Saturday, December 28, 2019

Lord of the Flies A Critical History

â€Å"The boy with the fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon. Though he had taken off his school sweater and trailed it now from one hand, his grey shirt stuck to him and his hair was plastered to his forehead. All round him the long scar smashed into the jungle was a bath of head. He was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird, a vision of red and yellow, flashed upwards with a witch-like cry; and this cry was echoed by another. ‘Hi!’ it said. ‘Wait a minute’† (1).   William Golding  published his most famous novel, Lord of the Flies, in 1954. This book was the first serious challenge to the popularity of J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye (1951). Golding explores the lives of a group of schoolboys who are stranded after their airplane crashes on a deserted island. How have people perceived this literary work since its release sixty years ago? The History of Lord of the Flies Ten years after the release of Lord of the Flies, James Baker published an article discussing why the book is more true to human nature than any other story about stranded men, such as Robinson Crusoe (1719) or Swiss Family Robinson (1812). He believes that Golding wrote his book as a parody of Ballantyne’s The Coral Island (1858). Whereas Ballantyne expressed his belief in the goodness of man, the idea that man would overcome adversity in a civilized way, Golding believed that men were inherently savage. Baker believes that â€Å"life on the island has only imitated the larger tragedy in which the adults of the outside world attempted to govern themselves reasonably but ended in the same game of hunt and kill† (294). Ballantyne believes, then, that Golding’s intent was to shine a light on â€Å"the defects of society† through his Lord of the Flies (296). While most critics were discussing Golding as a Christian moralist, Baker rejects the idea and focuses on the sanitization of Christianity and rationalism in Lord of the Flies. Baker concedes that the book does flow in â€Å"parallel with the prophecies of the Biblical Apocalypse† but he also suggests that â€Å"the making of history and the making of myth are [ . . . ] the same process† (304).  In â€Å"Why Its No Go,† Baker concludes that the effects of World War II have given Golding the ability to write in a way he never had. Baker notes, â€Å"[Golding] observed first hand the expenditure of human ingenuity in the old ritual of war† (305). This suggests that the underlying theme in Lord of the Flies is war and that, in the decade or so following the release of the book, critics turned to religion to understand the story, just as people consistently turn to religion to recover from such devastation as war creates. By 1970, Baker writes, â€Å"[most literate people [ . . . ] are familiar with the story† (446).  Ã‚  Thus, only fourteen years after its release, Lord of the Flies became one of the most popular books on the market. The novel had become a â€Å"modern classic† (446). However, Baker states that, in 1970, Lord of the Flies was on the decline. Whereas, in 1962, Golding was considered â€Å"Lord of the Campus† by Time magazine, eight years later no one seemed to be paying it much notice. Why is this? How did such an explosive book suddenly drop off after less than two decades? Baker argues that it is in human nature to tire of familiar things and to go on new discoveries; however, the decline of Lord of the Flies, he writes, is also due to something more (447). In simple terms, the decline in popularity of Lord of the Flies can be attributed to the desire for academia to â€Å"keep up, to be avant-garde† (448). This boredom, however, was not the main factor in the decline of Golding’s novel. In 1970 America, the public was â€Å"distracted by the noise and color of [ . . . ] protests, marches, strikes, and riots, by the ready articulation and immediate politicization of nearly all [ . . . ] problems and anxieties† (447). 1970 was the year of the infamous Kent State shootings and all talk was on the Vietnam War, the destruction of the world. Baker believes that, with such destruction and terror ripping apart at people’s everyday lives, one hardly saw fit to entertain themselves with a book that parallels that same destruction. Lord of the Flies would force the public â€Å"to recognize the likelihood of apocalyptic war as well as the wanton abuse and destruction of environmental resources [ . . . ]† (447).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baker writes, â€Å"[t]he main reason for the decline of Lord of the Flies is that it no longer suits the temper of the times† (448). Baker believes that the academic and political worlds finally pushed out Golding by 1970 because of their unjust belief in themselves. The intellectuals felt that the world had surpassed the point in which any person would behave the way that the boys of the island did; therefore, the story held little relevance or significance at this time (448).   These beliefs, that the youth of the time could master the challenges of those boys on the island, are expressed by the reactions of school boards and libraries from 1960 through 1970. â€Å"Lord of the Flies was put under lock and key† (448). Politicians on both sides of the spectrum, liberal and conservative, viewed the book as â€Å"subversive and obscene† and believed that Golding was out-of-date (449). The idea of the time was that evil spurred from disorganized societies rather than being present in every human mind (449). Golding is criticized once again as being too heavily influenced by Christian ideals. The only possible explanation for the story is that Golding â€Å"undermines the confidence of the young in the American Way of Life† (449).   All of this criticism was based on the idea of the time that all human â€Å"evils† could be corrected by proper social structure and social adjustments. Golding believed, as is demonstrated in Lord of the Flies, that â€Å"[s]ocial and economic adjustments [ . . . ] treat only the symptoms instead of the disease† (449). This clash of ideals is the main cause of the fall-off in popularity of Golding’s most famous novel. As Baker puts it, â€Å"we perceive in [the book] only a vehement negativism which we now wish to reject because it seems a crippling burden to carry through the daily task of living with crisis mounting upon crisis† (453).   Between 1972 and the early-2000s, there was relatively little critical work done on Lord of the Flies. Perhaps this is due to the fact that readers simply moved on. The novel has been around for 60 years, now, so why read it? Or, this lack of study could be due to another factor that Baker raises: the fact that there is so much destruction present in everyday life, no one wanted to deal with it in their fantasy time. The mentality in 1972 was still that Golding wrote his book from a Christian point of view. Perhaps, the people of the Vietnam War generation were sick of the religious undertones of an out-of-date book.   It is possible, also, that the academic world felt belittled by Lord of the Flies. The only truly intelligent character in Golding’s novel is Piggy. The intellectuals may have felt threatened by the abuse that Piggy has to endure throughout the book and by his eventual demise. A.C. Capey writes, â€Å"the falling Piggy, representative of intelligence and the rule of law, is an unsatisfactory symbol of fallen man† (146). In the late 1980s, Golding’s work is examined from a different angle. Ian McEwan analyzes Lord of the Flies from the perspective of a man who endured boarding school. He writes that â€Å"as far as [McEwan] was concerned, Golding’s island was a thinly disguised boarding school† (Swisher 103).  His account of the parallels between the boys on the island and the boys of his boarding school is disturbing yet entirely believable.  He writes: â€Å"I was uneasy when I came to the last chapters and read of the death of Piggy and the boys hunting Ralph down in a mindless pack. Only that year we had turned on two of our number in a vaguely similar way. A collective and unconscious decision was made, the victims were singled out and as their lives became more miserable by the day, so the exhilarating, righteous urge to punish grew in the rest of us.† Whereas in the book, Piggy is killed and Ralph and the boys are eventually rescued, in McEwan’s biographical account, the two ostracized boys are taken out of school by their parents. McEwan mentions that he can never let go of the memory of his first reading of Lord of the Flies. He even fashioned a character after one of Golding’s in his own first story (106). Perhaps it is this mentality, the release of religion from the pages and the acceptance that all men were once boys, that re-birthed Lord of the Flies in the late 1980s. In 1993, Lord of the Flies again comes under religious scrutiny. Lawrence Friedman writes, â€Å"Golding’s murderous boys, the products of centuries of Christianity and Western civilization, explode the hope of Christ’s sacrifice by repeating the pattern of crucifixion† (Swisher 71). Simon is viewed as a Christ-like character who represents truth and enlightenment but who is brought down by his ignorant peers, sacrificed as the very evil he is trying to protect them from. It is apparent that Friedman believes the human conscience is at stake again, as Baker argued in 1970.   Friedman locates â€Å"the fall of reason† not in Piggy’s death but in his loss of sight (Swisher 72). It is clear that Friedman believes this time period, the early 1990s, to be one where religion and reason are once again lacking: â€Å"the failure of adult morality, and the final absence of God create the spiritual vacuum of Golding’s novel . . . God’s absence leads only to despair and human freedom is but license† (Swisher 74). Finally, in 1997, E. M. Forster writes a forward for the re-release of Lord of the Flies. The characters, as he describes them, are representational to individuals in everyday life. Ralph, the inexperienced believer, and hopeful leader. Piggy, the loyal right-hand man; the man with the brains but not the confidence. And Jack, the outgoing brute. The charismatic, powerful one with little idea of how to take care of anyone but who thinks he should have the job anyway (Swisher 98). Society’s ideals have changed from generation-to-generation, each one responding to Lord of the Flies depending on the cultural, religious, and political realities of the respective periods. Perhaps part of Golding’s intention was for the reader to learn, from his book, how to begin to understand people, human nature, to respect others and to think with one’s own mind rather than being sucked into a mob-mentality. It is Forster’s contention that the book â€Å"may help a few grown-ups to be less complacent, and more compassionate, to support Ralph, respect Piggy, control Jack, and lighten a little the darkness of man’s heart† (Swisher 102). He also believes that â€Å"it is respect for Piggy that seems needed most. I do not find it in our leaders† (Swisher 102). Lord of the Flies is a book that, despite some critical lulls, has stood the test of time. Written after World War II, Lord of the Flies has fought its way through social upheavals, through wars and political changes. The book and its author have been scrutinized by religious standards as well as by social and political standards. Each generation has had its interpretations of what Golding was trying to say in his novel. While some will read Simon as a fallen Christ who sacrificed himself to bring us truth, others might find the book asking us to appreciate one another, to recognize the positive and negative characteristics in each person and to judge carefully how best to incorporate our strengths into a sustainable society. Of course, didactic aside, Lord of the Flies is simply a good story worth reading, or re-reading, for its entertainment value alone.

Friday, December 20, 2019

The Legacy Of The American Revolution - 894 Words

Icons have emerged throughout history in different eras, these are the people who define that era’s time, thinking, culture, technology, religions and probably every aspect that is associated with that era. Like in the time of ancient Greeks who had such geniuses as Socrates Such as Aristotle men who were not only just philosophers but astronomers and mathematicians as well. At the time of revolution in America, they had such brave and passionate men like Jefferson, Paine and Benjamin Franklin. They helped in shaping American Independence and the one who stands out in this wonderful company is Benjamin Franklin also known as the â€Å"THE FIRST AMERICAN† he is just not an icon of the American conquest but he is indeed an American Hero. So many acts of heroism are found in his achievements whether it is in the field of politics, science or his long list of accomplishments in American Revolution. His contributions in inventions and science prove his heroism. He invented P ennsylvania fireplace, which in a space scattered and retained heat evenly. He helped in enhancement of pavements, street lights, police and fire department; possibly he shaped the first electrical energy thought. These are the strongest and modest forms of his material accomplishments. He is considered a true hero because even thought he was a politician he went beyond it also prioritized his common duties. He struggled for perfection and wanted to help his fellow men. Franklin’s heroics were not represented inShow MoreRelatedGeorge Washington : The French And Indian War1249 Words   |  5 Pagesone of the most respected men of all time. 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Thursday, December 12, 2019

Watson and Mcdonalds free essay sample

watson and mcdonalds Watson, J. L. (2000, May/June). China’s Big Mac attack. In Berndt Muse (Eds. ) Composing a civic life (pp. 359-370). NY: Pearson / Longman. Summary: According to Watson in Chinas Big Mac Attack (2000), fast food restaurants have made significant inroads in Chinese culture; therefore, he asks the question: Is globalism and its cultural variant, McDonaldization the face of the future? (p. 360) an important question as we initiate our study of western influences on the rest of the world. Watson answers his own rhetorical question by Pattern of organization: Cause and effect (and a hint of problem / solution) First Watson claims to review the literature and the theorists who argue that transnational corporations like McDonalds provide the shock troops for a new form of imperialism that is far more successful, and therefore more insidious, than its militaristic antecedents (p. 360). But instead of academicians, he highlights op-ed writers such as Ronald Steel and Thomas Friedman, who has noted that no countries with McDonalds have ever fought each other in a war (p. 361). To further investigate the secrets of the successful inroads made by fast food industries, Watson next explores the history of McDonalds in Hong Kong (a British consulate where McDonalds was promoted†¦ as an outpost of American culture (p. 361). Because of changes in family life and traditional family values in China, Watson notes that McDonalds has taken advantage of an emerging focus on the needs and aspirations of the modern Chinese family, particularly given the lavish attention being given to the single child, the little emperors and empresses who are particularly vulnerable to the entertainments of Uncle McDonald (p. 63). Admittedly, there are resisters who grimace; Watson points out that McDonalds has become a target for public protests against America, which has increased the symbolic load carried by the golden arches (p. 365). However, McDonalds has responded by disciplining its work force and its customer base, and in so doing, has appealed to an elite group emerging w ithin the modernized, consumer-based cultures that are developing in markets around the world. McDonalds has cleverly embedded itself into the local cultures in such a way that it is increasingly difficult to see where the transnational ends and the local begins (p. 69). Further analysis: Watch for the war images and metaphors: shock troops and outpost indicate that Watson believes that international corporations have an imperialist design; they hope to conquer new territories and occupy new markets. Note too that this essay is the intro to a collection of analyses on the inroads of fast foods in the Asian market: see USCan for further info / authors who have contributed to this collection edited and introduced by James Watson. Barber, B. R. (1992). Jihad vs. McWorld. In Berndt Muse (Eds. ) Composing a civic life (pp. 370-380). NY: Pearson / Longman. Summary: According to Barber in Jihad vs. McWorld (1992), we face two possible political futures both bleak, neither democratic [either] a Jihad in the name of a hundred narrowly conceived faiths against every kind of †¦social cooperation and civic mutuality, [or] one commercially homogenous global network: one McWorld tied together by technology, ecology, communications, and commerce (p. 370). Barber asserts that the forces of Jihad and the forces of McWorld operate with equal strength in opposite directions so as to create a centrifugal whirlwind that competes with a centripetal black hole (pp. 370-371). Neither outcome is desirable. Pattern of organization: Contrast and comparison in support of problem / solution After setting up the opposing forces of McWorld and Jihad, Barber begins with the force with which most of us are most familiar; he first develops the forces of McWorld by exploring four imperatives (p. 71). Barber asserts that McWorld has eroded national boundaries because all national markets have become vulnerable to free trade and international banking / currency exchanges that allow and privilege transnational and multinational corporations and entities like the World Bank. On the surface, peace is fostered by open markets. Religious and racial markers become less important when the more important characteristic of being human is seen as being able to shop and consume. Furthermore, no one country can sustain itself as an autarky anymore; we are all interdependent. Even wealthy countries like the United States depend on resources (like oil) found in other areas of the world (p. 372). The flow of goods is paralleled by the flow of ideas across boundaries because of modern developments in science and technology, particularly in the integration of computer, television, cable, satellite, laser, fiber-optic, and microchip technologies that have given us access to information and people all of the time in all places (p. 373). Like James Watson, Barber acknowledges that the concepts associated with multinationals such as McDonalds, Disney, and Coke are more powerful than military force: What is the power of the Pentagon compared with Disneyland? Can the Sixth Fleet keep up with CNN? McDonalds in Moscow and Coke in China will do more†¦ than military colonization ever could (p. 373). Barber warns us, however, that capitalism and democracy have a relationship, but it is something less than a marriage (p. 374). Particularly in ecological and environmental matters, capitalism has created greater inequality because the modern world can not afford to allow developing countries to consume natural resources at the increasingly devastating rate that we see occurring in the current consumer markets. Turning to the forces of Jihad, Barber relies on analysis of political headlines. Barber expects that his readers (of the Atlantic Monthly) will be quite familiar with the litany of political events mentioned in his discussion; for instance, he employs Lebanon metaphorically to examine literally hundreds of subnational factions in permanent rebellion (p. 374). He asserts that Jihad (which literally translates as struggle) typically implies religious and parochial zealots who are angry†¦ proselytizing, deistic, ethnocentric (and note that this article appeared in 1992, just after the first Gulf War, and just before the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993; note also that Barber makes reference to Saddam Husseins fatal mistake of having invaded Kuwait when he asserts that [d]espots who slaughter their own populations are no problem, so long as they leave markets in place and refrain from making wars on their neighbors (p. 76). Barber draws parallels to the Eastern European revolutions (after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989) and to Havels velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia (p. 377) to assert that democracies in these new nations can be very tentative and can easily be traded away by anxious†¦new rulers who seek to create solidarity; the result has often been anarchy, repression, persecution, and the [return] of very old kinds of despotism (p. 377). Ultimately, ironically, McWorld and Jihad share dangerous characteristics: both are antipolitical and antidemocratic (p. 77). Barber proposes a Confederal option to counter both the indifference of McWorld and the antithetical tendencies of Jihad; although, he admits briefly that McWorld will probably prevail; Jihad may be a last deep sigh before the eternal yawn of McWorld (p. 378). Barber acknowledges that confederations modeled after the American Articles of Confederation that stitched together the American colonies after the American Revolution might be a preferred model to foster decentralized participatory democracy (p. 378). Barber thus urges those who wish to build democracies to see out indigenous democratic impulses and to be patient with the slow development of democracies that have to develop locally. Barber suggests that the tortoise of slow development is more likely to win the race than the hares who attempt to impose democracy all at once (p. 379); Barber thus concludes by quoting Rousseau, who wrote, Freedom†¦ is a food easy to eat but hard to digest (p. 380). Further analysis: In this particular case, the Internet is probably the better source for additional info on Barber: see http://www. enjaminrbarber. com/ Barber has most recently published another analysis entitled Fears empire: war, terrorism, and democracy (2003) in which he examines US foreign relations since 2001. The themes of the newer text are similar to his assertions in his earlier work, however: You cant export McWorld and call it democracy and You cant export America and call it freedom (USCAn). Available through inter-lib rary loan. posted by Lynne Rhodes at 9:40 AM | 0 comments Tuesday, March 15, 2005 defining global citizenship As we saw in class, we can think of ourselves as global citizens or as global consumers, and depending on our different perspectives, we are either concerned about issues such as education and the sustainability of our environment, or about how much we can buy, easily and cheaply. In many ways, being a global citizen involves completely opposite values from being a global consumer. A global consumer wont really care much about where a product is made as long as she can buy it at an affordable price. A global citizen will stop and ask if a child in a sweatshop had to work for ungodly hours in inhumane conditions just so that the product was made available through imports so that it would be available for wealthy people a world away. I find myself questioning how much I can really know about cultures in other parts of the world especially when I read selections like Thiongo on page 353 in CCL: I was born into a large peasant family [with a] father, four wives and about twenty-eight children. and yet I can identify with the same authors statement: English became the measure of intelligence and ability (p. 355), which allows a child to progress and the language of English has become an important western import to the developing world. I recently read that South Koreans encourage their children to watch western TV so that they will learn more English. When Watson (pp. 359+) questions why Chinese parents would encourage their children to eat in McDonalds, and quotes Yan, a UCLA anth ropologist who discovered that working class Beijing residents save up to take their children to McDonalds (p. 62) as a step of preparation towards Harvard or MIT, this is revealing of the change in attitudes that the Chinese now have towards their children, as full scale consumers (p. 364) not unlike American children. The changing of cultural norms because of westerns expectations (impositions? ) is further illustrated in Watson by discussion of the line which is first mandated by managers but later self-inforced by regular customers (p. 365); ironically, public civility is now associated with western norms in Asian cities like Beijing. The cultural contrasts between fast food establishments in America and Beijing becomes more apparent, however, in Watsons discussion of how consumers in the Far East have turned the fast food restaurants into community centers where they can safely visit, read, or entertain. Watsons analysis of McDonalds in China does digress into critique of the little emperors / empresses who he predicts will become so very selfish and indulged (after all, one child doted upon by four grandparents is a universal formula for disaster). Watson crosses over into economic predictions (the dismal science) when he writes that like their counterparts in [AARP], future retirees in China are likely to be a vociferous, agressive lot who will demand more consumer goods and benefits (p. 368). As we have already seen in discussions of changing families and values in the U. S. , globally, these changes are taking root in many parts of the world, so that these debates between being a consumer or a citizen take on global implications. Six billion people consuming at the same rate that Americans now consume would inevitably lead to environmental destruction and disputes would lead to wars over natural resources. As Watson acknowledges, the question is no longer simply whose culture is it that dominates; the more important question is what will be the outcome of adventurism associated with rising affluence (p. 365) as markets are opened and imports (and the Internet) make shopping a world-wide event? posted by Lynne Rhodes at 12:39 PM | 0 comments Monday, February 28, 2005 defining family notes Notes taken on Defining Families (notes on CCL chapter 7)

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Rural Marketing free essay sample

The days when a rural consumer went to a nearby city to buy branded products and services. Time was when only a select household consumed branded goods, be it toothpaste or soap. There were days when big companies flocked to rural markets to establish their brands. Today, rural markets are critical for every marketer be it for a branded shampoo or an automobile. To open a business daily or business magazine today, you will read about some company or other announcing its intention to `go rural. Is going rural that simple? Apart from the distribution nightmare of reaching the products to rural markets, with 13 major languages and thousands of dialects, 1,700 ethnic groups and hundreds of caste groups, reaching the right communication to the rural community is mind-boggling. A number of todays marketers who believe that consumers in rural India are less demanding and easily satisfied are in for a rude shock. We will write a custom essay sample on Rural Marketing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is high time these marketers realize that an indiscriminate marketing strategy, a replication of that used for the urban customer, will not work with his rural counterpart. The latter have a different set of priorities, which necessitates a different approach, both in terms of developing appropriate products to suit them and using appropriate communication strategies, which they will comprehend better. There is a debate in some quarters that the rural market is mature enough to understand communication developed for urban markets, especially in the case of FMCGs. This is partly true, if the communication is such that it makes the product promise in a simple and easy-to-understand style. It is also true that the section of rural society, which is exposed to urban lifestyles because of employment, is beginning to appreciate and understand all types of communication aimed at it. But they are in small numbers and the vast majority of rural folks, even today, cannot understand clever communication. What to communicate and how to communicate to the rural audience is a subject which must be understood clearly before any attempt to develop a communication package aimed at them is undertaken. Real India lies in Rural India†, ‘India is a land of ‘villages’, ‘Rural economy is the backbone of the Indian economy’, ‘India lies in its villages’, etc, are the perpetual and common slogans. India is predominantly an Agricultural Economy and the rural markets hold immense potentials for any company to expand. Thus the next word after â€Å"expanding sales† today is â€Å"targeting the rural markets†. Also, intensified co mpetitions in the urban-markets have resulted in increase in costs but not higher market share and profits. This has resulted in change of focus by a host of organizations. Thus, rural bazaars are becoming more important than urban markets and many organisations have realized that in a host of product classes the winners of tomorrow are going to be those who focus on rural India. Industrial giants and other savvy small to medium firms are awakening to the potential of India’s jackpot rural market of nearly 733 million consumers, more than twice the population of the USA. It has thus become very necessary to study the rural markets because this market, which is mostly underestimated, is drastically changing. It was in the late 1960s and 1970s that rural marketing became a topic of general discussion. The Green Revolution and the consequent pockets of rural prosperity that appeared on its wake awakened many manufacturers to the new purchasing power. The NCAER’s Market Information Survey of Households (MISH) shows that the 1980’s saw a rapid improvement in the distribution of income in the rural as compared with urban India. In 1989-90, the number of households with income over Rs. 25,000/- per annum was 9 million (around 50 million people), and above Rs. 12,500 per annum was 35 million households (around 160 million people). However, aggressive Rural Marketing is not a recent activity. With the Green Revolution, companies like Siemens with a package of products for water drilling marketers of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, bicycles, etc. , were followed by manufacturers of motorcycles, and many others who took their products to the rural consumers. Earlier, consumers who were illiterate or unable to read English created symbols to identify their favourite products-Red Soap for Lifebuoy, Palm tree for Dalda, etc. Manufacturers now began to deliberately build symbols and colours into their products to enable identification of their brands. Nineties was a phase when the advocates of rural marketing convinced corporate India that villages were big, this decade is differentiating between companies that can unlock the potential of the rural market and those that cannot. Today rural population is 7,41,660,293, while that of urban India is 285,354,954 (Census of India 2001). There is a 241 million strong working population, spread across 6. 38 lakh villages in the rural hinterlands. The rural population has been dependent primarily on agriculture as their main source of income.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Most Employable Degrees of 2019

The Most Employable Degrees of 2019 When it comes to making decisions about university as a next step in life, it can feel like there are so many things to consider. Once youve decided whether or not uni is the right place for you, youre then faced with deciding on what you want to study. Sometimes, this subject choice even affects where you study. Choosing your degree is either pretty easy, or really difficult! If you know what you want to do in terms of a career, or an industry you want to work in, then this really helps to narrow down what you need to study to reach that goal. But, if youre not sure what job you want to do or what career youre interested in, deciding on a degree can be difficult. Going to university can be extremely beneficial when it comes employment and, for some job sectors and roles, having a degree is a must. So, if youre forward thinking and you know youre looking for a good job, weve pulled together the most employable degrees of 2019 to help narrow down your options 1.Medicine and Dentistry Studying a degree in medicine or dentistry is notoriously difficult. But there are benefits to putting in all this hard work. Medicine and Dentistry degrees are the most employable. 99% of all medicine and dentistry students have a job within 6 months of leaving uni. This may come as no real surprise, given the current pressures and demand within our health care system. But having a degree of this level ensures that job security is always available to you. 2.Veterinary Science The second most employable degree is in Veterinary Science. Research shows that 98% of graduates have landed a job within 6 months of leaving uni. 3.Subjects Allied to Medicine These various courses, including Pharmacology, Pathology and Nursing, show that 95% of students are working within 6 months of leaving university. These subjects allow you to specialise earlier on, if you have a very specific interest in an area. The top three most employable degrees are all closely linked to medicine of some kind and, given the work involved and the jobs available at the end of them, its clear why these three take up the top spots! But what other industry areas are covered in the most valuable degrees? 4. Architecture, Building and Planning As a graduate with a degree in any of these areas, prospects show that 90% of students are employed within 6 months of leaving uni. These kinds of careers are highly specialised and many courses will include a placement of some type so that under-graduates can gain some real experience. 5. Education Theres always a demand for teachers so if youre interested in working within the education industry, figures show that 90% of students find work within 6 months of leaving uni. 6.Engineering Some may expect this to come higher up on the list but, like with Education, degrees in connection with Engineering do still show very good prospects. 90% of students have a job within 6 months of graduating. 7.Computer Science Over recent years, degrees in Computer Science have grown in value, with 80% of students finding work within 6 months of leaving university. If youre looking to start a career that is future-proof, areas surrounding Computer Science are a secure choice. 8.Mathematical Sciences Sitting just below Computer Science, students with this type of degree have an employability rate of 79%. Often these students go on to fill rolls in the financial sector or in IT. 9.Business and Administrative Studies With such a wide range of skills involved in this kind of degree, 75% of students who leave uni are working within 6 months. 10.Law Last, but by no means least, Law students finish off this list of the most employable degrees in 2019. 74% of students are employed with this degree within 6 moths of graduating. In the UK, the most popular degrees can be broken down into medical-related subjects for females and business-orientated courses for males. But, across both, the least popular degree was Veterinary Science! Maybe this is one worth considering if youre thinking about what you want to do at uni? At the end of the day, deciding on what degree you want to study is a personal choice. Make sure you understand what you value most, what you enjoy and where you see yourself in the future. Once you know these, itll help you choose a degree thats right for you.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How To Accept A Job Offer Like a Boss

How To Accept A Job Offer Like a Boss Before you accept the job offer, there are a few things you need to consider. You’ve done all this work getting through the hiring process: crafted a perfect resume and cover letter, braved (and knocked out of the park!) your first and second interviews, and waited by the phone. And now the time has arrived- you’ve been offered the position! It can be really tempting to blurt out â€Å"YES, OF COURSE, I ACCEPT!† as soon as you’re given the good news, but it might be more prudent to wait and follow the procedures we lay out to ensure your transition is smooth and your new job every bit as good as you’re expecting it to be. Remember: in making you an offer, the company is showing their hand. They want you to show your hand right away in response and give them back the power. Instead, consider wielding it for a while before accepting.Here are some good practices when accepting (or considering accepting) an offer.1. Say thank you.Always be classy, from day one. Step one is always to show your appreciation, no matter whether you are speaking in person, on the phone, or via email. Even if you fully plan to counter their initial offer (and there’s a great chance you should anticipate negotiating your salary), it’s perfectly fine to express your excitement about the position. You’re thrilled! Why hide it? This will make them feel less vulnerable, and also more open to helping you make it work.2. Get it in writing.You have the right to request an official offer letter, which includes the name of the position, starting date, salary, and benefit details. This serves two purposes: 1) it buys you a little time and lets you examine the details thoroughly before accepting, and 2) it makes the offer official. Most companies won’t require an immediate answer after giving you the offer letter, but it never hurts to inquire as to their time table- and respect it.3. Write your own acceptance confirmation.There is a rig ht way to say â€Å"yes† once you’ve expressed your appreciation, received initial notice in writing, reviewed the initial terms, (hopefully) negotiated the salary and benefits you want, and received the go-ahead. Once everything is nailed down, it’s best professional practices to put your acceptance in writing, as well, via an acceptance letter (email is usually fine for this).A written acceptance gives you the chance to reiterate all of the details you’ve negotiated, including precise terms of compensation, expectations, vacation, and benefits. It gives you an additional opportunity to thank them and express your enthusiasm. A more formal, written acceptance is a great way to acknowledge and be appreciative if the negotiating process took longer than you expected. And it’s the best way to clarify next steps.Close by asking how you can best prepare for your first day. Should you show up earlier than the typical start time in order to set things up ? Is there any other information you need to bring from home? How can you make your transition as smooth as possible for them?Be proactive and start on the right foot- in showing them that you care enough to nail down the details before you begin, they will already be pleased they chose you before you even step in the door.Make sure to keep your acceptance letter brief, grateful, and absolutely precise. Edit early and often. Finally, make sure you don’t forget to proofread carefully. It’s important to set a professional tone right from the start.Congrats on your new job! Getting started on the right foot will make you feel great for the opportunities that are just beginning.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Impact of Divorce on Children Research Paper - 2

The Impact of Divorce on Children - Research Paper Example Divorce is one of the events within the family that can affect the development of the children in multitude of ways. The paper is aimed to discuss and to present the impact of divorce on children. To achieve the said objective the background of divorce which includes the date in the past few years will be discussed. Then, the effects of divorce on children specifically the different aspects and facets of development and behavior will be presented. The data were based on gathered empirical studies and reference books related to the topic. Background Information on Divorce For the past decades, recorded data and observations confirmed the detrimental effects of divorce in the life and development of the children. Based on the standard family environment model that focuses on the optimum conditions for the proper development of children, marital conflict and divorce increase the risk of having problems in the behavior of children (Amato and Cheadle, 2008). In the United States, divorce affects approximately 50 percent of the families and one-half to two-thirds of the said percentage remarry. In addition, one in every six adults remarries two or more times which multiply the effects of divorce a few more times. ... Upon the achievement of a particular perspective about divorce, it is important to determine the specific effect of divorce and the aspects that are affected. Different Effects of Divorce on Children In general, children who had experienced divorce can be affected in any or all aspects of their life from the year of the event through adulthood. There are different aspects affected by divorce. The most significant aspect is behavior but aspects such as financial or economic facets of their life can also be affected (Forst and Blomquist, 1991). Behavioral Effects of Divorce Behavioral aspect of the effects of divorce on children is the most significant facet of the issue since it can result not only to short term but also to long term repercussions. Correcting the negative effects on a child to heal himself and lead a normal life can be considered as the main reason for finding solutions and giving attention to the said aspect. Children who had experienced divorce in the family are obs erved to have externalizing problems such as aggression and conduct disorder. Higher levels of antisocial behavior can also be observed in children from a family that encountered divorce as compared to children from an intact family. Internalizing problems such as depression, anxiety, and withdrawal are also included in the probable behavioral issues that can be experienced by children with divorced parents (Forst and Blomquist, 1991, p.61) The first two years of the divorce is considered to be the hardest period for the children due to adjustment issues which are based on the effects of separation to either or both of the parents. The effects of other factors after divorce such as single parenting, visitation, and economic difficulties are also classified