Partnership Working is Easier in Theory than in Practice Research Proposal

Partnership Working is Easier in Theory than in Practice - Research Proposal Example Organizations and practitioners involved in new programs must understand the goals and objectives and information concerning referral processes and qualification criteria. The extent of this understanding is critical to the success of any working partnership. An effective way of nurturing common understanding is to involve all stakeholders in the development of protocols, policies, and procedures that define the partnership (Clarke, 2014:24). Moreover, practitioners, who are not part of the main partnership, must understand the qualification criteria if the partnership is to succeed. The leaders of the partnerships should develop induction and continuous training, which is a constructive way of ensuring the existence of shared goals in the initiative. A history of sound and support joint working is an important element in the success of partnerships. For instance, in the UK, a past history of collaboration between doctors, mental health professionals, and mental health administrators created a new initiative to capitalize on existing informal communication processes and exploit the goodwill that that past experiences had nurtured (Elder, Evans, and Nizette, 2012:19). In many countries, positive strategic cooperation in the past, that may have occurred between various entities (e.g., welfare and private health agencies), have also been identified as supportive of working partnerships. Effective information sharing systems, including shared records and shared or common IT systems are factors that have been identified as enhancing working partnerships by facilitating faster and timelier evaluations of need. Effective communication has also been identified as supportive of priority management (Francis, 2014:12). Many types of research have demonstrated the importance of having enough finances to support working partnerships.  

Globalization as an ingrained culture of capitalism Essay

Globalization as an ingrained culture of capitalism - Essay Example The paper tells that through years globalization has raised doubts in our minds. There has been a constant debate on the pros and cons of globalization. Many have debated this phenomenon is a result of the telecommunication boom leading to turning the world into a global village. With a growing sense of unease among many of us, the current trends in global capitalism and global society are being constantly reviewed and reiterated. It has been argued by many theorists that the characteristic aspect of the globalized economy is the market economy. However, some have maintained that it is not so much market economy but capitalism that characterizes today’s time. Trying to understand the rules that guided capitalism in earlier days will help to understand the new form of capitalism, â€Å"globalization†, today. Eighteenth-century definition of capitalism refers to an economic and social regime in which the benefits and ownership of productive assets were appropriated by the minority to the exclusion of the many. The driving force was money which was used to make more money by any means available to those who already have a great deal. Capitalism has not been concerned with the efficient allocation of resources to meet the needs of common man thus resulting in inequality and deprivation mostly. The ideal of capitalism is a borderless global economy in which money and goods can be moved freely in search of short-term maximum profits without regard to the consequence for people, communities, and nature.  

The challenges of Globalization on Small Medium Enterprises

The challenges of Globalization on Small Medium Enterprises description on project background. In the context of Tanzania, the majority of SMEs fall under the informal sector and engaging up to 4 people, in most cases family members or employing capital amounting up to Tshs.5.0 million / $3,235.83. (Tanzania chamber of commerce industry and Agriculture, 2007). The SMEs cover non-farm economic activities mainly manufacturing, mining, commerce and services. (Tanzania ministry of industry, trade and marketing, 2007). It is easy to establish SMEs all over the world and in Tanzania in particular, since their requirements in terms of capital, technology, management and even utilities are not as demanding as it is the case for large enterprises. These enterprises are also established in rural settings and thus add value to agro products and at the same time facilitate the dispersal of enterprises. About one third of the GDP originates from SME sector. The sector has more than 1.7 Million businesses, engaging about 3 million people, who occupy about 20% of the total labour force. 92% of the annual school leavers (at all levels) in Tanzania are potentially absorbed by the SME sector. There are about 700,000 new entrants in the SME sector every year. (Saiguran, 2007) Therefore it is reflected already that the SME sector plays a crucial role in the economy. Some of the problems faced by SMEs in Tanzania include; SMEs constitute a higher credit risk because they often lack diversification in their sources of income and/or are concentrated relative to large firms, with the possible exception of SMEs oriented to the consumer segment (niche market). They also suffer from significant uncertainty regarding potential tax liabilities. There is no Opaqueness in balance sheets therefore reflecting weak accounting practices and non-transparent information. (Tanzania chamber of commerce industry and Agriculture, 2007). All this results into banks being reluctant to lend them money as a result of low credit worthiness which leaves SMEs with limited access to finance. A report from the (ministry on industry and trade in Tanzania, 2002) reports the following problems; In addition, Business Development Services, namely services related to entrepreneurship, business training, marketing, technology development and information are underdeveloped and not readily available. There is very weak demand for the products produced by SMEs arising from low and dwindling consumer purchasing power as well as competition that arises with similar imported products. Then again, SME operators lack information as well as appreciation for such services and can hardly manage to pay for to pay for the services. As a result, operators of the sector have rather low skills. Also, there is no umbrella connection for SMEs. Simultaneously, the institutions and associations supporting SMEs are weak, fragmented and uncoordinated partly due to lack of clear guidance and policy for the development of the sector. Distortionary regulations affecting SMEs (Unfavorable legal and regulatory framework). Tanzania is listed among the top 10 difficult countries to build a warehouse, it takes 12 procedures to register a property,  ¾ of Tanzanian businesses complain of taxation administration (local and central), and it takes 13 procedures to start a business and 35 days long, at a cost of 161 percent income per capita. These all add up to high compliance costs which tend to reduce the resources needed for investment and high operational costs which results into high competitiveness of local domestic products both in internal and external markets. Another problem is as far as the infrastructure is concerned, the roads are very bad thus affecting transport in a way that it makes it difficult and costly to move goods from one point to another within the country and adds up to costs. The power is also unreliable and unstable and can disrupt deadlines. Communication is undeveloped and costly. It is difficult to obtain network in rural areas thus affecting the business activities of SMEs and also affecting their cost of production. A heavy cost of compliance resulting from their size is also one of the problems faced by SMEs. This is because they have limited resources (in terms of financial means and manpower). Their spending for market research and market entry take a much higher proportion of their total spending. All in all, this project will be analyzing the importance of SMEs in Tanzania and evaluate their contribution to the country. The problems/ challenges in terms of growth, and their characteristics in relation to Globalization including those mentioned above will be analyzed. Various ways in which SMEs can grow to venture into global markets will be sought for their betterment and future enhancement in their businesses. C. Brief description of project objectives. (i.e. scope of proposal, constructs used, limitations and significance) The objective of this project is to investigate the impact of Globalization on SMEs in Tanzania. These impacts can be both positive and negative. It will also evaluate the importance of SMEs in the Tanzanian economy. Secondly, would be to assess the challenges faced by SMEs due to Globalization. Thirdly, a review on existing Government promotion policies and strategies on the Tanzanian SMEs will be prepared. Lastly but not least, is to determine ways in which the SMEs in Tanzania can grow to become global players. As for the limitations; for the questionnaires sent out, the responses may be limited. It would be very difficult to get the respondents to answer to the questionnaires. Another limitation would be in the selection of the sample. The sampling frame is very vast thus making it quite difficult to get the correct respondents for the interviews and questionnaires. As for the sample size which is about 100 people, the limitation is that the cost is relatively high especially when conducting long distance interviews over the phone. Lastly but not least, this research is limited to SMEs in Dar-es-Salaam so it may not be possible to generalize it to the whole of Tanzania. The significance of this project is to look at the challenges of SMEs in Tanzania and use it as a prototype to other African countries. There is very limited research on SMEs in Tanzania and this project will contribute as a research paper. This project will also open the eyes of SMEs to growth and development in relation to Globalization. D. Brief description of the models/theories/concepts that will be used in this proposal. (i.e. consumer behaviourism model, CSF and etc.) In this project some important internationalization models will be used, they include, eclectic paradigm of international production by Professor John H. Dunning, Porters Diamond and the theory of Marginal Industry Dilation by Professor Kiyoshi Kojima. There are three reasons for the use of the eclectic paradigm. Firstly the paradigm is based on the theories about multinational enterprises. Secondly, the model can be used to explain all types of foreign direct investment (FDI). And lastly, and most importantly, the model embraces all the three ways in which a firm can engage in foreign activities, i.e. foreign direct investment, trade, and contractual resource transfers, e.g. licensing, technical assistance or management and franchising agreements. Moreover, the model makes it possible to predict which route will be preferred. (Bulcke, 2003) According to (Porter, 1998) he designed a diamond shaped basis of a framework to illustrate the determinants of national advantage. This diamond illustrates the national playing field that countries establish for their industries. Porters Diamond will be used to demonstrate the factors of competitive advantage for SMEs in Tanzania. The theory of marginal industry dilation is an important foreign direct investment theory to developing countries. Its connotation fits for the true situation of countries middle and small size enterprises. SMEs could use this theory as a direction thus helping them go abroad bravely and develop multinational management. The expansive environment and ardent competition will develop SMEs and prepare them to face the challenge of the economic globalization. (Free papers, 2006) E. Academic research being carried out and other information, techniques being learnt. (i.e. literature what are the names of books you are going to read / data sets you are going to use) The books used will mostly talk about Globalization, the African economy, Internationalization. Journals, articles, and magazines will also be referred to. Some of the references include the following: Articles Bulcke, 2003, Internationalization towards China after its Accession to the WTO, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Departement Oosterse Slavische Studies, viewed on 1st September 2010, available at; http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:8b2CcFrEHjcJ:www.cemcweb.com/publication_doc/Opportunities%2520for%2520SMEs%2520in%2520China%2520-%2520thesis%2520of%2520Mattias%2520Grillet.doc+Internationalization+towards+China+after+its+Accession+to+the+WTO+Are+There+Opportunities+for+European+SMEs%3Fcd=1hl=enct=clnkgl=my Ministry of Industry, trade and marketing, 2007, SME opportunities, viewed on 1st September 2010, available at; http://www.mitm.go.tz/sme.php?cat=15subcat=37 Porter, 1998, Competitive advantage of nations, Free Press, New York, available at; Saiguran, E, 2007, SME development: Tanzania experience, Small Industries development organisation Tanzania, viewed on 4th September 2010, available at; http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:0jN8a7r-DCsJ:www.waitro.org/files/downloads/Proceedings/sme-steap2007/sido-emmanuel.pdf+how+many+smes+are+there+in+the+tanzaniahl=engl=mypid=blsrcid=ADGEESghp7HJMdzm_ULpMCu59dGnkdxqIEsl7lohW3QCim1T-r7i3o9A2e2nZREV-rzeZHiflUEgS0o6BGlaBeKaiIT-znZTgR6c7uJfyL2qfmmhJlvZTePS8gLx6PAc6KWjejorEj9Qsig=AHIEtbRoLuZ9Z25T1nC3r7Y7Rk4pTScmtQ Books Africa Development bank, OECD, 2005, African Economic Outlook, OECD publishing, France, available at; http://books.google.com.my/books?id=vTWgJJJgYswCpg=PT411lpg=PT411dq=SMEs+classification+in+Tanzaniasource=blots=GvWIHnE-1jsig=rJ8zK7Co_wNNSD5lgemJsqiXmNAhl=enei=ek5-TPX3C4LyvQOp262EDgsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=9ved=0CDoQ6AEwCA#v=onepageq=SMEs%20classification%20in%20Tanzaniaf=false Athanassiou, N. D. Nigh, 2002, The Impact of the Top Management Teams International Business Experience on the Firms Internationalization: Social Networks at Work, Management International Review 42:2,pp.157-181. Bjà ¶rkman, I. M. Forsgren (ed.), The Nature of the International Firm: Nordic Contributions to International Business Research, Handelshojskolens Forlag, Copenhagen, s.d.. Bà ¼rgel, O. A. Fier G. Licht G. Murray E. Nerlinger, 1998, The Internationalisation of British and German Start-Up Companies in High-Technology Industries, Discussion Paper No.98-34, Centre for European Economic Research. Creswell, J, W., 2003, Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, 2nd edition, Sage Publications, Inc, United Kingdom Ghosal, V. L. Prakash, 1999, The Differential Impact of Uncertainty on Investment in Small and Large Businesses, HWWA-Diskussionspapier 81, HWWA-Institut fà ¼r Wirtschaftforschung, Hamburg. Johanson, J. Associates, 1994, Internationalization, Relationships and Networks, Studia Oeconomiae Negotiorum 36, Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, Uppsala. Johanson, J. J.-E. Vahlne, 1994, The Internationalization Process of the Firm: A Model of Knowledge Development and Increasing Foreign Market Commitments, Journal of International Business Studies 8 (Spring/Summer 1977), pp.23-32, as publicized in Johanson Associates, , pp.50-61. Johanson, J. J.-E. Vahlne, 1994, The Mechanism of Internationalization, International Marketing Review 7 (1990), pp.11-24, as publicized in Johanson Associates, pp.84-95. Johanson, J. F. Wiedersheim-Paul, 1994, Internationalization of the Firm: Four Swedish Cases, Journal of Management Studies 12 (October 1975), pp.305-322 as publicized in Johanson Associates, , pp.34-49. Pedhazur, E, J., Schmelkin, L, P., 1991, Measurement, Design, and Analysis; an Integrated Approach, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc, Hillsdale, New Jersey Peter, J., , 1990, Internationalization of Small Business in a Microeconomic Perspective, International Small Business Series 4, Institute of Small Business, University of Goettingen. F. Brief description of the materials/methodologies needed by the proposal. (i.e. data collection methods, sampling, sample size and target group etc.) As for the data collection methods, there is a need to gather primary data in order to attain the basic information and get viewpoints, it includes; written and online questionnaires, telephone and online interviews and as for secondary data it will be used to get critical and more in-depth information on research that has already been done, it will mostly be used in the literature review. Here various books, journals, and articles will be used. Academic research will also be conducted and it will include scholarly articles by various universities, students or professors. Descriptive research to describe the characteristics of SMEs will be carried out. The research will seek answers to various questions, such as what are the problems faced by SMEs and what ways can be used to correct them. It is based on previous understanding of the problem. The research will be cross-sectional where by a representative subset is studied, at a defined time. The sampling frame will include the top and middle management of SMEs in Tanzania. The sample size will be about 100 people. The sampling methods used for this research would be probability and non-probability sampling because the research is vast. Under probability sampling; Stratified random method will be used thus selecting SMEs from certain demography in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The simple random sampling will also be used, hence choosing a choice of 100 SMEs from a choice of 500. The names of some of the SMEs include; Tanesco, Alexander Forbes Tanzania Limited, Showerlux Industries, Oryx, Gapco, Copper solution company, Raycom enterprises Ltd, Tanzania cigarette company Ltd, Zain Tanzania Ltd, Precision Air, Celtel Tanzania etc. Under non-probability sampling, snow-ball (referral by primary respondents) and self-selection (invite participation and collect data from those who respond) are methods that will be used. G. Brief description of the evaluation and analysis proposed for this project. (i.e. project deliverables and hypothesis, correlation test etc) This project will be of great use not only to Tanzanian but also to other African countries since it is aimed at finding ways to enhance the development of SMEs in relation to Globalization. Secondly, theories by other SMEs who have succeeded to go Global will be analyzed and will be proposed for application to benefit the SMEs in Tanzania. The expected results for this project include; Firstly; With strengthened SME departments or introduction of the Ministry of small medium enterprises, a lot of time and money will be devoted to the sector thus enhancing the chances of Tanzanian SMEs to become Global players. Secondly; With high brand consciousness, the products of SMEs will be able to stand out in the international markets. Thirdly; With participation in trade exhibitions such as Expolink, India property expo, East Africa International trade exhibition, SMEs can effectively market their products overseas. H. Illustration of how this project will benefit the future employability This thesis will help increase knowledge and understanding on SMEs. It will also help determine what problems are being faced by SMEs in Tanzania and what measurers can be taken to correct them. Lastly but most importantly, this project will help find a match between theory and practice and its application to the real world and will be a basic guide for all SMEs wanting to internationalize towards the economies.

To Forgive or Not to Forgive Essay -- essays papers

To Forgive or Not to Forgive Debt is a substantial problem facing many countries in the world today. Some of the more economically stable countries are able to pay off their debt through strategic budget planning. However, there are many countries that constantly struggle to solve their debt problems. In response of this issue, the IMF and the World Bank have designed a framework to provide special assistance for heavily indebted poor countries that pursue IMF and World Bank supported adjustment and reform programs. This framework has been called the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; it is also known as the HIPC Initiative. In this paper, I will explain the advantages and disadvantages of the HIPC Initiative. My main objective will be to explain why I think it is an appropriate obligation for the IMF and World Bank to make. To do this, I will describe the initiatives of the World Bank and IMF along with the reasons for its creation, its successes and challenges, economic advantages and disadvantages of the debt relief program, and finally some biblical perspective on debt forgiveness. First, it is important to look at what the HIPC Initiative is. The HIPC Initiative is a comprehensive approach to debt reduction for poor countries that requires the participation of all creditors. Its goal is to ensure that no poor country faces a debt burden it cannot manage. Central to the HIPC Initiative is each country’s continued effort toward macroeconomic adjustment and structural and social policy reforms. In addition, the initiative focuses on ensuring additional finance for social sector programs, primarily basic health and education. Following a comprehensive review of the HIPC Initiative, a number of modifications were approved in September 1999 to provide faster, deeper and broader debt relief and strengthen the links between debt relief, poverty reduction and social policies. The Initiative is not a universal remedy. Even if all the external debts of these countries were forgiven, most would still depend on significant levels of concessional external assistance; their receipts of such assistance have been much larger than their debt-service payments for many years. So, why was the HIPC Initiative created? It has been well recognized that the external debt situation for a number of low-income countries, mostly in Africa, has become ex... ...tential to do a lot of good for the economy as a whole. I believe it will help not only developing nations but the developed nations as well. It also has the potential to help reduce poverty in the world as Delechat describes. Also, on a Biblical perspective, I believe it clearly states that we are to forgive the debts of our neighbors. Therefore, this is why I think the HIPC Initiative is an appropriate obligation for the IMF and World Bank to have. Bibliography: Works Cited Cheru, Fantu. (January, 2001). The Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative: a human rights assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). HIPC: well intentioned but flawed? (2001, October 15). Delechat, C. (2001). 100 Percent Debt Cancellation? A Response from the IMF and the World Bank. (2001, October 15). The Holy Bible – New International Version. Exodus 22: 25-27. Deuteronomy 15:1-11. Leviticus 25: 1-43. (2000, October 12). Forgiving Their Debtors. Wall Street Journal, p. A26. (2000, November 29). The Impact of Debt Reduction under the HIPC Initiative on External Debt Service and Social Expenditures. International Monetary Fund. (2001, October 15).

Cell Phones and Teenagers Essay

Driving and talking on a cell phone is a major distraction and possible cause of car crashes. Cell phones and new technology is becoming the cause of more and more deadly crashes, especially when it is a teen driver. There were 3,092 deaths in distraction-related accidents in 2010, but the number is probably higher. Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old. While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10 percent of the time outside the driving lane they’re supposed to be in. About 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year. Each year, 21% of deadly car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 was because they were on their cell phones. This result has been expected to grow 4% every year. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is an organization all over the country and is a recognized group that started out 30 years ago with a mission to prevent drinking while driving. In 1997, they changed their name because they wanted increase their focus into all areas of negative behaviors such as texting while driving, road rage, and teen crashes in general. The National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS) is another countrywide organization that promotes empowerment and leadership for teens to take action and help save lives among their fellow road companions.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Thirteen

Grace let Amelia set the pace, and as soon as they were across the room, Amelia began whispering urgently about the events of the morning, and then about Thomas having needed her assistance, and then something about her mother. Grace just nodded, her eyes constantly darting toward the door. Thomas would be there at any moment, and although she had no idea what she might do to prevent what would surely be a disastrous encounter, she could not possibly think of anything else. Meanwhile, Amelia kept on whispering. Grace had just enough presence of mind to catch the end, when Amelia said: â€Å"†¦I beg of you not to contradict.† â€Å"Of course not,† Grace said quickly, because surely Amelia had made the same request Thomas had minutes earlier. If not, then she had no idea what she was agreeing to when she added, â€Å"You have my word.† At that point, Grace wasn't sure she cared. They continued walking, lapsing into silence as they promenaded past Mr. Audley, who gave them a rather knowing nod and a smile as they went by. â€Å"Miss Eversleigh,† he murmured. â€Å"Lady Amelia.† â€Å"Mr. Audley,† Amelia returned. Grace managed the same, but her voice was unpleasant and croaky. Amelia began whispering again once they were well past Mr. Audley, but just then Grace heard heavy footsteps in the hall. She twisted about to see, but it was only a footman, passing by with a trunk. Grace swallowed. Oh, dear heavens, the dowager was already beginning to pack for their trip to Ireland, and Thomas did not even know of her plans. How could she have forgotten to tell him during their interview? And then she became aware of Amelia, whom she'd somehow managed to forget, even though their arms were linked. â€Å"Sorry,† she said quickly, since she suspected it was her turn to speak. â€Å"Did you say something?† Amelia shook her head and said, â€Å"No.† Grace was fairly certain this was a lie, but she was not inclined to argue. And then†¦more footsteps in the hall. â€Å"Excuse me,† Grace said, unable to bear the suspense for one moment longer. She pulled away and hurried to the open doorway. Several more servants were passing by, all clearly in preparations for the upcoming journey to Ireland. Grace returned to Amelia's side and once again took her arm. â€Å"It wasn't the duke.† â€Å"Is someone going somewhere?† Amelia asked, watching as two footmen passed the doorway, one with a trunk and another with a hatbox. â€Å"No,† Grace said. But she hated lying, and she was terrible at it, so she added, â€Å"Well, I suppose someone might be, but I do not know about it.† Which was also a lie. Wonderful. She looked at Amelia and tried to smile cheerfully. â€Å"Grace,† Amelia said quietly, looking terribly concerned, â€Å"are you all right?† â€Å"Oh, no†¦I mean, yes, I'm quite fine.† She tried for the cheerful smile again, and suspected she did a worse job of it than before. â€Å"Grace,† Amelia whispered, her voice taking on a new and rather unsettlingly sly tone, â€Å"are you in love with Mr. Audley?† â€Å"No!† Oh, good heavens, that was loud. Grace looked over at Mr. Audley. Not that she'd wanted to, but they'd just turned a corner and were facing him again, and she couldn't avoid it. His face was tilted slightly down, but she could see him looking up at her, rather bemused. â€Å"Mr. Audley,† she said, because with him watching her, it seemed she should acknowledge him, even if he was too far away to hear. But then, as soon as she had the opportunity, she turned back to Amelia, furiously whispering, â€Å"I've only just met him. Yesterday. No, the day before.† Oh, she was a ninny. She shook her head and looked firmly in front of her. â€Å"I can't recall.† â€Å"You've been meeting many intriguing gentlemen lately,† Amelia commented. Grace turned to her sharply. â€Å"Whatever can you mean?† â€Å"Mr. Audley†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Amelia teased. â€Å"The Italian highwayman.† â€Å"Amelia!† â€Å"Oh, that's right, you said he was Scottish. Or Irish. You weren't certain.† Amelia's brow scrunched in thought. â€Å"Where is Mr. Audley from? He has a bit of lilt as well.† â€Å"I do not know,† Grace ground out. Where was Thomas? She dreaded his arrival, but the anticipation of it was worse. And then Amelia – good heavens, why? – called out, â€Å"Mr. Audley!† Grace turned and looked at a wall. â€Å"Grace and I were wondering where you are from,† Amelia said. â€Å"Your accent is unfamiliar to me.† â€Å"Ireland, Lady Amelia, a bit north of Dublin.† â€Å"Ireland!† Amelia exclaimed. â€Å"My goodness, you are far afield.† They'd finished circling the room, but Grace remained standing even after Amelia had disengaged herself and sat down. Then Grace moved toward the door as subtly as she was able. â€Å"How are you enjoying Lincolnshire, Mr. Audley?† she heard Amelia ask. â€Å"I find it most surprising.† â€Å"Surprising?† Grace peered out into the hall, still half listening to the conversation behind her. â€Å"My visit here has not been what I expected,† Mr. Audley said, and Grace could well imagine his amused smile as he said that. â€Å"Really?† Amelia responded. â€Å"What did you expect? I assure you, we are quite civilized in this corner of England.† â€Å"Very much so,† he murmured. â€Å"More so than is my preference, as a matter of fact.† â€Å"Why, Mr. Audley,† Amelia responded, â€Å"whatever can that mean?† If he made a reply, Grace did not hear it. Just then she saw Thomas coming down the hall, all tidied up and looking like a duke again. â€Å"Oh,† she said, the word slipping from her lips. â€Å"Excuse me.† She hurried into the hall, waving madly toward Thomas so as not to alert Amelia and Mr. Audley to her distress. â€Å"Grace,† he said, moving forward with great purpose, â€Å"what is the meaning of this? Penrith told me that Amelia was here to see me?† He did not slow as he approached, and Grace realized he meant for her to fall in step beside him. â€Å"Thomas, wait,† she said with hushed urgency, and she grabbed his arm and yanked him to a halt. He turned to her, one of his brows rising into a haughty arch. â€Å"It's Mr. Audley,† she said, pulling him back even farther from the door. â€Å"He is in the drawing room.† Thomas glanced toward the drawing room and then back at Grace, clearly not comprehending. â€Å"With Amelia,† she practically hissed. All traces of his unflappable exterior vanished. â€Å"What the hell?† he cursed. He looked sharply back toward the drawing room, not that he could possibly have seen inside from his vantage point. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"I don't know,† Grace said, her voice snapping with irritation. Why would she know why? â€Å"He was in there when I arrived. Amelia said she saw him walking by the doorway and thought he was you.† His body shuddered. Visibly. â€Å"What did he say?† â€Å"I don't know. I wasn't there. And then I couldn't very well interrogate her in his presence.† â€Å"No, of course not.† Grace waited in silence for him to say more. He was pinching the bridge of his nose, and he looked rather as if his head were aching. Trying to offer some sort of not unpleasant news, she said, â€Å"I'm quite sure that he did not reveal his†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Oh, good heavens. How was she to put it? â€Å"†¦identity to her,† she finished with a wince. Thomas gave her a thoroughly awful look. â€Å"It is not my fault, Thomas,† she retorted. â€Å"I did not say that it was.† His voice was stiff, and he did not offer any more words before stalking off to the drawing room. From the moment Grace rushed from the room, neither Jack nor Lady Amelia had uttered a word. It was as if they had reached an unspoken agreement; silence would prevail while they both tried to make out what was being said in the hall. Jack had always considered himself better than average in the art of eavesdropping, but he was unable to catch even the sound of their whispers. Still, he had a fair idea of what was being said. Grace was warning Wyndham that the evil Mr. Audley had got his claws into the lovely and innocent Lady Amelia. And then Wyndham would curse – under his breath, of course, as he would never be so crass as to do so in front of a lady – and demand to know what had been said. The whole thing would have been highly entertaining if not for her, and the morning. And the kiss. Grace. He wanted her back. He wanted the woman he'd held in his arms, not the one who'd stiffly walked the perimeter of the room with Lady Amelia, eyeing him as if he were going to steal the silver at any moment. He supposed it was amusing. Somehow. And he supposed he ought to congratulate himself. Whatever she felt for him, it was not disinterest. Which would have been the cruelest response of all. But for the first time, he was finding that his conquest of a lady was not a game to be played. He did not care about the thrill of the chase, about remaining one enjoyable and entertaining step ahead, about planning the seduction and then carrying it out with flair and flourish. He simply wanted her. Maybe even forever. He glanced over at Lady Amelia. She was leaning forward, her head tilted ever so slightly to the side, as if to place her ear at the best possible angle. â€Å"You won't be able to hear them,† Jack said. The look she gave him was priceless. And completely false. â€Å"Oh, don't pretend you weren't trying,† he scolded. â€Å"I certainly was.† â€Å"Very well.† Lady Amelia waited for a moment, then asked, â€Å"What do you suppose they are talking about?† Ah, curiosity would always win out with this one. She was more intelligent than she let on at first acquaintance, he decided. He shrugged, feigning ignorance. â€Å"Difficult to say. I would never presume to understand the female mind, or that of our esteemed host.† She turned sharply in surprise. â€Å"You do not like the duke?† â€Å"I did not say that,† Jack replied. But of course they both knew that he had. â€Å"How long do you stay at Belgrave?† she asked. He smiled. â€Å"Eager to be rid of me, Lady Amelia?† â€Å"Of course not. I saw the servants moving trunks about. I thought perhaps they were yours.† He fought to keep his expression even. He did not know why he was surprised that the old biddy had already begun to pack. â€Å"I imagine they belong to the dowager,† he replied. â€Å"Is she going somewhere?† He almost laughed at the hopeful expression on her face. â€Å"Ireland,† he said absently, before it occurred to him that perhaps this woman of all people ought not to be let in on the plans. Or maybe she was the one person who truly ought to be told. She certainly deserved to know. She deserved a sainthood, in his opinion, if indeed she planned to go through with her marriage to Wyndham. He could not imagine anything less pleasant than spending one's life with such an arrogant prig. And then, as if summoned by his thoughts, the arrogant prig appeared. â€Å"Amelia.† Wyndham was standing in the doorway in all his ducal splendor. Save for the lovely eye, Jack thought with some satisfaction. It was even gorier than the evening before. â€Å"Your grace,† she replied. â€Å"How lovely to see you,† Wyndham said once he had joined them. â€Å"I see that you have met our guest.† â€Å"Yes,† Lady Amelia said, â€Å"Mr. Audley is quite diverting.† â€Å"Quite,† Wyndham said. Jack thought he looked as if he had just eaten a radish. Jack had always hated radishes. â€Å"I came to see Grace,† Lady Amelia said. â€Å"Yes, of course,† Wyndham replied. â€Å"Alas,† Jack put in, enjoying the awkwardness of the exchange, â€Å"I found her first.† Wyndham's response was pure icy disdain. Jack smiled in return, convinced that would irritate him far more than anything he could have said. â€Å"I found him, actually,† Lady Amelia said. â€Å"I saw him in the hall. I thought he was you.† â€Å"Astounding, isn't it?† Jack murmured. He turned to Lady Amelia. â€Å"We are nothing alike.† â€Å"No,† Wyndham said sharply, â€Å"we are not.† â€Å"What do you think, Miss Eversleigh?† Jack asked, rising to his feet. It seemed he was the only one who had noticed that she had entered the room. â€Å"Do the duke and I share any traits?† Grace's lips parted for a full second before she spoke. â€Å"I'm afraid I do not know you well enough to be an accurate judge.† â€Å"Well said, Miss Eversleigh,† he replied, offering her a nod of compliment. â€Å"May I infer, then, that you know the duke quite well?† â€Å"I have worked for his grandmother for five years. During that time I have been fortunate enough to learn something of his character.† â€Å"Lady Amelia,† Wyndham said, clearly eager to cut short the conversation, â€Å"may I escort you home?† â€Å"Of course,† she said. â€Å"So soon?† Jack murmured, just to make trouble. â€Å"My family will be expecting me,† Lady Amelia said, even though she had not made any indication of this before Wyndham had offered to remove her. â€Å"We will leave right now, then,† Wyndham said. His fiancee took his arm and stood. â€Å"Er, your grace!† Jack turned immediately at the sound of Grace's voice. â€Å"If I might have a word with you,† she said from her position near the door, â€Å"before you, er, depart. Please.† Wyndham excused himself and followed her into the hall. They were still visible from the drawing room, although it was difficult – indeed impossible – to glean their conversation. â€Å"Whatever can they be discussing?† Jack said to Lady Amelia. â€Å"I am sure I have no idea,† she bit off. â€Å"Nor I,† he said, keeping his voice light and breezy. Just for contrast. Life was infinitely more entertaining that way. And then they heard: â€Å"Ireland!† That was Wyndham, and rather loud, too. Jack leaned forward to get a better view, but the duke took Grace's arm and steered her out of sight. And earshot. â€Å"We have our answer,† Jack murmured. â€Å"He can't be upset that his grandmother is leaving the country,† Lady Amelia said. â€Å"I would think he'd be planning a celebration.† â€Å"I rather think Miss Eversleigh has informed him that his grandmother intends that he accompany her.† â€Å"To Ireland?† Amelia shook her head. â€Å"Oh, you must be mistaken.† He shrugged, feigning indifference. â€Å"Perhaps. I am but a newcomer here.† And then she launched into quite the most ambitious speech: â€Å"Aside from the fact that I cannot imagine why the dowager would wish to go to Ireland – not that I wouldn't like to see your beautiful country, but it does not seem in character for the dowager, whom I have heard speak disparagingly of Northumberland, the Lake District, and indeed all of Scotland†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused, presumably to breathe. â€Å"Ireland seems a bit of a stretch for her.† He nodded, since it seemed expected. â€Å"But really, it makes no sense that she would wish for his grace to accompany her. They do not care for each other's company.† â€Å"How politely said, Lady Amelia,† Jack commented. â€Å"Does anyone care for their company?† Her eyes widened in shock, and it occurred to him that perhaps he should have limited his insult to the dowager alone, but just then Wyndham strode back into the room, looking angry and arrogant. And almost certainly worthy of whatever sort of insult Jack might give to him. â€Å"Amelia,† he said with brisk indifference, â€Å"I am afraid I will not be able to see you home. I do apologize.† â€Å"Of course,† she said, as if she could possibly say anything else. â€Å"I shall make every arrangement for your comfort. Perhaps you would like to select a book from the library?† â€Å"Can you read in a coach?† Jack queried. â€Å"Can you not?† she returned. â€Å"I can,† he replied with great flair. â€Å"I can do almost anything in a coach. Or with a coach,† he added, with a smile toward Grace, who stood in the doorway. Wyndham glared at him and grabbed his fiancee's arm, hauling her rather unceremoniously to her feet. â€Å"It was lovely meeting you, Mr. Audley,† Lady Amelia said. â€Å"Yes,† he said lightly, â€Å"it does seem that you are leaving.† â€Å"Amelia,† the duke said, his voice even more abrupt than before. He led her from the room. Jack followed them to the doorway, looking for Grace, but she had disappeared. Ah well, perhaps that was for the best. He glanced toward the window. The skies had darkened, and it appeared that rain would be imminent. Time for that walk, he decided. The rain would be cold. And wet. And precisely what he needed.

Guide to Writing Argumentative Essays in Literature Find the Necessary Words!

Guide to Writing Argumentative Essays in Literature Find the Necessary Words! What is an Argumentative Essay Any argumentative essay aims at presenting and persuading the readers regarding some point of view. However, in order to meet this goal, the writer, first of all, has to make a claim that would be the main argument of his or her future essay. Another important thing worth mentioning here is evidence and proofs that are used to support the claim and illustrate it. When it comes to literature, one should remember that there can be many different opinions on the same literary work, character, and even the author’s writing style. One of the most significant things about writing argumentative essays in literature is being familiar with the original text. That is, arguing for or against something is rather challenging without knowing the plot, storyline, and little details is undeniable. Topics for Argumentative Essays in Literature While talking about choosing the topics for your future argumentative essay in literature, it is necessary to mention that they can deal with literally anything beginning from the use of literary devices and ending up with the writer’s realistic representation of social issues of the period. When thinking about the arguments, you should also analyze the relevancy and originality of your theme. For instance, during the past few years, more and more students tend to choose topics related to feminism or discrimination as these issues are widely discussed in modern society. Undoubtedly, these themes are essential, but if some of your classmates choose similar problems for writing an argumentative essay, your writing risks to be undervalued. Another example of not-that-successful ideas for your work includes using widely known literary works and issues. That is, it is a bad idea to talk about religion and Harry Potter books because much has been already said on this issue. On the contrary, you should think about some aspects of the writer’s style or the literary work that would be interesting to you. It can be both the daily life of the described people or community and analysis of Biblical allusions in a particular work. Another hint would be using modern literary works for writing an argumentative essay because you can come up with fresh ideas. Using Shakespearean play â€Å"Othello,† for instance, may be a mistake because there are almost no chances that you will discuss something new about this text. The following list of possible themes for writing an argumentative essay in literature will show you how to choose an idea for your future work: The ‘Twilight Saga’ by Stephanie Mayer as a Realistic Portrayal of Modern Indian Reservations in North Western US; Social Issues of 19th – Century England in Charles Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’; Humor as a Tool in the Fight Against Evil in Joanne Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of Azkaban’; Flowers as Symbols of Love and Innocence in Shakespearean Sonnets; End of Patriarchy and Rise of Feminism in Henrik Ibsen’s Play ‘Dollhouse’. Pre-writing Tips As it was already mentioned, before writing an argumentative essay in literature, you have to be familiar with the very literary work. Plot twists, dialogues, and even long character descriptions are all worth considering when one has to come up with an interesting argument. In addition, it is impossible to support this argument without detailed knowledge of the text. What is more, one should remember about cultural, political, social, economic, and even historical backgrounds of both the author and his or her work. That is, one should always consider these factors because, sometimes, it is difficult to understand the writer’s initial message and point of view without knowing his or her biography. It is a wide-known fact that in many cases, writers rely on their life events while writing and describing particular events and characters. For example, Charles Dickens is widely known for a detailed and realistic portrayal of the social life of the 19th – century England. Be ginning from various dishes and ending up with living conditions, this writer talks about different social classes in his numerous works. Another tip before writing an argumentative essay in literature is getting familiar with criticism about an author and a literary work. On the one hand, it is possible that critics’ opinions may influence and even distort your personal point of view. On the other hand, it is better also to analyze different sides of the argument to provide the necessary evidence and proofs. Thus, another recommendation to write an effective argumentative essay in literature would be to write down all the arguments and counterarguments. In such a way, you will be ready to refute any counterargument. Moreover, it is a great idea to include a couple of counterarguments and their rebuttals in your essay, so the readers can be sure that you have taken different opinions into account. Finally, you should look up all the necessary quotes to be used in your argumentative essay and connect them with your argument. As a result, you will already have a brief roadmap of your future essay with the most imp ortant points. Do not forget that it is beneficial to support every part of your argument with a direct quotation from the original text, so the readers see how you connect the ideas. Furthermore, such a structure will make your essay logical and coherent. Structure of Your Argumentative Essay Many students face difficulties when structuring their argumentative essays. Nevertheless, the key to success here is to follow the basic essay structure that includes such components as the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, one should not forget about such elements of any argumentative essay as an effective title and thesis statement. Even though the majority of students prefer short and understandable titles consisting of approximately five words, this is not the case with argumentative essays. Indeed, you should clearly state the argument in the title of your essay to show the readers what this work will be about. Sometimes, the title of an argumentative essay may even take two lines, especially if you are writing about literary work because you have to include both the name of the writer and the work itself. Here is a fine example of an effective title: ‘Mary Wollstonecraft’s ‘A Vindication of The Right of a Woman’ as first feminist manifesto.’ Outline The first paragraph of any essay is the introductory one. Nevertheless, many students are confused about what to include in this paragraph because it has to prepare the readers for the body paragraphs of the essay. When you are writing an argumentative essay in literature, it is clear that in the introductory paragraph, you have to mention the background of the literary work you will be discussing. It includes not only the name of the author and the very work but also short coverage of the main points of the text. In addition, you can also mention the writer’s biography and even peculiarities of his or her writing style. The last sentence of the introductory paragraph is your thesis. It states the main idea of the whole essay and should be precise and clear. Depending on the essay, you can use the next sentence templates to create your thesis: ‘In his literary work â€Å"Oliver Twist†, Charles Dickens argues that †¦ ’ ‘Therefore, on the examples of sonnet 67 and sonnet 78, it is evident that William Shakespeare uses flowers as symbols of love and innocence’. The next paragraphs are called the body paragraphs and contain the most important part of the whole essay. In this part, you will be presenting and supporting your argument. Each body paragraph talks about one idea relevant to your argument. Without a doubt, the number of such body paragraphs varies depending on the length of the essay. However, you should remember that you can only talk about one idea in one paragraph. Consequently, for the readers, it will be much easier to follow your ideas. As it was already mentioned in the previous paragraphs, it is also recommended to introduce at least one counterargument and its rebuttal. As a rule, the counterarguments are discussed in the last paragraphs of the essay. If you lack space for a lengthy analysis of counterargument, you may join it with its rebuttal in one paragraph. Every body paragraph begins with a topic sentence, which, in other words, contains the main idea of the whole paragraph. Another hint for writing successful body paragraphs is including direct citations. Considering the fact that you are analyzing a literary work, quotes are especially important to support your argument. They do not only show that you are familiar with the original text but also demonstrate your profound understanding of author’s writing style and the hidden message. In addition, by using direct citations, you are proving that you understand all the literary theories and can find a variety of literary devices if it is required by the topic of your essay. However, the trick here lays in effective presentation of a quote. That is, in one sentence, you prepare the background for the upcoming direct citation. In the next sentence, you provide the very quote. Then, you discuss how this direct citation is relevant to the main idea of the paragraph and your argument. Subsequently, the readers will understand why you have used this particular quote in a particular paragraph. Finally, the last paragraph of your argumentative essay is the conclusion. The first sentence of your conclusion has to coincide with your thesis statement. That is, you highlight your argument using different words. In the next sentences, you have to mention the main ideas of every body paragraph briefly. As a result, you will have a chance to summarize the whole essay and remind the readers about its main point. In the last sentences, you may suggest some implications for future research or analysis that has to do with your work. Post-writing Tips (Editing/Proofreading, Referencing, etc.) Once your essay is ready, apply some post-writing techniques, which are also significant for receiving a high grade. That is, I am talking about editing and proofreading. Even though these two processes seem to be rather similar, in fact, they are entirely different and require many efforts and patience. Editing is the first thing that you should do after you have finished working on your argumentative essay. However, it is more beneficial to spend at least one day not working on your essay before starting editing. As a result, your mind will be clear, and you will be able to identify all the mistakes and even logical fallacies. To be more precise, the process of editing is making all the necessary changes to enhance the quality of your writing as a whole. As a student, you may double check the guidelines to your argumentative essay (if any) and make sure that you have met all the requirements. What is more, you can also check the word count, structure, and organization of your essay . Eventually, you will polish your essay, so that it will look perfect and devoid of serious mistakes. Proofreading is similar to editing but focuses mostly on grammar and language use. That is, when proofreading, you are only looking for grammar errors rather than to organizational and logical mistakes. As well as with editing, it is recommended to spend some time away from your argumentative essay, so that you can notice all the mistakes during proofreading. Last but not least, referencing is also a significant part of the post-writing process, even though it has nothing to do with the main text of your argumentative essay. As well as choosing reliable scholarly sources before starting your essay, providing correct references to these sources is also a factor that will impact your grade. Referencing is a quite tricky thing because even missing one dot or slash is already a mistake. Fortunately, nowadays, there are many online services, where you can double check both your references and even in-text citations. Among them are: CiteThisForMe.com, BibMe.org, and CitationMachine.net. Thus, writing an argumentative essay in literature is not that difficult but definitely requires patience, persistence, and even creativity. However, if you do all the necessary steps throughout the whole process of writing, your work will receive the highest mark. References â€Å"Editing vs Proofreading.† The Expert Editor, experteditor.com.au/editing-vs-proofreading/. Johnston, Ian. â€Å"10.0 WRITING ARGUMENTS ABOUT LITERARY WORKS.† Essays and Arguments, Section 10: Writing about Literary Works, May 2000, records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/arguments/argument10.htm. Kearney, Virginia. â€Å"How to Write an Argumentative Essay Step by Step.† Owlcation, 10 Apr. 2019, owlcation.com/academia/How-to- Write-an-Argument-Essay. Lewsen, Simon. â€Å"Writing about Literature.† Writing Advice, advice.writing.utoronto.ca/types-of-writing/literature/. Purdue Writing Lab. â€Å"Argumentative Essays // Purdue Writing Lab.† Purdue Writing Lab, owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html