Lululemon

Lunch get-together is ready and very much situated to move to another level in the extravagance sports attire commercial center. While our difficulties in the course of the most recent year and a half have been Impacting, we have kept up productivity and have not lost noteworthy piece of the pie. Accordingly, our initiative group led natural and hierarchical sweeps in the course of the most recent 30 days. From these outputs, we have distinguished some future vital chances and difficulties that when tended to, will set us up to turn into the #1 sports extravagance clothing brand in the world.We will proceed with our development by Introducing new items lines; there is an extraordinary open door for us to venture Into a youngsters' line. Another open door for Luncheon Is to Investigate new direct systems In enhancement of deals incomes. Couple with these chances, we earnestly need to address a few dangers comprehensive of enhancing our gracefully chain and improving advertising to rev erberate our fundamental beliefs and brand.Our natural output incorporated a full scale patterns report, assessment of our industry/rivalry, and a complete survey of our partners' needs and desires. Huge full scale patterns important Include: supported prevalence of yoga readiness for the close to term, proceeded with development in online deals, and continued use of web based life (with ladies speaking to an excessively enormous measure of clients drawing in our image). Because of the utilization of oil and cotton items, material and work costs for Luncheon can some of the time be flighty dependent on vacillations in these product markets.Our Industry investigation Indicates that the games clothing brand Is a $106 billion dollar Industry with the two greatest players just claiming 14 later of the piece of the overall industry, [See Financial Analysis Slide]. We are the top positioned premium games attire association and the fifth most noteworthy positioning association in general. Our providers are more than providers; they are accomplices, [See Industry/Competitive Analysis Slide]. Our synergistic relationship with our providers causes us make probably the most imaginative items in the market.Supplier issues with materials and assembling have represented a continuous issue because of different made a drop In organization stock value, which In turn, has raised worries with dockworkers, [See partner Analysis slide]. These issues have made Luncheon face extraordinary investigation in the market and media, which inevitably brought about negative Public Relations related issues. The powerlessness for the Public Relations division to frustrate such episodes has affected the general item brand inside the market place.With that stated, the monetary soundness of the organization Is acceptable. Net income for the monetary year 2013 Increased 16% to $1. 6 billion from $1. 4 billion In financial 2012. The organization finished with $698,649,000 money available, enough t o finance its working exercises. Our operational help uncovers Luncheon consumer loyalty stays high in spite of later and continuous assembling issues, [See Stakeholder Analysis Slide]. We have a dedicated client base and have as of late moved the entirety of our stores from the establishment model to being ran inside to amplify on our culture.From this natural output, we had the option to lead a complete and top to bottom Internal examination to decide how solid and steady we incorporated an operational wellbeing report, a monetary report, and an audit of our way of life. The current association is organized so that there is an open door for open inoculation all through the business, while wellbeing programs make high worker fulfillment. Since our beginning, our way of life has been tied in with making segments for individuals to live long, sound, and fun lives.This culture saturates through our representatives, our in-store understanding, and obviously our client base. We have con fidence on the side of the networks in which we are a section by making different celebrations, withdraws and consistently concentrating on manageability. Generally speaking, our inside report shows we are ready for development and have the instruments to make the most of our chances while meeting our difficulties head on. Lunch meeting is the pioneer in extravagance sports attire. With the goal for us to remain the chief extravagance sports attire supplier, we need to ensure we keep our center capabilities aligned.Our center abilities are characterized as follows: 1 . Creating imaginative extravagance plans, 2. Grass roots showcasing, 3. Making a spurred workforce, 4. Making one moment to none positive client experience. Our four suggestions sketched out in the start of the reminder adjust consummately with these center skills, and our reports show we can make progress in every territory. Growing new product offerings, particularly concentrating on a line for the young, will guaran tee we stay diversified.In building up these lines we can begin to differentiate our providers by finding different markets in which to accomplice. At present our profundity in providers is huge, notwithstanding, the decent variety is ostensible. Our providers are essentially packed in one locale, Asia-Pacific, leaving us vulnerable to catastrophic events, fringe wars, and different issues that can influence creation, [See Stakeholder Analysis Slide]. Making extra channels of deals will work to improve our best in class client experience.Working with lavish inns and other conspicuous top of the line accomplices known for incredible client care will likewise help with our grass roots promoting alongside expanding our positive advertising nearness. Additionally, by controlling our advertising and setting an expanded accentuation on it, we will have the option to more readily situate our picture and brand for enduring reverberation in the commercial center. We are energized for Luncheo n and anticipate joining forces with you on actualizing these four key goals that will move our incredible association to another level.

The Problem Of Sweatshops - A Necessary Evil Research Paper

The Problem Of Sweatshops - A Necessary Evil - Research Paper Example In all actuality, the world’s economy energizes the improvement of enterprises in districts where an alluring ware is copious. In certain nations, there is an important normal asset like oil or minerals, and in others, there is acceptable land for farming. The one thing that numerous poor nations have in bounty is work. Nations like India and China which have colossal populaces are in this manner appealing spots for internal speculation by organizations who need to keep their pay costs low. A few sorts of assembling, similar to the garments and toy industry, requires a considerable number of laborers to complete the products with hand work like sewing and painting. In China, there is likewise substantially less guideline as far as building guidelines, and sourcing of crude materials. This is on the grounds that China has the approach to grow its mechanical base and modernize its economy to contend on the planet. It is just normal that such a nation will abuse its principle pre ferred position of modest and abundant work in this early development stage. Work guideline is costly, and Chinese manufacturing plants need to keep being the most financially savvy spots to create mass items for the worldwide market. They are just after a similar way that increasingly evolved countries previously needed to follow numerous prior decades. For the most part, individuals have been beguiled by the possibility that sweatshops were made as an approach to misuse work. Nonetheless, they frequently overlook that sweatshops have really given openings for work, capital venture, and monetary development for creating nations. ... untries like India and China which have enormous populaces are in this way alluring spots for internal speculation by organizations who need to keep their pay costs low. A few sorts of assembling, similar to the attire and toy industry, requires a large number of laborers to complete the merchandise with hand work like sewing and painting. In China there is likewise considerably less guideline as far as building guidelines, and sourcing of crude materials. This is on the grounds that China has a strategy to extend its mechanical base and modernize its economy to contend on the planet. It is just normal that such a nation will abuse its fundamental preferred position of modest and abundant work in this early extension stage. Work guideline is costly, and Chinese manufacturing plants need to keep being the most practical spots to deliver mass items for the worldwide market. They are just after a similar way that progressively evolved countries previously needed to follow numerous prior decades. The Role of Sweatshops in a Developing Economy Generally, individuals have been bamboozled by the possibility that sweatshops were made as an approach to misuse work. Notwithstanding, they frequently overlook that sweatshops have really given openings for work, capital venture, and financial development for creating nations. Characteristically, we accept by the definition that sweatshop manufacturing plants as a rule pay low wages, have poor working conditions, and require long destructive hours. Despite what might be expected, in spite of the fact that this is halfway evident, what’s progressively significant is that sweatshops despite everything give openings for work and pay least wages as per the country’s law. As a rule, American organizations are put to fault for abusing this field, however our center ought to be after upholding global work guideline. For instance, Apple, Nike, Gap, Wal-Mart, and GE are broadly known for

The Fall essays

The Fall papers The being of the book starts and remains with Jean-Baptiste Clamence discussing his life to an another youthful legal advisor from Paris, the youngster never lets out the slightest peep in the book other then through Clamence. It begins with him being a youthful aspirations legal advisor and helping individuals when they have no cash and even goes to the point of giving his customers cash to begin them off once more. He at that point goes on to about a giggling he heard on the scaffold it scares him enough to make him avoid water as he places in the book. At that point he proceeds to discuss how he saw a young lady wearing dark remaining on the scaffold investigating the side, he said he kept on strolling when he heard the sprinkle of a body hitting the water, he proceeds to tell that he couldnt move and just tuned in to the water sprinkle around and the sound going further down the stream. He says he feels awful for not doing anything for her however what might he be able to truly do, so he returned home and disregarded her. The overlooking part is the longest part in the book that Clamence discusses he says it is anything but difficult to overlook things when you decide to do it. He talks that it is so natural to overlook the ladies he has had the customers he has fouled up or even given a valiant effort for. The saddest thing is the point at which he talks about god he is brimming with hatred for him state that he is dishonorable of kicking the bucket for our transgressions when he had such a large number of sins of his own. As the book slows down Clamence has the youthful attorney gone to his condo to complete their discussion it is there that he shows him the taken composition of The Just Judges. He discusses he came to hold this composition and how he is standing by to be captured for having it and having the option to safeguard himself with why he was not turning it in the congregation. The finish of the book finished with him going on about how the youthful legal counselor must return and see him and the amount he would not have changed his mentality in speculation and h ... <!

Impact Of The Monetary Policies

Effect Of The Monetary Policies Presentation Through a writing audit, this section expects to investigate the effect of the money related arrangements and guidelines on bank dangers and their tasks in Zimbabwe. Segment 2.1 will give a brief review of Zimbabwe and Section 2.2 will talk about the Zimbabwean economy. Area 2.3 will plot a foundation on the method of reasoning of money related guideline through the investigation of the Basle Accord II. In segment 2.4, budgetary guideline in Zimbabwe and its impact to the economy will be inspected. An outline of the financial framework and the kind of dangers it is presented to will be considered in segment 2.5. Area 2.6 will investigate the Zimbabwean financial framework and its significant difficulties likewise connecting these to the country„â ¢s money related guideline. In area 2.7 the creator examines Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) which is an incorporated and all encompassing danger the board structure that associations are urged to use as a change the board methodolog y for overseeing dangers. Area 2.8 will at last sum up this part. Review of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (in the past Rhodesia) is a landlocked nation in south-focal Africa. It lies between the Zambezi River which in the north and the Limpopo River in the south. Its neighboring nations are Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana. Zimbabwes capital city, Harare, is situated in the upper east piece of the nation (Coltart 2008). Zimbabwe picked up its freedom from Britain in 1980 after a since quite a while ago outfitted battle drove by the main party, Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front known as ZANU-PF, (Makumbe, 2002). It has a populace of 13,349,00 individuals with a total national output that is evaluated to have fallen by about 14% in 2008 because of monetary interruptions brought about by hyperinflation and the further weakening in the business atmosphere (World Bank 2008). The economy of Zimbabwe Chitiga (2004) fights that farming assumes a focal job in the monetary exhibition of Zimbabwe. The agrarian division is imperative to the economy for a few reasons (Christiansen 1993).In the 1980s, it was the significant boss, utilizing an aggregate of over 70% of the country„â ¢s populace. The area keeps on being a significant boss right up 'til today. In Zimbabwe, dry seasons keep on being a significant issue and raises worry about food security (Chitiga 2004). Anyway in spite of the regularly changing climate designs influencing the farming division in Zimbabwe, Coltart (2004) takes note of that agribusiness the backbone of the economy was everything except devastated by the politically convenient and brutal land change program started by the ZANU PF government in 2000. Breakdown of Zimbabwean economy Coorey et al( 2007) contends that, while the underlying yield breakdown is generally ascribed to the disordered seizure of business cultivates in Zimbabwe which is the foundation of the economy, different components have additionally contributed lately to the county„â ¢s breakdown which incorporate; 1) high and quickening expansion of 230 000 000% in 2008, 2) value bends because of broad controls and guideline, especially identifying with the conversion standard which is fixed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) at a profoundly exaggerated rate, 3) the breakdown of speculator certainty because of flighty approaches and absence of regard for property rights, especially in agribusiness and mining and 4) insignificant outer financing due to poor relations with loan bosses and benefactors and falling apart monetary and social conditions. (Munoz 2006, Dore et al 2008, Hanke 2008) contend that the RBZ„Â ¢s polices, for example, printing of cash, semi monetary exercises by the RBZ, have explicitly caused the financial precariousness in Zimbabwe. The accord among these creators is that the country„â ¢s government strategies close by with the national bank have assumed a significant job in causing hyperinflation which rose to 230 000 000% in 2008. Coltart (2004) features that the administration is primarily liable for a financial emergency. Muponda (2008) takes note of that Zimbabwe„â ¢s swelling was driven higher by the national banks absence of freedom from the legislature. In this manner the banks arrangements have been fundamentally directed by the administration. The RBZ has been compelled to be lender of first decision and truly print cash to support its the semi financial exercises.. The difficulties looked by Zimbabwe have been contributed by different variables including, the land change prog ram in 2000 (Coorey et al 2007), political distress in the nation which has segregated the nation from the worldwide network through assents and withdrawal of ventures and global business network. Research by Cukierman (2001) and the IMF (1996) recommend that nations concurred more noteworthy self-governance to their national banks additionally experienced lower normal swelling while those economies where there is no national bank freedom have higher expansion rates. The impact of the legislature on the RBZ has brought about the bank actualizing irregular fiscal practices, for example, printing of cash which has fuelled hyperinflation. Hanke (2008) alludes to hyperinflation as the sign of Zimbabwe„â ¢s financial breakdown. The condition of the Zimbabwean economy has experienced, significant changes with major financial and political changes executed by government authorities to reestablish the monetary sufficiency of the nation in the year 2009. There is the utilization of multi monetary forms in the nation as the economy was authoritatively dollarized by the national bank in February 2009 bringing about the expulsion of the nearby cash (RBZ 2009). Since the selection of different monetary forms, stores into the financial framework have developed to US$705.7 million by 3 June 2000 (Government of Zimbabwe 2009). As of now, the economy is on a recuperation way as reflected by full scale monetary soundness, expansion decrease, upgraded limit usage, bringing about improved gracefully of products and enterprises just as generally developing business certainty (Biti 2009). Money related Regulation Compelling guideline is of essential significance for the monetary exhibition of any area in the economy to address showcase disappointment (Jalilian et al 2003). The setbacks and disappointment of enormous corporate foundations in the money related area have grabbed the eye of controllers, who have adopted a progressively severe administrative strategy in the monetary segment. Lately, various budgetary emergencies have achieved an enormous number of bank disappointments (Casu et al 2006, for example, Barings Bank in 1995 and Northern Rock in 2007. Moreover the financial emergencies in the mid 1980s and mid 1990s have demonstrated that banks experience issues which make a potential danger to contributors, speculators and the security of the business with terrible ramifications for the economy all in all (Caprio and Klingebiel 2003). Budgetary guideline centers around the components that are basic to the security and prosperity of the money related division (Stewart 2001). The helplessness of banks to virus makes foundational chance which is the hazard that unsettling influences in a monetary establishment or market will spread over the budgetary framework (Heffernan 2005). It is the job of the national bank to actualize measures to shield the country„â ¢s economy from being influenced by the aftereffects of the emergencies. Stiglitz (2000) fights that the point of controllers is to limit the chance of a breakdown in the money related segment and forestall any antagonistic consequences for the drawn out development rate in the economy. In certain examples government have needed to protect banks to keep away from the emergencies from spreading to different banks and influencing investors too.. Limitations on bank exercises, chance balanced least capital prerequisite, direct intercession of supervisors choices are three essential gadgets that can be applied by controllers to control bank dangers (Fenandez and Gonzalez 2005). Least capital prerequisites Different creators (Besanko and Kanatas 1996, Calem and Rob 1999) anyway contend that guidelines, for example, least capital necessities are probably going to build the hazard taking conduct of banks. As indicated by Kendall (1992) higher capital prerequisites may cause less secure bank conduct sooner or later in time, in spite of the fact that it doesn't really infer a pattern towards a less secure financial framework. Beatty and Gron (2001) demonstrate that capital administrative factors have critical impacts for low-capital banks however not really for different banks. Studies by Barth et al. (2004) additionally show that while progressively tough capital prerequisites are related with less non performing advances, capital toughness isn't powerfully connected with banking emergencies or bank improvement or proficiency while controlling for other administrative and administrative approaches. Bank Regulations Bank specialists routinely endeavor to advance bank sufficiency by forcing limitations on banks exercises (Constantin et al, 2006). In their exploration, Constantin et al (2006) found that confining bank exercises is adversely connected with bank advancement and dependability. Barth et al. (2001) found that more prominent administrative limitations on bank exercises are related with higher likelihood of enduring a significant financial emergency, and lower banking division effectiveness. Lascelles (2005) includes that a review directed by Pricewaterhouse Coopers found that over the top guideline was viewed as the most serious hazard confronting the money related segment. Anyway as opposed to this, Fernandez and Gonzalez (2005) show that stricter limitations on bank exercises are compelling at lessening banking hazard. It would seem generally speaking that limitations on banking exercises frames as a premise of guaranteeing that banks don't redirect from their center business and dire ct stable financial practices. Basle Accord It is a direct result of issues, for example, the budgetary emergencies that the Basle Accord II accentuates on the administrative job of the controller. In June 1999, the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision made its since quite a while ago foreseen declaration to present another capital a

Analysis Annual Report 2010 Bayer Essay Example for Free (#2010)

Investigation Annual Report 2010 Bayer Essay Which pointers have been presented in the yearly report of the organization? Which explicit targets are focused on? How does the gathering state and survey the development of benefit in the yearly report? Is there later open data about this issue? Where? Is this data in accordance with the one referenced in the yearly report? Is it demonstrating a comparable advancement? What are the primary suggestions of the organization to improve its benefit? What is the worldwide financing system of the gathering? What is the advancement of the financing cost (a few markers)? What is the shareholders’ compensation program? What are your wellsprings (of data) with respect to this issue? What are the principle venture/disinvestment arrangements? How are these ventures financed? What is the viewpoint of the organization in regards to this issue? What are the most significant solidified auxiliaries? (In the long run notice the inexact number of auxiliaries)? Are there related organizations? What is the development of the pay inferable from investors (or result some portion of the gathering)? What are the remarks of the organization with respect to this issue? What sort of pointers does the organization report about investor esteem? Are those pointers contrasted and other data? Does the gathering report the non-production of certain gauges? In the event that truly, for which reasons? Among logical notes related with the combined records, pick one that is comparative with a particular norm. For this note, report basic qualities that feature the distinctions as far as recording and revealing in the connection to Belgian GAAPs. What is the effect of IAS/IFRS referential (assuming any) on the record that is worried by this note? Worldwide indicative Is there significant ongoing data about this organization? OK put resources into this organization? Why? Business division What is the principle business of the gathering? Initially, we need to realize that Bayer was established in Barmen, Germany in 1963 by Friedrich Bayer and Johann Friedrich Weskott his accomplice. It is a worldwide and a designer organization with center capabilities in the area of human services, nourishment and innovative materials. They create and offer types of assistance to profit individuals and improve their personal satisfaction. What's more, they look to make an incentive with the assistance of development, development and high gaining power. For them, maintainability is significant for their social and moral obligations. Its central command are in Leverkusen. This is one of the biggest phamarceutical organizations on the planet and has three sebgroups: Bayer CropScience, Bayer HealthCare and Bayer MaterialScience. Driven by the administration holding organization, they additionally have three administrations organizations which work autonomously: Bayer Business Services, Bayer Technology Services and Currenta. Are there different exercises, integral organizations inside the gathering? Bayer CropScience has items in crop insurance and nonagricultural bother control. It additionally has exercises in seeds and plant qualities. Bayer HealthCare is Bayer’s pharmaceutical and clinical items subgroup. It is engaged with the examination, improvement, assembling and showcasing of items. It involves a further four regions: Bayer Schering Pharma, Bayer Consumer Care, Bayer Animal Health and Bayer Medical Care. Bayer MaterialScience is a provider of cutting edge  ­polymers, and creates answers for a wide scope of uses applicable to regular day to day existence. Bayer Business Services situated at the Bayer USA Headquarters in Pennsylvania. It handles the data innovation framework and specialized help part of Bayer Canada and USA. Bayer Technology Services is occupied with process improvement and in procedure and plant designing, development and enhancement. Currenta offers administrations for the substance business, including utility gracefully, squander the executives, framework, wellbeing, security, examination and professional preparing. What are the principle group’s contenders? The fundamental group’s contenders are Merck and Co, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Sanofi Aventis. For sure, GlaxoSmithKline have the second post in the pharmaceutical’s world simply behind Pfizer. Sanofi Aventis is in fourth spot and Merck and Co and Bayer share the third spot. Which primary dangers (that are intrinsic to this business segment) does the organization notice? Which supporting strategies are set up? Business activities essentially include dangers. So as per Bayer, viable administration of dangers is a key factor in economically defending a company’s esteem. Dangers are surveyed both subjectively and quantitatively in deciding procedures of the vital business elements. The hazard the board framework is determined to the Group Intranet. Mandate distributed clarifies the essential standards of this administration as per German Law.According to Bayer Group, the meaning of the hazard is spoken to by occasions and potential improvements inside or outside of the gathering that would diminish the estimation of the organization. These dangers are depicted as follows: Legal risksBayer Group is presented to various lawful dangers from lawful debates or procedures to which they are right now a gathering †¦ So it is along these lines conceivable that legitimate or administrative decisions could fundamentally influence the incomes and profit of the company.Industry-explicit risksSome governments intercede straightforwardly in setting costs and the administration repayment frameworks preferring more affordable conventional pharmaceuticals over brand-name items, which decrease profit from Bayer’s pharmaceutical items and might render the market presentation of another item unbeneficial. So in the event that it fundamental, Bayer’s Group modifies his field-tested strategies as per the noteworthiness of administrative mediation. Deals of the Group are dependent upon occasional vacillations and CropScience business especially influenced by climate conditions. Also the early distinguishing proof of patterns in the financial market is significant components of the Bayer’s Group business the board. At long last where it shows up deliberately favorable they may procure an organization or part of an organization and join it with their current business. The coordination forms related with their acquisitions are directed by mix groups. Fitting assets are given to help the combination processes.Product advancement risksThe Group’s serious position, deals and income rely essentially upon the improvement of financially suitable new items and technologies’ creation. So they in this manner give significant assets to innovative work. Besides it is conceivable that impacts of their items might be found after administrative endorsement or enrollment. So suits and related cases for harms because of negative impacts can really decrease their earnings.Regulatory risksOur life science organizations, specifically are dependent upon severe administrative systems identifying with the testing, assembling and promoting of huge numbers of our items. In certain nations administrative controls have become progressively requesting like in the USA or in EU. That may build item improvement costs. So Projects have been started to organize the execution of new administrative controls and relieve any negative ramifications for the business. Patent risksA enormous extent of Bayer’s items is secured by licenses. At the point when a patent resistance is fruitless, or on the off chance that one of our licenses terminates, our costs are probably going to go under weight in light of expanded rivalry from conventional items entering the market. The lawful division, related to the significant useful offices, normally audits the patent circumstance. Potential encroachments of Bayer’s licenses by different organizations are painstakingly checked so legitimate move can be made if fundamental. Creation, obtainment advertise and ecological risksProduction limits at a portion of their assembling offices could be unfavorably influenced by, for example, specialized disappointments, catastrophic events †¦ This applies especially to the biotech items as a result of the exceptionally mind boggling producing forms. In the event that in such cases they can't satisfy need they may endure decreases in deals incomes. So they address item and ecological dangers by method for appropriate quality confirmation measures. Moreover, they are focused on the universal Responsible Care activity of the compound business. IT risksMajor disturbances or disappointment of worldwide or provincial business frameworks may bring about loss of information and disability of business and creation forms. As an outcome specialized safety measures, for example, information recuperation and progression plans have been set up together with the inner it specialist organization to address this hazard. Hazard to annuity commitments from capital market developmentsThe Bayer Group has commitments to present and previous workers identified with annuities and other post-business benefits. Changes in applicable valuation parameters, for example, loan costs, mortality and paces of increments in remuneration may raise the current estimation of the benefits commitments. This may prompt expanded annuity costs or reduce stockholders’ value. Budgetary risksIn this part we are talking about the administration of monetary and product value dangers. As a worldwide venture, Bayer is uncovered in the typical course of business to credit dangers, liquidity dangers and different market value chances that could substantially influence its net resources, money related position and consequences of tasks. The different dangers related with monetary instruments are laid out underneath together with the pertinent hazard the board frameworks. In this hazard there is a great deal of subcategories: Credit dangers: emerge from the chance of the estimation of receivables or other money related resources being impeded in light of the fact that counterparties can't meet their installment or other per

The Good News Keeps Rolling In - McElroy Tutorings first Harvard Admit, Highest SAT Scorer

The Good News Keeps Rolling In - McElroy Tutoring's first Harvard Admit, Highest SAT Scorer Hello everyone,Lots of good news to report today....I'm happy to announce that for the first time in 6 years, McElroy Tutoring has had one of our San Diego students admitted to Harvard University! In a year when college admissions rates were the lowest they have ever been (only 5% of San Diego applicants were admitted to Harvard this year, 7% nationally), admission to the nation's #1 college is quite an accomplishment.This also means that we have now had at least one McElroy Tutoring student admitted to each Ivy League University in the country. For a full list of colleges where our students have been admitted, please click here. In other news, March SAT results have arrived...and again, scores of McElroy Tutoring students were off the charts. Brian McElroy's SAT students averaged a score of over 2000 on the March SAT, and we also had our highest scorer ever --2370 points out of a possible 2400! That's 99.9th percentile, or one out of every 1000 students. We have also recently updat ed our original SAT and ACT improvement charts--here is a sample chart:Congratulations to all of my hard-working, resilient and motivated students--you deserve your success! -Brian

Contrapasso in the Inferno - Literature Essay Samples

Instead of leaving all of Infernos sinners to burn in the traditional flames of Hell, Dante successfully uses contrapasso to build a world with unique psychological depth, and therefore a deeper potential for suffering. Contrapasso distinguishes each sinner by making his or her punishment uniquely appropriate to the sin so that every soul in Inferno inhabits an individual Hell of different thoughts, desires, and pains. As Dante moves into Purgatorio and Paradisio and still sees distinctions between souls according to their Earthly characteristics, it is tempting to say that contrapasso continues to define a souls existence throughout the Comedy. But though contrapasso works so brilliantly in Inferno, Dante does not use this technique of separation as a central theme when building an effective Purgatorio and Paradisio. This shift away from the human isolation of contrapasso and towards a unity of desire and purpose helps Dante create a vision of Purgatorio and Paradisio both uniqu ely peaceful and awe-inspiring.The effectiveness of contrapasso in punishing Infernos sinners is apparent in the isolated position of Master Adam, for whom contrapasso creates an individual world unique to his sin. Dante meets Adam, a coin counterfeiter, in the Tenth Pouch of the Eighth Circle, where the Fraudulent suffer together. Adams body is unnaturally disfigured so that he appears fashioned like a lute (Canto XXX line 49) and he can not move from his spot. His immobility and deformity are appropriate to his sin, the distortion of metals, an occupation that allowed him everything he desired on Earth. In the Eighth Circle, he is not only physically distorted but also psychologically affected: the two things that he most longs for are water and revenge on his fellow falsifiers, both goals that require movement. He says:alive, I had enough of all I wanted;alas, I now long for one drop of water.. . . I am racked by memory  ­ the image of their [streams of the Arno] flow parc hes me morethan the disease that robs my face of flesh. (Canto XXX, lines 62-69)Master Adams world is eternally limited to his internal suffering, his mind forever stuck on revenge against his fellow sinners and his inability to fulfill his desires. His punishment isolates Master Adam forever from his fellow men.Another sinner that helps elucidate contrapassos effectiveness is Brunetto Latini and his conversation with Dante in the Third Ring of the Seventh Circle of Inferno. The Seventh Circle contains Sodomites who were Violent Against God and Dante has a hard time even recognizing Brunetto, his old mentor and teacher, from among a group of souls running under a rain of fire. Brunettos face is badly scorched and he must keep their meeting brief so as not to fall behind the group he is running with. His sins continue to dominate his existence and act as the instrument of his punishment. The indignity of the old and respected masters position makes his punishment not only physic ally appropriate  ­ the raining fire akin to the homosexual passion he could not control on Earth  ­ but also psychologically so. Indeed, Brunetto never discusses his sin directly and instead discusses politics and earthly matters with Dante. But Brunettos only hope is for earthly fame and to be remembered in the great encyclopaedic work he left behind, the Tesoro: Let my Tesoro, in which I still live, / be precious to you; and I ask no more (Canto XV, line 119-120) are his parting words as he races off to join his fellow sinners. Because of his homosexuality, Brunetto did not leave his name behind through his offspring, the natural way, but instead wants his name to live through his work. This pride in his work plays a crucial role in his punishment because fame and respect are things he can never attain from his humiliating position in Inferno. These obsessions are unique to Brunetto, placing him alone in his torment and separated from the many other souls in Inferno who ea ch have their own private Hell of desire and pain.This severe isolation is lessened in Purgatorio, where the characters experience a transitional form of contrapasso, one that takes them from the Infernos eternal punishment to the timeless unity of Paradisio. In one sense, contrapasso still exists in each of Purgatorios terraces where the souls purge their sins through punishments directly related to their faults on Earth. However, the contrapasso does not define the center of their existence: the souls are not consumed with their sin as the sinners in Inferno are. Instead, all of the pilgrims in Purgatory want to discard their Earthly distinctions, wash away their sins, and move towards a unity in God, a goal they share as they suffer together. One can argue that contrapasso still remains in the suffering accorded them on each terrace, but their ultimate and most painful punishment is their distance from God and an awareness of a Paradise they have yet to reach. Dante begins t o observe this new harmony in Purgatorio when he reaches the Second Terrace where the Envious purge their sins. He greets the souls with:You who can be certain,I then began, of seeing that high lightwhich is the only object of your longing,may, in your conscience, all impuritysoon be dissolved by grace, so that the streamof memory flow through it limpidly. (Canto XIII, lines 85-90)After seeing the eyes of the Envious sewn shut (because it was through their vision that they envied others), Dante feels compassion for them but realizes that their unified desire is to forget their sin through this physical pain and experience Gods love. Whereas contrapasso works in the Inferno by trapping the sinners with their painful memories forever, Dante recognizes that these souls wish for only a limpid memory of their past. Purgatorios souls not only share a disdain for their personal pasts, but also a desire for a unity with God and the other souls. Guido del Duca, one of the souls on the Sec ond Terrace, cries out against the isolated heart of a sinner when he admits his envy on Earth to Dante and entreats him: o humankind, why do you set your hearts / there where our sharing cannot have a part? (Canto XIV, lines 86-87). Dante later questions Virgil on what Guido meant by this sharing and Virgil explains that:when your longings center on things [sins that need purging]. . . then envy stirs the bellows of your sighs.But if the love within the Highest Sphereshould turn your longings heavenward, the fearinhabiting your breast would disappear;for there, the more there are who would say ours,so much the greater is the good possessed by each  ­so much more love burns in that cloister. (Canto XV, lines 49-57) Therefore we see that the greatest goal for the Purgatory characters is to leave behind and purge their distinctive sins and human qualities in order to become one with God and with their fellow souls. The inhabitants of Purgatory do not suffer in a private Hell for their sins on Earth as we saw in Inferno, but instead focus as a united group on God and their desire to make their own free will at one with Gods. Though Dante witnesses many brutal punishments in Purgatorio that draw his pity and compassion, the souls do not seem to concern themselves as much with the contrapasso-like pain as the souls in Inferno did. Their greatest punishment is that the sins they must purge prevent them from receiving Gods love in full and delay their entrance into Paradisio. Whereas in Inferno, each sinner voiced his own desires, whether it was for Earthly fame or revenge, the characters in Purgatorio request the same thing only that Dante pray for them when he reaches Paradisio or remind family members to pray for them in Purgatory.This disregard for Earthly pain can be seen in Dantes meeting with the poets Guido Guinizzelli and Arnaut Daniel in the Seventh Terrace of Purgatory where the Lustful (heterosexual and homosexual) are punished. Their sin of exc essive lust as well as their fame on Earth make this scene a striking parallel to Dantes meeting with Brunetto in Inferno. Just as with Brunetto, Dante sings his appreciation for Guido Guinizzellis work after recognizing him, but Guidos reaction immediately separates him from Brunetto. He unconcernedly brushes off Dantes compliments, declaring the greater talent of Arnaut, another soul on the Seventh Terrace, and asks Dante to pray for him in Paradise as he runs away with his group. Dante speaks soon after with Arnaut, who also refuses to speak of his work on Earth as if it were inconsequential, declaring that:with grief, I see my former folly;with joy, I see the hoped-for day draw near.Now, by the Power that conducts you tothe summit of the stairway, I pray you:remember, at time opportune, my pain! (Canto XXVI, lines 143-147)Whereas Brunetto suffers alone wanting only for his work to gain Earthly fame, both Arnaut and Guido long to forget their past writing and sins in their ferv or to reach God. The last words of each master artist further cement the difference between Infernos contrapasso and Purgatorios new unified vision. Brunettos existence and all his desires relate directly to his personality and individual qualities on Earth: contrapasso demands that he will always be trapped and consumed with his sins. Guido and Arnaut, in contrast, share the same desire to move closer to God, just as all the other many characters Dante encounters in Purgatorio: despite their current purging and their different accomplishments as humans, their existence is no longer defined by their sins but by their increasing capacity and devotion to God. As Dante leaves Purgatorio and moves into Paradisio, he once again sees a separation of the inhabitants in their placement on different spheres according to their faults and assets on Earth. Despite this distinction, however, this is not the contrapasso that Dante uses in Inferno. Dantes guide Beatrice explains that the sphe res are not a reality as the circles of Hell were because all those souls grace the Empryean;and each of them has gentle life  ­ though somesense the Eternal Spirit more, some less.They showed themselves to you here not becausethis is their sphere, but as a sign for youthat in the Empryean their place is lowest. (Canto IV, lines 34-39)Though the souls have different places in Paradise, their relative positions do not dictate their happiness or constitute the focus of their existence; it merely symbolizes their differing capacities for Gods love. An example of this seeming paradox, wherein all souls are unified and happy despite their higher or lower positions in Dantes eyes, is Piccarda, who appears on the sphere of the Moon in a lower position in the Empryean because of her inconstancy on Earth. Dante immediately questions whether she desires to be in a higher sphere, to which she gently answers,Brother, the power of love appeases ourwill so  ­ we only long for what we have;w e do not thirst for greater blessedness.. . . to live in love is  ­ here  ­ necessity,. . . The essence of this blessed life consistsin keeping to the boundaries of Gods will;. . . all this kingdom willsthat which will please the King whose will is rule.And in His will there is our peace. (Canto III, lines 70-85)Piccardas thoughts are not consumed with her life on Earth or her individual position but instead with receiving Gods love she even uses the plural voice, saying we instead of I. So though the individual qualities of each soul dictate their capacities for receiving Gods love in Paradise, the ultimate reward for the souls here has no relation to their human qualities on Earth but is instead the same for all souls: the peace of being at one with Gods will. The individuality of the contrapasso in Inferno, and its purpose of assigning uniquely appropriate existences to each soul, is not found in the unity and singular focus among the souls in Paradisio.Perhaps one of the most individually distinctive souls in Paradisio is Cunizza, and the ease with which she dismisses her unique character on Earth for the shared goal of peace and unity in God provides a strong example for the absence of contrapasso. Dante meets Cunizza in the Sphere of Venus, where those who were influenced by amorous love are grouped. Cunizza was a famed woman with many lovers and husbands, and her appearance in Paradise may be surprising to Dantes contemporaries who were aware of her reputation. But her excessive love also meant she was compassionate and warm and she apparently turned her energies to God in her later life. Despite her fame on Earth and location in Venus, Cunizza does not experience Paradise any differently than the other souls around her. She says . . . I shine herebecause this planets radiance conquered me.But in myself I pardon happilythe reason for my fate; I do not grieve  ­ and vulgar minds may find this hard to see. (Canto IX, lines 32- 36)She goes on to comment on the political scene in Dantes home city of Florence and concludes her speech with Above are mirrors Thrones is what you call them / and from them God in judgement shines on us;/ and thus we think it right to say such things (Canto IX, lines 61-63). So after she dismisses her renowned past on Earth, she goes on to evaluate Dantes politics according to Gods judgement, using we instead of I, thus dismissing her identity in favor of speaking collectively with Gods will. Cunizzas thoughts and focus are not on her own unique excessive love on Eart  ­ she dismisses that outright. Instead, her reward in Paradise is the same as all the other souls. Dante says it best, when he realizes that every place/ in Heaven is in Paradise (Canto III, line 88).When one so examines the desires and thoughts of the souls in the Comedy it is apparent that contrapasso no longer operates as the central focus in Purgatorio and Paradisio. In the Inferno, each character is consumed with the ir own distinct thoughts directly related to his or her individual sin: often they involve Earthly fame, revenge, or politics. The sinners are isolated from those around them and face a tormenting eternity of unfulfilled hopes and desires. In contrast, while the souls of Purgatorio are still assigned punishments directly related to their sin, there exists a unity among their thoughts and desires. Time and again, the souls Dante talks with quickly dismiss their own lives on Earth and their sins as stumbling blocks on the path to their higher goal: a union with God. This unity of thought and desire among the souls is a continuous theme as Dante travels to Paradisio, where the distinction between souls is even less tangible and the unity of their thoughts and desires is always the same  ­ God and His love. Though the individual qualities of each soul correlates to their capacity for receiving Gods love, Paradise leaves each soul completely satisfied and thus all are unified in thei r will (one with Gods Will) and focus. Dantes use of contrapasso in the Inferno followed by a move away from it towards collective feeling in Paradisio perhaps reveals something about his conception of happiness and love: an insistence on individuality, isolation, and Earthly fame can only lead to an eternity of unfulfilled desires, while leaving behind our personal demands in favor of Gods will can leave us ultimately satisfied in our need for love and comfort  ­ Dantes Paradise defined.