Friday, January 31, 2020

The novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Essay Example for Free

The novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Essay Dan Brown prepares the reader for the rest of the novel, The Da Vinci Code with a puzzling yet interesting prologue. The Da Vinci Code is the fourth novel by Dan Brown, a famous author who released his first novel Digital Fortress in 1998. I chose to read The Da Vinci Code because it has received excellent reviews and it explains philosophical concepts from the time of Jesus Christ. I was drawn to The Da Vinci Code as a film was released in 2006 and the first two novels had been excellent. I was attracted to the novel because the title gives a spooky and suspicious sense of atmosphere. The series is based in the modern world and the novels are based on code- breaking skills giving them a thriller nature. In this essay, I am going to be explaining anything confusing or puzzling that crop up in the prologue and how this may affect the readers sense of curiosity. Unlike the other novels, The Da Vinci Code begins with an action scene, leaving the reader curious. The title The Da Vinci Code indicates another code- breaking plot however it leaves readers wondering, what code is to be solved? The word code is quite vague and could imply there is a secret waiting to be unleashed. Dan Brown added the phrase The Da Vinci before code. Da Vinci is short for Leonardo da Vinci, a great painter, inventor and writer. A reader will be aware of this because Da Vinci is famous. Even though Da Vinci was regarded as a skilled engineer, none of his works linked to puzzles and codes. The title therefore leaves the reader in a puzzling state of confusion and the front cover shows a small portion of The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, confirming that Da Vinci is linked to the novel. Dan Brown has cleverly constructed the title and cover, leaving readers debating over the plot, causing them to feel curious, drawing readers in to read the book. The first sentence appeals to our sense of sight and causes readers to feel curious. The sentence reads: Renowned curator Jacques Sauniere staggered through the vaulted archway of the museums Grand Gallery. The sentence introduces a character, Curator Jacques Sauniere and this causes the reader to question, who is Jacques Sauniere? Why is he the curator of the museum and how is he famous? The second part of the sentence involves the curator staggering through a vaulted archway. This implies many possibilities: The curator could have simply tripped or he might have even been chased. This leaves readers in suspense because they would want to know who is chasing the curator and why. The word staggered stresses a sense of trouble. This is quite powerful because it is immediate and causes the reader to feel startled. The sentence as a whole allows readers to visualise the setting and confirms that the curator is in a museum; however the gallery of the museum was described as grand, indicating that the museum is well known, making readers wonder if there is trouble in the building. And if so, why have security guards not arrived at the scene. Being a prologue, Dan Brown does not introduce many of the main characters until the 1st chapter, however two characters are introduced. Brown introduces the Museums curator Jacques Sauniere. He is depicted to be famous, because he was described as renowned and readers visualise Sauniere to be weak and helpless as he found it extremely difficult to heave a masterpiece. However, we assume Sauniere is part of a hidden organization, possessing a truth: If I die, the truth will be lost for ever. The quote evokes readers sense of curiosity, therefore causing them to wonder: Who is Sauniere? The second character, Albino, is after the curator and eventually captures him. He was broad and tall, with ghost- pale skin and thinning white hair. His irises were pink with dark red pupils, Albino is pictured as a dark, suspicious character causing readers to be inquisitive. Readers feel sorry for the curator when he is shot by Albino for lying about not knowing the secret. Albino leaves quickly, illustrating that he will return in the novel. Brown was correct in leaving out the many of the main characters because the prologue was there to leave readers in suspense and to create background information for the novel, preparing the reader. Dan Brown allows the reader to know that the book belongs to the thriller genre: As he had anticipated, a thundering iron gate fell nearby, barricading the entrance to the suite. The parquet floor shook. Far off, an alarm began to ring. The sentence uses a number of powerful words, attracting the reader. Thundering Iron Gate fell nearby allow readers to visualise a gigantic, grand security system. From the phrase, you want to know why the Iron Gate fell and so this starts to quiz readers. Barricading stresses a sense of foreboding because readers dont understand why the curator would want to lock himself in a museum, leaving readers in suspense as they wonder if there is a purpose behind his action, contributing to the hunch that he could be in danger. Far off, an alarm began to ring give readers the impression that there is a robbery occurring although the assumption is not true. Other ways in which the author allows the reader to identify that the book belongs to the thriller genre is using words such as thundering, roared and wincing. These words all suggest a thriller due to the fact that it allows readers to visualise the scene, appealing to their sense of sight. The Gun roared is portrays a murder scene confirming the genre however, readers develop an idea that a mystery is being conjured. In the prologue, we are told of a mysterious character however the description is quite vague adding to the mystery. All of the quotes and words above allow readers to know the genre of the book, preparing them for the rest of the novel. Throughout the prologue, readers will feel confused. Immediately introducing the curator, Jacques Sauniere, the prologue bemuses readers, causing them to wonder and question. However, Brown introduces Sauniere describing him as renowned. The word is powerful in many contexts: It allows readers to know that he is famous but more importantly, it makes them feel that they already know the curator, allowing questions to leave readers minds. Albino, the ghostly figure in the prologue causes reader to be curious because they do not know who he is and why he is after the curator. This is considered effective because it creates suspense for readers. Albino mentions something: Now tell me where it is. The phrase causes reader to guess what this particular item is, perplexing readers as well as leaving them in suspense. Calling the item it gives it importance and classifies that the thing is special. Towards the end of the prologue, we are told that the item is actually a secret, intriguing readers, as they want to know what the secret holds. Although there are many other phrases and sentences that leave you anxious, you are still given a complete plot of the prologue because the setting is well-described. The author did this intently because it triggers readers imagination. Confusion is effective in the introduction because the author has time to pick up on topics which are necessary at a particular point and then build up on them when they are needed later, creating suspense, preparing readers for the rest of the novel. The Last two sentences of the prologue are very powerful, concluding the prologue efficiently: Wincing in pain, he summoned all of his faculties and strength. The desperate task before him, he knew, would require every remaining second of his life. Wincing, faculties and desperate are all effective words used in the last two lines and they are excellent at describing the curator, giving readers a visual image of him. Wincing justifies that the curator is extremely weak and adding in pain emphasises the fact that he is going to die. We are told that he has a task to do before he dies, however we do not know what it is, adding to the suspense. Readers are drawn to the ending phrase, every remaining second of his life because it denotes that the task is significant for the events in the novel. You feel sorry for the curator because he is innocent and didnt deserve to be shot whereas you feel vengeful towards Albino. The sentence ends abrupt, asking readers many questions. They want to know: Is Sauniere dead? What is the desperate task he wanted to complete and what has happened to Albino? A cliff-hanger is formed by ending abruptly, evoking readers sense of curiosity. Therefore, the last two sentences of the prologue are successful at preparing the reader for the rest of the novel. The introduction to The Da Vinci Code is brilliant for preparing the reader for the rest of the novel by setting a good theme. The introduction leaves you in suspense, generating an urge for you to read on. All aspects of the prologue contribute to its excellence. The prologue is kept as simplistic as possible, providing background knowledge for readers. I have deeply enjoyed the book so far and I can say that readers will continue to feel a sense of thrill as they progress through the novel.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Demise of the Great Democracy Essays -- Education

Demise of the Great Democracy From the Declaration of Independence, where America’s forefathers had bounties on their lives; to the fight for integration in 1960- America strives to create equal opportunities within its boundaries. â€Å"Land of the Free† and â€Å"Land of Opportunity,† rightfully earned names America hold. Keeping the opportunities rolling, the G.I. Bill allowed war veterans to attend college at an affordable rate, giving every person a chance to attain their full potential, no matter their situation. Unfortunately, an educational gap still continued to stabilize, sending America into the hands of literate voters and a questionable future. The current solution to this gap, called the No Child Left Behind Act, (NCLB), insists that schools use standardized tests to show improvement in students each year. These tests attempt to stitch-up the educational gap but fails overall because it pushes the best and the brightest students down to an average level of a nation ranked numbe r forty-two in literacy in the world, (Mundi Index). While the No Child Left Behind Act delivers more accountability on education systems, and has a great intention of improving students to a proficient level, it also causes a detrimental, disadvantageous, and stunting growth of our democratic nation. Revised as The No Child left Behind Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, presented in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s â€Å"War on Poverty,† aimed to reduce the nation’s high poverty rate during 1965, (US Government). Closing the achievement gaps between the economical classes of America’s by providing equal opportunity provided the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s (ESEA) goal. President Johnson only authorized this act until 1970,... ...p://www.nagc.org/index2.aspx?id=548>. "No Child Left Behind Act." New York Times. 9 2 2012: n. page. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. . Phelps, Richard P. Defending Standardized Testing. Introduction. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 2005. Pollard, Jonathan. StandardizedTesting.net. 2002. January 2012 . US Government. U.S. Department of Education. 6 12 2010. January 2012 . US Legal. USlegal.com. n.d. February 2012 . White, Deborah. "Pros & Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act." US Liberal Politics . New York Times Company, n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2012. . Demise of the Great Democracy Essays -- Education Demise of the Great Democracy From the Declaration of Independence, where America’s forefathers had bounties on their lives; to the fight for integration in 1960- America strives to create equal opportunities within its boundaries. â€Å"Land of the Free† and â€Å"Land of Opportunity,† rightfully earned names America hold. Keeping the opportunities rolling, the G.I. Bill allowed war veterans to attend college at an affordable rate, giving every person a chance to attain their full potential, no matter their situation. Unfortunately, an educational gap still continued to stabilize, sending America into the hands of literate voters and a questionable future. The current solution to this gap, called the No Child Left Behind Act, (NCLB), insists that schools use standardized tests to show improvement in students each year. These tests attempt to stitch-up the educational gap but fails overall because it pushes the best and the brightest students down to an average level of a nation ranked numbe r forty-two in literacy in the world, (Mundi Index). While the No Child Left Behind Act delivers more accountability on education systems, and has a great intention of improving students to a proficient level, it also causes a detrimental, disadvantageous, and stunting growth of our democratic nation. Revised as The No Child left Behind Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, presented in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s â€Å"War on Poverty,† aimed to reduce the nation’s high poverty rate during 1965, (US Government). Closing the achievement gaps between the economical classes of America’s by providing equal opportunity provided the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s (ESEA) goal. President Johnson only authorized this act until 1970,... ...p://www.nagc.org/index2.aspx?id=548>. "No Child Left Behind Act." New York Times. 9 2 2012: n. page. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. . Phelps, Richard P. Defending Standardized Testing. Introduction. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 2005. Pollard, Jonathan. StandardizedTesting.net. 2002. January 2012 . US Government. U.S. Department of Education. 6 12 2010. January 2012 . US Legal. USlegal.com. n.d. February 2012 . White, Deborah. "Pros & Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act." US Liberal Politics . New York Times Company, n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2012. .

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Porter 5 forces on Tourism industry and explanation Essay

The UK Inbound Tourism IndustryIntroduction:Tourism is seventh of the largest industries in the UK, worth  £74 billion to the UK economy. There are currently 2.1 million jobs in the industry. Within the inbound Tourism to the UK, 30 million overseas visitors who came in 2005 spent  £14 billion on holidays 2005 was a record year for UK inbound tourism both in terms of volume and value. The UK ranks fifth in when compared international tourism earnings league behind the USA, Spain, France and Italy. Within UK home Tourism, UK residents in 2005 took 59.3 million holidays of one night or more spending  £11.5 billion. They even took 22.5 million overnight business trips spending  £5.3 billion and  £52.7 million overnight trips to friends, family& relatives spending  £5.4 billion (Mintel 2008)(Visit Britain, ). Porters Five Forces:Fig 1:Threat of New EntrantsThreat of new entrants into the tourism industry is very high; there were a handful of low-priced carriers in the UK, flying mostly to holiday destinations. The market valuation of Ryan air become more than that of British Airways. Since then, there are many more new entrants in the low-cost carrier sector, posing major threats to the front runners, Ryan air and Easy Jet. A shake-out of the low-cost segment is taking place. The share price of Ryan air has begun to decline because of the threat of new entrants (Beech and Chadwick, 2006). Factor 1 – Economies of ScaleNew entrants have to match existing providers to be able to survive and grow. One appeal for new airline entrants is the forecast increases in UK air travel from 200 million at present to 500 million journeys in 2030. The World Tourism Organisation estimates the doubling of air journeys over the same time period. Matching the cost base of existing new careers, new entrants could control a share of the air journeys. Within this long-term trend, there are likely to be reductions caused by events of and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This can lead to consolidation through takeovers, as this happened through the merger of Klm and Air France, TUI taking over Thomson and Thomas Cook merging with German-based tour operators. These have led to companies with a global presence in the tourism market (Beech and Chadwick, 2006). Factor 2 – Product DifferentiationA new entrant has to have a unique selling point to attract customers. In tourism, there is a major tendency among tourists to be tempted by special offers in the form of discounts, add-ons and novelty value. Tourists have changed destinations, or choose different offerings in the same destination, depending on what was on offer and at what price and quality, or have moved from high-cost to low-cost carriers for their travel. There are companies that look to develop a unique product and branding, such as Thomas Cook (offering Club 18-30) and Saga (providing holidays and other products for the 50+ age group), and ecotourist holidays by TUI (Beech and Chadwick, 2006). Factor 3 – Switching CostsThese are one-time for the customer in switching from one supplier to another. In booking a holiday, travel agents shops tend to be in close immediacy to one another, and can be accessed by the internet and the telephone. Customers are used to shopping around and especially, in a culture driven by bargain hunting. Selecting which country to visit is influenced by whether it offers value for money (Beech and Chadwick, 2006). Factor 4 Capital Investment and Working CapitalThis can be a considerable entry barrier. For example, Iberostar are expanding by creating resorts in Croatia and the Caribbean. These require large capital investment and operating costs and a long-term commitment, which is predicted on an assessment of economic and political stability in these destinations. Existing resorts will need renewed investment to preserve their competitiveness (Beech and Chadwick, 2006). Factor 5 – Access to Distribution ChannelsConsolidation in the holiday market means that organisations such as Thomas Cook and TUI have considerable vertical integration involving hotels, airlines and travel agents and by market development have expanded their distribution channels. Independents have to develop their own networks. However, telesales and internet intermediaries have created new opportunities for new entrants to sell their services (Beech and Chadwick, 2006). Factor 6 – Government Policy and Regulation:Laws passed by governments can act as an individual to new entrants. Some governments require investment to be linked to a local partner. The Maastricht Treaty of 1991 freed up the free movement of capital from one member state to another within the European Union. In the Mallorcan resort of Palma Nova/Magaluf, the local organisation of tourism businesses is lobbying municipal and regional government not to allow the development of all inclusive resorts because their members will lose sales to these tourists (Beech and Chadwick, 2006). Threat of SubstitutesThe threat of substitutes is low for the tourism industry. British people took their holidays in UK resorts before the 1960s. However, since the late 1950s, the development of jet travel has opened up travel to European destinations that leads to the decline of UK resorts. However, there has been the potential to develop sales to UK destinations. Power of CustomersThe power of customers is high, because they can have a huge power and influence profitability. Tour operators such as Thomas Cook and TUI purchase large volumes of hotel accommodation at the lowest prices. A common complaint by hoteliers is that if they do not comply, tour operators take their custom elsewhere. Tour operators identify a new destination with low start-up costs, and compete with existing destinations, which are then forced to lower their prices. Holiday-makers make choices based on quality at the lowest price and choose destinations different from the previous year . Power of SuppliersPower of suppliers is low. When suppliers have bargaining power, they can vary prices and quality of their services. In tourism, suppliers include raw materials, equipment, financial services and sources of labour. Tour operators have been evading travel agents by selling direct to holiday-makers through telesales and the internet . Intensity of Competition RivalryIntensity of competitive rivalry is very high, because organisations can face direct and indirect competitors. In tourism, direct competitors will depend on the sector of activity. In hotels, there are companies providing an economy, mid-range or top-level service, for which they charge an appropriate price. They compete within their own segment. By contrast, low-cost airlines operating short hauls were better able to survive and grow. The high-cost airlines were forced to engage in price cutting and competing with low-cost airlines to retain business. The long haul airlines have learnt to reduce turnaround times between flights, reduce operating costs and become leaner and meaner. The low-cost airline sector is competitive with 50 firms in Europe alone. There is the threat of high cost carriers competing in the no-frills sector as British Airways is threatening to do (Beech and Chadwick). Conclusion:To sum it up, competition in the UK tourism industry is fierce. Investment is so risky that responsible ethical investment companies withdraw from investing, and therefore the opportunity of ethical investment power is lost. It has become harder for travel companies to compete, because the products they offer are relatively the same. They have higher margins because of lower price sensitivity of wealthy customers. After all, companies goal is to have high profits and high sales. The nature of the relationship between a small business firm and its customers is trust. The answers to certain questions concerning practices with probable ethical consequences can be used by small business owner to prevent the perception of unethical practices. Refrences: Mintel Reports Accessed from http://reports.mintel.com/ Dated 8th of November. Robert M Grant (2008) Contemporary strategy analysis,6th Ed, BlackwellBeech, J. and Chadwick, S (2006) Accessed from The Business of Tourism Management on Dated 8th of NovemberVisit Britain (2006). Booking Patterns International versus Domestic Tourism Travel Accessed from www.tourismtrade.org.uk on dated 10th of November.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Body Shop - 4017 Words

The Body Shop Canada â€Å"You’re not the kind of franchise applicant we usually get,† said Harry Robertson, company lawyer for the Body Shop Canada, as he opened his meeting with potential franchisee Richard Paul. â€Å"I suppose we’ll find out whether that’s an advantage or disadvantage,† replied Mr. Paul. Mr. Robertson’s comment had taken Mr. Paul by surprise, and though he was pleased with his response, the comment had produced a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Richard Paul Mr. Paul, age 36, was about to graduate from the M.B.A. program at the University of Western Ontario. His employment background included a stint as a high-school business education teacher and seven years of retail management. He had managed†¦show more content†¦The presentation seemed almost amateur, with much of the material obviously photocopied. Nonetheless, Mr. Paul took a night off from analyzing cases to study the documents. The material consisted of: †¢ Company background 8 pages †¢ Environmental issues 15 pages †¢ Information on the franchise agreement 3 pages †¢ Financial data 6 pages †¢ List of current franchises 3 pages The synopsis of the franchise agreement outlined the standard elements of a franchise agreement and included the following, additional facts: †¢ The Body Shop Canada would lease the premises and sublet it to the franchisee; †¢ The franchisee must operate the business and be in the store at least 40 hours per week; †¢ The franchisee must purchase the complete product line; †¢ The franchisee must retain effective ownership and control; †¢ Any sale of the franchise to a new franchisee must be approved by the franchisor; †¢ The franchisor may terminate the franchise if the franchisee fails to operate within the law or fails to carry on business as prescribed by the franchise agreement; and †¢ No royalty fees would be paid except a monthly administration fee of $200, and a promotion and publicity fee of 2 percent of gross sales. Cost to start a new franchise were estimated as: Franchise fee Fixtures Design Fee Opening inventoryShow MoreRelatedThe Body Shop3891 Words   |  16 PagesTHE BODY SHOP GLOBAL STRATEGIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THEM Table of Content I. Executive Summary of The Body Shop II. Introduction III. SWOT Analysis of The Body Shop IV. PEST Analysis of The Body Shop V. Porter’s Five Forces VI. EVR Congruence VII. Recommendation VIII. Conclusion IX. References I. 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I will attempt to take an overview of culture and its effect on a company. In todays changing global environments many companies have joined the open trade policies, and existing foreign opportunities available to growing companies with positive views and socially responsible attitudes. It all sounds like a lot to cover in a short essayRead MoreThe Body Shop International627 Words   |  3 Pages (908)-752-2924 January 20, 2015 Anita Roddick, Founder: The Body shop International PLC 2001 Re: Case C: Chapter 8: The Body Shop International: An Introduction to Financial Modeling, Years 1 – 3 Observed Value of The Body Shop International as of February 28, 2004 = 2,000,000 GBP Dear Mrs. Roddick: As you requested, I have forecasted pro-forma statements and ratio analysis factors of The Body Shop International for Years 2001 through 2004, using the information presentedRead More Management And The Body Shop Essay1455 Words   |  6 Pages Management and The Body Shop In this paper I will be taking a look at basic management functions. The approaches, and the synthesis of two views of management. I will attempt to take an overview of culture and its effect on a company. 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SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is an important critical activity completed by the organisation to determine the future market condition asRead MoreThe Body Shop Marketing Report2855 Words   |  12 PagesThe Body Shop â€Æ' Executive Summary The Body Shop Company is an international and global industry that produces beauty and cosmetic products. It started in 26th March 1976 in Brighton by Anita Roddick. After more than 30 years of operations, there have been lots of changes and developments in The Body Shop Company, which includes the product category, the changes from the micro and macro environment, and how The Body Shop segments, targets, and positioned its image andRead MoreThe Body Shop International Plc2303 Words   |  10 Pagesstudying the case: The Body Shop International Plc. First of all, I will give a brief introduction to the background of The Body Shop International Plc. Then the essay will go further into the definition of the Entrepreneurial Management Model, which is introduced to people by Dr. David Rae (2007), and how The Body Shop explains the concept of the model by illustrating the management strategies the company uses and the entrepreneurial skills it adopts respectively. The Body Shop is a well-known BritishRead MoreSustainability And Ethical Concerns Of The Body Shop1627 Words   |  7 PagesSustainability and ethical concerns The Body Shop was always considered as sustainable and ethical business. ‘The company s campaigns against human rights abuses, in favour of animal and environmental protection and it commitment to challenge the stereotypes of beauty perpetuated by the cosmetics industry’ (THE BODY SHOP, 1999). 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