Essay on Classicism Versus Romanticism in Tom Stoppards...

Tom Stoppard is one of the finest playwrights of the modern age. Some of his well-known plays are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thingand many more.The finest of all his plays is Arcadia.The literary meaning of the term â€Å"Arcadia† inspired Tom Stoppard to write his play Arcadia. It was titled â€Å"Et in Arcadia ego†. â€Å"Arcadia† actually means a vision of pastoralism and harmony within nature. The Greek province of the same name has helped in the derivation of the term. The term’s existence has also been figured out in Renaissance Mythology. â€Å"Arcadia† refers as something unattainable as commonly as Utopia. The term â€Å"Arcadia† is symbolic of pastoral†¦show more content†¦The play focuses on the romance of the mind and the body. Remarked by early reviewers to be similar to Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, Tom Stoppard had excelled in t his field and gives a glimpse of his theatrical genius with Arcadia. Arcadia covers the two different ages- the early nineteenth century and the present modern world, matched, juxtaposed together bringing in a rare combination of the different facets of Classicism and Romanticism. The two timelines talk about sex, literature, love, epistemology, landscaping, the Second Law of Thermodynamics and the romance. Stoppard’s intellect looms large over the plot of the play and is efficiently presented in the form of this play. It is a two-act play containing seven scenes. The characters belonging to the early nineteenth century are Septimus, Thomasina, Mr. and Mrs. Chater, Lady Croom, Captain Brice, Mr. Richard Noakes. Hannah Jarvis, Valentine, Bernard, Gus and Chloe are the characters belonging to the present modern world. Thomasina Coverly, the thirteen-year-old daughter of Lady Croom, is more interested to know â€Å"what carnal embrace is than anything else.† With her Stoppard had presented a truly heartbreaking character. She is driven not only by intellectual knowledge but by sexual desires also. Although Lady Croom tells Thomasina that she must wed before she is over educated. With her Stoppard puts forth the classicism in an elegant way. The questions and the

What Is a Soliloquy Literary Definition and Examples

A soliloquy (pronounced suh-lil-uh-kwee), a literary device used in drama, is a speech  that reveals a characters  internal thoughts, motivations, or plans. Characters usually deliver soliloquies while they are alone, but if other characters are present, they remain silent and appear to be unaware that the character is talking. When delivering soliloquies, characters often seem to be â€Å"thinking out loud.† Soliloquies are found in dramatic works.   Coming from a combination of the Latin words solo, meaning â€Å"to himself,† and loquor, meaning â€Å"I speak,† a soliloquy offers playwrights a handy way of keeping the audience aware of the play’s plot and progress, as well as providing insight into a characters private motivations and desires. The soliloquy reached the height of its popularity during the Renaissance period. The use of soliloquy  has fallen since the late 18th century when drama shifted to the â€Å"Stanislavsky System† of realism—the accurate portrayal of real life in performances. Today, the soliloquy is known as â€Å"direct address† in movies and television. Why Writers Use Soliloquy By giving the audience  exclusive â€Å"insider† knowledge of what their characters are thinking, playwrights can create dramatic irony and suspense. Soliloquies allow the audience to know things that other characters do not—like who’s going to die next. Because soliloquies must have a visual component to be effective, they are most often used in plays, movies, and television shows. Soliloquy, Monologue, or Aside? The monologue and the aside are often confused with the soliloquy. All three literary devices involve a solitary speaker, but they have two key differences: the length of the solitary speech, and who is supposed to hear it. Soliloquy vs. Monologue In a soliloquy, the character makes a lengthy speech to him or herself. In a monologue, the character delivers a speech to other characters with the clear intent of being heard by them. For example, in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, when Hamlet asks, â€Å"To be or not to be†¦?†, he is speaking to himself in a soliloquy. However, when Julius Caesars  Mark Antony says â€Å"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him,†Ã‚  he is delivering a monologue to the characters at Caesars funeral. In simple terms, if other characters can hear and possibly respond to what a character is saying, the speech cannot be a soliloquy. Soliloquy vs. Aside Both a soliloquy and an aside are used to reveal a character’s secret thoughts and motives. However, an aside is shorter than a soliloquy—typically only one or two sentences—and is directed at the audience. Other characters are often present when an aside is delivered, but they do not hear the aside. In plays and movies, the character making the aside will often turn away from the other characters and face the audience or camera while speaking. A classic example of an aside comes in Act 1 of Hamlet.  The King of Denmark has just died and the throne has passed to his brother, Claudius (who is the plays  antagonist). Prince Hamlet, who was denied the throne when Claudius married the late king’s wife, feels depressed, even calling his Uncle Claudius’ marriage, â€Å"foul incest.† When Claudius speaks to Hamlet, calling him â€Å"my cousin Hamlet, and my son,† Hamlet, who now secretly feels far more related to Claudius than he wants to be, turns to the audience and says as an aside, â€Å"A little more than kin, and less than kind.† Early Examples of Soliloquy from Shakespeare Clearly influenced by the Renaissance, Shakespeare used soliloquies as some of the most powerful scenes in his plays. Through his soliloquies, Shakespeare exposed the innermost conflicts, thoughts, and diabolical plots of his always complicated characters. Hamlet’s Suicidal Soliloquy Perhaps the best-known soliloquy in the English language takes place in Hamlet, when Prince Hamlet considers the peaceful alternative of death by suicide to suffering a lifetime of â€Å"slings and arrows† at the hands of his murderous uncle Claudius: â€Å"To be, or not to be, that is the question:Whether tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,And by opposing end them: to die, to sleepNo more; and by a sleep, to say we endthe heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocksthat Flesh is heir to? Tis a consummationdevoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep,To sleep, perchance to Dream; aye, theres the rub, [†¦]† Though another character, Ophelia, is present when Hamlet utters this speech, it is clearly a soliloquy because Ophelia  gives no indication that she hears Hamlet speaking. The passage is further distinguished from an aside by its considerable length and importance in exposing Hamlet’s inner feelings. Macbeth’s Visionary Soliloquy In Act 2, Scene 1 of Macbeth, the perpetually moody Macbeth has a vision of a floating dagger tempting him to carry out his plan to kill Duncan, the King of Scotland, and take the throne himself. Fighting with a guilty conscience and now confused by this vision, Macbeth says: â€Å"Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.Art thou not, fatal vision, sensibleTo feeling as to sight? or art though butA dagger of the mind, a false creation,Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? [...]† Only by having him speak through soliloquy in this famous scene is Shakespeare able to inform the audience—and not  the other characters—of Macbeth’s helter-skelter state of mind and secretly-held evil intentions.   Modern Examples of Soliloquy While Shakespeare was one of the first and by far the most prolific user of soliloquy, some modern playwrights have incorporated the device. With the rise of realism at the end of the 18th century, writers worried that soliloquies would sound artificial, since people rarely talk to themselves in front of other people. As a result, modern soliloquies tend to be shorter than Shakespeare’s. Tom in The Glass Menagerie In  Tennessee Williams  The Glass Menagerie, the play’s narrator and protagonist, Tom, relays his memories of his mother Amanda and sister Laura. In his opening soliloquy, Tom warns the audience not to believe everything they see the characters do on stage. â€Å"Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve. But I am the opposite of a stage magician. He gives you illusion that has the appearance of truth. I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.† In the final scene, Tom finally admits the truth—that his own actions largely ruined his life. â€Å"I didnt go to the moon that night. I went much further—for time is the longest distance between two points. Not long after that I was fired for writing a poem on the lid of a shoe-box. I left Saint Louis. [...] I reach for a cigarette, I cross the street, I run into the movies or a bar, I buy a drink, I speak to the nearest stranger—anything that can blow your candles out! For nowadays the world is lit by lightning! Blow out your candles, Laura—and so goodbye. . .† Through this soliloquy, Williams reveals to the audience Toms self-loathing and doubt over abandoning his family and home. Frank Underwood in House of Cards In the television series House of Cards, fictional 46th President of the United States and protagonist Frank Underwood often speaks directly to the camera after all other characters have left the scene. Through these pithy soliloquies, Frank reveals his thoughts on politics, power, and his own schemes and strategies. In a  memorable soliloquy in the first episode of season two, Frank reveals his overriding fear of developing personal relationships in the political realm. â€Å"Every kitten grows up to be a cat. They seem so harmless at first, small, quiet, lapping up their saucer of milk. But once their claws get long enough, they draw blood—sometimes, from the hand that feeds them.† Having just won an election in season two, Frank uses another soliloquy in an attempt to justify the often devious tactics of presidential politics. â€Å"The road to power is paved with hypocrisy. There will be casualties.† These soliloquies create dramatic tension by revealing Frank’s unbridled pride in his skill at manipulating others and his secret plots to use that skill. While the audience may be appalled at Frank’s schemes, they love being â€Å"in† on them.  Ã‚   Soliloquy Key Takeaways A soliloquy (suh-lil-uh-kwee) is a literary device used in drama to reveal a character’s thoughts, feelings, secrets or plans to the audience.Characters usually deliver  soliloquies while they are alone. If other characters are present, they are depicted as not having heard the soliloquy.  Writers use soliloquy to expose irony and create dramatic tension by letting the audience in on information that some characters do not know.

Analyzing the Area on the Map Essay Example

Essays on Analyzing the Area on the Map Essay The paper "Analyzing the Area on the Map" is a worthy example of a geography essay. The map covers a large residential area where houses were built in the fashion meant for dwelling purposes. The area is densely populated as can be seen from the number of houses built in the area. The distance of separation between one house and the other is so close indicating the population density.   AnalysisAround the community is a road network the serves most parts of the neighborhood. There is evidence that the area has little business-like activities taking place. The area has a flat terrain as analyzed from the contours drawn to illustrate to the steepness of the sloppy area. The separation of the contours or the sparse orientation is an imperative point concerning the gradient. In terms of industry sectors available in the area include lime cement indicates a cement industry. In addition, hotels, room availability, restaurants, and lodges indicate that the area is well developed in terms of hospitality management in that industry. On the other hand, there is evidence of a lumber processing industry. ConclusionThe area is majorly a residential estate with a good road network and amenities in support of the same. The community is likely a peaceful area considering that it has many hotels, residential buildings, and lodges. The area covered portrays no use of facilities like hospitals, dispensing medicine centers and schools. The community especially those found in the area has tasks and assignments to move to city centers where normal business working is a career.

Political Parties And The American Political System

Arman Esmaili — Period 4 Today, there exists the rift in the American political system marked by the ongoing clash between our political parties: the Republicans and the Democrats. These parties’ dissenting ideas seem to create non-stop conflict as each party relentlessly competes for the support and votes of the American people. However, over two hundred years ago in the early days of our country’s government, political parties did not even exist. Early leaders, such as the revered George Washington, feared that political parties would split our country into warring factions that would not only subvert our delicate notion of patriotism, but also weaken public support for the new Constitution. Nonetheless, despite opposition by Washington and others, political parties began to form, and over the years have developed into the familiar political system we have today. The chief factors that led to the rise of political parties were the disagreements between influent ial politicians over the structure of the government, the proper interpretation of the Constitution, and foreign policy regarding European nations. One of the great disputes surrounding the development of the United States Constitution was centered around the distribution of power between the federal government and the individual state governments. In 1790, Jefferson wrote, ...Hamilton was not only a monarchist, but [in support] of a monarchy [based upon] corruption (Document 1). This excerpt clearly shows theShow MoreRelatedThe American Two Party Political System Essay1285 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Two Party Political System Since the administration of George Washington two political parties have dominated the United States political system, but they have not always been the same two parties. The first two parties were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Federalists were those who supported a strong federal government and the Anti-Federalists were those who did not. The leaders of the Federalists were Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. Both were from the Northeast whereRead MoreEssay on American Political Parties1300 Words   |  6 PagesPolitical parties are critical structures in the modern society and universal phenomena in most democracies. In fact, they form major objects of intensive study as they are usually the centre of political and social power. They engage in most activities that are of significant consequence in the lives of citizens and link the common populace to the government. Therefore, it is important to understand political parties fully from every perspective of political systems so obtain their real importanceRead MoreAmerica Is Known For Its Freedom Of Speech1682 Words   |  7 Pagesspeech. The dynamics of the American political system gives the American people a voice in what goes on in the government. The right to vote gives all citizens the opportunity to vote on various positions in the government and local areas. Political parties perform a number of functions for the American political system. The functions and components of political parties, interest group activity, electoral politics, public opinion, political participation, and political socialization, all are essentialRead MoreBroken Politics And Broken Dreams1440 Words   |  6 Pagesnot because American politics are broken and ineffective at their main purpose. America, the once great country we live in used to be a strong and independent Nation. Then we reformed it until we butchered the very finely laid out government systems we had in place. The many â€Å"intricate, informal system of political intermediation† that America had formed did not die from being outdated or suicide, but instead â€Å"we reformed it to death† (Rausch 53). â€Å"For decades, well-meaning political reformers haveRead More The Impact of Two Strong Political Parties on America’s Politics1471 Words   |  6 PagesStrong Political Parties on America’s Politics The Constitution has nothing to say about political parties. Nowhere does it define political parties or explicitly specify that there should be two dominant parties. Nevertheless, America has had a strong two party system for last 150 years, a degree of party stability and endurance that can be found in no other nation (Landy and Milkis, 451). This system of two dominant parties has both its advantages and its drawbacks, the same as any system willRead MoreBroken Politics And Broken Dreams1282 Words   |  6 Pagesnot because American politics are broken and ineffective at their main purpose. America, the once great country we live in used to be a strong and independent Nation. Then we reformed it until we butchered the very finely laid out government systems we had in place. The many â€Å"intricate, informal system of political intermediation† that America had formed did not die from being outdated or suicide, but instead â€Å"we reformed it to death† (Rausch 53). â€Å"For decades, well-meaning political reformers haveRead More Third Party Essay1288 Words   |  6 Pagesof Political Parties Introduction Since the last of the Whig party left office in 1852, the American political system has been primarily a two party system. The Democrats and the Republicans have been the two parties fighting for the Presidency since that time. There have been many other parties since that time, but mainly, these two have gone unopposed against each other. However, how much good do these parties actually do? Would our country be run as effectively if the presence of pol itical partiesRead MoreThe Life Of The Party1477 Words   |  6 PagesThe Life of the Party In the wake of disappointing presidential candidates and Congress shutdowns, many Americans are left unsatisfied with their government. It has become obvious that the Republicans and Democrats will not and cannot work cooperatively. America s two-party system has become detrimental and must be opened to third-party involvement. This would restore political competitiveness, forcing candidates to prove themselves even further. Furthermore, this reveal many more opinions and opportunitiesRead MoreThe Democratic Party And The Republican Party1238 Words   |  5 Pages Two political parties have dominated the United States: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The term â€Å"Third party† is used in the United States to describe any political party besides the well-known Republican and Democratic parties. Examples of third parties include the Libertarian Party, The Green Party, and the Constitutional Party. Unfortunately, these third parties have a hard time gaining polit ical representation at the federal level. The historic route Democrats and RepublicansRead More The Effect Of Third Party Candidates In Presidental Elections1626 Words   |  7 Pages The Effect of Third Party Candidates in Presidental Elections Although citizens of the United States have the opportunity to vote for many different offices at the national, state, and local levels, the election of the president of the United States every four years is the focal point of the American political process. The American political system has maintained a two- party system since its inception. Political scientists argue that a two-party system is the most stable and efficient means of

Dance Theraphy Free Essays

The Growing Field of Dance Therapy In the world of therapy, there are many routes that can be taken by college graduates to lead successful lives. There are the â€Å"norms† such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy. There are also the therapy types that have not been exposed quite as much as the aforementioned and should be because they are definitely exciting and should be explored. We will write a custom essay sample on Dance Theraphy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Among these is the lucrative field of dance therapy. Dance therapy is one of, if not the, most interesting career available to graduates of college today. Sometimes called dance movement therapy, dance therapy requires not only using your body to assist your client. This concentration of therapy relies on your body and your mind. â€Å"Based on the principle that movement reflects an individual’s patterns of thinking and feeling, the therapist acknowledges and supports clients’ movements, encouraging the development of new movement patterns and the emotional experiences that may accompany these changes (www. prospects. ac. uk). As a dance therapist, your job would consist of â€Å"using movement and dance to enable personal, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, physical and social integration and development (www. prospects. ac. uk). † That being said, with the systematical care and guide of a dance therapist, someone’s life is enhanced greatly. However, systematical means there are more things to this job than just its description. For instance, as a dance therapist you would need resources to assist you in en hancing your client’s life. Let’s take a look at that. When thinking of dance therapy, the main word to focus on is dance. There is not much needed to dance except for the human body. It is because of this that dance therapist are able to work with multiple populations of people. â€Å"Dance movement therapists support a broad range of individuals, including those with: †¢emotional or mental health needs; †¢physical disabilities; †¢Personal development needs (www. prospects. ac. uk). † For people who love people, the field of dance therapy can be very rewarding. Other resources a dance therapist may need are a stereo and compact disks, or tapes. Dance therapy is a very mobile profession. Because sometimes patients are not able to drive to their own appointments, it would be in the best interest of dance therapists to drive to the patient’s home or healthcare facility. â€Å"Dance therapy is practiced with both individuals and groups in health, education and social service settings, as well as in private practice (www. prospects. ac. uk). † Although a dance therapist may have a private practice, they may still opt to have some sort of transportation for their patients who are unable to drive on their own whether it is a personal vehicle or a company vehicle. Students who wish to enter the field of dance therapy should be capable and experienced drivers. â€Å"Travel is a likely aspect of everyday working life and most therapists will need to be able to drive (www. prospects. ac. uk). † As a dance therapist there is no certain â€Å"place† to work, because you may just be all over the place! Although the rewards are great, the road to becoming a dance therapist is not an easy one. Because dance therapy is not only concentrating on a person’s body, but their mind, one must be well prepared before entering this profession. There are no undergraduate programs for dance therapy meaning before you can become a dance therapist, you must have a graduate degree. Although some graduate programs do not have a specific requirement for what your undergraduate degree should be, it is important to center it on dance therapy as much as possible. â€Å"Get your bachelor’s degree in the performing or liberal arts. Take as many psychology courses as you can fit into your schedule because graduate schools will expect you to know the basics (www. prospects. ac. uk). It is also important to research the graduate school that you wish to attend thoroughly so that you know that the dance therapy program is accredited. â€Å"Relevant degree subjects include those in arts and humanities or those in life and medical sciences. In particular, the following subjects may increase your chances: †¢performing arts; †¢dance; †¢human movement; †¢psychology; †¢medicine; †¢Nursing. (www. prospects. ac. uk). † Although the dance therapy courses may be available to everyone attending the university, training in specific kinds of dance may be required to be dmitted to the dance therapy program. This may vary with each school. The job outlook of the dance therapy profession is one of the best that there is considering the downsizing of jobs that the United States has recently experienced. â€Å"Faster than average job growth is expected due to anticipated expansions in long-term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and services for the disabled (keep2. sjfc. edu). † As a dance therapist, there is also the opportunity for advancement in the profession. Just as other professions offer the opportunity to become registered, so does dance therapy. Graduates from an â€Å"approved† dance/movement therapy program are eligible for the DTR (Dance Therapist Registered) credential (www. adta. org). † Earning this credential would definitely provide an incr ease in the already lucrative pay that dance therapists receive. So, just how much would a dance therapist make on an average paycheck? How does $20 sound to you? That may sound too good to be true, it has been reported that the average earnings of a dance therapist with a mere 1 to 4 years experience is $20 (See figure 1). Figure 1 Median Hourly Rate by Years Experience – Job: Dance Therapist (United States) Currency: USD | Updated: 6/8/2008 | Individuals reporting: 8 Although the world of dance therapy is an exciting one, there are some likes and dislikes that all students should explore before deciding if this is the right career for them. Some likes of this field would be the opportunity to develop relationships with all types of clients. From the very young to the very old, you will be making a difference in someone’s life. Another like would be the satisfaction that you would get from making someone’s life a whole lot better, thus, making your life a whole lot better. Some dislikes may be the paperwork that you would have to have from the observance of your clients to the point of their discharge from your services. Something else that some dance therapists may not like is the amount of driving that would have to be done for some clients. Looking at the good and the bad, if you have a heart for this profession, it is easy to see that the good definitely outweighs the bad. Dance therapy is something that I had never heard of before this class. As I skimmed through the textbook to see what I would enjoy I came across dance therapy. The word that grabbed my attention was not therapy, but DANCE. Dancing is something that is a part of my culture and has been a part of my life forever. I danced as a child, as an adolescent, and I still dance now. I dance in my car, I dance in my home, and I dance at church. The thought of being able to dance to help someone was absolutely beautiful to me! As I researched the subject of dance therapy a little more, I discovered that this career is much needed and is very rewarding. Dance therapy not only assists patients with physical ailments but emotional issues as well. Imagine dancing with a teenage girl who has an eating disorder and watching her change for the better as you help her dance her way to a healthier new person. Wow! A profession like this is not only a fun one, but one that will touch anyone’s soul. Bibliography/ Sources used For job description: http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146 For resources: http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146 For places: http://www. rospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146 For education required: http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146=3 http://www. adta. org/faqs/#education2 For job growth potential: http://keep2. sjfc. edu/faculty/tspitzer/6-Creative%20Arts%20Therapist. htm http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/Sho wPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146=3 For opportunities for advancement: How to cite Dance Theraphy, Papers Dance Theraphy Free Essays The Growing Field of Dance Therapy In the world of therapy, there are many routes that can be taken by college graduates to lead successful lives. There are the â€Å"norms† such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy. There are also the therapy types that have not been exposed quite as much as the aforementioned and should be because they are definitely exciting and should be explored. We will write a custom essay sample on Dance Theraphy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Among these is the lucrative field of dance therapy. Dance therapy is one of, if not the, most interesting career available to graduates of college today. Sometimes called dance movement therapy, dance therapy requires not only using your body to assist your client. This concentration of therapy relies on your body and your mind. â€Å"Based on the principle that movement reflects an individual’s patterns of thinking and feeling, the therapist acknowledges and supports clients’ movements, encouraging the development of new movement patterns and the emotional experiences that may accompany these changes (www. prospects. ac. uk). As a dance therapist, your job would consist of â€Å"using movement and dance to enable personal, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, physical and social integration and development (www. prospects. ac. uk). † That being said, with the systematical care and guide of a dance therapist, someone’s life is enhanced greatly. However, systematical means there are more things to this job than just its description. For instance, as a dance therapist you would need resources to assist you in en hancing your client’s life. Let’s take a look at that. When thinking of dance therapy, the main word to focus on is dance. There is not much needed to dance except for the human body. It is because of this that dance therapist are able to work with multiple populations of people. â€Å"Dance movement therapists support a broad range of individuals, including those with: †¢emotional or mental health needs; †¢physical disabilities; †¢Personal development needs (www. prospects. ac. uk). † For people who love people, the field of dance therapy can be very rewarding. Other resources a dance therapist may need are a stereo and compact disks, or tapes. Dance therapy is a very mobile profession. Because sometimes patients are not able to drive to their own appointments, it would be in the best interest of dance therapists to drive to the patient’s home or healthcare facility. â€Å"Dance therapy is practiced with both individuals and groups in health, education and social service settings, as well as in private practice (www. prospects. ac. uk). † Although a dance therapist may have a private practice, they may still opt to have some sort of transportation for their patients who are unable to drive on their own whether it is a personal vehicle or a company vehicle. Students who wish to enter the field of dance therapy should be capable and experienced drivers. â€Å"Travel is a likely aspect of everyday working life and most therapists will need to be able to drive (www. prospects. ac. uk). † As a dance therapist there is no certain â€Å"place† to work, because you may just be all over the place! Although the rewards are great, the road to becoming a dance therapist is not an easy one. Because dance therapy is not only concentrating on a person’s body, but their mind, one must be well prepared before entering this profession. There are no undergraduate programs for dance therapy meaning before you can become a dance therapist, you must have a graduate degree. Although some graduate programs do not have a specific requirement for what your undergraduate degree should be, it is important to center it on dance therapy as much as possible. â€Å"Get your bachelor’s degree in the performing or liberal arts. Take as many psychology courses as you can fit into your schedule because graduate schools will expect you to know the basics (www. prospects. ac. uk). It is also important to research the graduate school that you wish to attend thoroughly so that you know that the dance therapy program is accredited. â€Å"Relevant degree subjects include those in arts and humanities or those in life and medical sciences. In particular, the following subjects may increase your chances: †¢performing arts; †¢dance; †¢human movement; †¢psychology; †¢medicine; †¢Nursing. (www. prospects. ac. uk). † Although the dance therapy courses may be available to everyone attending the university, training in specific kinds of dance may be required to be dmitted to the dance therapy program. This may vary with each school. The job outlook of the dance therapy profession is one of the best that there is considering the downsizing of jobs that the United States has recently experienced. â€Å"Faster than average job growth is expected due to anticipated expansions in long-term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and services for the disabled (keep2. sjfc. edu). † As a dance therapist, there is also the opportunity for advancement in the profession. Just as other professions offer the opportunity to become registered, so does dance therapy. Graduates from an â€Å"approved† dance/movement therapy program are eligible for the DTR (Dance Therapist Registered) credential (www. adta. org). † Earning this credential would definitely provide an incr ease in the already lucrative pay that dance therapists receive. So, just how much would a dance therapist make on an average paycheck? How does $20 sound to you? That may sound too good to be true, it has been reported that the average earnings of a dance therapist with a mere 1 to 4 years experience is $20 (See figure 1). Figure 1 Median Hourly Rate by Years Experience – Job: Dance Therapist (United States) Currency: USD | Updated: 6/8/2008 | Individuals reporting: 8 Although the world of dance therapy is an exciting one, there are some likes and dislikes that all students should explore before deciding if this is the right career for them. Some likes of this field would be the opportunity to develop relationships with all types of clients. From the very young to the very old, you will be making a difference in someone’s life. Another like would be the satisfaction that you would get from making someone’s life a whole lot better, thus, making your life a whole lot better. Some dislikes may be the paperwork that you would have to have from the observance of your clients to the point of their discharge from your services. Something else that some dance therapists may not like is the amount of driving that would have to be done for some clients. Looking at the good and the bad, if you have a heart for this profession, it is easy to see that the good definitely outweighs the bad. Dance therapy is something that I had never heard of before this class. As I skimmed through the textbook to see what I would enjoy I came across dance therapy. The word that grabbed my attention was not therapy, but DANCE. Dancing is something that is a part of my culture and has been a part of my life forever. I danced as a child, as an adolescent, and I still dance now. I dance in my car, I dance in my home, and I dance at church. The thought of being able to dance to help someone was absolutely beautiful to me! As I researched the subject of dance therapy a little more, I discovered that this career is much needed and is very rewarding. Dance therapy not only assists patients with physical ailments but emotional issues as well. Imagine dancing with a teenage girl who has an eating disorder and watching her change for the better as you help her dance her way to a healthier new person. Wow! A profession like this is not only a fun one, but one that will touch anyone’s soul. Bibliography/ Sources used For job description: http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146 For resources: http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146 For places: http://www. rospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146 For education required: http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146=3 http://www. adta. org/faqs/#education2 For job growth potential: http://keep2. sjfc. edu/faculty/tspitzer/6-Creative%20Arts%20Therapist. htm http://www. prospects. ac. uk/cms/Sho wPage/Home_page/Explore_types_of_jobs/Types_of_Job/p! eipaL? state=showocc=146=3 For opportunities for advancement: How to cite Dance Theraphy, Essay examples

School Social Worker free essay sample

This research explores the backgrounds of poverty, investigated data, differences between social classes, the effects poverty has on children, aspects of high poverty schools and implications for school advisors, counselors and teachers that are effective and important. Introduction The effects poverty has on children both mentally and physically is uneasy. To expect children to deal with the harsh realities of poverty and properly function in school without assistance is unrealistic. Therefore school counselors, with the help of other school officials, must continuously search ways to intervene so they can take on life changing roles and make a difference in our low socioeconomic school systems. A difference can be made. That difference will take dedicated and motivated individuals that are up to the challenge of changing minds that will then lead to changing lives. Being a counselor alone, as discussed in class, takes courage; one has to selflessly advocate for their clients at all times. There are many tough realities that both teachers and school counselors face in the school system. By far, it is consistently found in research that one of the hardest is working in a high poverty school system. Poverty is increasing in the United States. Being a school counselor in a high poverty school district is more than just counseling disadvantaged children; it is finding a way to learn their backgrounds, learn their homes and as we learn in class, finding a way to indiscernibly counsel their parents. BACKGROUND OF POVERTY There is a difference between low Supplemental Educational Services (SES) and overty; we will be referring to both low SES and poverty throughout this ppaper. However, there is a major difference between the two. 2 types of poverty: generational and situational (Payne, 1996) †¢Generational: having been in poverty for at least 2 generations †¢Situational: a lack of resources due to a particular event (death, illness, divorce, recession) Poverty is t he extent to which an individual does without resources. The following are considered resources: financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, and relationship/role models. The ability to leave poverty is more dependent upon those listed resources than it is upon financial resources (Payne, 1996). Amatea West-Olatunji (2007) globally defined poverty as â€Å"a condition that extends beyond the lack of income and goes hand in hand with lack of power, humiliation and a sense of exclusion† (p. 1). Baytops, Day-Vines Patton (2003), found in the 2000 Census Bureau report that the â€Å"average poverty threshold for a family of three was $13,738 and $17,603 for a family of four† (p. 2). Because these poverty guidelines are rather strict, as far as the African American population, more than one third can be considered middle class. Middle class is then broken down from lower middle and upper middle to the elite social class (Baytops, Day-Vines Patton, 2003). Families with incomes below this level are referred to as low income (U. S. Bureau Census): †¢$40,000 for a family of 4 †¢$33,200 for a family of 3 †¢$26,400 for a family of 2 Federal Poverty Level (2006) (U. S. Bureau Census): †¢$20,000 for a family of 4 †¢$16,600 for a family of 3 $13,200 for a family of 2 †¢It is found that families need twice this income to be able to meet their most basic needs. STATISTICS Unfortunately, national data has found that the amount of children living in poverty here in the United States has risen over the last 5 years. There were 7. 6 million poor families (10%) in 2003, up from 6. 4 million (6. 7%) in 2000 (U. S. Bureau of the Census). â€Å"In te rms of raw numbers, more than 13 million children in the United States were reported to live in poverty in 2004, an increase of 12. % from the number of children in poverty reported in 2000. As a result, in 2004 more than one out of every six American children was poor† (Amatea West-Olatunji, 2007, p. 1). Poor inner-city youths are seven times more likely to be the victims of child abuse or neglect than the children of high social and economic status (Renchlet, 1993). Oppressed communities have high volumes of crimes, drug abuse, and unemployment rates. There is poor access to food and health facilities and a lack of empathy and representation from politicians and fellow Americans. Living in this type of environment corrupts the mindset and psychological conditions of our children. Children living in oppressed and marginalized communities, especially children of color, suffer from low self esteem brought on by harmful messages from society and peers (Hipolito-Degaldo Lee, 2007). â€Å"Students from marginalized communities are taught from an ethnocentric, monocultural perspective that may cause them to question their ability and worth of their culture† (Hipolito-Degaldo Lee, p. ). Because of this, I would imagine some of the harmful messages to be visual as in the distribution and usage of illegal substances; and verbally I would imagine words of negativity as in â€Å"you are a product of your environment† or â€Å"you cannot make it further in life than where we are right now. † Distress and lack thereof, causes these children to have higher levels of anxiety, depression, behavioral problems and lower test scores (Amata West-Olatunji, 2007). COMPARE/CONTRAST THEORY Because poverty in itself is a culture that is not only individualized but environmentally influenced as well; Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory seemed to be the best fit since it refers to the child and external factors that influence development and decisions that are made by the child/student. According to Bronfenbrenner, the environment affects the child and the child also effects the environment. A child is molded by several systems, that in relation to poverty, the main elements are parents/family and community. Hipolito-Degaldo Lee has found that the community of poverty makes students question their worth; and Amatea West-Olatunji found that the lack of confidence and anger these children have because of their community and state of poverty, causes distress, lower test scores, depression and so much more. In comparison to what Bronfenbrenner believes, yes, the choices that people make can intensely affect their development almost to the extent that they control the path their life takes. In agreement with Hipolito-Degaldo Lee and Amatea West-Olatunji, the negative internal locus of control, external influences, and lack of parental involvement that these children consume are continuously harmful. Without positive reinforcement, interventions, and revised implications from counselors and teachers, the better choices that Bronfenbrenner suggests can be made are not going to be made (Pressley McCormick, 2007). Children and even adults from oppressed communities can make better decisions but the opportunities in life are still not as prevalent as they are for more fortunate students. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Lynn Olson wrote an article in the popular magazine Education Week, enlightening readers on the effects of poverty, the vast amount of children that enter schools under in this status and how it is very hard on teachers. Not only is poverty hard on teachers, it is very hard on schools because they cannot hire more qualified staff because the more experienced teachers do not want to work in high poverty schools. â€Å"Today, the poverty rate for young children remains far higher than for any other age group. Research has found that extreme poverty, especially in early childhood, is associated with risk factors that can threaten early brain development, including malnutrition, exposure to toxins and violence, maternal depression, and very low-quality child care† (Olson, 2007, p1). An effective school counselor could utilize existentialism. Existentialism addresses the environmental issues that impacts a person’s life and helps individuals discover new options to make better choices. In our high poverty schools the goal is to replace the bad social results of poverty as in negativity, aggression, depression and violence with good social behaviors. The effective school counselor is expected to act as mediator to these children that are affected by the issues of poverty and understand life beyond their past (Carlson, 2003). â€Å"Research shows that removing behavior symptoms is not enough, school counselors must also understand the context and underpinnings so that underlying factors [as in anxiety, depression, violence], do not manifest differently in the future† (Carlson, 2003, p. ). An effective counselor must strive to understand a student’s complete life situation and experience (Carlson, 2003). It is very important for school counselors to be culturally responsive. This practice requires caring and understanding so counselors are able to build relationships with their students; to know someone you must know where they are from (Day-Vines, Payto n, Baytops, 2003). Day-Vines, Patton, and Baytops’s (2003), feelings towards effective counselors mirror Carl Roger’s views, a counselor must possess genuineness, empathy, congruence and an unconditional positive regard. Counseling in general, but especially culturally responsive counseling, requires counselors to put themselves in the client’s shoes; â€Å"[c]ulturally responsive school counselors should recognize that social class standing can shield youngsters from concerns about economic well-being† (Day-Vines, Patton and Baytops, 2003, p. 2). After school counselors discover where their children are from, they must promote personal and community empowerment by engaging in activism for their students. As explained, impoverished children are easily discouraged and many are depressed, these children need encouragement. To initiate this positive and empowering change, school counselors must help their students to develop a critical consciousness helping them to realize what they need to do to gain a better life and gain a positive identity so they are encouraged set and accomplish goals (Hipolito-Degaldo Lee, 2007). It is very important that an effective school counselor is not the only person in high poverty schools promoting self awareness and empowerment; they need assistance from teachers. Because school counselors have received proper multicultural training and understand the importance of having an alternative view of life, they can help teachers understand problems that poverty puts on a child and his or her family (Amatea West-Olatunji, 2007). Teachers tend to pass judgment on parents as being uninterested and not caring for their children when they do not show up for parent teacher conferences. As a result, the teacher would possibly not help the student out as much due to lack of support from home. An effective school counselor would recognize the teacher is blaming the parent and discover ways to help the teacher understand the child’s home, help the parent get more involved and help the teacher put herself in her student’s shoes (Amatea West-Olatunji, 2007). Working together as a team, the teachers can explain issues, and the counselor without judgment, can offer solutions so that difference can be made in our high poverty schools. The desires to care about these children and why they are the way they are is the first step for change. Personally, as a teacher I feel that school counselors have too many job duties that are not about the children and more of the logistics. The days of school counselors sitting in their office simply handing out college applications, making schedule changes for students who want to drop a class or meeting with the troublemakers in the school is extinct. Todays school counselors are important members of the education team. Many school counselors are in care of over 200 students depending on enrollment and all the children needs are not met thoroughly. The focus should be on the social health of the child. The effects poverty has on children both mentally and physically is uneasy. To expect children to deal with the harsh realities of poverty and properly function in school without intervention and familial assistance is unrealistic. Therefore we as sociologist and those working with youth (schools, mental health facilities, etc), must continuously search ways to intervene so youth can take on life changing roles and make a difference in our low socioeconomic communities. Even though poverty is increasing and poverty is more so generational, a difference can be made. That difference will take dedicated and motivated individuals that are up to the challenge of figuring out the challenges society and the environment puts on individuals, beginning with our youth. Children living in poverty are a lot to handle for today’s educators and counseling professionals. These children are more likely than children from middle class homes to have higher levels of anxiety and depression, behavioral problems, and less positive experiences and relationships in school and this could be a problem for those individuals lacking diversity. They demonstrate a repeated school failures, developmental hardships and problems, lower test scores and graduation rates, higher tardiness, truancy, and drop out rates than middle class children (Amata West-Olatunji, 2007). In conclusion, I have gathered that in high poverty schools, social and behavioral problems are more extreme and it is hard to persuade these students that they can make better choices so they can live better lives. The decisions these children make are modes of survival in their eyes. Being an effective counselor in high poverty schools is a challenge because almost every student’s reality and life is harsh. To effectively counsel, regardless of what social class and status, based on this research and teachings from class, I understand the importance of knowing the demographics of your clients. If you do not know who you are helping a significant difference cannot be made. The repeated cycle of poverty, oppression, depression and school violence without positive interventions must end and I look forward to the challenge. REFERENCE Amatea, Ellen S. West-Olatunji, Cirecie A. 2007, December). â€Å"Joining the conversation about educating or poorest children: emerging leadership roles for school counselors in high-poverty schools. (Report). † Professional School Counseling 11(2): 81(9). Academic Search Complete. Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved 29 September 2008, from Joining the Conversation about Educating Our Poorest Children: Emerging Le adership Roles for School Counselors in High-Poverty Schools. Carlson, Lauri A. (2003, June). â€Å"Existential theory: Helping school counselors attend to youth at risk for violence. † Professional School Counseling, 6(5): 310(6). Academic Search Complete. Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved 29 September 2008, from Existential Theory: Helping School Counselors Attend to Youth at Risk for Violence. Day-Vines, Norma L. , Patton, James M. , Baytops, Joy L. (2003, October). â€Å"Counseling African American adolescents: the impact of race, culture, a middle class status. † Professional School Counseling, 7(1): 40(12). Academic Search Complete. Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved 30 September 2008, from Counseling African American Adolescents: The Impact of Race, Culture, and Middle Class Status. Hipolito-Degaldo, Carolos P. Lee, Courtland C. (2007 April). â€Å"Empowerment theory for the professional school counselor: A manifesto for what really matters (EXTENDED DISCUSSION). † Professional School Counseling, 10(4): 327(6). Academic Search Complete. Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved 29 September 2008, from Empowerment Theory for the Professional School Counselor: A Manifesto for What Really Matters. Olson, Lynn (2000). â€Å"High poverty among young makes schools job harder. † Education Week, 20(4). Academic Search Complete. Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved 17 November 2008 from, http://web. ebscohost. com. proxy. library. vcu. edu/ehost/detail? vid=5hid=106sid=a6f389b1-5909-4ad3-aa30-62065b411fb1%40sessionmgr109bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHVybCxjb29raWUsdWlkJnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl Payne, Ruby R. Ph. D. (1996). A Framework for Understanding Poverty, 4th ed. Highlands, TX: aha! Process, Inc. Pressley, M. McCormick, C. B. (2007). Child and Adolescent Development for Educators. New York: Guilford Press. U. S. Bureau Census. Retrieved November 3, 2008 from http://www. census. gov/

Merrill Finch Inc. Essay Example

Merrill Finch Inc. Essay MERRILL FINCH INC. RISK AND RETURN a. (1)Why is T-bill’s return independent of the state of the economy? Do T-bill’s promise a completely risk-free return? Explain (2)Why are High Tech’s returns expected to move with the economy, whereas, Collections’ are expected to move counter to the economy? 1. The 5. 5% T-bill return does not depend on the state of the economy because the Treasury must redeem the bills at par regardless of the state of the economy; therefore, T-bills are risk-free in the default risk sense because the 5. % return will be realized in all possible economic states. Consequently, this return is composed of the real risk-free rate, (i. e. 3%, plus an inflation premium, say 2. 5%). As the economy is full of uncertainty about inflation, it is unlikely that the realized real rate of return would equal the expected 3%. For example, if inflation averaged 3. 5% over the year, then the realized real return would only be 5. 5% – 3. 5% = 2%, not the expected 3%. To simplify matters, in terms of purchasing power, T-bills are not riskless. Investors are fully aware of the changes within a portfolio of T-bills, and as rates declined, the nominal income will fall; and T-bills are exposed to reinvestment rate risk. In summary, it is concluded that there are no truly risk-free securities within the United States. If the Treasury sold inflation-indexed, tax-exempt bonds, they would be truly riskless, but all actual securities are exposed to some type of risk. 2. High Tech’s returns move with, hence are positively correlated with, the economy, because the firm’s sales, and hence profits, will generally experience the same type of difficulties as the economy. We will write a custom essay sample on Merrill Finch Inc. specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Merrill Finch Inc. specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Merrill Finch Inc. specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer If the economy is booming, so will High Tech. On the other hand, Collections is considered by many investors to be a hedge against bad times and high inflation, so if the stock market crashes, investors in this stock should do relatively well. Stocks such as Collections are thus negatively correlated with the economy. b. Calculate the expected rate of return on each alternative and dill in the blanks on the row for in the previous table. The expected rate of return is expressed as follows: . Here Pi is the probability of occurrence of the state, ri is the estimated rate of return for that state, and N is the number of states. Here is the calculation for High Tech: High Tech= 0. 1(-27. 0%) + 0. 2(-7. 0%) + 0. 4(15. 0%) + 0. 2(30. 0%) + 0. 1(45. 0%) = 12. 4%. We use the same formula to calculate r’s for the other alternatives: T-bills= 5. 5%. Collections= 1. 0%. U. S. Rubber= 9. 8%. M= 10. 5%. c. You should recognize that basing a decision solely on expected returns is appropriate only for risk-neutral individuals. Because your client, like most people, is risk-averse, the riskiness of each alternative is an important aspect of the decision. One possible measure of risk is the standard deviation of returns. 1) Calculate this value for each alternative and fill in the blank on the row for in the table. (2) What type of risk is measured by the standard deviation? (3) Draw a graph that shows roughly the shape of the probability distributions for High Tech, U. S. Rubber, and T-bills. 1. The standard deviation is calculated as follows: = . High Tech= [(-27. 0 – 12. 4)2(0. 1) + (-7. 0 – 12. 4 )2(0. 2) + (15. 0 – 12. 4)2(0. 4) + (30. 0 – 12. 4)2(0. 2) + (45. 0 – 12. 4)2(0. 1)] ? = = 20. 0%. Here are the standard deviations for the other alternatives: T-bills= 0. 0%. Collections= 13. 2%. U. S. Rubber= 18. 8%. M= 15. 2%. 2. The standard deviation is a measure of a security’s stand-alone risk. The larger the standard deviation, the higher the probability that actual realized returns will fall far below the expected return, and that losses rather than profits will be incurred. 3. The data provided the most risky investment is High Tech and the least risky are T-bills. d. Suppose you suddenly remembered that the coefficient of variation (CV) is generally regarded as being a better measure of stand-alone risk than the standard deviation when the alternative being considered has widely differing expected returns. Calculate the missing CVs and fill in the blanks on the row for CV in the table. Does the CV produce the same risk rankings as the standard deviation? Explain The coefficient of variation (CV) is a standardized measure of dispersion about the expected value; it shows the amount of risk per unit of return. CV= /. CVT-bills= 0. 0%/5. 5% = 0. 0. CVHigh Tech= 20. 0%/12. 4% = 1. 6. CVCollections= 13. 2%/1. 0% = 13. 2. CVU. S. Rubber= 18. 8%/9. 8% = 1. 9. CVM= 15. 2%/10. 5% = 1. 4. When we measure risk per unit of return, Collections, with its low expected return, becomes the most risky stock. The CV is a better measure of an asset’s stand-alone risk than because CV considers both the expected value and the dispersion of a distribution—a security with a low expected return and a low standard deviation could have a higher chance of a loss than one with a high but a high . e. Suppose you created a two-stock portfolio by investing $50,000 in High Tech and $50,000 in Collections. (1) Calculate the expected return (rp), the standard deviation (p), and the coefficient of variation (CVp) for this portfolio and fill in the appropriate blanks in the table. 2) How does the riskiness of this two-stock portfolio compare with the riskiness of the individual stocks if they were held in isolation? 1. To find the expected rate of return on the two-stock portfolio, we first calculate the rate of return on the portfolio in each state of the economy. Since we have half of our money in each stock, the portfolio’s return will be a weighted average in each type of economy. For a recession, we have: rp = 0. 5(-27%) + 0. 5(27%) = 0%. We would do similar calculations for the other states of the economy, and get these results: State| | Portfolio| Recession| | 0. 0%| Below average| | 3. 0| Average| | 7. 5| Above average| | 9. 5| Boom| | 12. 0| Now we can multiply the probability times the outcome in each state to get the expected return on this two-stock portfolio, 6. 7%. Alternatively, we could apply this formula, r = wi ri = 0. 5(12. 4%) + 0. 5(1. 0%) = 6. 7%, which finds r as the weighted average of the expected returns of the individual securities in the portfolio. It is tempting to find the standard deviation of the portfolio as the weighted average of the standard deviations of the individual securities, as follows: p wi(i) + wj(j) = 0. 5(20%) + 0. 5(13. 2%) = 16. %. However, this is not correct—it is necessary to use a different formula, the one for that we used earlier, applied to the two-stock portfolio’s returns. The portfolio’s depends jointly on each security’s and the correlation between the securities’ returns. The best way to approach the problem is to estimate the portfolio’s risk and retu rn in each state of the economy, and then to estimate p with the formula. Given the distribution of returns for the portfolio, we can calculate the portfolios and CV as shown below: p = [(0. 0 – 6. 7)2(0. 1) + (3. 0 – 6. 7)2(0. 2) + (7. 5 – 6. 7)2(0. 4) + (9. 6. 7)2(0. 2) + (12. 0 – 6. 7)2(0. 1)]? = 3. 4%. CVp = 3. 4%/6. 7% = 0. 51. 2. Using either or CV as our stand-alone risk measure, the stand-alone risk of the portfolio is significantly less than the stand-alone risk of the individual stocks. This is because the two stocks are negatively correlated—when High Tech is doing poorly, Collections is doing well, and vice versa. Combining the two stocks diversifies away some of the risk inherent in each stock if it were held in isolation, i. e. , in a 1-stock portfolio. f. Suppose an investor starts with a portfolio consisting of one randomly selected stock. What would happen: (1) To the riskiness and to the expected return of the portfolio as more randomly selected stocks were added to the portfolio? (2) What is the implication for investors? Draw a graph of the two portfolios to illustrate your answer. 1. The standard deviation gets smaller as more stocks are combined in the portfolio, while rp remains constant. Thus, by adding stocks to your portfolio, which initially started as a 1-stock portfolio, risk has been reduced. In the real world, stocks are positively correlated with one another—if the economy does well, so do stocks in general, and vice versa. Correlation coefficients between stocks generally range in the vicinity of +0. 35. A single stock selected at random would on average have a standard deviation of about 35%. As additional stocks are added to the portfolio, the portfolio’s standard deviation decreases because the added stocks are not perfectly positively correlated. However, as more and more stocks are added, each new stock has less of a risk-reducing impact, and eventually adding additional stocks has virtually no effect on the portfolio’s risk as measured by . In fact, stabilizes at about 20% when 40 or more randomly selected stocks are added. Thus, by combining stocks into well-diversified portfolios, investors can eliminate almost one-half the riskiness of holding individual stocks. The implication is clear: Investors should hold well-diversified portfolios of stocks rather than individual stocks. By doing so, they can eliminate about half of the riskiness inherent in individual stocks. 2. g. Should the effects of a portfolio impact the way investors think about the riskiness of individual stocks? If you decided to hold a 1-stock portfolio (and consequently were exposed to more risk than diversified investors were), could you expect to be compensated for all your risk; that is, could you earn a risk premium on the part of your risk that you could have eliminated by diversifying? 1. Portfolio diversification does affect investors’ views of risk. A stock’s stand-alone risk as measured by its or CV, may be important to an undiversified investor, but it is not relevant to a well-diversified investor. A rational, risk-averse investor is more interested in the impact that the stock has on the riskiness of his or her portfolio than on the stock’s stand-alone risk. Stand-alone risk is composed of diversifiable risk, which can be eliminated by holding the stock in a well-diversified portfolio, and the risk that remains is called market risk because it is present even when the entire market portfolio is held. 2. If you hold a one-stock portfolio, you will be exposed to a high degree of risk, but you will not be compensated for it. If the return were high enough to compensate you for your high risk, it would be a bargain for more rational, diversified investors. They would start buying it, and these buy orders would drive the price up and the return down. Thus, you simply could not find stocks in the market with returns high enough to compensate you for the stock’s diversifiable risk. h. The expected rates of return and the beta coefficients of the alternatives supplied by Merrill Finch’s computer program are as follows: SecurityReturn ()Risk (Beta) High Tech12. 4%1. 32 Market10. 51. 00 U. S. Rubber 9. 80. 88 T-bills 5. 50. 00 Collections 1. 0(0. 87) 1) What is a beta coefficient, and how are betas used in risk analysis? (2) Do the expected returns appear to be related to each alternative’s market risk? (3) Is it possible to choose among the alternatives on the basis of the information developed thus far? Use the data given at the start of the program to construct a graph that shows how the T-bill’s, High Techs, and the market’s beta collections are calculated. Then discuss what betas measure and how they are used in risk analysis. 1. (Draw the framework of the graph, put up the data, then plot the points for the market (45 line) and connect them, and then get the slope as Y/X = 1. . ) State that an average stock, by definition, moves with the market. Then do the same with High Tech and Tbills. Beta coefficients measure the relative volatility of a given stock vis-a-vis an average stock. The average stock’s beta is 1. 0. Most stocks have betas in the range of 0. 5 to 1. 5. Theoretically, betas can be negative, but in the real world, they are generally positive. Betas are calculated as the slope of the â€Å"characteristic† line, which is the regression line showing the relationship between a given stock and the general stock market. As explained in Web Appendix 8A, we could estimate the slopes, and then use the slopes as the betas. In practice, 5 years of monthly data, with 60 observations, would generally be used, and a computer would be used to obtain a least squares regression line. 2. The expected returns are related to each alternative’s market risk—that is, the higher the alternatives rate of return the higher its beta. Also, note that T-bills have zero risk. 3. We do not yet have enough information to choose among the various alternatives. We need to know the required rates of return on these alternatives and compare them with their expected returns. . The yield curve is currently flat; that is, long-term Treasury bonds also have a 5. 5% yield. Consequently, Merrill Finch assumes that the risk-free rate is 5. 5%. (1) Write out Security Market Line (SML) equation, use it to calculate the required rate of return on each alternative, and graph the relationship between the expected and required rates of return. (2) How do the expected rates of return compare with the required rates of return? (3) Does the fact that Collections has an expected return that is less than the T-bill rate make any sense? Explain (4) What would be the market and the required return of a 50-50 portfolio of High Tech and Collections? Of High Tech and U. S. Rubber? 1. Here is the SML equation: ri = rRF + (rM – rRF)bi. Merrill Finch has estimated the risk-free rate to be rRF = 5. 5%. Further, our estimate of rM = M is 10. 5%. Thus, the required rates of return for the alternatives are as follows: High Tech:5. 5% + (10. 5% – 5. 5%)1. 32 = 12. 10%. Market:5. 5% + (10. 5% – 5. 5%)1. 00 = 10. 50%. U. S. Rubber:5. 5% + (10. 5% – 5. 5%)0. 88 = 9. 90%. T-bills:5. 5% + (10. 5% – 5. 5%)0 = 5. 50%. Collections:5. 5% + (10. 5% – 5. %)-0. 87 = 1. 15%. 2. We have the following relationships: ExpectedRequired ReturnReturn Security ()(r)Condition High Tech12. 4%12. 1%Undervalued: gt; r Market10. 510. 5Fairly valued (market equilibrium) U. S. Rubber9. 89. 9Overvalued: r gt; T-bills5. 55. 5Fairly valued Collections1. 01. 2Overvalued: r gt; The T-bills and market portfolio plot on the SML, High Tech plots above it, and Collections and U. S. Rubber plot below it. Thus, the T-bills and the market portfolio promise a fair return, High Tech is a good deal because its expected return is above its required return, and Collections and U. S. Rubber have expected returns below their required returns. 3. Collections are an interesting stock. Its negative beta indicates negative market risk—including it in a portfolio of â€Å"normal† stocks will lower the portfolio’s risk. Therefore, its required rate of return is below the risk-free rate. This means that Collections is a valuable security to rational, well-diversified investors. To see why, consider this question: Would any rational investor ever make an investment that has a negative expected return? The answer is â€Å"yes†Ã¢â‚¬â€just thinks of the purchase of a life or fire insurance policy. The fire insurance policy has a negative expected return because of commissions and insurance company profits, but businesses buy fire insurance because they pay off at a time when normal operations are in bad shape. Life insurance is similar—it has a high return when work income ceases. A negative-beta stock is conceptually similar to an insurance policy. 4. Note that the beta of a portfolio is simply the weighted average of the betas of the stocks in the portfolio. Thus, the beta of a portfolio with 50% High Tech and 50% Collections is: . bp= 0. 5(bHigh Tech) + 0. (bCollections) = 0. 5(1. 32) + 0. 5(–0. 87) = 0. 225, rp = rRF + (rM – rRF)bp= 5. 5% + (10. 5% – 5. 5%)(0. 225) = 5. 5% + 5%(0. 225) = 6. 63% 6. 6%. For a portfolio consisting of 50% High Tech plus 50% U. S. Rubber, the required return would be: bp = 0. 5(1. 32) + 0. 5(0. 88) = 1. 10. rp = 5. 5% + 5%(1. 10) = 11. 00%. j. Suppose investors raised their inflation expectations by 3 percentage poin ts over current estimates as reflected in the 5. 5% risk-free rate. What effect would higher inflation have on the SML and on the returns required on high-and low-risk securities Suppose instead that investors’ risk aversion increased enough to cause the market risk premium to increase by 3 percentage points. (Inflation remains constant. ) What effect would this have on the SML and on returns of high-and low-risk securities? Here we have plotted the SML for betas ranging from 0 to 2. 0. The base-case SML is based on rRF = 5. 5% and rM = 10. 5%. If inflation expectations increase by 3 percentage points, with no change in risk aversion, then the entire SML is shifted upward (parallel to the base case SML) by 3 percentage points. Now, rRF = 8. 5%, rM = 13. 5%, and all securities’ required returns rise by 3 percentage points. Note that the market risk premium, rM – rRF, remains at 5 percentage points. When investors’ risk aversion increases, the SML is rotated upward about the Y-intercept (rRF). rRF remains at 5. 5%, but now rM increases to 13. 5%, so the market risk premium increases to 8%. The required rate of return will rise sharply on high-risk (high-beta) stocks, but not much on low-beta securities.