Marketing and Product Essay

â€Å"Your boss has just returned from a Senior Executive Workshop for Marketing Directors. He explains to you that the focus of the workshop was on the importance of the positioning statement to effective strategy development. Full of new-found enthusiasm, he asks you to prepare a short paper on positioning for the next board meeting. He wants you to demonstrate the importance of positioning strategy to business success. Write that paper† Introduction STP (Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning) marketing is also called strategic marketing, involves finding correct segment in which to market your product, identify the proper target market and positioning the product to create maximum profits. The most important of STP marketing is determining exactly what benefits your product offers and who will benefit most from using it. STP is important for marketer to create a competitive advantage and marketing plan designed specifically for the customers who will be most likely to buy the product. The STP process allows marketer to identify the correct segment to market the product and use the marketing mix to maximize profits. Marketing Strategy: Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning Segmentation, targeting and positioning are essential parts in the marketing strategy that can help company to market their product better using the appropriate marketing mix. The following diagram illustrates the steps and connection between these three important plan that used by marketers to market their product efficiently. [pic] Diagram 1: The main steps in market segmentation, targeting and positioning Source: Doyle and Stern (2006) Segmentation Market consists of customers and customers vary from each other. The variation are depends on factors such as resources, wants, buying attitude, locations and buying practice. Segmentation means dividing a market by certain criteria such as geographical, demographic, psychographic and behavioral. By dividing the market, a marketer can easily identify what type of segment is suitable for the chosen product and large market can be divided into smaller segments which can be managed more efficiently and effectively. These criteria or variables that be used for segmentation are as follows: (1) Geographic Segmentation It refers to location including regions, continent, country, area size, village, city and the climate. A company needs to put attention on variability of geographic needs and wants. (2) Demographic Segmentation It refers to measureable statistics such as income, age, gender, education, occupation, religion, nationality, race, language and family size. It’s crucial to consider the demographic factors while defining market strategy. (3) Psychographic Segmentation It refers to a segment of lifestyle, personality, attitudes and values. A segment having demographically grouped customers may have different psychographic characteristics. (4) Behavioral Segmentation Other than the above, another basis for segmentation is behavioral segmentation. This is the most favorable segmentation as it uses the variables that really close to the product itself. Buying status, buying role and user type are the common behavioral segmentation. Some customers  are brand loyal; they tend to stick with their preferred brand. Effective segmentation is achieved when customers sharing the similar patterns of demand are grouped together, where each group different in the pattern of demand from other segments in the market. Basically, all the following have to be considered before segmentation: (1) Measureable: Able to measure in terms of potential customers in each segment which means it should be able to tell how many potential customers as well as how many competitors in the same segment. (2) Accessible: Able to reach selected market targets with its individual marketing efforts which means segment should be accessible through any types of communication method and distribution such as transportation, distributors and internet. (3) Meaningful: Able to differentiate preferences or needs and show clear variations in market behavior and response to each designed marketing mix. (4) Substantial: Able to lead to segments which sufficiently large to be economically and practically served as market targets with selected marketing mix. Targeting After segmentation, the next step is targeting. Targeting is the process of selecting a segment to aim. According to Kotler and Armstrong (2004), the following three main strategies that can be used to enter and exploit the segments. (1) Undifferentiated strategies (mass marketing) – The aim of the strategy is to offer a basic product that would suit and be used by almost all age groups and lifestyle. (2) Differentiated strategies (segmented marketing) – Focus on targeting two or more markets, each of them use different marketing programme. (3) Concentrated strategies (niche marketing) – The company focuses on targeting a large share of one or a few segments. The niche marketing defines the specific product features focus to satisfy specific market needs. Generally, targeting is depending on several factors as the followings: †¢ The existing level of competition and the ability to meet customer needs. †¢ The size of the segment (how large and how can it grow). †¢ The strengths of a company that can help to appeal a group customer (company reputation). †¢ The ability to communicate with the segment. Basically, the advantages of target marketing are: †¢ Marketing opportunities and ‘gaps† will be more accurately indentified. The gaps can be the real thing about the product or how customers view the product emotionally. By indentifying this, an appropriate advertising message can be implemented in the minds of customers. †¢ Market and product appeals through the manipulation of marketing mix will be more suitable to the needs of potential customers. †¢ Marketing effort can be focus on the market segment which would be a potential for the company to achieve it’s goal and maximize the profit. Positioning After segmenting a market and then targeting a customer, the next process is to position a product in the market. Positioning is about ‘perception’ and creating the image of the product in customer’s mind. In other words, positioning is about delivering the unique selling advantage of the product. Positioning is useful in order to understand what we can offer that the other products are not able to offer. On top of that, the customer’s needs and wants can be satisfied. . A product has to have a clear and distinctive image in the mind of the customer. This is exactly what positioning creates. Basically, the positioning strategy is mainly focusing on the following points: †¢ Provide value to customer with the competitive advantage, strengths and distinctive competencies. †¢ Market segmentation forms the basis for focused strategies. †¢ Finding the unique selling proposition by distinguishes a brand from its competitors. †¢ Conduct analysis to study on internal, market & competitor. Positioning is the process of creating, the image the product holds in the mind of customers about the product. For example, Gardenia and Federal  Bakery both are in the bakery industry. Although Federal Bakery may try to compete they will still be seen as down market from Gardenia. Positioning helps customers understand what is unique about the products when compared with the competitors. Gardenia has been positioned based on the process of positioning by direct comparison with other competitors such as Italian Baker (Massimo) and Silverbird (Hi-5), and have positioned their products to benefit their target market. Most people create an image of a product by comparing it to another similar product and the image of that has been positioned by the customers about Gardenia is particularly on the variety that they offers and its healthy ingredients. The company can use Point of Different (POD) and Point of Parity (PAP) in the effort to make a better positioning strategy. By using POD and PAP, the company would be able to see the difference and similarities between their products and competitor’s brand. It’s important to establish the POD but it’s also important to decrease the competition by matching it on the POP. [pic] Diagram 2: Point of Different and Point of Parity Using Point of Different (POD) and Point of Parity (PAP) for Gardenia and it’s competitors in the bakery industry, the result are as shown below: Point of Different (POD) †¢ Large variety of breads such as sunflower seed loaf, honey loaf. †¢ No preservatives and use natural ingredients. Point of Parity (PAP) †¢ Produce the basic thing like the competitors (loaf, bun). Some customers prefer to buy Gardenia than it’s competitor such as Federal Bakery, Massimo and Hi-5 because of the differences that other competitors can’t offer. The variety of bread (other than normal white loaf) that they are offerings is not available with competitor’s brand and they also sell  other things like waffles and muffins. The Importance of Positioning It is important for a successful business to market itself right. Through positioning, a lot of advertising money can be saved. Positioning is about communication of the overall value proposition that has been created and maintains it to the customers. In order to be effective, the basic value proposition by the company has to be something relevant to the target market and it must be differentiated from the competitors. It must also sustainable and communicated clearly to that market. Therefore, differentiation at product, brand or company level is now been recognized as one of the key element of establishing a stable market positioning. The differentiating can be based on the features or attributes of the product (actual) or based on the image of the product (perceived). Differentiation can be done with different element of the marketing mix. It may involve the features of attributes that gives customers more benefits than the competitor or from the brand unique image itself. A good and quality product is not a guarantee to be success in the market. The most important is the product has to have a clear and distinctive image in the mind of the customers. This is the reason why positioning needs to be created. Positioning has to be managed at every aspect where customers have the contact with the company mainly in communication and telephonic interaction. This is one of the effective ways to avoid any confusion about the product in the mind of the customers. Positioning helps company to give a direction to their marketing plan. Prior to that, what’s important is the company must develop it core competencies before announce to others what it can offer. [pic] Diagram 3: Implementing Chosen Image and Appeal to Chosen Segment Positioning is important when the company wish how it’s products to be viewed by customers. From here, the company can decide where it wants to compete and it would be able to compete. The perception from customers is what they believe about certain product. The product competitive advantage not only related to the features and attributes of the product alone, but also related to it’s perceived image. For example, Research In Motion (RIM), the company that produces Blackberry phone has chosen to position itself as the maker of Qwerty-Key’s smartphone which enable to compose and read the e-mail better. Hence, RIM has done a lot through it’s advertising to promote the features. The perceived image of the product is very important if the company wants to compete in the minds of target customers. What customer believes or perceives are actually influence the purchase decision. A strong brand positioning direct marketing strategy by explaining the brand details, the uniqueness of the brand and it’s similarity with competitor’s brand in the market. Positioning is the basic strategy for developing and enhancing the knowledge and perception of the customers. For example, Maybelline cosmetics represent youth and excitement to their target customers; young girls who looking for affordable and quality cosmetics. A systematic positioning can create the brand identity and a proper brand image. The company can increase the market share and company profits if the right positioning used in their marketing strategy. Moreover, it can prevent the company making a wrong positioning. There are various positioning mistakes such as: (1) Under Positioning Under this scenario, customers are unable to get the clear idea of the brand. It happens when the company failed to present a strong central benefits and reason to buy the product. For example, MonaVie Inc is the company that markets a supplement in liquid form called â€Å"MonaVie† but many customers do not know what sort of product that they are actually selling. Some customers think that they are selling normal juices. (2) Over Positioning Under this scenario, customers have a limited awareness of the brand. It happens when the company makes the product too specific for certain group of customers and other customers may believes that the product is not for them maybe because of the high price or other reasons. For example, ‘Uluwatu†, a clothing brand from Indonesia has position itself as a premium Indonesian boutique although they are also selling medium priced clothes. (3) Confused Positioning Under this scenario, customers have a confused opinion of the brand. It is because the company claimed two or more benefits that contradict each other. For example, Tutti Frutti claims that the company is serving a healthy and low fat frozen yogurt but there are certain topping which is from a preserved canned fruits that are not really good for health. Which is more important, the healthy aspect or taste ? (4) Doubtful Positioning Under this scenario, customers do not accept the claims of a brand. Customers will doubt on the benefits that the brand can actually deliver. For example, Garnier has market a facial wash that claims to be effective in making a skin fairer but no successful testimonial has been shown so far. The Approaches in Positing Strategy Positioning strategy can be developed in object attributes, application, target customers and the characteristics of the product itself.  These factors represent a different approach in developing positioning strategy. Once a company decides what approach to be chosen in positioning, it must start to communicate the message to the customer at every contact point. The following are the approaches to position strategy: (1) Using Product Characteristics or Customer Benefits The characteristic of the product or customer benefits are the main focus in this strategy. For example, motor vehicles are usually emphasized on product characteristic such as fuel economy, power and other features. Certain products are positioned along with more than single product characteristics at the same time. (2) Using Pricing Sometimes, customers tend to relate the price of the products and the quality (price-quality). This is the perception that most of the customers perceive that expensive product is often to have a higher quality than a cheap one. This so called quality approach is important if the marketer wants to set a premium image in their product. (3) Based on Use or Application In this type of strategy, a second or third position is using to expand the brand’s market. By introducing the new uses of the product, automatically it will expand the brand market. For example, Milo for many years positioned itself as an energy drink other than normal chocolate drink. (4) Based on Product Process Under this strategy, the product is associated with its users or a class of users. For example, Longines, a watch brand has appointed Aishwarya Rai as the product ambassador to develop a fashion and luxury image in their brand. In this case, the expectation is the model or celebrity will influence the product’s image by reflecting their image which communicated as a product  user. (5) Based on Product Class Some products require critical positioning. For example, coffee powder needed to position itself with creamer or condensed milk. For example, Nescafe has positioned itself with the instant creamer. (6) Based on Logo / Symbol Symbol or logo is being used to differentiate their brands from other competitors. Using and implementing trademarks generally follow this type of positioning. For example, Malaysian Airline’s logo which is â€Å"traditional kites-wau† logo can be recognized by many peoples. (7) Based on competitors In this strategy, one or more competitors are using as a reference. Basically, the similar positioning strategy used by the competitors or use a new strategy by taking the competitor’s strategy as the basis. For example, Celcom has published an advertisement that compares their services with other competitors such as Maxis and Digi using the competitor’s corporate colors. Brand Positioning: Princess Shoes One of the most important things in managing a brand positioning is positively compare it with competitor’s brand in the mind of customers in target market. It’s essential for the brand to communicate the key values of the products and the business. â€Å"Princess† is the Malaysian company which produces women shoes for the medium price market segment. Previously known only as a brand that only sells shoes for low income customers, but today it’s already expanded to medium price market segment. Princess has developed elements such as pride and fashion with their product and within its unique selling proposition. They are successfully building their own unique brand image and reaching their target customers. Their marketing objective is to reposition it’s brand (from normal shoes to high fashion shoes) and capturing new markets. The marketing strategy aimed to the follows: †¢ Introduce the new design which is more up-to-date †¢ Make customers excited about the brand †¢ Create a sense of â€Å"fashionable† about the brand. Analyzing the marketing mix (the 4Ps) that they are implementing, basically it’s like the follows: Target: Low and medium income women. †¢ Product: Fashionable and comfortable shoes. †¢ Price: Sell at affordable price. †¢ Place: Sell at shopping malls and shop lots. †¢ Promotion: Uses internet and newspaper to announce their new products. Conclusion Positioning is how the target market defines the brand in relation with the competitors. It’s what we called the brand identity. A brand is a relationship between the company and customers. When we form a relationship, we have to show who we are to our customers. Through positioning, the company should be able to communicate with the customers effectively and efficiently. One of the benefits of good business planning is strategic positioning especially in the modern world where technology is improving from time to time and market grow constantly and become more defined. The marketer can use the business plan with review and revision is done as and when needed, in order to keep track on the right positioning. The constant change in segmentation sometimes can happen. Take broadcasting industry as an example, 15 years ago we have not more than 4 channels, now we have various channels under Astro. Therefore, in certain situation, some broadcasting companies have to review and revise their positioning in order to keep on being competitive in the growing markets. Even when a marketer involve in the process of choosing a brand name, create design, develop promotion strategy and define the pricing strategy, they have to remember the most crucial above all this are a good positioning. When defining a positioning strategy, the marketer should consider how the positioning makes the brand unique and more importantly, all the qualities can be perceived as value added by the target customers. For example, if one shoes brand is hand made from rare leather, how many customers in the target market actually would see this as strength (in point of different). If they really see this as a unique point, then it can be used as positioning. Otherwise, being different cannot bring any special attraction no value added or benefit to the brand or customers. Indeed, the effort to branding a product is time consuming and positioning is just a first step to build a relationship with the customers. Before start with the brand positioning, the marketer have to see who are the competitors that already in the market before the unique positioning can be planned. By measuring the competition, the marketer would know whether the customers in the target market already satisfied with competitor’s brand or there is any chance for another brand can take advantage of. For example, if a new brand is going to be marketed although there are 5 brands already in the market, it’s really important for a marketer to think how to compete. Without a strong positioning, the product will be seen as imitator or copycat rather than a fresh new brand. The competitions allow the customers to know what they can expect from certain brand. The marketer should think how to compete by showing the different to the customers compared to other similar brands in the market. The key is to exhibit what the brand can offer as â€Å"value added† if the competitors have similar product offerings and know how to overcome them if the competition is too high. The purpose of market study is to help the marketer to realize what market and potential customers that they will targeted before making an investment. There are varieties of strategy that the marketer can use when determining positioning. The great thing about this is when the similar product or concept already in the market, the marketer can use a specific positioning strategy and identify the point of different. For example, 100 Plus is positioned as an isotonic drink brand focusing on active lifestyle while the competitor, Excel (another isotonic drink’s brand) is now positioned as â€Å"cola flavoured isotonic drink†. They are basically the same products, the base is same which is isotonic drinks, but each of them are focusing on different positioning that giving them a competitive advantage and unique identity. Having a good product does not guarantee success. Some great products failed in the market because they cannot position themselves correctly. A marketer should think about positioning before anything else like design and packaging. As a conclusion, the positioning strategy is a must if a product needs to compete in the market. The image that creates in the mind of customer will determine whether the product can be sold because that is one of the reasons before customer make a purchase. By having the comprehensive positioning strategy, the company would survive and more importantly to increase the market share and maximise the profits. Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org http://www.ehow.com/info_8693419_stp-marketing.html Kotler, P., and Armstrong, G. (2004) â€Å"Principles of marketing†, 10th edition, N.J., Pearson Education. http://www.managementstudyguide.com/brand-positioning.htm Callin Gilliam(2010) Marketing Segmentation, Targeting and Posistioning ,p339 http://www.ivoryresearch.com/nicole-johnson.php

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Pompeii and Herculaneum are unique and remarkable because of their extraordinary state of preservation. No other archaeological site gives us so much information about life in ancient Rome. Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried in the volcanic eruption in 79AD in different ways, effectively which preserved majority of both sites. These archaeological remains that were left behind, such as bakeries, food bars, brothels, fulleries, wine presses and the Garum industry reveal a great deal about Industries and Occupations of this ancient civilisation. Reliability, usefulness and limitations of these sources play a important role in the accuracy of information. Partially, much of our knowledge about occupations and industries comes from bakeries, as somewhat 33 bakeries have been found scattered around Pompeii. In source 1, the Bakery of Modestus, 81 round loaves of bread divided into eight segments were found concealed in the oven. Although some households may have made their own bread, archaeological evidence reveals that at time of the eruption, most people had bought their bakeries. This evidence is also reliant on the fact that very few houses in Pompeii contained ovens. The bones of two donkeys were found still harnessed to the mills in a bakery in Herculaneum. This evidence suggests that most bakeries functioned this way. It can also be argued that slaves did this job as well. This evidence can be considered reliable and useful as of its number of convincing factors, and no opposing evidence suggesting otherwise. Thermopoliums (snack bars) have also broadened our knowledge about occupation in Herculaeum, as they were very common in ancient everyday life and seen throughout ruins of both towns . A total of over 130 small hot food bars have been identified to this day. In source 2, it can be speculated that food was taken and eaten standing up, as few Thermopoliums had tables and chairs. Penelope Allison, an Australian archaeologist suggests that that the peoples busy lives probably left little time for long meals at the dinner table. This evidence is concluding but can not be relied upon as limited evidence clarifies that they did so. The location of food bars in Herculaneum were mainly found opposite the Palaestra, this is revealing evidence of a great marketing scheme which we still use to this day. This allowed the business to attract more customers and therefore make more usiness. This evidence is also limiting but can be classified as useful in the development of increasing knowledge. Another aspect revealing much about Pompeii's occupational life was Prostitution, also know as lupanaria (brothels) was one of the most popular business in all of Roman society. In Source 3, a erotic image on the wall of a Lupanaria, reveals advertisement of par ticular specialities of a prostitute. We can speculate whether these images were painted on the wall to erouse customers, and or to illistrate different expierences that could be purchased. Many brothels also contained graffiti that mentioned the names of the women who worked their, and customers and the particular services they provided. These useful sources of information are limiting but contribute to our growing knowledge of Prostitution in Pompeii. Furthermore, Fulleries give us a considerable insight on the cloth manufacturing process in Pompeii. In source 4, the fullery of Stephanus, we can learn valuable information on manufacturing process of cloths. Paintings on the wall in the house of Stephanus reveal the process in which the cloths were cleaned. Jars found at the back of the fullery still contained traces of ammonia, which indicate that urine was a important ingredient in the cleaning process. We also know of this key ingrediant as Pliny the Elder states that camel urine was prized most of all. These sources offering information can be considered reliable and useful to archaeologists. Likewise, another Industry that played a important part in Pompeii and Herculaneum economy was production of wine. In source 5, a wine press found in Pompeii, reveals valuable knowledge contributing to the production of wine, as the wine press was involved in the process of wine making. Many houses have been found with wine presses in them aswell as doliums, in which the wine was stored in. Wine was sold widely around the town, as indicated in graffiti on shop fronts. Pliny the Elder states that ‘Pompeian wine could cause a headache that last to none the next day', this supporting evidence gives archaeologists a insight into the quality of which Pompeian wine was, although many customers applauded Pompeian wines, this is evidential by graffiti in bars. Majority of this evidence is both reliable and useful to archaeologists. Another addition to growing knowledge of Pompeii and Herculaneum's economy was the production of Garum. Only one Garum shop has been identified in Pompeii, this shop is shown in source 1 and is supporting evidence towards the production of Garum. Garum was extremely popular, Archaeologists know this with reference to Pliny the Elder who quotes ‘no other liquid except urgents has come to be more highly valued'. Archaeologists can also apprehend that Garum was distributed and sold widley around the Italian surrounding areas, we know this from containers of garum that have benn found scattered around the Vesuvius area, as well as traces of Garum jars found in France. As study performed by Robert Curtis, estimated that 70% of Garum was locally produced, this came from the remains of Garum in containers. Pliny statement can be considered reliable as well as useful to archaeologists, this is applies to Robert Curtis' study. In conclusion, it can be argued that Pompeii and Herculaneum are two of the most unigue and important sites of the ancient world.

Information Businness Essay

1. What management, organization, and technology factors were behind the Cincinnati Zoo losing opportunities to increase revenue Three main reasons why investments in information technology do not always produce positive results – Information quality which mean High-quality decisions require high-quality information – Management filters which mean Managers have selective attention and have variety of biases that reject information that does not conform to prior conceptions – Organizational inertia and politics which meStrong forces within organizations resist making decisions calling for major change 2. Why was replacing legacy point-of-sale systems and implementing a data warehouse essential to an information system solution? High-velocity automated decision making Made possible through computer algorithms precisely defining steps for a highly structured decision Humans taken out of decision For example: High-speed computer trading programs i. Trades executed in 30 milliseconds ii. Responsible for â€Å"Flash Crash† of 2010 Require safeguards to ensure proper operation and regulation 3. How did the Cincinnati Zoo benefit from business intelligence? How did it enhance operational performance and decision making? What role was played by predictive analytics? Business intelligence Infrastructure for collecting, storing, analyzing data produced by business Databases, data warehouses, data marts High-velocity automated decision making Made possible through computer algorithms precisely defining steps for a highly structured decision Information systems can only assist in some of the roles played by managers 4. Visit the IBM Cognos Web site and describe the business intelligence tools that would be the most useful for the Cincinnati Zoo. introduces the concept of business intelligence and analytics. The text gives the example of Hallmark Cards, which uses SAS analytics software to analyze buying patterns and determine the most effective marketing plan for different types of customers. For example, which customers would respond best to direct mail or e-mail, and to what types of messages. It is important to understand that business intelligence and business analytics are products defined by hardware and software vendors. This is also one of the fastest growing segments in the U.S. software

Fire Protection High School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Fire Protection High School - Essay Example So that voltage be monitored in an electrical system, voltmeters and other electrical devices are used and are also checked in a given routine rounds. Elevation is a location or an area of the process equipment in relation to existing ground level and structures. This provide technicians with sufficient information about the equipment location. The data is important for them as they make rounds, catch samples, check the equipment, develop checklists and also when they perform startups and shutdowns. Moreover, equipment location drawings or plot plans points out the exact location of equipment with respect to the plant's physical boundaries. It also provide information regarding neighborhood. Included in location drawings is a loop diagram which traces all instrument linkages between the control room panel and the field instrument. Instrument such as air lines, some wiring connections at particular field junction boxes as well as front and connections control room panels are also included. P 261.

Parent's perspective towards childhood obesity in early years Dissertation

Parent's perspective towards childhood obesity in early years - Dissertation Example Childhood obesity is a rising problem. It is defined as having a BMI of equal to or greater then 95% of the population (Deckelbaum & Williams, 2001, p. 240s). There are a number of reasons why childhood obesity is on the rise. Increase in television viewing is one culprit (Reilly, 2004). Increases in fast food intake is another (Bowman et al., 2004). There are a variety of reasons for childhood obesity, but one thing is clear - childhood obesity is a problem, as it leads to a range of health problems for the obese child, including diabetes, hypertension and heart problems (Deckelbaum & Williams, 2001, p. 240s). Because childhood obesity is such a problem, and it is becoming more and more widespread, there is a need for a study to understand the problem better, including the reasons why the problem is becoming so widespread, and what can be done about it. This study seeks to find another factor that might be somewhat overlooked, and that is the role of the parent and the educators of children, and how parents and educators may work together to combat this problem. Specifically, this study seeks to understand how a parent's habits might be transmitted to his or her child, and whether educators can make a difference if they work with parents to help the parents understand how to help their child. This study also seeks to understand what role that parents play in childhood obesity – is it because the parents are too lenient with their child? Or is it because the parents have bad habits themselves, therefore the child learns all these bad habits? Perhaps it is because the parents simply do not have time to prepare food.... 240s). Because childhood obesity is such a problem, and it is becoming more and more widespread, there is a need for a study to understand the problem better, including the reasons why the problem is becoming so widespread, and what can be done about it. This study seeks to find another factor that might be somewhat overlooked, and that is the role of the parent and the educators of children, and how parents and educators may work together to combat this problem. Specifically, this study seeks to understand how a parent's habits might be transmitted to his or her child, and whether educators can make a difference if they work with parents to help the parents understand how to help their child. This study also seeks to understand what role that parents play in childhood obesity is it because the parents are too lenient with their child? Or is it because the parents have bad habits themselves, therefore the child learns all these bad habits? Perhaps it is because the parents simply do not have time to prepare food. Are the parents aware that their child has a problem, and, if so, are they interested in helping them, and what are they interested in doing to help the child with his or her weight problem? This study also seeks to understand children, and why they might choose healthy food or unhealthy food. These are the aims of this study. The purpose of this study is to remedy these problem/s of childhood obesity.Perhaps there is an educator who has a good idea that might address the problem, or perhaps a parent might have a decent idea as well. The ultimate goal is to determine a course of action that educators and parents might

Political Context of Social Policy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Political Context of Social Policy - Assignment Example According to the discussion  social policies are those which are designed and developed to respond to the social issues of a society. These policies are formed by the government or by private organizations in order to fulfill the social needs of the disadvantaged citizens. Social policies are mostly developed for the betterment of the society and to benefit human welfare. However, there are many agencies that are set up to design social policies by the government.  This paper highlights that  it is not only important for the government agencies to look at the social needs before implementing a policy, but also important to consider the political environment of the society before a policy is implemented. Political parties hold great importance in a society and they play the role of major stakeholders in public welfare policies. The political environment determines whether the political parties approve the social policies or not because if they don’t, it might result in di sturbance in the society. In order to make sure that the social policy is effective and successful, the agencies must take the consent of the political parties and consider the political environment. A distressed political environment in the society would rather result in a negative effect of the policy.  There are several stakeholders that need to be involved in the technical discussions and considerations of implementing a social policy. These stakeholders may be government authorities, ministers, political parties, citizens, and the targeted population.

Oppression & Criminal Activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Oppression & Criminal Activity - Essay Example On the other side, poverty is a harsh reality which has a language and dialect of its own and it has the power to adversely influence one’s social and spiritual health. This other side is heartrendingly established by Meridel Le Sueur in her novel ‘The Girl’. The girl is one of those for whom the childhood is not a sweet memory. Quite on the contrary, it is an account of pain, humiliation and patriarchal brutality. It is explicitly revealed in the playfulness and rejoicing of children when the girl’s father is dead. Though the story was originally set in the backdrop of the Great Depression in the United States, its implications remain valid irrespective of time and space; that a delay of four decades in the publication of ‘The Girl’ did not have any effect on its popularity is a testimony to the timelessness of the relevance of its theme. When starvation, sexual abuse, monotony and lack of opportunities become the order of life, they create the ground for the evolution of a naà ¯ve farm girl into an accomplice in a bank robbery. The girl’s anonymity does not cause any confusion because the applicability of her experiences is universal. It is the same stimulus – poverty – that makes the girl indulge in recreational sex (Coiner 111), gives Belle the courage to operate a speakeasy or pushes Clara into prostitution. It may be noted that none of them ever had any feelings of guilt nor any qualms of conscience over what they did. Le Sueur’s focus in the novel, which was intended as a memorial to the women of the Depression, was primarily on the lives and condition of women of the proletarian class in the thirties, but the story, through the character of Butch, the girl’s lover, incidentally throws light on the evils of the capitalist structure (Sueur 135). Butch’s speech before his death (after the foiled bank robbery attempt) exposes how the system and institutions in vogue contribute to unequal opportunities thereby making a section of the population desperate and furious. The significance of the story’s tragic end is that the desperation and fury of the oppressed are not of any consequence, as is indicated by Clara’s unwept death or the kind of end that Hoink, Ganz and Butch eventually meet with. In the struggle for survival, it is always the mighty that win; the rest is foredoomed to become extinct. The personal good and bad traits of the characters notwithstanding, the y have a common source of motivation – lack of options – that drives them towards planning and executing (often unsuccessfully) criminal activities. Modern theories on self-improvement suggest that if one thinks one can do, one can. Examined from the perspective of Butch’s experience, the validity of such theories becomes debatable. Butch feels good, feels strong, has a passion for winning and claims that he is a natural winner, that winning is in his bones. What, then, turns such a man of attitude into a criminal is an eternal mystery. What, however, turns out to be obvious is that poverty is not quite the right platform to produce winners. It is the population at the lower rungs of the economic ladder that fills prisons and never the other way round. By and large, there are prisons because there are slums and these slums produce a lot of blind men with pistols. ‘Blind Man with a Pistol’ by Chester Himes is less a detective novel and more an anti-d etective novel in which the plight of the poor and the disenfranchised and their victimization by the law and order enforcement machinery is realistically depicted. The prostitutes, homosexuals and janitors chased by Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are invariably from ghettos or tenements. Here it is not only the question of survival

Criminal Justice in the 21st Century, through Corrections Research Paper

Criminal Justice in the 21st Century, through Corrections - Research Paper Example Finally, the paper ends at a conclusion. Web resources from The Pennsylvania Stare University and the Ferris State University have been used. Reputable academic sources have also been reviewed. Criminal Justice in the 21st Century, through Corrections Introduction Research Hypothesis: All Corrections officers need a four year college degree to be part of the Department of Corrections; therefore a four year college degree in criminal justice will produce a professional thinking officer. This paper will examine the above hypothesis in the light of Internet and academic research and correlations. First, the nature and scope of the job will be discussed. Next, the importance of relevant academic programs would be focused on. The job of a corrections officer is hectic and sometimes very risky. A criminal justice degree can help him of her to understand the key concepts of the job better and faster. Moreover, university course curricula are concisely discussed to analyze the academic progr ams from the perspective of correctional activities in the detention centres. The university course curricula are designed to equip the students with wide spectrum knowledge with specialist skills. A relevant academic background with specialization on criminal justice can help in further learning at the work place. The paper ends up at a suitable conclusion. Nature and Scope of the Job A corrections officer is a person who is entrusted with the duty of security, safety, and supervision of the prisoners in a jail, prison, correctional facility, or another kind of similar establishment providing secure detention. In USA, there is a reasonable promptness and urge on the part of the law enforcing authorities to imprison the wrong doers and avoid any kind of procrastination. In doing this, involving private security management systems in the framework has become an imperative as far as the issue of criminal justice is concerned. Thus, commercial corrections and zero tolerance policing ha ve become the prominent features of American criminal justice (Jones, T. and Newburn, T., 2007). A detention facility is usually a very controlled environment and the detainees often attempt to create disruptions. Uses of physical force, isolation, and weaponry are some methods by which the corrections officer has to control the facility as per the jurisdiction under which it is categorized and maintained (Tracy, S.J., 2004). Therefore, there is considerable stress on the corrections officer regarding the technical, ethical, and legal aspects of his or her job. The resultant negative stress of handling the risk behavior of the detained inmates causes burnout, decreased life quality, attrition, and health problems among the officers. Particularly in the maximum security prisons, the hectic and complicated nature of this job is very much discernable (Tracy, S.J., et al, 2007). There is a critical need of practical training in this profession. This training is generally on job. The tra ining generally covers utilization of restraints and forces, weapons (e.g., firearms, batons, etc.), self defense methods, legal processes, negotiation skills, first aid and understanding of the criminal law. Report writing and case work are the certain theoretical aspects of the job. Moreover, training on occupational safety and clinical psychology is also important. (Tracy, S.J., 2004) A corrections officer can progress up to the position of a superintendent or jailor, and apply for reputable government jobs.

Instructional Strategies for ELL Classrooms Essay

Instructional Strategies for ELL Classrooms - Essay Example With input, the focus should be on the student and the extent to which he understands (Gass et al 1994). Researchers admit that nonuse takes place when the information contained in the input is included into a learner's grammar. However, the fact that the information is already included into a grammar does not necessarily exclude it from being utilized--although it may be used in a different way from what one normally thinks of. When the information contained in the input is already a part of one's knowledge base, the additional input might be used for rule strengthening or hypothesis reconfirmation. Part of becoming a fluent speaker of a second language involves the automatic retrieval of information from one's knowledge base. The knowledge base is developed through practice or repeated exposure to exemplars. Thus, information that may appear redundant may be serving an important purpose in terms of the access the learner has to that information (Jonassen and Hannum 1998). 2. Feedback is important technique in learning because it helps a student to understand his mistakes and correct them at once. Feedback should be supported by events such as motivating students, communicating the learning objectives, directing students' attention, activating related knowledge, providing guidance, promoting transfer (generalization), eliciting performance, and providing feedback. The teachers' statements, which are spontaneous and oral, are more difficult to categorize than the written statements of the authors. The content and grammar of the teachers' statements were less structured and precise than those of the authors. On-going, specific and immediate feedback helps teachers to save time and direct learning process. Feedback encourages students to uimprove. Several analogies constructed for the same concept can help the students view the target concept from different perspectives. The analogies function like conceptual lenses, with each one bringing different feat ures of the concept into sharper focus (Kitajima and Polson 1997). Teachers also are encouraged to use the model to construct additional analogies to complement an author's analogy. Several analogies constructed for the same concept can help the students view the target concept from different perspectives. The analogies function like conceptual lenses, with each one bringing different features of the concept into sharper focus. During normal or stable times, scientific activities turn to the refinement of established knowledge claims. But the review of historical documents and actual practice of scientists revealed that there are also times when members of a scientific community are in disagreement about what are the appropriate background knowledge and critical problems that should guide the design of investigations and the evaluation of evidence and knowledge claims (Gass et al 1994). 3. Taken together, instructional steps are a direct outcome of teacher assessment decisions that begin to alter the dynamics of the classroom learning environment. The public expression of what matters and what is valued begins to change. As students learn the criteria, they not only learn the rules of the game in the classroom, they also learn what is valued in the scientific discipline (Manouchehri 2001). Other models include having students work in pairs or small groups to come to a consensus view through

See my attchment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

See my attchment - Essay Example From decades this procedure was being followed in hospitals and Medicare centers which was a time consuming and hectic work. Healthcare Information database was thus the need and necessity of time according to the prevalent healthcare scenario in the country. To take care about patient’s health record and doctor patient fast interaction; National Health Services (NHS) took care the responsibility of introducing Health Information Technology (HIT) into hospitals and Medicare centers of United Kingdom. The key reasons of implementing this mega setup was to get rid of hardcopies of patient records, fasten the process, serve the patients well and ease the doctors as they would have previous health record of patients available all the time. United Kingdom government took immense steps for the implementation of this system by providing necessary funds. The purpose of this paper is to have a clear cut understanding of health information technology invasion, implementation, processes and position in United Kingdom Medicare setup. Discussion of the response from government in the adaptation of this idea and reaction attained from the relevant institutions etc. Providing best healthcare services is the intention of United Kingdom government and for this they take essential necessary steps. The progression of technology gave opportunity to humans to maintain healthcare records of patients online on an online portal. The involvement of United Kingdom government was massive in this regard thus National health Services was given the task to implant state of the art healthcare services. National health Services proceeded in taking significant steps about this matter and introduced Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) in the year 2002. The aim was primarily to maintain a centralize database of patients so that it would ease processes (Jha, Doolan & Scott, 2008‎, p.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Essay Example he sense of self worth of Jane Eyre is challenged right from the start of the novel, and yet she indeed manages to come out as a person having an intact and solid sense of self esteem and dignity. Being an orphan, Jane Eyre is continually marred by feelings of ostracism and insufficiency, as she is cruelly targeted and emotionally mauled by her aunt Reed and her not so sensitive progeny. At a very nascent stage in her life, Jane Eyre is made to contend with a domestic environment that continually conveys to her that she is deficient and unacceptable. Yet, irrespective of her constrained upbringing, Jane Eyre does manage to grow out of these emotionally impinging influences. During her stay at the stifling environs of Lowood, the endurance of Jane Eyre is tested to the extreme. Yet, she manages to tide over the regular abuse at this place, to garner as much learning and dignity, as comes her way. She simply refuses to give in to the daily abuse and ill will shown by Mr. Brocklehurst. Again while mentoring a restless pupil, like Adele, Jane Eyre shows a marked capacity to maintain self worth in the face of difficult situations. The other amazing thing about the moral makeup of Jane Eyre is that she carries a wisdom that dares to question the established and conventional social and ethical norms. In other words, the moral sense of Jane Eyre soars much above social compliance and a public sense of face. Right from the beginning, Jane Eyre shows a moral capacity to resist the societal and environmental influences that try to stifle the true expression of her conscience. This includes the abusive tendencies of her aunt, cousins and Mr. Brocklehurst. She is possessed with a capacity for reasoning that manages to find her way out through tough times. By deciding to give in to the overtures of Rochester she shows a capacity to challenge and act against the set norms of class and gender. She simply opposes the society’s decision to push her back to an inferior social

Different Massage Modalities Essay Example for Free

Different Massage Modalities Essay Massage modalities have been around since ancient times and have evolved with the recognition that touch combined with the natural defense and healing processes of the body is a restorative, maintenance and preventative treatment that counters the wear and tear effects of strenuous physical activity involved in day to day life. Most of the modalities discussed in this paper are of Western origins. The basic difference between Western and Eastern techniques lies in how they view the body and its functioning. Western massage therapies treat the body as a physical structure, like a machine, which over time and along with human activity wears down. The â€Å"parts† suffering from damage and malfunction are â€Å"repaired† through massage therapy. Eastern therapists view the body as the interaction of the energies in the universe and a pattern of energy channels or meridians. Injury and illness are seen as obstructions or discrepancies in these channels. Thus the goal of massage therapy is to restore the normal, balanced and unimpeded flow of energy within the energy meridians. Eastern massage therapies include TuiNa, shiatsu and Thai massage. Whatever paradigm one clings to, it is a fact that all types of massage therapy brings unparalleled benefits to the human body and mind and effective alternatives to existing medical treatments for pain and other body ailments. List of references http://www. acupressureschool. com/east_or_west. html Swedish Massage Swedish massage is the classic or traditional form of massage in the United States developed in Europe in the early 19th century by Pehr Henrik Ling, a Swedish gymnastics instructor. Ling’s system was based on his classification of the massage forms used by ancient Greeks and Romans. Swedish massage is characterized by 5 fundamental strokes: effleurage – gliding, petrissage – kneading, friction – rubbing, tapotement – pounding and vibration – shaking, where each stroke contributes particular benefits. The use of French terminology for these strokes was popularized by Johann Mezger, a Dutch physician who advocated the use of Swedish massage as a medical treatment. Massage therapists have developed their own versions of Swedish massage based on these basic strokes. The principal aim of Swedish massage is to increase the circulation of blood and oxygen without giving the heart an additional work load. Strokes are made following the movement of blood as it flows towards the heart resulting in smoother circulation which purges the body tissues from accumulated toxins such as lactic or uric acid, natural by-products of metabolism. The secondary purpose is to induce the relaxation of superficial muscles by rubbing them against deeper muscles and bones. Stretching the tendons and ligaments make them supple and pliant. In the process, the skin and nerves are equally stimulated. Swedish massage promotes complete relaxation and reinvigoration from the general stresses of daily life through its positive effects on the nervous, circulatory, endocrine and the musculoskeletal systems. A typical full-body massage takes an hour or more to complete and is accompanied with the use of oils and lotions. List of references http://www. findamasseur. com/swedish-massage. html http://www. mamashealth. com/massage/sweed. asp Deep Tissue Massage Deep tissue massage is used as a rehabilitative treatment to muscle pain in constantly tense and compressed areas of the body such as the neck, back and shoulders. It is recommended for those recovering from injuries such as whiplash or falls as well as postural problems, repetitive strain injury (e. g. the carpal tunnel syndrome), fibromyalgia, ostheoarthritis pain and muscle tension or spasm. Chronic muscle tension occurs when there are adhesions or bands of painful, stiff and contracted muscles resulting in the inability of smooth blood circulation in the area, inflammation and constrained physical movement. Deep tissue massage serves to break down adhesions and bring the muscles back to their normal state easing the pain and restoring unhampered movement. A combination of Swedish and Thai massage strokes are used but performed slower and with more intense finger pressure localized on the areas of pain in order to align the deeper muscles, tendons and myofascia (connective tissues), layer by layer. Penetrating movements involve compression along the length of the muscle fiber and cross fiber friction as well. The knuckles, elbow, fist and forearm are also used by massage therapists in the process. It is expected that there may be pain during and after the massage and it is helpful for the therapist if the client voices out when the strokes are beyond their comfort zone. Pain normally subsides in a few days and applying ice on the area is recommended for relief. List of references http://altmedicine. about. com/od/massage/a/massage. htm http://drdavedc. com/deep-tissue. html http://www. amtamassage. org/about/terms. html http://www. tealcenter. com/modalities. shtml#Anchor-NEUROMUSCULAR-24500 Trigger Point Therapy Trigger point therapy is also known as myotherapy or neuromuscular therapy. This massage modality was introduced by Janet Travell and David Simons and developed around the theory that pain is caused by myofascial trigger points which are tiny contraction knots that form in a muscle once it is injured or subjected to too much stress. Muscles are made up of sacromeres, tiny units that alternately contract and relax in a synchronized fashion during body movement enabling blood circulation. Trigger points develop when sacromeres overlap and become entwined. Blood flow is impeded in the immediate area and the oxygen shortage results in the accumulation of metabolic wastes which irritate the knotted sacromeres. These trigger points send out pain signals, not from its actual site but from another part of the muscle or body, hence the concept of referred pain. Trigger point therapists say that it is ineffective to treat muscle pain where it hurts. One has to look for the site of the trigger point and apply therapy there to guarantee successful treatment. Travel and Simons reveal that headaches, neck and jaw pain, low back pain, tennis elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome can be attributed to trigger points and that they are also the causes of pain in the shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints that is so often mistakenly diagnosed for arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, or ligament injury. Trigger points also display other seemingly unrelated symptoms such as dizziness, earaches, sinusitis, nausea, heartburn, false heart pain, heart arrhythmia, genital pain, and numbness in the hands and feet. Even fibromyalgia is said to have its beginnings with myofascial trigger points. Using mainly finger pressure, trigger point therapy releases the interlocked sacromeres into a state where they are neither contracted nor stretched. Typical therapy lasts between 3-10 days in order to achieve marked results. In treating chronic conditions that have also persisted over long periods of time, results can be achieved in a span of 3 weeks. List of references http://www. amtamassage. org/about/terms. html http://www. triggerpointbook. com/triggerp. htm Therapeutic Bodywork Therapeutic bodywork is a modality that combines Western and Eastern massage practices with emphasis on establishing harmony between mind and body. Stress, injury, traumatic experiences and anxiety affects not only the mind but also the body. This form of massage aims to bring about complete relaxation of both spheres by reinstating the natural flow of energy, with particular consideration of the breathing pattern. Massage strokes using the palms and forearm in long, rhythmic flowing movements alternating light and deep pressure, holding and stretching relieves the body and mind of deep seated tensions giving a sense of completeness, wellness, reinvigoration and freedom. Touch facilitates the innate body processes involved in self healing and should be treated as a maintenance therapy for the prevention of dysfunction in both body and mind brought about by daily stresses in life. List of references http://www. bodywork-Londonvienna. co. uk/phdi/p1. nsf/supppages/1702? opendocumentpart=2 http://www. therapeuticbodywork. co. uk/therapies_holistic. html Sports Massage Sports massage is utilized both for treatment of muscle stress after intense physical activity (post-event) or for muscle conditioning before engaging in it (pre-event). Thus, it decreases the chances for injury while increasing performance levels and mobility. It also promotes a positive mindset with the release of body endorphins and a relaxed state after activity. Strokes intended for athletes include vigorous manipulation, assisted stretching for muscle warm-up prior to strenuous movement and soothing manipulation to ease muscle contractions and promote blood circulation after physical exertion. If injury occurs, focused massage movements are applied to lessen muscle inflammation, facilitate recovery and prevent scar tissue formation. There are massage techniques aimed for particular body areas and also particular injuries. Specifically, sports massage can render the following physiological benefits: 1. Improved tissue permeability deep pressure massage strokes enable constricted tissue membranes to open up and allow vital body fluids to enter and for metabolic waste products such as lactic and uric acid to be flushed out. The entry of much needed nutrients and oxygen through the blood enable muscles to heal faster. 2. Thorough stretching of muscles massage stretches muscles, ligaments and tendons in a way that can not be achieved using traditional methods. Muscles are stretched lengthwise and crosswise. Massage also stretches the myofascia, or the thin membrane that holds muscles together, thereby releasing tension there. 3. Restores tissue elasticity grueling training can cause tissues to become rigid and inflexible. Massage can make overworked tissues pliant and elastic. 4. Promotes micro-circulation massage facilitates smooth blood flow to tissues by expanding blood vessels in order for oxygen and nutrients to pass through unhampered. The development of classic or Swedish massage techniques into a modality that was appropriate for athletes’ conditions and needs began in the early 1900’s in Finland, specifically in the Finnish School of Massage.

Responsibility of Health Promotion in Nursing

Responsibility of Health Promotion in Nursing Health promotion as defined by World Health Organization is â€Å"a health strategy that aims to incorporate skills and community development and to create supportive environment for health, endeavors to build healthy public policy and looks at re-orienting health services. (WHO, 1986). Health promotion is strongly rooted in a social philosophy that attributed the etiology of ill health to adverse social conditions rather than medical care. Both theoretically and practically, health promotion has been found wanting in addressing equity and social justice concerns. Also, structurally and traditionally, the formal health system often produces major obstacles to meaningful involvement in health promotion and community empowerment activities. The communities do not have the interest and the capacity to make any tangible contribution to community participation even if they are willing to do so but the basic concepts of health promotion which have their root in ancient civilization has be en developed in the last two decades. The purpose of health education is to strengthen the skills and capabilities of individuals to take action, and the groups or communities to act collectively to take control over the determinants of health bringing about positive change It serves as essential guide in addressing the major health challenges encountered by developing and developed nations including communicable diseases and issues associated with human development and health enabling people to take action either as individuals or groups. Also, it is an avenue to encourage individuals to take preventive measures in averting worsening of an illness or disease and to adopt healthier lifestyles. Health promotion programs have proven to be an effective tool in slowing the growth of healthcare costs and reducing chance of suffering from disease and creating supportive environments for health backed by healthy public policy. (Bennett, Perry Lawrence, 2009). The responsibility of a nurse in health promotion and education is considered as a major factor by numerous researchers and policy initiatives from the government to promote health, understanding that health promotion is essential. In the three journal articles selected for review from the GCU Library which incorporates the three levels of health promotion namely; primary, secondary, and tertiary, the nursing responsibilities were described to include; educating and helping people obtain skills to maintain their health, making efforts to better understand the patients and their conditions in order to provide effective care because mutual understanding between a practitioner and patient is the key to giving quality care. The nurses must have an evidence-based knowledge of the significant effect that can be made through health promotion interventions and communicate this understanding to the community at large. As more people grow in their awareness of activities that lead to good heal th and become knowledgeable about their own health status, the health of their families, the overall health of the population will improve. Knowing that health promotion encompasses a broader spectrum and include social and political interventions that could provide change to services and policies in the community promoting social responsibility for health, nursing roles and responsibilities have evolved in health promotion by allowing nurses to promote health in diverse settings like homes, schools, prison, general practice and workplace contrary to the past when it was limited to hospital settings only. (Watson, 2008). The implementation of health promotion starts from setting priority , assessing needs and program planning stages, according to the journal article reviewed from GCU Library, the topic being; â€Å"Collaboration between primary and secondary/tertiary services in oral health†, the process includes: capturing high level support by re-orienting health services , building links with primary care and reducing inequality, creating health promotion team in a way that individuals will have a role and more innovative ideas, workforce development, developing health promotion policy, collecting data that will drive the health promotion initiatives, helping to assess health interest and risks thereby helping to guide the kind of health program to offer, choosing appropriate health promotion initiatives that flow nationally from data so as to address the prevailing risk factors of the people, crafting annual health promotion so as to promote continuity, giving encouragement opportunities a nd rewards, maintaining leadership and innovation, communicating with everyone involved in the program throughout, monitoring regularly and consistently evaluating the outcomes. The process of executing the program must include; education of the nursing staff, education of the patients and family, screening, individual risk factor assessment and immunization, social marketing and health information, health education and skill development, community action. Settings and supportive environments, Health education is an important factor of health promotion. As described by Naidoo and Wills (2000), the three levels of health education are: Primary prevention which is health promotion activities that prevent disease. For example immunization, it’s a holistic idea of positive health that encourages the achievement and maintenance of a suitable level of health which enables every individual to lead a productive life both socially and economically. Secondary prevention aims at shortening episode of illness or disease by hindering the progression of ill health through prompt diagnosis and treatment limiting disability. An example is screening also known as† health maintenance†. It is the domain of clinical medicine. It is more expensive and less effective than primary prevention. Tertiary prevention help limit complications related to a disease or a state after it has been developed by minimizing suffering caused by existing departure from good health and promote the patients adjustment to irreversible conditions such as cardiac rehabilitation. In line with the literature review from the GCU Library journal article, I agree with the fact that approach to health promotion should be the one that demonstrate a range of values and beliefs that are commonly held because an individual’s approach will be influenced by their own beliefs and that of the profession they represent. According to Ewles and Simnett (2003), these approaches include medical approach, beviour change approach, educational approach, e empowerment approach, and social change approach. In conclusion, According to Ewles and Simnett(2003), theses approaches includes behavior change, medical, educational, empowerment and social change. When relating it to the literature review from the GCU library journal article approach towards health promotion should be the main focus because it reveals a range of values and beliefs that are commonly held based on an individual’s approach or believe and the profession they represent. References; Edelman, C. Mandle. C. L. (2010). Health promotion throughout the life span (7th ed.). . St Louis: Mosby Naidoo J, Wills J (2000) Health Promotion) Foundations for Practice (2nn ed) Edinburgh. Watson M (2008) the health promotion general practices. Quality in primary care 16.  3, 177-185 Ewles L, Simnett I (2003) Promoting Health A Practical Guide. (5th Ed). Edinburgh. www.healthvicgo.au; steps in health promotion. Jan 25, 2011. Retrieved on 12/18/2011 WHO, Ottawa chapter of Health promotion .Geneva WHO, 1986. Article published.  Online, Oxford Express, 2011. Bennett . C, Perry J. Lawrence Z (2009) Nursing standard. 2009 Jul 29. Journal- Health  Promotion. CINAHL Database. Collins, Fair N. Dickinson. A .Peacock. K. Primary health care (2009). Feb 19. Collaboration between primary and secondary/tertiary services in oral health.

Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) Hormone Levels in Males

Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) Hormone Levels in Males Introduction Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is one of phthalate ester and endocrine- disrupting chemical. It is used as plasticizer in Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics tubing to make PVC plastic tubing more soft and flexible. Animal data show that target organs of exposure to DEHP are the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system. DEHP may cause adverse effects of animal’s reproductive system such as reduced fertility, decreased spermatogenesis in males (Rais-Bahrami, 2004). Phthalate monoesters including mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) is the DEHP metabolites. The primary targets of Phthalate monoesters toxicity are Leydig cells (LCs) and sertoli cells (SCs). The function of LCs and SCs is spermatogenesis and testosterone production. The toxicant will damage the LCs to decrease the secretion of testosterone, which will affect spermatogenesis and decrease the sperm count. Food is one of the sources of exposure to DEHP for public (U.S. EPA, 2013). DEHP has been detected in many foods such as meat, cheese, milk, eggs, cereal products and fish. There is more and more evidence showing that DEHP induce many adverse effects on the reproductive system such as reproductive hormones included luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and free testosterone (Giuliana G. 2009). As DEHP can cause birth defects or reproductive harm, the government of California listed DEHP as reproductive toxin in 2003 (Chemical Market Reporter, 2003). In addition to the food intake exposure to DEHP, occupational and environmental are the another sources of exposure to DEHP (Guowei Pan et.al., 2006). It is essential to concern whether high levels of DEHP exposure would affect reproductive hormone levels in male. According to the studies of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, they have found that DEHP can cause birth defects in laboratory rodents (Chemical Market Reporter, 2003). However, only limited studies focus on the relationship between human reproductive hormone and DEHP exposure (J. Mendiola et.al., 2011). Hence, there are limited evidences to conclude a correlation between human reproductive hormone and exposure to DEHP. It is important to find out what chemicals will influence human reproductive hormone because it decides the total number of our offspring. Therefore, based on the related human studies, the effects of DEHP exposure on reproductive hormone levels in male would be discussed. Method The aim of the literature search was to find the associations between Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and reproductive hormone levels in male. A board research was first conducted by Medline (EBSCO HOST), Web of Science and ProQuest. The search term â€Å"Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate/ DEHP† AND â€Å"reproductive hormones† was used and excluded the term â€Å"animal.† The criteria used to select the studies were as follows: The Studies were primary sources and published within 10 years, 2004-2014. The Studies must be human study for adult and NOT animal study. The Studies should address the associations between DEHP and reproductive hormone levels in male. The studies were in good quality, such as in high impact factors of 2013. 3 main studies met the above criteria for the topic examination. The impact factor on the 3 studies are 3.206 (G. Pan et.al, 2011), 3.206 (J. Mendiola et.al, 2010) and 7.029 (Guowei Pan et.al, 2006). Totally 3 main studies at the end of literature has been searched. The three chosen studies were Cross-sectional study since there are limited long-term studies such as cohort studies and randomized controlled trial (RCT) fulfilled the above criteria. Result G. Pan et.al. (2011) carried a cross-sectional study to find the dose-response relationship between dose-response relationships between cumulative phthalate exposure and reproductive hormones in human. 74 male workers occupationally exposed to high levels of DEHP and 63 male construction workers as comparison group matched for age and smoking status. The urine and blood were collected from each patient on the same day. The authors of study observed a significantly negative correlated between hazard indices (HI) and serum concentrations of free testosterone (fT) in exposed workers (r = -0.195, p = 0.096), but not in unexposed workers. J. Mendiola et.al. (2011) carried a cross-sectional study to find the association between exposures to Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and reproductive hormone levels in men. 425 men were partners of pregnant women who were selected to participant in the study for Future Families (SFF). All men completed a questionnaire and received a physical examination. The questionnaire included the question about demographics, recent fever, history of sexually transmitted disease, diet and as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption. The urine sample was collected within 15 min after the blood was collected. The result was found that Free Androgen Index (FAI) was significantly associated with the concentration of DEHP metabolites in urine. However, total testosterone levels were no associated with urinary concentration of DEHP metabolites. Guowei Pan et.al. (2006) carried a cross-sectional study to find the effect of occupational exposure to high levels of phthalate esters on the balance of gonadotropin and gonadal hormones, which including LH, FSH, free testosterone (fT), and estradiol. 74 male workers at a factory producing unfoamed PVC flooring exposed to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) as exposure group and compared them with samples from 63 male workers from a construction company as comparison group matched for age and smoking status. Urine and blood samples were collected from each workers between 800 and 1100 hours on the same day, but not on the first day of the worker’s work week or the day after a night work shift. The authors of study observed there is significant reducing of serum fT in workers with higher levels of urinary MEHP (DEHP metabolites) compared with unexposed workers. fT was negative association to MEHP (r = -0.19, p = 0.095) in the exposed group. Discussion Study Design The three studies are a cross-sectional study. The limitations of cross-sectional studies are it cannot establish a temporal relationship and reflect the causal relationship between high levels of DEHP and the reproductive hormone levels in male. It only can provide a possible risk factor for reproductive hormones for further study. The three studies both have different advantages and disadvantages. The sample size of the study of Guowei Pan et.al. (2006) and G. Pan et.al. (2011) is relative small. They are all less than 100 people in exposed group and comparison group. The study of J. Mendiola et.al. (2011) has relative large sample size (N=425) but it does not contain a comparison group. The study of Guowei Pan et.al. (2006) and G. Pan et.al. (2011) only investigated the confounding effect of the influence of occupational exposure to DEHP. The study of J. Mendiola et.al. (2011) also only investigated the confounding effect of the influence of environmental exposure to DEHP. They did not considered the confounding effect of the influence of food intake exposure to DEHP. Study population Randomization is a basic and essential technique to avoid selection bias in Epidemiology Study and It can show better association between exposure and outcome is true or not. However, the participants of three studies are not strictly random. It may cause false association between high exposure of DEHP and male reproductive hormone. In the study of Guowei Pan et.al. (2006) and G. Pan et.al. (2011), the authors wanted to compare the reproductive hormone levels between exposed group and comparison group. Therefore, they selected exposed group in a factory producing unfoamed PVC flooring and using DEHP as plasticizers and comparison group in a construction company. The authors can ensure the exposed group was exposed to DEHP by dermal contact and/ or through dust inhalation in their work. A comparison group who without occupational exposure to DEHP and matched for age and smoking status to exposed group. The comparison group can help authors to exclude other factors that may influence reproductive hormone levels in male in addition to DEHP exposure. The study of J. Mendiola et.al. (2011) did not contain a comparison group. All the participants were conducted in the study for Future Families and at prenatal clinics affiliated with university hospital in five United States cities. Exposure assessment The concentration of MEHP and reproductive hormone were determined by using different methods. Both methods have advantages and limitations. Table 1: The methods used to determine the concentration of MEHP Three studies used similar method to determine the urinary concentrations of DEHP metabolites. Thus, the urinary DEHP metabolite concentration of three studies will not have significant difference. Table 2: The methods used to measure the levels of reproductive hormone The advantages of using radioimmunoassay are high sensitivity and highly specific. However, using radioimmunoassay method is very dangerous because it uses radiolabelled reagents. Thus, the labs require specially trained person and special license to handle radioactive material. The following methods have less dangerous than radioimmunoassay. Chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) is it has been applied broadly to the clinical diagnosis and environmental analysis. It can show the result quickly because it does not require long incubation time (Ayio, K. 2010). Also, CLIA has high specificity and relatively simple and inexpensive instrumentation (J.L.S. ARAÚJO-FILHO et.al 2011). An electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) procedure was based on solid-phase sandwich immunoassay method. Thus, ECLIA has the superior sensitivity to determine plasma and urine sample (Xiao-yan, C. 2013).The advantages of TR-IFMA are higher sensitivity due to lower background values, higher specificity as only intact molecules of FSH and LH can be measured. (Van Casteren JI et.al 2000) Result analysis The result of J. Mendiola et.al. (2011) in addition to showing the relationship between reproductive hormone in male and the concentration of DEHP metabolite (N=425), it also found some factors such as age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking etc may influence the reproductive hormone in male. Therefore, J. Mendiola et.al. (2011) had done multivariate analysis for reproductive hormone in male and the concentration of DEHP metabolite (N=363) to control for factors such as age, BMI and smoking states etc. It can increase the accuracy of the studies. Although the study did not contain a comparison group, J. Mendiola et.al. (2011) tried consistent the factors found in the questionnaire of participants to minimize the influence of confounding factors to the data analysis. G. Pan et.al. (2011) was using hazard indices (HI) to show the result. The hazard index is the sum of hazard quotients. The ratio of hazard index is compared to 1.0. If the ratio is less than 1, then the systemic effects are assumed not to be of concern; if the hazard quotient is greater than 1, then the systemic effects are assumed to be of concern (U.S. EPA, 2012). It is more easily to show the result and indicate whether DEHP exposure as the concerned factors for reproductive hormone to public and epidemiology. In addition to showing the relationships between serums free Testosterone in workers and the exposure to high levels of DEHP, Guowei Pan et.al. (2006) also compared the demographic characteristics including age, marriage status, smoking and alcohol consumption and plastic material contact of exposed group (N=74), comparison group (N=63) and all the workers (N=137). Also, all the results of this study were compared to exposed group and comparison group. The result can be shown the different of reproductive hormone levels between exposed group and comparison group easily. Limitation of studies The data and result of the three studies were limited by using a single urine and blood/serum samples to determine the levels of DEHP and hormone. It may cause a bias in spot sampling because the result is not reflecting average hormone levels. The endogenous serum LH and FSH concentration had significant change by assessing in different time. The urine samples only reflect the recent exposure to DEHP because phthalates have short half-lives. Also, the concentration of DEHP in three studies was based on the concentration of urinary metabolites of DEHP (MEHP). Therefore, the concentration of DEHP may be not the real concentration of participants. Conclusion The result of three study indicate that there are adverse effects of high levels of DEHP exposure on reproductive hormone levels in male. However, there is no clear evidence to prove a causal relationship between high levels of DEHP and the reproductive hormone levels in male because cross-sectional studies cannot reflect the causal relationship between them. High level of DEHP can as an investigative target included in long term studies such as cohort study and randomized controlled trial of reproductive hormone levels in male. The further research is required to prove that high levels of DEHP exposure will decrease the reproductive hormone levels in human.

A Critique of Thank You for Smoking? :: Critical Essays

A Critique of â€Å"Thank You for Smoking†¦?† Intro: The essay â€Å"Thank You for Smoking,† written by Peter Brimelow, is far from an influential essay on why people should smoke. Through this essay, Brimelow makes an effort to convince the audience smoking is actually beneficial to your health. I find it hard for people to write about what they think are the benefits of smoking when there are so many obvious reasons why you should not smoke. The main audience being targeted in this article is those who already smoke and those who are thinking about smoking. One thing mentioned in the article is the fact that smokers are usually lighter in weight. In my personal opinion, I would rather eat a balanced diet and walk daily rather than walk around with a cigarette in my mouth and risk lung cancer. Inductive or Deductive: When trying to find if an essay is logically stated, you first must find if it is inductive or deductive. This is an example of an inductive essay. What inductive means is that the author goes from using specific samples to generalizations that are drawn from those examples (McFadden). Major Claim: The major claim is usually the topic sentence or main idea in the article (McFadden). Through the major claim, Peter points out that smoking has beneficial factors. He states those who smoke are less likely to get many diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, osteoarthritis, and colon cancer (Brimelow 142). Another example used in this essay is the author’s comparison of driving automobiles to smoking cigarettes. Brimelow states, â€Å"But so is driving automobiles dangerous to your health (over 40,000 deaths a year)† (141). This to me just seems like a completely ridiculous comparison to include in this article, especially when in the prior paragraph he states that there are approximately 400,000 deaths annually, which are smoking-related (Brimelow). Minor Claim: One minor claim pointed out through this essay is how smoking helps to relax people, which is one form of a stress reliever (Brimelow). In addition, smoking is said to stimulate alertness, dexterity, and cognitive capacity (Brimelow). It is true these are all things in which people can benefit from; however, these are far from being favorable enough for people to decide to go light up. Grounds: Grounds include all evidence, facts, and logic used in supporting claims (McFadden).

Dracula Essay -- essays research papers

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Lords of the darkness, Darkling Dancers, Nosferatu, Vrikolakas. And the list goes on like this. The vampire concept is thought by the most to be a myth that has crept into almost every culture. It has influenced many writers to write novels on them and many directors to shoot films on. Vampire myths go back way into the times of first recorded history. Many different legends are known about them varying from the Chinese belief of the glowing red eyed monsters with green or pink hair to the Greek Lamia who has the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a winged serpent and the Japanese belief in the vampire foxes. The most commonly known legend which is widely used in filming is the blood drinking man who can transform into a bat or mist, wearing a black cape with a suit and with fangs in his mouth. This significant type is the one that is been explained widely in the eastern European myths. This vampire preys on human victims which are chosen at random by biting and sucking bloo d from the veins in the side of the neck at night time. The prey also becomes a vampire and joins the world of the undead. These specific vampires are the ones who cannot stand the sunlight which will burn them and they usually sleep in a coffin during the daytime. It is believed that these vampires are most active during full moon. They are immortal and they can only be killed if a wooden stake is run through the heart or when they are beheaded. In the year of 1879 an Irish writer, Bram Stoker, unheard with his previous novels and short stories gets inspired on this and writes the most famous books of all times. Here we are at the close of 1998, looking back and seeing the over two hundred theatrical performances and movies made on it. What’s more is that it is the second best seller book after The Bible in Western communities. This cult figure created by the crazy Irishman has effected us in our actions or emotions in some way. Crudely every single person on earth must have heard his name. But why? Looking onto the novel, there is a perfect gothic look presented to us with its every aspect. Infact every single concept covered comes deep from mythology. It talks about blood and fire, death and love, good and bad, fantasy and magic. And the Count; who sometimes happens to be an atrocital monster, a romantic lover†¦ No doubt, these make the novel even... ...e. These women are both Dracula’s lovers and daughters. And this is an example of Freud’s Odysseia Complex which is the base of Sophokles’s Odysseus tale. In Dracula’s character we also see signs of fascism. At the very beginning of the story when he and Jonathan are having dinner, he gets angry with Jonathan because what he speaks about disturbs his thoughts on his background and he pulls his sword out. In addition, he is always in a fascist approach to the Turks and the Gipsies. With these aspects of his, Dracula follows a political opinion and with his style and manner reminds us of the Nazis. Keeping all of these in mind we can see why the story of Dracula is so attractive to us. The Dracula character being a cult figure is because of the fact that his character carries the sins and the emotions of the 20th century: killing, rape, incest, fascism†¦ On the other hand, despite all these Dracula did not forget his true love. Maybe everyone of us finds his/her darkness in the Count and that’s why many people sympathise with him. Whatever it is, the truth is that in the end Count Dracula dies but in real world he has promoted to immortality as a heroic and charismatic character.

To what extent can Lord of the Flies be considered a Marxist piece?

Lord of the Flies centres on a group of boys stranded on a tropical island when their plane crashes en route from England to Australia as part of an evacuation during an atomic war (hypothetical war.) The story is essentially an allegorical tale of the innate evil of man – good versus evil. Of the book, Golding said that he wrote it to illustrate how political systems cannot govern society effectively unless they take into consideration the inherent defects of human nature. Marxism is seen as the development from an oppressive capitalist society to an equal and classless society. Golding tries to set a utopian world within the island devoid of adult, societal constraints but in the end the innate animal characteristics of man come to the fore. Golding based his story on the 19th century novel ‘The Coral Island' written by R M Ballantyne. Whereas Ballantyne's novel, an adventure story of three boys stranded on a desert island, was optimistic, Golding's is terrifyingly pessimistic. The novel was written shortly after World War II , in the early days of the Cold War when paranoia about communism was at its height. In the early 1950s many people were accused, often falsely, of being communists (the McCarthy era in the USA at this time is a good example of this.) It is within this context that Golding wrote Lord of the Flies. The battles between Ralph and Jack, the struggles between the Conch group and the Savages and above all the fight of good versus evil, originate in a degree of paranoia typical of the era in which the novel was written. Lord of the Flies' reflects elements of Golding's own life – his experiences during the war made him second guess the traditionally held belief that while society might be evil, man was inherently good. Golding had witnessed the evil in man, not just in the enemy but in his own allies (he was on the ship that sank the German ship Bismarck.) Golding said in his essay ‘Fable' – originally given as part of a lecture series in 1962 – â€Å"My book was to say: you think that now the war is over and an evil thing destroyed, you are safe because you are naturally kind and decent. But I know why the thing rose in Germany. I know it could happen in any country. It could happen here.† The breakdown of order and discipline is prominent throughout the novel. This idea was drawn from Golding's experiences as a school master (his father was also a school teacher.) Golding taught in an English public school so much of his insight was drawn largely from this. Golding felt that at the time, the education system lacked a balance between discipline and creative freedom. By placing the boys on an island without adults, free from the constraints of society, he allows the boys freedom to indulge their desires and impulses. But by setting the story in a tropical paradise, Golding allowed the boys' downfall to come not through a basic struggle for survival but instead from within themselves and commented â€Å"If disaster came, it was not to come through the exploitation of one class by another. It was to rise, simply and solely, out of the nature of the brute . . . . . the only enemy of man is inside him.† (Fable, 1962.) Golding uses the varied characters in the novel to symbolise the varying degrees of savagery exhibited by man and their rift with organised civilisation. For example, Piggy demands that the boys stay within the parameters of organised society – his frequent references to his ‘auntie' represent the only adult voice throughout much of the novel. Jack, on the other hand, is more interested in satisfying his own desires and is of the belief ‘if it's fun, do it.' Ralph, however, is caught somewhere between the extremes exhibited by Piggy and Jack. It is in the clashes between Ralph and Jack that the conflict between a civilised society and a savage one are dramatised and it is in their differing attitudes towards authority that these differences in ideology are portrayed. Ralph is eager to establish order – using the conch to assemble the boys – and although as Golding says â€Å"what intelligence had been shown was traceable to Piggy while the most obvious leader was Jack† it is Ralph who is chosen as the ‘chief.' There is something about Ralph that has set him apart from the others, an innate quality; but it is his hold on the conch that seems to determine his election as leader of the group. The conch symbolises the old, established adult order the boys had been used to – it represents the rules and regulations or law and order of civilised society. Ralph is representative of government and authority and uses his own authority as chief to try and establish rules (for example, you can only speak if you are holding the conch) which are for the good of the group as a whole – he strives to enforce the moral rules of the society they are stranded from. Jack is the antithesis of this – seeking to gain control of the boys to satisfy his basic instincts (Ralph in fact recognising Jack's disappointment at not being chosen as leader is consolatory in announcing that Jack is in charge of the choir or ‘hunters' as they quickly become.) Jack's shift or decline towards savagery is marked throughout the novel. In the early chapters, his eagerness for killing pigs is really a show of bravery but is intertwined with the need to obtain food for the group. In this sense, Jack conforms to society's rules. It is only later in the novel when Jack no longer recognises Ralph's authority and forms his own splinter group with the hunters that Golding shows the reader Jack's true and more dangerous character. In this way, Golding is able to highlight the fact that to a degree certain savage aspects are an inherent part of man's nature (there is an overriding will to survive in humans) nevertheless in most instances this is suppressed to acc eptable levels by the mores of society. Golding himself does not see the novel as a Marxist piece, but as an illustration of â€Å"the darkness of man's heart†. Whilst the novel wasn't about class differences, Golding cleverly uses the language of the boys to highlight the fact there are indeed differences. For example at the beginning of Chapter 1 when Ralph meets Piggy and he asks â€Å". . . What's your father?† When responding Piggy asks â€Å"When'll your dad rescue us?† Alternate explanations from critics seem to come to the conclusion that the events of the novel were a result of circumstance and not of the evil within man. But Golding dismisses the idea that the actions of the boys were not inevitable. He suggests that the violence occurs â€Å"simply and solely out of the nature of the brute.† Modern critics will argue that the meaning of the text is individual to each reader. â€Å"I no longer believe that the author has a sort of patria potestas over his brainchildren. Once they are printed they have reached their majority and the author has no more authority over them, knows no more about them, perhaps knows less about them than the critic who comes fresh to them, and sees them not as the author hoped they would be, but as what they are† (Golding, Fable) Golding is suggesting that the meaning of a text is not always governed by the author, so although he clearly did not intend for â€Å"Lord of the Flies† to be a Marxist piece, it could be argued that it has become one. It could be argued that given Golding's life experiences and his father's influence, this was inevitable. Roger's sadistic manner was only stopped by the taboos and laws of society, but without these constraints he is unable to unleash the â€Å"id† that is caged by society, but is a demonic feature of the human psyche. In the chapter ‘Painted Faces and Long Hair' Roger is seen along with Maurice to destroy the ‘Littluns' castle. Then Roger throws stones at Henry, although deliberately misses – in this sense his action is controlled by the presence of the rules of society. Later in ‘Castle Rock' Roger, feeling that all aspects of civilised society have disappeared is now free of the constraints imposed by society and so unleashes his true savagery by throwing a stone at Piggy – this time deliberately aimed to harm. It can be argued that Golding uses Roger, who becomes the epitome of savage when he murders Piggy, to embody the central theme of the novel. The conflict between desire and moral obligation is a central theme of the novel. Golding uses the different personalities of the boys to indicate the varied degrees of savagery that humans demonstrate. Piggy juxtaposes Roger as he exhibits no animalistic qualities and adheres to society's rules. Golding expresses that this vehemence is a more natural aspect of human behaviour and that civilization forces compassion onto us rather than it being a natural human instinct. Even the naval officer recognises that the boys have become out of control – his comment to Ralph that they might have been able to â€Å"put up a better show than that . . . â€Å"illustrates this; Ralph recognises that in the beginning they were a cohesive group, a society. The signal fire's purpose is to hopefully attract the attention of a passing ship so that the boys may be saved. Metaphorically, indicates how savage the boys have become and how far they have moved away from socially acceptable behaviour. The boys start the fire using Piggy's glasses in an attempt to be rescued .This suggests that they still long for the order of civilisation. As the fire diminishes, we notice decay in the moral obligations the boys feel and they become more savage. The signal fire allows the reader to gauge how much of society is left on the island. Golding uses dramatic irony at the end of the novel when the officer arrives on the island. Ironically the fire is the antithesis of society at this point in the novel; it has now become a metaphor for the ferocity that man is capable of. The boys ask for some sign of the beast – the sign sent by the grown-ups is the dead parachutist; the beast is a dead pilot – Golding uses this to signify the chaos of an adult world at war. In chapter 5, Simon says â€Å"What I mean is†¦ maybe it's only us†. Simon suggests that â€Å"the beastie† is just a creation of the boys. It is the fear of the unknown that brings the beast to life. Simon's idea is one that links with Golding's views of humanity's savagery. Simon is the only boy on the island who does not abandon his morals, but he is savagely killed when he tries to help the rest of the boys. Simon's morality is overwhelmed by the other boy's amorality, so while Golding does not claim that mankind doesn't exhibit kindness, he does make the point that it is powerless when the rest of the world is evil. The island is a microcosm of society, and the boys represent different political ideologies. Ralph represents democracy, whilst Jack, with his symbolic red hair, represents communism. The boy's influence on the island itself can also be seen as a metaphor for human corruption of the planet. The forest scar created by the crashing plane symbolises the encroachment of corrupt civilisation onto the island. NOTES â€Å"What makes things break up like they do?† is the poignant question Piggy asks Ralph. Golding himself blames the breakdown of the island's democracy on the innate greed and ferocity that is an occupational hazard of being human. In a lecture at the University of California in 1962 he said â€Å"So the boys try to construct a civilization on the island; but it breaks down in blood and terror because the boys are suffering from the terrible disease of being human†. The fire is diatronically opposed to hunting which is the activity of anarchy. Ralph portrays democracy and the role of government in any modern society. He strives to satisfy the demands of the public at large but recognises that certain rules of behaviour must be followed in order to prevent anarchy. Anarchy eventually defeats order – Golding believed that government is ineffective in keeping people together. No matter how logical or reasonable government is, it will in the end give way to anarchical demands of the public.