Bibliography Annotated Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Annotated Bibliography Example Individuals who were forced to be admitted and who had a pacemaker were not made part of the sample size. When the patients were first admitted to the healthcare center, they experienced higher level of dehydration. Different physiological factors were considered while identifying hydration levels including: systolic blood pressure levels and dryness of the tongue. The study was descriptive in nature and for a descriptive study a sample size of 15 is enough, while the study employed 43 individuals and this means that the sample size was enough. The statistical power of 95% has been mentioned that means that the sample size is adequate for the study. The study was well designed as it followed all the requirements of a descriptive study such as the requirement of the minimum sample size. The study even contained various factors that were related to the purpose of the study. The relevant outcomes of the prevalence as well as the measures and factors of measuring dehydration were clearly mentioned. These outcomes were relevant to the purpose of the study and that is why they were reported. The study included only patients who aged over 60 which is mostly the benchmark age of older adults in most of the nations. This means that the findings of the study can be generalized in people belonging to other nations and this why the eligibility criteria was appropriate. The older adults were experiencing higher levels of dehydration as compared to the dehydration levels assessed by the hospital. This study helped in identifying parameters that are being considered globally to assess the level of dehydration. The study has provided some new measures of identifying the levels of dehydration among older adults and these measures can be utilized in clinical settings to perform the same analysis. This can help in better care of the patient as nurses should know whether their patients are taking appropriate amount of fluid

Work-based report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Work-based report - Essay Example This is a project on which I worked as part of a team during my placement at the company. The report outlines the working environment of Criminal Records Company, the event, its background and aims, its outcomes, and concludes with lessons learnt. 1.1 Criminal Records Company Criminal Records is an alternative music record label which was formed in 2004. Since then the label has signed a number of bands and artists in a proactive attempt to support a new music scene that has emerged in the UK in within the last five years called underground music. Since its formation, the company has been heavily involved in the promotion of bands. Criminal Records' ethos has always revolved around cultivation of talent, real talent that is organic unlike technology-induced productions. Today, the company is proud of the successes of its roster of musicians and has enjoyed the growth and widespread promotion of the music the artistes make. Some of the successes that the company has attain include col laborations in America, Japan and across Europe, selling out most of its UK tours, major TV coverage for its music videos and countless radio playlists, great reviews and inclusion of its music in TV, film and gaming sites (Criminal Records, 2013). 1.2 Work Description The work allocated to me while on placement at Criminal Records includes the following tasks; 1) Finding venues for events and managing the venue database 2) Researching and keeping up-to-date analyses of competitors 3) Analyzing and monitoring the targeted market for Company events 4) Planning for marketing activities for Company events Apart from the above tasks allocated to me and a number of other workers, I am also expected to carry out other tasks as may be allocated to me by the marketing manager in the Publicity Department, where I am designated. The tasks above are also to be carried out by a team in the department in which I am part and thus I am not working alone in accomplishing them. 1.3 The Work-based pr oject Bringing Club Nights from Criminal Records Company to the West Midlands in the UK is a project that was conceived by the company several weeks to its realization and in which I was included from the planning phase to its implementation. The project mainly involves introduction of ‘Club Nights’ to the West Midlands area of the UK. Club Nights is a musical product from Criminal Records which is mainly based on the popular culture of ‘Clubbing’ but introduces a new aspect of different modern music mainly from unknown underground musicians with extraordinary talent. During the entire project a project team of members from different departments of the company plans, organizes and implements the project. I am a member of the event marketing team, a smaller team forming part of the whole organizing framework. This includes research and organization for publicity, advertisement and invitation of people to the event. The event itself involves a night of club m usic and dance in the West Midlands area in which our company’s artistes will present to the participants their new style of musical art in a number of performances running for three hours of a night. The project organization scales the whole range of arrangements for a music event from venue arrangement, music preparation, invitations to security and logistics. 1.4 Background of the Event Club Nights is one of the events organized by Criminal Records for music lovers in the larger cities in the UK, predominantly in the South East. The culture of Club Nights has been popular in London for a long time being a large city with countless traditional and contemporary forms of music being performed. However, in the past few years Criminal Records has introduced a new musical performance product targeting the new generation of

Market segmentation and marketing mix of LG and SAMSUNG

Market segmentation and marketing mix of LG and SAMSUNG Definitions Market segmentation The dividing of all possible customers into groups based on their needs, age, income, education etc. (Cambridge Business Dictionary, n.d.) Marketing mix The combination of actions a company uses when selling a product or service. These are often described as the four Ps: Product, price, promotion and place. (Cambridge Business Dictionary n.d.) Aims This piece of work aims to analyse and assess the market segmentation and marketing mix characteristics of and potential for Samsung compared with LG. Due to the very broad market sectors and product ranges of both companies, this report will concentrate on the relatively new product sector of fitness monitors when considering both market segmentation and mix. Interest in these products has grown due to the availability of ‘wearable devices’ and the suitability of technology, particularly Smartphone apps, to assist in this pursuit. There has also been increased awareness and concerns about keeping fit and healthy. According to Vecchione (2012) the market for self-monitoring functions such as high blood pressure and blood glucose levels using wireless wearable devices is growing faster than Telehealth (the official NHS version of technology to monitor patients remotely in their own homes). The proportion of wireless devices used to monitor health conditions is predicted to increase from a low level of 5% in 2011 to as high as 80% by 2016 (Ibid), with the resulting readings being stored and analysed on smart phones. Company background An Introduction to Samsung Samsung was founded in Suwon, Korea in 1969. Its vision 2020 is stated as being â€Å"Inspire the world, create the future† (Samsung website, n.d.) Samsung Electronics is a global leader in semiconductors, telecommunications and digital media technologies with sales of 143.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2011 and 221,730 employees spread across 72 countries (Ibid.) Samsung has been the worlds largest television manufacturer since 2006 and is the worlds largest producer of LCD panels. The company also has the greatest share of the global market for memory chips. With the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S mobile, the company has taken the lead in global sales figures for smart phones as of 2013. Samsung has also established a prominent position in the tablet computer market with the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab offering strong competition against the iPad from Apple. The headquarters of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. are situated in Suwon, South Korea and this is also the flagship company of the Samsung Group. In 2013 the president of Samsung Electronics was Boo Keun Yoon; and the goals of the company encompassed both quantitative ($400billion global sales and number one spot in the global IT industry); and qualitative (design products that enrich people’s lives and contribute to a socially responsible future). This is a real sign of the times as organizations increasingly have to demonstrate corporate responsibility and contribution to social or shared value, i.e. doing well by doing good; an approach which can provide additional competitive advantage (Kramer, 2011). Roy (2013) explains this further as being the next stage of business thinking, embedding contributions to wider society as an integral part of corporate strategy. Samsung operates in Western Europe, the Far East, and the United States; increasing its share of the mobile phone market in Western Europe over the past three years at the expense of companies such as Apple and Nokia. In 2011, for example, Samsung had only a 14% market share in Western Europe (compared with Apple at 21% Nokia at 20%). By 2013, Samsung’s had increased its share of the Western European market to 45%; Apple’s share dropping to 20%, and Nokia’s market share plummeted to just 5%. Other competitors including Blackberry fared even worse, losing practically its 17% market share to Samsung and Apple. HTC’s Android smart phones also struggle to compete with the two market giants, especially Samsung, who managed to generate more income than Apple in 2013 (please see Figure 1 below). Figure 1 – Samsung and Apple profits 2011-2013 ($ billion) Source: Statista Thirteen Samsung products have held the number one spot for market share including televisions, semi-conductors (the first product which the firm originally manufactured) and mobile phones (Samsung, n.d.) Samsung is continuing to research and develop new innovative products such as LCDs and semi-conductors. An introduction to LG There is some resonance in the LG story compared with Samsung: LG is also a Korean company and it too was founded about half a century ago in 1958, originally known as Goldstar. It was founded on the ethos of creating a happier, better life (LG website, n.d.) Since 1958 it has progressed into the digital age through technological development, originally of home appliances such as washing machines and radios. Then in 1995 the company was renamed LG Electronics, acquiring the United States based company Zenith (Ibid.), hence opening up the vast American market. This was followed in 1997 by LG developing the first digital mobile handset and being the first company to be certified for the production of digital television sets. In 1998 the company developed the 60 inch plasma TV followed by a joint venture with Phillips to create LG Phillips LCD (Ibid.) 2002 sees LG export GPRS1 colour mobile phones to Europe and in 2003 achieve monthly export volume of 2.5 million units. By 2005 LG had become the fourth largest supplier of mobile handsets worldwide; plus the firm was the pioneer of notebook computers (LG website, n.d.) 2008 sees the company launch a new global identity: â€Å"stylish design and smart technology, in products that fit our consumers’ lives† (LG website, n.d.). In 2009 LG becomes the third largest supplier of mobile phone handsets worldwide, and 2010 saw the company launch the world’s first 3D LED TV. According to their website LG brand identity focuses on self expression and a promise of satisfaction to its customers; using the phrase â€Å"delightfully smart† as its strapline. The LG logo itself is said by the company to represent a circle around the customer epitomising the corporate value of establishing a lasting relationship with and achieving highest satisfaction for customers. This is the basis of relationship marketing and is key to attracting and retaining customers in a world where consumers are bombarded with sales messages. Market segmentation As Drucker neatly put it, â€Å"the purpose of business is to create customers† (Swaim, 2010, p.14) and to do this requires looking from outside the company from the customer’s point of view and answering questions about market segmentation, including â€Å"what does the customer buy† and â€Å"what is value to the customer†? Samsung and LG market segmentation Information to guide segmentation can be collected through carefully planned market research; and the analysis of questionnaire surveys. Here are some market segments that will be most relevant to the fitness monitor market: Students tend to be the most technology-literate and represent a well defined segment in terms of the early adoption and use of new technologies. They also assist in promoting and recommending products through the social media methods; plus can be helpful in co-production and the development of the product. The importance of the use of social networking sites (SNS) in the consumer buying process must not be underestimated; seeking opinion from other consumers is now a pre-requisite of the purchase decision-making process. Interbrand (2012) suggests this may always have been the case but a feature of the past few years is the increase in the speed with which opinions and consumer influence can be spread. Nielsen (2010) discovered that most internet users seek out reviews and consider the brand recommendations of fellow consumers before finally deciding on a purchase (Figure 2). The graph illustrates that recommendations from friends and family are the main source of information most trusted. A key factor to note here, however, is that official brand websites can be as influential as online consumer opinions but they have to be more than just promotional messages. In comparison, advertising in newspapers and on radio and TV are less trusted by consumers. Figure 2 – Percentage of consumers who have trust in different forms of advertising Source: Nielsen, 2010 Young professionals are another market segment for these types of products; the main difference with the student sector is the considerably higher income and hence greater willingness to spend more on the product. This group is arguably carrying on the great tradition of early adopters too; the UK market has always been at the forefront of adopting new technology, including broadband, digital TV and Smartphone take-up (Ofcom, 2010). Wireless technologies such as these fitness monitors have been no exception with the digital age being fully embraced by the early adopters in the UK as soon as the new products have been released by the major manufacturers including Samsung and LG. There is a third key market segment for fitness monitors revealed by research evidence and that is young women who tend to be more interested in health and using exercise as a way to keep slim as much as keeping fit (Clohessy, 2014). The functionality of the new generation of fitness monitors includes features such as the number of calories being burnt off as exercise progresses, with different consumption rates depending on the type and intensity of activity. These last two market segments also have the advantage of containing a greater proportion of working people who are consequently much less influenced by the absolute price of the product. They are also proactive Twitter and Facebook users and contributors, reading reviews and providing comment as part of the consumer decision-making process. Marketing mix The marketing mix, or four Ps (product, price, promotion and place) is a tool integral to the development of marketing strategy; the specific tactics for the major parameters of the product or service can be defined. In more recent literature, the marketing mix has been expanded to include the seven Ps (Kotler, 2012,) encompassing more elements as shown below in Figure 3. The basic four mix elements remain but are joined by the new criteria of ‘people’, ‘physical evidence’ or ‘environment’, and ‘process’; these are considered by some to better describe the marketplace influences. Kotler (2012.p.31) describes it as: ‘holistic marketing’ which â€Å"recognizes and reconciles the scope and complexities of marketing activities†. Figure 3 – the seven Ps of the Marketing Mix Source: Kotler, 2012 However, this report will be concentrating on the four core marketing mix elements of product, price, promotion and place. Samsung marketing mix In the case of Samsung, the tactics adopted to satisfy some of the marketing mix elements might be considered to be: Product – The Samsung fitness monitor is called ‘Gear Fit’ (Figure 4) and is designed for the wrist; it has a curved display and several apps including a built-in heart rate monitor and work out management system. Promotion – Celebrity endorsement is not a new concept and has a long history dating back to the early 1900s. For example, according to Ketcham (2001), Buffalo Bill Cody was pictured on a trade card and supplied a testimonial for the back of the card, in which he praised the benefits of Kickapoo Indian Oil. Another trade card depicted the image and name of Sarah Bernhardt, connecting her with Carters Liver Bitters (Ibid.) Samsung has already successfully used celebrity endorsement to promote its products, using the sportsmen and women at the Sochi Winter Olympics (Samsung, n.d.) This philosophy can be extended to engage the younger sports-oriented consumer, with the careful selection of sports stars providing a strong enticement for consumers to try the product. It might be a footballer or tennis player, perhaps connected with a major sporting event. Price – If a premium price is to be charged for the product, Samsung needs to provide a strong competitive advantage for the Gear Fit over the competition, particularly LG. A good way of securing willingness to pay a higher price for a product is to add value through additional features or extra services. Samsung is well regarded for its innovative products and is number one in the smart phone market currently. This kudos will most probably rub off onto the fitness monitor too provided the right approach is adopted in terms of engaging the consumer through the social media focusing on Facebook and Twitter. Place – With its domination of the Smartphone and tablet computer markets, Samsung will be able to exploit not only its on-line presence for sales of the Gear Fit monitors but also capitalize on the goodwill and very strong presence in the high street. All the mobile phone network companies will be keen to stock the innovative Samsung products including fitness monitors, as will the supermarkets and electronics stores. Samsung already produces medical monitoring equipment for the hospitals and clinics; this fitness monitor could be added to the product range for healthcare too. LG marketing mix The marketing mix tactics adopted by LG could conceivably include: Product – In terms of the fitness monitor, LG has developed a couple of complementary products; the Lifeband wristband (Figure 5), with a touch screen; and the heart rate earphone monitor. The Lifeband plays music, receives calls and texts, has a three axis accelerometer and altimeter for recording exercise effort, and can track the route of the wearer using a Smartphone app. Promotion – aligning a brand with major events to create and maintain an identifiable profile is central to the promotion strand of the marketing mix. The natural target events for the promotion of the Life band will include the London Marathon and the Great North Run; monitoring the heart rate during a marathon event assists with pacing and avoids straining the heart (Sinha, 2014). Price – maintaining a premium pricing policy would be possible with such an expanding market, but LG needs to ensure the consumer is willing to continue to pay that premium through constant product enhancements such as the music functionality and GPS capability. These enhancements need to be communicated and discussed with consumers through engagement through social media hopefully developing that relationship with the customer central to the LG ethos, as depicted in the encircling logo. Place –Apart from the company website there must be considerable scope for collaborating with franchise/nationwide gyms; and exercise equipment companies to promote the LG Life band. There will also be increasing potential in tendering for Clinical Commissioning Group contracts for Telehealth2 and telecare 3 products; the wearable fitness monitor providing a cost-effective and simple to use way for patients to monitor their own condition and feel more in control of their health. Conclusions * Both Samsung and LG Electronics have identified the fitness monitor market as a potential area for considerable growth over the new few years. * They have both developed attractive products to promote to the particular market segments highlighted in this report, including students, women interested in staying fit through calorie counting as well as exercise, and young professionals. * Pinkse and Slade (2004) remind us that competition is greatest amongst brands that are most similar and it seems that these two large Korean electronics firms need to distinguish themselves from the other in order to create a unique selling proposition (USP) for their product(s) and to generate a desire for the product and organisations. Recommendations 1. It would be beneficial to take a longer term view of demographic trends, particularly in view of the ageing demographic, to predict any change in the potential market for fitness monitors. Such information is supplied by the Office for National Statistics Census 2011 data and population projections (ONS 2011). 2. Exploiting the potential of social media to promote the brand identity through taking advantage of the buzz around the social side of fitness and exercise; which exists particularly amongst younger target market segments. 3. Celebrity endorsement is a really effective way to promote products that are the subject of culture and desire, particularly amongst the youth and young adult market. Samsung used sports men and women at the Sochi Winter Olympics to promote their products (Samsung, n.d.); perhaps they can continue this and maybe LG could find their own set of celebrity endorsers for their products? 4. However, considering the increasing life expectancy combined with the ageing demographic (a greater percentage of the population being aged over 55, 65 and particularly 75 there is a considerable untapped market for promoting fitness monitors to this group of consumers. The lengthier retirement periods experienced by many people nowadays provide considerable potential for promoting a regular exercise regime to be built into their daily routine. The fitness monitor is well suited as an aid to a healthier old age as it is simple to use, portable and wearable, and can be promoted as positively reducing the likelihood of long term illness or disability. This is backed up by the evidence that highlights regular physical activity as the single most important lifestyle behaviour change for keeping healthy (Colberg et al, 2010) preventing type 2 diabetes, reducing high blood pressure and vastly reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and increased mortality. 5. Pursuing the fitness monitor market and expanding it into the Telehealth sector will have considerable potential too as the NHS and healthcare professionals are increasingly encouraging people with long term conditions to be more proactive about self-care and management. The Department of Health (2011) estimates there are around 15 million people in the UK with long term conditions; and that as many as 80% of these people could be supported to manage their own condition including though the use of effective self-monitoring. Not only will this reduce pressure and costs on NHS services, including keeping people out of hospital; but there is evidence that outcomes for patients are improved too with people more confident and experiencing a better quality of life (Challis, 2010). Word count = 3,093 References Colberg, S., Sigal, R., Fernhall, B., Regensteiner, J., Blissmer, B., Rubin, R., Chasan-Taber, L., Albright, A. Braun, B. 2010. Exercise and Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care;Dec. 2010; 33(12) pp.147-167. Cambridge Business Dictionary. N.d. [On-line] Available @ http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/business-english [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Challis, D., Hughes, J., Berzins, K., Reilly, S., Abell, J., Stewart, K. 2010. Self care and case management in long term conditions: the effective management of critical interfaces. London: HMSO. Clohessy, K. 2014. The best heart rate monitor for weight loss. [On-line] Available @ http://www.livestrong.com/article/380969-the-best-heart-rate-monitor-for-weight-loss/ [Accessed 13/10/2014. Department of Health. 2011. Ten things you need to know about long term conditions. London: Department of Health. Fournier, S. Avery, J. (2010) The Uninvited Brand. Boston: Boston University. Interbrand. 2012. Branding in the post-digital world. London: Interbrand. Ketcham, S. (2001) Celebrity Endorsements are a thing of the past (and Present) [on-line]. Available from: theoldtimes.com. [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Kotler P. et al. 2012. Marketing Management (2nd Ed). Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Kramer, M. 2011. Corporate Social Responsibility vs. Corporate Social Value – what’s the difference? [On-line] Available @ http://www.fsg.org/KnowledgeExchange/Blogs/CreatingSharedValue/PostID/66.aspx [Accessed 12/10/2014]. LG website [On-line] Available @ http://www.lg.com/uk/about-lg [Accessed 11/10/2014] Nielsen. (2009) Global advertising consumers trust real friends and virtual strangers the most. [On-line] Available @ http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2009/global-advertising-consumers-trust-real-friends-and-virtual-strangers-the-most.html [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Ofcom. 2010. UK consumers revealed as early adopters of new technologies. [Online] Available @ http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/news/uk-consumers-revealed-as-early-adopters-of-new-technologies [Accessed 12/10/2014]. Office for National Statistics (ONS). 2011. 2010-based national population projections. [On-line]. Available through ONS website @ http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/npp/national-population-projections/2010-based-projections/rep-2010-based-npp-results-summary.html [Accessed 09/10/2014]. Pinkse, J. Slade, M. (2004). Mergers, brand competition and the price of a pint. European Economic Review: 48 (2004) 617-643. Roy, S. 2013. Corporate shared value – the new competitive advantage. [On-line] Available @ http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/01/corporate-shared-value-new-competitive-advantage [Accessed 12/10/2014]. Royal College of Nursing website. N.d. Telehealth and telecare. [On-line] Available @ http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/practice/e-health/telehealth_and_telecare [Accessed 11/10/2014]. Samsung. 2013. Samsung Electronics Annual Report. Suwon: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Samsung website [On-line] Available @ http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/samsung_group/history [Accessed 09/10/2014] Sinha, A. 2014. Heart Monitor Training. [On-line] Available @ http://www.marathonguide.com/training/articles/heartmonitortraining.cfm [Accessed 13/10/2014] Swaim, R. 2010. The Strategic Drucker: Growth Strategies and Marketing Insights from the works of Peter Drucker. Singapore: John Wiley Sons. The King’s Fund. 2013. Transforming our healthcare system: Ten priorities for commissioners. London: The King’s Fund. Vecchione, A. 2012. Health monitoring devices market outpaces Telehealth. Information Week [On-line] Available @ http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/health-monitoring-devices-market-outpaces-telehealth/d/d-id/1104636? [Accessed 11/10/2014]. 1 GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a technology enabling phones to transfer data quickly, whilst still allowing telephone calls to be made. 2 Telehealth (or telemedicine) is defined as the remote monitoring of physiological functions including blood pressure, temperature and blood sugar levels, particularly as an aid to the self-management of long term conditions by patients in their own homes (Source: RCN website, n.d.) 3 Telecare covers a number of systems of sensors and alarms which monitor the safety of the living environment enabling people to remain living at home who otherwise would require care in a community hospital or care home. Examples of telecare devices include fall detectors, personal alarms, flood detectors and extreme temperature detectors (Source: RCN website, n.d.)

Mother Daughter Relationships - The Mother-daughter Relationship in Amy

Daughters and Mothers in The Joy Luck Club Children, as they become adults, become more appreciative of their parents. In The Joy Luck Club, the attitudes of four daughters toward their mothers change as the girls mature and come to realize that their mothers aren't so different after all. As children, the daughters in this book are ashamed of their mothers and don't take them very seriously, dismissing them as quirky and odd. "I could never tell my father . . . How could I tell him my mother was crazy?" (p. 117). They don't try to comprehend their culture, which is a big part of understanding their traditional Chinese mothers. On page 6, one of the daughters states, "I can never remember things I don't understand in the first place," referring to Chinese expressions her mother used. When their mothers show pride in them, the girls only show their embarrassment. One daughter shows her shame when she says to her mother, "I wish you wouldn't do that, telling everyone I'm your daughter" (p. 101). The girls cannot relate to their mothers because they were raised in a different world. No matter how much the mothers care for them or how much they sacrifice to make their girls' lives better, the daughters are blind to their mothers' pain and feelings. All four of the Joy Luck mothers need their daughters to understand them, pass on their spirit after they are gone, and understand what they have gone through for their girls. One mother dreams of doing this on her trip to a new life: "In America I will have a daughter just like me . . . over there nobody will look down on her . . . and she will always be too full to swallow any sorrow! She will know my meaning because I will give her this swan . . . it c... ...n away a long time ago to what I had imagined was a safer place. And hiding in this place, behind my invisible barriers, I knew what lay on the other side: her side attacks. Her secret weapons. Her uncanny ability to find my weakest spots. But in the brief instant that I had peered over the barriers I could finally see what was really there: an old woman, a wok for her armor, a knitting needle for her sword, getting a little crabby as she waited patiently for her daughter to invite her in. (pp. 203-204) In conclusion, as children, the daughters didn't understand their mothers or their culture. The daughters were being raised in a different world. Their perceptions of their mothers changed, though, as they grew up and realized that they weren't so different from them after all. They finally understood and respected their traditional Chinese mothers. Mother Daughter Relationships - The Mother-daughter Relationship in Amy Daughters and Mothers in The Joy Luck Club Children, as they become adults, become more appreciative of their parents. In The Joy Luck Club, the attitudes of four daughters toward their mothers change as the girls mature and come to realize that their mothers aren't so different after all. As children, the daughters in this book are ashamed of their mothers and don't take them very seriously, dismissing them as quirky and odd. "I could never tell my father . . . How could I tell him my mother was crazy?" (p. 117). They don't try to comprehend their culture, which is a big part of understanding their traditional Chinese mothers. On page 6, one of the daughters states, "I can never remember things I don't understand in the first place," referring to Chinese expressions her mother used. When their mothers show pride in them, the girls only show their embarrassment. One daughter shows her shame when she says to her mother, "I wish you wouldn't do that, telling everyone I'm your daughter" (p. 101). The girls cannot relate to their mothers because they were raised in a different world. No matter how much the mothers care for them or how much they sacrifice to make their girls' lives better, the daughters are blind to their mothers' pain and feelings. All four of the Joy Luck mothers need their daughters to understand them, pass on their spirit after they are gone, and understand what they have gone through for their girls. One mother dreams of doing this on her trip to a new life: "In America I will have a daughter just like me . . . over there nobody will look down on her . . . and she will always be too full to swallow any sorrow! She will know my meaning because I will give her this swan . . . it c... ...n away a long time ago to what I had imagined was a safer place. And hiding in this place, behind my invisible barriers, I knew what lay on the other side: her side attacks. Her secret weapons. Her uncanny ability to find my weakest spots. But in the brief instant that I had peered over the barriers I could finally see what was really there: an old woman, a wok for her armor, a knitting needle for her sword, getting a little crabby as she waited patiently for her daughter to invite her in. (pp. 203-204) In conclusion, as children, the daughters didn't understand their mothers or their culture. The daughters were being raised in a different world. Their perceptions of their mothers changed, though, as they grew up and realized that they weren't so different from them after all. They finally understood and respected their traditional Chinese mothers.

Abstinence vs. Teen Birth Control

For the past fourteen years, teen births in the United States has enjoyed a low rating. However, in 2007, this low birth rate was disrupted as there is a sudden surge in the number of teenagers getting pregnant. Based on the record of the National Center for Health Statistics, there is a three percent increase among 15 to 19 year-old girls from 2005 to 2006 after a thirty-four percent decrease between the years 1991 to 2005 (Riley, n. pag. ).According to government officials and physicians concerned with teen health, there is a need for a better sex education among teens for them to be able to fully understand the consequences of having sex and the responsibilities that go along with it. There is also a need to advocate for abstinence or the â€Å"shunning away† from any sexual act to decrease the number of teens who are getting preganant. It has been observed that sex education among teens focuses only on the use of contraceptives and does not promote abstinence, which accord ing to physicians, is the best solution to the problem on teen pregnancies.According to Hirsch (n. pag. ), abstinence is the safest way of not getting pregnant as this will prevent the egg and sperm cells from meeting and connecting with each other. Without the connection of the egg and sperm cells, pregnancy will be impossible. Aside from this, there are also other advantages of abstinence. Among these are the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, infertility and the development of cancer of the cervix. It has been medically found out that women who engage in sex during their younger years have higher risk of developing cancer as compared to those who don't.Abstinence is the practice or commitment of two single persons not to engage in pre-marital sex. Unlike most birth control methods that rely on pills and equipment to take effect, abstinence requires self-control and a strong commitment to inhibit from any sexual act. Many medical practitioners and parents advocate abst inence among the teens because it is the most ideal method where they can be sure that teen pregnancy can be eliminated or, if not, reduced. It is healthy and safe as compared to other birth control methods which rely on medications and equipments.Aside from this, it is also the only birth control method that is advocated by the Catholic faith and other religious beliefs. However, this method seem to be very difficult to follow especially for teenagers who are at their aggressive stage and are in the mood for experimentation and experience. It is very difficult for them to control their emotions especially if they are not deeply grounded morally and have not fully understood the pros and cons of sex and abstinence, thus, making the promising effect of this method useless.There are actually other forms of birth control methods aside from abstinence that could help reduce teen pregnancies and these include the following: information based methods, barrier methods, hormonal methods and longterm methods. The information based birth control are methods that are underpinned on facts such as the occurrence of pregnancy and how the female and male reporductive organs work. They include lactation amenorrhea method, withdrawal and natural family planning. Barrier methods,on the other hand, prevent the egg and sperm cells from meeting and some can also be used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.There are male and female condoms, diaphragms, cervical and female caps, lea's shield and spermicides. The hormonal method includes birth control pill, shot, patch and ring and emergency contraceptive pills. They work in varying ways, but essentially their two main functions are to keep the eggs from leaving the ovary and change the mucus created in the cervix to kill the sperm and prevent it from travelling to the egg. The long term methods which are the sterilization methods, intra-uterine devices and implants function for several years, some even permanently.These methods work well in preventing pregnancy but unlike other methods, it does not provide protection against HIV or STD (Teen source, n. pag. ). However, based on article reviewed by Dr. Hirsch, not all birth control methods are effective and can outrightly prevent the occurrence of pregnancy; some are even more risky for teens. A risky method is the fertility awareness or the rhythm method. This may be more risky for teens because their body might have not yet adjusted to the normal menstrual cycle.According to the article, in choosing the best birth control method, the following must be kept in mind: the ease of using it, the cost of the birth control material and the health condition of the person using it. It would be wise to educate the teens of these methods to know which are more effective in their system. The greater the information that teens receive, the more likely will they be able to respond positively to situations that come their way. Promoting birth control methods does not m ean advocating sex among teens. This is just a precautionary method just in case they find abstinence difficult.It is better for them to utilize these methods and be aware of its effects rather remain ignorant of the procedures. To reiterate, teenagers are very aggressive and they are always out to try something new, and sex is definitely one of the experiences they want to go through. Its better for them to be forewarned so that early pregnancy can be eliminated or at least trimmed down, rather than attempt to shield them from these methods and suffer the grim consequence of children bearing their own children. Sex education in the United States should be well explained to teenagers.They shoulod be educated on pros and cons of engaging in a sexual act. They should also lecture on abstinence and birth control methods and have a balanced presentation so that the teens can weigh which is more effective to their body system, practices and beliefs. It is better to have a choice than mer ely impose something which is not palatable to ideals. Parents should not only foster abstinence because if teens lose their virginity and they are only educated on abstinence, there is a greater possibility that they will engage in unprotected sex because they are not fully aware of the other contraceptive methods that they can use.Works Cited â€Å"Abstinence. † 19 March 2008. Cool Nurse. com. 30 April 2008 â€Å"Birth Control. † n. d. Teen Source. 30 April 2008. Hirsch, Larissa. , MD. â€Å"About Birth Control: What you need to know. † 2007 February. Kids Health. 30 April 2008 Hirsch, Larissa. , MD. â€Å"Birth Control Methods: How well do they work?.†2007 March. Kids Health. 30 April 2008 Riley, Jennifer. â€Å"US Teen Birth Rate Rises, Ends 14-year Streak. † 06 December 2007. Christian Post. 30 April 2008.

Against schools Essay

The article Against Schools is a very intriguing article or could case great debate and concern about public schooling systems in America today. Born in Monongahela, Pa, John Taylor Gatto is a retired America school teacher with nearly 30 years of experience in the school system. Gatto is a recipient of many awards such as: The New York City Teacher of the Year award in 1989,1990, and 1991 and The New York State Teacher of the Year award in 1991. He is broadminded perilous of compulsory schooling, and author of several books on education. Gatto voiced his belief that the public school system that we use, is not there for educational means; instead, exist to fulfill the function to cripple children in the long run. After reading Gatto’s article and reasoning for his opinion, I harmonize with Gatto’s belief. His article explains how our system was constructed and its purpose. I felt that the points he made displayed a lot of truth in them and it brought to reality effects about public school systems that I would have never thought to question or recognize. In the article Against School, John Taylor Gatto expresses his outlook that the public school system isn’t there for informative measures, instead â€Å"it exist to fulfill six covert functions meant to cripple our kids. † (Gatto 14 ) He speaks about the public school system not being of what we think and how it originates from the Prussian culture, which is a system deliberately designed to produce ordinary brainpowers that are simply ran. He emphasizes in the article how mandatory schooling has encouraged children not to think at all as a result leaving â€Å"them sitting ducks for the modern era of marketing†. (Gatto 148) Gatto states the fact that do to the training in school, â€Å"we have become a nation of children, happy to surrender our judgments and our wills to political exhortations and commercial blandishments that would insult actual adults†. (Gatto 148) The article goes on to express Gatto’s opinion that the school system encourages children not to think for their selves and children should be taught to manage their own lives. He says that he feels the solution is to simply let them be their true selves. One of the major points that Gatto explains in the article Against School is how the public school system originates from the Prussian culture and how compulsory school was intended to be just what it had been for the Perssia. According to several sources, â€Å"Horace Mann, credited as the father of the American public school system, studied a wide variety of educational models before implementing the Prussian system designed by Fredrick the Great. King Frederick created a system that was engineered to teach obedience and solidify his control. Focusing on following directions, basic skills, and conformity, he sought to indoctrinate the nation from an early age. Isolating students in rows and teachers in individual classrooms fashioned a strict hierarchy—intentionally fostering fear and loneliness. Mann chose the Prussian model, with its depersonalized learning and strict hierarchy of power, because it was the cheapest and easiest way to teach literacy on a large scale. Social efficiency theorists who sought to industrialize the educational process perpetuated this system throughout the early twentieth century. Led by educators such as Ellwood P. Cubberley, they used education as a tool for social engineering. Building upon the depersonalized uniformity and rigid hierarchy of the Prussian system, they constructed an industrial schooling model designed to produce millions of workers for America’s factories. Believing that most of America’s students were destined for a life of menial, industrial labor, these theorists created a multi-track educational system meant to sort students from an early age. While the best and brightest were carefully groomed for leadership positions, the majority was relegated to a monotonous education of rote learning and task completion. Consequently, our schooling system is still locked into the Prussian-industrial framework of fear, isolation, and monotony. For both students and teachers, procedure is emphasized over innovation, uniformity over individual expression, and control over empowerment. It is, therefore, not surprising that the majority of America’s classrooms have changed little in over one hundred years. †(Web) Gatto makes this point by stating these historical facts in his article. Gatto also gives examples of the outcome of compulsory school, which he says, results in adults that are manageable beings. He says those adults by things they don’t need because they are trained to believe they give some sense of proudness like a television to order more things on TV. Gatto states, â€Å" Easy answers have removed the need to ask questions. † (Gatto148) The point is definite proven by Gatto in the article which is that â€Å" mandatory education serves children incidentally†¦ its real purpose is to turn our children into servants. † (Gatto 149) He feels that instead of let the government managing our children, the solution is to let them manage themselves. The best way this can be achieved in Gatto’s vision is through homeschooling children. When I thought about the public school system, I did not ever question its purpose but to be anything but benficual to children. I thought it was to enlighten them and bring out their true individualism and make them productive citizens in society. I agree with Gatto’s article after recalling back to my experience in school. Everything was so ordered and strict, to mold everyone to be what was told of them. I did from time to time question the why can I not do this that way or why can it not be something else and I was always told by my teachers because this is the right way. Everybody does it like this so you have to as well or you are wrong. Gatto says that schooling structures us into the reliant, mindless adults we are in ways like: â€Å"easy divorce encouraging us not to work on relationships, easy credit removing the need for fiscal control, easy entertainment removing the need to entertain one’s self, etc. † (Gatto148) It does not make sense that if we are each individuals, then why are we taught and ma to think the same. Gatto feels the solution is to go back to the original way and possibly teach children our selves, preferably at home not in a â€Å"institution and the government should not really have any say so over it. I believe that yes children should be encouraged to be who they truly are and explore their minds deepest capacities; however, there should still be some stucture in their lives outside of home. They need to learn to coexist with others and their own ideas as well. I do not agree with the idea of homeschooling completely. With the economy being the way it is families have to work to provide for there families and some families are single parent homes, therefore leaving no time to instruct the children to proper way. John Taylor Gatto purpose for wring the article Against schools, was to bring to light the issue that our government is corrupting Americans from the beginning through something almost everyone supports, Our educational system. Gatto more than prospered with attainment of his point being acknowledged. I was stunned to discover that the American public school system is one designed to casts an being’s mind to be what its told to be, not what it is suppose to be or wants to be, and that is very disturbing to me. Gatto bringing the origin of the public school system to light did his work justice. On the contrast, I do not believe that the resolution is to teach children at home. In conclusion, the reality of it is: even though the system is corrupt and controlling, it has been operating for years and no one has changed it. We will never be able to subdue the government, so the best is to just make do the way we can. Works Cited 1. http://thenewamericanacademy. org/index. php/home/our-philosophy-menu/the-prussian-industrial-model. 2. Gatto, John Taylor. â€Å"Against Schools. † Rereading America. 9th ed. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. p141-150.