Online Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Online Therapy - Essay Example Despite of the benefits embedded in online therapy, the service delivery is highly controversial. First, very little research has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of online therapies. Second, people who are in extreme crisis and need help may not be able to write their concerns to the psychologists and wait for the reply. Sites offering online therapy are very alike - have almost the same pages, site content and prices. Each site claims having only professional psychologists and guarantee confidentially. The purpose of http://www.4etherapy.com/about_online_therapy.htm is to deliver the professional online counselling with licensed clinicians. The site content is limited to "home", "about online therapy", "for professionals", "about us", and "contact us" pages". Clients of this site are offered email, private chat and phone sessions. Notably, it is stated that the license of each clinician is verified with the state's regulatory board and therapists are responsible for providing the proof of liability insurance. Individuals who have busy schedules, difficulty with travelling, or other privacy issues are invited to use this website. Another site http://www.asktheinternettherapist.com/e-therapy.asp offers the wider range of services: in office counselling, audiovisual counselling, telephone therapy, email therapy, real-time chat, hypnosis tapes, and educational videos. In addition the site is divided into two parts: one for clients and another for medical staff. There is a lot of information about online therapies, self-improvement books, free discussion groups, questionnaires, articles and FAQ. The staff consists of Physician, Nurse, Nutritionist, Chiropractor and even Veterinarian. This site http://www.gracetreecounseling.com/OnlineCounselingTreat.htm provides information about the benefits of internet therapy as well as some limitations. In addition, it is stated that online counselling is not appropriate for issues regarding child abuse and suicidal behaviour. Individuals with such problems are provided with the phone numbers of the services providing assistance on these issues. Confidentiality and privacy c oncerns are also addressed, even though very little is noted about the competencies of the staff members. The site content is limited to "about us", "meet the counsellor", "treatment options", "services and fees", "privacy agreement" and "helpful link". Nevertheless, the huge number of sties offering online therapy to clients is threatening. It is hard to control the quality of the assistance and almost impossible to verify whether the individual typing answers is truly professional. Strom King, the president of the International Society for Mental Health Online, has noted that internet cannot be controlled by government and people have to take more responsibility for what they consume online (Kliger 2000). Moreover, Martha Ainsworth (the holder of the site uniting therapists) said she knew of no lawsuits filed against online advisers even though many of them lack competence to be therapists (Kliger 2000). The professional community has no single meaning about the effectiveness of online therapy. As it was already stated, most of associations have already integrated online therapy as part of their service. Moreover, many universities introduce the programs training psychologists in tele-health. For example, the Pacific

Houghton Mifflin Company Essay Example for Free

Houghton Mifflin Company Essay World War 1 is the first war in history that I may say, involved the use of technology and advances in science. The ever famous â€Å"mustard gas† was developed by the Germans, and used against the allied forces. Mustard gas is an oily liquid that readily evaporates into a very noxious and toxic gas, and are used in chemical warfare, where it burns the skin and causes very fatal respiratory and lung damages. It was used effectively against bunkers and trenches, where escape was not easy, so the efficiency of the gas is very high. The Allied forces counteract and produced the first ever effective gas mask, made from very fine activated carbon; it absorbs the poisonous gas, preventing severe damage and effect to the allied soldiers. The drawback of this mask was it reduced visibility and made the soldier vulnerable to sniper attacks. World War 1 was also the setting for the first aerial warfare. Airplanes in the form of biplanes (the first type of airplane, it was very light and it resembled the first airplanes developed by the Wright brothers). They converted simple courier and transport planes into aerial and bomber planes, mass produced the most efficient design and further improved its applications. The Germans have early aerial advantage against the allied forces because of its high amount of available fighter planes and the ever famous Zeppelin, a large dirigible or flying balloon used in bombarding and raiding Britain. But the German advantage declined starting the mid-1916 because the British forces gained aerial superiority in the Western front. Aside trench warfare; tanks were also first widely used in World War 1. Light tanks were first manufactured on 1910 and used for small wars and revolts on the British Empire. The Germans also manufactured tanks to cope up with the allied forces. Armored tanks were used later to inflict damage to enemy trenches. Besides tanks, long range artillery was also developed. High powered howitzers and cannons were fired towards enemy trenches and were proven effective against concentrated enemy troops and tanks. On sea, naval warfare was also developed. Large sea vessels carried high powered bombs and can lay siege even to distant enemy camps. The Germans was the first to use submarines on a full scale war on the sea. They can damage enemy ships without being detected or even seen. The submarine was proven to be effective as patrol on enemy sea territory and can be used as a warning if enemy naval ships were mobilized. The famous German submarine was the U-boat. It was used on unrestricted submarine warfare, in which enemy ships were targeted and sunk, even civilian ships. This unrestricted submarine warfare leads the United States to join the war on 1917. The reason was because the German U-boat was a risk to the United States trade policies with European countries. The U-boat has sunk the Lusitania on 1915, a British liner en route to the United States. It carried American citizens, and reports were published that Americans were killed during the attack. These angered the United States, thus declaring war on Germany and the Central Powers. World War 1 was not fought only on Europe. The colonies of European nations involved also joined the war. Japan for instance, joined the Allied forces to obtain German colonies on the pacific. The British expeditionary forces battled the Ottoman Empire on the desert. The expeditionary force led by T. E. Lawrence pushed the Ottoman Empire troops back into Lebanon until its defeat by the Allied forces on September 1918. The Treaty of Versailles ended the war. When the Central powers were defeated, this treaty promised peace all throughout Europe and it was the one who outlined the land and territorial distribution of lands acquired from the Central powers. I was affected by the topic because World War 1 was a very devastating war. Over 20 million casualties were reported on both sides. May were killed and wounded. I know war was against morality. But sometimes, countries and governments were blinded by their ambitions, mostly to obtain power and territories. As stated earlier, war is inevitable. Although the United Nation exists now, war is still happening. Even now, as I write this article, a war is happening, somewhere out there. War can still be prevented up to a certain extent. Peace talks must be initiated to prevent further conflicts, even if war has already broke up. Living in peace is a very good thing. I can help to achieve that, in my own little way, by respecting others’ opinion and properties. If every nation on earth can learn that, I am sure war are sure to be found on History books only. No war will happen once again. Respect is the word. References Andrea, A. J, and Overfield J. H. (1990). The Human record: Sources of Global History. Vol. 2. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Company. Heilbroner, R. H. (1974). An Inquiry into the Human Prospect. New York. Norton and Company. Keilor W. R. (2007). â€Å"World War 1†. Microsoft ® Student 2008 [DVD]. Redmond. Microsoft Corporation

Rewriting Canonical Portrayals of Women :: Good Bones Margaret Atwood Literature Essays

Rewriting Canonical Portrayals of Women In her collection of short stories, Good Bones (O. W. Toad, 1992), Margaret Atwood (1939 - ) has included Gertrude Talks Back, a piece that rewrites the famous closet scene in Shakespeare ´s Hamlet. The character of Hamlet ´s mother has posed problems of interpretation to readers, critics and performers, past and present, and has been variously or simultaneosly appraised as a symbol of female wantonness, the object of Hamlet ´s Oedipus complex, and an example of female submissiveness to the male principle (Hamlet ´s as much as Claudius ´s). Like other revisionist rewritings produced by women writers in the last few decades, Margaret Atwood ´s short story challenges received concepts of the female, and particularly the "Frailty, thy name is woman" notion that has marked so much canonical literature. Recent developments in the humanities, usually grouped under the common label of "post-structuralist theory," have contributed to making us sensitive to the politics of culture, in general, and of literature, in particular. Much thought has been given in the last few decades to how the literary canon emerges and holds its ground, and to the relations between canonical and non-canonical, between the centre and the margins. Post-colonial theorist Edward Said reminds us that "[t]he power to narrate, or to block other narratives from forming and emerging, is very important to culture and imperialism, and constitutes one of the main connections between them" (xiii). Here as in other respects, the political agendas of feminism and post-colonialism overlap; both aim at challenging the canon and at inscribing the experiences of the marginal subject (female and/or post-colonial). Revisionist rewritings are one of the strategies that can serve that purpose; I need not mention the by now many rewritings of such canonical texts as The Tempest or Robinson Crusoe. As regards the author I am concerned with here, Margaret Atwood, extensive attention has been paid to a recurrent feature of her fiction: her repeated reworking of fairy tales, most importantly the different versions of Bluebeard ´s Egg, a re-shaping which culminates in her novel The Robber Bride (1993). I would also point out how what is perhaps her most popular novel to date, The Handmaid ´s Tale (1985), thematizes the politics of reading and writing or, as Hutcheon has aptly put it, "the opposition between product and process" (139). Similar concerns are apparent in the compilation of her short stories under the title Good Bones (1992). If the constructions of womanhood and manhood occupy her in The Female Body and Making a Man, in other stories (There Was Once, Unpopular Gals, etc) it is the literary construction of womanhood that is foregrounded.

Effect Size and Classroom Management Essay

Teachers play various roles in a typical classroom, but surely one of the most important is that of classroom manager. Effective teaching and learning cannot take place in a poorly managed classroom. If students are disorderly and disrespectful, and no apparent rules and procedures guide behavior, chaos becomes the norm. In these situations, both teachers and students suffer. Teachers struggle to teach, and students most likely learn much less than they should. In contrast, well-managed classrooms provide an environment in which teaching and learning can flourish. But a well-managed classroom doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It takes a good deal of effort to create—and the person who is most responsible for creating it is the teacher. We live in an era when research tells us that the teacher is probably the single most important factor affecting student achievement—at least the single most important factor that we can do much about. To illustrate, as a result of their study involving some 60,000 students, S. Paul Wright, Sandra Horn, and William Sanders (1997) note the following: The results of this study will document that the most important factor affecting student learning is the teacher. In addition, the results show wide variation in effectiveness among teachers. The immediate and clear implication of this finding is that seemingly more can be done to improve education by improving the effectiveness of teachers than by any other single factor. Effective teachers appear to be effective with students of all achievement levels regardless of the levels of heterogeneity in their classes. If the teacher is ineffective, students under that teacher’s tutelage will achieve inadequate progress academically, regardless of how similar or different they are regarding their academic achievement. p. 63) [emphasis in original] Researcher Kati Haycock (1998) uses the findings of this study and others conducted by William Sanders and his colleagues (e. g. , Sanders & Horn, 1994) to paint a dramatic picture of the profound impact an individual teacher can have on student achievement. The point is illustrated in Figure 1. 1, which depicts the differences in achievement between students who spend a year in class with a highly effective teacher as opposed to a highly ineffective teacher. According to Figure 1. 1, tudents in the classes of teachers classified as the most effective can be expected to gain about 52 percentile points in their achievement over a year’s time. Students in the classes of teachers classified as least effective can be expected to gain only about 14 percentile points over a year’s time. This comparison is even more dramatic when one realizes that some researchers have estimated that students will exhibit a gain in learning of about 6 percentile points simply from maturation—from growing one year older and gleaning new knowledge and information through everyday life (see Hattie, 1992; Cahen & Davis, 1987). The least effective teachers, then, add little to the development of students’ knowledge and skill beyond what would be expected from simply growing one year older in our complex, information-rich society. Figure 1. 1. Impact of Teacher Effectiveness on Student Achievement Sanders and his colleagues, who gathered their data from elementary school students in Tennessee, are not the only ones to document dramatic differences in achievement between students in classes taught by highly ineffective versus highly effective teachers. Haycock (1998) reports similar findings from studies conducted in Dallas and Boston. I have come to similar conclusions in my work, although I have taken a very different approach from that used in the studies that form the basis for Haycock’s conclusions. Whereas the studies conducted in Tennessee, Dallas, and Boston were based on data acquired from students over time, I used a research process called meta-analysis to synthesize the research on effective schools over the last 35 years (see Marzano, 2000a, 2003b). That approach enabled me to separate the effect on student achievement of a school (in general) from the effect of an individual teacher. Figure 1. 2 illustrates my findings. Figure 1. 2. Effects of a School vs. a Teacher on Student Entering at 50th Percentile To understand the impact that a teacher can make, let’s consider each of the five scenarios in Figure 1. 2. (For a detailed discussion of how the computations in Figure 1. 2 were derived, see Marzano, 2000a. ) As depicted in Figure 1. 2, if a student begins at the 50th percentile in mathematics, let’s say, and attends an average school and has an average teacher, her achievement will still be at the 50th percentile at the end of about two years. The student has learned enough to keep pace with her peers. But what happens to that student if she attends a school that is considered one of the least effective and is unfortunate enough to have a teacher who is classified as one of the least effective? After two years she has dropped from the 50th percentile to the 3rd percentile. She may have learned something about mathematics, but that learning is so sporadic and unorganized that she has lost considerable ground in a short time. In the third scenario, the same student is in a school classified as most effective, but she has a teacher classified as least effective. Although the student entered the class at the 50th percentile, two years later she leaves the class at the 37th percentile. In contrast to the two previous scenarios, the fourth presents a very optimistic picture. The student is not only in a school classified as most effective, but also is in the class of a teacher classified as most effective. She enters the class at the 50th percentile, but she leaves at the 96th percentile. The fifth scenario most dramatically depicts the impact of an individual teacher. Again, the student is in a school that is considered least effective, but she is with a teacher classified as most effective. The student now leaves the class at the 63rd percentile—13 percentile points higher than the point at which she entered. It is this last scenario that truly depicts the importance of individual teachers. Even if the school they work in is highly ineffective, individual teachers can produce powerful gains in student learning. Although the effect the classroom teacher can have on student achievement is clear, the dynamics of how a teacher produces such an effect are not simple. Rather, the effective teacher performs many functions. These functions can be organized into three major roles: (1) making wise choices about the most effective instructional strategies to employ, (2) designing classroom curriculum to facilitate student learning, and (3) making effective use of classroom management techniques. The first role deals with instructional strategies and their use. Effective teachers have a wide array of instructional strategies at their disposal. They are skilled in the use of cooperative learning and graphic organizers; they know how best to use homework and how to use questions and advance organizers, and so on. Additionally, they know when these strategies should be used with specific students and specific content. Although cooperative learning might be highly effective in one lesson, a different approach might be better in another lesson. Some general strategies that have a good research â€Å"track record† in terms of enhancing student achievement have been detailed in Classroom Instruction That Works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement (Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001). The second role associated with effective teaching is classroom curriculum design. This means that effective teachers are skilled at identifying and articulating the proper sequence and pacing of their content. Rather than relying totally on the scope and sequence provided by the district or the textbook, they consider the needs of their students collectively and individually and then determine the content that requires emphasis and the most appropriate sequencing and presentation of that content. They are also highly skilled at constructing and arranging learning activities that present new knowledge in different formats (e. g. stories, explanations, demonstrations) and different media (e. g. , oral presentations, written presentations, video presentations, Web-based presentations, simulations, hands-on activities). The third role involved in effective teaching is classroom management. This, of course, is the subject of this book. The following chapters detail and exemplify the various components of effective classroom management. Before delving into classroom man agement, however, it is important to note that each of these three roles is a necessary but not sufficient component of effective teaching. That is, no single role by itself is sufficient to guarantee student learning, but take one out of the mix and you probably guarantee that students will have difficulty learning. Nevertheless, a strong case can be made that effective instructional strategies and good classroom curriculum design are built on the foundation of effective classroom management. As Long and Frye (1985) note in their book, Making It Till Friday: A Guide to Successful Classroom Management, it is a myth to believe that . . . ffective teachers can prevent all discipline problems by keeping students interested in learning through the use of exciting classroom materials and activities. The potential for problems exists beyond academics. Students experience difficulties at home which spill over into the classroom; students experience problems with peers during class breaks and in the classroom which often involve the teacher; and students experience mood changes which can generate problems, to name just a few. (pp. 3–4) Similarly, in their ynthesis of the research, Edmund Emmer, Julie Sanford, Barbara Clements, and Jeanne Martin (1982) note that At all public school grade levels, effective classroom management has been recognized as a crucial element in effective teaching. If a teacher cannot obtain students’ cooperation and involve them in instructional activities, it is unlikely that effective teaching will take place †¦ In addition, poor management wastes class time, reduces students’ time on task and detracts from the quality of the learning environment.

A political conflict Essay

For colored citizens prior to the Civil War, freedom was a distant dream as the age-old human history of slavery heightened within the American heartlands even after the Declaration of Independence. When the American nation proudly held a new constitution, it was supposedly a determined effort to uphold a balance of power symbolizing the freedom from political, cultural and moral oppression yet colored individuals were treated as less civilized citizens and slavery was reinforced by and among the rich landowners capable of maintaining numerous slaves. As slavery provided free labor and flourishing the slave trade, African black slaves exported from Africa increased the slave population in the United States by 4 million (US 1860 Census). The Quakers of Pennsylvania as an antislavery force that gained strength throughout the country paved the way for the gradual abolition of slavery in the US northern states. New York and New Jersey became the last Northern states to abolish slavery (Grant 2001). A political conflict however ensued as slavery supporters insisted lifting any barriers to slave trade while sanctioning the acceptance of slavery based on the biblical scriptures as â€Å"God’s plan to Christianize† the Africans (Hartz 1955). Slavery for the supporters was seen as an economic, social and cultural life which actually lengthened the arguments for the continued adherence to slave labor. Divisive means were also used to promote scientific experiments to demonstrate the superiority of the whites and the inferiority of the blacks (Colley 1859), where anatomical proportions of the brain justify blacks doing hard labor which upon careful contrast does not measure up to the actual inequalities committed within the period. As the debate on slavery grew, disrespect for the law also rose. Sooner than expected, the American slaves who were ill-treated began to resort to acts of violence like burnings barns, arson and even murder. The famous acts of rebellion in Saint Dominique (1790’s) and Virginia (1800’s) paved the way for the 1831 rebellion that killed sixty whites in Virginia tougher slave codes and prohibitions for the slaves that was heavily emphasized in William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator as provided by Tocqueville. No amount of compromise could weed out the institution of slavery except upon the culmination of Lincoln’s election in the 1850’s and the legal implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment (Zinn 2001). II. Blacks living in free states Blacks actually lived a precarious existence within the Free states prior to the Civil War as many were still considered slaves. Many of the free blacks, who were skilled craftsmen, were tolerated because of their abilities as their earnings contributed to the general economy yet none of the free blacks ever rose higher than the status of small tradesmen, builders or nautical employees as they soon became a source of revenue as property taxpayers (Toqueville 1969). Forten, a free black girl from the Northern states gained education in Salem and observed that runaway slaves in Boston were treated as mere slaves and returned to their masters instead of being set free (Forten 2000). Although conditions were far better for the Blacks in the Northern states, very few blacks had their voices heard. Segregated facilities still existed in the North and they were usually denied entrance to the best hotels and restaurants (Jordan 1995, 218). Although schools in New England were usually integrated, those in the Midwest were generally not and economic discrimination continued as the Blacks fought to compete with large numbers of recent European immigrants for job opportunities and almost always lost (Cartmell 2004). During this same period, Norfolk’s free blacks frequently helped enslaved African-Americans to buy their freedom, and in a few instances became slave owners themselves (Toqueville 1969). Harsh laws soon prevailed as freedoms enjoyed by free blacks were soon curtailed because they were still unable to vote. The blacks were often stereotyped as unruly citizens that soon led other free blacks to move further north and help their relatives escape from increasing mistreatment. III. Blacks in the Army In the battle for the emancipation of slavery, slaves contributed to their freedom by laboring and rallying behind the scenes. At the onset of war, the free Black Virginians supported the Confederacy even though they were treated as inferiors and lived in a state of fear. Many were motivated to work with the Confederate States with the hope that someday restrictions against them would be lifted while anticipating a post war gratitude from the white counterparts they fought with (Jordan 1995, 216). The efficiency of the army during the Civil War also saw slaves working as cooks, nurses, hospital attendants, blacksmiths, etc and not getting any pay while free blacks however who served the army were paid the same rate as privates (Cartmell 2004, 176). Less than a dozen African Americans actually served in combat, one of those who did was Holt Collier who served as a sharp shooter and cavalryman of the Texas Brigade (Cartmell, 2004). Thus suffice for us to say that the Blacks fought behind enemy lines as soldiers and were inspired by their involvement yet many were denied enlistment. IV. Blacks who remained in the confederate states Prior to the Civil War, black slaves in Louisiana enjoyed certain privileges that addressed their needs as slaves like being able to sue their masters for abuse (Edge and Downs 2003). Free Blacks were free to own property and conduct business while enjoying liberties absent from other Southern states while slaves were permitted to celebrate their African culture at the markets (edge and Downs 2003). In Virginia, Blacks were criticized for being indifferent to the success of the Southern rebellion as a few free blacks pretended to be slaves in order to gain urban employment like Jim Butler who worked at Richmond’s Exchange Hotel (Jordan 1995, 215). For most Blacks during the period, social injustice prevailed distressingly as slaveholdings in the vast majority of the Southern states continued. Treatment bordered from harsh to inhumane as slavery allowed the master to punish the blacks who failed to perform his duties as related in Stampp, â€Å"Now, I speak what I know, when I say it is like ‘casting pearls before swine’ to try to persuade a negro to work. He must be made to work, and should always be given to understand that if he fails to perform his duty he will be punished for it (Stampp 1956). Slave overseers were authorized to whip the non compliant slaves while free blacks were monitored well by patrols. Escapees were either maimed of killed as slaves were at risk of loosing their family members to punishing masters according to Stampp. Slave-breeding was encouraged to encourage the economic interest of Southern planters for easy access to black workers to retain whole black families to work for them (Loveland 1986). As a backlash to the Southerners who mistreated their black slaves, many Southern blacks fought for the Confederate cause as a patriotic duty in part and as slaves in full. Yet for many who knew and acknowledged the Northerners cause, most Black soldiers in the Confederate states fled to the Northern lines and fought with them. The slave’s knowledge proved important in winning the war as their familiarity became an advantage for the Northern regiment. V. Life after the war When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, it heavily marked the end of slavery and thereby freeing nearly four million slaves in America (grant 2001). But the history of unfair treatment of the US on its own people easily portrayed hypocrisy on its citizens as Blacks remained objects of racial discrimination. It goes into reason that politicians used their might to support the rich sectors’ relevant refusal to grant equal rights to blacks. Another point of discussion was the political agenda behind the support for the anti-slavery campaigns when civil rights and voting rights became an important issue. Granting the Black community access to their own rights would naturally mean higher pay for the earners and lower profits for the capitalists. While supportive of the anti-slavery, political leaderships, not wanting to loose the support of their corporate and rich allies despite knowledge of unfair treatment would seek to ignore such acts. Such was the extent and tentacles of power used for gains that demean the spirit of the Declaration of Independence (Hartz 1955). V. The fight for equality for the next 100 years As a wave of democracy rose to deafening heights, Black struggle for acceptance rose to free them from the binding ties of slavery (Markoff 1996, 163). Although slavery was emancipated, marginalized sectors continue to insist on freedom from mockery and racial segregation based on skin color (Loveland 1996). Struggles continued as schools in the South refused to adapt to integration that led to riots commandeered by the blacks held in opposition against the whites who refused desegregation and tolerate intimidation and murders led by its famous Ku Klux Klan movement (Zinn 2001). Few of the KKK’s activities received massive media attention until the murder of a 14 year old Emmet Till in 1955 that led to a confrontation against issues of racism. As women gained equal rights in 1960’s, racial discrimination slowly ebbed that gave way to several centuries of struggle fr the blacks to gain a state of freedom. VI. Conclusion Why slavery had to be ended by extreme force? If it were probably left to the government the rights of the ordinary slaves would have been left as it was. Heavy opposition and criticism did not bring an end to slavery. Even the national government who endorsed anti-slavery Republicans into office to resolve the issue was most of the time indecisive. The slave- owning southerners and the anti-slavery northerners could not see eye to eye on the ultimate extinction of slavery. In the 1850’s open hostilities were already brimming on several states which finally triggered hostile actions. Although many favored and sought some sort of a compromise, the stronger point of rejection for one was triggered by fear that a conspiracy is threatening to bring down the American republic. Disagreements arise to a crescendo as political parties split and Lincoln’s war goals came into light to solve the problem by means of force when no alternative action could be seen to solve the conflict. Greed for power was the root of such warfare nurtured among many that sought to restrict freedom and pursued rampant acts of discrimination. Such tentacles of power used for corporate gains demean the spirit of independence in this nation’s history. Bibliography Cartmell, Donald. 2004. The Civil War Up Close: Thousand of Curious, Obscure and Fascinating Facts. Career Press. Colley, Thomas. 1859. Civilized America. Bradbury and Evans. Edge, John T. and Downs, Tom. 2003. New Orleans. Lonely Planet. Forten, Charlotte L. 2000. A Free Black Girl Before the Civil War: The Diary of Charlotte Forten, 1854. Capstone Press. Grant, Donald L. 2001. The Way It was in the South: The Black Experience in Georgia. Atlanta: University of Georgia Hartz, Louis. 1955. The Liberal Tradition in America: An Interpretation of American Thought Since the Revolution. New York: Harcourt. Jordan, Ervin L. 1995. Black Confederates and Afro-Yankees in Civil War Virginia. Virginia: University of Virginia. Loveland, Anne C. 1986. Lilian Smith, A Southerners Confronting the South: A Biography. Baton Rouge: Lousisiana State University. Markoff, John. 1996. Waves of Democracy: Social Movements and Political Change. Pine Forge Press. Stampp, Kenneth M. 1956. The Peculiar Institution: Slavery in the Ante-Bellum South. Survey Tocqueville, Alexis. 1969. Democracy in America, eds. J. P. Mayer, trans. George Lawrence. New York: Harper Collins. Zinn, Howard. 2001. People’s History of the United States. New York: Harper Collins.

buy custom Bedford Restaurant essay

buy custom Bedford Restaurant essay For any business entity to succeed in the marketplace, then it should have a feasible business plan. The availability of a business plan enables the owner or owners of the business to ascertain what is needed, what should be done and what is expected. It is through the business plan that entrepreneurs can be able to get funding for the various projects they wish to undertake. It is with this view in mind that Sattam Al Nazi opted to come up with a business plan for the establishment of a restaurant in BedfordCity. 1.0 Executive Summary 1.1 Description of the Company/Background Bedford Restaurant is a fast food restaurant based in BedfordCity, the United Kingdom. The restaurant serves European, Asian and British food, as well special meals, such as seafood and shrimp sandwiches. In addition, the restaurant provides home delivery services whenever special orders are placed by its customers. The food and catering industry has become one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and Bedford restaurant intends to capitalize on the industrys success by taking advantage of the catering opportunities in BedfordCity. The restaurant also features a coffee house with a dessert bar and a special section for live musical performances. The restaurant will be owned and operated by Mr. Sattam Al Anazi, a food and beverage expert who has extensive experience in managing various catering and recreational facilities. 1.2 Mission Statement The mission of Bedford Restaurant is to become the best restaurant in BedfordCity by offering delicious and healthy dishes at affordable prices. The restaurant is committed to building long-term relations with its clients through customer support and being recognized as the best destination in BedfordCity in terms of affordability. The major goal of the restaurant is to grow steadily and become profitable by the end of the second year of its operation. 1.3 Financial Forecast It is expected that by providing services on a full-time basis, Bedford Restaurant will be able to increase its client base from 200 to at least 700 in the first year, to 1500 in the second year and to 3000 in the third year. In order to achieve this growth, the management of the restaurant has identified three public relations firms which are known for employing the best advertising strategies of attracting customers. Having a high number of customers will allow the restaurant to cover ongoing expenditure and attain a modest profit. By the second year of the restaurants operation, after-tax profit should be able to reach 350,000 Pounds and increase to 450,000 pounds in the third year (Fullen 2004). 1.4 Sources of Finance Sattam Al Anazi, the owner of the restaurant, plans to use some of the proceeds from other business enterprises to invest in this catering establishment. In addition, the owner will invest another 50,000 pounds which will come from a bank loan that has already been used for the expansion and stocking up on the inventory for the restaurant. Sattam will also borrow 100,000 Pounds from friends and relatives to ensure that the business operates efficiently. The major purpose of this business plan is, therefore, to assure the investors of high profitability of the business and the owners ability to pay off the loans. 2.0 The Key Management Team and Key Personnel at Bedford Restaurant Sattam Al Anazi will be the President and Chief Executive Officer at Bedford Restaurant. The owner holds a Bachelors degree in Food and Beverage Management, and thus possesses skills necessary for the business to be managed well. Sattam Al Anazi has also managed various restaurants and other food establishments in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, he has received a post-graduate diploma in Business Management, which will ensure that the CEOs management skills are well-sharpened. Kim Joe will be the Vice President of the Sales and Marketing Department. Before being invited to join Bedford Restaurant, Kim was working as a marketer for a major food and beverage company in London. Kim holds a bachelors degree in Commerce, Sales and Marketing Option from MakerereUniversity in Uganda. Kims responsibilities will include, among others, directly campaigning and marketing the restaurant, as well as handling all sales-related matters. Bready Richard will be the restaurants Front Office Operator responsible for ensuring the comfort of the hotels clients. Having served as a Customer Care attendant in two of New Yorks major restaurants for 20 years, Richard will be a great asset to the business venture. Mr. Richards expertise in the area of customer care will entice many customers into becoming repeat customers. Pak, Jae is a business consultant whose services will be required on a day-to-day basis. Having worked for many businesses in the hotel industry, Paks guidance and knowledge will be invaluable for the restaurants expansion and continued profitability. Pak holds a PhD from ManchesterUniversity in England. 2.1 Business Objectives/ Business Idea The aim of Bedford Restaurant is to be the best provider of British, European, Asian and Halal meals to its BedfordCity clients and other visitors from all over the world. The restaurant will also specialize in selling sea food and shrimp sandwiches to its potential customers. Apart from this, the restaurant has the following objectives: To have sales that will approach and surpass the 2 million Pounds mark by the end of the first year of its operation. To maintain a net profit of about 16% by the end of the second year. To increase the businesss monthly sales to %u20A4200,000 by the end of the fifth month of operation and to %u20A4270,000 per month by the end of the first year of operation. 2.2 Overview of the Marketplace Despite the fact that the restaurant industry has of late become very competitive, the changes in lifestyle have continued to fuel the industrys steady growth. It is a fact that increasingly more people lack the time, ability and resources to cook meals for themselves. It is such trends that will make Bedford restaurant become better positioned to cater for the current interests at moderately low prices, while offering its clients healthier foods (Garvey, et al 2011). The food service business is known to be the third largest in the country, accounting for approximately %u20A440 billion in annual sales. It is approximated that an average British citizen spends 15% of his/her income on meals which are eaten out. This will provide a good opportunity for Bedford Restaurant to cater for the needs of such individuals through provision of quality and special meals. For the past seven years, this number has continued to grow gradually due to an increase in the variety of food products. Both long-term and short-term predictions have been positive, because as modern living necessitates more demands, most individuals will be forced to take their meals away from home, possibly in restaurants. Findings released by the National Restaurant Association also indicated that consumers will probably spend a larger portion of their food budget away from the comfort of their homes, and that an independent entrepreneur, such as Bedford City Restaurant, will become the major source of concepts in new restaurants. Furthermore, the report indicated that much importance will be attached to the types of operations offered by food catering companies and food flavors. 2.3 Initial Research Bedford Restaurant will be offering European, Asian and British food and beverages with a very distinctive image. In order to purchase the products, three systems will be used, such as table service inside the restaurant, home or office delivery, and takeouts. The restaurant will target both local and out-of-town clients, and the price of food consumed either in the restaurant or taken away will be the same. The Bedford Restaurant menu will, therefore, e moderately priced and moderately-sized, offering a wide range of British, Asian and European American dishes with a common theme, such as healthy (natural ingredients, low fat and low cholesterol) familiar and flavorful. A range of special meals will also be offered for the clients satisfaction. The goal of the restaurant will be to create an image of provider of nutritious, light and satisfying food at affordable prices. 2.4 Food Production Food will be processed and prepared in the restaurants kitchen. Most of the restaurants dishes will be crated from scratch by using fresh meat, vegetables and dairy products. The Chief Chef will ensure that strict standards of quality products, sanitation, packaging and presentation are applied to the kitchen and service staff. 2.5 Service Customers of Bedford Restaurant will be able to purchase meals in three different ways. First, they may opt to sit in one of the many seats located in the restaurants dining room, where full service will be provided by the waiting staff. Alternatively, a separate take out counter will cater for clients wishing to take their meals home. Lastly, take out foods will be prepared either through direct or indirect deliveries made to a limited area at specific times upon placing an order either by fax or telephone. 2.6 The Competitors BedfordCity has in excess of two dozen hotels and restaurants offering identically priced catering services, such as the ones Bedford Restaurant intends to offer. Even though this is obviously a big challenge in terms of the industrys market share, this is also a clear indicator that there is a big potential in the industry. Based on innovative concepts, new competitors have successfully entered new markets. Bedford Restaurant will, therefore, provide innovative products at competitive prices and in familiar styles. In order to secure a good market niche for itself before similar concepts emerge, delivery and take outs plans will be used aggressively. Commercial food service companies that directly serve students, as well as independent table service hotels and restaurants located in BedfordCity, are some of the food providers Bedford Restaurant will have to compete with for the target market. Border Caf and Bombay Club are independent operators that are mostly ethnic-based, and thus capable of carrying only two same menu items at a time. All the businesses are currently doing very well. 2.7 Competitive Strategy In order to gain a strong competitive advantage over its rivals, Bedford Restaurant will be focusing on product quality, identity and novelty, good sales attitude and employee motivation, as well as highly aggressive and innovative service options. Of all the restaurants located in Bedford City, Bedford Restaurant will become the first of its kind to offer a menu based entirely on low-fat and healthy food. The potential market will, therefore, perceive Bedford Restaurant as the best provider of low-fat and healthy British, Asian and European food. Bedford Restaurant will also have a reputation of offering best special meals that are nutritious to its wide range of clients. Once potential customers have tasted food in the restaurant, their general experience and perception will ultimately be reinforced through efficient, friendly and knowledgeable service. Customer retention will be facilitated through accessible delivery and take out options (Mintzer et al, 2011). 2.8 Marketing Strategies, Targets and Goals Entry into a new market in BedfordCity should never be a problem due to the heavy traffic and high visibility. Local residents and students are also known to support new restaurants, and tourists flocking to the city do not normally have fixed preferences as to where to have their meals. In addition to that, %u20A45,000 has been specifically allocated for public relations campaigns and pre-launch advertising. 3.0 Marketing Strategies Basing on the unique aspects of the restaurants product theme - delicious and healthy foods - a mix of marketing strategies will be developed with the aim of establishing the restaurants image, presence and message. These will also include the print media, whereby magazines, local newspapers and student publications will be used for marketing the restaurant to local residents. Broadcast media, which will include special interest shows and local programming, will also be utilized to advertise Bedford Restaurant with a view of creating awareness among potential clients. Brochures from the Chamber of Commerce and concierge relations coupled with charity events and yellow pages will be used to establish contact with potential customers. In order to solicit broadcast and print coverage during the startup period, a public relations company will be retained to ensure this is achieved (Daniels 2002). The marketing strategy will be divided into phases to ensure that there is awareness about the existence of the restaurant. This shall be achieved in a number of geographical locations. The first phase will commence when the public relations firm will send out press packets or advanced tickets to all media outlets together with printed advertisement announcements. Secondly, there will also be an ongoing campaign which shall be monitored regularly for its effectiveness. Well-trained staff will also be used at point of sale terminals to enhance the clients overall experience and increase the average check. In order to build a good customer base, word-of-mouth will be vital for the business enterprise as a referral method (Green 2011). 3.1 Operation of Bedford Restaurant Offices and Facilities The restaurant currently occupies an area of 1400 square foot in a building which formerly housed a restaurant. Therefore, only slight structural modifications will be required. The codes and licenses are all in order, and thus only dining room furniture and new equipment will be purchased and installed later by the General Contractor. After opening, all the offices will be allocated to the relevant personnel. The premises will be insured against the risk of fire to ensure that full compensation can be claimed from the insurance company. Bedford Restaurant will, therefore, be insured against the risk of fire with the local branch of the American Insurance Company. 3.2 Hours of Operation Bedford Restaurant will be open for seven days a week, serving breakfast, lunch and supper from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. The restaurant will, however, remain closed during the 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. All employees will, therefore, be required to report to the place of work as early as possible to ensure that the restaurants operations proceed smoothly. 3.3 Employee Education and Training Bedford Restaurants employees will not only be trained in their specific job duties but also in the application and philosophy of the businesss concept. In addition, the employees will also get extensive information from the Chief Chef and be kept updated about the latest or current information on healthy eating and operation of successful restaurants. 3.4 Systems and Controls of Bedford Restaurant A big emphasis will be placed on the extensive research regarding the integrity and quality of Bedford Restaurants food products. The products will, therefore, be tested for purity and freshness. Inventory control and food costs will be handled by the businesss computer system and checked on a daily basis by the management. 3.5 Food Production Most of the restaurants food will be prepared on the premises, and the kitchen will be designed in accordance with high standards of cleanliness and sanitary efficiency. Under normal circumstances, food in the restaurant will be mostly to order and stored in big coolers located in the basement. 3.6 Financial Forecasting During the first year of operation, the restaurants sales ratio will stand at one-to-three. For the reason of the restaurants sales forecast it is assumed that only three out of five enquires will lead to actual sales, and thus this is a conservative estimate. The management of the restaurant expects that there will be a continuous build-up of clients who will be coming to the restaurant to taste British, Asian or European food. The amount of new enquiries made due to the promotion companies is bound to increase during the first year of the restaurants operation, and it is hoped that this trend will continue. Basing on the sales projections below, it is expected that 660 clients will visit the restaurant during the first month of operation, an average total being %u20A43549. Additional service sales will enable the restaurant to generate %u20A4268,783 in profit during the first twelve months of operation. Table 3. Sales Forecast Projection Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Total Inquiries generated through promotion 200 425 425 750 1800 Restaurant inquiries 300 300 450 450 1500 Total inquiries 500 725 875 1200 3300 Meals bought 100 145 175 240 660 Average cost of meals %u20A43340 %u20A43340 %u20A43758 %u20A43758 %u20A43549 Commission received %u20A433400 %u20A448430 %u20A472331 %u20A498757 %u20A4252918 Commission on insurance other services received %u20A41670 %u20A43340 %u20A45010 %u20A45845 %u20A415865 Total commission fees earned %u20A435070 %u20A455570 %u20A4773241 %u20A4104602 %u20A4268,783 In the second year, the restaurant forecasts a gross profit of approximately %u20A4624,318, while in the third year the business aims to reach a target of %u20A4988,846. 3.7 Cash Flow Projections The Cash Flow projections for the first year, as shown in the second year, indicate that after the proprietor has invested %u20A441,750, the company will require an additional short-term funding of approximately %u20A483,500. During the remaining two months of the business year, it is forecasted that a cumulative positive cash flow will be achieved coupled with an end of year surplus cash of approximately %u20A419,335. As far as cash flow projection is concerned, it is assumed that that the %u20A483,500 required for additional financing will come entirely from a bank credit. 3.8 Risks Associated with the Restaurants Growth There are some risks which will be associated with the restaurants economic growth. These will include, among others: Losing of clients or customers to other providers. Diminished quality of services. Threat from new businesses. Losing touch with the clients. The risks that will face the expansion of Bedford Restaurant can best be summed up in one word: Competition. In order to sustain the restaurants position in the area as the best provider of British, Asian and European food, Bedford Restaurant will have to outshine its competition. This will be done through maintaining its focus on outstanding customer service and superior product knowledge. This will ensure that the business is capable of upholding its positioning in the industry, thus retaining its current customers and attracting new ones (Henkel et al, 2006). Conclusion The application of all the business practices and principles will ensure the success of Bedford City Restaurant and thus invest in long term strategies like for instance establishment of other branches of the same hotel in various cities of the United Kingdom. All the stakeholders of the restaurant will always work with a view of uplifting the standards of the restaurant to make it the best place in the whole of BedfordCity. Buy custom Bedford Restaurant essay

How to Quit College and Drop Classes with Minimal Risk

How to Quit College and Drop Classes with Minimal Risk No one wants to quit college, but sometimes dropping out is the only option. Illness, family issues, financial problems, or other hardships may make it impossible to continue with your classes. When it comes to quitting college, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it. Don’t just stop showing up and turning in your assignments. The long-term consequences of a disappearing act may haunt you for years to come. Instead, use this time-tested advice: Talk to Your Teachers Depending on your situation, professors may be able to cut you a bit of slack and make it possible for you to have an extension on your work instead of dropping out. Many colleges allow professors to create a contract with students, allowing them up to a year to complete late assignments. This might give you enough time to resolve outside issues and still stay on track. Extensions are less likely at the beginning of the semester, but if you only have a few weeks or one big project left, there’s a good chance your teachers will show leniency. Meet with a Counselor If receiving an extension from your professors won’t work, college counselors can walk you through the steps necessary to withdraw from the university. Be sure to ask about any tuition and fees that you’ve paid. Will you receive the full amount or a prorated portion back? Will you be expected to pay back any ​financial aid or scholarships if you leave university? Does a hardship situation change the way the school treats cases like yours? Don’t take your name off the rolls until you have solid answers.​ Try to Get Away with a Clean Record Aside from getting an extension, the best thing you can do for your future college career is to make sure that your transcript stays spotless. If you simply stop going to class (or logging in to your assignments), you’ll probably receive an entire semester of F’s. That’s bad news if you ever want to come back to college, enroll in another school, or become a grad student. Recovering from a semester of F’s is extremely difficult, and your college may even put you on academic probation or suspension. You may not care now, but it could become a problem years down the road. If you’ve passed the deadline for a clean record, you may be able to get a special exception if you’re going through some sort of hardship. If That Doesn’t Work, Aim for a â€Å"W   If you cannot get away with a clean record, at least try to get a line of W’s on your transcript in place of failing grades. A â€Å"W† means â€Å"withdrawn.† While a lot of W’s may indicate unreliability on the student’s part, they generally have no effect on your GPA. Your transcript won’t be pretty, but it’s better than being put on academic probation or having difficulty re-enrolling in college. Ask About a Leave of Absence or Deferment Do you think you might want to return to college? If there’s any question in your mind, ask about a leave of absence or deferment before you withdraw from the university. Many schools have a program in place to allow students to leave for up to a year and return to the school without re-applying. There are programs designed specifically for hardship cases. There are generally also programs available for students that don’t have any extenuating circumstances. That means, if you want to drop out just to spend a year on the beach, you may be able to pick up classes a year from now without any penalty. Just make sure that you submit the papers before you leave; deferment doesn’t work in reverse.