How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Study Questions) Essays

How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Study Questions) Essays How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Study Questions) Paper How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Study Questions) Paper Essay Topic: Literature *Introduction* *Introduction* 1. What is a Faustian bargain? Where did that phrase originate? The hero is offered something he wants in exchange for his soul (deal with the devil); Dr Faustist 2. What does Foster mean by the phrase language of reading? grammar 3. How does a literature professor read differently from a lay reader? Memory, symbols, patterns 4. What are the three items that separate the professorial reader from the rest of the crowd? Memory, symbols, patterns *Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest (Except When Its Not)* *Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest (Except When Its Not)* 1. What five things does a quest consist of? Quester, place to go, started reason, trials, real reason 2. What is the real reason for a quest (always)? Self knowledge 3. What is Fosters overall point about journeys or trips in literature? Everything is a quest *Chapter 2: Nice to Eat With You: Acts of Communion* *Chapter 2: Nice to Eat With You: Acts of Communion* 1. What does communion mean? Whenever people eat or drink together 2. For what reason does Foster suggest that authors often include meal scenes? Act of sharing and peace 3. What does a failed meal suggest in literature? Bad sign *Chapter 3: Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires* *Chapter 3: Nice to Eat You: Acts of Vampires* 1. What is literal vampirism? nasty old man (steals innocence) 2. What is symbolic vampirism? sucks life out of a person 3. What are the essentials of the vampire story and what do they represent? Older figure, young female/innocent, continuance of life force *Chapter 4: Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?* *Chapter 4: Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?* 1. What does Foster mean when he says that theres no such thing as a wholly original work of literature? Everything is inspired 2. What does Foster mean by the term intertextuality? Borrowing from other works of literature 3. What is the benefit, or value, of picking up on the parallels between works of literature? Structure meaning *Chapter 5: When in Doubt, Its from Shakespeare* *Chapter 5: When in Doubt, Its from Shakespeare* 1. Why do so many writers allude to Shakespeare? Easy way to find good stories 2. What are some of the ways that Shakespeare influences writers? It provides plot and language *Chapter 6:Or the Bible* *Chapter 6:Or the Bible* 1. Why is the Bible so often alluded to in literature? Everyone knows Bible stories 2. What are some of the ways that writers allude to the Bible? Plot, titles, motifs, characters, themes 3. Whats the benefit of knowing/understanding Bible allusions in literature? You can find the deeper meanings *Chapter 7: Hanseldee and Greteldum* *Chapter 7: Hanseldee and Greteldum* 1. Why do writers borrow from kiddie lit in their works? Readers can always relate 2. What are some of the ways writers allude to kiddie lit in their writings? Small known details *Chapter 8: Its Greek to Me* *Chapter 8: Its Greek to Me* 1. What does Foster mean by the term myth? Body of a story that matters 2. Why do writers allude to mythology? Stories are ingrained in society 3. What are some of the ways that writers allude to mythology? Components that parallel or represent a myth *Chapter 9: Its More Than Just Rain or Snow* *Chapter 9: Its More Than Just Rain or Snow* 1. How can weather be symbolic in literature? It could be shown as a new awakening (rain) or as a feeling of nothingness 2. How can weather serve as a plot device in literature? It can be used to force two characters together 3. What are some of the common meanings of various types of weather? Rain- Rainbow- Fog- Snow- Rain- cleansing; spring; new awakening Rainbow- divine promise; peace between heaven and earth Fog- misery; ability to not see clearly Snow- a blanket of cleansing; cozy; nothingness *Chapter 10: Never Stand Next To The Hero* *Chapter 10: Never Stand Next To The Hero* 1. What is the problem with being best pals with the hero? The hero always needs to learn some kind of lesson through the death of another character 2. What purpose does the death of a friend serve? to teach the hero a lesson they need to learn 3. Why are not all characters created equal? too much time, too long of a book, might get the wrong idea of a character *Chapter 11: More Than Its Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence* *Chapter 11: More Than Its Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence* 1. Why does violence occur in literature? basis of plot, interested, plot complications 2. What are the two categories of violence in literature? situational and authorial 3. What questions should a reader ask about the violence found in a piece of literature? misfortune represents famous / mythical resemble, why? 4. What are the four reasons that authors kill of characters in literature? make action, plot complications, end plot complications, put characters under stress *Chapter 12: Is That a Symbol?* *Chapter 12: Is That a Symbol?* 1. Whats the difference between symbolism and allegory? mean different thing / one thing 2. What impacts a readers understanding of symbolic meaning? better understanding 3. What, besides objects, can be symbolic? gesters, movements, emotions 4. How should a reader approach symbolism in a text? What questions should the reader ask of the text when trying to determine symbolic meaning? being aware, assumptions are good, recap/reread, remember *Chapter 13: Its All Political* *Chapter 13: Its All Political* 1. Foster asserts that, Nearly all writing is __________. political 2. In what ways do authors include social criticism in their writings? an underlying theme to get at political views the author may have 3. Why do authors include social criticism in their writings? to oppress the government not publicly 4. What are some of the common political issues that writers tackle? problems government is facing *Chapter 14: Yes, Shes a Christ Figure, Too* *Chapter 14: Yes, Shes a Christ Figure, Too* 1. What are the characteristics of a Christ figure? good with children, self-serving 2. Does a character need to resemble Christ in all ways to be considered a Christ figure? no 3. Why do writers use Christ figures? Jesus is iconic-> he has become a symbol *Chapter 15: Flights of Fancy* *Chapter 15: Flights of Fancy* 1. Why do so many writers toy with flight in their works? it is a culture shared fantasy 2. In what ways might flight be symbolic in literature? escape from reality / freedom 3. What is the symbolic deal with interrupted or failed flight? fear failure / actually failure 4. Does a character always have to actually fly in order for there to be flying in a piece of literature? Explain no, they may love or imagine *Chapter 16: Its All About Sex* *Chapter 16: Its All About Sex* 1. What are some of the things that symbolize sex and / or gender? chalice, swords, building, rolling hills 2. Why does sexual symbolism exist / occur in literature? because they could not right about it *Chapter 17: Except Sex* *Chapter 17: Except Sex* 1. Foster writes When theyre writing about other things, they really mean sex, and when they write about sex, they really mean something else. What are some of the other things that this scene means? freedom, sacrifice, domination / submission, birth, pleasure, espionage, enlightenment 2. Why dont writers usually write actual sex scenes? boring / more meaning *Chapter 18: If She Comes Up, Its Baptism* *Chapter 18: If She Comes Up, Its Baptism* 1. When and how is water symbolic of baptism in literature? start fresh and new 2. What does it mean when a character drowns? rebirth, revelation, violence / guilt, plot complication, being cleansed *Chapter 19: Geography Matters* *Chapter 19: Geography Matters* 1. How can geography reinforce theme? proving the proper tools for interactions with characters 2. How can geography define / develop character? the characters views can change 3. How can geography be character? by giving insight with discribtions 4. How can geography play an important plot role? by setting up an environment 5. What are some patterns of symbolism with regard to geography? going south- bad fog- unknown dark- evil 6. What does it mean when an author sends a character south? bad stuffs, encounters with subconsiance 7. How can a writers personal geography inform his / her work? geography surrounding the author effect his writing *Chapter 20: So Does Season* *Chapter 20: So Does Season* 1. What are the symbolic implications of each major season: spring, summer, fall, winter? spring- youth summer- adulthood fall- decline winter- death 2. What is the symbolic implication of the progression of season (from spring through winter)? circle of life *Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness* *Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness* 1. What might physical marks or imperfections symbolize? moral, psychological, emotional, and imperfections 2. How can landscapes be marked as well? What might it mean physical / spiritual setting have a role 3. Beyond the individual, what can imperfection or deformity indicate? foreshadow setting event and tell about past 4. What are some of the symbolic indications of monsters in literature? extreme physical markings or imperfections *Chapter 22: Hes Blind for a Reason, You Know* *Chapter 22: Hes Blind for a Reason, You Know* 1. What can physical blindness mirror? moral / intertextuality to love 2. What is often the irony behind a blind character? they can see truth 3. How are darkness and lightness related to sight? darkness- no truth lightness- truth *Chapter 23: Its Never Just Heart Disease And Rarely Just Illness* *Chapter 23: Its Never Just Heart Disease And Rarely Just Illness* 1. What are some of the symbolic possibilities associated with the heart? Why? heart attacks or a broken heart 2. What things make a prime literary disease? 1. picturesque 2. mysterious orgin 3. symbolic reason 3. What are some of the conventional symbolic meanings of various illnesses? Tuberculosis- a wasting disease Physical paralysis can mirror moral, social, spiritual, intellectual, political paralysis Malaria: means literally bad air with the attendant metaphorical possibilities. *Chapter 24: Dont Read with Your Eyes* *Chapter 24: Dont Read with Your Eyes* 1. Why did I italicize your in the chapter title, above to emphasize that youre supposed ot read through characters eyes 2. What is Fosters main point in this chapter? to put yourself in the storys setting 3. Do we have to accept the values of another culture to accept the impact those values had on the writing yes *Chapter 25: Its My Symbol and Ill Cry If I Want To* *Chapter 25: Its My Symbol and Ill Cry If I Want To* 1. What are symbols and how do they form? something with a second meaning 2. Symbols do not mean the same thing for everyone, so how do you figure out symbolism? some symbols are personal to a writer to readers can interpret what it means to them self *Chapter 26: Is He Serious? And Other Ironies* *Chapter 26: Is He Serious? And Other Ironies* 1. What does Foster mean when he says, Irony trumps everything? Irony changes everything -> the reader can no longer trust their instincts on what they think is supposed to happen 2. How can you tell if something is ironic? If you realize something didnt happen the way it was intended, you can consider it likely being ironic especially if the result is humorous or tragic 3. What does Foster mean when he says, Irony doesnt work for everyone? Irony only works if a reader can see if something is ironic or else the whole point of the writer making something ironic is pointless 4. There are three types of Irony in literature. verbal, situational / structural, dramatic Verbal irony- character says opposite of what is expected Situational / Structural irony- situation or event plays out in an opposite or abnormal way-not like expected Dramatic irony- audience / reader knows more than the character knows

The 17th Amendment to the US Constitution

The 17th Amendment to the US Constitution On March 4, 1789, the first group of United States senators reported for duty in the brand new U.S. Congress. For the next 124 years, while many new senators would come and go, not a single one of them would have been elected by the American people. From 1789 to 1913, when the Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, all U.S. senators were chosen by the state legislatures. Key Takeaways: The 17th Amendment The 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution provides for the election of senators by voters in the states they are to represent, rather than by the state legislatures and establishes the method for filling vacancies in the Senate.The 17th Amendment was proposed in 1912 and ratified on April 8, 1913. Senators were first elected by the people in Maryland in 1913, and nationwide in the general election of November 3,1914. The 17th Amendment provides that senators should be directly elected by voters in the states they are to represent, rather than by the state legislatures. It also provides a method for filling vacancies in the Senate. The amendment was proposed by the 62nd Congress in 1912 and adopted in 1913 after being ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the then 48 states. Senators were first elected by voters in special elections in Maryland in 1913 and Alabama in 1914, then nationwide in the general election of 1914. With the right of the people to choose some of the most powerful officials of the U.S. federal government seemingly such an integral part of American democracy, why did it take so for that right to be granted? Background The framers of the Constitution, convinced that senators should not be popularly elected, crafted Article I, section 3 of the Constitution to state, â€Å"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.† The framers felt that allowing the state legislatures to choose senators would secure their loyalty to the federal government, thus increasing the Constitution’s chances of ratification. In addition, the framers felt that senators chosen by their state legislatures would be better able to concentrate on the legislative process without having to deal with public pressure. While the first measure to amend the Constitution to provide for the election of senators by popular vote was introduced in the House of Representatives in 1826, the idea failed to gain traction until the late 1850s when several state legislatures began to deadlock over the election of senators resulting in lengthy un-filled vacancies in the Senate. As Congress struggled to pass legislation dealing with momentous issues like slavery, states’ rights, and threats of state secession , the Senate vacancies became a critical issue. However, the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, along with the long post-war period of reconstruction, would further delay action on the popular election of senators. During reconstruction, the difficulties of passing legislation needed to reunite the still-ideologically divided nation were further complicated by Senate vacancies. A law passed by Congress in 1866 regulating how and when senators were chosen in each state helped, but deadlocks and delays in several state legislatures continued. In one extreme example, Delaware failed to send a senator to Congress for four years from 1899 to 1903. Constitutional amendments to elect senators by popular vote were introduced in House of Representatives during every session from 1893 to 1902. The Senate, however, fearing the change would diminish its political influence, rejected them all. Widespread public support for change came in 1892 when the newly-formed Populist Party made the direct election of senators a key part of its platform. With that, some states took the matter into their own hands. In 1907, Oregon became the first state to select its senators by direct election. Nebraska soon followed suit, and by 1911, more than 25 states were selecting their senators through direct popular elections. The States Force Congress to Act When the Senate continued to resist the growing public demand for the direct election of senators, several states invoked a rarely-used constitutional strategy. Under Article V of the Constitution, Congress is required to call a constitutional convention for the purpose of amending the Constitution whenever two-thirds of the states demand it to do so. As the number of states applying to invoke Article V neared the two-thirds mark, Congress decided to act. Debate and Ratification In 1911, one of the senators who had been popularly elected, Senator Joseph Bristow from Kansas, offered a resolution proposing the 17th Amendment. Despite significant opposition, the Senate narrowly approved Senator Bristow’s resolution, largely on the votes of senators who recently had been popularly elected. After long, often heated debate, the House finally passed the amendment and sent it to the states for ratification in the spring of 1912. On May 22, 1912, Massachusetts became the first state to ratify the 17th Amendment. Connecticuts approval on April 8, 1913, gave the 17th Amendment the required three-fourths majority. With 36 of 48 states having ratified the 17th Amendment, it was certified by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan on May 31, 1913, as part of the Constitution. In total, 41 states eventually ratified the 17th Amendment. The state of Utah rejected the amendment, while the states of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Virginia took no action on it. Effect of the 17th Amendment: Section 1 Section 1 of the 17th Amendment restates and amends the first paragraph of Article I, section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the direct popular election of U.S. senators by replacing the phrase â€Å"chosen by the Legislature thereof† with â€Å"elected by the people thereof.† Effect of the 17th Amendment: Section 2 Section 2 altered the way in which vacant Senate seats are to be filled. Under Article I, section 3, the seats of senators who left office before the end of their terms were to be replaced by the state legislatures. The 17th Amendment gives the state legislatures the right to allow the state’s governor to appoint a temporary replacement to serve until a special public election can be held. In practice, when a Senate seat becomes vacant near the national general election, the governors typically choose not to call a special election. Effect of the 17th Amendment: Section 3 Section 3 of the 17th Amendment simply clarified that the amendment did not apply to Senators chosen before it became a valid part of the Constitution. Text of the 17th Amendment Section 1.The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. Section 2.When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of each State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. Section 3.This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

The Developing Manager Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words - 1

The Developing Manager - Assignment Example It is highly important for the managers in the hospitality industry to develop effective managerial and leadership strategies and skills in order to maintain effective workplace environment. However, frequent changes in the business environment make it important for the hospitality managers to develop potential skills in order to establish and maintain a bright career. Recently, several organizations within the global hospitality industry are trying to develop and implement workplace diversity strategy in business operation process in order to enhance strategy development and knowledge sharing process. Moreover, several leading domestic and multinational organizations are trying to make changes in goal development and strategy implementation process due to constant and critical changes in the global business environment. Therefore, it is highly essential for the managers to assess own management skill performance.   Communication skill is one of my major personal as well as managerial strengths that help me to meet the developed organizational goals. It is true that employees are the major assets of an organization. It is highly important for each and every manager in an organization to maintain an effective relationship between the employees and top-level management through transparent and cl.ear communication. I always try to listen to both personal and professional needs and wants of employees as it is an important job responsibility of the manager.

Historical and Theoretical Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Historical and Theoretical Studies - Essay Example Inevitably, within this changing cultural climate, design took on new guises and performed new roles. During the early postwar period, which was one of economic, social and cultural reconstruction in the industrialized world, design played a crucial, although usually silent, role. It became an important factor within two areas of postwar life; the first as part of the need to create a national identity for products on the international market and the second in the formation of mass culture - both of them highly significant aspects of the world history of the post-1945 period (Bonsiepe, 1965). Within this economic rebirth the manufacture and trade of goods played a major role. The reasons for this resurgence were complex but the strongest stimulus, in addition to the numerous social and economic changes that occurred in these years, was the rapid development of technology. Many advances had been made during the Second World War, including the development of radar and work in aircraft production which, in Britain, was sustained into the 1950s. Perhaps the most significant development of the late 1940s, however, was that of the transistor which made possible the miniaturization of electronic equipment, including computers, which in turn were to play such a central role in the postwar period, both in the automation of production and in information retrieval (Stearn, 1968). As a result of the numerous social, economic and technological changes that... The lesson presented by the prewar USA example that 'design sells' was learnt and digested and became one of the major strategies in most countries' programmes of industrial reconstruction and within international trading in the postwar period (Rogers, 1946). Design in postwar Italy was quick to develop into a highly sophisticated marketing exercise. Because its products were aimed from the beginning at a small, wealthy, international market, Italy was able to focus on quality and aesthetic innovation as the two defining characteristics of its consumer goods. This inevitably placed a strong emphasis on the role of the designers, giving them the sole responsibility of finding the right visual formula for the product. For the most part, disillusioned with prewar Rationalism because of its associations with fascism, they took their cue from contemporary fine art incorporating into many of their designs sensuous curves directly inspired by the abstract, organic sculpture of artists like Henry Moore, Hans Arp, Alexander Calder and Max Bill (qq.v.). The Turinese furniture designer, Carlo Mollino (q.v.), took this expressive aesthetic to an extreme in what he called his 'streamline surreal' tables and chairs. As a result of this pioneering work Italy, in particular Milan, soon became a centre for debate and discussion about progressive attitudes towards design, and the postwar Triennales, three-yearly exhibitions of design which had been initiated in the 1920s (Huisman and Patrix, 1968). Mollino was the most idiosyncratic of the Italian postwar furniture designers. Based in Turin rather than Milan where most furniture designing went on, he developed a personal style

Your Job And Your Happiness Essay Example for Free

Your Job And Your Happiness Essay Happiness is commonly associated with pleasure and contentment. These are fairly subjective states of being, and their causes are equally subjective. However, when it comes to work or social life, employment clearly has the greater effect on happiness. Whether a job provides a social life, supports it, or interferes with it, it is tightly bound to happiness. For many people, work is their source of happiness in life. They follow their passions and don’t regard what they do as work. Their co-workers become their friend group, merging social life and work life into one. They often have jobs that make an impact on the world, and offer them contentment and self-fulfillment. These impassioned people see an outside social life as inconsequential, and they willingly and consciously give it up in favor of work they love. A job that regularly interferes with a normal social life creates an unbalanced life and lessens happiness. Hourly workers must often work overtime or on holidays, interfering with planned activities. Salaried workers frequently bring their work home with them, or they worry about their work responsibilities while at home. Others have to report to work at a moment’s notice any time of day or night. Some jobs require employees to work away from home for months or even years at a time. Conversely, an active social life rarely imposes on happiness gained from work. Positively or negatively, work has the greater influence on happiness. Passion-filled people draw happiness from their work. People whose jobs fund diverse life experiences receive happiness indirectly from their work. Those whose work encroaches on their personal lives also have their happiness impacted, albeit negatively. Work clearly has a more powerful connection to personal happiness than a social life does.

Global Positionning System Versus the Right To Privacy :: GPS Globarl Positioning System Papers

Global Positionning System Versus the Right To Privacy From the beginning of time, man has tried to find out where he was and where he was going. Locating places as well as himself has long been a quest. Mankind developed a number of early inventions to help with this search including the compass, the sextant, the map with longitude and latitude, charts, plans, graphs, telescopes, binoculars and numerous other tools to assist him. The most current, extensive, far-reaching and comprehensive of these is the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS is a satellite navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites. The original designers and engineers had military use in mind. It was placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense, and it was originally intended to aid navigation, troop deployment and artillery fire. The official U.S. Department of Defense name for the GPS is the NAVSTAR system, which stands for Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging. This system cost the United States billions of dollars to develop and build, with the constant additional cost of maintenance. The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978, predating the introduction of the personal computer. The full constellation of 24 satellites was completed in 1994. Each satellite is built to last about 10 years, and replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit. In the 1980's, by an executive order, the United States Government made the system available for civilian use, and there are no subscription fees or setup charge s. GPS works anywhere in the world, in any weather condition. A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is approximately 17 feet across with solar panel extended. The 24 GPS satellites orbit the earth about 12,000 miles above us. They make two complete orbits in less than 24 hours. Currently there are 21 active satellites with 3 operating spares. These satellites are traveling at speeds of approximately 7,000 miles per hour. The GPS satellites are powered by solar energy.

Convergence of US GAAP and IFRS Essay

The Norwalk Agreement refers to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed in September of 2002 in Norwalk, Connecticut between the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standard Boards (IASB) The MOU was an agreement between the two organization to, â€Å"use their best efforts to (a) make their existing financial reporting standards fully compatible as soon as is practicable and (b) to coordinate their future work programs to ensure that once achieved, compatibility is maintained.† The original agreement called for all differences between US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and IFRS (International Financial Reporting System to be eliminated by January 1, 2005, but problems quickly surfaced in this approach and according the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) currently has a timeline of 2016 for all US corporations to adopt the IFRS. Before discussing what the effect of these changes are on US Corporations, one must first understand the history of both the FASB/US GAAP and the IASB/IFRS. The Financial Accounting Standards Board was established by the SEC in 1973 to take over the role of establishing standards for financial accounting from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)’s Accounting Principles Board (APB). The US GAAP are accounting rules used to prepare, present, and report financial statements for a wide variety of entities, including publicly-traded and privately-held companies, non-profit organizations, and governments. The US Government does not directly set accounting standards, instead believing that the private sector has a better ability to set these rules. The US GAAP is not formally written into law, but is instead codified into the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The FASB has four major types of publications it uses to make changes to the US GAAP: 1. Statements of Financial Accounting Standards: the most authoritative US GAAP setting publications. 2. Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts: Part of the FASB’s conceptual framework project, these are fundamental objective and concepts that the FASB will use in developing future standards. They are not a part of the US GAAP, but instead represent future goals of the GAAP. 3. Interpretations: Interpretations modify or extend existing standards and are a part of the US GAAP. There are currently 48 interpretations available 4. Technical Bulletins: These are guidelines on applying standards, interpretations, and opinions. They usually solve a very specific accounting issue that does not have a significant, long-lasting effect. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is an independent, privately funded organization founded in London, England on April 1, 2001 with the stated objective to: â€Å"develop a single set of high quality, understandable, enforceable, and globally accepted financial reporting standards based upon clearly articulated principles.† To achieve these objectives the IASB has developed the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and aggressively promoting the use of these standards. As of today over 120 countries either require or permit the use of IFRSs and all members of the G20 have established time lines to adopt the IFRSs in the near future (including the United States.) The IFRSs consist of the standards, interpretations, and frameworks issued by the IASB, and include many of the standards formerly known as International Accounting Standards (IAS) which were issued by the now defunct International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) which existed from 1973 until 2001. The IFRSs are principle based standards (as opposed to the US GAAP which uses rules-based standards) that establish broad rules but generally leave specific treatments open to some interpretation. IFRSs consist of: 1. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) – All standards issued after the IASB was founded in 2001. 2. International Accounting Standards (IAS) – Standard issues by the IASC prior to 2001. 3. Interpretations from the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) – Interpretations issued after 2001. 4. Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC) – Interpretations issued before 2001. 5. Framework for the Preparations and Presentations of Financial Statements – A statement of the basic principles of the IFRSs. The framework serves as a guide to resolving accounting issues not specifically addressed in a standard. Having established the backgrounds of the major players to the Norwalk Agreement it is important to understand how this convergence project will affect US Corporations in their future financial reporting as the FASB / SEC begins their push towards full integration by the year 2016. As converged standards are introduced, many US Corporations will see major changes in all areas of their business activities ranging from financial statements to leasing to employee benefits and although covering all these changes is beyond the scope of this paper, we will present some of the more important changes. The largest major difference between the two regulations is in their scope, and level of â€Å"guidance† for companies in the area of revenue recognition. The US GAAP has developed detailed guidance for many different industries incorporating standards suggested by a multitude of accounting standards organizations in those specific industries. The IFRS, on the other hand, mentions two standards for revenue recognition for guidance and allows companies to determine which method they will use. Another major change for US Companies is in the area of inventory costing. Under US GAAP, companies may choose between using LIFO (Last-In-First-Out), FIFO (First-In-First-Out), or a variety of other inventory valuation methods, in accounting for cost of goods held in inventory. Once the switch is made to IFRS, the use of LIFO for inventory valuation will be prohibited so that all companies will be similar cost formulas. Several additional changes include: 1. The option to classify expenses based on either function or nature under IFRS vs. the requirement to classify expenses based on function only under US GAAP. 2. The requirement to present noncontrolling (â€Å"minority†) interest as a component of equity on the balance sheet under IFRS vs. the requirement under US GAAP to present noncontrolling interest outside of equity. 3. The ability to use either the proportionate consolidation method or the equity method of accounting for joint venture accounting under IFRS vs. the current requirement to use the equity method of accounting 4. IFRS will allow revaluation of assets for several different classes of assets, even requiring their revaluation on a regular basis whereas currently US GAAP does not permit revaluation under any circumstance. 5. Under IFRS, advertising and promotional cost will have to be expensed as incurred vs. the US GAAP which allows for costs to either be expensed as they are incurred, or expense when the advertising takes place for the first time, leaving the choice up to the individual company. While these changes are just a few of the changes which will impact company’s’ financial statements there are many changes coming which fall in areas outside financial statements. Nowhere is this clearer than in the area of US regulatory laws. As an article in the Wall Street Journal, â€Å"Closing the Information GAAP,† notes that, â€Å"If an accounting and reporting framework that relies on professional judgment rather than detailed rules is to flourish in the U.S., the legal and regulatory environment will need to evolve in ways that remain to be seen.† They suggest that laws in the US will have to move to accept more ambiguity in accounting, and that the change to IFRS could possibly provide new defenses to executives and accountants who try to do the right thing. A final change noted by both the PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Accenture case studies, is the updating, sometimes at a very high cost, of companies Accounting Information Systems to be able to collect, store, and analysis financial data in ways that will comply with the new IFRS standards. These two studies both believe that this activity will be the most painful and difficult for the majority of US companies to comply with. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. FASB. â€Å"FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board.† Norwalk Agreement. Accessed June 29, 2010. . [ 2 ]. SEC. â€Å"SEC Proposes Roadmap Toward Global Accounting Standards to Help Investors Compare Financial Information More Easily.† Accessed June 29, 2010. < http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-184.htm> [ 3 ]. FASB. â€Å"FASB: Facts about FASB.† Accessed July 03, 2010. [ 4 ]. IFRS Foundation. â€Å"Who we are and what we do.† Published July 2010 [ 5 ]. IASB. â€Å"About the IFRS Foundation and the IASB.† Accessed July 02 2010. [ 6 ]. IAS Plus. â€Å"Summaries of International Financial Reporting Standards.† Accessed July 03 2010. [ 7 ]. PriceWaterhouseCoopers. â€Å"IFRS and US GAAP similarities and differences.† September 2009. From the â€Å"IFRS Readiness Series.† [ 8 ]. Accenture. â€Å"Preparing for International Financial Reporting Standards: An Opportunity for Finance Transformation.† [ 9 ]. Ernst & Young. â€Å"US GAAP vs. IFRS: The Basics.† January 2009. [ 10 ]. The Wall Street Journal. â€Å"Closing the Information GAAP.† Accessed July 20 2010.

Brigham and Houston Essay

1. Whenever we are interested in buying a bond from the bond market, the bond’s issuer promises to pay back the principal (or par value) when the bond matures (Brigham and Houston, 2001). During this time, the issuer is obliged to pay interest in order to compensate the use of money. The interest payment is made on coupon rate which is fixed. There is an inverse relationship between the coupon rate and the bond prices, when: †¢ Interest rate increase, leads to rise in income, whereas the price of the bond declines. †¢ Interest rate decrease, leads to decline in income, whereas the price of the bond rises. Also we need to consider that the coupon rate is inversely related to duration because higher coupon rates lead to quicker recovery of the bond’s value, resulting in a shorter duration, relative to lower coupon rates. If coupon rate is greater than the market rate then it is favourable for issuer and if coupon rate is less than the market rate then it is favourable for purchaser (Brigham and Houston, 2001). The reason behind the variations in the coupon rates of various bonds is the market interest rate; company’s performance, time length, and credit worthiness of the issuer. So, all these factors have an implication on the bond yields. 2. Ratings of these bonds are determined on the basis of both qualitative and quantitative factors some of which are listed below: †¢ If a company uses conservative accounting policies, its reported earnings will be higher than if it uses less conservative procedures. †¢ Various ratios including the debt ratio and the Times Interest Earned (TIE) ratio also have some implications on these bond ratings. †¢ If company explores any new sites containing oil, gas, coal fields etc. †¢ Increase in the company’s sales & net profit increase both domestically and internationally also uplift the bond ratings and it showed that debt holder show the confidence on the company’s policy. Bond ratings might take a downward leap when: †¢ There is a signal of bankruptcy, internal mismanagement and financial distress in the firm (Helfert, 2001). †¢ When the company does not abide by the law, i. e. it breaches the laws, this may be related to environment, etc. †¢ When the product life cycle is going downwards and company can’t add more products in their product line. †¢ Negative bond covenants also hits the bond ratings of the company. †¢ Labour unrest or strikes may cause instability in the bonds ratings. †¢ Economic recession in the country. 3. We know that whenever the interest rate rises, bond prices tend to fall, and when rates fall, bond prices tend to rise (Helfert, 2001). This primarily occurs due to the economic condition of the country and also because of the market sentiments. If the price of the bond goes down it is less attractive (pays less interest) in comparison with current offerings and when the price of the bond goes up it is more attractive (pays more interest) in comparison with current offerings. This may also be described as when the coupon rate is greater than market rate then it is favourable for issuer and if coupon rate is lesser than market rate then it is favourable for the purchaser. Some bonds are sold below par value, which means (at discount) or greater than par value, which means (at premium). This mainly occurs due to the risk perceived for the debt of that particular organization. Market interest rate fluctuations usually effect the performance of the bonds in the secondary markets. Federal bank monetary and fiscal policy, inflation rate, recession in the economy, etc are the factors that may force organizations to sell the bonds at discount or at premium. One must also consider that sale of bonds on discount or at premium also has some impact on the yield and also the maturity of the bond, the shorter a bond’s maturity, the less its duration. Bonds with higher yields also have lower durations. Also the company’s performance reflects in bond valuations, i. e. its bond ratings, bond covenants and credit worthiness etc (Helfert, 2001). 4. The yield to maturity (YTM) is a reflection of the return on investment, that is earned at the current price, incase the bond is held by the issuer to its date of maturity and redeemed at par value. In other words, YTM is the discount rate that equates the present value of future inflows from the bond equal to its present price.

Ethics and Leadership in the Medical Device Industry †Ethics Essay

Ethics and Leadership in the Medical Device Industry – Ethics Essay Free Online Research Papers Ethics and Leadership in the Medical Device Industry Introduction Ethics Essay Medical research is necessary to develop and discover innovative therapies and cures. Ideas quickly move from basic science studies in the lab into experiments with animals and finally to trials with humans. Government policies along with internal institutional processes have been developed to ensure the ethical, responsible conduct of research. These policies were created to ensure that human subjects were shielded from unnecessary risk. In recent years, ethical questions have emerged in these areas. A governing principle is that research must be performed without any financial conflict of interest. Is it possible to exclude money from the research field? Is there a correlation between physicians and research companies and where in this field is there a role for vendors promoting products? Should doctors be banned from accepting any forms of payment from medical research companies? The objective of this literature review is to present an overview of literature related to the relationships of physicians, medical research companies and the United States government. After reading this review, the reader may wonder if physicians and leaders in the medical device industry are compromising the health of the public and if so, at what cost? Discussion of Literature Sanders, Kleim, Sklar (1996) state that the goal of medical research is to serve the public through improvements in diagnosis and treatment and to protect the public from unnecessary risk. The health of patients should not be compromised by the profit of companies. Charles Epps (2003) adds that the medical research community, which includes experts in science and technology, physicians and health workers and public policy makers, must strive to find a balance between patient safety and innovation. Daniel Rosenberg (2005) tells of the desire to make a profit cannot surpass the needs of the humans the products were made to enhance. In many companies quandaries about questionable situations now can be taken to ethics officers. Edward Lim (1999) argues in the defense of Ethics programs that came into vogue in the 1980’s. These programs were in response to well-publicized procurement fraud in the defense industry. In 1991, The United States established federal sentencing guidelines for organizations involved in the medical research industry. Charles Epps (2003) discusses the measures put in place by the government to punish those companies whose employees were engaged in wrongdoing. An organization can be fined up to $290 million and individuals can be imprisoned for their actions. John Lenzer (2004) states in his findings that company executives can also be charged if they were aware of fraud or negligent acts. On the other hand, fines can be reduced up to sixty percent if the company instituted an effective ethics program prior to the offense. Martha Lagace and Glenn Reicin (2003) point out the enormous difference between having a written code of ethics and running a fully functional ethics and compliance program in an organization. The federal guidelines have an expectation that every organization have a serious, ethics and compliance program. Advamed (2001) affirms that an ethics program should have these three parts. An ethics officer who has authority, a written code of conduct and an employee training program. In a further study of the Advamed program, Daniel Rosenberg (2005) states that nearly one-third of businesses in the United States operate ethics and compliance programs that meet these requirements, including medical device manufacturers Zimmer, DePuy, Biomet and Medtronic. There are many areas a solid ethics program must cover. These include: acts of dishonesty, sexual harassment, discrimination, and environmental policies. Businesses may want to seek guidance in developing an effective program from the Ethics Officer Association in Belmont, MA. The biggest growth in developing ethics and compliance programs is in the health-care sector, says Amanda Mujica, director of communications for the organization. â€Å"Good ethics is good business,† says Blair Childs, executive vice president of AdvaMed (2005). To further quote Mr. Childs, â€Å"It is not only good business for industry in terms of how it is viewed by the public, but also because it is the way responsible companies behave and want to behave.† Arthur Ciarkowski (2002) argues that ethics programs are increasingly values-based rather than simply adhering to the letter of the law. â€Å"Ethics officers teach employees not only whats legal, but whats right. Most of us know the difference between wrong and right, but some situations arent quite so clear-cut. For example, if an engineer is visiting a client who offers to let him inspect the design of a competitors device, is it ethical for the engineer to do so? In a study preformed by Aronoff and Associates (2002) Creating and implementing an ethics program can be costly. It can range from about $250,000 to over $1 million depending on the number of employees who will be trained. Can a business really afford not to have a program in place? Compare running a business to owning a house. An individual wouldnt, or at least shouldnt, own a house without having fire insurance. â€Å"A mature ethics and compliance program is your insurance in case one of your employees or leaders should spark trouble. Ethical decisions of leaders and physicians: I think most companies, as they think through their codes of conduct, have to make sure that marketing and research development departments are not providing direct sales inducements. Arthur Sanders, Samuel Keim and David Sklar, (1996) presented the following (true) cases during a symposium to the Biomedical Industry. Do these sound like examples of medical research or kickbacks? In case one, a doctor performs an orthopedic implant. The implant manufacturer asks the doctor to fill out a questionnaire six months later in order to monitor how the patient is doing. The manufacturer says it wants to learn about implant performance and patient mobility. In return, the doctor will get a check in the mail for $1,000. The amount of time necessary to fill out the questionnaire was fifteen minutes. In case two, a doctor gets paid more than $1 million annually to supervise other physicians on how to perform minimally invasive hip surgery. The surgery he proctors only uses one company’s implants. In case three, an orthopedics medical practice wants to expand in order to conduct research. It wants to hire a researcher so it establishes a non-profit foundation to fund a research fellowship. A medical devices company sponsors the fellowship; the researcher uses only the products supplied by one medical device company. Stacy Bell (1998) notes that medical device companies offer cash, vacation and incentive-driven surgeries to entice physicians to use their products exclusively. When a physician or group of physicians are loyal to one brand, the company can feel confident that this will lead to an increase in sales from that individual doctor over time. Financial Rewards Daniel Rosenberg (2005) discusses a shifting of funds from the pharmacy sector to medical devices is evident. Just a few years ago, there was a trillion dollars in market capitalization in the domestic pharmacy sector and only $300 million or so in the medical device sector. More recently, however, investors have been concluding that the drug business is riskier than the franchise model of medical devices because drug patents eventually expire. In comparison, medical devices have very quick product cycles, generally twelve to eighteen months, but device companies develop lasting relationships with their customers and create sustainable franchises that allow growth within an existing customer base. During a panel forum at the Medical Leadership Forum, (2002) A discussion revolved around the great advances in medical technology. The most promising advances include drug-eluting stents for heart care, minimally invasive hip replacement and, for chronic and degenerative back problems, artificial carbon fiber disks will soon be ‘Food and Drug Administration† (FDA) approved, but the relative returns of medical devices still show room for marginal improvement. During the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting (2004) Theâ€Å"only† message from many leaders of device companies is that medical devices are expected to continue to show improving financial returns. The company leaders never mentioned the dramatic effect an implant may have of a life, the message delivered was detailed, but only with expected profits. John Lenzer (2004) questions the percentage of profits that are set aside for every new implant that is brought to market, for law suits. Raymond Holgram (2002) comments that with Daniel Troy, chief counsel to the US Food and Drug Administration, being under fire for inviting device companies to inform him of lawsuits against them so the FDA could help, is â€Å"An abuse of power and lack of ethical leadership from our government, can only raise questions of the influence the device industry has within government†. When a device company is ready to submit a device for review, the process is called a 510k submission, these guidelines are set forth by the American Society Testing and Materials (2001) The FDA accepts all the implant device submissions in the order of submission and a delay of a few weeks can mean a loss of millions in sales. The first rendition of an implant that meets minimum FDA requirements is submitted as soon as possible for approval. Human trials are a part of each submission. While the data is examined by the FDA, the submitting company continues to make changes on the submitted product. These changes are allowed as long as they again, meet the minimum requirements. Is it ethical for companies to change a product they implanted in trials and not notify the patient? If minimum guidelines were met and because all implant devices carry the tag of â€Å"experimental† patients are not automatically notified of implant failures. The decision to submit a product for approval is purely profit driven and made by the company leaders. The Major customer of the Device Manufactures: Martha Lagace Glenn Reicin, (2003) discuss the medical device industry, where the customer is not the patient. In fact, the patient often has no idea and no choice of the manufacturer of the device their physician uses or the costs associated. The customers for the device companies are the hospital administrator, doctor, and/or nurse. Medical devices vary from inexpensive to costly, but there are questionable ethical dilemmas associated with both. At the low end, there are needles and syringes, known in the business as â€Å"sharps†. This is a $2.25 billion market with extremely low share volatility. The average selling price of a device (sharp) is twenty to forty cents. The customer is the hospital administrator. The secondary customer is the nurse. If some training is necessary to learn how to use the product, the device companies pay for the hospital training program. The products are stocked in hospital inventory, so there is no need for the sales representative to be present when the product is used, in contrast to orthopedic implants. Lagace Reicin, (2003) continue this discussion stating that one of the most expensive items is the orthopedic implant. They account for over $11 billion in sales, but less than six percent of this amount is spent on research and development. The customer is the orthopedic surgeon; the secondary customer is the surgical team. Hospitals do not keep inventory of orthopedic implants, since there is a left and a right of every product. The sales representative who essentially â€Å"lends† them to the hospital usually owns the instruments used to put in an implant. A companys sales support is involved in every implantation. Since the sales representative and the orthopedic surgeon must be in communication about the products, are all conversations limited to the medical needs of the patient? Industry Leadership In describing transformational leadership, Steven Covey (1990) uses words such as developer, mentor, value clarifier, and exemplar. These leaders cultivate collaborative relationships based on mutual interests (win-win). Because Covey believes transformational leadership builds on the human need for meaning, he also uses words like purpose, values, love, morals, ethics, mission, and principles to further clarify this type of leadership. Finally, Covey says that becoming a transformational leader requires vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence, courage, and faith. Traits needed to guide the medical device industry. Keshavan Nair (1994) points out that there is a need for moral leaders in all areas of the culture; there is a widely held view that leaders, especially those in business and politics, have lost their moral purpose and sense of idealism. Wilhelm Roepke (1995) makes the case that the most pressing need in society today is the need for moral leadership. Paul King (1997) adds that although many hope for moral leadership, unfortunately, there are too many examples of leaders who appear to pursue objectives that are not moral. Conclusion During the past decade, there has been a gradual erosion of the ethical principles that guide relationships between physicians and industry leaders. Two areas in which the decline has been most notable are gifts to physicians and the relationships of industry to educational and research activities. The gifts have become more valuable and industry representatives make gifts available under circumstances where frequently there is no educational program. Research support continues at a high level but researchers increasingly find themselves in positions that present conflicts of interest with the interests of patients who are research subjects. These changes have taken place during an era in which professionalism also has declined and physicians are losing control of their practices to government and to the corporate sector. Physicians and industry suggest a solution to this dilemma through strict adherence to the existing ethical principles. Physicians must renew observance of professionalism and improve oversight and discipline. Medicine cannot impose restrictions on the implant manufacturing industries but can appeal to industrys leadership. Industry leaders must also govern marketing and sales representatives of industry. There must be an ethical common ground if a new physician and industry relationship is to succeed in producing a climate of mutual respect and higher ethics; patients will benefit and physicians and industry will regain the public trust. In response to ethics violations, policy makers and politicians have crafted new laws and regulations. While some changes in regulations are appropriate and necessary, they do not address the core issues. It is impossible to legislate integrity, stewardship, and sound governance. New laws and regulations, alone will not correct the multiplicity of problems. Somewhere along the way have companies lost sight of the importance of selecting ethical leaders that create healthy corporations for the long-term? Were the lessons of building great companies like Medtronic, Zimmer, Johnson Johnson, and PG lost in the rush for raising stock prices short-term? Were those fortunate enough to lead great companies only the stewards of inherited legacies from past leaders? If companies continue to use an aggressive sales force to market their product, without paying attention to the ethical consequences, ethical problems will continue to rise to the surface. Should the sales force of the medical implants industry be held to a higher standard than a sales force of other industries? Are the sales force marketing a product or marketing something that could profusely affect humans? The lessons are evident. If we select people principally for their charisma and their ability to drive up their short-term stock price instead of their character, and shower them with inordinate rewards, why should we be surprised when they turn out to lack integrity? An ethical and moral person leads by example and by voicing opinions. It means not being afraid to take a stand on questions of ethics or morality, on questions of behavior, or questions of decency. Bibliography AdvaMed (2001). Code of Ethics in the device industry. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Forum (2004). Physician Review of the most Promising Products for 2005. Aronoff Associates (2002). Biomaterial supply for permanent medical implants. 16, 124-140. American Society for Testing and Materials. (2001). committee F-04 Standards and Guidelines for 510k submission. Bell, Stacy (1998). Higher Profit Margins, Do Ethics Programs Pay? Medical Device Diagnostic Industry Magazine. 5, 177-186. Benkeser, Paul. (2005). Challenges and Opportunities in Ethics in Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Today, 27, 1-8 Brennan, MG. and M.A. Tooley. (2000). Ethics and the Biomedical Engineer Engineering Science Journal. 9, 5-7. Briskin, A. (1996). The stirring of the soul in the workplace. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Caudron, Shari. (2002). Where have all the Leaders Gone? Workforce Management. Covey, S.R. (1990). Principle–Centered Leadership. New York: Simon Schuster. Ciarkowski, Arthur, PhD. (2002). What Information Can/Should the Federal Government Provide? Industry News, 42, 7-12. Epps, Charles, MD. (2003). Ethical Guidelines for Orthopaedists and Industry. Clinical Orthopaedics Journal. 217, 33-37. Food and Drug Administration (2002). Guidelines for 510k submission. Gaudiani, C.L. (1997). Catalyzing community. Educational Record, 78 (3-4), 81-86. Holgram, Raymond. (2002). Is the FDA for Sale? Harvard Business Journal. King, P.M. (1997). Character and civic education: What does it take? Educational Record, 78 (3-4), 87-93 Lagace, Martha Reicin, Glenn. (2003). Ethics and Medical Devices. Harvard Business School. Lenzer, J. (2004) FDA accused of being to close to the device industry. Biomechanics Journal. 417, 22-25 Lim, Edward, MD. (1999). The Orthopedic Surgeon and the Manufacturing Industry Relationship. Clinical Orthopedics Journal. 301, 4-10 Lussier, Robert N., and Achua, Christopher F. (2004) Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development, 2nd edition (2004). Cincinnati, Ohio. Southwestern College Publishing. P 130 Farahmand, Robert. (2004). Good ethics is good business. Medical Device Link, 8, 17-19. Medical Leadership Forum (2002). Stanford University. Nair, K. (1994). A higher standard of leadership. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler. Ropke, W.J. (1995). Morality as a yardstick of educational leadership. Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, 50(2), 71-76 Rosenberg, Daniel (2005). As Investments, Medical Devices Pose Challenges. Harvard Business Review. Sanders, Arthur B., MD, Keim Samuel M., MD, Sklar David, MD. (1996). Gifts to Physicians from the Biomedical Industry. Orthopaedic Medical Journal. 279, 9-12 Research Papers on Ethics and Leadership in the Medical Device Industry - Ethics EssayArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Genetic EngineeringInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesTwilight of the UAWResearch Process Part OneOpen Architechture a white paperThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UsePETSTEL analysis of IndiaDefinition of Export QuotasAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

What to Do With Your Hands During a Job Interview

What to Do With Your Hands During a Job Interview There are ways to appear (and feel) more confident using body language. But not much attention is paid to what we’re supposed to be doing with our hands. Here are some subtle secrets about  what to do with your hands during a job interview. Use Them to Show ConfidenceRather than crossing your arms across your chest- a gesture of insecurity or defensiveness, try folding your hands, one on top of the other, or simply resting them on the arm of your chair. You’ll appear more open, more in control, and more confident. And remember: open fingers are always better than curled fists.Try to Remain CalmFidgeting is bad. Moving around excessively trying to get comfortable will just prove to your interviewer that you aren’t- and it’s probably not the chair’s fault. On the other hand, not moving at all can make you look rigid or unnatural. Think of it like blinking and come up with a balance of natural movement. You’ll come off like a normal human bein g, which is good- especially when you’re nervous.Use Them to CommunicateIf your palms are open and facing up, this conveys a certain honesty, or willingness. You’re listening, inviting trust. Downward facing palms can convey dominance and firmness, which are much better for salary negotiations than interviews. Also remember to keep your shoulders relaxed. If they’re all the way up at your ears with anxiety, your interviewer will take notice.Beware of Cultural DifferencesAll of this applies mostly to the Western business world. Don’t forget that different body signals can convey totally different things around the globe. Make sure to do a bit of research to rejigger your expectations before an interview. Be sensitive. A thumbs-up in America is great, but do it in an Asian country and you’ll probably offend someone without realizing what you’ve done.Practice Gesture ControlYou may talk with your hands, but you should try and restrict this beha vior in the interview. Keep it to a minimum and focus instead on wielding your words with care and concision, lest you distract your interviewer with your arms flapping around. No matter how hilarious you know you are.

Primate Observation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Primate Observation - Research Paper Example The unjust treatments subjected to the non-human primate species denies present and future humanity the chance to study and understand the closest relatives of the human species. Evidently, the study of the non-human primates such as gorillas, apes and chimpanzees offer insightful learning opportunities pertaining to their physical and social characteristics as well as relationship with human behaviour. To this end, the subsequent sections will delve into the primate description of two major non-human species. These are the gorillas and chimpanzees. The description will examine their social and mating structures, food acquisition strategies and intelligent levels. Furthermore, the literature herein will offer comparative analysis between the gorillas and chimpanzees as well examine their regional distribution. The final section will delve into the relationship between the two non-primates and the understanding of human behaviour. Primate Descriptions a) Gorillas The gorilla primates are evidently the largest cohort of the primate family. They also exhibit the closest relation with humans as 98% of their DNA is in conformity to man’s DNA (Jurmain, 157). Gorillas are mostly land dwelling animals since they do not climb trees. The gorillas are classified into two different species with four sub-species that are determined based on their physical characteristics and their geographic location. The first species is Gorilla gorilla with sub-species of G. g. gorilla, from western lowland and G. g. diehli from cross river (Taylor, 100). The second species is Gorilla beringei with sub-species of G. b. Graueri also known as eastern lowland and G. b. beringei also known as mountain gorilla (Taylor, 100). To this end, the subspecies vary in their habitats with distinct physical characteristics and different numbers of populations. In this regard, the Western gorilla and Eastern gorilla species are classified based on their geographic location within their African hab itat. The Eastern Gorilla has two subspecies known as the Eastern lowland gorilla and Mountain gorilla. The Eastern lowland gorilla is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Jurmain, 159). Their population is classified as endangered with less than 3000. Their physical characteristics place them as the largest among the gorilla species. They also have shorter hair and teeth compared to the mountain gorillas as well as possessing the longest arms. On the other hand, the mountain gorilla is classified as critically endangered as their population currently stands at less than 720. Their physical characteristics are consistent with angular nostrils, a wide face and a large skull. Moreover, it has longer hair and larger body compared to the eastern lowland gorilla (Taylor, 102). The two sub-species of the Western Gorilla are Western Lowland Gorilla and Cross River Gorilla. The Western lowland gorilla is also classified as critically endangered with a population of less than 100,000 (Taylor, 105). Its species is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, its physical characteristics entail a silver-back colouring on the males which also covers the thighs. The hair on their heads is also redder. On the other hand, the Cross River Gorilla has a population of approximately 300 and labelled as critically e

The monstrous in photography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The monstrous in photography - Essay Example Many products of painting have documentary and informational value. Our epoch is distinguished by the tendency of showing the reality. However our reality is not always pleasant to look at, that is why critics and psychologists, painters and photographers argue about the representation of monstrous and the taboo in respect of this representation. The body in modern American art is shown as defenseless, injured, sexual, disjointed, dreadful and supernatural. There are a lot of unquotable elements. This concerns the artists like Mike Kelley, John Miller, Kiki Smith, Robert Gober, Cindy Sherman, Andres Serrano, Barbara Nortfleet and others.It is really impossible to forget the shocking gesture of Andres Serrano. In 1991 in the Austrian gallery he exposed a composition "'Piss Christ'" The crucifixion written by urine (yellow on red) was showed in gallery no more than for three days - they were afraid of pogroms. On the first day the 51-years Catholic tried to break a frame, but he was dragged back by the guards. On the second day two teenagers managed to do that. The next fascinating sight can be found in the book of Barbara Nortfleet "Looking at Death". Nobody would dare to remain indifferent looking at this astonishing book, a collection of over a hundred fascinating and often scandalous photographs. After looking through at l east several of them one will never be able to look at death as he did before. Here you will find different kinds of death: on the stage and in war, by violence and in medicine. There is absurdity and tragedy, knack and pretense. This book makes us look at our life differently and inspires to appreciate every moment of living. The creativity of the abovementioned authors is actively discussed by many critics; different opinion was formed about their work. However what does the person feels looking at such images Are they criminal and must be forbidden or can they just serve as a cause for thinking What do they really represent The concept of representation is a key concept both for a paradigm of "cultural researches" and for feministic criticism. At the same time it is one of the most problematic concepts in terms of definition. Stewart Hall says that the representation has two main meanings: 1)"speaking for somebody" representation or somebody's interest; 2) representation in art or philosophy (as a representation of something existing by other means). Stewart Hall considers it to be possible to reduce all the variety of cultural approaches in the decision of this problem to three basic models of interpretation: reflective (mimetic), intentional and constructional (including semiotic and discursive approaches). Hall defines the representation as a process by means of which subjects of culture use the language (any system of marks) for values manufacture. Objects of representation have no sense: it appears during the interpretation and the communications, coding and decoding of texts and depends on the cul tural context. Photography is philosophical observations and reflections. The photographer is not an operator, he is a producer, he creates and organizes a situation, he is a stage manager, the thin psychologist penetrating into the depths of human soul. From this point of view a completely necessary condition of perception is a certain preliminary cogitative gesture, some kind of "hidden manner". It is important not to refuse the experience of our inherent photography