The integration process of immigrants in Spain

The integration process of immigrants in Spain Immigration Spain Emigration A social analysis of the integration process of immigrants in Spain. The way in which ‘the problem’ of immigration in Spain affects the integration of immigrants. Over the last fifteen years, Spain has gone from being a country of emigration to a country of immigration. In recent years few European countries have experienced as dramatic a rise in immigration as Spain. Spain has been among the most open countries in the European Union, admitting 650,000 immigrants last year alone and granting residency permits to 560,000 more who were in the country illegally. Although the percentage of immigrants is still relatively low compared to other European countries (6.1% of the population in 2005) the growth of immigration experienced over the last five years has led experts to consider the country as a â€Å"new immigration centre.† The economic and historical connections with North Africa and South America have been the principal triggers of immigration flows, with almost 2/3 of immigrants coming from outside the EU. Europeans also represent a large number of immigrants in Spain. Attracted to the Costa del Sol’s climate and low cost of living, many come to retire. There are three basic causes for this substantial change in the position of Spain as a new centre of immigration. The first is the continuous economic development of the country and the fact that it belongs to one of the most developed regions in the world, the EU. Secondly, Spain is considered as an alternative to other European countries with high levels of immigration where there now exist increasingly strong restrictions on immigration, especially those originating from outside Europe. Thirdly, Spain’s geographical situation means that it has become the ‘back door’ for immigrants’ intent on reaching the rest of Europe. The significant increase of the foreign population since 2000 has resulted in a growing awareness that immigration is a structural phenomenon and Spain: a multicultural country. Recent Spanish opinion polls reveal the distortion between the reality and nationals’ perception of the extent of this immigration. In the book ‘Europeos e Inmigrantes,’ the authors study local’s opinion on immigration and conclude with the following results: approximately 55% of Spanish society perceive Spain as having ‘a lot’ of immigrants- though not too many- and 25% of them consider the number of immigrants to be too high. The number of immigrants, but more specific still the presence of immigrants, is suggested to be a ‘problem.’ This study will be looking at the perception of immigration as a ‘problem,’ and the consequence of this perception on the integration of immigrants in Spain. I am interested in the integration of immigrants on a social level: the ways in which social constructions of the ‘other’ are reflected in the social integration process of the immigrant population. In the end, I hope to make sense not just of immigrants’ marginal status in Spain; but also how the concept of culture and society shapes the integration process. Despite common belief that Spain is being met by an invasion of newcomers, the percentage of immigrants to the total national population remains the lowest within the EU. By 2001, immigrants in Spain made up 2.5% of the population, contrasted with 4.2% for the UK, 4.3 for the Netherlands, 5.6 for France, and 8.9 for Germany. Overall, the European average is three times higher than the Spanish average. Despite the fact that illegal immigrants are seen as a threat to the growing population, illegal entrance into Spain counts for only 4% of the immigrants entering legally. Yet today, immigration is among the top three mentioned problems and has been referred to as a cultural problem. The media has had, and continues to have, a great influence on the nation’s interpretation of immigration and the prominence of immigration in national politics and people’s consciousness reflects the extent to which the subject of immigration is covered by Spanish media. No other medium is able to send a determined message out to the masses, or has so much power as to make everyone value their freedom of speech. Those who have studied ‘public opinion’ have said, â€Å"Although people think they have formulated their own opinion, in actual fact their opinion and argument is more or less echoed from a favoured political leader or party.† National newspapers go as far as to include a section on ‘the immigration problem’ aimed at keeping track of the number of illegal immigrants apprehended by the police. The Spanish newspaper, ‘El Paà ­s’ uses headlines such as: ‘Interceptados 76 inmigrantes en las costas de Granada y Canarias en las à ºltimas horas, and frequently describes the arrival of ‘nueva oleadas de pateras que intentan alcanzar Espaà ±a. On television, the Spanish public are supplied with regular images of illegal immigrants attempting to enter the country illegally. The constant focus on immigration in political discourse and in the mass media has created a sense of migratory pressure amongst the public, a sense that there are floods of people banging on the border doors to get in. â€Å"Las puertas de Europa Espaà ±a y nueve paà ­ses europeos han acordado establecer un operativo para patrullar toda la zona del à frica atlà ¡ntica susceptible de ser punto de origen de pateras y cayucos que viajan hacia Europa y, sobre todo, hacia Canarias, que acusa casi cada dà ­a la presià ³n de esta avalancha migratoria.† This pressure is fuelled by both a fear of security and a fear of immigrants affecting the Spanish labour market (which I will discuss later on). This fear is often translated into panic and irrational conclusions for those ignorant of the reality of the situation. Evidence of illegal immigrants in Spain has created confusion between attitudes towards illegal and legal immigrants, and often the two groups are treated as one. Following the 9/11 tragedy, race stereotypes have once again become commonplace and through pure ignorance and fear, immigrants are seen as a threat to the public’s safety, often being associated with Islamic fundamentalism. Public insecurity due to misinformation has manifested itself in violence and xenophobic feelings against the immigrants. An example of this took place in 2000, in El Ejido (Andalucia), where locals violently attacked newly settled immigrants, following a young girl’s murder by a Moroccan. The dissemination of these negative perceptions has helped conjure up a sensation of invasion, which does not mirror the reality of the situation. The reality of the situation (which I have already discussed) is that this existing fear is unjustified. It is a representation of the ignorance surrounding the perception of immigration linking the race of an immigrant group with the safety of a country. Immigration has also been considered a threat to the structure of the labour market. During the 1980s and 1990s, when immigration to Spain was at its highest, the country was experiencing a profound economic crisis characterized above all by high levels of unemployment. The presence of immigrants and the misconception that they were invading the Spanish labour market, added further tension to the relationship between the two groups, and was therefore considered an economic and social problem. â€Å"More than any other factor, unemployment is generally seen as the root cause behind the electoral successes of the radical Right across Europe and is credited with casing an existence of a negative, anti immigrant attitude in Spain.† Immigration in Spain has also been treated as a cultural problem â€Å"where the idea of having immigrants in the country is not perceived as a positive multicultural phenomenon but as a threat to the integrity of the Spanish cultural identity.† The Spanish fear that the increasing presence of other national cultures will overshadow and stifle their own traditions. The immigrants have brought their own culture to Spain, which they expect to be respected and recognised so that they may practice their traditions in harmony with the rest of society. Spaniards fear that the integration of immigrants will entail the growth of alien religious infrastructures and more conflict between locals and immigrants. The social integration of Muslims in particular is perceived as difficult, because of the demands for their own religious infrastructure. The constructions of mosques render the development of a multicultural society even more obvious. Since the terrorist attacks in Madrid 2004, Islam has been presented as an alien civilization, with mosques feared as centres of terrorism. This fear often translates into irrational conclusions. â€Å"As it generally does in other European countries, the association of North Africans with Islamic fundamentalism, terrorism and crime tends to breed hostility and suspicion from the Spanish public.† In summary, the immigration problem revolves around an insecurity bred by the sense of invasion. People feel threatened by the implications of immigrants in the labour market, and what ‘integration’ really entails for the culture and society dynamics of Spain. I am now going to address the concept of integration and how the perception of immigration already discussed has affected this process. In order to assess how this is affecting the integration process I will be looking at the topic from an anthropological perspective. Among those who attempt to define the concept of integration, there is considerable disagreement. In the context of Spanish immigration it has taken on many meanings, some implying that it is reached when the immigrant is able to ‘fit in,’ others suggesting that it hinges on natives’ open-mindedness and tolerance, and still others prioritising the accessibility of social services and basic necessities. Often, the term is simply used as a synonym for settlement, or establishing physical and social roots. A Spanish social scientist and immigration expert defines it this way: ‘We can say that immigrants are integrated into a host society when they do not face additional obstacles due to their foreign origin in the main aspects of their social, economic, and family life, when compared to the native-born population.’ Law plays a central role in the immigrants’ integration on all levels and has been seen as â€Å"formally codifying them as different at several levels.† Spain had several attempts at immigration legalisation: the first, ‘the Ley de Extranjeria,’ focussing primarily on control over immigrants rather than integration. Immigration laws designated some people as non-citizens with a limited set of rights and privileges. Others were declared to be illegal and unwelcome altogether and those who did achieve legal status found their position unstable, as they are vulnerable to frequent changes in legislation and status. When in 1998 the issue of integration was finally addressed, the focus was still on the integration of ‘non-EU foreigners’ rather than the immigrant group as a whole, stigmatising the non-EU immigrants as the problem group. Perez, in his article, â€Å"Spain: Forging an Immigration Policy,† goes as far as to say that the ‘Law on the rights and Freedoms of Foreigners in Spain and their Integration’ passed in January 2000, was not so much ‘because of the law’s acknowledgement of immigrant rights but because of its conception of immigration as a permanent phenomenon.’ Still today immigrants struggle against policy restrictions. Despite the common belief that immigrants create problems in the Spanish labour market, the reality of the situation is that the immigrant work force is largely responsible for Spain’s economic growth. This growth, over the last decade, has been among the fastest in the EU. â€Å"It is not a coincidence that the strong economic growth and increase in employment rate has increased with the arrival of immigrants into Spain.† Having said this, statistics show that in 2006 the unemployment rate for Spaniards was 8% compared to 12% for foreigners. The lack of facilities for Spanish employers to contract foreigners and the difficulty such employers face accessing Spanish labour has resulted in irregular immigration flows and labour markets. In addition to the disparity between the unemployment rates for Spanish and Immigrant workers, there is also a difference in the nature of work. The restructuring of the Spanish economy after the accession to the European Community has resulted in an increase in the demand for labour in sectors of the economy where nationals no longer wish to work. Spanish laws make it virtually impossible to gain admission as legal residents outside of the quota system that is largely confined to those willing to work in agriculture, domestic help, and construction, i.e. those sectors where wages and working conditions are inadequate to attract sufficient local workers. These laws thus guarantee that immigrant workers labour under conditions that are shunned by most of the working class, an arrangement that furthermore highlights their economic alienation and their exclusion from reasonable housing, health care and other basic necessities further distancing there chances on reaching integration. Furthermore, there is little stability for immigrants in the labour market with most of them receiving only temporal jobs. There is also a significant difference in wages. It has been noted that non-communitarians earn 33% less than Spanish citizens. These forms of discrimination have resulted in the exploitation of undocumented workers: considerably lower payments, a lack of safety standards, labour security and worker rights. One of the main problems with the way in which immigration is perceived in Spain is that not much is known about the immigrant as an individual. Because of this lack of knowledge, realities are distorted and often the outsider is assumed to be the culprit for society’s ills. â€Å"In endeavouring to reduce environmental complexity to a manageable size, when bombarded with environmental stimuli, untested cognitive short-cuts come to be employed which have a tendency to become self fulfilling.† In order for immigration to be perceived accurately by any social group there must be a basis of knowledge; not hearsay. As most of the media coverage on the immigrant population relates to violence and delinquency, it is understandable why the average Spaniard, adopts a defensive stance. To gain an accurate, or at least fair representation of the immigrant population, these negative portrayals ought to be contested with representations from the minority groups. A lack of organisation and funds are said to explain the lack of minority media produced in Spain. Whether this is the case, or whether the lack of initiative to produce a platform for the minority groups to speak out from is the manifestation of another social inequality. The danger of a ‘general’ perception of the immigrant group is that incorrect assumptions are made and stereotypes formed. Generalisations on immigrants’ nationalities create a belief that each nation has one culture shared by all inhabitants. Similar generalisations are made towards the second generation of immigrants. The children of the immigrants, who have never immigrated, and who were born in Spain are assumed to be of foreign origin. These stereotypes also include the concept that others’ cultural traits are strange and not worthy of exploring because they are not necessary to the already comfortable, established concepts that the society possesses. The cultural traits that cause the most ‘problems’ are those most different, usually those from non-European countries. This is because, in everyday life, they are the most conspicuous (with regards to the fact that in Spain the colour of one’s skin is still associated with being ‘foreign’) reminding nationals that Spain is becoming a multicultural country. Spanish researcher and anthropologist, Damian Omar Martinez, explores the concept that on a social level, non- European immigrants are discriminated against more because they are considered further away from integration: the integration that sees immigrants conforming to the Spanish way of life. With the transformation of the European Union, the free movement of Europeans between borders means that to a certain extent relationships between different European cultures are less tense. European citizens are increasingly viewed as being part of a European community. The borders between themselves and ‘the others’ have almost been extended up to the exterior borders of Europe. McGrance argues that there is a distinct Western thought process. He argues that: ‘there is the superior Western culture, and then there are all the rest as contrast. A sharp divide is created, with epistemological privilege always on the side of the West. With these analyses in mind, one realises the extent of the difficulties immigrants face in becoming integrated into Spanish society. Adding to the discussion on integration and what impedes this process for immigrants, I am interested in how a national population is able to control a minority population. When talking of integration, it is impossible to say when an immigrant is fully integrated as an essential part of this process is determined by non- controllable factors such as the native population’s response. It seems the first step to any kind of integration for minority groups (the immigrants), is acceptance from the majority (the nationals). However, when integration can be defined as a concept that calls for the absence of racism and tolerance for minority groups, the question is raised as to whether it is integration we are talking about or tolerance. Is the immigration in Spain a case of ‘integrating’ immigrants or merely ‘tolerating’ them? If it is a case of tolerating immigrants, there is little hope of integration for immigrants on a social level. This brings me onto the concepts of ‘society’ and ‘community,’ which seem to influence the process of integration of immigrants. Calavita writes that the concept of culture and community is difficult to define. She quotes Walzer’s attempt at defining the term: â€Å" that at a minimum a community consists of like-minded members, with some special commitment to one another and some special sense of their common life.† The term community deals with the concept of belonging and not belonging: the member whom is accepted and part of something, and the outsider whom is striving to be part of something that is not necessarily clear. The Europe we see developing today is a prime example of a ‘community’ of nations pushing for one identity. Cris Shore explores the idea that this very existing identity is one of the main culprits for the problem of integration of immigrant. â€Å"Identity is represented as a process of classification involving boundaries of inclusion and exclusion.† Shore goes on further to explore the terms European and non- European. Though there is no official definition for these terms, ‘ a more coherent applied definition can be seen emerging at the borders and boundaries of the new Europe.’ With the distinction of European and non-European groups becoming clear, so to is the distinction between the insider and the outsider. These terms are used to reiterate the fact that the immigrant is from outside, it is used to make the distinction between the group of ‘Us’ (national population) and ‘Them’ (the immigrant), and it has been used by Spaniards to remind themselves of what they are not. One must ask to what extent the integration of immigrants is a process of selection, and to what extent the national population influences this process. Nowadays the significance and relevance of being a member of a community has been devalued somewhat, as it is increasingly difficult to define this term. Calavita quotes Bauman and others as arguing, â€Å"that this kind of community is on the decline, as globalisation, with its collapsing cultural boundaries, and the diminishing significance of the nation-state, erodes its boundaries and disintegrates its ties, leaving little structure to the foundations of this group.† ‘The diminishing significance of the nation state’ refers to the developing ‘European identity’ the EU are pushing for today. This united centre requires the breaking down of national barriers to ensure full communication between nations in an effort for them to work together and be successful as one. Arguments put forward suggesting immigration is a ‘cultural problem’ because of its effect on the authenticity of Spanish culture, are unsound, as the very Europe that Spain forms part of, is doing just that. Considering immigration as a ‘problem,’ has severely affected the process of integration of immigrants in Spain. The real concern lies in the general public’s perception of immigrants. The strength of a nation’s perception is based on a sentiment cultivated over many years; can this national sentiment towards immigration be changed? It does not make sense to see a city or country as an integrated body of citizens, a group you can enter once you have completed cultural, economic requirements. It is the discussion of immigration as a problem, and the questioning of whether immigrants integrate or not that creates the phenomenon of immigration and puts such pressure on the social groups involved to form a position on the issue. When analysing the immigration issue in Spain, it should not be the question of whether the immigrants are a problem, or whether they are integrated or not, but what there role is in society.

Marketing Plan Nike

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Sofia MARKETING PLAN Market entry/grow opportunity for Nike in Bulgaria INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT Coursework in MARKETING Student registration No: 20019402 Program: MBA Lecturer:Dr. V. Blagoev Executive Summary Our approach to developing a market-entry strategy follows a structured process, based on in-depth understanding of all aspects that feed into a commercial launch. A comprehensive analysis, using market data and market research, allows us to assess all areas affecting Nike’s strategic direction: Current market situation: detailed consumer and business market segmentation and analysis of market drivers will be undertaken to identify the most valuable target segments and underlying reasons for market entry/opportunity. Specific target areas are evaluated to provide key inputs: product, pricing, retail structures, sales and distribution planning – A review of competition: extensive competitive profiling in areas such as positioning, bran d, target segments, value proposition, market offer, pricing, customer care, sales & distribution, enable assessment of competitors’ strengths and weaknesses Threats and opportunity analysis: analysis of relevant threats and opportunities that the product might face. An internal SWOT highlight areas of valid advantages and disadvantages, providing input to market entry positioning and value proposition – Objectives and issues: description of limitations or possibilities within the current plan that affect objectives to attain or issues that might affect market and segment growth – Identification of marketing strategy: outline of how Nike is to create customer value and the specific of target markets. It is also referred to specific strategies of the marketing mix (4Ps) and how they relate to threats and opportunities. – Action programs: how marketing strategies will be turned into actions – Budgets: shows expected revenue, expected marketing cost and ROI Conclusions from the market analysis together with internal SWOT and identified strategic risk areas form the basis for describing the market entry/opportunity. Contents 1. Executive Summary 2. Current marketing situation 3. Threats and opportunities analysis 4. Objectives and issues 5. Marketing strategy 6. Conclusion REFERENCE I. Current Market Situation 1 Market description Bulgaria isn't renowned for specialist sports stores. The news for sports goods businesses is generally positive, given Bulgaria's negative expectations for rapid economic development being one of the poorest members of the EU. Meanwhile, some analysts expect sports clothing and shoes to climb in demand. â€Å"The global economic crisis has not yet significantly affected the sport goods market because when people cannot afford to buy apartments they prefer buying goods such as trainers,† said Kr Tsonov, (Director of Sport Depot). Tsonov said annual turnover of branded sport goods in Bulgaria last year was approximately Euros63 million, relatively small for a population of 7. 5 million people. The figure doesn't include significant equipment imports from China and Thailand. Germany's Adidas has some 40% of the market share, with revenues of about Euros 39 million annually. The US Nike and German Puma brands each earn Euros 19 and 13 million over the same period. The Bulgarian sport goods market is still developing. Branded sport clothes and shoes are generally favored sales compared to specialized sport equipment, including that for extreme sports. But the current small volume of sales is the main reason why large international sports chains have yet to enter the market. Currently, specialized sport goods are offered by a large number of retailers, but most dealers have just one store. In Sofia, there are about 20 such stores and countrywide there are around 70. But mass distribution has yet to gain a stronghold. When it does, as large brands seek to leverage growth in untapped territory with franchising deals, the Bulgarian sports market will streak away. The main consumers of Nike products can be divided into the following major segments: proffessional athletes (approximately 65  000); †¢ active amateurs (between 20-55 years of age, 368 728), †¢ students (fashion or trend fostered, approx. 896 734); †¢ young active people (between 15-19 years of age, who practice sport for good body shape or just for health, approx. 220 937) and †¢ people from upscale market (usually earn above the average for the country, who would like to feel comfortable and look good when training, approx. 00  000). (Ministry of physical education and sport, 2011, National Statistical Institute 2011) Professional athletes seek better performance and to reach the best of their potential. Product characteristics include light weight, high innovation and cushion technology. For instance Carl Lewi’s custom-designed pair of golden-colored Nike racing spikes made with Zytel, sources state that each shoe weighed about 94 grams. Active amat eurs and people from upscale market are concerned with low risk of injuries and better performance. Product can be viewed with light weight and cushioning technology. Air Max a renowned running shoe by Nike, specially designed to provide the ultimate in impact protection — reducing shock and distributing pressure, best characterizes the product. (www. footlocker. com/searchresults/keyword:nike+air+max/) Students and young active people have similar traits – comfort and trend. Design and cushioning technology is what the product is aimed for. Good example is the online Nike shop, where you can custom your gear – shoes. http://nikeid. nike. com/nikeid/index. jsp#home In general, Nike’s products are considered to be upscale and versus the competitors the pricing is relative higher. Given that the product prices are realistic Nike is offering to its customers, it is doubtful whether all customers think alike. This may represent a weakness, having in mind the lower output of the economy in Bulgaria. To overcome any future problems, especially in high price line, Nike is open for emerging technologies and heavily invests in innovation towards the development of new products, specifically the Nike Alpha Project, a revolutionary new line of athletic shoes. Nike was negligent in the past towards the mid-to lower-price-point products, which offers another gap for improvement. To better develop competitive position at all price points more resources and time should be dedicated. There is a great potential in the lower price point and these are needs that can meet the specific characteristics of the Bulgarian market. A. J. Almaney, Ph. D. (2000) 1 Product review According to Nike, the following shoe styles will be available online in January 2012 refering to the launch date. Regular follow up or update can be found @NikeStore on Twitter. These styles may also be available  at  authorized Nike retailers or authorized Jordan retailers. |JORDAN | |DATE |STYLE NAME |COLOR |PRICE |STYLE # | |01/07/12 |Air Jordan 8. 0 |Black/Dark Concord-Anthracite-Orion Blue |$150 |467807-009 | |01/11/12 |CP3. V |Black/White-Stealth |$120 |487428-003 | |01/19/12 |Fly Wade II |White/Varsity Red-Black |$145 |479976-101 | | | | | | | |BASKETBALL | |DATE |STYLE NAME |COLOR |PRICE |STYLE # | |01/06/12 |Zoom Kobe VII |White/Black-Concord-Neutral Grey |$180 |488244-100 | | | | | | | |AIR FORCE 1's & NIKE SPORTSWEAR | |DATE |STYLE NAME |COLOR |PRICE |STYLE # | |01/14/12 |Air Force 1 |Black/Black |$90 |488298-007 | |01/14/12 |Air Force 1 |Cargo Khaki/Cargo Khaki |$90 |488298-300 | |01/15/12 |Air Max '95 |Obsidian/Obsidian-White-Action Red |$150 |609048-400 | |01/21/12 |Air Force 1 |White/Obsidian |$90 |488298-105 | http://help-us. nike. com/app/answers/detail/a_id/20727 2 Marketing Mix adapted by Nike for Bulgarian Market Nike has been developing its Marketing Mix based on product, price, place and promotion. Thus, seeking the right marketing mix to best contribute to its goal of maximum profitability. Product: Nike understands the importance to satisfy every aspect of the consumer market in Bulgaria. To penetrate the competition and gain market share Nike should have an extensive range of products. Key point is to provide features, designs, various brands, packaging and benefits like extra warranties and after sale service. There is need to cater different market segments and every segment has specific requirements as well as individuals. Customized solutions of the product can be offered and shaped as per the requirements of the customer. Warranties of one year can be offered for the products and in case of defects or problems occur after purchase a replacement can be offered. This can be referred as after sale service and will help in keeping loyal customers. The competitor Addidas is offering only 6 month warranties for the Bulgarian market. There is an increasing interest in the consumer for high end brands and collaboration with other companies could trigger more sales and recognition. E. g. selling i-pods with their jogging shoes range. Price: Internationally Nike is positioned at high-end consumer market with high disposable income looking for better service and top of the line product. Basically the strategy is to provide high cost with maximum profitability, hence high profit margins. That can be justified by higher cost for innovations and advertisement collaboration with top sport athletes. A possible solution specifically for Bulgaria to overcome the high cost is to introduce special promotions during the festive season or low sales periods or by selling out old models. Place: Nike has developed wide range of distribution channels worldwide. Appropriate for the local market are retail channels: retails stores, brand stores and exclusive show rooms. Online shopping is another means of distributing its various products and its less costly compared to the rest methods. Distributers are commonly engaged to support its retail outlets. Factory outlets can have a major role in the down market, where discounted products can be disposed. Promotion: Nike has one of the most comprehensive promotion and advertising. To build awareness, brand image and loyalty Nike can use for the local market advertising, sales promotions, advertisement campaigns, public relations, publicity and sales promotions. Nike often relates to top athletes from various sports – football, tennis, golf and etc. Nike also endorses various teams and clubs, such as Levski Football team. It can use shows for product placement or it can sponsor various events – Sofia marathon, Football Cup, Golf tournaments, like Black Sea Rama or even new stadium as it did with â€Å"Alliance Arena† Nike also can use local celebrities in their advertisements to increase brand loyalty by utilizing the brand image of such celebrities. http://www. slideshare. net/hemanthcrpatna/a-report-on-consumer-behaviour-in-nike 3 A review of competition The rivalry among competitors is quite high for the industry. Nike, Adidas and Puma have grown at a remarkable rate, each offering more choices, more innovations and new trends. Marketing has performed very aggressively by sponsoring different teams and social responsibilities. Main competitors of Nike are Adidas with income for 2008 39  890 bnl and Puma with income for the same period 13  883 bnl. Nike currently is standing in second place with just over 19  248 bnl. Trade register 2007) Market positions and strategies for product quality, pricing, distribution and promotion Adidas Adidas manufactures running shoes, football boots, most famous for the Predator range, basketball Pro Model shoes. In addition Adidas makes sport apparel for tennis, rugby, football, lacrosse and separate line for gymnastics. Adidas has followed the steps of Puma and has entered the lifestyle market by offering deodorants, aftershaves, perfumes and watches. Adidas is a well known brand. Main customers are similar to Nike are athletes and sport enthusiasts. The brand appeals to both men and women and even children. Age group is between 15-35 years. Strength of Adidas include: competitive pricing, effective marketing strategy (sponsorship), market leadership (rivals Nike and Puma for local market), strong online presence (internet site facebook page and linkedin), strong distribution chain (outlets and malls – Sofia, Serdica, Tsarigradsko shousse, City, main distributer – Elmec Bulgaria), partner with leading teams – Ludogorec and Litex Weaknesses of Adidas: high cost structure, over pricing, warranty of products (only 6 months vs. Nike 1 year), no prominent local sport star advertising for brand http://bg-bg. facebook. com/pages/Adidas-Bulgaria/179106108842362 http://bg. linkedin. com/pub/dir/Atanas/Temelkov Puma Currently Puma runs in third on the local market versus Adidas and Nike. It has a different approach towards the market. Long term mission is to be the most desirable sports lifestyle brand. Thus, offering different segmentation ranging from sports (soccer, running, golf, sailing, motorsport), sport fashion (alliance with: the black label, Alexander McQueen, Yasuhiro Mhara, Rudolf Dassler) and sport lifestyle (watches, fragrances, eye-ware). Strength of Puma: fashionable brand, credible reputation, diversification, sponsoring FT Slavia, Chernomorets and Lokomotiv Sofia. Weaknesses of Puma: innovation follower, lack of market share http://www. slideshare. net/rwbcapel/pumafinal II. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS Microeconomic situation is steadily favorable. Nike continues to increase the number of representative stores in key places in the major cities. Puma and Addidas, the major competitors are fighting intensively for the piece of the pie. Entering of substitute goods on the current market is a treat for the increase of sales. Factors, which determine the demand for the Nike products are their price, revenue of the consumer, substitute goods, taste of the consumer and advertising. Increasing of raw materials might decrease sales for the products. Same goes if there is presence of substitute goods or similar products. Sports Equipment retail sales in Bulgaria increased at a compound annual growth rate of 8. 7% between 2003 and 2008. Ball sports equipment sales led the sports equipment market with a share of 38. 3% in 2008. Other specialists were the leading retail format for ball sports equipment in 2008 Datamonitor (2010). Opportunities †¢ Athletic shoes and apparel have become a must for all consumers worldwide. This is due to both the increasing numbers of people exercising and the trend towards casual apparel. †¢ Competition is fierce at all levels in within the industry, especially among the leaders. This creates a sense of security for the companies that have been able to create a niche. †¢ Cost cutting due to restructuring of operations will give many companies the chance to price products more competitively. †¢ One area in the industry that is ever changing is research and development. The strong departments will surely capitalize on the trends of tomorrow if their efforts are successful. †¢ E-tailing, or customer-designed internet stores, is threatening the traditional distribution channels, thus excluding intermediates and allowing for increasing profitability. Threats †¢ The industry has reached a level of maturity. While style and technology in athletic apparel and footwear has reached a leveling-off point, the important aspect now is for companies to differentiate their lines. †¢ Inflation is reaching higher levels over the Bulgarian economy, which may decrease in consumer spending. †¢ Consumers are becoming savvier and may lean towards discounted items or look for substitutes. In terms of market saturation, many of the key manufacturers in this industry have been around for many years. Consumers may be scanning the market for new and different footwear and apparel products. III. Marketing Objectives and Issues Providing best quality and ba lanced priced shoes range and apparel to the customer with a special focus on the big cities like Sofia, Varna, Bourgas. Another objective is to make available the product to as many marketable stations as possible. In addition to focus on all types of customers including old aged, young men and women and children as well. †¢ Have strong representation at local and international major sporting events. Advertising at Local Football Cup in addition Champions and Europe League, Tennis tournament Zagorka Master, Volleyball Champions League and local Playoffs, local Golf tournaments – Black Sea Rama, . †¢ Maintain Brand associations with major sport stars – Grigor Dimitrov, Tzvetana Pironkova and Dimitar Berbatov †¢ Effective use of Corporate Event Sponsorships. ie. , Nike Tour Golf †¢ Develop a website solely dedicated to the Nike brand. Nike has multiple websites all integrated by Nike. com †¢ Use Nike brand loyalty to increase sales. †¢ Create a product image that differentiates from the competition. Swoosh become way of life. †¢ Increase product awareness through using an ntegrated marketing approach – 30 second TV spots, Full page magazine advertising, Varying sized billboards Competition is stiff and already has good background on the local market. Key issues that might affect the attainment of the marketing objectives is for com petitors to foresee and adapt to current environment prior to Nike and approach key sport stars and use corporate event sponsorships for their brand awareness. Competitors will definitely follow Nike in its conquest for taking market share and probably use similar methods for generating more customers. Depend in large part on first mover and economy of scale. IV. Marketing Strategy Nike hopes to create customer value and relationships by identifying three key to success strategies that they believe will be instrumental in reaching sustainable profitability. The first  is the necessity to meet the customer's needs by offering the most comprehensive selection and knowledgeable staff. The second key to success strategy is  the need to monitor the competitive environment in an effort to ensure differentiation. And the third need is to create venues and environments for open dialogue and multitude of perspectives. This can be accomplished through proper product, pricing and promotion decisions. Product strategy: several lines of athletic shoes and apparel, diverse product mix consisting of athletic shoes apparel and equipment. Pricing strategy: product skimming strategy and product line pricing. Promotion strategy: advertising (repeat messages at low cost), direct marketing (through e-shop) and public relations (sponsorship of FT Levski). http://www. bplans. com/sports_clothing_retail_shop_business_plan/executive_summary_fc. php#ixzz1ioAOO2X2 V. Conclusion In this industry there is an intense competition, fashion trends and price sensitive consumers that have slowed the growth of this industry. Financially speaking the companies must be aware the economy is slowing and it should keep its revenues high and costs low. Internet is a huge perspective for Nike in Bulgaria, as the service is gaining more popularity than ever and it must keep user friendly apps to generate more customers than the competition. The well know formula to do this is to keep site simple and user friendly. By offering great deal and various promotions through online channels there is a potential to bring more customers and consequently more revenue and improve relationship with its clients. On the other hand involving in different events, sponsorship and tournaments could shine the brand picture and gain positive trend toward the competition. Brand awareness will be retaliated and will give competitive advantage, thus gaining more market share in the long run. REFERENCE 1. (www. footlocker. com/searchresults/keyword:nike+air+max/) 2. 2010 Form 10-K, Nike, Inc.. // United States Securities and Exchange Commission. 3. http://bg. linkedin. com/pub/dir/Atanas/Temelkov 4. http://bg-bg. facebook. com/pages/Adidas-Bulgaria/179106108842362 5. ttp://condor. depaul. edu/aalmaney/StrategicAnalysisofNike. htm 6. http://help-us. nike. com/app/answers/detail/a_id/20727 7. http://nikeid. nike. com/nikeid/index. jsp#home 8. http://www. hktdc. com/info/mi/a/imn/en/1X06BN12/1/International-Market-News/B ulgarian-Sports-Market-Limbers-Up. htm 9. http://www. marktforschung. de/studien-shop/marktdaten/sports-equipment-sales-via-key-retail-formats-in-bulgaria-to-2013-33721/? xtypocommerce%5Bcat%5D= 10. http://www. nikebiz. com/crreport/content/strategy/2-1-5-on-the-horizon. php? cat=cr-strategy 11. http://www. slideshare. net/hemanthcrpatna/a-report-on-consumer-behaviour-in-nike 12. http://www. slideshare. et/rwbcapel/pumafinal 13. Kotler, P. , Wong, P. , Sounders, J. & Armstrong, G. (2005). Principles of Marketing (4th European ed. ). 14. Latest materials improve sportswear performance†. ICIS Chemical Business. http://www. icis. com/Articles/2008/08/04/9144388/latest-materials-improve-sportswear-performance. html. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 15. Ministry of Physical Education And Sport (2011). National plan for development of physical education and sport 2011-2020. Retrieved on November 24,2011, from http://mpes. government. bg/Documents/Documents/Strategii/Strategia_2011-2020. pdf 16 . National Statistical Institute (2011), Population census in the Republic of Bulgaria, Retrieved on November 26, 2011, from National Statistical Institute website: http://www. nsi. bg/census2011/pageen2. php? p2=179 17. Nike 2010 Annual Report  : 18. Nikebiz  : Company Overview  : History  : 1960s, 19. Peters, Jeremy W. (August 19, 2009). â€Å"The Birth of ‘Just Do It' and Other Magic Words†. The New York Times. http://www. nytimes. com/2009/08/20/business/media/20adco. html? _r=3&ref=business. Retrieved 2009-09-30. 20. Principles of Marketing, Kotler and Armstrong, 14th edition (2011) 21. Registry agency (2007), Commercial register, Retrieved on December 23, 2011, from https://public. brra. bg/CheckUps/Verifications/VerificationPersonOrg. ra 22. www. nike. com

Health Care Communication Paper Essay

Our facility is going to be changing a lot in the weeks and months to come. As the administration of the nursing home, I am going to make sure that this transition happens as smoothly as possible. The patients that have decided to stay must try their hardest to adhere to the new policies that have been set. The patients that have decided to go somewhere else will very greatly missed. The patients who cannot communicate their decision for one reason or another will be placed where the staff and I see fit, whether it be in our facility or somewhere else. This facility wants to ensure all patients and residents that we want to make these changes as painless as possible. Thank all of you for the time you have given the staff and me these last ten years, and for the time you will give in the future. There are three different types of communication in the medical field: traditional communication, electronic communication, communication through social media. There are advantages and disadvantages to each different type of communication. Traditional communication includes speaking face to face and mail (letters). Electronic modes of communication are email phone (home or cell phone), texting, and chatting. Social media involves communicating with several people or just one person at a time using public forums or private messaging through such websites facebook and twitter. Each and every type of communication is equally as important as the other but they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Traditional forms of communication as simple as can be but they can confuse anyone if every step is not done correctly. You would think that speaking to someone face to face would be the best way to communicate but this is not always the case. Anyone can miscommunicate what they are trying to say. There can be other barriers like language barriers and also emotional barriers. If someone speaks a different language it can be hard to understand them unless there is an interpreter available, which isn’t always possible. Emotional barriers are hard because when health care is involved things can go wrong and people then become angry, sad, and/or tired. When this happens they may not want to listen to or respond to their doctors. Face to face communication is good too because you can ask questions then and there, and receive advice from your physician without having to wait too long. Mail can be very annoying because it can take days or weeks to reach its destination and more days or weeks to receive a response. The only good thing about mail would be that you will have documentation of your physician’s opinions and test results. Traditional communication methods have been around for a long time but times are changing and these types of communication are becoming few and far between. Electronic communication seems to be where most people end up communication, even to our doctors and other health care officials. We call, email, and even text to tell doctors and nurses our health care problems before we even consider actually going to a doctor’s office and speaking to the doctor in person. These communication techniques are good because we can receive answers to our questions also instantly if the health care official isn’t busy. One disadvantage is that someone may not get back to you as soon as you would like; which will leave you at home, wondering what you should do. Electronic communication isn’t exactly the best form of health care because if the doctor cannot actually see the patient and test their symptoms they cannot defiantly tell a patient what is wrong with them. Social media is becoming more and more popular every day because it is a way to keep in touch with people we don’t see every day. It has also become home for all kinds of new and old information, including health care information. This can be a great way to communicate about health care because people can learn new things about health care and medicine every day. People can also communicate with organizations full of doctors and nurses who can teach patients about any news in the health care world and advise patients on how to take care of themselves. This may sound great but there are terrible disadvantages to this type of health care communication. You never know who you are actually speaking to on the internet. What could appear to be an organization of doctors and nurses who want to offer free health care advice could be someone who knows absolutely nothing about medicine. Social media websites are not the best place to look for any sort of medical advice because patients want real help.

Plato s Allegory, And Glaucon, The Second Speaker

First, Plato argues that humans are vulnerable to false ideas because of the limitations of our senses. This is shown in the conversation between Socrates, a speaker in his allegory, and Glaucon, the second speaker. Socrates explains to Glaucon that the prisoners in Plato’s metaphorical cave are bound to assume that the shadows thrown on the wall, by the fire, are real and that the objects held by the passers-by, along the road, belong to the shadows. â€Å"And so in every way they would believe that the shadows of the objects we mentioned were the whole truth.† (Plato, 26). Because these prisoners have relied so much on their senses to make judgements, they have developed a tendency to make false judgments about the things happening around them. Plato believes that the world as seen using our senses has more fake to it than real. As humans, each individual is limited by their own physical abilities, mental abilities, and even social abilities. This is the reason why no t all human beings can successfully break records as easily as others. It is also a reason why humans can not answer the question â€Å"What happened before the beginning?† or â€Å"How did the beginning start?† We are limited by what we see, hear, feel, smell, and taste every day. We are limited by what we are accustomed to because we rely so much on them to provide us the truth and place a kind of belief on it that can not be easily altered. In similar fashion, The Matrix also explains how the mind is susceptible toShow MoreRelatedPlato s Simile Of The Cave1149 Words   |  5 Pagestheir further understanding. This movie ‘The Matrix’ shares a common philosophical basis with Plato’s Simile of the Cave. First, Plato argues that the mind is susceptible to false ideas because of the limitations of our senses. This is shown in the conversation between Socrates, a speaker in his allegory, and Glaucon, the second speaker. Socrates explains to Glaucon that the prisoners in Plato’s metaphorical cave are bound to assume that the shadows thrown on the wall, by the fire, are real and

Loyalty in Odyssey Essay - 824 Words

Loyalty in The Odyssey Loyalty is defined in the Websters dictionary as faithfulness or devotion to a person, a cause or a duty. Through this definition, it can be expressed that loyalty is a major theme in Homers epic, The Odyssey. The author presents four mayor illustrations of loyalty, which are given by Penelope, Telemachus, Eumaeus and Philoetius and Odysseus. Penelope is Odysseus faithful wife who not only doesnt re-marry but also keeps hope that Odysseus is still alive and will someday come home. Telemachus embarks on a journey in search of his father, who has never actually met. Eumaios, the swineherd and Philoitois, the cowherd, remained committed to their duties as true servants of Odysseus. And ultimately, Odysseus†¦show more content†¦Telemachus, Odysseus only son, shows his loyalty to his father by going on a voyage to search and investigate his fathers destiny. Telemachus comments He father me, left me behind at home, and from me he got not joy ( Homer, Book XVI, 135). The autho r clearly demonstrates how this character, despite of never -----with his father, stays true to his cause: finding his father. Many times the author states Telemachuss will to bring back Odysseus, If men could have all they want, free for the taking, Id take first my fathers journey home ( Homer, Book XVI,135). Another significant illustration of loyalty is given by Eumaeus, the swineherd and Philoetius, the cowherd, to their long gone master, Odysseus. Eumaeus speaks highly of his kings return home, Now bring my prayer to pass! Let that men come back-some god guide him now (Homer, Book XXI, 267). On the other side when hearing that Odysseus is coming home, Philoetius replies if only Zeus would make that oath come true-youd see my power, my fighting arms in action (Homer, Book XX, 264). The author describes how ‘both men broke into tears and threw their arms around their old master when they realize the true identity of the beggar, Odysseus. They obviously have great respect and devotion for him. By standing next to Odysseus in the slaughter, risking their own lives, the author properly establishedShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Loyalty In The Odyssey973 Words   |  4 Pagesmajor themes of The Odyssey are loyalty, hospitality, revenge and Disguise. Penelope stays loyal to Odysseus for 20 years, waiting for him to return home and Eurycleia is loyal to Odysseus and tells him who had been disloyal to him while he was away. When Homer recorded The Odyssey, members of the household and staff were loyal to the paterfamilias. Loyalty was expected in ancient Greek times out of respect. Women and servants were submissive to the paterfamilias and their loyalty demonstrated thisRead MoreExamples Of Loyalty In The Odyssey989 Words   |  4 PagesLoyalty is defined in Webster’s dictionary as unswerving allegiance, faithfulness. With this definition it can be expressed that loyalty plays a big role in Homer’s epic ‘the Odyssey’. Homer has presented three main characters that have shown loyalty to Odysseus. Penelope, the faithful wife, Telemachus, the son who has never met his father and lastly Eumaeus, the servant who has remained loyal to his master even when he was gone. Odysseus has been gone for twenty years, leaving behind his wifeRead MoreLoyalty : The, The Odyssey, And Inanna1760 Words   |  8 PagesLoyalty has always been seen as a commendable trait, not only in human beings but in any creature, all through history. Soldiers have admired their enemies for their loyalty to fallen comrades, thousands of stories have been written about the intense loyalty animals portray for their owners, and even companies in the workforce look for loyalty in potential employees. Loyalty has been seen as something that distinguishes the trustworthy from the untrustworthy, and something that sets the great apartRead MoreLoyalty And Faithfulness In The Odyssey And Odysseus1177 Words   |  5 PagesLoyalty and Faithfulness are two characteristics that would make up a great person. Being loyal by sticking to something and showing your support and Faith is having trust and confidence in someone or something. Having these characteristics is important because it is k ey to success Both of these traits however make up the god like Odysseus. And the result of him having these traits ended in success and him coming back home. Loyalty and Faithfulness was very important in the Odyssey and Odysseus displaysRead More Loyalty in Homers Odyssey Essay601 Words   |  3 PagesRelationships in Homers Odyssey Loyalty is heroic. Loyalty is defined as faithfulness or devotion to a person, cause, obligations, or duties. In Homers Odyssey one can see loyalty in many forms. Odysseus is loyal to the gods whom he realized held his life in their hands. Penelope was loyal to Odysseus, while trying not to offend the rude suitors. Telemachus was loyal to a father whom he only knew from the stories he had been told. Time and time again we see loyalty in the strongest sense, completeRead MoreThe Role of Loyalty in The Odyssey Essay1030 Words   |  5 Pagespresent throughout the Odyssey, written by Homer. Be it hospitality, perseverance, vengeance or power of the Gods, loyalty is truly the theme that brings the whole book together. Being 10 years after the Trojan War, many have forgotten about Odysseus and his men as they constantly brave what the gods throw their way. This essay will be talking about Odysseus and Penelope’s mutual loyalty to one another, the loyal relationships between Gods a nd men and finally, the loyalty Odysseus’ men show for himRead MoreLoyalty as Defined in the Odyssey Essay946 Words   |  4 PagesLoyalty, as defined in the Odyssey seems to be the constant devotion to someone, the hopefully longing of their return and victory. Homer seems to value loyalty over many of the other human traits, as Eumaeus gets not only Homer’s famous â€Å"you† but his own book as well. The swineherd is not the only character that Homer uses to show loyalty, Penelope and Telemachus show unyielding faithfulness to Odysseus throughout the epic poem; as do many other characters even gods. Homer demonstrates the valueRead MoreAn Analysis of Loyalty in Homer’s Odyssey1555 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of Loyalty in Homer’s Odyssey In short, The Odyssey is a story of the war hero Odysseus’ pain and suffering caused by the extensive separation from his family and home during the chronicle of events after the fall of Troy. In the unraveling of these adventures, the reader is immersed in a world of heroic feats, strange creatures and lustful gods. However, behind all the myths and legends, there are a wide variety of underlying themes and concepts, which not only develop the plot andRead MoreEssay Loyalty Shown In The Odyssey486 Words   |  2 Pages Loyalty to family, community, and the gods is an important quality in the lives of ancient Greek citizens. These qualities are clear demonstrated in The Odyssey through Penelope, Telemakhos, and Odysseus. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Penelope shows her loyalty in several ways. She shows loyalty to Odysseus by waiting for his return for twenty long years. She did not choose a suitor until she knew for sure that Odysseus was dead. To delay the decision of choosing a suitor, Penelope said she wouldRead MoreThe Odyssey : Themes Of Loyalty, Justice, And Hospitality1017 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout The Odyssey, three major themes of loyalty, justice, and hospitality are present. Loyalty is a basic human virtue that is glaringly visible in this book. First of all, Odysseus crew is aggressively loyal to him. The book starts off with Odysseus just finishing the Trojan War. His crew went through the war lasting a decade with the hero and never once left his side. All of his men were willing to go to take their lives for Odysseus, which is the ultimate form of loyalty. Odysseus

Maya Angelou And Still I Rise - 897 Words

In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† and the poem â€Å"Still I Rise† Kate Chopin and Maya Angelou have explored the theme of oppression in a variety of different ways. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is a short story based around how dramatically things can change within the space of an hour and how this can affect your life in the short period of time. Within the hour Mr Mallard is presumed dead in a railroad disaster, resulting in Mrs Mallard short lived ‘freedom’ after years of being oppressed, before soon learning that her husband is not dead as she encounters him. This shock triggers an ongoing heart problem and Mrs Mallard is soon confirmed dead. â€Å"Still I Rise† is a poem based around Maya Angelou and how she will overcome challenges that are thrown at her.†¦show more content†¦Another key technique applied by Angelou is similes. â€Å"But still, like dust, I’ll rise†, the reader pictures the rising cloud of dust in the ir mind. Her use of similes helps strengthen the meaning behind the words, leading to a deeper connection to the reader. The reference to slavery in the third line gives you a clear picture in your mind of the oppressors hating on Maya Angelou for who she is. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† imagery is used to show the thoughts of Mrs Mallard as she thinks of the future freedom without her husband, â€Å"A long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely†. She is looking forward to the future because she no longer has to worry about anything else and all of her pressures in the form of Mr Mallard. Angelou uses a variety of structural techniques within the poem, the first of which is rhetorical questions such as â€Å"Did you want the see me broken†? This is used to openly question why her oppressors are hostile towards her. Half way through the poem the tempo begins to change as Angelou dramatically changes her mood from negative to positive, and begins to express her beliefs towards the oppressors. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is about how things can change in a short amount of time, due to the small amount of time it makes you feel as though you are going along the journey with Angelou. This engages the reader as it is in such a small time frame, that they want to knowShow MoreRelatedStill I Rise By Maya Angelou1078 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Still I Rise† by Maya Angelou is a poem of objection and satisfaction in which Maya states that she will raise regardless of any situation. In her poem, â€Å"Angelou also incorporates anaphora, similes and metapho rs throughout the poem to illustrate the resilience of the speaker regardless of what befalls her† (Bouchard: â€Å"Literary Contexts in Poetry†). Using these methods, the reader is able to visualize the hardships the poet went through. â€Å"Still I Rise† by Maya Angelou offers ambition and inspirationRead MoreStill I Rise By Maya Angelou877 Words   |  4 Pagesfull shaped curves of her body, and the color of her skin . The poem â€Å"Still I Rise† by the well-known poet, Maya Angelou, specifically describes the reasons why she had so much confidence; even if she were to be judged by her appearances and mindset. This poem is about embracing females, but it mainly introduces similar life situations that many African American women have experienced. The symbols and point of view that Angelou specifically added in her poem made her readers realize that there areRead MoreStill I Rise By Maya Angelou2154 Words   |  9 Pagesdifferent religions and races is a theme that is explored throughout many texts like the ‘Still I Rise’ Poetry from Maya Angelou, ‘The Dollhouse’ short story by Katherine Mansfield, The movie ‘Gran Torino’ directed by Clint Eastwood, and the Documentary film ‘Born into Brothels’ by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman. First Text: A poem that conveys the theme discrimination is Still I Rise by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou helps the reader see the struggle and feel what the black society had been treated likeRead MoreStill I Rise By Maya Angelou Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesPowell June 23, 2015 Still I Rise Maya Angelou’s poem, â€Å"Still I Rise† shows a repetition of strength stanza after stanza. African Americans were faced with the challenges of oppression and slavery. African American women not only as a minority of African American race, but as a female, were faced with all those challenges, along with woman’s rights. It took 55 years after the abolishment of slavery for females to finally have the right to vote, under the 19th amendment. Maya Angelou’s poem expressesRead MoreAnalysis Of Still I Rise By Maya Angelou1080 Words   |  5 Pagestougher and wiser. Still I rise is a poem written by Maya Angelou, an African American poet and a civil-rights activist. This poem was written around the civil rights movement, when people where being segregated by their race. Throughout this poem we are shown the thoughts and feelings people have displayed against her, but she will not let them get her down. Her dark past allows her to have strength and rise abov e the criticism where her ancestors fell to slavery. In poem Still I rise the main messageRead MoreAnalysis Of Still I Rise By Maya Angelou917 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Still I Rise† is an inspiring poem written by Maya Angelou, she delivers a powerful message from within to provide her African American ancestors an opportunity to rise above segregation and racism. Maya Angelou expresses her pride throughout the poem and describes different hardships in her past. Angelou incorporates her past experiences, powerful views, and over comings while also expressing the tone regarding her pride, feminist values, strong confidence, and close ties with African AmericanRead MoreAnalysis Of Still I Rise By Maya Angelou993 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscussed in class starting with Maya Angelou’s â€Å"Still I Rise.† Angelou starts off her poem stating, â€Å"You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies, you may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust, I’ll rise.(Lines 1-4)† From these lines, Angelou speaks on the strength that African-American have each day. Blacks have been seen in history as an abomination, and their names have been dragged through the mud just because of their skin color. But Angelou tells people that none of thisRead MoreStill I Rise - Maya Angelou (Reading Log)885 Words   |  4 PagesStill I Rise Maya Angelou The poem ‘Still I Rise’ written by American author Maya Angelou is written from the perspective of Maya herself. She is speaking to her audience of oppressors about how she has overcome racism, criticism, sexism, and personal obstacles in her life with pride and grace. It describes her personal struggle through life and how she managed to pull through and how she will continue on her life journey. This poem is historically rooted with mentions of slavery, a â€Å"past of pain†Read MoreEssay of Poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou621 Words   |  3 Pagesunderstand life and their situations. The purpose of this writing is to discuss a literary work through a personal experience. The poem that will be discussed in this essay will be â€Å"Still I Rise† by Maya Angelou. This is her famous poem ever known. This author is a very good writer, I am reading her poems for the first time and I liked her poems so much. This poem suggests that we can overcome difficulties in life, despite rejections and injustice. It also discusses racism and all the problems black peopleRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Still I Rise By Maya Angelou1959 Words   |  8 PagesMaya Angelou was a highly respected spokesperson for African Americans as well as for women of the twentieth century. She spoke on the behalf of all enslaved African Americans who suffered during the civil war. Most of her works are considered autobiographical because they contain many of her own experiences. She is a natural narrative writer that uses a lot of imagery and repetition in her poems.She has a great influence in the field of literature as a woman’s activist. She has received numerous

Doctor in the house free essay sample

Under our study the passage of the story Doctor in the house written by a famous British writer and an assistant editor of the British Medical Journal of the 20 th century Richard Gordon who worked also as a ships surgeon, but left his medical practice in 1952. The story Doctor in the house is one of Gordons twelve Doctor books and is noted for witty description of a medical students years of professional training. Doctor in the house is not really intriguing title for the story, but, perhaps, this simplicity makes this story so attractive for an experienced reader, who is able after looking through passages to find extremely interesting phrases, word combinations, unusual style of writing and etc. Speaking about the style of the story we can say that it is autobiography. The plot of the passage is build round an unpleasant inevitability, we mean the final examination of medical students. Gordon. Author tells us about him nothing, because he wants to say that Gordon is an ordinary student. Author uses indirect method of characterization, and we can learn something of him only through his feelings. And we see the exams through his own eyes. The story is told from first person narration. The composition of this text consists of the following components: exposition, when the author gives the concept of an examination. Narration, when the author describes passing the examinations, written paper and viva, also an interesting story about marking the papers at Cambridge. The tension reaches its highest degree when poor Gordon almost believe in his fail. And the climax, when the Author describes how the Secretary of the Committee calls out Gordon’s name, because in that moment we become interested in his results, do he pass or fail. The author deliberately postpones the denouement keeping the reader in pressing anticipation. It comes in the last paragraph, when he hears the magic word â€Å"Pass†. The main idea of the text is that the examination is nothing more than an investigation of man’s knowledge. We learn about the students well, because the author created true-to-life characters, even more so the Author was passing the examinations himself. The key word is examination, because the action is spanned around it. And he employs a lot of expressive means and stylistic devices to make the story interesting and exciting. The text is emotionally moving, and some details produce an emotional reaction. There are a lot of epithets, metaphors, similes, hyperboles, metonymies and etc. For example by a simile â€Å"the final examinations are something like death† the Author shows condition of a student before an examination, â€Å"like a prize-fighter† also shows a contest, then the author compares, using the simile, the students that want to produce a certain impression and looking at professor like the â€Å"impressionable music enthusiasts gazing at the solo violinist†. Medical textbooks compared through metaphor to a â€Å"well-trodden paths†. The simile â€Å"porters†¦.. like the policemen† shows how severe and threatening they seems , a metaphor â€Å"†¦frustrated brilliance† is about a gone hope of a student. By the syntactic parallelism â€Å"The world stood still. The traffic stopped, the plants ceased growing, men were paralysed, the clouds hung in the air, the winds dropped, the tides disappeared, the sun halted in the sky† and the simile â€Å"like a man just hit by a blackjack† Author gives a perfect description of Gordon’s condition before and after he finds out his exam results. The text is full of epithets, that make it more expressive. For example, â€Å"Flagrant cheating†, â€Å"depressing experience†, and so on. â€Å"Silence and stillness (synonyms), like an unexploded bomb(simile)† very exactly depicts the picture of the minute when every student was waiting for his/her marks. And Author gives a chain of synonyms for word â€Å"to fail : †Ã¢â‚¬Å"One comes down, one muffs, one is ploughed, plucked, or pipped†. To make us sure that this exams was really hard Author uses special medical lexis – tetanus. In my opinion, not so many people know what it is and even more how to treat it. Also there are one idiom judgement day. Author uses it to show how important and, at the same time, very hard to pass the oral examination is. With the help of antonomasia we see their real character the Nonchalant, the Frankly Worried, the Crammer, the Old Stager. We can easily understand what stands for this nicknames. Also Author tries to make us believe that is story really happened. He uses a lot of places that still exist. For instance, St. Swithin’s Hospital, Old Bailey and Cambridge. And we can be sure that the story takes place in some university in Britain. The general atmosphere created by the author is mostly bright, amusing, full of irony, but sometimes it is not, especially after the viva . To my mind, this story is very interesting and exciting. Gordons wonderful mastery of the language permits him to keep the reader tense till the denouement. In such a little extract of a book he was able to depict the not only the procedure of examination, but also feelings of students. I am student and I know in my own experience that it is really difficult to pass the examination, and Richard Gordon succeed in describing the all little details of this event.