Asian American Woman before 1950s Essay Example

Asian American Woman before 1950s Essay It is fair to state that the status of Asian American women before 1950s was not any better than that suffered by minorities from any racial-ethnic group during this period. This is amply attested by first-hand accounts of discrimination and maltreatment by early immigrants. We also have copious legal indictments handing penalties, jail sentences and deportations to early wave of Asian immigrants to the ‘land of the free’. Considering that it was beginning from the second half of the 19th century that steady streams of Asian immigration poured into America, it is apt to claim that their struggle spanned a century, ending with the Civil Rights movement of 1960s. Prior to this the community endured a century of hardships that mitigated their integration into mainstream American socio-culture. If racial prejudice was a sizeable challenge on its own, the issues were compounded for womenfolk. The rest of this essay is an overview of the Asian American experience prior to 1950. Sociological theories on ‘gender’ and ‘intersectionality’ were perused as were classic literary works and essays pertaining to the subject. It is instructive to look at theoretical perspectives that make lucid the Asian American women’s experience before 1950. During much of the evolution of sociology, studying history and society through the axis of gender was not common practice. Race, ethnicity, age, class and nation were the common definitive parameters for groups that were studied. Understanding socio-history from the perspective of gender was mainly an offshoot of feminist movements of mid-twentieth century. The second wave feminist movement was especially instrumental in introducing this approach. The relational identities of women of 19th century as either someone’s daughter, husband or mother is fully applicable to Asian American women. The word ‘gender’ is used frequently in common parlance synonymous with the word ‘sex’ thereby betraying a biological determinism to the classification. But sociologists have sharpened its definition to stress the We will write a custom essay sample on Asian American Woman before 1950s specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Asian American Woman before 1950s specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Asian American Woman before 1950s specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer â€Å"relational aspect of normative definitions of femininity†¦accordingly, women and men were defined in terms of one another, an no understanding of either could be achieved by entirely separate study†¦the goal is to discover the range in sex roles and in sexual symbolism in different societies and periods, to find out what meaning they had and how they functioned to maintain the social order or to promote its change†. (Scott, 1986) Seen in the backdrop of this theoretical framework, it is fair to claim that Asian American women had a decidedly more arduous century prior to 1950 than their male counterparts. This is evident in the literary works of the time, especially that of Jade Snow Wong’s ‘Fifth Chinese Daughter’. The short novel is filled with real life events of the author as she lived through the transition from a native Chinese culture steeped in tradition and the more liberal outlook afforded in America. The book shows the patriarchal familial set up among the Chinese and how this can be a hindrance for immigrant women looking to avail of opportunities for personal and professional growth in the New World. ‘Intersectionality’ is another useful theoretical basis for studying Asian American women’s experience, for it brings the core problems from different domains to the analysis. It helps the studied group to â€Å"invent and inhabit identities that register the effects of differentiated and uneven power, permitting them to envision and enact new social relations grounded in multiple axes of intersecting, situated knowledge.† (Chun, Lipsitz, and Shin, 2013) The theory is seen in action in Jew Law Ying’s ‘Coaching Book’ – a touching historical document that brings out the extent of Asian American women’s struggle for citizenship in the USA. The work is a translation of the ‘coaching book’ which the author’s father sent to her mother prior to the latter’s long voyage to America. The book lists a long set of questions that her mother could possibly receive from immigration officials upon her alighting ashore. It then goes on to give the answers she is expected to give to avoid contradictions with the information already gleaned from her husband. The irony of the situation is that Mrs. Law Ying had to be coached in this way not so much to deceive interrogating officers as to remain consistent with her husband’s utterances. Later in her life Mrs. Law Ying would state that she qualified for citizenship by speaking honestly and not due to the help offered via the book. This makes the book all the more a symbol of love. It stands as a talisman of romance that an Asian American woman received from her husband from a far away land. Yet, the Coaching Book also stands for patriarchal social arrangements that were the norm in late modern China. In retrospect the coaching project is impressive in its simplicity and earnestness, with its detailed biographical minutiae, its representative and erroneous village map and the obviously banality of the questions. But there is a bitter reality behind Law Ying’s particular case of romantic success. For every woman that succeeds the immigration exam, there is a multitude that fails. This confines the latter to severe pecuniary penalties at best and deportation at worst. Those who fall between these two extremes face the unsavoury prospect of a life wasted in prostitution or menial labour. These resistances had an effect in the pattern of Chinese immigration to the United States – it markedly reduced the proportion of female immigrants. The statistics given below is a telling sign of the disparity between the experiences of Asian American men and women. â€Å"In 1920, females comprised 12.6 percent of the U.S. Chinese population; by 1940, that figure stood at 30.0 percent†¦so this shortage among the Chinese in the United States is a matter of degree rather than a difference in kind. Where the Chinese pattern deviates from the norm is that the imbalance in the sex ratio lasted for more than a century rather than for just a few decades†. (Sucheng Chan)

Teenage Pregnancy Essay Essays

Teenage Pregnancy Essay Essays Teenage Pregnancy Essay Essay Teenage Pregnancy Essay Essay Essay Topic: Teenage Pregnancy Statisticss from the Malaysia Welfare Department for this twelvemonth. from January to April 2010. reported that 111 single immature misss were pregnant. The figure. nevertheless. is merely the tip of the iceberg as many instances go unreported and gestations terminated. It besides reported in New Straits Times on 23rd July 2010. the organic structure of a babe miss found in a bag at a coach halt near the Sultan Ismail Hospital. Johor Bahru in the forenoon. Besides there a babe found buried. New Straits Times on 18th July 2010. reported that a foetus was found buried by the wayside in Jalan 12. Bandar Puteri Puchong. Selangor. Baby dumping is non the solution to a life job and it could be charged under Section 317 of the Penal Code which carries a maximal jail term of seven old ages or mulct or both harmonizing to the Malayan jurisprudence. For the past few old ages there are many newborn babes have been found. dead or unrecorded in the most improbable topographic points like rubbish shit. For case. The Malay Mail on 26 July 2011 [ 5 ] reported that a foetus with the umbilical cord intact was found in a refuse can at Pulau Mutiara sweeping market in Jalan Makloom. Penang. This shows clearly that â€Å"baby dumping† is truly serious job that presently happened in our society. Based on Table 1. the statistic from the Headquarters of Royal Malaysia Police ( PDRM ) [ 6 ] indicated that there were 407 instances of babe dumping. for the past five old ages get downing from 2005 until 7th April 2010. On norm. there are 68 instances every twelvemonth and these instances keep increasing. While in Figure 1. 2. 1. it shows that. there are 472 babes found dumped nationally since 2005 until 16th August 2010. In twelvemonth 2010 entirely. it already recorded 65 instances up to 16 August 2010. That is means mean 8 instances per month entirely in twelvemonth 2010 and this figure is non included the instances that non reported. Harmonizing to Federal Criminal Investigation Department ( CID ) Director Commissioner Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin. this twelvemonth entirely ( 2010 ) . as at 16 August 2010. 65 dumped babes had been. As compared to 42 instances during the same period last twelvemonth ( 2009 ) . there is an addition in these instances [ 7 ] . Recently. the Cabinet besides informed that there were 21 recorded instances of pupils who got pregnant out of marriage between 2006 and 2010. Then. what about the unreported and live instances? Public belief that the figure more than what we can conceive of. After all the flooring incidents proven by the informations produced by PDRM and Welfare Department. we found a strong base to make this survey. 3. Methods A ; Material A simple random trying technique was conducted among 400 pupils ( out of entire 7535 pupils ) from Form One until Form Six ( Upper Six ) in secondary schools at the country of Bakar Arang State Assembly under Sungai Petani Parliamentary. Kedah. The schools involved were Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan 138 Ibrahim. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Pasir. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Khir Johari and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Sungai Petani in Sungai Petani. Kedah. The information was analyzed utilizing Statistical Package for the Social Science ( SPSS ) in acquiring descriptive statistic and correlativity. 4. Results A ; Discussion 4. 1. Profile of Respondents Out of 400 respondents. there were 183 ( 45. 75 % ) male respondents and 217 ( 54. 25 % ) female respondents. This determination showed the dominant of female respondents in this survey. Sing the age group. the respondents were in the age of 13 old ages old ( 18 pupils or 4. 50 % ) . followed by 14 old ages old ( 51 pupils or 12. 75 % ) . 15 old ages old ( 44 pupils or 11. 00 % ) . 16 old ages old ( 97 pupils or 24. 25 % ) . 17 old ages old ( 94 pupils or 23. 50 % ) and in conclusion 18 old ages old and above which is 96 pupils or 24. 00 % . The highest respondents in this survey was 16 old ages old. followed by 18 old ages old. 17 old ages old. 14 old ages old. 15 old ages old and the lowest respondents were 13 old ages old. The race of respondents in this survey consist of three major races in Malaysia which is Malay. Chinese. and Indian and the balance was other races. From the determination. it can be concluded that the highest race in this survey was Malay. which consist of 242 pupils ( 60. 5 % ) . followed by Chinese. 75 pupils ( 18. 75 % ) . Indian 67students ( 16. 75 % ) and the lowest was other races which consist 16 pupils ( 4. 00 % ) . 4. 2. Consequence of Findingss H1: There is a important relationship between consciousness towards effects of free sex and babe dumping issue from the secondary school students’ position. Table 2. Awareness on effects of free sex towards a position of babe dumping issue Awareness towards effects of free sex Baby Dumping Pearson Correlation 0. 396**Sig. ( 2-tailed ) 0. 000N 400 ** . Correlation is important at the 0. 01 degree ( 2-tailed ) . There was a important relationship between consciousness towards effects of free sex and a position of babe dumping issue from the secondary school students’ position whereas P =0. 000 and r = 0. 396. Significant degree is P lt ; 0. 05 ( P = 0. 000 ) . So. the research worker accepts the H1. This means. the consciousness towards effects of free sex has an influence towards position of the babe dumping issue. This determination was besides supported by APWLD Annual Report 2010 [ 9 ] . H2: There is a important relationship between cognition on sex instruction and babe dumping issue from the secondary school students’ position. Table 3: Cognition on sex instruction towards a position of babe dumping issue.Knowledge on sex instructionBaby Dumping Pearson Correlation 0. 445**Sig. ( 2-tailed ) 0. 000N 400 ** . Correlation is important at the 0. 01 degree ( 2-tailed ) . There was a important relationship between cognition on sex instruction and position of the babe dumping issue from the secondary school students’ position whereas P = 0. 000 and r = 0. 445. Significant degree is P lt ; 0. 05 ( P = 0. 000 ) . So. the research worker accepts H2. This means. the respondents agreed that cognition on sex instruction is of import in order to forestall or cut down the figure of babe dumping that happen in Malaysia. Besides that. most of the respondent agreed 139 that by larning sex instruction. adolescents will be more full-blown and responsible to themselves and holding cognition on sex instruction is of import to forestall free sex among adolescents. H3: There is a important relationship between spiritual belief and babe dumping issue from the secondary school students’ position. Table 4. Religious belief and a position of the babe dumping issue.Religious BeliefBaby Dumping Pearson Correlation 0. 386**Sig. ( 2-tailed ) 0. 000N 400 ** . Correlation is important at the 0. 01 degree ( 2-tailed ) . There was a important relationship between spiritual belief and a position of babe dumping issue from the secondary school students’ position whereas P = 0. 000 and r = 0. 386. Significant degree is P lt ; 0. 05 ( P = 0. 000 ) . So. the research worker accepts H3. Religious belief besides plays an of import function in order to forestall babe dumping that addition from clip to clip. Other than that. most of respondents besides agreed that spiritual belief demand to use in their day-to-day life activity. This determination was besides supported by the Azmi ( 2010 ) [ 1 ] and Coleman A ; Testa ( 2007 ) [ 8 ] . 5. Decision As a decision. consciousness towards effects of free sex. cognition on sex instruction and spiritual belief showed the important relationships with the babe dumping issues in our state. Most of the respondents agreed that these three variables have a important impact on babe dumping instances. It is of import for the adolescents to understand the effects of free sex so that they can forestall the unwanted gestation at the immature age. Besides that. the cognition on sex instruction is of import to guarantee the adolescents have a better understanding about their organic structure so that they will non easy affect in free sex which can take to the babe dumping. On top of that. the of import of spiritual belief and patterns besides play a critical map. Every faith has lay down and learn about the Department of State and don’ts. about the wickedness and wages. and all faith prohibited the act of free sex. In order to forestall it. the authorities. schools. parents and adolescents should take necessary actions to halt this babe dumping issue from going worst. 6. Recommendation In order to get by with this babe dumping instances. authorities should come out with several policies and programmes. First of all. the authorities may integrate sex instruction in school course of study as portion of a holistic attack to undertake babe dumping instances. This attack is needed in order to supply consciousness and better apprehension of generative system and wellness at school degree. Besides that. the authorities besides can reconstitute or add the course of study in certain capable such as â€Å"Pendidikan Islam† or â€Å"Pendidikan Moral† in order to make consciousness and highlighted the effects of societal jobs like free sex and babe dumping. The authorities besides should advance Islam as a manner of life particularly to the Muslim young person as we can see today ; most of the people who involved in babe dumping were Muslims. Islamic bookmans and Ulama’ must take this duty to explicate to the community about Islam. However. it is of import for the spiritual individuals to utilize suited method harmonizing to mark group in executing this undertaking. The authorities besides can convey the Ulama’ or others spiritual individual from other faith to give talk to the adolescents based on their belief particularly when there is a plan for adolescents every bit good as when there is a national run to control with this sort of societal job. Drastic measure by the authorities in categorising babe dumping as a condemnable amounting to slay if it meets with all the legal specifications is besides can be introduced. The authorities can give another opportunity to the guilty parents if their babe is found alive but if the babe is found dead. the guilty parents need to be penalized under this condemnable act. 140 Government besides can assist to control this jobs by exterminate adult stuffs from cyberspace and electronic multimedia. These adult stuffs besides one of the biggest factors that can lend to the babe dumping issues because it will act upon adolescents to make bad things. It is besides recommended that the authorities come out with new regulation to curtail the adolescents below 18 old ages old to check-in hotel or motel without parents or guardian. This regulation will able to cut down free sex among the adolescents. Besides authorities. parents besides should actively play their function in get bying with this issue. For case. they should discourse â€Å"openly† about sex and things related to it with their childs. Even though this subject still â€Å"taboo† in certain civilization but it will forestall adolescents to acquire incorrect information about sex from incorrect beginnings. Weak household ties besides one of the lending factors in the lifting instances of baby-dumping. It is a signal to all the parents non to concentrate and occupy with their plants and forgets to pass clip with their kids. As caring parents. we should embrace. snog. love and give more attending to our kids before other individuals do it for them. 7. Recognitions Our sincere thanks goes to our co-workers in UiTM Kedah. Malaysia for whom we have great respect. and we wish to widen our warmest thanks to all those who have helped us with the creative activity of this paper particularly to Abdullah Fathi Muslim. Izzatul Nadiah Isa. Noor Atiqah Idris. Nurul Farakhin Zahrin and Nurzawani Abd Salam. 8. Mentions[ 1 ] Dali. A. ( 2010 ) . â€Å"Gejala buang bayi meningkat† . Kosmo. 17 August. pp. 6. [ 2 ] New Straits Times ( 2010 ) . â€Å"Eight held over merchandising of babies† available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. highbeam. com/doc/1P1- 188506529. hypertext markup language ( accessed 26 July 2011 ) [ 3 ] New Straits Times ( 2010 ) . â€Å"Foetus found buried by roadside† available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. nst. com. my/nst/articles/27jani/Article ( accessed 26 November 2010 ) [ 4 ] New Straits Times ( 2010 ) . â€Å"Newborn found in fictile bag† . available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. nst. com. my/nst/articles/28sarr/Article/index_html ( accessed 26 November 2010 ) [ 5 ] The Malay Mail ( 2011 ) . â€Å"Foetus of male child found in refuse can† . available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. mmail. com. my/content/45796-foetus-boy-found-garbage-can ( accessed 26 July 2011 ) [ 6 ] PDRM ( 2010 ) â€Å"Baby Dumping Statistic† available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. rmp. gov. my ( accessed 26 November 2010 ) [ 7 ] The Star ( 2010 ) . â€Å"CID Chief: 472 babes found dumped since 2005† . available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //thestarmobile. com/jsp/news/viewNews. jsp? newsID=151204 A ; catID=19 ( access ed 16 August 2010 ) [ 8 ] Coleman. L. M. and Testa. A. ( 2007 ) . â€Å"Preferences towards sex instruction and information from an ethnically diverse sample of immature people† . Sexual activity Education. Vol. 7 No. 3. pp. 293-307. [ 9 ] Asia Pacific Forum on Women. Law and Development ( APWLD ) Annual Report 2010. 141

Research paper of Favorite Organism Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Of Favorite Organism - Research Paper Example Their physiological characteristics are different and interesting. In this essay various aspects of elephants will be discussed. Taxonomic classification The family to which elephant belongs is Elephantidae. It is the only family under the order Proboscidea. The domain is living, kingdom is Animalia, phylum is Chordata and class is Mammalia. Under the family Elephantidae, there are 2 genuses and they are Loxodonta or African Genus and Elephas or Asian genus. There are 2 species: africana or African species and maximus or Asian species. The subspecies in the former are africana and cyclotis and in the later are indicus, borneensis and sumatranus. Elephants are the only living members of the Proboscidea order (Fowler and Mikota, 2006). Description of the organism Elephants are mammals. The two main species are African elephant and Asian elephant. Extinct species of the order Proboscidea are mastodons and mammoths. Currently, elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals. A male elephant can reach a height of 4 m and can weight upto 7000 kg (Fowler and Mikota, 2006). African elephants have larger ears and backs that are concave. On the other hand, Asian elephants have smaller ears and backs that are convex. ... The Asian elephant is considered endangered and the African elephant is considered as vulnerable. These animals are poached for their tusks because of their ivory value. Elephants are also at threat because of habitat destruction and conflicts with people in the local region. In Asia, these animals are used for heavy work. They are also displayed in circuses and zoos. They are also featured in ceremonies and cultural events. Asian elephants have smoother skin, only one extension at the tip of the trunk and their abdomen is horizontal. The molars have narrower looped ridges in the Asian elephant when compared to African elephant which is diamond shaped (Shoshani, 2005). Other than these features, the Asian elephant has dorsal bumps on the head and also some depigmentation patches. Status of the organism The Asian elephant is on the crux of becoming endangered because of severe poaching on the animal for the purpose of tusk. Ivory can be derived from the tusk and it has a very good com mercial value. Ivory is used to make different ornaments and objects. The leather of the elephant is also used for several purposes. African elephant on the other hand is not endangered but is called vulnerable (Fowler and Mikota, 2006). Unique physiological characteristics The word elephant is derived from the Latin word "elephantus". Of all the terrestrial living animals, elephant is the largest. The height of an African elephant is about 3-4 meters and that of an Asian elephant is 2- 3.5 meters. The former weighs between 4000- 7000 kgs and the latter weighs between 3000- 5000 kgs. Males are larger than females. The skeleton of an elephant has 326- 351 bones (Fowler and Mikota, 2006). The flexibility of the backbone of an

Research Report on foreign language film Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Report on foreign language film - Research Paper Example The movie revolves around a young Polish boy whom Visconti uses to incarnate beauty. He is a 14-year-old boy named Tadzio, played by Swedish Bjà ¸rn Andresen. The boy’s mother is played by Silvana Mangano, a beautiful Italian actress. Tadzio, the longhaired blond boy is the focus of attention of Gustav Von Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde). An obsession of the boys beauty by Aschenbach leads to the question on the nature of the admiration (Andre 34). The main question in the movie is whether it is ethically okay in the moral standards or not. There is the mystery behind the movie in its structure and style, its symbolism and politics owing much of these to the novel by Thomas Mann’s with the same title Death in Venice, which the movie is based on. The movie is largely silent, in performance, and the actor Bogarde delivered an enlargement of meaning. The romantic suffering of Von Aschenbach manifested by his passion for Tadzio, emotional suffering on the death of his daughter. Setting Von Aschenbach on a journey of creation of beauty and purity discovered in Tadzio. The cinematography by Pasquale De Santis is also depicted in the movie. Scenes are well framed; there are lots of camera spinning from left to right allowing the observation of secondary characters. Costumes are highly stylized, and convey a Victorian look and feel, (Can 18). Can continues by making analysis on the soundtrack, which he says are echoes of one of Mahler melodies; the Adagietto of the Fifth Symphony. According to Snowball, Visconti overdid many things in the movie, which is quite evident at the end with the death of Aschenbach. He feels the movie become very boring toward the end but only saved by lovely things on the periphery. According to Snowball, he movie represents a deadly pestilence threatening both physically and represents the corruption that compromises and threatens all ideals. James feels that the Death in Venice was

Programs for Incarcerated Women Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Programs for Incarcerated Women - Research Paper Example Previously, women in prison were arrested and incarcerated for violent crimes such as murder, poisoning and arson, but the last few decades saw that a growing number of new female inmates were inside a prison for non-violent crimes, meaning these are crimes which are economic in nature. This is not a surprising fact, given that a lot of female inmates belong to racial and ethnic or other minorities such as those belonging to the lower socio-economic classes or being uneducated. The negative effect of incarcerated mothers gave rise to innovative ideas and approaches when it comes to dealing with children whose mothers are in prison. Special attention was paid to their daughters, and that is how the Girl Scouts of the USA came out with their â€Å"Girl Scouts Beyond Bars† program which made a positive influence on people who would otherwise had lost hope. Keywords: daughters, drugs, economic, girl scouts, incarcerated, women in prison Introduction The issue of women in prison is a very sensitive topic for most people. Only lately has it caught the attention of policy makers, politicians and other interested parties because of the so-called women's movement, or feminism. The previous research on this subject was limited to the gender gap among highly visible political issues such as voting preferences between males and females, social equality discussions at the workplace, abortion rights and gender differences in attitudes towards crime and punishment. Some studies showed that most women, who feel that they are more vulnerable to crime due to their enhanced feelings of insecurity, usually favor a harsher and more severe punishment for convicted offenders to serve as deterrence. Female attitudes with regard to appropriate punishments include a longer prison sentence and capital punishment. The prevailing psychology in this regard is that punishment is used as deterrence for potential crime offenders and that the said punishment will somehow reduce crime in society. Women feel particularly vulnerable when it comes to certain crimes in which by their very nature, women are the predominant victims, such as domestic violence and rape. A general perception is that the two sexes have a different attitude towards crime and punishment, with women oriented to more â€Å"ethic in care† while men prefer the â€Å"ethic in equity of justice† by which criminals must be punished immediately with enough severity, sometimes by applying death penalty. Only lately has the issue of women in prison been brought out into the open and included in the public discourse. The feminists have done quite a job in highlighting the problems of women in prison, including the racial and economic differences found to be inherent in the criminal justice system, and in particular, how female prisoners fare. This topic is the subject of this paper. Discussion The previous focus of the women's movement had been on the perceived vulnerability of women to cert ain crimes targeting them specifically. This feeling of fear and insecurity is of a great consequence in terms of their feeling and perception as potential victims. However, a new feminist focus today is one on the problem of women ending up in prisons and all the other issues related to female incarceration. The prior years had been focused on women as victims, but this new tack in public discourse has now shifted to women as

Importance of Discrete Mathematics in Computer Science

Importance of Discrete Mathematics in Computer Science Computer science is the study of problems, problem solving and the solutions that come out of the problem solving process, B. Miller and D. Ranum (2013). A computer scientist goal is to develop an algorithm, a step by step list of instructions in solving a problem. Algorithms are finite processes that if followed will solve the problem Discrete mathematics is concerned with structures which take on a discrete value often infinite in nature. Just as the real-number system plays a crucial role in continuous mathematics, integers are the cornerstone in discrete mathematics. Discrete mathematics provides excellent modelling tools for analysing real-world phenomena that varies in one state or another and is a vital tool used in a wide range of applications, from computers to telephone call routing and from personnel assignments to genetics, E.R. Scheinerman (2000) cited in W. J. Rapaport 2013). The difference between discrete mathematics and other disciplines is the basic foundation on proof as its modus operandi for determining truth, whereas science for example, relies on carefully analysed experience. According to J. Barwise and J. Etchemendy, (2000), a proof is any reasoned argument accepted as such by other mathematicians. Discrete mathematics is the background behind many computer operations (A. Purkiss 2014, slide 2) and is therefore essential in computer science. According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2000), discrete mathematics is an essential part of the educational curriculum (Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, p. 31). K. H Rosen (2012) cites several important reasons for studying discrete mathematics including the ability to comprehend mathematical arguments. In addition he argues discrete mathematics is the gateway to advanced courses in mathematical sciences. This essay will discuss the importance of discrete mathematics in computer science. Furthermore, it will attempt to provide an understanding of important related mathematical concepts and demonstrate with evidence based research why these concepts are essential in computer science. The essay will be divided into sections. Section one will define and discuss the importance of discrete mathematics. The second section will focus on and discuss discrete structures and relationships with objects. The set theory would be used as an example and will give a brief understanding of the concept. The third section will highlight the importance of mathematical reasoning. Finally, the essay will conclude with an overview of why discrete mathematics is essential in computer science. Discrete Mathematics According to K. H. Rosen, (2012) discrete mathematics has more than one purpose but more importantly it equips computer science students with logical and mathematical skills. Discrete mathematics is the study of mathematics that underpins computer science, with a focus on discrete structures, for example, graphs, trees and networks, K H Rosen (2012). It is a contemporary field of mathematics widely used in business and industry. Often referred to as the mathematics of computers, or the mathematics used to optimize finite systems (Core-Plus Mathematics Project 2014). It is an important part of the high school mathematics curriculum. Discreet mathematics is a branch of mathematics dealing with objects that can assume only distinct separated values (mathworld wolfram.com). Discrete mathematics is used in contrast with continuous mathematics, a branch of mathematics dealing with objects that can vary smoothly including calculus (mathworld wolfram.com). Discrete mathematics includes graph theory, theory of computation, congruences and recurrence relations to name but a few of its associated topics (mathworld wolfram.com). Discrete mathematics deals with discrete objects which are separated from each other. Examples of discrete objects include integers, and rational numbers. A discrete object has known and definable boundaries which allows the beginning and the end to be easily identified. Other examples of discrete objects include buildings, lakes, cars and people. For many objects, their boundaries can be represented and modelled as either continuous or discrete, (Discrete and Continuous Data, 2008). A major reason discrete mathematics is essential for the computer scientist, is, it allows handling of infinity or large quantity and indefiniteness and the results from formal approaches are reusable. Discrete Structures To understand discrete mathematics a student must have a firm understanding of how to work with discrete structures. These discrete structures are abstract mathematical structures used to represent discrete objects and relationships between these objects. The discrete objects include sets, relations, permutations and graphs. Many important discrete structures are built using sets which are collections of objects K H Rosen (2012). Sets As stated by Cantor (1895: 282) cited in J. L. Bell (1998) a set is a collection of definite, well- differentiated objects. K. H Rosen (2012) states discrete structures are built using sets, which are collections of objects used extensively in counting problems; relations, sets of ordered pairs that represent relationships between objects, graphs, sets of vertices and edges that connect vertices and edges that connect vertices; and finite state machines, used to model computing machines. Sets are used to group objects together and often have similar properties. For example, all employees working for the same organisation make up a set. Furthermore those employees who work in the accounts department form a set that can be obtained by taking the elements common to the first two collections. A set is an unordered collection of objects, called elements or members of the set. A set is said to contain its elements. To denote that a is an element of the set A, we write a â‚ ¬ A. For example the set O of odd positive integers less than 10 can be expressed by O = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}. Another example is, {x |1 ≠¤ x ≠¤ 2 and x is a real number.} represents the set of real numbers between 1 and 2 and {x | x is the square of an integer and x ≠¤ 100} represents the set {0. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100}, (www.cs.odu.edu). Mathematical Reasoning Logic is the science for reasoning, Copi, (1971) and a collection of rules used in carrying out logical reasoning. The foundation for logic was laid down by the British mathematician George Boole. Logic is the basis of all mathematical reasoning and of all automated reasoning. It has practical applications to the design of computing machines, to the specification of systems, to artificial intelligence, to computer programming, to programming languages and to other areas of computer science, K H Rosen, (2012 page 1). Mathematical logic, starts with developing an abstract model of the process of reasoning in mathematics, D. W. Kucker page 1. Following the development of an abstract model a study of the model to determine some of its properties is necessary. The aim of logic in computer science is to develop languages to model the situations we encounter as computer science professionals, in such a way that we can reason about them formally. Reasoning about situations means constructing arguments about them; we want to do this formally, so that the arguments are valid and can be defended rigorously, or executed on a machine. In understanding mathematics we must understand what makes a correct mathematical argument, that is, a proof. As stated by C. Rota (1997) a proof is a sequence of steps which leads to the desired conclusion Proofs are used to verify that computer programs produce the correct result, to establish the security of a system and to create artificial intelligence. Logic is interested in true or false statements and how the truth or falsehood of a statement can be determined from other statements (www.cs.odu.edu). Logic is represented by symbols to represent arbitrary statements. For example the following statements are propositions â€Å"grass is green† and â€Å"2 + 2 = 5†. The first proposition has a truth value of â€Å"true† and the second â€Å"false†. According to S. Waner and S. R Constenoble (1996) a proposition is any declarative sentence which is either true or false. Many in the computing community have expressed the view that logic is an essential topic in the field of computer science (e.g., Galton, 1992; Gibbs Tucker, 1986; Sperschneider Antoniou, 1991). There has also been concern that the introduction of logic to computer science students has been and is being neglected (e.g., Dijkstra, 1989; Gries, 1990). In their article â€Å"A review of several programs for the teaching of logic†, Goldson, Reeves and Bornat (1993) stated: There has been an explosion of interest in the use of logic in computer science in recent years. This is in part due to theoretical developments within academic computer science and in part due to the recent popularity of Formal Methods amongst software engineers. There is now a widespread and growing recognition that formal techniques are central to the subject and that a good grasp of them is essential for a practising computer scientist. (p. 373). In his paper â€Å"The central role of mathematical logic in computer science†, Myers (1990) provided an extensive list of topics that demonstrate the importance of logic to many core areas in computer science and despite the fact that many of the topics in Myers list are more advanced than would be covered in a typical undergraduate program, the full list of topics covers much of the breadth and depth of the curriculum guidelines for computer science, Tucker (1990). The model program report (IEEE, 1983) described discrete mathematics as a subject area of mathematics that is crucial to computer science and engineering. The discrete mathematics course was to be a pre or co requisite of all 13 core subject areas except Fundamentals of Computing which had no pre requisites. However in Shaw’s (1985) opinion the IEEE program was strong mathematically but disappointing due to a heavy bias toward hardware and its failure to expose basic connections between hardware and software. In more recent years a task force had been set up to deve lop computer science curricula with the creation of a document known as the Denning Report, (Denning, 1989). The report became instrumental in developing computer science curriculum. In a discussion of the vital role of mathematics in the computing curriculum, the committee stated, mathematical maturity, as commonly attained through logically rigorous mathematics courses is essential to successful mastery of several fundamental topics in computing, (Tucker, 1990, p.27). It is generally agreed that students in undergraduate computer science programs should have a strong basis in mathematics and attempts to recommend which mathematics courses should be required, the number of mathematics courses and when the courses should be taken have been the source of much controversy (Berztiss, 1987; Dijkstra, 1989; Gries, 1990; Ralston and Shaw, 1980; Saiedian 1992). A central theme in the controversy within the computer science community has been the course discrete mathematics. In 1989, the Mathematical Association of America published a report about discrete mathematics at the undergraduate level (Ralston, 1989). The report made some recommendations including offering discrete mathematics courses with greater emphasis on problem solving and symbolic reasoning (Ralston, 1989; Myers, 1990). Conclusion The paper discussed the importance of discrete mathematics in computer science and its significance as a skill for the aspiring computer scientist. In addition some examples of this were highlighted including its usefulness in modelling tools to analyse real world events. This includes its wide range of applications such as computers, telephones, and other scientific phenomena. The next section looked at discrete structures as a concept of abstract mathematical structures and the development of set theory a sub topic within discrete mathematics. The essay concluded with a literature review of evidence based research in mathematical reasoning where various views and opinions of researchers, academics and other stakeholders were discussed and explored. The review makes clear of the overwhelming significance and evidence stacked in favour for students of computer science courses embarking on discrete mathematics. Overall, it is generally clear that pursuit of a computer science course w ould most definitely need the associated attributes in logical thinking skills, problem solving skills and a thorough understanding of the concepts. In addition the review included views of an increased interest in the use of logic in computer science in recent years. Furthermore formal techniques have been acknowledged and attributed as central to the subject of discrete mathematics in recent years. References A. Purkiss 2014, Lecture 1: Course Introduction and Numerical Representation, Birkbeck University. B. Miller and D. Ranum 2013. Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures: accessed on [18.01.15] Berztiss, A. (1987). A mathematically focused curriculum for computer science. Communications of the ACM, 30 (5), 356–365. Copi, I. M. (1979). Symbolic Logic (5th ed.). New York: Macmillan Core-Plus Mathematics Project 2014: Discrete Mathematics available at http://www.wmich.edu/cpmp/parentresource/discrete.html [accessed on 25.01.14] 6. D W Kucker Notes on Mathematical Logic; University of Maryland, College Park. Available at http://www.math.umd.edu/~dkueker/712.pdf Accessed on [24.01.15] Denning, P. J. (chair). (1989). Computing as a discipline. Communications of the ACM, 32 (1), 9–23. Dijkstra, E. W. (1989). On the cruelty of really teaching computing science. Communications of the ACM, 32 (12), 1398–1404. Discrete and Continuous Data, (2008). Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Available at http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.2/index.cfm?TopicName=Discrete%20and%20continuous%20data [accessed on 18.01.15]. Discrete Structures (2010) available at http://www.cs.odu.edu/~toida/nerzic/content/schedule/schedule.html#day3 [accessed on 25.01.15] Edward R. Scheinerman (2000), Mathematics, A Discrete Introduction (Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA, 2000): xvii–xviii. Cited in W. J. Rapaport (2013). Discrete Structures. What is Discrete Maths? available from http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/191/whatisdiscmath.html-20130629 accessed on [25.01.2015] Galton, A. (1992). Logic as a Formal Method. The Computer Journal 35 (5), 431–440 Gibbs, N. E., Tucker, A. B. (1986). A model curriculum for a liberal arts degree in computer science. Communications of the ACM 29 (3), 202–210 Goldson, D., Reeves, S., Bornat, R. (1993). A review of several programs for the teaching of logic. The Computer Journal, 36 (4), 373–386. Gries, D. (1990). Calculation and discrimination: A more effective curriculum. Communications of the ACM. 34 (3). 44–55. 16. http://www.cs.odu.edu/~toida/nerzic/content/intro2discrete/intro2discrete.html : Introduction to Discrete Structures What’s and Whys IEEE Model Program Committee. (1983). The 1983 IEEE Computer Society Model Program in Computer Science and Engineering. IEEE Computer Society. Educational Activities Board J. Barwise and J. Etchemendy, Language, Proof and Logic, Seven Bridges Press, New York, 2000, ISBN 1-889119-08-3. J. L. Bell Oppositions and Paradoxes in Mathematics and Philosophy available at http://publish.uwo.ca/~jbell/Oppositions%20and%20Paradoxes%20in%20Mathematics2.pdf accessed on [25.01.2015] 20. K. H Rosen 2012 Discrete Mathematics and its Applications, 7edn, Monmouth University. Myers, Jr. J. P. (1990). The Central role of mathematical logic in computer science. SIGCSE Bulletin, 22 (1), 22–26. Ralston, A. (Ed.) (1989). Discrete Mathematics in the First Two Years. MAA Notes No. 15. The Mathematical Association of America. Ralston, A., Shaw, M. (1980). Curriculum 78 Is computer science really that unmathematical? Communications of the ACM, 23 (2), 67–70. Rota, G.-C. (1997). The phenomenology of mathematical proof. Syntheses, 111:183-196. S. Waner S. R. Costenoble (1996) Introduction to Logic. Saiedian, H. (1992). Mathematics of computing. Computer Science Education, 3 (3), 203-221. Shaw, M. (Ed.) (1985). The Carnegie-Mellon Curriculum for Undergraduate Computer Science. New York: Springer-Verlag Sperschneider, V., Antoniou, G. (1991). Logic: A foundation for computer science International Computer Science Series. Reading, MA: Addison- Wesley The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2000). Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. Tucker, A. B. (Ed.) (1990). Computing Curricula 1991: Report of the ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Curriculum Task Force Final Draft, December 17. ACM Order Number 201910. IEEE Computer Society Press Order Number 2220

Effects of Biological and Chemical Warfare Essay examples -- Biologica

â€Å"The gas instantly caused severe burning in their throats and lung. The men clutched their chests, coughed, and gasped for breath. Attempts to shield themselves from the gas were largely futile. Many tried to burrow their noses and mouths or to cover them with cloth, but the moist, dense poison penetrated everything† (Taylor 17). Those were the effects of chlorine quoted by an eyewitness. The gases and biological agents used against people in war are very cruel. They cause lots of deaths in short periods of time, leaving lasting effects wherever they are unleashed. These weapons are very volatile and in small doses can cause mass destruction worldwide. No matter how they are used, they still leave a lasting effect on the planet and the inhabitants of it. Over the course of time, biological and chemical weapons have been used to take over the battlefield, but the future effects of these have not been considered. Biological weapons are pathogenic microbes including viruses, bacteria, rickettsia, toxins, and any other living agent that is harmful to living things (McCarthy 1). The major difference between chemical and biological weapons is that chemicals injure directly, and biological agents injure indirectly through disease (McCarthy 1). Pathogens are categorized by how they are delivered (McCarthy 1). The majority of pathogens can be carried by any agricultural pest, insect, tick, rodent, or flea (McCarthy 1). Contact diseases include Ebola, dengue fever, smallpox, yellow fever, and plague (McCarthy 1). Water and food borne diseases include dysentery, E coli, Salmonella, cholera, and typhoid (Hutchinson 237). Viral pathogens include smallpox, equine, dengue fever, yellow fever, and psittacosis (Hutchinson 238). Ebola is passed... ...gents, each with the ability to cause disease that spreads throughout the world, killing many people, and only stoppable with certain antibiotics or vaccines. There are numerous chemical agents used during the past wars of the world, some so deadly that they were disapproved, and some were even so inhumane that the people who used them rebelled against using them. As these weapons become more used, the less it seems that people care about the effects that they cause, and many people could therefore suffer greatly at the moment or in the future because of someone’s mistake. There are weapons of these being built that significantly surpass the protection levels in the world currently, and one little slip could be disastrous for all. Perhaps someday everyone will realize the dangers of these weapons, or they will keep using them, dooming all people to a horrid death.

Exam on inpatient and outpatient codinhg Essay

1. The three goals of the Physicians Payment Reform are to decrease Medicare expenditures. As well as redistribute physician’s payments more equitably. Also to ensure quality health care at a reasonable rate. 2. I would use modifier -57, decision for surgery with the E/M code for this case. Due to the E/M service and the decision for surgery were made earlier that same day. 3. There are three components of the relative value unit the first component is work, which is the amount of time, the intensity of effort and the technical expertise required for the physician to provide the service. The second would be the overhead component also known as the practice expense, it is identified as the allocation of cost associated with the physicians practice (ex. Staffing) that must be expended in order to provide a service. The third component is malpractice and is identified as the cost of the medical malpractice insurance coverage/ risk associated with providing the service. 4. People age 65 and older, along with patients who are experiencing end-stage renal disease are both eligible for Medicare. As well as people who are eligible for disability benefits from social security, they are too covered by the Medicare program. 5. To find the main terms in the index of the CPT you must use these basic location methods, you must search by the service or the procedure, the anatomic site, condition or disease. You also could use synonyms, eponym’s or abbreviations to find main terms in the index. 6. The E/M code 99253 would be used to report an initial impatient consultation. With a detailed history and exam along with a MDM of low complexity. 7. There are many elements when considering the correct E/M code. There are four elements of history which include chief complaint, history of present illness, as well as review of symptoms and past, family, and/or social history. 8. The complexity of medical decision making is base doff of three elements which are the number of diagnosis or management options. These options can be minimal, limited, multiple or extensive. The nest element is the amount and/or the complexity of data to review. The data can be minimal or none, limited, moderate or extensive. The last element of medical decision making is the risk of complication or death if the condition goes untreated. This risk can be minimal, low, moderate or high. 9. The correct CPT code is 99214 due to the detailed history. As well as the detailed exam and a MDM of moderate complexity. 10. There are three key components present in every patient’s case except counseling encounters and/or time based codes. The three components are the history, the level of examination, the level of medical decision making. These components allow us coders to choose the appropriate level of service.

Why Do NaNoWriMo

Why Do NaNoWriMo For half a million writers worldwide the month of November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). As a  NaNoWriMo  mentor and writer its the highlight of my writing year. Have you considered it? The NaNoWriMo challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days began in 1999. Its a non-profit effort run mostly for Elephants">Water for Elephants. The regions are supported Is there a prize? No. NaNoWrio isnt a writing competition, its a creative challenge. Its benefits include discounts on writing tools, bragging rights, improved writing resume, increased creativity, finding a local writing community, and most importantly, a first draft of your book. Does it have to be in November? November doesnt suit everybody. You could try  Camp NaNo. It runs in April and July and is a smaller event with more flexible targets. I used it to start a short fiction collection. Others complete a novel, edit a book, or write a script – your choice. Is there a cost? No, it runs on writer donations. Is it possible? Yes, but must commit to it. Statistically 17 percent  of writers finish NaNoWriMo but weve pushed that to 40 percent in my region thanks to advance preparation. Telling your friends and family gives you cheerleaders. Planning your plot and  characters and doing some research helps you face the blank page. Scheduling two hours for writing daily will keep you on track. Freezing dinners and turning off the TV will create writing time. When struggling to meet my word count I hand the WiFi router to my husband. Will it get me published? No, but its a start. My small region now has several published writers who still participate in NaNo annually. One poet self-published her collection and runs the poetry performances in the regional arts festival. A romance novelist has her first childrens book out. A zombie-thriller writer is a national novel contest finalist. What you do with your book after NaNoWriMo is up to you, but meeting other writers is inspirational. Why bother? I get asked this often and I have many answers. Writing a book in November gives me work to edit and submit for the rest of the year. Writing daily (as Hope recommends) gives  me a more professional approach to my work. NaNoWriMo encourages  me to try new genres and restored the fun in my writing. I meet other writers and built a year-round network. NaNoWriMo provides plenty of support apart from your local mentor. Theres a blog and published authors interact and inspire via  #NaNoCoach. The discounts on writing tools are hand,  and I enjoy my winners certificates and web-badges. Exclusive pep talks from bestsellers like  Neil Gaiman,  Diana Gabaldon, and  John Green  are fantastic. First-timers worry about the deadline but shouldnt. Even if you dont reach 50,000 words you will definitely write more than normally that you would otherwise in November. If you prefer to write plays, poetry or short fiction, join us anyhow. You get a cool title – NaNoRebel. If you write, youre welcome. This November consider becoming participant 500,001. NaNoWriMo Resources  ·      Ã‚  Ã‚  nanowrimo.org  ·         http://ywp.nanowrimo.org  Ã‚   Young Writers Programme (age 17 and under)  ·         http://campnanowrimo.org/about   Camp NaNo  ·         http://nanowrimo.org/pep-talks   Exclusive Pep Talks archive  ·         http://blog.nanowrimo.org/ Blog free cover contest  ·         http://nanowrimo.org/sponsor-offers   Offers for winners and participants

How to Begin a Sentence With And or But

How to Begin a Sentence With 'And' or 'But' According to a usage note in the fourth edition of The American Heritage Dictionary, But may be used to begin a sentence at all levels of style. And in The Kings English (1997), Kingsley Amis says that the idea that and must not begin a sentence, or even a paragraph, is an empty superstition. The same goes for but. Indeed either word can give unimprovably early warning of the sort of thing that is to follow.   The same point was made over a century ago by Harvard rhetorician Adams Sherman Hill: Objection is sometimes taken to employment of but or and at the beginning of a sentence; but for this, there is much good usage (The Principles of Rhetoric, 1896). In fact, it has been common practice to begin sentences with a conjunction since at least as far back as the 10th century. The Usage Myth Persists Still, the myth persists that and and but should be used only to join elements within a sentence, not to link one sentence to another. Here, for instance, is an edict found recently on an English professors Composition Cheat Sheet: Never begin a sentence with a conjunction of any kind, especially one of the FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so ). This same fussbudget, by the way, outlaws the splitting of infinitives  - another durable grammar myth. But at least the professor is in good company. Early in his career, William Shawn, longtime editor of The New Yorker magazine, had a penchant for converting sentence-initial buts into howevers. As Ben Yagoda reports in When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It (2007), Shawns habit inspired one of the magazines writers, St. Clair McKelway, to compose this impassioned defense of but: If you are trying for an effect which comes from having built up a small pile of pleasant possibilities which you then want to push over as quickly as possible, dashing the readers hopes that he is going to get out of a nasty situation as easily as you have intentionally led him to believe, you have got to use the word but and it is usually more effective if you begin the sentence with it. But love is tricky means one thing, and however, love is tricky means anotheror at least gives the reader a different sensation. However indicates a philosophical sigh; but presents an insuperable obstacle. . . .But, when used as I used it in these two places, is, as a matter of fact, a wonderful word. In three letters it says a little of however, and also be that as it may, and also heres something you werent expecting and a number of other phrases along that line. There is no substitute for it. It is short and ugly and common. But I love it. Know Your Audience Still, not everybody loves initial but. The authors of Keys for Writers (2014) note that some readers may raise an eyebrow when they see and or but starting a sentence in an academic paper, especially if it happens often. So if you dont want to see eyebrows raised, ration your use of these words at the beginnings of sentences.   But in any event, dont start scratching out your ands and  buts on my account.

The Great Depresion Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Great Depresion - Research Paper Example Poverty was a major issue of that time as above 60 per cent people lived below the poverty level. The uneven division of wealth between the rich and the poor was the consequence of unequal distribution of funds and resources between agriculture and industry. Hundreds of thousands of Americans became unemployed during the Great Depression. The Great Depression marked the commencement of involvement of the government of America into the society in general and the economy in particular. The decade before 1929 was fairly prosperous and opportunistic for the American people. Then one day, on 29 October, 1929, the Great Depression started with the crash of the stock market. â€Å"During the next three years stock prices in the United States continued to fall, until by late 1932 they had dropped to only about 20 percent of their value in 1929† (Nelson n.d.). Panic struck the Americans as the stock prices fell down without any indication of recovery. This caused Americans to start sel ling their possessions in large numbers while the number of purchasers constantly declined. The stock market that seemed an obvious means to gain financial stability, rapidly transformed into the way to bankruptcy. The first and the foremost sufferers of the crash of the stock market were the banks which had taken money from the public and had invested in the stock markets. Crash of the stock market caused those banks to get closed. Closing of the banks added to the panic of the people of America. In an attempt to save their money by withdrawing it from the banks that were still open, Americans rushed towards the banks. The open banks were forced to close by such a massive withdrawal of savings. The banks were left with nothing to do business from. Lack of the ability of people to recover their savings from the bank after it had closed caused many who could not make it to the banks in time become bankrupt. The failure of banks was so immense that above 11000 of some 25000 bank in Am erica had closed between 1929 and 1933. â€Å"[T]hroughout the whole of this period there existed in one of the chief financial centres of the world a lack of balance between long- and short- term investment which was itself conducive to disequilibrium and latent with dangers of extensive catastrophe, should anything occur to disturb the insecure prosperity elsewhere† (Robbins 2007). The Great Depression also affected the business and industry in America. Companies started to downsize and reduce the salaries of their employees after they had lost a major portion of their equity in the bank closures and the crash of the stock market. On the other hand, there was an immense decline in the number of consumers as people controlled their savings, only to spend on things they could not live without rather than things that provided them with luxury. This attitude of the consumers served as a disincentive for the businesses and they were left with no option but to fire the employees and reduce the salaries of the remnants. Some businesses completely shattered and all of the employees were left unemployed. In any of such hard times that preceded the Great Depression, one community that was always able to survive was that of farmers as they at least used to have the stock to feed themselves. The Great Depression was a hard time even for the farmers as their plains were hit by a drought and a lot of powerful storms. The drought is

Many companies argue that they search for synergies between the Essay

Many companies argue that they search for synergies between the business in their portfolio.do you think this is a realstic aspiration in aswering this qustio - Essay Example In business, the term describes a hoped-for or real effect resulting from different individuals, departments, or processes or portfolios of a business or companies working together and bringing about higher productivity and revenues than those of the sum of the individual elements or processes or portfolios of the business. This kind of advantage may be derived from the combined or cooperative efforts of different lines of business of an enterprise and or from the merger of two companies in the same line of business or industry. In fact, synergy is the magic word often bandied about to justify mergers and acquisitions. We shall consider in this paper the nature, content and the extent of synergy that may be generated in both these categories of business combination. However, at the outset itself, it needs to be said as Addison's Sir Roger de Coverly had often declared years ago that "much may be said on both sides of the question". (Joseph Addison) Currently, many of the world economies are 'knowledge-based', heavily dependent on and driven by innovative technology. Any business which cannot adapt itself to the exacting demands of such an economic environment may find it difficult to survive long in the hustle and clamour of the competitive world in which it has its existence. Today's management has to be strategically equipped for the situation. Synergy supplies that strategic equipment. And a management so equipped will focus on the whole, and not on the parts, of a conglomerate business and will work on the interface of components, on their links and binding factors, and on the potential for the whole system to achieve results that are greater than the sum of the parts. A corporation that builds on core competencies utilises skills that combine to strengthen value chains and build greater competitive advantages. This leads to synergies among business units, which help them to become more productive together than independent ly. The collection of skills used in this situation may be largely intangible, but corporations can and do build synergies by sharing tangible resources. Corporate strategy seeks to develop synergies by sharing and coordinating staff and other resources across business units, investing financial resources across business units, and using business units to complement other corporate business activities. In the language of simple arithmetic logic, if two horses can pull 9,000 pounds, four horses can pull 18,000 pounds. Sounds reasonable - but in the language of synergy, it is wrong! Four horses in combination will be able to pull over 30,000 pounds! It is synergy that makes the difference. A few examples For instance, Ford Motor Company's different brands have their own strengths and systems. The organization unites them together with shared data and compatible systems. Their different high-tech and consumer-focused businesses have imparted the potential of impressive revenue growth, and supplied the synergies for maximum benefit. Another example is that of Toyota. Its global competitive advan