What methods are available to the Four Seasons Essay Example

What methods are available to the Four Seasons Essay Example What methods are available to the Four Seasons Essay What methods are available to the Four Seasons Essay This posh consumer looks toward the Four Seasons, which has a relatively positive brand image in its marketplace, for providing superior accommodations at the aesthetic level and also as far as how the brand links image with the self-concept of traveling consumers. The Four Seasons does not currently utilize any form of loyalty programmer, with the brand considering points-based programmer as decrease and unimportant to the hotels money-is-no-object clientele Monsoons, 2005; Bentley, 2005). In the past, this type of belief has driven a very solid profit model as consumers return to enjoy the modern and upscale accommodations offered by this pricey, yet consumer-focused hotel chain. However, the problem in this situation is that todays consumer, even the shifting trend in this demographic target group where value and cost savings are coming acceptable and common beliefs, in a variety of different product and service varieties. This shifting trend maintains the ability to erode customer loyalty from the Four Seasons if the business is not able to project a sense of value to even the more upscale consumer. Failure to adopt a loyalty programmer could spell financial problems for the hotel chain as consumers respond, in a difficult economy, with changing social values which lead to less loyalty toward a specific brand. Therefore, the problem with Four Seasons is a leadership focus on traditional marketing objectives which are likely not as effective for todays value-focused nonuser in building loyalty. II. Background The achievement of brand loyalty, in the hospitality industry, especially noticeable in the hotel industry, is what drives the highest marketing return on investment (Rica, 2009). Brand loyalty can best be defined as the achievement of such a powerful consumer sentiment about the products brand or service elements that they begin to demand this particular brand over all other competitors in their similar marketplace. Brand loyalty, by this definition, is not likely to be achieved without significant investment into marketing promotion with concentrated advertising. Loyalty marketing is a strategy, not a tactic (Humbly, Hunt and Phillips, 2004, p. 1 2). Today, it appears competition are using loyalty schemes with various points accumulation for incentive-based marketing (Thornton, 2006). According to Shogun (2005), current loyalty programs appear to be unrelated to the creation of brand loyalty. Long gone are the days of the one-size-fits all loyalty program (Vantage, 2008, p. 4). This should give opportunity for todays hotel industries to actively reexamine existing loyalty programs to consider whether it is bringing positive ROI to their marketing investment into these programs. It is important for the hospitality industry to understand that the best return on promotional investment is to achieve this brand loyalty, therefore it becomes paramount to recognize how best to achieve this loyalty through contemporary marketing which fits the consumers lifestyle and needs profiles. There seems to be a fundamental shift in what drives brand loyalty in todays hospitality industry, where consumers are not as driven by visual images and logo presentation but are requesting aspects of service quality and reward in order to offer their loyalty to any particular brand. As illustrated by Figure 1, this industry is in a period of significant sales decline. Figure 1: Tourism Forecast to 2010 Sales in Billions Growth 2009 Growth 2010 Travel and Leisure 41 . 335 -11. 3 -4. 9 Source: Techno. Com (2009). Customer loyalty is driven by consumer sentiment toward the brand. In some instances, a longer-lived brand could have been a part of negative publicity or a scandalous scenario during its life cycle which damaged its brand reputation in its target client audience. In reverse, the brand could have achieved high volume of positive public relations or had satisfied many consumers and achieved a quality tutus amongst competitors. It would seem logical to assume that in order to achieve brand loyalty, the brand must have a quality reputation in its competitive, consumer- driven marketplaces. With this noticeable shift in consumer behavior and their responses to marketing promotion, and the need for loyalty to exist in order to provide ROI on marketing efforts, it becomes vital to understand what methods are available for the Four Seasons Hotel to ensure customer loyalty. That is what this study intended to uncover. The hospitality industry, in most developed, consumer-driven regions, is a very nominative marketplace with the need for differentiation strategies, as part of marketing, to create a solid brand name which maintains characteristics unique from competition from the consumer perspective. There is little research information available regarding the achievement of brand loyalty both in difficult economic environments or during a period where consumer sentiment has apparently shifted radically in terms of their response to promotion. These are two noticeable contemporary trends in consumer behavior, therefore this study maintains the ability to provide the Four Seasons Hotel with quality insight into new consumer values and heir willingness to provide loyalty based on demands or personal needs. To discover: what methods are available to the Four Seasons Hotel to ensure customer loyalty. Since the Four Seasons does not currently utilize loyalty programmer to build better consumer interest in the brand, despite the evidence provided of its importance in this industry, it is important to understand what methods of loyalty-building would be beneficial for this hotel chain. Objectives 1 . Identify what drives todays customers to choose one hospitality industry over another in highly competitive hospitality markets. 2. Identify the current marketing activities of several hospitality-oriented companies (case studies) in which positive customer loyalty has been achieved in order to assist Four Seasons with developing a relevant model for loyalty-building. 3. Understand what the Four Seasons is currently performing in terms of marketing to build loyalty. IV. Research Design Qualitative analysis is the most logical data source for uncovering a trend in consumer values related to brand loyalty in the hospitality industry today. This type of analysis is interpretative in which personal knowledge in a variety of domains of duty is used as a Justification for analysis of various secondary source materials to uncover noticeable trends. Thus, this study consulted with recently published marketing- and hospitality-oriented Journals and other secondary source materials as the logical starting point for consumer trend analysis. Because the information required for analysis is needed from both the consumer and the industry standpoint, the development of a primary research study would be impractical due to time and budget restrictions. Primary research, in the form of consumer research studies, could have provided this study with valuable, real-time nonuser sentiment. However, secondary source analysis provided this study with valuable, rather surprising data which did not Justify the viewpoints of marketing professionals identified when this study was first proposed. Instead, the achievement of brand loyalty is driven by factors more closely related to lifestyle and through service-oriented efforts on behalf of the hospitality organization. This trend was more noticeable when looking at the situation from the industry perspective rather than the consumer perspective and by assessing the nature by which competitors in these resource analysis provided significant value to the fulfillment of the study objectives without the biases sometimes included in consumer sentiment surveys or questionnaires. Journals were selected from both domestic sources and international sources, as many hotels and restaurants operate in the global environment. Therefore, in order to gain the perspective of foreign consumers as well, the online environment was chosen as a logical medium for this study research methodology to locate Journals and other marketing publications for these consumers. Global hoteliers and saturates who operate in multi-national, multi-cultural environments, it was determined, might best benefit from this broadened consumer analysis. To ensure reliability, each of the secondary source materials consulted and utilized for this study was assessed for quality in relation to the publications reputation or the authors professional skill-set. No resources which presented opinionated or columnist-style viewpoints were deemed appropriate for this study and were rejected for their lack of reliability and credentials of authorship knowledge. There were no ethical issues involved with this study as it involved no primary search or use of human study participants. V. Data Presentation and Data Analysis 4. Background Due to todays difficult economic conditions which are occurring in many regions today, nearly two-thirds of consumers polled in a recent survey identified that reward points were either very important or extremely important when choosing a hospitality and travel brand (Wing, 2009). However, much to the industry dismay, only one-third of these same consumers actually belonged to a travel loyalty or rewards program (Wing). This shows a very strong disconnect between marketing effectiveness, the return on investment, as consumers have identified their importance but are not subscribing to these benefit programs. The Four Seasons, if choosing to adopt a new loyalty programmer, must be concerned with low subscriber ratios and work to promote the new programmer to build consumer interest. Though many travelers identify the importance of these loyalty- based concepts, low subscriber ratios could enhance the problem of implementing such a programmer at Four Seasons. This would have to be an immediate focus It seems, also, that women are the most logical target market when considering who s most able and willing to provide tourism dollars in this industry. Cavalier (2008) identifies that women make up 83 percent of all consumer purchases, thus to capture the woman buyer you have to understand the woman psyche and it has been discovered that trust is central to female loyalty (Cavalier, p. 1 7). Since women are likely the contributing force behind the decision to travel and frequent the hospitality industry, marketers should also focus on women when trying to create vacation promotions or lifestyle connections. Fortunately for the Four Seasons, the brand has built a positive reputation in its archetypal and there is a considerable amount of trust in the brand in relation to service provision and accommodations excellence. If implementing a new loyalty programmer to build higher sales volumes and increase loyalty, the company should direct the majority of its marketing toward the female customer as they will make most of the traveling decisions, even in the more upscale market audience. 4. The consumer profile The winners will be the brands that offer exceptional value and service, offers Betsy Resource, senior UP of marketing at Yamaha Worldwide, a hotel with over 7,000 units (Blitz, 2008, p. ). Value would seem to represent cost-savings from this viewpoint during an economic period where traveling consumers are not satisfying profit objectives. Travelers hate being nickel and dimmed to death for every service like Internet access, local calls, use of a business centre or gym (Blitz, p. 2). Brand loyalty can likely not be established when service-oriented charges are present based on this trend toward value orientation. The Four Seasons could benefit from this new value-focused consumer by promoting internal cost reductions on previously-charged-for services. Even though these efforts could undercut return on investment costs for items like Internet or telephone calls, the pricing used for a single nights stay is some of the highest in the hotel industry, thus these changes would likely represent a better focus on value provision, therefore enhancing loyalty in the process. These are small-scale steps to solve the problem which exists at the Four Seasons today, in terms of holding onto traditional marketing which might no longer generate the same loyalty in the mind of the value- focused traveler. Some restaurants in the hospitality industry have recently been using eat free loyalty orgasm where a specified amount of stay is required to earn free meals, when the hotel offers such amenities. However, two marketing experts identify that such efforts are counterproductive with the forms difficult to fill out for the foreign user Moons and Commodity, 2008, p. 268). Such eat free programs seem to have little to do with loyalty creation. An eat free loyalty programmer could appeal to the value-minded traveler without much cost to the business operational model. Offering these small-scale perks, by delivering them face-to-face to clients to express appreciation, could be the loyalty ump needed to satisfy new beliefs on total value with a nights stay at Four Seasons or any other competitor. Recent statistics illustrate that when consumers have a problem related to staff, they are 47 percent less likely to return to that hotel again (Barky and Nash, 2007, p. 4). This is a very high volume of people who can be affected by staff relationships, therefore internal issues should be considered as part of management focus for building brand loyalty. And, offers Mettles (2007), any negative issues should be handled quickly to repair damage to reputation. Barky and Nash (2006) further identify that people are influenced toward loyalty through value for price , the cleanliness of the room, the employees positive attitude, and friendliness of the concierge or front desk. These are relatively simple, fundamental consumer values which would likely be easy to coordinate for organizational structures designed for service focus. A comfy bed Just doesnt stand out anymore (Higgins, 2007, p. 42). Holiday Inn Hotels Resorts, a multi-demographic, multi-unit global hotel organization recognized this and developed a People Notice service program designed to each internal employees owe to be an everyday hero to guests to make them feel recognized and special (Higgins, p. 42, Brine, 2006). Service-minded organizations appear to be making positive ground with consumers in terms of brand loyalty. Having positive internal staff which is efficient, rapid response time to internal problems, and programmer designed to recognize individual consumers are activities which are currently undertaken at the very efficient Four Seasons Hotel. The brand is well-known for its capable staff and has a positive reputation in this regard. Though the internal accommodations are posh and upscale, clearly having a comfy, esthetics environment will no longer work for the chain in building loyalty when value focus describes todays traveler for this hotel. The Four Seasons needs to go the extra proverbial mile to reinforce the value of consumers and ensure that internal activities are efficient, friendly, and creates positive relationships with people in order to build loyalty. Hotels must clearly define what they are and what they want to be in the eyes of their guests and their employees. Brand loyalty is maintained by offering guests a consistently excellent experience (Gunter, 2006, p. 24). The key in this situation is that consumers are demanding consistency in service delivery, which would point toward developing staff as a step toward brand loyalty for the Four Seasons. To build loyalty, a business must: Look through the lens of the customer, exceed their expectations, and make it easy to do business with you (Hanoverian, 2007, p. 54). This again points toward another service-oriented aspect, an industry issue, as a step toward satisfying client demands. Again, this is where the Four Seasons excels, therefore in terms of building loyalty, the company is on the pent more than $43 million in advertising in 2008. However, the business is expected to obtain revenue of 1. 2 billion. Clearly marketing is a significant investment in this competitive industry in the pursuit of building brand loyalty. Further research identified that nearly 50 percent of some hotels, in ideal marketplaces, have guests which stay from seven to 29 days (Chipping, 2006). This is a significant margin, thus service provision would likely be highly scrutinized by this long-staying guest when choosing future hotels for extended stays, an aspect which would drive brand loyalty. This is a much more profitable customer. The Four Seasons hotel must also recognize that long-term guests represent a very significant profit margin and work consistently in providing better service than other upscale hotel competitors. A renewed focus on staffing and positive service provision is key to building loyalty in this chain. 4. 3 Costs and consumer satisfaction One representative of the hotel industry identifies that online concierge services are helping to build loyalty (McMullen, 2006, p. 22). If consumers are turning toward the ease and convenience of online services, they will likely appreciate a flexible and odder brand which is able to make their stay as convenient and hassle-free as possible, which was suggested by Hanoverian (2007) as a key success tool for building loyalty. Research did not uncover whether Four Seasons is making use of an online concierge, however with the growing trend toward Internet usage and mobile technologies, keeping an image of modernism can build loyalty for Four Seasons. Some hotels are even offering pet-friendly environments to appeal to the consumer needs. However, only 2 to 5 percent of guests actually bring animals (Chipping, 2006), thus this is not mass-market focused and likely not a success factor unless engendering niche marketing to diversify clientele. The Four Seasons upscale client often have cherished pets which they pamper and spend considerable resources on. Recognizing that some upscale travelers view their pets much like children could be a new loyalty focus. In terms of value-focus, the dog-loving consumer would likely appreciate the ability to bring their child on vacations with them, thus giving Four Seasons a competitive edge in this regard. An emotional bond must be created with the consumer in order to achieve loyalty (Mantilla, 2006). Emotions play a dominant role in explaining satisfaction and brand loyalty (Back and Kim, 2009, p. ). Since it is cheaper to keep current customers than to obtain new ones (Tepees, 1999), achieving a positive brand reputation and brand proposed by Pence (2008) at this study proposal stage offering a model known as the VALS 2 chart, assessing eight distinct consumer personality and lifestyle trends per demographic group. Emotions are clearly key to reputation and loyalty-creation. The emo tion attached with the new pet-friendly loyalty campaign speaks to the potential effectiveness of this strategy for Four Seasons with the new lifestyle focus marketing and promotion. Red Lion Hotels recently changed its brand name (previously West Coast Hospitality) in order to deliver on a promise to make guests comfortable (Browning, 2008). The ability to deliver on a distinct brand promise can increase demand and build customer loyalty (hospitality. Org, 2009). Further, Kiang, Dave and Oar (2002) offer that brand extensions are helpful in building consumer loyalty, likely because the leveraged brand name has a positive market reputation. The brand promise tends to commit to the consumer with another focus on service delivery. Four Seasons leadership does not believe that any extended brands or brand name hanged should be under its parent company umbrella for reasons of brand identification and reputation for the hotel chain on the market. The hotel desires to stay the Four Seasons and is not looking for expansion. However, evidence suggests that a rebinding or altered brand strategy, using new hotels with new brand names, can give opportunities to change any reputation damage and also reinforce the quality of the parent brand company. Four Seasons may wish to reconsider this aspect when building loyalty as a meaner to extend and publicly promote the diverse family of brands under the Four Seasons direction. Linking a positive brand name with a new brand can give Four Seasons new flexibility and design a variety of loyalty programmer to a new client demographic. There is clearly a consumer shift moving toward the quality and consistently of service delivery when determining which hospitality brand deserves more loyalty than other competing hospitality brand. Since they consider the loyalty program and rewards associated with them to be of high priority when determining travel, it would make good business sense for the Four Seasons to implement them to best fit consumer demands and lifestyle-related expectations. Such efforts would require Taft members to be developed as consistent, motivated and professional service providers to satisfy consumer demands and deliver the consistent quality of service that guests come to expect. Consumers are watching their economic portfolios, something which was evident when analyzing their dissatisfaction with being nickel and dimmed to death as described by Blitz (2008). The current economy across the globe is forcing many individuals, at all levels of financial backgrounds, to reexamine their spending policies. A points-based loyalty programmer at the Four Seasons would be good business sense based in the information provided.

What Is Summer School Guide for High School Students

What Is Summer School Guide for High School Students SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When you think of how you want to spend your summer vacation, sitting in a classroom is probably not the first thing that comes to mind.However, summer school can be a great way for you to get ahead in high school and give yourself an advantage in college admissions. These days students with all kinds of grades take summer classes. You might take summer school to understand a particular subject better,to free up more time in your schedule during the school year, or to take an advanced class at your high school, nearby college, or online. Read this complete guide on summer school for high school students to learneverything you need to know about what summer school is, why people take it, and how you can use it to get ahead. What Is Summer School? You probably know that summer school refers to classes that students take during the summer, outside of the regular academic school year.However, more specifically, summer school for high school students can be a lot of different things: It can be a way for you to retake a class you found difficult, take specialized courses in areas that interest you, get a head-start on prerequisites and college classes, and more. Summer school can be classes done through your high school, at a community college or local university, or through a program that includes classes, such as a summer camp. Online summer school, where students take classes primarily on a computer at home, is becoming more popular. Many of these classes require students to visit the school once or twice to take exams or turn in final projects, but some classes are also offered completely online.Online classes may be offered through your high school, a college or university, or through a specialized online high school program. Why Do Students Take Summer School? As mentioned above, there are multiple reasons why a high school student would take classes over the summer. Below are three of the most common reasons. Reason 1: To Improve Their Grades Historically, the most common reason thatpeople took summer school was that they needed to improve their grades in one or more classes. There are still many students who take summer school for this reason, and many of them find it easier to earn bettergrades during the summer because summer school often hassmaller classes, more one-on-one interaction with the teacher, and fewer distractions, such as other classes, school sports, or clubs to worry about. Reason 2: To Take Specialized Classes Sometimes, students will also take summer school classes in order to take a certain class they wouldn’t be able to enroll in during the school year.This could be a class they don’t have room in their schedule for or a specialized class, such as a course on a specific subject or an intensive foreign language course. Some schools also offer short certificate programs over the summer. These can cover a variety of topics, such as entrepreneurship, computer science, and more. Sometimes schools offer classes during the summer that they don’t normally offer during the school year. You will likely have an even wider variety of summer school class options if you look at classes at community colleges or online.Taking a specialized class can allow you to learn more about a topic you’re interested in and help you gain new skills and knowledge. Reason 3: To Prepare For College Summer school can also help you get a head start on the rest of your education, including college. Some students take summer school as a way to get prerequisites out of the way so that they can take more advanced classes during the school year. At my high school, every student was required to take a basic typing class before they graduated, and many students took this class over the summer because it wasn’t very challenging and could be taken online. This gave us an extra space in our schedule to fill with an elective we wanted to take. You can also take community college classes over the summer, which you may be able to get high school or college credit for. These classes can help you get more used to what college classes will be like so that you feel more prepared and confident once you start college. Having college classes, even introductory classes from a community college, will also strengthen your college applications because it will show schools that you can handle the rigor of a college course. How Can You Do Well in Summer School? Whatever the reason you’re taking summer school classes, it’s important that you do well in them. They’re using up some of your important summer time, and you want to make sure you don’t waste that time by doing poorly in the classes. Summer school classes are a bit different from classes taken during the school year, and there are a few strategies you can use to maximize your chances of success. Tip 1: Take Fewer Classes at a Time Unless you absolutely need to take multiple classes in order to graduate, it’s a good idea to only take 1-2 classes at a time during summer school.Summer school classes are often shorter than regular classes (often 6-8 weeks long, compared to a whole semester), so they are usuallymore intensive and require a greater time commitment. Taken fewer classesis especially important if you are retaking a particular class because you’ll be ableto be able to focus more of your time and energy on getting a higher grade this time around if you don’t have other classes to worry about. Tip 2: Create a Study Schedule Taking summer classes can be hard. There are probably a lot of things you’d rather be doing like seeing your friends, being outside, playing sports,etc.,and it can be easy to get distracted. Either before or right after you start summer school, create a study schedule that lets you plan when you will put aside time to study and do homework.If you can set aside the same time every day, like 4:00-5:30pm every afternoon, that can make it easier to stick to your study schedule and plan other activities.Set goals for what you want to accomplish each day or week, whether it’s a project you need to complete, papers to read, or just general studying and homework. On the other hand, make sure you are giving yourself enough time to take a break and relax. Summer school can be demanding, and if you overtax yourself, you may end up burned out by the time the school year starts, which you don’t want to do because it could cause your other grades to suffer.If you need help creating your study schedule, ask a parent or teacher for some guidance. Tip 3: Ask For Help Early Summer school classes are often smaller than regular classes, and this means you’ll have more interaction with the teacher. Use this to your advantage by asking for help early if something confuses you or doesn’t make sense.Particularly if you are retaking a class you struggled in before, you want to make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes you did the first time.Teachers are happy to help students who ask, and they won’t think any questions you askare dumb, so don’t be afraid to let them know you need something explained more or in a different way. If you’ve already taken the class before and know whichareas you struggled in, you may want to tell this to your teacher early on so they can prepare you for the topic better and possiblygive you some additional material to look over to make sure you understand the subject. Asking a teacher for extra help as soon as you don't understand the material can help you keep your grades up in summer school. Should You Take Summer School? If you’re wondering whether or not to take summer school, ask yourself the following three questions. If any of the scenarios apply to you, then you may want to consider summer classes. For each scenario, the best way to take these summer classes is also mentioned so you can be sure you get the benefits you want out of summer school. Question 1: Do You Want, or Need, to Improve Your Grades? Is there an especially low grade on your transcript that you wish you could erase?If you did poorly in a certain class, summer school is a great way to redeem yourself and retake the class for (hopefully!) a better grade. Even just one especially low grade, such as a D or F, can really bring down your GPA and hurt your chances of getting into competitivecolleges.Even if the class shows up as a retake on your transcript, if you got a good grade in itthe second time around, that will look much better than havinga very low grade. Best option: If this is the case for you, you will probably take your summer school classes through your high school in order to improve your grade in a particular class. Question 2: Are There Specific Classes You're Interested in Taking? Is there a class you’d like to take that is only offered in the summer or you don’t have time to take during the school year? Summer school could be a way to fit it into your schedule. You could get creative here and take a class in photography, wilderness skills, a foreignlanguage, ora differentinterest you have. Summer school doesn't have to be boring! Best option: Depending on which classes you’re interested in, you can take them through your high school, at a community college, at a summer program, or online. Talk to your academic adviserif you’re not sure which classes to take and want to know what your options are. If you take classes at a place other than your high school, make sure you understand exactly if and how you will receive credit for them. Question 3: Do You Want to Get Ahead on Classes? Are you trying to get prerequisitesout of the way or want totake advanced classes toimprove your chances of getting into a competitive college? If so, taking summer classes can be a way for you to have more space in your schedule for other classes, strengthen your transcript, and be more prepared for college. Best option: If you’re trying to take some prerequisites over the summer, you’ll probably take them through your high school because courses through other schools may not meet the prereq requirements. If you want to take classes to prepare you for college, you will likely take these at a community college or nearby university. You may also be able to take advanced summer classes through your high school. Should You Do Online Summer School? Online summer school for high school students is becoming more and more popular, and it’s easy to see why. Online classes often allow you to do schoolwork on your own schedule and reduce the time and hassle of traveling to class.However, is online summer school a good idea for everyone? Online classes can have several drawbacks including the following: Less direct interaction with the instructor Requires more self-motivation Can be more challenging to understand If you’re trying to decide whether or not to take summer school online, you should talk to people who know your study habits, such as teachers and parents, to help make the best decision. However, in general, you shouldn’t take online summer school classes if you struggle to motivate yourself to study and complete work on time, or if you struggled with the class before and want more guidance from and interaction with the instructor.Both of these issuescan be exacerbated with online classes. You should also base your decision on how difficult you expect the class to be. For a relatively easy class, you need to take as a basic graduation requirement, such as typing or health, online classes will likely cause you fewer problems than if you were taking a more challenging course. Because the class you're taking isn't that difficult, you'll be able to handle the issuesthat online classes can sometimes create, and you'll be able to easily get the class out of the way and focus on tougher classes during the school year. Summary There are many reasons for students take summer school, whether it’s to improve their grades, take a certain class they couldn’t take during the school year, or become more prepared for college. Summer school can be taken through your high school, at a community or local college, or through a company or organization that offers summer classes. Most summer classes are in-person, but online classes are becoming more popular. You don’t want to waste your summer taking a class you end up not doing well in. In order to make sure you get good grades in summer school you should limit the number of classes you take, create a study schedule, and ask for help early on if you don’t understand the material. If you’re not sure whetheryou should take summer school or you don’t know what classes to take, talk to a teacher, parent, or academic adviserto figure out what the best option for you is. What's Next? Want to learn more about online high school? Check out our guide to online high schooland learn if it's the right choice for you. Is there a certain class you want to take, but it isn't offered by your school or doesn't fit into your schedule? You may be able to take an independent study! Read this guide for everything you need to know about independent study classes and how to take one yourself. Trying to decide whether to take an AP class or a class at a community college? We go over the pros and cons of each to help you make the best decision. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Derrida's Deconstructionism and how it is a critique of the concepts Essay

Derrida's Deconstructionism and how it is a critique of the concepts of 'presence' and 'centre' - Essay Example It is a critical and yet uncritical in its subversion. Just like looking on how to destroy or to defeat an enemy" http://www.geocities.com/philodept/diwatao/derrida_and_saussure.htm Different scholars and critics defined Deconstruction in their own way. Somehow with many definitions the theory became richer over the years. "It represents a complex response to a variety of theoretical and philosophical movements of the 20th century, most notably Husserlian phenomenology, Saussurean and French structuralism, and Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis" http://prelectur.stanford.edu/lecturers/derrida/deconstruction.html Derrida starts with the structure, but he is not happy with the binary structure and showed that dualisms are never equivalent; but are hierarchically placed. He said one pole is privileged at the expense of the other. The centre and presence are the originally attributed qualities to the speech, which have been continuing for a long time now. Speech has been given more importance, whereas the writing has been relegated into the secondary place. He said the logocentric tradition of the western thought since Plato has made the written word as a mere representation of the spoken word. Paul De Mann is another critic who adopted the same style of criticism. It is best understood as a textual strategy. He posed a challenge to metaphysical speculation. He argued: "Structure has always been neutralised or reduced.by giving it a centre or referring it to a point of presence, a fixed origin," Derrida (1978, p.278) and even the quantitative enlargement of adding historical experience does not help it. He started with exposing the problems of centred discourses. "Derrida argues that the "structure" determining these discourses (including "structuralist" theory itself) always presupposes a "centre" that ensures a point of origin, meaning, being, or presence. What troubles Derrida is that the centre determines a given systems structure but is itself strangely above or transcendent of such structural analysis or scrutiny" http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/post/poldiscourse/spivak/deconstruction.html His argument is that the centre that ensures a presence. The presence, he says, is the original state and should come first, just like how the world is present around us, and it is connected to the consciousness and self-reflection and gives a meaning. This means, presence is the predicate for a text's meaning, according to Derrida. It is accepted that Derrida had great influence on the intellectual thinking of the world. The paper he presented to John Hopkins University in 1966 changed the critical movement in United States. In this paper he uses the structure, structuralist theory while saying that there exists a centre in every structure. He argues that this is needed by the readers because it is definite that there is an existing presence. The centre is the main unity that supports the structure, which would not have contained much meaning without that centre. "if we try to undo the centring concept of 'consciousness' by asserting the disruptive counterforce of the 'unconscious' we are in danger of introducing a new centre, because we cannot choose but enter the conceptual system (conscious/unconscious) we are trying to dislodge," Selden (1985, p.144). Deconstruction and poststructuralism have been in close terms

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 40

Case Study Example These locks would only be accessed using cards given to authorized officials. This means that the accountability for available stocks would fall to those with the security access (Brauer & Dunne, 2002). A security manager of the highest levels of qualifications and responsibility would lead the security team. In addition to having locks, security officials would be deployed art various entry terminals to man the entrances. For windows, they would have to be tinted so that no person can view the content inside. In addition to that, doors and windows would need to be reinforced to avoid breakage. To a certain extent, communicating with the employees would be needed. This would be so if they are required to maintain highest levels of discretion in the activities they do. However, for top secret activities, it would be wise to leave the security concerns to the allocated security team (Gerstein, 2013). The risks of compromise due to personal indiscretion would be at a minimum. Employees should have security cards for areas they are allowed to access. This means that they would not be allowed to access other areas only restricted to certain high-ranking officials. Internal controls are important is determining who access what parts of the arms manufacturing plant. They would improve accountability and the overall security of manufactured products and the manufacturing procedures (McCrie,

Classical Music and Jazz Music Essay Example for Free

Classical Music and Jazz Music Essay Music has always been an important element for the humanity. Exist many different kinds of music. For purpose of this paper I’m going to compare classical music with jazz music. This two types of music belong to the category of complex art music. A comparison of classical and jazz music yield some similarities and different and could also lead to an appreciation of this two important category of music. The music called classical, was found in stores and performed regularly by symphonies around the world, in the time of 1600 up to the present. Unlike jazz was found in the early 1900 as some dance band leaders in the southern U.S. began playing this type of music that combined ragtime and blues. Most of the major composer of the classical music until the 20th century were Europeans and the jazz was exposed first by two musicians. Both type of music were know on different parts of Europe. In classical music, both large orchestras and small ensemble are used. The largest part of the orchestra consist of the string section consisting of violins, violas, cellos, string basses and wind instruments. On the other hand jazz music can be played by small group of people. In jazz they use different instruments like clarinet, tuba, cornet, baritone, drums and piano. Similarly to classical music, jazz used some wind instruments. In addition we have a different of audience of this two kind of music. The jazz music attracts an really cultural and hip audience. This is because jazz concerts usually are in opens spaces around the world and in night clubs and you don’t need to pay a ticket to go and appreciate the music. Unlike classical music attracts more elite and rich people. This is because the concerts of classical music are on different amphitheaters and closed spaces and you need to pay for a expensive ticket. To conclude, we can say that this to types of music have their unique style, but both of them represents two approaches to Art Music. This two types of music are important and carry a great and special history. Also this to type of music, allow people to relax while hearing this music. If I need to pick between this two types of music, I prefer the jazz music because is more accessibly for us and it’s transmit more emotions.

Singapore Essay example -- Singapore Politics, Government

How might the Singapore society differ were it not for these technologies – would the society be more or less heavily regulated? Lee recommends analysing politics and society by addressing how power struggles and relations were played out in the pre-Internet era, namely the maintenance of political control via public support (2005: 74). Foucault defines ‘governmentality’ as the point of contact where the technologies of power interact with the governed. This spurs Lee to postulate that, in order to retain power in the Internet era, 'governments need to be actively involved in shaping the design as well as the societal, cultural and regulatory environment in which the Internet and other new media technologies operate' (2005: 75). One example of how the Singapore government has used technology to instil greater trust, and reinstate wavering public confidence is its online tax-filing system. The e-Filing system has been described as one of most definitive e-government projects, introduced by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) as a trust-building mechanism (Tan et al., 2005: 2). The e-filing system has been a conspicuous success for e-government. The success of the e-Filing system was unprecedented in terms of compliance, and succeeded in reversing negative public opinion at a phenomenal rate (Tan et al., 2005: 2). Srivastava and Teo explored how the Singapore government utilised their ‘citizen trust on the technology’ initiatives to promote and maintain ‘trust for e-Government’ (2005: 721). According to them, this was largely achieved by fostering measures to build institutional trust via transparency and soliciting of feedback from citizens. They attributed the huge success of Singapore’s e-government programmes... ...s, which keep track of the users’ digital footprints and activities. Physical surveillance, in the form of trawling the Internet and hacking computers is technically feasible but fiscally unfeasible. Such measure also compromise privacy and democracy. Conversely, employing legislation to regulate and/or control the Internet has a number of advantages in terms of the ease of execution, the feasibility, and the transparency of the judicial processes (Johal, 2004: 4). However, legislature is purposely vague and the language ambiguous, allowing for flexibility of interpretation in the event of new developments (Endeshaw, 1996: 210). For example, the Internet Code of Practice that states that '(p)rohibited material is material that is objectionable on the grounds of public interest, public morality, public order, public security, national harmony' (in Johal, 2004: 5).

Frankenstein as Anti-Hero Character Essay

SUCI HANIFAH LITERARY CRITICISM II EDRIA SANDIKA/MARLIZA YENI 8 MAY 2013 Frankenstein as Anti Hero Character A women who wrote â€Å"Frankenstein† named, Mary Shelley, she was born August 30, 1797, in London, England. Mary Shelley came from a rich literary heritage. She was the daughter of William Godwin, a political theorist, novelist, and publisher. Her ideas to write Frankenstein cameon summer of 1816, Mary and his brother Percy visited the poet Lord Byron at his villa beside Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Stormy weather finally forced them going indoors, while the other guests read a volume of ghost stories. So there, Mary’s story became Frankenstein when she was only 19 years old.Frankenstein was published in 1818, when Mary was 21, and became a huge success. Many people disbelieving that a 19-year-old woman could have written such a horror story. The story starts with the letter of a sailor who had trip to North Pole, in the letter to his sister he was talking about a new friend, who was strange, calm, but had complicated and mysterious life story behind. The man’s name was Victor Frankenstein, Victor told him all of his life story, about his happy childhood, his family, Elizabeth, his best friend Hendry Clerval who taught him about danger and adventure. Victor was a bright student, he loves science, he intends to now about everything, nature,universe , and also the living creature. And his curiousity about human, drove him into his big achievement in his entire of life, his passion, desire, and mind, led him to create a human or worse, we can say it a horrible moster. The figure of Victor Frankenstein is very interesting to be analyzed. Mary created him with amazing personality, which can be categorized as Hero’s trait but through his achievement and fatal flaw, that personality is destroyed by himself, in case here described as â€Å"anti-hero†. Focus of analysis is Victor’s characterization in this story, because he passed so many events with up and downs untill finally he found the way to make his dream come true, to research about human and made a human-like. So, the next chapter will discuss especially â€Å"anti hero†, and will show the evidences and  the codes that put Victor as a Anti-hero. A hero in literary work is a character which has a special power, admirable traits, and good achievement (Begley 1). The power that a hero has must be used for the justice, the human, for the country and the world, a hero must have a special power, physically or spiritually. The action from a hero will impress the people around, being admirer because of their admirable traits, kind hearted, full of spirit, brave and honest. An absolute example of a hero is : Captain America, who fight for his country and human, or Doraemon who has a special ability to use a sophisticated tools to help Nobita, and nobody have it, that special pocket. On the contrary, Anti-hero is similar with the hero, but he has a fatal flaw that lead him and his society into misery. Anti heroes usually distrust common values and are unable to commit themselves to any ideals. In his writing, Begley adds that anti hero will has some of the personality flaws and ultimate fortune traditionally assigned to villains but b eside that also has enough heroic qualities or intention to gain the sympathy of readers, anti hero can be awkward, passive, or pitiful. Victor in general, seemingly has Hero’s traits. Victor came from a noble family, rich, and high respect in his society, his father had filled several public situations and positions with honour and reputation. He was a civilized person, his parent loved him so much, he was bringing up with a big fullfilment, tenderness and deep conciousness of his parent toward him. He received a lesson of patience, charity, and self-control, he really has a beautifull childhood, as he told to the sailor : â€Å"No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself† (Shelly 29). That was several proves that Victor being rise and growth willingly. In Frankenstein, Victor was a round character, round character is a complex character and increases in complexity throughout the story, and the opposite of flat character (Gerald. Dictionary of Narratology). Because if we identify the character of Victor start from his happy childhood, university environment, but since he created the human-like, the complexity of his life getting worse and worse. He tried to struggle and beated down the monster to  reconcile his mistake, and went back to his hometown to safe his family but ironically he couldn’t. The position of Victor as the anti hero is set in the blurring line between hero and villain (Begley 2), but through the actions and the way he thinks the reader can judge or give their opinion about this tragic character. Looking for the clue and action of the character, based on the proairetic code by Roland Barthes, which is applies to any action that implies a further narrative action of Victor in general, we may look the two bigest act of him : The first when he ran away after staring at the monster. Run here means that he tried to free up his regret feeling, hide his fearness. And the second ; when Victor decide to chase the monster, chasing here absolutely as the revenge, and retaliation for his sinful feeling. The first time when Victor find his misery was when his mother died, all this time his mother such an angel to him, but when she died, he seemed like to lose his life, and Elizabeth is the only woman that he loved. When he study in University, he met with Professor M. Krempe and M. Waldman who provided and inspired him to start his research, without permission from the preofessor, Victor secretly started to create a human, in his apartment which had changed into private laboratory. One by one the various keys were touched, and victimize his bright brain, and soul, Victor successfully made up his achievement. Till this part we can say he had reach his purpose, but in fact after he stared at his own creature, what was become his dream, was exactly right destroy in a few seconds. As it shown in Victor’s mind when he finished his creature :â€Å"I felt the bitterness of disappointment, dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a hell to me , and the change was so rapid, the overthrow so complete!† (Shelley 50). Thisis prove that he was so scare to the thing that he had created, it is not satisfy his sacrifice that he had done for a very long time, but just end up with a horrible creature in front of him. The pitiful life of Victor could be also the evidence that bring him to anti hero, as the characteristic of anti hero, Victor has some of it. He typically distrust conventional values, he thinks and acts in the outside  line of normal people, he likes the different things, just like how much he loves his gods fantacy : Cornelious Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, Paracelsus. When I read Frankenstein, it makes a serious catharsis, the emotion of the reader, and how the sympathy feeling suddenly appear when Victor met his fatal flaw. The last clue is the death of Victor’s family, started with his youngest brother who had been killed by the monster, then his best friend Hendry, his lovely wife Elizabeth, and the last was his father. Beside that, the result of his horrible creature’s revenge also cause an innocent woman had been punished. This is the biggest fatal flaw that he made, the creature that he created, gave soul, had destroyed and drown himself, his admirable trait was useless, his mind, knowledge, power, instead led him to a tragic end of his life and cause the mental conflict. The condition af Victor after he had drown was so pathetic, as Walton explained to his sister in the letter : â€Å"His limbs was nearly frozen, and his body dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffering. I never saw a man in so wretched a condition† (Frankenstein, P. 16) As far as I concern about Victor Frankenstein position in the story, that is true that he was reaching his achivement which become his purpose of studying and researching, but through his human creation, the monster had caused him in the middle line of hero or anti hero. In case here, based on the evidences that I already explain above, Victor was not a Villain. Because Villain regarded as antagonist and never change his mind or his goal, but Victor directly changed his mind and felt scare at the very first time he saw his living creature’s eyes. Moreover, when he depressed by the death of the people that he loves, had been murdered by the monster, he changed his mind, refused to make another monster and decided to fight back. This is what anti hero did, after the fatal flaw, depressed, big loses in his life, then ends up ironically with the sadness and sorrow. References Wilfred, Guerrin. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. New York. Oxford University Press. 1999 Begley, Louis. Defenition of Anti- Hero. 2000 Prince, Gerald. Dictionary of Narratology. Accessed on 7 May 2013 Module on Barthes : On the Five Code. Accessed on 7 May 2013 The Adaptation from the National Library of Medicine.†Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature† Retrieved from websites : www.duluth.lib.mn.us

Brave New World as a Dystopia Essay

A utopian society is a society in which everything is absolutely perfect; a society in which everyone is happy with their life. The society in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is set up by the World Controllers to be such. However, the society itself is just the opposite of a utopian society: a dystopian society. Even though everything appears to be perfect for everyone, the hidden truth reveals a different reality. The society in Brave New World is a dystopian society as exhibited by the lack of reality, freedom, and identity. A primary example of how the society in Brave New World is a dystopian society is the lack of reality in the novel. This is exemplified by the use of soma, a drug that takes the user to a different world. Mustapha Mond, one of the ten World Controllers of the society describes soma as â€Å"†Euphoric, narcotic, pleasantly hallucinant†¦ All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects†¦ Stability was practically assured† (Huxley 53-54). The users of this drug are put in a state where they are away from reality; they are completely unaware what is going on around them. This is significant because the users do not see the disfunction and unhappiness of the society, meaning that when something goes wrong they can hide from it instead of fixing it. In addition, the islands further prove the lack of reality. When someone does not agree with the way that the society is being run by the Controllers, they are cast off to an island, isolated from the society so they cannot cause an uprising or rebellion (227-228). This is important because it hides the reality of dissatisfaction for society. It creates an atmosphere that is filled with happiness for the society, with no glimpse of the unhappiness that is apparent. Even though this lack of reality portrays a dystopian society, there are other ways that it is portrayed as well. The dystopian society of Brave New World is further proven by the lack of freedom. In this society, people are bred in a factory to be whatever the society needs them to be (Huxley 13). This is significant in that everyone has a destiny that they cannot escape: a purpose that they did not choose to be their own. Without this freedom, nobody can truly be free and happy. Because of this, however, the society has another method to ensure â€Å"happiness. † This method involves a process known as conditioning. The people of the World State are condition to like what they were predestined to do, and to dislike other jobs and purposes that they may have wanted to pursue without the conditioning. Mr. Foster describes that â€Å"all conditioning aims at that; making people like their un-escapable social destiny† (16). This is significant in that it portrays that the conditioning cannot be escaped; the conditioned are forced to enjoy what they have been conditioned to enjoy with no freedom of choice as to whether or not they want to, creating a false happiness. Though this alone portrays a clear dystopian society, there is yet another way the dystopian society is portrayed. In addition to both lack of reality and freedom, the dystopian society is also portrayed through the lack of identity. For example, in order to populate the world, the Hatchery uses a process known as Bokanovsky’s Process. This process takes one embryo and splits it to excess of 96 new embryos (Huxley 6). This causes each embryo to have the same genes, making them 96 identical copies of one another. This is significant because it is impossible for a person to be an individual when there are 96 exact replicas of him or her. Also, from the moment of their â€Å"birth,† each and every citizen is casted into a social class: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, or Epilsons (Huxley 6). These castes determine the person’s role in society, with Alpha being the equivalent of a noble of the society and Epilsons being the peasants. These roles are assigned during Bokanovsky’s Process by such acts as depriving the developing embryo of the proper oxygen (6-7). Because of this, everyone is thought of as a member of a caste, not an individual. An Epilson will always be an Epilson, with no chance of being a standout individual in society. This lack of advancement destroys the sense of personal achievement and self-earned identity. Overall, the society in Brave New World is clearly a dystopia. The citizens are clouded by the society into thinking that they are happy. The lack of reality portrays a fake happiness that is surrounding the citizens. Also, the lack of both freedom and individuality take away what makes a person unique and destroy any chance at true happiness. The society believes they are truly happy only because it is what they are conditioned to believe. This false happiness makes the society what it truly is: a perfect imperfection.

What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Essays

What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Essays What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Paper What are the differences between Kant and Arendt on radical evil Paper he was a normal family man. This was concluded after a long series of psychological tests. How could somebody so normal be responsible for the deaths of so many people? Even the judges had trouble accepting that Eichmann was normal and incapable of telling right from wrong. They preferred to conclude that he was a liar. 9 Eichmann was not alone. He was part of a nation responsible as a whole for racial genocide. He could not have completed his objectives alone, without the help of normal, everyday people. These ordinary people were merely carrying out [orders] given by Hitler10 It is not surprising then that they guilty not of crimes but acts of state11 Brutal acts of murder were objectified. Killing with lethal gases for us seems a heinous crime but for those who carried out such acts during Hitlers regime it was a medical matter12 Arendt deduced from these experiences that evil is the absence of thought the shallowness of the evildoer. For Arendt, thinking amounts to a quest to understand the meaning of our world, the ceaseless and restless activity of questioning that which we encounter internally and externally. The value of thinking is not that it yields conclusive results in the same way that empirical knowledge does, but that it constantly returns to question again and again. This, for Arendt, is the cause of our moral responsibility. It was precisely the failure of this capacity that characterized the banality of Eichmanns inclination to participate in political evil. As Plato said thinking is an activity without which life would not be much. Our lives would become mechanical and determined. We are according to Arendt obliged to question things like justice and love etc The people of Germany had the task of thinking alleviated by their Fuhrer. Hitler had created a culture which seemed legitimate to those living in it. With his clever use of propaganda and symbolism he managed to convince his people of the legitimacy of his ideals and intentions. He used stricking phrases such as: the battle of destiny for the german people13 which created a false image of the Nazi regime. The battle of destiny implies that the war against the Jews was a battle that was destined to happen and was unavoidable. Architecture was another tool used by Hitler to create the symbol of world domination and the Nazi ideology. The Olympic stadium, for example, designed by Walter Marsh, symbolized the self confidence of the masters of the German people. These were a contribution to the mind set that all is under control and therefore officially legal and morally correct. Eichmann epitomised the natural gullibility of human beings in general. He, as did many others did not realize that [he was] being manipulated14 They were not aware that Hitler had conspired to present himself with divine radiance. Albert Speer, Hitlers architect was quoted to have said that he was thinking as a specialist and not as a human being. [He] forgot that humanity is the most important part of life. 15 With the benefit of hindsight it is easy to say that it is better to be out of tune with everyone else than with yourself. Hannah Arendt said in her essay, Thinking and Moral Considerations a Lecture, that within our minds is an original split. We have within us the reflector and the reflected. We in effect witness our own thoughts, thus creating an internal dialogue between me and a certain otherness. It is this dialogue that manifests consciousness and it is extremely important to be friends with this other. Socrates once said that he can be friends with the sufferer of evil but I cannot live with a murderer. This implies that we are internally punished for our external actions, but, only those who know that they are doing wrong will suffer as a result of this internal dialogue. The people who do not suffer are the ones who do not know that they are doing wrong.

How Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Came to Be

How Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Came to Be In reaction to an increase in the amount of cocaine being smuggled into the United States and cocaine addiction epidemic proportions in the 1980s, the U.S. Congress and many state legislatures adopted new laws that stiffened the penalties for anyone convicted of trafficking certain illegal drugs. These laws made jail terms mandatory for drug dealers and anyone in possession of certain amounts of illegal drugs. While many citizens support such laws many view them as inherently biased against African Americans. They see these laws as part of a system of systemic racism which oppresses people of color. One example of mandatory minimums being discriminatory was that possession  of powdered cocaine, a drug associated with white businessmen was sentenced  less harshly than crack cocaine which was more associated with African American men. History and the War on Drugs Mandatory drug sentencing laws came about in the 1980s in the height of the War on Drugs. The seizure of 3,906 pounds of cocaine, valued then at over $100 million wholesale, from a Miami International Airport hangar on March 9, 1982, brought about the publics awareness of the Medellin Cartel, Colombian drug traffickers working together,  and changed U.S. law enforcements approach towards the drug trade. The bust also sparked new life into the War on Drugs. Lawmakers began to vote more money for law enforcement and began to create stiffer penalties for not only drug dealers, but for drug users. Latest Developments In Mandatory Minimums More mandatory drug sentences are being proposed. Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), a proponent of mandatory sentencing, has introduced a bill to Congress called Defending Americas Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2004. The bill is designed to increase mandatory sentences for specific drug offenses. It includes mandatory sentencing of 10 years to life in prison for any person age 21 or over who attempts or conspires to offer drugs (including marijuana) to someone younger than 18 years old. Anyone who has offered, solicited, enticed, persuaded, encouraged, induced, or coerces or possess a controlled substance, will be sentenced to a term not less than five years. This bill was never enacted.   Pros of Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Supporters of mandatory minimums view it as a way to deter drug distribution and use by extending the time that a criminal is incarcerated therefore preventing them from committing more drug-related crimes. One reason mandatory sentencing guidelines are established is to increase sentencing uniformity- to guarantee that defendants, who commit similar crimes and have similar criminal backgrounds, receive similar sentences. Mandatory guidelines for sentencing greatly curtail judges sentencing discretion. Without such mandatory sentencing, defendants in the past, guilty of virtually the same offenses under the same circumstances, have received vastly different sentences in the same jurisdiction, and in some cases from the same judge. Proponents argue that a lack of sentencing guidelines opens up the system to corruption. Cons of Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Opponents to the mandatory sentencing feel that such punishment is unjust and does not allow for flexibility in the judicial process of prosecuting and sentencing individuals. Other critics of mandatory sentencing feel that the money spent in longer incarceration has not been beneficial in the war against drugs and could be better spent on other programs designed to fight drug abuse. A study performed by the  Rand Company  said such sentences have proven to be ineffective in curtailing drug use or drug related crime. The bottom line is that only decision makers who are very myopic would find long sentences to be appealing, said study leader Jonathan Caulkins of Rands Drug Policy Research Center. The high cost of incarceration and the small results that it has shown in fighting the war on drugs, show that such money would be better spent on shorter sentencing and drug rehabilitation programs. Other opponents to mandatory sentencing include Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who in August 2003 in a speech to the American Bar Association, denounced minimum mandatory prison terms. In too many cases, mandatory minimum sentences are unwise and unjust, he said and encouraged the bar to be leaders in the search for justice in sentencing and in racial inequities. Dennis W. Archer, former Detroit mayor and Michigan Supreme Court Justice takes the position that it is time for America to stop getting tougher and start getting smarter against crime by reassessing mandatory sentencing and irrevocable prison terms. In an article posted on the ABA website, he states, The idea that Congress can dictate a one-size-fits-all sentencing scheme does not make sense. Judges need to have the discretion to weigh the specifics of the cases before them and determine an appropriate sentence. There is a reason we give judges a gavel, not a rubber stamp Where It Stands Because of cuts in many state budgets, and overcrowded prisons due to mandatory drug sentencing, lawmakers are facing a financial crisis. Many states have begun to use alternatives to imprisonment for drug offenders- usually called drug courts- in which defendants are sentenced into treatment programs, rather than jail. In states where these drug courts have been established, officials are finding this approach to be a more effective way of approaching the drug problem. Research shows that drug court alternatives are not only more cost-effective than prison sentences for defendants who commit non-violent crimes, they help reduce the rate of defendants who return to a life of crime after completing the program.

Childrens Literature Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Childrens Literature Interview - Essay Example I've never a full count of them, but my estimate would be that I personally own at least 150 different children's books. That includes picture books as well as reading books. Most of them are display in various locations around my classroom simply because I think it does children so much value just to actually see books because they may not have any at home. Especially the kids who come to my school because we live in a low-income area where 95% the students throughout the school qualify for free lunch. Since they are kindergarteners, most of the books they actually pick up are picture books or have limited vocabulary. A: Well, our school instituted a mandatory two hour reading block for all grades. Obviously, the way this is conducted in kindergarten is different from the higher grades. Much of our reading time is spent in reading groups, actually. We have some computer programs and we have worksheets, but I always try to spend at least half the time with actual books in their hands. The terrific thing about the level of children's books I use in kindergarten is that after seven years I have memorized quite a bit of them. Verse books especially. This allows me to actually watch them as they get stuck on a word while I am following along in my head. Q: If you've memorized some of the books and you have over one-hundred of them, I would imagine that would mean there are some favorites that get read every single year What kind of books are favored among kindergarteners in the 21st century A: The doctor never fails. Dr. Seuss is just as popular now as ever. It might be the verbal play and silly words, but at the same time they enjoy books about Charlie Brown and the "If you give a" series. Of course, when it comes to having kids actually looking through a book on their desk, you can't beat Eric Carle. Q: As an educator, why do you think Dr. Seuss is as popular in 2008 as he was in 1968 A: I may be the wrong person to ask. Quite evidently, the rhymes and the made-up words appeal to kids. Dr. Seuss is fun to listen to and the illustrations obviously have great appeal. Any book with humorous drawings is a guaranteed hit among kindergarteners. But I think my particular experiences with Dr. Seuss may differ from others. Q: Could others learn from your experience Do you think this experience with Dr. Seuss is something that could be translated into a standard lesson plan or curricula A: The way I deal with rhyming books and Seuss in general is not something that I would consider standardizing. You have to have a flair for the dramatic and even a certain willingness to kind of make a fool of yourself, I guess. The language and fun and humor of Seuss in particular, but most kindergarten-level rhyming book in general, may appeal to contemporary students even more than students in 1968 or 1988. The rhythm of these books is instantly recognizable to most of my students, and probably every American student, as a form of rap. So, even though I'm not a fan of rap music or consider myself a great rapper, I know I can reach these students by turning Dr. Seuss into a rap song. Any