Thursday, October 31, 2019

An Ethical Dilemma Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An Ethical Dilemma - Term Paper Example The organization’s hiring process has however been difficult, in the past, because it is not famous in its South Dakota locality. After the first round of interviews, a female candidate who is a local resident and prefers working in the area is identified with acceptable qualifications even though she is not a fresh graduate. She unconditionally accepts a $ 105000 remuneration package. Another set of interviews identifies a male candidate with all the organization’s requirements but he has another competitive offer. It is however certain that he will accept a $ 135000 dollar package. The case identifies a number of ethical issues through different ethical principles and theories. One of the issues in the case is the consequences of the decision to offer the higher package to the later employee. This follows the utilitarian theory that advocates the maximum good to all stakeholders in a decision. Justice is another ethical issue that is applicable to the case. It defines fairness in dealing with issues to eliminate discrimination. Integrity issue among decision makers is also evident in the case to define the level of honesty in the decisions (Carroll and Buchholtz, 2008). Besides honesty, decisions are supposed to be truthful as provided for by the â€Å"principle of personal virtue† (Williams, 2010, p. 130). It is also ethical for an entity to make decisions to safeguard its long-term interest. This is supported by both utilitarianism and the â€Å"principle of long-term self-interest† (Williams, 2010, p. 130). I would recruit the later employee at the higher cost of $ 135000 dollar package. A number of the involved ethical issues in the case would support the decision. I would have for example safeguarded the organization’s long-term interest in securing potentials of fresh recruits.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Compare and contrast the planning functions of the Japanese and Research Paper

Compare and contrast the planning functions of the Japanese and Chinese economic models - Research Paper Example The economic models perform two basic functions, which include selection of information on the basis of econometric study and simplification of the gathered information. Economic models can be classified as stochastic models, non-stochastic models, qualitative models, quantitative models, equilibrium, and non-equilibrium models. If we talk about some of the benefits of having the economic models, we can say that economic models are widely used for a variety of purposes in the economic environment of every country. Some of main uses of economic models include guiding resource allocation decisions, forecasting the economic activities, planning the functions of economy, and making appropriate decisions related to the economy. All of these uses make economic model one of the most important models for the development of any country. Let us now discuss planning functions of the economic models of China and Japan, which are two of the most progressive and well-established economies of the w orld. Comparison between Planning Functions of Chinese and Japanese Economic Models Chinese economy has seen significant success and development over the last decade. The communist government of the People Republic of China has been successful in developing a strong Chinese economy, which has started developing its roots in most of the Asian, European, and American markets. â€Å"Although the politics of China remains communist, the economics might be called Advanced Mercantilist† (SNS 2010). Chinese economists have analyzed the perfects ways to deal with the west by considering the cases of South Korea and Japan and have come up with a well-designed economic modal, which has the ability to make the Chinese economy one of the most stable economies of the future world. If we talk about the Japanese model of economy, we can say that Japanese economic model has proved to be a very useful tool not only for the analysis of the current economic situation of Japan but also for the p rojection of its future economic situation. Japanese economy has faced various shocks after the World War II but the responses of the Japanese economic model to the shocks provide us with a very good approximation of the current economy of Japan. The planning functions of the Japanese economic model also depend on the types of consumers. Unlike Chinese economic model, the Japanese economic model considers consumers to be of two types, which include permanent-income-hypothesis consumers and rule-of thumb consumers. The response to shocks becomes very realistic and effective due to identification of types of the consumers. If we analyze the most recent economic recession and the affect of that economic recession on the economies of China and Japan, we come to know that china was one of those countries, which survived the economic recession up to a large extent. It is due to the implementation of an appropriate economic model that Chinese economy did not shake as the result of recent e conomic recession. Various analyses and reports show that the countries like Germany, Japan, America, and the United Arab Emirates were affected heavily due to the recent economic recession but the economy of china was so stable that the recession could not affect it up to a large extent. Japanese economy, which is currently the world’s second largest economy, also slipped into the economic rece

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Analysing Product Development Within Dell Computers

Analysing Product Development Within Dell Computers The Product Development at the Dell Computer Corporation case can be summarized with just its name, product development. The case focuses on development of Dells personal computers, highlighting the area of the laptops. The personal computer industry can be dated back to the 1830s and Charles Babbage with his invention of the first digital computer. However with limitations of materials and marketing his vision mainly stayed on what is called the drawing board. It was not until the time period of World War II when a factory size computer was created by army engineers, they were named Mark I and Colossus and they were 50 feet in size. Through the 1960s and the 1970s only the government, mainly for defense, and big business had the opportunity to use computers. As technology increased and microchips replaced the wires and transistors, and financial availability became friendlier for consumers the microcomputer revolution began. In the 1970s and 1980s Apple Computer was a successful leader in a commercialized interface that was easy to use. Apple set the technological pace for cramming as much new technology in to their products as possible. IBM who was always trying to play catch up with Apple kicked off its traditional corporate based computer line, with strong direct sales and service. Dell also released its own branded personal computer in 1981. During the 1980s personal computer sales grew from nothing to $40 billion dollars. It was in 1983 when Dell Computer was started by Michael Dell, who at this point in time was a freshman at the University of Texas. He would upgrade IBM compatible computers and go door to door selling them. The success was overwhelming for Dell, and he moved off campus and dropped out of school, with the initial idea of returning back to school if there was failure with the business. However, with $180,000 in sales during his first month the idea of going back to school never entered his mind. The next step for Dell was to buy and assemble his own brand name personal computers and get them directly to the customers. This is where Dells principle to eliminate the middle man began. With this premise in mind, high growth rates and attractive margins the building of the Dell name began. Soon, Dell would start a 24 hour complaint hotline and they would offer a supply of backup replacement equipment. By 1990, Dell computers had a distinctive line of its own personal computers which won se veral trade magazine awards for service and products. By 1990 microcomputers accounted for 40% of all computers sold. And there was major competition the brands helping to drive down the costs of manufacturing as well the cost for the consumers. With the development and success of Dell and their direct to consumer sales as well as their laid back sales manner, imitators such as Gateway 2000 and CompuAdd began business. While focusing on the competition Dell expanded in to the retail market attempting to gain more revenue. However, this was unsuccessful since Dell overshot the target budget of sales, finding them in a cash crunch. It was then decided on that that needed to do something different. They needed to stand out again The Dell Business Model The Dell business model is a simple one. Eliminate the middle man. Dell sold its computers directly to customers with no retailers in the middle. Customers are able to order a customized computer that fits their needs. Customers like universities, large corporations, and government agencies all have different needs when it comes to computers. Dell also kept this strategy with its small customers. People can order a computer based on battery life, software applications, size, gaming, business orientated, and many other customizations. A great advantage with this business model is that Dell can maintain a low inventory cost which saves the company lots of money. How it works Dell achieves this business model by having a small lead time from when the computer order comes in to when it actually gets to the customer. This is very important to Dells success because the negative to directly selling to the customer is that the customer cannot just walk into a Dell store or retailer and just buy the computer. Dell has a general lead time of 3-5 days. This is the time is takes to build the computer and ship it. This doesnt include the couple of days for the shipping. The lead time can vary depending on the type of customization. Sometimes it could be longer or shorter based on inventory and the depth of customization. This is a major advantage for Dell to be able to ship computer within days. Dell must plan, build, and test vigorously all within the 3-5 days. This also allows Dell to maintain minimal inventory of hand. Unlike other computer companies, Dell does not have to have ready-made computers on hand. If Dell experiences a slow month in sales then it doesn t cost them as much as its competitors because Dell is paying less for inventory overhead. This great success is a product of the new structured operations that Dell has implemented starting with the product development process. Another advantage of Dells business model is the 24-hour customer support system that it offers. Dell offers this option so that customers can call at anytime to fix a problem with one of Dells computers. Not only is the feature convenient for the customer, but it is also very effective. In the Harvard case, it states that the customer support team was able to solve problems themselves 91% of the time. That is an amazing statistic that reflects Dells training program and due diligence on building and retaining customer relationships. Argument: Is Dells business model effective? Yes, Dells business model is a good one and is very effective. This has always been Dells business model and has brought it so much success. Only for a brief period in the 90s did Dell try and tweak the business model by getting into retail. This only proved to Dell that its original business plan was the best because Dell suffered some losses and sales decreased during this time. Also Gateway, a competitor, had adopted Dells direct sales strategy which gave them great success. Dells original business plan is the best plan for many reasons. The direct sales approach lets them build and retain customer relationships because there is no middle man in between Dell and the customer. The 24-hour customer support program lets customers give direct feedback to Dell and makes the customer feel appreciated when Dell is helping them, not an IT representative from a retailer. Another competitive advantage this business plan gives Dell is the inventory control. Dell is known for turning over inv entory better than any other computer manufacturer in the industry. This plan allows Dell to achieve such great inventory control. When Dell went into the retail side it could not keep up with turning over inventory as fast as it used to when it was selling directly to customers. In conclusion, Dells original business plan is very good and extremely effective. It is proven in the Harvard case when Dell moved away from its plan. Industry Technological Developments In the computer industry there were some key technological evolutions that led to a great competition between the industrys firms. During the 1970s the industry saw some great technological advancements. These findings were crucial to the computer firms today because they made it easier for the companies to make, sell, and meet the needs of its customers. The major developments were improved microprocessors, standard operating systems, increased availability of software, and cheaper memory. These developments made the computer industry an attractive market for many. Another development that came later was the battery technology. Batteries for laptop computers advanced which led to even more competition. Since the competition is so great, companies need to find other ways to compete other than resources. For the most part the computer firms used the same technology so one of the ways the firms could get a competitive edge is through its product development process. Dell was a firm that realized the highly competitive nature of the computer industry during the 1990s. In 1993 Dell found itself losing money and in the shakeout period of the computer industry. This is the period of time when competition is at its highest and only the strong firms survive. The weaker firms will be shaken out of the market and will dissolve. Dell was one of the few firms that realized that it needed to do something different to compete and survive. Dell decided that it needed to look at its product development process. Dell Product Development Process Original Product Development Strategy Dells original product development process was very informal. The process was very amateur and lacked structure. First, the process involved self governed teams that had no accountability or management. The teams were made up of engineers and developers that had all the same ideas or similar strategies. Second, risks were not being assessed properly in these teams. Since the teams all had similar viewpoints the members were collectively overlooking risks. The biggest problem with this process was that projects were being passed onto the next stage of development when it should not have been. This leads to fail projects which in return cost Dell lots of money and time which could mean the difference in such a competitive market. The margin of error for Dell was slim to none during this time. When Dell had a major project fail which cost it several millions of dollars, it went to management, engineers, and developers to see what their opinion was on trying a new process. The management wanted a new process that had more structure. The engineers and developers wanted to keep the old process mainly because they thought that structure would stifle their creativity. After a long debate Dell decided to change its product development process. Dell decided that its old process was similar to a start-up companys process and not an experienced company, like itself. New Product Development Strategy The new product development strategy was much more formal. The teams now were called core teams which were made up of a mix of engineers and managers who had different views and techniques. Dell wanted diversity in its groups to encourage conversation and debate. Each group was also held responsible for a project from start to finish and the team was governed by an outside manager. This made the teams accountable for all their decisions and moves. The new process had six phases in which each phase would last around 3 months. The total time for a project was approximately 18 months. Profile Phase- Teams would write a guide on the new product and its market that it would be sold in Planning Phase- Teams create a detailed business case for the product which must be viewed by a senior manager before it is passed onto the next phase Implementation Phase- Teams must design and test prototypes of the product and orders must be made to the suppliers Qualification Phase- Teams build production prototypes and key customers give feedback Launch Phase- The customer experience is tested, from opening the product to setting up and using the product. Early adopters have their orders filled Acceptance Phase- Teams collect feedback and reports are compared to actual results. Argument: Which process is better? The new product development process is much better than the old process. This is easy to see because of the results. Dell has survived the shakeout period and has become one of the industry leaders. The new product development process allowed Dell to create better products because of the versatility of the core teams and also cut down on failures because of the structure of the new process. Fewer errors were a result of each team being held accountable for errors and have a senior manager evaluate the product before advancing to the next stage. Which Battery? In 1991, Dell came out with its first line of the portable computer. And in 1992 Dells portable computers accounted for 17% of sales. However, with the backlash of rumors about unreliable screens, frequent power failures, being slower than most other portable computers and broken hinges Dell could not compete even with their low prices. Early 1993 brought about the cancelling of Dells new line of laptops. Under the guise that they were too slow and not ready for sales. After recalling 17,000 notebooks, Mark Holliday, the portable division head of Dell, calls a meeting with all of the company officers and forces a decision for a battery to be made. During this meeting it is decided that there are three different battery decisions that Dell can go with. At the meeting it was decided that the battery decision must be made at the end of Phase 1 (the profile phase) of development and the three different choices are NiHi Nickel Metal Hydride, LiOn Lithium Ion, and the last choice was to not make a choice really, it was to defer a choice. The first choice for batteries was the NiHi otherwise known as the Nickel Metal Hydride. The chart below shows what some of the disadvantages and advantages to the NiHi battery. Overall this battery would not have been a great choice for Dell, because it did not solve the problem of lasting more than 3 hours like the consumers wanted and it could not recharge to its full potential. The second choice was the LiOn also known as the Lithium Ion Battery this is was the battery that Dell ended up choosing and still uses today. The third and final choice that dell had was to defer the choice of batteries, this would give Sony time to develop the battery and get a good production line going. This would also allow for Dell to be prepared for either battery design. Types of Battery Advantages Disadvantages NiHi Nickel Metal Hydride Takes up less space then the LiOn Provide limited product differentiation in an increasingly competitive market Allows for more accessories Such as communication control and memory management Short battery life, normally less than 3 hours. Would involve no delays in Production demand Can only recharge a fraction of full capacity A less risky choice If not disposed of properly they could release heavy metal toxins in to the environment. Type of Battery Advantages Disadvantages LiOn Lithium Ion Longer rechargeable lives Unproven and more expensive technology MORE RISKY CHOICE Can recharge to full potential Takes up more space than conventional batteries Laptop customers insisted on longer battery lives No production demand studies completed Cold possibly boost sales Production committed to Sony for at least a year Type of Battery Defer Choice Advantages Disadvantages Dell could have 2 options for battery space Having the bigger battery (LiOn) would be less attractive to the customer Give Sony the time to test the LiOn battery Variable costs in both battery designs would be too high Dell could continue with product development of the laptop in general Cold possibly over design the battery space Could give highest return, if LiOn was chosen and fails there is the NiHi to use Battery charging circuitry would have to be designed for both batteries. Strategy and Finances One of the major decisions for Dell was to choose the right battery power for its new Laptop which was targeting the laptop market. A strategy is a set of actions that coordinate the resources and commitments of a business to boost its performance. Strategy selections should be guided by the firms situation rather than by historical choices. Choosing a strategy that makes sense for a particular business is a decision which may lead to superior performance. There are a few choices that steer corporate strategies. Cost- Based Strategy requires a firm to be the lowest cost producer in the market. This can be lowest cost labor to efficiency in operations. Spirit airline is an example of this strategy. They are billed as the ultra-low-cost carrier. Spirit operates 28 Airbus planes and serves Eastern and Midwestern cities in the Unites states. (Longenecker, et al. 2009) The second type of business strategy is Differentiation-Based. This model emphasizes the uniqueness of a firms product or service. This model places emphasis for the consumer to be convinced of the uniqueness and value of the product or service, whether real or perceived. (Schermerhorn, 2010). Dell looked to achieve this type of strategy. Dell focused on the need to connect with their customer, remove the middleman and speak directly to their customers. Dell start their innovation process with asking their customers, What would you really want this thing to do? Is there a different way to accomplish that? Then they meet with their suppliers and ask, Can we do this in a different way? Then they try to come up with a totally different approach that exceeds the original objectives. http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/02/dell-amex-marriot-cmo-network-adtrend.html The focus strategy selection of the battery power would impact the company in hopes of gaining market share through satisfied customers. Michael Dell and his team needed to relate to their environment, particularly to the customers and competitors. Choice of battery technology was of vital importance to Dell. Many factors were evaluated; 1. Competition abounded due to imitation of Dells direct model 2. Dell felt a cash crunch due to their rapid expansion 3. Lack of senior management capable of guiding the firm 4. Lack of structure in Dells product development process, growing importance of the portable computer market 5. Lack of senior management capable of guiding the firm toward maturity 6. Lack of structure in Dells product development process Growing importance of portable computer industry 7. High rate of battery life in minds of consumers 8. Limited life of the NiHi battery 9. Uncertainty of the emerging LiOn battery technology Dell was dependent upon the future success of the new Laptitude laptop product to revive its share in the portable computer market. Dell was hoping to distinguish itself with the introduction of the fresh LiOn battery technology. Unfortunately, the LiOn technology was immature and risky but, Dell needed to make a decision of whether to adopt this technology in the new product line or remain with current technology. Ultimately, Dell needed a winner and needed to make the critical and right decision to ensure an emergence back into the already competitive market along with a need for a significant financial infusion. Tenacious is a good word to describe Michael Dell and the company he created. And tenacity and efficiency will be enough to keep Dell in the game. But to rise to the next level and really boost its growth, it may have to find a little more heart. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/09/18/8386121/index.htm Dells new product development process was put to the test immediately as the decision was being made on how to develop a new laptop PC. Market research identified battery life as the third most important feature to customers when purchasing a laptop. One way the company distinguishes itself from other suppliers of perform-alike PCs is by acting quickly on the masses of data it gathers from customers. Information is a valuable competitive weapon, says Tom Thomas, chief information systems officer. Our whole business system is geared to collect it. (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1993/09/27/78384/index.htm). Due to a chance meeting between Michael Dell and Sony executives, Dell had the opportunity to have exclusive access to the new Lithium Ion (LiOn) battery technology which greatly extended battery life, and offered superior overall performance to the standard Nickel Hydride (NiHi) technology. The new technology would add value to Dell laptops as they sought t o recapture market share. The technology was not fully developed however, and there was a risk that it would not work. Dell thus faced a critical decision about how to allocate resources for the development of the laptop. Four options were identified by the product development team: Option 1- commit to the old technology (NiHi) Option 2 commit to the new technology (LiOn) Option 3a over-design the computer so that it could accommodate either type of battery, thus deferring the battery commitment until later Option 3b dual design (in parallel) of laptops that would use either NiHi or LiOn technology Option 1: Continue with a proven battery technology (NiHi) According to estimates made by project manager and product marketer, Henry McCarty, Dells market share will be 2.5% if Dell stays with the status quo battery configuration of NiHi. This equates to 825,000 units sold over the estimated 3 year product life. Given an average gross margin per unit over life of product of $600 and expected $10 million expected cost of development effort, the expected profit margin is $485 million. There is 100% confidence that the NiHi battery product will work. Option 2: Go with the new battery technology (LiOn) The new Development Team, McCarty predicts Dells market share to jump to 3.0% or 990,000 units over 3 years, if LiOn technology works. If the LiOn technology fails, Dells market share will fall to about 1.25% or 413,000 units over 3 years. This drop in market share would be attributed to competitors already having an established product on the market, while Dell undergoes substantial rework, 70% of original schedule, and 30% of cost to switch back to NiHi. There is only a 60% confidence that the LiOn battery product wont fail. Given an average gross margin per unit over life of product of $600 and expected $10 million expected cost of development, the expected profit margin is $444 million under option 2. Option 3a: Dual Development Defer commitment until qualification phase review Dual Development option has an estimated $10 million expected cost of development and an additional fixed cost of $2.5 million because Dell would have to develop two technologies at the same time. These are the actual project costs incurred which incorporates the additional designers and engineers, material and tooling costs, etc. These costs do not include the product opportunities Dell would forego if they had to pull people away from other projects. Given the new fixed costs and calculating a weighted average of expected profit margins based on the success rate of the technology, option 3a has an estimated profit margin of $542 million, the highest of the three options. Option 3b: Over-design Defer commitment until qualification phase review Similarly with the dual development we need to calculate the cost of the over-design strategy. The expected cost will be $10 million for development and additional variable cost of 0.5% of revenue (2.0% of margin) since Dell would have to develop two technologies in the same time. Due to the LiOn batterys different dimensions and properties, Dell would have to over-design the computer case, charging circuitry, and battery management software to accommodate either battery technology. Given the new variable costs and calculating a weighted average of expected profit margins based on the success rate of the technology, option 3b has an estimated profit margin of $533 million. This is the second highest of all options. One study of Dell looked at the Sensitivity Analysis of estimated profit margin if the confidence probability of LiOn technology changes. Based on the assumption McCarty provided, it shows clearly that Option 3a is the best option as long the Confidence of LiOn Technology is between 10%~90%. It is also obvious that if Dell knows 100% that LiOn will be successful Dell should choose Option 2. If the chance of success will be 0%, Dell should choose Option 1. http://www.mbanerds.com/index.php?title=Product_Development_at_Dell_Computer_Corp.

Friday, October 25, 2019

An Analysis of the Final Passage in Chopin’s The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening Essays

An Analysis of the Final Passage in Chopin’s The Awakening As this passage commences, Chopin, through Edna’s thoughts, describes the seemingly endless sea that presents itself before her. Edna, through personification, shows the intimacy of her relationship with both nature and the sea. This large, â€Å"[†¦] never ceasing [†¦]† (Chopin 139) body of water has entranced and enthralled Edna to the point where she is now beginning to see this natural element that amazes her so much as the only option left to her in life. Chopin reveals these intentions to the reader by describing the sea as â€Å"[†¦] inviting the soul to wander in the abyss of solitude† (Chopin 139). The word abyss in itself leaves the reader the impression of a mysterious place in which one might not return from; and it is later implied that Edna accepts this sensuous invitation from the sea. In this final passage, Chopin seems to emphasize words describing the ecstacy of solitude that Edna encounters in her final visit to the sea. When Edna speaks of there being â€Å"[†¦] no living thing in sight† (Chopin 139) around her, her thoughts never stray to a memory of her past experiences, acquaintances, or even emotions. Even when Edna sees her bathing suit from the past summer, her thoughts remain fixated on solely the unending sea that lies before her. Chopin also uses Enda’s encounter with her old bathing suit to show how distanced Edna is from her former life. Edna, seeing the garment, describes the former piece of clothing as being faded. As the color has fled from this garment, similarly has Edna’s soul fled from her former life. Edna originally begins to put the bathing suit on, however, the garment, seeming unpleasant to her skin, is almost immediately cast off. This garment, representing Edna’s former life, also shows how foreign Edna’s past life seems to her presently. Edna is so far removed from her former life, in fact, that the garment is shown as being physically irritating to her skin.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther

Reformation Websites: Section 1: Life of Martin Luther 1. Fill out the graphic organizer using http://www. Luther. De/en/Enoch. HTML Life of Martin Luther After vaulting his parents, he was caught In a terrible thunderstorm. During the storm lightning struck near him, and he was thrown to the ground. At this moment he called to Saint Anne, and declared: â€Å"l will become a monk. † Why did he decide to become a Monk? When did he decide to become a Monk? During a terrible storm. When did he become a professor at Wattenberg (Germany) university? 1507 he started professed at 1 512 What did he do as a professor?He came into contact with the ideas of the humanists and embraced their slogan. 2. Answer these questions using the map at http://www. Circular. Net/history/ Marcel/Luther. HTML a. Where did followers of Martin Lather's ideas (Lutheran) live? Germany Denmark Sweden Norway Prussia a. Where did followers of another reformer, John Calvin (Calvinist) live? The city of Genoa Sw itzerland. Scotland, England, France, Italy, Bohemia, Poland, and the Dutch Netherlands. B. Was the majority of Europe Catholic or Protestant during the reformation? Protestants Section 2: Luther†s Beliefs 1.Find out what Martin Luther believed about Faith. Read the passage in the following link and fill out the chart. Http://www. Icicle. Org/pub/resources/text/ Wattenberg/Luther/Luther-faith. Txt What faith IS according to Luther What faith is NOT according to Luther living bold trust in Gods graces confidence and knowledge of goddesses makes you happy freely willingly do good things serve people love and praise god holy spiral Followed by good works or Better life Section 3: Luther Posts his 95 Theses 1. Use the following website to fill in the table below on Lather's 95 Theses. Www. Luther. De/en/nonchalant. HTMLCause Event Effect Why was Luther upset with the church? Http:// The people where no longer coming to hem for their confessions they were going to different towns. What did he do about it? He wrote 95 theses which were use as the basis for discussion on the topic. What was the reaction to the 95 Theses? Some humanists approved of these, but parts of the Roman Church completely rejected them What is an indulgence? They supposedly categorized Luther as a follower of the heretic Jan Hush and threatened to have him burned at the stake. What were the 95 Theses? Used for basic discussion on a topic.Section 4: Effects of the Reformation 1. Complete the following chart using http://www. Luther. De/en/banana. HTML and http:// Cause practically declared a heretic both churches wanted Luther to recant his teachings while he was there Luther is excommunicated (explain what happened) trip to worms Diet of Worms (explain what it was) repentance objective clever thought out Section 5: Printing Press 1. Use the following 3 links to answer the questions about the printing press. Http:// www. Definer. Com/history/inventions/story. HTML http://www. Gutenberg. De /English/refinery. HTML a.What is the printing press? Was screw press specially designed to achieve an effective an even transfer b. Who invented the printing press? Genius of Guttenberg c. How does it work? Pressing the letters down to then produce ink on paper d. How did the printing press help Martin Luther? It allowed them to write in a more advanced easier way Section 6: Changing Europe 1. Use the map found at the following link and what you have learned so far to answer the questions below: http://chlorofluorocarbon. Wiseacres. Com/Everything *Europe a. How would a map of the year 1400 be different? (Hint: think religions†¦ T would show where religions migrated or lived Catholic? Because of where their priest where located and what they were taught in that area c. What impact did Luther have on this map? With where religions lived a. What impact did the printing press have on this map? It allowed them to write clearly and readable to all. Section 7: Evaluation Task: You a re going to become a reporter during the early 1 ass's. You will be creating a newspaper article based on an event, the key figures, or problem. 1. You are to write an article on one of the topics listed below: a. Complaints with the Church .Key figures: Calvin, Woozily, Erasmus c. Martin Luther and his 95 Theses d. Compare and contrast common beliefs of the Catholic and Protestant Church (language, ultimate authority & salvation) 2. Research and answer the following questions using the suggested websites in #3. A. Why were people dissatisfied with the Catholic Church in the asses? B. What were Lather's criticisms of the Church? C. How did the printing press affect Reformation ideas? A. Why did Luther want the Bible translated from Latin into German and other languages? B. How did the Church respond to Lather's 95 Theses? C.How did the ideas of John Calvin, John Woozily, and Desires Erasmus influence the Reformation? D. How was Europe affected by the events following Lather's excomm unication? How did the map of Europe change? 2. Suggest website resources: John Woozily http://www. BBC. Co. UK/history John Calvin http://www. Unwanted. Org http://www. Excel. Org http://www. Immersed. Com http://www. Was. Du Desires Erasmus http://www. Gospel. Net http://en. Wisped. Org http://www. Studiously. Com/ Martin Luther http://www. PBS. Org http://www. U-s-history. Com Spreading of Lather's Ideas Church Dissatisfaction Lather's Criticism http://www. Calgary. Ca Reformation http://www. Encouragement. Org http://www. Wisped. Org * 95 theses 95 theses was written by Martin Luther this year 1 517 and is the catalyst for the protestant reformation. It was the sales of indulgence, it centers on the practices within the catholic church regarding baptism and absolution. It views upon how to repent and how to be less sinful. These should be strictly followed by anyone in the church. There are times where you are allowed to relieve your pain or frustration in purgatory. He is focus ing on catholic churches. Please be aware of the new movement. Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther Reformation Websites: Section 1: Life of Martin Luther 1. Fill out the graphic organizer using http://www. Luther. De/en/Enoch. HTML Life of Martin Luther After vaulting his parents, he was caught In a terrible thunderstorm. During the storm lightning struck near him, and he was thrown to the ground. At this moment he called to Saint Anne, and declared: â€Å"l will become a monk. † Why did he decide to become a Monk? When did he decide to become a Monk? During a terrible storm. When did he become a professor at Wattenberg (Germany) university? 1507 he started professed at 1 512 What did he do as a professor?He came into contact with the ideas of the humanists and embraced their slogan. 2. Answer these questions using the map at http://www. Circular. Net/history/ Marcel/Luther. HTML a. Where did followers of Martin Lather's ideas (Lutheran) live? Germany Denmark Sweden Norway Prussia a. Where did followers of another reformer, John Calvin (Calvinist) live? The city of Genoa Sw itzerland. Scotland, England, France, Italy, Bohemia, Poland, and the Dutch Netherlands. B. Was the majority of Europe Catholic or Protestant during the reformation? Protestants Section 2: Luther†s Beliefs 1.Find out what Martin Luther believed about Faith. Read the passage in the following link and fill out the chart. Http://www. Icicle. Org/pub/resources/text/ Wattenberg/Luther/Luther-faith. Txt What faith IS according to Luther What faith is NOT according to Luther living bold trust in Gods graces confidence and knowledge of goddesses makes you happy freely willingly do good things serve people love and praise god holy spiral Followed by good works or Better life Section 3: Luther Posts his 95 Theses 1. Use the following website to fill in the table below on Lather's 95 Theses. Www. Luther. De/en/nonchalant. HTMLCause Event Effect Why was Luther upset with the church? Http:// The people where no longer coming to hem for their confessions they were going to different towns. What did he do about it? He wrote 95 theses which were use as the basis for discussion on the topic. What was the reaction to the 95 Theses? Some humanists approved of these, but parts of the Roman Church completely rejected them What is an indulgence? They supposedly categorized Luther as a follower of the heretic Jan Hush and threatened to have him burned at the stake. What were the 95 Theses? Used for basic discussion on a topic.Section 4: Effects of the Reformation 1. Complete the following chart using http://www. Luther. De/en/banana. HTML and http:// Cause practically declared a heretic both churches wanted Luther to recant his teachings while he was there Luther is excommunicated (explain what happened) trip to worms Diet of Worms (explain what it was) repentance objective clever thought out Section 5: Printing Press 1. Use the following 3 links to answer the questions about the printing press. Http:// www. Definer. Com/history/inventions/story. HTML http://www. Gutenberg. De /English/refinery. HTML a.What is the printing press? Was screw press specially designed to achieve an effective an even transfer b. Who invented the printing press? Genius of Guttenberg c. How does it work? Pressing the letters down to then produce ink on paper d. How did the printing press help Martin Luther? It allowed them to write in a more advanced easier way Section 6: Changing Europe 1. Use the map found at the following link and what you have learned so far to answer the questions below: http://chlorofluorocarbon. Wiseacres. Com/Everything *Europe a. How would a map of the year 1400 be different? (Hint: think religions†¦ T would show where religions migrated or lived Catholic? Because of where their priest where located and what they were taught in that area c. What impact did Luther have on this map? With where religions lived a. What impact did the printing press have on this map? It allowed them to write clearly and readable to all. Section 7: Evaluation Task: You a re going to become a reporter during the early 1 ass's. You will be creating a newspaper article based on an event, the key figures, or problem. 1. You are to write an article on one of the topics listed below: a. Complaints with the Church .Key figures: Calvin, Woozily, Erasmus c. Martin Luther and his 95 Theses d. Compare and contrast common beliefs of the Catholic and Protestant Church (language, ultimate authority & salvation) 2. Research and answer the following questions using the suggested websites in #3. A. Why were people dissatisfied with the Catholic Church in the asses? B. What were Lather's criticisms of the Church? C. How did the printing press affect Reformation ideas? A. Why did Luther want the Bible translated from Latin into German and other languages? B. How did the Church respond to Lather's 95 Theses? C.How did the ideas of John Calvin, John Woozily, and Desires Erasmus influence the Reformation? D. How was Europe affected by the events following Lather's excomm unication? How did the map of Europe change? 2. Suggest website resources: John Woozily http://www. BBC. Co. UK/history John Calvin http://www. Unwanted. Org http://www. Excel. Org http://www. Immersed. Com http://www. Was. Du Desires Erasmus http://www. Gospel. Net http://en. Wisped. Org http://www. Studiously. Com/ Martin Luther http://www. PBS. Org http://www. U-s-history. Com Spreading of Lather's Ideas Church Dissatisfaction Lather's Criticism http://www. Calgary. Ca Reformation http://www. Encouragement. Org http://www. Wisped. Org * 95 theses 95 theses was written by Martin Luther this year 1 517 and is the catalyst for the protestant reformation. It was the sales of indulgence, it centers on the practices within the catholic church regarding baptism and absolution. It views upon how to repent and how to be less sinful. These should be strictly followed by anyone in the church. There are times where you are allowed to relieve your pain or frustration in purgatory. He is focus ing on catholic churches. Please be aware of the new movement.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Foreign Bodies

When All is Lost, Faith Remains Many people find themselves in a constant struggle of faith. These individuals are often questioning if there is a God, and if there is how does one know. In Hwee Hwee Tan’s novel, Foreign Bodies, there is a struggle of faith in each of the four main characters. Mei and Andy are two of these characters that are able to come to faith in the Christian God after life altering experiences. These experiences have caused each of them to analyze and attack life in different ways.Each of these individuals have been able to overcome a treacherous past, and find faith, hope, desire and justice in their futures through Tan’s novel. Mei’s religious views are consistent throughout the novel, Foreign Bodies. Though she was born into a Confucianism based family, Mei chose at a young age to throw her traditional Singaporean beliefs to the side, and walk in the light of God, with her Uncle Cheong’s guidance, through faith in Christianity. It was a brutal shock to Mei’s grandfather when he finds out she no longer believes in her family’s faith.This conversation arises as Mei’s grandfather is telling her how to reduce her time in hell. â€Å"After I die, you going to feed me or not? † Gong Gong is shocked when Mei replies that she will be unable to. He immediately responds by asking who is responsible for the change in Mei’s beliefs. He is not surprised when she responds with Uncle Cheong. As a child everyone has a hero they look up to. Uncle Cheong is Mei’s hero. â€Å"In my eyes Uncle Cheong could do no wrong. Even his farts smelled like Aramis No. 7.With the heart of Mother Teresa and the body of Tom Cruise, Uncle Cheong was my hero†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mei’s adoration allowed herself to be susceptible to Uncle Chong’s stories and views of God. She loved when he would tell her stories about her newfound savior. A key role in the strengthening of Mei’s faith in G od was due to the incident at Red Hill. Mei has oppressed this tragedy in her memory for many years, and only a few people are aware that it took place. As a four year old, Mei’s father took her to Red Hill to run and play with her lantern. It was the time of year when Mid-autumn was celebrated.At Red Hill, Mei’s father raped her. While this was occurring Mei sent multiple prayers up to her God. â€Å"I used all the prayers I knew, all the prayers Uncle Cheong had taught me. † Mei’s connection with God helped her get through her father raping her. She no longer felt the pain after she started to seek God’s help through prayer. Without the help of God, Mei may not have been able to become the person she is today. It is a miracle that Mei was able to recover physically, emotionally, and most important spiritually from this tragedy.One might have suspected that she would have lost all faith in God, for letting her father hurt her the way he did. This incident proves how strong Mei has faith in God. She has accepted that he will always be there for her, to watch and protect over her, even though it may not be immediately. Mei’s ultimate view of evil is seen through her view of evil being extremely prevalent throughout society. She believes that when someone close to her commits an act of wrong, it is her responsibility as a good Christian to fix their mistakes.This was seen in multiple events throughout the novel. Mei, with the push of her father’s will, believed that her mother is not able to take care of her own finances. Mei took on the burden of regulating her mother’s money, and frequently became frustrated and irritated with the way her mother wants to spend her mother. â€Å"My mother was a sucker for sales. She would go for anything which said ‘Offer ends today. ’ She was the type who would mass-buy toothpicks. † This quote displays the burdens Mei takes on with caring for her moth er.Mei is constantly trying to fix her mother’s life and teach her values that Mei finds important. Mei’s views on evil and religion are very different from Andy’s views of God. At the beginning of the novel Andy’s view of evil directly stems from his belief in the absence of God. Andy wishes to find some sort of proof that there is a God and goodness in the world, and he wants to be able to feel and understand God by himself. He denies the presence of this goodness and God in the beginning of Foreign Bodies by placing his desires into football teams. Too mediocre to ever achieve anything great in life by my own merits, I latched my personal identity onto something which could achieve greatness for me: a football club. † When Andy establishes his stance on religion at this point of the novel he is stating that he wants something great, but he is lost as to what this greatness is. Many individuals would seek a religion to fulfill these desires, but A ndy is content with placing his dreams on a football team. Though Andy in the beginning of the novel considers himself a â€Å"lapsed atheist†, he develops and changes throughout to become the person he eventually intended to be.Andy’s conversion to faith in God was originally not self-motivated. Andy seemed to have an eye for Mei, and Mei did not want a relationship with an individual that had spiritual beliefs different from hers, let alone none at all. After they start dating and Andy enters trail Mei accuses him of having no spiritual beliefs at all. â€Å"You faked it all, pretending to have seen Jesus, giving up gambling. You only said that to trick me into going out with you. † Andy gives no response as Mei’s statement is partially true, but Andy always did have hope that there was something more out there.Andy continuously hinted to the reader that he wanted something more to believe in. He may not have had the same extent of belief in God that Me i does, but she had no right to call him out as a complete non-believer. Though Mei’s push for Andy to find a spiritual safe haven was unsuccessful, the trail that Andy was put on gave him the final push to help him find God. Andy had been put on trial in Singapore for gambling on football games. This action had been legal in England where Andy had lived before his move to Singapore.Even though he was innocent of the charges against him, another individual who had hopes of framing a different man set him up. Once the trail began, and all of his friends had left him to face the charges alone, Andy had no other option, but to turn to God. He was an innocent man that stood no chance of winning his court case. Andy knew that he would be spending the next three years in jail, and he needed something to help pull him through when everyone else abandoned him. This abandonment caused Andy to put his trust and faith into he newfound God. â€Å"He slay me, yet I will trust him. This s tatement made by Andy in a letter to Mei proves that he came to God on his own free will without the help of anyone else. The absence of God that Andy once felt in his life has been removed due to his newfound faith. â€Å"I love God not for what He gives, but for who He is. I love him because He is God. I don’t care how much He hurts me, I will still love him, because no matter what I do to Him, He will still adore me. † The words could never be confessed from a straight atheist. Andy has always had hope and desire that there was some form of good out there for him, it just took longer than expected to find it.Though Mei and Andy are both believers in the Christian God, the experiences and challenges they both overcame to come to faith are extremely different, but still have similarities. Both of these individuals are able to forgive. Forgiveness in the Christian church is a huge belief, as God has forgiven each of us as individuals. Without this learned tool of forgi veness Mei would never have been able to forgive her father, and Andy would not have been able to forgive Mei for abandoning him in his time of urgent need.Mei and Andy’s views in God help define who they were as people, and who they aspire to be. God is ever present in both of their lives, giving them hope to take on the challenges that are waiting to cross their paths in the future. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 20. [ 2 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 21. [ 3 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 248. 4 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 149. [ 5 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 124. [ 6 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 222. [ 7 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 45. [ 8 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 277. [ 9 ]. Tan, Hwee Hwee. Foreign Bodies. (New York: Washington Square Books, 1997), 278.