Research On Disengagement From Gangs - 779 Words

Desistance Research on disengagement from gangs has not been widely looked at, yet most research conducted has been so from within the United States (Gormally, S. 2015). The common term utilized throughout research on this topic is ‘desistance’. According to Kazemian (2009), desistance generally defines the cessation or termination of offending or other delinquent behavior. Two types of desistance occur, both primary desistance and secondary desistance. Furthermore a suggestion in upcoming research state there is a tertiary desistance that exists as well (McNeil, 2014). According to Gormally (2015) primary desistance is defined as a period of time that offending behavior has stopped or paused. Secondary desistance occurs when one’s self-identity has shifted and an individual see’s him or herself as an ex offender. Furthermore McNeil (2014) suggests tertiary desistance is believed to be the level at which social, community and judicial recognition is given; suggesting that identity is socially assembled, therefore depending on long term change that includes how one is seen by others and how an individual is able to fit into society. Gang Desistance According to Gormally (2015), research conducted on desistance from gangs often presents itself as leaving the gang life completely once reaching secondary desistance. These definitions and concepts are not a one size fits all. Research conducted in Canada found that youth gang members who reached desistance did not certainlyShow MoreRelatedA Research Study At Hand Aimed1737 Words   |  7 PagesThe study at hand aimed to investigate the aspects that lead individuals to join a gang, the reasons as to why they decided to part ways with it, and the consequences that resulted from their affiliation. Through the analysis of interviews and observations, several themes were noticeable such as the initiation to the gang, desistance, consequences, and services offered to help reintegrate into society. Former gang members expressed and constantly mentioned their childhood having a major part in theRead MoreLife Of A Gang : Youth853 Words   |  4 PagesLife in a Gang Youth are exposed to gang life at an early age, sometimes as early as 10 or 11 years old. Observing older and respected gang members can often lead to impressions among youth that lead them to believe gang life is the way to gain access to things such as status, money and prestige. Research states that older more established gang members will utilize youth to their advantage by having them steal for the gang, buy and sell drugs, carry weapons and commit other crimes in hopes to evadeRead MoreCriminalization at School: Zero-Tolerance Discipline Policies Might Be Damaging to Students1309 Words   |  6 Pagestook his picture with a smile and a hand gesture in which his thumb, index, and middle finger was raised. This was enough to earn him an indefinite suspension with a recommendation for expulsion because his school administrators believed he flashed a gang sign although he was simply putting up three fingers to represent his football jersey number. (NPR Isensee, 2014). This kind of criminalization of young people contributes to suspension, dropout, and incarceration, and too often pushes students intoRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency : Factors That Lead Youth1458 Words   |  6 Pagesa problem why some children steal, damage properties and not others. Many researches have been done to know the main factor that lead youth to delinquency, and it has been learned that there is no single path to delinquency. Although much of the research on factors that youth face has focused on predicting serious and violent offenses. Many people wonder about the factors that lead youth to commit delinquency. There are many factors that lead to delinquency, but the most known factors are familyRead MoreRunning Head : Youths And Gangs3604 Words   |  15 PagesRunning Head: YOUTHS AND GANGS IN SCHOOL 1 YOUTHS AND GANGS IN SCHOOL 14 Youths and Gangs in School Antoinette Harrison Central Penn College Abstract It is common and sagacious to have a look at the mental health, psychology, and educational concerns about our youth and children as they do pose distinct and separate problemsRead MoreSocial Bonds: Aboriginal Gang Formation in Canada2861 Words   |  12 PagesAs many prominent scholars have postulated, there is very little research addressing the multifaceted dynamics with respect to Aboriginal gang involvement from a Canadian perspective. This paper intends to advance the understanding of the pathways involved in Aboriginal gang formation, recruitment and participation by critically examining the historical and institutional impediments, which have contributed to the facilitation of this phenomenon. In the process, this paper will apply the foremostRead MoreIdentifying the Factors which Are Likely to Result in Greater Delinquency among Abused Children2764 Words   |  12 Pagesalso in psychology to assist in child upbringing. This is applicable especially in schools, clinics and other social institutions to ensure child welfare. The essay elaborates on risk factors derived from the study which include substance abuse, school difficulties, mental health problems, running away from home as well as negative peer influence. The paper assist in understanding the relationship between delinquency and child abuse. Introduction The Unite States Department of Health and Human SciencesRead MoreBlack Male Success in Higher Education Essay2272 Words   |  10 PagesHispanics in the same age group were attending college† (McGlynn, Angela Proviteira). The question then to pose, is why minority students are not succeeding in college compared to Caucasian students, â€Å"Only 47% of Black male students graduated on time from U.S. high schools in 2008, compared to 78% of White male students† (Kafele, B. (2012). Not only were black male students seen as under achieving compared to white male students, but also compared to black female students â€Å"black male students have aRead MorePublic School Discipline At Columbine High School2077 Words   |  9 Pagesconcerned about drug use and gang activity among students, and dramatic events such as the shooting at Columbine High School further solidified fears about school safety. In response to these problems, many schools began implementing policies of exclusionary discipline, (Skiba Rausch, 2006).   Such policies are generally based on the assumption that removing students from schools when they behave disruptively will create peaceful learning environments and deter others from engaging in similar patternsRead MoreBusiness4225 Words   |  17 PagesThe African Symposium: An online journal of the African Educational Research Network MANAGING BULLYING PROBLEMS IN NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS: SOME COUNSELLING INTERVENTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION Oyaziwo Aluede Ambrose Alli University Abstract Bullying problem has remained pervasive and a going concern for all stakeholders of education who desire to make school climate a safe haven. This paper is moved by this desire, by bringing into context the meaning of bullying and prevalence of bullying around

The Government of Spain - 1094 Words

The Government of Spain Political System Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. Chief of state is the hereditary monarch and the head of government is the President of the Government. The President designates the cabinet which is called the Council of Ministers. Spain is also has a bicameral legislative branch. The General Courts or National Assembly or Las Cortes Generales consists of the Senate or Senado and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (CIA World Factbook). In order for legislation to pass the two chambers must agree. Proposals of laws issued by the Senate are discussed at Congress in a Plenary Session in order to be accepted or tabled veto or be amended. The proposal of the law passes to the study of†¦show more content†¦President of Government Rodriguez Zapatero is from the party Spanish Socialist Workers Party. The President s party does not have a majority of the seats in both chambers of parliament. The PSOE, which is party of the President, has control of the Congress, but the Popular Party controls the Senate. The government is a minority government since neither of the parties has more than 50 percent of the seat shares in either chamber. The most recent election was during March 14, 2004 which was a landslide win for the PSOE. During previous years, it was always the Popular Party, the conservatives, who would beat the PSOE, the liberals, in presidential and National Assembly elections. This most recent election where the PSOE, Spanish Socialist Workers Party, reigned victors reflected the opposition the population felt against the Iraq war which the PP and its leader Anzar supported. The now President of Government, Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero pledged his promise if elected that he would withdraw the Spanish troops from the war (Stuart, BBC News). This election had one of the highest voter turnouts in history with a incredible 77.2 percent coming out to the polls, with 42 percent of the vote going to the PSOE (Stuart, BBC News) . The elections alsoShow MoreRelatedSpain vs. Usa: Differences in Government and Political Systems3321 Words   |  14 PagesThe United States of America vs. Spain Differences in Government and Political Systems Claire Hansen Abstract There are a multitude of political systems around the world today. Regardless of similarities, each has its own unique qualities. This paper will discuss the differences and similarities of the political systems and government of both the United States of America and Spain. First, a short analysis of each countries history will be provided. This will give some background to the politicalRead MoreEssay on Spain Political-Legal Environment851 Words   |  4 PagesGovernment and politics The Spain Government is somewhat of a hybrid between a monarchy and a democratic government. There is a King, President, two vice presidents and prime ministers. There are also seventeen autonomous regions in Spain that are closely related to what we call the United States. I believe that the hybrid mix of government acts as somewhat of a backup because the King gets the final say and some decisions made by the other government officials are not binding. I believe thatRead MoreAre Internal or External Factors to Blame for the Sovereign Debt Crisis in Spain? What Are Policy Implications of Your Analysis?1551 Words   |  7 Pagesfor the sovereign debt crisis in Spain? What are policy implications of your analysis? From market interest rates to lend it money, the Spanish government has risen to 10 years, far higher than the 6% - far below the level of 7% -8%, prompting Greece, Ireland and Portugal cap hand Brussels bailout. In comparison, the German government paid 1.42% interest rate- which, incidentally, is the lowest borrowing costs in Berlin has ever had. The market say they fear Spain may end up like Greece, and unableRead MoreCountry Report: Spain Essay980 Words   |  4 Pages Spain is a country which occupies most of the Iberian peninsula of Europe. Spain also governs several sets of islands, such as the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The Spanish culture, language, and people, occupy the majority of the land owned by Spain. Spain’s current population is approximately 47 million people. About 80% of the population is of Spanish heritage (Spain Population 2013). Spain is a Constitutional government, run by KingRead More Cultural Analysis of Spain1683 Words   |  7 Pages**this was written as the first stage of analyizing Spain for the introduction of a franchise** In the beginning, Spain endured a diversified number of cultures. Around 1600 B.C., the Iberians arrived in Spain. Migration into Spain continued from Europe beyond the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. Following the Iberians, came the Celts. The two cultures merged and established a distinctive Celt Iberian culture. In 1492, the Moors, a nomadic, Muslim tribe of North African origin, wereRead MoreNatural Resources And Environmental Regulations1323 Words   |  6 PagesBased on the Economic Structure and Context report on Spain, it identifies Spain as being well known amongst Europe for having a mining industry that produces natural resources such as stone and marble. Spain’s agricultural sector was once worthy of noting but over time it has diminished to little of importance, however, Spain is still notably recognized for being a leading producer of olive oil and wine (Economic Structure and Context, pg 25). Spain is currently using environmental regulations app rovedRead MoreSpain: Then and Now Essay783 Words   |  4 PagesThe Mediterranean peoples were aware of Spain from very early times. Civilization in Spain actually dates back to the Stone Age. There were many people who inhabited Spain most notably the Basques. Later the Carthaginians settled on the east coast and in the Balearic Islands, where Greek colonies also sprang up. In the 3d century BC, the Carthaginians under Hamilcar Barca began to conquer most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearics and established Cartagena as capital. In the Punic war theRead MoreSpan and Puerto Rico Cultural Similarities and Differences Presentation1469 Words   |  6 PagesSpan and Puerto Rico Cultural Similarities and Differences presentation Span 101 This presentation will explain the differences and similarities, if any, in the countries of Spain and Puerto Rico’s. The presentation will show the differences and similarities between the two countries arts, culture, and economic environment. The presentation will show how both countries have a assimilation of cultural and distinctiveness. Even though both countries have similarities and differences, they both haveRead MorePolitical and Economic System1250 Words   |  5 PagesWorld Geography and Culture Spain Analysis of the Political and Economic Systems Table of Contents I. Introduction (abstract) II. Political System a. Type of Political System b. Structure of the Government c. Identify a current law/policy law d. Impact on society III. Economic System a. Type of economic system b. Identify a current economic issue c. Government role in address the issue d. Impact on society IV. Compare Contract a. EconomicRead MoreSpanish Financial Crisis1063 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction (source: Wikipedia) The 2008–2010 Spanish financial crisis is part of the world economic crisis of 2008. In Spain, the crisis was generated by long term loans (commonly issued for 40 years), the building market crash which included the bankruptcy of major companies, and a particularly severe increase in unemployment, which rose to 13.9% in February 2009. Spain continued the path of economic growth when the ruling party changed in 2004, keeping robust GDP growth during the first term

Regarding Henry Essay Example For Students

Regarding Henry Essay Life can change in an instant. One second you are a successful and ruthless lawyer, the next youre a simple man with absolutely no memory of who or where you are. The film Regarding Henry shows this perfectly as it travels through the life of a man named Henry Turner. To me the main focus of the film was how important family life is. Before the accident, Henry hardly even knew his daughter and almost never spoke to her. At the start of the film the father-daughter relationship was very weak, he would never speak to her when he came home from work because he didnt have time, but when he did he lectured to her like when she spilled grape juice on his prize piano and yelled at her. His life revolved around the courtroom, where he spent most of his time. Sarah, his wife told him to apologize to his daughter, which he finally did after arguing with her. Even when he tried to apologize to her after a party, he found it difficult to express his feelings and just talked about the case he had won that day. Before the accident Henry was always working, even when he came home, he would still continued to work. Henry was a self centered and arrogant man who was only interested in winning a case, working and smoking. Henry loved his eggs and was always at parties, celebrating or mocking his clients, which he was very good at. He was excellent at what he did and would go to any extent of lying to win like the Matthews case. He was also extremely good with words and would always dress formally to get attention. Henry had to have the most expensive things of all and his house showed this off perfectly. Henry was rude and never acknowledged the doorman Eddie or Rosella the maid. Even to Sarah he was not a loving husband, as he was having an affair with a woman named Linda who worked in the same firm as him. After the accident when Henry was in re-habilitation the first person he really met was his activity therapist, Bradley. Bradley taught Henry how to walk, talk and most of all how to be human again. Bradley changed Henry in almost every way he could and turned him into a kind, loving and affectionate person. Bradley was almost like a father to him. I think that when Henry was in the hospital walking down the corridor it symbolized his long journey to recovery, as the hallways were very long. Henry changed in many ways after his accident, one thing that I noticed was that he regarded family life much more, and his relationship with his daughter now improved a lot more as well. He did not want Rachel his daughter to go to boarding school now because he missed her first eleven years and did not want to miss any more. Henry also played with her a lot more and brought a dog to play with as well for company. I also noticed that when he was in re-habilitation he did not want to leave Bradley behind and go to his family because he did not know those people. Rachel showed him how to tie his shoelaces again as he once had done for her many years before and instantly he remembered grey carpet and wanted to go home. He was looking forward to a new life of discovering who he was and where he fitted into the family.

Plato LIFE Plato Was Born To An Aristocratic Family In Athens, Greece.

Plato LIFE Plato was born to an aristocratic family in Athens, Greece. When he was a child his father, Ariston, who was believed to be descended from the early kings of Athens died, and his mother, Perictione married Pyrilampes. As a young man Plato was always interested in political leadership and eventually became a disciple of Socrates. He followed his philosophy and his dialectical style, which is believed to be the search for truth through questions, answers, and additional questions. After witnessing the death of Socrates at the hands of the Athenian democracy in 399 B.C., Plato left Athens and continued to travel to Italy, Sicily, and Egypt. (Internet) In 387 B.C. Plato founded the Academy in Athens otherwise known as the first European university. The Academy provided a wide range of curriculum including subjects such as astronomy, biology, philosophy, political theory, and mathematics. Aristotle was the Academy's most outstanding student. (Internet) The internal affairs of the academy ruled the next 20 years of Plato's life and he wrote nothing. Many Greek youths were attracted to the new school. Plato then went to Syracuse to supervise the education of the ruling prince. Plato was not certain about the success of this adventure although he felt he could not refuse this opportunity of putting his ideas to a test. It did not work out for Plato and he returned to Athens in 360 B.C. He then devoted himself to teaching and lecturing at the Academy. He died at age 80 in Athens in 348 B.C. Before his death Plato completed the Sophist, the Politicus, the Philebus, the Timaeus and finally the Laws. (Internet) DIALOGUES The Symposium is the most widely read of Plato's dialogues with the exception of the Republic and it is with good reason. It's literary merit is outstanding with philosophical and psychological sources (Allen) ANAYA--2 THE EARLY DIALOGUES In the early dialogues Socrates always played the leading roll. In all of them, Plato was trying to keep the spirit of Socrates alive. There are also early dialogues that portray Socrates in whimsical moods but always with a serious purpose. (Allen) The Republic was the most revealing of all Plato's early writings. Plato believed that one could not seriously construct a political theory without a metaphysics. Therefore, we find an outline of human life as it should be lived according to nature. (Allen) THE LATER DIALOGUES In the later dialogues Soctates does not always play the leading role. He does not enter into the conversation of Laws. More interest was shown in the possibilities of politics. Law and legal government were stressed and it greatly influenced Aristotle. It is clear that in later years Plato became more aware of the difficulties in attempting to combine science with government. Plato's main interest at the end of his life was to guide human effort as indicated in his last dialogues, the Laws. (Allen) Many students of the Academy were reaching into positions of power in the Greek world. Plato planned a trilogy at the end of his life, the Timaeus, the Critias, and the Hermoncrates. (Allen) THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE Plato's theory of knowledge can be found in the myth of the cave. The myth describes people chained within a cave. The only images they see are the shadows of objects and animals held in front of a fire that is behind them that reflects on the cave walls in front of them. That is all they had ever seen so that is what they believe to be real. One day a man escaped the cave and went outside. With the sun he saw what was real in the world and realized all he ever saw were just shadows. He went back to the men in the cave and told them all this. He told them that they ANAYA--3 too could see the outside if they broke free of their chains but they didn't believe him. The environment of the cave to Plato symbolizes the physical world of appearances. Escaping into the sun-filled world means the transition into the real world that is full and perfect being the world of forms, which is the proper object of knowledge. (Hare p.39) NATURE OF FORMS

Addicted to Online Learning †From an Online IT Degree to a Masters in Education Essay Example

Addicted to Online Learning – From an Online IT Degree to a Masters in Education Essay Example Addicted to Online Learning – From an Online IT Degree to a Masters in Education Essay Addicted to Online Learning – From an Online IT Degree to a Masters in Education Essay I am an online degree junkie. Never heard of it? Surprising considering how many of us are learning online and are completely bolstered by the strides we can make in our education in the most convenient way possible. I am not someone for whom an online degree was even in the picture. I had been working in computer technology for quite some time but technology was changing so fast around me that I decided it was a good idea to get up to speed. And if I was going to go that far then I might as well get my degree. Trouble was that I didn’t want to stop working to do it. And so I looked at the online IT degree programs that were available and after weighing the many offerings by some really great schools, I made my choice of a program. I started tenuously; I had no idea how effective an online degree program would be for me but I was willing to go the distance. Before long I was hooked. I absolutely loved the flexibility of the program and was so happy that I was able to earn my degree without compromising the rest of my life. I earned my online IT degree and I was off and running from there, even earning an online MBA. A few years went by and I decided that I wanted to change careers and pursue a job in teaching – something that I had always loved. I was back online getting all of my classes under my belt and I even went so far as to get a Masters in Education. I know; it’s crazy. But there’s something so self-satisfying about putting my mind to something and getting it done in my time. And the online programs being offered today are comprehensive, convenient, and versatile for anyone’s lifestyle.

Should You Take the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT

Should You Take the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The two tests are very similar, but not identical. So which one should you take? Back in my day (when dinosaurs roamed the earth), there was just one version of the PSAT, a.k.a. the Practice SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. But now, the College Board has multiple versions of the PSAT, including the PSAT NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) and the PSAT 10. So what are the differences between the two tests? And which one should you take? Read on for an exclusive guide. What's the Difference Between PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT? Before we give you any advice on which version of the PSAT to take, we're going to quickly review the difference between the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT. Seeour in-depth post about the PSAT 10 here. So What’s the PSAT 10? You’ve probably heard of the PSAT NMSQT – it’s the practice SAT that also gives juniors a chance to qualify for the National Merit competition. (Read more about National Merit over here.) So what is the PSAT 10? Like its name implies, the PSAT 10 is another practice SAT. It has SAT question types and the same content: Reading, Writing, and Math. But the PSAT 10 is specifically designed for sophomores, whereas the PSAT NMSQT is written with juniors in mind. We’ll go over some of the similarities and differences between the tests to help you decide which one to take. Similarities Between the Tests There are more similarities than differences between the PSAT 10 and the PSAT NMSQT. Both tests are SAT practice tests. That means both are shorter than the â€Å"real† SAT but contain similar question types to help you prepare for it. The timing of the tests is also the same. Both the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT are two hours and 45 minutes long. The Reading section is 60 minutes and has 47 questions. The Writing section is 35 minutes long and has 44 questions. And finally, the Math section is 70 minutes long and has 48 questions. And while two hours and 45 minutes is a long time, it's a walk in the park compared to the marathon experience that is the SAT. Both tests present each sub-area (Math, Writing, and Reading) as a single section, like the SAT. Additionally, neither test has an essay, unlike the SAT. Both tests are primarily designed to introduce students to SAT content, so the question types and content are very similar to the SAT. However, both tests are easier than the real SAT. The Math section won’t be as difficult (expect less trigonometry, plus easier geometry and algebra questions), the Reading passages will not include college-level texts, and the Writing section will have more straightforward passages. The two tests also have the same scoring scale: you will be scored between 320-1520 for PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT, as compared to 400-1600 for the â€Å"real† SAT. This comes out to between 160 and 760 per section. Differences Between the Tests There are two differences between PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT: The first is difficulty. The PSAT 10 is designed for sophomores, and PSAT NMSQT is designed for juniors, so the PSAT NMSQT is slightly harder. Unfortunately, while College Board has released some specifications as to what the new SAT and PSAT questions will be like, they haven’t gone into detail about how the difficulty level varies between tests. In general, you can expect the PSAT NMSQT to have harder math including geometry and trigonometry, reading passages designed for 11th graders as opposed to 10th graders, and trickier grammar rules. For a more detailed breakdown of what you can expect on the PSAT 10, see our post. The second difference between the tests is the National Merit Competition. Only taking the PSAT NMSQT during your junior year can qualify you for the National Merit competition. Taking the PSAT 10 will never qualify you for National Merit, even if you take it as a junior. And taking the PSAT NMSQT in any year other than your junior year will also not qualify you, even if you get a high enough score. If you’re hoping to qualify for National Merit, that goal will be a pretty big part of your decision between the two tests. We’ll look at both your options in detail and help you decide which test to take. Should I Take PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT? This advice varies by grade level, so find your current grade below to get our advice. The College Board recommends that juniors take the PSAT NMSQT, sophomores take the PSAT 10, and freshmen take the PSAT 8/9 (yep, there is yet another version of the PSAT designed for even younger students!). We’ll go over some reasons why you might want to take a different PSAT level than College Board recommends. Get a step ahead. Decision for Seniors You should not be taking any version of the PSAT at this point! Study for the SAT! Decision for Juniors The vast majority of juniors should take the PSAT NMSQT if they take any version of the PSAT. Even if your school allows students to take the PSAT 10 as a junior, the NMSQT is your best bet. Even if you think you won’t do well, this is your shot at qualifying for National Merit, so you might as well take it. Plus, regardless of how well you do, the PSAT gives you practice for actual SAT questions – and the PSAT NMSQT is the hardest PSAT you can take. That means it’s a great way to either jump-start your SAT studying, or continue it if you’ve already begun. You can use your PSAT score to help create goals and guidelines for your SAT studying. (Read more about how to get the most out of your PSAT score here.) This can help you get the best possible score on the SAT, which opens doors to selective colleges and scholarships. In rare cases a junior might consider the PSAT 10 – since it’s slightly easier, it might be a good option if you’re an English Language Learner and want an easier introduction to the SAT (particularly the reading section), or if you’re seriously behind in one subject. The PSAT 10 will still introduce you to SAT content and question types and help prepare you for the SAT. If you’re a junior but think you might benefit from a slightly easier introduction to the SAT, talk to your guidance counselor to see if your school will let you take the PSAT 10 instead of the SAT NMSQT. Want to improve your PSAT score by 150 points? We have the industry's leading PSAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today: Decision for Sophomores Sophomore year is the year you will probably have the hardest time deciding which test to take. You could feasibly take either the PSAT 10 or PSAT NMSQT, depending on your goals. I called College Board and verified that sophomores can take the PSAT NMSQT as long as it’s ok with their high schools. So make sure to double check with your guidance counselor whether or not you can take the PSAT NMSQT as a sophomore before proceeding! Take the PSAT NMSQT If: You’re a high-achieving student aiming to get into Ivy Leagues or similarly competitive schools. You’re aiming for a National Merit Scholarship. You have any previous exposure to high-stakes testing (for example you took the ACT/SAT for a talent competition in middle school, you took AP tests freshman year, or you have already taken the PSAT in some form). Why is the PSAT NMSQT better for high-achieving tenth graders? Because taking the PSAT NMSQT gives you more rigorous SAT practice early on, and increases your chances of doing well enough on the PSAT NMSQT to qualify for National Merit your junior year. I actually took the PSAT NMSQT as a sophomore (this was long before PSAT 10 existed). Although my scores were much lower sophomore year than junior year, having that extra practice run helped me score well enough junior year to qualify for National Merit since I knew what was coming for me junior year. While you can definitely get good practice with the PSAT 10, getting previous exposure to the National Merit qualifying test can be more helpful. Take the PSAT 10 If: You’re not aiming for a top 20 school but you’re still looking to score well enough on the SAT to get into other good colleges and/or get scholarships. You don’t have any previous exposure to high-stakes testing and want an easier introduction to SAT content and question types. In terms of qualifying for National Merit, keep in mind that you can take the PSAT 10 and still study for the PSAT NMSQT for junior year. However, you should study extra hard to be prepared for the slightly harder PSAT NMSQT in junior year. Decision for Freshmen For freshmen, the choice is between the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 (The PSAT 8/9 is an easier version of the PSAT 10 and PSAT NMSQT, with very similar question types and content). The PSAT NMSQT will likely have content beyond your reach and be frustrating. It will be more productive for freshmen to take a test designed for their grade level, or close to it. You’ll still get excellent practice on the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 and build up to take the PSAT NMSQT for the first time sophomore year. Take the PSAT 10 If: You’re a high-achieving student aiming for a top college. You took the PSAT 8/9 in eighth grade and want a bigger challenge. You have past exposure to high-stakes testing (for example, you took the SAT or ACT for a talent competition in middle school, or tested into a competitive school or gifted program). Take the PSAT 8/9 If: You haven’t taken the PSAT 8/9 before. You don’t have any exposure to high-stakes tests yet. You want an introduction to the SAT without quite as much stress. Though College Board has yet to invent a stress-free test. Maybe that will be in the next batch of assessments. And remember, if you're just a freshmen, qualifying for National Merit and taking the real SAT aren't immediate concerns. Whichever test you take, remember that it's just practice. And focus on doing well in your core classes, especially math and language arts, so you can build the skills you'll need to do well on the SAT in a few years' time. Bottom Line The PSAT NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 are all quite similar - their only difference is the slightly ramped up difficulty for each successive test. That means each test is going to give you excellent practice for the real SAT. You should aim to take the harder test for your grade level (PSAT NMSQT in 10th grade, PSAT 10 in 9th grade) if you are set on getting a National Merit scholarship and/or getting into a top college. Otherwise, taking the test designed for your grade level is a great way to get introduced to the SAT and prepare for the college admissions process. What’s Next? The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 were created as part of an expanded line of SAT assessments, including the new SAT. Read about the new SAT to get a detailed breakdown of what it tests and how it asks questions – these specifications apply to all the new SAT assessments. Early achievers, are you already thinking about when to take the SAT? Learn the optimal time in your high school career to take the SAT. Also hoping to fit in AP or IB courses to your high school career? Read about how many AP courses you should take and the difference between AP and IB. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review - Assignment Example Most importantly, the application of secure data mechanisms such as the use virtual private networks in mobile has well been covered in the organization. Additionally, the use data encryption and decryption techniques to manage contents have effectively been applied in the organization. In general, the organization has an effective approach in management of content. As seen in the document information flow in the article has been very precise. The paper has began by outlining the research subject followed by a deep analysis of the necessity information security in an organization. The information content in the article is divided into two main segments, which are utilization of virtual private networks and a project. In the first section, it starts with an overview followed by history of VPNS, VPN technical aspects, PPTP, L2TP, IPsec, authentication and finally vulnerabilities. It is also essential to specify that the subject of vulnerabilities has addressed issues such as user threats and hardware and software threats. The second section is the project. The flow of information in the project begins with a background, materials, planning and finally implementation and testing. In essence, this a well organized flow of information in the paper. It is also vital to note that the paper contains an effective use of diagrams. This is as stipulated below. The first diagram illustrates a general application of virtual private networks in an organization using the site-to-site approach. It has been designed in a way that makes it easier for one to comprehend its ability to facilitate secure data transfer. The second diagram goes deep into the subject of VPNs by stipulating a three step tunneling approach from a client to server. There is also a diagram for secure data access in the organization. In general, the diagrams in the article have

Heart of Darkness vs Things Fall Apart Essay Example for Free

Heart of Darkness vs Things Fall Apart Essay â€Å"Heart of Darkness† and â€Å"Things Fall Apart† show a variety of ways of depicting Africa in literature. In â€Å"Heart of Darkness†, Joseph Conrad shows the continent of Africa through the stereotypical perspective of the European sailors, who had a tendency to depict the natives of the land as savages, and in response to that matter, Chinua Achebe wrote â€Å"Things Fall Apart† through the non-stereotypical depicting perspective of the natives of the land to show Africans, not as savages or primitives, but as members of a traditional society. European prejudice is presented in a verifiable way in â€Å"Heart of Darkness†. The main character of â€Å"Heart of Darkness† or protagonist, Marlow, is a sailor who travels through Africa and describes the natives that he comes in contact with as savages. Marlow compares these different individuals to animals of some specific nature or just to the wilderness of the jungle, respectively. There was a point in this novel where Marlow’s vision came in contact with a pit in the ground. He noticed that it was a pit made for the natives to go and rest in peace or in other words die. Marlow describes those natives that were there stating, â€Å"Black shapes crouched, lay, sat between the trees, leaning against the trunks, clinging to the earth in all attitudes of pain, abandonment, and despair they were nothing earthly now, nothing but black shadows of disease and starvation One of these creatures rose to his hands and knees and went off on all fours towards the river to drink† (Conrad 17). This descriptive portrayal shows the natives as â€Å"shadows† and nothing more than mere â€Å"black shapes† and not as individuals or men who are simply just dying. These men are no longer men, they have been stripped of all their characteristics which makes them human to dehumanizing characteristics where none can tell the difference of one dying man to another. None of the dying men are described by oneself, which makes it difficult for the reader to see where one man ends to where the individual begins. This creates an effect where these individuals look like eometric shapes and symbols of some sort. These depictions in which Marlow stated originates from a very stereotypical saying. The saying is that all Africans are made the same and one can not tell the difference between them even if much effort is applied. Similarly, there was an African man who was crawling to the river in order to quench his thirst. The way he was crawling in general is very dehumanizing. To make the matter worse and more dramatic, he crawled on his hands and knees which is animal-like and very degrading. The man is described to be on all fours just to get a drink, but when looking towards the European side, there is no way in Heaven that they’d be described like that. None. On the other hand, the European people would drink from a tap or maybe boil water from a well of some sort in order to have a refreshing drink. The natives are compared to animals of the wild when Marlow begins describing one of the workers on the ship. Marlow states, â€Å"to look at him was as edifying as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat walking on his hind legs† (Conrad 36). This worker simply shows that the savages who are the Africans have a possibility of being tamed because, â€Å"He ought to have been clapping his hands and stamping his feet on the bank† (Conrad 37). One can see that this man has been stripped of being a human being. He is now an animal, a dog, maybe, who is being trained to do some type of trick. From Marlow’s point of view he is still an animal and none the less, this man is pretending to be a civilized being. Marlow doesn’t stop there though. He continues to downgrade this European man by describing him to be just like the natives on the land. All in all, this is stereotypical. Furthermore, Marlow keeps his ball rolling by depicting the African natives as â€Å"prehistoric† and â€Å"simple†. He states, â€Å"The prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us who could tell? we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before an enthusiastic outbreak in a mad house† (Conrad 35). In the mind of Marlow, the natives are so primitive that they are in an aspect denied of having a language. Marlow sits there and begins to wonder â€Å"who could tell? instead of making an effort to understand what the natives were saying out of their mouth. What can actually be inferred from this quote is that, the natives were probably jumping up and down like a bunch of kindergarten students at recess or something similar to that. One can’t really be sure, but in all Marlow didn’t even try to grasp what the native Africans were saying probably because he felt that they were savages, or maybe their intellectual mindset wasn’t as great and average to the Europeans, or the native Africans didn’t have anything reasonable to say. Joseph Conrad with respect and similarity to Marlow, may have chosen to not include a specific language probably because he was influenced by the European stereotypes of Africans. What can be inferred from this is that, the removal of a language suggests that the native Africans have nothing that is sophisticated enough to say that would be reasonable or important to add to the plot of the novel. In â€Å"Heart of Darkness†, the native Africans are very underdeveloped, just like a third world country would be, in order to have a control of language. Though, there are moments in which there is language which supports the native savage (Africans) at which this is the time a reader might even hear an African speak. Joseph Conrad uses a specific technique when he writes. He uses a limited exposure to the native Africans’ voices which tries to ignore anything that might bring stereotype about. In response to Joseph Conrad and the Europeans and their use of stereotypical depiction of Africans, Chinua Achebe, the author of â€Å"Things Fall apart† portrayed Africans in a humanizing and traditional society. The Igbo tribe goes against the European stereotype in â€Å"Things Fall Apart†. The main character or protagonist Okonkwo does not agree nor does he disagree with the European belief that is shown in the novel. He is described in the novel to be, â€Å"a man of action, a man of war† (Achebe 8). Okonkwo is a very honorable man in the Umofia village, even though he has a very displeasing streak which is of violent nature. With Okonkwo’s strength and inability to be feminine, he is afraid of anything that is of feminine nature. â€Å"His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father. Even as a little boy, he resented his fathers failure and weakness. And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness† (Achebe 10). What can be inferred from this quote is that, this is probably why Okonkwo was always in need of something that was filled with action but he still didn’t fashion â€Å"idleness†. With the combination of these two aspects, Okonkwo can not handle the outcome. Instead when violence is applied to this equation, Okonkwo is as good as can be. With this being said, this further supports the European stereotype as savage-like. When looking deeply into the details that â€Å"Things Fall Apart† display, one can notice the contrasting aspects between Umofia and Okonkwo. Okonkwo doesn’t have any respect for his wives. As an Igbo man, Okonkwo man-handles his wives and children without holding back. Noticing the tone at this point in the novel, one can see that it is very much common for Igbo men in general to beat the ripe bananas out of their wives and children, but at a certain time. Okonkwo man-handled his wife during Umofia’s Week of Peace. Beating your wives and children in order for them to have respect for you is one thing, but when one disobeys the traditional setting of the clans week of peace then drastic problems do arise. â€Å"Okonkwo was not the man to stop beating somebody half-way through, not even for fear of a goddess. It was unheard-of to beat somebody during the sacred week† (Achebe 19). Since Okonkwo felt as if he was the man on top of all and that he could do as it pleased him so, problems arose between himself and Umofia. The feminine force is his wife. And with that being noted, Okonkwo could not remove himself from his violent streak for even a week. Just a week†¦ but when comparing this to the perspective of â€Å"Heart of Darkness† this form and lack of self-control goes to the Europeans motive that Africans are savages. Towards the end of the novel, Okonkwo commits suicide by hanging himself. When the District Commissioner look at Okonkwo’s lifeless body, he states â€Å"In the book which he planned to write The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger† (Achebe 117). What can be inferred from the title of the book is that the District Commissioner is prejudiced about the native Africans. In â€Å"Heart of Darkness†, Africans are also described as â€Å"primitive†, which shows that the European’s stereotype is so vast that it is able to be used in two very separate and different works. All in all, in â€Å"Heart of Darkness† the Europeans notions was that all Africans are the same; they are primitive, savages, and inhuman. In contrast to that stereotype, â€Å"Things Fall Apart† showed a traditional society, where the members are not inhuman. Unsatisfactorily, Okonkwo who is the protagonist of â€Å"Things Fall Apart† was not an effective representation of a civilized individual of a traditional society. But, he was an exceptional member of the society. And even though the stereotype of Africans has not been destroyed, it empowers the European beliefs.

Essay --

Most prople know what depresion is and how it can can turn into a destructive part of one’s life. There have been medications and theories made to help to prevent depression in adults. Many people are unaware that not only depression is not only diagnosed in adults but, studies show that depression is also diagnosed in children. Not only do adults become depressed. Children and teenagers may also become depressed as well. What people are unknowledgeable of is that, children may tend to be more depressed than adults. Depression is defined as an illness when it is persistent. Most adults and many children have a few bad days here and there, sometimes three or four in a row. When this happens, their mood is often loneliness or unhappiness, and having thoughts of suicide or unexplained anger. Some may sleep but they cannot rest. In some, depending on the severity of their disorder, even have lack of appetite. When it comes to depression we feel like there is no way out and even when our family tries to express concern we turn them away, because of not knowing the exact problems that we face. From my experience even when surrounded by loved ones I still felt alone. As if no one understands what is going on in my head or my heart. Sometimes I have even wished that they just go away, and the increased loneliness has resulted in making the situation worse. Depression varies from person to person and in some cases, it may get worse with age or it may cease. From my personal experience my depression was not of the more severe cases. But from what I have read and researched over the years of disorder, it can stem from anything to body image issues, self-esteem, lack of friends, or family crises. Some people may have depression from a trau... ...express their feelings.it is not good for anyone to keep their emotions bottled up inside. In conclusion,of course not everyone has all those symptoms every time. Until about ten years ago, children's mood swings and irritability were considered nothing but a phase that kids go through and would eventually outgrow. It has been proven that if depression in children goes unnoticed and, therefore, untreated, the children gradually will turn to doing drugs ("self-medication") and consuming alcohol, will drop out of school, will become uninhibited, and for a lot of them it even might lead to suicide. The adolescent depression is basically treated as the adult depression. Unfortunately, most of the antidepressant drugs are still not approved by the FDA for children under 18 years. More than likely, those people who are severely depressed often lead themselves to suicide.

Love Vs Liking

Watson English Compare and Contrast Essay 9/24/2014 Loving Someone and Liking Someone: The Comparison What is the difference between loving someone and liking someone, or is there even a difference at all? Loving someone, or something, is to have a strong constant affection for them that may include physical attraction depending on what relation the person is to you. Liking someone, or something, is to enjoy that person, or thing, and to feel affection for the arson in a friendly, or sometimes more than friendly, manner.Both to love and to like that person or thing mean to have affection for it, or them. They both mean that you enjoy and take pleasure in having that person or thing in your life. When you have affection meaning either loving or liking them, for someone then you tolerate and possibly help them with the problems and â€Å"baggage† they bring along. Whether you like that person or you love them, you would do nearly anything for them, depending on the strength of y our feelings.Although the two are similar in most aspects, they do differ in others. There are a few different types of love and liking someone, one is meant for a partner in life and the other is meant for friends who might not last as long. When you like someone, you tolerate them for a short time until they do something to upset you. People you love will not be able to upset you as easily as those you like, and will treat you with consideration whereas friends and those you like, will think of mostly themselves and what they can get out f you.

Research the Impact of Prejudice and Discrimination Essay

2.1- Explain ways in which children and young people can experience prejudice and discrimination. There are many ways in which children can experience prejudice and discrimination in school. There are so many pressures on children nowadays to â€Å"fit in† and to conform with expected behaviours that they may then be discriminated against or bullied if they don’t do this. This can all start at a surprisingly young age and all staff within school needs to be aware and vigilant to ensure that children respect and embrace diversity. Children can experience prejudice and discrimination in the same way as us adults can due to their race, religion, age, sex, culture or ethnicity. Its important to look out for a few things within school: – Comments made about how a child looks or the clothes they are wearing. – Children not playing with others who may be seen as ‘different’ – Children being excluded because they are either boys or girls. – Children only playing with other children that are the same race or ethnicity There are two main ways in which children and young people can experience prejudice and discrimination; this is through direct and indirect discrimination. Direct discrimination can be name calling because of a child’s size, race, religion, disabilities for example if children are playing netball and a smaller child wants to join in but the other children may not let them because they are short. Indirect discrimination can be for example when a child is from a different culture will not be excluded but may not want to join in because of their personal beliefs or their situation. By promoting inclusion it can be helpful to children’s well being and can benefit the children in the long run. 2.2 Analyse the impact of prejudice and discrimination on children and young people. Prejudice and discrimination can only have negative effects on children and young people. As well as affecting academic progress of children, discrimination can negatively impact their overall health and well-being. When children or young people feel they are being discriminated against they may experience: ââ€"  loss of self-esteem ââ€"  disempowerment ââ€"  confusion ââ€"  anger ââ€"  lack of motivation ââ€"  depression. †¢ Low confidence. †¢ Low self worth. †¢ Low self value/Confused identity. †¢ Fear of rejection. †¢ Isolated. †¢ Withdrawn. †¢ Feel stressed and unable to cope. Prejudice creates social and emotional tension and can lead to fear and anxiety and occasionally hostility and violence. Prejudice and discrimination can undermine the self-esteem and self-confidence of those being ridiculed and make them feel terrible, unaccepted and unworthy. When that happens, their school performance often suffers, they may become depressed and socially withdrawn and childhood can become a much less happy time.

Free Essays on Nellys Country Grammar

would just kind of slip by me. But after listening to the CD I have realized that I, along with many other people, need to be more judgmental when listening to the music that I listen to. Overall, Nelly had put together a rather good CD. First of all, the CD is consistently good throughout the whole CD. There are not just a few good songs, but many. He has a good mix of different fast and slow rap songs. He has definitely put together a CD that is a lot more than just a one hit wonder CD. Nelly definitely is a good singer. The vocals that he has throughout his CD are definitely cool to listen too. He also has many different people on his CD, which gives his CD a wide variety of many different sounds of vocals. This CD was definitely a success, which is the reason that I probably bought it. Nelly has become a very popular singer; he has been on top of the charts many, many times. He has sold over 8 million copies of this CD alone. Three of the songs on this CD have been #1 singles for weeks. I would probably say that when a singer is popular, people typically seem to like their music better. Even if their music is not as good as someone’s music who is not famous. I will have to say that the beat and rhythm on this CD is absolutely incredible. Every song has a different beat, and every one is good. Nelly is not like other singers who have the same type of music on their whole CD. Every song does not sound the same like other rappers. Although Nelly does not use any instruments besides a keyboard, the music is still very good. Every song still does have a good tune and flows well. Nelly is very smart with his ly... Free Essays on Nelly's Country Grammar Free Essays on Nelly's Country Grammar I decided to do my CD review on a CD that I am very familiar with. The CD is Nelly’s â€Å"Country Grammar†. I have listened to this CD a lot, but until I actually had to analyze it did I realize how bad it is. Usually when I would listen to the CD, I would just listen to the music and the words would just kind of slip by me. But after listening to the CD I have realized that I, along with many other people, need to be more judgmental when listening to the music that I listen to. Overall, Nelly had put together a rather good CD. First of all, the CD is consistently good throughout the whole CD. There are not just a few good songs, but many. He has a good mix of different fast and slow rap songs. He has definitely put together a CD that is a lot more than just a one hit wonder CD. Nelly definitely is a good singer. The vocals that he has throughout his CD are definitely cool to listen too. He also has many different people on his CD, which gives his CD a wide variety of many different sounds of vocals. This CD was definitely a success, which is the reason that I probably bought it. Nelly has become a very popular singer; he has been on top of the charts many, many times. He has sold over 8 million copies of this CD alone. Three of the songs on this CD have been #1 singles for weeks. I would probably say that when a singer is popular, people typically seem to like their music better. Even if their music is not as good as someone’s music who is not famous. I will have to say that the beat and rhythm on this CD is absolutely incredible. Every song has a different beat, and every one is good. Nelly is not like other singers who have the same type of music on their whole CD. Every song does not sound the same like other rappers. Although Nelly does not use any instruments besides a keyboard, the music is still very good. Every song still does have a good tune and flows well. Nelly is very smart with his ly...

Pablo Picasso - Biography and Artwork - About.com

Pablo Picasso - Biography and Artwork - About.com Pablo Picasso, also known as Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, was singular in the art world. Not only did he manage to become universally famous in his own lifetime, he was the first artist to successfully use mass media to further his name (and business empire). He also inspired or, in the notable case of Cubism, invented, nearly every art movement in the twentieth century. Movement, Style, School or Period: Several, but best known for (co-)inventing Cubism Date and Place of Birth October 25, 1881, Mlaga, Spain Early Life Picassos father, fortuitously, was an art teacher who quickly realized he had a boy genius on his hands and (almost as quickly) taught his son everything he knew. At the tender age of 14, Picasso passed the entrance exam to the Barcelona School of Fine Arts - in just one day. By the early 1900s, Picasso had moved to Paris, the capital of the arts. There he found friends in Henri Matisse, Joan Mirà ³ and George Braque, and a burgeoning reputation as a painter of note. Body of Work Before, and shortly after, moving to Paris, Picassos painting was in its Blue Period (1900-1904), which eventually gave way to his Rose Period (1905-1906). It wasnt until 1907, though, that Picasso really raised a commotion in the art world. His painting Les Demoiselles dAvignon marked the beginning of Cubism. Having caused such a stir, Picasso spent the next 15 years seeing what, exactly, could be done with Cubism (such as putting paper and bits of string in a painting, thus inventing the collage). The Three Musicians (1921), pretty much summed up Cubism for Picasso. For the rest of his days, no one style could maintain a hold on Picasso. In fact, he was known to use two or more different styles, side by side, within a single painting. One notable exception is his surrealistic painting Guernica (1937), arguably one of the greatest pieces of social protest ever created. Picasso lived long and, indeed, prospered. He grew fabulously wealthy from his phenomenal output (including erotically themed ceramics), took up with younger and younger women, entertained the world with his outspoken remarks, and painted almost right up until he died at the age of 91. Date and Place of Death April 8, 1973, Mougins, France Quote Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.

In Praise of the F Word Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

In Praise of the F Word - Essay Example The essay "In Praise of the F Word" discusses the issue that the number of students that graduate from high school each year with a diploma that is no good for them continues to rise. This leniency has caused many students to become dependent on the niceness of their teachers. Mary Sherry, as an adult-education teacher for future students such as these, proposes to implement the threat of failure into the lives of the students that are unwilling to work for a passing grade. The last thing that a student wants to do is be held back a grade or not graduate, especially when they know they can do the work. The threat of this dreaded â€Å"F† word is a surefire way of making students work for their passing grades. However, if the students are threatened with the possibility of failure, the chance is increased of them actually taking school seriously and putting it first. Flunking, therefore, stops being a threat and becomes a â€Å"positive teaching tool†. It acts as the boo st that many students need to take their studies more seriously and to stop relying on the goodness of their teachers. It is not in the job description of these teachers to grade based on personality or behavior of their students but to grade based on how well they absorbed the subject matter. Similarly, â€Å"by rewarding mediocrity [teachers] discourage excellence.† Students are being cheated out of an education because teachers want to appear helpful even if it means that the students will end up only being illiterate.

Science Fiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Science Fiction - Essay Example It’s so damn boring.† I wonder whether it is a custom among students to speak in slang or is it a part of university curriculum. I also saw some girls and boys sitting together on some benches sharing notes with each other. I ask myself, â€Å"It might be so that students on Earth share their things with each other but why do they do so when they should hide things?† I cannot come up with an answer since on my planet we hide notes from each other. I see many customs in this campus which are quite surprising for me and which I am sure I will keep on thinking about till many days to come. I see some parents coming into the campus too. One of them is carrying a magazine which says, â€Å"Parent Times†. A magazine for parents? What do parents have to do with a college magazine? And specifically written for them? Too surprising, I must say. And the parents are coming in for the family weekend! That was too hilarious! So, the parents are also involved in the univ ersity activities. â€Å"I will take this idea to my planet†, is the first thought that comes into my mind. The most obvious custom that I observe among students is that female students are being seated in the residence hall while males are standing.

Underground Railroad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Underground Railroad - Essay Example These were groups that were against slavery and they felt that there was a need to come up with more effective measures to end this vice. The idea was actualized in 1838 with a well organized Underground Railroad having been developed. Robert Purvis was on the helm of this idea. Through the directions that were provided by the agents, thousands of slaves were able to escape from their masters. These Underground Railroads composed of mainly the back roads, swamps, caves, forest, rivers, etc. These well developed routes made it hard for the masters to recapture the escapees. As a result, many masters felt that there was no need to purchase more slaves only for them to escape using these well developed networks. Therefore, the notion that slave-trade was a loss making business played a significant role in reducing the magnitude of the trade (Peterson 35). The reason is that the demand for slaves reduced drastically after thousands of slaves escaped from their masters.The Underground Rai lroad actualized the campaign by the abolitionist that slave trade was immoral. Slaves who used these routes were put in safe places such as homes and churches where they could eat before embarking on the journey to freedom to as far as Canada. This aspect encouraged many slaves to attempt to escape, an aspect that made it hard for the masters to keep these slaves in their farms. This increased the interests of the masters towards paid labor or the use of machineries which were more predictable.

Deception Is An Important Theme English Literature Essay

Deception Is An Important Theme English Literature Essay Sometimes deception can be unintended when the characters dont mean to lie, as in the play by Anton Chekhov, however in Henrik Ibsens play, the deceiver lies intentionally to protect the one she loves. The initial act of deception is shown when Nora deceives her husband and borrows money from Krogstad to save Torvalds life. She then continues lying to him intending to repay back the loan. Nora thinks it her duty to lie in order to protect her husband however this makes her vulnerable as a heroine to Krogstad who now blackmails her. This is an example of a dramatic irony since the readers and most of the characters except for Torvald, know what Nora has really done. Unlike her, Ranevsky, the main heroine of the Cherry Orchard doesnt deceive others but herself. Self- deception is a process of denying logical arguments and clear evidence. Here the themes of changing times and inability to accept change are explored. Madame Ranevsky wants to seek refuge in her childhood past from the despair of her present life, to remember the past and forget the present by refusing to face the reality. After spending five years abroad, she comes back to her beloved home. However she starts crying at the sight of [Her] nursery, [her] dear, beautiful nursery! she feels like a little girl. The nursery is a misnomer and it introduces a very nostalgic atmosphere, which brings up terrible memories of the death of Madames son, which she can not handle. She left Russia for Paris, to forget the memories of her husbands and sons deaths in the first place. When the time comes to auction the cherry orchard, Madam Ranevsky does not want to understand the seriousness of the situation. She does not believe that she can lose the orchard because of the luxury she used to live in, allowing herself everything and now she can not and does not want to accept the fact that she has to change that. The heroine realizes that she has lead a wrong lifestyle, she sinned and overspent, however she does not do anything to change that. She believes that everything will resolve itself. In a similar way, Nora believes that her act of deception was done for the greater good, since she was motivated by her husbands illness and had to save him and so she does not try to avoid any more lies and falsifications. As a matter of fact, she keeps deceiving Torvald, on small things such as eating macaroons and tiptoeing to listen at his door, because she feels the need to conceal the truth from her husband to save their marriage and this is the main source of the plot movement. Torvald in return deceives Nora by making her believe he loves her, he even says Do you know Nora, often I wish some terrible danger would threaten you, so that I could offer my life and my blood, everything for your sake. In reality he prioritizes his reputation before her and just regards her as his property. He only fantasizes about how perfect their life is, which is another example of self-deception. Its clear that their entire relationship is built upon lies and deception. Nora encourages her children to lie to Torvald when she says Dont talk to anyone about the strange gentleman. You hear? Not even to Daddy. By doing that she sacrifices her childrens innocence. Like Torvald, Madam Ranevsky tends to build a fence around herself by ignoring her emotions to create a happy world for herself. When she comes back home, she is restless, she says I cant sit still! I cant do it! [Jumping up and walking about in great agitation.] This happiness is more than I can bear. Laugh at me! I am a fool! My darling old cupboard! [Caressing a table.] My dear little table! . This makes her character ridiculous and from her kissing the bookcases and her reaction over her acquaintances deaths, we understand that she cannot handle anything real. As mentioned before, France was a place of refuge for Madame Ranevsky when she needed to escape and now that one of the most difficult stages of her life is over she does not seem to appreciate Paris. Once she is back to Russia she tries to forget her life there because her lover cheated on her and she is broke. Although later on she escapes from Paris to Russia. When she receives two telegrams from there she immediately tears them up without reading, and says They are from Paris. Ive done with Paris. However when she comes back to Russia, we see that she still hasnt forgotten her past in Paris, her unfaithful lover and the death of her child. Later on in the play, when she talks to Gayef she suddenly exclaims Look! Theres mamma walking in the orchardà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in a white frock. There she is! One of the things about Madame Ranevsky hallucinating shows how disconnected she is from reality. Also, the composition and bearing of the hallucination reveal the nature of her disconnect ion. She seeks refuge in her past, her innocent childhood, and for her, the orchard is a symbol of her past- the fact that she fantasizes her mother in the orchard shows how disconnected she is from reality, confirming what she seeks. In a Dolls House, hope for freedom and independence motivates Nora to keep on lying and deceiving since we always tend to crave whatever we cant get. However she isnt the only character who lies and goes behind the back of her loved ones. Dr. Rank who is a family friend hides his true feelings for Nora from both Torvald and his wife. The only reason Nora actually finds out about how he truly feels, is when she tries to seek his help and she manages to see beneath the surface to his heart. This is how she finds out that he is secretly in love with her. On the other hand Dr. Rank seems to be very considerate and the only reason he deceives both his friends is because he tries to be a faithful friend to Torvald. He is trying really hard to be loyal but at the same time he can not stay away from Nora. Also he manages to expose Noras emotional immaturity and unwillingness to violate social conventions. Thus we cant be sure of whether his deception is intentional or not. Torvald, although it seems like he was the one deceived by both his wife and his friend, can be considered the one most guilty of the crime. Throughout the whole play, we see how he has deceived Nora into believing that their marriage is perfect, whilst in reality it was just his fantasy. The most important thing for him was to be able to keep up a proper appearance of moderation and appropriateness because the society he was brought up in is very judgmental and prejudicial. Like Ibsen, Chekhov presents a character who is also very concerned with looks and appearances. Lopakhin, an ex-peasant who is now a wealthy neighbor talks to the maid-servant, Dunyasha. Although he revels in his own economic situation, at the same time, he chides Dunyasha, by saying You are too refined, Dunyasha, thats what it is. You dress yourself like a young lady, and look at your hair! You ought not to do it, you ought to remember your place. He says that she is still of a low social standing. He is chiding her and telling her not to act like a lady, reminding her she is only the maid. This scene causes tension since there is this dichotomy as he is not quite comfortable with the new changes since he himself came from a peasant background. He almost contradicts what he is saying, which is another apparent example of self-deception. In conclusion, we see that deception is an important theme since its the main cause for characters to lose sense of reality and its also a catalyst of the climax. In the end of A Dolls House, Nora finally becomes more aware of how blind she was and walks out on her family to seek freedom and independence. Torvald on the other hand even at the end of the play, is still devoted to a mirage, an image of something that was never really there. At the end of The Cherry Orchard, Madame Ranevsky loses all her possessions together with the orchard and goes back to Paris, leaving behind everything that she thought she believed in. From this we learn, that deception is often triggered by the acceptance or disapproval of other people in society, since we tend to care too much about what everybody else thinks and thus try to blend in.

ATHLETIC BURNOUT :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Athletic staleness and burnout is a big problem for many of today’s athletes whether they are at the amateur or professional level. The good thing about this problem that ends up in total and complete physical and emotional exhaustion is that it can be recognized when it is taking place. It can also be treated if the recognition comes at too late of a stage of the onset of staleness and burnout. But the best remedy for athletic staleness and burnout is prevention of it in the first place. There are three different models that have been used to explain the causes of athlete burnout.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first one is the cognitive affective stress model, which tells us that the athlete is burned out due to chronic stress on the mind and body during athletic competition and outside of athletic competition. The second is the negative training stress response model that argues that burnout happens as a result of over training. The last one, which is undimensional identity development and external control model suggests burnout is caused by social problems in the way that a sport is organized believing the athletes have no control over their environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When diagnosing a player for staleness or burnout there are several behaviors that would make burnout noticeable. The first telltale sign would be that a player is in a slump at some point during the season. Another sign would be serious lapses in the players practice performance and chronic fatigue. The behavior of the athlete in all situations seems to be deteriorating when burnout and staleness are taking place. But there are ways to prevent complete burnout if the behaviors are detected early enough and coaches take heed to the warning signs. If the coach sees his players showing signs of lack of sleep, a sudden loss of confidence, a look of depression, or emotional instability. He should know that the player is in staleness mode and complete burnout is inevitable if something is not done about it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If the player does go into complete burnout mode or is even in a staleness rut there are treatments for the player. The most effective of all treatments is psychological reprogramming. The coach should begin to focus the player’s attention on new goals in the short term and reward their positive behaviors. H e should give the players more rest time in between practice and games and allow them to take their mind off of competition and performance for a while.

Vacant Chapter 6 Surprises

After four months, I continue to be astonished by what Emily can do with a dented, often label-less, can. She says it's all the Julia Child reruns on PBS, but I don't care who's to credit. Dinner is on the table every night with mismatched plates and silverware, and our economy paper towels are always folded into decorative shapes. It hasn't escaped my notice at how much I enjoy seeing our laundry mingled together, either. The bottom line for me is that she makes even this place seem like home. After Emily agreed to move in with me – which was no small feat – it took a month until she stopped knocking, then cracking the door and yelling, â€Å"Ethan?† before she would enter through the front door. It was as if she thought I would get mad if she didn't practice her self- imposed ritual. While her discomfort with calling this her home still lingers, it's just the tip of the iceberg concerning our†¦ issues. Initially, she'd been particularly insistent about getting a job and wanting to help financially. I hadn't argued, thinking she was nearly done, if not completely finished, with school. I hadn't bother to ask what her status was, figuring she was old enough to make that decision herself. So, it was with eagerness that I helped her look for a job. One roadblock was her lack of identification. Employers want an ID, but of course, Emily didn't have any. We spent an entire day at City Hall getting the required documentation and social security card, so we could then go to the DMV. That was the day I found out she was barely old enough for a driver's permit – let alone a driver's license. Emily insisted she was nearly eighteen when we met, but I found out she wasn't even close. Shock didn't even begin to explain what I felt at the revelation of her real age. She hadn't lied about when her birthday was; it was a month after she moved in, as she'd first said. However, she was turning sixteen, not eighteen. While I was monumentally upset by her deception, I got it. She was living with the fear of being herded into a state system that could feel like you were being fed to the wolves. I couldn't really blame her. After I got over my initial anger about her lie and the additional guilt of some of the inappropriate things I may have fantasized about her, I realized Emily missed the milestone of sweet sixteen. I remembered a co-worker talking about her sister's sixteenth birthday and the excitement that went along with the momentous occasion. Emily insisted she didn't want anything special and maintained that by finding me, she'd already received more than she ever hoped for after her mother's passing. The celebratory sad-assed cookie I had on my twenty-first birthday came to mind. I instantly knew it wasn't good enough for Emily, so I went into work and ordered the most extravagant and girly cake our bakery had – regardless of the fact it was almost forty bucks, my usual weekly food budget. Her reaction to the cake was like a kick to the stomach. When I brought it home, Emily cried, explaining that even her mother had never gotten her a cake since cake wasn't something you buy on a stric t budget. That was the moment I decided Emily would never go without again. Knowing that cake was so special made it all the more enjoyable when I ate it every meal the week that followed. â€Å"Ethan, go wash your hands please. Dinner is ready.† It never fails. The girl can literally watch me walk from the bathroom, knowing I've just scrubbed up, but she will still tell me to wash again, and I will. I know that she's tied to the routine, not really the cleanliness factor. Many who have been in a homeless situation will cling to routines for the comfort and solace they bring. We sit and eat in silence for the first few minutes of the meal. It's always balanced, particularly since she's taking a health class this semester and preaches the benefits of healthy eating habits and exercise. Sometimes it makes me laugh because she sounds just like one of those infomercials she occasionally watches in the middle of the night after she's had a bad dream. There are times I think it's more than just nightmares, though, when she wakes at night. She carries a lot of guilt around with her given our situation. Emily feels like she should contribute to the household with money. I feel like she needs to be in school, getting an education. Even though legally she could drop out, I'm constantly reiterating that school is her job, and there will be plenty of time for her to contribute in the future when she's a full-fledged taxpayer. â€Å"Hey, Ethan?† Emily asks cautiously, while pushing her cube steak around on the plate. I'm a bit nervous since she says it with hesitance. She hardly asks for anything, and when she does, she makes it seem like she's about to ask for a million dollars, but it's usually something small and relatively insignificant. This time, though, the accompanying look on her face indicates this isn't simple. I put my fork down and look up, giving her my full attention. â€Å"So, Christmas is coming.† I inwardly groan, not because she's brought it up, but because I participate in as little of the Holiday Cheer as possible. It's been awhile since I've celebrated the birth of Christ, mainly because I don't believe in God. Realistically, I see the holiday as an opportunity to earn extra money as I work all the shifts so everyone else can spend time with their families. I try to dislodge my anxiety about the topic but it doesn't work. The holidays are about commercialism and consumerism. Plus, I can't afford to buy gifts. â€Å"Yeah, I usually work Christmas. I get double time.† My dinner still sits heavy in the pit of my stomach. I know I should give her a special day. â€Å"Oh.† Now I feel like a jerk who's robbed her of the magic of Christmas. â€Å"Like all day or just part?† â€Å"The store is open from seven until two, then closing early.† I know why she's asking, but it doesn't keep me from playing stupid. â€Å"Why? What's up?† Emily finally stops pushing her battered piece of meat around on the plate and looks up. â€Å"I was thinking†¦and you don't have to†¦it's just something that†¦I mean, you can, but if it makes you uncomfortable†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I finally stop her rambling by touching her hand. My hope is that she will refocus her thoughts with my unexpected gesture. I'm successful. Emily sits up a little straighter, squares her shoulders, and wipes her mouth with her paper towel-slash-napkin. â€Å"I want to spend Christmas at the shelter. You know†¦it's the last place I was with my mom.†

Nike in China

Executive Summary Overview Nike is the market leader in athletic shoes in the United States. The Oregon based company has always utilized offshore facilities in low-income countries to produce at minimal costs followed by importation into predominantly the US for sales. Nike is quick to divest from emerging markets as costs rise and has recently signed short term production contracts with a long term strategy of production in China. Unlike Nike’s previous global endeavors, the political and cultural atmosphere in China has made the collaboration more demanding. Opportunities As the South Korean standard of living continued to improve, expected wages grew forcing Nike to look elsewhere for low cost shoe production. Market research identified China and India as the best long term possibilities for the new production facilities based on finances. Due in part to a trusting relationship between Nike and the Chinese government based on the family lines of vice president David Chang, China was determined to be the optimal location to grow. The possibility of a joint venture giving Nike access to a possible billion customer market was another opportunity that could only be found in China. Issues in China Nike has spent the last four years building facilities, training staff, and developing relationships in China. Unlike other facilities in low GDP countries that had been utilized previously, the China collaboration has been less than successful. The current infrastructure combined with landlocked facilities made transportation logistics difficult. The Chinese government had certain expectations and standardization requirements that were misaligned with Nike’s incentives in terms of quality, pay, pricing, and employee motivation. The PRC government also created difficulties in import/export restrictions causing logistical problems with raw materials, specifically anything entering the country through South Korea, a major Nike supplier. While a foothold in China could eventually lead to an enormous new customer base, the current global strategy was ill suited to take advantage at the current time. Options * Shift strategies in China from global to multi-domestic to take advantage of the market. This option would require the formation of a joint venture with the Chinese government. Move factory locations to reduce transportation and logistics issues. * Pull out of China completely. Recommendations We believe the government regulations will make quality improvement and cost effectiveness highly unlikely in China. Furthermore, a multi-domestic strategy requiring a high investment rate would be required to take advantage of the Chinese population as a new customer market. With low expendable income and a forced jo int venture with the government necessary to sell Nike in China, we determined that selling in China is not currently an option. As such, the team recommends an urgent identification of new possible production environments with a concerted and eventual total divestiture in China. Questions a. How has Nike conceptualized the athletic shoe industry: global or multi-domestic? Justify your answer. What are the implications of this conceptualization? Nike instituted a global strategy, as opposed to a multi-domestic strategy, from the company’s onset to compete in the athletic shoe industry. Knight identified opportunities abroad to reduce costs in the upstream functions of the value chain. Through the coordination of overseas operations integrated with US downstream functions focused on local US markets, Nike’s utilization of a Porter-defined global strategy has brought the company to China. The Far East’s Role in the Value Chain Beginning with the first Japanese facilities, Nike factories located in the Far East, Europe, and South America have accounted for approximately 93% of shoe production with only minor assembly in the US. The identified regions within this concentrated configuration were almost exclusively production-only facilities without the R&D, sales and marketing, and other downsteam services required for a successful multi-domestic strategy. The countries had been targeted due to low costs with certain factories being divested over the years due to increasing wage rates and political uncertainty. Competition to reduce costs between different countries was key to identifying new opportunities and deciding on which factories would remain open as economic factors changed. While reducing costs was the main concern in global production, Nike could not accept a subsequent loss of quality. Previous experiences in Far Eastern plants had proven successful via quickly accepted technology transfer and ratios of grade-B shoes falling below 5% at rapid rates. Without the combination of high value and low cost, the strategic competitive advantage would be lost. Assumptions and Implications of a Global Strategy Nike moved to China based on their strategic history of standardizing the operations life cycle. Knight believed China would mirror other Far Eastern locales. Cost cutting assumptions included pay based on relative Chinese wages (as opposed to relative Nike production wages), employee incentives capabilities, minimal import/export barriers, and an infrastructure for facile distribution logistics. For each unforeseen difficulty encountered along these assumptions, Nike’s costs would increase and could drive margins down to a point where China would no longer be financially competitive. The Olympic team public relations venture attempted to further the relationship between Nike and the Chinese government, not to present a new product for the public. The millions spent were misaligned with a low cost model and were identified with past exploitations by the West. While the possibility of two billion feet was enticing, Nike was in China to produce, not sell, shoes. There was no plan to market, distribute, or sell in China. Accordingly, the idea of a joint venture should not be on the table under the current strategy. However, the PRC strongly pushed JVs and the lack of a true collaborative environment could be detrimental in an environment so heavily regulated. b. Speculate on the reasons for Nike wishing to enter China. Before the entry do you think these reasons were valid? Justify your answer. China’s Excellence in Manufacturing China is known for their excellence in manufacturing. Nike intended to exploit this excellence in order to drive down their supplier costs, while maintaining their customer’s willingness to pay constant which creates value for Nike’s customers and shareholders. Prior to entry and based on Nike’s due diligence, this was a valid reason. However, Nike either underestimated or did not entirely comprehend the challenges of conducting business is China. From the difficulty of sourcing local materials to the inconsistency in quality of the finished product, China was not the optimal manufacturing location for Nike. Rapid Growth of the Athletic Footwear Market in the 1970’s (& Bad Forecasting) Perhaps Nike did not do enough high quality market research to see that the growth was slowing in their market. Nike may have become complacent due to their dominance in the industry or Nike may have discounted the market trends in the athletic footwear industry that showed a decline in the rate of growth, when comparing the 1970’s to the 1980’s. The bottom line is that Nike did not accurately forecast and adjust their strategy to the athletic footwear industry trends and market conditions. Prior to entry and based on Nike’s due diligence, this was a valid reason. Nike chose to enter China, in part, to meet the demand of the growing market. However, perhaps they should have spent more time and resources on market research, which would have revealed that the growth rate was declining, and perhaps additional suppliers were not necessary to carry out their business plan after all and that a different international location might better meet their sourcing needs and goals. Rising Costs from Existing Suppliers One of the reasons Nike planned to enter China was due to the costs of conducting business in other countries (for example, South Korea and Taiwan) had been increasing. Nike thought that they could source product from China at a lower cost than their current offshore producers. Prior to entry and based on Nike’s due diligence, this was a valid rationale. Due to the multiple issues that Nike faced in China, the costs associated in producing a pair of shoes were actually higher in China than their other international producers. See Table A in the appendix for a landed cost comparison from the case. Two Billion Feet Although the case clearly specifies this is not a reason for entry into China, one of Chang’s motives may have been to sell directly to the Chinese. The size of the Chinese population is over three times the size of the United States. Even though the shoes produced in China were for the US, Chang may have considered producing a low cost shoe for the Chinese. Perhaps Nike’s long term strategy was to navigate the Chinese political system, develop a strong local production presence, and then ultimately sell low cost footwear directly to the Chinese market. This reason was not valid prior to their entry. Nike’s product was not produced for the Chinese, as the average Chinese consumer could not afford the product. b. How did the decision to enter China complement Nike's overall strategy? Nike’s decision to enter China was based on flawed information. Nike underestimated the inherent challenges (political bureaucracy, materials sourcing, shipping and transportation, quality control and the Chinese culture of non-motivation and non-commitment) they faced when conducting business in China. Nike also failed to accurately forecast the demand in the athletic footwear industry. The decision ultimately hurt Nike’s overall strategy, as their production costs rose, while the demand for their product was declining. Higher cost and declining demand both negatively affected Nike’s bottom line. c. Identify the entry and ownership strategies used by Nike in entering China. Do you think they were appropriate? Base your analysis on the entry and ownership strategies outlined by Robock and Simmonds, referenced above. Justify your answer. As costs started to rise in other Asian markets, Nike made the strategic decision to open new full-scale manufacturing facilities in China, with the goal to reduce production costs. Nike’s entry strategy into China created obstacles in achieving their long-term goals, which they should have foreseen. Below are a few factors that contributed to the obstacles. External Factors Nike underestimated the scope of the Chinese bureaucracy. Nike’s only choice was to hire a consultant to navigate the issue. This consultant increased Nike’s costs of doing business in China. Furthermore, Nike overestimated the size and future growth potential of their target market. Nike should have conducted additional due diligence and more thorough market research before deciding to move into China. In addition, Nike did not forecast the materials sourcing issue, which added to product costs. Internal Factors Nike failed to forecast/implement some key factors when deciding to enter China. Nike lacked the necessary internal operations to actively manage and solve production problems in real time. Also, Nike had great difficulties communicating the issue of quality control to the Chinese. Furthermore, the Chinese managers and workforce lacked motivation to perform their jobs to levels satisfactory to Nike. Ownership Nike chose to be wholly owned. Nike did not pursue the joint venture route, even though China tried to persuade Nike otherwise. Nike did, however, hire a consultant as a strategic partner to help them navigate the challenging bureaucracy. Given the political climate in China, perhaps Nike should have approached China with a joint venture agreement. Having China as a partner may have saved Nike time and resources when launching a new manufacturing platform. Or, perhaps Nike should have formed a strategic partnership with a local footwear manufacturer in order to bypass some of the issues with starting an entirely new facility and would have had some assistance in navigating the local market. d. Would you say Nike's entry into China was a success? Give reasons for your view, explaining why the entry was successful or a failure. At the time of case study, Nike’s entry into China was not a success. This evaluation is based on several reasons primarily due to the cultural clash between Nike and Chinese production. By 1984, Nike encountered a range of problems—from quality issues (only 80% of Chinese shoes were A-Grade), to inventory management (records kept on a guess method of expected usage), lack of flexibility from Chinese managers, motivational issues with management and workers, as well as complex and difficult government relations. Quality Issues in Product and Management When China’s reformist leader, Deng Xiaoping, opened China to foreign investment and global market opportunities, Nike seized the opportunity to buy a finished shoe product from the PRC as a long-term, low-cost supplier. However, despite China’s opening to the global market, it still existed as a socialist state with severe trust issues and obstructions to the free flow of information. These factors compounded to cause an array of production difficulties. Due to the Chinese factories still producing 20% B-grade shoes (significantly higher than both South Korea and Taiwan), Nike management not only wasted additional time arguing with Chinese managers on the quality problems (rather than actually improving the problem) but Nike also had to hire additional inspectors for each factory. While the money spent to hire these inspectors was relatively low, this illustrates the need for oversight and the lack of faith and trust in the Chinese managers to run the factories to Nike’s standards. Governmental Regulation Additionally, as a socialist state, Chinese workers lacked motivation to increase production (factories at a standstill by midday) and to adhere to production schedules since they would be paid the same regardless of output. Even attempts by Nike of monetary incentives only appeared to have an effect for approximately 60 days. Because of the central planning system, the Chinese managers were used to stable prices. Price negotiations proved extremely difficult as none of the actual participants in the negotiations (foreign trade bureau, factory directors, local production bureau leaders) had the authority to make price decisions—everything relayed to authorities in Beijing. Compared to Korea or Taiwan, negotiations were slow which was extremely detrimental in a global and ever-changing environment. The levels of bureaucracy in China were much higher than those encountered in South Korea or Taiwan. Although Nike tried to establish a positive relationship with China (through contributions to the country’s sports activities and hosting various Chinese officials visiting the U. S. ), meeting with the high-live leaders in China did not prove useful. The Chinese bureaucracy made making decisions difficult as it was never apparent who was in charge of what and Chinese officials did not show the same level of interest in establishing a relationship with Nike (leaders sometimes did not show up for appointments). Ultimately, all of the cultural difficulties resulted in extremely low production numbers (Nike originally targeted production growth to 1,000,000 pairs per month by mid-1980’s but annual production in 1984 was only 700,000 pairs), significantly lower than both South Korea and Taiwan. Although Nike had ultimately hoped for a 20% price advantage over Korea, they were still losing $1. 00 on each pair of PRC shoes while the quality was much lower on these shoes as well. e. Identify the options available to Nike regarding its operations in China. If you were Chang at the time of the case, what future course of action would you recommend in China? Options Some of the options available to Nike regarding its operations in China are to pull operations out of China completely or consider entering into a joint-venture agreement with China. As of 1984, Nike’s foray into China has not been a success due to a variety of reasons (listed above). If Nike were to pull operations out of China, they would risk losing all of the equipment investment as well as damaging the sensitive and already tenuous relations ith the government. Other countries would have to be evaluated as a low-cost source of production. Some possible countries could be Indonesia or shifting a greater percentage of production to Taiwan as their comparative changes in unit labor cost, although increasing, were significantly lower than Korea or Taiwan. However, if Nike did decide to stay in China and enter into a joint-venture agreement, this step would potentially be viewed as a sign of trust and evidence of commitment by China. Nike would also be allowed to sell its products in China—a significant market to consider with a population of 1 billion people. Nike would also have additional freedoms with regards to hiring and dismissing personnel. The costs of a joint-venture agreement though, were estimated at $500,000 per factory and worker salaries would be about 20% higher than local factories. Recommendations to Nike If we were Chang at the time of the case, the future course of action that we would recommend to Nike would be to pull out of China operations. Although the possibility of access to a market with 1 billion people seems counter to this decision, China’s great strides in opening to global markets indicates the likelihood that Nike will be able to access this consumer at some point without having to make the commitment of a joint-venture agreement. Additionally, while recognizing the sunk-costs bias, we feel that the potential costs to continue operations in China would result in Nike still losing money on each pair of shoe produced instead of cutting their losses and finding another profitable production avenue. Conclusions Nike saw China, as well as the many impoverished nations where previous production had occurred, as a part of the supply chain with a cost effective advantage. Korea and Taiwan had become increasingly expensive and China was a long term option. Unfortunately, Nike did not understand the political or cultural implications for utilizing China as part of a global strategy. The political environment and infrastructure in China created unforeseen difficulties for Nike in building an efficient production system. Government controlled wages reduced the influence of incentives for both work efficiency and quality. Strained relationships with the South Korean government made importation of materials slow and expensive. Transportation logistics and regional cultural differences made the government suggested sites for initial factory locations less than ideal. China’s two billion feet did not align with Nike’s global strategy. The Chinese public could not afford the high costs for the Nike brand and current ROI expectations could not be achieved. The Chinese government’s relationship approach to external companies would have much greater acceptance towards a mutually beneficial joint venture. Some saw Nike’s global strategy as exploitation. The financial impact of Nike’s strategy could not be delivered in China. The collaborative relationship desired by the Chinese government was misaligned with Nike’s needs. Together, it becomes apparent that the best option for Nike is to locate a better location for production urgently and completely divest in China.