Imagery Foreshadowing

Creating Suspense In the short story, â€Å"Three Skeleton Key† by George Outdoes, imagery and foreshadowing are important literary devices used in this story. Outdoes use s these two devices to help create suspense in the acts of the three lighthouse workers being data eked by sea rats. Foreshadowing is a literary device used by authors to give hints what is to co me later in the story. Foreshadowing is a nonchalant warning for events that follow.Tout ouzo States, â€Å"Three Skeleton Key, the small rock on which the light stood, bore a bad reputation. † (peg 1) The author sees foreshadowing here to hint toward unfortunate events that happen later on. For example, the ship wrecks on the island. Eventually the rats take over the lighthouse, forcing the three men to be locked into one room of the lighthouse with no supplies. After the rat invasion ion, one of the men, Eel Glee, goes mad, another, Ithaca, dies from an infected rat bite.Too douse also states, â€Å"Watchi ng her sail dead for us, a white wave boiling her bows, Eel Glee cried 0 UT, â€Å"What's wrong with her crew? † (peg 2) The author uses foreshadowing here to hint tow arts the death of the crew from the ship, and the crew that worked on the lighthouse. The fate of the crew from the ship was that they had to abandon the ship because of the invasion of the shih p by sea rats. The crew had to abandon the ship, they were left for death in the middle of the co mean. The lighthouse crew was destined to a chaotic series of events dealing with the same sea rats .The crew is pretty much bound for death when trapped inside the room of the lighthouse with n o supplies. Foreshadowing is important in the act of creating the suspense in this story. Imagery is a literary device used by authors to visually describe their work. Im age rye helps reader to feel even close to the action in the story. Outdoes says, â€Å"If you u so much as harm one, his sharp cry will bring hordes of his fello ws to swarm over you, and not cease until your flesh has been stripped from your bones. (peg 4) He uses imagery in this case to show how vengeful the rats truly are. These lines make you visualize the rats swarming o very and striping your flesh from your bones.

Family and Happiness

Hello Professor Do you know what happiness is? Where does it come from? In this essay I will conduct an experiment for what older, experienced adults may think happiness is. To what preteens may think happiness is. The following includes the people I’m experimenting on and their results to my questions. Six Questions First suspect: Church Member Sis Wims Question: What is happiness in your own words? Answer: I think happiness is your smile and the way you act toward others. Question: what influenced you to give the answer that you gave? Answer: because it my personality and I walk around with a smile all day. Question: What has brought you happiness? Answer: My job, my family and my good health. Question: Do you think other people have different perspectives of happiness? Answer: yes, because some people have happiness and different ways I think some is can use happiness as how they live with big fine home, cars, money and all the luxuries things in their home. Question: Can happiness be bought? Answer: No, because you cannot buy happiness it will come on its own. You may feel happiness in your heart. Question: Do you find happiness in the little things? Answer: Yes I can find happiness in little things by meeting new friends helping the elderly peoples help out with the people in my church is a good leader. Be one of the best people that I can do my best in what do. Second suspect: Granddaughter Maya Question: What is happiness in your own words? Answer: Happiness in my own words would be being around family members and being loved by others. Question: what influenced you to give the answer that you gave? Answer: When I was younger my uncle Paris died and I was so happy to see all my family members there to support my mom and siblings. To see the support of my family member it brought me great happiness. Also when I come out of school my grandmother is outside waiting for us in her car to pick me up. Question: What has brought you happiness? Answer: My siblings and loving grandmother brought me happiness. Question: Do you think other people have different perspectives of happiness? Answer: Yes I do think people have different perspectives of happiness because it all depends where you come from and how you were raised. Question: Can happiness be bought? Answer: I don’t think so because what brings you happiness is from deep down inside and what comes from your soul. Question: Do you find happiness in the little things? Answer: Yes I do find happiness in little things like young love or accepting who you are inside. In conclusion the age difference may not change how one person may think happiness is. Both my suspect have almost the same ideas of happiness. I also agree with their answers. I may not know what other peoples definition of happiness is but I know what mines are and the people around me. Happiness may change over time but mostly everyone knows what they really want in their life. You may not see what makes you happy right away but when you do I will be more obvious than ever before. I remember the song of Al Green â€Å"Love and Happiness†. Like in the song â€Å"Love make you do right, love make you do wrong make you stay out all night long. Happiness can bring many different things. Happiness made me return back to school. Without returning back to school I don’t think I’ll have the happiness I have right now. Happiness will never come to those who don’t appreciate it. So from all this I can what I like the most from this experiment was how people explained what they thought happiness was. As I was a little girl I always believed in a good life that I could live in that I could be very happy for rest of my life. Have a happy family, a nice paying job and a loving home. Life brings happiness that look for it. It is gentle. Happiness is a dance you choose which one you want to dance to probably a nice gentle dance. Happiness is everything you put into it. How you show your love to others. I think happiness is the best thing that you can accomplished out of life. It does matter how or what you did to get it all that matters is that you have it now. Thank you professor I did it!

Review of Accounting Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Review of Accounting Ethics - Research Paper Example Accounting ethics is a vast term and have a lot of minor details in it. Looking at just the basics, it can be defined as providing right financial details to the company and to its stake holders. Numbers are something which can be manipulated very easily for one’s own interest and that is where the rules and regulations are made to make sure that the accounting ethics are not breached at any level. Businesses make sure that each and every account is made and maintained in the right manner (Cohn, 2013). Accountants work in many different areas and fields. They are not focused on one particular subject but have to handle a lot of work at a single time. The accounting areas majorly include performing audits, making tax statements, making budgets and planning for the future, manage the ongoing accounts, consultancy and of course, preparing general accounts. Having so many things to handle, there is an opportunity for them to make frauds at each level or subjects they are working o n. The greed of making huge amount of money in no time makes them get onto the wrong track and that’s where the ethical issues start coming into action (Mele Carne, 2005). Although having all the right code of conduct, there are still some loopholes in the system which the accountants and the senior officials of the company identify and then use it for their own good. One of the biggest examples we can find in the history which was charged of the allegation of breach of accounting ethics is the Lehmon Brothers Inc. Lehmon Brothers was one of the giant companies and had a big name when it comes to the investment market of the United States of America and due to its unethical accounting methods it got bankrupt. The business of Lehmon Brothers can be described as borrowing money from the general public and then investing that money into different assets. They earned interest from their investment into the assets and then share the interest earned with the people they borrowed lo an from (Jeffers, 2011). Lehmon Brothers were considered a good company to invest in as they showed people their artificially made financial statements to the people. After they filed bankruptcy in 2008, the position of Lehmon Brothers came in front of the eyes of the people. We will now discuss about how they betrayed people by showing artificially made good financial statements. A report was made by Jeffers, Agatha E. in which all the details regarding Lehmon Brothers bankruptcy and how they did breach the accounting ethics was presented. Lehmon Brothers used a Repo 105 accounting policy to misguide their investors. Repo 105 policy suggests that when an asset is given out and cash is received, it should be recorded as sale of asset. Although in accounting methods, an asset is not considered and written as sale until it is completely transferred to the second party and is fully non-operational by the company. Lehmon Brothers accustomed to give assets as a guarantee to purchase loan s from the institutions abroad. They recorded this transaction as sale of assets and showed people that they have got rid of non worthy assets and have earned good money from that. In this way their balance sheet looked less leveraged as they have less unproductive assets and more cash. Secondly they used to pay off some liabilities with the

Impact of WorkLife Balance on Employee Performance Essay

Impact of WorkLife Balance on Employee Performance - Essay Example In this paper, the main discussion will be centered on reviewing the relevant literature about the measures that can be implemented by the organization in order to create a fine balance between the needs of the employees and the company so as to enhance positive outcomes for both parties. According to Beauregard and Henry, â€Å"Competing demands between work and home have assumed increased relevance for employees in recent years, due in large part to demographic and workplace changes such as rising numbers of women in the labour force, an ageing population, longer working hours, and more sophisticated communications technology enabling near constant contact with the workplace†. In as far as work balance is concerned, the employees should also be in a position to cater to their own family needs and interests. There are likely to be positive outcomes for both the employees and the employers. Research has shown that employees who are not given the opportunity to pursue their own goals are less satisfied in their work compared to those who are given the autonomy to make decisions that can impact on their goals and the needs of the organization. Jackson and Schuler argue that employees are not only motivated by financial gains but the autonomy to make decisions as well as to pursue their personal goals. This helps to create quality relationships between the employees and the organizations where mutual understanding can be enhanced. Against the rising demand of the need to create good industrial relations where dialogue between the employees and the employers can be supported to work together for the betterment of the company as a whole, the UK government has established The Partnership at Work Fund and it was launched under the Government grant scheme through the Department of Trade and Industry in 1999.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of an artificial kidney based on Essay

What are the strengths and weaknesses of an artificial kidney based on the use of proximal convoluted tubule cells - Essay Example In the search for alternative treatment of such diseases, kidney transplant emerged as the most viable option, which has been applied extensively. Nevertheless, despite kidney transplant being a successful option, the costs and the difficulty in finding the kidneys for transplant has promoted another alternative search, this time that entails the application of artificial kidney, based on the use of proximal convoluted tubule cells. This alternative is being widely studied and experimented, since it has shown some rays of hope that it might emerge as a viable alternative for addressing the problem. The discovery of this bio-artificial kidney has shown some potential of saving the life of people who have acute renal failures (Fawcett, 2004 n.p.). The study undertaken with 10 patients with acute kidney problems indicated that the artificial kidney that is based on the use of proximal convoluted tubule cells, is well tolerated by the adult human body, and has the potential of improving their conditions (Fawcett, 2004 n.p.). However, despite this ray of hope, there is a need to understand how the bio-artificial kidney operates. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the viability of the bio-artificial kidney, with a view to understand the advantages and disadvantages of its application. First, the strength of this bio-artificial kidney is, that it will be the first device of its kind to be implanted inside the body of humans, as opposed to the use of dialysis machines, which are connected to the body externally, and are used to filter the body waste mechanically (Boyle, 2010 n.p.). Therefore, this device eliminates all the inconvenience that are involved in mechanical removal of wastes from the body, considering that the device will be implanted inside the body of a patient, and thus will be performing continuously, as does the normal kidney (Fawcett, 2004 n.p.). The mechanical removal of human waste is associated with a lot of challenges. Most fundamental is t he fact that; the patient is not continuously involved in the removal of body wastes, but has to do it occasionally as programmed through the use of the dialysis machine. This puts the patients at a higher health risk, since the wastes may accumulate at a rate that was not anticipated by the physician, and thus cause the intoxication of the human body, while he/she still awaits the mechanical removal of wastes (Boyle, 2010 n.p.). It is in this consideration that the artificial kidney, based on the use of proximal convoluted tubule cells, is found to be advantageous, since it works like a normal kidney, without the need for programmable removal of kidney wastes. The application of this bio-artificial kidney eliminates the need to locate a patient close to a dialysis center, while also removing the need for them to undergo the extremely consuming procedure. The other strength associated with the use of the artificial kidney, based on the use of proximal convoluted tubule cells is that ; this artificial kidney is developed using the normal biological kidney cells (Fawcett, 2004 n.p.). The kidney is made up of a cartridge that is lined up with renal proximal tubule cells, which helps the kidney to operate like it was a normal kidney. This is because, the cells performs the most vital functions of the kidney, which is the filtration and separation of the kidney waste components from the vital electrolytes, salt, glucose and water, which are essential for the normal body functioning (Boyle, 2010 n.p.). Therefore, the artificial kidney prevents the loss of most important components of the blood system, which would otherwise have been lost through the

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 39

Case study - Essay Example The video positioned the Under Amour brands as of the best quality available in the market. The company is featured to provide excellent services guided by their marketing logo â€Å"Do in Brand†. The video shows how good interpersonal relationship is important in the brand marketing (Under Armour Video, 2011). The company uses internet marketing and provides online services and ensures that the website is well updated with what is available in the store. Under Amour website is well updated with the company’s details and they provide email marketing to their consumers. In addition, the company has created video games such as super bowl to enhance marketing of the products. The company skipped the paycheck and appeared in the magazine because of their innovative products. Later, the sport garment, Polyester/Elastane was used by most of the players making the company be recognized. The statement â€Å"we will protect this house† makes marketing strategy very strong because they portray a strong feeling of their brand. The company has future plans to promote its market by producing new products and opening new stores. The company is heavily indulging in marketing campaigns by expanding in athletic footwear by sale of cross training sneakers and cleats. This video has clearly dem onstrated how e- commerce is importance in promoting company brand and enhancing communication between the supplier and the consumer (Under Armour Video, 2011). The video features Philadelphia Phillies Inc. as the oldest, one name and one city licensed professional American sports dated back in 1883. The company is well established to cater recreational facilities for families and children. The company has got superior advertising strategies where they do not guarantee a superior or a winning team so that the clients will feel okay even if they lose. Events such as fans laughing with mascot, buying of souvenirs and fans enjoying the game to the maximum were featured

Managed health care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Managed health care - Essay Example her medical related problems in terms of cost are thought to be handled by Managed health care organizations, yet it has become controversial as the defined tasks are not properly done. Physicians, surgical equipment companies, pharmacies are considered for taking high costs and incentives as their commission. If managed care is to be associated with health care as a compulsion, all such activities should be taken under observations so as to provide proper and adequate medical facilities to the patients, which are of comparatively lower cost so that maximum number of people can benefit from it (Managed health care, Tobin 2012). No doubt managed health care provides enough benefit when the services are taken in bulk; it prominently reduces the total cost of equipments. Moreover, when managed health care organizations provide choice amongst physicians, labs and hospitals, it also becomes highly cost reducing for them as well as for the patient. But one who thinks that limiting choice is a bad option; he/she should have more money to spend in order to consult with other doctors. The delivery system by such organizations should be fair and cost-effective, i.e., all hospitals, physicians, nurses, Para-medical staff who are affiliated with managed health care organizations should be provided timely and at proper and needed place. In these areas, somehow managed health care is earning good points. But on the other hand, if the commission set by the elements of the delivery system rates too high, or they are less effective than the cost, the system starts to decline and the opponents get something to argue upon (D onohue 2008). Before managed health care was introduced, there was fee-for-service method in which doctors were paid every time they provide some service. Their services can be limitless and thus they earn a lot by this method. They themselves were the ones who decide how much to be charged for a particular service. Managed health care organizations convince

Techwire Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Techwire - Case Study Example The embedded strategy is to competitively develop the company increasing the stakes for all players. The company is operating in a gorgeous as well as stable industry and has key competitive advantages supported by considerable financial strength (Jarzabkowski, 2005). SWOT Analysis is a helpful technique for comprehending the Strengths as well as Weaknesses, and for discovering all the Opportunities present to the business and finally, the Threats or risks a company experiences (Ratnasingam, 2006). Applied in a business perspective it assists one carve a continued existence niche in the marketplace. Applied in a personal background, it permits one to create his or her profession in a manner that takes maximum advantage of their capabilities, talents as well as opportunities. Techwire business strengths are in general, the company is presently having the best team coupled with scientific engineers who are well-trained to make this excellent software. Additionally, the Chief Financial Officer) on the company formerly developed an implausible request that is distributed pertaining to large sums of money. The company has a number of demerits currently even though most of us are trying to concentrate on these people and also solve the limitations. Perceiving as the business bears a 50 million dollar deficiency, most of us are incapable to devote to marketing and promotion as well public regards as of now. The Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix is a strategic instrument which is applied in evaluating alternative group of strategies. The QSPM includes previous stage details in a systematic manner to compute the score of numerous strategies so as to discover the best counterpart strategy for the business (Yogyakarta, 2008). The QSPM emerges under the third phase of strategy creation which is known as â€Å"The Decision phase†

Small Business Owner Characteristics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Small Business Owner Characteristics - Essay Example If you would have listen to my investment advice years ago, maybe you wouldn’t be in this situation. You can look into a small business loan. There is something you can do about your non-existent business background. The first thing I would do is look up this website, http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/planning/basic.html. It is the United States Small Business Association website. They offer help in many different ranges, from business planning to small loans. Since your small business is already established, some of their services wouldn’t be helpful. They do have free online courses to help manage a small business. The Small Business Association should be able to help you not only with bookkeeping, but with business planning. Business planning is a must. It not only helps you define your profit and losses, it helps you market and achieve longtime goals. You can go this route, or if you don’t have time, you can hire a part time bookkeeper/manager. This will d ecrease from your profits. I believe you told me Hugo does his own books. If he can do his own books, manage and still find time to do machinist work, it should be possible for you to achieve as well. Small businesses fail because of the owner’s vision of his business, not what the business really does. You must go into this venture with your eyes wide open. A business owner has to be able to not only manage his staff critically, but his self as well. For example, if a job is going to put you into debt because of your need for perfection, you have to be able to turn that job down. You cannot let the machinist in you override your ability to manage this business. Hugo’s decision to take a small down payment and then take a percentage of the profit for the next fifteen years could be wise or very stupid. The Small Business Association website has a section on financing. You should check it out. If you take my advice and use this

Critical Legal Thinking Essay Example for Free

Critical Legal Thinking Essay A state doctrine is â€Å"a doctrine which states that judges of one country cannot question the validity of an act committed by another country within that other country’s borders. It is based on the principle that a country has absolute authority over what transpires within its own territory† (Cheeseman, 2013). In the case of Glen v. Club Mediteranee, S.A. this means that because the incident of Cuba’s expropriating the Glen’s beachfront property to Club Mediteranee, S. A. to build their facility and then not paying the Glen’s for the property cannot be brought to a U. S. court to be judged because the incident originated in Cuba and state doctrine states that another country cannot â€Å"question the validity of an act committed by another country† (Cheeseman, 2013, p. 543). The U.S.A. cannot just step in and tell Cuba that their standards and beliefs are wrong. Ethics No, the Cuban government and Club Mediteranee by ethical, societal, or U.S. standards act morally in the joint venture of building their facilities on the Glen’s beachfront property without establishing a contract or making payment to the Glen’s for their beachfront property. By our society standards and beliefs, in the U.S.A. this would be considered stealing. Although we might see this as immoral and illegal Cuba may not, because their country may have no compunction to take what is not theirs and use it as they see fit does not give another country the right to sit in judgment because each culture and civilization has their own ethical standards and we cannot place our standards on other countries because that would be unethical. Contemporary Business References Cheeseman, H. R. (2013). The Legal Environment of Business and Online Commerce: Business Ethics, E-Commerce, Regulatory, and International Issues. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Investment policy OECD. (2014.). Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/investment/toolkit/policyareas/investmentpolicy/expropriationlawsandreviewprocesses.htm

Controllability Principle in Responsibility Accounting

Controllability Principle in Responsibility Accounting One underlying concept of the traditional management control system is the responsibility accounting. It is viewed as an important feature because it permits the ease of decentralization in M-form organizations. It distributes accountability and provides accounting reports on these distributed accountabilities. It provides a way for large unmanageable organizations to be managed such that all subsystems have similar goals. It can be defined as a system where managers are held responsible for activities under their leadership. Built on responsibility accounting is the principle of controllability. This principle has been viewed as the cornerstone of responsibility accounting (S. Modell and A. Lee, 2001). The principle states that managers should only be evaluated on elements that are within their control. Research literatures on responsibility accounting point to the fact that responsibility accounting and the controllability principle cannot be made independent of one another. The re lationship becomes obvious when both are looked at together; responsibility accounting holds the manager responsible for a particular division but the controllability principle ensures that the managers are held responsible only for factors that they can control. For this reason, Ferrara (1964) called responsibility accounting a communication system with the sole purpose of helping the organization achieve its goals. The controllability principle, therefore, serves to make this communication channel clearer and understandable. The role played by the controllability principle makes it an appealing notion. However, much research articles have argued for the observance of controllability principle as well as against its observance in responsibility accounting. This paper seeks to evaluate the arguments for and against the observance of the principle of controllability. Arguments For and Against the Observance of Controllability Principle Recent research concludes that there are two types of uncontrollable factors within the borders of controllability; internal uncontrollable and external uncontrollable factors. Studies also show that when it comes to controllability, managers consider responsibility accounting fair when the effects of internal uncontrollable factors on their performance is negated in appraisal. The concept of fairness was given in McNally G. (1980) as one of the rationales for observing the principle of controllability. He stated this using the expectancy theory of motivation. The notion of fairness makes the observance of controllability desirable when performance evaluations are carried out on the managers. The controllability principle makes the appraisal a fair one. This is as a result of the appraisal done in consideration of the controllable factors and uncontrollable factors. The result of the appraisal would be a satisfied and possibly motivated manager. Choudhury N. (1986) goes further to sa y that this conforms to the commonly held principle of justice. The equity theory of motivation also helps to explain it further the theory says a fair days work for a fair days pay. In the case of the manager and controllability, this would be a fair assessment for a fair periods work. Achieving organizational goals are very important for any firm and the means of doing that is through the managers of the decentralized firms but if the managers perception of the performance appraisal is unfair, he is demotivated and unsatisfied. He also loses focus and possibly direction. Going by McGregors Y theory of motivation, this could damage the managers perception of his work. He wants to work and put in his best but if his best is judged against things out of his control, this could lead him to learned helplessness or to leave the firm (Nandan C, 1986). For such an organization whose appraisal system is deemed to be unfair, they would have a high turnover rate. The implications of this are far reaching as harmful managerial behaviour might crop up. With fairness in place, observing the principle of controllability helps managers to pay attention to uncontrollable factors. The responsibility accounting holds them accountable for what goes on in their divisions; controllability principle makes the uncontrollable factors obvious. Managers will direct corrective efforts to these uncontrollable factors (McNally G., 1980). This in turn would help to influence the managers behaviour such that it aligns with organizational goals. The knowledge that his appraisal is a fair one would motivate him to try to exert some influence over these uncontrollable factors. If the influence pays off, then he is one step closer to achieving organizational goals. This also induces him/her to pay more attention to factors previously perceived as uncontrollable but now influenceable because of the effort he has applied (F. Giraud, P. Langevin and C. Mendoza, 2008). In the agency theory framework of management control where all information is used to appr aise the managers performance in line with the controllability principle, the appraisal report highlights the controllable and uncontrollable factors. Senior management can attach rewards to these seemingly uncontrollable factors to ensure that managers do their best to attain them without neglecting other duties necessary for the organizational goal attainment. S. Modell and A. Lee (2001) refer to the influence over seemingly uncontrollable factors when they noted that reliance on controllability principle helps to enhance managerial control of powerful institutional actors such as managers. The empirical study carried out by Frow N, Marginson D, and Odgen S. (2005) at Astoria PLC also points out the fact that factors that cannot be controlled can be influenced with some effort; they found out that the firm uses the AIP (Astoria Improvement Process) to reinforce influenceablity. They noted that the AIP helps the manager retain some form of control where they have only partial contr ollability but the AIP also imposes expectation on the managers. This would ensure that the managers make extra effort to influence these factors to meet the expectation laid up on them. Controllability principle helps to neutralize the effects of uncontrollable factors on a managers performance, thus giving a true picture of the managers efforts. This is another appealing notion of the controllability principle. It has been argued that the organization is a social system that grows in complexity like the biological systems. This complexity brings with it constant changes and in the organizational context, this would mean unforeseen changes that can have positive or negative effects on the efforts of the manager. One of such complexity is the competitive and economic elements. Both of these can affect the managers effort in a positive or negative way. An appropriate example is the financial crisis of 2007-2010 which has caused a downturn in stock prices. This in turn affects the profit and investment levels but the controllability principle neutralizes the effects of the financial crisis on the managers performance. Giraud et al (2008) noted that neutralization of un controllable factors can take two forms; ex-ante neutralization and ex-post neutralization, both of which have the same the same result, neutralizing the effects of uncontrollable factors on the performance of the managers. The Controllability principle provides a reliable assessment of the managers performance. When all uncontrollable factors have been neutralized, the assessment will be based on the efforts of the manager in improving the division under his control. Choudhury (1986) notes this when he says that the results of the division under the mangers control is a combination of the managers efforts and the uncontrollable factors. Separating managers effort from uncontrollable factors provides a better basis for assessment. In the principal agent framework, this would be a very necessary basis for rewards, the principal uses everything in his disposal to appraise the manager but when controllability principle removes the uncontrollable factors, the managers efforts are clearly seen. The rewards can then be based on the managers efforts at controlling the factors that he could to achieve organizational objectives. Ferrara (1964) argues that the controllability principle in responsibility accounting helps the organization to grow in that it helps to locate the errors and mistakes of the organizational members. He argues that errors and mistakes are the stuff of which progress is made . He also argues that controllability is a means of locating those activities and people in the organization in need of help so that assistance can be rendered and scarce resources of the organization would be more utilized. This would mean that controllability principle works in line with the organizational goals and where a positive attitude about it is inculcated in managers, the organization should move at the targeted pace. The responsibility accounting reports will make clear the controllable factors and the uncontrollable factors but amidst the controllable factors, a well prepared report will reveal where there might be problems. These problems can be considered and worked on or used as a base for future st rategic plans. When all errors and mistakes are corrected, they make room for improvement. In spite of these appealing advantages for controllability principle, there have been arguments against its observance in the responsibility accounting. Choudhury (1986) argues that controllability principle is not sacrosanct. Considering the size of big firms, a lot of factors hinder the practicality of the controllability principle. The interdependencies of the divisions within these firms create an unclear line with respect to divisional boundaries and places difficulty on the responsibility accounting process. One such factor is the task complexity of some divisions. If a particular manager works with another divisional manager to accomplish a difficult task, it becomes difficult to appraise the managers efforts because supposedly, the manager with the task had control over the particular task but performance appraisal with controllability principle makes this difficult. The manager had the task under his control but the other manager that helped had no control over the task but had ideas and participated in accomplishing the task. In this aspect Amey (1979) compares organizations to biological systems that grow in complexity. The complex growth makes controllability impossible. Observing the controllability principle in complex organizations is limiting on the innovativeness and the creativity of managers in the organizations. When managers are aware that they are being assessed on controllable factors, they would not be willing to take on risky ventures that have potential benefits for the organization. In their examination of the limitations of controllability principle, Antle and Demski (1988) conclude that the limitations of controllability on organizational growth can be modified through the information content notion. The limitation of the controllability principle is a hindrance on the positive results of team work. M-form organizations require team work to succeed, however, the observance of the controllability principle in the principal-agent framework breeds competition and this affect team work negatively thus a sales manager might have a good idea on how to achieve the tasks of the marketing manager but because he does not want the marketing man ager to do better that him in their performance appraisal, he would not assist or offer advice. Team work is therefore placed at the bottom of the list of useful organizational ethics. On the contrary where both managers would work together without neglecting their divisional duties, they could achieve desired results and if possible, meet their separate targets. The study carried out by Frow et al (2006) supports this fact; their findings revolve around accountability without controllability and the results also shows that the Astoria Plc. encouraged more co-operations because of organizational promotion of greater interdependencies. Another aspect where the observance of controllability principle is limiting is the area of performance evaluation. It limits the use of market measures in evaluating the managers performance. The use of market measures is one of the ways of evaluating senior management employees and the limiting effect of the controllability principle weakens the effe ctiveness of these measures (Merchant, 2006). The limitations of the controllability principle lead to rigidity in organizations. The controllability principle does not allow room for organizational flexibility. It limits the organization to growth based on only controllable factors. Modern day organizations are very dynamic and this constant change is not compatible with the concept of controllability. If controllability principle is been observed in an organization, the organization would not allow change such that it is flexible and easily adaptable to changes in its environment. Amey (1979) argued that businesses needed to maintain flexibility in internal arrangements such that adjustment would not be impeded and its links with its environment would grow stronger. Observing controllability principle in responsibility accounting involves some elements of subjectivity. This occurs when the basis for establishing controllable and uncontrollable factor are unclear. The performance evaluation team will have to set a criterion to use when carrying out an appraisal; this criterion would be based on what they think and probably not what they are aware of. In doing this, they become subjective in the appraisal. This would be perceived by the manager as unfair appraisal. He would view himself as being unfairly treated without consideration of factors contingent upon his performance. As a result of this perception of the performance appraisal, the manager could behave in a dysfunctional way. Such actions would be detrimental to the organizational goals. A manager who perceives an unfair system would also be demotivated. The findings of the research done by Giraud et al (2008) concluded that managers do not want uncontrollable external factors neutralized because of the level of subjectivity involved in it. Similarly, drawing from the study carried out by Modell and Lee (2001) institutional factors affect the controllability principle, in turn these factors affect the efficiency of the responsibility accounting system. The controllability principle is also expensive to maintain in an organization. I would argue that the process involved in ensuring the observance of responsibility principle is not cost efficient. The process would require constant research into the market forces so as to distinguish controllable factors from uncontrollable factors; where it is not possible to make such a distinction, the organization would have to incur more costs to ensure that the performance appraisal system is perceived as fair by its managers. The energies and costs that would be consumed by such a process would be effectively used in another part of the organization where it would be beneficial. Giraud et al (2008) also argues on the difficulty of evaluating uncontrollable factors, they specifically note the difficulty as regards the impact of economic recession. Thus, I would also argue that payment for the services of qualified experts on the distinction between controllable and uncontrollable factors for p erformance evaluation is an unnecessary cost to the organization. Research has also shown that observing the controllability principle leads to dysfunctional behaviour of managers. Hirst (1983) noted that reliance on performance measures that capture uncontrollable factors promote dysfunctional behaviour. This as a result of the managers perception of the performance evaluation system; he wants to avoid the effects of uncontrollable factors and he does that by engaging in activities that do not promote organizational objectives. Giraud et al (2008) mention such activities to include data manipulation, creating slack and developing an excuse culture. He narrows his focus to just the factors that he knows he would be appraised by and where he fails, his self-efficacy is reduced. Observing controllability principle in responsibility accounting can have consequences for organizational goals. It can lead to short termism on the part of manager. In narrowing their focus, managers focus on the components of the performance evaluation system and not on the organizational goals. This would lead to the neglecting of organizational long term goals. Thus, a manager with a long term goal of improved return on investment but with a sales division short term goal of number of user complaints per month and percentage variation from budgets will focus only on reducing the percentage variation from budgets thereby maligning the chances of improving the ROI. This might mean inferior sales strategies that would result in a drop in sales figures which have negative effects on the ROI. Conclusion Theoretically, observing the controllability principle in responsibility accounting has been perceived to have its advantages and disadvantages to the organization. The definition of the controllability principle indicates that there is a clear distinction between controllable and uncontrollable factors. This distinction supposedly makes it easy to observe in responsibility accounting. However, empirical studies reveal that organizations do not fully observe the controllability principle. Findings indicate that there is some sort of continuum that has controllable factors on one end and uncontrollable factors on the other end with varying degrees of control in between. Studies also show that some managers do not see themselves on either end of the continuum but somewhere in the middle. This means that strict observance of the controllability principle is impractical. Choudhury (1986) argues that the responsibility accounting concept should not be hindered by controllability and that it should be interpreted independently of controllability. Moreover, controllability should be defined contingent upon the contexts of the organization. McNally (1980) also argues that controllability can be applied in a modified version. Recent literature also indicates that organizations tend to hold managers for factors that they can influence rather than factors that they can control. This lies somewhere between controllable factors and uncontrollable factors on the controllability continuum. Giraud et al (2008) refer to this as the influencable factors. In addition, the interdependencies of organizations blur the lines separating controllability and other sub-systems in the responsibility accounting system (Hirst, 1983) as well as the uncertainties of the organizational environment. Consequently, I would argue that strict observance of the controllability principle is unrealistic. The modification and the re-definition of the controllability principle is a gradual shift away from the premise of the controllability principle. The difference between controllable and uncontrollable factors is lacking in clarity as regards modern organizations. It also does not align well with the structure of modern day organizations. Similarly, factors that can be influenced today might not be influenced the next day or next operating period because of the unpredictability of the environments of the organizations. Besides, can the ability to influence an event be measured and to what extent can it be measured?

Tree of Red Stars :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In all parts of the world social ranking has always been an issue to people. From early history when the Romans were the major empire to present day in the United States, social classes have always been accepted as a means for people to distinguish themselves. In Uruguay, the social classes are clearly divided and define whom people marry and how they are treated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a very distinct social class system in Uruguay. This class distinction starts at the top with the landowners. This group is not at the top because of their wealth, they are there because they have the most land and power. The next tier in the class system is the business class. These are the people that own and operate all the businesses in the community. Unlike the United States, military comes next in the social chain, because they hold much power and control over the community. Next come agricultural workers, who do not hold power in society because they do not own a significant amount of money or land. The bottom tier of the social system is the beggars, or â€Å"bottom feeders,† They have no money, land, power or responsibilities, which in turn brings them no respect as peers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As seen in the end of chapter thirteen with the marriage/elopement of Cora, and the attempted marriage of Raquel, social classes were a major factor in who people married and for what reasons. In Cora’s case, she wanted to marry Ramiro, a young man of no social consequence and not of the family’s faith. Cora’s mother was also against this marriage because Ramiro had no money and didn’t look respectable. Cora’s mother wanted her to marry a young Jewish lawyer, who had higher social status, was respected in the community, and made a much higher amount of money. Cora was to be forced to marry the lawyer, not out of love, but out of Uruguayan society’s class beliefs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The announcement of Raquel’s wedding to Walter Diaz Varela surprised and pleased all the characters in the book. Raquel’s family was not well off because of her father and his actions, and they were having problems supporting themselves. Raquel’s mother had to sew 15 hours a day to just get by, and this union would provide a trophy wife for Walter, and a reprieve from her mother’s duties. Walter did insist on a prenuptial agreement stating Raquel and her family would get no money if they married, which offended Senora Francisca, Raquel’s mother, but she ignored it because it meant they would live much better.

Jessica :: English Literature

Jessica Jessica Our Greatest Evil TKAMB Prejudice is just one of the many forms of evil found in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Prejudice is found everywhere, in the workplace, on the street, at school, everywhere. The novel takes place in a small town called Maycomb. The town is full of citizens who love to gossip and people who discriminate against others. The discrimination is not only against those of colour, but those of lower lass as well. They are most commonly found during the trial of Tom Robinson. Harper Lee presents prejudice as an extensive problem, most commonly in the form of social class, race, and behavior prejudice. A type of prejudice found in the novel To Kill A Mocking Bird would be social class. For example, the Ewell family is considered ‘white trash’. Mr. Ewell is someone â€Å"who will never change his ways,† (31) and will always be considered this way because of several reasons. Mr. Bob Ewell is a part of this WPA organization, a type of welfare program. Because he is the very first person to be kicked out of this program because of his laziness, it shows how much of a lower class he really is, and he is constantly bothered because of this. His several uneducated children never went to a full year of school, and worked long and hard on the farm. Another example would be the Cunningham family. â€Å"The Cunningham family never took anything they can’t pay back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (20) And when they couldn’t pay back in money, they paid their debt back in anyway possible, whether it is labor, or nuts. The younger Cunningham, Walter, came for lunch at the Finchs’, and Scout bugged him about his unnatural usage of syrup when both Atticus and Calpurnia stopped her. Calpurnia made the comment â€Å"There’s some folk who don’t eat like up†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (24) The lack of availability of syrup caused him to pour syrup on food such as potatoes and meat. The Cunningham family is well known throughout the though of Maycomb, though they aren’t highly though of. Along with the Ewells’ and the Cunningham’s, Aunt Alexandra can also be used to explain social class prejudice in To Kill A Mockingbird. She feels that not only is she above everyone, because â€Å"†¦everyone in Maycomb, it seemed, had a streak: a Drinking Streak, a Gambling Streak, a Mean Streak†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ,(129) but Alexandra also feels that that is a better mother influence than Calpurnia, simply because she is white. This is proved throughout the novel beginning at chapter 13. She continually imposes Scout with rules and etiquette for behaving like a proper lady, because when she grows up, she’s not

Night World : Huntress Chapter 4

Rule Number One of living with humans. Always wash the blood off before coming in the house. Jez stood at the outdoor faucet, icy-cold water splashing over her hands. She was scrubbing- carefully-a long, slim dagger made of split bamboo, with a cutting edge as sharp as glass. When it was clean, she slipped it into her right knee-high boot. Then she daubed water over several stains on her T-shirt and jeans and scrubbed them with a fingernail. Finally she whipped out a pocket mirror and examined her face critically. The girl who looked back didn't much resemble the wild, laughing huntress who had leaped from tree to tree in Muir Woods. Oh, the features were the same; the height of cheekbone, the curve of chin. They had even fined out a bit because she was a year older. The red flag of hair was the same, too, although now it was pulled back in an attempt to tame its fiery disorder. The difference was in the expression, which was sadder and wiser than Jez had ever imagined she could be, and in the eyes. The eyes weren't as silvery as they had been, not as dangerously beautiful. But that was only to be expected. She had discovered that she didn't need to drink blood as long as she didn't use her vampire powers. Human food kept her alive-and made her look more human. One other thing about the eyes. They were scarily vulnerable, even to Jez. No matter how she tried to make them hard and menacing, they had the wounded look of a deer that knows it's going to die and accepts it. Sometimes she wondered if that was an omen. Well. No blood on her face. She shoved the mirror back in her pocket. She was mostly presentable, if extremely late for dinner. She turned the faucet off and headed for the back door of the low, sweeping ranch house. Everyone looked up as she came in. The family was in the kitchen, eating at the oak table with the white trim, under the bright fluorescent light. The TV was blaring cheerfully from the family room. Uncle Jim, her mother's brother, was munching tacos and leafing through the mail. He had red hair darker than Jez's and a long face that looked almost as medieval as Jez's mother's had. He was usually off in a gentle, worried dream somewhere. Now he waved an envelope at Jez and gazed at her reproachfully, but he couldn't say anything because his mouth was full. Aunt Nanami was on the phone, drinking a diet Coke. She was small, with dark shiny hair and eyes that turned to crescents when she smiled. She opened her mouth and frowned at Jez, but couldn't say anything, either. Ricky, who was ten, had carroty hair and expressive eyebrows. He gave Jez a big smile that showed chewed-up taco in his mouth and said, â€Å"Hi!† Jez smiled back. No matter what she did, Ricky was there for her. Claire, who was Jez's age, was sitting primly, eating bits of taco with her fork. She looked like a smaller version of Aunt Nan, but with a very sour expression. â€Å"Where have you been?† she said. â€Å"We waited dinner almost an hour for you and you never even called.† â€Å"Sorry,† Jez said, looking at all of them. It was such an incredibly normal family scene, so completely typical, and it struck her to the heart. It was over a year since she had walked out of the Night World to find these people, her mother's relatives. It was eleven and a half months since Uncle Jim had taken her in, not knowing anything about her except that she was his orphaned niece and that her father's family couldn't handle her anymore and had given up on her. All these months, she had lived with the Goddard family- and she still didn't fit in. She could look human, she could act human, but she couldn't be human. Just as Uncle Jim swallowed and got his mouth clear to speak to her, she said, â€Å"I'm not hungry. I think I'll just go do my homework.† Uncle Jim called, â€Å"Wait a minute,† after her, but it was Claire who slammed down her napkin and actually followed Jez through the hall to the other side of the house. â€Å"What do you mean, ‘Sorry'? You do this every day. You're always disappearing; half the time you stay out until after midnight, and then you don't even have an explanation.† â€Å"Yeah, I know, Claire.† Jez answered without looking back. â€Å"Illtry to do better.† â€Å"You say that every time. And every time it's exactly the same. Don't you realize that my parents worry about you? Don't you even care?† â€Å"Yes, I care, Claire.† â€Å"You don't act like it. You act like rules don't apply to you. And you say sorry, but you're just going to do it again.† Jez had to keep herself from turning around and snapping at her cousin. She liked everyone else in the family, but Claire was a royal pain. Worse, she was a shrewd royal pain. And she was right; Jez was going to do it again, and there was no way she could explain. The thing was, vampire hunters have to keep weird hours. When you're on the trail of a vampire-and-shapeshifter killing team, as Jez had been this evening, chasing them through the slums ofOakland , trying to get them cornered in some crack house where there aren't little kids to get hurt, you don't think about missing dinner. You don't stop in the middle of staking the undead to phone home. Maybe I shouldn't have become a vampire hunter, Jez thought. But it's a little late to change now, and somebody's got to protect these stupid- these innocent humans from the Night World. Oh, well. She'd reached the door of her bedroom. Instead of yelling at her cousin, she simply half turned and said, â€Å"Why don't you go work on your Web page, Claire?† Then she opened the door and glanced inside. And froze. Her room, which she had left in military neatness, was a shambles. The window was wide open. Papers and clothes were scattered across the floor. And there was a very large ghoul standing at the foot of the bed. The ghoul opened its mouth menacingly at Jez. â€Å"Oh, very funny,† Claire was saying, right behind her. â€Å"Maybe I should help you with your homework. I hear you're not doing so great in chemistry-â€Å" Jez moved fast, stepping nimbly inside the door and slamming it in Claire's face, pressing the little knob in the handle to lock it. â€Å"Hey!† Now Claire sounded really mad. â€Å"That's rude!† â€Å"Uh, sorry, Claire!† Jez faced the ghoul. What was it doing here? If it had followed her home, she was in bad trouble. That meant the Night World knew where she was. â€Å"You know, Claire, I think I really need to be alone for a little while-I can't talk and do my homework.† She took a step toward the creature, watching its reaction. Ghouls were semi-vampires. They were what happened to a human who was bled out but didn't get quite enough vampire blood in exchange to become a true vampire. They were undead but rotting. They had very little mind, and only one idea in the world: to drink blood, which they usually did by eating as much of a human body as possible. They liked hearts. This ghoul was a new one, about two weeks dead. It was male and looked as if it had been a body-builder, although by now it wasn't so much buff as puffed. Its body was swollen with the gas of decomposition. Its tongue and eyes were protruding, its cheeks were chipmunk-like, and bloody fluid was leaking from its nose. And of course it didn't smell good. As Jez edged closer, she suddenly realized that the ghoul wasn't alone. She could now see around the foot of the bed, and there was a boy lying on the carpet, apparently unconscious. The boy had light hair and rumpled clothes, but Jez couldn't see his face. The ghoul was stooping over him, reaching for him with sausage-shaped fingers. â€Å"I don't think so,† Jez told it softly. She could feel a dangerous smile settling on her face. She reached into her right boot and pulled out the dagger. â€Å"What did you say?† Claire shouted from the other side of the door. â€Å"Nothing, Claire. Just getting out my homework.† Jez jumped onto the bed The ghoul was very big-she needed all the height she could get. The ghoul turned to face her, its lackluster bugeyes on the dagger. It made a little hissing sound around its swollen tongue. Fortunately that was all the noise it could make. Claire was rattling the door. â€Å"Did you lock this? What are you doing in there?† â€Å"Just studying, Claire. Go away.† Jez snapped a foot toward the ghoul, catching it under the chin. She needed to stun it and stake it fast Ghouls weren't smart, but like the Energizer Bunny they kept going and going. This one could eat the entire Goddard family tonight and still be hungry at dawn. The ghoul hit the wall opposite the bed. Jez jumped down, putting herself between it and the boy on the floor. â€Å"What was that noise?† Claire yelled. â€Å"I dropped a book.† The ghoul swung. Jez ducked. There were giant blisters on its arms, the brownish color of old blood. It rushed her, trying to slam her against the chest of drawers. Jez flung herself backward, but she didn't have much room to maneuver. It caught her in the stomach with an elbow, a jarring blow. Jez wouldn't let herself double over. She twisted and helped the ghoul in the direction it was already going, giving it impetus with her foot. It smacked into the window seat, facedown. â€Å"What is going on in there?† â€Å"Just looking for something.† Jez moved before the ghoul could recover, jumping to straddle its legs. She grabbed its hair-not a good idea; it came off in clumps in her hand. Kneeling on it to keep it still, she raised the sum bamboo knife high and brought it down hard. There was a puncturing sound and a terrible smell. The knife had penetrated just under the shoulder blade, six inches into the heart. The ghoul convulsed once and stopped moving. Claire's voice came piercingly from behind the closed door. â€Å"Mom! She's doing something in there!† Then Aunt Nan's voice: â€Å"Jez, are you all right?† Jez stood, pulling her bamboo dagger out, wiping it on the ghoul's shirt. â€Å"I'm just having a little trouble finding a ruler†¦.† The ghoul was in a perfect position. She put her arms around its waist, ignoring the feeling of skin slipping loose under her fingers, and heaved it up onto the window seat. There weren't many human girls who could have picked up almost two hundred pounds of dead weight, and even Jez ended up a little breathless. She gave the ghoul a shove, rolling it over until it reached the open window, then she stuffed and maneuvered it out. It fell heavily into a bed of impatiens, squashing the flowers. Good. She'd haul it away later tonight and dispose of it. Jez caught her breath, brushed off her hands, and closed the window. She drew the curtains shut, then turned. The fair-haired boy was lying perfectly still. Jez touched his back gently, saw that he was breathing. The door rattled and Claire's voice rose hysterically. â€Å"Mom, do you smell that smell?† Aunt Nan called, â€Å"Jez!† â€Å"Coming!† Jez glanced around the room. She needed something†¦ there. The bed. Grabbing a handful of material near the head of the bed, she flipped comforter, blankets and sheets over so they trailed off the foot, completely covering the boy. She tossed a couple of pillows on top of the pile for good measure, then grabbed a ruler off the desk. Then she opened the door, leaned against the doorframe casually, and summoned her brightest smile. â€Å"Sorry about that,† she said. â€Å"What can I do for you?† Claire and Aunt Nan just stared at her. Claire looked like a rumpled, angry kitten. The fine dark hair that framed her face was ruffled; she was breathing hard, and her almond-shaped eyes were flashing sparks. Aunt Nan looked more worried and dismayed. â€Å"Are you okay?† she said, leaning in slightly to try and get a look at Jez's room. â€Å"We heard a lot of noise.† And you'd have heard more earlier if you hadn't been watching TV. â€Å"I'm fine. I'm great. You know how it is when you can't find something.† Jez lifted the ruler. Then she stepped back and opened the door farther. Aunt Nan's eyes widened as she took in the mess. â€Å"Jez†¦ this does not happen when you can't find a ruler. This looks like Claire's room.† Claire made a choked sound of indignation. â€Å"It does not. My room's never been this bad. And what's that smell?† She slipped by Aunt Nan and advanced on Jez, who sidestepped to keep her from getting to the pile of blankets. Claire stopped dead anyway, her face wrinkling. She put a hand to cover her nose and mouth. â€Å"It's you,† she said, pointing at Jez. ‘You smell like that.† â€Å"Sorry.† It was true; what with all the contact she'd had with the ghoul, and the dirty knife in her boot, she was pretty ripe. â€Å"I think I stepped in something on the way home.† â€Å"I didn't smell anything when you came in,† Claire said suspiciously. â€Å"And that's another thing,† Aunt Nan said. She had been glancing around the room, but there was nothing suspicious to see except the unusual clutter-the curtains hung motionless over the shut window; the pile of bedding on the floor was still. Now she turned to face Jez again. â€Å"You didn't call to say you were going to miss dinner again. I need to know where you go after school, Jez. I need to know when you're going to be out late. It's common courtesy.† â€Å"I know. I'll remember next time. I really will.† Jez said it as sincerely as possible, and in a tone she hoped would close the subject. She needed to get rid of these people and look at the boy under the blankets. He might be seriously hurt. Aunt Nan was nodding. â€Å"You'd better. And you'd better take a shower before you do anything else. Throw your clothes in the laundry room; I'll put them in the wash.† She made as if to kiss Jez on the cheek, but stopped, wrinkled her nose, and then just nodded again at her. â€Å"And that's it? That's all?† Claire was looking at her mother in disbelief. â€Å"Mom, she's up to something, can't you see that? She comes in late, smelling like dead skunk and sewage and I don't know what, and then she locks herself in and bangs around and lies, and all you're going to say is Don't do it again'? She gets away with everything around here-â€Å" â€Å"Claire, quit it. She said she was sorry. I'm sure she won't let it happen again.† â€Å"If I did something like that you'd skin me, but, no, if Jez does it, it must be okay. Well, I'll tell you something else. She cut school today. She left before sixth period.† â€Å"Is that true, Jez?† a new voice asked. Uncle Jim was standing in the doorway, pulling at his chin with long fingers. He looked sad. It was true. Jez had left early to set up a trap for the vampire and shapeshifter. She looked at her uncle and made a regretful motion with her head and shoulders. â€Å"Jez, you just can't do that. I'm trying to be reasonable, but this is only the second week of school. You can't start this kind of behavior again. It can't be like last year.† He thought. â€Å"From now on, you leave your motorcycle at home. You drive to school and back with Claire, in the Audi.† Jez nodded. â€Å"Okay, Uncle Jim,† she said out loud. Now go away, she added silently. Thin curls of anxiety were churning in her stomach. â€Å"Thank you.† He smiled at her. â€Å"See?† Claire jumped in, her voice hitting a note to shatter glass. â€Å"This is just what I'm talking about! You never yell at her, either! Is it because you're afraid she'll run away, like she did from her dad's relatives? So everybody has to walk on eggshells around her because otherwise she'll just take off-â€Å" â€Å"Okay, that's it. I'm not listening to any more of this.† Aunt Nan waved a hand at Claire, then turned around to shoo Uncle Jim out of her path. Tm going to clean up the dinner table. If you two want to fight, do it quietly.† â€Å"No, it's better if they do their homework,† Uncle Jim said, moving slowly. â€Å"Both of you, do your homework, okay?† He looked at Jez in a way that was probably meant to be commanding, but came out wistful. â€Å"And tomorrow come home on time.† Jez nodded. Then both adults were gone, but Claire was staring after them. Jez couldn't be sure, but she thought there were tears in her eyes. Jez felt a pang. Of course, Claire was dead on about the leeway Aunt Nan and Uncle Jim gave her. And of course, it wasn't fair to Claire. I should say something to her. Poor little thing. She really feels bad†¦. But before she could open her mouth, Claire whirled around. The eyes that had been wet a moment ago were flashing. â€Å"You just wait,† she said. â€Å"They don't see through you, but I do. You're up to something, and I'm going to find out what it is. And don't think I can't do it.† She turned and stalked out the door. Jez stood for an instant, speechless, then she blinked and closed the door. She locked it. And then for the first time since she'd seen the ghoul, she allowed herself to let out a long breath. That had been close. And Claire was serious, which was going to be a problem. But Jez didn't have time to think about it now. She turned the clock radio on her nightstand to a rock station. A loud one. Then she flipped the covers off the foot of the bed and knelt. The boy was lying facedown, with one arm stretched over his head. Jez couldn't see any blood. She took his shoulder and carefully rolled him over. And stopped breathing. â€Å"Hugh.†

Summary of “Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus”

In â€Å"Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus†, the author, Derek Bok shows how expressing yourself falls under the First Amendment, whether it is on a private college campus or public college campus. He further explains that just because it is protected by law does not mean that it is â€Å"right, proper, or civil. Bok goes on to show how censoring freedom of speech would cause people to â€Å"test the limits† to gain more attention than is needed and if dealt with in the proper manner, behaviors such as displaying a Confederate flag or a swastika in rebuttal of the flag can be avoided. Freedom of expression is a right and should not be used inappropriately. The First Amendment rights have caused much controversy because it allows people to say, act, or feel how they see fit; for example, hanging of a Confederate flag or displaying a swastika in public view. It is an insensitive act; although it is their right to do so. According to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the displaying of these symbols is protected under the First Amendment. Regretfully, people act and react because they are offended by things like this, but it is one of our many freedoms as Americans. Although it cannot be prohibited it should be responded to in such a way they do not feel put down or that they are wrong in expressing themselves, but rather suggest to them that it is hurtful and offensive to others. We have the right to be offended as others have the right to display or express their own interests. Diverse communities in the United States set certain laws to protect their properties from being vandalized with graffiti and protect them from loud noise; rules of this kind should be evenly upheld in order to not discriminate for or against anybody’s opinions or ideas. If the governing authorities see fit to change the laws to prohibit such expressions, they should be cautious, because censoring such a great freedom can potentially become â€Å"dangerous†. When one or more people feel that they are being pushed in the opposite direction than what they feel is right they tend to rebel in a sense. More often than not they will try to push the boundaries to prove that they are free to do as they see fit and the more attention that is given to their cause the more they will show that they will not be told no. If an offensive act is being displayed it can be dealt with in a discrete manner to prohibit future conflict. For example, the offenders actions are ignored, they may eventually stop. Those in authority need to take charge and try an approach that may be more effective than prohibiting it. Persuading one to see the errors of their ways would be more productive rather than criticizing or condemning them. It will help them become more aware of others around them and potentially create a more balanced for those around them. Therefore, members of faculty and officials should seek to educate the students and persuade them instead of using threatening tactics, as persuasion is more likely to produce beneficial results. People are more willing to change when they are approached respectfully with inquiry, instead of abruptly and demanding. As a result, we should be conscious to uphold the moral standards of schools and colleges; so we can positively coexist in these communities.

Emotions Essay

How important are your emotions in your life? There are many factors involved in making decisions but the most important are the emotions. My whole life is full of decisions that I made using my emotions. Emotions are the best way to make decision because emotions give a different point of view of the reality, help to choose the right options, and they are the key to success. Firstly; emotions always give me a different point of view of the reality. When I was eleven years old, I had a friend that was always in trouble.I decide to don’t talk to him anymore because he was a bad influence to me. But when I get home I feel bad for him. I decided to call him and invited him to my home. There I talked with him about his attitude. He told me that he acted like that because he did not have friends. For that reason he all the time was mad and sad. We spent the whole afternoon playing football. Then I realize the amazing person that the boy was. Since that day we have been friends and he made a lot of friends in school. That day my emotions let me see the right view of the reality.Secondly, emotions help me to choose the right options. When I was a kid my parents put me in a English course after school. No one of my friends liked that course; all of them decide to change it for a funnier course. I talked to my parents about that but they did not let me change the course. All of my friends told me to change the course without telling my parents. In that moment I have that decision in my hands. I realize that my parents put me in that course because they love me and I could not betray them. I felt the need to pay that love with responsibility.So, I decided to keep going to the English course. After many years, I can say that decision was one of the best decisions in my life. Thirdly, emotions are the key to success. I am senior in high school and I want to be a successful student at college. Looking for colleges is very stressful specially because some of them have really specific requirements. For me Rutgers was the university that I want to get accepted but their requirements were very high. I really want to get accepted but at the same time I was scary to get reject.But my emotions give me the confidence to see that I have a lot of qualities that make me an excellent student to get accepted in that university. Therefore, my emotions give me enough bravely to success. Therefore, the most important factors to make decisions are the emotions. I always make decisions using my emotions. And all of those decisions give me a lot of good moments. Emotions give us a different point of view of the reality, help us to choose the right options, and they are the key to success. So, it is your chose how your emotions will influence your life and your future.

Memories by Trilokesh Mukherjee Essay

The poem ‘Memories’ is by an Indian poet called Trilokesh Mukherjee. The poet grew up in India and this influences the poem, he brings his culture into the poem by using imagery and senses and other literary devices. Also, he refers to the Gods from the Hindu religion and mythology. Hindu religion, mythology and family are all very important to the Indian people and this is all shown in the poem when they are sitting around the fire at night. The theme of this poem is childhood memories and how they are still strong in the poets mind. The setting of this poem is in the evening/night time and this is shown by the fact that all the creatures that are mentioned are nocturnal like the night owls. â€Å"The meal was shared with all the children.† This shows us that everybody is included, and there is a sense of togetherness in this community. The poet uses senses to help paint a picture in the readers head. He uses smell with â€Å"smelled the smoke of the fire†, â€Å"the food being cooked†, â€Å"the smell of the rice.† This is intended to make the reader feel relaxed and get a home feeling and feel delightful. Next, the poet uses sights. â€Å"Glow worms added golden firework sparks on the dark canvas.† The poet wants the readers to see a magical world through a kids eyes, and the glow worms are like fireworks going on. It is like the poet is bringing his dark canvas to life. Thirdly, Mukherjee uses sounds to give us an idea of what we can hear, the poet uses onomatopoeia and gives us three examples of what the reader can hear.†untiring chirping of the crickets and nightjars†, â€Å"hooting of night owls†, â€Å"howling of distant jackals.† There Are four different animals here and it could be that they are forming like a band, like the sounds of the night. There is also another example that again, makes the reader feel calm and relaxed. It is â€Å"her reassuring voice.† This shows us that Grandmother makes him feel safe and calm. There are many different ideas for tone in this poem. There is fascination, where the poet as child and his friends have heard the stories so many times, yet still want to hear more about it again and again. â€Å"Again and again† is emphasising on the repetition of the story. There is also excitement from the little kids. â€Å"†¦and then, Grandma!† Although, they already know what was going to happen since they have heard the story  before. The poet brings in his culture again, and the reader can tell that culture is very important to the poet and also that he is proud of it. When he uses the adjectives â€Å"valiant† and â€Å"wonderful† to describe the Gods from the Hindu religion/ mythology. Towards the end of the poem, the tone of the poem gets sad, when the poet states â€Å"Grandmother is no more.† But, even though he said that, he says â€Å"I can still hear her voice.† This shows us how strong the poets memories are. There is then comfort when the poet said, â€Å"I need only shut my eyes to hear the whispering.† This shows us that he goes back an remembers the scene/ setting of the poem, which could be his happy place. The main message for the poem is that the importance and power of the memories. When he states â€Å"That’s what the memories are about.† This suggests that Mukherjee uses his childhood memories as a comfort zone. The language of the poem is also important in the way they describe the memories. In line 1-3 you can straight away realise that the poet uses the collective pronoun ‘We’ This draws the reader into the poem, making them feel part of the poem. It shows the memories of all the family being together, almost like an autobiography. The poet used assonance of the ‘I’ sound in â€Å"untiring chirping of crickets† it’s brings the sound alive. Also the metaphor in the third line, it suggests the brightness of the glow worms. It is almost like a child-like description of the magic of the moment. In lines 4-5, the poet again uses senses to remind him of the memories from his childhood with his Grandmother. â€Å"Smelled the smoke.† â€Å"The smell of rice.† The smell of rice reminds him of the warmth of the house since rice is more of an Indian cultured food. Mukherjee uses ellipsis at the end of line 5, like a dramatic pause which takes us to another stage of the memory which is his Grandmother telling stories to the children. In lines 6-9, after the dramatic pause, the poet uses the phrase ‘Much later’, this gives us the impression that the meal and the story telling lasted all night. Grandmothers â€Å"reassuring voice† makes her sound like a comforting and loving figure, which could be why this could be his favourite childhood memory and why he talks about it. There is also a paradox used â€Å"Far away, unknown, yet familiar†, this shows that the stories were extraordinary for the children. In lines 10-13, the children (including the poet) are always hungry to hear the story and are never really satisfied with it. The use of dialogue, exclamation marks and question marks, show the reader the excitement of the children listening to the story. In lines 14-17, Grandmother brought their dreams alive with her wonderful storytelling and this suggests again, why this could be their favourite childhood memory with their Grandmother. In conclusion, the poet brings out the main theme of the poem which is his childhood memories and by doing so, he is influenced by his culture and surroundings. Trilokesh Mukherjee uses imagery (senses mostly) and metaphors to bring his poem alive and it’s in the past and then towards the end its comes back to the present. This shows us that the poet is now back to reality. The poet thinks that memories are important and that they take us back to he things that really matter in life which is true and in this case it would be, taking him back, to when he was a young boy and how he and his friends would sit around the open fire and listen to his Grandmother tell stories after a meal.

The motional behaviour of teachers in the classroom

This essay is chiefly related with the methodological analysis portion of my thesis. Particularly, which method I will follow in order to garner my informations. In this paper, foremost of all, I will mention the rubric, the purpose and the research inquiries of my survey. These are critical elements to understand person the general subject. Then, I will compose in some words the grounds, for which I chose this issue and after that the method, which I will utilize and follow. My method is the interviews, which belongs to qualitative research. Thus, I will advert what is the qualitative research and which are its advantages in pattern. A small mention will go in the instance survey, which is straight related with the qualitative research. After this preliminary information, I will develop my basic methodological analysis, the interviews. The definition will be given and for which grounds are good, utile and helpful to utilize this technique. In the 2nd portion of this essay the basic issue is the pilot survey. How is defined this significance and which are the chief advantages of this survey. I will besides advert why I used the pilot survey and how it helped me in my chief research. In the terminal of the essay, I will mention my interview inquiries and what alterations and amendments I did after the pilot survey with the purpose to be more successfully my research. All this paper has as a end to steer and assist me with the 2nd portion of my thesis, the methodological analysis portion. The rubric of my thesis is â€Å" The motional behavior of instructors in the schoolroom and how this impacts upon students † . I think that it is a really of import and singular issue for the educational process and educational advancement. This research will be carried out in Greece and more specifically in a specific school in Athens. I think that in my state, the emotional behavior of instructors and the psychological science of kids during the lesson is a subject, which provokes a large involvement to the instructors, the pupils, the parents and to the society in general. This has a direct relation with the students and strongly affects the public presentation and the advancement of kids in the school. I as a high school teacher am interested in the emotional behavior of instructors towards pupils. Maybe it is non a really popular subject but I consider that there are many interesting facets, which would be good to be investigated. This may assist the instructors to be im proved and the kids to hold a better public presentation and advancement in the educational procedure. Therefore, this is a basic factor, for which I chose this rubric in footings of class with the deficiency of research in Greece in conformity with the above issue. The purpose of my research is to derive an apprehension of behavior in the schoolroom in Greece. Through this survey I have purpose to reply some research inquiries, which are related with my issue. The first is: How of import do instructors comprehend emotion to be within learning and larning? And the 2nd is: What types of affectional behavior aid or impede instruction and acquisition? In order to garner all the necessary and utile information for my survey, I decided to utilize the method of interview. I will take interviews from six high school instructors from one school of Athens. The instructors will be from different countries for illustration: philologues, mathematicians, physicists and chemists in order to hold a better and a more dependable consequence. The first measure for the interviews was the consent of the schoolmaster of school and after that the consent of teachers- participants. Of class, I have every bit purpose to keep all the ethical issues such as the confidentiality, the namelessness and the right to retreat. The above steps are necessary for a right interview. Nowadays, one can transport out a research, utilizing different techniques, which are divided into two classs: the quantitative and the qualitative methodological analysis. In my thesis as I have above mentioned I will utilize interviews, which belong to qualitative research method with the method of observation and the focal point group. ‘Qualitative research is a type of scientific research. In general, scientific research consists of an probe that: seeks replies to a inquiry, consistently uses a predefined set of processs to reply the inquiry, collects grounds, produces findings that were non determined in progress and produces findings that are applicable beyond the immediate boundaries of the survey ‘ ( Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector ‘s Field Guide, undated:2 ) . This type of research is really effectual in order to garner some information about the behavior, the sentiments and the attitudes. Furthermore, as Wimmer and Dominick ( 1997:84 ) refer ence that the most of import in the qualitative research is the deepness of the informations and non the comprehensiveness of the informations. Harmonizing to Colorado State University ( 1993- 2011 ) the ‘case survey refers to the aggregation and presentation of elaborate information about a peculiar participant or little group, often including the histories of topics themselves. A signifier of qualitative descriptive research, the instance survey looks intensely at an person or little participant pool, pulling decisions merely about that participant or group and merely in that specific context ‘ . Case survey, as Feagin, Orum and Sjoberg ( 1991 ) refers, is considered an ideal methodological analysis. This survey is used for assorted researches, which are related with sociological surveies and more specifically with the instruction. The instance survey is a really good method and beginning about the subjects of the behavior and investigates infrequent phenomena. In add-on, it is really utile to near theoretical premises and it gives you an chance for invention. At last, it is a good solution for the basic group of psychological science, Eisenhardt ( 1989:536- 537 ) high spots. Frey and Oishi ( 1995:1 ) refers that the definition of interview is ‘a purposeful conversation in which one individual asks prepared inquiries ( interviewer ) and another replies them ( respondent ) ‘ . Trochim ( 2006:1 ) high spots that interviews are the most ambitious and interesting signifiers of happening information. The most appropriate manner for the informations aggregation is a personal interview which enables us to roll up our replies personally and follow our inquiries. As Oakley ( 1981:32 ) underscores that a individual ‘s thoughts and positions are more freely expressed and sometimes leting the interviews to inquire farther inquiries depending to the replies or sometimes the modulation of the reply. Interviews are as a conversation between two people with the purpose to carry through the purposes of the research, Best ( 2010:2 ) . In order for an interview to be successful it must be in signifier of friendly conversation but in the interim give all th e needed information needed, Goode and Hatt ( 1952:191 ) supports. ‘The motive of successful interviewing is ‘be friendly but non excessively friendly † ( Oakley, 1981:33 ) . Besides, all the research workers want to garner dependable findings but necessary status for this is the respondents to be sincere and give full replies in the inquiries. If it is non go on this, so there is large job the results to be misrepresented, Best ( 2010 ) references. Harmonizing to Evaluation toolkit ( 2006 ) interviews as method are particularly utile. First of all through this method everyone has the chance to look into different subjects in deepness. Besides, the research workers can understand how the participants think, feel and what is their sentiment for the specific issue. In add-on, interviews help the participants to experience more comfy about the sensitive subjects and of class add a human dimension to impersonal informations. Furthermore, with this method one can garner more information and inside informations about the personal feelings and perceptual experiences of the participants and the inquiries can go more elaborate. There is a high proportion of credence and the words of the participants are recorded word by word. Furthermore, another important advantage is that the inquiries can be made clearer and more specific because the conversation is face to face. The same can go on for the replies if they are considered that their replies are lacking. Similar state of affairs can go on when it is necessary to go elucidation about the context of the inquiries as for illustration when pupils have English as 2nd linguistic communication. Finally, in this method each participant is entirely showing his/ her sentiment and there is no danger to be affected by the other participants. Similar position is supported by the British Educational Research Association ( BERA ) ( 2006- 2011 ) , which think that the method of interview is the best manner to cognize whatever you want, to garner all the informations and in general BERA consider that the above method is the most effectual manner for the different positions and sentiments of people. The inquiries in this instance are the same and there is the chance to reiterate the interview and analyze a big figure of people rapidly and easy. Another basic ground, for which it is good to utilize this method, is the formal relationship between the research worker and the interviewee. The seconds know really good what the number ones want from them. Consequently, via an interview there is no possibility to be uncomplete or to be obscure the replies. This may go on because each research worker guides the conversation without of class impacting them ( Sociological Research Skills, dateless: 1- 2 ) . Harmonizing to the Association for Qualitative Research ( AQR ) ( undated ) the pilot survey is ‘a little survey conducted in progress of a planned undertaking, specifically to prove facets of the research design ( such as stimulus stuff ) and to let necessary accommodation before concluding committedness to the design ‘ . The pilot survey is a little experiment, which designed to prove the informations aggregation and has as purpose the betterment and the effectivity of the quality. It is normally less than the chief research and accordingly can supply limited information and inside informations as Ruxton and Colegrave ( 2006 ) underscores. The pilot survey is particularly utile for the behavior of one research and it has a batch of advantages. A important advantage of this survey is that it can give progress warning about where the chief research could neglect. Furthermore, it can assist you to gain if the methodological analysis of the research is appropriate for garnering all the information or if it is excessively complicated. Some other advantages are that you can measure if the technique, which will utilize is effectual. How many possibilities there are in order to be successful the research and how much you can near your subject. You can plan protocol and so to measure if this protocol is execu table. You besides have the possibility to cognize the beginnings, which are needed for this survey as for illustration the staff or the finance. Therefore, the research worker assesses the techniques of the informations aggregation and possible jobs in the chief research. Another dramatic plus is the aggregation of preliminary informations, which will be really utile for the chief research. This is so helpful because the research worker obtain as many elements for the research procedure. Finally, in the instance of funding the relevant organic structures are really of import to cognize if the research squad have the appropriate abilities, deserving support and can be supported by these organic structures. In some words, the significance of the pilot survey, as De Vaus ( 1993:54 ) high spots, is ‘Do non take the hazard. Pilot test first ‘ . For these grounds I did pilot survey before my research. First of all, I had written some inquiries, which I applied to two other people except from the six basic participants. Of class, these two people were high school instructors and are direct related with the instruction and the educational procedure. The inquiries of my interviews are particularly related with the psychological science, the emotional behavior of instructors and the relationship between instructors and pupils. After the pilot survey, I made some alterations and amendments in order to go more comprehendible and apprehensible. In peculiar, the first inquiry is for the instruction background of instructors. How long have you been learning and where did you develop. Another inquiry is if you study psychological science as portion of your undergraduate grade. Then, what is the relationship between instructors and pupils. Is it distant or friendly? What is your learning manner? Is it rigorous, relaxed or friendly? The following has relation with the emotional behavior of instructors and the public presentation of pupils. Is it better to demo emotion or non? In what ways? Do you believe that demoing emotion can do instruction and larning more effectual? Do you believe that you would hold been benefited from holding a great cognition of psychological science in your learning preparation and why. For illustration, in the first agenda the inquiry about the emotional behavior of instructors was perfectly indistinct and the interviewees could non reply. This understood it because the participants did long clip to answer and they looked me with admiration. In order to reply, they asked me more elucidative inquiries and after this process were ready to get down. The same happened with the inquiry about the psychological science. In the first program the issue was if they considered of import the psychological science in instruction. In this instance, the inquiry was really obscure and general and I had to go more specific in order to steer the participants. On the other manus, during the pilot survey, I asked the two instructors for their teaching manner during the lesson in the schoolroom. Hearing their replies, I comprehended that they referred besides in their relationship with their pupils. Therefore, I decided to add this inquiry in my interview agenda. Finally, after the pilot survey I looked once more my inquiries really careful for troubles and jobs and I tried to do them clear every bit more as possible. More specifically, this process helps me really much to understand and to gain different jobs about my inquiries. In peculiar, I found in some points that my inquiries were equivocal and tenebrific. For illustration, the respondents do non grok really clear what I precisely mean and as a consequence there is confusion in the replies consequently. It is really hard to get down the methodological analysis portion of one research without making pilot survey. Here, the participants are active members, single personalities and there are many possibilities, each individual to grok the inquiry with different manner. Therefore, each research worker should be really careful ; otherwise the research will non hold the expected result and its consequence will be undependably. Except from this, treating the information from the replies, which they gave me, I had the chance to believe about the other facets of my issue and therefore added new inquiries in the first agenda. All this process, decide dly, had positive impact on the informations aggregation because it helped me to cover the subject every bit more as possible. Furthermore, via this survey, I managed to larn more things about this subject and I was to the full prepared for the following measure.DecisionTo sum it up, the basic point of this paper is the technique of interviews, the method aggregation of informations which support to the qualitative methodological analysis, every bit good as the pilot survey. The most of import of this essay is that the interview is one of the best methods in order to roll up some information for a research. In general it is really utile while the communicating is friendlier in comparing with the other methods and the participant can freely expressed his/ her sentiment. In add-on, you have the opportunity to explicate and clear up the inquiries because the interview is face to face. On the other manus, the 2nd large subject is the pilot survey. It is besides helpful and utile but thi s takes portion before the chief research. This process helped me really much to do my inquiries really clear and to better my interview agenda. After my experience, I realised that the pilot survey should be compulsory to carry on a successful research every bit good as has perfectly positive impact on its development. The alterations, the amendments and the augmentation some inquiries seem to be important elements for dependable findings. It is doubtless that the results of my probe after the pilot survey are more valid than earlier. It is true that the methodological analysis portion may be the most hard but besides the most indispensable component. It is the point, in which 1 ought to give a batch of attending because it is the nucleus and the cardinal portion of each research. hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interview hypertext transfer protocol: //www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/aeo9702.html hypertext transfer protocol: //www.evalued.bcu.ac.uk/tutorial/4c.htm hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bera.ac.uk/data-collection-interviews-in-research/ hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sociology.org.uk/methsi.pdf hypertext transfer protocol: //sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk/SRU35.pdf Ruxton GD & A ; Colegrave N ( 2006 ) Experimental Design for the Life Sciences ( 2nd edition ) . Oxford: Oxford University Press. hypertext transfer protocol: //writing.colostate.edu/index.cfm Best, S. ( 2010 ) ‘Course Materials: Interviews: Supporting Materials ‘ , Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //blackboard.manchester.ac.uk/webct/urw/lc5116011.tp0/cobalt MainFrame.dowebct, Last Accessed: 5 May 2011

British Airways Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

British Airways - Case Study Example Business risks: It is seen that the higher the risks of the business, the lower should be the dependence on debt, or outside funds. In the context of British Airways, it is seen that gearing percentage has come down from 67.7% in 2004-05 to just 28.8% in 2007-08. In other words, it indicates that the dependence for debt capital has come down by nearly 58% in just 3 years, averaging nearly 20% drop each year. (Financial highlights). One of the main reasons for the drop in gearing to 28.8% in 2007-08 could be the better operating performance and the build-up of retained profits and reserves during the years, all this despite high rises in fuel, employee and other operating costs. It is also seen that "Despite increases in the UK and US floating rates, our interest payable on bank and other loans reduced, mainly as a result of lower debt levels." (Chief financial officer's report continued p.4). Further, it is seen that due to growth in retained profits, the debt equity ratio was only 28.8% during 2008, which is lower than last year. Again, considering operating leases, debt/total capital ratio was 38.4%. (Chief financial officer's report continued p.5). Market value of a firm is determined by its earning ... They areissuing shares or borrowing from banks. Debt equity ratio: It is the ratio of debt to the equity. A company's financial leverage can be calculated by dividingits total liabilitiesbystockholders' equity. It indicates the proportion of equity and debt the company is using to finance its assets.It is also known as the Personal Debt/Equity Ratio, thiscan be applied to both personal financial statements and companies' financial statements. A high debt/equity ratio shows that the company has been aggressive in financing its growth or equity with debt. This can result in high earnings as a result of the additional expense. If a company is using lot ofdebtfinance in its operations (high debt to equity), it can generate more earningsthan it would have without thisoutside financing.If this were to increase earnings by a greater amount than the debt cost (interest), then the shareholders will get higher amount of earnings as dividend. However, the cost of this debt financing may outweigh the return thatthe companygenerates on the debt through investment and business activities and become too much for the company to handle. This can lead to bankruptcy, which would leave shareholders with nothing. The main advantage of debt financing is that it is a cheaper source of finance. It means that required rate of return on equity will always be higher than the interest rate on debt, there is a "hidden" cost involved in the cost of equity. And the cost of equity rises when we utilize more debt financing. This is one reason for using the average cost of capital in valuing a project or company which is more appropriat e, even if we intend to borrow all the money to finance it. While we may use cheap debt to finance a project, the