Mip for Saint Maybe Essay

â€Å"Ian had stopped rasping and ran a hand along the slat’s edge, trying to gauge the curve. All his years here, he had worked with straight lines. He had deliberately stayed away from the bow-back chairs and benches that required eye judgment, personal opinion. Now he was surprised at how these two shallow U shapes satisfied his palm. (347-348) 1. Context: This passages is found towards the end of the book in chapter 10,†Recovering from the Heart-of-Palm Flu† While making a crib for his soon to be child, Ian comes across this thought. This was around the time Ian and Rita had gotten married. It show how after Ian let and tried new things in his life that made him happier. Also this made him more open-minded as a person by seeing that there are more ways than just one to do things, and not being afraid of things that are different than what he is used to. Another interpretation is that Ian has been freed from his guilt and is now allowed to experience things, get on where his life left off so long ago. This is really the resolution of the internal conflict that Ian has been going through since the climax of the book at the start. He is now guilt free and able to enjoy life. This also really effects the kids, Thomas, Agatha, and Daphne, because they felt like they had ruined his life by having to raise him, and so they still felt like they owned him. Now they can feel content know that his life is moving forward. The Bedloe’s don’t have to carry their burdens and are all able to carry on now. 2. Significance: This connects to the essential questions and themes of Saint Maybe. Theme #2,† Redemption can only be achieved through forgiveness of oneself and others,† This shows that Ian forgave himself because he changed his life for the better. Had he not forgave himself he would still be using â€Å"straight lines†, or still be the same Ian who felt guilty about causing his brother’s death being cautious not using his â€Å"personal opinion†, and not being able to have â€Å"U shapes† or happiness with his life. So, in a sense, by being able to create what he did show that he has feels redeem, by being able to move on and try new things. This Passage also answers Essential Question #2, â€Å" Does forgiveness need to be earned or should it be given? † because it show how Ian had to work so hard to achieve the â€Å"satisfaction† of being set free from his guilt, or forgiven, for what he thought he did. Had he not tried he would have never been forgiven he would still lead a life of despair and depression and die not ever getting to enjoy his life. Another that can be answered is Essential Question #4,† Under certain circumstances do individuals deserve a second chance? †Cleary Ian need a second for what had happened. Ian blamed himself at first but since he tried so hard and changed what he is used to doing just for forgiveness he is entitled to a â€Å"second chance† a chance to live again and have a good outlook on life, to grow up. 3. Literary Devices: One literary device used in this passage is tone. The tone use here is happy and uplifting. This voice the author chose, by using worse like, â€Å"satisfied† and â€Å"surprised†, tells us he is now not the same depressed person that he once was and that he is content with where his life is now. He has stop dwelling on the past and changed for the better. Another literary device is used here is foreshadowing. It foreshadows that the rest of Ian life, and all the Bedloe’s lives, will not be plague with what had happened and will live normal lives. By being able to try new things such as the â€Å"U shapes† it shows that he has moved on and is able to try new things without the fear of making a mistake. In other words he is no longer a â€Å"saint maybe† and is a new man. This passage is really is symbolism for Ian’s forgiveness and him being able to move on. The â€Å"straight lines† symbolize Ian’s life before he forgave himself not able to put his own â€Å"†¦ judgment and personal opinion† in things because he felt guilty for what he did to his brother and was afraid to do anything like it again because he was so traumatized. After he forgave himself he was able to do the â€Å"bow-back chairs and benches† because he is able to use his opinions. He is able to do so because he is now a different person, a free (forgiven) man, able to do as he pleases, not able to doubt himself anymore. So the change in his style of wood working really displays the change in his life.

Britvic Case Study Essay

The marketing concept urges organizations to focus on the needs and wants of their customer. By following this concept the organization’s success can be achieved solely through customer satisfaction. In the case study we see that by identify the needs of the customer; a key characteristic in the marketing concept, Ralph Chapman acknowledged that the Great Depression in the UK meant that many of the poorest customers needed an affordable source of vitamin C. He found a way to bottle fruit juices so they stayed fresher for longer without the addition of preservatives, his juices were sold in small glass bottles that ensured easy transportation. This contributed to keeping the products cost effective. Customer satisfaction is another significant part of the marketing concept. Britvic has a constant flow of new product development; they plan on launching a new Tango variant called Tango Clear with no added sugar. They plan on marketing this to the older generation. They have understood a knish in the older market to meet customer satisfaction by supplying a healthier alternative to their original product, which was more brand appealing to children and teenagers. We can identify that by using the marketing concept Britvic’s core goals are meeting the consumers needs and wants to achieve full customer satisfaction and to sustain their title as the second most successful soft drinks supplier in the UK. Customers are central, we can see this in the case study when we look at the considerable amount of products they supply too approximately 20,0000 outlets across the country including all leading supermarkets, local shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels and cinemas. They are the leading drinks supplier to the licensed premises and have more soft drinks brands in their portfolio than any other UK manufacturer. This makes them so accessible to the consumer, and offers a large variety of different products to suit numerous markets

Value of Learning and the Number of Bucks

College is a time to broaden your education and develop your skills. Different people go to college for different reasons but mostly for an education. The National Athletic Association is meeting next year and will decide if it needs to change its policy of not paying college athletes. I do not understand why this should be an issue. The main reason people go to college is to learn. So the NCAA will be deciding whether the athletes should be paid for playing their sport of choice thus demeaning the reason they are at college in the first place. There are millions of students who go to college each year; some play sports, others are in student government, and some are in theater. Each group is equally important to the college and in some cases are treated the same. If the athletes start being paid for playing sports then what†s going to stop the other students from finding a way to be paid for what they do. Does this mean then that students in student government should be paid for what they do or that the theater students should be allowed to join an equity theater union and be paid for doing shows? Paying athletes will create a rivalry among the students, for why should one group be paid for going to college while the others are not. The other thing to look at is that most student athletes are receiving scholarship and grant support from their college. Majority of the money that athletics being in is given back to the students through grants and scholarships. At Notre Dame, for example, grants-in-aid to student-athletes are worth about $5 million annually. Add to that the millions spent on travel, housing, equipment, health care and other costs and pretty soon you're talking real money. So yes, while athletics does generate millions of dollars in revenue for universities, there also are millions of dollars in expenses, most of which directly or indirectly assist the student-athletes. Sometime scholarships and grants are not enough which is why the NCAA recently passed legislation allowing student-athletes to work year-round. In addition, Pell Grants are available to the truly needy, and general student loans are another alternative. With all these options available, there shouldn†t be a need to pay student athletes. What's awful about the persistent whine for money is, it's saying a college education is worthless. People are suggesting that the value of learning can only be measured by the almighty buck. Paying students will put; too much emphasizes on sports and not enough on education. An education is priceless, and student-athletes at American colleges and universities reap the benefits of the finest higher education system in the world. From their education, students can go on in life and do what they want because they have the drive and education to. Student-athletes entertain us with their special skills and, in compensation, receive: all expenses paid competition in the sports they love, education that is worth thousands of real dollars with the promise of thousands more in future earnings, and the lifetime benefits of wisdom and character that come with being educated men and women. If we decide to pay college athletes, the only thing we accomplish is to move the universities further away from their stated ideals by making them more businesslike and disrupting the main point of college — to learn.

Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir Dam Restoration Project Essay

Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir Dam Restoration Project - Essay Example ged upon. Due to this, the project which will be proposed blurs the lines between economic development, and environmental recovery. Background: Although it has been over 25 years since the explosion that led to the release of radioactive matter at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in the Soviet Union (currently Ukraine), the fact of the matter is that the area in and around the release is still highly toxic. This is of course due to the fact that the radioactive material that was released into the air, and ultimately into the ground and water supply, has determinate â€Å"half lives† which means it will remain for quite some time into the future. After the disaster which spilled toxic radioactive waste into the atmosphere and ruptured the poorly built Soviet containment system, the engineers of the time decided that the best way to remediate the situation would merely to be close the reactor that had experienced the disaster and move refocus electrical generation needs on the remain ing reactors of the Chernobyl power plant (Voitsekhovich 1016). Although such an approach has definitely worked for a period of nearly 30 years, the fact of the matter is that the untouched and un-remediated reactor that initially ruptured lies untouched and continues to leak radioactive matter into the ground, the air, and the water table. Influences to the Project: Due to the fact that Ukraine, once a part of the former Soviet Union, has a robust engineering and construction sector with a skilled and talented workforce to draw upon, the extent to which well qualified individuals available to work on such a situation exists is not in question. Moreover, due to the fact that few environmental or labor laws define the current system that is evidenced with regards to construction and engineering projects within Ukraine, it can readily be seen that few roadblocks to such a remediation project will be likely to be realized either. An additional point that bears mention is the fact that the northern reaches of the nation of Ukraine, specifically where Chernobyl is situated, can experience moderate to severe winters where ice and snow can become a major impediment to construction or the delivery of key supplies and personnel to the building site as a function of poorly maintained and insufficient roads and transportation systems. With regards to the cultural and language differential that must be engaged upon, this is an aspect of project planning that cannot be understated (Toru Oka 999). Due to the fact that the Ukrainian language is unique and only tangentially related to its closest linguistic cousin – Russian – it is the understanding of this student that a great deal of time, effort, planning, and money will need to go into hiring translators and area experts to integrate with all levels of the workforce, existing infrastructure, and governmental liaisons to the project. Management Strategy: As a function of the previous

Nursing Care Plan for Dementia and Analysis Essay

Nursing Care Plan for Dementia and Analysis - Essay Example It will be the primary objective that the patient be assessed with utmost scrutiny in regards his physical, mental, and behavioural conditions. In this way, the health care giver will know the key areas of concern and be able to supply adequate attention and intervention. In the development of a holistic nursing care plan, the locus of attention is not only the person with dementia. It caters to the family and the institutional care givers as well, because there evolves a complex interplay of roles among these components of the triad. A holistic approach in intervention conveys the need to apply a variety of dementia approaches to ensure better treatment of the signs and symptoms associated with Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Medical history is important in the clinical diagnosis. After gathering the medical records of the patient, social and environment factors including his family will also be part of the assessment in order to inquire about the patient’s physical, psychological and behavioural manifestations during the time when Bill is under their custody of care. All information obtained from the evaluations will help the nurse practitioner to assess the patient’s current functional state and ability and therefore determine the best treatment or intervention. Likewise, assessment of the patient’s incontinence which includes his urine and bowel elimination is important as this is one of the key areas of concern. Bill has been incontinent of urine since 2006 and incontinent of faeces in 2007. Through employment of regular toileting, the patient would be able to maintain skin integrity and with the establishment of such pattern, reduction of faecal incontinence and anxiety manifestation may be obtained. Daily charting and documentation of the patient’s skin integrity and bowel movement would be developed. Second, Nutrition is also assessed, by obtaining Bill’s weight and

Prison Life, Before and After Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Prison Life, Before and After - Research Paper Example Recidivism also jeopardizes the social security. The prison industry is now the fastest growing industry in US, where inmates are working for various industries for a pittance which leads to a new form of inhumane exploitation. Educational programs such as vocational training and employment services programs, social programs dealing with poverty, urban development, education, child and health care, faith based programs, and community corrections programs could play an important role in the reduction of recidivism, and helps them to lead good life in future. Introduction The growth of inmates in America’s prisons witnessed an increasing trend during the past three decades as a recent study reported that one in 100 American adults were behind bars, and one in 31 adults were either incarcerated or on probation or parole (Jennifer Laudano, 2001). Incarceration is one of the main forms of punishment or rehabilitation for committing crimes in United States. In total more than 2.2 mi llion people were in jail in U.S.A., while China ranks second, followed by Russia with 870,000 inmates were in prison. United States has one of the largest prison populations and the highest rate of incarceration in the world thanks to the tough sentencing laws, high crime rates and record numbers of drug offenders (James Vicini, 2006). Adding, arrest rate of offenders has been rising faster than the numbers of prisoners who have been released. The United States’ population is 5% of the world's population, but its incarcerated population is 25 %. Ryan King, who is advocating sentencing reform, in an interview said that United States has more punitive criminal justice system than any other countries, and more people were imprisoned for drug law violations than other countries. While providing statistics, he said that drug offenders account for more than 2 million of the 8 million inmates in prison. To cope with this trend, states were spending more than $60 billion on prisons which make it the second fastest growing area of state budgets, trailing behind Medicaid. Prisons are the most expensive option available for authorities to punish offenders as it costs an average of $80 per day to keep an inmate locked up, which is more than 20 times the cost of a day on probation (Marcie, 2010). Prison conditions: As per U.S. bureau of prisons report, along with prison population, violence in prisons also increased which worsens the condition most. Even in the high security prisons, there was an increasing report of violence in recent years, which prompted to push congress last year for more funds by prison authorities to hire more guards to improve prison conditions. Numbers of serious assaults have been decreased in high security jails, but cases of homicides have been increased amongst prisoners (Marcie M, 2010). Higher rate of violent crimes, harsher sentencing practices, particularly for drug and property offenses, mandatory and determinate sentencing, restri ctions on judicial discretion are some of the factors responsible for overcrowding in US prisons. Overcrowding has negative effects on inmate’s mental and general health, and on the other hand, excess stress can trigger a person to commit suicide

Customer service excellence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Customer service excellence - Essay Example This is mostly a designed plan to deliver the best to customers, and general commitment to ensure all needs and complaints are handled. Secondly, responsiveness also determines the kind and the quality of customer service (Gronroos, 2007). Most clients prefer quick response to their needs to a particular business or organization. This includes responding to their emails and calls or fixing the issues at hand. Every organization should make this their priority in order to attract and retain their customers for longer periods. Further, most clients prefer assurance from their service providers. This installs a substantial amount of confidence to them, and organization gains much trust from them in the end. Sometimes organizations find it difficult to balance their needs and expectations of clients. However, an organization can easily do this by ensuring that their main priority is to achieve maximum customer satisfaction. In my opinion, this is one of the best policies, which organizations should adopt in order to be successful in all their transactions. The reason behind this is that the customer will always leave a happy person and will surely come back again for products and services offered. Both the behavior of the individual and that of the customer affect the service quality by the end of the day. The employees of an organization must serve their clients in an outstanding manner. Customer orientation, when they are first introduced into the business, matters a lot. In most cases, they will always encounter quality services as the organizations yearn at retaining them over the years (Reponen, 2002). Secondly, the behavior of the individual determines the level of customer satisfaction as well as the value perception related to different clients of the organization. It is always advisable to ensure that all clients are attended in the best way possible. Finally, it is difficult to know and understand the

Sculpture Across the Paliolithic to 300BCE have the same hair Essay

Sculpture Across the Paliolithic to 300BCE have the same hair - Essay Example This idea enables a viewer like me to identify social statuses of Greek models. I believe that the long, symmetric and curly hairstyles imply ancient Greek tradition and culture. Four sculptures from Ancient Greece captured my interest. These sculptures are important works of art, and they are displayed in famous museums. The first is the Statue of a Youth from Paul Getty Museum. This statue is also featured in Janson’s History of Art textbook. The second one is called Head of Hades from the Online Metropolitan Museum of Art. The third is called Statue of a Kouros, which is displayed at J. Paul Getty Villa Museum located in Malibu, California, and the fourth is the Kore, located in Akropolis Museum in Athens and is also featured in Janson’s History of Art. While I was gazing at these works of art, one aspect caught my attention: the similarity in hairstyles of ancient Greek sculptures. I noted that all sculptures have symmetrical braids or curls that cover the forehead. The first sculpture is called Statue of a Youth. It is located at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California under â€Å"Sicily: Art and Invention between Greece and Rome Exhibit.† The sculpture dates back to 470-460 BC from ancient Greece. It is made of marble and measures 181 cm. tall. The sculpture presents a young man, a charioteer from Mozia in Sicily. On one hand, his small face and well-built body form emphasizes his youth and strength. On the other, his hairstyle, which according to the caption, â€Å"ends in ringlets,† may seem feminine to modern viewers. Many would think that his hair is fashionable, some would wonder who styled it; others might take interest in the cultural background of the hairstyle. These reflections could lead to the inkling as to why the charioteer has ringed braids. Was this the fad in Ancient Greece or did social status have anything to do with the hairstyle? The caption states, â€Å"The Mozia youth's capped hair ends in ringle ts, an untypical feature, and symmetrical.† This caption acknowledges the fact that the artist employed symmetry in his art, despite the half-twisted gaze of the young man. It also declares that the hairstyle is untypical or uncommon; hence it is important to consider tracing back the history of braiding among CVbnm,.charioteers and the whole society of ancient Greece to know the relevance of the hairstyle in display. Nevertheless, I will reserve my findings in the latter part of this paper. Statue of a Youth (the Mozia Charioteer, detail), 460 B.C., Sikeliote (Sicilian Greek). Marble, h: 181 cm. J. Paul Getty Museum The statue is placed in the middle of the room, making it the center of attraction. From this location, viewers can note the importance of this piece of art in Greek art and culture. The sculpture is not within a glass case. Made of marble, I suppose it can stand heat and cold, and will not tarnish easily. Nevertheless, some features are missing, such as the arms (and hands), nose, and one shoulder, which could help give more information to the viewer. I am not sure if these are intended or the sculpture was actually damaged at some point in its existence. According to the book, the sculpture was damaged when Carthaginian forces seized the artworks from Sicily. The figure, which displays the features or a charioteer from

Evidence and Expert Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evidence and Expert - Coursework Example I chose this goal because my company is transitioning from a paper to electronic patient records to meet meaningful use requirements set out by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical health Act. The organizational planning goal focuses on staffing and management of patients’ flow. I chose this as a goal because poor staffing is problem that adversely affects a health care provider’s ability to provide quality care. An insufficiency of staff members to manage the on-call system has led to lots of complaints from patients. The objective of my organizational goal is to find a solution to help the on-call system function more efficiently, preventing staff burn out and improving patient care. Goal 1: Leadership development My Leadership development goal focuses on learning how to use the Advance Care Web Portal to search patient information, and communicate with scheduling, management, and pharmaceutical staff. The Web Portal is also used for creating and submitting nursing documentation. This knowledge will help me in identifying how patients can manage their health care without relying on the traditional office visit. Furthermore, I will be in a better position to use technology to link with the patients in different ways, including use of online platform to provide patient registration forms, sending appointment information anywhere anytime, use turn on/off features to realize full customization and to share lad data and results the HER of the Cerner. Peer – Reviewed Article To find more information in this area, I have reviewed an article by Kulhanek Brenda and Mark Kulhanek (Kulhanek and Kulhanek, 2013). This article is applicable to my smart goal because it addresses the challenges faced by my company and how these affect my personal practice. The article has highlighted very important information regarding adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMR), hence making it easy to understand the benefits and challenges that an organization can experience following adoption of technology. The article has also highlighted the EMR benefits of efficiency and quality, and most importantly offered very crucial information on why leaders should empower members of the patient care team to effectively adopt technology as a fundamental component of the patient care process. Hynes et al. (2010) have written the other article that I used to further examine my leadership development goal. The authors have evaluated the role of Health Inf ormation Technology (HIT), as well as the barriers related to implementation of HIT. This information is very vital because I have been able to understand why realizing the benefits of HIT in health care has remained problematic, and I can use this knowledge to strategize how to address such problems in my organization. Credible Website In an effort to assist heath care providers in adopting and implementing electronic health records, the federal government has a website meant for this purpose (HealthIT.gov. 2013). This web site provides (synonym) health care providers and professionals with the information and tolls necessary to transition from paper medical records to an electronic health record. Information topics for providers are the benefits of EHR, how to implement and EHR, protecting patient privacy utilizing EHR, and incentives to adopting and EHR. The website provides implementers with educational videos. This page also provides educational case studies and transitional st rategies for adopting a HER, and resources connecting providers with information technology professionals. Information expert interview analysis In

Leadership Journal Performance Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Leadership Journal Performance Appraisal - Essay Example In performance management, the most important part includes conducting performance appraisals of the employees by their supervisors. The current discourse hereby aims to reflect on performance appraisals in one’s work setting, including any participation in a 360-degree evaluation. Performance Appraisals Received In the capacity of a registered nurse with a Nursing and Rehabilitation Health Care Facility, one has definitely received performance appraisals from one’s supervisor. It was acknowledged that performance appraisals are meant to assess and evaluate the actual performance of individuals against the pre-determined targets. These processes also serve the function of aligning individuals’ goals with organizational objectives, and therefore provide a direction to individuals’ actions; performance appraisals help in setting the right expectations from individuals. As such, it was confirmed that the appraisal has been connected to the strategic plan of t he health care facility; as well as to the nursing unit. Connection to Strategic Plan The connection of the performance appraisal to the strategic plan of the facility; as well as to the objectives of the nursing unit is definitely advantageous both to the organization and to me, as a nurse. Performance appraisals provided the needed inputs by decision makers in the health care facility with regards to human resource requirements, salary adjustments, and the employees’ attitudes and abilities through feedback mechanisms integrated within the performance appraisal (PA) system. Advantage of Connection to Strategic Plan In terms of the benefits to nurses, these performance appraisals clearly show how efficient we are in fulfilling our responsibilities and in conforming to standards of health care. For instance, we have to ensure safety of the patients at all times; no medication errors; focus on customer satisfaction through high quality patient care. Through performance results , we are apprised on our abilities to achieve standards and objectives within a defined time frame and with minimum complaints or errors. These become the basis for promotions and salary increases. This PA model is very similar to many other behavior-based models that have been extremely successful in the healthcare organizations, as pointed out by Chandra and Frank (2004). Likewise, the current system is corroborated in a recent empirical study in Nigerian organization which indicated that such strategic management of performance by linking performance appraisal to career progression and employee participation will enhance the employee’s commitment towards the job and the organization (Abdulkadir, Isiaka & Adedoyin, 2012). Participation in 360-Degree Evaluation A very successful and famous PA method is the 360-degree feedback process which reportedly involves receiving feedback from various people working with the employee directly or indirectly. Accordingly, the process hel ps individuals to understand various perspectives which other stakeholders hold about themselves with respect to their peers, customers, clients, and shareholders (Weiss & Kolberg, 2004). As a nurse, one had been a participant in the 360-degree process through being informed of the results of one’s performance appraisal and by relaying personal comments and inputs on the assessment. One strongly believes that the inputs provided are instrumental for leaders and decision makers to

Difference Between Romanticism and Transendinlalism in American and British Writers Essay Example for Free

Difference Between Romanticism and Transendinlalism in American and British Writers Essay Difference Between Romanticism and Transendinlalism in American and British Writers The expression Romantic gained currency during its own time, roughly 1780-1850. However, the Romantic era is to identify a period in which certain ideas and attitudes arose, gained the idea of intellectual achievement and became dominant. This is why , they became the dominant mode of expression. Which tells us something else about the Romantic era which expression was perhaps everything to do with them expression in art, music, poetry, drama, literature and philosophy. Romantic ideas arose both as implicit and explicit criticisms of 18th century Enlightenment thought. For the most part, these ideas were generated by a sense of being unable to deal with the dominant ideals of the Enlightenment and of the society that produced them. Which characterized Transendinlalism very differently from that of Romanticism. The difference of Transendinlalism was that it was a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. However, the Romantics thought differently because they that, that romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individuals expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions. The Romantics felt all the opinions of the Enlightment were fraught with dangerous errors and oversimplification. Romanticism may then be considered as a critique of the inadequacies of what it held to be Enlightened thought. The difference between these two eras are the British and American writers that have chosen either the path of romanticism or transendinlalism. The characteristics of Romanticism are different to those of Transendinlalism. Romanticism results in part from the libertarian and egalitarian ideals of the French Revolution, the romantic movements had in common only a revolt against the prescribed rules of classicism. The basic aims of romanticism were various: a return to nature and to the belief in the goodness of humanity; the rediscovery of the artist as a supremely individual creator; the development of nationalistic pride; and the exaltation of the senses and emotion over reason and intellect. In addition, romanticism was a philosophical revolt against rationalism. Another difference between those of Romanticism and Transendinlalism are it’s themes that it represents. One of the many themes of romanticism are dreams and visions. The most notable example of the emphasis on dreams and visions in romantic literature is Coleridge’s poems is â€Å"Kubla Khan†written in 1816, he claims to have written is during a dream while deeply asleep . While transcribing the lines from his dream, he was interrupted by a visitor, and later claimed that if this interruption had not occurred, the poem would have been much longer. The idea that a person could compose poetry while asleep was a common amongst romantics. Although critics at the time were not particularly enthusiastic about Kubla Khan. Nature had a overwhelming influence during the Romantic Era. In Kubla Khan describes the nature that he is surrounded by; Walls and towers were raised around twice five miles of fertile ground, filled with beautiful gardens and forests. A deep romantic chasm slanted down a green hill, occasionally spewing forth a violent and powerful burst of water, so great that it flung boulders up with it like rebounding hail. The river ran five miles through the woods, finally sinking in tumult to a lifeless ocean. Amid that tumult, in the place as holy and enchanted / As eer beneath a waning moon was haunted / By woman wailing to her demon-lover, Kubla heard ancestral voices bringing prophesies of war. The pleasure-domes shadow floated on the waves, where the mingled sounds of the fountain and the caves could be heard. It was a miracle of rare device, the speaker says, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice! Coleridges is inspired by the beauty and charmingness that nature gives them during the romantic era. Before this period of time another era had began called The Age Of Enlightenment. In the 18th century â€Å" The Enlightenment,† made this movement advocated rationality as a means to establish an authoritative system of ethics, aesthetics, and knowledge. Which then gave the transendinlalism it’s place in this movement. Transendinlalism is a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. It is no coincidence that this movement took off just as the American literary tradition was beginning to blossom. Transcendentalism—though inspired by German and British Romanticism—was a distinctly American movement in that it was tied into notions of American individualism. In addition to the theme of American democracy, transcendentalist literature also promotes the idea of nature as divine and the human soul as inherently wise. Transcendentalism also had a political dimension, and writers such as Thoreau put their transcendentalist beliefs into action through acts of civil disobedience to the government. The nineteenth century was a volatile one, beginning with the hope and promise of democracy and the development of an American identity and moving towards mass devastation and division by the middle of the century. Slavery and the Civil War, women’s rights, growing industrialism and class division —all of these events were influential and each had a role to play in the transcendentalist movement. Transendinlalism had many themes to those of the Romantics at their time like self- wisdom. Quite simply, Transcendentalism is based on the belief that human beings have self-wisdom and may gain this knowledge or wisdom by tuning in to the ebb and flow of nature. Transcendentalism revolves around the self, specifically the betterment of the self. Where Emerson and his followers differed from earlier philosophical and religious beliefs was in the idea that human beings had natural knowledge and could connect with God directly rather than through an institution such as organized religion. Transcendentalism celebrated the self, an important step in the construction of American identity, better understood as the notion of American individualism—one of the cornerstones of American democracy. Nature played an important role in the Transcendentalist view. Nature was divine and alive with spirit; indeed, the human mind could read the truths of life in nature. To live in harmony with nature and to allow ones deepest intuitive being to communicate with nature was a source of goodness and inspiration. In fact, writers not only celebrated Americas great landscape, but also constructed the wilderness as a type of dramatic character that illustrated moral law. The desire for an escape from the evils of society and a return to nature became a permanent convention of American literature. Transcendentalist thought emphasized individualism. Only by rejecting the irrelevant dogmas in place and searching for inner truth could one experience the deep intuition of spiritual reality. In relation, Transcendentalism is also very democratic, asserting that the powers of the individual mind and soul are equally available to all people. These powers are not dependent on wealth, gender, background, or education, but on the individuals willingness to release their own imaginative power to realize his or her place in the Oversoul. The obvious results from Transcendentalist efforts are manifest in the intense moral enthusiasm that characterized Transcendental thinkers. Society, with its emphasis on material success, was often seen as a source of corruption. To combat this evil, many Transcendentalists were associated with such moralist groups as the anti-slavery group, the march for womens rights, and other aid societies. Ultimately, some Transcendentalists hoped to reform society by creating an American utopia with a perfect social and political system. The Transcendentalists can be exasperatingly vague in their prescriptions for spiritual transformation, a vagueness which derives principally from their distrust of all forms of ritual and inherited religious forms. The transcendent individual is often a solitary figure, contemplating his soul (and by analogy, the soul of all humanity), and contemplating other souls through the reading of serious literature. But the central recurring theme that emerges is a return to nature, where the artifice and depravity of society cannot reach. Thus Thoreau leaves Concord and heads for Walden Pond to explore the great truths of the natural world. Thus Jones Very, in his poem The Silent, distinguishes between the sounds that strike the ear and those that strike the soul when one walks in the woods: Tis all unheard; that Silent Voice, Whose goings forth unknown to all, Bids bending reed and bird rejoice, And fills with music Natures hall. And in the speechless human heart It speaks, whereer mans feet have trod; Beyond the lips deceitful art, To tell of Him, the Unseen God. † Thus the similarities in the Romantic and Transendinlalism era are ver closely together. For the writers of these eras believed in different yet similar things. For example, nature was one of the similarities of both eras they had marked the world in believing that nature is something that will keep you clam and feel safe like all writers at the time believed in. For romantics believed in intellectual and artistic belief in their writing. Thus they also had many differences for reason over belief this is one of the subjects that the romantics and transcendentalist did not agreed in. During the 18th century their truly was no difference in both the romantic and Transendinlalism era. The only difference was those of the people’s writings of this period who made this era last for years.

Air pollution in large modern cities Essay Example for Free

Air pollution in large modern cities Essay Pollution can be referred to as the scourge of the 21st century. Its effects are felt by the whole world both in the developed and developing countries. The greatest contributor to air pollution is emissions from cars that use fossil fuels. One way of ensuring that motor vehicles reduce the impact of air pollution, is the use of cars that draw on clean fuels for instance bio diesel and ethanol or by use of electric cars. Another way is by use of public transport. Public transport can reduce tremendously the amount of air pollution emitted when people drive in their personal vehicles. In this discussion, I’ll highlight the advantages that come with the use of public transport over personal means in relation to air pollution (David. 2010). Most of the personal cars used in our roads are not fuel efficient. Therefore they contributed greatly to pollution through exhaust emissions. To reduce this, there is need to trim down the number of private cars in our roads. Driving personal cars to work is a mistake that has both health and economic consequences for all the people living in this planet. It has been found out that the greatest contribution an average citizen can make towards air pollution is by driving a car. Thus by use of public transport, the overall air pollution emanating from the many personal vehicles can be reduced when the same number of people use public means (David. 2010). Therefore driving less can contribute positively towards reduced global pollution. In order to achieve this, there is need to improve the public transport in major cities around the world. For instance, introduction of electric trains as a public means can effectively reduce air pollution. This means is fast and environmental friendly and should be adopted by all governments as a measure to curb air pollution from personal vehicles. If implemented, it can act as an incentive towards more people using public transport as a means of commuting (David. 2010). In conclusion, the use of public means of transport is the more immediate solution to the problem of air pollution. But this should be accompanied by efficient modes of public transport. For instance, introduction of electric trains as a means of transport in many countries can greatly reduce pollution. Other modes that are pollutant free should be encouraged as much as possible to minimize air pollution from burning fuels. Car pooling can also be utilized and encouraged through giving priority to car pools. List of reference: David, D. Kemp. (2010). Exploring environmental issues: an integrated approach. New York: SAGE.

Features of a cognitive behavioural approach to counselling

Features of a cognitive behavioural approach to counselling In order to answer this question effectively I will first discuss what cognitive behaviour therapy is and its key features. Then I will elaborate on a couple of other approaches to counselling and explain why it is different. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can help you to change how you think (Cognitive) and what you do (Behaviour). These changes can help you to feel better. Unlike some of the other talking treatments, it focuses on the here and now problems and difficulties. Instead of focussing on the causes of your distress or symptoms in the past, it looks for ways to improve your state of mind now. (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2010). The name cognitive behavioural is used in different ways to designate cognitive and behavioural therapy. It also refers to psychoanalysis based upon a combination of essential cognitive and behavioural research. Cognitive behavioural therapy is commonly used to counsel people with a wide range of disorders such as depression, phobias and anxiety. Cognitive behaviour therapy has become progressively popular in the past years, with professional and mental health consumers (BABCP, 2010). It is usually used for short-term periods of time and it focuses more on helping clients deal with very definite problems. Since cognitive behavioural therapy is basically a short term treatment alternative, it is more affordable that other therapeutic alternatives. During the course of counselling, individuals learn how to recognise and change negative or destructive thought patterns that have a negative influence on individual behaviour. The underlying perception behind cognitive behavioural approach to counselling is that our thoughts and feelings play an essential role in how we portray our behaviour. For example an individual who always has thoughts on plane crashes and air disasters may find themselves avoiding air travel. The fundamental objective of cognitive behavioural therapy is to counsel and teach patients who cannot control all aspects of life around them. The following are key features of a cognitive behavioural approach. Cognitive behavioural therapy is mainly based n the cognitive form of emotional response on our behaviours and thoughts, and not external surroundings such as events, people and situations. The key benefit of this fact is that it helps individuals to perform and feel good even if the circumstance does not change around them. The approach is considered to be one of the most rapid and quick forms of therapy for curing psychological disorders. The usual number of regular sessions that patients use across all types and approaches related to cognitive behaviour therapy is only 16 (Horn Ippen, 2006). Other types of therapy such as psychoanalysis can take a longer duration equivalent to one year. What makes the cognitive behavioural approach to be briefer and more time limited is because of its highly informative temperament and the fact that it formulates the use of coursework. The official ending of the therapy is determined by the decision of the client and therapist. Thus, cognitive behavioural therapy is not as much of an open-ended process unlike other approaches. Some other forms of therapies believe that the major motive why individuals progress in therapy is because of the affirmative relationship between the client and the therapist. Therapists, who believe in the cognitive behavioural approach, focus on furnishing their client with self psychotherapy skills and therefore the client learns to be more independent. With these self counselling skills, the clients will automatically change as they have learnt how to think differently. A vital aspect of thinking is based on facts. For example, in most cases, people upset themselves about things when, in fact the real situation is very different from what they actually think. If people knew the real fact then they would not waste as much time upsetting themselves. The inductive method was adopted in the cognitive behavioural approach in order to encourage people to clearly distinguish assumptions and myths from practicalities and reality of life. This greatly helps individuals to admit the reality and thrust aside imaginary negative thoughts. The cognitive behavioural approach is a joint effort between the client and the therapist. This is because the therapists task is to teach, listen and learn whilst the clients task is to be able to express their concerns, and show a determination to absorb what they learn from the therapist. The therapist makes attempts to know more about the thoughts and feelings of the client and also plays a fundamental role in helping their clients achieve the targeted goals in life. The client has to undertake homework in the form of implementing and putting into action the techniques and skills that they are taught during the therapy sessions. Without practising the skills and techniques, the clients will not be able to overcome their problem. As this approach is a directive and structured approach to counselling then a specific agenda is set out for each and every session. The techniques taught are aligned with the clients goals. Therapists do not tell their clients what their goals should be or what they should stand for. The approach is directive in a manner that it demonstrates to the clients how to behave and think in ways to achieve what they are fond of getting. There are many ways in which the cognitive behavioural approach differs from other forms of counselling. Sandburg, (2004) said that the cognitive behavioural approach primarily differs from other forms of counselling in terms of emphasis on understanding, identifying and changing the underlying attitude about one selves thinking and thoughts. In cognitive behaviour therapy the initial approaches emphasize on behavioural features of coping (e.g. leaving or avoiding the situation and interruption etc) instead of thinking ones way out of a situation. The person-centred therapy differs from the cognitive behavioural approach to counselling as this is an approach that focuses on putting much of the treatment responsibility on the client while the therapist takes a non-directive role. It is greatly associated with the objective of human potential movement, as it defines human nature to be inherently good. Person-centred therapy emphasizes that human behaviour is inspired by a drive to fulfil ones goals. Person-centred therapy focuses on a persons strength rather than their weakness. In this case the therapist tries to create a room between real self and ideal self. This created room helps the client discover a further understanding of who they are and also develop a greater self-worth esteem which results in increased capacity to experience and articulate feelings at the time they occur.

The Dragon Enters the War :: essays research papers

The Dragon Enters the War In June 1950, a few months after the announcement of the Beijing-Moscow alliance, the Korean crisis erupted. Early in October, shortly after the South Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel, the CCP made a final decision to enter the Korean War to fight the American-led international forces. What precipitated Beijing's decision to invade Korea? What were the CCP's motives and objectives in taking part in the Korean conflict ? What kind of role did the newly established Sino-Soviet alliance play in Beijing's decision to cross the Yalu River? This paper tries to answer those questions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Chinese ideogram for crisis is a combination of the ideograms for danger and opportunity. To the leaders of the People’s Republic of China, the Korean War was both. As the UN forces advanced north toward the Yalu, Beijing prepared for war. Mao still found the decision to go to war a difficult one, however, despite the pressure to intervene. Following the Inchon landings, Kim Il Sung had dispatched two of his top aides to Beijing and asked Mao for emergency help, but the Chinese were not ready to make any firm commitment. Stalin, following the landings, also pleaded with the Chinese to go to the aid of the North Koreans. According to Chinese sources, the Soviet leader promised to provide air cover for the Chinese troops and to send Russian troops in the event the Chinese army faltered. Still, Mao hesitated. Most disturbing to Mao, if the Chinese armies intervened and were pushed back would Stalin really send troops as promised in order to save China? Als o of concern, if China became involved in a war with the United States, China’s dependence on Stalin would inevitably grow, an unsavory thought to Mao. Finally, all hope of conquering Taiwan would vanish indefinitely.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Despite his hesitance, step-by-step Mao moved closer to intervention. On October 1, Sdtalin telegraphed Mao and encouraged him to send â€Å"volunteer† Chinese soldiers into North Korea for the purpose of defending the area north of the 38th Parallel. On October 2, Mao directed the Chinese Politburo to pass a resolution to send these Chinese troops into North Korea, beginning on October 15. The same day, Mao cabled Stalin of China’s decision to send volunteers into Korea to â€Å"fight the United States and its lackey Syngman Rhee.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Chinese preparations for war accelerated, Mao refused to give the green light, perhaps held back by the reservations expressed by some of the other members of the Politburo.

Hedda Gabler Essay -- essays research papers

TITLE : People may argue that George, Eilert, and Judge Brack are responsible for Hedda’s death, but in reality it is the fault of Hedda’s society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I’ve chosen this statement for several reasons. Ibsen’s character, Hedda Gabler, represents the women of the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Hedda stands the issues of self-worth and the deflated value that each woman places upon her own importance as a result of male dominance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We can see this in the play, as we read we learn more about the character of Hedda Gabler. She is the daughter of a General who expected a life if glamour and wealth and rebels against the boredom of a dull, narrow existence by vindictively scheming against everyone around her. Hedda also strives to ruin Eilert Lovborg, the intellectual she once rejected as a suitor. She is meddling in Eilert’s life for her own amusement and control.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She lives in a male dominance society and environment which caged her and made her lose her freedom. Her desire to escape and her yearning for individual and spiritual freedom come to the surface as she discovers her father’s pair of pistols. Comparing Hedda with the other women of the play we can see that thea wasn’t the woman with the more control. She also had an unhappy marriage because of Eilert’s work. Aunt Julia is different; she likes to help people, she raised George and took care Rina. As far as Berda is concerned, there i...

Magic Realism and Intertextual Examples of The Bible in Gabriel Garcia

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, is a novel often associated with magic realism. Throughout the novel, the idea of magic realism is promoted through intertext examples of The Bible. Magic realism is defined as an artistic style in which magical elements or irrational scenarios appear in an otherwise realistic or "normal" setting. The many intertextual examples throughout the work are alluded from outside sources such as the Bible and the tragedians of the Greeks and Romans. These allusions not only strengthen the novel, but further correlate them with the idea of magic realism. Magic realism, as defined by Wendy Faris, contains five key elements which must be present for this component to ring true in a piece of literature. The first key element is the novel contains â€Å"†¦something we cannot explain according to the laws of the universe as we know them† (Faris 167). Throughout the novel, several examples which make this constituent true are present. For example, when Jose Arcadia Buendia’s murder occurs and his blood runs through the streets to Ursula’s home, Marquez writes, â€Å"A trickle of blood came out under the door, crossed the living room, went out into the street, continued on in a straight line across the uneven terraces, went down steps and climbed up curbs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Marquez 144). In reality, as readers, it is known that blood cannot travel long distances or climb objects. Remedios the Beauty’s accession to Heaven is another form in which a particular scene cannot be explained by particular laws as we kn ow them. Marquez writes â€Å"Amaranta felt a mysterious trembling in the lace on her petticoats and she tried to grasp the sheet so that she would not fall down at the instant in which Remedios the Beauty... ...magic realism is a common theme found throughout many fiction novels. According to Faris’ five key elements, this novel is indeed a tale of enchanting pragmatism. The novel’s intertextual examples developed by character similarities and actual events from the Bible and Greek mythology and tragedies are woven in the novel in such a way that the reader is oblivious to the fact that they truly exist. Magic realism will continue to flourish many novels to come in the coming years. Works Cited Access Bible, The. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. Fitzgerald, Robert. Translator Homer. The Iliad. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press, 2007. Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. New York: Harper Perennial, 1998. Zamora, Louis Parkinson and Wendy Faris. Magical Realism: Theory, History,Community. Durham: Duke University Press, 1995.

Division/Classification Essay: Three types of children Essay

Anyone who has spent time with or around children will notice that each one has a special personality all of their own. Children, like adults, have different traits that make up their personalities. Experts have researched this phenomenon in detail and classified children into different categories. The three categories that most experts agree with have been named â€Å"flexible,† â€Å"fearful,† and â€Å"feisty.† Children generally may have similar interests, but the way they interact and deal with these interests displays their personality type. The first personality type is called flexible. This is the most common of the three types. About 40 percent of all children fall into the flexible or easy group. These children usually handle feelings of anger and disappointment by reacting mildly upset. This does not mean that they do not feel mad or disappointed, they just choose to react mildly. These actions mean the flexible child is easy to take care of and be around. They usually adapt to new situations and activities quickly, are toilet-trained easily, and are generally cheerful. Flexible children are subtle in their need for attention. Rather than yelling and demanding it, they will slowly and politely let their caregiver know about the need. If they do not get the attention right away, they seldom make a fuss. They patiently wait, but they still make it known that they need the attention. These children also are easygoing, so routines like feeding and napping are regular. The next temperament is the fearful type. These are the more quiet and shy children. This makes up about 15 percent of children. They adapt slowly to new environments and take longer than flexible children when warming up to things. When presented with a new environment, fearful children often cling to something or someone familiar. Whether it is the main caregiver or a material object such as a blanket, the fearful child will cling to it until they feel comfortable with the new situation. This can result in a deep attachment of the child to a particular caregiver or object. Fearful children may also withdraw when pushed into a new situation too quickly. They may also withdraw when other children are jumping into a new project or situation they are not comfortable with. These children may tend to play alone rather than with a group. The third temperament type is called feisty. About 10 percent of children fit into this category. A feisty child expresses their opinions in a very intense way. Whether they are happy or mad, everyone around them will know how they feel. These children remain active most of the time, and this causes them to be very aggressive. Feisty children often have the tendency to have a negative persistence and will go on and on nagging, whining and negotiating if there is something they particularly want. Unlike flexible children, feisty children are irregular in their napping and feeding times, but they do not adapt well to changes in their routines. They get used to things and won’t give them up. Anything out of the ordinary could send them into some type of fit. If these children are not warned of a change, they may react very negatively. Feisty children also tend to be very sensitive to their surrounding environment. As a result, they may have strong reactions to their surroundings. Generally speaking, children can be divided into three groups, but caregivers must not forget that each child is an individual. Children may have the traits of all three of the personality groups, but they are categorized into the one they are most like. Whatever their temperament, children need to be treated according to their individual needs. When these needs are met appropriately the child will be happier, and those around the child will feel better also. Knowing the general personality types and how to react to them will help to make the caregiver’s job much easier and aid in the relief of unnecessary stress.

Foundations Of Mythology Essay

Foundations I think that the word myth gets used quite a bit these days, and in the wrong context. You often hear people say â€Å"it’s a myth† to refer to something that is too good to be true. Or some outlandish story such as a big fish story. Traditionally, a myth is a story that offers an explanation to something such as â€Å"enduring and fundamental human questions: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave? How should we not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such ways?† (Leonard & McClure, 2004) In an academic context, according to the text, a myth is â€Å"the study of myth is a field of inquiry that ranges from the earliest known history of humanity up to and including contemporary cultures and societies and even our own individual senses of self in the world.† (Leonard & McClure, 2004) My interpretation of the definition is that they are stories that have been passed around for years about and forming our culture and beliefs. Commonalities â€Å"Some of the recurring themes include a Golden Age, a fall from a heavenly state, resurrections from death, virgin births, worldwide floods, creation stories in which â€Å"one becomes two,† and a future apocalypse.†(â€Å"Analyzing Mythology†, n.d.). Many different cultures have some of the same stories with different details or characters. Usually they have the same outcome though. These myths help form the society and culture that they live in. It is they view certain things. According to Rosenberg, â€Å"In their theory,  innate psychological characteristics, common to all human beings, determine how people throughout the world and throughout history experience and respond to the process of living. The contents of the collective unconscious are divided into archetypes—such as the mother, the child, the hero, the trickster, and the giant—but these are simply image frameworks.† When I think of mythology and how people use them to explain the unknown or how mankind is shaped, I think of the Illiad and Odyssey, two unbelievable journeys that have lasting themes. â€Å"Many famous heroes walk through the pages of Homer’s Iliad. Achilles and Agamemnon, among the Greeks, and Hector, among the Trojans, must choose between their own desires and the needs of their people. Their war is ancient, but their agony is modern. Once again, the courage with which they meet the challenges in their lives makes them impressive, yet very human, models of behavior for all of us.† (Rosenberg, 2006) Religion and Mythology Religion and mythology share a very thin line that often intersected. Religion is in a sense the same thing as a myth; it’s a story that explains origins. Many religions were based around the mythology of the people, such as Egyptians. They had many gods and goddesses and they believed in polytheism, which allowed them to worship more than one god/goddess. There isn’t a lot of research that has a specific answer as to what is the relationship between religion and mythology. It seems to me that there would be an argument that they are one in the same, while others believe they are completely different. Since mythology is often thought to be untrue, many would not want to believe their religion has anything to do with mythology. Relevance Many of the themes that are addressed by mythology are still very relevant today. â€Å"Rather, the American mythologist always saw myth as the story of the rugged individual who realizes his true nature through heroic struggle. Archetypal symbols and universals there may be, Campbell seems to say, but mythology is ultimately and always the vehicle through which the individual finds a sense of identity and place in the world.† (Leonard & McClure, 2004) People need to believe that the struggles they go through are common.  Everyone needs to believe in something. The Trojans were tricked by a giant horse that they thought was a gift. Almost everyone out there can think of a time when they were tricked. It resonates with them. Conclusion The foundations of mythology were established many, many years ago. Almost every culture of people has their own set of myths that they believed in. While they had their own stories, many of them had the same explanation of something, such as creation. The themes were and are still today very universal. While mythology offers explanation to life’s questions, many cultures still had their own set of religious beliefs. Many of those beliefs intertwined with their mythology but not always. As mentioned before, the themes of mythology are universal. They are also quite timeless. Many of the same moral dilemmas or questions of life are the same and can still be answered by myths. References Leonard, S., & McClure, M. (2004). Myth & knowing: An introduction to world mythology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Rosenberg, D. (2006). World mythology: An anthology of great myths and epics (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: McGraw Hill. Analyzing Mythology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mythome.org/mythII.html

Health care in America Essay

Healthcare in America is seemingly, chronically an issue of finances. Whether or not the hospital has it or the family of an ill patient has it, it becomes prudent to note that without the country’s currency rubbing the right palms, healthcare becomes an issue, especially for the financially strapped family. Lack of finance equals care-giver burden. Purpose of the Analysis In the following pages care-giver burden will be addressed using five peer-reviewed articles. The articles are in design stressing the issue of guilt and depression when a family decides they don’t have the time or the money to keep a loved one at home and must face putting them in a care facility (Sanders article Shouldering the Burden of Care). Other articles address the issue of keeping a family member at home (child) and the upkeep cost that entails such as home health aid cost, medications, or leaving a job (Wilson, Leslie S. et al. The Economic Burden of Home Care for Children with HIV and Other Chronic Illnesses). Also, the review of patient care for nurses and the burden of lack of authority in administration this presents is another form of care-giver burden (Welchman, Jennifer & Glenn G. Griener, Patient Advocacy and Professional Associations: Individual and Collective Responsibilities). There is also the gender role burden between husband and wife when one is sick and has to be taken care of and the other one lives a full active lifestyle and the issue here is burden of responsibility (King, K. M. & PM Koop, The Influence of the Cardiac Surgery Patient’s Sex and Age on Care-Giving). There are many facets to unravel in the primary care system but for this paper, care-giver burden is the primary concept in terms of money, guilt and love. Antecedents Most care-giving authority is given to nurses; both in a hospital setting and during stay at home cases. The preceding concept or the patient is its important to have a strong trusting relationship with the care-giver in order for them to feel more comfortable and also feel their issues and concerns are being heard. If the patient does not feel comfortable then the care-giver burden becomes apparent in scowling-unreceptive-to-therapy patients. However, in Welchman and Griener’s article, Patient Advocacy and Professional Associations, a rising concern over nurses’ burden when taking care of patients begins to be seen, â€Å"†¦nurses are being taught to be patient advocates and both nurses and patients are the worse for it. The nursing profession’s redefinition of the nurse’s role from loyal handmaid to patient advocate in the 1980s was supposed to protect patients by empowering nurses to think and act autonomously in their dealings with other health professionals. Individual nurses have been burdened with a responsibility that most professions assign†¦to their professional associations. It is not a responsibility that individuals can readily fulfill. Unless or until the duty of advocacy is taken off the shoulders of individual nurses and returned to the professional bodies that represent them, nurses and patients will continue to suffer unnecessarily†(2005). The nurses role in patient care involves everything a patient needs or may potentially need (feeding, bathing, bathroom visits, company) and each of these duties cannot be accomplished without proper support from family/administration, and without this support and the lack of performance in a nurse’s duty a patient will lapse in trust. This is the contention in the make-up of care-giver burden; nurses cannot fulfill their role to maximum potential without the backing of the hospital rules. In the area of patient care and the burden of care giving an interesting side note that should be considered is in the study done by King and Koop which involves a closer look at patient care with the influencing variables of sex and/or age. In their study they revealed that female patients relied on their spouse less than the male counterpart. Also, female care-givers were more often employed outside the home than male care-givers giving rise to a staggering believe of job importance and detachment for men in home care situations. As mentioned in the opening statement, the pivotal issue of care-giver burden is that of money. If a household is not sufficiently funded then the burden of caring for loved-ones either by oneself or with the assistance of an aid, the stress and strain is very detrimental. In Wilson et al. ’s study of patient care for ill and HIV children the stats for financing reflects a tremendous burden, â€Å".. in-home care for ill children (ranging from approximately $19,000 to $36000) is higher than that of hiring caregivers for healthy children (approximately $10,000)† (2005). This burden is further emphasized for the family if they are not equipped to pay a professional care-giver and are dependent upon themselves for such care; this issue raises the other issues of job attendance (some families pass up promotions, decline extra working hours, or quit their jobs entirely in order to care for the ill which makes the financial burden that much more potent). Further in Wilson et al. ’s study they reveal the numbers involved in American care-giver homes, â€Å"It is estimated that 10% to 18% of US children (6 to 10. 8 million children) are chronically ill. According to our cost estimates, the total value of care ranges from $155 to $279 billion per year†(2005). This number is daunting and almost in realms of infinite thought with regards to cost analysis. Consquences The burden is twofold for the nurse and the patient. As Welchman and Griener state in a final cul-de-sac, â€Å"Advocacy for improvements in access to and deliver of health care is best viewed as a collective responsibility of health professions owed to society as a whole, not as the sole province of individual practitioners†(2005). In the case of gender roles playing out in the care-giver burden the consequence is this: dependence is a potential burden to the spouse whose in need of not only assistance in daily routines (bathing, eating, etc) but in companionship. The findings of King and Koop suggest that a patient’s gender has relevance to the availability of home-based care (King & Koop, 1999). The potential cost of in home health care is a care-giver burden as well as a patient burden. The weight stressed here is not one that is easily remedied. When put into perspective the cost is much more than money but also wavers on emotional stress to the care-giver and patient when the care-giver’s stresses are known to the patient. Such stresses as highlighted above are job attendance, quitting a job, and the issue of time spent with a patient as opposed to time spent with other members of a family. As Sanders states in Shouldering the Burden of Care, in which one family is analyzed, â€Å"Faced with her mother’s inevitable decline, she wonders whether she should continue to care for her in her home. But the more important question is, can she? † (2005). Defining Attributes This is the main point of care-giver burden: when faced with a choice of sending the patient to a nursing home, or institute where they can possibly be better attended to, should the family send the patient/family member away, or should they endure? The potential for this question to raise a respite for patient care or to give into the burden of home-health care is pertinent in its prospective view of burden. The relationship between care-giver burden and money is inseparable. The high-cost measurement presented in the Wilson study harkens to the reality of facts and numbers involving patients and their estimated cost of care per year in this country, and when a job is lost or sacrificed for the benefit of the patient the new stress becomes where will the money come from for the upkeep of home health care? Empirical Referents In the area of money, and of authority it is to nurses who are the advocates of the patient in the hospital that studies should be turning. If they are allowed to be sufficient leaders then the trust between them and patient is strong. In an at home environment the dangers of lack of funds arise and the emotional stress on family members and spending time with each other (either children, wife, or husband) and the noncompliance from other family members in putting the patient/loved-one in a home can be daunting. The care-giver burden here is clear. When a family member who isn’t equipped physically or professionally to take care of the ill, then an alternative way must be found and is found with nurses, and the high cost of in-home care. Relationship The defining features of care-giver burden, that of cost, and guilt bears a close relationship to euthanasia. In both cases the issue of money, guilt and pain arise and are handled usually with the confidence of a nurse. A nurse aids a family in decision making for both in-home care or euthanasia. In the relationship between the two concepts it is the burden of the patient on the family emotionally and financially that a decision is made: to either keep them at home or send them away, to either keep them on a ventilator or pull the plug.

Modern public life Essay

â€Å"Modern Public life could not exist or function properly without the Media† In this essay I will be discussing the above statement and arguing that without Media, modern public life could not exist. I will first explain some key terms to help in the argument including explaining the meaning of the term Public Life. According to the Collins Dictionary â€Å"The Public is people in general or the people of a particular place. Public is used to talk about the feelings and behaviours of people in general. If someone is a public figure or is in public life, they are well known. Public is used to talk about things being said or done so that everyone can hear them or see them†. What is meant by the term Public Life is a space where a body of people can come together to discuss issues relating to their group. These groups can be very small like a book club or large like the United Nations and they can discuss anything from the latest Bryce Courtney novel to world peace. Geoffrey Craig in his book The Media Politics and Public Life explains the concept of public life as: â€Å".. A body of people within a society and a domain within which debate about that society occurs†¦ The public is also a subject, and people come together as a public in modern times when they engage in readings of the events, the stories and the debates that circulate in the society. â€Å"(2002. P49) Public life occurs where private issues are brought to the attention of the general public through the use of the media. Without out the media it would be private life, not public life. Media, as defined by the Collins dictionary is the plural of medium which â€Å"is a means of communicating or teaching something. † When we talk about the media we do not just use traditional forms of media like newspapers, television and radio but we also use other forms of media like movies, the internet, transnationals companies and communication technologies. All of these forms of media are sites where the meanings of public life are played out, debated and evaluated. Our everyday lives could not function properly without the media. Media is a drug that we cannot live in a democratic society without. We listen to the radio on the way to work to hear the traffic reports and to know where the multi-novas are hidden. When election time comes, we can’t invite John Howard round for dinner to discuss his policies so we rely on the media to show us them through television radio and newspapers. When a cyclone is coming our way, how do we know to lock up the house or leave town? The media inform us. Even the very early smoke signals were a form of media, a form of communication. It is important to stress here that there is no way that public life could function without the use of the media as the understandings of our society, the norms and values of the world in which we live are the products of living in a mediated world. We as a public only ever see the representations of a breaking story through the television or in the paper. We rely on the media to tell us breaking stories that are happening around the world because of our geographical locations. John Hartley (1992 P1) has noted: â€Å"while [the public domain and the public] don’t exist as spaces and assemblies, the public realm and the public are still to be found, large as life in the media. Television, popular newspapers, magazines and photography, the popular media of the modern period, are the public domain, the place where and the means by which the public is crated and has its being. † In talking about public life we must clarify the notion of having a public sphere. By public sphere we mean any activities that occur in the public eye or that is brought to the attention of the public through the media. Habermas argues that the original public spheres originated with the early Bourgeois movement in the tea houses, libraries and reading societies in England. It was here where people gathered to discuss issues concerning their lives and the society in which they lived. What made this a public sphere was that the people were all gathered in one place discussing issues that were relevant to them. Although this was regarded as one of the original democracies that were a voice for the people, Habermas also understood that the early tea house publics were not totally representative of the communities for which they were fighting for. In the early days women were not included in the tea house discussions, also, only a certain class of people were allowed to enter the tea houses and those that could not read would not need to go to reading houses or libraries. Of course those that could not travel to these public events had no said either. This limited the voice of the people to only those that were upper-class, well educated men that could travel. This was not representative of the wider communities. The next stage in the evolution of public life was when the printing presses made literature available to the mass public. This literature was free from state control and was the newest site for public life to be played out on. Of course if you were illiterate the medium was useless but for those that could read and had access to the literature a new public was formed. The reading public was not tied by geographical restrictions. The development of film was again a new medium that with it brought a new public. By now we have to understand that there are a huge amount of publics that all have their own issues to debate. A person can be part of a number of publics at one time. She may be a single mother, working at the supermarket, she is part of the conservative party, is a part of a sci-fi reading club, she buys Thai cooking books, buys red wine and goers to wineries, is part of a mothers group at day care, has a network of other single friends on the internet and is part of a union at work. All of these publics want very specific things and all lobby for different things, the private issues become public when they are played out through the different types of media. Without the media the issues would not be brought into the public spotlight and would likely not be resolved. It is essential to point out that modern public life is played out through our media consumption and not through our everyday experiences. We collectively watched the September 11 attacks through our televisions, listened to the disaster unfold on our radios and read about and saw the pictures of the devastation in newspapers. Without these sites we would not have experienced it at all. This highlights the fact that we rely on the media to get information that would not readily be available to us. Peter Dahlgren argues that the public sphere is not just a â€Å"marketplace for ideas or an information exchange depot but also a major societal mechanism for the production and circulation of culture†. This idea of the media framing culture is very important because it gives the media great power to give meaning to our identities. Culture, which consist of ideas, customs, norms, values and attitudes are shared by the people of a particular country. Campaigns that promote a type of culture are often produced by government and portrayed through various media outlets. Popular campaigns that frame our culture are the domestic violence ad â€Å"Australia says NO to domestic violence† and the drink driving campaign, that enforce that fact that those things are going against our culture and that that type of behaviours is not accepted. These campaigns are dependant on the media getting the message out there. The main media technologies that are responsible for the communication of public news are television, radio and print and these all function as journalism. These are seen as the most trustworthy sources of information as they are governed by laws that protect privacy, defamation and the use of misleading information. Journalisms main role is to seek the truth and tell the masses. Although these forms of media are self regulated (to be free of outside influence) their guidelines that journalists have to abide by are strict to keep the freedom to self regulate. Television is the most powerful mass medium and is an absolute must in every household. In my house alone there are four televisions and there are only 2 people living there. â€Å"A productivity commission report found that Australia’s spend over 20 hours per week or 36% of their leisure time watching television†(Productivity Commission 200, P62). The ability to actually see an event or person and hear them speak makes television the most trustworthy of the media outlets. Politicians often measure the success of a campaign on the presentation of their image/policy/media events. Although television has taken over from the print media as the most popular type of news media, many argue that the print media are the most influential mass medium for political debate. Agenda setting for the day is mostly done by the ‘quality’ morning newspapers. Newspapers are often more detailed in their dissemination of public life because they are not restricted by the time factor that is TV. Radio is the secret weapon in the fight for a public life. The radio doesn’t have the ability to show the audience an event or doesn’t even give them a chance to read about an issue but it is the most pervasive forms of media as it can be listened to whilst driving or doing the housework. Politicians often use talkback radio as a direct link to the public. It is often the closet the general public will get to speaking with high profile players. Because the media is the chief agency to communicate public life and the world that we know is based on the representations of the media, there is much scrutiny placed on the authenticity of the stories that are shown to us. In Australia there are laws that ensure that one source does not have monopoly over the content of our media, Australia’s former prime minister Paul Keating put it best when he said that the cross ownership laws meant you could be a ‘prince of print or a queen of screen’ but not both. This means that one person will not be in control of all of the media of our country and so a true representation of society’s issues would be presented by the media. Again without the media, Australia would not be able to be a democratic society and have a public life. Through many different sites issues and events are played out and become open to the scrutiny of the general public. These different issues and events create discussion between the people that read or hear about them and this is what is meant by a public life. People that are hundreds of miles away from each other can be discussing the same issues without even having to talk to one another. These systems of communication enable us to live in a democratic society, a society where we can chose who leads us in government and we can discuss issues relating to our society. This would not happen if wasn’t for the role of the media. Without the media to portray issues and events we would never hear about a sale on in the city or about governmental policy that is set to affect us all. Public life as we know it would not be able to function properly without the media. References Craig, Geoffrey. Chapter 1, 2 and 3. The Media, Politics and Public Life. Victoria: Allen and Unwin, 2004. Cunningham, Stuart and Graeme Turner. The Media and Communications in Australia. St Leonard’s, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, 2002. Dahlgren, Peter. Television and the Public Sphere: Citizenship, Democracy and the Media. London: Sage, 1995 Grossberg, Lawrence, Ellen Wartella and D. Charles Whitney. â€Å"The Media and the Public. † Media Making: Mass Media in a Popular Culture. Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage, 1998. 357-374 Habermas, Jurgen. The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into the Category of Bourgeois Society. Trans, T. Burger. Cambridge: Polity, 1992. Scannell, Paddy. â€Å"Public service broadcasting and modern public life† Media, Culture and Society. 11(1989):135-166. Thompson, John. â€Å"The Media and the Development of the Modern Societies† The Media and Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995. 44-69 Wark, McKenzie. Celebrities, culture and cyberspace: the light on the hill in a post-modern world. Sydney: Pluto Press, 1999. 128-136 http://malagigi. cddc. vt. edu/pipermail/icernet/2004-January/002743. html http://www. zip. com. au/~athornto/thesis2. htm http://www. gseis. ucla. edu/faculty/kellner/kellner. html.

Monopolistic Competitive Market

Monopolistic Competitive Market Introduction The term market refers to the place where buyers and sellers meet to engage in transactions that entail the exchange of goods or the provision of services for a consideration. A market is not only characterized by a building where people carry out business transactions. This is because any place that people carry out commerce can be referred to as a market. A market is characterized by various mechanisms that facilitate trade. These mechanisms usually pertain to the supply and demand of products and services (Bergin, 2005).From this explanation it should be clear that a market is comprised of three main elements. The sellers these are the people who bring the products or services to the market to be procured by the willing buyers. At this stage it is imperative to highlight that in most cases sellers are the produces however in other instances the sellers are not necessarily the producers instead they can be traders. The second element of the market is the buyers. Buyers are individual who are willing and able to acquire the products or services being offered at the prevailing market price.Buyers are of two types; there are those that buy the products or services for their own consumption and there are those that buy the products or services in order to resell them in different markets. The buyers who buy the products for their own consumption are referred to as consumers whereas buyers who buy the products or services in order to resell them in different market are commonly referred to as trades and they can also be called arbitragers (Nicholson & Snyder, 2008). The third element of the market is the products that are being traded.The term product can be used to refer to either goods or services that are being offered in exchange for a consideration. The term product can also be used to refer to commodities only. General Objectives One of the general objectives of this paper is to facilitate the readers of this docu ment to gain an understanding of how markets work and most importantly how a monopolistic competitive market works. This paper will achieve this through briefly discussing various types of markets and their characteristics.Another general objective of this paper is to compare and contrast the various characteristics of the different forms of market structures. This will serve to enable the readers to carry out a comparative analysis of the various forms of market structures thus they will be able to enhance their knowledge on market structures. This objective will be attained through the analysis of the factors, which are mainly in play for the existence of a particular form of market. The paper will also seek to analyze how the various factors in such markets interrelate in order to develop a market mechanism for that form of market structure.This is because all forms of markets structures have market mechanisms. These market mechanisms are usually as result of the interaction of v arious factors that are both internal and external to a particular market. Specific Objectives One of the specific objectives of this paper is to discuss the conceptual theory of a monopolistic competitive market. The discussion of the monopolistic competitive market entails analyzing the various factors that characterize this particular form of market structure. This is will be important form enhance the knowledge of the readers of this paper, on monopolistic competitive market structure.The discussion of the conceptual theory will also enable the readers to have a good basis for analyzing and responding to questions that relate to monopolistic competitive market structure. Another objective is to discuss the characteristics of a monopolistic competitive market. The discussion of the characteristics of a monopolistic competitive market structure is important because it will serve to explain how the various factors involved in this type of market structure interrelate in order to th is unique type of market.The discussion of the characteristic of a monopolistic competitive market will serve to enhance the understanding of the readers of how companies that operate in such a market carry out their operations. The discussion of these characteristics will serve to inform the readers the various factors that companies operating in this type of market put into consideration during decision-making. This discussion will also enable the readers to be able to identify a monopolistic competitive market in a real business situation.This paper also aims at establishing how market equilibrium is achieved both in the long – run and in the short run. This is mainly because in a monopolistic competitive market structure, market equilibrium is achieved differently both in the short – run and in the long – run. This analysis is imperative mainly because this knowledge enables the management to have a good basis for decision-making. The analysis will provide f actors that the management should put into consideration whenever they are making decisions concerning either the short term or the long – term future of a company.The illustration of how market equilibriums are achieved in the short run or in the long run will enable the readers to gain understanding of how the various factors in this market structure relate in the determination of the equilibrium market prices. It will also enable to understand how companies that operate in a monopolistic competitive market adapt themselves in order to be able to operate in this particular form of market at minimal costs and manage to obtain maximum profits. This paper will also provide a practical example of a monopolistic competitive market.In this example, the paper will seek to illustrate how the conceptual theory is exhibited in this form of market structure. This paper will utilize this example in order to enhance the knowledge of the reader on how market equilibrium is attained both in the long – run and in the short – run. This example will illustrate how the various factors are displayed in a real market situation, also this paper will utilize the example to look at the type of decisions that are made by mangers of companies that operate in a monopolistic competitive markets structure. Conceptual TheoryThere are four forms of market structure namely, monopoly, perfect competition, monopolistic competition and oligopoly. These forms of market structures are characterized by different market conditions. Markets are mainly classified according to the number of firms in the industry or the form of products sold in them. The number of firms operating in a particular market determines the level of competition in that market. Product markets are mainly categorized according to the number of firms in the industry and the degree of competition that is prevalent in a particular industry.At this stage it is also important to highlight that equilibrium pric es in these markets are subject to the forces of supply and demand. The forces of supply and demand are known as the price mechanism. An individual firm on itself cannot influence the price of a commodity and can therefore only take the price prevailing in the market. Due to this condition a firm is therefore said to be a price taker (Nicholson & Snyder, 2008). The movement along a demand curve is caused by changes in price of a commodity.An increase in price results in a decrease in quantity demanded hence a movement along the demand curve to the left. A shift in the demand curve is caused by changes in factors other than the price of the commodity in question. Different quantities are therefore demanded at the original price. A shift in the demand curve outwards to the right indicates that more quantities are demanded at the original price whereas a shift inwards to the left indicates that fewer quantities are demanded at the original price (Dwivedi, 2006).Movement in the supply c urve is similar to movement in the demand curve. A shift in the supply curve refers to a relocation of the supply curve either outwards to the right or inwards to the left due to change in the factors that affect supply other than price. This means that at each price, a different quantity will be supplied that was previously supplied. Equilibrium price refers to the price, where the quantity demanded equals that supplied. It is the price at which the amount the customers are able and willing to buy is equal to the quantity producers willing and able to supply.The equilibrium point, refers to a point at which the demand and the supply curve intersect. Any price above the equilibrium price leads to excess supply, whereas any price below the equilibrium price leads to excess demand. Excess demand or supply causes disequilibrium in the market. Due to the excess demand for a particular commodity in the market, a shortage is created. This shortage causes the consumers to compete for the l imited commodity in the market thus making the price of that commodity go up. As he price continues to rise, suppliers put more of the commodity into the market (Mandal, 2007). On the other hand, the high price also discourages some consumers from buying the commodity. This scenario of increased supply and reducing demand continues until the equilibrium price and quantity are set. When there is excess supply of a commodity in the market the prices begins to fall. As the price falls more consumers purchase the commodity. The suppliers also reduce the amount of the commodity they are releasing into the market due to the falling prices.This scenario of falling supply and increasing demand continues until the equilibrium price and quantity are set. It is also important to highlight that a general assumption in the study of this subject is that firms aim at attaining maximum profits using minimal costs possible. This means during decision making the managers of the firm will always aim a t using the least resources possible and utilise them efficiently in order to attain the maximum achievable profits possible. The level of output that will bring about maximum profit in a firm depends on the costs incurred and the revenues earned.Revenues refers to incomes obtained by a firm from the sale of its outputs and they may be categorized into three namely, total revenue, average revenue and marginal revenue. Total revenue refers to the total income earned by a firm from the sale of its output. Total revenue is obtained through multiplying the total output sold by the price. Average revenue refers to income per unit of output. Average revenue can be obtained by dividing the total revenue obtained by the number of units of output. It is important to note that the average revenue is the same as the price of the commodity (Dwivedi, 2006).This implies that the average revenue curve, which relates average revenues to output, is the same as the demand curve, which relates prices to output. Marginal revenue refers to the addition to the total revenue arising from the sale of an additional unit of output. Marginal revenue can also be obtained by subtracting the previous total revenue from the current one and can be seen to be equal to the price and average revenue. Characteristics of a monopolistic competitive market This is a market structure that combines aspects of perfect competition and those of a monopoly.There are many sellers and many buyers just like in perfect competition. The commodities dealt with are similar but each firm tends to differentiate its products from those of its competitors through acts such as branding, packing, wrapping and coloring. A monopolistic competitive market structure is a combination of the features that will be discussed in the succeeding paragraphs. In a monopolistic competitive market there exist many buyers and sellers. This comes in adequately because there is no single firm that can influence the prices of commoditi es or services in the market.If a business sells its goods or services above the market price then consumers can buy their goods from other businessmen. If a company sells its products at a lower price then chances of making a loss is very high (Mandal, 2007). Though a business may increase its prices in a perfect competition, the action may be risky since customers will move to another business. This is not the case with a monopolistic business, though a firm may lose some of the customers, some will remain due to the kind of relationship they have with the seller or even the quality of the given products.All the aforementioned factors are due to the fact that there is a large number of buyers and customers that act independently. In this form of market structure it is assumed that the sellers and the buyers of commodities are well informed about the market. That is they know the prices, quality of products and all the factors affecting the market. In this market the products are d ifferentiated. The products from different producers either vary in quality or the product is a group of commodities which are close substitutes of each other (Mandal, 2007).For instance, in the toothpaste industry there are different brands such as Colgate, Close– up and Aquafresh. This differentiation of products from different firms enables each firm to enjoy a certain degree of monopoly power. A monopolistic competitive market is characterized by freedom of entry and exit. This means there are no barriers to a business entering or living the market. This means that new firms wishing to supply the same commodity are free to do so (Bergin, 2005). Similarly, existing firms wishing to leave the market are free to do so.How to determine equilibrium in the short – run and long – run on Monopolistic Competitive Market Structure Price and output determination under monopolistic competition Due to product differentiation, a firm under monopolistic competition is able to exercise some influence on the price of the product. This means that a firm can raise prices yet some customers will still buy at these high prices (Dwivedi, 2006). However, many customers will switch to rivals’ products. On the other hand, if the firm lowers the price, it would attract some buyers from the rival firms, thereby increasing its product’s demand.A monopolistically competitive market has a demand curve that slopes downward from left to right. In a monopolistic competitive market the demand curve is fairly elastic. This means that a small change in price will bring about more than proportionate changes in quantities demanded. This is because there are many substitutes in the market. The demand curve is more elastic than the one faced by a monopolist but less elastic than a perfectly competitive market whose demand is perfectly elastic (Jehle & Reny, 2011). The relationship between average revenue and marginal revenue is similar to that of a monopolist.F or average revenue to be increasing as more units of output are sold, the marginal revenue must be lower than the average revenue. Short – run equilibrium output under monopolistic competition A firm under monopolistic competition will be at equilibrium at an output when profits are maximized. This is the position when marginal revenue is equal to marginal cost. This is at price P1 and quantity Qe. However, there still excess demand and the firm can maximize its profits by changing price Pe. The firm will therefore produce quantity Qe and sell at price Pe (Jehle & Reny, 2011).Qe represents equilibrium output and P1 represents equilibrium price. The price at which the equilibrium output can be sold is determined by the demand Curve (Average Revenue) and its price. Profits are maximized at a level of output between O (zero) and the equilibrium quantity demanded. Long – run equilibrium output under monopolistic competition A firm under monopolistic competition can make su pernormal profits in the short – run. Since there is free entry of new firm into the market, the supernormal profits will attract the new firms with the effect that demand for the old firm’s customers will be taken by new firms.The demand curve for the old firm therefore shifts right to left (Mandal, 2007). A lower quantity is demanded at each price. Firms are likely to increase expenditure on product promotion due to increased competition, which in turn would cause the average total cost curve to shift upwards. New firms will continue to enter the market as long as the existing equilibrium is achieved and all firms would be earning normal profits. The equilibrium point is where the average revenue is equal to the average cost. This point is achieved in the long run when the average revenue curve is a tangent to the average cost curve.The firm will be at equilibrium when it produces output at the equilibrium quantity demanded (Bergin, 2005). This is where the marginal revenues equal the marginal cost because the firm is in the business of profit maximization. At the point of equilibrium, the average cost is equal to the average revenue. This is so because competitive pressure means that a firm can neither make a loss nor earn supernormal profits. At this point of equilibrium the firm is making normal profits only. Conclusion An example of a monopolistic competitive market is the toothpaste market.The toothpaste market is characterized by firms that offers products that are similar but they are highly differentiated. Consumers of Colgate toothpaste believe that Colgate is the number one brand of toothpaste that ensures strong teeth. As a result of this the consumers are normally willing to buy toothpaste regardless of the price. Consumers of Aquafresh toothpaste believe that Aquafresh is the number one brand that ensures healthy germs and fresh breathe. As a result of this customers are willing to always procure the Aquafresh toothpaste regardless of the price.Consumers of the two products believe the products are different and this is because of the way the manufacturers have positioned the brands. REFERENCES Bergin, J. (2005). Microeconomic Theory: A concise Course. New York: Oxford University Press. Dwivedi, D. N. (2006). Microeconomics: Theory & Applications. New Delhi: Dorling kindersley. Jehle, G. A. , & Reny, P. J. (2011). Advanced Microeconomic Theory. New York: Pretence Hall. Mandal, R. K. (2007). Microeconomic Theory. New Delhi: Atlantic Publisher. Nicholson, W. , & Snyder, C. (2008). Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extension. New York: Cengage Learning.