Educational Psychology Essay

REFLECTION ESSAY ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES for Educational Psychology Cecille Ann C. Pilapil, MS, MA, CIOP Name of Student: KO, KATHERINE Y. Section: 2PSY4 | | |I really want to be a teacher. Children are my passion and it has always been my biggest dream to help them, to impart my knowledge to them, | |and to be able to understand and relate to them. In this world that rapidly changes and grows, the role of a teacher proves very essential in | |every child’s process of learning. | | | |In the past, I admit that I used to take the â€Å"easy way out† in studying; I relied immensely on rote memorization to pass my subjects. I would | |spend hours and hours just memorizing different terms and concepts, without truly understanding what this or that means. It was not that I | |didn’t care about the courses I took, but only because I wanted to have high grades and I thought that just memorizing everything would make | |it easier, but soon came to understand that it simply did not. When it came to practical situations, I had a rather difficult time applying | |myself. I didn’t know how to put words into action, and I became quite anxious because if I wanted to be successful in the future, I had to | |learn how to adapt. If I wanted to be a teacher, first, I had to appreciate the process of learning and understanding. | | | |What I really loved about my Educ Psych class is that I was able to learn a lot through doing the things I enjoy, like watching films to help | |better understand different concepts, engaging in group discussions, interacting with my classmates, and just laughing and having fun with | |each other. As a class, we were taught the value of team work; we function as a single unit. This really brought me and my classmates closer | |to one another. Educ Psych had really helped us see why it is so important for us to know each other and why we should support and respect one| |another; all of these are necessary to achieve integrity. Our motto was â€Å"Do what you say, say what you do,† and this has helped us in so many | |ways, not only in school but also at home, and in our relationships with others. | | |This subject did not only give me insight on what it would be like to be a teacher, but I was also able to take a good glimpse on how much a | |teacher can change students’ lives, simply by listening to them, by encouraging them, by investing not only academic learning time but also | |quality time with them, and simply, by being their friend and caring for them. | | |Another important lesson for me is that being a good student is not at all about looking good in f ront of your professors and classmates, or | |receiving high grades. What really defines a good student is how she is able to value the knowledge she obtains inside the classroom and | |applies all those lessons learned in real life. This class has helped me mature in so many ways – in relating with my classmates, in relating | |with my professors, and in relating with myself. This class had pried open my mind and helped me learn how to combine my knowledge with | |action. | Educational Psychology Essay QUESTION 1 Education most definitely plays a key role in building the future of our nation but many learners are still lacking the fundamentals of a basic quality education. The South African Constitution Act was passed in 1996 and came into operation on 4 February 1997 [26] (Duma, 1995). Chapter 2 of this Act contains the Bill of Rights in which the State guarantees the protection of individual’s fundamental rights (Duma, 1995). Section 29 talks about the right to Education (Duma, 1995). This section recognizes that every person has a right to basic education and to equal access to educational institutions (Duma, 1995).It is clearly evident though that this has not taken place because black learners, especially in the rural areas are not receiving the necessary quality education that they are entitled to. Many schools in the rural areas still lack basic facilities such as running water, toilets, desks and electricity (Seroto, 2004). To worsen the situation some schools are bu ilt only of mud (Finnemore, 2009). Many township schools are in a serious state of dilapidation, partly due to theft of infrastructure and other forms of vandalism (Seroto, 2004).The shortage of classrooms, equipment and other teaching resources is evident in many schools today (Finnemore, 2009). Poor school management practices and dysfunctional teacher evaluation are contributory factors (Finnemore, 2009). The poor state of our school buildings and facilities is reflective of the current budgetary crisis (Tedla, 1995). This lack of access to resources and materials by children in the rural areas leads to inequalities within our education system. Children in urban areas and white schools have access to a better quality education than children in the rural black areas. Read also Memory – ForgettingThese inequalities today may be as a result of the Bantu education system. There has been inequality of access to education between the white and black schools in the past, and the evidence is brought forth when the political instability led to the disruptions of schools and centres for political indoctrination, leading to strikes and class boycotts, with the aim of demanding a change in the Black institutions of learning (Sedibe, 2011). According to teachers in Kwa-Mashu schools the core of all the problems facing schools today was the whole system of Bantu Education (Sedibe, 2011).This implies that what is presently happening in schools today is the result of years of oppressive education (Sedibe, 2011). Due to inadequate and unequal access of resources these schools in rural areas cannot function effectively (Sedibe, 2011). It is therefore the responsibility of the Department of Education to supply adequate resources and make them available to a ll schools equally, in order to enhance a culture of teaching and learning within schools (Sedibe, 2011). This is a very important issue that needs to be taken seriously if we are talking about investing in the future of our children.This means that rural areas need much more support from government than urban areas do in terms of education. They need to be allocated a fair share of the budget that will help remedy the bad conditions they are faced with. This can be achieved by providing them with all the necessary learning resources they need, which in turn will enable them to adequately equip themselves and thus guarantee them a bright future. Another issue that arises in our schools today is having teachers who are either unqualified or under-qualified.This was as a result of the closure of most mission schools and teacher training facilities in 1953 which forced all teacher training into racially separated government training colleges, geared to extending the mass base of Bantu Education (Douglas, 2005). Since other professions were closed to them on racial or economic grounds, many people of colour became teachers by default (Douglas, 2005). As a result, under-qualified, unqualified and even un-matriculated teachers were employed (Douglas, 2005).Training centres for our teachers today are a necessity if we desire to see pupils succeeding and achieving their goals. Teachers need to be equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge to carry out their roles appropriately and confidently. Government’s budget for education needs to set aside funds that will invest in training centres for teachers thus investing in the future and success of our learners, and in turn leading to a healthy, stable and developing nation. Another matter that arises is that of the apartheid system.During the apartheid era black people were discriminated against and this was clearly evident in the area of education. The implementation of Bantu education ensured that the level of education provided to Africans could be differentiated, with a small urban population obtaining education beyond the primary level, while the majority of the African migrant labour force received only minimal primary education (Mabokela, 2000). Still focusing on the apartheid era, systems and laws were put in place that made sure that black people were excluded from certain opportunities and benefits.For example, apprenticeship training programs designed for development of skills at workplaces were also for many years reserved solely for white persons (Finnemore, 2009). Overcoming the long shadow of apartheid education is proving a major hurdle to the development of our nation. In terms of government’s budget for education, has there been a failure to equally allocate resources? Government needs to revisit this budget to make sure that it is being fairly and equally distributed, so that every learner can have the opportunity to benefit from it.Government’s spending on education has declined over the years (Tedla, 1995). Although many students are found in primary schools, and although this level of education is less expensive than secondary or tertiary levels, the financial support for it has steadily decreased (Tedla, 1995). Formerly White education was financed at 185 percent of the national average whereas the education departments of the former non-independent homelands were funded at 74 percent of the national average and the former ‘independent’ homelands at 67 percent (Seroto, 2004).This clearly shows funding disparities with regard to the provision of education for White learners and for Black learners perpetuated by the former apartheid government (Seroto, 2004). This apartheid system has had an effect on our education system today. The South African budget also suffers from the effects of apartheid. The economy is still reeling from the economic downfalls of apartheid and there is a major problem in maintaining current l evels of spending with the solution being unclear (Education in South Africa, 2005).All the factors discussed above play a critical role in the development of our education system today and unless we make a conscious decision to take the necessary steps to amend these problems, the future of our children cannot be guaranteed. QUESTION 2 In the article provided it is very clear that the conditions for learning are not conducive at all for the students to learn. These conditions instead can lead to the demotivation and discouragement of the students.Some of the negative learning conditions they are exposed to are: a tremendous shortage of learning facilities, resources and materials like desks, chairs, picture books and workbooks. The classroom floors are described by the teacher as a dirt road. This is definitely detrimental to the health and well-being of the learners. The classroom walls are described as raw and bare. We know that children need a stimulating and motivating environm ent to grow and without things like paintings, drawings and pictures on the walls it becomes very difficult for them to develop.All these conditions that have been described above stand as a barrier to the ability of students to learn. These conditions could lead to the students’ failure to learn anything, not because they are incapable or incompetent but because of the poor and bad learning conditions they have been exposed to, leading to their failure to cope. For these students who attend school in these conditions, little can be learned, surely, on a day under a leaky roof or with no roof at all (Tedla, 1995). These problems can and do discourage pupil attendance (Tedla, 1995).The Role of the Psychologist The role of the psychologist in such a context would be, first and foremost to understand the nature of each child within this context so that they may be able to assist them. For example, different children will behave and react differently to different situations. Some children may be resilient to such conditions and view them as opportunities to learn, instead of viewing them as barriers to learning. In such circumstances these children would do whatever it takes to work hard and achieve their goals no matter the circumstances.Other children might end up discouraged, demotivated, depressed, frustrated, stressed and unhappy. It would be the responsibility of the psychologist to find out about the nature of each child by conducting assessments. Assessment of children requires special adaptation of assessment procedures and particular interview techniques (Holford et al. , 2001). These assessments could include one-on-one sessions with the child. In addition to interviewing children, using developmentally appropriate language, drawing techniques and imaginative play can elicit valuable nformation (Holford et al. , 2001). This could also include observing each child within the classroom setting and seeing how they respond and react within that class room environment. For any comprehensive assessment of a child, direct observation of activity level, motor skills, verbal expression, and vocabulary are also essential (Holford et al. , 2001). Any kind of assessment used by the psychologist should not be complex but rather simplified so that learners are able to understand.Questions must be simple and appropriate for the child’s developmental level (Holford et al. , 2001). This in turn will ensure that there is communication between the learner and the psychologist. It will also help to ensure that learners benefit from these sessions. It is also very important that the psychologist understands how the child views the circumstances in his or her environment. Therefore the primary goal of the interviewing technique is to gain the child’s own perspective (Holford et al. , 2001).Teachers can also collaborate with the psychologists to help the learners. This is what is referred to as unified collaboration. It can often be useful for the psychologist to speak to the child’s teacher(s) as their reports can give valuable supplementary information (Holford et al. , 2001). A standard questionnaire could be given to the teacher to provide information about the child’s learning skills, ability to cope in a group situation, peer relationships, and relationships with adults in authority (Holford et al. , 2001). Possible Interventions by the PsychologistA key component of Bronfenbrenner’s model (the ecological systems theory) is the understanding that children are also active participants in their own development, and the environment therefore does not simply impact on the child (Swart & Pettipher, 2005). Children’s perceptions of their context are central to understanding how they interact with their environments (Swart & Pettipher, 2005). The way they perceive their circumstances influences the way they respond to their human and physical contexts (Swart & Pettipher, 2005).The mic rosystem refers to the activities or interactions in the child’s immediate surroundings (Swart & Pettipher, 2005). The mesosystem refers to connections or interrelationships among microsystems of homes, schools, and peer groups (Swart & Pettipher,). The psychologist could use both the microsystem and mesosystem in coming up with different kinds of interventions. For example, the psychologist could include systemic interventions with parents, teachers or the school itself (Landsberg, 2011).A systemic intervention with parents would involve finding out more about the child in the home environment, how the child interacts with them as parents, how the child interacts with his or her peers and any other difficulties or problems the child may be experiencing at home. Another intervention could involve parent and teacher workshops (Landsberg, 2011). Parents and teachers could come together to discuss the progress of the children, the problems they are experiencing at home and at sc hool and how parents can support teachers and vice versa, in assisting the children to overcome any obstacles or barriers they may be facing.They could also assist the children in making their learning experience a more pleasurable and successful one. The school itself can also be involved in this intervention, by, for example, designing programs and projects (Landsberg, 2011). This could help students in developing their capacity to learn and work together in groups, as well as developing their communication skills within groups. It could also teach them how to love and support one another in such an environment.These interventions used by psychologists should not only focus on the children’s weaknesses but should also focus on their strengths that can be used to compensate for their areas of weakness (Landsberg, 2011). These interventions should provide the learners with immediate benefits that can be realized, including the identification of social or emotional difficultie s, considerations and coping strategies to enhance learning and methods for increasing motivation and interest in affected areas as required (Landsberg, 2011). QUESTION3In this article, owning a toy is a dream rather than a reality for these children. They desire to have toys but because their parents are unemployed and the school cannot afford to provide them with these toys this is not a reality for them. Having toys should not be seen as a luxury but rather as a necessity for children of this age to grow and develop appropriately. They desire to have desks, chairs, picture books and many more resources. For them without these basic resources they feel they will not be able to realize their goals.They also desire playgrounds, see-saws, pencils, toys and most importantly food. These desires are the kind that any child of school going age would have. Food is one of the very important and basic necessities for anyone to survive, no matter the age. If these children cannot even afford to get a decent meal it becomes very difficult for them to learn anything at school. They also desire water and toilets, which once again are basic necessities of life that one cannot live without. It is a sad fact that at this young age, these children have been denied the opportunity to the basic necessities of life.Pupils dream of computers but they are yet to see one. In this fast-paced technological and global environment, every child should be exposed to a computer and given the basic skills of how to operate one. These children need to be given the opportunity to realize their goals and aspirations in life. At their young age it is difficult to expect them to understand what is going on. Therefore teachers, the government, the education department and parents all have a big role to play in the lives of these children in order to make sure that they realize and achieve their dreams.Material conditions definitely need to be improved to enhance the learning of these children bu t they also need a strong support system from both parents and teachers to help them through their learning experience. One needs to get into the child’s world and see things from their perspective (Holford et al. , 2001). In this way they will be able to understand the children and what they are experiencing and thus be able to assist them. It is the responsibility of government to improve the conditions of these impoverished schools so that children can be able to learn and be productive in their learning experience.They also need to provide more learning resources for the children so that they can enhance their ability to learn. Basic facilities such as running water, toilets, desks, chairs and electricity should be made available and easily accessible for these children. Parents within these communities also need assistance in finding employment or loans to start small businesses so that they too can be able to support their children and contribute to the schools they att end. The risk of children falling sick because they do not have access to clean and healthy water must be reduced.This problem stands as a barrier to achieving their goals and dreams. It is the responsibility of our society, government, parents and teachers to work together in making sure that children overcome these barriers to learning by adequately equipping them in every possible way to realize their goals. All these factors that have been mentioned greatly contribute to the emancipation of these children and unless we all work together to see that these children are emancipated, their future cannot be secured. QUESTION 4A detailed ideal education system within a multidisciplinary context that can improve the educational outcomes of children of school going age would be one that firstly: offers quality education for all learners. This means that all learners should have equal access to adequate facilities and resources (for example, clean running water, toilets, desks, chairs an d electricity) within their school environment regardless of their race (whether they are black or white), regardless of where they live (in the rural or urban areas) and regardless of whether they are disabled or disadvantaged.Secondly, this system should accommodate the different learning styles of different learners within schools. Some learners may need visual material to support them in their learning experience; some learners may need learning material to be broken up into smaller amounts; other learners may want to see the whole picture before the material is broken up; some learners may prefer studying with background music; others may prefer studying in a quiet place (Swart & Pettipher, 2005 ). This system should make provision for all these different learning styles of learners.This system also needs to move away from the apartheid system that accommodated English more than anything. Schools now need to embrace the diversity of cultures and languages within our society by finding a way to accommodate each and every learner, no matter their background or culture. At the same time they need to help learners realize the continued importance of developing their English language skills. This can be done through the use of appropriate reading materials, writing skills and appropriate teaching methodology. Thirdly, this system should be one that accommodates the diversity of learners within our society and community.In this case, teachers need to be given more time to plan their teaching activities to include a diversity of learners (Landsberg, 2011). Not only do teachers need to be given more time to plan their teaching activities but they also need helpers or additional teacher assistants (also called classroom assistants) who can support them in teaching a diversity of learners as well as support from specialized people for advice and guidance (Landsberg, 2011). Teachers also need administrative support as well as adequate learning support materials and assistive devices appropriate for the needs of learners with disabilities (Landsberg, 2011).This system can only be successful in improving the educational outcomes of children of school going age if teachers are given all the support they need to deal with the different kinds of learners within the different schools. Government also needs to invest in teachers by sending them to training centers that will adequately equip them with the required skills and knowledge necessary for them to cope in their diverse school environments. REFERENCE LIST Douglas, J. (2005). Transformation of the South African schooling system. Teacher Professionalism and Education Transformation.Braamfontein: The Centre for Education Policy Development. Duma, M. (1995). Community Involvement in Rural schools in Pietermaritzburg Area. (Masters’ Thesis, University of South Africa. ). Education in South Africa. Retrieved October 19, 2005 from www. southafrica. info/ess_info/saglance. education/education. htm Erasmus, BJ, Loedolff, PvZ, Mda, T & Nel, PS. (2009). Managing training and development in South Africa (5th ed. ). Cape Town: Oxford. Finnermore, M. (2009). Introduction to Labour Relations in South Africa (10th ed. ). Durban: Butterworths. Holford, L. Ziervogel, C. & Smith C. (2001). Child and adolescent psychiatry. In B. Robertson, C. Allwood, C. A. Cagiano. (Eds). Textbook of Psychiatry for Southern Africa (1st ed) Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (pp. 282 – 321). Landsberg, E. (2011). (Ed. ). Addressing Barriers to Learning: A South African Perspective. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers. (pp. 69-85). Mabokela, R. O. (2000). Voices of conflict: Desegregating South African universities. New York, Routledge Falmer. Sedibe, M. (2011). Inequality of Access to Resources in Previously Disadvantaged South African High Schools.The Journal of Social Science, 28(2), 129-135. Seroto, J. (2004). The impact of South African Legislation (1948 – 2004) on Black Education in R ural Areas: A Historical Educational Perspective. (Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa. ). Swart, E. , & Pettipher, R. (2005). A framework for understanding inclusion. In E. Landsberg, D. Kruger & N. Nel (Eds). Addressing barriers to learning: A South African perspective. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers. (pp. 3-23). Tedla, E. (1995). Sankofa: African thought and education. New York, NY: Peter Lang.

Analysis of B School Dress Code Essay

Objective – to know the preference of students regarding dress code in a B school Reason – there was a lot of debate relating to the dress code and hence we thought of picking this as the survey topic .Earlier 1st 2 days of the week students were compelled to wear formals which has been lately scrapped creating a lot of confusion in the college . Results of the survey A sample size of 30 comprising of students of Ibs was taken 1. Questions regarding which dress code would be ideal for a B school Formal -16 Casual – 3 Smart casual -9 Any -2 2.should formals be made compulsory in B schhol Yes -11 No-19 3.was the college right in restricting students from wearin capris and sleevless Yes 18 No 12 4.How’s do you rate the dressing of students in B school Good -13 Below average -4 Avg-11 V good – 2 5.Other comments 1. Strict actions should be taken against the students who don’t abide by the rules . 2.everyone has the right to wear whatever they feel they are comfortable with , and there shouldn’t be any compulsion and restriction . 3.no t-shirts with improper sayings or picture 4.students by self should pick on wearing formal clothing as this creates a corporate atmosphere 5.comfort is important where people have to sit forlong hours, so casual but decent clothings should be allowed. Conclusion – maximum students believe formal clothing is the right dress code for a B school , but they need no force for the same . 19 of 30 Students think wearing capris and sleeveless does not suit the b school arena .the current rating on the dressing of the students is a close tuff between good and average . From the comments we conclude that there is a close tiff but all believe indecent clothes should not be selected but comfort can be given preference.

Raising the Minimum Wage Essay

There has been a lot of discussion regarding the increase of minimum wage across the nation. Currently, the wage is set at a low amount of $7.25 an hour. In today’s society it is almost impossible to live on only an income of $7.25 an hour especially for those who are raising a family. In President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union Address, the president proposed to raise the minimum wage to 9 dollars by the year 2015 (Luhby). A higher minimum wage would help people living in poverty by providing better means of financial stability, and it would also improve the chances of those people trying to escape poverty stricken living conditions. Another bonus to increasing the minimum wage is that it could potentially help lift the economy back up out of recession. For example, if people have more money, they are more likely to spend more money, therefore creating an increase in revenue for the nation as a whole. An increase in the present minimum wage to $ 9.00 per hour will boo st the economy, promote sufficient funds for the standard of living, and enhance equality among all United States citizens. To fully understand the argument circulating around the minimum wage law, it is first essential to recognize the reasons it was established. In 1937, the United States was still recovering from the Great Depression (Wilson). The Great Depression, a direct result of World War I, was a historical low point in United States’ economy. During this period of time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt endorsed the New Deal, which was a series of economic programs that helped to stimulate the nation’s economy (M.W. Overview). Once the bill was approved by President Roosevelt, Congress began a rigorous deliberation in order to deem the bill as constitutional. Unfortunately, the original document was found unconstitutional, which then caused the proposed bill to be re-evaluated before being enacted into a new law. After a long debate, policymakers reached an agreement as to what statutes would be included within the updated New Deal’s economic stimulus programs. Among those provisions, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 was instituted because it was believed to protect workers and stimulate the economy simultaneously (M.W. Overview). Meaning that, the federal government was not only concerned with rebuilding the United States’  economy, but they also recognized the importance of financial stability among all citizens. As a result of this recognition, Congress felt the need to implement a program that was specifically designed to protect employees from being over-worked and under-paid. Thus, in 1938 the first minimum wage of $0.25 an hour was enacted as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (Sherk). This mandated pay rate ensured that workers would not only earn enough to sufficiently support themselves but also enough to support a family. Since the initial implementatio n of the minimum wage, Congress has decreed several raises in order to maintain an adequate income. In fact, according to Mark Sherk, author of The Negative Effects of Minimum Wage Laws, the minimum wage has been increased twenty-two times throughout its existence (Sherk). These increases suggest that the United States government recognized that its citizens were being underpaid and therefore adjusted the minimum wage accordingly so that workers would be compensated properly. With that being said, it is obvious that the United States government regulates the minimum wage, however it is also important to recognize that the responsibilities of the minimum wage are divided between different levels of government such as: national, state and local jurisdictions. The United States is operated by a federalist government, meaning that multiple levels of government share power (O’Gorman). For instance, a popular example of this type of government being exercised is allowing individual states to decide whether or not to legalize marijuana within their borders. This means that while one state may oppose the legalization of marijuana, another separate state may choose to accept marijuana as legal. Consequently, a similar approach applies when dealing with the issue of the minimum wage. The national government mandates a federal minimum wage that all states must adhere too, however states then have the option to implement a minimum wage on top of the federal minimum wage. This means that each individual state has the capability of initiating a higher minimum wage for its own citizens. Once the decision of applying a separate minimum wage has been made by the states, the United States Department of Labor requires that employees must receive the higher wage (Grace). In other words, employers within a state that have two minimum wages, a federal and state minimum wage, are r equired to pay employees the higher of the two. This policy ensures that employees are at  least compensated the federal minimum wage regardless of what a state implements unless the state mandates a higher minimum wage. In addition to policy enactment, the United States government also has two main economic responsibilities in order to reduce income inequalities among its citizens. According to the article Federalism and American Inequality, the government is economically responsible for development and redistribution (Kelly and Witko). Although the government is responsible for two economic activities, the duties are divided between state and national governments. State governments are in charge of developmental policies so that each state has the power to enact regulations that meet the needs of its individual residents. This can be seen within the American education system, such as allowing each state to decide curriculums for graduating high school. Likewise, the national government is responsible for redistributing funds throughout the nation in order to promote equality among all United States citizens. A great example for this method is the Social Security program, which is an entitlement program that spreads funds across generations to even out the wealth (O’Gorman). In fact, the Social Security program takes taxes from one group of people and disperses it directly to another group. Despite the United States government’s attempts to ensure all citizens have an equal opportunity in regards to income, unfortunately that is not the case. Studies suggest that an extravagant amount of workers earn either the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or less. As a matter of fact, in 2012 about 3.6 million workers fell into this category, which makes up about 4.7% of all hourly paid workers (Minimum Wage Workers). Even though the percentage of workers who fit into this category may seem slow, in reality it is an alarming rate especially since minorities and young people make up most of the population. As illustrated by the National Employment Law Project, 50% of minimum wage earners are 25 years of age and younger and another 5% of workers were of African American, Hispanic, Latino descent (NELP). That means that nearly 55% of workers who make the federal minimum wage are considered to be a minority across the nation. Another interesting statistic, reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is that about three-fifths of minimum wage workers are employed in some type of service related industry (Minimum Wage Workers). For instance, a lot of food servers, waiters and waitresses, only earn a minimum wage salary of $7.25 or  less. However, in these professions, it is expected that employees receive tips from the served consumers. Then after combining the two entities, employees should earn a salary that is either equal to or more than the current minimum wage, but on many occasions, workers still do not make enough to equal a minimum wage salary. Along with recognizing who is actually affected by a minimum wage salary, it is also crucial to understand the economic stability the federal minimum wage accommodates for. In 2012 during his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced, â€Å"A minimum wage worker who works full time year round does not make enough to be considered above the federal poverty line† (Cooper). According to Dr. Sherry Kasper, an economics professor at Maryville College, the federal poverty line for one single individual is around $11,500 a year (Kasper). Since President Obama stated that full time minimum wage workers do not make enough money to meet the requirements to be above the federal poverty line, there are tons of people who make less than $11,500 annually and struggle financially to support themselves, let alone enough to support a family. Therefore, because the minimum wage so low, America has millions of people living in poverty. In addition to making an incredibly low annual salary, minimum wage workers also have to deal with actual monetary value this type of wage provides for. In the past, earning a minimum wage was sufficient enough to keep a single parent family of around two or three out of poverty. Yet in recent years that has been proven untrue for today’s world. The minimum wage was initiated in order to ensure that families were provided a living wage so that they could afford basic necessities (Kasper). However, in this day and age, the current minimum wage does not provide an efficient living wage, but instead only a wage that each United States citizen is entitled to earn. The graph below titled Annual minimum wage earnings and poverty level for families of two or three (2012$) illustrates the history of the federal minimum wage in terms of buying power in the economy. The graph above displays the current minimum wage does not provide enough money for a family of three to reach even the most basic level of adequate living standard, but if the president’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9.00 an hour went into effect, families would in deed earn enough money to escape poverty stricken living conditions. As with any important policy issue, people’s opinions will clash and create a huge debate over which side gives the best solution, and the argument around whether or not to increase the minimum wage is no different. There have been many skeptics arise that feel that raising the minimum wage to $9.00 an hour would completely destroy today’s economy instead of helping it. Some even claim that a higher minimum wage would only make life for those living in poverty worse. James Sherk, a Senior Policy Analyst in Labor Economics reported a higher minimum wage would result in more unemployment and it would cause the cost of living to increase (Sherk). The argument involving more unemployment is based on the assumption that employers will be forced to reduce staff sizes in order to compensate for paying a higher wage. Yet contrary to that belief, Princeton economists, David Card and Alan Krueger’s, fifteen year research project, found that modest increases in the minimum wage have had very little or no effect on the rate of employment (NELP). Hence, the rate of employment should be considered insignificant when determining if the minimum wage should be increased or not. Another negative claim to raising the minimum wage is that the cost of living will rise along with the minimum wage, and therefore not reduce poverty. Based on the way that American welfare programs work presently, an increase in the minimum wage could potentially result in people being cut off from government assistance. Currently, the amount of assistance people receive directly depends on their income levels. For example, each additional dollar of income reduces the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by 24 cents (Sherk). This means that at the exact same rate people earn a little extra money, their level of assistance decreases. But according to the article The Negative Effects of Minimum Wage Laws, research proves that the minimum wage has absolutely no direct effect on poverty (Wilson). Thus meaning that, increasing the current minimum wage to $9.00 an hour will not result in higher levels of poverty. In today’s society, a $7.25 minimum wage does not sufficiently provide enough money for an individual to afford an adequate standard of living. In  fact it does not even furnish basic needs that everyone deserves in life. A higher minimum wage would improve the lives of people living in poverty and possibly boost the entire United Stats’ economy by increasing revenue since people would be able to afford spending extra money. Therefore implementing a higher minimum wage of $9.00 an hour is a great solution for the economic recession that is currently taking place. It would provide sufficient funds necessary for a descent life, improve the economy, and even promote equality among American citizens. In short, the United States government needs to raise the federal minimum wage to $9.00 an hour because it is the most effective solution to the present economic crisis and it is in the best interest of all United States’ residents. Works Cited Cooper, David. â€Å"Putting a $9 minimum wage in context .† Economic Policy Institute. Working Economics, 15 Feb. 2013. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. Luhby, Tami. â€Å"The impact of a $9 minimum wage.† CNN Money. N.p., 12 Feb. 2013. google.com. Web. 17 Sept. 2013. Kasper, Sherry. â€Å"Public Policy Interview.† Message to the author. 16 Nov. 2013. E-mail. Kelly, Nathan J., and Christopher Witko. â€Å"Federalism And American Inequality.† Journal Of Politics 74.2 (2012): 414-426. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. â€Å"Minimum Wage Overview: Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Cover Story). â€Å"Congressional Digest 92.5 (2013): 3-10. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. â€Å"Minimum Wage Workers: Characteristics Of Those Employed At Or Below The Minimum Wage. (Cover Story).† Congressional Digest 92.5 (2013): 11-32. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. â€Å"NELP Briefing Paper.† National Employment Law Project. NELP, Jan. 2011. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. O’Gorman, Mark. â€Å"Domestic Policy.† Maryville, TN. 22 Oct. 2013. Lecture. Sherk, James. â€Å"What is Minimum Wage: Its History and Effects on the Economy.† The Heritage Foundation. N.p., 25 June 2013. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. Wilson, Mark. â€Å"The Negative Effects of Minimum Wage Laws.† Cato Institute. N.p., Sept. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.

300 word essay on internet source Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

300 word on internet source - Essay Example But apart from this obvious side-taking, Anna Comnena’s style is detailed and highly informative. She gives numbers of soldiers and knights, exact names of straits and races, and other details of the battle that help to make the event come to life. The extract is also very clearly Christian in its outlook as is obvious from the mention of the pilgrimage of Peter and his adoration of the Holy Sepulcher and the distaste with which the Turks and Saracens are mentioned. The extract is also made colorful by the writer’s liberal use of adjectives. She calls the Gauls ‘passionate and impetuous’, the Franks ‘immoderately covetous’ and so on. While this does not pass for historical impartiality, it gives an insight into the perceptions of Greek scholar and perhaps most of the Christian world. This point of view is helpful in analyzing the general social relations between warring groups of people and how they saw each other. Later historians can bring th eir own detached and rational approach to this kind of hagiography and sift through the bias to get at the larger truths of interpersonal histories that would otherwise stay hidden in a more unbiased or scientific mode of writing. The author is clearly attempting to write a history in Christian terms and is quite successful in doing

BCG MATRIX Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BCG MATRIX - Essay Example The future business performance of an organization or a particular division in this quadrant is uncertain. In this regard, the BCG Matrix suggests that the business organizations should invest cautiously towards the identified division in the quadrant of question marks due to the factor of low financial returns. The lower-left position of the quadrant of the BCG Matrix i.e. Cash cows implies low growth but high share in business market. This particular quadrant assists the business organizations to generate maximum profits but is not anticipated to substantial growth of the business. Cash Cows are often regarded as the future of the business organizations because they possess the tendency to generate huge profit as well as cash but with low growth (Griffin, 2012). LG Electronics is considered to be a reputed multinational organization in consumer electronics sector which was initiated in 1958. It possesses in its assortment numerous electronic products as well as appliances that include televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators, mobile phones and washing machines among others. The organization holds both electronics and appliances divisions and delivers innovative products as well as services to its valued customers worldwide (LG Electronics, 2012). In relation to the model of BCG Matrix, if the electronics division of LG is placed at the upper right quadrant of the matrix i.e. Question Marks, it can be stated that from the very beginning, the organization has delivered superior service quality to its customers as well as attained maximum customer support from its electronics division. However, it has been viewed that there lies a strong presence of its chief competitor i.e. Samsung which also belongs to South Korea similar to LG with high market share and provides low prices to its customers. Similarly, if the appliance division of LG is located in the lower left quadrant of the matrix i.e. Cash Cows, it can be stated

Hypothetical Research Designs Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hypothetical Designs - Research Paper Example The researcher states that in a research study, a good hypothesis is considered to have such opportunities, which will help to uncover new ideas or knowledge for the researcher. If the researcher does not learn something new by the hypothesis developed with the help of research questions, then it would be futile. There are three types of research design; they are qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. The quantitative and qualitative designs are not the extreme opposite form of research designs; rather they represent different areas of research. The mixed research method is the combination of both the methods, so it balances both. The general difference between qualitative and quantitative hypothesis is that the qualitative hypothesis includes closed-ended questions and quantitative hypothesis includes the use of numbers. The qualitative hypothesis includes exploring the social and human behavior in relation to the problem areas. The quantitative research method deals with test ing the problems by analyzing the numbers, statistics or financial reports. It is logical and can help the researcher to prove his/ her results logically. The mixed method combines the philosophical assumptions as well as the facts and figures. There are two components that can be involved while developing a research design that is the philosophical assumptions and the distinct procedure. The philosophical assumptions include the worldwide study that has been conducted on the problems or topic and the distinct procedure involves the type of hypothesis used to develop the research design.

Cultural studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cultural studies - Essay Example Representation of males in the advertisements is also related to American symbols. The taste of this cigarette may be heavy. Only men could enjoy such heavy tastes. That is the reason for using male models. The connotation or idea behind the slogan come to Marlboro country has double meanings. They are the western countryside and America itself. This truly resembles American identity (Wang. 1998.). The advertisement of parliament cigarettes contains some symbolic as well as subliminal message. This type of message is transmitted through plainly visible images as well as objects. These messages aim to appeal the basic instincts of customers. Of course these advertisements have multiple meanings. One view of this ad is that the presence of a female holding a cigarette packet, depicts the importance of smoking in the lives of men is in par of woman. Cigarettes and women have some common case of attraction in the perspective of men. The other meaning could be that parliament cigarettes are not as heavy as other cigarettes. This is evident due to presence of woman in the advertisement. The main difference between the two advertisements is that, the first one depicts masculinity. It is totally male oriented advertisement. The advertisement shows hardness of the situation. However the second ad is not too hard and masculine when compared with the first one. The presence of a woman and a formally dressed gentleman clearly gives the idea that it is lighter in its context as well as attractive to all genders (Ad Analysis Parliament Cigarettes). In politics the chances of err and lie committed by people are quite high. Such behaviour is instrumentally as well as epistemically rational in nature. The practices that are followed in liberal democracy are difficult to improve so that the above mentioned problem can be overtaken. The contemporary political philosophy is an unsuccessful attempt to vindicate on moral and symbolic grounds

Diabetes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Diabetes - Essay Example Additionally, it is caused because the produced insulin do not work properly commonly referred to insulin resistance. The disease is developed when the proper amount of glucose cannot enter the cells of a body to be utilized as fuel. This happen when there is limited insulin helpful in unlocking the cells or if there is no enough insulin to work in a proper manner(Matthews, 2008). Diabetes is caused by bacterial or viral infection, chemical toxins found within the food, and unidentified components that cause autoimmune reaction. The above named causes are termed as autoimmune reaction or autoimmune causes, this is because the body attack themselves. The second types of diabetes are normally multifactorial. This type of obesity is caused by living sedentary lifestyle, increasing age, poor diet, and obesity. Diabetes can also be caused by other illness and pregnancy. The symptoms of diabetes are typical. However, those with type 2 diabetes have symptoms that can go unnoticed. Some of the conventional symptoms for diabetes include urinating often, feeling thirsty, feeling hungry though you are eating, extreme fatigue and restlessness, blurry vision, bruises and cuts that are slow to heal, weight loss despite eating, and numbness, pain, tingling on hands. When detected early and treated early, can reduce the risk of complicating the disease (Stehouwer, 2009).   People with diabetes need to change their lifestyle. Normally, they need addition treatment like medication in controlling their blood pressure, blood fats, and diabetes. Medication cannot be substituted to taking regular exercise and healthy diet. Therefore, one needs to take diabetes medication, transplant of Islet cell, and use of insulin. When diabetes medication is carried out the blood glucose, level will lower and there are various different types that work in different ways. People with diabetes will medication and treatment such as insulin. Some of the

Improving Performance Efficiency Among SMEs Via Accrual Accounting Essay

Improving Performance Efficiency Among SMEs Via Accrual Accounting Systems - Essay Example In direct relation to the aforementioned, accounting and organisational management scholars have determined that the right accounting software package can substantially contribute to organisational performance and the maximisation of efficiency and effectiveness (Hirst and Hopkins, 1998). In explaining the importance of selecting accounting software, Johnston (2003) highlights the concept of budgeting versus accounting. Line-based cash accounting software packages are only capable of measuring a firm's financial performance and position. Accrual based accounting packages, on the other hand, fulfil that function in addition to the more important budgetary one. Through the former, SME's may determine, not just their financial position, but are given access to invaluable data on the optimal division and distribution of organisational resources. Although, in this highly developed economy, there is hardly an SME which does not manage its accounts through the use of accounting software, few understand the imperatives of adopting an accrual-based accounting package as would aid in the adoption of a budgetary process which, in itself, will substantially contribute to efficient organisational performance and realisation of strategic objectives. Currently, there is an influx of accounting software pa... Currently, there is an influx of accounting software packages tailored to the needs of various customers. The greater majority of these accounting packages, as mentioned by Bresnahan et al. (1998), are based upon the traditional cash-based, line-accounting system due to the overriding perception that this particular accounting system is the easiest to use, on the one hand, and the most popular among SMEs, on the other. However, the market also provides a choice of accrual based accounting software packages, primarily used by the larger organisations (Bresnahan et al., 1998). These packages execute both accounting and budgetary functions. However, SMEs are often reluctant to adopt them, assuming that they are problematic to implement and difficult to use, on the one hand and that the size of their business concerns and activities does not necessitate the adopting of a budgetary process. Within the context of the above stated, the problem to be investigated is the exigencies of adopting an accrual-based accounting software package. In investigating this problem, the report will outline the strategic business value of doing so and outline a strategy for implementation. From a personal perspective, the transition to an accrual based accounting package will invaluably enhance an SME's capacity for growth and development insofar as it will provide it with the tools needed for the more strategic distribution and utilisation of organisational resources. Research Question (59 words) How can the adoption of an accrual accounting system positively contribute to an SME's operational efficiency and effectiveness Implicit in this question is the need to provide an answer which will measure the costs and benefits of adopting accrual based accounting packages, on the one hand,

Crime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Crime - Research Paper Example It is vital to maintain the devices used to commit the crime as evidence when reporting electronic crimes. How can one protect him or herself or their family against e-crime? By educating themselves on basic online safety through recommended websites (Ghosh & Turinni 291). Individuals can also educate their families about online safety. Individuals can also set up basic protection against malware such spyware and anti-viruses. Are e-crimes punishable by jail time? If found guilty of a cyber-crime by the court, one is probable to get punished through jail time. Sentences for cyber-crimes are getting tougher by the day and cyber-crime attorneys are increasingly finding it challenging to defend their parties. Most cyber-crimes sentences get served in months, however depending on the degree of the crime, the accused may receive years in jail time. What methods get used to detect e-crime? There is no single, clear cut method of detecting cyber-crimes. E-crimes get detected by chance. There are informal methods such as regular audit of the systems, looking for mistakes, and the use of government agencies such as the police or IRS to detect the crime. What is computer forensics? Computer forensics refers to a form of forensic science that involves legal analysis of evidence located in electronic devices or computers (Ghosh & Turinni 232). Computer forensics helps to discover the actual cause of a computer system malfunction. It may also get used by professionals to determine situations where individuals may have unlawfully used a computer or network with the intention of hacking or harming a computer

Human resources - Expatriate Compensation Research Paper

Human resources - Expatriate Compensation - Research Paper Example This paper will seek to discuss about the different compensation options offered to expatriates as well as what they should expect in those compensation packages. Additionally, it will also include the hidden costs and other life costs that expatriates should consider as they could affect their compensation. Compensation options offered to expatriates Tax Many companies offer expatriates several compensation options. These compensation options can be in the form of taxes whereby a foreigner working in a particular country can be exempted from taxation. This means that, that employee has a compensation option, which is tax, and he or she can choose to be exempted with reference to this option (Froymovich, 2011). In this case, an employee becomes eligible for things like foreign tax exclusions. In addition, he or she can still eligible for extra compensation options that include credits and deductions that help protect the employee from double taxation particularly on the same amount o f income he or she generates after a given period. Therefore, it is advisable that if an employee is going to be paying for his or her local taxes, hiring a qualified and eligible international tax expert who can help understand the kind of exclusions and credits an employee can qualify for in that specific country (Aenlle, 1996). For instance, in some countries such as Belgium, temporary international workers have the eligibility to claim for deductions that locals cannot. In tax preparation, employees tend to include what they commonly refer to as the tax equalization contract in expat packages. In this kind of situation, a company pays for an employees’ international or foreign taxes while the employee essentially pays for taxes in his or her home country as if he is still living in that country (Froymovich, 2011). However, noting that there are number of pitfalls in this case is crucial. An employee can end up owing the company he works for if that company’s accoun tants calculate the employee’s tax burden and establish it exceeds the total amount of money the employee has in his accounts especially if the employee is an American (Kwoh, 2012). Moreover, despite the point that the company may promise to pay for an employee’s tax preparation so that the employee complies with the US regulations, it may fail to inform the employee of any other local charges that the employee is responsible for in due time making it hard for the employee to comply immediately. A clear outlook into this situation indicates that the article provides evidence that there are hidden charges that an employee may fail to be aware of resulting to ambiguities. In this case, the hidden charges are the local charges needed to take care of the required paperwork and in the US, it can cost up to $1000 or more (Aenlle, 1996). Apart from this case, there are others where an employee may be responsible for his or her local taxes without prior preparation knowledge o r assistance as per what date will the exemptions or deductions will be available. According to the senior portfolio manager, Maxim Global Wealth Advisors, Portland, Ore,

Economics IA Commentary Coversheet Essay Example for Free

Economics IA Commentary Coversheet Essay November 11 2009 The unemployment rate stands at 7.8% up 0.1% over the quarter and 2.0% on last year. Nearly 29 million people were in work in the period July to September according to the labour force survey (LFS). The number of people employed was up by 6,000 this quarter but down by 490,000 on the last year. The working age employment rate is 72.5% down 0.1% on the last quarter and down 1.9% on the last year. ILO-defined unemployment in July to September was 2.46 million (7.9%) up by 30,000 unemployed on April-June and 629,000 from this time last year. The claimant count for key out-of-work benefits was 1.6395 million in October up by 22,900 on last month, and up 632,700 on last year. Earnings growth over the year to August (including bonuses) was 1.6%, down 0.2% from the previous month. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper said: The figures show more people in work and a lot more young people taking up our offer of full time education and training, which is welcome news. The fact that unemployment is significantly lower than everyone forecast at the beginning of the year shows the support for the economy is making a real difference. But we know things are still tough for a lot of families, and unemployment is expected to increase further next year. Thats why were determined to do more with an extra 35,000 youth jobs, more apprenticeships and education places so we can guarantee no young person gets stuck in long term unemployment. The figures out today also reinforce the fact that the UK labour market is performing better than most major economies. They show UK unemployment at 7.8%, compared to an EU average of 9.2% and lower than 14 other EU countries including France (10.0%), Ireland (13.0%) and Spain (19.3%), as well as the US (10.2%) and Canada (8.6%). Commenting on the latest statistics, John Philpott, Chief Economist and Director of Public Policy at the CIPD, said: UK unemployment is continuing to rise but at a much slower pace than earlier in the year. While this is not unexpected the fact that the unemployment total remained below 2.5 million in the quarter ending in September is encouraging. However, the relative improvement should not be interpreted as evidence that the labour market is returning to health, with male unemployment and long-term unemployment continuing to rise and youth unemployment now at a record rate despite a surge in the number of young people staying on in education to avoid the dole. Unemployment remained below 2.5 million in the three months to September primarily because there was a rise in part-time employment, temporary employment and contract working, the latter boosting self-employment. This more than offset a continued marked deterioration in full-time jobs for employees. Such a pattern is common in a labour market where overall demand for staff is weak and as the Bank of England reiterated today in its latest quarterly Inflation Report the economic outlook uncertain, with the road to recovery likely to be slow. At such times employers who need to recruit remain wary of hiring full-time staff and it is significant that today’s ONS figures do not show an improvement in the level of job vacancies. This pattern is also normally accompanied by a high rate of involuntary part-time working there are now almost 1 million people working part-time because they can’t find a full-time job. Women continue to be the main beneficiaries of a labour market where opportunities for part-time employment are increasing, while men lose out as full-time jobs are being lost. As a result the CIPD expects the rate of male unemployment to rise well above 10% in 2010, with the proportion of men in work set to fall to a record low. The current pattern of demand for labour is also doing nothing to ease the plight of young people. The latest quarter saw a further large fall in the number of under-25s in work, with the unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds now at a record high. There is little consolation in the fact that the number of unemployed young people remained below 1 million. This is explained by a quarterly surge in the number of young people classed as ‘economically inactive’, which the ONS figures indicate is mainly due to more young people staying on at school or college, almost certainly as an alternative to the dole. This article deals with unemployment in the UK. A person can be considered unemployed when he is involuntarily out of work, however is willing to work at current wage rates. One of the government’s main goals is to achieve full employment, where all people who are able and willing, are working. This is extremely beneficial for the economy because it can be considered working at maximum efficiency, which causes growth and development. A good way to illustrate a countries economy taking into account unemployment would be to use a PPF. The production possibility frontier is the orange line where the economy is working at full efficiency (full employment), using all of its resources. Point X is when the economy is not using all of its resources, and has people unemployed. http://i.investopedia.com/inv/dictionary/terms/ppf.gif Structural unemployment is a possible reason for the large decrease of workers. This specific type of unemployment focuses mainly on the loss of jobs under the condition that the demand for a certain product falls, or there is a shift of production abroad. In the category of disequilibrium unemployment, Demand deficient (Cyclical) Unemployment is most likely the number one cause for the UKs labour force being downsized. Due to the global recession, consumers can afford less goods and services, therefore the aggregate demand decreases significantly (hence the name – demand deficient). If the demand for production has substantially fallen, then naturally the demand for labour will also fall. Demand deficient unemployment can be illustrated using a diagram. Due to the fall in the D of goods and services, demand for labour shifts inwards from D1 to D2. With this, disequilibrium unemployment occurs with the number of workers shifting from Q1 to Q2. When demand for labour is strong, companies don’t hesitate to rise wages, although when demand for labour falls, and wages need to be cut, workers will resist wage cuts, therefore it is very hard for the company to cut wages for a large amount of workers without causing some kind disturbance or complications within the firm. If the company does chose to do this, the labour force will become angry and will want to retaliate somehow, perhaps going on strike. Due to a situation like this, parts of the company will not be producing/working, resulting in inefficiency. Aside from that, it will be very hectic, attracting negative attention from consumers and media, which is of course the company’s last need. In conclusion, the company will not be in control, when this is in fact their main priority, to sustain the stability and optimal working functionality. That is why the company prefers to downsize workers, and keep themselves running as best and as efficiently as possible. In order to deal with demand deficient unemployment the government should impose fiscalor monetary policies to raise aggregate demand and thus raise the demand for jobs. In the short run, when the AD shifts to the right (from AD1 to AD2) this causes and increase in real GDP (shift from Q1 to Q2 and P1 to P2). If AD would continue to grow in the short run, the country would reach a maximum supply. This constant struggle for the country to meet AD by increasing output would cause inflation instead of growth. However if the pressure is relatively small in the SR (short run) then it would be much easier to deal with AD in the LR. Supply side policies are government policies designed to increase output, and should also be imposed in order to cope with unemployment. Using a LRAS (long run aggregate supply) diagram is a good way to show the effects of supply side policies. If the Government were to impose supply side policies, the LRAS curve would shift right from LRAS1 – LRAS2. The price would then fall from P1 to P2 and the quantity (output + jobs) would increase from Q1 to Q2. Conclusivley the Government should investigate the best strategy to decrease unemployment. By imposing appropriate regulations and policies.

Risk Factors Schizophrenia

Risk Factors Schizophrenia The Effect of Perinatal Risk Factors on the Incidence of Schizophrenia Background Developing schizophrenia is dependent on different factors. A person who could possibly develop the illness later in life is faintly unusual in terms of cognitive skills, motor functioning, and social behavior as compared to his or her peers. This states that indicators exist as to whether a person will be vulnerable into being a schizophrenic later in life, as dictated by certain abnormalities that can be observed (Mortensen, 1999 and Dean, 2003). Most of the causes being held accountable for the development of schizophrenia can be traced back to genetic or biological factors and environmental exposure that operated early in life of the individual (Dean, 2003, Khasshan, 2008, Mednick, 1970, and Mortenen, 1999). Evidences regarding the effects of obstetric complications, prenatal illness, misuse of drugs, migration and travel, urbanization, and various life experiences on the onset of schizophrenia in later years in life have been noted. These were even incorporated and represented in causation models that encompass psychological, genetic, environmental, and social elements. These evidences can be used as models for clinical and research purposes of determining the risk of schizophrenia, as they cover a wide range of causative agents (Dalman, 1999 and Dean, 2003). It has been a challenge for researchers to understand the cause of schizophrenia, the etiology of which has brought about several hypotheses (Dean, 2003). Different risk factors affect the incidence of the illness, two of which will be given more attention in this paper. A number of epidemiological studies have indicated an increased risk of developing schizophrenia among people who were exposed to maternal infections such as rubella virus and influenza virus in utero (Westergaard, 1999). Other studies have shown that children who were born during inclement weather have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. These are supported by researches conducted on a population basis (Mortensen, 1999). Purpose As stated by the study conducted by Mortensen and others (1999), the location and the season of birth of an individual might be important in the development of schizophrenia. Aside from family history, these environmental factors can be associated with the onset of the disorder. Prevalence studies of Westergaard and others (1999) also showed that exposure to prenatal infections might be a factor in the development of schizophrenia later in life. There is, however, a poor evidence of a strong association between development of schizophrenia and exposure to influenza viral infection. This lead the group into determining whether or not prenatal exposure to rubella would indeed be a factor for schizophrenia development. This is in accordance with previous researches that rubella viral infection might be a significant cause for the illness. With all these research supports as foundation for a prospective study, this paper aims to give a sound explanation on how certain factors might affec t the possible development of schizophrenia later in life. This study will focus on two possible causative agents as parameters. The main purpose of this study is to determine if being born in severe weather, such as extreme hot or cold temperatures, or being exposed to the rubella virus in utero is linked to developing schizophrenia later in life. Research Hypothesis We hypothesized that there would be an increase in the incidence of early adult onset schizophrenia among those exposed to the rubella virus in utero and those born in winter months. Literature Review Several studies have been conducted on risk factors for schizophrenia. One study examined the outcome in 70 individuals whose mothers had rubella infections during pregnancy. Rubella is known to cause severe developmental problems in exposed fetuses. These individuals risk of having schizophrenia by the time they reached the mean age of 22 years was five times higher than normal It has been proposed that environmental factors may also be important in determining risk for schizophrenia. A study done by Mortensen and others (1999) showed that the place and season of birth account for many more cases of schizophrenia than family history of the disease, and family history has been the best-established risk factor. The groups study found out that the risk for schizophrenia was highest for births in February and March and lowest for births in August and September. Another study conducted by Mortensen and others (1999) concluded that schizophrenia was positively associated with birth in late winter. On the other hand, Hultman and others (1999) emphasized the evidences shown by neuropathological researches that the aberrations caused by pathogen invasion disrupt proper brain development. This in turn contributes to the onset of schizophrenia that might even be developed earlier in life than expected. This proposed hypothesis can be associated with the link between obstetric complications and schizophrenia, as both are dependent on risks brought about by prenatal infections, which in turn are connected with neurodevelopment of an individual. Theoretical Framework The physiological framework of this study is based on the notion that conditions during pregnancy have an effect on the fetus psychological development, specifically, the impact of season of birth and exposure to the rubella virus. The prenatal conditions of an individual have a direct effect on the persons future genetic and phenotypic make-up. The most important contribution of the obstetric development lies on the possible alterations on the genes of the individual. Exposure to such abnormalities has a considerable intervention with the normal functioning of the brain (Khasshan, 2008). This means that exposure to infections such as rubella virus has a meaningful link to schizophrenia development of the individual exposed to the pathogen in its prenatal stage. This is serves as one of the backbones of this study, as it is the foundational basis whether the link between congenital exposure to rubella and schizophrenia onset has reliable evidence. After the study which dwells more on the biological or genetic factors, the study will consider the environmental elements that can also be potential risk factors for the disorder. It has been established that the over-all make-up of an individual lies on genetic and environmental factors. The second part or backbone of the study concerns the environmental exposure effects as dictated by season of birth. This can be of importance since extreme weathers might affect a mother psychologically and physically, thereby creating an impact on the life inside her womb. Being born on extreme hot and cold weather can hence be linked to the development of schizophrenia later in life of an individual (Mortensen and others, 1999). Significance and Need for the Study The proposed study is important due to the health and psychological concerns of schizophrenia. Being a disorder which affects the entire lifestyle of the affected individual, it is of great significance to research about the etiology of the disease (Dean, 2003). Prenatal exposure to rubella viral infection might be a cause of the onset of schizophrenia, as well as the environmental effect of being born on an extreme season. Knowledge on these prenatal risk factors can contribute additional information on how to prevent schizophrenia development in an individual. References: Dean, K., Bramon, E., Murray, R., (2003). The cause of schizophrenia:neurodevelopment and other risk factors. Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 9(6), 442-454. Dalman, C., Allebeck, P., Cullberg, J., Grunewald, C., Koster, M. (1999). Obstretric complications and the risk of schizophrenia: A longitudinal study of a national birth cohort. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 281,p. 2170. Hultman, C.M., et al. (1999). Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for schizophrenia, affective psychosis, and reactive psychosis of early onset: case-control study. British Medical Journal, (318), p 421. Khasshan, A., Abel, K., McNamee, R., Pedersen, M., Webb. Baker, P., et al. (2008). Higher Risk of Offspring Schizophrenia Following Antenatal Maternal Exposure to Severe Adverse Life Events. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66(2), 146-152. Mednick, S. (1970). Breakdown in individual at high risk for schizophrenia: possible predispositional perinatal factors. Mental Hygiene, 54(1), 50-63. Mortensen, P., Pedersen, C., Westergaad, T., Wohlfahrt, J., Ewald, H., et al. (1999). Effects of family history and place and season of birth on the risk of schizophrenia. The Journal of the American Medical Association, (281), p. 1254. Ross, R. G., et al. (1996). Early expression of smooth-pursuit eye movement abnormalities in children of schizophrenic parents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, (35), p. 941. Sorensen, H., Mortensen, E., Reinisch, J., Mednick, S. (2004). Association between prenatal exposure to analgesic and risk of schizophrenia, British Journal of Psychiatry, 185, 366-371. Westergaard, T., Mortensen, P., Pedersen, C., Wohfahrt, J., Melbye, M. (1999). Exposure to prenatal and childhood infections and the risk of schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry, (56), p. 993-998.

The success of starbuck

The success of starbuck Terms Of Reference This report was commissioned to examine the use of the marketing mix and the contribution of the design function in the success of Starbuck. This report is presented to Dr. Daniel Wade Clarke and the due date is 22nd February 2010. Recommendations are provided in the end. Procedure Organisations own literature has been used in this report. Online textbook and newspapers has been followed to complete this project report.   Nature Of The Organisation Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim wherever there is a demand for great coffee. In 1970 the first Starbucks was open. The name comes from Herman Melvilles Moby Dick, a classic American novel about the 19th century whaling industry. The seafaring name seems appropriate for a store that imports the worlds finest coffees to the cold, thirsty people of Seattle. In May 1998, Starbucks successfully entered the European market through its acquisition of 65 Seattle Coffee Company stores in the UK. The two companies shared a common culture, focussing on a great commitment to customised coffee, similar company values and a mutual respect for people and the environment. (Source www.starbucks.co.uk ) Marketing Mix And NPDs Relation To Starbucks? The marketing mix concept is one of the core concepts of marketing theory. According to Rafiq and Ahmed (1995, p.4) that in recent years, the popular version of this concept McCarthys (1964) 4Ps (product, price, promotion and place) has increasingly come under attack in different marketing contexts. Because 4Ps do not take sufficient account of people, process and physical evidence in service marketing. In particular Booms and Biters (1981) extension of the 4Ps framework to include process, physical evidence and participants, has gained widespread acceptance in the services marketing literature. Furthermore Jobber (2004, p.21) adds to this â€Å" In services ,people often are the service itself; the process or how the service is delivered to the customer is usually a key part of the service, and the physical evidence should be considered as a separate element in the services marketing mix†. Nevertheless, there is no absolute reason why these extensions cannot be incorporated w ithin the 4Ps framework. The elements of the marketing mix are the followings; (1) Product (2) Price (3) Place (4) Promotion (5) People (6) Processes (7) Physical Evidence Product The Product decision involves deciding what goods or services should be offered to a group of customers. Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.25) state that â€Å"it is about not only what to make, but when to make it, how to make it, and how to ensure that it has a long and profitable life†. Clearly product is the important element any company will needs to consider product features/ benefits, branding, packing and after-sales service after its development. Coffee is at the heart of Starbucks history. Starbucks sample coffees from around the world more than 150,000 cups a year. Coffee is the core product of Starbucks as defined by Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.268) â€Å"core product represents the heart of the product, the main reason for its existence and purchase†. It is coffee which provides the functional or psychological definition of Starbucks towards its customers. Below is the diagram of Strategic thrust model, which is effective in marketing planning. Starbucks is using two marketing strategies towards their products.   First one is Product development and second is Market development. According to Jobber (2004, p.47) that product development involves improving current products or developing new products for current markets. As we know Starbucks offer convenience and non durable products in the form of coffee, when it comes to product development they are continuously differentiating their product (coffee) in the form of mild, smooth and bold categories, which increases their product line although their core product is the same. Starbucks also offer merchandise and gifts and fresh food just to increase their product range or product mix for the competitive market. This type of newness can be called new to the company, a significant innovation for the market. Furthermore Jobber (2004, p.47) also explains market development when current products are sold in new markets. This may involve moving into new geographical markets, as Starbucks has done moving into European market segments. But sometimes thes e strategies can be costly for example they have divided their coffee into three categories and they are getting their product from different regions which can be more costly then the product itself. Guardian (18th February 2009) reported that in the second half of 2008 Britain and the US fell into recession because of the credit crunch, but that so many other countries tumbled in even quicker. Germanys economy contracted by 2.1% in the fourth quarter of year 2008, Italys by 1.8%, Britains by 1.5% and Frances by 1.2%. All are significant, the worst for decades and worse than the USs 0.9% fall in the same period. Starbucks seems heavily exposed in countries such as Britain and the US, where consumer confidence and spending have shrivelled. But it also has plenty of stores across mainland Europe so no doubt they have experienced a cooling off in demand as cash-strapped consumers opts for cheaper drinks. Price Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.392) explains price in a more interesting way according to them â€Å"price might seem to be the least complicated and perhaps the least interesting element of the marketing mix, not having the tangibility of the product, the glamour of advertising of the atmosphere of retailing†. Price however, play a very important role in the lives of both marketers and customers, and deserves as much strategic consideration as any other marketing tool because of it company receives some units for the actual product or service which is being marketed.   Starbucks main competitors are Costa coffee and Caffe Nero to compete with them Starbucks applies competition based pricing strategy. According to Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.452) its very dangerous setting prices without knowing what is happening in the market, particularly with respect to ones competitors. There are two aspect of competition that influence an organisations pricing. The first is the structure of the market and the second is products perceived value in the market. When a product is more differentiated then its competitors product the more autonomy the organisation has in pricing it. Hence Starbucks has a range of different product they have slight advantage over their competitors and for that reason buyers come to value its unique benefits. However sometimes setting a high price then your competitors is not a good tactics. According to Times (24th July 2008) Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britains high streets. The Which? Magazine survey that choosing the worlds largest coffee chain (Starbucks) instead of an independent shop for your cappuccino three mornings a week will cost you  £126 a year. Coffee Prices Starbucks Medium cappuccino  £2.29; single espresso  £1.40 Costa Coffee Medium cappuccino  £2.27; single espresso  £1.33 Caffe Nero Medium cappuccino  £1.80; single espresso  £1.25 Clearly setting high prices will not only effect Starbucks position in the market but also it will result a down turn in the demand curve. In another example The Observer (18th October 2009) reveals that at Starbucks, a slice of chocolate cake costs  £2.30 and a small English breakfast tea is  £1.40. But a pack of four cupcakes costs  £2.99 from Marks Spencer and a box of 80 Fairtrade Extra Strong tea bags is  £1.89. So clearly it is not only the core product which is expensive but also the other product range as well. Place According to Jobber (2004, p.634) â€Å"product need to e available in adequate quantities, in convenient locations and at times when customers want to buy them†. Producing products that customers want, pricing them correctly and after that made them available, is necessary for any business. But for that accurate channel strategy is very important for any business. Starbucks has their own of distribution channel. A channel of distribution is very important element. All products whether they are consumer, industrial goods or services require a channel of distribution. Starbucks apply consumer channel strategy in which producers have a direct contact to consumer. According to Jobber (2004, p.637) producer use this strategy to cut out the distribution profit margin. The consumer and manufacturer deal directly with each other. Direct selling is more effective then involvement of a distributor. The following present direct supply channel or producer direct to consumer. Starbucks has more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. Starbucks has coffee stores in every part of the UK. Guardian (21st January 2010) reveals that Starbucks UK management reckons that the chain will end the year 2010 back above 700 stores compare to its current 661 stores. However intensive distribution of the product (Starbucks stores) is not a good strategy because Starbucks has to compete in all sorts of markets in the same time, which is very costly in the current economic climate. The second most important thing, which is Starbuck lacking, is the franchisees. According to Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.473) â€Å"A franchisee holds a contract to supply and market a product or service to the design or blueprint of the franchisor (the owner or originator of the product or service)†. Starbucks want to expand their business in the whole word a franchisee will be best available solution for them. McDon alds is an indication of the level of detail covered by a franchise agreement then why Starbucks are not following the same path as their other companies are following. National or regional advertising in addition to any undertaken by the franchisee can play an important role in building a stronger system brand identity. Promotion According to Jobber (2004, p.18) promotional mix involve advertising, personal selling, sales promotions, public relations, direct marketing, and internet and online promotion. By which we can easily made aware the target audience of the existence of a product or service, and the benefits it confers to the customers. Marketing communication is a very important element; no organisation can afford either the financial or reputational damage caused by poorly planned or implemented communication campaigns. Starbucks use all of the promotional mix ingredients to target their audience they made good use of internet and online promotion. They target their audience through social networking website such as FaceBook and Twitter. They also use YouTube for their promotion and other social campaigns. Starbucks is also using social and cultural aspect of the environment for their sale promotions and public relations. Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.587) explains that â€Å"Social and cultural a spects of the environment will mostly have an impact on the message element of communication†. According to Guardian (2nd September 2009) Starbucks has launched a multimillion-pound ad campaign promoting its ethical values as it makes the vast majority of its UK coffee Fairtrade. Clearly they are using a social issue to make public relation with their target audience, and also Shared Planet (Guardian 2008) the Starbucks initiative launched in year 2008. Its a collection of goals, by 2015 they promise to have all their coffee ethically sourced and all their cups recyclable. Starbucks is using these issues to defend their selves against the environmental campaigners. According to Guardian (2nd September 2009) at Starbucks millions of litres of water are wasted in its coffee shops every day, contradicting its much-boasted green credentials. An investigation by the Sun revealed that over 23.4m litres of water are poured down the drains of 10,000 outlets worldwide due to a policy of keeping a tap running non-stop; Which is totally unfair because on oneside Starbucks run its campaign to save the earth and on the other side they are doing things which are against their campaign. People Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.28) describes that services often depends on people to perform them, creating and delivering the product as the customer waits.   It is dependent upon people and interaction between people. Rafiq and Ahmed (1995, p.7) adds that â€Å"Marketing managers therefore need to manage not only the service provider-customer interface but also the actions of other customers†. For example, the number, type and behaviour of people will partly determine the enjoyment of a meal at a Starbucks coffee store. Therefore observation of everything in the surrounding of stores environment is very important for any organisations. Especially it is more important for Starbucks because they are their own producer and retailer so anything lacking in the consumer attraction can easily put a bad image on Starbucks brand name. If there is any need for training it will be the best solution for getting service delivery from employees. Processes Processes are all the administrative and bureaucratic functions of the organisation. In the process mechanisms there are flows of activities by which services are acquired. Marketers, therefore, have to ensure that customers understand the process of acquiring a service (Rafiq and Ahmed, 1995, p.7). Performance of the product can be separated from the customer but on the other hand, the customer cannot be separated from an experience good. Therefore his degree of involvement in the process of interaction is always high towards the final product (Moorthi, 2002, p.266). Adding to this by Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.28) marketer also has to think carefully about how the service is delivered, and what quality controls can be built in so that the customer can be confident that they know what to expect each time they consume the service product. In Starbucks there are number of process mechanisms, which involve customer serving, telephonic customer services, online shopping, and Starbucks reward card. Well designed processes are needed as the service is delivered to ensure that the customer gets through with minimum fuss and delay and that all elements of the services are properly delivered. Process is all about quality improvement of any service which Starbucks provide. Physical Evidence   Physical evidence in the Booms and Bitner framework refers to the environment in which the service is delivered and any tangible goods that facilitate the performance and communication of the service. Physical evidence is important because customers use tangible clues to assess the quality of service provided (Rafiq and Ahmed, 1995, p.7). The physical environment itself is instrumental in customers assessment of the quality and level of service they can expect, for example in Starbucks stores. In fact, the physical environment is part of the product itself. The need for offering physical evidence is high. In the case of Starbucks the intangible (Service delivery) comes first and the tangible (final product coffee) later. Newness of the environment (Starbucks Stores) can also have a positive effect on customers purchase decision. Starbucks announcement to redesign its stores in UK will put a positive effect on their brand name as well as their customer involvement (Guardian October 20 09). Conclusion Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim wherever there is a demand for great coffee. Starbucks exclusively divided their product in to three categories, which increases their product line, Starbucks also offer merchandise and gifts and fresh food just to increase their product range or product mix for the competitive market. This type of newness can be called new to the company, a significant innovation for the market. Starbucks is also involved into new geographical markets, as Starbucks has done in Europe moving into new market segments. But sometimes these strategies can be costly. Starbucks apply competition based pricing strategy. Hence Starbucks has a range of different product they have slight advantage over their competitors and for that reason buyers come to value its unique benefits. Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britains high streets. Starbucks has their own of distribution channel. However intensive distribution of the product (Starbucks stores) is not a good strategy because Starbucks has to compete in all sorts of markets in the same time, which is very costly in the current economic climate. National or regional advertising in addition to any undertaken by the franchisee can play an important role in building a stronger system brand identity. Starbucks use all of the promotional mix ingredients to target their audience they made good use of internet and online promotion. Starbucks is also using social and cultural aspect of the environment for their sale promotions and public relations. Starbucks is using these issues to defend their selves against the environmental campaigners. Starbucks needs to focus on their because they are their own producer and retailer so anything lacking in the consumer attraction can easily put a bad image on Starbucks brand name. If there is any need for training it will be the best solution for getting service delivery from employees. Starbucks needs continuous improvement of their processes mechanism. Physical evidence is important because customers use tangible clues to assess the quality of service provided. Starbucks announcement to redesign its stores in UK is good strategy which will put a positive effect on their brand name as well as their customer involvement. References Booms, B.H. and Bitner, M.J. (1981), â€Å"Marketing strategies and organization structures for service firms†, in Donnelly, J.H. and George, W.R. (Eds), Marketing of Services, American Marketing Association, Chicago, IL, pp. 47-51 [Accessed: 20/02/2010] Brassington, F. and Pettitt, S. (2003) Principles and Practice of Marketing: 3rd Edition: Pearson Education Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Jobber, D. (2004) Principles and Practice of Marketing: 4th Edition: McGraw-Hill International (UK) Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Kotler, P. (2003) Marketing Management 11th Edition: Pearson Education Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Moorthi, Y.L.R. (2002), â€Å"An approach to branding services†, Journal of Services Marketing, Vol.16 (3), pp.259-274 [Accessed: 21/02/2010] Rafiq, M. and Ahmed, P.K. (1995), â€Å"Using the 7Ps as a generic marketing mix: an exploratory survey of UK and European marketing academics†, Marketing Intelligence Planning, Vol. 13 (9), pp. 4-15 [Accessed: 17/02/2010] The Story of Starbucks [online] http://starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/_About+Starbucks/ [Accessed: 15/02/10] Times Online, (24th January 2008) Best coffee on high street? Not Starbucks by Nico Hines [on-line] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3245914.ece [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (6th October 2008) Starbucks wastes millions of litres of water a day by Angela Balakrishnan [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/06/water.drought [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (5th October 2008) Starbucks to redesign shops [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/sep/18/starbucks-rebrand-branding-coffee [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (November 2008) Regular or decaf ? America decides [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/nov/04/foodanddrink1 [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (18th February 2009) Starbucks row: Its off the boil almost everywhere by Ashley Seager [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/feb/18/starbucks-britain-failing-economy [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (2nd September 2009) Starbucks ads trumpet Fairtrade move by Mark Sweney [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/02/starbucks-fairtrade-advertising [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Observer, (18th October 2009) Dinner party too costly ? Let them eat cake by Huma Qureshi [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/19/dinner-party-costly-eat-cake [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (21st January 2010) Starbucks legend delivers recovery by thinking smaller by David Teather [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/21/starbucks-howard-schultz [Accessed: 18/02/2010]

odysseus: an epic hero Essay -- essays research papers fc

Is Odysseus An Epic Hero?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is Odysseus, the main character of Homer’s The Odyssey, really an epic hero? An epic hero embodies several heroic traits such as; having superior or super-human strength; being intellectual and courageous; and being a strong and responsible leader. An epic hero struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties. An epic hero is on a quest of self discovery, war or some sort of goal. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is on a quest to return home to Ithaca after ten years of war in Troy. Odysseus, during his quest, is forced to venture through a merciless Cyclops, angered Gods, deeply obstinate Goddesses, the underworld, and determined suitors that are after his wife Penelope. Odysseus surmounts over these obstacles and returns home safely with courage, intelligence, superior strength, brave leadership, and also performs brave deeds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his quest, Odysseus uses his superior and super human strength to overcome the suitors. In The Odyssey, Penelope holds a contest for all the suitors. She declares that she will marry the one who can string and shoot Odysseus’s bow through all the twelve axes. None of the suitors were able to bend the bow and string it. Odysseus disguised as a beggar then asks if he can try the bow. â€Å"Meantime wise Odysseus, when he handled the great bow and scanned it closely, — even as one well-skilled to play the lyre and sing stretches with ease round its new peg a string, securing at each end the twisted sheep-gut; so without effort did Odysseus string the mighty bow. Holding it now with his right hand, he tried its cord; and clear to the touch it sang, voiced like the swallow†¦. Then laying the arrow on the arch, he drew the string and arrow notches, and forth from the bench on which he sat let fly the shaft, with careful aim, and did not miss an ax e’s ring from first to last, but clean through all sped on the bronze-tipped arrow† (Homer 210-211). Odysseus used his superior strength to bend his bow for he was the only one who was able to bend it and string it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his quest, Odysseus uses his superior intellect to outsmart Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Odysseus and his men arrive on the land of the Cyclops. Odysseus then chooses his twelve best men and travel through the mainland and come across a cave. Odysseus and his men make themselves at ... ... here, could have left his men under the influence and sailed off but instead he dragged all by forced and brought them to order.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Everything Odysseus did wasn’t a quality of an epic hero. For example, Odysseus raided the Ismarus, the city of the Cicones. Odysseus and his men took all the treasures and woman. Odysseus also was dissolute to Penelope. Odysseus was with Circe for one year and with Calypso for seven years. This makes Odysseus seem less of an epic hero, but if you consider the other facts about him you should think otherwise. Odysseus was superior in strength for being the only person to be able to bend and string his bow. Odysseus was intelligent and courageous by standing up to Polyphemus. Odysseus was a responsible and strong leader by forcing his men under the influence to get on the ship and continue their journey home. Therefore, I can conclude that Odysseus is truly an epic hero. Odysseus had many difficulties throughout his journey, but he strived to continue despite his many encounters with gods, goddesses, Cyclops, and suitors. Works Cited Homer. The Odyssey. Minneola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1999.