The durability of concrete Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The durability of concrete - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of concrete, as a construction material. Concrete is a basic construction material, it is made of mainly four constituents, cement, fine aggregate(sand), coarse aggregate and water. With the addition of water to the cement and other components in dry form, this addition of water makes the concrete fluid and this flow able mixture enables us to pore in the desired shape and size which is dictated by the moulds and formwork. During this the water chemically bonds with the cement and hydration takes place. The ultimate strength of concrete is a factor of water cement ratio and this is the reason a precise mix ratio of concrete is calculated and mix design is prepared. Finally the dry components are combined to form hardened matrix. This final product, the concrete is good in compressive strength but weak in tensile strength. To finish this weakness we provide steel reinforcement which has high tensile strength. This concrete is called the rei nforced concrete. The concrete’s quality is determined by the quality and care taken while the production phase of the concrete. As we are well aware of the fact that elasticity of concrete is all most the same at low stress levels but tends to decrease as the higher stress levels are attained as matrix cracking develops. At the very same time the concrete is very weak in thermal expansion and has a low value of coefficient of thermal expansion. The content of cementitious material, along with the water content determine the final strength, durability, abrasion resistance, shrinkage values and many other properties. But the most important property that is under discussion is the Durability of concrete. Definition of Durability: Concrete durability has been defined by the American Concrete Institute as â€Å"its resistance to weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion and other degradation processes† Durability can also be defined as â€Å"the quality of materials or structures of continuing to be useful after an extended period of time and usage†. Whereas according to PCA(Portland Cement Association),† Durability is the ability to last a long time without significant deterioration†. Summarizing the above definition the durability is the ability of concrete to maintain it size, shape and all other properties against adverse environment with respect to time. Now the next issue is that what factors affect the durability of concrete and how can the material be improved to get the highest efficiency and life. There are several aspects that govern the strength of concrete and its life but the most effective way to calibrate this is to understand the process of deterioration in the first place. The most common proof of the deterioration process is the formation of the cracks and the detail study of the types of cracks will enable us to decide and deduce the reason, mechanism and solution to the problem. These cracks can be formed by during the plastic state or the hardened state. The reason of which will be discussed in details in the next sections. Processes of Deterioration There are several ways in which the deterioration of the concrete can be studied and processes explained but I believe that the most comprehensive pattern to understand this process is to first understand the cracks and types of cracks and then the reasons for their formation. Concrete has two forms during its formation and service. Firstly it is in fluid state and then the hardened state. Now we will discuss the processes under the two states. Fluid State deterioration and Crack propagation The reasons for these cracks are mainly due to the poor workmanship and handling. The main reasons among this are plastic shrinkage, settlement and lastly movement of formwork and subgrade during the construction work.

Ratios assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ratios - Assignment Example Average collection period can also be referred to as the number of days the sales are tied up in the accounts receivable. Thus, the average sales per day for the four years have been increasing. A snapshot on the yearly collection period, the year 20X1’s average is half the year 20X2’s average; this is a ratio of 1:2 associated with the increase in net sales by the same ratio. Inventory turnover measures the rate by which the inventory is used annually. From the computation, the rate at which inventory is used annually is 4, which is equal in the four years. This implies that inventory is used equally across the years. Current ratio measures solvency. This is the ratio between current assets and current liabilities. In the year 20X1, they current ratio is 3.333 which implies that for every one dollar of the current liabilities, the company has $3.333 in the current assets. For the year 20X2, the company has $1.90 in the current assets, in 20X3 the company has $1.542 and in 20X4 it has $1.339 in the current assets for every $1 of the current liabilities. This trend has been reducing from the 20X1 to 20X4. Quick ratio measures liquidity which is the number of dollars in cash and account receivable for every single dollar in the current liabilities. For the year 20X1, the company has a quick ratio of 1.333 which means that for every single dollar o current liabilities, the firm has $1.333 in the cash and accounts receivable to pay the liabilities. The trend of quick ratio is decrease from year 20X1 to 20X4, 1.333, 0.7, 0.541 to 0.459. Debt to equity measures the financial risk of the company which is the number of times dollars are owed for every single dollar in the net worth. From the computations, the year 20X1 has a quick to equity of 1.250 which means that for every single dollar of the net worth invested by the stockholders, the company owes $1.250 of the debt to the creditors. Hence, the trend of debt to equity for this

Mock Trial Closings Essay Example for Free

Mock Trial Closings Essay The closing argument is the last piece of a mock trial, essentially the last time you get to sell your case to the jury. During the closing argument, you are summarizing and putting together everything the jury has already heard during the trial. You are basically clarifying everything presented in the trial from showing the relevance of a particular witness to showing how everything you’ve presented comes together to prove your case. It is one of the most important parts of mock trial, mainly because the jury listens. It is the last chance to convince the judges of your case, to show you are more skilled than your opponent, and get the perfect 10 you’re hoping for because they are the last words the jury will hear from your team. It can make your case, or break it, thus delivery is very important. Writing the Closing Theme An important part of a great closing is the theme. It will tie your case together in a pretty ribbon that will stay in the juries mind. It will be the same theme from the opening, one that runs through your entire case, and in the closing reminding the jury of your case with the catchy phrase or sentence. Structure 1)Introduction: Begin with a short introduction that catches the jury’s attention. It should remind the judges of the big picture. If it’s a murder trial, talk about how tragic it is that this person’s life was taken away. If it’s a civil trial you can speak about how the person’s rights were violated. Also be sure to introduce your theme during the introduction. 2)Burden of Proof: Explain what your burden is and what your role is in relation to it. Tell the judges exactly how you’ve met the burden or how the opposing counsel has failed to met this burden. In addition, frame the burden of proof in your favor. 3)Law: Tell the judges about each element of the charge. Explain whether or not you have proved or disproved each element, or whether it is enough to prove or disprove any one element. Then make a roadmap. Tell the judge that to prove your burden/undermine your opponents case, you are to prove x, y, and z. 4)Argument: This is the meat of your case. This is where one by one you are going to signpost and tell the judge exactly what you are talking about. Example: â€Å"Now let’s look at X†. X, Y, and Z should not be your three witnesses but parts of the law that you need to prove or disprove. Remind your judges of testimonies/evidence from the trial that adds up to show X. Do this for all points. Its important to remember it should be based around the law. Don’t go witness by witness recounting the evidence. 5)Conclusion: Sums everything up. Restate how you’ve met your burden of proof through x, y, and z. Use your theme once more to tie everything together. Ask for a verdict. Remember to be this strong, convincing and memorable.

Study On Awareness Of Internet Banking

Study On Awareness Of Internet Banking Internet banking allows customers of a financial institution to conduct financial transactions on a secure website operated by the institution, which can be a retail or virtual bank, credit union or building society .It may include of any transactions related to online usage. To access a financial institutions online banking facility, a customer having personal Internet access must register with the institution for the service, and set up some password for customer verification. The password for online banking is normally not the same as for telephone banking. Financial institutions now routinely allocate customer numbers whether or not customers intend to access their online banking facility. Customer numbers are normally not the same as account numbers, because a number of accounts can be linked to the one customer number. The customer will link to the customer number any of those accounts which the customer controls, which may be cheque , savings, loan, credit card and other accou nts. To access online banking, the customer would go to the financial institutions website, and enter the online banking facility using the customer number and password. Some financial institutions have set up additional security steps for access, but there is no consistency to the approach adopted. Internet banking (or E-banking) means any user with a personal computer and a browser can get connected to his bank -s website to perform any of the virtual banking functions. In internet banking system the bank has a centralized database that is web-enabled. All the services that the bank has permitted on the internet are displayed in menu. Any service can be selected and further interaction is dictated by the nature of service. The traditional branch model of bank is now giving place to an alternative delivery channels with ATM network. Once the branch offices of bank are interconnected through terrestrial or satellite links, there would be no physical identity for any branch. It would a borderless entity permitting anytime, anywhere and anyhow banking. The network which connects the various locations and gives connectivity to the central office within the organization is called intranet. These networks are limited to organizations for which they are set up. SWIFT is a live example of intranet application. FUNCTIONS OF INTERNET BANKING 1. Pay a bill. 2. Schedule payments in advance. 3. Transfer funds. 4. Manage all your accounts in one place. 5. View images of your checks online. 6. Apply for a loan or credit card. 7. Purchase and manage CD accounts. 8. Order travelers checks. 9 Order a cheque book. 10 View up-to-the-minute account statements and balance. 11 Track your payment history. 12 Change contact details. Internet banking allows customers to perform a wide range of banking transactions electronically via the banks Web site. When first introduced, Internet banking was used mainly as an information presentation medium in which banks marketed their products and services on their Web sites.With the development of asynchronous technologies and secured electronic transaction technologies, however, more banks have come forward to use Internet banking both as a transactional as well as an informational medium. Internet banking can perform following banking transactions: Writing checks Paying bills Transferring funds Printing statements Inquiring about account balance The popular services covered under E-banking are :- 1. Automated Teller Machines 2. Credit Cards 3. Debit Cards 4. Smart Cards 5. Electronic Funds Transfer 6. Cheque Payment System 7. Mobile Banking Internet banking in india The Reserve Bank of India constituted a working group on E- Banking. The group divided the internet banking products in India into following 3 levels of access : Information Only System: General Information like interest rates, branch location, bank products and their features, loan and deposit calculations are provided in the banks website. There exist facilities for downloading various types of application forms. The communication is normally done through e-mail. There is no interaction between the customer and banks application system. No identification of the customer is done. In this system, there is no possibility of any unauthorized person getting into production systems of the bank through internet. Electronic Information Transfer System: The system provides customer- specific information in the form of account balances, transaction details, and statement of accounts. The information is still largely of the read only format. Identification and authentication of the customer is through password. The information is fetched from the banks application system either in batch mode or off-line. The application systems cannot directly access through the internet. Fully Electronic Transactional System: This system allows bi-directional capabilities. Transactions can be submitted by the customer for online update. This system requires high degree of security and control. In this environment, web server and application systems are linked over secure infrastructure. It comprises technology covering computerization, networking and security, inter-bank payment gateway and legal infrastructure. Benefits of E-Banking The operating cost per unit services is lower for the banks. It offers convenience to customers as they are not required to go to the banks premises. There is very low incidence of errors. The customer can obtain funds at any time from ATM machines. The credit cards and debit cards enables the Customers to obtain discounts from retail outlets. The customer can easily transfer the funds from one place to another place electronically The following services can be availed through E-Banking: Bill payment service You can facilitate payment of electricity and telephone bills, mobile phone, credit card and insurance premium bills as each bank has tie-ups with various utility companies, service providers and insurance companies, across the country. To pay your bills, all you need to do is complete a simple one-time registration for each biller. The bank does not charge customers for online bill payment. Fund transfer You can transfer any amount from one account to another of the same or any another bank. Customers can send money anywhere in India. Once you login to your account, you need to mention the payeess account number, his bank and the branch. The transfer will take place in a day or so, whereas in a traditional method, it takes about three working days. Credit card customers With Internet banking, customers can not only pay their credit card bills online but also get a loan on their cards. If you lose your credit card, you can report lost card online. Railway pass This is something that would interest all the aam janta. Indian Railways has tied up with ICICI bank and you can now make your railway pass for local trains online. The pass will be delivered to you at your doorstep. But the facility is limited to Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Surat and Pune. Investing through Internet banking You can now open an FD online through funds transfer.Now investors with interlinked demat account and bank account can easily trade in the stock market and the amount will be automatically debited from their respective bank accounts and the shares will be credited in their demat account. Moreover, some banks even give you the facility to purchase mutual funds directly from the online banking system. Recharging your prepaid phone Now just top-up your prepaid mobile cards by logging in to Internet banking. By just selecting your operators name, entering your mobile number and the amount for recharge, your phone is again back in action within few minutes. Shopping With a range of all kind of products, you can shop online and the payment is also made conveniently through your account. You can also buy railway and air tickets through Internet banking. Security Precautions The security precautions used in internet banking are: Buy good antivirus, It is very important to protect against viruses. Such antivirus is Quick heal, Kasper sky, Net Protector etc. Scan Your Computer Daily with antivirus to ensure your system is safe. Enable Firewall for better protection. Avoid access net banking from cyber cafe or any other PCs having virus. With in periodical intervals, change your net banking password. There is Last log-in Date in your net banking account. Check it daily. Use Latest version of Browser like Mozilla Firefox 3.1 and above,IE 7.0 and above,Opera 9.5 and above,Safari 3.5 and above, Google chrome,etc. Use Newer Operating System. Do Not Disclose your Password to anyone. Before log-in into your account check the website URL having https:// . it means it is secured site. Do not click on any link showing Update Your Password . Ensure that the logged in session is properly signed out. CHAPTER 2 Review of Literature Introduction and development of e-banking especially began in 1990s (Pikkarainen et al.2004, p.224) A research made in U.S in year 1999 stated that there have been huge increases in the use of e-banking in America. Examining the development of online banking in the world, one can say that the European countries are still the leader of the use of newest banking technologies and online banking (Pyun et al, 2002,p.73). According to a study, less than 15 percent of banks with transactional websites will realize profits directly attributable to those sites (Courchanne et al,2002, p.354). According to Zeithaml et al. (2008), consumer perception plays a vital role particularly in pre-purchase decision making of services with high credence attributes as their pre-purchase evaluation is difficult. Althoughinternet banking provides recognized benefits for customers over the traditional banking system, however, thecustomers adoption of internet banking depends upon the pre-purchase perception of its proposed benefits insteadof the potential benefits it can actually provide, due to its high credence nature (Eriksson et al, 2005). Underlying customer perceptions, satisfaction and other behavioral constructs have, therefore, become research-worthy subjects for the researchers and practitioners in this field of study, however, customer perception has been given an escalating importance in the empirical studies due to its significant role in service evaluation (International Business Economics Research Journal April 2011) The vast majority of the banks that avoided Internet banking in the beginning did so because they simply did not see the benefits of using it. Polatoglu Kin (2001) state that the average internet banking transaction costs the institution only one twentieth of teller transaction. On the importance of trainability, Rogers (1983) and Agarwal and Prasad (1998) stated that potential adopters of new technology, who are allowed to experiment with it, would feel comfortable with it and thus be more likely to adopt it. According to Tan and Teo (2000) if customers are given the chance to try the innovation, it will minimize certain fears, especially when customers found that mistakes could be rectified and thus providing a predictable situation. A more rapid diffusion occurs when consumers can have low-cost or low-risk trial of the service. Internet banking services are free.(www.arraydev.com) An American study conducted last year by Booz-Allen projects that by the year 2000, 16 million US households will be using Internet banking. While these numbers do not appear to be significant as compared to the total population, each Internet user is projected to be 50-250% more profitable than the average banking customer. It is expected that these Internet customers will be some of the banking systems most profitable customers representing close to 30% of all retail banking profits. The study projects that by 1999, 1,500 banks will have Internet Web sites and at least 500 of these banks will be offering full-fledged Internet banking services.In 2001 Micro banker send detailed questionnaire to the leading vendors of internet banking software27 companies responded with information on thirty programs the aggregate outcome of the outcome was that almost all the companies have developed functions for internet banking and have inbuilt feature to aid with one to one marketing on the web. The vast majority of the banks that avoided Internet banking in the beginning did so because they simply did not see the benefits of using it. Polatoglu Kin (2001) state that the average internet banking transaction costs the institution only one twentieth of teller transaction.( www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2006/OnlineBanking-2006.aspx) On the importance of trainability, Rogers (1983) and Agarwal and Prasad (1998) stated that potential adopters of new technology, who are allowed to experiment with it, would feel comfortable with it and thus be more likely to adopt it. According to Tan and Teo (2000) if customers are given the chance to try the innovation, it will minimize certain fears, especially when customers found that mistakes could be rectified and thus providing a predictable situation. A more rapid diffusion occurs when consumers can have low-cost or low-risk trial of the service. Internet banking services are free. The cost and risk to trial are relatively low especially when Internet access is available from work.The concept of electronic banking has been defined in many ways (e.g. Daniel, 1999). According to Karjaluoto (2002) electronic banking is a construct that consists of several distribution channels. Daniel (1999) defines electronic banking as the delivery of banks information and services by banks to customers via different delivery platforms that can be used with different terminal devices such as a personal computer and a mobile phone with browser or desktop software, telephone or digital television. Electronic banking also commonly known as internet banking or e-banking. Internet Banking, defined as the delivery of banking services through the open-access computer network (the internet) directly to customers home or private address. (Lau, 1997) has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years. In 2006, Pew Internet and American Life Project reported that nearly half of internet users in the United States 63 million adults bank online (Fox and Beier, 2006). In many ways, e-banking is not unlike traditional payment, inquiry, and information processing system, differing only in that it utilizes a different delivery channel. Any decision to adopt e-banking is normally influenced by a number of factors. Liao et al. (2008) stress that the success in Internet banking will be a chieved with tailored financial products and services that fulfill customer wants, preferences and quality expectations. Mattila (2001) concedes that customer satisfaction is a key to success in Internet banking and banks will use different media to customize products and services to fit customers specific needs in the future(.(Journal of internet banking and commerce) Since personal and financial information can be intercepted and used for fraudulent purposes, online investing involves greater security concerns than conventional trading; users need a sense of security when conducting financial transactions, and it is still one of the major barriers to e-commerce growth (Lee and Turban, 2002). Perceived security was defined as a threat that creates a circumstance, condition, or event with the potential to cause economic hardship to data or network resources in the form of destruction, disclosures, and modification of data, denial of service, and/or fraud, waste and abuse (Kalakota and Whinston, 1997). Security, which involves the use of technical advancements like cryptography, digital signature and certificates aimed at protecting users from risk of fraud, hacking or phishing, has a positive influence on the intention to purchase online (Lian and Lin, 2008). A majority of studies highlight the fact that security is the biggest single concern for customers when faced with the decision to use internet banking. Security has always been an issue, but its scope has changed from mere doubts about the privacy of personal information to worries of financial loss (Sayar and Wolfe, 2007). White and Nteli (2004) find that security is the most important attribute for UK internet banking customers. It is followed by responsiveness of service delivery (speed and timeliness), ease of use, credibility of the bank, and product variety. Akinci et al. (2004) find that the selection of an internet banking service provider is effected by security, reliability and privacy. Security, which involves protecting users from the risk of fraud and financial loss, has been another important issue in safe use of the internet when conducting financial transactions in Saudi Arabia (Sohail and Shaikh, 2007). The banking sector was reluctant to use e-commerce applications as they felt that transactions conducted electronically were open to hackers and viruses, which are beyond their control. As well as convinced that online services are a mixture of customer insecurities, technology investment costs and a lack of market-readiness have all conspired to make e-banking unattractive (Abdulwahed and Yaqoub, 2006). Perceived risk was one of the major factors affecting consumer adoption, as well as customer satisfaction, of online banking services (Polatoglu and Ekin, 2001). Perceived risk usually arises from uncertainty. Howcroft et. al., (2002) the principal characteristics that inhibit online banking adoption are security and privacy. An interview held on web security and showed four screen shots of a browser connecting to a website and asked participants to state if the connection was secure or not secure and to affirm the motivating factor for their appraisal. It was discovered that about 7 2 participants cannot tell if a connection is secure (Friedman et. al., 2002). CHAPTER 3 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY The proposed research study is to be centered around fulfilling the following objectives. To study the level of awareness of internet banking among the customers of Indirapuram Area To find out the ways to improve Awareness To find the customer satisfaction relating to e-banking services Chapter-4 Scope of the study The study attempts to identify the level of awareness among the people of Indirapuram Area , regarding Online banking services provided by Banks. The study also indentifies the attitudes and preferences of consumers. The survey for this purpose was confined to the Indirapuram Area, Ghaziabad Chapter-5 Research Methodology Hypothesis:- H0: null hypothesis: Let us consider that residents of Indirapuram Area are fully aware of internet banking services provided by banks. H1: alternate hypothesis: Let us consider that residents of Indirapuram Area are not fully aware of internet banking services provided by banks. Research Design:- Exploratory Research We first used Exploratory Research. Exploratory research is a type of research conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined. Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data collection method and selection of subjects. It should draw definitive conclusions only with extreme caution. Given its fundamental nature, exploratory research often concludes that a perceived problem does not actually exist. The working of the research was started with the questionnaire. In this we have used screening criterion to identify target group of our research. Screening of certain questions has been done. The study went through the perception of the target group about the manual banking also. Opinion about manual banking by the target group helped to measure impact of manual banking transactions. Then, our study was divided into two streams: the customer, who uses Internet banking and who doesnt use it. These parameters helped to correlate the information between both kinds of customers. This also helped to evaluate the current satisfaction level of the customers who were using Internet banking. Then we used Descriptive Research. Descriptive research is used to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena to describe what exists with respect to variables or conditions in a situation. The methods involved range from the survey which describes the status quo, the correlation study which investigates the relationship between variables, to developmental studies which seek to determine changes over time. To accurately portrait the characteristics of person of situation or group we used Descriptive Research Design Sample Size and Design:- Target Population- Universe or the whole mass under study will be residents of Indirapuram area. Sample Frame- will be educational qualifications, working and non-working males and females, professionals , students and business class. Sampling Unit- Individuals. Sampling method -Non Probability method under which convenient Sampling method. Sample size will be around 200. Method of Data Collection- Primary data Tools of Data Collection- Questionnaire Period: The primary data is proposed to be collected through various means of communications, i.e. In person, by telephone, e-mail , between 10.01.2013 to 25.01.2013 the period and mode of collecting data shall be reviewed suitably at the appropriate times so as to make it meaningful and closest possible to the objectives set for the research study. Chapter-6 DATA ANALYSIS Questionnaire Name: Occupation : Gender : Contact no: 1) You have a bank account? CATEGORY Answer Yes No 2) You aware of the internet banking facility? If answer to q-2 is No ,move to q 9) CATEGORY Answer Yes No 3) Level Of Awarenes of online banking services provided by Banks? CATEGORY Answer Very Good Good Fair Poor Very Poor 4) Source of awareness : CATEGORY Answer Print Media Electronic Media FamilyFriends Any Other 5) Your awareness of latest banking trends: CATEGORY GOOD FAIR POOR RTGS M-WALLET E-BANKING M-BANKING 6) Since how many years you are availing internet banking facility? CATEGORY Answer Less than 1 year 1 to 3 years 3 to 5 years More than 5 years 7) Type of service mostly you avail? CATEGORY Answer Online shopping Online bill payments Transfer funds online Bank statements Any Other 8) Please rank the following factors based on your experience CATEGORY Rating Convenience Saves times 24 hour access to account Wish to access account without visiting branch Safe and secure Low service charge Easy to maintain transactions 9) Rate your experience in getting internet banking facility from the branch? CATEGORY Rating Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory 10)Reasons you are unaware of Internet Banking ? CATEGORY Answer You are not tech savy Lack of Interest Prefer to have personal human relation Lack of Sources Any Other This survey is being conducted as a part compliance of my degree in MBA (Insurance Banking) from Amity University and is a pre-requisit for award of Degree. The project is for academic purposes and confidentiality will be maintained. FINDINGS In Indirapuram area majority of respondents i.e 88% are aware of internet banking services provided by banks while 12% respondents are not aware of internet banking services Electronic Media is the source of awareness for majority of respondents of Indirapuram Area. The services which are mostly used by customers are printing bank statements and transferring funds online Majority of people are not aware of Internet banking because of Lack of sources or they are not tech savy CHAPTER 7 RECOMMENDATIONS Banks should attract consumer attention to internet banking services through better marketing Bank should make efforts to increase customers awareness about internet banking facilities by conducting training programmes. Banks should conduct various training programmes for employees so that they will get aware with the terms of internet banking and could create awareness amongst the customers. Banks should increase the awareness about various features, advantages and benefits of internet banking, especially its convenience. Bank should make the customers aware about internet banking at the time of building relationship. Banks should extend the technology which is used in internet banking in order to remove the difficulties. CHAPTER 8

Analysis of Woman to Man by Judith Wright Essay -- Judith Wright Woman

Analysis of Woman to Man by Judith Wright  Ã‚   I was slightly confused when I read this poem at first, but it became apparent from the rich metaphors, that it was about the sexual relation between the woman and man. It is also about conception - or rather the potential of creating a child from this sexual act - told from the woman's point of view. Judith Wright was very bold in writing such a poem since it was published in 1949, when such issues weren't discussed in the public, but as a well-regarded poet, she had achieved a good reputation for expressing herself, and therefore could write a subjective poem about this issue. The main idea of this poem, is based upon female sexuality and sensuality, and that sex is symbolic of life, or death if pregnancy fails. The title seems to mean now, "Woman to Man" as if the woman is offering herself to the Man, offering her body to create a child, through the act of sex. It also means that the woman has something to give to the man, not only the pleasure, but through blood and pain, a child. The language compliments the mood of this poem, as it varies from a sad and melancholy cry, to a voice of hope, all in a constant confident feel, and by this, the poet's reflections and contemplation?s are communicated successfully to us, making us feel in the same way she has felt. The first stanza begins with a bold and confident entry describing in a simple way the sexual relation between the man and the woman; or better said; Woman to Man. The 'seed' which the woman holds - has the potential of becoming a child. The image of the day of birth as a ?resurrection day? is important in this respect for, just as the resurrection of Christ defeated death, so too, does each individual... ... final line - "Oh hold me, for I am afraid." This line is wholly successful on a dramatic level; for here the real world of passion and pain breaks in. At the same time the poem as a whole has suggested that in each sexual act there is the potential for the creation of new life which challenges time and death. The woman is the proud yet fearful instrument of this process. The poem has   a   rhythmic pattern that compliments the metaphors and paradoxes. The stanzas begin and end, individually, for the first and last lines rhyme, which creates a feeling of ?wholleness? to each stanza, quite appropriate to the act of creating or bearing a child. It is like a song, a pentameter that begins bold, but ends in a quiet tone, making its reader reflect, not only about the ending, but the entire poem as a serious issue, that fornication is, or can be, a holy act.

Concealment in Chesnutt’s The House Behind the Cedars Essay -- House B

Concealment in Chesnutt’s The House Behind the Cedars Who has something to hide? Everyone in The House behind the Cedars has something to hide. With the possible exception of a few minor characters and children (innocents/ innocence), most characters have something to conceal. Taking this into account, this is more than likely Chesnutt’s acknowledgement of human nature before he gets into the varying motives. Is concealment ultimately worthwhile? Who is hurt and who is helped – or is there any difference? Molly, John, Rena (The Absent/ Dead Father) This family is where much of the major concealment starts. Ironically, the family is the same place where secrets are revealed. They start as a secret themselves - hidden away, behind a row of cedars, and inside the house on Front Street. The long dead, white lover of Mis’ Molly, concealed this family from his world, just as he kept his name from his illegitimate children – denying something to each. As a result, Mis’ Molly made many sacrifices. The first sacrifice she made was herself to her lover, which in return brought some security for herself and her family. We are told by the narrator, â€Å"she worshipped the ground upon which her lord walked, was humbly grateful for his protection, and quite as faithful as the forbidden marriage vow could possibly have made her† (105). This passage does not seem to indicate a sacrifice on her part, but ultimately it was also done for her immediate family. When her immediate family began to include children, Misâ €™ Molly had to face that her children were not legitimate, had no family name, and were thrust into a world that would not easily accept them. As this escalates over time, she sacrifices her happiness for the happiness of her child... ...tood hierarchy among classes, racial and economic, that while not publicly acknowledged, is indeed common knowledge. The novel discusses this in regards to Mis’ Molly, her neighbors – darker and poorer. Word Cited Go here for websites with further Charles W. Chesnutt Information http://docsouth.unc.edu/chesnuttcolonel/about.html Biography http://www.virginia.edu/history/courses/courses.old/hius323/chesnutt.html Biography http://www.berea.edu/faculty/browners/chesnutt/biography/biography.html Biography http://www.berea.edu/faculty/browners/chesnutt/biography/familytree.html Family Tree http://www.berea.edu/faculty/browners/chesnutt/classroom/class.html Chesnutt in the Classroom http://authorsdirectory.com/biography_online_book_portrait_picture/c_authors_charles_w_chesnutt.shtml Biography, Lesson Plans, Online Text, Portrait and Pictures, etc.

Cultural and Social Change in the 1960’s

Cultural and Social Change in the 1960's The 1960's in America was a decade characterized by evolving social issues and a rapid growth of many subcultures and culture in general. As their world changed around them and different issues presented themselves, people looked for areas of exppression in which their voices could be heard. This led to an explosion in all forms of art and literature. Areas like music changed in such dramatic ways as to rebel against past sounds and styles while civil rights movements forever altered the way the people of the U. S. iewed race relations. Music in the 1960's was influenced by many factors that people of the time had to face. Protest for the vietnam war, racial turbulence, and general unease provided a platform for musical creation that resulted in sounds so revolutionary and different than anything ever heard before that thousands of people would gather at single shows. Protest music was very popular in this decade because of the ongoing conflic t in Vietnam. Acts such as Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan showed opposition to the war in music that became popular enough to define a generation. Woodstock, a massive three day music festival that took place Southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York was attended by nearly half a million people and became an icon that helped to identify the music of the 1960's. During the Sixtees, men like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were a part of the Black Civil Rights movement, which advocated equal treatment of African Americans and the disbandment of Jim Crow laws. After the assassinations of both of these important figures, their legacies lived on through such organizations as the Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam. Another civil rights movement of the time was the Hispanic or Chicano movement. The goal of this movement was to empower and give equal rights to Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic Americans that were being mistreated throughout the country. Movements like these had been seen in decades previous, but arguably with a great deal less success and popularity. The media was also another factor unique at the time to these civil rights movements, and without a doubt played a large role in their effectiveness.