Psychological Critical Perspective Essay Example for Free

Psychological Critical Perspective Essay The utilization of a psychological critical perspective in literature entails the utilization of a specific psychological perspective to be used in the assessment of the various elements within the text as they are related to both the author and the intended audience of the work. Bernard Paris (1997) states that the use of psychology in the analysis of a literary text enables us â€Å"to understand the behavior of characters in literature from the past, to enter into their feelings, and to enrich our knowledge of ourselves and others through an understanding of their inner conflicts and relationships† (p. xii). In line with this, what follows is a psychological analysis of the representations of life and death in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Susan Glaspell’s Trifles. Within Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the psychological representation of death is evident in the representation of the sphinx. The sphinx, as a mythical creature, represents perplexity and death. In its many versions, the sphinx may be said to be a representation of perplexity in its employment of riddles in its interaction with human beings. Furthermore, it may be said to be a representation f death since it is depicted as a creature that brings death [or at least bad luck or misfortune] to those who cannot solve its riddles. In Greek mythology and drama, this creature is depicted as a beast with a feminine gender. Though generally regarded as an unhappy monster, the sphinx also serves as a symbol of femininity, power and confusion. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, one may infer that in Greek tragedy, sufferings and tribulations are intertwined with the hero’s existence. To a certain extent, one may say that in the case of Oedipus Rex, the sphinx defines the existence of Oedipus; his ‘being a hero’, so to speak. The same holds true for the sphinx. In other words, the hero and the villain define each others’ being. Note for example that within the text itself, Oedipus’ existence is intertwined with the Sphinx in the sense that the Sphinx and hero are twin-born. In terms of its monstrosity, the sphinx is depicted in many ways. These depictions are as follows. In Oedipus Rex, she is depicted as a singing sphinx that has permitted the oversight of dark secrets as well as a winged maiden with crooked talons who sang darkly. Oedipus’ incapacity to discern both the oracle at Delphi and the true nature of the sphinx and its closeness to himself present us with a rather different view about human nature and the ancient Greeks’ belief in fate. The sphinx reminds us of two things. First, it reminds us of our inability to fully know ourselves because of human nature’s enigmatic character. Second, it poses significant questions with regards to human freedom and our capacity for choice. In other words, it toys on the idea whether freedom and choice are mere illusions that human beings would like to think that they possess when in fact, they do not. Within this context, life and death are represented within Oedipus Rex in such a way that it places emphasis on the difficulty of discerning the conditions of life. Such a difficulty is mirrored in the portrayal of the Sphinx as well as the Sphinx’s relation with the hero of the text. As opposed to this, Susan Glaspell portrays life and death differently in Trifles. Trifles recounts the tragedy that occurs within marriage during instances wherein there is an absence of homosocial dimensions in a woman’s life. Within the text, life and death are represented in such a way that they are made to be seen within the context of a masculine gaze. The reason for this lies in the subjectivity of the portrayal of both freedom and objectivity within the text. Consider for example the case of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter who both tried to conceal the evidence of Minnie’s crime. One might note that such a decision mirrors a certain amount of freedom on both characters’ part. Both characters may be said to possess freedom in the negative sense that they may choose to omit specific information that they have however the subjectivity of this freedom is evident if one considers that the psychological reason for omitting such an information may be traced to their embeddedness within a masculine point of view that requires them to maintain the existence of order within their immediate surroundings. Life and death, within Trifles, may be said to be determined by a patriarchal point of view. Such a point of view, however continuously contradicts the feminists perspective as can be seen in the controversies that arose as a result of Minnie’s death. References Bernard, P. (1997). Imagined Human Beings: A Psychological Approach to Character and Conflict in Literature. New York: NYU P. Glaspell, S. (2003). Trifles. Np: Thomson Wadsworth. Sophocles (1991). Oedipus the King: Oedipus Rex. Trans. George Young. London: Dover.

Violence Chain :: Essays Papers

Violence Chain â€Å"Oh, hi Ahmed, how was the amusement park? Did you have fun?† he asked. â€Å"Yes I did,† I said with a surprising face; how could he ask me this question, when he just hit his son in front of me. Parent’s violence used to be normal in the United Arab Emirates. Parents used violence to teach their children. However, some parents still think that violence is the best way to teach children. These parents make the violence chain goes from one generation to another without stopping. Most of the children, who have been beaten up by their parents, suffer from many problems like they don’t having the ability to make friends, they lie, they fight, they drop of school, and much more. Parents who use violence don’t note that beating their children is the reason behind these problems; however, they continue beating them thinking that that will solve their children problems, which doesn’t, yet it makes them worse and worse. Once I had watched parent violence in front of my eyes, while it happened to one of my friends. He has been my friend for more than 4 years. We studied in the same school and we attended the same classes for these 4 years, so we were a real good friend. However, my story started in a beautiful weekend with not much homework. I and my friend decided to go to an amusement park near my house. This amusement park was considered as the biggest park in my country, so it has a lot of games. We usually go their from time to time, because there is nothing much going on in my city. Once we were there, we started to ride all games, and there were a lot. We were lucky that day because the park wasn’t crowded, so we didn’t have to wait in long lines. Riding games and enjoying the atmosphere took us the whole day, unfortunately we’ve forgotten about the time, when we should have been home at eleven pm. We forgot and returned at midnight. I didn’t think that it was a big deal, but when I looked at my friend face he was so worried and scared. I didn’t know why, so ask him â€Å"What’s wrong? Why do you look so worried?† But he didn’t answer he just said â€Å"Nothing, nothing wrong. Let’s just go back home,† so I just walked back with him to his home silently.

Diverse Workforce Essay

The term labor force is a general way to refer to all the people willing and able to work. For an organization, the internal labor force consists of the organization’s workers – its employees and the people who have contracts to work at the organization. This internal labor force has been drawn from the organization’s external labor market, that is, individuals who are actively seeking employment. With the development of the world, the labor force also changes. There are three major trends today in the change in labor force: 1. An aging working, 2. Diverse working, 3. Skills deficiencies of workforce. This report will talk about one of the three major trends in the change of labor force — Diverse Workforce. Diversity workforce refers to the variety differences between people in an organization. That sounds simple, but a diverse workforce consists of so many things, like gender, age, ethnic group, immigrants, physically and mentally disabled people, veteran status, sexual orientation, lifestyle, skill level, function or position within the company and so on. This paper is designed for advantages of a diverse workforce, problems of workforce diversity and strategies can be implemented to overcome the problems. 2.0 Advantages of a diverse workforce For an organization, a diverse workforce is good for it. Diversity is not only beneficial to both associates, but also to employers. Although associates are interdependent in the workplace, respecting individual differences can increase productivity. Diversity in the workplace can reduce lawsuits and increase marketing opportunities, recruitment, creativity, and business image (Esty, et al., 1995). In an era when flexibility and creativity are keys to competitiveness, diversity is critical for an organization’s success. Also, the consequences (loss of time and money) should not be overlooked. An organization’s success and competitiveness depends upon its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. There are two advantages of why the diverse workforce important to an organization. 2.1More creative When employees come from diverse background, but bring individual talents and experience with them. This invariably contributes to an organization’s overall growth. Embracing employees with different skills and cultural viewpoints helps in understanding the needs and requirements of the customers, on a global scale. Diversity in workplace leads to a wide of viewpoints and business ideas. This helps an organization formulate the best business strategy, with its lager pool of different ideas and solutions. It can be more creative. Absolutely, with the world developing, a company need more creative to follow the world, and a diverse workforce can bring different employers, they have different background and experiences. So a diverse workforce is important to organizations. 2.2Increasing sales and earnings For organizations, the most important gold is profit. No one wants them lose money. Workforce diversity can increase sales and earnings. â€Å"Valuing diversity is part of Safeway’s approach to competing with specialty grocers and big-box stores such as Walmart and Target. Safeway invested in programs to attract, develop, and retain its best talent and to position the company as an employer of choice. Although 70 percent of Safeway’s customers are women, male leaders had been the norm in the retail grocery industry. Safeway took initiatives to help women, including women of color, advance into management. The CEO speaks regularly with employees about diversity issue, and employees have access to DVDs featuring interviews with successful employees who are women and people of color. The company ensures that all employees who qualify for its Retail Leadership Program, including those who work part-time and have flexible schedules to juggle work and family responsibilities, have the same opportunities for coaching, development, and advancement. A women’s leadership network sponsors development meetings between promising women and executives who suggest new job opportunities that can help the women advance to next level. With these and other efforts, the number of female store managers has risen a dramatic 42 percent, and financial analysts have concluded that the advancement of women and minorities has increased Safeway’s sales and earnings.† (Noe, el al. p.67) 3.0 Two problems of workforce diversity Although employing a diverse workforce has many advantages, it comes with some problems as well. 3.1 Communication Communication barriers lead to problems in a company attempting to create a diverse workplace. When a U.S. company hires employees of other cultures whose first language is not English, employees and managers may experience difficulties communicating with one another. This can lead to misunderstandings and a decrease in productivity. For example, if a manager gives instructions about completing a certain task to an employee who fails to fully comprehend the instructions, the employee may make mistakes if he tries to complete the task without receiving clarity. Sometimes it helps for companies to hire bilingual employees who can mediate and reduce language and communication barriers. To achieve the advantages of diversity, you must often provide diversity training, which includes cultural awareness and sensitivity training. Communication barriers become a major challenge in a diverse workforce. Employees that come from different cultures sometimes speak different languages, and encouraging communication can be a challenge. This can negatively affect both formal and informal communication and cohesion. It can also cause more errors and conflicts than you would likely find in a less diverse company. 3.2 Discrimination A company may encounter is reverse discrimination. This is a feeling that is associated with affirmative action policies. It is a major argument against such policies. Reverse discrimination is a claim by white males that they have been unfairly discriminated against. They claim they are equally or more qualified for the position, yet were passed over for a minority to receive the job. This can cause lawsuits in some cases, but mostly a sense of rejection by other workers in the company toward the minority who received the position. Although companies often train to avoid discrimination, the more diverse a workplace, the more potential for discrimination. This can create a hostile work environment where employees may fell oppressed if their emotional security is not protected. The company may face possible legal issues if prejudice and discrimination enter the mix and impact the decisions company leaders make. If managers make decisions about employees based on their personal traits, the company and the managers face potential lawsuits for discrimination. 4.0 strategies can be implemented to overcome the problems 4.1 Recognition As a manager or business owner, you must recognize that people have differences, be they physical, generational or cultural, and you cannot pretend that these barriers have been broken down. Instead, celebrate the differences among your employees, and encourage them to let their individualities show. For example, don’t hesitate to ask someone from another culture about their culture’s etiquette practices — their knowledge could prove useful to your business. Do not pigeonhole your employees. An employee’s worth comes from more than his ethnicity or age. 4.2 Fairness Acting fairly and acting uniformly are different, and only one enables you to successfully deal with diversity in your workplace. Don’t be fooled into thinking that by treating everyone exactly the same, you are demonstrating a fair attitude and respecting diversity. Instead, treat people fairly and respect the differences that make them who they are. For example, don’t schedule a mandatory meeting that falls on a religious holiday — it demonstrates a insensitivity and may breed resentment and foster feelings of being left out in any employees that are unable to attend. As a manager, you must fairness, whatever he or she is white or black, do not discriminate them. When the top managers treat the employees fair, the employees and employees can be respect themselves. 4.3 Patience Although employees that come from different cultures sometimes speak different languages, sometimes they cannot know what you say, as a manager or owner, you must have patience to listen to your employees’ suggestions so that it can help you improve yourself. 5.0 Conclusion A diverse workforce is a reflection of a changing world and marketplace. Diverse work teams bring high value to organizations. Respecting individual differences will benefit the workplace by creating a competitive edge and increasing work productivity. Diversity management benefits associates by creating a fair and safe environment where everyone has access to opportunities and challenges. Management tools in a diverse workforce should be used to educate everyone about diversity and its issues, including laws and regulations. Most workplaces are made up of diverse cultures, so organizations need to learn how to adapt to be successful. 6.0 References Esty, Katharine, Richard Griffin, and Marcie Schorr-Hirsh (1995). Workplace diversity. A managers guide to solving problems and turning diversity into a competitive advantage. Avon, MA: Adams Media Corporation. Lynne, M. D. Advantages & Disadvantages of Diverse Workforce in an Organization, [Online] Available at: http:smallbusiness.chron.com. [Accessed 3 November 2012]. Noe, R. A, et al (2011): Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 4th edition, New York: McGraw-Hill Josh, G. Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions [Online] Available at: http:www.multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/diversity [ Accessed 7 November 2012] Tom, R. 5 Strategies for Dealing with Diversity in the Workplace [Online] Available at: http:smallbusiness.chron.com. [ Accessed 10 November 2012]

Compare Contrast Essay on the book Lizard

There are two types’ lovers-defeated lovers and victorious lovers. But the reality is there is neither victory nor defeat in love. Only permanent effort and loyalty is the basis of eternal love. Let me explain this with an example: The full moon is shining in the sky. It’s full-moon day. Seeing the beauty of the moon, a tempest rises in the ocean beneath. The ocean, in an effort to reach the moon, sends the roaring waves one after another. But alas, can the waves reach the moon, howsoever big they may be! Can the moon ever come down to the earth, whatever is the intensity of the wish! Seeing the plight of the ocean and the moon, a small twinkling star says to itself. Alas! I am but a little star. What can I do for the ocean and the moon? I shall only pray God–let the space in between the ocean and the moons unite them! –So, the waves continue to lash at the vacant space with the hope of reaching the moon. However, the reality is, the cosmos in which the moon and the ocean co-exist, is an integrated whole. So, what do the concepts like separation and distance mean? The ocean and the moon stand united as considered from a higher perspective. Their love stands fructified. You are the creator of your destiny related to your love-life, certainly not the victim. Love is to be lived and experienced in its trials, tribulations, duty and beauty and it is an import part of your self-discovery. Nevertheless, the ocean continues with its efforts to reach the moon. I have chosen the stories, â€Å"Newly Wed,† and â€Å"Lizard† for the purpose of this essay. The writings of Banana touch your heart and appeal to your emotions. Love is the subject that has enchanted and engulfed humanity since time immemorial. The mind-level problems related to love, either take you to the transcendental level, or to an emotional intrigue. For the desperate situation of the heart, one seeks desperate remedies. In the confused state of mind, one surrenders to magic-for example, the enigmatic healer Lizard. The sacred texts proclaim every action (good or bad) has a reaction and the intensity of the reaction is in proportion to the intensity of the action! Every thought, good or evil, is an action. Over this, there is no dispute between the spiritualists and the scientists. One of the rare agreements between the two contending forces; the two opposing forces! The forces that do not normally see eye to eye with each other! Love is not a homogenous force. The psychic circuit of each lover is different and special. The skill of the writer in the story Lizard is how the emotional complexities are tackled. Through the confusion, she strikes a reassuring clarity. Life hurts but her characters have the guts to accept that hurt with courage. In such situations they never tremble or tumble. They are able to find a solution through the medium of love coupled with spiritual solace. Lizard: This is a story from a male perspective. He calls his beloved a Lizard, for she has a small tattoo on her inner thigh. That the man has seen the tattoo in that part, speaks about the obvious relationship. The man is fascinated by the superlative talent the Lizard possesses. Some quotes to highlight her latent qualities and ingenuity: â€Å"I was reminded of her separateness, a being with different organs, bundled in a different sheath of skin, who has dreams at night that are nothing like my own.†Ã¢â‚¬â€the man explains how he sees the Lizard. â€Å"Her profile stood out in sharp relief against the white wall. She seemed like a creature of a different species, one who lives quietly in the dark†Ã¢â‚¬â€this is his observation about the Lizard. â€Å"Her every gesture, every move, brought life to me, a man who had been dormant for so long†.-the man shares his feelings how the Lizard has affected him. These are clearly the signs of man who is in deep love. Oh! Man-love once, before seeking liberation through spirituality! You are the part of the never ending long story through the ages-it is between him and her! The central character of the story is a doctor, who works with children who are emotionally disturbed.   Ã‚  He loves a young woman in whose reptile eyes â€Å"I see my own lonely face, peering down, looking for something to love and cherish. †As a child she had a bitter experience of witnessing a brutal attack. Rightly she becomes an acupuncture practitioner now dedicated to healing those in acute pain. But she can never forget her past. Her love tells her a similar experience, which reduces her mental anguish. He offers her the psychological support; otherwise she is a tough woman. Newlywed: This story has a strange history. It was serialized on posters on the railways around Japan. It makes the issue interesting.   It is about a strange woman that a newly married man meets in the train. This is also a story written from a male perspective. The man’s encounter on a train with a stranger who reveals to him a universal life force that encompasses even â€Å"the slight feeling of alienation he experiences in his marriage â€Å" That young man is reluctantly returning home on the subway to his new and frightening role as husband! Along the way, he meets a mysterious stranger who shows him that the role he has chosen is a positive one. â€Å"The prose is as clean and smooth as a lacquered teacup,† Geraldine Sherman claimed in the Toronto Globe and Mail, speaking about the quality of writing of Banana. That drunken man, discontented, on his way home sits fixed to his subway seat. He doesn’t wish to return to his silly and troublesome wife.   He's joined by a familiar Japanese character, The Trickster, an old man who transforms himself into a beautiful, wise woman â€Å"smelling like the scent of a place, before I was born, where all the primal emotions, love and hate, blended in the air.† This mysterious fellow-traveler understands the narrator's innermost thoughts and gives him the courage to carry out his duties. The undercurrent of both the above stories is love. â€Å"They (the scientists) may cross the moon, beat the stars, but probe they must the mystery of my eve’s gaze.† â€Å"Marriage is like a fort. Those who are within, wish to come out. (Newly Wed) Those who are out, wish to get in.† (Lizard) In both the stories, the human emotions are tackled at heir best. Conclusion: Love woks through different layers of an individual’s personality. Its intensity changes with the time and circumstances. Banana has ably pictured this dominant human emotion, appropriate to the situation. ‘Loving’ situations are gift of the God to the one who is experiencing them. Let it be a beautiful experience- Banana propounds this love-philosophy in her unique style. She is a capable narrator many dimensions of love. ============

What ACT Percentiles Mean in College Admissions

What ACT Percentiles Mean in College Admissions Much of the ACT data on this site and elsewhere on the web show ACT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of students. But what exactly do these numbers mean? Understanding the 25th and 75th Percentile ACT Numbers Consider a college profile that presents the following ACT scores for the 25th and 75th percentiles: ACT Composite: 21/26ACT English: 20/26ACT Math: 21/27 The lower number is the 25th percentile of students who enrolled in (not just applied to) the college. For the school above, 25% of enrolled students received a math score of 21 or lower. The upper number is the 75th percentile of students who enrolled in the college. For the above example, 75% of enrolled students got a math score of 27 or lower (looked at another way, 25% of students got above a 27). For the school above, if you have an ACT math score of 28, you would be in the top 25% of applicants for that one measure. If you have a math score of 19, you are in the bottom 25% of applicants for that measure. Understanding these numbers is important when you plan how many colleges to apply to, and when you figure out which schools are a reach, a match, or a safety. If your scores are near or below the 25th percentile numbers, you should consider the school a reach. Note that this does not mean you wont get in- remember that 25% of students who enroll have a score that is at or below that lower number. Why Do Colleges Present 25th and 75th Percentile Data? You may wonder why the standard practice for ACT score reporting focuses on 25th and 75th percentile data rather than the full range of scores earned by matriculated students. The reason is rather simple- the outlying data is not an accurate representation of the type of student who typically attends the college or university. Even the countrys most selective colleges  admit a few students with ACT scores that are well below the norm. For example, 75% of enrolled students at Harvard University scored a 32 or higher on the ACT. However, this graph of Harvard admissions data  shows that a few students got in with ACT scores that were in the mid teens. How, exactly, did these students get in? The reasons could be many: perhaps the student did not have English as a first language but was exceptional in many other ways; perhaps the student had straight A grades and 5 scores on AP exams, but simply didnt perform well on the ACT; perhaps the student had such remarkable accomplishments that the admissions folks overlooked a sub-par ACT score; perhaps the student had a disadvantaged background that made the ACT an unfair measure of ability. That said, if you have a 15 ACT composite score, you shouldnt get your hopes up for Harvard. Without some kind of exceptional story or circumstances, the 25th percentile number of 32 is a much more accurate representation of what youll need to be admitted.   Similarly, even non-selective colleges will get a few students who have extremely high ACT scores.   But publishing a 35 or 36 as the upper end of ACT data wouldnt be meaningful to prospective students. Those high performing students would be the exception, not the norm. Sample ACT Percentile Data for Top Schools   If youre interested in seeing what the 25th and 75th percentile scores are for some of the countrys most prestigious and selective colleges, check out these articles: ACT Comparison Tables: the Ivy League | top universities | top liberal arts colleges | more top liberal arts | top public universities | top public liberal arts colleges | University of California campuses | Cal State campuses | SUNY campuses | More ACT tables The tables will help you see how you measure up in relation to students who were admitted to each school. What If Your ACT Scores Are Below the 25% Number? Keep in mind that a low ACT score doesnt need to be the end of your college dreams. For one, a quarter of all admitted students got in with scores below the 25% number. Also, there are a lot of excellent colleges that do not require ACT scores. Finally, be sure to check out these strategies for students with low ACT scores.

Environmental Costs of Hydrofracking

Environmental Costs of Hydrofracking Natural gas drilling with high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing (hereafter referred to as fracking) has exploded onto the energy scene in the last 5 or 6 years, and the promise of vast stores of natural gas under American soil has prompted a true natural gas rush. Once the technology was developed, new drill rigs appeared all over landscapes in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Texas, and Wyoming. Many have worries about the environmental consequences of this new approach to drilling; here are some of those concerns. Drill Cuttings During the drilling process, large amounts of ground up rock, mixed with drilling mud and brine, are pulled out of the well and transported off the site. This waste then gets buried in landfills. Beside the large waste volume that needs to be accommodated, a concern with drill cuttings is the presence of naturally occurring radioactive materials in them. Radium and uranium can be found in drill cuttings (and produced water – see below) from a proportion of wells, and these elements eventually leach out of the landfills into the surrounding ground and surface waters. Water Use Once a well has been drilled, large amounts of water are pumped into the well at very high pressure to fracture the rock in which the natural gas is located. During a single fracking operation on a single well (wells can be fracked multiple times over their lifetime), on average 4 million gallons of water are used. This water is pumped from streams or rivers and trucked to the site, bought from municipal water sources, or is reused from other fracking operation. Many are concerned about these important water withdrawals, and worried that it may lower the water table in some areas, leading to dry wells and degraded fish habitat. Fracking Chemicals A long, varying list of chemical additives is added to the water in the fracking process. The toxicity of these additives is variable, and many new chemical compounds are created during the fracking process as some of the added ingredients break-down. Once the fracking water returns to the surface, it needs to be treated before disposal (see Water Disposal below). The amount of chemicals added represents a very small fraction of the total volume of fracking water (around 1%). However, this very small fraction detracts from the fact that in absolute terms it is rather large volumes that are used. For a well requiring 4 million gallons of water, about 40,000 gallons of additives are pumped in. The greatest risks associated with these chemicals occur during their transportation, as tanker trucks must use the local roads to bring them to the drill pads. An accident involved spilled contents would have significant public safety and environmental consequences.   Water Disposal A large proportion of the prodigious amounts of water pumped down the well flows back up when the well starts producing natural gas. Besides the fracking chemicals, brine that was naturally present in the shale layer comes back up, too. This amounts to a large volume of liquid that is released into a lined pond, then pumped into trucks and transported to either be recycled for other drilling operations, or to be treated. This â€Å"produced water† is toxic, containing fracking chemicals, high concentrations of salt, and sometimes radioactive materials like radium and uranium. Heavy metals from the shale are of concern too: produced water will contain lead, arsenic, barium, and strontium for example. Spills from failed retention ponds or botched transfers to trucks do happen and have an impact on local streams and wetlands. Then, the water disposal process is not trivial. One method is injection wells. Waste water is injected into the ground at great depths under impermeable rock layers. The extremely high pressure used in this process is blamed for earthquake swarms in Texas, Oklahoma, and Ohio. The second way fracking waste water can be disposed of is in industrial wastewater treatment plants. There have been problems with ineffective treatments at Pennsylvania municipal water treatment plants, so that practice has now ended and only approved industrial treatment plants can be used. Casing Leaks The deep wells used in horizontal hydrofracking are lined with steel casings. Sometimes these casings fail, allowing fracking chemicals, brines, or natural gas to escape into the shallower rock layers and severely contaminating ground water that may reach the surface of be used for drinking water. An example of this problem, documented by the Environmental Protection Agency, is the Pavillion (Wyoming) groundwater contamination case.   Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change Methane is a major component of natural gas, and a very powerful greenhouse gas. Methane can leak from damaged casings, well heads, or it may be vented during some phases of a fracking operation. Combined, these leaks have significant negative impacts on the climate. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning natural gas are much lower, per quantity of energy produced, than from burning oil or coal. Natural gas would then seem to be a reasonably good alternative to more CO2 intensive fuels. The problem is that throughout the entire production cycle of natural gas, a great deal of methane is released, negating some or all of the climate change advantages natural gas seemed to have over coal. Ongoing research will hopefully provide answers as to which is least damaging, but there is no doubt that mining and burning natural gas produces great amounts of greenhouse gases and thus contributes to global climate change. Habitat Fragmentation Well pads, access roads, waste water ponds, and pipelines crisscross the landscape in natural gas producing regions. This fragments the landscape, reducing the size of wildlife habitat patches, isolating them from one another, and contributing to detrimental edge habitat. Peripheral Aspects Fracking for natural gas in horizontal wells is an expensive process that can only be done economically at high density, industrializing the landscape. Emissions and noise from diesel trucks and compressor stations have negative impacts on the local air quality and overall quality of life. Fracking requires large amounts of equipment and materials which themselves are mined or produced at high environmental costs, notably steel and frac sand. Environmental Benefits? At the local scale, the land footprint from fracking operations, especially once the well has been established and the drill rig is gone, is smaller than that of coal strip mines, mountain-top removal mines, or tar sands fields. The footprint of thousands of wells and pipeline right-of-ways over an entire region do add up, though.Natural gas from Marcellus, Barnett, or other North American shale deposits allows us to rely on a domestic source of energy.   That means less energy spent transporting fossil fuels from overseas, and more importantly maintaining the ability to have stricter environmental controls over the entire energy production process. Source Duggan-Haas, D., R.M. Ross, and W.D. Allmon. 2013. The Science Beneath the Surface: A Very Short Guide to the Marcellus Shale. Paleontological Research Institute.

Business Strategy Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Strategy Analysis - Essay Example Grand Canyon University has a wide range of product offerings including bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs totaling over 100 in business, education, liberal arts, nursing and health, recreation and sports, among other areas of fast growing careers. Certifications and other credits are also offered at the university. Evening, fulltime, part-time, and online are some of the flexibilities allowed in the programs offered at GCU. GCU mission statement reads, â€Å"Grand Canyon University prepares learners to become global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and responsible leaders by providing an academically challenging, values-based curriculum from the context of our Christian heritage† (GCU, 2014). In 2013, GCU had net revenue of $598,335 and a net income of $ 88,711 with the earnings per common share $ 1.98 and $ 1.92 for basic and diluted shares showing a good financial performance for a higher education providing institution. Global operations are in form of the enrolment of students from beyond United States either physically in the Phoenix main campus and other campuses or through the online learning system at the University. A SWOT analysis of GCU shows that the strengths of GCU include offering a faith based product, the university has strong online presence that spans a large demographic, maintenance of regional accreditation, and a high profit margin that cushions the university at hard times as demonstrated by the 2008 recession (Grand Canyon University,  2014). However, GCU has some weaknesses including an inability to provide excellent customer service through all university levels especially on online classrooms. Other weaknesses include poor education at financial literacy by the staff leading to loss of grants by students. The opportunities available to the university include increasing