which makes Chillingworth realize that he has become a figure of pure evil, instead of the brilliant man he once was. My Questions about Chapters 13 and 14: Why is Hester still the object of scorn after 7 years? Shouldnt the Puritans move onto something else? Why is Hester still so kind to the people that treat her like dirt? How can Chillingworth realize that he is so evil and not want to change his ways? My Reactions towards Chapters 13 and 14: While reading, the author mentioned that Hester still accepted scorn from the townspeople after 7 years. I wondered if anyone else committed a serious sin in those 7 years who deserved a punishment similar to Hester. Or has Hester been used as a deterrent to keep everyone from messing up? After reading chapter 13, I couldnt believe that Hester was still in Boston after all the insults she had taken, let alone taking care of and helping the people that put her down. That just goes to show that Hester is not only a model for sin but a model for supreme compassion. What probably shocked me out of the whole book more than anything else was the fact that Chillingworth knew that he was evil, and still didnt want to change. Any normal human being can be inconsiderate or hurtful, when they are confronted about their behavior; they examine themselves and desire to change. Journal Entry: Chapter 15 Hester and Pearl and Chapter 16 A Forest Walk Summary for Chapter 15: In this chapter, Hester resolves that she truly hates her husband, after the pure hatred he showed in the previous chapter. After Chillingworth leaves to go mix potions from the weeds he collected, Hester goes to find Pearl. She finds Pearl playing in the puddles on the beach, with an A shaped in seaweed on her chest. When Hester sees the A, Pearl and she engage in conversation about the A. Pearl mentions that she sees that Dimmesdale clutches his heart often. This shocks Hester because she learns that Pearl is supernaturally observant, which might endanger them all. Summary for Chapter 16: In this chapter, Hester goes to meet with Dimmesdale in the forest to reveal Chillingworths real identity to him. While walking through the forest, she decides to take Pearl along with her. The sunlight seems to follow Pearl as she plays in the forest, but seems to avoid Hester. Upon reaching a stream, they wait for Dimmsdale to arrive, and Pearl asks about the black man and how he correlates to the scarlet letter. To avoid conversation, she tries to get Pearl to play, but Pearl doesnt want to out of fear of the black man. Hester tells Pearl that it is not the black man who gave her the symbol; it was the minister who did. My Questions about 15 and 16: Why did Hester even marry Chillingworth in the first place? She knew full well that neither of them were in love. Is Pearl really as observant as she is believed to be? Or is gathering this information from an outside source? How does Hester think that revealing Chillingworths real identity going to help Dimmesdale? My Reactions towards Chapters 15 and 16: I was felt almost scared for Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale at this point in the story. I was sure that Chillingworth had something even more sinister up his sleeve. After reading about Pearls constant haranguing about the scarlet letter, I began to doubt that she was thinking for herself at this point. Someone must be putting her up to it to either test how Hester responds when Pearl asks that question or to gain information about the ties between Dimmesdale and Hester. When Pearl and Hester went to go tell Dimmesdale who Chillingworth really was, I wondered how Hester thought that would help Dimmesdale. Journal Entry: Chapter 17 The Pastor and his Parishioner and Chapter 18 A Flood of Sunshine Summary for Chapter 17: In this chapter, Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the forest to avoid Chillingworth and the public. They join hands, and Hester reveals Chillingworths real identity to him. This makes Dimmesdale angry, and he starts blaming her for his sin. To get him to stop, Hester pulls him in close to see the scarlet letter, which makes him forgive her because it shows him that Chillingworth is a bigger sinner than the both of them. To avoid any more suffering caused by Chillingworth, they plan to sail away to Europe, and live with Pearl as a family. Realizing that this is his opportunity to finally release all of the pain and suffering within him, Dimmesdale plans to reveal his secret to everyone in Salem. Summary for Chapter 18: After plotting their escape, the couple feels a burst of new life within them. Hester unties her hair for the first time in many years and removes the scarlet letter and Dimmesdales sullen face has finally picked up. He tells Hester that he can feel joy again, and is excited to finally get to know his daughter. My Questions about Chapters 17 and 18: Why didnt Hester fight back when Dimmesdale was yelling at her? Will Chillingworth expose Dimmesdale and Hester before Dimmesdale can do it himself? Why is Pearl cautious of her transformed mother? My Reactions towards Chapters 17 and 18: When I read that Dimmesdale yelled at Hester and blamed her for his sin, I was surprised that she acted in the manner that she did. I would have expected her to break and fight with Dimmsdale because she easily could have defended herself in that argument. But her action did make sense, because a fight would have divided them, which is the exact opposite of what they needed at that moment, if they wanted to steal away and start a new life. After Hester confronted Dimmesdale about Chillingworth I could really feel the all of the suspense. It was like I was experiencing the same fear of Chillingworth that Dimmesdale and Hester felt. After reading that Pearl was afraid of her transformed mother, I was mystified. I expected Pearl to love her mother even more than she did before, now that she was finally happy. Journal Entry: Chapter 19 The Child at the Brookside and Chapter 20 The Minister in a Maze Summary for Chapter 19: In this chapter, Hester calls Pearl to rejoin her, but Pearl refuses, because she doesnt recognize her transformed parents. To get Pearl to come back, Hester ties her hair back up and pins the scarlet letter on once more. After the letter is fully secured, Pearl rushes back to her mother and father. She envelopes Hester in a hug and kisses her, along with the scarlet letter. Without revealing that Dimmesdale is her father, Hester tries to get Pearl to embrace Dimmesdale as well. Dimmesdale kisses her once, but then washes the kiss off in the stream. Summary for Chapter 20: On the way back to the town, Dimmesdale cannot believe the energy he feels. He even runs and skips with Pearl. When they reach the town, Hester makes reservations on the ship to Europe because she has become acquainted with the captain due to her chari

Effects of Austerity Measures on Communities

Effects of Austerity Measures on Communities Socio-economic and political factors identified in the community of Croydon and the links to key concepts and theories from sociology and social policy. Introduction This essay focuses on the socio-economic and political factors identified in the community of Croydon. It sets out to explain how these factors link with key concepts and theories from sociology and social policy and how this impacts on the community. The main focus here is on the factors that have exacerbated the issues faced by the community. Social capital will form the base for most of the arguments and points. The Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary (2008) defines socio-economic as related to the differences between groups of people caused by, mainly their financial situation. It can therefore be argued that these are factors and experiences that form and define these groups of people and also these are the factors that decide whether these groups are condemned to a life of poverty or not. The Community: Croydon (see definition of a community above) Croydon, with a population of three hundred and eighty two thousand (382k) people (www.london.gov.uk) has the second largest population of all the London Boroughs. It also has the largest number of people aged under fifteen numbering 84k. According to Councillor Tony Newman, also the Chair of the Local Strategic Partnership, Croydon is undergoing transformation to become a modern European city and can do better without bad publicity such as knife crime. It is a diverse community with a diverse ethnicity, faiths, sexual orientation and academic standing all working in different jobs to serve various needs of the community. Knife Crime: A bane for the local community The Community of Croydon has been named one of the worst five amongst London Boroughs for knife crime across London. The community is facing unprecedented levels of knife crime which is attributed to budgetary cuts to services that provide social capital to young people and other services such as policing. When the people who police and monitor crime say so, it is difficult to ignore the issue. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners argues that with reductions in staff levels and support services already made, further budget constraints will lead to difficult questions on how best to structure police forces to respond to changes in crime, and what this would mean for the local service provided to the public. In the month of February 2017 alone, the Mayors Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) reported 94 knife injuries committed by teenagers under the age of 15. While the Home Office has no precise definition of knife crime, however knife enabled crime includes a variety o f other offences involving a bladed weapon, for example it is an offence to cause or threaten harm with a knife and if used in a robbery or assault, it aggravates the offence. How the Council Gets Its Information on Knife Crime: But before delving deeper into this issue, it is very important to put into perspective how the community of Croydon and local authority gather information on this bane of knife crime and also give a backdrop to the motivating factors that influence the compilation of this information. In 2008 a teenage boy named Shakilus Townsend was stabbed several times by other teenagers in Thornton Heath, a district of Croydon. This culminated in the council instituting an investigation named Scrutiny on Knife Crime to focus on teenagers, perpetrators and victims alike. (Available at Croydon.gov.uk) The Croydon council gathers and obtains information about knife crime through public meetings held with the UK Youth Parliament, vulnerable young people, Metropolitan Police Authority, the Croydon Youth Crime Prevention Strategy and other stakeholders. Meetings are also held with secondary schools, Pupil Referral Units, Head Teachers and the British Broadcasting Corporation. Social Capital: Social Capital has many definitions, but to put into social work context, the simplest definitions that fit in well with social work are used here. Coleman (1990) argues that social capital is defined by its function as it is not a single entity, but a variety of different entities having two characteristics in common: They all consist of some aspect of social structure, and they facilitate certain actions of individuals who are within the structure. However, Brehm and Rahn (1997, p. 999) put it in another way arguing that social capital is the web of cooperative relationships between citizens that facilitate resolution of collective action problems. It can therefore be argued that social capital has an economical value in it and that this value increases the competitive advantage of individuals through networking through organisations like the local authority provided facilities. The World Bank defines social capital as institutions, relationships, and norms that shape the quality and quantity of a societys social interactions. The World Bank goes on to elaborate by stating that social cohesion is critical for societies to prosper economically and for development to be sustainable. Social capital is not just the sum of the institutions which underpin a society it is the glue that holds them together. While knife crime is one of the major social problems facing this community, this essay seeks to highlight why budgetary cuts, which are a consequence of social capital deprivation, are an indirect consequence of the knife crime coupled with other social issues The Poisoned Chalice of Neo-Liberalism: As social capital has already been defined above, it is important to put it into perspective so that there is an understanding that the reduction in services that provide social capital for the young has come about as a result of neo-liberalism, so there is a link between The Liberal Democrats whose ideological tradition is liberalism, an ideology that favours privatisation, and the contraction of the public sector/services, reinforced by its ideology of neo liberalism on the coat tails of a book titled the Orange Book: Reclaiming Liberalism. Thomson and Thomson (2008) argue that politics plays a fundamentally important role in shaping social work and therefore it could be argued that it is important to buttress some points with an understanding of the role therefore political processes play in social work. Now back to the Liberal Democrats. Nick Clegg later became leader and he would later use his presence and influence in the Coalition to oversee the shutting down of some Sure Star ts childrens centres and Connexions in the name of economic liberalism. This policy also oversaw the privatisation of job seeking being contracted to a private individual operating as if it was under the auspices of the Department of Works and Pension (DWP) using a website under the name Universal Jobmatch where thousands of fake jobs were advertised by a private contractor who was paid for roles which should have been performed by the DWP. Incredibly the scandal which left jobseekers at the mercy of this government approved scam, fizzled out without much fanfare. A lot of jobseekers who were already being deprived of services such as the Connexions had to face the frustration of applying for nonexistent jobs. To put it into context, Connexions was a support service for young people, a service that was meant to help them with advice on topics including education, housing, health, relationships, drugs, and finance. Now these are young people who were most in need. An argument may be developed that says these young people, through a policy of neo-liberalism are likely to develop personal problems and that these personal problems will overlap into a societal problem. These are the apparent knock on effects. Political Austerity, a function of neo-liberalism affecting social capital: Battle and Lewis argue that a persons education is closely linked to their life chances, income and well being. When the Conservative and Liberal coalition government came into power, they made tackling our record debts, as they called it then, one of their cornerstones in dealing with debt. The Liberal Democrats are well remembered by most students for reneging on a policy to scrap university fees altogether. Not only did they renege on this policy, but they went on and signed up to an agreement to actually allow institutions to charge fees up to nine thousand pounds. Now a prospective student from a deprived background would have seen the prospect of finishing university with a debt of over thirty thousand pounds not such an attractive prospect. The Croydon Guardian newspaper interviewed 4 teenagers aged 16 to 18 to try and get to the bottom of the scourge of knife crime in their community. One of the teenagers had this to say: Adults should give children more job opportunities and training. This will attract other teenagers too. We need to ask what they like doing so they have the chance to do what they want. I was part of a gang, but for what? Sometimes there is no explanation. Unquote. The other three teenagers also had more or less the same to say. Another major point of concern that came out of the interviews was that young people carry knifes as a form of defence due to the large numbers of gangs dominating the community. They feel they have to protect themselves. Mills (1959) links what happens to an individuals life with social structures of the wider world. Mills states that the private troubles of men/women effectively trapped them in their lives as they understood only their immediate personal difficulties rather than understanding what was happening to them particularly in reference to historic and histories of their surroundings. These young men and women feel trapped. It can therefore be argued that if it were not for cuts that affect the number of police in the streets, these teenagers would not feel the need to carry knifes as the police would be there to protect them. Unfortunately this policy of austerity does not affect teenagers only.   Some Sure Starts were at the receiving end of these cuts as real spending fell, so states the Nuffield report. To put it into context again there is a need to understand the core purpose of Sure Starts. They were actually developed in consultation with the Childcare Act 2006 and therefore it could be argued that their closure indirectly impinges on the development of children. Their core purpose, as the government states, is to make available universal and targeted early childhood services either by providing the services at the centre itself or by providing advice and assistance to parents, mothers and fathers, and prospective parents in accessing services provided elsewhere. Local authorities must ensure that childrens centres provide some activities for young children on site. What can be argued here is that a child who was nine in 2010 when the coalition government took power is now a teenager and poorer i n terms of education and social capital due to the austerity which affected the number of these centres made available. The knock on effect is that this cycle is being repeated. If society is going to deprive young people of socialisation at an early age surely what can be expected of the this generation in terms of what they contribute to the well being of a community and the society at large? Cunningham and Cunningham (2009) observe that troubles of individuals are inherently personal and unique however they happen as a result of specific set of socio-economic and political circumstances. Again the Nuffield report, already mentioned above, goes on to state that the issues that are the principal concern of its inquiry are social outcomes, poverty and inequality and argue that the Coalition had inherited a better situation than its predecessor Labour whose social programmes had delivered expanded public services. Socio-economic gaps in access to services had decreased. Economic and social outcomes, such as pupil achievements and child poverty, had also generally not improved, while differences between the most and least deprived social groups narrowed, the report goes on to   state. The Deprivation of Social Capital: It can be argued, taking in all the information above, that the exercise of shutting down some Sure Starts and Connexions branches deprived teenagers and other young adults opportunities that could have prepared them better industry leaders of tomorrow. It deprived them of opportunities to socialise and share ideas with like minded peers. The legislations attempt to stop people from carrying knives has not been that successful due to the fact that knife crime is still prevalent in Croydon. Government has imposed penalties of up to 4 years maximum for carrying a knife however this legislation is evidently not a deterrent as knife crime is still prevalent in that community. The law allows for pressure groups to work in collaboration with the society and the police in tackling the crime. However according to Hill and Irving (2009) choices of what pressure groups can work on are dictated by local interests. One can see how the weakness of an individual voter is strengthened through belonging to an influential group. Hill and Irving go on to argue that direct interventions in elections motivated by local issues are rare. This essentially means come election time the issues that really matter to the community are put in the back burner hence the cycle of these social problems still persist unabated. Charities and the MET: Campaigns such as No Knifes Better Lives look at the individual, putting pressure on the family to change with very little change in the role of the state in improving the economic circumstances of the victims. The No Knifes Better Lives approachs challenge is that it focuses on the implement used to commit the crime ignoring the causes or underlying socio economic circumstances. One can argue that if their campaign was focused on getting rid of poverty, access to equal opportunities and education, in the long run this might reduce knife crime. Another organisation helping young people refrain from using knife is the Turnaround centre. This is a place where young people can drop in and ask for advice and support. Incredibly these organisations rely on the magnanimity of well wishers for funding which actually limits their scope of how much they can do. According to the census figures, Croydon has one of the largest Afro/Caribbean populations. This makes it very difficult for the police to enforce the Stop and Search due to the McPherson reports branding of the Metropolitan Police (MET) being institutionally racist, something the MET actually admitted. To compound that, when the practice was in use it disproportionately targeted Black males. So this dilemma has made the police lose out on an otherwise valuable crime fighting tool. The police are currently working together with many stakeholders in addressing problems in the community. In the same breath they should have a social worker working with them and becoming an acceptable face of the solution to the community. One can argue that social workers are always at arms length dealing with issues, rather should be on the frontline instead of being reactive in dealing with societal issues. According to the Health and Care Professions Councils (HCPC) standards of proficiency (SoP), social workers must be able to recognise and respond appropriately to unexpected situations and manage uncertainty. It could be argued that this might just be possible in an idealistic world but not in a profession that faces so much austerity cuts. Social workers, by the nature of their profession, have the unique advantage of seeing and understanding how poverty and discrimination affect lives and thereby communities. So it is a big ask for them to strike a balance between meeting SoP and at the same time lawfully practice. It is therefore imperative that social work should be a protected profession, protected from cuts forever. The social work profession, according to the International Federation of Social Workers, expects the practitioners to promote social change, help to foster human relationships and in the process liberate people through empowerment. Again it becomes very difficult, o ne may argue, that you can operate in an environment that prioritises money above the welfare of human beings. Recommendations: The Croydon council has recommended the continuous review of developing a range of services for all young people in Croydon. Specifically, investment in expanded opening hours for places where young people can be into the late afternoon and late at night during summer months should be explored and future opportunities for younger children actively considered. Another important recommendation was that the local authority should give consideration to the creation of a Croydon Youth Council as this could be used as a vehicle or channel for the youth to influence the decisions that affect them. Policing along with social work should and must be protected from budgetary cuts as they are at the forefront of fighting crime. Conclusion: Eliot Spitzer the former American Democratic politician once remarked The world has conducted a macro-economic experiment since the cataclysm of 2008. In Europe, the fans of austerity have had their chance, and the results have been a disaster. Unquote. This essay has stated the case why austerity measures, in other words, social and economic policies are impacting on the day to day lives of people mostly young people. The current government and its predecessor the Conservative/Liberal coalition continue to deprive young people of opportunities that could have made them better people or leaders of tomorrow and unfortunately their policies will continue to impact badly on how social workers deliver their duties in the communities they serve, as they restrict their ability to practice. People are losing services essential to their well being and that cannot be good for the well being of their mental state. The British Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics states that principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to the work of a social worker; it can therefore be argued, how can social workers foster a just environment when they have to work under an austerity environment which is unjust and cannot support them. This essay argues that austerity is state sponsored human rights abuse. Words: 2985 A  reflective summary response to the feedback from peers on the formative presentation Bruce (2013) argues that the process of reflection can be described as the detailed thinking you may undertake about an event or experience, and the new perspective or knowledge you gain as a result of this process. The compliments my group received from peers about how well we worked together as a unit resonated well with and reinforced the theoretical framework stages of group development described by Tuckman (1965) as norming, forming, storming and performing. Our group was not that difficult to form as we already had developed interpersonal relations through meeting in the canteen and lectures. Interestingly, due to being the eldest in the group, I seemed to command respect from group members as they presumed being older made me wiser. However some members felt age should not be a criterion for choosing a group leader. As I had already studied each group members strengths and weaknesses, I simply told them the reasons why they should choose me, at the same time delegating duties for the presentation. Everyone seemed happy with the delegated duties and so the team structure took shape.   At the norming stage we set up a collaborative strategy through a whatsapp group. A member would post their idea of the delegated role then we would all look at it and have our input. We found this to be an excellent medium of communication and sharing of ideas. At this stage we also lost our sixth group member due to pregnancy. Our performance stage appeared to be the easiest as each member wanted the group to succeed. Great and not so great ideas flowed from members as we worked hard to meet the deadline. We complimented each other where it was deserved. It can therefore be argued that the group formation process of our team was an event I have just reflected about. Words: 339 A  short evaluation of an interview undertaken with a professional about their role and experiences of providing services in a community-based organisation. Interviewing a Nurse Assessor When planning for my interview I thought about Egans (2014, pg.136.) use of probes to explore and clarify points of view, decisions and proposals. This gave me an idea about how I was going to probe the nurse so she could engage and tell me in detail the scope of her role and challenges she faces in her role. I was very interested in the direct positive impact she was having on the community hospital too. This community hospital is what could be described, as, argued by   Cunningham and Cunningham (2008) a traditional geographic community due to its location and shared space, proximity and years of shared experience which are seen to have inculcated certain common values and norms and there is a sense of permanence, shared responsibility, duty and mutual support. Adams et al in Brint (1994) argue that an organisation should have valued professionals who combine expertise with the technical capacity to solve problems, particularly major global problems such as health and the environment. My interview was with a Nurse Assessor for an intermediate care services (IMC) in a community hospital. She stated that her role sometimes included working in front of the house, Accident and Emergency (A and E) admissions avoidance and stated that she found this quite overwhelming. I asked why she had to perform a role which appeared to be outside her remit and her response was that even though she had been trained for the role, there was a serious lack of qualified personnel so she and her colleagues had to rotate and share duties. She does not specifically do social care but because they work as a team, she tends to sign post to social care if patients do not fit the IMC criteria for rehabilitation. This role is currently evolving as they are working as an integrated discharge team that is, working in teams with social workers and hospital discharge coordinators to facilitate early and timely discharges. It was quite interesting how her role processes are not that dissimilar to those of a social worker, starting with assessment, moving through to planning, intervention finally monitoring, evaluation and review. Adams et al (2009). Presently the team is transitioning from using social care policies towards what is called a Trusted Assessor who can do all three roles, meaning that they will have to work within social care policies and legislation while assimilating the trusted assessor concept. It is a work in progress. The challenges related to her role are mainly friction in teams working collaboratively and no clear cut boundaries, hence blurring the roles. Above all, keeping up with the pace of the changing face and needs in Health and Social Care and the aging population was another challenge they had to deal with as a team on a regular basis. Demand outstrips supply and the need for services has been outstripped by lack of growth in infrastructure. She felt that her professional values were being compromised by the pressures of work. Reflecting on what she had told me, I referred to Hertzberg et al (2010) who argued that work motivation is intrinsic to the job and that conditions of employment and relations in the workplace have the capacity to demotivate. In this new structure of collaborative care (integrated discharge teams) she works with three social workers in the team. They work together to facilitate.   She refers and discusses relevant cases with them and they in turn will discuss and refer some patients to her if they feel that their needs can be met in intermediate care even if it means accessing IMC to reduce the care package. After the interview I was left with a myriad of dilemmas, but the one that stuck to my mind was how the generality of healthcare professionals are victims of legislation probably designed by people who spend most of their time looking for mistakes than solutions, as can be seen by the bad press that they usually get. Healthcare workers are supposed to abide by and adhere to certain statutes yet their professional competencies are being hindered by a lack of resources. (Adams, et al. pg 92 2009) Compared to its peers in the G7, a group of large developed economies, the UK is ranked sixth on healthcare expenditure. (Office of National Statistics, 2017) Words: 743 References: Adams, R. Dominelli, L. and Payne, M. (2009) Social work: themes, issues and critical debates. 3RD edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Bruce, L.   (2013) Reflective practice for social workers: a handbook for developing professional confidence.   Maidenhead: McGraw Hill Open University Press Coleman, James S. 1990. Foundations of social theory. Cambridge: Harvard University Press Cunningham, J. and Cunningham, S. (2008) Sociology and social work. Exeter: Learning Matters. Egan, G. (2002) The skilled helper: a problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping   7th edn. Pacific Grove: Brooks Cole Hertzberg, F., Mausner, B., and Snyder, B. B. (2010) The motivation to work. 12th edn. London: Transaction Publishers. Hill, M. and Irving, Z. (2009) Understanding social policy. 8th edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell https://www.basw.co.uk/ (Accessed: 15 March 2017) https://www.london.gov.uk/in-my-area/croydon (Accessed: 18 March 2017) http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/knifecrime/ (Accessed: 15 March 2017) https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/articles/downloads/knife1.pdf   (Accessed: 21 March 2017). https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/articles/downloads/demographics.pdf (Accessed 15 March 2017) https://www.croydon.gov.uk/community/equality/lovecroydon/facts (Accessed 12 March 2017) https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/273768/childrens_centre_stat_guidance_april_2013.pdf (Accessed: 15 March 2017) http://ifsw.org/get-involved/global-definition-of-social-work/ (Accessed: 14 March 2017 https://www.london.gov.uk/in-my-area/croydon (Accessed: 18 March 2017) http://noknivesbetterlives.com/parents (Accessed: 15 March 2017) http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/RR04_SUMMARY.pdf (Accessed: 21 March 2017) https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmhaff/112/11204.htm (Accessed: 20 March 2017) https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/data-and-research/crime%20/gangs-dashboard Office for National Statistics (2017) Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/ (Accessed: 20 March 2017). https://www.worldbank.org/ (Accessed: 20 March 2017)

SWOT Analysis Essay -- Business Analysis

Organizational performance is a result of business interaction with its internal and external environment (Houben, Lenie & Vanhoof, 1999). There are a variety of internal and external forces that either stimulate or compromise the organization's performance in achieving objectives or goals (Houben, et al., 1999). An analysis can identify and evaluate areas within or outside of the organizations to provide information for leadership. The analysis can be done by internal personnel or external experts. Experts are often used to identify, monitor, forecast and assess environment trends (Swayne, Duncan & Ginther, 2008). Often the SWOT analysis is used to review internal and external areas in the four components; strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The SWOT analysis indicates that the strengths and weakness are internal. Strengths are the organizational competitive advantages and distinguishing competencies (Houben, et.al, 1999). Weaknesses hinder the progress of the organization in a certain direction (Houben, et.al, 1999). Weakness can be considered areas of opportunities. Data collections from employees and customer surveys along with financial information can indicate the strengths and weakness. Opportunities and threats are viewed more as external forces. Opportunities are investment or change which the organizations may consider. Threats could be competitors or other known factors which the organization should identify. This paper will review a SWOT analysis that was conducted by an external exporter on the healthcare organization, Kaiser Permanente. The external expert is Datamonitor and is familiar with nonprofit organizations. Datamonitor (2011) indicates â€Å"that Kaiser Permanente (KP) is one of the ... ...amonitor (2011). Kaiser Permanente.,Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. SWOT Analysis; Dec2011, p1-9, 9p DATAMONITOR (2010). Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. SWOT Analysis; Nov2010, p1-8, 8p Hardwick, P.l (2005). Want a better business? Invest in SWOTing . Mississippi Business Journal, 1/31/2005, Vol. 27 Issue 5, pA5-A5, 3/5p Houben, G. Lenie, K. Vanhoof, K. (1999). A knowledge-based SWOT-analysis system as an instrument for strategic planning in small and medium sized enterprises. Retrieved from. http://www.cuaed.unam.mx/puel_cursos/cursos/d_gcfe_m_dos/modulo/modulo_2/m2-10.pdf Weisman, S (2008). S.W.O.T. analysis is no longer the best approach to planning for success. Hudson Valley Business Journal, 10/27/2008, Vol. 19 Issue 43, p11-11, 1/3p Swayne, L. E., Duncan, W. J., & Ginter, P. M. (2008). Strategic

Trapped by Society in John Updikes A&P Essay -- A&P Essays

Trapped by Society in John Updike's A&P      Ã‚  Ã‚   People often take their place in society for granted. They accept that position into which they are born, grow up in it, and pass that position on to their children. This cycle continues until someone is born who has enough vision to step out of his circle and investigate other ways of life in which he might thrive. One such person is embodied in the character of Sammy in A&P, by John Updike. Sammy is the narrator of the story and describes an incident in the store where he encounters a conflict between the members of two completely different worlds the world that he was born into and the world of a girl that captures his mind. Through his thoughts, attitudes, and actions, Sammy shows that he is caught between the two worlds of his customers at the A&P.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy's thoughts, as told to the reader in his narration, betray a deep understanding of the people he comes in contact with. When the girls walked into the store, he began to describe not only their looks, but also their attitudes and personalities without ever speaking to them. The one who held his attention was also the one he named "Queenie". On page one he says, She was the queen. She kind of led them, the other two peeking around and making their shoulders round. Sammy understood that she was the one in charge, and by saying that the other two made their shoulders round he showed that he realized their passivity was by choice; they followed her by their own wills.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy also understood how the "regulars" of the A&P thought and reasoned. He correctly interpreted the customers’ reactions to the girls, saying, "A few houseslaves in pin curlers even looked round after pushing their cart... ...ed what he did for them and wanting their appreciation for his attempt to disassociate himself from the people in the store. He called them "his" girls, trying to bring himself to their level in the social scheme as he saw it (3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy was indeed caught between the two worlds that collided one day in the A&P, and he chose to pursue the one that was not his own. He was able to do this when others were not because he understood both worlds, his attitude toward each were completely different, and his actions were drastic enough to cut him free from the bonds that his world had on him. With two paths to choose from and only one to follow, Sammy took the path less traveled in that small town by the sea. He was, to use his own analogy, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Works Cited Updike, J. A&P. www.crown.edu/humanities/Wheatonj. 17 January, 2004. Trapped by Society in John Updike's A&P Essay -- A&P Essays Trapped by Society in John Updike's A&P      Ã‚  Ã‚   People often take their place in society for granted. They accept that position into which they are born, grow up in it, and pass that position on to their children. This cycle continues until someone is born who has enough vision to step out of his circle and investigate other ways of life in which he might thrive. One such person is embodied in the character of Sammy in A&P, by John Updike. Sammy is the narrator of the story and describes an incident in the store where he encounters a conflict between the members of two completely different worlds the world that he was born into and the world of a girl that captures his mind. Through his thoughts, attitudes, and actions, Sammy shows that he is caught between the two worlds of his customers at the A&P.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy's thoughts, as told to the reader in his narration, betray a deep understanding of the people he comes in contact with. When the girls walked into the store, he began to describe not only their looks, but also their attitudes and personalities without ever speaking to them. The one who held his attention was also the one he named "Queenie". On page one he says, She was the queen. She kind of led them, the other two peeking around and making their shoulders round. Sammy understood that she was the one in charge, and by saying that the other two made their shoulders round he showed that he realized their passivity was by choice; they followed her by their own wills.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy also understood how the "regulars" of the A&P thought and reasoned. He correctly interpreted the customers’ reactions to the girls, saying, "A few houseslaves in pin curlers even looked round after pushing their cart... ...ed what he did for them and wanting their appreciation for his attempt to disassociate himself from the people in the store. He called them "his" girls, trying to bring himself to their level in the social scheme as he saw it (3).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sammy was indeed caught between the two worlds that collided one day in the A&P, and he chose to pursue the one that was not his own. He was able to do this when others were not because he understood both worlds, his attitude toward each were completely different, and his actions were drastic enough to cut him free from the bonds that his world had on him. With two paths to choose from and only one to follow, Sammy took the path less traveled in that small town by the sea. He was, to use his own analogy, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Works Cited Updike, J. A&P. www.crown.edu/humanities/Wheatonj. 17 January, 2004.

Online Examination System Essay

The purpose of on-line test simulator is to take online test in an efficient manner for various branches/semesters/courses at the same time and no time wasting for checking the paper. The main objective of on-line test simulator is to efficiently evaluate the candidate thoroughly through a fully automated system that not only saves lot of time but also gives fast results. It is targeted at removing all the paper work in the examination process. The system is designed by keeping future in mind so that it can be used in any educational institutions as well as in corporate World with little changes. It saves a lot of time as it allows number of students/trainees to give the exam at a time and displays the results as the test gets over, so no need to wait for the result. Administrator has a privilege to add new teachers and students to the test papers. User can register, login and give the test with his specific id, and can see the results as well. This software can be used anywhere any time as it is a web based application (user Location doesn’t matter). No restriction is there that examiner has to be present when the candidate takes the test. The current system is analyzed thoroughly and all the bottlenecks are identified. 2. Users demonstrable needs are captured and freezed. User needs a web-based system, which will remove all the problems in existing system, the user is facing. The user wants a web- based system, which will reduce the bulk of paperwork, provide ease of work, flexibility, fast record finding, modifying, adding, removing and generating the reports. A new system has been proposed on my perception of the system, in accordance with the problems of existing system by making a full layout of the system on paper. 4. The feasibility of the system proposed was analyzed by comparing the following factors with both the existing system and proposed system. The proposed system was found feasible in terms of cost, effort, time and labor. Analysis of the system is complete. 5. Database design is complete. 6. System coding is in progress.

Artist Statement for Sculpture

Our tape projects shows artistic investigation In that we had to look Into the aspects of this character to try and figure out how we could best represent them with what we had. We looked Into the culture of the show and his character In order to do lust that. As for the process, It was quite a long one. We first had to figure out the stance and position of the character that would best represent the character (oddly enough, in our case, it was his dead, which happens quite a lot to his character in the how, surprisingly) and what props/colors we would need to make his character known.Once we had it all planned out, we started the tape, using different parts of each person in our group. We used Drain's limbs, lower body, stomach area, and head, and then used Earache's upper body. We used the technique of wrapping the tape around the part needed with the sticky side out and building up until it was thick enough and very carefully cutting the tape off the person, without hurting the st ructure of the tape or the person. Once all our pieces were all cut out, we put them all together, using even more tape. The spray painting came next.We used the spray paint to color In the pants, shirt, hair, and shoes. One of our characters signature items Is his trench coat and tie that he Is almost always wearing. We used the actual articles of clothing for that. Since our character is also an angel, we made angel wings out of cardboard and then spray painted those as well and attached them to the tape sculpture itself. We did this project and used this character because, seeing s we both are big fans of the show and this specific character, it is sort of a nerdy representation of the both of us.The material and media influenced our artistic decisions because, using mainly tape, it forced us to think simply. We needed mostly the vague outline of a human figure through the tape which was time consuming and difficult in itself, and the props we needed had to be so associated with this character that It would be very easy to figure out who It was If the person happened to know of the show. The Intended expression or communication intended with this ice was to deep down Just accept the nerdy side of you, If you have one.And, for those who know this character, they know that he is all about being true to yourself and coming over tremendous odds, which can also hopefully be seen through our piece. I would say we were fairly successful in manifesting our vision with our sculpture. Artist Statement for Sculpture By researches Our tape projects shows artistic investigation in that we had to look into the what we had. We looked into the culture of the show and his character in order to do lust that. As for the process, it was quite a long one.We first had to figure out the paint to color in the pants, shirt, hair, and shoes. One of our characters signature items is his trench coat and tie that he is almost always wearing. We used the actual the vague outline of a hu man figure through the tape which was time consuming and character that it would be very easy to figure out who it was if the person happened to know of the show. The intended expression or communication intended with this piece was to deep down Just accept the nerdy side of you, if you have one. And, for Artist Statement for Sculpture Adrian Sage Rachel Shaw Our tape projects shows artistic investigation in that we had to look into the aspects of this character to try and figure out how we could best represent them with what we had. We looked into the culture of the show and his character in order to do just that. As for the process, it was quite a long one. We first had to figure out the stance and position of the character that would best represent the character (oddly enough, in our case, it was his dead, which happens quite a lot to his character in the how, surprisingly) and what props/colors we would need to make his character known.Once we had it all planned out, we started the tape, using different parts of each person in our group. We used Drain's limbs, lower body, stomach area, and head, and then used Earache's upper body. We used the technique of wrapping the tape around the part needed with the sticky side out and building up until it was thick enough and very carefully cutting the tape off the person , without hurting the Truckee of the tape or the person.Once all our pieces were all cut out, we put them all together, using even more tape. The spray painting came next. We used the spray paint to color in the pants, shirt, hair, and shoes. One of our characters signature items is his trench coat and tie that he is almost always wearing. We used the actual articles of clothing for that. Since our character is also an angel, we made angel wings out of cardboard and then spray painted those as well and attached them to he tape sculpture itself.We did this project and used this character because, seeing as we both are big fans of the show and this specific character, it is sort of a nerdy representation of the both of us. The material and media influenced our artistic decisions because, using mainly tape, it forced us to think simply. We needed mostly the vague outline of a human figure through the tape which was time consuming and difficult in itself, and the props we needed had to be so associated with this harasser that it would be very easy to figure out who it was if the person happened to know of the show.The intended expression or communication intended with this piece was to deep down Just accept the nerdy side of you, if you have one. And, for those who know this character, they know that he is all about being true to yourself and coming over tremendous odds, which can also hopefully be seen through our piece. I would say we were fairly successful in manifesting our vision with our sculpture. Artist Statement for Sculpture By researches