McDonald's Financial Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

McDonald's Financial Accounting - Essay Example McDonald’s was formed in 1940 as a barbeque restaurant but later developed into a huge chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. â€Å"McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 33,000 local restaurants serving more than  64 million people in 119 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women† (About McDonald’s.com, 2011). The accountant’s report accompanying the Annual Report usually refers to the auditor’s report. The purpose of the accountant’s report is to give an opinion on the presentation of the financial performance of the organization. The auditors review the entire financial data before forming an opinion on the financial statements of an organization. The accountant’s report of McDonald’s is reviewed by the Ernst and Young, who are a Public Accounting firm and are the auditors of McDonald’s. According to them, the financial statements of McDonald’s seem to be fairly presented in all material respect and that the financial statements are prepared in accordance with the U.S Generally Accepted Accounting Principle. The main idea or the main purpose of this report is to assure the shareholders and the investors that the company in question is not performing any fraudulent activity that may not be in line with their respective objectives (McDonald’s, 2010) Financial Statements are a proper record of financial performance of any given business entity. These financial statements provide a reflection of an organization’s performance with respect to the resources being used in order to attain the favorable/unfavorable results. The most important financial statements are: Income Statement The income statement displays the net profit or loss made by a company through the normal course of its operation. The profit or loss reported within the Income statement pertains to a specific period of time (usually 12 months which constitutes a year end). The only transactions recorded within the Income Statement are those which affect the profit. These transaction normally tend to be affiliated with the income earned and the expenditure incurred during a period of time. The Consolidated Income Statement of McDonald’s shows a profit of $4946.3 million in the year ending 2010. This profit figure is 8.6% and 14% higher than the profit figures of 2009 and 2008 respectively. These figures clearly suggest that McDonald’s has performed extensively well; keeping in mind the global economic crisis that had prevailed within the global economy(McCallig, 2008). Balance Sheet The Balance Sheet is a statement that portrays the result at any particular point in time. The Balance Sheet provides a snap shot of the entire business in question since its inception till the point in time when the Balance Sheet is created. The Balance Sheet is categorized into broader categories showing the assets, liabilities and the equity of a business entity. These categories are shown separately with the assets portion under one heading while the equity and liabilities portion under the other heading. The assets portion must eventually tie up with the amount displayed under the equity and li

Reconstituting Local Manufacturing Essay Example for Free

Reconstituting Local Manufacturing Essay Is it possible to reconstitute local manufacturing and local food markets, or has Globalization ultimately made this impossible? The global economy and marketplace have impacted local industry and local manufacturing harshly. With consumers having choices from international companies able to import their products, a common market pool for the whole world, it has become more difficult for the local merchants to thrive. Also, many Western companies have established themselves in developing countries, such as McDonalds and Starbucks, with over 31,000 and 18,000 locations operating worldwide respectively. While the influx of multi national corporations has created economic opportunities for many in the communities that they operate within. However, with this prosperity has come the evaporation of local industries. What are some of the factors that could help or inhibit the reconstitution of local manufacturing and local food markets. One enormous problem could be the price of doing business and the amount of capital it takes to operate in these markets. These international companies have vast reserves of capital to fund their operations in various countries, even buying up local enterprises to reduce their competition. These corporations also spend an enormous amount of cash on advertising. Thus they are able to extend their brand recognition into their new destinations. This is the formula that has also worked well in American cities. Companies are able to buy out their competition with less expensive production costs or less overhead. These companies can operate on a smaller margin than the local merchants, who do not have the benefit of mass produced overseas inventory. (Kantor, 2002). On a political scale, globalization has had an effect on the policies put into place by local entities that have an impact on the local manufacturing and food market. Through the increased surge in international competition, national policies that are aimed at preserving the structure of local communities and upholding social equality have dwindled and been phased out. Looking to nurture economic growth, many local governments invite foreign investments (Held McGrew, 2012). While these foreign investors infuse  currency into the local economies, the toll they take on the local markets, may not be worth the tradeoff. Could the local governments be taking or mismanaging the funds? Perhaps the cash infusion could be put to better use to help stabilize or revitalize the local manufacturing and markets. The case could also be made that the concessions that the local governments make to entice international companies into their country make it difficult for or at the least do not address the local manufacturing companies and their concerns. Because of the problems caused for the local manufacturing and food markets, wages and income for the local population also suffers, which influences their purchasing power. This creates a circular effect because without purchasing power the local community cannot support more local manufacturing. This is certainly a way in which globalization has hindered local manufacturing and will make it difficult to reconstitute it in the future. Some of the ideals championed by those who favor globalization will naturally work against the reconstitution of local manufacturing and food markets. For example, the principle of economic advantage commonly referred to as the iron law, demands that the best of the countries that initiate competitive strategies is deemed to outdo other competitors from the market. Put simply, if a particular foreign country grows a particular local product more efficiently, then there would be no need to grow the product locally (Davis, 2012). This would force the importation of the product from a foreign country which would obviously hamper the ability of local establishments to be able to compete in that market. In fact, some experts think that because of globalization, in the future all food consumed in America will be imported from elsewhere. It has become financially beneficial to import food instead of growing it locally. This change in economic patterns in response to globalization has hampered the growth of the local industry (Obstfeld, 2000). And functioning in this way will certainly hamper the local manufacturing and food markets to be reestablished and flourish. Another factor of globalization that is well documented is that of outsourcing jobs to developing countries with a cheaper labor force. Much of  this outsourcing has come in the manufacturing sector with many American workers losing their jobs to countries such as China and India. This outsourcing has a great negative impact on the local industry as it deprives it of a reliable workforce (Kantor, 2012). Without stemming the flow of such work overseas, it would make it very difficult to reconstitute the local manufacturing. For those countries that receive these workers however, there is an enormous benefit to their manufacturing sector. The influx of capital from foreign companies investing in their country and the employment opportunities they provide for the workforce give a boost to the local economy. With continued investments coming in and plenty of jobs for their workforce, globalization has actually strengthened the local manufacturing of many foreign countries. Thom Hartman makes some interesting points in his Huffington Post article. Mr. Hartman describes how globalization is destroying the United States’ wealth through multinational corporations transferring all of their manufacturing overseas. He points out that in the late 1940’s and 1950’s manufacturing accounted for 28 percent of the United States total gross domestic product. Even during the Reagan administration is was at 20 percent. However, today it is about ten percent of our GDP (Hartmann, 2010). By shipping so much of our manufacturing overseas, the US is no longer self sufficient and able to create much wealth. By not generating wealth, but rather spending it on all of the foreign manufactured goods, there has been a slow degrading of the nation’s middle class. Of course, we as consumers love the idea of paying less for our goods, but it has to be realized that it comes at a cost. Many companies have cut jobs or reduced salaries, so those â€Å"cheap† goods are not such a bargain anymore. For this trend to stop and be reversed, nations such as the United States must rebuild their manufacturing base and become locally self-sufficient again (Hartmann, 2010). The idea would be for the country’s consumers to buy products manufactured by their own workers. While no answers or even ideas for reversing the problem globalization has caused were offered, it paints a clear picture that something needs to be done quickly. References Kantor Paul, (2002). Cities in the International Marketplace: The Political Economy of Urban Development in North America and Western Europe. Princeton University Press Hartmann, Thom, (2010). Globalization Is Killing The Globe: Return to Local Economies. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thom-hartmann/globalization-is-killing_b_454091.html Held, D. McGrew, A. (2012) Globalization Theory: Approaches and Controversies. (2012), Cambridge. Davis, C. L.(2012). Why Adjudicate? Enforcing Trade Rules in the WTO. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from Project MUSE database. Obstfeld, Maurice (2000). The Global Capital Market: Benefactor or Menace? The Journal of Economic Perspectives , Vol. 12, No. 4., pp. 9-30.

The American Civil War Essay -- American History

The American Civil War emanated feelings of joy, exuberance, and glory, yet it substantiated loneliness, destruction, and death. In the antebellum South, nationalism and pride forged a new path, and society saw soldiers as heroic actors and war as their stage. While these actors played out their roles, the audience, the world, could see that their stage did not make them heroes, but war deprived them of body and soul. In Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier develops this excitement and progression to hardship in both Ada and Inman’s journeys. The progression, corroborated by historical evidence, shows that while the antebellum South held a Romantic ideal of war, war itself negated the romantic opinion and became destructive, monstrous, and deadly. At the onset of civil war, a state of trepidation would be assumed; however, Cold Mountain shows that Southern society did not fear war but eagerly anticipated it. Inman and Ada show that people did not dread war, but instead school teachers spoke of the â€Å"grand wars fought in Ancient England† (5), and â€Å" each night, there was music and dancing† (140). People did not live in fear, but instead, a â€Å"strange time of war fever† (140) and excitement was created. â€Å"Young men considered dull and charmless suddenly acquired an aura of glamour shimmering about them† (140), not because they were instantly revitalized by Athena, but because they were adding themselves to the glory and honor of the ideal Romantic war. Society in Cold Mountain did not fear death, but they spoke of the glory of war, and had parties celebrating the coming war. Mrs. McKennett, a woman Ada converses with, â€Å"[holds] opinions exactly in accord with every newspaperâ₠¬  (180), that the fighting is â€Å"glorious, tragic, and he... ...inary Times of the Civil War Soldier. Ed. David Madden. New York: Simon & Schuster,2000. Billings, John D. Soldier Life in the Union and Confederate Armies. Ed. Philip Van Doren Stern. New York: Bonanza Books, 1961. Eaton, Clement. A History of the Southern Confederacy. New York: The Free Press, 1965. Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain. New York: The Atlantic Monthly Press, 1997. Martin, Bessie. A Rich Man’s War, A Poor Man’s Fight. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2003. Ratchford, James Wylie. Memoirs of a Confederate Staff Officer: From Bethel to Bentonville. Eds. James E. Hansen II & Evelyn Sieburg. Shippensburg: Beidel Printing House, Inc. 1998. Thomas, Emory M. The Confederate Nation: 1861-1865. New York: Harper & Row, 1979. Vinovskis, Maris, ed. Toward a Social History of the American Civil War. 1st. ed. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1990.

Black Consciousness in the Twentieth Century Essay

Ralph Ellison began his 1952 novel with the sentence; â€Å"I am an invisible man.† (Ellison 3) These five words summed up the way in which the majority of Black Americans felt about their place in society at the time. The Civil Rights Movement was still years away, and the caste of American society had placed the Black American near the bottom. The book is in the first person narrative, narrated by a man who considers himself by society’s view point to be invisible because of his race.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The self-awareness of the Black American was limited to only what the white establishment would allow – and in the majority of the country, that was very little. However, the essence for the change that would occur had already been born. The awakening, in the late 1950s, of the Black American would take place in religion, politics, self-awareness and literature. This would become exemplified by the manner in which women in the black communities were treated. The rise of domestic violence was an issue, even in 1950s America – and in both the homes of blacks and whites.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There would be, though, differences in which this awakening would manifest itself. For some, like those who would march with Martin Luther King, non-violence and pacifism would be the dominate tool to their awakening. For others, the awakening would come in the form of a religious rebirth, and strong assertion of their place in society. There was a responsibility being neglected in the role of the black male to uphold his place of caregiver to his wife and family – as well as to the community as a whole. This was an important issue to realize, as the teachings of Islam would tell. â€Å"The white man wants black men to stay immoral, unclean, an ignorant†. (223). During the course of the novel the protagonists lists ways in which he has become invisible and the reaction he stirs within society because of his ‘blackness’, and as Ellis illustrates in the prologue of the book, â€Å"I live rent-free in a building rented strictly to whites, in a section of the basement that was shut off and forgotten during the nineteenth century.† (Ellis prologue).   The narrator goes on to state that light is a necessity for him since light to him is equivalent to truth (much as it was in Plato’s cave – so here the reader gains a sense of philosophy and of intelligence from the narrator). Throughout the course of the events that aid in defining the narrator the major first event occurs on his college’s campus.   The epiphany that the invisible man has during this time is that a black man whom he had once aspired to be like (i.e. to leave a legacy for his college) is not at all worthy of his aspiration but instead is merely a black man who has disguised himself enough to be able to ‘survive’ in the white dominated society.   Thus, the invisible man has his first exposure to mis-identities and the almost innate need that black men feel they have to become someone else in order to be a part of white society. In another act of deception in the book, the narrator (after a boiler room ‘accident’) is hospitalized; during a state of consciousness he discovers that he has been experimented upon with shock treatment without his knowledge.   This is a severe breach of his constitutional rights as well as his humanity.   Thus, the narrator finds out that he is not considered to be human, or even subhuman but rather a thing, an object, a less than real entity whose presence is a constant element of scorn and fear to the white race (at least through each of the experiences the invisible man has had with white people). Thus, not only is he destroyed through the perception of white people but through his own culture and race as Dr. Bledsoe has given the invisible man letters of recommendation whose intent was merely to waylay the invisible man from coming back to college and to not (as the invisible man had thought was their intention) to get him a job.   Therefore the invisible man is hoodwinked by a person whom he thought he could trust and this leads him to further epiphanies of himself and his race and either’s misconception. The novel is truly about self-awareness through objective perception.   Although the narrator finds brief solace with the Brotherhood and brother Jack (a black organization seeking to unite the black community in New York), this soon turns into another form of hate through jealousy.   The narrator’s position is replaced and he travels outside of Harlem only to return and find his friend dead.   Despite efforts to try and unite the Brotherhood again, the narrator is soon forced to recognized his grandfather’s maxim, â€Å"over come ’em with yeses, undermine ’em with grins, agree ’em to death and destruction. . .† (Ellis). The novel is about a man whose invisibility is plagues by mis-identity, and whose overall undertones of outside prejudices define his life as well as his identity up to a point.   The ‘yes man’ that his grandfather advised him to do was a type of camouflage technique in which a man can exist wholly without being noticed by being, in essence, no one at all – by becoming invisible in order to survive.   The sacrifice that the invisible man does is to waylay his hopes and dreams in order to be nothing so that he may survive, not be gunned down by either Brother Jack or by the police.   In essence Ellis’ book contributed greatly to the recognition of the black consciousness and the state of the Civil Rights movement in order for blacks to not be invisible in order to exist. WORKS CITED Ellison, Ralph. The Invisible Man. Random House Inc. New York.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1952. Gates, Henry Louis. The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New York: Oxford UP, 1988. Klein, Marcus. After Alienation: American Novels in Mid-Century. New York: World, 1964. McSweeney, Kerry. Invisible Man: Race and Identity. Boston: Twayne, 1988.

Nursing Theorist Grid Essay

Madeleine Leininger’s theory is call The Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. Because Leininger had degrees in nursing and anthropology, her theory had a combination of derivatives of both disciplines (Bibb, 2006). While working as a nurse in the 1950s, Leininger became disturbed by nurses who could not understand nor respect the culture variations. She then set out to bridge the knowledge gap between nursing and cultures. Leininger became the authority on cultural diversity in healthcare. The key points of her theory include honoring a state of holistic well-being that is culturally defined, valued, and practical. Cultures include technology, religion, philosophy, kinships, socioeconomics, politics, and education. Term Definition Applied to Nursing Practice Applied to Nursing Education Applied to Nursing Research Person Culture-dependent and holistic and sometimes includes families, groups, and communities Nurses can establish individualized care plans and care by respecting and honoring the diversity of the patients. Nurses are continually educated on transcultural nursing. In nursing school and in the workplace, cultural diversity is taught. Continued research to increase the knowledge of the nurses to assess the â€Å"person† in different cultures. Health A state of well-being that is culturally defined, valued, and practiced After appropriate nursing education has been done, nurses have to assess and respect the individual’s decisions on health. Everyone will not accept smoke cessation and weight loss as a part of health. As we learn cultural health  preferences, it is imperative that nurses pass this information on to other nurses. Employee in-services are important to pass on these diversities. Continued research to increase the knowledge of the nurses to assess the idea of health in different cultures. Nursing A transcultural, humanistic, and scientific care discipline and profession with the central purpose to serve humans worldwide Care is still essential in the nursing process. Care is now individualized and culturally congruent by respecting preferences of diverse cultures. We continue to learn through formal education and staff development how to care for persons of different cultures. We honor the research on different groups. This is also used to educate nurses on cultural diversity. Environment A combination of physical, ecological, socioeconomical, and cultural settings. We learn to respect a person’s space even if it is very different from what we are accustomed to. Especially important in home health settings. Be careful of facial grimaces and nonverbal actions. Important to learn and teach others that our impression of a livable and decent environment are not the same as others. Research empowers and teaches nurses how to respect and interact in the patients’ personal environment. From the old adage, â€Å"When in Rome, do what the Romans do†. Research helps to dissect what the Romans actually do. Bibb, S. C. G. (2006). Leininger’s theory of culture care diversity and universality. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

The Lion King Summary essays

The Lion King Summary essays The film I decided to summarize is The Lion King by Walt Disney. It is an animated film as are all Disney movies. The movie opens with the themes song The Circle Of Life playing as the camera show Mufasa, king of the lions holding his newborn son Simba. The whole community of animals is here at Pride Rock to witness young Simba because he is the future king. Everyone in the kingdom is happy about the birth of the new prince except for one lion. That lion is Scar. Scar is Mufasas brother and was next in line to be king before Simba took his place. Scar is angry and jealous of young Simba. Young Simba is a very happy lion. He plays all the time with his best friend, a lioness named Nala. Simba is watched by the bird Zazu, and when Zazu tells Simba that one day he will be king, Simba is more then happy bursting into the song I Just Cant Wait To Be King. Scar meanwhile has other plans for Simba. One day Scar sends Simba to play in the elephant graveyard and Scar also sends his minions , they hyenas there. The hyenas try to kill Simba but Mufasa shows up and saves Simba. When Scar learns of this he becomes angered even more and sings Be Prepared in reference to his plan to kill Simba. Scar has the plan set. He lures Simba to the gorge and gets him to wait there, while the hyenas cause a stampede of the wilderbeast. Scar knows that Simba has no chance of surviving the stampede. Simba is on his way to doom when Mufasa comes to his aid again. Mufasa gets Simba out of harms way but in the process finds himself hanging off a cliff. Scar sees this and rushes to the cliff but not to save Mufasa but to make sure he dies. Scar then tells Simba that he should leave because Mufasas death was his fault and the kingdom will be angry with him.. Simba departs Pride Rock very solemnly. Simba finds his own place to live far away. He then meets Timon (a wisecracking merecat) and Pumb ...

Free Essays on Video Game Violence

In the game Carmageddon, players run down pedestrians, including elderly women with walkers. If a player completes all levels of this game, he or she will have killed a maximum of 33,000 people† (Mediascope Press 2). Violence in video games has been a topic of debate in recent years, with concerns on whether violence in video games has an aggressive effect on children. Violence in video games makes children more aggressive and hostile; in addition, â€Å"video game violence makes children desensitized to violence, which can lead to violence at school and home† (Barnes 1). Video games that incorporate violence shouldn’t be played by young children. Young children don’t fully understand the difference between fantasy and reality. On the other hand, older kids know the difference between fantasy and reality, and right and wrong. Therefore older children should be allowed to play video games that contain violence. Some people say that kids are attracted to video games not so much by the violence, but because the games present puzzles or problems to solve (Sherry 1). If this is true, then why in a 1998 survey â€Å"80% of the video games preferred by young people contain violent or aggressive content; of these, 21% depict violence against women† (Mediascope Press 1). Also â€Å"in a survey of 900 fourth graders disclosed similar results: 50% of the respondents chose games with fantasy or human violence as their favorites† (Mediascope Press 1). Finally, â€Å"Two studies at the Psychology Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia concluded that men have a more hostile view of the world than women. The results from both studies are consistent with the General Aggression Model, which predicts that exposure to violent video games will increase aggressive behavior in both short term and the long term†(Anderson 1). Other people argue that virtually every new video and computer game released today carries a rating... Free Essays on Video Game Violence Free Essays on Video Game Violence â€Å"Frank, Betty, you’re right on time. Please come in,† Glenna asked as she and her husband Chris greeted their long time friends at the door. â€Å"Dinner is about ready, please have a seat,† Glenna invited as she hustled to the kitchen. â€Å"Can I help at all?† Betty hollered as Glenna scurried along. â€Å"Nah, thanks for the offer, but I’m just finishing up,† she responded from across the room. As Glenna set down the last bowl of food she bellowed for everyone to come and eat. â€Å"Where is Mark,† Betty asked, referring to Glenna and Chris’ 13 year-old son, as she sat down. â€Å"He is playing those God-forsaken video games,† Chris replied with disgust in his tone. â€Å"Yeah, he hardly ever wants to do anything with us anymore, much less eat dinner,† Glenna added with the same tone. I’ll bring him a plate in a bit; let’s pray.† Video games are a very popular means of entertainment among adolescents today. They offer a much needed, long sought after, cure for Boredom. However, there are many concerns surrounding video games. The frontrunner among these concerns is video game violence. This is a very real and pertinent issue because the teens that are being saturated with this violence on an everyday basis are the only hope for a better tomorrow. Moreover, if this violence is influencing them to treat life as meaningless, then there must be some kind of action taken to stop this desensitization. The problem of violence in video games has been pushed off and ignored for long enough. It is about time that we confront this problem in a hard-nosed manner to see if there is a cause for concern about our youth. First of all, we will discuss what video game violence is. From there we will examine the effects it has on the user’s family life, his social life, him physically, and finally, psychologically. In order to draw accurate conclusions on this issue, we must first define and explain what video game viol... Free Essays on Video Game Violence In the game Carmageddon, players run down pedestrians, including elderly women with walkers. If a player completes all levels of this game, he or she will have killed a maximum of 33,000 people† (Mediascope Press 2). Violence in video games has been a topic of debate in recent years, with concerns on whether violence in video games has an aggressive effect on children. Violence in video games makes children more aggressive and hostile; in addition, â€Å"video game violence makes children desensitized to violence, which can lead to violence at school and home† (Barnes 1). Video games that incorporate violence shouldn’t be played by young children. Young children don’t fully understand the difference between fantasy and reality. On the other hand, older kids know the difference between fantasy and reality, and right and wrong. Therefore older children should be allowed to play video games that contain violence. Some people say that kids are attracted to video games not so much by the violence, but because the games present puzzles or problems to solve (Sherry 1). If this is true, then why in a 1998 survey â€Å"80% of the video games preferred by young people contain violent or aggressive content; of these, 21% depict violence against women† (Mediascope Press 1). Also â€Å"in a survey of 900 fourth graders disclosed similar results: 50% of the respondents chose games with fantasy or human violence as their favorites† (Mediascope Press 1). Finally, â€Å"Two studies at the Psychology Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia concluded that men have a more hostile view of the world than women. The results from both studies are consistent with the General Aggression Model, which predicts that exposure to violent video games will increase aggressive behavior in both short term and the long term†(Anderson 1). Other people argue that virtually every new video and computer game released today carries a rating...

High School vs College 15 Key Differences

High School vs College 15 Key Differences SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you about to start college soon? Are you wondering what changes to expect? How is college different from high school?When you compare high school vs college, you’ll find many differences, some of which are obvious, others less so. It’s important to understand how high school and college are different from each other so you know what to expect and can have a smoother transition when you begin college.In this guide, we explain the 15 most important differences between high school and college and give you tips to help make this major life change a bit less intimidating. How Is College Different From High School? There’s a reason so many movies, shows, and books focus on new college students: many people see the transition from high school to college as one of the most important turning points in their life.You’re no longer a kid living under your parents’ roof; instead you’re an adult living on your own and expected to make real, important decisions about your future. You’ll have a lot more freedom, but a lot will also be expected from you, both in class and out. Read on to learn specific high school vs college differences. High School vs College: 15 Key Differences Below are 15 high school vs college differences you’ll likely encounter once you begin college. There are pros and cons to both high school and college, but knowing what to expect will make you better prepared for this big change. #1: You’ll Have More Independence The biggest change for high school vs. college is that, in college, you’ll have much more independence than you had in high school. Many people focus on the fact that you’ll be living away from your parents, and this is a part of it, but you’ll have independence in many other areas as well. You’ll have the freedom to decide what you want to major in, which classes you want to take, when you want to schedule those classes, if you want to go out with your friends, how late you want to stay out, even what you want to eat in the dining hall. (I ate Reese’s Puffs cereal every day for four years because my parents never allowed it and I was thrilled to finally be able to have it for breakfast.) #2: You’ll Be Treated Like an Adult Along with your increased independence, you’ll also be treated like an adult in college as opposed to a child under your parents’ care. In college, you’ll no longer need to bring your parents permission slips to sign, you’ll be trusted to make your own choices for what you want to study, and you can arrange meetings yourself, without Mom and Dad helping you. For many students, it’s exciting to finally be viewed as an adult, but it also means an increase in responsibilities. If you have a problem with or question about homework, classes, a grade you got, etc.,you are the one who will need to solve it. You can’t expect your parents to call the school and fix the problem for you like they may have done in high school. #3: There Will Be a Wider Variety of Classes to Choose From In high school, you didn’t have a lot of choice in regards to which classes you took. You could probably choose a few electives, but your schedule was mostly filled with the standard math, science, English, and social studies requirements that all students had to take. In college, even if you attend a smaller school, you’ll have many more options. They’ll be a wider variety of classes to choose from, and many of them will focus on more specific topics like astronomy, ancient Roman history, French literature, the geography of the United States, and more.Many college students like this increase in class options since it makes it easier for them to choose classes on topics they’re really interested in. #4: Classes Will Have Different Formats and Sizes Each class you took in high school probably had about the same number of students and consisted mostly of lecturing, maybe along with some individual or group work. This isn’t true in college.Classes can range from two to 500 students, and their format can vary widely as well. Classes may be completely lecture-based, require hands-on lab work, or be discussion-based where you spend most of class time engaged in conversations or debates with your classmates and professor. #5: Your Schedule Will Be More Complicated In high school, school started and ended the same time every day, and your class schedule was probably the same for every day of the week.In college, things get a little trickier. Some classes meet three times a week for an hour and a half, some meet five times a week for an hour, some meet once a week for three hours, etc.This means you’ll likely be starting and ending class at different times during the week, and you may end up with a different class schedule for every day of the week. Some people like the variety this gives them, but it’s important to stay on top of your schedule so you don’t wind up forgetting to attend class. #6: You’ll Have a New Set of Classmates One of the most jarring things for many new college students is they’re no longer surrounded by classmates and friends they’ve known for years. Instead, you’ll be in a sea of strangers (at least at first), many of whom come from different areas and backgrounds than you. Additionally, you'll likely have a different set of classmates for each of your classes. That's a lot of new faces! This means you have lots of opportunity for making all kinds of friends, but expect there to be some awkwardness and loneliness at first as everyone gets to know each other and figures out their friend groups.Additionally, since in college everyone wants to be there (at least on some level), you may find your college classmates more motivated and dedicated to doing well in school compared to some of your high school peers. #7: Classes Will Require More Critical Thinking Is college hard compared to high school? Going to college isn’t just like attending four more years of high school. This is a big step up in your education, and your classes will be more challenging and expect you to keep up.You’ll be tested less on memorization and basic regurgitation of facts and more on critical thinking skills and being able to apply what you learned in class to other situations. You may learn a specific math equation and then be asked to apply that knowledge to more challenging types of equations, learn about different historical events and be asked to analyze how they affected future events, learn a scientific process and be asked to describe how it affects the environment, etc. #8: College Costs More There’s no way around it; college definitely costs more than high school. Tuition is thousands of dollars, and you’ll likely be paying for room and board as well. And those are just the main costs. College requires all sorts of smaller purchases too, like special goggles for your chemistry lab or official test taking booklets for final exams. Buying just one college textbook (often over $100) is enough to never let you take for granted all free materials you got in high school. #9: You’ll Spend Less Time in Class Most full-time college students spend about 15-20 hours in class a week, which comes out to about three or four hours a day. This is probably much less time than you spent in high school classes every day which means you’ll have a lot more unscheduled time to spend how you think is best. #10: You’ll Have More Schoolwork Don’t get too excited about spending less time in class; college definitely knows how to keep you busy. The general rule of thumb is that you’ll spend about three hours a week on schoolwork for every one hour of class you’re in. With a standard schedule of 15 credits, that means you can expect to spend 45 hours a week on schoolwork, about as much as a full-time job!This is often much more work than students had in high school, so you should be prepared for an adjustment. #: Attendance Will Be Up to You In high school, you had to go to class every day because if you didn’t, you could get in trouble for truancy or (sometimes even more frightening) your parents could find out.In college, there are no requirements for attending class, and no one is going to call your parents if you don’t show up.However, don’t make the mistake some college students do and think this means you don’t need to go to class. Many professors include attendance as part of your grade, and some will even fail you if you miss a certain number of classes without a valid excuse. Plus, it’s often very difficult to do well in a class if you never show up, and you’re paying a lot of money for these classes! Make sure you get the most out of them that you can. #12: You’ll Have More Social Opportunities Even if you were a social butterfly in high school, you’ll have tons more opportunities to be social and make friends in college. There will be sports teams to join, parties to go to, clubs you can be part of, and more.Most colleges are large enough to have something for everyone, so you’re bound to find an activity you’re interested in, whether that’s a recreational hockey team, the student government group, a club focused on promoting renewable energy, and more. There are also likely many more students at your college than there were at your high school, so your opportunities for making friends will multiply as well. However, you do need to make an effort to get the most out of these opportunities. Push yourself to try new things and strike up conversations with new people, and if you're feeling nervous, just remember that they're likely feeling the same way. Standard questions to ask new people you meet in college include: Where are you from? What dorm do you live in? What are you majoring in? Get ready to ask and be asked these questions a lot! #13: It’ll Be Harder to Stand Out Once you start college, you won’t be a big fish in a small pond anymore, and it’ll be harder to stand out from the crowd.While in high school you may have been the star student/athlete/singer, in college you’ll be surrounded by many talented classmates, many of whom were also the best at something in high school.Some students struggle with no longer automatically standing out, but there are plenty of benefits to this. First, you’ll be able to bond with other students who are also skilled at your talent. If you were, say, the star drama student at your high school, you may not hold the same position in college, but you can befriend all the other high school drama stars and create some awesome shows together. Additionally, some students like the anonymity being a new college student brings. If you’ve been labelled as a jock or theater nerd for all of high school, going to collegewhere people don’t know youallows you to shed or alter that identity if you wish and try new things (or try the same things with less pressure). #14: You’ll Get Fewer Grades in Class In high school, you probably had daily homework assignments you had to complete and got a grade for. These, along with some larger projects, quizzes, and tests made up your final class grade. If you got a low score in one, it was usually fine since there were plenty of other chances to make up for the low grade. Once you start college, you may find that many classes have far fewer assignments, meaning you’ll receive fewer grades and each of those grades are worth more.Instead of regular homework assignments and quizzes, many college classes are based only on a midterm grade and a final grade. This means you need to take those exams/papers/projects very seriously because if you mess up on one of them it’ll be very hard to raise your class grade back to where you want it to be. #15: You’ll Be Doing Lots of Reading You know those pictures of exhausted-looking students sitting next to a pile of textbooks they need to get through? That’s how many college students feel.Expect to do lots of reading in college, including textbooks, journal articles, and literature.If you’re majoring in a field like computer science or math you can expect less reading (and more homework), but you’re still guaranteed to have at least a few classes where you’re assigned to read a couple dozen textbook pages before the next class. You’ll get to know your school’s library very well. Tips for Making the Transition From High School to College Going from high school to college can be tough no matter how excited you are to start at your new school. Below are three tips to help make the transition easier. Know There Will Be Changes You’ve already taken one of the most important steps to prepare for transitioning from high school to college: you’re expecting and preparing for the differences.When you know that the high school to college transition will bring major changes, you'll be more prepared for anything that comes your way. Be Prepared for Some Bumps Many movies about college make it seem like new college students immediately find a group of close friends, know exactly what they want to study, and have an awesome social life. In reality, it rarely works like this.Many new college students have moments where they feel awkward, lonely, and homesick. This is completely normal; after all you’re making a major life change. By managing your expectations of college and not expecting to love it right away, you can better manage the transition from high school to college and not end up disappointed when it takes a little while to feel comfortable. Put Yourself Out There When you first start college, there will be a lot of changes, and it’ll be easy to hang out in your dorm room and text with your high school friends. However, you should resist this urge. College is probably the best time you’ll ever have to meet new people and try new things, so you should take full advantage. Keep your dorm room door open to meet your neighbors. Strike up a conversation with your chemistry lab partner. Join a club or sport you’ve never tried before.Not only will this make the transition from high school to college easier since you’ll be meeting more people, you may discover a new friend or hobby. What's Next? Not sure which college you want to go to? Check out our guide on choosing the right college so you can make the best decision. Stressing over college applications? We're here to help! Our step-by-step guide breaks down the complete college application process from start to finish. Worried about choosing a major on your college applications? Learn how to navigate the process and make an informed decision. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The topic is in details Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The topic is in details - Essay Example During disputes, each party has specific needs and wants. Conflict ensues because both differing parties do not agree about whose wants and needs takes precedence over the others’. Negotiation strives to create an environment where prioritization of interests can be achieved. In case prioritization fails, negotiation will help conflicting parties reach an agreement through balanced compromise of their respective interests. According to Smith (2000), such balanced compromise of interests creates fairness. However, conflicting parties may fail to agree because both sides may hold substantially different understanding and perspectives of fairness. An example of such a situation is seen in the ancient Melian-Athens conflict features in the Melian Dialogue by Thucydides. Prior to engaging in any negotiation or in understanding why two conflicting parties are engaging in a negotiation, it is appropriate to appraise the causative aspects of an underlying conflict. In addition, it is advisable to acknowledge the social, political and economic context in which conflicts and subsequent negotiations are taking place. Melian Dialogue by Thucydides covers events surrounding tribal conflicts in ancient Greece. Despite being a single empire, Greece was divided along its ethnic lines. Buckley (2010) said that there were two major divisions, the Athenians deriving its roots from the Ionians and the Spartans from the Dorian heritage. Sparta adopted an oligarchic political structure characterized by a few wealthy members of the society commanding and ruling the rest of the citizens. On the contrary, Athens was democratic and the wealthiest nation in Greece. In this case, both parties held contrary political, economic and social opinions which lead to growing tens ion between them. Sparta had allies, including Melos while Athens also had its allies. Increasing tension sparked a 10-year conflict marking the first phase of Peloponnesian war between Sparta and its allies

Utility Concerns in Choosing an Assessment Method Assignment

Utility Concerns in Choosing an Assessment Method - Assignment Example Over the course of a year, the total income from the selected employee is estimated at $16,000, so, the per week income from the selected 50 employees is estimated at [{($16,000/365)*7}*50] = $15342 (approx.). These calculations clarify the selection expenditure of Randy and other expenditures from the salary proceedings of selected employees (Heneman, & et. al., 2014). For recruiting employees for ice-cream shops, Randy formulated two different types of selection methods, such as, interview process and work sample process. According to Prof. Higgins, if Randy used interview for selection method of employees then its validity would be 0.30 or 30%. On the other hand, if he followed work sample method then its validity would be 0.50 or 50%. For this selection method, Randy was received 100 applications from applicants. He used both the selection process. Interview selection process cost $100 per applicant on the other hand; work sample process cost $150 per applicants. It clearly suggest that work sample method of selection was costly than the interview process. From the previous calculation part, it is eminent that Randy invested $10,000 for the interview purposes of the applicants, additionally, $15,000 for work sample process to select the applicants. The average score of each of the applicants was 0.80. In that basis, it is apparent that selected applicant was reasonably profitable for the shops. If Randy could use only one selection process for applicants, he should use the work sample process. According to Prof. Higgins, work sample method’s validity would be 0.50, which was better than interview process (Heneman, & et. al., 2014). The reason of this was as interview process had the validity of 0.30. Employees were the public face of organization, so betterment in growth of organization should come from the great group of

Organizational Change Model Assignment Term Paper

Organizational Change Model Assignment - Term Paper Example While reductionist and normative approaches have their uses in managing projects, it is vital for managers in charge of implementing any type of change to learn of more responsive processes such as those involved in action research to improve their efficiency as project managers (Gustavsen, 2003). Understanding action science also helps in developing interpersonal within the organization. In larger contexts, such as that of XYZ Inc.’s expansion into Shanghai, China, action research is more political as well as complex, and tends to be coordinated across several change processes. In such a context, action research also includes a variety of stakeholders who have are invested in the organization. Kurt Lewin is believed by many to be the man who came up with the first form of an action research model (Gustavsen, 2003). The action research model is mostly used to implement organizational change in multifaceted social situations where the workers and customers whose lives or circum stances will be affected ought to participate in creating and implementing the change that will affect their lives. The action research also is being increasingly used for expansion objectives in international settings. In this case, XYZ Inc. is creating a branch in a developing nation with a thriving economy. The changes involved do not just mean relocating operations to a different geographical location, but also include taking into account new customer demographics, and cultural work values of workers from a different nation. In addition, the action research model is rooted in American notions of what change entails. For instance, the action research model actually perceives change in a different way from Eastern cultures such as that of China. Implementing this model of change will thus mean that a more deep-seated foundation is laid when the Shanghai branch is being created, as the action research model will even have to have its basic doctrines revised to fit in more with its society. In order to achieve success in such settings, the action research model is created to address different cultural assumptions when necessary. This model can also be applied to promote innovation and social change, as is evidenced by successful global social change projects. Its suggestions are also meant to rectify imbalances in resource allocations and power structures across different groups. This will be vital in traditionally bureaucratic societies such as the Chinese society as it will deal with any feelings of disgruntlement among workers. In recent times, the action research model has made adaptations such as the involvement of workers in any organization’s change process. This is referred to as ‘participatory action research’ in corporate circles. This is a big contrast from traditional approaches towards change where change practices are created and then implemented by hired consultants (Gustavsen, 2003). While XYZ Inc. is not headquartered in a nation that has bureaucratic leanings, it still has to change its structure so that it changes from being too management oriented to being more of a customer-centric institution. This can be made possible through the action research model. In addition, action research, as a method of organizational change, is likely to be accepted in the Chinese society which has a systemic understanding of the world. Nations with a large majority of Buddhist adherents, such as China, tend to be

The Evolution of Groups Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Evolution of Groups - Article Example The next stage arrives when the members of the group start to discuss their purpose of being together. Different members of the group may have their own purpose on mind; so this phase works to filter out those whose purpose differ from the majority of people in the group. Then comes the stage of choosing a leader; as a group cannot be directed in any direction if there is no leader to take command of the group. This is followed by the phase in which the group members increase their level of cooperation due to increased trust. This cooperation helps to achieve the common goals of the group. The final phase arrives when the members of the group work in a synergistic way to form a team to back-up each other and result in total success (Jones & George, 1998). The writer has very skillfully simplified the complex concept of formation of groups. It appears that the author has been studying the phenomenon very closely and in detail, since his interpretation is very practical and after reading his contribution one clearly feels that this has been going on in their life too; during formation of

Descartes third meditation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Descartes third meditation - Essay Example If from itself, then it is clear from what has been said that it is itself God, since if it has the power of existing through its own might, then undoubtedly it also has the power of actually possessing all the perfections of which it has an idea—that is, all the perfections which I conceive to be in God. If, on the other hand, it derives its existence from another cause, then the same question may be repeated concerning this further cause, namely whether it derives its existence from itself or from another cause, until eventually the ultimate cause is reached, and this will be God. Descartes presents two evidences of that outcome. Each piece of evidence states that an identified effect can be clarified as long as an all-powerful being is present. The effects Descartes draws on are the meditator’s idea of (1) his/her life as predetermined and (2) of God. In this manner, Descartes directs the meditator to dig up his well-known rule for unraveling the truth, which is ‘clear and distinct perceptions are true’ (Cunning 2010, 62). And, undoubtedly, a great deal of the Third Meditation focuses on whether the assumption of a misleading God, which appears to dispute the rule, can be eliminated (Wilson 2003). The application of the rule in assessing and disputing the deceiving-God assumption has encouraged a number of scholars to accuse Descartes of circular reasoning. In the Third Meditation, Descartes further claims that, fundamentally, God’s existence as his maker is a circumstance of his taking part in inquiry informed by the method of doubt. This allows him to analyze with absolute confidence that God made him, and hence that all he knows ‘clearly’ and ‘distinctly’ to be factual, is factual. God’s existence, in that case, is an external state of Descartes’s doubt (Gaukroger 2006). Apparently, God is not external with regard to taking up a space that

The Evolution of Groups Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Evolution of Groups - Article Example The next stage arrives when the members of the group start to discuss their purpose of being together. Different members of the group may have their own purpose on mind; so this phase works to filter out those whose purpose differ from the majority of people in the group. Then comes the stage of choosing a leader; as a group cannot be directed in any direction if there is no leader to take command of the group. This is followed by the phase in which the group members increase their level of cooperation due to increased trust. This cooperation helps to achieve the common goals of the group. The final phase arrives when the members of the group work in a synergistic way to form a team to back-up each other and result in total success (Jones & George, 1998). The writer has very skillfully simplified the complex concept of formation of groups. It appears that the author has been studying the phenomenon very closely and in detail, since his interpretation is very practical and after reading his contribution one clearly feels that this has been going on in their life too; during formation of

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2nd Research Paper

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2nd - Research Paper Example The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2nd The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2nd edition is the most widely used personality assessment instrument in the United States. Significant areas of use that have become typical include personnel assessment in military and air controller sectors and in research involving the normal population, among many others. From 1943 through the 1980s, the MMIP was the subject vehicle of over 10,000 books and articles (Butcher, 251). Over the course of its life the MMPI has evolved through several formats, reflecting the changes in social culture and approaches to sciences. The MMPI-2 was developed in the mid-1980s to apply across cultures, and the MMPI-A was developed for youth for youth populations from 14-18 years. The latest format, the MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), has not yet replaced the use of the MMPI-2. The MMPI grew from the research work of psychologist Starke Hathaway (1903-1984) during the 1930s at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. Hathaway led his colleagu es, including neuropsychiatrist J. Charnley McKinley (1891-1950) and graduate student Paul Meehl, through the task of compiling data from observations of 221 mental patients in the psychiatric unit. and comparing it to a normal nonpathological population of nearly 1,500 adults. With a goal of putting together a practical and easy-to-use assessment tool, they were able to build a 504 item true-false test from which answers could be used to formulate patterns of pathological behavior.

Media Violence Essay Example for Free

Media Violence Essay Introduction   Ã‚   A number of psychological problems are surfacing these days, especially concerning the younger generation. The open viewer ship of television, movies playing video games instill young children with the aggression violent energy of the show. It has been deduced through extensive research that children who view more media violence are more verbally physically aggressive becoming more anti social as the years pass. â€Å"Media violence exposure is described as a risk factor for aggressive beliefs and behaviors, and it is argued that media violence exposure in combination with other risk factors for aggression (e. g., hostile attribution bias, sex, prior aggression) can produce an effect greater than any single risk factor alone.† (For further review Gentile et al 2004)   Ã‚   Psychologists have been conducting researches to learn more about the physical mental effects of violence through media. The intense antagonistic music, lyrics videos affect the viewers most negatively regardless of their age. Even the cartoons which are meant purely for children’s viewing have turned aggressive boisterous. In classrooms students are getting into fights with co- students forming cliques comprising of most popular un- popular students all derived from the latest TV series. This impact is seen in girls more than in boys; however the boys are more into the aggressive attitudes physically. The matters to be discussed are: How the media affects the minds of young children? What steps are being taken by the parents to control these consequences? What measures are the media related people taking so as to broadcast less violence in TV shows? The government officials dealings to solve this problem? The problems occurring due to this social learning; a process where an individual learns by watching imitating others instead of ones own experiences, by exposure to TV violence in the early years are numerous. Some main points to be highlighted are: Diminishing of the involuntary concern for another’s suffering. Losing the sensitivity towards violence aggression by becoming habitual. Imitating the violent acts as seen in the movie. Exhibiting a hostile attitude towards others. Prevalence of risk factor:   Ã‚   Due to the availability of many media options like cable television, DVDs, the ever progressing video games. Unlimited time is being spent in watching cartoon animated movies, which are becoming more sadistic as the technology advances; generating a number of behavioral, social emotional problems. At times the media simply provide a boom to an already disturbed child under stress due to family or school troubles. Often it causes severe psychotic disorders pervasive developmental disorders with a very low frequency which makes it difficult to identify the main causes. (Merrell K. 1999) Description of risk factor at different ages:   Ã‚   The risk factors in media violence are many observed differently at each age level also gender wise.   A research   concluded at 99% of American families have televisions at home, 87% a VCR,   54% children have televisions video games in their own bedrooms. Average time an American child spends per day, in viewing different types of media is 6 hours 43 minutes; of which 90 minutes each day is spent in playing video games. This deduces that they consume double the amount of time in watching TV playing video games then they spend at school annually. Children are mostly fascinated by the fantasies stories hence fantasy based games are the most popular among kids. The total estimation of the profit earned by the video games industry is a whopping $ 10 billion dollars a year, even crossing the gross of the ever popular motion pictures.    It has not yet been deduced how the media violence effects infants but it may cause them to imitate behaviors in a minimal manner, from what they grasp. Usually the viewer ship becomes stronger when they reach the age of two a half or above. That’s the time when they develop the ability to grasp the right meaning of what they view on television then incorporate it in their actions.    The children of age group 6 8 are most likely to be fascinated by what they view on media. They do not have the experience maturity to characterize between the real life fantasy hence; they feel infatuated by the fictional characters try to imitate their actions verbally physically. Many children, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, answer mostly the names of superheroes they watch admire on TV like superman or batman.   Ã‚  When the movie superman was released many children tried to copy the flying act by tying a cape around their neck jumping from a higher place. This ended up in a number of casualties therefore frustration on not being able to carry out the task, which the superman so flawlessly renders. This is not an only example; the horror movies children view also create negative effects in the young minds. When the movie Childs play was released, a huge number of children threw away their dolls had countless nightmares by imagining the face of chucky the evil doll feeling scared.    The young age is open to magical ideas fantasies. They consider the on-screen violence as reality, this though process gradually develops as the child ages the difference between reality fantasy diminishes. The TV is taking over the family moments. This development is progressing with great pace which is an extremely serious issue needs to be tackled controlled by the parents with the collaboration of the media related people.   Ã‚   The media viewing habits that the children develop at an early stage influence their life throughout the ages. The inspiration they take from the fast paced colorful cartoons movies will embark a feeling of aggression at a premature level. The exploring property of young minds fosters them to learn the violent actions of the characters emulate them themselves. This characteristic is further highlighted by the intense sounds music supporting the movie. Theory    The reality enjoyment level of the violence creates de-sensitization. It is a feeling when the individual, loses the feeling of compassion or sensitivity becomes oblivious to the violence being broadcasted in front of him. This process is cemented by the high levels of graphics being used in video games movies these days. The points or rewards on killing, blood showing body mutilation in video games are considered as normal undertakings.    Depression is considered to be the major psychiatric disease of the 20th century. (M. Abdel et al, 2006) This problem is becoming common in young children as well, mostly appearing during the teenage years, it intervenes with a child’s psychological, social academic functioning evoking a suicidal behavior. The signs are often showcased by a child exhibit frustration low tolerance. Various factors are materializing due to the media violence exposure in children: Epidemiologists who have been studying the factors of violence other common social issues discovered that exposure to violent media played a vital part in 10,000 homicides committed in the United States of America last year (E. Cook, 2000) Individuals preferring heavy metal music are more subjective to psychological disarray, substance exploitation, suicidal risk in the extreme stage during adolescence. The effects of interactive media like internet video games are more enduring persuasive on violent behavior than passive media like television as they have increased levels of aggression hostility having a tendency to make the individual insensitive to violence. An inclination towards using drugs indulging in unsafe sex, contributing to the widely spreading diseases like HIV aids, cancer of different types. Specific effects on children/adolescents     Ã‚  Ã‚  The students of middle school or high school, around the age of 12 to 17 are very much capable of theoretical thinking elucidation. However, when exposed to the world of media they do not utilize these mental abilities, making them as prone to media violence effects as younger children. By this age they get much independence by the parents, thus making them highly vulnerable to in appropriate media. This is more compelling for boys than in girls; however, girls too are being captivated into the same habits nowadays. They indulge in viewing media dealing issues in negative ways including loud music videos, horror often pornographic content.    A research conducted by the of Washington epidemiologist Brandon Centerwall, evaluated that among one- quarter one- third convicted young male criminals had consciously imitated the violent techniques they had seen on television.(Tepperman)   Ã‚  Ã‚   Some percentage of youngsters both male females who associate the media content with real life are more prone to becoming aggressive later in life, however they are less prone to identify with television characters doubt the reality of media at this age as compared to younger children. Whereas younger children, are much enthralled captivated by the aggressive heroes depicted in the media. Excessive exposure to strong media generates some particular effects on children like: The violent behavior might perceive them into becoming attackers. It may induce fear in the individual hence creating a victimized effect. The excessive viewing of violent content may make them insensitive ruthless to the belligerence happening around them in media or in real life. It can make them ambitious for yet more aggression violence by creating an effect of negative desire.    The children studying at elementary school level are very keen in recognizing patterns of the actions depicted in media especially cartoons which appeal to them the most. Their cognitive abilities make it a grave period to make conjectures about the vociferous content recognize motivations of the characters.    The society should show some concern to the risks encompassed being spread through media. The fact that a young mind learns develops aggressive behavior later becomes desensitized to it; has been proven by a number of scientific researches. The violence itself is not the attraction for younger children, the graphic content dramatic production features set up the hype. As young as preschool students view cartoons like Pokemon which has been banned earlier in many countries due to its violent theme.   Ã‚   The children not just enjoy the cartoons; they buy the merchandise games of their favorite show as well. Another factor that appears here is when the families who cannot afford such extravagance fail to comply with the Childs demands; it creates a sense of severance in him or her. This might induce him to steal or get into fights so as to hide this feeling. It has been noted by parents teachers alike, that when preschooler watch any stimulating action oriented content, they become more aggressive in their play. The teenagers have a predisposition to confront conventional authority making them vulnerable to interpret some television violence especially exposà © of suicide murders. Research findings   Ã‚   If we observe the viewer ship of programs like MTV WWE containing explicit matter, it is clear that children most exposed to these programs are verbally physically more aggressive anti social. Children viewing WWE are physically more violent get into more fights at school. Both the viewers showed decline in school grades. Girls surprisingly have a higher tendency than boys to get into fights. The steps that appear in children exposed to violence on media making them most likely to imitate it are: Identification with the hero the program itself. Fantasizing about the program creating one’s own stories on its bases. The aptitude to commit the act. Vulnerability and protective factor    The expansion of children’s media started in the early 1940s up till now comprises of television, video tapes, DVDs, electronic games, interactive soft wares. The visual media has flourished more as compared to the print media like comic story books. The 1990s saw a transformation of media into a more violent physically aggressive medium. The rating system that they used to label the content has not been implemented properly thus provoke the risk of violence in young children, often traumatizing them affecting their judgmental qualities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  The media portrays unrealistic concepts regarding beauty physical appearances as sales tactics. This is perceived by the young minds in a negative way propelling them to opt for unhealthy diets suffer body disorders psychological effects when they are unable to attain that look. Minimum 20 hours per week are spent in television viewing by an average American child not counting the time spent on movies, music, video games Internet. This association with media is promoting inactivity the children. Less time is spent on studies social life. The parents use the TV as a way to get the children out of the way. Especially mothers so they can complete housework with ease.    The use of tobacco, alcohol illicit drugs is represented as high glamour in the media. The characters of the movies or TV shows often shown indulging in them. (Clark, 2007) $6 billion $2 billion dollars are spent annually by the tobacco alcohol manufactures respectively in advertising their product. Educational messages are also broadcasted but on a much smaller scale.   Ã‚   Repeated viewing of the harmful content has been noted to lower emotional response to violence increase hostility in individuals. Studies have documented that desensitization results in reduced arousal and emotional disturbance while witnessing violence.   Ã‚   A survey conducted in Ohio, in 1998 of more than 2000 3-8 grade students showed that as the viewer ship increased the psychological effects like anxiety, depression posttraumatic stress increased as well. (Cantor, 2002) A normal American child witness more than 8000 murders on media by the time he’s 11, 75% of these show the murderer performing the act without any regret making the children either insensitive or fearful of the society’s negative acts. (Gentile et all, 2004)   A national survey in 1999 revealed that 62% parents of children ages ranging from 2-17 confessed their child being frightened by something they saw on TV. Strengths and limitations Surveys were conducted, strength is that research will have positive implications if steps taken to avoid exposure of media on young children. Our research limitation is that we have to rely on questionnaires for this study. Though every person who takes the survey we take consent to be truthful and honest, but still some people might not be serious in answering the questions.   Ã‚   The research we conducted brought out many views issues concerning the media’s violent nature by parents psychological experts. Many a times the results deduced by a survey are not 100% accurate due to the answers not being stated with honesty. Often parents hide their children’s problems so as to cast a positive likeable image in front of others. Thus, giving false information diluting the research. Further investigation should be planned executed to fully extract the true happenings. This can help in contriving the broadcast of media to promote positive points among its viewers. The studies should be devised with a broad view so as to cover all the aspects whether good or bad. Often the experts do not co-operate with the evaluators therefore the end results lack professional guidelines. Expert opinion is always required to cement the result of surveys strengthen the evaluation.    The researches conducted in schools proved to be quite remarkable helped in collecting physical psychological health of the children. The information given was backed by the annual report cards examination results of each student. More studies should be conducted in different level schools. It provides a beneficial lead in devising theories regarding the children. Future directions for research Further research is needed in this field and especially research must be conducted to study the effect of media on developmental psychology of children. Future research will reveal how violence in media is affecting children and the related frequency of occurrence of abnormal psychological disorders. This will help taking further steps to stop such media violence and avoid psychological problems.    The research conducted proves that moderate television viewing with parents check is rather favorable for the young children. The media can be used as an effective tool in teaching developing sound habits in children through parental guidance proper planning of the medium’s people. Parents can use the specific shows as guidelines to satisfy the child’s inquisition. Watching programs with good values ethics on TV can help the children understand the right way to behave.    However the media is being used in a limited way, the variety of messages that can be incorporated through the medium is being ignored. Changes must be designed to use the medium in a finest way. The gaps left by this research evaluation should be fulfilled by further researches that are extensively conducted.    Advertising entertainment industries represent the culture spirit of the respective country to the rest of the world must not be used casually. Parents teachers should come up with strategies to create a sense of understanding in the children from an early age.   The parents should realize what effects the movies content on TV are having on their children try to minimize TV viewing at home level. Some ways that may be incorporated by parents to limit children’s revelation to violence are: Restricting keeping a check on what their children view on TV Discussing the programs with older children or young adults to clear their minds of any confusion help them in expressing their opinions. Start a family oriented time by going for picnics, organizing a special lunch or dinner. Allow the children to watch TV for a selected time period only programs that are desirable for their viewing. Offer criticism on TV channels sponsors for showing in appropriate programs or content so as to force them to use proper censorship. Conclusion    The effects whether positive or negative concerning today’s media are out in the open. It is the duty of every individual to counter such issues raise their voices to control them. Many researches experiments are being conducted to realize the short-term long-term effects of violent media. Feelings of hostility, revenge, anger sprout in a young mind provoke him or her to retaliate. Many reasons that promote violence on media are present. Often the viewer the broadcaster thinks the effect is too minute to make a difference in anyone’s mind, nevertheless children are affected by the smallest of acts without worrying about its positive or negative aspect. The media declaring that that there is no understanding of the definition of violence among the people continue to showcase the explicit content. They further comprehend by saying they show what the people want to watch. Believing that violence shown on media is simply showcasing real life. This is mostly observed in news channels movies, where gruesome details of murder accidents are shown openly. Parents allow children to view violent content in the name of comedy, many well-liked shows illustrate this example such as the ever popular tom jerry cartoon which shows both the characters beating or pummeling each other References Anon., (May 28, 2003) Preventing violence by teaching non-violent problem-solving American Psychological Association, [accessed 1st December 2007] http://www.psychologymatters.org/bandura2.html Anon, (February 19, 2004) Violence in the media psychologists helps protect children from harmful effects American Psychological Association [accessed 1st December 2007] http://www.psychologymatters.org/mediaviolence.html Donald E. Cook, (September 13, 2000) Testimony of the American academy of pediatrics on media violence presented to the U.S. senate commerce committee http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/mediaviolencetestimony.pdf Douglas A. Gentile, David A. Walsh, Paul R. Ellison, Michelle Fox Jennifer Cameron (May, 2004) Media violence as a risk factor for children: a longitudinal study presented to the American Psychological Society 16th Annual Convention, Chicago, Illinois- pgs 2-5 Jean Tepperman, [January-February 1997]. What do children learn from media violence? Childrens Advocate newsmagazine, Action Alliance for Children Action Alliance for Children [accessed 1st December 2007] http://www.4children.org/news/1-97toxl.htm Joanne Cantor, (April 19, 2002). The psychological effects of media violence on children and adolescents Presented at the Colloquium on Television and Violence in Society http://www.joannecantor.com/montrealpap_fin.htm Kenneth W. Merrell, (1999) Assessment of other behavioral, social, and emotional problems: Behavioral, Social and Emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents Lawrence Erlbaum Associates- Mahwah, NJ. Publication chapter 11, pg 275 http://www.questia.com/read/28160055# Laura B. Clark (2007) Influence on children media history of media for children, general considerations, studies of media influence, domains of influence, recommendations Education Encyclopedia http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2212/Media-Influence-on-Children.html Moataz M. Abdel- Fattah Abdel-Rahman A. Asal, (August 13, 2006) Prevalence, symptomatology, and risk factors for depression among high school students in Saudi Arabia copyright  © 2005 Europes Journal of Psychology [Accessed 1st December 2007] http://www.ejop.org/archives/2006/08/prevalence_symp.htm Wendy L. Josephson, (February 1995) Television violence: a  review of the effects on children of different ages for the Department of Canadian Heritage Reprinted with permission, by the Media Awareness Network. September 1997 [accessed on 1st December 2007] http://www.cfc-efc.ca/docs/mnet/00001068.htm

Control Theory And Gang Related Crime Criminology Essay

Control Theory And Gang Related Crime Criminology Essay Discuss how control theory and classicism theory adequately explains gang related crime This essay will help us understand the reasons behind gang related crime. To discuss the causes of gang related crime we will look at two criminology theories. Classicism and control theory will be used to understand and to demonstrate a discussion on the matter. We will look at each of the theories separately and then apply them to gang related crime. Classicism or classical school has been around for quite considerable time. A group of philosophers of the 18th century argued that human problems have to be tackled in a reasonable and more traditional way(Coleman, Norris. 2000. p.17).There was a feeling that criminal justice system of the 18th century was too inhumane, ineffective and judges had too much discretion and punishment was too barbaric(Coleman, Norris. 2000. p.18). That is the reason why classicism argues: too much policing or punishment could change law abiding citizens(Jacobs. 2009. p.97). We would think that harsher punishment would change the amount of crime, however classicism stands a strong case that more policing and tougher sentences would not help the cause(Jacobs. 2009. p.97). From everything what we have looked so far we can say. Classicism is so concerned with the tough sentencing then surely it would propose us how tackle the crime. Classicism will assume that human beings make rational choices (Jacobs. 200 9. p.97) and therefore this is the reason why they commit crime. For some people pleasure and gain that they get from crime is a lot larger than the pain of punishment(Coleman, Norris. 2000. p.18). Some people get so distressed and so obsessed with what they think is injustice towards a particular group of people or race that they are ready for the most extreme measures. As an example of these measures we could give you London 7/7. One of the bombers behind the attack only did this as he was willing to revenge England for how the police treated his own kind(Jacobs. 2009. p.98). One of the main interests of classicism is the immediate circumstances that surrounds the offence(Jacobs. 2009. p.98). Therefore classicism thinks that all of us are potential criminals(Jacobs. 2009. p.98). Accordingly to classicism criminology have to press one main question: whether the law is being too rigorously or softly enforced(Jacobs. 2009. p.98). Here, on one hand, we have classicism that argues that too much policing and tough sentences are not the answer, yet, on the other hand, classicism is concerned that the law is softly enforced. Classicism as such is quite an extreme reference point in human behaviour study. Classicism is orientated on the immediate circumstances that have triggered a crime(Jacobs. 2009. p.99). This gives us some guidance as to what will be the main things that classicism would be interested in and concentrating more than anything else. In classicism we would have to consider why an opportunities arise for people to commit crime. Why this is somethin g that is happening in certain areas and mainly to certain types of people and certain times of day(Jacobs. 2009. p.99). Some of the scientists have concerns that repressive and unjust laws could turn people into criminals. Another belief of classicism is that human beings are mainly guided by free will and hedonism and therefore these two factors are the ones that drive the crime(OConnor. 2006). As we saw earlier classicism is concerned about tough punishment and that is the reason why each and every offence has to have equal treatment under the law(OConnor. 2006). Look at this controversial thought in our mind, but completely normal under classicism: bad people are nothing more than the result of bad laws (OConnor. 2006). Next thing that we have to look at is control theory. Control theory is concerned on the measures that would stop people to commit and engage in crime and criminal activities(Jacobs. 2009. p.163). Control theory argues that crime exists and is happening where there are opportunities to commit crime and where is a complete lack of socio-central(family)( Jacobs. 2009. p.163). Therefore there will be no crime or as little as none where proper solutions are in place, such as effective controls and lack of opportunities(Jacobs. 2009. p.163). Durkheim had a theory that social world is maintained by integration and regulation(Jacobs. 2009. p.163). Control theory has emerged from the findings on family and social bonds under the Chicago School. Family and local community started to loose their grips on family members and community in general(Jacobs. 2009. p.163). Over the years many criminologists have created their own ways of control theory with the key issues that they thought were necessary. Instead of concentrating on why people commit crime, Reiss was more concerned on how to develop an instrument to predict which factors are to blamed behind crime(Jacobs. 2009. p.163). As a result Reiss saw delinquent group of people not as a disorganized but rather a functional consequence of the failure. Failure of personal and social controls. Therefore the key issues from Reiss point of view is that the family, society and neighbourhood were the main sources of the failure (Jacobs. 2009. p.163). All of the above were in the positions which would influence the present and future of the child(Jacobs. 2009. p.163). What do we get out of this: intervention with the child at the early years of his life could play an essential and a key part to success(Jacobs. 2009. p.163). However one wrong decision could influence the way this child is going to live the rest of his life. On the other hand Nye(1958) took completely different approach in his studies of control theory. He was looking for an explanations as to why crime is not more common(Jacobs. 2009. p.164). In his studies Nye concluded that the most important REAGENT of the social control was the individuals family(Jacobs. 2009. p.164). Nye came up with four types of control: direct, indirect, internalized control and alternative satisfaction. The key one in his mind was the family, school and police. They control people using direct restraints accompanied by punishment. However other types of control theory would reinforce each other depending on the context of the individual(Jacobs. 2009. p.164). Another one who had his opinion was Reckless(1967) who saw family as the main source of influence of a small child. Reckless realized that urban lifestyle contained many temptations to commit crime. Reckless came up with a suggestion that each individual has to break through numerous barriers to commit crime. These barriers were inner and outer containment where inner was a self control and outer was social control(Jacobs. 2009. p.164). Reckless main concern was concentrating on the self control or so as called inner containment. He suggested that we can control ourselves regardless of what happens around us(Jacobs. 2009. p.1634). Regarding the inner circle containment Reckless came up with four key factors: self concept, goal orientation and two later ones frustration tolerance and norm retention. Reckless has discovered that norm erosion is more bigger problem than norm retention. Sykes and Matza(1957) argues that it takes only a split second to commit a crime. Therefore for the people who were involved in criminal activities and delinquency it only took a small part of their life(Jacobs. 2009. p.165). What were they involved in between committing crimes? Could it be a small and temporary drift away from crime? In the eyes of Sykes and Matza many offenders still had bonds with social order. Sykes and Matza tries to explain this sort of behaviour and as a part of explanation they believed that we would learn conventional behaviour rules by learning the excuses or techniques of neutralization( Jacobs. 2009. p.165). In a simple terms we try to explain our dealings and ignore an obvious. We deny our behaviour and even victims. Hirschi(1969) on the other hand believed that social bonding hold the key to law abiding and delinquent behaviour(Jacobs. 2009. p.165). Social bonds had to be strong and effective or otherwise people would turn themselves to delinquency. The key factor for this drive would be rewards that can be gained. Hirschi categorized the social bonds as: attachment, commitment, involvement and belief. Attachment is quite an important social part of a person. A delinquent person will never have the same social bonds with his friends, teachers, relatives as a person who is out of the crime world. Concern for what people think about us is the driver or controller of our actions. Commitment is another example of a perfect people behaviour. It takes one small stupid act to ruin your life and everything that you have built in your life. So this is something that you are daring to loose. Therefore crime is not going to be an option for you. Involvement and belief could be combined as one. You believe in yourself and you are committed to the rules of society. Because of this you will be involved in as many activities as possible so that you can be busy and have no time for crime. Having looked at criminology theories let us look at the actual gangs. Some say that gangs are created spontaneously. However they become integrated in society by conflict(Greene, 2007. p.1375). Gangs differ in the members they all have. The type of activities they do. What type relationships do these gangs have with local community(Conly. 1993. p.20). Gangs can be defined as: group of people involved in the significant amount of antisocial activity(Conly. 1993. p.7). Reading all the above, we see that family has a massive role in childrens family. One of the key points in control theory is family. Control from the family has to have the biggest impact on the way the child looks at the world. Society and neighbourhood comes after. In the society we are living in many families have only single parent. In 2006 24% of children lived in single parent family(Self, Zealey,. 2007. p.15). Young people from different backgrounds have one thing in common. They all need families. Due to a lack of control many young people turn to gangs when their families have failed. A video on BBC website regarding gangs clearly emphasises this problem(Gangs, knives and crime. 2008). As a youngster you want to have a role model. In the family this could be your father. However in gangs, this can be an older gang member. Gangs replace a family for young kids. Looking at gangs and classicism we are unable to draw a common things. Classicism stated that any person could be a criminal. Therefore being in a gang would not make you different. However gang as such could be crime driven. In that case, all of its members could do criminal activities. In conclusion, we know what is the key issues in classicism and control theory. Classicism concentrates on the immediate reasons on why crime has happened. As much as to why these opportunities arise for people to commit crime. Control theory makes us understand which time in the childs life is the most important. At what stage we can get the biggest influence. In control theory main figure is family and the way family can control the youngster. As of gang related crime we understand the reasons why young people have to join gangs. This is due to the lack of control from family. When youngsters commit crime the pleasure they get is more than pain if they are caught. From classicism point of view: they have nothing to lose, because they havent earned anything yet. Family values and your own achievement would hold you back from crime. Therefore we can clearly say: both of these theories combined gives us an easy understanding of gang related crime.

Cause and Effect Essay - Plagiarism and Cheating :: Expository Cause Effect Essays

Cause and Effect Essay - Cheating School systems today are so lenient in their rules, guidelines and consequences; thus causing cheating, copying or forgeries to be frequently used. Many students take advantage of copying someone else's work whenever they are given the chance. Other times, students will simply have someone else do their work and turn it in as their own, not realizing the effects this behavior can create. This creates a lack of creativity, no sense of responsibility and the students will never acquire new knowledge. These practices of cheating, copying and forgery by students are unethical and should be brought to the surface whenever possible. Students that copy other student's work are hurting themselves in the long run. Their creativity level drops every time they copy or have someone else do their work. After a while of copying and forging, the student's ability to think creatively and successfully becomes next to nothing. "Educators must continue to socialize students of all ages about the importance of maintaining high ethical standards," (Glazer 222). The educational system is where students learn these tricks and proceed to carry them on into there professional careers. Corners are too easy to cut these days, and in order for people to keep their minds as functional as possible, they need to do their own work. It is too easy for students to buy a students paper that had the same class the quarter before, reword it a little, and turn it in as their own. Students are no longer able to write a fictional story by themselves because the computer or someone else can do it for them. Students also begin to lose the sense of responsibility when they have other people do their work. They don't feel that they have to do anything to pass a class, only that as long as they turn in a paper, their thoughts or not, they will receive credit for the assignment along with a passing grade. This creates the feeling that life will always be a handed to them on a silver platter. This type of thinking is what is going into the work environment when these people leave the education system.

Alcohol in the body

After the ingestion of the alcohol by the man, it passes from the stomach then to the intestines and into the blood stream in a process called absorption. This alcohol is then broken down by body chemicals called enzymes. In this case alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde after a mediation of an enzyme called Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH). ADH is believed to cause non-dehydration symptoms of hangover, like nausea. This process occurs in the liver. Under the influence of other enzymes acetaldehyde is quickly converted to acetate which is eventually reduced to water and carbon dioxide.An enzyme called cytochrome in the liver metabolizes the liver. This enzyme is increased in the event of continuous heavy drinking by the person in question. Although large percentage of alcohol consumed is metabolized in the liver, some small portions of unmetabolized alcohol will still find their way in urine of the individual. It is also likely to find some portions in breath. 30 to 45 minutes of after wi ll see the man’s blood alcohol level rise.Despite the amount of alcohol consumed by the individual, the liver will only be able to metabolize a specified amount of alcohol per hour. This rate of alcohol metabolism depends on the amount of metabolizing enzymes in the liver of the guy. This amount of enzymes varies from one individual to another. It appears to have some genetic determinants. Alcohol is absorbed more slowly than it is consumed. Consequently, the consumption needs to be checked to reduce the risk of it accumulating in the body due to its slow metabolism. Alcohol can even intoxicate the body.

A Doll’s House Study Guide Essay

Act I: Kevin Gao The setting is on Christmas Eve, in the Helmer’s Household. There is the aspect of the contrasting temperature, in which inside the house it is warm, symbolic of security and safety, whereas outside it is harsh and cold, symbolic of the real world and how cruel it is. These details are important in that they set the stage for the rest of the story. The people who live in the house are obviously very well-off people. They have money, yet they are frugal, not very lavish. The title â€Å"A Doll’s House† suggests that their home is very decorative. There is a bookcase, fine China, and other neat little ornaments. The characters are all described as dressed in nice clothing. Nora has all kinds of things on her like money and sweets. Money is very important in the play in that it seems to directly influence the kind of lifestyle they live. I’ve noticed that the gifts are very tacky, showing poor taste, and are very unnecessary and needless objects. In my opinion, only the rich people seem to be able to afford macaroons and other sweets. The macaroons are characteristic of lavish lifestyles, for people who have time to kill. Nora Initially seems like a silly, naive woman, indicated by her playful attitude (noticeable when she says things like â€Å"Pooh! † and â€Å"Just a tiny wee bit†). Her appearance in Act 1: she is very pampered and spoiled by her husband, yet later she reveals her slightly rebellious side, showing that she does not need to be treated as such by Torvald. I predict she will later develop a more independent lifestyle from Torvald. I notice that she is constantly asking for money. It’s as if she wants to do things by herself, with her â€Å"own† money. Mrs. Linde is Nora’s childhood friend. Mrs. Linde is like Nora’s foil in that her life of poverty seems to underscore Nora’s wealthy and privileged life. Nora isn’t being honest to Torvald. She is obviously lying to Torvald about eating the macaroons, and she is described as being â€Å"rather uneasy†. Nora adores her own children, her most prized possessions. She shows herself as a genuinely loving mother. Torvald delights in his position of authority as a husband in the house. He believes that it is a man’s job to protect and guide his wife. Torvald treats her like a child, which was described as like her father would, and is name calling (little squirrel, little lark) is like he masking his authority with tenderness, and that he sees her as a simpleton who will succumb to his bantering. He constantly reminds Nora not to be a thrift spender. He does not see Nora as an equal, and his teasing, his referrals to her as â€Å"a girl†, and his uses of pithy phrases suggest that Torvald doe sn’t take her quite seriously. Krogstad is a lawyer who went to school with Torvald. He is essentially the antagonist of the play. He was employed by Torvald, but he might lose his job. He constantly torments Nora with financial issues; he once loaned to her, but he blackmails her because he knows she forged her dad’s signature on their contract, even though he also committed the same crime. His actions aren’t characteristic of his good intentions and his sympathy for her. Unlike Torvald, who desires to get respect for his own selfish satisfaction, Krogstad wants that respect for the sake of his own family. Krogstad and Mrs. Linde used to be lovers, but she left him because of his immoral behavior and because she wanted to marry someone with more money. Dr. Rank is one of Torvald’s friends. Rank seems to be obsessed with talking about the diseased natures of all the people he is acquainted with, even himself. Nora and Torvald do not think very highly of Dr. Rank; he is simply unimportant to them and everyone else. He does not rank very high in their thoughts, hence the irony in his name. Act II: The setting takes place on Christmas Day. The space around the tree is very messy, indicating that they had a Christmas celebration. The room and the tree have been removed of all signs of festivities. The costume is what Nora has to wear to the Stenborg’s ball; however it is in need of mend. This is representative of how Torvald wants to dress Nora as one would dress a doll. The letter Torvald sent to Krogstad shows his complete narrow-mindedness, as he is not changing and as understanding as the other main characters. The maid hands Nora Krogstad’s visitor card and tells her that Krogstad will not leave until he has spoken with her about the issue. Krogstad’s letter is used to inform Torvald of the forgery committed by Nora. He uses this as blackmail for Nora to get a better position in the bank. Dr. Rank plays the piano in accompaniment, showing that he is still the supporting character and unimportant, as in the first act. Again, there are recurrent aspects of the â€Å"rich-family† theme, with the champagne and the macaroons at the dinner party. Nora has been thinking about leaving her family, specifically, she is contemplating suicide. However, she is hesitant about doing so because she is worried that her kids will miss her, and she thinks it will be difficult for her kids to adapt to life without her. The reason she wants to commit suicide is because of her forgery crime on the contract for the money, but she wanted to do this because she knew it was a choice to save either Torvald, or her dying father. Nora is afraid that if Torvald find outs about her crime, he will sacrifice himself and take all the blame onto himself (a fantasy she has concocted in her mind) and go to jail, which would be great but terrible at the same time; this is the terrible thing she hopes and fears for. Nora does not persist with her request for Dr. Rank because she is disturbed by how he feels about her, as she has stated that â€Å"there are some people one loves best, and others whom one would almost rather have as companions†. Nora wants Christine to be her witness in case she goes mad over the crime she committed, or if something happens to her (presumably, her suicide) and her credit is dishonored. To make matters more complicated, Torvald had written a letter notifying Krogstad of his dismissal. Nora tries to stop him by saying that Krogstad has power with the press to bad mouth Torvald. That’s when Torvald makes the connection between him and her father: that she fears for Torvald as much as she used to fear for her father, but that he is, unlike her father, not in any legal trouble, which makes him safe from all threats. He tells Nora that he doesn’t want to take back the dismissal letter, as it would show his weakness and that he is easily swayed by his own wife. This shows his belief that a wife has no authority in a household or in business; he thinks she knows nothing of the business world and that her opinions have no real intent. This, in turn, shows that he does not know anything about his wife at all, which might lead some to believe that their marriage is nothing but a charade, an act without meaning or purpose. However, it is his â€Å"knowledge† of her that Nora tries to use to her advantage. By calling herself â€Å"little skylark† and â€Å"little squirrel†, she is trying to manipulate him into doing what she wants. However, Torvald’s pride is persistent, as well as his stubbornness. He thinks that he must dismiss Krogstad to keep his own appearance of a strong man who is not easily stifled. Also, in my, opinion, Torvald’s view of social life has stemmed from his very stubbornness. For example, he believes that Nora does things, like warning him of Krogstad’s power over the newspaper, simply because she loves him, as a â€Å"typical wife† would, and that he must show her that she has nothing to fear (this is that â€Å"strong manly husband† fantasy). Christine agrees to help Nora with her dress because she wants to help her make a good impression with Torvald. Christine, claiming her to be more mature and more experienced than Nora, tries to figure out some of Nora’s problems, specifically, to look out for Dr.  Rank and to end her friendship with her; Christine does not leave because she is suspicious of Nora, and she knows that she is hiding something from her. When Christine reappears, she tries to help Nora understand the fact that her marriage is not what she thinks it really is; it is not perfect and she isn’t really happy with it. Christine agrees to be Nora’s witness to testify that Nora did that whole act on her own, and that Torvald was not connected to it at all. She agrees because she wants her to continue her endeavor to save Nora’s marriage; she gives Nora the courage and reassurance. Krogstad is pretty much described as a nuisance to Torvald; he is â€Å"morally diseased† to Torvald because he did not confess to his crime of forgery and that there was no justice done onto him. Torvald is disgusted with Krogstad because, since they used to be friends, he calls Torvald by his first name. Torvald would prefer if he showed him more respect as a superior. Krogstad is so desperate because he wants to gain as much respect as he can, and to achieve a high position in the bank, higher than Torvald. He does this in order to take care of his children. He threatens to use the forgery contract as blackmail to have influence over her and to make her get his job back. He says that he is willing to keep it all a secret as long as Torvald promotes him to a higher position. We learn the Dr. Rank is ill from syphilis, that he received it from his father (who was sexually overindulgent), and that he does not have much time left. This shows Ibsen’s tragically flawed philosophy that morals are hereditary, for example, Nora’s naive belief set, that any action is acceptable as long as it benefits her loved one; also, another trait is that Nora’s father always made excuses, and later â€Å"passed it down† to Nora. Dr. Rank confessed that he loves Nora. Nora is surprised because they have been best friends for a long time, and that she feels that his confession is basically a misinterpretation of her affection toward him. She does not continue with her request because she feels that he would think of it as exploiting his love for her, since he knows now that Nora will reject him. Unlike the other two, Dr. Rank is pretty much ‘the help’, as he states it. He has not changed much from the first act in that he is still nothing but a supporting character; he remains unimportant in anyone’s thoughts. Krogstad, unlike Torvald, is working for respect to support his family as well as establish an appearance/personality for him to others. Dr. Rank is not like Torvald in that he is only one Nora feels she can express herself fully in front of, something she wouldn’t dare try to do with Torvald. Act III: The setting is in the Helmer’s household. There is dance music upstairs. The table is in the center of the room with a lamp burning on it, surrounded by chairs. The lamp is like Nora’s realization; at first, there was nothing in the room, but as time went on, a spark grew in her mind, with its own ideas, independent from that of Torvald’s. The dress is great, but it shows how possessive Torvald is of Nora, and the costume he dresses her in is from his own choosing, as one would do when dressing a doll. The mailbox is like a cage; no outer forces can penetrate it, and it holds Nora captive in the way that she is trapped by the letter inside the mailbox. The door slam at the end is like Nora has finally woken up and has realized that her life for the past 8 years has been an act, nothing more. She closes the door on Torvald, suggesting that she no longer wants Torvald’s guidance; that she needs to do things on her own from now on. Nora doesn’t want to come back into the house because she will never be understood in her house. Torvald will never treat her like an independent woman, that she will always be a child. She leaves what she describes as a ‘stranger’s’ house. Nora’s dance, the tarantella, is an Italian dance. Her dancing is so flustered, and it is constantly full of uncertainty in the moves, which is like Nora’s character. The dance expresses the idea that an ugly truth, though it might be harmful, is the only way to mend Nora’s marriage with Torvald; it is Nora’s last chance to be Torvald’s little doll, to amuse and satisfy him. She says â€Å"Never to see him again. Never! Never!†¦. † indicates that she is leaving Torvald and her children, because she still thinks that he will step in and take the blame, and she does not want him to do this. This is also shown in the phrase â€Å"You shan’t save me, Torvald†. After the second letter, Nora becomes frozen, all quiet and puzzled. Nora suddenly realizes the truth about their marriage: that Torvald only cares about aesthetics, and that he would do anything for a seemingly happy marriage. The â€Å"most wonderful thing† it, to its fullest, a marriage that is not tied down by any social bindings. What Nora wants is a marriage that is purely feeling, unconditional love, without duty or responsibility. Torvald’s imaginings indicate that he is very self-protective, and that he is worried too much about what others think of him. His reaction to the letter suggest that he does not care about Nora, but that he only cares about himself and whether or not his â€Å"reputation† will be destroyed or not. These selfish reason are based on his desires for appearances; also, he forgets that the only reason Nora committed the crime was to save him, which further underlines his selfishness. by He mentions Nora’s father as a way of saying that it is not his fault, it is Nora’s father’s fault, and ultimately, her fault as well, which is very different from what Nora thought he would do (to take the blame upon himself). He repeats the most wonderful thing of all because he has no idea what it is, showing how blinded he is by his own fantasy of a â€Å"real† marriage. The story opens with Christine and Krogstad as a way to set the stage for the background story. From the phrases that the two exchange, it is obvious that they were once lovers, but that Christine left Krogstad for someone else with more money. It is also apparent that Christine often regrets throwing him out of their home, and that she justifies it by saying that she had to take care of her own family and siblings. Deep down, she always wanted to stay with Krogstad. Christine is Nora’s foil in that Christine’s poor, cruel, and bitter lifestyle seems to underscore Nora’s lifestyle, and her actions, such as living prudently, underscores Nora’s wasteful and lavish lifestyle. The quote â€Å"but now I am quite alone, my life so empty and I fell forsaken. There is not the least pleasure in working for oneself† suggests that Christine wants to get back together with Krogstad. Krogstad and Christine’s relationship is like a foil to Nora and Torvald’s marriage in that their broken and â€Å"shipwrecked† marriage underlines Nora and Torvald’s successful and ‘happy’ marriage.