Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Senior Portfolio Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Senior Portfolio Project - Research Paper Example Therefore, this analysis will make a reference to the industry PESTLE analysis in which case it will analyze the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legislative and environmental issues. Moreover, the threats to the industry can also be viewed from the perspective of porters five forces analysis in which case according to Amrollahi and Akhgar (2013), all the threats to all stakeholders in the industry are analyzed. Therefore, this section will make an integration of these factors as far as the market is concerned. This gives an effective chance to view opportunities existing in it. It has also to be noted that America is a large region and there are some companies that can only provide their services to one state only while others serve a quite a number of states in the country. 1.1 Political and Environmental Factors The political system of the USA has had a very substantial control over the telecommunications industry. ... This, according to the state government is done for the public interest. Control of the media is done through a given number of ways among them censorship in which speech is suppressed depending on the perceived effects on those receiving this information. Censorship has always been done through the Federal Communication Commission. Many political factors have affected this industry to such an extent that some of the companies are wholly dependent on the government legislations. One of the legislations is that of taking care of the environment. The American governments are basing more emphasis on environmental issues. Disposal and care of wastes as well as care of dangerous radioactive waves have to be governed effectively so that the environment remains green. Moreover, some of the companies’ sources of raw materials are overseas nations that have different environmental rules. The companies have the obligation to take care of the environment or risk being removed from such m arkets. Another political issue is the trade regulations and tariffs laws. The communications companies are not supposed to charge beyond a given level of tariffs for their services. For instance, Verizon Inc. operates on the basis of low tariffs to all its customers because it operates on the basis of economies of scale in creation of the new technologies which make it close out any threat of entry into the same area of production. The company is not however allowed to have its rates go so low that they are below the market rates (Bukofsky, Marco and Espindola). Therefore, the telecommunications industry has been regulated by the government for a reason.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Surveillance and the State Essay Example for Free

Surveillance and the State Essay Introduction The UK is increasingly sleep walking into a surveillance society[1] to the extent that it has become an inescapable part of life.[2] Every time we make a telephone call, send an email, browse the internet, or even walk down our local high street, our actions may be monitored and recorded.[3] The increasing prevalence of surveillance has perhaps led to the state being viewed by its citizens as the Big Brother of Orwellian fame. This essay intends to focus on the impact of government surveillance and data collection has upon the privacy of citizens and, as a consequence, their relationship with the state. To effectively answer this question there needs to be an examination of the various forms of surveillance and data collection and whether they are constitutionally proper or improper, intrusive or legal, and whether there should be limitations to the quantity of information collated. The advancement of technology in the 21st century has enhanced the quantity and integrity of surveillance information which begs the question are we as a nation ‘too stupid’ to realise how intrusive the UK’s surveillance regime is? Is a citizen’s liberty and privacy at stake with the effects of surveillance from both public and private sector? Furthermore is the legislation governing this issue sufficient in its application? All these matters will be addressed. However, as there are so many forms of surveillance, there will be a particular emphasis on mass surveillance and the use of CCTV and databases. The need for a widespread belief in the importance of individual freedom and executive accountability is undoubtedly a prerequisite to the success of a constitutional democracy. Understanding Surveillance and its Components. The term ‘surveillance’ can be briefly defined as ‘watching over’ which indicates monitoring the behaviour of persons, objects, or systems.[4] There are two broad types of surveillance, mass surveillance and targeted surveillance. Mass Surveillance is not targeted on any particular individual and gathers information for future use, further, it has the potential to erode privacy. Whereas targeted is directed at particular individuals. It can be carried out under a covert or overt means If it is carried out under a covert operation, it is important to note, that the citizen is unaware of the use of targeted surveillance, so therefore the relationship with the state is unaffected by the use of this type. However if in the event where there was unlawful targeted surveillance and the individual was to become aware, the consequences can be detrimental to the relationship between the citizen and the state. It is important to note that alongside the state there are non state agencies and organizations which also occupy an increasingly significant component of surveillance systems today. The case of Patton v Poole Borough council where, only after the surveillance had been completed by the council on a family, were they made aware of this. The council believed they were acting in accordance with RIPA, and that ‘it was necessary for the prevention and detection of crime and it was proportionate for determining the genuineness of information supplied by Ms Patton.’ [5] The tribunal in this instance found the council was in breach of RIPA and did not act in accordance with Article 8. In coming to this conclusion the court had to determine the issue of whether the actions carried out by the council was necessary for the prevention or detection of crime and was it proportionate to what sought to be achieved. The legislation governing Surveillance and the protection of citizens is outlined in the Data Protection Act 1998, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the 1995 European Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. The Data Protection Act governs the protection of personal data; however this act does not mention privacy of the individual. Privacy The need for privacy is fundamental in a high surveillance society such as the UK. Privacy Internationals survey in 2007 which covered 47 countries indicated there had been in an increase in surveillance in the past year to the detriment of privacy safeguards. 8 of these 47 countries were rated as being ‘endemic surveillance societies’ which included the UK. [6] The need to protect and facilitate the development of privacy of the citizen in order to maintain healthy functioning of society is a necessity with the advancement of technology. Privacy is recognised as a fundamental right by various legal instruments,[7] although Article 8(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights provides limitations.[8] However in English law it is a known fact that there is no right to privacy, it has been suggested that privacy is of such importance to humanity that in the past it needed little formal protection.[9] The high profile case of Kaye v Robertson[10] illustrated the need for the right to privacy in the UK, where photographs of Gorden Kaye were published as he lay suffering from injuries in a car crash. Governments The government’s evidence does not itself explain how the collection of information helps in the pursuit of their objectives, or whether existing processing practices are proportionate to those objectives.[11] The need for this may result in a conflict between the interests of the citizen and the aims of the state. Concerns were also raised about whether government agencies and other public bodies understood how the principles of necessity and proportionality operate in the context of privacy and limitations set out in article 8(2). In order to justify a an interference with article 8’s stipulations, the state must be able to show that it is acting lawfully and for a legitimate aim and the interference is both necessary and proportionate [12] (Hugh Tomlinson p 440) CCTV and how it relates to citizens A Home Office Study concluded that ‘the CCTV schemes that have been assessed had little overall effect on crime levels.’[13] Critics further argue that mass intrusion into peoples movements may not be proportionate and a breach of their rights to privacy under the Human Rights Act.[14] On the roads, camera based restrictions of speed has increased from 300,000 in 1996 to over 2 million in 2004 where an estimated  £113 million in fines have been generated per annum.[15] These statistics have not been welcomed by citizens and have received negative press on the issue. However the overall increase in CCTV on the roads has no doubt contributed to a reduction in deaths and injuries. The state acknowledges how CCTV is valuable in preventing and detecting crime and the overall safety of society. Citizens can be reassured that they can go about their daily business with confidence, it gives members of the business community added security and sends a clear message to those engaged in crime or anti social behaviour that they will be caught and will be prosecuted.[16] Further councillor Hazel Harding acknowledges how CCTV is popular with law abiding members who see it as a preventative and feel much safer [17] agreeing with many members of society who believe, if ‘you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide.’ However the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recognised the contribution of CCTV images is not recorded in a systematic manner.[18] For example, the increased use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition, where cameras can read number plates and then check them against police databases to see if the cars are wanted for any reason, such as road tax, insurance and MOT. However this is not the only purpose of these cameras, every road userâ€℠¢s journeys are stored on a PSNI database for a minimum of two years regardless of the innocence of the subjects. There are about 10 billion innocent people movements stored on the UK database to date. 15 million innocent people’s details are logged and stored everyday.[19] The use of sophisticated data mining software such as ‘Northgate BOF 2.3, Advanced Data Miner’ is used by all police forces in the UK, which allows every journey a person makes to be tracked, traced, mapped and spied upon for the previous two years. Furthermore this is done without individuals consent. Furthermore to date, there has been no parliamentary debate nor legislation passed regulating its use. The system has no safeguards or independent scrutiny in place. The view that ‘there is not and never can be justification for harvesting and storing data information from innocent law abiding citizens by a government without the explicit permission of the individual.’ On the other hand ANPR can be seen as an internationally recognised tool that can significantly reduce volume crime, provided the police use their ANPR system in a lawful, ethical and accountable manner; for the purpose of preventing and detecting terrorism, serious crime, volume crime and road traffic offences.[20] The question arises are the benefits of this outweighing the costs. Such technology enhances the notion that we are living in a surveillance society, others might argue that anything seen as aiding the police to catch murderers and combat crime is necessary. The information Commissioners Office, which advices organisations on the use of CCTV, says cameras must be reasonable and proportionate to maintain public trust and must not breach the Data Protection Act.[21] The Data Protection Act 1998 states that it should be clear from the outset that the purpose of the CCTV recording is to be stipulated and any subsequent deviation from that purpose constitutes a breach of the legislation. This can be applied to any form of information collation where it should only be used for the purpose it was originally intended. Databases ‘There is a need to gather and access personal information to: support the delivery of personalised and better public services; fight crime and protect security; reduce the burden on business and the citizen, and tackle social exclusion through early intervention.’[22] This quotation reflects on the acceptable intention of surveillance and is perceived as an indispensable tool in the day to day operation of social systems. Whereas once it was fairly safe to assume that personal records kept for purposes such as health, policing, social insurance, banking and driver licensing would be stored in relatively watertight containers, the computerization of these records means that they are readily amenable to different forms of integration. Given the immense value placed on personal data, both for commercial exploitation and for risk management, huge pressure is placed on these containers to yield their secrets in shareable ways..[23] Surveillance in this context means focused attention to personal details aimed at exerting an influence over or managing the objects of data or data subjects as they are sometimes called. [24] It can be considered an aiding instrument to organise. Under the Data Protection Act, bodies that are collecting and collating data, be it health records, revenue information or even a school recording pupil information, are legally required to pay an annual fee of  £35 to register with the Information Commissioner that they are collecting and storing such information. There is a two tier structure based on the organisation’s size and turnover, notification fee’s of  £500 applies to data controllers with a turnover of over  £25.9 million or employs over 250 members of staff.[25] What is of concern is who monitors how this information is being used and how secure it is, or to put it another way, who watches the watchers? These questions concern the accountability of data collection. It is only when there is a breach of security that there is awareness that not all bodies are compliant with the Commissioner’s requirements. These breaches tend to become of real public concern when they come to the attention of the media, affecting public relations with the governing bodies to the level of mistrust. For instance in December 2007, it was revealed that a computer hard drive with the details of 3,000,000 UK learner drivers had gone missing in the USA and that the details of 7,500 vehicles and their owner had been lost by the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland. Also in DATE the junior officers of HMRC lost personal details of all families in the UK with a child under 16. The corroborative of data collection this is in the combating of fraud. This can be considered as a law enforcement activity which uses data collection. Statistics have indicated that the use of this form of surveillance to combat fraud can be considered proportionate to combating its aims as success in respect of NHS savings of  £189 million in 2005, the National fraud Initiative savings of  £111 million in 2005-06, and  £10 million saved in respect of cheque and plastic card fraud.[26] Where revenue databases are concerned it is not unreasonable to assume that every individual is treated as a suspect. Innocent people are investigated. Here the question arises again, is the invasion of an individual’s privacy necessary in order to prevent fraudulent claims? Conclusion In conclusion, the advances in technology in this field have permeated our society resulting in the citizen subconsciously accepting surveillance as part of every day life. Surveillance data can be very powerful and can enable consumers to perform a wide range of functions, which can be perceived as part of the issue – how wide should that use deviate from the initial intention before it can be deemed explorative and ultimately exploitive. Among these functions include assessing banking information, health records, constructing consumer profiles in the name of facilitating efficient services, the topical issue of mobile phone calls, and sending and receiving electronic mail.[27] It is important to realise that these same advantages can be considered a threat to certain aspects of society through misuse and mismanagement. There are two sides to this argument of proportionality. And no conclusive all-embracing solution. Perhaps we are due a sequel of George Orwell’s publication, possibly titled â€Å"2084†. One wonders what premonitions would he postulate if he were here today. The introduction of CCTV was viewed as a tool to reduce the amount of crime. To date there is very little substantive research evidence to support this.[28] Perhaps if the state were to provide more community policing on the streets of the UK this may be more productive. Further, a review carried out by the Home Office that looked at street lighting found a significant reduction in the levels of crime to the order of 20%.[29] The results from a YouGov Poll[30] have indicated that 79% of people believe that Britain is increasingly being described as a surveillance society. And a further 66% do not trust governments of whatever political party to keep information on databases confidential. Although 97% agree to CCTV in banks and building societies and a further 85% In my opinion the state wishes to control us absolutely, and to achieve this, it must know absolutely everything about us, every minute of our day. Surveillance Web – the rise of visual surveillance in an English city Bibliography Legislation Textbooks Goold B and Neyland D, New Directions in Surveillance and Privacy (2009 Willan Publishing.) Haggerty K and Samatas M, Surveillance and Democracy, (2010 Routledge.) Hier S and Green J, The Surveillance Studies Reader, (2007 Open University Press) Mattelart A, The Globalization of Surveillance, (2010 Polity Press.) Barendt, Privacy as a constitutional Right and Value, (1997 Oxford University Press) Journals Taylor N, ‘State Surveillance and the Right to Privacy’ Surveillance and Society 1(1):66-85. Lyon D, ‘Everyday Surveillance, Personal Data and social classifications’ Information Communication Society, (2002) Routledge. vol 5 issue 2, Websites Privacy International Leading Surveillance Societies in the EU and the World Survey 2007 accessed 3December 2011. Nidirect Government Services, How is CCTV used in the Community, accessed 05 December 2011. http://www.bigbrotheriswatching.co.uk/ http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/notification/cost.aspx Information Commissioners Office website. Newspaper articles R Ford, ‘Beware Rise of Big Brother State, warns data Watchdog’ The Times,16 August 2004. Sunday Times, A Camera network designed to catch criminals is being turned on innocent motorists reports David Leppard. 4/4/2010. Philip Johnson, Home Affairs Editor, Your Life in their Lens, 02 November 2006 The Telegraph. Q A Birmingham Terrorist Cameras, 17 June 2010. YouGov/ Daily Telegraph, 28th- 30th November 2006. Miscellaneous Surveillance: Citizens and the State Volume 1: Report House of Lords select committee on the Constitution 2nd Report of Session 2008-09. M Gill and A Spriggs Assessing the Impact of CCTV, London Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorie, 43, 60-61. Surveillance, Order and Social Control End of Award Report to the Economic and Social Research Council in respect of grant L210252023 Clive Norris Department of Social Policy, University of Hull State Surveillance and the Right to Privacy Nick Taylor1 Jane Clift Respondent and Slough Borough Council Your life in their lens the telegraph [1] R Ford, ‘Beware Rise of Big Brother State, warns data Watchdog’ The Times,16 August 2004. [2] Surveillance: Citizens and the State Volume 1: Report House of Lords select committee on the Constitution 2nd Report of Session 2008-09 para 1. [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid para 18 [5] Patton v Poole Borough Council (2010) IPT/09/01/C) para 8. [6] Privacy International Leading Surveillance Societies in the EU and the World Survey 2007 accessed 3December 2011. [7] See UN General Assembly, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1948, Council of Europe, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, 4 November 1950, Directive 95/46/EC on the Protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data. Privacy regulations aimed at governing how personal information is processed were introduced in the 1970’s and 1980’s. [8] European Convention on Human Rights, Article 8(2) There shall be no interference by public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well being of the country. [9] Barendt, Privacy as a constitutional Right and Value, (Oxford University Press 1997) p 7. [10] Kaye v Robertson [1991] FSR 62. [11] Surveillance: Citizens and the State Report, (n2) at 69. [12] Surveillance: Citizens and the State Report, (n2) at 127. [13] M Gill and A Spriggs Assessing the Impact of CCTV, London Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorie, 43, 60-61. [14] Sunday Times, A Camera network designed to catch criminals is being turned on innocent motorists reports David Leppard. 4/4/2010. [15] Philip Johnson, Home Affairs Editor, Your Life in their Lens, 02 November 2006 The Telegraph. [16]Nidirect Government Services, How is CCTV used in the Community, accessed 05 December 2011. [17] Councillor Hazel Harding, Leader of Lancashire County Council and chair of the Local Government Association Safer Communities Board. [18] Surveillance: Citizens and the State (n2) at 74 [19] http://www.bigbrotheriswatching.co.uk/ [20] Police Service of Northern Ireland, Policy Directive PD 01/08 PSNI ANPR Systems, 17 December 2007. [21] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10341867 Q A Birmingham Terrorist Cameras, 17 June 2010. [22] Ibid at p 21. [23] Surveillance studies Reader – Get in short loan lib [24] D Lyon, ‘Everyday Surveillance, Personal Data and social classifications’ Information Communication Society, vol 5 issue 2, (2002) Routledge. P 1. [25] http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/notification/cost.aspx Information Commissioners Office website. [26] Surveillance state and citizens report. [27] S Hier and J Green, The Surveillance Studies Reader, Open University Press, (2007) pg. 77. [28] R Armitage, ‘To CCTV or not to CCTV’ (2002) Nacro, Crime and Social Policy Section [29] Ibid. [30] YouGov/ Daily Telegraph, 28th- 30th November 2006.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Biblical Exegesis :: essays research papers

First I will give you a background of exegesis. Webster's New World Dictionary(1990), defines exegesis as, the interpretation of a word, passage, etc., esp. in the Bible. This definition is a worldly. To understand the true meaning and background I looked in John H. Hays book called, Biblical Exegesis, for the answer. He says that the term "exegesis" itself comes from the Greek word exegeomai which basically meant " to lead out of." When applied to texts, it denoted the " reading out" of the meaning. The noun, therefore, could refer to "interpretation" or " explanation." Thus whenever we read a text or hear a statement which we seek to understand and interpret, we are involved in exegesis. In this paper I am trying to find out what true Biblical exegesis means. By finding that truth then I and the person reading this paper can leave with an understand-ing on how to comprehend the content of exegesis. Through out my paper you will see noted some of my sources. I have carefully read these books and have selected the best ones to fit the purpose of this document. I will be exploring many areas of exegesis and will be giving you a brief overview of these and then explaining different uses for exegesis. BIBLICAL EXEGESIS: Comprehending the content In the quest for the original wording of the Bible you have to look at all of the texts and their background. Their are many versions: Revised Standard, The New English Bible, The New International Bible, New American Bible, and the King James Version. All have different ways of saying the same scripture. This is the beginning of the textual criticism portion of biblical exegesis. In my own personal opinion I have found that the King James Version is the closest translation to the Greek and Hebrew texts that we have. The next factor in exegesis is historical criticism. This describes the setting of the time and space. In Walter C. Kaiser,jr.'s book, Toward an Exegetical Theology, he states " The historical sense is that sense which is demanded by a careful consideration of the time and circumstances in which the author wrote. It is the specific meaning which an author's words require when the historical context and background are taken into account. (Kaiser p.88)" Next we have to consider the language of the text. This is Grammatical Criticism. " Grammatical criticism is concerned with the meaning of the words in their combination in sense units. Biblical Exegesis :: essays research papers First I will give you a background of exegesis. Webster's New World Dictionary(1990), defines exegesis as, the interpretation of a word, passage, etc., esp. in the Bible. This definition is a worldly. To understand the true meaning and background I looked in John H. Hays book called, Biblical Exegesis, for the answer. He says that the term "exegesis" itself comes from the Greek word exegeomai which basically meant " to lead out of." When applied to texts, it denoted the " reading out" of the meaning. The noun, therefore, could refer to "interpretation" or " explanation." Thus whenever we read a text or hear a statement which we seek to understand and interpret, we are involved in exegesis. In this paper I am trying to find out what true Biblical exegesis means. By finding that truth then I and the person reading this paper can leave with an understand-ing on how to comprehend the content of exegesis. Through out my paper you will see noted some of my sources. I have carefully read these books and have selected the best ones to fit the purpose of this document. I will be exploring many areas of exegesis and will be giving you a brief overview of these and then explaining different uses for exegesis. BIBLICAL EXEGESIS: Comprehending the content In the quest for the original wording of the Bible you have to look at all of the texts and their background. Their are many versions: Revised Standard, The New English Bible, The New International Bible, New American Bible, and the King James Version. All have different ways of saying the same scripture. This is the beginning of the textual criticism portion of biblical exegesis. In my own personal opinion I have found that the King James Version is the closest translation to the Greek and Hebrew texts that we have. The next factor in exegesis is historical criticism. This describes the setting of the time and space. In Walter C. Kaiser,jr.'s book, Toward an Exegetical Theology, he states " The historical sense is that sense which is demanded by a careful consideration of the time and circumstances in which the author wrote. It is the specific meaning which an author's words require when the historical context and background are taken into account. (Kaiser p.88)" Next we have to consider the language of the text. This is Grammatical Criticism. " Grammatical criticism is concerned with the meaning of the words in their combination in sense units.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Mac Cosmetics-the Marketing Mix Essay

M ·A ·C Cosmetics, was founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo in 1985. The first U.S M ·A ·C store opened in 2003, in Greenwich Village, New York. The company’s products were initially specifically designed for professional make-up artists, but are now sold to consumers worldwide. Products The collection includes blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, lip gloss, lipstick, mascara, mineral powder and nail polish. Most M ·A ·C products are oil free. These oils provide benefits for the skin such as prevention of water loss, as they build up in the skin and are not washed away, so the protection is believed to last longer. Pricing strategy Mac cosmetics are generally priced higher than average cosmetics but consumers don’t mind paying more as they are aware of the quality which the product provides. Core product- M.A.C. gives you the look you want. Actual product- face products that have some flasher fun with mirrored compacts. Limited-edition sets packaged in a chic and reusable M.A.C. Holiday tartan tin, M.A.C. glamorous and my scottish fling mineralize Kits. New collection every season Communication M.A.C cosmetics inform, persuade and reminds potential buyers through the word of mouth strategy as they know their target market and they rely on them as their communication strategy. The company uses celebrities as representatives or models. Also, they have fashion parties for different occasions, where it brings the celebrity world and the outside world together. This way, M.A.C. benefits a great deal for their publicity. The highlight of M.A.C. is their sales promotion which stimulates their immediate increases in demand. Their employees are well trained for their job. Their sales representatives offer the best-personalized customer service. Probable target market From what we have researched, our observations show the following: MAC’s target market is compatible with its goals and desired image. The probable target market is aimed at younger to middle aged women (approximately ages 18, 25) based on the advertisement. Products are of high quality, and were originally created by makeup artist’s exclusive use by professionals. The consumer can expect a product that will last longer than an average quality makeup, this is why the price is at the level it is. The tangible product is classed as a consumer â€Å"want† Pricing is at the higher end of the market, with the average product costing approximately $80. This pricing strategy is effective as it suggests that the products are of exceptional quality and that the consumer is essentially paying for what they get. This higher price range helps mac communicates status and exclusivity amongst other brands. MAC branded makeups are not commonly marked down or discounted, as the company’s aim is to help consumers recognize the status and prestige of the brand name. The products are strategically placed, providing MAC products in a place that provides maximum visibility and convenient access. This includes not only physical advertising such as billboard and magazine coverage and stores located not only in large shopping centres and stores such as Myer, but in specific Mac stores. MAC, like most companies has evolved with the technological word and provides consumers with limited spare time and access (due to geographical location and other preventing factors) online purchasing opportunities with their online store. MAC uses two types of distribution strategies to promote their product. 1. Selective distribution- This is not uncommon, with the specialised stores that sell high quality brands, stock MAC as one of their chosen products, usually in makeup stores or large shops e.g. Myer, where a section of the shop is dedicated to beauty and makeup, and a portion of that section such as a counter is dedicated to MAC. 2. Exclusive distribution – This is where only authorised dealers and selected resellers or dealers, including those in selective distribution or licensed to sell MAC products. This includes individual stores restricted to selling only the chosen brand’s products such as certified MAC stores. Segmentation strategies The MAC Cosmetic Company provides a wide range of different yet similar products to cater for individuals that are all looking for a similar outcome, good quality makeup suited to their skin type. This is a factor that must be taken into consideration when creating segmentation strategies. Appropriate marketing segmentation is beneficial to the company as it is effective as it can more precisely fulfill the desires of targeted groups. Market segmentation can be divided various categories including geographic, demographic, psychographic behavioral. Geographic- this includes the size, population and climate. MAC designs products suitable for the climate and population that they believe will potentially buy their products Demographic- Relates to the income, gender, family life cycle stage and ethnicity. MAC’s range of products may be pricey and seem out of reach in comparison to other brands, however the halo effect is created through this and the quality of product outweighs the price for those who value quality highly. Psychographic- Is about social class, personality and lifestyle of the consumer. MAC products create an image of status and prestige; people may find themselves paying for the brand based on reputation, without considering other, less known brands. Behavioral – includes usage rate, benefits desired and the consumer’s loyalty/buying status in regards to the product. Many consumers who use MAC will stay loyal to the brand, finding comfort in what they know works. Positioning Macs competitive positioning in regards to the marketing mix is achieved well. It’s pricing is higher end, but delivers top quality products which leads to brand trust achievement. Consumers are prepared to pay a higher price in order to receive higher quality products that they can trust.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

FACTOR THAT INFLUENCE INTENSIVE BAHASA INGGERIS STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION TOWARDS LEARNING ENGLISH AT ALPHA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IN SEREMBAN 2 Essay

In the era of information and technology, there is a great need for individuals to learn and master the English language. Nowadays the English language is important to get a job easily. English is also used for different purposes such as news and information, business, diplomacy, entertainment and others, supported by Kitao as cited in (Kasuma, 2002). According to Travil as cited in (Kasuma, 2002) knowing the language can help us to express our opinions, hopes, and even our dreams. In Malaysia every school uses English as the language for teaching subjects such as Mathematics and Science, and a lot of people learn English at school, where English language is used as a common subject. Learning the language is important and people learn to read and write in English to make sure they can communicate with other people. However, there are still some people who may not read and speak in the English language fluently. In the primary and secondary schools English is taught as a second langua ge. By studying English, students can prepare themselves to improve their thinking and communication skills. Based on Rosli Talif as cited in (Kasuma, 2002), English could 2 contribute to knowledge, understanding and skills of students, who need to be equipped with such skills in order to be prepared for more complex problems in the future. As we all know English is important but there are still people who don’t want to take the opportunity to learn the English language because of their lack of motivation. Motivation is suggested to be an important factor to start learning English. Motivation is defined as the extent that one strives to acquire the language because of the desire to do so and satisfaction derived from it supported by Gardner as cited in (Wimolmas, 2001). For students to achieve their success they need to have a strong motivation for themselves. Motivation can influence the students learning results. Motivation is the biggest single factor affecting a language learner’s success. According to Tuan L as cited in (Jafari, 2013) one of the factors influencing the success of the learners in learning English is the person’s motivation. Students who have low motivation will  not attend the class, or enter the class late, that is why motivation is needed to make the students more likely to enter the class and want to learn English or other subjects. Motivation is one of the factors or keys to success in anything. When they lack motivation the students also get poorer results. Every student has his own goal and target. Some of the students have the motivation to learn and some students learn by working harder in understanding the subject. They will have different results, as some students may have good results and some student may not even though they have worked harder, because the student that have a higher motivation will get the credits and have better results. 3 1.1. Background of Study This research is done in Alpha College of Technology (ACT) which is one of the Private Colleges in Malaysia. The population of this college is about 1143 students. The topic that has been choose by the researcher is the factors that influence Intensive Bahasa Inggeris (IBI) students’ motivation towards learning English at Alpha College of Technology in Seremban 2. In this research the respondents that have been chosen is students from Alpha College of Technology, who are from Semester 1 to Semester 6. In this research students can be motivated by many factors, and the researcher will focus on four independent variables to examine the factors that influence students’ motivation in learning English. Intensive Bahasa Inggeris (IBI) is a programme that takes two month for the students to complete. Students who enter this program will gain a lot of knowledge. The objective in this IBI programme is after two months the students, they should be able speak English using correct grammar and they should be able have a confidence when speaking and communicating with others. In this IBI programme, the students will learn everything in English also speak in English with the lecturers. It is because Alpha College of Technology has decided to take lecturers from the other countries so that they can’t speak our language which is Bahasa Malaysia. With this method, the students will not have an option to communicate in Bahasa Malaysia. They need to speak English to communicate with the lecturers. So the students will be able to have a confidence in themselves to speak with others. The college also has provided good facilities to learn the language in two month. The students will have a comfortable classroom. Other than that the students will also do some activities in the class such as presentations, public speaking, acting, and many more. All of these activities will be in the English language. Some of the students will do the activities individually and in groups so this will make the students have more confidence in communicating with others using the English language. Other than that, the IBI programme also uses technology in the lessons, such as using a projector which teaching in class. This will make the students understand the lectures. The lecturers may use the projector in teaching grammar using presentations. The college also provides good audio systems in every classroom to make sure the students can hear the lecturers during lecture. The audio system also will be used in the listening activities. With all these facilities, the collage hopes to mak e the students have high motivation in learning English in the two months. Although after the two months, if the student still can’t have good grammar skills, at least they have confidence in communication and can speak with everyone. 1.2. Problem Statement English is important nowadays, because it is used in all our daily activities. English is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world. It is the most spoken official language in the world. In Malaysia English is known as a second language which is used every day and it is an international language. English language can help create many opportunities in international markets because English is used as an international language and it will be easy to communicate with others from different countries. Many of the world’s top films, books and music are published and produced in English. Therefore by learning English you will have access to great entertainment and have a greater cultural understanding. Other than that, most of the content produced on the internet is in English. So, by knowing English will allow you to access and get more information easily. There are several factors that motivate IBI students in learning English. Learning will not happen without good motivat ion, some students may have a good motivation but when it comes to learning English they will lose their motivation because they have a negative view to learning English. So, in  this research the researcher will view the factors that influence IBI students to learn English. There are four factors that influence IBI students’ motivation in learning English which are the activities, facilities, the lectures ability and the technology. Specifically, the research explored that with suitable activities, it will help students’ motivation in learning English. Learning English will not be effective if the students only learn theory without activities, because students will have better understanding of the language and have the courage to speak in front of others. As we notice, most of students who learn English do not fully understand and can’t speak and communicate well with others. This is because they do not have the motivation to do so. In Malaysia, some of the institutes don’t have effective activities for the students to give them motivation to learn English. The colleges must know what activities can be used to make the students want to learn more English. They can give activities such as public speaking, poem recitations, and spelling contests. With correct activities, the students will have good motivation to learn English, because they will not face any stress in learning English. Next the researcher also examined the facilities of the college to see if they are suitable for the students to learn English. The college must provide good facilities to make their students learn English. A college which does not have good facilities will not inf luence student’s motivation in learning English. The facilities will include whether the college provides a good class, which has air-conditioning or not, enough tables and chairs for study, and has a whiteboard or not. Good facilities are most important to make the students have motivation in learning English. Some of students don’t want to enter the class because they are not satisfied with the facilities that are provided by the college. In this case the students will not come to class and will study at the hostel. This show that the students have poor motivation because they don’t have the desire to learn and may be they will stop leaning in the college. The lecturers’ ability is also important in determining the students’ motivation in learning the English language. The lecturers need to have a willingness to teach the students and if the lecturers don’t have the willingness to give lectures to the students 7 than the students will not have the motivation to learning English. Lecturers play an important role in developing student’s minds and motivation in learning the English language. Some colleges may have all foreign lecturers to give a lesson to the students so that the students will have to speak in English to communicate well with the lecturers because the lecturers only understand English. With a good lecturer’s ability, the students will be able to learning English with a higher motivation. Also some students may not be liked by the lecturers. This is normally because they are biased, and some students may refuse to enter a class because they do not like the lecturers, either personally or professionally. Other than that, technology also may be a factor that influences students to study the English language. The college needs to update their technology for the betterment of the students. Technology that may be used by the college like projectors, for lectures can make students understand more clearly. Also with the use of technology, the lecturers can give a lecture to the students faster. For some students they can learn faster when using a technology because they enjoy themselves during the lectures and get the main point in the lecture easily. The lecturers also do not need to worry about insufficient time to give lectures to the students. 8 1.3. Research Question This research focuses on factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English. The research questions are: 1.3.1. Are activities a factor that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English? 1.3.2. Are facilities a factor that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English? 1.3.3. Is the lecturers’ ability a factor that influences IBI students’ motivation towards learning English? 1.3.4. Is technology a factor that influences IBI students’ motivation towards learning English? 1.4. Research Objective The specific objective for this research is the factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English. The research objectives are: 1.4.1. To identify whether activities are a factor that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English. 1.4.2. To identify whether facilities are a factor that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English. 1.4.3. To identify whether the lecturers’ ability is a factor that influences IBI students’ motivation toward learning English. 1.4.4. To identify whether technology is a factor that influences IBI students’ motivation towards learning English. 9 1.5. Significance of Study The significance of this study is to find the factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English at Alpha College of Technology in Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan. It is believed that those students that have motivation in themselves will want to continue learning English and take the IBI programme. 1.5.1. Researcher This research, can be used by other researchers as their references. The researcher will also get more knowledge and get more information about the factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English at Alpha College of Technology in Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan. Other researchers may use the information that is obtained in this study and apply it in other areas by using different or more samples. With this research also the researcher may increase his self-confidence and communication skills when dealing with other people in the future. 1.5.2. Intensive Bahasa Inggeris (IBI) students Through this research, the student will get the knowledge about the factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English in more detail. In addition, with this research, the researcher can also help the students to identify the factors that influence them to learn English. 10 1.5.3. Readers This research is important and very beneficial to the reader because it can be used as information in understanding the factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English. 1.5.4. Future researcher This research will be able to help others in their future research. It is important because future researchers can use this research as a guide for a new area of research with similar topics. The researcher also will be able to use this research as a reference to gain more knowledge about the factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English at Alpha College of Technology in Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan. 1.6. Scope of the Study Student motivation for learning something is the factor for the students to continue studying. For the purpose of this research, the study will focus on factors that influence Intensif Bahasa Inggeris (IBI) students’ towards learning English at Alpha College of Technology. 11 1.6.1. Subject This research focuses on factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English at Alpha College of Technology. In this research, the researcher will know what are the factors that will influence the students’ motivation. For this research it focuses on four motivation factors that have been identified. They are activities, facilities, lecturers’ ability, and technology. 1.6.2. Respondents The respondents in this study were selected from students who have taken an IBI programme at Alpha Collage of Technology, Seremban 2. As many as 100 respondents were selected to answer the questionnaire that was already prepared. The questionnaire is based on the factors that influence IBI students’ motivation towards learning English based on the independent variables. 1.6.3. Location The location of the study that was chosen by the researcher is at Alpha College of Technology, Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan. This place was selected because it is close to the researcher’s residence, and it is faster for the researcher to distribute and collect the questionnaire from the students. The researcher also selected this place because it is easy to get permission from the authorities to do the research. It is also suitable for 12 the researcher to get the respondents because it is easy to find respondents as they are in the IBI programme at Alpha College of Technology. 1.7. Limitation of the Study 1.7.1. The respondent This research focuses on 100 respondents who had entered the Intensif Bahasa Inggeris (IBI) programme, which is a two month programme. The researcher had difficulties when distributing the questionnaire because the researcher needed to give the questionnaire to persons who have entered the IBI programme only. The researcher will get late feedback from the respondents because the researcher may need to explain the questions to them. Also some respondents did not answer the entire questionnaire and gave false information while filling in the questionnaire. Other than that there were a few respondents who did not give their cooperation to the researcher. 1.7.2. The location This study was done at Alpha College of Technology which has an Intensif Bahasa Inggeris (IBI) programme. This study was only conducted in a specific area which is at Alpha Collage of Technology in Seremban 2, Negeri Sembilan. 1.7.3. Limitation of data The researcher found that the data needed was available only in Alpha College of Technology. Therefore the data may not be very accurate because it is only from the students of Alpha College of Technology. 1.8. Chapter Summary As a summary, this chapter explains the overview and background of the study. In addition, this chapter also explains about the problem statement of this research which explain about the problem that make the researcher make this research. Next the researcher will create a research question and research objective which will be used as an independent variable in this research. The dependent variable of this research is motivation and Intensive Bahasa Inggeris (IBI). After that the researcher will need to explain about the significance of the study which contain researcher, IBI students, and for the future researcher. Beside that the researcher will explain about the scope of the study which is subject, respondents, and location. Lastly the researcher will explain about the limitation that the researcher have during completed this research.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Agency Theory and Corporate Governance

Agency Theory and Corporate Governance Introduction Stakeholders, management, and employees are fundamental parties of organizations, who work collectively to achieve the same goals. The shareholders, who are the main owners of organizations, have a working relationship with the managers, as they always urge the management to strive towards achieving the organizations’ goals and objectives. The agency theory elucidates the relationship that exists between the shareholders and the executives of the company. Shareholders and principals are concerned with daily activities of organizations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Agency Theory and Corporate Governance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conversely, many shareholders perceive that managers do not work towards achieving the goals of organizations. Instead, shareholders hold that managers use their positions as opportunities of achieving their personal goals. Therefore, a values conflict arises betw een the owners and the principals of organizations. Consequently, the conflict compels shareholders to control and oversee the operations of organizations through corporate governance. Thus, the purpose of this essay is to analyze the conflict of values between the shareholders and the managers. The Components of Values Conflict In organizations, conflict of values occurs when shareholders, who are the owners of organizations, develop a feeling that managers, who are responsible for the daily activities of organizations, are using their positions as avenues of achieving their personal objectives. Values conflict is associated with managers who use the organizations to meet their own objectives, instead of the values that shareholders have concerning the organizations. Stakeholders perceive that managers do not invest enough time, money, and efforts in boosting organizations to achieve essential growth and development. Conversely, some managers perceive that shareholders want the org anizations to achieve their own interests at the expense of employees. Protagonists believe that shareholders only think about revenues and profit margins of the organizations, but not the overall welfare of the workforce and sustainability of the organizations. Some components of the values conflict include the perceptions held by shareholders and the management concerning administration of the organizations, the attitudes of the shareholders and managers, the level of suspicion among the parties involved, and the arguments presented by the parties. The Reasons and Rationalizations that the Protagonist Must Counter From the shareholders perspective, managers do not invest enough efforts, money, and time towards organizations’ performance without external control and the application of corporate governance. Instead, managers use their positions to meet their own interests, a behavior deemed as opportunistic by shareholders. Therefore, shareholders observe that devoid of effec tive corporate governance, managers cannot sustain organizations to survive in the competitive markets. Shareholders fear that organizations can fail to maintain their market share, and consequently collapse. According to managers, organizations can always succeed through the efforts that employees and the management apply, but not through external incentives such as performance based pay, which aims at increasing organizational performance. Managers believe that the main goals of the organizations are not profits and revenues, but sustainability and the capacity for delivering the best products that meet the needs of consumers. According to the protagonists, the reasons and rationalizations that shareholders need to understand is that the nature of competitive organizations is achievable through passion, willingness, and collective cooperation among stakeholders. Thus, protagonists believe that incentives from shareholders are not practical strategies of improving organizational pe rformance in a sustainable manner.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More What Key Parties Will Gain or Lose from Corporate Governance? In successful organizations, shareholders reap benefits, as they receive increased dividends and profits that accrue in these organizations. Consequently, managers and employees experience the accomplishments and receive incentives such as promotions, rewards, and increased remuneration. Among organizations, success transpires when managers and employees work hard, deliver products of the desired quality to consumers, and undertake the right measures geared towards organizational performance. However, protagonists perceive that incentives proposed by stakeholders to enhance performance will hamper organizational growth and development. Incentive contract dictates that the higher the fixed pay or salary, the lower the performance of manage rs in achieving organizational goals. From the incentives, managers and employees will only focus on the requirements of the shareholders, who will dictate the organizational development towards their preferred direction. On the other hand, shareholders stand to benefit from the incentives, since they will have a complete dominance of the organizational operations. Therefore, shareholders will be in a good position to steer organizations to increase performance, and consequently generate optimum profits and revenues. Conclusion Conflict is a common scenario in organizations due to differences in values held by shareholders, managers, and employees. Shareholders believe that organizations need to maximize profits, increase revenues, and enhance performance. On the other hand, managers think that organizations can succeed through innovation, creativity, motivation, and hard work on the part of management and employees. According to managers, the innovative nature of employees and mana gers can fail to effect necessary changes, if shareholders impose performance contract incentives on them. The innovative and creative nature of management and employees will not materialize, since the workforce will work hard to achieve the objectives that stakeholders need. Conflict usually arises when shareholders suspect that managers use organizations to meet their personal objectives. This compels shareholders to initiate a corporate governance, which is a strategy aimed at controlling the operations of managers in organizations without necessitating their actual presence. Managers believe that performance based on incentive contracts is not effective. Protagonists feel that organizations require some level of independence to capitalize on their efforts, money, and resources in improving organizational performance.

Monday, October 21, 2019

When Do ACT Scores Come Out ACT Score Release Schedule

When Do ACT Scores Come Out ACT Score Release Schedule SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You've taken the ACT and are now waiting for your scores. This can be a tense time, but knowing when exactly to expect your ACT results can help you plan ahead. When do ACT scores come out exactly? In this article, find out when your test scores will become available, how to get your ACT resultsas fast as possible, and what to do once you have them. Will your ACT scores be good enough? When your scores come out, it's critical for you to understand whether your scores are good enough. The ACT score that's good enough for you is unique to you, based on your goals. Download our free guide to figuring out your ACT target score. How Long Does It Generally Take to Get ACT Scores? ACT results normally start to come out online around 10 days after your test date. Because the ACT is always taken on a Saturday, your scores will usually come out on the second Tuesday after your test date. Occasionally, ACT scores might take longer than 10 days to come out.The official ACT website offers a range of possible score release dates for each test. Generally, the earliest possible release date is 10 days after the test date, and the latest possible release date is six to seven weeks after the test date. If you took theACT with Writing, your multiple-choice scores will become available online around the same time as everyone else's; however,your essay score will typically take an additional two weeks. In other words, your complete ACT scores will come out, at earliest, a little more than three weeks after your test date. When Exactly Do ACT Scores Come Out? ACT score release dates will vary depending on your test date. We created the tables below for you to see when you can expect your ACT results to become available. 2019-20 ACT Score Release Schedule ACT, Inc. has confirmed itstesting schedule for the 2019-20 testing year. This allows us to come up with estimatesfor future score release dates: ACT Test Date Multiple-Choice Scores Release Complete Scores (w/ Essay) Release Sept 14, 2019 Sept 24, 2019 Oct 8, 2019 Oct 26, 2019 Nov 5, 2019 Nov 19, 2019 Dec 14, 2019 Dec 24, 2019 Jan 7, 2020 Feb 8, 2020 Feb 18, 2020 Mar 3, 2020 Apr 4, 2020 Apr 14, 2020 Apr 28, 2020 June 13, 2020 June 23, 2020 July 7, 2020 July 18, 2020 July 28, 2020 Aug 11, 2020 Have a feeling you'll need to take the ACT again? Download our free guide to improving your ACT score by 4 points. Note that these are the earliest possible dates for your ACT scores to come out. Many students have their scores delayed by a few days as ACT, Inc. gets all the scores together. Don't be too alarmed if your test scores are delayed by a week or so. Beyond that point, though, it might be a good idea to call ACT, Inc. and ask about the status of your test. ACT Writing scores usually come out about two weeks after your multiple-choice scores are released. ACT, Inc. does a great job of getting its scores out as early as possible instead of waiting for all students to be ready before releasing them in a batch. What Time Do ACT Scores Come Out? ACT scores are released in batches and are usually posted once a day at around 12 am Central Time (10 pm Pacific Time, 11 pm Mountain Time, and 1 am Eastern Time). If your test scores don't show up after this time on a particular day, you'll have to wait a whole day and then check if they come out the next day. This information will hopefully help with your stress and keep you from compulsively checking for ACT scores throughout the day! When Are ACT Scores Available to Schools? After taking up to a week to process your score report request, ACT, Inc. will batch up your score report with others going to the same school. Colleges receive ACT score reports at least once every two weeks, but some schools get them more frequently. UVA has stated that it gets score reports electronically at least once a day- but gets scores even more frequently closer to application deadlines. If you put down a school as one to receive one of your four free score reports, that school might even be able to see your ACT scores before you candepending on how frequently it gets scores from ACT, Inc. It’s also important to note that ACT, Inc. will not send out your ACT scores until your whole test has been scored. So if you’ve taken the Writing section, your scores won’t go out until your Writing scores, too, have been determined. Opting for a priority report(instead of a regular score report) shortens the initial processing time to two working days after your request and typically gets your ACT scores to schools three to four business days after your request has been processed. Note that ACT, Inc. cannot send out a score report until your test has been scored. Unless you've gotten your ACT scores and have a college application deadline fewer than seven weeks away (or three weeks for the ACT without Writing), ordering priority reporting isn't worth it. Note: If you took the ACT through State and District, School, or DANTES testing, your online scores will likely not become available until after you get your paper score report in the mail. How Do I Check My ACT Score? The fastest way to view your ACT scores is to go online to your ACT account. Once you log in, you'll see a list of the ACT test dates you have scores for: Next, click on "View Scores" for the test date for which you want to view your ACT scores. You'll be taken to a screen on which you have to reenter your password (for security's sake): Once you enter your password again, you'll be taken to a page with your ACT results. For a more detailed explanation on how to get your scores, check out ourstep-by-step guide. Why Does It Take So Long to Get My ACT Score? It might seem as though grading shouldn't take long since ACT tests are scored automatically. But remember that hundreds of thousands of students take the ACT on each test date.What's more, all of these things need to happen for each student taking the test: Each test is shipped to the ACT, Inc. scoring headquarters. Each test is scanned to calculate araw score. Each test receives a scaled score from 1 to 36, depending on the curve for that test. Each ACT Writing essay is evaluated by two human graders. All of this happens on a nationwide scale, so clearly ACT, Inc. has a significant logistics challenge to deal with! When all's said and done, though, ACT, Inc. strives to get test scores out as soon as possible so students like yourself can plan ahead for college. ACT Results: 2 Options for Next Steps Once you get your ACT scores back, you have a couple of options for what you can do next. Option 1: Retake the ACT If you're not happy with your scores, you might want to consider retaking the ACT. You can refresh your memory on how to sign up for the ACT with this article. Whether you retake the ACT ultimately boils down to two factors:what your target score isand how likely you are to improve your score.Your ACT target score is determined by the average ACT scores of the schools you want to get into. If your ACT scores are a lot lower than your target score is, it might be worth retaking the test. It’s not enough, however, to look at your ACT results and say, "Well, I didn’t do as well as I wanted, so I’d better take it again." As we discuss in our article on ACT score decreases, there’s about a 50-50 chance that if you retake the ACT, you’ll score the same or lower than you did before.And the odds of a score decrease are even higher if you don’t put in much studying time. To improve your composite ACT score by 1 to 4points, you’ll need to put in around40hours of smart prep. Increasing your score by more than this requires even more time and energy. This doesn’t mean just brute-forcing it by doing as many practice tests and quizzes as you can get your hands on; instead, you'll want to use a system that focuses mainly on your weaknesses and helps you improve them. Keep in mind, too, that if you're applying to a school that requires all ACT scores be sent, you'll likely have to send this test's score as well unless you delete it from your record. The bottom line: if you're able to put in the time and energy to improve your score, then it's worth retaking the ACT. Otherwise, it's just a waste of money and a Saturday morning! Option 2: Send Your ACT Scores to Colleges If you're completely satisfied with how you did on the exam, then your next step is to send your scores to all the colleges you're applying to. We've also got a complete list of school and college codesyou can use to send your ACT scores. What's Next? Know you want to retake the ACT but not sure when to do it? Check out all upcoming ACT test datesto find out when you can take the test next. For tips on the best time for you, read our article on the best ACT test dates. What ACT score do you need to get into college?Get the answer to this question by reading our guides towhat the average ACT score for college isand the minimum score you'll need to get in. When's the last date you can take the ACT and still have your scores get to schools in time? Find out with these articles about the last ACT dates forearly admissions deadlines and regular admissions deadlines. Also, check out our free guide on the 5 most important strategies you need to know to improve your ACT score by 4+ points.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Unique Ways to Celebrate Graduation

Unique Ways to Celebrate Graduation Graduating from an online university or college can be surprisingly depressing. You’ve worked hard, done well in your classes, and have truly earned your degree. But, without the traditional cap-throwing, gown-wearing, sappy music-playing graduation ceremony, finishing coursework can sometimes feel anticlimactic. Don’t let that get you down. Many online graduates find their own way to celebrate. Viewing some unique graduation celebration ideas may inspire you to mark the occasion in a special way. Throw Your Own Ceremony or Party Even if you can’t attend a traditional graduation ceremony, host your own. Choose a theme, send out invitations, and celebrate your accomplishments with your best friends. Display your diploma on the wall to mark this important milestone and show interested guests. Spend the evening with upbeat music, good food, and interesting conversation, letting those closest to you know that you did, indeed, graduate, and you are in the mood to celebrate. Take a Trip Chances are that you’ve put off some of your vacationing desires to finish your educational commitments. Now that youve completed your online studies, youre not bound by a scheduled graduation ceremony. Since you’re finished with school, take some time to do what you’ve always wanted. Whether it’s a cruise of the world, a vacation to Maui, Hawaii, or a weekend at a local bed and breakfast, you deserve it. Theres no better way to celebrate your graduation than lying on a beautiful beach or enjoying breakfast in bed in a cottage nestled in the woods. Splurge on a Career-Related Activity While you were busy studying, you may have passed up going to an amazing business conference, skipped becoming a member of an elite art museum, or forgone subscribing to a career journal because you needed to spend your money and devote your time to your schooling. If so, now is your chance to celebrate by ordering tickets, planning your trip, or signing up. Not only will you enjoy it, but it may provide unexpected opportunities to progress in your field of work. Renovate Your Study Since you’ve finished with the late nights on the computer and removed the â€Å"Stay Out† signs from your door, take the opportunity to redecorate the room (or corner) you’ve used to study. If you have a large space, consider turning it into a parlor for entertaining, home theater, game room, or home spa. Or, if you made your homework habitat in a little corner of the house, redecorate it with artwork, famous quotes, or posters to inspire you in your career. Give Back   You’ve had amazing opportunities, and your new degree promises to bring even more chances for exciting experiences. Find a way to give back to your community. Think about volunteering at a local school, dishing out at a soup kitchen, tutoring students at the library, or reading at a neighborhood senior center. Sponsor an orphan in the U.S. or in a foreign country or become a member of a civil rights group. Whatever you choose, giving back is sure to offer real personal satisfaction to add to your hard-earned degree.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Business management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business management - Essay Example The implication of this approach and changes made on the part of RBS are also provided. Keywords: Royal Bank of Scotland, changes, complexities, leadership, success Table of Content Page Executive Summary 2 Introduction 4 RBS Approach 4 Evaluating RBS success with emancipated changes 5 Conclusion 5 References 6 Introduction The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) leads in providing financial services in Europe since 1727. With that, it has pioneered major leading moves to sustain its competitive advantage in its industry. The bank for such a long period of time has managed complexities, but recently it also needs to cope with change. This means the bank needs not only to develop elemental management approaches, but including leadership innovations in its industry to ensure emancipation of change. As part of its ability to take the lead in its industry, there were various essential moves RBS attempted to initiate in order to promote high level of achievement for its set goals and in order to achieve the required change for it to be able to be on top in its industry. Therefore there is no other definite move that RBS should demonstrate than to ensure emancipation of change as it tries to formulate actual effort to address the changing needs in the industry for financial services. After all, to ensure high level of leadership, coping with change is necessary (Kotter, 1998). No one could contest the fact that major organizations providing financial services have to initiate change, and not doing so would only lead to their detriment in the future. The RBS has undertaken a series of changes in recent years. In this report, the proponent tries to describe the approach that the bank has taken to manage change. The proponent also assesses the success of these changes. Part of this report is an explanation on why RBS finally made the kind of approach it has undertaken recently. RBS Approach As a leading financial service provider, RBS does not only ensure the achievement of hi gher revenue for its offered services, but above everything, profitability. To guarantee certain level of profitability, there were important trends RBS initiated for years. These include the following: Differentiated offerings through diversified customer segments. High level in coping with change and complexities through creation of management roles and organizational structures. Strong support for the human resource. Quick adoption to external changes. Market segmentation strategy is made possible through segmenting customers into retail, commercial and corporate. The good thing about this strategy is to make sure of maximizing opportunity for RBS by providing to various needs of its target customers to end up with sustainable operation. As a result, RBS has finally succeeded today in providing personal, private, business and corporate banking experience for diverse customer segments particularly in the UK, leading to a programme of raising capital around ?20 billion in 2008 (The Royal Bank of Scotland, 2012). RBS is also known for its ability to create management roles and organization structures. In fact, it has become one major component of its expansion. RBS was remarkable in its acquisition strategy especially in the nineteenth and twentieth century (House of Commons Treasury Committee, 2009, p.18). By then, RBS was already renowned a â€Å"a leading banking partner to major corporations and financial institutions around the world, providing an extensive range of

Friday, October 18, 2019

IS Strategy for the Business of Johnsons Plc Essay

IS Strategy for the Business of Johnsons Plc - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that modern and efficient technology always attracts common and business people. In this decade the new information technology such as IS and an IT-based system has offered an exceptional influence on the diverse aspects. Additionally, the emergence of e-commerce or web-based business has offered a lot of advantages to business corporations. In addition, the application and utilization of new technology-based tools and systems have offered better support for the business operational automation in addition to enhanced management. In case of traditional business practices the business managers along with administration nowadays competently comprehend the significance of technology and its potential influence on the better business and corporate support. The need for the new technology-based systems and support is now considered very vital in every area of business. Additionally, the business management and administration have now realized tha t without a proper technology-based system and operational support through new technology-based systems, there is no way to manage a business effectively and obtain a better competitive edge for the business. Johnson's plc manufactures and trades a range of office fixtures products, comprising chairs, desks, tables and special computer furniture. Johnson's plc has established a long time ago and now evolved into an immense business arrangement with the staff of 60 people along with sales earnings of  £2.5m for the previous year. The business comprises a lot of business departments like management, sales, purchase, manufacturing, advertising, etc. In addition, all the departments are presently operational through the traditional business handling and management arrangements. In this scenario, the business is facing some of the major and critical handling and operational complexities of the better business and operational management.

Responding to Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Responding to Terrorism - Essay Example The threat of terrorism is unending, and will most likely increase as time goes by. However, the response to terrorism should not be focuses on the military way, instead, the government should try to uncover the root causes of terrorism and work with other countries using intelligence to avert terrorist acts before they occur. Introduction One of the biggest issues in British politics is centered on terrorism and the resources expended for it. Some individuals in politics are of the opinion that terrorism should not be given as much attention as is currently done since it does not cause as much destruction as other catastrophes. Other politicians state that the best way to curb terrorism is by destruction of the terrorists using force of war. Terrorist acts all round the world continue to appear in headlines continuously, and some quarters seem to indicate that the attention given to global terrorism is not warranted. Statistically, global terrorism seems to pose a smaller threat tha n other catastrophes, for example, floods and famines. An investigation by an American economist, Krueger, indicated that the average chance of an individual succumbing to a terrorist attack in the United States or United Kingdom is less than 1 in 5 million (Krueger, 2007). However, the probability of individuals dying from other factors like natural disasters is of a higher magnitude. However, despite the statistic mentioned above, the threat of terrorism, or the actual occurrence of terrorism will dominate headlines more than any other event. Even if a terrorist attack does not claim any lives or damage property of substantial value, the media coverage and outcry from the public will still be overwhelming (Perl, 2007). Additionally, the government’s response to such an occurrence will most likely be higher that the response to any other event. Comparing the time and resources spent on the response to terrorism to the spent to on other global issues shows a big divergence (P erl, 2007). The government will spend more time, resources and personnel in trying to avert the threat of terrorism than any other global occurrence. Some quarters of the political quadrant might argue that the government is spending too much on an event that might or might not occur, but the following analysis shows that the resources and attention spent by the government, media and individuals in response to the terrorism threat is viable. The analysis will show that the terrorism response mechanisms currently in place are possibly due to the uncertainty of the attacks, but also due to the real threat that they pose to society. The Threat of Terrorism One of the first reasons why terrorism is taken seriously around the world is because of the uncertainty of possible attacks from terrorists (English, 2012). Many individuals will state that they are concerned for the country, but perhaps a more satisfying answer is that everybody is concerned for themselves. Increasing media coverag e has gone to show that terrorists strike randomly, thus increasing the chance that anyone could be a victim. This fact, coupled with the ruthlessness of the attacks, serves to greatly increase the attention given to terrorism. The main reason why the response to terrorism should be taken seriously is because of the underlying factors or reasons in every terrorist insurgence (English, 2007). Despite the fact that most

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Successfully Manage a Radical Change Within a Complex Organisation Essay

Successfully Manage a Radical Change Within a Complex Organisation - Essay Example pany implement re-engineering, reorganisation and cultural transformation, then the entire operational activities face radical changes in three levels. Firstly, changes occur among the personnel who employed within that particular organisation. These changes take place in terms of their attitude, skills, capabilities, attributes and behaviour regarding work place. Top level management should always aware about such behavioural changes which can impact upon the organisational working procedures. Secondly, changes can also take place in organisational structure and system which in turn might transform the existing working culture; procedures reward system and other activities. Thirdly, direct changes can also occur within the organisational culture which might effect upon employees relationship, can develop conflict and can impact on decision making procedures (Government of Jamaica, 2010). In this similar context, changes are completely depends upon business situation and always takes place in order to deal dynamic competitive circumstances. Some of the common changes happen in order to deal with new competitors and new technological innovation. All these changes take place in order to enhance operational efficiency and to obtain long term profitability (Dawson, 2010). By considering the present business scenario, change management is quite significant in every aspect of operational activities. Successful change ensures enhanced organisational ability to perform effectively within the new business environment. The fundamental source of change management is to enhance the capacity of employee to adopt changing working environment. There are some common factors which need to be considered for making a change successful. The first factor is appropriate planning which is... This paper stresses that the transition of an organisation gradually initiates. In this stage, managers try to build a readiness in order to tackle the change. In the awakening stage, the organisation assesses the problems and evaluates the possibilities of change. This can be done with the help of the information gathered from unconscious stage. In reordering stage, an organisation analyse the existing working situation comparatively with the changing scenario. This stage affects largely to the organisational stability and performance equilibrium of an individual personnel. The core idea which has been emerged from the overall discussion is that the major challenges which are coming from radical changes for the organisation is to uphold high productivity while facing transformative changes. The change is considered as an impact which might hamper the overall organisational work structure. Subsequently, on the other hand these changes may lead an organisation towards the high productivity. There are various types of models and principles by which an organisation can successfully adopt the changes into their working environment. It has been observed that the process of changes and transformation is significantly considered as an end and re-birth process where an organisation either shut down its operational activities or attain sustainable competitive advantage. Either cases, an organisation needs to experience and tackle necessary transformational changes in order to survive and grow. Successful change of an organisation effectively depends on personnel capability to incorporate changes in structure and work comfortably within new environment.

Global warming is bad Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Global warming is bad - Research Paper Example Gradual evolution of the idea stirred an emotional debate between opponents and proponents of global warming that ultimately seems to end on rigid stance from both sides. To answer the question weather global warming is good or bad, we must analyse if it is there. The idea has been controversial and increasingly considered to be a myth. Its proponents consider it to be the crucial turn in this century and spending fortunes on investigating and finding solutions while its opponents attribute it to be more political than scientific. The paper analyses both sides and concludes that global warming is bad in either case. The concept of global warming didn’t pop up in a day,with very solid scientifc base,it formulated in a gradual but uncertain way.Lindzen aptly states, â€Å"Warming is a subject riddled by uncertainty† (424).Indeed, the idea has been subjected to intense debates during mid and late 80s without getting to a unanimous conclusion. Different reports by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (1996, 2001) suggested scientific frameworks in order to prevent adverse impact of climate change that brought Kyoto protocol for reducing the emission of greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels. The impact of global warming as projected by media is focused on increase in mean temperature of earth and its consequences, for instance, extreme weather conditions or increasing frequency of such events. In reality, global warming and climate change is much more complex (Khandekar, Murty and Chittibabu 1557).According to newspaper account of U.S. government study in 1988 suggested certain threats that include: Some ecological systems, particularly forests...may be unable to adapt quickly enough to a rapid increase in temperature...most of the notion’s coastal marshes and swamps would be inundated by salt water...an earlier snowmelt and runoff could disrupt water management systems...Disease borne by

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Successfully Manage a Radical Change Within a Complex Organisation Essay

Successfully Manage a Radical Change Within a Complex Organisation - Essay Example pany implement re-engineering, reorganisation and cultural transformation, then the entire operational activities face radical changes in three levels. Firstly, changes occur among the personnel who employed within that particular organisation. These changes take place in terms of their attitude, skills, capabilities, attributes and behaviour regarding work place. Top level management should always aware about such behavioural changes which can impact upon the organisational working procedures. Secondly, changes can also take place in organisational structure and system which in turn might transform the existing working culture; procedures reward system and other activities. Thirdly, direct changes can also occur within the organisational culture which might effect upon employees relationship, can develop conflict and can impact on decision making procedures (Government of Jamaica, 2010). In this similar context, changes are completely depends upon business situation and always takes place in order to deal dynamic competitive circumstances. Some of the common changes happen in order to deal with new competitors and new technological innovation. All these changes take place in order to enhance operational efficiency and to obtain long term profitability (Dawson, 2010). By considering the present business scenario, change management is quite significant in every aspect of operational activities. Successful change ensures enhanced organisational ability to perform effectively within the new business environment. The fundamental source of change management is to enhance the capacity of employee to adopt changing working environment. There are some common factors which need to be considered for making a change successful. The first factor is appropriate planning which is... This paper stresses that the transition of an organisation gradually initiates. In this stage, managers try to build a readiness in order to tackle the change. In the awakening stage, the organisation assesses the problems and evaluates the possibilities of change. This can be done with the help of the information gathered from unconscious stage. In reordering stage, an organisation analyse the existing working situation comparatively with the changing scenario. This stage affects largely to the organisational stability and performance equilibrium of an individual personnel. The core idea which has been emerged from the overall discussion is that the major challenges which are coming from radical changes for the organisation is to uphold high productivity while facing transformative changes. The change is considered as an impact which might hamper the overall organisational work structure. Subsequently, on the other hand these changes may lead an organisation towards the high productivity. There are various types of models and principles by which an organisation can successfully adopt the changes into their working environment. It has been observed that the process of changes and transformation is significantly considered as an end and re-birth process where an organisation either shut down its operational activities or attain sustainable competitive advantage. Either cases, an organisation needs to experience and tackle necessary transformational changes in order to survive and grow. Successful change of an organisation effectively depends on personnel capability to incorporate changes in structure and work comfortably within new environment.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Cultural struggle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cultural struggle - Essay Example Buy writing Mother Tongue, Amy Tan draws the readers’ attention by giving a reflection of people’s perception that the type and quality of English spoken by an individual represents one’s state of mind. She â€Å"†¦believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect† (Tan). Through her statements, readers get to understand that Tan used to look down on her mother due to the quality of English she was using. Further reading Mother Tongue reveals that Amy’s mom is an uneducated woman from China and does not comprehend Standard English. She used to request Amy to make phone calls on her behalf. Amy says that â€Å"she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she †¦ a call to her brokers in New York. I had to get on the phone and say in an adolescent voice that was not very convincing, ‘This is Mrs. Tan.’. The mother as ked Amy to contact the stockbroker and pretend to be her. She, therefore, went ahead to talk to the stockbrokers by paraphrasing her mother’s jumbled sentences into understandable and meaningful statements, to the stockbrokers.Similar captivating information can be derived from the essay Two Kinds, by Amy Tan. In Two Kinds Amy Tan demonstrates that humans carry traumas of their past into their future by dredging them up either intentionally or unconsciously. She uses a Chinese narrator to bring out constant struggles that people go through while trying to find out better understanding and way of existence.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Edward de Vere is the Real Shakespeare Essay Example for Free

Edward de Vere is the Real Shakespeare Essay Edward de Vere was an Earl of Oxford. There is an ongoing debate whether William Shakespeare’s plays were his or these were the creations of Edward de Vere. This debate continues because literary scholars and historians reject this theory but was supported by theater practitioners and researchers. De Vere, also known as Oxford, was called a playwright and poet but his works did not survive. Some of his poetry was anonymously published in â€Å"Arte of English Poesie† in 1589. This was confirmed by the author George Puttenham. Very many noble gentlemen in the Court that have written commendably and suppressed it again, or else suffered it to be published without their own names to it, as it were a discredit for a gentleman, to seem learned, and to show himself amorous of any good art. † (Nelson, 165) Oxford as a dramatist is given proof through the testimony of Francis Meres in â€Å"Palladis Tamia. † He describes his works as â€Å"the best for comedy. † (Whalen, 361). Nonetheless, few of Oxford’s poems and songs are credited to his own name. The dates of these works are uncertain. Most of which are signed â€Å"Earle of Oxenforde† or â€Å"E. O. † When he was alive, Oxford was always in the company of English poets. In 1920, J Thomas Looney presented facts that Oxford was the real author of Shakespeare’s plays. The facts he presented were: a. ) Oxford’s advanced education and first-hand knowledge of an aristocrat’s life b. ) the law c. ) the military c. ) theater background d. ) high praise of Oxford’s works by his peers and e. ) the countless similarities between Oxford’s life and the setting of the plays. Looney’s hypothesis was that Oxford published his works under a pseudonym since it was disgraceful for an aristocrat like him to be writing plays for public theater. (Nelson, 158). This claim was confirmed by Renaissance scholars. Members of the Tudor aristocracy were recognized as reputable poets but none of them published their works. None of Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Fulke Greville, Sir Edward Dyer and Sir Philip Sidney published their creations despite their recognition in the aristocratic society. (Whalen, 248). Through the ideas presented by Looney, other writers became notable Oxfordians. Sigmund Freud, Mark Twain, columnist Joseph Sobran, biographer and historian David McCullough and actors Orson Welles, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir John Gielgud and Jeremy Irons all believe that it was Oxford who wrote these plays. (Lindquist, 23) However, there are gaps on Looney’s theory. One is the evidentiary gap such as Oxford’s death in 1604. If he were in fact the real author of Shakespeare’s plays, the he wouldn’t have witnessed the wreck of the Sea Venture in Bermuda and the Gunpowder Plot† which were said to be the allusions to Shakespeare’s dramas â€Å"The Tempest† and â€Å"Macbeth. Then there are writers like Leonard Digges and Ben Jonson who provide concrete evidence that Shakespeare is a reputed poet. (Lindquist, 24) Oxfordians provide proof through the use of modern research that Shakespeare no longer published his plays after 1604. Also, Oxfordian biographers Mark Anderson and William Farina showed research which indicate that the publication of Shakespeare’s plays actually ended in 1604. (Simpson, 34) Aside from Oxford, there are other candidates who are considered to have been the real author of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. These are Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon and the Earl of Derby. These theories were rejected by academic establishments. Through the ideas and hypothesis of Looney and the Oxfordians, Oxford as the real author of Shakespeare’s works still stands true. (Nelson, 102) A crucial reasoning of why Oxford is the actual author of Shakespeare’s works come in the political topography of â€Å"Hamlet. † (Propson, 13) The Denmark in the play is identical with the biography Oxford has been accustomed in. The play is an imaginative presentation of what Oxford would have done, based on his other works that were published under a pseudonym. Oxfordians continue to present other arguments with such depth and accurate research to back up their hypothesis and their theories. Oxford mastered the understanding and experience that is evident in Shakespeare’s plays. Oxford’s poems also have the same flow as those of Shakespeare’s. He explored and developed the stanzaic and metric forms when writing poetry, just like Shakespeare and his sonnets. (Propson, 15) And just like any aristocrat, he was status-conscious and he needed recognition for his success. He was determined to have his way and would have made it sure to have received credit for his plays or his poetry. So why then would he have allowed this to happen if he actually wrote the plays? Scholars who studied Oxford as a man and the possible Shakespeare describe him as â€Å"a puzzle to his generation. † Oxford was eccentric and creative and he showed varying moods, subtle movements and fierce passions. His words as seen in his poetry are inexplicable and extraordinary. The knowledge and insight of these works cannot be discussed easily, as confirmed by Looney. â€Å"The poetic genius has more or less always been a man apart. † (Whalen, 183) However, those who believe that Shakespeare was the real author of his works scrutinized Oxford’s works as lacking the depth and the conscious knowledge that Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are known for. (Lindquist, 28). His poetry did not have the level of knowledge or the comprehension of philosophies and advance consciousness of the characters as evident in Shakespeare’s plays. But these facts do not stop Oxfordians from seeing De Vere as the candidate for Shakespeare’s actual authorship. They strongly believe that his capability as a dramatist and poet â€Å"conforms to the mind and capacity and character of Shakespeare. (Simpson, 23) Oxford was generous and often funded patronage to projects that benefited literacy, religion, medicine, philosophy, science and music. Not only was he a poet and playwright, he was also a patron. This proves that Oxford made sure he was recognized. Another question mark is that ten other Shakespearean plays were published after 1604, which was the year Oxford died. (Lindquist) The strongest claim that Oxford is in fact the real Shakespeare is the cumulative parallels of the earl’s life to the works and the specificity of his personal references and concerns as seen in the plays and the poems. Oxford was a pure-bred aristocrat and he has been educated along with other noble families. He had profound literary tastes and through this, has become a lyrical poet. He was a traveler and is quite fashionable. He loved music. This is set alongside the fact that Shakespeare was illiterate. Oxfordians say that Shakespeare would have had a hard time writing his own signature, what more composing plays and sonnets. They also reasoned that in Shakespeare’s will, he never mentioned anything about his plays. The same can be said to Oxford. If he in fact wrote the plays, then why did he not state this in his will? The date and the circumstances of Oxford is the dispute among scholars. The historical records and his way of life are concrete proof that he is aware of the aristocrat’s way of life, compared to Shakespeare, who did not lead a life of luxury. Oxford’s uncle, The Earl of Surrey, originated the sonnet form today which has been used in Shakespeare’s sonnets. (Propson, 46). The question on who wrote this becomes more and more difficult to answer because of this. Oxford received his BA from Cambridge University and his masters from Oxford University. He was also sent to study law at Gray’s Inn. This only comes to show that he is absolutely knowledgeable of the topics that have been discussed in Shakespeare’s 37 plays. Like most of the characters in Shakespeare’s plays, Oxford was not domesticated by marriage. He was famous for getting in trouble which initiated the wrath of his father-in-law. As a young man, Oxford accidentally killed another man. A lot of Shakespeare’s plays show one character killing another. Historical records show that Oxford and his companions traveled on the road from Gravesend to Rochester. This is similar to â€Å"Henry the Fourth, Part One. † For some reason, the account in the play also provides the full detail of the assault that is similar to Oxford and his men. Once Oxfordians dug this information up, they used it as another important bullet point in their hypothesis. Oxford was also notorious for his martial prowess. He excelled in sports. He was also good with words. He knew how to provide a vast content of narrative using vocabulary, metaphor and imagery. This is evident in Shakespeare’s plays. Another factor that adds up to the confirmation of the Oxfordian’s claim is that Oxford conceived theatrical entertainment for the Queen of Whitehall. He was given a lease to the Blackfriars Theater. He was the patron of other writers and he was known by members of various acting companies. He was one of the first recipients of the literary dedications written by writers Edmund Spenser and John Lyly. He was regarded to be one of England’s most excellent writers. To give more proof on the thesis statement of this paper is the fact that Oxford traveled extensively. He visited France and Italy. Sicily provided the backdrop for Shakespeare’s plays set in Italy. Oxford had a home in Venice. His ship was once attacked by pirates during one voyage. Again, this is another scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays – â€Å"Twelfth Night. † Another historical account of Oxford as Shakespeare is when his brother-in-law Peregrin Bertrie reports upon his return that while having a banquet at Elsinore, â€Å"a whole volley of all the great shot of the castle discharged. † This very account is the line of Shakespeare’s Cluadius in â€Å"Hamlet. † (Propson, 42) However, there are still gaps, especially toward the later years of his life. In 1958, there had been anonymous publications and performances of Shakespearean plays like Titus Andronicus, Richard the second and Romeo and Juliet. That time, the first quarto bore the name William Shakespeare as the author. That very year, Francis Meres published his works â€Å"Palladis Tamia† and credits â€Å"Shakespeare. † At the same time, he identifies the playwright Edward de Vere as â€Å"the best for comedy amongst us. † The 1604 problem will always prevent Oxfordian scholars to completely conclude that Oxford is the real Shakespeare but that does not stop them from presenting concrete facts in what they believe in. They reach a point wherein they count the number of plays Shakespeare release in a year. They wondered about the inconsistency. They say that in 1593 to 1603, Shakespeare published two plays in a year. Then he stopped writing in 1604 and started publishing five years later. (Propson, 45) Other Oxfordian claims is the fact that Shakespeare was not mourned for in his death. Upon Mark Twain’s observation, â€Å"When Shakespeare died in Stratford, it was not an event. It made no stir in England than the death of any other forgotten theater-actor would have made. Nobody came down from London; there were no lamenting poems, no eulogies, no national tears – there was merely silence, and nothing more. A striking contrast with what happened when Ben Jonson, and Francis Bacon, and Spencer, and Raleigh and the other literary folk of Shakespeare’s time passed from life! No praiseful voice was lifted for the lost Bard of Avon. † (Simpson, 138) Until now, the Oxfordian theory is popular amongst writers, scholars, researchers and actors. The debate between the Oxfordians and the Stratfordians (those who believe that Shakespeare is the real author of his works) continue.