Saturday, August 31, 2019

How to Make Shoe Polish From Charcoal

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Shoe polish is a wax material used for shining the shoes, boots or any other footwears. It makes the shoe clean and smooth all day long. Shoe polish is applied on cloth, brush, or rag. People can make our shoe shine by gently rubbing the cloth with an amount of the shoe polish. After you apply this, wait for the shoes to be dry. This shoe polish is made from charcoal and candle. By being creative, people can invent or discover a new thing like this. Also, by being creative, people can be frugal. Instead of buying expensive shoe polishes, people can now provide a low cost shoe polish for everyone. Sometimes people have been problematic about how to clean their shoes. Shoe polish is important because it maintains the shoe polished and neat to look at. Shoe polish can be a protective coat to maintain its smoothness. These shoe shiners should be kept away from clothes, carpets and furnitures because it can stain these things. Though this shoe polish is not on high quality, it is useful. It is useful especially for students and persons who work everyday. People can use this so that the shoe will look clean. Having a shoe polish at home can save money because instead of going to groceries, there are many valuable things inside the house that can be made of other things. B. OBJECTIVES This project aims to provide an alternative shoe polish that is very inexpensive and easy to make. This project also aims to provide shoe shoe shine boys a very low cost shoe polish for livelihood. Instead of buying a high cost shoe polish for jobs, shoe shine boys can now afford a low cost shoe polish. The researchers will also include the common objective of the shoe polish and that is to provide smoothness for everyone’s shoe. Lastly, this project aims to teach people on how to be frugal. There’s no need to go to groceries to buy, just look for any other materials at home. C. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This shoe shine keeps our shoe shine and smooth. It protects the shoe to free from scratches. It adds a protective layer upon the surface of the shoe that protects the shoe and adds to its longevity as well. It makes a presentable way that people can be identified neat and clean. This study helps to have a frugal-living. It polishes the shoe instantly without wetting it out and keeping it dry for a long period of time. Instead of buying expensive shoe polish, the researchers provide a low cost shoe polish. This is cheap but useful, easy to make without needing to run to stores and waste money for transportation.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Literary analysis of “A Good Man is Hard To Find” Essay

In the short story A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Conner, the reader is taken on a journey and tags along with a self-centered family as they explore the sights of the rural south while en route to their destination, a family vacation in Florida. As they travel the dusty road, O’Connor (2012) takes them from heaven, â€Å"all at once, they would be on a hill, looking down over the blue tops of trees for miles around,† (p. 139) and spirals them down to hell â€Å"then the next minute, they would be in a red depression with the dust coated trees looking down on them,† (p. 139) where they meet their sudden and unexpected demise. Through it all, O’Connor spins a violent, dark and dismal tale, utilizing symbolism, allusions, irony and psychological aspects to effectively convey her theme of good versus evil, and reminds us that good does not always win. O’Connor (2012) starts us in an unnamed city, with a family of six as they discuss their upcoming vacation to Florida. The husband, Bailey, is succinct and short with his words. His wife and mother, both remain unnamed in the story but have quite contrasting personalities. Bailey’s mother, the grandmother, is self-centered and often manipulative. His wife, the children’s mother, is quiet and meek as she cares for her youngest child, the baby. His 2 older children, John Wesley and June Star, are outspoken and disrespectful, and their rude behavior goes unpunished. They travel the back roads of Georgia together as the grandmother tells tales of the past and points out uninteresting sights, which fall on the deaf ears of her family. The family stops for lunch at a roadside diner, and the reader gets a further glimpse into their everyday interaction, and for a moment, things actually seem hopeful for the dysfunctional family. After their meal, the family continues on to their destination, and the grandmother and children manipulate Baily into taking a detour to visit an old, mysterious estate that the grandmother once visited in her younger years. A sudden and  embarrassing thought of the grandmother leads to a car accident where miraculously, nobody sustains any serious injury. A moment of hope in rescue turns dismal as their rescuer turns out to an escaped killer, the Misfit, who eventually kills the family. The grandmother, who in more ways than one is responsible for the family’s untimely end, has a moment of grace in her last moment and dies with a smile on her face (p. 134-146). O’Connor’s story is filled with symbolism and allusion, in order to further convey her dark theme of death and ideas surrounding it. An example of such symbolism is when the family is passing the town of Toombsboro. O’Connor (2012) writes â€Å"outside of Toombsboro she woke up and recalled an old plantation that she had visited in this neighborhood once when she was a young lady† (p. 138). The name of the town, Toombsboro plays on the word tomb, which represents death. This alludes to the reader that death may be in the family’s future. O’Connor continues with the symbolism after the family has crashed, and their hope for rescue comes in the form of a hearse. The family sees a car slowly driving towards them, lumbering along the twists and turns of the road they had just traveled. As it appears in front of them, O’Connor (2012) writes â€Å"it was a big black battered hearse-like automobile† (p.140). Again, the image of a hearse, which is used to transport the dead, brings the idea of death to the mind of the reader, and further alludes to the death that the family is about to encounter. O’Connor (2012) furthers her death allusions and symbolism when she writes â€Å"the Misfit pointed the toe of his shoe into the ground and made a little hole and then covered it up again† (p. 142). The Misfit in this case, is digging a hole and then covering it back up, symbolizing the digging of a grave, and then filling the grave back in. O’Connor’s use of symbols of death advance her theme and add to the dark tone of the story. O’Connor also uses a number of psychological aspects to further relate her characters to her readers. As O’Connor starts the story, all members of the family appear in one way or another to be self-centered, which relates to the psychoanalysis term of the â€Å"Id,† which are the unconscious desires of the character and the gratification of those desires. In one passage, the grandmother speaks to the children of an old southern gentleman she once  knew, Mr. Teagarden. O’Connor (2012) writes â€Å"she would have done well to marry Mr. Teagarden because he†¦ had bought Coca-Cola stock when it first came out and that he had died†¦ a very wealthy man† (p.137). This comment by the grandmother hints on her unconscious materialistic desires about money, and is even shameful enough to impart this negative personal quality onto her grandchildren. Moreover, this quality is seen in the children when O’Connor writes about June Star as she speaks about the roadside diner where they have stopped. June Star says â€Å"I wouldn’t live in a broken-down place like this for a million bucks† (O’Connor, 2012, p. 137). June Star is showing her materialistic desires when she states that she has no care to live in anything but luxury, even for a large sum of money. Further in the story, the children throw a tantrum, even resorting to violent tactics, in order to get their way and visit the old estate where hidden valuables are rumored to be stashed. O’Conner (2012) writes: â€Å"The children began to yell and scream that they wanted to see the house with the secret panel. John Wesley kicked the back of the front seat and June Star hung over her mother’s shoulder and whined desperately into her ear†¦ The baby began to scream and John Wesley kicked the back of the seat so hard that his father could feel the blows in his kidney† (p.139). Again, O’Connor illustrates the Id of the children as they seek gratification of their desires, which is to get the hidden valuables. This shows the materialistic values that the young children hold. O’Connor’s use of psychoanalytic ideas helps further convey her theme and tone to the reader. O’Connor also employs a number of examples of irony in her story to better involve the reader. The grandmother states â€Å"I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscious if I did† (O’Connor, 2012, p. 134). This statement, while foreshadowing to a certain degree, turns ironic at the end of the story, as it is the grandmother that detours the family down the dirt road, where they ultimately come into contact with the Misfit, and are killed. It is also ironic in that the grandmother does have to answer to her conscious, and O’Connor (2012) describes the grandmother, after being shot by the Misfit, as having â€Å"her face smiling up at the cloudless sky† (p. 145), showing that the grandmother died at peace. Again, this is ironic in that the  grandmother was directly responsible for her children and grandchildren’s deaths, yet she died at peace with the world. O’Connor’s use of irony throughout the story is an excellent way to further her overall tone, and engage the reader deeper into the story. O’Connor’s story brings the reader into the realm of death by her use of symbolism, irony, and psychoanalysis. Her use of symbols and allusions of death, seeking gratification for personal desires, and the idea that the characters meet an ironic death, all build a solid base in which to convey her theme that living a good, pure and wholesome life may spare you from evil. The character’s may feel on top of the world as they travel down the dusty, winding road of life, but ultimately die, due to their selfish ways, in a reddened, deep ditch, at the edge of a dark woods. References O’Connor, F. (2012). A Good Man Is Hard to Find. In P. Schakel, & J. Ridl, Approaching literature: Reading, thinking, writing (3rd ed., pp. 134-146). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Analysis of Stings by Sylvia Plath

In line 51 of Stings, writer Sylvia Plath uses images, suggestions and oppositions to develop her attitude toward men. In this part of Stings, Plath uses Bee King as his symbol - a man (Ted of her husband) is explained in lines 38-50, but she is a fierce, angry It is the girl of revenge. I am still awake. Because most of Plath's works are confession poems, they can be analyzed not only through the use of her poetry device but also through her private history. This poem was written on May 21, 1962, the second day we visited Wevils at the weekend. In most of Sylvia's biography, there is a frequently repeated story about what she returned to Smith University after trying suicide and subsequent hospitalization. This was the beginning of the spring semester of 1954 and when the plasma first saw a young woman occupying her dormitory during her illness - later Nancy Hunt, later Nancy Hunt Steiner became a plaque Let's take a closer look at Ariel by writing a short memoir about Sri Lanka's b est friends, their relationship. As the story says, Hunt spent a while in Silvia's room. And I felt that the previous resident was ghosted. Thanks to student talent and attempted suicide, Plath is a legend of Smith. According to Steiner, ... as time goes on I am getting more and more familiar with Plath's legendary details while guessing gossip by mentioning her name. Sylvia Plath was born on 27 October 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts. Her mother, Aurelia Schober, is a master's program student at Boston University when she met Otto Plas, her father, Plath's father, who was her professor. They married in January 1932. Otto teaches German and biology, focusing on genetics and bee research. Plath returned to Massachusetts in 1957 and began studying with Robert Lowell. Her first poetry collection, Colossus, was published in England in 1960 and was published in the United States two years later. She returned to England and gave birth to her children Frida and Nicholas in 1960 and 1962, res pectively. On 27th October 1932, at the Memorial Hospital in Boston, Aurelia (Schober) Plath and her husband Otto Plath (3 years old) gave birth to a woman's baby named Sylvia. Otto Plas is a writer of the book Bumblebee and their way published in 1934. Silvia is still very young, but her father is sick. His toes were cut, heels only, and later the legs were cut. Immediately after these incidents, another member of the Plath family was born. Warren Plass entered the world on April 27, 1935 (Sylvia is two and a half years old). When Sylvia came to eight things, she spent the rest of her life on her. Her father Otto died as a victim of diabetes

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

FTA Between Korea and U.S Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

FTA Between Korea and U.S - Research Paper Example   The key proposal of this convention is to double America’s exports in five years under the president’s National Export Initiative. This initiative hopes to double these figures by lowering Korean prices and tariff-rate shares on merchandise only (USTR n.d.). According to the United States International Trade Commission, this decrease alone would contribute between $10 and $12 billion dollars yearly to the American GDP. At the same time, this reduction would contribute $11 billion yearly in goods exports to South Korea. KORUS estimates that more than 95% of the two-sided trade in consumer and manufacturing goods would turn into tariff-free business within half a decade since its approval (Manyin 1). In addition, the agreement would get rid of outstanding duties within a decade. KORUS further proposes the instant removal or phasing out of duties and shares on a wide variety of merchandise. This proposal means that nearly 66%, in terms of value, of South Korea’s farm imports from the United States would turn into tariff-free goods. Other industries that benefit from this drastic reduction in tariffs on American exports are manufacturing, automobile, financial products, and ecological initiatives (TRADE.gov n.d.). The agreement also proposes the opening of South Korea’s $560 billion services market to very competitive American firms. This proposition is geared towards offering employment opportunities for American employees in industries such as distribution, communications, education, and healthcare.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Crisis at Canoe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Crisis at Canoe - Essay Example ordinance will be the primary means used to measure how food handling, storage, and preparation are carried out at the Canoe premises, although some other general observations will be made. When I arrived at the Canoe location, I observed how busy the kitchen was when preparing for the lunch service. This tends to suggest that demand in the local area is high and Aqua can adequately keep up with high demand. Furthermore, all of the kitchen staff were dressed in bright, clean uniforms. Appearance is everything when it comes to making food, even if many of the cooks are never seen by the patrons. Unfortunately, this is where the successful practices stopped. I felt a little warm while in the kitchen, and so took off my coat only to realize that the kitchen thermometer read 73 degrees F. What I witnessed next shocked me completely; a large frozen turkey was defrosting in a dish on the counter. This violates two components of the LA county restaurant grading ordinance. The first is that the temperature should have been no higher than 70 degrees F. The second is that the ordinance only allows frozen food to be thawed under running water at no higher than the previously mentioned temperature. This is in gross violation of the ordinance, and could result in severe penalties if an inspector witnessed this event. Apart from the issue with the turkey defrosting on the counter, the assistant head chef was preparing a chicken casserole and beef vegetable soup when I noticed that the woman did not wash an instrument when switching from preparation of one type of meat to the other. Once again, this violates the ordinance in two instances; equipment must be cleaned between uses and the temperature should not be in the danger zone (40 degrees F to 140 degrees F). One positive action that I witnessed was that the chef and all his assistants were wearing gloves, yet none of them were wearing hair nets. The ordinance requires safety hair nets, gloves, and clean uniforms at all

Monday, August 26, 2019

Communication, Gender, & Sex Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Communication, Gender, & Sex - Article Example This essay "Communication, Gender, & Sex" outlines the issue of the behavioral pattern of the genders that exist in the society. Using the American community as an example, Kivel (1985) labels the stereotype given to males in America as Act-Like-a-Man box. The name given by the writer has two major derivations.. It is for the reason that boys are forced to belong to the order of toughness that the writer hold the opinion the whole system has generated into a stereotype. The name ‘box’ given by the customer has its reasons from the fact that the compulsion given to males to be touch is carried around on a 24 hour basis. This is to say that the practice does not end in a day. Another perception is given by the writer in his text in the context of cultural differences. The writer makes the point that even though boys all around the world are touted to be tough the rate of toughness and compulsion varies with different cultures. The advocacy that the writer assigns to the te xt is that the need for boys to be in control should not be mistaken for the need to be violent. Hur (2011) writes on the topic â€Å"Why I am a Male Feminist. The article is a typical narrative of the real life experience of the writer. As a typical family setting that is made up of its own challenges and strengths, the writer reports of growing up in a home where male dominance over females was shown in a rather bizarre manner. The bizarreness is seen in the sense that the writer reports of his father constantly abusing his mother and showing extreme lordship over her. Indeed if two captains paddle the same ship the ship wil sink and so there is the need for one to be a master whiles the other serves as a follower. This means that the family should certainly have a head. This however should not be mistaken for lordship of the head of the house over the others. Unfortunately, the father of the writer did not view the situation from such perspective and went ahead to abuse the mother. There are issues of socio-cultural concerns raised in the article. The writer holds the perspective that people with Black origin have a special attribute that is leading them in the wrong direction. It was generally due to how the father of the writer treated the mother that made the writer take the stand of becoming a feminist to fight for the right of women. In al two summaries above, there is a peculiar subject of gender stereotype that cuts across. Both articles have instances where males are seen as lords over females. In their attempt to show lordship, they go t he extreme to characterize their attitude with violence, force and compulsion. This is the perspective that is most regrettable. There is a clear misplacement of priority in the sense that men take the wrong approach towards the issue of gender difference. It is in this direction that Gandhi (2001) posits circumstances under which people of certain gender are portrayed as being with traitorous identity. If the scenarios presented by Kivel (1984) and Hurt (2011) are anything to go by, then it could be said without doubt that the answer to Gandhi’s question is that males are those with traitorous identity and the do this though various forms such as imposing their authority on females, abusing females by beating them, harassing females sexually and putting up other

Sunday, August 25, 2019

How do the concepts of networks and the network society contribute to Essay

How do the concepts of networks and the network society contribute to the understanding of the contemporary media landscape Ill - Essay Example In the modern 21st century, we find that this field of information and communication is undergoing a series of changes, arising from various technological innovations, and forming a new setting for the access, subject matter, formatting, and interactive sessions, adding a new dimension to the socio-political world (Huntington, 1997). Under such conditions, various social movements, and revolutionary politics are able to interpose with greater force and in lesser time, within this new interactive space, leading to the convergence of the horizontal communication networks and mass media. This has led to an unparalleled shift in history, where the public sphere is fast moving away from the realms of various institutions, to this new space that mainly comprises of mass self-communication, and communication networking, through the Internet and the wireless networking modes (Klinenberg, 2007). This article will examine this new age communication space, and will study to find out how the con cept of networks and network society, contribute to the overall understanding of the contemporary media landscape. ... , Jan van Dijk first coined the term ‘network society’  in his book De Netwerkmaatschappij   (van Dijk, 2005), and was later used by Manuel Castells in 1996. Castells analyses this new concept of ‘network society’ and conceptualised that such societies formed owing to certain factors: The creation of the innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and the formation of global computer networks that helped in the global integration. The lowering of communication costs as in transnational transports, making it possible for the global migration to take place. The breakdown of the Berlin wall and the subsequent rise in global capitalism; The rise of various new forms of social movements like the human rights, civil rights, women’s rights, environmental rights, etc., (Castells, and Gustavo, 2005). In an interview, Castells defined the term network society as â€Å"a society where the key social structures and activities are organized aro und electronically processed information networks...It's about social networks which process and manage information and are using micro-electronic based technologies" (History; Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley, 2001). Castells further adds that technology is not the only aspect that defines modern societies, but other factors like economy, culture, and politics also form the framework of network societies, while religion and social status, help in shaping these societies. A network that collectively forms the societies, are actually series of links between basic unitary social elements, known as the nodes. When a single link between two unitary elements is established, the formation of a ‘relationship’ takes place, and many such relationships form a complex web, known as network societies. Van Dijk in

Cardiac Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cardiac Care - Essay Example d these are: 1) to restart the heart as quickly as possible, and to start cooling as early as possible, and 2) transport patients to a single-specialized post-resuscitation facility in hopes of preserving their brains. It was known typically that in EMS system, cooling begins after return of spontaneous circulation or ROSC. However, it was recently discovered that patients are cooled as resuscitation attempts occur, and receive a broad complement of additional therapies and support both pre-hospitalization and in hospital as studied by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center. Chairman of VCUs Department of Emergency Medicine and medical director of the Richmond Ambulance Authority, Joseph Oranto, MD, had explained the motivation with such approach. He said â€Å""Our approach was to do something a bit different.† He had explained the need for early cooling as part of EMS based on his conducted study. He had stated, "The basis is animal data that pretty consistently suggests that the earlier you initiate cooling, particularly during the resuscitation process, the more likely you are to get a good neurologic outcome." Ornate pointed out even though the early studies to prove that the spontaneous circulation had improved the chance of survival had been failed, he is taking chances with the EMS approach of cooling early will be absolutely proven to be beneficial for the patients. As the time the article was written, they are still at the early stage of application of cooling early after ROSC. 1) Good quality CPR that includes automated chest compressions and interposed ventilations. This is being performed for 2 to 3 minutes before the rhythm is determined and should not be stopped during defibrillation. 3) Cooling is achieved with 4 °C saline when drugs had restarted the heart. This is a treatment in which vasopressin and epinephrine are being alternately used. Drugs are given IO whenever IV is not able to achieve in its initial pass. During the

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Stages of Japanese Post-war Economic Growth Case Study

Stages of Japanese Post-war Economic Growth - Case Study Example Economic Recovery Phase: 1946-1950 The first phase implying the recovery of Japanese economy from the adverse effects of World War II started soon after the year 1945. Teranishi propounds that in the wake of the Second War, the Japanese economy confronted with an arrant economic disaster in the form of declining GNP, mounting inflationary pressures, and collapsing production. However, soon after the downturn in the year 1946, the economy caught the track of recovery. In 1948, the inflation was cut down significantly and production was steadily improved. This recovery and stabilisation period lasted during 1945-50 (139). This period is crucial in the study of the rapid growth of Japanese economy in the post-war era because this phase started a couple of years after the war. Also, a study of these years' economic activity suggests major changes made to the industrial structure that impacted on its growth. Japan was fortunate in the sense that although it had lost its economic and industrial vivacity as a consequence of the World War II, yet its efficient and effective human resource was still there to bring the country out of the disaster caused due to war. Seldon propounds that, "it was not that Japan was building from Scratch True, industry and the industrial cities had been devastated. But there existed large resources of well-educated manpower with a strong determination to survive" (271). The country's human resource played a great role in lifting the country from economic downturn to the recovery period. Seldon illuminates that the "'long-term achievement was to steer the pre-war economy in new directions move slowly away from cotton to heavy industry such as iron, steel, shipbuilding, and chemical production" (272). No doubt, the... This paper describes the rapid economic development in Japan after the year 1945 in the context of various phases it experienced while travelling to the unprecedented levels of growth. This paper identifies several economic phases in the development of post-war Japan, each with some specific characteristics. Japanese economic growth in the post-war period is considered to be an example for countries struggling against their economic disasters. It has also been termed as a ‘miracle’ owing to the spectacular effort demonstrated on the part of a nation that had just suffered from war, yet that leaped rapidly towards the economic boom. The first phase implying the recovery of Japanese economy from the adverse effects of World War II started soon after the year 1945. In the wake of the Second War, the Japanese economy confronted with an arrant economic disaster. Soon after the downturn in the year 1946, the economy caught the track of recovery. This recovery and stabilisation period lasted during 1945-50 This period was successful enough to curb the inflationary pressures as well as restore the production level nearly to the pre-war period. In this period, industries were strengthened by means of demilitarisation and amendments to the labour laws. The boom of Japanese economy from mid 50s to the early 70s was very well manifested in the growth of the manufacturing capabilities in the country. Not only that, the economic growth even rose above the pre-war level during the 1960s and this rapid growth lasted till the early 1970s.

Friday, August 23, 2019

No real title. it is all about the COP 15 Meeting in Copenhagen Essay

No real title. it is all about the COP 15 Meeting in Copenhagen - Essay Example For the US alone, the impact of climate change is $60 billion annually at 1990 prices from 1990 to 2025 in terms of effects on agriculture, forest, specie extinctions, sea-level rise, morbidity, loss of human lives, migration, hurricane, and pollution (Encyclopedia of Earth, 2008). Many of the US states are expected to have damages from climate change at US$ 1 billion each (Science Daily 2008). In Europe, the European Environment Agency (2004, p. 70) has determined that economic losses from weather disturbances increased from US$ 5 billion to US$11 yearly during 20 years prior to its 2004 report. The European Environment Agency estimate did not include several things but the report is highly indicative of the damage that climate change would make on Europe. The cost or impact to developing countries is anticipated to be higher as the changing climate raise sea levels and warm the globe. A two degrees centigrade of global warming can have a yearly cost of 3 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (Tol 2002, p. 47).1 The 15th Conference of Parties 15 or COP 15 is a conference of 187 countries in Copenhagen (Denmark) mandated to come up with binding agreements among countries on climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. The World Bank acknowledged that if mitigation measures are not adopted, global warming could be 5 degrees centigrade by the end of the century (World Bank 2010, p. 1). This paper assesses the COP 15 of Copenhagen and identifies the lessons with regard to the ability of international environmental conference processes to develop collectively beneficial agreements. Sampaio et al. (2009, p. 6-9) summarizes the results of the Conferences of Parties (COP) prior to COP 15 and is the main source of this paper on earlier COPs. COP 1 held 1995 in Berlin agreed that nations should take action to curb greenhouse emissions and

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Steps to Writing a Grant Proposal Essay Example for Free

Steps to Writing a Grant Proposal Essay A grant proposal for human services is a written presentation of a program plan. This plan details how the applicant will approach the identified needs or problem with their proposed course of actions. The narrative section of a grant proposal usually includes the following sections: abstract, table of contents, specific aims/background and significance/needs and problem statement, target populations, approaches and methods, long- and short-term goals, process, outcome, and impact objectives, activity plans and scheduling (timeline), evaluation plan, agency capacity and project management and budget and budget justifications. Grant writing involves lots of planning, organizing, integrating, evaluating and critical thinking. The quality of grant proposal is one of the most important factors in funding decisions. The city of Portland is similar to many other communities throughout the country. As a large metropolitan city, the region has experienced increasing reports of domestic and youth violence, spousal and child abuse, assault, and incidents of road rage over the last 5 years. The PEACE Domestic Violence Agency has a mission to reduce victim trauma, empower survivors, and promote recovery through direct services. PEACE is committed to reducing the incidence of sexual assault and domestic violence through education and strives to challenge societal norms and beliefs that condone and perpetuate violence in the community. In the case of the PEACE Domestic Violence Agency, the grant starts by identifying the program’s critical needs within the targeted community. The city of Portland has been experiencing an increase of domestic violence and youth violence, spousal and child abuse, assault and reports of incidences of road rage over the past five years. The abstract is the shortest section of the proposal, however it is the most important and most read section of the proposal. The abstract typically includes: the name of agency, type of organization, purpose and objectives of the project, specific interventions for the project, target population: demographic, age, race, gender, special needs, location and setting of project and relevance of the proposed project to the funding intentions. There is then usually a table of contents developed, which will also be one of the last parts to finish. It is a guide to what is in the proposal and tells you where information is located. The table of contents serves as a checklist during the writing process as well. The next section that should be completed is specific aims. This section is where the statement of problems and the issues to be addressed by the project go. This section will also include the working hypothesis for the project. The PEACE has a particular belief that is motivating them and guiding them through the development of the program. In this section, the PEACE organization will also describe the expected outcomes, and interventions proposed to achieve these outcomes. When it comes to writing target populations, the PEACE organization will want to describe the target environment such as the community, neighborhood, city and district as well as the population being served. This section will include who and how many people will participate or be served through the PEACE organization. The organization’s mission statement is a permanent expression of the reason for existence of the organization. But in order to bring the PEACE organization’s mission statement into a more manageable level, there needs to be a list of goals created that are appropriate for the organization. Objectives should be included as well, which are a statement of measurable and directional change for a specific population in a specific time period. A time line should be created which is an expected schedule for activities by each component. A time line helps the writer to realize the program’s time limitations and the need to plan well for the distribution and implementation of program activities. Program evaluation is a type of evaluation research that systematically assessed the achievement of a specific program, in this case the PEACE organization. An evaluation plan is a design that the program’s staff and evaluators will follow to assess the progress and results of the PEACE organization programs. A program evaluation plan should be developed along with the formulation of program goals, objectives and activities at the beginning of the program. The program evaluation will achieve some basic objectives such as: documentation of program implementation strategies, intervention models, and other process information. It also is a measurement of the PEACE program outcomes and results and an assessment of overall impact and success of the program. The agency capacity is associated with how much trust others put in the PEACE organization. It is important that the PEACE organization convinces the funding sources that it is uniquely qualified and competent and they can entrust it with funding. The budget is a financial plan that estimates the cost for implementing a program and the allocation of these costs. There are many costs to consider in the PEACE organization budget such as: salaries for employees including payroll tax, health insurance, life insurance, rent, utilities, furniture, supplies, travel expenses, materials, trainings, etc. The PEACE Domestic Violence Agency is a great agency with the goal in mind of reducing the rates and incidences of domestic violence, through the process of education, as well as providing assistance to people who have been hurt or mistreated. This organization has programs put in place to help the men, women and children regardless of their ages and personal background who have undergone some sort of abuse or mistreatment and are in need of assistance. This program is very important for a number of reasons, but mainly for the much needed help it would provide for those persons who have been involved in such a terrible situation like domestic violence. There are many financial needs that arise with any organization, but especially in a situation such as a domestic violence situation because the people in need of assistance may not have the funding to afford the help he/she will need to be safe. Depending on the situation at hand, the people seeking assistance from the domestic violence program may be looking for shelter from a loved one who has hurt them. If this is the case he/she would most likely be without much funding and would need a place to live as well food and clothing. These are things that could be provided with ease if the grant was approved. Domestic violence is a very serious situation that is important for people to escape from while they can. They need all the help and assistance they can get and it is important that there is an organization willing and ready to help with this transition.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Hamlet Speech Draft Essay Example for Free

Hamlet Speech Draft Essay In Shakespeares famous play Hamlet, Hamlet reveals the duality of human nature as he is the hero of one plot whilst a villain in the other. Hamlet portrays the heroic characteristics through bravery and fearlessness. On the other hand, he is a villain because he is a coward, disrespectful and he would do anything to achieve and benefit for himself. But Hamlet is neither a complete hero nor a complete villain. He is both, and this contributes to Shakespeares message concerning the duality of human nature. The following paragraphs will elaborate on Hamlets 3 different types of personalities. Hamlet being a hero of a plot is a major theme in the play. This is shown by through his actions of avenging his fathers death by killing the current king Claudius, Hamlets uncle. Hamlet demonstrates the quality of braveness by following the ghost ignoring the fears of his friend for him strong enough to break the restraining hold and follows the horrible illusion not knowing what could happen to him. [Hamlet-Shakespeare Act 1, Scene 4, 88 95] Hold off your hands, My fate cries out and makes each petty artery in this body as hardy as the Nemean lions nerve. Still am I called.- Unhand me, gentleman. By heaven, Ill make a ghost of him that lets me! I say, away. -Go on. Ill follow thee. Hamlet does this because he is in desperate urge of wanting to discover how his father died and that he truly loves his father. The final reason for Hamlet being a hero is because he is not afraid of facing a politically superior man. This means that hamlet is not afraid to face the king; a person more powerful than him and tell everyone the truth about what happened to his father. Hamlet demonstrates the quality of fearlessness when is ready to fight the king. This is proven when he says [Hamlet-Shakespeare Act 5, Scene2 198 -200] I am constant to my purpose, they follow the Kings pleasure. If his fitness speaks, mine is ready. Now or whensoever, provided I be so able as now These words show that Hamlets fearlessness quality and that he is not afraid of facing a person much more powerful than him. Hamlet shows his bravery, fearlessness and determination through his action and speech and those are the qualities of a hero. Although Hamlet has many great Heroic qualities, he also has numerous villain characteristics shown through his actions and speech. He may be seen as a villain because he caused the death to the whole royal family including Polonius, Ophelia and even himself. One of his villain characteristics is portrayed when Hamlet said some harsh words to his mother making her feel threatened. [Hamlet-Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 4, 21-23] Come, come, and sit you down. You shall not budge. You go not till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. These words illustrate one of Hamlets villain characteristics of being disrespectful. In addition to that, he broke Ophelias heart, as well as killing her father which caused her to become insane and lead her to commit suiciding. He also lied to his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern changing the letter making them the suspect of execution. Hamlet says [Hamlet-Shakespeare Act 5, Scene 2, 61-66] Why, man, they did make love to this employment. They are not near my conscience. Their defeat does by their own insinuation grow. Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes between the pass and fell incensed points of mighty opposites. This shows that Hamlet is a coward, not facing execution himself but had to make his innocent friends face execution for him. These evidences proves that Hamlet is a villain because the death of the king Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Laertes, Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and himself is caused by him either directly or indirectly. Shakespeare uses the characters in the play Hamlet, especially the protagonist Hamlet to imitate the duality of human nature. Hamlet is a perfect example of a duality because he is both noble and immoral at the same time. An example of this is at the beginning when he is shocked over his father death and his mothers quick remarriage to his uncle. This is shown in the text when Hamlet says [Hamlet-Shakespeare Act 1, Scene 2, 151-158] even she O, God, a beast, that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer married with my uncle, my fathers brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules. Within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. He then changes when he soon discovers about how his father was murdered and desires to seek revenge. Another example of a duality is that Hamlet exposes the noble side of himself. This is when he grieves for his father and despises the situation that his mother has left him in. He says [Hamlet-Shakespeare Act 1, Scene 2, 85-88] These indeed seem, for they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passes show these but the trappings and the suits of woe. This makes the reader feel that he dislikes his mother but on the contrary he still loves her even though she has left him in a miserable situation. These examples portray the duality of human nature from the character Hamlet. Hamlet can be both the hero due to the bravery and fearlessness he has shown through his actions. Although he shows heroic qualities, he can still be a villain through his coward, disrespectful and immoral actions. Hamlet is often noticed that he has more than one side to his personality at the same time and this is revealed through the play when he stands for what he believes in and takes avenge for his fathers death but in the contrary not only did he kill Claudius, he was involved in everyones death including Ophelia, Polonius, Gertrude, Laertes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and that he would do anything to achieve and benefit for himself. Through these actions, Hamlet portrays the qualities of the duality of human nature.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Computer Mediated Communication Media Essay

The Computer Mediated Communication Media Essay Computer-mediated communication is defined by Metz as cited in Miller Brunner, 2008 as any communication patterns mediated by a computer. The notion of CMC was first discussed in Licklider and Taylor (1968), which posits men will be able to communicate more effectively through a machine (i.e., a computer) than face to face. After almost two decades of studies, researchers have found it increasingly useful to regard computers, through which communication is mediated, as a mass medium (Morris Ogan, 1996). With changes taking place in various aspects of life today due to proliferation of communication, Miller Brunner (2008) hold that research into CMC has become increasingly prominent. CMC studies in both education and business domains have been concerned about the effects of computer as a medium of mass communication (Morris Ogan, 1996). This is largely due to the following characteristics of CMC that Morris (as cited in Chen, 2009) has identified: ubiquity, transparency, asynchronism, hyper-reality, and interactivity. Contrary to its actual potential, earlier ideas about CMC advocated a lack of capacity to deliver rich social information due to text-based and visually anonymous environment (Yao Flanagin, 2004). CMC had been criticised to have inherently prevented interpersonal communication and encouraged impersonal interactions such as bashings on the Internet (Kiesler, Siegel, McGuire, 1984). Siegel, Dubrovsky, Kiesler, and McGuire (1986) find that computer-mediated groups tend to demonstrate more aggressive behavior such as name-calling and swearings, as compared to groups that use face-to-face interactions. Nevertheless, such a deterministic view was challenged in subsequent studies. For instance, it is claimed the email plays a positive role by deconstructing organisational structures, allowing for greater information exchange among more people, and improving socialisation (Spence, 2002). Besides, CMC users are found to be able to adapt to the virtual environment and develop interpersonal relationships that resemble relationships formed face-to-face (Yao Flanagin, 2004). It is also found that group collaboration in CMC has contributed to group processing outcomes deemed innovative and democratic (Miller Brunner, 2008). 2.2 A shift on the Internet The Internet is evolving into a PeopleWeb, which indicates a shift from a web comprised of pages to one populated by people and their artifacts and interactions (Ramakrishnan Tomkin, 2007). In that regard, social networking sites such as Facebook and Friendster that allow information sharing and sourcing, have become extremely popular in the new media (Lipsman, as cited in Pfeil et al., 2009), and according to Bausch and Han (2006), will continue to attract users in a large number. Users are moving away from a state of anonymity on the Internet (McKenna Bargh, 2000) with the evolvement of computer technologies. For instance, popular Chinese social networking site RenRen is concluded to be an extension of users real life as self-disclosure phenomenon elicited by reality rather than anonymity is found present on the site (Yu Wu, 2010). While web 1.0 is getting replaced by applications in the web 2.0 era such as blogs, wikis, and collaborative projects (Kaplan Haenlein, 2009), content now can be modified by all users in a participatory and collaborative manner rather than on an individual basis (Kaplan Haenlein, 2009; Cheung, Chiu, Lee, 2010). With the rise of the social networking sites, their popularity is gauged not only by the size of the user base, but also the ability to provide users with the most significant amount of interaction (Cheung et al., 2010). It is reported in Bausch and Han (2006) that users of the top ten social networking sites in the U.S. had grown from 46.8 million in 2006 to 68.8 million in the following year. The growth of social media has influenced social interaction among people and contributed to a new meaning of the interaction, where scholars have begun looking into (as cited in Lipsman, Pfeil et al., 2009). The ramification of the new media is, as Grossman (2006) puts it, a community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. The web 2.0 a revolution is as if a new version of some old software (Grossman, 2006). Papacharissi and Rubin (2000) have identified online empowerment of individuals linking to instrumentality, interactivity, activity, and involvement as the causes of influence of the new web. On the other hand, Jacobs et al. (2009) attribute the rapid growth of social media to its ability to allow users to produce and share content. While the active audience theory has been shunned as far as traditional media is concerned, Livingstone (1999) highlights the importance of audience activity in both the design and use of interactive media. In fact, the shift in media user activity has been discussed since as early as 1963, when Klapper (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008) put forth the idea that UG focuses on what people do with mass media, rather than what mass media does to people. Shin (2009) calls the UG approach a paradigm shift from traditional media research, where focus was placed on media effects (e.g., what media does to people). A review of the UG theory can be found after this sub-chapter. 2.3 Uses and gratifications (UG) theory The UG theory, otherwise known as the needs and gratifications theory (Roy, 2009, revolves around why and how people use certain media (Lo Leung, 2009). The term gratifications was coined by psychologist Herta Herzogto in 1944 to illustrate specific dimensions of radio audiences usage satisfaction, following which mass communication theorists had adopted and adapted the concept to study various mass media such as TV and electronic bulletins (Luo, 2002). The UG theory is built upon the basic assumption that audience has their own agenda and is deemed as active and goal-oriented rather than passive consumers of information (McQuail, Blumler, Brown, as cited in Katz, Blumler, Gurevitch, 1974). By assuming the audience to be active and goal-directed, the UG perspective posits that they opt for and consume certain media and content that would satisfy their psychological needs, which explains the motivation of their media use (Katz, Gurevitch, Hass, 1973; Rubin, as cited in Roy, 2009; Katz, Blumler, Gurevitch, as cited in Kim, Sohn, Choi, 2010). Such fulfillment of needs as a source of motivation, is proposed to be affecting user gratification of media use (Sangwan, 2005). The UG theory has been adopted and adapted over the years to study the use of various media ranging from the more conventional mass media to the new media and later to mobile technology (Stafford et al., 2004; Chigona et al., 2008; Roy, 2009; Shin, 2009; Liu et al., 2010). Although some scholars have questioned UGs utility in studying the digital media, Ruggiero (as cited in Quan-Haase, 2012) posits the need to seriously include the UG approach in any attempt to speculate on the future direction of mass communication theory. Besides, it is contended that whenever a new technology makes its way into the arena of mass communication, users underlying motivations and decisions to use the new communication tool could be explained by applying the UG paradigm (Elliott Rosenberg, Liu, Cheung Lee, 2010). However, in order to effectively study and measure the new media by using the UG scales intended for traditional media research, Lin (as cited in Shin, 2009) holds that a revision to the scales will be required. Consistent with Lins idea is Angleman (as cited in Shin, 2009), who believes existing theories require amendments in order to fit new media studies. Application of the UG theory in various new media studies has been reviewed and an overview of those studies with their respective motivations is presented in Table 1. Table 2.1: Overview of Prior Studies on New Media UG Author and year Research area Motivations identified James, Wotring, Forrest (1995) Electronic bulletin board (i.e., forums) Transmission of information and education, socialising, medium appeal, computer or other business, entertainment Korgaonkar Wolin (1999) Internet Social escapism, transaction, privacy, information, interaction, socialization, economic motivations Papacharissi (2002) Personal home pages Passing time, entertainment, information, self-expression, professional advancement, communication with friends and family Stafford et al. (2004) Internet Process: resources, search engines, searching, surfing, technology, web sites Content: education, information, knowledge, learning, research Social: chatting, friends, interactions, people Ko, Cho, Roberts (2005) Internet Information, convenience, entertainment, social-interaction Diddi LaRose (2006) Internet news Surveillance, escapism, pass time, entertainment, habit Cheung Lee (2009) Virtual comminity Purposive value, self-discovery, entertainment value, social enhancement, maintaining interpersonal interconnectivity Haridakis Hanson (2009) YouTube Convenient entertainment, convenient information seeking, co-viewing, social interaction Mendes-Filho Tan (2009) User-generated content Content: information consistency, source credibility, argument quality, information framing Process: medium; entertainment Social: recommendation consistency, recommendation rating Liu, Cheung Lee (2010) Twitter Content: disconfirmation of self-documentation, disconfirmation of information sharing Process: disconfirmation of entertainment, disconfirmation of passing time, disconfirmation of self-expression Social: disconfirmation of social interaction Technology: disconfirmation of medium appeal, disconfirmation of convenience 2.4 Media user gratifications Katz et al. (1974) suggest research on gratifications has revolved around media-related needs that serve to satisfy media consumers at least in part who are deemed active and goal-oriented. Despite having a problem with ambiguity as far as definition is concerned, Weiss (1976) asserts that related key terms like uses, needs, satisfactions, gratifications, and motives are being used interchangeably across different papers and within single papers. Stafford et al. (2004) define gratifications as some aspects of user-reported satisfaction. It has been found that satisfaction of user motivations is positively correlated with future internet usage (Papacharissi Rubin, 2000). Before resorting to a certain behavior of media use, past experiences of individuals and whether or not their motivations can be satisfied by certain behaviors will be evaluated (McLeod Becker, as cited in Johnson Yang, 2008). Sangwan (2005) puts forth the idea that gratification can be used as a proxy measure to evaluate the success or failure of a virtual community, which is similar to that used in information systems. He proposes that gratification of media users will be affected by fulfillment of media needs that acts as a motivator. In this research, a total of 22 questions on social media use are employed as the instrument to evaluate and explain users motivations. By taking up the proposal by Sangwan (2005), the research outcome will tell if users motivations have an effect on the gratifications or satisfaction of media users. Detailed information on the research instrument can be referred to in Chapter 3. 2.5 Categorisations of needs and gratifications The UG theory proposes five categories of needs, namely cognitive, affective, personal integrative, social integrative and tension release needs (Katz et al., 1973). Over the years, researchers appropriating the UG theory to study various media have discovered a plethora of different needs. While some of these needs are rather consistent with one of the earliest classifications of needs by Katz et al. (1973), others are not. In a study that examines the relations between web usage and satisfaction, Luo (2002) employs three constructs drawn from previous traditional media UG research, namely informativeness, entertainment, and irritation, in order to assess how each of them affects user attitude towards the web. Research results have confirmed the said constructs were what determine users attitude towards the web. Also employs similar constructs include such researchers as Eighmey (1997), Eighmey and McCord (1998), as well as Kargaonkar and Wolin (1999). Livaditi, Vassilopoulou, Lougos, and Chorianopoulos (2003), in their interactive TV applications UG study, catogorise media needs into the two basic constructs of ritualised and instrumental. Other researchers who have adopted such a classification of needs are Metzger and Flanagin, as well as Rubin (as cited in Ran, 2008), who have found that gratifications, as motivations, do lead to both ritualised and instrumental use of media. In Sangwan (2005), several types of needs have been identified to explain the motivations behind the use of virtual community platforms, such as forums: functional, emotive, and contextual needs. However, it is posited that although the research sample has been assumed to be active participants of virtual communities, there are also passive participants whose latent needs have yet to be identified (Sangwan, 2005). Cutler and Danowski, as well as Stafford and Stafford (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008) divide motivations into the categories of process and content. Later, an additional category known as social motivations has been identified and included (Stafford Stafford, as cited in Chigona et al., 2008). Stafford et al. (2004) describe this additional social dimension as unique to Internet use. Although found to be the weakest variable among others, social motivations serves as a vital construct in the Internet-specific UG research (Stafford et al., 2004). Chigona et al. (2008), who appropriate the motivation categories verified in Stafford et al. (2004) to study mobile Internet UG, have confirmed the presence of all three constructs. Peters, Amato, and Hollenbeck (2007), as well as Mendes-Filho and Tan (2009) are among other researchers who have adopted the three constructs in their respectively studies of wireless advertising and user-generated content. Also adopting the instruments is Shin (2009), who, on top of the three motivation types, has added embedded gratifications to study wireless Internet use. Besides, Liu et al. (2010) also employ the three motivations types on top of an additional technology gratification to study Twitter use. 2.6 Process, content, and social motivations This study bases its main framework on one developed by Stafford and Stafford (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008), and later verified by Stafford et al. (2004): the three motivation types of process, content, and social. The rationale behind this choice has been explained in Chapter 1 under Statement of problem (p.zz). What is defined by each of the process, content, and social motivations, is illustrated in the next few paragraphs. Content gratifications from the UG theory are characterised by their relation to information content, such as product or store information (Stafford Stafford, as cited in Stafford et al., 2004) and place concern on messages carried by the medium (Stafford et al., 2004). Such motivations are stemmed from the use of mediated messages for the receivers intrinsic value (Cutler Danowski, as cited in Chigona et al., 2008). Content motivations take consideration into to the messages that a medium carries (Stafford et al., 2004; Stafford, 2009), which may be informative or entertaining (Stafford, 2009). Roy (2009) asserts that content is normally skewed towards entertainment and dispersion in UG studies of non-Internet media, as compared to informativeness in those of Internet. Nevertheless, certain Internet users may be motivated by such usage process as random browsing and site navigation (Hoffman and Danowski, as cited in Stafford et al., 2004). Process motivations are driven by the actual use of the medium per se (Cutler Danowski, as cited in Chigona et al., 2008; Stafford et al., 2004; Stafford, 2009), such as enjoyment of the process of using the Internet (Hoffman Novak, as cited in Stafford et al., 2004; Stafford, 2009). On the other hand, social motivations include such aspects as chatting, friendship, interactions, and people (Chigona et al., 2008). 2.7 Social dimension and the rising impact Social contacts and interactions have shifted from offline to online realms (Boyd, as cited in Smeele, 2010) and this social dimension defines what users understand about themselves and their relation to the communities (Dyson; McMillan Chavis, as cited in Jacobs et al., 2009). Stafford et al. (2004) posit the importance of looking into the potential UG of the Internet as a social environment, as researchers may be expected to discover emergent social gratifications for Internet use. Research by Jacobs et al. (2009) shows a majority of the students utilise social media in a manner that resembles the social friends and family setting. Besides, Ellison, Steinfield, ande Lampe (as cited in Ross, Orr, Sisic, Arseneault, Simmering, Orr, 2009) also assert that maintenance of pre-existing social relationships has been made possible and may be stronger through online platforms. Users now turn to the Internet more frequently to socialise with people they know and expand their circle of friends (Jones, as cited in Correa, Hinsley Zà ºÃƒ ±iga, 2010). Active participation on sites like Facebook, communication via texting and chat programmes, as well as creation of blogs have become a way of life for the new generation according to Jacobs et al. (2009). Correa et al. (2010) are of the opinion that individuals who choose not to engage online may be limiting their ability to advance socially as it is an increasingly user-generated environment. 2.8 The need to quantify social dimension Stafford et al. (2004) concede that there is limited evidence in support of the distinct social aspect to Internet use. Following the identification of social motivations in Stafford and Stafford (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008), researchers are trying to validate this emerging motivation type, which eventually has been found present in studies by such researchers as Chigona et al. (2008), Haridakis and Hanson (2009), as well as Norway Brandtzà ¦g and Heim (as cited in Kim et al., 2010). Miller and Brunner (2008) hold that studies that focus specifically on the social aspect of online communicators and its theoretical foundations are lacking. For instance, although the social dimension is found present in a mobile Internet UG study by Chigona et al. (2008), the researchers merely confirm its existence without providing much elaboration into how it fares in contrast to content and process motivations the latter of which according to Aoki Downe; Leung Wei; Rubin; Stafford Gillenson; Stafford et al. (as cited in Chigona et al., 2008), are the most pronounced motivation types found on traditional Internet use. Besides, several social media studies also show that the social dimension does not live up to the medias supposedly social nature (e.g., Liu et al., 2010; Smeele, 2010; Xu, Ryan, Prybutok, Wen, 2012). 2.9 Genders and UG Gender differences have been identified as an important aspect in computer-related research (Gunawardena McIsaac, as cited in Kim Chang, 2007). The issue of limited women in the fields of technology and ICT remains a topic of interest for both the scientific community and decision-makers today (Sà ¡inz Là ³pez-Sà ¡ez, 2010). Some studies have suggested that females may be more inclined to have computer anxiety and lower self-efficacy due to the socio-cultural background of gender (Halder, Ray, Chakrabarty, 2010). Gutek and Bikson (as cited in Harrison Rainer, 1992) also find that men tend to demonstrate computer-related skills at workplace. In another instance, Wilder, Mackie, and Cooper (as cited in Harrison Rainer, 1992) find that males show greater interest in using a computer compared to females. In more recent research, Leung (2003) finds socioeconomic status such as gender, with the exception of age, to be predictive of Internet use, and that heavy users of the web are usually males. Although Okazaki (2006) asserts that effect of gender on mobile Internet service adoption is uncertain, married women indicate more negative perceptions than married men. Besides, a study on mobile phone UG by Ran (2008) reveals that males are significantly skewed towards a certain news-seeking need. Roy (2009) also discovers gender-related differences in perceived Internet use. In terms of social media UG, gender-related differences have also been found in a slew of studies such as Sveningsson Elm (2007), Joinson (2008), Jones, Millermaier, Goya-Martinez, and Schuler (2008), Thelwall (2009), as well as Thelwall, Wilkinson, and Uppal (2010). Volman, van Eck, Heemskerk, and Kuiper (2005) contend that the development of software, websites, and even teaching materials needs to have gender sensitivities taken into consideration in order to facilitate better learning among male and female pupils, who demonstrate very different preferences and attitudes towards ICT. Also in line with their idea are Halder, Ray, and Chakrabarty (2010), who suggest the importance of studying behavioral differences between people with respect to information processing and searching as such behaviors have to be more holistically understood and generalised before information retrieval systems and user support services are designed. Those are some implications of how gender differences could impact human behavior associated with the acceptance of information and technologies. With gender being neglected as a significant variable, studying human information behavior will remain incomplete (Nahl Harada; Roy, Taylor, Chi, as cited in Halder, Ray, and Chakrabarty, 2010). It is, therefore, of the essence to find out if the influence of gender is valid in this social media UG study. If valid, which aspect of motivations is users social media experience influenced the most?

Monday, August 19, 2019

American Oil Dependence Essay -- Economy Economics Oil Essays

American Oil Dependence Since the oil embargo of 1977, there has been an increased awareness of our nation's energy security. As global population and energy consumption rise, the need for a stable energy supply has become a hot topic and a politically volatile issue. As our negative trade balance grows larger by the day, the United States finds itself in a rather precarious position. We are becoming more and more dependent on Middle East oil. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) predicts that domestic petroleum consumption will increase to 60 Btu by the year 2025. This statistic, in and of itself, is a matter of concern with respect to the greenhouse gas emissions that result from petroleum combustion. However, perhaps more disconcerting is the fact that U.S. oil production peaked in 1970 and has continued to fall since then (Campbell et. al., 1998). Therefore, the American public has turned to foreign oil, in particular Middle Eastern oil, to supplement its increase in demand. In an age where terrorism is at the forefront of people's minds, we still continue to import oil from the same nations that supposedly harbor so-called terrorist groups. The fact is that we are unwilling to responsibly face our energy future and instead choose to maintain a policy of increasing oil supply through importation. One of the main problems with this strategy is that it is a short-term remedy. Studies conducted by M. King Hubbert in 1956 predicted the rise, peak, and subsequent decline of global oil production. He predicted that global oil production would rise until around 2002 and then start declining (Campbell et. al., 1998). If one takes the oil embargo of 1977 into account, effectively decreasing the rate... ...to a fuel that, upon exhaustion, will mark our retreat from the global economic spotlight. Works Cited: Campbell, Colin J., Laherrere, Jean H. "The End Of Cheap Oil." Scientific American Mar. 1998: 78-83. Flo, Gary. "Lecture on Fossil Fuel Consumption." 8 Sep. 2003 N.A. "Environmental Advocates Statistics In Hand." 2003: www.geocities.com/Rainforest/Canopy/2743 Assoc. Press. "U.S. Auto Sales Hit 2003 High In July." USA Today 1 Aug. 2003: www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-07-31-autosales_x.htm Mills, Mark. "25 Years After OPEC's Embargo." Environmental News Jan. 1999: www.heartland.org N.A. "www.skyaid.org." 2003: www.skyaid.org/skycar/us_auto_statistics.htm Staff Writer. "Bureau of Land Management Maximizing Energy Development, Minimizing Environmental Protection." NRDC 7 Aug. 2003: www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/airenergy_publiclands.asp#1383

St. Catherine of Siena Essay -- Essays Papers

St. Catherine of Siena Catherine of Siena was born in Italy in 1347 at a time when political and religious changes were affecting the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Dedicating her life to the Holy Spirit from a very young age, Catherine pursued a life of purity and simplicity that served as a background to her great literary work, The Dialogue of the Divine Providence . Her work focuses on the importance of prayer and its transcendent power in human life. In the early stages of Catherine's life the surfacing modern age was bringing with it social turmoil which spread throughout Europe (Giordani 3). During Catherine's lifetime, according to Mary Ann Sullivan in her essay â€Å"St. Catherine of Siena,† the center of Catholic rule fluctuated between Rome and Avignon and contributed to a schism between popes in Italy and France (1). Catherine was born 23rd in a line of 25 children and, according to Sullivan â€Å"even at a young age, [she] sensed the troubled society around her and wanted to help† (1). While her parents were not exceptionally religious, St. Catherine's biographer Blessed Raymond of Capua discusses Catherine's early zeal for Catholic practices: â€Å"When she was about five she learned the Hail Mary, and repeated it over and over again as often as she could†¦she was inspired by heaven to address the Blessed Virgin in this way whenever she went up and down stairs, stopping to kneel on each step as she di d so† (24). Her devotion to the Virgin Mary would become especially important in a vision she had around this time while walking with her brother to visit one of her sisters. When Catherine was six she saw a bridal chamber up in the heavens with Jesus Christ who bestowed upon her the sign of the cross and his eternal bene... ...e University of Georgia Press, 1984. 252-255. Blessed Raymond of Capua. The Life of Saint Catherine of Siena . Trans. George Lamb. New York: P.J. Kennedy and Sons, 1960. Catherine of Siena. The Dialogue of the Divine Providence . Trans. Algar Thorold. 1907. 25 Feb. 2004 . www.ccel.org/c/catherine/dialog/dialog.html Gardner, Edmund G. Saint Catherine of Siena . London: J.M. Dent & Co., 1907. Giordani, Igino. Catherine of Siena: Fire and Blood . Trans. Thomas J. Tobin. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1959. Meiss, Millard. Painting in Florence and Siena After the Black Death . New York: Princeton University Press, 1979. Petroff, Elizabeth Alvilda. Medieval Women's Visionary Literature . New York: Oxford University Press, 1986. Sullivan, Mary Ann. St. Catherine of Siena . 1996. 29 Feb. 2004 . www.op.org/domcentral/trad/stcather.htm

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Formula One Racing :: essays research papers

Formula One Racing Formula One racing, or F1, is known to be the most prestigious type of auto racing in the world. Unfortunately, in the United States F1 racing is not nearly as popular as other motorsports such as Nascar. On a typical Sunday afternoon if one were to flip channels on the television, Nascar would most likely be airing on a major station. Furthermore, if one were to watch the race he or she would notice that the racetrack was packed with thousands upon thousands of people. A large part of the lack of popularity of F1 in America is that only one race is run in the United States. All of the other races take place in countries such as Spain, France, Italy, and Canada. With Nascar every single race is run in the United States, which is obviously a large contributing factor towards its immense popularity. Despite the fact that Nascar is the racing preference of most Americans, Formula One racing is the best and most exhilarating type of racing in the world. The action that takes place during an average 190- mile Formula One race is unsurpassed by any other motorsport. The typical racetrack consists of 2.5 miles and 12 turns. During the lapping of this track, the 900- horsepower 1400-pound cars can reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. Even when cars capable of these speeds are put into the hands of world-class drivers such as Ferrari’s Michael Shumacher and McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen, mishaps are bound to occur. This is what makes this sport so exciting to watch. Crashes however, are not the only exciting events of the race. It is thrilling to watch a car out brake another in order to squeeze its way ahead, or to watch the cars bump tires in an effort to occupy the same piece of race track to be set up correctly for the turn ahead. Other points of interest are the pit stops and the strategies that the various teams use in order to make a fast pit stop. A world-class team such as Ferrari can refuel a car, change four wheels and tires, and wipe off the driver’s helmet in as little as 6.8 seconds. The technology used in the sport is another drawing point of its popularity. State- of-the-art computers are used to track the car’s every movement and to mechanically keep

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Gender Identity Paper Essay

The determination of gender identity is much deeper than whether a person is born a male or a female. The exact identifier that separates gender identity is currently unknown but researchers believe that genetics, hormones, reproductive organs, biological, and environmental factors all play a role in distinguishing a person’s gender identity. A person’s physical gender and their sense of gender are formed at two different times in two different parts of the body. A person’s gender is whether they are born male or female, but the way they identify themselves may be the opposite, which is not uncommon and has occurred since the beginning of time. In culture males are known to be the stronger, more aggressive sex, while females are the fairer, more nurturing sex. Usually, by the age of four, individuals have identified their gender identities aside from what gender they were born as physically. Throughout this paper, I will discuss the biological factors of gender i dentity (nature), environmental factors (nurture), and the role between hormones and behavior, and how these interactions all affect the determination of one’s gender identity. Gender identification begins to develop while the fetus is in the beginning stages of development. Between weeks six and twelve of gestation is when the fetus begins developing reproductive organs and that is when the fetus takes on the role of male or female. Hormones are produced in both the nervous system and the endocrine system and are transported through the blood stream. Specifically, hormones are chemicals that combine and respond to certain cell receptors. Hormones like testosterone and androgen are mainly found in the male gender while estrogen is mainly found in the female gender. Testosterone is a contributing factor to behaviors like aggression. â€Å"Gender identity, an individual’s self-awareness of maleness or femaleness, and gender role, are programmed for the child within his mother’s womb,† (Institute of Medicine, 2006). Evidence has shown that the female gender is likely to excel in verbal skills and muscular coordination when their production of estrogen is high rather than when it is low. For men, they are stronger and more aggressive when their testosterone levels are high and they are able to perform better in actions that require physical performance. The nature side of the theory relies on prenatal hormones that modify the brain and peripheral tissue and the development of male or female external genitalia. Although a person may have a certain physical gender, their gender role is the adoption of masculine or feminine behavioral traits that are appropriate for that specific sex. Gender identity differs from the gender role because it is an individual’s personal sense of sex, which is not necessarily their physical gender. There are multiple stages from childhood to adulthood when hormones are present that are identifiable of a specific gender. The pituitary gland (or hypophysis) secretes many hormones during puberty including adrenocorticotropic hormones, growth hormones, gonadotrophins, prolactin, and thyroid stimulating hormones. Gonadotrophins, which include luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones, stimulate sex hormone production in the ovaries or testes and also lead to egg and sperm maturity. Prolactin stimulates milk production and adrenocorticotropic hormones stimulate the adrenal glands to secrete steroid hormones like cortisol. All of these hormones play a major role in sexual development and an individual’s determination of gender identity. Environmental factors of gender identity arise as soon as the individual is born. Everything from a female child wearing a pink dress to a male child having a sports themed blanket can play a role in their gender identity. Sociologists believe that by the age of five years old, females show a preference for dolls, arts and crafts, and playing dress up while males prefer cars, blocks, tools, and outdoor play. â€Å"The environment has a direct relation to personality traits, because characteristic adaptations are always involved in expression,† (Nature over Nurture, 2000). At a young age, children who are taught that traits and activities are appropriate or inappropriate for them to perform because of their gender tend to absorb those teachings and are influenced by them later in life. For example, young girls who are raised believing boys are innately better at sports than girls, may disclaim their interest in sports and go on to believe they are not good at them without pract icing them to their full potential. Both males and females have proven to be great athletes but if at a young age, a girl is told she will never be as good as a boy she may never give sports and athleticism a chance. Young children learn by observations, if a young girl witnesses her mother performing the acts of a man then she will repeat those acts and believe that is what is appropriate for her. The same goes for the male gender, if a little boy observes his father doing something that a woman is more likely to do like sewing or interior decorating then that is what the little boy will believe is expected of him upon adulthood. â€Å"For instance, the way in which one educates children, how children in institutions such as orphanages are raised, and the kinds of day-care are considered optimal have all been influenced by one’s understanding of the interaction of biology and environment regarding gender identity,† (Kowalski & Westen, 2005). The previous statement is very true because children observe many things that one may never think would make any difference but in reality they do. Nature factors include everything from what kind of parents raise the child, what roles they perform, the culture, and even the color of paint on the child’s walls all make a difference in the child’s personal gender identity. I believe that between nature and nurture and their influence on gender identity, nature has a greater influence. For example, if a perfectly healthy little girl with no hormone disorders is raised with a single father and only brothers with no immediate influence of females, she is more likely to become a tomboy and take on the gender identity that resembles that of her father’s or brothers’. The same reference goes for a boy raised with a single mother and only sisters with no immediate influence of a male figure in his life. Matthew Wolfe-Meyer makes a valid point when saying, â€Å"nature and its contestation is a dominant strategy†¦ unfortunately nurture fails to receive similar scrutiny and culture is more often used as an explanatory device than deeply interrogated for its logistics.† Often times when a child is going through puberty and takes on the role of the opposite gender, many people jump to the hypothesis that there may be something wrong with their hormones or a chemical imbalance but before jumping to that conclusion, they should look at their home life, how was the child raised, what was their environment like and from there they will find many answers. All children naturally comply with the demands of their internal sense of gender without effort. If the child becomes confused with their gender then they often refer to behaviors of adults near them and they learn what actions are appropriate for them relatively quick. Environmental factors bear a critical amount of effectiveness in gender identity but because environmental factors are ever changing, it proves that the nurture theory is a substantial factor. Currently, psychologists and researchers do not know the exact causes of gender identity and individuals taking on the opposite roles. But there are many factors that support both sides of the nature versus nurture argument. The male and female genders each have differences in many areas both physical and emotional but neither is â€Å"better† than the other. By the age of four years old each child already has an idea of who they are and what gender they belong to. Gender confusion is normal but most children are able to look at parents or acting influences in their lives and see what the appropriate actions are for their gender. Nature versus nurture has and will continue to be a strong argument. References: McCrae, R. R., Costa, P. r., Ostendorf, F., Angleitner, A., HÃ…â„¢ebà ­Ã„ kovà ¡, M., Avia, M. D., & †¦ Smith, P. B. (2000). Nature over nurture: Temperament, personality, and life span development. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 78(1), 173-186. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.78.1.173 Matthew Wolf-Meyer. (2007). Complexities: Beyond nature and nurture. Anthropologica, 49(2), 325-327. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/214174663?accountid=35812 Money, J. (1971). Differentiation of gender identity and gender role. Psychiatric Annals, 1(4), 32-37,42-43,8-9. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/894195162?accountid=35812 (2006). Institute of medicine (us) committee on assessing interactions among social, behavioral, and genetic factors in health. Washington DC: National Academies Press (US). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19934/

Friday, August 16, 2019

A comparison of two poems by Robert Frost: “Ghost House” and “A Cabin in the Clearing”

The first of the two poems, â€Å"Ghost House† is formally structured. It is made up of six stanzas, each with five lines. It has a strict rhyme scheme: the first, second and last lines of each stanza rhyme, as do the third and fourth lines. This creates two neat rhyming couplets in each stanza, with the final line appearing disjointed as if it were an addition. This echoes the sentiments of belonging, in contrast with isolation and loneliness, that Frost expresses in the text. The tone of this poem is established immediately by the title. Although it is a commonly used phrase, and is also quite brief, the words â€Å"Ghost House† have uneasy and frightening implications. The poet has created an eerie mood in the poem that is contributed to by the use of the narrator character, the unknown â€Å"I†. The question of who, or what, this character is has been intentionally left unanswered by Frost, as well as many other questions. This encourages the reader to think more deeply about the poem, as the answers are not obvious, and in most cases not revealed at all. Unanswered questions instil in the reader a sense of instability and confusion, which serves to enhance the atmosphere of the poem. As these are the feelings expressed by the narrator character, this creates empathy. The subject of the poem is the house where the narrator lives, or â€Å"dwells†, and the â€Å"mute folk† that share it with him. Central to the poem is the fact that the house has â€Å"vanished† and that nature has returned and reclaimed the land where it once was. The sense of the passage of time, and the inevitability of life, existence and death, is a theme common to much of Frost's work. In this poem the reader is told that the house was destroyed â€Å"many a summer ago†. Although the circumstances surrounding the fate of the house are unclear, it is suggested that a natural disaster was the cause. Use of the word â€Å"vanished† implies that the house was destroyed suddenly, and the fact that it â€Å"left no trace but the cellar walls†¦ † suggests a disaster such as a fire, especially as the poem is set in America where wooden houses are common. Imagery is used, as â€Å"a cellar in which the daylight falls† is depicted, and the raspberries growing on the site are described as â€Å"purple-stemmed†. These images involve the reader in the poem, and highlight the combination of human influences and nature that is happening. The reader is given the impression that nature is the controlling force in the situation, that nature is infinite and perpetual, and people are insignificant in comparison. While they may have made an impact on their environment, nature has quickly erased it, as â€Å"the footpath down to the well is healed†. The word â€Å"healed† is an emotive one as it has connotations of pain, implying that the footpath was a wound on the landscape that has now been restored. It is a reminder of the fact that when we die it does not change the world; nature carries on, and we are soon forgotten. Throughout the second stanza there are examples of the site returning to its natural state, as the â€Å"woods come back†¦ † and the trees grow freely again. There is a sense of protection, with the use of the word â€Å"shield† to describe the grapevines growing over the fences. Nature is shown as a regenerative force as well as a destructive one. In the third stanza there is a repetition of the word â€Å"vanished†, referring to the house; it is described as a â€Å"vanished abode†. This reinforces the unusual situation of the narrator, that he lives in a house that does not exist. The narrator describes his â€Å"strangely aching heart†. This is a powerful reference, as the word â€Å"aching† describes a physical sensation, which is more effective than a purely emotional one, and a sense of pain is indicated. There seems to be a connection between the narrator and the house, he relates how the house is linked to the rest of the world by a â€Å"disused and forgotten road† possibly indicating that this is how he feels, that his connection with the world has been destroyed, and that he himself is â€Å"forgotten†. Imagery is used throughout the poem, as Frost describes the area surrounding the house, and the â€Å"stones out under the low-limbed tree†, presumably gravestones, that have been covered by mosses so that the names cannot be read. This conveys a sense of mystery, as the reader is not informed to whom the stones belong. There are a number of themes that recur through the text. The last two stanzas are primarily concerned with the â€Å"mute folk†, who cohabit the house. They are introduced abruptly, relatively late in the poem. They are mentioned casually, and it appears as if the narrator makes the assumption that the audience is already aware of their existence. This indicates that they are a permanent presence in the narrator's life, and are a concern to him. It is not clear who, or what, these people are, just as it is with the narrator. This sense of confusion is reinforced many times. There is an entire stanza devoted to the apparently irrelevant â€Å"whippoorwill†. This could be simply to create atmosphere, and to contrast with the shock of the next stanza in which the â€Å"mute folk† are introduced. The â€Å"mute folk† are described as â€Å"tireless folk, but slow and sad† with the possible partial exception of two individuals, referred to only as â€Å"lass and lad†. It is possible that these two people are not as sad as the rest of their peers because they have a connection; they â€Å"belong† to each other. One theme of the poem is loneliness and isolation. The house is described as â€Å"lonely† and the road as â€Å"forgotten†. The narrator is a lonely character, isolated from the world and unable even to communicate with the â€Å"mute folk†. It appears that the narrator has no home, that he does not belong anywhere. Even the house where he dwells is not described as his; he calls it a â€Å"house I know† and does not claim that it belongs to him. It is assumed that the title of the poem refers to a house inhabited by ghosts, but it could refer to the â€Å"ghost of the house† or the memory of a time when the narrator had a home, and a sense of belonging. There is an eerie sense of death in the text. The word â€Å"vanished† is repeated, indicating a presence which was, but is no longer, there. The abruptness with which the house â€Å"vanished† leads to the assumption that death was involved; that people died in a disaster of some kind. In the third stanza there is a reference to the night, often used as a metaphor for death. It is expressed simply as â€Å"Night comes.. † and this supports the suddenness of death in the poem. The narrator describes his environment as â€Å"the unlit place†. Although this could be a literal reference to the house, darkened now that night has fallen, it could also mean that â€Å"the unlit place† is death, and the fact that the â€Å"mute folk† share the place means that they are also dead. There is an obvious reference to death in the mention of the â€Å"stones† or gravestones. The second poem, â€Å"A Cabin in the Clearing†, has a similar tone to the first poem, and addresses similar issues. However, the two poems have very different forms. In contrast to the structure and rhythm of â€Å"Ghost House†, the second poem appears to be constructed in a much more random way. This is partly due to the conversational style in which Frost has chosen to write. As a result of this there is no rhyme scheme to the poem, and no set stanza format. The poem is made up entirely of dialogue between two characters, â€Å"mist† and â€Å"smoke†. In the first poem the title influences the tone of the poem considerably as it affects the way that the rest of the poem is read. In the second poem the title is more vague, and although it sets the scene for the rest of the text it does not establish mood in the same way. The title of this poem uses the definite article â€Å"the† when referring to the clearing, and the indefinite article â€Å"a† when referring to the cabin. This places emphasis and importance on the clearing and detracts from the influence of the people on the landscape, as the cabin is manmade and the clearing is natural. The subject of this poem is the â€Å"sleepers†, presumably the inhabitants of the â€Å"cabin in the clearing†. They are present in the poem from the start, as the character of â€Å"mist† states, â€Å"I don't believe the sleepers in this house know where they are. † The two characters seem to hold different opinions of the â€Å"sleepers†, with mist appearing more accusatory and demanding of them, while smoke is more sympathetic. Both narrators appear not to understand the actions of the people There are many similarities between the two poems. Both have narrator characters, and the perspective of these characters is the same. In â€Å"Ghost House† the narrator is an observer of the â€Å"mute folk†, while in the second poem the narrators are observers of the â€Å"sleepers†. However in the first poem there is only one narrator, who expresses one view, and in the second poem there are two narrators who express two different and slightly conflicting views. The narrators in the two poems have different attitudes towards the people that they are watching. In the first poem the reader is given the impression that the narrator would like to communicate with the â€Å"mute folk† but is unable to. In the second poem it seems as if the narrators could communicate with the â€Å"sleepers† if they wanted to, but they choose the role of observers voluntarily. However in both poems the narrators seem removed from the world of those they observe. In â€Å"Ghost House† this removal becomes isolation, and the audience is made to feel more sympathetic towards this narrator than the equivalent characters in â€Å"A Cabin in the Clearing†, as in this poem the narrators have a bond with each other, and are not as dependant on the â€Å"sleepers†

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Valuation Project Report

Valuation project report Valuation of the Incentive Stock Options for Procter & Gamble Co. Name: Haining Jiang Company background: In this valuation project, I will analyze a company which is mature and I am interested in. The name of the company is Procter & Gamble Co. the Procter & Gamble Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of a range of branded consumer packaged goods. The company operates in five segments: Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric Care and Home Care, and Baby Care and Family Care.In the year of 1837, William Procter and James Gamble settled in the Queen City of the West, Cincinnati, and established themselves in business. As a result, a new company was born: Procter & Gamble. Procter & Gamble became into a listed company at a stock price and dividend which are $ 1. 7 and $ 0. 01 per month respectively in 19 Jan. 1970. For many years, P & G keep following their purpose and social responsibility at every and every corner in the world: â€Å"We will provide branded products and services of superior quality and value that improve the lives of the world’s consumers, now and for generations to come.As a result, consumers will reward us with leadership sales, profit and value creation, allowing our people, our shareholders and the communities in which we live and work to prosper. † Until now, P & G has become the largest consumer packaged goods company in the world at $ 67. 17 of the share price and $ 0. 562 of dividend per month. Main contents: 1. Discounted dividend valuation The most basic model is the Gordon Growth Model, which prices the stock by the dividend and future growth of dividends. The formula would be like this: V0=D0 (1+g)(r-g)=D1r-gWhere D0 is today’s dividend, which would be $ 2. 21 in our case. r is the cost of capital, r will be calculated like: Assume : The market premium = 6%* The risk-free rate = 3%* Given number in the case: ? = 0. 27 So, r = 0. 03 + 0. 27 x 0. 06 = 4. 62% The best way to estimate g is: The term g can be viewed as the return on owner’s equity times the earnings retention rate b. b = (1 – dividend payout ratio) = 1 – 58% = 42% return on equity = 14. 05% So, Sustainable growth rate = gs = 42% x 14. 05% = 5. 901% r< g, so we may meet a big problem when using the V0 formula above.But, as far as we all know, it is not possible that the firm can grow faster than r forever. The high return will attract other investors into the market to compete and the firm’s rate will eventually fall. And, I determine the long-run growth rate of dividends, gL = 3%*. g < r. Even if this data is not real in the true P&G case, I think it’s will be fine to continue our model. V0=D0 (1+g)(r-g)= $ 2. 21x(1+0. 03)(0. 0462-0. 03)=$ 140. 51 1) Two-stage dividend growth When the P & G is growing faster than r, one can use a multistage model, where the growth stages are broken into two parts.The first is the supernormal growth phase call gs , which is the rate that is higher than r. So we can assume: at the first period ( r < g ): gS = 5. 901% (as we calculated above) n = 3*; At the second period ( r > g ): r = 4. 62% (as we calculated above) gL = 3% (as we calculated above) D0 = $ 2. 21 (real data from P&G) ; As we all know the formula is: V0 = t=1n[ Dt1+rt+ Vn(1+r)n] Vn= D01+ gsn(1+ gL)(r- gL) So, V3= 2. 21Ãâ€"1+ 0. 0593(1+ 0. 03)(0. 0462- 0. 03) = $ 166. 88 V0 = 2. 21x(1+0. 059)1(1+0. 0462)1+ 2. 21x(1+0. 059)2(1+0. 0462)2+ 2. 21x(1+0. 059)3(1+0. 0462)3+ 166. 88(1+0. 0462)3 = $ 152. 27 2) Three-stage dividend growth We assume the P & G company experienced a life-cycle with a three stages that are: an early, development stage with high growth, a maturing phase with moderate growth, and a declining phase with little, no, or negative growth. The current dividend of $ 2. 21 per share will not change. Dividends are expected to grow at a rate of 10%* for 2 years. Following that, the dividends are expected t o grow at a rate of 8%* for 2 years. After the total 4 years, the dividends are expected to grow at a rate of 4%* per year, forever. The rate of return unchanged: 4. 2% (as calculated in 1. 1). We can break the calculation in to six steps: (1) Calculate the dividends for years 1 through 5: year| Dividend growth rate| Dividend| 1| 10%| 2. 431| 2| 10%| 2. 674| 3| 8%| 2. 888| 4| 8%| 3. 119| 5| 5%| 3. 275| (2) Calculate the present value of each of these dividends for years 1 through 5: Year| Dividend| Present value| 1| 2. 431| 2. 3236| 2| 2. 674| 2. 4430| 3| 2. 888| 2. 5220| 4| 3. 119| 2. 6035| 5| 3. 275| 2. 6130| (3) Calculate the present value of the dividends beyond year 4: P4= $ 3. 275(0. 0462-0. 04) = $ 528. 23 (4) Calculate the present value of the price at year 4:PVP4 = $ 528. 23(1+0. 0462)4 = $ 440. 92 (5) Calculate the sum of the present value of the dividends: PVdividends in year 1-4= t=110Dt(1+0. 0462)t = $ 12. 51 (6) Calculate the price today as the sum of the present value of dividends in years 1-4 and the price at the end of year 4: P0=$ 440. 92+$ 12. 51 = $ 453. 43 3) The uses of the dividend valuation models (1) The price-earnings ratio also known as the price-to-earnings ratio or PE ratio, is the ratio of the price per share to the earnings per share of a stock. Let us observe these data from P&G firstly: ?| 2012| 2011| 2010| stock price| $66. 6| $64. 50| $60. 44| current earings per share| $3. 82| $4. 12| $4. 32| P/E ratio| 17. 37173| 15. 65534| 13. 99074| dividend payout ratio| 58%| 50%| 42%| If we take the DVM and divide both sides by earnings per share, we arrive at an equation for the price earnings ratio in terms of dividend payout, required rate of return, and growth: P0E0= Dividend payout ratio x (1+g)r-g We can conclude the information below according to the above formula: Increase in dividend payout rate will cause increase in P/E ratio, this point is also obviously in the table above, the data comes from the real P&G case.Increase in r will cause decrease in P/E ratio Increase in growth rate will cause increase in P/E ratio. (2) we can also use the DVM to relate the price-book value ratio to factors such as the dividend payout ratio and the ROE. We assume the B0 indicate the current book value per share and ROE0 indicate the current return on book equity. As we all know: ROE0 = E0B0 , and P0=D0 (1+g)(r-g)=D1r-g ; So, we can get the formula easily below: P0=B0x ROE0 x D0E0x (1+g)(r-g) So we could get the conclusion through analyzing the above formula: increase in B0 will increase in P0; ncrease in ROE0 will increase in P0; increase in D0E0 will increase in P0; increase in g will increase in P0; increase in r will increase in P0; I believe there are plenty of other conclusions we can get from those formulas, I just mention some of them in my valuation report here. But in other words, we can fully use the DVM to find all the related fundamental factors to have further understanding through DVM. 4) What if there no d ividends? I think it’s acceptable and expectable if the P&G isn’t paying dividends now, but chooses to reinvest its money.It is a sign that the dividends in the future will be even larger. Of course, I won’t stick around with the company long enough to receive any of those dividends. But because of the growth of the company, I will realize that the eventual dividends will be even larger with the increasingly share price. After that, I can sell me shares to someone else to get my profit from it. Summary: â€Å"Valuation is the process of determining what something is worth at a point in time. When we value investments, we want to estimate the future cash flows from these investments and then discount these to the present.This process is based on the reasoning that no one will pay more today for an investment than what they could expect to get from that investment on a time and risk adjusted basis. †1 I think the paragraph I cited above not only give us the best conclusion of by valuation project report, but also tell us a definitely reason we study finance. Please Note: If the number followed a * behind it, it means this number is assumed and the others without * are all real data from P&G company finance report. 1: cited from the â€Å"Dividend Valuation Models†, by Pamela Peterson Drake, Ph. D. , CFA.