Thursday, October 31, 2019

Company law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Company law - Coursework Example Dissolution of a company can be voluntary or through winding up. Voluntary liquidation of a  company  occurs when the shareholders of a company come to a consensus,  pass  a resolution saying that they have agreed to  dissolve  the company. On the other hand, the court may  give  out an  order  for the winding up of a company commonly done at the behest of a creditor who has not been paid.  According to Ahmadu and Robert (425) global trends have led companies to be cautious in the way their operations  are halted. Question 1 Liquidation of any company entails the winding up of financial statements in order to  create  time  for effective dismantling of the structure of the company and  help  in  fairly  distributing the assets of the company to its creditors.  Liquidation provides the only  true  way of ending the activities and operations of a company because both the assets and  financial  structure  are evaluated  (Ahmadu and Rob ert, 471). The court order for compulsory winding up Zed Ltd provides both the company and creditors with transparency and accountability because an independent entity, the liquidator,  is given  the task of protecting the interests of the shareholders, directors, creditors, and members. Since the court has appointed a liquidator, it shows that the creditor had enough  proof  to show that Zed Ltd truly is not able to pay all its debts. In addition, the company has in the recent past had cash flow problems. Therefore, Zed Ltd is insolvent. In the case of Niger Merchants Co. v Copper (1877) 185 ChD 557n, Jessel MR proposed that pursuing a winding-up petition for a solvent company is an abuse of the court’s process (Hicks and Goo, 609). Other such cases include Mann v Goldstein, and the sentiments of Malins VC in Cadiz Waterworks Co. v Barnett (1874) LR 19 Eq 182. Zed Ltd is unable to pay its debts; hence the creditor can apply to the court for a petition for winding-up. Section 123 provides information that can be used to substantiate whether or not a company is unable to pay its debts. The companies act provides provisions that are to be followed during liquidation as asserted by OECD (246). Although Zed Ltd was not aware of the petition filed in court by one of their creditors, the law requires the company not to  accept  any deliveries of goods for which it has not prepared any payment procedures. Also, the company  is supposed  to maintain the current status of its creditors, but it should not improve or  make  worse the situation. Nonetheless, any improvement or worsening of the situation may  lead  the directors to incur personal liability or be liable for misfeasance (Debt UK, 2008). The company has to ensure that no assets fall into the hands of creditors  because  they may be available for set off. Zed Ltd was under pressure to  pay  up its outstanding bills and debts; it sold a spare machine for ?10,000 whose  i nitial  price  was ?9,000. Moreover, the company had donated a minibus to a charity in an  attempt  to promote the company’s image. However, Zed Ltd was not aware of the petition filed against it in court. The sale of the  spare  machine and the issuance of the minibus to  charity  involve  company assets. However, the minibus  was given  to charity on 15 October 2009; creditor cannot  challenge  this  move  because it had taken  place before the petition

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

How were British overseas trade,slavery,war and taxation linked during Essay

How were British overseas trade,slavery,war and taxation linked during the eighteenth century - Essay Example The availability of revenue allowed for Britain to maintain naval dockyards and barracks, pay wages, and supply food and munitions, through Effective action by armies and fleets.2 The interconnectedness of overseas trade, slavery, war, and taxation shall be addressed by this paper. It is important to note however, that British colonialism had an influential role in the linkage among the four factors. Alongside a renewed pressure with the unprecedented demands of war with revolutionary and Napoleonic France between 1793 and 1815 was the fiscal-military state of the eighteenth-century Britain, in which taxation reached 20 percent of the national income of England.3 Taxes were normally between 8 and 10 percent throughout the 18th century. Along with the growing influence of Britain was a desire to protect strategic goods, encourage colonial trade or preserve domestic employment from foreign competition, which became issues of national, security and imperial preference. It was likewise important for Britain to establish its political life and to provide links between civil society and the state, which became the subject of the complex process of brokerage with trade interests.4 However, success in Britain’s point of view did not only mean the availability of and increased flow of revenue, but warfare as well, whereby large amounts were spent in a short period of time which fa r exceeded income. It may be inferred that Britain’s goal to pursue warfare specifically with its long-term rival France and the corresponding pursuit to sustain taxation were towards the attainment of a more heightened objective, which was colonialism.5 Such trail towards colonialism is seen in Britain’s concentration on taxing policies witnessed in the fiscal system becoming more dependent on excise duties, with tariffs and stamp of wealth declining an importance.6 Land tax was considered the most important direct tax in this period, which was

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Historiography Of The Civil Rights Movement

Historiography Of The Civil Rights Movement Who was the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) lawyer who successfully argued the NAACPs Brown v. Board of Education? Answer: Martin Luther King. Question: Name several people who were involved in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Answer: Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Question: Who was the first President of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)? Answer: Martin Luther King. Question: Who organized the famous March on Washington? Answer: Martin Luther King. Question: Who started the sit-in movement of the 1960s? Answer: Martin Luther King. (Armstrong 2002) Does the preceding list of questions and answers sound familiar? If you teach high school history, the answer is probably yes. However, this does not tell the whole story. In reality, Martin Luther King was just one member of the larger Civil Rights Movement sweeping the country. In order to illuminate the larger picture to our students, alternative strategies need to be considered. One such strategy is presented here. This lesson plan tackles the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of nonviolent direct action. I am not arguing that King is not an important historical figure of the Civil Rights Movement, because he certainly is. The problem, however, is that since the early 1970s, the struggle for civil rights has been taught almost solely in relationship to King and his life. Students graduate from high school viewing the civil rights movement synonymously with Martin Luther King Jr. Such connections are understandable, if grossly uninformed. Students are denied the opportunity to immerse themselves in the complicated and varied histories of the civil rights movement. (Armstrong 2002) According to Armstrong, in the past, most high school history teachers relied on textbooks to help them convey the civil rights movement to their students. Unfortunately, the vast majority of textbooks present a narrative of the civil rights movement of King as the embodiment of the Civil Rights Movement. As a result, textbooks typically begin the movement in 1954 and 1955 with the Brown v. Board decision and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and end in 1968 with the assassination of King. (Armstrong 2002, 6) However, this is only a narrow view of what many historians consider a much longer struggle for racial civil rights. One way to open up this narrative is to provide students with access to primary documents. This lesson incorporates three primary documents one from each of the leading groups that advocated nonviolent action during the civil rights movement. This methodology not only presents students with alternative perspectives, but it also exposes students to a core tool used by historians. (Armstrong 2002) In any history course, whether it is second grade, high school, or graduate level, aspects of the story will be left out. History is a vast and ever-expanding field, and it is impossible to include everything in one course. However, by showing our students how to think and act like historians, we can give them the opportunity to explore these topics further in the future. National Standards The National Standards for United States History: Era 9 Postwar United States, Standard 4 requires students to understand the struggle for racial and gender equality and the extension of civil liberties. (National Center for History in the Schools 2005) Time This lesson should be divided into three class sessions of approximately one hour. Student Objectives To analyze primary source material. To analyze the role of nonviolent direct action in combating racism. To analyze the role of different organizations combating racism in the Civil Rights Movement. Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Background Nonviolent Action According to Gene Sharp, Nonviolent action refers to those methods of protest, resistance and intervention without physical violence in which the members of the nonviolent group do or refuse to do certain things. (Sharp 1969) These methods can be divided into three basic groups: nonviolent protest, noncooperation, and nonviolent intervention. Each group contains different examples of nonviolent actions. Nonviolent protest includes such actions as parades, marches, and picketing. Noncooperation includes such actions as walkouts, strikes, and boycotts. And nonviolent intervention, the most militant forms of nonviolence typically refers to sit-ins. (Wirmark 1974) Each of these methods of nonviolent action was employed during the Civil Rights Movement. Three of the leading organizations which advocated the use of nonviolent action were the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) CORE was founded in 1943, and specialized in nonviolent action to combat racial discrimination. Its first focus was on sit-in demonstrations with the goal that public places, such as restaurants, would become desegregated. (Wirmark 1974) As the Civil Rights Movement evolved, so too did the goals of CORE, who began to sponsor freedom rides during the early 1960s. [See Figure 1] (Woodward 1966) From 1962-1964, CORE concentrated on voter registration drives throughout the South. It was also responsible for sponsoring direct action protests against unfair housing measures and other types of discrimination against African Americans in the North. Though all three organizations (CORE, SNCC, and SCLC) employed nonviolent techniques in their quest for equality, it was CORE who initiated the practice. (Meier and Rudwick 1973) Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) On February 1, 1960, a group of young African American students were refused to be served in a coffee shop in North Carolina. In protest, the students sat in silence in the shop. This type of protest, known as a sit-in, rapidly spread throughout the country, bringing many young college students into the civil rights cause. [See Figure 2] (Woodward 1966) The SNCC, the youngest and most militant of the organized groups, came out of the sit-in movement. Students who had participated in sit-ins wanted to control student demonstrations, and thus founded the SNCC in 1960. (Wirmark 1974) By 1966, the SNCC had gained national attention with its use of the slogan Black Power. Some of the most important leaders of the SNCC were Bob Moses of Mississippi, Charles Sherrod of Georgia, and Bill Hansen of Arkansas. These men were most effective because they truly believed in the morality of their cause. They were courageous in the face of adversity and influenced others to not give up hope. (Stoper 1977) Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) After the successful Montgomery bus boycott, Martin Luther King, Jr. founded the SCLC to bring together the church leaders who had been organizing the boycott. [See Figure 3] Inspired by the actions of CORE, King wanted to apply nonviolent action on a large scale. (Wirmark 1974) Unlike the other two organizations, the SCLC acted as an umbrella organization. It brought together various civil rights groups across the South and the rest of the nation. It also differed from other civil rights groups because it was primarily made up of religious groups. Charles Morgan, a member of the SCLC board of directors said of the group, SCLC is not an organization, its a church. (Fairclough 1987, 1) King was certainly a significant force behind the SCLC, but its successes cannot be accredited solely to his larger-than-life personality. The SCLC was extremely effective in combating racial discrimination and segregation, and this was due partially to King, partially to its belief in a higher moral ca use, and partially to its commitment to nonviolent action. (Fairclough 1987) Procedures Day One Briefly discuss the main events of the Civil Rights Movement with students, providing them with a timeline for reference. Have students look up the definitions for segregation, non-violence, and direct action. Provide students with a background on different types of nonviolent direct action protests. Allow students to brainstorm ways to combat racism through nonviolent direct action. Day Two Provide students with a background on the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Divide the students into three groups and assign one organization to each group. Groups should make a short presentation to the class on the background and history of their assigned organization. Day Three Have students compare and contrast the three civil rights organizations in a 1-2 page in-class essay. Students should work individually, but allow them the opportunity to use reference materials, as well as discuss their questions with you. Discussion Questions How do you define segregation? Provide two different examples of racial segregation. What is nonviolence? Direct action? How can the two be used to combat racial segregation? What were the goals of CORE? Of SNCC? Of SCLC? Compare and contrast the three organizations. In what ways does studying them deviate from what you have learned about the civil rights movement in the past? Further Reading Armstrong, Julie Buckner. Teaching the American Civil Rights Movement: Freedoms Bittersweet Song. New York: Routledge, 2002. Carson, Clayborne. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Charismatic Leadership in a Mass Struggle. The Journal of American History, Vol. 74, No. 2 (Sep., 1987): 448-454. Fairclough, Adam. To Redeem the Soul of America: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Martin Luther King, Jr. Athens: The University of Georgia Press, 1987. Meier, August, and Elliott Rudwick. CORE: A Study in the Civil Rights Movement 1942-1968. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973. National Center for History in the Schools. History Standards for Grades 5-12 United States. National Standards for History Basic Edition. 2005. http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/nchs/standards/ (accessed November 11, 2010). OBrien, Michael. Old Myths / New Insights: History and Dr. King. The History Teacher, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Nov. 1988): 49-65. Steinkraus, Warren E. Martin Luther Kings Personalism and Non-Violence. Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Jan. Mar., 1973): 97 111. Stoper, Emily. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee: Rise and Fall of a Redemptive Organization. Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1977: 13-34. Wirmark, Bo. Nonviolent Methods and the American Civil Rights Movement 1955-1965. Journal of Peace Research. Vol. 11. No. 2, 1974: 115-132. Woodward, C. Vann. The Strange Career of Jim Crow. New York: Oxford University Press, 1966. Day One Handout Name ____________________________________ Definitions: Look up each of the following words and write out the definition. Segregation: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Non-violence: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Direct action: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Non-Violent Direct Action Protests: Read the following list of non-violent direct actions and discuss in your groups. Sit-ins (restaurants, lunch counters) Kneel-ins (churches) Stand-ins (theaters, swimming pools, libraries) Marches Mass meetings Picketing Vigils Prayer meetings Jail-ins (attempt to overcrowd jails) Fasting Nonviolent obstruction (streets, vehicles) Boycotts Rent strikes Voter registration drives Day Two Handout -Page 1 CORE Rules for Action Guarantees of the Individual to the Group A CORE member will investigate the facts carefully before determining whether or not racial injustice exists in a given situation. A CORE member will seek at all times to understand both the attitude of the person responsible for a policy of racial discrimination, and the social situation which engendered the attitude. The CORE member will be flexible and creative, showing a willingness to participate in experiments which seem constructive, but being careful not to compromise CORE principles. A CORE member will make a sincere effort to avoid malice and hatred toward any group or individual. A CORE member will never use malicious slogans or labels to discredit any opponent. A CORE member will be willing to admit mistakes. He will meet the anger of an individual or group in the spirit of good will and creative reconciliation; he will submit to assault and will not retaliate in kind either by act or word. A member will never engage in any action in the name of the group except when authorized by the group or one of its action units. When in an action project a CORE member will obey the orders issued by the authorized leader or spokesman of the project, whether these orders please him or not. If he does not approve of such orders, he shall later refer the criticism back to the group or to the committee which as the source of the project plan. No member, after once accepting the discipline of the group for a particular action project, shall have the right of withdrawing. However, should a participant feel that under further pressure he will no longer be able to adhere to the Rules for Action, he shall then withdraw from the project and leave the scene immediately after notifying the project leader. Only a person who is a recognized member of the group leader in a particular project shall be permitted to take part in that group action. Guarantees from the Local Group to the Individual Each member has the right to dissent from any group decision and, if dissenting, need not participate in the specific action planned. Each member shall understand that all decisions on general policy shall be arrived at only through democratic group discussion. A CORE member shall receive the uncompromising support of his CORE group as he faces any difficulties resulting from his authorized CORE activities. Day Two Handout -Page 2 Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Statement of Purpose We affirm the philosophical or religious ideal of nonviolence as the foundation of our purpose, the presupposition of our faith, and the manner of our action. Nonviolence as it grows from the Judeo-Christian tradition seeks a social order of justice permeated by love. Integration of human endeavor represents the crucial first step towards such a society. Through nonviolence, courage displaces fear; love transforms hate. Acceptance dissipates prejudice; hope ends despair. Peace dominates war; faith reconciles doubt. Mutual regard cancels enmity. Justice for all overcomes injustice. The redemptive community supersedes systems of gross social immorality. Love is the central motif of nonviolence. Love is the force by which God binds man to himself and man to man. Such love goes to the extreme; it remains loving and forgiving even in the midst of hostility. It matches the capacity of evil to inflict suffering with an even more enduring capacity to absorb evil, all the while persisting in love. By appealing to conscience and standing on the moral nature of human existence, nonviolence nurtures the atmosphere in which reconciliation and justice become actual possibilities. Day Two Handout -Page 3 Southern Christian Leadership Conference: This is SCLC Aims and Purposes of SCLC The Southern Christian Leadership Conference has the basic aim of achieving full citizenship rights, equality and the integration of the Negro in all aspects of American life. SCLC is a service agency to facilitate coordinated action of local community groups within the frame of their indigenous organizations and natural leadership. SCLC activity revolves around two main focal points: the use of nonviolent philosophy as a means of creative protest; and securing the right of the ballot for every citizen. Philosophy of SCLC The basic tenets of Hebraic-Christian tradition coupled with the Gandhian concept of satyagraha truth force is at the heart of SCLCs philosophy. Christian nonviolence actively resists evil in any form. It never seeks to humiliate the opponent, only to win him. Suffering is accepted without retaliation. Internal violence of the spirit is as much to be rejected as external physical violence. At the center of nonviolence is redemptive love. Creatively used, the philosophy of nonviolence can restore the broken community in America. SCLC is convinced that nonviolence is the most potent force available to an oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and dignity. SCLC and Nonviolent Mass Direct Action SCLC believes that the American dilemma in race relations can best and most quickly be resolved through the action of thousands of people, committed to the philosophy of nonviolence, who will physically identify themselves in a just and moral struggle. It is not enough to be intellectually dissatisfied with an evil system. The true nonviolent resister presents his physical body as an instrument to defeat the system. Through nonviolent mass direct action, the evil system is creatively dramatized in order that the conscience of the community may grapple with the rightness or wrongness of the issue at hand. Supplementary Materials Visual Aids These photographs can be used to supplement this lesson plan. Pass them out to the class or incorporate them into your classroom presentation. More visual aids can be found at: www.loc.gov/rr/print/. Figure 3: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in front of SCLC Headquarters in Atlanta. Figure 1: Background Map: 1961 Freedom Rides [New York]: Associated Press News Feature. ca. 1962 http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/s84.6p1.jpg http://www.blackpast.org/files/blackpast_images/SCLC_King.jpg Figure 2: Tottle House Occupied during a Sit-in by some of Americas most effective organizers. Atlanta, Georgia, ca. 1963 http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/vc84.1b.jpg Civil Rights Timeline *Adapted from http://www.africanaonline.com/2010/08/civil-rights-timeline/* 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education: U.S. Supreme Court bans segregation in public schools. 1955 Bus boycott launched in Montgomery, Ala., after an African-American woman, Rosa Parks, is arrested December 1 for refusing to give up her seat to a white person. 1956 December 21 After more than a year of boycotting the buses and a legal fight, the Montgomery buses desegregate. 1957 At previously all-white Central High in Little Rock, Ark., 1,000 paratroopers are called by President Eisenhower to restore order and escort nine black students. 1960 The sit-in protest movement begins in February at a Woolworths lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. and spreads across the nation. 1961 Freedom rides begin from Washington, D.C: Groups of black and white people ride buses through the South to challenge segregation. 1963 Police arrest King and other ministers demonstrating in Birmingham, Ala., then turn fire hoses and police dogs on the marchers. Medgar Evers, NAACP leader, is murdered June 12 as he enters his home in Jackson, Miss. Four girls killed Sept. 15 in bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. 1964 July 2 President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 1965 Malcolm X is murdered Feb. 21, 1965. Three men are convicted of his murder. August 6. President Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The act, which King sought, authorized federal examiners to register qualified voters and suspended devices such as literacy tests that aimed to prevent African Americans from voting. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., unleashing violence in more than 100 cities. In response to Kings death, Seattle residents hurled firebombs, broke windows, and pelted motorists with rocks. Ten thousand people also marched to Seattle Center for a rally in his memory. 1992 The first racially based riots in years erupt in Los Angeles and other cities after a jury acquits L.A. police officers in the videotaped beating of Rodney King, an African American.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Misfit in Flannery OConnors A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay exam

The Misfit in Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find I feel that the Grandmother in the story 'A Good Man is Hard to Find' suffers from psychological conditions. She does not care at all about anyone but herself. I feel that she may even be narcissistic. It is ironic because she would be expected to look out for her family. The Cambridge Dictionary defines narcissism as 'too much interest in and admiration for your own physical appearance and/or your own abilities' It is ironic because she would be expected to look out for her family, however in reality she only really looks out for herself. She shows how self centered she really is many times throughout the story. She displays a complete lack of regard for what anyone else wants to do. All she cares about at first is what ...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Cadence in Shakespeare

Cadence is an often overlooked aspect of writing that is significant in the attempt to understand the meaning of text. The use of cadence is most often only considered relevant in an approach to poetry or music; however, poetic form is used in other genres of writing and is an applicable approach to literary criticism. An author’s intended message is intricately woven into the cadence in which the words are to be delivered. In order to appreciate the words of Shakespeare, in particular, one must consider the implications of intended cadence.Although Shakespeare’s work can be enjoyed through a silent reading, certain nuances of his plays are lost without the aspect of performance or delivery in which the cadence is more visible. In an article from The Sunday Telegraph London Charles Spencer approaches the importance of cadence in performances of Shakespeare. He gets his point across very well by stating that: Anyone who has been to see Shakespeare in the theatre recently will recognize this experience.An actor is â€Å"tearing a passion† to tatters and after what seems like several yards of fraught blank verse, you belatedly realize that you have barely the faintest clue as to what he’s been banging on about. The odd word or phrase sinks in, but even speeches you know well on the page seem shrouded in obscurity on the stage. Luckily this is not always the case. Many of us have also had the pleasure of watching a performance in which the actors manage to â€Å"deliver the verse with such clarity that even Shakespeare’s knottiest, and most clotted passages make crystalline sense† (Spencer).An enjoyable performance of Shakespeare relies on the proper delivery of cadence. The intended meaning can be completely lost if the cadence is not delivered correctly. So how do we discern the intended cadence? Peter Hall, author of Shakespeare’s Advice to the Players, â€Å"insists that Shakespeare himself provides all the clue s about how to speak his verse . . . moment by moment, and line by line† (Spencer). There are many elements involved in determining cadence. Read more about Dramatic CriticismAccording to Hall one must first study the â€Å"mechanics of blank verse, whose unit is iambic pentameter† and in addition one must also focus on the â€Å"structure of the line, scansion, the caesura, monosyllables, pauses, alliteration and rhyme† (Spencer). He goes on to say that Shakespeare â€Å"tells the actor when, but he never tells him why or how† (Spencer). The why or how of delivering Shakespeare’s verse is left to the interpretation of the reader or performer. Spencer concludes this article by saying that:Shakespeare’s text is a complex score that demands to be read as a piece of music, learned like the steps of a dance, or practiced like the stroke of a duel . . . but the paradox of art is that the rules of form must always be challenged in order to achieve spontaneity. Yet they must not be completely destroyed. There is a balance between discipline and freedom which only the great creative genius or th e astonishing performer can achieve. Let’s look at the mechanics of blank verse. Blank verse is defined as unrhymed iambic pentameter.Iambic pentameter is a metrical pattern in poetry which consists of five iambic feet per line (Meyer 1617). In Freeing Shakespeare’s Voice Kristen Linklater states that â€Å"Rhythm takes language and adds an innermost drive that moves it, shakes it, and channels it† (92). She goes on to say that â€Å"A poet uses rhythm to shape language into dramatic peaks and valleys, and major clues to topography of any given scene in a Shakespeare play are to be found in its rhythmic dynamics† (92). Linklater also states that:The verse rhythm that reigns supreme in Shakespeare is iambic pentameter [which is] the basic rhythm of the English language . . . and by the end of the sixteenth century, the development of prosody had determined five to be the most satisfying number of iambic feet per line for English dramatic, or heroic, verse. † Furthermore, In Speak the Speech! Shakespeare’s Monologues Illuminated, authors Rhona Silverbush and Sami Plotkin explain that â€Å"Verse is an efficient and compelling means of communication.It enables the author to convey more layers of meaning in fewer words† and â€Å"Because verse is an elevated form of language, it elevates the dramatic experience† (246). Caesura is a pause within a line of poetry that contributes to the rhythm of the line (Meyer 1617). Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sounds in a sequence of words, usually at the beginning of a word or stressed syllable (Meyer 1615). And rhyme is defined as the repetition of identical or similar concluding syllables in different words, most often at the ends of lines (Meyer 1633).All of these elements are in the structure of a line and Shakespeare uses these elements in his writing. Therefore the structure of the line seems to hold the key to the intended cadence. Rhythm is w hat makes poetry and music flow. It is what makes a speech memorable. And if used correctly it signifies the importance of what is being said. It is a subtle way of getting a point across and accentuating what the speaker or author wants you to hear. The way a line is read can change the impression made on the audience as much as the words that they hear.In an article entitled â€Å"The sound of Your Stories† Philip Martin states that â€Å"Cadence in literary terms is the rhythm or metre of a stream of words, how the flowing phrases sound on the ear. It is derived from the Latin, â€Å"to fall† – the rise and fall of the poetic beat or the inflection of the human voice†. Similarly, in an article written by Dennis Jackson, it is said that â€Å"Signaling significance, cadence authenticates your voice†. Furthermore Jackson states that â€Å"A cadence is a pause that meaningfully punctuates the flow of music.Similarly, in our writing, cadences are s tress points, moments where syntax and substance team up to convey special meaning†. He then goes on to say that â€Å"Cadences are the drumbeats that sound through our prose signaling significance to readers, telling them how the writing is to be read†. He uses Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ’s â€Å"I have a dream† speech to illustrate how cadence can affect the way we hear or read words. He mentions rhetorical techniques that King uses such as grammatical parallelism, repetition, and manipulation of sentence lengths â€Å"to achieve rhythm and affect cadences that underscore his main points† (Jackson).In Simply Shakespeare, Widdicombe mentions that â€Å"if pace doesn’t change monotony sets in† (171). He looks at Hamlet and proposes â€Å"can he [Shakespeare] hold an audience’s attention for more than four hours and almost 4000 lines? The answer is a resounding â€Å"?yes’† (172). One of the reasons given for Shake speare being able to successfully keep the audience’s attention is the way â€Å"Shakespeare applies his stagecraft to the play’s pacing† (172). Another important aspect of cadence is brought to light by Jackson G. Barry.In an article entitled â€Å"Shakespeare’s ‘Deceptive Cadence’: A Study in the structure of Hamlet,† Barry â€Å"puts forth the concept of deceptive cadence, which is a musical term associated with classical music in which the generally assumed and thus logical conclusion given by the chord progression is broken and replaced with some other, not as fitting or perfect, chord†. According to Barry â€Å"this deceptive cadence can be found throughout Hamlet, but becomes especially prevalent during the third act, in which Hamlet kills Polonius†.The idea is that the â€Å"deceptive cadence† used in Hamlet â€Å"serves to prolong and extend the play into the full five act form† and â€Å"without t he use of this deceptive cadence, Hamlet would have been able to move forward with his plans for vengeance and would have had nothing to mark or scar his own conscience† (Barry). He states that â€Å"until this point the play had been building with steady momentum but this tragic turn of events breaks up the standard and logical progression of the play and thus diverts Hamlet from his true task and goals†.Without this â€Å"deceptive cadence† Barry states that â€Å"the true element of tragedy would have been lost, and with it a great deal of substance from the piece†. So now we have the idea of â€Å"deceptive cadence† to contend with. The way a story slows down or changes direction therefore can also affect the meaning of a work. Shakespeare adds a great deal to the play by using this â€Å"deceptive cadence† in Hamlet in order to change the mood and add to the tragedy of the story. â€Å"Round and around, like creatures gone slightly mad, the students march to a slow, rhythmic chant.Their eerie cadence rises to the upper rows of the gloomy concrete theater, its effect both lyrical and unnerving† (Jones). Tone and emotion are portrayed through cadence. Shakespeare’s words are well known by many people. Even those who have not read or seen his work can recognize, or even recite, a Shakespearean quote. His use of the English language is certainly beautiful. He paints a picture for the audience with his words and manipulates the language in order to achieve the desired effect. Shakespeare manages to portray the effect of every human emotion.According to Ralph Waldo Emerson â€Å"reading for the sense will best bring out the rhythm† he states that Shakespeare’s secret is â€Å"that the thought constructs the tune. † The process of understanding and performing Shakespeare is a task attained on many levels. Not only must one consider the â€Å"mechanics† but also the thought process behind the author’s intentions. Poetic form is a complicated work of art that can not be approached without understanding the importance of cadence. The voice makes all the difference. Once you have heard how the lines are supposed to be delivered, it is much easier to appreciate and understand Shakespeare.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Success

Success in my own words. Success is an enigmatic entity. Most of us pursue it as a fixed entity that will magically leave us content. But according to me, that is as far from the truth as can be. Because contentment is the enemy of success. The moment I were to feel that I am content, is the moment my success stops. The passion to challenge myself is the fuel that I need to burn in order to keep achieving success. It is very common in India that right from a very young age, our success is measured as a factor relative to the success of our peers.I do not try to compare myself with others, which I think is the most destructive thing one can do. Every person is unique, and every person has their own strengths and weaknesses. I have always believed that I am my own best friend. And my idea of a best friend is someone with whom I can compete fiercely, and constantly. This means that I am always trying to outdo myself. Each time I reach the peak of my achievement, I would've already set m y eyes on something higher. And I am relentless in my pursuit of any and every goal I set for myself.This does not mean that I do not revel in my moments of achievement. I give myself the occasional pat on the back. And I think it is essential to do so, because motivation is like the lubricant that keeps the gears of success going. And as an engine with copious amounts of fuel, without a lubricant, eventually grinds to a halt, damaging the engine permanently, without motivation, one's success may seem to go leaps and bounds in the beginning, but eventually will come to a complete and permanent halt. I have seen many people be deliberately unenthusiastic about their achievements to he outside world.This will eventually lead to a never ending void in us, that no amount of success can fill. Success is a thing to be celebrated, and something hidden from the world is never a celebration. But once again, we must be careful not to let ourselves run amok, as there is a very thin line that s eparates celebration from extravagance. And extravagance almost always leads to lethargy, dousing the flames of passion and motivation. And that is where the final ingredient in this mechanism of success comes in- hard work.If passion is the fuel and motivation the lubricant that runs the engine of success, then hard work is the spark plug that ignites the mixture, and keeps it burning strong. Without hard work, no great plans of grandeur can come to fruition. I think that a perfect balance of passion, motivation and hard work is what is required to achieve long lasting, tangible success. If either one goes out of proportion, then success becomes elusive and seemingly impossible to achieve.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Themes of betrayal in james jo

Themes of betrayal in james jo Origins of the Theme of Betrayal in James Joyce's Dubliners Throughout his early years, certain people and events heightened Joyce's awareness of the hopelessly corrupt environment of Ireland that had betrayed so many of its own. The more profound of these enlightening inspirations were the betrayal and downfall of Charles Stewart Parnell, the indifference of Henrik Ibsen towards literary protests, the neglected native artistry of James Clarence Mangan, and Joyce's own role as Prefect. These occurrences provoked Joyce's bitter resentment towards Ireland, initiating the gradual alienation towards his church and homeland. The issue of betrayal is prevalent throughout Dubliners, for Joyce imagined it, hated it, and feared it.James Joyce was born into a country dominated by England, and the cause of Irish freedom captured his imagination at an early age. The spokesman for this cause was Charles Stewart Parnell, who became a heroic figure to Joyce. It was the early period of Joyce's life that saw Parnell greatest influence and tragic betrayal.English: Image from 1890. Out of copyright. From: ...By 1889 the attempt to implicate Parnell in the Phoenix Park murders of 1882 had failed, but in the same year he was accused of adultery in the divorce suit of captain O' Shea. At first it appeared that Parnell might weather this scandal, but a coalition of political enemies and devout Catholics ousted him from leadership of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and the rural population of Ireland turned against their leader with savage hatred. Even Parnell's Lieutenant Tim Healy, who had vowed never to betray his leader, finally turned against Parnell. After a year of campaigning against his enemies, Parnell died on October 6th, 1891-this day marks the beginning of James Joyce's resentful feelings towards Ireland, which were eventually revealed in Dubliners.When Parnell's body was brought to Dublin for burial, thousands were waiting...

Monday, October 21, 2019

ESL Beginner Reading Comprehension

ESL Beginner Reading Comprehension This dialogue involves an interview in which a customer speaks about what brands she likes the best. When comparing two brands use the comparative form, but when speaking about many brands use the superlative form to discuss which brand is best or worst. Teachers can use this lesson on the comparative and superlative forms to help practice the form. Practice using this dialogue and then have your own discussions about which types of products you like best. An Interview at the Shopping Mall Interviewer: Good evening, I hope you dont mind answering a few questions. Alice: How long will it take? Interviewer: Just a few questions.​ Alice: I guess I can manage to answer a few questions. Go ahead. Interviewer: Id like to ask your opinion about consumer electronics. As far as consumer electronics is concerned, which is the most reliable brand? Alice: Id say that Samsung is the most reliable brand. Interviewer: Which brand is the most expensive? Alice: Well, Samsung is also the most expensive brand. I guess thats why its the best. Interviewer: Which brand do you think is the worst? Alice: I think LG is the worst. I really cant remember using any of their products that I liked. Interviewer: And which brand is the most popular with young people? Alice: Thats a difficult one to answer for me. I think that Sony is probably the most popular with young people. Interviewer: One last question, Have you tried using any HP products? Alice: No, I havent. Are they good? Interviewer: I enjoy using them. But I didnt stop you to tell you what I think. Thank you for your time. Alice: Not at all. More Dialogue Practice - Includes level and target structures/language functions for each dialogue.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Want to Make Your Paper Catchy Dont Forget About a Hook!

Want to Make Your Paper Catchy Dont Forget About a Hook! The Best Ideas for Creating an Outstanding Essay Hook What is the first thing you do, when start working on an essay? Do you write an introduction or prefer working on body paragraphs? Do you have secret techniques or hook sentence ideas, which are aimed to catch attention of the reader? You probably know that it is possible to insert a quote or a fact to make the reader want to learn more, but there are tens of other hook ideas, which can make your essay unique and original, grabbing attention from the very beginning. We have created this article for those, who want to master quality writing and want to learn other approaches. Essay hook: a simple definition Before learning all of the hook peculiarities, it is important to understand what it really is. Basically, a hook is a sentence in your introduction, which moves the reader to learn more about what you are willing to say. It is only a short element of the text but it is still informative and catchy. Hook renders an important idea and helps to show the reader the main ideas of the author. Tips on creating a perfect hook Our experts have gathered tens of essay examples to detect the best hook ideas and show you how a great introduction should look like. Below we will provide you with the best ideas, which you can use depending on the type of your essay and your main goal. One of the biggest mistakes most of the students make is writing a powerful start, which has nothing to do with the rest of the text. You can work on the introduction with all of your energy and motivation but there is also a need to interlink your hook with the rest of the paragraphs. If you are not able to support your thesis in the body paragraphs, your reader will easily lose track of your thoughts. Remember, style and tone of your essay has a crucial meaning. If your research paper is in physics or any other scientific matter, you shouldn’t begin your introduction with a personal story or an anecdote. Your hook should be relevant and appropriate, which means that you should always think of the target audience. For example, if you are writing for professionals to discuss a chemistry topic, you shouldn’t use slang or simple teenage vocabulary. Of course, readers will understand what you are willing to say but they will surely have a bad aftertaste. All of the above strategies to creating a meaningful hook are essential if you want to help the reader understand what you are willing to write about and enjoy the text. Transformation facts into a hook To deliver a great hook you should have a clear understanding of its source: this can be anything, which inspires or excites you. You can insert an interesting fact, which your audience is not aware of. Here are the main sources you can use: Newspapers; Textbooks; Magazines; Websites; Scientific and academic journal; Interviews; Films and documents; Official reports. Remember that all of the sources you use should be recent and reliable, which will make your hook more solid and reliable. To give you a better understanding of how hook sentences influence essays, we will discuss nicely written examples. In case you need assistance in writing an introduction or a hook sentence, we are always there to cover your back. Just place an order and forget about all the hardships. Use an interesting fact A great example of a quality hook is a fact, which is taken from a trustworthy source that publishes only recent information on the most discussed matters. People always find facts interesting and intriguing. For example, ‘Over 40% of iPhone and iPad owners use their devices only to read emails and texts.’ Such information is useful for those, who are planning to launch a new project or mobile application and need information on the market. Not every teacher supports the idea of using the internet and digital sources. That is why you need to explain why using such a hook is fine for your particular topic. Then you can go on to discuss why apps are a great instrument in launching new products and ideas. ‘There are two clear branches in literature, when it comes to adjective and noun constructions analysis.’ In the example above you can see a scientific and official essay, which shouldn’t start with an anecdote or a humorous story. This introduction is very traditional and has a conflict inside: ‘two branches’ means that the author will support one of the sides or will offer a third option to solve the problem. Starting your essay with conflict is always a great idea. Start with a joke or an anecdote Online you can find thousands of different jokes and anecdotes on tens of topics to help scholars cover the matter with humor and style. Below you will find good example of such a hook sentence: ‘A mice family was overtaken by a cat; father of the family jumped and said ‘Bow wow’ and the cat disappeared. The mouse son asked the father what that was and he replied, ‘Now you see why it is so important to study a foreign language.’ It is a great idea to begin your essay with if you are asked to write about the importance of studying a second language. However, every country has humor peculiarities and forbidden topics, so you must always choose a humorous hook wisely. Use of an opening question If you want to make one step further, it is possible to combine statistics and facts into a question. A rhetorical question is a great way to open an introduction and depict what you are going to discuss. However, don’t forget that you will need to give an answer somewhere in the text. ‘Did you know how many homeless people in the United States hold college and university degrees? Best ways to write a great hook for your research paper Research paper is a serious work, which requires lots of time and consideration. However, when it comes to a hook sentence, research papers are similar to essays, so once you master basic principles, you won’t find it difficult to create a hook for any assignment. Considering the fact that a research paper has a scientific nature, you should avoid anecdotes, metaphors and other inappropriate pieces as a hook sentence. It is better to use facts, statistics or a rhetorical question, which will interest the reader and make him want to learn more. The best elements to include to a hook of your research paper: An interesting and rare fact; A piece of catchy statistics; A rhetorical question, which provokes deeper thinking on the matter; Basic information on the conducted research; A quick reminder of what the paper is going to discuss. Hook sentence in a persuasive essay A persuasive essay aims to persuade the reader to accept the writer’s point of view. That is why it is so important to create an outstanding hook at the beginning of your essay. You can add any type of information, which will reflect the style of your work. If you work on the hook sentence thoroughly, you will make the reader continue and learn more of what you have to say. Here are the best ideas for your hook sentence: Fact; Joke or anecdote; Statistics; Metaphor; Simile; Rhetorical question. All of the mentioned elements can become a great idea for a rhetorical essay hook, as it has no limitations on style. Compare and contrast essay hooks Luckily, you are free to use almost any type of hooks, when working on your compare and contrast essay. You can analyze the discussed matters and engage them into one single sentence to catch the interest of the audience. You can also intrigue them with a quotation, question or example from your own experience. It may sound a bit complicated at first but once you write two or three hook sentences, it will become much easier! A mixed hook In some situations you may want to add several types to a single question and it can be a great idea! For example, your hook may contain an interesting fact and a date; it can also consist of a rhetorical question (although without a question mark) and a conflict, promising to describe both opinions throughout the text. Using quotes from literature as a way to express your point of view One of the best and the most universal types of a hook is a literary one. It is a social or a philosophical phrase, which grabs reader’s attention and shows how well you have mastered the topic. Think of a phrase, sentence or a whole paragraph, which will reflect the general idea of your topic. If the topic of your essay is not too formal, try to be creative and find an original quote. It can be a modern writer, a movie quote or any other phrase, which will interest the reader and catch his interest. An example from a real life Think of a short story from life of a famous person to grab the attention of the reader. Such hook type shows the relevance of your topic through the prism of a real life situation. You can use biography of famous people to prove your point of view. For example, Bon Jovi visits disabled people in hospitals to brighten their days. Helen Keller writes amazing stories being blind from birth. It is better to provide stories not from your own life but of people, who you consider your role models. If you choose such a story wisely, you will surely grab the reader’s attention. ‘I have been smiling from ear to ear for almost thirty years. Now I am trying to quit.’ This one can be an example of an outstanding personal drama. Readers will surely want to know more about the life situation and personal lessons the author has made. Do you want to know why the author of the quote doesn’t want to smile anymore? Such hooks always grab attention from the first word to the last one! If you are writing an essay on personal traits, like greed or jealousy, you can always quote Shakespeare. His works are a great source of catchy and thoughtful phrases, which will never leave readers indifferent. Famous people quotes Some of the examples above can be easily placed into this category, because such phrases are known all over the world. When something solid happens, you can easily find comments of celebrities and use them for your own purposes. Using quotes of famous people is a great way to engage the audience. With their help you are able to make a statement and show that you have conducted a thorough research. You show that you are interested in history, public life and have background information on the topic. Use metaphors to catch attention of the reader If you want to take your writing skills to a completely new level, it will be wise to learn how to use similes and metaphors. However, not all people get their meaning, so it is better to choose a simple one or provide an explanation of its meaning. If you don’t do it, you may lose your audience or bore it. A thoroughly picked metaphor will make your speech powerful and strong. Here are a few examples of good metaphors for your hook: As busy as a bee; As cute as a puppy; As snug as a bug in a rug. Additional ways to create a great hook sentence Apart from all of the above-mentioned ways, you can also state a thesis statement or add numbers and statistics. It is up to you to decide, which method will be the most effective one. However, don’t forget to research a bit and decide what type of hook is the best one. In this article we have tried to explain all of the ways of creating a strong hook. However, it is still quite difficult to grab reader’s attention with proper preparation. That is why there is a great solution for all of the students, who value their time and experience difficulties with completing all of the assignments. You can turn to our professional writers, who will help you to create an outstanding hook and essay, meeting all of the requirements and guidelines. Just order a research paper or an essay right now and get the best hook you have ever seen!

Saturday, October 19, 2019

A briefing paper on Housing Policy & Finance Outline

A briefing paper on Housing Policy & Finance - Outline Example Other than that, the need to increase the income and bargaining power in order to move on has been hampered by unemployment, special needs, and the least desirable dwellings and areas(Malpass&Murie, 1999). Therefore, in severe times, the system always seems to fail. Of course, the blame can be easily put on the restricted objectives of the social housing. The separated residual housing provision and the dependency of policy on selected Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) can also be mentioned here as it is very faithfully working towards decreasing the private landlord solution and their number has been rising since the deregulation of housing markets in 1988 (Garnett, 2005). The social housing financial policies thus have a sizeable effect on the degree to which government’s policy agenda is supported.Since housing is also taken as a form of market, it holds a very compound supply and demand route. Thus, the government agendais highly affected. This can be said so, because of market closure, as in this area, finance contains only a few big players in credit allocation because the market contains the roles of future values and borrowing which is what this market is paid for, and market volatility, since the buyers and sellers are the only part of the market that is dominating at a given point in time. Certainly, the affect can also be traced to the externalities and uncertainty(Spicker). After the 1988, the social housing construction was seen to be increased in the times of a new financial regime. Since then, many programs have been dependent over the financing that is private in nature so that the public capital subsidies can be aided. The private funds are thus collected from the financial institutions. The data justifies the previous statement by stating that as a housing benefit, rent subsidies have been largely increased. This means that when the government’s

Friday, October 18, 2019

Critically Assess the Real Business Cycle Explanation of Unemployment Essay

Critically Assess the Real Business Cycle Explanation of Unemployment. How Strong Is the Evidence in Favour of this Approach - Essay Example The review of the literature published in the specific field has led to the following assumption: RBC theory can be used for understanding critical aspects of economies but the performance of theory in different market conditions is not standardized. It has been also proved that the evidence against the theory is significant, implying that many of its points should be reviewed as of their validity and accuracy. In any case, it seems that the weaknesses of the specific theory are many, as analyzed through the paper, so that its benefits cannot efficiently support its value as a theoretical tool for explaining one or more elements of modern economies. 2. Real business cycle explanation of unemployment – description and evaluation Unemployment is a critical part of the economy, at the level that it helps to evaluate the performance of the economy, either in the short or the long term. Economies with low unemployment rates are usually characterized as successful, even if the relev ant trends are just temporary, an issue analyzed below. Also, it can help to estimate the potential value of measures taken for supporting the performance of an economy: if unemployment trends remain high despite the introduction of measures for increasing GDP in a specific country, then the introduction of different approaches for supporting the local economy is made clear. In order to understand the effectiveness of the Real business cycle in explaining unemployment it would be necessary to present primarily the general framework of the concept, i.e. its core characteristics and parts. Then the use of the theory for explaining unemployment can be evaluated by referring to the existing evidence with reference especially to the approaches against RBC. 2.1 Real business cycle explanation of unemployment as a theoretical concept The real business cycle (RBC) theory, known also as the real business cycle models, was first introduced in 1980s for replacing the New Classical models (Gott schalk 2005). Like their predecessor, the RBC theory aimed to explain the ‘business cycle fluctuations’ (Gottschalk 2005, p.100), as resulted not from monetary events (a view used by the New Classical models for explaining business cycle fluctuations), but rather from real events. In this context, the RBC theory has been based on the rule that business cycle fluctuations are best explained by referring to ‘real shocks’ (Gottschalk 2005, p.100), such as ‘changes in technology or government spending’ (Gottschalk 2005, p.100). In accordance with Snower and Dehesa (1997) the RBC theory is based on the following rule: ‘macroeconomic fluctuations tend to be related to technological shocks’ (Snower and Dehesa 1997, p.19), meaning that each such shock is likely to be followed by microeconomic fluctuations, either in the short or the long term. From this point of view, those people that are best prepared to face such shocks are most capable of surviving in the job market, being able to respond immediately to the relevant market demands. Because of the continuous changes in market conditions due to the intervention of ‘real events’, or else of ‘real shocks’, the RBC theory h

Development proposal for UK Fashion footwear retailer Essay

Development proposal for UK Fashion footwear retailer - Essay Example The essay "Development proposal for UK Fashion footwear retailer" talks about UK Fashion footwear retailer and analyzes Light Feet Ltd. Key Note (2012, p. 1) points out that the UK footwear market demonstrated an increase in expenditure by consumers on foot wear by 18% in 2008. This expenditure is related to the fact that substitute retail shops have led to competitive pricing for footwear and a resultant motivation of consumers to make more purchases. Light Feet Ltd requires to be aware of the competitive business environment within the UK footwear market so that managerial decisions on strategy and competitive advantage would be focused at overcoming the threat that substitute retail shops for footwear would pose on the company. In accordance to Business Wire (2012, p. 5), the switching costs of consumers within the UK footwear market are relatively low. This means that consumers would easily change the retailers from whom they buy footwear to substitute dealers without incurring s ignificant costs. In this regard, the company’s pricing policy must ensure that competitive prices are provided to the consumers so that the inclination of the buyers for substitute retailers for footwear can be overcome or reduced. It is therefore the performance of the company in pricing and tradeoffs with its advantages over the substitute retailers that competitiveness within the UK footwear market can be achieved. The UK footwear industry is highly competitive as illustrated by the values of imports. that various retailers have achieved from different global markets as presented on the figure below. Supplier Power Porter (2008, p. 82) demonstrates that the competitiveness of a company within a market is determined by the ability of a company to apply strategic business approaches which are aimed at taking advantage of the supplier power. In this regard, Light Feet Ltd must perform a market research and analysis in order to determine the power that the manufacturers of fo otwear within the UK have on the retailer who deal in these products. This will allow the company to make right choices and informed decisions on its relationship with the manufacturers of the footwear brands that it sells within this market. Through effective relationship with the suppliers or manufactures of footwear, the company will be able to win the confidentiality of the suppliers and as a result ensure a constant supply of footwear. This is an important consideration because it determines the ability of the company to meet the demand in the markets. Moreover, constant supply will allow Light Feet Ltd to meet the needs of its loyal and new customers for variety of footwear products. In the supply of footwear within the UK market various outlets have demonstrated competitive advantage as illustrated on the table below.    1995 2000 2005 2008 Shoe Shops 45 37 33 30 Sports and Outdoor shops 14 19 17 15 Clothing Stores 12 11 14 17 Grocery Superstores 5 7 8 7 Mail order/online 1 0 9 10 11 Other Retailers†  14 17 18 20 Total 100 100 100 100 Mintel Oxygen Reports (2012, p. 1) reveal that the footwear market in the UK is complex

Unemployment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Unemployment - Essay Example This increases exposure to malnutrition, disease and depression. An economy with a high rate of unemployment has increased rates of crime and social problems. High unemployment rates can also cause civil unrests and may result in the collapse of an economy (Hobson, 2013). Unemployment is a general term that explains the lack of work by individuals who are willing to work. However, unemployment can be divided into three types. These are cyclical, structural and frictional unemployment. Structural unemployment occurs where the skills required for the available work does not match with the skills of those seeking work. It can also occur due to a long-term decline in demand. Seasonal employment is also a form of structural unemployment because it is associated with certain type of work. Both the occupational and geographical immobility of labor can also cause this type of unemployment. Cyclical unemployment is involuntary and occurs when the aggregate demand in an economy does not match the number of individuals seeking work. In this type of unemployment, there is a reduction in the demands of goods and services, which reduces production, and the number of works needed to satisfy demand. Frictional unemployment occurs where and individual is changing fro m one job to another. This type of unemployment exists in every economy because of the diversity of the skills of the workers as well as the work available. Frictional unemployment also occurs due to the entry of new graduates to the job market (Winkelmann, 2014). There are for major cause of unemployment. These are minimum wage policies, efficiency wages, labor unions and job search. The implementation of minimum wage policies by the government results in the demand of more wages by individuals below the minimum wage level. This results in the demand of more wages by those above the minimum wage level. Because of increased costs in labor, firms will reduce the number of workers in order to

Thursday, October 17, 2019

To What Extent Did Adam Smith Offer A Critique Of Free Market Essay

To What Extent Did Adam Smith Offer A Critique Of Free Market Capitalism - Essay Example Capitalists, in particular, supported Smith's policies and often twisted his words to justify mistreatment of workers. They suggested that child labor laws, maximum working hours, and factory health codes constituted a violation of their rights and Smith's golden rule. Similar attempts by factory owners to use Smith's teaching in order to further their own ends continued well into the twentieth century. Historical Framework of Adam Smith’s Theory: The image of the nation state as we know it in the present day has started a long time ago in Europe when individual countries started to think of their legitimacy and control over the political and economical lives of the people (Hindle). During the seventeenth century, the most dominant theory is that which describe the role of the state as a legitimate authority that governs all the aspects of the people's lives. During that period, many thinkers and politicians started to think of the state as the governing body and the ruler as the highest authority that should have all the power in his hands to control his country (Hindle). One of the great advocates of this theory of the role of the state is Machiavelli, who sees the rule as the ultimate power and the state as the highest governing authority. In addition, other theories that describe the role of the state looks at it as an organizer of people's lives with minimum amounts of interference in the political and economic lives. This led to the existence of liberal democratic societies in many places of the world, especially in most of the European countries (Sidgwick). One of the main characteristics of this theory of the role of the state is the emergence of some trends such as industrialization, capitalism, and mercantilism. Such new trends have left important impacts on the role of the state in people's lives. For example, the period during which the role of the state started to be minimized has been characterized by the domination of markets over state po licies, climaxed in the initiation of the concept of laissez-faire, as popularized by Adam Smith (Sidgwick). Political economy for most of the twentieth century has defined a particular field of study - the relationship between the state and the economy. As defined by Karl Marx, political economy is a branch of science concerned with the production of commodities and the accumulation of wealth' ("Political Economy"). This involved both different visions of its ideal institutional form as well as theoretical and empirical analysis of agencies and structures, and debates on the principles and substance of public policy. It was accordingly marked by fierce ideological, methodological and theoretical disputes. The different schools of political economy were sharply divided by their methods of analysis and by their ideological preferences. The rival camps agreed, however, that the main concern of political economy was the relationship between the public and the private spheres, although they disagreed about the nature of that relationship. In the public sphere, the arena of politics, the dominant institution was defined as the nation-state, while in the private sphere, the arena of economics, the dominant institution was defined as the national market. On this basis a further set of distinctions between the national and the international, and between the developed and the developing world, were constructed ("Studies in

Global Warming Melts from View Now That Economys on Ice Essay

Global Warming Melts from View Now That Economys on Ice - Essay Example This article was big on words and figures and speech but lack the hard proof to substantiate its claims. The author started his article with the sentence â€Å" GIVEN that we, at least everybody with a government-guaranteed bank account, are all socialists now, everybody understands how cruelly incompetent capitalism is.† Most words used in this sentence have depreciatory ring to them and the object of the criticism is capitalism. The author, in this first sentence, created these antithetical ideas of socialism and capitalism and instantly attributing to the latter dire qualities. He referred to it as â€Å"cruel† and â€Å"incompetent† while at the same time calling Australians socialists, which is of course, a hyperbole because having some people own a government-guaranteed bank account, do not constitute a country into a socialist one. The idea is perhaps, to picture capitalism and the Australian people as poles apart creating a nemesis effect.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

To What Extent Did Adam Smith Offer A Critique Of Free Market Essay

To What Extent Did Adam Smith Offer A Critique Of Free Market Capitalism - Essay Example Capitalists, in particular, supported Smith's policies and often twisted his words to justify mistreatment of workers. They suggested that child labor laws, maximum working hours, and factory health codes constituted a violation of their rights and Smith's golden rule. Similar attempts by factory owners to use Smith's teaching in order to further their own ends continued well into the twentieth century. Historical Framework of Adam Smith’s Theory: The image of the nation state as we know it in the present day has started a long time ago in Europe when individual countries started to think of their legitimacy and control over the political and economical lives of the people (Hindle). During the seventeenth century, the most dominant theory is that which describe the role of the state as a legitimate authority that governs all the aspects of the people's lives. During that period, many thinkers and politicians started to think of the state as the governing body and the ruler as the highest authority that should have all the power in his hands to control his country (Hindle). One of the great advocates of this theory of the role of the state is Machiavelli, who sees the rule as the ultimate power and the state as the highest governing authority. In addition, other theories that describe the role of the state looks at it as an organizer of people's lives with minimum amounts of interference in the political and economic lives. This led to the existence of liberal democratic societies in many places of the world, especially in most of the European countries (Sidgwick). One of the main characteristics of this theory of the role of the state is the emergence of some trends such as industrialization, capitalism, and mercantilism. Such new trends have left important impacts on the role of the state in people's lives. For example, the period during which the role of the state started to be minimized has been characterized by the domination of markets over state po licies, climaxed in the initiation of the concept of laissez-faire, as popularized by Adam Smith (Sidgwick). Political economy for most of the twentieth century has defined a particular field of study - the relationship between the state and the economy. As defined by Karl Marx, political economy is a branch of science concerned with the production of commodities and the accumulation of wealth' ("Political Economy"). This involved both different visions of its ideal institutional form as well as theoretical and empirical analysis of agencies and structures, and debates on the principles and substance of public policy. It was accordingly marked by fierce ideological, methodological and theoretical disputes. The different schools of political economy were sharply divided by their methods of analysis and by their ideological preferences. The rival camps agreed, however, that the main concern of political economy was the relationship between the public and the private spheres, although they disagreed about the nature of that relationship. In the public sphere, the arena of politics, the dominant institution was defined as the nation-state, while in the private sphere, the arena of economics, the dominant institution was defined as the national market. On this basis a further set of distinctions between the national and the international, and between the developed and the developing world, were constructed ("Studies in

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Paradigm Debate Essay Example for Free

The Paradigm Debate Essay The heart of the debate between the quantitative and qualitative paradigms in research is based on the authenticity and correctness of the data gathered from each approach. I believe that the central debate is based on which paradigm best portrays what is real, what is scientific and what is valid. The endless debate of these two approaches will stay if not for the most part of the 21st century but a few more decades from now, since there has been slow development in the field of research methods (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). The quantitative approach says that the rigors of science, the objectivity of the scientific approach and the use of statistics will generate the true picture of the problem as what the research had entailed to investigate. On the other hand, the qualitative approach says that human life cannot be thought of as variables, experiments or even number because it takes out the essence of the social interaction, the emotional and mental processes involved in the experience or the behavior. In the past, the distinction between what data or variables lend itself better to quantitative approach and which data should be examined using the qualitative approach was clear (Tashakkori Teddlie, 2003). But at the moment, the rising awareness of the qualitative approach as a valid research method and the quantitative approach becoming more cognizant of the less objective variables are in a battle to which approach will yield the most valid and truest result. In the past the quantitative approach was the only way to do research, the introduction of anthropology and ethnographic researches have widened the research methodology of various disciplines (Salomon, 1991).   With it was the start of the unending debate over which approach was most beneficial to the research. The idea however is a far cry from the present state of mixed methods approach, recognizing that each approach had its own merits, a different breed of research approach now utilizes the two paradigms and calls it mixed methods approach. As a student of psychology, I am inclined to favor the qualitative approach as it is more able to provide a deeper understanding and meaning of the variables being studied, it would make more sense to me to explore how bipolar construe friendships which can never be captured by the use of a quantitative friendship scale which offers less insight to the experiences and dynamics of friendships. However, the scientific part of me wants to believe in the wisdom of objectivity and science, I have been trained under the old school experimental and behavioral psychology which gave much importance to experimentation and control of variables. This would mean that my orientation towards research is that of the quantitative fervor. Choosing which side to favor is like asking me to choose between the devil and the deep blue see, each approach presents a different understanding of the variables under study and I am often reminded of the nature and nurture debate which predominated the developmental psychology field. Therefore, I would rather say that I support the quantitative approach because it has been around far enough to at least become more refined to provide better measures and control for the study of variables   which in the past have been questioned with regards to the validity and reliability of the results of the study (Adcock Collier, 2001). Moreover, the quantitative approach is the form mostly accepted by the scientific community and therefore is more established and more credible, although it does not mean that all quantitative researches are excellently written but that some may have sacrificed the integrity of the conduct of the research due to budget constraints or a poorly designed research method (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). The quantitative approach has reached an almost cult like following and dissenters have naturally went to support the qualitative approach but whichever it is, I am convinced for now that the quantitative paradigm has more sense and purpose than qualitative approaches (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). References Adcock, R. Collier, D. (2001). Measurement validity: A shared standard for qualitative and quantitative research. American Political Science Review 95; 3: 529-546. Mahoney, J. Goertz, G.(2006). A tale of two cultures: Contrasting quantitative and qualitative research. Political Analysis 14: 227-249. Salomon, G. (1991). Transcending the qualitative-quantitative debate: The analytic and systemic approaches to educational research. Educational Researcher, 20, 10-18. Tashakkori, A. Teddlie, C. (2003). Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social Behavioral Research. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications.

Monday, October 14, 2019

E-commerce website

E-commerce website Introduction This document consists of a project designed to construct an E-Commerce website for a mobile phone store. Using different methodologies this report will explain in depth how the website was constructed and whether this project was a success. The website allows users shop online for mobile phones and mobile phone accessories. The website consists of many features, which aid the users in locating their desired item i.e. powerful search engine, language translator and easy to use guided navigation menu. These features facilitate users in pin pointing the exact product they are looking for. The website is based around a mobile phone store located in Victoria Greater London. The store is called E Cell Mobile and is a small PLC, which sells mobile phones and accessories. This website has been constructed for the sole purpose of helping the company expand their business to a vast range of customers and to increase company revenue. In order to achieve this goal there were a couple meetings that were held between the developer (me) and the storeowner. During these meetings it was decided that one of the most efficient ways to accomplish this goal, was to create a website to reach out to customers. This should help increase company revenue as well as, being cost efficient given that it is not very costly to run a website, if compared to opening another store. An administrator account has been created, which is to be used by the storeowner. This account was created to allow simple and efficient maintenance of the website. With the use of this account the administrator has access to the whole website and can easily edit data with use of a simple GUI, no PHP knowledge is needed. This would be a great benefit to the storeowner since he can very easily maintain the site. This account allows the admin to add more products using the CSV Import Function, add/edit/delete customers and/or product data and much more. The payment aspect of the website is dealt by PayPal. Once a user selects an item they wish to buy they are redirected to PayPals SSL page. It is made clear to the user that they do not need a PayPal account in order to purchase an item on the website. Once the user is redirected to PayPals secure payment page, they can select the option to pay by direct debit or credit card. If there are any discrepancies with payment then E Cell cannot be held responsible and the case shall go to PayPals accounts department. Analysis During the stage at which the PID was constructed there were a few aspects, which were overlooked. Throughout the analysis phase of this report there will be a few stages from the PID that will be extended, rearranged and added. This project is based around a mobile phone company that does not have an online system. All transactions, customer details and product information are stored on a database that is located on the shop floor. The system that is used to interact with day-to-day customers is pretty slow and lags most of the time. The system that is currently being used is called Metasys. This particular software is a database system, which stores customer and product information. When the store gets a new customer, a staff member inputs the customers details manually into the database. All products are added to the database through a Point of Sale System (POS). Now after doing a bit of research it was discovered that this company (Metasys) was no longer in business and as a result no upgrades are available for this software. To get an idea of how bad the current system was, a few surveys were designed and given out to staff members on the shop floor (these can be seen in Appendix B). Judging by the results received from this assessment it was clear to see that a new system needed to be put in place. Below is a list that has been devised to show the problems with the current system: System often freezes when taking down customer information The database can be very slow at times when accessing large amounts of data Does not have the latest security updates due to the company no longer being in business Opening and closing the database sometimes leads to corruption of data. The system can be slow to respond to common tasks such as View Customer Info A secondary issue that needs to be discussed is that this particular company (E Cell Mobile) would like to expand their business and reach out to a larger customer base and therefore increasing the businesses revenue. The company does not wish to open a new store since this would require a large sum of money, which the organization cannot afford. This project proposes to replace this old system with a new a modern way of doing business. The new system needs to be faster, easy to maintain and a lot more reliable. Although the current database running on the shop floor has a lot of disadvantages there is one positive aspect that allows new mobile phones that arrive for delivery to be added to the database quickly and easily. This is the POS (Point of Sale) system currently used by the employees at E Cell. When a bunch of mobile phones arrive for delivery, a staff member uses an electronic laser to scan the bar codes; these are displayed on the packaging of all the mobile phones. After a particular product has been scanned it will automatically be added to the companys database. E Cell also receives an electronic spreadsheet from their supplier, which consists of all the items that have been delivered to them on that specific date. The point of sale system is a great method for populating information into database. It is fast, simple and requires minimal effort. In order for this project to be a success it is important that this particular method for adding information to the companys database is either improved upon or kept the same. If for any reason the POS system is removed and another system is put into place, then this new system must be able to perform tasks, which are faster and much simpler then the point of sale system. Aims Objectives Every project consists of a number of goals, which need to be achieved. These goals decipher whether the project will be a success or a failure. A successful project would have met and accomplished each target. The main aim of this project is to create a product, which resolves the problems that are encountered by the current system. Below is a list of aims and objectives for this particular project. Some of these aims and objectives that were looked at during the project initiation stage have been changed and modified. There has been an addition of some new goals to the list. The list below has been based around, how appalling the current system is and if a new system was to be created what would it need in order to be successful. Aims: The system should be easy to navigate around Buying an item should be fast and efficient The system must be user friendly The system must be faster and more reliable than the old system The admin should be able to add/delete/edit customer and product information Objectives: To provide a mobile system that allows users to purchase mobile phones and accessories. Allow users to create their own customer account online. To provide an interface usable by less literate computer users. Allow users to save any transactions that have been made Provide users with tracking info so they can track their purchase As mentioned in the project initiation document this project will take the DSDM approach. DSDM states that in order to achieve maximum business benefit and a fully working system that is fit for purpose; one must outline the user/business requirements and aim to accomplish them all. DSDM uses an excellent prioritisation method called MoSCoW. This prioritisation method outlines the crucial requirements that need to be achieved in order to get a system fit for purpose. All requirements shown in the Must Have section below have to be completed in order for this project to be successful. MoSCoW Prioritization Must Have Users must be able to buy a mobile phone online (M1) System must contain search parameters to allow ease of use (M2) Site should be user friendly (M3) Admin should be able to add/delete/edit product and customer information (M4) POS system needs to be improved upon or left as it is (M5) Should Have The user is contacted via email once they have made a purchase (S1) The user can email a staff member if they have a question (S2) Could Have Google Maps to display location of shop (C1) An online chat client to answer user queries (C2) Wont Have Selling mobile tariffs (All mobile phones will be pay-as-you-go and not on contract) (W1) All of the requirements of the Moscow prioritization have been tagged e.g. M1, M2, S1, W1 etc. The reason they have been tagged is because they will be referred to as M1, M2, S1 etc during the implementation phase of this report. Requirements There are certain sets of requirements that need to be achieved when creating this new system. These requirements are split into two sections, Functional and Non-Functional. These are outlined below. Functional requirements Multiple transactions can be made at the same time Customers can add items to a shopping basket Customers can view, edit and remove items from shopping basket Customer is notified via email when purchase is complete Non-Functional Guided navigation menu makes browsing easy for the user Transactions can be completed using multiply currencies Availability System will be up 24/7 with minimum down time Accessibility The system can be viewed in other languages other than English Requirements Table A central list of requirements was constructed by the client, these have been listed below. Each of these requirements need to be met otherwise this project will be a failure since the final product will not be fit for purpose. The client gave a larger list of requirements (shown in Appendix D) however the requirements listed in table below is what the client has said to be mandatory prerequisites and thus need to be completed. Feasibility Study In the feasibility study the following areas will be looked at, project risk analysis, cost benefit analysis and stakeholder analysis. Project Risk Analysis Cost Benefit Analysis Since this is a student project there wont be a huge budget. The software that will be used to create this product will either be freeware or already available to the developer. As a result cost will be kept to a minimal. In terms of hardware, a pc/laptop is already available since the University provides this and electrical fees/bills will also be covered by the University. If the system is to be hosted online then these fees will be paid by E Cell Mobile although a free hosting provider will be the first priority. Stakeholder Analysis Managing stakeholders is an important factor in order for this project to be successful. Below is a list of all the stakeholders involved in this project i.e. people that are affected by the work that is done, who influence or have power over it or have an interest in its successful or unsuccessful conclusion. Vishal Verma (Project Manager/Developer) The developers role will be to manage the project, make sure all milestones are met and that the final product is produced within the set deadline. Jim Johnston (Client/General Manager) Jim will be the first point of contact. He manages most of the staff and deals with all sales related aspects. Dean Forster (Store Manager/Company Owner) Dean is the owner of the store and will be the second point of contact. Project Method Approach There is one main objective, which needs to be fulfilled in order for this project to be a success. The new E Cell Mobile system needs to be fit for purpose. A system that is fit for purpose will ideally meet all user/business requirements of this project. Below is a quote from Harvey and Green (1993) that explains what fit for purpose actually is. Quality is thus judged in terms of the extent to which the product or service fits its purpose. This notion is quite remote from the idea of quality as something special, distinctive, elitist, conferring status, or difficult to attain. It is a functional definition of quality rather than an exceptional one. If something does the job it is designed for then it is a quality product or service. (p.16) Every product and service has the potential to fit its purpose and thus be a quality product or service. Fitness for purpose has emerged as the fashionable way to harness the drive for perfection. The ultimate measure of perfection, zero defects, may be excellent as a definition of quality but runs the fatal risk of being perfectly useless. If the product does not fit its purpose then its perfection is irrelevant. (p.17) This specific project will be using the DSDM approach, this is because by using the DSDM approach the project itself will be carefully planned e.g. MoSCoW, timeboxing, facilitated workshops etc. At times it can be very easy for a project manager to become unorganized especially if the project has not been planned and as result, the final results may be below satisfactory. Due to this reason MoSCoW prioritisation has been discussed earlier on in this report so that the project manager/developer and the client know what exactly the final product will contain. In conjunction to the management of this project, DSDM Atern will be the main forefront. This technique mainly focuses on Time, Cost and Quality. Figure 1 below (Atern Approach) states that Time, Cost, Quality is fixed and will not be changed throughout the projects life cycle, whereas features can be manipulated since it is a variable. The traditional approach to this is the complete opposite and will be avoided since quality should never be compromised. Facilitated Workshops Facilitated workshops are part of the DSDM Atern development approach. Since this project uses the Atern management method it was vital to incorporate the facilitated workshop technique into this project. By using an interactive environment, effective group dynamics and visual aids, facilitated workshops are designed to extract high quality of information in a compressed time frame in order to meet the predetermined set of deliverables. By constructing these workshops it will make it easier to achieve the targets that have been set from the beginning. The project manager will act as the facilitator and arrange these meetings. Information that maybe be discussed in the workshops is as follows: Who is the target audience? How can the business reach out to customers? Advertising Sponsorship The list is just a small number of topics that maybe be discussed during the workshops. It is vital that all the project stakeholders attend these meetings. Facilitated workshops will give the project manager an overview of what needs to be done and the time everything needs to be completed in. Design During the design phase of this project there were a number of solutions that came to mind. The new system that is to be created must overcome the problems faced by the old outdated/system. Below is a list of solutions that could be implemented to solve the problems discussed during the analysis phase. Rebuild the system on the shop floor. Install new database software and get faster and more reliable hardware to cater for the new database. Build a website to cater for customers, this will also have an online database Open a new branch in order expand the business Two of the solutions shown above (Rebuilding the system and opening a new branch) just do not seem feasibly. Opening a new branch would just to be too costly and would require a lot more man power, effort and time which the company does not have. In terms of rebuilding the new system, the cost of installing a new database and installing new hardware was just too high and above the companys budget. The only measurable idea was to create a website; this would be cost efficient and require minimal effort. The final solution was to create an E-Commerce website. This website will be online 24/7, and as a result can be accessed by staff members anytime of the day/night. Employees will no longer need to go to the shop floor to access the database. The website will contain an administrator account that will only be able to be accessed by staff members. This account will give access to the companys database, which will include access to product details, customer information and any transactions that have taken place. Users will be able to go onto this website buy a mobile phone (or any mobile accessories), add the item to a basket and then pay for it. PayPal will handle the payment system so the business will have the peace of mind that their money is safe and secure and so will the customers. The way the payment system will work is once the user has added an item to their shopping basket they will have the option to checkout. The checkout page will give the user a brief description (preliminary invoice) of the transaction, this will include; item description and total price. On this page it will be made clear to the user that they will be paying via PayPal and that a PayPal account is not necessary need in order to make a payment. Once the user accepts these conditions they will be redirected to PayPals payment page, this is where account details such as bank account number, sort code are entered. PayPal will verify this information and send out two emails. The first email will be sent to the customer verifying payment and the second email will be sent to the administrator of the site which will contain an invoice of that particular transaction. Once payment has been confirmed by PayPal the administrator can deliver the item to the customers address. Tracking of all delivered items will be provided to all customers. There will be a Tracking section on the website which will give a detailed explanation on how customers can track their purchased products. The way the tracking system will work is once the payment has been confirmed by PayPal the administrator will post the item via Royal Mail/DHL to the customers address. Royal Mail/DHL will then provide the administrator with a tracking number. This particular number will be posted to the customer via email. The customer can then visit Royal Mails/DHLs website (the link for this is provided in the email) and enter the transaction number to get a rough idea of when their purchased item will be arriving. Organisational Benefits By creating an E-Commerce website it will tackle all the problems the company is currently facing and also, it will be very cheap to run and maintain. Below is a list outlining the benefits of opening an E-Commerce store for E Cell Mobile. Expand business Interact with a larger customer base Increase company revenue Faster and more reliable system Easy to maintain Secure Software Tools To develop the website the following languages/tools/software will be used: PHP/PHP Editor This will be used as the server side code. PHP will be used to communicate with the MySQL database. AJAX AJAX will be helpful since you can update part of a webpage without refreshing the whole content. So in this case the user can enter a search query and instead of refreshing the whole page the results for the search are shown instantly Jscript/jQuery Guided navigation menu MySQL All customer/product data will be stored on a MySQL database. Adobe Flash Flash player will be used on the home page in order attract the audience to the website. Swish This program will be used to create a flash video. Although this program is not freeware it is still possible to use the 30 day trial period. phpMyAdmin By using the easy to use GUI provided by phpMyAdmin it will make it a lot easier to manage the MySQL database. CSS/HTML/XML Designing the website (Aesthetics) Adobe Photoshop Constructing the company logo Quick n Easy FTP Uploading files to the server Apache v2.5 To enable local host a web server needs to be initialised ergo Apache will be utilised. Prototyping Since this project will use an agile approach it was important to build a horizontal prototype. This allows the developer to construct the product in an iterative cycle and therefore achieving better functionality. The horizontal prototype is the man-machine interface (MMI). At first a quick sketch is drawn on a piece of paper in order to get an idea of what is to be done. To make a prototype for the E Cell Mobile system, the website www.gomockingbird.com was utilised. These prototype models can be seen on page 15 (Figure 4, 4.1, 4.2 etc) During the horizontal prototyping surface interface software functionalities were not working but by creating a sketch (using the go mockingbird website) it allowed the developer to achieve a perception test. This helped to evaluate how easily other users could understand the interface. During the perception test users were just shown a bunch of windows and buttons, on a piece of paper. The users were then asked to explain what they understand from the information displayed before them. The results for the perceptions test can be seen in Appendix C Horizontal prototyping allows the developer to check the behavior of the interface and decipher the vital points, where usability inconsistencies are likely to appear. After completing the horizontal prototype, and in order to get a full analysis of the user interface, another set of tests was done. These tests are known as Vertical Prototyping. This helped to implement a consistent set of functionalities in order to allow the user to achieve a typical scenario of usability. These tests were only done after the GUI was 90% complete. At this stage the prototyping consisted of a series of user tests during, which the vital points raised throughout the horizontal prototyping phase are evaluated. Usability Test This specific test allows identifying of usability problems and analysing their cause with the users. The user is given the system and allowed to beta test it in any way they like. Solutions are elaborated and implemented during this stage of the prototype and as a result may change the final look and feel of the system. The results for this particular test can be seen in Appendix E. This test was constructed after the website was completed. If any discrepancies were found during these tests then website was modified accordingly. GUI Design Before the implementation phase a few screen designs were constructed. This gave a rough idea of how the website should be built. These screen designs were shown to a random bunch of users in order to assess the usability of the interface (Perception testing Appendix C) The customer must enter their user name password into these fields in order to login. By using the Forgot Password? link the user can input their email address which they used to register with the website, and a new password will be sent to this email address. By checking the Remember Me? check box a cookie will be added to the users internet explorer folder. This means the user will no longer need to type in their user name and password every time they visit this page. Product Details These are images of the product Breadcrumb trail; the user can use these links to go back and forth. This section of the page displays information regarding the product. The user can use this link to tell a friend about a product listed on this page. Necessary information such as friends name, email etc must be filled out The information in the Captcha must be entered to verify that you are human and not a bot. A message can be written regarding the contents of this email. A short description of the company such as when it started and who is involved in the organisation. Contact information will also be shown in this section e.g. address, email telephone etc. Using the Google Maps API, E Cell Mobiles location will be shown on this interactive map. UML Case Diagram Below is a case diagram for the system that is to be built. It displays two Actors, the User and the Administrator. In the middle is the system where all calculations and processes are made. The user (customer) is able to perform a number of functions, such as searching for an item they wish to buy, adding that specific item to a basket, emailing the site owner etc. The Administrator is able to perform high priority decisions such as viewing all customer transactions, removing or adding customer and product information etc. The ERM diagram shown in figure 6 displays the different types of tables that will be used in order to create the database. Each table has a different number of attributes and each attribute has its own data type. Each table has its own primary key; this is a unique identifier for every table and is not repeated. Some tables include foreign keys; this is a referential constraint between two tables. The entity relationships between each table can clearly be seen by the bold and dotted lines. Certain tables have a one to one relationship whereas some may have a one to zero relationship. This ERM model was constructed using MySQL Workbench. This is a freeware program provided by MySQL. Information is taken from a phpMyAdmin database and then converted into an ERM model automatically. Below is a brief description of each table in the database. Admin Users: This table holds details for all the administrators. Administrators are split into two categories; Super User and User. An administrator classed as a super user will have full control over the website and an administrator classed as user will be able to control certain aspects of the website. Search: This table holds details for all search related queries posed by the user. If a user searches for Apple iPhone then this particular search request will be recorded in to this table. This is mainly for the administrator to view and analyse what the most popular search requests are. As a result the admin can cater for the users needs. For example, a large number of users search for the same mobile phone however, there is no such phone is listed in the database. The administrator can view this particular search query and cater for the users needs by adding that specific handset model to the database and thus increasing sales. Brands: This table will hold details for all the different types of brands of mobile phones and their related images. Order Summary: Once the user has bought a product, the details of that particular transaction will accumulate in this table. This table will hold information such as customer details, product details and the total price of that particular sale. Towards the finalization of a transaction the customer is shown a summary page, this consists of details regarding their purchase. This information is taken from the Oder Summary table. Inventory: This table holds details of all the products in the database; this will include attributes such as price, description, name etc. Order Inventory: All transactions that are made will be stored in this table. Customer: This table holds customer details such address, phone number, postcode etc. Activity Diagram The Activity diagram (Figure 7), displays how the new system will work. The current system works in a similar way however orders are not shipped to the customer, since the customer is already in store when making the purchase. The new system will be online and therefore when a customer makes a purchase their item will be delivered to their specified destination. An invoice will also be sent to the customer via email. The invoice will be sent to the users registered email address. Once payment has been made through PayPal, they administrator will be notified by PayPal, via an email outlining the transaction details and confirmation of payment. Dataflow Diagram (New/Improved User Interface) The dataflow diagram below shows a brief outline of how the user interface will look like for the new E Cell Mobile system. The diagram explains some user interactions such as, the user can search or browse for a product, items can be added to a shopping basket etc. From the flowchart we can clearly see that it is not obligatory for the user to login in order to search or browse the site however, in order to purchase an item it is mandatory that all users register and login. Hosting When building a website it is crucial to setup a web server. This can either be hosted on your own personal computer or hosting can be bought. There are a number of advantages/disadvantages for hosting online and from your pc. As the developer of this project it is important to choose the correct hosting method so that it does not affect the development of the system. Below is a list of two hosting methods that can be used, each method has its pros and cons. Localhost Localhost means this computer and is donated by an IP address of 127.0.0.1. It can be used to host content to the World Wide Web. There is no charge for this since content is hosted from you own computer. In order for localhost to wor,k a web server needs to be installed. Since this website will be using a large database, MySQL and PHP also need to be installed. The two main web servers out there today are Apache and IIS. As the developer of this project it is important to decipher which one of these is the best web server to use for this project. After doing a bit of research the following results were obtained. IIS and Apache operate very differently and thus have a variety of advantages of disadvantages. IIS is designed and available to work only within the Windows environment. With IIS 6.0, the only platform currently supported is Windows Server 2003. Although this limits the deployment platf