History Essay Introduction Essay

STEP 1: Focusing your topic: In writing a research essay for history, you should first formulate an idea (a working thesis) about the focus of your research. This gives you a starting point to find source information. The thesis statement must address your assignment. Use keywords from your assignment to help formulate a working thesis statement. STEP 2: Research: Librarians are trained to assist you with finding appropriate sources, but keep in mind there are some types of sources that are NOT appropriate to use for a college level essay. These include sources like encyclopedias (including Wikipedia), textbooks, Answers.com, etc. (These are places to start if you have no information about the topic, but they are not reliable sources of research info). Evaluate any source (especially Internet sources) you plan to use in your essay in terms of the following: Accuracy–(Is the information in the source correct? Does it generally match up with information you’ve found in other sources on the same topic?) Authority–(Who claims responsibility for the information in the source? You would not use a paper written by a 6th grader as a source for a college level class) Objectivity—(Is the author objective or biased? Is there an agenda?) Currency–(Is the information up to date? For example, you wouldn’t want to use a book published in 1959 if you were writing an essay about how students use computers to do research) Coverage—(Is balanced information provided, or is the coverage one-sided or incomplete?) Use sources that contain information that will support the thesis statement of your essay. Don’t use sources that you do not understand. STEP 3: Writing the essay: An academic research essay contains the following elements: Introduction—This introduces the reader to the topic and makes a specific claim (the thesis statement) about the topic. This claim is what the body, or main part, of your essay will support and explain. Argument and Documentation: Often called the body of the essay. This should be several paragraphs/pages long and contains the topic sentences that provide supporting points for your thesis statement, examples from sources that illustrate your supporting points, and explanations of HOW the examples illustrate your supporting points. Conclusion: Wraps up your essay and is the appropriate place to include your opinions about the topic. ↠ A word about transitions: Use them. You should create smooth transitions between paragraphs. This is often done by repeating keywords from the thesis and/or by introducing the topic of the following paragraph in the last sentence of the preceding paragraph. Transitional terms such as â€Å"In addition,† Similarly,† and â€Å"However† also help create smooth transitions. Repetition of keywords and ideas creates transitions. 02/08 The parts of a history research essay: Introduction: This section of the essay introduces the reader to the topic and to your particular historical take on the topic. Some historians like to â€Å"set the scene† with an anecdote that illustrates something important or interesting, or which catches the interest of the reader and focuses it on the essay’s topic. Others prefer to state vital data and background to the topic (one example of this would be a biographical essay which starts with information about when and where a person was born, etc.) Many find it easier to write the introduction after they have written the body of the essay. Statement of Thesis: This commonly appears within the introduction, usually as the last sentence of the first paragraph. Your thesis should be clear and straightforward. If you cannot state your thesis statement succinctly, you may need to think more carefully about what you are trying to argue in your essay and focus your topic more clearly. Argument and Documentation: The bulk of your research essay will be your support of the thesis statement from your introductory paragraph. A â€Å"format† to use for supporting your thesis might be as follows: MAKE A POINT, in your own words, that supports your thesis idea. This is the topic sentence of a paragraph. PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE from a source. This might be done in the form of a quote (using the exact words the source uses and quotation marks– ex. â€Å"quote†) or a paraphrase (restating the idea in your own words—no quotation marks). Whether you quote or paraphrase, you need to CITE any information you obtain from a source, and you do this by inserting a parenthetical note that includes the author of the source’s last name and the page number(s) where the information appeared in the source. For MLA format, the information that goes into the parenthetical note—ex. (Smith 64)—is the first bit of information about that source that your reader will see on your Works Cited page, so it is usually the author’s last name. If you do not have an author’s name, use keywords from the title—ex. The title of the article is â€Å"Joan of Arc: Heroine or Heretic.† Your citation might be (â€Å"Joan† 86). If there are no page numbers, as is often the case with Internet sources, the same citation would be (â€Å"Joan†). [pic]An important part of developing your research writing is to EXPLAIN how the EXAMPLE you have used makes your POINT. This explanation is written in your own words and should clearly indicate how you see the example conveying the point/conclusion you’ve reached about the topic. Conclusion: The conclusion wraps up your essay and serves as an appropriate place to offer your own opinion, apply the research to present-day issues, or state the historic significance of the topic. Visit The Learning Center website at http://www.tridenttech.edu/664_2970.htm for links to handouts on using MLA format, using thesis statements and topic sentences, and avoiding plagiarism.

For profit and non profit organization Essay

Both not for profit and for profit companies have many similarity and differences. A lot of companies start with the intent of making a profit. These companies also pay taxes and are called profit or for profit companies (Rodwell, & Teo, 2013). Other companies, while they can make a profit begin with the intent of helping others. These companies are not for profit or non-profit organizations. Nonprofit organizations are not allowed to make a profit, and do not pay taxes, but they might generate income. Any income generated by a nonprofit must be returned to the organization to accomplish the goals for which it was established (Anand, 2008). Regardless of its status, many companies like Goodwill Industries International and BP P.L.C. are faced with challenges that threaten the company ethically and morally. Part One: Goodwill Industries International (Not-for-Profit) Profile of Goodwill Industries: Goodwill Industries International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations and gifts are fully tax-deductible to the degree acceptable by law. Goodwill Industries International is a worldwide social services initiative that creates opportunities for people to attain financial constancy and build durable families and lively communities by offering job training, employment assignment services and other community-based programs for people who have incapacities, those who do not have the education or job experience, and others who face difficulties finding employment (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Goodwill supports the operations of about 165 individual Goodwill chapters in the US and Canada. Founded in 1902, Goodwill is one of the world’s leading benefactors of such services, as well as one of the largest employers in the world of the disabled (Hoovers, 2014). Areas of Interest: While it is most recognized for its 2,800 thrift stores, Goodwill concentrates on offering rehabilitation, job preparation, placement, and employment servi ces for people with disabilities and others. The company helps people to find and keep good jobs (Hoovers, 2014). Goodwill offers programs for young people, senior citizens, veterans, and people with disabilities, criminal backgrounds and other specialized needs (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Mission statement: Goodwill works to improve the self-worth and value of life of individuals and families by reinforcing communities, removing obstacles to opportunity, and helping people in need achieve their full potential through learning and the power  of work. Goodwill strives to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by helping people reach their full potential through education, skills training and the power of work (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Summary of activities: (Based on 2013 Data) Last year, Goodwill assisted more than 9.8 million people prepare for careers in industries such as banking, IT and health care, and to get the backup services they needed to be successful (Hoovers, 2014). Last year the company served 9.8 million through employment and training programs, 44 million through mission services, 261, 875 received a job with Goodwill’s assistance and its estimated that those people earned $4.4 billion (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Funding Sources: Support for Goodwill programs is produced mainly from the sale of contribution of goods, both at the retail stores and through an online auction site, and from contract work and government grants (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). The total profits produced by Goodwill organizations was $5.17 billion of which 83% was spent on programs. There are 87 million donors. Retail stores generated $3.79 billion, industrial and service contract work produced $647 million, $90 million came from government grants and $27 million from corporate and foundation grants. Individual gifts, donations and fees for services generated $46 million and government support foe mission services produced $455 millio n (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). History: Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social visionary. Helms gathered old domestic goods and clothing in more affluent areas of the city, then taught and hired those who were underprivileged to fix and restore the goods (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Goodwill Structure: Goodwill International’s CEO is Jim Gibbons. Cindy Cho Kim is the Director of International Development and currently there are two spokespeople Organization expert Lorie Marrero is the face of the Donate Movement. ABC reporter Evette Rios united with Goodwill’s cause in 2012 to help to plead to the Latin American market. Goodwill stores are self-governing organizations headed by a charitable board of directors (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Goodwill has a connection of 165 independent, community-based Goodwill stores in the United States and Canada. Each local Goodwill must be accredited, request participation and meet specific standards created by Goodwill Industries  International (GII) (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). The GII Member Services center, is located in Rockville, MD. There are 2,900 total retail stores. Goodwill Industries of the Columbia, Inc. was initially recognized as a branch division of the Seattle Goodwill in 1961. Goodwill also has an online auction site at www.shopgoodwill.com (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Values statement: The goods were then resold or were given to the people who fixed them. The system worked, and the Goodwill value of â€Å"a hand up, not a hand out† was established. (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). The value statement includes respect, integrity, stewardship, innovation and excellence (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Problems: One problem that Goodwill Industries has is their view in the public eye. Many Goodwill stores are viewed as exploiters of disabled citizens. Some stores used a federal law under the Special Wage Certificate Program, to employ disabled workers at rates of 22, 38, and 41 cents per hour (Gibson, 2 013). The law allows nonprofits and companies to get a certificate that lets them to employ disabled workers â€Å"based on their abilities† at whatever salary they find suitable, with no minimum. This is compared to the $729,000 in salary and deferred compensation that the CEO, Jim Gibbson makes. The CEOs of Goodwill organizations across the U.S. mutually earned $30 million (Gibson, 2013). The problem exists because there are numerous disabled adults who still need to support themselves but cannot get hired by normal means. Management and upper administrators have the ability to ensure that all their employees work in a safe and equal working environment which proper accommodations for their disabilities. Goodwill’s response was that disabled workers would not be hired anywhere else and should be appreciative for any amount they make even if it is 22 cents. Goodwill is against eliminating the program because it would cause more harm than good (Gibson, 2013). Support for Goodwill programs is produced mainly from the sale of contribution of goods, both at the retail stores and through an online auction site, and from contract work and government grants (Goodwill Industries International, 2014). Another problem that Goodwill faces is criticisms for ripping off customers. The prices of items are for a donated used article. Goodwill has been accused of taking the better donated items and selling the products on eBay or keeping them for themselves, or calling family members to come in and purchase the items. They also sell the less desirable items in stores and price them at ridiculously expensive prices for used and donated items. According to Smith, selfishness is a fundamental driving force of human conduct (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Companies such as Goodwill accumulate wealth through a system that presents good intentions but are driven by greed. The company has become very wealthy off of items that were completely free. Company Impact: One report indicates a decrease in donations (Begam, 2010). Donations for several local charities are at an all-time low this year. Goodwill says their donations are down 25% in their stores across the region (Begam, 2010). Many consumers are urged not to donate to Goodwill because of their treatment of disabled employees and pricing donated goods at high prices. Part Two: BP P.L.C (For-Profit) Although BP P.L.C. is a profit organization, it faces many challenges that also threaten the company ethically and morally. Profile of BP, P.L.C.: BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies. We provide customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, lubricants to keep engines moving, and the petrochemicals products used to make everyday items as diverse as paints, clothes and packaging (BP, 2014). Areas of Interest: BP’s area of interests includes finding and extracting oil and gas to producing fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals (BP, 2014). Mission Statement: Although not specifically labeled a â€Å"mission statement,† BP has a published statement of â€Å"What We Stand For†: â€Å"BP wants to be recognized as a great company – competitively successful and a force for progress. We have a fundamental belief that we can make a difference in the world. We help the world meet its growing need for heat, li ght and mobility. We strive to do that by producing energy that is affordable, secure and doesn’t damage the environment (BP, 2014). Summary of Activities: In 2013 BP completed 17 exploration wells and made seven potentially commercial discoveries in 2013. It was the most successful year for exploration drilling in almost a decade. They started three major projects in 2013 and another three in January and February 2014. They completed the commissioning of all major units for the Whiting refinery upgrade, transforming it into one of our advantaged downstream assets in our portfolio (BP, 2014). Funding  Sources: In 2013 BP had several areas of funding. Sales and other operating revenues totaled 379,136 million dollars. Earnings from joint ventures – after interest and tax totaled 447 million dollars. Earnings from associates – after interest and tax totaled 2,742 million dollars. Interest and other income totaled 777 million dollars. Gains on sale of businesses and fixed assets totaled 13,115 million dollars. Total revenues and other income totaled 396,217 million dollars and BP shareholders totaled 23,451 million dollars (BP, 2014). BP’s History: BP’s history begin with innovations, starting in 1908 with oil found in a rugged part of Persia after a long and difficult search. Since then, discoveries large and small have fuelled the company’s progress. Back in England, William D’Arcy gambled his considerable fortune on oil, and was on the verge of losing everything. It seemed that the geologists and experts who had wagged their heads encouragingly at him since 1901 had all been wrong about the oil beneath the sands of Persia. By the early morning of 26 May 1908, the whole camp reeked of sulphur. At four o’clock the drill reached 1,180 feet and a fountain of oil spewed out into the dawn sky. Within a year, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which would one day become BP, was in business (BP, 2014). BP’s Values: Our values of safety, respect, excellence, courage and one team align explicitly with BP’s code of conduct and translate into the responsible actions necessary for the work we do every day. Our values represent the qualities and actions we wish to see in BP, they guide the way we do business and the decisions we make (BP, 2014). Structure: BP’s businesses are organized to deliver the energy products and services people around the world need right now. It has 102,498 locations and its international headquarters in located in St James’s Square, London Its Upstream segment is responsible for activities in oil and natural gas exploration, field development and production. Its Downstream segment focuses on fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals. BP is one of the world’s leading international oil and gas companies. They provide customers with fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, lubricants to keep engines moving, and the petrochemicals products used to make everyday items as diverse as paints, clothes and packaging (BP, 2014). Problems: One problem that BP faces results from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The company faces many lawsuits. BP is front and center because of  its high-profile role in the disaster, not to mention its deep pockets and its reputation as a global business power. Current estimates have BP setting aside about $32 billion to cover cleanup, legal claims, fines, and other costs related to the spill. So, clearly BP is planning on taking the brunt of the legal blame — and the biggest financial hit, for contributing to the worst oil spill in the nation’s history (Nolo, 2014). Another problem the company faces is the mandated cleanup fines that the government is requiring the company to pay. According to Smith, selfishness is a fundamental driving force of human conduct (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Companies such as BP accumulate wealth by using resources from the Earth. The company is subject to lawsuits and cleanup fines because of the numerous livelihoods that were damaged and the damage cause to the environment as a result of the oil spill the government requires the company to supply. Recently, BP Oil and Gas filed a petition with US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia seeking review of a lower court’s decision to have BP continue making payments to the affected parties related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and stop payments to claimants while litigation continues (Matthew, 2014). Impact to Company: Initially, BP had a negative public view and maintained its stock. However, by late June, BP was trading in the $27 range. Fewer analysts recommended buying BP and a few recommended that investors sell. Coincidentally, this was all about the same time as or shortly after BP agreed to put $20 billion into an escrow account to pay for spill-related damages and announced it would not pay stock dividends in 2010 (Lawyers.com, 2014). In addition as of 2013, BP spent $26 billion on response efforts. Part Three: Personal Ethical Evaluation Goodwill Industries International Goodwill’s primary response was driven by selfish motives (Fieser & Moseley, 2012) and morally irresponsible. The company’s response that the people should be grateful and not complain about their wages brings a negative view upon the company. According to Fieser and Moseley (2012), the moral subjectivist thinks that right and wrong is decided by what, the subject of the situation, thinks or feels is right or wrong. However the average person  working in the United States expects to receive minimum wage for working, because it is the norm or culturally relative (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The culture of the United States would view Goodwill as taking advantage of already limited people. Ethical egoism implies that people act so as to maximize their self-interest (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Goodwill felt that it was doing a greater good by hiring those who would not normally have gotten employment. Morally speaking, they were within the confines of the law to operate as su ch. Because Goodwill used the Special Wage Certificate Program, to employ disabled workers at rates cents per hour (Gibson, 2013) they were legally justified in their actions. The law allows nonprofits and companies to get a certificate that lets them to employ disabled workers â€Å"based on their abilities† at whatever salary they find suitable, with no minimum. On the other side of this coin is that Goodwill receives grant money from the government for operating as a nonprofit organization and actually helping people in the community. Even though the attempt was noble, they could have done more to improve the situation. Though they hired a demographic of people that would normally remain unemployable, they could have offered a salary that demonstrates a level of equality, fairness or self-worth. In many cases these people were working for less than eight dollars a day. They spent more money in expenses getting to work than they actually made at work. Some of the people complained about that very issue also, that they did not make enough money to cover rent. This is compared to the $729,000 in salary and deferred compensation that the CEO, Jim Gib bson makes. The CEOs of Goodwill organizations across the U.S. mutually earned $30 million (Gibson, 2013). The company received 90 million dollars government grants and $27 million from corporate and foundation grants in 2013. Goodwill offered a potential solution to a difficult situation. In doing so, the company created a problem for themselves. It could have been prevented had they offered an acceptable wage compensation to the disable employees. One way Goodwill can address the issue with the treatment of its employees is to consider the triple bottom line, which implies that successful companies must pursue three distinct values: people, the planet, and profit (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). There should be social benefit to workers and the community, environmental benefit with the implementation of sustainable ecological practices, and economic benefit only after all hidden  environmental costs have been factored in. In doing so, if Goodwill hires employees, then they should pay them minimum wage and accommodate their job assignments according to their ability regardless of their level of ability. They should also offer opportunity for raises and promotion. This ensures that everyone gets equal pay and fair treatment. One solution for the issue of greed is to put into place quality assurance representatives and to create a price list for different categories of items. This ensures that all items are priced the same across the country. The price list should have a price range, which includes the lowest and highest prices that items can be priced within their category. For example, a lamp can be priced from $3.00 to $5.00 depending on quality. This solution is possible but would require extreme communication across the nation. It would also require store representatives to ensure that these policies were followed and to ensure that all donations are inventoried properly. BP P.L.C BP’s primary response was utilitarian driven (Williams, 1973) and morally responsible (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The company was motivated by the idea to make things right. The company’s response to set finances aside for the cleanup efforts and to assist those affected by the oil spill was their way of taking responsibility for the harm that their operations and property caused on the environment and lives in the Gulf area. The oil spill was a direct result of the company drilling in the Gulf. The thousands of gallons of oil that flooded the area affected animal life and eventually the livelihood of fishermen. BP plc was faced with managing the crisis and examining the causes of its organizational failure. At the core of the issue is a failed organizational culture. The problem could have been prevented had BP ensured that all safety measures for drilling were being used. As time passed, BP became more driven by ethical egoism. They began to act so as to maximize their self-interest. They no longer wanted to pay the families who were affected and wanted courts to reevaluate the situation to determine if they were still obligated to pay these families for the oil spill that killed and poisoned wildlife, animals and fish (Matthew, 2014). Even though the company’s initial response was admirable, they came back with an actions that demonstrated that they are truly a profit company and wanted to stop all obligation to pay those who were affected by the oil  spill. The company agreed to put $20 billion into an escrow account to pay for spill-related. They eventually paid $26 billion in issued related to the oil spill (Gibson, 2013). BP could have do more to help the situation analyzed the damage caused by the oil spill to determine lasting effects on fishermen’s livelihoods. The company can set aside more money to assist in future cleanup efforts, provide funding to local environmental services for testing and cleanup efforts. BP can also settle all reasonable lawsuits. This will help its public image and provide closure for families who lost their livelihood. The company can set aside money for environmental service agencies to test toxicity levels, population and regeneration of different animal species and any future cleanup efforts. These solutions are possible because eventually BP will have to pay more in legal fees, lawsuits or fines. These solutions offer them the chance to get ahead of the problem and be proactive Part Four: Critique of Company’s Actions Goodwill Industries International Goodwill’s actions and motivation seem to reflect self-interest and at times down right greed. The company’s response that the people should be grateful and not complain about their wages brings a negative view upon the company. According to Fieser and Moseley (2012), the moral subjectivist thinks that right and wrong is decided by what, the subject of the situation, thinks or feels is right or wrong. Even though Goodwill’s administration would have viewed the hiring of disabled people at such a low wage as acceptable, many would not. The average person working in the United States expects to receive minimum wage for working, because it is the norm or culturally relative (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The culture of the United States would view Goodwill as taking advantage of already limited people. Ethical egoism implies that people act so as to maximize their self-interest (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). Goodwill felt that it was doing a greater good by hiring those who would not normally have gotten employment. Morally speaking, they were within the confines of the law to operate as such. Because Goodwill used the Special Wage Certificate Program, to employ disabled workers at rates cents per hour (Gibson, 2013) they were legally justified in their  actions. The law allows nonprofits and companies to get a certificate that lets them to employ disabled workers â€Å"based on their abilities† at whatever salary they find suitable, with no minimum. The company’s response should have been response was utilitarian driven (Williams, 1973). This approach would have allowed the company to view the disabled as people worthy of the respect of being treated and paid equally. Just because they â€Å"can† legally pay these employees less does not mean that it is the correct thing to do. Right and wrong could have been determined by a cost-benefit analysis. Because the company receives so many millions to help fund programs like employing disable people, they would not have lost anything financially to pay the people at least minimum wage. There could have been several benefits, such as a more positive public view, sustained donations from the public and a developing a program that actually helps the community. BP P.L.C. BP’s primary response was utilitarian driven (Williams, 1973) and morally responsible (Fieser & Moseley, 2012). The company was motivated by the idea to make things right. The company’s response to set finances aside for the cleanup efforts and to assist those affected by the oil spill was their way of taking responsibility for the harm that their operations and property caused on the environment and lives in the Gulf area. As time passed, BP became more driven by ethical egoism. They began to act so as to maximize their self-interest. They no longer wanted to pay the families who were affected and wanted courts to reevaluate the situation to determine if they were still obligated to pay these families for the oil spill that killed and poisoned wildlife, animals and fish (Matthew, 2014). (1) Moral Subjectivism In its common form, Moral Subjectivism amounts to the denial of moral principles of any significant kind, and the possibility of moral criticism and argumentation. In essence, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ lose their meaning because so long as someone thinks or feels that some action is ‘right’, there are no grounds for criticism.à  If you are a moral subjectivist, you cannot object to anyone’s behaviour (assuming people are in fact acting in accordance with what they think or feel is right).à  This shows the key flaw  in moral subjectivism — probably nearly everyone thinks that it is legitimate to object, on moral grounds, to at least some peoples’ actions.à  That is, it is possible to disagree about moral issues. (2) Cultural Relativism Right and wrong is determined by the particular set of principles or rules the relevant culture just happens to hold at the time. Cultural Relativism is closely linked to Moral Subjectivism.à  It implies that we cannot criticize the actions of those in cultures other than our own.à  And again, it amounts to the denial of universal moral principles.à  Also, it implies that a culture cannot be mistaken about what is right and wrong (which seems not to be true), and so it denies the possibility of moral advancement (which also seems not to be true). (3) Ethical Egoism Right and wrong is determined by what is in your self-interest.à  Or, it is immoral to act contrary to your self-interest. Ethical Egoism is usually based upon Psychological Egoism — that we, by nature, act selfishly.à  Ethical egoism does not imply hedonism or that we ought to aim for at least some ‘higher’ goods (e.g., wisdom, political success), but rather that we will (ideally) act so as to maximize our self interest.à  This may require that we forgo some immediate pleasures for the sake of achieving some long term goals.à  Also, ethical egoism does not exclude helping others.à  However, egoists will help others only if this will further their own interests. An ethical egoist will claim that the altruist helps others only because they want to (perhaps because they derive pleasure out of helping others) or because they think there will be some personal advantage in doing so.à  That is, they deny the possibility of genuine altruism (because they think we are all by nature selfish).à  This leads us to the key implausibility of Ethical Egoism — that the person who helps others at the expense of their self-interest is actually acting immorally.à  Many think that the ethical egoist has misunderstood the concept of morality — i.e., morality is the system of practical reasoning through which we are guided to constrain our  self-interest, not further it.à  Also, thatà  genuine altruism is indeed possible, and relatively commonly exhibited. Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a very simple view that matches common sense – right and wrong can be determined by a cost-benefit analysis. We must consider all the good and bad consequences when deciding if an action is right. Utilitarians disagree about what counts as â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad.† Some think that fulfilling desires is good and thwarting desires is bad, classic utilitarians think that happiness is good and suffering is bad, and pluralists believe that there are multiple â€Å"intrinsic goods† that are worth promoting. An action will then be said to be â€Å"right† as long as it satisfactorily causes good consequences compared to alternative actions, and it will be â€Å"wrong† if it doesn’t. Utilitarianism doesn’t discriminate or encourage egoism. It is wrong to harm others to benefit yourself because everyone counts. What counts as â€Å"satisfactory† will not be agreed upon by all philosophers. Originally some philosophers suggested that only the â€Å"best† action we could possibly perform is â€Å"right,† but this is an extreme, impractical, and oppressive view. Why? Whenever you are taking a shower or spending time with friends it would probably be better to be doing something else, such as helping the needy, but it is absurd to say that you are always doing wrong whenever you are taking a shower or spending time with friends. Additionally, it isn’t clear that there is a â€Å"best† course of action always available to us. There might be an unlimited number of actions we can perform and at least one of them could be better than what we choose to do. Corporate sustainability includes many normal business practices. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico provides a classic example of how failure to be sustainable can lead to an overall organizational failure of mandate, and a failure to serve stakeholders. BP plc was faced with managing the crisis and examining the causes of its organizational failure. At the core of the issue is a failed organizational culture. This paper examines what events and  organizational values have led to the crisis and what changes to organizational culture would be required, to avoid a repeat event and begin to create a sustainable organization. Reference: Arnold, D. H., & McKay, R. (2013). Sustainable Enterprises: Crisis Management and Culture Transformation for BP. Business and Management Research, 2(3), p16. Chicago Anand, S. (2008). Not†for†Profit Organizations. Essentials of Corporate Governance, 163-177. Matthew, J. 2014. BP Asks US Supreme Court to Halt Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Payments Retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bp-asks-us-supreme-court-halt-gulf-mexico-oil-spill-payments-1450360 Rodwell, J. J., & Teo, S. T. (2013). STRATEGIC NRM lN FOR-PROFIT ANO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN A KNOWLEDGE-INTENSIVE INDUSTRY. Human Resource Management in the Public Sector, 9. Williams, B. (1973). A critique of utilitarianism. Cambridge/UK.

The Development of Unreal Tournament Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Development of Unreal Tournament - Essay Example However, the latest installment in the series, the Unreal Tournament III, has a single player campaign. The story in Unreal Tournament III is extremely simple and the gameplay is not exactly unique. It has got the exact same game types in single player as it has in multiplayer. The only real difference being, all of the opponents are bots, or computer-controlled artificial intelligence (AI). However, I personally think that the single-player campaign is the only negative aspect of â€Å"The Unreal Tournament†. Undoubtedly, Unreal Tournament’s biggest selling point is the online multiplayer experience. There are over thousands of servers to play on and even more different types of gameplay (often user-created) and it’s completely free of charge. The unique thing about playing online is that PC users and those with a PS3 have the option of either playing together or against each other in the same game. This increases the total number of players online and ensures that you will have no trouble finding people to play any game type. The game supports all the normal and usual multiplayer features such as chat and voice chat. The graphics are just simply a big improvement compared with the graphics of the previous installments in the series. The game couldn’t possibly look any more realistic and real. Everything from the walls to the static meshes, t o the debris and even the water, looks real enough to touch in Unreal Tournament III. The improved graphics can even make just watching this game fun, and even more enjoyable to play. The Unreal Engine is a great piece of the software application that is coupled together with most of the games created by the company EPIC. It is a basic tool software that the company uses to produce the games they have sold in the past or are being sold presently in the market.

To Build a Fire by Jack London analyze Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

To Build a Fire by Jack London analyze - Essay Example Various literary devices such as repetition, flashback and irony help reveal the idea that the man in the story is foolish and that his foolishness leads to his death. Repetition is one of the most obvious literary devices employed by London in order to somehow instill in the reader that the man in the story persists in being stubborn about not heeding the repetitive instructions that nature gives him. One of the most recurring statements in the story is â€Å"It certainly was cold† (London). This particular line appears several times throughout the story, is repeatedly rephrased in many parts, and is portrayed in such vivid imageries of cold. One line that particularly refers to this recurring coldness is â€Å"Once in a while the thought reiterated itself that it was very cold† (London). This particular repetition actually serves as a constant reminder for the man in the story to stop or turn back lest it should be too late to avoid death. Nevertheless, the man goes o n and even thinks that the idea of the cold is funny and that trying to survive it is ridiculous: â€Å"What were frosted cheeks? A bit painful, that was all; they were never serious.† (London) Another instance of repetition that demonstrates the man’s folly is â€Å"Fifty degrees below zero was to him just precisely fifty degrees below zero† (London). This particular line shows how literal the man can get when it comes to interpreting the cold temperature. He knows that it is in fact cold but despite the repeating thoughts of coldness, he remains â€Å"without imagination† (London) and he cannot see through the â€Å"significances† of things. (London) Another particular instance of repetition that abounds in the story is found in the following line where the words â€Å"below† and â€Å"zero† are repeated several times somehow for the purpose of reminding this stubborn man that he must either turn back or die: â€Å"In reality, it w as not merely colder than fifty below zero; it was colder than sixty below, than seventy below. It was seventy-five below zero. Since the freezing-point is thirty-two above zero, it meant that one hundred and seven degrees of frost obtained.† (London) Still, the following line with the word â€Å"cold† repeated four times is one more instance where the author finally hints that the man’s foolishness perhaps run in the blood because somehow he has repeatedly ignored nature’s warnings: â€Å"This man did not know cold. Possibly all the generations of his ancestry had been ignorant of cold, of real cold, of cold one hundred and seven degrees below freezing-point.† (London) Moreover, it is also possible that the repetition in the story has the purpose of achieving a sort of â€Å"hypnotic impact† and to â€Å"produce a mood that is at once somber and sinister† (Labor & Hendricks). The idea of coldness repeated several times in the aforemen tioned lines somehow help create this â€Å"somber and sinister† mood, and may even foreshadow the cold death that the man is to experience toward the end of the story. There is also a hint of irony embedded in this repetition. The repetitive mention of the word â€Å"cold† and the other elements of cold somehow â€Å"reinforce the irony of the man’s failure to recognize [the cold’s] ‘extended’ reality† (Pizer). In short, the irony is that regardless of the fact that the

Money, Banking, and Financial Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 2

Money, Banking, and Financial Markets - Essay Example According to the Economist (2015), the global monetary system has for a long time been the world’s greatest headache. The article justified this claim by recalling the gold standard that existed in the 19th century. The world financial system has been termed by economists across the continents as a headache because it plunged into the depression and predicaments in the 1930s. Besides, the after war Bretton Woods system of pegged exchange rate fell in the 1970s necessitating an unexpected replacement by a flexible or floating exchange rate and mobile capital (The Economist 2015). Also, Madeley accused the volatile global financial system of failing to support trade in products and manufactured goods. Trade in goods and manufactured products are not assisted, concerning growth, by the volatile world monetary system (Madeley, 2007). The argument here is that the fluctuating currencies in the global money markets imply increased uncertainty of developing countries that levels the actual amount of money that would be received for the goods sold by these developing countries. Thus, the fact that the western nations control the global financial system cause the third world’s greatest headaches by exploiting the system by causing inefficiency and injustice of the worldwide trading system. It is quite unfortunate that the western countries cause the headaches of developing countries but given little attention and effort to putting things right (Madeley, 2007)..

How technology today affects a student's success Research Paper

How technology today affects a student's success - Research Paper Example The technological devices, including simple tool-based applications, video devices, online repositories, computers and handheld devices, have found wide application in various learning institutions and among students across the globe. Thus, this research paper aims at analyzing how technology has caused students to experience success through accessibility of materials, choice of convenient learning styles and enhancement of technological proficiency. Technology makes learning materials available to students, thus greater access, which increases the body of knowledge from which students learn from. Web browsers provide students with opportunities to find information on whatever subject. In fact, they provide more current materials than most school libraries do (Gemmill, and Peterson 281). Among the materials that students stand to benefit from the Internet include up-to-date tutorials and research papers. Software tools like spreadsheets, concept maps and databases allow these student s to organize and evaluate whatever data they access online. In addition, the accessed materials teach students to create work that depicts a high sense of professionalism, thus expanding the knowledge of such students. Another important information which technology, particularly the Internet, provides include comparison information on various learning institutions (Rambe 272). When seeking for an institution that would meet a student’s needs, it would be critical to get information on the various available options. The Internet provides information on the location, specialties and fees structure of such institutions. Furthermore, the global rankings of such institutions help students make informed choices of which institution to join. Rightful decisions enhance the desirable performance among students. Secondly, technology provides more convenient learning approaches which make learning comfortable and consequently boost students’ concentration in academics. In classr ooms, many teachers have adopted digital media to foster students’ skills. According to (Muir-Herzig 114), teachers use technological applications to simulate real-world phenomena to enable students execute authentic assignments as real workers would. Audio and video technology stimulates young minds which facilitates learning. The incorporation of pictures, animation and sound makes multimedia enhance recalling of basic facts among students as well as enhancing their understating of systems considered to be complex. Technology allows for learning in an institution of choice from whatever location in the world through distance learning which enables students to learn conveniently. The constructivist learning and teaching model cited by Muir-Herzig (114) indicates that due to the complexity of tasks brought about by technology, students’ motivation to learn increases. For example, as observed from a study by Gulek and Demirtas (29), students using laptops engage more in collaborative work than those without and further get motivated in writing their assignments, producing high quality work of greater length. They explore topics on their own, spending more time working on their school projects. The collaboration with other students through appropriate platforms such as social media enables students to tap into the available opportunities (Rambe 272). Whatever the preferred mode of learning, students leverage on technology to

California Vaccine Mandate Bill Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

California Vaccine Mandate Bill - Research Paper Example Initially, the philosophical exemption law protected some groups of Americans against mandatory vaccination based on their religious and philosophical perspectives of them. It means that while it is almost necessary that children are vaccinated before they enter school, some children were exempted. However, the California vaccine mandate bill will eliminate the privilege starting 2016 (McGreevy, 2015). Therefore, the implication of the new bill is that families with negative religious beliefs will no longer be exempted. The new bill demands that a greater number of Californian children is vaccinated before they enter schools. According to the LA Times (April 22, 2015), the Senate passed the legislation on Wednesday 28, 2015 and will become a law beginning 2016 (McGreevy, 2015). The bill also provides that have negative perception of vaccines as a way of protecting their interests. There is a question of how suitable the proposed legislation is towards safeguarding of the rights of re ligious minorities in the state. While there is an acknowledgement of the rights of minority groups in the state, the new legislation will undermine such a privilege. The rationale for the deduction is that as some parents already complained, the number of children in schools will go lower. The reasoning is simple because parents with such beliefs will opt to keep their children away from schools as a way of protecting their interests. Some may argue that the legislation provides for parents with such opinions to home school their children.