Filipino food for thought Essay

Food is a very important part of a Filipino’s life. No gathering would be complete without the lechon and so many other Filipino delicacies that we so enjoy. In my personal observation, it can be said that Filipinos seem to live simply for the pleasure of eating. You can’t visit a home without being offered a drink and food from the people there. It seems that food and the Filipino have been deeply rooted together. It may be that through food that brings the Filipino family close together. Indeed, we have come a long way from simply catching our prey and eating it raw and bloody. We have turned cooking and baking into an art form. Of course, through the help of modern inventions, cooking has evolved so much that it doesn’t even take you the whole day to prepare a meal that tastes like a feast! Microwaves and electric stoves replace all those clay pots and stone oven used a long time ago. Everything we need comes in neat little packages that just need to be opened, reheated and, Voila! Dinner is served. It wasn’t this easy during the time of our grandmothers although there were many improvements in the culinary arts. Women still had to slave over hot stoves, go to the market each morning to buy fresh ingredients and transform it to the sumptuous meals we all enjoy. Hard as it was to prepare food, this was the daily chores women did together that has bound them into one close-knit family. Yes, modern equipment have made lives so much easier, but some things in life that can’t be replaced by machines. In addition, some very important things are completely lost thanks to the modernization. Just imagine this quaint little scene in the lives of our grandmothers in the provinces. Come the day of the feast of whoever their patron saint, all of the women would gather in houses to start the preparations for the feast. Congregating in a specific spot (most usually the house of the wealthiest neighbor), they would formulate their game plan. Who would cook this and that, who would be in-charge of doing every little thing imaginable. For almost a week every year, they would busily go about their cooking with the other women in their village. This secret ritual is somewhat like the essay of straightening hair as a secret society. These cooking pros are in fact secret societies of the village women where children and men aren’t allowed, secret recipes kept within themselves and only when a girl reaches the right age would she be assimilated into the group. One would never think of this at this particular angle. With the dawn of technological advance, traditions are being replaced with the convenience of modern living. Nowadays, food preparation has become something too bothersome to worry over. Microwavables and ready-to-eat meals are the way to go especially in the busy lifestyle of the people, like some who hold two jobs to keep up with the expenses. Gone are the days when food preparation was a tradition. It has become a meaningless process most especially for the people in the cities. It is true that modernization is God’s gift to mankind. Everything has become so simple and effortless. Food cooked in minutes rather than hours, people can communicate to each other all over the world with just a press of a button and so many more. The advantages of improvement are undeniable. Yet, when it comes down to the basics, we must think; is it really worth it? Does this so-called improvement really improve the people I am with as well as myself? Is what we are giving up or paying for the price of modernization worth it? Personally, I find that some things are meant to be forever. There may be changes and yet the basic essence can remain the same. People who dwell in the modern world, living a modern life have forgotten what really matters. Custom and traditions make a country what who they are. The personality of each and everyone is molded by the way they are brought up or according to what belief the parents have reflects on their children. Modernization takes away the tradition that has been passed on from parent to child. Tradition is not the only thing that can describe what kind of people we are. What we eat also shows us the people we have become or have been. Take for example dinuguan, which is made of pork meat, blood and heart. It sounds kind of disgusting but it is simply divine! Tastes aside, it tells the people of what kind of people we were. It shows us that long before, we were not the stiff and super-civilized people we think we want to be now. Dinuguan seems like dish made by savages, according to the standard set by foreigners, but who is to judge us? Many of our creme ala creme of society have flatly refuse to eat any more of this delicacy. Why? Honestly, I think they are afraid to let the real Filipino inside them shine through lest it would ruin their high-class standards they have set for themselves. Another delicacy that tells so much of us Filipinos is the native bagoong. This is a pungent Filipino sauce made out of tiny shrimps and salt. The process of making bagoong is quite simple. All the ingredients are mixed together and stirred in a special way, by means of the feet. The makers of the bagoong would go up on a stone â€Å"bowl† where all the ingredients and secret spices are put together, then the fun begins. There is no special style on how to make this, but if you look at it seems so much like the grapes that are turned into the greatest wine. Who knows, maybe this is the best way to make bagoong? I think that this lowly sauce captures the true essence of the Filipino people. You see, we were conquered so many times, first were the Spaniards, then Americans and the Japanese. The longest being the Spaniards, we have experienced so much pain and suffering from them, the Friars and the government officials, who neither cared for the country or the people. They just wanted to get a piece of the wealth and resources of this poor native country down there. Time and time again, we were stepped upon and crushed by these so-called leaders of the church and state, and yet we survived only to become stronger and more powerful than before. It did take a long time before we reached our goals, but we did get there. Just like bagoong, its stepped on, everything is mashed into tiny pieces, and it seemed that everything (shrimps and spices) were lost in this gooey mess. Ironically, the longer they stepped on the bagoong, the tastier it got, the better the sauce. Some even say the feet had something to do with it. Yes, we Pinoys did get crushed, we were stepped on but then we have managed to make the most out of our situation. All those oppressors left a mark on us, which we accepted and turned to our advantage, very much like the effect of stomping does on the bagoong. What we eat makes us what we are. It sounds kind of funny to think of eating this way. If France can eat steak that makes them feel their power, or drink wine, Filipinos must also have something that shows the world what they are. The bagoong, mashed shrimp that doesn’t really look appealing, tells the world of its history. The many culinary dishes made up of so many different things show that even if we are all have diverse cultures and have so many differences, we Filipinos can still make something great together as one country. We may have Muslims in the South and Christians in Manila and Aborigines up in the north, but one thing is for sure. We are all Filipinos and no matter what, we are united as one people. How we prepare our food reflects our culture and tradition, even if modern technology is taking the place of so many things, our basic core is still the same. We should be proud of what we have achieved.

Human Resource Management Assignment

ASSIGNMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SHEET FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT Serial No: 40074724 Please note: 1. Assignments must be submitted on or before the date due. 2. Students must ensure that they are not guilty of plagiarism which is, essentially, referring to the words/ideas of others without acknowledgment. Students must comply with the statement below. | Students Declaration The attached assignment is my own work, and has never been submitted for assessment on any other course before.Proper referencing has been made to all sources: published or unpublished works and the ideas of other persons. (Student’s Signature) Yasas Kalubowila Full Name of Student Mr. Kalubowila Prathibha YasasDate submitted _14 Jan 2012_ Programme _BA (Hons) – Business Management (Singapore) Course Code _39604BH______ Name of Module/subject _Human Resource Management Class ____1__________ ——————————————â €”—- Assignment Title/Reference no. (if applicable) _HRM 08701 (Part 2) ————————————————-Teacher – Dr Allen / Mr Jeffrey Tan___ ___________________________________________________________________________ For Office Use| You are required to develop a two-day induction training course for Baristas (Day 1 should focus on company induction and Day 2 on job specific induction). The course is designed for all new baristas, and will be delivered to groups of 12-16 people. Write a report which includes a) The overall aim and specific learning objectives for the course. Aim of the CourseAccording to Armstrong (2009), employees are far more likely to resign during the initial months after joining the organization. The main aim of this induction program is to welcome our new colleagues in to Cafe Co. family and to get them to understand their role within the organiz ation. This will help them to settle into their jobs more easily and at the same time this will aid the staff to add value to the company which will help the management to align with the company goals and achieve competitive advantage in the long run.In any training program, the learning objective has to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely (Armstrong, 2006, p506) in order to archive the training goals 1. Understanding the organization and t * History * Understanding Vision, Mission & Value Statement * Basic conditions of Employment ( Working hours, leaves, holidays, insurance schemes, ) * Organizational Structure 2. Working Culture * Effective team Management * Improve leadership qualities * Getting to know the line managers 3. Product Knowledge * Varieties of coffee and preparation methods Food Menu & Beverage Menu 4. Customer service * Importance of customer service * Standard operation procedures (SOP) * Handling a customer complain * Customer appreciation Wo rd Count 170 b) An explanation of how this training program will improve the performance of employees. * Give an understanding about the company history, short term and long term goals * Company’s vision, mission and value statement * Allow the trainees to embrace company culture and understand the rules and regulations * Get to know the management staff and the environment so he trainees will not feel cornered * Understand the food and beverages which will be sold together with coffee * Learning the coffee mixtures and varieties of coffee beans in order to give a good impression to the customers * Build a friendly attitude toward work and improve on customer service to attract new customers * Understand the sequence of service to give a smooth operation in service and decrease time lags Word Count 110 Day| Time| Venue| Description| Media| Remarks| 1| 8. 30 am– 9. 5am| Training Room Foyer | Breakfast & Registration | N/A| The participant will be given with course mater ials, Employee Handbook and other necessary documentation. | | 9. 15am -9. 30am| Training Room`| Welcome speech| N/A| The managing Director of Cafe & Co will deliver the welcome speech. | | 9. 30 am- 10. 15 am | Training Room`| Introduction to Cafe Co. | ProjectorVideo on Cafe Co. | The video will show and elaborate on Cafe. Co History and the current standing. -History -Current Standing in the market| | 10. 15am – 10. 0 am| Training Room Foyer| Morning Coffee Break | N/A| Buffet Spread with refreshments| | 10. 30 am-11. 30 am| Training Room | Our Business and Our Goals| Video, PowerPoint Presentation & Speech| With aid of the Employee Handbook, the trainer will go through ,Company vision ,Mission,Value statement ,Goals – Long term and Short term| | 11. 30 am- 12. 00 Noon| Open area | Leadership icebreaker game| N/A| Trainees are divided into two groups to play the game â€Å"Magic Shoes†. Refer Appendix 1| | 12 Noon – 1. 30pm| Restaurant | Lunch| N/A| Th e Group will be taken for the lunch at a restaurant nearby| | 1. 0pm – 2. 30pm| Training Room | Employment Conditions| Presentation & Speech| The HR manager will brief on the Employment Condition and benefits given by the company * Annual Leave * Absent Reporting * Hours of work * Overtime payments * Contract| | 2. 30pm -2. 45pm| Training Room| Q & A| 2 wireless microphone, Facilitator| The Employees are to ask questions to clarify any doubts they have regarding the contract and the conditions| | 2. 45pm -3. 15 pm| Training Room | Organizational Structure and Career advancement opportunities | PowerPoint presentation| The HR Manager will ntroduce the top management and the company hierarchy. Job advancement opportunities and examples of the individuals who started as baristas which had advancements in their careers | | 3. 30pm – 3. 45pm | Training Room Foyer| Afternoon Coffee Break | N/A| Buffet Spread with refreshments| | 3. 45pm – 5. 00pm| Training Room| Intro duction to Cafe Co. Products | PowerPoint Presentation,Video Clips | The Employees will get to see the line of products which Cafe Co. offering. | | 5. 00pm | End of Day 1| Day| Time| Venue| Description| Media| Remarks| 2| 8. 30 am– 9. 0am| Cafe Co. Outlet| Breakfast| N/A| Buffet Spread with refreshments| | 9. 00am -10. 30am| Cafe Co. Outlet| Food Hygiene and Safety Requirements | PowerPoint Presentation, Demonstration| The trainer will go through the food hygiene & safety requirements. -Food preparation -Handling of equipments -Fire safety-Fire Extinguishers-Fire Drill | | 10. 30 am –11. 00am| Cafe Co. Outlet| Customer Service | PowerPoint Presentation| Trainer will give a presentation,-Importance of the customers-How to attract new customers -Customer appreciation -Customer Loyalty| | 11. 0am-12. 00 Noon| Cafe Co. Outlet| Handling Customer Complains| N/A| Role Play in groups of 3 to 4 -Each group is given a scenario -The trainer will assess them in handling the situa tion -Remarks from the trainer | | 12. 00 Noon- 1. 30pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Lunch Meeting with the Line managers | N/A| Buffet Lunch-The Line Managers will go around and talk with the Trainees during the Lunch | | 1. 30pm-3. 00pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Standard Operational Procedure of Cafe Co. | Demonstration and PracticalCutleries, Cutleries | The Trainer will Demonstrate the service sequence. Welcoming the Guest-Locating a table-Offering the Menu-Taking Orders-Serving -Attending to various requests from the guest -Table Settings (Cutleries)| | 3. 00pm -4. 45pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Coffee Preparation Methods followed by Coffee Break| Coffee Machine, Coffee Cups, Sample Food in the Menu,| The Trainer will Demonstrate how to make Different Coffee Mixtures-Each Group will try to make their own Coffee-All the food items in the menu will be served during this session. -The trainer will emphasize on the importance of product knowledge. | | 4. 45 pm – 5. 5pm| Cafe Co. Outlet| Course Summery , Evaluation and Closing Address | PowerPoint Presentation, Evaluation Forms, Facilitator| The Trainer will give the Closing address and will leave the premises where the facilitator will conduct the Evaluations | | 5. 15pm| End of the Induction Program| Word Count 613 a) Explain the training methods and media you would suggest for delivering each part of the program, justifying your choices. (1000 words) Learning Styles Before planning a training program it is impotent for the trainers to understand different styles of learners.According to Honey & Mumford, there are four styles of learning; they are activists, reflectors, theorists and pragmatists (Gray, Cundell, Hay and O’neill, 2004) Honey and Mumford also suggested that the use of the senses (hear, see, feel, smell & taste) can enhance the learners learning experience. Figure 1 -They need models, facts and concepts to engage in learning -like to understand theories behind actions -Involves themselves in new experiences. -Willingness to take Risks -Have an open mind -people who learn by Doing Practical approach -like to put what they learn in to practice -Experimenting -like to try out new ideas -Learn by observing and thinking -takes time to come to conclusion -they avoid leaping in like to watch in the side lines Training Methods Choosing the correct training method to deliver the training is very important for both the trainer and the trainee. There are lots of factors to consider when choosing a method. Some of them are: Audience age, level of education, learning style of the trainees, budget, trainer’s skills and training style.Training Method | Description| Advantages | Drawbacks | Where did we use? | Why did we use? | Lesson/Instructions| The trainer will deliver the lesson to a group of people | Ideal for smaller groups. Can archive transfer of information easilyCan make the learning experience more interesting with the use of the right media. | Cannot handle Larger groupsVery trainer centered Standard of the training depends too much on the trainer| Most of the activities on the first day was more based on this method of training -Our Business and Our Goals -Employment Conditions Organizational Structures and Career Advancement Opportunities-Food hygiene and Safety requirements | This is the most common method of transferring the information out to an audience. Even though this can be bit monotonous, using of a mixture of media like videos can make the learning experience more effective. The topics like business and our goals, employment conditions and etc are very straight forwards topics which can use lessons to deliver.Seeing, Hearing | Demonstration | The trainer will demonstrate a task in front of the trainees. How to Fold a NapkinHow to prepare an espresso | Aids understanding and retention Stimulates learners interest Can give learners a model to follow| Must be accurate and relevant to learnersExamples require lengthy prep timeMay be difficult for all t o see| Standard Operational Procedure of Cafe Co. Coffee Preparation Methods| By Looking at the demonstration they will get an idea on how things are carried out.Also by giving them an opportunity to practice the above demonstrations will increase the effectiveness of the training Researches suggests, by using kinesthetic learning will increase the results in learning outcomes (teaching Mineralogy, 2011) Seeing, Feeling and tasting | Training video| These videos can be specially designed for training purposes or it can be normal media which can be taken from the web| Easier to understandImages and motion pictures can be recalled easily than words and phrases | Production cost can be high for training videos| Our business and our goals. Introduction to cafe. o| It is interesting to see something than listening to someone for few hours. Easier to capture the attention of the trainees. Seeing,| Role play| Trainees act out characters assigned to them. Information regarding the situation is provided to the trainees by the trainer. | Focus on interpersonal responses The more meaningful the exercise, the higher the level of participant focus and intensity | Outcomes depend on the emotional (and subjective) reactions of the other trainees. | Handling Customer Complains| Role playing can be a very interesting way to see how a person reacts to a certain situation.But the scenarios has to be well prepared and the trainer must always facilitate to keep the trainees from derailing away from the desired learning objectives We used this method in order to prepare the trainees or the future employees to handle difficult situations with no hesitation. Furthermore they will be well prepared to face different types of customers with different attitudes and to handle the complains well. Feeling| Games| This is to improve the decision making and sense making capabilities of the trainees. | Build a fun and enthusiastic atmosphere in the training program.Improve the critical thinkin g skills of the learnersTime management and team building skillsBring out the leadership qualities of the participants. | Time consuming. Competition might arouse the conflict among the participants| Leadership Icebreaker Game| The game â€Å"Magic shoe† is used to choose a leader within the group. This will improve the team dynamics and at the same time it will build a unity among the team members. This will benefit the participants in enhancing their decision making skills and consequently improve their time management skills as well.Word Count 904| e) Outline your evaluation strategy for the course. (250 words) Evaluation can be defined as a way of assessing or judging the value of a piece of work (Tufo, 2002). It is the systematic assessment of the worth or merit of some object (Trochim, 2006). The evaluation of this induction program is based on kirkpatrick’s 4 levels of evaluation model. Figure 2 shows the 4 levels of learning and the how it effect the participan ts. Figure 2 Level 1 (Reaction) – This is used to understand how the trainees or the participants felt about the program. Happy sheets’ and feedback forms will be given to the trainees soon after the induction program is over in order to identify the effectiveness of course delivering methods. For long term evaluation, customer satisfaction surveys and employee performance evaluations will be conducted every three months. Level 2 (Learning) – Learning evaluation can be identified as the measurement of the increase in knowledge before and after the program (Chapman, 2009). Observations will be conducted after the induction program on how the new employees handle the coffee machines and equipment.Furthermore a questioner will be given to the new employees to identify the improvement regarding the product knowledge. Level 3 (Behavior) – In one month time follow up surveys will be conducted to both employees and managers in order to identify whether the emplo yees are applying the things which they have learned during the induction program. Also customer service feedback forms will be given to the customers after one month time to find the improvement and the application of knowledge. Level 4 (Results) – Measuring the performance of the company in increase or decrease of sales.Daily sales level followed by monthly sales level. In period of 3- months’ time measure the increase or decrease in product quality and the customer feedback. Consequently by evaluating the effect on company profit will give a broad description on how the induction program has an impact on the business in long run. Word count 311 Reference 1. Armstrong, M. (2006). Handbook of HRM practices, 10th Edition, London, Kogen Page. 2. Armstrong, M. (2009). Handbook of HRM practices, 11th Edition, London, Kogen Page 3. Chapman, A. (2009).Kirkpatrick’s learning and training evaluation theory. Business balls. [Online]. Available at: http://www. businessba lls. com/kirkpatricklearningevaluationmodel. htm . [Accessed: 12th Jan 2012] 4. Fleming,N. ,and Mills,C. ,(1992). Kinesthetic Learning. Teaching Mineralogy. [Online]. Available at:http://serc. carleton. edu/NAGTWorkshops/mineralogy/xtlsymmetry/kinesthetics. html [Accessed: 14th Jan 2012] 5. Gray,D. Cundell,S. Hay, D. O’neil, J. (2004) Learning through the Workplace 7th Edition, Cheltenhan, Nelson Thornes LTD. . Leadership games. (2012). Leadership games for groups. Leadership games. [Online]. Available at: http://leadershipgames. org/ . [Accessed: 14th Jan 2012] 7. Trochim,M. K. W. ,(2006). Introduction to Evaluation. Research methods Knowledge base. [Online]. Available at: http://www. socialresearchmethods. net/kb/intreval. php . [Accessed: 15th Jan 2012] 8. Tufo,S. (2002). What is evaluation?. Evaluation trust. [Online]. Available at: http://www. evaluationtrust. org/ . [Accessed: 15th Jan 2012] Appendix 1 Magic ShoesMake 2 lines on the ground at least 8 feet apart and have the participants break into 2 groups, with each team having one pair of â€Å"magic shoes. † Instruct the team to gather behind one of the lines and have them cross the lava (the ground they are crossing) with only one person at a time using the â€Å"magic shoes† to be able to walk across the lava safely. Each team will be challenged to select a leader who would plan the strategy on how to have the entire team cross without being burned (Leadership games,2012). Section D – Student reflective statementPlease complete the questions below and submit with you assessment on Friday 15th January 2012. Please note that this is worth 5% of your assessment mark and should be approximately 500 words. What have you learnt in the process of completing your assignment? Human Resource Management (HRM) can use as a powerful force to archive organizational goals. But I feel that in the Singapore Context these practices are not carried out effectively. Especially local firms, t hey name the department as HR department but they only do administrative work. Basic things like Recruiting and selection.I feel that they need to focus more on things like HR Development and training in a strategic level. This will give the company an edge in the competition. All in all it gave me lot of insights on to the role of a HR manager and the importance of him or her in the top management to make decision making easier. What helped or hindered you progress? My work experience as a manager helped me in doing this assignment. Lot of the things mentioned in this module is similar to what I do at work. But the tough part is searching for relevant materials and resources and giving references was slowing down my progress.Nevertheless by reading the course materials and the lecture slides gave me a broad understanding regarding Human resource management and also how to build the induction program effectively. But time management was a difficult task for me as I have work during week days and weekends as well. Therefore it hindered my progress and resulted in rushing through the assignment. For each section please reflect on whether you are satisfied with you submission and if not, why not? Considering the overall work, I am contended and happy because with all the time barriers I managed to finish it on time.But because of the given word counts I had to limit my thoughts and findings which was not satisfactory. Furthermore I have doubts in my referencing method and the amount of references I used because I was unable to attend to the special class where the lecturer conducted in regarding referencing. What actions will you take as a result of what you have learnt while doing this assessment? I am working in a small company which has close to 25 employees in the whole Singapore branch which is the head office for all the other branches in Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand.Last week I was in Indonesia for one of the training sessions which they were co nducting for some of their trainers (We are dealing with Schools). And I was very happy how they conducted their training. It was a well detailed and well structured. After the training they had the training program I took some feedback from the trainees and they were very good. On the other hand the training which we conduct here in Singapore is very informal sessions which don’t really follow any standard. So with the help of my knowledge I am going to change the training structure of our company and standardize for all the other countries as well.

Work Sheet

* * Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Assignment Background: The point of this assignment is to get you to search and become familiar with the GCU Learning Management System (LMS) LoudCloud and the GCU web site. These two sites have many resources to help you be a successful student. Assignment Instructions: Answer the following questions that require you to search the LoudCloud classroom and GCU web site. Feel free to search around the sites until you find the things you are looking for. LoudCloud Questions 1.After logging into the LoudCloud classroom, list the tabs and other items on the screen when you first enter a course in LoudCloud. 2. From the course home page in LoudCloud, click on the â€Å"Tasks† tab and then click on â€Å"Forums†. Make notes on the various forums and their purposes. * * 3. Find the Student Success Center under the Resources Tab. Click on this link. List some of the services provided to students at this link. * * 4. Inside the Student Success Center, click on the Writing Center link. Click on LoudCloud Courses.What writing style is required for 100- and 200-level courses at GCU? 5. Inside the Student Success Center, click on the Support Services link. List the services available at this link. 6. Inside the Student Success Center, click on the Succeed at GCU link. Click on the GCU Tutorials link at the bottom of the page. What tutorials are available for students at this link? 7. Click on the Resources Tab in the LoudCloud classroom. List each section. Review each section and list what you find in it. 8.Click on the Course Home link the left-hand corner of the screen. List some of the components found on this page. 9. Go to http://library. gcu. edu. Click on the Frequently Asked Questions (on the left) link. List how a GCU student finds a Book, DVD, streaming video, or other multimedia at the GCU library: * GCU Web site Questions (http://www. gcu. edu) 1. Locate and click the Spiritual Life link on the right side of the screen. You will notice a navigation pane on the left side of the screen. Click the â€Å"+† sign next to Chapel and the Gathering.What information is listed under Chapel and the Gathering? 2. On the Home page, locate and click the Current Students button on the right side of the screen. Scroll down the page. What links are listed under the Student Resources section? 3. On the Home page, locate and click on the Resources tab at the top of the screen. Click the Technical Support link listed under the Support Services section. What information can be found under Technical Support? 4. On the Home page, click on the Contact Us tab which is located just above the home page footer.This is where you can locate phone numbers and addresses of the colleges, the main GCU switchboard, and the Student Services offices. List the phone numbers of the following departments located in the Student Contact Information section: * Career Services- * Center for Learning Advancement- * Academic Advising- * Finance Counselors- * Office of Academic Records- * Technical Support 5. On the Home page, notice the icons on the top right header area. What are the other icons listed next to theâ€Å"† for the GCU Facebook page? 6. On the Home page, click the About Us tab located at the top.What is the vision and mission statement for Grand Canyon University? 7. Also under the About Us tab, locate the four pillars of Grand Canyon University. 8. Navigate from the About Us tab to the Academics tab. Read about Accreditation near the bottom of the page. What did you learn? 9. Navigate from the Academics tab to the Student Life tab. Scroll down the page to locate and click on Bookstore. Click the Online Bookstores link and then through to the Grand Canyon Online Students section. What sort of materials can a student purchase from this site?

Literary Perspectives on New York City History Essay

Literary Perspectives on New York City History - Essay Example This essay takes a look at the literary works of a Frances Trollope, Charles Dickens, George G. Foster and William Dean Howells with a view to presenting an overview of the wide literary perspectives on New York's history. 19th century New York was arguably a city to behold. It might not have been as glamorous as London, but it could compare favorably well with the great cities of the time, and like London compared to Liverpool, or Paris to Rouen, Trollope believes that the New York of the 19th century was the finest city in all the colonies making up America. The beauty of New York City was reported in several historical documents. The elite section of the city was well organized and richly furnished. The opulence that radiated from this section of the city was easily comparable to what was obtainable in both France and England. Though gardens and flowers in front and around houses were not a common culture as was the case then in London and Paris, the elegance of the houses and their decoration was not less enticing. In this regard, Trollope1 writes that: "Every part of their houses is well carpeted, and the exterior finishing, such as steps, railings, and door-frames, are very superior. Almost every house has handsome green blinds on the outside; balconies are not very general, nor do the houses display, externally, so many flowers as those of Paris and London; but I saw many rooms decorated within, exactly like those of an European petite maitresse" Talking about the elegance of the 19th century New York City, one meeting point for most historians was the uniqueness of the area known then as Broadway. Broadway was, reportedly, the major road that cut across the whole New York City and it brought most of the city's business and elites together. Describing Broadway as the 'main artery' of New York City, Dickens2 report that the street was about four miles long, stretching from the Battery Gardens to terminate on the opposite end in a country road. Broadway was a very busy business area and was known for its well polished pavement stone and red brick houses, neat and well organized shops well dressed pedestrians. While Dickens argues that there possibly was no other street as 'sunny as Broadway' referring to the width and space of the street; Trollope writes that for its beauty, organization and businesses, Broadway was comparable to, not only Bond Street, but also Regent Street. 1. Mrs. Trollope Visits New York City In 1832, the English novelist Frances Trollope (1780-1863) published a memoir of her recent travels in the United States. Entitled Domestic Manners of the Americans, it contained the following observations of New York as it was only a few years after the opening of the Erie Canal 2. "A Dickensian View of New York" by Charles Dickens from Charles Dickens, American Notes (1842) Beside the uniqueness of Broadway in the early New York City, one interesting fact that appears to be common to all the historians is that like their counterparts in France and England, the female New Yorker of the 19th century was astoundingly fashionable. This fact was perfectly conveyed in Dickens statement thus: "Heaven save the ladies, how they dress! We have seen more colors in these ten minutes than we should have seen

Put the arguments for and against the idea that motivation (a Essay

Put the arguments for and against the idea that motivation (a learner's factor) plays a major part in second language acquisition) - Essay Example le new language acquiring process is something that we will delve into in detail and for this reason we find the exact basis as to how motivation plays its due part. There are a number of reasons that the students and different language learners offer when they are questioned as to why a new language would just be the order of the day for them. These responses include their willingness to have a sound and prosperous future that is full of growth and advancements. Also the reasons include their liking for a particular language and their incorporation of these languages into the countries in which they intend traveling or living in for a specified period of time. With the addition of more and more people wanting to learn a new language we see that the limited proficiency in English, the instructors are having a hard time making these people learn the new language. There is just so much that can be taught to these individuals. Enormous patience is required on their part as well as a huge amount of understanding and empathy. This is a mighty challenge for the teachers as they have to train the language seekers without having any prior training themselves. This would be done to promote second language development as well as to find out a little bit about the procedure of second language learning. [Favreau, M., & Segalowitz, 1983] The motivational aspects stem from the fact that the second language gives them a better understanding of the ways and means of the people who make use of the same in their day to day lives as well as the international usage of the new and acquired language. English is indeed the international language but learning Ger man, French, Spanish or Chinese on the part of the different language seekers/learners is a positive step and one that should surely be counted as a plus on their curriculum vitae. The focus therefore should not only be on young children but we can also take into consideration the older ones. As we are focusing on people from

Should nuclear power be revived in California and the United States Research Paper

Should nuclear power be revived in California and the United States - Research Paper Example The aftermath of using fossil fuel as a source of energy has recently revived the interest of incorporating nuclear power as a major source of energy. The need of reviving the use of nuclear power has further being aggravated by the ever-increasing population, thus increasing the demand of energy. Reliable operations and safety are the main requirements that lead to the approval of nuclear energy as a source of power generation (Rosen and Glasser, 1992, p. 308). Importance of nuclear power †¢ Development imperative On attaining a wealth of information from the US senate, senator Domenici indicated that human development is the creation of a surrounding where individuals can establish their maximum potential, as humans are considered the real wealth of the world; indeed, human development supersedes economic growth. The fact remains that we need energy to not only drive our industries, but also support our current trends of living. Lack of electricity has been identified as one of the perpetrators of poverty. In 1999, the United States was noted to consume approximately 25 percent of the world’s energy. Nevertheless, high consumption of electricity indicates the ever-changing lifestyle in United States’ growing population. Nuclear power generation as a way of diversifying the sources of electricity generation can not only free up fossil fuel, but also ensure the uses have no other substitutes. The result of use of nuclear power is a cleaner environment, creation of more job opportu nities and maximum use of available raw material. . According to Sir Ingham, based on rational discourse, nuclear power should be viewed based as the foundation of man’s sustainable power that has no offence to the surrounding. environment (Domenici, Lyons and Steyn, 2004, p. 182, 183 & 184). Substitute for natural gas and oil imports. Increase in population brings about high demand of energy. This high demand of energy hence forces the country to import energy, which could lead to political instability and lack of cost control. According to Domenici, Lyons and Steyn (2004), reliance of imported energy has been predicted to rise from 50 percent to 70 percent in the decades to come within the European countries. Heavy reliance of imported energy may have negative global impact and hence United States should have an equilibrium energy policy that incorporates healthy reliance on nuclear power in order to suppress the ever-increasing competition of fossil fuel supply in the deca des to come. America will encounter stiff competition from fast developing countries and the European Union countries for supply of imported energy and hence the best option will be for the country to incorporate the nuclear energy option and attain the diversification of electricity. The heavy reliance of natural gas and oil imports will not only lead the United States to a dangerous path but also return the nation to the situation it was fifty years ago regarding foreign oil imports. According to the research undertaken by EIA, 39 percent of US’ energy is bound to be imported as indicated statistically in 2002 when 29 percent of the country’

The Great Gatsby Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

The Great Gatsby - Essay Example S. Eliot in his Four Quartets. In Burnt Norton, he says This very vividly brings out time as an amorphous mass with no real future or past. It all seems to exist in one place and seems to suggest that it is also memory he is talking about, for where else in real life does all time exist in one place except in the human mind These lines from Little Gidding, bring a new dimension to the concept of circularity of time. It says quite clearly that one can only truly understand when one has come full circle. This dimension is not evident in The Great Gatsby. In the novel though past and present are irrevocably entangled, there is a quality that makes one think we are trying to escape from the past but cannot, especially in the last lines. However, Eliot seems to consider the pull of past on us as something that helps us to understand ourselves and the future more completely. The idea that the past and future are inseparable is brought out clearly in Nick's comparison of the Dutch sailors and Gatsby's vision of a new life. Here too, the idea of rediscovering oneself re asserts itself. The experience of the Dutch sailors on landing on the Long Island beach for the first time clearly seems to be one of wonder and is filled with a sense of incredible adventure. They had discovered a completely new, untouched virgin country; ".fresh, green breast of the new world." The discovery is accompanied by a sense of excitement and the promise of new and undiscovered adventure, as is evidenced by Fitzgeralds use of subtle but definite language. He describes the moment with tenderness, bringing out the overwhelming sense of wonder in their landing, with terms like "transitory enchanted moment" and his description of the greatness of their dreams for the future. The experience is unique because of the sheer newness of the discovery. The sailors had come across an entirely unexplored and unknown territory. Everything here was to be discovered and shaped by them, they had a sense of power and the headiness of it is evident in the language. The paragraphs vibrate with it despite the restrained language. This was not simply a new area; it was a new life and world, something of theirs and theirs alone. It was an experience of hope and was forward looking. Gatsby's experience on first identifying the light that swung outside Daisy's home must have been, according to Nick, a similar experience in terms of the wonder it created in him. He must have felt the same sense of discovery and also one of hope for the future; "I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it." However, this experience is both similar to and widely different from the one

Image and Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Image and Identity - Essay Example son as such communication media allows lesser personal interaction with another person and thus â€Å"internal† qualities are left unseen (â€Å"Body Image,† par. 13). She quotes psychologist Dr. Hue-Sun Ahn as saying that â€Å"the increase of communication though electronic means †¦ [gives us fewer] opportunities to get to know people †¦ on a personal level† (par. 13). Personally, I just could not see how this lack of a more personal involvement in electronic communication directly affects our perception of how we look. Perhaps Rispin and Ahn’s stand simply reflect our irrational fear of technology. Dr. Reville, a professor at University College Cork in Ireland, explains that this fear is due to the perception that technology is unnatural and our â€Å"lack of understanding of [its] technical and scientific basis† (â€Å"If We Fear,† par. 2). True, technology has revolutionized the way we communicate that there is much less sensory involvement when we chat via instant messaging or call someone on the phone. But has it really transformed us into mindless nonchalant beings? Is technology taking away all of our emotions that we have failed to see â€Å"compassion, spiritedness, sense of humor, loyalty [and other] non-visible qualities,† (â€Å"Body Image,† par. 13) as Ahn puts it? Obviously, the answer is no, for technology merely speeds up the way we communicate and does not, in any direct way, change the way we think and feel. Yes, we use technology on a daily basis that we can’t seem to live without it. We send e-mails, we blog, watch YouTube. But at the end of the day, we still long for that one-on-one communication that no other medium could substitute. We have not forgotten to talk personally to friends, family, and mentors; we still laugh or cry on someone else’s shoulder; we fall in love. We are still, in every essence, human beings, with or without technology. We never really lost anything, not even our feelings. Speaking of blogging and YouTube (or

Early Childhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Early Childhood - Essay Example According to Montessori, â€Å"the development of articulate speech occurs between the ages two and five --- the age of perception in which the attention of the child is spontaneously directed to external objects and the memory is particularly attentive† (Montessori, Chapter 18, 2004). Montessori said that there are four stages in the language development which are the auditory or listening, oral, manual and interpretive (reading). She also introduced the concept of sensitive periods which are critical for a child’s development. The sensitive period is that period in a child’s development whereby he is unconsciously aware that a certain skill is to be learned at that period. It is the time when a person has the best opportunity to learn something. Examples of the sensitive periods in a child’s environment are the sensitivity to movement, sensitivity to order, sensitivity to language and sensitivity to sensory impressions. Sensitivity to movement occurs at ages two to four. This is the time when the child moves around in order to learn about his environment. Practical life exercises are used in Montessori schools during this sensitive period. Practical life exercises is one of the four areas of the Montessori prepared environment. This area resembles the work at home such as washing the dishes or sweeping the floor. The teacher introduces the name of the activity while the movement is being performed. Social grace and courtesy activities are introduced such as the use of â€Å"May I† or â€Å"Can I†. Language skills are further developed from these practical life activities. Sensitivity to order also occurs at the same time as the sensitivity to movement. Sensitivity relates to spatial, social, sensory and temporal. Children at this age become more aware of the order in time and space. According to Montessori at this stage, order becomes the child’s foundation to make sense of his environment. Another important se nsitive period is that of the sensitivity to language which is one of the longest-lasting sensitive periods which starts at age three to six. After this period the rate of absorption for new words will never be the same again. The child becomes attracted to human sounds which drive him to speak his native language. After age six, the sensitive period for language weakens and the child then moves on to grammar work as he improves his reading skills. The sensitivity to sensory impression is another period in a child’s development. This is when the child becomes interested in his environment and wants to learn more about it. This need is answered by Montessori’s sensorial training where the senses are being developed and refined. An important method used in teaching language in Montessori schools is the Three Period Lesson which is a teaching technique used to give formal vocabulary lessons. Language is given after experience of that which is to be named. The three period s support the three stages of learning. The First Period (Naming) is an introduction of the names to be learned by presenting names that are nouns using color tablets. The colour tablets which were used in the sensorial training of the child are also used in this activity. The first step is to lay the primary colors in a row in front of the child. One color is isolated and the teacher says the name of the color after which the child is encouraged to say the same. The same procedure is repeated for the other colors. The Second Period (Recognition) is the practice of

Physical effects of Mercosur & The Pacific Alliance Term Paper

Physical effects of Mercosur & The Pacific Alliance - Term Paper Example In a time of global business recession, many countries have entered into agreements to expand their business geographical coverage and to enhance business operations across their countries. The Pacific Alliance and Mercusor are examples of agreements that have been formed to liberalize the business market within the member nations. These agreements have gone way too far in defining the physical aspects of the global business. The Pacific Alliance is an agreement that was coined in 2012 to enhance the global business strategies of the member countries. When the Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Chile entered into this agreement, they had the intention to define an integrated business block that will allow them to overcome the pressures of the economic recession that they experienced during the 2008 and 2009 business recession period when America and European economies experienced a sluggish development (Dade and Meachan, 2013). The liberalization of trade in the business environm ent allows the member countries to make business operations easier and to enhance the physical aspects of the business. On the other hand, Mercusor was a political and economic agreement between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela that intended to create a cohesive common market between member countries (Pena, 2013). Although the two agreements have different business terms, they have played a key role in the development of global business. Both Mercusor and The Pacific Alliance have eliminated boundary barriers within the southern region to enhance business operability in this environment. The implication of this is that they have expanded the geographical business development as every country gain a new market to sell and buy goods. In essence, the member countries can export and import goods freely without any physical limitation. Consequently, the countries can be able to optimize their operation by increasing their export and import bulks and hence being able to increase their sales and reduce the cost of purchase. In addition, the treaties have considerably reduced the tax rates for the movement of goods to ensure that the countries can operate more freely in the new markets (Pena, 2013). This kind of business trend has had a great impact on the business operations in these economic blocks. The two agreements have also reduced the cost of transportation of goods and services across the borders of participating members. Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico have strived to develop an effective transport and communication network to enhance the mechanics of the movement of goods in these geographically neighboring countries (Dade and Meachan, 2013). One fundamental element of the physical aspect of global business is the formation of the road networks. Countries that have efficient road networks connecting them considerably reduce the transportation cost and hence allow goods and services to reach their market at a cheaper price. Cons equently, it is feasible for the countries offer better market prices giving them a competitive advantage in the market. In turn, it becomes possible to increase the gross sales and the productivity of business within this synchronized region. In addition, the two treaties have had a great impact on the human movement across the boundaries of member countries. The Pacific Alliance eliminated the Visa requirement that previously was a prerequisite condition for the movement of persons from one region to the other (Dade and Meachan,

The Cooking animal Essay Example for Free

The Cooking animal Essay ?Michael Pollan’s article The Cooking Animal, describes the decline of home cooked meals and its effects. Cooking, he says, is what separates us from animals. It’s how we became civilized. By making us come together and share food, we learn about each other and ourselves. Although its importance, cooking is rapidly declining in modern times. What was once a daily ritual is now becoming a special occasion. Replacing cooking is convenient, yet horribly unhealthy, processed foods thus worsening the already increasing obesity problem. †The more time a nation devotes to food preparation at home, the lower its rate of obesity† (Pollan 583). Pollan explains the importance of home cooked meals and it’s correlation with obesity and how we have fallen in the trap of the corporations. He explains how the mass producers made hard to make meals cheap, processed, and convenient leaving us to be forever doomed unless we made dire changes. Pollen raises many thoughts and facts about the importance of home cooked meals, all of which I completely agree with. Cooking is what separates us from animals. When our ancestors learned the ability to cook the new nutrients allowed them to evolve differently. Cooking not only provided us with much better nutrients but provided us with the means of creating our culture. When we gather with other people and eat together, we share ourselves (Pollan 582). When I first read this article the above statements just clicked with me, it all just made so much sense. I knew that cooking is important but crediting it for mankind’s evolution was new to me. When I read this part of the article I couldn’t help but to imagine a group of Neanderthals eating around a fire, slowly creating their own culture. Cooking is very important to many great cultures and can tell us much about said cultures. My family are big advocates of our Mexican culture so food is definitely very important to us. I’ve eaten with American, Indian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, and Egyptian families all of which had their distinct differences in how they ate and how they interacted with each other on the dinner table. Home cooked meals are being neglected by America causing obesity to become more prominent. The iconic image of the American family gathered around the dinner table is becoming a rare one. Today’s American would much rather pick up a large order of fries than actually get the potatoes and make them yourself, and why not? The restaurants and super markets make it so cheap and easy that you would be a time wasting fool if you cooked it yourself at home. Pollen says that as the preparation time has gone down, calorie consumption has gone up. â€Å"As the amount of time Americans spend cooking has dropped by about half, the number of meals Americans eat in a day has climbed; since 1977, we’ve added approximately half a meal to our daily intake† (583). That’s no surprise considering what goes into the fast food and mass produced foods. I remember I saw a video on what McDonalds chicken nuggets look like before they fry them and I never wanted to eat one ever again. If the chicken looks like pink silly putty, maybe we shouldn’t be eat it regularly. Thankfully I grew up on my mothers cooking. She has a full time job, three kids, and manages to make the best food everyday. I’ve always believed that all my physical and athletic achievements have been greatly attributed by my diet. Apart from home cooked meals being generally far better nutritiously, they generally taste way better. Perhaps they taste better because theyre made with love? That’s up to the consumer to decide. Corporations that mass produce food have one motivation, profit. It’s their job to mass produce food the quickest and cheapest way to earn the most profit so obviously nutrition is going to be neglected. The marketing revolves around habits. If we form the habits of just relying on them for food we will not go back thus more profit for them. It makes me think of an evil villain who’s bent on destroying the human race or at least making us all fat and lazy because that’s what’s happening. We’re becoming lazy which means our children will be lazy and the ability to cook will vanish and it will all go downhill from there. In Pollen’s article, he asked Harry Balzer what we can one do to fix this problem and he said â€Å"Easy. You want Americans to eat less? I have the diet for you. It’s short, and it’s simple. Here’s my diet plan: Cook it yourself. That’s it. Eat anything you want — just as long as you’re willing to cook it yourself† (584). Cooking is something that has been around since the beginning and something that we cannot afford to loose. Cooking is what makes us human, what provides us with the right nutrients and what keeps us from falling into the industries trap. Michael Pollan’s The Cooking Animal reinforced my belief on the importance of home cooked meals and also expands it. Works Cited Pollan, Micheal. The Cooking Animal. The Bedford Guide for College Writers withReader. By X. J. Kennedy, Dorothy M. Kennedy, and Marcia F. Muth. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. 581-85. Print.

The university and colleges authorities Essay Example for Free

The university and colleges authorities Essay Blogging presents the users with a unique opportunity to express themselves and air their views on different issues. It gives the students a chance to communicate with their peers on different issue. To many this is an opportunity to tell others what one believes or feels concerning a certain issue. It also gives the user a chance to earn some income depending on the number of people who respond to the issues raised by the person initiating the blog. Basically what is a blog? Blog has been described as a term which is used to describe those website which maintain a continuos series of information which is arranged in a systematic manner. By systematic I mean the information is a arranged according to the time that it was posted. The site is frequently updated . This from of communication dwells on various issues from personal to politics. One can focus on a wide issue or a narrow one depending on ones wish. Therefore blog can be fun informative,entertaining and at the same time it can be used as atool of spreading malicious information concerning a person or a group of people. At the same time blog can be used to offend a certain person or a society. (Bruns, A and Joanne J 2006) Blogging can be used for various purposes by different people,in colleges and universities it has become a tool where students attack each other through posting information which can damage a personal character. Although the American constitution through the first amendment guarantees every citizen the freedom of speech the authorities in the laerning institution should control the use of blog to pass information which can interfere with other students learning process. Hate speeches are common among the students in our laerning institutions,internet has played a very big role in promoting this culture as students can post hate speeches anonymously in the internet. Since access to the websites which provide blog is not restricted to any user anybody can bump on such information. Through reading the content one may feel disoriented and will be affected negatively by the message. This will affect the person phychologically and may go to an extent of affecting the student education depending on the kind of message or information that was relayed. (Kline, D and Burstein, D. 2007 34) Restricting blog which are mostly used to insult and demean others is the best thing that can happen in our institution of higher learning. This will ensure that the learning process is smooth if all the other factors remain constant. This will also guarantee each and every srudents right to a dignified life in the institution. It will protect the most vulnerable group as far as hate speech is concerned. The most tergeted groups include the women,people from different races,disabled or basically those students who have some weakness as far as the college society is concerned. These are people who need protection since they are prone to such henous acts which can leave them traumatized to an extent where their education is intefered with. (Ringmar, E 2007 56) The freedom guaranteed by the American constitution does not give us a leeway to spread rumors against others, pass on some information which can hurt other people or even more give messages which are inciting in nature or pass on messages with a purpose of hurting others. The law clearly spells out that such an action would be tantamount to interfering with other people’s affairs in a manner that suggests that one is malicious and at the same time lacks respect for the others. Regulation of blogs which spread such kind of message will ensure that those vulnerable groups are protected from those malicious people who are only interested in hurting other people’s emotions. The universities authorities ought to take the first step in getting all those culprits who are out to hurt other feeling. Though such a move may attract great opposition it is a move in the right direction as the same constitution that promotes free speech articulates clearly the rights of very American to lead a decent life. Blogs which promote such kind information do not only violate a person freedom but also affects their lives. One may argue that why put so much emphasize on the blogs yet hate speeches are made day and day out in our colleges. One has to appreciate that internet is accessed by many people who are not restricted from visiting sites especially those which largely deals with the blog. This means that if a negative or a hate speech is posted targeting a certain group the message will spread far and wide within a very short time. This will affect the targeted people emotionally and psychologically because they may not be in a position to react or behave different in such circumstances. (Bruns, A and Joanne J 2006 38) Emergence of blog has presented some very complicated issues concerning the rights of those who may be targeted by some of the information posted. There have been several cases which have been filed touching on blog and hate speech. It is a form of defamation where perpetrators can be sued in a court of law. May be to start with ,the authorities in our learning institution should sue such character as their aim is harm others while trying to make themselves popular. Through such an action they will be moving in the right direction in curbing such practices in the institutions where students are supposed to be nurtured in a manner where they respect each other. It might be difficult to unmask some of the bloggers who use anonymous addresses but with the advancement of technology this should be an easy task. Involvement of internet service providers in unmasking these malicious people would yield some fruits since they have the proper machinery in netting the culprits. The effects of hate speech have far much reaching effects especially for the students who can be very vulnerable due to their conditions. It impacts some form of resentment to a certain group of people especially those who have characteristics which the blogger writes against. It may also lead to withdrawal of the victim as they tend to come to terms with the message being relayed. This means that the student will not be in a position to concentrate in their studies. (Alavi, N. 2005 26) The university and colleges authorities should not only aim at curbing the practice but should embark on a program where the students are sensitized on the dangers of hate speech especially through blogs. They should be made to understand hate speeches can ignite conflict between different people within the learning institution. Such a conflict can be detrimental to their learning process as they will live in fear of attack from the other group. Another danger as far as this practice is concerning is the time involved. Such a time is supposed to be used to study but most of the students will spend most of their time blogging, an activity which is time consuming. This means that the student will not have enough time as they embark on an activity which is very addictive in nature. Blog when used for the right purpose can have very positive effect but when it is used to hurt other people it has some serious effect on those whom are targeted and at the same time for those who post them. We should not abuse the systems provided for us to ease the process of communication and passing relevant information rather we should utilize such opportunities ti reap as much benefits as possible. The universities can be successful in addressing this issue as they have the capacity to control what the students’ access in the networks provided by the institution. Mostly giving the students the right information can also go along way in ensuring that hate speech is not spread through the internet in form of blog. Work cited Bruns, A and Joanne J Uses of Blogs, Peter Lang, New York, (2006) Alavi, N. We Are Iran: The Persian Blogs, Soft Skull Press, New York,( 2005) Ringmar, E A Blogger Manifesto:Free speech and cesorship in the age of internet,London,Anthem Press(2007) Kline, D and Burstein, D. Blog: How the Newest Media Revolution is Changing Politics, Business, and Culture, Squibnocket Partners, (2005).

Overview Of Skincare Industry India Marketing Essay

Overview Of Skincare Industry India Marketing Essay The preference of Indian consumers is changing from the merely functional products to the preferential products. The average annual spending of Indian consumers on cosmetics and toiletries in 2005 is just over US$3. The cosmetics and toiletries saw its value share rising from 27% in 1999 to 31% in 2005. This trend also continued after that with consistent increase in the share. The entry of many multinationals also fuelled the growth in the industry as foreign players focussed more on product innovation. It is seen that global companies after coming to India trying to explore the traditional skin care products in India. Indian consumers are increasingly looking to international personal care brands as lifestyle enhancement products which will create a sophisticated and upper class image. The total skin care market is estimated to be around Rs. 3,400 Cr. The total size of the Indian retail beauty and cosmetics market is currently estimated at $950 million.   The overall beauty and wellness market, which includes beauty services, is $2.68 billion.   The cosmetics market in India is growing twice as fast as that of the United States and European market. However, The skin care market is at a primary stage in India. The penetration level of this segment in India is around 20 per cent. The improvement of medical technology also fuels the growth of the market in India. Major companies active in this segment include Hindustan Lever; Godrej Soaps, Colgate-Palmolive, Marico, Dabur and Procter Gamble. The skin care market can be segregated into toners, cleansers, sunscreens, anti-wrinkle creams, dark circle removing creams, astringents, f acial creams, moisturizers, fairness creams, day and night-creams. The penetration level for both the urban and rural market is low. Many people still prefer to use traditional products to cure the skin More than 25% growth every year in the Skin Care Industry Facial skin care products have become an essential part of the beauty market Gradual Adoption of the western culture The chart below shows major players in the skin care industry and their respective market shares International Skin Care market The skin care industry worldwide is a 50 Billion Dollar plus business. Caring for the skin of people throughout the world is a popular business. It is a business where people are passionate about their work, because it matters. It matters to their families, to their communities, to their profession and the whole world. It is a business where unmet needs still abound and where people around the world are waiting for new and better solutions. The major product segments in the market are Face Care Products, Body Hand Care, and Depilatories, and, Sun Care Products. The sub product segments include Facial Moisturizers, Facial Cleansers, and Hand Body Lotions/Creams. At present there are about 889 companies in the international market including many key and niche players worldwide such as Amway Corp. Asian markets ( 2007 Euromonitor Report) Rank Country Skin Care Value per Capita Country %Growth 1 Japan 102 US $ Indonesia 26 2 Hong Kong 73 US $ China 16 3 Taiwan 58 US $ Vietnam 15 4 South Korea 57 US $ India 13 5 Singapore 41 US $ Singapore 10 6 Thailand 14 US $ Malaysia 10 7 Malaysia 10 US $ Thailand 9 8 Philippines 5 US $ Philipines 7 9 China 4 US $ Taiwan 5 10 Indonesia 1 US $ Hong Kong 4 11 Vietnam 1 US $ South Korea 4 12 India 1 US $ Japan 2 From the above table it is clear that, The people in India spent least amount of money on the skin care with respect to the other Asian countries, However India has shown a very rapid growth in the personal care segment with a growth of 13% and is ahead of 8 prominent Asian nations. That shows that India has a tremendous potential for growth. The chart mentioned below tells about the Per Capita Skin care product Consumption of the India in comparison to other Asian countries( The values are in US $). This There is a huge potential market for skin care products in India as compared to other Asian countries as Indian market is still to be explored. Percentage of Skin care products in total cosmetics products segments Skin Care: 16% approximately Hair Care: 16% approximately Bath and Shower products: 46% approximately Colour Cosmetics: 6% approximately Fragrances: 1% approximately Drivers of the Industry Growing worldwide wealth Changing consumer lifestyle Globalisation Celebrity endorsement increases consumers awareness and interest The total disposable income of the people in Asia is 21% of that of the world which is estimated to increase to a value of the 23%( Euro monitor Report) The major Skin Care Segments and their Drivers Strong Desire for the fair skin Drivers Asians beliefs White hides three ugly bits Fairer equals to upper class Stressful lifestyle Busy lifestyle resulting in less sleeping time Stress hormone sends the skins oil glands into overdrive Development and Outlook These beliefs and the strong desire for the skin whitening products led to the development of technology and evolution of new whitening products and formulations. The whitening creams are also produced for men. In recent years the fairness cream is combined with the anti-aging formulations which bring the satisfaction and feel good factor to the customer. Also with rise in work-stress and pollution people are more inclined to these products. Not only that, baby skin care products, sun protection products, bleach and facials also gained popularity among people. Anti Agers Drivers Growth in Aging Population Accelerated Aging Rising Pursuit of Agelessness Development and Outlook Target young consumers: Prevention better than cure Super-premium : From global to local brands Mass brands developments Cosmeceuticals : Collaboration between cosmetics and pharmaceutical company New technology and ingredient More regulated industry to ensure the safety of cosmeceuticals Facing strong competition from aesthetic beauty service industry Skin Care Applications Drivers Increased consumer knowledge on skin care application TV beauty programs educates consumers on different products benefits Technology advancement Skin care evolution thanks to technology and research Beauty web blogs to allow consumers to exchange ideas New Routine Cleansing Liquid Cleanser Lotion AC Essence Mask Emulsion Effector White Essence Cream Trends and development Usual Routine Cleanser Toner Moisturiser Development of more powerful products Consumers may outsource personal care and pay for spas and treatment India has the maximum growth in the resort/hotel spa( 107% growth annually in 2007) Natural and ethical products Drivers Massive awareness of health wellness Safety scares and recalls Consumers look for guarantee of authenticity Rising greensumerism Technology facilitate the development of more effective products Key Trends and Developments Edible, natural and herbal ingredients Environmentally friendly packaging New retail concepts Minerals and precious materials, including gold Packaging innovation: eco-friendly packaging Same consumer buying both high technology and natural products Emergence of at-home-make products Venture into other products, such as sun care Well-known designers and celebrities increase consumers knowledge on natural ethical products Men Skin Care Drivers Workplace: Pressure from competition in workplace led to the emergence of Metro sexual man Greater acceptance in developing nations Move to more advanced products Key trends and Development Stronger growth than skin care: In 2007, the Asian Skin Care Market has grown at a rate of 8%, where as the men skin care market has grown at a rate of 14%. Similarly projected growth in 2012 is 6%, whereas the growth of the men skin care segment is 8%. Moving away from 3 basic cleaning steps Macho-sexual vs metrosexual Increasing popularity of sportsmen Lower acceptance of mens colour cosmetics Main focus will still be skin care and other mens grooming products New technology Focusing on convenience Cosmetics surgery for men Getting popular in countries like Japan and South Korea Inhibitors of the Skin Care Industry Environmental Standards In 2003, Unilever, had been exposed by The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Friends of the Earth in an article in the Observer newspaper today for sourcing talc illegally quarried by an Indian mining company. The mining company has also listed US multinationals, Johnson Johnson, Revlon and Avon among its clients. The quarrying not only destroys tiger habitats but also devastates the forest and watersheds vital for the well being of local people. This is one of the examples of how the environmental protection standards can affect the business in skin care industry. Laws Regulations of the government Cosmetics directly affect peoples life. Hence, the regulations for the cosmetics match to that of the drugs considering the sensitivity of the skin care cosmetic products and their possible side effects. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 is there to impose standards on the cosmetics manufacturing industries. Government import export taxes and regulations for the foreign companies also affect the skin care market. High end customers prefer MNC skin care products. Stringent government regulations are certainly inhibitors of the development of the skin care market in India. Trends Opportunities in India Growth in the young population (RBI report): Changing demographics in India 2/3rd Population below age of 35 Favourable Consumption Pattern: The share of private consumption for personal care products increases consistently over the years( Economic Survey 2009) Increase in Urbanization in India: The skin care products are not in the basic need category. Hence, the urban people whose basic needs are fulfilled are more inclined to these products and are potential customers to buy the skin care products. Urban Population in Millions Urban Population as a percentage of total population 1971 109 19.9 1981 160 23.3 1991 218 25.7 2001 285 27.8 Porters five forces analysis of International Skin Care Industry The manufacturing of skin care products is currently dominated by a small number of multinational corporations that originated in the early 20th century. The three largest skin care product companies in the world in terms of market share are Procter and Gamble, Loreal and Unilever. But they face stiff competition from the likes of Estee Lauder, Colgate Palmolive, Avon, Shisiedo, Johnson and Johnson, Beiersdorf. There are also a large number of local players within each market. In this analysis we will be analyzing the forces which affect the global skin care industry as a whole because many of the forces have similar effects across the world. Nature of Competition: The industry is a highly fragmented market, marked by the presence of a few companies with a global presence, which control a significantly larger share of the cosmetics market. The top 3 companies (LOreal, PG, and Estee Lauder) control around 35% of the share. The top 10 companies control nearly the 50% of the market. The rest of the market is distributed between small players who have a highly local presence. The industry is highly competitive due to the presence of a large no. of SMEs (France alone has over 850 firms with 10 employees or less). Another form of competition is from direct selling companies like Avon and Amway. The high end of the market is characterized by low volume, high product differentiation and large brand strength, which restricts the competition. While the low end market with limited differentiation allows opportunities for smaller companies to make their mark. Natural cosmetics in particular are rapidly gaining popularity and present an opportunity for SMEs and new entrants can compete against established giants. The industry is characterized by a high rate of product development and product obsolescence. Bargaining power of Buyers Due to the strong brand power of most of the large brands, buyer power of retailers and distributors is reduced as they must stock the most popular brands. But in operations where the retailers have a stronger position, markets where competition is intense, then buyer power increases. We can also analyze buyer power from the perspective of the end consumer because it is they who dictate the market trends. The customers do not always stick to one brand of makeup or perfume or any variant offered because the switching costs are very low. This means that buyer power is high and demand for favourable prices. Bargaining power of suppliers With global sales of nearly $300 billion in the cosmetic industry(2007 report), skin care products present one of the most complex global sourcing challenges. Much of the sourcing for the industry involves a fragile web of small, fragmented suppliers that must be linked together using a sophisticated and effective logistics technology. Suppliers are often small in scale compared to the largest manufacturers and consequently their power is reduced, but this countered by the fact that chemical producers gain revenues from a wide variety of sources, reducing their dependence on skin care product manufacturers. The trends seem to indicate similar conditions for the future. Overall, supplier power with respect to the cosmetic market is moderate. Threat of close substitutes: There are substitute products, but they are not fully developed in the Indian market as well as globally. There is a rise in popularity of the herbal and Ayurvedic products. People are more inclined to use skin care products that are made from natural herbs, rather than chemicals. Also some Ayurvedic medicines are believed to purify blood and bring good health to skin. The products made from chandan, haldi, rose water are used in villages to bring fairness in both girls and boys. These products are cheap and risk free. Hence , these products might act as substitutes to the skin care products produced by the companies. As the market of these herbal products is in the nascent stage, the threat from the substitute products is low. The same case is with the global skin care market. Threat from New Entrants Large firms generally have significant advantages over new entrants. Large firms scale economies allow them to compete more effectively on price, and invest in their own business; companies entering the market may find it difficult to compete. The brand strength of the major manufactures is considerable, which may negate much of the effect of low switching costs. New entrants may be able to start on a small scale, operating within a particular niche, such as make-up with anti-ageing components, for example, stressing natural ingredients. Hence, threat of new entrants is low. Barriers to Entry Product testing and research is both time-consuming and costly. New entrants also need to persuade stores to stock their products, and major retailers, aware of their importance in the distribution chain, may be unwilling to risk displacing existing brands for the sake of new ones. Substantial funds are needed to start up a business in this market, with capital required for investment in production, distribution, and also advertising which is crucial to success in the market. Hence, barrier to entry is high and needs high initial spending. Industry regulation: The companies are usually forced deal with strict regulations on issues like animal testing and environmental protection. Also cosmetic products have to face the highest level of scrutiny (almost the same level as pharmaceuticals) with regard to their safety levels. Strategy to be followed: They should try and target niche markets in the beginning and follow strategies like direct selling. Local penetration is required before moving for internationalization. Regulatory Landscape Current Indian cosmetic regulations are complex and there are multiple regulations under different regulatory bodies. There is a need to simplify the regulations and there is also a need to address the growing issue of spurious products and counterfeits. Indian cosmetic industry is mature and responsible enough to ensure safety quality of its products and the industry can take up joint responsibility with the Regulator for cosmetic regulations in India. European and ASEAN countries have adopted this model of self regulation successfully and the same is being suggested here in the Indian context. There is a negative list of ingredients which cant form a part of any cosmetic composition. There is also a restricted list of ingredients; such ingredients can be used only under specific concentration range in specific products and under specific conditions of pack declaration. In addition, there is a positive list of preservatives and UV filters thus restricting the choice of such ingredients and their concentrations. Cosmetic labeling is dictated by multiple regulations This includes Drug Cosmetics act, BIS packing norms and Standards of Weight Measures act. More recently, several amendments have been notified in the labeling clause of Drug and Cosmetic Act. Manufacturer is required to submit the relevant information pertaining to the formulation, raw materials used and their specifications, product quality specifications and safety data in support of the formulation. The information is reviewed by local (State) FDA and a cosmetic license is granted or otherwise. The clinical trial of the skin care products is also done to ensure safety for the consumers. Difference between Indian regulatory framework and the International regulatory framework for the skin care cosmetic products. EU ASEAN INDIA Legislative Document EU Cosmetic Directive ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Drugs Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 Labelling declarations: BIS product standards; PCRO Product classification Broader Cosmetic definition-definition includes secondary benefit; Broader Cosmetic definition-includes secondary benefit; Narrow Cosmetic definition-No secondary benefit allowed Cosmetic categories as illustrative lists yes yes No Claim Guidelines for regulation no yes No Value Chain Analysis The value chain for the cosmetic and skin care industry is as follows. The flow of channel from the supplier of the raw material to the retail shop is in accordance to the international generalized value chain. The analysis is also valid for the skin care products. Finished product Distributor Retail Raw material Supplier and DistributorNeutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Companies Raw Material Supplier for Skin Care Personal Care and Cosmetics Suppliers Media manufactures Chemicals Biological reagents Raw material supplier Preservative manufacturer Cosmetic Finished goods manufacturers; Salons; Department Stores; Dermatologist Office Finished Good Brand Owner CRO for finished goods and brand owner Gate Keepers Personal Care Council HUL In the skin care industry HUL is one of the major players having largest market share. Its famous brands in skin care are as follows Ponds : Global Brand, first mover to the country in 1947 Fair and Lovely : Patented formulation and is an Asian brand Lakhme Skin Care : This is brought from Tatas and is important for Salon business Aviation : Customized Skin Care solutions Vaseline : Monopoly in Indian Petro-jelly The personal product segment of HUL contributes to the 26% of the total revenue generated by the company. SWOT analysis of HUL Skin Care Strength The products have strong market reach. The soap brand LUX is available both in high price and low price variations. The skin cream brand fair Lovely has a very wide spread market. Strong Sales and Distribution Networks. Many variants of each product: Fair Lovely, Ayurvedic Fair Lovely, Fair lovely Anti marks Under a particular sub-brand, there is a huge diversified portfolio of products. For example, under Lakhme, there are almost all types of skin care products.( Anti aging, scrub, fairness, face wash, oil control etc) Both value and volume growth are ahead of the market Weakness The skin care products are mainly positioned as beauty products and are relevant to women. Though there is a huge opportunity to explore the products relevant to men, HUL has not much penetration to it. It is currently entering into the men skin care segment The sun screen, scrub and facial skin care products are not well developed till now and are not doing well compared to other skin care brands Premium products are not popular in rural Indias Opportunity Lakme Lever Private Limited (LLPL) commenced operations during the course of the year with the objective of achieving excellence in beauty services and with a view to create and nurture a service mindset. The Company launched the Lakme Studio, a premium salon format commencing with Delhi which has shown early signs of success. Similarly, Lakme Studio have also been recently rolled out in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Liquid Body Wash is currently in growth stage. The HUL brands like Lakhme, Dove, Lux could produce products of these kind and capture the market Threat HUL skin care is at a maturity stage. The revenues may decline if constant innovation is not followed. Strong Internal competition: Competition between Lakhme Dove, Competition between Lux and Peers. External Competition and foreign players( Garnier, LOreal, Nivea etc) Brand Perception Brand Perception of the customers is mentioned is mentioned on the basis of perception about some specific brands like DOVE Fair and Lovely Fair Lovely Brand Perception: Customers believe that Fair Lovely ( Anti marks) is specially designed for skin with marks and spots. Fair Lovely with breakthrough Vita-Aloe Complex Lightens different kinds of marks in 4 weeks Gets visible fairness in 4 weeks Helps in preventing spots from coming back Ayurvedic Fair Lovely has extensively researched the fairness secrets of ancient Ayurveda and created a unique mix containing extracts of special Ayurvedic herbs. Its proven formula penetrates deep down your skin to give you a glowing fairness from within. Fair Lovely Ayurvedic contains Kumkumadi Tailam, an ancient fairness recipe of 16 precious Ayurvedic ingredients. Ayurvedic Fair Lovely Fairness Cream contains Nilopala Patanga. These Soothe relax skin cells, give a serene look. It also contains Chandana Ushira which reduce skin irritation, give long lasting cooling sensation. Marketing Strategy Adopted: Fair Lovely , apart from the fairness cream for girls entering into the men fairness segment and body lotion segment to increase its portfolio of products. Fair Lovely menz active is the product in this segment. Entering into Aurvedic segment, Fair Lovely is able to create a perception in the minds of the customer that its product is totally free from harmful chemicals and can bring a permanent change in the colour of the skin without any side effects as Ayurvedic products are without side effects. Fair Lovely, also in its advertisements creates a picture of woman which is unsuccessful and rejected everywhere because of her dark skin. Where as after using the product, she is able to regain her self respect and becomes successful. EMAMI Emami , a kolkata based company has been in the skin care products since the last 30 years and has sustained a good position in ayurvedic products. Products Boroplus Cream Fair and Handsome Boroplus Powder Navratna Cool Talc New Launched Products Boroplus Body Lotion Malai Kesar Cold Cream Marketing Mix Product Emamis products are mainly based on Ayurveda. The major skin care products are e.g.Fair and Handsome, Boroplus etc. Fair and Handsome continued its brand category dominance in the Middle East and the sub-continent; Boroplus maintained its dominance in India, Russia, Ukraine and Nepal. New products (Boroplus Winter Lotion and Emami Malai Kesar Soap) and new product variants (Navratna Oil) were launched. Price Emami has set the prices which are reachable to people of all economic status , and the products are available in wide variety of volumes e.g. Fair and handsome is available in SKUs of 7 ml, 12 ml, 30 ml and 60 ml. Place Emami has a good distribution network. The vast network includes over 4, 25,000 retail outlets, 2,800 distributors, 1,500 sub-distributors, 30 depots, six regional sales offices Promotion Emami invested Rs. 19,442 lac on advertisement and branding in 2009-10. Emamis products are endorsed by celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Mumbai Indians (Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan), Saurav Ganguly, Virendra Sehwag, Madhuri Dixit, Chiranjeevi, Surya, Sunny Deol and others SWOT Analysis Strength: Distribution Network- Emamis products are available in 4,25,000 Indian retail outlets and 65 countries. Strong reach in rural india Celebrity ambassadors- Emamis products are endorsed by celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan,Kareena Kapoor Advertisement Spent- Emami invested Rs. 19,442 lac on advertisement and branding in 2009-10 Advertising spend, as a proportion of the total revenues, was 18.7% in 2009-10 against 19.3% in 2008-09 Innovation- Emamis Fair and Handsome created mans fairness as new category of skincare products in India Fiscally Efficient- Nearly 56.1 % of Emamis revenue were derived from tax exempted locations in 2009-10 Certifications- Emamis quality credentials comprise respected certifications like cGMP, ISO 14000 and ISO 22000. Weekness: Inability to launch new products Major products based on Ayurved only Opportunities: The growing demand of beauty products provides a good opportunity. Emami can take advantage of already captured greater market share in the Fair and handsome and Boroplus products. Threats: A threat to the Emami is also the growing competition within the field of cosmetic brands. Due to the ongoing addition to the field of cosmetics, there is still the danger that other brands could surpass the profit. Another threat to the Company is the economic downturn that is quite evident in other countries. Such could thus hurt the possibility of higher profit for the company. Problems or delays in integration with Zandus distribution network, positioning and brand building may result in lower profit Fair and Handsome Cream Emami Fair Handsome is positioned as a product for male and portrays a strong male image. The colors used are silver, black and orange, which gives a strong macho look to the product. The pink colour is being avoided. The illustration on the cover page are before and after effects of the cream. It also contains a leaflet of information. This is to make sure that customer is well conversant with the instructions and is satisfied with the product. It was Launched in October 2005; first fairness cream for men in India Competitors- Fair Lovely Menz Active (Hindustan Unilever), Fair One Man (Elder Pharma, Shehnaz Hussain), Nivea for Men Whitening Cream (Nivea) and Set Wet Get Fair (Paras Pharma) Point of Difference- The unique five-power formula helps enhance skin fairness in just four weeks. The formula includes double-strength peptide complex, sunguard, anti-bacplus, stress buster and herbocool. Market Share- enjoys 84% market share in the Rs. 137 cr domestic mens fairness cream market Sales- Sales grew by 27% in 2009-10 Boroplus Antiseptic Cream Aniceptic and curative cream which is ideal for hard weather conditions and minor skin problems Competitors- The brands principal competitor is Boroline. During winters, the brand competes with other winter care products like cold creams, petroleum jelly and lotion etc. Pont of Difference- The presence of ayurvedic elements enhances medicinal and anti-septic features. Market Share- Boroplus accounts for around 74% market share of the Rs. 269-cr boro brand creams in India. Sales- Largest selling antiseptic cream not only in India but also in Ukraine, Russia and Nepal. Sales grew by 15% in FY 10 Boroplus Brand has been ranked 77th in the Brand Equity Zydus Wellness Ltd Segmentation: Everyuth is a brand of Zydus Wellness Ltd ,a pharmaceutical company which caters to a flexible market segment of woment aged between 18 to 35 years. They have a monthly income of Rs 10000 and above and they live in u

Emily Dickinsons Use of Loss in Poem 67 and Poem 1036 :: Emily Dickinson Poem 67 Poem 1036

Emily Dickinson's Use of Loss in Poem 67 and Poem 1036 Many of Emily Dickinson's poems touch on topics dealing with loss. While loss is generally considered a sad or unfortunate thing, Dickinson uses this theme to explain and promote the positive aspects of absence. Throughout many of her poems, one can see clearly that she is an advocate of respecting and accepting the state of being without. Dickinson implies that through these types of losses, one can gain a richer and stronger appreciation for both success and belongings. Poems 67 and 1036 are two that capture the extent of Dickinson's feelings on loss. By understanding and comparing these two works, it is easy to recognize that Dickinson believes that possessing neither material possessions nor the joy of success are the real keys to happiness. Poem 67 focuses on a battle that could be considered both literal in the sense of a war, or more symbolic as it could act as the anthem for any type of loss or failure. Lines 1 and 2 of the poem explain that success or winning is most valued by those who never prevail. Dickinson is saying that loss creates the strongest appreciation for a win. The lines 3 and 4 state "To comprehend a nectar/ Requires sorest need." This implies that necessity is the only way in which to understand what you want. Next, in the second stanza, Dickinson uses words that denote an actual battle has taken place by saying: Not one of all the purple Host Who took the flag today Can tell the definition So clear of Victory. She is suggesting that winners cannot value their victory. The final stanza emphasizes the fact that the defeated group understands the meaning of victory when she says that "The distant strains of triumph/ Burst agonized and clear!" Dickinson describes the dying soldiers comprehending the meaning of winning the battle in a way that the victors never will. The reason that the winners can't understand the significance of their victory is that they did not taste defeat. The loss of a battle demonstrates to the unsuccessful how far they are from feeling the exuberation of success. Poem 67, as in line with Dickinson's theme of loss, suggests that being in a losing state, at least sometimes, is better than winning all the time. The deflated feeling of being unsuccessful increases the state of appreciation one has for winning.

What Women Most Desire Essay -- Essays Papers

What Women Most Desire In "The Wife Of Bath’s Tale", women most desire sovereignty over men in relationships. In other words, the power to have dominance over men is the one thing women most desire. I agree with the ideas that in relationship women wish to be dominant over the opposite sex. The only way such power is earned or give is when the man is in a situation where the woman must bail him out of trouble. Women have the ability to get what they want, when they want it. Chaucer portrays the Wife of bath as the dominant person in her marriages. She looks at men as her trinkets to be used and played with. She moves from one man to another, always looking for more. The Wife of Bath is a control freak, wanting to have sex when she desires it and with whom she desires. Her tale discusses a knight desperate for an to the question, what do women most desire? The answer is in the hands of an old lady who is described as an ugly, horrid fowl creature. In return for the answer the decrepit woman wants the knight to marry her. The knight has no choice and marries the hag. The knight was truly the one with no power and the hag was holding all the cards. The knight is in a lose-lose situation without the answer he was to be beheaded. The knight repulsed and angry married the hag. He was probably thinking that death by decapitation might have been the better than to live with the same old, ugly woman for the rest of his god-forsaken life. The knight in the tale had no choice but to submit to the sovereignty of the old hag. If the knight was a little smarter and did his homework in trying to say, "Hey, how does this old hag know the answer to what women most desire? She’s probably never been with a man before!" The knight was ... ...sed on the information given in the tale, I feel that women don’t desire to have power over their husbands. However, I do feel that women desire to have power, just not total power over their husbands like the Wife feels. I feel that women like to have an equal balance of power with men. I do not think that the Wife sees this as being possible. She seems to be so angry at men, because of the bad experiences that she has with her five husbands, and she doesn’t seem to want to change her belief in the fact that women have so much power. She actually demonstrates the power that women have towards her five husbands. She always seemed to get her way with them. Sadly, in today’s society, women are still not given the proper credit they deserve. It is shameful that women don’t receive equal representation in many situations. This is a topic that is still debated to this day.