Friday, November 15, 2019

The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character Gatsby :: English Literature

The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character Gatsby Author's Techniques by Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald is a very diverse and interesting author to analyze. The techniques he uses for each character or theme that he wants to present is different from page to page, thus making him a multifaceted. When speaking of the title character of the book, Jay Gatsby, there are a few specific techniques used in the layout of his features. Gatsby doesn’t appear in the book in flesh and blood until the third chapter of the book however by that time Nick Carraway has received enough second hand information about him. However there is of course a reason as to why Fitzgerald waited with the introduction of this man; the more we waited for the Great Gatsby the larger his reputation grew in order for us to build a predetermined view about him. The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character Gatsby was reputations and postponed introduction thus creating a lot of mystery around this man. At first when Nick enters one of Gatsby’s parties he doesn’t see the host indulging himself in the luxuries of the crowd, food and music though instead he is nowhere to be seen. This is a very surprising enigma for Nick since generally you would presume that whoever has this much wealth would thrive in showing it off to his guests. On top of this, you have a lot of rumors circulating every one of his parties. Catherine McKee once said that Gatsby is â€Å"the son of Kaiser Wilhelm†, the current ruler of Germany. Of course every speculation made was false however as Nick heard them all, his anticipations for their meeting grew. This is a clever technique since not only does it enhance Gatsby’s character importance in the novel though it shows how little the supporting characters of the book knows him. We hear all sorts of rumors about how Gatsby acquired his wealth however not until chapter VII do we have definite proof of how his money came about. On page 140, two thirds into the book, Tom confronts Jay about who he really is. It is during that event where Tom throws all the facts about his bootlegging in Jay’s face ‘I found out what your â€Å"drug-stores† were-‘ He turned to us and spoke rapidly. ‘He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts†¦..’What about it? said Gatsby politely. ‘I guess your friend Walter Chase wasn’t too proud to come in on it.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Reading Autobiography Essay

Although I do not have many vivid memories of my childhood the few things I do recall from my early years mostly seem to focus around school and my academics and interactions with children my own age. It is nearly impossible to pinpoint when exactly it was that I began to read but it must have been somewhere around the end of kindergarten and the beginning of first grade. I didn’t attend preschool so up until kindergarten my primary interaction with others was in my first language, Spanish. I can recall learning the alphabet and the sounds of all letters and I started to make out certain words like ‘see’ and ‘my’. The most influential person in the process of acquiring the skills I needed to read must have been an instructional assistant, Mr. Torres who would help me and other bilingual students regularly in the classroom. Of course the instruction by my teacher set the basis for my learning but the one on one help that he provided helped me make connections to my learning in Spanish and that made me feel very comfortable. The first books I began to read must have been simple stories that I came to memorize. Stories like The Gingerbread Man or Brown Bear that had repetitive lines were probably how I started to make connections with words, sounds and pronunciation of those words and sounds. Learning to read made me feel empowered and I remember wanting to read â€Å"big kids† books once I felt I was capable. Among my favorite types of books were scary chapter books like the series of Goosebumps as well as biographies of famous athletes. Among my least favorite must have been nonfiction and folktale because they never really managed to pull me in and I was always very skeptical about such fantasy. Unfortunately, this thrive to read did not last very long because I started to drift away from the constant practice of reading around the fifth grade and started seeing it more as an obligation rather than a choice. As a whole the literacy environment in my household was actually a very positive one and ever since I can recall my mom has always been a big reader and has many books and magazines throughout the house. All of her reading though was done in Spanish when I was growing up because as I was learning how to read my mom was learning the English language. My dad on the other hand has never been a big reader. Actually I can’t recall a time when I have seen him sit down and read something simply for leisure. I also had an older sister who was just a grade ahead of me in school and she has always been a bit of a bookworm and was constantly going through different books as we grew up. Even with all these things I think the language barrier influenced my detachment from reading. In my household we rarely spoke English, maybe if my mom and dad knew the language or were more comfortable with it they might have pushed me to read more or took the time to sit down and read to me. Come to think of it my mom would read to me but she would do it in Spanish and it was a bit boring for me. She would read common stories that I had already heard like the three little pigs or something of that sort and all I would gain out of this was amusement because the way things translated to me was funny. My mom did take us to the city Library and I remember going to story time or to some sort of show based on books. I remember seeing a magician and also petting a snake. As for having materials to read and write, there was always plenty throughout my house. My mom kept a full stock of pencil and paper as well as of books it was just a matter of me doing the actual work. She constantly asked me to explain to her what I was reading or writing for school but I always seemed to find a way to not spend too much time with it because all I wanted to do was play with the neighborhood kids or run off to soccer practice. In school the literacy environment was very positive as well and I remember how much time and dedication the faculty would place on reading and the development of reading skills. I can’t remember who formally taught me how to read but it must have been either Mrs. Diamond or Miss Falgot my first and second grade teachers, because by third grade I remember being able to read fluently. They used several different types of methods but I remember being read to very often by Miss Falgot. I do recall being placed in groups and having partners whom you read to and vice versa. I believe both Mrs. Diamond and Miss Falgot were key role players in my acquisition of reading skills and although I don’t recall specifics they did their job because by third grade I was at the top of my class. I do remember a particular case that had a bit of a negative effect on me in terms of reading. I remember being in either fourth or fifth grade reading as a class and the teacher called on me to read a paragraph. I don’t remember what I was thinking but I was not listening and wasn’t even on the right page, once I located it I got nervous and couldn’t even read. Luckily the teacher called on someone else but I felt horrible. As a class throughout elementary I remember visiting the library and running to the sport books section. The Library was so calm and always cool and I remembering going in there on hot summer days to get away and read a good book. The librarian I remember was always very sweet and she was very patient with all the students. As for literacy events the only thing that is clear in my mind is the book fairs that occurred maybe twice or three times a year. They were very fun and I remember they made even the boring books seem interesting. They set up all kinds of posters and it was something that I always looked forward to. As an adult I began to pick up old habits especially after I came into college. I can’t say I read a lot but I do find time to fit in a book every once in a while. I am still a big fan of autobiographies and I have recently developed a liking for books in Spanish. I usually read on the weekends when I am well rested and have slept in. I also like to go to parks and sit in the shade and enjoy a good book or story or even an interesting article. I think reading is very important and not only to help us expand our vocabulary or help us academically but when you read a good book you get a chance to escape your everyday and it gives you an insight into a story or a character in the way a TV or radio cannot. It captivates you and manages to get all of your attention but at the same time relaxes you. I think reading is something that should be taught to students but not just in order to help them academically but educators should also focus on showing the importance of literature in our lives and the positive way it influences our lives down the road something the media of today cannot manage to do. Writing equally should be not only taught for the purpose of education but in a way those students value it and continue to practice it even without a teacher pushing them to do so.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Personality, Personality Development, Spheres, Public Relations

Define personality The free dictionary: the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others: He has a pleasing personality. the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual. the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual. the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity. the essential character of a person. http://www. thepersonalitysystem. org: â€Å"Personality is the entire mental organization of a human being at any stage of his development.It embraces every phase of human character: intellect, temperament, skill, morality, and every attitude that has beeen built up in the course of one's life. † (Warren ; Carmichael, 1930, p. 333) (In an acknowledged overstatement†¦ ) â€Å"Personality is the essence of a human being. † (Hall ; Lindzey, 1957, p. 9, characterizing statements by Gordon Allport) â€Å"An individual's pattern of psychological pr ocesses arising from motives, feelings, thoughts, and other major areas of psychological function. Personality is expressed through its influences on the body, in conscious mental life, and through the individual's social behavior. (Mayer, 2005) 2. ) Define personality development http://www. education. com: Progressive organization of the psychological traits unique to an individual, occurring as the result of maturation and learning from birth through adulthood http://www. angelfire. com: Personality development is the developing a personality cult so as to create a strong positive impression about self with the targeted group, or in general; and more pertinent aspect of such personality is to maintain and prove in a long run. http://www. healthofchildren. com:Personality development is the development of the organized pattern of behaviors and attitudes that makes a person distinctive. Personality development occurs by the ongoing interaction of temperament, character, and environ ment. 3. ) components/spheres of personality Wikianswers: 1. Physical Aspect- Height, weight, size complexion. 2. Intellectual aspect-ability to analyze, synthesized or to give opinion 3. Emotional aspect- the right time,place 4. Social aspect-capability to go other people. meet other people without necessarily withdrawing. 5.Moral Aspect- Knowing right or wrong https://sites. google. com: 11. 2. 1 Identity Identity is experienced as being aware that one exists and that one has the right to live. The person accepts his limits and is prepared to exert his right to exist. He derives strength and courage from a basic feeling of security, from self-confidence and faith in others. He accepts responsibility for his behaviour. A patient with weakness in the sphere of identity feels insecure, â€Å"not O. K. â€Å"and avoids responsibilities. This often obstructs progress in therapy.Strengthening identity then has a high priority. 11. 2. 2 Intimacy Humans are social animals. One of the fi rst needs of an individual is to relate closely to one person in particular. This produces bonding between infant and mother. Later in life the intimacy of lovers and close friends develops, one learns to be close to others without losing one's own identity. Intimacy develops on the edge of fusion (identification with the other) and self-assertion. The antithesis: fusion versus autonomy is solved by â€Å"sharing†.A person who feels supported by a strong feeling of identity can reach out and become intimate with others thereby enriching their lives. The intimacy offered in return, is a reinforcement of one's own identity. If something in the sphere of intimacy is lacking, a patient may experience trouble in developing adequate social coping skills. In a therapist an unrequited need for intimacy may give rise to problems: the transfer of feelings by the patient to the therapist may cause confusion and elicit inadequate responses. 11. 2. Drives and emotions The art of living is making the right choices and decisions. This aspect of human behaviour is studied by motivation theory. It is an important domain for the communication pathologist: many disorders have their beginning in this sphere. 11. 2. 4 Relating socially In the process of self-actualisation this is the buffer-zone that people build around their identity and intimacy. Human drives and motivations are consummated in the social sphere: identity is fostered, intimacy has to be actualised in a social context.Interaction takes place with members of the family and other people in the environment, in an ever widening circle. Out of early experiences with socialisation a complex scene of transactions between people will grow, which E. Berne has aptly described as activities, pass-times and â€Å"games†. A fair number of games get people entangled in risky social habits of which they themselves are hardly aware. A life-scenario with unwholesome games may include some vicious speech- and voice ne uroses.Replacing the dominating games and changing the scenario, by role-playing and practising game-free relationships can bring about a profound change. It will bring the person closer to a true feeling of identity (instead of a fake one) and to genuine intimate relationships. 11. 2. 5 Creative energy and the power of will Men and women are often judged by the impression of power they display in carrying out their designs and resolutions, in demanding achievements from themselves and in dominating others or, on the other hand by submitting to others.Phantasy and creative power are important factors in people's lives, and so are ambition and perseverance to carry out one's design. 11. 2. 6 Cognition: perception, discrimination, evaluation In this sphere the person keeps his internal image of the environment and of his own functioning in this environment. Cognition has been collected from and pervades all previous levels: identity, intimacy, emotional self-preservation, relating to others, creativity and willpower, have their involuntary controls as well as a conscious representation.By rational thought the person tries to make sense of what is happening to him and to his environment. Rational though they may seem to be, thoughts may be subject to distortion: Misinterpretations and false expectations may occur as a consequence of exceptionally strong experiences dating far back in time. [pic] 4. ) define public relations http://www. businessdictionary. com: The profession or practice of creating and maintaining goodwill of an organization's various publics (customers, employees, investors, suppliers, etc. , usually through publicity and other nonpaid forms of communication. These efforts may also include support of arts, charitable causes, education, sporting events, and other civic engagements. http://www. prsa. org: â€Å"Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publi cs. † www. answers. com (Britannica): Aspect of communications that involves promoting a desirable image for a person or group seeking public attention.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Transportation Geography

Transportation Geography Transportation geography is a branch of economic geography that studies transportation and all aspects related to it and the geography of an area. This means that it examines the transportation or movement of people, goods, and information in or across different regions. It can have a local focus in a city (New York City for example), as well as a regional (the United States Pacific Northwest), national or global focus. Transportation geography also studies the different modes of transportation such as road, rail, aviation and boat and their relationships to people, the environment and urban areas. Transportation has been important in geographic study for hundreds of years. In the early days of geography explorers used known sailing routes to explore new areas and set up trading outposts. As the worlds economy began to modernize and develop railway and maritime shipping became increasingly important and knowledge of foreign markets was essential. Today transportation capacity and efficiency is important so knowing the quickest way to move people and products is important and in turn, understanding the geography of the regions in which these people and products are moving is vital. Transportation geography is a very broad subject that looks at many different topics. For example, transportation geography could possibly look at the link between the presence of a railroad in an area and the percentage of commuters using rail to get to work in a developed area. Social and environmental impacts of the creation of transportation modes are other topics within the discipline. Transportation geography also studies the constraints of movement across space. An example of this might be looking at how the shipment of goods varies at different times of the year due to weather conditions. To gain a better understanding of transportation and its relationship to geography transportation geographers today study three important fields that relate to transportation: nodes, networks, and demand. The following is a list of the three major branches of transportation geography: 1) Nodes are the beginning and end points for transportation between geographic areas. The Port of Los Angeles is an example of a node because it is the start and end for the shipment of goods to and from the United States. The presence of a node is important economically because it can aid in the development of a city due to jobs for example. 2) Transportation networks are the second major field in transportation geography and they represent the structure and organization of transportation infrastructures like roads or train lines through an area. Transportation networks connect the nodes and are significant because they can directly affect the capacity and efficiency of the movement of people and goods. For example, a well-developed train line would be an efficient transportation network to move people and goods from two nodes, say, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It is up to transportation geographers to study the differences between two networks to most efficiently move items between nodes. 3) The third major field of transportation geography is demand. Demand is based on public demand for different types of transportation. For example, if commuters are in constant traffic congestion on a daily basis in a city, public demand might support the development of a transit system such as light rail to move them within the city or two and from the city and their home. Overall, transportation is a significant topic within geography because the worlds economy depends on transportation. By studying how transportation relates to geography, researchers and geographers can gain a better understanding of why cities, transportation networks and the worlds economy have developed the way they have. Reference Hanson, Susan, ed. and Genevieve Giuliano, ed. The Geography of Urban Transportation. New York: The Guilford Press, 2004. Print.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

A Brief Timeline of Events in America - 1651 - 1675

A Brief Timeline of Events in America - 1651 - 1675 The American Revolution would not commence until 1765, when the Stamp Act Congress, representing the thirteen colonies, disputed the right of the British parliament to tax the colonists without providing them with representation in the House of Commons. The American Revolutionary War would not begin until 1775. During the period from 1651 to 1675, however, attempts by the British government to control commerce in the American colonies gradually created an atmosphere in which rebellion was almost inevitable. 1651 England passes the Navigation Act that forbid goods to be imported from the colonies to England in non-English ships or from locations other than where they were produced. This action causes supply shortages hurting colonies and eventually leads to the Anglo-Dutch War which lasts from 1652-1654. 1652 New Amsterdam is given permission to form its own city government.Rhode Island passes the first law in America which prohibits slavery.Maine is included within the boundaries of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.The Anglo-Dutch War begins in July.In defiance of England, Massachusetts Bay declares itself independent. 1653 Massachusetts Bay does not support the New England Confederation in declaring war against the Dutch colonists.   1654 The first Jewish immigrants arrive in America when they settle in New Amsterdam.The new governor of Maryland, William Fuller, does away with the Toleration Act which gave Catholics the right to practice their religion and removes Lord Baltimore from authority. 1655 A civil war between Catholic and Puritan factions after the revocation of the Toleration Act in 1654 results in a Puritan victory.The Dutch, after years of conflict with New Sweden, are able to defeat the Swedes and end royal rule by Sweden in America. 1656 Lord Baltimore is returned to power in Maryland and Josias Fendell is named its governor.Quakers who arrive in Massachusetts Bay are treated horribly and banished which is supported by the New England federation. Later in the year, Connecticut and Massachusetts pass laws to allow for the banishment of Quakers. 1657 Quakers who arrive in New Amsterdam are punished and then banished to Rhode Island by Governor Peter Stuyvesant. 1658 Massachusetts colony passes laws that do not allow for religious freedom of Quakers including the holding of their meetings. 1659 Two Quakers are punished by hanging when they return to Massachusetts Bay after being banished. 1660 Lord Baltimore is removed from power by the Maryland assembly.The Navigation Act of 1660 is passed requiring only English ships with a three-quarters English crew be allowed to be used for trade. Certain goods including sugar and tobacco could only be shipped to England or English colonies. 1661 The English crown, in protest to the rules against Quakers, orders them released and returned to England. They are later forced to stop the harsh penalties against Quakers.The first bible to be printed in America was published in the Algonquin language. 1662 Connecticut is given a royal charter.The Massachusetts Bay Colonys charter was accepted by England as long as they extended the vote to all landowners and allows for freedom of worship for Anglicans. 1663 The Carolina colony is created by King Charles II and has numerous proprietors.Rhode Island is given a royal charter.All imports to the American colonies are required to come from England on English vessels with the second Navigation Act. 1664 The Hudson River valley Indians surrender part of their territory to the Dutch.The Duke of York is given a charter to control lands that include the Dutch area of New Netherland. By the end of the year a naval blockade by the English of the area causes Governor Peter Stuyvesant to surrender New Netherland to the English. New Amsterdam is renamed New York.The Duke of York grants land called New Jersey to Sir George Carteret and John, Lord Berkeley.Maryland and later New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia pass laws that do not allow for the freeing of black slaves. 1665 New Haven is annexed by Connecticut.The Kings Commissioners arrive in New England to oversee what is occurring in the colonies. They demand that colonies must comply by swearing allegiance to the King and allowing for the freedom of religion. Plymouth, Connecticut, and Rhode Island comply. Massachusetts does not comply and when representatives are called to London to answer to the King, they refuse to go.The territory of Carolina is extended to include Florida.   1666 Maryland prohibits the growing of tobacco for a year due to a glut of tobacco on the market. 1667 The Peace of Breda officially ends the Anglo-Dutch War and gives England formal control over New Netherland. 1668 Massachusetts annexes Maine. 1669 The Fundamental Constitutions are issued in Carolina which provides for religious tolerance. 1670 Charles Town (present-day Charleston) is established by Joseph West.The Treaty of Madrid is completed between England and Spain. Both parties agree that they will respect each others rights in America.The Virginia Assembly only allows landowners the right to vote. 1671 Plymouth forces King Philip (Metacomet), chief of the Wampanoag Indians, to surrender his weapons.French explorers claim the interior of North America for King Louis XIV. 1672 First copyright law is passed in the colonies by Massachusetts.The Royal Africa Company is given a monopoly for the English slave trade. 1673 Virginia is granted by the English crown to Lord Arlington and Lord Culpepper.French explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet travel down the Mississippi River exploring down to the Arkansas River.The Dutch launch a naval attack against Manhattan to try and win back New Netherland during the third Anglo-Dutch War. Manhattan is surrendered. They capture other towns and rename New York to New Orange. 1674 The Treaty of Westminster ends the third Anglo-Dutch War with the American Dutch colonies reverting back to England.Father Jacques Marquette establishes a mission at present-day Chicago. 1675 Quaker William Penn is granted rights to portions of New Jersey.King Philips War begins with retaliations for the execution of three Wampanoag Indians. Boston and Plymouth unite to fight against the Indians. Nipmuck Indians unite with the Wampanoags to attack settlements in Massachusetts. The New England Confederation then reacts by officially declaring war on King Philip and raising an army. The Wampanoags are able to defeat settlers near Deerfield on September 18th and Deerfield is abandoned. Source: Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M., ed. The Almanac of American History. Barnes Nobles Books: Greenwich, CT, 1993.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Demography of Yemen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Demography of Yemen - Essay Example It is to be noticed that this huge economic gap between the Arab countries is a recent phenomenon. In 1960s this gap was quite narrow with the exception of Kuwait and Libya. In 1968 the per capita GNP in Sudan was $130, $190 in Egypt, $290 in Syria and $500 in Saudi Arabia. But five following factors dramatically widen the gap since 1970s. (Winckler, 2005) The important factor of the poor socioeconomic condition in Yemen is political instability which hampers the socioeconomic development plans. Thus, despite the extensive natural resources of oil Yemen remains the poorest countries of the world. Encarta defines demography as "the study of human populations, including their size, growth, density, and distribution, and statistics regarding birth, marriage, disease, and death" The term demography hoists many images. Some people take it as set of numbers and tables to others it is a target group of commercial organizations trying to sell their products. All these views support the static entity of population. But to demographer it has dynamic aspect for the population is changing in many facets. (Winckler, 2005). The changing factors are fertility, mortality and migration. "Other dynamic aspects are the spatial distribution and various socioeconomic characteristics of the population that affect each of the demographic parameters of any given society." (Hameuchad, 1995) The population growth rate remained close to 3. 5% and it makes Yemen the fastest growing country in the region. "Yemen's estimated population of 20m is projected to grow to 70m by 2050." (Oxford Business Group, 2008) Yemen: Economic and Demographic Indicators. 2006-11 Population Population Growth % GDP At current prices GDP Per capita (at PPP) Average household size Labor force Unemployment Rate % 2006 21,622,000 3.08 19,106 884 710 7,287,212 26.2 2007 22,290,000 3.09 21,664 972 710 7,578,593 27.7 2008 22,978,000 3.09 25,863 1,126 710 7,881,885 29.9 2009 23,678,000 3.09 31,577 1,333 710 8,197,253 27.3 2010 24,398,000 3.00 34,261 1,404 710 8,349,000 27.1 2011 25130,000 3.00 35,511 1,453 710 10,612,036 27.1 Source :(Oxford Business Group, 2008) Indicators 2008 1995 2005 2015 2025 Population Midyear population (in thousands) 23,013 14,864 20,745 29,193 39,696 Growth rate (percent) 3.5 3.0 3.5 3.3 2.8 Fertility Total fertility rate (births per woman) 6.4 7.4 6.7 5.8 4.7 Crude birth rate (per 1,000 population)

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Current United States Recession Research Paper

The Current United States Recession - Research Paper Example If the GDP decreases, it is a clear indication that the economy is performing dismally. Other indicators include national and personal income, and if these reduce, it is an indication of a recession. The retail sales reflect the purchasing power of consumers, so if there is a decline in retail sales, the country is likely to witness a recession. Evidence of a recession can be witnessed from a decline in government taxes due to the fact they are obtaining less taxable income and buying fewer goods that can be taxed. In the construction industry, the effects of the recession are felt when the sales of the houses drastically reduce. The construction industry is a segment of the financial system that is prone to recession. In the event a recession occurs it will be manifested in this industry. The purchasing power of consumers diminishes. The active growth seems to be slowed down near stagnation. Construction work therefore slows down due to the slump in the sales of the houses (Roubini, 2008). This in turn renders a lot of workers jobless. Expansionary fiscal policies have tried to limit the damage in conjunction with bailouts and government funds. With the recession, it is quite evident that the construction sector will face an extremely demanding task and it also threatens to limit any construction activity in the near future. Even despite the fact that the government is enthusiastic on prioritizing some of the infrastructure projects the spending cuts limit the job security for most of the construction workers. Additionally, the house building activity is likely to be restricted by the weak housing market activity and low house prices. The recession forces the prices of the houses to decline due to low purchasing power. In the society as a whole, the labor market is likely to decrease due to the lack of employment; consumer confidence is likely to diminish as they will be uncertain if they will be able to pay for the house once they are jobless (Cline, 2005). I nvestors in the construction industry are likely to pull out for fear of losing their money. Consumer spending is down to 4% since the recession began and the retail sales volumes have remained resilient. The recession has taken its toll on the labor market as the employment rate has fallen to 70%, which is much lower than in the previous quarter. The long term jobs are expected to be subdued. Apart from the public housing sector, the private sector also felt the effect of the decline on the economy. Due to the house price uncertainties and strict mortgage lending there has been a reduction in the sales. Buyer are opting for the â€Å"wait and see† approach to see if the prices can be reasonable. Objective 2 With reference to the business cycle, economic growth is not a steady phenomenon; rather it follows a specific pattern. These include an expansion of above average growth, a peak, a contraction of below average growth and a low point. The troughs are followed by periods o f expansion and the cycle generally repeats itself, though not in a usual manner (New York Times, 2010). The fluctuations in economic growth are regarded as the business cycle. The business cycle is related to the economic activity which is a popular indicator of the GDP. Economists generally consider two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth to act as an