Financial Management Degree Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Financial Management Degree - Case Study Example As the acquirer buys another company and pays cash to the target's shareholders, the bidding shareholders would be able to retain the same level of control in the company because their equity proportion is not diluted. To some shareholders, retaining the level of control over the whole entity after the target company has been acquired is one of the major considerations (McDougall & Chenhall). Another advantage of cash purchase to the bidding shareholders is that is is simple and straightforward. A cash offer would be more likely attractive to the target's shareholders especially when economic times are not so predictable, therefore the acquisition deal would prove to have higher success. A major disadvantage to the acquirer would be the huge sum of cash that it has to raise in order to fulfil the deal. While it is less likely for a company to raise such a huge amount of cash from its retained earnings, it is necessary for the company to raise it through other means, such as by incurring debt. The dilution of the capital structure of the company through higher debt, which affects its risk and credit rating, is a major disadvantage. If the company already has a high amount of debt, the acquirer's shareholders would find that the huge amount of debt to raise cash and pay for the acquisition would erode the company's credit rating, and would increase the risk of each share that they hold. From the point of view of the target's ... B. Shares exchange Another form of merger financing is shares exchange. Instead of paying cash, the acquiring company can issue more shares for the target's shareholders in exchange for the shares that they hold in the target company. From the point of view of the acquirer's shareholders, shares exchange is beneficial in such that the company would not have to be burdened to raise a huge amount of cash through other financing means such as debt, which could put pressure and increased risk on each of the shares they hold. The company's liquidity position would not be compromised in the process (McDougall & Chenhall). Shares exchange have been so attractive during the past decades because of its impact on the acquirer's price/earning ratio. If the target has a low p/e ratio, the acquirer can take advantage of it by issuing one share equivalent to more than one share of the target's. This can have a significant impact on the acquirer's own p/e ratio. However, one major disadvantage of shares exchange to the acquirer's shareholders is the dilution of equity due to the issue of more shares, which leads to the dilution of position and lower level of control over the company. With shares exchange, the target's shareholders will not incur capital gains tax because no immediate sale of shares has taken place. If the target's shareholders sell their new shares in the acquiring company, that is when they pay the capital gains tax. This is one of the advantages. Another advantage is that the target's shareholders will be able to maintain a position in the new combined entity. One disadvantage to the target's shareholders would be that, if the acquiring company fails to generate

Share Holder Value Essay Example for Free

Share Holder Value Essay Public and private companies are under a great deal of pressure to create and sustain shareholder value by increasing both returns on capital and growth rates and company’s stock price or equity value. Share holders would like to associate with a firm whose stock prices are not depressed. Who is a Shareholder? A share holder can be defined as the owner of one or more shares of stock in a corporation, commonly also called a stockholder. The benefits of being a shareholder include receiving dividends for each share as determined by the Board of Directors, the right to vote (except for certain preferred shares) for members of the board of directors, to bring a derivative action (lawsuit) if the corporation is poorly managed, and to participate in the division of value of assets upon dissolution and winding up of the corporation, if there is any value. A shareholder should have his/her name registered with the corporation, but may hold a stock certificate which has been signed over to him/her. Before registration the new shareholder may not be able to cast votes represented by the shares. (Enhancing share holder value, Dr William . e. Broxterman Chairman/CEO Chemquest Group,unc). Shareholder value is a business term, which implies that the ultimate measure of a companys success is to enrich shareholders. It became popular during the 1980s, and is particularly associated with former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch. ( In March 2009), Welch openly turned his back on the concept, calling shareholder value the dumbest idea in the world. The term used in several ways: To refer to the market capitalization of a company (rarely used) * To refer to the concept that the primary goal for a company is to increase the wealth of its shareholders (owners) by paying dividends and/or causing the stock price to increase * To refer to the more specific concept that planned actions by management and the returns to shareholders should outperform certain bench-marks such as the cost of capital concept. In essence, the idea that shareholders’ money should be used to earn higher returns than they could earn themselves by investing in other assets having the same amount of risk. The term in this sense was introduced by Dr Alfred Rappaport in 1986. ) In (1981, Jack Welch made a speech in Hotel Pierre, New York City called) ‘Growing fast in a slow-growth economy’ (8. 12. 1981) this is often acknowledged as the dawn of the obsession with shareholder value. Welchs stated aim was to be the biggest or second biggest market player, and to return maximum value to stockholders. Strategic planning In today’s fast-changing, often business environment, formal systems for strategic planning have become one of top management’s principal tools for evaluating and coping with uncertainty. One of the key roles of Board of directors is to approve and adopt the strategic and annual business plans, the setting of objectives and review of key risk and performance areas. Corporate board members are also showing increasing interest in ensuring that the company has adequate strategies and that these are tested against actual results. While the organizational dynamics and the sophistication of the strategic planning process vary widely among companies, the process almost invariably culminates in projected (commonly five-year) financial statements. This enables top managers and the board to review and approve strategic plans in the same terms that the company reports its performance to shareholders and the financial community. Under current practice the projected financial statements, particularly projected earnings per share performance, commonly serve as the basis for judging the attractiveness of the strategic or long-term corporate plan. The conventional accounting-oriented approach for evaluating the strategic plan does not, however, provide reliable answers to such basic questions as: †¢ Will the corporate plan create value for shareholders? If so, how much? †¢ Which business units are creating value and which are not? †¢ How would alternative strategic plans affect shareholder value? Managing shareholder value This management principle, also known under value based management, states that management should first and foremost consider the interests of shareholders in its business decisions. As shareholder value is difficult to influence directly by any manager, it is usually broken down in components, so called value drivers. A widely used model comprises 7 drivers of shareholder value, giving some guidance to manage. These drivers are, * Revenue, the amount of money that is brought into a company by its business activities. In the case of government, revenue is the money received from taxation, fees, fines, inter-governmental grants or transfers, securities sales, mineral rights and resource rights, as well as any sales that are made. * Operating Margin, the ratio used to measure a companys pricing strategy and operating efficiency, if a companys margin is increasing, it is earning more per dollar of sales. The higher the margin, the better. Can be calculated as: Operating margin=Operating Income/Net Sales. * Cash Tax Rate, the cash a company pays to governments as a percentage, while looking at an unlevered company. * Incremental Capital Expenditure, additional cash invested by a firm in its long term assets in order to generate a dollar of new sales. * Investment in Working Capital, a measure of both a companys efficiency and its short-term financial health. The working capital ratio is calculated as, working apital=current assets-current liabilities * Cost of Capital, equity and debt capital and the related discount rate. * Competitive Advantage Period, advantage over competitors by offering consumers better value either through greater benefits or lower prices. Share holder value, and the Economic value concept The value that a shareholder is able to obtain from his/her investment in a company ,is made up of capital gains, dividend payments, and proceeds from buy back programs and any other payouts that a firm might make to a shareholder. In other words share holder returns exceed the required return to equity, and the company is deemed to have exceeded the required expectation. Share holder value in recent years is being measured using the Economic Value Added Concept (EVA), a measure of a companys financial performance based on the residual wealth calculated by deducting cost of capital from its operating profit (adjusted for taxes on a cash basis). Share holder value, and the WACC concept Investors use WACC as a tool to decide whether to invest. The WACC represents the minimum rate of return at which a company produces value for its investors. Lets say a company produces a return of 20% and has a WACC of 11%. That means that for every dollar the company invests into capital, the company is creating nine cents of value. By contrast, if the companys return is less than WACC, the company is shedding value, which indicates that investors should put their money elsewhere. It measures a trend of improving or declining share holder value and it helps managers to focus on projects, businesses, product lines and activities yielding more than a firms weighted average cost of capital WACC (The return that both debt holders and equity holders expect, WACC, in other words, represents the investors opportunity cost of taking on the risk of putting money into a company. Investors use WACC as a tool to decide whether to invest. The WACC represents the minimum rate of return at which a company produces value for its investors. Lets say a company produces a return of 20% and has a WACC of 11%. That means that for every dollar the company invests into capital, the company is creating nine cents of value. Current value of a business is fairly expressed by the share price, there fore increasing EVA should move prices upwards. This means an earning return greater than its cost of capital. Value creation for shareholders through strategic acquisition Acquisitions have known to create value for share holders, however this has to be done strategically, for example in the study of industry acquisitions in 1998(1999 The Chemquest Group. Inc) describing the adhesives industry, such acquisitions have integrated a number of companies in to a single unit with a positive EVA have added significant value and enhanced shareholder value of the company. In order for an acquisition to create share holder value it must generate a positive NPV. In other words it behaves the same as a capital investment. By carrying assets that maximize long term value of the firm for example outsourcing activities such as manufacturing. Dell investments are involved extensively in marketing but out sources distribution, inventory and manufacturing. Also hiring of employees should be strategic. Share holder value and capital structure design Share holders wealth can be improved with increasing leverage by using more debt in place of equity and or dealing judiciously with debt and equity, designing a capital structure that will reduce WACC and increase the value of the firm. This is based on the fact that the composite cost of debt lies between the least expensive debt and the more expensive equity. This approach enables the maximization of corporate profits and shareholders equity. By keeping an eye on the capital market for the firm, the Financial Manager should keep an eye on capital markets for the firm, substituting methods for more effective ones which can improve the firms value and so the shareholder value. Areas such as interest on loans and normal dividend rates as dictated by the market should be examined for decisions. Share holder value and expansion and diversification A company can increase shareholders wealth by diversifying for example addition of a new product line. When BOC gases wanted to expand its business there was consideration by the board for an acquisition of a business in a similar industry, Carbacid. Although this did not succeed, the focus to grow through this product is still on and there is a plan to buy a carbon dioxide mining well. Nakumat seeks sh 1 billion for expansion and is talking with commercial banks for a syndicated loan. The loan is a long term five year loan to be used for stocking new branches recently opened in Rwanda Kigali( Business Daily pg 23). Share holder value and replacement and modernization Finlay Kenya in kericho the tea producing company has replaced a large number of manual labor, with machinery for plucking tea leaves; in a bid to modernize the labor market, to improve on productivity and to reduce labor costs and there fore shareholder value. Boc gases is evaluating an investment for an additional air separation in order to improve performance of machinery (Annual Report 2007). As a firm continues to grow, it may consider improving its retail centers, availing information to customers , displaying sales ware while encouraging caller customers to come and buy the goods in the retail shop. Investors Africa transformation fund, are trying out new methods to tap Africa Agriculture aimed at double digit returns with programmes to boost food production. ( Top News Business Daily pg 3 Dec 6 2010). Share holder value and investment decision rule Through sound capital budgeting techniques, a firm may come up with appraisal techniques to measure economic worth of an investment project for example, coming up with an unambiguous way of separating good projects from bad projects, ranking projects according to profitability, and choosing amongst a number of projects, the project that maximizes wealth. Investment decision can be divided into long-term and short-term decisions and techniques. Capital investment decisions are long-term choices about which projects receive investment, whether to finance that investment with equity or debt, and when or whether to pay dividends to shareholders. On the other hand, short term decisions deal with the short-term balance of current asses and current liabilities; the focus here is on managing cash, inventories, and short-term borrowing and lending (such as the terms on credit extended to customers), for example treasury has signed up for a new World Bank fronted bonds trading plan, which should help the central bank in diversifying its forex reserve mix and cushion the shilling against wild swings(professor Njuguna Central Bank of Kenya Governor, Business Daily Dec 6). Share holder value and discounted/non discounted cash flow methods By recognizing that bigger and early cash flows are preferred, the shareholders value can be improved. Using discounted cash flow methods such as NPV and PI. When NPV is +ve, the project should be accepted and when it is –ve it should be rejected. In the decision rule for profitability where PI is less than 1, then the project should be rejected while where PI is greater than 1 then the project should be accepted. In the non-discounted cash flow method, projects with higher ARR are preferable. In order to make the right investment decision, it is important that the project is thoroughly analyzed using available tools, remembering that the resources are minimal and can not be wasted. Increasing or liquidating part of shareholding This can be achieved by shareholders taking up shares and so increasing their investment in the business, or selling their rights and liquidate part of their investment. In theory, share splits have a positive effect on the shareholders wealth because they encourage beneficial price movements. This should be in line with the dividend policy. Cash cycle and cash management Firms should ensure that there is a match between accounts payable and accounts receivables and that payment to creditors is delayed while receivables are collected earlier. These may seem like daily chores but can cost the shareholder dearly if poorly managed. Many firms have closed down because of not managing accounts receivables appropriately. Summary In summary Strategies selected in creating share holder values should be strategic in the real sense. Strategies selected will usually cover three to five years and will incorporate the big picture. Strategies of substance that have been tested will ensure that the right programs for growth of the firms share value are selected and implemented.

Thesis on a Tale of Two Cities :: essays research papers

Charles Dickens’s voice varies from being sympathetic with the revolutionaries, to a feeling of discord with their method of revolting. A Tale of Two Cities revolves around the French revolution and the tension in England. Dickens gives the tale of a family caught in the conflict between the French aristocracy and radicals. In the course of the book, the family handles extreme difficulty and obscurity. Dickens’s neutrality, though sometimes wavering from side to side, is apparent throughout each book in the novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book, Dickens portrays his objectivity between the classes through a series of graphic descriptions. For example, the horrid events that occur when the Marquis murders the child is a time when Dickens most definitely favors the rebels. Dickens’s attitude when Jacques kills the Marquis is that justice has been supplied. There is a definite tone of approval in his voice after these actions. On the other hand, Dickens’s attitude towards the mutineers is not always one of endorsement. When the activists nearly kill Gabelle and burn the Chateau, Dickens’s attitude changes from one of approval to one of disbelief. His disposition is almost one of sorrow for all the beauty being carelessly destroyed. As the reader can see, Dickens’s opinion varies greatly in accordance to the portion of the story the person is reading.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Possibly, to find the clearest image of Dickens’s neutrality, the reader needs to gain a larger view of the tale.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the reader sees a broader picture, a pattern emerges. Dickens, in each book, gives the tale in favor of the different parties, showing his indifference to the outcome of each party. Thus while the reader may form feelings towards the revolutionaries, Dickens stays unmoved by both causes and relates the story accordingly. This way of showing Dickens’s apathy once again proves that Dickens is only partial to either side in certain portions of the book.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Perhaps the clearest illustration of Dickens’s neutrality is located in the very first sentence of the novel. He shows his neutrality through the description â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .(7).† This unusually comparative sentence single-handedly starts the book with a feeling of un-bias. In the final chapter of the book, six carriages carry â€Å"the days wine† (people) to La Guillotine to be be-headed (374). In this passage, Dickens shows his remorse for what is done. He gives hint that the common-folk were once a good people who are perverted by the aristocracy, and given the same conditions will be perverted again.

Education System Comparison Between Usa and Latvia Essay

Introduction Everyone knows that in nowadays there are many possibilities and ways to learn, but in Latvia this is very topical theme right now. Many of the high school graduates want to learn abroad. And I do not think that this is good, because like about half of the students or people that go to learn abroad, never comes back to the native country. That is why I have chosen this topical theme. I am going to study educational systems in these countries. I am going to poll some of the 12th grade students about what are they thinking about learning in USA. I want to achieve that kind of position when a student reads my research project and especially the higher education in Latvia part he changes his mind and stays to learn here. My hypothesis for this Research Work is – the education systems in Latvia and in the USA are different and this is a reason why people in Latvia choose the USA for studies very often. The Aim of the Research Work is to compare the education systems in the USA and in Latvia and to find out middle school students opinion about studies in Latvia and in the USA. The main objectives of the Research Work are: †¢ To collect the information about educational system in Latvia †¢ To collect the information about educational system in the USA †¢ To make a questionnaire and analyze the results of middle school students opinion about studies in Latvia and in the USA Educational system in USA Education in the United States is provided mainly by government, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. School attendance is mandatory and nearly universal at the primary and secondary levels. At these levels, school curricula, funding, teaching, and other policies are set through locally elected school boards with jurisdiction over school districts. School districts are usually separate from other local jurisdictions, with independent officials and budgets. Educational standards and standardized testing decisions are usually made by state governments. The age for compulsory education vary by state, beginning at the age five to eight and ending at the age of fourteen to eighteen. A growing number of states are now requiring school attendance until the age of 18.[6] 1.1 Preschool There are no mandatory public prekindergarten or crà ¨che programs in the United States. The federal government funds the preschool program for children of low-income families, but most families are on their own with regard to finding a preschool or childcare. In the large cities, there are sometimes upper-class preschools catering to the children of the wealthy.[6] 1.2 Elementary and Secondary Education Schooling is compulsory for all children in the United States, but the age range for which school attendance is required varies from state to state. Most children begin elementary education with kindergarten (usually five to six years old) and finish secondary education with twelfth grade (usually eighteen years old). In some cases, pupils may be promoted beyond the next regular grade. Some states allow students to leave school at the age of 14–17 with parental permission, before finishing high school. Most parents send their children to either a public or private institution. According to government data, one-tenth of students are enrolled in private schools. Approximately 85% of students enter the public schools, largely because they are â€Å"free† (tax burdens by school districts vary from area to area). Most students attend school for around six hours per day, and usually anywhere from 175 to 185 days per year. Most schools have a summer break period for about two and half months from June through August. This break is much longer than in many other nations. Originally, â€Å"summer vacation,† as it is colloquially called, allowed students to participate in the harvest period during the summer. However, this remains largely by tradition.[6] Parents may also choose to educate their own children at home; 1.7% of children are educated in this manner. 1.2.1 Junior high school Junior high school is any school intermediate between elementary school and high school. It usually includes seventh and eighth grade, and sometimes sixth or ninth grade. In some locations, junior high school includes ninth grade only, allowing students to adjust to a high school environment. Middle school is often used instead of junior high school when demographic factors increase the number of younger students. At this time, students are given more independence as choosing their own classes. Usually, starting in ninth grade, grades become part of a student’s official transcript. Future employers or colleges may want to see steady improvement in grades and a good attendance record on the official transcript. Therefore, students are encouraged to take much more responsibility for their education.[6] 1.3 Higher education Post-secondary education in the United States is known as college or university and commonly consists of four years of study at an institution of higher learning. There are 4,352* colleges, universities, and junior colleges in the USA. Students traditionally apply to receive admission into college, with varying difficulties of entrance. Schools differ in their competitiveness and reputation; generally, the most prestigious schools are private, rather than public. Admissions criteria involve the rigor and grades earned in high school courses taken, class ranking, and standardized test. Most colleges also consider more subjective factors such as a commitment to extracurricular activities, a personal essay, and an interview. While numerical factors rarely ever are absolute required values, each college usually has a rough threshold below which admission is unlikely.[2] *- January 2009. data from www.ed.gov Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate study, which consists of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a bachelor’s degree in a field of concentration known as a major. The most common method consists of four years of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or sometimes another bachelor’s degree such as Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.,) or Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.) Five-Year Professional Architecture programs offer the Bachelor of Architecture Degree (B.Arch.) Professional degrees such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, are offered as graduate study after earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a bachelor’s degree depending on the program. These professional fields do not require a specific undergraduate major, though medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry have set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrollment.[2] Some students choose to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. In most states, community colleges are operated either by a division of the state university or by local special districts subject to guidance from a state agency. Community colleges may award Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree after two years. Those seeking to continue their education may transfer to a four-year college or university. Some community colleges have automatic enrollment agreements with a local four-year college, where the community college provides the first two years of study and the university provides the remaining years of study, sometimes all on one campus. The community college awards the associate’s degree, and the university awards the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Graduate study, conducted after obtaining an initial degree and sometimes after several years of professional work, leads to a more advanced degree such as a master’s degree, which could be a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or other less common master’s degrees such as Master of Education (MEd), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA). After additional years of study and sometimes in conjunction with the completion of a master’s degree, students may earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or other doctoral degree, such as Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, or Doctor of Jurisprudence. Some programs, such as medicine, have formal apprenticeship procedures post-graduation like residency and internship wh ich must be completed after graduation and before one is considered to be fully trained. Other professional programs like law and business have no formal apprenticeship requirements after graduation.[3] Entrance into graduate programs usually depends upon a student’s undergraduate academic performance or professional experience as well as their score on a standardized entrance exam. Many graduate and law schools do not require experience after earning a bachelor’s degree to enter their programs; however, business school candidates are usually required to gain a few years of professional work experience before applying. Only 8.9 % of students ever receive postgraduate degrees, and most, after obtaining their bachelor’s degree, proceed directly into the workforce.[7] 1.4 Basic Curricular Structure Generally, at the high school level, students take a broad variety of classes without special emphasis in any particular subject. Curricula vary widely in quality and rigidity. The following subjects are fairly universally required in the United States: †¢ Science (usually two years minimum, normally biology, chemistry and physics) †¢ Mathematics (usually two years minimum, normally including algebra, geometry, algebra II, and/or trigonometry) †¢ English (usually four years minimum, including literature, humanities, etc.) †¢ Social Science (usually three years minimum, including various history, government/economics courses) †¢ Physical education (at least one year) Many states require a â€Å"health† course in which students learn about anatomy, nutrition, first aid, sexuality, and birth control. Anti-drug use programs are also usually part of health courses. In many cases, however, options are provided for students to â€Å"test out† or perform independent study in order to complete this requirement. Foreign language and some form of art education are also a mandatory part of the curriculum in some schools.[6] 1.5 Extracurricular activities A major characteristic of American schools is the high priority given to sports, clubs and activities by the community, the parents, the schools and the students themselves. Extracurricular activities are educational activities not falling within the scope of the regular curriculum but under the supervision of the school. These activities can extend to large amounts of time outside the normal school day; home-schooled students, however, are not normally allowed to participate. Student participation in sports programs, drill teams, bands, and spirit groups can amount to hours of practices and performances. Most states have organizations which develop rules for competition between groups. These organizations are usually forced to implement time limits on hours practiced as a prerequisite for participation. Many schools also have non-varsity sports teams, however these are usually afforded less resources and attention. The idea of having sports teams associated with high schools is relatively unique to the United States in comparison with other countries. Sports programs and their related games, especially football and/or basketball, are major events for American students and for larger schools can be a major source of funds for school districts. High school athletic competitions often generate intense interest in the community. Inner city schools serving poor students are heavily scouted by college and even professional coaches, with national attention given to which colleges outstanding high school students choose to attend. State high school championship tournaments football and basketball attract high levels of public interest. In addition to sports, numerous non-athletic extracurricular activities are available in American schools, both public and private. Activities include musical groups, marching bands, student government, school newspapers, science fairs, debate teams, and clubs focused on an academic area or cultural interests.[5] 1.6 Electives Many high schools offer a wide variety of elective courses, although the availability of such courses depends upon each particular school’s financial resources and desired curriculum emphases. Common types of electives include: †¢ Visual arts (drawing, sculpture, painting, photography, film) †¢ Performing arts (drama, band, chorus, orchestra, dance) †¢ Technology education (woodworking, metalworking, automobile repair, robotics) †¢ Computers (word processing, programming, graphic design) †¢ Athletics (cross country, football, baseball, basketball, track and field, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, water polo, soccer, wrestling, cheerleading, volleyball, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, boxing, skiing/snowboarding) †¢ Publishing (journalism/student newspaper, yearbook/annual, literary magazine) †¢ Foreign languages (Spanish, French are common; Chinese, Latin, Greek, German, Italian, Arabic, and Japanese are less common)[5] 1.7 Advanced Courses Many high schools provide Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These are special forms of honours classes where the curriculum is more challenging and lessons more aggressively paced than standard courses. AP or IB courses are usually taken during the 11th or 12th grade of high school.[6] 1.8 Home Schooling There was 1,3 million children that were home schooled in 2008, up 74% from 1999 when the US Department of Education first started keeping statistics. This was 2.9% of all children. Parents select moral or religious reasons for home schooling their children.[1] 1.9 School grades As you can see in the table (Table N.1), in the U.S. the first year of compulsory schooling begins with children at the age of five or six. Children are then placed in year groups known as grades, beginning with first grade and culminating in twelfth grade. Typical ages and grade groupings in public and private schools may be found through the U.S. Department of Education. Many different variations exist across the country.[2] For more foreseen scheme of education in USA see Appendix N.1. 1.10 Grading scale In schools in the United States children are continually assessed throughout the school year by their teachers, and report cards are issued to parents at varying intervals. Generally the scores for individual assignments and tests are recorded for each student in a grade book, along with the maximum number of points for each assignment. At any time, the total number of points for a student when divided by the total number of possible points produces a percent grade which can be translated to a letter grade. Letter grades are often used on report cards at the end of a marking period, although the current grade may be available at other times. Although grading scales usually differ from school to school, the grade scale which seems to be most common is as follows. The grading is based on a scale of 0-100 or a percentile. Note that in some jurisdictions the â€Å"D† grade (or that below 70) is considered a failing grade. In other jurisdictions a â€Å"D† grade is considere d passing in certain classes, and failing in others. If you need a concept of grading scale, see Table N.2.[6] Table N.2 Example grading scale in USA |E,N,U or F |D |C |B |A | | |- | |+ |- | |arodpamatskola |vocational basic school |9-year education may be |2 |no | | | |incomplete | | | |arodvidusskola |vocational secondary school|9-year education |3 |no | |arodgimnazija |vocational gymnasium |9-year education |4 |yes | |arodskola |vocational school |general secondary education |1-2 |no | | |(postsecondary) | | | | As it is seen from table (Table N.4), just one type of vocational schools – four year vocational gymnasium – concurrently to vocational training provide general secondary education and, consequently, access to higher education.[10] 2.8 Access to Higher Education In principle, access to higher education is general for all holders of general secondary education certificates. However, the institutions of higher education are free to determine which of the elective subjects must have been taken by the applicant at the secondary school in order to become eligible for admission to a chosen program. There are no fixed all-Latvian rules determining the admission system and it may differ between different institutions and even between different faculties of the same institution of higher education. The main forms of admission procedure may be as follows: †¢ 1 to 4 competitive entrance examinations; †¢ a competition of diplomas plus an interview by the Admission board, which may include general questions in subjects important to the chosen specialty; †¢ just a competition of diplomas (usually judging by the marks in subjects important to the chosen program and/or average mark in the secondary school certificate); †¢ knowledge of Latvian language is evaluated in these cases when the applicant has not had Latvian as the language of instruction in secondary school. An admission board consisting of staff members is formed in all higher educational institutions to carry out admission procedures in accordance with conditions announced at least 5 months before.[9] 2.9 Higher Education 2.9.1 Academic higher education (AkadÄ“miskÄ  augstÄ kÄ  izglÄ «tÄ «ba) is understood as a general higher education based upon fundamental and/or applied science. Academic education can be (and in most cases is) divided into two stages. A student has to perform a thesis of a Research Work at the end of each stage. I. First degree An academic degree and a Bachelor diploma (Bakalaura grÄ ds) can be awarded after successive completion of the first stage. Bachelor degree is an intermediate degree and can be treated as a completed higher education only in these cases when duration of program is 4+ years. However, part of the students leave universities having a bachelor`s degree and find their gap in the labor market. II. Second degree Academic master degree (MaÄ £istra grÄ ds) and the appropriate diploma is awarded after the second stage of academic education and should be treated as a complete university-type higher education. Master degree or a degree equivalent to it (e.g. medical studies are of a level of master`s degree but name of master`s degree is not applicable) can be awarded after total duration of 5-7 years of university studies. Master degree (or equivalent) is required for admission to doctoral studies. III. Higher degrees There are two of doctoral degrees in Latvia Degree of Ph.D. (Doktora grÄ ds) Holders of master`s degree are eligible for doctoral studies and the holders of Ph.D. is expected to be achieved in a 3-4 year period of full-time doctoral studies after a public defense of doctoral thesis. After defense of habilitation thesis you are awarded with a degree of habilitated doctor (habilitÄ“ts doktors). Doctoral degrees are awarded by specialized councils: †¢ promotion council (promocijas padome) – awarding the degree doktors only †¢ habilitation council (habilitÄ cijas padome) – awarding both doctoral degrees. The regulations for awarding of doctoral degrees are set and the promotion and habilitation councils are appointed by Latvian Science Council (Latvijas ZinÄ tnes Padome). 2.9.2 Higher professional education (ProfesionÄ la augstakÄ  izglÄ «tÄ «ba) is a higher education based upon applied science. It provides knowledge and skills for professional activities. Acquirement of the programs of professional studies can take place independently of academic studies, concurrently to or after them. Non-university type higher education institutions offer higher professional education programs leading directly to professional qualifications. To be treated as a completed higher education, the duration of professional studies has to be not less than 4 years. University-type higher education institutions may offer 1-2 year programs leading to professional qualification after achieving bachelor degree (bakalaurs).[8]

Anthem Study Guide Answers Essay

1.The sins/ wrongs that Equality 7-2521 accuses himself of are †¢Sin to write †¢Sin to think words no others think and to put them down on paper no others are to see †¢We have committed a greater crime, and for this crime there is no name †¢We are alone here under the earth. The laws say that non among men may be alone, ever and at any time. †¢We were born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden. 2. Equality 7-2521 is happy when he hears his life mandate because he (they) knew that he was guilty, and felt as a street sweeper he would have a way to erase his sins. 3. The Council of Vocations assigns Equality 7-2521 the job of a street sweeper due to his incompetence. I say this because Equality 7-2521 is different from everyone else, so I can tell that the council, and everyone else don’t like different. 4. This novel takes place in the future. I know this because Equality refers to â€Å"the men before us†, and â€Å"the unmentionable times†. When he is underground in the tunnel. 5. If I had Equality’s curse my teachers would most likely react to this â€Å"curse† by giving me more challenging work to complete. Equality on the other hand isn’t so lucky because his â€Å"curse† is of high disapproval because they believe that no one should learn faster that his â€Å"brothers† and if one of them is â€Å"dumb† all of them need to be â€Å"dumb† along with his brothers, and Vice- Versa. 6. Equality doesn’t except the moral teachings of society. In fact he does man things to go against it. He even admits in the novel that he really doesn’t care. â€Å"and yet there is no shame in us and no regret. We say to ourselves that we are a wretch and a traitor. But we feel no burden upon our spirit and no fear in our heart. And it seems to us that our spirit is clear as a lake troubled by no eyes save those of the sun. And in our heart there is the peace we have known in twenty years.† This is an excerpt from the end of chapter one that shows although Equality knows that he has committed sins he is at peace even in his wrong doings. 7. The home of the Infants is the place where you live until you are 5 years old with all the children of the city who had been born the same year everything was clean and white. The home of the students is the place where there are ten wards, for there ten years of learning. Men must learn till they reach their fifteenth year. The home of the street sweepers is for all of the street sweepers, and it is Equality’s home after he was given a career by the council of scholars. The home of the useless is  the place where everyone goes at the age of 40. Council of Vocations decides your job/ mandate. Chapter Two 1.The character traits that are revealed are her straight and thin body, she has eyes that are dark, hard, glowing, fearless, unkind, and without guilt. She has golden hair, and is overall intimidating. 2.The unmentionable times- the period we live in now that the council of elders forbade anyone to speak of. The unchartered forest- a forbidden place that lay near the sewage area The evil ones- those who lived in the unmentionable times The great rebirth- the time period/ setting of the anthem 3.The word Equality is struggling with is the word â€Å"I†. I believe the mentioning of this word is punishable by death in there society because it goes against it and would cause the rediscovery of this word. The word â€Å"I† contradicts the ideals of the society because it goes against the great â€Å"we† idea, and way of life. the rediscovery of the word â€Å"I† could cause some of the people to rethink their way of life which could lead to riots, rebellion, and chaos. Chapter Three 1.Equality discovers how to make light out of copper, and wires. This is a very important discovery because it would make life easier by giving them brighter light, it wouldn’t burn out as quickly as a candle, and fires would be less likely. 2.The council of scholars believe that everyone knows everything that exist, if everyone doesn’t know about something then it doesn’t exist. Their belief’s contradicts with Equality’s beliefs because he believes that the secrets of the earth aren’t for everyone but for those who seek them. Chapter Four 1.Equality’s new name Unconquered is very fitting because Equality is a free willed character who hasn’t been conquered by the laws & ways that everyone is expected to live by, and doesn’t listen to the rules. Chapter Five 1.Equality’s main motivation in conducting his experiments is his hunger for knowledge, and to learn more of the times before the Great Rebirth. He felt  joy when he was conducting his experiments because he was learning more 2.Equality is interested in seeing his own image because he wants to know how the Golden One sees him. Equality is starting to feel the emotion of self-interest, and love. Chapter Six 1.The prisoners never tried to escape because they felt they deserved that punishment, they felt they owed being punished to their brothers. Another reason they didn’t escape is because they were afraid of the consequences and punishments of trying to escape. Chapter Seven 1.The real reasons behind the council’s rejection and fear of the gift is: †¢They are afraid of going back to the old way of technology and individualism, offending the council, and getting punished. †¢They want to keep everything as simple as possible for people so that they can rely on the council. 2.When Equality says â€Å"We are old now, but we were young this morning† , he means that now he feels more experienced, and has a better understanding of things than he did that morning before he escaped. Chapter Eight 1.Equality is starting to experience love and affection for the Golden One and he is also feeling joy. Also since now Equality has become more dependent and has to hunt for his own food and feed himself he is feeling prideful. 2.Equality laughs when he remembers that he is â€Å"the Damned† because he doesn’t feel damned at all in fact he is happy. 3.In Anthem the Uncharted Forest symbolizes the unknown, and everything that came before the Great Rebirth. Chapter Nine 1.While you are hopeful, curious, and wondrous other men aren’t. You are outspoken, and you feel pride, other men aren’t. You are prideful, independent, and joyful, while other men are cowards, dependent, sorrowful, and they cringe in selflessness. Chapter Ten 1.The house that Liberty & Equality is a two story house that has a flat roof, and lots of windows. It has one bedroom, a library full of books, a mirror, lights, and clothes. They found the house strange and unique because  it had a flat roof ,and only one bedroom, this is strange for them because they are used to sleeping in a room with 30 other people. Also the house had a lot of things that they weren’t used to and had never seen like windows, mirrors, different clothes, and a room full of a bunch of unknown books. Chapter Eleven 1.The great discover that Equality make is the word â€Å"I†. 2.Equality realizes that the proper goal and purpose of his life is to focus and live for yourself and to not focus on others or live for others. Chapter Twelve 1.The main characters Equality, and the Golden One take the names Prometheus and Gaea because of who in history those names represent and because they read them in a book and didn’t know of any other names. They weren’t allowed to have names in there old society because having a name shows individualism, and makes you different from your brothers, and sisters. 2.In his future, Prometheus plans to raise his son to be an individualist and to use the word â€Å"I†.

Free Essays on The Mythological Hero In Tolkiens Lord Of The Rings

The Mythological Hero in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien was very fond of mythology, especially Norse and Irish Mythology, and used concepts and conventions of both throughout his works. Throughout mythology there is the ever-reoccurring theme of the epic hero, whose being is ever out of the readers reach. Tolkien represents the epic hero primarily through the Kingly Edain character Aragorn. There is, however, the fairytale myth as well, which features the small hero who is a mere common person placed in extraordinary circumstances. The Fairytale hero is best represented in The Lord of the Rings, by the hobbit Frodo. Tolkien also uses the concept of â€Å"The Hero and His Sword† throughout the story and throughout his other tales of Middle Earth; however, he only uses bits and pieces, while primarily creating his heroes from his own imagination. Aragorn is the last descendent of a long line of kings. He is not immortal or descended from the gods like many heroes of Greek, Roman, and Norse Mythology; however, he does have immortal ancestry, even though it is not immediate. It must however be traced back through many generations. Unlike many of the famous heroes he is not conceived by divine intervention or by supernatural means either. Unlike Arthur or the Irish hero Cuchulainn, who are born by supernatural means, Arthur by Merlin allowing Arthur’s father Uther to seduce Arthur’s mother in the form of her husband who was already dead at the time, and Cuchulainn conceived by a mortal woman and the Irish god Lugh, Aragorn is descended from the union of the immortal elf Idril and the mortal man Tuor (Flieger 43-44.) Aragorn is not easily identified with, having such a high and unheard of heritage. The men of Rohan and Gondor also have trouble believing him, as they are not able to comprehend his story, since they are but common men compared to Aragorn and he is but thing out of their past seemingly long ... Free Essays on The Mythological Hero In Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings Free Essays on The Mythological Hero In Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings The Mythological Hero in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkien was very fond of mythology, especially Norse and Irish Mythology, and used concepts and conventions of both throughout his works. Throughout mythology there is the ever-reoccurring theme of the epic hero, whose being is ever out of the readers reach. Tolkien represents the epic hero primarily through the Kingly Edain character Aragorn. There is, however, the fairytale myth as well, which features the small hero who is a mere common person placed in extraordinary circumstances. The Fairytale hero is best represented in The Lord of the Rings, by the hobbit Frodo. Tolkien also uses the concept of â€Å"The Hero and His Sword† throughout the story and throughout his other tales of Middle Earth; however, he only uses bits and pieces, while primarily creating his heroes from his own imagination. Aragorn is the last descendent of a long line of kings. He is not immortal or descended from the gods like many heroes of Greek, Roman, and Norse Mythology; however, he does have immortal ancestry, even though it is not immediate. It must however be traced back through many generations. Unlike many of the famous heroes he is not conceived by divine intervention or by supernatural means either. Unlike Arthur or the Irish hero Cuchulainn, who are born by supernatural means, Arthur by Merlin allowing Arthur’s father Uther to seduce Arthur’s mother in the form of her husband who was already dead at the time, and Cuchulainn conceived by a mortal woman and the Irish god Lugh, Aragorn is descended from the union of the immortal elf Idril and the mortal man Tuor (Flieger 43-44.) Aragorn is not easily identified with, having such a high and unheard of heritage. The men of Rohan and Gondor also have trouble believing him, as they are not able to comprehend his story, since they are but common men compared to Aragorn and he is but thing out of their past seemingly long ...

Channels of Distribution Essays

Channels of Distribution Essays Channels of Distribution Essay Channels of Distribution Essay In the unsure fluctuating market of today. it is indispensable for a company to keep on and face those uncertainnesss in order to last. Consumers can be an assistance for a company’s endurance. thereby it is indispensable for consumers to acquire the goods of a company whenever and nevertheless they need them. Here is where distribution channels come in and give manus. Channels of distribution are the different waies that goods passed through in traveling from the manufacturer to the consumer . ( Meyer et al. 1988 ) . With the aid of distribution channels. companies are able to get the better of the clip. topographic point and ownership spreads that separate goods and services from the consumers. As said by Aaker ( 1984 ) . entree to an effectual and efficient selling channel is frequently a cardinal success factor. However. in this competitory epoch. an apprehension of the alternate distribution channels and the tendencies in their comparative importance can be of strategic importance for any company. For illustration. the growing and importance can be of a ego service retail gasolene Stationss and the comparing growing in the importance of convenience shops such as the 7/11 concatenation in gasolene retailing has strategic significance to petroleum companies and distributers every bit good as to houses in nutrient retailing ( illustration adapted from Aaker. 1984 ) . Additionally. because of competition. deriving distribution in some industries can be highly hard and dearly-won. Nowadays. even big. established houses have problem obtaining infinite on the supermarkets shelves for merchandises with significant marketing budgets. As said by Kotler and Armstrong ( 2001 ) . members of the selling or distribution perform several maps such as supplying information for the company. promotes their goods and services. have contacts with purchasers. fiting purchasers inevitably. every bit good as negotiate monetary values so that goods can be transferred. Some other maps include physical distribution. funding and hazard pickings. There are two types of marketing systems. They are conventional distribution channels and perpendicular selling system. Conventional Distribution Channel Harmonizing to Kotler and Armstrong ( 2001 ) . a conventional distribution channel is a channel consisting of one or more independent manufacturers. jobbers. and retail merchants. each a separate concern seeking to maximise its ain net incomes even at the disbursal of net incomes for the system as a whole. In this instance. mediators operate independently or enter into some signifier of agreements with providers and other mediators. Furthermore. a conventional channel web tends to be fragmented because makers. jobbers and retail merchants bargain sharply with each other over the monetary values and others. Since channel members are detached and acts independently. none of them has much control over the other members. For illustration. in a conventional distribution channel. makers. distributers and retail merchants act independently so the makers as the manufacturer of the goods. cant decide anything for the other members. Lashkar-e-Taibas say. on what monetary value should the distributers and retail merchants sell. where should they sell. etc. the makers or the other members has no formal authorization over each other. Furthermore. in a conventional distribution channel. many struggles may happen since there is the absence of a formal contract and besides in most instances. their ends and purposes differ. Another failing of a conventional distribution system is that each and every member tries to harvest a batch of net incomes in order to prosecute their ain corporate aims. This may do drawbacks for the system as each independent house shows small concern for overall channel public presentation. Vertical Marketing System Harmonizing to Evangelista. et Al ( 1984 ) . an betterment over the conventional selling system. is the incorporate selling system which may be perpendicular or horizontal. A perpendicular selling system is a web of two or more degrees of channel members as in the instance of agreement between makers and jobbers. jobbers and retail merchants or between a maker and a figure of jobbers and retailers ( Evangelista et al. 1984 ) . So here. all the members act as a individual incorporate system. To exemplify the statement above. let’s take an illustration of a author. This author writes his ain books. owns the publication company that publishes the book. creates a web site that promotes his books. has a selling company that advertise and markets his books and he besides handles the distribution and transportation of the concluding merchandise. Here it is clear that the writer is cognizant of all the procedures of bring forthing the book and is able to command all the elements. This can be good for the company because if in instance a job occurs in any country. he can rapidly undertake it. He knows when the books are traveling to be printed. when and where it is to be shipped. etc and will e cognizant of any exigency originating. In this instance. we can see that the author is more informed and more efficient instead than holding to cover with publishing houses. agents. shippers. etc. ( illustration adapted from World Wide Web. smalltownmarketing. com ) There are three types of Vertical selling system. They are corporate. contractual and administered perpendicular selling systems. Kotler and Armstrong. ( 2001 ) defines corporate perpendicular selling system as a perpendicular selling system that combines consecutive provinces of production and distribution under individual ownership – channel leading is established through common ownership. In other words. it is a group of companies executing different undertakings under one ownership. Contractual perpendicular selling system. harmonizing to Kotler. et Al ( 1999 ) . consists of independent houses at different degrees of production and distribution incorporating their plan on a contractual footing to obtain more economic systems or gross revenues impact than they could accomplish entirely. They usually join together to harvest net incomes every bit good as to increase efficiency in the company. Administered perpendicular selling system coordinates phases of production and distribution through the size and power of one of the parties ( Kotler. et al 1999 ) . In other words. whoever wields the most economic power within the group can coerce greater cooperation and support from other members of the group. Comparison between Conventional Distribution Channel And Vertical Marketing System Conventional and perpendicular selling systems are two wholly different type of distribution system. Many companies presents prefer to follow perpendicular selling system instead than the conventional 1. This is because perpendicular selling system is much more good for companies and the conventional system is outdated additions redundancies for companies. Now let us see the difference of the two channels and comparison for which one is better and good for organisations today. Comparison Conventional distribution Channel -Channel members are independently owned -Unstructured distribution channel -No contract or understandings available -Lacks in leading -Many struggles might easy originate -Weak or hapless public presentation -Any errors or defects effects merely the company Vertical Marketing System -Channel members act as a incorporate system -Structured distribution channel -May have contracts or understandings for this agreement -One member exercising strong ( frequently formal ) leading -Helps manage struggle -Improves public presentation -May be forced into agreements by power derived function between members As we can see from the tabular array above. in the conventional channel members are independently owned whereas in the perpendicular selling system. all the members act as an incorporate system. This is good for a company because the can minimise costs and at the same clip earn grosss. The conventional distribution channel are unstructured whereas in perpendicular selling system it is decently structured. therefore makes it easier for a company to administer their merchandise and services. There is no contract whatsoever between the members of the channel because they are all self-acting and non bonded by any contract. On the other manus. in the perpendicular selling system. contract and understandings are needed for the agreement of this type of marketing channel peculiarly in a contractual perpendicular selling system. Additionally. there is a strong presence of leading in perpendicular selling system as one member exercising formal leading. Hence there is proper control of the activities. Whereas in the conventional channel of distribution. there is deficiency of leading in the channel. Furthermore. due to confusion. struggles and jobs may originate in a conventional distribution channel because of deficiency of control and leading. On the other manus. in a perpendicular selling system. the coordination among the members of the channel helps to pull off struggles that may originate. Furthermore. this can besides better public presentation of the whole selling system. Whereas conventional distribution channel has a weak public presentation due to struggles and deficiency of leading. In my sentiment. from the above comparing of both the channels. it is clear that perpendicular selling system. if practiced decently. will be really advantageous and can supply economic systems of graduated table to any company which adopts it. Mentions Aaker. D. A. ( 1998 ) . Strategic Market Management. John Wiley A ; Sons. Inc. . USA. Kotler. P. et Al ( 1999 ) . Marketing Management – An Asiatic Position. Prentice Hall. Inc. USA. Kotler. P. and Armstrong. G. ( 2001 ) . Principles of Marketing. Prentice Hall. USA. Evangelista. F. U. et Al ( 1984 ) . Principles of Marketing Management. National Book Store. Inc. . Philippines. Meyer. W. G. et Al ( 1988 ) . Retail Selling. McGraw Hill. USA. World Wide Web. smalltownmarketing. com. entree day of the month: 4th December. 2003

35 Numerical Prefixes

35 Numerical Prefixes 35 Numerical Prefixes 35 Numerical Prefixes By Mark Nichol This post lists prefixes of Greek and/or Latin provenance used in expressions of numerical relationships, with examples. 1. uni-: â€Å"one† (unicycle) 2. mono-: â€Å"one† (monogamy) 3–4. du-: â€Å"two† (duplicate); sometimes duo- (duopoly) 5–6. deuter-: â€Å"two† (deuterium); sometimes deutero- (deuterograph) 7. bi-: â€Å"two† (bicycle) or â€Å"twice† (biannual) 8. di-: â€Å"two† (dilemma) 9. tri-: â€Å"three† (triangle) 10. quadr-: â€Å"four† (quadrant) 11. tetra-: â€Å"four† (tetrahedron) 12–13. quin-: â€Å"five† (quintet); sometimes quinque- (quinquelateral) 14. penta-: â€Å"five† (pentathlon) 15. sex-: â€Å"six† (sextuplets) 16. hexa-: â€Å"six† (hexagram) 17. sept-: â€Å"seven† (septuagenarian) 18. hept-: â€Å"seven† (heptarchy) 19–20. oct-: â€Å"eight† (octennial); sometimes octo- (octopus) 21. nona-: â€Å"nine† (nonary) 22–23. nove-: â€Å"nine† (novennial); sometimes novem- (novemdecillion) 24. ennea-: â€Å"nine† (enneagram) 25–26. dec-: â€Å"ten† (decennial); sometimes decem- (decemvirate) 27. deca-: â€Å"ten† (decade) 28. cent-: â€Å"hundred† (centipede) 29–30. hect-: â€Å"hundred† (hectare); sometimes hecto- (hectoliter) 31–32. mill-: â€Å"thousand† (million); sometimes mille- (millennial) 33. kilo-: â€Å"thousand† (kilowatt) 34. chili-: â€Å"thousand† (chiliad) 35. myri-: â€Å"ten thousand† (myriad) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Regarding Re:80 Idioms with the Word TimeList of 50 Compliments and Nice Things to Say!

Unit 5 Part 2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unit 5 Part 2 - Research Paper Example Debate in the public domain with regard to gun control can amicably be resolved through legal goodwill paving way for the relevant legislation. In the United States, gun control issues have been a center of interest and debate by the stakeholders torn in between gun ownership legalization or completely banning guns. Several years of debate seemed futile in many instances but with political will, it is likely to end in a reliable solution. This paper will focus upon the debate of gun control presenting the argument that how this ban came to be challenged in the first place and how this ruling of the court was manipulated and used by lawmakers. It will then explain the justifications for arms possession considering the changing society and explain the precautions that will assist and promote proper use of guns. The changes in policy against the laws of gun control started after the ruling of a court in Columbia. According to the Christian Science Monitor (2007), a showdown was looming after a US appeals court ruled against gun ban in District of Columbia. The ruling seemed to depart from a 1939 Supreme Court ruling, even if precedents might not tie a judge. The panel stated in its ruling that owning a gun was a constitutional right. The provisions of the Second Amendment on which the Supreme Court based its ruling go to the extent of allowing a well regulated militia to maintain security of a Free State. The Christian Science Monitor pointed out that the security of the public goes further than allowing militia possess guns legally. Self defense and not mere constitutional right to possess a gun was the key argument in the judgment. Since the law in the District of Columbia stated that guns should be disassembled or trigger locked, it was argued that safety would be enhanced. It was hence the beginning of a platform to legalize the ownership of weapons due to the changing society and the importance of self defense and

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN AIRLINE CASE STUDY Essay

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN AIRLINE CASE STUDY - Essay Example The above issues have really affected the industry making airlines hard to survive and eventually leading to strategic alliances amongst the players in the industry. The macro environment analysis refers to the analysis of the political, economic, technological, environmental and social environment factors in the business environment. The Government has come in very strongly to deregulate the European airline industry by opening up the skies .This follows an agreement that was signed up between the United States Government and the European Union. As a result, the airlines are able to make more frequent flights, they have become more flexible in their pricing and it has helped to enhance and heighten competition in the region. Although opening up the skies has had a positive impact on the growth of the industry, the airlines have not been spared the threat of terrorism in the world. The United Kingdom has also come up with the smoke free policy, whereby people are required to abstain from smoking while in the airplanes and this has created a clean and safe environment for both the passengers and employees in the industry (Kassim and Menon 1996). The social environment has had both a po... The citizens have benefited from the multicultural environment thus they are able to gain new ideas and hence they have become more innovative. The rate of population growth is also increasing and thus new business trends are emerging and therefore the business is able to benefit from new management styles (Kassim and Menon 1996). Economic factors. The economic recession the industry has affected its rate of operation and has thus led to its slow rate of growth. The rise in the Gross Domestic Product has led to trade amongst the airlines very expensive. The rate of inflation has been high due to the high oil prices thus affecting the profit margins in the industry. The exchange rates have also affected the margins that are being made in the industry due to the large fluctuations (Kassim and Menon 1996). Technological factors. The emergence of the internet has led to the rapid growth of the industry. Online bookings have become possible thus eliminating the need for travel agents and eventually it has led to saving of time and money for the passengers. Genetic engineering and quality controls have improved and made the industry more innovative thus making the industry more effective and efficient (Kassim and Menon 1996). Environmental factors. The industry has made a negative impact on the environment. The industry has come under criticism due to emission of carbon into the environment, erosion of the zone layers and it has brought about the effects of global warming. However, even with these negative effects the industry has become more innovative as they try to come up with new mechanisms to manage and control the negative

The Significance of Credible Evidence to the Administration of Justice Essay

The Significance of Credible Evidence to the Administration of Justice - Essay Example There are several arguments that support evidence law; such as the amelioration of insidious suspicion of juries; to promote legal or social issues associated with litigation; to enhance substantive policies disparate to the trial; to establish conditions to obtain the most credible facts in court; and to organize the extent and period of trials. This paper explores the different types and the significance of credible evidence for the administration of justice. Admissibility of evidence Evidence manifests in four main forms: demonstrated evidence; documented evidence; real evidence and testimonial evidence. Whereas some policies regulating evidence are applicable to all four categories, others pertain to less than three or less. It is notable that all of these categories of proof must be permissible, though, prior to being considered as investigative of a matter in a court case. Essentially, if proof is to be considered admissible in court, it has to be pertinent, material, and knowl edgeable. To be seen relevant, evidence must have a number of reasonable inclinations to assist prove, or refute some reality. It should not build certainty to the fact, but to some extent, it must be inclined toward the increment or lower the possibility of a number of facts. Once evidence meets the standard measures, the judge or jury, charged with the duty of establishing facts will decide the suitable weight to offer a given piece of proof. An appropriate piece of proof is considered credible if it is tabled to verify a reality that is being argued in a legal proceeding. Credible proof is that fact that accords with particular conventional notions of consistency. Courts are slowly reducing the competency policies guiding evidence by enabling to be looked upon depending on the burden of proof (Gazzaniga [2011] 304 SA 54). Significance of real evidence Real evidence is imperative. Its subsistence or features are believed to be pertinent and subject to a matter before the court. It is normally an issue that was expressly involved in an occurrence in the trial, such as an exhibit of murder, the individual property of an aggrieved party, or an item like a hat or bangle belonging to a criminal suspect. The relevance of the material must be observed in trial before it can be admissible, by a judge. The procedure, in which a lawyer establishes these fundamentals and any extra structures that may be useful, is referred to as laying a foundation for a case (Wang [2008] 5 US-China Law Review 50). Generally, the weight and content of real evidence must be guaranteed. An attorney sets up the evidence's credibility by demonstrating that it actually is what it should look like, failure to which it may be deemed by the court. Corroborating evidence is referred to as authentication. Demonstrative Evidence Although, evidence is believed to be demonstrative if it carries the testimony of a live witness, it is deemed permissible when it comparatively and precisely mirrors the witness's account and is otherwise admissible. Demonstrative evidence includes items such as maps, images of a scene where crime is committed, diagrams and graphs that show incriminating or exonerating particulars (Kennedy, & Wlnn, [2011] 16 DLR 209; Timothy [2008] 72 FB 87; Pardo [2006] 33 AJCL 301). Documentary Evidence Evidence captured in or recorded on retrievable mediums can be an aspect of real proof. For instance, an

Financial Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Financial Strategy - Essay Example However, it should not be forgotten that today’s business environment is highly competitive, unpredictable, unstructured and complex; therefore, only fittest and stronger firms having proactive approach could survive in contemporary business outlook. Proactive approach is actually about sensing problems before hand and devising alternate solutions / strategies to avert damage in upcoming future. In addition, the proactive approach also refers to setting trends in the industry or marketplace through product development, quality maintenance, innovation, branding and differentiation strategies. It should be highlighted that business is all about taking risks. An entrepreneur identifies the gaps and opportunities in the market after which risks one’s resources to capitalise them for profit generation and monetary gains. Risks are identified, evaluated and measured through quantitative tools and statistical methods so that the strategic planners would gain a near-to-accurate insight over the potential scope in any specific industry (Lynch, 2008); (Emmison & Smith, 2002); (Johnson & Scholes, 2008). In other words, if all perceived risks are not evaluated and measured correctly then the probability of business failure and financial losses will be higher. For instance, if the risks associated with any business are high then investors also expect high rate of return because of effort and risk involved. This means that it is difficult to enter in a risky field and industries (more barriers) because of greater probability of losses and low chance of survival; however, the success of an entrepreneur in a riskier venture would entitle him / her to high profit margins and financial benefits (Beasley et al, 2005). As mentioned before that the organisations are operational in a highly complex and uncertain business environment; therefore, there is immense need of risk consciousness because even small mistakes and blunders may lead to adverse consequences. I would , thus, agree with this statement that a firm’s risk consciousness governs the underlying strategies that are employed by the enterprise. Risk consciousness, in simple words, refers to paying serious attention to identify any small and large risks associated in setting up a new business, expanding an existing firm (in either domestic or foreign markets), introducing a new product, innovating an existing product range, acquiring diversified businesses, shifting from debt to equity financing and others etc (Neale & Haslam, 1994). Nonetheless, risk consciousness takes place when top management / policy – makers implement measures that would help instilling risk management culture within a corporate setting (Glen, 2007). In fact, the more prudent, judicious, efficient and calculated the strategic planners are in determining, assessing, measuring and communicating risks with their subordinates and organizational members, the more effectively risk management culture and risk consciousness could be developed and implemented with the support of chief risk officers (Lam, 2000); (Colquitt et al, 1999) (Bender & Ward, 2002). In addition, the firms that are not risk conscious face situations in which problems have to be tackled immediately when they occur due to absence of proactive risk management approach and contingency plans. Obviously, this leads to nothing but inefficiencies and losses in the short run that could have been avoided

All forms of abortion should be illegal in the U.S Essay

All forms of abortion should be illegal in the U.S - Essay Example This discussion exposes these untruths that have been reported and are widely perceived as facts. It also explains the framers’ intent for the legal and moral direction of American society when they drafted the Constitution, the document that defines the laws of the nation. There is little freedom of choice for women who are experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. The women themselves usually wish to bring their baby to full term. Other powerful influences in her life such as husbands/boyfriends, parents and friends are generally the forces that exact pressures on her to terminate the pregnancy. â€Å"Eight out of 10 women surveyed after abortion said they would have given birth if they’d had support and encouragement from family and friends† (Reardon, 2002). It’s the abortion that, in many cases, is unwanted by the woman, not the baby. Most often, the father of the child, not wishing to accept responsibility, may beg or even threaten a woman until she agrees to the abortion. â€Å"In 95 percent of all cases the male partner played a central role in the decision† (Zimmerman, 1977). This and other studies have illustrated clearly that most women decide against their own conscience. Legal abortion enables fathers to force their will on mothers. Some women resort to abortion in desperation because they fear continued abuse. That fear is substantiated as women who refuse to abort have been subjected to serious abuses which have escalated to murder if the women still persists in her refusal. Murder is the leading cause of death for pregnant women and for what other motive could there be? â€Å"Sixty-four percent of women surveyed report being pressured by others into unwanted abortions† (Reardon, 1992).   Ã‚  Immediately following an abortion, the one(s) coercing the decision are relieved and seldom, if ever, give the inconvenient issue another thought. Women, on the other

Financial Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Financial Strategy - Essay Example However, it should not be forgotten that today’s business environment is highly competitive, unpredictable, unstructured and complex; therefore, only fittest and stronger firms having proactive approach could survive in contemporary business outlook. Proactive approach is actually about sensing problems before hand and devising alternate solutions / strategies to avert damage in upcoming future. In addition, the proactive approach also refers to setting trends in the industry or marketplace through product development, quality maintenance, innovation, branding and differentiation strategies. It should be highlighted that business is all about taking risks. An entrepreneur identifies the gaps and opportunities in the market after which risks one’s resources to capitalise them for profit generation and monetary gains. Risks are identified, evaluated and measured through quantitative tools and statistical methods so that the strategic planners would gain a near-to-accurate insight over the potential scope in any specific industry (Lynch, 2008); (Emmison & Smith, 2002); (Johnson & Scholes, 2008). In other words, if all perceived risks are not evaluated and measured correctly then the probability of business failure and financial losses will be higher. For instance, if the risks associated with any business are high then investors also expect high rate of return because of effort and risk involved. This means that it is difficult to enter in a risky field and industries (more barriers) because of greater probability of losses and low chance of survival; however, the success of an entrepreneur in a riskier venture would entitle him / her to high profit margins and financial benefits (Beasley et al, 2005). As mentioned before that the organisations are operational in a highly complex and uncertain business environment; therefore, there is immense need of risk consciousness because even small mistakes and blunders may lead to adverse consequences. I would , thus, agree with this statement that a firm’s risk consciousness governs the underlying strategies that are employed by the enterprise. Risk consciousness, in simple words, refers to paying serious attention to identify any small and large risks associated in setting up a new business, expanding an existing firm (in either domestic or foreign markets), introducing a new product, innovating an existing product range, acquiring diversified businesses, shifting from debt to equity financing and others etc (Neale & Haslam, 1994). Nonetheless, risk consciousness takes place when top management / policy – makers implement measures that would help instilling risk management culture within a corporate setting (Glen, 2007). In fact, the more prudent, judicious, efficient and calculated the strategic planners are in determining, assessing, measuring and communicating risks with their subordinates and organizational members, the more effectively risk management culture and risk consciousness could be developed and implemented with the support of chief risk officers (Lam, 2000); (Colquitt et al, 1999) (Bender & Ward, 2002). In addition, the firms that are not risk conscious face situations in which problems have to be tackled immediately when they occur due to absence of proactive risk management approach and contingency plans. Obviously, this leads to nothing but inefficiencies and losses in the short run that could have been avoided

Why kids attract towards animation and 3d animated films Essay

Why kids attract towards animation and 3d animated films - Essay Example Bentrancourt and Chassot (2008, p. 3) highlight that the fundamental reason why kids are attracted towards animated films is due to the visualizations they create, which helps in overall understanding of situations. Further, it is claimed that animations are very helpful for kids because they enhance memory of the animated information which later aids to advance comprehension of various situations depicted by the animations. Therefore, it is observed that animations are attractive to children because they create memorization and comprehension of whatever subject they illustrate. Moreover, kids are attracted to animations and 3d animated films because they are funny and entertaining to watch. Therefore, they are very appealing, humorous, motivating and most often capture children’s attention. In their tender age and little comprehension abilities, kids get bored when watching television, hence, they are usually inclined to watch more fun and entertaining programs than TV programs, which are mostly in the form of animations (Shanghai Jianghong Gifts, 2008). For example, if children were doing their homework at home and an adult was watching news, they are likely not to develop any interest in the TV. However, if the channel is changed to a cartoon program, the kids will lose interest in the homework and will be motivated to watch TV. This proves that kids are attracted towards animated films because they are fun and entertaining to watch. In addition, kids are attracted to animation films because animations use space in representing elements in their relations. In this case, animations create characters that kids are able to relate to and themes which make character differences and this attracts them to watch animated films. Therefore, when kids watch animated films, they also develop favourite characters who might be good in the film. Hence, this will give the

The Effect Chunking of Numbers has on Short-Term Memory Recall Essay Example for Free

The Effect Chunking of Numbers has on Short-Term Memory Recall Essay The same group of people were not tested in both conditions to eliminate the possibility of one condition affecting another. Students and adults, living in the same country were selected. Extraneous variables such as temperature and outside distractions could not be controlled. The temperature of the area in which the experiment was conducted varied. A set of instructions read out before the start of the experiment dealt with ethical issues that may be related to this study, such as informed consent, deception and ability to withdraw. They were given the aim of the experiment and were given the option to withdraw at any time during the experiment. They all had to agree to take part in the tests before the experiment started as well and results were kept anonymous, abiding to ethical regulations for participant confidentiality. Relationship of results to the hypothesis The hypothesis of this experiment was that chunking of numbers will improve recall in STM. Results showed that cause and effect could not be established between the IV and DV. Chunking did not improve recall in this experiment significantly, even though the total number of numbers recalled in the second condition was more than that of the first condition, which suggested there was a big difference. The results became more dispersed, causing the difference in the two conditions to appear much bigger. Conclusion Validity Validity refers to the trueness of an experiment to what its intended aim was-whether it measured what it was supposed to measure. One aspect of this is internal validity, which assesses the extent to which manipulation of a variable in the experiment (IV) was able to do its intended job (change the DV). This includes the control of extraneous variables so cause and effect can be established between the IV and the DV. There was internal validity because confounding variables from external factors, ex. distractions and temperature were not controlled this could effect the results. Experimenter bias was eliminated because participants were not affected by any special behaviour in the experimenters part. The participants may have deliberately forgot letters read out in an attempt to disrupt the experiment. Certain participants were also familiar with the theory of chunking to aid STM recall as they also study psychology, which may have affected results. The experiment also had construct validity as the method used to measuring STM recall was able to measure what it claimed to. Results showed differences in recall quantitatively, which can be compared. Improvements for validity To improve the validity of this experiment, demand characteristics must be reduced. Teachers may have been asked to conduct the experiment as a task set during lessons. This would also improve EV, as it is more realistic for students to be learning information in their lessons rather than under artificial conditions. Reliability Reliability measures consistency in results: whether or not it can be repeated by another researcher afterwards. There was external reliability as many aspects of the experiment were controlled, making it easier to repeat. The same method was used to measure recall in both conditions so comparisons could be made accurately between results. Procedures and instructions used were standardised, so they can be used again and again in other experiments. The apparatus and controls of confounding variables used were very basic and could be duplicated in many other locations. However, the sample used in this experiment may be harder to repeat in different locations as it was from a very small target population. Participants have to be from Park lane college and surrounding area so it cannot be repeated in other countries It also lacked internal reliability, as memory is a very subjective thing. We cannot go inside someones head to read their thoughts and look through their memories. Therefore, it cannot be certain that results showed exactly what participants remembered, as they may leave out some information deliberately. Improving reliability This could be improved by increasing the sample size. More participants could be used so results are more representative of the target population, ex. using a sample of 50. However, the process of collecting data with such a big sample becomes more difficult, as it would be hard to control them and make them do the experiment in absolute silence.

The Dark Night: A film analysis

The Dark Night: A film analysis Which features of the film would you consider place it as either mainstream or alternative? To answer this question I have chosen to base my answer upon the film ‘The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan. As one of the main spectacle blockbusters to come out in 2008, I thought that it would be appropriate to base my essay upon. I would class the film as mainstream for many reasons, and one of these being that the film had a very wide target audience; the film is an adaptation from a comic book, so there is already a strong fan base for the film. There is also the fact that there are fans purely of the other Batman films; however these are not prequels as they are from an entirely different series, with different directors. It was also very much so a family film, released on the 24th July 2008 it was released in the middle of the Hollywood blockbuster season, making it a must see for children and adults alike. Another reason that the film would be based in the mainstream category is the fact that film cost approximately $185,000,000 to make. The filmmakers intended for the film to be a spectacle, focusing largely on the visual impact of the film. However, narrative and character development also played a large part, unlike most Hollywood blockbusters. This is evident through the characterisation of the Joker and Batman. Throughout the film we see differing sides of the two characters and spectators may well have sided with that of the Joker, a person who in real life people would not have found themselves able to condone their behaviour. However, in the world of the film it is possible for a spectator to find themselves forming an allegiance with them. It was also the first time in feature film-making that IMAX cameras were utilized†[1] It is often found that in blockbusters, the filmmakers are looking for some sort of excuse to try new technology, and this happens in this film, for example in the armoured car chase. When looking at a film as a spectacle an audience would expect the spectacle to be seen through the following; costume, sets, locations, action, set pieces, sound, employment of new technologies, and editing and camera work, all of which is evidently been shown through The Dark Knight. It is these things that show the appreciation of the films surface quality†[2], and that The Dark Knight is very much so a visual spectacle, as to a spectator it is extremely aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore the film itself is an ‘event film, as it was based on a comic book and has a large fan base already even before its release, it is expected of fans to show up in fancy dress etc to actually take part in the spectacle itself. When looking at alternatives to Hollywood, they fall into various differing sub-genres. However, The Dark Knight does not belong to any other alternative heading; it is a mainstream blockbuster/spectacle. No other alternative cinema heading would be able to be logically applied to this film. Although the implications of the developments appeared to be that, in a society dominated by the mass media, popular culture is better able than avant-garde art to provide visual metaphors that reflect the problems and dilemmas of everyday life.†[3] For instance the fact the character of Batman himself represents justice for the people, he is not the law, nor does he abide by it, however he seeks justice whether or not people think that it be morally correct or not. Another key scene when looking at this would be where the Joker has sent the two ships out, each ship has a detonator for the other ship, and however one boat is filled with normal citizens and the other with convicts. The fact is that viewers expect the boat full of civilians to blow the other ship, though this is not the case. One of the more menacing looking convicts throws their detonator out of the ships window proclaiming that You dont wanna die, but you dont know how to take a life. Give it to me; these men would kill you, and take it anyway. Give it to me. You can tell em I took it by force. Give it to me, and Ill do what you shoulda did ten minutes ago.† This is not what a spectator member would usually expect from a criminal however this scene allows the view to question their own moral compass, as the innocent civilians are up for blowing the convicts up, but it is in fact the convicts who throw the detonator away first. Another reason that this would be classed as mainstream is due to the casting. Stars and other well known names are used for all the main characters, which would not usually be the norm in alternative film-making. Actors such as Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman were all used in the film. Using stars in films is an especially good way for filmmakers to draw a larger target audience, and they cleverly use these actors/actresses as a marketing tool. Some of the main stars in the film also starred in some of the previous Batman films, so many people will have some sort of recognition with them and will be expecting certain things from them. Although these people were purposefully cast in order to make the film more successful, no one could have anticipated the death of Heath Ledger before the films release. And although it may not be pleasant his death worked as one of the largest marketing tools for the film, as people who may not have wished to view the film before, whether because it was a Batman film, the cast or the fact it was a blockbuster, fans of Ledger flooded cinemas in order to see his last performance. When thinking of Hollywood/blockbuster films many people feel that they are made purely for the profit. However, regardless of genre and other factors of similarities you cannot deny the fact that Hollywood produces artistic products.†[4] As technology is advancing Hollywood are the able to have the chance to make bigger and better films, and this is evident in The Dark Knight, IMAX cameras are being used for the first time, the director Christopher Nolan wanted the film to be as big as possible, and it succeeded. For example aerial shots at (00:58) and (57:58) show just how expensive this film was to make, as it is highly expensive to use shots like these in films. Although many Hollywood films are similar in content, cinematography, cast, budget, genre etc the filmmakers do have to make each film different, Henry Ford could manufacture thousands of cars exactly alike; here sameness is a virtue. But every movie had to be different; otherwise the movie audiences would not appea r at the theatres again and again†.[5] All blockbusters aim to be bigger and better than the last and it is this drive that makes audiences members want to go and see the next one time after time. The film would also be classed as mainstream due to the theme of violence. Mainly complaints were made by people saying that it should have received a higher rating by the BBFC as it was only rated as a 12A, which caused controversy amongst many parents who did not wish for their children to view the film. Thus meaning that anyone above the age of 12 could view the film with adult supervision and that under 12s would be permitted if with an adult. However, there is never any blood on screen throughout the entirety of the film itself. It is this that makes it a more mainstream film, by not showing blood onscreen, the filmmakers are allowing the film to reach a wider audience. The film displays spectacular action sequences†[6] and this is one of the main things that The Dark Knight is about, showing the action to the best of their ability. It is the action throughout this film that makes people glued to the screen. The budget is also a main factor in this, considering that the film cost $185,000,000 to make, the filmmakers were able to afford, any special effects that were necessary or wanted, this would not usually happen in alternative films, as many alternative filming methods have very low budgets, and the directors may only get to work with what they can get their hands on at the time. The music also plays a key role in The Dark Knight, and the reason I feel this should be included, is based upon the fact that it has been composed by Hans Zimmer; A German born composer who is responsible for many of Hollywoods most recent hits. He provided music for The Pirates of the Caribbean films, Pearl Harbour, The Da Vinchi Code, Black Hawk Down, King Arthur, Angels and Demons, and most recently Sherlock Holmes. The action film/action blockbuster is at once the most contemporary, the most visibly relevant to present day Hollywood filmmaking, and also the least discussed and least well defined†[7]. People dont like admitting to the fact they enjoy mainstream movies anymore, it is the hegemony of the people that believe that Hollywood are only producing films to make money, however The Dark Knight defies this generalisation, based upon the fact it is directed by an independent stylised director. They also fail to take into account the basic fact that its conventionality is the very reason for its creativity.†[8] Another factor that makes The Dark Knight stand out as a mainstream film is the use of special effects throughout the film. However director Christopher Nolan is not fond of using CGI, and so tried his very best to use the practical alternatives where necessary. With regards to the Joker within the film Nolan felt that â€Å"when youre dealing with an anarchist, somebody who is dedicated to chaos, the most visceral way of representing that is an explosion†[9], so that he did. All the way throughout the film many explosions can be seen, and it is Nolan himself who tried to keep them as ‘real as possible. He believes an audience can tell the difference between something being done practically and something which has been done using CGI, and so therefore chose to limit the amount of CGI he used within the film, unless it was absolutely necessary due to health and safety reasons. Nolan wanted the film to have more explosions than ever seen in any other film, as he thought th is was the key to the Joker, and believed that it would make the audience feel like anything could happen in the film. Take for example the hospital explosion where the Joker is walking out, Nolan wanted to do this explosion for real and did this to the best of his ability. They allowed the explosion to stop for a second as Heath Ledger is walking away from the building, and turns round in surprise, just as the audience will, thinking that something has gone wrong. However, this is not the case and the explosion continues, leaving the audience feeling disconcerted. Another factor which also makes the film mainstream is that it presents universal themes to its audience. The reason being that if the viewer has a character that they feel they can connect to throughout the film, whether it be the hero/protagonist or the villain/antagonist, or any other character for that matter, there is someone they feel that within the film they have a similarity to, further interpolating them into the diegetic world of the film. Whether you feel that you are more connected with Batman or the Joker, it does not matter, the fact remains that if you do share views/outlook you will enjoy the film more based on the fact that you have someone else that feels the same as you, offering you a feeling of comfort and fulfilment, this would also be considered as a form of escapism. It remains that escapism can also be used as a device for criticising reality and the present state of society,†[10] which can be seen throughout the film, as the battle between justice and the people is ongoing in The Dark Knight. To conclude the mainstream category would be the best to define The Dark Knight. The reasons stated in the above contribute to making it so. Essentially reasons why it could not be categorised as an alternative film made it a fair argument. Research provided key factors into the reasoning of why The Knight is a mainstream film. Using a modern film was necessary as a more passà © film may not be classed as mainstream now to the current generation of cinema goers. The Dark Knight was possibly the mainstream blockbuster to have been released in 2008, therefore it was relevant to be used in this essay. The internet movie database. 2009. The Dark Knight. [online] [accessible online at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/ [Accessed 1 December 2009]. Neale,A.,2000. Genre and Hollywood, Routledge. London. Diedre Pribam,E. March 22, 2004. Cinema and Culture: Independent Film in the United States, 1980-2001. Framing Film: The History and Art of Cinema. P33. Neale,S.2000.Genre and Hollywood. Routledge. London. Neale,S.2000.Genre and Hollywood. Routledge. London. Langford,B.2005.Film Genre Hollywood and Beyond. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. Langford,B.2005.Film Genre Hollywood and Beyond. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. Grant, K. Ed., 2005. Film Genre Reader 3. University of Texas Press. USA. HowStuffWorks, Gerri Miller. The Dark Knight Stunts Special Effects [online] (Updated 2009) Available at: http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/dark-knight2.htm [ Accessed 6 December 2009]. Grant, K. Ed., 2005. Film Genre Reader 3. University of Texas Press. USA.