Business Plan For Early Intervention Education Essay

Business Plan For Early Intervention Education Essay The purpose of this paper is to show the need for early intervention for infants and toddler with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. Kitkat the Educators program will prepare disabled students to excel at a young age, by teaching, training stimulating the mind to create an atmosphere to function outside of ones self. Kitkat is not like the competitors, this school will focus and offer advance communication skills (technology) to encourage speech, physical strength, academics, top of the line technology, after school tutorial, recreational, craft and dance. This disability has created a need for quality child care development and training to help children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities to be successful in life. Also, the owner focuses on parent trainings, parents turn to for support, reassurance, and hope when faced with the uncertainty of their childs future. It is important for parent participation as long as their child receives services from the school. This program will focus on parents learning all techniques use in the classroom in the home, and community. History of Organization Kitkat is a privately held corporation run by its owner, Cathy Austin, who has 20 years of experience teaching students with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and Autism (A). The owner is certified as special education teacher and highly qualified by the State of Georgia. The owner currently has a bachelor degree with a concentration in mentally retardation. Which is now known as intellectual disabilities? The owner will be supported in daily operations of the school by a consultant, a campus director and certified educators with experiences in the child care field. Intellectual disability (ID) is now more common amongst autistics than in the general population. Overview: According Ackerman, (2011) The increasing prevalence of Autism has been recognized as the fastest growing developmental disability in the nation, affecting one in 88 children. It is now the third most common childhood disorder, more common than Down syndrome and childhood diabetes combined. In turn, parents need to be informed of the assessment, treatment, and intervention resources available to help their children if diagnosed with autism. At the center of KitKat the Educator, we want to reassure parents that there is hope, and through our services, individuals will be able to maximize their potential. KitKat has established itself as the institution that parents turn to for support, reassurance, and hope when faced with the uncertainty of their childs future. We want to reassure parents that there is hope, and through our services, individuals will be able to maximize their potential. To most effectively meet the needs of children with autism and their families, KitKat the Educator has developed a training and education center scheduled to open in 2013. Ackerman states (2011) this new initiative will create a more timely early diagnosis screening for infants and toddlers who may be afflicted with Autism. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP) will be hired to meet the ever-growing demand for extensive evaluation, assessment, and treatment services. KitKat will work collaboratively with local service providers, and school systems, to create a progressive and comprehensive treatment facility to best serve childrens needs (Ackerman TACA, 2012). According to Berkell, Z. D. (1999), a Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Blueuler was the first to use the name Autism back in the early 1912s. The reason for early intervention today is to help Autistic children function much better in society (Berkell, 1999). In the 1940s, researchers in the United States began to use the term autism to describe children with emotional or social problems (Berkell, 1999). Kanner, Leo a doctor from Johns Hopkins University, used the word autism to describe the withdrawn behavior of several children he studied (Berkell, 1999). Also Han Asperger a scientist in Germany, identified a similar condition thats now called Aspergers syndrome Aylott, J (2011). According to Aylott, J (2011) Han Asperger found several types of autism: Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS)- Aspergers syndrome Rett syndrome Childhood disintegrative disorder How Is Autism Treated? Leo Kanner treatments for autism vary (Aylott, 2011) depending on the needs of the individual. Kanner, (2011) treatments fall into three categories: Behavioral and communication therapy Medical and dietary therapy Complementary therapy (music or art therapy, for example) The Owners Journey The journey as teacher did not begin immediately after college. Cathy Austins degree in special education B. S., as an Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and Autism (A) teacher for DeKalb County School District. The owner has 21 years of experience working with children with ID and Autism. The owner worked with Children diagnosed or identified with autism, cerebral palsy, Mental Retardation, intellectual impairment, physical impairments, learning disabilities and Down syndrome. The owner believes that providing structure and visual supports can help to alleviate problems that may arise. Thus, allowing individuals with disabilities to demonstrate to others their capabilities. Teaching is actually a second career for the owner; the owner worked in the health care in the as a nurses aide for 4 years. The owner was trying to run from the calling of God. On the job doing the daily routine the voice of God spoke and said this not what I told you to do! Then God said I told you to teach children with special needs. Limited with only being a nurses aide, the owner decided to apply for college to get a degree to teach. The owner was unemployed for five months and then got an opportunity to go to college and get a Bachelor Degree in Special Education (Mentally Retardation). The first teaching job was as a special education teacher for homebound. The owner wanted to do something to help and to make a difference in the lives of these young children. The Owner moved from homebound to teaching in the classroom started in 1991. The owners favorite project is walking for March of Dimes Autism, and Cerebral Palsy. What can you do to strengthen and improve the childs life? The Owner enjoys being involved in educating the community about our children and being an advocate to support the parent. The Owner always wanted to have a school for children with disabilities. Now I can see the dream happening more now than ever before. Kitkat is a childhood nickname. So the Owner decided to use kitkat as the name of the school. The teaching profession can be strengthened by additional parent-involvement. The students whose parents are involved and vigilant about seeking opportunities to further expand their childs learning and abilities are the most successful students. The art of learning does not occur solely within the confines of the classroom, but it includes life-lessons and cultural experiences. The parents who ensure they are providing these additional resources for their children help not only the child, but the teacher who can draw from these experiences to illustrate key points in the child and parent life. Philosophy The Owners philosophy of teaching is very simple. It is simply to go beyond the standards, improving inappropriate behavior and communication skills. One needs heart and compassion to teach and reach children with special needs. Having the desire to get to know the students and actually listen to them is a major part of learning. The students respond better when they know others care, and care enough to watch their patterns and identify the times when they are not themselves and need help beyond the lesson for the day. The Owners thoughts are what can one do to strengthen and improve one is to evolve as a teacher. Children are changing. Curriculum and techniques is changing. The world is changing, so for one to remain the same and not evolve with the changes of society and the people in it does not help children. The overall goal in education is to help children and in order to do that, one need to constantly reevaluate ones lessons, approach and delivery as a whole. As a teacher you learn so much from your peers, but one will continue to watch and learn from the students as well. It is honestly believed that one can make a difference in the life of a child, every day. My Career and Educational Experience B.S. Degree in Special Education MBA Degree in February 2013 2 + years Adult Workshop 2 years Georgia Regional (skilled area) children Intellectual Disabilities 3+ years supervisory experience of staff 20+ years teaching Intellectual Disabilities/Autism experience Past strategic choices- Through the DeKalb County School District, Clayton County Adult workshop, and Douglas county workshop my work experience are as follow: Homebound- providing service to disabled students not able to attend public school system due to medical and fragile situations. Clayton County Respite care to children with Intellectual disabilities. Parent Conference meeting with parent for concerns and information Atlanta Group Home for Jewish Down Syndrome adults. Current Position in the Market Location of Business The future home for the business will be 748 Flat Shoal Road, Decatur, Georgia. This business will start in the old Y building on Candler road and my pursuit for a loan of $300,000.00 for the building. This building is in the heart of the business district of Candler Road. It is one mile from Flat Shoal Elementary School. The Owner will offer after school program to disabled and non-disabled school aged children. Some of the best years in life are the time spent as a child and later our adult yearsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. As working adults in a fast paced society, we sometimes forget just how precious and fleeting those years are. With that in mind, imagine an alternative to traditional infant, day and after school care that not only met your child care needs, but also provided an activity based learning environment that mirrors those used at public schools. Professional care givers with the credentials to not only enhance your childs early social and motor skills, but to also teach them advanced studies in the arts and academics found at institutions of higher learning. A curriculum based curriculum tailored specifically for children, taught in a fun, nurturing care giving environment. Now imagine this at a cost less than that of the combination of conventional training services and specific interest based children programs. Kitkat the Educator is an early intervention comprehensive developmental and educational program, exclusively for children with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism, ages new born to 7 years old. The school dedicates its efforts and resources toward ensuring top rated care giving services coupled with a high quality activity based learning environment tailored for children in these age groups. The school will respond to the needs of its parents and students with excellent care giving and instruction an advanced curriculum, flexible programs, local community involvement and business partnerships. The Kitkat School has a strong commitment to accessibility and diversity. Its open door policy embraces all who desire to provide a better quality of care, preparedness and education for their children. The school works to provide affordable, first clas s care giving and education by providing a broad range of integrated programs and services and innovative learning approaches. The school is committed to taking a leadership role in child care services, higher learning, community services and promoting cultural diversity. Kit Kat directs its activities towards student success. Campus Direction Sign Campus Office Classroom Recreational building Keys to Success The keys to success for chitchat are: Marketing: differentiating care giving and education and interest activity programs. Service quality: care giving and educational programs provided by degreed and certified educators, child care workers, tutors and technology. Reputation: maintaining a highly regarded reputation for excellence in care giving, education and community involvement and being the employer of choice in our market for child and educational talent. Profitability: controlling costs and managing budgets in accordance with company goals, adhering to strategic business plans for growth and experience and reinvesting in the business and its employees. Start up Summary: As I pursue investor to invest into kitkat business, the first location may start in my home. As the number of children increase and the fund are available then the Shoal road facility will be a dream comes true. Reaching into some of my retirement money, it is possible to use funds from my 401to start the business in my home. The school founder and president, Cathy Austin, will oversee fiscal responsibility, employing an CPA for financial oversight. A campus Director will be hired to handle day to day operations and will work collaboratively with the silent partners and other campus personnel to ensure a successful business venture. As reflected in the table below, the estimated startup cost for kitkat will be $39,450. These costs will be financed solely by the owners personal cash funds and optional credit lines. An anticipated $60,000 SBA guaranteed 5 year loan will be used as working capital. Future expansion, growth and franchising strategy will be self financed. Start Summary Utilities 300.00 Legal 2000.00 Furniture 6000.00 Toys 2000.00 Playground Fence 500.00 Rent 0 Brochures 350.00 Business printing paper 300.00 Insurance 3000.00 1 Teacher Assistance 2000.00 Built one room on house 5,490.00 Student supply 2000.00 Lab tops (4 to 5) 1250.00 Food 5000.00 Recreation equipment 5000.00 Total $35,190.00 Enrollment will be at least six children per quarter: First quarter expecting 6 children Second quarter 6 more children Third quarter 6 more children Fourth quarter 6 more children Total of 24 children As the children increase then staff will increase to help teach in a small group to focus more 1 to 4 children in a classroom. Objectives By the end of Year 2 expect sales increasing almost double. By the end of Year 1 maintain a high raw gross margin. By the end of Year1 expected to open second campus. By the end of Year 3 will attempt to franchise. Pricing Strategies Kitkat must charge appropriately for the high-end, high-quality educational and care giving services we offer. Our revenue structure has to support our cost structure, so the salaries we pay to assure quality services must be balanced by the revenue we charge. We will be price competitive in the market we serve; however, we will not subscribe to the low price leader concept. The quality of our service will support the prices we charge. Affordable Price The price for service for each child is $350.00 weekly, paying in advance by check, cash or money order. The payment policy is expected to be followed and payment is due on every Friday. Promotion Community Involvement Educational Curriculum Support Service Behavior Specialist, Occupational/Speech/Physical Therapist, Autism Specialist, Employment policy and Procedures, Job description, Safety fire, Recruitment and training Open House Tornado drills The type of services that will be offered: Full time child care Part-time/After school activities After school Tutoring Parent training and support Homebound Service Vision Statement: To enhance the life of the disabled child in socially, emotionally, academically, recreational and physically. Mission Statement: The act of learning should not occur solely within the confines of the classroom, but includes life lesson and cultural experiences. The overall goal in educating is to help disable children improve and progress socially, emotionally and communicating. One must learn to make a difference in the life of a child every day. to teach the parents increase data driven teach and reach a child to teach the child the curriculum based activity External Threats: the economy condition can be threat to profit (state funds to children with disabilities) competitors can be a threat global move External Opportunities in the community for exposure and direct mail campaigns Community Involvement Advertisement Direct mail Sales Brochures Open House Internal Strengths and Weaknesses SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Top of the line Curriculum and Training Trained/Certified Staff Small class session Required Parent training and support groups Quality care and service Not enough funds Right location Get the right people on the bus Someone stealing your idea Advertisement Community involvement Open house Direct mail Sale Brochure Parents State License and approval Economic conditions competitor Opportunities Threats Expense Table Expenses Expected Monthly Cost Expected Yearly Cost Rent Salaries and wages Supplies: Technological, Equipment, furniture, computers, software, copy machine, desks, chair, etc.) and other Advertisement and other promotions Utilities, Heat, Electricity, etc. Telephone and Internet Insurance Other (specify) Other (specify) Expected Revenue June July August Sept. Oct. Dec. Yearly Revenue (Sale) Category 1 Category 2 Total Revenue (Sales) Cost of Goods Sold Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) Factor Weight Rating Extended Strengths Well known for quality reliable service 0.16 4 0.64 Low turnovers provides continuity customer knowledge 0.07 3 0.21 Represent a full line of top quality component manufacturers 0.15 4 0.60 Strong balance sheet with very little debt 0.11 3 0.33 Almost 60% of customers come from referrals 0.13 4 0.52 Weaknesses Strictly a local company 0.05 2 0.10 Unknown to the general public 0.02 2 0.04 Use distributors for parts purchases, incurring higher cost 0.08 2 0.16 Provide many benefits to employees that raise coat 0.13 1 0.13 Less than 5% if customers buy service contrasts 0.10 1 0.10 Total 1.00 2.83 Company Summary Kitkat first school will be located North Druid Hill, Atlanta. The school will employ six fundamentals that will serve as the driving force for the services offered. Premier care giving services An activity based, children structured curriculum Advanced technology and developmental programs Continuing education mentoring and tutoring Learning services Community advancement and involvement Company Ownership Company Ownership Kitkat developmental and training school is a privately held proprietorship owned in majority by its founder. There are also two silent partners, neither of whom own more than 10%, but will be active participants in daily operations, management decisions and consulting though they do not own a financial stake in the company. Once the operation reaches its anticipated growth and profitability goals, the school plans to franchise and will register as a limited liability company or as a corporation, whichever will better suit the future business needs. Services KitKat training school offers quality child care services and a curriculum based designed for kids new born to 7 years old and pre-k to second grade. Normal operating hours will be 6:45am to 6:30pm. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday with observance of all major legal holidays. Early drop off service will be offered as needed. KK exists to provide premier child care services that are aimed at enhancing traditional day care methodologies and integrating extracurricular interests (such as arts and crafts, gymnastics) into one comprehensive program. Our activity based curriculum is specifically tailored for children. We offer state of the art technology programs in leading edge facilities which help prepare students through main school homework assignments and provide a base of understanding and interaction to ensure success in future educational endeavors. Finally, our developmental program reinforces basic social, listening, independence and motor skills and prepares studen ts for future related interaction. All of our learning and child care services employ technology, partnerships, professional services and other activities that support and promote higher learning. In addition to the extensive services and curriculum offered, each campus will also offer weekend specialty classes for children and adults and planned family activities in the community it serves. KK will also offer children birthday party hosting services, providing great activities for kids and an easy experience for parents. Activity instructors will be assigned for these events and will lead the activities, ensuring a memorable celebration Services Description Upon its opening, Kitkat Developmental and training services will offer four basic services in the Atlanta area: Full time child care Part-time/After school activities After school Tutoring Prior to opening, the school will have a two month enrollment drive. Based on the market reaction to the drive, these services may be altered to meet the needs of the community. The school will always remain nimble enough to respond to the needs of the community in which it serves. Support Service Offered Early Intervention starts with a committee meeting to determine what services a child may need. The team will take the time to evaluate child to see if they need any of the following listed below: Psychologist the referral for a psychologist is to obtain a current intellectual functional level of the child. During this process a parent questionnaire must be complete by the parents. This is for background information; the childs birth, prenatal development, weight at birth, complications at birth; medical history such as; asthma or food allergies; and behavior. The types of testing instruments the psychologist use for evaluation is: Brigance Inventory of Early Development this instrument test self-care, gross motor, cognitive/social, communication, perceptual/fine motor and this instrument checks the age equivalent in years and months of a child. Assessment of Intellectual Functioning- the purpose of the evaluation is provided and estimation of the childs intellectual ability as a comparison against actual academic achievement. Determining cognitive strengths and weaknesses also helps to evaluate learning potential and guide recommendations for the use of specific instructional strategies and intervention techniques. Stanford-Binet Intelligence scales: Fifth Edition (SB: 5) is an intelligence measure that consists of nonverbal and verbal tasks that assess skill in five domains. The SB: 5 yield composite scores in each of these domains as well as a nonverbal Intelligence Quotient (NVIQ), a verbal intelligence Quotient (VIQ) and a Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) that represents an estimate of the childs overall level of functioning. Speech therapy When a child who needs speech therapy received speech in the early stages to promote your childs development, it is a support system not only for the child, but also for the family, and finally it gives your child the abilities to become a functional member of society. Development Research has shown us that most of a childs learning and development happens in the pre-school years, which is why the timing of intervention is so important. All children have what we call stages of readiness to learn, and if you miss these stages, your child may have difficulty in learning particular skills later on. Support system This is extremely important for any family with a special needs child. We have a lot to cope with in the early days, after a diagnosis, disappointment, frustration and helplessness. Many families of handicapped children also have to deal with divorce and some degree of social isolation. Thats why stepping in early can definitely give your family the tools to h ave a better attitude within the family and towards the special needs child. Your therapists can provide you with information and skills to teach and help your child t best of your abilities, thereby relieving a lot of stress and feelings of helplessness. Take advantage of friends and family who offer to help, you need to take time out, you are after all more than just a mother and a wife. Society We would all like our children to become functional and contributing members of society, so start implementing the skills your child needs to do this, as early as possible. Become involved in your childs treatment, and implement all the skills that your therapist suggests to improve their overall communication skills. The speech teacher works with the child; to assist the child in developing the ability to understand basic concepts, when shown two pictures, the child will understand the difference between the two concepts; to assist the child in identifying pictures describing basic concepts; to understand the concept of sequencing with 10%, 20% etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦; the child will begin to understand sounds, temporal sequencing; the child will develop the ability to make sound, position lips, and tongue; assist the child in matching and sorting pictures with association relationship; Expressive Language-increase expressive language skills that are needed to facilitate effective daily communications; to produce his own name; name body parts; imitate sounds, intonations and words; name common objects and pictures of objects; assist the child in expressing needs through words; use eye to face contact when speaking needs through words; decrease echolalia and preservation speech; develop self confidence in verbal encounters; develop volume that is appropriate to the listeners need; participate in group activities that involve turn-taking and observation of rules; develop reasoning in cause and effect relationships; identify the object described when presented aloud with the definition; carry on a conversation in a socially appropriate manner; tell about recent and past experience; to correctly produce one-word utterances; name object and person; say words to call attention to an object; say two words to indicate the recurrence of an object; say two or more word utterance which contain an adjective and a n oun; say two or more words to show disappearance of an object; say two or more words to show emotion; use verbs appropriately; name pictured verbs; described actions performed by himself/herself; describe actions performed by others; use categories and association appropriately; name member of the category when presented with the category title; imitate the model as they point to peers possession; respond orally with the correct possessive form in short phrases as the speech teacher points to peers; respond to wh questions; answer what, who, where, when, why, and which, questions; Competitive Comparison The child care industry as a whole is saturated. However, based on US Census 2000 data, DeKalb County child care services provider listing is growing and has few licensed developmental and training centers for disabled children. Kitkat School intends to fill this local market need. In the Atlanta area North Druid Hills subdivisions mostly have retired resident homes respectively (Margret Harris Comprehensive school). There is only one other developmental facility in the North Druid Hills neighborhood. This one is on knob Dr. There is also three family child caregivers listed in the area, but none in the immediate community. Kitkat will differentiate itself from its local competitors by offering an alternative to these traditional day care approaches. The kitkat school market strategy is based on providing an activity based learning environment that is used in many major public schools. We will offer the community of professional caregivers with the credentials to not only enhances a childs early social and motor skills, but to also teach them advanced studies in cognitive and social skills. Technology Since the school founder has an extensive information Technology background, its only natural that Kitkats school will employ and maintain the latest technology to enhance its curriculum, office management systems, payment processing and record keeping. Marketing Analysis Summary Kitkats developmental and training program offers services which are vitally important in todays fast paced, dual-income world. As an increasing number of families have become dependent on one income, the need for quality child care has skyrocketed. According to Atlanta Business Statistics, 84.6% of licensed child care facilities succeed and make a profit in their 1st year of operation. Nationally, this number is 66.7%. There is no doubt, in the North Druid Hills area, that there is room and a need for a school for disabled children. Market demographics to support this statement can be found below. Target Market Segment Strategy The target market for Kitkat is full-time workers. Referral marketing, direct-mail campaigns and Referral marketing, direct mail campaigns and community activity days will be the primary types Of marketing strategies utilized. Maintaining and enhancing its reputation with families and in the community will be crucial in obtaining the planned market share growth of this target market. Market Segmentation Kitkat has a focus on meeting the local community need for child care services within the 5 mile radius of downtown Atlanta. Students will taken in flexible on either a full time or part- time basis. Full-Time Worker The school will establish a significantly large, full-time, regular client

Fear and Suspense in A Single Shot :: Single Shot Essays

Fear and Suspense in A Single Shot  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Matthew F. Jones' novel A Single Shot is a disturbing tale of one man's unfortunate mistake and the hellish consequences it brings him. John Moon, in need of money to support his estranged wife Moira and their infant son Nolan, sets out early one morning to hunt an impressive buck he has recently spotted grazing near his mountain home. Having weighed the value of the deer meat against the thousand dollars in fines and two months in jail he can expect to serve if caught shooting the animal out of season on state land, he decides it is worth the risk. This risk, however, proves to be far greater than John anticipates. After he wounds the deer, chases it several miles through dense underbrush, has his shoulder gored, and accidentally shoots sixteen-year-old Ingrid Banes dead before finally killing the buck, John is forced to reevaluate his decision. Having made the leap from small-time poacher to second degree murderer with a single misguided gunshot, John, his life transformed into a d elusory state of confusion and guilt, reacts reprehensibly, but similarly to how most decent individuals would likely respond if placed in his dreadful situation. Choosing to hide her body in a small cavern in the quarry, "because burial has a ring of finality to it he can't yet bear" (24), John runs to an abandoned lean-to where the girl and her boyfriend Waylon have been camping, in search of material to build a torch. There, stumbling upon a large metal container full of money that he is unable to resist keeping, he realizes his troubles may have only begun. Indeed, this is true, as in the few short days that follow, he is tormented incessantly by both his own conscience and the men whose money he now possesses. Jones is able to convey this torment, as well as evoke apprehension and suspense, through his expert use of such elements as setting, atmosphere, structure, narrative voice, and, especially, characterization and dramatic action. As the story opens John is embarking on a deer hunt in the early hours of morning. It is before sunrise, still "three-quarters dark" (3), and "it's so quiet in the forest that, even on a soft bed of pine needles, John's footsteps echo in his ears" (4). There is no wind, and as the scene unfolds, birds take flight, and the crows begin to caw.

The Simplicity of Raymond Chandler’s the Big Sleep

Raymond Chandler would like us to believe that The Big Sleep is just another example of hard-boiled detective fiction. He would like readers to see Philip Marlowe, Vivian Regan, Carmen Sternwood, Eddie Mars, and the rest of the characters as either â€Å"good guys† or â€Å"bad guys† with no deeper meaning or symbolism to them. I found the book simple and easy to understand; the problem was that it was too easy, too simple. Then came one part that totally stood out from the rest of the book &emdash; the chessboard. Marlowe toyed with it whenever he got the chance, and it probably helped him think of a next move in a particular case. I found it odd that Chandler made such a brief mention of chess, but I did not realize why until I finished the book and had time to think about what I had read. In a very interesting sense, the entire novel resembles the game of chess. Each character is a piece, and the name of the game is survival. Though the ultimate goal in chess is to take possession of the king, the underlying strategy is to eliminate as many pieces as one possibly can. This serves as insurance in the overall goal. Being that the characters/pieces determine the direction of the goal, let us look at them to begin. I have chosen to examine two characters in-depth and then put them on the board with the rest of the people in the novel. Philip Marlowe does not correspond to the knight of the chessboard. Chandler assumes that the reader will fall into the easy trap of assigning Marlowe to the role of the knight. After all, he is the main man in the novel, the one who needs to solve the case. His self-description in the opening chapter lures the reader into believing he is a typical white knight hero. â€Å"I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn't care who knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be† (3). This is a fitting description of a knight only because knights must possess similar qualities in order to be heroes. The main idea here is goodness, and Marlowe's description exudes this goodness. However, as we progress throughout the novel, his â€Å"goodness† mutates into something with more of an edge on it. By the end of chapter eight, Marlowe goes â€Å"to bed full of whiskey and frustration† (42) and, the next day (chapter nine), wakes up â€Å"with a motorman's glove in my mouth† (43). It is safe to say Marlowe's sobriety is questionable, especially when he tells Bernie Ohls – and us – that, â€Å"I've got a hangover† (43). Is this the action of a knight? I do not think so. Similarly, his attitude towards everyone else in the novel detracts from his knighthood. For example, look at his treatment of Vivian Regan, who I will talk about a little later. They are talking for the first time and she tells him how cold-blooded a beast he is. â€Å"‘Or shall I call you Phil? ‘ ‘Sure. ‘ ‘You can call me Vivian. ‘ ‘Thanks, Mrs. Regan. ‘ ‘Oh, go to hell Marlowe'† (61). More of the same follows with other characters; in each instance, Marlowe does not exhibit any gentleman-like qualities that a private eye should exhibit. So, if Marlowe is not the knight on the chessboard, what is he? I believe that he is more of a rook or a bishop piece and not a knight. When we think about the knight on a chessboard, it has a good amount of flexibility but limited movement. However, a rook or a bishop can move as far as it wants to move, even if the directions are not many. Movement is important to Marlowe because he thrives on getting his task done. This requires a great deal of movement on his part. This movement includes our next subject, Vivian Regan. A funny thing happened when I was writing up the previous conversation between Marlowe and Vivian. Instead of typing â€Å"Mrs. Regan†, I typed â€Å"Mrs. Marlowe† instead. I do not attribute that to a simple lapse in thinking, but more to the fact that Vivian is similar in manner to Marlowe; they could easily be mistaken for a married couple. Vivian possesses the same sharp tongue, the same penchant for drinking, and other Marlowe-esque qualities. For example, there is the part where she is gambling in Eddie Mars' casino and makes a bet that the house cannot cover. â€Å"‘What kind of cheap outfit is this, I'd like to know. Get busy and spin that wheel, highpockets. I want one more play and I'm playing table stakes. You take it away fast enough I've noticed, but when it comes to dishing it out you start to whine'† (138). That sounds like the language Philip Marlowe might use if he ran into a similar situation. Even after he foils a would-be robber in the parking lot, she still shows little signs of thanks. ‘Nice work, Marlowe. Are you my bodyguard now? ‘† (143). Vivian complements Marlowe perfectly, but is she a rook/bishop on the chessboard in the novel? Yes, but provided that Marlowe is not the same piece as she is. In other words, if Marlowe is the rook, then Vivian is the bishop, and vice-versa. I do not see Marlowe and Vivian as cohesive as Chandler might want us to believe; nonetheless, they do possess similar qualities. After talking about two of the more prominent characters, it is time to devise a chessboard strategy that makes some kind of sense. I mentioned earlier that the point in chess is to capture the king, but another goal includes getting other pieces out of the way first. If I were to assign sides, I would put people like Eddie Mars, Joe Brody, and Carmen Sternwood on a different side than Marlowe, Vivian, and General Sternwood. Why? The first group – while giving Marlowe some kind of help – is more concerned with their own safety, and individuals are not afraid to knock off anyone who messes with them. How come Carmen is included in this group? Many people would say that she is neither here nor there, but when she comes to Brody's apartment and confronts Marlowe at the very end, she shows her true colors. In addition, there is the fact that she murdered Rusty Regan because he would not jump in the sack with her. This is where the chessboard strategy begins to unfold. Chandler's style not only pertains to his simile/metaphor use and his abbreviated sentences, but also to his construction of character movement in the novel. In chess, what one piece does to another or where it moves to directly affects the movement of other pieces on the board. For example, moving my rook three spaces may not mean capturing a piece, but it does give the opponent something to consider in terms of future moves. He does not want to make a move now that would jeopardize him later. Similarly, what happens in Joe Brody's apartment affects a good amount of the characters in the novel, from Carmen to Eddie to Marlowe to Vivian, and so on. In addition, that part affects what goes on in Eddie's casino and Geiger's house. While there may not be direct influence, there is definitely an indirect sort of influence. What does this say about Chandler as an author? It says that he likes to give his readers something to look for in his novels, and that the something will not always be apparent at first. Digging up the chessboard motif would be no easy task for most readers because of its brevity in the novel. The average reader would not read this book for analysis; he or she would read the novel for pleasure. It is only because we &emdash; as English majors &emdash; are trained to look beneath the surface that I was able to put this together. This also says something about the world that Chandler lived in. His was a world of thinking about the next move and being cautious about what one did, which is evident in the novel. It was hard to trust anybody because everyone had selfish motives on their minds. That factor also corresponds to the chessboard in that a person might move a piece for individual reasons while not even considering the rest of his or her pieces. That might lead to consequences later. Chandler cannot warn us about keeping track of all of the moves in the story because they are unfolding as we move with Marlowe (who obviously cannot warn us, either). It is up to the reader to keep track of everything. The Big Sleep is not a novel about chess. It is about how people and events interact and relate to one another, similar to the game of chess. As I mentioned before, the characters and their individual actions ultimately had an effect on the overall strategy and goal, which for Marlowe was to find Rusty Regan. He eventually discovered the late Mr. Regan, but it was only after a series of moves on the chessboard of life.

We Are Living in a Corporate Dystopia Essay - 1495 Words

A Corporate Dystopia Our children are being brainwashed. Not overtly, mind you, and not in any way that would be so violent as to cause alarm with most parents, but subtly and persistently, powerful entities are programming and transforming the next generation of American citizens into obedient attendants and mindless drones. Without the necessary steps taken to prevent it, our future will lie in the hands of men and women who, instead of using a well-cultivated intellect, will feign attack on the problems of their day with the Just do it. and Why ask why? knee-jerk responses of their wasted childhood, leaving real power to reside with their programmers: Coca-Cola, Nike, Disney, et al. By allowing corporations free access†¦show more content†¦Also, while we still claim to be the disseminators of factual accuracy in our public schools, more often than not, our teachers are forced to feed our children a government-mandated curriculum which is frequently riddled with historical inaccuracy. And whil e we have no soma per se, we do have television, which one-ups Huxleys government-sponsored drug in that it mixes an emotional high with a powerful marketing tool, all in one convenient package. It is, in fact, this last element endash; the barrage of commercial hoopla we must endure every time we turn on the TV or stroll through a mall or even enter a grocery store to buy a loaf of bread endash; which poses the greatest threat to our status as a thinking, feeling, human society. In Coca-Colas 1997 Annual Report, we can see an example of the extent to which multinational corporations dream of market domination and the tactics they would use to achieve it. 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