The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Essay Example

The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Essay Example The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Paper The Great Gatsby Chapter Analysis Paper Essay Topic: The Great Gatsby Nick observes several drunken women at Gatsby lawn, gossiping about the mysterious identity and unusual rumors of Gatsby. Gatsby invites Nick forever lunch and they go on a ride to the city in Gatsby white Rolls Royce. On their way to the city, Gatsby tells Nick about his past. Gatsby describes himself as a son of wealthy parents from the Midwest town of San Francisco, who graduated from Oxford, been a reputable jewel collector in Europe and war hero. Gatsby shows Nick his war medal to prove his claims. He informs Nick to expect a story about his tragedy which he will tell him about later this afternoon. As they drive, Gatsby does not pay attention to the speed limit and an officer pulls them over. Gatsby shows the officer a small white card from the commissioner. The officer apologizes and lets them go. During lunch, they meet Gatsby business partner Meyer Wolfishly. Wolfishly describes Gatsby to Nick as a man Of fine breeding (p. 46 1 993 edition) who would never so much as look at a friends wife? (p. 47 1993 edition). Gatsby informs Nick of Wolfishly identity and that hes the man responsible for the fixing of the 1919 World Series. Nick becomes concerned that Gatsby is involved in crime business. As they leave the restaurant, Nick sees Tom Buchanan and introduces him to Gatsby. Gatsby becomes embarrassed and leaves without even saying goodbye. Later on, Nick meets Jordan at the Plaza Hotel. She tells Nick the amazing thing that Gatsby had told her previously. There is a flashback into Gatsby past: as a young man, Gatsby had a passionate romance with Daisy Fay, who is now Daisy Buchanan. During the war, Gatsby met Daisy at his stay in Louisville and they fell in love. Daisys family prevented her from marrying Gatsby and one year later she married a wealthy man from Chicago, Tom Buchanan, who gave her a string of pearls worth $350 000 and 3 month honeymoon to the Southern Seas. When they arrive at the Central Park, Jordan finishes the story. She tells that Gatsby)dos love to Daisy is unbreakable and he bought his giant mansion in West Egg just to be across the bay from her. Gatsby believes that he could buy back the love of Daisy with money. Nick realizes that the mimes Gatsby gazed at the green light across the docks, was due to his passionate love to Daisy. Jordan tells Nick, that Gatsby requested him to invite Daisy to his house for tea. Gatsby will suddenly arrive, so she could see him, even though he fears that she doesnt want to. Analysis Thesis Statement: Through the use of flashbacks Fitzgerald unfolds the mysterious identity of Jay Gatsby. At first the author portrays Gatsby as an untrustworthy, suspicious man, who is involved in criminal activity of bootlegging. However after Cordons story of Gatsby past, there is a major heft in his identity and his true character is revealed. Nick realizes that Gatsby has accumulated this wealth and all his possessions to win the love of Daisy. Chapter 4 opens up with a portrayal of The Roaring Twenties and its dynamic lifestyle. Nicks description of Gatsby guests shows the different roles and classes of the society, during 1922. Nick outlines how they are all just using Gatsby for his hospitality and wealth. The author achieves this theme through Nicks list the guests who attended the parties: Chester Backers and the Leeches, and a man named Bunsen (p. 1 993 edition) and the fact that none of the guests knew anything about the host. They arrived at Gatsby mansion with the intention to enjoy their time, consume alcohol and display their wealth, thereby portraying the main concept of the fast paced life of the Roaring Twenties. At the beginning of the chapter, the author foreshadows Gatsby s connection to the criminal world by the chatter of the young ladies at the party. The rumors about Gatsby that are overheard from the m: He is a bootlegger One time he killed a man who had found that he was a nephew o Von Hindering (p. 9 1 993 edition), cause the reader to be suspicious of Gatsby character and provide an indication that he is not a clean person. The rumors reveal a minor element Of Gatsby identity and the immoral way he gained his wealth, giving a sign to the reader of what to expect further in the chapter. Another portrayal of the Roaring Twenties appears when Gatsby pays no attention to the speed limit and an officer pulls him over. Gatsby shows the white card he had received from the commissioner, due to a favor he had previously done for him. The officer apologizes, Know you next time Mr.. Gatsby. Excuse me! (p. 44 1993 edition) and lets him go. Gatsby action of simply waving a small white card to escape the consequences of breaking a law shows that he is a superstar. Gatsby acts above the law and the police, displaying himself as the New Money of the Roaring Twenties and that there are no boundaries to his actions. When Meyer Wolfishly is introduced in the chapter; Nicks awareness of the criminal side to Gatsby s character increases. Throughout the conversation Nick suspects that the rumors he had revisions heard from the young ladies hes a bootlegger One time he killed a man ) (p. 9 1993 edition) are true and that Gatsby is involved in organized crime. In the chapter, Wolfishly serves as symbol to represent the Criminal Element. The way that Fitzgerald describes the visual characteristics of Wolfishly A small, flat nosed Jew raised his large head and regarded me with two fine growths of hair which luxuriated in either nostril. After a moment I discovered his tiny eyes in th e half-darkness (p. 44-45 1993 edition), generates a stereotype of the Jewish nation. During the 1 sass, Jews were hardwired for their greed, wealth and physical attributes of a miniature body build a large nose. Fitzgerald applies the stereotype to describe Wolfishly as a symbol for Crime and Corruption. Meyer Wolfishly describes the success in wealth as an outcome of fine breeding (p. 46 1 993 edition). This is the Old Money way of thinking, where the fundamentals to achieving The American Dream of wealth lie in the genes of the person. After the meeting with Wolfishly, Nick realizes that the source to Gatsby high income is his involvement in bootlegging activities. Gatsby is the New Money lass of The Roaring Twenties, who has recently acquired his fortune of wealth, instead of inheriting it. Throughout the mid-section of the chapter Fitzgerald begins to unfold the mysteries of Jay Gatsby past, revealing his true identity and creating a major shift of Gatsby character. At the beginning of the chapter the author characterizes Gatsby as enigmatic, suspicious and not fully trustworthy person. The information Gatsby gives about his past seems highly over exaggerated and inconceivable; l am the son of wealthy people in the Middle West -all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. (p. 42 1993 edition). Gatsby portrays himself as a son of wealthy parents, war hero, jewel collector and a graduate of oxford. Later on, Cordons story about Gatsby past radically changes Nicks perception of Gatsby character. Through the use of flash backs, Jordan depicts Gatsby as a romantic person who is fighting to achieve his love. Jordan reveals his lower class background, what influenced Daisys parents to oppos e the marriage; but Gatsby is a man who is prepared to go beyond the boundaries to reach his goal. Through Cordons flashbacks of Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents a romantic click, where Gatsby is the Romeo of The Roaring Twenties: a perfect lover, brave and handsome, and war hero. The end of Chapter 4 reveals the true objective to Gatsby accomplishment of his wealth. Gatsby desire to reach the mysterious green light and Daisy across the bay is unstoppable. The green light acts as a symbol to several themes, among them is Daisy herself, Gatsby fearless romantic optimism and Gatsby s view of the American Dream.

Definition and Examples of Research

Definition and Examples of Research Research is the collection and evaluation of information about a particular subject. The overarching purpose of research is to answer questions and generate new knowledge. Types of Research Two broad approaches to research are commonly recognized, though these different approaches may overlap. Put simply, quantitative research involves the  systematic collection and analysis of data, while qualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical materials, which may include case study, personal experience, introspection, life story, interviews, artifacts, [and] cultural texts and productions (The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research, 2005). Finally, mixed-method research  (sometimes called triangulation) has been defined as the incorporation of various qualitative and quantitative strategies within a single project. There are other ways of classifying different research methods and approaches. For example, sociology professor  Russell Schutt observes that [d]eductive research begins at the point of theory, inductive research begins with data but ends with theory, and descriptive research begins with data and ends with empirical generalizations(Investigating the Social World, 2012). In the words of psychology professor Wayne Weiten, No single research method is ideal for all purposes and situations. Much of the ingenuity in research involves selecting and tailoring the method to the question at hand(Psychology: Themes and Variations, 2014). College Research Assignments College research assignments are an opportunity for you to contribute to an intellectual inquiry or debate. Most college assignments ask you to pose a question worth exploring, to read widely in search of possible answers, to interpret what you read, to draw reasoned conclusions, and to support those conclusions with valid and well-documented evidence. Such assignments may at first seem overwhelming, but if you pose a question that intrigues you and approaches it like a detective, with genuine curiosity, you will soon learn how rewarding research can be.Admittedly, the process takes time: time for researching and time for drafting, revising, and documenting the paper in the style recommended by your instructor. Before beginning a research project, you should set a realistic schedule of deadlines.(Diana Hacker, The Bedford Handbook, 6th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2002) Talent must be stimulated by facts and ideas. Do  research. Feed your talent. Research not only wins the war on  cliche, its the key to victory over fear and its cousin, depression.(Robert McKee,  Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting. HarperCollins, 1997) A Framework for Conducting Research Beginning researchers need to start by using the seven steps listed below. The path is not always linear, but these steps provide a framework for conducting research...(Leslie F. Stebbins, Student Guide to Research in the Digital Age. Libraries Unlimited, 2006) Define your research questionAsk for helpDevelop a research strategy and locate resourcesUse effective search techniquesRead critically, synthesize, and seek meaningUnderstand the scholarly communication process and cite sourcesCritically evaluate sources Write What You Know I refer to [the writing motto] Write what you know, and problems emerge when it’s interpreted to mean that first-grade teachers should (only?) write about being a first-grade teacher, short-story writers living in Brooklyn should write about being a short-story writer living in Brooklyn, and so forth...Writers who are intimately familiar with their subject produce more knowing, more confident and, as a result, stronger results...But that command is not perfect, implying, as it does, that one’s written output should be limited to one’s passions. Some people don’t feel passionate about one given subject, which is regrettable but shouldn’t consign them to the sidelines of the world of prose. Fortunately, this conundrum has an escape clause: you can actually acquire knowledge. In journalism, this is called reporting, and in nonfiction, research... [T]he idea is to investigate the subject till you can write about it with complete confidence and authority . Being a serial expert is actually one of the cool things about the very enterprise of writing: You learn ’em and leave ’em.(Ben Yagoda, Should We Write What We Know? The New York Times, July 22, 2013) The Lighter Side of Research   Poking a dead raccoon is not research. (Bart Simpson, The Simpsons)  Google is not a synonym for research. (Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol, 2009)I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way. (Franklin Pierce Adams, quoted in Readers Digest, October 1960)

The Making of A Quagmire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Making of A Quagmire - Essay Example The government will not hesitate to invent a story to hide their cruel actions. I cite the example tendered by the author about â€Å"Thich Quang Duc who had come to the square as part of Buddhist procession had been doused in sharp contrast to walking people around him† (113). The dubious version of the Government read thus: â€Å"†¦. ...that Quang duc’s fellow priest had set him on fire, and that he had been unable to feel any pain because he had been heavily dosed with morphine† (113-14) The real issue was the religious revolution in Vietnam. But for the press taking up the issue, America would have considered it as an act of terrorism. Politicians have just one agenda—selfishness and plans for aggrandizement of wealth and they will go to any extent to achieve their nefarious objectives. The citizens of a country therefore have a great responsibility. They need to remain ever vigilant and analyze the information with a correct perspective and take independent decisions. The published statements of the politicians may not be always authentic. 2. Madame Nhu is the important personality in the book, and this refers to the negative aspect of her personality. She stands apart from majority of the traditional Vietnamese women. She was crazy to be in the limelight and considered herself as the potential leader and was power-hungry. God had blessed her with beauty, wisdom, and power. The author writes, â€Å"Madame Nhu was strikingly beautiful woman, and she was well aware of it; yet she looked too perfectly manicured, too much like someone who had just stepped out of a beauty shop, to be leading a country at war†(24). She was able to exert tremendous influence in Vietnam and NGO family. She was responsible for the oppression and death of many monks and her anti-Buddhist outbursts were famous. With her quixotic statements, she was able to exert great influence on Diem. Her hatred to Buddhism was open and intense. She commented upon the self-immolation of the Buddhist monk as a very normal â€Å"barbecue.† The author writes, â€Å"To Madame Nhu this event was simply a barbecue and an affront† (113). She was so cruel against the Buddhists that she expressed her views that she was willing to clap at such burning incidents. American President Robert Kennedy did not like her actions and in Vietnam, there was lots of internal discontent. American policy turned hostile towards Diem government and ultimately led to the coup of Duong Van Minh’s. 3. As for the Vietnam War, dual perspectives prevailed in America. The press was mostly on loggerheads with the Government on this issue. The press had no vested interest and I strongly feel that the Press was right. The correspondents were reporting from the actual battlefronts, with great danger to their personal safety and they were interested in reporting the truth about the war and its gruesome aspects. The American tax-payer was entitled to know the truth about the Vietnam War and the reality reports were forthcoming from the Press. On the other hand, the Government was giving only one side of the total picture that was convenient from their point of view. For instance relating to the battle of Ap Bac, America was hiding the vital information relating to American losses to suppress the anti-war sentiments of the American citizens, as would be read from the comments from Admiral Harry, as reported by the author: â€Å"Yes, that's right. It was a Vietnamese victory. It certainly was†

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Final - Essay Example (Plunkett 67) . On Feb 2005, Verizon approved to acquire MCI Company. The acquisition was to benefit it in terms of economics of scale and access to a wider base of customers. By the year 2006, MCI was already integrated into Verizon thus adopting the name verizon business. It then became the largest telecommunication company in the U.S In terms of its sales i.e. 75.11 billion; assets added up to 168.13 US dollars and the company had a profit of 9.4 billion US dollars. Later with the mergers of Bell South and AT and TINC, It became the largest telecommunications company based on its profits and assets in the world. (Plunkett 68) The company principality operates in the US with its headquarters in New York. It offers wireless and wireline services such as voice, network access, data services, broadband video and global internet protocol networks. Verizon communications Inc operates in more than 150 nations worldwide. Verizon voice messaging services is offered for both businesses and residences. Verizon’s Cell co partnership operates the second largest wireless telecomm network in the US In terms of the number of subscribers and revenue. It is also one of the major US carriers to utilize the CDMA technology and uses 8 billion US dollar annually in its maintenance and expansion. It offers both voice and 3G data services for example, text and picture messaging, over the air downloadable applications and wireless broadband based on EV-DO Rev A. It also carries various mobile services and phones eg LG, Motorola and Samsung. (Lutz 138) Verizon’s video services was launched in September , 2005 and uses optical fibre network to distribute more than 330 channels, 180 digital videos and music channels and 1800 video on demand titles. DSL internet services are offered to the same areas where phone services are provided. It is known to have the largest number of spammers of all networks globally. Verizon’s

Personal Statement Essay Example for Free

Personal Statement Essay What you want to study at university and why * Specific aspects of the courses that interest you * Examples of coursework you have completed * Practical work you have enjoyed * Books, articles, etc. you have read related to the subject area * Work experience or voluntary work in this area * Conferences you have attended * Personal experiences that lead to the decision to take this subject * Where you hope a degree in this subject will take you in the future * Experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person * Part-time job * Business enterprise * Community and charity work * Sixth form committee * Helping out at school events and open days * Young Enterprise, World Challenge, Duke of Edinburgh award, Asdan Award, Debating societies, and what you have gained from these experiences. Your interests and skills * What you like to do in your free time * Sport and leisure activities * Subjects you study that are not examined * Musical instrument(s) you play * Languages you speak * Prizes you have won or positions achieved in your interests From the personal statements you have just read through, you may have gathered the following guidelines: * Don’t sound arrogant and pretentious * Try to have an interesting phrase or paragraph to start and finish on * Try not to quote books, magazines or publications in a way that makes it sound like you’ve only read them to put them on your statement. * Do not lie outright and stay as close to the truth as possible * Dont try to be funny or make jokes in your statement * Dont start every sentence with I * Dont include your hobbies and interests unless they are relevant * Dont use vocabulary you dont normally use and just looked up in a dictionary * Dont use famous quotes in your statement unless you back them up with information on how and why this person’s quote influenced you. Dropping them in just for the sake of it makes you look silly and that you haven’t given serious thought to your personal statement. * Dont repeat things already on your UCAS form, e.g. predicted exam grades. * With the exception of a gap year, dont make claims you are going to do something before you come to university * Dont include clichà ©s * Dont take any political or religious viewpoints. write down a list of words or sentences you would like to use like this: * to gain greater understanding of the world around you * sends a signal to prospective employers and graduate schools * students of economics become problem-solvers * the fact is economics affects our daily lives * a challenging and diverse discipline * develops analytical skills, quantitative skills, research skills * it is interesting and relevant Another approach is to split up your notes into a few categories and write a paragraph on each category. For example: * Paragraph 1: Introduction to the subject, the aspects you’re interested in and why * Paragraph 2: What you have done related to the subject that isn’t already on your UCAS form * Paragraphs 3 and 4: Work experience placements and relevant activities at school * Paragraph 5: Your interests outside of school, particularly those that show you are a responsible and reliable person * Paragraph 6: Your goal of attending university and a memorable closing comment In our opinion its best to start with why you want to take your subject, and finish with why you want to go to university or what you want to do afterwards. Before you begin, take a look at the websites and prospectuses of the universities you are applying to, and see if they say anything about writing personal statements. Along with writing about what youve done, try and  explain why you did it, or what you think you learned from it.For example: I currently have a part time job and this has taught me about teamwork, responsibility and time management in the workplace. - Computer Games Programming personal statement I find the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Games Physics interesting and so I have decided to study a course to include these areas. I am currently studying an A level in Information Technology in which I have used Visual Basic in Microsoft Excel and Access. At home I have used the actionscript language in Macromedia Flash to build an interactive personal website. I found this aspect of computing very interesting and so I will really enjoy programming in C++ and other programming languages. I am also studying an A level in Mathematics that I really enjoy. This would be useful for many parts of the course such as games physics. When I’ve played computer games in the past I have always wanted to be able to create something similar. Consequently, the computer games programming course stood out as something that I really wanted to do. I have used some software programs such as Microsoft Visual Basic, Softimage|XSI ESP 3.0, Discreet 3DS MAX 5 (evaluation version) and Maya Per sonal Learning Edition. I would like to see people’s enjoyment when playing a game, knowing that I took part in producing it. I have emailed a few programming companies such as Valve Software, id software, Lionsoft, Electronic Arts and Codemasters explaining my situation and asking whether it would be better to take a games programming course or a software development course and learn game specific items afterwards or in my spare time. All of the replies advised me to take the computer games programming course as this way I would already possess the games programming knowledge. Undertaking my work experience as a sales assistant in a computer store allowed me to develop skills such as working in a team and dealing with customers. Although I was working with others a lot of the time, I also had to work independently. This allowed me to use my own initiative and solve problems. Whilst attending Sutton High Sports College, I have done a large amount of voluntary work. During years 10 and 11, I helped with the schools open days and sports days where I did scoring.  I also took part in after school activities such as playing music. Outside of school I have helped at â€Å"Darby and Joan’s† which is for old aged pensioners where they can get together for company, and to talk and play bingo. Year 12 saw me helping with the year 6 induction day, and assisting with scoring on both the school’s open day and the St. Helens Athletic Finals. Participation in a first aid course gained me a certificate in â€Å"Emergency Aid in the workplace for Appointed Persons.† This involved areas such as resuscitation and control of bleeding. Hobbies and interests include reading books; the genres preferred being science fiction and horror. I also like playing piano of which I am currently working towards grade 8, and I have played â€Å"The Skaters’ Waltz† at Parr Hall (a concert hall) in Warrington. I enjoy using my computer for playing games, including playing games online, and for using the internet to keep up to date with current news in the computing and gaming world, new hardware and software releases. My interests cover a wide area, which I believe will help me in both academic and social life at university. My aim is to become a computer games programmer developing any type of game for PC or console, and I believe that a university course will help me achieve my goal. - Computer Science personal statement From an early age I’ve always been deeply interested in computing. It was my dad, introducing me to the computer systems at his work place that first sparked this interest. I can always remember the feeling of wanting to know just how computers worked, why they worked and what else they could do. This interest never left me, only growing more profound and passionate with every new discovery I made. From communicating with an artificial intelligence to seeing the wonders of the Internet for the first time, computers have left me fascinated with just how much power yet mystery they hold. The A-Levels I chose to study have all helped me to develop both myself and my understanding of the subject. Physics for example has helped me to understand how certain parts of a computer function, while Computing has given me a greater insight into the business aspects of the computer industry. Chemistry and Physics have both helped to improve my analytical and evaluative skills. Within maths I have been lucky enough to have a  teacher who was very interested in computer science. He has been especially helpful, lending me books such as Gà ¶del, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid. This has given me an insight into the richness that is computer science. My interest in computing has not been restricted to the classroom and college life. Within the last twelve months I’ve used the knowledge that I’ve gained over the past twelve years together with the help of my family to set up my own computer related business. This has given me a totally new perspective on how certain things function, and how business operates. The writing of a business plan was a totally alien experience for me, but over the course of 9 months I researched and planned, and finally when the plan was complete I was rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing that I had completed something that most people would never have the chance to do especially at my age. Through the setting up of the company and its subsequent running I have learnt many things. These include how to balance tasks effectively, how critical teamwork can be and how to delegate tasks to get the job done quickly and efficiently. As well as spending time both studying and helping to run the business I understand the importance of having time to relax. One of my hobbies that I try to make time for is learning to fly, and gaining my private pilots license. As a child I dreamed of becoming a pilot and luckily its one dream that I’ve managed to follow. I love the freedom that flying gives you and the control that you have when in the air. Training for my private pilots license (PPL) has also involved me taking onboard a lot of responsibility for the safety of those onboard, and those around the aircraft. From ensuring that I carry out the pre-flight checks correctly, and knowing what’s around you both while you’re on the ground and in the air to ensuring that I’m prepared for any eventuality. I also enjoy both playing and watching tennis. I’ve played in various competitions before, and have helped to umpire junior matches at my club. To ensure that I can fit everything in I’ve had to develop very good time management, prioritising what I need to do efficiently. I’m looking forward with great anticipation to the challenges that studying for a degree in computer science will bring. - Computer Science Personal statement I want to study Computer Science because the world of computers and their integration has exploded in recent years. It has been incredible to observe the development of the computer, from something that was originally the size of a small room and now can fit easily into your hand and has become an integral part of modern society finding uses in just about everything. I want to be a part of the fastest moving technology in the world striving to advance the technologies available to industry and the consumer. While studying my AS Levels in Computing, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics I have found that they are all interlinked. The choice of my subjects has given me an in depth understanding of the principle ideas of computing that I would not have been able to achieve studying them in one context. The area that I most enjoyed in my computing course was a piece of coursework which involved having to create a database to a stringent specification. I found this challenging to complete because I was given a problem and had to construct a working solution for it using Microsoft Access and Visual Basic in Applications. Programming is a major factor in my interest of Computer Science. I find programming appealing because of the challenge involved in creating a resolution to a problem using different methods. My study of Mathematics and Further Mathematics have played a pivotal role in my studies giving me a logical thought process that I can apply to other subject areas. I found the Mechanics module that I took in my Further Mathematics most intriguing as it could be applied to real life situations such as projectile motion. This was also true for some other modules as I found the applied side more rewarding and enjoyable as opposed to the pure side of Mathematics. While at my secondary school I chose to take my statistics module in year nine staying behind once a week so I could improve my mathematical understanding in preparation for my further education. I also opted to take a vocational art and design course which meant I attended a class at Blackburn College for two hours a week extra. In addition to these I studied an AS level in critical thinking during year ten. Studying for these extra qualifications has reinforced my determination to proceed on to higher education. In my spare time I have worked for over a season as a Ground Safety Steward at Blackburn Rovers Football Club. During my time at the club I have learnt skills such as dealing with the public and providing a welcoming atmosphere, working under pressure and becoming a  reliable and responsible person. Stewarding at Blackburn Rovers has provided me with an interesting escape from college life. At college I was a member of a cross college committee which involved representing the student voice with regards to the ICT issues within the college. I acted as the link between the student body and the administration. I found this a good use for my ICT knowledge and also gained an understanding of how problems are dealt with in a business type environment. My hobbies include keeping fit by running regularly. I benefit from this because it is a chance to test myself and it enables me to focus and calm my mind eliminating everyday stress. I hope to gain my scuba diving license this year which means I will be qualified to scuba dive. From my university experience I aim to become a more independent person and make new friends with similar interests. - Computer Games Programming Personal Statement It has been said a picture can paint a thousand words. If this is the case then I believe a game, an interactive picture, which can not only be observed but experienced fully by the user, an entire world for them to immerse themselves in can speak volumes. Games are a growing part of our society and become more and more popular every single day. Games have been a lifelong hobby and enjoyment of mine, a way of escaping to a new world where you can leave reality behind and experience scenarios and situations that would not normally be possible for most people. However my greatest passion is not with the playing of games, but the workings of them. I have always been curious about the way things work. Especially computers and the software they run. In my spare time I enjoy repairing, building and upgrading PCÃÆ'ƒÂ ¢ÃƒÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬ÃƒÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢s for myself and friends. I like to learn about and have knowledge on most areas of computing hardwa re and software wise, however it is games and the creation of them which really catches my eye and sucks me in as the area I would love to go into as a career in life. Despite my passion for games and computers I am not deskbound all day long. I have a part time job as a Business Machines Associate working in the technology section of my local Staples UK ltd store. Dealing with customer problems/repairs, offering advice and maintaining security protocol among other duties. The Job which I have held for almost a year now has given me a  major confidence and initiative boost, taught me to work independently and think logically and on my feet. When not at work, school or at my PC I can be found juggling another passion of mine. Balls, clubs, fire and knives I juggle just about anything and find it to be both an enjoyable and relaxing pastime. I also attend my local gym regularly in order to keep fit as I believe this benefits the individual in many areas of life both mentally and physically. Being involved with school is another important thing to me. I have worked with the IT technicians testing the security of the school network and discovering a number of security holes which I pointed out to them which have since been corrected. I continue to help maintain the integrity and security of the network by ensuring no security holes exist. I also visit a year 10 class once a week in the morning to help out with organising assemblies and events for them. Learning more about how games are actually designed, programmed and put together has been something that I have actively tried to learn about myself ever since I had the resources available to me and have familiarised myself with Macromedia flash and the action script language it uses. AutoDesk 3DS Max and Maya (PLE edition) and have begun to teach myself C++. I wish to carry on learning about games design and programming at university so that I can pursue it as a career and continue to extend my knowledge on it throughout my life. To be involved in the creation of one of the most enjoyable and advanced forms of entertainment today is a major ambition of mine. To have the opportunity to leave a quirky Easter egg of my own hidden in a game. Games are like a concert where the audience gets to perform and I want to be the one who made the instruments. Computer games programming isnt a degree that a typical girl would probably be interested in. But then, I do not see myself as a typical student. When I first left school I studied A levels, but at the end of two years I felt as though I lacked direction and still had no idea what I wanted to do in the future. I took the opportunity to work for a year and give myself some time to think about what I wanted to do in the future. I tried to think about something that I had been passionate about my whole life, and what I came up with was games. Ever since playing the Master System II as a child I have  always had an interest in playing the newest and most exciting games, and the thrill of completing them. I enrolled on a National Diploma course for IT Practitioners and my resolve was strengthened when I started my Software Design and Development unit and discovered a passion for programming, which I continued to enjoy in my Event Driven Programming unit. I enjoy the logical thinking req uired to create a program trying to fix any problems, and the sense of achievement when the program is finished and working. I am particularly interested in the advancing technology of gaming, especially human computer interaction and artificial intelligence, and would love to study these in more detail. When I am not at college I work in a shop selling teas and coffees. I am given a lot of responsibility there and I am trusted to run the shop on Sundays, which involves looking after the money and directing my colleagues. I have also been responsible for training new members of staff. This has given me the skills of working in a team. The job also requires me to have a good knowledge of the products, which is something I have studied in my spare time, as well as the ability to explain what you know to the customers. I think this has helped me to be able to speak to people easily and confidently. I have also developed excellent time management skills from my previous job, which required me to get a variety of different meals ready on time. These skills have been useful at college for helping me to plan my assignments and get them in on time. I also volunteer with a group called Silver Surfers, an organisation run by Age Concern to help elderly people with using computers and the internet. I enjoy doing this because I like helping people with something that I am confident in doing, and seeing the progress in someone who had never used a computer before, and by the end of the session being happy that they have achieved something. I find helping these people becoming more confident with computers very rewarding and have made friends with a lot of the clients that I have helped. I have also helped out at my college in promoting the course that I am studying. I had my photograph taken to be put in this years prospectus, and took part in a video interview about the course to be shown to prospective students. As well as playing games, I spend a lot of my free time reading. I enjoy many genres but my favourites are fantasy and romance novels. I have even started writing my own novel along these lines. Though it is still a work in progress I find writing is a good way of  letting my creativity out, and find it very satisfying when I have finished writing an interesting chapter. I also love watching films and frequently have movie nights with my friends, where we will watch anything from horrors to musicals. After completing my games programming course my aim would be to work in a games company, programming the latest console games. My dream would be to see a project that I have worked hard on selling in shops and people enjoying the products that I have put all of my passion and energy into. In a fast paced world surrounded by technology my fascination with computers continues to grow. From an early age I had an urge and desire to understand how technology worked and it is this fascination that has led me to study computer science. As I have progressed through education to satisfy my appetite for knowledge I have become an experienced programmer and website designer. During my studies I have programmed using Java, Python and PHP. On average, I have produced two games or applications per year, usually with a MySQL database backend. My portfolio so far includes: three web applications (a car rental, film hire and plane booking system), an Android application (a sponsored swim management tool) and two games (peg solitaire and noughts and crosses). One of my favourite units of work was designing the airline booking system because I find the area of Human Computer Interaction incredibly interesting. I personally find it fascinating that the interpretation of a system or application by its users can make a fundamental contribution to aspects of productivity and efficiency. For this reason my long term goal is to complete a masters degree focusing specifically in the area of user experience. My ability to solve complex problems with a methodical and logical approach was demonstrated in Computer Forensics and Advanced Databases. An excellent understanding of the operating system and file structures were required to construct plausible scenarios and timelines relating to possible crimes. I also found relational algebra challenging but fun. With the use of online tools such as Deepnet search engines I was able to find academic papers with which to research areas of particular interest and that enabled me to better understand advanced topics including privacy enhancing technologies and biometrics. During my individual project (film rental system) I had the ability to adapt  modules (Software Development Introduction and Project management) to implement an agile software development strategy. I am also really enjoying taking part in the group project which is designing a diagnostic tool for use in the NHS. I am a very reliable team player and my responsibilities so far have been: research of current diagnostic solutions and organising team meetings via hangouts on Google Plus. Work experience and working independently with various clients in website development and software support tasks has improved my confidence and working knowledge. Experience in the real world has been very beneficial; deepening my understanding of topics that I have studied at university such as Object Oriented Programming and Design allowing me to produce more reliable and efficient code with the use of frameworks (Codeigniter) and APIs (JQuery). In my free time I like to relax by going to the swimming pool. I am a dedicated and motivated swimmer and was an active member of East Sutherland and Tain Amateur Swimming Clubs, regularly participating in training and swimming competitions. I was elected as club secretary of East Sutherland for two consecutive years, during which time my responsibilities included negotiating financial agreements, co-ordinating a training strategy with coaches and working alongside designers to develop brand concepts and produce logos. As well as being a keen swimmer I am a self-taught photographer specialising in portraits. I am a highly skilled Photoshop user and am delighted to have been recently asked to showcase my work at a wedding. Why do it? The modern world depends on technology for everything from the financial markets to your weekly shop, and a good computer science degree will teach you all you need to know to create the next generation of technology and beyond. Computer science would suit you if you like to solve puzzles, enjoy mathematics at school and want a degree that involves technology and creative thinking, with a good blend of practical and theoretical work. Robert Harle, lecturer, and Alastair Beresford, academic fellow, the Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge Whats it about? Fundamentally computer science is the study of logical reasoning and practical techniques to build solutions to real-world problems using modern technology. Any broad computer science degree will equip you with powerful  analytical and programming skills as well as expose you to project management, software and hardware development Computer science is also an umbrella term used to account for many specialist or v ocational degrees involving computers and technology. Specialist degrees will begin by covering the fundamentals of computer science before concentrating on a specific area such as artificial intelligence, games development or computer security. Vocational courses typically cover management and development on current platforms with less of an emphasis on underlying theory. The list of computing pathways is getting longer by the year – in 2012, there’s over 1,200 different courses – enabling you to focus all of your attention on areas such as software engineering, artificial intelligence and games development; Abertay now even offers a four-year degree in ethical hacking and countermeasures. In your first year, theory is likely to dominate most courses, but lab time tends to increase as the years progress, with large-scale, research-led final projects on a piece of software being commonplace in the final year. Study options: As with most degrees, you’re looking at three years full-time studying, or four years in Scotland. However, a large proportion of courses offer an industrial placement year, and MEng courses last for four years. At Bath, you can study a five-year MComp, which incorporates a sandwich year, while at Buckingham, you can complete a BSc in two years. What will I need to do it? Most universities want a maths A-level, with Cambridge and Imperial both requiring an A*, as well as a further A-grade A-levels. Cambridge prefers applicants to have physics as well, and further maths is also recommended. Surprisingly, a study of computer science itself is not usually a compulsory pre-requisite. Given the number of courses at over 100 different institutions, entry grades vary widely – London Met asks for just 220 UCAS points (CCD at A-level, or equivalent). What are my job prospects? The majority of graduates go into the computer industry, working as managers, product developers and engineers at companies such as Google, Microsoft, IBM and Apple. There is also a vibrant start-up culture emerging in the UK, and graduates often work for smaller technology companies or start their own business. Despite the financial crash, computer science graduates remain in high demand in the financial sector at companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank or Goldman Sachs. The broader problem-solving and practical skills developed by  computer science graduates are highly transferable and thus graduates are in demand in almost every sector. Further study is also a popular choice, with graduates going on to careers in industrial research or teaching. Although you may find reports of high unemployment amongst new computer science graduates, your prospects will vary greatly according to the course and institution you study at. For example, this year’s Good University Guide, compiled by The Times, points out that graduate unemployment is highest among new computer science graduates, at 17 per cent. However, data from Unistats, a website run by UCAS, shows that graduate employment rates for those studying the broader computer science degrees at top universities are typically above 95 percent – higher than students studying most other subjects at the same institutions. Where’s best to do it? Cambridge topped the Complete University Guide 2012, followed by Oxford and Imperial. However, students at Stirling were most satisfied with their course, and St Andrews and Loughborough also fared well in this area. - Cracking the code: a guide to computer science Top of Form Bottom of Form * Login * | Register The currency of computer science is information – how to store it, transmit it and process it electronically. It is considered by many of its practitioners to be a foundational science, one which makes other knowledge and achievements possible. And the things that have been made possible by computer science experts permeate every aspect of our modern lives. Look at mobile phones, satellite navigation, the internet; it’s easy to forget just how sophisticated these now everyday objects are. Consider computer science, then, if you think an exciting career at the forefront of technology is the thing for you. But, this potential glamour means that the subject can be quite popular, which in combination with its basic complexity means that  you’ll have to prove your mettle, particularly if you have your sights on one of the more prestigious courses out there. Be ready to demonstrate both basic proficiency as well as demonstrable passion. If you manage to make the cut, you will begin by acquiring a basic grounding in algorithms, programming, and organizing data, with a smattering of essential mathematics. You will then be able to choose from a raft of specializations, which in turn open up a whole host of careers†¦ * View the QS World University Rankings by Subject: Computer Science Career options and prospects One of the most appealing things about a degree in computer science is, in our increasingly technological era, that employers will virtually be fighting over you. In the UK, for instance, 1 in 20 workers are employed in IT and telecoms – a field for which computer science graduates are particularly well suited – and there is still further demand, with computer science graduates enjoying one of the lowest unemployment levels in the country. In Australia there are more vacancies for ICT professionals than for business, finance and human resources professionals put together. Programmers are also always in demand, from established and new companies alike. And as more and more aspects of our modern lives become computerized it seems unlikely that opportunities will be drying up too soon. The Association for Computing Machinery identifies a raft of potential career paths. For example, there is designing and implementing software, a path has changed a lot in recent years, with web development mobile computing coming to the fore. You might also work in an academic or industrial research capacity, coming up with new ways in which we might use computers. Or you could work in planning and managing organizational technology infrastructure. This final career is best suited to candidates who specialize in information technology, as modern courses in this field tend to focus on this area. There’s plenty of scope for using your knowledge in an entrepreneurial capacity, and there are plenty of non-computer science jobs graduates might take up. Teaching, management and general IT roles are some examples. Specializations Given its nature as subject which is essentially concerned with the building  blocks of complex things, computer science contains within it a whole host of potential specializations. Some of these include: †¢ Computer graphics: The use of computers to render still or moving two or three dimensional images. This has applications outside of the traditional remit of computer science – think architecture or product design – as well as things like computer games design †¢ Programming language theory: Though programming is often treated as a means rather than an end, it is a key area of study. This is an interdisciplinary specialization, incorporating elements from subjects such as mathematics and linguistics. †¢ Human-computer interaction: With technology coming to play a greater and greater part in our lives, the way we interact with it is becoming increasingly important. The wheel of an iPod, the motion sensing devices of modern games consoles, and augmented reality applications on smart phones are examples of innovations in this field. †¢ Robotics: Sometimes incorporating artificial intelligence, robotics is the development of mechanical devices to perform tasks more efficiently than a human could (or tasks that a human could not do). Unsurprisingly, there is much crossover with engineering. †¢ Systems analysis: A study of existing computer systems with a view to improving them by making them more efficient, user friendly and generally fit for purpose. This could lead to a career in consultancy. Skill Summary Computer science is a challenging discipline, but succeeding in it will furnish you with an impressive skill set. Skills you will gain include: †¢ Technical expertise – most importantly, an understanding of algorithms and computer languages †¢ Practical skills †¢ Analytical and critical thinking †¢ Creativity †¢ Working as part of a team †¢ Communication skills †¢ Mathematical aptitude (potentially also stretching to engineering). General interdisciplinary ability †¢ Commercial awareness †¢ Adaptability to developments in the field (continuing professional development is very important in computer science) †¢ The application of  theory to real life It depends if youre dedicated and really want it, or if you just think it might be fun to write games because you enjoy playing them. Im working as a junior game developer alongside doing a BSc in Computer Science (I got recommended by various game developers to do straight Computer Science instead of * With Games Technology), its HARD work, the pay is average, you work late, you work weekends, usually without overtime pay. I have A Levels in Maths, Further Maths Physics, and did a few modules of Maths in University and I still find it difficult to grasp some of the mathematical concepts in game programming. So yes, Maths is essential, some game development companies prefer you to have a BSc in Mathematics instead of Computer Science, having knowledge of College level physics (or higher) is also a big plus. Also, the games industry is very full at the moment, I only managed to get a position from knowing people in the industry otherwise you need to be very good at what you do to get in, and stand out from the massive amount of people who are applying every day. Theres always openings for exceptional programmers (and other people who excel in their area of expertise) but put it this way, in the year Ive worked here weve had hundreds of people apply for jobs, tens of people got through for interviews, and only 2 got hired (the company has over 250 employees). One of the two guys didnt have any official education, he just sent in an amazing example of his work and was hired almost instantly. The Computer Science with Games Technology degree would only really cover you as a programmer, those types of degrees touch on 3d design too, but not in enough detail. If you dont really enjoy maths though I wouldnt say a game programmer would be the best role for you. For a designer, you would ideally need to be good at 2D art and then learn the popular 3D modelling packages 3Ds Max, Maya XSI (learn all 3,  specialize in 1) I think only one of our designers doesnt draw as well as do the 3D design. Being a producer would be an option, but a more suitable degree for that would be a business one, and then learning the fundamentals of programming and 3D design on the side. You dont need anywhere near as much programming/design experience to be a producer though just enough so you can oversee whats going on. As you say though, this is a hard role to get in to because theres usually only 1-2 producers compared to 20-25 programmers, and 30-35 designers working on a game. Im sure if youre passionate about really wanting to get into the industry you would be able to do fine in any one of those roles with the suitable learning. Its very hard work, but nothing beats the feeling of finally seeing a game youve worked on every day for the last year out on the shelf in shops, so good luck whatever area you choose.

Impacts of National Healthcare Reform Essay example -- health care, A

Healthcare in the United States has become one of the biggest, most debated issues in today’s society and people express concerns over quality, accessibility, choice, cost and dozens of other factors. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have tried to use healthcare issues to their advantage, Democrats talking about the right that all Americans should have to quality healthcare while Republicans hammer on the tremendous cost and its impact on the government’s deficit and on business. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on March 23, 2010, the debate has intensified. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the US governmental agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid, found that the legislation would do little to stem the rise in healthcare expenditures which are expected to increase to more than twenty percent of gross domestic product in the next decade. However, at the same time, President Obama stated that †Å"The Health Care Reform Bill we passed last year will slow these rising costs, which is part of the reason that nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit. My Administration projects significant savings from the health care reform.† This paper will not attempt to tackle the issue of whether the overall impact of the bill will be more positive or negative to the US economy. The goal of this paper is to outline why addressing healthcare is so important economically and then to explore some specific aspects of the PPACA legislation, such as the mandate for coverage, the elimination of pre-existing conditions and coverage rescissions, allowing dependent coverage until age 26, and the additio... ...s provisions does not guarantee any degree of understanding of the overall impact this legislation will have. However it is possible to look at various aspects of the legislation and forecast the implications of those changes. Certain protections that the bill provides, like expansion of dependent coverage, elimination of pre-existing conditions and prohibition of rescissions of coverage, will positively impact some people but will generally cause higher health care costs. Other aspects of the bill, like the medical loss ratio requirements and the coverage mandates, will impact businesses differentially. I believe in its totality, smaller employers will get some benefit out of the legislation while larger employers are likely harmed. However, it will be years after this law is enacted, and likely modified, that the true impacts of the legislation are known.

Product Placement in the Film Industry Essay

Introduction Product placement in Movies Product placement is a kind of advertisements, where products or services are placed in a context normally devoid of ads, such as films, TV episodes, or news. Product placement can reach a niche audience, and there are strong reasons for investors to expect that film product placement will increase consumer awareness of a particular brand. However, the movie studio must analyze if the product fits with the image of the film. A star may draw more attention than a product. Therefore this becomes a separate point of negotiation within his contract in many cases. Brand placements are for increasing brand familiarity and sales. Also, there are some other advantages of brand placements in Movies. 1. People would not change the channel or leave room when a brand appears in a movie like they might for TV ads 2. Brand placements often involve an endorsement by the celebrity using the brand which appears to have an influence on attitudes toward the brand. 3. Brand placement allows advertisers to target very specific people. 4. Brand placements have a longer life than traditional advertisements. When a film is released as DVD, the brand placement is still present. 5. Audiences might like brand placements because they improve the realism of a movie or TV show. Literature review: Some examples Product placement is not a recent phenomenon as commonly believed, but dates back to the earliest days of cinema. It originated more than a century ago in â€Å"soap opera† radio broadcasts, a significant means of popular entertainment at the time which often mentioned various soap products within the storyline in exchange for financial support. Here we have some classic examples of product placement in movies. They are all famous films with successful product. Ray Ban: Top Gun Screen shot of the movie: Top Gun(1986) Top Gun had a huge impact on some generations. The movie had a handsome and fearless main character. He not only defeated enemies in the air, but also won the heart of a beautiful lady. He was dressed in jeans, wore a leather jacket and a pair of sunglasses. In Top Gun, Tom Cruise and his Navy colleagues wore Aviators by Ray Ban. The result: the sales of Aviator sunglasses rose by 40 percent in the seven months following the release of the movie. FedEx and Wilson: Cast away Screen shots of the movie: Cast Away (2000) Tom Hanks played Chuck in the movie Cast Away. Chuck is a FedEx employee who is stranded on an island after FedEx’s plane crashes. The film shows his attempts to survive on the island using what was left of his plane’s cargo. He eventual escapes and returns to society, with one lost parcel delivered with a very long delay. When Chuck crashed on the island, he was there alone. But somehow he got company from the resource left. When he opened boxes he found Wilson volleyball. That ball became â€Å"Wilson†, Chuck’s only friend on the island. This product placement is very special: product was not just â€Å"used†, and Chuck didn’t just speak about it – the product becomes a character. Chuck and Wilson’s relationship was great and audiences perceived Wilson as a character, not some brand product. Chevrolet Camaro: Transformers Screen shot of the movie: Transformers (2007) Chevrolet Camaro is a very interesting placement in the Transformers. Camaro played Bumblebee in all the Transformers movies. The fifth generation of this vehicle went on sale in the beginning of 2009. In 2007, when the movie was released, people could not buy this car. It was a long wait but the movie created a buzz and helped building the expectations. Successful and failure attempts of product placement A successful product placement should have 2 sides of success: The product is good for the movie: The used product should be a main character in the film. It should be â€Å"needed† in the film, not â€Å"planted†. The movie is good for the product: The movie is good for showing the product. The product and the brand value is showed properly in the films. The product for the movie Is the product good for the movie? Why this is on the screen? The product or brand showed in the films should be very important for the movie. Audiences try to keep a story coherent while watching it. However, because of limited attention, information in the center activates the highest [1].This is quite easy to understand. We are watching a movie with the story. Anything happened in this story would be noticed. The product in the story and in the center of the screen gets the highest attention. On the other hand, all the objects outside the story are being ignored if they don’t try to get any attention. Audiences might be confused if something unrelated suddenly showed in the center of the screen, or make some noise when audience are watching a film. Here are two examples for the good side and the bad side. Example of success: Mini cooper and the Italian job In the movie, the robbers need to drive into the metro station, block the train and go through the tunnels. The use of Minis seemed absolutely normal for a robbery, since Mini Cooper is a very compact and mobile car. The audiences are expecting some vehicle accomplish the job, and here comes the minis. The car is tiny, fast and reliable. The product is going well with the story, so we can enjoy the movie with starring performance of the product-Mini Cooper. Screen shots of the movie: the Italian Job (2003) The Italian Job original movie is released in 1969 with. Gary Gray directed an American remake with Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton and Charlize Theron in 2003. The movies are very similar from the product placements points of view: they both use Minis. Product placement is apparently very successful.it is reported that sales of Minis in 2003 had increased more than 20 percent over the year before. Example of failure: China Mobile and the Cellphone With the title of this movie, we can imagine that it is a perfect opportunity for a communication company such as China Mobile to do a product placement in it. However, the shameless attempt made audience feel bad when watching such a wonderful movie. Screen shot of the movie: the Cellphone (Shou Ji) (2003) The main character YAN Shouyi’s wife received a phone call from Shouyi’s cousin. She found that Shouyi was cheating on her. This is the moment she hang up the phone. Normally we need some music with anger or helpless or sad music. Silence is also a good choice we may expect. However, after she hang up the phone and walked away, the television (left side of the picture) is showing the commercial advertisement of China mobile. The audience could hear nothing but the slogan of China Mobile. We got confused: why we are listening to this? Screen shot of the movie: the Cellphone (Shou Ji) (2003) Another screen shot of the movie the Cellphone. Two wives are checking their husband’s calling records. We could find the logo of China mobile in the center of the screen, but we cannot notice it because the logo is outside the story. This is a very bad try of product placement: the product has nothing to do with the story. Screen shot of the movie: the Cellphone (Shou Ji) (2003) China mobile tried very hard to place its logo everywhere in this movie. But most of the attempts have no advisement effect. In the beginning of the movie, the cast list is showed on a cellphone. The Chinese character of China Mobile is showed at the bottom of the cellphone. Normally, the communication operator showed at the up corner of the cellphone. We could say that this try is not a product placement, but an advertisement. The movie for the product Marketing, including the product placement, is a process of communicating product value to the people. So in the product placement the company need also choose the right movie for its products. The movie has to be a platform for the company’s brand value. The brand behavior or the brand value is needed to be showed in the scene. So the main problem becomes how to choose the partner. Here we have another example to find out how to show the brand value in a movie. In 2001 and 2002, BMW made a series of eight short films with about 10 minutes each. The series is called the Hire. All the eight films are made by popular directors from all over the world, starring Clive Owen as the â€Å"Driver†, and with the performance of various BMW cars. At first, here is the official brand value of BMW: Brand value of BMW The main value of BMW â€Å"joy† and dynamic, challenging, cultured is showed everywhere in these films. We discuss how the films describe BMW with the 8 short films. Here we present 2 of the short films to show the how BMW did the films. Chosen Chosen, Ang Lee 2001 The Driver protects a holy child that was brought to America by boat. The child gives the Driver a gift but says that he is supposed to open it after. After being pursued by many armed men, and being grazed in the ear, he delivers the boy to another holy man. The Boy however signals silently to the Driver that the man is not actually a monk, indicated by his footwear. The Driver defeats the impostor holy man and rescues the boy. When he leaves the Driver opens the gift which is revealed to be a bandage for his bleeding ear. Beat the Devil Beat the devil (2002), Tony Scott The Driver is employed by an old man. He is going to meet the Devil to negotiate the deal as a young man in 1954 to trade his soul for fame and fortune. He proposes a new wager, for the stakes of the Driver’s soul against another fifty years for him, betting on the Driver racing against the Devil at dawn. The race ends with the Driver passes around a train while the Devil’s car crashes and explodes. All the films show great respect to the product value of BMW. The core is â€Å"joy†, which is shown perfectly by all the famous directors. Also we could find the value of dynamic, challenging and cultured from these films. The series is a perfect exhibition for the BMW products. And we may say this is the right movie for the product. Conclusion There are many advantages of product placement in the movies. We have seen both successful and fail examples of product placement from Hollywood and China. When they are done correctly, the placement could greatly benefit both the movie and the brand. It can secure the film production budget, cover promotion budgets and get additional exposure for the movie with the stars, and also make the movies more realistic. A good product placement is the same as a normal advertisement. It required to be placed with the right product, in the right movie and at the accurate moment. The product itself should be one part of the story. Also, in the movie, the brand value should be shown very clearly to make a good placement. The product is good for the movie: The used product should be a main character in the film. It should be â€Å"needed† in the film, not â€Å"planted†. The movie is good for the product: The movie is good for showing the product. The product and the brand value are showed properly in the films. This is the same as typical advertisement. So it should be treated the same as other marketing methods with the similar theories. It is important to carefully integrate products into movie in order to minimize the risk of aggressive advertising which might lead to negative results. Bibliography: [1]. Wikipedia: product placement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_placement [2]. Wikipedia: marketing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/marketing [3]. Product Placement in Film, Viki Antonopoulou, Geogia National Film Center June 2010 [4]. Top Gun (1986), Director: Tony Scott [5]. Cast away (2000), Director: Robert Zemeckis [6]. Transformers (2007), Director: Michael Bay [7]. the Italian Job (2003) Director: F. Gary Gray [8]. the Cellphone (2001) Director: FENG Xiaogang [9]. BMW Brand Behavior Training, Ruud Rabenberg, Laura Wang, BMW China, Automotive Trading, Ltd. 2007 [10]. Chosen (2001), Director Ang Lee [11]. Beat the Devil (2002), Director Tony Scott [12].The Effectiveness of Brand Placements in the Movies: Levels of Placements, Explicit and Implicit Memory, and Brand-Choice Behavior, Moonhee Yang, David R. Roskos-Ewoldsen, Journal of Communication 57 (2007)

Great economic Depression And Of Mice And Men Essay

In 1929, the US entered a period of Great economic Depression from it only emerged with the onset of the Second War in 1939. During this period, there was long-term unemployment, so workers needed to go to California where there was still some short-term, poorly paid contract ranch works available. They were not educated therefore they had got no right and could be sacked at any time. They travelled from ranch to ranch to get jobs. This lifestyle forced ranch workers to keep moving and got no chance of making friend and keeping contact with their families. There was also a lot of competition, which put workers under pressure about whether they were good enough. They live isolated lives and are alienated from each other because are rivals. They are struggling to survive in a hostile world. All of these factors make all the characters lonely in ‘Of Mice and Men’. Between them, there are some characters who are very lonely because they are disadvantaged, Crooks, he’s black; Candy, because he is old; Curley, because he has more security than others; and his wife, as she is the only woman on the ranch. They are the victims of the strange society. In this essay I will be investigating the reasons why these characters are lonely in more depth by looking at each character more carefully. Crooks is probably the loneliest character in the book because he is very different from other ranch workers. He is old, disabled and the only black man in the book who lives in a racism society. As a result of this, he is isolated in his own room in the barn and is not allowed to go into or stay in the bunkhouse with the other ranch workers. Therefore he has no one to talk to. Though other workers knew that he reads a lot and has more knowledge and thinks deeper, they don’t listen to his opinions. ‘ If I say something, why it’s just a nigger saying it.’ P102 Instead they take advantage of his disability this is shown when they beat him up at Christmas. The racism society gives Crooks no chance of making friend. Crooks tries to get his own back for the way the white men treat him by keeping a distance between him and the other men. But obviously he recent the fact that he isn’t want in the bunkhouse. This makes it even harder to make friends. This is revealed by his words when Lennie comes to his room. ‘I ain’t wanted in the bunkhouse, and you ain’t wanted in my room.’ But gradually he is defeated by Lennie’s innocent smile and lets his guard down. This is because in his heart he knows that coping with loneliness is no good by reading books, he needed a friend to be near him and talk to him. ‘Suppose you didn’t have nobody †¦ A guy needs somebody -to be near him†¦ a guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody †¦ I tell you a guy gets too lonely and he gets sick.’ ‘A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin’ books or thinking or stuffs like that†¦If some guy was with me, he could tell me I was sleep. An’ then it would be all right. But I just don’t know.’ This quote from the same page of the book also shows you Crooks’ feelings of loneliness. When Lennie and Candy started to talk about the dream Crooks pointed out that this dream was shared by thousand of ranch workers but none of them ever succeed in reality but just for a moment he suspends his disbelief long enough to wish to share the dream, though he was immediately reminded his position by Curley’s wife words and shut by George’s anger as he doesn’t think that any white people would treat him decently. From the facts above, we could see the reasons of why Crooks are lonely. Candy is an old and disabled character in the book. He is quite similar to Crooks and is very lonely because he is different too. He lost his hand in an accident and was only kept on by the boss out of guilt. He has no relatives, no friends and his only comfort is his old dog, which keeps him company and reminds him of the days when he was young and whole. Candy is not interested in the things the other guys talk about. For instance: ‘I ain’t interest in nothing you was saying. A guy on a ranch don’t never listen nor he don’t ast no questions.’ But when his only comfort has gone– was shot by Carlson, he is totally alone and eagerly clutches at the idea of buying a farm with George and Lennie. This is shown below when George started to talk about the dream: ‘Old candy turned slowly over. His eyes were wide open. He watched George carefully.’ The reason for this change is, Candy himself is very similar to his dog, they both old and disabled, from the shooting of his old dog, Candy knows that when he can’t work any more he will be turned away from the ranch. He will have ‘I got hurt four years ago. They’ll can me purty soon, jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk-houses they’ll put me on the county†¦ When they can me here I wish’t somebody’d shoot me. But they won’t do nothing like that.’ At this situation, Candy needs something to look forward to, so when he heard about the dream between George and Lennie he found that this is the thing he needed. But of course this all comes to nothing. As the inevitability of the fall of the dream, Candy would certainly be disappointed. The dream ends in a miserable way. ‘You and me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George†¦ Can’t we? Before George answered, candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay, he know. Then- it’s all off? †¦ And I’ll have fifty buck more.’ Candy’s words show that he realises that the end of Lennie means the end of the dream, without Lennie George hasn’t got the heart to go on. There are so many ‘ can’t we ‘ in his speech telling us he wants George to tell him he is wrong. But the reaction of George confirms this completely. The sadness is expressed in the bitter words he uttered to the body of Curley’s wife, whom he blames for spoiling the dream or more accurately, his hope of a future. ‘ You god damn tramp†¦ You done it, didn’t you? I s’pose you’re glad†¦ you lousy tart.’ Curley is the character who is described as a ‘wretch’ by John Steinbeck. It may be argued that he must be not lonely because he is the boss’s son and had been married for two weeks, has a family and a lot of thing that other ranch workers wanted to have. But actually he is very lonely. As he has more security (he was never worried about being fired), other ranch workers don’t mix with him so he has no one to talk to. The ‘macho’ male society makes him fell that if a guy doesn’t appear to be tough and strong, others will put something on him and laugh at him. It is even worse for him that he chooses the wrong way to earn respect-by fighting and be aggressive. But other workers know that he is a coward and despise him for the tension atmosphere he creates. ‘What does he got on his shoulder?’ George ‘You god damn punk, †¦ you tries to throw a scare into Slim, an’ you couldn’t make it stick. Slim threw a scare into you. You’re yella as a frog belly. I don’t care if you’re the best welter in the country. You come for me, an’ I’ll kick your God damn head off.’ He has no friends, to overcome his loneliness, he married a pretty young woman but has blindly chosen the wrong person whom totally inappropriate for the kind of life he leads. He forbids his wife to talk to other ranch workers, as he is scared that she may have an affair with one of the other men which makes her hate him and others more despise to him. Consequently, his feelings are all channelled into aggressive behaviour in order to deal with his loneliness but this leads to his feeling lonelier because the others don’t want to be with him. Curley’s wife is another character who is lonely. She is newly married, lives in a strange place, and does not seem to fit in on the ranch as being the only woman. She and Curley do not love each other; both of them try to overcome their own loneliness by the marriage. But unfortunately, both have chose the wrong person. She hates Curley because of his aggressive: ‘I don’t like Curley, he ain’t a nice fella.’ One point that needs to be mentioned here is that she is the only character who is never given a name in the book and is only referred to as ‘ Curley’s wife’. It appears that John Steinbeck passes a message from this that she is not seen as a person at all by other characters, but an object which Curley thinks he owns. ‘You gotta husban’. You got no call foolin’ around with other guys, causing trouble.’ ‘Why’n’t you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?’ Her situation is just like Crooks’; no one is sensitive about her feelings. This makes her feel angry with the men especially at Curley. ‘Whatta they think I am, anyways.’ ‘Seems like they ain’t none of them care how I gotta live.’ Further more, she has been forbidden by Curley to talk to anyone but him, as he doesn’t trust her. ‘I get lonely, you can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?’ To counter this, she keeps approaching the ranch hands with the excuse that she is looking for Curley or something she lost. ‘Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to sit in that house alla time?’ The only result is, the men regard her as a slut. But in her eyes, that is the way she is supposed to be. ‘Candy:’†¦ I think Curley’s married†¦ a tart.’ ‘Whit:’ Well, ain’t she a looloo?’ Curley’s aggressive behaviour leads others to avoid her and this further isolated her and she approaches the ranch hands more frequently therefore Curley becomes even more jealous and aggressive. This leads to her feeling lonelier. Finally her loneliness leads to her death as she makes a serious error of trying to overcome it by playing the tease with Lennie as she is pleased that Lennie beat Curley and impressed by his size and strength, but she didn’t realise the extent and danger of Lennie’s mental disability. George and Lennie are also caught in the trap of loneliness; this is because they are different as they have a strong friendship. They travelled together and trust each other and share a dream of owning a farm whereas other ranch workers travelled alone and had no strong relationships with others and have nothing to look forward to. George’s loneliness could be reflected by the words that he uses a lot of swearing and the fact that he needs the dream to keep him going. Just as candy has his dog for company, George has Lennie (who is often described in animal-like terms). Both companions died and George and candy are left completely alone. Lennie totally relies on George and couldn’t survive without George, but on the other hand, George somehow needs Lennie to overcome his own loneliness. It is revealed by Crooks’ words with great understanding he tells us of the importance of Lennie. ‘I don’t blame the guy you travel with for keeping you outa sight.’ ‘It’s just the talking. It just being with another guy. That’s all.’ Maybe it is just talking but this is an enough reason of keeping Lennie as company for George. In conclusion it is clear that all of the characters in ‘ Of Mice and Men’ are lonely. Their loneliness is the evitable result of the society, which is made by the Great Depression. Crooks, for instance is suffered deeply from the racism society. No one is trying to make friends with him before the visit of Lennie except Slim. Candy, Curley and his wife are the victims of the macho male society. They all have dreams but none of them realise them and get nothing at the end.

Comparison of Total Physical Response Approach to Traditional Teaching Model Essays

Comparison of Total Physical Response Approach to Traditional Teaching Model Essays Comparison of Total Physical Response Approach to Traditional Teaching Model Essay Comparison of Total Physical Response Approach to Traditional Teaching Model Essay Carrie Collins Donnie Harris Rosemary Sullivan TESL 5230 – SLA October 14, 2010 Case Study Outline Case Study Outline 1. Introduction Does TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE (TPR) enhance student learning and growth in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) when used with Middle School students of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) when teaching map skills? (Per Grade Level Expectation SS5 1. 4, 1. 5 a. Locate states of the United States) Purpose of Study In studying SLA we explored the benefits of various approaches that have been used over the years to teach a second language. For many years schools relied on a Traditional Approach when teaching almost every subject including a second language. By Traditional Approach we mean that the teacher lectures and shows new topics while the students sit quietly in their seats listening, repeating, memorizing, doing assignments, taking tests, and interacting very little with each other or the teacher. (Wikipedia. org) One of the newer approaches, TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE, introduced by James Asher in 1977, is based on the observations of children learning their first language. This involves use of the five senses along with body movements in activities designed to activate right-brain function. Asher believed that use of the right-brain, which includes much listening and acting, enables the needed processing of language in the left-brain. TPR also emphasizes fun, along with a more relaxed, non-threatening atmosphere in the classroom. (Brown, 2007) Past Research on Topic Asher, J. (2010). A new note about tpr. Proceedings of Project Coach, www. tpr-world. com Brown, H. D. (2007). Principals of anguage learning and teaching: fifth edition. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education. Krashen, S. (1998). Tpr: still a very good idea [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://ipisun. jpte. hu/-joe. novelty Mohammed, R. (2009, July 28). Total physical response [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://myenglishpages. com/blog/total-physical-response Renshaw, J. D. (2007). Total physical response. Retrieved from Onlineenglish. net Shearon, B. (2004). James asherâ€⠄¢s total physical response: a short introduction. www. c-english. com/files/tpr. df Tomlinson, B. Masuhara, H. (2009, July). Playing to learn: a review of physical games in second language acquisition. Simulation Gaming. 40(5), Retrieved from http://wwwsagepub. com/content/40/5/645. Traditional Education (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Traditional_education Subjects Our subjects were three sixth grade girls from the International Welcome School (IWS). They were recommended highly by their teacher, LaShonda Terry, because of their similar educational background experience, English proficiency and academic levels. According to their composite scores on the MAC II English proficiency screening test, given a year ago, all three placed at the basic beginner level. Their Student Academic Survey (SAS) indicated that all the girls have previously received formal education. On their most recent screening assessment for English proficiency, the WIDA ACCESS Plac ement Test (W-APT), all three students scored at the mid to high range of level two. Other factors these three students have in common are: Country of origin is Iraq; Native language is Arabic; All are eleven years of age; All have been in the USA for less than two years; They share the same culture and religion; None of the three wear the traditional head covering worn by other Muslim females; All girls have siblings attending the IWS and/or the Newcomers’ Program at Roosevelt High School. 2. Method The topic of the lesson we used to compare the Traditional Approach to the TPR Approach is identifying and naming the fifty states of the United States. The United States was divided into states east of the Mississippi River and states west of the Mississippi River. There are twenty-six states to the east and twenty-four states to the west. Students were given a pre-assessment to determine how many of the fifty states could be properly placed on a blank map of the United States of America. The objective of the first lesson was that students would learn the states west of the Mississippi River and correctly place them on a blank map of the western portion of the USA. The first approach used was the Traditional Approach. This method included lecture, work sheets, paper pencil task, coloring activity, rote memorization, and use of a transparency on the overhead projector. Instruction was teacher-centered with whole group. Students were grouped in proximity, but not encouraged to work together in pairs or small groups. After using the Traditional Approach students were given a post assessment of the western states. ************************************************************************ The objective of the second lesson was that students would learn the states east of the Mississippi River and correctly place them on a blank map of the eastern portion of the USA. The students were instructed using the Total Physical Response (TPR) approach. This instructional method involves activities using physical or kinesthetic movement. A teacher-made floor map of the United States was used. Students gathered around the map. The classroom teacher and researcher modeled the activity first. A command was given by the researcher to the classroom teacher. â€Å"Place your left hand on Alabama and your right leg on New York. † Then a command was given by the classroom teacher to the researcher. â€Å"Locate North Carolina. Now stand on the state that is immediately south of it. † The students then began to take turns following the command given by the researcher. After a while the students were instructed to give the command to their classmates. This was repeated until each student had a chance to stand on the map. The game was then revised and became competitive. Two students stood on opposite sides of the map on the floor. A state is called out and the goal is to be the first to step on the state and stand on it. All students had a turn either stepping on the map or giving the command. Students eventually began using the entire map for this activity. After using the Total Physical Response (TPR) approach students were given a post-assessment of the eastern states. . Data Collection and Analysis Data was collected based on the number of states that were correctly placed on the map for each of the tests: pre-assessment, all fifty states; post-assessment 1, western states; post-assessment 2, eastern states. Students’ individual growth was determined using the following data: Student A: Pre-assessment, 3/50 correct. This is her baseli ne for her previous knowledge. After Traditional Approach (TA): Post-assessment 1, 15/24 correct on western states. After TPR: Post-assessment 2, 20/26 correct on eastern states. Student B: Pre-assessment, 5/50 correct – baseline. After TA: Post-assessment 1, 11/24 correct on western states. After TPR: Post-assessment 2, 19/26 correct on eastern states. Student C: Pre-assessment, 3/50 correct – baseline. After TA: Post-assessment 1, 13/24 correct on western states. After TPR: Post-assessment 2, 19/26 on eastern states. Using this data and comparing the post-assessments to the pre-assessments it is clear that each student showed growth in the knowledge of the names and locations of the states on a map of the USA. The following are the rates of growth by percentage correct: Student A: Baseline – 6%; Western states, TA – 63%; Comparison to baseline – 57% growth factor; Eastern states, TPR – 77%; Comparison to baseline – 71% growth factor; TA vs TPR = gain of 14% using TPR. Student B: Baseline – 10%; Western states, TA – 46%; Comparison to baseline – 36% growth factor; Eastern states, TPR – 73%; Comparison to baseline – 63% growth factor; TA vs TPR = gain of 27% using TPR. Student C: Baseline – 6%; Western states, TA – 54%; Comparison to baseline – 48% growth factor; Eastern states, TPR – 73%; Comparison to baseline – 67% growth factor; TA vs TPR = gain of 19% using TPR. 4. Conclusions The results of this case study, while limited due to number of subjects, are based on similarities of subjects, data collected and analyzed, and implies that the Total Physical Response (TPR) approach produce d a higher growth increase in student learning and SLA as compared to the Traditional Approach (TA). In teaching the location and names of the fifty states of the USA, all four domains of language were explored. The predicted outcome expectation was to conclude that the use of Total Physical Response (TPR) approach does enhance learning and growth in SLA of the ESOL students at a higher rate than the Traditional Approach (TA). This expectation was met. A suggestion for improvement in a follow-up study might be to give a post-test of all fifty United States to compare with the results of the pre-test, since all fifty states were used as the baseline of previous knowledge. 5.

4 Criminals Prosecuted During the American Civil War

4 Criminals Prosecuted During the American Civil War The conditions that captured Union soldiers endured at the Confederacy’s Andersonville Prison were horrific. During the 18 months that the prison was in operation, nearly 13,000 Union soldiers died from malnutrition, disease, and exposure to the elements due to inhumane treatment by Andersonville’s Commander Henry Wirz.  So it really should come as no surprise that his prosecution for war crimes after the South’s surrender is the most well-known trial resulting from the Civil War.  But it is not as commonly known that there were almost one thousand other military prosecutions of Confederates. Many of these were due to the mistreatment of captured Union soldiers. Henry Wirz Henry Wirz took command of Andersonville Prison on March 27, 1864, about one month after the first prisoners arrived there.  One of Wirz’s first acts was to create an area called the dead-line fence, designed to increase security by keeping prisoners away from the stockade wall. Any prisoner who crossed the â€Å"dead-line† was subject to being shot by the prison guards.  During Wirzs reign as commander, he used threats to keep prisoners in line. When threats didn’t appear to work, Wirz ordered sentries to shoot prisoners.  In May 1865, Wirz was arrested at Andersonville and transported to Washington, D.C. to await trial.  Wirz was tried for conspiring to injure and/or kill captured soldiers by improperly denying them access to food, medical supplies, and clothing. He was also charged with murder for personally executing a number of prisoners. Approximately 150 witnesses testified against Wirz at his military trial, which lasted from August 23 to October 18, 1865.  After being found guilty of all charges against him, Wirz was sentenced to death and hanged on November 10, 1865. James Duncan James Duncan was another officer from Andersonville Prison who was also arrested.  Duncan, who had been assigned to the quartermasters office, was convicted of manslaughter for intentionally withholding food from the prisoners.  He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor but escaped after serving only one year of his sentence. Champ Ferguson At the onset of the Civil War, Champ Ferguson was a farmer in Eastern Tennessee. This areas population was fairly equally divided between supporting the Union and the Confederacy.  Ferguson organized a guerilla company that attacked and killed Union sympathizers.  Ferguson also acted as a scout for Colonel John Hunt Morgans Kentucky cavalry, and Morgan promoted Ferguson to the rank of Captain of Partisan Rangers.  The Confederate Congress passed a measure called the Partisan Ranger Act which allowed for the recruitment of irregulars into service.  It should be noted that due to a lack of discipline amongst Partisan Rangers, General Robert E. Lee called for the repeal of the Act by the Confederate Congress in February 1864.  After a trial before a military tribunal, Ferguson was convicted of killing more than 50 captured Union soldiers. He was executed by hanging in October 1865. Robert Kennedy Robert Kennedy was a Confederate officer who had been captured by Union forces and was imprisoned at Johnson’s Island Military Prison. The prison was located in Sandusky Bay, which is on the Lake Erie coast just a few miles from Sandusky, Ohio.  Kennedy escaped from Johnson’s Island in October 1864, making his way into Canada - which maintained neutrality towards both sides.  Kennedy met up with several Confederate officers who were using Canada as a launching  pad to conduct war acts against the Union. He participated in a plot to start fires at numerous hotels, as well as at a museum and a theatre in New York City, with the intent to overwhelm local authorities.  All the fires were either put out quickly or failed to do any damage.  Kennedy was the only one who was captured.  After a trial before a military tribunal, Kennedy was executed by hanging in March 1865.

Advertisig portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advertisig portfolio - Essay Example The copywriting also suggests the devilish association but keeps itself pithy and short, which is the best way to drive the message home. The second advertisement for Heinz ketchup (Appendix) is a good advertisement because it is creative and unexpected. The advertisement reads, â€Å"No one grows ketchup like Heinz†. This is an example of excellent copywriting; it adheres to the norms of being clear, direct and simple (Burton and Purvis, 1996). It is quickly and easily grasped and striking because it literally transmits its message for tomato ketchup by using the image of fresh tomatoes. There is no further clutter in the ad, so a viewer zeroes in on the image of the Heinz tomato â€Å"bottle† and the message. Since consumers typically view a print for less than 15 seconds (Pieters, Rosbergen and Hartog, 1996), this ad is likely to gain attention quickly and drive the message home equally home, hence as an ad, it is very effective. The third advertisement for the Mini car is a masterpiece, primarily because of the layout format it uses. The advertisement occupies a full two page spread but the car occupies only a small corner. The juxtaposition of tire tracks with the staples at the centre of the page is yet another element that adds to the message of the advertisement and draws attention to its quality of smallness which makes the car desirable. McQuarrie and Mick (1996) have defined advertising rhetoric as an expression that systematically diverges from the expectation of the viewer by moving away from convention. This advertisement also achieves the move away from convention, especially in terms of its layout and the simple direct message inviting the viewer to try the Mini. The sparse copywriting in this ad only enhances its efficacy; it is simple, direct and drives the point home. The fourth advertisement for fabric softener is also a