The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - 763 Words

â€Å"There is a way to be good again† (Hosseini K. 2003) a line delivered by Rahim Khan Amir’s father Baba’s closest friend, to Amir in order to encourage him to help Hassan’s son escape Afghanistan and finally free him from the guilt of his past. The quote also embodies the struggle and salvation the novel The Kite Runner attempts to bring its readers. The book taps raw human emotions about life situations that challenges a person and brings out the best and worst in him, but the book also shows the value of personal redemption. The story begins during the innocent days of Amir and Hassan, despite being from different social statuses where Hassan is Amir’s servants. The two young boys were inseparable; Hassan was loyal to Amir and will do anything for his master. But one event changed their friendship drastically, after winning a kite tournament Amir lost his blue kite. Hassan promised to bring back the kite at all cost. After Hassan was late to c ome home, Amir searched for him only to witness him being raped by Assef, the neighborhood bully and the story’s main antagonist. Amir did not do anything to stop the rape. Despite what happened to him, Hassan brought back the blue kite to Amir with blood dripping from his pants. After that, Amir avoided Hassan at all cost and even framed him in stealing his watch. Hassan and his father left the household. But in the rise of the war in Afghanistan Amir and his family fled to the United States. Burdened by his decade-worth of guiltShow MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini883 Words   |  4 Pagesregret from past encounters and usually feel guilty and bitter about the situation. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, revolves around the theme of redemption. Redemption can be used as a cure for guilt. Throughout the novel, the author shows that redemption requires some sort of sacrifice and the only way that is possible is if you can forgive yourself from the mistakes y ou have made in the past. Khaled Hosseini effectively portrays redemption through motifs such as rape, irony and flashbacks, symbolismRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1651 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel â€Å"The Kite Runner† by Khaled Hosseini describes the life of a boy, Amir. Amir’s best friend and brother (although that part isn’t known until towards the end), Hassan, plays a major role in Amir’s life and how he grows up. Hosseini portrays many sacrifices that are made by Hassan and Amir. Additionally, Amir seeks redemption throughout much of the novel. By using first person point of view, readers are able to connect with Amir and understand his pain and yearning for a way to be redeemedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1655 Words   |  7 PagesSarah Singer Major Works Data Form Title: The Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini Date of Publication: 2003 Genre: Historical Fiction Historical information about the period of publication: Since the September 11th attacks in 2001, the United States has been at war with Afghanistan. Their goals were to remove the Taliban, track down those in charge of the attacks, and destroy Al-Qaeda. Biographical information about the author: Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. HIs motherRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1098 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, we learn a lot about Amir the main character, and Hassan his servant/brother. In the beginning Hassan and Amir’s relationship was one of brotherly love despite the fact that Hassan was a Hazara and Amir a Pashtun. Back in the 1970’s race and religion played a big part in Kabul and these two races were not suppose to have relationships unless it was owner (Pashtun) and servant (Hazara). Baba Amir’s father had an affair with Hassan’s mother, but it was kept aRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1313 Words   |  5 Pagesis not unique to just J.K. Rowling. Khaled Hosseini also incorporates life experiences into some of his novels. A prime example of this is The Kite Runner. The storyline of this novel reflects his past to create a journey of a young Afghanistan boy, whose name is Amir. This boy changes drastically throughout his lifetime from a close minded, considerably arrogant boy to an open hearted and minded man. This emotional and mental trip is partially based on Khaled Hosseini’s own life. Throughout Hosseini’sRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1908 Words   |  8 Pages​In the novel, â€Å"The Kite Runner†, written by Khaled Hosseini, was taken place in Afghanistan during the 1970’s to the year of 2002. Many historical events happened during this time period and Hosseini portrayed it into his novel. Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan, was a free, living area for many Afghanistan families to enjoy the life they were given. Until one day, Afghanistan was then taken over and attacked. In the novel, Amir, the protagonist, must redeem himself and the history behind his actionsRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1050 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (Hosseini 334). This quote given by Rahim Khan to Amir holds a great amount of force and symbolism. In theory, this quote symbolizes the beginning of Amir’s path to redemption. The eye-opening Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells about the struggles of Afghanistan before and during the Taliban, and one’s struggle for redemption and acceptance. With regards to the opening quote, some see Amir’s actions as selfish. However, others may believe that Amir truly changedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1583 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir, the main character, shares his thoughts and actions due to his poor decisions. The problems he encountered were all because of the sin committed in his youth. His sins taunted the beginning of his life and gave him a troublesome memory full of guilt. As the novel continued, Amir attempted to disengage the memory of his sin and forget about it. Amir then faced the long bumpy road to redemption. Khaled Hosseini’s novel the Kite Runner is about sinRead MoreThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini871 Words   |  4 Pagesthat person is trying to fix that mistake. This also applies to the novel The Kite Runner. The story revolves around the main character Amir, and his childhood friend, Hassan. After Amir came to America with Baba, his father, he still regrets the things he had done to his childhood friend. He left Hassan getting raped by Assef in a small alley in 1975. Thereafter, Amir always feel regret and seeks for redemption. Hosseini -the author, argues that redemption can be achieved by helping others, teachRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini3402 Words   |  14 Pagestitle â€Å"The Kite Runner† is symbolic as fighting kites and the kite runnings are impacting moments in the novel. Hassan was the best kite runner in Kabul, if not the whole country, after Amir won the kite fighting the running of that last blue kite triggered the monumental changes for Amir. For the beginning of the story the kite running was associated with Hassan’s rape and Amir’s grief. As kites appear throughout the story, they begin Amir’s story and also end it. Amir flying the kite with Sohrab

Moral Development Quantifying Ones Life Today Essay

Essays on Moral Development: Quantifying One's Life Today Essay The paper "Moral Development: Quantifying One's Life Today" is an outstanding example of an essay on sociology.  Moral development focusses on the ability of a person to differentiate wrong actions from good actions. Through moral development, humans develop the capacity to avoid wrong and always be on the right path by doing what is required of them. Since my childhood, there are people who have had a huge impact on my moral development. They include my parents, siblings, as well as friends. My moral development mostly took place when I was adolescence, which is a turbulent period with many challenges. My parents and siblings played a crucial role in teaching me the important virtues that shape morality in life. One of the crucial virtues that I learned from my siblings and parents is honesty. They taught me to be always honest in my undertakings and this has significantly helped me and shaped my success in life (Killen and Smetana 378).My friends have also played a significant ro le in my moral development; it is through friends that I have come to learn about principles such as trust and commitment. Friends have taught me to be always confident of myself and gain trust with myself. As a result, I have managed to relate well with other people. Moreover, trust has been instrumental in helping me make career choices. When growing up, my parents taught me problem-solving skills, and this enabled me to gain the ability to solve conflicts. At times, I faced challenges with solving disagreements between my siblings, but with the virtues instilled in me by my parents, I always succeeded in coming up with sound solutions to such conflicts. Thus, I can confidently that my parents, siblings, and friends have immensely contributed to my moral development (Killen and Smetana 378).The three individuals that have had the most influence on my life include my mother, father, and mentor. Like any other young person, I experienced an identity crisis during my adolescence and this made me rub shoulders with my parents. I was often scolded for my actions; however, my mum and dad did not give up on me, but rather worked hard to ensure that I was on the right track. My mentor, who was my teacher, also influenced my life significantly. He taught me the virtue of respect to my elders and through his invaluable advice, the conflicts with my parents gradually declined. He taught me the importance of education and why I ought to put a lot of effort into my studies. Today, I can proudly say that these three people have made me who I am today.My biggest cheerleader is a close friend of mine, whom we have been friends for a number of years. I consider him a cheerleader because I attend many functions with him and whenever we are a group of friends, he always speaks on our behalf. He is a friend I like very much and spend most of my time with him. A person I can call in the night to come and help me is my brother. He stays just a few meters away from where I stay an d can avail himself anytime I have an issue that requires immediate attention.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream the Confusion of Dreams Free Essays

Kelly Johnson ENGL 3000-006 Remien March 5, 2010 Paper 1 The Confusion of Dreams You are falling faster and faster through the pale blue sky with no parachute and nothing to grab on to. The shards of rock below seem to get sharper and sharper as a wave of terror and hopelessness takes over. You are just moments away from certain death when all of the sudden you wake up and realize it was all a dream. We will write a custom essay sample on A Midsummer Night’s Dream: the Confusion of Dreams or any similar topic only for you Order Now In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, he uses the power of dreams to construct the possibility of an alternate reality. A Midsummer Night’s Dream has many crude elements, which may have been offensive to many members of the audience, possibly causing the removal of his play. In order to combat this potential problem, Shakespeare adds Puck’s final speech to serve as an apology. Instead of using a simple apology though, Shakespeare attempts to convince the audience members they too were in a dream by linking the audience to the characters of the play, powerful discourse and imagery. All of these elements allow the reader or viewer to feel at ease instead of resentment as the play commences. The final speech of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at first seems out of place. As this play is a comedy, Oberon’s final speech appears to be the perfect ending. However, the last words go to Puck, the fairy responsible for all of the mischief seen throughout the play, as he tries to fill the audience with a sense of peace by playing with the idea of dreams. In concurrence with the title, dreams are a dominant element throughout the play. Instead of the lovers questioning anything that previously happened, they just accept they all had the same dream, which allows them to happily continue with their lives as all peace was restored. This speech offers an extension of the possibility that it was all a dream to the audience. Puck calls on the audience to think, â€Å"That you have but slumbered here/ While these visions did appear† (5. 1. 417-418). Puck and the other fairies were able to mend all of the problems between the lovers and this speech should do just the same for the audience. If everything previously witnessed is only a dream, then there is no need for outrage and â€Å"all is mended† (5. 1. 416). By creating a dream-like environment, the focus turns from the drama that unfolded throughout the play to the mystical and humorous occurrences. This enables the audience to feel sense of closure. In addition to relating the audience to the characters, the use of discourse aids to the dream-like sense. Throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the way language is used plays an important role in the message Shakespeare is portraying and the final speech is no different, with the language used mirroring the language throughout the play. The final lines of the play extend upon the use of binary opposites. Throughout this speech, Puck offers conflicting ideas that cause further confusion for the audience, similar to the way dreams are viewed as perplexing upon waking up. Puck insists â€Å"And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have enearned luck Now to scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call. † (5. 1. 415-420) The contraction between â€Å"honest† and â€Å"liar† is blatant and it is impossible to be both. Additionally, while this is an apology as Puck attempts to gain the audience’s trust, this speech is filled with dangerous images, such as â€Å"serpent’s tongue;† adding a sense of doubt and unease. This confusion further adds to the dream-like sense Shakespeare is trying to create. In addition to the binary opposites that are used, this speech is spoken in such a way that it has a feeling of a lullaby. After suggesting the fact everything previously witnessed may have been a dream, Puck utters the lines â€Å"And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend, If you pardon, we will mend. † (5. 1. 419-422) While throughout the play, various other characters spoke lyrically, these lyrically spoken lines sound like something out of a lullaby, as if Puck wants the audience to once again fall asleep and dream as to possibly forget everything that had just transpired. Unlike the supernatural magic that was used on the characters throughout the play, Puck is attempting to use the magic of words to get the audience to do and think as he pleases. Using the words â€Å"weak and idle,† â€Å"yielding† and â€Å"Gentles† make the audience feel at peace and willing to do what Puck is asking of them. In addition to the form used, Shakespeare uses the images of shadows in this complex apology. The use of imagery throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including the final speech, plays a powerful role in the underlying meaning of the play. In the first lines of his short monologue, Puck states â€Å"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended- That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. † (5. 1. 415-418) Instead of referring to the actors as a people, he calls them â€Å"shadows. † The fairies, whose presence has often been mysterious and murky, throughout the play have directed the course of events that transpired. Therefore, it would make sense to the audience to want to follow what Puck is saying, as in the moment, it is the most natural thing to do. Similar to many of the other aspects of this speech, this proposes that what had just happened was simply the work of each person’s imagination. In this sense, Puck is therefore leaving it up to the audience to decide if what they have just witnessed is good or bad. The â€Å"shadows† simply exist; it is up to the audience to give them meaning that relates to each of their lives, just as the characters in the play did. The final speech of A Midsummer Night’s Dream wants to make the audience feel as though they were dreaming, which is accomplished by linking the audience to the characters, discourse and imagery. Puck’s final monologue of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is more than just a simple apology. Even with the darker images and contradictions of the speech, it provides closure for the audience. Just as the characters in the play were able to think everything happened was simply a dream and continue to go about with their lives, Shakespeare is attempting to instill the same belief in the audience and hoping they enjoy the happy ending. Works Cited Shakespeare, William, and Russ McDonald. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. New York, N. Y. : Penguin, 2000. Print. How to cite A Midsummer Night’s Dream: the Confusion of Dreams, Papers

Global Financial Cisis Credit Crunches and Deleveraging

Question: Discuss about the Global Financial Cisis Credit Crunches and Deleveraging. Answer: Introduction: The financial crisis that occurred in 2008 affected all economies in the world leading to increased hyperinflation on a large scale. This lead to the loss of homes, millions of jobs and a loss of up to twenty trillion dollars in the global economy making it the next largest financial crisis since the great depression(Rudd, 2009). There were unexpected consequences in that period. Large financial institutions that were thought to be safe from any such crisis were vulnerable to the pointy that they collapsed and others being bailed out by the $1.4 trillion rescue package signed by George Bush but it still wasnt enough to shield them from the crisis (Ferguson Heffes,2010). The documentary the inside job was an eye opener on future financial proceedings to my career, I felt pity for the victims since they lost their jobs and homes by being vulnerable to the greed of scrupulous executives (Rudd, 2009). The most annoying and surprising thing is that many CEOs and key decision makers who were responsible for the crisis ended up profiting or escaping any prosecution leaving the victims helpless, that was not fair at all. A good example is Joseph Cassano; head of the AIG financial product division did not face the consequences of losing $11 billion but rather kept as a consultant with lucrative salaries and allowances (Shah, 2009). The question of who is to blame for the financial crisis is simple but way deeper in the early 80s; I blame the government as the primary cause of this crisis. The deregulation of economic co-operations like banks and insurance companies gave them a power play in the financial market where they could look after their interest in the most lucrative way without considering any consequences (Keen,2009). The Reagan administration made it worse since banks were given a go ahead in making risky investment with public saving deposits which made a loss of tax payers money with over $100 billion. These financial institutions merged in larger firms where they influenced the markets. They considered them key players, and they already had politicians in their pockets manipulating the government to turn a blind eye. The issuing of the sublime mortgages was a farfetched risky investment that the government overlooked. Anyone was qualified for a mortgage in the eyes of the lender and bankers, disregarding the strict qualifications not enforced by the government which considered these institutions in good administrators of the financial markets but that was not the case (Rudd, 2009). As the saying goes history likes to repeat itself, regardless of the 2008 financial crisis, the government still hasnt learned its lesson. The economy in America is weaker than the recession; theres increased the unemployment rate, an increase in inflation. Many industries have relocated to foreign countries where the market environment is conducive than the country which has hostile reforms. The gap be tween the rich and the poor has increased since the Obama administration did not change the economic reforms as initially promised; this means that the country is using the fundamental reforms that were in place when the financial crisis occurred. The debt crisis in America is far more disturbing in that it could lead to a hyperinflation causing another severe crisis shortly (Ferguson Heffes, 2010). This global crisis has not received Justice, its worse when the culprits are still walking around and consulting in the countrys economic matters. When I look back at the previous crisis, the people received justice. In 1929 the head of the new York exchange landed in prison, the 1980s savings and loans scandal over a thousand people went to jail for it but in the 2008 crisis only one individual who went to prison for his part in the crisis, how about the others? That remains alarming. Policy makers have a simple but crucial task of learning from past mistakes (Keen,2009).The economic reforms that were to be made by the Obama administration should be transparent and straightforward enough for the public to understand and avoid any such incidences experienced. Creation of financial products should be scrutiny to avoid investments that would lead to a bubble causing another crisis (Shah, 2009). The 2008 financial crisis caused by just the deregulation which leads to financial institutions having freedom of playing their games for their personal gains. The government turned a blind eye trusting them with the financial markets only to realize when it was too late. I recommend that powerful reform and policies to be introduced to the financial industry which will prevent another crisis (Rudd, 2009). Reference Ferguson, C.Heffes,A,$Marrs,D.(2010).Inside job.Culver City, Calif: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rudd, K.(2009).The global financial crisis; Monthly, The feb2009 (2009):20 Keen, S(2009).The global financial crisis credit crunches and deleveraging. Journal of Australian Political EconomyP.22 Shah, A.(2009)Global financial crisis.Global Issues 25.

THe Giver report Essay Example For Students

THe Giver report Essay In a community that is all the same lives a boy named Jonas,who discovers he is very different. Jonas is the main character in this book called The Giver. The theme of this book called The Giver is clearly represented by freedom, the right to make your own choices, uniqueness, and individuality are worth dying for. In Jonass community, a commitee selects ones job, war is unheard of, all people wear the same attire, and all are assigned spouses and familes. When Jonas is given the special, wonder-filled occupation of becoming the Receiver of Memory, he finds that there is much more to life. We will write a custom essay on THe Giver report specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Through his task of becoming the Receiver of Memory, he discovers the meaning of love, pain, frustration, color, and cold. That is when Jonas realizes how much more there really is. Life soon becomes overwhelming unbearable in his world of sameness. He finds life isnt worth living without the qualities (often that we take for granted) he discovered. That is when Jonas goes on a dangerous journey to find a land that is different. Why would you be attracted to a controlled community like Jonass where efficiency is the order of the day? Maybe,if you try you might be able to change the community the way you want it to be, then its going to turn out to be your benefit. These are 5 examples to describe sameness in the community. 1. a commitee selects ones job. 2. war is unheard of. 3. all people wear the same attire. 4. all are assigned spouses. 5. all are assigned familes. The Giver desires a change in sameness because she is uncomfortable about his communitys way of living such as this event for instant Jonas stood for a moment beside his bike, startled. It had happened again: the thing that he thought of now as seeing beyond.This time it had undergone that fleeting indescribable change. As he looked up and toward her going through the door, it happened; she changed. Actually, Jonas thought, trying to recreate it in his mind, it wasnt Fiona in her entirety. It seemed to be just her hair. And just for that flickering instant. He ran through it in his mind. It was clearly beginning to happen more often. First, the apple a few weeks before. The next time had been the faces in the audience at the Auditorium, just two days ago. Now, today, Fionas hair. Bibliography: .

Pendant que and the French Subjunctive

Pendant que and the French Subjunctive Is  pendant que  subjunctive or indicative? This is a question that challenges many French students and theres a simple answer. First, you must ask if  pendant que  (while) is indeed a fact. Does Pendant que Need the Subjunctive? No, pendant que does not take the subjunctive. Pendant que  means while and the act of doing something  while  something  else is occurring  is a reality and a truth. There is no question to pendant que. Heres an example sentence: Jà ©tudie pendant quil fait la cuisine.I study while he cooks. Why doesnt it take the subjunctive? Because the word  while  states a fact. There is no question in this example that I am studying while he cooks. The fact is, therefore, an indicative mood. If there were any question as to the nature of  while  or  pendant que, then it would be subjunctive. Lets look at another example: Elle dessine pendant que je regarde.She draws while I watch. Is there any question here about the reality of her drawing? No, it is a fact that she  is  drawing and that I am watching. There is no question or uncertainty in this sentence.   One last example should concrete the concept of  pendant que: Il attend pendant quils  rà ©parent la voiture.He is waiting while they repair the car. Again, these are facts and there is no question as to what each person involved is doing. Tip:  The same subjunctive rules that apply to  pendant que  also cover  tandis que, which also means while. Its All About Facts Pendant que states a fact. Always keep in mind that the subjunctive has some degree of uncertainty. If your statement cannot be subjective, then it cannot be subjunctive. Use this theory as you encounter and question other possible subjunctive and indicative words and phrases.

Chapter 3 techniques Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Creative Problem Solving Techniques - Assignment Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that careful evaluation of the performance of the students who were bullies showed that they scored poorly in classwork. We used this information to discourage other potential bullies as it leads to low grades and poor relations with the administration. We used the examples set by the best performers as obedient and disciplined students. The benchmarking was essential in comparing the best practices and behaviors of students with their performance. The students understood that best behaviors and discipline translates into better performance. The use of teachers and invited guest to speak to students about the effects of bullying helped in transforming the students’ perception of the vice. Looking for opportunities starts by reading and asking on new trends and the methods of realizing these opportunities. I believe that benchmarking is an essential approach to problem-solving in schools. Comparing the behavior of b est-performing students helps to send a message that discipline translates into success. The researcher is endeared towards solving the problem of bullying in school and brainstorming has provided me with an opportunity to find ideas. He consulted with fellow students on the means of ending the scourge that has affected performance. More so, many students feel that their safety and psychological being is threatened. The brainstorming session provides an avenue for students to air their views on the best approach to solving bullying. The author has learned through the process that it is critical to listen to the ideas as they provide means of solving the problems, although others are farfetched. One student suggested that the bullies should be expelled from the school. The ideas proposed are extreme and against the school regulations; however, the lesson learned is that we should listen to others so that we can envision opportunities. Identifying the problem of bullying required that the researcher explains the students the side effects such as an emotional breakdown, poor performance, disciplinary action, and disharmony.

How organizational behavior tools help managers to solve practical Essay

How organizational behavior tools help managers to solve practical problems - Essay Example OB lays emphasis on the application of diverse insights to create better understanding of the employee behaviour in the organizations (Colquitt, LePine and Wesson 07). Some of the important features of OB are as follows: Applied Focus: The main objective of OB is to ensure that the employees achieve the targets and objectives of the organization in unification and in systematic method. Contingency approach: This approach helps the managers in understanding the gravity of the situation and then proposing solutions accordingly. Understanding the situation helps the managers to understand the way the employees should be managed effectively and appropriately. For example identifying the cultural differences in an organization would help the managers to develop strategies that help in enhancing the productivity of the employees (French 10). Easy Accessibility: It is highly accessible and is relevant to all of the employees in their personal and professional life. OB is not regarded as a s tatic discipline but a continuous process which helps managers seeking various solutions improvement the effectiveness of the organization. ... This would be done to achieve organizational effectiveness and organizational commitment. A systematic analysis of the organizational structure and culture is identified by the managers to conduct systematic grouping. Systematic grouping will enable the managers to promote teamwork and coordination of activities among the various departmental units. The good managerial traits are similar to transformational leadership which encompasses charismatic, achievement oriented and task oriented leadership. A good manager needs to communicate effectively with his subordinates for the systematic and effective flow of instructions. A proper and effective communication model paves the path of success for an organization. Communication of ideas and knowledge sharing enables the employees of an organization to be creative and think independently which can promote innovation in an organization (Groves 579). Managerial Abilities or Leadership Skills There is a significant and positive relationship b etween the leadership and organizational effectiveness which arises out of managerial traits (Erkutlu 708). Transformational leadership is a significant contributor to organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Leadership and effective managerial traits are often interrelated to each other because both of them are regarded as a continual social influence process. Manager try to utilize different leadership approaches which helps in accomplishment of organizational objectives and encouraging efficient employee behaviour and maintaining the group culture of the organization. Managerial behaviour has a direct influence on the employee outcome and organizational

Comparative analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparative analysis - Research Paper Example While both paintings are inspired by biblical readings, Michelangelo’s painting is from a story in the beginning of biblical times while Giotto’s painting is a vision of the end. Both paintings are divided in the middle, depicting opposites of events on either side. In the Fall and Expulsion from Garden of Eden, the image is divided by the controversial Tree of Knowledge, with the left side showing Adam and Eve enjoying the bliss of paradise while the right side showing them being ousted by an angel from the garden to fend for themselves. In Giotto’s Last Judgment, the image is likewise divided on the lower half with a cross dividing the picture into visions of those called to heaven and those thrown to hell. Both paintings show visions of the enjoyment of God’s grace as well as the consequences of sin. Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was placed under the tutelage of a number of gifted artists ever since he was a young boy. Critics believe his work was influenced by the masters, Leonardo, Giotto and Poliziano. They were impressed by the boy’s extreme sensitivity, and his combination of energy and talent. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by the Pope himself for his own personal worship space (awakentoprayer.org). The Fall and Expulsion from Garden of Eden is just one of the panels devoted to Creation. The flow of the story of the image is from left to right. On the left side, a relaxed couple is shown enjoying the fruit from the forbidden tree while the background denotes lush and abundance. The serpent entwines itself to the tree while tempting Adam and Eve. It symbolically divides the image denoting its representation of man’s separation from God’s graces as the couple is ousted from the garden. The right side shows total desolation and the look of frustration and regret in the couple’s faces while an angel drives them away (Web Gallery of Art). Giotto di Bondon e (1266-1337) is another renowned Italian artist whose works have been influenced by Pietro Cavallini, Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. In 1304, he began a series of 38 frescoes in the Scrovegni (Arena) Chapel in Padua which mostly depict biblical images His works builds up a rhythm from solemn and slow-moving to supremely forceful drama but are filled with compassion (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). He is also adept in the use of space, adding appropriate figures in the background culled from his own interpretation of the image making them powerful visions. In The Last Judgment, Giotto paints the top part to show heaven with Jesus in the middle and the apostles at both sides while the lower part shows the chosen that are blessed to enter the gates of heaven on the left side and the doomed that are sent to hell on the right side. Archangels Michael and Raphael are in the middle holding the cross (artbible.info). Ladis suggests that Giotto’s wit and humor is evident in his work especially in his treatment of hell in the painting. Those subjected to eternal damnation are depicted trying their best to escape their judgment but none can hide, as everyone is owned by Satan (586). Both artists are expert in capturing the emotions of the subjects and in turn, evoking the emotions of their viewers. Michelangelo has been known to be a master in the human form, and this shows

Evaluation of Games Workshop and Hornby Businesses

Evaluation of Games Workshop and Hornby Businesses In a company or a business, the owner would want to evaluate his business i.e. whether the business is making a profit or loss and would want to compare it with other companies or its competitors in the same industry. To know the performance of a company, you need to look at more than just easily attainable numbers like sales, profits and total assets. To know the real picture of a company, we must be able to read between the lines of the financial statement. Hence there are many comparative ratios to identify the strengths and weakness of the company. These ratios will help the public (outsiders) to make decisions while investing in companies at the stock market. Ratio analysis helps us to understand the risk we must be taking. The basic source of these ratios is the companys profit and loss account and balance sheet as it contains all important information about the company. Financial ratios are useful indicators of a firm or companys performance and financial situation. The two company ratios we are going to compare are Hornby and Games PLC. Both the companies belong to the same industry. GAMES WORKSHOP Europes foremost professional P.C. and video game retailer is Games group. It is the only company in the gaming sector to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. Outstanding customer service and a specialist offer are at the heart of GAMES Group growth. HORNBY PLC HORNBY PLC is UKs Model Railway manufacturer. Frank Hornby founded the company in 1901 and launched trains until it was bought by his competitor Tri-Ang in 1964. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornby_Railways. It is recognised for the construction of its model train sets, hobby (radio controlled cars) and toy production. It is an incorporated limited company, operating in the UK. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). ROCE = ____PBIT ___(Operating Profit)___ x 100 Capital Employed (FA + CA CL) Ratio on capital employed indicated the productivity and success of a companys capital investment. According to the formula we take operating profit or PBIT and divide it by the capital employed in the business i.e. fixed asset and working capital. In the two companies, the ROCE for Games workshop in the year 2008 was 5.48%, 2009 was 17.26% which was lower compared to 27.98% in the year 2010. This indicates that Games workshops ROCE has increased which is a positive sign as the more the returns of the capital employed, its better for the firm. Whereas Hornby Plc.s ROCE in the year 2010 has decreased from17.67% which was in 2009 and 29.47% in 2008 to 12.65% which is a negative sign as the return on capital employed is lesser than the rate at which the company borrows. Return on Sales (ROS) ROS = _PBIT_ x 100 Sales ROS also known as operating profit margin tell us about the companys operational proficiency. According to the formula, we consider operating profit or PBIT and divide it by the sales in the organisation. In the above two companies Games workshops ROS was 2.31% in 2008, 7.17% in 2009 and has increased to 12.68% in 2010. This indicates that games workshop is growing more efficiently and is more profitability. Whereas in Hornby the ROS for the year2008 was 16.85%, in 2009 was 11.20% and it decreased in 2010 to 9.27%. A decreasing ROS indicates financial trouble for the company. When we compare Hornby and Games workshop together, we get to know that Games workshop has a higher ROS which indicates a profitable organisation compared to Hornby. Asset turnover Asset turnover = ___Revenue____ Capital Employed Asset turnover is the amount of sales generated for every pound that is worth the asset. We consider the revenue of the company and divide it by the capital employed. In the above companies, the asset turnover for both the companies are low but Hornby has a lower asset turnover of 1.36% in 2010 compared to Games workshop thats asset turnover is of 2.20%. This indicates that games workshop has a higher asset turnover which is better. This also indicates pricing strategies which the company undertakes as companies with a low price margin who have a higher asset turnover and vice versa. Current Ratio Current Ratio = _Current Assets_ Current Liabilities Current Ratio comes under the heading of Liquidity ratio. Liquidity means cash a business holds during the financial year. Current Ratio is a liquidity ratio which tells us the ability of the company to pay its short term obligations. Short term obligations are obligations which are under 12 months. The formula tells us that the ability to pay back short term borrowings with its short term assets. In the above case Games workshop has a higher current ratio compared to Hornby, though the difference is not that large, but still Games workshops current ratio in 2010 is 2.03% while Hornby in 2010 is 2.10%. This indicated that Games workshop is capable to pay their obligations and vice versa. If the ratio was under 1 it would indicate that the company cannot pay its obligations. Liquidity Ratio (Acid Test Ratio) Liquidity Ratio = Current Assets Stock Current Liabilities Acid test ratio is a severe or a tough ratio which indicates whether the firm has enough short term assets to cover its immediate liability without selling out stock. The acid test ratio for Games workshop in 2008 was 0.9, in 2009 was1.14 whereas it increased in 2010 to 1.48. Hornby has a low acid test ratio in 2009 which was 0.72 but it increased to 1.37 in 2010. This indicates that Games as well as Hornby, both companies can pay off their liabilities as if the acid test ratio was less than 1 then the company has to be warned. Even if the acid test ratio is lower than the working capital ratio, it shows that the company is highly dependent on inventory. Cash Ratio Cash Ratio = Cash_____ Current Liabilities Cash ratio is the companys total cash balance and the cash equivalents to its current liabilities. Cash ratio is helpful to measure the liquidity of a company. In the above case, Games workshop has a much higher cash ratio in both the years i.e. in 2009 0.57 and in 2010 it was 0.92, whereas Hornby has a very low cash ratio from 2008 which was 0.07, in 2009 it decreased to 0.02 but it increased to 0.53 in 2010. This indicates how quickly the company can pay of its creditors. Hence creditors will decide seeing the cash ratio of the company. Stock turnover Stock turnover = _COGS_ Stock Stock turnover ratio shows how many times over the business has sold the value of its stocks during the year. In the above case, Games workshop has a higher stock turnover than Hornby. This is because in the year 2008, Games workshop had 3.24 as its stock turnover, in 2009 it was 3.36 and it decreased I 2010 to 3.02 which is a negative point. Whereas Hornby has a lower stock turnover compared to Games workshop. This indicates higher the stock turnover, the better it is for the company as then money is held up for a lesser time in stocks. Stock Period Stock Period = 365____ Stock turnover Stock period is the number of days where the average money is held up in stocks. It is calculated by dividing stock turnover by 365 days. This gives the actual picture of how many days the stock is in the warehouse. In the above diagram, it shows that in the year 2008 and 2009 Games had a stock period of 113 and 109 days while Hornby had a stock period of 166 and 164 days respectively. In the year 2010 Games workshop had a stock in warehouse for 121 days while Hornby had it for 138 days. This indicates the longer the stock is in warehouse, it is bad for the business as the money is not available to be used elsewhere. Hence Hornbys stock is available for a longer period than Games workshop. Debtor Period Debtor Period = Debtors x 365 Sales Debtor period is the average number of days credit given to customers i.e. how long does it takes the company to get its money. In the above case, the debtor period for Games workshop has decreased from 33 days in 2008 to 29 in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Whereas in Hornby the debtor period has increased compared to 2008 but has decreased to 75 days compared to 2009. This indicates that a lesser number of days are good as the debtors could trust the company. But if the company takes a long time to repay, it is bad, Hence Games workshop is better than Hornby as Games workshop has lesser number of days compared to Hornby. Gearing Ratio Industry Analysis Hornby PLC The toys and games industry has survived in the UK for 70 years but in 2009, model vehicles and outdoor games had a negative growth due to the economic recession. Customers preferred indoor games and activity construction toys since it did not require them to leave their houses, during this period. The economic downturn also caused some companies in the industry to stop business and others were bought by larger companies. There has also been an increase in demand for movie based toys and video games, which are easier to produce than other toys. As such, Hasbro, Mattel and Lego are favoured for this reason. The retail outlets prefer to stock video games as a result of its increase in demand and also because it takes less shelf space. The UK market is dominated presently by Husbro, which has the largest market share, Mattel and Lego. Passport GMID Traditional Toys and Games United Kingdom http://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx HORNBY PLC is UKs Model Railway manufacturer. Frank Hornby founded the company in 1901 and launched trains until it was bought by his competitor Tri-Ang in 1964. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornby_Railways. It is recognised for the construction of its model train sets, hobby (radio controlled cars) and toy production. It is an incorporated limited company, operating in the UK. The company has created a niche market (train sets) and deals with suppliers all over the world for different railway products. Property owners, worldwide, want to engage with Hornby, in awarding license for Hornby products because of its specialisation and popularity . The key focus of the company is to ensure that the model railway business succeeds, by continually dealing with supply chain issues. Research and Development is also an important factor to its success. The following companies are subsidiaries to the group; Hornby Hobbies Ltd UK Hornby America Inc USA Hornby Espana S.A Spain Hornby Italia s.r.l Italy Hornby France S.A.S France Hornby Deutschland GmbH Germany There are individual targets for each subsidiary as regards growth and profit. It is monitored from time to time and based on current circumstances, future adjustments are made. http://www.hornby.com/investor-relations/ Horbys Competitors Tri-Ang Model railway producer Bachmann Europe Plc Model railway producer GraFar Model railway producer Model rail UK Model railway parts builder New railway Modellers Model railway builder Heywood Model Railway Group Model railway producer Hasbro Board (monopoly, scrabble etc), Star Wars movie franchise Mattel Superman, Batman, Harry Potter movie franchise Lego Activity and construction games Fun Collectibles Latest kidscrazes toys and games Wind Designs Flying toys, yo-yos, juggling equipments and kites Map Toys Toys and games Richard Edwards Card based products Revell Model kit toys Cartamundi Card games Ravensburger Puzzles and 3D Action games Cambridge Brainbox Educational Electronic kits Games Workshop Tabletop fantasy and futuristic battle games Thumbs Up Helicopters and AK 47 Guns Rainbow Productions Costume character production http://www.toynews-online.biz/marketplace http://www.holtmodelrailways.com/ http://www.modelrailuk.co.uk/ Home http://www.mcvuk.com/search/news/hornby+plc Customers Games retail stores Children Wholesalers Market Contribution and Share In 2008, there was a fall in interim pre-tax profits from  £2.7m to  £1.8m and this reduced the expected profit by December that year. Suppliers in China were challenged with the increase in labour and raw materials, therefore Hornby increased price by 10% to support China. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/65fd8c42-ec57-11dd-a534-0000779fd2ac.html Although sales in Europe fell by 15%, the Chief Executive was confident that Hornby would excel because of its quality hobby brand. On November 7th 2008, Hornbys shares dropped to 118.5p from the initial 300p which it maintained from the beginning of 2007. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f57bef7e-ad34-11dd-971e-000077b07658.html#axzz14clXbHtA Hornby Plc contributes to charity every year. It donated  £15,354 in 2008 and  £21,635 in 2009 Hornbys % Breakdown of Company shares for Toys and Games in the UK COMPANY 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Hornby Plc 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 Passport GMID Country Report Country Market Insights http://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/Statistics.aspx Future Forecast In order to make profit, since the demand for video games and movie based toys have increased in the UK market, Hornby Plc should study the demand of the customers and work around producing what the customers need. There may be a problem in the future to fund research and development. Hornby Plc should be prepared for economic crisis. In 2010, the group is financially strong after a difficult trading period and there is a continuous increase in the demand for its products. Passport GMID Toys and Games United Kingdom http://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx Hornbys China engine unstuck on dollar strength By David Blackwell and Maggie Urry Published: January 27 2009 10:22 | Last updated: January 27 2009 16:56 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/65fd8c42-ec57-11dd-a534-0000779fd2ac.html Hornby sees fall in outsourcing benefits By David Blackwell Published: November 8 2008 02:00 | Last updated: November 8 2008 02:00. Page 26 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f57bef7e-ad34-11dd-971e-000077b07658.html#axzz14clXbHtA http://www.toynews-online.biz/marketplace Games Workshop The Toys and Games industry in the UK is a gradually growing market, mostly due to their largest group of customers, children around 2-10 years of age. Children often want and need toys to entertain and occupy themselves with (Competitive Context-Figure 9). Even with recession, most parents do not necessarily cut down on spending on toys for their child as they are willing to spend what little disposable income they have on their kids and buying toys that they wanted for them (MINTEL-Internal Market Environment-Figure 1). In 2007, the toys and games sector in the UK was valued at around  £2.2 billion, a significant rise of 22% than when in 2003 (MINTEL- Toys and Games-UK-Nov 2008-Market in Brief: A strong market in tougher times). Christmas is usually the cause of the highest booster for sales of toys and games, bringing in half the total number sales in a year (MINTEL-Internal Market Environment-Key Points). Games Workshop PLC In 1975, Games Workshop PLC, was established in London by John Peake, Ian Livingstone, and Steve Jackson. It was listed in the London Stock Exchange in 1994. The company has since moved its headquarters to Nottingham. Games Workshop is mainly involved in producing and retailing games and toys (miniatures). The company started off with producing board games made of wood (eg. Backgammon), moved on to importing role-playing games (RPGs) from the United States and finally to where it is today, a toy and games producer, publisher and retailer. Games Workshop is well-known in the market for its collectible miniatures (toy soldiers) used in its role-playing and table-top wargames (WIKIPEDIA). Its specialty and focus is on collectible toy models targeting toy collectors and hobbyist whose favourite pastime is collecting toy models. Games Workshop has several subsidiaries, they include: BL Publishing Publishes literature and gaming materials Citadel Miniatures Produces toy miniatures collections for collectors and hobbyist Forge World Produces higher quality models for their role-playing and table-top wargames Sabertooth Games Produces card games related to their role-playing and table-top wargames produced (Wiki: Games Workshop http://warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Games_Workshop#Subsidiaries) Competitors Hasbro U.K. Limited Vivid Toy Group Limited Vivid Imaginations Limited Games Workshop Limited Hornby PLC Flair Leisure Products PLC Hornby Hobbies Limited Datel Electronics Limited Rockstar North Limited Hardy Greys Limited From FAME (https://fame.bvdep.com/version-2010823/cgi/template.dll?checkathens=1kick=1 product=1user=lingd%40coventry.ac.ukpw=D341XryjGFEL77TgmOwhnA%3d%3d) Customers Collectors Hobbyist of their miniature games collection Teenagers Young Adults Global customers Market Contribution Share In 2009, Games Workshop wanted to cut cost and initiated a move to use plastic instead of metal for the production of their toy and games miniatures. It was an apparently well-accepted change by their customers as sales rose from  £110.3m to  £113.9m in 2009. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/719b6d28-7bbb-11de-9772-00144feabdc0.html In 2009, Games Workshop opened 10 new stores in the UK which are run by a single staff, making it easier for them to expand to smaller towns and hence more accessible to their teenage fans. These additional stores will boost Games Workshops market presence. As at January 2010, Games Workshop has expanded operations overseas to Europe, North America, Japan and Australia. However, market analysts believe that the company has potential to expand to other untapped markets. In January 2010, when Games Workshop revealed that its profit before tax achieved would surpass expectations by at least 50 percent, shares increased by 30 per cent to 333.85p. Profit before tax was initially estimated to be around  £9m as at 30 May 2010 but in January 2010, it was expected to grow by another  £5m or more by May 2010. Games Workshops gross margins have increased as a result of their cost cutting measures undertaken in 2009. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/afb932a0-fade-11de-94d8-00144feab49a,s01=1.html Future Forecast Games Workshop PLC should try to be more creative and innovative, launching new products constantly over the year, in order to increase sales and spread sales more evenly over the year than garnering the majority of sales only during the Christmas season. As mentioned earlier, market analyst believe that Games Workshop has the potential and capability required to further expand overseas, probably to untapped markets, such as Asia (with the exception of Japan where they already have expanded to). Furthermore, the market for toys and games are continuously increasing and expected to carry on growing in the future (internal market environment-is childhood getting shorter?). Sales recorded for toys and games have also been rising over the years and expected to continue doing so. (Market Re-forecasts-Household-UK-March 2009-Toys and Games). In the case of Games Workshop, although there was a slight drop in sales for the company in 2007, it has since been steadily increasing over the last couple of years. This could be due to the fact that Games Workshop builds up customer loyalty by offering collectibles that interested customers can only buy from the company if they want the complete collection. The excellent after-sales service provided by the company could be another factor that enabled them to earn loyalty from their customers. This is an invaluable asset to the Games Workshop as no matter what new products they offer, most of their loyal customers will support them by purcha sing their products. As long as the company continues to successfully retain its customer loyalty, it will go a long way. It is crucial for Games Workshop to constantly update themselves on the current trends and threats faced by the toys and games industry, and act accordingly by coming up with suitable strategies to ensure that the business stays profitable and hopefully gain a larger market share. Conclusion and Recommendations:

The Impact of Videoconferencing in Organizations Essay -- Videoconfere

The Impact of Videoconferencing in Organizations This report analyses the various influences of videoconferencing, both positive and negative, and evaluates its usefulness in organisations. One of the major points of discussion is how face-to-face meetings, whether virtual or physical, have been affected by the embracing of this new technology by various organisations and groups. Due to the radical nature in which traditional meetings and appointments have been challenged by videoconferencing, many issues have arisen regarding its application, like whether video-conferencing actually improves communication? Another important discussion involves the cost-saving benefits to organisations, primarily through reducing travel, and how this affects organisations strategically as well as other industries (i.e. hotels, airlines). Since many organisations now compete and communicate internationally, this potential elimination of travel for businessmen and women has far-reaching consequences. This essay seeks to explore these and other issues using three major themes: ICTs have unexpected and paradoxical effects, costs and benefits of ICTs are unevenly distributed throughout organizations and society, and ICTs and socio-technical context are co-produced. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY Videoconferencing is an emerging technology which enables people from any location, with the appropriate set of equipment, to communicate with each other in a virtual ‘face-to-face’ manner. The impact of videoconferencing on organizations has been extensive, with the effects of this technology growing as it becomes more user-friendly and the cost of equipment decreases. As a promising technological advance, videoconferencing has already had recent impacts upon some organisations. From a positive perspective videoconferencing has permitted things like decreases in costs, greater flexibility, and heightened strategic opportunities. Nevertheless, caution must still be applied to videoconferencing, like any new device, with concern now emerging regarding the negative consequences of such technology. These extend too many areas for example interaction, psychological outcomes, and team dynamics. POSITIVE OUTCOMES A primary impact of videoconferencing is that it allows more people to conduct work from home. This has many implications such as reducing the levels of trav... ...ay, Sarah. ‘The world of e-mail and videoconferencing has its advantages and disadvantages’. Financial Times. 5/6/02, p.3 17.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Narraway, Gwyn. ‘Take back the power’. Chartered Accountants Journal of New Zealand, Volume 82 No5: 58, 2003 18.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neuman, Scott. ‘Executives on a leash’. Far Eastern Economic Review, Volume 166 No.27: 35, 2003 19.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Powell, Dave. ‘Videoconferencing: A wise strategy’. Computer World, Volume 32 No28: 63-68, 1999 20.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rosen, Sheir. ‘Keeping technology in its place’. Communication World, Volume 11 No6: 56, 1994 21.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Schneider, Ivan. ‘Videoconferencing a hit in China’. Bank Systems and Technology, Volume 40 No2: 12, 2003 22.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vine, Phillipa. ‘A meeting of minds’. The British Journal of Administrative Management, Volume 7 No4 12-13, 1999 23.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Whittaker, Steve. ‘Rethinking video as a technology for interpersonal communications: theory and design implications’. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Volume 42 No5: 501-529, 1995 24.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wong, Edward. ‘Even After Sars Airlines Suffer On Asian Routes’. New York Times. 12/8/03. p.4 25.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zielinski, Dave. ‘Face Value’. Presentations, Volume 14 No6: 58-70, 2000