Grapes Of Wrath :: essays research papers

Grapes of Wrath Explain how the behavior of the Joadsshows Steinbecks view of the responsibility of the individualto society as a whole. Chapter 14 made an interesting point.At one point in the chapter it was stated that a farmer lost hisfarm. As this mans family picks up their belongings andheads west they meet up with another family dealing with asimilar situation. Now these two families share a commonbond. A join is forming. This is the catalyst. Nolonger is it one farmer saying he lost his land but two farmersunited saying they lost their land. Much the sametransformation happens to the Joad family especially to thecharacters of Ma, Young Tom, and Rose of Sharon. At theonset of the novel we see the Joad family struggling just tokeep their immediate family together. They are focused onjust themselves. By the check of this wonderful book we seethe Joad family branching out in many different ways toembrace all of human race as one big family. Ma Joads mainconcern at the beginn ing of the story is her family. She wantsto keep the unit together and works diligently to achieve thisgoal. However, one by one, family members leave the groupfor various reasons leading to the slow but sure disintegrationof the Joad clan. The first to go is Noah then grandfather andGrandma dieConnie walks off and leaves Rose of SharonYoung Tom leaves because he has gotten into trouble againand Al becomes engaged and decides to go with hisfiancees family. Ma deals with each loss as best she can. Asthe story progresses, we find Ma Joad becoming more andmore concerned with people outside the family unit. Shefeels the choose to share whatever meager food andbelongings her family has with other families enduringhardships. She saw the needs of her own family at thebeginning of the story and by the end of the novel, she seesthe needs of her fellow man. Young Tom appears to beself-centered when he if first introduced. He has just leftprison after serving four years for murder. Tom want toenjoy life to the fullest and to be with his family. He is verydisturbed to find the family home deserted and almostdestroyed. He by this time has reacquainted himself with JimCasey, an ex-preacher. The more Tom listens to Jim and hisviews on life, the soul of man, and the fellowship of mankind,the less he focuses on himself and his needs. He then beginsto focus on the plight and hollo of the homeless farmers.

The End Of The World :: essays research papers

The End of the World     Have you ever wondered when the orb is going to come to a draw a blank?. Haveyou ever stopped to think about on the whole of those physic predictions that so manyhave made? I hope to provide an taste to the world of Armageddon. It is almostinevitable that the world and the human race terminate someday, but just how soon?Millennialists, people who believe that the world is going to end on a set datesaying that the date will be May 5, 2000. If their calculations are right, thenwe only have 6 eld to live."Millennialisim has been present in just about every generation since the birthof Christ--and just about every crop of millennialists has been disappointed" three hundred years ago, Nostradamas predicted all of the popes, correctly upuntil the year 2000. According to Nostradamas we only have 4 popes left until "Ahorrible fiery death to all humankind" shape up more he predicted the southernCalifornia 92 earthquake, 300 years ago.Many people believe that the world will end in the prepare of world war III.Imagine if another Hitler came along, with the weapons that he could get a holdof biological, nuclear and chemical warfare, think how devastating it would beif that happened. People homogeneous Hitler are called anti-Christ. Nostradamas alsopredicted that the third anti-Christ (there have already been 2)would be born in1970, his name unreleased to the public. Supposedly he will start world war IIIin Asia some where."Millinnialism sells, and thats an indisputable fact. Theres money inArmageddon"     Deep in the heart of Arizona there are about 300 people who think thatthey will be prepared for Armageddon. The quaint town of misty falls has beenpreparing for Armageddon for 10 years now. They have build in union 40,000 sq.of underground bunkers lined with lead, some of them family size, some of thembig enough to hold 75 people comfortably. The bunkers are stocked with en oughfood and other essentials to go away for seven years. These troopers did not onlypack food, they have educational computers, lots of condoms (What else do yado?)"when doomsday doesnt come the millennialilst response is that the calculationsneed re-tuning and doomsday is unflustered imminent"     Others who have had visions have seen great natural disasters, one mansaw in a vision that he saw a role of the united states with half of it

Othello’s Physical and Psychological Journeys :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Othellos Physical and Psychological Journeys Othello is the tragedy, and, incidentally, the name of a Moor who serves as a general in the Italian military. He spends the stolon act of Shakespeares prevail in Venice, but is ordered shortly to Cyprus to fight the Turkish invasion. His journey isnt officially noticeable at all in the play. One moment hes defending himself in the Senate of Venice, the next hes in Cyprus, taking credit for being victorious in a battle the storms fought for him against the Turks. The story unravels from there. His soon-to-be-lieutenant, Iago, whispers in his ear about his wife, Desdemona, and the unforgivable offence of adultery, throwing Othellos orderly world to the winds of fate. ......Still, if the starting point and destination of Othellos initial journey were to be compared to Othellos psychological journey throughout the play (and, more importantly, the development of his relationship with the villain, Iago), they are found to be startlingly si milar. Whether Shakespeare intended the parallel or not, and there isnt really any certain(predicate) way to tell, the coincidence is great. ......Venice, where the story starts, is a place of order, rich and wonderful. Likewise, Othellos relationship with Iago is shown by the third scene of Act One to be, on the surface, base on honesty, respect, and admiration. He says, as he prepares to lead the ships to war honest Iago, my Desdemona must I leave to thee. (1.3.336) While it may seem nave for Othello to do such a thing when trouble is obviously brewing and the sense of foreshadowing is nearly tangible, the reader must keep in mind that Venice is an orderly, consider city and the Generals relationship with Iago can be summed up neatly in one sentence spoken by Brabantio ......This is Venice. My house is not a grange. (1.1.119) ......But while Venice is certainly not a grange, there is plenty going on behind the scenes. One could even argue that Iagos archetypical scene when he incites Desdemonas father to go and take revenge on Othello by using racist and bestial slurs is very similar to the first talks of war in the Senate and the general being told he must leave his homeland to defend Cyprus from the Turks. ......An old black ram is tupping your white ewe, (1.1.98) Iago shouts to Brabantio, at the same moment that Othello is being informed of his new assignment.

Infidelity Essay -- Social Issues, Cheating, Mistress

Passionate instincts can overtake us, guilty feelings pull up stakes wash over us, and paranoia will take control of us. Our body and mind propel us on a lustful, exciting, frightening bender as we take that one risk that could repeal everything. Since the beginning of man, humans have caved in to our polygamous nature through the act of infidelity, and men and woman have cheated on each other end-to-end history (Zur 2). However, different time periods and cultures have contrasting perceptions on adultery often depending on gender. Presently, when a socialite cheats on her partner, the news barely mentions the affair or focuses on her family life in contrast, if an athlete partakes in extramarital activities with a mistress, the media will print it as the front page story. Yet, a person should watch over life has not always been that way as empires rise and fall, wars erupt, and civilizations die, society has potpourrid their perceptions of social and cultural norms. A good way to see how culture changes over time is to read works from different eras since playwrights garner inspiration from their society and how people lived the bygone times. In ancient Greece, Medea, the sorceress, seeks revenge on her lover, Jason, who betrayed her when he marital the princess of Corinth, Glauce however, all the characters, excluding the chorus and Medea, behave nonchalantly about his infidelity because of their culture (Galens and Spampinato 180-181). Throughout his masterpiece, Medea, Euripides accurately depicts the ancient civilizations contrasting attitudes towards mens and womens adultery that differs from the present vista of Western society. With their sexual endeavors, many Greek spouses destroyed the foundation of their marriages y... ...ed the princess of Corinth however, the characters, excluding the chorus, behave nonchalantly about his infidelity because they have been numbed by adultery in their culture. If Jason cheated on Medea in modern Manha ttan with one of the richest socialites, modern society would respond very differently. Society would repeatedly chastise Jason much like they did with Tiger Woods and magic trick Edwards, and Jasons heroic status would quickly diminish. Candidly, men and woman partaking in extramarital sexual rendezvous have never been a generational issues the only change is the civilizations view on adultery. Infidelity will constantly occur as humans pretend our species are supposed to be monogynous (Zur 2). We will have to fight our own natural instincts that attempt to take us on a shameful, exciting, frighting ride that could exterminate everything we own and love.

To work or not to work? :: Journalism Journalistic Papers

To work or not to work?Why the educated homemaker is opting out of the workplace and why other women are notIts 5 a.m. and Laura Williams squints at her computers bright light. She presses the letters on her keyboard and replies to as many emails as she can before another busy twenty-four hours at her full-time job begins.After she makes breakfast for her family, her husband Ryan gets their daughters, Emma, 4, and Anna, 18 months, ready. Then the Williams family sets out to drop Emma at pre-school, and then mom and Anna drop protactinium at work.Sounds like your typical family morning the family gets ready, the kids go off to school, and mom and dad go off to work, right? Well, sort-of.Seven years ago, 29-year-old Laura Williams was living the professional life she always imagined. Armed with a degree in social work from Cornell, Williams had an impressive resume that could practically name her job of choice. But today, shes living the life she never imagined she would have shes a stay-at-home mom.Williams is a part of a growing national trend where educated women earning sober salaries temporarily opt out of the workplace to take care of their children. With professional experience ranging from public relations at XEROX to handling media affairs for 1997 U.S. Poet honourable Robert Pinsky at Boston University, Williams had employers from Rochester, N.Y. and Cambridge, Mass. offering her higher paying and higher power jobs. But the newly married, successful professional was also thinking about starting time a family. So Williams turned down these career advancing offers and continued at the Boston University Public Relations Office.I knew early on that I did not want an 80-hour per week job, said Williams. Getting a graduate degree, working part-time, and starting a family are three things that did not mesh.Williams, 36, who described herself as a go-getter, said she always felt ambitious while growing up.I knew I wanted to work professionally, she said. I always thought I would work part-time and have children. But after working at BU through her first pregnancy and simultaneously taking graduate classes at the university, Williams became queasy yet she wasnt ready to walk away.This was definitely the most stressful time in my life, said Williams, whose own mom was a stay-at-home mom. At the time you think you can do it all, but finally I approached my boss and convinced him to let me work from home.

Bioterrorism with Anthrax :: Anthrax Biology Biological Terrorism

Anthrax is one of the most preferred biological warfare agents for many highly determine reasons. First, anthrax is extremely lethal. Anthrax can contain up to 100 million lethal doses in just one gram of anthrax spores, which is 100,000 quantify more lethal than any other biological warfare agent. It is also known that inhalation anthrax is almost always fatal if the symptoms are allowed to come along without any treatment. Anthrax is also the silent and invisible killer. On top of the fatality rate of anthrax, there are also very low barriers to bugger off the biological weapon. Anthrax spores are very short to produce in large quantities, and the process of production is very inexpensive. Also, there is plenty of available data on how to weaponize anthrax and not a whole lot of technology is needed to be able to produce anthrax. Anthrax is also easy to weaponize be author it is extremely stable as a dry powder in the form of spores. These spores can live for decades and sti ll be very lethal to the human body. Anthrax can be put into an aerosol form disseminated into a spray can, and it can also be freeze-dried into a bomb. presently anthrax is the most preferred biological agent is because we have no accurate espial capability.If an outbreak of anthrax were to occur it would probably happen in a form of an aerosol device of anthrax spores. The intentional bioterrorism outbreak would result in multiple cases of inhalation anthrax. If the outbreak was done by an aerosol can, there would be no indication of an attack because the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, does not have any appropriate method of detection for odorless, colorless, and tasteless spores of anthrax. This outbreak would cause the certain death of the first infected, since physicians in the U.S. would probably not detect anthrax as a cause of the unhurrieds flu-like symptoms. Most U.S. doctors and radiologists and lab personnel have not seen a form of inhalation anthrax and would not be able to identify it or notice Bacillus anthracis in a blood culture. Since an outdoor release of these spores can travel multiple miles and it only takes one gram to kill 10 million people, it could quite possible create extremely high fatality rates. In one city alone it is estimated that the release of aerosol anthrax could cause the death of up to 3 million people within the first couple of weeks.

Bioterrorism with Anthrax :: Anthrax Biology Biological Terrorism

Anthrax is one of the most preferred biologic warfare promoters for many highly identified reasons. First, splenic fever is extremely lethal. Anthrax can keep up to 100 million lethal doses in just one gram of anthrax spores, which is 100,000 times more lethal than any other biological warfare agent. It is also known that inhalation anthrax is almost always fatal if the symptoms are allowed to progress without any treatment. Anthrax is also the silent and imperceptible killer. On top of the fatality rate of anthrax, there are also very low barriers to produce the biological weapon. Anthrax spores are very roaring to produce in large quantities, and the process of production is very inexpensive. Also, there is plenty of available information on how to weaponize anthrax and not a whole lot of technology is needed to be able to produce anthrax. Anthrax is also easy to weaponize because it is extremely stable as a dry powder in the form of spores. These spores can live for decades and still be very lethal to the human body. Anthrax can be rig into an aerosol form disseminated into a spray can, and it can also be freeze-dried into a bomb. Presently anthrax is the most preferred biological agent is because we sacrifice no accurate detection capability.If an outbreak of anthrax were to occur it would probably happen in a form of an aerosol device of anthrax spores. The intentional bioterrorism outbreak would result in multiple cases of inhalation anthrax. If the outbreak was done by an aerosol can, there would be no property of an attack because the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, does not have any appropriate method of detection for odorless, colorless, and tasteless spores of anthrax. This outbreak would cause the certain closing of the first infected, since physicians in the U.S. would probably not detect anthrax as a cause of the patients flu-like symptoms. Most U.S. doctors and radiologists and lab personnel have not seen a form of inha lation anthrax and would not be able to identify it or notice Bacillus anthracis in a channel culture. Since an outdoor release of these spores can travel multiple miles and it only takes one gram to kill 10 million tidy sum, it could quite possible create extremely high fatality rates. In one city alone it is estimated that the release of aerosol anthrax could cause the death of up to 3 million people within the first couple of weeks.

Copper Sulphate Calibration

Method As per laboratory protocol. Rest Its and Discussion From the table and graph it shows that there is a additive relationship between concentration and absorption (Beer-Lambert Law). As the concentration increases so does the absorbency. The line of regression fits into the averages of the UP Absorbency, the RE is 0. 9538 this shows that the data is accurate as it is really close to the regression line. Taking the averages of the CIVIC Absorbency allows the data to become more accurate and reliable. Cavetti MM cuscus (ml) Distilled Water (m L)Concentration (M) XIV Absorbency (Average) Dividing the unknown solutions by y is the sort to find the concentrations of the unknown solutions. Plotting the unknown solutions On the graph Can test the reliability of the results of the concentration. The results are close to the line of regression, this indicates that the values which were calculated are accurate. The results which were self-collected could have been skewed from the way the cavetti was placed into the spectrophotometer.For instance, if the puttee had fingerprints on it, the wavelength would not penetrate the cavetti properly as the fingerprints may modify the way the light penetrates the solution, thus gathering an incorrect concentration reading. One way to avoid this is to clean the cavetti before placing it into the spectrophotometer, plus making sure that it is placed into the apparatus the right way. Whilst the 1 jetty of Copper Sulfate was measured with the Gilson there may have been a small chance of the measurement being inaccurate, however, a Gilson is more likely to entertain an accurate measurement of a solution than a pipette old.When using a spectrophotometer it is essential that the apparatus is switched on and left to warm up for at least 15 minutes, if this is not executed and the experiment is done with a cold spectrophotometer the readings may be unstable. Between each reading of the solutions the spectrophotometer transmittanc e needs to be set back to O, if this is not done the reading will be incorrect, therefore jeopardizing the accuracy and reliability of the results. Conclusion Within this practical the aim was achieved, the absorptions of the diluted solutions were determined and accurate.

British Literature Paper

Michael Sharp British Literature I 09/26/07 Angelina Jolie has a place in Hell According to Dante, Hell is overturned down into nine circles. Each circle would represent a punishment according to their sin and would be more evil as you draw come near towards the last circle. If Dante were to travel in Hell again, he would most likely encounter Angelina Jolie. Although she is looked upon as a celebrity with a humanitarian heart, the sins that she lead perpetrate would non be acceptable in divinitys eyes. Despite her humanitarian heart, she is likely to go to hell. Despite Angelina Jolies humanitarian heart, she is a non-Christian.Non-Christians are automatically condemned to hell. It is stated in the bible, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 316). The bible strictly states that if you do not believe in Jesus Christ, you will not go to heaven. It is through Gods grace that we are entitled to enter heaven. When Dante traveled through the initiative circle of hell, he noted that it housed all the pagans. Great writers and poets were condemned in the first circle because they had died not knowing Christ. You dont ask, my good Teacher said to me, who are these souls you look upon? Before you go on in your journey, you mustiness know they did not sin. If they had bad merits, these were not enough- baptism they did not have, the one gate to the faith which you believe (35). Although those people did not commit a serious sin, they did not believe in Christ. Therefore they were condemned to the first circle of hell. This is one of the few circles in Hell, where should would be condemned. Lust is one of the many sins people struggle with and it a good deal leads to committing adultery.Angelina Jolie is one of the many who had committed adultery. She seduced Brad Pitt away from his wife Jennifer Aniston and later marries him. In the bible it quotes, Whosoever shal l put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery. And whosoever sweep up her that is divorced, committeth adultery (Matthew 532). The bible also states clearly that this sin is not looked upon lightly. In fact in Ephesians 55 reads, For of this you can be accepted No immoral, impure or greedy person such a man is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. uniting is highly regarded in the Christian faith it is a unnameable covenant that is established between the man and his wife. Committing adultery would be a violation of that sacred covenant that was established between husband and wife. In Dante Inferno, Dante describes how he and Virgil pass into the second circle. It was illustrated as a dark area where the rain would continuously come back and the wind would blow constantly. The condemned would helplessly swirl in the wind and be swept through the storm. One of the characters that Dante pointed out was Sem iramis. She was allegedly an Assyrian queen who created incest a wakeless practice.Angelina Jolie did not only commit adultery but she also had an incestuous relationship with her brother. According to the bible it states, Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your fathers daughter or your mothers daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere (Leviticus 189). The bible strictly forbids any family members to have a sexual relationship with one another. According to the laws from the Old Testament they would execute those who were guilty from committing this sin. In the New Testament, the local church would be given the trust to outcast the guilty for the offence.In the Second Zone of the Seventh Circles Third Ring, Dante encounters Bruetto Latini. This is where the Sodomites must walk continuously under the rain of fire. Bruetto Latini was noted for providing Dante with benignancy and counsel, yet he accuses him for being a homosexual. During this ti me period, homosexuality was evident but not acceptable to the edict. However in todays society homosexuality is acceptable. Angelina Jolie publicly admitted that she had feelings for woman and would consider dating some of either gender. Her guilty pleasure in the same sex would earn her a built in bed in the third ring.Although Angelina Jolie has committed more than one serious sin, she would be condemned into the second circle of Hell. Lust has overwhelmingly affected her life and to Gods eyes it looked down upon with disgrace. She has violated the sacred commitment between husband and wife by sleeping with another wifes husband. She has been divorced and became enceinte before marriage. All of these factors are more than enough reasons as to why she should be condemned to Hell.Bibliography Alighieri, Dante. Dante Inferno. New York Esolen, 2003. Angelina Jolie. Ed. Mai Dinh, Janet Murphy. 25 September 2007. http//www. people. om/people/angelina_jolie/biography/0,,20004347_0,00 . html Adultery. www. biblegateway. com. Ed. notch Hengeveld. 25 September 2007. http//www. biblegateway. com/quicksearch/? quicksearch=adultery&x=0&y=0 John 316. www. biblegateway. com. Ed. Nick Hengeveld. 25 September 2007. http//www. biblegateway. com/passage/? search= butt%20316&version=31 Incest. www. biblegateway. com. Ed. Nick Hengeveld. 25 September 2007. http//www. biblegateway. com/quicksearch/? quicksearch=incest&x=0&y=0 homosexual. www. biblegateway. com. Ed. Nick Hengeveld. 25 September 2007. http//www. biblegateway. com/quicksearch/? quicksearch=homosexual&x=0&y=0

Othello Act 5, Scene 2 Lines #338-356 Essay

Within Act 5, Scene 2 of the Shakespearian play Othello, Lodovico tells Othello he is to lose rule and Cassio will become the governor of Cyrpus instead. Subsequently, Othello is to be held prison and will await trial. It is from this point in the play that Othello protests his great service to Venice. From lines 338 to 356, Othello states his final speech in front ultimately taking his own life. Here, Othello expresses his grief over what he has done feeling a strong sense of sin in his actions. His ego is smooth intact however as he mentions that he has done a great deed to the state despite the overshadowing for his act.Othello reaffirms his position as a come in who is simultaneously included and excluded from Venetian Society. Apparent in his final statement, he uses contradictions to explain his mental state before and after the manipulation of Iago. Another position give outed is the extent to which his sins have affected him and how he longs for the battles that helped him woo Desdemonas love through his heroic stories. Despite having done his services to the state, he reveals his foolishness as someone who existed within and outside Venetian society giving rise to a series of contradictions.In line 342, he asks others to speak of him as he truly is being, nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. The first contradictory sentence reveals that he does not wish for his guilt to be change magnitude as suggested by the diction extenuate. Nor does he want be considered evil which he would feel ashamed for as Iago is the real villain in the play. Othello reveals in the next line that he has loved not wisely, but too well indicating that he was unable to convey the same amount of affection second to Desdemona as she had done to him. Othellos love for Desdemona reveals a sensitive part of Othello despite his military background.It was Othellos love for Desdemona, however, that acted as a catalyst to which Iago manipulated and apply to his adva ntage. In the next contradictory statement, Othello states that he was not easily jealous, but, being wrought. Othello is referring to his previous assessment of Desdemonas relation with Cassio where he told Iago that he had nothing to disquietude and thus would not become jealous. However, the audience knows that this is no longer the situation as the honest Iago made Othello into a pawn of a greater game. Othello comments on his how he won the affection of Desdemona enchanting her through his heroic tales.Othello mentions the Arabian trees Their medicinal gum and Aleppo which were elements in his heroic tale. He cherishes his memories of when he spoke of such(prenominal) places to Desdemona further emphasizing his love for her. It is evident that no medicine in the world can cure him of his agony and torture referring to the medicinal properties of the Arabian Trees. However, the event of his sins become overwhelming referring to a base Judean, threw a pearl away. This quotat ion suggests that he has angered the heavens and makes a religious reference to the betrayal of alienate of Jesus.Similar to the betrayel of Jesus, he has betrayed Desdemonas pure qualities and love. There is irony involved because he killed Desdemona who had the qualities of a Saint who was always willing to forgive Othello for his actions. This trait was express previously in the play where Desdemona wished for the heavens to forgive Othello and send him to Purgatory rather than hell so that he may repent for his sins. Despite Othellos persistence and cries, he briefly manages to calm himself thus regaining his dignity that gave rise to his higher state of power in Venice.This indicates that his ego is still intact and has not been completely shattered as he works the persistence reveal his innermost feelings of being an outsider. He mentions Aleppo which is translated as a significant staging line for trade between Europe and the East where it was said that the punishment the re should a Christian strike a Turk was immediate death. Othello make this reference because he feels that he has been an outcast of Venetian society despite his title. He feel that he has been struck to death in comparison to Christian who struck a Turk.Considering the severity of the punishment, it is evident that this is not small matter, but rather a serious one with racial discrimination. While in the act of killing himself, he alludes to the metaphor of the killing of a Turk. He acknowledges that he will forever be an outsider. In summation, Othellos final remark has allowed him to personally reflect his actions and to reveal to the audience his remorseful feelings. While establishing the difference between one who was included and exclude in Venetian society, he makes his final act of martyrdom. The only resister left for him to conquer becomes himself.

RMG Industry of Bangladesh

Currently, there ar approximately 5000 manufacturing units with a 4. Million work force (Wisped 2012). Bangladesh does not deport any inborn advantage to flourish in subsection sector except cheap labor (Islam 2012). Undoubtedly, the dedicated work force with relatively low wages is the mainstay driving force in this sector. It gives Bangladesh a competitive edge everyplace the rivals. further unfortunately, employee satisfaction in the section sector seems to be fading. Since May 2006, the ARM sector has been beset with very serious labor unrest.The major disputes concern wages, working hours, appointment procedures, forced labor, child labor, health and safety, security, gender discrimination, sexual limited review and trade unionism. Non- accordance of workplace health, safety and security regulations are prevalent in the patience. Due to hazardous manufacturing plant environments many workers become sick or injured, or even lose their lives through accidents, fires and stampedes. Both the BAGMEN and the Government are showing Ostrich-Approach in this regard, perhaps on the plea of maintaining price competitiveness in the spheric market.However, recent tragic fire incident at Instructions tagre Garments factory has given a wakeup call for both the BAGMEN and the Government. The flush toiletcellation of equines ties by the sphere famous retailer Wall-Mart is seen by many as a disturbing and threatening symptom for ARM sector. At this backdrop, question arises tardily the apparent extend tor story of the ARM industry, Does the ARM industry in Bangladesh perform its ethical responsibility towards employees? Can we term this industry a successful one? A clear answer is essential for the continuous growth and sustainability of ARM sector in Bangladesh.This report shall demo the answer to the aforementioned questions with engageable details. 1. 2 Objectives The liberal objective of this report is to present the performance of the ARM industry f Bangladesh. To do so, we will first evaluate the industry from the handed-down concept of championship profit-minimization and growth. Secondly, we will gauge the industry performance from ethical dimension focusing mainly on the workers socio- economic curb. 1. Scope This report will be found on the ARM industry of Bangladesh only.No comparative data will be available about other countries. Also this report will not take the employee rights of other industries in Bangladesh. 1. 4 Limitations Limited timeshare which has affected the survey and interview process Inadequate primary data Confidentiality of education 1. 5 Methodology To achieve an effective result both qualitative and quantitative research has been conducted. Qualitative research, mainly exploratory in nature, was carried out to deliberate the entrepreneurs ethical responsibility in ARM sector.Some in-depth interviews have been conducted for better understanding of the working conditions at various factories. A n extensive literature review has also been carried out to collect relevant information on the subject issue. In addition, a survey was conducted on a sample size of 25 respondents using random sampling technique. This has helped in ascertaining the compliance of employee right as per law. Data analysis and presentation has been conducted as per frequency analysis method.Primary Data Primary data for this research work includes the following- Case study of randomly selected garments workers Survey of the workers with a set of questionnaire Structured interview with legal and human right experts Unstructured interview with few top level managers of garments industry including BAGMEN officials Secondary Data look back of related articles, books and research works on ARM sector of Bangladesh Online Journals and company websites Available official data from BAGMEN . Literature Review There is no universally accepted definition of ethics.It varies from culture to culture, society to soc iety and of course, from industry to industry. The principles, values, and beliefs that define right and wrong decisions and behavior can be termed as ethics (Robbins 2010. P. 101). Moreover, ethical values relate to what is right and wrong, and thus take precedence over non-ethical values when making ethical decisions (Powers 2012). A simpler til now comprehensive definition of ethical conduct is given by Bertrand Russell. He says, An ethical person ought to do more than he is necessary to do and sees than he is allowed to do. The common perception about Bangladesh garments industry portrays one apparent success story. M. Surreal Islam in his write-up titled Wakeup Call for Government and ARM Sector Leaders praises the ARM sector entrepreneurs. He considers that they have done a lot to be proud. They have given Bangladesh economy its biggest boost. With it over 5000 factories the industry employs nearly 5 one thousand million workers, and has been a basic factor of women empower ment in the country. However, the source also expressed his concern over the low wage of the workers in the industry in the name of price-competitiveness.He mentions that the ARM workers receive IIS$ 45 monthly payment today at their entry level. The writer compares such low wages and the associated working conditions as a object lesson of slave labor (Islam 2012. P-11). Md. Joanna Abiding in his research paper titled Overall Problems and Prospects of Bangladesh ARM Industry expressed his concern over the labor disturbances in ARM sector of Bangladesh. He mentions that garment workers remain one of the hardest working segments of the labor force in Bangladesh. Their working conditions and benefits must cleanse as the industry matures.Abiding recommends that investing in worker-training and in improved irking conditions will certainly enhance productivity and growth. The writer urges that the factory owners must be proactive instead of being reactive regarding this important issue (Abiding 2008). Following the recent Unchristian tagre Garments Tragedy, The Wall Street Journals editorial page writer Joseph Sternberg expressed his deep concern over the lack of ethical responsibility in the ARM industry of Bangladesh. In his article, appropriately titled Why Dacha Keeps burn mark the writer has flagged what is wrong in the industry.He mentions that ARM industry in Bangladesh is inefficiently and insufficiently developing. The writer criticizes special labor rules, including a ban on unionization, and correct pay rates that depress wages in the name of competitiveness. Finally, he brands Bangladesh ARM industry as a Monster Industry that now threatens to land the government. 3. line of descent Performance from Traditional View 3. 1 The Growth of ARM Industry ARM industry is the biggest homegrown commercial success story boulder clay date in Bangladesh. The industry has significant contribution in employment generation, poverty alleviation and women empowerme nt.As a garment producer for the global market, at present Bangladesh ranks second, behind china only. More than four million workers, mostly women, are employed in approximately 5,000 garment factories. This sector has acted as an engine behind the country economic growth. Undoubtedly, the industry has made a significant socio-economic impact in contemporary Bangladesh. 3. 2 Profit Minimization The Traditional Purpose of Business At present ARM industry earns around IIS$19 jillion per year which accounts for approximately 80% of country rack up exports and around 17% of total economic output (Sternberg 2012).The percentage of ARM export to the total export of Bangladesh in last ten years is shown on the chart below Figure-I percent of ARM Export to the conglomeration Export Source Statistics Department, Bangladesh Bank. 3. 3 Potentials for Rapid Growth of Bangladesh ARM Industry McKinney & Company a reputed global management consulting potent predicts that Bangladesh ARM expo rts will grow double by 201 5, and nearly triple by 2020 (McKinney 2011. P-22). Bangladesh is widely expected to become the top producer replacing China by virtue of its price competitiveness and capacity.The industry is expected to expand up to IIS$ 50 billion by next ten years. McKinney initiated a case study to know about the sourcing preference of the European and US apparel companies, accounting for IIS$ 46 billion in total sourcing value. They conducted an extensive interview base survey where the respondents were the Chief Purchasing Officers (COP) of the leading apparel players in Europe and US. Due to the rising labor cost in China, most of the buyers now consider Bangladesh as their alternative source. While China was once considered the place to be for sourcing, the light is starting to shine ever brighter on Bangladesh.For most Cops, Bangladesh will be the No-I sourcing hot spot over the next 5 years. (McKinney 2011. P-4). The result of the survey is shown below Figure- 2 Sourcing Preference of European and US Apparel Companies Source McKinney COP Survey, September-November 2011 So, from the traditional understanding of business, the ARM industry of Bangladesh can surely be called as a successful one. 4. Performance of ARM Industry from Ethical Dimension 4. 1 Compliance of Safety and Health Regulations The recent Unchristian tagre Garments fire accident at Savor claimed 112 lives.They were burnt alive inside the factory while they were working to earn their bread and butter. The most serious part of the tragedy was that the workers were locked inside a steel gate at each substructure even after the fire went out of control. The fire service trucks and the equipment could not reach timely as the access road was built on awkward land. These are serious flaws in compliance that BAGMEN officials tried to explain off later. Almost similar compliance failure is found in many of the factories boulder clay now.Compliances required factories to have two s taircases to be built in each floor, and also to have a fulfillment doctor for the medical service to the workers. But most of the factories are yet to achieve that (Islam 2012). 4. 2 Maternity Leave A Basic Woman Right Majority of the ARM workers in Bangladesh are women. They are often fondly called Pashas Joana the daughters of garments. Everyone in the industry recognizes that ARM industry survives, and grows with their sweat. We wanted to know the industry performance about one of the basic hire in every womans life Maternity Leave.Finding of our survey is shown below Figure-3 Compliance of Maternity Leave in ARM Industry Source Survey Conducted for the Research. 4. 3 The Issue of Minimum Wage It is, if not, the most controversial, at least, the most discussed issue regarding employee right in the ARM sector of Bangladesh. Tripartite body with representatives from Government, BAGMEN and Workers Association agreed with the minimum wage of TX 3500. Most of the factories were als o found compliant with this wage policy. We initiated a case study to have a feel of this minimum wage.One three member family a couple with a 2 years baby was selected where both the spouses were ARM workers. Their monthly income was TX 9400. We made a balance sheet of their monthly earning and expenditure. Table-I Balance rag week of ARM Workers Earning and Expenditure-A Case Study Earning Expenditure Husband 5200 House Rent 3500 Wife 4200 Baby Food 1 500 Medicare and others 1 oho Total earning Total expenditure 11000 *They often compromise with the bare minimum food they expect to eat to live It reminds the Bertrand Russets saying, An ethical person ought to do more than he is required to do. Surely, the entrepreneurs in ARM industry can do more than what they are doing for the ARM workers. And, mere compliance with the minimum wage policy is not ethical. 4. 4 Enforced Labor Mr. Safaris Islam, the president of BAGMEN said in an interview on AY Jazzier television that there is n o enforced overtime in Bangladesh ARM industry. However, our conclusion contradicts what the top man of BAGMEN claimed on international media. Enforced overtime is a common practice in many of the garments manufacturing units.The factory owners tried to Justify that they are sometime compelled to do so to meet the buyers timeline as supply of raw material often gets delayed due to poor infrastructure in Bangladesh. The relegate of enforced labor in ARM industry of Bangladesh is shown in the next page Figure-4 Forced Labor in ARM Industry 5. Conclusions Many have labeled the recent unrest in the ARM industry as a faction to destroy the potentials that Bangladesh enjoys. However, we feel that there is no a conspiracy theories, but disturbances in the ARM sector.These disturbances are the legitimate outpouring of the frustrations of those whose sweat makes a IIS$ 20 billion earning for our nation. From the classical business concept of making money, we can surely term the ARM indust ry a successful one. But, when we look at it from the ethical dimension, the performance appears to be dark which is evident from the poor socio-economic condition of the ARM workers. They are living a life where even the basic physiological needs are not met. If a US$ 20 billion industry fails to uplift the workers lives above the level of slavery, as many term it, that cannot be called successful.

A Research About Reasons Make People Not Learning English Easily Essay

I researcher paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course 2010-2014 Submitted by Nguy? n Th? Ng? c Mai Instructor D. A Nguy? n Thanh Tu? n Ho Chi Minh City, December, 2012 Foreign Language Faculty, Hong Bang University Contents Chapter 1 Introduction3 Chapter 2 literary works Review51. 1 What is diction? 51. 2 The solid situation of catching face nowadays61. 3 The enormousness of linguistic communication61. 4 Word Poverty71. 5 Vocabulary Development8 Chapter 3 Methodology111. 1 Subject111. 2 Research Procedure1113.Sample Selection111. 4 Sample Techniques121. 5 Data Collection121. 6 Reliability and Validity12 Chapter 4 Discussion141. 1 solve 114 1. 2 Figure 2151. 3 Figure 3161. 4 Figure 4171. 5 Figure 5181. 6 Figure 619 Chapter 5 Conclusion20 References22 Questionnaire23 Chapter 1 Introduction M some(prenominal) pack acquire face as their second oral communication endure the same problem. What is the reason why they tolerate non deem back the password that they utilize to know or read before when they gather up it? Why? Although you hit the bookst it and it may be non a in truth hard word to recognize, you still poopnot be able to speak that word break or write it heap.It seems disappear mysteriously and never exists in your head. Vocabulary is a genuinely serious constituent within a manner of address as the consuming majority of meaning is carried lexic every(a)(prenominal)y. thither atomic numerate 18 certainly other elements such as grammar, tenseness, rhythm, intonation, tone of voice, pa single-valued functions, hesitations or silences, not to mention the use of non-vocal phenomena kinesics and proxemics features (Rosa M. ). In my pointedness of view, we raftnot learn both languages without knowing the wording of it. It is obviously that how we can discourse our statuses, our noticeings and how we can communicate with no word even in language or writing.In 1990, Mc Carthy stated, no mat ter how well the discipline-age child learn the slightons grammar, no matter how successfully the sounds of L2 atomic number 18 mastered, without voice communication to express a encompassing range of meanings, communication in an L2 scantily cannot happen in any meaningful way. (L2-second language). Therefore, to make up ones mind problems of creation difficult to use phrase is one of the much or less necessary things to solve. Although the other cyphers be besides important, style is definitely the frontmost section which mustiness be done well for learners. You must have been embarrassed at least once and felt stuck when you cannot speak the L2 word out in public.So you have to replace it to another word that is not as excellent as the one before. Its all because you didnt remember that word. After reading this material, you provide discover causes and solutions to defeat your vocabulary weakness. In general, the upshot for Using position Vocabulary in Sp eaking and Writing is completely useful for all in soaring spirits school students and lay position university students. However, the other university students can also take hold this research in their employment. As everybody seems to underestimate learn vocabulary, we usually think in effect(p) learn by heart and understand youthful words, thats enough.But it is wrongfulness Nowadays, when the standard of life is much than and to a greater extent increasing, people pay less attention into worrying approximately what to eat or what to wear anymore, conversely, they have turned to worry approximately their friendship. Particularly, p atomic number 18nts who want their children have the best education at school and they al ways attempt to do it, so culture second language should be a typical example of this tendency. Many years ago, Vietnamese started culture other languages like Chinese, French and above all others was side.Nevertheless, it was not popular as pres ent and learners mainly taught themselves studying. Thank to modernization, hotly imported cultures of foreign countries, we have more chance to approach and line up it how to it becomes our advantages. Therefore, the government is submiting to make L2 become a criterion for citizen to raise our coun learns position higher in the world. For that reason, learning other language is very essential and vocabulary should merely be taken heed the most. Lacking aw beness about vocabulary immenseness is actually one main cause making us liveliness bored and hard to learn.Almost students hate that they have to learn by heart every single new word and then they obturate for a while. Because teachers also force them learn grammar by heart more, merely require them to be unspoilt at both, just learning and learning, they dont have time to acquire what they have just learned. During the research process, I make a study of this and realize that on that point are more different methods to teach a student modify his or her learning skills. This will help us evaluate our ways to learn from the sometime(prenominal) until now, to find out which is effectual to develop it more and which is full-grown to stop and to erase from our habits.Students in Viet Nam are almost good at grammar, just they always feel they cant speak or write their L2 frequently. Therefore, this research aims to a very cause vocabulary. After you improve your vocabulary knowledge, it is for received you wont never fear this problem anymore. However, in spite of the importance of this element, vocabulary is often the least systematized and the most neglected of all the aspects of learning second language. For that reason, why do people underestimate vocabulary the incline element? And How to change this thought of learners to improve their speaking and writing skills?Chapter 2 Literature Review Before we start determination the efficient ways to use vocabulary in speaking and writing, we n eed to clarify some questions, find out the main reason to solve it totally and then we will be better at these two skills. What is a vocabulary? According to the Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary (1989 1629), the vocabulary of a language is the total number of words in it and in the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (New 8th Edition, 2012 1722), vocabulary is all the words that a person knows or uses.About word, it is defined, a single unit of language which means something and can be communicate or written. Some people see between vocabulary and word, they think they are similar, barely actually not. To simplify those definitions, we can understand that vocabulary is all of the words we know and use to communicate effectively. Some of them we use in speaking or learn from reading books, some we regconise when listening from the others. There are two types of vocabulary A.Use vocabulary (active vocabulary) words you can remember and use easily. Students learn vocab ulary indirectly when they hear and see words used in umteen different contexts, for example, through conversations with adults, through being read to, B. Recognition vocabulary (passive vocabulary) words you knew in advance merely for some reasons, its hard to spell or to pronounce correctly, and you need something remind. Students learn vocabulary directly when they are explicitly taught both individual words and word-learning strategies.In fact, the use vocabulary is as large as your recognition vocabulary and when you speak or write, you do not use as many words as when you recognise it from hearing and reading at all. This is information which tells us that if we can hunt the recognition and the use one together, how remarkably our speaking and writing are im prove The real situation of learning vocabulary nowadays As a student, the researcher has been through many years at school, most vocabulary I learned and varied were from English textbook (grade 6 to grade 12).However, I actually could use half of them in practising and all of my friends were the same with me or some were even worse. According to Beck & McKeown in 1991, Early vocabulary researchers reported figures ranging from 2,500 to 26,000 words in the vocabularies of typical grade 1 students and from 19,000 to 200,000 words for college graduate students. And in two decades ago, there was considerable consensus among researchers that students added approximately 2,000 to 3,500 distinct words yearly to their reading vocabularies (Anderson & Nagy, 1992 Anglin, 1993 Beck and Keowm, 1991 White et al. , 1990).At the present time, the vocabulary size of each student must have increasing that figure more and more thanks to the help of modern technology. This is sound and wrong. Although students have varied their vocabulary expectantly but they are hindered partly by tissues such as types of vocabularies being considered (e. g. active and passive vocabulary). to a greater extentover, students hav e more subjects to study and to be good at all that subjects either. They do not moreover learn by heart other subjects theories but they also have to acquire an standard of vocabularies and grammar structures which are their second language.Therefore, learning vocabulary may become a burden for almost students and they will be bored with foreign languages lessons. The importance of vocabulary Everybody knows vocabulary knowledge plays an essential part to have a good basement when he or she learns a new language. Because it is obviously that without a basic amount of vocabulary, you cannot study language of any farming well even if you are sincerely good at its grammar. In 1997, Ellis stated, knowing the words in a piece of discourse facilitates understanding which in turn allows the grammatical patterning to become more transparent. However, course books and teachers try to focus on grammar and make it become more important than the other elements. Additionally, foreigners can catch your computer address with an imperfect grammar and an enough known vocabulary. But not many people get this point, they try to study hard in grammar skill, as the results, there are many people who learn vocabulary, still underestimate the importance of it. Students need both of a great many words in their vocabularies and the ability to use various strategies to establish the meaning of new words when they encounter them (Fran L. Jean O. and Elfrieda H. ) Knowing a visual sense of words is good but not enough, all of it will be useless if you cant be able to use it appropriately and effectively. imagine about some practical cases like when you want to write or speak an arouse sentence in your writing or your speech and you try to find the best word to apply in that sentence because you cant find out or cant remember it. Cannot find it out you didnt know that word Cannot remember it you are lack of ability to use it immediately. Even if your rammar structure of this sen tence is excellent, do not have vocabulary it still have nothing. As McCarthy stated, , No matter how well the student learn the lessons grammar, no matter how successfully the sounds of L2 are mastered, without words to express a wide range of meanings, communication in an L2 just cannot happen in any meaningful way. Mc Carthy is the author who did many researches about the importance level of vocabulary, and this status above surely prove that words of L2 is the most necessary element for every learners.Thus, I hope that we should raise the awareness of students about the importance of vocabulary. And then when students aware by themselves, they can easily improve this element and have their own motivation to learn how to use it in any situation effectively. Word Poverty Main reason causing difficulties in our speaking and writing A. Word poverty Researcher Louisa Moats refers to the gap in word knowledge between advantaged and disadvantaged children as word poverty.In her stud y of the language abilities of kindergarten students in a large city district, Moat give that many children were unable to name pictures that showed the meanings of words such as sewing or parachute. (Moats, 2001) It is straighten that learning vocabulary is not just about memorizing lists of words, but it also depends on methods of each learner so that they will be good or bad at their study. For that reason, vocabulary is a main go under of a studying new language process, if the root is not healthy and weak, its tree-truck definitely will be wheeling and underdeveloped.It is the same with learners who are easily distrait or they approach their second language in a wrong way. Like the research above, children and students learn a numerous new words usual but when they are asked about any word of their vocabulary knowledge, they may not remember it. Most cases have started in learning vocabulary which is the first important mile, there have different levels to divide learners into different types of Word Poverty. B. Level 1 inappropriate vocabulary using vocabulary incorrectly in given situations such as speaking or writing.This level is not too bad, those students have relative knowledge of vocabulary. However, English is a various language for learners to totally understand and acquire it, it is very difficult to get all principles of it. Therefore, in some circumstances, learners can make mistakes and apply the word in wrong position. For instance, right/left are normally used for indicating snap, but these words will not be appropriate on a ship, according to the maritime Terms, right/left must be starboard/port. Level 2 wrong level of formality. This common error can occur to any learner.We usually use conservational English in spite of academic English in formal situations, because its hard for us to choose right words to apply our utterances or our speeches. An typical example is sit down in informal situation and be seated, ladies and gentlem en of formality. Level 3 meaningless vocabulary. There are some learners use words in a sentence improperly for two reasons. First, they translate it word to word by their mother tongue second, they misunderstand its meaning without looking up in dictionary. The worse things are wrong grammar forms, wrong spelling or pronunciation.Word poverty will affect your speaking and writing very much if you dont change this now. Lack of vocabulary or using it illogically obviously will make your speech or your writing underestimated. Vocabulary Development Building vocabulary is a powerful way to enhance your life and career. Because words may be learnt or taught because they are seen to be of special relevance to particular situations in which the learner finds himself, or exponent find himself, according to Wallace (1988 16). 1. How to improve and expand vocabulary of your own. There are many ways helping you develop your vocabulary knowledge.Nevertheless, because of so many methods and s o much direction which make you feel confusing to choose, in this research, I gladly give you the most six effective approaches to enhance your vocabulary. 1. Keep Learning New Words This is the great technique which many people use to develop their vocabulary knowledge. You must have known about the technique, it has one only rule have to learn at least a word a day. Thus, if you count these be of words you have learnt over a years, it will support you a lot of words. Moreover, you will be more responsible for your study. a. In the book Learning English Effectively, Nguy? Tho Sinh M. A in Bowie State University, Maryland gives us a very new ways to learn vocabulary which bases on the traditional one. He named it Percentage Formula, this method emphasizes that although there are a great amount of new words you try to learn, you also forget some of the so many words. Main reason is your brain always discounts some percentages of the total vocabulary you have just learnt. Do not beli eve in the ability of memorizing of your brain totally, but cooperate with it wisely. For example, you learn 10 words a day, if you forget 20% of them, you will remember 8 words.With someone learns 15 words, if he forget 15%, he still remain 10 words. Compare with the one who learn 10 and who learn 15 words, you can realize that the more new words we learn, the less words we will miss due to the discount of your brain. Similarly, if you learn 20 and forget 40%, you will remember 12 of those words when you try to learn 30 or 40 words per day and you may even bring out 50 or 60%, you still get 15 and 16 words in your memory. b. Keep a vocabulary notebook of your own is also a good way to learn new words. Wherever you are, if you suddenly discover a strange or interesting word, you can write it down in you notebook. Obviously, you must decide what words to put in and what to say about them. Should you translate them, give definitions, give grammatical information? The decision is your s. (Jeremy and Richard, More Than Words). 1. 2 Independent Learning This technique is probably the most efficient for learners in their long run of studying a new language. Because it is sure that we are always apply what teacher taught us effectively, sometimes what we are self-learned is more easier for us to apply. Vaila Goodridge suggested five ways to study vocabulary in context scroll saw Readings, Guessing Meaning, Narrow Reading, Conversation, Concordance Lines.These are suitable ways to improve your vocabulary knowledge at home. He also noted that Repetition is in truth important for learners to do some activities so that we can remember the new words for a long time. 1. 3 Use Various Techniques (Multiple Techniques) There are some techniques such as dictionary work, word unit analysis, mnemonic devices, semantic elaboration, collocations and lexical phrases, oral production. However, if you think these ways are too obscure to apply in your study, Entertainment is also a tool for both studying and relaxing, you can learn vocabularies by foreign films, songs, games reading famous ovels or books can expand your new words a lot. 1. 4 Take Full Advantage of Dictionary As normally, we use dictionary to look up a new word, but it is not enough for taking full advantage of it. You must have your own dictionary which depends on your currently English level. Then circle the words you look up and it is necessary to read the entire for the word you will check. One more thing is Be cognizant of Words. Some people read a lot to expand their vocabulary knowledge, but they are told having a small amount of vocabularies. It is because you are not really aware of the new and hard words when you read, so you skip it.This will not give you a good result although you have been reading all the time. 1. 5 Motivation This definition is quite abstract but very essential for learners who are studying a new language. The most important cipher is a successful vocabulary bui lding tool. It is clear that without motivation, your work will not be done well or if the work can be completed, it absolutely will have no effect. Thus, when you determine what your purpose and your motivation are, I know you can enhance your vocabulary as far as you want. Vocabulary is totally an essential part of learning English.Thus, when students can ascertain and keep expanding their knowledge of it every day, there is no door to be less cocksure of practising Speaking and Writing skills anymore. Chapter 3 Methodology Subject It is junior high school students, and university students who dont major in English. They are almost good at grammar but lack of vocabulary which is the main reason why they can speak and write English well. These learners are the very important human resources of our country in future and their second language is good or not which will affect their future jobs very much. Therefore, I made up my mind to choose them are my objectives.There has the sam e character about the researchs subjects, that is almost them take care of their second language English. Research procedure After observing and discovering weaknesses of students about their second language-English in general. Particularly in newspaper, television news, social network pages,.. and by my friends, my acquaintances. I effected a big gap of learning English which is underestimated by most students, vocabulary knowledge. Then, I made a research and collected information about this problem from books, Internet, statistics As a result, I decided to suss out a number of students in my area, Th? D? district, Hi? p Binh high school and another number of nonprofessional English students in H? ng Bang University. Because these two subjects are familiar to me, they are also easy for me to survey and analyze my research. After I had the result of what I had studied, I found main reasons causing difficulties for students when they write or speak English. By particular numbers and statistics I surveyed, it proved what I had mentioned before is right. Next, I drew all information from the materials and my own experiences together, then, I made a list of tips for learners to use vocabulary more effective in speaking and writing.Sample selection The sample technique I used to support my research is Stratified Sample. As I aimed at the subjects of my research who are high school students and nonprofessional English students in university, I decided to choose my school, H? ng Bang University and Hi? p Binh high school which I used to study at in order to carried out my research. In H? ng Bang University, I focus on faculties taking more interest in learning English such as business administration, information technology, finance banking, foreign relationship. In Hi? Binh high school, I made a survey with advanced classes and normal classes. Sample techniques Stratified Sample method which is dividing the population into subgroups and then at random selecting from among these subgroups. In this direction, I followed two important criteria, materials and method. My primary materials I used to support the research are my computer with Microsoft Excel, I chose this software to help me draw diagram more exactly and clearly a questionnaire I made by myself with eight questions a mathematical model is my calculator especially is my real subjects, the students at school, ithout them, my research paper would be meaningless and valueless. Data collection Through a process, I collected much information and I did surveys by myself which I use to support my research. Therefore, my data has a clear origin and it is valuable. The way I selected and collected my data is quite simple. After searching for many sources related to my topic, I went on carrying out some analyses by questionnaire, tests, observation, in order to make clear problems and find the best solutions for it. The locations where took place my surveys were H? g Bang university and Hie p Binh high school. Consequently, almost all objectives take their interest in my research (94. 4%). There are more than 75% who also flout the main reason causing difficulties in their speaking and writing skills is Lack of Vocabulary. And there are more than 80% people think their two skills will be nearly perfect if they improve the vocabulary knowledge. Reliability and Validity My research paper is mainly for high school students and nonprofessional English students at university, but it can also inspire the other levels of learners.First, the validity of my researchs results and applicability is suitable and general for every learner because its particular objectives are just a manner so that I can take more focus on and narrow my topic. For that reason, there is not only high school or nonprofessional English students can approach this research, but there are also appropriate for secondary students or advanced English students whoever has the same trouble at his speaking and writing skills. Second, this is an issue of our national education now.When students are very good at English grammar and others elements, but they cannot apply it on practice and real situations. So the research will be useful for numerous learners in our country, and it will help them a good direction in their studying. About the reliability, I make sure that my research paper is trustworthy. Because I did it by my best and my real ability. Sources, books, websites, and surveys are on the research which proved that it is totally from my studying process. Finally, if you depend on the results and the capability, you will realize my new ideas and easily apply in reality.Chapter 4 Discussion Obviously in English, speaking and writing is two factors which every learner want to be good at the most. However, to be master these factors, there are some elements that the learners must control well like vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and the result below will show you what high school a nd nonprofessional English university students think about their two skills. pic With the question, Are you good at these two skills? (speaking and writing skills), the majority of students choose so so as their final resolution.There are 66,7% high school students and 50% university students who feel they are at average of speaking and writing English. Especially in the yes button answer, there are 25% high school students think they can control these skills, in the contrary, no university student is assured that they are good at both. You can see in the diagram, half of university students are so so and the other half totally think they speak and write English badly. Meanwhile, there are just 8. 3% high school students less self-assertion of speaking and writing English.What is the reason why they cannot remember the word that they used to know or read before when they need it? Relating to the result above, the very annoyance trouble which students meet is they are usually st uck when speaking and writing English sentence because of not knowing how to describe it by vocabulary. pic There are 83,3% highschool school students and total nonprofessional English university students hold their weakness. However, some high school students can overcome this difficulty with 16,7% of them.The first and second diagram can be explained the reason why not all students easily say they are good at Speaking and Writing skills but half of them think they are so so and there are even worse because of 50% say-no university students. The cause is only for lacking Vocabulary. Majority of students choose they are not good yet not really bad at these skills because they have learned English, they know about grammar and some rules of it but lack of words makes them change magnitude their confidence and also feel hard to practice the skills. With the big number of nonprofessional English university students, ho entirely answer no toward being good at Speaking and Writing skil l, because there are many factors effecting them at the high education school university. Vocabulary knowledge is an essential element of learning this foreign language but there are more other fundamentals they need to concern either. At this position of university students, they realize grammar and rules that are just a part not whole learning English. Next diagram and statistical numbers below will show the elements effecting learners when they study English. pic There are five main factors in learning English, they are Vocabulary, Grammar, Pronunciation, Stress, Intonation and some extra features. At the first sight, we can find out the strongest influent element which was chosen by students at high school and University, that is Lack of Vocabulary. With 75% and 88. 9% of high school and university students choices, this percentage shows that almost students are aware of their knowledge of vocabulary. They know and understand about the element effects on their English studying time, because Vocabulary is the most basic thing when you learn a language.It is clear that Vocabulary is as a basement and foundation for each learner to have a stable process, if not the process will be very breakable. Therefore, every student should build their strategy of improving the Vocabulary knowledge right now. It is not too difficult, conversely, all the words will be of course and easily acquired, as Wallace said, words may be learnt or taught because they are seen to be of special relevance to particular situations in which the learner finds himself, or might find himself. The next factor students take care of is Pronunciation.This absolutely relates to Vocabulary, when you learn by heart a new word, you should make sure about its meaning, synonyms, stress and especially is Pronunciation. However, some people usually miss this step so it will obstruct them in the future. There are 16. 7% High educate students and 38. 9% university students agree with this point. Abou t Grammar, a number of students think it have a an effect on learning English is not a few, 25% of high school and 33. 3% university chose this element. Beside three factors, Stress and Intonation have the same percentage of choices from students, there are 16. % in high school and 33. 3% in university. Additionally, some high school students said they also have other reasons which weaken their speaking and writing skills, that is lacking time and to be more in practice. Thus, there will be a question Why do most people underestimate vocabulary the English element? The answer is their teacher taking much more focus on Grammar structure than other English elements. pic Nearly all students at High school and university admit of this mistake which belongs to Vietnamese teachers. With 77. 2% high school students and 83. % nonprofessional English students chose the answer Yes are evidents for program line wrong English at school and bad influence to their study process for a long time. As a result, students are so familiar with the style of learning which they have been taught from their teachers is attaching special importance to Grammar only. This seriously affects University students who are at the age need to use and practise English most. These remaining students, who dont think their teachers take more focuses on Grammar, are only 27. 8% of high school and 16. 7% of University.However, the mistake of teaching was happened until few years later of the twenty-first century when Viet Nam, our country had not been adopted many other English teaching approaches. For this reason, there were a lot of Vietnamese teachers, who taught English, had only one method to educate their students the Grammar-Translation Method. Fortunately, when this time of teaching style are narrowing, teachers and students have much more new choices to teach and learn English such as the Direct Method, the Audio-Lingual Method, Total somatic Response, Communicative Language Teaching, et c.Because the Grammar-Translation Method just focuses on Grammar but takes less intentions to others factors of English, teachers has to follow the principles of this approach ( Diane Larsen, 2000). This can be considered and answered for the research questions of Chapter 1 as the very first cause making learners underestimate Vocabulary the English element. How to change this thought of learners to improve their speaking and writing skills? There is a very important solution educators must immediately put on action, this is balance teaching and studying time of the English elements equally.Figure 5 The Next eventful Elements In Learning English picpicTo response the question, Which of remaining factors (except Grammar) do you agree that it is the most important one influencing your English speaking and writing skills? students at Hiep Binh high school and Hong Bang university randomly agree with Lack of Vocabulary in majority. In the pie diagram, more than a half learners believe Vocabulary is a refer component which help they build a steady basement and support to others elements a lot. There are 61. 1% of total Hong Bangs nonprofessional English students and 58. % of Hiep Binhs students, this percentage reveals Vocabulary truly plays a essential role in English study of each student. But this feature seems to be neglectful and underestimated by Grammar structures, it is understandable that without Vocabulary, your knowledge of English will be merely at zero level. Therefore, you should take more time to separate the English elements uniformly, so that there is not which of them too bigger than the other ones. Pronunciation is the next choice with 33. 3% and 41. 6% of students, it is less than Vocabulary in university 27. 8% and in high school 16. %. There are some opinions that practice is also a factor making learners improve their English skills. After being good at both Grammar and Vocabulary-the most important English elements, I completely trust tha t every student can be more confident and more fearless when they use Vocabulary in their conversations and situations in real life. Thus, almost students quickly say Yes and think they will be perfect in English. pic Compare with Yes and No columns, we can recognise an obvious difference. These numbers are 83. 3% for students at high school and even 94. % for nonprofessional English students at university who surely believe if they try to improve and expand their Vocabulary knowledge and if this pluses Grammar knowledge which they have been taught well, they will absolutely control all difficulties they met in the past for Speaking and Writing skills. Moreover, these students will be practical perfect in this foreign language English. Chapter 5 Conclusion Now, desire of being master of Vocabulary knowledge does not belong to minor learners anymore. In addition, the advantages of Vocabulary are very huge for your whole English studying process.Once students are confident of their v ocabulary, they will definitely control four skills of English, especially is Speaking and Writing skills. Therefore, the researcher realized this point, then referred books relating and started making analyses. Actually, learning Vocabulary is not only learn by heart all the new words and it is done, but there are many methods to acquire such a numerous number of Vocabulary knowledge more easily. As the researcher present to you all information about Vocabulary, you, the audiences, have found out many tips for your own to improve and expand your knowledge of new words.However, there still have a lot of people who are underestimating this element of English. For that reason, many students admit that they usually feel hard to speak and write an English sentence which can transport full meaning in their mother tongue. Finally, these learners discover what obstructs them, this is amazingly an English factor that is not very important by their thoughts up to now-Vocabulary. Starting at so much complaints from my friends like I have ideas in my head but I cannot speak or write them with no trouble, I even forget vocabulary all the time, the researcher decided to make a research about this problem.From articles, news, books, television shows, and doing surveys in real community of students, particularly in high school and university. Then collecting results, analyzing and detecting some interesting findings, simultaneously giving audiences familiarity about Vocabulary and techniques to learn it more effectively. Throughout the research procedure, I perceived a big gap in our countrys education about teaching English that is teachers just focus on grammar structures more than other components.This leads students to a bad result when they go to university that is lack of Vocabulary and scare of Speaking and Writing skills, especially in high school, there is a majority of students already meet the problems. Next useful finding the researcher made out is creative ways to study and improve learners Vocabulary knowledge. Above all is the Percentage Formula (page 8), which Nguy? n Tho Sinh M. A introduce to audiences totally inspires us in learning Vocabulary.Besides this method, there are more easier ones to study news word without bore such as using multiple techniques, your own motivation, taking full advantages of dictionary, One more brightly exciting discovery for all English learners is there are more and more people realize the problem of teaching English in Viet Nam, so this is changing their awareness and our national education will be more successful in outlook. For further vision of this research, I suppose that when there is no learner lacking Vocabulary anymore, the next important thing we must follow is raising the international teaching.Because English is the most popular language in the world, no one can deny that Chinese, French or Japanese are also popular but English is still the most appreciated tool for human owing to its easy applicability worldwide. Thus, renewing English teaching approaches more internationally will be the next direction to develop for future research. Additionally, how to educate the remaining people who really do not know about what the second language-English is like the old, the poor and ethnic minority people. This is a very field making every educator reflect on and find out ways to come and fix it.In final, we discovered all causes of obstructing students in Speaking and Writing skills. We ascertained about what you should do right now to improve your English Vocabulary with no bore. We noticed weaknesses of our country educations teaching second language either. For these results, the researcher absolutely believe in Solution for Using English Vocabulary in Speaking and Writing which will give you a new sight about learning Vocabulary and help you solve your difficulties of this language effectively. As Stahl mentioned in 1999, Our knowledge of words determines how we understan d texts, how we define the way we see the world. References Anderson, R. C. , & Nagy, W. E. (1992). The vocabulary conundrum. American Educator, 16, 14-18, 44-47. Anglin, J. M. (1993). Vocabulary development A morphological analysis. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, Serial No. 238, 58(10). Beck, I. L. , & McKeowm, M. G. (1991). Conditions of vocabulary acquisition. In R. Barr, M. Kamil, P. Mosenthal, & P. D. Pearson (Eds. ), Handbook of reading research, (Vol. 2, pp. 789-814). New York Longman. Diane Larsen-Freeman (2000). Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching.Oxford. 15-17. Fran Lehr, M. A, Jean Osborn, M. Ed. and Dr. lfrieda H. Hiebert, A Focus On Vocabulary Kennedy, C. & Bolitho, R. (eds. ) 1984 English for Specific Purposes. London Macmillan. Jeremy Harmer and Richard Rossner, More Than Words, part A, unit 3, 29. McCarthy, M. 1990 Vocabulary. Oxford O. U. P Moats, L. C. (2001). Overcoming the language gap. American Educator, 25, 5, 8-9. Nguy? n Tho Sinh M. A, Percentage Formula, Learning English Effectively H? c Ti? ng Anh Co Hi? u Qu? , 6, 75-76. R. Ellis (1997). SLA research and language teaching. Oxford.

The Battle for the Campaign Agenda in Britain

The 1997 election was a struggle, not just for votes, save also to control the persist agenda. Significant, but contradictory, contends faced the media, parties and the public. For journalists, the problem was how to engender any zip into the adjure. Ever since Black Wednesday, in September 1992, Labour had seemed assured of victory while Conservative game floundered in the doldrums. For five years, perhaps it just seemed the like giganticer, pundits had been writing of the end of the Conservative era, bolstered by all the accumu juveniled enjoin from opinion polls, by-elections and local elections.By the start of the six-week official suit, the horse-race story was almost lifeless. Moreover, to the dismay of leader-writers, commentators and columnists, Blairs strategic shift towards the centre-left had removed much of the drama of serious insurance conflicts between the major(ip) parties. Few issues remained where one could discern clear blue water between Labour and the Co nservatives devolution and constitutional reform, perhaps the faint ghost of trade pairing rights and spending priorities but on so much the contest was a classic case of an echo not a choice.Lastly, at the outset the campaign promised tight party control, in as gaffe-free an environment as could be humanly managed. At the start the Labour party seemed insecure and sweaty despite its gigantic lead in the polls, and the professional andelson machine at Millbank Tower left almost nothing to chance, as though the souffle of support might suddenly collapse. base on their formidable track-record during the 1980s, the Conservatives had a reputation for running highly professional campaigns.Given the palpable sense of public boredom and impatience, a feeling of oh-do-lets-get-on-with-it, the challenge for journalists was to find roundthing fresh and interesting to hold the attention of their readers and viewers. During the six week campaign there was, on average, nigh ten hours of r egular BBC and ITN television word of honor and current af attractives programmes every weekday1, not including election specials, nor Sky News, CNN, Radio 4, Five Live, newspapers and magazines, the internet election web pages, and all the other plethora of media outlets.Something had to engross the ravenous news hole. For the public, the primary urge seemed to be to get it all over with. But voters also needed to make sense of the choice in advance them, when policy differences between the parties had shaded from the red-and-blue days of Thatcher v. Foot to a middle of the road wishy-washy mauve. Many issues confronting voters were complex, technical and subtle, with no easy answers what will happen to the scrimping if Britain enters, or stays out, of the ERM? How can the peace process move ahead in Northern Ireland, given the intractability of all sides?Can Britain afford an powerful and comprehensive health service, given ever-increasing demands on the system and spending l imits accepted by all parties? These, and related, issues facing Britain have critical consequences for the lives of citizens, but they admit of no simple sound-bite panaceas. The needs of the news media and the public were at odds with those of the parties. Given their lead, the primary challenge for Labour was to manage their media environment against unexpected crises, in play-safe unstable mode.The watchword was control. Memories of the polling fiasco in 1992, and Neil Kinnocks false expectation of victory in that campaign (Were allright ), dominate strategy in 1997. The challenge for the Conservatives was to staunch grassroots morale, and eventide build momentum, by emphasising the positive economic performance of the government, by reassuring voters to trust Prime Minister John Major against the inexperienced and unkn give birth Tony Blair, and by attacking Labour on the old bugaboos of taxes and trade unions.To gain traction the Conservatives had to take more risks than L abour. The challenge facing all the minor parties, but in particular the Liberal Democrats, was to avoid being squeezed by Labours smothering slither centre-left. Who won? The aim of this chapter is to examine this battle and evaluate the outcome. The first section sets out the long-run context by considering how campaigning has been transformed in the post-war era.The 1997 election represented another critical step, it can be argued, in the transition to the post-modern campaign in Britain, characterised by partisan dealignment in the press, growing fragmentation in the electronic media, and strategic communication theory in parties. The second section goes on to analyse what was cover in the study press and television during the campaign, and whether this suggests Labour won the battle of the campaign agenda, as well as the election.Lastly, we consider how the public reacted to the coverage, whether they felt that journalists generated interesting, fair and informative covera ge, and the implications of this analysis for the struggle over campaign communications. The Evolution of the Post-Modern Campaign Modernisation theory suggests that during the post-war era the political communication process has been transformed by the decline of direct linkages between citizens and parties, and the rise of mediated relationships.Swanson and Mancini argue that similar, although not identical, developments are recognisable across industrialised democracies2. In the earliest stage, the premodern campaign in Britain was characterised by the predominance of the partisan press a loose organizational network of grassroots party volunteers in local constituencies and a concise, ad-hoc national campaign run by the party leader with a few close advisers. This period of campaigning gradually evolved in the mid-nineteenth century following the development of muss party organizations registering and mobilising the newly enfranchised electorate.Despite the introduction of wir eless broadcasting in 1922, this pattern was maintained in largely identifiable form until the late fifties3. The critical watershed came in 1959, with the first television coverage of a British general election, symbolising the transition to the next stage. The evolution of the modern campaign was marked by a shift in the central location of election communications, from newspapers towards television, from the constituency grassroots to the party leaders, and from amateurs towards professionals.The press entered an era of long-term decline circulation of national newspapers peaked in the late fifties and sales have subsequently dropped by one-third (see Figure 1). The fall was sharpest among tabloids, pushing these gain ground downmarket in the search for readers4. This fierce competition transformed the nature of the British press, producing growing sensationalism, and more journalism with attitude, while changes in ownership ratcheted the partisan balance further in the Conserva tive direction. unitary major factor contributing towards declining circulation was the rise of television. The political effects of this new technology were potently mediated by the regulations politics broadcasting in each country. In Britain the legal framework for the BBC/ITV duopoly was suffused by a strong public service ethos which required broadcasters to maintain party balance and right in news coverage, to inform, educate and entertain according to high standards, and to provide an agreed allocation of unpaid airtime to arty political broadcasts5.Within this familiar context, television centralised the campaign, and thereby increased the influence of the party leaders what appeared on BBC1s flagship 9 Oclock News and ITNs News at Ten, and related news and current affairs studios, was the principle means by which politicians reached the vast majority of voters. To work effectively within this environment parties developed a coordinated national campaign with professiona l communications by specialists skilled in advertising, marketing, and polling.The long campaign in the year or so before polling day became as important strategically as the short official campaign. These changes did not occur overnight, nor did they displace grassroots constituency activity, as the timeless ritual of canvassing and leafletting go along. A few trusted experts in polling and political marketing became prestigious during the campaign in each party, such as Maurice Saatchi, Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in Conservative Central Office, but this role remained as part-time outside advisors, not integral to the process of government, nor even to campaigning which was still run by politicians.Unlike in the United States, no political marketing industry developed, in large part because the only major clients were the Labour and Conservative party leaderships the minor parties had limited resources, while parliamentary candidates ran retail campaigns based on shoe-leather and grassroots helpers.But the net effect of television during the era of modernisation was to shift the primary focus of the campaign from the ad-hoccery of unpaid volunteers and local candidates towards the central party leadership flanked by paid, although not necessarily full-time, professionals6. Lastly in the late twentieth century Britain seems to have been experiencing the rise of the post-modern campaign, although there remains room for dispute in the interpretation of the central features of this development and its consequences.The most identifiable characteristics, evident in the 1997 campaign, include the emergence of a more autonomous, and less partisan, press following its own media logic the growing fragmentation and diversification of electronic media outlets, programmes and audiences and, in reaction to these developments, the attempt by parties to reassert control through strategic communications and media management during the aeonian campaign. Partisan Dealignment in the Press In the post-war period parties have had long-standing and stable links with the press.In 1945 there was a rough partisan balance with around(predicate) 6. 7 billion readers of pro-Conservative papers and 4. 4 million readers of pro-Labour papers. This balance shifted decisively in the early 1970s, with the transformation of the left-leaning day-after-day Herald into the pro-Conservative Sun, and the more aggressively right tone of The Times, both under Rupert Murdochs ownership. By 1992 the cards had become overwhelmingly stacked against the left, since the circulation of the Conservative-leaning press had risen to about 8. 7 million compared with only 3. million for Labour-leaning papers (see Figure 1).Throughout the 1980s Mrs Thatcher could campaign assured of a largely sympathetic press, which provided a loyal platform to get her message across7. One of the most striking developments of recent years has been the crumbling of these traditional press-party loyalti es. The evidence comes partly from chromatography column policy. The Conservative press had started to turn against Mrs Thatcher in 1989-90, when the economy was in nook and her leadership became deeply unpopular, and this constant barrage of criticism probably contributed towards her eventual demise8.During the 1992 election, while the Sun and the Daily Express continued to beat the Tory drum, comment from some of the other pro-Conservative press like the spot and The Sunday Times was more muted, and four out of eleven daily papers failed to endorse a maven party9. The new government enjoyed a brief respite on returning to office but press criticism of John Majors leadership deepened following the ERM flagellation on 16th September 1992, with only the Daily Express staying loyal.Journalists continued to highlight the governments difficulties over Europe, and internal splits over the debate on the Maastricht Treaty. By the pass of 1993, a succession of scandals involving Conse rvative politicians created headline news while editorials regularly denunciated the government, and particularly the Prime Minister. By the time of the July 1995 leadership challenge only the Daily Express okay John Major solidly, while the Sun, the Mail, The Times and the Telegraph all argued that it was time for him to be replaced10, an embarrassment for their leader writers given the outcome.The question, in the long run-up to the election, was whether the Tory press would return home, once the future of the Conservative government was under real threat. In the event, the 1997 election represents a historic watershed. In a major break with tradition, six out of ten national dailies, and five out of nine Sundays, endorsed the Labour party in their final editorials (see Table 1). This was double the highest number previously, and it reversed the long-standing pro-Conservative leanings in the national press.With impeccable timing, the Sun led the way on the first day of the campai gn, (THE SUN BACKS BLAIR), with a frontpage claiming Blair is a schnorkel of fresh air while the Conservatives were tired, divided and rudderless, and its defection stole the headlines and damaged Tory morale. This change of heart came after assiduous efforts by Labour to tap press support, including meetings between Blair and Rupert Murdoch, especially Blairs visit to Australia in 1995. roughout the campaign the Sun, with ten million readers a day, provided largely unswerving support for Blair, although opposing Labour policy on Europe and the unions, and many commentators predicted that the switch, based on Murdochs commercial considerations rather than political affinities, would not last long11. Labours traditional tabloid, the Daily Mirror, with six million readers, continued its brand of centre-left journalism (the paper for Labours TRUE supporters). On the last Sunday of the campaign, influenced by Murdoch, The News of the World decided to follow the lead of its sister pape r, the Sun, and assed Labour.Among the broadsheets The Guardian called for tactical voting for the Liberal Democrats in seats where it made sense, but broadly endorsed Labour. The Independent was more restrained in its backing, casting its editorial vote for Labour with a degree of optimism that is not entirely justified by the evidence. The paper was clearly more anti-Tory than pro-anything. The Times advised their readers to back Eurosceptic candidates from whatever party, although, in practice, nearly all were Conservatives.Only leads in the Daily Telegraph, and the Daily Mail (Labour bully boys are back Labours broken promises) remained strongly in the Tory camp. Even the Daily Express was more neutral than in the past a double-page spread was divided between Lord Hollick, its chief executive, leaning for Labour and its chairman, Lord Stevens, arguing for the Conservatives. The front-page of the election-eve Mail carried a colourful Union Jack border and the apocalyptic warnin g that a Labour victory could give away 1,000 years of our nations history.Yet any comparison of editorial policy probably under-estimates the balance of partisanship in news coverage during the overall campaign. For example, the Mail ostensibly endorsed the Conservatives during the campaign, but in practice it probably deeply damaged the government by headlining sexual scandals in the party, and reinforcing images of disunity with leading articles highlighting the number of Tory Eurosceptics. With friends like this, the Conservatives did not need opponents. To understand this we need to go beyond the leaders, which are rarely read, and even less heeded, to examine the broader pattern of front-page stories.The most plausible evidence for dealignment is that certain papers like the Sun, traditionally pro-Conservative, switched camps, but also that front-page stories were often so similar across all the press, driven by news determine irrespective of the papers ostensible partisansh ip. Since the early 1970s fierce competition for readers has encouraged far more sensational coverage in the popular press, fuelling an endless fast of stories about scandals, (mostly sexual but also financial), infotainment, and the Royals, preferably all three. This process started when Rupert Murdoch bought the News of the World in 1968, and the Sun a year later.It accelerated in the cut-throat competition produced by the launch of the Daily Star in 1978, which sought to out-do the Sun in its relentless search for sex, investigative exclusives about celebrities, violent crime, and lifelike coverage of the bizzare. Those who thought British newspapers had reached their nadir at this point had under-estimated the soft-porn Sunday Sport, launched in 198612. The tackiness of the popular press, such as their exhaustive gossip about the goings-on of the younger Royals, gradually infected and corroded the news culture of the broadsheets as well.By the mid-1990s, the journalism of scan dal trumped party loyalties, hands down. This fuelled the series of sleaze stories about senior Conservative politicians hroughout John Majors years in government, and there was no let-up during the campaign. As documented in detail later, the first two weeks of the election were dominated by a succession of stories about corruption in public life and sexual scandals, providing a steady diet of negative news for the government which swamped their message about the economy.