Sordaria Fimicola Lab Report Essays

Sordaria Fimicola Lab Report Essays Sordaria Fimicola Lab Report Paper Sordaria Fimicola Lab Report Paper The model, Sardinia familial, reproduces wrought the process of Meiosis and their chromosomes cross over in Prophesy I (Stern). S. Familial have different crossover frequencies between the slopes in Evolution Canyon; there are higher crossover frequencies on the SF compared to the NFG. One possible explanation of this outcome is the harsh conditions on the South side causing an increase in crossing over. To prove if climate conditions really did have an effect on crossover, we controlled the conditions in lab on common lab strains of dark and tan Sardinia. Having lab strains of Sardinia familial makes it a good model organism because it has a short life cycle, reduces fruiting bodies, and its easy to keep alive. The defining characteristic of the phylum Somatic is the production of four to eight sexual spores in a sac-like cell called an caucus (Lamb). As stated before, S. Familial reproduces through Meiosis where crossover occurs in Prophesy I. The process of meiosis can cause three patterns to arise in ASCII; a 4:4 pattern has four black spores and four tan spores next to each other. This occurs when there is no cross over between the different strains. A and pattern result from crossover; the set patterns are determined through Meiosis. As soon as Meiosis II is complete and there are four daughter cells in the caucus, the pattern is determined. Mitosis is the final step in completing the process; at the end of meiosis, the four daughter cells divide to produce a total of eight spores. There are five research questions we are trying to answer. What are the challenges in the procedure for mating the different strains? What are the challenges in preparing squashes of peripatetic for scoring ASCII? What evidence demonstrates crossing over has occurred? What is the crossover frequency under optimal growth conditions? And what is the map distance? I will be referring to these questions throughout this report to better our understanding of the labs purpose. In this experiment, we placed four agar blocks from Sardinia on a mating plate. The two different strains, tan and wild type, were alternated so no like strain was next to each other. We placed a lid on the plate and let it incubate for two weeks at room temperature to allow the fungi to reproduce and recombine with the strain next to it. Once finished incubating, we collected samples from one of the lines of black dots between the gars. We put the samples on a microscope slide o score peripatetic squashes by looking for caucus sacs containing black and tan spores. The crossover frequencies of Type A (4:4) for the combined course data were 6,358; Type B ASCII were 05 ASCII, and Type C ASCII were 4,908. Overall, there were a greater number of non-recombinant. Materials and Methods The experiment started through obtaining a mating plate that was divided with a marker into four sections. The quadrants were labeled Tan and Wild Type, making sure no same label was next to each other. The working surface was cleaned and two small squares of agar were cut with a cleaned razor blade room the first strain and two small squares of agar from the second strain. The tan and black strains were placed under the correct label on the plate so the same strain was not next to each other. The plate was covered up with a lid and the agar blocks were left to incubate for two weeks at room temperature. After the incubation period was complete, a line of black dots appeared along the dividing lines on the plate. The squashes were prepared by using an inoculating loop to scrape peripatetic from the center of one of the dividing lines. A sample from the dividing lines was placed on a microscope slide and a drop of water as added followed by a coveralls. A pencil eraser was used to release the ASCII from the peripatetic by pushing down on the coveralls. Under the microscope, the ASCII were observed and recorded to find recombination patterns. The total number of recombinant of Type B ASCII and Type C ASCII was divided by the total amount of the recombinant and non-recombinant counted. The percentage was calculated by multiplying the previous answer by 100. The map distance was found by dividing the percent of the crossovers by 2 because each crossover produced two spores identical to the parents and two spores that resulted from he crossover. Results Table 1. Caucus Scored Non-recombinant # of Type A ASCII (44) Recombinant Total # of ASCII Total # Recombinant ASCII # of Type B # of Type C Class Data 159 125 136 420 261 Section Data 6,358 5,105 4,908 16,371 10,013 Table 2. Crossover Frequencies Frequency of Recombinant ASCII Frequency of Type B ASCII Frequency of Type C ASCII Ratio B/C Data 62. % 29. 7% 32. 4% . 92 61. 2% 31. 2% 1. 04 (egg Figure 1) Figure 1 is one of the many ASCII groups found of recombinant and non- recombinant under a microscope of xx. The eight ASCII circled in red presents a pattern of crossover between the spore color gene and the centimeter. Crossing over occurred between the spore color and the centimeter due to the evidence of the 2:4:2 a nd 2:2:2:2 ASCII patterns found in groups similar to Figure 1. This group of ASCII is not a good representation of recombinant, but it gives an idea of what we saw when we searched for the recombinant. The evidence we obtained from Figure 1 and other groups similar to Figure 1 prove that crossover has occurred between the wild type and tan Sardinia. In the class data, there were 125 Type B recombinant and 136 Type C recombinant cored. Since a total of 420 recombinant and non-recombinant ASCII were found, the crossover frequency of the class data is 62. 1% because we divided the total number of recombinant with the total number of ASCII. The map distance can be calculated as followed: Class: 62. 1%/2=31. 05 units Section: 61. 2%/2=30. Units. This is the distance between the centimeter and its gene from where it crossed over. Discussion This experiment helped to further the understanding of reproduction in Sardinia familial under certain environmental conditions by observing the three types of spaceports patterns. S. Familial reproduced through Meiosis under minimal light and room temperature, creating an assortment of offspring. Two of the spaceports patterns produced are recombinan t, 2:2:2:2 and 2:4:2, therefore proving crossover occurred, shown in Table 1 . Above in Table 2, the recombinant percent frequency of crossover is just over 61% and the map distance is around 30 units. Due to this percentage, believe crossover occurs more often in a certain environment because the percentage frequency is more than 50%. The high crossover frequency reflects map distance; the greater the frequency of combination between two genes, the farther apart they are assumed to be. The lower the frequency, the smaller the distance is between them (Salem). Since map distance can only go up to 50 units, our 30-unit map distance is more than half of the chromosome. This causes me to believe a lot of cross over happened during the two weeks of incubation. More than half of the ASCII found were crossed over, which causes me to believe Sardinia to has a high amount genetic variation. An organism whose offspring is genetically distinct increases the chances of survival (Salem). Would say S. Nicola has a good chance of reproducing and thriving with the amount of recombinant found during lab. From the results, I conclude the room temperature and minimal light in lab affected the outcome of crossover frequency in Meiosis. Some challenges did arise during the lab. One issue we faced was the difficulty of placing the agar in the plate; it kept sticking to the razor blade because it was so sticky. Eventually, the agar were placed in the correct positions, it just took awhile to get them there. The other issue occurred during incubation, which caused a lot of the class Sardinia to be unusable, so groups had to share the usable Sardinia. My Sardinia was one of the ones deemed unusable; therefore I had to share another groups Sardinia. Was surprised to find some differences in the class and section data of recombinant. In the class data, there were more Type C ASCII than Type B and a 62. 1 % crossover frequency, but in the section data, there were more Type B ASCII than Type C and a 61. 2% crossover frequency. Its surprising to me how the number of ASCII types in the class and section data were not consistent. I would have assumed there would either be more of Type B or Type C in both analyses. What I find even more surprising is that despite the differences in recombinant amounts, the percentage crossovers are similar. Because the two pieces of data backed each other up, this could mean that S. Nicola has a crossover percentage around 60% if the growth conditions are room temperature and minimal light. When discovering crossover frequencies were consistent between the class and section, the percentages werent exactly equal to one another. This could possibly be the result of experimental errors. For instance, when scoring the ASCII, I found it difficult to keep track of the ASCII combinations I al ready found. There could have been combination patterns counted more than once on the same microscope slide, resulting in inaccurate data. In future experiments, I would recommend to somehow make aware of the ASCII groups already counted for to be sure the patterns wont get counted multiple times. Taking a photograph or drawing a picture of ASCII groups would be helpful. To back up the results of the experiment, the lab could be performed again, but differently. For future labs, more data should be collected. Adding more ASCII to the experiment would prove results to be more reliable. A higher amount of data will always have titer, more accurate results because there is more consistency of patterns. With more data, the process is more understood. Another alteration of the experiment could be changing the temperature and lighting during the incubation period. The temperature could be made cooler to resemble the North Facing Side of Evolution Canyon to prove the correlation of lower crossover frequencies with a lower temperature (Grabbed). Another possibility would be to make the conditions similar to the South Facing Slope by raising the temperature and increasing the light. Based off the current results, I would assume the crossover would be much higher with an increase in temperature and lighting. The experiment of S. Familial in the lab manual provided evidence that the environment on the South Facing Side causes more cross over between strains. Due to the fact the SF has more light and has a high temperature, I would think lab Sardinia could have an increase in crossover with brighter light and higher heat. This experiment involving Sardinia familial increases the understanding of how it responds to its environment through sexual reproduction. Lamb, Bernard. Inherited and Environmentally Induced

Definitions and Examples of Argument in Rhetoric

Definitions and Examples of Argument in Rhetoric In rhetoric, an argument is a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood. In composition, argument is one of the traditional modes of discourse. Adjective: argumentative. The Use of Argument in Rhetoric Daniel J. OKeefe, a professor of communication and persuasion theory, has distinguished two senses of argument. Put simply, Argument1, the first sense, is a thing people make, as when an editorialist argues that some public policy is wrong. Argument2 is a kind of interaction people have, as when two friends argue about where to have lunch. So argument1 comes close to the ancient rhetorical notion of argument, while argument2 legitimates the modern interactional research (quoted by Dale Hample in A Third Perspective on Argument. Philosophy and Rhetoric, 1985). Rhetorical Argument and Context An argument field  is a subdivision of rhetorical argument as determined by context or subject matter. (See  Toulmin Model.) (For the specialized use of this term in language studies, see Argument [Linguistics].) Robert Benchley on Arguments Most of the arguments to which I am party fall somewhat short of being impressive, owing to the fact that neither I nor my opponent knows what we are talking about. (Robert Benchley) Kinds of Arguments Argument, in its most basic form, can be described as a claim (the arguers position on a controversial issue) which is supported by reasons and evidence to make the claim convincing to an audience. All of the forms of argument described below include these components. Debate, with participants on both sides trying to win.Courtroom argument, with lawyers pleading before a judge and jury.Dialectic, with people taking opposing views and finally resolving the conflict.Single-perspective argument, with one person arguing to convince a mass audience.One-on-one everyday argument, with one person trying to convince another.Academic inquiry, with one or more people examining a complicated issue.Negotiation, with two or more people working to reach consensus.Internal argument, or working to convince yourself. (Nancy C. Wood, Perspectives on Argument. Pearson, 2004) General Rules for Composing a Short Argument 1. Distinguish premises and conclusion2. Present your ideas in natural order3. Start from reliable premises4. Be concrete and concise5. Avoid loaded language6. Use consistent terms7. Stick to one meaning for each term​  (Adapted from A Rulebook for Arguments, 3rd ed., by Anthony Weston. Hackett, 2000) Adapting Arguments to an Audience The goals of clarity, propriety, and persuasiveness dictate that we adapt our arguments, as well as the language in which they are cast, to an audience. Even a well-constructed argument may fail to convince if it is not adapted to your actual audience.(James A. Herrick, Argumentation: Understanding and Shaping Arguments, 3rd ed. Strata, 2007) The Lighter Side of Argument: The Argument Clinic Patron: I came here for a good argument.Sparring Partner: No, you didnt. You came here for an argument.Patron: Well, an argument is not the same as contradiction.Sparring Partner: Can be . . .Patron: No, it cant. An argument is a connected series of statements to establish a definite proposition.Sparring Partner: No it isnt.Patron: Yes it is. It isnt just contradiction.Sparring Partner: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.Patron: But it isnt just saying no it isnt.Sparring Partner: Yes it is.Patron: No it isnt! An argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gain-saying of anything the other person says.Sparring Partner: No it isnt. (Michael Palin and John Cleese in The Argument Clinic. Monty Pythons Flying Circus, 1972) EtymologyFrom the Latin, to make clear Pronunciation: ARE-gyu-ment

History of China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History of China - Essay Example The examinations were graded in levels as discussed below; District level People who had passed the zau jyun si (district level exam) achieved the status of tong sheng and could sit the prefectural level exams. Those individuals were commoners and about 2% of the population had such qualifications. Prefectural level Successful candidates at this stage attained the Sang jyun degree and the most outstanding holders of this degree were awarded the gung sang degree and were the lower gentry. The exam was conducted twice after every three years by about 2% of the population. Level 2b Rich people within the government who were too lazy to study were allowed to buy a gaam sang degree in order to improve their social status, they became the lower gentry. Provincial level Those who passed the xiang shi were awarded the Geoi Jan degree and became members of the upper gentry.hey were done at the provincial capital every three years by about 0.0065% of the population. Metropolitan level Successf ul candidates at this stage were awarded the gong sheng degree and could immediately sit the din shi and be given the zeon si degree. They became the highest gentry and had rights to hold office although such positions were not guaranteed. Most of them worked as intermediaries between the government officials and the local peasants. This system was abolished in 1905 to adopt the science and technology based curricula practiced by the western nations. This set it apart from the Song Dynasty exam system that followed Confucian classical methods. Q2: Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty The Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty were both built around the same time i.e Qin around 221-208 BC and Chinese rulers’ controlled Han around 206BC-AD 220.Both Dynasties. Under this dynasties heir was no central political force in China and as such, the great nomad empires emerged such Liao and the great Mongol empires. Both tenures were characterized by ruthlessness and tyrannical demands on the peopl e to pay heavy taxes and compulsory labor. These dynasties were effective in the sense that, during these periods there was relative peace in China. However, they both had weak military forces and were easily overrun by the nomadic tribes of the north. Both the Sui and the Tang Dynasty rulers’ were part nomads. These rulers’ were non-Chinese but their reign was considered Chinese. Both regimes were very successful in terms of commerce as the Sui were able to connect Yellow and Yangtze (Grand Canal) eastward waterways starting from Beijing to Hangzhou, thereby enabling nationwide commerce to thrive especially under the more prosperous Tang Dynasty. In addition, both Dynasties occurred after the reign of the Six Dynasties i.e. Sui from 589-617 AD and Tang from 618-907 AD(Ebrey, Walthall & Palais 2009 p89). These Dynasties were effective in the sense that they had stronger military’s that helped re-unify China and that there was improvement in commerce in this peri ods. However, under these regimes the citizens suffered tyranny from the government in the form of forced labor and heavy taxes. in addition, the costly and often disastrous military escapades in Korea combined with corruption, disloyalty and assassinations led to popular revolts resulting in the overthrow of the Sui dynasty. Q3: Women in imperial China It is possible to understand the overreliance of women on their male relatives as pillars of their lives (Hinsch, 2002). This is clear in the book ‘The Soul of Chien-nu leaves her Body’. Since Chien-nu relies on her lover Wang Wen-chu to help drive away the fear, she runs up to the river in the hope of finding him (Lu, 1990 p91). As she sings, she mentions the fear that she can’

Can School Vouchers and School Choice Successfully Coexist Research Paper

Can School Vouchers and School Choice Successfully Coexist - Research Paper Example Charter schools are different from school vouchers. Charter schools are subsidized by the government. The government can revoke the charter and halt funding at any time. Voucher programs date back to the early 1900s in Vermont and Maine. The two states wanted to ensure that every child had access to schools, at a time when some children were not located in a school district (CNN). It is only in the 1990s that other localities and states adopted voucher programs and sparked debate (Brown, B. 2002, 287-300). The issues presented by school vouchers have polarized Americans. Many are for vouchers, and many are against vouchers. Few are left in the middle. Proponents of school vouchers make their main case the condition of failing, inner-city schools. Varying in different programs, vouchers are offered to failing students in urban schools. The students have a choice to enrol in another public school or private school. Supporters argue that a majority of voucher recipients are poor minorities. Therefore, these poor, neglected students have a new chance in a school outside the district. In addition to providing better education to these failing students, the push for school integration is renewed (Coulson). Since school integration became the law of the land in 1954, white families have flocked to the suburbs, resulting in separation of the upper classes and lower classes (Epple, D., and Romano, R. 2003). Opponents dispute that this totally undermines public education. Learning by People for the American Way (PFAW) cites that the voucher costs drain money from public schools. This has unenthusiastic effects in its place of keeping the money inside the school budget.  

Pepsi Co Essay Example for Free

Pepsi Co Essay Pepsi Co is one of the largest Multi-national enterprises in US having operations in different countries of the world. It basically deals in beverages and soft drinks and offers different brands such as Pepsi, Tropicana, and Gatorode etc. The sheer success of its brands depicts that it is one of the most successful organizations in US which is operating at The International level. Pepsi receives its revenue in US dollars from all its licensed bottlers working across the world. However, it pays to its suppliers and employees in the local currency where it operates. Due to this factor, its cost structure is affected as the volatile movements in currency can really produce a volatile movement in its cost of sales. This factor also creates more sever impact when some of the countries where Pepsi Co works do not allow forward booking of US dollars. Therefore, Pepsi Co may not be able to hedge itself against the currency volatility. (G. I. , 2003) There are countries where Pepsi Co makes and receives payments in US dollars. However, since its foreign affiliates have to purchase the US dollar from the local market to pay to it therefore, the impact may be more volatile specially if the local currency appreciates against the US Dollar. If local currency appreciates against US Dollar, the revenues of the company will go down because local affiliates would not buy fewer US Dollars because of appreciation. This will also affect the profitability of the company because Pepsi Co would now have to remit the higher amount of US Dollars to pay to its suppliers in the local market. Therefore, its overall expense would increase. Therefore, the whole profitability would come down as a result of this. (Tallman, 2007). Bibliography 1. G. I. , Z. (2003). MNEs, globalisation and digital economy: legal and economic aspects. Managerial Law, , 45 (1), pp. 1-296. 2. Tallman, S. B. (2007). A New Generation in International Strategic Management. New York: Edward Elgar Publishing,.

The Call Of The Wild :: essays research papers

The Call of the Wild Affection- The Call of the Wild is a book that gets you emotionally involved by getting you attached to Jon’s dog and their connection. From the beginning you can tell that Buck (Jon’s dog) takes a liking to Jon. He started out as a mean spirited dog but softens when he gets to know Jon. If you like touching stories, this book is just that. Bandwagon- If â€Å"everyone† does something, then most people want to join in. That’s exactly what Jon did in this book. He heard about all of the people traveling north to the Klondike for gold and he wanted to do the same. Many people follow the â€Å"pack† and can relate to this story. Authority- If someone of power or authority does something, it is easier to follow, just like how the Mayor of the town Jon was from went to the Klondike. That helped Jon make his decision about going also. Value Judgment- Family values are important to a lot of people. Charlie, an Indian guide that Jon became friends with, had a family and left them to go with the others to the Klondike. He realized during the trip that he needed to go back to them because he was abandoning them. He left Jon and went back. He later returned with his family. That proves that he was a man that had good values and cared about his family. Acquisitive instinct- Most of the people that went to the Klondike went to find gold, because they wanted more than they already had. Lots of us do that same thing. We always seem to want more than we already have. So we can relate to the book in that way. Even if it is not right to always want more we can see where they are coming from. Plain Folks- When books are about average people, we usually like to read about that more because it seems like more of a real life situation. Jon’s family was average and he was a normal guy. He just wanted something new in his life so he went North, just like a lot of the other people. Neglected aspect- Most of the people that went North went for a selfish purpose.

Dualism and Monism: Of Body and Mind Essay

In philosophy, dualism refers to views about the relationship between mind and matter, claiming that mind and matter are two epistemologically separate categories. Proponents of dualism claimed that neither the mind nor matter can be reduced to each other in any way. Here, dualism rejected the materialist conception of history, especially the Hegelian concept of dialectics. There are two general classifications of dualism: substance dualism and property dualism. Substance dualism claimed that the body and mind are composed of distinct substances. Property dualism claimed that there is no distinction in substance between mind and body. The physical and mental attributes, however, are categorically distinct. In Buddhism, dualism refers to a category of consciousness. The body is the primary instrument of consciousness development. The mind is the full realization of enlightenment – the basis of knowledge and self-fulfillment. In orthodox Christian theology, dualism is subsumed under the soul/body classification. The body is distinct from the mind both in substance and consciousness. The physical attributes of an individual is subsumed under the notion of a general Divine consciousness, which governs every aspect of both mind and body. Monism claimed that there is a general unity within a field of inquiry. Some philosophers particularly Descartes, Hobbes, and Hegel argued that the unity of inquiry is in the rubric of Divine providence, which the individual may understand through the philosophical meditation. In relation to mind and body, monism asserted that the consciousness of the body is subsumed under the consciousness of the mind. The reality of the latter is generally, the unity and focus of the former. Hence, regardless of the condition of the body, the mind (through philosophical meditation) progresses to a state of self-enlightenment. Unlike dualism, monism argued the preeminence of the mind over all physical attributes, for it is the only manifestation of a greater preternatural unity. In orthodox Christian theology, monism considered a dangerous doctrine. Christian theology maintained the separateness of the Creator from the creature. The creature is not considered as an offspring of the Creator or the process of Divine imagination. The Creator transcends both the creature and reality itself, for its reality is different from the epistemological conception of reality. In monism, the differences between body and mind are as follows: 1) the body is the manifestation of physical reality – objective reality as perceived by the senses; 2) the consciousness of the mind is superior both in degree and comprehension than the consciousness of the body; 3) the mind is the sole individual realization of a given unity; 4) the relationship between mind and body is only ontological in nature (categorical); 5) their relationship is only arbitrary – measured by the general lifetime of the body.

Pest Analysis of Automobile Industry Essay

I would like to confer my heartiest thanks to my coordinator of Business Environment and class teacher Miss Impreet Kaur for giving me the opportunity to expel and work in the field of Environmental Analysis, especially its practical applications. While preparing my project I got to have an in depth knowledge of practical applications of the theoretical concepts and definitely the things which I have learned will undoubtedly help me in future, to analyze many processes going on in our economy. I would also like to thank all those people who directly or indirectly helped us in accomplishing this project. Literature Review Competitiveness of manufacturing sector is a very broad multi-dimensional concept that embraces numerous aspects such as price, quality, productivity, efficiency and macro-economic environment. The OECD definition of competitiveness, which is most widely quoted, also considers employment and sustainability, while being exposed to international competition, as features pertaining to competitiveness. There are numerous studies on auto industry in India, published by industry associations, consultancy organizations, research bodies and peer-reviewed journals. In this section, various studies on the Indian auto industry are reviewed, under different heads pertaining to competitiveness, namely, global comparisons, policy environment and evolution of the Indian auto industry, productivity, aspects related to supply-chain and industrial structure and technology and other aspects. PESTLE Analysis PESTLE Analysis is a simple, useful and widely-used tool that helps you understand the â€Å"big picture† of your Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural and Technological, Legal and Environmental aspects. As such, it is used by business leaders worldwide to build their vision of the future. PESTLE analysis is concerned with the environmental influences on a business. Identifying PESTLE influences is a useful way of summarizing the external environment in which a business operates. However, it must be followed up by consideration of how a business should respond to these influences. It is important for these reasons: * First, by making effective use of PESTLE Analysis, you ensure that what you are doing is aligned positively with the powerful forces of change that are affecting our world. By taking advantage of change, you are much more likely to be successful than if your activities oppose it; * Second, good use of PESTLE Analysis helps you avoid taking action that is doomed to failure from the outset, for reasons beyond your control; and * Third, PESTLE is useful when you start operating in a new country or region. Use of PESTLE helps you break free of unconscious assumptions, and helps you quickly adapt to the realities of the new environment. The table below lists some possible factors that could indicate important environmental influences for a business under the PESTLE headings: Political / Legal| Economic| Social| Technological| – Environmental regulation and protection| – Economic growth | – Income distribution | – Government spending on research| – Taxation | – Monetary policy | – Demographics | – Government and industry focus on technological effort| – International trade regulation| – Government spending | – Labor / social mobility| – New discoveries and development| – Consumer protection| – Policy towards unemployment | – Lifestyle changes | – Speed of technology transfer | – Employment law| – Taxation | – Attitudes to work and leisure| – Rates of technological obsolescence | – Government organization / attitude | – Exchange rates | – Education| – Energy use and costs | – Competition regulation| – Inflation | – Fashions and fads| – Changes in material sciences | | – Stage of the business cycle | – Health & welfare | – Impact of changes in Information technology| | – Economic â€Å"mood† – consumer confidence| – Living conditions | – Internet! | PESTLE Analysis of Automobile Sector Political. * In 2002, the Indian government formulated an auto policy that aimed at promoting integrated, phased, enduring and self-sustained growth of the Indian automotive industry * Allows automatic approval for foreign equity investment up to 100% in the automotive sector and does not lay down any minimum investment criteria. * Formulation of an appropriate auto fuel policy to ensure availability of adequate amount of appropriate fuel to meet emission norms * Confirms the government’s intention on harmonizing the regulatory standards with the rest of the world * Indian government auto policy aimed at promoting an integrated, phased and conductive growth of the Indian automobile industry. * Allowing automatic approval for foreign equity investment up to 100% with no minimum investment criteria. * Establish an international hub for manufacturing small, affordable passenger cars as well as tractor and two wheelers. * Ensure a balanced transition to open trade at minimal risk to the Indian economy and local industry. * Assist development of vehicle propelled by alternate energy source. * Lying emphasis on R&D activities carried out by companies in India by giving a weighted tax deduction of up to 150% for in house research and R&D activities. * Plan to have a terminal life policy for CVs along with incentives for replacement for such vehicles. * Promoting multi-model transportation and the implementation of mass rapid transport system. Economic * The level of inflation Employment level per capita is right. * Economic pressures on the industry are causing automobile companies to reorganize the traditional sales process. * Weighted tax deduction of up to 150% for in-house research and R & D activities. * Govt. has granted concessions, such as reduced interest rates for export financing. * The Indian economy has grown at 8. 5% per annum. * The manufacturing sector has grown at 8-10 % per annum in the last few years. * More than 90% of the CV purchase is on credit. * Finance availability to CV buyers has grown in scope during the last few years. * The increased enforcement of overloading restrictions has also contributed to an increase in the no. of CVs plying on Indian roads. * Several Indian firms have partnered with global players. While some have formed joint ventures with equity participation, other also has entered into technology tie-ups. * Establishment of India as a manufacturing hub, for mini, compact cars, OEMs and for auto components. Social * Since changed lifestyle of people, leads to increased purchase of automobiles, so automobile sector have a large customer base to serve. * The average family size is 4, which makes it favorable to buy a four wheeler. * Growth in urbanization, 4th largest economy by ppp index. * Upward migration of household income levels. * 85% of cars are financed in India. * Car priced below USD 12000 accounts for nearly 80% of the market. * Vehicles priced between USD 7000-12000 form the largest segment in the passenger car market. * Indian customers are highly discerning, educated and well informed. They are price sensitive and put a lot of emphasis on value for money. * Preference for small and compact cars. They are socially acceptable even amongst the well off. * Preference for fuel efficient cars with low running costs. Technological * More and more emphasis is being laid on R & D activities carried out by companies in India. * Weighted tax deduction of up to 150% for in-house research and R & D activities. * The Government of India is promoting National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) to support the growth of the auto industry in India * Technological solutions helps in integrating the supply chain, hence reduce losses and increase profitability. * Customized solutions (designer cars, etc) can be provided with the proliferation of technology * Internet makes it easy to collect and analyse customer feedback * With the entry of global companies into the Indian market, advanced technologies, both in product and production process have developed. * With the development or evolution of alternate fuels, hybrid cars have made entry into the market. * Few global companies have setup R &D centers in India. * Major global players like audi, BMW, Hyundai etc have setup their manufacturing units in India. Environmental * Physical infrastructure such as roads and bridges affect the use of automobiles. If there is good availability of roads or the roads are smooth then it will affect the use of automobiles. * Physical conditions like environmental situation affect the use of automobiles. If the environment is pleasant then it will lead to more use of vehicles. * Technological solutions helps in integrating the supply chain, hence reduce losses and increase profitability. * With the entry of global companies into the Indian market, advanced technologies, both in product and production process have developed. * With the development or evolution of alternate fuels, hybrid cars have made entry into the market. * Few global companies have setup R &D centers in India. * Major global players like audi, BMW, Hyundai etc have setup their manufacturing units in India. Legal * Legal provision relating to environmental population by automobiles. * Legal provisions relating to safety measures. * Confirms the government’s intention on harmonizing the regulatory standards with the rest of the world * Indian government auto policy aimed at promoting an integrated, phased and conductive growth of the Indian automobile industry. * Establish an international hub for manufacturing small, affordable passenger cars as well as tractor and two wheelers. * Ensure a balanced transition to open trade at minimal risk to the Indian economy and local industry. Introduction The Indian automotive component industry is dominated by around 500 players which account for more than 85% of the production. The turnover of this industry has been growing at a mammoth 28. 05% per annum from 2002-03 onwards as illustrated in Fig. 1 which clarifies its emergence as one of India’s fastest growing manufacturing sectors. During 1990s, the auto components market in India used to be dominated by supplies to the aftermarket with only 35% exports sourced by global Tier 1 OEMs (Original equipment Manufacturers). The industry made a sustained shift to the global Tier 1 market and today, the component manufacturers supply 75% of their exports to global Tier 1 OEMs and the remaining to the aftermarket. This is largely due to the growing capability of the Indian component suppliers in understanding technical drawings, conversance with global automotive standards, economically attractive costs (manufacturing costs are 25%-30% lower than its western counterparts), flexibility in small batch production and growing information technology application for design, development and simulation. Besides the burgeoning demand of auto components from global majors, the domestic automobile industry has been showing a sparkling growth caused by increasing customer base and affordable loans. Based on this, the turnover of the Indian auto component industry is expected to touch US$ 18. 7 billion by 2009 and estimated to reach US$ 40 billion by 2014. Overview of Indian Automobile Industry The liberalized policies of the Indian Government paved towards steady evolution of India as a stable and market driven economy with the real Gross Domestic Product growth in excess of 8%, foreign exchange reserves crossing the $150 billion mark, growing value of Indian Rupee compared to US dollar and reducing inflation rate. 100% Foreign Direct Investment, absence of local content regulation, manufacturing and imports free from licensing & approvals in the automobile sector coupled with customs tariff or auto components reducing to 12. 5% resulted in increased number of multinationals establishing their bases in India and with export markets looking up, the Indian automobile industry is poised for a phenomenal growth. The automobile production in the sub-continent has been growing steadily @ 18. 53% per annum from 2002-03 onwards with total vehicle production standing at a mammoth 1,00,31,296 nos. in 2005-06 as is shown in Fig. 2. Among the automobiles, 2 wheelers account for 75. 77%, cars about 11. 09%, 3 wheelers to the tune of 4. 33%, tractors about 2. 95%, buses & trucks constitute 2. 19%, Multi Utility Vehicles (MUVs) to the tune of 1. 96% and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) about 1. 71% of the total number of automobiles produced in the country. Presently, India is the second largest market after China for two & three wheelers. In tractors production, India is one of the two largest manufacturers in the world along with China. The subcontinent stands as the 4th largest producer of trucks in the world. Coming to the passenger car segment, the country is positioned 11th in car production in the world. The Indian passenger car market is far from being saturated leaving ample opportunity for volume growth since the per capita car penetration per 1000 is only 7 compared to 500 in Germany. The production of cars in the country has been growing at a mammoth 27. 58% per annum from 2002- 03 onwards as is shown in Fig. 3. In general, cars are broadly classified as Mini, Compact, Mid-Size, Executive & Premium varieties. There has been a steady rise in compact car production from 333,000 in 2002-03 to 715,000 in 2005- 06, mid-size cars from 122,000 to 204,000 nos. , executive cars from 2000 to 23,000 nos. and premium variety cars from 4000 in 2002-03 to 5000 nos. in 2005-06. The mini car segment production reduced from 150,000 in 2002-03 to 98,000 nos. in 2005-06. These statistics vividly reveal the increasing capacity of the Indian customer, thus driving the passenger car demand rapidly up the price ladder. Analysts speculate car production in the sub-continent to touch 1575,000 in 2009 and 2654,000 by 2014. Cars and MUVs exports rose from 72,000 in 2002-03 to reach 176,000 nos. in 2005-06 with growth @ 48. 155 per annum from 2002-03 onwards. Out of the two wheelers produced in India, motorcycles account for 81. 59%, scooters about 13. 42% and mopeds to the tune of 4. 99% of the total production. The production statistics is shown in Fig. 4 which shows the growth of 2 wheelers @ 16. 58% per annum from 2002-03 onwards. Out of this, motorcycles have exhibited production growth @ 19. 99% per annum, scooters @ 6. 74% per annum & mopeds @ 2. 65% per annum from 2002-03 onwards. Two wheeler production units in India constitute of Japanese OEMS (Original Equipment Manufacturers) which include Hero Honda Motors, Honda Motorcycle & scooter India (P) Ltd. , Yamaha Motor India (P) Ltd. & Suzuki Motorcycle India (P) Ltd. and Indian OEMs consisting of Bajaj Auto L t d . , TVS Motor Company Ltd. , LML Ltd. , Kinetic Engineering Ltd. , Majestic Auto Ltd. , Kinetic Motor Company Ltd. and Royal Enfield of Eicher Ltd. Out of the aforementioned, Hero Honda accounts for 39. 55%, Bajaj Auto about 26. 87%, TVS Motors 17. 98%, Honda Motors 7. 94%, Yamaha Motors 3. 27%, LML 1. 41% and the remaining 2. 98% of the total 2 wheelers production in the country. The exports of two wheelers made a significant growth from a level of 180,000 in 2002-03 to reach 513,000 nos. in 2005-06. The latest estimates put up production of 2 wheelers to 13. 6 million by 2009. Current status of the industry The industry over a period of time has installed a robust capacity as given below: Table 1. Installed capacity in different segments of the automobile industry Against this installed capacity, the production over last few years has been as: Table 2. Vehicle production, 1996-2002 In order to illustrate the volume in economic terms, the Indian automobile industry achieved a turnover of nearly US$ 8 billion (excluding component industry) during the year 1998-1999. The imports of the industry during that year were of the order of US$ 0. 8 billion. The auto component industry in the country has also made rapid strides and its turnover has almost doubled in last five-year period as the year-wise production given below indicates. 1997-1998 US$ 2. 51 billion 1998-1999 US$ 2. 71 billion 1999-2000 US$ 3. 41 billion 2000-2001 US$ 3. 58 billion (estimated) Automotive industry of India is now finding increasing recognition worldwide. A beginning has been made in exports of vehicles. However, the exports have largely remained static since 1996-1997. India is making serious efforts to tap the potential in this area. The following table indicates the situation. Table 3. Indian car exports, 1996-2001 Indian automobiles are being exported mainly to the following countries. Table 3. 4. Main export destinations. The auto component industry in India now equipped with significant advancement in its technological capabilities, due to its alignment with major vehicle manufacturers in the country and abroad, has a high export potential. During the late 1990s, the export of auto-components has grown by a CAGR of about 20 per cent. Currently, the share of exports out of the total production of auto-components is 10 per cent. During the last 5 years, the exports of auto components have been as follows: 1998-1999 US$ 292 million 1999-2000 US$ 347 million 2000-2001 US$ 400 million (estimated) Future Projections Automobile industry With the domestic auto industry now moving in step with the WTO covenants, the stage is set for it to make rapid strides domestically and internationally to attain its rightful place in the world trade. A global recession for last two years notwithstanding, the industry has shown appreciable resilience and adjusted to the challenges of the environment. Based on the general growth projections indicated by the Planning Commission of India for the next five-year period, automobile industry is expected to register growth pattern as given below. This growth estimate implies certain assumptions relating to segment-wise growth rates based on a study conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). Table 3. 5 Projections of India’s automobile industry, 2001-2012 Emerging trends in Indian Automobile Globalization is pushing auto majors to consolidate, to upgrade technology, enlarge product range, access new markets and cut costs. They have resorted to common platforms, modular assemblies and systems integration of component suppliers and e-commerce. The component industry is undergoing vertical integration resulting into emergence of ‘systems and assembly suppliers’ rather than individual component suppliers. Thus, while most component suppliers are integrating into tier 2 and tier 3 suppliers, larger manufacturers and multinational corporations (MNCs) are being transformed into tier 1 companies. Environmental and safety concerns are leading to higher safety and emission norms in the country. India has already charted out a road-map for reaching EURO-II norms across the country by the year 2005. Seven metropolitan cities of India would simultaneously move to EURO-III norms in 2005. Most vehicle manufacturers are already producing EURO-II compliant vehicles in the country to meet special requirements of capital city of New Delhi where the Supreme Court verdict has already necessitated this. To meet the concomitant testing and certification activities relating to higher safety and emission norms, testing infrastructure in the country is being overhauled. A substantive state funding is being planned in upgrading the testing infrastructure with participation of industry. Environmental pollution and the need to conserve existing supply of fossil fuels have led to search for alternative fuels. In addition to supporting greenfield research in this area, an ambitious phased programme to upgrade carbon fuel quality commensurate with higher emission norms is also being undertaken. Foreign direct investment norms have already been considerably relaxed. Unhindered import of automobiles, including new and second hand vehicles, has also been permitted. Most non-tariff barriers have also been relaxed or removed. The Government has moderated and lowered taxes and duties on automobiles, including customs duty. Value Added Tax (VAT) is also proposed to be introduced across the country from 1 April 2001. The Government has also allowed private sector participation in the insurance sector. Norms guiding external commercial borrowings (ECBs) have been liberalized and lending rates within the country have also been reduced further strengthening the environment of investment. An ambitious programme to upgrade the quadrilateral of highways in the country, the Government is laying an eight-lane expressway linking all metropolitan and several important capital towns across the country paving the way for movement of heavier haulage vehicles. Porter’s Five Forces Porter’s Five Forces of Competition framework views the profitability of an industry as determined by five sources of competitive pressure. These five forces of competition include three sources of â€Å"horizontal† competition: competition from substitutes, competition from entrants, and competition from established rivals; and two sources of â€Å"vertical† competition: the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers. The strength of each of these competitive forces is determined by a number of key structural variables, as shown in Figure 3. 3. FIGURE 3. 2 Porter’s Five Forces of Competition framework Competition from Substitutes The price customers are willing to pay for a product depends, in part, on the availability of substitute products. The absence of close substitutes for a product, as in the case of automobiles, means that consumers are comparatively insensitive to price (i. e. , demand is inelastic with respect to price). The existence of close substitutes means that customers will switch to substitutes in response to price increases for the product (i. e. , demand is elastic with respect to price). The extent to which substitutes limit prices and profits depends on the propensity of buyers to substitute between alternatives. This, in turn, is dependent on their price performance characteristics. The more complex the needs being fulfilled by the product and the more difficult it is to discern performance differences, the lower the extent of substitution by customers on the basis of price differences. FIGURE 3. 3 The structural determinants of the Five Forces of Competition Rivalry between Established Competitors For most industries, the major determinant of the overall state of competition and the general level of profitability is competition among the firms within the industry. In some industries, firms compete aggressively – sometimes to the extent that prices are pushed below the level of costs and industry-wide losses are incurred. In others, price competition is muted and rivalry focuses on advertising, innovation, and other non price dimensions. Six factors play an important role in determining the nature and intensity of competition between established firms: concentration, the diversity of competitors, product differentiation, excess capacity, exit barriers, and cost conditions. Threat of Entry If an industry earns a return on capital in excess of its cost of capital, that industry acts as a magnet to firms outside the industry. Unless the entry of new firms is barred, the rate of profit will fall toward its competitive level. The threat of entry rather than actual entry may be sufficient to ensure that established firms constrain their prices to the competitive level. * Economies of Scale – Since Indian automobile market is of order $ 350 billion, the economies of scale are very high. Thus, threat of new entrants is low. * Product Differences – Since there is hardly any difference in the offerings of the various providers, so product differentiation is low. So threat of new entrants is high. * Brand Identity – Since there is no big Retailer like Amazon. com or Wal-Mart in India. So threat of new entrants is high. * Government Policy – Since the Government Policy has been quite restrictive till now with respect to the Retail market & FDI, so threat of new entrants is low. * Capital Requirements – The capital requirements for entering in the automobile sector are substantially high( high fixed cost and cost of infrastructure), so only big names can think of venturing into this area So, in that respect threat of new entrants is low. * Access to distribution – Since in India there is no well established distribution network. So threat of new entrants is low. Bargaining Power of Buyers The firms in an industry operate in two types of markets: in the markets for inputs and the markets for outputs. In input markets firms purchase raw materials, components, and financial and labor services. In the markets for outputs firms sell their goods and services to customers (who may be distributors, consumers, or other manufacturers). In both markets the transactions create value for both buyers and sellers. How this value is shared between them in terms of profitability depends on their relative economic power. The strength of buying power that firms face from their customers depends on two sets of factors: buyers’ price sensitivity and relative bargaining power. * Product Differences – Since there is hardly any difference in the offerings of the various providers, so product differentiation is low. So bargaining power of buyers is high. * Buyer Information – Today’s customers are well educated about the various product offerings in the sector. So bargaining power of buyers is high. * Buyer Switching Costs – Since customers don’t have to pay a fat premium to be registered for provision of services , so bargaining power of buyers is high. * Brand Identity – High Brand Identity and trustworthiness reduce the bargaining power of buyers but, otherwise the bargaining power of buyers is high. * Buyer Profits – Since dealers offers discounts and various bundling services like 0% insurance, old car sale, etc, on different items. Hence bargaining power of buyers is high. Bargaining Power of Suppliers. Analysis of the determinants of relative power between the producers in an industry and their suppliers is precisely analogous to analysis of the relationship between producers and their buyers. The only difference is that it is now the firms in the industry that are the buyers and the producers of inputs that are the suppliers. The key issues are the ease with which the firms in the industry can switch between different input suppliers and the relative bargaining power of each party. * Product Differences – Since there is hardly any difference in the offerings of the various suppliers, so product differentiation is low. So bargaining power of Suppliers is low. * Supplier Information – Today’s automobile manufacturers are well educated about different Suppliers. So bargaining power of Suppliers is low. * Supplier Switching Costs – Since different Suppliers hold resources as per buyer’s requirements and a large inventory has to be maintained. So bargaining power of Suppliers is low as they would have to incur a huge cost on switching. But if they get automobile manufacturers for similar products who can pay higher Supplier switching cost is low. In such case, bargaining power of Suppliers is high. * Brand Identity – High Brand Identity and Trustworthiness of a Supplier increases the bargaining power of Suppliers. But, otherwise the bargaining power of suppliers is low. Measures for more Conducive Growth. The automobile industry across the world has great potential to trigger sustained employment, mobility, inter- sectoral industrial growth and thus conduce conditions for general economic and social well-being. However, there is need to promote and sustain international cooperation between Governments and industry. There is need for coordinated research and development, standardization of designs and broader technologies, effective cost cutting to enhance affordability and loosening of trade barriers across the globe. There are separate measures, which require addressing at the national and international levels. Some suggested steps at both levels are listed below. Suggestions at the national level. Further lessening the incidence of taxes and loosening of non-tariff barriers has to be attempted with a faster pace faster. A regime of single tax across the country is an ideal situation and possibilities of this should be explored. A vehicle retirement programme which will assist not only in fleet modernization and reduction of emission but will also provide quantum fillip to the demand should be put in place. There is a need to brief the international communities on technological and quality related capabilities of Indian automobile industry. Substantive efforts are required for educating opinion leaders and build a strong ‘Made in India’ brand in overseas markets. Existing incentives for promoting exports are considered inadequate. An institutional mechanism such as the Automobile Export Promotion Council, which can address industry-specific issues and facilitate exports is urgently required. Labor laws’ reforms to facilitate better productivity and reduction in manpower costs as has already been committed by the Government should be expedited. Greater tax incentive on expenditure incurred on research and development in automotive sector. Tariff rationalization and taming of avoidable competition between rail and road transport sectors should be carried out. In this unhealthy competition, both the industries are unable to realize their full potential. Easier availability of market credit for funding automobile acquisition is required. Despite lower interest rates, availability of easy credit in rural and semi-urban areas requires more focused attention. This can substantially spur the demand. Suggestions at the international level Serious and sustained dialogue on regional cooperation in automobile sector should begin at the earliest. Dialogue should be regular and focused in which Governments and industry should both engage. The recent statistics of custom duties show that the average tariff rates of different countries have declined. However, it has been noticed that the problem of high tariffs is still prevalent in certain sectors. These high tariffs are generally noticed in developed countries. Reduction of peak tariffs is necessary to facilitate free flow of automobiles. Non-tariff barriers should be phased out with mutual dialogue and consensus. Mutual recognition should be accorded to the testing and certification agencies in various countries. Countries should join hands in developing alternative fuels to replace the existing fossil fuels. Similar cooperation is required in other critical areas of technological development. Fragmented and limited research in each country may lead to delay and more expensive results. Affordability of quality automobiles should be focus of industry across the world to facilitate volumes and widespread ownership. Reasons of Growth. Economic liberalization, increase in per capita income, various tax relief policies, easy accessibility of finance, launch of new models and exciting discount offers made by dealers all together have resulted in to a stupendous growth of India automobile industry. Market Share Automobile industry of India can be broadly classified under passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three wheelers and two wheelers, with two wheelers having a maximum market share of more than 75%. Automobile companies of India, Korea, Europe and Japan have a significant hold on the Indian market share. Tata Motors produces maximum numbers of mid and large size commercial vehicles, holding more that 60% of the market share. Motorcycles tops the charts of two wheelers with Hero Honda being the key player. Bajaj by far is the number one manufacturer of three wheelers in India. Passenger vehicle section is majorly ruled by the car manufacturers capturing over 82% of the total market share. Maruti since long has been the biggest car manufacturer and holds more that 50% of the entire market. Global recession has impacted, the Indian automobile industry also and can be seen clearly in the sales figures of the last financial year. Even then this industry has high hopes in 2009-2010, as banks have reduced loan interest rates and the major chuck of automobile customers belong to the middle income group who are becoming economically stronger with every passing day. Conclusions Easier and faster mobility of people and goods across the regions, countri.

Mother Courage and Her Children Play Overview

'Mother Courage and Her Children' Play Overview Mother Courage and Her Children mixes dark humor, social commentary, and tragedy. The title character, Mother Courage, travels across war-weary Europe selling alcohol, food, clothing, and supplies to soldiers on both sides. As she struggles to improve her fledgling business, Mother Courage loses her adult children, one after another. The Setting Set in Poland, Germany, and other parts of Europe, Mother Courage and Her Children spans the years 1624 to 1636. This period is during the Thirty Years War, a conflict that pitted Protestant armies against Catholic forces and resulted in an enormous loss of life.   The Title Character Anna Fierling (aka Mother Courage) has been enduring for a long time, traveling with nothing except a supply wagon pulled along by her adult children: Eilif, Swiss Cheese, and Kattrin. Throughout the play, though she does show concern for her children, she seems more interested in profit and financial security than the safety and well-being of her offspring. She has a love/hate relationship with war. She loves war because of its potential economic benefits. She hates war because of its destructive, unpredictable nature. She has the nature of a gambler, always trying to guess just how long the war will last so that she can take a risk and buy more supplies to sell. She fails dreadfully as a parent when she is focused on her business. When she fails to keep track of her eldest son, Eilif, he joins the army. When Mother Courage tries to haggle for the life of her second son (Swiss Cheese), she offers a low payment in exchange for his freedom. Her stinginess results in his execution. Eilif is also executed. Although his death is not a direct result of her choices, she misses her only chance to visit with him because she is at the market working her business instead of at church, where Eilif expects her to be. Near the plays conclusion, Mother Courage is again absent when her daughter Kattrin martyrs herself in order to save innocent townspeople. Despite losing all of her children by the end of the play, it is arguable that Mother Courage never learns anything, thus never experiences an epiphany or transformation. In his editorial notes, Brecht explains that  it is not incumbent on the playwright to give Mother Courage insight at the end. Rather, Brechts protagonist catches a glimpse of social awareness in scene six, but it is quickly lost and never to be regained as the war wears on, year after year. Eilif, the Brave Son The eldest and most independent of Annas children, Eilif is persuaded by a recruiting officer who lures him with talk of glory and adventure. Despite his mothers protests, Eilif enlists. Two years later, the audience sees him again. He is thriving as a soldier who slaughters peasants and loots civilian farms to support his armys cause. He rationalizes his actions by saying necessity knows no law. In scene eight, during a brief time of peace, Eilif steals from a peasant household and murders a woman in the process. He does not understand the difference between killing during wartime (which his peers consider an act of bravery) and killing during peacetime (which his peers consider a crime punishable by death). Mother Courages friends, the chaplain and the cook, do not tell her about Eilifs execution. At the end of the play, she still believes she has one child left alive. Swiss Cheese, the Honest Son Why is he named Swiss Cheese? Because hes good at pulling wagons. Thats Brechts humor for you! Mother Courage claims that her second son has a fatal flaw: honesty. However, this good-natured characters real downfall might be his indecision. When he is hired to be a paymaster for the Protestant army, his duty is torn between the rules of his superiors and his loyalty to his mother. Because he cannot successfully negotiate those two opposing forces, he is ultimately captured and executed. Kattrin, Mother Courages Daughter By far the most sympathetic character in the play, Kattrin is unable to speak. According to her mother, she is in constant danger of being physically and sexually abused by soldiers. Mother Courage often insists that Kattrin wear unseemly clothes and be covered in dirt to draw attention away from her feminine charms. When Kattrin is injured, resulting in a scar on her face, Mother Courage considers it a blessing - now, Kattrin is less likely to be assaulted. Kattrin wants to find a husband. However, her mother keeps putting it off, insisting that they must wait until peacetime (which never arrives during Kattrins adult life). Kattrin desperately wants a child of her own. When she learns that children might be murdered by soldiers, she sacrifices her life by drumming loudly and waking up the townspeople so they are not caught by surprise. Although she perishes, the children (and many other civilians) are saved. Therefore, even without children of her own, Kattrin proves to be far more motherly than the title character. About the Playwright  Bertolt Brech Bertolt (sometimes spelled Berthold) Brecht lived from 1898 to 1956. He was raised by a middle-class German family, despite some of his claims that he had an impoverished childhood. Early in his youth, he discovered a love for the theater that would become his means of creative expression as well as a form of political activism. Brecht fled Nazi Germany before the onset of World War II. In 1941, his anti-war play Mother Courage and Her Children was performed for the first time, premiering in Switzerland. After the war, Brecht moved to Soviet-occupied East Germany, where he directed a revised production of the same play in 1949. Source: Brecht, Bertolt. Mother Courage and Her Children. Grove Press, September 11, 1991.

Not An Umlaut

Not An Umlaut Not An Umlaut Not An Umlaut By Maeve Maddox A reader has posed a question about a mark he noticed in The New Yorker: In a recent copy of The New Yorker the word reà «lection appeared with an umlaut over the second e. I had not seen the umlaut used that way before.    Is the umlaut making a comeback?   Should it also be used in similar situations such as realignment, or reengineer or deescalate?   Or is the hyphen more appropriate?   Or nothing? Or is The New Yorker just being, well NewYorkerish? I’ll answer the last question first: Yes, The New Yorker is being â€Å"NewYorkerish.† The use of the two-dot diacritical mark in words like reà «lect is a notable feature of the magazine’s house style. Other publications are prone to ridicule this use. As for the question â€Å"Is the umlaut making a comeback?† I’ll have to contradict the reader’s use of the word umlaut in reference to the two dots in the word reà «lection. An umlaut is a diacritical mark characteristic of German. It indicates pronunciation. For example, the u in the German words à ¼ber, â€Å"over,† and unter, â€Å"under,† are not pronounced the same. The umlaut in à ¼ber alerts the reader to a vowel sound that differs from the unrounded sound in unter. The word umlaut combines German um, â€Å"about,† and laut, â€Å"sound.† Used with English words, the two-dot diacritical mark has a different name and a different function. In English, it’s called a diaeresis, and its usual function is to alert the reader to the fact that two vowels written side by side are not to be pronounced together as a diphthong, but separately, as distinct vowels. The source of the word diaeresis is a Greek verb meaning â€Å"to divide.† A diaeresis tells us to divide two vowels. Note: The first spelling in both the OED and Merriam-Webster is diaeresis; the spelling dieresis is given â€Å"also† status. Charles Elster (The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations) prefers the spelling dieresis, because it eliminates the conglomeration of vowel letters and because his preferred pronunciation is [dy-ER-uh-sis]. He offers the secondary pronunciation [dy-AIR-uh-sis, which is the first pronunciation given in the OED. Speakers acquainted with literature, art, music, and astronomy encounter the diaeresis in such classical names as the following: Danaà « Laà «rtes Pasiphaà « Aà ¯da Laocoà ¶n Boà ¶tes Two common words that some speakers still write with a diaeresis are Noà «l and daà ¯s, and the diaeresis occurs in the name of the writer Anaà ¯s Nin. The diaeresis is also seen in English above vowels that occur at the end of certain proper names. This use indicates that the final vowel, usually e, is not silent. For example: Brontà « [BRON-tee], Zoà « [ZO-ee], Chloà «, [KLO-ee], Bettà « [BET-ee]. On the assumption that readers â€Å"know† how to pronounce these names, people write them without the diaeresis. However, in these days of superficial English teaching, one mustn’t assume. I’ve heard adults pronounce the name Zoe to rhyme with toe. I’ve heard a young teacher pronounce the surname of writing sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne as a one-syllable word. The New Yorker’s use of the diaresesis to separate standard prefixes in words like reà «lection is silly. That’s what hyphens are for. The use of the diaeresis to clarify the pronunciation of words like daà ¯s, Noà «l, Brontà «, and Zoà «, on the other hand, is well worth a comeback. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartAmong vs. AmongstParataxis and Hypotaxis

Crime rate in United States of America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Crime rate in United States of America - Essay Example This is why we aim to take an in depth analysis into some of the reasons behind the crime rate being high. In so doing we hope that we can identify the major reasons affecting the crime levels in the United States of America and possibly come up with the best solutions to help drop the crime rate. According to Allison (2009), elements such as population, poverty rates, income per capita and unemployment rates are the major aspects which our discussions will be hinged on. In the 90’s for instance when the crime rate was high the rate of unemployment according appendix one stood at a high also i.e 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 the unemployment rate was 6.9, 8.7, 11.1 and 10.3. Some justify the drop in crime rate to the stringent rules and legislations put in place by a onetime mayor Rudolph Guiliani and his administration which basically introduced policing that was aggressive. The mayor introduced this aggressive form of policing with the mentality that the smaller crimes led to th e larger crimes and that the participants in the smaller crimes are most likely those that graduate to the bigger crimes something also observed by Blumstein (2002). As such the levels of misdemeanor arrests in United States of America at the time were high at 70 percent. Interestingly with every 10 percent increase in the misdemeanor arrest made the crime rate especially in the case of robberies dropped by a percentage of between 2.5 to 3.2 while the theft of motor vehicles also dropped with a percentage of 1.6 to 2.1.