Author: chris

Essay 1

Arundhati Roy’s God of Small things is a book about two fraternal twins Rahel and Estha who are separated at the tender ages of 7 but are later reunited at the ages of 31. The children are results of a dysfunctional marriage between Ammu Ipe and a man who manages a tea estate in Calcutta, India. Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone is also about twin brothers Marion and Shiva who are separated at birth. It is a narration carried out by Marion Stone as the name also resonates with the title of the book. The two novels are explicit in developing the two-imagery approach whereby they bring out tow individuals who are united by blood and fate. The twins from both books are separated by circumstances, which are unique to both cases. Both novels are based on the existence of twins in separate environments but are united by fate. In addition, the twins, Marion and Shiva developed love for medicine and the same woman. This is an exemplary use of twin imagery as the passion for medicine, the same woman and blood unites them in an unprecedented way.

Abraham Verghese illustrates exceptional oratory skills as evidenced by Marion Stone’s narration as he tells the audience of his experiences. The story begins when Sister Mary Joseph Praise who is of Indian origin and a nun has an illicit affair with an impetuous British surgeon by the name Thomas Stone. The two met in Madras onboard a boat, and later moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after Thomas moves to work in the ‘Missing Hospital’ which is used to mean Mission hospital in Ethiopia with Sister Mary following him where they work beside each other seven years as doctor and nurse respectively. After years of an illicit relationship, Mary conceives, but while giving birth to the two twins she dies on the operation table. After her death Thomas views taking care of two boys as too tough a task to handle and disappears leaving the two children without even a whim of their identity and more so who their father was. Thus, the two boys, Marion and Shiva grow up with hatred and resentment towards their absentee father who fled hence they view him as a coward and irresponsible.

Despite their misfortune of absence of their father, they are raised by Hema and Ghosh, who are Indian doctors working at ‘missing’ hospital. Growing up under the care of two doctors, the twins develop profound love and passion for medicine. This is one of the exemplary uses of twin imagery whereby the two twins for passion for medicine. in the brink of the revolution when the ruling Emperor Haile Selaisse does things in his own way leaving the country plagued with disease, hunger and poverty (Verghese, 21). Marion soon finds out that his brother Shiva slept with Genet, a girl Marion had always loved. This betrayal by his brother bruises his ego and hurts him emotionally as he develops depression, he sneaks out of Ethiopia and heads for America where he finds work placement at a busy, under funded New York hospital in Bronx. In the hospital, he learns many things, which make him a mature doctor and man. In addition, he happens to meet his father whom he loathes for abandoning them. However, he develops a bond with him after they reconcile.

Arundhati Roy in God of Small things is different because it focuses on family tragedies in the entire story. Rahel and Estha’s lives are destroyed by the love laws in existence in the Indian society. The love laws are in existence due to the beliefs that people are classified in form of castes. Those of lower caste are prohibited from interaction; it is paramount and a must for people within the Indian community to interact with people belonging to identical caste. Ion addition marriage or relationships with people of lower castes are prohibited. Those found to have relations or any form of interaction with people from a lower caste are banished and the lower caste individuals are beaten or even killed. For instance, when the relationship between Ammu and Velutha are discovered; Velutha is beaten up by the police and eventually succumbs to the injuries he sustained from the beating and dies. Ammu falls in love with Velutha because of the admiration he receives from the tow twins, Rahel and Estha. Their relations exist in secrecy, which is an utter show of the social prejudices against people based on their social statuses.

Baby Kochamma could be described as a master of deceit as she manipulates and deceives people to bring pain and anguish on both the twins and Ammu. Baby Kochamma takes advantage of her status in the society as well as in her family to manipulate people around her. Her anger for Velutha is instigated by the protesters forcing her to stand on the roof of her car to wave a communist flag at the same time chanting communist slogans. It proves to be one of her most humiliating experiences, such that when she notices Velutha in the midst of the crowd she despises him and places internal blame on him for her humiliation. She takes the actions of the supporters to heart and is on a path of vengeance against Velutha.

Her hatred towards Velutha could be described as consuming because it ravages the people she comes across. Her mind and body seem to be one because of her experiences with the crowd; she vouches to revenge her humiliation through causing Velutha anguish. When she chants the slogans in support of the communist group she feels embarrassed and humiliated, thus it is sufficient to state that her connection with her body and mind are an aspect of monism. The Indian community regards the presence of the body and the soul or mind as one. Thus, failure to integrate the two results in a dysfunctional human being.

Communism is also a dominant theme in the book as the presence of inequalities in the society. Velutha is a vibrant member of a communist movement within his hometown of Calcutta, whereby during a demonstration by the communists’ supporters they encounter the Ipe on their way to the airport to pick up Margret. The aspect of Margret who is an American coming to India is facilitated by the presence of globalization in the world. The presence of industrialization enables Chacko to return back form America after he fails to get work placement after his bitter divorce from Margret. The ability of Chacko to look for work in India after being accustomed to a lavish lifestyle in America can be attributed to the fact that after the Indian independence the country was able to forge economic development via the use of

The two books are exceptional in bringing out the social prejudices instigated against people who are considered as unprivileged. Numerous themes are illustrated within the two pieces of literature; betrayal, love, separation, forgiveness and social injustice. The two authors use imagery in utterly different ways. However, in some aspects, imagery is used in identical ways to bring out the themes of betrayal, death. Betrayal is one of the most dominant themes in the two books especially in the God of Small things whereby Rahel and Estha are betrayed by their aunt Baby Kochamma. Twin imagery is evident because Baby Kochamma instigates plans to have Ammu banished form their household, which leaves the two twins distraught. This means that the two twins are inseparable in terms of their suffering in the hands of a wicked aunt.

Verghese’s Cutting for Stone brings forth numerous themes, which are part of any healthy society. The theme of betrayal is however the most dominant them within the narrative. Marion’s trust and relationship with his brother is broken by his impeditive actions of sleeping with a girl whom he loved and cared for dearly. In addition, during the post-colonial era, the colonies were left in a desolate state by the colonial imperialist leaving behind shattered economies, impoverished communities and diseases because the natives of the colonies were not allowed to attend schooling to gain knowledge which would have been vital in sustaining their needy populations. The reasons for travel by Marion could be described as efforts to seek greener pastures due to the presence of a run down economy by the Italian governments and by the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie. Dualism is depicted clearly in the book when Marion moves away to the United States after he becomes distraught when he learns that his brother had slept with a girl whom she cared for and loved deeply. This resulted in him seeking to move away form her to seek his own space (Gasman, 47). The ability of him to move away and separate his thoughts form his body is seen as possible because he manages to excel in the medical profession in New York hospital.

When Ammu’s brother Chacko invites his former wife over to visit in India with his daughter she readily accepts his invitation. Her ability to move from America to India in a short span shows the presence of a new approach of globalization. Because India was a British colony

In addition, dualism is evident in the conflicts between good and evil in the two writings. This happens when Marion and Shiva are at a crossroads when the two are separated because of Shiva’s actions. The ability of Chacko and the society to castigate Ammu and Velutha for their relationship is a clear indication of the absence of reason among the society (Roy, 58).

In the same aspect, Marion is torn between good and evil when he contemplates whether to forgive his father bearing in mind that he abandoned them when they were unable to take care of themselves. His past haunts him as he harbors deep resentment for his bother when he contemplates to mend relations with his brother who betrayed him. It becomes clear that the presence of the mind and body are intertwined thus

*In Aristotelian ethics, reason forms part of the greatest power betrothed to man. Hence, Marion’s utilizes his ability to reason well when he finds himself in a dilemma to reunite with both his father, whom he harbors deep resentment for abandoning him, and his brother whom he fell out with after he betrayed him with a girl whom he loved and adored very much. The two twins are however united by natural circumstances, which enforce the presence of dualism and twin imagery.

As for Thomas Stone his brashness, enables arrival at the conclusion of presence of monism because it seems his body and mind are one such that he does not contemplate nor regret his actions for abandoning his own children without them having the ability to care for themselves. He can be described as irresponsible because of his inability to take care of Marion and Shiva who are his own flesh and blood (Gasman, 47). In addition, his ability to move to Ethiopia as part of his employment strategy is an illustration of the globalization effects. In the colonial period the presence f expatriates was a sign of colonial rule, however when Thomas Stone is an illustration of global acceptance of the colonies as part of the world.

In conclusion, there seems to be an emphasis about the existence of tow worlds from a dualism approach; this is because the twins have identical ideals but are separated by the social prejudice that plagues their respective communities or societies. In addition, the world seems to exist in a dual perspective because of the presence of people who consider themselves as superior than others such as the Italians in Ethiopia and the Ipe family in India who are considered of a higher caste. Moreover, people like Velutha who are considered as people of lower caste or dalits are victimized and treated as lesser than human. This is clear indication of the passage of the social system, which was in existence in the colonial period whereby the colonialists segregated the natives, colonial rulers, and their families. However, in the Indian community it is part of tradition to consider some of lower value than others who are Dalits (Roy, 58). As for Cutting for Stone, there are various reasons that the mind and the body are one, the two brothers and their father having experienced tribulations in their lives come together and depend on each other for moral support, which is an illustration of a monism whereby the body and mind are but one item (Lee, 78).

Work Cited

Aristotle & J A. Giles. Nicomechean Ethics. London: J. Cornish, 1870. Print.

Gasman, Daniel. Haeckel’s Monism and the Birth of Fascist Ideology. New York: P. Lang, 1998. Print.

Lee, Richard E. Dualism. Albany, N.Y: SUNY Press, 2010. Print.

Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. New York: Random House, 1997. Print

Verghese, A. Cutting for Stone: A Novel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print

 

Analysis of ethical issue in St. Anthony’s Medical Centre.

St. Anthony Medical centre is a medical center in St. Louis metropolitan area. Recently it has faced several ethical issue pertaining its management and staff. The medical centre has served all type of classes of patients since the start of its operation in 1900. The medical centre has church support and commitment and has always intended to remain in that state. It also has priests and nuns as staff in the centre.

Peter D, an experienced nurse in the hospital, had observed together with his coworkers for several years, that Dr. Bill, a neurosurgeon, had been losing dexterity in performing surgical procedures. He was careless with instruments and sometime his hand shook. This problem has made two patients burn with cauteries, but neither of them had a serious harm. The techs and the nurses discussed this issue among them and even approached the personal assistant of Dr. Bill regarding this issue. His PA seemed to be aware of this dexterity but did see it a problem. Peter approached the nurse manager and the nurse director regarding this. They requested the staff to put in writing their concern, but they seemed reluctant because they were scared of retribution by surgeons or even Doctor Bill. This is because they are aware that only a surgeon can evaluate the work of another surgeon. The chief of Neurosurgery indicated that he will pay attention to the reviews of the doctor. It took time for them to report anything about Dr. Bill since he always had an active schedule of surgery.

After a year, Dr. Bill performed a surgery and it happened he had an instrument accident during the surgery. He caused severe nerve damage on a 45yr old woman’s brain. The woman experienced damage to cognitive and reasoning function and also suffered from emotional ability. The woman could not return to work and depended on her family for supervision and support. Dr. Bill was fully aware of these damages and in his record he noted of these damages and explained it as unfrequented and unfortunate. The hospital chart reviews made resulted to no action from hospital administration and neurosurgeon. Peter had some discussion with informal staff, techs and Dr. Bill’s scrub nurse concerning the issue. Peter noted that they were all trying to white-wash what the doctor did. For his concern, he approached his manager to talk over it.

Prior to the accident, did the hospital administration conduct itself in an ethically careful manner? Is the administration act of omission relevant with the ethics? Someone reading this case might wonder why the administration did not take responsibility of making sure that the accident was prevented. Should the evidence of this case burden the staff involved? Being a catholic involved medical centre, what was its responsibility?

Peter’s values and upbringing made him feel that it was wrong to lie to the patient’s family and he also believed that the hospital was obliged to maintenance of the patient. Would it be ethical for Peter to share what he knew to the patient’s family without the consent of the hospital? What ethical responsibility do Peter’s co workers have, since they were to bring the conduct of unwilling to come forward and put in writing their concern? Does the staff hold any Ethical responsibility to the future of Dr. Bill?

 

Analysis

The case of Dr. Bill and Peter, illustrate the power of one ethical belief in confronting managerial ethics and organization culture. Peter and his co worker have no right (legally) to share their concern about the conduct of a surgeon under (external) scrutiny. They are also not bound to bring additional information that would be important valuable to an investigation of this case. It was also unethical for the medical centre not to tell the patient’s family of what exactly happened during the surgery. The staff members are the only key players in this case. All the leadership and inquiry should have been from them. What was the ethical responsibility of the chief of surgery or neurosurgery? Is there need to again monitor Dr. Bill surgery practices?

An ethical analysis of this issue lies within the hospital administrative processes and also those involved in decision making and leadership. Peter’s manager was aware of Peter’s concern but, he chooses not to lead another way. The manager failed to take the Peter’s concern forward to the administration. This is an issue of leadership and management. In general, the medical center’s management ignored what was brought to their concern and as a result a patient had a severe damage of brain nerves and cannot do her duties as before. The failure of the medical center’s management to act upon then situation is a failure of ethical management conduct (Hosmer 52).

Whatever the path will be selected to solve the issue, the case will not be straightforward. Conflict will arise among the staff and administration. According to Hosmer Model, this means that administrative ethics will affect choices of individuals in invisible and indirect way since they are less visible and tangible (Eileen 224).

The barriers to ethical follow up in health care by management or administration are all familiar to most medical staff including the nurses and techs. The negligence to carry inquiry forward is likely to be seen in many medical centers or hospitals. Barriers are always presented in management realities such as fiduciary institution’s duty; availability of competing value system; tendency by physicians to protect the peer; sanctioning discouraging others form judging and questing practices; protection of the organization from law for instance, the medical centre was certain the patient will sue them if they revealed what happened; administrative inertia; economic and historical power of physicians, for this case Dr. Bill; managers reluctance and confidentiality of patients information (Hosmer 378).

The Hosmer model states that the level of moral strength is a great determinant of ethical behavior. Social consensus among physicians leaders and administrative about highest values may be limited and the level of consequence and proximity to harm may be difficult to predict (Eileen 225). Conditions like this may result to administrative or management resistance to action. While the medical staff may reach to a consensus, that the patient’s future was paramount, it is more likely for the managers to be slow in making decisions. For Peter to pursue this case, the medical centre culture, all personnel and also the moral agency of the managers would need to be very strong. If latter was in place, a non blaming ethos would need to be included and also absence of retribution towards the staff involved and Peter.

Ethical consciousness extends much beyond the concept of immediate situation of anticipatory ethics (Eileen 79). Responsible behaviors by any professional require leadership, probity prudence, accountability, competence and trustworthy conducts and fulfillment of responsibility (Hosmer 373). For workers and managers of St. Anthony’s medical centre, to be aware to Dr. Bill’s endanger to patients demands for anticipatory ethics practices in the future to avert future harm.

In this case, Peter will be of help to clear the fact and also take his time to know both his professional and organizational roles allow and also know where his ethics and moral stand contrasts. This is because ethical values are open and personal to interpretation and are a great risk to the law or agency policy (Eileen 83). Regardless of the choices made in this case, medical workers should understand the relevant principles flowing into their analysis (Eileen 112). Peter should act on his personal ethical principle by pursing the appropriate medical center’s chain of command. His position in the medical centre is risky.

For this case, decision making is complex since the administration was at fault. According to Hospers model, the following guidelines are necessary. Consciously recognition of separate but relative domains of religion, economics, philosophy, government regulation, law, industry, disciplinary effects, individual context, and culture as they contribute to ethical decision and action, is an important step. The Hosmer Model states that understanding conflicting obligations are not the exception but are the rule (Hosmer 390). In a presenting situation is important to differentiate an individual’s personal values from societal values

Hosmer says that identifying the authority’s ethical value hierarchy should prevail, unless there is a likelihood that harm will present itself to others, government regulation, and the principles of law.  When there is a convincing likelihood of harm, be aware that it is insufficiently addressed by organizational policy, government regulation or law. He also states that identifying and discussing ethical situation with trusted managers and peer is important. Hosmer Model identifies the people and process to involve in addressing the challenge should be of concern when trying to solve ethical problems arising. Understanding the situation’s contingencies, including inherent risks for the patient and staff is important according to Hosmer Model. Knowing what risks, one can suppose and what actions to take.

There is a low probability of the case being solved to Peter’s satisfaction because all non-parallel powers were against his. His will leaves him morally compromised and he may consider leaving the medical centre. On the other hand, an understanding of professional, cultural, historic and contextual factors of the case, may lead him to understand that this outcome is possible and other employment setting of this kind. Most health care organizations regard their hierarchy so much, that the voice of simple workers can not be heard (Eileen 274).

Peter’s opportunity to pursue forward his professional responsibility in the medical centre had not been obliterated but attenuated. The future of Dr. Bill in the medical centre will be protected; his patients will also be protected by use of great supervision. From anticipatory ethics perspective, it could be argued that it is unethical for Peter to leave the medical centre. He was singularly and uniquely positioned by his virtues of ethical distress, experience and role to avert future malpractice.

In most cases, conflict cannot be solved through communication alone, although the health care ethics committee must convene to decide a complex matter (Hosmer 391). These bodies are run and managed by business management professionals, but may also include specialized and experienced counselors, lay people, and qualified clergy(mostly chaplains seconded in hospitals) –indeed, the general opinion around the world is that they must be incorporated for the sake of fairness .Member smust have a background in healthcare, counseling or treatment of patients; a priest or minister of religion or equivalent, societal elder; a layman; a laywoman; a lawyer and, in the case of healthcare provision.This is the holding of virtue ethics on values.

Healthcare ethics starts with organizational culture (Hosmer 373). If an organizational culture is based on shortcut-taking, as ethics holds in the deontological ethics, there is need to ensure that the cultures of healthcare institutions work towards improving the overall welfare of their employees, who when properly motivated will work effectively and ethically and further still the chief executive officer and board of directors should be people of high moral integrity and should be given their jobs and membership through competitive vetting knowledge, experience,  welfare of the patients, medical doctors and nurses and their concern in  sanctity of human life (Eileen 284). At the end of the exercise those who qualify should be given terms of reference, job descriptions with special reference to the implementation of the code of ethics and the performance of their duties during their time of work. They should also be people ready to work with the medical centres on putting into practice the ethos of the hospitals they are called to administer (Eileen 412). Relevant arms of the government should receive their reports since they are serving the people. This does not mean that the confidential report which bind them with stakeholders and managers of their specific hospitals are done away with. This is the true meaning of respecting the chain of command which is also ethical value.

 

Hosmer’s model

The Hosmer Model poses morality and moral issues in management as its working principles. However, the crux of this model lies in morality and this has to be explained further. Morality can be defined as the recognition of intentions, actions and decisions as being either good or bad. A moral code therefore is a set of morals that applies to a certain community, religion or society. In retrospect, immorality therefore refers to the lack of morality or morals. Some morals are universal hence easy to accept for example the right to life is unmistakably shared by the world over. Ethics is related to morality in that ethics connotes the moral principles of a particular group or even an individual. Ethics involves practical reasoning in life. Ethics is differentiated from morals in that morals may sometimes contradict or overlap each other while ethics are always flexible according to the situation at hand. Numerous approaches have come up with a view of understanding ethical decision making as well as distinguishing ethics and morals in decision-making.

Managers have a real problem in addressing moral issues because of their nature. Moral problems present a conflict of interest between pursuing an organization’s goals and attending to societal interests and needs. At the workplace, it is inevitable to avert any moral issues as between employees; there exists many avenues of conflicts. Moral standards are quite difficult to establish as well. In the Hosmer model, it is outlined how moral standards are “subjective and personal”. This denotes their volatility according to the following criteria as well as other minor ones. People are uniquely different and therefore each individual has their own moral standards, which may be higher or lower according to many other factors. People also have different moral standards as defined by the group in which they associate with for example school groups or informal groups. Different cultures also have different moral standards, which are socialized into their people for example the working culture in Asian cultures. Other minor factors that make up for different moral standards include countries of origin as well as time.

The Hosmer Model proceeds to prescribe guidelines for resolution of moral problems. The solutions outlined by Hosmer take managers on a systematic, descriptive method of resolving ethical issues. The first step involves understanding the term moral standards. This includes comprehending all the parties’ moral standing to argue from an informed point. At this stage, a manager should also recognize all moral impacts. These benefits or harms will surface because of the intended course of action. Other factors to be judged are the right things being accentuated and the wrong things being erased.

The next stage is defining the complete moral problem. In many cases, this problem is being addressed. On must ask themselves questions like: Do the ethical standards address the issue directly? All the parties involved should also be aware of the issue that arose which means the manager should clearly define the problem particularly as extended questions to invoke insight among the parties involved. Stating the moral problem is a big part of the success of Hosmer’s Model. Therefore, the problem should be carefully drafted to put everyone in the know without being biased to one party.

The next step is determining the economic outcomes. This stage has many considerations in addition to compromises to be made as it is directly related to the firm’s primary goals of making profits in any market. Most moral decisions are usually economically beneficial to society. Economic analyses are not always straightforward activities. The cost benefit analysis has to be done in order to determine the viability and feasibility of any decision. Hosmer speaks of the “net balance of benefit over costs for the full society” (Hosmer 386) indicating his concern that some moral decisions may not completely satisfy all parties equally.

After determining the economic outcomes, the manager must consider the legal outcomes. Within any organization, many legal obligations govern their operation. When making ethical decisions, it important to consider all levels of rules and regulations applying to the particular situation. The most common legal issues are covered in the national constitution, the firm’s constitution or other provisions for different contract and so on. Within a particular society, people also decide that certain rules are the most appropriate for them. In this way, people can compromise their own interests at the expense of communal interests, a concept proposed by John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. This theory has been used by Hosmer to explain how society can achieve peace, growth and uniformity by laying aside individual ethics and agreeing on a set of communal ethics to govern them in their social groups.

The next stage involves the manager evaluating the ethical duties of the members of that particular group. Ethical duties refer to the “obligations owed by members of a society to other members of that society” (Hosmer 396). Also branded as deontological duties, these involve people having their own morals that may influence them to do the right thing as well as doing it because it’s the right thing to do. The vice versa is also true in that people should not do wrong things alongside avoiding them because they are wrong. This also covers universal rules .Lastly; one has to propose convincing solutions to the problem based on the above steps.

In conclusion, Hosmer’s model is vital in solving the deadlock at St. Anthony’s Medical Center. The surgeon in question, Doctor Bill had been practicing even though he had developed complications that would have jeopardized the lives of his patients. Consequently, he was rendered incompetent by the hospital. The management should have applied Hosmer’s approach in finding an amicable yet efficient way of handling Doctor Bill even before the accident occurred.

Conclusion

Engaging in ethical reflection requires an environment marked by trust, role flexibility, empowerment, open inquiry and honesty (Hosmer 296). In this case, money and power are the key play to the ethics in place. Money and power have fully influenced the decision making in health cares and also its leadership. It is a call for health care workers to establish an environment where trust and honesty thrive. This analysis reflects how ethics is distinguished from context, law, culture, philosophy and religion. This situation illustrates ethical conflict in the administration or management of health cares.

In order to develop and nurture a healthy and productive future generation, there is need to consider employing ethics in healthcare management (Hosmer 212). Most stakeholders like; physicians, patients, healthcare institutions and other institutions should work and develop ethical committees and centers that are guide their members. Self control and responsibility values should be adopted through ethical application, by the physicians.

 

Works Cited

Eileen, Morrison. Health Care Ethics Critical Issues for 21st Century. 2nd ed. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 2009. Print

 

Hosmer, L. T. Trust: The connecting Link between Organizational Theory and Philosophical Ethics. Academy of Management review. 20(2): 250-397. 1995. Print

 

Hosmer, L. T.  The ethics of management. Chicago: The McGraw-Hill  Companies, Inc. 1996. Print

Titanic Movie Review

Titanic is title of one of the most popular romantic drama movies, directed by James Cameron in 1997. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater, Billy Zane as Caledon ‘Nathan’ Cal, Frances Fisher as Ruth DeWitt Bukater, who acts as the mother of Rose who are the main characters in the historical storyline (Katharine and Huntley 2009). Other characters include Gloria Stuart as Rose Dawson Bukater/Calvett narrating the story in the current as an old woman, accompanied by Suzy Amis as Lizzy Calvert as her granddaughter (Katharine and Huntley 2009). The film is set in April 14, 1912, during the night the titanic hit an iceberg in its ill-fated first maiden voyage and in the modern day 1996 where Brock Lovett is searching for the diamond necklace known as Heart of the Ocean.

The storyline revolves around the romantic relationship of Jack and Rose, two young people in different social classes. The encounter starts when Jack stops Rose from jumping off the end of the sea vessel. Rose is not happy being engages to Cal, a rich 30 years old a steel tycoon. Her mother considers this to solve their financial problems. Jack receives a formal request to share the evening meal on the following day in the upper-most deck’s salon. Soon the two start falling in love. In her room, she asks Jack to paint a nude picture of her, before thy run to the cargo hold and make love. While on the outer part of the ship, they observe the vessel colliding with the iceberg that was to send every person aboard to a catastrophe (Katharine and Huntley 2009).

The film is a historical fact of the ship’s sinking, woven around to young people falling in love. The film is structured around two acts, where two of the main characters find themselves in a new environment, which they explore together. The new environment is the ship and different social classes of that each explores with the other. The other act is where the environment is under threat and their love is tested in a climatic way towards the end. First, they learn more about the ship together, where they explore the whole ship, reviewing its beauty, to highlight the legendary ship that many want to know about as the first act. They fall in love as they explore the ship. Their love is tested amid the worst catastrophe that could have been thought off, whereby the ship starts sinking, and Rose has to save Jack from cabin of the main officer where he was held. She also jumps off the life boats to reunite with him.

The movie is narrated in flashback by Gloria Stuart as an old woman who was a survivor of the tragedy recalling the events of the day the ship sank. The flashbacks take up 80% of its running time. The film starts with the exploring team that is searching for the diamond necklace. The team finds the portrait of Rose. Gloria calls claiming to be rose. The story starts with the flashback of Rose entering the titanic before it leaves for New York in Southampton, the circumstances leading to their meeting and falling in love, the obstacles they go through until to the end when the ship sinks where we are taken back to the present day after the story is narrated.

The film has developed its main characters well, revealing a complete story that offers details to the three characters, and just enough details to the supporting team. There are no many characters given much detail in the film, except for their roles. The whole storyline is well focused on the main characters. This accord the ability to offer enough details of the main character revolving around the storyline as opposed where too many characters are used, giving only few details for each of them. in Titanic, the film focus on the protagonists throughout and the antagonists as well, other characters only plying the role of supporting where only their relation to the main characters are show as well as a little character about them.

One of the aspects of titanic that is unique is its usage of indisputable documentary images that set the flashback story. Despite the film being made several decades after the actual event, the film shows real pictures of the wrecked ship under the sea were taken from the site. Some scenes of the movie of the vessel under water show the real ship as it sits on the bed of the sea, highlighting verisimilitude senses in the film. This makes the move look more real rather than just a computer simulation (Katharine and Huntley 2009).

The effects in the film are well fitted to the plotline, and not the other way round where films fit their plot into the visual effects. This is well demonstrated by the effects that show the ship sinking. There is no detail left out when the ship is sinking. Every part of it is shown, making it look real, as it would happen. This also shows the power of computer simulations. The visual effects of the final moment of the titanic ship show terror highlighted in the most realistic effects, showing people being crashed under the ship as it sinks. The audio effects of the film also fit the plotline, where the band plays the song by Celine Dion, ‘My Heart Will go on’ towards the end before the ship sinks, triggering strong emotions of sadness when people are facing death as it approaches (Katharine and Huntley 2009).

The film is well edited, with the main parts defining the moment being well highlighted. For instance, when the ship is about to hit the iceberg, the moment is highlighted by urgency in the crew to stop the ship, as well as trying to avoid it. The scene of the ship sinking is another illustration of editing where it shows the rear part of the sea vessel elevating, as people slide off while others fall off  in the water, all this time focusing on the main characters not forgetting the splashing of the water as the stern falls back and kills people with its impact. In addition, the director, Cameron, cut off some of the scenes that he felt only lengthened the film to be left with the important bits only.

The film remain one of the best grossing movies of all time considering it has held the title for twelve years since it release in 1997 to 2009 when it was overtaken by Avatar, yet another film from Cameron. Currently it remains ranked as second. It won 14 nominations and won 11 Academy Awards in various categories including best male and female actors, best producer, director and best film of year among other categories (imdb.com 2012). The film remains as one of the greatest films ever produced.

 

Work Cited

Katharine E. and Huntley M. Titanic. dramatica.com, 2009. Web. May 4, 2012.

Imdb.com. Awards for titanic. imdb.com, 2012. Web. May 4, 2012.

United States Defense Policy Process and African Americans

One fundamental aspect of the black revolution over the past decade has been the raised concern and interest and the subsequent arousal of African affairs among Africans living in the United States of America. African Americans are now more aware than ever with defense issues in America and bonds connecting them to Africa, their origin country. This awareness manifests itself through various ways including black nationalists and other impassioned rhetoric’s such as Malcom X (Bardes, 13). This has been evidenced by the popular styles currently adorning the African society of America. This is also supported by the growing strong identification with mother Africa as their sole origin.

A good example of this awareness is the impeach move by five members of the Congressional Black Caucus in October 1984 against President Reagan. President Reagan had given orders for invasive action on the Caribbean nation (Malan, 24). The Congressional Black Caucus movement condemned President Reagan and his office declaring that this action had racist incentives. President Bush was also acted against by African Americans because of his decision oversee the Persian Gulf War as well as the Iraqi invasion. Africans in the United States have had significant impact on various policies including the Congressional Black Caucus, all because of their increased awareness in matters, as well as the states consideration on their views.

Currently, African Americans have been influenced by the challenges and triumphs within Africa. Many African states had to overcome numerous challenges before attaining independence and attaining a responsible and self-reliant status among other accomplished states in the international stage. This has played the role of propelling immense pride within Africans living in America (Irazábal, 49). Consequently, African Americans become more aware and active on matters issues and challenges against them. This concern is particularly directed to the widespread white oppression in America, as well as other European countries.

In spite of efforts to quell this vice, distinct limitations have been noted with regard to accessibility of resources by black Americans that would aid in the contribution of defense policy process in the United States of America. For decades, racial oppression and segregation has denied African Americans technical skills and economic means that can have significant contribution to the defense policy process of the United States (Rosenblum, 66). The potential resource with a potent capability of mobilizing African Americans to become an advanced and wealthy society is the defense policy process and their awareness on this process has largely led to significant effect.

A number of American policy makers have asserted that the African populations in the United States are a determining factor in shaping the defense policy process. The first secretary of state to Africa for the United States, Joseph Saterthwaite declared that the United States held special interests towards the African continent regarding the defense policy process. This is because a tenth of the entire population in the nation. The successor to this position, Mennen G Williams emphasized on creating positive links between the United States and Africa (Wachira, 14). He further pointed out that only Ethiopia and Nigeria had larger African populations than the United States, and therefore had a significant role to play in determining the outcome of the defense policy process. William Rogers, a past secretary of state in the United States reiterated the same point as his successor, Mennen G Williams through his statement that one in every ten American citizens had an African origin. He further stated that this affected America culture wise and that certain aspects regarding this issue had to be considered.

 

Works Cited

Bardes, Barbara A, Mack C. Shelley, and Steffen W. Schmidt. American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008. Print.

Dye, Thomas R. Understanding Public Policy. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall, 2004. Print.

Ferrell, Henry C. The United States Congress and National Defense, 1915-1939. Lewiston, N.Y: Edwin Mellen Press, 2007. Print.

George, Roger Z, and Harvey Rishikof. The National Security Enterprise: Navigating the Labyrinth. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2011. Print.

Malan, Mark. “The Oau and African Sub regional Organisations – a Closer Look at the ‘peace Pyramid’.” Institute for Security Studies Papers. (2009). Print.

Miller, Joshua, and Ann M. Garran. Racism in the United States: Implications for the Helping Professions. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2008. Print.

O’Connor, Karen, Larry Sabato, and Alixandra B. Yanus. Essentials of American Government: Roots and Reform. New York: Pearson Longman, 2011. Print.

Rosenblum, Karen E, and Toni-Michelle Travis. The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex and Gender, Social Class, Sexual Orientation, and Disability. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2008. Print.

Irazábal, Clara, and Ramzi Farhat. “Africans in the United States: Place-Making in the Pre-World War Ii, Postwar, and Contemporary City.” Journal of Planning Literature. 22.3 (2008): 207-228. Print.

Wachira, George M. “Sovereignty and the ‘united States of Africa’ : Insights from the Eu.” Institute for Security Studies Papers. 144.144 (2007). Print.

Economic Analysis on the health care bill passed in 2010

Health care bill aims at not only offering health care to citizens but also giving them privileges related to health care. For instance, patients should be allowed to choose their preferred doctors. It demands every individual should have health insurance. They should acquire it from the government insurance or their employers. All insurance companies should offer health policies to people regardless to their health condition. This mainly applies to children. The insurance should not discriminate their prior health conditions. They insurance firms should not put limits on how much a person should use in their lifetime. It also applies to even the special cases of terminal diseases. Firms with more than fifty employees should acquire health covers for their employees. A certain amount of money is deducted from the employee to cater for health cover. Health care bill intends to create a pool of more healthy people participating to assist in compensating those who have frequent health issues (Levy et al, 534).

In the context of demand and supply, demand for health care will increase. It is estimated about thirty two million citizens are uninsured. Therefore, the demand is likely to increase from the current eighty five percent to ninety five percent. On the other hand, he supply will be restricted and insurance companies will add costs. This is because of the regulations directed to insurance companies by the bill. However, the insurance costs will not be increased because of a certain factor. Insurance pool will have more healthy people buying policies. It will reduce the insurance costs (Washington Post Company, 67).

Economies of scale have cost advantages. Costs are minimized by large-scale production or buying in large quantities. The health bill may take a perspective of encouraging economies of large scale to insurance companies. This will happen when the uninsured people buy health covers. However, it is not necessarily true; economies of scale will help in minimizing insurance costs. It could happen that more people need compensation than those who are healthy. If this happens, the insurance cost will be increased (Batten, 120).

The additional costs in insurance companies will be difficult for most insured people to pay. This is because most uninsured people are likely to be jobless or low-income earners. Therefore, it would be hard for them to afford high insurance cost. As a result, they will prefer to buy government insurance cover. It is cheaper than having health covers from other companies. Government health covers than does not only benefit individuals but also business people. For instance, government cover is twelve hundred dollars annually. An insurance company charges even thousand dollars per annum. These rates are for self-employed clients. Such a businessperson will prefer a government cover to that of another insurance company (Davis, 63).

A businessperson has a duty of minimizing costs and increasing profitability. It is wise for a business owner to buy government health covers for employees. By doing this, the business will make saving than buying covers from private insurance firms. According to the bill, firms with more than fifty employees should buy health covers for them. After further analysis, even an employer with forty-five employees should consider government health cover. It will enable him economize on costs and gain more profits. The money saved from insurance expenses may be used to establish growth in the business. Competitors may also influence a business to take government health cover. If the competitor using government health covers, the business is also saving on casts. It will be in a better position to perform well than the rival will. For example, use the savings for aggressive marketing or another form of business growth (Families United for Senior Action Foundation, 111).

Health care bill requires all employers to purchase insurance covers for their employees. This action might have a negative impact on the economy of the country. If a business cannot manage additional expenses from insurance costs, the management will take necessary measures. Since it has to buy health covers as per the bill, it will make reductions. For instance, the management might lay off some workers. Alternatively, reduce wages and salaries to meet the cost of insurance. Redundancy of employees increases unemployment. Reduction of salaries and wages will lower the living standards of people. They will have less purchasing power hence low drive of the economy (Batten, 125).

There is a major concern about the health bill after its implementation. The government health covers are much more affordable than those of private insurance firms are. This is an indication that the government will have to increase tax to meet the health care expenses. These taxes are likely to be imposed on high-income earners and investments. This will weaken their purchasing power. It could also discourage investors because of the high tax rates. The biggest challenge for all people is they must get health care yet it is proving to be expensive. The government is faced with a dilemma because it has to offer affordable basic health care to the people. On the other hand, the same people are the financiers so they have to add tax (Families United for Senior Action Foundation, 120).

There is a possibility that health care in USA will experience a chronic shortage. This will happen if the government policies on health care impose further costs on insurances and business people. According to economic principles, a price ceiling may cause permanent shortage of supply if the demanded is higher than supply. This is the main reason why health care in USA has been increasing in costs at a fast pace. Due to this situation, the government intervention may be required again. This time it will have to regulate how much the hospital, pharmacies and doctors will be charging patients. It will also determine what consumers and patients can buy. It will assist in subduing the prices in a place where market forces and discipline have been altered (Washington Post Company, 100).

Examples of countries with chronic health care shortages are Japan, France, Germany, Great Britain and Canada. These countries experience shortage of hospital facilities, technology, staff and drugs. These are the consequences of making health care a right to people whereas it is an economic good. The world is characterized by scarcity of many goods. Health care is one of the scarce economic commodities. The only way to solve this problem is using rations. This can happen in a market where firms try to supply willing clients with a range of health care services. The variety should consist of services of different qualities. Despite the contentious issues surrounding the bill, Americans need to access health care. They should seek the most affordable terms of health covers, like those offered by the government (Levy et al, 540).

Works cited

Batten, Donna. Gale Encyclopedia of American Law. Detroit, Mich: Gale, 2010. Print.

Davis, Jeff C. Living in the USA. New York, NY: Nicholas Brealey Pub, 2010. Print.

Levy, Leonard W, Kenneth L. Karst, and Winkler, Adam. Encyclopedia of the American Constitution. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2000. Print.

Families United for Senior Action Foundation. The Republican Health Reform Proposal: A Destructive Alternative. Washington, D.C: Families USA Foundation, 2009. Print.

Washington Post Company. Landmark: The Inside Story of America’s New Health-Care Law and What It Means for Us All. Waterville, Me: Thorndike Press, 2010. Print.

 

Accounting

Question One

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was specifically enacted to deal with the rampant financial fraud that plagued the corporate sector. One of the provisions that made a significant impact is on section 206 regarding the apparent conflict of interests evident during company auditing. In order to combat this vice, the act stipulates that the chief executive officer, controller, CFO, Chief Accounting Officer and other persons serving at executive capacities should not have served at the selected the auditing firm during the preceding fiscal year of the audit. This provision is very effective since such people present possibilities of colluding with the audit firms and thereby presenting falsified information. Another significant provision is the one that renders chief executive and chief financial officers criminally liable to any false information contained in the financial statements of the company (Albrecht, 2012).

One provision that could have been included in the Act to strengthen the Responsible Stewardship and Integrity of the accounting profession is one that would also require executive officers to declare their wealth before serving in any executive capacity. This could help in tracking anomalous financial changes and consequently aid recovery processes. The act also has various provisions that are deemed unnecessary. Most of the provision regarding the new listing standards and regulations of corporate governance are redundant in nature because these are already taken care of by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This commission is already fully mandated with approving and enforcing accounting standards (Garrison, et al, 2010).

Question Two

One recent scandal is the Diamond Foods accounting scandal. An audit into the company’s business practices revealed a couple of warning signs such as the extraordinary timing of payment made to material suppliers, an unusual leap of the company’s profit margins and volatile inventories and cash lows. The first measure undertaken after the detection of the fraudulent practice was the immediate suspension of the company’ chief executive officer and the chief financial officer (Zack, 2009). Consequently, the company faced civil enforcement action by the SEC for its failure to keep accurate financial books and accounts and the failure to set up adequate internal controls for detecting the payments. Timely detection of this practice could have been made possible by checking the balance sheet, accruals and M score. Careful and timely analysis of these would clearly highlight warning signals of an impending accounting fraud. It is hard to prevent such an act from happening although the effective implementation of section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act whereby the company executives would have first issued a certification of the financial reporting that states that the records are accurate (Jones, 2011).

Question Three

The Historical Cost Concept in valuing the cost of Long-Term Assets is based on the perception that accounting is based on past events. With this regard, accounting transactions are therefore supposed to be recorded at their historical costs. This concepts is adopted my many institutions including the USGAAP as opposed o the IFRS. However, the two concepts are similar in that both require costs to be included in the cost of the asset the apparent future economic benefits can be estimated relatively accurately (Godfrey, 2010). The two also require the cost of dismantling and asset and the restoration to its site are included in the cost of the asset. The underlying difference is that under the Historical Cost Concept, revaluation is not permitted whereas the IFRS system all allows for the revaluation of any class of assets on the basis the revaluation is fair value and done on a regular basis (Weygandt, et al 2010).

Question Four

The issuance of bonds is beneficial in that is does not affect shareholder control. This is because bondholders lack the voting rights and thus the existent shareholders retain the control of the company. The underlying disadvantage to this is that the interest is paid periodically and the principal is repaid on maturity of the bond. Financing through a bank loan is advantageous in that is very fast for a qualified borrower (Weygandt, et al 2010). The underlying disadvantage is that it often leads to decreased cash flow and there are times when payments can overtake income. Equity financing on the other hand is advantageous in that they lack costs of servicing such as the case of bank loans or debt finance. However, they have limitations in that it involves some loss of power from the management in terms of making management decisions (Nikolai, et al 2010).

 

References

Albrecht, W. S. (2012). Fraud examination. Mason, OH: South Western, Cengage Learning.

Godfrey, J. M. (2010). Accounting theory. Milton, Qld: John Wiley.

Garrison, R. H., Noreen, E. W., & Brewer, P. C. (2010). Managerial accounting. Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Jones, M. (2011). Creative accounting, fraud and international accounting scandals. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons.

Nikolai, L. A., Bazley, J. D., & Jones, J. P. (2010). Intermediate accounting. Australia: South-Western/Cengage Learning.

Weygandt, J. J., Kieso, D. E., & Kimmel, P. D. (2010). Financial accounting. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Weygandt, J. J., Kieso, D. E., & Kimmel, P. D. (2010). Managerial accounting: Tools for business decision-making. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Zack, G. M. (2009). Fair value accounting fraud: New global risks and detection techniques. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.

 

 

 

 

Product Customer Analysis

Introduction and background information

The calorie management device is designed to measure the calorie intake of an individual, as well as the amount of it they are able to burn. It does this by recording what one eats, how much of calories is contained in the diet and the amount of it that one burns during their daily activities such as work out programs using sensors that are fitted to it. Its features include a MP3 player to entertain the users and a mini massager, which “is a unique feature of this device aimed at massaging some part of the body after working out” (Pindyck 470). Further, the device can be connected to a computer to show progress on loosing weight using an extra program.

Considering this is a new product for a new company, conducting a product customer analysis on issues that are relevant to its marketing is necessary. In order to set up goals and objectives as well as know who to target considering it is mostly meant for those who intend to loose weight as well as those who want to stay healthy, the analysis will have to be conducted before the new product can be introduced in the market. This paper aims at conducting the product customer analysis on the Personal Calorie Management Device. Some of the key areas to look at include the level of category involvement in making the decision, consumer product category knowledge, consumer information search strategy, decision-making process, attitudes and social influence on product choice and selection, which are detailed below.

Customer Level of Category Involvement in Decision-Making Process

Achieving a healthy weight has become an increasing issue in the society with awareness of risks posed by being overweight. Thus, one can expect that selection of a device to use in achieving the ideal weight will require high involvement since it is a device to use everyday. Normally, for higher involvement product categories, consumers are inclined to put more efforts in making the decision to be sure they made the best selection they could as well as one that suits them. Thus, consumers will put as much effort as they can to acquire more knowledge on the particular product in order to make informed decisions.

Considering the product category of the calorie management device, consumers may not understand the technical part of its features. However, the function of the device is well understandable. This might lead them to making decisions based on the recommendations from trusted people such as nutritionists, and institutions in making the decision on which device to purchase. On the other hand, for consumers that have used such a device before, may rely on their own knowledge about such devices. Thus, such consumes will be in a position to make a decision faster since they understand the device better than those that have never used such a device. Consumers could also choose whether to purchase the device or take up other programs considering that nutritionists could offer programs designed to achieve the same goals as the device. However, before making any decision, consumers will have to make a huge effort in finding out what suits them better. Thus, considering the effort they make in the decision-making, there are opportunities of influencing consumers during this process such as using advantages realized by using this product.

 

 

Consumer Product Category Knowledge

Personal Calorie Management Devices have been in existence for a short period. The devices have come because of technology advancement, thus not many people will have enough knowledge on such devices to make their own decisions without assistance. Although there are quite a good number of people using such a device from other producers, many of the potential consumers have known that loosing weight involves having a program with nutritionists, or a doctor as well as a fitness instructor who provide workout programs for people. Most of the people may not have adequate knowledge on the technical functioning of the device, considering the programs from nutritionists and doctors require no such devices. However, considering the current emphasis on healthy weight, there is a possibility that quite a good number of people have an idea of what they are about however exceptions do exist “due to rapid emergence of calorie management devices, many customers may have very little knowledge of them technically” (Blignaut 344). What many people know is that there are such devices, except that many have not used them. However, considering technology is an interesting phenomenon, many people may be interested in finding out more about the device. More so, since the device is equipped with a mini massager that is unique to this device, many people may not be aware of a calorie device fitted with a massager.

Considering the uses of the device, many consumers will be able to understand its functioning from reading the manuals. In addition, the added features such as MP3 player are common to many people. Therefore, many customers might have a good knowledge on the Personal Calorie Management Devices (Donald 49). The customers can be in position to understand the non-technical terms of the device, helping some make their own decision from reading reviews. Considering the device is meant for guiding people on their calorie management, the technical part of the device may not be necessary to users. Therefore, information provided should lay more emphasis on how to get the best out of the device, which consumers can understand rather than detailed technical terms, (Peter 344). However, to allow all kinds of customers, technical information should also be availed for those interested (Thompson 542).

Consumer Information Search Strategy

Many people in the whole world have become increasingly aware of the dangers of not having a healthy weight. Thus, there is already problem recognition. Many people know whether they are overweight or not since they can calculate their BMI. Thus, when people witness dangers of overweight on others such an obese people, they are likely to seek help to maintain a healthy weight. On the other hand, those who are already using such devices or are into some kind of program meant to achieve a healthy weigh might seek other more efficient means of achieving their ideal weight. Thus may consumers will seek information if they have already recognized a problem or a need for loosing weight (Schiffman, 45).

Theoretically, consumer information search starts with the recognition of the problem they need to solve. In this case, as explained above, consumers will have to realize their problem in order to seek information. After realizing the problem, customers go ahead to search for information on the alternative solutions to the problem (Furht, 56). Alternatives are then evaluated to weigh them in terms of which would best suite the problem in question, after which a decision is made whether to purchase or not. Finally, the consumers make a post purchase activity such as returning the product if it does not fit their purpose, or improve it as well as recommend to others (Babbie 304). Due to such post purchase activities, when a consumer is pleased with the results, the will recommend it to others. Consumers are likely to believe those that have already tried the device and succeeded. However, in our case, considering the product is new to the market, there might be no advantage of post purchasing activities to help consumers in getting more information (Loudon 203). However, considering there are several people who might have used a calories management device before, more might be aware of them.

After gaining information from other people such as family members who have used such devices, some might still want more answers before they decide to make any decision. Such information could be sourced from external sources (Peter 344). For a calorie management device, the consumer could get information from several sources such as nutritionists that people will trust concerning diet. Many might just go by the recommendation of their nutritionists. However, nutritionists may not provide the best free information considering they are competitors to this devices in one way or another (Porter 120). Thus, interacting with those who influence consumers in making decisions to illustrate that the device work better than the others might have quite positive results (Kotler 60). Another external source that is sought by majority is the internet that provides answers to almost all questions. Through the internet, consumers can get a lot of information concerning calorie management device. Thus, there should be substantial information about the new product on the internet as well.

For this product, consumers may get a lot of information from the internet more than they could get from other people since nutritionists too may not have all the answers concerning the device (Good-Pasture 231). In addition, not all people might come a cross a family member of a friend who has already used the device before. Thus, customer strategy for knowledge could be more inclined to the internet. Therefore, extensive information should be provided in the internet (Thompson 542).

Attitude

Attitude of the customers is yet another factor in customer buyer behavior that affects their buying decisions. Attitude incorporates Attitudes in this case, incorporate the firm beliefs that a customer holds to, and affect, lastly the behavioral intentions (Kioumarsi  231). The attitudes incorporate the plan to either let go the product and all other products in that category, it can involve buying Personal Calorie Management Device with Music Player and Mini Massager together with or just without a complementary product. It can also mean buying a product that is a competitor to what we are offering the market or going on with further market research (Czinkota 274). Considering this is a high involvement product, it requires more efforts to influence the consumers.

Decision-Making

After a thorough search for information, a decision remains to be made, over whether to purchase of not to purchase the product. It could also mean changing brand to another. At the long last, a decision is made. In this case, consumers might make their decision to favor our device because of the added feature of a mini massager that is not found in other brands. When devices come with added features, consumers are attracted, which might lead them to finding out more about the product to reach the stage of making the decision. Many consumers might also make their decisions based on the recommendations of others (Evans 200). Considering that there have been resent detrimental experiences with some calorie management devices, some of the users could switch from their previous brand to the newer one. At this point consumers will use several means of making the decision (Kioumarsi,  231). One way of influencing the consumers at this stage is citing all the benefits of the product. Some decision criteria that consumes use may include the amount of benefits, effectiveness of the device inters of achieving an ideal weight. Another criterion that consumers might use is recommendations from trusted people. However, this cannot be from people who have already used the product considering it is not yet in the market. Another criterion is its ease of use. When a product is complicated in terms of using, many consumers may opt for another one.

Social influence of product choice

People are influenced by social issues when it comes to product choice. Social influence for consumers could come from family members, social roles and status. In addition, wit the advancement of internet, people are involved in social media that has great influence on consumer product choice. Considering many people are seeking to maintain a healthy weight, there is a probability that some people will talk about a calorie management device. This could influence people to get the device. Therefore, the device should target the influential people that other follow, as well as people with huge population in their blogs to provide more influence to consumers. Another social influence in this product category is emphasis on sliminess as the fashionable figure especially for women.

Typical characteristics of the shopping occasion

Shopping occasion refers to when customers are likely to buy a product in plenty, or the occasion that makes consumers buy a certain product. For instance, the shopping occasion for beachwear is during summer time when people visit the beach. It would be hard to sell summer wear during winter. For this product, the shopping occasion could be during anytime it checks the calories in the body as well as those that are burnt. Therefore, the calorie management device can be purchased I any occasion

Family Members Influences and Roles

Family remains the basic social unit, and the most influential force when it ocmes to buying decisions. Family members, the father, mother as well as children have a big influence on product choice. They influence product choice depending of cultural issues, social class and status. For affluent and rich families, there might be pressure to be concerned more about maintaining their healthy weight I all ways possible. Thus, they we likely be more interested in the product. One the other hand, culture, does have influence since some cultures do not value sliminess as fashion. In addition, the knowledge within the family matters. The person with most influence in the family will most likely influence others to buy the product.

Means end association with the product

A mean-end association aims to establish a structure that can connect the values of consumers to their behaviors. The means are the objects or activities that consumers engage in such as working out and jogging in the morning aimed at achieving ends. Ends are the achievements that are gotten from the means, such as being happy. In this case, the personal calories management device acts as the means while the desired end is the healthy weight. Thus, it should be emphasized how the device can help the consumers achieve their ends if the use it as the means (Mort and Rose 230).

Situational influences relevant to the product category, target market, and distribution channel.

Every product has situations that are relevant to its category and target market. the target market for this product is the people who want to loose some weight to stay healthy especially the obese and overweight people. Thus, the situation fitting this category is being overweight, obese, or still within healthy weight but willing to loose some weight. Thus, the product should be well targeted to people needing to use them.

Conclusion

The paper has comprehensively analyzed the products in terms of consumer behavior that are most likely to affect its marketing once introduced in the market. Considering the relatively complexity of the product and its involvement level, consumers are likely to go through a lot of information search before making any decision. Thus, in order to capture them, extensive information has to be provided to the consumers. More so, considering the strategy of searching information, the information should be placed in the internet, which they are likely to consult to have many alternatives. Thus, information should be made readily available in the internet as well as to trusted institutions and influential people.

 

Work Cited

Blignaut, Koch. The Influence of Length Relationships. Manage. Sci.,7.6 (2004):134-144.

Babbie, Monton. The Practice of Social Research. Cape Town: OxfordUniversity

Press. 2002. Print

Czinkota. International Business. 6^th  edition. California: Harcourt College Publishers, 2002.

Print

Donald, O’Toole. Modern Marketing Methods. England: Prentice Hall, 2002. Print

Evans, Anderson. Applied Production and Operations Management. New York: West Pub Co.,

2000, Print.

Furht, Book. Hand book of social network technologies and applications. New York: Springer,

2010. Print

Fred , Raaij. Consumer Behaviour. A European Perspective. Hoboken, New Jersey: John

Willey and Sons Pub, 1998.Print.

Good-Pasture, JC. Quantitative Methods in Project Management. New

York: J Ross Publishing, 2004. Print

Kioumarsi,  Khorshidi. Customer Satisfaction: The Case of Fresh Meat Eating Quality Preferences and the USDA Yield Grade Standard. Int’l Journal of Arts & Sciences (IJAS) Conference. 2009. Web. 30 April. 2012. < http://www.internationaljournal.org/austriaconf.html >.

Pindyck,Rubinfeld. Econometric Models and Economic Forecasts. Fourth  Edition, McGraw-Hill

International, 1999, 467 – 488. Print

Porter, Mark. The Competitive Advantage of Nations. London: The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1999.

Print

Kotler, Peter. Marketing Management. 6^th Edition. New York: Prentice Hall, 1998. Print.

Loudon, Bitta. Consumer Behavior. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill, 2000. Print.

McDonald, Mark. “Marketing Plans”. How to Prepare Them: How to Use Them. 3rd Edition.

Butterworth and Heinemann, 1995. Print

Mort, G. S. & Rose, T. (2006). The effect of product type on value linkages in the means-end chain: implications for theory and method. Journal of Consumer Behavior, 3 (3): 221-234.

Peter, Olson. Consumer Behavior and Marketing Strategy. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher

Education, 2005. Print

Schiffman, Lee. Consumer Behavior. India: Prentice Hall, 2004. Print.

Thompson, Andrew. Crafting and Executing Strategy. Text and Readings. 25^th  edition.

New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Print

Wilson, RMS and Gilligan C. Strategic Marketing Management. Planning,

Implementation and Control. 2^nd  Edition. Oxford: Butter-worth and Heinemann, 1997. Print.

Product Customer Analysis

Introduction and background information

The calorie management device is designed to measure the calorie intake of an individual, as well as the amount of it they are able to burn. It does this by recording what one eats, how much of calories is contained in the diet and the amount of it that one burns during their daily activities such as work out programs using sensors that are fitted to it. Its features include a MP3 player to entertain the users and a mini massager, which is a unique feature of this device aimed at massaging some part of the body after working out (Pindyck 470). Further, the device can be connected to a computer to show progress on loosing weight using an extra program.

Considering this is a new product for a new company, conducting a product customer analysis on issues that are relevant to its marketing is necessary. In order to set up goals and objectives as well as know who to target considering it is mostly meant for those who intend to loose weight as well as those who want to stay healthy, the analysis will have to be conducted before the new product can be introduced in the market. This paper aims at conducting the product customer analysis on the Personal Calorie Management Device. Some of the key areas to look at include the level of category involvement in making the decision, consumer product category knowledge, consumer information search strategy, decision-making process, attitudes and social influence on product choice and selection, which are detailed below.

Customer Level of Category Involvement in Decision-Making Process

Achieving a healthy weight has become an increasing issue in the society with awareness of risks posed by being overweight. Thus, one can expect that selection of a device to use in achieving the ideal weight will require high involvement since it is a device to use everyday. Normally, for higher involvement product categories, consumers are inclined to put more efforts in making the decision to be sure they made the best selection they could as well as one that suits them. Thus, consumers will put as much effort as they can to acquire more knowledge on the particular product in order to make informed decisions.

Considering the product category of the calorie management device, consumers may not understand the technical part of its features. However, the function of the device is well understandable. This might lead them to making decisions based on the recommendations from trusted people such as nutritionists, and institutions in making the decision on which device to purchase. On the other hand, for consumers that have used such a device before, may rely on their own knowledge about such devices. Thus, such consumes will be in a position to make a decision faster since they understand the device better than those that have never used such a device. Consumers could also choose whether to purchase the device or take up other programs considering that nutritionists could offer programs designed to achieve the same goals as the device. However, before making any decision, consumers will have to make a huge effort in finding out what suits them better. Thus, considering the effort they make in the decision-making, there are opportunities of influencing consumers during this process such as using advantages realized by using this product.

 

 

Consumer Product Category Knowledge

Personal Calorie Management Devices have been in existence for a short period. The devices have come because of technology advancement, thus not many people will have enough knowledge on such devices to make their own decisions without assistance. Although there are quite a good number of people using such a device from other producers, many of the potential consumers have known that loosing weight involves having a program with nutritionists, or a doctor as well as a fitness instructor who provide workout programs for people. Most of the people may not have adequate knowledge on the technical functioning of the device, considering the programs from nutritionists and doctors require no such devices. However, considering the current emphasis on healthy weight, there is a possibility that quite a good number of people have an idea of what they are about. However, due to rapid emergence of calorie management devices, many customers may have very little knowledge of them technically (Blignaut 344). What many people know is that there are such devices, except that many have not used them. However, considering technology is an interesting phenomenon, many people may be interested in finding out more about the device. More so, since the device is equipped with a mini massager that is unique to this device, many people may not be aware of a calorie device fitted with a massager.

Considering the uses of the device, many consumers will be able to understand its functioning from reading the manuals. In addition, the added features such as MP3 player are common to many people. Therefore, many customers might have a good knowledge on the Personal Calorie Management Devices (Donald 49). The customers can be in position to understand the non-technical terms of the device, helping some make their own decision from reading reviews. Considering the device is meant for guiding people on their calorie management, the technical part of the device may not be necessary to users. Therefore, information provided should lay more emphasis on how to get the best out of the device, which consumers can understand rather than detailed technical terms, (Peter 344). However, to allow all kinds of customers, technical information should also be availed for those interested (Thompson 542).

Consumer Information Search Strategy

Many people in the whole world have become increasingly aware of the dangers of not having a healthy weight. Thus, there is already problem recognition. Many people know whether they are overweight or not since they can calculate their BMI. Thus, when people witness dangers of overweight on others such an obese people, they are likely to seek help to maintain a healthy weight. On the other hand, those who are already using such devices or are into some kind of program meant to achieve a healthy weigh might seek other more efficient means of achieving their ideal weight. Thus may consumers will seek information if they have already recognized a problem or a need for loosing weight (Schiffman, 45).

Theoretically, consumer information search starts with the recognition of the problem they need to solve. In this case, as explained above, consumers will have to realize their problem in order to seek information. After realizing the problem, customers go ahead to search for information on the alternative solutions to the problem (Furht, 56). Alternatives are then evaluated to weigh them in terms of which would best suite the problem in question, after which a decision is made whether to purchase or not. Finally, the consumers make a post purchase activity such as returning the product if it does not fit their purpose, or improve it as well as recommend to others (Babbie 304). Due to such post purchase activities, when a consumer is pleased with the results, the will recommend it to others. Consumers are likely to believe those that have already tried the device and succeeded. However, in our case, considering the product is new to the market, there might be no advantage of post purchasing activities to help consumers in getting more information (Loudon 203). However, considering there are several people who might have used a calories management device before, more might be aware of them.

After gaining information from other people such as family members who have used such devices, some might still want more answers before they decide to make any decision. Such information could be sourced from external sources (Peter 344). For a calorie management device, the consumer could get information from several sources such as nutritionists that people will trust concerning diet. Many might just go by the recommendation of their nutritionists. However, nutritionists may not provide the best free information considering they are competitors to this devices in one way or another (Porter 120). Thus, interacting with those who influence consumers in making decisions to illustrate that the device work better than the others might have quite positive results (Kotler 60). Another external source that is sought by majority is the internet that provides answers to almost all questions. Through the internet, consumers can get a lot of information concerning calorie management device. Thus, there should be substantial information about the new product on the internet as well.

For this product, consumers may get a lot of information from the internet more than they could get from other people since nutritionists too may not have all the answers concerning the device (Good-Pasture 231). In addition, not all people might come a cross a family member of a friend who has already used the device before. Thus, customer strategy for knowledge could be more inclined to the internet. Therefore, extensive information should be provided in the internet (Thompson 542).

Decision-Making

After a thorough search for information, a decision remains to be made, over whether to purchase of not to purchase the product. It could also mean changing brand to another. At the long last, a decision is made. In this case, consumers might make their decision to favor our device because of the added feature of a mini massager that is not found in other brands. When devices come with added features, consumers are attracted, which might lead them to finding out more about the product to reach the stage of making the decision. Many consumers might also make their decisions based on the recommendations of others (Evans 200). Considering that there have been resent detrimental experiences with some calorie management devices, some of the users could switch from their previous brand to the newer one. At this point consumers will use several means of making the decision (Kioumarsi  231). One way of influencing the consumers at this stage is citing all the benefits of the product. Some decision criteria that consumes use may include the amount of benefits, effectiveness of the device inters of achieving an ideal weight. Another criterion that consumers might use is recommendations from trusted people. However, this cannot be from people who have already used the product considering it is not yet in the market. Another criterion is its ease of use. When a product is complicated in terms of using, many consumers may opt for another one.

Attitude

Attitude of the customers is yet another factor in customer buyer behavior that affects their buying decisions. Attitude incorporates Attitudes in this case, incorporate the firm beliefs that a customer holds to, and affect, lastly the behavioral intentions (Kioumarsi  231). The attitudes incorporate the plan to either let go the product and all other products in that category, it can involve buying Personal Calorie Management Device with Music Player and Mini Massager together with or just without a complementary product. It can also mean buying a product that is a competitor to what we are offering the market or going on with further market research (Czinkota 274). Considering this is a high involvement product, it requires more efforts to influence the consumers.

Social influence of product choice

People are influenced by social issues when it comes to product choice. Social influence for consumers could come from family members, social roles and status. In addition, wit the advancement of internet, people are involved in social media that has great influence on consumer product choice. Considering many people are seeking to maintain a healthy weight, there is a probability that some people will talk about a calorie management device. This could influence people to get the device. Therefore, the device should target the influential people that other follow, as well as people with huge population in their blogs to provide more influence to consumers. Another social influence in this product category is emphasis on sliminess as the fashionable figure especially for women.

Typical characteristics of the shopping occasion

Shopping occasion refers to when customers are likely to buy a product in plenty, or the occasion that makes consumers buy a certain product. For instance, the shopping occasion for beachwear is during summer time when people visit the beach. It would be hard to sell summer wear during winter. For this product, the shopping occasion could be during anytime it checks the calories in the body as well as those that are burnt. Therefore, the calorie management device can be purchased I any occasion

Family Members Influences and Roles

Family remains the basic social unit, and the most influential force when it ocmes to buying decisions. Family members, the father, mother as well as children have a big influence on product choice. They influence product choice depending of cultural issues, social class and status. For affluent and rich families, there might be pressure to be concerned more about maintaining their healthy weight I all ways possible. Thus, they we likely be more interested in the product. One the other hand, culture, does have influence since some cultures do not value sliminess as fashion. In addition, the knowledge within the family matters. The person with most influence in the family will most likely influence others to buy the product.

Means end association with the product

A mean-end association aims to establish a structure that can connect the values of consumers to their behaviors. The means are the objects or activities that consumers engage in such as working out and jogging in the morning aimed at achieving ends. Ends are the achievements that are gotten from the means, such as being happy. In this case, the personal calories management device acts as the means while the desired end is the healthy weight. Thus, it should be emphasized how the device can help the consumers achieve their ends if the use it as the means (Mort and Rose 230).

Situational influences relevant to the product category, target market, and distribution channel.

Every product has situations that are relevant to its category and target market. the target market for this product is the people who want to loose some weight to stay healthy especially the obese and overweight people. Thus, the situation fitting this category is being overweight, obese, or still within healthy weight but willing to loose some weight. Thus, the product should be well targeted to people needing to use them.

Conclusion

The paper has comprehensively analyzed the products in terms of consumer behavior that are most likely to affect its marketing once introduced in the market. Considering the relatively complexity of the product and its involvement level, consumers are likely to go through a lot of information search before making any decision. Thus, in order to capture them, extensive information has to be provided to the consumers. More so, considering the strategy of searching information, the information should be placed in the internet, which they are likely to consult to have many alternatives. Thus, information should be made readily available in the internet as well as to trusted institutions and influential people.

 

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United Nations

China has been as the heart of global condemnation for its unprecedented invasion of Tibet in efforts to establish rule over Tibet and declare it as part of the Chinese state. The Chinese government invaded Tibet by military means. China began its efforts of invasion by cutting off communication of Tibet and its people from the outside world. Cutting off communication meant that Tibet and its people could not communicate to the outside world for help. The world did not take notice until people were murdered.

There are several themes several themes such as segregation, discrimination however the theme of human rights violations is dominant in the video. Human rights violations to the Chinese seem like a white elephant, which does not exist. There are several human rights violations in the video. The name of the movie depicts horrors, which the Tibetan people witnessed when they were invaded by the Chinese government soldiers in the efforts to gain control over Tibet. The video is similar to what we learnt about the roles of human rights groups in the enlightening the world as to the existence of the human rights violations in the modern society. Other themes such as discrimination are depicted by the special treatment that the Chinese expatriates receive in comparison to the native Tibetans.

As the monk and the nun narrate their ordeals, it almost brings tears to an individual because of the harrowing ordeals that the Tibetan people were subjected to by the Chinese government troops. They were tortured and executed by the Chinese troops, during that period more than a million out of the six million Tibetans were killed by the Chinese government,

As the Tibetan nun explains, she and some of her friends were on demonstrations in the year 1990. The movie is positive by showing people who overcame tribulations brought forth by the discrimination and torture by the Chinese government. However, it is impossible to establish the credibility of the individuals narrating their ordeals, which they claim to have been instigated by the Chinese troops. The video has a positive humanistic approach as it enables the viewer to understand the ordeals, which they went through in their fight for humane and equal treatment in their won country.

Protection and maintaining human rights falls mainly with the government. If a government is rogue in its ways, it is paramount that there will be no observation and protection of human rights in majority of entities and institutions in a country. In addition, the society also plays a significant role in ensuring that the observation of human rights happens across all quarters. The society entails of people, non-governmental organizations and other entities, which are responsible or have a role in ensuring that the human rights of each and very individual are respected. It is not possible to attain human rights in all countries in the world due to the existence of oppressive regimes who want to maintain their status quo by obliterating proponents of human rights and equality amongst people.

I think it is possible to attain human rights in some countries or circumstances. For example, in democratic countries everyone has the right to access media to communicate the tortures or violations of human rights. Democratic countries are bale to acquire outstanding respect and observance of human rights for their citizenry. Despite the presence of Human Rights watch groups in majority of the countries around the world, some governments still operate with high levels of independence and a lack of accountability. Hence, it becomes difficult to enforce human rights in countries, which are ruled by an elite group that considers itself above the law. However the fight to achieve human rights in countries where there are numerous human rights violations can be achieved via the public fighting for their individual rights using media means to voice their concerns and amass support form their fellow citizenry and the global community at large. In the case of Tibet, the global call for human rights to be respected could be mainly attributed to the international median and more so the international human rights watch groups such as Amnesty international and United Nations. These two key organizations can enhance the achievement human rights in many countries by instituting actions and trade embargos on countries, which do not observe human rights violations.

The video Tibet: Beyond Fear is an illustration of the prejudices, which were and are still in existence against the Tibetan people and their land. The Tibetan people live in fear up to date with the thoughts of the invasion by the Chinese military still fresh in their minds. The Chinese invasion is estimated to have killed more than one million Tibetans who were innocent for the simple reason of resisting the Chinese occupation of the Tibetan region. The video enables the viewer and the global community at large to witness the utter human violations committed by the Chinese government against the Tibetan people. It goes on to show that the human rights groups such as Amnesty International. Amnesty international helped Tibet in its search for peace and in the withdrawal of troops from the nation.

The effects of communism can be attributed to the invasion of Tibet, because after the ascent of Mao Zedong to power after his election to power in the period between 1949 and 1950. The Maoist regime was bent on amassing wealth, which meant that it also needed more power. This could be increased by invading Tibet, which was in contestation for periods since the medieval periods. I would recommend the video because I consider it as highly enlightening as to the atrocities committed by the Chinese government by their thirst for power. It illustrates the persistence of violations of human rights in some parts of the world in an era, which is considered as modern.

The Hunters and Hunted

The Hunters and the hunted written by James B. Swartz is a non-fictional business novel with deep technological management and engineering themes. Published in 1996, this book contains a mixture of successful management methods that are applicable in the real world situation and fictitious, invented characters that supersede time in a quest to engage the reader in unrealistic but relevant dialog.

Swartz starts by illustrating his need to discover the perfect solution to America’s productivity problems, which led him on a journey to test each method and experiment with elements in a bid to produce the ultimate methodology that would succeed. Dropping his work at Delco Electronics where he had cut a niche for himself as an inventor, Swartz embarked on an intensive knowledge-seeking adventure in which he rubbed shoulders with most top-level management in numerous American firms, challenging them to innovate newer, faster and better ways of managing their production. The first part of the book focuses on characteristics of firms, states and individuals being hunted. It has illustrations like business deals with the Japanese and Korean electronic firms all the while clearly stating the flaws and mistakes that management do for example chasing low cost labor, selling out the rights to advanced innovations to the rivals, adopting compromises and negotiations by managers. He then embarks on a short history that describes the transition in regional economic dominance from the Netherlands to England and finally the USA, explaining in turn how each state prospered and how they all plummeted.

In the following chapters, the dominant themes include strategies for turning around the status quo to enable firms to become the hunters by responding faster, becoming more innovative and producing higher quality goods and services, James Swartz elaborates how businesses that were hunted transformed into the hunters as well as the hunters and their tactics and strategies for survival. He also introduces the ides of the No-Linear Solution. The rest of the book consists of imagined dialogues between Marcus, an imaginary manager who has had lots of experience in rescuing collapsing, troubled firms for 1400 years and Lou, a steel company manager who worked for many years in the same firm. Laura, a Harvard graduate still fresh from campus and having no work experience is also in the conversation, as they delve into the managerial world, seeking out distressed firms and assisting them to re-discover their faulty design systems ,corporate mindsets , attitudes and stereotypes. Lou is taken to his former workplace at the Continental steel factory, only to find it in shambles, no production, no staff and no management and where his former workmate, Stan gives him the reasons why the company went under. Through such tours, Lou and Laura achieve a lot in terms of changing the overall perspective of American merchants, business owners, managers and the public.

In an overview, James B. Swartz goes to great lengths to achieve the following in his book The Hunters and the Hunted. One, he brings out his own story ,step by step, from his former workplace in an electronics shop to quitting in order to seek new answers to management process, his journey across a myriad of firms and their related controversies involving stranded think tanks and staff desperate for quick-fix solutions to their deteriorating states. Secondly, through his imagined characters, Lou and Laura, Swartz uses the book to take the readers on a tour of specific firms with specific problems, engaging us in important but sometimes mindless banter among the two interns and their supervisor Marcus. Finally, The Hunters and the Hunted provides managers, businesspersons, investors and business students with a realistic approach toward tackling business problems including developing an eye for the actual occurrence of change in economies and other skills. The Hunters and the Hunted is a definite must-read for anyone interested in getting a different view on global economics as well as entrepreneurship insight.

Reflection Paper

In the beginning, my grammar was very poor in terms of sentence construction, expression of knowledge and critical thinking. However, over the course, this has changed dramatically and I can now accomplish tasks that I previously deemed impossible. Looking back at the responses to the to the questions at the beginning of the semester pertaining to the writing ability and goals, it is now evident that some of these have been accomplished although some of the responses were in a way naïve regarding the fact that this was a new experience.

I have learnt to appreciate the ability to engage with the thoughts of an author, identify the different themes, ideas, literary techniques, and even go the extent of making educated criticism pertaining to particular literary works. I have realized that reading is an act that involves engaging ones intellect with that of the writer as opposed to just enjoying or following the text. My critical thinking skills have been honed over time by the realization that most of the analysis cases are a matter of individual interpretations and hence what is provided by the teacher or the study guides cannot restrict one from brainstorming a certain literary work any further. With this in mind, the various works tacked during literature classes and other conducted on my own have continued to develop and sharpen my critical thinking skills.

My critical analysis skills have also been honed by overlooking the proposed meanings or biographical background of any text and pursue on the act of asking the question “why” on different levels. I have developed the habit of challenging myself into analyzing any possible deeper meaning a given text as opposed to the superficial one. The act of reading a wide variety of texts that comes with the schools syllabus and the well-stocked library; I have learnt to quickly recognize different writing styles, design the relevant connections to different works pertaining to the same author and in essence coming up with an insightful understanding of the novels. Looking back at some of my past essays, regarding literature analysis, my naivety is evidenced and now I can even make corrections on my own texts done in the past. It is evident from the essays that I did not comprehend the ideas, views and mechanics in the novels. In addition, the development of reading with a pen and taking notes as I go through the text has further developed my analysis and comprehension skills as it makes it possible to connect back on with previous ideas that have been identified.

Throughout the course, we have written numerous texts and essays some original while some being analysis of others. In the beginning, communication of ideas was very difficult and the act of writing a six-paragraph essay with correct mechanics was a daunting task. However, the large number of essays written over the years has served the purpose of enabling me develop of honing the skill of creating ideas in my mind and transferring this into writing into logical sentences with proper mechanics. There has also been the development of complex writing skills with the ability to sustain a logical argument in an ordered comportment. This has further developed writing to be more concise with the continuous abandonment of irrelevant details.

I have also developed the ability to identify multiple complexities within a given writing. Such skills come in handy when tacking an argumentative essay where the writer is supposed to outline different sides of the argument but in essence putting an emphasis on one. The knowledge of identifying peer-reviewed articles in the internet has further widened my scope of referencing and thus making my research more informative. In addition, the opportunity to write this reflection paper has been particularly exiting as it has further provided me with a platform to express my ideas in a free environment. I therefore deem this paper as my best work as I get to incorporate all the skills learnt throughout the course.

However, I would be hesitant to state that I have mastered reading, writing and critical thinking skills. This is because of the learning mystery whereby the more one learns the more one realizes that he or she has much to learn. In essence, what is clear is that from beginning of the course to date my skills have been on constantly development. With this, there is therefore the need to look for more novels taught in our schools, study them with the invaluable assistance of the tutors in the effort of honing my skills even more. I am also aware that I still harbor the weakness in terms of self-confidence and public presentation. Fear in public presentation comes from the realization that I still have a lot to learn and thus the possibility of erring. However, I purpose to face these weaknesses in the next semester by engaging more in more in discussion and participating in classroom presentations. The realization that I am still learning also builds confidence in accepting mistakes because from these, one gets to learn.

In retrospect, I chose the reflection paper as my best paper as it demonstrates the growth that I have made in reading, writing and critical skills. The reader can see my accomplishments in the way my sentence structure is indicative of a good writer. My ideas are also properly presented and the reader can identify any subtext in my work. Given another opportunity, I would make sure that all ideas are direct, and that no avoidable mistakes can be identified.