How to Meet Customer Needs Essay

A marketing campaign should have the goal of meeting customer needs in mind. There are certain things you can do to make sure you meet your customer needs, and those are explained below: First and foremost offer good customer service. The customer is not always right, but they should always be respected and valued. So, make sure that your customers know they are important to you, and that you want to meet their needs. If they know this, they will be more forgiving, and they will be more willing to stay loyal to you and help you meet their needs by informing you of what those needs are. Another great way to meet customer needs is to find out exactly what it is that your customers expect from you, and how they want their needs met. You can do this by issuing customer surveys. Have customers do a small three question survey with room for comment as they check out, or by mail, etc. you can attach some sort of incentive to it. This will give you a clear idea of what your customers want, and what areas you could improve on. Surveys are a marketing campaign of sorts, they get your name out there, and they help people know you care. Another way to meet customer needs through your marketing campaign is to make sure your customers are aware of how you will deal with their complaints. Mention your methods of dealing with complaints in the campaign. For example, say â€Å"If you are not satisfied you get 100% of your money back.† This is a marketing campaign that has proven very effective because people do not feel risk, and thus are more open to purchasing something. Another great marketing campaign that can help you to meet customer needs is through offering repeat business cards. These are like punch cards where they get incentive for coming in, buy however many, get however many free. This helps you identify repeat customers at the check out, and gives your employees a chance to ask them if there is any sort of changes they would like to see made to your level of service, etc. It also gives customers the feeling of being appreciated, and they get a reward for being loyal, which makes them happy as well. Last but not least, as part of your marketing campaign, you can meet customer needs through allowing for and providing opportunity for comments to be made. Include a toll free phone number that can be called with questions. Provide a comment card in the bag you put their item in after purchase, etc. Marketing is not all about getting your name out there. One big part of marketing is meeting customer  need. This can be taking the product to them, instead of having them come to you. It can mean offering incentives with multiple purchases. It can mean giving the customer the right and enough information to find you and your business. To find out what your customer’s needs are, ask them, and then put your marketing team’s heads together to come up with a way to meet those needs through your marketing campaign. You will want to build strong products, and inform your customers through marketing of any improvements you make. You will also want to allow them to make suggestions for improvement, and thank them for any comments they do make. After all, your customers are who keep you in business, so make part of your marketing campaign be listening to their suggestions, and acting on valuable ones.

Poetry comparison essay- ‘Poem’ and ‘Sonnet 19’ Essay

For my assignment I am going to compare two sonnets, written in early-mid 1590 and the second in 1990s, by popular poets William Shakespeare and Simon Armitage. I will be writing about their content, meaning, structure, style, rhyme pattern, persona, imagery, language and the tone set in each piece of writing and comparing how each characteristic is similar and different. In the early-mid 1590s, William Shakespeare wrote a sonnet, in his own style – Shakespearean – in the traditional context: love. It was vaguely called ‘Sonnet 19’, which suggests he is displaying that perhaps he was not completely connected, emotionally, with the sonnet. However, this fact could be contradicted in the way that all his sonnets were simply identified with a number, this particular one not being different. The sonnet itself is written as a persona; it is meant to be perceived as coming from a character, possibly from one of his plays? It is about the loved one of the persona, aging with time, and the narrator pleading to ‘devouring’ Time (time, in this case, being classed as a noun) that He shouldn’t age his loved one. In this sense, it is a traditional sonnet; it is about love. Consisting of fourteen lines, and a structure of an octane, followed by a quatrane and then a couplet; it is a typical Shakespearean sonnet. This poem has a rhyme scheme of ABAB, CDCD, EFEF for the first twelve lines of it, however for the final couplet; a simple GG is used instead. This rhyme scheme gives a rhythm to the sonnet, and creates a less drastic and eerie atmosphere when reading; because the rhythm is more bouncy that that of a poem without the use of direct, full rhyme. Also, the iambic pentameter present in the sonnet gives out a more flowing beat when reading the poem. It also makes the sonnet seem a little less dark and tense, as it releases ease for the readers. The ten syllables on each line are important to the poem, to increase flow and to possibly give the audience a little humor; whether or not this was purposeful we don’t know. But we do know Shakespeare mean to include ten syllables in each and every line of ‘Sonnet 19’. The first octane introducing the problem the persona is faced with: in this case the fear that the one he loves will be negatively affected by time. This tells the reader what the person the poem is directed from, is possibly quite shallow- due to the fact he pleads with ‘Devouring Time’ not to ‘carve with thy hours [his] love’s fair brow’. This means that he doesn’t want time to have an effect on his loved one’s appearance, which brings out a hint of arrogance from the ‘writer’. However, this point can be disregarded by the time the reader gets to the couplet at the conclusion of the text. The persona comes to the compromise that, even if time does eat away at his loved one, the beauty and youth will exist forever in his writing; ‘[his] love shall in [his] verse ever live young’. Referring back to the first eight lines of the sonnet, lots of imagery is used in the introduction. At first, the imagery creates slightly more stubborn and fierce images; as if the persona is ordering Time to not touch his loved one. However, on the ninth line, ‘O carve not with thy hours my love’s fair brow’ gives the reader the impression that the persona is suddenly changing his attitude, and possibly realising the harder sense that was given off in the first octane. It paints an image of him almost begging, given the ‘O’ put as the opening to the line softens his tone sufficiently to create an imagery that puts the persona in a much less dominant place. Imagery in the first octane includes more angry phases, as he is almost demanding an answer for Time’s cruelty to the Earth, and to people and animals. This is shown through lines such as, ‘[Time] plucks the keen teeth from the tiger’s jaws’. This is saying that Time makes a tiger age, and therefore be drawn to less youthful features; loss of teeth, sufficiently less strength etc. But instead of saying this, a harsh image of somebody ferociously pulling the set of a tiger’s teeth out is created to add the effect of anger which has overcome the persona. The text itself is about love- along with the majority of other traditional sonnets. However, the poem is believed to be addressed to a man, however this doesn’t indicate a homosexual relationship between the persona and the subject. It is believed that Shakespeare may have been gay, but it will never be known for sure and this is just one interpretation of his writing. The second sonnet I am going to compare is one of which by Simon Armitage and is called, yet again- vaguely, ‘Poem’. Already, a similarity is appearing between the two sonnets with just the name and the appearance of a poor connection between the poet and the actual piece of writing. The sonnet was written in the 1990’s and so will be much newer than that of Shakespeare’s, but there are in fact many similarities between the two, despite the time difference. Once again, the same structure has been used; first an octane, then a quatrane and a couplet to end with. The eight lines and the last two serve the same purpose as the ‘Sonnet 19’ does; to introduce, and the couplet to conclude. However, the quatrane between the two simply continues the first octane in more detail- introducing the situation. Within this structure, yet another pattern was used; speaking in three lines about a positive part of the situation then including one negative fact, before returning to a lighter tone for three more lines. Also, the iambic pentameter is also used in this sonnet- and was likely to be purposeful to lighten the mood slightly, maybe to enhance the slight use of humour in some parts of the poem. However, the rhyme scheme; ABAB CCCC DDDD and EE, also makes the text more rhythmic and upbeat. Although, because the rhymes are mainly just half-rhymes (not full ones) we can’t be sure that the rhyme scheme was purposeful, and if they were, whether they were purposefully just half. Half rhymes generally, if used in deliberate format, dampen any humour included in a piece. This is because rhymes usually make it easier to read and more happy, or upbeat, but when reading ‘Poem’, you get a sense that a deliberate darkening to the mood was put into the text. The actual poem itself is not about love, unlike ‘Sonnet 19’ and many other traditional poems; it is thought to be an obituary. It speaks about somebody’s life, and also as if this person has passed away, or been removed from society. This also adds to the eerie feel, yet speaks of his life with a slightly humorous side. The imagery created in the positive lines of the poem develops a happier phase in this person’s life in each stanza. Phrases such as, ‘he praised his wife for every meal she made’ give off an impression he was a very kind man, and that he was also family-orientated. It tells us he was appreciative of others- showing a kinder, softer side to him. However, the fourth line of each phase cuts out the happier tone and surprises the reader with the fact that he one punched his wife ‘in the face’ for laughing. This immediately develops a cold image of this man and the reader recognises that he had a dark side as well as a good one. It also makes him out to be a violent and possibly incontrollable man. The use of slang is present in this poem, joined by many other of Armitage’s pieces, in the way he uses the word ‘slippered’ when describing the way he punished his daughter for lying. This is not proper English and perhaps was deliberate to create a picture of this man being very common, down-to-earth and possibly just your everyday person. This constantly switching of imagery soon develops a balanced view in the reader’s mind; that perhaps this man represents any normal person- for having both good and bad inside us is in everybody’s mannerisms. In the final couplet of this sonnet- which also includes a half-rhyme, instead of full- Armitage concludes the poem, saying the man the first twelve lines painted of was considered to be normal, and when people ‘looked back’ at his time, their thoughts were ‘sometimes he did this, sometimes he did that’. This tells us that his moods changed, along with his attitude and that he did both good and bad in his time. The way the final couplet concludes is the same as Shakespeare’s finale; and they both end the poem in a generally lighter tone. I believe that the two sonnets compared in my coursework are very similar, despite the change in times. Poetry clearly will not differ over time, and the similarities between the two indicate that sonnets- if kept traditional- will always be very similar.

Effects of Internet on Academic Fraud Essay

It has been found out that the prevalent developments in the field of Information and Communications Technologies has made academic dishonesty easier and nonetheless more tempting and more efficient. This implies that the technology, especially the internet, has made a great negative impact on the society by making academic fraud more prevalent. (Eckstein, M. A. ) Academic fraud has appeared to be on a constant increase in developed and developing countries alike. Many may not realize how this can be a very costly threat to the society and its efficient operation. Moreover, this increase in academic dishonesty would also impart a social disruption on public trust in the reliability and security of many academic and academic related institutions. (Rusch, J. J. ) Academic dishonesty is defined as any form of academic misconduct manifested by any form of cheating that is made in relation to formal academic exercise. This would include plagiarism – which is to literally steal the intellectual property or ideas of other people by using their ideas and not properly citing the authors in the references, or by claiming ideas of others to be your own original idea; fabrication- which is the falsification of data (input of false data) or citations in any formal academic exercise; deception – which includes the providing of negativfe information to an instructor regarding a formal academic exercise (e. g. giving a false excuse for being late or absent or for missing a deadline); cheating – which is any attempt to obtain external assistance in a formal academic exercise, which is to be worked out alone, without due or proper acknowledgements; and sabotage – which is to make an act that would prevent others from completing their work. (McCabe D. L. and Trevino L. K. , 1997) Academic dishonesty has been documented in mostly every type of educational setting; from preschool to elementary school, high school, college and even on graduate school, and has been met with varying degrees of approbation throughout history. Today, educated society tends to take a more negative view of academic dishonesty. (Eckstein, M. A. ) In antiquity, the idea of such a thing as intellectual property did not exist. Ideas were made to be common property of the scholars, literate and the elite. Books were published by hand-copying them. Scholars freely made digests or commentaries on other works, which could contain as much or as little original material as the author desired, in other words, you could not expect published books to contain ideas, exactly as the author have written them. There were no standard system of citation, because printing and pagination was not yet existent. In effect, the scholars became an elite and very small group that trusted each other, and relied on each others ideas based mainly on trust. (Robin R. , 2004) This system continued through the European middle ages where education was in Latin and occasionally in Greek. Some scholars became monks, lived in monasteries, and spent much of their time copying manuscripts. Other scholars preferred to be in urban universities and were vaguely connected to the Roman Catholic Church. (Scheinder, A. , 1999) Academic dishonesty dates back to the first tests that were ever conducted. Scholars note that cheating was prevalent on the Chinese civil service exams thousands of years ago, even when cheating carried the heavy penalty of death for both examinee and examiner. (Eckstein, M. A. ) Before the founding of the MLA and the APA at end of the 19th century, there were no set rules on how to properly cite quotations from the writings of others, this is believed to have caused many cases of plagiarism out of plain ignorance. (Smith, K. J. and Davy J. A. , 2004) In the late 1800s and early 1900s, cheating has become more widespread at college campuses in the United States, and was not considered a dishonorable act among students. It has been estimated that as many as two-thirds of students cheated at some point of their college careers at the turn of the 20th century. Fraternities and some academic-related organizations maintained by students, often operated so-called essay mills, where term papers, and old exams were kept on file and could be resubmitted over and over again by different students, or could be referenced at by them, often with the only change being the name on the paper. At that time, college students, usually white privileged men, were expected by their parents and by society to live the life of the young gentleman, and were required to fulfill a number of social obligations, make connections with the future elite, find a suitable mate, become independent, that were considered far more important than grades. Accordingly, cheating was commonly used by students to put more time towards fulfilling their social obligations at the expense of their academic ones. As higher education in the U. S. trended towards meritocracy, however, a greater emphasis was put on anti-cheating policies, and the newly diverse student bodies tended to arrive with a more negative view of academic dishonesty. (Simmons, S. C. , 1999) At present, academic dishonesty has become widespread in all levels of education. In the United States alone, studies show that 20% of students would begin cheating as early as at their first grade, in relation other studies also show that in the United States around 56% of middle school children and an alarming 70% of those who are at high school have already cheated. (Smith, K. J. and Davy J. A. , 2004) What is more alarming is that it has been revealed that students are not the only ones to cheat in an academic setting. A study among North Carolina school teachers found that some 35 percent of respondents said they had witnessed their colleagues cheating in one form or another (plagiarism, falsification of data†¦etc). The rise of high-stakes testing and the consequences of the results on the teacher is cited as a reason why a teacher might want to inflate the results of their students. (Underwood J. and Szabo A. , 2003)

Social contexts and the justification for punishment Essay

Social contexts and the justification for punishment - Essay Example (Zaibert, 2003) The societal justification for the punishment therefore is one of oldest issues which society has been contemplating in different contexts over the period of time. This paper will therefore describe the relationship between the social contexts and the punishment besides providing a discussion about how the concepts about punishment have evolved and why modern society has become tough. Social context is defined in different contexts however, over the period of time the exact definition has kept on changing. Social context is often also described as the circumstances surrounding any given action or story. Social context is also linked with the social identity or with different social variables such as gender, class etc. There are two possible explanations of the punishment and the social context i.e. retributivism as well as the consequationalism. Based on the social context such as gender, class or any action, retributivism suggests that punishment is due because a person deserves it. (Bedau & Erin, 2010) However, over the period of time, this idea has faded and the consequationalism emerged as one of the valid theoretical explanation for the connection between the social context and the justification for the punishment. Utilitarian beliefs suggested that punishment can only be justified if it has the value and use for the society. Punishment is also considered as a mechanism for the social control therefore over the period of time society has shaped the institutions and laws in such manner which can achieve the social control. (Fagan & Meares, 2008). Apart from this, the current day approach to get tough on the punishment therefore is based upon achieving the low rates of crimes. This has been therefore based upon the notion of achieving minimum level of deterrence. The current approach therefore is based upon the notion of achieving a correctional system which is rehabilitative in nature wherein those who commit crimes are

Customer Care as a Tool for Accelerated Public Health Care Thesis

Customer Care as a Tool for Accelerated Public Health Care - Thesis Example From this discussio it is clear that  the government of Ghana takes full responsibility in management of the public facilities (including the public institutional health facilities) through financial services as well as the general management practices. It is in this understanding that this research is framed aimed at understanding service delivery by institutional based health facilities with special attention to the university hospitals. Though there are various university hospitals in operation within the country under the public domain, this research is directed towards specifically three-university hospital for ease of efficiency and convenience. Special focus is directed towards types and levels of the customer services that are offered within these institutions, which are not restricted towards the students only but are rather open and accessible by all the public.  As the study stresses  in Ghana, the classification of hospitals comes in different categories. Commonly t hough, it is likely to have a generalized classification such as government hospitals, private hospitals, institutional hospitals and mission hospitals. University hospitals are often placed under institutional hospitals and regardless of the fact that these university hospitals may be government assisted in terms of finances, their main administrative care is left in the hands of the university authorities.  

Thought Paper on Dahl Book Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thought Paper on Dahl Book - Essay Example Two main themes stand out from Dahl’s analysis – his look at the ‘profound ignorance’ (p.7) of the Framers of America’s future, and thus the need to periodically amend it, and the fact that it has not been adopted by other democratic countries. Dahl begins with the basics, asking why we should uphold the Constitution, and stating that his aim ‘is not to propose changes in the American Constitution but to suggest changes in the way we think about our constitution’ (p.1). His book starts on the right note by immediately admitting the imperfection of American constitutional arrangements – at the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia, Rhode Island sent no delegates, while those from New Hampshire arrived weeks late. Not only was this an irregular start, but Dahl rightly asks why Americans should still feel bound to a document signed by only 39 men, some of whom owned slaves. When Dahl notes that there had never since been a r eferendum on it, one wonders if perhaps there should have been. Dahl is not unduly harsh to the Framers of the Constitution, recognizing that they were a product of their times, and that ‘Judged from later, more democratic perspectives’, the document has many shortcomings (p. 15). However, given this fact, Dahl is right that Americans should look upon it as the work of mortal men, and a practical and changing document, rather than a sacred text to be preserved. For example, with slavery, it was clear that the delegates from the southern states would never accept anything which didn’t allow slavery to continue, and so it was allowed for the sake of a strong federal government. Again, with the unequal representation in the Senate – a point which arises repeatedly in Dahl’s work as a weak point of the Constitution – the smaller states would never have accepted anything less than equal representation with the larger states. There is a tendency to assume that, because the Constitution retains the support of most Americans, and because of the idealistic portrayal of its origins, its status as a basically good document need not be questioned. What is most striking about Dahl’s work is his comparison of the American Constitution with that of other countries with a strong democratic tradition, out of which comes one major point – if the American Constitution was such a wonderful document, surely it would have been adapted by other countries seeking a democratic model. As Dahl himself writes, ‘Many Americans appear to believe that our constitution has been a model for the rest of the democratic world’, but of the 22 other democracies analyzed, America is unique (p.41). Some countries share some aspects of the US constitution, such as its federalism, or its strong judicial review mechanisms, but none has several key features in common. Especially interesting in this regard is the American presidential sy stem, which allows for a uniquely powerful head of state, who, since the office is now filled by popular election, is like ‘a monarch and prime minister rolled into one’ (p.72). We must agree with the author that such a powerful position does not really seem appropriate in a modern democracy. However, this is not the worst of the defects of the constitution as it now stands. More

SOCIOLOGY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SOCIOLOGY - Essay Example Life is much more convenient as compared to the earlier eras, where only a few could afford telephones and could communicate but today cell phones are part of life and it has made an individual approachable. Although television has set the platform for all sorts of information required for different aspects of life but I disagree in the sense that it is also deteriorating the cultural norms of the society as there are certain unacceptable scenes that are forbidden for family shows. Giving it a different view point that if there is an introduction of discipline in home regarding timings to watch television, there could be enough time for the family interaction may it be the topic of personal development or creating awareness about the happenings around the world. This will preserve the decline of cultural values too. "Yes, I agree that internet services across the world has made the accessibility of documents within a few seconds and offers a platform for interaction amongst individua ls across the globe, but at the same time it is making children to access those sites which are prohibited for them". It is therefore imperative to understand Globalization from different perspective, where a deep understanding about globalization is desired. An individual must understand it in a highly disciplined manner.

The leadership skill I most want to develop Essay

The leadership skill I most want to develop - Essay Example This was followed by exploration of available list of leadership skills that singled out most suitable ones for my leadership style. I conducted an online evaluation of my leadership style through responding to traits based questions and the process matched my traits with transformational leadership. My further exploration of the fundamental characteristics of the leadership style such as empowering and motivating people together with promoting collectiveness developed my insight into my leadership skills and other necessary skills to the leadership style. Based on this process, I identified translation of business strategies into clear objectives and tactics, and training other people in developing their skills as my strongest leadership skills. My weakest leadership skills are however, the ability to prepare people to understand changes and transitions, and managing multiple demands and competing priorities. I know that these are my strongest and weakest leadership skills because o f my self-evaluation together with background information on leadership. The leadership skill that I most wish to develop is the ability to prepare people to understanding changes and transitions. My specific objective in developing this skill is to be able to empower people to the capacity in which they can understand a change its consequences, and strategies to dealing with the change. I will measure progress of the development through qualitative evaluation of my subjects understanding of change at a particular time. This will involve presenting a change situation to the subjects, sampling them, and using interviews to evaluate their understanding of the change. I will then compare their responses with the actual scope of the subject change. I will need secondary resources such as published books and journals with information on strategies to developing human potentials. I will also require human resource in management

Caramel Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Caramel - Assignment Example Jamale, who is a regular customer to the beauty salon and is striving towards an acting career, is preoccupied by getting old. Rose has a shop next to the salon and has dedicated her life, looking after her mentally ill sister. She recently found her first love and is torn apart which way to take. The film combines few genres. Throughout the film, there is this gentle comic element, which tried to lift the spirit of the women, the plot is also a bit melodramatic and there is an underlying, persistence romance. So the three genres where the film can fit are: romantic, dramatic and comic. The film tackles and addresses lots of themes – lost and found love, loneliness, public humiliation in a society surrounded by strict family values, heartbreak. An example can be given for the latter, where Layale, who lives with her parents, is a professionally independent woman, but she is having an affair with a married man. She spends endless hours, waiting anxiously for him to call, being completely oblivious to a gorgeous policeman, who is smitten by her. Each woman in the film represents a current issue in contemporary Lebanon – unfulfilled romance, aging, sexuality and marital values. The character that appeals to me the most is Jamale, because she is an actress, trying to audition for roles in commercials, sensing that she is getting old and the best days of her career might be over. Yes, the film deals with poignant contemporary issues alongside that of Lebanese identity. Caramel addresses sensitive social and identity issues, like homosexuality, extramarital relationships and fear of getting old. Can different women fit in modern Lebanon? It seems from the film that the typical feminine women does not suffer to a greater extend from the hypocritical, oriental system in Lebanon. It this may not be necessarily true. Lebanese women may be depicted free and emancipated, but behind the faà §ade, we are all ruled by societal norms, subject to

Definition of Literature Essay Example for Free

Definition of Literature Essay Literature is an outlet of escape from reality. At the end of the day, I open a book and allow the story to take me to a world where my own fades into a distant memory. With every turn of a page, my imagination is free to reinvent a narrative that is better than the reality I live. Literature can be non-fiction and based on facts surrounding real events, people, and places. Examples include history books, memoirs, biographies, newspapers, self-help, devotionals, and textbooks. Literature can also be writings based not on truth, but on the imagination and creativity of the author. This includes fiction novels and children story books. A lot of times authors of fiction will get their idea from a real life event and then they allow their imagination to recreate the characters and plot. Aside from being fiction or non-fiction, literature can also fall into different categories according to the genre, purpose, and style. Some genres include romance, science fiction, Christian, suspense, and western. The authors purpose for writing will likely determine what style and genre they will use. Poetry and drama are forms of literature that are stylistically different from other writings. Every writer wants to engage their audience and capture their attention in order to convey a message. The meaning of the text may hold differing messages within the audience, but it is the goal of the author to captivate the reader and keep them wanting to read more. John Smith wrote historical accounts of life while he was living. His writings brought insight and hope regarding English settlement during the early 1600s. The General History of Virginia is difficult to comprehend in areas because I am unfamiliar with his use and style of language, but nonetheless it is a beautifully written piece of literature. John Smith’s targeted audience was most likely the people of his time, with the goal of informing them of recent events. I appreciate the way he portrays the struggles of daily life realistically and in a way that inspires and intrigues. William Bradford was not formally educauted, yet he was a wise and well-read man. His writings spread throughout the world and have been studied and quoted by many. As with most of the literature from his time period, Bradford’s style is simple, but he writes with such conviction that demands the attention and respect of the reader. Bradford was a man of faith and often expressed this in his writing. In Of Plymouth Plantation he often refers to God’s providence and makes continuous references to God. Bradford may refer to God more than any other author in this colonial unit. Anne Bradstreet was a powerful force in literature during the 1960s because she was one of the first recognized women poets. Centuries later she is a revered writer and her poetry remains enchanting. â€Å"Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is the opening line to her poem The Author of Her Book and illustrates just how feeble her brain is not. She has the unique capacity to use words to express herself so creatively and with so much emotion. To My Dear and Loving Husband is a great romantic poem that I admire. Bradstreet’s style reminds me slightly of my own. However I need more experience and practice to become nearly as talented as she. Upon the Burning of Our House reminds of my own experience of a house fire and has inspired me to attempt to capture my experience through poetry. Through all Anne Bradstreet’s work, she inspires others to recognize the beauty and power in writing. Edward Taylor was a highly educated, well respected, and devout religious man who used poetry as a private expression of his faith. He did not seek fame or recognition for his writing, rather just the pleasure it brought him. Taylor writes of God beautifully and is a master of creating moving and emotional works of art without intending to. As with most poets, Taylor and Bradstreet used metaphors and had a personal style unique from others. There is also an overflowing of emotion from both Taylor and Bradstreet within all their writings. William Byrd was a very accomplished man of his time. He was well educated, respected, and prosperous. His most famous writings are the journals that he wrote to describe day to day life. In The History of the Dividing Line I was able to pick up on the humor that has lead Byrd to be one of the first distinct comedic writers. The humor is not â€Å"pee your pants funny† rather it is more light-hearted humor that makes the reader smile. It is evident in his writing that Byrd was indeed well-read. A writer is capable of learning a great deal about language, word usage, and style through reading. Byrd’s style is simple, yet he articulates his message very well and although he wrote for himself, he managed to write in a way that would capture an audience’s attention. Jonathan Edwards was an intelligent man of God who served as a preacher. As an author, he wrote popular sermons and other serious works on religion, metaphysics, and philosophy. Edwards’ style of writing is quite different from other authors in this unit because unlike the others he gives the reader an array of possible positions for the topic he is presenting. In the sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Edwards develops his view on destruction and punishment from verses in Deuteronomy. Not only does he explain how he interprets the scripture, he also gives other possible views. St. Jean De Crevecoeur wrote about religion but he did not profess or maintain that he believed in God. He was a well-educated humanitarian who served his people and country. I found Letters from an American Farmer difficult to get through because his style of writing is unexciting. I was also turned off by the way he wrote about certain topics particularly African American issues. Crevecoeur was not a racist man, but he lacked some sensitivity in discussing his unique view on negroes and parenting. He believed that negroes should not continue having children because if they did misery would undeniably result for themselves and their offspring. I understand that he is referring to slaves and perhaps even slaves may have wished to not have children in order to save future generations from being forced into slavery. Crevecoeur surprised me with the boldness in his writing. The progression of writing from Smith to Crevecoeur is interesting to track and there are noticeable changes in language and word usage. As defined earlier, literature to me is written art that engages my imagination and takes my mind away from reality. Not every piece of literature will bring me the pleasure of leaving my own world for a moment and that does not mean the author has failed. Genre plays an important role in this element of the definition. For example the writings from the colonies unit are primarily non-fiction history writings that are meant to inform more than entertain. Anne Bradstreet is an exception. As the writer of poetry, her style is most obviously different from the more serious and constructed essays of the other writers. Every writer has a style that is unique, however one similarity in the colonial writings is the purpose of the author’s writing. Many of the writers were writing for the sake of recording daily life and making historical accounts of slavery, war, and developing colony life. Centuries later, authors such as Smith, Bradford, Bradstreet, Taylor, Edwards, and Crevecoeur are recognized as masters in the field of writing. Writers during the establishment of the colonies wrote simple, yet serious and powerful pieces of art. They have a style of writing and voice that still captures the hearts of readers.

Book Review Ghosts from the Nursery

Book Review Ghosts from the Nursery Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence written by Robin Karr-Morse and Meredith S. Wiley offers the reader an in-depth look at child abuse and neglect. Karr-Morse and Wiley (1997) discuss the effects of abuse and neglect, looking specifically at violence in children. The book follows a young man, 19 year old Jeffery, who is on death row for committing a murder when he was 16 years old. Jeffery serves as a beautiful case study for the authors and readers to analyze and apply theories to. By looking at Jeffery and other children who kill, Karr-Morse and Wiley(1997) begin to discover the truths about the delicate and important years of infancy and early childhood. The authors look at child development and behavior particularly from conception to age two. With development and behavior in mind, they investigate the effects that abuse and neglect have on childrens trust, empathy, conscience, and learning during these pivotal years. Throughout the journey of this book, the reader learns a plethora of interesting facts about human development and how it is influenced by abuse and neglect. Throughout the chapters the readers are also given an opportunity to see the implications of such behavior with real life cases and studies. By taking the time to read Ghosts from the Nursery, one will not only have a better understanding of infancy and early child development but also understand why negative experiences affect children as they do and what it means for society as a whole. Upon the completion of this text the reader will have an appreciation for quality parenting and know the devastating effects abuse and neglect have on children and its influence in creating violent children. Critique This text offers knowledgeable contributions to the readers understanding of infancy and early childhood abuse and neglect. Karr-Morse and Wiley (1997) do an excellent job of explaining why the interaction of biological variables with environment variables results in pro-social or antisocial outcomes (81). Examples of this interaction are presented in every chapter with different situations and scenarios. The reader will quickly deduct that this is the most important connection to make and that children reflect what they have absorbed biologically and socially (Karr-Morse Wiley, 1997, 183). The text does a great job assessing a number of issues related to child abuse and neglect including but not limited to early brain anatomy and development, exposure to drugs in the womb, the interaction of parenting and temperament, and the impact of early trauma, head injuries, and emotional deprivation. Each chapter within this text takes a profound look at these issues and how they relate back to childhood violence. Along with providing new and essential knowledge, each chapter is opened by reconnecting with the case study of Jeffery and providing the reader with a personal account of the implications of the issues being discussed. By reading each section carefully and deliberately the reader begins to understand all the variables involved in producing a violent child and the impact these variables have on the way the child processes information, or does not process information as it may be. Along with presenting valuable information to the reader and deepening the readers understanding of the child abuse and neglect, the text does have its downfalls. While reading, one will observe that ideas are repeated too often causing the reader to begin skimming the material. The authors have a tendency to be repetitious in their writing to a point that it hurts the overall affect of the book. Karr-Morse and Wiley also like to provide in depth explanations which detract from the main point they are trying to convey by shifting the focus to a minute fact, thus losing their readers attention. Along with in depth explanations, Karr-Morse and Wiley have a tendency to include too many supporting facts. Though interesting, the facts tend to distract the reader from the main arguments the authors are attempting to make. With these three issues in mind, the overall book is difficult to get through and a relatively slow read. With shorter, more to the point chapters, the authors may have b een able to retain their readers attention for longer amount of time. These improvements would also place more emphasis on the purpose of each chapter and how it influences the making of a violent child, rather than emphasizing the supporting facts. Overall, this text is very educational and a valued contribution to any mandated reporters collection of knowledge. It is suggested however, that Ghosts from the Nursery be read like a textbook and not like a book one would read before bed. With the knowledge of the writing style the authors express themselves in, one can successfully navigate their way through this book and come out the other side with considerably more knowledge in the field of child abuse and neglect. Implications There are numerous implications for anyone, particularly a teacher, after reading Ghosts from the Nursery by Robin Karr-Morse and Meredith Wiley. First and foremost, one must begin to understand the pervasive effects of child abuse and neglect and how important those first two years of life are on development. Abuse and neglect have many faces, some of which are well hidden from the publics eye. As a teacher, especially in preschool, it is imperative to be sensitive to these issues and the repercussions if not detected and treated. As an elementary or preschool teacher, one will be able to assess a childs basic physical, social, emotional and intellectual development in comparison to the childs peers and determine whether the child is on track or not. It is during the preschool years and prior that developmental delays as a result of abuse or neglect will begin to show up in the child. This information may contribute to the teachers inclination that abuse is or is not occurring. It is essential to know that abuse and/or neglect from the time the child is inside the mothers womb to present day can display itself throughout various times in the childs development, and in any one of the developmental domains. This text specifically assists the reader in their quest to better identify and understand the less obvious forms of abuse and neglect and comprehend what it means particularly for a childs social/emotional development. Looking more closely at the disruptive behavior disorders chapter in the text is also beneficial to an individual entering the education field. Children who have such disorders will become obvious during the early school years as they are overwhelming our preschools and child care centers. With children who have disruptive behavior disorders their parents often feel exhausted and angry, their feelings of affection stretched thin or greatly compromised (Karr-Morse Wiley, 1997, 104), placing the child at a higher risk for being abused or neglected and later developing oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder. Some of these children may be experiencing abuse at home, or come to school out of chaotic and neglectful circumstances that leave them physically and emotionally malnourished (Karr-Morse Wiley, 1997, 105). For a teacher, seeing a child who has a disruptive behavior disorder may be a warning flag to keep an eye on the child and family and offer them additional resources to ease any additional stress they may be experiencing. Consequently, from reading this text, one will have a thorough understanding of how child abuse and neglect affects a childs development and what that will look like in the childs behavior. For anyone entering the education field whether it be in the public school district or in a childcare center, those individuals will find themselves mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. By reading this text, and having a solid foundation of what abuse and neglect look like, one will have the knowledge to better be able to advocate for a childs needs when necessary.