Comparison Of Langston Hughes And I Are Different From...

I am that girl in the back of the room who will never be described as an outgoing individual. My presence does not come off as that of the most popular kid. I can walk into a room and no one will notice I am there. I was an average kid in high school: I got decent grades, watched the same shows as my peers, celebrated the same holidays, etc. I seemed to fit in on the outside that which makes me different was unnoticeable. Both Langston Hughes and I are different from our peers, we are considered outsiders. Hughes is considered an outsider because of his race. I was an outsider because of my legal status and lack of social security number. Hughes’ status as an outsider is made evident through his daily route to from school. My status as an outsider was evident through the process of applying for college. I am an immigrant born in the state of Puebla, Mexico. I arrived in the United States at the age of three; I started kindergarten without knowing anything but the words, Hello, how are you? in English. I honestly cannot say I was able to fully understand English until third grade, but from then on I was able to thrive in school. As soon as I was able to manage the English language, I achieved high honors in school, and my love for reading and writing came to be. My parents had always stressed the importance of college and how I was an example for my brother and younger cousins. Even before senior year I knew I was going straight to college, a gap year was not in myShow MoreRelatedGender Is Socially Developed And Biologically Developed1225 Words   |  5 Pagessociety and culture characterizes and creates thoughts and attributes on issues that shift all through certain time periods and different cultures. There are numerous speculations that propose the improvement of the distinctions when managing the varieties of males and females in the public eye. Some social researchers propose biological contrasts, referring to the different mind structures and the hormonal contrasts between the genders. Others merit society, opposing that the methodology of socializationRead MoreThe Revolution Of The American Revolution1894 Words   |  8 PagesAmerica has always been a hodge-podge of a multitude of different cultures from around the world, somehow settling into a new sort of culture all its own. Whether that new culture transformed into a sort of â€Å"cultural mosaic† of the diverse cultures or a â€Å"melting pot,† meaning one American culture to assimilate into, has been widely contested for generations. Almost a century ago, Theodore Roosevelt notes some Revolutionary War-era immigrants as being â€Å"the best immigrants we have ever received; soonerRead MoreTEFL Assignment Answers23344 Words   |  94 Pagesare accustomed to using the language—our students, on the other hand, are not. So, this preliminary information informs instructors to build classroom environments that encourage and maintain verbal participa tion from the students. In essence, we are not to build curriculum that reflects the traditional lecture-style of instruction. The best instructors should incorporate more direct—student-centered—methods of instruction. If I were to quantify talk-time, I would assume a 25% -Teacher/75%-Student

The Challenges Faced By Single Mothers - 899 Words

Single mothers are raising households and juggling multiple social roles with limited social support. Being a mom is rewarding and stressful but raising children without a co-parent or social support network while juggling all of the household responsibilities, the challenge can seem insurmountable. Studies indicate that single mothers are at a higher socioeconomic disadvantage which correlates with greater stress exposure and psychosocial risk factors. Being the only financial provider for food and bills is enough stress, much less for one person. A lot of single parents live by the motto Robbing Peter to pay Paul each month to make sure they have enough food, and all the school supplies that their children need. The psychosocial challenges faced by single mothers are from balancing the accumulation of social roles and raising children while economically vulnerable. The everyday struggles of parenting are magnified for single mothers because they are learning how to be the family unit from one person. The single mother takes on all of the roles that once were shared with a family unit; now the mother is the disciplinarian, the provider, the comforter, etc. The single mother now has to restructure her thinking and actions to be able to suit the ever-changing needs of her children, alongside the financial responsibilities of up-keeping the home. To balance these responsibilities while dealing with the weight of the additional roles, and the emotional effects of all of theShow MoreRelatedChallenges Faced By Single Parents1245 Words   |  5 PagesThe Challenges Faced by Single Parents Everyone knows being a parent is hard but is being a single parent harder? When there are two parents in the home, bills are typically paid by two incomes many couples sometimes take this for granted until a parents’ status changes into a single parent household. A single parent home is faced with unimaginable struggles whether it’s financial, finding competent child care, dealing with the child’s behavior or accepting the fact they are alone; ultimately, theyRead MoreHardships That Single Parents Face in Child Rearing704 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Introduction Single parents often face a host of unique challenges and hardships. This is more so the case given the duo-parent role such parents have to play in seeking to keep the family united. In this text, I highlight the most common challenges single parents face. Hardships Single Parents Face in Child Rearing According to Ryan and Cooper (2008), the society has in the recent past undergone some dramatic changes in regard to familial structures. In their own words, the authors note thatRead MoreEssay about Family Today881 Words   |  4 Pages What is a family today? What challenges does being a member of a family present while traditional family structures change? Every family has to struggle to balance the demands of work and children. Also the relationship between each spouse can become more delicate and complicated. Besides, the single parent has to face even more challenges than any other. Today, in a vast majority of families, both the wife and husbandRead MoreThe Role Of Parents Are Becoming A Common Picture1732 Words   |  7 Pageshousehold piece you tend to see in movies and read in books. Before, it was always a mom and dad who were female and male. Today, a child doesn’t always have that, they can have two moms or two dads, and sometimes one or the other. Homosexuality and single parents are becoming a common picture you see in households. Each situation has its benefits, with problems forming with each situation as well. In science fiction, sometimes the roles of parents are completely gone due to scientific and technologicalRead MoreLife is full of challenges123 Essay632 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Life is full of challenges. In the stories, â€Å"Breaking Through Uncertainty-Welcoming Adversity† and â€Å"Neighbours,† written by Jim McCormick and Lien Chao, the main characters illustrate benefits derived from taking risks. Even though both people in these texts undergo personal challenges, in â€Å"Neighbours† the character, Sally, receives greater benefits from taking risks than McCormick in â€Å"Breaking Through Uncertainty-Welcoming Adversity†. Fear is a part of life, however, how we face it is what makesRead MoreSingle Parent Families Put Many Mental Effects on their Children1058 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support, a report released by U.S. Census Bureau, claimed that out of 12.2 million single parent families in 2012, more than 80% were single mother parents. For a long time, there are many children that have grown up in a single-parent home. 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Introduction Are single mothers really bad for not providing adequately for their children or is it the lack of sufficient public support and assistance provided for single mothers after the 1996 Welfare Reform that is the real problem that resulted into a judgment that recognizes single motherhood as not a good thing in the society? After the 1996 Welfare Reform, single mothers’ total income has increased and opportunities in employment also expandedRead MoreMy Mom Essay736 Words   |  3 Pagesdecision whether you grab it or let it hit you in the gut. That is why I believe my mother would be the best choice as to a guide through high school. To begin with, my mother’s childhood was full of dark and scary situations. For instance she did not have a very good father. My grandfather was an abusive man who did not really care about his children. Which really took a toll on my mom. With that being said, my mother had to make a very grown up decision at a very young age. Even though she lovedRead MoreWomen of the 20th Century Essays1670 Words   |  7 PagesI feel as if I don’t exist.† A sense of numbness was not uncommon for many women who lived in the suburban world of the 1950’s. Confined by a strong emphasis on family and gender roles, women acted as wives and mothers, but did not live as individuals; always being their child’s mother, or their husband’s wife, led these women to lose their sense of self. As prisoners of their own lives, suburban housewives experienced an identity crisis that stripped them of the desire to become whoever they

Politics in Education Free Essays

string(161) " evaluations of teachers thus improving effectiveness based on students achievement \(2\) raising the limit of charter schools \(League of Women Voters, 2011\)\." Politics in Education Can education exist without politics? The answer is simply put no. While many would love to see the political scene leave education, it is inherent that the two remain together. The key is how they work together in the best interest of the students. We will write a custom essay sample on Politics in Education or any similar topic only for you Order Now Public schools are responsible for two precious entities- children and tax dollars (Farmer, 2012). This is one of the reasons that â€Å"today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments† (Brown v. Board of education, 1954). While we are progressively seeing federal mandates in education more now than ever, it is mainly the state and local levels where politics are inseparable (Farmer, 2012). Since education is highly imperative to the future of our country, it is and will always be subject to political scrutiny. From the beginning, a well educated American was deemed necessary to protect independence and the general welfare of the citizens (League of Women Voters, 2011). It has been stated this type of citizen will â€Å"rule themselves through elected officials† (Brademas). Education, especially higher education, at one point was considered a luxury; however, in today’s world a â€Å"high-quality† education often including the collegiate level is believed to be both a â€Å"universal right and a necessity for individual welfare† (Farmer, 2012). For this reason education will remain important topic of political debates between politicians as well as local townspeople. Politics in education goes dates as far back as the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Federal support was given at this time and later in 1841 with the Land Grand Act in the form of land designated for a system of public education to be established. During this time the federal government began to grant money. This money was often used to clean up from war expenses; however, some funds were used for education even though congress did not stipulate that such funds could be used for education (League of Women Voters, Oct. 2011). It is well aware this funding continues today although the state and local government share the majority of the responsibility. In 1791, the 10th Amendment guaranteed rights to all citizens by stating â€Å"the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. † This amendment entrusted authority over education to the states by having state constitutions assign specific responsibility and legal authority for public education (Usdan, M. , McCloud, B. , Podmostko, M. , and Cuban, L. , 2001). Today, state and local revenue fund approximately 87% of the money for elementary and secondary education. It is estimated that only 10% comes from federal funding (The Federal Role in Education). In 1867, the original Department of Education was established to collect data on schools and teaching in order to help create an effective school system (League of Women Voters, 2011). One major turning point for federal education was the GI bill of 1944. The government allotted for nearly eight million World War II veterans to have education assistance to attend college. Until this point, the federal government basically only did research and created policies for an effective system. Financing of education was not highly supported through the department. Then in 1958, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) in response to Russia’s Sputnik. This created money available to students willing to study in science, mathematics, and foreign languages (Dow, 1991). In 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was created which included Title 1 funding to the disadvantaged. In 1983, A Nation at Risk was released calling for a refocus on an education reform in order to compete with other countries as it appeared that America was falling behind (Farmer, 2012). Even though the Department of Education has grown drastically, their mission still remains â€Å"to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering education excellence and ensuring equal access† (Department of Education, 2012). Today, every educator is familiar with most of the current federal mandates including- No Child Left Behind (reauthorization of ESEA), Race to the Top, and common core standards. While most of the funding, administrating, and accountability falls on the state and local governments, these are all federal policies which are often the main topics in a political education debate. One must ask why the federal government has most of the control over our educational system if it is primarily funded by state and local governments. Is it possible that different areas with different demographics might need a different policy than that mandate from federal level. Being successful is teaching the students in the best possible environment and demonstrating success through achievement. What works in one small town may not work in the next small or large town. Why, then, does the federal government upport equality by mandating yet not funding criteria. One thing does remain true- all of these do have a common census-equality in education for each student. The debate question that rises: â€Å"is equality for everyone possible? † Under President George W. Bush, No Child Left Behind was designed to â€Å"close achievement gaps, particularly for minority children† (League of Women, 2011). It was set that by year 2014, 95% of students would be meeting state st andards in reading and math. Many educators, politicians, and citizens argued that this was an unrealistic goal which would in return be punishing or threatening the low-performing schools. Under this law, parents could be given a voucher to send their child to a different higher performing school. Although every educator had to obtain â€Å"highly qualified† status, teachers working at the schools deemed needing improvement often had negative feelings toward their job and thus the students suffered (League of Women Voters, 2011). Race to the Top was signed into law by the current President Barack Obama in 2009. This federal mandate came with promises of funding, and as everyone knows â€Å"money speaks volumes. † This approach would award funds to states who would meet the necessary requirements. Two of these requirements are (1) improve evaluations of teachers thus improving effectiveness based on students achievement (2) raising the limit of charter schools (League of Women Voters, 2011). You read "Politics in Education" in category "Essay examples" Race to the Top has several supporters because it comes with necessary funding to move our current classrooms into the 21st century; however, it also comes with unrealistic research. Several argue that standardized testing is not a fair way to evaluate teacher performance. The most current federal request is the use of common vs. state standards The idea here is that not only will each child receive an equal education within their state, but they now will receive the same equal education within their country and hopefully one day within the nation. The use of common core standards allows children to master through higher order thinking within broad life skills instead of basic memorization of state specific standards. It opens up a new way of thinking for children and teachers. It also does create a more equal playing field as far as what children learn within their elementary and secondary education career. Most political debates in education often revolve around these federal policies, but even more often than that the main debate is: funding. Who is going to pay for education? The answer brings up the other highly political debate- us, the taxpayers. It is true that all three levels of government- federal, state, and local- contribute to education. States typically provide a little less than half, local governments about 44%, and the federal government only funds 10% . The interesting fact is that within the federal government’s10% it includes Title 1, NCLB, RttT, Special Education, child nutrition, and Head Start (Federal Education Budget, 2012). Also, overall the U. S. Department of Education accounts for less than 3% of the total federal budget (Federal Education Budget, 2012). As a nation, we must ask ourselves is the value of education really worth only 3% of the entire federal budget? Excellence is given symbolic prominence, but not sustained financial support† (Usdan, et al, 2001). The political debate is that most politicians will not support efforts to increase funding for education because it will raise taxes- something very few citizens support. However, if the federal government gives only 10%, the state of Tennessee is left with majority of the responsibility to fund education in order for it to succee d. States rely mainly on income and sales tax to fund elementary and secondary education. It is the legislature who determines the level and distribution of the funding. Tennessee uses the Basic Education Program (BEP) in order to determine the cost specifications for each component in our system. In Tennessee, the share is roughly 70% which is average when compared with our country (Tennessee Basic Education Program, 2011). In some states it is as high as 86% and as low as 31%. The variation exists because some states rely heavily on local property taxes instead of state funding (Federal Education Budget, 2012). The last and probably one of the most political entities is that of the local school board. The funding for local schools is usually provided by property taxes. Thus the wealthier areas have the ability to collect more taxes which allows for them to keep tax rates lower. Unfortunately, the poorer communities may have higher tax rates but still not reach the needed funding for the local school district. Therefore often times children with the highest needs are often sent to the schools with less resources and less qualified teachers. This is why education can never be created equal for every child. Another political argument is that in present times education leadership in America is not withheld to high enough standards. Instead some argue that we have fifty â€Å"education governors† (Usdan, et al, 2001) or some even go as far as to say, â€Å"Governors and presidents are no better suited to run schools than they are to run construction sites† (Thomas, 2012). Truthfully, yes many governors could be doing a better job in education, but most are willing to fight for it. Most support the importance as honestly we must all agree that â€Å"what, after all, could be more important than a proper education for the state’s most precious asset, its children? † (Usdan, et al, 2001). This argument holds very true at the local level. It is correct to say that from the ladder of the president to the governor to the superintendents of education to school board chairs and members: often some of these educational leaders have little to no background or expertise in education. From the federal to the state level, most appointed leaders in education branches bring the required knowledge. However, the local school board is composed of a diverse group of members with different backgrounds and knowledge. While they all bring unique characteristics and a broad base of knowledge, it is often the case that they do not bring an educational background. Education needs a reform in which it is driven by educators who have lived within the field. These are the people who need to be in charge of forming and implementing our country’s educational policy. Educational leadership is important at all levels including the local school board. For over 200 years, politics has played a part in our educational system. From the federal government all the way down to the local politics talked about in gas stations or at a high school football game. Politics and education will always be entwined together. Both are vital for the future of our nation as our future is in our children. As the vision for Tennessee states, â€Å"it is to prepare all Tennessee children for successful post-secondary work, education, and citizenship. † The state’s master plan is to â€Å"ensure equal access to the education constitutionally guaranteed to all Tennessee children† (Master Plan). Without politics, schools will not exist. Without schools, knowledge to become a successful, active citizen will not exist. Thus both politics and education will always hold a vital role. Resources: Brown v. Board of Education. (1954) Civil Rights Organization. Retrieved October 2012, from http://www. civilrights. rg/education/brown/ Department of Education. (2012) Mission Statement Retrieved October 2012 from http://www2. ed. gov/about/overview/mission/mission. html Dow, P. B. (1991). Schoolhouse politics: Lessons from the Sputnik era. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Farmer, T. (2012, January 12). Politics of Local Education. Retrieved from the Connexions Web site: ht tp://cnx. org/content/m14432/1. 10/ Federal Education Budget Project. (September 13, 2012). Retrieved October 2012 from http://febp. newamerica. net/background-analysis/school-finance Federal Role in Education. (2012). U. S. Department of Education. Retrieved October 2012 from http://www2. ed. gov/about/overview/fed/role. html League of Women Voters of the United States. (October 2011). The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education Part Two. Washington D. C: Author. League of Women Voters of the United States. (2011). The History of Federal Government in Public Education: Where have we been and how did we get here? Washington D. C: Author. Master Plan (2008). Master Plan FY 2008-2012. State Board of Education. Retrieved October 2012, from http://www. state. tn. us/sbe/masterplan. htm Tennessee Basic Education Program. (October 2011). State Board of Education. Retrieved October 2012 from http://www. state. tn. us/sbe/BEP%20Booklet%20FY12. pdf Thomas, P. L. , (2012). Politics and Education Don’t Mix. The Atlantic. Retrieved October 2012 from http://www. theatlantic. com/national/print/2012/04/politics-and-education-dont-mix/256303/ Usdan, M. , McCloud, B. , Podmostko, M. , and Cuban, L. (2001). Leadership for Student Learning. School Leadership for the 21st Century Initiative A Report of the Task Force on State Leadership. Washington, D. C. Retrieved October 2012 from http://www. iel. org/programs/21st/reports/staterole. pdf How to cite Politics in Education, Essay examples

Adidas Strategic Management Analisys free essay sample

The aim of this report is to undertake a strategic analysis of Adidas. The Adidas strives to be the global leader in the sports goods industry with brands build on a passion for sports and sporting lifestyle, it sells products in virtually every country around the world. For more than 80 years, the Adidas has been part of the world of sports on every level, delivering state-of-the-art sports footwear, apparel and accessories. Adidas strategy is: continuously strengthen brands and products to improve competitive position and financial performance. Adidas brands are visible all over the world and sponsor global sports events such as the Olympic Games. Task A-Market Environment Analysis Strategy Strategy is the  direction  and  scope  of an organisation over the  long-term:  which achieves  advantage  for the organisation through its configuration of  resources  within a challenging  environment, to meet the needs of markets  and to fulfil  stakeholder  expectations. Strategy can be defined as the scope of an organization over the long term, which achieves advantage in a changing environment through effective utilization of resources and competencies (Johnson et al, 2005, p9) Organizational decision makers base their choice of strategy on their perceptions of the opportunities and threats in the environment, and the Internal strengths and weaknesses of their organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Adidas Strategic Management Analisys or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Then, as a result of the strategy they choose, they institute an appropriate organizational structure. It is important for adidas Group to identify and respond to environment and industry changes in order to change its strategy and stay competitive and innovative. Sports equipment Industry The sporting goods industry includes a wide range of sports and recreation activities. While most people tend to think of the industry in relatively narrow terms related to their own experiences, in reality, the industry includes six basic types of activities. Global economic conditions (including global demand for goods and services affecting sales levels and the availability of credit lines for business to its key suppliers affecting product supply) is affecting industry. * Exchange rate movements are important because sports in industry numerous purchase and sale transactions are in foreign currencies. A charge In exchange rates that affects the demand for shoes at competing company can indirectly affect the demand for company products Consumer spending in European Union continues to be hampered by increasing energy prices, a continuing housing recession,  and modestly rising unemployment rates (Eurostat). All factors stated above are influencing personal disposable income. Growth in the sporting goods industry is influenced by consumer spending and consumer confidence. Economic downturns, in EU pose a significant short-term risk to sales development. The improvement in consumer demand trends seen in BRIC contries, where increasing income and consumer spending are supporting sales growth in the sporting goods industry.

Gun Control Essays (623 words) - Gun Politics, Politics, Firearms

Gun Control Everyone in the United States of America has an opinion on gun control regardless of their age, race, or religion. From within those opinions arguments are formed. People are arguing about gun control at their jobs, at their schools, and sometimes at their places of worship. On one side of things there are the people that support gun control like certain politicians or political organizations, teachers, police officers, and so on. On the other side of things there are the people that are against gun control, people such as hunters and various types of criminals. When it comes down to sensitive topics like gun control, there are very few people that do not choose a side. The Second Amendment, like all Amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights, is not absolute. There are vague legal boundaries that have been set down thus far which answers some questions, but leave many more open (Sanders). Over the past few years there have been many incidents when children bring guns to school and shoot their fellow classmate(s) and/or teacher(s). The most recent and probably most tragic happened in 1998 at Colombine High School in Colorado when a group of students entered the school and murdered several students and a teacher. The first thing that everyone wondered once they finally heard the news is how the children got the guns? Supporters of gun control believe that if there were harsher gun laws, a lot of the school shootings would have never taken place and a lot of lives could have been saved. In a Brooklyn, New York federal court case brought against gun makers by individual people, a jury found that 15 of the gun making companies had negligently flooded southern states with guns, where control laws that are lax, and fed a black market of guns to states with more stringent controls, like New York (Nesbitt). This proves that if gun control advocates can win in a place like New York with tougher gun control laws, they can win in almost any major city, which could also lead to the federal government passing more gun control laws. In Georgia, pro-gun forces scored a victory when Governor Roy Barnes, a Democrat endorsed by the National Rifle Association while campaigning, signed legislation that keeps all the cities in that state from suing gun manufacturers (Nesbitt). Though it is not right, it is obvious that street gangs and drug dealers have a say in this argument. Starting from the bottom of the cycle to the top: if street thugs didn't have guns, how would they be able to protect themselves and the drugs they sell in order to make a living, who would they intimidate, what authority would the police and drug enforcement officers have over criminals, and how would they protect themselves? Without guns the crime rate would decrease rapidly, crime fighters would be out of business, and many people would be unemployed. In rural areas and in farming communities there are also some people that like to hunt. Without a gun they would not be able to hunt, which could have a positive or negative affect on their commu nity. The positive affect would be that some endangered species would be given the change to multiply and survive. The negative affect would be that the hunters would not be able to provide food for his family and a lot of over-populated and dangerous species would continue to grow. According to one Web site, every hour in the United States someone under the age of 25 dies from a gunshot wound. There are also nearly 200 million firearms in this country and a new one is produced every eight seconds (Gun Violence). Social Issues

5 Sentences Rendered More Concise

5 Sentences Rendered More Concise 5 Sentences Rendered More Concise 5 Sentences Rendered More Concise By Mark Nichol 1. It is essential for management to have the ability to assess how good the organization is at embracing risk. This is a case of a smothered verb- a verb converted into noun form, which complicates the sentence because a new verb must be conjured to accompany the newly formed noun. In this case, the simple verb phrase â€Å"be able† is sufficient: â€Å"It is essential for management to be able to assess how good the organization is at embracing risk.† The sentence can be further condensed to â€Å"It is essential that management be able to assess how well the organization embraces risk.† and even â€Å"Management needs to be (or, better yet, â€Å"must be†) able to assess how good the organization is at embracing risk.† 2. The process should consider factors arising from a change in business context and factors currently existing but not yet known. Currently is almost invariably superfluous. In this context, as in most cases, existing is sufficient to set the sentence in the present: â€Å"The process should consider factors arising from a change in business context and factors existing but not yet known.† (Any verb in the present tense, in fact, will generally suffice.) 3. The authorities will be conducting an investigation into the incident. Often, a sentence such as this one can use the simpler of the two forms of simple future tense: â€Å"The authorities will conduct an investigation into the incident.† Better yet, however, note the smothered verb and simplify to â€Å"The authorities will investigate the incident.† 4. The success of this comprehensive work hinges on attention to details and also the outcomes of work and decisions performed in the previous strategizing phase. When also directly (or distantly) follows and, the adverb is redundant to the conjunction: â€Å"The success of this comprehensive work hinges on attention to details and the outcomes of work and decisions performed in the previous strategizing phase.† 5. The organization must decide at the planning stage whether or not these data points help provide a greater view of its risk profile. When the phrase â€Å"whether or not† appears, the second and third words are likely extraneous: â€Å"The organization must decide at the planning stage whether these data points help provide a greater view of its risk profile.† The exception is when the phrase modifies a verb, as in â€Å"Whether or not we win, we’re still going to the playoffs,† where it modifies win. In other words, when â€Å"whether or not† means â€Å"regardless of whether,† retain the full phrase. Check out our latest YouTube video: Yours sincerely vs. Yours faithfully Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing Prompts 10120 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word FormsComment, Suggestion, and Feedback

Compare and contrast two different type of suras in the Qur'an Research Paper

Compare and contrast two different type of suras in the Qur'an - Research Paper Example These verses also instilled hope in the believers, as for them Allah repeatedly promised Paradise, the eternal abode of bliss. (Denffer) The Madinite Surahs on the other hand were focused on educating the believers in laws, duties and injunctions upon them, once an Islamic State at Madina was formed. These verses taught the appropriate way of living and how matters should be resolved. They also warned the believers of the hypocrites living within them in the society who were conspiring against Islam and the believers. (Denffer) The Surah starts with the first verse revealed to the Prophet (P.B.U.H), which was: to read in the name of The Creator. The Surah first acknowledges that there is a Creator of the universe and that same Creator has made mankind out of congealed blood. He is the Generous, the Knowledgeable, who imparts knowledge to mankind as He pleases. Recognizing Allah as the sole Creator is the first and foremost part of the Islamic faith. The Surah further builds upon the fundamental beliefs of the Muslims by mentioning that each soul shall return to Allah and the Angels are at His command, which will bring about destruction and calamity if ordered by Allah. Hence we see three articles of Islamic faith mentioned in this short Surah: the Oneness of Allah, the Angels and Resurrection. The verse further enjoins to prostrate in front of Allah and no other being, for He alone is the one Who can protect mankind. This prostration was later made a formal way of worship called the Salah. (Ali) This Surah explains that a Final Hour that will come which will end life on this world and on that Day the dead will be resurrected and will account for their deeds. It further describes what the Striking Hour is and when it will come. The devastation created on that day is metaphorically explained by mankind being scattered as moths and mountains flying in air like discarded wool. This predicts the mayhem and destruction marked

Canterbury Tales - The Pardoner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Canterbury Tales - The Pardoner - Essay Example They help to take a lot of people to holy places that have been made through the events that have been taking place in those places in the footsteps of those individuals who have gone before them or the presence of shrines or relics of the holy individuals. Pardoner giving his tricks of the trade in most of his works, for example, he explains to the pilgrims the major cause of most evils. This expression forms the key theme that he uses most of the time while preaching so as to understand better and loosen the purse strings of most of his audiences. On arrival to town, Pardoner demonstrates some of the relics and their curative traits some of which appeared to be fake though he does not appear to be caring a bit. In most of his preaching, Pardoner struggles to ensure that most of the pilgrims learn to understand that he only work through preaching to earn more money thus he does not hesitate to take money even from the poor widows. He often praises himself that he is a good speaker through tossing some English and Latin phrases to make things sink in the people a bit and in most cases he uses biblical philosophies to look more serious.

Corporate governance in the GCC Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Corporate governance in the GCC - Dissertation Example By doing this, it also provides the structure, through which the company objectives are set and the means of attaining those objectives and monitoring performance† (Baydoun, Ryan and Willett, n.d., p. 2). The practice of financial reporting and auditing standards are considered as an integral part of good governance. In the literature review, it has been argued that the managers need to think beyond the belief that mismanagement in the microeconomics policies lead to poor corporate governance, and then only they will succeed in designing a holistic and systematic corporate governance model. Many of the researchers have emphasized on the creation of situation specific corporate governance structure, which has created difficulties in finding one universal definition of corporate governance. Some other sets of researcher have emphasized on the relational aspect between the managers and the shareholders. Some researchers have revealed that corporate governance is different from man agement, where management only looks at successful running of the organization but corporate governance looks at conducting the operations of the organization in a proper and transparent manner. Different tools like controlling and accountability can be incorporated by the business leaders in the management, for monitoring the activities of the agent and motivating them, so that they can act in accordance with the expectations of the external and internal stakeholders. The organizations should accept certain set of corporate values otherwise, there might be some possibilities that the employees might act according to their own interest. Moreover, for creating an environment of knowledge sharing, the board members must create a knowledge sharing environment inside the organization in order to fill up the scope for implementing corporate governance. Various research scholars have stated various principles for corporate governance, which can be summarized as an obligation for the organ ization to maximize the value of the shareholders. The literature review has discussed about various theories proposed by the research scholars, like the inherent property right theory, stewardship theory, principal-agent model (finance model) and myopic market model etc that discussed about the major issues related to the shareholder-oriented corporate governance. The literature review has also evaluated the principles and enactment that are followed by different countries and have summarized them to indentify the major areas of Corporate Governance, such as board constitution, board remuneration, auditor’s remuneration and responsibilities, transparency in disclosures, stakeholder and shareholder information and influence of ownership structure. However, it has been emphasized that there is no such singular model of corporate governance that is followed by every country. Due to difference in time zone and orientation, there is difference in corporate governance policies of different countries. In this context, there are several issues related to the corporate governance structure that have been identified. Then empirical research studies related to corporate governance has been analyzed and found that in most of the countries benefits and

Zara Fast Fashion Key Factors Marketing Essay

Zara Fast Fashion Key Factors Marketing Essay CUSTOMERS: They notice customers desires and then the design process is launched. This is a quick process which enables them to lower the costs by using a react policy instead of a forecasting one STORES: Particular attention for their stores, which are their main advertising medium in fact their advertisement budget is 0,3% of the net income (HM and Gap 3-4%). They prefer publicity coming from their main street and unique stores rather than an expensive advertising campaign. EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY: Bottom up process in which Zaras headquarters leave the responsibility of choosing clothes to the store managers ( they know the local market ina better way). Moreover their wages are 70% variable and this encourages them to sell more in a good competitive way _VERTICAL INTEGRATION: This is why they are doing so well and why they can be associated to FAST FASHION. Their vertical integration allows them to design and finish goods wich you can find into the store in 4-5 weeks HIGH TURNOVER OF THEIR PRODUCTS. Thanks to this impressive response capability, Zara is able to follow fashion instead of betting on it this means that the entrepreneurial risk is minimized to a level that no one other competitorwould ever reach this rapid product turnover creates a climate of scarcity and opportunity that must be caught in Zaras retail stores. Strenghts Weaknesses Vertical integration Lower quantities of goods produced means that theres a rapid product turnover. This creates an artificial sense of scarcity among consumers and allows Zara to sell more merchandise at full price, lowering costs via reducing markdown merchandise 85% of styles produced in-season very updated products, capturing the latest trend; Incredibly short lead times (time from design to sale)-: average of 15 days Unique quick response system: store managers as the most important people in the company Custom-built IT support, allowing very quick and efficient transmission of sales and trends information from stores to the HQ; Extremely low advertising costs; Store design creating a unique shopping experience Broad market segmentation Inability to penetrate the American market: differences in tastes, weak supply chain strategy in America Unable to acquire economies of scale by producing large quantities for a discounted rate: higher costs arising from vertical integration Higher costs of training personnel and of changeover of production techniques due to changes to garments being made in-season, as well as new styles being introduces Opportunities Threats Explore other world markets Expand into Internet retailing Offer different styles in different stores within the same city to avoid cannibalisation of own sales Cannibalization. Zaras extensive location strategy involves putting multiple Zara stores that carry the same stock in the same cities. That means Zara is trying to sell the same exact merchandise to the same people that reside in that city. NINTENDO BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY According to businessweek.com, in a list compiled by A.T. Kearney Nintendo is ranked as #1 in the 2009 most profitable companies its sales have risen 36% annually over the past five years and its value growth averaged 38%. KEY FACTORS -EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY: They bought a very expensive software called Xylo just to help their employees with a private online network of work/life products to develop their work (even at home) in a better way. And according to the Financial Times Nintendo is totally repaid because every employee generated an average a $1.6 million each for them. -SUSTAINABLE MARGINS AND COST LEADERSHIP: They invested in a product which has guaranteed them a positive relationship between sells and costs from the first year ( this allowed them to generate positive cash flows which enabled them to invest in RD), instead Sony and Microsoft are profitable only from this year( they actually lost lots of money).Also the suppliers found it easy to develop games for an easier console. Nintendo made a huge strategic bet that less is more in the global console gaming market. The Wii console is the low budget alterative to the Play Station 3 and the Xbox (see Figure 1.). It doesnt boast blistering chip speeds or cutting edge graphics. By not investing significant amounts of money in technology like Blu-Ray technology (typical to the Sony Playstation) the Wii was profitable from day one (Bremmer, 2006). Referring back to the target market, by targeting new generation families with a product that provides fun, educational and entertaining activities throu gh a cost leadership strategy, Nintendo is sure to please by providing families with more affordable fun, without the need to leave the house. -INNOVATION: They have a continuing emphasis in innovation and thats why Wii and Ds outsold their competitors Ps3 and Psp from Sony and Microsoft Xbox360). They are always one step ahead of their competitors. They basically invented a brand new way to conceive the games with their new motion controller. Which was perfect to last even during a crisis.( where theres lack of time theres no need to master small buttons, and lack of money it costs 249$ instead of 500/600$ of xbox 360 and ps3). Nintendos strategies always embed their core value: creativity. This is typically reflected in the case of Wii. Wii had accumulated a sales volume of 70.93 million worldwide, as of March 31, 2010 (Nintendo Co., Ltd., 2010, p.23). This is a remarkable sales result. Why is Wii so attractive to consumers? The most creditable feature of Wii is its multifunctionality. Distinctive from other game consoles, it allows the players to emulate a variety of actions, like shooting arrows and hitting tennis balls, to achieve objectives in the games. This is a truly fresh and unique experience for video game players. They praise Wii, and are desperate to get one without much regards to its price. Word of Mouth Marketing was achieved in this process. The achievement of Word of Mouth Marketing was welcomed by Nintendo, because the extensive share of information between players and their friends can bring significant results that even multi-million dollars advertisements can not bring (Trout, J., 2006). But in the end, credits belong to Nintendos core value of creativity. Without creativity, they could not develop products with preeminent functionality, and there would be no way for them to claim the leading position in the market. -BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY: They had expanded the market with their productsWii fit and Brain training. Now also women and old People play with consoles! They succeeded in creating a whole brand new videogames market in which they have no competitors and so they didnt have to create a price war with their products. Nintendo is not fighting against Sony and Microsoft. Its real enemy is the indifference that many people still feel towards gamingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (-President Satoru Iwata, Towns, 2006) In order for Nintendo to capture and retain profitable market share, it would be thought to be possible by achieving higher profitability than their competitors. However, as the insight above suggests, Nintendo have structured business strategy upon the mission to go out and reach the people that would not consider themselves to be gamers). This dramatically increases the size of the total addressable market for Nintendo marketing, and their intuitive strategies have meant that Nintendo touches many more people than the typical gamer with more profits to match. The mission to touch those indifferent to gaming, the company adopted the The Blue Ocean Strategy which is centred upon creating a market where there initially was none and going where no other organisation has gone yet (Rosmarin, 2006). To reach this untapped market, Nintendo adopted an all inclusive, gender and age-neutral stance to gaming. This was achieved by going against the grain of competitors and including women in their audience, welcoming women by introducing a feminine aesthetic in product marketing (for example the Wii and the DS are visually light, curvy, bright, people based products) and focusing on gaming/entertainment content that appeals to both sexes (for example the Wii Fit, Brain Training and Nintendogs). This can be contrasted to the gaming content of competitors in the market Sony and Microsift, which are typically associated just with competition content (Marketing Magazine, 2008). The SWOT analysis of Nintendo STRENGHTS WEAKNESSES Nintendos strengths include a well established brand name, well known franchises, ability to manufacture goods at a low price and innovative products as will be discussed later in this report. Since its computer gaming establishment in 1977 Nintendo has maintained a strong and brand image. This has been supported by their success in quality products such as previous market leaders the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64. The franchises that Nintendo possess such as their gaming icons, Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, etc have enabled them to maintain customer loyalty and recognition. These franchises have also allowed Nintendo to touch on other markets i.e. toy market. Nintendos two major weaknesses would be their dependence on outside contracted manufacturers and lack of games compared to its competitors. Ironically, one of Nintendos strengths would also constitute as one of their biggest weaknesses. The dependence on specific manufacturers leaves Nintendo vulnerable if those manufacturers were to fail or suffer any difficulty in producing the required amount. The inability for manufacturers to supply goods on a timely basis would significantly impact on Nintendos performance as the switching costs between competitors within the industry are relatively low. The unavailability of products would ultimately constitute in loss of market share. OPPORTUNITIES THREATS The main opportunity that Nintendo are exposed to is that the world evolving to which more people are becoming more technologically compatible. People are introduced to technology at an earlier age and are becoming more computer orientated. Another opportunity for Nintendo would be the online gaming support system. It is anticipated that the sale level of gaming consoles will decrease as the number of online gaming subscriptions will increase .This includes the possibilities of introducing newer systems or even upgrading current products to align themselves with current online innovations and to potentially compete against upcoming new competitors. There are a number of threats that Nintendo may or have come across which include counterfeit products, competitors implementing motion detection additions and new companies planning to branch into the gaming industry. Counterfeit products are an issue to which will affect the sales of games. Even though extensive measures have been implemented to prevent such from happening, with time, the market will also manage to find ways around any security imposed. It has already been demonstrated that new technologies have been implemented by competitors which will provide intuitive gaming experiences at almost the same level as Nintendo. That being said this poses as a threat to one of Nintendos competitive advantage being product differentiation. The ever advancing technology market has allowed companies to enter into the gaming market. A major threat would be newer companies indulging into this market with even more advance peripherals and capabilities .A potential threat could be Apple which already have the motion detection and touch screen technology implemented into their iPhone and iPad. Sony took a risk putting the Blu-Ray player into the PS3, whilst Microsoft only offered the HD-Dvd drive as an extra peripheral so they could charge less for their console. This is often touted the main reason the Blu-Ray standard won. There were 5million PS3s in the market and less than 1million HD-Dvd players when Toshiba decided to pull the format. I always emphasise the Nintendo goal of putting smiles on the faces of everyone we touch whenever I visit our Global companies, both in Japan and throughout the world, and I think Im getting the message across. I want everyone at Nintendo to know I expect everything that they do, their every action, to lead to this goalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Although our employees are all over the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ we are all unified to achieving Nintendos corporate mission (-President Satoru Iwata, CRS Report, 2009). As Mr. Iwata said, Nintendo works to put smiles on the faces of everyone we touch (President Satoru Iwata, CSR Report, 2009), which shows that, Nintendo sincerely cares about the video game players, and always strives to bring unforgettable experiences to these consumers through continuous innovation and improvement. This is one of the secrets behind their success. CROSS COMPARISON Why they throve during recession. What do they have in common Particular focus on: Good relationship and communication within the company. Long term orientation Strong commitment for a good brand image [WiiStrategyCanvas.jpg]

The Scaffold Scenes in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Essay -- Scarlet

â€Å"Hester Prynne passed through this portion of her ordeal, and came to a sort of scaffold (51),† Hawthorne tells in the opening seen of the novel, The Scarlet Letter. The scaffold is a place for punishment. â€Å"This scaffold constituted a portion of a penal machine, which now, for two or three generations past, has been merely historical and traditionary among us, but was held, in the old time, to be as effectual an agent in the promotion of good citizenship, as ever was the guillotine,† Hawthorne states in explaining the scaffolds use. The scaffold had wooden steps leading on to it. The steps of the scaffold became the walk of death for many people before they were beheaded. A balcony or open gallery stood over the platform and was attached to the meetinghouse. During Hester’s punishment, the ministers and Governor sat in the gallery in order to question her. The scaffold was located at the â€Å"western extremity† of the market place, near the chur ch. The scaffold was a raised platform made of wood and iron. Men and women who sinned would be forced on the scaffold, either for beheading or, in Hester’s case, extreme embarrassment. The scaffold appears in the book three times, during three major scenes. The scenes are placed equally apart in the book, one at the beginning, in the middle and in the final scene at the end. The first scaffold scene encompasses Hester’s punishment and open confession. While the third scaffold scene includes Dimmesdale's confession. In the second or middle scaffold scene, both Hester and Dimmesdale are on the scaffold in the middle of the night. The scaffold is introduced in the novel for its literal uses, but the scaffold comes to symbolize and embody many other meanings. The scaffold is a symbol of the... ... for his sin. Both in the novel and in everyday use, the scaffold has a certain connotation to it. For instance, a person told that they were going to be scaffolded would most likely be fearful. However, as used scaffolding could simply mean that they were going to be propped up. Likewise, in The Scarlet Letter all Puritans fear chastisement on the scaffold.   In the novel, the scaffold is never used for public speaking or a theatrical performance, but only for the confession of sin. Most Puritans did not realize that the scaffold could have many positive uses. Likewise, to be scaffolded, by definition, is just as likely to be a good action as a bad one. Unfortunately, most historical documentation about the scaffold relates to of executions and punishments. Thus, the word scaffold can do many beneficial things for mankind, yet carries a very negative aura.