Feminism, Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Feminism, - Essay Example While it is important to appreciate that these practices happen within a cultural context we then mirror the same aspects through the western culture and knowledge, global health, feminist and humanitarian perspective to come up with themes of similarity and contrast. â€Å"The Pain of Thinking too Much, dolor de cerebro and the Embodiment of Social Hardship among Nicaraguan Women† is the main article in this report. Yarris mentions about families whose sons and daughters migrate to Costa Rica, Panama, Spain and the U.S in search for work and better lives for their families. The migration of sons and daughters is equated to combating poverty and those left behind have to assume caregiver roles and responsibilities, which is often an added burden. The women worry over the security and safety of their children as they transcend borders using illegal means to gain entry. In Nicaragua, the economics of migration sees households making a decision of send one or more members to neig hboring countries to work as a strategy to increase the income and economic security. The capitalistic economies create inferior jobs under pathetic working conditions in order to remain profitable with nationals unwilling to accept working in these conditions. This line of thought perceives the economics of the well to do countries exploiting and destroying poor countries through social fragmentation (Yarris 230). While some contemplate genital female mutilation with horror, others exalt and translate the process as purification and to constitute an important part of shaping and defining feminine sexuality, aesthetic and religion. Amidst the pain and discomfort, there is pride, joy, satisfaction and emotional attachment with girls who undergo the practice as initiates. Both authors converge in similarity on how history and human society use pain as a social mechanism to manipulate women and transform their identity. Human beings spend most of their lives in pain or suffering. Pain and suffering can be viewed punishment, sacrifice, reward or destiny. Aristotle spoke of pain as passions of the soul and to this day, we associate these emotions with matters of the soul and spirituality. Social forces through social institutions, global systems and culture cause social suffering. This is as witnesses in horrifying inhuman global acts and the role of institutional policies in producing greater suffering to human beings. In the era of organized religion pain and suffering was attributed to superior powers. The gods would determine when, how, who, where and the kind of suffering to give to human beings as an indication of their displeasure. In Christianity, suffering is not considered a bad thing or experience, but an essential aspect to get closer to God. In eastern cultures, self-inflicted pain is a religious tradition and believed to be manageable (Walley 406). According to â€Å"Searching for Voices, Feminism Anthropology and the Global Debate on Female Genital Operations†, the worrier syndrome among Nicaragua women and genital mutilation as embedded in traditions may have serious effects on the health of populations. The older women suffer both mentally and emotionally as the worry and feel anxious for family members who are away especially if the person is a son, daughter or both. They are

Hillary Clinton Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hillary Clinton Campaign - Essay Example An excellent writing skill must be employed for an intelligent idea could be senseless without it being well-expressed. Though base on his/her opinion, the writer must be very careful with such strong emotions or personal bias as that could be a hinder in presenting a rational explanation. Prior to writing, the author must first check his own view specially if it was from an incoherent source or was formed many years ago. Faludi, on the first part of her article had made a concise yet substantial view of the current politics in America as she creatively relates it to the gender issue using the masculine myth as she expound on Boone's "Rescue" tableau. Her struggle to convince her reader to adhere to her strong preference towards McCain has been made very obvious as she presents the facts in a very explicit manner that displays McCain's masculinity in contrast to Obama's femininity. She needs not to make a last statement her conclusion because it has been clear in every part of her text. This discrimination, however, could possibly elicit the danger of appearing so biased that the reader would not want to continue reading knowing that they would be presented with the same presentation of the same argument. She has a great tendency to persuade her audience of her perspective that were based upon agreed-upon facts and shared values between McCain supporters and Obama's detractors. Her argument would be effective in aggravating McCain's supporters' admiration towards the politician, but for those on the opposite view as well as those in the middle, the article should have been inconspicuously partial. Collins' has concisely yet completely defined his own position early in his text as he dealt with a distinct, contentious issue. He skillfully states his stance without distorting any information. This he had done by having a profound knowledge on the issue beforehand thus he managed to create a logical explanation that have the power to convince even Clinton's supporter. He quoted reliable authorities like the person of Muriel Fox who was one of National Organization for Women's founder to back-up his idea. As using the first person weakens argument (Jordan-Henley, 2008), he need not to pronounce his text using such. He had refrained from presenting any bias by pointing out the bad side, "Her campaign was messy, and it made some fatal tactical errors" (Collins, 2008) as well as the good side, "But nobody who sent her a donation could accuse her of not giving them their money's worth" (Collins, 2008) of his opposing points. Allowing this type of compromise and portrayal of justice ha d been one of his effective tactics that had surely won neural readers' approval. Speaking adeptly, his discreet words and reasonable details have the power to move skeptics. Among the three authors, Herbert was apparently the only one who had backed up his idea using a considerably acceptable source, quoting from national poll by Lifetime television as well as nonpartisan campaign. He had been very clear with his topic as he creates an actual picture of the current gender issue that U.S. was experiencing at the very moment. He's introduction had been nonetheless factual and the rest of the text was

The Body Shop: Corporate Governance

The Body Shop: Corporate Governance Management System Corporate Governance The management system and governance of each and every organisation is accountable for the maintenance of the organisation’s strength and survival in the stiff competition in the business world. The role of the governance imposed by the organisation as a whole should always be open minded for the occurrences of changes in order to adjust and cope with the tremendous development that are happening in the internal and external environment of the organisation. With the constantly changing environment, many people especially those in the working organisation find themselves normally adapting. This is because change can bring many improvement and development in different aspects of competency. In many ways, change can make work easier, pave the way for future innovations or generally improve people’s lives. Similarly, change has been adapted by various work organisations for varied reasons. Important changes in the understanding and management of corporate governance and its impacts on businesses have been developed in the past 10 to 15 years. Various researchers, practitioners and policymakers now acknowledge that corporate governance and its impacts on businesses can be conceptualised from a functional perspective and that appropriate interventions involve the development of alternative measures to cope up. It was also noted that the establishment of a conducive environment for learning and training as an integral component of corporate governance have served effectively in implementing organisational change strategies for transformation. At present, this philosophical shift has extended to various settings, including multinational companies and organisations. Directors here have recognised that some employees do not have the skills and behavioural repertoires necessary to cope with the many expectations and challenges of corporate governance. Hence, these employees m ay have the tendency to remain contented with their mediocre performances as their alternative way of mitigating these expectations. Corporate governance pertains to the set of policies that are established in order to make influence in the manner in which an organisation or company is managed, governed or operated. The execution of corporate governance leads to the efficient and effective implementation of the policies and tasks necessary to satisfy a firms customers, employees, and management. It also focuses on the careful management of the processes involved in the relationships among all the stakeholders involved (Bhattacharya, 2000). More often than not, small companies dont really have the capabilities to implement corporate governance. Instead, these companies engage in activities that various schools of management typically associate with the implementation of corporate governance. These activities include the establishment of rules, policies for decision-making, monitoring and evaluation. However, corporate governance deals with all operations done within companies and organisations. Activities such as the management of responsibilities, the control of operations, logistics and evaluations are often related with corporate governance. A great deal of emphasis lies on the efficiency and effectiveness of processes. Therefore, corporate governance includes the analysis and management of internal processes. The Body Shop will be the model business entity that will be used in this research based on their history in corporate governance. Company Background A known British chain of cosmetic stores called â€Å"Body Shop† which is found almost all over the world shows tremendous success in previous years is also the company The Body Shop International plc. Actually, The Body Shop agreed to a  £652 million takeover offer by a French cosmetics group LOrà ©al on 17 March 2006. The Body Shop was founded by Anita Roddick, distinguished for selling its own line of products not tested on animals, and produced in an ecologically sustainable approach (wikipedia, 2006). The Body Shop aims for sustainable growth as a broad market leader in cosmetics as well as for segment leadership. In both cases, the brands of The Body Shop will play a crucial part. The Body Shop is able to establish its broad leadership usually by merging with other strong cosmetics companies and their products, which are then combined into a new, larger company. Offering training to its employees, improving the company operations, and the introduction of new beauty products and technologies then reinforces the positions of the various products of The Body Shop. This practically results in economies of scale that is able to create a distribution network for both its local and international products. If a market is already in the control of other companies, The Body Shop devotes its attention towards the development of a premium segment with its various beauty products. Discussions Any business organisation fundamentally exists because it has certain responsibilities to fulfil for the people in the community as well as the various entities comprising it. The organisation has its human entity ranging from the staff, to the managers, board of directors, stakeholders, suppliers and so forth. All these groups have their own set of functions that contribute to the determination of the business goals, the delivery mechanisms of goods and services, and the operational patterns within the organisation. Furthermore, business organisations are part of the larger society where the markets and consumers are targeted and derived. The complexity of the internal and external surroundings of the business necessitates crucial deliberations and decisions in order to ensure the effective and continuous affairs of the organisation. The overall management of the internal and external affairs of the organisation is what basically forms corporate governance. Basic Definitions 1) Corporate Governance pertains to the set of policies that are established in order to make influence in the manner in which an organisation or company is managed, governed or operated (Bhattacharya, 2000). 2) Company Performance can be measured in terms of the efficient and effective implementation of the policies and tasks necessary to acquire the essential goods or services at the best possible total cost of ownership, leading to the overall satisfaction of a firms customers, employees, and management (Booms, 1981). Role of Executive Directors Executive directors have the primary role to make specific identifications of all the possible sources of evaluation information which includes company performance. This is because aside from the observations of the immediate supervisors, company performance evaluation information can still come from a variety of other sources, including the employees, subordinates, and work products (Einsestat, 2001). For example, whenever The Body Shop utilises company performance information from individuals other than the immediate supervisor, the management informs the employees of the possible sources at the start of the company performance cycle, where they receive their company performance plans. In addition, these executive directors are the people who develop their company’s performance plans. The plans are signed by the employees and then passed on to the management for approval. They make sure that company performance plans are complete and adequate before signing the forms (Gonzalez, 2003). Executive directors also discuss the company performance plans with the employees in a clear and organised manner. Generally, discussions are conducted within 30 days of the start of the company performance cycle. Role of Non-executive Directors Non-executive directors document their company’s performance and provide feedback to the executive directors from time to time throughout the company performance cycle. Documentation normally occurs in the form of memos, and these are retained in the non-executive directors’ confidential files. Actually, these directors also have the authority to determine substandard or unacceptable company performance (Galpin et al. 2002). They normally address minor or marginal company performance issues through company performance counselling and coaching. The Body Shop’s Corporate Governance It can be said that the company has a very good framework that has been established in order to deal with different corporate matters. In fact, there is usually a properly structured program that is further reinforced by company policies and other procedures for the proper guidance of the directors in their daily duties. Consequently, the company has a clear reference guide to its business operations and corporate governance. The Board of Directors which oversee the businesses and the decision-making routines as well as the financial aspect of things, keeps watch. In addition, this includes the maintenance of the standards with regards to corporate governance in the corporation’s different sectors. The Board is made up of ten directors; two are executive while six are non-executive. Because of this, there is a fair division of responsibilities and other tasks among them. And while the non-executive directors are independent from the others, they are still able to contribute their experience and knowledge during Board discussions. Without a doubt, The Board is in-charge of caring for the company’s operations, assets, and its shareholders. All-in-all, the board aims to work with these factors in the hopes of maximising performance. Because of this, it is The Board that is responsible for the finalisation of budgets and strategic plans. And in order to ensure the firm’s competent operations, The Board conducts a monthly review of the company’s businesses in relation to its financial movements. Furthermore, there is a company law that obliges The Board of Directors to carefully prepare each year, a financial report that would have to be accurate and reliable reflecting the true state of the company. All things considered, The Board of Directors is the one that is responsible for the proper safekeeping of accounting statements and to ensure that these records are precise and truthful. In addition, the board is in-charge of guarding the company’s other assets as well as making the necessary steps in order to prevent complications such as fraud and other types of risks. Aside from the board of directors, the company also has other committees as part of their corporate governance. Just like the board, other committees have a well-established reference guide which also discusses their duties and their scope of authority within the corporation. Composed typically of independent directors who are non-executive, the remuneration committee handles the outline for the company’s remuneration policy which would eventually be reviewed by the board. Moreover, this group is also responsible for the various remuneration packages that are given to executive directors. On the other hand, there is also a nomination committee which is also made up of mostly non-executive directors. The responsibility of this group is to recommend to The Board on which people should be appointed as directors. There is also a group known as the audit committee. Compared to the other two, the members of this committee is purely composed of non-executive directors. This group’s duty is to make proper recommendations with regards to the company’s accounting policies as well as overseeing financial control within the corporation (Sternberg, 1998). For this reason, the committee usually receives and reviews financial reports and other statements delivered to them. Then, they make a comprehensive report before they submit it to The Board. Of course, there is also the group’s evaluation of the risks involved which has always been done to assist with the company’s next business move, and have further control of the corporation’s different operations. Apparently, The Body Shop has a clear code of ethics and all employees must affirm their acceptance of this code. The code of ethics includes a conflict of interest policy to ensure that key corporate decisions are made by individuals who do not have a financial interest in the outcome separate from their interest as company officials. The company also actively monitors compliance with the law and the global financial policies and practices over critical areas. These areas include internal controls, financial accounting and reporting, fiduciary accountability and safeguarding of our corporate assets. A major factor involved in the improvement of The Body Shop involves the establishment and utilisation of company performance measures or indicators that in turn measure their customer’s satisfaction. These measures or indicators are measurable characteristics of products and services that the company typically utilises in order to study and improve company performance. The indicators that will be chosen should be able to represent the essential factors that are crucial to the improvement of operational and financial performance. Through the analysis of accurate information brought about by the tracking processes, the measures or indicators themselves can possibly be analysed and improved to support such goals. Effects of Governance to The Body Shop’s Business Ethics and Purpose The Board has been able to attain complete control of all matters regarding the company. Their self-perseverance and obligation to their duties and finally, their obedience to the company laws all contribute to the development of the corporation. As such, The Board constantly believes that all the data pertaining to financial information and other facts regarding to their operations that are currently being used is reliable. The Board’s authority is clearly recognised within the company. And because of this, it is able to have a solid grip on the corporation’s actual operations, stakeholders and its financial concerns. Needless to say, because of the corporation’s proper structure and its commitment to the stakeholders and to the community as well, the board of directors has proven that it can efficiently handle both its ethical and legal responsibilities. Furthermore, the company is currently maintaining good relations and open communications with its investors. As a matter of fact, shareholders are regularly invited by the corporation whenever there are gatherings to discuss trade updates. Moreover, whenever there is an annual general meeting, investors get the chance to meet The Board members themselves. And of course, for private investors, they can also access the company’s website for various shareholder services. Undoubtedly, the company has good consideration for all of its stakeholders; past, present and future. There definitely seems to be a very well planned framework in the firm’s corporate division. It has good policies and procedures with regards to financial matters and operational concerns. Its procedure of assessing the different kinds of situations that come up is certainly a good move on their part. Not to mention, they have maintained good relations with their stakeholders. And finally, The Boardâ€⠄¢s authority is unsurpassed. Clearly, these facts prove the strength of the company’s corporate governance structure. The weakness on this case however, is the fact that it cannot always be assured that there are no losses or other errors which may result from mistakes and inconsistencies by one of the committees or employees involved. In addition, having diverse populations, there can be a possibility of having internal problems between members who have different culture and beliefs. In addition, some problems occur in terms of giving value to the companies’ shareholders. There are times that the shareholder is not given the enough information about the status of the company, specifically that shareholder which have a small part in the business. This happens when the board of directors does not give value to their shareholders. Other negative aspects include the imperfection of financial reporting procedures which may definitely result in ineffective corporate governance. Why it is of interest to diverse stakeholder groups? The occurrence of corporate governance systems within diverse stakeholder groups reflects the growing difficulty in the management of organisations that require the effective use of valuable resources such as money, materials, equipments, and people. And there is no exception to these. This is the reason why corporate governance systems are being implemented within diverse stakeholder groups in order for them to determine the most effective ways to coordinate these resources through the application of analytical methods derived from fields of studies (Jobber, 1998). Through this process, group management problems are solved in different ways and alternative solutions are then relayed to the group’s management. The management then selects the appropriate course of action in line with their goals. More often than not, corporate governance systems are concerned with complicated issues such as top-level strategy, resource allocation, designing of production facilities and systems, pricing and the analysis of large databases. For example, the company governance strategies of Heineken are focused mainly on driving the growth of its brands and improving the company’s financial performance. These company governance strategies have also helped them secure significant acquisitions and partnerships. And more importantly, these campaigns have led to the release of the potentials of the company’s employees, thus building a quality performance- based culture. On the other hand, Alliance Boots, Europe’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty group came into being with the merger of Alliance UniChem and Boots Group.  The merger recognises and strengthens the existing strategies of both entities by combining complementary businesses and strengths to create an international force in pharmacy-led  health and beauty while maintaining the Company’s commitment to the independent pharmacists through enhanced wholesale distribution and retail services. The company’s ultimate aim is to deliver products that make people look and feel their best. In order to do so, the company values performance and continuously strives to fulfil promises to shareholders through setting high standards of practice that are recognised by all internal and external stakeholders. It intends to lead the pharmacy and beauty industries with its products while demonstrating expertise in conceptualising, marketing, selling and distributing its brands (c ited in the Alliance Boots website 2006). From these examples, we may say that corporate governance should set a proper example of good intent, and provide for those lower in corporate hierarchies the clear message that it is â€Å"do as I do† as well as â€Å"do as I say† (Francis, 2000). Middle and lower management find it hard to be ethical when it seems that the top of the corporate hierarchy have no commitment. The message of sincerity will always filter down, and no amount of deception will foster the view that a board is ethical when it plainly is not. Additionally, the commitment to ethical corporate governance by a board will enhance the prospects of an ethical infrastructure within the organisation. That ethical infrastructure is a manifestation of the commitment, a means of preventing and resolving ethical problems, and an impressive demonstration of sincerity. Conclusion As a person with knowledge of corporate governance systems, the author has always brought up to his superiors the viability of strategy formation regarding the analysis of this topic and at times fails to understand the reasons or logic behind certain strategic implementations imposed on it. By delving into this project paper, the author intended to have better insights into how corporate governance systems are thought up, formulated and then imparted down into the subsidiaries of the company or organisation. The author hoped to have an in-depth understanding as to how the corporate governance systems of companies and organisations are able to compete effectively and profitably in this era of internationalisation where competition is extremely intense. In order to reinforce the learning objectives, two key focal issues were focused upon i.e. innovation and diversity. Innovation was discussed with regard to corporate governance systems of companies and organisations where they were renowned for their developmental capabilities to constantly innovate. Diversity came under strategic thinking and formation as the author considered the diverse culture, political climate, economic surroundings, social environment, technological settings, government policies and legal systems in order to better understand the issues being discussed. The results of the analysis carried out on the corporate governance systems of The Body Shop indicated very significant effects, even amidst the threats of unrest. Therefore, we could conclude that the corporate governance systems of The Body Shop could still be expected to improve faster than average. The review of the capabilities and resources of the corporate governance systems of The Body Shop revealed very little inconsistencies regarding its strategies. This is coherent with their traditional inside-out approach. However, the need to reconcile both the inside-out and outside-in approaches becomes imperative now for The Body Shop. The analysis among the cosmetics industry environment as well as the corporate governance systems of The Body Shop and their capabilities revealed certain gaps, most of which are biased towards the industry environment. However, these gaps paved the way towards determining a number of recommended strategic options to secure the competitiveness of The Body Shop. Also, The Body Shop has to find a balance between adherence to internal forces within the management and to the changing forces of the environment in order to implement such strategic options. References: Allianceboots 2006, Alliance Boots Website and location of Annual Report 2005, Available at: http://www.allianceboots.com, Accessed: November 2006. Bhattacharya, C. B. 2000, Relationship Marketing in Mass Markets, Handbook of Relationship Marketing, Thousand Oaks: Sage. Booms, B. H. 1981, Marketing Strategies and Organisation Structures for Service Firms, in Marketing of Services, J. H. Donnelly and W. R. George, Eds. Chicago: American Marketing Association. Eisenstat, R. A. 2001, Organisational Dynamics, pp. 6-14. Francis, R. 2000, Ethics and Corporate Governance: An Australian Handbook. Sydney, N.S.W.: University of New South Wales Press. Galpin, T, and Murray, P. 2002 HR Magazine, issue # 5, pp. 16-20. Gonzalez, M. 2003, Journal of Business Strategy, issue # 5, pp. 9-11. Grà ¶nroos, C. 1994, From Marketing Mix to Relationship Marketing: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Marketing, Management Decision, 32 (2), Jobber, D. 1998, Principles and Practice of Marketing (2nd ed.). London: McGraw-Hill Publishing. Sternberg, E. 1998, Corporate governance: accountability in the marketplace. London: The Institute of Economic Affairs. The Body Shop 2006, Available at: http://www.thebodyshopinternational.com/. Retrieved: December 7, 2006. Wikipedia 2006, The Body Shop, Available at:www.wikipedia.com, Accessed: November 2006. APPENDIX The Body Shop’s Corporate Government The Board of Directors and management of The Body Shop believe that sound principles of corporate governance are critical to obtaining and retaining the trust and respect of stockholders, employees, other stakeholders and the public. The board serves at the discretion of stockholders and works to represent their interests by enhancing business strategies and practices for the creation of long term stockholder value. Governance Summary The board consists of three standing committees: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee; A majority of board members are independent of the company and its management; The Audit Committee of the board has established policies consistent with the newly enacted corporate reform laws for auditor independence; The independent members of the board meet regularly without the presence of management; The charters of our board committees clearly establish their respective roles and responsibilities; The company has a clear code of ethics and all employees must affirm their acceptance of this code. The code of ethics includes a conflict of interest policy to ensure that key corporate decisions are made by individuals who do not have a financial interest in the outcome separate from their interest as company officials; The company actively monitors compliance with the law and the global financial policies and practices over critical areas. These areas include internal controls, financial accounting and reporting, fiduciary accountability and safeguarding of our corporate assets.

Jackie Robinson Essay -- essays research papers fc

Jackie Robinson   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jackie Robinson and integration are two phrases that cannot be segregated. Whether he liked it or not, he played the star role in the integration of society during the time that he played Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His heroic journey that landed him in the Majors shows, “how integration has come to baseball and how it can be achieved in every corner of the land'; (Robinson 16). But this amazing triumph over the Jim Crow laws could only have been possible in New York as Robinson says, “Cooperstown, New York, and Birmingham, Alabama, are both in the Unites States. In Cooperstown I had been the guest of honor in the company of three other new Hall of Famers: Bill McKechnie, Edd Roush and Bob Feller. In Birmingham I was ‘that negrah who pokes his nose into other peoples’ puddin’'; (14).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919 and was raised by his mother in Pasadena, California. He attended UCLA, where he was a baseball, basketball, football and track star. He played semi-professional football for a short time in an integrated league with the Honolulu Bears before being drafted into the army. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of second lieutenant. Robinson then started to play in the Negro National League and was eventually seen by a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The scout brought Robinson to the attention of team president Branch Rickey, who wanted to try out his “noble experiment'; of integrating the Major League. The Major League was closed to black players at the time because no owners would sign a black man to their teams. Even a year after Robinson’s historic signing, the owners of the teams voted 15 to 1 (with Rickey dissenting) against integrating the league (Rampersad 160). Jackie Robi nson, however, did sign a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 and debuted in the Majors in April of 1947. He was only paid the league minimum of $5,000 a year.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Jackie was finally signed with a Major League team, the discrimination didn’t stop cold turkey and couldn’t in some ways. It just wasn’t realistically possible. For instance, Branch Rickey moved spring training for the Jim Crow Sout... ... him because he was a just superb baseball player.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New York is where it all starts. It is a city of diversity, new ideas, and radical thought. Is New York the center of the universe? It just might be. Integration of Major League Baseball, and by extension the whole American social culture, started here. “Integration in baseball has already proved that all Americans can live together in peaceful competition'; (Robinson 11). The “noble experiment'; of Branch Rickey obviously worked, probably even beyond his wildest dreams. Thank you Mr. Rickey and Mr. Robinson, from us all. Works Cited 1. Rampersad, Arnold. Jackie Robinson. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. 2. Robinson, Jackie. I Never Had It Made. As told to Alfred Duckett. New York: Putnam, 1972. 3. Robinson, Jackie. Baseball Has Done It. Ed. Charles Dexter. Philadelphia and New York: J. B. Lippincott, 1964. 4. Robinson, Rachel, and Lee Daniels. Jackie Robinson, An Intimate Portrait. Ed. Sharon AvRutick. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1996. 5. Tygiel, Jules. Baseball’s Great Experiment, Jackie Robinson and His Legacy. New   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  York: Oxford, 1997.

Importance of Television in Our Life Essay

Science has made a rapid stride in the 20th century. It has conquered every sphere of life with its blessings as well as its curse. Television is one of the most wonderful inventions of modern science. It is the most up to date means of communication. Television is one of the largest gifts of modern science. The whole world comes to our homes and we can see the live telecast of the news of politics, science, inventions, sports and other important events of the world. It introduces us with the whole world’s civilization, culture, trades and commerce, weather, sports and recreation. Television has widened the horizon of sending news and views to the general masses from one country to another in an attractive and lucid way through satellite TV channels. Union of different cultures thus helps to break down prejudices and broaden our outlook. It has made the whole world a global village. Television is a media of mass communication and learning. It can educate people on current topics of the world. By viewing the educational programs, we can enrich our knowledge from every nook and corner of the world. Colourful films and live programs are shown in television. The dramas and the variety shows are the first class entertainments. But the satellite channels often telecast indecent programs. It has become a cultural assault in developing countries. Let us hope our television center will portray the true picture of our country and be the mirror of our national life. A great Islamic thinker Dr. Shamsher Ali says, â€Å"Television has many good effects but it has also many bad effects. It fully depends on our adoption and adjustment.† Hence the supremacy of the television cannot be ignored. But we should be careful in using it so that we can uphold our own culture and heritage and imbibe only the good things from other cultures.

Formative and Summative Assessment Essay

Assessment is a term that includes all of the various methods used to determine the extent of an individual’s achievement. In teaching and learning situation, assessment refers to the methods used to determine achievement of learning outcomes. Similarly in professional contexts, assessment is concerned with the achievement of professional standards or competence.(Aranda & Yates,2009). Assessment also provides a number of major benefits including: †¢ Grading: assessment may be used to define achievement and to measure the students’ preparedness for professional challenges. †¢ Motivation: assessment may focus on real learning by creating an opportunity that carries with it the rewards of completion or grades. †¢ learning process: assessment activities can guide individuals to learn and relearn subject content efficiently. †¢ Feedback: assessment provides opportunities for individuals to monitor the quality of their performance and identify areas for improvement. PURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT It is easy to become so immersed in the job of teaching that we lose sight the exact purpose of a assessment. There is then the possibility that we are overlooking another form of assessment which might be more appropriate. We actually assess students for quite a range of different reasons – motivation, creating learning opportunities, to give feedback (to both students and staff), to grade, and as a quality assurance mechanism (both for internal and external systems). Because all too often we do not disentangle these functions of assessment, without having really thought it through assessments are frequently trying to do all these things, to varying degrees.(Oxford Brookes University,2011). In fact it is arguable that while it is desirable for assessments meeting the first three of these functions to be conducted as often as possible, the final two do not need to be done anywhere near so frequently; it is simply important that they are done somewhere. The implications of this are that while an essay question, where all the answers are double marked and the marks count towards the students’ final grades, may fulfil all these functions, for all assessments to be this rigorous would be prohibitively expensive in staff time, while a peer-assessed seminar presentation, which does not count towards the students’ final grades but is simply a course requirement, could fulfil the first three functions and may not even require a tutor to be present. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT Formative assessment is typically contrasted with summative assessment. The former supports teachers and students in decision-making during educational and learning processes, while the latter occurs at the end of a learning unit and determines if the content being taught was retained.(Wikipedia,2013). Formative assessment is not distinguished by the format of assessment, but by how the information is used. The same test may act as either formative or summative. However, some methods of assessment are better suited to one or the other purpose. CHARACTERISTICS OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT During formative assessment, learning is the shared goal of both teacher and student and alterations to the teaching and learning process take place as needed to further the goal. This allows both the teacher and the student the opportunity for assessment and improvement as an ongoing process instead of an end product. Formative assessments are assessments for learning, rather than assessments of learning, according to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Focused Formative assessments are focused on the learning process as well as the learning progress. While other assessments may only focus on the end result, formative assessments check the students progress consistently so that adjustments can be made to reach learning goals. Ongoing A formative assessment is consistent and ongoing throughout the learning process. It differs from assessments that focus on the end result. Ongoing assessments give both teachers and students the chance to make adjustments to teaching and learning strategies so learning ultimately takes place. Immediate While other forms of assessment focus on the end result, formative assessments provide immediate feedback to both teachers and students due to ongoing assessment practices. The immediate feedback teachers and students experience can be used to motivate and further learning. LIMITATIONS OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS Although offering many benefits, effective formative assessment can be difficult to achieve at scale. It may be logistically impossible to provide detailed descriptive feedback for each student in a large class. Even with a smaller number of students to deal with, formative assessment is time-consuming as it requires significant, ongoing dedication and effort from the teacher to sustain. This is especially true when combined with the summative assessments teachers are required to complete. The layered accountability chain in education — student to teacher, teacher to school, school to district, etc. — creates systemic pressure for student performance to be objectively and comparatively measurable at each level. Formative assessment, by definition, doesn’t easily provide that kind of accountability. This explains why, although the advantages of formative assessment have been repeatedly articulated since the distinction between it and summative assessment was first made in 1967, empirical studies continue to show that very few teachers consistently make use of it in actual practice. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT Summative assessment measures attainment and allows for the recording of the learning progress. It usually takes the form of tests and examinations, though it is becoming increasingly common for summative assessment to include other tasks such as a project completed during the school year. This move away from assessments based on a single examination gives learners the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability. Not all learners perform well under examination pressure. Furthermore,examinations do not always lend themselves to eliciting the range of language structures and uses that have been the objective of teaching CHARACTERISTICS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT The results of summative assessment allow us to determine the degree to which learners have attained specific learning objectives. Such a decision may have an important consequence on learners’ future prospects. It is therefore crucial that not only is the assessment valid, but that the results obtained are reliable. Validity relates to whether the assessment tasks assess what they intend to assess. Reliability, on the other hand, refers to the results obtained and whether these would be the same if the same learners took the assessment on another occasion provided that no further learning had taken place and regardless of who marked the assessment if more than one person was involved in the process.(Summative assessment,2005). Whether summative assessment is norm-or criterion-referenced will be determined by the purpose of the assessment. If we need to select the best candidates to, for example, continue with their education, then norm-referencing would be appropriate. However, if we are interested in whether candidates have mastered certain skills, then we would not get the required information through norm-referencing.(Meason) For example, when assessing airline pilots we are interested in whether they can fly a plane safely to a very high level of proficiency. Knowing which trainees were the best would not suffice since it is possible that no trainee of a given group would have reached the required standard to safely fly a plane LIMITATIONS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT Students can face anxiety in preparation for a test, an anxiety that grows as the perception of the test’s significance grows. Summative tests advise schools to commit to prolonged pretesting procedures and preparation classes, which can increase student anxiety.(Spiral). In addition, some students simply do not test well, and the result is a testing procedure that fails to adequately assess the real talents of individual students, while a formative assessment would allow a teacher to evaluate these conditions and better assess a student’s ability Summative assessments fan have an overall negative impact on student self-esteem, resulting from the perception of inferiority that standardized tests can give test-takers. Students who perform poorly on standardized tests were found to suffer from lower self-esteem in situations where these same students had not previously exhibited signs of self-esteem problems.(Boggiano,1992). Even students who perform average or well on standardized tests can suffer from the failure to meet their own higher expectations. The result can be a reduction in educational motivation.(Hammond). EXAMPLES OF FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT FROM TEACHING AND LEARNING PERSPECTIVE CONCLUSION In my view,both types of assessments are better,that is a balanced assessment.A balanced assessment system in one in which a variety of assessments are used for a variety of purposes and communications about results facilitates student involvement and ownership of learning.Formative assessment can be vital importance in helping the teacher and students determine the quality of learning that is taking place and can allow them to forecast the results of summative tests some time in advance of the summative testing.Such results can be used as the basis for altering the teaching learning situation early enough to change the immediate as well as alter the forecast. Learning is a process which can be observed and evaluated as it is taking place.Formative evaluation can be used to make the process more effective long before the summative evaluation.Recognition of  the interaction among formative evaluation teaching and learning and summative evaluation can do much to improve teaching and learning before it is too late. REFERENCES Aranda S,Yates P.An Overview of assessment.Canberra: (EdCaN),Australia;(2009).Retrieved from: www.edcan.org/pdf/edCanOverview.pdf Boggiano A,Pittman T. Achievement and Motivation: A Social-Developmental Perspective.(Eds).(1992).Cambridge Press.New York. Hammond,K.eHow.Education.Summative assessment weaknesses.Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/info_8568251_summative-assessment-weaknesses.html Meason C.eHow.Education.Characteristics of Formative assessment.Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_6732311_characteristics-formative-assessment.html Oxford Brookes University.(2011).Purpose of Assessment.Retrieved from: www.brookes.ac.uk/services/ocsld/resources/assessment/purposes.htm Spira M.eHow.Education.Disadvantages of Formative Assessment.Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8502289_advantages-disadvantages-formative-assessment.html Stiggins,R.,Arter,J.,Chappuis,S.(2008).Classroom assessment for student learning.Educational Testing Service.Retrieved from: http://www.bcsd.org/district.cfm?subpage=55380 ‎Summative assessment.(2005).Retrieved from http://cd1.edb.hkedcity.net/cd/eng/tba_eng_sec/web/3_1w.htm Spira M.eHow.Education.Disadvantages of Formative Assessment.Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8502289_advantages-disadvantages-formative-assessmen

What Is Academic Priority †Creative Writing Short Essay

What Is Academic Priority – Creative Writing Short Essay Free Online Research Papers What Is Academic Priority Creative Writing Short Essay I believe that education is the most important factor in anybody’s success. Plato believed that a lifelong education was needed to run an ideal society. Although we do not yet have this utopian society of unchanged, we do have an ever increasing demand for people capable of running the systems that power our less than ideal society. This technology is evolving at a pace far beyond that of any in the past. Formal education and certification is an important function for anyone who desires to use the technologies to the full capacity. I am requesting admission to Massachusetts Institute of Technology so that I may obtain the education needed to have a successful future working with computer technology. Although I lack the desire to be directly competitive with others I have found that I can motivate myself to be better individually. In the process of bettering myself I have continuously taken difficult classes including honors math courses and advanced science classes in addition to specific independent studies that have focused on computer support and online environment marketing. These independent studies gave me a chance to design my own curriculum while implementing my own goals. These goals have ranged from article deadlines to personal trait growth. My studies have trained me in the art of expanding my knowledge of a topic in the direction I want to follow in addition to opening up new opportunities to me such as a job with the school district working as a technician for the technology department and the development of MarketGuerilla.com to showcase my research and study of online marketing techniques in article format. In addition to being a fulltime high school student I have also taken courses at a local community college every semester since my sophomore year of high school. These classes have taught me how to become better organized and to use my time more effectively. The second problem I have always had to cope with is my lack of time. Because I am involved in so many activities and events in and out of school I often lose sleep trying to compact everything into the time I have available in each day. I have always tried to be active in sports and extra curricular activities such as football, ABF boxing, and band. Each of these activities has played an essential role in developing my personal growth as a student. I believe that the most important school activity I am involved in is the instrumental arts. I am a performer in marching band, concert band, jazz band, pep band, show band, and individual/ensemble competition. The instruments I play regularly include the bari sax, tenor sax, and sousaphone. My work with instrumental music has built my appreciation of many types of music while creating a performance discipline. My abilities as a musician have greatly increased my overall confidence making it easier to performer or address larger g roups. Musical arts have also caused my creativity to flourish as I continue to increase my improvisational skills allowing me to construct elegant rhythms and musical expressions instantly. Although I take classes that are advanced and difficult I still manage to maintain a GPA of about 3.8. My GPA puts me easily within the top 10% of the class. I have always been an A and B student and have a near perfect attendance. These are all traits that I will need to progress into the next phase of my education at your institution. My goal is to always improve myself. I believe that a lifelong education will assist me in understanding the current computer systems of today and those that will come in the future. A strong knowledge of these systems that our society depends on during everyday operation will guarantee a successful life in the future. Research Papers on What Is Academic Priority - Creative Writing Short EssayStandardized TestingBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfHip-Hop is ArtPETSTEL analysis of IndiaOpen Architechture a white paperIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenResearch Process Part OneThe Project Managment Office System

Economics of Walnuts in California

Economics of Walnuts in California Introduction Walnuts accounts for a greater percentage of fruits and nut crops in California (Ramos 2). Nearly all walnuts produced on a commercial basis in the United States come from California, thus makes a great contribution not only to the economy of the state but also to the nation at large.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economics of Walnuts in California specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The first variety of walnuts grown was the hards of varieties grown in California include: franquette, Payne, Eureka and Hartley. Walnut orchards mostly do well where the soils are very deep and the climate is favorable (Ramos 3). Over the last decade, the production of walnuts has tremendously increased. This is occasioned by awareness of various means of production and health benefits derived from consumption and increased demand in foreign markets (California Walnuts.org 5). The Walnut Marketing Board has been controlling much of the California walnut production, while Independent processors and buyers have been playing a crucial role in marketing and to some extent production. This makes them key to the industry’s development (Hasey 3). According to a report released by California Agricultural Statistics (CASS) in the late May 2007, acreage under walnuts in the early 1920s was about 34,138 and this has grown in leaps and bounds to about 243,000 acres. The high demand especially from Europe, Asia and Middle East has provided impetus for quality improvement of the crop. This has been enhanced by technological development by way of research and improvements in marketing efforts in the industry. In addition, the walnut industry has been profitable in present years. As a result, farmers have increased planting acreage (Diamond foods 1). This essay will explore the economics of walnut establishment and production in California. In particular, the paper will be narrowed down to issues, trends and ch allenges facing the walnut industry in California. Walnut Industry in California Walnuts are among the top agricultural produce in California. Nearly all the walnuts produced in the U.S. come from this state. Therefore, walnuts contribute significantly to the economy of California and to the country’s trade balance of trade (Hasey 4). The competitiveness of the California’s walnut industry is attributed to its ability to steadily produce and market high quality products. The industry’s capacity has been enhanced through technological advancement by means of research and harmonization of marketing activities. Nonetheless, the industry like other agribusiness sectors is being challenged by the rapid and unpredictable demands of the current society, for example, increased urbanization, environmental degradation and global market volatility (Karen5).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Walnuts have been grown in California for over three centuries since the Spanish invasion in mid 1860s. The first commercial nurseries were established in Santa Barbra and Nevada by Sexton and Gillet respectively. Sexton produced soft shell walnuts which were well acclimatized to the southern conditions. On the other hand, Gillet produced frosty hardy variety imported from France and were well adapted to Northern conditions. Even at the moment, the walnut varieties grown in California are from the above two early varieties (Hasey 7). Initially, farmers grew walnut orchards with plantlets. As a result, yields and quality were compromised by non-uniformity of trees. Rigorous scientific research and development saw the introduction of vegetative propagation which resulted in more consistent and uniform orchards. This was embraced by the whole industry (Hasey 8). In the state of California, walnuts did very well in areas where there were suitable clima te and deep soils. In the early 1920s, the overall walnut acreage was estimated to about 34000 acres, mostly in the southern region. The industry continued to grow and by the late 20s the total acreage had expanded to over 100000 acres, still mostly in the southern region. Over three quarters of this acreage consisted of young trees, signifying increased output in the future. In overall, California accounted for more than half of the U.S. production (Klonsky 3). However, the walnut acreage in the Southern region started to decline in the 1940s and almost disappeared in the 1960s. This was attributed to numerous reasons, especially 2nd world war and growth in urbanization. In addition, citrus was more marketable and lucrative during this period than walnut. Thus, many farmers replaced walnut with citrus. Nonetheless, the acreage began to increase immediately after the 60s, largely in the rivers of the central valley. The industries’ marketing trend In the earlier days, the gro wth of new and disorganized walnut industry was hindered by fluctuations in price and marketing challenges. Farmers reacted by forming local cooperatives. The first cooperative was formed in the late 1880s. Several years later, other cooperatives were created, and a central union was established to regulate prices. Nevertheless, rivalry among the local cooperatives persisted. For this reason, the California Walnut Association was set up in the early 1990s to assume the marketing role for its members (Hasey 8). Up till then, the industry faced stiff rivalry from French importers in the local market. However, by early 1920s the industry had captured more than 50 percent of the U.S. market. California’s walnut industry continued to grow to capture a larger share of the U.S. market. The U.S. Walnut Marketing Board was formed in 1962 to regulate product quality and market. The board moved its base from Los Angeles to Stockton and changed its name to Sun-Diamond Growers after a ser ies of merger with other cooperatives (Hasey 9).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economics of Walnuts in California specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The growth of the industry is also attributed to independent buyers and handlers who provide an alternative economic option to numerous farmers. Initially, cooperatives controlled over 90 percent of the market. However, things have significantly changed. Nearly half of the market is currently controlled by the independent sectors. The cooperation between the two groups has also contributed to the success of the industry (Klonsky 3). California’s walnuts are traded in a vibrant market. Even though U.S. remains its main market, large quantities are exported. Currently, nearly 40 percent of the products are sold in the global market. As a result, the industry is increasingly becoming exposed to global competition. The industry mainly attributes their success in the global market to promotion funds provided by the federal government (Farm express 4). However, Karen Klonsky attributes this success to a number of factors(4). The first factor is strict adherence to quality measures put in place and followed to the letter by farmers. This is observed throughout the production and processing stages. Second, farmers have incorporated various forms of technologies in the production and processing of walnuts in order to ensure high quality (Karen 5). Third, farmers have put in so much investment in storage facilities in order to maintain the requisite quality of nuts after processing. The accepted moisture content of the nuts is a maximum of 8%, which is highly recommended by experts (Karen 6). The presence of Californian walnuts in various foreign markets across Asia and Europe has increased the demand for the product. The industry is recording more exports than it did ten years ago (Farm express 6). Paradoxically, much of the exports go to Asia, whic h is the leading world producer of walnuts. The California Walnut Commission is culpable for the outstanding performance in the global market. The group was launched in the year 1987 through a California state law. This commission has developed a number of strategies and programs such as the Market Access Program, which focuses on introducing various products into the international market. The strategies also focus on the need to expand existing markets for various products by increasing awareness and quality of products (Farm express 7). The European market has been a huge export zone for both in-shell and shelled nuts. However, market forces such as diverse consumer preferences led to higher demand for shelled walnuts compared to demand for in-shell walnuts. This resulted to increased export of shelled walnuts to the European market, which boosted the growth of the local industry in California. The German market is expanding and has developed into a leading destination for Califor nian walnuts (Farm express 7).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The strategies applied by the commission were also very successful in opening up the Asian market. The Market Access Program has facilitated the penetration of the walnuts into the South Korean market. South Korea is one of the largest importers of the California walnuts in Asia. The future of California walnuts in the South Korean market received a huge boost in the year 2007, when the United States of America and South Korean governments signed an agreement that would lower the cost of trading between the two countries (Farm express 8). Additionally, Californian walnuts are a huge international brand that has helped to promote the culture of people in the state, as well as attracting foreign investors (Farm express 9). Conclusion Growing walnuts contribute significantly to the California’s economy and to the country’s balance of payment account. The walnut industry in California has grown in leaps and bounds over the last one decade. The main contributing factors to the speedy growth include better awareness on various methods of production and increased demand for walnuts. Commercial growing of walnuts is a widespread activity in California because of the low cost of production. Farmers in the state have made great contributions to the history of walnuts. Walnut growing is characterized by the cultivation of gardens that consist of walnut trees and absence of vegetation. The California Walnut Commission is culpable for the outstanding performance in the global market. This commission has developed a number of strategies and programs such as The Market Access Program, which focuses on introducing various products into the international market. The efforts by the commission have been very successful, as California walnuts managed to penetrate foreign markets in Germany. The strategies applied by the commission were also very successful in opening up the Asian market, which had partly blocked the trading of Californian walnuts. The United States and South Korean Free Trade Agreement has played a crucial role in the growth and development of the walnut industry in California over the last couple of years. California Walnuts.org. California Walnuts: Sizes and Colours. Web. Diamond foods. California walnut acreage trending upwards.PDF file. Web. Farm express. California Walnut Industry Surges With Record Exports. Web. Hasey, Janine. The Walnut Industry in California: Trends, Issues and Challenges. California: Agricultural Issue Centre, 1994. Print. Klonsky, Karen. Economics of walnut establishment and production, California: California university Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2006. Print. Ramos, David. Walnut Production Manual, California: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.

What Does It Take to Get Into Tulane University?

With an acceptance rate of 26%, admission to Tulane is highly competitive . So, what does it take to get it? Read on to find out. What could be better than attending college in New Orleans? From Mardi Gras to music festivals, Tulane University might seem like a nonstop party. However, the truth is that this southern school has more than enough to offer those who are academically minded. In fact, U.S. News & World Report ranked Tulane No. 40 on its list of the Best National Universities and No. 45 on a list of Best Undergraduate Programs. And with more than 75 majors from which to choose, students don’t have to worry about finding a program that excites them. While Tulane is clearly a great place to attend college, getting into this institution can be challenging. Fortunately, there are ways to increase your odds of being accepted. Here’s our advice for optimizing your admissions profile for Tulane University. Tulane accepts both the Common Application and its own online application. To apply for Early Decision, submit your materials by November 1. The Early Action deadline is November 15, and Regular Decision applications are due by January 26. You can expect to receive an admission decision by April 1. Tulane requires applicants to submit the following materials: Visual and performing arts students have the option of submitting a portfolio or audition. Non-U.S. citizens are also required to submit a Certification of Finances document with their application. One of the most respected universities in the U.S., Tulane is naturally very competitive. In 2017, Tulane accepted just 26% or 8,126 of the 32,006 students who applied, so candidates need to be at the top of their game if they hope to gain entry. The average GPA of admitted applicants was 3.51, the average ACT score was 30, and the average SAT score was 1410. So, while most Tulane students boast high GPAs and test scores, the admissions committee considers other factors as well. Along with academic prowess, the school seeks out students who are passionate about what they do. Overall, Tulane is trying to build a robust, vibrant student body, so use your application to convey your unique talents and strengths. Estimating your chance of getting into a college is not easy in today’s competitive environment. Thankfully, with our state-of-the-art software and data, we can analyze your academic and extracurricular profile and estimate your chances. Our profile analysis tool can also help you identify the improvement you need to make to enter your dream school. Tulane University requires incoming freshmen to have strong academic credentials. Prospective students should pursue a high school curriculum that includes the following: Additionally, Tulane takes standardized test scores into account when making admissions decisions. While the middle 50% of students earn SAT scores between 1420 and 1510, applicants may be pleased to learn that the school superscores the test, considering the highest scores across all test dates. The middle 50% of students who take the ACT earn between 31 and 33; unfortunately, Tulane does not superscore this exam. Some students may qualify for guaranteed admission to Tulane under the Focus Louisiana program . Here are the criteria required for guaranteed acceptance: Note that Guaranteed Admission applicants must apply to Tulane Early Decision. Unless you qualify for Guaranteed Admission, there’s probably no one way to ensure you get into Tulane. However, the following steps can help your application stand out from the pack: According to Tulane’s mission statement, the school is dedicated to helping â€Å"individuals, organizations, and communities to think, to learn, and to act and lead with integrity and wisdom.† If you want to boost your odds of getting accepted at this southern school, use the optional statement to show the admissions committee how you fit this description. For example, you might want to describe a time when you served as a leader in your school or community. The goal is to convey why you’re a good fit for Tulane, along with why the school is ideal for you. Colleges aren’t naive enough to think students are only applying to one school. Still, they want to know that applicants are passionate about the possibility of matriculating. You can demonstrate your engagement by attending college fairs, meeting with admissions reps, emailing questions to the admissions counselor, and scheduling campus tours. If you do visit Tulane (or any other school on your list), don’t forget to drop by the admissions office to let them know you cared enough to make the trip. According to Tulane’s Director of Admissions, Jeff Schiffman, the university is particularly interested in students who have held down part-time jobs. Whether you worked to save money for college or prepare for a prospective career, detail your experience in your application materials. Rather than chastise yourself for failing to get into Tulane, remember that there are plenty of other great schools out there. And one of them would love to have you. Some colleges known for being similar to Tulane include Vanderbilt, NYU, USC, UCLA, and Boston University. Determined to head down south for college? You might want to consider Duke University, Washington and Lee University, Wake Forest University, or Emory University.

ECOM AUTO BUSINESS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

ECOM AUTO BUSINESS - Essay Example Analyzing import Federal policy from the view point of agency’s interest and government’s interest will be important part of the study. The report will try to analyze ethical dilemma in terms of transparency, common interest and fairness to create sound argument to support Sara’s (V.P. of Sales for ECOM Auto) ethical dilemma. Finally the study will try to establish a valid recommendation by taking help of Nash equilibrium. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 1.0 Lobbying 5 2.0 Responsible Lobbying 6 3.0 U.S.A Trade Laws- Trader’s View 7 3.1 Import Quota 7 3.2 Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) 8 3.3 Voluntary Export Restraint (VER) 8 4.0 U.S.A Trade Laws- Government’s View 9 5.1 Ethical Dilemma 10 5.1.1 Fairness 10 5.1.2 Transparency 11 5.1.3 Common Good 11 6.0 Answer 2 12 6.1 Recommendation 12 6.1.1 Nash Equilibrium 12 1.0 Lobbying The exercise of lobbying comes in many forms in terms purpose and functionality. Although establishing theoretical definition o f the subject is a complex work but research scholars have tried to underline a theoretical concept of lobbying. They defined lobbying as an act to influence decision of government authority or legislators or public officials for or alongside a particular cause. The process comes in various formats. Various formats can be described in the following manner. 1- Submission of official responses to legislator or government over anticipated legislation. 2- Appointment of professional lobbyists to help the company to move forward in the lobbying process. 3- Participation of associations in membership process with other association in order to lobby for combined interests. 4- The association gets engaged in multi segment partnerships with other partners to promote higher values in lobbying condition. 5- The association creates campaigns in order to elect representative in the lobbying process. Common people or governments perceive lobbying as unethical strategic initiative while lobbying i n the field of business is common legitimate activity. Many of the business lobbying can be classified as against the common interest of people and often create hindrance in the way of sustainable development of society. Negative image about lobbying process is garnished by the absence of transparency in the process. Many companies use critical business legal jargons to define lobbying which ultimately creates barrier in understanding for common people. Stake holders and other interest groups do not equivalent influence over objectivity of lobbying process. Business communities are largely dependent on professional lobbyists in order to understand complex procedures of lobbying process. Complex lobbying process demands huge investment of capital and time in the process. 2.0 Responsible Lobbying Government or legislator acts as primary addressees for lobbying and must align the process with unbiased legal procedure in order to achieve sustainable development of the society. Governmen t can accomplish this by implementing rigorous gearstick against ‘improper and unethical influence’ to ensure that the discussion between business agency and them is aimed to achieve sustainable development of the society. Responsible lobbying is emerged as latest trend in the field of lobbying process. Companies use responsible lobbying process to construct successful long-standing relationships with public sector and civil society. Corporate and business agencies are trying to establish more visible and ethical lobbying process from the view point of public interest in order to gain trust from the majority of the society. Business agencies focus on various issues like creating sustainable social development for poor, managing environmental opportunities

Peer Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Peer Review - Essay Example This is memorable because it brings out the abandoned work of civil society and the need to hold government accountable for social justice. The fact that the writer ends with a word of advice, asking that the tribal governments be allowed voices to speak gives a perfect sense of completion and that completion is that the needed freedoms have seen not been granted and that it is time to grant them to those who deserve them. Even though it is an important part of article writing to be making references to previous articles, especially when they are written by the same author, it is very important that once such reference is made some details will be given to the part of the article that is being referred to so that those who might never have access to such articles can understand what is being said but this was lacking here. The most memorable part of the essay is where revelation is made of how the people believed in human sacrifices in those days. This is memorable because it really teaches about societal evolution and the changes that has accompanied out social lifestyle over the years. Perhaps, they are things we do that will not be done 500 years to come. The ending of the story is very sudden because the writer suddenly gives factual reason to the source of the bones, which were found and served as topical issue at the beginning of the essay without giving indication of how this conclusion was arrived. In future works, the writer should be more detailed and structure the essay well be give it a solid conclusion that will not make readers wonder how come such definition claims as the source of the bones were established. The maker of the call for a Native American to take the highest position at the Supreme Court refuses to give justifiable reasons why the position has never been held by Native Americans. It would have served a lot of good and brought clarity if the reasons were given. It is memorable and refreshing to

Honors Political Science Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Honors Political Science - Research Paper Example The American political system has been mostly unkind to third parties. Third parties function more as sideshows or irritants than significant rivals in US elections. Third parties, such as the American Vegetarian Party, Libertarian Party, Nativist Know-Nothing Party and Agrarian Populist party, have been invaluable as safety valves with regard to alienated voters, as well as sources of new ideas. When these new ideas become popular among the electorate, principal parties typically adopt the ideas. In the last half of the 20th century, third parties were considered as transitory and primarily had insufficient and ineffective infrastructures (Aldrich 211). In 1948, Southerners rejected the Democratic Party’s turn towards civil rights; thus, the Southerners exited to establish the Dixiecrats or otherwise called State’s Rights Democratic Party. Dixiecrats’ candidate Storm Thurmond won many popular votes and 39 electoral votes from numerous Southern states. In the sam e year, Henry Wallace’s party, which had broken away from the leftist Democratic coalition, formed the Progressive Party and won a majority of the votes scattering the North and Midwestern votes. Two decades later, similar civil rights issues pushed a Southern breakaway political group to unite in the American Independent Party allowing George Wallace’s party to win nearly 10 million votes. In the modern era, third parties draw the most attention by being the heroic independent voice against the nominees of the main parties.

Part 3 Applying Theory to Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Part 3 Applying Theory to Practice - Essay Example Gillaspie (2010) convey the depth of the problem by pointing that the delivery of effective pain management has become a pressing national issue in healthcare. Patients had a right to be managed for pain relief (Zalon, 2008). The problem of pain management has thereby been identified by me as my practice problem. The nursing profession has several theories by which the problems in patient care were managed. Similarly I would be employing a theory to execute effective pain management in my hospital. The theory would be logical for application and concurrent with observations made daily. It would similar to those previously used in successful programs. Past research would have supported this theory (Croyle, 2005). It would contain the highlights of the nursing profession. Foundations for nursing practice would be made. Patient care would be made better, professional growth would be enhanced, interpersonal communications among the nurses would be motivated for improvement, and guidance would evolve for education and research. The multidisciplinary approach to health care would be targeted. Criteria which improved the quality of care would continuously be identified. Middle range theories promoted nursing practice by helping to understand the behavior of the client, suggesting useful interventio ns and offering credible explanations for the efficacy of the interventions (Peterson & Bedrow, 2008). The practice theory could be built up from the critical reflection of experiences. The purpose of the paper is to identify a middle range theory for my selected practice problem of management of pain and then use a borrowed theory to manage the same symptom of pain. The more common reason for patients seeking help from nurses was pain. The unpleasant sensation could cause the patient to even lose consciousness. The overwhelming effect could produce long-term adversities (Peterson &

Road rage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Road rage - Essay Example An important piece of information regarding this survey is that the incidence of these kinds of cases rose significantly every year, over the whole period of the survey (Mizell, 1996). The roots of the term road rage are found to be in the modern news media rather than a verified research. Hence, the term is well known due to its repeated usage in communication, and not because of any scientific authenticity. It is widely used to refer to all kinds of violent acts on the road, due to its ability to attract a greater news audience (Roberts & Indermaur, 2005). Whether a driver or any other particular person is targeted or not, any kind of irrational behavior on the road is regarded as road rage. This term is attributed to crimes as small as violating traffic signals to as serious as killing a person. Hence, it is certainly safe to say that road rage is a â€Å"catch all expression for any calamity on concrete† (Bowles & Overberg, 1999). Violent acts on the road have a notable effect on both, the public attitude as well as the safety level of the roads, leading to serious consequences. For instance, due to the harmful effects of road rage, people regard it as a critical problem. This view can dissuade from using roads as a means of transportation. Furthermore, it may also lead to the abandonment of the environmentally healthy means of travel, cycling (Inquiry into Violence associated with Motor Vehicle Use by the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee, 2005). In addition to the effects on driving, frustration on the road may also lead to a similar violent attitude in other parts of life, such as at home. There is definitive evidence to prove this theory. Hence, a potent resolution of the problem of road frustration may very well have a positive effect on attitudes, also in settings other than the road (Galovski & Blanchard, 2004). Moreover, it may also decrease the deaths and injuries resulting from traffic

Honors Political Science Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Honors Political Science - Research Paper Example The American political system has been mostly unkind to third parties. Third parties function more as sideshows or irritants than significant rivals in US elections. Third parties, such as the American Vegetarian Party, Libertarian Party, Nativist Know-Nothing Party and Agrarian Populist party, have been invaluable as safety valves with regard to alienated voters, as well as sources of new ideas. When these new ideas become popular among the electorate, principal parties typically adopt the ideas. In the last half of the 20th century, third parties were considered as transitory and primarily had insufficient and ineffective infrastructures (Aldrich 211). In 1948, Southerners rejected the Democratic Party’s turn towards civil rights; thus, the Southerners exited to establish the Dixiecrats or otherwise called State’s Rights Democratic Party. Dixiecrats’ candidate Storm Thurmond won many popular votes and 39 electoral votes from numerous Southern states. In the sam e year, Henry Wallace’s party, which had broken away from the leftist Democratic coalition, formed the Progressive Party and won a majority of the votes scattering the North and Midwestern votes. Two decades later, similar civil rights issues pushed a Southern breakaway political group to unite in the American Independent Party allowing George Wallace’s party to win nearly 10 million votes. In the modern era, third parties draw the most attention by being the heroic independent voice against the nominees of the main parties.

Road rage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Road rage - Essay Example An important piece of information regarding this survey is that the incidence of these kinds of cases rose significantly every year, over the whole period of the survey (Mizell, 1996). The roots of the term road rage are found to be in the modern news media rather than a verified research. Hence, the term is well known due to its repeated usage in communication, and not because of any scientific authenticity. It is widely used to refer to all kinds of violent acts on the road, due to its ability to attract a greater news audience (Roberts & Indermaur, 2005). Whether a driver or any other particular person is targeted or not, any kind of irrational behavior on the road is regarded as road rage. This term is attributed to crimes as small as violating traffic signals to as serious as killing a person. Hence, it is certainly safe to say that road rage is a â€Å"catch all expression for any calamity on concrete† (Bowles & Overberg, 1999). Violent acts on the road have a notable effect on both, the public attitude as well as the safety level of the roads, leading to serious consequences. For instance, due to the harmful effects of road rage, people regard it as a critical problem. This view can dissuade from using roads as a means of transportation. Furthermore, it may also lead to the abandonment of the environmentally healthy means of travel, cycling (Inquiry into Violence associated with Motor Vehicle Use by the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee, 2005). In addition to the effects on driving, frustration on the road may also lead to a similar violent attitude in other parts of life, such as at home. There is definitive evidence to prove this theory. Hence, a potent resolution of the problem of road frustration may very well have a positive effect on attitudes, also in settings other than the road (Galovski & Blanchard, 2004). Moreover, it may also decrease the deaths and injuries resulting from traffic

Housing Policies Essay Example for Free

Housing Policies Essay The 1970’s marked a very important shift in housing policies from supply to demand programs. Certain determinants influenced these shifts with incorporation of major programs which helped the poor and led to improvement in the quality of lives. The demand for decent housing had an impact on the supply of decent houses. This led to a shift in housing policies from supply-side to demand side programs. Major determinant of the shift can be attributed with increased number of immigrants from overseas countries. Our nation has strong economic structure which is in a position to support a large number of individuals. Presence of job opportunities and good recognized education, people from different countries have sought such services from our blessed nation. The immigrants to America have led to a shift from supply to demand program so as to house a big number of immigrants. Individuals visiting America have the right to access good housing and this has led to increased demand for decent houses. Major programs such as supply-side to demand side subsidies, housing allowance programs and direct assistance programs were established in 1970’s to handle the issue of housing policies. Supply-side to demand side subsidies program has made it possible for residents in America to afford decent houses. Experimental housing allowance program was designed to increase the welfare of residents. Rental assistance programs which falls under direct and indirect assistance programs mainly concerns reduction of tax to make houses affordable to residents. Adoption of housing policies programs in America has helped to deconcentrate the poor and led to improved quality of life. The programs have made it possible for the poor or middle class to afford decent housing with little income.

Assess The Contribution Of Summitry To Diplomacy Politics Essay

Assess The Contribution Of Summitry To Diplomacy Politics Essay Summit diplomacy is an irreversible phenomenon that is not alien to contemporary diplomacy. It has been an ongoing practice as far back as diplomatic activity has been in practice. Summit diplomacy has its roots in the new diplomacy i.e. diplomacy in the democratic age between open governments (Dunn, 2004, p. 140a). It has evolved and developed over the centuries and as such, much attention is given to it. Recently there has been an upsurge on it which is due to the fact that it is no longer done on low level but now common place and referred to as high level diplomacy. Amongst other advantages, Leguey-Feilluex states that the primary advantage of summits is that it involves the leaders that are directly responsible for making policies (2009, p. 294). In as much as it has been celebrated for its benefits, there is a lot of controversy surrounding this practice; diplomacy at the summit level has been highly disdained by diplomats because of the claim that it relegates their roles. It has also been said that it could be a waste of time, effort, and resources. Even though summitry can be detrimental to diplomacy if not properly organised, I believe that if judiciously prepared, summits will come to be appreciated and accepted as a method of conducting diplomacy. This essay is an attempt to explore or delve into the depths of the concept of summitry diplomacy, and in this process unearth some information about it, also to examine the contribution of summitry to diplomatic practice. What is Summitry In contemporary times, a method of conducting foreign relations is evolving, as times go by, this method is waxing stronger and is known summit diplomacy and this has brought in its wake, a wave of arguments for and against this new global development in international relations. However it is a misunderstanding in history to regard it as a new phenomenon (Plischke, 1974, p. 43) since it has been in practice far longer than it has been popular. The earliest record of the usage of the term summitry came into play when Sir Winston Churchill popularised it in the 1950s by introducing it into international parlance. Summitry as a term was therefore coined by Winston Churchill, Even as a term that was coined then, it is however a point to note that the practice has been in for a longer time. In fact, it dates back to the fifteenth century. This fact begs the question; if it is a practice that is not new, why is it being popular in these times? The best answer to that would be because of the way summitry is being conducted. These days- it is more frequent and at a higher level (Dunn, 1996, p. 4b). Summitry is a process wherein political leaders take diplomacy into their own hands instead of leaving it to the professional diplomats; leaders, heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, monarchs, all come together to discuss issues of foreign relations. According to Plischke, summit diplomacy may be: interpreted as the determination and publicizing of foreign policy and the management of international affairs at the chief of state or head of state level (1967, p. 43). I would like to point out that in order to effectively conceptualise summitry, it will be appropriate to take into consideration different features of summits; the first is the fact that summits are organised between countries of a higher class, i.e. between groups of the same class, secondly, summitry is for reaching agreements. In addition, a summit can be differentiated from other forms of direct personal diplomacy among political leaders such as correspondence, telephone conversations or direct talks e. g. video conferencing (Melissen, 2004, p. 188). Over the years, summitry has evolved greatly and it is due to so many factors of which I will be pointing out some of them. Dunn, states that summitry grew out of crisis, especially political crisis, when governments and states were facing tough times; the need to meet, dialogue and reach agreements on very salient issues with other heads of government arose, governments needed to deal with crisis and decided to take matters into their own hands. Summitry then, had to do with a bit of urgency (1996, p. 5b) Another important factor for the development of summit diplomacy was growing interdependence of the world economy; the world has economically grown closer as financial markets, corporations, and banks have all become multinational, and because resources are unevenly scattered and no country possess all the resources they need to survive, therefore countries must come together to trade in order to sustain their economy. For example, petroleum is shipped from Africa to major energy-importing regions such as the United States, thus the growth of global economic interdependence, and consequently the spread of summit diplomacy (Dunn, 1996, p. 12b). Dunn also states that summitry has also developed as a result of technological inventions, breakthroughs and advancement. Technology has progressed at an accelerated rate and has been profound during the twentieth century which has greatly improved the pace and method of conducting foreign relations. The revolution in technology transformed the very nature of diplomacy itself which meant heads of state, foreign ministers and other important officials could now make intercontinental trips in such a short time as opposed to long trips which sometimes took days or weeks. Also, in the aspect of communication, mobile phones, video conferencing and other electronic means has increased the rate with which diplomatic negotiations take place (1996, p. 6b). Furthermore, summitry developed due to the importance of the media and public opinion in international affairs. This development has sought the need for political leaders to become much more transparent in their dealings. The summit is thus not only the expression of the direct political ties between the leader and his people; the political leader is also perceived as the diplomat-in-chief (Melissen, 2004, p. 194). It may not be easy to measure the success of summitry; however we can assess the contribution of summitry by analysing the functions of types of summitry to diplomacy. These summits can be classified into three; the serial summit, the ad hoc summit and the exchange of views summit. These different types of summitry serve different purposes. The function which the summits may promote include; promoting friendly relations, clarifying intentions, information gathering, consular work, and negotiation (Berridge, 1995, p. 84a). I intend to enumerate the contributions of summitry to diplomacy through the different types of summits. Serial Summit and its Contribution The serial summit is part of a regular series of meetings. There are numerous examples of serial summits, some of which include the Franco-German summits, G7/G8 summits (which are a contributory factor in international discourse,) ASEAN summits, US-AU summits. Another good example of a serial summit is the Western economic summits which have been held annually since 1977 at Rambouillet (Barston, 1988, p. 105) The serial summit is particularly useful for promoting friendly relations and negotiation; whether serial summits are frequent or separated by a year or more, and whether they last for hours or days, they may contribute to a successful negotiation between parties concerned (Berridge, 1995, p.85a). Firstly, they educate heads of governments without international experience; no head of government wants to make a fool out of themselves among other leaders, therefore they are motivated to work hard and develop themselves concerning matters of importance to avoid failure at the summit level; and they cannot afford to be ignorant. Secondly, they make package deals easier (Berridge, 1995, p.85a). Since it involves the interaction of political leaders who have maximum authority as policy makers, deals are therefore easier to seal appropriately and in a forthright manner. Another function of the serial summit is that it speeds up and sustains diplomatic momentum in the sense that it sets deadlines for the completion of an existing negotiation between the parties and it breaks any deadlocks in negotiation due to the fact that all the important policy makers are together. An example of a deadline was in a negotiation was December 1990 at the Brussels ministerial meeting in GATTs Uruguay Round (Berridge, 1995, p.153a). Serial summits are also useful for gathering information about other countries and their leaders, clarifying intentions, creating awareness, generating understanding and enhancing cooperation amongst members of the summits. The best example of the serial summit is the Franco-German summit which started in 1963 and since then, meets at least twice a year (Berridge, 1995, p.86a) Ad hoc Summitry and its Contribution Another type of summit is the ad hoc summit which is usually a one-off meeting convened to address a particular issue e.g. to address a crisis, although it might end up being the first of a series of other meetings and they usually generate more publicity than the serial summits. Special cases of ad hoc summits are working funeral which is a funeral of a major political figure that is attended by high-level delegates from all over the world (Berridge, 2002, p. 180b). Examples of ad hoc summits are the Cocaine summit, the Sino American summit, and the Camp David summit. Ad hoc meetings are very useful for imposing deadlines on a negotiation process. A case in point is the Camp David Summit of 1978, which was between Israeli, Egyptian and American leaders and lasted for the whole of thirteen days. Dunn states: It was deliberately described by President Carter as a last chance effort to breathe new life into the failing Middle East peace process which had started so dramatically with the initial meeting between Sadat and Begin. The singularity of this opportunity undoubtedly contributed to its final success (2004, p.153a). Ad hoc meetings are more suitable for symbolic purposes and they also provide a forum for the promotion friendly relations and fostering and leaders become familiarized with other heads of governments and states. An example of such a meeting is the encounter of President Clinton of the United States and President Hafez al-Assad of Syria in Geneva in January 1994. The two-day Ibero-American summit held in Mexico in July 1991 is also an ad hoc meeting that was aimed at promoting the growth of economic and cultural ties between its participants (Berridge, 2002, p.179b). Furthermore, funeral summits have contributed immensely to diplomatic affairs by carrying out the function of diplomatic signalling. According to Berridge: at the funeral of the Emperor Hirohito of Japan in Feb 1989, it was recorded that representatives from 160 countries including 14 representatives of royal families, 55 heads of states, 11 prime ministers were in attendance (2004, p. 172c). Firstly, it is a discreet opportunity for leaders to come together to meet on pressing issues at stake and also a disguise for low key exchange of views between contenders on how to manage conflict. Funeral summits are of diplomatic significance particularly if it is the funeral of a current president or head of state this is because it serves as an important opportunity for political lobbying. Berridge states that: the funeral is almost certain to be the first occasion for both foreign friends of the deceased to confirm that the new leadership remains wedded to their relationship and for foreign rivals to explore the possibility of a change of heart (2002, p. 180b). .High Level Exchange of Views and its Contributions Finally, there is the exchange of views meeting. This is a situation whereby heads of government visit series of countries on a foreign tour. It is usually relevant when a newly elected leader has come into power to educate and familiarize them on the international scene. (Berridge, 2002, p.181b) This summit also promotes more friendly relations between their countries and others. For example, in September 1994, the British prime minister went on a week-long trip to Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Gulf and other places where he visited the King of Saudi Arabia, and had friendly encounter with him (Berridge, 2002, p.181b) Finally, the exchange of views meeting can be very useful for promotion of trade and in taking up serious cases of maltreatment of nationals (Berridge, 2002, p.181b). Advantages of Summits Summits have symbolic importance for example the Moscow summit of 1972 was a representation of the new relationship of superpower dà ©tente. The Vienna summit of 1979 was also a way of symbolizing that there was a better relationship. For example, the Cold War summits held in Paris, November 1990, was used to advertise the end of disputes between the parties involved and to symbolize peaceful relations (Dunn, 1996, p.248c). In relation, summitry is a useful tool for promoting foreign and domestic propaganda; attracting the attention of domestic, foreign and global audience to some issues. It gives the idea that the government is busy doing something about an issue domestic or global, especially in democracies. An example of summit propaganda is the United Nations Summit on Climate Change in New York on 22 September 2009 and in Copenhagen Denmark, December 2009 to create momentum on greenhouse gas emissions (Dunn, 1996, p.249c). Summits also provide the opportunity for governments to come together and gather information about their counterparts, this helps to break down barriers of mistrust and suspicion, and thus they can build up friendly and trustworthy relationships with them. As a consequence of such high level meetings by top leaders that are responsible for government action, issues deliberated on produce efficient results in comparison (Dunn, 1996, p.248c). Furthermore, summitry serves an agenda setting function; this is an opportunity for global issues of overarching political or strategic importance to be brought up to the forefront and addressed effectively. Dunn states that it is useful for: elevating issues to the top of the international agenda and for dealing with problems of with speed and authority (1996, p. 251c). A case in point is the G20 summit in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, June 25-27 of 2010 which will set global economic agenda. Disadvantages of Summits In as much as summitry has lots of advantages, and has contributed positively to the practice of diplomacy it has also faced oppositions from different angles. Over the years, the usefulness of summitry has been in question; it is surrounded by so many controversies and most of the major opposition arise from diplomats who claim that it meddles in their affairs and which has a demoralizing effect on them and other elements of the diplomatic service (Plischke, 1967, p.48). Another argument is that politicians are not professionally trained for diplomatic jobs; therefore they lack the know-how, the skills, and the patience to carry out that function effectively which consequently produces unfruitful results. Some of them might be misinformed, or may not know enough about a particular subject and this may actually limit the capacity of which they can discuss specific issues in detail (Dunn, 1996, p.254c). Furthermore, there is the challenge of lack of knowledge of the other partys point of view or miscommunication; this is especially common when leaders from different cultural backgrounds are involved in a summit and interpreters have to be used. As Leguey-Fellifeux states: Clashes of personality may complicate summit interaction, but cultural misconceptions are a more likely occurrence, as chief executives have less experience in cross cultural communication (2009, p. 302). Negotiations in circumstances like this might prove very difficult. In addition there is also the risk that agreements that were reached during such meetings are difficult to disapprove because they were sealed by the heads of governments themselves (Dunn, 1996, p.257c). Furthermore, summitry has been seen as a waste of time, effort and resources. It takes a lot of time to prepare, and attend a summit and it also takes a lot of resources to make sure that a summit is successful. Resources that could be used for other important things will be used to pay for security, meals, and luxury accommodation for these politicians. An associated disadvantage is the risk of travel, accidents could occur, and lives could be lost, also, illness could develop due to causes such as the weather and all sorts (Dunn, 1996, p.261c). CONCLUSION Over the years summitry as a method of conducting foreign relations has come to stay a part of the diplomatic process for better or worse. Even though it is risky, it has indeed contributed immensely to so many foreign issues at stake. Due to its multifaceted agenda, it has provided opportunities for package deals across different policy areas that it is now almost impossible to imagine conducting diplomacy without holding summits (Melissen, 2004, p.195). In as much as it has contributed positively to diplomacy, it can also be fatal if wrongly carried out as I have enumerated earlier. According to Dunn: it may create misunderstanding, cause unintended offence and sow the seeds of mistrust (1996, p.264c). Hence, it should be carefully strategized instead of eliminating it totally as a method of conducting foreign relations. Summit talks have to deal with specific issues rather than general atmospherics. According to Berridge et al: for talks to be meaningful they have to be well prepared; decisions to be taken at the summit have to be formulated in detail already in previous negotiations at subordinate levels (2001, p.201c). If prepared and conducted properly and with caution, summitry promises high satisfaction. Despite all criticisms, summitry has become the preferred means of international dialogue.