The, The Veil, By Langston Hughes, Marjane Satrapi And...

Far From Being Truthful To My Own Self The subject of religion has always been a subject of contradiction against people because of the diverse religion that exists in the world. Everyone will then have an agreement on the fact that religion is having faith and believing on what is above a human being. â€Å"Salvation†, â€Å"The Veil†, and â€Å"What God Got to Do with It† respectively written by Langston Hughes, Marjane Satrapi and Karen Armstrong, revealed an interesting experience during a time of their life on religion. Those authors by their writings expressed how somebody should lead his road through God beside the handiness of judgment that people and society have about it. Politics and the action of people in society are the main issues encountered regarding religion in the different essays. By relating the same idea through their writing, each author presents different paths to line the subject using a claim of solution. Any child growing up has the bel ief that their elders are their God, so they will definitely believe anything they said because for the child, the elders know everything and they never lie. In general, children are known to be angel souls and deep believers. But believing in the elder s words never drive them to questioning; they just understand everything the way they hear it. At twelve years old, Hughes faced a moment of resurrection concerning his way to be saved by Jesus. â€Å"When you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you inside! And

The Mummy ( 1932 ) Directed By Karl Freund - 1139 Words

Have you ever experienced the ravenous desire to travel after watching a movie? I have. Many times. A really well made film draws me into the story, creating the sensation that I m not just observing but participating in the action. If the cast and crew have done their job, everything becomes real - the characters, plot and especially the setting. A thrilling location becomes a virtual character. An intriguing country, ancient city or far away island calls to me like a siren from a beckoning sea. I d like to share with you the top 5 movies that make me want to travel. Whenever I watch these films I itch to pack my bags, grab my passport and take that first step on a journey that promises to dazzle the eye and enlighten the soul. I hope these movies do the same for you. THE MUMMY (1932): Directed by Karl Freund. Story by Nina Wilcox Putnam and Richard Schayer. Written by John L. Balderston. Starring Boris Karloff as Imhotep/Ardath Bey; Zita Johann as Helen Grosvenor/Princess Ankhes enamon. As a child, this movie about a man returned to life after thousands of years got me hooked on the study of Ancient Egypt. Although filmed entirely in the USA, the set designs evoked in me the lure of the ruins of Cairo, Luxor and the arcane Valley of the Kings. Filmed only 10 years after the discovery of King Tut s tomb, the movie expresses the world s wonder and excitement at the unveiling of all those artifacts and gold. And malefic curses. Remade many times it is still this

Language of poetry Essay Example For Students

Language of poetry Essay There are many reasons why an author might choose to use some words instead of others. A poet might choose words for the way they sound, compliment other words, shock value, for the tense they are in or even for the perspective they want to use. For the purpose of this essay we will be looking at three American poets with the intent of studying the language used in their works in order to better understand the meanings of these poems and to also figure out why they were written in a certain way. When looking at the language used in each of these poems we will be looking UT for many of the things mentioned above to aid the investigation into the language within them. The first poet that we will look at is William Carols Williams and in particular his poem This is Just to Say. Just like all the poems he has written it is a short piece which is created using simple words and sentences that can be easily understood by the reader. The poem is full of enjambment and this means that we put particular emphasis on the words breakfast, delicious, so sweet and so cold. If we didnt observe the enjambment in this poem it would more than likely be astatine for a short note for someones sister, mother, wife or father. The way that enjambment is used in this poem has a profound effect, it is a poem written in the past tense, and one that relies heavily on the creation of an image in the mind of the reader. This poem successfully creates that image nearly to the point where we can almost see the drops of moisture on the plums as they glisten in the sunlight prior to being devoured by the writer. How the poet uses enjambment enables this strong creation of an image. He uses the words delicious, sweet and cold to great effect and heir placing within the poem adds hugely to how they aid this. They are all grouped together in the last section of the poem and this means we are quickly bombarded with a triple whammy of descriptive words in what is a very short poem. It is also important to note how Williams says the plums are so sweet and so cold rather than Just sweet and cold. This little word has a huge effect and it compounds in our minds Just how sweet and cold they really were and as such, one might even feel a desire to have the plums themselves if reading the poem on an empty stomach. The memo is structured in one long flowing sentence that is broken up into three sections of three lines, this structure makes it easy to digest and understand. The poem Woman Poem by Nikkei Giovanni is about a black woman and what her life is like. The woman wants things in life; the men will not let her have what she wants. The author, Nikkei Giovanni uses several poetic aspects in the poem. Throughout the poem she uses synecdoche to make her point, for example: me getting fat as a hog being used to describe gaining weight. The imagery created by this poem helps to describe he way that men hold her back. It is a completely different poem to the one investigated above but again it relies heavily on imagery along with words with a real sense of shock value to get a message across to the reader. The language of this poem is language of oppression, frustration, anger, devastation and hopelessness and the images it creates are such too. It describes the life off black woman in the sass and when doing so she describes a yearning to be free. Free from the constraints of what she describes as a male dominated society, one where she almost feels as if she has been castrated. .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f , .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .postImageUrl , .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f , .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f:hover , .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f:visited , .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f:active { border:0!important; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f:active , .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9420bdbbe63c36f4452d85136c0f636f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Real meaning of Poetry EssayShe does not mean this literally but the use of the word castrated is symbolic to the genuine feeling of being powerless she feels almost as a dog being castrated would. She is using words as a means of venting and conveying her feelings and it is obvious to see the emotion attached to what she writes. The third stanza reads: its a sex object if youre pretty and no love or love and no sex if youre fat get back fat black woman be a mother grandmother strong thing but not woman gamesman romantic woman love needed man seeker dick eater sweat getter buck needing love seeking woman This stanza is the one within the poem which is the most image provoking. The language used is vulgar and not everyday conversation etiquette. She most likely uses language of this sort on purpose in order to grab the attention of the reader and highlight her plight as a woman who can be regarded by men as merely an object for sex. She repeats this process throughout the poem to great effect using words like where and black dog. As a whole this poem is difficult to read and find meaning from but when carefully studied it created in the mind an image of hopelessness for women. One of an existence devoid of happiness, an image compounded by the final lines which read: face me whose whole life is tied up to unhappiness cause its the only for real thing know The third poem to be investigated is Poppies in July/ by Sylvia Plaits. This poem was written in July 1962. At this stage of her life, Plashs marriage to Ted Hughes was in turmoil, and she was suffering from a severe bout of depression. < http:// With this poem she enables us to have an insight into the turmoil and pain she felt inside. The colour red is prominent and this symbolises anger and rage. The images created in the mind are very dark, vivid and disturbing, imitating what her thoughts were when she created the poem. At the start of this poem we are informed that bright red color of poppies reminds the poet of the burning fires of hell. The poppies swaying in the breeze remind the poet of flames flickering. She begins to show a desire to self harm, thrusting among the flames to see if it burns but there is something about these FL she cannot touch. This is the readers first real insight into the pain Plat m been feeling. Throughout the poem we are reminded of her desire to cause resell. Later in the poem she describes outward appearance of the flower this time with a simile. Now she likens them to the wrinkled, red skin of a bal mouth rather than the flames of hell. This violent imagery is another hint t desire to self-harm. Continuing the idea that there is something about these she cannot touch, she now states that she is unable to touch their fumes a enquires about their opiates. This represents a longing for heroin or opium a drug created from poppies. Complex imagery is used, referring to her MO means of taking the drug. Exclamation marks indicate Just how desperate t eating. She needs these drugs and she needs them now! Throughout this there is a recurring theme of desperation from the poet, desperation for b through drugs or self harm, it relies on graphic imagery to get the point car gives us an idea of the darkness encased within the mind of the poet. She poem with the words colorless, colorless which might represent how s her life and marriage have become. Through investigation of the above Poe able to come to numerous conclusions regarding the language used within first poem is nothing more than a short piece but it still manages to create rueful image in the mind but also a longing for the peaches described w last two poems investigated however are far more deep and somber affairs offer us a real window into the souls of their creators. The language used these is powerful and it is impossible to read them without being left with sense of the turmoil felt by both these women. .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d , .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .postImageUrl , .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d , .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d:hover , .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d:visited , .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d:active { border:0!important; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d:active , .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0065291ab7344836b4fa7e84946e6a0d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: What is Keats's attitude towards love and philosophy? EssayThey both utilize the shock element of language to make their poems that bit more hard hitting and e similar punctuation techniques also. Through doing this investigation into of poetry we can now understand how the language used by the poet is vita moms to determining the feelings we are left with having read a poem. Poet of flames flickering. She begins to show a desire to self harm, thrusting her hand among the flames to see if it burns but there is something about these flowers that she cannot touch. This is the readers first real insight into the pain Plat must have been feeling. Throughout the poem we are reminded of her desire to cause harm to herself. Later in the poem she describes outward appearance of the flowers again, this time with a simile. Now she likens them to the wrinkled, red skin of a bloodied mouth rather than the flames of hell. This violent imagery is another hint towards her desire to self-harm. Continuing the idea that there is something about these flowers she cannot touch, she now states that she is unable to touch their fumes and enquires about their opiates. This represents a longing for heroin or opium which is a drug created from poppies. Complex imagery is used, referring to her mouth as a means of taking the drug. Exclamation marks indicate Just how desperate the poet is getting. She needs these drugs and she needs them now! Throughout this poem there is a recurring theme of desperation from the poet, desperation for obliteration wrought drugs or self harm, it relies on graphic imagery to get the point across and gives us an idea of the darkness encased within the mind of the poet. She closes the poem with the words colorless, colorless which might represent how she feels her life and marriage have become. Through investigation of the above poems we are able to come to numerous conclusions regarding the language used within them. The first poem is nothing more than a short piece but it still manages to create not only a powerful image in the mind but also a longing for the peaches described within! The last two poems investigated however are far more deep and somber affairs.

Charles Dickens hard times Essay Example For Students

Charles Dickens hard times Essay Charles dickens was very caring person he was a man who felt very strongly about such tings as utilitarianism and industrialisation as he lived in the time period were Britain was industrialised. He lived in London Britain from 1812 to 1870. He wrote hard times to show his views on these matters in 1854. Due to the circumstances in his life he wrote the book to show his personal experiences and help them know more about the thing he had seen. Dickens was man who cared, he was a philosopher who cared about humans and was interested in their relationships and how people were treated. Chapter 1Â  In chapter 1 of hard times we can see that Gradgrind is like the parent who is too strict, he wants to teach the children facts and nothing else. He wants to drain out the childrens imagination and replace it with hard cold facts rather like himself. Gradgrind seed the children as machines that he can program to do as he wishes, because of the kind of person he is he feels that they need nothing else in life but facts. Dickens does this to show what it was like at this time. In the novel Dickens uses the words in a linguistic way by repeating the word facts repetition of this word show that Gradgrind was only set to facts. Dickens really wants to get this point across a lot as he was trying to inform us as the readers about reality throughout his novel. He also uses literary terms to make the novel have more feeling and better descriptions such as when he says the emphasis was helped by the speakers hair which bristled on the skirts of his bald head, a plantation of firs to keep the wind from shining on its surface all covered in knobs, like the crust of a plum pie. Chapter 2Â  In chapter 2 the text starts to really show what it is about, we start to see what Gradgrind is like and what he is like at his model school around the students, we also see how Gradgrind views his students. Firstly we are introduced that Gradgrind is a man of reality! This relates to our previous knowledge of the characters as a man of fact. This is shown in an example of Gradgrind being like a cannon loaded to the muzzle with facts, and prepared to blow them clean out of the regions of childhood at one discharge. We can also see how Gradgrind detests fiction by the way he exclaims that sissy should not have flowers on a carpet which would be walked on, as she would not walk on them in reality. We then go on to see Gradgrinds modal pupil Bitzer. Bitzer is the model pupil of Gradgrinds model school. He is in the story to show how Gradgrind alters the minds of the children, in many ways Bitzer is like Gradgrind but not in physical appearance. For instance Bitzer has light colour hair and blue eyes. Another feature in chapter two is the interrogation of sissy dupe by Gradgrind, in this interrogation Gradgrind is asking sissy dupe lots of questions about horses and other things which he calls facts but are really just his opinions on the matters. Gradgrind tries to pressure, his students into having the same opinions as him. In the novel it describes Gradgrind as a bomb full of facts about to explode, this shows that he is trying to force facts into his pupils brains just like a bomb, also it shows that he is so full of facts that he cant keep them all in and he is about to explode because of all the building up of facts. Dickens shows that he is naturally interested in illustrating that fiction cannot be excluded by doing all he can in the novel to prove Gradgrind is wrong he feels that we all need facts and fiction in our life, Dickens feels that it is not normal for the equilibrium to be distorted like this. .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f , .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .postImageUrl , .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f , .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f:hover , .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f:visited , .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f:active { border:0!important; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f:active , .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1b0be81c208c887695c1a583fb2ed96f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Advanced Theory of Poetry EssayDickens uses mono-syllabic language to help emphasise certain things one example of this is when Gradgrind says what I want is facts. Dickens uses this kind of linguistic terms to create a sense of urgency in his tone. We see that Gradgrind wants disparity to force facts into his pupils. At the point sissy dupe were interrogated Gradgrind uses certain language as to help describe Dickens opinion, such as when he says girl number 20, give me your definition of a horse this shows that Gradgrind tries to pressure sissy and this shows that Gradgrind is a fact filled strict old man. Chapter 3Â  In chapter three we learn more about Gradgrind by seeing were Gradgrind lives and about his child hood, we also learn more about his children tom and Louisa and the experiences they have and how dickens describes these things. Firstly we see that Gradgrinds home stony lodge is very much like Gradgrind it is cold, boring and emotion less in the text it also says that the windows were similar to his eye brows, like big dark caves hanging over his eye. In chapter 3 we also learn more about Gradgrinds children tom and Louisa, Gradgrind educated his children only on facts just like he does with his pupils at his model school, they were not allowed to go out and play like normal children, instead they were confined to their studies were they were told to find fascination in books and facts as playing and fun was not factual enough for Gradgrind and had no real point to it.

College Essay Tips For Common App - Writing The Essay That Gets You Into A College That Accepts Common App Essays

College Essay Tips For Common App - Writing The Essay That Gets You Into A College That Accepts Common App EssaysThe College Essay Tips for Common App is a helpful guide to help you write a meaningful essay. It has tips that will help you get the best grade on your Common App essay.In the College Essay Tips for Common App, you will find four ways that you can improve your chances of getting accepted into a college that accepts Common App essays. You can prepare yourself for more research and preparation by finding the right online course. These classes will give you the tools you need to make the writing of your Common App essay a lot easier. This is a guide to help you prepare yourself for a competitive application.This guide to writing a great Common App essay will focus on choosing the right topic. You will need to choose a topic that gives you a good deal of controversy and interest. This will get you ahead of the game. Your essay should have a spark of controversy in it. It shou ld also be something that will draw attention to you.You should pick a new subject you are familiar with that is important to your career. It would also be a good idea to pick a topic that will appeal to you. If you have a strong connection to the subject of your essay, this will give you an advantage in getting your essay accepted.The next step is writing your essay. This guide to writing a great essay will give you insight into how to write a competitive essay. Start out writing in a style that you are most comfortable with. Read other essays on your topic before you start writing. Review your skills with this subject and apply it to your essay writing.The College Essay Tips for Common App will include a helpful tip for making your essays more effective. Youneed to think about your reader and what they want to read. It is important to realize that Common App essay writing is a two way street. Think about how you will read your essay to ensure that it gets into the college applicat ion process. This guide to writing a great essay will teach you what you need to do to get your essay accepted.You will need to learn to structure your essay in a way that makes it flow better. To help you with this, a College Essay Tips for Common App will provide you with helpful tips that will help you create a powerful essay. Read through other essays to see how to do this. The goal is to make your essay unique, relevant, and compelling.The College Essay Tips for Common App will help you not only learn to write a great essay, but also how to make your essay even more unique. You will learn how to go above and beyond what your Common App essay can handle. With this guide, you will find that your Common App essay writing will become much easier.

Capital structure

Executive summary This report analysis the capital structure, use and effect of leverage, dividend policy, long-term financing policies, working capital management practices, and mergers and acquisition. The analysis involves three hospitality industry companies, including Entertainment Properties Trust, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, and Host Hotels Resorts.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Capital structure specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The analysis of capital structure and leverage is done through debt/equity ratio analysis. This ratio shows the proportion of debt capital in relation to the equity capital. For all the three companies, the analysis is done for the period between 2006 and 2011. Introduction A company’s capital structure can be evaluated by calculating its financial leverage, which can be indicated by debt/equity ratio. This ratio demonstrates the fraction of share capital and debt tha t an entity has used to fund its assets (Dann, 1993). Capital structure is a very important aspect of a balance sheet, and companies should always ensure it is balanced as it influences the returns. The analysis will be done on three publicly-held companies, including Host Hotels Resorts, Entertainment properties trust, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Methodology used to perform the analysis The analysis of capital structure and leverage is done through debt/equity ratio analysis. This ratio shows the proportion of debt capital in relation to the equity capital. For all the three companies, the analysis is done for the period between 2006 and 2011. Dividend payments policies and trends are made clearer by analysis of dividends per share (DPS) for the last six years. All the data is sources form the respective annual reports. Host Hotels Resorts HH R, Inc. (Host Inc.) runs a self-managed property venture trust. The company has invested in properties, which is administered throu gh Host Hotels Resorts, L.P., whereby, Host Inc is the principal partner, holding about 98.5% of the interests. Currently, the company has a portfolio of 121 hotels, which mainly specialize in luxury and expensive hotels, holding up to 64,947 rooms (DeAngelo DeAngelo, 1990). Capital structure Host Hotels Resorts seek to uphold a liquidity and capital structure that is balanced between equity and debt, in order to offer financial flexibility especially considering that it operates in a very volatile lodging industry (Graham, 2000).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company’s five years capital structure can be demonstrated through debt/equity ratios as shown in the table below. Since 2006, the company’s debt/equity ratio has been on the decline, which is a positive indication because it is believed that companies with a lower ratio are likely to perform we ll in the long-term (Leary Roberts, 2005). 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Debt 5878 5625 5952 5837 5477 5753 Shareholders’ equity 5222 5441 5517 6211 6332 6713 Debt/equity ratio 1.12 1.03 1.08 0.94 0.86 0.86 Use and effect of leverage It is evident that the company carried huge debt capital between 2009 and 2011. Although this could be a disadvantages because of the extra costs incurred in paying interest, holding debt capital as the leverage provided by the debt financing carries a benefit for the interest expense payable by the company is a tax deductible expense. Dividend policy Host Hotels Resorts has been adjusting its dividends per share since 2006, perhaps depending on the year’s earnings, or with the aim of retaining funds for reinvestment. The highest DPS, which amounted to $ 6 per share, was paid in 2009, and the least amounted to $ 0.76, which was paid in 2006. In recent years, the company has adopted a constant dividend payout to enhance long- term strategy, by providing the shareholders with handsome risk-adjusted returns. In addition, this strategy is aimed at attracting investors who are seeking high dividend returns in the industry. This is also done because the company has established that attractive dividend payout is perhaps the biggest bait for REIT investors because the United States law calls for REITS to give out 90% of their returns to the shareholders in the form of dividends (Zacks Equity Research, 2012; Welch, 2004). DPS 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Dividend per common stock 0.76 1.0 0.65 6.0 2.0 1.0 Long-term financing policy The company focuses on balancing its long-term financing, by striking a good balance between equity capital and debt capital, with the sole aim of maximizing the returns of the shareholders. Mergers and acquisitions To facilitate expansion in the United States and globally, the company has been involved in multiple acquisitions, with $1.2 billion of assets being acquired in 2011 alone. Acquisition during 2011 included San Diego, Manchester Grand Hyatt, and New York Helmsley Hotel among others.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Capital structure specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company focuses on acquiring well performing hotels in strategic locations, and in particular those with great entry barriers. Recently, the Company directly acquired 23 hotels through its own joint ventures. The criteria used for this acquisition was simply to create value for the stockholders through careful assessment of opportunities to realize the maximum returns on investment. Working capital management practices The company provides operating capital to facilitate operation of the property, including payment of wages, property taxes, utilities, among other expenses, as well as purchase of inventory. The hotel managers are concerned with distribution of cash for operations, which replicates the level of the hotel’s sales, less operating expenses for the property-level. This is done every four weeks or on a monthly basis, depending on the discretion of the managers. Entertainment Properties Trust Capital structure The debt/equity ratio for this company is relatively balanced and close to that of Host Hotels Resorts, whereby for the 5 years, the company over relied on debt in 2007 only. Compared with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, this company seems to have a less balance capital structure. The company is spending very little in terms debt interest expenses compared to Host Hotels Resorts. The trend of debt/equity ratio for this company for the five years is very close to that of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group because they are in the same industry, and have similar capital structures (EPT, 2010). 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Debt 675,305 1,081,264 1,262,368 1,141,423 1,191,179 1,154,295 Shareholders’ equity 857,156 1,026,100 1,292,651 1,467,957 1,631,258 1 ,498,103 Debt/equity ratio 0.79 1.05 0.98 0.78 0.73 0.77 Use and effect of leverage The company has mostly maintained a ratio that is less than 1 as shown in the table below, which means that it is financing the better part of its assets through equity. This way, the company has saved extra expenses, which could be spent on debt interest. Dividend policies Although dividend per share was reduced significantly since 2009, the company has maintained a relatively stable payout. Entertainment Properties Trust is also compelled to pay out 90% of its income to its shareholders as dividends, as this is a real estate investment trust policy. Apart from making these distributions, the company does not have full ability to acquire properties using internal capital. Therefore, in order to diversify and grow its portfolio, the company must persistently raise capital (Byoun, 2008). Long-term financing policies The ability of the company to raise long-term capital relies on external factors, including conditions of credit and equity markets, the situation of the tenants as dictated by the industry, and generally the performance of real estate venture trusts. To raise additional capital, the company assesses a number of potential dealings; however, attractive sources are not always a guarantee (Barry, 2010; Fama French, 2005).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Working capital management practices The company provides operating capital to facilitate operation of the property, including payment of wages, property taxes, utilities, among other expenses, as well as purchase of inventory. Allocation of working capital is dependent on the management (Baker Wurgler, 2002). DPS 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Dividend per common share 3.02 3.04 3.36 2.60 2.60 2.80 Acquisition and merger As a growth and development strategy, the company considers acquisitions or come up with public charter schools and extra megaplex theater properties or developing other entertainment and recreational properties. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is an associate of the Jardine Matheson Group with investments in major cities around the world. It mainly invests in first class hotels, residences and resorts. Capital structure Capital structure shows the relationship that exists between equity shares, preference shares and debt capita l in the company’s balance sheet (Schmidgall DeFranco, 2004). Basically, the different modes of financing give the financial structure of an enterprise. Mandarin Oriental Hotel group has a capital structure that comprises both the share capital and debt capital. However, the company tends to finance its operations mainly from equity capital as shown in the table below. The capital structure for this company is very close to the other two, perhaps because they all belong to the same industry. 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Debt capital 575.1 663.9 653.9 557.1 574.5 578.5 Share capital 841.2 930.7 863.6 915.6 903.9 915.6 Debt/ Equity ratio 0.68 0.71 0.76 0.61 0.64 0.63 Use and effect of leverage For Mandarin Oriental Hotel group, Share capital forms the bigger weight of the capital structure. The share capital is considered much safer as opposed to debt capital for it does not leave the company with the obligation of paying the cost of finance (Falk Heints, 1975). By holding debt capital, the company is liable to pay high interest expenses. However, the company maintains an average mix of both debt and equity capital, thus shielding itself from the high cost of debt and also the high returns expected by the shareholders (Taylor, 1989). Dividend policy The Company pays dividend based on profitability achieved in every given year. This is indicated by the following dividend per share declared and paid between 2006 and 2011 as shown below (Mandarin Oriental the Hotel Group, 2011). 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Dividend per common stock 3 6 7 7 5 6 Based on the comparison of dividend paid from 2006 to 2011 as indicated in the above table, the company seems to have been paying constant dividend, which is a good indication that it has reached its maturity stage. Further, this can be supported by lack of an indication of additional investments through mergers and acquisitions or even new set ups, which could be reflected on the financial s tatements. As such, board of directors distributes the earnings to shareholder through dividends. Long-term financing policy The Company mostly finances its operations through long-term financing. This is well illustrated by significant long term borrowing, which ranges from $ 557.1m to $ 663.9m (Mandarin Oriental the Hotel Group, 2011). In addition, the company has financed its operations through share capital, which as indicated in the financial statements increased from 48.4m in 2006 to 49.8m in 2011. Notably the company favors equity capital as compared to debt capital. This can be attributed to the cost of capital whereby equity capital is cheaper as compared to debt capital (O’Connor, 1973). Working capital management practices Working capital of the company has significantly reduced between 2006 and 2011, from 490m to 394.9m.This can be attributed to increase in current liabilities as compared to current assets. However, the general manager, operations manager, and exe cutive heads usually works on an operational budget which is agreed on with the group’s proprietors after which once signed off, the management team maintains the agreed standards to check the expenses and cash movements. Mergers and acquisitions In 1974, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group expanded though acquisition of 49% of the oriental Bangkok. This merger placed the group in a better and competitive position in the hospitality industry, than before. Conclusion Capital structure is a very important aspect of a balance sheet, as it reflects the financial stability of a company. In particular, use of equity and debt capital needs to be well balanced as affects the operations of the company, including profitability. One of the most effects of leverage, which results from use of debt as capital, is increased interest expenses. As such, analysis of these companies has been closely tied to their leverage status. Debt/equity ratio has been found very useful in analysis of capital structure, and leverage in particular; it ratio shows the proportion of debt capital in relation to the equity capital. The three companies have been found to be keen on maintaining a stable debt/equity ratio; by limiting their debt capital compared with equity capital. References Baker, M., Wurgler, J. (2002). Market timing and capital structure. The Journal of Finance, 57, 1-30. Barry, E. (2010). Financial Accounting, Reporting and Analysis. London: International Edition publishers. Byoun, S. (2008). How and When Do Firms Adjust Their Capital Structures Toward Targets? The Journal of Finance, 63(3), 3069 – 3096. Dann, L.Y. (1993). Highly leveraged transactions and managerial discretion over investment policy: An overview. Journal of Accounting Economics, 16(1), 237- 240. DeAngelo, H., DeAngelo, L. (1990). Dividend Policy and Financial Distress: An Empirical Investigation of Troubled NYSE Firms. The Journal of Finance 45(1), 1415-1431. EPT. (2010). Annual reports. Retrieve d from http://www.annualreports.com/ Falk, H., Heints , A. (1975). Assessing industry risk by ratio analysis: The Accounting club industry. The Journal of Hospitality Financial Management, 12(1), 1-14. Fama, E.F., French, K.R. (2005). Financing decisions: who issues stock? Journal of Financial Economics, 76(1), 549-582. Graham, J.R. (2000). How big are the tax benefits of debt? The Journal of Finance, 55, 1901-1941. Leary, M.T., Roberts, M.R. (2005). Do Firms Rebalance Their Capital Structures? The Journal of Finance, 60(2), 2575-2619. Mandarin Oriental the Hotel Group. (2011). Financial Report. Retrieved from https://www.mandarinoriental.com/investors/financial-information/reports O’Connor, M. (1973). On the usefulness of financial ratios to investors in common.  Review, 50(4), 758-779. Schmidgall, R. DeFranco, A. (2004). Ratio analysis: Financial benchmarks for the stock. The Accounting Review, 48 (2), 339-352. Taylor, H. (1989). How to analyze financial statements. Eco nomic Development Review, 7 (2), 62-67. Welch, I. (2004). Capital Structure and Stock Returns. The Journal of Political Economy, 112(6), 106-131. Zacks Equity Research. (2012). Host Hotels Hikes Dividend. Retrieved from https://finance.yahoo.com/news/host-hotels-hikes-dividend-221522187.html This report on Capital structure was written and submitted by user Fernando Zamora to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How Homeschooled Students Should Prep for the SAT

How Homeschooled Students Should Prep for the SAT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Education, about 1.7 million students are homeschooled. If you're part of this 3.4% of the population and are planning to apply to a 4-year college, then you'll probably be taking the SAT (or ACT). This guide will go over the best preparation strategies for succeeding on the SAT, while keeping in mind theunique strengths you bring to the tableas a homeschooled student. Before delving intospecifics of the SAT, let's consider the advantages that your homeschooled education has afforded you. Reflect On Your Strengths Homeschooled students don't always take as many timedor standardized tests as those in traditional schools. If you're concerned that homeschooling puts you at a disadvantage for doing well on the SAT, pause and reflect on some of homeschooling'spositive aspects. You likely have a more individualized curriculum and have been encouraged to pursue your individual interests. Perhaps you've had the freedom to reallyreflect on your strengths and weaknesses, where you excel and where you need to grow as a learner. This kind of self-awareness is hugely helpful for homeschool SAT prep, as you can target your weak areas, customize your study plan, and focus your energies where you can make the most progress. If you feel you've had less practice with standardized tests like the SAT, consider the kind of learning you have had and how it caninform your approach to test prep. Self-Awareness and SAT Prep Having a sense of your strengths and weaknesses can be a huge aidfor designing your SAT study plan. Do you speed through geometry problems, but get tripped up by probability? Do you absorb vocabulary like a sponge, but feel like it's impossible to write a whole 5-paragraph essay in only 25 minutes? Try to get a realistic sense of where you have cultivated skills and developed strong content knowledge. Rather than delving into everything at once, you can set small, manageable goals for yourself and make progress towards them with steadiness and purpose. To address the above examples, you could gather official SAT sample questions about probability and thoroughly studythe problems and answer explanations. You could read strategies about how to time your essay writing and come into the SAT prepared with versatile examples that work for many different essay questions. The best way to achieve your target scores on the SAT is to identify the areas that most need improvement and focus your test prep there. How (and where) do you learn best? Customization and Self-Teaching Does your homeschooled education allow you to be relatively self-directed in your learning? If your educators agree with Lee Binz,founderof The HomeScholar, then their "long-term plan is to make learners who can absorb material by themselves." If you have received this kind of "self-teaching curriculum," then you've had the opportunity to develop your independence, perhaps more so than have students in traditional school settings. Students who are most successful on the SAT don't study every concept all at once or mimic someone else's study and test-taking schedule. Instead, they customize their test prep for their own unique learning styles and needs. They take control of their test prep by setting aside time each week to focus on the material and benefit from being a self-directed learner on their homeschool SAT scores. Besides having the independence to shape your study plan and follow through with it, you may also have some input into shaping your curriculum and homework assignments and projects. If this is the case, it would be helpful to ask if you can integrate SAT prep into your classes and therebyconnectyour math, reading, and writing to SAT practice questions. Tilt YourCurriculum If you're encouraged to explore and articulate your interests and goals, as Binz described above, then your educators may be open to your suggestions. Gaining admission to a 4-year college is a notable goal, and gaining strong SAT scores are an important part ofachieving this goal. If this is your motivation, find out if you can integrate SAT prep into your curriculum. Perhaps you could add SAT math questions to your math studies, or practice writing timed persuasive essays. In addition to whatever other books you're reading, perhaps you can incorporate Critical Reading passages and questions. Practice answering objective multiple choice questions, which may or may not be a skill you're accustomed to in English class. Review SAT grammar rules and edit writing samples to practice for "improving sentence," "improving paragraph," and "identifying sentence error" SAT Writing questions. If you can integrate homeschool SAT prep into your studies, then you can link your classroom learning with the test and apply your understanding of math, reading, and writing to each section of the SAT. In order to do this successfully, you must have a thorough understanding of the content and skills that are tested on the SAT. Throwsome SAT prep in the mix. Understand the Content of the SAT Do you know how many questions are in each section of the SAT, and how much time you have to answer them? In order to effectively incorporate test prep into your curriculum or out-of-school studying, you should gain a deep understanding of what exactly is tested on the Math, Critical Reading, and Writing sections of the SAT. The following is a quick overview of the content in each section. Math tests number and operations, probability/statistics, algebra, and geometry. Most of the questions are multiple choice, but there are 10 grid-in questions that you will answer directly on the bubble sheet. Critical Reading asks you to read long, short, and paired passages and answer multiple choice comprehension questions. These often ask about the general purpose of the passage, along with tools of literary analysis like tone, style, inference, and interpretation of various details. These questions also often ask you about vocabulary in context, while the current SAT has stand-alone vocabulary fill-in questions as well. The new SAT in 2016 will continue to ask about vocabulary, but is eliminating these stand-alone questions in favor of providing more context. Writing starts out the SAT with the 25-minute essay, in which you are asked to provide your opinion and support it with examples from reading, observation, current events, or any other area. Additionally, you will answer multiple choice questions and use your understanding of grammar rules to identify sentence errors and improve sentences and paragraphs. Even if you are unused to timed standardized tests, all of these skills are basic math, reading, and writing skills that you practice inyour general education. Again, if you have some input into shaping your curriculum and homework assignments, then you can try to incorporate SAT practice and essay questions and reinforce your learning on the context of the SAT's tricky questions and strict timing. Outside of your classroom learning, you will need to make time devoted specifically to prepping for the SAT. Make Time for Test Prep Before you take your test, I would recommend spending at least ten hours really getting to know the content, format, and instructions of the test so you know exactly what to expect on test day. A study plan involving about 40 hoursmight get you ready to take the test for the first time, but a regimen of around100 hours of targeted practice would be more effective for improving your scores. While the amount of time you need to put in to boost your scores varies for each students, these are rough estimates of how many hours you should prep to raise your overall scores. SAT Composite Point Improvement 0-50 points - 10 hours 50-100points- 20 hours 100-200 points - 40 hours 200-300 points - 80 hours 300-500 points - 150 hours+ If you start early and spread your study plan out over months or even a year or more, then you can gradually improve and these hours won't seem like such a daunting task. You could spend about 2 to 3 hours a week starting 6 months before your test, and then increase your study time as the test date approaches. Of course you also don't want to put in more time than you need to, when you could be focusing on other areas of school, life, and preparing for college. So how can you maximize the effectiveness of your study time? One important part of test prep is simulating testing conditions to train your time management. Time flies when you're taking the SAT. Practice Timing Yourself The SAT is a strictly timed test, and once you've finished a section you can't revisit it or revise any answers. I would say these strict time limits are perhaps the biggest source of stress for students, especially those who like to process information at a more relaxed pace. Luckily, you can use strategies to improve your efficiency, as well as time yourself while you study and take practice tests to get better and better at working fast and well. I would recommend starting with a diagnostic practice test and simulating testing conditions. Sit in a quiet room with fewdistractions and time each section. Yourinitial score will just be a baseline. After studying and targeting your weaknesses, take another timed practice test and note your progress. Even if finishing in time is something you struggle with, practicing this skill at home will help you pace yourself on the SAT and manage your time effectively. You should also learn about and experiment with different strategies, like speed reading and using process of elimination to answer multiple choice questions. Get Strategic On Each Section While an understanding of certain math concepts and skills in reading and writing are important for doing well on the SAT, so is simply learning the tricks of the test and developing your ability to work quickly. For example, you don't have time to leisurely read the Critical Reading passages and take notes on what you find interesting. Instead, you should practice habits of skimming for important introductory points, transitions, and details related to the corresponding questions. While the essay might seem like a hard part of the SAT, you can basically use a tried-and-true 5 paragraph formula and show up prepared with dynamic examples that will work for most questions. Strategies for how to tackle each section, answer questions, and even fill in the bubble sheet (answering in chunks in your booklet and then transfering all at once can help save time) arehugely helpful in combination with your content knowledge for conquering the SAT. By trying out strategies, reviewing concepts and vocabulary, and sticking to your study schedule, you will see improvements in your SAT scores. Besides the strengths many homeschooled students bring as self-directed, independent learners, do they have any extra responsibilities when it comes to taking the SAT? Homeschooled Students and the SAT As a homeschooled student, you might not have as large a community of college-bound peersand guidance counselors as those in traditional school settings. Depending on your situation, you may have to shoulder more responsibility for designing and sticking to your homeschool SATprep schedule, keeping track of your academic progress and application materials, and meeting your college deadlines. If this sounds like, what can you do to stay on top of things? Be Proactive About Your Schedule This is easier said than done for a lot of students, but try to make the most of your time and establish routines for yourself, just as you would when learning how to playguitaror practicing soccer. Use a planner with hourly (or half-hourly) time increments or an online tool like Google Calendar. Set aside time to work towards your goals, like achieving your target SAT scores, and fulfill your college aspirations. If you're someone who's motivated by an approaching deadline or test date, then design your schedule to reflect that (while still leaving enough time to learn). If you prefer to spread out studying or practice and reap the benefits slowly over time, then honor that approach. These skills of actively taking control of your time will help you stay organized and achieve your goals in high school, college, and beyond. Do Your Research Part of your SAT prep plan is knowing what your target scores are, and part of determining that (apart from your own personal goals) are knowing your colleges' expectations. What are the average SAT scores for last year's accepted students? How much are SAT scores emphasized in the admission process? Does the school have a test flexible policy? When are your deadlines? Planning for college starts early. Check out websites, visit campuses, speak to admissions officers, and gain a clear sense of your colleges' expectations and requirements. Then figure out how to tell your story and stand out from the competition. Since you probably don't have a guidance counselor keeping you up to date on the SAT and prep courses, you need to seek out helpful homeschool SAT test prep resources. PrepScholar's online test program is one way to prepare, along with official practice tests, books, and SAT Question of the Day. Khan Academy is another good online resource, especially because it has recently offered sample questions for the upcoming redesigned SAT. Besides online and book resources, you can also make an appointment with a counselor at your local high school and seek his/her advice on SAT prep and college planning. Through it all, work onstaying organized to keep track of requirements, deadlines, and all the online passwords you're sure to collect. Stay Organized The best way to plan your schedule and keep track of your college planning is to create a system of organization that works for you. Write everything down, whether on paper or virtually, and stay on top of deadlines and test dates. If you start early with SAT prep, you can take the test several times and prep between each real test to improve your scores. If your homeschooled education helped you develop independence in your organization, learning, and time management, then use these skills to your advantage in the SAT and college planning process. Start early, study the test, and put in the time and effort to achieve your target SAT scores and gain admission into your college of choice. What's Next? Using official practice questions from the testmakers and taking timed practice tests are an essential part of your study regimen. Download official SAT practice tests and score them to diagnose your level and gauge your progress toward hitting your target scores. When exactly should you register to take the SAT? Are some test dates preferable to others? How many times should you take it, anyway? Learn how to choose your test dates and shape your study plan accordingly. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also feature thousands of practice questions, 10 official SAT practice tests, and personal feedback on your essays from an expert instructor. We work with a lot of homeschooled students who like the self-paced, self-guided nature of our online prep program. Check out our 5-day free trial: