Project Development and Control

1. Be able to identify the Components of project stage and lifecycle1.1. Main processes in the lifecycle of the project:Initiation –starting up the project; defining its purpose and scope; justification for initiating it and the solution to be implemented. Planning –defining organisational structure of the project; appointing the project team; defining the activities and mutual relationships, risks and criteria for a successful implementation of these actions; identifying stakeholders. Execution –the most important phase from the aspect of project results; execution and coordination of activities defined in the planning phase. Control –very often combined with the execution phase (2 most important phases); detecting mistakes incurred during implementation; suggesting corrective actions. Closing –analysis of the results; final project statements; identifying level of project success and noting down any lessons learned for future projects.Picture 1. G eneral Project Model1.2. Processes in the lifecycle in the project â€Å"Revitalization of the Grand Backa Canal†:Phase 1 – The territory of the Municipality Vrbas faces a big problem because â€Å"The Grand Backa Canal†, which runs through the municipality, is extremely polluted from the wastewater discharged into the canal nearby factories. Also, the canal is no longer navigable. Heavily polluted by unprocessed industrial and communal wastewaters, the canal today is a lifeless stream of poisons, including heavy metals. Due to contamination of the canal the whole environment, especially in a place where canal runs through the municipality of Vrbas is destroyed.Revitalisation of the canal is essential for Vrbas municipality and the whole environment. The solution for this problem is to  stop further pollution and to clean up and revitalize the canal and the area around it. Management of the Vrbas municipality organized a meeting with the topic – the con tamination of the canal. They noted the disastrous situation and agreed to start a project for revitalization of the Grand Backa canal.Phase 2 – The project manager is appointed. He formed a project team and organized a meeting to discuss the issues of this project. The project manager and his team defined the project objectives. Objectives of the project are contained in the following activities: Activity 1 – to build a plant in the factories to treat wastewater before it is discharged into the canal; Activity 2 – to purify the canal from sludge;Activity 3 – to provide sports and recreational facilities in addition to the Grand Backa canal. It was decided which software will be used to define activities, their duration, resources and costs of the project. Gantt chart will present activities, their duration and interdependence. The project duration is determined.The plan of periodical reporting on the project and monitoring of the project implementation i s defined, and the stakeholders are identified in the meeting. Phase 3 – in the implementation phase all activities that are planned in the phase 2 are carried out. All resources needed for the execution of the project are recruited. The processes of monitoring and control are also part of this phase in order to prevent delays in the implementation of the activities.The project manager is periodically checking whether the project goes according to a predefined plan, by using the software and through the meetings with his team. Close monitoring of each activity during implementation is important factor in this phase which helps to minimize a potential risks in delays of particular activities. Phase 4 – in the closing phase of the project level of project success will be identified. On the basis of final reports, results achieved will be compared with the planned results.1.3. Projects and operational management:Operations are an organisational function performing the on- going execution  of activities that produce the same product or provide a repetitive service. Examples include: production operations, manufacturing operations, and accounting operations. Though temporary in nature, projects can help achieve the organisational goals when they are aligned with the organisation ´s strategy.Organisations sometimes change their operations, products or systems by creating strategic business initiatives. Projects require project management while operations require business process management or operations management. Projects can intersect with operations at various points during the product life cycle, such as:At each closeout phase; When developing a new product, upgrading a product or expanding outputs; Improvement of operations or the product development process; or Until the divestment of the operations at the end of the product life cycle.At each point, deliverables and knowledge are transferred between the project and operations for implementat ion of the delivered work. This occurs through a transfer of project resources to operations toward the end of the project, or through a transfer of operational resources to the project at the start.Operations are permanent endeavours that produce repetitive outputs, with resources assigned to do basically the same set of tasks according to the standards institutionalized in a product life cycle. Unlike the on-going nature of operations, projects are temporary endeavours.2. Be able to describe project methodologies and their application2.1. The project methodology Project Management Methodology is a strictly defined combination of logically related practices, methods and processes that determine how best to plan, develop, control and deliver a project throughout the continuous implementation process until successful completion and termination. It is a scientifically-proven, systematic and disciplined approach to project design, execution and completion.The purpose of project methodo logy is to allow for controlling the entire management process through effective  decision making and problem solving, while ensuring the success of specific processes, approaches, techniques, methods and technologies. Typically, a methodology provides a skeleton for describing every step in depth, so that a project manager will know what to do in order to deliver and implement the work according to the schedule, budget and client specification. Referring to the mentioned definition, an appropriately chosen project management methodology paves the way for gaining the following achievements: The needs of stakeholders are definedA common â€Å"language† is established and understood by the team, so they know what’s expected of them Cost estimates are complete, accurate and credible Every task is done using a common methodological approach Most conflicts are spotted and resolved early Expected deliverables are produced and handed over Lessons are learned and solutions a re quickly implementedHere’s a simplified example of how a project methodology can be presented in the management hierarchical structure:Picture 2. PM framework In the Picture 2. can be seen that PM Framework precedes Methodology which in turn precedes Lifecycle Stages and determines the project management Processes, Tasks and Activities. 2.2. Project scope, project duration, objectives, stakeholder and possible restrictions on the project â€Å"Revitalisation of the Grand Backa Canal†: Project scopeGrand Backa Canal which runs through the municipality of Vrbas is an example of the worst environmental hot spot and one of the most polluted water streams in Europe thus, the direct environmental benefit of its revitalisation is quite obvious. More important is the fact that the Grand Backa Canal represents a serious health risk for the local people that also has significant adverse social as well as economic impacts on further development of the region.Environmental and h uman health hazard existing in Vrbas is not acceptable and it demands urgent action. The intention of this project is to find a solution for cleaning up and revitalisation of the  heavily polluted Grand Backa Canal. Before the clean-up can start, the imperative is to stop further pollution to ensure the sustainability of the entire project. Project duration16 months i.e. 01 December 2011 – 01 April 2013.Project objectives The project team defined the following project objectives: 1. Building a plant in the factories that treated wastewater before it is discharged into the Canal; 2. Purifying the Canal from sludge; 3. Providing sports and recreational facilities in addition to the Grand Backa Canal. At all three objectives, the activities are defined which will contribute to realisation of goals and projects.StakeholdersMany stakeholders are involved and have a vested interest in the project â€Å"Revitalisation of the Grand Backa Canal†. The key stakeholders are: Man agement of the municipality of Vrbas, Project manager and project team, Managers of factories that discharge waste water, Public-utility company Water of Vojvodina, Locals and the Community. Possible restrictions on the projectPossible restrictions are closely associated with the deadlines and the issues that may arise in the course of implementation of the project. If the deadlines are not met it will cause delays in the implementation of the activities, the expenses will be increased and therefor the realisation will deviate from the plan. The time dimension is one of the most important elements during the realisation of the project.2.3. Fundamentals of businesses to support a project.The basic elements for successful implementation of a project are: Goals must be clearly defined. Each project has its goal that should be achieved. A clearly defined project goal will help to determine necessary activities for its successful realisation. Deadlines are important elements that should help the project activities to be implemented within a timeframe. Good planning is the basis for successful project implementation. The basic elements of the project: time, costs and resources, must be carefully planned in order to achieve project objectives. Resources necessary for project realization are mainly: people, finances, equipment, all kinds of materials etc.Without adequate resources it is not possible to accomplish the project in its scope or planned time, therefor it is important to use the resources optimally for the successful completion of the project tasks. Organisational structure is an important element for project implementation because it determines responsibility, authorization and position of the project manager. Software tools can help project management to be much more efficient and effective. Information & control systems have a basic task to collect data and monitor project implementation. 3. Be able to implement and evaluate the personal development plan 3.1. Project planOne of the critical factors for project success is having a well-developed project plan. It provides a roadmap for project managers to follow and it is the project manager ´s premier communications and control tool throughout the project. The project plan can be defined as a formal, approved document used to guide both project execution and project control. The primary uses of the project plan are to document planning assumptions and decisions, facilitate communication among stakeholders, and document approved scope, cost, and schedule baselines. A project plan may be summarized or detailed. Components of the project plan include:Baselines. Baselines are sometimes called performance measures, because the performance of the entire project is measured against them. They are the project's three approved starting points and include the scope, schedule, and cost baselines. These provide the ‘stakes in the ground.' That is, they are used to determine whether or no t the project is on track, during the execution of the project. Baseline management plans. These plans include documentation on how variances to the baselines will be handled throughout the project.Each project baseline will need to be reviewed and managed. A result of this process may include the need to do additional planning, with the possibility that the baseline(s) will change. Project management plans document what the project team will do when variances to the baselines occur, including what process will be followed, who will be notified, how  the changes will be funded, etc. Other work products from the planning process. These include a risk management plan, a quality plan, a procurement plan, a staffing plan, and a communications plan.3.2. Potential risks to the project of revitalisation of the Grand Backa Canal. Ways to reduce or eliminate risks:All projects share a range of features which inevitably introduce uncertainty. Factors found in all projects which make them in herently risky include: uniqueness, complexity, assumptions and constraints, people, stakeholders, change. These risky characteristics are built into the nature of all projects and cannot be removed without changing the project. It is undoubtedly true that projects are risky as a result of their common characteristics, by deliberate design, and because of the external environment within which they are undertaken.It is impossible to imagine a project without risk. Of course some projects will be high-risk, while others have less risk, but all projects are by definition risky to some extent. The important thing is not to keep risk out of project, but to ensure that the inevitable risk associated with every project is at a level which is acceptable to the sponsoring organisation, and is effectively managed. This of course is why risk management is such an important part of effective project management: since all projects are exposed to risk, successful projects are the ones where that risk is properly managed.Potential risks to the project of revitalisation of the Grand Backa Canal: Failure in implementation of project tasks which can cause delays in the implementation of the main three activities of the project. Mitigation:application of Gantt chart which will present activities, their duration, and interdependence. Also, the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) will define the full scope of the project, to ensure that this is clearly stated and understood, and to form a basis for project control and monitoring. Budget increase during the implementation of the project as a consequence of delays in carrying out of individual tasks.Mitigation:budget item named Contingency which will be determined in a certain percentage compared to the total project budget to be used to cover unforeseen expenditures. Lack of cooperation by the factories which discharge the wastewater. Mitigation:clearly defined roles of all stakeholders of the project which  will be indicated in the a greement signed by all relevant parties. Unsustainability of the project. Mitigation:it is important that the factors that affect sustainability of the project are articulated well and incorporated , as far as possible, at the beginning stage. Later, the same factors can be followed up through monitoring.3.3. Strategy for monitoring the implementation of the projectGood management practices include regular monitoring on both short- and long-term basis. An effective monitoring process provides on-going, systematic information that strengthens project implementation. The monitoring process provides an opportunity to: a) Compare implementation efforts with original goals and targets, b) Determine whether sufficient progress is being made toward achieving expected results, c) Determine whether the time schedule is observed.Implementation together with monitoring show how important it is to work with indicators and SMART targets from the very beginning of the project implementation An ef fective monitoring and reporting system ideally includes the following elements: Clearly articulated targets and a set of indicators to measure performance; A schedule and set of guidelines for all responsible parties to report to each other; An opportunity for responsible parties and stakeholders to periodically meet to coordinate actions and review each other ´s performance;A link between the evaluation reports and progress achieved in the field. It is crucial to define the monitoring process in the project plan. Depending on the project duration and the budget involved, periodical reporting on the project progress should be defined at the beginning (quarterly, semi-annual, annual). A project manager is responsible for close monitoring of the project implementation, including timely appraisal of the reports and field visits to be able to monitor the work processes.

Elements of Fiction Essay

The six major elements of fiction are character, plot, point of view, setting, style, and theme. 1. Character — A figure in a literary work (personality, gender, age, etc). E. M. Forester makes a distinction between flat and round characters. Flat characters are types or caricatures defined by a single idea of quality, whereas round characters have the three-dimensional complexity of real people. 2. Plot –- the major events that move the action in a narrative. It is the sequence of major events in a story, usually in a cause-effect relation. 3. Point of View — the vantage point from which a narrative is told. A narrative is typically told from a first-person or third-person point of view. In a narrative told from a first-person perspective, the author tells the story through a character who refers to himself or herself as â€Å"I.† Third –person narratives come in two types: omniscient and limited. An author taking an omniscient point of view assumes the vantage point of an all-knowing narrator able not only to recount the action thoroughly and reliably but also to enter the mind of any character in the work or any time in order to reveal his or her thoughts, feelings, and beliefs directly to the reader. An author using the limited point of view recounts the story through the eyes of a single character (or occasionally more than one, but not all or the narrator would be an omniscient narrator). 4. Setting –- That combination of place, historical time, and social milieu that provides the general background for the characters and plot of a literary work. The general setting of a work may differ from the specific setting of an individual scene or event. 5.Style — The author’s type of diction (choice of words), syntax (arrangement of words), and other linguistic features of a work. 6. Th eme(s) — The central and dominating idea (or ideas) in a literary work. The term also indicates a message or moral implicit in any work of art. What is the connection of Literature to the history? The main connection between literature and history is that literature is used to report and represent history. The two are, therefore, intertwined with  one another. The biggest difference between literature and history is that the latter posits itself as fact, while the former is taken to be an artistic form. The twin ideas of fact and entertainment intertwine often within literature and history to produce historical fiction and narrative non-fiction. Literature takes many forms. They range from personal notes to poems and non-fiction articles. Literature can be presented in a number of mediums including online content, magazine and newspaper articles and in book form. For a work to be considered literary, it usually requires artistic merit and quality. What constitutes as literary is a subjective matter and rarely agreed upon. History at its most basic is the story of humanity. This is divided into anthropology,archaeology and history. History is the story of man’s representation of his own story — that is to say, what people through the ages have chosen to record and write down. Literature and history both occur in numerous forms, from tax records and letters to full histories of whole nations and people. Meaning: Anthropology is the scientific study and analysis of human beings and humanity. Archaeology is the discipline of excavating old artifacts and buildings to learn more about human history. It is often considered a type of science, though it is based more on interpretation and cross-comparisons than hypothesis-making and experimentation. Philippines Natural Artist of Literature Francisco Arcellana N. V. M. Gonzales Nick Joaquin F. Sionil Jose Jose Garcia Villa Edith L. Tiempo Virgilio S. Almario Amado V. Hernandez Carlos P. Romulo Alejandro R. Roces Bienvenido Lumbera Francisco Arcellana, writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher, is one of the most important progenitors of the modern Filipino short story in English. He pioneered the development of the short story as a lyrical prose-poetic form. For Arcellana, the pride of fiction is â€Å"that it is able to render truth, that is able to present reality†. Arcellana has kept alive the experimental tradition in fiction, and has been most daring in exploring new literary forms to express the sensibility of the Filipino people. A brilliant craftsman, his works are now an indispensable part of a tertiary-level-syllabi all over the country. Arcellana’s published books areSelected Stories (1962), Poetry and Politics: The State of Original Writing in English in the Philippines Today (1977), The Francisco Arcellana Sampler (1990). Some of his short stories are Frankie, The Man Who Would Be Poe, Death in a Factory, Lina, A Clown Remembers, Divided by Two, and his poems beingThe Other Woman, This Being the Third Poem This Poem is for Mathilda,To Touch You and I Touched Her, among others. Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher, articulated the Filipino spirit in rural, urban landscapes. Among the many recognitions, he won the First Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940, received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1960 and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990. The awards attest to his triumph in appropriating the English language to express, reflect and shape Philippine culture and Philippine sensibility. He became U.P.’s International-Writer-In-Residence and a member of the Board of Advisers of the U.P. Creative Writing Center. In 1987, U.P. conferred on him the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, its highest academic recognition. Major works of N.V.M Gonzalez include the following: The Winds of April, Seven Hills Away, Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories, The Bamboo Dancers, Look Stranger, on this Island Now, Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty -One Stories, The Bread of Salt and Other Stories, Work on the Mountain, The Novel of Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994, A Grammar of  Dreams and Other Stories. Nick Joaquin, is regarded by many as the most distinguished Filipino writer in English writing so variedly and so well about so many aspects of the Filipino. Nick Joaquin has also enriched the English language with critics coining â€Å"Joaquinesque† to describe his baroque Spanish-flavored English or his reinventions of English based on Filipinisms. Aside from his handling of language, Bienvenido Lumbera writes that Nick Joaquin’s significance in Philippine literature involves his exploration of the Philippine colonial past under Spain and his probing into the psychology of social changes as seen by the young, as exemplified in stories such as Doà ±a Jeronima, Candido’s Apocalypse and The Order of Melchizedek. Nick Joaquin has written plays, novels, poems, short stories and essays including reportage and journalism. As a journalist, Nick Joaquin uses the nome de guerreQuijano de Manila but whether he is writing literature or journalism, fellow National Artist F rancisco Arcellana opines that â€Å"it is always of the highest skill and quality†. Among his voluminous works are The Woman Who Had Two Navels, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Manila, My Manila: A History for the Young, The Ballad of the Five Battles, Rizal in Saga, Almanac for Manileà ±os, Cave and Shadows. F. Sionil Jose’s writings since the late 60s, when taken collectively can best be described as epic. Its sheer volume puts him on the forefront of Philippine writing in English. But ultimately, it is the consistent espousal of the aspirations of the Filipino–for national sovereignty and social justice–that guarantees the value of his oeuvre. In the five-novel masterpiece, the Rosales saga, consisting of The Pretenders, Tree, My Brother, My Executioner, Mass, and Po-on, he captures the sweep of Philippine history while simultaneously narrating the lives of generations of the Samsons whose personal lives intertwine with the social struggles of the nation. Because of their international appeal, his works, including his many short stories, have been published and translated into various languages. Jose is also a publisher, lecturer on cultural issues, and the founder of the Philippine chapter of the international organization PEN. He was bestowed the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts in 1999; the Outstanding Fulbrighters Award for Literature in 1988; and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1980. Carlos P. Romulo’s multifaceted career spanned 50 years of public service as educator, soldier, university president, journalist and diplomat. It is common knowledge that he was the first Asian president of the United Nations General Assembly, then Philippine Ambassador to Washington, D.C., and later minister of foreign affairs. Essentially though, Romulo was very much into writing: he was a reporter at 16, a newspaper editor by the age of 20, and a publisher at 32. He was the only Asian to win America’s coveted Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for a series of articles predicting the outbreak of World War II. Romulo, in all, wrote and published 18 books, a range of literary works which included The United(novel), I Walked with Heroes (autobiography), I Saw the Fall of the Philippines, Mother America, I See the Philippines Rise (war-time memoirs). His other books include his memoirs of his many years’ affiliations with United Nations (UN), Forty Years: A Third World Soldier at the UN, and The Philippine Presidents, his oral history of his experiences serving all the Philippine presidents. Alejandro Roces, is a short story writer and essayist, and considered as the country’s best writer of comic short stories. He is known for his widely anthologized â€Å"My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken.† In his innumerable newspaper columns, he has always focused on the neglected aspects of the Filipino cultural heritage. His works have been published in various international magazines and has received national and international awards. Ever the champion of Filipino cultures, Roces brought to public attention the aesthetics of the country’s fiestas. He was instrumental in popularizing several local fiestas, notably, Moriones and Ati-atihan. He personally led  the campaign to change the country’s Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, and caused the change of language from English to Filipino in the country’s stamps, currency and passports, and recovered Jose Rizal’s manuscripts when they were stolen from the National Archives. His unflinching love of country led him to become a guerilla during the Second World War, to defy martial law and to found the major opposition party under the dictatorship. His works have been published in various international magazines and received numerous national and international awards, including several decorations from various governments.

Empress Matilda, Contender for the English Throne

Empress Matilda, Contender for the English Throne Empress Matilda, also known as Empress Maud (c. February 7, 1102–September 10, 1167), the daughter of Henry I of England, is best known in history for the civil war sparked by her fight against her cousin Stephen to win the throne of England for herself and her descendants.  She was also a strong-willed and capable ruler in her own right, the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor, and the mother of Henry II of England. Fast Facts: Empress Matilda Known For: Member of the British royal family whose claim to the throne sparked a civil warAlso Known As: Empress Maud, Holy Roman Empress;  German Queen;  Queen of ItalyBorn: c. February 7, 1102 in either Winchester  or  Sutton Courtenay, EnglandParents: Henry I of England, Matilda of ScotlandDied: September 10, 1167 in Rouen, FranceSpouse(s): Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, Geoffrey V, Count of AnjouChildren: Henry II of England, Geoffrey, Count of Nantes, William FitzEmpress Early Life Matilda was born on or about February 7, 1102, as the daughter of Henry I (Henry Longshanks or Henry Beauclerc), the Duke of Normandy and King of England. Through her father, Matilda was descended from the Norman conquerors of England, including her grandfather William I, Duke of Normandy and King of England, known as William the Conqueror. Through her mothers mother, she was descended from more kings of England: Edmund II Ironside, Ethelred II the Unready, Edgar the Peaceable, Edmund I the Magnificent, Edward I the Elder and Alfred the Great. Matilda or Maud? Maud and Matilda are variations on the same name; Matilda is the Latin form of the Saxon name Maud and was usually used in official documents, especially of Norman origin. Some writers use Empress Maud as their consistent designation for Empress Matilda. These are useful notes to distinguish this Matilda from the many other Matildas around her: Henry I had at least one illegitimate daughter also named Maud or Matilda.Robert, Earl of Gloucester, was married to a Matilda.The rival of Empress Matilda for the crown of England was her cousin Stephen, whose wife, also a cousin of the Empress, was also named Maud or Matilda.  Stephens mother, Adela of Normandy, was a sister of Henry I.The Empress Matildas mother was  Matilda of Scotland. Marriage to Henry V Matilda was betrothed to Henry V, who later became the Holy Roman Emperor, In April 1110, at the age of 8. She later married Henry V and was crowned Queen of the Romans. When Henry V died in 1125, Matilda returned to England at age 23. Matildas younger brother William, the heir to the throne of England as her fathers only surviving legitimate son, had died when the White Ship capsized in 1120. Her father Henry I, therefore, named Matilda his heir and obtained the endorsement of that claim by the nobles of the realm. At the same time, however, Henry I took a second wife in hopes of fathering another legitimate male heir following the death of his first wife. Marriage to Geoffrey of Anjou Henry next arranged a marriage between Matilda and Geoffrey le Bel, often called Geoffrey of Anjou. Geoffrey was 14 and Matilda was 25. He then called upon his good relations with Count Fulk V of Anjou to negotiate the betrothal of Matilda to Fulk’s son Geoffrey le Bel. They were soon married in June 1127. After a brief but tumultuous marriage, Matilda attempted to leave her husband. Geoffrey, however, wanted her to return and, after a royal council, Matilda was sent back to Anjou. At the same time, however, Henry I once again required his nobles to support Matilda as his successor. Geoffrey and Matilda had three sons: Henry II of England, Geoffrey, and William. Death of Henry I Matilda’s father Henry I died in December 1135. Quickly thereafter, Stephen of Blois stepped up to claim Henrys throne. Stephen was Henrys favorite nephew and had been endowed by the deceased king with both lands and riches. Despite having pledged themselves to Matilda, many of Henrys followers reneged on their pledge and followed Stephen, preferring a British male king to a female ruler with a foreign husband. Matilda and her supporters- including Robert of Gloucester and King David I of Scotland- stood up to oppose Stephen, and so began the 19-year civil war known as The Anarchy. The Anarchy For several years between 1138 and 1141, skirmishes between Matilda and Stephen led to castles and lands being taken and lost. Each time one of the contenders seemed to gain the advantage, noblemen changed sides in the war. Finally, in 1141, Matilda captured and imprisoned Stephen. She then made preparations for her coronation in London. On her arrival, however, Matilda immediately began imposing taxes and removing privileges from her soon-to-be subjects. These actions were poorly received and, before Matilda could be crowned, Stephens wife was able to raise an army against Matilda and her supporters. Unable to defeat Stephens army, Matilda retreated to Oxford and released Stephen from prison. Stephen was crowned King of England in 1141, and soon thereafter lay siege to Matilda. Matilda escaped across the Thames River to Devizes Castle, where she set up headquarters for several more years of war. Older Years Finally admitting defeat, Matilda returned to France to her husband and son. After Geoffreys death, she ruled Anjou; at the same time she worked to establish her son Henry II as the heir to the English throne. After Stephens wife and son died, Henry was able to negotiate succession to the throne with Stephen and, in 1154, Henry was crowned King of England. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, became queen. Death Matilda died September 11, 1167, and was buried in Rouen at Fontevrault Abbey. Her tomb stated only that she had been the daughter of King Henry, wife of King Henry, and mother of King Henry. Legacy Matilda was an important historical figure whose battle with Stephen had a profound impact on the politics of her time. In addition, as the mother of Henry II (and the person who helped put Henry on the throne) she played an important part in the story of English succession. Sources â€Å"Empress Matilda, Lady of the English.†Ã‚  Medievalists.net, 9 Apr. 2013.â€Å"Queen Matilda, Empress Maud and the Civil War with King Stephen.†Ã‚  Historic UK.

Why Politics Are Important †Intro Political Science Essay

Why Politics Are Important – Intro Political Science Essay Free Online Research Papers Why Politics Are Important Intro Political Science Essay For a long time, I thought politics did not apply to me. This was due to the fact that growing up, I didnt have TV in my house, so my only source of news was the radio and word of mouth. I was very ignorant to what was going on in the world and in politics. Just recently, I turned 18 and became able to vote for the first time in this years election. I felt that in order for me to make an informed decision, I needed to figure out what I had been missing in the world and politics for the past 18 years. While researching, I found that things in the political realm do effect my life a great deal. The 2000 election, September 11th, and people in other countries attitudes toward the US. One of the first things I found out from the film, Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election, was that during the 2000 election people from the Republican party stole the right to vote from certain people. An old Florida law, that had not been used in over a hundred years, was dug up and enforced. It stated that felons were not allowed to vote. The Republicans, using this law, compiled a very comprehensive general list of felons who were to be removed from voters rosters. The problem with this was that some of the people on the list, mostly democrats, had not committed crimes ever or had previously had their voting rights restored. This corruption of the political system was very eye opening and made me realize that I need to be careful to make sure my right to vote is not unfairly taken from me. When September 11th took place, most Americans thought it was just a random terrorist attack that resulted in a horrible tragedy. I found out, from the movie Searching for the Roots of 9/11, that this is not the case in other countries. Their news is sometimes slanted because they dont have a free press. Many conspiracy theories surrounding the tragedy that falsely indicate that the US president planned the attack spread. When other countries only hear this type of anti-American news, many people from those countries take it as truth and in turn, dislike America. This causes our president to act in certain ways toward other countries and causes other countries to act in certain ways toward the US. If the US is strongly disliked, the other world leaders are not as likely to support what the US is trying to do or to engage in agreements with the US. In this way, the false propaganda and news in other countries directly affect our alliances, especially during times of war. Another thing I had not realized was that the way people in other countries feel about our leaders affect whether we get attacked or not. Their feelings about the US has a lot to do with who we choose to support with weapons, technology, and money. In the Middle East, for example, some of the people of Pakistan are upset because we are supporting the Israelis and providing them with better technology and weapons. Right now, these two nations are at war, and are constantly attacking each other. The better weapons and technology are definitely an advantage. Some of the people from these countries hate us so passionately that they are willing to sacrifice themselves to let the US have a taste of our own medicine. This is when the terrorist attacks occur and our safety in the US is threatened. Now, more than ever, since I have a say in who our leaders are, politics have an effect on my life and decisions everyday. The three major events that made me realize that the political realm effects my life were the 2000 election, September 11th, and other countries attitudes toward the US. In the coming elections, I want to be sure I am not ignorant to world events like I used to be. My right to vote and have a say in the political realm are too great a privilege to waste with an uneducated vote. Research Papers on Why Politics Are Important - Intro Political Science EssayQuebec and CanadaBringing Democracy to AfricaCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is ArtRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyDefinition of Export QuotasAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice

Symbols and Motifs in Literature

Symbols and Motifs in Literature When you read a book, you might notice recurring themes within the text, which usually influence the storyline and provide clues into the plot or conflict occurring. In order to build and explain the theme, the author will use symbols and motifs. Many readers fully understand what a symbol is, but not everyone is as familiar with motifs. While they are similar and both serve to help us understand the material at hand, these two types of language arent the same. Both are crucial parts of creating a strong storyline that will draw in the reader and hold his attention. What is a symbol? A symbol is an object that represents something else, and in fact, are a part of your daily life, not just a piece of literature. You may not realize it, but you  encounter millions of symbols in your everyday life, such as: Traffic lights: Red light means stop, green means go, and yellow means cautionThe arrow means this wayA cross represents religion, or more specifically, ChristianityLight bulb means new ideaNumerals 1 and 0, put together, mean tenA heart means loveLogos represent brands, like the Nike swoosh or Macs AppleEven our names are symbols that represent us as individual humans Symbols can hold unexpected meaning, but upon further investigation, can make a lot of sense. For example, if you read a scene that involves a skunk lurking in the background, you might wonder what that animal could signify. But, if  theres something that foul in the works of your story, like a breakup or a bit of bad luck, the skunk begins to bring up imagery of something that is less than pleasant to experience. Thus, the symbolism.   To better understand symbolism, you might  ask yourself to consider what a variety of everyday objects might stand for if they were used in a piece of literation. For example, think about emotions or thoughts that come to mind when you see the following: Flowers (represent nature, birth, growth, femininity, beauty)Lightening bolt  (represents speed, strength, power, electricity)  Spider web (represents entanglement, entrapment, mystery) What is a motif? While a symbol might occur once in literature to signify an idea or an emotion, a motif can be an element or idea that repeats throughout that piece of literature. It is closely related to a theme but is more of a supporting role to the theme than a theme itself. It is within the pattern of repetition that the power and impact of a motif are found. A motif could, in fact, be expressed by a collection of related symbols. How do symbols and motifs work together? Since multiple symbols can be used to explain a motif, lets break down a few examples. Lets say we have a story about a family struggling to stay together, parents considering divorce. We might encounter a motif of fragmentation that could come from several symbols that appear in a book: Shattered glassA runaway (pet, teen, car)An explosionA scattered puzzle Sometimes a motif can also be a study on contrast, like the theme of good versus evil, or light and dark. A series of symbols that could represent this motif might be: Moon shadows (shades of darkness)A candle (a light in the darkness)Storm clouds (temporary darkness)A ray of sunshine (emerging from darkness)A tunnel (through the darkness) The symbols and motifs you discover in your reading will lead to the understanding of an overall theme of your book. To find the theme of a book, you should look for an overall message or lesson. If you do encounter the motif of light and dark in a book, you should think about a message that the author is trying to send about life. The light and dark of a story might tell us: Love survives deathLife renews itselfKnowledge conquers fear Tip: if you see a series of symbols or a collection of motifs, but you cant come up with a theme, try inserting a verb to describe the object.  If you see a lot of references to fire, for example, you can ask yourself what action we might associate with fire. Fire burnsFire destroysFire warms Consider which of these behaviors make sense in the context of the novel or story you are reading.

The use of the Alternative voting system in parliamentary elections Essay

The use of the Alternative voting system in parliamentary elections would improve democracy in the united kingdom - Essay Example These reforms are sometimes evolutionary in nature and take place gradually over a long time-period; sometimes are revolutionary in nature and takes place at the spur of a moment; while at other times are deliberately brought in through changes in the legislation. UK has seen in many such reforms that have made it a modern democracy with elected representatives, from being a monarchic state (Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, 2007, 9). My article will examine the current electoral changes that have been proposed, which signal the ushering in of the Alternative Voting system (AVs). This topic has been in debate in the UK parliament for quite some years, and is currently under review, in the House of Lords and the Parliament. My article will explore to find out whether the changes in the electoral processes that will bring in use of the Alternative Voting System or AVs in parliamentary elections, would actually work towards improving democracy in United Kingdom. Discus sion What is AV: â€Å"AV represents a very simple change to our current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) voting system. The principle behind AV is a no-brainer: the winner in an election should need the support of a majority of the people. AV makes this happen with ‘preference voting’. ... In the present electoral process that is known as the First-Past-the–Post or FPTP, Candidate ‘A’ has garnered the maximum number of votes, and is the clearly the winner, though he hasn’t received even 50% of the total vote share, that is, majority of the voters are not backing him, yet under the present legislation, yet he must be declared the winner, thus casting aspirations on the true nature of UK democracy. However, under AV we find there are certain changes in the whole process that are certainly more democratic in nature. â€Å"With AV voters’ ‘first preferences’ are counted as before. As no candidate has 50% support the last placed candidate, ‘D’, is eliminated, and her supporters’ second preferences are transferred to the others. Still no candidate has 50% support, so candidate ‘C’ drops out and his voters’ second choices are transferred. ‘B’ emerges with majority support. She wins!†(Ibid.) Is AV more democratic in nature? A basic problem of the FPTP system that undermines the very meaning of the word democracy is that, often under this process the candidate who does not have the support of the majority of the voters, emerge as the winner. AV addresses this fundamental problem, and ensures that the winner is the person who genuinely enjoys the support of the maximum number of the voters in UK. Thus, we find we find that this system represents a more fair form of the electoral procedure, which brings forth the person who is the actual choice of the majority. The FPTPs that is in use in present day UK general elections and also used for local councils in England and Wales, is an ancient and rather outdated process, which started during the

The Advent Of Globalization And Business Cultures Essay

The Advent Of Globalization And Business Cultures - Essay Example Power Distance: This deals with acceptance of the less powerful sections of an organization pertaining to the uneven distribution of power therein. Britain is a country that ranks low in PDI, indicating that it is a society that believes in minimising the inequalities among people. However, China is a top scorer in PDI, which implies that inequality in the distribution of power is acceptable in there and that power abuse is prevalent. Individualism: The issue addressed by this dimension is related to ways in which the society portrays itself, implying whether it is an inter-dependent society or an individual one. The UK is a country with a high individualistic approach, where children are taught to think and fend for themselves from a young age (Tanielian 90-96). Hence, personal fulfillment is a topmost priority in such societies. China appears to have a rather collectivistic approach, where people strive as a team and perform tasks that cater to the interest of a group or an organiz ation. Masculinity: This dimension explains dominant values of the society. A masculine or high-score on this dimension would indicate towards a society that is driven by achievement and success. A low-score (feminine) on this dimension would mean that the society is more inclined towards living a quality life and caring for others. Both China and the UK are strongly masculine societies, where people are ready to sacrifice family life in order to achieve success in the professional life. Leisure takes a backseat in such societies.