The GE Money Americas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The GE Money Americas - Essay Example This paper presents a detailed discussion, analysis and illustration of leadership and talent management within GE Americas as a case study. The challenges which necessitated the need within GE Money Americas are discussed in addition to the model for change theory as applied within the company. In addition an evaluation of information gathered within the company as pertaining to leadership and talent management is given in the paper. Moreover the paper presents the speculated effects of the level of success that changes within GE Money Americas would have in the future operations of the company and recommendations on correct adjustments in case the change reduces its effectiveness. Need for Change in GE Money Americas The processes of managing employees within GE Money Americas were initially less integrated. This is demonstrated by the less centralized employee hiring system. The top executives within the company considered the centralized approach to employee management to be less effective because communication and sharing of ideas within the company was not motivated (Roderick, Lehmberg & John, 2009). The top executives within the company valued the role of effective human resource management as the definition of company success. It is in line with this that change was inevitable within the company. This change was aimed at improving the processes of talent management for the benefit of the company. Change was needed in all aspects of talent management within the company such as attracting new talent, sourcing, hiring, training and developing employees (Walsh, 2011). In addition there was need for change in the promotion of human resource within the company and their movement within various aspects or units of the company. The company’s executive identified the need to fuse the talent management strategy with the wider business strategy. It is because of this that it was considered necessary to centralize the strategy of managing the company staff ( Marquez, 2007). Through a centralized system of managing talent within a company, all employees are allowed to work in line with the common business strategy and business goals (Roderick, Lehmberg & John, 2009). In addition, a need for improved communication within GE Money Americas was identified. This was motivated by the view of communication by the company top executives as the most crucial element of any form of success. Communication is improved through the use of communication systems such as information technologies and applications which link all employees within an organization (Walsh, 2011). This promotes growth and innovativeness as a result of facilitated process of sharing ideas. More importantly there was a need for promoting interaction between the company leadership and all employees. This was aimed at ensuring that the needs of human capital were understood and efficiently met by the company leadership so that employees were left motivated. Model for Change Theory The lean approach is the model of change theory which was employed within GE Money Americas to bring about changes in leadership and talent management. Lean approach is a model for organization change which is designed to significantly cause improvements in the flow of business activities while eliminating any forms of wastes in work processes (Rothwell, 2012). This approach as employed within

The Color Purple Essay Example for Free

The Color Purple Essay The novel the color purple by Alice Walker is well known for is revolutionary theme of black lesbianism. Until this novel and other leading writers touched on the subject of black lesbianism, it was viewed as dirty and unspeakable. The protagonist, Celie, brings respect and positive attributes to the idea of black lesbianism. Walker’s depicture of Celie not only relates constructive events towards lesbianism, but also journeys through the rejection of male dominance and how it brings Celie freedom. Most of Celie’s freedom comes in the form of monetary relief and independence. However freedom also comes from Celie’s change of world view; from a repressive patriarchal society and God to a gentle and softer version of religion. Walker emphasizes the oppression black women face in relationships with black men (brothers, fathers, husbands, lovers) and the bond the women must form with each other in order to free themselves. Right from the beginning of the novel, Walker introduces a hard to digest picture of rape, incest, and sexual cruelty. He never had a kine word to say to me†¦ Then he push his thing inside my pussy. When that hurt, I cry. He start to choke me† (Walker 1). This telling of rape by her father is also seen through the eyes of the reader as lacking emotion or at least the emotions such as anger and anguish that come with an event such as rape. Celie’s life begins to form into a picture of a slave’s, with her missing feelings and reactions to the horrible fates that befall her. After this rape, Celie becomes pregnant and is forced to separate with her child straight after. According to Ana Marie Fraile-Marcos who wrote a critical essay on Walker’s â€Å"womanist† representation of lesbianism, Celie’s sexual abuse becomes endemic after her two successive pregnancies and deliveries. Celie seems to accept sexual exploitation and oppression as shaping factors in her life and not only does Celie become a sexual object, her story also echoes the life of a slave. An auction scene is called to mind when Celie is told to walk in front of Albert, while he decides whether or not to take her as his new wife. Along with the physical oppression, Celie also has to endure psychological oppression due to her sexual exploitation. During Celie’s pregnancies, she had to put up with the confusing torment of her mother at the same time as her father blames her for her mother’s slow passing. Finally Celie’s mother passes cursing her, although Celie is at a loss to what she did wrong. Next to her mother’s negative affliction, Celie also curses herself and believes that she is on the road to hell for committing incest imposed on her by her father. In her mind, Celie is living in â€Å"sin without redemption† (Fraile-Marcos). The men were forces of her oppression, which made Celie turn towards women for her liberation. During her childhood, Celie was close with her sister and found a love that she would sincerely protect. â€Å"She scared. But I say I’ll take care of you. † Although Celie’s love for Nettie is a bond that lasts through the whole novel, the most important figure to influence Celie’s change in submissiveness is Shug Avery. Through uncovering the letters Nettie wrote to Celie, forcing Albert to beat Celie less, and just being the woman who did whatever she wanted, Shug was the leading character who taught Celie the beauty of sexuality. After quizzing Celie in Shug’s first stay, Shug deemed Celie a virgin due to her never having sex with someone that she loves. From that point, Shug begins to teach her about the female body, which Celie enjoys because sexuality turns from a negative and repressive force, to one that becomes exciting. Shug’s most important contribution to Celie’s self-realization is love, both sexually and spiritually† (Fraile-Marcos). Through this self-realization, Celie comes to the conclusion that she has a sister who loves her and will always write to her, and has Shug who has the intention of loving her and helping her get on her feet. All of the forces involved in Celie’s positive evolution come from the female gender, which leads Celie to her chang e in religion. Shug’s spiritual contribution to Celie’s self realization is the modification of the picture of God in Celie’s mind. At the start of the novel, Celie’s version of God was one who was a white authority figure, who only gave orders and punished the people who stepped out of line. â€Å"Okay, I say. He big and old and tall and graybearded and white. He wear white robes and go barefooted† (Walker 194). Celie’s version of God did not have time for her and saw her sufferings as something to just move on from. However, Shug soon initiates a spiritual awakening that begins with her description of God, who doesn’t have specific characteristics and instead is more a spiritual presence. God ain’t a he or a she, but an It†¦ Don’t look like nothing, she say. It ain’t a picture show. It ain’t something you can look at apart from anything else, including yourself† (Walker 195). Shug showed that God was found within everyone and everything, instead of a figure impossible to relate to. Celie’s journey dragged her from a hellish, detached exis tence to a life she could feeling pulsing through her body. After her self-revelation and freedom from oppression, Celie supported herself thorough making pants. This created an independent woman out of Celie, and taught her to rely on herself more than the people around her such as her oppressors or even Shug. Believing God was a white, despotic figure lead Celie to her rejection of the world, rejection to male dominance, and her acceptance of an unfair society. However, femininity brought Celie back to the world and showed her the kind, caring, and gentle side of life. Walker took the reader through a journey of finding Celies personal voice and also helped the reader accept and appreciate the rejection of male dominance.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium Channel Blockers B. Trimble Calcium-channel blockers or calcium antagonist have several possible modes of action in hypertension. In general, these agents block the slow channel in the cell membrane and prevent calcium entry into the cell. This blocking action reduces the mechanical activity of vascular smooth muscle and leads to vasodilation. Another possible mode of action is that they block norepinephrine-mediated vasoconstriction. This may occur because alpha sympathetic vasoconstriction is produced by enhanced calcium influx into the cell. If calcium influx is decreased, then norepinephrine vasoconstriction is reduced. Another system regulated by intracellular calcium is the release of renin by the cells of the kidney. Because calcium-channel blockers inhibit renin release, the renin-angiotensin system may also be suppressed. Calcium-channel blockers prove to be useful in hypertensive patients who also have stable angina and spastic angina (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). The vasodilation properties of calcium-channel blockers lead to a reduction in after-load, and their regional smooth muscle relaxant properties are useful in relieving coronary spasms. Calcium-channel blockers are also useful in treating patients who cannot take beta-blocking agents (Katzung, Mastes, Trevor, 2012). African-American patients may benefit more from CCBs as a first line of hypertensive treatment than others. Grapefruit products should be avoided as they interfere with normal operation of the medication. CCBs can also cause low blood glucose particularly those whose dosage is more than 60 mg daily. CCBs are mainly intended to be used for isolated systolic hypertension, and may be used in combination with other antihypertensive medications such as diuretics and ACE Inhibitors (Frank, 2008). Verapamil hydrochloride (Calan, Isoptin) is given in doses of 240-640 mg daily to control essential hypertension. The oral dose is almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and there is a large first-pass hepatic effect. Side effects include constipation, headache, flushing, peripheral edema, and AV nodal effects such as first- and second-degree heart blocks. Verapamil has significant negative inotropic effects and should not be used in patients with congestive heart failure. Verapamil applies antihypertensive results by decreasing systemic vascular resistance usually without orthostatic decreases in blood pressure or response tachycardia. Verapamil reduces arterial pressure at rest and at a given level of exercise by reducing the total peripheral resistance or afterload against which the heart works. The dosage should be titrated for the individual. The usual daily dose of sustained release verapamil, Verelan, is 240 mg daily, however, the initial dosage of 120 mg may be necessary for patients who may have an increased reaction (e.g. Elderly or small people). If adequate control is not obtained with 120 mg, the dose may be titrated in the following manner: 180-240-360-480 mg daily (Chen, et al., 2010). Nifedipine (Procardia) used for essential hypertension the dosage ranges between 10 and 20 mg given three times daily. Doses above 100 mg are not recommended (Chen, et al., 2010). The oral dose is rapidly and fully absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with the drug being metabolized in the liver, highly bound to plasma proteins with a half-life of approximately two hours. Nifedipine is more effective than verapamil in dilating peripheral blood vessels. Side effects include reflex tachycardias, stimulation of SA node, flushing, peripheral edema, and headache. CNS symptoms include tremors, nervousness, and mood changes (Wisloff, et al., 2012). Nifedipine and the other dihydropyridine agents (Norvasc, Caduet, Lotrel, Sular, Calan, Verelan, etc.) are more selective as vasodilators and have less cardiac depressant effect then verapamil and Diltiazem. It is recommended that short acting oral dihydropyridine not be used for hypertension due to the increased risk of myocardial infraction. Oral Nifedipine has been used in emergency treatment of severe hypertension (Chen, et al., 2010). Norvasc is a dihydropyridine; Norvasc usual dosage is 5 to 10 mg daily. Small, fragile, or elderly patients or patients with hepatic insufficiency may be started on 2.5 mg daily and titrated for response (Wisloff, et al., 2012). Diltiazem (Cardizem) dosage is between 30 and 90 mg three to four times daily. It is well absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, with onset of action in less than 15 minutes, a peak effect in 30 minutes, and a half-life of approximately four hours. Vasodilation is limited almost exclusively to the coronary arteries. The most common side effects include AV block, dry mouth, headache, vertigo, rash, and edema (Chen, et al., 2010). Diltiazem SR is one of several preferred initial therapies for hypertensive patients with high risk of developing coronary artery disease including those with diabetes mellitus. It can be used as a monotherapy for initial management of uncomplicated hypertension with conventional tablets used three to four doses daily before meals and at bedtime. Again, elderly or smaller persons may require a lower dosage and titrate as needed for response (Frank, 2008). The algorithm for hypertension management according to The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is as follows: KEY: A= ACE Inhibitor or Angiotensin II (ARB); C= Calcium Channel blocker; D= thiazide-like diuretics Step 1. Under age 55 years Over age 55 or Black person of African or Caribbean family origin of any age (C) Step 2. - (55 yrs.) Step 3. (55yrs) -Step 4. Resistant hypertension (A+C+D+ consider further diuretics OR Alpha blockers or Beta blocker) (The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2011). References Brunton, L., Chabner, B., Knollman, B. (2011). Goodman Gilmans: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics (12 ed.). McGraw-Hill. Chen, N., Zhon, M., Yang, M., Guo, J., Zhu, C., Yang, J.,. .. He, L. (2010, August). Calcium channel blockers versus other classes of drugs for hypertension. doi:10.1002/1465/858.CD003654.pub4 Frank, J. (2008, May). Managing hypertension using combination therapy. American Family Physician, 77(9), 1279-1286. Retrieved from American Family Physician: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0501/p1279 Katzung, B., Mastes, S., Trevor, A. (2012). Basic clinical pharmacology (12 ed.). McGraw-Hill. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2011, May 2011). Quick reference guide. Retrieved from NICE Clinical Guidelines: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13561/56015/56015.pdf Wisloff, T., Selmer, R., Halvorsen, S., Fretheim, A., Novhein, O., Kristiansen, I. (2012, April 4). Choice of generic antihypertensive drugs for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseasea cost-effectiveness analysis. doi:10.1186/1471-2261-12-26

Tim Leary Essay -- essays research papers

Timothy Leary, also known as ‘Uncle Tim’, ‘The messiah of LSD’, and ‘The most dangerous man in America’, was born on October 22, 1920, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He went to a public high school where he discovered girls and the ability to attract attention from those in authority. After high school he attended Jesuit College Holy Cross, but Tim wasn’t satisfied with Holy Cross, so he took a test to get into West Point. He got very high marks and was accepted. Timothy was very enthused and proud to be at West Point. However, his enthusiasm faded when he realized that he was being trained not to think, but to follow. One day, on a return trip from a football game, Timothy was invited to drink with a few of the upper classmen who brought some bottles of whiskey. The illicit event was unfortunately discovered the next day, and the Cadet Honor Committee punished Tim by inflicting a kind of solitary confinement: everyone was forbidden to sp eak a word to him. A date was set for a court-martial. Timothy was aquitted in less than two minutes, which caused the disgruntled and unsatisfied Committee to maintain the silence punishment. Leary had to endure nine months of being ignored. When he became a sophomore, some of the cadet officers whom where not on the Honor Committee approached Tim to talk about the situation. They informed him that the whole business was causing morale problems. They wanted to make a deal for Tim's departure. He said that he would leave Westpoint if the honor committee would read a statement in the mess hall proclaiming his innocence. They returned two days later with an approval. Tim went back home and applied to more colleges. He was accepted to the University of Alabama where he became a psychology major. Shortly after, Tim was expelled for sleeping over at the girls’ dormitory. He was an A student. When he was kicked out of college he was sent to basic training in artillery at Fort Eusti s Virginia. The army needed psychologists, and since Tim had already started the major they let him finish his degree in the service. He was going to be stationed on an infantry boat in the south pacific. Luckily, his old friend from the University of Alabama was now the chief psychologist at the army hospital in Pennsylvania. He managed to get Tim a transfer to his hospital. 	In 1944, while training as a clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania, ... ...dia extravaganzas with live video and music. His books became graphic novels that were the products of desktop publishing and most profoundly his interests became focused towards the rise of the World Wide Web. Tim realized that this was what he was waiting for, a place where you can create and interact with your own worlds. Soon, Tim devoted his entire efforts to making his web site, http://leary.com, his home for his archives, ideas and his fans. After he learned he had inoperable prostate cancer in January of 1995, he embraced the dying experience as one of the greatest journeys of all time. He refused to become morbid and depressed over his situation. He was often entertaining guests and could often be seen at a number of events in the city in his formula one wheel chair. A home in cyberspace that can live on forever was one of Tim's last wishes. Timothy Leary was many things to many people, and he resisted most attempts to categorize himself. He often said at these times, "you get the Timothy Leary that you deserve." Overall it is accurate to call him a philosopher and a scientist, whose underlying motivations were human communication and understanding the mind.

Case Petroil

In one of Its first projects, the OLL exploration company Petrol was engendering two sites for two 011 exploration wells. Only one may be punctured. The cost of drilling the Site Numerous 1 was $ 100,000. Preliminary geological data indicated that the well could be dry, or be of low productivity or be highly productive. He had signed a contract with a development company to buy the site if a well by drilling success you had. The buyer would pay $ 250,000 for a well of low productivity and $ 600,000 for high productivity well.If the well was dry, Petrol lose $ 100,000 of the cost of drilling. By that time, the company geologist,Jane Goodwill, was unsure about the existence of a structural dome that site. A dome structure is a kind of anticlines (geological rock deformation formed as a curved folds as strata tectonic stress resulting from various types) raised to a certain depth by the accumulation of oil and the increase of the pressure produced by the natural gas . Structures are ide al for the accumulation of oil. She assigned a probably of 0. 6 to the existence of a structural dome.Their assessments for dry, low, or high productivity wells were conditioned to geological structure. Table 1 shows the odds by estimated conditions. The geologist would ether give the information in this way though as she said, â€Å"we will never know for sure if there is a structural dome, up to drill. † TABLE 1 Geological structure Well With No Doom Doom Dry 0. 60 0. 85 Low 0. 25 0. 125 High 0. 025 0. 15 1. 00 1. 00 Furthermore, the site No. 2 was quite different, the area had been thoroughly examined using seismic testing and core samples.A core sample Is a method directly by taking witnesses or cores (cores), collect rock samples taken within drill pipe, In which you can perform direct measurements of the petrochemical characteristics of the geological formation. There was almost certainly oil. The geologist assigned a probability of 0. 8 of finding oil there. The drawba ck to this place was that drilling costs were high, $ 200,000, and if oil is found, the well would be low productivity of oil. A contract was also signed with the same development company to buy the well of low production at Site No. 2 for $ 250,000.To help decide between the two sites, each drill site. Using the decision tree diagram A decision tree diagram should be developed for this problem using the concepts and the necessary rules. You must specify the uncertain events that will be revealed eased on each decision. The random variable of interest is the net contribution can be calculated at the end of each alternative or branch of the decision tree. Therefore in the branches of the diagram decision alternatives were presented with their respective probability and net contribution as a gain or loss. The decision alternatives with uncertain probabilities for drilling Site No. Events are available and would be appropriate to show them on the decision tree diagram (see Annex 1). Wh at would be the likely alternatives Drilling Site Number 1? They are not available erectly. We know the odds of having high, low or that the well is dry productivity. However, we can adjust the chart for evaluation inserting another uncertain event as the geological structure (with or without dome). By including this â€Å"extra† node, the description of the branches of the decision tree will expand to calculate the return (you only need dry, low or high to calculate the net contribution). Now include the status of the geological structure.With the expanded tree diagram decision is straightforward to calculate the probabilities required by the president of the many. Therefore, this problem has to insert the â€Å"additional† uncertain event (geological structure) so that the probability can be calculated. The uncertain event should be displayed in the diagram to have an observable result where not only the state of well productivity, but also the state of the underlyin g structure is found. Addition should be included because the geologist of the company wanted to use it as a basis for probabilistic assessments to the president of the company.

Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812

Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 The Battle of Fort McHenry was fought September 13/14, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Part of the larger Battle of Baltimore, the Battle of Fort McHenry saw the forts garrison defeat a British fleet that had been advancing on the city. As the British had recently captured and burned Washington, DC, the victory proved critical in halting their advance in the Chesapeake. Coupled with successes elsewhere, the victory strengthened the hand of American negotiators at the Ghent peace talks. Francis Scott Key saw the fighting from a British ship where he was held prisoner and was inspired to write the Star-Spangled Banner based on what he had witnessed. Into the Chesapeake Having defeated Napoleon in early 1814 and removed the French emperor from power, the British were able to turn their full attention to the war with the United States. A secondary conflict while the wars with France were ongoing, they now commenced sending additional troops west in an effort to achieve a swift victory. While Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, the governor-general of Canada and commander of British forces in North America, commenced a series of campaigns from the north, he ordered Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, the commander of the Royal Navys ships on the North American Station, to make attacks against the American coast. Though Cochranes second-in-command, Rear Admiral George Cockburn, had been raiding up and down the Chesapeake Bay for some time, additional forces were en route. Arriving in August, Cochranes reinforcements included a force of around 5,000 men commanded by Major General Robert Ross. Many of these soldiers were veterans of the Napoleonic Wars and had served under the Duke of Wellington. On August 15, the transports carrying Ross command entered the Chesapeake and sailed up the bay to join with Cochrane and Cockburn. Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane. Public Domain Reviewing their options, the three men elected to mount an attack on Washington DC. The combined fleet then moved up the bay and quickly trapped Commodore Joshua Barneys gunboat flotilla in the Patuxent River. Pushing up the river, they destroyed Barneys force and put Rosss 3,400 men and 700 marines ashore on August 19. In Washington, President James Madisons administration worked fruitlessly to deal with the threat. Not thinking that the capital would be a target, little work had been done in regard to constructing defenses. Overseeing the troops around Washington was Brigadier General William Winder, a political appointee from Baltimore who had been captured at the Battle of Stoney Creek in June 1813. Since the majority of the US Armys regulars were occupied on the Canadian frontier, Winder s force was largely made up of militia. Burning Washington Marching from Benedict to Upper Marlborough, the British decided to approach Washington from the northeast and cross the East Branch of the Potomac at Bladensburg. On August 24, Ross engaged an American force under Winder at the Battle of Bladensburg. Achieving a decisive victory, later dubbed the Bladensburg Races due to the nature of the American retreat, his men occupied Washington that evening. Taking possession of the city, they burned the Capitol, Presidents House, and Treasury Building before encamping. Additional destruction ensued the next day before they departed to rejoin the fleet.  Following their successful campaign against Washington DC, Cochrane and Ross advanced up the Chesapeake Bay to attack Baltimore, MD. British forces burning Washington, DC, 1814. Public Domain A vital port city, Baltimore was believed by the British to be the base of many of the American privateers that were preying on their shipping. To take the city, Ross and Cochrane planned a two-prong attack with the former landing at North Point and advancing overland, while the latter attacked Fort McHenry and the harbor defenses by water. Fighting at North Point On September 12, 1814, Ross landed with 4,500 men on the tip of North Point and began advancing northwest towards Baltimore. His men soon encountered American forces under Brigadier General John Stricker. Dispatched by Major General Samuel Smith, Stricker was under orders to delay the British while the fortifications around the city were completed. In the resulting Battle of North Point, Ross was killed and his command took heavy losses. With Ross death, command devolved to Colonel Arthur Brooke who elected to remain on the field through a rainy night while Strickers men withdraw back to the city. Battle of North Point. Photograph Courtesy of the US Army Fast Facts: Battle of Fort McHenry Conflict: War of 1812 (1812-1815)Dates: September 13/14, 1814Armies Commanders:United StatesMajor General Samuel SmithMajor George Armistead1,000 men (at Fort McHenry), 20 gunsBritishVice Admiral Sir Alexander CochraneColonel Arthur Brooke19 ships5,000 menCasualties:United States: 4 killed and 24 woundedGreat Britain: 330 killed, wounded, and captured The American Defenses While Brookes men suffered in the rain, Cochrane began moving his fleet up the Patapsco River toward the citys harbor defenses. These were anchored on the star-shaped Fort McHenry. Situated on Locust Point, the fort guarded the approaches to the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco which led to the city as well as the Middle Branch of the river. Fort McHenry was supported across the Northwest Branch by a battery at Lazaretto and by Forts Covington and Babcock to the west on the Middle Branch. At Fort McHenry, the garrison commander, Major George Armistead possessed a composite force of around 1,000 men. Bombs Bursting in Air Early on September 13, Brooke began advancing towards the city along the Philadelphia Road. In the Patapsco, Cochrane was hampered by shallow waters which precluded sending forward his heaviest ships. As a result, his attack force consisted of five bomb ketches, 10 smaller warships, and the rocket vessel HMS Erebus. By 6:30 AM they were in position and opened fire on Fort McHenry. Remaining out of range of Armisteads guns, the British ships struck the fort with heavy mortar shells (bombs) and Congreve rockets from Erebus. Advancing ashore, Brooke, who believed they had defeated citys defenders the day before, was stunned when his men found 12,000 Americans behind substantial earthworks east of the city. Under orders not to attack unless with a high chance of success, he began probing Smiths lines but was unable to find a weakness. As a result, he was forced to hold his position and await the outcome of Cochranes assault on the harbor. Early in the afternoon, Rear Admiral George Cockburn, thinking the fort had been badly damaged, moved the bombardment force closer increase the effectiveness of their fire. Defense of Fort McHenry, 1814. Public Domain As the ships closed, they came under intense fire from Armisteads guns and were compelled to draw back to their original positions. In effort to break the stalemate, the British attempted to move around the fort after dark. Embarking 1,200 men in small boats, they rowed up the Middle Branch. Mistakenly thinking they were safe, this assault force fired signal rockets which gave away their position. As a result, they quickly came under an intense crossfire from Forts Covington and Babcock. Taking heavy losses, the British withdrew. The Flag Was Still There By dawn, with the rain subsiding, the British had fired between 1,500 and 1,800 rounds at the fort with little impact. The greatest moment of danger had come when a shell struck the forts unprotected magazine but had failed to explode. Realizing the potential for disaster, Armistead had the forts gunpowder supply distributed to safer locations. As the sun began to rise, he ordered the forts small storm flag lowered and replaced with the standard garrison flag measuring 42 feet by 30 feet. Sewn by local seamstress Mary Pickersgill, the flag was clearly visible to all of the ships in the river. The sight of the flag and the ineffectiveness of the 25-hour bombardment convinced Cochrane that the harbor could not be breached. Ashore, Brooke, with no support from the navy, decided against a costly attempt on the American lines and began retreating towards North Point where his troops re-embarked. Aftermath The attack on Fort McHenry cost Armisteads garrison 4 killed and 24 wounded. British losses were around 330 killed, wounded, and captured, most of which occurred during the ill-fated attempt to move up the Middle Branch. The successful defense of Baltimore coupled with victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh aided in restoring American pride after the burning of Washington DC and bolstered the nations bargaining position at the Ghent peace talks. Francis Scott Key, circa 1825. Public Domain - Walters Art Museum The battle is best remembered for inspiring Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner. Detained aboard the ship Minden, Key had gone to meet with the British to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes who had been arrested during the attack on Washington. Having overhead the British attack plans, Key was forced to remain with the fleet for the duration of the battle. Moved to write during the forts heroic defense, he composed the words to an old drinking song entitled To Anacreon in Heaven. Initially published after the battle as the Defense of Fort McHenry, it eventually became known as the Star-Spangled Banner and was made the National Anthem of the United States.

Make communicating numbers as simple as 1, 2, 3 - Emphasis

Make communicating numbers as simple as 1, 2, 3 Make communicating numbers as simple as 1, 2, 3 Being able to write about numbers well is a core skill. But it can become needlessly fraught – mainly because those who find maths straightforward often don’t understand why it’s difficult for others to grasp. Luckily, there are three principles that can take the pain out of the process: simplify, signpost and be specific. 1. Simplify When you’re translating a complex set of figures – for instance, a company’s financial results – into a written summary, it’s all too easy to get distracted by the sheer volume of information. This means you end up cramming in as much detail as possible, which can weaken your main message and confuse your reader, even if the audience is largely technical. Unless you’re confident that your piece will be read by someone who will be taking their time and making notes, it’s better to avoid dealing with more than two sets of numbers in any one sentence. Also, try not to have several sentences in succession that introduce new figures. Break them up with analysis and observations. Under this approach, the following sentence is fine: ‘Sales increased 10 per cent to  £2.7bn, while profits rose five per cent to  £10m.’ Despite containing four figures, it introduces only two concepts (what happened to sales, and what happened to profits). However, try to include a year-on-year comparison in the same sentence, and it becomes much less readable. ‘Sales increased 10 per cent to  £2.7bn in 2012, a slight improvement on 2011’s figure of eight per cent, while profits for 2012 rose five per cent to  £10m, up from four per cent in 2011.’ If you’re preparing a script or notes for TV or radio, try to reduce this still further to just one topic per sentence. To see how much more difficult it is to follow figures presented verbally, ask someone to read you the press release of any financial results – then see how much of what you heard you recall. Pick the numbers that really matter, and focus on getting those across. 2. Signpost Often, the same piece of writing will have to work for multiple audiences with very different technical abilities. A half-year update will be read for detailed information by analysts and investors, but perhaps also skimmed by potential clients and journalists looking for an overview of the company. For the former, the detail is vital, and if you remove it they will find the information insufficient – but leaving it in may confuse the latter. This is where signposting helps. Compare the following two statements: ‘Underlying net revenues, the best metric for sales, increased 9.7 per cent year-on-year to  £2.72bn, while profits before tax made strong progress, increasing 5.0 per cent to  £9.9m.’ ‘Sales and profits both grew strongly on the company’s key metrics. Underlying net revenues increased 9.7 per cent year-on-year to  £2.72bn, and profit before tax grew 5.0 per cent to  £9.9m.’ The second example is a little longer, but it primes readers on what to expect from the rest of the paragraph. It also serves as an explanation of the particular measures of revenue and profit being used. Signposts should be short and simple, and group related information. If they seem overly complex, you’re probably trying to load too much into one paragraph. 3.  Specify How specific your writing needs to be varies depending on your audience and the information you’re conveying. For a general audience, simple, round figures are always best. Avoid decimal points where possible, and minimise figures. Consider using descriptions such as ‘one in five’ rather than 20 per cent’, if it helps make the meaning clearer. More financially or technically literate audiences tend to prefer (or even demand) more specificity. In reality, the inputs on forecasting models are often rounded up or down, and the outcomes are therefore uncertain. For example, a forecasting model generated in Excel might come out with a brilliantly specific-looking sales projection: next year, the spreadsheet says, Company A will sell 67,971.2 tricycles.   But this figure appears more precise than it really is. Try to reflect this: if the margins of error on an estimate are known, make that clear.   This needn’t be complex. For example, if the margin was roughly +/-500, you could write the estimate as: ‘Projections for the next year suggest Company A will sell around 68,000 tricycles.’ Again, keep your audience in mind: analysts and specialists may well expect to see explicit references to margins of error. Take similar care when writing about risk and uncertainty. If you write ‘the chance of catastrophic failure has increased threefold, year-on-year,’ you may well terrify a reasonable portion of your readership. If the risk of catastrophic failure has increased from 0.01 per cent to 0.03 per cent, that panic probably wasn’t your intention. Make sure you’re confident of the difference between absolute and relative risk. Absolute risk describes how probable it is that something will occur. Relative risk is a comparison between different risk levels. In most cases, it will be appropriate to use the former. Most importantly of all, keep reminding yourself who it is youre writing for, what they need to know and the level of their technical expertise. Keeping your reader at the front of your mind will help you remember to speak in language that they will understand and find compelling. Want more help with writing about numbers? We run courses on report writing and technical writing. To find out more, call us on +44 (0)1273 732 888 or email help@writing-skills.com.

Summary of The Ruined Maid

Summary of The Ruined Maid Free Online Research Papers Summary of The Ruined Maid Poetry Analysis and Summation (200 Level Course) I think that the poem is about two country women who both are the same, until one of them loses her virginity. The poem shows how that when one woman has sex, her whole attitude to life changes and her friend wonders why. She acts superior to the other woman and talks and dresses more elaborately than she did. Her speech improves and within herself she believes that she is a better person. When the other country girl asks her questions on her new way of life, she always answers with the same statement, ‘when you’ve been ruined.’ Her excuse of her new attitude is always that she’s not a virgin anymore so that gives her a new status of being a higher class to virgins. She also says in the last line that she can strut around town without being spoken about but it’s not alright for her friend to because she is not ‘ruined.’ Research Papers on Summary of The Ruined MaidMind TravelWhere Wild and West MeetInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is ArtQuebec and CanadaResearch Process Part OneThree Concepts of PsychodynamicComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

Path-Goal Leadership Questionnaire Personal Statement

Path-Goal Leadership Questionnaire - Personal Statement Example Path Goal Leadership theory is nothing less than a revolution in the world of management and leadership as the man himself said in his paper, ‘Path Goal Theory of Leadership: Lessons, Legacy, and a Reformulated Theory (House, 1996). This particular theory focuses on the relationship between the manager and his or her subordinate staff and how that relationship affects the performance of the staff and the company generally. The four main styles talked of in this theory are; Directive leadership, supportive leadership, achievement-oriented leadership, and participative leadership. A manager working by the rules of Path Goal Management should at least be one of these things if not all; a Goal Setter, a Supporter, a Clarification Provider, and a Participant (Mooney, 2010). After completing the questionnaire the results I reached led me to believe that I rely a lot on directive leadership and least on participative leadership. Directive leadership accounts for providing staff with clarity in a situation when the staff is not independent enough to be left on their own. And participative leadership depends and works on the basis of participation from every level of the staff. I believe that generally while dealing with any one subordinate to me I tend to keep things serious and work-oriented. For example, keeping the lowest level of subordinate staff in mind, when dealing with the working class in case of an event management I would give them all directions and the entire explanation and then leave them to do their work, of course with occasional supervision trips. This however does not mean that you restrict the environment so much that people start feeling bound and entitled to your command. The platform for opinion-making or giving suggestions is alwa ys open for anyone who has something worth sharing. The success rate of this management style however is not a set hundred percent. While using the directive style you have to be careful so that your directions do not

Flash Game using existing code Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Flash Game using existing code - Coursework Example Game developers diligently seek the smallest adjustments and optimizations that will make games perform faster and create more dynamic and immersive worlds. Game flash is a platform language that allows users to write a program on Linux platforms, windows, and Macintosh among other programs. Even for a developer who has experience, few key tools can be helpful since they can implement existing codes with simple text editor such as; (Notepad or Text editor) and any other HTML5-capable web browser; if one intends to do any serious work, it would be necessary to have syntax highlighting, a web inspector, JavaScript debugger and JavaScript console. Game design is one of the most important aspects of game development since nobody wants to play a boring game. The developer needs to focus more on good user experience and fun game play. MACGILLIVRAY, C., & HEAD, A. (2005). 3D for the Web interactive 3D animation using 3DS Max, Flash and Director. Amsterdam, Elsevier Focal. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=123417. MILLINGTON, I. (2010). Game physics engine development how to build a robust commercial-grade physics engine for your game. Amsterdam, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.

Play Money Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Play Money - Research Paper Example The company celebrated its 150th anniversary this year. Intel Corporation designs, manufactures, and sells unified digital technology platforms The company offers microprocessors that process system data and controls other devices in the system; and chipsets (Bloomberg, 2014). Alcoa Inc. engages in the manufacture and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina. The company operates in four segments: Alumina, Primary Metals, Flat-Rolled Products, and Engineered Products and Solutions. Its products are used in aircraft, automobiles, commercial transportation, packaging, building and construction, oil and gas, defense, consumer electronics, and industrial applications. Bank of America Corporation, over its subsidiaries, offers various banking and financial products and services to single consumers, small-and middle-market businesses, recognized investors, corporations, and governments in the United States and internationally. The company’s Credits segment provides traditional savings accounts, cash market savings accounts, CDs and IRAs, and noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, as well The Dow jones industrial average jumped 195 point or 1.1% to 17390.52 a closing record for the index. The previous record was 17279.74. The Dow section leading the way higher was Gamble, which sported a $1.22 gain (+1.4%) getting the stock to $87.27. U.S Securities ans Exchange Commisions. (2014, June). Financial Navigating in the Current Economy: Ten Things to Consider Before You Make Investing Decisions. Retrieved from U.S Securities and Exchange Commisions:

Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Diversity - Essay Example It should be noted that the ideas of people from one culture may be different from that of people from another culture. For example, it is not necessary that a Chinese employee and an Indian employee use same procedures while performing a difficult task. The methods employed by them may have advantages and disadvantages. The blending of these different ideas may result in a new idea. Such new ideas will help the development of new technologies, products and services, and thereby an organization can improve its competitive power in the market. It is difficult for modern organizations to use single cultural workforce and still able to develop properly, since the business are operating globally at the moment. For example, it is impossible for an American company operating in India to use only Americans at its workplace in India. It should be noted that Indians know Indian market better than the Americans. Therefore, the services of locals are inevitable while a company operates globally. To conclude, diversity at workplaces would help an organization to improve creativity among workforces and thereby develop new products and services. The development of new products and services would help the organization to increase its competitive power in the global

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

Tartuffe - Assignment Example According to me it doesn’t work because most of these vices are commited in private and people do not care much weather its embarasing or not for as long as nobody sees them in the act. The play was critisized because it potrayed religion in bad light and as a tool that people use to manipulate others. Their attacks were justified to some extent because religion is expected to be respected as the epitome of morals and virtues but on the other hand it’s also true that religion has been used and abused to disenfranchise other people. In the first scene, Madam Pernelle sounds very convincing and sure of what she is saying while the rest of the characters appear to be full of malice and witch hunt against Tartuffe. The other characters seem to harbour some negative feelings towards Tartuffe. Tartuffe comes through as a very humble and innocent servant of the house. Madam Parnelle is very critical of everyone in the family because of their persived resentment towards Tartuffe. She argues that the rest are envious of tartufe’s good virtures since he reminds them of their ills and moral flaws. Parnelle refers to Damis and Dorine as dunce and secrative respectively while Cleante is too worldly, Elmire is accused of being a spendthrift. Dorine accuses her grand mother of being jealosy since the world is about to drop her off. Tartuffe seems to be the only person to win Pernelle’s approval; she actually asserts that the rest should be greatful to be sharing a roof with such a holy man. Apparently, Madam Parnelle finds flaws with everyone except Tartuffe while the rest find her abrasive, irrational and unaware of Tartuffe’s real character. The love birds in the play resemble those that appear in sitcoms and soup-operas. They potray some sweat and innocent young love while at the same time being vurnarable to opposing forces including the girl’s gurllible father. Organ’s trust towards Tartuffe is motivated by the former’s

Business Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Economic - Essay Example In our ensuing discussions, we will look at three main industries of Germany and compare them with respect to various economic parameters. As of 2009 estimates, agriculture sector forms only 0.8% of the GDP (cia.gov). The level of employment in this sector as of 2005 was only 2.4% of the total labor force (cia.gov). Hence we can see that agriculture does not form a very substantial part of the country’s economy in terms of contribution to the GDP or the employment. Graph 1 above shows the value added data in agriculture since 1980. We can easily see that this is on a declining trend over the years. The graph 2 showing the real value added in agriculture shows a lot of fluctuation with negative growth during many years. This means that agriculture is giving way to other industrial segments in terms of contribution to the GDP. However, agricultural land accounts for half of the nation. The above figure shows that since 1990 there has not been much substantial change in the arable and pasture area and it has remained more or less constant. Total farm land has remained around 50% of the total land in Germany. However, there has been a substantial change in the agricultural sector if East and West Germany are looked at what they were before the 1990 unification. In former East Germany, farm employment fell by 20% of its 1989 levels (oecd.org). The West German part contributes to 75% of the livestock farming of the country. The farm sizes here are very small. The Eastern part has huge farms (200 hectares) and most of the agricultural produce of the country comes from there. Most of the farming here is capital intensive farming (oecd.org). â€Å"With a share of 61 percent of all sales in agriculture in 1998, animal production is the main reason why Germany still is one of the leading agricultural nations in t he EU (total production: DM 63.9 billion, crop production: DM 25.9 billion, animal production: DM 38.0 billion†

Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Diversity - Essay Example It should be noted that the ideas of people from one culture may be different from that of people from another culture. For example, it is not necessary that a Chinese employee and an Indian employee use same procedures while performing a difficult task. The methods employed by them may have advantages and disadvantages. The blending of these different ideas may result in a new idea. Such new ideas will help the development of new technologies, products and services, and thereby an organization can improve its competitive power in the market. It is difficult for modern organizations to use single cultural workforce and still able to develop properly, since the business are operating globally at the moment. For example, it is impossible for an American company operating in India to use only Americans at its workplace in India. It should be noted that Indians know Indian market better than the Americans. Therefore, the services of locals are inevitable while a company operates globally. To conclude, diversity at workplaces would help an organization to improve creativity among workforces and thereby develop new products and services. The development of new products and services would help the organization to increase its competitive power in the global

Business Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Economic - Essay Example In our ensuing discussions, we will look at three main industries of Germany and compare them with respect to various economic parameters. As of 2009 estimates, agriculture sector forms only 0.8% of the GDP (cia.gov). The level of employment in this sector as of 2005 was only 2.4% of the total labor force (cia.gov). Hence we can see that agriculture does not form a very substantial part of the country’s economy in terms of contribution to the GDP or the employment. Graph 1 above shows the value added data in agriculture since 1980. We can easily see that this is on a declining trend over the years. The graph 2 showing the real value added in agriculture shows a lot of fluctuation with negative growth during many years. This means that agriculture is giving way to other industrial segments in terms of contribution to the GDP. However, agricultural land accounts for half of the nation. The above figure shows that since 1990 there has not been much substantial change in the arable and pasture area and it has remained more or less constant. Total farm land has remained around 50% of the total land in Germany. However, there has been a substantial change in the agricultural sector if East and West Germany are looked at what they were before the 1990 unification. In former East Germany, farm employment fell by 20% of its 1989 levels (oecd.org). The West German part contributes to 75% of the livestock farming of the country. The farm sizes here are very small. The Eastern part has huge farms (200 hectares) and most of the agricultural produce of the country comes from there. Most of the farming here is capital intensive farming (oecd.org). â€Å"With a share of 61 percent of all sales in agriculture in 1998, animal production is the main reason why Germany still is one of the leading agricultural nations in t he EU (total production: DM 63.9 billion, crop production: DM 25.9 billion, animal production: DM 38.0 billion†

Investment theory Essay Example for Free

Investment theory Essay The efficient market hypothesis (EMH) is an investment theory that states it is impossible to beat the market because stock market efficiency causes existing share prices to always incorporate and reflect all relevant information. According to this theory, the stock always trade at their fair value on stock exchanges. This makes it impossible for investors to either purchase undervalued stocks or sell stocks for inflated prices. EMH provides that it should be impossible to outperform the overall market through expert stock selection or market timing. The only way an investor can possibly obtain higher returns is through purchasing riskier investments (Answer. com, 2006). Using the EMH theory, this research study will examine the efficiency of the United Kingdom (UK) stock market indices by providing an internal performance comparison between FTSE 250 and FTSE AIM. A total of two hundred (200) companies will be used for the analysis, with one hundred (100) companies from each index, on the basis of trading value from all sectors, using Datastream platform. Two inputs (total sales and EBIT), and two outputs (total capital employed and total assets) will be used to analyse the data from each company. Literature Review Although EMH is deemed the cornerstone of modern financial theory, it has also been highly controversial and much disputed. Critics say it is pointless to search for undervalued stocks or to try to predict trends in the market through either fundamental or technical analysis. A review of related literature however will show that a large body of evidence show support of EMH. While academics point to a large body of evidence in support of EMH, an equal amount of dissension also exists. For example, investors such as Warren Buffett have consistently beaten the market over long periods of time, which by definition is an impossibility according to the EMH. Detractors of the EMH also point to events such as the 1987 stock market crash (when the DJIA fell by over 20% in a single day) as evidence that stock prices can seriously deviate from their fair values. (Answers. com) In finance, the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) asserts that financial markets are efficient, or that prices on traded assets, e. g. stocks, bonds, or property, already reflect all known information and therefore are unbiased in the sense that they reflect the collective beliefs of all investors about future prospects. The efficient market hypothesis implies that it is not possible to consistently outperform the market — appropriately adjusted for risk — by using any information that the market already knows, except through luck or obtaining and trading on inside information. Information or news in the EMH is defined as anything that may affect stock prices that is unknowable in the present and thus appears randomly in the future. This random information will be the cause of future stock price changes.

Strategic Analysis Of First Choice Holidays Tourism Essay

Strategic Analysis Of First Choice Holidays Tourism Essay This report is based on the strategic analysis of First Choice Holidays PLC, one of the worlds leading package holiday companies. An analysis of the companys internal and external environments will be undertaken resulting in the researchers findings of the opportunities and threat that the industry faces. A look at the industrys competitive forces will determine show the profitability of different industries and the data found, analysed showing the different external competitive forces that affect organisation and how information can be used to counter them. A strategic analysis of the company will show the companys competitive and financial strength in which the companys strengths and weaknesses will be highlighted. A strategic fit which will indicate whether the companys mission and strategies fits its internal capabilities and its external environment. 1.0 Market Environment Analysis of First Choice Holidays PLC 1.1 History First Choice Holidays PLC, trading name of TUI UK limited is part of the TUI Travel PLC Group of companies, one of the worlds leading travel companies, which operates in over 180 countries. The company boasts of having more than 30 million customers worldwide in 27 key source markets such as the United States, Italy, France, India and the United Kingdom. In addition to First Choice Holidays, the company has over 200 brands which are comprised of market leading mainstream brands and specialist brands. The company operates in four sectors: Mainstream this is the largest sector in terms of the companys financial performance and employee numbers. It comprises of leading tour operators and power brands as well as it operates 146 aircraft and serves 22 million customers. Activity this sector has over 40 activity travel businesses that operate under five divisions which are Marine, Adventure, Ski, Student and Sport. The adventure businesses take more customers to iconic adventure destinations than any other operator and serve 1.1 million customers. Specialist and Emerging markets this is an international portfolio of travel businesses focusing on specific destinations, premium travel experiences or particular customer demographic segments, often with differentiated and exclusive products. Accommodations and Destinations this sector sells and provides a range of services in destination to tour operators, travel agents, corporate clients and direct to consumers worldwide. Some services include hotel accommodations, cruise handling and round trips for customers. TUI Travel operates its headquarters from the U.K and employs approximately 50,000 people in over 200 travel businesses in the world. First Choice Holidays PLC, formerly Owners Abroad (Wholesale) Limited and Owners Abroad PLC was formed in 1973. After launching an airline, Air2000, the company moved into Specialist holidays. The company was restructured and rebranded into First Choice Holidays PLC after several acquisitions and joint ventures with various tour companies and cruise liners. The group then structured itself into four sectors: Mainstream, Activity, Specialist and Online Destination Services before the merger with TUI Travel PLC in 2007. First Choice was awarded the Most Environmentally Responsible Large Tour Operator (2007-2009) from the British Travel Awards. 1.2 Vision and Strategic Goal Since First Choice merged with TUI Travel, it shares the same vision and strategic goals. The companys vision statement is Making Travel Experiences Special. The companys strategic goals are to create superior shareholder value by being the leading global leisure travel group providing its customers with the widest choice of differentiated and flexible travel experiences to meet their changing needs and focusing their strategic initiatives for profitable growth. These include developing the companys business model, continuous efficiency improvements and development of growth opportunities. 1.3 PEST Analysis According to G. Johnson et al. in the text Exploring Corporate Strategy, PEST stands for Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal. It provides a comprehensive list of influences on the possible success or failure of particular strategies that First Choice may face or is facing at present. Political With the governments hiking of aviation taxes and Air Passenger Duty (APD), this causes airline tickets to be expensive, therefore discouraging prospective customers from choosing the package holiday company. Political unrest in some countries may cause customers to decide on not travelling to that particular destination out of fear for their safety. Impact on individual of anti-terror measures likely to increase inconvenience of some travel options. The governments Fuel Price escalator is a way of government making money while protecting the environment by discouraging people to travel less. The May 2010 British elections caused political instability with certain actions destabilising the whole of Europe. The government can form new regulations under which these companies can operate which may or may not be positive. Economical The current inflation rate of the U.K is 3.1% which affects air fares, clothing, food etc. With the rise in petrol fuel which increased by 3% above inflation, customers are feeling the pinch of this and are less likely to choose taking a vacation with any package holiday company. The unemployment rate is at 7.7% which lowered by 0.1% over the last quarter. Having a rise in employment will raise confidence in consumer spending. The UK Pound Sterling Exchange Rate has shown recent developments which are indeed very much favourable for the citizens of the U.K. travelling abroad. At present the UK Pound Sterling Exchange Rate has posted the UK Pound Sterling at nearly double the worth of the US Dollar, which means that when British citizens travel to the U.S. they will be able to draw double bargains for their moneys worth.   Social The number of people purchasing on the internet has been on a constant rise. In 2009, 18.31million U.K households have access to the internet. In a survey it was found that 69% of U.K households use the internet to purchase services related to travel accommodation. Increased popularity of foreign travel leading leads to a boom in demand for air travel. However, this has been adversely affected by international terrorism which causes concern for the safety and security of future package-holiday makers. The interaction between tourists and the chosen host community can be one of the factors that may affect a community as tourists may not be sensitive to local customs, traditions and standards. Peoples life style changes cause package holiday companies to now offer customised packages and online booking facilities to meet customer expectations. Technological Today more companies are choosing to broadcast their products via the internet. Online booking has been one of the biggest factors affecting the package holiday industry. U.K residents are now constantly using the internet to book their holiday trips which saves on time for them as well as providing convenience. Advertising on the internet has been proven to boost sales for companies; more and more people are using the internet as a way to communicate their needs and wants to the outside world. 1.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis Figure 1. The Five Forces That Shape Industry Competition First Choice is in a very dynamic and competitive industry, the Porters Five Forces Model was created to show the profitability of different industries. This model is used for analysing the different external competitive forces that affect organisation and how information can be used to counter them. The following is an analysis using the model: Threat of New Entrants First Choice has direct ownership of its own airline and hotels. New entrants may not have the capital for such an investment and therefore may depend on external airlines and hotels to provide their customer with a service. New competitors may not possess the know-how or have the necessary experience to begin operating a package holiday business. Government regulations provides a list of rules that new competitors have to take into consideration before beginning operation, some of which may pose a problem for beginners in this industry. In an already highly competitive market, there will be the issue of pricing to new competitors. Pricing packages in a way that it may be attractive for holiday travellers without being too low so that it may end up running at a loss. Threat of Substitute Products or Services First Choices main competitor, Thomas Cook, has dropped its prices to compete with them for lowest priced package holidays. If successful, customers may be lead to choose that company and divert from the services of First Choice. Competitors may not possess assets such as its own airline or hotel but offers the same services at a cheaper cost. Destinations that the company may not have package deals for, other competitors may provide causing prospective customers to switch to the competitors services. Bargaining Power of Buyers Buyers can dictate the price of package holidays being that the industry is a highly competitive one. Buyers have a lot more choices on package holiday services to choose from. Market research has shown that buyers are taking fewer 7/14 night packages causing package holiday companies to attempt differentiation and specialisation of certain package deals to cater to those who take shorter trips. The threat of buyers going directly to suppliers is possible. The purchasing of airplane tickets from the airline and the booking of accommodation is an imminent threat to the industry. Convenience is key for todays buyers. With the internet customers would choose the company which can provide the complete package holiday service without leaving the comfort of their homes. Bargaining Power of Suppliers If oil prices rise, suppliers of fuel for the airlines may raise their prices. Fuel suppliers can dictate prices for their product depending on the demand for flights. Taxes applied to the cost price of fuel can affect the cost of package holiday deals. Suppliers will have high negotiation powers for those package companies now entering the market but for those experienced and large companies such as First Choice or Thomas Cook, there will be a balance of power. Rivalry Among Existing Competitors Thomas Cook, the main competitor for First Choice and parent Company TUI Travel, has joined with the company offering cheap package deals which increased the already existing price competition. First Choice was combined with its sister company Thomson award winning airline Thomson Airline to be one of the top package holiday airline in the UK which is acquiring the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which meant it will be a fifth more fuel efficient than its competitors Flybe and Thomas Cook Airlines. Thomas Cook offers a range of financial services that First Choice does not which includes foreign exchange services, their own prepaid currency card and the recent innovation of creating an app for the Iphone and Android phones. 1.5 Industry Life Cycle Figure 2. Industry Life Cycle Source: http://alife4testing.co.uk/ This model is used to showcase which stage the package holiday industry is at current. The industry is currently in the Shakeout stage of the lifecycle. The barriers to entry are currently high, economies of scale have been achieved, forcing smaller companies to be acquired by bigger companies such as TUI Travel and Thomas Cook or exiting all together. 1.6 Critical Success Factors (CSFs) The Critical Success Factors of the package holiday industry will highlight the key factors that present and upcoming companies should focus on that will bring satisfactory results, therefore ensuring successful competitive performance. Creating a consolidated market Combining companies or products into one provides opportunities for significant cost savings as well as revenue synergies. Having more direct ownership of airlines and accommodation suppliers. Having successful product differentiation will attract more customers from segments such as university students. To raise awareness, influence choice, change behaviour, and develop and promote new products to encourage responsible holiday choices. Maximised web sales and content. 1.7 Opportunities and Threats of the Market Environment Having analysed the market environment of the industry, the following will highlight the various opportunities and threats the market faces. INDUSTRY Opportunity Threat To consolidate the market by taking over smaller companies. The opportunity to come up with new innovative products/services because of the changing consumer market. To build new capital to purchase assets such as aeroplanes and cruise ships, reducing dependency of suppliers with that mode of transport. New mergers and strategic alliances to promote the maximisation of synergy profits. To maximise on the use of the internet market, to make it more interactive for consumers. Low cost airline competitors such Ryanair and EasyJet has relatively low prices. Natural disasters that may occur at destinations or the home country. People owning foreign property wont be willing to take a full package holiday, just a cheap flight. People booking their holidays for themselves and not through the package holiday companies. Threat of terrorist attacks may change a customers perception on safety when travelling. Table 1. The Opportunities and Threats of the Package Holiday Industry Having analysed the market environment of the industry, this paper will now take a closer look at First Choice Holidays PLCs strategies which will explain the companys various operations and the resources to get it done. 2.0 Strategic Analysis of First Choice Holidays PLC Strategy is concerned with matching a firms resources and capabilities to the opportunities that arise in the external environment. The following shows the strategic analysis of First Choice and the tools used. 2.1 Value Chain Analysis of First Choice Holidays PLC A Value Chain Analysis describes the activities that take place in a business and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the business. Figure 3. Michael Porters Value Chain Model Source: http://www.12manage.com/images/picture_porter_value_chain.gif The following is the value chain analysis for First Choice Holidays PLC: Inbound Logistics Providing all working material for travel shops and tour operators. Printing of travel brochures. Liaising with suppliers of fuel for Thomson aircraft. Liaising with financial institutions for the supply of various foreign exchange currencies to be made available online and at First Choice travel shops. Communication with various hotels and other sources of accommodation. Hiring of security for airport parking facilities. Operations Booking and pre-payment of hotels and other sources of accommodations for clients at various destinations. Liaising with different tour operators, transport and excursion providers. Booking and pre-payment of excursions providers. Updating the travel website for online booking. Securing flights for various destinations. Liaising with insurance company, Mondial Assistance (UK) Ltd., for travel insurance for customers. Fuelling of aircraft for flights. Ensuring there is enough on board staff for flights. Outbound Logistics Distributing brochures to customers. Distribution of airline tickets or cruise ship passes to customers. Marketing and Sales Online booking as well as a pre-departure website for new and existing customers. The availability of 300 travel shops spread conveniently across the UK. Advertising of the company and airline by television and print also on the companys website. Call centre staff are readily available for customer support. The offering of special package deals at a lower price. Existing customers sharing their experiences about the company through word-of-mouth. Service The service of travel insurance for all customers. Airport parking so that customers can safely use their vehicles and park instead of hiring alternative transport to get them to the there. The service of Travellers cheques is provided to customers who want to purchase foreign currency. Seats on the plane can be reserved before customers travel, making it easier and more comfortable for a family to sit together. Car hires are organised for customers in need of transport during their holiday. Qualified child care-takers or nannies are provided to customers equipped with toys and other equipment from respected UK brands such as Crayola and Little Tikes. Firm Infrastructure The following departments make up First Choices company infrastructure. Sales Marketing Finance and Admin Human Resources Support Engineering and Research Operations IT and IS Human Resource Management Employees are trained to be knowledgeable about the industry and company. Training is done for employees so that they can assist customers with choosing the perfect holiday option for their budget. Nannies for baby-sitting services are trained and qualified with  NNEB/CACHE (or equivalent). Air hostesses are equipped with the necessary first aid and situation response training. Technology Development Continued development online booking and interactive websites such as the pre-departure site. Outbound dialler system was installed to automate the call-in service for agents, giving them guidance through the many services and products First Choice has to offer. A browser-based management information system enables management to access operational and business information to monitor how calls are made. Procurement Research on various locations for new accommodation according to customers needs and wants. Communication with vendors and other tour operators. Acquisition of the necessary technology needed to run the company. The purchasing of new aeroplanes for flights to more destinations at a greater speed. 2.2 The Strategic Capabilities of First Choice Holidays PLC An organisations strategic capabilities are its capacities, resources and skills that create a long-term competitive advantage. The following shows the strategic capability of First Choice. 2.2.1 Resources and Competences Resources Competences Threshold Capabilities Threshold resources Tangible 300 travel shops in the U.K 14,000 employees Airline First Choice Airways Expedition cruise ships Over  £2 billion in assets Intangible 4th largest package holiday company Brand strength Owner of several market leading brands such as 2wentys Falcon Online booking website State of the art communication systems (MO Communicator) A contributor to an  £13.8 billion revenue Threshold competences Deployment of travel shops in various key areas in the U.K. To create a market leading presence in the Russian market through joint ventures The introduction of Microsoft Office Communicator to implement an IP-based voice network to deliver better customer service. Enhancing customers experience online by ways of after-sales services Investments such as yachts, aeroplanes and expedition cruise ships that provide First Choice with a greater competitive advantage. Capabilities for competitive advantage Unique Resources Tangible Boeing 787 Dreamliner aeroplanes that are able to go greater distances and offers greater fuel efficiency. First Choice Holiday Village designed for families and a 5-star spa concept for couples. Intangible Powerful brand with the merger with the largest leisure company in the world. 37 years in the travel and leisure industry. Relationships with suppliers to retain 150 million bed nights per year. Core Competences Operational profitability which allows First Choice to respond to changes in the trading environment. Possessing profitable capacity by having individual flight allows the company to determine optimum seat capacity by each U.K airport and to ensure the most appropriate aircraft fleet size and type are maintained. Consolidation of aircraft fleet as a fuel conservation measure and to reduce the companys direct carbon footprint. Table 2. Resources and Competences of First Choice Holidays PLC 2.3 The Financial Analysis of First Choice Following a look at the companys resources and competences, a brief analysis of the company is needed to see where it stands in the industry. First Choice is a part of TUI Travel PLC, therefore shares in the groups profitability. Having merged with the group, First Choice has contributed to  £93million in synergy profits as well as the groups overall revenue of  £18.6billion. The following shows a break-down of the companys financial capability in the following areas in 2009: 2.3.1 Profitability Gross Profit Margin This is used to assess  a firms financial health by revealing the  proportion of money left over from revenues after accounting for the cost of goods sold. The companys Gross Profit Margin stood at 8.4% in 2009, an improvement of 1.1% of the previous year. This shows that the companys pricing strategies have been effective. Net Profit Margin This is used to show how much profit a company makes for every  £1 it generates in  revenue  or  sales.  The companys net profit margin stood at -0.77% which states which has improved over the previous year of -2.1%. Therefore this shows a rise in efficiency after all expenses and that have been considered. Return On Assets This gives an idea as to how efficient  management is  at using its assets to generate earnings. The company earned 0.3% from invested capital (assets) compared to 2008s -1.4% loss. As a result this shows the company is earning more money on less investment. Return on Equity This shows the amount of net income  returned  as a percentage  of shareholders equity. The company showed a 1.2% profit made from shareholder investments, a rise from the previous year -0.1%. Thomas Cook, the companys main competitor had a higher return at 2.37%. 2.3.2 Liquidity Current Ratio This is used to determine a companys ability to pay off its  short-terms debts obligations. The companys current ratio stands at 3:5 which means they can pay off its obligations should it become due at that point. Acid Test Ratio This indicates  whether a firm has enough short-term assets to cover its immediate liabilities without selling inventory. The company showed a ratio of 1:2 for 2009, which means that the company has enough liquid assets to cover an unexpected drawdown of liabilities. 2.3.3 Leverage or Debt Debt to Equity Ratio This indicates what proportion of equity and debt the company is using to finance its assets. The company showed a ratio of -3% which means that they were not aggressive in financing its growth with debt and has the ability to repay loans. Total Debt to Total Assets This is used to measure a companys financial risk by determining how much of the companys assets have been financed by debt. The company showed a ratio of 3:4 meaning that 75% of the companys assets are financed by the creditors or debt (and therefore 25% is financed by the owners). 2.3.4 Activity (see Appendix) Asset Turnover This shows the amount of sales generated for every dollars worth of assets. The company showed a ratio of 1.5 which means for every dollar in total asset spent they gain 1.5 in revenue compared to the industrys 0.34 ratio. Despite a drop in revenue, the company still remained profitable and above its competition. It is seen that the company has an edge and is inviting for any investor. The following shows the companies. The following shows the strengths and weaknesses of the First Choice. First Choice Holidays PLC Strengths Weaknesses One of the market leaders in the package holiday industry both domestically and globally. Technologically advanced, creating new ways using technology to make decisions on their own without going physically to an agent. Offers a wide range of comprehensive services that customers enjoy. Ability to consolidate the market. Inability to fully penetrate the Western market resulting in dependency on the European market for revenues. As at August 2010, there was a consistent decrease in bookings following the recurrence of airspace closures, the emergency budget and the UK weather. Accounting errors on the part of executives. 3.0 The Strategic Fit Analysis of First Choice Holidays PLC Strategic fit indicates how well the First Choice Holidays mission and strategies fit its internal capabilities and its external environment. First Choice is the 4th largest package holiday company in the UK. Its main competitors are Airtours, Thomas Cook and its sister company Thomson Holidays, currently Thomsons dominates the industry. According to Investopedia, competitive advantages give a company an edge over its rivals and an ability to generate greater value for the firm and its shareholders. The more sustainable the advantage, the more difficult it is for competitors to neutralize the advantage. It is the companys competitive advantage that allows it to earn excess returns for its members. Having a competitive advantage is important to First Choice because without it, the company will have no economic reason to exist and will just simply wither away. Through the analysis done in this essay, although First Choice is ranked as #4, it still holds an advantage on its competitors. First Choice used the strategy of backward integration, meaning the company purchased suppliers in order to reduce dependency. An example of this would be its own airline and the First Choice Holiday Village. The acquisition of new aeroplanes, the Boeing 787 Dreamliners, would prove to be a major advantage as consumers are now taking responsibility for the environment and with these aeroplanes; the company will showcase environmental performance by reducing their carbon emissions. Having these assets will give First Choice the advantage of delivering products or services of a higher value at a cheaper price, as a result gain cost leadership. Using the internet for online sales has maximised their profits also the company retained their customers while gaining new ones. The companys liquidity and financial situation is stable despite a drop in revenue in 2009, with that they are capable of market consolidation. An example of that would be the acquisition of C.I.T Holidays, a UK based company with extensive operations in Spain and Italy. First Choice has a long history within the industry along with experience. They have proven to be well prepared to any changing environment. The company has achieved high economies of scale because of its access to larger market allowing them to operate with greater geographical reach. They have the ability to create value for money to its customers and have shown to be innovative by way of creating differentiated products such as its pre-departure website, an after-sales service. 3.1 The SWOT Analysis of First Choice Holidays The SWOT Analysis provides information that is helpful in matching the firms resources and capabilities to the competitive environment it operates. First Choice Holidays PLC Strength One of the market leaders in the industry. Ability to offer differentiated products/services. Commitment to customer service. Wealth of knowledge of the industry. Backward Integration which made them spread across the value chain. Strong distribution channels, the strongest being online sales. Weakness A 13.5% reduction in package prices because of a decrease in sales as a result of the recession and events such as the volcano ash disruption in mid-April 2010. A loss of  £69million in revenue in 2009 compared to the year before. Opportunities Further expansion through acquisitions and mergers. With new mergers and alliances, an opportunity to create synergy profits arise. Threat Airlines and hotels are now offering package deals. Threat to Thomson Airlines from low cost airlines such as Ryanair. Terrorist threats or attacks will change customers perception of safety when travelling. In conclusion, First Choice Holidays PLC is strategically fit and has a high advantage over the competition. The company is seen to be attractive for investment, although their profits fell for the previous financial year and sister company Thomson Holiday still stands at number one, but with new products underway, there may be a positive change.

Coping with Grief :: essays research papers

Coping With Tragedy The recent incidents of terrorism have shocked, saddened and angered the nation, and left many people—both those directly and indirectly affected—wondering how to deal with the aftermath of such tragic events. This digest offers tips and information on taking care of yourself, helping others cope and talking to your children about violence. Reactions to a Traumatic Event Disasters such as the terrorist attacks that occurred today can result in extreme emotions including stress, helplessness, fear, irritability, anger, depression and grief. Although everyone deals with trauma and stress differently, there are some common reactions, including:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recurring thoughts or nightmares about the event  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Difficulty sleeping or changes in appetite  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anxiety and fear, especially when exposed to events or situations reminiscent of the trauma  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feelings of depression, sadness and having low energy  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Memory problems including difficulty remembering aspects of the trauma  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Difficulty focusing on work or daily activities  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Spontaneous crying, feelings of despair and/or hopelessness  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Avoiding activities, places or even people who remind you of the event  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feeling emotionally â€Å"numb,† withdrawn, disconnected or different from others  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feeling extremely protective of, or fearful for, the safety of loved ones If you or a loved one are experiencing extreme symptoms of stress, depression, grief or anger, consult a professional such as your doctor or Employee Assistance Program (EAP) immediately for help (Magellan LifeResources can be reached at 866/266-2376). Additionally, many temporary shelters offer free counseling services to victims—or referrals to professionals who can provide further assistance. In addition, consider the following tips:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reach out to supportive friends and family for comfort and guidance.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Be patient and give yourself plenty of time to recover and rest.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Try to maintain a nutritious diet to keep your energy up.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Focus on your breathing—deep, slow breaths will help calm you. Keep in mind that emotional and physical reactions to a traumatic event may not appear immediately. Sometimes they may appear hours, days or even weeks or months after the event. The signs and symptoms of a stress reaction may last a few days, a few weeks, months or possibly longer depending on the severity of the event. According to the American Psychological Association, individuals who are unable to regain control of their lives, or who experience the symptoms above for more than a month, should consider seeking professional mental health assistance. How Children React to Trauma How a child responds to a tragic event will vary depending on a child’s age, personality and maturity level—and how directly he or she was involved with the tragedy.

Nick Carraway as Honest Liar in Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby Essay

Nick Carraway as Honest Liar in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" (Fitzgerald Gatsby 64). So writes Nick Carraway in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, characterizing himself in opposition to the great masses of humanity as a perfectly honest man. The honesty that Nick attributes to himself must be a nearly perfect one, by dint of both its rarity and its "cardinal" nature; Nick asserts for himself that he is among the most honest people he has ever encountered. Events in the book, however, do not bear this self-characterization out; far from being among the most honest people in world, Nick Carraway is in fact a proficient liar, though he never loses his blind faith in his own pure honesty.    First, Fitzgerald's choice of the word "suspects" indicates, and almost guarantees, a certain uncertainty about that suspicion; the fact that these are fallible (and often self-deceiving) human beings making observations about themselves make that uncertainty even greater. The fact that "everyone" believes to be one of the "few" holders of a cardinal virtue solidifies the matter; simply put, excepting either an unrealistically optimistic view of human nature or an extremely broad definition of "the cardinal virtues", it is simply impossible to accept that all human beings everywhere exemplify one of the cardinal virtues of humanity. Some people must not have the cardinal virtue they suspect of themselves. Nick, however, seems to forget this fact at the colon and starkly asserts, "I am one of the few honest people I have ever known" (64). The choice of "am" is very important here;... ...themselves. Even when confronted with a disproof of his perfectly honest nature, as Jordan does late in the novel, Nick responds with an appeal to his belief in his own honesty-his myth about himself is that sacred. Much like Gatsby's self-image, Nick's belief in his own honesty seems to spring from the Platonic conception of honesty, and, much like Gatsby, he simply ignores or rationalizes away anything that comes into conflict with his belief. Nick Carraway is far from one of the few honest narrators I have ever read, but he is a testament to the powers of self-deception that exist in both fictional and non-fictional human beings. "Everyone suspects himself of one of the cardinal virtues," Nick says, and as Nick himself demonstrates, nearly everyone is wrong. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner Paperback Fiction: New York, 1991.

Chemistry Percent Composition Report

Percent Composition Report Hypothesis: By using seperation techniques properly, the 3 substance such as; water, sand, and salt can be seperated and the percent composition of each substance. Which will then be calculated theoritically and after comparison with the actual result, the accuracy of the 2 result can be found. Aim: The aim of this experiment is to compare the gravimetric result of the original mixture and the separated substance. The other objective is to calculate each percent composition of the substance that was in the mixture.Introduction: Percent composition is about calculating the percentage of a specific substance in a mixture or compound. It is used mostly to calculate the percentage of an element in a compound using moles. To find percent composition in a mixture, the first thing need to be done is by using separation technique to separate the substances. In this experiment, by knowing that salt is soluble in water and salt do not, determining the technique that is to be used is not a difficulty anymore.Finding composition is also important in daily lives, such as finding impurities in a material such as gold. People have found that most golds are not completely composed of gold, but it is also composed of other elements which becomes an alloy. It involves basic mathematical calculation, but the percentage that is found can be beneficial for the researcher depending on his intentions on what to do with it. Materials: -Mixtures of sand and salt -Aquades -Filter paper – Filter tunnel -Filtration apparatus -Stirer -Wired gauze -Beaker Procedure:The beaker, evaporating disk, filter paper, and the mixture is weighted using the provided equipment -Water is then added into the mixture which was in the beaker -The whole mixture that was poured by water is stired -The equipments for filtration was prepared -The mixture was poured to the filter paper and was allowed to be filtered -The sand residue was taken to the heater device to be heated o vernight -Equipments for the evaporation process is prepared beforehand -The filtrate was then heated, resulting only the salt as the water evaporizes -The sand was then weighted after a night Results : Object name Mass (grams) Beaker 60Beaker + Mixtures 86. 3 Beaker + Mixtures+Water 102. 7 Water 16. 4 Mixtures 26. 3 Filter paper 0. 5 Evaporating disk 34. 8 Crystallized Salt 0. 87 Analysis : Sand + salt + water = 25. 74 grams % composition: % of salt: % of sand: % of Water : Discussions: -Gravimetric analysis can only be applied on the experiment if it involves mearusing the mass of the objects or substances that are used in the process -The cause of inaccuracy in this experiment could be the wrong measurement of the water added, the salt substance that didn’t get soluted by the water because of the amount of the salt is more that the solubility rate of water can take. avoid inaccuracy in the records, precise measurements of every single thing is required, concentration on th e process, and correct mathematical calculations. Conclusion: Even if the inaccuracy of the gravimetric analysis is inevitable, the percent composition that can be pulled through the calculation gives us a better picture of how much each substance is in a mixture. Correct separation techniques are also used, which means separation process affects the result greatly.

British Literature Essay

Literature is one of the most effective ways to protest against the society, iniquities in this society. From early times writers and poets used rhythms and stories for ridiculing the upper class of a society. Why do poets use poems to tell about social injustices? The answer is simple. This way a poet can catch and hold the reader’s attention, his emotions. Usually poets in their works present facts in order to capture attention of many people. These are not new facts that are presented to an audience. From early times poets used the words effectively to make people think about the situation and make want them to act in order to change the present state of things. Poets and writers know the exact words and phrases that can influence people’s attitude to this or that situation so that they start acting. Poems are always aimed to reach feelings of people and thus, to pull strings. Literature of every state shows all the complexity of every epoch. When the situation is the same at several countries, it has a worldwide significance. Before talking about poetry, we should answer the question: What is poetry? Poetry is a special way of describing situations, things, ideas, feelings. Poets present their ideas in short phrases. They use rhythm to emphasize their feelings and ideas. Besides, a poet can appeal to reader’s emotions via poems. That is why a poem is easily remembered. A poem can be compared to a photograph as it reflects real life, real situations and feelings. In a poem a poet captures the exact moment and represents it the way he/she has seen it. When you read a poem you see the poet’s subjective evaluation of facts, situations and the epoch in general. Poets of Romantic Movement wrote their poems to share their feelings. They wrote to help people understand their time from the poet’s point of view. This paper is about Romantic Movement in Great Britain. It is devoted to William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, William Blake, Robert Burns, Mary Wollstonecraft and Joanna Baillie who became a radical group in British literature of their epoch. In the paper special attention is paid to the use of lyric poetry (ballads) and blank verse in poetry of the nineteenth century. British poetry. â€Å"The poem on the page is only a shadow of the poem in the mind. And the poem in the mind is only a shadow of the poetry and the mystery of the things of this word.†   Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Stanley Kunitz Before analyzing the British poetry of the nineteenth century it is necessary to mention the changes in political, industrial, scientific and cultural spheres of life of that time and caused the changes in British literature having challenged the standards of form and structure in poetry. From 1776 the American and French Revolutions and later the Industrial Revolution astounded Great Britain and Europe and caused disturbances among people. In the second half of the century Charles Darwin published Origins of Species and The Descent of Man that caused the revolution in scientific thought. This was an unrest period and people were forced to evaluate their values and beliefs again. There is no wonder that the British poets changed their world outlook. The first stage of Romanticism in English literature began in 1790s. William Blake was the first major poet who reacted to these changes. His poems were far from standard patterns. The poetry of Blake is characterized by long, unrhymed lines, a steady interplay of opposites (Damrosch 458). A metaphor can be found in titles of Blake’s works. For instance, his series of poems: Songs of Innocence in 1789 and Songs of Experience in 1794; The Marriage of Heaven and Hell etc. Blake believed that opposites are integral parts of life. He wrote about things that we too often forget making the reader look at events from another point of view. Blake tried to use the joy of words. He used figurative language to describe things in an unusual, in a completely new way breaking down the traditions in poetry of his time. Blake’s beginnings were supported by the efforts of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. They have written a collection of poems, anonymously authored, famous for its poems and its preface, entitled Lyrical Ballads in 1798. In the preface a poet deems that poems must regard ‘situations from life’ in ‘the everyday language’. Wordsworth describes poetry as ‘the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings’. This expression was the manifesto of the Romantic Movement in poetry presenting revolutionary idea for that time. Moreover, the poet emphasizes on the avoidance of artificial poetic style. He believes language must be understandable and enjoyable for ordinary people. Lyrical Ballads is one of the most significant books which became a major change in the history of English poetry (Damrosch 462). Poems from the collection are written in simple, everyday language. They are concentrated on the appreciation of the power of nature, examination of human personality, inner feelings, emotions and thought with an emphasis on imagination. Lyrical Ballads starts from Coleridge’s long poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner and continues with poems manifesting the nature appreciation, the superiority of emotions and feelings over reason. The romance emphasizes individuality, beauty of nature contrasting to formality and artificiality of the standards in poetry of that epoch. A collection contains Tintern Abbey, The Idiot Boy and other controversial poems of Wordsworth written in everyday language. Poets used an every day language before, thus, they did not use it so that they broke down the rules and standards. Samuel Taylor Coleridge is famous for marvelous The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and the ‘conversation poems’, for example, Frost at Midnight and This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison, as well as for his unfinished works Christabel and Kubla Khan, which is like an obsession that haunts your mind (Damrosch 466). Dorothy Wordsworth, William’s sister, is an English prose writer. Her famous Alfoxden Journal and invaluable Gramere Journals were published in 1897. Her works are full of imagination while describing nature and personalities of unusual qualities. Dorothy’s prose is sudden, clear and natural. You may disagree with her ideas or conclusions. However, the writer could possibly say that it is enough that a reader reflects on her ideas. William Wordsworth wrote many short poems which were aimed at breaking down neoclassical verse. He included new poems in the second edition of the collection – The Brothers and Michael. In his works the author tries to speak about life truthfully sharing his feelings with a reader. Sometimes they share ideas, sometimes – a question. These poems and marvelous lyrics were written in his great decade. Thus, the most famous poem of William Wordsworth is his autobiographical philosophical poem The Prelude. This is a spiritual autography in which the author puts questions of philosophical value, about the purpose of his existence, of his value as a poet. In this work William Wordsworth is the major hero. The author places imagination on the first place among human talents. This work is better to call an epic as it consists of 8000 lines and is separated into 14 books (Damrosch 471). It is necessary to mention Joanna Baillie, a poet and dramatist. She wrote plays in verse which were highly appreciated. However, she is famous largely for her first published work, a collection of lyrics Fugitive Verses in 1790. Another talented English writer is Mary Wollstonecraft. She is famous for her works about equality of women concerning education and social life. Mary Wollstonecraft was a member of a radical group together with William Blake and later William Wordsworth. All her life Mary Wollstonecraft remained a passionate defender of women rights. In her works she was bringing up a fulmination against social inequality of women. She wrote Thoughts on the Education of Daughters in 1787 and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which contains a fulmination and a plea concerning equality for women, in 1792. The second stage of Romanticism began in 1805 and was marked by appreciation of history value, attention to origins, to works of Renaissance time. One of the most noted poets of the second stage is George Gordon, Lord Byron. He put the poet in the central place and spoke about imagination in his works (Damrosch 458). Romantic Movement reached its high point of art in the works of Byron. In his poems he emphasizes the individual feelings, emotions of a person, not of several ones; expression of feeling opposes to morality and value of nature to a state. The works of Byron are unique and brilliant, his poetry is an outstanding event connected with the Epoch of Romanticism. When an artist puts paint on canvas, he/she attentively traces shapes and colours for attaining a needful effect. The same Byron does when he writes a poem – he arranges words so that a poem is simple and comprehensible. Byron uses language in unusual way: he chooses words for sound and meaning. He carefully selects and arranges each word to achieve the desirable sound and effect. His major hero is a romantic person who is out of the society. In his poems the author raises the question of immortality. Besides, his works are notable for their flippancy. In 1820s there was a third stage of Romanticism that spread romantic ideas in literature worldwide (Damrosch 458). Summarizing, the Romantic Movement in Britain has three stages; every of stages is famous for poets and their works. At this time poets broke with tradition and tried the relaxed rhythms, everyday language and imagination in their poems. Conclusion. The paper briefly analyzes the three stages of Romantic Movement in Great Britain in general and poets who contributed greatly to the poetry of their country in a more detailed way. Besides, the paper analyzes the peculiarities of literature of that epoch. Having examined the works of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, William Blake, Robert Burns, Mary Wollstonecraft and Joanna Baillie, it is clear it was a new generation of poets in the British literature. References: Damrosch D., Wolfson S. J., Manning P. J. (2005). The Longman Anthology of British Literature, Volume 2A: The Romantics and Their Contemporaries, Longman, 3rd Edition, 1120pp.