Marketing Design and Innovation Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Design and Innovation - Dissertation Example In other words, it was just a newfangled version of radio with visual device. But today, television sets have numerous features from stylish design to innovative facilities. This paper is entitled to recognise the changing characteristics of television since its invention in early 1900s. In this context, the changing characteristics can be easily identified in the history of television industry. Its shape, colour, sharpness, feasibility, and customer choices have changed rapidly over time. The customers’ choices, their preferences, competition and technological progression can be identified as the main drivers of innovation in this case. The discussion of the paper concentrates on the grounded theory and marketing theory to identify the various changing characteristics of television. 2.0. Synthesis and Review of Literatures According to Doyle (1998), innovation, as a marketing strategy, has several times proved to be the key factor to reward success to many businesses. It is a lso considered to be as the path of attaining higher growth in terms of sales, market shares and others. However, innovation can be referred to as the development of a newly designed product, marketing channels and marketing concepts. Thus, innovation in marketing can be stated as one of the crucial elements to achieve an efficient competitive advantage and growth (Bridgewater & Doyle, 1998). This statement can be well-observed in the case of television industry where analysts claim to witness an extraordinary chain of innovations which brought about changes in shape, colour, size and other features of the genre. For instance, Lachenbruch (1964) stated that in its performance from 1953 to 1956 the television industry reached its maturity similar to radio and phonograph industries. It was the period when almost every household in America had a television set in their living room and thus sales of television begun to fall. By that period, a new version of television was introduced to the market, i.e. colour TVs. This innovation again took the industry to its growth (Lachenbruch, 1964). These kinds of evidences can be witnessed in almost every stage of the industry, especially in terms of style and technology. This shall be evidently identified in the further discussion. 2.1. Change in terms of Style The introduction of television can be identified in the early 1920s when television was presented in two broad paths; one as mechanical and the other as electronic. The mechanical television set was invented by Charles F. Jenkins in 1923. These types of sets were primarily indentified as a 30 line television and used a mechanical framework to produce images on the screen through a spinning disc. The formula was then implied by General Electric in 1928 and used a 24 line television set with a 3 inch screen to display five different frames in a second. In 1927, another scientist, Philo T. Farnsworth invented television which was entirely based on electricity and did no t use any kind of spinning discs or other similar devices. Instead of its mechanical framework, the television set used an image dissector tube. Another speciality of television set was that it could display almost 120 lines with the speed of 24 frames in a second in comparison to the mechanical television set of Jenkins and General Electronics. It was in 1929 when Herbert Ives first introduced a 50

Nigeria as a Nation Essay Example for Free

Nigeria as a Nation Essay Nigeria as a democratic country like every other nation needs the media to drive or sustain good governance and engender national development. But the media often regarded as the fourth estate of the realm have an enormous task to accomplish this role as the watchdog of the society. The task or role of the media has to a large extent not been effectively accomplished. It is important here to state that the primary role of the media in any given society is to inform, educate and entertain. This was encapsulated by Nwabueze (1982) when he stated that, â€Å"the media enable corruption, abuse of office and other wrongdoing by public servants to be publicly exposed†. Apart from these traditional functions, the media perform other sophisticated roles, such as surveillance, agenda-setting through persuasion and status conferral. This was stressed by Tony Momoh (1988) when he said that â€Å"the duty of the press in Nigeria is to monitor governance†. You can agree with me that these functions cannot be carried out without an enabling environment. In Nigeria and other African countries, the media operate under a very harsh condition. For instance, about 80% of journalists in Nigeria do not earn salaries, not to talk of attractive wages. The few that are privileged to work in government media establishments receive salaries that are not commensurate with their work, Ukpabi (2001). Other problems like uncooperative attitude of officials in the public and private organizations in volunteering information to the media. Public/civil servants often hide under the Secret Act to deny journalists information even if such information is of public interest. Despite the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill into law, journalists and indeed the general public are still finding it difficult to access information in Nigeria. This has confirmed the fears expressed by Dr John Idumange on 8th March, 2013 while delivering a lecture on Journalism Practice And The Constitutional Demands On Journalists-An X-ray Of The FOI Act during the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) Port Harcourt Annual Lecture Series. Dr Idumange captured it thus, â€Å"virtually all government information in Nigeria are classified as top secret. This culture of secrecy will make it difficult to get information from any Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA)†. This is further complicated by the introduction of brown envelope in journalism practice in the country. Brown envelope could be defined as a kind of gratification given to journalists after a media coverage by the organizers of such events, either to influence them or get favourable reports. This new found culture has actually dealt a terrible blow on the independence and the effectiveness of the journalists in performing their duties as the watchdog of the society. How do you reconcile a situation where a news source gives a journalist bribe (brown envelope) at the end of a media assignment? What kind of report do you expect from that journalist? The brown envelope syndrome has resulted to every Dick and Harry becoming publishers because they believe that reporters will bring back money from the proceeds of the brown envelope at the end of every assignment. All the so-called publishers now do is to issue the reporters with identity cards often referred to as â€Å"meal-tickets† to fend for themselves and even feed the publishers. Toure (1996). The consequence of this is the emergence of quackery in the journalism profession. In Nigeria today, everybody that has a note-pad and a pen on his hands can parade himself as a journalist. No wonder the journalism profession is fast sliding into an all- comers affair and pathetically the regulatory bodies, such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)and the Nigerian Press Council are not doing anything to check the ugly trend. Apart from the aforementioned problems, other challenges like exclusion or discrimination of journalists from private sector by government ministries from attending their events, thereby creating room for speculation, as these private journalists resort to reporting government activities from the outside. This of course is not in the best interest of ministries, journalists and the society. This research will attempt to trace the genesis of these hiccups, especially the brown envelope syndrome as they affect the role of Nigerian media in contributing to national development. Attempt will also be made in this study to suggest or find solution to the myriad of problems confronting media practice in Nigeria. The overall goal is to ensure that the media discharge their duties effectively as the watchdog of the society and major contributor to national development. 1. 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The media are said to have a role that is often described as indispensable in shaping the society and by so doing directing the people. The media ensure that people are treated fairly, social control is in place and roles are shared equitably, thereby contributing to the national development of the country. It is the duty of the mass media to inform and educate the people on the realities of the environment to enable them take appropriate and informed decisions. It is one thing to have the role and yet another thing to perform it. There are so many factors that affect the performance of this role of the media. For instance, the media require a conducive atmosphere to perform this duty. But it is an open secret that the atmosphere with which the media operate in Nigeria is far from being comfortable. Ukpabi (2001). Nigeria like every other country requires a vibrant press to make headway. It is often said that the press, just like the court is the hope of the common man and indeed the entire society. The question now is under what conditions have the media in Nigeria performed this statutory duty? This study will attempt to x-ray the roles of the media in Nigeria in national development. How they have faired in performing that duty. The effect of brown envelope on the media and the extent it has militated against the goals of contributing to national development. Attempts will be made in this study to suggest ways of limiting or eradicating the effects of this cankerworm called brown envelope. The aim is to see that the media live up to expectation as the watchdog of the society and pacesetter in engendering national development. 1. 2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The negative effect of brown envelope syndrome does not allow the media contribute to national development in Nigeria. This study seeks to trace the genesis and causes of â€Å"this encroachment† and recommend ways of tackling the problem. In other words, attempts will be made in this study to suggest ways of ending brown envelope syndrome in journalism practice in Nigeria. The media no doubt control all aspects of our lives, locally, nationally and internationally. Therefore, there is an inter-relationship between the people and the media. The media dictate to the people what they read and hear and by extension how they behave. The public is therefore sharpened by the information from the media. The public has so depended on the media that it is generally believed that the society will be dead without the media. This was examined by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw (1972/1973) when they emphasized that â€Å"the mass media has the ability to mentally order or organize the world for the people†. Daramola (2003) also corroborated this by stating that â€Å"the agenda-setting theory is of the view that the media often present to the audience certain basic socio-political and economic issues that dominate popular discussion and debate even at interpersonal level at some period of their history†. For the media to live up to this responsibility, a favourable atmosphere must be put in place. As the media contribute their quota to the wellbeing of the society, it is expected that the people reciprocate by cooperating fully with the media. Nigeria is a complex country like every other nation; this complexity has also robbed off on the media in the country. Ownership and control, censorship, editorial policy, intimidation, imposition by authorities, ban, seizure of printed materials, incarceration ,proscription of media houses, obnoxious laws, lack of subvention and motivation are some of the numerous problems confronting media practice in Nigeria, which no media organization wishes to operate in. These challenges have hampered the performance of journalists in the country and given birth to the hydra-headed monster of brown envelope or gratification before a journalist could perform his duties. Therefore, this study seeks to know the effect of brown envelope syndrome on the role of the media in national development. 1. 3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objectives of the study are as follows: 1 To determine the roles of the media in national development. 2 To trace the cause and effect of brown envelope on the media. 3 To determine the contributory effects of brown envelope syndrome on the media against national development. 4 To ascertain make ways of ending the menace (brown envelope). 1. 4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1 What are the roles of the media in national development in Nigeria? 2 What are the causes and effects of brown envelope on the media in Nigeria? 3 To what extent has this brown envelope syndrome militated against the media from contributing to national development? 5 How do we end the brown envelope syndrome in journalism profession in Nigeria? 1. 5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study of this topic, called Role of the Nigerian Media in National Development and the Effects of Brown Envelope Syndrome is significant in that the contribution of the Nigerian media to national development would be ascertained. The origin and effect of brown envelope on Nigerian media will also be established, with a view to exterminating the menace in journalism practice in Nigeria. The overall goal is to enthrone a more efficient and responsible media in Nigeria that would effectively play their statutory role as the watchdog of the society. 1. 6 DELIMITATION/LIMITATION OF THE STUDY Due to the fact that the resources available for this study was limited, coupled with the time frame allocated to complete this study, this research was restricted to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. 1. 7 DEFINITION OF TERMS MEDIA: Communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data are disseminated. ROLE: Part, duty or function performed to achieve a task. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The process of growth in all spheres of human endeavor within a national boundary over a period. EFFECT: Outcome or result of something on another. BROWN ENVELOPE: Kind of gratification given to journalists after a media function to either influence their report or appreciate them. 1. 8 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Agenda Setting Theory: The Agenda-Setting Theory was propounded by Maxwell McCombs and Donald L. Shaw in 1972/1973). The thrust of the theory is that the mass media have â€Å"the ability to mentally order or organize the world for the people,† Daramola (2003). Proponents of the agenda-setting theory were of the opinion that the media often present to the audience certain basic socio-political and economic issues that dominate popular discussion and debate even at inter-personal level at any given period in their history. For instance, the mass media can focus on an issue daily, thereby drawing the attention of the audience to the matter. Currently in Nigeria, the mass media have gradually focused on the need for the convocation of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to determine the continued existence of Nigeria as a nation. No wonder the Senate President, David Mark few weeks ago threw his weight behind the call and just on October 1st, 2013 during the 53rd independent anniversary of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan constituted a committee to that effect, thereby confirming the power of the agenda-setting theory of the media. Since the media is the basic source of information for an average person on the street and it is generally believed that what the media report or focus on is important. The media through the agenda-setting function influence or control the thought of the people. Whatever the media focus on becomes what dominates public discussion. No wonder Combs and Shaw (1976) stated that the â€Å"media emphasis on the event that influences the audience to see the event as important†¦ media not only inform us, but also influence us as to what is important to know. † Cohen (1963) also emphasized that the agenda-setting power of the media is not particularly successful in telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think about. † The era of militancy in the Niger Delta lent credence to the agenda-setting power of the media when they drew the attention of the entire world to the region. It is often argued that the militancy was overblown beyond proportion by the media, thereby making it more important than anything else. The recent face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi was ( is) a case in point, when the media again displayed and are still displaying their power of dictating to the people what to think and discuss about. The state pardon granted the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieseyegha also falls among the incidents where the media commanded the attention of the public or audience to their dictate. This work will look at the extent this agenda-setting power of the media has contributed to national development in Nigeria. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 0CODE OF ETHICS FOR NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary ethic is system of moral principles, rules of conduct. While chambers Dictionary defines ethics as the study of right and wrong. Code of ethics for Nigerian journalists took the front burner on March 20th 1998 when the Nigerian Press Council organized a forum in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital and formally ratified the new (current) code for Nigerian journalists. Code according to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary is collection of laws arranged in a system or system of rules and principles that has been accepted by society or a class or a group of people. The Ilorin declaration came on the heels of Decree No. 85 of 1992 as contained in the Nigerian Press Council, where eligibility criteria for entry into and practice of journalism in Nigeria were spelt out. The essence is to ensure that journalists adhere to high ethical standards and professionalism, bearing in mind that their jobs entail high degree of public trust. Delegates at the said forum affirmed and declared as follows: That we: ACCEPT the imperative of a Code of Ethics as a vital pillar of journalism and the necessity for the application of ethics to enhance standards; AFFIRM that self-regulation through a Code of Ethics and other structures drawn up by professionals would best serve the interest of both the profession and the public; ENJOIN the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria to ensure the implementation of the eligibility criteria for entry into and practice of journalism in Nigeria, as contained in the Nigerian Press Council Decree No 85 of 1992; PLEDGE to abide by the Code of Ethics and to promote the observance of its provisions by all journalists; and URGE the Nigerian Press Council to collaborate with the Nigerian Press Organization to publicize the Code of Ethics for the benefit of the press and the public, and ensure compliance with its provisions hereafter. PREAMBLE Journalism entails a high degree of public trust. To earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and every news medium to observe the highest professional and ethical standards. In the exercise of these duties, a journalist should always have a healthy regard for the public interest. Truth is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth of every event. Conscious of the responsibilities and duties of journalists as purveyors of information, we, Nigerian journalists, give to ourselves this Code of Ethics. It is the duty of every journalist to observe its provisions as follows: 1. EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE Decisions concerning the content of news should be the responsibility of a professional journalist. 2. ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS i. The public has a right to know. Factual, accurate, balanced and fair reporting is the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis of earning public trust and confidence. ii. A journalist should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information. Where such information has been inadvertently published, prompt correction should be made. A journalist must hold the right of reply as a cardinal rule of practice. iii. In the course of his duties a journalist should strive to separate facts from conjecture and comment. 3. PRIVACY As a general rule, a journalist should respect the privacy of individuals and their families unless it affects the public interest. A. Information on the private life of an individual or his family should only be published if it impinges on public interest. B. Publishing of such information about an individual as mentioned above should be deemed justifiable only if it is directed at: i. Exposing crime or serious misdemeanour; ii. Exposing anti-social conduct; iii. Protecting public health, morality and safety; iv. Preventing the public from being misled by some statement or action of the individual concerned. 4. PRIVILEGE / NON-DISCLOSURE i. A journalist should observe the universally accepted principle of confidentiality and should not disclose the source of information obtained in confidence. ii. A journalist should not breach an agreement with a source of information obtained as â€Å"off-the-record† or as â€Å"background information. † 5. DECENCY i. A journalist should dress and comport himself in a manner that conforms with public taste. ii. A journalist should refrain from using offensive, abusive or vulgar language. iii. A journalist should not present lurid details, either in words or picture, of violence, sexual acts, abhorrent or horrid scenes. iv. In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries should be carried out and approaches made with sympathy and discretion. v. Unless it is in the furtherance of the public’s right to know, a journalist should generally avoid identifying relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime. 6. DISCRIMINATION A journalist should refrain form making pejorative reference to a person’s ethnic group, religion, sex, or to any physical or mental illness or handicap. 7. REWARD AND GRATIFICATION i. A journalist should neither solicit nor accept bribes, gratifications or patronage to suppress or publish information. ii. To demand payment for the publication of news is inimical to the notion of news as a fair, accurate, unbiased and factual report of an event. 8. VIOLENCE A journalist should not present or report acts of violence, armed robberies, terrorist activities or vulgar display of wealth in a manner that glorifies such acts in the eyes of the public. 9. CHILDREN AND MINORS A journalist should not identify, either by name or picture, or interview children under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, crimes and rituals or witchcraft either as victims, witnesses or defendants. 10. ACCESS OF INFORMATION A journalist should strive to employ open and honest means in the gathering of information. Exceptional methods may be employed only when the public interest is at stake. 11. PUBLIC INTEREST A journalist should strive to enhance national unity and public good. 12. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY A journalist should promote universal principles of human rights, democracy, justice, equity, peace and international understanding. 13. PLAGIARISM A journalist should not copy, wholesale or in part, other people’s work without attribution and/or consent. 14. COPYRIGHT i. Where a journalist reproduces a work, be it in print, broadcast, art work or design, proper acknowledgement should be accorded the author. ii. A journalist should abide by all rules of copyright, established by national and international laws and conventions. 15. PRESS FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY A journalist should strive at all times to enhance press freedom and responsibility. 2. 1Instances Of Unethical Practices In Journalism Sensationalism in writing by journalists is one of the instances of unethical practices in journalism. A situation where a journalist deviates from the truth for reasons best known to him is to say the least unethical. In the course of sensationalizing the story, the journalist exaggerates and distorts the facts, which leads to misinforming the public. Nyamnjoh (1996). This kind of practice is not only wrong, but inimical to the growth of sound journalism practice in the country. Libel is another instance of unethical practice. A libelous publication is a publication either in print or electronic media that defames the image of a person or corporate body. It is an outright falsehood on a person’s image deliberately done by a journalist for selfish interest. Sedition is yet another unethical practice in journalism practice in the world today. It is an act of using publication or broadcast to incite the public against the government. This is unethical by all ramifications. Accepting gratifications of any kind by a journalist to publish story against his conscience is unethical and should be condemned by all well-meaning persons. Name-calling in journalistic reportage is to say the least unethical. Some journalists for reasons best known to them call people names such as thief, fraudsters, coward, amongst others without any evidence. Soola (1996). This is unethical and unprofessional and should be discouraged by all well-meaning Nigerians. 2. 2Primary Causes Of Unethical Practices In Journalism To be unethical simply means to act unprofessionally. Many factors have been adduced as causes of unethical practices in Journalism, especially in Nigeria. First is lack of welfare for practicing journalists in Rivers State and in Nigeria. It is an open secret today that most journalists practice or operate under unfriendly welfare package. In fact, seven out of every ten journalists practicing, in Nigeria are either not paid or paid peanuts as salaries. This unfavourable working condition no doubt affects the judgment of the journalists in the discharge of their duties. Most journalists especially from the private (independent) media organizations are not paid salaries at all, not to talk of being paid well. Some that are employed have no retirement benefits, as their counterparts in the other sectors. Cole (1995). This kind of engagement has bred poverty in the entire system. A hungry man they say is an angry man. Journalists, who fall under this unfortunate category, helplessly and easily fall prey to unethical practices just to survive. Quackery has also crept into journalism practice in the country. Though not peculiar with journalism, but for the fact that the regulatory bodies of the media tend to be weak or are not living up to expectation, quacks capitalize on this weakness to infiltrate the rank and file of journalism practitioners to commit all sorts of crimes which in most cases are blamed on journalists. The major problem here is that since the regulatory bodies, such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerian Press Council have not been able to effectively regulate journalism practice in the country, mostly as it concerns mode of employment for journalists and standards to be adhered to by private publishers, ethics of journalism practice now becomes difficult. What you now have are bunch of people who parade themselves as journalists when they are really not and of course lawlessness and unethical practice now become the order of the day. Anyakora Potiskum (1996). Other factors include uncooperative attitude of people placed in authorities to volunteer information for journalists when sought. This has created room for speculations, when the required information are not given to journalists. Again, the deliberate attempt by government and its agents to exclude the private sector journalists from their functions, result to journalists reporting government activities as outsiders, thereby speculating or at times sensationalizing virtually everything concerning government. The deliberate effort of government at all levels to impoverish journalists through unfavourable policies that are inimical to journalism practice in the country, for example the media is constitutionally regarded as the Fourth Estate of The Realm, which makes it the fourth arm of government, but while the other three arms, the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary enjoy budgetary provisions, the press is allowed to wallow in poverty. The flimsy reason often adduced for this utter neglect is that the pen is already too powerful and therefore if the press enjoys financial support, it will trample on other arms of government. Toure (1996). 2. 3Role of the Nigerian Media In National Development National Development as has earlier been defined is the process of growth in all facets of human endeavors within a national boundary over a given period. The role of the Nigerian media in national development like any other media globally revolves around its primary functions of informing, educating and entertaining the populace or better still mass audience. The media role in national development comes through development communication, which centres on persuading target audience in adopting the right attitude towards actualizing development plan in the country. In doing that, the development media theory as espoused by Combs and Shaw (1972) that drives the agenda setting theory comes to play. This states that the media tell us not what to think, but what to think about. What this means is that the importance the media place on an issue, determines the level of attention the audience give such issue. The essence of this agenda setting theory is that though the media may not completely change ones point of view, on a particular issue, but it tends to change his perception of what is good. The power of the media in influencing issues is seen as importance instrument in national developmental policies. The role of Nigerian media in national development cannot be over emphasized. Right from 1914 when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated by the colonial government, the media have been playing a pivotal role in national development in Nigeria. Since the primary role of the media is to inform, educate and entertain, they also use these functions to persuade the people on the need to embark on certain processes that can engender national development. In addition to these basic functions of the media, also comes their persuasive role. This persuasive role enables the media to influence the society towards a particular direction. And in most cases the people are driven towards contributing to national development. According to Nwabueze (2003), the media also chart a course for the public in line with the agenda setting theory, thereby creating in the minds of the people issues that should be viewed as priority issues, including development programmes and policies. Example of such roles are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) and Vision 20; 2020 in line with United Nations, which has been domesticated by countries, including Nigeria. The Nigerian media have been in the fore-front of sensitization of the people against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. To the credit of the media in the country, the rate of spread of HIV/AIDS has reduced drastically. The media in Nigeria have tried to contain the negative impact of the Boko Haram insurgence as it borders on the country’s national image. This is evident on the way foreign media perceive and report the Boko Haram insurgence saga. The idea is to play down on the effect of the security challenge and promote national development. On the political sphere, the recent Nigeria Governor’s Forum election that almost metamorphosed into a national crisis has been contained by the role of the media. That is, the Nigerian media have been careful in reporting the controversial election in order not to heat up the polity. In short, it is the diplomatic way the media handled the situation through their reportage that sustained the prevailing peace in the country. The latest is the People’s Democratic Party split. Being mindful of the sensitive nature of the matter, the media have been careful on reporting it. The ultimate goal is to ensure that national development is not disrupted. 2. 4Origin of Brown Envelope In Nigerian Journalism Practice Brown envelope which can be defined as gratification given to a journalist to obtain favourable report. The brown is said to have started in Nigeria during the Second Republic (1979-1983) when journalists started demanding brown envelope as a condition for conducting interview Uko (2004). The ignoble act was allegedly started by government press who claimed that their salaries were low. This soon spread to the entire journalism practice and has now become the rule. A survey conducted by LICADHO (2008) showed that journalists tried to justify the brown envelope act and went ahead to argue that it does not affect their professional judgment (report). Ukpabi (2001) in his study on the same issue revealed that only 30 % of Nigerian journalists believe that bribe no matter the type should not be taken. In other words, brown envelope syndrome was generally accepted and embraced by majority of journalists in Nigeria since then. A random survey on brown envelope syndrome in the world shows that the practice is in vogue in virtually every part of Africa and Asia, except South Africa. Brown is however said to be forbidden in the United States of America, where journalists would not even allow a news source to buy them a cup of coffee. 2. 5Effect Of Brown Envelope On Journalism Practice In Nigeria Brown envelope syndrome has really dealt a terrible blow on the integrity of journalists in Nigeria to the extent that journalists now relegate objectivity in reporting to the background and instead play up bias and subjectivity in their news stories. This has paved way for mediocrity in the entire process. Brown envelope forces journalists to abandon the ethical practice for selfish interests. The result is that Nigerian journalists can no longer compete favourably with their counterparts in the western countries or even in South Africa where Brown envelope has no place in their journalism practice. Brown envelope syndrome has therefore dwarfed Nigerian journalists from international competition. The independence of the media or freedom of the press has suffered a great setback as a result of brown envelope. It has become difficult or even impossible to separate the journalists from news sources because of the brown envelope attachment. The situation has become so bad that journalists now relegate their function of informing, educating and entertaining the public to promoting public relations goals. The brown envelope syndrome has brought about neglect in news from the rural communities. It is assumed that every news story attracts brown envelope and most well to- do news sources that can afford brown envelope live in urban cities, therefore the journalists do not have any business reporting happenings in the rural areas, since the sources of such news are basically poor. The implication is that the rural communities remain unreported in the present dispensation. Another effect of brown envelope is that journalists in Nigeria have shunned investigative news stories and concentrated more on events and press briefings where brown envelopes are guaranteed. This of course has almost eroded the essence of the media as the watchdog of the society.

Philosophy of Educative Assessment Essay -- essays research papers

Philosophy of Assessment Assessment of students is a crucial part of their education. It is one thing to be able, with some degree of confidence, to say that 'Johnny knows x' but it is quite another to be able to say 'Sarah can x'. It is clear that assessment at its core is involved in the measuring of something and that if I expect students to reach above a certain level of 'something' then I must clearly communicate that to them. The backwards design that we are familiar with goes someway towards achieving this goal. The notion that we state at the outset our expectations for student learning and then design activities to achieve that stated goal appears to be common sense. However, the tendency for teachers to rely upon pre-existing testing materials and adjust their high expectations to either teach to the test or adopt a less ?radical? approach is tempting. I think that new teachers are so overwhelmed with the day to day business of running a classroom that assessment, perhaps the most vital and under examined area in education, takes a back seat pretty quickly. A frustrating aspect of modern education is the concept of differentiation. It is often presented in the sense that each student learns differently, has different strengths and weaknesses and accordingly should be afforded assessment opportunities that allow them the best chance of success. That approach is daunting to new teachers because the intimation is that individualized assessment is preferable and with one hundred and six students of different grade levels and their own relative areas of skill, individualized assessment appears too hard a challenge. I have begun to examine my own assessment with a view to finding ways to improve it and improve ... ...stances students find among themselves, the absolutes are the text and the definitions available in the Oxford English Dictionary. The variable of teacher interpretation is also reduced because the student uses evidence form the text to prove their assertions. In addition to which, I contend that the explication meets the criteria for an educative assessment in that it allows for the academic growth of the student as the result of the features of the passage that are illuminated. Students see different things in the same text and express their findings differently but the value of their findings is the measure to take. The goal of educative assessment appears to turn ?traditional? assessment on its ear. The notion that the assessment is teaching something is a challenge to many teachers, particularly teachers with a vested interest in producing test scores.

Jane in the Wallpaper

In reading Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† I found the perspective of the woman’s mind-set towards the wallpaper to be out of the ordinary. At first the room and wallpaper were viewed to be â€Å"repellent, almost revolting† by the woman but later she grows â€Å"fond of the room in spite of the wallpaper†(Gilman 222). The woman goes back and forth from hating the paper to then becoming intrigued with it when she sees another woman within it. Her relationship with the wallpaper itself during the story grows, as does a bond between her and the woman inside the wallpaper.The article, â€Å"The Writing’s on the Wall: Symbolic Orders in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ †, written by Barbara A. Suess, details the matter of the relationship between the wallpaper and the woman even more. Suess argues that â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is about a mental breakdown of Jane, whose ever-expanding relati onship with the wallpaper is her attempt to represent herself. Suess contends that the woman is in fact Jane all along and is present both in the wallpaper and in the room the wallpaper contains.Suess believes Jane to be psychotic and through Lacanian’s Psychosis and examples in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† she is able to support her theory. Like Suess, I believe the woman in the story had a mental disorder and becomes the woman she grew fond of in the wallpaper. When analyzing Suess’s article I found that I agreed with several of her points. To better understand Suess’s argument, one must first have an understanding of law/order and imagination or Lacanian Psychosis, known as Symbolic Order and Imaginary Order because Suess uses it as evidence in her article.Symbolic Order is â€Å"the social world of linguistic communication, intersubjective relations, knowledge of ideological conventions, and the acceptance of law. † Once you recognize and accep t the â€Å"laws and restrictions that control both your desire and rules of communication,† the Symbolic Order is made probable. When the woman in the wallpaper appeared she was just a figment of imagination. But once the woman spoke to the woman in the wallpaper recognition occurred, which gave the woman in the wallpaper an identity that put the Symbolic Order in motion.With this recognition, the person is â€Å"able to enter into a community of others. † This happens as the woman starts to see more of the woman in the wallpaper outside of the windows. The woman in the wallpaper now has a relationship with the woman, and the woman is letting the woman in the wallpaper communicate with her. This opens up a world of others through the Imaginary Order—that is â€Å"the fundamental narcissism by which the human subject creates fantasy images of both [themselves] and [their] ideal object of desire† (Felluga). In Barbara A.Suess’s article she states th at the woman narrator in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is in fact Jane, who is revealed to have escaped from the wallpaper at the end of the story. The woman/Jane had just given birth to a baby at the beginning of the story, which became an emotional point in her life. Jane is then sent to a place where she is to live in a room with yellow wallpaper covering the walls. In this place, thought to be a nursery but is more of a prison/mental institution based on the description, Suess says that Jane feels influenced by external forces, which causes Jane’s own â€Å"detached† ego.The wallpaper slowly, over a period of time, gains authority over Jane and it becomes the alternative where Jane turns. Even though Jane mocks the wallpaper at first, she steadily not only grows to like it, but also becomes attached to it and, in her mind, literally one with it. At this Suess goes into detail how Jane’s relationship with the yellow wallpaper and the woman within fit int o the Symbolic Order. Jane creates a new identification through her relationship with the wallpaper and transforms herself into the imaginary woman she sees in the wallpaper.Through the identification with the woman in the wallpaper, Suess notes that Jane’s first comprehension of an order is seen. Jane undergoes a battle with the woman in the wallpaper, who is Jane’s own alter ego. In the end the woman in the wallpaper wins. Suess declares that at the end of the story, the woman does not belong to the same world or have the same identity as she once had previously. After reading Barbara A. Suess’s article, my perspective of the woman’s mind-set towards the wallpaper to be out of the ordinary was influenced even more.In her article, Suess quotes â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† when describing the room, or prison, that the woman is staying in. Not only does she mention the â€Å"bed is bolted to the floor, the windows are barred, and there are rings and things on the wall,† but also that â€Å"the wallpaper on the wall above the bed is torn off as far as she [the woman] can reach† (Suess 91). When the woman describes this torn-off paper, she tells it as if someone else has torn it off the walls, when in fact she is the one who has torn it off. The woman does not recall this because she was not mentally herself.Suess uses this information to serve as an example of an â€Å"influence by external forces† said to be part of the Symbolic Order. In Suess’s article she quotes scholarly work from Michael Walsh, â€Å"when a person enters the Symbolic Order, he or she does all of the following: enters the realm of language, gains a connection with the Name-of-the-Father, finds a place in the world of others, and is provided with ‘the foundation of the objectification and unity of the self,’ † to help the reader better understand the process Jane goes through (Suess 83).These â€Å"external fo rces† represent the Name-of-the-Father—those that are not named—because they have not yet been named. Although Jane sees and feels their presence, the woman in the wallpaper for instance, they are in fact only in her head and not of the real world. Suess uses the line, this paper looks to me as if it knew what a vicious influence it had, to exemplify the woman’s realization of those presences. The wallpaper can have no influence on the woman because it cannot talk to persuade her to do something.Suess is stating that the only influence on Jane is what she hears in her head from her alter ego in the wallpaper. The woman says, â€Å"there are things in the wallpaper that nobody knows about but me, or ever will . . . it is like a woman† (Gilman 225). When Jane identifies the woman in the wallpaper, who is her own ego, the â€Å"realm of language† is opened. Jane has acknowledged her presence and by letting her in she opens a way of communication . Jane â€Å"not only grows to like [the wallpaper], but goes so far as to become, in her mind, literally one with it† (Suess 92).This is where Suess believes the woman has found a â€Å"place in the world of others† like Walsh states. The woman’s relationship with the wallpaper and the woman in it is beginning to make her leave the real world and go to become part of that of the imaginary. The woman’s reality and imaginary life start to become vaguely joined together. When writing about the woman in the wallpaper Jane records, â€Å"I think that woman gets out in the daytime! And I’ll tell you why—privately—I’ve seen her! I can see her out of every one of my windows† (Gilman 227).Jane was not seeing a different woman out of her window but seeing herself and her actions at a previous time when she was not herself. Her sense of reality is beginning to fade, for her imagination and alter ego are taking over. Suess states t hat the woman is transforming into the person she sees in the wallpaper who wants to escape the containment of that prison. On some days the woman is herself, than on other days the woman in the wallpaper takes over. It is a constant struggle of who will have control over the earthly body.At the end of the story, while escaping the room the woman is caught by her husband and remarks, â€Å"I’ve got out at last in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back† (Gilman 228). This ending completes the logic with the result of the Symbolic Order that Suess defines in her article by Walsh, which is proven with â€Å"the foundation of the objectification and unity of the self† (Suess 83). The woman in the wallpaper had finally taken over Jane. The foundation of the objectification, the woman in the wallpaper, became unified with the self, the woman/Jane.Jane does not belong to the same world or have the same ident ity as earlier,† she is now the woman who escaped from behind the wallpaper (Suess 95). Through all her details and evidence, I found Suess’s arguments to be very supported. Along with other documentation from other scholarly articles, there was enough evidence to not only back her study but to also reassure mine. The woman’s relationship with the woman in the wallpaper was such a strong bond that in the end, they become one with each other until the woman in the wallpaper took over. The woman, Jane, was no longer herself but a different person. Today a person of that nature would be classified as what Susse called the woman to be, â€Å"psychotic. †Bibliography Felluga, Dino. â€Å"Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. † Cla. Purdue. edu. Rhinocervs, 28 Nov. 2003. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. . Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper. New York: Lisa Moore, n. d. Print. 221-228 Suess, Barbara A. â€Å"The Writing’s on the Wall’ Symbol ic Orders in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper. ’† Women’s Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal 32. 1 (2003): 79-95. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 21 Sept. 2009. .

Purity in its Sense Essay

Puritans have established a very conservative culture that seeks to impose on its believers a way of life that strictly adheres to God’s biblical laws. Small mistakes are virtuously corrected but a sin such as adultery merits the disdain of the whole community. Despite the Puritan principle that one must continually cleanse himself through following the rules of conduct that society has structured, it has not taken into consideration that forgiveness is a strong dictate of God in order for one to truly deserve his kingdom.   Senseless yet purifying are the morals of Puritans even for men and women who had gone astray.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the book, The Scarlett Letter, its author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, sought to show the foolishness of Puritans to follow God’s laws while the community is prone to misjudgments on people’s characters. It has led to their minister’s, Arthur Dimmesdale’s, hypocrisy in dealing with his own fear of being ostracized by society. This social stigma has also brought forth Roger Chillingworth’s idea of revenge against the preacher and his wife as he tries to do so without embarrassing himself as a man fooled by Hester. It has condemned Hester Prynne to a life of misery and shame because of her adulterous relationship with a man whose identity was hidden from the public. It has likewise shunned her daughter, Pearl, and given harsh scrutiny to the actions of such an innocent child. These misjudgments were all part of the author’s critique of how Puritans can blindingly follow a very â€Å"moral† life when it actually pushes people towards immorality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dimmesdale hid behind the cloak of his position in society to avoid the social injustices that he would have gotten if he honestly proclaimed his wrong acts. Arthur Dimmesdale was highly revered by everyone because of his ministry of humility and kindness.   However, the Puritans were so blinded by his stature and seemingly wise image that they could not understand that he was actually giving his sermons based on his own dealings with sin. Instead of revealing the truth, he had succumbed to the mental torture of his guilt.   He was driven to punish himself privately to endure the mask that he had created to avoid being outcasted. The moral code of Puritans had turned him into a prisoner of his own secrets.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the author lacked enough description of the town’s reaction to Dimmesdale’s revelation of his immoral mistakes, readers are still led to believe that Puritans did not have any discrimination on one’s gender when sin was the topic.   The first chapters of the novel were explicit in showing how the people were thirsting for Hester’s revelation as to who was her lover and that all were waiting to give their own judgments on the mysterious person. There were many instances wherein the people had asked for her lover’s name so that he shall also share Hester’s punishment. The scarlett letter on Hester’s clothing is proof that the community disdains not only her act of infidelity but also her loyalty to a co-sinner by not divulging his identity publicly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, Dimmesdale still seems to have gotten a lighter treatment from society because his declaration of the truth was still twisted by some people at the end of the story.   Instead of getting angry, the shocked community had different views on what had transpired and were focused on explaining Dimmesdale’s death instead of his immoral acts.   These may probably be because he was well-respected and had already passed away and not because he was male. It is very ironical that he, the preacher, became free to be happy only when he was able to finally declare the truth which released him from the confining binds of a Puritan society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Roger Chillington decided to avoid the Puritan society’s condescension by hiding his true personality in the guise of a doctor instead of a husband seeking revenge on his unfaithful wife and her lover. Although his embarrassment really did not have anything to do with his own wrongdoing, it drove him to seek revenge deceitfully and thus pushed him to immoral acts too. There is also the probability that Puritan culture was so conservative that a man of knowledge such as he felt tied down in his thirst for information that could further his career. Instead of criticizing a husband’s intentional abandonment of his wife in pursuit of something earthly such as knowledge, the community absolved him by the sheer adulterous act of Hester.   This may seem that in some principles, the Puritan society can actually be more biased when it comes to the male gender.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite society’s burning scrutiny of Hester because of her mistake, she seems to show that her grasp of God’s love is clearer compared to those who have condemned her. Shunned as one who does not know how to obey God’s will, people looked down at her and tended to view her as a sinner who did not understand what God was asking of her.   Her reflections throughout the story show how much she has taken each embarrassing glance and condescending remark as her way of penance to purify herself in the eyes of God. The strength of her own faith was able to make her endure all that society had to spit on her shamelessly. In embracing the true teachings of a Puritan life, she was able to recognize her daughter, Pearl, as a unique gift from her God that could help achieve her happiness despite society’s snub. Despite her mistakes, she was able to rely on God’s teachings to pursue a selfless life of serving her daughter and others through kind acts of charity instead of giving in to the temptation to join a cult that would go against her Puritan community. She had a better grasp of what it meant to be a Puritan compared to all of those who were busy adhering to every rule of their society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pearl was the subject of intense hatred because she was the symbol of the immoral deeds of her parents. Puritans, despite their profession of love for God, had forgotten that Pearl was innocent of any of the crimes committed by her father and mother.   The child was seen as wild in the eyes of the community and they were bent on separating her from Hester because she needed to be protected from her mother’s seemingly twisted view of faith. The Puritans took it upon themselves to decide upon the lives of Hester and Pearl making it look like it was their moral obligation to ensure that Pearl learned their faith better.   The community’s judgmental nature showed that they were willing to play god in the life of a guiltless child but it was the girl’s unique and powerful innocence that drove both her parents to strive for atonement for their previous sins. The Puritans perceived Pearl as the bad fruit of sin but it was this child that made Hester tightly hold on to her faith despite the odds against them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Puritans strived so hard to maintain clean souls by taking very conservative principles based on their Christian beliefs. However, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel totally criticized this aspect of Puritan life by showing how the lack of understanding of their faith has led them to misjudge sinners instead of truly showing compassion as Christ did when He was alive. The author attacks the Puritan culture’s sense of propriety by showing how real sinners can actually be more devoted to preserving God’s will on earth.

Free Essays on Eating Dissorders in Women After Age 30

Eating Disorders in Women after age 30 â€Å"I hate the way I look!† I am so fat!† I hate looking in the mirror!† â€Å"I used to be so thin, why can’t I look like I did when I was 20?† These phrases are all too familiar to someone who has an eating disorder. Eating disorders generally affect women in their teens to mid 20’s. What happens when a woman develops an eating disorder after age 30 or continues to face this terrible illness that has affected her since adolescence. To fully understand what an eating disorder is, it is important to know the different types of eating disorders. Eating disorders are generally categorized as Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified. Eating disorders are devastating behavioral dysfunctions brought on by an array of factors. Emotional and personality disorders, family pressures, possible genetic or biologic susceptibility, and a culture where there is an obsession with thinness are all contributing factors to this consuming disease (noah.cuny.edu). Bulimia Nervosa is more common than anorexia and works on a cycle of bingeing, eating an enormous amount of food, and then forcibly eliminating the food, identified as the act of purging. The cycle of eating vast quantities of food and then vomiting or using drugs to force that food out of the body is referred to as the â€Å"binge/purge cycle† (Sacker and Zimmer 4). The eating binges average about 1,000 calories but can be as high as 20,000 calories or as low as 100. Patients diagnosed with bulimia average about 14 episodes per week. In general, people with bulimia have a normal to high-normal body weight, but it may fluctuate by more than 10 pounds because of the binge-purge cycle (noah.cuny.edu/wellconn/eatdisorders). Bulimia leaves its victims with a feeling of incredible self-loathing. Patients frequently describe themselves as â€Å"disgusting pigs.† Anorexia Nervosa was first defined as... Free Essays on Eating Dissorders in Women After Age 30 Free Essays on Eating Dissorders in Women After Age 30 Eating Disorders in Women after age 30 â€Å"I hate the way I look!† I am so fat!† I hate looking in the mirror!† â€Å"I used to be so thin, why can’t I look like I did when I was 20?† These phrases are all too familiar to someone who has an eating disorder. Eating disorders generally affect women in their teens to mid 20’s. What happens when a woman develops an eating disorder after age 30 or continues to face this terrible illness that has affected her since adolescence. To fully understand what an eating disorder is, it is important to know the different types of eating disorders. Eating disorders are generally categorized as Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified. Eating disorders are devastating behavioral dysfunctions brought on by an array of factors. Emotional and personality disorders, family pressures, possible genetic or biologic susceptibility, and a culture where there is an obsession with thinness are all contributing factors to this consuming disease (noah.cuny.edu). Bulimia Nervosa is more common than anorexia and works on a cycle of bingeing, eating an enormous amount of food, and then forcibly eliminating the food, identified as the act of purging. The cycle of eating vast quantities of food and then vomiting or using drugs to force that food out of the body is referred to as the â€Å"binge/purge cycle† (Sacker and Zimmer 4). The eating binges average about 1,000 calories but can be as high as 20,000 calories or as low as 100. Patients diagnosed with bulimia average about 14 episodes per week. In general, people with bulimia have a normal to high-normal body weight, but it may fluctuate by more than 10 pounds because of the binge-purge cycle (noah.cuny.edu/wellconn/eatdisorders). Bulimia leaves its victims with a feeling of incredible self-loathing. Patients frequently describe themselves as â€Å"disgusting pigs.† Anorexia Nervosa was first defined as...

Social Classes

Social Classes Introduction Social classes within communities are mostly as a result of differences in major areas of life for example the level of education, the amount of wealth or income one earns and the position that one holds in the society among other factors.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Classes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In any given society, it is common to find the upper class, the upper middle class, the lower middle class, the working class and the poor. This paper will explore the topic of class and will specifically seek to prove that it is possible for one to achieve their dreams in life regardless of the social class that they belong to. Summary of the articles How class affects one’s education The relationship between class and education can be evident in the article by Leonhardt and Scott (p 8), who observe that the number of students who belong to the upper class in around 250 colleges has significantly risen compared to that of students from the lower class income. This has led to some colleges looking for intervention measures that will favor the lower income earners. This is because; they have noticed that a lot of talent is being lost because of the inability by the students from lower income families to access education. Leonhardt (p 1) further gives an example of how class can affect ones education using Andy Blevins, who decides to quit college in order to continue working. His decision is motivated by his poor background. He is an example of the many young people who decide to quit school and prefer to work because of their class. How class affects health care Leonhardt and Scottt (p 8) state that there is an observable difference between one class and another in terms of health care. The upper class is better placed in accessing health care and consequently has a higher life expectancy compared to the middle and the lower classes. On the other hand, the midd le class is better off compared to the lower class, which is the worst hit in the area of health care and hence, a lower life expectancy compared to the other classes. How class affects marriage In terms of marriage, Leonhardt and Scottt (p 8) say that class determines the choice of the place where one lives and the people who one associates with. Those in the high class tend to have their children at a time in their life when they are stable financially and also due to the delay in getting married, they are able to have fewer children. Children from the upper class therefore have more privileges in life compared to their counterparts in the lower and middle classes. Some of the effects of class on marriages are shown through the lives of Mr. Croteau and Ms Woolner. Married and from two extremes in terms of their classes, they try very hard to reconcile their differences to build up a stable family. Their differences are so pronounced until they are evident even to their children (L ewin p 4).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Determination and motivation regardless of one’s class The story of James in the book ‘The Color of Water by James McBride’ is a perfect illustration of how one can succeed in life against all odds. James goes through a series of difficulties in life for example, the death of his biological father and also his step father, a background whereby the mother was abused by her father and also the race of his mother. He turns to drugs to escape from reality but later reforms and is able to have great achievements in life, which is also a source of joy to the mother (SparkNotes p1). The story of Mr. Croteau and Ms Woolner is also one of determination and how it can help one overcome every barrier and achieve what one desires. In their marriage, they have to overcome insurmountable odds in order for it to succeed, the class difference being the greatest. By the end of the story, they are still together and have a guiding philosophy that they must press on regardless of their obstacles. Conclusion Although class plays a significant role in the kind of life that one leads, it should not be seen as if one has to remain in one class forever. With determination and motivation, one can achieve anything, including moving up from a lower class to upper class. Leonhardt, David. The College Dropout Boom. New York: New York Times, 2005 Lewin, Tamar. When Richer Weds Poorer, Money Isnt the Only Difference. New York: New York Times, 2005 Scott, Janny and Leonhardt, David. Shadowy Lines That Still Divide. New York: New York Times, 2005 SparkNotes. The color of water: plot overview. SparkNotes LLC. 2011. Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Classes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

How to Start a Story Must-Have Tips From 11 Professional Editors

How to Start a Story Must-Have Tips From 11 Professional Editors How to Start a Story: 11 Tips From Our Editors Most writers don’t begin the novel-writing process knowing exactly how to start a story. That comes later, once the narrative arc has taken clearer form.It’s also because the opening lines of a novel carry a lot of responsibility with them. They act as an invitation for someone who’s glanced at the first page of your book to either put it back down or keep reading. It’s like the white rabbit showing up and asking Alice to follow him: the reader has to decide whether to follow despite not knowing what will happen next, and it is the writer’s job to convince them to go down the rabbit hole.Whether you’re just getting started on a novel, or revisiting Page 1 of a first draft, Reedsy Editors are here to help with tips for starting a story with literary examples from a few favorites. We asked our editors: "how would you start a story?" They came up with 9 insightful ways Tip 1. Start with the unexpectedGareth Watkins: Start with the unexpected. Think of the opening to Nineteen Eighty-Four, or Iain Banks’, The Crow Road, â€Å"It was the day my grandmother exploded.† Of course, your opening doesn’t have to be as outrageous as these, but always aim for the unusual. In other words: think of how people will be expecting the book to start, then take the plot  in another direction.If you're in the mood to get some similarly twisty ideas, you can go here to see a list of 70+ plot twist examples.â€Å"At dusk they pour from the sky. They blow across the ramparts, turn cartwheels over rooftops, flutter into the ravines between houses. Entire streets swirl with them, flashing white against the cobbles. Urgent message to the inhabitants of this town, they say. Depart immediately to open country.† - Anthony Doerr, All The Light We Cannot SeeTip 10. Start with your heartDiane Sheya Higgins: Ensure readers that you are not kidding around. You have invested blood, sweat, and tears into this story, and the opening lines should prove that. Compose the first lines of your book as though they were the last lines you will ever write.When readers are transported into your far reaching insights and soulful explorations, they are yours. Every time I read the opening lines of Hugh Howey’s bestselling self-published novel, Wool, I am drawn into the breathtaking depths of his vision and humanity, and I wrench my heart from my chest, and say, â€Å"Here, take it.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"The children were playing while Holston climbed to his death; he could hear them squealing as only happy children do. While they thundered about frantically above, Holston took his time, each step methodical and ponderous, as he wound his way around and around the spiral staircase, old boots ringing out on meta l treads.† - Hugh Howey, WoolTip 11. Start by placing a spell on your readerAnne McPeak: You want your reader to be swept up in the story- for its entirety, but especially at the beginning. This is your chance to intoxicate your reader and convince them that they can’t not read on. This doesn’t mean your story needs drama, or fireworks, or shocking material; what your story really needs is close attention to language, tone, and pacing. Dazzle your reader from the start, and they will willingly take your hand for the ride."Like a match struck in a darkened room:Two white girls in flannel nightgowns and red vinyl roller skates with white laces, tracing tentative circles on a cracked blue slate sidewalk at seven o'clock on an evening in July.The girls murmured rhymes, were murmured rhymes, their gauzy, sky-pink hair streaming like it had never once been cut." - Jonathan Lethem, Fortress of SolitudeEstablishing best practices for starting a story can be tricky because, as Reedsy Editor Nathan Connolly says, â€Å"Fiction should, by nature, seek to defy, redefine or expand beyond rules." It should not be an author’s goal to emulate the words or tastes of another person while writing a novel.However, many well-loved novels share a thread of commonality when it comes to their first few lines - such as a question, a brief to-the-point line, or in the middle of action. While there’s no hard rule for what works, these are guidelines you can follow when determining how to hook readers down your story’s path. Struggling with your opening lines? Here are 9 ways to start your story   Writing a book is a monumental task, but very doable once you have momentum and a compliant muse. If you're looking for ways to end  your novel, go here. And when you reach the finishing line of your entire publishing journey, please read our technical article on formatting and making a book ready for publishing.Do you have a favorite opening passage from a novel not mentioned? Or your own tips for writing a great story opener? Let us know in the comments!

Management Theory and Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Management Theory and Practice - Essay Example The leaders, especially political leadership of the nations therefore, become major enabling elements of change. The paper would be discussing the leadership dynamics of Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of unified Germany. Angela Merkel, an exemplary leader of contemporary times Angela Merkel was an academician who had plunged into politics when efforts for unifying Germany had started with the fall of Berlin wall. Her party, ‘Democratic Awakening’ merged with Helmut Kohl’s ‘Christian Democratic Union’ in 1990. She was the last spokesperson for DDR, East Germany party. She had become the youngest federal minister in Germany in 1991 when she was made part of reshuffled cabinet of Kohl as federal minister, Women and Youth from 1991 to 1994. She was minister of Environment, Protection of Nature and Reactor Safety, 1994-98. She continued to excel in her designated ministerial position and rose within the party position to take up Chairpersonship of CDU i n Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 1993-2000. Her meteoric rise to General Secretary and later as Chairman of CDU had finally culminated in her becoming the Chancellor of unified Germany in 2005 (Mills, 2007). Her leadership has been unique in many ways. She was the only woman leader who had rapidly gained popularity in the otherwise male dominated political arena of Germany. Her leadership was also exceptional because she had become a major representative of former East Germany and a symbol of new unified nation that promoted a policy of non differentiation and non partisan. Merkel has defied the gender stereotype that makes it difficult for women candidates to excel in adverse conditions. Her leadership style, decision making model and her inherent leadership traits became her major strength in a volatile socio-political environment of new face of unified Germany. Leadership style The fall of Berlin Wall was momentous occasion in the history of Germany. It not only signified a new politica l equation of Germany on the world map but it also bespoke of the change that Germans were ready to embrace. Her fast track political career could best be attributed to her mixed style of leadership comprising of situational and transformational leadership style. She believed in taking advantage of the situation and ensured her position through strategic decisions that were designed to promote her long term goals of gaining political power. She did not hesitate to criticise her mentor, Kohl, in 1998 when he became embroiled in a major scandal involving donation. It was an opportune moment to gain political leverage which she took and became Chairperson of CDU, the major political party of unified Germany (Langguth, 2005). Merkel is a leader who intrinsically believes that dynamic reforms are needed to bring in constructive change for socio-cultural and economic stability of the country. Bass (1999, p9) argues succinctly ‘transformational leader emphasizes what you can do for y our country..’. Merkel introduced dramatic reforms in the foreign policy. Hill (2010) affirms that Merkel has displayed exemplary leadership initiatives in ‘five critical areas:Â  the economic crisis, social policy, global warming, foreign policy and, perhaps most importantly, in refashioning capitalism in the face of its near collapse’. It clearly shows her confidence in reforms for the wider welfare of Germany. Traits As a highly effective transformational

Demand in Health Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Demand in Health Care - Essay Example People, particularly those suffering from life threatening diseases, need treatment. Regardless of how much it costs or whether a patient can afford it with his income, the treatment is imperative. Demand is different. There are choices involved in decisions to buy services. For instance, a patient with an eye problem decides to forego an expensive eye surgery and opt to use eye glasses instead. The cost of the operation forces the patient to use a much cheaper alternative since the condition can also be remedied, at least up to a point that the condition does not lead to permanent blindness or some fatal complication. The previous example demonstrates the so-called demand curve. According to Getzen, "the demand curve shows how many patients are willing to buy at a current price and also at other potential prices" (p.27). The model, which shows a downward slope, depicts how more people are inclined to purchase goods and services as its cost drops down. Here, it is clear that purchase decisions or demands are determined by the price. But price, in purely economic terms, is not the only factor involved in demand. The manner by this variable factor in peoples decisions is also driven by the concept of scarcity and value, which is determined by the quantity and quality of and need for the product or service. In my experience, demand always figure prominently in peoples healthcare decisions. Patients are often free to choose from different doctors according to cost, value and even cultural considerations. This is because there is no scarcity of professionals. Elastic demand could emerge in this situation. Doctors could lower their prices so that demand is stimulated. However, the choice is constrained for those doctors with rare specializations such as those in rare genetic diseases. This is also true for anesthesiologists who do not have any close substitutes (Feldstein, 2011, p.29). There are areas wherein these specialists form a group, monopolizing

Audit of international fashion marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Audit of international fashion marketing - Essay Example Concomitant with the above stated, it is further important to emphasise that South Korea has been recognized for its economic expansion, which was in a shorter period of time than any other country in modem history (Holstein & Nakarmi, 1995). While economic growth was stalled by the onset of the Asian Financial Crisis, S. Korea has since recovered. It reported GDP growth of 8.8 percent in 2000 and 2.7 percent in 2001 (Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, 2002, pp.1-3). Despite Korea's current economic fluctuation, it is still a major Western export market. In 2001, Korea was the eighth largest overall trade partner of the U.S., up from ninth in 1998 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, p.8). Korea is the sixth largest market for Western exports (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, p.8) and the U.S. alone provided twenty percent of Korea's imports for the first eight months of 2001 (Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, 2002, pp. 1-3). With increasing trade between the West and Korea, it is import ant for U.S. exporters who are targeting Korean markets, to understand Korean consumers' purchasing behavior. Proceeding from the above stated, it appears that S. Korea may be receptive to Topshop products, both from the economic and the regulatory perspectives. To ensure positive reception, however, it is necessary that the marketing campaign be based on a solid understanding of the country's fashion market and Topshop's potential customers. 2 Fashion Market in South Korea The market for imported casual clothing is especially important because casual clothing for both men and women has taken up almost half of Korea's total imported clothing market. According to Euromonitor (2005), imported clothing for both men and women held 41% of the total clothing market in 2004. At that time, formal clothing for women (26%). formal clothing for men (15%), clothing for babies and children (4), sportswear (11%), and golf wear (9%) accounted for their respective shares in the import market, as indicated in the graph below (Euromonitor, 2005). Regarding casual clothing, the imports were from, in order, the USA (32%). Italy (33%), and Hong Kong (18%), as indicated in the chart below (Euromonitor, 2005), The biggest market share of imported casual clothing reflects the huge growth potential of the casual clothing market for international marketers and the extent of the threat with which domestic marketers are confronted. The graphs and tables in the above communicate two important facts. The first is that the South Korean economy is receptive to foreign imports, as determined through its economic performance and its regulatory environment. The second is that the casual clothing market is a highly lucrative one, with statistics further evidencing the strong market performance of Western fashion. Within the context of the stated, one can tentatively forward the assumption that the South Korean market will positively receive and react to Topshop products. In further reflection upon the information presented in the above, it is clear that some Western markets have a much higher share of the South Korean apparel and fashion market than do others. The UK is hardly represented at all and the United States is disproportionately so. The implication here is that

The Role of Social Institutions in Society Essay

The Role of Social Institutions in Society - Essay Example In some societies, however, the educated are viewed with mistrust. Regardless of the view others have of education and educated individuals, it cannot be denied that formal education influences values in a society relative to the importance of material culture, the acceptance of unfamiliar or opposing values from other cultures and the importance of self reflection. Formal education is often the mechanism where the rules concerning social behavior and expression is taught in a society. An interesting aspect of education and social transmission of values that could be tested would be the ability and willingness of people to work cooperatively in a group to accomplish an unfamiliar task. The experiment could be designed so that groups of individuals would be paired with other individuals with similar educational experiences and level of attainment. Measurements could be made to see if there were different levels of cooperation between groups of different educational attainment levels. The scientific method starts off with a scientific question that needs answered. A hypothesis is formed that can be tested. An experiment is devised that will isolate the variables the scientist hopes to study. As the experiment is conducted, data is compiled.

Strategic public relation - Philadelphia Spread Cheese Research Paper

Strategic public relation - Philadelphia Spread Cheese - Research Paper Example e something that makes them noticeable from the crowd, something that makes them more attractive and fascinating to both the media and members of the public (Heath 103). A positive image can help augment a companys sales and unconstructive publicity can harm a companys reputation and decrease sales. Many people perceive PR as a way to turn news and information, thus portraying the news or information in the best possible way for the company (Doyle 2). For instance, if a company announces retrenchments, its PR department will allege that the company is cutting down on its costs and making itself more proficient to serve its customers better and offer lower prices (Walter 42). As long as it is true, then the PR section will be doing a great job of guarding its reputation and image. Stretching the true reality to create a positive image, on the other hand, can end up being damaging to the company if hyperboles or even half-truths are exposed (Jacque 4). The globalization of the food and beverage industry has transformed the process of producing and distributing food products in a way that clearly separates food production from food consumption (Agee 19). As a result of this circumstance, the links between productions and consumption are diverse and consist of elements of technology and heterogeneous socioeconomic producers, suppliers, and consumers (Lindenmann 3). In the current, very dynamic and multifaceted business environment, the importance of a product and its reinforcement is one of the key areas in the spotlight. The large, modern Middle East markets such as Saudi Arabia also show that significant further long-term growth is potentially high. This report sets out the market position of Philadelphia (philly – world-renowned cream cheese) cheese spread in UAE and Saudi Arabia. Philadelphia is a billion-dollar brand by Kraft. Philadelphia cheese spread is trying to break into the Middle East market. This report provides a background in which to view public

The Role of Social Institutions in Society Essay

The Role of Social Institutions in Society - Essay Example In some societies, however, the educated are viewed with mistrust. Regardless of the view others have of education and educated individuals, it cannot be denied that formal education influences values in a society relative to the importance of material culture, the acceptance of unfamiliar or opposing values from other cultures and the importance of self reflection. Formal education is often the mechanism where the rules concerning social behavior and expression is taught in a society. An interesting aspect of education and social transmission of values that could be tested would be the ability and willingness of people to work cooperatively in a group to accomplish an unfamiliar task. The experiment could be designed so that groups of individuals would be paired with other individuals with similar educational experiences and level of attainment. Measurements could be made to see if there were different levels of cooperation between groups of different educational attainment levels. The scientific method starts off with a scientific question that needs answered. A hypothesis is formed that can be tested. An experiment is devised that will isolate the variables the scientist hopes to study. As the experiment is conducted, data is compiled.

Attribution Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Attribution Theory - Essay Example For people to interpret the causes of particular behaviour performed by other individuals, it is necessary for them to observe the behaviour, and attribute external or internal causes to it. Any outside body or agent that triggers or causes the event is an external factor while factors that are within the control of an individual and are a part of his/her personality are the internal factors (Shackleton, 1995). An example of how attribution theory can be applied in our daily lives could be our reaction to, say, having a good social circle. An individual who is a loner and has no friends to talk to will always be found complaining about how the world is so cruel and unjust. This is attributing an external factor to the event. However, a person who is the life of a party and is acquainted with a lot of people will be found claiming that it is so because of his being so attractive and smart. As obvious, this case refers to an internal factor or the factor which is within a person. There are many factors which are related to attribution. The determination of the causes depends on three things (Kelly, 1967). Distinctiveness, the first one, tells whether the person's actions are distinct and different from other situations. The second is consensus, which tells whether other people behave in the same way to the same situation. The third factor is consistency, which finds out whether the individual behaves the same way consistently to the same situation. The theory predicts that whenever there is high distinctiveness, the causes of the behaviour are external and with low distinctiveness, the factors are internal. For consensus, it is an external factor whenever there is a high consensus and an internal factor when the consensus is low. High consistency indicates an internal factor while low consistency depicts an external factor. In fact, when we apply attribution theory, there are two types of errors which can result in distorted attributions. One is the fundamental attribution error and the other is self-serving bias. (1) Fundamental attribution error: It occurs when people overestimate the effects of internal factors while underestimating the effects of external factors when judging the behavior of others (Martinko, 1995.) It is when the actions of people are attributed to their traits and personality rather than the external influence that may have led them to such an action. (2) Self-serving bias: This error, also known as attributional bias, refers to the tendency of individuals to claim responsibility for successes while attributing failures to other causes or factors (Martinko, 1995.) It is just one way of imaging what is pleasing to us rather than the realistic situation. One factor which can be related to this bias is whether there is a reward or punishment proclaimed for certain behavior (Harvey & Smith, 1977). It is suggestd that when we suceed, we tend to overestimate the internal factors which could be our talent and effort and underestimate the external factor which could be the help of others. Yet, if we were failed, we would overestimate the external factors which could be lack of collegue's co-operation, and underestimate the internal factors such as our laziness. This indicates that people would explain the same behavior to events differently if it occurred differently (. Systematic bias: It is a form of self-serving bias and occurs when people generally tend to think that they are better at tasks that are

Gold is a precious meta Essay Example for Free

Gold is a precious meta Essay Gold is a precious metal and its price since its discovery is usually determined by the open market. However, a bench mark figure is set daily through a procedure referred to as gold fixing and this benchmark figure controls the gold industry thus the prices of gold. This gold fixing procedure was introduced in 1919 and it originated from London where it is still practiced even today. Gold is usually measured using grams and also by troy weights like all other metals considered precious. In the past, gold was being used as currency and this only ended with introduction of paper money. In 1968, the economic conditions which were prevailing led to the formation of a two-tier pricing scheme. Under this format, a standardized currency based on the gold value at that time was allowed to settle all international accounts while gold trade at the private market was being controlled by the market forces. This arrangement however ended in 1975 and gold started operating in a free market. This caused the price of gold to fluctuate with the price rising to $850 per ounce of gold in 1980 to as low as $252 in 1999. The historic prices of gold have been known to fluctuate greatly although a benchmark figure is set to ensure that the price do not exceed the upper and lower limits. Before the collapse of the gold standard in the 1970s, the price of gold was highly influence by the United States dollar since the dollar was pegged on the gold (GOLDPRICE. ORG, Para 1-5). This research paper will evaluate the impacts that the current recession may have on the prices of gold, the differences between government and gold investment, the causes of gold fluctuations as well as the effects that gold fluctuations may have on the present value of money. Impact of recession on gold prices One of the questions which are being frequently asked today is what would happen to the prices of gold as a result of the recession or depression being experienced in United States. A research conducted by the world gold council aimed at comparing gold performance during the recessionary periods. However, it has been established that gold prices are not affected by the global recession. During recessionary periods, the must be losers and winners based on the terms used in evaluating asset performance. Fixed income assets like gold tend to win during such periods while cyclical stocks lose. An analysis on correlation and regression carried out during a recessionary period in the United States showed that there is no possible relationship between the growths of the country’s GDP and the gold price changes. As such, a recession does not impact negatively to the prices of gold. This underpins the role of gold as a diversifying asset especially in times of recession and also outlines the forces that control gold prices. The recession unlike it was widely believed has had positive impact for gold prices despite the decline in the dollar strength (Connell, Para 2-4). Due to the recessionary period being experienced in most parts of the world, more people have turned to gold investment thus making the present value of money to decrease. An increase in gold trading would lead to an increase in the gold prices thus purchasing the same value of gold for more money. This would mean that the value of money would have gone down. On the other hand, a decrease in the volume of gold would lead to and increase in the present value of money (Potter, Para 4-5). Gold investment versus government investment There is a heated debate on what form of investment is more viable and beneficial between gold investment and investing in government securities or bonds. Both of these two investment options have their advantages and disadvantages. Gold investment is recognized as one of the best investment since it offers solid investment. As noted above, gold prices are not adversely affected by the recessionary periods meaning gold can still maintain value of investment even when there are economic crisis in a country. The fact that gold prices are not negatively influenced by recession makes gold investment more attractive than investing in government bonds especially in times of economic crisis (Willink, Para 2). However, gold investment is a risky investment especially for a person who is not an expert in the gold field. Also, some forms of gold can be confiscated by the government in times of war leading to big losses. Government bonds on the other hand amounts to lending to the government which is usually done at a fixed rate of interest. The bonds are considered to be risk free and also repayment is guaranteed. This form of an investment does not yield higher returns to the investor making it less desirable. Due to the improvement of technology and globalization, investing in gold is becoming risky as they are chances of being cheated. Gold is also very costly and the returns may not be good especially due to the form of market in which gold operates. As such, investing in government bonds would be more effective since the risk involved is minimal and returns are guaranteed (Willink, Para 3-6). Causes of gold price fluctuations Gold prices are regulated by the market forces and as such they are subjected to the law of demand and supply which explains the gold prices fluctuations. During inflationary periods, people buy more gold for investment since it is not affected by inflations. This leads to an increase in gold demand thus the prices. On the other hand, people sell their gold investment during the boom period making the price of gold to decrease. Demand and supply forces are major contributors to the fluctuation of gold price. Another possible cause of gold price fluctuation is the exploration cost of gold and also the cost involved in developing gold to make the needed products such as jewelry. When exploration and manufacturing cost increase, the price of gold and gold products also increase and vice versa. Fluctuations in the paper currency may also affect or lead to price fluctuation of gold. When paper money loses value or individuals lose faith in a country’s currency, the demand for gold increases leading to price surge (Jackson, Para 1-4). Conclusion Gold trading is one of the oldest forms of trade in the world. In the ancient times, gold was being used as a means of exchange and was used as a standard that was being used in the international markets. During the gold standard, the dollar was pegged on gold and was used to ensure equitability and measurability. However, after the collapse of the gold standard, gold prices were left to be determined by the free market which has led to the fluctuations being experienced in the gold market. Unlike in the past, more people are turning to gold investment mainly due to its resistance to global market fluctuations and economic crisis. However, gold investment is one of the most risky and also lucrative investments as it may lead to huge losses or huge profits. Investing in this market also requires experts due to the complexity and instability of this market. Reference: Connell, Rhona: What does a US recession imply for the gold price? (2008). Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://www. ibtimes. com/articles/20080604/what-does-a-us-recession-imply-for. htm. GOLDPRICE. ORG: Gold Price History. Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://www. goldprice. org/gold-price-history. html. Jackson, Dave: Why Gold Prices Fluctuate. Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://ezinearticles. com/? Why-Gold-Prices-Fluctuateid=720555. Potter, Christopher K. : Gold Money. (2007). Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://news. goldseek. com/GoldSeek/1194370818. php Willink, Andrew: Alternative Investment Round-up. (2008). Retrieved on 16th March 2009 from, http://www. ratecity. com. au/savings-accounts/info/alternative-investment-round-up/.

Global Response to Failed States

Global Response to Failed States Introduction According to Max Weber, a modern functioning sate is an institution claiming a â€Å"monopoly of legitimate use of physical force in enforcing its order within a given territory† (Garner, Robert, Peter Ferdinand, and Stephanie Lawson, 2009, 27). Therefore, a state, in broad terms, is an entity that can support itself through the use of legitimacy to enforce its rule and to provide its population with the adequate â€Å"public† goods. Based on the definition of a strong state, a weak or failed state is a political being that, within the scope of international politics, supplies the state with both scare qualities and quantities of political â€Å"public† goods and simultaneously, no longer has abundant control over violence within their given boundaries. Failed states cannot provide basic rights or needs such as education, security, or governance. (Helman and Ratner, 1992) Often this failure to provide the institutions is caused by violence or poverty in certain a reas of the state. These structurally and politically fragile institutions of government can cause internal and external problems. Internally, these governments are so weak or ineffective that they have little or no control over the majority of their territories as well as the lack of provision of â€Å"public† goods, leading to civil wars, rebellions, and full on warfare among separate factions within the state. Internationally, these areas can be both the cause and result of widespread corruption and criminality, refugees and involuntary movement of populations, sharp economic decline, and the potential of national security problems through the threat of terrorists and international criminals. However, the external threats not only come from the state but from outsiders as well. Occasionally, groups like the United Nations or a bordering state step into intervene and stop a disaster in the making (Langford, 1999). Although the intent is not to harm the states, these interna tional powers can also be the cause of the problem. This paper explores the reasons that current responses are ineffective and how global powers could better respond to failed states in that it is far better for them to be created into a non-state society rather than have them become a state that is sustained by international intervention alone. The existing response of international superpowers to the issue of failed states is based on an assumption that the state in question was once actually a state, and can become a functioning entity again. Within the spectrum of the validity of these states comes the question of sovereignty. Even strong states face challenges from outside and inside of their borders, but these failed states have no sovereignty whatsoever because they cannot control their capacity or autonomy. Their authority is questioned and they require support to remain functional and it comes to question whether the states actually had any sovereignty to begin with. Due to this, the attempt of international world powers to transform the failed state back into a successful state through use of international resources and efforts with the assumption that they will be able to function without international support is a meager counter to the problem. Legitimacy The level of a failed state is measured by the extent to which the states are susceptible to any form of challenges to its legitimacy, whether internal or external. Based on shared knowledge of values that define a state, legitimacy is the acknowledgment that a state has, or is assumed to have, a right to rule whether legally or morally. In history, a state existed was considered legitimate if it existed. Because of this definition, most states met the traditional requirements of statehood. As said by Weber, the foremost characteristics of a state was having the capacity to act internationally and to maintain a monopoly of force within their territories, but it was not limited to just that. A state was also to have defined borders, a government, and a permanent population. Although these are the criteria required to have statehood, most states gain their independence without one or more of these principles. These states are still recognized by the global community as state actors eve n though they could not fully meet the requirements that were set before them, including a percentage of their population disregarding both authority and legitimacy of the state itself. The state was presumed to be the only authority, despite whether or not the people believed it to be legitimate. Simply put, the assumption of legitimacy applied to all states by the fact that all states documented by the United Nations were believed to be legitimate. These fragile states have contributed to an incredibly dispersed world. In this world, struggles and violence are key players. Discourse has created chances for states that are more powerful to press the power held within their region. It is possible that the power stretches even further and these hegemonic states begin to exploit the weak states in order to form new types of coalitions, partnerships, and connections between different actors, both state and non-state, as well as a plethora of problematic challenges which they must struggle to fight for their future. Just as discourse creates chances, absent or declining legitimacy also creates causes for problems. Once the legitimacy of a state has been called into question, there is a rush for groups, movements, and other state entities to fight over which group will fill the void. In order to take control of the state and undermine its legitimacy, these state entities exert their power in both violent and nonviolent ways. In the ma jority of fragile states in the modern world, these battles are being lost to other actors because the weakened governments do not have the power to provide the security and core functions that the other actors can readily provide (Krasner, Stephen D., and Carlos Pascual, 2005). Once these states have entered into this conflict, the protections services within the state, such as those serving to keep the peace, have either stopped operating or have ceased to exist altogether. In other cases however, these services are being utilized for actions that they were never intended to be used for (Rotberg, 2002). Global Responses These efforts to remanufacture the failed states are clearly formed on political and economic views of the Western superpowers. The two essential areas of failed states, according to the aforementioned group, are the failure to provide political goods and the incapability to meet the plain economic essentials of the people. These hegemons seek therefore to shape and improve the state’s institutional capacity to respond to failure. The economic factors of rebuilding failed states place an emphasis on this capacity to build certain institutions, but the aims are completely different and come from a separate perspective. While political attempts to rebuild states focuses on strengthening state institutions such as the government, peacekeeping forces, the restore of rule of law, and the provision of security, the economic efforts try to diminish the government power by releasing the economy and freeing the market services. In general, the measures suggested by the groups involved in the attempts to end state fragility or failures vary in range that it compiles a rather large list of things to be done. The tasks center around economic, political, and security based things. However, the problem is that this task list runs off the assumption that these failed states can actually be revived by rebuilding them. The state in an isolated environment, as decided by Western policy makers and scholars, is the root of the problem. However, they also see it as the source to solve the problem. But the error with the opinion of the West is that it overlooks the issues of interdependence as well as any political or economic interactions (Garner, Robert, Peter Ferdinand, and Stephanie Lawson, 2009, 432). Systematic efforts have been lacking to study state fragility and failure in terms of interconnections and linkages between the West and these failed states. What drives the state building process in these areas is the occupying power and their political ideologies, values, economic interests and strategic perceptions. These are based on defective calculations and wrong policy priorities. Alternative Methods Several policy recommendations could come in handy when dealing with these problems. First, instead of focusing on state building along the Western lines, there should be a development of nation building. The idea of national identity is not just feeling making the population feel like citizens. It requires the involvement of all the separate things that make up society such as ethnic background, cultural tradition, and the different types of social or political views. All of these things need to be integrated into the society because they are the factors that make up the people who actually make the nation. In times when there is no unity in a failed state, it is hard to feel like an actual citizen, therefore there is no desire for the state to become normal again. In the throes of the clashes between the groups who feel alienated, state institutions can’t continue developing. These groups, despite the fact that the institutions are meant to improve the political and economic functions and production of goods, will eventually reject the institutions because they do not do anything for the general population because their development has ceased. Any efforts to actually rebuild the nation into any form of functionality is clearly lacking due to the internal absence of unity (King, Gary, and Langche Zeng, 2001). Just as important is the basis for the need of a domestic economic base for the failed states. There should be a change in the way the economy works, instead of laboring for political points, there should be a push for the creation of a stable base for the economy. The current strategy, although supplying enough money to certain areas, such as the social and economic bases, is ineffective. The majority of the money that is donated goes to the already urban areas, instead of the rural places where it is needed most. Some of the funding skips the government completely, leaving it nonfunctional, and goes straight to the elites, giving more room for their power to grow. The goal is to ensure that the state, without the help of any international powers, is able to grow and function on its own, at least economically. Without this, there is no way for the state to function. A move towards understanding the roots of the conflicts and the different situations they are based in as well as an attempt at communication between the opposing groups is also imperative. So far, there have been no movements to actually understand the issues that have formed in the failed states. There should be a large push for any occupying power as well as any entity funding the state to figure out the roots of conflict. Things that need to be addressed are simple: why does this conflict continue in such a manner, why do the parties involved in the conflict have such different goals, and what incentive could be used in order to bring them together to compromise on a way to end the continuous warfare. This has been lacking approach has been lacking and some of the policies placed by the occupying power exclude certain opposing parties and it exacerbates the conflicts instead of resolving them. At one point in time, a state could not be questioned on its authority, even with a temporary loss of power and authority over its territory. It was a theory accompanied by the practice of protection from violence if a state could no longer function correctly. This was international law. However, the people wanted the right to self-governance, as the basis for involvement within the global community, and it was pleaded for. This global community, or similar organization posing under the same name, understands the call for human rights. The right to govern themselves would ultimately allow the states to participate in their own internal affairs. They would be protected against any outside attacks from conquering entities, all for the sake of restoring the authority that was required by the state for a proper functioning of international ruling. Although the state has seen such as such has seen its presence justified, the issue of what methods can be used to revive the states at such l evels remains to be answered. Because the causes of the problem are generally internal in the root of the problem, it would only be proper that the very same internal services would provide assistance in the recovery process. There have been attempts, using their own practices, by the population of these failed states to build their state back over a course of time. In this manner, the voices of the people and the will of the state has the potential to rally behind a movement around various points for different purposes, such as education, local government, transportation, agriculture, or other methods and organizations, both public and private, which gives the people cause to move toward the common motivations which would further the cause of reconstructions. Equally, incomplete arrangements could also serve as a drive for enthusiasm in the creation of an inclusive public segment and institutions which serve to represent the people. In the long term, this would then allow the government, as a lone entity, to regain the legitimacy that is required of it. The things that need to be realized are two things which are essential for the formation of a legitimate state. This state, although based on tolerance, encouraged by principle, and coupled with the ability to peacefully cooperate, has to enable the people to be within a political setting as well as maintain their sense of national identity. The two things, which are the combined efforts and remedies which allow human coexistence and the will to become a state bound by unity, must be achieved. The outside influences, such as global entities with different institutions, can only move to help the formation of self-improvement. Conclusion When considering the problem of failed states, it has become evident that to some powers and viewpoints, they are happenings that are to insignificant in the scheme of things to be considered important. Within the realm of these occurrences of failed states, it is difficult to place them into the category of legal ideology because it forms essential challenges. These challenges are placed to against law, both international and constitutional. Furthermore, the inquiry that needs to be asked is whether these instances of the failing of states, however infrequent they may appear, are actually the mere beginnings of a much more intricate threat posed towards civil society as it is known. Since there is potential for the destruction and dismemberment of law and order within these politically based civilizations, the question of whether such aggression is considered to be basic human nature is called into play. The initial global responses approach the states with an attempt at equalizing the states strength as well as the power held. This is something that is incredibly generalized and is a factor in including states within the classification that is a failed state. It infers a certain dependence on the power of politics as well as a certain weakness that is permanent and cannot be changed. This theory, although efficient, give signs and examples without actually giving them any meaning whatsoever, making it incomparable to the weaker states within the area due to the vagueness of the actual meaning.