Discussion of the various issues related to corporate governance and Dissertation

Discussion of the various issues related to corporate governance and its impact on financial performance of companies - Dissertation Example The analysis includes a comprehensive literature review on corporate governance, its various mechanisms and the impact on financial performance of firms; as well as P.E.S.T analysis of the four companies. Impact of corporate governance mechanisms on modern companies Contents Sr.# Topic Pg. # 1. Introduction 4 1.1. Purpose of the study 5 2. Brief Background 10 2.1. Meaning and definition 10 2.2. Significance and relevance 11 3. Literature Review 14 3.1. Accounting & Finance Theory: Corporate Governance 14 3.1.1 Corporate governance mechanisms 18 3.1.2. Effect of corporate governance on earnings management 22 3.1.3. Agency theory and corporate governance 25 3.1.4. Corporate governance regulations 3.2. Impact of corporate governance on bank performance 3.3. Relationship between board rules and board effectiveness 3.4. Relationship between board effectiveness and financial performance 4. Industry/ Sector overview 4.1. Banking Sector 4.1.1. HSBC 4.1.2. RBS 4.2. Integrated Oil and Gas sect or 4.2.1. British Petroleum P.L.C. 4.3. Retail sector 4.3.1. J. Sainsbury P.L.C. 5. Research Methodology 6. Findings and Analysis 6.1. P.E.S.T. analysis 6.1.1. HSBC 6.1.2. RBS 6.1.3. British Petroleum 6.1.4. J Sainsbury 7. Conclusion and Recommendations Reference list 1. Introduction The various financial scandals resulting on account of misappropriation of accounts and funds including top British banks such as Barclays Bank for the Libor scandal (The Guardian, 2012a); Lloyds Bank - which resulted in more than ?2 million worth of bonus cuts for the directors (The Telegraph, 2012); HSBC's money laundering scandal (The Guardian, 2012b); among many others have brought the issue of effective controls and monitoring policies of contemporary corporate institutions into question. Such financial and money-laundering scandals are not a recent phenomenon as is evident from the historically infamous cases involving top companies such as Enron and Worldcom among many others whereby the interest s of the stakeholders and the general community were ignored by the management leading to widespread concern. Incidences such as these have raised serious concerns regarding the effectiveness of governing policies required to enhance accountability among the management and help control and monitor their activities and decision making, in order to safeguard the interests of the stakeholders. Scandals such as these are certainly not new and have been witnessed in almost all sectors of the industry. However the rising number of such incidences has brought to light the ineffectiveness of corporate governance policies or their lack thereof in preventing them. It has also given rise to debates regarding the vulnerability of stakeholders against the misappropriation of funds by the management and their lack of control in having a say in company matters. The failure of companies in recent times along with the historical cases whereby various companies were forced to shut down on account of such scandals (including BCCI, Maxwell Communications etc) has prompted researchers to probe into the matter and suggest effective solutions and recommendations with regard to various corporate governance issues. The literature on impact, influence and consequences of lack of corporate governance on financial frauds has grown over the years which reaffirm the consensus on the issue regarding its significance. This study

Critique of Dallas' Emergency Response Plan Essay

Critique of Dallas' Emergency Response Plan - Essay Example FEMA’s mission is to support United States’ nationals and first responders in ensuring that, as nation, people join forces to deal with all types of disasters in case they occure. Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere, and usually takes different forms ranging from hurricanes and earthquakes to fires, toxic oil spills, mother nature acts and terrorist attacks. Every year, many Americans are faced with disasters together with their terrifying consequences (Huggins, 2007). As of October 2011, FEMA had over 7,000 employees all over the country working to support citizens and first responders in ensuring that they join forces to improve their capability to respond to disasters. FEMA employees perform their duties all over the country- at the headquarters, the ten regional offices including one in Dallas, the National Emergency Training Centre, Noble Training Centre/Centre for domestic Preparedness, among other locations- so as to support the larger team that deals with man aging emergencies. FEMA comprises of a team that includes state, tribal and local officials, federal partners, the private sector and non-governmental organizations together with the public. The Office of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management provides a 24-hour operation aimed at reducing injury or loss of lives and property. It also aims at protecting citizens of Dallas county from all types of disasters through providing and coordinating resources, skills, leadership and advocacy through a comprehensive security based on risk, an emergency management program of prevention, preparedness, recovery, mitigation and response. The emergency management program for the County of Dallas is derived from the Texas Government statute that requires each county to maintain a disaster plan. The stature is a basis for the state or local relationship, solidified by inter-jurisdiction agreements with Dallas County eleven other intra-county cities for assistance on daily operations, and dur ing disasters. The Building Security force is a section of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management that deals with providing a safe environment to the public and workers who partake of Dallas County’s services as provided by fulltime and contract security officers (Jenkins 2009). In order to perform their duties effectively, FEMA trains its members. Training provides homeland security officials, first responders, emergency management officials, and other persons with the skills, abilities and knowledge necessary to undertake key tasks required by specific capabilities. The National Training Program (NTP) gives a detailed and organized approach to training for emergency response providers and emergency managers all over America that supports the National Preparedness Guidelines. The NTP provides policy, tools and guidance that detail training design, development, delivery and evaluation as necessary. It will also support the promulgation and regular updating of national voluntary consensus standards in training, ensuring that the training is consistent with the standards. FEMA has four training organizations; CDP (Centre for Domestic Preparedness), EMI (Emergency Management Institute), NTED (National Training and Education Division), and NFA (National Fire Academy). CDP, located in Anniston, Alabama, is Homeland security’s only Weapons of Mass Destruction training center that is federally chartered. It began operations in 1998 and offers the best services in terms

Emile Durkheim and Max Weber

Emile Durkheim and Max Weber The subject of Sociology emerged in the 18th and 19th century a period known as The Age of Enlightenment. Since then, the study of Sociology has contributed profoundly and vastly to the world of history by fostering the formation, development, and shaping of societies. The fathers of Sociology, like Emile Durkheim and Max Weber, have had a weighty contribution in studying the development of societies and the evolution of social thinking. During 1789, the changes in French Society encouraged Durkheim to give Sociology its academic credibility and influence, as he saw Sociology as a distinctive study. His study was methodological, which he made evident in his study of the suicides. Weber formed a new form of conflict theory using Marxs work as his base. His research discussed the search for adequacy at the level of both subjective understanding and structural causality. In this essay, I will be focusing on the works of Durkheim and Weber, and will be explaining how the studied the evol ution of society focusing on different aspects. In Durkheims work, The Division of Labour (1997), he studied the changes in social cohesion amongst societies that evolved from traditional to modern, mainly focusing on individualism (Durkheim, 1997). He believed that the division of labour and economic dependence was the main force for binding people together in modern societies, unlike in traditional societies, where the shared belief would hold the society together (Durkheim, 1997). He explained this by mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. Nonetheless, he did agree that a shared moral basis was an essential factor in social order, because organic solidarity emphasizes more on individual distinction, rather than common identities (Durkheim, 1997). Therefore, he noticed that, in traditional communities, religion was being replaced by individualism and philosophy. Mechanical solidarity exists in pre-industrial, small-scale societies and individuals are alike because they share the same emotions and same sacred values, hence their properties are communally owned, making the community smaller and traditional (Durkheim, 1997). Therefore, they do not differentiate, which limits job specification in the society. Over time, societies get more complex, this led to an increase in the division of labour and cause mechanical solidarity to be less evident. As a result, organic solidarity is created, forming more modern and large-scaled societies (Durkheim, 1997). In these societies, consensus is created, which means that there is differentiation between individuals, so there was a range of activity and tasks that came across, which strengthens the interdependence amongst them (Durkheim, 1997). In spite of individuals being unlike one another, they need to get on together in order for social life to work. This dependence develops a network of solidarity. Therefore, social order does not rest on uniformity but rather on individual pursuing different, but complementary functions, which encourages individualism and individual talent (Durkheim, 1997). The moral force and consensus amongst others hold the society together and ensures that interdependence remains. It should be considered that Durkheims distinction of these societies was not a simplistic and rigid division, because societies dont exhibit one and not the other. As organic solidarity increasing, societies will still need to have common beliefs because all societies have to have some common set of assumption about the world (Durkheim, 1997). Thus, collective consciousness is vital in a society, because without it, there is a collection of mutually antagonistic individuals (Durkheim, 1997). However, collective consciousness varies in extent and force from one society to another. Mechanical solidarity on one hand embraces individual conscience, and on the other hand, organic solidarity individual scope is higher, because people have greater freedom to follow their own preferences (Durkheim, 1997). Although the division of labour was important to Durkheim, it was not at the basis of his social theory. Unlike Marx, he did not see the economic level of social organization as providing the basis for all others, and he was much more concerned with shared beliefs and norms. He thought that class conflict was a temporary obstacle in social development believing that it acted as a mediator to ensure that modernisation occurred smoothly. Unlike Durkheim, who focused on the society and how that forms the actions, Weber discusses how individual action causes the changes in society. Weber argued that bureaucracies were becoming the organizational model of the 19th Century (Ritzer, 2000 and Weber in Lemert, 1999), which is a large hierarchical organization governed by formal rules and regulations and having clearly specified work tasks (Newman, 2008). This was seen as a leading example of rationalisation, as decisions were based on efficiency and not on tradition; it was an important social development to modernity. George Ritzer (1993) argues that McDonalds is becoming the model for organizations in the 21st Century; the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as of the rest of the world (Ritzer, 1993). Webers rationalisation discussed regularities and patterns of action within civilisations, institutions, organisations, strata, classes, and groups (Ritzer, 2000). His interest lies on the objectified rationality, which is the action that is in accord with some process of external systematization. Weber argues 4 types of rationality practical, theoretical, substantive, and formal to scrutinize the historical fates of rationalization as sociocultural processes (Kalbery, 1980). Practical rationality is every way of life that views and judges worldly activity in relation to the individuals purely pragmatic and egoistic interests (Kalbery, 1980). Individuals that practice this rationality, merely accept realities, and deal with difficulties in the most expedient way. This rationality opposes anything that threatens to transcend everyday routine. Individuals tend to distrust all impractical values, as well as theoretical rationality. Theoretical rationality understands reality through t he abstract concepts, rather than through action (Ritzer, 2000). Unlike practical rationalists, individuals deal with difficulties as a quest to understand the world as a meaningful cosmos. Substantive rationality discusses how individuals accept the various possible values and attempt to make them consistent (Ritzer, 2000). However, this does become an issue in modern societies as it acts as an obstacle to pursue certain values. For example, being grounded to family values may be difficult for an individual to tolerate the economic pressure and dominance from bureaucratic organisations. Lastly, formal rationality characterises bureaucratic, which leads to universally applied rules, laws and regulations that characterize formal rationality in the West particularly in the economic, legal, and scientific institutions, as well as in the bureaucratic form of domination (Ritzer, 2000), such as the contemporary legal and judicial systems. As society was become more rationalised, Weber noticed that in modern societies, formal rationality played a greater role, thus substantive rationality lead to a decline (Ritzer, 2000). This is because; formal rationality emerged consequently during the time when capitalistic organisations were being developed. Due to the increase in formal rationality, the other forms of rationality are crowded out, limiting the possibility of creative social action (Ritzer, 2000). Durkheim believed that individuals actions are not independently chosen by them but in fact is the choices are planned by society. Using religion as an example, we possess certain values, beliefs and practices which have been learnt over time, because of their existence before. As a result, Durkheim believes that we perform our roles in society as a duty, even though they conform to my own sentiments and I feel their reality subjectivelyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I merely inherited them through my education (Appelrouth, S. Laura D.E in 2008). For example, the roles we perform as being a sister, or wife, or even mother is more like a duty, and how society expects us to behave and act towards the other. Therefore, the achievement of social life among people, the existence of social order and social solidarity is established by collective standards of behaviour and values (Durkheim, 1964). However, social solidarity is crucial for the existence of society; the specific type or form social solidari ty which resides within a society is not fixed and changes the changing form of society. The members of the society adopt common values, beliefs and tradition, which is created as products of collective interaction. This means that individuals are constrained to adopt their culture in a certain way, because they belong to that culture (Durkheim, 1964). For example, as a member of the audience, individuals feel obliged to applaud at the right time to conform the feeling of collectively. Therefore, the social group is a social phenomenon, as it constrains individual behaviour, which is known as social facts. It is every way of acting, fixed or not, capable of exercising on the individual an external constraint; or gain, every way of acting which is general throughout a given society, while at the same time existing in its own right independent of its individual manifestations (Durkheim, 1964: 13). For example, many people say that society is the reason for their actions, beliefs and knowledge; like society expects one to get married and have children, however not everyone fulfils these expectations, and they still do continue living in society. Nevertheless, the degree of constraint and freedom vary and there is always a degree of choice, but the there is also a degree of constraint, which are social facts. Durkheim (1964) argues that social facts must be regarded as things which can be observed at the level of collectively and not at the level of individual behaviour. He also suggests that one can identify social phenomena by identifying situations of social constraint. Using suicide as an example, we all believe that it is the most individualistic action of all actions (Poilton et al, 1987). However, Durkheim uses his work on Suicide to prove that even in its most solitary and individual of acts, something external to the individual, namely society, has not only been a witness to but also the director of the tragic drama. Webers social action theory explains how individuals in society have the ability to exert control over their own actions, which makes them the active creator of social behaviour, hence opposing Durkheims view about society constructing their action. Hence, according to Weber, society is created by individuals and not the other way around (Weber, 1978 and Whimster, 2000). Individuals in society use their conscious thought to be aware of themselves and others as social beings; they possess their own motives, belief, and reasons, and they control their own actions. Weber discusses 4 types of social action according to the degree of rationality vs. meaningfulness traditional action, affectual action, value-rational action, and instrumental action (Weber, 1978 and Whimster, 2000). Traditional action is an unthinking habitual behaviour. It has low rationality and low meaningfulness (Weber, 1978). For example, the way people eat in different cultures and families vary. Thus, eating with yo ur hands is not considered rude in an Indian family, whereas it would be in a European family. Affectual action is governed by emotions, and thus makes it uncontrollable, similarly to traditional action; it is low on rationality and meaningfulness (Weber, 1978). For example, emotions such as laughing, burping, and anger are controllable, and as a result, the individuals have the ability to exert control. Value-rational action is the characteristic of modern societies and civilisations that have not made the transition to high modernity (Weber, 1978). These actions are high on rationality, but low on meaning, as one is unable to reflect upon the value of actions. For example, in religion, the belief in God is rational as there is blind faith, and people follow certain practices in order to go to heaven. Lastly, instrumental action represents the completion of an individuals ability to reflect upon the ways and purposes of his actions (Weber, 1978). It exists in all societies, but pre dominantly in advanced capitalist societies. For example, in society, in order to earn a PhD degree, one has certain rational acts to achieve that certain rational goal, such as funds and grades. Therefore, Weber argued that the actions of the individuals are not influenced by society, but in fact they have the capability to exert control over their actions, thus they are independent of their own behaviour. In Division of Labour (1997), Durkheim further discusses the reinforcement of suitably modernized societies. He saw that only certain groups would be permitted to regulate economic life by generating the moral standards (Turner, 1993). According to Durkheim, these standards can be established neither by the scientist in his study nor by the statesman; it has to the task of the groups concerned. (Turner, 1993); in other words, it cannot come from outside. However, these groups were non-existent in society (Turner, 1993). Although Durkheim was vague about the groups, he does implicitly argue that the groups would have initially been formed by legislation; once the group is formed, nothing can hinder an appropriate moral life from evolving out of it (Turner, 1993). Nevertheless, Durkheims vague idea about the groups was correct. The governmental regulation of economic life, such as the regulation on the notions of morality and equity, has enormously developed in modern industrialised societies, and the agent is known as the State, not occupational groups (Turner, 1993). As Durkheim failed to realise the ability the State possesses to regulate economic life, he also underestimated the moral power of traditional intermediate groups, which were based upon their religion and ethics (Turner, 1993). He believed that only modern groups could counterbalance the actions of the State. However, Durkheim viewed central State and intermediate groups are the key factors to individual rights (Turner, 1993). Therefore, Durkheim perceives the State as the organ of the society, it is the social brain; the State acts as a regulator. Weber did not see State as the regulator, but in fact, he saw the State as dominator. As we are aware that bureaucracy organisation were being more popular, societies transferred from traditional to modern over a period of time, especially in capitalist societies. Weber saw that there was a new emphasis on materialism and consequently the rise in Protestantism resulted in the formation of The Iron Cage as human society was imprisoned with depersonalisation and increased rationalisation (Weber, 1958). According to Calvinism, known as a rational religious system, people should engage in a disciplined and methodical way of life which would facilitate their path to become richer and work harder (Weber, 1958). This was because they believed that it was the right way to glorify God, as it would be a sign that they are chosen to be saved. Contrary, Catholic doctrine followed the idea that one would obtain salvation by the means of avoiding salvation and adopting an isolated and mainly spiritual life (Weber, 1958). Therefore, the attitude of material wealth to serve God, and wasting time and money being an obstacle for salvation, led to development of the Capitalist system, as it permitted Christians to live luxuriously, thus rational economy was formed in which everything was calculated and designed to maintain the system. However, soon, the reasons for material wealth had been substituted for other reasons, and maintaining the social system was a key priority (Weber, 1958). These meant that people worked and earn more, just so they could spend more. As a results, science replaced religion in order to keep the system working, thus the Capitalist system got out of hand, which linked to secularisation (Weber, 1958). Unconsciously, people were trapped in the system, like a cage, without ways to leave, which subsequently made them slaves of the system, transferring people into money machines (Weber, 1958). According to Weber, peoples ability to control their life was diminishing as they no longer had the option of to be or not to be part of the system; their freedom is limited. Ironically, the bureaucracy aimed to ensure peoples civil liberty, but unfortunately, it resulted in people enslaving them, and indirectly forcing them to support the system. To conclude, it is evident that Weber and Durkheim both focused on different aspects when studying social evolution. Weber focused on the economical aspect, such as capitalism and bureaucracy, and Durkheim on the social, like the workings of society; Weber supported the idea that actions of individuals caused a change in society, but Durkheim disagreed and said that it was the change in society that led to a change in peoples actions. However, they are similar in the way that they both believed that society needed to evolve, and break through the traditional way of life.

Essay on Irony, Values and Realism in Pride and Prejudice

Irony, Values and Realism in Pride and Prejudice The focus of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is the prejudice of Elizabeth Bennet against the apparent arrogance of her future suitor, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and the blow to his pride in falling in love with her. The key elements of the story are the irony, values and realism of the characters as they develop. Jane Austen ¹s irony is devastating in its exposure of foolishness and hypocrisy. Self-delusion or the attempt to fool other people are usually the object of her wit. There are various forms of exquisite irony in Pride and Prejudice, sometimes the characters are unconsciously ironic, as when Mrs. Bennet seriously asserts that she would never accept any entailed property, though Mr. Collins is willing to. Often Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth serve to directly express the author ¹s ironic opinion. When Mary Bennet is the only daughter at home and does not have to be compared with her prettier sisters, the author notes that: " it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without much reluctance."   (Austen 189) Mr. Bennet turns his wit on himself during the crisis with Whickham and Lydia: " let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression. It will pass away soon enough." (Austen 230) Elizabeth ¹s irony is lighthearted when Jane asks when she began to love Mr. Darcy: " It has been coming on so gradually that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberly"   (Austen 163). She can be bitterly cutting however in her remark on Darcy ¹s role in separating Bingley and Jane: " Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes a prodigio... ...kling: Irony and Fiction in 'Pride and Prejudice,'" in The Fields of Light: An Experiment in Critical Reading. New York: Oxford University Press, 1951: 164-81. Brownstein, Rachel, M. "Getting Married: Jane Austen." Becoming a Heroine: Reading About Women in Novels. 2nd ed. New York: Penguin Books, 1984. 81-134. Fein, Ellen and Schneider, Sherrie. The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right. New York: Warner Books, 1995. Menand, Louis. "What Jane Austen Doesn't Tell Us." New York Review of Books 43.2 1 Feb. 1996: 13-15. Moler, Kenneth. Pride and Prejudice: A Study in Artistic Economy. Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers, 1989. Newman, Karen. "Can This Marriage be Saved: Jane Austen Makes Sense of an Ending." ELH 50.4 (1983): 693-710. Ryle, Gilbert. "Jane Austen and the Moralists," Oxford Review, No. 1, Feb., 1966, pp. 5-18.

Islamic Arabia Essay

Signs of Islam using the Koran as the foundations of its life and values being more accepting of women whether they are married or single are easier to see than in Christianity that made use of the Bible as the basis of its spiritual teachings. Accommodations in Islam which means accepting women as people of sacred, substantial, cultural, social and moral worth began its call even before pre-Islamic Arabia (Smith 52). Increasingly, however, Christians are turning women into little more than just sex objects. Many other societies have actually demoted women with two pieces of skimpy cloth walking down the ramp, viewed on tubes for global audience use, drowning the usual human values, robbed of natural human distinction. The core of a woman is being destroyed by the image of being just sex objects. Mankind should remember that the origin of all is just one pair. Eve’s progeny reminds mankind to be grateful for her willingness to be the mother of the first children earth ever had and the generations later should be proud of the founding of humankind. Femininity is a tribute to society. Childbearing honors women who bear a child in her womb for nine long months, who goes through the pains of giving birth, and the burden of breastfeeding. Being a woman and a capable mother have great societal significance to Muslims, recognizing and accepting women’s role. There are two top religions in the world today that is reaping much awareness and credit. The 1st is Islam, which is the cult of those who believe in Muhammad as a messenger of God, differing according to culture, and Christian religion, the cult of those who believe in Jesus Christ the son of Mary, modified according to culture,. Though Muhammad and Jesus Christ have both been influenced by some patriarchal views (Fiorenza 316), they have also in many ways differing concepts about women in their respective time and society. Like, in one occasion when it came to the knowledge of Muhammad that a couple committed adultery, he ordered them to be stoned to death right in front of his mosque (Mishkat 267), on the other hand when Jesus received the report from a witnessed a woman committing adultery, and so she must be penalized according to Jewish law, Jesus said sternly, â€Å"Let him who is without sin among you throw the first stone at her†, discarding double standard of morality (John 122). However, in his personal affairs Muhammad advised his men to treat their women with kindness (Al-Bukhari   80). Today, long time after Jesus and Muhammad, these values have so much evolved as intellectual education intensifies bringing about much understanding of human nature and modifications to a changing ecosystem. It can not be denied however that there still exist varying scales as to acceptability of women in Islam or in Christianity. Accepting of women in society is relative when looked upon the perspective of Islam after the time of Muhammad as against those of the Christians after the time of Jesus without neglecting cultural values. In Islam women were raised on a pedestal over 1, 400 years ago (Jumuah 62), when Muhammad directed his followers to regard women with compassion (Al-Bukhari 1, 55, 62, 80). They were acknowledge   to be the sisters of men, bestowing rights: to education up to the highest intensity, the right to decide on their marriage partner, the right to end an unhappy marriage, the right to inheritance, and the rights of a full citizen of a state (Jumuah 62), though, cultural differences still exist. While Christianity is more liberal, it leaves women to find its own level in the strata of society (Luke 81). Christian codes do not specify and provide rights for women. Christians adopts rights for women founded by men as cultural dictates (Fiorenza 1083) incorporated in individual state and governmental laws, which changes from time to time as revised to suit a presumed social need (Luke 89). Islam considers that men and women are at par when it comes to value as pieces and parts of humanity (Jumuah 63), but, these changes from customs to ethnicity. A man can not be victorious in his life without a woman. Their rights and tasks crossover and balance their totality because their roles are harmonizing and shared, although their duties might clash in certain areas of life in accordance with their basic physical and psychological disparity, where each is equally liable for their actual tasks (Jumuah 63), according to culture. Not one sex is either better or lesser than the other in any way, depending upon the Muslim culture where one belongs. There are however those who practice primarily according to their culture, which is not definitely a teaching of Islam according to its advocates, because culture does not crossover nor influence the Islamic code which is likewise the Qur’an, since the Qur’an is all embracing and above anyone’s culture. They oppress women which is simply a reflection of local customs that are definitely inconsistent and contrary to the teachings of Islam (Jumuah 62). Not only material and physical rights are given to women. They have also the right to be treated with kindness and consideration because it is provided for in the Qur’an. Under Islamic law the following provisions are given to women: when a Muslim woman marries she does not lose her maiden name in place of her husband (Jumuah 63). She has the right to keep her identity. She is given a gift by her husband to be, prior to their marriage which is also called a dowry (Ali 759). It is a personal gift that is at her disposal or which she can spend to buy properties, invest on whatever she feels she must without the influence of anyone from her family (Ali 759). The man must provide for the needs of his wife and the family even if she has the money of her own (Ali 759). She is not in any way obligated to spend anything for the family, which relieves the woman from the burden of earning a living. She however has the option to work if she finds it necessary. As the family is similar to any systematic organization, leadership is bestowed upon men. The Qur’an Clearly states that the husband is to some degree higher than the wife being the leader and guardian of the family. This does not in any way presume a right nor a license to be the tyrant of the household. It is rather the complete responsibility of the husband to care for the family (Jumuah 63). Karen Armstrong in a biography said, the emancipation of women was dear to the Prophets heart, describing: women were treated inferiorly with no rights like slaves in pre-Islamic time, but Muhammad allowed them to stand as witnesses and gave them the right to inheritance (Armstrong 191). The concept of women’s dress is of Islamic moral, social and legal values. By their observance of proper dress code, men and women alike protect their honor and reputation in a society contributing to it largely along peace and order. It is also A Qur’anic revelation While Jesus did not marry, Muhammad had several wives after Khadija his first wife, for different reasons such as: widows who needs provisions (Ali 53), widows with orphans who needs a fatherly attention (Ali 129), literacy of a woman, wealth of a woman, the widow being the wife of the enemy (Ali 129), political alliances and as a virgin wife like Aisha (Mishkat 3:13). A woman has four reasons to marry: wealth, family status, beauty and religion (Al-Bukhari 16, 32). Divorces were allowed even before pre-Isalmic times (Smith 52), while it was only a male prerogative in the Jewish law (Deuteronomy 176). But, Jesus made it irrevocable (Mark 56). Jesus helped women, honored them like the hunchback, one he called daughter of Abraham after she was healed from illness (Luke 93), and praised another for anointing him with oil (Mark 62). Jesus parables showed his compassion for women (Matthew 34).

Good Essay Writing

A good essay should begin with a proper title, give an explanation of what the essay is about in the first paragraph and follow through the remainder of the essay, allowing the reader a better understanding of the topic of the essay.The essay should also provide adequate paragraphs with proper grammar, which support the first paragraph. The conclusion of the essay is also extremely important and should always talk about the topic of the essay.With good essay writing, the writer should use a clear and proper title for the heading of his essay.   This title should be one that is direct and to the point. The heading should relay a clear meaning of what the entire essay will be discussing from the very beginning to the last conclusion of the essay.By using supporting paragraphs, the reader is able to easily follow what the writer is saying throughout the essay and will be capable of a flowing explanation that has proper meaning to the reader.Supporting paragraphs will always directly r elate to the topic of the essay so by talking about events and related issues that support the topic, the reader never strays from the main subject of the meaning of the essay.Also by using supporting paragraphs the writer is able to offer additional information that will give a better understanding of the topic that is being discussed by the writer.The essay writer should always use proper grammar and words that are clear and easy to understand. By utilizing proper grammar and words that are easily understand, the reader will be more capable of completely understanding the message that the writer is conveying to the reader.A good conclusion is also important in essay writing so that the writer ends their reading with a well-rounded meaning of the complete essay. A proper conclusion should be closely related to the first paragraph of the essay and offer an ending that answers a question or gives a direct meaning to the entire essay.A good essay should use the rules and guidelines de scribed in this essay so that the essay writing will flow like a wonderful conversation on paper from the heading of the paper to the very last concluding paragraph. The essay should always offer the reader an enjoyable reading experience.Good essay writing is important and the main purpose of each good essay should be to always use good structure.To conclude this essay, I would like to offer that I did pay close attention to the heading of this essay, I used a great leading paragraph that told what my essay would consist of. I used clear words that are easy to understand while I paid close attention to using proper grammar in my writing.Also, I used supporting paragraphs in this essay that remained on topic throughout this essay and I will end by offering that I believe that this is a wonderful example of an essay that offers the reader an explanation about what a good essay should consist of.