The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Essay - 1171 Words

The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Marlow, an ordinary sailor with idealistic dreams, goes on a dark yet fascinating journey as a newly hired riverboat captain, traveling up the Congo River, seeking out the legendary chief of the Belgium trading company. When describing typical sites and events situated in the Congo, Joseph Conrad wrote The Heart of Darkness in a first persons view, with Marlow as the highlight character. As he writes on about Marlows experiences, he portrays typical issues set in the time period of the late 1800s, such as slavery, trading and imperialism. He emphasizes these events using pensive, pessimistic phrases throughout Marlows train of thoughts. As Marlow travels up the river to a specific trading†¦show more content†¦Marlow meets a diverse number of people and is very skeptical around them, judging them quickly upon their speech. The readers see Marlow as a very independent and strong minded individual, seeing through his eyes during an interesting yet dark period of our time. Another main character was Kurtz, the chief of the company, who had made to be Marlows main purpose of his travels. For three quarters of the book, he has remained to be known as the man with many talents, and a striving chief who has accomplished riches. Marlow had to journey to the far station where he is located, just to have a meeting with this man, since he had joined the company. Stories were told of him and his obsession of his trading for ivory. Some foreign employees of the company looked up to him, admiring his accomplishments, while the locals who were forced on working in the company despised him for causing such suffering among them. Only for the last 20 pages, he has finally made an appearance, shortly before his unfortunate death. Joseph Conrad placed this plot upon a colonize d area in Congo. He described this place mainly as gloomy,Show MoreRelatedHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1471 Words   |  6 PagesIn the story Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad a sailor decides to travel to Africa on a whim, using family connections he enlists as the captain of a ship travelling up the Congo River. The novella provides many themes, however is the text in itself racist? One of the main concepts portrayed in Heart of Darkness is the treatment of the natives of Africa and their image. This is most commonly shown through the disparity of the image between what is said in the novel and what can be read throughRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad Essay1371 Words   |  6 Pagesevery human and everything created by humans has two sides to it: the form and the substance. Joseph Conrad’s novella â€Å"Heart of Darkness† shows precisely how dangerous it is to put our trust in a concept, for example: colonization, without realizing that most of th e time one only gets to see the form and not the substance. In this essay, my purpose is to demonstrate that â€Å"Heart of Darkness† by Joseph Conrad is mainly a novella about the discrepancy between substance and form. In order to prove my pointRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1378 Words   |  6 PagesWoytassek AP English 12 Heart of Darkness Reading Log Author: Joseph Conrad Title: Heart of Darkness Original Publication Date: 1899 Kind of Writing: Heart of Darkness is a colonial novella of an expository narrative. Writer’s Purpose and Intended Audience Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness because he wanted to expose human temptation to experiment with darkness when one’s own desires overcome one’s morals. By writing from his own experience of exploring the Congo, Conrad draws conclusions thatRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad983 Words   |  4 PagesThe Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a story that takes place in the early 1890s and presents us with an odyssey of a traveler known as Marlow who confronts the dangers of the Congo jungle while also witnessing the wicked, inhumane treatment of the African natives. In the story, Marlow represents Joseph Conrad who had actually traveled up the Congo in 1890 and witnessed the European exploitation of the African natives firsthand. In the Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad exposes the inhumanityRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1350 Words   |  6 Pagesyears, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad was a treasured classic, with many honourable themes and messages, as the author reveals the true nature of humanity by following an European sailor’s journey through the dark jungles of Africa and down the river Congo, all while watching as his own humanity changes. As society has evolved, however, Heart of Darkness has come under scrutiny, as the language is quite racist. Chinua Achebe, writer of An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of DarknessRead MoreHeart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad1329 Words   |  5 Pages Heart of Darkness is a novel written by Joseph Conrad. The setting of the book is in Belgian Congo, which was the most infamous European colony in Africa. This is a story about the protagonist Marlow’s journey to self discovery, and his experiences in Congo. Conrad’s story explores the colonialism period in Africa to demonstrate Marlow’s struggles. Along the way, he faces insanity, death, his fear of failure, and cultural contamination as he makes his was to the inner station. Conrad through theRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad968 Words   |  4 PagesJoseph Conrad’s novella The Heart of Darkness has been under controversy because of racial interpretations. The race factor in this novel has made some scholars and professors question the function the novella has in the classroom. However, Joseph Conrad had another view when writing the novel; to demonstrate how prejudice and dehumanizing the European culture is towards African Americans and their culture during this time period. European’s superior authority over African Americans is portrayedRead MoreHeart Of Darkness, By Joseph Conrad1306 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is the â€Å"horror† in Heart of Darkness, and what particular literary images develop that idea of horror in the novel? In Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness, there can be many literary images found within that develop the idea of horror. Heart of Darkness is noted for its horror within the Congo between the Africans and the Europeans. The horror in Heart of Darkness is a contribution of many ideas that are formed and contributed from the European colonists. The purpose of this essay aims to argueRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1076 Words   |  5 PagesWritten in the late 1800’s, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a novella about one man’s travel into the Congo Free State by way of the Congo River. The title â€Å"Heart of Darkness† actually holds two different meanings. Heart of Darkness is both a metaphor for a psychological â€Å"dark side† of man, and an allusion to Africa. The title suggests both a physical and mental reference. During the time the novel takes place, Africa was nick-named the dark continent because of how little the Europeans knewRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad Essay1483 Words   |  6 PagesJoseph Conrad, author of Heart of Darkness, intriguingly uses an unnamed narrator in his novel that clearly becomes of importance right away in the introduction. Conrad’s narrator chooses to speak of the historical period in which Roman colonization took over what we now know as Great Britain. By connecting a Roman colonization story to one almost 2000 years later talking about the Belgians in Africa, Conrad reveals one of his own themes in the novel. He proposes that the Romans and Belgians

The Hunters Moonsong Chapter Sixteen Free Essays

When Stefan walked by Elena’s room again, the daisy was gone, and the subtle scent of her citrusy shampoo lingered in the hal way. No doubt she was out with Meredith and Bonnie, and he could depend upon Meredith to protect her. He wondered if Damon was watching them, if he’d approach Elena. We will write a custom essay sample on The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Sixteen or any similar topic only for you Order Now A bitter strand of envy curled in Stefan’s stomach. It was hard being the good one sometimes, the one who would abide by the rules, while Damon did whatever he wanted. He leaned back against the door to Elena’s room. There was a window across the hal , and as he watched the cold crescent of the moon sailing high in the sky, he thought of his silent room, of the books of economics and philosophy waiting for him. No. He wasn’t going back there. He couldn’t be with Elena, but he didn’t have to be alone. Outside, there was a chil in the air for the first time since school had started; the sultry heat of a Virginia summer was final y giving way to autumn. Stefan hunched his shoulders and tucked his hands into his jeans pockets. Not real y knowing where he was going, Stefan headed off campus. Vague thoughts of hunting in the woods crossed his mind, but he wasn’t hungry, just restless, and he turned away from the trail that led that way. Instead he wandered the streets of the smal town around the col ege. There wasn’t much to do. There were a few bars hopping with col ege kids and a couple of restaurants, already closed up. Stefan couldn’t imagine wanting to press into a hot and crowded bar right now. He wanted to be around people, maybe, but not too many, not too close, not close enough to sense the thrum of blood beneath their skins. When he was unhappy, like tonight, he could feel something hard and dangerous rising up inside him, and he knew he needed to be careful of the monster he carried within him. He turned down another block, listening to the soft pad of his own steps against the sidewalk. Near the end of the street, a faint thud of music came from a dilapidated building whose buzzing neon sign read EDDIE’S BILLIARDS. None of the few cars in the parking lot had a Dalcrest parking sticker. Clearly a townie spot, not a student one. If Stefan hadn’t had this burning, angry loneliness inside him, he wouldn’t have gone in. He looked like a student – he was a student – and this didn’t look like a place that welcomed students. But the ugly thing inside him stirred at the thought of maybe having a reason to throw a punch or two. Inside, it was Welllit but dingy, the air thick and blue with smoke. An old rock song was playing on a jukebox in the corner. Six pool tables sat in the middle of the room, with smal round tables around the sides, and a bar at the far end. Two of the pool tables and a few of the round tables were occupied by locals, who let their eyes drift over him neutral y and then turned away. At the bar, Stefan saw a familiar back, a sleek dark head. Even though he’d been sure Damon would be fol owing Elena, he wasn’t surprised to see him. Stefan had reined his Power in, concentrating on his own misery, but he’d always been able to sense his brother. If he had thought about it, he would have known Damon was there. Damon, equal y unsurprised, turned and tipped his glass to Stefan with a wry little grin. Stefan went over to join him. â€Å"Hel o, little brother,† Damon said softly when Stefan sat down. â€Å"Shouldn’t you be holed up somewhere, crying over your loss of the lovely Elena?† Stefan sighed and slumped on the barstool. Propping his elbows on the bar, he rested his head on his hands. Suddenly, he was terribly tired. â€Å"Let’s not talk about Elena,† he said. â€Å"I don’t want to fight with you, Damon.† â€Å"Then don’t.† Patting him lightly on the shoulder, Damon was up and out of his seat. â€Å"Let’s play some pool.† One thing about living for hundreds of years, Stefan knew, was that you had time to get real y good at things. Versions of bil iards had been around as long as he and Damon had, although he liked the modern version best – he liked the smel of the chalk and the squeak of the leather tip on the cue. Damon’s thoughts seemed to be running on the same track. â€Å"Remember when we were kids and we used to play bil iart on the lawns of Father’s palazzo?† he asked as he racked up the bal s. â€Å"Different game, though, back then,† Stefan said. â€Å"Go ahead and break.† He could picture it clearly, the two of them fooling around when the adults were al inside, shoving the bal s across the grass toward their targets with the heavy-headed maces, in a game that was a cross between modern pool and croquet. Back in those days, Damon was wild, prone to fights with stable boys and nights prowling the streets, but not yet as angry as he would be by the time they grew into young men. Back then, he let his adoring, more timid younger brother trail after him and have a share in his adventures. Elena was right about one thing, he admitted to himself. He liked hanging out with Damon, being brothers again. When he’d spotted Damon at the bar just now, he’d felt a little lightening of the loneliness he was carrying around with him. Damon was the only person who remembered him as a child, the only person who remembered him alive. Maybe they could be friends, without Katherine or Elena between them for a while. Maybe something good could come out of this. Bil iart, bil iards, or pool, Damon had always liked playing. He was better than Stefan, and, after hundreds of years of practice, Stefan was pretty good. Which was why Stefan was so surprised when Damon’s break sent bal s spinning merrily al over the table, but none into the pockets. â€Å"What’s up?† he asked, cocking an eyebrow at Damon as he chalked his own cue. I’ve been watching the locals, Damon said silently. There are a couple of slick hustlers in here. I want to draw them over to us. Hustle them for a change. Come on, Damon added quickly when Stefan hesitated. It’s not wrong to hustle hustlers. It’s like killing murderers, a public service. Your moral compass is seriously skewed, Stefan shot back at him, but he couldn’t keep himself from smiling. What was the harm, real y? â€Å"Two bal in the corner pocket,† he added aloud. He made the shot and sank two more bal s before intentional y scratching and stepping back to let Damon take his turn. They went on like that, playing pretty Wellbut not too Well, careful to look like a couple of cocky col ege kids who knew their way around a pool cue but would be no chal enge to a professional hustler. Damon’s pretense of frustration when he missed a shot amused Stefan. Stefan had forgotten, it was fun to be part of Damon’s schemes. Stefan won by a couple of bal s, and Damon whipped out a wal et ful of money. â€Å"You got me, man,† he said in a slightly drunken voice that didn’t sound quite like his own and held out a twenty. Stefan blinked at him. Take it, Damon thought at him. Something about the set of his jaw reminded Stefan again of the way Damon was when they were children, of the way he lied to their father about his misadventures, confident Stefan would back him up. Damon was trusting him without even thinking about it, Stefan realized. Stefan smiled and slipped it into his back pocket. â€Å"Rack’em up again?† he suggested, and realized he was also pitching his voice a little younger, a little drunker, than he normal y would. They played another game, and Stefan handed the twenty back. â€Å"Another?† he asked. Damon started to rack the bal s, and then his hands slowed. He flicked a glance up at Stefan and then back down at the bal s. â€Å"Listen,† he said, taking a deep breath, â€Å"I’m sorry for what’s happening with Elena. If I – † He hesitated. â€Å"I can’t just stop feeling the way I do about her, but I didn’t mean to make things harder for you. Or for her.† Stefan stared at him. Damon never apologized. Was he serious? â€Å"I – thank you,† he said. Damon looked past him and his mouth twitched into his sudden, bril iant smile. Bait taken, he said silently. So much for the heartfelt brother moment. Two guys were coming toward them. One was short and slight with sandy hair, the other big, bulky, and dark. â€Å"Hi,† the shorter one said. â€Å"We wondered if you guys wanted to play teams, mix it up a little.† His smile was bright and easy, but his eyes were shrewd and watchful. The eyes of a predator. Their names were Jimmy and David, and they were real pros. They kept the games close, waiting until after the third game to suggest raising the stakes to make things a little more interesting. â€Å"A hundred?† Jimmy suggested casual y. â€Å"I can just about do it, if you want.† â€Å"How about more?† Damon said, sounding drunk again. â€Å"Stefan, you stil got that five hundred in your wal et?† Stefan didn’t, nowhere near it, but he didn’t think he’d need to pay up. He nodded but, at a glance from Damon, played reluctant. â€Å"I don’t know, Damon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said. â€Å"Don’t worry about it,† Damon said expansively. â€Å"Easy money, right?† Jimmy was watching them, his eyes alert. â€Å"Five hundred it is,† he agreed, smiling. â€Å"I’l break,† Damon said, and went into action. After a moment, Stefan rested his pool cue against the wal . He wasn’t going to get a chance to shoot, none of them were; Damon was moving with clockwork precision to pocket one bal after another. He wasn’t making any effort to hide that he and Stefan had been running a hustle, and Jimmy’s and David’s faces darkened dangerously as the last few bal s rattled into their pockets. â€Å"Pay up,† Damon demanded sharply, setting down his cue. Jimmy and David were moving toward them, scowling. â€Å"You two think you’re real smart, don’t you?† David growled. Stefan poised himself on both feet, ready to fight or run, whatever Damon wanted. They wouldn’t have any trouble fending off these guys, but with the disappearances and attacks al over campus, he’d rather not cal attention to themselves. Damon, cool and relaxed, gazed at Jimmy and David, his hands open. â€Å"I think you want to pay us the money you owe us,† he said calmly. â€Å"Oh, that’s what you think, do you?† Jimmy said sarcastical y. He shifted his grip on his pool cue, and now he was holding it more like a weapon. Damon smiled and unleashed a wave of Power into the room. Even Stefan, who was half expecting it, was chil ed as Damon lifted his human mask for a moment, his black eyes cold and deadly. Jimmy and David staggered backward as if they’d been shoved by invisible hands. â€Å"Okay, don’t get upset,† Jimmy said, his voice shaking. David was blinking as if he had been slapped with a wet towel, clearly unsure of what had just happened. Jimmy opened his wal et and counted out five hundred dol ars in fifties into Damon’s hand. â€Å"Now it’s time for you to go home,† Damon said softly. â€Å"Maybe you don’t want to play pool for a while.† Jimmy nodded and didn’t seem to be able to stop nodding, his head bobbing like it was on a spring. He and David backed away, moving quickly toward the door. â€Å"Scary,† Stefan commented. There was a hol ow place inside his chest stil , an empty ache of missing Elena, but he felt better than he had since that day she walked out the door alone. Tonight, he realized with a slight shock, he’d had fun with Damon. â€Å"Oh, I’m a terror,† Damon agreed lightly, pocketing al the money. Stefan raised an eyebrow at him. He didn’t care about the money, but it was typical of Damon to assume it was his. Damon grinned. â€Å"Come on, little brother, I’l buy you a drink.† How to cite The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Sixteen, Essay examples

Analysis of Local Culture Of A Country †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Analysis of Local Culture Of A Country Answer: Introduction The local culture of a country plays a critical role in development of business relations of enterprises. The local culture influences the policies and legal procedures of the business organizations. The culture of a country comprises of political aspects, economic aspects and social aspects of the society. In the era of the globalization,management is focusing on developing effective intercultural environment. It is important as the present workforce is diversified and belongs to different cultures and backgrounds. With the globalization, people travel to different places to work; however, different in culture can result in conflicts and other issues. Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between different cultures and their impact on the personality and the behavior of the people. It is essential because it help to increase creativity at workplace and helps to remain competitive in business environment. The present report is based on analysis of cultural aspects of Curacao and analyzing the differences with other countries. It is based on the classroom activity in which a team of different nationalities is formed and they dress up in their national attire. During this activity, various observations were made regarding the uniqueness of different cultures and the impact of customs on the personality. The paper has discussed the importance of intercultural communication andmanagement in the global business environment. The report analyzes the culture of the native country with the help of CAGE framework. Then after, different theoretical frameworks are used to analyze the differences between the cultures of different countries. In the conclusion, recommendations have been made to address the cross-cultural dilemmas which may arise between people of different cultures. Analysis of Local Country The curacaos is the small island which is situated in the coastlines bays near the shelf of South America. For the analysis of home country CAGE framework is selected. This framework describes the cultural, administration, geographical and economic distance of one country from the global nations. It provides a broad view on the different cultural aspects of Curcao. Cultural: The culture of the country is based on diversity. There are different types of the people living in the one nation. Most of the people follow catholic religion. According to the culture perspective, Curacao is small city but there are number of languages adopted. The official languages of country are Dutch, Papiamentu and English. However, the Dutch is sole language in all administration level (Zaidi, et al., 2016). In the Cuisine, local food is called Krioyo. Most popular dishes in Curaao are found in Aruba and Bonaire too. Most of the food is based on the combination of Caribbean cuisine and Latin American cuisine. The national value and culture is liberal and people follow an open lifestyle. People live with freedom and enjoy the high standard of living. Most of the people believe in living in peace and also they promote high standards in society. For the culture perspective, other nations in the group also have different population. Russia and SA does not welcome the fo reigners; however, on the other hand, India has the highest diversity in the world. Due to diversity, the country is able to manage intercultural differences carefully. The educational structure of the country is based on Dutch education system. Besides public schools, private and parochial school are also present. The main institute of high learning is the University of Curaao, enrolling 2,100 students. Administration: Due to its favorable financial laws and regulations, it is considered as tax haven country. Regarding other trades, the country makes business deals with the USA and other European nations. In the labor force survey of 2016, it is indicated that employment rate was 13.3% which is quite low and shows the countrys stable growth. On the other hand, other countries like India and Saudi Arabia are also economically become robust. SA is an oil exporting country so economically they also have a strong position and India is a developing country. Russia is the powerful nation in the globe. The political environment of the country is stable. In the Curacao, government is continuously focusing on development. In the present time, the government is actively trying to implement policies to enhance the industrialization and the economic activity in the country (Alleva, Martijn, Veldhuis, and Tylka, 2016). The stable relationship of government with other countries helps to expand local business. The laws and regulations of country promote equity and stability among individuals. The political environment of Curacao also focus to increase foreign direct investment which can make economic conditions of the country stronger. In the group, other nations like Russia, SA and India also have stable and strong political environment. Government in these nations are also working towards the development, so it can give strong competition to Curacao. Geographic: Curacao is located in the South Caribbean Sea and it is situated in the north of Venezuela. It is different from other tropical islands. It has desert like habitation and there is scarcity of the drinking water. Economic: The economic condition of the country is ideal and based on tourism, international trade, shipping and services and oil refining (Beugelsdijk, Maseland and Hoorn, 2015). The country is highly dependent upon the service sector and most of the income is generated by the tourists. In addition, the beautiful island also offers a high standard of living and rank 46th in the world GDP. Curaao possesses a high income economy, as defined by the World Bank in year of 2016. In the economic sector, the country is also looking forward to develop more foreign investment which is named as Open Arms policy. In the financial sector, the country is the also making remarkable progress. There are a number of financial companies which are working with the local government to providing more financial stability in the country. The present is discussion about the national culture by using the CAGE cultural dimension framework and the culture of Curacao is compared with other nations culture through this cultural framework. Theoretical Framework The national culture of every nation is different from each other. There are different types of the countries which hold different culture. The national culture defines ways in which people interact with each other, ways in which they take business opportunities and ways in which they make communication with each other. As per the national culture dimension, Hofstde and Hall dimension model can be used to analyze the cultural characteristics of a country (Clegg, Kornberge and Pitsis, 2015). Both of these frameworks are based on evaluating the cross culture in the nation and its impact on business. Evalution of the Hofstede Model This model is based on six different types of cultural dimensions. Each type of the dimensions shows different perspective of culture. Following are the cultural dimension of Hofstede model. Power distance It expresses the attitude of culture towards inequalities. In this dimension, Curaao scored low rank. The power is decentralized and people dislike control and hierarchical level. In addition, employees behavior is more informal towards managers. Individuals like to make direct and participative communication. On the other hand, in India, Russia and Saudi Arabia high number of power distance is obtained. All the decisions are taken by the topmanagement andmanagement follows formal attitude towards other employees (Guerber, Rajagoplan and Anand, 2016). The power distance between these countries is highly centralized. Individualism The cultural dimension of individualism is based on the way in which people care about each other and degree of interdependence. Curaao scored high rank in individualism. It means people followed individualism and prefers to care for themselves. Impact on the dimension of business is that the relationship between employees and employer is based on contract and mutual advantage. On the other hand, India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia scored low rank in this dimension. It means people believe to maintain strong relationship with each other. So, the employees in the organization shared common values and like to work in the group. Masculinity This culture dimension is based on identifying the motive of people. In the society some people like to provide the best or like what other people do. For Netherlands, score is low which means that country follow the feminine characteristics. It means people like to maintain the quality of life and work for equity (Mazanec, Crotts, Gursoy and Lu, 2015). Russia also scored low under this index which means society is caring for other people and maintain high quality of life. While other nations score high. In business organizations, managers are expected to be decisive and assertive. Uncertainty Avoidance It means ways in which the culture is believed to control the future risks or the occurrence in future. Curaao scored high ranks which means people like to work with perfection and avoid uncertainty. There are rigid codes of belief and ideas which should be followed by everyone. In Russian and Saudi Arabia, society also scored high rank which means people establish most complex bureaucracies and for each project, detailed planning is required. On the other hand, other countries like India scored low score as compare to other countries. Long-term Avoidance This dimension describes the ways in which the society deal with its future and the present situations. The Curaao scored high ranks which means in society people believe to establish long-term goals for future. In Netherland, people easily adopt changes in current circumstances. It results in helping people to establish long-term growth (Rallapalli and Montgomery, 2015). On the other hand, countries like India and Russia also score high rank as it means they believe in long-term goals while in Saudi Arabia the score is low. It means people have a strong concern to establish normative thinking and focus on quick results. Indulgence This dimension is defined as the extent, to which people try to control their desires and impulses. Curaao scored high ranks and it means people in the society like to express their feelings and viewpoints in their life and possess the positive attitude towards fun and enjoyment in their lives. India and Russia scored low in the dimension which means society is more restrained in nature (Videikien? and imanskien?, 2015). Saudi Arabia scored moderately which means there is no clear picture or unified answer to the indulgent behavior of the society. Evaluation of Hall Culture Framework Hall culture is based on three dimensions time, space and communication context. The Curaao country score low in this framework. It means people like informal behaviors and follow verbal communication in business (Ferraro and Briody, 2017). The low context culture creates less misunderstanding among the people. On the other hand, India, Russia, and SA follow high context culture which is more confusing in nature and follow non -verbal communication methods in their communication. The second dimension which is used is time. This dimension is divided into two parts i.e. Monochronic time and polychronic time. The Curaao country followed the monochromic time. It means people assume careful planning and scheduling. The similar things are followed by Russia. While India and Saudi Arabia followed polychronic time in which people of these countries focus on making human interaction and have less concern in getting things done. The third dimension of Hall Framework is the space culture. The space culture associated with the ways in which people require their own personal space at the workplace. Curaao country followed high territorial which means people have great concern over the ownership. It is also identified that workers need their own space and maintain healthy work-life balance (Lane, and Lindquist, 2015). On the other hand in countries like Russia, India and Saudi Arabia people follow low territorial, which means people do not have any type of work-life balance and low space is provided to them. Limitation The limitation of this model is its validity and reliability. The model is based on data which are collected from one company and sample size can be small. The basic assumption of this model is based on national culture but it not includes impact of globalization. The application of above framework can be improved by using the technological advancement and interacting this model with globalization. Management The national culture is also reflected in the organizations management. The business firm is highly affected by beliefs and culture of the country. In the management perspective, human resources practices of each country is different. Each nation has a different perspective regarding the HR practices and procedures (Andersen, Leisink, and Vandenabeele, 2017). The prime focus of human resources management is to maintain human capital in the business and use its optimum level. The HRHHHHH HR practices of the organization include hiring, maintaining HR policies and developing HR regulations etc. The culture of each nation also reflects oi HR practices of the company. Recruitment and Training The HR of the company is solely responsible for selecting and provides training to employees in the organization. The national culture and attitudes of employees are highly influenced by the training of employees. In Curaao country, business organizations provide all required training and skills development program through which employees can become more creative. Due to impact of western country, Russia also follows similar practices and provide training to their employees (Gabriel, Cheshin, Moran and van Kleef, 2016). However, India and Saudi Arabia failed to provide enough training to workers due to economic condition and the lack of the human resources. In these countries, people believe to hire less skilled employees as compared to the western country. Bridging the Demand and Supply Gap Another work of human resource in an organization is to make sure to fulfill demand and supply gap within the business. The HR department of the company is conducting interviews and providing the best candidates for the vacant position. The HR in the western countries includes the Curaao motivating employees and directing them towards to higher performance (Guinot, Chiva, and Malln, 2016). On the other hand, the counties like India and Saudi Arabia failed to bridge the demand and supply gap because in these countries people do possess limited skills and knowledge. In Russia, the organization hires only the local people who are less interactive towards foreigners. In the present times, the competition among the business organizations has increased drastically. The business enterprises have realized that the human resource has the competence to create competitive advantage to the businesses. Therefore, organizations are providing different remunerations packages to attract the most tal ented people at the workplace. However, it is realized that there is still a huge gap in the supply and demand of the talented workforce. It is important for the governments to fulfill this gap by making some radical changes in the education system of the society. Employment Legislation The employment legislation refers to the laws and regulations which are developed to provide health and safety to employees. In the business, there are different types of risks which are associated with workplace and need to be controlled. The foremost employment legislation which is followed is providing minimum wages and other acts such as insurance act, employees compensation for any type of accidents are appears (Shen and Benson, 2016). There are several industries, in which the employees face a higher degree of risk and the probability of workplace hazard. The government has made it mandatory to provide insurance coverage to these workers. Other than that, the government has also made sexual harassment laws in which the employees are protected against any sexual offence at the workplace. In Curaao country, the employment legislation is strictly followed and minimum wages are also followed. In other countries such as India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia employment laws are followed an d also employees have to face many types of problems. The laws are very strict and stringent in Saudi Arabia. The laws related to workplace are also different as the constitutions of Saudi Arabia are based on the Sharia or the holy book. The Hofestde and Halll cultural model is considered helpful in describing the national culture of all countries. In this framework, there are certain weakness which can be improved. The limitation of model is that it based on limited number of research and sample size. It should include more research by using the large sample size by gathering data techniques. The influence of this model on HR management is that it helps to explains manner in which different types of techniques are used by HR on the national context and maintained human capital in organization. Conclusion Notes Summing up the present report, it is concluded that national culture can create a huge impact on business. The values, beliefs, culture, and attitudes make the business structure more complex or simple. In the context of the Curaao country, culture is more open and Fridley. On the other hand Russia, SA and India allowed limited openness in culture. Curaao countrys managers maintains high ethical standards at workplace and also allow diversity at the workplace. The country has also maintained sustainability in all aspects as compare other countries. For the business purpose, this country provides facilities and growth. The political, economic, culture of country promotes better working conditions for employees and business. Thus, it is considered that for the trade perspective it is more favorable as compared to other countries in the Group. In order to overcome the cross cultural dilemmas organization can provide ethical and cultural training to all of its employees. References Alleva, J.M., Martijn, C., Veldhuis, J. and Tylka, T.L., 2016. A Dutch translation and validation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2: An investigation with female university students in the Netherlands. Body image, 19, pp.44-48. Andersen, L.B., Leisink, P. and Vandenabeele, W., 2017. Human Resources Practices and Research in Europe. Public Personnel Management: Current Concerns, Future Challenges. Beugelsdijk, S., Maseland, R., Hoorn, A. (2015). Are scores on Hofstede's dimensions of national culture stable over time? A cohort analysis. Global Strategy Journal, 5(3), 223-240. Clegg, S. R., Kornberger, M., Pitsis, T. (2015). Managing and organizations: An introduction to theory and practice. Sage. Ferraro, G. P. and Briody, E. K. (2017). The cultural dimension of global business. Taylor Francis. Gabriel, A.S., Cheshin, A., Moran, C.M. and van Kleef, G.A., 2016. Enhancing emotional performance and customer service through human resources practices: A systems perspective. Human Resource Management Review, 26(1), pp.14-24. Guerber, A., Rajagoplan, A., Anand, V. (2016). The Influence of National Culture on the Rationalization of Corruption. Crime and Corruption in Organizations: Why It Occurs and What To Do About It, 143 Guinot, J., Chiva, R. and Malln, F., 2016. Linking altruism and organizational learning capability: A study from excellent human resources management organizations in Spain. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(2), pp.349-364. Lane, P.M. and Lindquist, J.D., 2015. Definitions for The Fourth Dimension: A Proposed Time Classification System1. In Proceedings of the 1988 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 38-46). Springer, Cham. Mazanec, J. A., Crotts, J. C., Gursoy, D., Lu, L. (2015). Homogeneity versus heterogeneity of cultural values: An item-response theoretical approach applying Hofstede's cultural dimensions in a single nation. Tourism Management, 48, 299-304. Rallapalli, K. C., Montgomery, C. D. (2015). Marketing Strategies For Asian-Americans: Guidelines Based on Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions. In Minority Marketing: Research Perspectives for the 1990s (pp. 73-77). Springer, Cham. Shen, J. and Benson, J., 2016. When CSR is a social norm: How socially responsible human resource management affects employee work behavior. Journal of Management, 42(6), pp.1723-1746. Teir, R.A.A. and Zhang, R.Q., 2016. The current Practices of Human Resource Management in Higher Education institutions in Palestine. Journal of Human Resources, 4(1), pp.65-83. Videikien?, S., imanskien?, L. (2015). Barriers of change management in organizations: theoretical and practical aspects. Management of Organizations: Systematic Research, (70), 107-120. Zaidi, Z., Verstegen, D., Naqvi, R., Morahan, P. and Dornan, T., 2016. Gender, religion, and sociopolitical issues in cross-cultural online education. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 21(2), pp.287-301.

Problems of the Country an Example by

Problems of the Country by Expert Marvellous | 22 Dec 2016 1. One of the problems facing the US today is that of illegal migration. According to the estimates of the INS (currently CIS), in January 2000, the total population of illegal migrants in the US comprised 7 million people (CIS 2003). Out of those, 32% lived in California, and largest increases in the numbers of illegal aliens were also posted in Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Georgia, and North Carolina (CIS 2003). Need essay sample on "Problems of the Country" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The estimates of the Census Bureau show an even higher number, 8 million illegal aliens living in the US as of 2000. The Center for Immigration Studies finds that the two "magnets" which attract illegal aliens are jobs and family connections. Discrepancy in salaries between American workers and those in developing nations drive people across the border. The result is illegal networks that help channel new entrants across the border. Despite measures taken to combat the problem, the flow does not abate. Angela Kelley, deputy director of the National Immigration Forum, states that the continued growth of that population simply shows that current immigration policy "is broken" (Moreno 2005:A02). One way to combat illegal migration is to supply all legal entrants as well as citizens with some sort of ID that will be required in virtually all establishments: banks, supermarkets, stores etc. The lack of such identification will become instant proof of illegal status or indication of need to perform a background check for the police or other law enforcement bodies. Another serious problem that emerged only recently is the incumbent Administrations crackdown on free exchange of information. Especially worrisome is White House's directive that allows the NSA to monitor the calls and e-mails of Americans without court approval (Arlen Specter to Dick Cheney: Butt Out on Wiretap Probe). The initiative is assumed to violate the constitutional rights of Americans. Yet it is presented as an important tool in combating terrorism and was labelled by the President as a terrorist surveillance program (Bush Defends). It seems necessary in this respect to introduce additional legislation that will protect civil liberties in the face of the stepped up efforts in the fight against terrorism. The new acts have to outlaw any indiscriminate tapping of phones or e-mails, subjecting them to the court approval. 2. One of the future problems that have attracted a lot of debate is the projected shortfall in Social Security. Washington Posts editorial No Social Security 'Crisis' cites the projections of a gap of $3.7 trillion in the next 75 years. The solutions are delayed because politicians do not risk voting for unpopular measures that may alienate voters. Some politicians even question the very existence of the crisis. Thus, R-Calif. Bill Thomas insisted that lawmakers have to reach a consensus on the level of urgency and the magnitude of the problem (Lawrence 2005). However, independent analysts arrived at the conclusion that the Trustees' projections for productivity, labor force growth, and longevity show the projections to be reasonable and perhaps even optimistic (Biggs 2000). Slow growth of the economy combined with aging of the population is bound to result in shortfall in Social Security. While it is clear that seniors may have to work longer in order to provide for themselves, it makes sense to start a program creating special senior jobs. These jobs can be offered to people over 65 who are still willing to put in a few hours a day. Either corporations or special entities can find ways to utilize the expertise and experience accumulated by seniors without straining their fragile health. Another problem that will surface in the nearest future is the need to accommodate soldiers returning from Iraq. Many soldiers discovered that homecoming proved a far more complicated, even conflicted, experience than it seemed it would be back in Iraq when they thought of little else (Myers 2003). The soldiers often encounter the so-called Vietnam syndrome manifested in alienation, depression and a range of psychological disorders (Satel 2004). Even if they feel more or less sound psychologically, there is a new problem: many veterans are struggling with finding work as their long absence from the workforce and psychological problems make them less attractive to employers (Reserve soldiers at a loss for jobs). The solution for soldiers problems can come from soldiers unions, but should be facilitated by the government. Thus, the federal government can offer an incentive plan to businesses that want to hire soldiers returning from the war. Incentives can be offered in the form of tax breaks or additional guarantees for loans taken out by businesses that hire 3 or more Iraqi veterans. 3. I do hope that the US can address its problems with due effort. Throughout the centuries, this nation faced a variety of challenges, yet each time emerged vigorous and able to protect itself from future challenges. The strong civil institutions including non-governmental organizations and independent press are a powerful means of identifying problems. The mechanisms for their resolution do not always prove effective, but they reflect ultimately the evils of society that is not always capable of adequate action. Our country does not face the serious challenges that confront developing nations such as access to fresh water, basic sanitation etc. However, the problem of the US is that it is already a great power with much to lose. It takes effective and imminent action to remedy the problems in order to continue as a great power. References Bush Defends NSA Electronic Surveillance Program. Tech Law Journal. 12 Jun. 06 http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2006/01/24.asp>. Center for Immigration Studies. Illegal Immigration. 12 Jun. 06 . Drum, Kevin. Bush and the Separation of Powers. Washington Monthly 18 December 2005. 12 Jun. 06 . Lawrence, J. (2005, January 23). Social Security 'crisis' questioned. USA TODAY 23 January 2005. 12 Jun. 06 . Moreno, Sylvia. Flow of Illegal Immigrants to U.S. Unabated: Mexicans Make Up Largest Group; D.C. Area Numbers Up 70 Percent Since 2000. Washington Post 22 March 2005, A02. Myers, Steven Lee. The Struggle for Iraq: With the Third pision; Returning From Iraq War Not So Simple for Soldiers. New York Times 12 September 2003. 12 Jun. 06 . No Social Security 'Crisis'. Washington Post 1 February 2005, A16. Reserve soldiers at a loss for jobs. Washington Times 1 July 2005. 12 Jun. 06 . Satel, Sally. Returning From Iraq, Still Fighting Vietnam. New York Times 5 March 2005. 12 Jun. 06 . U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). Executive Summary: Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: 1990 to 2000. January 2003. 12 Jun. 06 .

Identifying Employee Needs as a Means of Motivation †Business Management Essay

Identifying Employee Needs as a Means of Motivation – Business Management Essay Free Online Research Papers Identifying Employee Needs as a Means of Motivation Business Management Essay The motivational process in management can be treated as a need satisfying process. While motivation is universal, each employees needs are unique hence managers should focus on identifying what needs are important to each individual in order to satisfy these needs and encourage motivation. Content/need theories of motivation are primarily concerned with what motivates people whereas process theories offer a more in depth understanding of motivation looking at how and how people are motivated. To fully understand motivation managers should take both of these types of theories into account. To show the vast scope of needs in motivational processes, (and thus how each employees needs are likely unique) this essay will look at three content theories of motivation; the hierarchy of needs, Mc Gregor’s X and Y theories, and the three needs theory. Firstly, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory proposes that within every person is five needs that need to be satisfied. These include, from the bottom of the hierarchy to the top physiological needs (eg. food, shelte), safety needs (protection from emotional and physical harm), social needs (feeling of belonging), esteem needs (self-respect) and self-actualisation needs. This theory asserts that individuals satisfy these needs in a step like process. Within each of these stages there is a vast range of needs that could fit into each category hence suggesting each individuals needs could be different and unique. Secondly, the Mc Gregor’s X and Y theory is primariy a negative and positive view of employees respectively. Theory X assumes employees to be lazy, to dislike work, must be coerced to perform and that lower order needs dominate individuals. On the other hand theory Y assumes that employees are responsible can exercise self-direction and that higher level needs predominate. In this way both Theory X and Y offer wide-ranging categories of needs, suggesting the needs for motivation are not predetermined but rather unpredictable for each individual employee. Finally, there is also a three needs theory. Theses three needs include the need for achievement, the need for power, and the need for affiliation (the desire for close interpersonal relationships). This theory adds another layer as to what needs employees are motivated by. Each of the three categories are able to be adapted personally to each individual needs for instance, while two people may be high in need for power one may aspiring to be the CEO of a multinational corporation, while the other may want to manage a clothing shop. These groupings of needs can be applied to a vast scope of circumstances and individual desires. Overall, the motivational process is universal as all organisations through various strategies attempt to motivate employees in order to attain high performance and reach organisational goals. ‘Needs’ however, refer to an internal state of an individual that makes certain outcomes appear attractive. The types of needs that motivate employees have been suggested by the hierarchy of needs theory, Mc Gregor’s X and Y theory, and the three needs through. The categories within these theories are wide-ranging thus suggesting that there are no definite needs of each employee, but each individuals needs are unique. Research Papers on Identifying Employee Needs as a Means of Motivation - Business Management EssayThree Concepts of PsychodynamicMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesResearch Process Part OneThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Project Managment Office SystemEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Baz Luhrmanns Romeo And Juliet Review Film Studies Essay

Baz Luhrmanns Romeo And Juliet Review Film Studies Essay Baz Luhrmann brings a unique visual style to William Shakespeare’s renaissance tragedy â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†. Set in a modern Verona Beach, Luhrmann sets the assertive and trendy tone of his adaptation within a decaying Miami City. Within minutes, the opening TV prologue hurls us into the white-hot intensity of the two warring families, bombarding the audience with chaotic action scenes and passion. Constructing an edgy and dynamic environment, his brash interpretation uses rapid cuts and erratic zooming techniques to create a comic strip style sequence against the multicultural backdrop of the graffiti scattered streets of Verona. Though effective, the restlessness of the camera becomes confusing, slicing the action into short, sharp images that can mystify rather than illuminate. Such fervent action so soon into the film is dizzying and unexpected. Luhrmann attracts the audience with his lively cinema style, speeding up the action to hype up the confrontation and t he rivalry of the two families alongside an intense soundtrack of contemporary and popular music. As a contemporary film director, Luhrmann clearly values the younger audience who would usually only come into contact with Shakespeare in a school environment. This could explain the roaring energy of car engines and elaborate guns instead of horses and swords originally used in earlier productions. Encompassing the elegance of Shakespeare’s text, Luhrmann introduces the â€Å"star crossed lovers† in a tender exchange of affectionate eye contact across the shimmering light of an aquarium. The pair follow each other across the length of the glass in an enduring and delicately youthful and romantic moment, capturing the innocence of the fated pair. Luhrmann creates a sensual and glamorously romantic atmosphere whenever the lovers meet alone. The balcony and swimming pool scene in particular surrounds the pair in a glimmering sheen of water and light. Luhrmann’s use o f atmospheric lighting leaves the audience to swoon, drinking in the glow of the dreamy eyed couple as they exchange their most iconic and enduring dialogue. Though their love is prohibited by tradition, ego and prejudice in the society of Verona, Luhrmann exposes Shkespeare’s drama to a contemporary world without limits, modernising the play with radical scenes of drug use, drag queens and public brawls. A couple so concerned with the traditional morals of their families in a world of law breaking and promiscuity comes as a stark contrast which at times, is unconvincing. As the audience enjoy the rowdy and loose morality at the Capulet Ball, it is initially somewhat difficult to believe that two young people in love would not act upon their passionate attraction. However, the undeniable beauty of the couple’s love is infectious. As they lie in the church lit by thousands of candles, the beauty of Shakespeare’s romantic tale is undeniable in the soft, atmospheri c style with which Luhrmann combines light and opulent religious design to glamorize the tragic scene in which the love affair comes to an end. The language used in this film is lifted from the pages of Shakespeare’s text; which is surprising and pleasing as the dialogue fits seamlessly into the style of the film. Luhrmann has stripped the dialogue right down the necessities in order to sell to a commercial younger audience who may not understand the complexities of the original dialogue. The bare bones of the text are delivered confidently, notably by Friar Lawrence. Actor Pete Postlethwaite’s portrayal of the Friar as a new age herbalist gives the audience a glimpse of Shakespearean imagery and rhythm as he optimistically agrees to marry the pair in a bid to turn the â€Å"household’s rancour to pure love†. Similarly, Harold Perrineau’s portrayal of Mercutio adds an exotic and audacious tempo to the film. Perrineau portrays him as entrancing and compelling, emphasising Shakespeare’s skilfully witty character, which becomes most poignant during his speech before they are due at the house of Capulet. The volatile style in which he presents this famous speech builds from a jovial and bawdy exchange with Romeo at the steps of a run-down theatre, to an explosive and passionate conclusion. Delivered naturally, Luhrmann heightens suspense by climaxing the speech with a furiously bright light and sound of a single firework. The audience are brought to a peak of tension and anticipation, unsure where this volatile character will take them next.

Employee Training and Development Research Paper

Employee Training and Development - Research Paper Example (Cormier) Training enhances the skills, knowledge, new information, and cultural awareness of an organization. The transfer is accomplished when the subject matter of the training is passed to the members of the organization, who then apply the skill set in the job environment. While the transfer of training process sounds simple and rudimentary, several barriers exists that can hinder the transfer of training process, or even nullify it completely. It is essential to understand the barriers to training in order to enhance the success of transfer of training. Several common barriers exist; lack of reinforcement on the job, non-supportive organizational culture, immediate work environment interference, impractical training programs, irrelevant training content, discomfort with change, lack of inspiration or support of the trainer, poorly designed / delivered training, and pressures from peers to resist change associated with training. Barriers to training exist in every organization t o varying degrees. (Broad) These barriers all hinder the importance of the training process and can mitigate the positive effects intended by the training process.

ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 22

ART - Essay Example According to the artist, he is an admirer of realists saying that there is a â€Å"basic visual magic in the ability of pigments to credibly translate our 3-dimensional world to the flat 2- dimensional world of paper and canvas† (scottsdalefinearts.com). Indeed, his work presents this feature, having those realistic traits one sees when looking at real subjects. As a viewer, when I look at the artwork, I seem to be looking at a photograph especially when I stand from a distance. The three-dimensional concept of real images is perfectly captured in the painting that one can only notice that it is a painting when he gets near the artwork. There is a sense of distance when one looks at the painting. This is achieved by presenting images as it would be naturally seen. For instance, the nearer images are made bigger than the other parts of the subject while the ones farther from the viewer are made smaller. Moreover, the parts which are presented to be near the viewer are more detailed while the ones farther are not. The parts of the subject which are supposed to be near the beholder show the color of whatever little number of grasses there are in the canyon. It also shows the fine details of what could be observed in real canyons, the different shapes only nature could create with the lands. The marks left by waters and other natural circumstances are clearly represented in the painting and I think these are what make the painting very real. On the other hand, the figures which are presented to be farther away from the observer look smaller. Furthermore, as on a natural setting, the scope of the view is also wider. The details are also lesser rather just as one would observe in real-life situations. Another element used in the painting that perhaps helps enhance to make the work magnificent is the painter’s use of colors. They are very natural and this is perhaps shows what a keen observer the artist is. The

Human Morality Essay Example for Free

Human Morality Essay A common question throughout history has always been about human morality. Because of our higher thinking capacity, we are hardwired to adapt and refine our basic instincts to survive; therefore, it is obvious this question would be disputed throughout time. Are humans innately good, bad, or plainly neutral? The position that any one person takes may be derived from any number of ideas, be them philosophical thoughts or scientific inquiries. This essay asserts that morality is innate, and uses both scientific studies and ideas from philosophers to support this argument. Man is essentially good, and the different ways people are nurtured—from societal influences to parental influences—creates the large spectrum and variety of behavior that may not be deemed â€Å"good† or â€Å"moral. † The magazine Smithsonian published an article named â€Å"Born to Be Mild† in January of 2013 on morality in young children. This article wrote about a few different studies done on children by three different experimenters. In one of the studies titled â€Å"Spontaneous Altruism by Chimpanzees and Young Children,† Felix Warneken tested the morality of humans through young babies (because they have had little to no socialization) and also tested morality of chimpanzees, the closest relative to humans. In this study, 18-month-old toddlers were tested to see if they would help others in need by retrieving a dropped item that an adult struggled for. In almost all instances, the child returned the item. Warneken stated, â€Å"[Helping at that age] is not something that’s been trained, and [the children] come to help without prompting or without being rewarded† (Tucker 39). Not only did the toddlers help people in need, they also helped without social cues (such as the distress someone in need has). Many toddlers in the experiment Warneken created helped retrieve a can that had fallen off a table next to an adult and the adult failed to realize something was amiss. When Warneken tested the chimpanzees to see if they would return the same answers, he tested chimpanzees that were nursery-raised and semi-wild chimps. Both tests displayed the same results as the tests on the toddlers—chimpanzees were willing to help both humans and other chimps in need with no reward for themselves (Tucker 39-41). The fact that most of the toddlers and human relatives, the chimpanzees, helped others in need both with and without social cues strongly points to the idea that human morality is innate. A second study highlighted in the Smithsonian article was a reproduction of a previous study from the mid-2000s. The original study was an animated presentation shown to six to ten month old babies in one group and three month old babies in a second. The animated presentation consisted of a red circle attempted to climb a hill. In one instance, a triangle helped the circle climb, and in another, a square knocked the circle down. When the square and triangle were presented to the older group of babies, almost all babies chose the helping triangle over the hindering square. For the younger group, the researchers tracked the eye movement of the babies to either the triangle or square, because the babies could not physically grab the object. In the reproduction, done by another experimenter, the results were the same. Once again, evidence suggests that because babies seem so morally good, humans are innately good, and it is the nurture we receive as we are socialized into this culture that may cause some people to seem morally corrupt (Tucker 38-39). It should be noted that because the reproduction provided the same results as the original study, an even stronger case was created for the idea of innate human morality. The messages that Machiavelli gives in â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince† may cause one to believe that humans are innately evil because through â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince,† Machiavelli details how to be cunning, take control, and maintain control as a ruler of a province. His teachings seem to create humans as greedy people, hungry for more. This is actually very incorrect. Machiavelli clearly states, â€Å"it is necessary for a prince†¦to learn how to not be good† (42). I emphasize that Machiavelli wrote a man must learn to not be good. One can assume from this that Machiavelli is saying man is at least in some degree, wholesome and moral. After all, humans were never meant to civilize and evolve. We are, in true form, animals that have an instinct to survive. Ruling and gaining power is a man-made idea. Opponents to the idea that humans are moral might suggest that if ruling is man-made, evil is already within us because we created the concept of ruling others; however, if man were truly evil, he would not take murder as a heavy offense, and would kill others in his way to get what he wants instead of just gaining control. The examples of rulers that Machiavelli writes help to reiterate this point. These men were not born thinking of war and control. They were raised and socialized to lead and gain power. Steinbeck and the messages he delivers in The Grapes of Wrath also point to the idea that human morality is innate. The author often writes of the distinct line of those with, and those without—in other words, the owners and the migrants or farmers. Steinbeck makes a point to write about how close-knit the migrants are in many instances. Steinbeck writes â€Å"‘I lost my land’ is changed†¦[to] ‘We lost our land. ’,† ‘I have a little food’ plus ‘I have none’†¦. is ‘We have a little food’† (151); â€Å"the twenty families became one family† (193); and â€Å"when a baby dies a pile of silver coins grew at the door flap† (195). All of these quotes show the goodness in others, to do something for someone in need. This is all in contrast to the owners, which on multiple different pages Steinbeck writes how disconnected they are from the land, and â€Å"the quality of owning freezes you forever into ‘I’† (Steinbeck 152). These owners are so encompassed by the material culture around them, by the greed and the blanketed reality that they cannot see with a moral compass anymore. Of course they have one, for at one point they might have been like the farmers, caring for others and instituted into the â€Å"we† group. Proponents for human neutrality might argue that the owners were never at any point good, that they were neutral and socialized into the owning culture, unlike the farming culture. This is not the case, however, through a passage that Steinbeck wrote very early in The Grapes of Wrath, which said, â€Å"Some of the owner men were kind because they hated what they had to do, and some of them were angry because they hated to be cruel, and some of them were cold because they had long ago found that one could not be an owner unless one were cold† (31). This insinuates that in all types of owners, there is a moral compass. Even in the coldest owners, deep within them, they acknowledge the idea that the work they do is wrong. Because the owners know what is wrong, they know the opposite as well—what is right. If the owners were not innately good, their views on what is right or wrong would be skewed by their societal influences. While people will never give up the argument of human morality, it is a safe bet to argue that humans are innately good. We possess the ability to help spontaneously and without reward, as shown in the scientific studies, and we understand what is right and wrong. Our societal influences and the way we were raised affects if we will channel our morality or go against it, as shown by Machiavelli in â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince† and by Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath. Works Cited Machiavelli, Niccolo. â€Å"The Qualities of the Prince. † A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. 8th e. Boston: Bedford, 2010. Print. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 1939. Print. Tucker, Abigail. â€Å"Born to Be Mild. † Smithsonian Jan. 2013: 35-41, 76-77. Print.

drugs report :: essays research papers

My partner and I both currently attend courses on the sociology of drugs and youth and it was from these classes where we derived our question for this project. As these subjects were a shared interest we decided to focus our question on the drug habits of Stirling University students as we would have no access problems to a sample. Once our topic was decided apon the specific question ‘Have the drug habits of Stirling University third year students changed since coming to university’. Even though the report had to be done in pairs this did not necessarily make the task any easier. I thought there would be a major benefit in the fact that we could negotiate reading duties between the pair of us but it emerged that for a really successful project we would have to have as wide a knowledge of the subject as possible. Communication was paramount at all times as we wanted the report to flow as apiece and not appear to be obviously written by two separate people. I believe our communication with each other was a significant contributing factor to the success of our project. The fact that my partner and I share the same timetable at university was highly advantageous as we had ample opportunities to meet up and discuss any developments or problems that arose. The only significant conflict that arose between my partner and I concerned the questions in which to ask our respondents during our interview. We had contradicting views as to what questions should and should not be asked and also about the wording of the questions. After some deliberation and by conducting ‘mock’ interviews with each other equilibrium was reached. My personal progress throughout the report was aided considerably by the use of a research diary. This was used to chart any progress, queries, ideas or problems that occurred during the semester. The research diary assisted me by keeping a personal record to share with my partner whom also had a research diary filled with her own thoughts therefore ensuring we never forgot any information. Furthermore, the research diary was also used to record advice given to us by our tutor at class time and at personal meetings. The true benefit of the diary, though, emerged when we finally came round to writing up our report as we had a physical reminder of problems and self-criticisms that would otherwise have been forgotten.

Are Governments Controlling The Internet Essay

Prior to the 21st century society greatest inventions were the automobile, the telephone, the airplane as a means of communication and transportation. Now individuals are blessed with the Internet. It is commonly regarded that the Internet is a manifesto of technology that allows human beings to interact with one another using networking services. The Internet has broken down the barriers and means of traditional communication. In cyberspace, people can talk with each other regardless of location. It can be defined as a â€Å"unique medium† with no geographical location but available to anyone (p. 21). It is not only used for communication but information searching, listings of products and services, advertising of large/small businesses, and much more. In essence, the Internet can be regarded as a separate entity from our own physical world – a digital utopia. The question being raised is, with the large scale of the internet, how is it maintained or even controlled? Jack Goldsmith and Tim Wu’s book Who Controls the Internet? Illusions of a Borderless World gives a perfect example of how the Internet is being directly (and indirectly) controlled by territorial government. As each section of the book is uncovered, it is clearly pointed out that national governments through control of local and global intermediaries and coercion exercise dominate control over the digital empire. The book is subdivided into three large sections. In the first section Wu and Goldsmith marks the impression to the readers that the Internet is in fact a â€Å"libertarian state† where users can freely express themselves. The authors argue at the commencement of the Internet there are no actual â€Å"rulers† or â€Å"governors† of the Internet rather it was the upheaval of a Digital American Revolution, that’s built on â€Å"language and reason and our fail in each other† (p. 22). The authors later indicate that it was open because it was willing to â€Å"accept almost any kind of computer or network†. Thus it is a society that is ruled by the humanity that resides within the Internet. â€Å"Humanity united might do better than our lousy systems of government, throw away the constructs of the nation-state, and live in some different but better way† (p. 7). Section two establishes that users from different geographical regions want their information presented in their local language. As the author pointed that language is one of the most important aspects on the internet. It gives the example that people in Brazil, Korea and France do not want English versions of Microsoft products but rather want a version they can fully understand (p. 50). As the next section unravels we start to notice how digital humanity needs rulers and starts to get involved how national governments are governing the borders of the internet. It proves that government uses coercion and local intermediaries to restrict and even block content that is on the internet. An example would be Nazi merchandise and hate sites appearing on French networks and even an incident in China where a 15 year old girl Liu Di was punished by the Chinese government when she was making an argument comparing the Chinese government and a prostitute. It also points out how controlling Governments can be a beneficial factor in regulating illegal activities such as file sharing and copyrighting. The final section of the book shows how the government aims to make the borders of the Internet a haven that protects its citizens from harm. This section explores the aspect of globalization and competing countries in controlling the Internet. Europe, U. S. and China all wishes to have a centralized power over the Internet. If two out of three countries that are in favour of online gambling while the one third is not, how can a borderless digital society solve this problem? The sections encourages decentralized governments to work together to adapt to people’s needs and respond in a more positive manner (p. 53). For the struggle of ultimate control lies within national governments – and a problem of clashing government interests and priorities can be a serious concern for the future of the Internet (p. 171). Wu and Goldsmith both agreed that this is the â€Å"beginning of a technological version of the cold war, with each side pushing its own vision of the Internet’s future† (p. 184). In order for the book to draw readers closer into fully understanding the Internet the authors must not only make a compelling argument but the style and construction of the book is also important. This essay will discuss four areas in which the book was successful or non-successful into helping readers understand the importance of national governments and their role on the Internet. The notable points in creating a compelling argument lie within the thesis, the method(s) of research, the evidence that supports the thesis and the overall evaluation/recommendation. The first point that’s important in this book is the thesis. The thesis is the main point the authors are trying to make throughout the entire book. In the book Who Controls the Internet Wu and Goldsmith stated their thesis in the conclusion rather than the introduction. Instead they decided to allure readers by telling a short story in the introduction to foreshadow readers into the overall point of the book. In my opinion the thesis of the book can found on page 180 where it reads â€Å"Beneath of fog of modern technology, we have seen the effects of coercive governmental force on local persons, firms and equipment† (p. 180). Ironically, this is not the thesis that users anticipated on hearing when they decide to read the book. On the back cover of the book it reads â€Å"a book about the fate of one idea – that the Internet might liberate us forever from government, borders and even our physical selves†. (Wu and Goldsmith) Wu and Goldsmith prompted readers with a general idea then throughout the book used examples and heated evidence to prove that idea wrong. It gives readers the perception that the Internet is in fact a challenge to governmental rule rather than the idealistic entity of freedom and liberty. The thesis was not always stated at the end of the book rather the author hinted their thesis throughout chapters to reinforce their main point along the way. For instance in chapter 5, Wu and Goldsmith talk about how local intermediaries are present and how government uses coercion to control these intermediaries, thus â€Å"ruling the internet† (p. 65). The authors stated that it would be extremely easy for individuals to â€Å"overlook how often governments control behavior not individually, but collectively, through intermediaries† (p. 68). The authors use the example of HavenCo to reinforce their thesis. In the book HavenCo was described as â€Å"the first place on earth where people are free to conduct business without someone looking over their shoulder† (p. 65). Shortly after, HavenCo became the object of negativity where porn and other offensive content were being hosted. Due to their business model they would not seek out cooperative intermediaries. However falling into a downward spiral, HavenCo became desperate so they looked towards national governments for assistance. However the government would not oblige since it was hosting offensive content and demanded that HavenCo remove the material. Of course, without this aspect â€Å"HavenCo was nothing†. And now without the support of powerful government officials and intermediaries HavenCo is now a â€Å"jumbled pile of network equipment, rotting and obsolete† (p. p. 84-85). The authors presents the readers with a clear and indirect thesis in each chapter, and as each chapter passes they are vividly trying to reinforce their thesis by providing real life evidence that happens in the midst of the digital society. Other notable examples that are highlighted in the book that supports the thesis would be the Chinese government sometimes with help from Yahoo, seize political dissidents and put them in prison (p. 181). Next, the government that are threatening Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and search engines and credit card companies with fines so that they can filter out offensive net communications. And, it is clear that Jon Postel and the Internet’s founders give up control over their creation under implied threats of governmental force. And finally, under the aspect of file sharing (where it was debated it would be hardest to control) governments have executed hidden but important ways to fuel coercion on the economy of file-sharing and â€Å"tilts the playing field to favour law-abiding companies like Apple† (p. 181). The authors have a very climatic way to communicate their thesis to the reader, By presenting support evidence and a strong conclusion they are in fact proving to readers that the government does control the internet. The next section uncovers the methodology that the authors used to present their topic. In order to prove their thesis they need an abundant amount of information. Not only does this information provide historical insight in the topic but it grants validity in the matter. In the book the authors have presented much needed evidence that governments control the internet, as each chapter is unraveled the readers are engulfed with powerful side stories of the lives of specific individuals that resided in the digital age. The book uses a combination of statistical information and encoded facts, personal biographies and appealing stories. If we direct our attention to the sources at the end of the book we notice that the authors use a hefty number of secondary sources. The only notable errors that are present in their methodology were that the sources they used were a little out of date. Old sources will lead to skewed results and that might cause a misinterpretation of the research. The book was written and published in 2006 but the majority of sources they used were within the 1998-2001 timeframe. Although they did use several sources that were recent (2005) it still does not change the fact that the Internet and technology are always changing in real time. With this change it’s rather hard to keep up and readers can be misinformed of with irrelevant information rather than significant information. Although with these slight flaws in the book, the methods were applied correctly in the sense that it is very easy to understand. They have broken the entire book into three parts; each part builds up information for that peak ending (or thesis). The methods were appropriate in the sense that the authors had a balance of evidence to support their claim. For example, the information gathered was not all focused on the government’s point of view but rather an equal split between government, organizations and individuals. It would be naive to think that a proper thesis can be proved without the support of evidence. Methodically the authors predominately still influence the readers with horror stories and statistics of government coercion on digital societies to prove their thesis. For example, the chapter on China outlines President Bill Clinton’s visit to the foreign land. Clinton observed that users required national ID cards before logging on. Regulated cafes also featured cameras pointed directly at the computer screen and police officers would occasionally monitor users right behind their back (p. 97). In China the Internet is far from being a liberating force but rather it is the major attraction for government surveillance. As previously mentioned Liu Di was arrested on personally insulting the government over the Internet, shortly after Liu Di’s story was printed in the press as a warming to all other civilians using the Internet. Throughout the book we see many stories that mimic the true horrors of the Internet, presented in a non-fictitious way to leaves readers shunned into believing the overall message of the book. Other factual occurrences that are displayed in Wu and Goldsmith’s methodology are the Kazaa/Napster case where digital piracy was at its initial state. Napster, a company located in the United States was battling with court officials to stay alive. With no luck, a simple U. S. ourt order was easily enforced and that led â€Å"to a total system collapse† (p. 108). Another factor that stands out with the evidence was that it’s very diverse in the geographical sense. The authors not only present their ideas from the American standpoint but tackles on other regions of the world. In the introduction the authors commences a deep discussion on global borders of the internet, the evidence and support was from a simply disgruntled individual that didn’t like seeing Nazi merc handise on the French site of Yahoo (p. p. 1-10). By using this intrinsic method of communicating the thesis they are successful in the sense of drawing readers. This chapter rather than supporting the thesis, they argue against it saying that the Internet â€Å"cannot be regulated†. Using factual data, they are offering both sides of the story in a very objective manner. This helps readers understand the thesis a little better and perhaps even raise serious questions on a political, global and technological standpoint. Who Controls the Internet is a very accurate portrayal of the digital society. It tells readers the important message that originally the Internet was designed to liberate individuals and it was designed to escape government and borders, but without the government mingling in affairs the Internet as we know it today wouldn’t flourish. One of the few appealing factors of this book is that it speaks out in a very clear and engaging style. Within each chapter the author conveniently uses sub-headings to divide important topics and that each chapter features several compelling stories. The two authors, who are both lawyers does an excellent job of communicating the legal issues to the readers without heavy use of legal jargon. Despite the many praises the book gets, it still has some flaws. In my opinion the flaws are contained within the unnecessary pictures and images that are included. Many (if not all) of the pictures are unneeded. For instance on page 4 it shows a rather large photo of the Palais de Justice, where the Yahoo case was litigated and similarly on page 66 shows a picture of Sealand where HavenCo was initiated. Although visualizations are nice they have no purpose in proving the thesis. How can a picture of Jon Postel who is described as â€Å"a rambling, ragged look, living in sandals, and a large, unkempt beard† help readers understand the dominate government forces on the Internet. In another part of the book Wu and Goldsmith dedicated half a page to Steve Jobs and as a background; shows a skull and sword insignia and was labeled â€Å"Piracy†. In retrospect the authors should have gotten rid of filler photography and replaced it with diagrams, which brings up the next flaw, the limited use of diagrams within the book. A diagram can help readers understand the point the author is trying to prove in either a passage or chapter. Back to the Steve Jobs example, if the authors showed using a diagram how Apple and national governments were combating internet piracy it would strengthen their thesis in proving that government controls most sides of the Internet. Or even a timeline that showed how government intervened with such programs such as Napster, Kazaa and then taking on Apple. This book appeals to a large audience of graduate, undergraduate students and professors teaching either politics or information technology. The benefits include that readers of this book can raise important questions and use these questions as the foundation for political debates. The content is not the only contributing factor in a well rounded book, Wu and Goldsmith does an excellent job in constructing the book that’s easily presentable to the reader. Even an individual with very little prior knowledge of the Internet can understand the book. Each term is defined when it is firstly introduced. Next, at the end on page 187 the authors implemented a â€Å"frequency used abbreviations† section and the definition in case the reader is having a hard time following due to the technological jargon. In conclusion, there are four areas that were used to critically analyze the book. They are the thesis, the methodology, the evidence used to construct the book and the personal evaluation. This book presents many important topics that relate to past, presents and futures of the technological era. It is telling a story where digital democracies suffer at the ends of coercive governments. It is not just powerful nations have the power to reshape the Internet’s architecture, more specifically it is the United States, China and Europe using their dominate power to reestablish their own version of the Internet.

Do Companies Have a Responsibility Not to Destroy the Environment or Should Profits Be Allowed at Any Environmental Cost Essay

We can see a change in every organizational activities, as in marketing, for example Mc Donald change their previous red logo, in green one, A new one, for a new eco-system protecting plan. In this research we are going to see many element, which will prove that companies have a responsibility to take care about the environment. In this research, a melting pot of arguments will be show, to understand if businesses and factories have to pollute instead of adapting their way to work in function of environment and sustainable development. Real fact will help to understand the point of view. Firm’s activities have big environmental impact, its take a major part of naturals resources and reject in the environment. Oil and chemicals industries are not the only companies, which polluted. Every single firm consumes raw material as water, energy and others. It’s also rejected some substances more or less harmful in the environment. More over the intensive consumption of raw material have big impact on the extinction many species, or animal can become endangered. Deforestation in some country appears because companies want to produce more and more, always more. If firms continue to take resources as now, there will be an exhaustion of raw material as oil and gas. Climate change is partly caused by every reject by firms, in terms of polluting gas, chemical stuff and pollution in the see. As â€Å"good planet† said in their article, a cellulose factory has been closed by the government because they notice that to much pollution as been providing by this factory. In fact, around this factory the Baikal lac was very pollute. The vice Prime Minister Arkadi Dvokovitch announces that the factory will be close as soon as possible: â€Å"We decided to close the plant cellulose Baikalsk†. As the government said, a care project is taking part in this area of Russia. The fact that firms do not respect the environment can be dangerous in different way. In this case, 1700 peoples became unemployed, because it shutting. Population becomes less and less happy because of the different ways of pollution of the country. That is why everyone losing something: government loses reputation, to let factories pollute in the country. Firms have to be shutdown because its disrespect the environment. The reputation is very important for a company; it is one of the most important things to maximize profit. People’s way to speak about a company makes it stronger, if its have a good reputation. More often companies can have a bad rap; When it is important to see what are peoples problems and what are the environmental problems, company are less fascinate. Furthermore, it is usually the bigger business, which pollute the most. It is possible to make profit, and make a maximizing profit not in spit of polluting. But head directors prefer giving money to government as fines, instead of polluting less and earn less money. Refers to the case of Pfizer industry, which is one of the biggest pharmaceutical firms from France. As Bschool wrote in an article, Pfizer has the most important record of polluting action in all categories: â€Å"Pfizer has a bad record on numerous fronts†. This big company has been fined many times by authorities, for environmental violations, in terms of air contamination, because rejected lots of hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere. After many recommendations by government, Pfizer industry did not take care about it, and preferred continued to earned money and maximizing profit. This unconscious act proves that head manager who where at the top of the firm did not think about environmental and social problem, and did not feel concerned by security. According again to Bschool, In 2009, the company became more open minded and aware of what she did, and try to reconsolidated the public opinion with an offer to charity: â€Å"In 2009, Pfizer gave more than $60 million to charity, amounting to an astounding 24,2% of its total net profits for the year. † Thanks to regulation and authority to act in this different case, because we all know that is not the only to act in this way with people and environment. Nowadays, people become more and more involved about the protection of the environment. People, company and government try to find together some alternative to stay on the road in term of ecology. At the begging of the XIX century, the industrial revolution and the economy are based on the absolute search of gain. It is difficult to get back and primary think to the development instead of maximizing profit. Therefore company and government had to make some agreement for sustainable development. For example, according to Jonathan Maxwell, SDCL’s CEO: â€Å"Reducing demand for energy is potentially the most cost- effective and rational way of reducing emissions and improving the security of energy supply. The UK regulator, Ofgem, recently predicted in its first annual Electricity Capacity Assessment that the amount of spare capacity in the system could fall from 14% to 4% in the next 3 years, raising the specter of outages and price rises. This ground-breaking agreement between SDCL, Kingspan and Johnson Controls represents a major step forward towards a scalable and replicable solution, funded through energy savings achieved†. This kind of action is present nationally and internationally. Government want to reduce a lot Co2e emissions in the world; that is why big action concentrate many countries all around the world. States have to sign a convention, and adopt comportment after that. The majority of restriction are involved by the OMC (World Trade Organization). Refers to the professor Michael Porter, teacher in Harvard Business School, the â€Å"Porter hypothesis† (citation). Supporting his thesis from 1991, the main idea of environmental regulation is to institute programs firms reducing some externalities. Mr. Porter said also if companies are doing it by themselves it is considerably normal that business’s profits, by definition necessarily decrease. So the profit of factory can decrease if companies are adopting new rules for sustainable development. In different case, it is better making profit than take care about the environment and sustainable development. The first of a company is to make profit, and more precisely a maximization of profit. A lot of Head business managers prefer pollute and make profit, rather than adopts rules for ecology, and change the global way of the firm. A survey on the green economy post show that around 34% of executives polled preferred to stay on a good move with their company and prefer see the whole economy of the business on prosperity: â€Å"According to this Survey, 34% of executives polled said that their firm’s immediate financial goals were of more importance than practicing sustainability  Ã‚ ». There are lots of problems in changing methods to produce for a company, the management of the polluting rubbish, change machine that will be less dangerous for the environment. So that is why manager do not care about nature and public opinion. Even if there are many inconvenient, it is possible to see company which was able to accept this change in term of environment protection. As we see in the introduction, Mc Donald changes many things in the company. For example the logo, to be in coherence with sustainable development, the logo was red and now its green, the environment color. After that, it is not only a picture of a good company, which wants to have a good behavior with environment; there are some benefits that Mc Donald can catch benefits. Referring to Bob Langert, who is VP, Corporate social responsibility at Mc Donald’s corporation: â€Å"Energy is really our No. issue,† he said. â€Å"When you look at the dollars we spend, and the impact we have on the environment, and the progress we can make to do better, and use our size and influence to make a difference, it’s energy. † Bob Langert tell us this information in an interview, in a US TV channel called alternative channel To conclude , we saw different aspect from making profit instead of taking care about the environment. Along this research it is prove that it is better to contribute to sustainable development and be aware of consequences of pollution. Even if it is hard to renounce to earn lots of money and make a maximize profit for business. Help nature and it will reward you. Bibliography * â€Å"McDonald’s Golden Rules for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability | Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Causes: The Alternative Channel Blog. † McDonald’s Golden Rules for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability | Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Causes: The Alternative Channel Blog. Web. * â€Å"The 10 Most Socially Irresponsible Big Brands | BSchool. com Business Schools Directory. † BSchoolcom Business Schools Directory The 10 Most Socially Irresponsible Big Brands Comments. Web. * â€Å"Une Usine De Cellulose Qui Pollue Le Lac Baikal Va Fermer. † Une Usine De Cellulose Qui Pollue Le Lac Baikal Va Fermer. Web. * â€Å"Corporations and the Environment. † – Global Issues. N. p. , n. d. Web. * â€Å"Sustainable Development Capital LLP. † Sustainable Development Capital LLP. Print 2012 * Robert A. G. Monks and Nell Minow, Power and Accountability, 1991 an on-line book, originally written 1991 * Richard Robbins, Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (Allyn and Bacon, 1999), pp. 233-236 * â€Å"Resources for the Future – RFF. org. † Resources for the Future – RFF. org. N. p. , n. d. Web

Your Complete College Application Timeline

Your Complete College Application Timeline SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips For many students and their parents, the college application process is a source of tremendous anxiety. Fear not. If you familiarize yourself with this process and devote enough time to it, I’m confident that you’ll be able to make it through unscathed and end up at a quality college. In this article, I’ll take you through the complete college application timeline, detailing what you should be doing at each point in your high school career to ensure that you can submit exceptional college applications. Overview of the College Application Process If you want to successfully complete the college application process and make yourself as competitive for college admission as possible, you will be directly or indirectly working on your college application well before your applications are due.In fact, if you have any intention of applying to selective colleges, this process can really begin as early as your freshman year. The major components of your application that will be evaluated are your transcript, your standardized test scores, your recommendations, your personal essay, and your extracurricular activities. In this article, I’ll walk you through an ideal college planningtimeline to ensure that you’re able to have every aspect of your final application be as strong as possible. Freshman and Sophomore Years While you don’t have to seriously think about what colleges you want to apply to before your junior year, your first two years of high school will influence the quality of your college application. Even though there are a fewcolleges including University of California schools that won’t consider your freshman grades, your sophomore grades will definitely factor into your high school GPA and help determine whether you’re accepted to the college of your choice. Pay attention to what classes you take.Selective colleges want to see that you’ve excelled in rigorous classes throughout your high school years.Some high schools are hesitant to allow students to take honors or AP classes in their junior years if they haven’t taken advanced classes in their first two years of high school. Furthermore, colleges are concerned with how many years you’ve taken core subjects (math, English, science, history, and foreign language).If you don’t take a foreign language or history class in your freshman or sophomore year, you’ll be a less competitive applicant. Also, make sure you’re involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges like to see that you've committed yourself to your extracurriculars. The student who has excelled in the same extracurricular activity throughout high school is a more impressive applicant than the student who first starts doing an extracurricular in his junior year. Start studying for the SAT/ACT.Generally, you should start studying for the SAT/ACT in your sophomore year or the summer before your junior year.We recommend that you take the SAT/ACT for the first time in the fall of your junior year. Start studying early to prepare yourself thoroughly. Calsidyrose/Flickr Fall of Junior Year In the fall of your junior year, you should take the SAT or ACT for the first time. Also, start researching colleges.You don’t need to finalize your list of schools at this point, but if you identify colleges you’re interested in, you’ll have a better sense of what you need to do to make yourself competitive for admission. Additionally, you’ll be able to determine your target score for the SAT or ACT. Then, you can decide if you need to retake your SAT/ACT, and you can figure out how to improve your score, if need be. Spring of Junior Year In the spring of your junior year, you should make a preliminary list of colleges you want to apply to.Use college finders, college search websites, and ranking lists to help you.Having this list will give you ample time to complete all your application requirements and ensure that you can reach your target scores on your standardized tests.Divide your list into reach, target, and safetyschools. If necessary, retake your SAT or ACT.Ideally, you’ll achieve your target score this time around. Again, make sure you’re prepared. Also, if you’re considering applying to any schools that recommend or require SAT Subject Tests, I advise you to take them in the spring of your junior year. Read our SAT Subject Test articles to figure out your target scores, help decide which ones to take, and for assistance in preparing. Finally, you should ask teachers if they’re willing to write recommendation letters for you.If you ask them early, your teachers will have more time to think about them, and you may get better recommendations. Keep in mind that many teachers will be bombarded by students asking for recommendations during your senior year. Summer Before Senior Year In the summer before your senior year, try to finalize your list of colleges.Make sure you’re familiar with the application requirements for each school. If you still need to take the SAT or ACT to reach your target score, do some intense studying over the summer. Also, start thinking about and preparing for your college application essays.Come up with ideas and write first drafts. The more you do over the summer, the less you'll have to worry about during the school year. Fall of Senior Year Most likely, the fall of your senior year will be rather busy. In the fall, you have to make sure your college applications are ready. Formally ask for recommendations early in the semester.Don’t wait until one week before your application deadlines to ask. Teachers who are too busy or inundated with recommendation requests may decline to write your lettersor will be unable to write you a good recommendation at the last minute. Polish your college essays.College essays take much more time than you think. Even though the essay isn’t that long, writing a great college essay can be time-consuming. Write multiple drafts, and if possible, allow your teachers and counselors to review your essays and offer advice. For years, I spent many hours helping procrastinating students revise college essays the night before their applications were due. I'm having painful flashbacks. Let's proceed. Typically, early decision and early action applications are due by November 15.If you apply early, the Oct. or Nov. SAT/ACT will most likely be your last chance to take the test.Early applicants are usually notified by early December regarding admissions decisions. For most colleges, regular decision application deadlines are January 1st, but some popular colleges have earlier deadlines.For example, the deadline for University of California applications is the end of November. Be aware of the deadlines for all the schools on your list. Make sure that you have submitted all necessary applications, forms, and score reports.Make a checklist for each school of what you need to submit. Luckily, your life may be easier because more colleges are using the Common Application. If you still need to take the SAT/ACT, do some quality studying and take the test in time so you can get your scores to the colleges.For most schools, the December tests will be your last opportunity, but a few colleges will allow you to submit scores from January or February. If you need financial aid, begin working on the financial aid process.Each college has its own financial aid requirements. Check the school’s website and financial aid office for requirements and deadlines for financial aid.If you want to be eligible for financial aid, make sure you complete the FAFSA.Become knowledgeable about financial aid and explore all your options to pay for college. Spring of Senior Year You'll hear about your regular decision applications by late March or early April. Hopefully, you'll be accepted by multiple colleges. Continue researching the colleges that accept you to choose the college that will be best for you.If you applied for financial aid, the colleges that accepted you will give you their financial aid offers shortly after they accept you. You can use the financial aid packages to determine how much you’ll have to pay for each school and factor that into your college decision.Typically, you have to decide which school you’ll attend by May 1. Special Message to the Procrastinators The college application timeline I’ve given you is ideal for maximizing the quality of your application and minimizing stress.Admittedly, many students don’t begin thinking about the college application process until the fall of their senior year. Some of these students are still able to successfully complete all of their applications and attend the college of their dreams. However, I think every student benefits from sticking to the college timeline I laid out.I know students who were unable to submit applications on time because they waited too long to start writing their essays. I know students who severely limited their college options because they didn’t do enough college research. Also, the majority of students I’ve worked with could have done better on their standardized tests if they had given themselves more time to study. Furthermore, you’ll be busy with school and extracurricular activities during your senior year. If you don’t start contemplating the application process until the fall of your senior year, you’re likely to feel overwhelmed given all of your other responsibilities. If you devote more time to this process earlier, it will be easier and you'll be more likely to accomplish your goals. What's Next? Do you need more information to successfully stick to this college application timeline? We've got tons of other guides and resources to help you plan. If you're struggling to find extracurricular activities, learn about the 3 best extracurricular activities for your college application. Are you starting to work on your college essay? Make sure you know how to write a great college essay. Finally, to help you stay on track, review the important college application deadlines you can't miss. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: