Williams 1 Essays - Literary Criticism, New Criticism, Aesthetics

Williams 1 Connie Williams Professor Carroll May 26, 2000 The Beginning's of Literary Study - For Dummies J A Modified Version of R. L. McGuire's Passionate Attention: an introduction to literary study. Literature and criticism Authors basic assumption of a book- the reading and the study of literature cannot and do not take place outside the context of human values. One's unique personal experiences are from whence their values are formed. These values come to light as a reader reads or a writer writes. Literature is a record of specific personal perceptions: H. Read-the outer image of inward things. Literature proves the richness not the limitations of being human. Literary criticism is discernment-the ability to see. The student needs to form their own critical criteria and offer an interpretation of the work based on those criteria. Judgmental reviewing is narrow and only one aspect of literary criticism. The value of criticism is not that it lays down laws that any reader must follow, but that it offers a new way of seeing a literary work, which may not have been possible to the reader. For example in the critical analysis of a poem the reader might look for the connections between words, stanzas, structure and ideas. The four basic approaches to literary criticism are: 1) the mimetic 2) the pragmatic 3) the expressive 4) the objective Mimetic approach- describes the relationship of the literary work to the world or the universe in which the work was conceived or being read. Pragmatic approach- describes the effects of the work on its audience. Williams 2 Expressive approach- proposes the study of the relationship of the work to the writer: biographical, psychological, history, culture. Objective approach- is that which studies the work in and for itself without reference to the world in which it exists, its effect on its readers, or the works relationship to the author. The work for itself Objective criticism- the study of a literary work is done without reference to the mimetic, pragmatic, or expressive possibilities of interpretation. This type of criticism regards the literary work as an object in and for itself because it is art and the work of an individual artist. The literary work is a craft, a constructed pattern of words, and the basis for our speculations, for its truth, its revelation, and its power. Descriptive Critical Activities- seeks primarily to describe a text. It is the approach to the work for itself in its simplest form. It is employed on revisions, editions, and on the finished version. Concern lies with the resulting product and its theme or central idea. Generic criticism- study of the work for itself, the types of literature this criticism employs is poems, novels, and plays. The study of poetics or prosody is the learning of basic metrical patterns and verbal effects: iambic, tetrameter, couplets, alliteration, rhyme, etc.... This type of study serves to remind us of a vital aspect of the writers' art. The writer is a craftsman of sound and effect as well as ideas. Keep in mind that writers can be conventional or unconventional. Thematic approach- attempts to bring the various aspects of form as well as content together to make a statement about the subject of a work. It may also concern itself with the message or moral of that work. Unity- if a literary work can generate its own meaning by virtue of its internal coherence, then a critical method can concern itself with that esthetic universe. Unity of Theme- all of the work is about the same topic. Unity of Imagery- all the images contribute to the same general vision, implication, theme, or central image. Williams 3 Unity of Tone & Form- the parts of the work fit together and support each other. According to Coleridge, But if the definition sought for be that of legitimate poem, I answer, it must be one, the parts of which mutually support and explain each other; all in their proportion harmonizing with, and supporting the purpose and known influences of metrical arrangement. . .(McGuire 22). New criticism- shows interconnections with emphasis on the work. Mimetic-Mimesis-Imitation Mimetic criticism- is that which asks how a literary work is important to any of the worlds to which it is related. The best place to begin a survey of mimetic approaches is with the connection between the work and the time in which it was written. Guideline 1) discover the extent of the departure or conformity

A Closer Look into Healthcare Spending Essay Example

A Closer Look into Healthcare Spending Essay Example A Closer Look into Healthcare Spending Paper A Closer Look into Healthcare Spending Paper More and more, the rising expenditure in healthcare is getting a closer long-overdue attention from both the American public and the policymakers in Washington. The glaring disparity between US spending on healthcare which stands at sixteen percent (16%) of the GDP as against other industrialized nations which only average between eight to ten percent (8 10%) of their GDP says a lot about the need for an overhaul of the existing policies and systems at work. Moreover, According to a recent report released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS, the healthcare expenditure in 2006 was estimated at $2.16 Trillion and is projected to reach over $4 Trillion per annum by 2016 [1]. If this is computed at individual spending, it would cost an average of $7,110 for the year 2006. The projected aggregated increase in spending would mean that about $12,320 per person per annum will be spent by 2016 [1]. These issues on the unabated rise of health care expenditure warrants a closer look not only into the spending itself but more on how it is being spent and the efficiency and quality by which healthcare is being delivered. Clearly, in comparison with other developed countries, the US healthcare system spends more but not necessarily delivers it more efficiently nor is the quality of care above and over what the other developed nations have as iterated in the position paper published by the Commonwealth Fund (Davis, K., et. al. Jan. 2007) . In fact, if we look closely into the CMS reports on how these monies were being spent, hospital care comprise of thirty percent of the total expenditure, twenty percent went into Physician and other clinical services, Nursing homecare at six percent, Prescription drugs at ten percent, Program administration and Net Cost at seven percent and twenty five percent went to other cost like dental services, home health, durable medical products, sundries, other personal health care, research, structures and equipment [CMS, 2005 Report]. Closely related to the topic of spending is where the monies to pay for these expenditures came from.   According to the same report from CMS, National Health Statistics Group, the biggest portion came from the Private Insurance group at 35%, Medicare came next with 17%, Medicaid and SCHIP at 16%, Out of Pocket expenses (or from individuals at 13%, Other public funds at 13% (Public meaning Worker’s Compensation program. Public Health Activity, Department of Defense, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Indian Health Services, State and local health subsidies and school health subsidies), Other Private funds at 7% (Other private funds include industrial in-plant, privately funded construction and non-patient revenues including philanthropy from private parties. Given the above most recent data, several studies both government and private sector initiatives have submitted and made public their position on the issue.   One such position was from the Commonwealth Fund Group, whose authors include Karen Davis, Ph.D., Cathy Schoen, M.S., Stuart Guterman et. al.   In their position paper, the group also sourced their references from the CMS [5] and zeroed in on two possible areas where cost cutting measures can be made. These two areas focused on one time savings and the other on a more long term and recurring basis.   The one time savings can apparently be derived from â€Å"high levels of U.S. expenditures, inefficiency and waste†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ [K. Davis, Jan. 2007]. Among these â€Å"inefficiencies† were the apparent â€Å"overuse, inappropriate, or ineffective uses of care;   payment incentives that reward the delivery of more services, without consideration to clinical value or cost-effectiveness; market power of insurers, providers, and the health industry, including pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers, and other suppliers to set prices above competitive market levels; a low ratio of primary to specialty care physicians and services; access barriers to preventive and primary care that contribute to avoidable hospital admissions, emergency department use, and complications of chronic and acute disease; a lack of well-coordinated care that leads to unsafe. D uplicative, or conflicting care; inadequate information systems and information exchange; and High administrative costs, including the high proportion of insurance premiums used to cover overhead costs, the complexity of insurance benefit design and duplicative and uncoordinated requirements, and administrative costs for providers† (K. Davis, et. al.   Jan. 2007). The group further stated strategies could be geared towards making substantial savings that could accumulate to $1.39 Trillion (over an eight year period from 2007 to 2015) if a one-time reduction of 5% in health care expenditures can be effected.   Specific areas were recommended that could well provide the strategies that everyone from the public to the private sector is looking for. These areas are concentrated on the following: first is the provision of more access to information about health providers and cost to give more options to the paying public and promote greater competition among providers, thus increasing quality of care provision over a period of time. Second is an across the board reduction of administrative cost for insurers for them to extend the savings to their clients. Third is the re-focusing of resources into primary and preventive care instead of palliative health care. Fourth is the re-allocation of resources into information technology infrastructures and exchange of information for the greater benefit of the public. Lastly, and fifth, to put investments into strategic areas to ensure access, affordability and equity for all Americans. I tend to agree to the recommendations of the group over the other studies and recommendations that I went through.   Although for sure, these recommendations need further detailed planning and further studies to substantiate the claims and conclusions. Overall, the same sources of funds as cited by the CMS would have to shell out the same level of resources for a period of time until the recommendations outline for cost cutting and more effective means of healthcare delivery system will have been in place.   A projection or timetable of five to seven years may be more feasible for both further study and a detailed manual of operationalization can be in effect. For the meantime, however, both the government at all levels – federal, state and local should be responsive to the calls for changes and heed the transformation doctrine once it is passed by legislation and put into place.   Furthermore, a call for uniformity of enforcement at the local levels should be ensured to avoid the pitfalls of having a huge disparity of healthcare cross in different parts of the country.. References: [1] Centers for Medicare and Medical Healthcare Benefits. Various reports including   Ã‚  Ã‚   Projections for Health expenditure Projections from 2005 to 2016. From: cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/ [2] Snapshots: Health Care Growth (Kaiser Permanente). Retrieved on Feb. 23, 2007, From:kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm050206oth2.cfm [3] Medical Expenditure†¦ Retrieved on Feb. 23, 2007, From: ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr06/methods/meps.htm [4] SAMSHA reports. Retrieved on Feb. 23, 2007. From: samhsa.gov/spendingestimates/chapter1.aspx [5] The Commonwealth Fund website: Retrieved on Feb. 23, 2007, From: cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=449510

This paper presents the case study analysis of Charles Schwab Analysis Assignment - 1

Analysis of Charles Schwab and Zara - Assignment Example The first solution involved potentially granting customers complete access to the organization’s services, while at the same time offering a 20% discount on trades. The second solution involved granting customers an even greater discount on trades, but at the same time curtailing the services provided. The major dilemma was whether it was worth sacrificing service for price discounts. Another prominent consideration was challenged from outside organizations. A lot of discount brokerages emerged that challenged Schwab’s position as one of the preeminent stock traders. In response to these challenges, the organization was to work towards differentiating itself through innovative product design and services. The main backbone of this innovation was rooted in technology that, â€Å"to both generate productivity improvements and to develop superior customer service† (‘Charles Schwab Corporation.’ 2001, p. 3). As such, a multi-channel strategy was implemen ted. Still, the organization was faced with further questions of whether to expand deeper into Internet trading. While organizations such as E*Trade had been coming on strong, Schwab recognized that they retained significant portions of the market. These considerations factored into whether the organization should assume a lower pricing strategy per trade or if they should continue with the traditional model of business based heavily on attention to service. In the second case analysis, the company under consideration is Zara. There are a number of key issues facing this organization. Zara is recognized as the chain of stores of the main organization Inditex. One of the main issues facing Zara specifically is whether the point-of-sale (POS) terminals should be upgraded. One of the negative aspects of the current point-of-sale (POS) terminals is that they run on DOS.