How to Write a Solid Film Review

Feature films and documentaries  are sometimes used as research sources. They are also used quite frequently as supplemental learning tools in the classroom. A common writing assignment is a critical review or analysis of films. Your instructor will choose a specific film or documentary for a reason -- because it relates to the material at hand in some way. A good review will explain how the film has enhanced the learning experience, but it should also provide an account of your personal response. The components and format of your film analysis will depend on the course and your instructor’s preferences, but there are several standard components of a review. Components to Include in Your Review The elements listed here do not appear in any specific order. The placement of these items (or the omission of them) will vary, depending on relevance. You’ll have to decide, for example, if artistic elements are so important that they should be included in the body of your paper (as in a film class), or if they are so seemingly insignificant that they appear at the end (perhaps in an economics class). Title of the film or documentary: Be sure to name the film in your first paragraph. State the date of its release. Summary: What happened in this film? As a reviewer, you must explain what happened in the film and express your opinion about the success or failure of the film maker’s creation. Don’t be afraid to express your opinion, but include specific reasons for likes and dislikes. (You can’t say â€Å"it was boring† unless you provide justification.) Filmmaker: You should do a little research on the person who created this film. Is the director or writer a controversial figure?Is the filmmaker known for a political stance?Does the filmmaker have a significant background? If the filmmaker is known for controversy, this segment of your paper can be lengthy. Devote several paragraphs to an assessment of his or her other works and establish the significance of this work in the film maker’s career. Significance to your class: Why are you seeing this film in the first place? How does the content fit into your course topic? Is this film important for historical accuracy? If you are viewing a motion picture for your history class, be sure to make note of embellishments or over-dramatization. If you are reviewing a documentary for a history class, be sure to observe and comment on the sources used. Is this a motion picture based on a play you’ve read in English class? If so, make sure you specify whether the film illuminated or clarified elements you missed when reading the play. If you are reviewing a film for your psychology class, be sure to examine the emotional impact or any emotional manipulation you observe. Creative elements: Filmmakers go to great lengths to choose the creative elements of their films. How are these elements important to the overall product? Costumes for a period film can enhance a film or they can betray the intent of the film. Colors can be vivid or they can be dull. The use of color can stimulate and manipulate moods. Black and white shots can add drama. Good sound effects can enrich the viewing experience, while bad sound effects can destroy a film. Camera angles and movement can add elements to the story. A jagged transition adds intensity. Gradual transitions and subtle camera movements serve a specific purpose, as well. Finally, actors can make or break a film. Were the actors effective, or did poor acting skills detract from the film’s purpose? Did you notice the use of symbols? Formatting Your Paper The order and emphasis of your paragraphs will depend on your class. The format will also depend on the course topic and your instructors preference. For example, a typical documentary review for a history class will follow guidelines for a Turabian book review, unless your instructor states otherwise. A typical outline would be: Introduction, to include film title, topic, and release dateAccuracy of the depictionUse of sourcesCreative elementsYour opinion A paper for your literature class, on the other hand, should adhere to MLA formatting guidelines. The film would most likely be a feature film, so the outline might go like this: Introduction, with title and release dateSummary of the storyAnalysis of story elements -- like rising action, climaxCreative elements, use of color, camera techniques, mood, and toneOpinion Your conclusion should detail whether the filmmaker was successful in his or her purpose for making this film, and re-state your evidence. It may also explain how the film was (was not) helpful for illuminating and providing a deeper understanding of a topic in your class.

The Correlation Between Social Activity And Subjective...

Abstract 523 university students participated in an online questionnaire which contained the ‘Satisfaction with Life Scale’ and the ‘Social Activity Measure† to decide upon if a relationship exited between social activity and subjective well-being. The data suggested that a weak positive connection between social activity and subjective well-being existed. The results supported the second hypothesis that the frequency of social activity would be less strongly correlated with well-being compared to satisfaction with social activity. The results finally indicated that the final hypothesis was supported as a correlation existed with well-being and the satisfaction and rate of occurrence of social activity among parents, friends groups and†¦show more content†¦Subjective well-being has been commonly identified as being the evaluation made by individuals in relation to their perceived personal life satisfaction while social interaction has been defined as the soci al happenings that take place between individuals. The foundation of this research is based upon Copper, Okamura and Gurka (1992) and this lab report aims to partly replicate the study designed by Cooper et al. which questioned the relationship between social well-being and social activity of first year psychology students and their friends. The results of Cooper et al. study was gathered from subjects via the use of â€Å"The Satisfaction with Life Scale† and the â€Å"Social Activity Measure†. The data collected from the Cooper et al. portrayed that the subjective well-being was based upon the satisfaction of social activity rather than the frequency of a social activity. In Tkach Lyubomirsky (2006) a similar result to Cooper et al. was established. In Tkach Lyubomirsky (2006) a diverse ethnic population of 500 participants was used. The participants were all undergraduate students instructed to report their â€Å"happiness-increasing strategies’† (Tkach Lyubomirsky, 2006). Participants were told to complete a ‘Subjective Happiness Scale’ in the form of a survey in order to determine the efficiency of their selected ‘happiness-increasing strategy.’ The results of The Correlation Between Social Activity And Subjective... Abstract 523 university students participated in an online questionnaire which contained the ‘Satisfaction with Life Scale’ and the ‘Social Activity Measure† to decide upon if a relationship exited between social activity and subjective well-being. The data suggested that a weak positive connection between social activity and subjective well-being existed. The results supported the second hypothesis that the frequency of social activity would be less strongly correlated with well-being compared to satisfaction with social activity. The results finally indicated that the final hypothesis was supported as a correlation existed with well-being and the satisfaction and rate of occurrence of social activity among parents, friends groups and†¦show more content†¦Subjective well-being has been commonly identified as being the evaluation made by individuals in relation to their perceived personal life satisfaction while social interaction has been defined as the soci al happenings that take place between individuals. The foundation of this research is based upon Copper, Okamura and Gurka (1992) and this lab report aims to partly replicate the study designed by Cooper et al. which questioned the relationship between social well-being and social activity of first year psychology students and their friends. The results of Cooper et al. study was gathered from subjects via the use of â€Å"The Satisfaction with Life Scale† and the â€Å"Social Activity Measure†. The data collected from the Cooper et al. portrayed that the subjective well-being was based upon the satisfaction of social activity rather than the frequency of a social activity. In Tkach Lyubomirsky (2006) a similar result to Cooper et al. was established. In Tkach Lyubomirsky (2006) a diverse ethnic population of 500 participants was used. The participants were all undergraduate students instructed to report their â€Å"happiness-increasing strategies’† (Tkach Lyubomirsky, 2006). Participants were told to complete a ‘Subjective Happiness Scale’ in the form of a survey in order to determine the efficiency of their selected ‘happiness-increasing strategy.’ The results of

Describe the Limitations and Constraints of Marketing Free Essays

P2-describe the limitations and constraints of marketing Limitations and constraints include; Sales of Goods Act 1979 Trade Descriptions Act 1968 Consumer Credit Act 2006 Data Protection Act 1968 Voluntary constraints Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Pressure groups and consumerism Acceptable language Sales of goods act 1979 The sales of goods act needs sellers to trade goods that are as they advertised and described. The good or service has to be of satisfactory quality. Effectively meaning that for an organisation like micro-soft, the goods and services must be described precisely when promoted because the company needs to be able to prove that the product can do what they say. We will write a custom essay sample on Describe the Limitations and Constraints of Marketing or any similar topic only for you Order Now Trading Regulations 2008 This act enables clients to equal treatment from businesses they deal with. Within this act, businesses can’t use fear to sell their products. Businesses can’t lie to promote products for example ‘closing down sale’ when they are going to stay open after them sale. So blackberry can’t advertise their products with features that they don’t have. The latest Blackberry boasts the best resolution screen of its kind, which then had to be verified and researched by an independent organisation to see it the statement, was true. Consumer Credit Acts 2006 These acts apply to businesses that offer goods or services on credit or companies that lend money to consumers. To be in this category, businesses must be licensed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), this would handle and include the method of calculating APR and the form and content of the agreement. The consumer credit act 2002 defends consumer’s rights when they purchase things on credit. When lending money, companies much have interest rates clearly identified and these can’t be changing them after. The Data Protection 1968 This Act means that any information taken by a salespersons can only be used for the reasoned mentioned when taken , it has to be precise and up to date, it can’t be taken for a longer period of time than the time mentioned when it was taken , and can only be taken properly and lawfully. It must be kept up to date because if someone dies it is put on the up date. Furthermore your information is protected from unauthorised use, and cannot be given on to other companies without your permission. Voluntary codes This is when businesses volunteers that they will never do something or they will always do something. This might include signing a code of practice mentioning specific behaviours and rules ethically, even though it can’t be legally enforced. How to cite Describe the Limitations and Constraints of Marketing, Papers

Corporate Control Essay Example For Students

Corporate Control Essay Corporate ControlIt seems that there is an ever-increasing trend in our society. Big corporations are becoming more and more influential in our lives. As they gain more and more muscle in our government they also invade our schools and many other facets of our lives. Perhaps the most disturbing area of potential influence, however, is corporate control of the media. Can the American media uphold its values of free press under pressure from big corporations? Can they continue to present the absolute truth? The simple answer, especially in my opinion, is no. The movie The Insider provides us with an excellent case to back that point of view. Perhaps one of the biggest stories of this decade has been the tobacco industry. We saw them stand before Congress and tell the world that cigarettes were not addictive. The industry was able to lawyer its way out of trouble time and time again. They essentially used legal maneuvers, and certainly money, to keep the truth from the American people. Finally, we saw all that come to an end. We will write a custom essay on Corporate Control specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now When Jeff Wigand decided it was time to tell the truth, he put everything he valued at risk. He stood to loose his family, any chance at a job, and quite possibly his life. He knew all these things and still he went on, because he thought he could make a difference. He knew that his testimony would never be heard in a court of law, so where could he turn. The answer: the fourth and fifth estates, or the press and television. Every night millions of Americans sit down and watch the nightly news or read the paper. We know that we will be told all the days news, that we will be educated about what is happening in the world around us. We also know that we will be updated on issues that we care about as individuals and a society. Another delivery mechanism for information is television magazine shows like 60 Minutes. People know that when Mike Wallace talks to them, they should listen. They can also look at his reputation and know that he is telling the truth. Wigand put faith in that fact. Wigand agreed to do an interview with 60 Minutes because he knew that people would listen. He knew that the absolute truth would finally be out in the open, and that it would come from a source that people would believe. He risked everything because he had faith in the media and journalists. What happened next is, quite frankly, disgraceful. When the tobacco industry, specifically the company BW learned that CBS intended to air the interview, they began to lean on the CBS corporate office. They threatened lawsuits that could quite possibly mean that BW would end up owning CBS. There were other factors as well. Westinghouse was about to purchase CBS. That meant that corporate managers stood to make lots of money. A lawsuit with BW could have easily made Westinghouse pull out of the deal, and people would loose money. Essentially the whole situation came down to an issue of money. CBS News decided not to air the story. It is quite obvious that they did not make that decision based upon any journalistic issues. They were being leaned on by the corporate office, which was looking at dollar signs. CBS News was setting aside the truth for money, something it never should have even considered doing. Than goodness that Lowell Bergman was there to stop the lunacy. He correctly pointed out that the CBS corporate office had no right to tell CBS News what stories it could and could not air. The truth is the truth, no matter who it damages. Bergman embarked on a crusade to see that the whole story was aired. .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 , .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .postImageUrl , .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 , .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91:hover , .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91:visited , .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91:active { border:0!important; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91:active , .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91 .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u695868bd1b26118d32d015cc2deb4b91:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Breast Cancer EssayEventually CBS did air the entire interview. The only did so after receiving sharp criticism in The New York Times. The Washington Post, also showed that the smear campaign that CBS was using as justification for not airing the story, was nothing more than trumped up charges. CBS was left looking quite nasty, and decided to show the interview. The whole point is that business has no right to decide what is news. They have no right to come and stop a story from airing because it might hurt their profit margin. Obviously large news organizations need to have a corporate division to handle business affairs, but business should not be allowed to effect good journalism. At one point in the film, Bergman makes a comment about the press only being free to someone who can afford it. That is a powerful comment. The whole reason that the First Amendment exists is to ensure that the government cannot interfere with what we see and hear. The sad thing is, we are allowing business to do it instead. In our fine democratic tradition, we have never allowed to control what the press prints or broadcasts. We realize that education about issues is the best insurance that we have that our political system will survive. We cling to our belief in free speech and free press as one of our greatest accomplishments. Big corporations cannot be allowed to control what we see and here. If we did, all our news would be is a series of infomercials. We would never know the truth about what was happening within those companies. If they did something wrong, they could simply not publish it. Our faith in the news would be a sham. As we look at the news, we see the war against big business being waged. In Seattle, protestors are declaring war on the World Trade Organization. Our courts have decided that Microsoft is a monopoly, and they are siding against big business one class-action suite after another. Imagine what would happen if the big corporations had kept all that out of the news, if no one knew what was happening. What a crazy world we would be living in. Social Issues

Dr.Knightlys Problems in Academic Freedom

Introduction The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) in the year 1994 did approve the adoption of a policy paper, named, On the Relationship of Faculty Governance to Academic Freedom. This policy paper has further reiterated the inextricable link that exists between the governance of the faculty and academic freedom and that neither can thrive without the other.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Dr.Knightly’s Problems in Academic Freedom specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Prior to the adoption in 1994, there had been recognition of the profound connection between academic freedom and faculty governance by the committee that was set up by the AAUP in 1915 during their first ever meeting and the subsequent formation of a committee on the place and function of faculties in the university government and administration. The 1994 statement policy did uphold the importance of academic freedom, t he freedom of inquiry and research, the freedom of teaching, and the freedom of expression and publication as part of its key elements. The elements that have been mentioned had been acknowledged by the founding members of the AAUP through their experiences at German institutions of higher learning. Palmetto State University recognizes that the faculty will in most cases have opinions and ideas which at best of times are contradictory to the commonly held wisdom or norms. At the university, academic freedom is considered to be focused on developing a sound scholarship and teaching excellence with total disregard for political correctness towards the government or the administration. This kind of approach is consistent with the prevailing wisdom on the idea of delegation of authority and its division between the administration, the faculty and the board of governors. Policies and Academic Freedom The policy statement of 1994 gives three reasons as to why the voice or the viewpoints o f the faculty should be allowed in an authoritative dimension across the whole spectrum of the decision making process( Gordon, 1998). This statement also puts emphasis on the importance of the faculty having an atmosphere in which the members do not feel intimidated and are not afraid to express their views for fear of reprisal. The first reason that was advanced to support this notion is that it provides an avenue for the most efficient implementation and accomplishment of the universities’ goals and objectives due to the competency and expertise provided by the faculty committee and the individual scholars associated with the particular department (Kneller, 1964).Advertising Looking for coursework on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second reason is that universities exist for the purpose of teaching and carrying out research and finally, the drafters believed that giving authority to the faculty especi ally in areas of their expertise is a pre-requisite for the protection of academic freedom at any university. The policy statement talks about the freedom of the faculty and it includes such things as being able to express their views on issues affecting academic matters both in the classroom and while carrying out the research. They can also express their views on issues concerning the university and its policies and also on matters which are of general public interest. Conclusion The 1994 policy statement emphasizes the protection of the academic principles and outlines the necessary requisites for this freedom to be maintained. It also details ways in which faculty members can be held responsible and be accountable for their speech. The faculty can only be discredited on the basis of its speech, violating the basic tenets of academia such as fraud, and plagiarism or deceit. This position has to be clearly articulated and judged by peers as a sure sign of incompetence on the part of that particular faculty member. I am inclined to think that Dr. Knightly has every right to present his viewpoints in whatever manner he deems fit provided he is not in breach of any academic tenet. References Gordon, M. (1998). A Dictionary of Sociology (Article: Sociology of Education). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Kneller, G. (1964). Introduction to the Philosophy of Education. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons. This coursework on Dr.Knightly’s Problems in Academic Freedom was written and submitted by user Haley Pennington to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Longitudes And Attitudes

Longitudes and Attitudes: Review and Reaction Prior to September 11, along with many other college students, I led a sheltered life-having no knowledge about current events and foreign affairs. Not a worry in the world other than getting that last assignment in on time before heading out with my friends for the evening. I don’t know if it is me gaining maturity and becoming more interested or the media focusing intensely on national security, but I have become more aware and involved in these issues. So when I first heard about this assignment, I was excited to learn about the past and present of the war on terror. The first thing I looked for when opening this book was how and when the author proved his credibility. Did he have any political influences on his columns? He immediately explained himself as the foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times. He also assured the reader that there were no outside influences on the content of his columns. The author stated that the only person who saw the column each week prior to it being published was the copy editor who only edits them for grammar and spelling, but does not have any say about the opinion he adopts. But being he was working for the New York Times, did he feel the need to defend America rather than analyze both sides of the conflicts? He did defend America the entire time, providing both a strong opinion and the raw facts for the reader to analyze and opinionate on his or her own. The purpose of this book is to help the reader understand why the west and the Arab worlds are so divided. It explains all the reason why some cultures in the Arab world are against America-how they were brought up to hate America. It shows how children in some worlds are taught only about religion and beliefs, and not about educating themselves for their future. Friedman included in this book a letter from former President Bill Clinton written to the Arab Street. In this... Free Essays on Longitudes And Attitudes Free Essays on Longitudes And Attitudes Longitudes and Attitudes: Review and Reaction Prior to September 11, along with many other college students, I led a sheltered life-having no knowledge about current events and foreign affairs. Not a worry in the world other than getting that last assignment in on time before heading out with my friends for the evening. I don’t know if it is me gaining maturity and becoming more interested or the media focusing intensely on national security, but I have become more aware and involved in these issues. So when I first heard about this assignment, I was excited to learn about the past and present of the war on terror. The first thing I looked for when opening this book was how and when the author proved his credibility. Did he have any political influences on his columns? He immediately explained himself as the foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times. He also assured the reader that there were no outside influences on the content of his columns. The author stated that the only person who saw the column each week prior to it being published was the copy editor who only edits them for grammar and spelling, but does not have any say about the opinion he adopts. But being he was working for the New York Times, did he feel the need to defend America rather than analyze both sides of the conflicts? He did defend America the entire time, providing both a strong opinion and the raw facts for the reader to analyze and opinionate on his or her own. The purpose of this book is to help the reader understand why the west and the Arab worlds are so divided. It explains all the reason why some cultures in the Arab world are against America-how they were brought up to hate America. It shows how children in some worlds are taught only about religion and beliefs, and not about educating themselves for their future. Friedman included in this book a letter from former President Bill Clinton written to the Arab Street. In this...

Environmental Issue Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Environmental Issue Project - Essay Example These greenhouse gases are the major air pollutants which are not only polluting the air, but also causing the atmospheric temperature to rise.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this industrial age of human civilization, human activities are increasing the natural levels of those gases, by emitting carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels such coal, oil, and natural gas; methane and nitrous oxide produced by agricultural activities and changes in the use land use; and by some industrial gases that do not occur naturally but are long lived in the atmosphere. If emissions continue to grow at the present levels, the concentration of carbon dioxide will double those from pre-industrial levels during this century. Hence, to save this planet, the time has come to take appropriate measures for controlling air pollution.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Under such increasing problem of air pollution, the time has come to seriously think of this issue and take some vital steps to solve the problem of air pollution and its negative impacts. However, the major problem that arises while planning any solution measure of this problem is that the issue of air pollution is not a problem of any individual country. It’s a global problem as in this industrial age all the countries are suffering from this problem. Hence, this environmental problem can not be solved by any single country. Every country needs to be involved in the measures of controlling air pollution. Several international agencies, like United Nation, European Union, etc. have been making several efforts to control air pollution. Realizing the extent of potential dangers from air pollution lying in near future if the issue is left unaddressed; almost all the countries across the world have become quite conscious regarding the issue of air polluti on and have agreed to cooperate with each other in the process of controlling it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In an effort to obtain a

Improving Organisational and Employee Performance Term Paper - 1

Improving Organisational and Employee Performance - Term Paper Example For a business organization with the aim of remaining competitive, there is always room for improvement in terms of organizational and employee performance. The need to improve productivity and performance has emerged to be one of the most essential things in the modern business environment. When employees are completely and creatively engaged in a business organization will have a superior performance in the market. The main challenge in improving organizational and employee performance is finding ways through which an organization maximizes engagement, retention, commitment, and overall satisfaction of their employees.One of the ways through which a company can enhance the performance of their employees is through recognition. This is very effective because it always makes employees feel appreciated. There is nothing as motivating as the feeling that an individual is part of a team and that they are appreciated members of the teams which they belong to. Research has proved that emp loyees with satisfaction with the level to which they are appreciated by the organizations they work for can be up to four times more motivated as compared to those who are not appreciated at all (Van Knippenberg 2000, p. 366). Ways through which a company can show recognition of their employees include verbal gratitude, involvement in decision making, training, giving the time off, acknowledging birthdays, organizing celebrations, acknowledge individuals and teams at staff meetings (Crossman & Abou-Zaki 2003, p. 376). However, companies such as The Boston Consulting Group, whose competitiveness is based on their affordability, have always had a hard time motivating their employees. However, other businesses such as Audi supermarket have minimized their expenditure in motivation through using rewarding through on-job training by the more experienced staff.  Ã‚  

Economic environment effect on Build-a-Bear Essay

Economic environment effect on Build-a-Bear - Essay Example When consumers’ income decrease, then it is expected that their purchasing power will fall thus impacting on the brand negatively. For example, after the financial crisis of 2007/2007, consumers’ income fell remarkably in the United States as a result of closure of companies, laying down of workers and reduction of salaries of wages (Nanto Dick). As a result consumers were unable to spend money buying items in the manner they did before the financial crisis. This is what resulted in the decline in sales of the Build-a- bear company thus negatively affecting its brand. According to the company’s press release the company increased its sales remarkably in the first quarter of 2013 (yahoo finance). Other external factors that affected the company’s brand are savings, debts, employment and credit. All these factors were also greatly influenced by the financial crisis of 2007/2008 thus negatively affecting the company’s brand. This is due to the fact thi s industry dependent highly on consumers’ disposable income (Accuval). How Recent Stock Market Movements have Affected the Company Despite the economic crisis of 2007/2008, the United States of America economy has been recovering gradually. This has been as a result of the austerity and stimulus policies that have been adopted by the United States of America government (Weaver, 189). ... At the same time the company’s sales increased by1.4 dollars more than the previous quarter. This is a remarkable improvement considering the company was performing poorly after the financial crisis of 2007/2008. This is because consumers in the united Sates of America opted for imported toys and other commodities in the industry from countries such as china since they were at a cheaper price. Thus it can be concluded that the recent stock market movements have favored the company. Actions Has the Company been Taking in Response to these Developments and Trends In order to cope with the developments and trends in the economy, the company came up with a number of strategies. Firstly, the company introduced a store design that is new where the company introduced 11 stores which were newly imagined. These stores increased sales to 20 percent in the second quarter. The company expects that by 2013 it will have established the new store design in at least 30 locations and 25 more i n 2014. The company decided to reduce on operational costs by closing up 38 stores in 2012 and transferring the sales of these stores to other stores in the market. The company also remodeled it stores in order to save on cost by reducing the square footage occupied by the stores. It also moved to smaller premises in small malls. Build-a Bear also changed its approach to marketing and advertising in order to increase shopping frequency. The company did this by building their brand through television advertising in its markets in the United States of America 2012 mid October. It also rebalanced its marketing mix in Europe in order to retain existing customers and attract more consumers to their products. This has resulted in the company realizing

Reflective Report On Experiences Working As A Midwife

Reflective Report On Experiences Working As A Midwife While I was on my first placement in semester one as a student midwife, I met many pregnant women, both within the community and in the hospital with different cultural backgrounds. For this essay which is a reflective essay, I have chosen to write about a pregnant lady and, in order to protect her confidentiality, according to the Nursing and Midwiferys Code of Conduct (NMC 2008), I will refer to her as Zara. In this reflection, I am going to use Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle. This encourages a clear description of the situation, analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, and analysis to make sense of the experience and an action plan to examine what to be done if the situation arose again. Description of the event: My placement at the time was on the midwifery led unit in the hospital of my Trust, and on the day in question, I was on an early shift and, when I arrived, my mentor and I went in to Zaras room and introduced ourselves. Zara was in pain and her husband was also present in the room. My mentor tried to placate her down by talking to her but, because Zara did not understand English, she looked more worried and was looking at her husband to explain it to her. Her husband did not understand much either so my mentor suggested a translator but they refused it. We took her notes away, went in to the office and read through them so that we could plan her care according to her needs. Zara was in her early thirties and unemployed. This was her twelfth pregnancy, she has had six miscarriages, two stillbirths and three live children. All of her births were done by caesarean section including this one .This was because Zara was unable to give birth naturally due to her being a victim of female ge nital mutilation (FGM). They were also requesting female only care providers and doctors due to them being Muslims. Zara had also not attended many of her antenatal appointments because according to Currer (1991) antenatal care among Muslim mothers was not seeing important they view pregnancy as a normal condition. Prior taking Zara into the theatre to have her caesarean, my mentor explained the procedure to the husband and he translated to the wife. They signed all the relevant papers but Zara looked worried. I could tell they did not understand everything but to my surprise, they did not ask any questions, but they did not want a translator. After a while the anaesthetist came to give Zara the epidural, and it was a male. As soon as Zaras husband saw that, he placed his hand on Zaras shoulder and did not want it to let go. The staff was becoming very annoyed and frustrated because they kept telling him do not put your hand there, the procedure of the epidural has to be 100% sterile but he did not understand that. I stepped in because I still remembered when I had to learn English and I knew the word choice was difficult for them and it has to be relevant to their knowledge of English. I said to Zaras husband no hand, bacteria, no good for Zara and I was also demonstrated it with my hands and face. He understood and said ok but I could still see that he was not comfortable. Finally the anaesthetist got the epidural in and we took Zara to theatre to deliver her baby along with her husband. When arriving to theatre, I tried to catheterise Zara but could not do it due to her genital area being completely sawn up, so the doctor had to intervene. Zaras husband was standing by her legs and the staff tried to move him to top of the bed but said that he wanted to see what we were doing to Zara and that he was going to stay there. After a long discussion and explanations, he finally moved. Zara and baby were being monitored and by this time the babys heart was not picking up and we had to act fast. The doctor then cut Zaras abdominal to deliver the baby but meconium was gushing out instead. I run to call the paediatrician. The baby was floppy and there were no sign of life. Zara was asking why the baby was not crying and the husband looked very worried. Reassured them and explain ed that, when babies are born in meconium, they will need extra care and attention. The baby was now on the resuscitaire and the doctors was doing all they could to take out the meconium from the babys mouth and nose, and rubbing the baby to promote. After a little while, the baby started to cry and we all let a relieved breath out. I took the baby and showed it to the parents and explained that the baby had to go to special care unit to ensure that everything was fine. Zara was doing well, and after a couple hours we transferred her and her husband to the postnatal ward. Feelings: In this paragraph, I will discuss my feelings and thinking surrounding Zaras situation and the care she received from the medical staff. I empathized with Zara and her husband because they could not speak English, Zara endured many pregnancies and which of some had ended up in miscarriages and stillbirths and was naturally worried about the wellbeing of this baby. Because of Zaras and her husbands limited English and their cultural background, caring for them was more difficult and the medical staff was getting very impatient and irritated with them. I knew I could help both the staff and Zara and her husband. I tried to build up a good relationship with them by doing a proper introduction of myself, where I was from and to try to put them at ease. I still remember how difficult it was being in a new country with different cultures. My first attempt was to ask if necessary, whether it will be acceptable if the doctor were male and I explained the procedure in a way they could underst and, I was acting as an intermediary between them and the medical staff throughout. I did not speak their language but because I was explaining as simply as possible, they became very comfortable with me and trusted me. I really felt useful and helpful as they responded to me as I put myself in their shoes and remembered how it was when I was new in this country. According to Wold (2004) the empathetic listening is in relation to the willingness to know the other individual not just judging the persons statement. I then stood by Zaras bed and when needed, I used some facial expressions and hand gestures which could be translated to if she were still feeling pain in her tummy and if felt sensation in her legs. I was also using simple words. She looked at me and smiled and point where she could still feel. I was unsure whether to continue or not because I felt the medical staff might think I was not being professional, but according to Funnell et al, (2005) body gestures and facial ex pressions are referred as a non-verbal communicating. So I continued because I knew that would help Zaras family. The language and cultural barrier affected the care Zara was receiving because the staff was not communicating with them and did not appreciate that good explanation were essential for this family with their particular circumstances of limited English and understanding. During the procedure, I stayed by Zara and kept my eye contact with her because according to Wilma (1999) direct eye contact could express a sense of interest in the other person. Zara was holding my hands and I was updating her whenever she was asking for it. Evaluation: I feel I made the right decision to accompany Zara. Furthermore, I could develop my caring role for clients by understanding that they all will have different needs and will require different care. I think my approach with Zara and her husband was a good approach. The staff and Zara did benefit from my effort. It was also my responsibility to care for her so that she was getting the best care and understood what was done to her. I was able to improve my non-verbal communication skills in my conversation with Zara and her husband during my time with them and I know they were now getting the necessary information that they wanted and needed in this challenging situation. According to OHagan (2001) issues such as cultural diversity, cultural sensitivity and cultural competence had no place in the training of care professionals. To enable this vision to be implemented, it is significant that health care professionals have the adequate educational preparation to provide culturally sensitive care to those who have a diversity of health beliefs and practices (Aziz et al. 2000). Promoting cultural awareness among health care professionals is believed to improve their confidence and skills in providing holistic care for patients with different cultural backgrounds Also, culturally sensitive attitudes and practices, rather than simple knowledge, are likely to contribute much toward achieving the ultimate goal of providing quality care to the patients and their families. (Murphy Clark, 1993, cited Zafir 2002). There are many implications that should be well thought-out when caring for Muslim patients. All procedures, decisions and judgments must to be family orientated and culturally derived. Religious and cultural frameworks give the most complete and holistic perspective for caring and understanding the patient population of Muslim denomination. Practices need to take into account the care constructs of presence, participation and support. In addition, the policies and philosophies of the hospitals and other institutions needs to reflect the cultural practices related the specific care, communication and spirituality. Also, where language is a problem, it is important to have access to interpreters in order to provide culturally competent care for Muslims. Secondly, there are differences in the cultural and psychosocial forms of expression of the Muslim patients and their families and those of the caress. The process of reflection and clinical supervision could assist care givers in identifying their own cultural barriers, stereotyping, and ethnocentricity, thus, ultimately impr oving care. Finally, the management should continually assess whether the staff have the appropriate knowledge and skills to handle the particular ethical situations involved in caring for the patient and his/her family of Muslim denomination and, with the aim of reducing emotional labour, provide a mechanism, which would assist the staff in becoming more competent. Halligan (2005) Zara was also a victim of FGM which is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO 2006) as procedures that involve partial or total removal of the female external genitalia and or injury to the female genital organs for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons. Zara had Type IV which includes pricking, incising or piercing of the external genitalia, stretching of the clitoris and or labia, cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue or any other procedure that is performed to cause vaginal narrowing or tightening, and this was why she could not give birth naturally. According to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE 2008) guidelines suggest that women who have experienced FGM should be identified early in the antenatal period through sensitive enquiry. I read through Zaras note but it was not recorded that she was a victim of FGM and the special care that she needed was not given. Analysis: My communication skills were very important when I was providing care for Zara. I noticed that my non-verbal communication skills helped enormously while caring for Zara. She could understand a few words when I was asking her questions but the lack of language hindered good communication. As the patient was not using her first or second language, I tried to communicate in a way she could understand. I still could manage to communicate in a way the other staff members could not because they had not the knowledge how to communicate with someone that does not speak English. White (2005) recommended that a care provider should learn a few words or phrases in the predominant second language to put a patient at ease for better understanding. Although, it was quite difficult to demonstrate certain things, Zara managed to understand and she was answering me by nodding her head when she was understood and also by her body gestures and her eye movement. Zaras husband was also asking me questio ns that I had to make the staff aware of According to Zafir et al (2000), Muslim patients should have a healthcare provider of the same sex. Exposure of the patients body parts should be limited to the minimum necessary, and permission should be asked before gently uncovering any part of the body. Even more care should be taken when exposing private parts, and attempts should be made to avoid such exposures unless absolutely nec ­essary. Zaras husband did ask for a female doctor but his request was declined because the ward was very busy and it was not possible. I think if this had been included her birth plan, it would have been arranged for them Zara and her husband may have felt discriminated .If communication is a problem for one or both parties in an exchange, they will have an interest in improving it In Zaras case, the lack of time, did not permitted this. Discrimination is usually due to miscommunication however this should be lower in hospitals especially when the relationship between the medical staff and patien ts has been sustained for a longer period. Furthermore, the gap will be even more difficult to bridge since learning and communication are can be more costly for the hospital such as when providing a translator. Balsa et al (2003) Conclusion: Writing this reflection has made me aware of my approach to car for clients who have language difficulties and have a different cultural background. Zara needed a lot of support and personalised care. It was vital to deliver this baby in a good condition due to her previous stillbirths and also, it was important to recognise that Zara and her husband came form a different culture and their values and belief were different to us. The beliefs and practices of Islamic patients may have an effect on the patients health care in ways that are not apparent to many health-care professionals and policy makers internationally. Intercultural misconceptions and misunderstandings of many healthcare professionals have potential consequences. Therefore, health-care professionals need to be better equipped to meet the needs of their patients and Interpreter should always be available when knowing the patient does not understand. Halligan (2005). Action Plan: My plan for my future role as a midwife, if I ever come across a client like Zara who was not speaking English, had dramatic birth experience and had different cultural background, I would know how to deal with it. I would prepare my self better, I would try to learn some word in her language and doing some reading regarding her culture and write down her expectations. I know that communication is a very important part to build up a good relationship. According to Payne (2007) communication and information provision play key roles in determining whether people engage in recommended health behaviors and whether the behaviors have a positive outcome. Health communicators may want to achieve any of a number of goals, including providing information, instruction or reassurance, influencing opinions and attitudes, and changing behavior. So an excellent communication is necessary in order to identify the patients wellbeing. I should not pre-judge my client by first assumption and impressio ns but I have to make her feel appreciated as an individual. I have also learned the importance of listening because when I was listening to Zara, I was watching her gestures as the same time, even though I did not understand when she was talking, I could read her gestures. I should also able to respect their basic principles, beliefs, culture and individual means of communication. In conclusion: I have used Gibbs (1998) Reflective Cycle as my support for this essay and I was able to discuss every stage in the Gibbs (1998) Reflective Cycle. REFRENCES: Ana I. Balsa a, Thomas G. McGuireb. (2003). Prejudice, clinical uncertainty and stereotyping. Journal of Health Economics. 22, 89-116. Aziz S. Abdul R. G. (2000). Caring for Muslim Patients. Radcliffe Medical Press Limited, Oxford. Currer, C (1991). Understanding the mothers viewpoint. Buckingham, Open University Press. Funnel, R Koutoukidis, G and Lawrence, K (2005) Tabbners Nursing Care 4E: Theory Practice, Australia: Churchill Livingstone. Gibbs G. (1988). Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic. Halligan, Phil, (July 2005) Caring for patients of Islamic denomination School of Nursing Midwifery and Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE, August, 2008) FGM, F Nursing Midwifery Council (2008) the Code: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives OHagan, Kieran. (2001). Cultural competence in the caring professions. London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher Payne, S (2007) Psychology for Nurses and the Caring Professions 3rd Ed. McGraw-Hill White, L (2005) Foundation of Basic Nursing 2nd ed. USA: Thomson Delmar Learning. Wilma M.C.M. Kerkstra, Ada Bensing, Jozien M, Caris-Verhallen. (1999) Non-verbal behavior in nurse-elderly patient communication. Journal of Advanced Nursing 29(4), 808-818 Wold, G.H. (2005) Foundation of Basic Nursing. 3rd ed. USA: Mosby. World Health organization ( WHO2006) New study shows female genital mutilation exposes women and babies to significant risk at childbirth, Published in The Lancet Zafir al-Shahri. (2002). Culturally Sensitive Caring, Journal of Transcultural Nursing. 13, 133.

Free Essays: Oppression in Ethan Frome and Their Eyes Were Watching God :: comparison compare contrast essays

Repression and Oppression in   Ethan Frome and Their Eyes Were Watching God    In society, people are oppressed in many ways, such as blacks not being able to vote back in the 60’s, or women not having as many rights as men.   There are many social constraints that hold people back from their dreams and desires.   The two novels, Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton and Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, both accurately portray the power of social constraints.   In   each novel the main character   struggles with the tremendous impact of social constraints on their lives but their is a great difference between repression and oppression.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the book Ethan Frome, the main character, Ethan, is oppressed in many different ways.   First of all, Ethan’s wife, Zeena, has become a burden on Ethan psychologically and finacially.   Zeena seems to have a form of paranoia that makes her think she is much sicker than she actually is.   This problem has gotten to Ethan at many points in the book.   She has also become a finacial burden on Ethan because of her almost monthy commutes to Bettsbridge, where she sees a doctor about her failing health.   In Ethan Frome, Zeena seems to be the one that is always oppressing Ethan.   Zeena never lets Ethan do what he wants, when he wants.   In the book Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie is basically oppressed by society and the laws of society.   She is oppressed mainly because she is black, but also because she is a woman.   In each of her three marriages, Janie is oppressed by her husbands.   All of them expect her to do things the way they want them done, and she does not seem to respect this. Janie also is not allowed to strive for her dreams or desires because she is black.   In this situation, it seems that it is a combination of society’s oppressive laws and the repression of Janie’s feelings and desires that hold her back from her goals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Ethan Frome and Their Eyes Were Watching God, each character finds his or own way to overcome their suffering and pain due to the oppression of their desires and dreams.   In Ethan Frome towards the end of the story, Ethan wants to drive Mattie into town to the train station so she can go home.