Saturday, August 31, 2019

Evolving Through Ignorance Essay

Socrates Cafe, a book written by Christopher Phillips that unfolds his story on facilitating lots of free discussion forum in a lot of different places. But what is Socrates Cafe itself? It is a place; a place for people who wonder, a place for people with different backgrounds to immerse their own self into questions and ideas and dogmas through Socratic Method. Phillips made an effort to revive the condition of what Socrates more than two millennia ago did in Athens. He went through a lot of hard time in order to establish this and to start this out of nothing, which includes abandoning his occupation as a journalist. In this essay I would like to peel in a deep more into one section of the book in which Philips cited Richard Tarnas belief. According to Richard Tarnas, Socrates believed that â€Å"the discovery of ignorance was just the beginning of the philosophical task†, not the end (201) [1]. People believe that being ignorant is a bad thing, as a human being we have to be conscious of everything we do and take responsibilities of our actions. How can we know that we are being ignorant? To discover about our own ignorance to certain things is a stepping-stone for us to improve ourselves, that’s what Socrates believed and I do agree with him. After we are conscious about our own ignorance, we can start to inquire our own self and dig deeper to overcome our assumption about what it takes to be a human being – that’s what philosophical task is about for me. Over the last 10 decades, the Earth average surface temperature has rose by 0. 8  ± 0. 2 ? C, especially over the last 5 decades, the rise had been significant [2]. This kind of improvement tends to create serious problem, globally, not only in particular place. What caused this global warming to happen? The answer is the inhabitants itself, humans had been more and more ignorant about what crisis they face, we know about the fact of this but we choose to ignore it. We don’t accept the fact that we are being ignorant and we believe that we are not. The dominant mechanism of this issue is anthropogenic and mostly the result of human activities. Human increases the atmospheric concentrations of human gases through their industrial wastes. More than hat, we made a global change to the land surface such as deforestation, in order to make more fields for construction. We are being ignorant about what’s happening and continue to fulfill our needs, we are being greedy. So, what can we do in order to overcome this problem? The answer is to discover what we are being ignorant at, just as what Socrates believe as the start of philosophical t ask. By accepting the fact that we are so ignorant about our current condition we can start to make a move to overcome this condition that potentially will be the root of serious problem and make our way towards a better future. For me, the biggest obstacle for this is to overcome our tendency to pursue our goal without thinking about the risks, we tend to think laconically, not being able to imagine about the cause of our action and the impact to our surroundings. We were blinded by the prospect of our goals and its profit and when the problem rises we hide our hands, it’s an ill wind for me to see such an occasion. We ensconce under our own thought that we are doing the right thing whereas in fact we aren’t. In one way, we tried to establish something that contributes to the society but we are also down falling it. It will be better if we can do something while we are not damaging our environment before it’s too late. There’s no time like the present. I think it’s even worse when people aren’t ignorant of certain things and yet still act with ignorance,† John finally offers, â€Å"For instance, when a racist continues to be a racist, yet is aware of the reasons why he’s a racist – perhaps he’s even aware that his racism is illogical because he knows damn well that all of us are 99. 9 percent genetically identical – then that’s even more scary than when people are racist out of sheer ignorance. (204) [3] I have a many more examples about the impact of feigning ignorance and how scary it is. In my home country, there are still a lot of people living in urban slums. The government notices about this but they are not taking any action, because they think they wouldn’t be able to fix this because it’s too severe and widely spread. In my city, over one-fourth of the total citizen live in slums [4] and that’s not a number we can ignore. We really can’t ignore this kind of thing and the government really needs to take actions, instead of being ignorant. Through philosophical inquiry they can get the answers to this problem, and that’s why they need to discover and admit their ignorance before they can start the long journey to fix this. One of the biggest factor and something that has never been able to be resolved from time to time is the corruption in Indonesia. The percentage of corruption in the government reach a peak number of 91% [5] and that’s way too high compared to another countries. I can’t believe that we are still holding on with the 10% leftover from what’s not corrupted to manage the country. Just imagine if the government can eradicate the corruption culture, we would have 10 times of what we have now for our country formation and it would be amazing because we can solve a lot of problems from that. It’s a bigger ignorance if we close our eyes to this. And yes, the government had already established a corruption eradication commission, but they aren’t fruitful and the problem is still there. I think there’s corruption in the commission itself because they are not doing their job well and that makes it a corruption inside a corruption eradication commission, that’s way too ridiculous for me and it’s so hard to accept it. We’ll need a leader that can lead the country to the right path in his honesty and his desire to remove corruption in our country, the one that can reveal how chronic the level of ignorance in the government is. In fact, before I even have a chance to respond, a woman whose booming voice belies her diminutive stature, says â€Å"I don’t think we have a right to be ignorant. I think we have a responsibility to constantly educate ourselves, to make ourselves less ignorant. (201) [6] Quoting it from Socrates Cafe, I wouldn’t agree with her statement about we are not having the right to be ignorant since we actually do. As a human, we have freedom to do whatever we want to do – it’s our own life. What matters is the consequences of our actions, if you choose not to constantly educate yourselves and responsibly develop your talents then you have to shoulder the risks by yourself. You will be getting more and more outdated and you won’t be able to compete with those people who responsibly develop their talents. Socrates was fully aware of his own self – there’s one of his paradox that strikes me, â€Å"I only know that I know nothing†. He never claimed that he’s wise, he knew that there will always be spaces to improve as long as you breathe. Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance†, according to Will Durant Quoted from his Book: The Great Gadfly†, Time magazine, 8 October 1965 (review of The Age of Voltaire by Will and Ariel Durant). There’s no end to our education, we will progressively and continually discover new things over time if we are doing it in a right way. Through ignorance we evolve – we thrive and mature through ignorance. The more we realize that we are lacking in lots of aspects, the more we will be able to see the potential in us. Look. And think. Then look some more. And think some more. Don’t ever stop looking, or thinking† (206) [7]. We have to see the world in many perspectives, and be conceptual – there’s no way that we can learn about something in one go. Doing so will mislead us to misconception and prevent us to think creatively, our creativity will be restricted by our own belief – instead, we have to dive deep into it and broaden our knowledge about it by doing some research so that we can analyze and understand more complicated and abstract ideas. That is one of the reason on why we have to be conscious about our own ignorance and start our own Socratic Inquiry, to be a better person – and to get a better understanding about what it takes to be an entity that will never stop to learn and to grow exponentially. Discover your own ignorance and make it a foundation on building your blocks of life – always think about what changes can you bring to your own life and what do you have to do in order to achieve that – then start your progress enthusiastically so that when death draws near you will know that you are living your life to the fullest and have no regret.

Friday, August 30, 2019

American Education Systems

Imagine a world without words: no reading, no writing, no communication. It is difficult to imagine such a place existing. Surely in this day and age when technology is advancing at a rapid pace and knowledge is the key for success, such a â€Å"communication-less world† has been eliminated. Yet for some people, this imaginary world without words is still a reality. A world of darkness and suffocating ignorance presses in around them leaving few and narrow possibilities for survival in a success-driven society. How do adults and teens end up in circumstances such as these? They simply slipped through the gaps of the American education system, the largest of which is the absence of emphasis on literature. The value of great literature extends far beyond simply reading printed words on a page. Of course the primary focus of reading books, especially at an early age, is to learn how to read. However, as students learn these basic, everyday skills, the possibilities become endless. Great works of literature contain much more than words. Incredible insights into the time period of the author†s life or of the subject on which the author has written are readily available. It is a history lesson without the textbook. History comes alive through reading. Literature also presents the opportunity to learn about new ideas and cultures previously unknown to the reader. Possibly the greatest advantage gained through literature is that students learn to write by constantly reading excellent writings. Overall, a strong emphasis on literature produces a well-rounded individual. The problem with the public education system in this country is that somehow student graduate from high school without ever reading great works of literature. It happens time and time again. Either teachers do not assign students to read excellent literature, or students find one of the many loopholes to escape actually reading anything. The results can be disastrous. It is amazing how many high school students can not write a paper. Some can literally not even write a sentence. There is absolutely no reason why any student in high school should not possess the ability to write a cohesive sentence and even an intelligent paper. Yet it still happens, and it is because students have not read enough and seen enough examples from great authors. The best way to teach students how to write is to show them through literature. It is almost impossible to be a well-read individual and not be able to write well also. Throughout the majority of the twelve years spent in school, my personal education was based primarily on literature. During those seven years, incredible emphasis was placed on reading and also on writing. The schooling received at home was and continues to be invaluable in various ways. Specifically, the study of literature has been invaluable in school and in everyday life. It has been of great assistance in writing all of the many compositions required, and also in recalling specific aspects of history, science, cultures, and more. It is amazing how much easier it is to succeed having this knowledge gained through much reading. The most important change that could ever be made to the public school system is to place a much larger emphasis on literature at all levels of education. All of the difficulties students are experiencing in high school with reading and writing could be avoided if the right steps are taken. Literature must become a main focus. It will greatly aid students in all aspects of school and learning simply to be required to read more. Perhaps they will even begin to love the written word and dive into great literature all on their own.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Internet Small Computer System Interface Essay

A heterogeneous network of both IP-based SAN’s and FCP-based SAN’s should be setup based on a standard naming convention in order to facilitate communication between the client applications and the SAN which stores information. The network architecture should ideally be setup using a naming convention which is simple and precise, whilst facilitating communication between all of the network resources. This technique is based on having a convention which links a variety of technologies together as well as other resources seen on a network. A heterogeneous network consists of various network nodes with various protocols and operating systems in operation together. In the case of a Storage Area Network (SAN), the various operating systems in use on the network need to be able to see the remote storage volumes as if they are locally attached, therefore speed is essential to the successful working of a SAN. The use of a descriptive naming convention is also important as it means problem identification can be made easier and helps to minimize operator errors on the network. There are a number of protocols in operation on every network, and the need for an efficient protocol for SAN use is paramount. The current options for running a SAN are to use standard TCP/IP protocols namely the Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol, or to use a specific protocol called FCP which usually operates over bespoke fiber infrastructure. These protocols are different in the way they operate, however can in fact be used together to improve the performance of a SAN. A naming convention suitable for a TCP/IP based network is very different to a naming convention for an FCP based network. TCP/IP is a network protocol which is used for communication between resources on a standard LAN, however FCP is a protocol which sends SCSI commands via a fiber optic cable to remote storage devices. The iSCSI protocol allows various network storage resources to be identified and used over standard network protocols, which requires compliance with the standard network naming policy, yet which enables the specific nature of their operation to be identified. Naming conventions for the LAN and SCSI storage devices should comply with standard network naming conventions. The servers and iSCSI devices which operate on a network should be been named in compliance with a standard policy and should be unique on the switch fabric of the network. Standard SAN naming conventions should be created with a few factors in mind, each component should be named based on its physical location, what it connects to, which database it is used by, and another unique field of identification. Naming conventions are important because they can save administrators time and effort, and must be created whilst considering many factors. Initially there must be a system whereby network names are created centrally and uniquely so that duplicate records are not made. This naming approach must be consistent throughout the network, and it must be applied across the entire organization regardless of location or operation. This element of the naming convention helps to prevent the duplicity or confusion of network names and is required to enable a high performance network to operate. This issue is not so important when dealing with an FCP-based SAN, because the devices are connected by a separate network of fiber which cannot usually be accessed by resources on the standard network which do not use specific applications or databases. In conclusion the operation of a storage area network relies on speed and an efficient and effective naming system which is able to be managed, diagnosed and repaired where necessary in the simplest and most cost effective way possible. This must be done consistently when using the standard TCP/IP protocol, however specific FCP SAN protocol allows for a much simpler convention.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Theory and Practice Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Theory and Practice - Research Paper Example For instance, studies in mathematics and sciences have shown that better performance emanates from depth rather than breadth (Cogan & Schmidt, 2002). Teaching is termed successful, if students learn what has been taught. Therefore, this paper focuses on what students are learning. It is subdivided into three sections: the role of assessment in the context of instruction, most essential and long lasting concepts the students should be taught and, finally, the role of assessments. Beginning from looking at the role of assessment in the context of instruction, assessment is supposed to be developed to fit the learning targets set for the students in order to be supportive to the students. It should be consistent with methods of instruction as poor connection among learning targets. Instructions and assessment only amount to more than confusion and frustration leading to anger and despair. Learning is accompanied by a cognitive change and behavioral experience among people. Contrary to w hat teachers believe, much of what students learn come from experiences outside school rather than from classroom. Therefore, an ideal relationship should be established among learning targets, instructions and assessment. ... In determining what students are to learn, it best begins with one’s knowledge of the subject combined with their values as an educator. No time is sufficient for a student to learn all that is required of them. Factory model of schooling in which teachers rush to cover a topic after topic leaves little or no time for internalizing ideas and making the concepts gained a solid part of the student’s cognitive and behavioral experience. Students retain little of what is taught in courses that is based on content coverage other than deep understanding of the concepts. In the event that students cannot learn all that is taught, wise choices ought to be made about what is possible in a given fixed time. Learning goals and learning objectives are the terms used as labels for statements about what teachers want students to learn. Learning goals reflect ultimate aims of schooling; whereas, learning objectives focus more on knowledge and skills that help students attain their goa ls. The term subject areas are used to refer to conventional titles of content taught in school, while discipline refers to fields or study and work. Four questions can assist in framing learning goals for teaching and these include: evaluating the dimensions of the subject are to be taught, the chief aspects of these subject areas to students of a certain year and the level of sophistication. Students can, hence, continue working on the broad goals after moving to other teachers. The third question is the knowledge and skills within the discipline that will help students understand the working of other people in the field, the knowledge of people in the field that makes them successful and their

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Statistics assignment Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assignment - Statistics Project Example where X1 , X2 , X3 are the three test scores and X is the final score. Assume that your test scores are (integer) values between 1 and 10 with equal probability 1/10, independently from each other. What is the probability mass function of the final score? Q6. (10) The metro train arrives at the station, always on time, near your home every quarter hour starting at 6:00 AM. You walk into the station every morning between 7:10 and 7:30 AM, with the time in this interval being a uniform random variable. The mean is the most commonly-used measure of central tendency in a distribution. The mean is valid only for interval data. Since it uses the values of all of the data points in the populations or sample, the mean is influenced by outliers that may be at the extremes of the data set. On the other hand, the median can be determined for ordinal data as well as interval data. Unlike the mean, the median is not influenced by outliers at the extremes of the data set. Q8. (10) A system consists of 3 components arranged in series. The lifetime (in days) of each component follows approximately an exponential distribution with a mean lifetime of 100 days. The lifetimes of the components are independent. Where p1(x, ï  ¬), p2(x, ï  ¬), p3(x, ï  ¬) are three independent exponential distributions in parallel. After some algebra and if we take q as any of the three independent exponential distributions, q = p1 or q = p2, q = q3, q = ï  ¬

Strategies to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Paper

Strategies to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Research Paper Example   Such policies set by developed and developing nations that are members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have been fundamental in articulating measures to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The UK, for instance, initiated its 2010 to 2015 policy on greenhouse gas emissions (Committee on Climate Change, 2015). The U.S has policies aimed at reducing the level of emission of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2013). EPA proposed emission standards to be recognized by states (ALEC, 2014; Utech, 2014). President Obama’s action plan on climate change also articulate measures to reduce carbon emission levels (US Climate Action Network, 2014). Besides, similar policies in other IPCC member countries have been instrumental in articulating measures to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, UNEP launched a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (UNEP, 2011). The WMO, in coordination with UNEP, initiated the IPCC in 1988 with the mandate to regulate global warming. Under the panel, member countries work on a global policy strategy to reduce climate change and manage its influence following the agreements drafted at Lima, Peru. The draft by the nations stipulates that developing and developed countries would be responsible for fighting against global warming under different circumstances (Nordhaus, 2011). However, policies set by IPCC member countries have not proved as viable strategies to combat climate change.   

Monday, August 26, 2019

Predictive sales Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Predictive sales Report - Essay Example The upswings in the economy usually offer a rush of expanding the business; on the contrary, downward economy results in low business transaction. In strong economies, business enjoys greater prosperity. Along with that, it is also necessary to consider the other economical indicators of a state in order to exactly determine the scenario (Albuquerque & Vega, 2009). In this report, the economic condition of South Carolina will be highlighted and on the basis of that the retailer will be recommended to stock the inventory. In addition to recommend the appropriate stock inventory, the study also intends to formulate a predictive sales report. In order to shed light on the economic condition of the state, the most important factor that will be considered is the unemployment rate of the state. The unemployment rate will be the factor that will be stressed more. Studies have shown that the unemployment rate of a country has significant impact on the overall trade of a country. Unemployment Rate as an Economic Indicator During recessionary phases, the unemployment rate rises to its maximum level. For example, the unemployment rate during booming and normal phases is far below in comparison with the unemployment rate during recession. The 1975 depression saw global unemployment rate reaching 8.9%. ... The unemployment rate is also considered as the relative measure of the jobs available for employment and the tightness or slack of the labor market. Therefore, the unemployment rate of a state plays imperative roles in presenting the economic scenario of state and is acting as an alarm for the administration and government (Balduzzi, Elton & Green, 2001). Nowadays, business houses have also taken immense interests in the latest unemployment rates of a country or state so as to determine the chances of success for the business. This is principally because the unemployment rate is directly associated with the consumer spending. Thus, more unemployment rate will obviously lead to low customer traffic and reduced business transaction. Since, this report seeks to throw light on the economic scenario of South Carolina so as to recommend an overall inventory stock to the client, involved in physical retailing business, stressing more on the unemployment rate is fully justified. Presentatio n of the Data The data will be gathered from the website of the Job and Labor Statistics. In order to analyze the requirements of the inventory; the study will mainly consider the unemployment rate of South Carolina and along with that overall economic scenario of the state. A trend will be developed and on the basis of that inventory stock will be recommended. The findings of data are presented below: - Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2003 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.8 6.9 6.9 7.0 6.9 6.8 6.8 6.7 2004 6.7 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 2005 6.9 6.9 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.9 6.8 6.7 2006 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 2007 5.9 5.7 5.6

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Glo bus simulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Glo bus simulation - Essay Example technologies ever cognizant that the imaging industry evolves so quickly that emerging technology could easily render a prevailing technology obsolete and irrelevant. A5 Digital Camera Co. also caters to market where it can strategically position its product favorably that would highlight its advantages as a company allowing it to profit and grow while developing new technologies as a foresight to the ever changing future. The markets that A5 Digital Camera identified where it can leverage its position are both the end-user hobbyist and the professional photographer. These markets prove to be favorable to A5 Digital Camera due to its sheer size and relatively new market considering that digital camera industry is still relatively in its nascent stage. The room to explore new market among end users is still considerable allowing further growth for the company. In addition, it can still develop new markets of which A5 Digital Camera could be a pioneer by introducing new technologies that is considered cutting edge in the digital imaging industry. To ensure that the market will remain relevant in the market, A5 Digital Camera will develop its core competencies and product lines to make each and every process in the company create value for the customer. A5 Digital Camera will also continue to seek new markets and identify areas in the market that has not been fully covered or served by the competitors. Better yet, identify markets that have not been discovered by the competitors. These markets will provide invaluable opportunities for A5 Digital Camera to dominate these markets and acquire market share with the least competition. In addition to seeking emerging and unexplored markets, A5 Digital Camera will also identify markets that have few competitions and ventured by small players where A5 Digital Camera can exploit its size and advantages to challenge the existing players. This will allow A5 Digital Camera to acquire new markets and/or widen its market

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Monetary Control Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Monetary Control - Coursework Example It is very interesting to note that a bank losses money when a loan is repaid. The currency is destroyed and disappears from the economy entirely. Open Market Operations are one of the primary tools that the Federal Reserve employs to accomplish its monetary policy objectives (Axilrod, n.d.). They entail the acquiring and selling of government securities. The Federal Reserve has no power to choose whom it engages in business activities. The primary dealers operate on a price basis to gain access to the open market operations. Open Market Operations facilitate the Federal Reserve to influence the supply the reserve balances in the banking system. The effect is on short-term interest rates to spread to other monetary policy targets (Axilrod, n.d.). Open Market Operations allow central banks the flexibility to manage the volume of financial operations on their initiative. The domestic trading desk of the Federal Bank of New York under the supervision of the Federal Open Market Committee conducts open market transactions (Axilrod, n.d.). The federal funds rate does respond to changes in demand for and supply of the reserves in the banking system. It, therefore, shows a good sign of the existence of credit in an

Friday, August 23, 2019

Principal of business Leadership Research Paper

Principal of business Leadership - Research Paper Example Business leadership is a process of organizational influence in which a single person or a group of people can enlist the support and aid of others in the business organization so as to accomplish its common goals and objectives. Leaders may not have formal authority but have the power to drive people to do something so as to achieve a common goal or task. Any business, no matter the size, requires effective leadership. For this reason, many scholars have come up with numerous principles to guide business leaders on how they can be effective in their leadership roles and responsibilities. This essay will discuss the principles of business leadership that effective business leaders should abide by. This paper will focus on how to be an effective business leader. There are very many scholarly and non-scholarly sources that talk about what makes an effective business leader (Frey, Kern, Snow & Curlette p 212). Most sources that are reviewed in this essay link the success and performance of a business organization with effective business leadership. The performance of a business organization is also closely associated to specific leaders of that particular organization. Hersey, Paul, Blanchard, Ken and Johnson (55) argue that the influence of effective business leaders is very powerful and can never be ignored. Business leadership requires individuals who have the capacity to influence others positively towards the realization (Kaiser, Hogan and Craig p 96). That is why effective business leaders are guided by business leadership principles as they execute their leadership roles. This principle calls for a business leader to be clear on what they want to ‘be’, ‘do’, ‘have’ and ‘know’. In being clear on what a business leader want to be, he or she should know what he/she is. This means that he/she should identify his/her beliefs and values so as to understand

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Individual Assignment Current Events in Business Essay Example for Free

Individual Assignment Current Events in Business Essay Write a 300-word summary of the business research process by describingthe business research process from your experience in the workplace or in an article you find through the University Library. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. You can meet lots of people by taking advantage of orientation social events. Heading off to a college where you know no one can be a daunting and isolating experience. By participating in social activities right away, you will be able to meet others who are in the same boat and looking to make friends.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Shakespeares treatment of evil in Macbeth Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares treatment of evil in Macbeth Essay It is clear right from the beginning of the play that the witches play a key role in the play. The opening scene shows the witches planning their meeting with Macbeth. Not only does this scene hold suspense and capture the audiences attention from the start of the play, it sets the atmosphere also. They meet on a moor in thunder and lightening, this portrays an evil image. This is how Shakespeare portrays evil at the start of the play. Shakespeare used rhyming couplets for lovers and magical characters, as well as at the end of a scene to round it off. The Witches speak this certain way to stress their mysteriousness and sense of confusion. Some of their lines contradict each other and this can be very effective and powerful. All: Fair is foul, and foul is fair Hover through the fog and filthy air. (1.1) This is to emphasise the witches hate for good, and love for evil. Also, this would have caused tension among an Elizabethan audience. Witches were believed to be associated with the evil powers of Hell, and that they had diabolical powers and could take demonic power over anybody they chose. The image of them being able to fly would frighten them. In the Royal Shakespeares Companys production, starring Anthony Sher and Harriet Walter, the witches are shown as extremely mentally unhinged and deranged. They run around Macbeth and Banquo as they tell them their prophecies. Their evil is portrayed by the camera shots used, and fuzzy effects that a stage performance could not achieve. This gives them a sense of mystery. The theatre production I saw did not have a very effective or powerful opening. The witches seemed disturbed but I felt they spoke too quickly, this could have been connected with evil forces, but I feel that if the audience did not know the script very well, it could be confusing. Though I felt the parts of the witches were not acted very well, they did depict their power over Lady Macbeth very well. This was achieved in the unsex me here speech in Act One, Scene Five. The witches were shown behind Lady Macbeth in green light, which both created an eerie atmosphere but showed that perhaps they were the evil behind all of Macbeth and Lady Macbeths plans. Maybe they had some control over what was happening. In the witches foul is fair and fair is foul speech, it was sung in a way that made them sound very mentally disturbed. They also did mysterious movements with their arms. Both of these actions made the scene more powerful and interesting for the audience, and also created a feeling of evil and the unknown. The witches were not only in the play to put emphasis on evil; Shakespeare had intended to please King James I, which Macbeth was performed before. The king was very fascinated by witchcraft at the time, but witches were feared by almost everyone during the reign of Elizabeth I, as England was a Christian country, that believed literally in Heaven and Hell and as they thought that witches were associated with Hell, witches must have been evil, and if they were anything to do with them, they were to be condemned to eternity in Hell. Hundreds of people, many women were convicted as witches and tortured and executed. Towards the beginning of the play, King Duncan, his sons, and Lennox meet a captain who was wounded from a battle. Macbeth is well spoken of, and even though the audience have not yet seen Macbeth himself, they are given the impression he is a noble and respectable man. The captain tells of Macbeths victory in having captured the Thane of Cawdor, a traitor to the king. Hearing this, Duncan is overjoyed with Macbeth and gives Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor for himself. For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name) Distaining Fortune, with his brandishd steel, Which Smokd with bloody execution, (Like Valours minion) carvd out his passage. Captain (1.2) Macbeth therefore has good qualities at the beginning of the play that makes his abrupt change terrifying. He is simply a human being with human weaknesses, particularly his ambition, which makes him vulnerable when it comes to being tempted be the idea of having power He does not seem evil at all at the beginning of the play, infact he seems very far from it. He is a man who, as Lady Macbeth says: Too full o th milk of humane kindness to catch the nearest way. (1.5) From the opening scene, Macbeth is chosen as a target for temptation by the witches. This suggests that perhaps he was not an evil person, but just a victim of his ambition and moral weaknesses. He is tempted when he first meets the three witches when they say that he was to be king. But when Macbeth is told that he had been made Thane of Cawdor, he asks: The Thane of Cawdor lives, why do you dress me in borrowed robes? (1.3) This seems to suggest that at the stage, Macbeth wants no honour that is not rightfully his? At first, Macbeth does not want to murder Duncan, as his fears were that he would be eternally damned, especially as Duncan was a good king to his country. But eventually, ambition takes over and he does not let his thoughts get in the way. The witches are not the only reason for why Macbeth becomes so unhinged and obsessed with the idea of becoming king. Lady Macbeth was very responsible for Macbeths decision to kill Duncan; it was she, who mocked Macbeth when he did not want to carry on with their plans to kill him. Lady Macbeth says: When you durst do it, then you were a man: And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. (1.7) Lady Macbeth is an extremely strong and power craving woman. She is tremendously ambitious for herself and who is astute enough to recognise her husbands strengths and weaknesses, and also ruthless enough to make the most of them, this is shown when as she mocks him when he did not want to murder. The idea of becoming queen is incredibly tempting to her, and she realises that without her, he will never win the Crown. She therefore calls on the powers of darkness for his and her sake. Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty (1.5) Lady Macbeth describes in violent terms what she herself would be prepared to do in this situation, she explains how willing she would be to kill for the Throne, by stating that she would go as far as murdering her own child if necessary. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, And dashd the brains out, had I so sworn As you have done to this. (1.7) The idea she expresses here certainly fits perfectly with the fair is foul and foul is fair speech. This shows that appearances may be deceitful. Lady Macbeth seemed like a very feminine, weak lady. This is shown when the murder of Duncan had just been discovered, Macduff says to Lady Macbeth: O gentle Lady, Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: The repetition in a womans ear, Would murther as it fell (2.3) She is also a very cautious criminal; she remembers details well such as in Act Two, Scene two, when Macbeth had just murdered Duncan, he forgets to leave the daggers back to the scene of the crime. Macbeth, at this point, is shocked after what he had just done. He is frightened, and very guilty, he is not in the state to return the daggers. So Lady Macbeth does it for him to cover their tracks. Not only does she influence Macbeth to such actions, but she is ambitious enough to finish off any things he had begun. At this stage, Macbeth still has a conscience, he panics after he had sinned. Ill go no more: I am afraid, to think of what I have done: Look ont again, I dare not. (2.2) But as time passes, he realises he will have to carry on killing people to cover up the truth that it was him who murdered Duncan. One of those people was his friend, Banquo, who knew about the witches prophecies. Banquo was suspicious, as he had always thought the witches were misleading Macbeth in some way. If anyone knew who had killed Duncan, it would be Banquo. Macbeth therefore needed to rid of him, and also his son, Fleance, as it was said by the witches that he would also become king. First Witch: Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Second Witch: Not so happy, yet much happier. Third Witch: Thou shalt get Kings, though thou be none. (1.3) This is the point where Macbeth gets carried away with his ambition. He tries to stop what the witches said would happen. This is proved impossible when Fleance flees from the murders, leaving his father, dying. Macbeth carries on murdering innocent people including Lady Macduff and her son. Macbeth returns to the witches to hear more of what was going to happen, in Act Four, Scene One. His ambition had already taken over by then. He is obsessed with keeping the throne. The apparitions one by one tell him bad news, but Macbeth is over confident and is now almost certain he would not be defeated. The power of man: for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. Macbeth shall never vanquishd be, until Great Birnam Wood, to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him. Apparitions two and three (4.1) Again, not all things are what they seem. This is again, another example of the half-truths that Shakespeare uses. They play a large role in Macbeth, and are what was used to draw Macbeth into doing evil deeds. Evil is also emphasized by clothing in productions and films. In the production that I saw, and in the RSC production, the actors were wearing mostly black all of the time. Lighting was very effective in the live performance; green lighting was used for the witches which gave a supernatural atmosphere. Smoke was also used to create a feeling of mystery in the opening scene. The consequences of evil develops drastically throughout the whole play, starting off with doubts and indecisions, and ending with empty, ruthless cruelty. If Macbeth is viewed as a psychological study of a murderers mind, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both show symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is defined as a psychotic disorder characterised by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought, and conducts. They may also hallucinate, and can not distinguish between what is real and what is not. Macbeth imagines Banquos ghost at the dinner. This scene was done very effectively in the live performance. Banquo appeared onstage, and slipped in and out of the stage through the iron gates, which normally, the actors would have to open to walk through. Stepping through the gate broke the boundaries and gave a very supernatural edge to the scene. Some schizophrenics withdraw emotionally, for example, their outlook on life is deadened and they show little or no warmth. This is exactly what happens to Macbeth near the end of the play. I have livd long enough; my way of life Is falln into the sear, the yellow leaf. I have almost forgot the taste of fears (5.5) Lady Macbeth is so mentally disturbed by what she and her husband have done that she cannot sleep peacefully, resulting in her sleep walking. This signifies that she can not get it out of her head, and she is beginning to become crazy because of it. She is even re-acting some of the past out, including the letter writing, which symbolises the letter that her loving husband wrote to her to inform her of the news that he was to be king. She feels unclean after touching the daggers and the blood of the king. She has hallucinations that her hands are covered in blood and that she cannot remove the smell of blood from her hands either. Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him. The Thane of Fife, had a wife: where is she now? What will these hands neer be clean? Heres the smell of blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. (5.2) She also knows her husband is getting out of control, and she feels that it is all getting unbearable. This is first shown when Macbeth is planning to kill Banquo. Lady Macbeth tries to discourage him, but fails: Lady Macbeth: You must leave this. Macbeth: O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife: Thou knowst, that Banquo and his Fleance lives. (3.2) It is towards her death, when she is seriously psychologically damaged by the events. Shakespeare shows this through the way that she speaks. While throughout most of the play, Lady Macbeth spoke in unrhymed iambic pentameter. At the end when she was sleep talking, she spoke in prose, which showed how disjointed her mind was: Wash you hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale: I tell you yet again Banquos buried; he cannot come out ons grave. (5.1) In conclusion, I think Macbeth was extremely influenced by the witches. They were the main reason for spread of evil. There is certainly with little doubt, without the witches, and their prophecies, Macbeth would not have murdered Duncan. Though the witches were the main reason, the others was also his ambition, his weakness to temptation, and the power his wife had over him to tempt him to do what his conscience knew was wrong. Lady Macbeth is incredibly determined, and powerful, and eventually, the two of them lost their passion they had for each other because of their evil deeds and desire for control Your hand, your tongue, look like th innocent flower, But be the serpent under t. He thats coming, Must be provided for: and you shall put This nights business into my dispatch, Which shall to all out nights, and days to come, Give solely sovereign swat, and masterdom. Lady Macbeth. (1.5) Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which oerleaps itself, And falls on th other. Macbeth (1.7)

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

IKEAs Marketing and Expansion Strategy Analysis

IKEAs Marketing and Expansion Strategy Analysis This report is a follow on from the in class IKEA presentation based on the IKEA case study IKEA-Managing global expansion. Being a multinational successful organisation there would be various corners to look at in order to analyse IKEA however this report will focus on the analysis of IKEAs globalization and internationalization models, as well as key opportunities and threats faced by IKEA and their cultural web and how it supports their current strategies. Overview of the furniture market Based on Mintel research database, the sales of furnishings and houseware in the top 25 global economies generate annual revenues of more than $270 billion. However the sales of furniture were hit hard in 2008 and 2009 by a combination of fewer housing transactions and the recession. With the exception of IKEA, US companies (Furniture Village, Homebase, DFS etc) dominate the global home furnishings landscape, yet the worlds most lucrative regional market is still Europe. Buying furniture nowadays is not as simply organised as in the past where you just had to take what was available from the few retailers and wait weeks before it was delivered. Today competition is all about offering the right product, for the right money, in the right way. Just under half of adults (25 million) look for lasting quality when buying furniture. Retailers need to prove their quality with customer reviews and demonstrating how items can stand up to heavy usage especially in households with kids. Service is important and four in ten adults are influenced by the presence of knowledgeable and helpful staff when choosing between stores. The role of staff has shifted from one of a sales person to be one of consultant. Further visiting showrooms is a key part of the buying process for furniture as it gives the customer an idea about their wanted environment however focus remains on price. Overview of the company IKEA Group is a global and privately-held retailer of Scandinavian (Swedish) designed home furniture and accessories and now retailer of its own food label. Their products range focuses on good design, good quality and function at a low price. In the mid-2000s the company was leader in the flat-pack furniture business generating annual sales of 21.5 billion euros. The company has the biggest market share in the UK. It operates about 301 stores overall in 36 countries most of them in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The company was founded by Mr. Ingvar Kamprad in 1943 and although partly controlled by the Kamprad family, it is under the ownership of the Stichting INKGA group, a charitable foundation registered in the Netherlands. IKEAs main UK competitors include Asda, Argos, Debenhams, Next, Tesco, John Lewis etc. The Difference between Internationalisation and globalization Globalisation entails all the operations undertaken by an organisation that envisions itself present in many countries worldwide. IKEAs past globalisation strategy was based on one design fits all which meant that initially they did not adapt to the local markets. However as they expanded in Japan and the US they soon realised that they had to tailor made their products to fit the countrys specifications and requirements if they wanted to succeed. For instance, the US customer preferred big and ample furniture and houseware while in Japan they looked for small and simple items to fit their small living environments. In opposition internationalization is at the other end of the globalization as it takes into consideration what each particular market has to offer and not what the company has to offer to the market. IKEAs strategy has adapted over the years in a way that they think globally and act locally. IKEAS INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGY Key Opportunities IKEAs main strength is its international brand recognition built up on low product prices and design. Its product portfolio caters for most lifestyles and budgets. The implementation of cost leadership strategy in order to penetrate new markets is a definite strength and opportunity IKEAs costs were/are approximately 30%-50% below competition prices. The costs of transportation were cut by 80% by providing furniture in flat packs. By offering simple and modern designs and by introducing cash and carry and self service concepts, IKEAs stores were guaranteed a success. After investigating the German market IKEA took advantage of the poor organisational strategy of the existing furniture dealers in the country and changed its operations by providing customers immediate delivery of quality goods at low prices when they opened their Munich store. Their West German market has expanded through aggressive advertising despite the challenges encountered by the law suits initiated by its competitors and trade associations. In the UK, IKEA provided unique products, low prices and cashcarry service. In this way the firm achieved competitive advantage over its existing competitors that were taking as long as 3 months to deliver the goods. Opposed to their competition, IKEA demonstrated efficiency and skill. As mentioned previously, in their US placement IKEA had to adapt their product range to suit the requirements of the American market. They redesigned the store layout to provide more directions and shortcuts for customers who opposed to the idea of wandering through the store. They also increased the size of their beds, bed linens, sofas, armchairs etc., as the European sizes were too small for the American customer. In addition they also offered a customization of their products. Further their US expansion IKEA made a bold move by opening a mega store in Chicago with a new layout (double the size of a normal IKEA store). It had 3 levels that included a self service warehouse, customer service and cafe on the first floor as well as a showroom and a market place on the other floors. From there on the stored were designed to improve the direction and flow of customers. IKEA also offered home delivery and assembly for an extra charge. The US expansion was a success due to these measures and strategy adaptation despite their competition continuously replicating IKEAs products. Threats The organisations main weakness is that they are very much reliant on the European market where 82% of its stores are located. The threat here is represented by the competition as IKEAs methods have been copied by other retailers that have introduced similar product ranges at low prices. Market saturation is another threat as with the development of e-commerce in each European country customers can compare prices, reviews and switch to alternative suppliers if necessary. Further threats are represented by the recession in Europe as well as the adverse effect of a weak dollar on sales in the US. Political and economical instability of the Chinese and Russian markets are also a potential threat since IKEA is planning on expanding in these two markets. However IKEA is successfully counteracting its main weakness (over reliance in Europe) with its key opportunity expansion in the emerging markets in Asia and Eastern Europe. The Cultural Web and the Organisational Culture The organizational culture describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural values) of an organization which define its environment or it can simply describehow things are done around here To analyse IKEAs cultural web we need to use the Cultural Web model. The Cultural Web identifies six elements that help to make up the paradigm the pattern or model of the work environment. By analyzing the factors in each, we can see: what is working, what isnt working, and what needs to be changed. Stories The hero in the company is Ingvar Kamprad seen by the employees as a visionary who worked hard, lived simply and gave an example to all. In fact IKEA is all about the Swedishness a simple culture with simple values such as humbleness, simplicity, teamwork etc. The brand image varies in different countries depending on the countrys culture. eg: in Sweden (low priced, low quality brand), UK (poor service) etc. Rituals and Routines The Company strongly believes in staying close to its customers. In fact every store is a parent-friendly environment people come first. However IKEA is also focused on its people and their working way. Employees dress informally and work in a relaxed office environment with open plan floors. On their website IKEA remarks that A career in IKEA is not a ladder, is what and where you make it. They expect teamwork and mistakes as long as the employee learns from them. However IKEA is also about making the impossible in cost cutting. In fact, staff travelled economy and took buses or stayed in hostels. There are wall stickers to turn off lights, taps and computers after each use. Stores that cut costs the most receive a reward from the management. Symbols It is normal to find the same features in every IKEA store. For instance, all shop floor staff dress in uniform (yellow blue) for the Swedish flag colours. There is a restaurant, a food hall a childrens corner as well as little shopping helps such as pencil, paper, shopping bag, and tape measure. As mentioned previously, IKEA is all about Swedishness and focus on a minimalistic and simple design delivered in their custom flat packs. Their main symbol is the brand name and the brand colours all significative of Sweden and their Swedish founder Kamprad. Organisational Structure Typical of IKEAs organisation is their informal management which is presented in a non-hierarchical and caring manner. There is typically only 3 hierarchical levels of responsibility between the store manager and the employee. Every month there is the so called Anti-bureaucrat week where management spend a whole week in the warehouses and stockrooms. Appropriate training programmes are given to all company management. However as always on IKEA s organisational structure is their focus on cost cutting and as such they incite all designers and material buyers on cost reductions. Control Systems At the centre of the IKEAs control systems is quality control. Emphasis is put on delivering good quality, sturdy furniture that passes their standards. Further way to control their operations is by making sure that the management works closely with the staff making also sure that their warehouses are correctly labelled in their products. Rewards are given to the stores that generate more profit and that cut more costs considering that one of the principles of IKEAs strategy is cost cutting. Power Structures Senior management was predominantly Scandinavian and only in the last 5 years the strategy of only forwarding employees who were Scandinavian or Swedish speaking into management has changed. However all employees are involved the individual store operations and encouraged in their work thanks to their friendly management strategy. Employees are in fact egged on to take responsibilities in order to assess their performance; their ideal is that every employee is important to IKEAs success. The Paradigm IKEAs cultural web supports its current strategy. In the past IKEA favoured the Sweds for managerial programmes but in the last 5 years international career management is now seen essential to sustaining international growth but more steps and measures need to be taken to ensure that other backgrounds are fitted into the managerial programmes. The organizational career culture supports the corporate strategy with suitable structure and rewards. IKEAs cultural values are things like informality, cost consciousness and a very humble and down to earth approach as passed down by Kamprad along with responsibility and teamwork and ensuring that their employees are highly motivated and committed. Cultural and Corporate Strategy Changes Put more emphasis and work on employees of other nationalities/backgrounds in order to create a multicultural environment by having a diverse management and strengthen IKEAs corporate view being a multinational group. Since all IKEAs stores are out of the city centres many customers in the big metropolis do now own a car or have suitable transportation in order to be able to shop in IKEA therefore a possible strategy change could entail IKEA to have smaller retail outlets near city centres perhaps selling furniture on catalogue but definitely having stock in-store for houseware and smaller items. Many IKEA competitors offer free delivery on orders above a certain amount; as we have previously shown competition is fierce in Europe therefore this measure could ensure that the profit is taken by putting a minimum spending limit in order to qualify for free delivery (e.g. free delivery on orders above 150 GBP or more) and would therefore open IKEA to more budget oriented customers. Another suggestion to attract more customers would be to have quick assembly tips/class in store for the non-diy oriented customers. IKEA is all about self service but not many customers are skilled to deal with DIY and assembly. This measure would make sure that their products are opened to every type of customer. Self service warehouse and furniture pick up places all contain some long numbers in regards to the desired item. Perhaps IKEA could implement a new system where warehouses havelabels, not numbers making it easier on customers. (e.g. Section: Chairs. Aisle-3, Type: Victa) Conclusions IKEAs main strategies remain the same; success is ensured by adopting aggressive price strategies and aggressive advertising as well as a wide product range unlike any competitor at the moment. Service however needs to come to focus to improve customer purchasing and still maintain their market position as other cheaper players are entering the market such as the supermarkets. Is getting any bigger better?

My Choices and Commitments Essay -- Personal Narrative Essay Example

In pondering what my life will be like when I am finished with college, I have to consider the rapid life-changing events and choices that I am facing now at the age of 17. In a short span of time I have had to make a decision about my future career and, based on that decision, choose where I would go to college. I realize that I am in a crucial part of my life now, and that the commitments I make today will drastically affect my status ten years from now. It's a known fact that the majority of teenagers' decisions are inadvertently made based on the order of their priorities. Priorities at age 17 are not the same as those that one will have at age 27 or older. Since no one has written instructions for perfect living, bad decisions and irresponsible errors are prominent. My past four years in high school have helped me learn from my mistakes and have also given me time to prioritize. Time management has allowed me to participate in school athletics and other extra curricular activities and still remain at the top of my class. Now that I am at the point where graduation is simply weeks away, I am beginning to feel pressure about the major decisions I have made and will make in the next few months of my life. Since I am already set as far as college plans, (I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), the major worries are yet to come. In the next four years of my life I will encounter a variety of diverse people, lifestyles, beliefs and cultures. Though not all of these experiences will be negative, I realize how important it is that I go to college with my standards, priorities, and morals secure. I know that how I choose to live, learn and succeed will directly impact the quality of the rest of ... ...h both my peers and the school administration and staff. This reputation came about because of choices I made years ago. My church youth group has been a wonderful way to learn about community service. Seeing others who are disadvantaged, ill or needy has taught me the importance of caring for others and to be thankful for my own good health and stable family situation. Through committing myself to these various activities, I have been able to help people, as well as help myself. I have learned the importance of teamwork, gained leadership skills, and learned how to humble myself to serve others. These interactions introduced opportunities that have helped prepare me for greater things. Ten years from now, I will be able to say that the hard work was worth it, the determination paid off, and that my priorities took me to the status that I aspired to achieve.

Monday, August 19, 2019

A Raisin in the Sun Character Analysis Essay -- essays research papers

The play â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry has many interesting characters. In my opinion, the most fascinating character is Ruth because of her many emotions and captivating personality. She goes through extreme emotions in the play such as happiness, sadness, anger, stress, and confusion. Ruth is very independent, firm, kind, witty, and loving.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ruth has an intriguing personality. She is very loving towards her family. She will do all in her power to improve the lifestyle of her family. When it appears that the deal for the house in Clybourne Park will fall through, she promises to dedicate all of her time to make the investment work. â€Å"Lena-I’ll work†¦ I’ll work 20 hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago†¦I’ll strap my baby on my back if I have to and scrub all the floors and wash all the sheets in America if I have to-but we have to MOVE!† she pleads to her mother-in-law (Hansberry140). Her plan is unrealistic and idealistic, but the well being of her family is more important to her than anything. Ruth is also witty and sarcastic at times. She cracks jokes to lighten the mood of her family when they’re worried. â€Å"Well that’s the way the cracker crumbles. Joke. (121)† When Beneatha and Mama are stressing over the neighborhood they are moving into, Ruth makes a witty joke to improve the mood. Ruth supervises the daily routine and well being of her family. She makes sure that everyone does what they are supposed to and stays on track. ...

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Physics of Firearms Essay -- physics gun guns firearm ballistics

Shooting is a popular activity and it is enjoyed by many people, so much so that it is also done at a competitive level. Although many people may have shot a firearm of some sort, few of those people actually realize how much physics is involved with the shot. So what exactly is Ballistics? Ballistics is the science or study of the motion of projectiles and in the case of most firearms, these projectiles are the bullets. There are two things that affect the flight of a bullet once it has been shot out of the gun. These things are the drag of air on the bullet and the force of gravity acting upon the bullet. The force of gravity acting upon the bullet is always in a constant direction, which is down, at a rate of 9.81m/s^2. However, the force of air drag on the bullet is not always in a constant direction. This is because the trajectory of the bullet changes, so the direction of air drag on the bullet also changes. So what is it that determines the trajectory of the bullet once it has left the barrel? Aside from gravity, it is the weight, shape, and velocity of the bullet...

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Fast food Resturents in India Essay

1. INTRODUCTION Globally, there is a growing demand for food away from home as a result of higher incomes, changes in consumption patterns, changes in household composition, and the time pressures created by dual-working families. The foodservice industry has become highly competitive as the number of foodservice outlets has increased to meet the demand. In order to succeed in such a competitive industry, restaurant operators need to understand the factors (and their relative importance) that influence restaurant patrons’ decision when selecting a restaurant This research investigates consumer choice using the consumer decision-making process as a framework and identifies the factors that influence the decisions of consumers in the upscale, ethnic segment of the foodservice industry. This chapter reviews the relevant literature about consumers and services, the consumer decision making process model, and previous studies in consumers’ restaurant selection behavior. Furthermore, the int errelationships between customer satisfaction, food quality, service quality and choice intentions are discussed. Lastly, the restaurant choice factors, dining occasion, and demographic characteristics are reviewed. 1.1 FASTFOOD Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a packaged form for take-out/take-away. 1.2 CUSTOMER CHOICE In microeconomics, the theory of consumer choice relates preferences (for the consumption of both goods and services). Preferences are the desires by each individual for the consumption of goods and services that translate into choices based on income or wealth for purchases of goods and services to be combined with the consumer’s time to define consumption activities. 1.3 FASTFOOD INDUSTRY The fast food industry is dominated by a handful of powerful corporations who are determined to aggressively drive production costs to the minimum. Low wages are a central part of this program. Because every dollar an employer has to pay in the form of wages is one less dollar in their pocket. The lower the wages, the better the profits. The companies that have applied this formula most successfully are McDonald’s, Burger King and Yum (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC).Together these huge conglomerates dominate the industry, employing 3.7 million people worldwide; operating a combined total of 60,000 stores. 1.4 FASTFOOD RESTORENT IN INDORE Indore is famous city in a fast food industry. So many mnc’s and nation lavel corporation investing in the city. Indorins also like a fast food. That’s why many venture opened in indore like as:- 1.4.1 McDonald’s McDonald’s is the world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948 they reorganized their business as a hamburger stand using production line principles. Businessman Ray Kroc joined the company as a franchise agent in 1955. He subsequently purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its worldwide growth. McDonald’s primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken, Frenchfries, breakfast items, softdrinks, milkshakes and desserts. In response to changing consumer tastes, the company has expanded its menu to include salads, fish, wraps, smoothies and fruit. 1.4.2 Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is a fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, which specializes in fried chicken. An â€Å"American icon†, it is the world’s second largest restaurant chain overall (as measured by sales) after McDonald’s, with over 18,000 outlets in 120 countries and territories as of December 2012. The company is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, a restaurant company which also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. KFC was founded by Harland Sanders, who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky during the Great Depression. Sanders was one of the first people to see the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, with the first â€Å"Kentucky Fried Chicken† franchise opening in Utah in 1952. 1.4.3 Pizza Hut Pizza hut is the largest pizza Restaurant Company in the world. It has 12000 outlets in 90 countries employing more than 3 lakh people. The legacy of pizza hut began in 1958.In India there are not much outlets, out of 1086 countries India is one of them but only in 9 cities pizza hut has its outlets. Pizza Hut has an aggressive expansion plan for India. It intends to have 100 outlets by the end of 2004. Pizza Hut will consolidate its presence in cities where it already exists as an endeavor to create a major share of these profitable markets first before spreading to other markets. Further, all new outlets in India would be franchisee owned resulting from the smooth functioning of the existing stores which are all franchisee owned. Hence, the same arrangement will be followed in the future to ensure growth-oriented results. The data written below represent what Pizza hut is all about and gives a brief profile of the company. 1.4.4 Domino’s Pizza Jubilant Food Works Limited (the Company) is a Jubilant Bhartia Group Company, The Company was incorporated in 1995 and initiated operations in 1996, The Company got listed on the Indian bourses in February 2010, Mr, Shyam S, Bhartia, Mr, Hari S, Bhartia and Jubilant Enpro Private Ltd, are the Promoters of the Company. The Company & its subsidiary operates Domino’s Pizza brand with the exclusive rights for India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, The Company is India’s largest and fastest growing food service company, with a network of 500+ Domino’s Pizza stores Stores (as of 31st March, 2012) The Company is the market leader in the organized pizza market with a 54% market share (Euro monitor Report 2010) and 70% share in the pizza home delivery segment in India, The Company has strengthened its portfolio by entering into an agreement with Dunkin’ Donuts Franchising LLC, for developing the Dunkin’ Donuts brand and operating restaurants in India.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Warehouse Worker

The pyramids were used as final resting places after the pharaoh’s death. The construction on the pyramids was started soon after the pharaoh ascended to and generally took about 20 years to build. They were aligned with the stars to ensure the pharaoh’s ascension into the afterlife. There is only one known explanation of how the ancient pyramids were built. That explanation is created to Herodotus around the year 425 B. C. Herodotus traveled around Egypt collecting verbal history of this ancient nation. In writing about the construction of the pyramids, he stated: The method employed was to build it in steps, or, as some call them tiers or Terraces. When the base and sub levels were completed, the blocks for the next level were from the ground by means of a cedar sled called a lisch. The sleds were pulled from the quarry to a barge by means of oxen. The blocks of stones was carried up the Nile River on the barge and then unloaded and pulled to the pyramid’s site . Ron Wyatt based his design on the description by Heordotus constructed machines made of wood that easily lift heavy objects. There was a stair case that leads from the opening down to the Royal burial chamber. Here the Pharaoh’s personal belongings and riches were place upon the death of the Pharaoh. This staircase was sealed to prevent grave robbers from finding the royal burial chamber and sometimes fake burial chambers were built to confuse would be grave robbers. The stones were pulled up long ramps to the level that was being constructed. The ramps were at least 3 times and long as they were tall. This made it somewhat easier for the oxen and men to get them into place. Once they reached the level that was needed they were pick up and dropped into place using a contrivances. Upon the death of the Pharaoh’s death, the mummification process was began and this took 60 days. During the Pharaoh’s belonging that was to be interred with him would be placed in the guarded tombs. To prevent the pyramids from leaking during the rainy season, the pyramids were sealed with sand or marble or some other material of the pharaoh’s choosing. If they did not seal the pyramids they would eventually fill with water and decay everything inside. This process was started at the top of the pyramid and the workers worked down the sides until they reached the bottom.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

India and Southeast Asia, 1500 B.C.E.-600 C.E.

Ashley Thompson AP World History Ms Thurgood,1-3 Chapter 6: India and Southeast Asia, 1500 B. C. E. -600 C. E. P: *Around 1000 B. C. E the people were divided into kinship groups while the kings ruled over the tribes. Later under the Kings were military and civil officials, which dealt with records, income of the government and custom duties. During the Gupta empire there was a rather decentralized administration unlike the Mauryan Empire. *Brahmans and warriors were at the highest point in the Hierarchy and there were structural laws based on the caste system. Rulers in Southeast Asia used their Indian knowledge and personnel to increase their power. E: *Heavy taxes were imposed on common people during the Gupta Empire. India traded extensively with South East and East Asia. *One’s economic status in India could be compared to that of a capitalist society. This is because of the belief in reincarnation, and that whoever you were in your last life determined who you were in yo ur next life. These reincarnations were placed into a caste and whichever caste you were placed in depicted your social and economic status.Who you were and what you did depicted your well being. * The Funan (SE Asia) society was able to take control over the trade route between India and China by extending control over most of Indochina and the Malay Peninsula. R: *There was a spread and development of belief systems such as Vedism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. *There were many religious texts such as: Mahabharata- The vast epic of the events leading up to a battle between kinship groups in early India.Bhagavad-Gita: A dialogue between the great warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna about the fate of the spirit. Vedas: Religious texts communicated orally by Brahmin priests that were eventually written down and are the main source of about the Vedic period. *Buddha played a major role in the spread of Buddhism, as he was the founder. S: *Class and Caste: The varna/jati was the main categories of social identity. The Varna contained the 4 major social divisions: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.Underneath these were the Untouchables who were excluded from the class system. The jati were the regional groups of people who had common occupancy who generally interacted with the people from their group. *In terms with the patriarchal society women had little rights. In the Gupta Empire moreso women lost their rights to own and inherit property, and were banned from studying sacred texts and participate in sacrificial rituals. They also were married at a very early age. Some women escaped male control by joining Jainist and Buddhist communities. COT: Although women were never viewed as on the same level socially as men, their rights declined dramatically between 320 C. E. -550 C. E. I: *ca. 1500 B. C. E. there was a migration of Indo-European people into northwest India. There were interactions between Asia and India through trade. * In SE Asia Indian culture was received, what was useful to them was extracted and put into beliefs and values. A: Many statues, sculptures, and temples were built to honor Hindu deities and also to honor Buddha. important points: *ca. 500 B. C. E. – Siddhartha Gautama founds Buddhism; Mahavira founds Jainism. This is important because this was the beginning of two very important and influential religions of this time. *ca. 1500 B. C. E. – Migration of Indo-European people into northwest India. This was important because these people brought in outside influences, and they also started the prejudice of the Dasas by the Aryans, which led to the caste system. *550 C. E. – Collapse of the Gupta Empire.This was important because this was the end of an empire of poor economy and low status of women. Vocabulary *moksha: The Hindu concept of the spirit’s â€Å"liberation† from the endless cycle of rebirths. * â€Å" Great Vehicles† branch of Buddhism that focuses on reveren ce for Buddha and for bodhisattvas, enlightened people who have postponed nirvana to help others attain enlightenment. *Theravada Buddhism: â€Å"Way of the elders† branch of Buddhism that downplays the importance of the gods and emphasizes the individual’s search for enlightenment. Tamil Kingdoms: The kingdoms of southern India, inhabited primarily by speakers of Dravidian languages, which developed in partial isolation, that produced epics, poetry, and performance arts. *Funan: An early complex society in Southeast Asia between the 1st and 6th centuries C. E. It was centered in the rice-growing region of southern Vietnam. Comparative thesis: Although both India and Southeast Asia between 1500 B. C. E-300C. E. had apparent religion, India had a more structured system, while in Asia there was a more open influence on religion.

Mice Of Men Chap 3 Analysis Essay

1) At first George tells the other, him and Lennie are cousins, this shows he is a bit ashamed of Lennie, and tries to find an excuse for looking after him. Later on when George and Slim are talking, George admits the reason how he became involved in Lennie and tells Slim a story about when he told Lennie to jump into the Sacramento River. Steinbeck describes this phrase as † George’s voice was taking on a tone of confession† Steinbeck was his readers to know that George regrets his actions and the fact that he has a â€Å"tone of confession† shows he isn’t proud that he has control over Lennie, instead he feels bad that he used his superiority in a destructive way. 2) When Lennie comes back into the room, Steinbeck describes the way he speaks as â€Å"breathlessly† when he says â€Å"He’s brown an’ white jus’ like I wanted†, Lennie image appears like a child, since just like a child Lennie is excited with the puppies. Slim is watching Lennie’s actions as he hides the puppy from George, which shows Slim Lennie’s lack of maturity. 3) Carlson is persistent in wanting to shoot Candy’s dog, on page 71 he says † ‘he don’t have fun’ Carlson persisted ‘and he stinks to beat hell'† This tells us that Carlson’s is manipulating Candy by making out the dog is really suffering and pretending to be compassionate when really he only wants the Dog shot because it stinks. Also since he thinks that the dog is better of dead unlike Candy is he realistic rather than sentimental and thinks it’s best for the dog that way. Then Slim agrees with George and says † that dog ain’t no good to himself† Slim also offers to give Candy one of the puppies, this shows Slim is caring for both the old dog and Candy and unlike Carlson isn’t wanting the dog to die because he stinks. 4) When Curley picks to fight with Lennie rather than George or anyone not as strong, tells us as readers a lot about Curley. Any other bully would be realistic and go for a smaller guy, yet Curley has a very strong and domineering personality but is also short which makes him resent himself for being short and takes it out on big guys- like Lennie. This is a way of Curley making himself look big, since he hates being the small guy. 5) When Curley and Lennie are fighting, Lennie at first lets Curley hit him even though Lennie’s in pain; he does this for George’s sake and doesn’t want to get into anymore trouble. Whilst Curley is hitting Lennie, Lennie cries for George’s help, he says â€Å"make um’ stop George† this again reinforces Lennie’s relations with George, we can see that he relies a lot on George when he needs help just like a child would. Curley decides to go along with the story that he got his hand caught in a machine, instead of saying what really happened. This is because Curley is ashamed of being the loser in the fight and doesn’t want people to know what Lennie did to him because it will make people think he’s weak.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

British castles

British castles Essay BRITISH CASTLESGreat Britain’s castles exemplify artistic characteristics and were essential elements in the lives of kings, lords, nobles, and chieftains. The word castle means a building or group of buildings usually intended as a residence of a king, lord, noble, or chieftain. There are many different types of castles, and the features about them are simply amazing. Warfare was also an important issue involving castles. They had to have some means of protection. The castles reached their fullest development in the medieval period, even though fortified building had been around much earlier. The castles created a feudal system, which gave them their greatest importance. The feudal system was divided into three classes: the knights and nobles, clergy, and peasants. The knights and nobles’ job was to defend society, the clergy was to pray, while the peasants had the duty to till the soil and support other classes (Collier’s Encyclopedia 532). The origin of has be en traced back to the late Roman times when men placed themselves under a man stronger and wealthier than themselves (Rowling 31). The knights lived in castles built upon hilltops or in the bend of rivers. There they received vessels, held meeting: and upon occasion, defended themselves from rivals. There are many different general styles of castles in Britain. One of the styles is a motte and bailey, which was one of the first types of castles built. The castle was made of a motte, which was a large man-made mound of earth. The top of the mound was surrounded by wooden palisades, which were like logs. Within those logs was a wooden keep. This was used as a lookout tower and a last refuge or keep (Farndon 7). The only way to get into the motte was across a sloping bridge, placed on high pillars. The bailey was next to the motte, and wooden palisades also surrounded it. A ditch of water protected the bailey. The motte and bailey were connected by a flying bridge that could be torn down if the bailey was not needed anymore. Since the motte and bailey were made of wood and earth none of the castles have survived completely today (Remfry 1). Norman’s were few so they must have had to force people to help build it (Farndon 6). By the eleventh century the motte and bailey form of castle was widely spread (Alistair 3). Another type of castle is a shell keep. This was one of the first stone castles built. The keep was a circular wall that had buildings surrounding it. The keep was surrounded by an open-courtyard. This had the advantage of clustering the major components of the castle into a single strong, easily defensible keep (Remfry, Types of castles 1). Due to the fact that the shell keep was light enough to be supported by a man-made mound, many of the keeps were added to the existing motte and bailey castles. This keep was so much stronger and larger that it took longer to build than a motte or bailey. A Masonry Tower was a square that was 30 or 40 feet high. This tower was made of paste and stones, but brick and rubble were often used to fill walls at times. These towers were freestanding and the stone led to a better defense if needed. A later development of the design was a Welsh D-Tower which is a combined square keep with a round tower that made the masonry tower even stronger. The Tower of London is the most famous of these Towers (Remfry, Types of castle 2). A donjon was quite common and found in many shapes. The donjonWas considered to be a last line of defense. They were surrounded by a stone curtain wall, which was defended by several towers. The wall was very thick, as, much as nine or ten feet thick and maybe 40 foot in height. The wall has an apron like based on it to thicken the wall base, and causing solid or liquid material (Simpson 14). A later design to these towers was a gatehouse. The gate caused a weak defense so they later surrounded it by a pair of Towers. These other towers would allow attackers to be defeated from above or on the side of the gatehouse. A portcullis was also used to protect the gate with a metal grate (Remfry 2). Finally, a concentric castle was an unusual type of castle. It represented the highest form of a castle. It usually consisted of a donjon and curtain wall, even two or more walls. The second wall was lower than the first, allowing archers to drop from both walls and fire upon attackers. The tower also consisted of round towers, large moats, and gatekeeps. If the first tower was destroyed, the attacker was still faced with a whole other complete castle. If the castle were constructed properly, it would be invincible. Edward I built a majority of the castles to put down the Welsh rebellions (Remfry 2). READ: From Village to City EssayWarfare was very important with the lords of the castles. A good built castle could rarely be taken down by a direct attack. During a siege, the attacking army would surround the entrance of the castle and prevent supplies from entering (Mfeinberg 1). The army would literally starve everybody to make him or her surrender. This would take months or even years, and in this time they would demolish the castles appearance with weapons. The most common of these weapons was a catapult, which would hurl stones at the castle wall and at the defenders. A catapult could also be used to hurl other things at the castles such as heads or bodies. That would get very messy! It could also be used to hurl things at one point of the wall because they were so accurate. This could cause the castle to crumble. Another weapon of the middle ages was a ballista. This was a huge crossbow that hurled arrows the size of trees. It could also be used to hurl large stones (Brown 64). This would really start to destroy the castles in little to no time at all. A different siege weapon was a battering ram brought close to the gate and rammed until broken (Mfeinberg, Siege warfare 1). Other methods were used to get around the wall. A rolling tower, the height of the wall, was used to get close to the wall and drop soldiers at the top of the wall. Castles on cliffs were common and made it hard for the enemy to attack. There was good visibility to see attackers and made an excellent source of water and supplies. A castle with access to supplies could withstand a siege longer than one that did not. A moat was added to castles to make them stronger. A moat is a large ditch that went around the castle, filled with water. It also contained a drawbridge that limited access to the castle. Another addition to a castle were arrow loops, which were small slits in the wall that allowed archers a long field of fire and made him hard to hit. On the top of the wall crenellations served a purpose of arrow loops. A crenellation is an alternating pattern of high a low spots that affords an archer a place to hide (Mfeinberg, siege warfare 1). Instead of an archer, a crossbowman was used but a second assistant was needed to reload a second crossbow. Since windows were the only source of natural light, secesses behind them were the size of small rooms. They had built in seats behind them. For security windows near the bottom of the castle were very narrow, whereas the top ones were wide (Macaulay 31). Later advancements were even better for the castles. A round tower stronger than the square had a better platform for fire and was harder to undermine. A glacis or sloping wall was placed at the bottom of the tower to prevent ram attackers. A murder hole was used to drop cold water to put out fires. Rocks and hot water were also dropped upon attackers to annoy them. The combination of these things resulted in the gatehouse. These consisted of a pair of towers that if attackers managed to enter the gate murder holes and arrow would attack them loops from close range. A final characteristic added to castles was a posten gate. That was a small gate that allowed escape incasing the castle started to fall. During a siege it was also used to send out a huge number of troops to harass the attackers. Many of these methods made a castl e almost defeatless. But in the 16th century these methods all changed when gunpowder was invented. Then everyone started using canons to defeat the castle. The canon had more power than a catapult or ballista. The canons could level walls sometimes within a couple tries. Gunpowder revolutionized warfare and the use of castles and sieges became part of history (Mcfeinberg, siege warfare 2). The lord and lady of a castle wore beautiful garments. They would sleep naked and put on linen under garments when rising for the day. After they bathed in cold water, which was only once a week, they would put on their outer garments. Their garments were basically the same. A long sleeved tunic slipped over the head and fastened at the neck with a burch. The second tunic went over the first. It was shorter with either sleeveless or with wide, loose sleeves and often lined with fur. Finally a mantle made with a circular piece of material, lined with fur and fastened at the neck with a chain. The lords garments were shorter that the ladies and had looser sleeves. Both wore belts tied at the waist or fastened with a metal buckle. The man’s costume was completed with a long hose attached to the belt that held up his pants. The women’s hose were shorter and suspended from garters below the knees. The lord and lady both wore shoes: sandals for around the castle and boots for the outdoors (Gies 110). READ: World History - Power Comes From The Barrel Of A Gun EssayThe colors of there tunics, mantles, hose, and shoes were bright blues, yellows, crimsons, purples, and greens. Their garments were usually made out of wool, though fine silks were often worn. Camlet was sometimes used for winter robes, which was woven from camel or goat hair. The fur trimmings were of squirrel, lambskin, rabbit, otter, marten, beavers, fox, ermine, and sable. For festive occasions belts might be silk with gold or silver threads with jewels attached to them. Both men and women wore head coverings indoors an outdoors. The lord usually wore a linen coif tied by string to his chin. Feathers and buttons decorated this. The lady wore a linen wimple either white or colored that covered her hair and neck. Outside, hood and caps were worn over the coifs and wimples. Elegant gloves, jewelry, necklaces, gold rings with stones, pins, hairbands, shoebuckles and bracelets completed the costume (Gies, 111). The morning was spent in routine task depending on whether the castle had quest. The lord had conferences with members of his counsel. The lady conversed with her quest or stayed busy with embroidery and other projects. The knights practiced fencing and tilting, while children did their lessons with a tutor. The tutor was usually one of the lord’s clerks. When the lesson was over the children would play. The girls played with dolls and the boys with tops and balls, horseshoes, and bows and arrows. In the courtyard, the grooms swept out the stables and fed the horses. Smith’s worked on horseshoes, nails, and wagon fittings (Gies, 112). In the kitchen the cook and his staff turned the meat on a spit and prepared stews and soups in iron pots hung over the fire on a hook and chain that could be raised and lowered for different temperatures. Some of there meat was pork, beef, mutton, poultry, and game. When the boiling meat was ready it was lifted out of the pot with an iron meat hook, a long fork with a wooden handle and prongs attached to the side. The soup was stirred with a long-handled slotted spoon. Salting or smoking preserved the meat. Most common was to keep the meat alive int’l ready for use. On fast days they served fish (Gies, 113). The lords had to use hunting as a way of life. At dawn on summer days the lords, his household, and quest would go into the forest while the huntsman, a professional and regular member of the lord’s staff would hunt the deer down with their dogs. There were three kinds of dogs: the lymer, a bloodhound, bachet, and a gray hound. The bloodhound was kept on a leash an d used to finish off the prey at bay. The bachet was a smaller hound and a gray hound was larger than the modern breed and capable of killing a deer on its own. When the animal was brought to the bay it was usually beheaded. Sometimes they would use bow and arrow to kill. Skinning and dividing up the meat, including the hound’s share (Gies 125) followed the kill. A meal would also include beer. The lords and there acquaintances love to drink beer (Quenells 43). Dinner would be served between 10:00 a.m. and noon. The dinner consisted of two or three courses each served in separate dishes. All of the courses consisted of the same kinds of food except for the last course, which consisted of fruits, nuts, cheese, wafers, and spiced wine. On holidays and weddings a large quantity of food would be served. When HenryIII daughter married there was more than sixty pasture cattle eaten at the first and principal course at the table (Gies, 117). During dinner the quest might be entertai ned with music or jokes, and stories. When dinner was over one of the quest would entertain the company with a song of their own. The way of life lived in these times were very different from how we live things now. Their way of attack then was very brutal and took strong men to pull the job off. Now gun-power is invented so it is easier to defend us from attackers. The lords and ladies were very creative in their ways of doing things. It would have been amazing to live in those times.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Case study analysis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Analysis - Case Study Example For this case, the hotel ventured into launching a nationwide campaign for to go green without losing its customers. The firm had a challenge of balancing its corporate strategies with environmental management plans (Slye, 2015). The hotel needed a personnel, who could engineer the delivery of excellent and trendy hotel experiences and at the same time, reduce the hotel’s ecological footprints. The hotel chose on Business Evolution Consulting as the project manager and the latter firm helped to formulate a plan called the Kimpton EarthCare (Slye 2015). The program so far has remarkable benefits to both the hotel group’s management and customer experience. Planning the project occurred in three phases, the first of which was of remarkable success. The remaining two faces of the project are yet to be completed. They include a recycling project, and replacement of the hotel equipment including fabrics with organic materials. The two latter projects faced objection from a section of stakeholders. In ensuring proper and reasonable arguments on the returns from investing in the two projects, there is a need for a review of fundamental lessons from the first project. The first lesson for stakeholders is the fact that the firm has a desire for excellence and creation of difference in approach to balance between corporate strategies and management of the environment. For such a case, it is justified all stakeholders in the corporation should consider that there has already been past success (Silverman & Thomas, 2006). Success is because the company put the project as a part of its vision. There is a generalized ideology for the advocacy for environmental care among the business across the globe. The company already has a history of venturing into managing the environment, which makes it unique among the customers. Some people may consider that the Green initiative is no longer news to the public because the corporate headquarters has the plan

Monday, August 12, 2019

Saudi undergraduates' perceptions about English academic listening Dissertation

Saudi undergraduates' perceptions about English academic listening difficulties and their strategies to cope with these diffic - Dissertation Example For English language schools in Iran however, the skills of listening are not highlighted even with the significant access available in terms of listening materials in classrooms, such as CDs and DVDs. As a result, students believed that their difficulties in understanding what they were listening to did not match their competence. According to Graham (2006) persistent issues in securing listening skills may cause passivity as well as a decreased motivation and decreased involvement in the lessons. In other words, the listening skill is not given enough attention in the classroom and is not given sufficient value in the global setting (Graham, 2006). Two challenges are seen in the listening skill. One challenge refers to the understanding of the skills process itself, and another is on selecting the medium by which the listening strategy can be transmitted in the classroom (Graham, 2006). The latter may inhibit students from improving their listening skills at the lower levels in the classroom setting. Studies on explicit listening instructions seem to be important in terms of the choice of language and in securing listening strategies because the challenge at the lower language levels is to understand the context of teaching the listening strategies. ... Nagle and Sanders (1986) have secured a listening comprehension-processing model indicating how the automatic and controlled processes help listeners secure meaning based on an oral input. Moreover, evidence based on a varied context and input from the Constructivist construction by Vandergrift (1999) suggests how listeners can gain meaning based on oral support. Various studies highlight the types of learning strategies which second language learners apply during listening (Carrier, 2003; Chang and read, 2006). Authors contend that good language learner applications must be used in order to help students who are struggling in their language learning. Hassan and colleagues (2005) carried out a review of ESL studies which highlighted learning strategies from various languages. Most of the studies indicated that learning strategies, include metacognitive (learning awareness), cognitive (mental learning), and socioaffective learning (individual and social interaction behaviour). Hassan, et.al., (2005) identified learning strategies as strategies which learners use often in order to improve their learning. Chang and Read (2007) assessed visual support in the process of foreign language learning processes, evaluating the effect of various kinds of listening support on low level proficiently learners in English learning in Taiwan. Four groups took part in their study with two groups assigned to listening supports and another one focused on pictures or a written background text. A third group was a recipient to listening input repetition and the fourth group was the control group, not having any listening support. A listening proficiency test followed, then a short