Acquired capability and skills Essay Example for Free

Acquired capability and skills Essay Looking at my overall capability and skills acquired in my current academic class, I argue that I had improved a lot since I started taking this course. The activities the professor provided gave me the opportunity to recognize my strengths and weaknesses in composition and other elements significant in completing and creating a good paper. Given this idea, I seek to elaborate on areas that I had sought to improve on and other specific elements that need further attention. At the same time, to support these claims, I shall provide several examples from my previous works to highlight changes that occurred. One relevant element in academic writing is the creation of thesis statement. This sentence/s provides readers direction of the topic and helps them better understand the relevance of the subject (UNC, p. 1). Seeing this, our professor taught us that creating thesis statement must then encompass all of the paper and effectively summarize and point out the arguments presented in a particular paper. Due to this, my first intention was creating such statement and find ways to persuade, entice or provide information to readers. Looking at my compositions, it can be seen that I had significantly changed the way I approached creating thesis statements. In my earlier compositions, these statements are either too vague for readers to comprehend or just implied in the paper. Due to this, I had to make the necessary adjustments to improve the way I compose such. However, this problem has been addressed accordingly in my last paper. In here, I placed the statement at the end of the paper which says that â€Å"The growing problem of poverty simply created the other problems concerning other facets of life; environmental issues, urban housing, health issues, corruption, and the like† (The Slum Residents Feed Off From Danger, p. 4). Seeing this, I feel that I need to improve in the way I create thesis statements. This is to further create impact in my papers and foster deeper understanding on my readers. Whether it is an informational or persuasive, I must find ways to align my paper accordingly to my given thesis statement. Another area that I had seen myself improve is the creation of supporting details to assist my given thesis statement. I had learned in class that for a paper to be academic, it must be able to provide details that will either supplement or sustain the arguments provided in the main idea. That is why, during the course of activities, I had tried to find ways to align my paper to the given topic I chose. For example, the flyer I created concerning malnutrition sought to bridge together the idea of how this issue has affected many and what ways can one try to address the issue. Assessing my current capabilities as far as this facet is concerned, I feel that I still need to improve in the way I link my supporting details to my main idea. This is because there are still several non-related topics that get inserted within my paper. At the same time, I must make sure that these details correlate and synchronize effectively within my work. By actively doing this, I can give readers an easier time in understanding and comprehending my overall intention for writing the paper. Introduction is also a vital element in the creation of an academic paper. This is because it gives readers the ability to become aware of either a backgrounder or the topic discussed in the paper. Having an effective introduction can entice readers to read the article and help them become acquainted with the issue given (UNC, p. 1). Looking at my personal experience in generating introductions, I feel that I had made considerable progress. Though at first this may seem to be the most difficult part of the paper to write, I sought out different strategies that can help me maximize my ability to create a good academic paper. Looking at my compositions, there is one paper that I feel provided a good opening for my paper. Since the topic I am talking about revolves around contact zones, I began my paper by describing the idea for readers to actively decipher what to expect in the paper. It mentions: It is important to understand that the social construction of racial, ethnic, and hierarchical differences, whether physical or cultural, exist as a human experience in the form of contact zones. (American Society and Contact Zones, p. 1). Thus, assessing my capabilities in this facet, I feel that I had made improvements in the way I construct introductory sentences that bridge the main idea or topic to the readers. However, I still feel that there are still setbacks that I need to address to be able to maximize my ability in creating effective statements. I need to make sure each time that this assertion coincides with what I want the readers to make sense of. As far as creating conclusions are concerned, throughout the duration of the course, I had tried to improve on the way I compose these statements. It has been taught that is necessary that I make a striking ending assertion so that it can stick to the mind of readers. Allowing these things to happen can help increase the strength of the paper and further justify the arguments I presented. Analyzing my success in doing this, I feel that I still need to improve in the way I do this because my ideas only try to point out again what I wrote in the previous sections (e. g. Global Community and American Society). Rather than just restating what I mentioned before, I must also highlight the overall stand of the paper and signify the justifications for advocating such belief. Lastly, I had also learned that my conclusion must not end in conveying another topic because it can make the readers confused and think that this is just another part of the paper. Structure, organization and coherence are the next elements I wish to evaluate myself on. These three factors also contribute to the ability of an academic paper to convey information and insights to readers. By taking into consideration the relevance of these ideas, I can increase the ability of people to actively learn from the process and prevent concepts and arguments to be scattered (Darmouth, p. 1). Assessing my growth in the element of structure, I feel that I have shown great strength in making sure that my composition fit a particular structure in the paper. In here, I approached each research in a different manner depending on the scope and tone that I wish to convey. For example, in my argumentative essay entitled Global Community, I structured the paper by first pointing out my main argument and then providing justifications and details to support the paper. On the other hand, in my flyer paper, I brought out the thesis statement and provided relevant information associated with the said topic which is malnutrition. Thus, I feel that I had shown advancement as far as this idea is concerned. For coherence, I still feel that I need to focus on increasing and establishing links in every paragraphs of my paper. This is because the ideas I present in every section seem to not directly relate with one another. Such can give my readers a hard time in establishing a link with the main idea presented and the way I seek out to justify each one. Seeing this, I need to come up with good transition statements that can help readers relate the concepts from the previous paragraphs to the next. These statements can either be in sentence pattern or words such as (1) Moreover, (2) Likewise, (3) In addition, etc. This can help supplement the way I address the paper and signify a new set of ideas to be introduced to the reader. Another strategy I wish to explore and improve on is making effective outlines for a specific research/academic paper. I had learned in class that by making outlines, I can effectively and efficiently prevent mistakes in organization and coherence because this can serve as the backbone for the paper. Allowing myself to device an outline for a specific topic, I can insert and attach important items and concepts on categories it best fits. The last part I wish to ponder on revolves around sentence construction, grammar usage and punctuations. Since I am dwelling with academic paper and not a personal blog it is essential that I see to it that my papers are proofread and follow the rules of the English language. This can then help me hone my grasp of the language and apply the standards I had learned. Reviewing my punctuation marks, I feel that I still need to master and learn several elements. This is because, I can see that I still common mistakes in placing periods, semicolons, colons and commas in a sentences. In here, I must review and understand where each one should be placed and under what conditions can they be only applied. Due to this, I feel that I had only satisfactorily achieved this element and needs to be further improved. As far as grammar usage is concerned, I also consider myself satisfactory because I still have to improve on the words I use in a specific sentence or paragraph. Since these words convey meaning in a particular argument or statement, it is essential that I choose the idea that best fits the description. Though I also learned that using simple words is good, however I must also make sure that these things never get repeated over and over in a particular paragraph. In the end, I feel that the subject has given me new avenues to improve and develop. Comparing my previous compositions, I had seen myself acquire new ideas and skills that can help boost my ability to write academic paper. However, I must also recognize that there are still elements that I need to work on. By constantly working and honing these things, I can maximize my ability and skills to serve my purpose not only in this subject but also for my own personal growth. Works Cited Darmouth. edu Writing: Considering Structure and Organization. 2005 accessed 1 June 2009 from http://www. dartmouth. edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/write. shtml UNC. edu Introductions. 2007 accessed 1 June 2009 from http://www. unc. edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/introductions. html UNC. edu Thesis Statements. 2007 accessed 1 June 2009 from http://www. unc. edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis. html

Implications of NRHM in Punjab

Implications of NRHM in Punjab Sustainable Health Development:  An Analysis of Implications of NRHM in Punjab Ms. Gunjan Malhotra[1] Dr. Madhur M. Mahajan[2] Abstract: The National Rural Health Mission was launched in 2005 (although full fledged activities began in full swing in 2007-2008) along with other states and union territories. The thrust of the mission is on establishing a fully functional, community owned, decentralized health delivery system with inter-sectoral convergence at all levels, to ensure simultaneous action on a wide range of determinants of health such as water, sanitation, education, nutrition, social and gender equality.The paper intends to study the impact of NRHM in terms of health infrastructure and to examine the impact of NRHM on health indicators like Infant Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate and Total Fertility Rate in the state of Punjab. It also studies the differences in Punjab and Kerala in terms of Health infrastructure and Health indicators. The study results show that a number of sub centres, PHC and CHC have increased and also IMR, MMR and TFR have come down after implementation of NRHM. Sustainability in health development means improvement in the health indicators and better health care facilities for existing and future population. Key words: NRHM, Sustainable Health Development, Mortality. Introduction: Health is described as the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being (WHO). Health is a state of being hale sound or whole in body, mind especially the state of being free from physical disease or pain. Good health is a pre-requisite for human productivity and development process. Improvement in health would make a positive impact on economic development. Better health can increase the number of potential man hours for production by reducing morbidity and disability as well as reducing mortality. Better health may result in more productivity per man as well as more men available for work. Promotion of a good health must be a prime objective of every country’s development programmes. The preamble to the WHO constitution also states that the enjoyment of highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every human being and those governments are responsible for health of their people and they can fulfil that responsibility of taking appropriate measures. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: The concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the worlds poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environments ability to meet present and future needs. (Brundtland Report, 1987) Sustainability is related to the quality of life in a community whether the economic, social and environmental systems that make up the community are providing a healthy, productive, meaningful life for all community residents, present and future. Sustainable health care system means meeting the health and health care needs of individuals and the population which would lead to optimal health and health care outcome. According to WHO any policy is said to be sustainable when: It continues to function effectively for the foreseeable future, High treatment coverage, integrate into available health care services, have strong community ownership and use resources mobilized by community and government. Taking into account the above factors of sustainability National Rural Health Mission was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi in 2005 in the country, with a special focus on 18 states. It recognizes the importance of health care in the process of economic and social development and improving the quality of lives of our citizens. It provides effective health care to rural population throughout the country. NRHM initiative as a whole with its wide approach is a national movement that just a national health project. The main objective of NRHM in state Punjab is: To provide accessible, affordable, accountable, effective and reliable health care, especially to the poor and the vulnerable sections of the population in rural areas. To achieve health indicators like IMR, MMR and TFR to acceptable levels. The mission is an articulation of the commitment of the government to raise public spending on health from 0.9% of GDP to 2-3% of GDP and aims to undertake architectural correction of the health system to enable it to effectively handle increased allocations as promised under the national common minimum program and promote policies that strengthen public health management and service delivery in the country. To revitalize local health traditions and mainstream AYUSH into the public health system. It aims at effective integration of health concerns with determinants of health like sanitation and hygiene, nutrition and safe drinking water through a district plan for health. Literature Review: Kumar (2005) reported that study on Maternal Mortality Reduction and opportunity under National Rural Health Mission.Maternal Mortality Rate continues to remain high in our Country without showing any declining period of two decades. The proportion of maternal death contributes by direct obstetrics causes have also remained more or less the same in rural areas. There is a strong need to improve coverage of antenatal care, promote institutional deliveries and provide emergency of obstetric care. Ramani (2006) â€Å"Status of Indian Health System† identified that the critical areas of management concerns in the Indian Health Care System are mainly non-availability of staff, weak referral system, poor service delivery, financial shortfalls and lack of accountability of quality of care. Gautham (2007) in their study â€Å"Patterns of Public Health Expenditure in India: An analysis of State, and Central Health budget in Pre and Post NRHM Period† examined the size, distribution, trends, composition and rate of growth of Union and State Health Expenditure during the period of 2001 2002 to 2008 – 2009. Garg (2007) explored the current status of implementation and progress of activities as envisaged under NRHM in the high focus states of the country that are under priority, as well as non priority states. Ashtekar(2008) emphasised on the failure of decentralisation, the lack of inter-sectoral coordination, and the undermining of traditional health support are the reasons why the National Rural Health Mission has not delivered what it had set out to achieve. Sinha(2009) studied that NRHM provided a large canvas and platform for health action, but Shyam Ashtekar (EPW, 13 September 2008) misses many issues and does not make his critique from the right perspective. During the short period of its existence there is ample evidence to show that the mission has been moving in the right direction, crafting a credible public system of health delivery starting from the village and going up to the district level. Hussain (2011): reported that NRHM was introduced as a flagship scheme of the United Progressive Alliance government in 2005-06 to address the needs of the rural population through an architectural correction of the health system. With the completion period drawing to a close in 2012, he critically evaluates the success of the intervention strategies under this scheme. Pal (2011) analysed NRHM, this programme has put rural public health care firmly on the agenda, and is on the right track with the institutional changes it has wrought within the health system. He seeks to evaluate the performance of service delivery in rural public health facilities under National Rural Health Mission. The concept and working of NRHM has been discussed in brief. Anirvan (2012) in her study observed that National Rural Health Mission is the Government of India’s largest public health program. This report briefly analyse NRHM expenditures along the following parameters: overall trends in fund allocation and expenditure: GOI and States, allocation and expenditure on key programs like immunization, physical coverage and human resource avail- ability, and outcomes (Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate). Patra, Ramadass (2013) studied the impact of NRHM on the health infrastructure and on the health indicators and to analyze the determinants of health status in the health development of Odisha. The study is only based on the secondary data. The collected data was analyzed with the help of MS-WORD and Excel. The study showed that the health status of study area is very poor and is gradually increasing as a result of the implementation of NRHM and the staple reasons for this tendency are: low income, illiteracy, shortage of doctors, unwillingness doctors to go to remote areas and lack of health care facilities and lack of production of laboratory technicians and radiographers. Thimmaiah, Mamatha (2014) intends to study the impact of NRHM in terms of health infrastructure and to examine the impact of NRHM on health indicators, like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), Crude Death Rate (CDR) and Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Karnataka. The study result shows that the number of Sub Centres, Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres has increased between 2005 and 2010. Also, IMR, MMR, CDR and TFR have come down after the implementation of National Rural Health Mission. Objectives of the study: To study the impact of NRHM in terms of health infrastructure in Punjab. To examine the impact of NRHM on health indicators like IMR, TRR and MMR in Punjab. Hypothesis of the study: There is significant reduction in health indicator IMR, MMR and TFR after implementation of NRHM. Methodology of the study: Keeping the objective of the study into mind, an attempt has been made to draw a comparative picture of the health indicators before and after NRHM. The study relies on secondary data. The data is collected from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare statistical report NRHM, statistical abstract of Punjab, NRHM Annual Reports, Five year plan reports, Economic survey, Census reports and WHO reports. The data collected has been tabulated and impact of the NRHM on sustainable health in Punjab has been gauged by employing graphical analysis, correlation techniques and t-test. Impact of NRHM in terms of Health Infrastructure in Punjab Table 1: Number of Sub Centres, PHC’s and CHC’s functioning Source: Economic Survey 2012 From the above table it is clear that in the year 2005 when NRHM was launched, there were 2850 sub centres, 441 PHC’s and 120 CHC’s operated in Punjab. In the year 2010, the number of sub centres, PHC’s and CHC’s increased to 2950, 449 and 132 respectively. At all India level the PHC’s, CHC’s and sub centres have increased. In the following chart it is found that Sub Centres, PHC’s and CHC’s have been increased from the year 2005 to the year 2010 after the implementation of NRHM in Punjab. Chart-1 Sub Centres, PHC’s and CHC’s in Punjab Impact of NRHM in terms of Health Indicators in Punjab To study the impact of NRHM in terms of health indicators 3 indicators are used which are Total Fertility Rate (TFR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). A time period from 2000 to 2011 has been taken 6 years before implementation of NRHM and 6 years after NRHM. The following table shows the health indicators from 2000 to 2011: Table-2 Health Indicators 2000-2011 Source: RHS bulletin 2012(health and family welfare in Punjab) From the above table it is clear that IMR, MMR and IMR have reduced over the time period 2000 to 2011. Before implementation of NRHM, TFR was 2.4 and has been reduced to 1.7, MMR was 178 has been reduced to 154 and IMR was 52 has been reduced to 28. Chart-2 TFR 2001-2013 The above charts shows the decline in Total Fertlity Rate from 2000 to 2012 and the current rate is 1.7. Chart-3 MMR 2001-2012 The chart 3 shows a decline in Maternal Mortality Rate but in the year 2004-05 there has been increase in MMR and thereafter a decline in MMR. Chart-4 IMR-2001-2013 Chart-4 shows a significant decline in IMR after the implementation of NRHM. As compared to other health indicators IMR has shown the maximum improvement. Table-3 Sample t-test on Health Indicators in Punjab On the basis of analysis conducted by using sample T-test indicates that TFR was 2.28 before implementation of NRHM and it was decreased to 1.865 after implementation of NRHM. Overall decreased rate is 0.4183. The t statistic is significant at 1% level of significance. Hence null hypothesis of no difference is rejected and alternative hypothesis of significant difference is accepted. With respect of MMR, the rate of MMR 48.83 before implementation of NRHM and it was decreased to 163 after implementation of NRHM. Overall decreased rate is 19.34.The t statistic is significant at 1% level of significance. Hence null hypothesis of no difference is rejected and alternative hypothesis of significant difference is accepted. With respect of IMR, the rate of MMR 182.34 before implementation of NRHM and it was decreased to 35.67 after implementation of NRHM. Overall decreased rate is 13.16.The t statistic is significant at 1% level of significance. Hence null hypothesis of no difference is rejected and alternative hypothesis of significant difference is accepted. Major Findings of the Study: Number of sub centres, PHC’s and CHC’s have increased from 2005 to 2010 after the implementation of NRHM. Over the period substantial reduction has been seen in IMR, MMR and TFR after the implementation of NRHM. The reduction in the indicators and increase in health infrastructure depicts that there is sustainability in health after the implementation of NRHM. Conclusion: NRHM launched by the government of India holds great hope and promises to serve deprived communities of rural areas. The invariable existence of social cultural differences in the community has always been a challenge to health care efforts made by Government of India. Sustainibility in health is a major challenge in the hands of Government i.e. reduction in major health indicators and improvement of health infrastructure without having an effect on future generations. Sustainibility has a very wide scope and there are many reasons and policies which emphasis on Health Infrastructure and Health Indicators. But this paper only studies the impact of NRHM on the sustainibility of Health Development in Punjab. Refrences: Ashtekar, S (2008): â€Å"The National Rural Health Mission: A Stocktaking†, Economic Political Weekly, XLIII (37): 23-26. Anirvan Chowdhury, (2012) in her study â€Å"Budget Briefs-National Rural Health Mission†, Accountability initiative Research and Innovation for Governance accountability, No 69. Garge Suneel, Natha Anita, (2007) â€Å"Current Status of National Rural Health Mission†, Vol.32, Issue: 3 page: 171-172. Kumar’s â€Å"Challenges of Maternal Mortality Reduction and Opportunities under National Rural Health Mission. A Critical Appraisal†, Indian Public Health. 2005 Jul-Sep; 49(3): 163-7. Ramani K.V, Maavalakar Dileep, (2006) â€Å"Health System in India: Opportunity and challenges for improvement†, Journal of Health and Organization Management, UK, Vol. 20, No 6, PP 560-572. Suresh Kumar Patra, L.Annam Prof. M. Ramadass (2013) â€Å"National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Health Status of Odisha: An Economic Analysis† Language in India ISSN 1930-2940 13:4 April 2013. World Health Organization. 2006. Constitution of the World Health Organization – Basic Documents, Forty-fifth edition, Supplement, October 2006. Husain (2011) â€Å"Health of the National Rural Health Mission†, Economic and Political Weekly, Jan 22, vol XLV1, No 4. Pal (2011) â€Å"National Rural Health Mission: Issues and Challenges†, Zenith International Journal of Business Economics and Management Research, Dec 2011, Vol.1 Issue 3. Thimmaiah, Mamatha (2014) â€Å"National Rural Health Mission Status in Karnataka: An Economic Analysis†, ISSN-2250-1991, Vol.3 Issue-5. National Health Systems Resource Centre â€Å"NRHM in Eleventh Five Year Plan†, ISBN-978-93-82655-00-8. http://www.punjabstat.com/health/16/vitalstatistics/291/infantmortalityrate/17794/stats.aspx http://www.pbnrhm.org/home.htm [1] Assistant Professor, Post Graduate Department of Economics, GGDSD College, Chandigarh. [2] Assistant Professor, Post Graduate Department of Economics, GGDSD College, Chandigarh.

To Kill A Mockingbird: Innocence Essay -- essays research papers

While examining the term, "the end of innocence", Scout’s viewpoint on Boo throughout the novel can be an indication of Scout’s own "end of innocence." Scout opens the novel with a naive viewpoint on both the world and Boo Radley. At the start of the novel, Scout interprets a raiding on the jail, through an adolescent standpoint. Scout sees the circumstances of the attack from the perspective of a young child. Scout’s responses to situations, such as the one at the jail, attributes to the fact that she is young, and has few life experiences under her belt. Scout plays ludicrous games with Boo and her detachment towards reality shows the immense childishness she possesses. Boo Radley is a fictional person to Scout and her friends. Scout treats Boo like a figment of her imagination, which signifies her naà ¯vetà ©. Scout starts the novel with a false association between fantasy and reality. Scout’s maturation commences when she views the injustice of Maycomb’s court system. After a jury fails to set Tom Robinson free, Scout fully understands the mechanics of prejudice when she declares, "Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." Scout has never met more trouble than the trouble that occurs between children‘s own social circles. After Tom Robinson is convicted, she fully comprehends racial prejudice, and begins to understand the entire situation. Following the trail, she says, "The...

George Washington :: essays research papers

The eldest of six children from his father's second marriage, George Washington was born into the landed gentry in 1732 at Wakefield Plantation, VA. Until reaching 16 years of age, he lived there and at other plantations along the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, including the one that later became known as Mount Vernon. His education was rudimentary, probably being obtained from tutors but possibly also from private schools, and he learned surveying. After he lost his father when he was 11 years old, his half-brother Lawrence, who had served in the Royal Navy, acted as his mentor. As a result, the youth acquired an interest in pursuing a naval career, but his mother discouraged him from doing so. At the age of 16, in 1748, Washington joined a surveying party sent out to the Shenandoah Valley by Lord Fairfax, a land baron. For the next few years, Washington conducted surveys in Virginia and present West Virginia and gained a lifetime interest in the West. In 1751-52 he also accompanied Lawrence on a visit he made to Barbados, West Indies, for health reasons just before his death. The next year, Washington began his military career when the royal governor appointed him to an adjutantship in the militia, as a major. That same year, as a gubernatorial emissary, accompanied by a guide, he traveled to Fort Le Boeuf, PA, in the Ohio River Valley, and delivered to French authorities an ultimatum to cease fortification and settlement in English territory. During the trip, he tried to better British relations with various Indian tribes. In 1754, winning the rank of lieutenant colonel and then colonel in the militia, Washington led a force that sought to challenge French control of the Ohio River Valley, but met defeat at Fort Necessity, PA - an event that helped trigger the French and Indian War (1754-63). Late in 1754, irked by the dilution of his rank because of the pending arrival of British regulars, he resigned his commission. That same year, he leased Mount Vernon, which he was to inherit in 1761. In 1755 Washington reentered military service with the courtesy title of colonel, as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, and barely escaped death when the French defeated the general's forces in the Battle of the Monongahela, PA. As a reward for his bravery, Washington rewon his colonelcy and command of the Virginia militia forces, charged with defending the colony's frontier.

The Oppression of Poland During Joseph Conrad’s Childhood Essay

The Oppression of Poland During Joseph Conrad’s Childhood Joseph Conrad was born in 1857 as JÃ ³zef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski in south-eastern Poland. He grew up during one of Poland’s most difficult times. The Polish people were oppressed by three imperial rulers. Joseph Conrad’s parents died as a result of the oppression imposed on the Polish population. Conrad ultimately left Poland mainly due to its political situation. In 1795 Austria, Prussia, and Russia partitioned Poland for the third and last time. What was once a great empire stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea ceased to exist up until the end of World War I. Though all three countries were oppressive, none was more so than Russia. It occupied the most territory and most resistance occurred against Russian rule. The Polish people never ceased to resist the three imperialist rulers. When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1806, Poles lead the charge hoping the campaign would result in a free Poland. Unfortunately Napoleon’s campaign failed and the Poles that fought alongside of him either had to flee to Western Europe or face hard labor in Russia. Poles once again tried to free themselves in 1831 when they launched the ‘November Insurrection.’ After fighting for over a year, the Polish rebel army was forced to capitulate. Russia immediately punished the Polish population. All schools were closed down and over 40,00 0 families were sent to Siberia. Even though the Polish people faced harsh repression, their patriotic spirit never died. In the second half of the nineteenth century, after almost 30 years of general calm, the Polish people once again began protesting Russian rule. Meetings were held and discussions raged about reforms and emancipatio... ...live. They made every effort to continue their traditions at high risks. At the end of World War I, after 123 years of occupation, Poland finally regained its independence. Works Cited http://www.top-biography.com/9211-Joseph%20Conrad/life.asp Brief biography of Joseph Conrad http://www.citinet.net/ak/polska_16_f2.html Contains information about Poland after the third and final partition of 1795. It is mostly about the ‘November Insurrection’ of 1831 and the uprising in 1863 and their repercussions. http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~koby/political/chapter_19/19_1863up.html Describes the events that led up to the uprising of 1863. This website also gives specifics about the uprising itself and life during and after it. http://artyzm.com/g/gierymski/e_powstanie.htm Displays paintings of the uprising.

Saurer

Saurer: The China Challenge Question 1 Comparing with the China staple fiber twisting machines, Saurer Twisting Systems (STS) has a number of strengths. The STS are leading product and incorporated state-of-the-art engineering. The technology and R&D helped STS to build up functional brand, the STS machines helped the customers to improve efficiency, quality and productivity. Hence STS is a strong brand and highly regarded by many customers. Being the largest manufacturer of textile machinery, Saurer can offer full solutions to customers.According to Exhibit 4, there are Sauer’s products in different steps of the textile value chain from spinning to embroidery. Thus, Saurer has the capability to penetrate into textile industry in a great depth by extensive product offering. However, STS do not have the price advantage comparing with local Chinese competitors. STS had simplified the functions of the sophisticated machines into â€Å"good enough† machines so as to cater f or the needs of China market, however, the pricing is 31. % more than Muratec, and twice the price of Rifa i. e. the close competitor. As Chinese customers tend to be price-sensitive, they would prefer low-priced manufacturers like Rifa for faster pay-back. In addition, STS products are imitated and the functions copied by Chinese competitors because of weak protection of intellectual property in China. This weakened the strength of STS in terms of product functionality. Most of the locally made twisting machines were copies of those manufactured by Saurer or a Japanese competitor.In some cases, the colors of the machines and the brochures – including printing errors – were reproduce Saurer’s usual position in the high-end market meant that identifying and reaching customers for low-end solutions would be challenging for its sales force. Since the company had historically focused on customers with high-end needs, it sales force had little contacts with the low-e nd segment. Saurer also encountered the difficulty to adopt to Chinese market.The Chinese customers only ordered new machines after receiving orders for yarn, which meant that they then needed very quick delivery. Additionally, they tended to be less interested than their Western counterparts in machine ergonomics – labor costs were low and replacing workers was easy – although some had begun to appreciate that more efficient machines could enable them to increase revenue. Question 2 Saurer should enter the China market with lower functionality. Firstly, Chinese customers are price-sensitive and they concern about the pay-back period.By offering low-functionality machines at lower price, Saurer can captured this low-end customer groups by fulfilling their basic needs. Secondly, Saurer can build up the customer base for future business, as Saurer can introduce other textile machines for their customers. However, margins on the new product were likely to be significantly lower than on their existing products, and even if they managed to achieve some aggressive cost targets, there was a concern that the new product could cannibalize their high margin, premium machines.So Saurer lost its product leadership by lowering the machines functionality. Hence, the good enough machines do not help Saurer to win customers by brand and functionality for this low-end segment. The pricing of STS machines become critical as customers are price-sensitive. Question 3 To protect Saurer’s brand, they should use a dual brand marketing strategy for the new products and sophisticated products. Its Volkmann brand was the leader in the premium end of the market, both in China and globally.In order to avoid jeopardizing the brand and minimize sales canalization, Saurer should adopt a different brand name for its low-end and lower-priced machines. As for pricing, Saurer should try to match with the competitors so as to win a bigger market share in this low-end market. To improve the margin, Saurer may consider to lower the production cost. As the low-end customers had little interest in preventive maintenance and annual contracts, Saurer had to change its business model for the low-end market segment.Since customers preferred quick repair service in proximity, Saurer may consider to develop partnership with local machine repairing centers by supplying the components at lower cost, so as to increase the competitiveness of Saurer machines as comparing with other low price competitors. Currently, Volkmann had 7 sales staff for China market. To cater for this fast growing low-end segment, the company should develop a separate local sales team for low-end market so as to penetrate into the low-end market. According to the company’s quick analysis, 85% of the potential demand of the new machines would be in 6 of China’s 22 provinces.Saurer may allocate the sales team into 6 geographical areas and launch the new machines. Question 4 If Sa urer decided not to introduce the new product, it will have to set its premium position and target the high-end segment, i. e. the export-oriented state-owned firms which were typically able to get licenses to buy imported textile machines. Being the global leader in textile machines, Saurer can ride on its competitive advantage by offering full solutions in different stages of value chain and helping these high-end customers to achieve economy of scale.

Obituary for Jay Gatsby

The body of Jay Gatsby was found at his own home in 1928. He was found in his swimming pool, murdered by another man. He was murdered by Geogre Wilson, who believed that is was Gatsby who killed his wife the previous night. Wilson, after shooting Gatsby, shot himself and was also found on Gatsby’s property. Jay Gatsby was originally born in North Dakota in 1895. He served as a lieutenant in World War 1 for a period of time, until the war ended in 1918. He also attended the University of Oxford for roughly five months, and may not be able to be classified as â€Å"truly an Oxford man†. He was relatively young, dying at the age of 33, however, was quite a successful businessman. He was commonly referred to as â€Å"new money†, meaning that he made majority of his wealth himself. Where and how Gatsby managed to make his money was often speculated about, Jay Gatsby was a well-known man to many who lived in either West or East egg, or in the city of New York. He was an entertainer and liked to please, commonly known for the extravagant parties that were held at his mansion every weekend. These parties were attended by thousands from all around the area. His funeral was held last Saturday, however, it was attended by very few, almost no guests, despite the fact that he was known by thousands. Gatsby’s neighbour, who was also one of his closest friends, attended the funeral, while not even Gatsby’s own parents were present.