Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Formas de probar que el matrimonio no es falso
Es bien sabido que los ciudadanos americanos y los residentes permanentes legales pueden pedir por matrimonio los papeles de la green card para sus cà ³nyuges, tanto en el caso de matrimonios entre un varà ³n y una mujer como en el de entre personas del mismo sexo.à De hecho, el matrimonio es la forma mà ¡s frecuente para obtener la tarjeta de residencia (green card) y una de las mà ¡s rà ¡pidas. Precisamente porque esta forma de obtener la green card ofrece la ventaja de ser rà ¡pida y relativamente fà ¡cil, las autoridades de Inmigracià ³n està ¡n atentas para intentar detectar los casos fraudulentos en los que el matrimonioà es por conveniencia. Y si se descubre, se impone un castigo. En este artà culo se informa de 12 documentos que pueden ser utilizados para despejar toda posible duda sobre el carà ¡cter verdadero del matrimonio. Ademà ¡s, informacià ³n sobre cuà ¡nto se està ¡ demorando en obtener estos papeles, cuà ¡ndo el matrimonio con ciudadano o con residente no es suficiente para obtener la green card y quà © se puede hacer si se es và ctima de un matrimonio de conveniencia. Documentos para probar que un matrimonio no es de conveniencia Acta de nacimiento de los hijos que los cà ³nyuges tienen en comà ºn. Si la esposa estuviese embarazada, un certificado mà ©dico en el que asà se hace constar. Cartas o postales de familiares y amigos enviadas a la casa que comparten los esposos.Contrato de alquiler o lease de vivienda o hipoteca de compra, para demostrar que se vive en comà ºn o que se ha comprado propiedad conjuntamente.Contrato de jubilacià ³n, seguro mà ©dico o de vida a nombre de un esposo pero en el que el otro aparece como beneficiario.Extractos de cuentas bancarias que se tienen a nombre de los dos esposos.Extractos de tarjetas de crà ©dito de las que son titulares ambos cà ³nyuges. Fotos de los esposos de la boda, vacaciones, fiestas, etc. Es conveniente que en las fotos aparezcan, ademà ¡s, amigos y familiares.Pertenencia a asociaciones de todo tipo en la que el marido y la mujer figuren conjuntamente. Recibos de viajes en avià ³n, hoteles, restaurantes, etc. que muestren que durante los meses que han estado separados (como novios o como esposos o en ambas situaciones) los cà ³nyuges se han visitado y han pasado tiempo juntos.Recibos de regalos, como el del anillo de compromiso o tà picos regalos de enamorados.Recibos de facturas de telà ©fono e incluso fotocopias de correos electrà ³nicos u otro tipo de comunicacià ³n (whatsapps, cartas, etc). Registracià ³n del auto mostrando que pertenece a los dos esposos. Cà ³mo entender esta lista Son sà ³lo ejemplos. No se necesita tener todo. Es mà ¡s, en ocasiones presentar prueba de todo lo mencionado puede levantar las sospechas del oficial consular o del de inmigracià ³n (depende del caso serà ¡ uno un otro). Ya que las personas que celebran matrimonios de conveniencia suelen precisamente seguir estas instrucciones al pie de la letra. Cada matrimonio es un mundo, y como tal, unos tendrà ¡n unas pruebas y otros otras. Lo importante de la lista es servir de parà ¡metro, dar ideas, incluir algunas no especificadas y de las enumeradas las que de buena fe se ajusten a la realidad del matrimonio. Tambià ©n es conveniente, repasar las preguntas que pueden hacer las autoridades con ese mismo fin: quedarse convencidos de que el matrimonio es real. Cuà ¡ndo el matrimonio verdadero no es suficiente para obtener la green card Aunque en general la tramitacià ³n de una solicitud de la tarjeta de residencia por matrimonio no presenta mayores problemas, sà que hay un asunto a tener en cuenta, porque si es el caso estamos antes un gran problema: el caso de los inmigrantes indocumentados. Aquà hay que distinguir varios casos: 1.à Indocumentado que cruzà ³ ilegalmente la frontera y que se casa con ciudadano. NO puede ajustar su estatus y tendrà ¡ que salir del paà s para completar el proceso. Al llegar a la entrevista en el consulado se le negarà ¡ la visa de inmigrante para retornar por aplicacià ³n del castigo de los 3 y de los 10 aà ±os. Aunque en algunos casos posible pedir una waiver o perdà ³n, es un proceso que se demora y que en la realidad implica que los esposos van a estar separados por bastante tiempo. 2.à Indocumentado que se casa con ciudadano que ingresà ³ legalmente pero ahora està ¡ como indocumentado porque no salià ³ de Estados Unidos a tiempo. En este caso se puede ajustar el estatus.à 3.à Indocumentado que se casa con residente. No puede ajustar su estatus y no importa si ingresà ³ ilegalmente no legalmente. Simplemente no es una opcià ³n con lo cual hay el problema de salir del paà s y si la estancia ilegal fue superior a los 180 dà a entonces aplicarà ¡ el castigo de los 3 y de los 10 aà ±os. Todos los caso en los que hay una situacià ³n de ilegalidad de por medio hay que consultar con un abogado de migracià ³n reputado. Existen en casos muy especiales opciones como el Parole in Place si se està ¡ casado con un militar, reservista o veterano o el caso de la waiver provisional por dureza extrema, que permite viajar fuera de Estados Unidos para la entrevista en el consulado con la waiver en la mano, evitando asà estancias grandes separados de la familia. Son todos casos delicados y antes de iniciar el papeleo hay que asesorarse. Por otro lado, incluso en los casos en los que se ingresa legalmente y no se produce situacià ³n de ilegalidad por quedarse mà ¡s tiempo que el permitido hay que tener en cuenta que casarse en Estados Unidos con visa de turista y luego intentar arreglar los papeles puede ser muy problemà ¡tico si no se respetan ciertas normas. Asimismo, tener en cuenta que ademà ¡s de casarse y que el matrimonio sea verdadero, todavà a hay mà ¡s requisitos a cumplir, como que el patrocinador, es decir el cà ³nyuge estadounidense o residente, tenga ingresos suficientes o cuente con un co-patrocinador, ya que deberà ¡ probarlo y asumir responsabilidades econà ³micas al firmar la declaracià ³n de sostenimiento, conocida en inglà ©s como affidavit of support.à Finalmente, hay ciertas situaciones que, si se dan, harà ¡n que todo la tramitacià ³n fracase. Son los casos en los que se niega la green card por razones que tienen que ver con el presente o el pasado de la persona a la que se pide. En algunos casos la negacià ³n serà ¡ definitiva, en otros temporal y en otros se puede intentar levantar el castigo mediante la solicitud de una waiver.à Quà © puede hacer una và ctima de un matrimonio de conveniencia Puede suceder que un ciudadano o un residente se casa por amor y posteriormente se da cuenta que se han casado con à ©l o con ella por interà ©s. En este caso, tiene varias opciones. La mà ¡s fà ¡cil es desistir mediante la cancelacià ³n de la peticià ³n, pero esto es posible sà ³lo dependiendo del momento en que se produzca. Y tambià ©n es posible denunciar la situacià ³n de un matrimonio de convenienciaà a las autoridades migratorias.à Por à ºltimo, el divorcio puede afectar - o no- a la persona que obtuvo su residencia por matrimonio. Por lo que este punto es conveniente tenerlo claro.à Quà © puede hacer un extranjero que se casa por amor pero es và ctima de una relacià ³n abusiva Puede darse la situacià ³n en la que es el residente o el ciudadano el que abusa de su cà ³nyuge extranjero amenazà ¡ndole con parar la tramitacià ³n de los papeles.à Estas son situaciones para hablar inmediatamente con un abogado de inmigracià ³n y ahà estudiar opciones como si serà a posible, por ejemplo, pedir con à ©xito la aplicacià ³n de VAWA o si el divorcio puede afectar a la obtencià ³n de papeles, como ya se seà ±alà ³ anteriormente. En todo caso estos son asuntos muy delicados en los que està ¡ el juego la situacià ³n migratoria y el poder permanecer legalmente en los Estados Unidos por lo que lo mà ¡s sensato y aconsejable para hacer es asesorarse con un abogado migratorio que ya haya ganado este tipo de casos. Opciones migratorias a pedir la green card por matrimonio Los ciudadanos americanos, y sà ³lo ellos, pueden pedir visas de novios para sus prometidos, cuando el fin es contraer matrimonio en Estados Unidos. Es decir, esa visa que se conoce como K-1 permite al novio extranjero ingresar al paà s, casarse y despuà ©s ya se solicita la green card mediante un ajuste de estatus. Asimismo, los ciudadanos à y sà ³lo ellos pueden solicitar una visa K-3 para traer a su cà ³nyuge extranjero a vivir a Estados Unidos. Una vez aquà , mediante un ajuste de estatus, obtendrà ¡ la residencia permanente. Esta es una opcià ³n poco conocida y que sà ³lo debe utilizarse en lugar de pedir la green card en casos muy concretos. Uno de los mà ¡s comunes es cuando las demoras en la tramitacià ³n de la visa de inmigrante son muy largas, mà ¡s incluso que la de esta visa. Salvo esos casos muy concretos lo cierto es que no merece la pena y es mejor iniciar ya el proceso con una peticià ³n de visa de inmigrante.à Este es un artà culo informativo. No es asesorà a legal para ningà ºn caso concreto.
Monday, December 23, 2019
Dominick10 Tb Ch09 - 942 Words
Chapter 9 Motion Pictures True/False 1. Without the phenomenon known as persistence of vision, the motion picture would not be possible. Ans: T 2. D. W. Griffith s Birth of a Nation is celebrated for its forwardà thinking content. Ans: F 3. Though designed to decrease competition in the film industry, the MMPC actually encouraged competition. Ans: T 4. Block booking means that theater owners must agree to show certain films in all the theaters they own. Ans: F 5. The inventors of the Kinetoscope predicted the real money in motion pictures would be based on showing films to large audiences. Ans: F 6. In the late 1940s, the courts upheld studios rights to control production,â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦fiber optic cables E. all of these Ans: E 26. Film advertising and promotion is handled by the industry s ________ arm. A. creation B. production C. distribution D. exhibition E. ownership Ans: C 27. The two newest MPAA categories are PGà 13 and: A. X B. Rà 18 C. PGà 10 D. NCà 17 E. Gà 10 Ans: D 28. Which of the following is NOT a defining feature of motion pictures? A. device convergence has affected how films are made B. the potential cost makes films the most expensive media product C. the industry is dominated by big conglomerates D. film has a strong aesthetic dimension E. going to the movies is frequently a social experience Ans: A 29. A narrative statement of plot with character descriptions and perhaps some sample dialogue is a: A. preproduction B. treatment C. 1st draft script D. script polish E. storyline Ans: B 30. The casting function of films generally falls into which of these areas? A. exhibition B. concession C. production D. distribution E. none of these Ans: C 31. Adding music and effects occurs during the __________ phase of filmmaking. A. treatment B. preproduction C. production D. post production E. production review Ans: D 32. A _____ means that several companies involved in film production and distribution will pool their resources and finance a film. A. joint venture B. limited partnership C. pickup D. sliding scale E. concession Ans:
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Shadow Kiss Chapter 9 Free Essays
string(91) " was obviously ignorant about it all, despite seventeen years of sitting through services\." Nine WITH SO MANY MOROI tracing their roots back to Eastern Europe, Orthodox Christianity was the dominant religion on campus. Other religions were represented too, and Iââ¬â¢d say all in all, only about half of the student body attended any sort of services regularly. Lissa was one such student. We will write a custom essay sample on Shadow Kiss Chapter 9 or any similar topic only for you Order Now She went to church every Sunday because she believed. Christian also attended. He did it because she went and because it made him look good and seem less likely to become Strigoi. Since Strigoi couldnââ¬â¢t enter holy ground, regular church service provided a small front of respectability for him. When I wasnââ¬â¢t sleeping in, I showed up at church for the social aspect. Lissa and my friends usually hung out and did something fun afterward, so church made for a good meeting spot. If God minded me using his chapel as a way to further my social life, He hadnââ¬â¢t let me know. Either that, or He was biding his time before punishing me. When the service ended that Sunday, however, I had to stick around the chapel, because that was where my community service was going to happen. When the place had cleared out, I was surprised to see one other person had lingered with me: Dimitri. ââ¬Å"What are you doing here?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Thought you might need some help. I hear the priest wants to do a lot of housecleaning.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but youââ¬â¢re not the one being punished here. And this is your day off too. We ââ¬â well, everyone else ââ¬â spent the whole week battling it out, but you guys were the ones picking the fights the whole time.â⬠In fact, I noticed now that Dimitri had a couple bruises too ââ¬â though not nearly as many as Stan had. It had been a long week for everyone, and it was only the first of six. ââ¬Å"What else would I do today?â⬠ââ¬Å"I could think of a hundred other things,â⬠I noted dryly. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s probably a John Wayne movie on somewhere that you havenââ¬â¢t seen.â⬠He shook his head. ââ¬Å"No, there isnââ¬â¢t. Iââ¬â¢ve seen them all. Look ââ¬â the priest is waiting for us.â⬠I turned around. Sure enough. Father Andrew stood at the front, watching us expectantly. Heââ¬â¢d taken off the rich robes heââ¬â¢d worn during service and now stood in simple slacks and a button down shirt. He looked like he was ready to work too, and I wondered whatever happened to Sunday being a day of rest. As Dimitri and I approached to get our assignments, I pondered what could have actually made Dimitri stay here in the first place. Surely he hadnââ¬â¢t really wanted to work on his day off. I wasnââ¬â¢t used to puzzles with him. His intentions were usually straightforward, and I had to assume there was a simple explanation now. It just wasnââ¬â¢t clear yet. ââ¬Å"Thank you both for volunteering to help me.â⬠Father Andrew smiled at us. I tried not to scoff at the ââ¬Å"volunteeringâ⬠reference. He was a Moroi in his late forties, with thinning gray hair. Even without much faith in religion, I still liked and respected him. ââ¬Å"We arenââ¬â¢t doing anything particularly complex today,â⬠he continued. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s a bit boring, really. Weââ¬â¢ll have to do the regular cleaning, of course, and then Iââ¬â¢d like to sort the boxes of old supplies I have sitting up in the attic.â⬠ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re happy to do whatever you need,â⬠Dimitri said solemnly. I repressed a sigh and tried not to think of all the other things I could be doing. We set to it. I was put on mop duty, and Dimitri took over dusting and polishing the wooden pews. He appeared thoughtful and intent as he cleaned, looking like he actually took pride in his work. I was still trying to figure out why he was here at all. Donââ¬â¢t get me wrong; I was happy to have him. His presence made me feel better, and of course I always loved watching him. I thought maybe he was there to get more information out of me about what had happened that day with Stan, Christian, and Brandon. Or maybe he wanted to chastise me about the other day with Stan, where Iââ¬â¢d been accused of jumping into battle for selfish reasons. These seemed like likely explanations, yet he never said a word. Even when the priest stepped out of the sanctuary to go to his office, Dimitri continued working quietly. I would have figured if heââ¬â¢d had anything to say, he would have done it then. When we finished the cleaning, Father Andrew had us haul box after box of stuff down from the attic and into a storeroom at the back of the chapel. Lissa and Christian frequently used that attic as a secret getaway, and I wondered if having it cleaner would be a pro or a con for their romantic interludes. Maybe they would abandon it, and I could start getting some sleep. With all of the stuff downstairs, the three of us settled on the floor and began sorting it all out. Father Andrew gave us instructions on what to save and what to throw out, and it was a relief to be off my feet for a change this week. He made small talk as we worked, asking me about classes and other things. It wasnââ¬â¢t so bad. And as we worked, a thought came to me. Iââ¬â¢d done a good job convincing myself that Mason had been a delusion brought on by lack of sleep, but getting assurance from an authority figure that ghosts werenââ¬â¢t real would go a long way toward making me feel better. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I said to Father Andrew. ââ¬Å"Do you believe in ghosts? I mean, is there any mention of them in ââ¬â â⬠I gestured around us. â⬠ââ¬â in this stuff?â⬠The question clearly surprised him, but he didnââ¬â¢t appear to take offense at me calling his vocation and lifeââ¬â¢s work ââ¬Å"this stuff.â⬠Or at the fact that I was obviously ignorant about it all, despite seventeen years of sitting through services. You read "Shadow Kiss Chapter 9" in category "Essay examples" A bemused expression crossed his face, and he paused in his work. ââ¬Å"Well â⬠¦ it depends on how you define ââ¬Ëghost,ââ¬â¢ I suppose.â⬠I tapped a theology book with my finger. ââ¬Å"The whole point of this is that when you die, you go to heaven or hell. That makes ghosts just stories, right? Theyââ¬â¢re not in the Bible or anything.â⬠ââ¬Å"Again,â⬠he said, ââ¬Å"it depends on your definition. Our faith has always held that after death, the spirit separates from the body and may indeed linger in this world.â⬠ââ¬Å"What?â⬠A dusty bowl I was holding dropped out of my hand. Fortunately, it was wood and didnââ¬â¢t break. I quickly retrieved it. That was not the answer Iââ¬â¢d been expecting. ââ¬Å"For how long? Forever?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, no, of course not. That flies in the face of the resurrection and salvation, which form the cornerstone of our beliefs. But itââ¬â¢s believed the soul can stay on earth for three to forty days after death. It eventually receives a ââ¬Ëtemporaryââ¬â¢ judgment that sends it on from this world to heaven or hell ââ¬â although no one will truly experience either until the actual Judgment Day, when the soul and body are reunited to live out eternity as one.â⬠The salvation stuff was lost on me. The ââ¬Å"three to forty daysâ⬠was what caught my attention. I completely forgot about my sorting. ââ¬Å"Yeah, but is it true or not? Are spirits really walking the earth for forty days after death?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah, Rose. Those who have to ask if faith is true are opening up a discussion they may not be ready for.â⬠I had a feeling he was right. I sighed and turned back to the box in front of me. ââ¬Å"But,â⬠he said kindly, ââ¬Å"if it helps you, some of these ideas parallel folk beliefs from Eastern Europe about ghosts that existed before the spread of Christianity. Those traditions have long upheld the idea of spirits staying around for a short time after death ââ¬â particularly if the person in question died young or violently.â⬠I froze. Whatever progress Iââ¬â¢d made in convincing myself Mason had been brought on by stress instantly vanished. Young or violently. ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠I asked in a small voice. ââ¬Å"Why would they stay? Is itâ⬠¦ is it for revenge?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sure there are some who believe that, just as some believe itââ¬â¢s because the soul has trouble finding peace after something so unsettling.â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you believe?â⬠I asked. He smiled. ââ¬Å"I believe the soul separates from the body, just as our fathers teach us, but I doubt the soulââ¬â¢s time on earth is anything the living can perceive. Itââ¬â¢s not like in the movies, with ghosts haunting buildings or coming to visit those they knew. I envision these spirits as more of an energy existing around us, something beyond our perception as they wait to move on and find peace. Ultimately, what matters is what happens beyond this earth when we attain the eternal life our savior bought for us with his great sacrifice. Thatââ¬â¢s whatââ¬â¢s important.â⬠I wondered if Father Andrew would be so quick to say that if heââ¬â¢d seen what Iââ¬â¢d seen. Young or violently. Both had applied to Mason, and he had died less than forty days ago. That sad, sad face came back to me, and I wondered what it had meant. Revenge? Or could he truly not find peace? And how did Father Andrewââ¬â¢s theology about heaven and hell fit with someone like me, who had died and come back to life? Victor Dashkov had said Iââ¬â¢d gone to the world of the dead and returned when Lissa had healed me. What world of the dead? Was that heaven or hell? Or was it another way of referring to this in-between state on earth that Father Andrew was talking about? I didnââ¬â¢t say anything after that, because the idea of a revenge-seeking Mason was so startling. Father Andrew sensed the change in me, but he obviously didnââ¬â¢t know what had brought it about. He tried to coax me out. ââ¬Å"I just got some new books in from a friend in another parish. Interesting stories about St. Vladimir.â⬠He tilted his head. ââ¬Å"Are you still interested in him? And Anna?â⬠Theoretically, I was. Until weââ¬â¢d met Adrian, weââ¬â¢d only known of two other spirit users. One was our former teacher, Ms. Karp, whoââ¬â¢d gone completely nuts from spirit and become a Strigoi to stop the madness. The other person was St. Vladimir, the schoolââ¬â¢s namesake. Heââ¬â¢d lived centuries ago and had brought his guardian, Anna, back from the dead, just as Lissa had me. It had made Anna shadow-kissed and created a bond between them too. Normally, Lissa and I tried to get our hands on everything we could about Anna and Vlad, in order to learn more about ourselves. But, as incredible as it was for me to admit, I had bigger problems right now than the ever-present and ever-puzzling psychic link between Lissa and me. It had just been trumped by a ghost who could possibly be pissed off over my role in his untimely death. ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠I said evasively, not making eye contact. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m interestedâ⬠¦but I donââ¬â¢t think I can get to it anytime soon. Iââ¬â¢m kind of busy with all thisâ⬠¦you know, field experience stuff.â⬠I fell silent again. He took the hint and let me work on without further interruption. Dimitri never said a word throughout any of this. When we finally finished sorting, Father Andrew told us we had one more task before our work was done. He pointed to some boxes that weââ¬â¢d organized and repacked. ââ¬Å"I need you to carry these over to the elementary campus,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Leave them off at the Moroi dorm there. Ms. Davis has been teaching Sunday school for some of the kindergartners and might be able to use those.â⬠It would take at least two trips between Dimitri and me, and the elementary campus was a fair distance away. Still, that put me one step closer to freedom. ââ¬Å"Why are you interested in ghosts?â⬠Dimitri asked me on our first trip. ââ¬Å"Just making conversation,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t see your face right now, but I have a feeling youââ¬â¢re lying again.â⬠ââ¬Å"Jeez, everyone thinks the worst of me lately. Stan accused me of glory-seeking.â⬠ââ¬Å"I heard about that,â⬠said Dimitri, as we rounded a corner. The buildings of the elementary campus loomed up in front of us. ââ¬Å"That might have been a little unfair of him.â⬠ââ¬Å"A little, huh?â⬠Hearing him admit that thrilled me, but it didnââ¬â¢t change my anger against Stan. That dark, grouchy feeling that had plagued me lately sprang to life. ââ¬Å"Well, thanks, but Iââ¬â¢m starting to lose faith in this field experience. Sometimes in the whole Academy.â⬠ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t mean that.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. The school just seems so caught up in rules and policies that donââ¬â¢t have anything to do with real life. I saw what was out there, comrade. I went right to the monsterââ¬â¢s lair. In some ways â⬠¦ I donââ¬â¢t know if this really prepares us.â⬠I expected him to argue, but to my surprise he said, ââ¬Å"Sometimes I agree.â⬠I nearly stumbled as we stepped inside one of the two Moroi dorms on the elementary campus. The lobby looked a lot like the ones on the secondary campus. ââ¬Å"Really?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Really,â⬠he said, a small smile on his face. ââ¬Å"I mean, I donââ¬â¢t agree that novices should be put out in the world when theyââ¬â¢re ten or anything, but sometimes Iââ¬â¢ve thought the field experience should actually be in the field. I probably learned more in my first year as a guardian than I did in all my years of training. Wellâ⬠¦ maybe not all. But itââ¬â¢s a different situation, absolutely.â⬠We exchanged looks, pleased over our agreement. Something warm fluttered up in me, putting the lid on my earlier anger. Dimitri understood my frustration with the system, but then, Dimitri understood me. He glanced around, but there was no one at the desk. A few students in their early teens were working or talking in the lobby. ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠I said, shifting the weight of the box I held. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re in the middle school dorm. The younger kids are next door.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, but Ms. Davis lives in this building. Let me try to find her and see where she wants these.â⬠He set his box down carefully. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll be right back.â⬠I watched him go and set my own box down. Leaning against a wall, I glanced around and nearly jumped when I saw a Moroi girl only a couple feet away. Sheââ¬â¢d been standing so perfectly still, I hadnââ¬â¢t noticed her. She looked like she could be mid-teens ââ¬â thirteen or fourteen ââ¬â but she was tall, much taller than me. The slimness of her Moroi build made her look even taller. Her hair was a cloud of brown curls, and she had freckles ââ¬â rare among the normally pale Moroi ââ¬â across her face. Her eyes widened when she saw me looking at her. ââ¬Å"Oh. My. God. Youââ¬â¢re Rose Hathaway, arenââ¬â¢t you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠I said with surprise. ââ¬Å"Do you know me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Everyone knows you. I mean, everyone heard about you. Youââ¬â¢re the one who ran away. And then you came back and killed those Strigoi. That is so cool. Did you get molnija marks?â⬠Her words came out in one long string. She hardly took a breath. ââ¬Å"Yeah. I have two.â⬠Thinking about the tiny tattoos on the back of my neck made my skin itch. Her pale green eyes ââ¬â if possible ââ¬â grew wider. ââ¬Å"Oh my God. Wow.â⬠I usually grew irate when people made a big deal about the molnija marks. After all, the circumstances had not been cool. But this girl was young, and there was something appealing about her. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s your name?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Jillian ââ¬â Jill. I mean, just Jill. Not both. Jillianââ¬â¢s my full name. Jillââ¬â¢s what everyone calls me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right,â⬠I said, hiding a smile. ââ¬Å"I figured it out.â⬠ââ¬Å"I heard Moroi used magic on that trip to fight. Is that true? I would love to do that. I wish someone would teach me. I use air. Do you think I could fight Strigoi with that? Everyone says Iââ¬â¢m crazy.â⬠For centuries, Moroi using magic to fight had been viewed as a sin. Everyone believed it should be used peacefully. Recently, some had started to question that, particularly after Christian had proved useful in the Spokane escape. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"You should talk to Christian Ozera.â⬠She gaped. ââ¬Å"Would he talk to me?â⬠ââ¬Å"If you bring up fighting the establishment, yeah, heââ¬â¢ll talk to you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, cool. Was that Guardian Belikov?â⬠she asked, switching subjects abruptly. ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠I swore I thought she might faint then and there. ââ¬Å"Really? Heââ¬â¢s even cuter than I heard. Heââ¬â¢s your teacher, right? Like, your own personal teacher?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠I wondered where he was. Talking to Jill was exhausting. ââ¬Å"Wow. You know, you guys donââ¬â¢t even act like teacher and student. You seem like friends. Do you hang out when youââ¬â¢re not training?â⬠ââ¬Å"Er, well, kind of. Sometimes.â⬠I remembered my earlier thoughts, about how I was one of the few people Dimitri was social with outside of his guardian duties. ââ¬Å"I knew it! I canââ¬â¢t even imagine that ââ¬â Iââ¬â¢d be freaking out all the time around him. Iââ¬â¢d never get anything done, but youââ¬â¢re so cool about it all, kind of like, ââ¬ËYeah, Iââ¬â¢m with this totally hot guy, but whatever, it doesnââ¬â¢t matter.'â⬠I laughed in spite of myself. ââ¬Å"I think youââ¬â¢re giving me more credit than I deserve.â⬠ââ¬Å"No way. And I donââ¬â¢t believe any of those stories, you know.â⬠ââ¬Å"Um, stories?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, about you beating up Christian Ozera.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thanks,â⬠I said. Now rumors of my humiliation were trickling down to the lower campus. If I walked over to the elementary dorms, some six-year-old would probably tell me sheââ¬â¢d heard that I killed Christian. Jillââ¬â¢s expression turned momentarily uncertain. ââ¬Å"But I didnââ¬â¢t know about the other story.â⬠ââ¬Å"What other story?â⬠ââ¬Å"About how you and Adrian Ivashkov are ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I interrupted, not wanting to hear the rest. ââ¬Å"Whatever you heard, itââ¬â¢s not true.â⬠ââ¬Å"But it was really romantic.â⬠ââ¬Å"Then itââ¬â¢s definitely not true.â⬠Her face fell, and then she perked back up a few seconds later. ââ¬Å"Hey, can you teach me to punch someone?â⬠ââ¬Å"Wai ââ¬â What? Why would you want to know that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, I figure if Iââ¬â¢m going to fight with magic someday, I should learn to fight the regular way too.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m probably not the right person to ask,â⬠I told her. ââ¬Å"Maybe you should, um, ask your P.E. teacher.â⬠ââ¬Å"I did!â⬠Her face looked distraught. ââ¬Å"And he said no.â⬠I couldnââ¬â¢t help but laugh. ââ¬Å"I was joking about asking him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Come on, it could help me fight a Strigoi someday.â⬠My laughter dried up. ââ¬Å"No, it really wouldnââ¬â¢t.â⬠She bit her lip, still desperate to convince me. ââ¬Å"Well, it would at least help against that psycho.â⬠ââ¬Å"What? What psycho?â⬠ââ¬Å"People keep getting beat up around here. Last week it was Dane Zeklos, and just the other day it was Brett.â⬠ââ¬Å"Dane â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I ran through my knowledge of Moroi genealogy. There were a gazillion Zeklos students around. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s Jesseââ¬â¢s younger brother, yeah?â⬠Jill nodded. ââ¬Å"Yup. One of our teachers was so mad, too, but Dane wouldnââ¬â¢t say a word. Neither would Brett.â⬠ââ¬Å"Brett who?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ozera.â⬠I did a double take. ââ¬Å"Ozera?â⬠I had the impression she was really excited to tell me things I didnââ¬â¢t know. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s my friend Aimeeââ¬â¢s boyfriend. He was all bruised up yesterday ââ¬â had some weird things that looked like welts, too. Maybe burns? But he wasnââ¬â¢t as bad as Dane. And when Mrs. Callahan asked him about it, Brett convinced her it was nothing, and she let it go, which was weird. He was also in a really good mood ââ¬â which was also weird, since youââ¬â¢d kind of think getting beat up would bring you down.â⬠Somewhere in the back of my mind, her words tickled a memory. There was some connection I should be making, but I couldnââ¬â¢t quite grasp it. Between Victor, ghosts, and the field experiences, it was honestly a wonder I could string words together anymore. ââ¬Å"So can you teach me so that I wonââ¬â¢t get beat up?â⬠Jill asked, clearly hoping sheââ¬â¢d convinced me. She balled her fist up. ââ¬Å"I just do this, right? Thumb across the fingers and swing?â⬠ââ¬Å"Uh, well, itââ¬â¢s a little more complicated than that. You need to stand a certain way, or youââ¬â¢ll hurt yourself more than the other person. There are a lot of things you need to do with your elbows and hips.â⬠ââ¬Å"Show me, please?â⬠she begged. ââ¬Å"I bet youââ¬â¢re really good.â⬠I was really good, but corrupting minors was one offense I didnââ¬â¢t yet have on my record, and I preferred to keep it that way. Fortunately, Dimitri came back just then with Ms. Davis. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I told him. ââ¬Å"I have someone who wants to meet you. Dimitri, this is Jill. Jill, Dimitri.â⬠He looked surprised, but he smiled and shook her hand. She turned bright red and became speechless for a change. As soon as he released her hand, she stammered out a goodbye and ran off. We finished up with Ms. Davis and headed back toward the chapel for our second load. ââ¬Å"Jill knew who I was,â⬠I told Dimitri as we walked. ââ¬Å"She had kind of a hero-worship thing going on.â⬠ââ¬Å"Does that surprise you?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"That younger students would look up to you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. I just never thought about it. I donââ¬â¢t think Iââ¬â¢m that good of a role model.â⬠ââ¬Å"I disagree. Youââ¬â¢re outgoing, dedicated, and excel at everything you do. Youââ¬â¢ve earned more respect than you think.â⬠I gave him a sidelong glance. ââ¬Å"And yet not enough to go to Victorââ¬â¢s trial, apparently.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not this again.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, this again! Why donââ¬â¢t you get how major this is? Victorââ¬â¢s a huge threat.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know he is.â⬠ââ¬Å"And if he gets loose, heââ¬â¢ll just start in on his crazy plans again.â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s really unlikely he will get loose, you know. Most of those rumors about the queen letting him off are just that ââ¬â rumors. You of all people should know not to believe everything you hear.â⬠I stared stonily ahead, refusing to acknowledge his point. ââ¬Å"You should still let us go. Orâ⬠ââ¬â I took a deep breath ââ¬â ââ¬Å"you should at least let Lissa go.â⬠It was harder for me to say those words than it should have been, but it was something Iââ¬â¢d been thinking about. I didnââ¬â¢t think I was a glory seeker like Stan had said, but there was a part of me that always wanted to be the one in the middle of a fight. I wanted to rush forward, doing what was right and helping others. Likewise, I wanted to be there at Victorââ¬â¢s trial. I wanted to look him in the eye and make sure he was punished. But as time went on, it seemed less likely that that would happen. They really werenââ¬â¢t going to let us go. Maybe, though, maybe theyââ¬â¢d let one of us go, and if it should be anyone, it should be Lissa. Sheââ¬â¢d been the target of Victorââ¬â¢s plan, and though her going alone stirred up that nervous idea about how maybe she didnââ¬â¢t need me to guard her, Iââ¬â¢d still rather take the chance and see him put away. Dimitri, understanding my need to rush in and take action, seemed surprised by my unusual behavior. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re right ââ¬â she should be there, but again, itââ¬â¢s nothing I can do anything about. You keep thinking I can control this, but I canââ¬â¢t.â⬠ââ¬Å"But did you do everything you could?â⬠I thought back to Adrianââ¬â¢s words in the dream, about how Dimitri could have done more. ââ¬Å"You have a lot of influence. There must be something. Anything.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not as much influence as you think. Iââ¬â¢ve got a high position here at the Academy, but in the rest of the guardian world, Iââ¬â¢m still pretty young. And yes, I did actually speak up for you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Maybe you should have spoken up louder.â⬠I could sense him shutting down. Heââ¬â¢d discuss most things reasonably but wouldnââ¬â¢t encourage me when I was just being a bitch. So, I tried to be more reasonable. ââ¬Å"Victor knows about us,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"He could say something.â⬠ââ¬Å"Victor has bigger things to worry about with this trial than us.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but you know him. He doesnââ¬â¢t exactly act like a normal person would. If he feels like heââ¬â¢s lost all hope of getting off, he might decide to bust us just for the sake of revenge.â⬠Iââ¬â¢d never been able to confess my relationship with Dimitri to Lissa, yet our worst enemy knew about it. It was weirder even than Adrian knowing. Victor had figured it out by watching us and gathering data. I guess when youââ¬â¢re a scheming villain, you get good at that stuff. Heââ¬â¢d never made the knowledge public, though. Instead, heââ¬â¢d used it against us with the lust charm heââ¬â¢d made from earth magic. A charm like that wouldnââ¬â¢t work if there wasnââ¬â¢t already attraction in place. The charm just cranked things up. Dimitri and I had been all over each other and had been only a heartbeat away from having sex. It had been a pretty smart way for Victor to distract us without using violence. If anyone had tried to attack us, we could have put up a good fight. But turn us loose on each other? We had trouble fighting that. Dimitri was silent for several moments. I knew he knew I had a point. ââ¬Å"Then weââ¬â¢ll have to deal with that as best we can,â⬠he said at last. ââ¬Å"But if Victorââ¬â¢s going to tell, heââ¬â¢s going to do it whether or not you testify.â⬠I refused to say anything else until we got to the church. When we did, Father Andrew told us that after going over some more things, heââ¬â¢d decided he really only needed one more box brought over to Ms. Davis. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll do it,â⬠I told Dimitri crisply, once the priest was out of earshot. ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t have to come.â⬠ââ¬Å"Rose, please donââ¬â¢t make a big deal about this.â⬠ââ¬Å"It is a big deal!â⬠I hissed. ââ¬Å"And you donââ¬â¢t seem to get it.â⬠ââ¬Å"I do get it. Do you really think I want to see Victor loose? Do you think I want us all at risk again?â⬠It was the first time in a long time Iââ¬â¢d seen his control on the verge of snapping. ââ¬Å"But I told you, Iââ¬â¢ve done all I can do. Iââ¬â¢m not like you ââ¬â I canââ¬â¢t keep making a scene when things donââ¬â¢t go my way.â⬠ââ¬Å"I do not.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re doing it right now.â⬠He was right. Some part of me knew Iââ¬â¢d crossed a line â⬠¦ but just like with everything else recently, I couldnââ¬â¢t stop talking. ââ¬Å"Why did you even help me today?â⬠I demanded. ââ¬Å"Why are you here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Is that so strange?â⬠he asked. He almost looked hurt. ââ¬Å"Yes. I mean, are you are you trying to spy on me? Figure out why I messed up? Make sure I donââ¬â¢t get into any trouble?â⬠He studied me, brushing hair out of his eyes. ââ¬Å"Why does there have to be some ulterior motive?â⬠I wanted to blurt out a hundred different things. Like, if there wasnââ¬â¢t a motive, then that meant he just wanted to spend time with me. And that made no sense, because we both knew we were only supposed to have a teacher-student relationship. He of all people should know that. He was the one whoââ¬â¢d told me. ââ¬Å"Because everyone has motives.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes. But not always the motives you think.â⬠He pushed open the door. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll see you later.â⬠I watched him go, my feelings a tangle of confusion and anger. If the situation hadnââ¬â¢t been so strange, I would have almost said it was like weââ¬â¢d just gone on a date. How to cite Shadow Kiss Chapter 9, Essay examples
Friday, December 6, 2019
Why get your RN to BSN free essay sample
In the 21st century, the health challenges facing the nation have shifted dramatically. The American population is olderââ¬âAmericans 65 and older will be nearly 20 percent of the population by 2030ââ¬âas well as more diverse with respect not only to race and ethnicity but also other cultural and socioeconomic factors. In addition to shifts in the nationââ¬â¢s demographics, there also have been shifts in that nationââ¬â¢s health care needs. Most health care today relates to chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and mental health conditions, due in part to the nationââ¬â¢s aging population and compounded by increasing obesity levels. While chronic conditions account for most of the care needed today, the U. S. health care system was primarily built around treating acute illnesses and injuries, the predominant health challenges of the early 20th century. The ways in which nurses were educated during the 20th century are no longer adequate for dealing with the realities of health care in the 21st century. We will write a custom essay sample on Why get your RN to BSN or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As patient needs and care environments have become more complex, nurses need to attain requisite competencies to deliver high-quality care. These competencies include leadership, health policy, system improvement, research and evidence-based practice, and teamwork and collaboration, as well as competency in specific content areas such as community and public health and geriatrics. Nurses also are being called upon to fill expanding roles and to master technological tools and information management systems while collaborating and coordinating care across teams of health professionals. To respond to these increasing demands, the IOM committee calls for nurses to achieve higher levels of education and suggests that they be educated in new ways that better prepare them to meet the needs of the population. An Improved Education System Much of nursing education revolves around acute care rather than community settings that include aspects of primary care, public health, and long-term care. The qualifications and level of education required for entry into the nursing profession have been widely debated by nurses and nursing organizations. . Although a BSN education is not a panacea for all that is expected of nurses in the future, it does, relative to other educational pathways, introduce students to a wider range of competencies in such arenas as health policy and health care financing, community and public health, leadership, quality improvement, and systems thinking. Care within the hospital continues to grow more complex, with nurses having to make critical decisions associated with care for sicker, frailer patients and having to use more sophisticated, life-saving technology coupled with information management systems that require skills in analysis and synthesis. Care outside the hospital is becoming more complex as well. Nurses are being called on to coordinate care among a variety of clinicians and community agencies; to help patients manage chronic illnesses, thereby preventing acute care episodes and disease progression; and to use a variety of technological tools to improve the quality and effectiveness of care. A more educated nursing workforce would be better equipped to meet the demands of an evolving health care system, and this need could be met by increasing the percentage of nurses with a BSN. An increase in the proportion of nurses with a BSN also would create a workforce poised to achieve higher levels of education at the masterââ¬â¢s and doctoral levels, required for nurses to serve as primary care providers, nurse researchers, and nurse facultyââ¬â positions currently in great demand across the profession and within the health care system. The committee recommends that the proportion of nurses with baccalaureate degrees be increased to 80 percent by 2020. While it anticipates that it will take a few years to build the educational capacity needed to achieve this goal, the committee maintains that it is bold, achievable, and necessary to move the nursing workforce to an expanded set of competencies, especially in the domains of community and public health, leadership, systems improvement and change, research, and health policy. Improving the education system and achieving a more educated workforceââ¬âspecifically increasing the number of nurses with baccalaureate degreesââ¬âcan be accomplished through a number of different programs and educational models, including: traditional RN-to-BSN programs; traditional 4-year BSN programs at both universities and some community colleges.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Wegman free essay sample
Question 04: What is the primary source of Wegmansââ¬â¢s culture, and what are some ways that it has been able to sustain itself? Answer: The culture of an organization does not immerge automatically at once. It is a consequence of series of activities that had been enforced by the group who influenced to create it, change it and who actually lives together with in transforming the culture to the future. For most of the organizations, it is the founder who begins the culture. Being the founders they have a major impact on deciding the cultural characteristics that would be engraved to the organizations that they form. They decide the vision and have a mind set of what type of culture that will be adopted in achieving the vision at the end. It is also the founders who had become the ultimate source of Wegmansââ¬â¢s culture as well. They were brothers, John and Walter wegman. We will write a custom essay sample on Wegman or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They had started this company with one grocery store in Rochester, New York in 1930. More importantly distinguishing their culture from the perceived cultures in other organizationââ¬â¢s of the same industry. The early culture as well as business strategy they used quickly separated their company from existed groceries and created a unique identity for them. This culture creation occurred in mainly three ways: * They hire the people who think the same way : The pioneers of wegmans had interest on food and they thought the employees should also possessed the same interest. They indoctrinated and socialized these employees in to their way of thinking and feeling. * Their own behavior acted as a role model that encourages employees to internalized the core values, norms and practices of founders to themselves. This is evident by the decisions which had taken by Walterââ¬â¢s Son in 1950. ââ¬â Implemented a generous number of employee benefits such as profit sharing and medical coverage, completely paid by the company. The same followed by Danny, Robetââ¬â¢s Son, launched an immense college scholarships program for its employees at the expense of company. Once the culture is in place it is organizational practices that encounters its ability to sustain itself and move forward. The Human resource management functional plays a vital role in this context. Some Of them are : * Employee Selection * Employee Performance Evaluations. * Promotional/Reward Systems. * Training and carrer developments. Etc. Apart from the above analysis there three forces which particularly important when developing a sustainable culture. * Selection practices. * The actions of top Management. * Socialization. In Wegmanââ¬â¢s company the following forces has been highlighted as the ways of transforming an early culture towards a sustainable one. * Selection Practice. while maintaining the primary objective of the selecting process, hiring a candidate with right knowledge, qualifications, skills and abilities, consider how well that person right fit in to the organization culture. This ensures that a proper match with individualââ¬â¢s values and norms with those of the organization. This theory has been explicitly adopted by Wegamans. They have a cultural value for focusing on serving fine food. This requires that their employees should have a real interest in food. This is achieved by hiring the employees who have a real interest over the foods. They are not selected as merely having the intellectual ability or experience required to perform their job, additionally a main cultural value also matches at the selection. * The actions of top Management. The actions of top management also have a greater impact on organizationââ¬â¢s culture. Their statements, their behaviors reflect the culture they are in as well as affect the sustainability of culture. This further filter down through the organization management structure. The president of the company in 1950 had made a statement ââ¬Å"I was no different from them,â⬠referring to the companyââ¬â¢s employees. Through this statement he had demonstrated how the top management treats their employees while creating a happy, loyal and well committed, work force. Moreover the statement made by Jeff Burris,a supervisor at the Dullles,Virginia Store has also expressed his conformity towards the main cultural value of selection procedure adopted by company. As denoted above the important welfare plans launched by former presidents also shows us how well the top management recognizes the culture in Wegman, respect and contribute to its sustainability. * Socialization. This is a process that adapts employees to the organizationââ¬â¢s culture. When a new employee is hired, he is new to the organization. The organization wants to help the new comer to transform the core elements of its culture and let the person become a member of its culture. This adaptation is called socialization. The socialization consists three stages. * Pre Arrival Stage. * Encounter Stage. * Metamorphosis stage. 03. 01 Pre Arrival Stage. This is one set of socialization process that occurs before a new employee joins the organization. It is apparent that in Wegmans the selection procedure has been designed such a way to match with its core values. So candidate requires to be ââ¬Å"right typeâ⬠. It can be reasonably assumed that at the selection it takes place a two way communication and ensures the value of culture is preserved. * Encounter Stage. In this stage solicitation is taken place once the new employee is recruited in to the organization. Here the new employee really sees what the organization like and judge how his attitudes, expectations are affected. He might compare his expectations vs reality and probably a divergence may exist. Wegmans has identified this is crucial as same as the pre arrival stage. They very well planned this in their organic growth. The growth is quite slow in order to maintain a sustainable culture. As the culture is so important for their business. They do open only two new stores per year. More importantly the employees from existing stores are brought in to the new store, which enables them to transmit their knowledge and the storeââ¬â¢s values to new employees. This is how their culture has been able to sustain itself. * Metamorphosis stage. As a result of the socialization, the new comer changes and adjusts to the job, work group and organization. In this stage the he feels that he is comfortable, satisfied and accepted by their peers as trusted and valued individual. There are two stories which evident that the employees have undergone this socialization process and reached to the this stage. One story is about Sara Goggins ,and another one with Keely Schoeneck. In addition to that there are further more information available in the case study to prove that their promotional system also in built towards who contribute/support the culture will reward well. More than half of their managers had started their carrer in Wegmans when they were teenagers. Due to the ways explained above Wegmans culture is alive culture which has been able to sustain itself which has extensively contributed for its effectiveness and finally to the sucees of the company.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Brand Loyalty Depends On Brand Elements The WritePass Journal
Brand Loyalty Depends On Brand Elements Introduction Brand Loyalty Depends On Brand Elements IntroductionReferencesRelated Introduction A brand is a design, term, name, or any feature used to identify the products or services of a seller from the ones of other sellers in the market (Jacoby and Chestnut, 1978). Although there is a large body of research on brand loyalty in marketing literature, the relationship between brand loyalty and brand elements has not always been well documented or understood. In this essay, the contention of whether brand elements play a significant role in influencing the loyalty of consumers shall be raised. First, a definition of brand loyalty and brand elements will be outlined, followed by arguments for and against the claim that brand loyalty is dependent on brand elements. In so doing, this essay will draw on marketing and consumer behaviour literature as well as case studies from well-known brands to illustrate the arguments. Brand loyalty has been considered as the conscious or unconscious decision of a consumer to continually repurchase a brand (Keller, 2007).à Brand loyalty has always represented one of the top priorities for a brand. Brand giants such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi for example, frequently bring out brand loyalty promotions such as ââ¬Å"My Coke Rewardsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Pepsi Stuffâ⬠in order to retain its committed consumers (Dick and Basu, 1994). Conversely, brand elements refers to the different components that make up a brand. These can include both internal and external elements. Internal elements, for example, include brand personality and promise whilst external elements refer to associations, image and positioning of a brand. Building from these two key concepts, it may be argued that brand loyalty can only be achieved if a number of effective brand elements are firmly in place. Some have argued that external elements such as brand positioning are critical in cultivating trust between the consumers and the brand (McCole, 2004). Brand positioning refers to the aspects of the brand used in the specialization of the organization, its target market, the unique value of the company and the benefits a consumer would acquire from buying its products and services.à Brand positioning also expends effort in differentiating a company over competitors. It is therefore possible that it is only once a consumer acquires greater knowledge and clarity of a companyââ¬â¢s specialization, unique value and potential benefits, that he/she will be more likely to repurchase the product and therefore ensuring brand loyalty (Aaker, 1995). In a similar vein, the element of brand promise can also be seen to play a major role i n brand loyalty. Brand promise refers to the particular element that consumers expect to be delivered by the company each time the consumer purchases an item and/or service. By this definition, brand promise is a multi-level element as it involves factors such as expectation, interaction of employees to meet these outcomes and delivery (Cowley, 1991). If each of these elements is in place, consumers are much more likely to express loyalty to the brand. An additional argument that supports the claim that brand loyalty is dependent on brand elements can be drawn from examining one of the internal elements; brand personality. Every brand can be said to carry its own unique brand personality. Brand personality personifies the brand in terms of human characteristics and traits (Kapferer, 2008; Aaker, 1995). A brand without personality and warmth, for example, is likely to garner zero loyalty from consumers and will be much more sensitive to prices (Uncles Goodhardt, 2004). A positive and distinctive brand personality on the other hand, is much more likely to elicit favourable outcomes such as increased preference, usage and loyalty (Aaker, 1997). There is a well-established body of literature that highlights that a clear brand personality not only enhances brand preference but improves loyalty (Kressman et al 2006) but also allows consumers to express and project their ideal selves to others (Belk, 1988). The brand becomes an extension of the consumerââ¬â¢s self. Brand personality, can therefore be shown to play a critical role in allowing consumers to connect on a personal level with a brand and hence be more likely to leave a long-lasting positive imprint that leads to repurchase and gradually builds up brand loyalty. However, it may also be argued that brand loyalty can also be build up, independent of brand elements. This argument focuses on the importance of strategy, rather than brand elements. An example to illustrate the importance of strategy can be seen from the changes that have occurred in marketing over the last decade. For example, due to the advances of web 2.0 and social networks, traditional marketing practices of examining consumer trends, conducting focus groups and assessing demographics have been supplemented by social media marketing on social networks, videos and blogs. The number of companies and businesses leveraging the social network platform to connect with consumers via fan pages is increasing every day and global companies such as Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, Starbucks, Disney, New York Times, Red Bull, to name a few, are now prominent fixtures on social networks. Coca-Cola, for example, allowed two of its fans who created the brandââ¬â¢s Facebook fan page to continue t o manage it on Facebook. It is not surprising therefore, that Coca-Cola has now amassed over thirty-four million Likes worldwide. Starbucks has similarly demonstrated the importance of a social media marketing strategy in the creation of ââ¬Å"My Starbucks Ideaâ⬠, a site that allows consumers to submit suggestions that are reviewed and often implemented. As market research has indicated that more than 80% of individuals who ââ¬Å"Likeâ⬠a brand or product on Facebook are loyal consumers (DDB Worldwide, 2010), new strategies of social media marketing and innovative fan pages are increasingly becoming important in the success of a brand. Elements such as brand image and personality may have been important ten years ago, but brand loyalty can now be independent. One may also adopt a perspective that unites the opposing arguments and postulates that brand elements are important, but not requirements of brand loyalty. Instead, a number of other factors are important such as in the case of ââ¬Å"Spurious Loyaltyâ⬠in which customers may repurchase a brand due to situational constraints or out of convenience. Moreover, it has also been suggested that brand loyalty contains a considerable degree of pre-dispositional commitment towards a brand that has nothing to do with the brand elements (Punniyamoorthy and Raj 2007). As there are no specific theories and approaches that address the question of brand loyalty and brand elements, it is difficult to provide a definitive answer. However, over the course of the essay, it has become apparent that brand elements do play a pivotal role in brand loyalty and that consumers are likely to repurchase a brand because they perceive the brand to serve their product needs by offering the right features of the product, price, quality and image as well. However, it has also become clear that brand loyalty is grossly influenced by decisions that take place independent of brand elements. In conclusion, a balance between both arguments would definitely be most effective for addressing the claim. In the future, a greater body of work is necessary to aid researchers, scholars and marketers to come closer to understanding the multi-dimensional nature of brand loyalty. References Aaker, D. 1995. Building Strong Brands, Free Press, New York. Belk, R. W. 1988. Possessions and the extended self. Journal of Consumer Research, 15, pp. 139-168. Cowley, D. 1991. Understanding Brands, Kogan Page, London. DDB Worldwide OpinionWay Survey. Facebook and Brands. October 2010. Dick, A. S. and Basu, K. 1994. Customer Loyalty: Toward an Integrated Conceptual Framework. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 22, pp. 99-113. Jacoby, J. Chestnut, J. 1978. Brand Loyalty: Measurement Management, Wiley, New York. Kapferer, J. 2008. The New Strategic Brand Management, Kogan Page, London. Keller, K. 2007. Strategic Brand Management, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Kressmann, F., Sirgy, M., Herrmann, A., Huber, F., Huber, S., and Lee, D. 2006. Direct and indirect effects of self-image congruence on brand loyalty. Journal of Business Research, 59, 955-964. McCole, P. 2004. Refocusing marketing to reflect practice: The changing role of marketing for business, Marketing Intelligence Planning, Vol. 22 Issue 5, pp.531 539. Punniyamoorthy, M and Prasanna Mohan Raj. 2007. An empirical model for brand loyalty measurement, Journal of Targeting, Measurement and Analysis for Marketing, Volume 15, Number 4, pp. 222-233. Uncles, L Goodhardt, M. (2004), Understanding Brand Performance Measures: Using Dirichlet Benchmarks, Journal of Business Research, Vol.57, Issue12, pp.1307-1325.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Language Intervention Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Language Intervention - Research Paper Example An analysis of past historical literature and texts gives clear answers to the gender differences in language use. Some may tend to argue that relying on previous researches of other researchers may tend to lead to prejudice and preconception hence inaccurate information. Such claims are just unfounded comments of lay people. The subordinate role women play in the society started many years ago. From the history, literacy among women in the nineteenth century was only among the middle class and above. Women were limited to only being able to write and read, and they were denied opportunities to get a higher education. There were those who believed womenââ¬â¢s importance of acquiring education in the society and tried to champion for womenââ¬â¢s rights. Individuals have different ways of speech which are determined by their age, ethnic group, social class, and gender. Regardless of the gender, man or woman itââ¬â¢s prudent to assert that the person adjusts him or herself so as to ââ¬Ëblend inââ¬â¢. That is; our speech is influenced by many factors. It is the belief to some that the noted differences in languages have no relation to the sex of the speaker.It is due to the lack of an agreeable analysis method of language use. However, others are entirely convinced of differences that exist between the speech of men and women. A lot of researchers tend to associate women with words revolving around topics of psychological and social processes while men to impersonal topics and object properties. That is.
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