What Are the Benefits and Limitations of Using Second Life in Education Essay Example for Free

What Are the Benefits and Limitations of Using Second Life in Education Essay What are the benefits and limitations of using Second Life in Education? Use of the internet has increased exponentially in recent years, in both developed and developing countries, and educators are searching for ways of utilising the new technology and environment to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Second Life (SL) is a world which exists online. The world is complete with schools, universities, businesses and even criminal activity. As the use and popularity of SL grows, so too does the research regarding its viability as an educational tool. Both the apparent benefits and limitations have been considered in a variety of research papers (Baker, Wentz Woods, 2009; Taylor Chung, 2008). In order to determine whether SL is a useful option for educational institutions, the following aspects will be considered as part of this review: features of online learning, technical considerations and the overall potential uses. Some important features of online learning discussed by the authors include accessibility, popularity, and community. Access to online learning is an important aspect to consider, for both teachers and students. The flexibility of the online environment means that this type of technology can potentially be accessed at many different times and a variety of different places (Baker, Wentz and Woods, 2009). According to Baker et al. (2009), lecturers can make use of the technology by delivering their information via avatars. Taylor and Chung (2008) also consider the popularity of SL, and how this may encourage users to participate in online educational content. Indeed, as Baker et al. (2009) also suggest, students can be not only participants but can also â€Å"create their own content† (p. 60). They add that it is possible for students to meet together, attend discussion online and interact with tutors in an informal and relaxed way, as well as encouraging students who may otherwise be shy to have a ‘voice’. In this way they are building and sharing within their own communities and taking responsibility for their own learning. However, as Taylor and Chung (2008) assert, although SL might be popular, colourful, visual and interactive, students may not enjoy learning in this way, and using SL instead of more traditional methods may actually cause students to forget what they have learned. The authors suggest that the enjoyment of using an avatar and playing in SL may mean students do not focus on the aims of the lesson or lecture. Furthermore, Baker et al. (2009) suggest that there may be limitations of online interaction compared to face-to-face interaction. It is thus important for teacher to consider these issues before using SL. Not only that, there are also a few technical considerations such as cost and time, using SL and also technical knowledge been mentioned by the authors. Baker et al. (2009) claim that the cost of using SL could be differ. Anyone can use it for free yet there are also some charges for people to have a virtual land in SL. According to Baker et al. (2009), people need to consume time to get used to SL. There are initial times to create an avatar, control it, and communicate using computer. Taylor and Chung (2008) clarify that in order to get the benefits; people have to invest money and time for the programming content. Being failed to control avatar, learners might become de-motivated and not willing to use it. By using SL, Baker et al. (2009) remind teachers to consider the objective of online teaching, thinking if it is appropriate for the class or not, can they or the learners be familiarized with the technology and even developed new class management techniques. In fact, Baker et al. 2009) point out that the technical requirement of using SL is higher than basic requirement. Also, there might be some potential issues such as slow connection, slide show’s problem, and security issue. Taylor and Chung (2008) add that there are not a lot of document storages and the computer might get slow due to many graphics. In addition, the authors also insist that there are some overall potentials like new technology, uses in present fields and potential issues using SL in education and training purposes. Baker et al. 2009) reveal that SL is a new technology which launched in 2003, yet some educators already investigating the uses of SL in teaching and learning purposes. Its dominant is SL is not a game like Active Worlds, MMPORGs, and Whyville; it’s a space for social communication. There are some possible issues that people need to be careful as it may have serious effects. Students need to be informed the appropriate usage of the new technology–SL in learning. Besides that, they need to be taught the proper way to behave themselves and protect their privacy while using SL.  Furthermore, an emergency plan should be planned so that when the technology having problems and not performing well, students will not lost temper and cause severe impacts. Taylor and Chung (2008) suggest that SL is a powerful tool in helping training and development sectors. Nevertheless, they also discover that IBM still remains using text-based collaboration which leads to the efficacy of SL. It still has some difficulties to an effective transmission for instruction and content management. As a result, there are lots of potential to be found in the human-computer interaction, usability and instructional design. Through the articles reviewed it seems that the benefits and drawbacks of using SL are equal. Although SL can helps people in learning, people still have to pay much more efforts on it. To get used to SL, people have to spent money, time, and think out the appropriate way to use it wisely. Obviously, SL has the potential to facilitate people’s learning. In fact, to use it or not depends on the further research whether the benefits can overcome the limitations or not.

Zara: Expanding Overseas | SWOT, Porters Five and PEST

Zara: Expanding Overseas | SWOT, Porters Five and PEST Zara is one of the most well known brands in the world and is also one of the largest international fashion companies. They are the third largest brand in the garment industry and are a unit of Inditex. It their flagship range of chain stores and are headquartered in Spain. Zara opened its first outlet in Spain in 1975. The headquarters of the company is based in Galicia. There are more than 2600 stores across 73 countries in the world. The Zara clothing line accounts for a huge bulk of its parent groups revenues. There are other clothing brands owned by Inditex such as KiddyÂÂ ´s Class (childrens fashion), Pull and Bear (youth casual clothes), Massimo Dutti (quality and conventional fashion), Bershka (avant-garde clothing), Stradivarius (trendy garments for young woman), Oysho (undergarment chain) and Zara Home (household textiles). Inditex owns all Zara outlets except for places where they are not allowed ownership of stores (thats where Franchises step in). Zara is renowned for coming up with products on a short timescale instead of taking forever. They are known for taking around 2 weeks to develop products and have been known to come up with around 10,000 new designs every year (which is an industry record). They have bucked the trend by making productions in Europe instead of shifting their entire production to Third World or Developing countries. However some of their clothes are manufactured in parts of Asia due to the fact that they have a longer shelf life. They make most of their own products inside Spain or other European Countries as they own a large number of factories in both Spain and Portugal. They also dont have to depend on anyone else as they can get everything done by themselves. Zara is unique in the way that it does not spend money on marketing and instead concentrates on opening new stores instead. Their brave experiments have led them to be labeled as one of the most innovative retailers in the world. Zara started out with low priced products which were pale imitations of high end fashion products. This move led to Zara being a smashing success and allowed them to expand by opening more stores in Spain. The company management also managed to reduce the time it took to create new designs and came up with the term instant fashions which allowed them to capitalize on new trends really fast. Zara is known to use teams of designers instead of individuals. Zara has to face a lot of competition from HM, Gap and Bentton internationally. Fortunately Zara is considered to be more fashionable than the rest of the brands despite the fact that its price is less than Benetton and Gap. HM is still cheaper than Zara but is equally fashionable as Zara. Gap and Benetton are less fashionable and more pricy. SWOT Analysis (S)trengths Zaras biggest strength is the fact that it provides cost leadership strategy by aiming at efficiency and cost reduction on products. There is a lot of efficiency merely due to the fact that products are put on fast track and costs are kept really low. They dont take a long time to come up with new collections. Zara is able to come up with collections really fast (around 2 weeks to get a collection ready). Zara focuses on what its customers want and thats why they have managed to do so well. They are able to get the opinions of its customers on a daily basis. The data is sent over to the headquarters where it is analyzed. This is a great way of saving time and helps them understand what sort of trends to follow. Since it does not take them a long time to come up with products they are able to cash in on the trends. They are also able to design, manufacture and send out the new products in less than 2 weeks. They are also very efficient when it comes to delivery of the products. Zara employs a huge team of designers who are able to design the clothes they require. Most of these designers are fresh out of Fashion schools and are able to do more for less. Most of the clothes manufactured are made in Spain and there is no need for outsourcing. Zara manufactures and distributes its clothes so it manages to cut out the middle man. This is one reason why they are able to get clothes out there so fast. They also have a great Information technology solution in place which allows for decentralized decision making. (W)eaknesses Zara does not spend any money on marketing or advertising. This is a huge weakness for them as its competitors spend a lot of money on advertising. Zara relies on goodwill and word of mouth so that people can shop at their stores. This is a weakness which can be exploited in the future by its competitors. Another weakness is the fact that Zara only has one manufacturing and distribution centre in the world. This is a double edged sword as it is both a weakness and strength. The fact that they have a huge distribution centre makes it an asset but then if it is hit by some sort of natural disaster or some logistical problem then it can have an adverse effect on its revenues. (O)pportunities There are a lot of opportunities for Zara lying ahead. They need to expand their presence in the USA where they face competition from the likes of GAP. They only have around 49 stores in the US which is not bad but then based on the size of the US that is equivalent to around one store per state. In comparison there are more than 300 stores in Spain which is a fraction of the size of the US. They may have conquered Europe but they still need to expand into the US market so they can give Gap a run for its money. They can grow properly if they expand their presence in the US. Zara is only going for markets where it is doing well such as Italy. However there is a huge opportunity for them to tap into the Indian market. The Indian Economy is doing really well and people over there love to buy good quality brand names at a reasonable price. Zara already has 2 outlets in India but then it wouldnt hurt to expand a bit more and form alliances with local manufacturers. This will make it easier for them to slowly grow within the Indian market. (T)hreats The biggest threat facing Zara is the fact that it is Europe Based. Zara is based in Spain and has a huge number of stores in Europe. Critics believe that there is an over saturation of stores in Europe and that having such a huge number of stores will dent the revenues over the longer term. The other reason is the fact that the Euro tends to be stronger than the Dollar. This is one reason why merchandise from Zara tends to be more expensive in other countries. This can be a big turn off and can have an adverse effect on their revenues in the longer term. Porters Five Forces Porters Five Forces allows us to look at the five forces which help us determine the competitive intensity and the attractiveness of a market. Some of these forces are related to competition from external sources while the rest are internal threats. These are basically all related to the macro environment. The various Forces are threat of substitute products, the threat of established rivals, the threat of new entrants, the bargaining power of suppliers and the bargaining power of customers. Porters Five Forces Analysis Threat of Competitors Zara faces a lot of competition in the market. There are a large number of competitors in the market such as HM, Benetton, Gap, etc. Fortunately The high level of competition makes it tough for everyone as they are all struggling to get a piece of the pie . The biggest problem is that due to the large number of competitors the growth rate is low due to the number of manufacturers around. The clothing industry has peaked and it is very difficult for people to stay in the industry as the competition is cut throat. Customers are spoiled for choice due to the number of brands within the market. They are also very fickle minded and base their buying habits on the basis of new trends. They will only buy based on price and brand recognition and this is why the manufacturers have to keep changing what they do and come up with new ways of gaining customers. The costs of manufacturing new goods are quite high plus it is not easy to procure raw material so thats why the ones who have the resour ces and the ability to do so are able to survive within the market. Threat of New Entrants There is always the threat of new entrants but then the risk is not so much as Zara already has a huge presence in most parts of the world. The barriers for entry for distribution are quite low in Spain ( where the bulk of their clothes come from.) New entrants will have it easy as the cost of distribution is quite low as they only need to rent a shop and need a bit of capital to start out. However when it comes to manufacturing then the barriers of entry are really high mainly due to the fact that it requires a huge investment to get started within the market. Substitutes There is no threat of substitutes as it is a basic necessity for everyone. Customers Bargaining Power Customers have varying levels of bargaining power as they can decide what they want. Customers are quite fickle when it comes to buying clothes. However the good thing is that each customer has a love purchase volume and that means that even if some tend to change their brand there will still be some who will buy Zara. It is not an item like a burger or a snack which is available easily anywhere for a low price. The good thing about the clothing business is that there is no risk nonpayment because customers pay for clothes during purchase. Supplier Negotiation Power There are too many suppliers in the market which is one reason why the suppliers dont have much negotiating power. The fact that Zara procures or makes most of the stuff itself is also another factor which doesnt work in the suppliers favor. If the supplier decides to cut down the supplies the manufacturer can easily go to another manufacturer. PEST Analysis The PEST analysis is a study of the environment before a company begins its marketing process. It is a study of the external macro environment. It stands for Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis and is an environmental scanning component of strategic management (P)olitical The political factors affecting Zara are when the government intervenes into the economy and comes up with laws which change the way things are done in the country. The government can easily change its policy and change the ways a business can operate in the country. They can change the laws and do drastic things like changing the interest rate. Zara needs to know the entire system and to be prepared for any potential problems it can face from the government due to a change in policies. (E)conomical Economic factors come into play as they are related to factors such as interest rates, taxation changes, economic growth, inflation and exchange rates. These have the potential to create many problems in the future. There are different duties and levels of tariffs in different countries and this can cause the prices of products to vary in different countries. The price of goods will also vary based on the country of origin and thats what Zara needs to keep in mind. (S)ocial If there are Changes in social trends it will have a huge impact on the demand for Zaras products and the availability and willingness of individuals to work. However that is not likely to happen as its not as if Zara makes niche products. They focus on a huge market and make different types of products so it is quite unlikely that there will be a social shift in this part. However the company still needs to work on trends and to make sure its updated with the times so that it can satisfy its customers and meet the demands of its demographics. (T)echnology Due to advances in technology companies have to make sure that they keep up. Zara has to make sure that they have the latest technology and that they are innovative in every way. The more advanced the technology the more it can bring about some quality. Zara has invested in technology and it has to keep improvising because if they dont then their competitors will get a head start on them. Part 2: Zara is the biggest contributor towards Inditexs profits. Its the most well known brand in the group and has played a huge role in the growth of the group as well as bringing about huge sales and profits. Zaras success has brought about a large number of case studies and reports. It has consolidated its position in the fashion industry and has made a good name for itself. Zaras business model is basically based on the principle that it can sell medium quality fashion clothing at affordable prices. Basically vertical integration and the ability to come up with a quick-response is a key factor to Zaras successful business model otherwise they would be no where without it. The process for Zara has been designed in such a way that it has the various functions within the business system such as designing, sourcing and manufacturing, distribution and retailing. They do all of these themselves and that is one reason why their growth is at a good rate. However what goes up must come down and Zara is not immune to the problems in the world. The way they operate can also prove to be their undoing due to the model they are currently utilizing. The fact that they have their own distribution centre and manufacturing unit is a very weak point. This can be discussed further in this document. The management at Zara have come up four fundamental success factors: short cycle time for creation of product, small quantity per product (and not too much of the same stock) , extensive variety of product every season (so that users can choose easily) as well as a huge investment in information and communication technology to allow them to stay on track . Zara knows what its customers want by tracking their preferences on a year round basis. They have their own team of designers who have been recruited fresh out of fashion school. It is not a tough job to tell them what they want based on the input they receive. They make around a limited quantity of clothes based on the 11000 various items designed by its in-house staff. Zara does not make any losses as they only order a limited quantity of each item which they believe is stylish and will be more restricted season wise. For example if they have miniskirts in design they will only be available for a short time due to the short summer period in Europe. Other clothes which can work the year around and for which the trend does not change are outsourced to Asia as the cost wont be so high. The outsourcing operation is very handy mainly because these clothes have a longer shelf life. It does not take a long time for the clothes to be prepared as it merely takes around 4 weeks total for the whole process : from design to the finished product in the stores. The fact that Zara knows what sort of trends are there in the market and are quick enough to change their strategy to match the trends in the fashion industry gives them a huge advantage. They are able to modify their timetable easily to adjust for a change in the trends in the market. Normally it takes around 8 to 12 months for any normal retailer to forecast trends and come up with a style and send it for production. They are unable to match what Zara does and they end up losing big time. Even if a style fails to sell much, Zara can easily sell the clothes on a discount. The fact that they quantity of clothes manufactured was so low that they lose much. Their low volume strategy has helped them have a very low number of discount sales every year as compared to a high rate for the rest of the industry. However this leads to higher costs which is a disadvantage but then they dont have to worry about having higher inventories. This method allows for a low inventory and high profit margins. They dont save any money here with costs but then they get the maximum out of their clothing line. A problem they face is the fact that since Zara controls everything it is not easy for them to expand or relocate as they have to stay put in one place or the whole operation will suffer and the goods will cost more to distribute. Zaras business model is wonderful in the sense that it has a very fashion forward line as they know which trends to cash in on. They seem to have the midas touch of turning everything into gold. Their policy is to have a mostly young and fashion conscious staff so that they will also be able to double as trend setters. If for instance a certain item in a store sells well then the management decides to sell the same item in other locations as well. The key is that most of the items are in short supply and people presume that there is a shortage of items which ends up making consumers want to buy more. A key factor in Zaras success is the fact that it has sourced its products from the right places. They have based their procurement offices in a couple of fashionable cities in the world. This allows them to witness the trends first hand and then to quickly come up with a solution of their own. They dont buy all the raw products on their own as they use one of their parent groups procurement units to do all its purchasing. One clever move on their part is that they buy most of their fabric in grey so that there is greater flexibility. It doesnt take long for the fabric to be prepared. The main distribution artery is in Spain where they have their biggest distribution centre. They also have some smaller distribution centers in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. The problem with the distribution centre is that it is purely based in Spain and does not have the capacity for a heavy load. It is a huge distribution centre and occupies around 500,000 square feet in total. They only have the capability of processing around 60,000 folded garments in an hour. They need to find a new distribution centre or increase their operations so that they can save more time. However the biggest advantage for them is the fact that they have vertical integration which allows them to manufacture and distribute their own stuff without having to be at the mercy of any supplier. It is not tough to move any of their products as they have their own railway network which allows them to move goods easily to its distribution centre. Once the goods are ready they are shipped out immed iately though the shipping schedule is only twice a week. European stores get their goods early (around 24-36 hours) while other destinations get them within 2 days. This system has allowed them to achieve a very high level of accuracy in its shipments. The other good thing is that the outlets dont take long to display the new outfits once they reach their destination and this allows them to show new stock to their customers. The clothes are also coded according to their color so that the staff knows where to place them. This makes it easier for the customers to go around color matching the items they want to buy. Problems with Zara Zara is facing a large number of issues which can cause them a number of problems in the future. Despite the fact that Zara has a consistent business system which gives them a competitive advantage it is always in the danger of tanking badly. Zaras biggest advantage is the fact that its economies of scale are really good and that they have been able to ramp up their distribution system. The continued growth is good for them in every way. They have been helped a lot by their expansion in the international market. However their growth in the international market will be curtailed due to the reason that Zara has a very centralized logistics model. It is understandable that Zara has to expand its distribution centers and to increase its capacity. Zara has its main distribution centre in Spain and it wont be easy going trying to expand when their base is only in Spain. This will affect their plans to go international and to target more regions. They cant simply survive with a European presence alone. It is true that they do have a presence in other countries but then it is not as much as it should be. They have a huge presence in Spain but quite limited when it comes to other countries. They can easily target the North American region where they dont have much of a presence compared to the huge size of the region. The problem is that there are a lot of outlets there and a lot of competition coupled with the need for plus sized clothing, high cost of operations and a very mature market. Zara needs to come up with a strategy so they can compete very aggressively over there. They can also target South America but the problem is that it is not a very stable region and any geopolitical problems can lead to profits being low. A good market would be the ever reliable Middle East where Zara already has a small presence. However with talks of revolution in the air and other geo political problems it can be a risky bet. There are a few countries in the region which will lead it to be profitable but then the market is small compared to other regions. They can easily opt for countries such as the South East Asian markets and South Asia which have a lot of potential. Recommendations Zara can easily go around and expand its operations in many ways. The best thing would be to take it easy for the short term and to go for further expansion in Europe. Spain and Italy are neighbors and the fact that Zara has its main distribution centre in Spain will make it easy for Zara. For the time being they dont need to open any more distribution centers as they can work with regions which are quite near in proximity to them. Italy is one of the most fashion savy countries in Europe along with France. Zara already has 70 plus stores in the country but then they can do a lot better. They can enhance their presence in the market and try and take some share from some of its know rivals such as Benetton and HM. the biggest way for Zara to expand is to try and open another Distribution Centre in Eastern Europe and to be able to expand its operations in Eastern Europe. A number of countries are coming into the European Union and are ripe for the picking. They already have a presence in some countries but the number of stores per region is not as much as it should be. Zara should expand further in the Asian markets once they have been able to do their bit in Europe. They have already tested the waters in Asia despite the fact that there is a lot of competition from local vendors there. However the fact that people in the developing countries and with surging economies will be sure to try out Foreign brands and that would be one reason why its a good idea to expand further in Asia. The only problem is that Zara is based in Spain and that all their designs come from that region. The fact that they make items in limited quantities ensuring a low inventory will scuttle their plans to expand easily. If Zara decentralizes its manufacturing policy it can easily set up its own operations and distribution centre in Asia. It wont be easy as they will still have to procure items via local vendors. If they are unable to create a distribution centre in Asia they can still create a larger upscale distribution centre in Spain where they are able to take the load of supplying to a larger number of stores. In this way they will be able to keep up with the demand and supply. This will help in the growth of the company and allow them to face challenges. It wouldnt be a bad idea to expand in the US market in the long term even if it is not so friendly towards European labels. Competitors such as Benetton and HM have faced problems with the US market in the past. However Zara has the resources and the ability to be able to expand within the market. They can expand easily in the US market only if they manage to curb their costs which are quite high at the moment. They also need to invest in a proper high end IT system which can help them go with the trends. They will not have the advantage of the system they have in Spain as its a totally different ball game over there. There will be different political and economic circumstances which will dictate the way they do everything. It wont be easy to change their entire business model just for another region. This would mean that they have to decentralize the way they work so that they can work in the US. They would have to establish a distribution centre in Mexico or another cheaper place so that they can cater to the needs. The cost of labor wont be so much but the fact that it is decentralized and not under the control of the Spanish HQ. On the bright side it will be cheaper to ship products and the tariffs will be low. This will allow them to save a lot on costs and they will be able to keep their prices the same way they are in the origin countries. They will also be able to enjoy greater margins in this way. They will also be able to resolve other matters such as retailing overcapacity, less fashion-forwardness, need for larger sizes, and considerable internal variation. Risks The risks associated with expanding overseas are that it will require a lot of capital. They need to establish new facilities and it is not an easy task. They have to do a number of studies and research the market properly before they go ahead. It wont be an easy feat setting up everything from scratch. They will also have to train people the way they operate in Spain. However they can still keep the design and procurement process centralized as technology will allow their units to do what they want. Its just the units which need to be decentralized. There is the huge possibility that they will face a number of obstacles and losses before they can actually do something. The only problem is that they will face problems with their margin while they are at it. They will have to face increased costs and will have to pass on the buck to consumers so that their bottom line is not affected. Hypothetically they can also opt for joint ventures or franchising if they dont want to go and expand in the US. The only problem is that joint ventures and franchises dont always pan out as required. It can create problems for their brand name and can cause many unforeseen problems in the future. It is never a good idea to give out a franchise or work in a joint venture unless there is synergy between the two partners. Conclusion In the end it is highly recommended that Zara keep its house and affairs in order before they can think of expansion. Due to the environmental factors and the fact that the Euro Zone will not always be so stable should shake it out of its comfort zone. Expansion is the key but they have to play their cards right and plan their move properly before they end up making some costly mistakes.

Analysis of Construct Traits in Personality Theory

Analysis of Construct Traits in Personality Theory Word Count: 1521 Q: It is said that traits are important constructs in personality theory. Support or refute this statement. 1. INTRODUCTION If you were every to ask a person to describe him or her self, he or she would probably make use of adjectives such as ‘motivated’, ‘fun-loving’, or maybe ‘lazy’ and ‘disorganised’. These people would, in essence, be describing themselves by identifying aspects of what makes them who they are, factors or traits. Kassin (2003) identifies individuals’ emotions, thoughts and behaviours as making up his or her personality. These can vary considerably from one person to the next. Therefore, in order to make the subject of personality more scientific, researchers such as Allport, Eysenck and Cattell, through a process of factor analysis, identified factors or aspects of personality, that are considerably stable across time. Personality traits. These researchers have not yet reached an absolute consensus on the precise number of traits, which may be used to accurately describe personality. Eysenck, for example identified the traits neuroticism, extraversion and psychoticism as sufficient in describing most aspects of personality. Cattell, however, identified 16 traits necessary in accounting for aspects of personality. These disparities arise out of differences in factor-analytic method used and the range of items analysed (Carr, 2004). The most dominant trait theory of recent years is the Five-Factor Model of Personality (MacCrae Costa, 1999); a richer exploration of this will follow. The following will consider the value of the construct traits in personality theory, by providing an overview of the literature on the construct traits, related theories and current research, concluding with a discussion on the findings. 2. DEFINITION In considering the importance of the construct traits in personality theory, the author will look closer at the definition of personality and that of the construct traits. 2.1. A Definition of Personality It is said that there are as many definitions of personality as there are personality theorist. Pitts (1991: 609) highlights Gordon Allport’s definition of personality, which identifies it as, ‘the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behaviour and thought’, as being widely accepted by most theorists. Kaplan and Sadock (1998: 775) define personality as, ‘a person’s characteristic totality of emotional and behavioural traits apparent in ordinary life, a totality that is usually stable and predictable’. From these two comprehensive definitions, personality could therefore be seen as being both distinctive and characteristic, and as describing a style of interacting in everyday life. Since each person is complexly unique, it is not surprising that the task of describing, and even more so, measuring personality is also highly complex. On returning to the question, and considering the above definition of personality, it would appear that for the construct traits to play a significant role in personality theory they need to be able to accurately describe an individual’s general disposition, and identify these as being stable across the life-span. 2.2. A Definition of Traits Traits are said to be those things that make us who we are. More specifically, ‘traits are relatively enduring personal characteristics, which, along with situational variables, influence behaviour, cognition and affect’ (Carr, 2004: 181). In considering the above definition, the following terms are highlighted: relatively enduring and situational. The author highlights these terms specifically, as they impact on the importance of traits on personality theory, in that traits, according to this definition, are not necessarily stable across the life span and are situationally influenced. For example, the trait ‘honest’ is very often used in describing an individual, yet this particular trait is often very dependent on a given situation. Despite these possible limitations of trait theory, the author considers the clear approach traits provide in understanding and describing personality and personal interactions, as well as a tool for comparing individuals. 3. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS Factor-analytic approaches and trait theories have arisen in recent years as a welcomed alternative to abstract theorising, in identifying aspects of personality that influences an individual respond in varying situation (Pitts, 1991). Raymond Cattell, using a set of observable, surface personality traits, identified a small group of 16 primary traits, as being central to personality. While, Hans Jurgen Eysenck proposed a 3-trait model. More recently, the Five-Factor Model (MacCrae Costa, 1999) has emerged as a front-runner of trait theories, as it provides a middle road between the extreme positions of Cattell and Eysenck (Carr, 2004). The Author will now consider these approaches to trait theory in greater depth. 3.1. Raymond Cattell In his aim to improve the predictive techniques of personality theory, in estimating a persons behaviour in a given situation, Raymond Cattell began by identifying names, ‘used to describe traits or characteristics of personality’ (Pitt, 1991: 623). From a list of 18 000 trait names, Cattell reduced this to 160. Then, through a process of factor analysis, he further reduced this number to 16 factors. Cattell described these 16 factors on a continuum, in a view that each person possess, to some degree, every trait. Everybody has some degree of every trait. These traits in: Abstractedness, Apprehension, Dominance, Emotional Stability, Liveliness, Openness to Change, Perfectionism, Privateness, Reasoning, Rule Consciousness, Self-Reliance, Sensitivity, Social Boldness, Tension, Vigilance and Warmth. Cattell considered these 16 factors as ‘source traits’, which form the basis of personality (Pitt, 1991, 623). In 1949 Cattell published these findings in an assess ment tool, the 16PF. According to Fehriinger(2004: Â ¶16), despite Cattell’s 16-factor theory having made great contributions to the development of personality theory, his theory has received vast criticism. The most prominent criticism being that despite numerous attempts to replicate the 16 Personality Factor Model, an entire replication has never been achieved. Yet, despite criticism, Fehriinger (2004: Â ¶16) identifies the contribution of Cattell’s theory in that, ‘investigation into to the validity of Cattells model researchers did discover the Big Five Factors, which have been monumental in understanding personality, as we know it today’. 3.2. Hans Jurgen Eysenck According to Eysenck, personality can be represented on three dimensions, which are uncorrelated with each other; he labelled them extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism (Pitt, 1991). Eysenck suggested that each person exhibits set responses to external and internal stimuli and that these will vary in accordance with the intensity of the stimuli, the situation and state of mind (Pitt, 1991).These set responses then develop into predictable trends, for example, a person may feel intimidated by large crowds, and as a result, limit his or her contact with specific situations. When this avoidance becomes a normal defence to coping with crowds, it becomes a habit. This behaviour may also then extend to other situations, such as social functions or days out in the city. When these responses are combined, they form traits. Jang (1998: Â ¶27) identifies the following contributions of Eysenck’s approach to the development of personality theory. By combing descriptive and casual aspects of personality, Eysenck’s model is considered more credible than other descriptive models. It is both comprehensive and descriptive, a critical aspect for comparison with other trait theories. The experimental approach adopted by Eysenck in the study of personality, makes this model more evidence based. Making this model more likely to generate more specific predictions because knowledge about the functioning of the specified physiological structures is available. Despite these identified contributions, Eysenck’s theory has received criticism in that it has been found to concentrate too extensively on extraversion, and has not made any expansion. A further criticism is that the unitary nature of extraversion, a premise of his theory, has been questioned. 3.3. Five-Factor Model The Five-Factor Model has drawn on the insights of Cattell, Eysenck and others, and includes the following dimensions: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience and Agreeableness and Conscientiousness (Carr, 2004). According to Srivastava (2006), the five-factor model has made significant contributions to the development of personality theory, in that it established a common taxonomy, doing away with a previously disorganised field. Furthermore, the five-factor model is distinguished from other theories is that it is based on language, rather than on ideas from an individual psychologist. Further support is found for the five-factor model, in that meta-analysis has confirmed the predictive value of this model across a range of behaviors. Saulsman and Page (2004, as cited in Srivastava, 2006) examined the relationship between the five-factor model and each of the 10 personality disorder categories in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). These researchers found that across 15 independent samples, each disorder displayed a unique and predictable five-factor profile (Srivastava, 2006). 4. DISCUSSION From the afore gone exploration on personality theory and traits, the author is able to identify both strengths and weaknesses of the construct traits. Since trait theory is largely based on statistical data, it removes any bias influence and remains objective, unlike other personality theories, which are based on subjective personal experiences. Furthermore, it is a clear and easy to apply approach for use in understanding people. However, the criticisms remain that it is a poor predictor of future behaviour and fails to address developmental issues. Despite these, the author is able to identify the importance of the construct trait in personality theory. 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY Carr, A. 2004. Positive Psychology: The science of happiness and human strengths. Hove: Brunner-Routledge. Fehriinger, H.M. 2004. Contributions and Limitations of Cattell’s Sixteen Personality Factor Model. Retrieved on the March 2nd, 2007, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/fehringer.html. Jang, K. 1998. Eysenck’s PEN Model: Its contributions to personality psychology. Retrieved on March 2nd, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jang.html Kaplan, H. I., Sadock, B. J. 1998. Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/ clinical psychiatry. (8th ed.). USA: Lippincott Williams Willkins. Kassin, S. 2003. Psychology. USA: Prentice-Hall, Inc. McCrae, R., Costa, P. 1999. A five factor theory of personality. In L. Pervin and O. John (Eds.). Handbook of Personality (2nd ed.). pp. 139-153. NY: Guilford. Pitts, M. 1991. Personality. In J. Radford and E. Govier (Eds.). A Textbook of Psychology (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. Srivastava, S. (2006). Measuring the Big Five Personality Factors. Retrieved March 2nd, 2007 from http://www.uoregon.edu/~sanjay/bigfive.html.

Study Of Environmental Issues Associated With Industrialization :: essays research papers

Study of Environmental Issues Associated with Industrialization   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although our industrial ways seem to be a very progressive step into the future, there are many flaws to the way many things are today. Things have definitely changed over the past century, as we can currently do things much more efficiently then before. The cost of this efficiency may seem inexpensive in many ways, however we do not realize that the cost of these new technologies do not just include money, time and labour, but it also costs us our well being as well as the beauty and comfort of our own home, earth. Ozone depletion, climate change as well as the direct effects of chemicals from industrial emissions and fuel combustion are a great threat to our planet and if nothing is done to resolve this problem soon, the results may be disastrous. There is a layer of chemicals twenty kilometers up in the stratosphere called the ozone layer. This layer protects the inhabitants of earth by reflecting much of the suns harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. Without this layer above us, many living things including humans could not survive. The ozone layer is currently depleting and the reason for this is believed to be caused by a few things. Deforestation, fertilizer use and fuel combustion are minor contributors to this problem while chemicals such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide and hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs) are the major contributors to the deterioration of the ozone layer. These chemicals have industrial halocarbons that break up into chlorine and bromine in the upper stratosphere when they react with the sun's rays. Chlorine eats up the ozone layer while bromine acts as a catalyst and speeds up the process. Often found in Antarctica, there are frozen chemical clouds in the upper stratosphere called polar stratospheric clouds. These polar stratospheric clouds destroy the ozone layer at a much faster pace then the industrial halocarbons. The depletion of the ozone layer is a great threat to mankind and all other living things on earth because without this layer of chemicals, we will be exposed to excess UV rays. This excess exposure can lead to many things such as malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, damage to eyes by means such as snow blindness and cataracts, which is the clouding of the eye that can eventually lead to blindness. Above all this, excessive UV exposure can lead to symptoms similar to AIDS as prolonged exposure could weaken the human immune system. As far as plants and animals go, plants may die or may not be as healthy as a result of too much UV exposure and animals will suffer

Federal Budget Must be Reduced :: Argumentative Persuasive Economics Papers

Federal Budget Must be Reduced The annual multibillion-dollar federal budget threatens the future of the United States and must be reduced.To cut the size of the deficit, federal revenues must be increased, and federal outlays must be reduced, or a combination of the two may be used.Under the 1990 budget agreement, Congress cut defense spending and benefits to veterans, farmers, and Medicare and Medicaid patients. In addition, the agreement increased taxes for the wealthiest Americans and phased out some of their tax exemptions. The act also raised taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, gasoline, and airline tickets. ("Current Issues". Close-Up Foundation,1993.) This was a good first step, at balancing rather than rolling over the debt to future generations. However, the Republicans need to find some more support to get another such agreement passed. Expensive defense programs that were once necessary are no longer needed. The money that was once used for defense should be put toward lowering the budget deficit, which grows at the rate of $10,000 per second and stood as $5,020,705,156,014 at eight o'clock p.m. on November 13, 1995. This is according to the National Debt Clock ([Debt Clock], //www.fusebox.com/debtclock/). Because Americans are not willing to sacrifice social programs, the only alternative is to raise taxes. Americans may not like it, but they need to pay for the government services they want and need. However, this increase in taxes should be kept in perspective, since a tax increase will reduce personal income and business profits. Too high of an increase in taxes will only stifle economic growth by reducing the money businesses would have to invest in expansion and job creation. The latest step in balancing the budget was a stop-gap spending bill which passed through the House of Representatives November 8, 1995, ([CNN-House passes stop-gap spending bill-Nov.8,1995], http://www.cnn.com//US/9511/budget/index.html) This bill reduces the funding for some programs. On Monday, President Clinton vetoed the stop-gap spending measure, and a debt limit extension calling them "too high a price"

How to Run a Successful Meeting

How to Run a Meeting Like Google As one of the most successful companies in the world, Google is obviously doing something right when it comes to how they manage their time. In general, meetings are known for being a waste of time where complaining occurs, but no real solutions are found. Of course this isn't always the case, especially at Google. In this article, Google's Vice-president of search products, Marissa Mayer, outlines how meetings are scheduled and conducted in an effort to eliminate wasted time and maximize results.On average, Mayer holds around 70 meetings a week. With so much precious time at stake, Mayer has developed a few keys to running a successful meeting. The first being to set a firm agenda. An outline is required beforehand which helps to streamline discussions and keep focused. Next, notes are always made, no matter how insignificant the meeting might be. It is important to Google that everyone is able to look back and see the final decision, but more import antly, the progression of the discussion.Google is all about being current, and note taking enables the company to keep all employees up to date. Mayer also emphasizes using data in the approval process. This is to ensure that employees know that ideas or designs are chosen based on merit and results, not favoritism. All of these have proven successful for Google in order to reach optimum results during any meetings held. However, I think it is how Google decides to organize their time that makes their meetings successful.Every week, Mayer designates large amounts of time to meet with people. She organizes these large blocks of time into smaller â€Å"slices†. Think: mini meetings. Why schedule a 30 minute meeting when it will only take 10? Mayer is much more productive and efficient with her time because of these micro-meetings. Mayer also suggests the use office hours. She was inspired to do this after her work as a professor at Stanford University.In this informal approach , not only is efficiency wildly improved (5 or more â€Å"meetings† can potentially occur within 30 minutes), but some of Google’s best ideas have come out of office hours. After all, sometimes someone only needs approval to move forward on a project which would not take up anywhere near 30 minutes time (the shortest block of time that her calendar allows). And finally, Google keeps things on time with a giant 4 foot clock that is projected on the wall. This adds pressure to keep on task, but gives every assembly structure.

‘I Spy’ by Graham Green Essay

1. Setting We can say exactly that all the described events take place in England, particularly, they happen in the Eastern part of England. The father of the Charlie Stowe, of the main character, was supposed to be in Norwich that night we know about it directly from the text (â€Å"Tonight he said he would be in Norwich†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Norwich is the regional administrative center and country town of Norfolk. Besides, one sentence tells us that place isn’t far from water (â€Å"the wind blew from the sea, and Charlie Stowe could hear†¦the beating of the waves†) and now we can say precisely that it is just by the North Sea that washes the shores of England. The events happen at night in the house where the family of Charlie Stowe lives, particularly, at the tobacconist’s shop that was kept by his father. It is said in second paragraph of the text. It was time of the World War I. The following clues help us to understand it: â€Å"enemy airships†, â€Å"Zeppelin†, which was a type of airship pioneered in Germany in the beginning of XX century and used widely to bombard England during the period of the World War I, such features of fashion of that time as â€Å"bowler hats† and â€Å"belted mackintoshes†, brands of cigarettes that Charlie’s father was selling (Gold Flake, Players, Woodbines were wide-spread that time). Moreover, in the text â€Å"Huns† were mentioned. It is an Offensive slang used as a disparaging term for a German, especially, a German soldier in World War I. 2. Plot Charlie Stowe, the main character, gets mocked by his schoolmates at the County school, because he has never tried a cigarette at his 12 in his life. One night he decides to have a smoke and sneaks to the tobacconist’s shop run by his father whom he doesn’t love. His mother is sleeping and his father isn’t supposed to be at home. But when Charlie finds himself at the shop he hears footfalls in the street. It is his father and two strangers. They have a brief chat and then leave the shop. Charlie goes upstairs, he is  very frightened but the attitude to his father changed. We can observe the structure of the text. The expositions of the story include the description of that night and Charlie’s family. The climax happens when his father and two strangers have a talk, particularly, on the phrase â€Å"Well†¦there’s nothing to be done about it, and I may as well have my smokes†. It was said by Charlie’s father and it is the most important moment of the story, because here we see strong likeness between the father and the boy: during boy’s attempt to â€Å"commit† a crime (to smoke a cigarette) he tries to encourage himself with â€Å"grown-up† and childish exhortations and what is interesting Charlie uses the same words to encourage himself in the forth paragraph and his father saying the phrase above also tries to encourage himself. Maybe he committed a crime being a spy because two strangers seem to be policemen or secret-service agents and the father tells them that â€Å"The wife will sell out†, talking about his tobacco business. Also unusual behavior says to us this fact: his voice has an unfamiliar to Charlie note and he holds his stiff collar. It indicates that he is very nervous and also his voice is â€Å"dry as a biscuit†. When Mr. Stowe wants to get his coat one of the strangers would like to go with him not letting him be alone. It seems that Charlie’s father is arrested. We can do this guess-work and find one more likeness between Charlie and his father: committing a crime. The resolution happens when the father and two strangers leave the shop, frightened Charlie goes upstairs and understands how much he loves his father. 3. Elements of plot This short story abounds with conflicts. At the beginning we know that Charlie has never tried a cigarette in his life and gets mocked by boys at school. It is the first conflict: the boy versus schoolmates, his peers, and it can be considered as the conflict of a man and society. The second one happens between Charlie and his father which he doesn’t like at the beginning. That’s why we can call Charlie protagonist, and his father – antagonist. We see the third direct conflict between Charlie’s father and two men. The mystery is hidden in their talk. And finally there is the forth conflict – the inner conflict of the boy who at his 12 wants to be an adult trying to have a smoke against the fear and prohibition and maybe commit the hardest crime of his age. 4. The theme/message The main idea of the story is a generation gap, the relations of Fathers and Sons. It is still relevant nowdays, parents should pay attention to the way of upbringing of their children. Lie, mistakes, carelessness and insufficiency of attention of parents would reflect on the behavior and personality of their children. The other idea is found in the conflict of Charlie and his peers. Sometimes to be respected in society we try to do what it dictates us. Children are exposed to the society influence easier, because they haven’t enough experience in life and their world outlook isn’t finally formed. The minor idea of this story is to show how our attitude can be wrong judging people around us, even our closest people, our relatives, and it may happen that it would be too late to say the warmest words to the dearest people and even living with our family we cannot notice the likeness or common things that connect us. We should be more attentive, more sensitive and sympathe tic and keep in mind that our children would somehow look like us. 5. Narration The type of narration is entrusted narrative. The story is told from the point of view of Charlie who uses the 3d person. It is an omniscient point of view. 6. Fiction elements/Structure The author entrusts the main character telling us the story. That’s why we can consider this story as an interior monologue. In the text we also encounter with protagonist’s inner dialog and the dialog between the antagonist and two strangers. It is a kind of blend of dialogs and monologue speech. It makes us imagine more vivid the situation and keeps us in tension. On the whole the structure of the text is chronological. Only the second paragraph is a little bit detached telling about Charlie’s family and his conflicts with boys from County school and his father. The story starts at the beginning and moves through time. 7. Style: level of complexity The structure of the text is very complex. There are a lot of commas, semi-colons and conjunctions. Also inclusion of the dialogs tells us about it. Equally with conjunctions such stylistic device as asyndeton is used many times in the text. Abrupt changes from long sentences to short ones and vice versa create a very strong effect of tension and suspense for they serve to arrange a nervous, ragged rhythm of the utterances. Also very short sentences produce a very strong emphatic impact. In the text we can notice loose, periodic and balanced sentences, it also says to us about very sophisticated structure of the text. We can encounter with apokoinu constructions â€Å"light burning†, â€Å"chin cupped in his hands†, â€Å"made him grab†, â€Å"sound of several men walking rapidly†, â€Å"†¦quick steps going away†, â€Å"†¦don’t’ let me be caught†. Apokoinu constructions are mostly used in the entrusted narrative. We ca n find also a lot of attachments, particularly, in dialogs (In speech of Charlie’s father), in the 5th paragraph (â€Å"†¦belted mackintoshes. They were strangers.†) The story abounds with literary words as it should be with the fiction. The author chose very colored words such as â€Å"banks of cloud†, â€Å"thin haze†, â€Å"stale smoke†, â€Å"boisterous†, â€Å"spasmodically†, â€Å"wraith†, â€Å"despair†, â€Å"lurked†, â€Å"held his breath†, â€Å"dare not to move†, â€Å"cowered† and etc. Dialogs are very colloquial, a lot of phrasal verbs are used (â€Å"sell out†, â€Å"to be off†, â€Å"put off†). What is very interesting in the text you can find some proverbs. Firstly, in the inner dialog of the boy (â€Å"May as well be hung for a sheep†, but it isn’t full, we can consider it as ellipsis) and secondly in the speech of Charlie’s father, not finished as well (â€Å"while there’s life†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , the continuation is â€Å"†¦there is hope†) and â€Å"a stitch in time† (also isn’t fin ished (continuation: â€Å"†¦saves nine†)), and wrenched proverb â€Å"Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow†. The latter is said with a touch of sarcasm. The usage of proverbs also is a common characteristic of the boy and his father. Elipsises reflect the natural omissions characterizing oral colloquial speech and the main function is to achieve the authenticity and plausibility of fictious dialog. When Charlie wants to encourage himself he says â€Å"Cowardy, cowardy custard†. It is a very interesting expression and is a taunt used by schoolchildren in the UK equivalent to â€Å"scaredy cat† in the U.S. By the way it is one more clue in support of the story happens in England. It means one who is excessively fearful. The word â€Å"Cowardy† is made with the help of diminutive  suffix –y, it underlines additional emotional coloring. The descriptions in the story are very detailed, author uses a lot of epithets (â€Å"boisterous†, â€Å"wraith†, â€Å"stale†, â€Å"noisy† and etc.). Figurative language is traced through the whole story. We can find metaphors such as â€Å"a searchlight†¦probing the dark deep spaces†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (we can also call it personification), â€Å"surprise and awe kept him†¦awake†, â€Å"the tobacconist’s shop†¦drew him on†, personification â€Å"†¦familiar photograph had stepped from the frame to reproach him with neglect†, similis such as â€Å"dry as biscuit†, â€Å"but his father’s affection and dislike were as indefinite as his movements†, disguised simili can be find in the mentioned phrase â€Å"Cowardy, cowardy custard†, periphrasis â€Å"the packets were piled twelve deep below† instead of â€Å"there were 12 packets of cigarettes† which conveys a purely individual perception of the described object, onomatopoeia â€Å"when they cracked† if we talk about stairs and emphasizes the reigning tension. Talking again about the phrase â€Å"Cowardy, cowardy custard† author from Charlie’s point of view describes it as childish exhortation. We can notice one more morphological device, suffix –ish. It deepens the coloring of the utterance expressing some contempt. In the second and in the last paragraphs we can find antithesises: the first one in the description of Charlie’s father who is opposed to his mother and the second one â€Å"†¦while his mother was boisterous and kindly, his father was very like himself doing things in the dark which frightened him’. Through this device we can understand the real attitude of Charlie to his parents. In the last antithesis there is also a comparison of the boy and his father. In the text we can also find â€Å"don’t you† constructions, the first of which was used to emphasize sarcasm of one of the strangers (â€Å"Don’t you want to speak to your wife?† and another one is an inve rsion â€Å"Don’t you worry to much†. Mr. Stowe used it to produce sarcasm as well. Talking about dialogs we can underline its colloquialism also by repetition â€Å"Yes, yes†. 8. Tone/mood The tone of the story is very tense, serious, suspenseful and sometimes in characters’ words sarcasm slips. Tension and fear are seen in the description of boy’s actions â€Å"sat in despair†, â€Å"cowered in darkness†, â€Å"held his breath†, â€Å"clutched his nightshirt tight and prayed†. In some phrases of the one stranger we can find sympathy. Also we feel sympathy both to the boy  who is mocked at school and his father who seems to be arrested. In the detailed description of Charlie’s father we can notice that the boy is offended by him (â€Å"†¦left even punishment to his mother†). The mood of the story is hopeless and tense. We feel it throughout the story, the setting â€Å"helps† us to feel it deeply as well. But in the end we feel a kind of relief for a moment when the boy understands he loves his father. We say â€Å"for a moment† because we will never know if the father and the boy ever meet ag ain. 9. Types of characters a) Charlie 12 years old kid, brave enough to do what is prohibited (to have a smoke). But is under impact of his schoolmates who mock at him, it is a common phenomenon of children of his age. He is smart, we can say it reading how he encourages himself with the proverb. Maybe it tells us that he is well-read. The peculiarity of children of the World War I time was that they were elder mentally, more clever than the children of the peace time. The severe environment made them like that. Charlie tries to prove his maturity, to go against the fear. He is very cautious and skillful. But one thing he forgets is matches. He was so rash in his desire that make him forget a very important thing without what he can’t fulfill his wish. Though Charlie loves his mother very much, we can’t say he is mother’s darling. He wants to be with his father, share problems and feelings with him, but he sees that his father isn’t interested in him. That makes him frustrated. Charlie is a dynamic type of character, because he has a very strong position against his father and the attitude to him changes in the end. And he understands himself differently than at the beginning. b) Mr. Stowe From the very beginning we know that Charlie doesn’t love his father. He describes him as â€Å"unreal to him, a wraith, pale, thin and indefinite, who noticed him only spasmodically and left even punishment to his mother.† â€Å"Tonight he had said he would be in Norwich, and yet you never knew† – this tells us that he lies to his family. He is afraid of revealing his crime. It is seen in the phrase told one of the strangers: â€Å"if you wouldn’t mind being quite, gentlemen. I don’t want to wake up the family.†., The same we can see  in his answer on the stranger’s question â€Å"Don’t you want to speak to your wife?† – â€Å"Not me†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . But at the same time Mr. Stowe is very polite with strangers (â€Å"if you wouldn’t mind†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , â€Å"Mind if†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). It also emphasizes his deceitfulness. Mr. Stowe is fond of what he is doing – running the tobacconist’s shop (â€Å"It’s a good little business†¦for those that like it†). We can notice how carefully he behaves with the packets of cigarettes (â€Å"†¦he lifted a pile of Gold Flake and Players from a shelf and caressed the packets with the tips of his fingers.†). He couldn’t be the closest person to his own kid, but he is good at business. c) Mr. Stowe Charlie opposes his father to his mother at the beginning of the story describing that her presence is â€Å"boisterous† and her charity is â€Å"noisy†. She filled the world for him, â€Å"†¦from her speech he judged her the friend of everyone, from the rector’s wife to the â€Å"Dear Queen†, except the â€Å"Huns†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ . â€Å"For his mother he felt a passionate demonstrative love†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The word â€Å"demonstrative† underlines the ostentation of his love opposing more strong his father to her. It seems that Charlie is very angry with his father at the beginning. Her kindness and boisterous presence are mentioned in the end of the story again, but now the boy doesn’t feel her presence, it is evident in the last sentence â€Å"He was alone in the house with his mother†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . He wants to say the warmest words not to her, but to his father. At the end Mr. Stowe becomes the dearest person to the Charlie. d) Two strangers These two strangers seem to be secret-service agents as it was mentioned above. Their appearance (â€Å"bowler hats and mackintoshes†) and phrase â€Å"†¦we are on duty† hint at that. One of them is polite enough thanking for the offered cigarette â€Å"Thank you all the time†, â€Å"one of us’ll come with you, if you don’t mind, – said the stranger gently†. The other one is trying to be sarcastic. 10. Methods of characterization Direct 11. Symbolism We can compare growing of a child with the stairs. Every footstep is a phase or life period. We can observe the dynamics of Charlie’s life, his growing, throughout the story, though it is a very little period of time. But the changes are evident. And we can imagine the stairs as a symbolic element. Moreover, we can find symbolism in night characterizing Charlie’s fears and hesitation and uncertainty. 12. Stylistic devices A lot of stylistic devices were mentioned above. But in this part of the analysis I want to discuss the title of the story â€Å"I Spy†. It sounds like a kids’ game â€Å"Eye Spy†, where the player-spy silently selects an object that is visible to all the players and does not reveal his or her choice. The same with Charlie: he wants to share his feelings, emotions and problems with the father, but doesn’t do it. His father isn’t interested in him, he is indefinite and the boy feels it. â€Å"I Spy† and â€Å"Eye Spy† is a stylistic device called pun, based on the play of words that sound similar.