Apex Investment Essay Example for Free

Apex Investment Essay AccessLine’s initial financing came in the form of strategic alliances. In 1989, McCaw Cellular Communication invested in AccessLine, providing a considerable amount of their intial capital. This funding secured the strategic partnership between AccessLine and McCaw Cellular. This launched further alliances between AccessLine and other phone company carriers, in which AccessLine granted them an exclusive franchise in the market for a set fee. The carriers were permitted to market AccessLine’s service under their own company name. AccessLine also developed partnerships with equipment manufacturers such as Stratus Computer and Motorola, also providing them with a franchise in exchange for funding. However AccessLine’s growth prompted the need for larger investments. Thus, in 1994, AccessLine diversified their financing to professional equity investors. Providing funding worth $15. 5 million, AccessLine’s CFO Bill Stuart, and Morgan Stanley’s Bill Brady executed the transaction, involving the private placement from five investors. Such a strategy was chosen due to AccessLine’s lack of capital in the initial stages of AccessLine’s establishment. AccessLine was not lacking in management or technology and thus was not in need of a venture capitalist in its early stages to control the company or provide the company with expertise or administration. Private investors, such as McCaw Cellular Communications, were more appropriate for AccessLine in that they provided the necessary funding without coercing AccessLine to forsake control of the company. McCaw also provided both clientele and investments. AccessLine’s lack of experience from mergers and acquisitions forced them to eventually turn to venture capitalists in 1994, a time when their strategy had changed. The venture capitalists could help in evaluating a target company through their experience in purchasing and selling businesses. The funds from Apex Investment Partners would serve beneficially for AccessLine because of their vast knowledge and experience in the industry. George Middlemas and Rick Bolander, both of whom had joined Apex in the early 90’s, had had previous experiences working in the telecommunications industry and racked up an extensive list of contacts in the industry. Thus, Apex would eventually prove to be a profitable investment for AccessLine.

Buckle up Essay Example for Free

Buckle up Essay Still unconscious, wreathed in bandages, pale and out in my own land, I could not even barely imagine the pain that engulfed my loved ones as they by lay vigil each night, thinking of my sorry picture with only breathing tubes to hang onto. On the second day, I regained consciousness and began a hazy recollection of what happened. The successive bumps and crash. I could recall seeing the driver ram straight into the car in front, a second later I was flung head first into the driving seat almost unsitting the driver who nonchalantly pushed my head aside. The only other recollection is seeing flames and being suffocated by fumes of burning petrol. The accident left me with gruesome facial cuts, an upper broken jaw with six teeth less. In modern day United Arab Emirates, the causes such accidents are as varied as the number of accidents. There are times when you cant really blame anybody. Nobody expects a sudden thick fog during the rush hour, it was quite an unfortunate scenario but you dare not snarl in the highway because you could be the cause of another accident. The combination of reckless over confident drivers with such weather conditions only spells doom to the careful drivers who will slow down and ensure that there is sufficient space between his vehicle and the next but there is no knowing who might ram into your rear. It is therefore an unwritten rule that one simple mistake like slowing down even in zebra crossings might result in traffic accident. Despite all these unwritten rules, you cannot surely escape being labelled a very stupid person if you drive at 120km/h in a silly thick fog. It is always the first car in the crash that causes the accident, whether he was driving beyond the police legal allowance, a copy of the many paper on the driving wheel or coffee on the other hand, the prerequisites to such traffic accidents are seen every day on our highways. It gets even more harrowing when people drive while answering phone calls or when rich spoilt kids zoom at dangerous speeds in brand new SUVs. I was dispatched from the hospital after three intensive months of medical care. By slowly recollecting the past, trying to shift what might have caused the accident and what might have not, trying to find a rationale why as a passenger I had much more serious injuries than the driver who only escaped with minor injuries the answer to my stupid injuries hits me hard, Buckle up! : That was the difference between the driver and me. Its even more hurting that I had to learn painful way. The seat belt usage is the savior if you are to be involved in such accidents. These are a very many road casualties that arise due to our refusal to buckle up. Presently the campaign â€Å"Your safety is in using safety Belt is helping people understand the importance of buckling up. Additionally, as we speak now heavy fines are being levied on those apprehended for not putting on their safety belts. This has come only after the realization that traffic accidents cause more deaths than murder and is only second to death caused by cardiovascular diseases. The experience of accidents is harrowing, the survival chance is in guaranteed, and as more and more lunatic drivers are released onto our roads, the only savior is the seat belt. I have never been reminded to buckle up ever since, my scars are too huge to be ignored. Buckling up has become an innate predisposition to me. References New Initiative in IAHVs Road Peace Campaign: Buckle up Dubai www. dubaishopping festival. com/news/IAHV11-09. htm Buckle up Drive Controls Violations of Seat Belt Rule. 2007http:www. uaeinteract. com/docs.

Corporate Marketing Philosophies: Pros and Cons

Corporate Marketing Philosophies: Pros and Cons 1.1 Introduction This essay will critically discuss the philosophies and pros cons of corporate marketing making references to the work of Balmer and Geyser. The essay will also examine the historiography or the phases through which the corporate marketing has passed through over the few decades. Before understanding the concept of corporate marketing, we should first try and understand the reasons for the evolution of the term corporate marketing. According to Balmer 1998, corporate image is interpreted in numerous ways by different writers. The concept has negative association and the literature work in the field has shown that the image association can be perceived differently by groups of stakeholder. The concept of corporate image management has been challenged by many writers and many literary works suggest that the stakeholders are not always important for the organization. The other concept corporate branding is useful but many companies have failed to develop a corporate brand. Therefore the term is ruled out. Visual graphics has been given more emphasis in corporate identity making it a debatable topic. Thus these concepts can be considered as the building blocks of corporate marketing which can be the umbrella title for this era. 1.2 Understanding Corporate Marketing The term corporate denotes that the area of concern is strategy. Its importance is that the CEO and the board of directors are familiar with the strategies within the organization. The basic principle of the term marketing has been the diverse perspectives. The term marketing has been related with corporate earlier also and few related concepts have already been accepted widely for example IMC, green marketing etc. So what is the difference between Marketing and Corporate marketing? The profitable exchange relationship will remain one of the main features of corporate marketing but the emphasis will be on multiple exchange relationship and the corporation will be less concerned with the ownership; they will see themselves as a part of a network. (Balmer and Greyser, Epilogue, Revealing the corporation, pg348 to 350). So to put it in a nutshell, Corporate Marketing is a group of corporation which has a single corporate ethos, aim and values (philosophy) that binds the company and its image, branding, reputation, identity, communication, customers and stakeholders. 1.3 Pros and cons of corporate marketing The works in the field of corporate marketing can provide meaningful insight to thinking on the larger corporate-level area. The area of concern is strategic therefore it importance is such that the CEO and directors are familiar with the scope and significance on a regular basis. Communication, image, reputation, and branding are key concepts within the marketing domain, although marketing scholars and practitioners frequently incorporate others, such as identity but these concepts are conceived in context of the product or brand rather than the corporation but corporate marketing will help to view all the above concepts as one. The term corporate marketing is not a new term. Kotler and Levy (1969) had recommended that the marketing concept should be broadened so as to cover any organisation and that it should be able to be applied to all areas of business and not just product-dominated organizations. The corporate marketing is a very wide term so it is not possible for a head of a department to handle it. It requires a senior board position such as Deputy chief executive. The person should be highly qualified with the knowledge in the fields like planning, organizational behavior and communications etc. The area is also too wide to be covered in a single degree course and the area will require inputs from non- management courses such as philosophy. Finally, the consultancies are still not familiar with new insights in corporate identity. They occupied in producing systems of visual identifications for organizations. (Balmer and Greyser, Epilogue, Revealing the corporation, pg348 to 350) (Balmer, Journal of Marketing Management, pp. 963-996(34)) 1.4 Historiography of corporate marketing According to Balmer and Greyser the corporate marketing have passed through several eras before reaching the present though the focus has always been the customers as correctly said by Frank Taussig, a former President of the American Economic Association stated back in 1912 that, We must accept the consumer as the final judge (The Economist, 2006). 1950-1970- Corporate Imaging There was more stress on the concept of corporate image in the period of 1950 to1970. Corporate image is the consumer perception of the corporate entity behind a brand. In a few cases, the corporate entity is known and the image has a positive influence on brand sales, such as Apple. In other cases, the corporate image acquires negative connotations such as BP did following the oil spill in Gulf of Mexico. According to Balmer (1998), there are three paradigms to corporate imaging. These are Psychological Paradigm- Use of symbolic relation eg logos (Bromley, 1993; Grunig, 1993). Graphic Design Paradigm- Use of visual graphics for companies philosophies, values etc to make it fashionable. (Balmer 1995). Marketing and Public Relation Paradigm- An understanding of the experiences, beliefs, feelings about and knowledge of an organisation, as held by an individual, group, or groups (Bernstein, 1984, cited in Balmer 1998) (Balmer, Journal of Marketing Management, pp. 963-996(34) 1970-1980: -Era of Corporate Identity and Corporate Personality Corporate Personality can be defined as the view and opinion of the personnel within the organisation. By this time it was imperative for the companies to understand that the most their own staff were an important part of the organisation. The companies understood that it was necessary to train their staff and make sure that they were in line with the companys philosophy, mission and values. The concept of corporate identity is still debatable. According to Balmer (1998), there are groups which consider the Latin meaning of the word identity i.e. same and connect it to logos, images and visual branding. Whereas there are other groups which use the word identity when referring to the distinct attributes of an organisation, i.e. what it is. Balmer 1995, cited in balmer 1998. There are few instances when the corporate identity, image and reputation are not in synchronization with each other this usually happens due to bad corporate communication. Therefore the companies need to have a good corporate image in the eyes of the stakeholders and a favorable corporate reputation. According to Balmer and Greyser (revealing the corporation Pg 42), Identity can be regarded as Triquadri Orbis. Visual identification Staff identification Distinct attributes of the organisation (who are we, what are we). Mid-1980s-mid-1990s This era was the dawn of corporate communication and corporate reputation. Corporate reputation A corporate reputation is a set of attributes ascribed to a firm inferred from a firms past actions. (Weigelt and Camerer (1988 pI), cited in Balmer 1998) Fombrun and Van Riel (1997) have identified six distinct academic literatures in relation to Corporate Reputation. This is shown in Figure 2. Discipline Categorization of Reputation Economics Reputation viewed as traits or signals. Perception held of the organisation by an organisations external stakeholders. Marketing Viewed from the customer or end-users perspective and concentrates on the manner in which reputations are formed. Organisational Behaviour Viewed as the sense-making experiences of employees or the perception of the organisation held by an organisations internal stakeholders. Accountancy Reputation seen as an intangible asset and one that can or should be given financial worth. Sociology Viewed as an aggregate assessment of a firms performance relative to expectation and norms in an institutional context Strategy Reputation viewed as assets and mobility barriers. Figure 2. Categorization of Corporate Reputation According to Various Literatures Source: Balmer 1998, cited in Fombrun and Van Riel (1997). Figure 3 Defining corporate reputation (Manto Gotsi, Alan M. Wilson, (2001) Corporate reputation: seeking a definition, Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 6 Iss: 1, pp.24 30) Thus corporate reputation is the perception that is build up over the period of time considering the past action of the company. Since Fombrun research, lot of studies has been done on corporate reputation which is been greatly helpful in expanding the knowledge on this concept. Corporate communication In the mid 1990s companies realized that the corporate communication strategies are not only useful from customers point of view, but it is also very important from shareholders perspective. According to Balmer (2009), the Dutch scholar Van Riel (1995) argues that there are three stands of communication; management communication (employee focus), marketing communication (customer focus) and organizational communication (stakeholder focus). The work of Stephen Greyser, Harvard Business School Professor, has been the greatly acknowledged in the field of corporate communication. He even started a course in corporate communication in Harvard Business School. Mid 1990s till Present Corporate Branding and the dawn of corporate marketing Corporate Brand is the covenant or a promise between an organization and the stakeholders or the customers. It conveys what the company can deliver in terms of product, or customer experience. It can be aspirational, for example, apple promises innovation and quality to the customers. To get a better picture let us try to understand corporate brand covenant. It is a promise or a pledge made by business organisations to stakeholders. These promises, no matter how minute they may be, are binding upon business organisations and they are seen as the parameter upon which corporate brand performance is measured. The notion of promise can be stated in four stages: God/firm Level God has a personality so does a firm. A firm presents themselves like a god who knows everything within their business area. Message Level- Gods presents its covenant to man in the form of a message which is irreversible. The firm also conveys its personality or identity to the stakeholders through corporate communication which is in a way a promise to the stakeholder to remain in the business. The man/stakeholder level and reputation levels- The gods covenant is interpreted by man which then develops the reputation of God. Similarly the corporate personality conveyed by the firm is interpreted by the people concerned with the organisation which then develops positive or negative reputation. Source: Olutayo Otubanjo, Temi Abimbola, Olusanmi Amujo, (2010) Conceptualising the notion of corporate brand covenant, Journal of Product Brand Management, pp.410 422 Figure 4: comparison of biblical and marketing notion of covenant Source: Olutayo Otubanjo, Temi Abimbola, Olusanmi Amujo, (2010) Conceptualising the notion of corporate brand covenant, Journal of Product Brand Management, Vol. 19 Iss: 6, pp.410 422 According to Balmer (1998), several distinct concepts have evolved since 1950: perception of the company by external environment, visual identification and symbolic relationship between the company and the people, corporate personality and identity, how it is perceived by the stakeholders and corporate branding. Corporate branding is closely linked to marketing and the various aspects of the business therefore this theory could lead to the advent of corporate marketing. 1.5 Conclusion Till date the concept corporate identity and corporate marketing has been vague but it is very clear that though there has been emphasis on different concepts in different phases, the organization needs to understand that the key to good image and reputation is through corporate identity. It is possible that corporate identity will evolve into a broader term called corporate marketing which will encompass the various management concepts used till date. Corporate marketing will be an organization wide philosophy which would keep in mind that the stakeholders are as important as the customers. It is like a super term wherein the key management concepts like corporate -identity, branding, communication and reputation are combined together to form a single organizational philosophy. Corporate Marketing I future will be applied to the areas where there is a relationship between the organization and the various stakeholders PART (B) 2.1 Introduction In the second part of the essay I will be critically analysing Balmers Marketing Mix and Balmers 6C making reference to his work. It is very clear that marketing is undergoing through paradigms shifts which are evident from ascendancy of the management concepts. The focus on various stakeholders is as important as the customers, therefore Balmer extended the original 4 Ps to 11Ps. The new marketing mix shifts the focus from the product to organisation as a single entity. Balmer then later simplified the 11Ps to 6Cs which can be used by seniors executives to follow the mission of the organisation. 2.2 Balmers Marketing Mix (1998) The original Marketing Mix was given by Borden which was simplified by Mcarthy to 4Ps, which is easier to remember and recall. In 1998, Balmer extended the marketing mix to 10 elements to articulate the new Marketing Mix. He later added an eleventh P so as to take account of corporate brand. Product What the organisation sells or does Perception The reputation held of the organisation Philosophy and Ethos What the organisation stands for, the way it undertakes its work and activities. Price The valuation its brands (corporate, services and product). What it charges for its products and services. 11 Ps of marketing mix People In addition to customers: the organisations internal and external constituencies and communities Place Selling and distribution of products and services.(Franchising, outsourcing, licensing). Promise The expectations associated with the corporate brand and the promise underpinning the corporate brand Performance Quality of products and services. Standards vis a vis issues of governance, ethics and social responsibility Promotion Co-ordinated corporate communications (Corporate advertising, corporate PR, visual identification etc.) Positioning The organisations position relative to its competitors Personality The critical role of personnel vis a vis corporate marketing activities. Figure 1: The 11 Ps of Corporate Marketing Mix Explanation (Balmer 1998) Source:- Balmer and Greyser, Epilogue, revealing the corporation, pg 348-355 2.3 Merits and Demerits of Corporate Marketing Mix The focus of 4Ps been in terms of products and services rather than corporation. Balmers 11Ps can be orchestrated to underpin the new gestalt of organisations. The 11Ps are not only profit orientated but also focuses on the survival of the business. One of the major component of corporate marketing is coordinated organisational activities therefore the corporate marketing mix helps to understand the present needs and wants of the stakeholders The corporate marketing mix also tries to balance the current shareholders demands and the societal needs with those of the future. Since the Marketing mix are extended to 11Ps, the communications mix will need to be extended in order to encompass the many stakeholder groups which are of importance to organisations, as well as taking into account the numerous channels of communication. Corporate Marketing Mix given by Balmer has the similar problem as Bordons marketing Mix; it had the difficulty of remembering and recalling. Therefore Balmer simplified the mix to Balmers 6C. (Comprehending Corporate Marketing and the Corporate Marketing Mix J.M.T. Balmer Working Paper No 06/08 March 2006 and Revealing the corporation), (Balmer and Greyser, revealing the corporation, pg 349-355). 2.4 The Six Dimensions of the revised Corporate Marketing Mix The 6Cs CHARACTER Corporate Identity: What we are It is the factors that differentiate or one entity from another. The distinct feature can be tangible and intangible such as corporate ownership and structure, corporate philosophy and corporate history CULTURE Corporate Culture: what we feel we are It is the views of the staff about the organisation.. These beliefs are derived from the values, beliefs, and assumptions about the organisation and its historical roots and heritage. CONSTITUENCIES Corporate Governance: Whom we seek to serve The philosophy of corporate-marketing depends on the needs and wants of the stakeholders such as employees, investors, local community etc) because without their support it will be difficult for the organisation to exist. CONCEPTUALISATION Corporate Image and Corporate Reputation: How are we seen? It is the perceptions of the corporate brand held by customers and other key stakeholder groups. COMMUNICATION Corporate Communications: What we say we are Corporate communications is the controlled message from the organisation to the customers and the stakeholders. COVENANT Corporate Brand: What is promised and expected A corporate brand is like a contract, which can be compared to a covenant holder groups often have a religious-like loyalty to the corporate brand. Failure to acknowledge the contract could lead to bad reputation and identity. 2.5 Merits and Demerits of Balmers 6C. Balmers 6c is the revised version of rather than a mix collected together for a department. The importance components of the six dimensions Balmers 11Ps so it easier to remember and recollect. It is a organisation wide philosophy are cleared by the questions underpinned with each element. It provides the senior executives key elements that inform corporate marketing paradigms. However the dimensions are aligned symmetrically, therefore the relationship of each element should be taken in a broader aspect. The senior executive should not follow the same structure of the elements as it is not attainable. They should view the dimensions in a broader perspective and a dynamic alignment because identities are always in the making. A rigid alignment of the elements could be hazardous. (Corporate marketing: apocalypse, advent and epiphany, J. Balmer, pg 544-572) (Comprehending Corporate Marketing and the Corporate Marketing Mix J. Balmer Working Paper No 06/08 March 2006) 2.6 Comparison of Balmers Marketing Mix and Balmers 6C 6C is basically the shortened version of marketing mix. Balmer revised is so that it will be easier to remember and recall. Philosophy (what company stands), Product (what company does), Price (what it charges for the products), Place (distribution), Performance (quality) and Personality (organisations position relative to its competitors) from Balmers marketing mix is combined together to form Character which is one of the Cs. Personality (what the staffs perception about the company) similar to culture Promotion (advertising, pr etc at corporate level) similar to communication People (internal and external communities) similar to constituencies Perceprtion(perception of the stakeholders) similar to conceptualisation Promise (expectation associated with the brand) similar to covenant. 2.7 Conclusion

Teaching Philosophy Statement :: Philosophy of Teaching Teachers Education Essays

Teaching Philosophy Statement It is a constant truth that technology is growing rapidly and it is opening up many opportunities for students as well as teachers. Through the use of the internet information that would take scholars months to acquire out and interpret can be found in less than a minute though a Google search and not only is the information their, but in many cases the information that you wanted is shown in bolded so it can even be found quicker. Through technology even rural schools who cannot afford to pay for magazine subscriptions can buy into online periodical programs like Proquest or Infotrack. This opens up articles written from hundreds of magazines and over several years. All of this information that allows for thousands of facts that students can pull and rewrite; but they loose something in this method. Patents and the ability to pull the facts for themselves. In many cases when online magazines or sites are used students see only and abridged copy of the original text they do not get to decide what is important or have to take the time to read through the book or magazine to see the author’s intent. If you type in gun control online you will be bombarded by thousands of items including the Second Amendment. Yet instead of reading the complete bill of rights they would only see the Second Amendment. Which is fine in many cases; but isn’t better for the students at least scan the entire constitution. If nothing else to scan the Preamble or the 1st Amendments right of the freedom of the speech. If students scan the entire constitution then not only will they find the information they are looking for, but maybe their eyes will be caught by something that interest them, allowing them to think for themselves and ask questions that will provoke thought and hopefully continue to seek knowledge on. But how can this be accomplished? Through the use of the Teacher-Centered Philosophies Essentialism and Perennialists to build off of and Problem based learning Teacher can use Scaffolding to ask the questions that make children want to search for answers that make since to them in a organized and educational fashion. Like many things in Social Science the same information can be seen by two people and get completely different answers. During the Civil War Thomas Jackson received the Nickname Stonewall.

Feminist Perspective of Heart of Darkness :: Feminism Feminist Women Criticism

Feminist Perspective of Heart of Darkness   In Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, Marlow’s view of women embodies the typical 19th century view of women as the inferior sex. There are only three relatively minor female characters in Heart of Darkness: Marlow’s aunt, Kurtz’s mistress, and Kurtz’s "Intended." Marlow mentions these female characters in order to give the literal aspect of his tale more substance. While they definitely play specific roles in the story, they do not relate with the primary theme of the story.   The primary theme focuses more on how Marlow’s journey into the heart of darkness contrasts the "white" souls of the black people and the "black" souls of the whites who exploit them, and how it led to Marlow’s self-discovery. In the beginning of Marlow’s story he tells how he, "Charlie Marlow, set the women to work--to get a job." He tells this in the context that he was so desperate to travel in the trade industry that he did what was unthinkable in those times: he asked a woman for financial assistance. The woman, his aunt, also transcended the traditional role of women in those times by telling Marlow that she would be delighted to help him and to ask her for help whenever he needed it. This incident did not have much to do with the symbolic theme of the story; it simply served to tell the reader how Marlow managed to be able to travel to the Congo. On a higher level, it was intended by Conrad to illustrate Marlow’s opinion of women’s inferior role in society, which embodied traditional 19th century society. The two other female characters are not mentioned until much later in the story, after Marlow has arrived at the Inner Station. When Marlow reaches this point in his tale, he jumps ahead and tells a little bit about The Intended, Kurtz’s fianceà © who was to marry Kurtz when he returned. The Intended woman does not appear until the very end of the novelette, in which Marlow visits her and lies to her about Kurtz’s dying words. The Intended had a more significant role in the story than Marlow’s aunt; however, her role as a whole was somewhat limited and did not affect the main theme of the story. The third female character, Kurtz’s African mistress, is briefly mentioned two times near the end of the novel. Feminist Perspective of Heart of Darkness :: Feminism Feminist Women Criticism Feminist Perspective of Heart of Darkness   In Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, Marlow’s view of women embodies the typical 19th century view of women as the inferior sex. There are only three relatively minor female characters in Heart of Darkness: Marlow’s aunt, Kurtz’s mistress, and Kurtz’s "Intended." Marlow mentions these female characters in order to give the literal aspect of his tale more substance. While they definitely play specific roles in the story, they do not relate with the primary theme of the story.   The primary theme focuses more on how Marlow’s journey into the heart of darkness contrasts the "white" souls of the black people and the "black" souls of the whites who exploit them, and how it led to Marlow’s self-discovery. In the beginning of Marlow’s story he tells how he, "Charlie Marlow, set the women to work--to get a job." He tells this in the context that he was so desperate to travel in the trade industry that he did what was unthinkable in those times: he asked a woman for financial assistance. The woman, his aunt, also transcended the traditional role of women in those times by telling Marlow that she would be delighted to help him and to ask her for help whenever he needed it. This incident did not have much to do with the symbolic theme of the story; it simply served to tell the reader how Marlow managed to be able to travel to the Congo. On a higher level, it was intended by Conrad to illustrate Marlow’s opinion of women’s inferior role in society, which embodied traditional 19th century society. The two other female characters are not mentioned until much later in the story, after Marlow has arrived at the Inner Station. When Marlow reaches this point in his tale, he jumps ahead and tells a little bit about The Intended, Kurtz’s fianceà © who was to marry Kurtz when he returned. The Intended woman does not appear until the very end of the novelette, in which Marlow visits her and lies to her about Kurtz’s dying words. The Intended had a more significant role in the story than Marlow’s aunt; however, her role as a whole was somewhat limited and did not affect the main theme of the story. The third female character, Kurtz’s African mistress, is briefly mentioned two times near the end of the novel.

Literary Realism in Editha :: William Dean Howells Papers

Literary Realism in Editha After World War I, American people and the authors among them were disillusioned by the effects that war had on their society. America required a literature that would expound what had happened and what was happening to their society. The realistic movement of the late 19th century saw authors accurately depict life and its problems. This realistic movement evolved because of many changes and transitions in American culture. In the late 1800's, the United States was experiencing swift growth and change because of a changing economy, society, and culture. The increase of immigrants into America was one of the reasons. Realists endeavored to give a comprehensive picture of modern life by presenting the entire picture. The true definition of literary realism as defined by Encyclopedia Britannica is an approach that attempts to describe life without idealization or romantic subjectivity. Although realism is not limited to any one-century or group of writers, it is most often asso ciated with the literary movement in 19th-century France, specifically with the French novelists Flaubert and Balzac. George Eliot introduced realism into England, and William Dean Howells introduced it into the United States. Realism has been chiefly concerned with the commonplaces of everyday life among the middle and lower classes, where character is a product of social factors and environment is the integral element in the dramatic complications. In relation to that, William Dean Howells, while opposing idealization, made his comic criticisms of society. He did this by comparing and contrasting American culture with those of other countries. He did not try to give one view of life but instead attempted to show the different classes, manners, and stratification of life in America. He believed that novels should present life as it is, not as it might be. Howells was a champion of realism in American literature. He has written more than one hundred books. Among them is; The Rise of Silas Lapham (1885), A Modern Instance (1882), A Boy's Town (1890) and My Year in a Log Cabin (1893). Throughout his writings, Howells attempts to make his characters real with faults and fears as are commonly found in reality. Howells utilizes literary realism in his short story Editha to communicate the reality of war and to portray the romanticism Americans had created around the concept of war.

Boys&Girls Club

The Boys & Girls Club has opened my eyes to many opportunities. This is a safe place where parents can drop off their children or child when they have to go to work. Every day after school I go the Boys & Girls and I have so many things I could do. Such as playing sports in the gym, and even swim in the indoor swimming pool. The Boys &Girls club has a teen center where I always have someone to talk to like friends, counselors, even staff members.I have been a member of the Boys & Girls club since the third grade. I used to like coming to the club but now I love it even more. The club is where I can study and do my homework. I have many interests I’m involved with such as the torch club, mentoring, and previously in apprentice. These activities help me get involved with the community as I grow up. For example the torch club helps me keep the earth clean by recycling, helping the elderly, and giving food and other items needed by people.The mentoring program helps me improve my learning skills for any subject. They help with homework, tests, quizzes, and have fun with you like a best friend. The club means a lot to me as you can see and I’m pretty sure other kids think the same way. I think I am very lucky to be part of the club. I will always keep the club in my heart because their like my second family. I have been a member for 5 years and I think this place is sweet. The club is a great place to be. That’s what the Boys & Girls club means to me.