Midterm Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Midterm - Assignment Example Rene Descartes belief in this theory borrows heavily from epistemology and rationalism. Epistemology study’s scope of knowledge and nature. In line with the Descartes belief on existentialist, it is possible for him to doubt that he has two hands (Fairfield 211). In addition, that he is sitting on a chair reading words printed on paper and summation of two and three to make five. Firstly, there is no possible way to ascertain numbers either two hands or summation because there is no reason given why the hands cannot be four or three or summation cannot be seen. In other words, these are facts whose truth and falsehood cannot go beyond mere conviction. Besides, Descartes reasoning is based on the rejection of Universalism of facts and figures. In order to have the truth, there should be a way of testing the perceived truth. In relation to reading printed words in a paper, his school of thought on universal belief falsifiers, he is convinced that a chair, paper and body posture is Universalism. He says it holds no truth, nor false, he believe that individual opinion as he perceives and disagree with universal knowledge. There is no observation without involving mental processes. It is, therefore, substantially true that the objects we perceive with our eyes are the actual reflection of the mind processes. In other words, the inward perception of on how we see people, objects or what we feel about circumstances will determine our actions or inaction. Evidently, the mind frame the situation and external body execute a course of action based on the interpretation of the inner self. With this explanation, the theory holds truth in relating experiences to mind (Campbell 68). The empirical explanation in this case is that, the objects as they appear are neither material nor material. In addition, fear, sadness and physical description of an object or a person

Shakespeares linguistic choices Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares linguistic choices Essay How effective are Shakespeares linguistic choices in conveying the power struggle between Katherine and Petruchio?  This essay will study the text The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. It is a play written in London in 1592 and published in 1623. The play is set during the Jacobean era (1420-1600). The purpose of the play is to entertain an audience. The secondary purpose may be to inform a modern audience about power and roles of men and women in the Jacobean era. During this period of time, a persons power was shown by the language they used, so the more quick-witted and articulate a person was in conversation the more social power they held. Shakespeare uses various linguistic features in conveying the power struggle between Katherine and Petruchio. Throughout the play Petruchio belittles Katherine and damages the face she presents of herself in an effort to tame the shrew. Kath. A joint-stool. Pet. Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me. The face that Katherine presents is not that of a typical woman. She is very vituperative and unwilling to conform to societys expectations of marriage. And by using this sexual innuendo to counter her insult, Petruchio performs a face threatening act. He reminds her of his intent to marry her and the fact that to him, she is just another woman. The utterance Come, sit on me, is an imperative. By using this Petruchio is suggesting that he feels he has enough power over her to be able to order her around. This damages her positive face of self-image, but she counters this insult in an effort to preserve her face. Kath. No such jade as you, if me you mean. The noun jade refers to a worn out horse. This connotes he is infertile and thus insulting his manhood. This insult is also a face-threatening act as it damages Petruchios positive face. He thinks he is man enough to be the one to tame the shrew but by saying this Katherine is telling him he is not. Both characters use face threatening acts to attempt to gain power of the exchange. Petruchio also uses connotation to damage Katherines face. Pet. Alas, good Kate, I will not burden thee! For, knowing thee to be but young and light. The adjective light connotes sexual promiscuity again reminding her that he sees her as a woman he can easily woo contrasting with the strong women she sees herself as. The adjective young connotes that she is naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and therefore not able to match his wit, allowing Petruchio power over the exchange. Petruchio uses a pun to make fun of Katherine. Pet. For dainties are all Kates. The pun is on the word cates. These are a form of delicate food. This connotes the idea that Kate is delicate and lady-like. This riles Katherine as, as well as using the name that she does not like he is seeing her as the opposite she sees herself and by seeing through her faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade he knows how to gain power over her. The repetition of her name also serves to make fun of her. Pet. You lie in faith, for you are calld plain Kate, And bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst; By repeating her name in these noun phrases he is showing he doesnt care that she does not like the name, and shows that her sharp tongue has no affect on him, allowing him to maintain the power between them, and eventually to tame the shrew. The repetition of her name also gives the utterance a steady rhythm which serves to make Petruchio seem more intelligent as he seems to have control of his speech and words. Katherine uses metaphor to insult Petruchios intelligence. Kath. Asses are made to bear and so are you. The ass is typically seen as a stupid animal so this noun is suggesting that he is stupid. The verb phrase to bear which means to carry something, connotes the idea that Petruchio is little more than muscle. This gives Katherine the power of the exchange as it is in fact Petruchios intelligence that makes them equal and by insulting this she is suggesting that he is inferior. She also reminds him of the fact that she is equal to him in intelligence and power. Kath. Too light for such a swain as you to catch. Katherine turns the adjective light around to connote that she is more quick-witted than Petruchio, whereas he had used it to say she was sexually promiscuous. This shows that they are of equal power and are able to feed off of each other to maintain the power balance. In contrast Petruchio tries to use compliments to break Katherine down. Pet. Say that she frown, Ill say she looks as clear as morning roses newly washd with dew. Say she be mute and will not speak a word, then Ill commend her volubility. The lexical fields of nature give the play a lexical cohesion. The noun nightingale and the phrase roses newly washd with dew are things that are generally seen as beautiful and by comparing Katherine to them, Petruchio is suggesting that she is also beautiful. This makes it seem as though he sees in her, things that nobody else can see and as he can see through her he can stay on her conversational level and maintain the power balance. The use of the infinitive verb in these sentences is a form of ellipsis. Say she be mute. This is another form of covert prestige as Petruchio uses non-standard forms whereas Katherina is expected to use standard forms and correct tenses. This again shows, according to Jacobean society men were more dominant than women and suggests Petruchio is confident that he will have power in the exchange.

Anti-Semitism in Anthony Trollopes Palliser Novels :: Anthony Trollope Palliser Novels Essays

Anti-Semitism in Anthony Trollope's Palliser Novels Because Anthony Trollope belonged to the Liberal party, one would assume that he would be less concerned with the glorification of a specific social class to the neglect of any other. Yet, of the major novelists of the Victorian period, none was more infatuated with the code of the gentleman than Trollope. His political beliefs, which might seem to conflict with those of a Liberal, are best defined by his own description of himself as "an advanced, but still a conservative Liberal" (Autobiography 291). This left-centrist attitude serves as the basis for the moral standard of his novels and is embodied by the various "gentlemen" in his work. Trollope idealized the gentleman more than Fielding and as much as, if not more, than Thackeray. The characters in his novels judge each other by their interpretations of this standard, which may or may not coincide with Trollope's definition. This discrepancy between Trollope and his characters is very interesting, but in some instances can be misleading. Nineteenth-century Europe, sparked by the Enlightenment's notion of equality, underwent numerous revolutions, both political and social. In England this was represented by the passing of the Reform Bill of 1832 and the repeal of the Corn Laws. Both were huge victories for the Liberal, then Whig, cause, regardless of which party was in control of the government at the time. Trollope's stance on such issues can be seen in his treatment of similar measures, some fictitious, others real, in the novels that comprise his Palliser series. In England during this time, the quest for equal treatment under the law for all residents was gaining popularity. Bills were passed which legalized Catholicism and which made citizens of the Jews living in England. As anti-semitism was a more thorough prejudice than that of Anglicans against other Protestants and Catholics, it is of interest to examine how one of the more, if not the most, realistic novelists of the time portrayed English Jews. As Trollope mainly concerns himself with upper-class society, social movement is necessarily a major issue in his novels, and added to his predisposition to prejudicial class awareness, Trollope behaves very questionably with regard to his non-English characters, particularly his Jewish characters. European Jews have consistently been oppressed throughout their history on the continent. The most widespread slurs used against Jews, then and now, are founded in resentment of the fact that Jews, in Europe, have historically found employment in banking, pawnbroking, and usury.

Tom brennan

Miss Long The Story of Tom Brenna Topic: You cannot alter the past. Only when Individuals move on can they achieve happiness. Discuss this in relation to your understanding of The Story of Tom Brenna. The Story of Tom Brenna by J. C Burke is an honest novel, which follows a young man's struggle to accept his past in order to move on. The car crash changed all the characters' lives but taught them to become stronger and resilient people. This sometimes meant that they had to learn to forgive others and accept their past to move towards happiness.They were forced to confront their pasts in order to eve on to their futures. Tom's life is changed drastically when the car crashes. He has dug too deep into what he refers to as the ‘black hole' and he loses the will to live: â€Å"Trying to shut down the bad thoughts that always surfaced and suffocated any hope I had of getting my life back. † (pig. 1 5). He tries to get better by starting running as a way of releasing his stre ss and worry. Someone who was essential for Tom to move on was Daniel his brother: â€Å"Do you hate me, Tommy? †¦. ‘Daniel. ‘ I swallowed. ‘You're my brother. (pig. 141) Although Daniel has done such a horrible thing Tom is not willing to give up on his brother. Another character that helps Tom conquer his past is his uncle Brendan. Brendan really gets Tom to open up and see the world from another point of view; this causes Tom to start talking: â€Å"You were hardly ‘Mr.. Have-a-chat' when you arrived. Now I can't shut you up. † (pig 98) He moved on from his past and found happiness in himself and his life again.He finds himself through his girlfriend Christy because when he's with her all he is, is himself: â€Å"When I was with Christy I was me again. Simple Tom Brenna – no ties, no debt, no guilt, no bad thoughts. Just me, the way I had always known myself. † (pig. 261 Although the road to peppiness was hard for Tom, his desire to help those around him saved him and his family: â€Å"But now I knew what I missed the most. I missed me, Tom Brenna, and that's why now I could smile, cause I could see he was coming back. † (pig. 61 ) After the crash it seems like Tees herself fades and becomes little more than a shell. She becomes depressed and barley leaves her room. Her actions affect the whole family but mainly Tom and Kylie. Tom feels neglected and Kylie shuts down without the support of her mother. Once Tees realizes how much her children need her she tries to improve for them: â€Å"I'm sorry, Tommy†¦ ‘m trying, I really am. I promise it'll get better. â€Å"(pig. 216). This is an important part of her recovery and influences her children to improve to.Another important part of Test's recovery is seeing Daniel and learning to accept the crash and his part in It: â€Å"Don't†¦ Don't say that about him. † (pig. 85). This proves that while she may dislike the fact that It wa s Daniels fault she still loves him and will always stand up for him. After Tees had recovered Tom forgets about what she was Like before and the family begins to move forward again: â€Å"It's kind of hard to remember what she was like then† (pig. 265). We see now that it is not is able to move on after she learns to forgive her son Daniel and herself, this is when she can achieve happiness.Daniel is responsible for the deaths of two people and paralyzing his cousin, this would be grueling, for anyone to come to terms with and Daniel struggles with it: â€Å"l f****d up everything. Everything. † (pig. 140). He is fuming and cannot deal with the guilt; He does not believe he deserves to live. During his time in prison he takes part in a peer support program which helps him begin to accept his past in order to move on: â€Å"And that was what Daniel needed the most – a kicked out of the past. â€Å"(pig. 143).Daniel is assigned a mentor who acts as a councilor and he begins to accept that he messed up and needs to move forward from it: â€Å"l did, Tom, and that's what I'm trying to get a handle on. â€Å"(pig. 214). Though Daniel struggles to accept the past and move on he tries his best to. Once he accomplishes this he is able to move on to a happy future much like another character achieves her happiness. Kylie cannot accept the fact that her family was associated horrific event so she shut the whole world out, acting like nothing is wrong and she has moved on hen she clearly had not : â€Å"She'd become tough.It was like I hardly knew her anymore† (pig. 29). Proving that Kylie had been ignoring everybody, although she tried her hardest to ignore the accident and move on from it she couldn't accept it within herself: â€Å"She's angry. This is her way of getting it out. I guess its better that way. † (pig. 176) explaining that she was trying to accept it, but she kept shutting people out it became impossible for her to truly accept it. Until finally it became too much for her and broke down : â€Å"l don't want to be Kylie Brenna. Kylie anyone, but not Kylie Brenna. † (pig. 29) Tom really helps Kylie get back on track â€Å"It's slow, but I can see ahead now, if you know what I mean† (pig. 228) these show how strong there relationship is and that sometimes you have to rely on others to help you so that you can forgive yourself. In the Story of Tom Brenna it tells a confronting tale about a family who has been greatly affected by a tragic car crash. It tells how each character recovered and learns to move on, through forgiveness, forgetting or acceptance. The characters must move on in order to gain happiness in their lives once more. Tom brennan Miss Long The Story of Tom Brenna Topic: You cannot alter the past. Only when Individuals move on can they achieve happiness. Discuss this in relation to your understanding of The Story of Tom Brenna. The Story of Tom Brenna by J. C Burke is an honest novel, which follows a young man's struggle to accept his past in order to move on. The car crash changed all the characters' lives but taught them to become stronger and resilient people. This sometimes meant that they had to learn to forgive others and accept their past to move towards happiness.They were forced to confront their pasts in order to eve on to their futures. Tom's life is changed drastically when the car crashes. He has dug too deep into what he refers to as the ‘black hole' and he loses the will to live: â€Å"Trying to shut down the bad thoughts that always surfaced and suffocated any hope I had of getting my life back. † (pig. 1 5). He tries to get better by starting running as a way of releasing his stre ss and worry. Someone who was essential for Tom to move on was Daniel his brother: â€Å"Do you hate me, Tommy? †¦. ‘Daniel. ‘ I swallowed. ‘You're my brother. (pig. 141) Although Daniel has done such a horrible thing Tom is not willing to give up on his brother. Another character that helps Tom conquer his past is his uncle Brendan. Brendan really gets Tom to open up and see the world from another point of view; this causes Tom to start talking: â€Å"You were hardly ‘Mr.. Have-a-chat' when you arrived. Now I can't shut you up. † (pig 98) He moved on from his past and found happiness in himself and his life again.He finds himself through his girlfriend Christy because when he's with her all he is, is himself: â€Å"When I was with Christy I was me again. Simple Tom Brenna – no ties, no debt, no guilt, no bad thoughts. Just me, the way I had always known myself. † (pig. 261 Although the road to peppiness was hard for Tom, his desire to help those around him saved him and his family: â€Å"But now I knew what I missed the most. I missed me, Tom Brenna, and that's why now I could smile, cause I could see he was coming back. † (pig. 61 ) After the crash it seems like Tees herself fades and becomes little more than a shell. She becomes depressed and barley leaves her room. Her actions affect the whole family but mainly Tom and Kylie. Tom feels neglected and Kylie shuts down without the support of her mother. Once Tees realizes how much her children need her she tries to improve for them: â€Å"I'm sorry, Tommy†¦ ‘m trying, I really am. I promise it'll get better. â€Å"(pig. 216). This is an important part of her recovery and influences her children to improve to.Another important part of Test's recovery is seeing Daniel and learning to accept the crash and his part in It: â€Å"Don't†¦ Don't say that about him. † (pig. 85). This proves that while she may dislike the fact that It wa s Daniels fault she still loves him and will always stand up for him. After Tees had recovered Tom forgets about what she was Like before and the family begins to move forward again: â€Å"It's kind of hard to remember what she was like then† (pig. 265). We see now that it is not is able to move on after she learns to forgive her son Daniel and herself, this is when she can achieve happiness.Daniel is responsible for the deaths of two people and paralyzing his cousin, this would be grueling, for anyone to come to terms with and Daniel struggles with it: â€Å"l f****d up everything. Everything. † (pig. 140). He is fuming and cannot deal with the guilt; He does not believe he deserves to live. During his time in prison he takes part in a peer support program which helps him begin to accept his past in order to move on: â€Å"And that was what Daniel needed the most – a kicked out of the past. â€Å"(pig. 143).Daniel is assigned a mentor who acts as a councilor and he begins to accept that he messed up and needs to move forward from it: â€Å"l did, Tom, and that's what I'm trying to get a handle on. â€Å"(pig. 214). Though Daniel struggles to accept the past and move on he tries his best to. Once he accomplishes this he is able to move on to a happy future much like another character achieves her happiness. Kylie cannot accept the fact that her family was associated horrific event so she shut the whole world out, acting like nothing is wrong and she has moved on hen she clearly had not : â€Å"She'd become tough.It was like I hardly knew her anymore† (pig. 29). Proving that Kylie had been ignoring everybody, although she tried her hardest to ignore the accident and move on from it she couldn't accept it within herself: â€Å"She's angry. This is her way of getting it out. I guess its better that way. † (pig. 176) explaining that she was trying to accept it, but she kept shutting people out it became impossible for her to truly accept it. Until finally it became too much for her and broke down : â€Å"l don't want to be Kylie Brenna. Kylie anyone, but not Kylie Brenna. † (pig. 29) Tom really helps Kylie get back on track â€Å"It's slow, but I can see ahead now, if you know what I mean† (pig. 228) these show how strong there relationship is and that sometimes you have to rely on others to help you so that you can forgive yourself. In the Story of Tom Brenna it tells a confronting tale about a family who has been greatly affected by a tragic car crash. It tells how each character recovered and learns to move on, through forgiveness, forgetting or acceptance. The characters must move on in order to gain happiness in their lives once more.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

High-fructose corn syrup is an artificial sweetener generally used in the United States. It is so broadly used because it is both cost-effectively favorable and it helps to preserve food for extended periods of time. Some say that though it is favorable, it has ill effects. High Fructose Corn Syrup According to a 2008 USA Today Article, â€Å"high-fructose corn syrup makes up about 50% of the sweeteners used in the USA but worldwide it's only about 10%†. Every day we eat. We eat our home cooked meals or our fast food rarely thinking about what’s going into our bodies.Often times one of the first ingredients listed on a can of soda or canned fruit is some form of HFCS or high fructose corn syrup. This ingredient, while widely known, is a secret additive to many products in our grocery stores. High Fructose Corn Syrup is one of the cheapest to make but yet it is the hardest for the body to rid of. Since its introduction to food products nearly forty years ago, it has slow ly been added to most foods you feel your family. We as consumers may not pay attention to what goes into our bodies but more and more scientists are.The studies they are conducting mainly consist of trying to find links between HFCS and several major health problems; such as diabetes and obesity. Although key links have not been defined, they have managed to prove what amounts that can be consumed before harm can be determined. Even though these findings have been confirmed and made public, the FDA still considers HFCS to be safe for consumption. The FDA rule says that as long as a product has no chemicals added it cannot be labeled an â€Å"artificial ingredient†. The reason behind this is because HFCS are made from corn, it is not considered an artificial ingredient.The origin of High Fructose Corn Syrup takes its root in the mid 1970’s. A series of sugar tariffs and quotas were imposed in the United States. These restrictions had significantly increased the cost of imported sugar causing domestic producers to seek cheaper avenues. High-fructose corn syrup became a more economical substitue because the price of corn is kept low through government subsidies paid to its growers. As the United States use of high fructose corn syrup increased, sugar was replaced in most foods and beverages. There is USDA data from 2009 that shows the per capita use of high fructose corn syrup in the U.S. â€Å"was matched with an almost equal decline, on a one-to-one basis, in the per capita use of sugar. † (Sweet Surprize) So why is there mass campaign to revert back to sugar cane or beet sugar based sweetners? Americans have become more health conscious in the last forty years. Our fear of high-fructose corn syrup seems to have been derived from some very real concerns over the effects of its principal component, fructose. The coinsidence between the introduction of HFCS and the rise of obesity related diseases can no longer be ignored.Diabetes is a disea se with no cure that is running rampet through the country and heart failure remains a syndrome on high. Fructose, like glucose are basic sugars. Though your body processes basic sugars the same way, the results seem to be different. (Engber, 09) When ingesting glucose, the body is known to stimulate the release of body chemicals that regulate your food consumption. Fructose, on the other hand, does very little to suppress your appetite, and it seems to form new fat cells while maintaining the old.According to a recent research project conducted at Princeton University high-fructose corn syrup does indeed prompt a human to considerably gain weight. â€Å"Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same. † (Parker, 10)   In addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup was also evaluated. The s ame research team found that HFCS led to abnormal increases in body fat. These increases seemed to be found in the abdomen area.Body fat was not the only increases found. It was also discovered that HFCS caused a rise in blood fats called triglycerides. The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) has spent $30 million to create a multimedia campaign to scream out to the masses that HFCS is just like sugar. (Engber, 09) The Princeton study, is not proving them wrong but are providing the details that show that while they are basic sugars, not all basic surgars are created equal. First, sucrose is composed of two simple sugars equally while fructose is not. The ratio in sucrose is 50:50 while fructose is 55:42. Parker, 10) The extra 3% is made up of saccharides, larger sugar molecules. Secondly, Princeton researchers zeroed in on the process in which makes sucrose and HFCS is different.The results showed that the molecues that make HFCS are unbound and free floating. In sucrose the fructose a nd sucrose molecues are bound to each other causing an extra metabolical process in order to be utilized for energy. This posed a quandary for the researchers. The rats consumed the same items, same caloric intake, yet those who consumed HFCS gained weight while those who did not, had not gained weight. Parker, 10) A little over a year earlier, the Washington Post published a study confirmed by both Enviornmental Science and Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy that there are traces of mercury in HFCS. â€Å"Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury. † [ (Washington Post, 09) ] This was result found in many products where HFCS is either the first or second ingredient listed on the label. While the article quote that nearly children and teenagers diet consists of nearly 80% HFCS, they remind readers that mercury at any level is toxic.The CRA responded that the information presented was based on old information and that the industry adapted non-mercury agents and that â€Å"these mercury-free re-agents perform important functions, including adjusting pH balances. † [ (Washington Post, 09) ] Regardless, we as well as our children are or have consumed an ingredient that has toxic traces. Over a lifetime, imagine what that can do to the human body. The CRA has been very careful when attacking the fear that HFCS is envoking. According to their website, they maintain the stance that HFCS are all natural.The page opens up with their statement that HFCS â€Å"†¦are natural and meet the Food and Drug Administration’s policy for use of the term â€Å"natural. † (CRA, 09) They also side step the specifics of the HFCS make up claiming that HFCS simply is â€Å"like table sugar, is composed of fructose and glucose† but that it is also â€Å"found in many other naturally-occurring foods†. In the end they seem to quietly divert blame to the FDA by stating the FDA â€Å"h as not established a formal definition of the term â€Å"natural† for food ingredients† but that they qualify for natural under the current definition.This is still despite the Washington Post article confirming that the FDA has the mercury information. While many of these studies continue to support the Princeton research, the CRA will continue to spend countless amounts of money to combat the findings. Though in the last decade this issue has become more promient, it will probably continue for years to come. In the meantime, obesity related diseases continue to rise. The cure is just out of reach but it seems that we can indivually take a stand. With many products using HFCS for various amount of sweetning, we can limit our in take.Limiting our in take is as simple as reading the labels of the food and drink you consume. Limit your fast food intake as well. While this seems to be old fashion or time consuming to some, we need to revert back to the days where meals whe re made from scratch. Cut up fresh vegetables and fruits and limit processed foods. Canned foods, frozen foods and even the juice we drink is laden with some form of HFCS. If we as consumers take responsibility for our own food in take, we may be able to reverse the (potential and known) effects of the ingredient in our bodies.As mentioned earlier, 80% of what children consume has some form of HFCS. With the increase in obesity (both child and adult) as well as other syndromes like ADD and Autism, can we assume that our food is to blame? Thinking about the age old idiom of â€Å"we are what we eat†, are we making our bodies and later our creating our children bodies to fall victim to these now chronic disorders? We have always heard to limit our sugar intake to retard the hyperactive tendencies. With that assumption the use of basic sugars have always sent off alarms when it comes to those with hyperactivity disorders.The association between sugar and hyperactivity disorders began by a Harvard researcher in the the 1960’s. He claimed his findings showed that certain food colorings and sugars caused ADHD in children. (Ayoob) Though it has been said that this researchers findings could not be reproduced, the statement has stuck for years. Many mothers refuse to give their children sugar for fear of over stimulation. They were right, to an extent. As many know, sugar does produce spurts of energy as it is being digested. Couple that with a child and you have one bouncy human being.With each person metabolizing sugar a bit differently, mistakes or a misdiagnosis can easily be made. It would be easy to initially mistaken a sugar high child for one with with ADD or any other related syndrome. An unknowing parent, may not know how much sugar the child is consuming and mistakenly percieves this as a â€Å"problem child† with a hyperactive disorder. The parent in turn speaks with a doctor, discusses all the symptoms and after a series of tests, the truth comes to light. I have a child that has a level of autism and ADHD.It was suggested to me, much like Dr. Anne Kelly suggests, that eliminating chemicals from their diets can help limit ADHD triggers. Dr. Kelly also shares how children with these disorders are more sensitive to toxins found in food. Toxins like the previously mentioned mercury found in HFCS. [ (Howard, 10) ] I have children, I have family members and friends affected by obesity and its consequences. I am not within my BMI, and neither are most people I know but what this assignment has taught me is that we shouldn’t take for granted what we consume.For a period of time while researching and writing this paper, I thought what it would entail to grow my own garden. While I am sure that there will be a lot of trial and error, I just might be able to do something small at least. Meanwhile, I will pratice what I preach and pay attention to labels as I shop for groceries. Sadly, time management is an issue as I juggle both my children and their schooling with my own. We are a busy family just like many others. An effort must and will be made to pay attention to the items I purchase. Normal, quick and easy items I would purchase would now be turned into treats if even that.As I sit here and contemplate, I can see where an undertaking of this nature would be life altering in a sense. How I allocate my time, my childrens time besides what we consume is all under review. My mind wonders to what kitchen appliances and utenzils do I have to upkeep this adjustment, what do I have to buy or learn how to do myself. I was raised in a busy working family where many of my own meals were microwaved. Though I try hard now to not make that a normal occurance for my children, it happens more often than I would care to admit.Though the research and arguments will continue for years to come, I will take action today. I will make strides for my family and friends to choose healthier alternatives and maybe even find joy in cooking. Bring cooking back to what it once was, a family event. Where family can come together and catch up, talk and reconnect. Who knew that research could lead to life adjustements.Works CitedAyoob, K. -T. (n. d. ). High Fructose Corn Syrup and ADD/ADHD in Children: Is There a Link or Is It a Myth? Retrieved 12 08, 10, from Sweet Surprize: http://www. sweetsurprise. com/hfcs-and-your-family/your-childs-diet/hfcs-adhd  CRA. (09, 12).CORN SWEETENERS ARE NATURAL. Retrieved 12 08, 10, from Corn Refiners of America: http://www. corn. org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/CornSweetenerNatural. pdf Engber, D. (09, 04 28).The decline and fall of high-fructose corn syrup. Retrieved 12 08, 10, from Slate Magazine: http://www. slate. com/id/2216796 Howard, C. (10, 02 26).Toxins in our food may play a role in neurobehavioral problems. Retrieved 12 08, 10, from Peoria Journal Star Online: http://www. pjstar. com/features/x2112775064/Toxins-in-our-food-may-play-a-role-in-neurobeh avioral-problems Parker, H. (10, 03 22).A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain. Retrieved 12 08, 10, from Princeton Univeristy News Online: http://www. princeton. edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/ Sweet Surprize. (n. d. ).Fructose Availability. Retrieved 12 08, 10, from Sweet Surprize: http://www. sweetsurprise. com/myths-and-facts/faqs-high-fructose-corn-syrup/fructose Washington Post. (09, 01 29).Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury. Retrieved 12 08, 10, from Washington Post Online: http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831. html High Fructose Corn Syrup High Fructose Corn Syrup: Friend or Enemy We eat every day, rarely thinking about what’s going into our bodies. Take soda, for example, when was the last time you read the label before taking a sip? For me, it is never. One of the first ingredients listed on the can is HFCS or high fructose corn syrup. This ingredient is a secret additive to many products in today's market. High Fructose Corn Syrup is one of the cheapest to make and hardest to get rid of in the body. Since its introduction to food products in the 70's it has slowly been added to most foods, even ketchup. More and more scientists are trying to find links between HFCS and several major health problems; such as diabetes and obesity. Although a major link has not been definitely determined to date, minor links have been proven such as such as the amounts that can be consumed before harm can be determined. Even though some minor associations have been made the FDA still considers HFCS to be safe for consumption. The reason for this is because HFCS is not considered an artificial ingredient. The rule considered is as long as a product has no signs of a chemical added it cannot be labeled an â€Å"artificial ingredient†. In researching the origin of High Fructose Corn Syrup I found out that mercury was found in the product. Even with this new information, the FDA still allows this product to be used in 94% of the foods we consume every day. Why would you need to put HFCS in baby formula? In places like England and France they have practically banned HFCS and made it difficult to use in the entire country. The European Union has a deal with the Sugar Refiners to only use natural cane and beet sugars. High Fructose or Syrup as you now knows are any almost everything we eat and drink. But what you don't know is what it is really doing inside your body. High Fructose Corn Syrup started being mass produced in 1982. It was around that time that researchers noticed an increase in children developing type II diabetes. Obesity around the country has soared. Type 2 diabetes is related to the body's inability to effectively use the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. This is thought to be directly related to weight. It has been proven that HFCS also cause heart problems. This is also thought to be weight related. Despite all the recent attempts to try and prove HFCS unhealthy effects, the Corn Refiners Association has come out with campaigns in High Fructose Corn Syrup's defense. They state the HFCS are not bad and are ok when eaten in moderation. There is no such thing as moderation when it is found in 94 % of the food. While more cons can be found than pros for HFCS; the Corn RefinersAssociation stands behind their product. In fact all the pros I found came from the CRA. The only truth I found was that it is cheaper to produce. Their website has no real information; and in fact called what many to believe to be truths myths. Although the Corn Refiners Association proved to be pointless my endless goggle search did take me too many blogs and organizations which I found to be very informative. Even though the bloggers were only expressing their opinion, many found HFCS to be repulsive. Many of the organizations say they are 20 xs bad for your health. The most informative was HighFructoseCornSyrup. com they are a group of bloggers that I agree with. Each of their articles deal with HFCS in the media and how it is affecting us as a society. After reading all this information and making my way through my research, I began to question what I was eating. Is this slurpee chockfull of HFCS? Of course, just look at how sweet it is. Is my burger only good because that ketchup it’s covered with is full of â€Å"sugar†, I mean high fructose corn syrup? Maybe I'm just losing it because I didn't want to believe what I had been hearing for years was true. Is my weight gain because I eat too much or is it the Additive that is in so many of the foods I eat that caused the weight gain in the first place? Hmm! Although it has been on the market for about 35 years most thought their weight gain was cased only by a lack of exercise. With obesity at epidemic proportions many are starting to question is it something in the food too? High Fructose Corn Syrup High Fructose Corn Syrup: Friend or Enemy We eat every day, rarely thinking about what’s going into our bodies. Take soda, for example, when was the last time you read the label before taking a sip? For me, it is never. One of the first ingredients listed on the can is HFCS or high fructose corn syrup. This ingredient is a secret additive to many products in today's market. High Fructose Corn Syrup is one of the cheapest to make and hardest to get rid of in the body. Since its introduction to food products in the 70's it has slowly been added to most foods, even ketchup. More and more scientists are trying to find links between HFCS and several major health problems; such as diabetes and obesity. Although a major link has not been definitely determined to date, minor links have been proven such as such as the amounts that can be consumed before harm can be determined. Even though some minor associations have been made the FDA still considers HFCS to be safe for consumption. The reason for this is because HFCS is not considered an artificial ingredient. The rule considered is as long as a product has no signs of a chemical added it cannot be labeled an â€Å"artificial ingredient†. In researching the origin of High Fructose Corn Syrup I found out that mercury was found in the product. Even with this new information, the FDA still allows this product to be used in 94% of the foods we consume every day. Why would you need to put HFCS in baby formula? In places like England and France they have practically banned HFCS and made it difficult to use in the entire country. The European Union has a deal with the Sugar Refiners to only use natural cane and beet sugars. High Fructose or Syrup as you now knows are any almost everything we eat and drink. But what you don't know is what it is really doing inside your body. High Fructose Corn Syrup started being mass produced in 1982. It was around that time that researchers noticed an increase in children developing type II diabetes. Obesity around the country has soared. Type 2 diabetes is related to the body's inability to effectively use the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. This is thought to be directly related to weight. It has been proven that HFCS also cause heart problems. This is also thought to be weight related. Despite all the recent attempts to try and prove HFCS unhealthy effects, the Corn Refiners Association has come out with campaigns in High Fructose Corn Syrup's defense. They state the HFCS are not bad and are ok when eaten in moderation. There is no such thing as moderation when it is found in 94 % of the food. While more cons can be found than pros for HFCS; the Corn RefinersAssociation stands behind their product. In fact all the pros I found came from the CRA. The only truth I found was that it is cheaper to produce. Their website has no real information; and in fact called what many to believe to be truths myths. Although the Corn Refiners Association proved to be pointless my endless goggle search did take me too many blogs and organizations which I found to be very informative. Even though the bloggers were only expressing their opinion, many found HFCS to be repulsive. Many of the organizations say they are 20 xs bad for your health. The most informative was HighFructoseCornSyrup. com they are a group of bloggers that I agree with. Each of their articles deal with HFCS in the media and how it is affecting us as a society. After reading all this information and making my way through my research, I began to question what I was eating. Is this slurpee chockfull of HFCS? Of course, just look at how sweet it is. Is my burger only good because that ketchup it’s covered with is full of â€Å"sugar†, I mean high fructose corn syrup? Maybe I'm just losing it because I didn't want to believe what I had been hearing for years was true. Is my weight gain because I eat too much or is it the Additive that is in so many of the foods I eat that caused the weight gain in the first place? Hmm! Although it has been on the market for about 35 years most thought their weight gain was cased only by a lack of exercise. With obesity at epidemic proportions many are starting to question is it something in the food too?

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Check Out Our Tests and Quizzes Check Out Our Tests and Quizzes Check Out Our Tests and Quizzes By Daniel Scocco We already published a bunch of multiple choice tests and quizzes in the past. Some were published years ago, though, so we decided to compile a list with all of them. Make sure you havent missed any. Well be adding new ones in the near future, so stay tuned. Multiple Choice Tests Vocabulary Test 1 Spelling Test 1 Grammar Test 1 Vocabulary Test 2 Quizzes Quiz About Emphasis Quiz About the Comma Quiz About Parallel Construction Not only but also Quiz Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Direct and Indirect ObjectsWhat is the Difference Between Metaphor and Simile?Grammatical Case in English

Skoda UKs management Essay Example

Skoda UKs management Essay Example Skoda UKs management Essay Skoda UKs management Essay This case study focuses on how Skoda UKs management built on all the areas of the strategic audit. The outcome of the SWOT analysis was a strategy for effective competition in the car industry. The audit provided a summary of the businesss overall strategic position by using a SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym which stands for: * Strengths the internal elements of the business that contribute to improvement and growth * Weaknesses the attributes that will hinder a business or make it vulnerable to failure Opportunities the external conditions that could enable future growth * Threats the external factors which could negatively affect the business. INTRODUCTION Skoda is a global brand offering a range of products in a highly competitive and fragmented market. The company must respond positively to internal and external issues to avoid losing sales and market share. A SWOT analysis brings order and structure to otherwise random information. The SWOT model helps managers to look int ernally as well as externally. The information derived from the analysis gives direction to the strategy.It highlights the key internal weaknesses in a business, it focuses on strengths and it alerts managers to opportunities and threats. Skoda was able to identify where it had strengths to compete. The structured review of internal and external factors helped transform Skoda UKs strategic direction. The case study shows how Skoda UK transformed its brand image in the eyes of potential customers and build its competitive edge over rivals. By developing a marketing strategy playing on clearly identified strengths of customer happiness, Skoda was able to overcome weaknesses.It turned its previously defensive position of the brand to a positive customer-focused experience. The various awards Skoda has won demonstrate how its communications are reaching customers. Improved sales show that Skoda UKs new strategy has delivered benefits. In 1895 in Czechoslovakia, two keen cyclists, Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, designed and produced their own bicycle. Their business became Skoda in 1925. Skoda went on to manufacture cycles, cars, farm ploughs and airplanes in Eastern Europe. Skoda overcame hard times over the next 65 years. These included war, economic depression and political change.By 1990 the Czech management of Skoda was looking for a strong foreign partner. Volkswagen AG (VAG) was chosen because of its reputation for strength, quality and reliability. It is the largest car manufacturer in Europe providing an average of more than five million cars a year giving it a 12% share of the world car market. Volkswagen AG comprises the Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti brands. Each brand has its own specific character and is independent in the market. Skoda UK sells Skoda cars through its network of independent franchised dealers.To improve its performance in the competitive car market, Skoda UK†s m anagement needed to assess its brand positioning. Brand positioning means establishing a distinctive image for the brand compared to competing brands. Only then could it grow from being a small player. To aid its decision-making, Skoda UK obtained market research data from internal and external strategic audits. This enabled it to take advantage of new opportunities and respond to threats. To work on the strengths, Skoda UK carried out research. It asked customers directly for their opinions about its cars.It also used reliable independent surveys that tested customers feelings. For example, the annual JD Power customer satisfaction survey asks owners what they feel about cars they have owned for at least six months. JD Power surveys almost 20,000 car owners using detailed questionnaires. Skoda has been in the top five manufacturers in this survey for the past 13 years. In Top Gears 2007 customer satisfaction survey, 56,000 viewers gave their opinions on 152 models and voted Skoda t he number 1 car maker. Skodas Octavia model has also won the 2008  Auto Express  Driver Power Best Car.Skoda attributes these results to the business concentrating on owner experience rather than on sales. It has considered the human touch from design through to sale. Skoda knows that 98% of its drivers would recommend Skoda to a friend. This is a clearly identifiable and quantifiable strength. Skoda uses this to guide its future strategic development and marketing of its brand image. Strategic management guides a business so that it can compete and grow in its market. Skoda adopted a strategy focused on building cars that their owners would enjoy. This is different from simply maximizing sales of a product.As a result, Skodas biggest strength was the satisfaction of its customers. This means the brand is associated with a quality product and happy customers. Skoda UKs analysis showed that in order to grow it needed to address key questions about the brand position. Skoda has on ly 1. 7% market share. This made it a very small player in the market for cars. The main issue it needed to address was: how did Skoda fit into this highly competitive, fragmented market? Perceptions of the brand This weakness was partly due to out-dated perceptions of the brand. These related to Skodas eastern European origins.In the past the cars had an image of poor vehicle quality, design, assembly and materials. Crucially, this poor perception also affected Skoda owners. For many people, car ownership is all about image. If you are a Skoda driver, what do other people think? From 1999 onwards, under Volkswagen AG ownership, Skoda changed this negative image. Skoda cars were no longer seen as low-budget or low quality. However, a brand health check in 2006 showed that Skoda still had a weak and neutral image in the mid-market range it occupies, compared to other players in this area, for example, Ford, Peugeot and Renault.This meant that, whilst the brand no longer had a poor im age, it did not have a strong appeal either. - Change of direction This understanding showed Skoda in which direction it needed to go. It needed to stop being defensive in promotional campaigns. The company had sought to correct old perceptions and demonstrate what Skoda cars were not. It realized it was now time to say what the brand does stand for. The marketing message for the change was simple: Skoda owners were known to be happy and contented with their cars.The car-buying public and the car industry as a whole needed convincing that Skoda cars were great to own and drive. Opportunities occur in the external environment of a business. These include for example, gaps in the market for new products or services. In analyzing the external market, Skoda noted that its competitors marketing approaches focused on the product itself. Many brands place emphasis on the machine and the driving experience: * Audi emphasizes the technology through its strapline, Vorsprung Durch Technik (adv antage through technology). * BMW promotes the ultimate driving machine.Skoda UK discovered that its customers loved their cars more than owners of competitor brands, such as Renault or Ford. - Differentiation Information from the SWOT analysis helped Skoda to differentiate its product range. Having a complete understanding of the brands weaknesses allowed it to develop a strategy to strengthen the brand and take advantage of the opportunities in the market. It focused on its existing strengths and provided cars focused on the customer experience. The focus on happy Skoda customers is an opportunity.It enables Skoda to differentiate the Skoda brand to make it stand out from the competition. This is Skodas unique selling proposition (USP) in the motor industry. Threats come from outside of a business. These involve for example, a competitor launching cheaper products. A careful analysis of the nature, source and likelihood of these threats is a key part of the SWOT process. The UK ca r market includes 50 different car makers selling 200 models. Within these there are over 2,000 model derivatives. Skoda UK needed to ensure that its messages were powerful enough for customers to hear within such a crowded and competitive environment.If not, potential buyers would overlook Skoda. This posed the threat of a further loss of market share. Skoda needed a strong product range to compete in the UK and globally In the UK the Skoda brand is represented by seven different cars. Each one is designed to appeal to different market segments. For example: * Skoda Fabia is sold as a basic but quality city car * Skoda Superb offers a more luxurious, up-market appeal * Skoda Octavia Estate provides a family with a fun drive but also a great big boot. Pricing reflects the competitive nature of Skodas market. Each model range s priced to appeal to different groups within the mainstream car market. The combination of a clear range with competitive pricing has overcome the threat of th e crowded market. Environmental constraints The following example illustrates how Skoda responded to another of its threats, namely, the need to respond to EU legal and environmental regulations. Skoda responded by designing products that are environmentally friendly at every stage of their life cycle. For example:- * Recycling as much as possible. Skoda parts are marked for quick and easy identification when the car is taken apart. Using the latest, most environmentally-friendly manufacturing technologies and facilities available. For instance, painting areas to protect against corrosion use lead-free, water based colours. * Designing processes to cut fuel consumption and emissions in petrol and diesel engines. These use lighter parts making vehicles as aerodynamic as possible to use less energy. * Using technology to design cars with lower noise levels and improved sound quality. Benefits of the analysis Skoda UKs analysis answered some key questions. It discovered that: * Skoda c ar owners were happy about owning a Skoda The brand was no longer seen as a poorer version of competitors cars. However: * the brand was still very much within a niche market * A change in public perception was vital for Skoda to compete and increase its market share of the mainstream car market. The challenge was how to build on this and develop the brand so that it was viewed positively. It required a whole new marketing strategy. - Unique selling proposition Skoda UK has responded with a new marketing strategy based on the confident slogan, the manufacturer of happy drivers.The campaigns promotional activities support the new brand position. The key messages for the campaign focus on the happy customer experience and appeal at an emotional rather than a practical level. The campaign includes: * The Fabia Cake TV advertisement. This showed that the car was full of lovely stuff with the happy music (Favorite things) in the background. * An improved and redesigned website which is e asy and fun to use. This is to appeal to a young audience. It embodies the message experience the happiness of Skoda online.Customers are able to book test drives and order brochures online. The result is that potential customers will feel a Skoda is not only a reliable and sensible car to own, it is also lovely to own. Analyzing the external opportunities and threats allows Skoda UK to pinpoint precisely how it should target its marketing messages. No other market player has driver happiness as its USP. By building on the understanding derived from the SWOT, Skoda UK has given new impetus to its campaign. At the same time, the campaign has addressed the threat of external competition by setting Skoda apart from its rivals.