Coming unstuck Essay Example for Free

Coming unstuck Essay below. Anyone reading your response should have a clear idea of where your research will take place and what questions interest you. Here’s where you’ll identify-and plan to surmount-any potential obstacles. 1) Exactly which fieldsite did you select? Why? What is your prior experience with this site? Are you studying up, down or across? Explain. I selected the coffee shop as the field site of my planned study since the social interactions and behavior of the patrons and the coffee shop staff are interesting and so much can be learned from them especially in their relationships, the daily exchanges of pleasantries and information and for most, coming to the coffee shop is a habit that they do on a daily basis. I am interested at how a coffee shop can take on different meanings to those who frequent it and how they coactively share the space in the coffee shop as their own. I have been to this coffee shop a number of times, enough to become familiar with the waitresses and I had seen two or more people at the same seat whenever I visit the shop. I also had some friends come to the shop but take their orders on the go and they have regular orders which the waitresses seem to have memorized. I know that there has been a clamor for studying up (Priyadharshini, 2003), but since it involves the issue of power and authority which in a coffee shop is not so much evident, I would rather do a study across the relationships of the customers and the coffee shop staff as well as across customers. This would enable me to observe and understand the social rules, interactions, and codes in the shop which may or may not be evident to the customers and staff alike. 2) What preconceived ideas do you have about this space and the people that inhabit it? What are the obstacles an anthropologist might face in studying this place from an emic perspective? How do you plan to overcome these obstacles? I have always liked going to this coffee shop, the waitresses are friendly, they have a pretty good idea of what is happening to people, they are also quick to notice changes in their patrons and they have excellent food. The coffee is also very good and whenever I need a quick fix or when I am bored I like going to this coffee shop. This coffee shop is not like the modern al fresco types or like the ones frequented by young professionals and students. This coffee shop is more of the community diner which serves breakfast and coffee. This place has a comfortable atmosphere and everyone seems to know each other, some people drop by the shop on their way home or even have brunch here. However, since the place is homey and likely to be frequented by regulars, being accepted as a new customer is difficult. For example, a new customer may be noticed by everybody and the people there might not behave as they usually do in the presence of a stranger. I might face this difficulty if I start to frequent the coffee shop to conduct my observation because even if they are familiar with me, they know that I only go there twice a week, if I go there everyday, they might think it odd. The emic perspective focuses on the intrinsic cultural distinctions that are meaningful to the members of a given society or group (Haviland, Prins, Walrath McBride, 2008). An anthropologist might have difficulty in using this perspective because the coffee shop is a transitory, that is, people come to the place voluntarily and although some regulars do so on a daily basis, there are those who do so only when they can, but it does not mean that they are not part of the group or that they have no membership to this group. An anthropologist has to be able to penetrate the group to be able to learn the culture and social relationships of those in the coffee shop. I plan to overcome this obstacle by changing the pattern at which I visit the coffee shop and by indicating that I like being in the place prior to the start of my field observation. In this way, the people in the coffee shop would not become suspicious and they would not be always conscious of my presence. Since the goal of the study is to determine the inner cultural codes of the people in the coffee shop, I should not interpret any exchanges or interactions based on my own biases since the coffee shop members assign their own meaning and interpretations. 3) Generate at least five qualitative, ethnographic research questions that interest you about this site. Explain how these questions relate to what you have already observed. 1. How does the group define and assign membership to the coffee shop regulars? 2. Why do regulars frequent the coffee shop? 3. What is the quality of the relationship between the coffee shop customers and the waitresses? 4. How does the group resolve conflict within customers and waitresses? 5. How do the customers value the coffee shop and its services? I have noticed that there is clearly a sense of group membership in the coffee shop and I would like to find out how the group assign membership does and how meanings they attach to becoming a member. Since being a regular is predefined as frequenting the establishment, I would also want to find out the reasons for frequenting the shop. The relationship between the customers and the waitresses are evident, but I want to know what kind of relationship it is and how do both parties define their relationship and whether it extends to their lives outside of the shop. Conflict is a reality for most groups or when two or more people are involved, I am curious as to how the members respond to conflict and how they resolve it. Lastly, it is observed that the coffee shop is more than just the coffee and the food to the customers; I would want to find out how the customer values the coffee shop. References Priyadharshini, E. (2003). Coming unstuck: Thinking otherwise about Studying Up. Anthropology Education Quarterly, 34; 4, 420-437. Haviland, W. , Prins, H. , Walrath, D. McBride, B. (2008). Anthropology: The Human Challenge 12th ed. California: Wadsworth/Thomson.

Different Types Of Portable Buildings Construction Essay

Different Types Of Portable Buildings Construction Essay Portable steel buildings are made from different components and are prefabricated at a different location. Portable steel buildings are used in an industrial environment, for various purposes, like storing equipment, shelter for workers, temporary offices and security check posts. These buildings are made from lightweight and high strength steel that ensures portability and long life. The base of these buildings has two tubular openings, which are used to lift the building with the help of a forklift. Apart from the basic steel framework, they are covered with a layer of galvanized steel for added strength and finish. The base of these buildings is covered with a thick layer of fiberglass to enable insulation against electric shocks. The interiors are designed according to the needs of the user. The floor is covered with thick plywood planks or vinyl floor tiles to give it a smooth finish. The building has openings for doors and windows, which can be fitted with metal, plastic or wooden doors and windows, as per the needs of the user. They have inbuilt fixtures and fittings for electrical wiring, telephone wiring and air conditioning. The walls and ceiling are covered with fire resistant material for added safety. Portable steel buildings are available in different sizes and can be customized according to requirements. New doors and windows can be added to the existing framework and existing door and window positions can be altered to suit different work environments. Laboratory tests conducted on steel buildings, with the help of earthquake simulation machines, have shown that these buildings are resistant to high magnitude tremors. Small steel buildings can be installed inside standard houses where family members can take shelter during an earthquake. People can stay unharmed, as the steel structure is unaffected even if the whole house collapses onto the building. Portable Modular Buildings Portable modular buildings are made from different components, which are prefabricated and assembled onsite. Modular buildings and the components for prefabricated buildings are manufactured in a controlled, factory environment. A portable modular building has all the necessary components, like walls, floor tiles, windows, plumbing, electrical wiring, heating and cooling systems. Simply put, a modular building refers to any building or structure that is pre- constructed in a factory. A modular building is very different from traditional site-constructed, permanent buildings. These structures are very versatile and are available in different shapes and sizes. They can be used for different purposes, such as school classrooms or bullet- proof security spaces. They can be used as short-term spaces or as a permanent facility. They can be used as stand-alone structures or built inside an existing structure. Most of these buildings are made from lightweight and high strength steel or aluminum. Apart from structural advantages, a portable modular building offers other benefits such as low cost, quick possession, customized quality, extension and rearrangement. The most significant advantage offered by these buildings is that, they can be assembled in a very short period. This is due to the planned, design blueprint used for building these structures. Building designs are lab tested before they are cleared for final production. This enhances quality and reduces manufacturing time and the cost. It is important to be definite about specific requirements. National and local construction standards must be followed during the installation of modular or pre-fabricated structures. The type of foundation laid during the installation process, should comply with locally prescribed model construction codes. The use of portable modular buildings will only increase in the coming years. According to research, more than 75 percent of all building constructions will use some form of pre-fabrication, within the next 10 years. Portable Commercial Buildings Portable commercial buildings consist of different components. They are prefabricated in a factory environment and assembled onsite. Components used in these buildings are manufactured according to design specifications provided. They are then delivered to preplanned building sites for installation. A portable commercial building can be customized to include different components such as walls, floor tiles, windows, plumbing, electrical wiring, heating and cooling systems. A portable commercial building refers to any building or structure that is pre- fabricated in a factory environment. Portable commercial buildings are very different from conventional steel and concrete buildings. These structures are very versatile and are available in different shapes and sizes. They can be used for a variety of purposes such as office spaces, warehouses and manufacturing units. They can be used as temporary spaces or as a permanent facility. The basic framework of most commercial buildings is made from lightweight and high strength steel or aluminum. Apart from the structural advantages, a portable commercial building offers other benefits, such as low cost, quick possession, better quality, extension and relocation. The most significant advantage offered by these buildings is that they can be assembled in a very short span of time, unlike permanent buildings. Each and every building design is tested in a laboratory before they are cleared for final production to enhance quality and reduce manufacturing time and cost. Commercial users, such as corporate organizations, need to be sure of their requirements before selecting a particular type of portable modular building. It is important to follow the construction standards prescribed by government agencies, during the installation process. The demand for portable commercial buildings is expected to increase in the coming years. Market research indicates that more than three-fourth of all building constructions will use some type of portable construction within the next ten years. Portable Wood Buildings Portable wood buildings are made from different types of wooden planks and plywood boards. They are prefabricated at a different location and assembled onsite. Portable steel buildings are used in industries as well as domestic households, for storing equipment. They can also be used as temporary workplaces, shelter rooms and security check posts. These buildings are made from lightweight and high strength wood that ensures portability and long life. These buildings are designed to provide balance and can be lifted and transferred with the help of a forklift. The exterior is coated with weather resistant paint to provide protection against water and excessive sunlight that can damage the building. The base of these buildings is made from pressure treated runners, placed on concrete blocks. Floor leveling is done with the help of pressure treated lumber and shingle scraps. The interiors can be designed according to the needs of the user. The floor is covered with thick plywood boards or vinyl floor tiles to give it a smooth finish. The building has openings for doors and windows, which can be fitted with metal, plastic or wooden doors and windows, as per the needs of the user. They can be customized to include fixtures and fittings for electrical wiring, telephone wiring and air conditioning. The walls and ceiling are covered with fire resistant material for added safety. Portable wooden buildings are available in different standard sizes and can be customized according to user requirement. New doors and windows can be added to the framework and the existing door and window positions can be altered to suit different work environments. Some manufacturers offer wooden homes as complete knocked down kits, which can be assembled onsite. Users, who want to avoid the hassles of assembling these kits, can take the help of trained personnel.

The Objective Of Financial Reporting And Qualitative Characteristics And Constraints Accounting Essay

The Objective Of Financial Reporting And Qualitative Characteristics And Constraints Accounting Essay 1 Introduction The U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), namely the Boards, jointly published a Discussion Paper and received 179 responses. The Exposure Draft was created from the Boards redeliberations regarding issues being raised by respondents. The Boards published this common Exposure Draft for the public to comment and it is the Boards broader conceptual framework. The Boards are considering their frameworks: to provide standards that are consistent, converge their standards, to develop a general and enhanced conceptual framework. The Boards decided that a reconsideration of concepts would not be efficient because many aspects of the frameworks are consistent and do not need fundamental revision. The Boards are focused on improving and converging their existing frameworks. The conceptual framework for financial reporting established by the Board displays the concepts that underlie financial reporting. This conceptual framework consists of 2 chapters: the objective of financial reporting and qualitative characteristics and constraints of decision useful financial reporting information useful financial reporting information. 2 Chapter 1: The Objective of Financial Reporting This conceptual framework establishes the objective of general purpose financial reporting by business entities in the private sector, which is the foundation of the framework. The objective of general purpose financial reporting is to provide financial information to current capital provides to make decisions. This information might also be useful to users who are not capital providers. The general purpose financial reporting develops superior reporting standards to help in the efficient functioning of economies and the efficient allocation of resources in capital markets. General purpose financial reporting focuses on an extensive range of users needs that lack the ability to obtain financial information needed from the entity. It should be broad enough to comprehend information for the various users. Therefore, the financial report is where they depend on to acquire information. Diverse users may require different information which might go beyond the scope of general purpose financial reporting. The financial reports are prepared from the entitys perspective (deemed to have substance on its own, spate from that of its owners), instead of the entitys capital providers. An entity attains economic resources (its assets) from capital providers in exchange for claims to those resources (its liabilities and equity). Capital providers include Equity investors Equity investors normally invest economic resources in an entity expecting to receive a return on, as well as a return of, the resources invested in. Hence, equity investors are concerned with the amount, timing, uncertainty of an entitys future cash flows and the entitys competence in generating those cash flows which affects the prices of their equity interests. Furthermore, they are concerned with the performance of directors and management of the entity in discharging their responsibility to make efficient and profitable use of the assets invested. Lenders Lenders usually expect to receive a return in the form of interest, repayments of borrowings, and increases in the prices of debt securities. Lenders have similar interests as the equity investors. Other creditors Other creditors provide resources because of their relationship with the entity, instead of a capital provider; no primary relationship. Employee salary or compensation Suppliers extended credit Customer prepay for goods and services Managers responsible for preparing financial reports Capital providers make decisions through useful information provided in financial reporting by particular entity. Financial reporting usefulness in assessing cash flow prospects depends on the entitys current cash resources and the ability to generate sufficient cash to reimburse its capital providers. Besides, financial reporting usefulness in assessing stewardship includes the managements responsibilities to protect the entitys economic resources (assets) from unfavourable effects. Management is also liable for safeguarding the assets of the entity which conforms to the laws, regulations and contractual provisions; thus, the importance of managements performance in the decision usefulness. The general purpose financial reporting is limited to information which does not reflect pertinent information from other sources that should be considered by the users. Financial reporting information is based on estimates, judgements, and models of the financial effects on an entity of transactions and other events in which, is only ideal for preparers and standard setters to strive. Achieving the frameworks vision of ideal financial reporting to the fullest will be difficult in the short term because of technical infeasibility and cost constrains. Financial reporting should include information about: the economic resources of an entity (assets), the claims of the entity are (liabilities and equity), the effects of transaction and any events or circumstances that can affect the entitys resources and claims and provide useful information about the ability of entity to generate its cash flow and how well the entity meets its management responsibilities. The usefulness of financial reporting to the users: Provide useful information about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of future cash flow To identify the entitys financial strengths and weaknesses (especially for capital providers) To indicate the potential of entitys cash flow for its economic resources and claims To identify the effectiveness of the entitys management responsibilities To assess availabilities of the entitys nature and quantity of the resources for the use in its operation To estimate the values of the entity. The quantitative measures and other information regarding the changes in entitys economics resources and claims in the financial report can help the users to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of its cash flow; and indicate the effectiveness of management responsibilities. Furthermore, the entity must provide a positive return on its economic resources in order to generate net cash inflows; and return the earning to its investors. Other information like variability of returns, past financial performance, and managements ability can be used to assess the entitys future financial performance. The information regarding the accrual accounting in financial reporting can better provide the users to assess the entitys past financial performance and future prospects in generating net cash inflows without obtaining additional capital from its investors. The entitys cash flow performance in financial reporting assist the investors to understand the entitys business model and operation through assessing how the entity obtains and spends cash. Information about its borrowing, repayment of borrowing, cash dividends and other distribution to investors, as well as the factors of entitys liquidity and solvency, can also assist the investors to determine the entitys cash flow accounting. Besides, information about the changes of entitys resources and claims not resulting from financial performance may assist the investors to differentiate the changes that are results of the entitys financial performance and those that are not. The information of management explanation should be included in financial reporting to assist users for a better understanding about management decision in any events and circumstances that have affected or may affect the entitys financial performance. It is because the internal parties know about the entitys performance than the external users. 3 Chapter 2: Qualitative Characteristics and Constraints of Decision-Useful Financial Reporting Information Fundamental qualitative characteristics distinguish useful financial reporting information from information that is not useful or is misleading. For information to be useful, it must have two fundamental qualitative characteristics: Relevance capable of making a difference in the decisions made by users as capital providers. Information is relevant when it has predictive value, confirmatory value, or both. Predictive value information that is assists the capitals providers to form their own expectations about the future. Confirmatory value information that confirms or changes past or present expectations based on previous evaluations. IASB said that information is relevant when it influences the economic decisions of users by helping them evaluate past, present or future events or confirming, or correcting, their past evaluation. FASB believes that to be relevant, accounting information must be capable of making a difference in a decision by helping users to form predictions about the outcome of past, present, and future events or to confirm or correct expectations. Since some users may have been obtaining information elsewhere other than financial reporting, and emphasizes the relevance of information in their decisions, relevant information does not really make a difference in the past or in the future. Any information that might be able to make a difference is said to be relevant. Faithful representation depiction of an economic phenomenon is complete, neutral, and free from material error. Complete includes all information that is necessary for faithful representation of economic phenomena. Neutrality information which is bias free. Freedom from error estimation of the economic phenomena is based on the appropriate inputs and each input must reflect the best available information. Relevance is concern with the connection between economic phenomena with the decisions of capital providers and not their depictions, therefore should be consider first. Then, the faithful representation is applied to determine which depictions of economic phenomenon best corresponds to the relevant phenomenon. Enhancing qualitative characteristics improves the decision usefulness of financial reporting information that is relevant and faithfully represented. They are used to distinguish more-useful information from less-useful information. The enhancing qualitative characteristics are comparability, verifiability, timeliness, and understandability. Comparability Comparability is the quality of information that enables users to identify similarities and the differences between two sets of economic phenomena. Since the essence of decision making is to select between alternatives, the information is more useful if it can be compared with similar information about the other entities and with similar information about the same entity for some other period. Comparability should not be confused with uniformity. Overemphasizing on uniformity may reduce comparability by making unlike things look alike. The IASB Framework actually discusses comparability as a qualitative characteristic which is equally important as relevance and faithfully representation. However, FASB concludes that comparability is an enhancing qualitative characteristic because regardless of how comparable the information may be, it will not be useful if it is irrelevant to users decisions and does not faithfully represent the economic phenomena. Verifiability A quality of information that helps to assure users that information faithfully represents the economic phenomena that it purports to represent. If the information is verifiable, the knowledgeable and independent observers could come to the general consensus. The verifiability of the information focuses on whether the recognition or measurement method is correctly applied. Verification can either be direct or indirect. An amount or other representation itself verified such as by counting cash or observing marketable securities and their quoted prices are called direct verification. An example of verifying the carrying amount of inventory by checking the inputs (quantities and costs) and recalculating the ending inventory using the same cost flow assumption (accounting convention or methodology average cost and first-in, first-out) is indirect verification. IASB Framework does not include verifiability as an explicit aspect, yet FASB does. FASB observed that some of the information which is faithfully represented may not necessarily be verifiable. Therefore, if the information is verifiable, it is generally more useful. Thus, FASB concluded that verifiability is an enhancing qualitative characteristic. Timeliness Timeliness means having information available to decision makers before it loses its capacity to influence decisions. A lack of timeliness can rob information of its potential usefulness. The IASB Framework discusses timeliness separately, as a constraint that could rob information of relevance. However, FASB concluded that reporting information in a timely manner can enhance both the relevance and faithful representation of the information since information can be reported in a timely manner but has no relevance, or information delayed in reporting remains its relevance. Understandability Understandability is the quality of information that enables users to comprehend its meaning. When the information is classified, characterized, and presented clearly and concisely, the understandability will be enhanced. Although the reporting information has to be understandable, the users of the financial report should also review and analyze the information with reasonable diligence as the users are assumed to have a reasonable knowledge of business and economic activities and to be able to read the financial report. Enhancing qualitative characteristics should improve the usefulness of financial information and should be maximized to the extent possible. However, if the information is irrelevant or not faithfully represented, the enhancing qualitative characteristics cannot make that information useful for decision. Besides, the application of the enhancing qualitative characteristics is an iterative process which does not follow the prescribed order. In addition, FASB considered whether some other qualitative characteristics should be added, such as transparency, true and fair view, credibility, internal consistency, and high quality. FASB concluded that it would be redundant if transparency is added as one of the qualitative characteristics. True and fair view is not a qualitative characteristic itself, but it should result from applying the qualitative characteristics. FASB concluded that it should be the goal to achieve high quality to which financial reporting and standard setters aspire. By adherence to the objective and qualitative characteristics of financial reporting information, the goal can be achieved. Therefore, the characteristics mentioned in not added as the qualitative characteristics of the financial reporting information. In a nutshell, the qualitative characteristics of financial reporting information in this draft can be categorized into fundamental qualitative characteristics and enhancing qualitative characteristics as shown in the following: Figure 1 Compared to the conceptual framework issued by the Malaysian Accounting Standard Board (MASB) in 2007, most of the qualitative characteristics are identical to the characteristic discussed in this draft. However, the most distinctive aspect which can be found is MASB did not categorize the qualitative characteristics into fundamental and enhancing qualitative characteristics. The qualitative characteristics concluded by MASB are shown in the figure below. Figure 2 MASB concluded that the relevance of information is affected by its nature and materiality while FASB discusses materiality under the constraints of financial reporting. MASB provides that the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements could be influenced when the omission or misstatement of the information is material. Thus, materiality provides a threshold or cut-off point rather than being a primary qualitative characteristic which information must have for it to be useful. Besides, MASB also discussed about substance over form and prudence under the characteristic of reliability. MASB provides that if information is to represent faithfully the transactions and other events that it purports to represent, it is necessary that they are accounted for and presented in accordance with their substance and economic reality and not merely their legal form. However, FASB did not identify substance over form as a component of faithful representation as it would be redundant to do so. In addition, FASB did not conclude prudence as a qualitative characteristic because it might conflict with the quality of neutrality. MASB discussed the characteristic of timeliness as a constraint on relevant and reliable information. If there is undue delay in the reporting of information it may lose its relevance. Management may need to balance the relative merits of timely reporting and the provision of reliable information. However, FASB concluded timeliness as an enhancing qualitative characteristic of the financial reporting information. There should be a balance between the qualitative characteristic as the IASB Framework says: In practice a balancing, or trade-off, between qualitative characteristics is often necessary. Generally the aim is to achieve an appropriate balance among the characteristics in order to meet the objective of financial statements. The relative importance of the characteristics in different cases is a matter of professional judgments. The information provided by financial reporting is limited by materiality and the cost of providing. Materiality Materiality depends on the nature and amount of the item judged in the particular circumstance of its omission or misstatement. It is important to consider the materiality of information because material omissions or misstatements will cause information to contain error, making it biased and incomplete. However, it is hard to specify a uniform quantitative threshold at which the information is material. Concepts Statement 2 and IASB Framework define materiality similarly but discuss materiality it differently. IASB describes materiality as an aspect of relevance and does not indicate that it has a relationship to other qualitative characteristics. On the other hand, Concepts Statement 2 provides that materiality should be considered together with qualitative characteristics (not only relevance). Thus, the Boards conclude that materiality is pertinent to all of the other qualitative characteristics. Cost The Boards emphasized the balance between the benefits of financial reporting information and the cost of providing and using it. Costs of providing information: Cost of collecting and processing Cost of verifying Cost of disseminating Cost of analysis and interpretation Cost resulted from omission of decision-useful information Benefits of financial reporting information: More efficient functioning of capital market Lower cost of capital Improved access to capital market Favourable effect on public relations Better management decisions However, the major problem for the standard setters in conducting rigorous cost-benefit analyses is the difficulty in qualifying the benefits of a certain reporting requirement. Besides, it is also difficult to obtain complete, quantitative information about the initial and ongoing cost of a requirement and impose them. Nevertheless, standard seekers should take into account both benefits and costs of proposed financial reporting requirements. There are 3 constraints of financial reporting information mentioned by the MASB: Balance between benefit and cost As mentioned in FASB, cost is one of the constraints of financial reporting information and the Boards emphasizes on the balance between the benefits of financial reporting information and the cost of providing and using it. Balance between qualitative characteristic MASB provides that, In practice a balancing or trade-off, between qualitative characteristics is often necessary. The relative importance of the characteristics in different cases is a matter of professional judgments. The FASB also mentions, In assessing whether the benefits of reporting information are likely to justify the costs, it is necessary to consider whether one or more qualitative characteristics might be scarified to some degree to reduce cost. Timeliness MASB mentioned that a constraint which is not mentioned in the conceptual framework of FASB; timeliness. MASB provides that if there is undue delay in the reporting of information it may lose its relevance. To provide information on a timely basis it may often be necessary to report before all aspects of a transaction or other event are known. On the other hand, if reporting is delayed until all aspects are known, the information may be highly reliable but of little use to users who have had to make decisions in the interim. Management may need to balance the timely reporting and the provision of reliable information.

jane austen Essay -- essays research papers

Jane Austen lived from 1775 until 1817, a span of four decades that saw significant changes in English social, political, and economic life. At the time her birth, England was embroiled in a bitter struggle with its American colonies, the loss of which, several years later, proved to be a tremendous blow to English political and military prestige. Under the rule of George III, England's political climate became increasingly unstable with constant struggles between the King and Whig politicians. Ireland received its independence in 1782, although the violence that had long plagued the country continued to rage. Across the Channel, the French Revolution had begun and the English aristocracy watched in horror as royal heads began to roll. Between 1804 and 1814, (the period in which Austen did most of her writing) England was consumed by a fight against the power-hungry Napoleon. Although Austen was undoubtedly aware of these external events, they remain notably absent from her writing. She made it a point to write about only what she knew from first-hand experience and, having never left the South of England, her experience was rather limited. While some find this cultural myopia disturbing, others feel it to be one of Jane Austen's greatest strengths. By avoiding the pretense of discussing matters that fell outside of the realm of her daily experience, she could focus on what she knew best--the society of 19th-century English country families. Jane Austen's novels are, in this sense, highly autobiographical. Her characters share this insular view of their world, carrying on with dances and amateur theatricals, seemingly oblivious to any outside concerns. Jane Austen's world began in Steventon, where Jane's father held a post as rector. Born 16th December, 1775, Jane lived in the family's small parish house for the first 25 years of her life. Here, she led a quiet but pleasant existence, spending time at home, or visiting with local families of similar social status. She attended parties and dances at many of the local grand houses, including The Vyne, now owned by the British National Trust, a registered charity founded in 1895 to preserve places of historic interest. She also visited with her siblings in adjoining counties--Kent, in particular, became one of Jane's favourite places. Although she did not write any of the six main novels during these years, ... ...ps when they were on leave; and Edward from his house at Godmersham. Jane lived at Chawton until her declining health made it necessary for her and Cassandra to move to Winchester (only 15 miles from Chawton), where she could be closer to expert medical care. She, Cassandra, and Martha Lloyd made the trip in May of 1817. Her condition, known today to have been Addison's disease, left her in a continually degenerative state of health. She continued to write during this period, however, and Sanditon, the novel she was working on until her death, is a self-mocking treatment of the invalid state into which she could not prevent herself from slipping. Jane Austen died on 18th July 1817 in the arms of her beloved sister Cassandra. She is buried in the north aisle of Winchester Cathedral and only a simple plaque identifies her grave. Strangely, the stone makes no mention of the fact that Austen was a novelist, other than an oblique reference to the 'extraordinary endowments of her mind.' But, despite this modest resting place, Jane Austen has been immortalized by the body of work that survived her and continues to delight and entertain readers today, almost 200 years after her death.

Knowles Separate Peace Essays: The Theme of A Separate Peace :: Separate Peace Essays

The Theme of A Separate Peace  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The persistent theme of A Separate Peace is the deterioration of a complex friendship. The bond between two boys (Finny and Gene) becomes tested and attacked, as the reader observes a seemingly utopian relationship fall into decadence. Gene becomes challenged with various inner hostilities, while Finny, his proclivity for athletics revoked, has been forced to find acceptability and provocation elsewhere. Furthermore, the book commences during mid-to-late 1942, during the height of the Axis powers' success. The effect of stress and tension on the camaraderie of the boys becomes elevated. The intensities of war, envy, and intricate personalities synthesize to provide an interesting look into the subconscious mind and sanity of war-time youth. Phineas and Gene form the illusion of great companionship, combining superior athletic ability with a powerful intellect. However, a silent rivalry develops between them. At the beginning of the story Gene seems to accept Finny's premium physical agility, but he resents what he feels is flaunting (of his aptitudes) by Phineas. As the book progresses, Gene continues to look deeper into their fellowship and quickly becomes wildly jealous of Finny. Eventually, Gene impairs Finny by jouncing the limb where Finny stood. Phineas, meanwhile, seems unaware of Gene's evil thoughts. He continues to remain optimistic and promising. Amidst this rivalry, World War II persists and the faculty at Devon School are preparing the students for entrance into the military. Propaganda and the war effort enthrall the youth. From the forming of the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session, to the shoveling of snow at the railroad yard, everyone is absorbed by the aura of warfare. Gene's realization, while shoveling snow, that "we [he and his schoolmates] seemed to be nothing but children playing among heroic men" (89) demonstrated his generation are merely pawns in a global conflict. Gene sustains his inclination towards pessimism and exposes the evil within him. The disharmony betwixt Gene and Finny constitutes a separate, full-scale war when Phineas fractures his leg once again. With Phineas' inner evil now exposed and his superficial personality shattered, Gene quickly becomes the object of his animosity. With the death of Phineas, the relationship has exhaustively deteriorated. When he fails to weep, Gene reveals that it is not just Finny's funeral, but his own.

Grammar Practice Test

| | | I. Identify the clause elements in the following sentences (20 points, 2 point for each blank). 1. Saturn is one of the most beautiful planets to look at through a telescope because of the many rings that surround it. A. Complement:_______________________________________________________ B. Adverbial:________________________________________________________ 2. The boy scouts teach their members an â€Å"Outdoor Code† before they camp. A. Direct Object:_______________________________________________________ B. Indirect Object:______________________________________________________ 3.The direction a hurricane’s spiral moves is counterclockwise. A. Subject:____________________________________________________________ B. Complement :_______________________________________________________ 4. These criminals might have been guilty of murder. A. Predicate Verb: _____________________________________________________ B. Complement: ______________________________________________ ________ 5. Hurricane winds can blow as fast as 180 miles (290 kilometers) an hour. A. Predicate Verb: ____________________________________________________ B.Adverbial:_______________________________________________________ | | | II. Choose the best answer from the four choices marked A,B,C and D (80 points, 2 point for each multiple-choice question). 1. Recently, he has lost all his _____ at cards. A. wages and saving B. wages and saving C. wage and savings D. wages and savings. 2. That magnificent _____ temple was constructed by the Chinese. A. eight-centuries-old B. old-eight-centuries C. eight-century’s-old D. eight-century-old 3. Why is there _______ traffic on the streets in February than in May?A. fewer B. less C. little D. fewer 4. The students spent ________ their time working in the field. A. both B. most C. more D. half 5. There is a truck ____ the classroom. A. in the front of B. in front of C. in front D. at the front of 6. â€Å"What is he? † â€Å"He is _____. † A. a poet and novelist B. a poet and a novelist C. poet and novelist D. the poet and novelist 7. I am determined to go there ____ instead of taking a bus. A. on the foot B. on foot C. by foot D. on two feet 8. ___ Air and Space Museum has the highest attendance record of all the museums. A. A B. An C. The D. / 9. I don’t take John’s pen because I don’t like ____. A. that pen of his B. that his pen C. his that pen D. that pen of him 10. Our home is finer than ____. A. yours and him B. your’s or his C. you and he D. yours and his 11. We consider ____ logical that not all plants can be put into practice. A. it B. that C. what D. which 12. It is a pity that ____ of her two husband has been capable of understanding her. A. either B. neither C. both D. each 13.It is one thing to enjoy listening to good music, but it is quite ____ to perform skillfully yourself. A. any other B. another C. other thing D. some other. 14. At least he was there in ti me to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did ____ of the work. A. three-fourths B. three-fourth C. threes-fourths D. threes-fourth 15. The wheels of the old wagon are nearly ____ those of a modern car. A. three times the size of B. three times size of C. three times D. threes times the sizes of 16. He ____ on me his own ideas about the novel. A. composed B. proposed C. imposed D. pposed 17. At the present system, state enterprises ____ all profits to the government. A. turn down B. turn up C. turn out D. turn in 18. Very few scientists ____ completely new answers to the world’s problem. A. come up with B. come round C. come out D. come up to 19. Important people don’t often have much free time as their work ____ all their time. A. takes away B. takes over C. takes up D. takes in 20. This article ____ more attention to the problem of cultural interference in foreign language teaching and leaning. A. cares for B. allows for C. applies for D. alls for 21. When a fire __ __ at the National Exhibition in London, at least ten priceless paintings were completely destroyed. A. broke off B. broke down C. broke out D. broke up 22. He got word that a delegation____. A. soon has arrived B. soon arrived C. is soon going to arrive D. would soon arrive 23. It has been about 7 years since they _____. A. got married B. got marry C. get married D. have married 24. He left home in the 1970s and ____ heard of since. A. hadn’t been B. wasn’t C. not has been D. has not been 25. He ____ TV when I dropped in last night. A. as watching B. had watch C. watched D. have been watching 26. If one ____ by vanity, he will be very particular about other’s clothing and appearance. A. overcomes B. will be overcome C. is overcome D. has been overcome 27. By promoting more even income distribution in a developing country, a lower birth rate would ____. A. be achieved B. achieved C achieve D. be achieving 28. It is important that the hotel receptionist ____ that guests are registered correctly. A. has made sure B. must make sure C. made sure D. make sure 29. Had he worked harder, he ____ the exams.A. must have got through B. would get through C. would have got through D. could get through. 30. I don’t mind ____ the decision as long as it is not too late. A. you to delay B. your delaying making C. your delaying to make D. you delay to make. 31. The Dream of the Red Chamber is said ____ into dozens of languages in the last decade. A. to have been translated B. to translate C. to be translated D. to have translated 32. Silver is the best conductor of electricity, copper ____ it closely. A. followed B. to following C. following D. eing followed 33. All things ____, the planned trip will have to be called off. A. considered B. be considered C. considering D. having considered 34. It was essential that the application forms ____ back before the deadline. A. must be sent B. be sent C. would be sent D. were sent 35. ____ for your laziness, you could have finished the assignment by now. A. Had it not been B. Weren’t it C. It were not D. Had it been not 36. The suggestion that the mayor ____ the prizes was accepted by everyone. A. would present B. present C. ought to present D. presents 37.I don’t think it advisable that Tome ____ to the job since he has no experience. A. is assigned B. be assigned C. will be assigned D. has been assigned 38. ____ such a good chance, he planned to learn more. A. To be given B. Having been given C. Having given D. Giving 39. I wish I ____ longer this morning, but I had to get up and come to class. A. could have slept B. should have slept C. slept D. have slept 40. It’s already 5 o’clock now. Don’t you think it’s time ____? A. we are going home B. we went home C. we go home D. we can go home. ———————–

Lost at Sea Exercise

Lost at Sea Exercise – Leadership & Team Building Lost at Sea Scenario Your team has chartered a yacht. None of you have any sailing experience. You hired a skipper & two-person crew. As you sail through the Southern Pacific Ocean, a fire breaks out & much of the yacht & its contents are destroyed. The yacht is sinking. Your location is unclear because navigational & radio equipment have been damaged. The skipper & crew have been lost to the fire. Your best guess is that you are approximately 1,000 km southwest of the nearest landfall.You and your friends have managed to save the following items: ( A shaving mirror [pic] (A quantity of mosquito netting [pic] ( A 19 liter can of water [pic] (A case of army rations [pic] (Maps of the Pacific Ocean [pic] (A floating seat cushion [pic] (A 7. 5 liter can of oil / petroleum mixture [pic] (A small transistor radio [pic] (186 square decimeters of Opaque plastic sheeting[pic] (Shark repellent [pic] (1. 1 liters of 160 per cent proof ru m [pic] (4. 5 meters of nylon rope [pic] (2 boxes of chocolate bars [pic] (A fishing kit [pic] pic]Also, you have salvaged a rubber life raft. In your team’s pants pockets there’s 1 package of cigarettes, 3 boxes of matches & 3 $20 bills. [pic] YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL WILL DEPEND UPON YOUR ABILILTY TO RANK THE 14 ITEMS IN THEIR ORDER OF IMPORTANCE. GOOD LUCK! [pic] Lost at Sea Exercise Instructions Part 1 Participants should divide into teams of 5 and then be given 10 minutes to individually rank the 14 items. Part 2 Team members should then confer for an additional 10 minutes and decide on the team’s priority ranking of the 14 items.Part 3 Team members should then compare their individual rankings with those determined by the group as a whole, and discuss why the scores differ, if applicable. Or, if individuals would re-rank items based on the group discussion, what changed their minds? How where they influenced by the group? Lost at Sea Suggested Answers / Ra tionale According to the experts (United States Coastguard), the basic supplies needed when a person is stranded mid-ocean are articles to attract attention and articles to aid survival until rescue arrives.Without signaling devices, there is almost no chance of being spotted and ultimately rescued. Furthermore, most rescues occur within the first 36 hours and a person can survive with only a minimum of food and water during that period. So, the following is the order of ranking the items in their importance to your survival: 1. The shaving mirror would be critical for signaling. 2. The oil / petroleum mixture would also be critical for signaling. The mixture will float on water & could be ignited with the paper currency & a match. 3. The water would be necessary to replenish fluids lost through perspiration. . One case of army rations would provide basic food intake. 5. The opaque plastic sheet could be used to collect rain water and provide shelter from the elements. 6. The chocol ate bars could provide reserve food supply. 7. The fishing kit is ranked lower than the chocolate since ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’, and there is no guarantee that you will catch any fish. 8. The nylon rope could be used to secure people or equipment to prevent them from being washed overboard. 9. The floating seat cushion is a life preserver if someone fell overboard. 10.Shark repellent 11. The 160 per cent proof rum contains 80% alcohol, which is enough to be used as an antiseptic for any injuries; otherwise, it is of little value. It will cause dehydration if ingested. 12. The small transistor radio would be of no use without a transmitter. You would also be out of range of any radio station. 13. Maps of the Pacific Ocean would be worthless without navigation equipment. 14. The mosquito netting would not be necessary, as there are NO mosquitoes in the mid-Pacific Ocean, and the fishing kit would be more effective for catching fish.