Comparing Dover Beach and Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock...

A Comparison of the Victorian and Modernist Perceptions as Exemplified by Dover Beach and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Matthew Arnold and T.S. Eliot, in their respective poems, share a sense of alienation, not only from other people but from nature and God as well. Arnold is writing in an age when the place of man in the universe is coming into question, for the first time since the advent of Christianity. He can no longer take the same solace in nature and the love of God that his Romantic predecessors did. While Arnold comments on isolation, however, he still addresses himself to a lover in Dover Beach, whereas Prufrock is presented as a man who has completely retreated within himself. Eliots isolation is total. In†¦show more content†¦Nature no longer retains its importance in an era where the precepts of the Bible are being widely questioned. Romantics admired the natural world not only because it was beautiful of itself, but because it was a constant reminder of the presence of Gods hand everywhere. Such revelations as Darwins theory of evolution, and the discovery of a geologic record indicating that the Earth is much older than formerly imagined, make all Biblical history, and therefore the Christian god himself, suspect. Human beings are no longer central to the workings of the universe -- we, along with everything else that once seemed a wonderful creation, are now merely the results of genetic serendipity. This is what J. Alfred Prufrock means when he says he has seen the moment of [his] greatness flicker. This scientific perception of eternity, which was deeply entrenched in the popular psyche by Eliots time, creates blind panic in Mr. Prufrock. Eliot also anticipates the nondiscriminatory view of death that was realized during the Great War. The realization that Prufrocks life is a mere eyeblink in history fills him with a kind of hysteria that there wont be any time for him, that he will be old far too soon. His wish to squeeze the universe into a ball might indicate a desire to retreat back into a smaller, more familiar world, where things were more certain. Like anyone whoShow MoreRelatedThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock986 Words   |  4 PagesIn The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Eliot and Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold the poets utilizes poetic devices to convey their respective themes. Through use of symbols and metaphors, the speaker in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock displays his fears of the changes brought with the younger generation, and isolation from the changing society. The speaker in Dover Beach, utilizes symbols, metaphors, and similes to state that the younger generation has less faith than the older, and society

Conformity Free Essays

The Price of Nonconformity Defiance is a daring and bold resistance to authority or society. In any group, whether a neighborhood, team, or school, there is a certain ethical and moral code that people are expected to abide by, and therefore defiance is not welcome. However, every group has its individuals, people who break the mold and go against the grain. We will write a custom essay sample on Conformity or any similar topic only for you Order Now Actions made by individuals that shake the foundations of a society’s beliefs are seen in negative light, and as a result, the individual faces animosity. Nonconformity and defiance to a society’s customs lead to great implications for the individual. In the novel The Chocolate War, Jerry’s friendship with Roland Goubert deteriorates in correlation with Jerry’s nonconformity. Popularly referred to as â€Å"The Goober,† Roland is Jerry’s only real ally in the novel. The Goober is a peaceful figure who hates strain and contention and gets along with Jerry who shares Goober’s mild behavior (Cormier 100). The chocolate sale, however, drives a wedge between the two’s easy friendship. Goober responds with fear and apprehension when Jerry relates his plan to refuse the chocolates. He entreats Jerry to appease the school and sell the chocolates, and Jerry’s empty response to Goober’s plea starts the division in their friendship. â€Å"Jerry’s lone protest is partly inspired by a poster displayed in the back of his Buda 2 locker. It shows a man walking alone on the beach, with a captioned quote from poet T. S. Eliot: ‘Do I dare disturb the universe? ’ Beyond answering this challenge Jerry has no satisfactory explanation for his friend The Goober, or for himself, as to why he is still refusing to sell the chocolates† (Telgen). As a result, Goober refuses to participate on the football team, which greatly upsets Jerry and widens the fissure between them. After sharing their conflicting positions on the way to the bus stop one morning, the two feel separated. â€Å"They sat in sadness. Finally, they gathered their books, got up, and walked in silence to the bus stop† (Cormier 160). One’s nonconformity can also cause him to be subjected to psychological warfare. Archie Costello has a keen and disturbing talent for inflicting psychological damage on his subjects. Because Jerry defies the Vigils, Archie focuses his â€Å"talent† on Jerry. Jerry receives frequent, anonymous phones calls at all hours of the night. When Jerry answers, there is only silence; and then the people on the other line chuckle, privately, at some intimate joke (Cormier 191). This scheme proves very effective in penetrating into Jerry’s mind. â€Å"In bed once more, small in the dark, Jerry willed his body to loosen, to relax. After a while, sleep plucked at him with soft fingers, soothing away the ache. But the phone rang in his dreams all night long† (Cormier 220). The morning after his first night phone call, Jerry goes to his locker and finds that someone vandalized his poster and slashed his shoes. His poster that inspired his nonconformity had been smeared with something that appeared to be blue paint, and the message had been virtually obliterated into a grotesque jumble of unconnected letters (Cormier 192). After this event, Jerry feels as if someone is trying to send him a deliberate message. Archie further psychologically attacks Jerry by secretly taking Jerry’s homework assignment after he turns it in. Jerry claims he left his watercolor project on the teacher’s desk the day before, but Buda 3 the substitute, Brother Andrew, doubts him. â€Å"Jerry sighed quietly, in resignation. He knew that brother Andrew wouldn’t find the drawing there. He wanted to turn, to scan the faces of the kids in the class, to find that one kid who’d be gloating in satisfaction. Hey, you’re getting paranoid, he told himself† (Cormier 195). Despite all the plots against him, Jerry decides to keep disturbing the universe. Unfortunately, more problems inevitably follow as Jerry becomes firm in his conviction. Jerry is made an outcast in the eyes of the students at Trinity. Archie states that nobody defines the Vigils and gets away with it (Cormier 148). As one method of punishing Jerry, the Vigils make a point of separating Jerry and turning him into an outsider. The Vigils achieve this by interfering with the chocolate sale. The Vigils rally school support for the chocolate sale and make sure every boy meets his quota of fifty boxes except for Jerry (Peck). Jerry also starts to feel that he is invisible at school. As he walks through the corridors, students give him a wide berth. Nobody brushes against him, and guys step out of his path. Jerry believes that the teachers are part of the conspiracy too. They let their eyes slide over him, looking elsewhere when Jerry tried to catch their attention. Once, he waved his hand frantically to answer a question but the teacher ignored him† (Cormier 224). At first, Jerry feels like someone is trying to obliterate him and remove all traces of his existence, but after a while he begins to enjoy his absence of identity. Jerry relaxes, feeling as if he no longer has to be on his guard. His feelings of security, however, disappear when the students drop the cold shoulder act and move on to a much worse form of punishment. Buda 4 Often, it is only a matter a time before a nonconformist faces violence. Jerry realizes that the football field becomes a place where people can abuse him unmercifully. The athletic department provides for the testing of individuals, including each one’s willingness and ability to withstand physical abuse; the football field is an arena where violence is ritualized, sanctioned, and even demanded (Carter, Harris). At football practice one day, Jerry gets viciously tackled from behind, and he wonders who attacked him (â€Å"The Chocolate War†). Emile Janza also sets out to hurt Jerry and assembles a group of kids for an attack. Emile confronts Jerry alone after football practice. Emile calls Jerry a fairy, and when Jerry returns with crude remark Emile’s band of kids emerge from their hiding places to beat up Jerry. Emile and Jerry’s battle with each other reaches its height when Archie sets them both up to participate in a boxing match in front of the entire student body. â€Å"The undercurrent of physical bullying in the school, represented by Emile Janza, encourages our expectation that the larger battle will end in a key confrontation† (Peck). Archie puts a spin on the fight; he creates a raffle that dictates the moves of the boxing match, making it practically impossible for Jerry to win. Voices overwhelmingly cry from the crowd of students for Janza to kill his opponent. Jerry is alone out there, at the mercy of the students who recently decided that he was not a revolutionary at all, but rather someone who considered himself better than them (â€Å"The Chocolate War). Artists, including musicians and painters, have recognized and addressed the hardships and isolation of nonconformists in their works. The song â€Å"Minority† by the American band Green Day exemplifies an individual’s nonconformity. The lyrics â€Å"Stepped out of the line like a sheep runs from the herd† (Metro Lyrics), imply that an individual is rebelling against a group. The word â€Å"herd† suggests a like-minded group that acts together and therefore is robbed of their Buda 5 individuality. â€Å"A face in the crowd unsung, against the mold. Without a doubt singled out the only way I know† (Metro Lyrics). These lyrics demonstrate the isolation one faces as a result of nonconformity. If someone is â€Å"Marching out of time† (Metro Lyrics), they are turned into a minority, as evident in Jerry’s case when students treat him as an outsider. The painting, â€Å"Wake up America† by American artist Jon McNaughton symbolizes going against society. The painting makes a political statement while also expressing the idea of defiance. â€Å"There are all types of people bound together by the same problem we all face: our national debt. But strangely enough, most people don’t even seem to realize what is happening to them† (McNaughton). The people in this painting are bound by the national debt just like the students at Trinity are bound by the chocolate sale. The Trinity students carry out the sale unaware of its deeper purpose of keeping authority concentrated in the hands of Brother Leon. The painting suggests that Obama is like Leon in the sense that Obama gains power from the very debt that chains American taxpayers. The man in the foreground sawing off his chain is like Jerry breaking free from the grip of the chocolate sale. Like Jerry, the man escaping from the group will certainly face hostility. In fact, the woman behind him is already pointing him out to the group. For most individuals, protesting a society’s ethical and moral standards ultimately proves to be a losing battle. Even if a person fosters change among a group, it is only after facing numerous consequences. â€Å"Jerry’s protest is not easy for him to carry out, but he gains a new identity through his actions. What this idea becomes in the novel is the concept of being true to oneself and standing up to the evil that one perceives in the world. The only character that is true Buda 6 to himself in the novel is Jerry — but at a terrible price† (Peck). Individuals face conflict with the values of society or society at large as a result of an idea that they espouse or an action that they commit. Individuality may be described as the consciousness of the individual as to what he is and how he lives. The very essence of individuality is expression; the sense of dignity and independence is the soil wherein it thrives. Man’s thirst for liberation from authority and power will never be quenched despite the fact that society operates against people who refuse to conform. Consequences such as isolation, emotional damage, and violence are the price an individual must pay along his quest for freedom from every shackle. How to cite Conformity, Papers Conformity Free Essays Asch’s Study on Conformity The following essay will briefly outline Solomon Asch’s classic study on conformity (Asch, S. E. ,1956). We will write a custom essay sample on Conformity or any similar topic only for you Order Now , highlight the importance of the study in the field of psychology, ask if one gender tends to conform over another, explain the reasons why people conform to social norms and discuss the factors affecting conformity. Have you ever wondered why groups of teenagers dress and wear their hair so similarly? Or why people order the same dish as their partner at a restaurant? Or why people queue in an orderly fashion at the supermarket? These are all examples of social conformity and when you look closer at our social world, they are all around us. The aim of Solomon Asch’s conformity experiment (Baron, R. A. , Branscombe, N. R. , Byrne, D. , 2009) was to investigate the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could affect a person to conform. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions and involved only one real participant and 7 confederates. The real participant was unaware that there were confederates involved and was informed that it was a visual perception study. The participants had to match a standard line length to three comparison line lengths that were shown on two separate cards and announce their answer out loud. The 7 confederates were always first to answer, leaving the real participant last to act each time. On particular occasions (12 out of 18), known as clinical trials, the confederates unanimously chose a comparison line that was clearly incorrect. Each participant took part in the experiment several times. The results showed (Baron et al. , 2009) that over the course of several studies 76 % of the participants conformed with the rest of the group’s incorrect answers at least once and 37% of the participants went along with the confederate’s incorrect consensus overall. Asch also put a control group in place where adversely only 5% made such errors. In later experiments, Asch slightly varied the conditions of the experiment where one of the confederates answered correctly, agreeing with the real participant. This broke the group’s unanimity and conformity dropped to 5%. â€Å"Apparently, a single ally is all you need to â€Å"stick to your guns† and resist the pressure to conform† (Hock, R. , 2004). Further research (Morris, W. N. , Miller, R. S. , Spangenberg, S. , 1977) supports this, whereby the experiment was recreated with 1 of the confederates giving the correct answer, going against the group consensus. The researchers found that the level of conformity depended on at what stage the confederate agreed with the participant’s correct answer, early or late in the process. It now seems clear that early agreement with one’s implicit response serves to solidify or strengthen the implicit response, making conformity less likely† (Morris et al. , 1977). Further research (Asch, S. E. ,1956). , also showed that when the participant did not say his answer out loud but wrote it down, the level of conformity dropped. â€Å"Often, it appears, we follow social norms overtly but don’t actually change our private views† (Maas, A. , ; Clark, R. D. III, 1984 as cited in Social Psychology, Baron et al. ). This shows the distinction between public conformity and private acceptance. Asch’s study on conformity was important in the field of psychology because â€Å"the real power of social pressure to conform was demonstrated clearly and scientifically for the first time† (Hock, R. , 2004). Many researchers (Crutchfield, R. S. ,1955, Morris et al. , 1977, Mori, K. , ; Arai, M. , 2010) that have reconstructed Asch’s original study or conducted similar studies support the original findings for the most part. A very clever variation of the study was devised (Mori et al. 2010) without the use of confederates whereby the participants wore two types of polarized sunglasses during the critical trials which depending on the filtering of green or magenta at the top of the comparison lines would make the lines longer or shorter. This study used both men and women where Asch’s experiment only involved men. â€Å"The results showed that, in line with Asch’s basic f indings, the minority women participants conformed to the majority. However, the study produced two different results: While minority women conformed, minority men did not. Contrary to Asch’s findings, the frequency of conformity of minority participants was almost the same regardless of whether the majority answered unanimously or not† (Mori et al. , 2010). This asks the question whether men and women differ in their tendency to conform. Researchers (Sistrunk, F. , ; McDavid, J. W. ,1971) carried out an experiment to try and find out if one gender has a tendency to conform more than another. The researchers concluded that gender did not affect the likelihood to conform but â€Å"a disregard for particular characteristics of the ehaving male or female together with the particular nature of the judgmental tasks which have been employed in experimental studies of conformity may have contributed to artificially inflated observations of sex-determined differences† (Sistrunk et al. ) But why do people conform? Asch interviewed the participants of his experiment afterwards and asked them why they went along with the general consensus of th e group. Many of the participants simply replied because they did not want to feel stupid or embarrassed. This supports the theory (League, B. , ; Jackson, D. N. , 1964) of the connection between conformity and self-esteem. â€Å"Research in the area of conformity generally supports the hypothesis that persons with low self-value tend to be more conformant to social pressures than persons with high self-value† (League, B. , ; Jackson, D. N. , 1964). Other factors that can increase conformity are the cohesiveness of the group. There is a mounting body of evidence (Crandall, C. S. , 1988, Latane, B. , ; L’Herrou, T. 1996) that suggests that the more attracted or committed to the group you are a part of, the more likely you are to conform. Two groups of college girls in sororities were studied (Crandall, C. S. , 1988) with respect to popularity patterns and binge eating. In sorority alpha the further from the mean level of binge eating was correlated with being less popular. In sorority beta the more the women binged the more popular she was. â€Å"Most important, however, is the correlation which directly indicates social influence:  Women became more like their friends over time. (Crandall, C. S. , 1988). Another factor that can influence conformity is the size of the group. Conformity was originally thought by researchers (Gerard, H. B. , Wilhemly, R. A. , Conolley, E. S. , 1968) to increase with group size but it would seem to plateau up to three or more members. â€Å"The major hypothesis of the present study, which was not supported, was that the independent condition would show a linear increase in conformity through all group sizes† (Gerard et al. ). But later research (Bond, R. , Smith, P. B. , 1996), a meta-analysis of 133 Asch-like line judgement studies from 17 countries showed that conformity tends to increase up to 8 group members and then level off. The meta-analysis conducted by (Bond et al. , 1996) was to examine whether conformity has changed over time and whether culture plays a significant role in conformity levels. The results (focusing on analysis conducted only in the U. S. ) showed that â€Å"levels of conformity in general had steadily declined since Asch’s studies in the early 1950s† (Bond et al. , 1996). The hypothesis that conformity in collectivist cultures (China, Asia) would be higher than in individualistic cultures (US, Europe) from analyses of cultural values from studies (Hofstede, 1980,  1983,  Schwartz, 1994, Trompenaars, 1993) was confirmed. â€Å"Moreover, the impact of the cultural variables was greater than any other, including those moderator variables such as majority size typically identified as being important factors. Cultural values, it would seem, are significant mediators of response in group pressure experiments† (Bond et al. , 1996) To summarise, Asch’s study on conformity (Asch, S. E. , 1956) shows that social pressure from a majority group can affect a person to conform. Asch and others (Morris et al. 1977) also show that if the unanimity of the group is broken, conformity decreases and (Maas et al. , 1984) distinguishes between public commitment and private acceptance. There have been conflicting studies (Mori et al. , 2010, Sistrunk et al. 1971) on whether one gender conforms more than another. Research suggests that there are many reasons for conformity; if one has low self-esteem (League et al. 1964), the cohesiveness of the group (Crandall et al. , 1988, Latane et al. , 1996), the size of the group (although there is conflicting research) (Gerard et al. , 1968, Bond et al. , 1996). To conclude, there is research (Bond et al. , 1996) to suggest that conformity in the U. S. has decreased since Asch’s original study and that in collectivistic cultures there are higher levels of conformity than in individualistic ones. References Asch, S. E. (1956). Studies of independence and conformity: I. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs: General And Applied,  70(9), 1-70. doi:10. 1037/h0093718 Baron, R. A. , Branscombe, N. R. , ; Byrne, D. (2009). Social Psychology  (12th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Bond, R. , ; Smith, P. B. (1996). Culture and conformity: A meta-analysis of studies using Asch’s (1952b, 1956) line judgment task. Psychological Bulletin,  119(1), 111-137. doi:10. 1037/0033-2909. 119. 1. 111 Crandall, C. S. (1988). Social contagion of binge eating. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology,  55(4), 588-598. doi:10. 1037/0022-3514. 55. 4. 88 Crutchfield, R. S. (1955). Conformity and character. American Psychologist,  10(5), 191-198. doi:10. 1037/h0040237 Gerard, H. B. , Wilhemly, R. A. , Conolley, E. S. (1968). Conformity And Group Size. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology,  8(11), 79-82. doi:10. 1037/h0025325 Hock, Roger R. (2004). Forty Studies that Changed Psychology  : Explorations into the History of Psychological Research ( 5th Edition). Prentice Hall. ISBN  0-13-114729-3. Hofstede, G. (1980). Cultures consequences:  International differences in work-related values. Beverly Hills, CA:  Sage. As cited in Bond, R. , Smith, P. B. (1996) Latane, B. , L’Herrou, T. (1996). Spatial clustering in the conformity game: Dynamic social impact in electronic groups. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology,  70(6), 1218-1230. doi:10. 1037/0022-3514. 70. 6. 1218 League, B. , ; Jackson, D. N. (1964). Conformity, veridicality, and self-esteem. The Journal Of Abnormal And Social Psychology,  68(1), 113-115. doi:10. 1037/h0047230 Maas, A. , ; Clark, R. D. III, (1984). Hidden Impact of Minorities: Fifteen Years of Minority Influence Research. Psychology Bulletin, 95, 233-243 as cited in Social Psychology Mori, K. , ; Arai, M. (2010). No need to fake it: Reproduction of the Asch experiment without confederates. International Journal Of Psychology,  45(5), 390-397. doi:10. 1080/00207591003774485 Morris, W. N. , Miller, R. S. , ; Spangenberg, S. (1977). The effects of dissenter position and task difficulty on conformity and response conflict. Journal Of Personality,  45(2), 251-266. doi:10. 1111/j. 1467-6494. 1977. tb00150. x Sistrunk, F. , ; McDavid, J. W. (1971). Sex variable in conforming behavior. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology,  17(2), 200-207. doi:10. 1037/h0030382 Schwartz, S. H. (1994). Cultural dimensions of values:  Towards an understanding of national differences. In U. Kim H. C. Triandis C. Kagitcibasi S. C. Choi ; G. Yoon (Eds. ),  Individualism and collectivism:  Theory, method and applications  (pp. 85–119). Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage. As cited in Bond, R. , ; Smith, P. B. (1996) Trompenaars, F. (1993). Riding the waves of culture. London:  Economist Books. As cited in Bond, R. , ; Smith, P. B. (1996) How to cite Conformity, Essay examples Conformity Free Essays One of society popular issues – conformity, is the act of one individual likely to change his or her thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes in order to fit in a group or to follow social norms. Norms are understood as unspoken, invisible rules appeared by a group of people then spread out to the whole community. Conformity occurs in various environment and situations, which fashion trends, plastic surgery, and tattooed people are some typical examples (depends on the case). We will write a custom essay sample on Conformity or any similar topic only for you Order Now Furthermore, when talking about the place where conformity rules over, is which we are most familiar with: the school. First of all, we can possibly see that school managers, staffs and teachers are the ones who directly apply conformity on students. Rules and punishments which are thought to organize and unite everyone but the reality is reverse. These excessive and unreasonable ones constrain student from freedom, that later on make them afraid Of schools, studying, and conform hopelessly although their brain are opposing. Plus, the approach of rigid and severe educating nowadays leads to reducing curiosity and creativity in students. This problem happens in not one but many different countries, hence takes art in declining the developing education. Besides, there is still a minority of teachers who are stubborn enough to reject any students’ new innovative resolutions so as to protect their ego. Yet another outcome of the conformity doctrine is standardized examinations. â€Å"Future of the humanity’ should be tested on their personalized and specific abilities to prepare for life, not just narrow and impractical plain papers to figuratively test our memory – which then disappears like it never happens! It may be exaggerated but somehow, schools have made us involved in either a batch or flow production, waiting or an acceptable diploma to apply for ordinary jobs with and expectation of getting average income†¦ In another aspect, students ourselves are conformist as well. From observation, there are mainly three considerable reasons why students conform, and one of them is lacking of knowledge. In a group work or class period, those who are not as clever as others usually listen to everything discussed or lecture assuming they are all correct. They make themselves lower than their friends, follow orders when doing a project, or obey the rules unconditionally. The second type are whom we can sibyl call â€Å"trend followers†. These individuals are the one who would buy a pair of shoes that has similar brand to other majorities in school; put on sweaters in a boiling temperature of 35 ‘C because fashion icons in Russia wear them; or even mimic the same tattoo as their idols’. Their needs of affection and admiration from others resulting in conformity that they want to mimic everything from the loved ones! Finally, the third and also why students conform is that they are yearning to be protected: they would avoid any action leads to disagreement or making them an outcast. Anything that mess harmful is always on their black-list including arguments, bullying, criticism therefore they ignore their individuality to make themselves be like the majority. We can find these kind of students everywhere: agree on every decision made despite of having different opinion; suddenly draw back their arms after seeing no one raises theirs up; or more unintelligible like one claiming he or she has not finish the assignment – which is supposed to be done already, just because there are few people have completed the task. Overall, how conformity affects education – beneficially or contrary, is still beatable. To consider in a positive way, the fact that conformity provides cooperation and acceptance is undeniable. It keeps students from engaging in anti-social acts for fear of isolation plus ensures security. Conformity is metaphorically like an established path for us to follow without deliberation and therefore make a great assistance since we are not capable of everything. Moreover, besides self-completing, it also maintains social norms, discipline, and easily operates school via ‘obedient kids’. However, many argue that conformity brings up more draw backs than its advantages. Taking as an example: the school bell. When it rings, the whole school jointly moves to another location to start another activity as now it is controlled by an audio signal. Clearly, there are logistical issues to consider if we are to safely and effectively manage a volatile school population of over SHOO young people, but are there any less militaristic ways to operate? When will we see schools acting less like prisons or military bases, and more like places where learning can actually be enjoyed? It is clear that schools should be founded on diversity not on conformity. Yet to achieve this involves not only a strong consideration of the development of individuals and their specific abilities, but also on the need for each school to create its own distinct identity within its community. It is not only the school’s duty to apply conformity properly but also our accurate perception that does. Do you want to become one of a mass chain of approximate dolls that people always see you as one tiny part of a group, or a distinct star shining in the dark sky? Whether good or not, remember that being yourself is the best! How to cite Conformity, Papers

Jerome Salinger Essays - J. D. Salinger, Franny And Zooey

Jerome Salinger Born on January 1, 1919, Jerome David Salinger was to become one of America's greatest contemporary authors. In 1938 Salinger briefly attended Ursinus College in Pennsylvania where he wrote a column, "Skipped Diploma," which featured movie reviews for his college newspaper. Salinger made his writing debut when he published his first short story, "The Young Folks," in Whit Burnett's Story magazine (French, xiii). He was paid only twenty-five dollars. In 1939, at the age of 20, Salinger had not acquired any readers. He later enrolled in a creative writing class at Columbia University. Salinger was very much interested in becoming an actor and a playwright, which was quite odd because he would later in life become a recluse (Wenke, 3). Salinger adjusted his writing style to fit the literary marketplace. He was writing for money and began writing for magazines like Good Housekeeping and Mademoiselle. Many of Salinger's characters have unique character traits. "Salinger presents a number of stories that consider characters who become involved in degrading, often phony social contexts," states a major critic (Wenke, 7). These characters are often young and have experienced a lot of emotional turmoil. They have been rejected by society and mainly categorized as "misfits." This alienation of the personality is often viewed as a sign of weakness by society when in fact the outcasts ultimately gain strength from their experiences as shown in Nine Stories, The Catcher in the Rye, and Franny and Zooey. Salinger is telling a tale of the human condition in its reality through his novels. Nine Stories is a collection of short stories of people who are uncertain of the next path to take in life. They are lonely, needy, and searching for love. One of these stories, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," is the story of a young couple who try to understand their life together and the true meaning of love. Seymour Glass has just been released from the Army Hospital and he is unable to adjust to life with his "crass wife Muriel amidst the lavish and vulgar atmosphere of their post-war second honeymoon" (Gwynn & Blotner, 19). It has often been called"the loveless tunnel of love." Salinger portrays Muriel in the first part of the story as superficial. She believes that everything and everyone operates on her time: She was a girl who for a ringing phone dropped exactly nothing. She looked as if her phone had been ringing continually ever since she had reached puberty. Muriel has an indifferent attitude about life. She seems simple and very insecure. Muriel finds it funny that her husband calls her "Miss Spiritual Tramp of 1948." This tells the reader that she lacks self- esteem. Her simple attitude shows when she is talking to her mother on the phone about going to Bingo one night: "Anyway, after Bingo he and his wife asked me if I wouldn't like to join them for a drink. So I did. His wife was horrible. You remember that awful dinner dress we saw in Bonwit's window? The one you said that you'd have to have a tiny, tiny." Muriel implies that she disliked the lady because of what she was wearing. She alienates herself from society by believing that she is better that everyone else. Because of Muriel's personality, Seymour cannot confide in her or feel any love in his marriage. This is why he turns to the little girl at the beach for companionship. Seymour finds a friend and a listener in Sybil. But the friendship of Sybil cannot mend Seymour's broken heart. He gains some strength in himself when he finds a friend in Sybil, but he cannot seem to get past his failed marriage. Seymour is so desperate for love that he commits suicide: Then he went over to one of the pieces of luggage, opened it, and from under a pile of shorts and undershirts he took out an Ortgies caliber 7.65 automatic. He released the magazine, looked at it, then reinserted it. He cocked the piece. Then he went over and sat down on the unoccupied twin bed, looked at the girl, aimed the pistol and fired a bullet through his right temple. "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut" is a story about a young woman who tries to make sense out of all the confusion in her life. Eloise finds a loyal and trustworthy friend in Mary Jane. They are on the same path in life. Salinger suggests that they have stayed friends for so long because neither of them graduated from Jerome Salinger Essays - J. D. Salinger, Franny And Zooey Jerome Salinger Born on January 1, 1919, Jerome David Salinger was to become one of America's greatest contemporary authors. In 1938 Salinger briefly attended Ursinus College in Pennsylvania where he wrote a column, "Skipped Diploma," which featured movie reviews for his college newspaper. Salinger made his writing debut when he published his first short story, "The Young Folks," in Whit Burnett's Story magazine (French, xiii). He was paid only twenty-five dollars. In 1939, at the age of 20, Salinger had not acquired any readers. He later enrolled in a creative writing class at Columbia University. Salinger was very much interested in becoming an actor and a playwright, which was quite odd because he would later in life become a recluse (Wenke, 3). Salinger adjusted his writing style to fit the literary marketplace. He was writing for money and began writing for magazines like Good Housekeeping and Mademoiselle. Many of Salinger's characters have unique character traits. "Salinger presents a number of stories that consider characters who become involved in degrading, often phony social contexts," states a major critic (Wenke, 7). These characters are often young and have experienced a lot of emotional turmoil. They have been rejected by society and mainly categorized as "misfits." This alienation of the personality is often viewed as a sign of weakness by society when in fact the outcasts ultimately gain strength from their experiences as shown in Nine Stories, The Catcher in the Rye, and Franny and Zooey. Salinger is telling a tale of the human condition in its reality through his novels. Nine Stories is a collection of short stories of people who are uncertain of the next path to take in life. They are lonely, needy, and searching for love. One of these stories, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," is the story of a young couple who try to understand their life together and the true meaning of love. Seymour Glass has just been released from the Army Hospital and he is unable to adjust to life with his "crass wife Muriel amidst the lavish and vulgar atmosphere of their post-war second honeymoon" (Gwynn & Blotner, 19). It has often been called"the loveless tunnel of love." Salinger portrays Muriel in the first part of the story as superficial. She believes that everything and everyone operates on her time: She was a girl who for a ringing phone dropped exactly nothing. She looked as if her phone had been ringing continually ever since she had reached puberty. Muriel has an indifferent attitude about life. She seems simple and very insecure. Muriel finds it funny that her husband calls her "Miss Spiritual Tramp of 1948." This tells the reader that she lacks self- esteem. Her simple attitude shows when she is talking to her mother on the phone about going to Bingo one night: "Anyway, after Bingo he and his wife asked me if I wouldn't like to join them for a drink. So I did. His wife was horrible. You remember that awful dinner dress we saw in Bonwit's window? The one you said that you'd have to have a tiny, tiny." Muriel implies that she disliked the lady because of what she was wearing. She alienates herself from society by believing that she is better that everyone else. Because of Muriel's personality, Seymour cannot confide in her or feel any love in his marriage. This is why he turns to the little girl at the beach for companionship. Seymour finds a friend and a listener in Sybil. But the friendship of Sybil cannot mend Seymour's broken heart. He gains some strength in himself when he finds a friend in Sybil, but he cannot seem to get past his failed marriage. Seymour is so desperate for love that he commits suicide: Then he went over to one of the pieces of luggage, opened it, and from under a pile of shorts and undershirts he took out an Ortgies caliber 7.65 automatic. He released the magazine, looked at it, then reinserted it. He cocked the piece. Then he went over and sat down on the unoccupied twin bed, looked at the girl, aimed the pistol and fired a bullet through his right temple. "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut" is a story about a young woman who tries to make sense out of all the confusion in her life. Eloise finds a loyal and trustworthy friend in Mary Jane. They are on the same path in life. Salinger suggests that they have stayed friends for so long because neither of them graduated from

Author Lane Ashfeldt on the Changing Role of Editors

Author Lane Ashfeldt on the Changing Role of Editors The changing role of editors - An interview with Lane Ashfeldt â€Å"We tend to associate independent publishing with early-career writers getting their first break, since this is the kind of story that has tended to grab the headlines. But another significant group of authors choosing to self-publish are mid-career writers whose contracts for certain titles have expired.†We say on our homepage that our Reedsy professionals â€Å"know the publishing landscape better than a writer knows the taste of hot coffee†. So we like to regularly have their take on it. Today, we interview Lane Ashfeldt, a UK-based freelance editor who has worked both for a small press and directly with authors. She shares her insights on the ever-changing role of editors - whether in-house or freelance - and on the opportunity self-publishing represents for writers (even â€Å"mainstream† ones).Hi Lane, great to have you here. You’re one of our fiction editors on Reedsy and have been freelance for around 4 years. How did you start your editing career?Thanks for asking me Ricardo. I got into fiction by accident, planning to move on, but it stuck. For six years I edited short stories and novels for an indie press, in a variety of styles from crime to literary. I later started writing myself, and taught writing at a UK university.What prompted you to go freelance as an editor?When my book of my stories, SaltWater, was in edits I blogged about the process and some ex-students who had carried on writing after their courses got in contact asking if I’d look at their novels. I couldn’t say no.How do you find having the writer as your employer?I’ve never really thought of it that way. Reedsy refers to editing projects as collaborations and I think this hits the right note, though of course in this context the author is ultimately in control of the process. Which is as it should be - it is their book. I suggest edits, and explain why, but it’s up to the writer whether they choose to act on them. It†™s a very cooperative thing. It’s also private. I don’t identify titles that I’ve edited freelance. (The titles on my Reedsy profile are from a regular job before I went freelance.)Do you see any parallels between your freelance editorial projects now, and when you were a full time editor?I enjoy working direct with authors, and this aspect is very similar. As a commissioning editor I’d meet authors and see their books through from manuscript to hard copy. Now it is more usual to work remotely via electronic means, and generally I only work on the text unless asked for input on submissions or electronic publication routes. One key similarity is, it’s very result-driven – it is all about finishing a piece of fiction, be it for print or ebook publication. Another aspect in common with my experience as a professional novel and short story editor is that over time you build relationships with certain authors and a knowledge of their strengths. It is rewarding when an author asks you to work on multiple projects as the dialogue becomes more fruitful.You have taught creative writing. How does that compare with editing?There is some commonality. But because advanced level university students need to write dissertations and conduct research, there’s a necessary interest, pedagogically, in the process of creative writing; this can distract from the task at hand, ie finishing the book. With project editing, the emphasis is not on â€Å"how to,† if you like, but on getting it done. To as high a standard as possible, obviously.With the explosion in self-publishing, do you feel the role of editors is changing?In the present era of publishing everything is negotiable. Some editors are strong on marketing, some act as curators whose job is to uncover the Next Big Thing in their sphere of interest, some are very much a cog working within the corporate constraints of a major brand. As a full-time editor, I worked with a n indie press. Generally in smaller presses roles are more flexible. Editors may do both copy editing and commissioning  - perhaps also have a say in the design, typesetting, marketing, and PR. Commissioning editors with bigger houses are rarely this hands-on. Often they operate more on the level of curators whose intake is limited to people they know and a group of agents their company has history with, taking on finished projects that someone else (an agent, a professor in creative writing, a literary consultancy, the author) has edited and polished. You could say they operate less as editors (in the conventional sense of the word), more as a gateway to the production and marketing machine behind their brand.But with the increasing variety of publication routes open to writers, there is space for all sorts of editorial approaches to co-exist. Recent projects I’ve worked on as a freelance editor illustrate this - some went on to be self-published, others are taking the ag ent / traditional publication route.Is it still possible to land an agent or publisher with an unedited manuscript?I am sure there are examples out there. The best writers are excellent editors of their own work, and this was true even in the days when some of the editing processes took place heh-hemming over dictation to a secretary. But if hiring a freelance editor adds perspective and strengthens your writing, it is a step worth taking.How do you see the publishing industry evolving in the next few years? Now that independent publishing has been established as a valid option, are more traditionally published authors going to try it?Lots of traditionally published writers have already experimented with publishing their work independently. It skewed towards US-based writers to start with, perhaps because the terms offered to US writers were more favorable, but that is beginning to even up. Both European and US authors working directly with Amazon can now access a royalty of 70% of the cover price on their titles (as against c. 7% working through a publisher) which increases the chance that authors may choose this route.We tend to associate independent publishing with early-career writers getting their first break since this is the kind of story that has managed to grab the headlines. But another significant group of authors choosing to self-publish are mid-career writers whose contracts for individual titles have expired. They are sitting on out-of-print (and professionally edited) novels that readers want to read - maybe even want to reread on ebook, having lost the hard copy - and it is not a lot of work to put up the files on self-publishing websites. A couple of examples: Philip Casey and Jeff Noon. Like Casey, Noon recently had new covers made for all his books and re-released them, along with his new ebook Channel Skin. No doubt there are others - perhaps especially writers whose ebook rights were never optioned first time around.You are a published wri ter, so I expect you love writing. What is the best thing about editing?For me, it is a similar buzz to writing. I enjoy editing. I love the intensity of it, the fact that you can lose yourself in the work, think about nothing else. Just words, and how they fit together. How they unfold to reveal a story.Thanks a lot for your time, Lane!  Follow Lane and Reedsy on Twitter: @Ashfeldt  and  @ReedsyHQDo you feel like the role of editors has changed? Is it worth it to work with a freelance editor before submitting your MS to agents and publishers? Leave us your thoughts, or any question for Lane, in the comments below!

How to Win a Walmart Scholarship Strategy Guide

How to Win a Walmart Scholarship Strategy Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You probably didn't know that Walmart offers a couple of scholarship opportunities for employees and their dependents. These scholarships are meant to cover college or vocational school expenses for those with financial need. In this guide, I'll start by talking about eligibility requirements and the application process. If you're already familiar with this information, skip to the second half of this post- this is where I'll give tips and strategies for increasing your chances of winning a Walmart scholarship. What Are the Walmart Scholarships? Walmart has two scholarship options: Associate Walmart Scholarship Dependent Walmart Scholarship Both options are geared to assist Walmart employees and their families who might not otherwise be able to afford a college education. If you win one of these scholarships, you can renew your award throughout the length of your degree program without having to reapply. If you're eligible for both scholarships (for example, if you and your parent both work at Walmart), note that you can only win one. Associate Walmart Scholarship The Associate Scholarship is available to Walmart employees who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, have a high school diploma or GED, and have worked full- or part-time at the company for at least six consecutive months before the application deadline. The scholarship can be renewed for up to six years, or until the end of the funded degree program (whichever comes first), with a maximum funding limit of $16,000 per degree program. Your level of funding depends on (1) your enrollment status, and (2) the type of school you're attending. Here's an outline of the funding levels per award period: Public US University 2-Year Institution (Community College / Certificate Program) 4-Year Institution / Graduate Institution 3-6 credit hours = $500 3-6 credit hours = $500 3-6 credit hours = $750 7-11 credit hours = $750 7-11 credit hours = $750 7-11 credit hours = $1,125 12+ credit hours = $1,000 12+ credit hours = $1,000 12+ credit hours = $1,500 Source: Walmart Associate Scholarship Program Guidelines Dependent Walmart Scholarship The Dependent Scholarship is available to dependentsof Walmart employees who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, are about to graduate with a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and have worked full- or part-time at the company for at least six consecutive months before the application deadline. In other words, if you're a child or dependent of a Walmart employee, you're eligible for this scholarshipeven if you haven't worked there yourself. The award is renewable and can be used for up to four years of continuous, full-time enrollment, with a maximum funding limit of $13,000 per degree program.Awards are disbursed, or given out, $1,625 at a time. Are You Eligible for a Walmart Scholarship? Unfortunately, neither the Associate Scholarship nor the Dependent Scholarship is open to the public.In order to be eligible, you must be either a Walmart employee or the dependent of a Walmart employee. The Associate and Dependent scholarships have slightly different eligibility requirements, which I've outlined below. Associate Scholarship Eligibility Requirements In order to be considered for the Associate Scholarship, you must meet allthe following criteria: Be either a US citizen or permanent legal resident of the US Be employed with Walmart at least six consecutive months before the application deadline Have a high school diploma or GED, or be a graduating high schoolsenior who is planning to enroll in college after graduation If you're applying for the scholarship as a high school senior, you must wait to apply until you're within six months of starting college classes Be able to demonstrate financial need (I'll discuss how to do this in the section on applying for the scholarship) Dependent Scholarship Eligibility Requirements In order to be considered for the Dependent Scholarship, you must meet allthe following criteria: Be either a US citizen orpermanent legal resident of the US Be the dependent of a Walmart employee who's actively worked with the company for at least six consecutive months before the application deadline (note that dependents of Board of Directors or officers are not eligible to apply) Be a high school or homeschooled graduating senior, orbe earning a GED Be able to demonstrate financial need (I'll discuss how to do this in the section on applying for the scholarship) Have a high school GPA of at least 2.0 Enroll for the fall semester as a full-time freshman/first-year student at an accredited two- or four-year college or university (does not include military academies) To renew your funds, you must be enrolled full-time, with a minimum 2.0 GPA, and attending a four-year college by your third year You don't need a perfect report card to apply for this scholarship (not that it would hurt!). What Do I Need to Apply for a Walmart Scholarship? In order to apply for a Walmart scholarship, you'll need to gather some materials and information, especially those concerning your family's financial situation. Below, I list everything you need to have before you can apply for each type of Walmart scholarship. Associate Scholarship Materials To apply for the Associate Scholarship, you'll need to have the following information: Financial Information If a family member has claimed you as a dependent, you'll needan electronic copy of your most recent family income tax return. If you have claimed yourself, you'll need a copy of your most recent tax return. Your family's adjusted gross income Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). You can estimate your EFC using FAFSA4caster. Get instructions on how to use FAFSA4CASTER here. To get an official EFC, you must submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Use this guide for step-by-step instructions on how to submit a FAFSA. Other Information A comprehensive list of volunteer or service activities you've participated in within the last four years Name and contact information for your high school Name of the college or vocational school you're planning to attend Your Walmart facility number (ask your manager if you don't have this information) Dependent Scholarship Materials To apply for the Dependent Scholarship, you'll need to gather the following information: Financial Information Current US federal income tax return from the individual who's claimed you as a dependent Current federal Student Aid Report (SAR). A SAR is generated when you submit a FAFSA. If you submit your FAFSA online, it'll take about three days to receive your SAR. Get step-by-step instructions on submitting a FAFSA here. Other Information Your high school transcript showing your grades and GPA through your first semester of senior year. This does not need to be an official transcript. How Do You Submit a Walmart Scholarship Application? You can submit an application for both the Associate and Dependent Scholarships online through the Walmart website. Register for an account and take the appropriate Scholarship Eligibility Quiz to gain access to the application. If you fail to meet eligibility requirements, you won't be able to submit an application.When your application is submitted, you'll receive an email verification. The Associate Scholarship application hasfour application windows throughout the year. Here are the upcoming application periods: Application Launch Date Application Deadline Award Notification Date February 1, 2019 March 1, 2019 April 15, 2019 May 1, 2019 June 1, 2019 July 15, 2019 August 1, 2019 September 1, 2019 October 15, 2019 November 1, 2019 December 1, 2019 January 15, 2020 Meanwhile, the Dependent Scholarship application window for this year is January 3, 2019, to April 2, 2019. When Do You Find Out Whether You've Been Selected for a Walmart Scholarship? Notification for the Associate Scholarship depends on the application deadline(see chart above). Typically, though, applicants are notified six weeks after the deadline. Dependent Scholarship applicants for this year'scycle will be notified mid-May 2019. How Can You Use Walmart Scholarship Money? If you're offered a Walmart scholarship, you'll need to submit a Scholarship Acceptance Agreement online before any funds are disbursed. Scholarship checks will then be mailed directly to your school.The scholarship money can be applied to charges for tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board. Associate and Dependent Scholarship funds must be used at an accredited school.Unfortunately, you can't use Walmart scholarship funds at military academies. Use these strategies to submit your very best scholarship application! How to Raise Your Odds of Winning a Walmart Scholarship There's a lot of overlap between the Associate and Dependent Scholarships, so first I'll give general advice that applies to both programs. Then, where there are differences between the scholarships, I'll give specialized advice. All scholarship applications are evaluated by an independent, impartial selection committee. This means that everyone with a complete application and who meets all eligibility requirements will be considered for the award. Financial need is considered a primary criterion for both scholarships.There's not much you can do to change your family's financial situation, but you'll have a chance to explain any financial hardships or difficulties in your application. General Tips for Any Walmart Scholarship Application Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements before beginning the application process. If you don't meet the requirements and answer the EligibilityQuiz honestly, you won't even get access to the application. The applications ask about your employment history with Walmart. If you or the person who's claimed you as a dependent is in good standing, you'll likely have a better chance of winning the scholarship. The applications ask about your parents' levels of education. First-generation college students might be more likely to win the scholarship. The applications give you the opportunity to talk about "special circumstances." This is a chance to set yourself apart from other eligible applicants. Here's what to do: Touch briefly on any financial hardships without sounding too self-defeating. Be matter-of-fact and explain how a Walmart scholarship could help you achieve your academic and professional goals in light of your financial limitations. One Walmart scholarship winner said he was grateful for the assistance in funding his education because it would improve his family's future. Will winning this scholarship affect anyone besides you in a positiveway?If so, discuss that in your application. Mention any extraordinary hardships or events that have challenged you. An evaluation committee will be impressed with an individual who has overcome significant obstacles to further pursue his or her educational and career goals. Tips for the Associate Scholarship Application This scholarship is very competitive- only about 10% of eligible applicants receive the award. As such, it's important to dedicate significant time and energy to your application. In addition to financial need, an important criterion considered by the evaluation committee is the applicant's level of community involvement. Here are some tips for your Associate Scholarship application: The application gives you the option to discuss up to three volunteer experiences you’ve had within the last four years. Examples include hospital volunteering; drug, teen, or homework helplines; and outreach programs. Based on these examples, it seems that this program is looking primarily for applicants who have worked with disadvantaged or marginalized populations. Talk about your passion for helping others. Do not repeat information about your volunteer activities; rather, discuss your future educational plans and how they will letyouhelp others. Emphasize any similar volunteer activities you've participated in. If you're currently looking for volunteer opportunities and might apply for this scholarship in the future, seek out a position through which you can demonstrate community involvement.For example, you could volunteer at a nursing home, a refugee center, or a low-income school. As you can tell, Walmart likely wants to maximize its impact on the community, which means if it funds students who have also contributed to the community, its impact will be magnified. Your goal is to prove that you'll be able to use the aid to improve your community as an ideal Walmart representative. Tips for the Dependent Scholarship Application This scholarship is fairly competitive, with only about 25% of eligible applicants receiving the award.In addition to financial need, an important criterion considered by the evaluation committee is your past academic performance. Here are our best tips and strategies for the Dependent Scholarship application: If you're a younger high school student, one of the best things you can do to increase your changes of winning the scholarship is to keep up your grades. A 2.0 GPA is the minimum to apply, but the selection committee will undoubtedly be more impressed with a high-achieving student. Talk about your academic passions and interests. Explain how this scholarship will assist you in achieving concrete career or educational goals based on your academic interests. If you meet the minimum GPA requirement but have rough patches in your academic record, use your application to explain why. Be matter-of-fact, but don't make excuses. Discuss any hardships that might have affected your academic performance(e.g., you got a job to help support your family, you missed school due to an ongoing illness or injury, etc.). Walmart has millions of employees, and to maximize the impact of its scholarship funds, it wants to find employees' dependentswho are most likely to make the most of their educations. A good predictor of this is the student's academic performance, so emphasize to Walmart that you'll utilize its scholarship funds to ultimately empower your future. What's Next? There are lots of scholarship opportunities out there, even if you're not a Walmart associate or dependent. The National Merit Scholarship is one great option; you can also get guaranteed scholarships if your standardized test scores are high enough! If you want to explore all your financial aid options and not just scholarships, learn about the Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Knowledge Management And Organizational Learning Essay

Knowledge Management And Organizational Learning - Essay Example As Noe (2002, p. 168) noted, knowledge management is a management process that the performance of a business can be enhanced by designing, implementing and strategically aligning various tools, processes, systems, structure and cultures with a view to create and share knowledge among its people and to use for overall business purpose. The very basic three elements included in Knowledge management are 1) creation of the knowledge through some effective strategies, 2) sharing of the created knowledge among people and 3) making it available and useful for any business purpose.   Knowledge Management has been found to be useful for the organization as it helps it get the products to the target market quicker, develop innovative ideas, serve the customer well in order to maintain customer loyalty and retention and achieve sustainable competitive advantages. As Boxall and Macky (2009, p. 10) emphasized, knowledge management helps a business achieve high performance working through variou s strategic processes and organizational development programs.   Knowledge Management has emerged to be a management tool that focuses on data, information and knowledge among the employees in an organization (Awad and Ghaziri, 2007, p. 26) and encompasses the processes by which experience, skills, expertise, knowledge and abilities are gathered, then shared among the people and utilized so that these can be converted to collective organizational learning process (Foster, 2005, p. 397).  

Small Business Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Small Business Management - Assignment Example he proposed business is established, product and services improve in quality as the managers gain more experience in production and in some situations the original business concept and management change as entrepreneurs are hit by the reality on the ground (Films for the Humanities & Sciences (Firm), Films Media Group and Video Education Australasia, 2010, p.52). Small companies can avoid becoming obsolete by scanning the market and the threats by carrying out a clear and concise analysis of their business environment under the PEESTLE (Political, Environment, Economic, Social, Technology, Ethical and Legal factors) and SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) so as to establish the available opportunities and threats. With the above mentioned analysis, such businesses would realize their strengths and weaknesses hence able to employ effective strategies that would enable them focus on their strengths as they look for alternatives to cover up the loopholes (Sitarz, 2011, p.45). Technology based companies can only keep up with the rapidly changing markets, products and competitors by remaining updated with the current trends in the technology industry as well as ensuring that they are innovative enough so as to outdo their business rivals. This can be achieved by ensuring that they carry out regular business analysis and market research so as to establish the exact needs of their targeted customers (Sitarz, 2011, p.45). Moreover, they have to ensure that they have highly innovative and creative product development teams. Having the right strategy is the most crucial factor that determines success of any type of business. Raising resources becomes easier as long as a given business is applying the right business strategies, and at times is able to use other people’s money, an aspect that is highly encouraged by economists and business experts. Entrepreneurs usually experience the challenge of differentiating their companies from the