Saturday, November 30, 2019

Pestel Genting Group free essay sample

Pestel Analysis of Genting Group Political : Had top political support from Tunku Abdul Rahman. One and only casino in Malaysia issued with a gaming license Economic : Key economic contributor to the tourism industry in Malaysia registering a new high of 19. 6 million visitors in year 2007. Creation of vast job opportunities – provided leisure-related jobs to over 13,000 people (mainly Malaysians) Social : Genting has become the ‘city of entertainment’ and have thus attracted visitors from around the world. Malaysia is an Islamic country with approximately 60% of the population being Muslims who uphold religious teachings strongly against gambling – potential uproar on encouraging the ‘sin of gambling’. Technological : Genting Skyway is recognized as the ‘World’s Fastest Mono Cable Car System’ with a maximum speed of 21. km/hour and ‘Longest Cable Car in Malaysia and Southeast Asia’. WorldCard – Customer loyalty programme has over 650 participating merchants, with more than 2,200 outlets throughout Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Launching of WorldCard Powered in 2007 – a new prepaid service platform for retail merchant partners such as Parkson Corporation, Sushi King Malaysia, G2000 and Lazo Diamond. We will write a custom essay sample on Pestel Genting Group or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Worldcard also partnered SoHoKL, Warisan Square (West Malaysia) and 1Borneo (East Malaysia) as their integrated marketing solutions provider. Environmental : Located on a hilltop – potential transport problems which were foreseen and resolved by the introduction of the cable car route. Alternative route available is the service road that can be utilized by public vehicles. Legal: One and only casino in Malaysia issued with a gaming license which only allows the entrance of non-muslims

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Definition and Example of a Markov Transition Matrix

Definition and Example of a Markov Transition Matrix A Markov transition matrix is a square matrix describing the probabilities of moving from one state to another in a dynamic system. In each row are the probabilities of moving from the state represented by that row, to the other states. Thus the rows of a Markov transition matrix each add to one. Sometimes such a matrix is denoted something like Q(x | x) which can be understood this way: that Q is a matrix, x is the existing state, x is a possible future state, and for any x and x in the model, the probability of going to x given that the existing state is x, are in Q. Terms Related to Markov Transition Matrix Markov ProcessMarkov StrategyMarkovs Inequality Resources on Markov Transition Matrix What is Econometrics?How to Do a Painless Econometrics ProjectEconometrics Term Paper Suggestions Writing a Term Paper or High School / College Essay? Here are a few starting points for research on Markov Transition Matrix: Journal Articles on Markov Transition Matrix Estimating the Second Largest Eigenvalue of a Markov Transition MatrixEstimating a Markov Transition Matrix from Observational DataConvergence across Chinese provinces: An analysis using Markov transition matrix

Friday, November 22, 2019

Business Logistics and Supply Chain Management

The Supply Chain Management is one of the important functions of an organization that is concerned with the administration of the flow of the services as well as products of the particular pany (Christopher 2016). It is concerned with the inventory and transport as well as storage capabilities of the raw materials. This report deals with the logistics challenges faced during the process of transporting the l otives, thermal coal and wagons for the construction of a railway line from â€Å"Central Western Queensland† to â€Å"Abbot Point Port† located in the Northeast Queensland. The challenges of the logistics are discussed in detail with focus on two key areas. The objective of this report is to identify the logistics challenges during the process of transportation of the raw materials from initial point (Germany) to the final destination (Abbott Point Port). The raw materials are required for the construction of a railway line and hence must reach the final destination in a timely manner. It is also important that the raw materials reach the international mining pany in proper condition, thus minimizing any damages or risks in transit. The report will outline the primary challenges faced in the supply chain management. It will also focus on details like port activities, inland details, sea freight details and various logistics activities. It will also discuss the â€Å"Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services Requirements† in order to understand the issues in a better manner. The major deliverables of the project include the identification of the major issues in the process of logistics and strive to seek suitable solutions for it. The range of activities which deals with effective and efficient transfer of goods as well as services from the â€Å"point of origin† to the â€Å"point of consumption† is known as Supply Chain Management (Monczka et al. 2015). It involves the process of raw materials storage, inventory management and the movement of the goods from one place to the other. The process of logistics deal with the right products delivered in right quantity to the right customer at the right cost (Christopher 2016). The products must be delivered in right time and at the right place. The process of logistics usually deals with the transport activities of a single organization, however, the supply chain management, deals with the transport activities within a network of panies that work in a collaborative manner (Wisner Tan and Leong 2014). The integrated logistics deal with the customer service, production planning, purchasing, transport and the warehouse activities (Christopher 2016). There are important supply chain activities that must be undertaken by the pany for the purpose of successfully delivering the materials to the final destination. There are three broad logistics activities that can be carried out by the pany- Inbound logistics, outbound logistics and Conversion operations (Christopher 2016).   Some of the important activities are described below- There are two important areas in the process of logistics management. They are discussed below- Transportation- It is important to focus on the transportation of the raw materials. There are several reasons for efficient transportation of freight. The specialty and the surplus is responsible for the purpose of trading. The trading enhances the specialty as well as aim for greater surplus options for the panies (Christopher 2016). The process of transportation is required from the process of delivery of the raw materials to the manufacturing process (Christopher 2016). The transportation accounts for one-third of the total logistics costs. It is one of the most important factors that influence the efficiency of the logistics process (Christopher 2016). The panies must aim for maintaining economic transportation facilities in order to control the expenditure of the pany (Christopher 2016). The cost of the transportation should be controlled so that the pany maintains high market share and the logistics costs can be kept under control (Jensen and Bergqvist 2013). The transportatio n costs consist of various expenses such as vehicles cost, cost of terminals, pallets, containers, time and labour (Christopher 2016). The logistics specialist must take into account the operation of transport system in the country so that the highest efficiency can be achieved. The process of transportation is an important step for the purpose of the conversation of the raw materials into finished goods (Eskandarpour et al. 2015). The plexity of the transportation is an important consideration in the total quality management. It acts as a bridge between the consumers and the producers (Christopher 2016). Materials handling- The pany must pay attention to the materials handling department of the logistics management. There are four dimensions in the materials handling job such as movement, time, quantity and space (Alanjari Razavialavi and AbouRizk 2014). This task requires the management of the raw materials from procurement to transport. It is important to increase the effective capacity of the logistics process and reduce the malfunctioning in the product handling process. The pany must ensure that the raw materials are delivered to the clients using an excellent cost-effective carrier and at the right time (Rushton Croucher and Baker 2014). It should also be ensured that the products are not damaged in transit and it is important to maintain the optimum quality of the raw materials (Alanjari Razavialavi and AbouRizk 2014). There can be several factors such as premium freight, production shortage, inventory adjustments and others (Alanjari Razavialavi and AbouRizk 2014). There can be issues with the materials handling managers such as incorrect material bills, shipping errors, production reporting errors, incorrect cycle counts and others (Alanjari Razavialavi and AbouRizk 2014). It is also important for timely release the products so that it can reach the clients in a timely manner. There are a number of issues in the logistics operations that can be faced by the pany. The challenges are described as below- The pany should pay attention to the excellent transport of the modities so that it reaches the final destination safely. The pany should pay attention to the transportation of the goods through the sea containers (Davenport 2013). The pany should focus on the logistics process through the utilization of sea port terminals. An alternative to the sea freight can be â€Å"inland carrier† (Talley 2014). This implies that the pany must utilize carriers other than the ocean modes. These can be water, land or air, depending on the budget as well as convenience of the logistics pany (Davenport 2013). There should be different considerations that should be considered such as cost, time, convenience, nature of goods and others (Davenport 2013). It is important to consider the important port activities that are an important part of the logistics process. There are many disparate activities in the port such as movement of the containers, movement of the ships, cargo management, custom activities, loading as well as unloading of the ships and others (Bichou Bell and Evans 2013). There are other important factors such as channels, anchorages, human resources, berths, tugs, warehouse and others (Bichou Bell and Evans 2013). The logistics specialist needs to gain knowledge regarding the efficient management of the port (Bichou Bell and Evans 2013). These include managing the resources as well as the flow of money. There should be bination of efficient cargo handling services and the reduction of the unit costs (Selinka Franz and Stolletz 2016). It is important to check the application of technology in the cargo handling services. An efficient cargo handling services should ensure minimum damages of the goods (Bichou Bell and Evan s 2013). The logistics specialist should take into account the efficiency of the ports before dealing with them regarding the transport of the goods. The Australian Government has formulated a strict security inspection and quarantine measures for the inward as well as outward movement of goods entering a particular state in Australia (Weng   An and Hu 2015). The quarantine measure checks all the cargo entering the state for possible contamination by microorganisms (Weng An and Hu 2015). The AQIS is a government agency in Australia which is responsible for quarantine laws, on behalf of the Department of Agriculture (Australia.gov.au 2016). This activity would minimize the threat of severe pests and protect the agriculture industry in Australia. The logistics specialist should consider the AQIS specifications so that there can be smooth functioning of the logistics process (Weng An and Hu 2015). The logistics pany should aim for finding a solution for the logistics challenges. It should try to maximize the transportation efficiency of the pany. It should focus more on the creation of dedicated shipping partners which would make the transportation process hassle free. The pany should ensure the timely delivery of the raw materials. The pany should also focus on the security of the goods that are transported. The port activities and the sea freight details must be considered by the logistics specialist. The detailed processes in carrying out supply chain management as well as logistics function of the pany are elaborated. This report would enable the CEO to understand the intricacies of the logistics function. This report is to be submitted during the planning phase of the supply chain management process that would give a clear picture to the senior management of the pany. Alanjari, P., Razavialavi, S. and AbouRizk, S., 2014. A simulation-based approach for material yard laydown planning.  Automation in Construction,  40, pp.1-8. Australia.gov.au. (2016).  australia.gov.au. [online] Available at: https://www.australia.gov.au/ [Accessed 21 Sep. 2016]. Bichou, K., Bell, M. and Evans, A., 2013.  Risk management in port operations, logistics and supply chain security. CRC Press. Bowersox, D.J., 2013.  Logistical excellence: it's not business as usual. Elsevier. Christopher, M., 2016.  Logistics & supply chain management. Pearson Higher Ed. Davenport, T.H., 2013.  Process innovation: reengineering work through information technology. Harvard Business Press. Dekker, R., Bloemhof, J. and Mallidis, I., 2012. Operations Research for green logistics–An overview of aspects, issues, contributions and challenges.  European Journal of Operational Research,  219(3), pp.671-679. Eskandarpour, M., Dejax, P., Miemczyk, J. and Pà ©ton, O., 2015. Sustainable supply chain network design: an optimization-oriented review.Omega,  54, pp.11-32. Fay, S. and Xie, J., 2014. Timing of product allocation: Using probabilistic selling to enhance inventory management.  Management Science,  61(2), pp.474-484. Fernie, J. and Sparks, L., 2014.  Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers. Jensen, A. and Bergqvist, R., 2013. Seaport strategies for pre-emptive defence of market share under changing hinterland transport system performance.  International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics,  5(4-5), pp.432-448. Mentzer, J.T., 2015. Logistics Modeling in the 1980’s: A Decade of Challenges. In  The 1980’s: A Decade of Marketing Challenges  (pp. 156-160). Springer International Publishing. Monczka, R.M., Handfield, R.B., Giunipero, L.C. and Patterson, J.L., 2015.Purchasing and supply chain management. Cengage Learning. Rushton, A., Croucher, P. and Baker, P., 2014.  The handbook of logistics and distribution management: Understanding the supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers. Selinka, G., Franz, A. and Stolletz, R., 2016. Time-dependent performance approximation of truck handling operations at an air cargo terminal puters & Operations Research,  65, pp.164-173. Stadtler, H., 2015. Supply chain management: An overview. In  Supply chain management and advanced planning  (pp. 3-28). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Talley, W.K., 2014. Maritime transport chains: carrier, port and shipper choice effects.  International Journal of Production Economics,  151, pp.174-179. Waters, D. and Rinsler, S., 2014.  Global logistics: New directions in supply chain management. Kogan Page Publishers. Weng, X., An, J. and Hu, Y., 2015. Research on the Market Access of Cold Chain Logistics Service Quality Safety for Agricultural Products.  Journal of Service Science and Management,  8(6), p.793. Wisner, J.D., Tan, K.C. and Leong, G.K., 2014.  Principles of supply chain management: a balanced approach. Cengage Learning.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

A vertical integration strategy and a corporate diversification Essay

A vertical integration strategy and a corporate diversification strategy - Essay Example First, it can reduce opportunistic threats from the firm's buyers and suppliers by making transaction-specific value-adding investments, e.g., by capitalizing on economies of scale (opportunism-based). Second, the firm can exploit any of its valuable, rare, and costly-to-imitate resources and capabilities, e.g., as part of the processes used to make its end-products (capabilities-based). Third, the firm can take advantage of stable or volatile business conditions to squeeze profits by reducing its costs as much as possible (flexibility-based). The value of adopting any of these three strategies would depend on how rare and costly to imitate these strategies are, whether the firm does something its competitors do not, the degree to which it exercises control, and the variety of uncertainties that it faces. Implementing vertical integration requires a high degree of control, so a functional or U-form organization structure is the most commonly used (aside from a good CEO), a necessity when adopting cost leadership and product differentiation strategies. The expected conflicts that arise from this structure can be resolved with the use of closely-managed budgets and management oversight committees.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Spanish American War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Spanish American War - Essay Example The two interpretations made each side disapprove the rulings that failed to favor their argument (Brinkley 56). This is despite the ruling bodies’ intention which is to correct history and ensure that there will be no similar instances in future or hidden enmity among the states involved. Court and revisionist interpretations have yielded to diverse and conflicting arguments regarding the Spanish American War, where America resulted in justifying its involvement (Nunez 50). The aspect of Cuban humiliation while under Spanish rule prompted unwilling America to be involved in the war. America argued that they were keenly watching the atrocities Spanish rulers were executing in Cuba devoid of considering the welfare of the citizens. Initially, America was unwilling to intervene, but due to constant pleading by its neighbours (Cuba), it had no alternative. According to America, it did not intend to indulge in the war, but their involvement emanated from the sinking of Maine battl eship. This did infuriate the Americans who, due to political influences, forced William McKinley to a revolt. The chance came at an opportune time when they were wishing Cuban freedom from the Spanish dominion, which resulted in the eruption of a severe war. America claimed that its intentions were sincere and meant best for the Cuban citizens (Hernandez 7). Additionally, court interpretation argued that besides America’s humanitarian involvement in the war, it also wanted to support Cuba in attaining independence. This was from the citizen’s early constant plea prior to engaging the Spanish resistance to avenge for the sinking of their battleship. America intended Cuba to cease from being a Spanish colony where, via its naval engagement, managed easily to defeat their opponents, thus making Cubans starting their journey to independence (Hernandez 11).

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Theory of Bomb Calorimetry Essay Example for Free

Theory of Bomb Calorimetry Essay The purpose of this experiment is to learn how to apply the laws of thermodynamics to chemical reactions. In this particular experiment we will use a bomb calorimeter to study heats associated with combustion reactions. A bomb calorimeter is a device used for measuring the standard heat of combustion associated with a chemical reaction. The standard heat of combustion for a substance is defined as the enthalpy change, accompanies a process in which one mole of a substance undergoes a combustion reaction with oxygen. It can be found according to equation 1. 1) H- Enthalpy; R Gas Constant; n number of moles; U Internal Energy; s denotes sample combusted; 0 denotes standard state (25C, 1bar). The internal energy change of the sample is found from from equation 2, where change in temperature is obtained from experiment and heat capacity of the calorimeter is obtained from standardization of the bomb calorimeter (see Preparations section). The heat capacity of the wire is usually known. 2) T- temperature; w denotes iron wire. Gas constant, R, can be taken to be 8. 315 J/K mol or a more precise value can be obtained from literature. Temperature, T, is the standard state temperature=25C. Change in moles of gas, , 3) From equation 3 we can see that the change in moles of gas is =12-14. 5=-2. 5 At this point we have enough information to calculate the standard heat of combustion! Experimental Setup 1. Make sure all connections to electrical outlet are disconnected. 2. Make sure all the parts to the bomb calorimeter are at hand. 3. Make a sample pellet (Figure1) using a pellet press. 4. Fuse a metal wire into the pellet of the chemical whose heat of combustion is to be determined 5. Attach the ends of the wire onto the two center poles of the cap that is screwed onto the bomb cavity as show in Figure2. Screw the lid onto the bomb cavity (make sure that the lid is on tight). At this point your bomb should look like the bomb in Figure3. Warning: DO NOT ALLOW THE BOMB TO SHAKE ONCE THE PRESSURE INSIDE IT HAS BEEN INCREASED. 7. Close the bomb valve and raise the pressure inside the bomb with the help of a pressure tank until 25 atm is reached. 8. Purge the bomb of the Nitrogen gas by opening the pressure release valve (Figure3) and releasing the gas. Point the bomb away from yourself and others while purging it of Nitrogen gas. 9. Raise the pressure inside the bomb with the help of a pressure tank until 25 atm is reached. 10. Attach the electrodes to the electrode slots on the cap shown in Figure 3. 11. Place bomb in metal pail placed inside the calorimeter jacket, filled with 1L of Distilled water as show in Figure 4. 12. Place the calorimeter lid on top of jacket, ensuring that the thermometer and stirrer are inside the water as show in Figure4. 13. Attach the stirrer belt to the apparatus (Figure4) and plug the stirrer into electrical outlet. 14. Plug in the ignition unit. Running the experiment 16. Start the stirrer. 17. Begin taking temperature reading with the thermometer every 10 seconds. 18. Allow system to run for 5-10 minutes. 19. Ignite the pellet with the ignition unit and continue to measure the temperature until 5 minutes after the temperature peaks. 20. Unplug all the electrical connections. 21. Next remove jacket lid, and remove the bomb from the water 22. In a designated area of the class room release the gas inside of the bomb by opening the pressure release valve. 23. Once all the gas is removed, unscrew the cap and measure the mass of wire remaining, and ensure that all of the pellet was combusted 24. Begin the calculation process (refer to the theory section).

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) and the Global Economy Essay -- Explo

Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) and the Global Economy Introduction The world we live in today, revolves around technology, new innovations and constant change. The global economy incorporates these changes into its daily applications forming a technological driven world where businesses thrive on information and competitive markets. Computers and communication networks have planted a seed in this information age where enterprises flourish forming revolutionized market economies. One of the most profound changes emerging in the world of business today is the introduction and use of Electronic Commerce or EC. The impact of EC on customer services as well on businesses is dramatic enough to affect any and every organization. Electronic commerce is the buying and selling of products and services and information via a computer network.. It provides opportunities for companies to expand their business worldwide at a small cost. Business to Consumer EC includes business interaction with consumers where companies sell directly to consumers over the Internet. In terms of retail, Business- to – Consumer applications have increased revenues, and eliminated costly intermediaries like distributors, warehousing, etc. In addition, with the development of EC, the use of catalog or television shopping channels are becoming less popular. The former, limits an individual to what is seen on the screen or paper rather than the latter – EC that allows a wide variety of products. Shopping online also offers 24-hour service, the luxury of shopping for an item at your own convenience and detailed information of products and their prices, even when they go on sale! With the use of EC, distribution channels are eliminated maki... ...It benefits consumers immensely by providing convenience and variety. Computers and communication networks have paved the way for a technological driven economy in the last 20 years. Organizations are able to create efficient services and products, resulting in competitive markets, leading to specialization of products and concluding in higher profits and enhanced service. Moreover, the growth of E-commerce obliterates the ‘production focused economy’ of the industrial age and extends the information age to new heights through business services offered using the internet. http://hotwired.lycos.com/special/ene/ Works Cited Efraim Turban, R.Kelly Rainer, Richard E. Potter. Introduction to Information Technology. Toronto: John Wiley and Sons Inc. (2001) Joh Browning and Spencer Reiss. Encyclopedia of the New Economy. (http://hotwired.wired.com/special/ene/)

Monday, November 11, 2019

Ap English Literature and Composition

AP English Literature and Composition â€Å"Only connect!†¦. Live in fragments no longer! † General Course Information 1. 0 Credits (. 5 per semester) Prerequisites: Accelerated English is recommended Course Overview †¢ This class will prepare students for AP English Literature and Composition Exam, as well as the AP English Language and Composition Exam. When registering for exams in the Spring, students will choose which exam to take. †¢ This course is set according to the requirements listed in the AP English Course Description. †¢ The reading in the course will cover a wide variety of genres.You will be introduced to everything from formal literary theory to creative writing. Deep reading, the kind that poses as many questions as it answers, will be expected. We will read for a variety of reasons, sometimes to grasp a thematic element and sometimes to simply enjoy the sounds of words. We will not only identify literary elements, but also why they are us ed and discuss their effectiveness. We will read across curriculums and relate English literature and its themes to those in philosophy, science, and psychology. †¢ This course also intends to hone your skills as writers.We will learn how to appeal to a certain audience and how vocabulary and structure change depending on the type of writing. We will practice deep revision and constantly recognize that writing is not simply putting thoughts down on a page, but a craft that takes a lifetime to perfect. We will discover our own individual styles as writers and use these to our advantage. Mechanics, citations, and technical writing will all be monitored closely. Above all though, we will see how our own words can excite, persuade, and create understanding. †¢ Finally, the course will hopefully make you a critical thinker.We live in the information age and no skill will be more in need than the ability to interpret information. The critical thinking skills you develop in this class will go on to help you on the AP Exams, the SAT, and in almost every aspect of your life. †¢ This course is divided around the different thematic ideas of conflict in literature, non-fiction, and life in general. While the traditional elements of conflict seem simple, we will explore the motives behind them. Finally, we will attempt to figure out how the characters choose to live (or die) with conflict and find resolution.Through non-fiction, we will explore how conflict has been created and resolved through rhetoric and argument. And how a well-written and polished argument can create a path of possibility even through the most mired of conflicts. Elements of the course: †¢ Writing. Drafts will be submitted to me and returned with comments. All papers will have a first and a final draft. Students may be asked to correct their drafts twice before submitting a final draft. All compositions will be graded on the AP rubric. One Friday a month, students will access their writing from the past month from their portfolio in class.During this time, we will have a writer’s workshop and address specific revision strategies. We will focus on revising sentence structure, organization, rhetorical structures, transitions, detail, imagery, conventions, and grammar. While timed writings are a part of this class, the Friday writer’s workshops will illustrate the importance of constant and careful revision. Students will also sign up for a meeting with me after-school every 2 months. At the first meeting, students will discuss with me their strengths and weaknesses. Together, we will assess their improvement throughout the year. †¢ Wordly Wise Vocabulary book will be due weekly.Periodic quizzes will test students’ knowledge. Wordly Wise is an excellent preparation for the SAT. The class will also have a Word Wall. The Word Wall will function to remind students of past vocabulary learned and encouraged the use of new vocabulary in writi ng. †¢ One interactive class project will happen for every unit. The project will often involve synthesizing knowledge from the unit and applying it to something outside English class: art, nature, current events, family life, etc. †¢ Reading journals: Students will keep dialectical reading journals throughout the course. These journals will help facilitate deep and thorough reading. he reading journal is also a great place to practice writing and collecting your thoughts cohesively. We will continuously use the reading journal in class discussion and come back to it to get ideas for essays. The reading journal will be counted as a grade underneath the writing category. Grading: |Writing (Journal included) |50% | |Exams |20% | |Vocabulary |10% | |Assignments and Projects |20% | Course Syllabus: Unit 1: Introduction 4 weeksReadings: †¢ Class Handouts †¢ â€Å"Allegory of the Cave† by Plato †¢ â€Å"Good Readers, Good Writers† by Vladimir Nabokov †¢ Excerpts from â€Å"Why I Write† by Joan Didion †¢ â€Å"Finishing School† by Maya Angelou †¢ Excerpt from Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston †¢ â€Å"My Mother Never Worked† by Bonnie Smith-Yackel †¢ Everything’s an Argument by Andrea Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz †¢ Current articles from the New York Times Discussion Topics: The first few days in class will be spent looking at class policies, organizing notebooks, and receiving helpful information on the strategies we will use throughout the year. SOAPSTone, Dialectical Journal explanation, AP terms list, DIDLS, etc. ) Our first reading will be Plato’s â€Å"Allegory of the Cave. † Plato tells us that ideas, not necessarily our experiences, are reality. This argument will encourage us to look deeper into the ideas behind what we are reading and writing. Essays from Didion and Nabokov will give us specific tips on how to begin our journey as acc omplished readers and writers. Then, we will switch gears to a short segment on narrative writing where will read 3 excellent examples of narrative in time for us to write our own narrative essay.While studying narrative writing, we will focus on specific examples of excellence in sentence structure, form, organization, and conventions. Finally, we will spend two weeks studying the text Everything’s an Argument, which we will continue to refer to throughout the year. We will learn how to identify successful rhetorical structures and use them in our own writing. During this examination of rhetorical analysis, we will use current New York Times editorials. Our writer’s workshop will for this unit will focus on varying our sentence structure for emphasis and effect. Assessments: Composition: AutobiographyComposition: Narrative essay over family Timed Writing: 2010 English Language and Composition Released Free Response Questions Argument Analysis: NY Times articles Writer ’s Workshop: Sentence structure Unit 2: Person vs. Nature 5 weeks Reading: †¢ Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe †¢ â€Å"The Santa Ana† by Joan Didion †¢ Poetry of William E. Stafford †¢ Excerpts from Maslow’s â€Å"A Theory of Human Motivation† †¢ Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey †¢ Excerpts from Walden by Henry David Thoreau †¢ â€Å"The American Forests† by John Muir Viewing: †¢ Clips from Man vs. Wild Discussion topics: Person vs. Nature is possibly the oldest conflict in the world.Maslow theorizes that we cannot ascend up the hierarchy of needs until our most basic needs are met. Robinson Crusoe is essentially the story of a man having to begin at the bottom of the hierarchy and work his way up. Person vs. Nature is often illustrated with diction and imagery. In Stafford’s poetry and Didion’s essay, we are invited into their personal experience of nature through word and image choices. Finall y, we see how the person vs. nature conflict changes as technology begins to take care of our rudimentary needs. In Desert Soltaire, nature maintains little of its aggressor status.Instead, man takes over as the force bent on destruction. Finally, we will end our discussion of person vs. nature by taking a field trip to McKinney Falls State Park. There, we will take pictures to provide visual evidence of multiple points of conflict. Our Writer’s Workshop will highlight organization. We will review our own strengths and weaknesses in organization from our past unit’s writing. Assessments: Composition: Using Maslow’s â€Å"Theory of Human Motivation† to explain Robinson Crusoe Composition: Literary analysis of imagery in Stafford poetry Composition: Compare/Contrast- Abbey and ThoreauTimed Writing: 2002 AP English Language and Composition Free-Response Questions Form B Argument analysis: John Muir’s letter to Congress Project: Field trip to McKinney Falls State Park. Capture visual evidence using cameras that illustrates the conflict of person vs. nature. Writer’s Workshop: Organization Unit 3: Person vs. Person 6 weeks †¢ A River Runs Through It by Norman McClean †¢ â€Å"Speech to the Troops at Tillbury† by Queen Elizabeth †¢ â€Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Women† by Mary Wollstonecraft †¢ â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin †¢ Excerpts from â€Å"A Room of One’s Own† by Virginia Woolf †¢ â€Å"I Want a Wife† by Judy Brady All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy †¢ Selected poetry of e. e. cummings Viewings: Discussion topics: A River Runs Through It is the perfect bridge between discussion of the conflicts in nature to the conflicts between people. We will explore familial conflicts and traditional family archetypes. After we finish the novella, we will take a look at another reoccurring person vs. person conflict: gender roles. Queen Elizabeth, in her â€Å"Speech to the Troops at Tillsbury† used certain rhetoric to explain herself that was needed at the time. We will focus on how that language changed as women gained more equality.Finally, we will focus on style and the creative use of structure across two genres: novel and poetry. All the Pretty Horses will take us through several conflicts as John Grady Cole becomes an adult. Most striking though is McCarthy’s mastery of prose and creativity in structure. We will then make a comparison to e. e. cummings poetry, which also manages to leave out what we expect in format, in order to open our eyes to the exuberant images the poet provides. Our writer’s workshop will focus on how to add specific and concise, yet eye-opening detail to our writing.We will use our previous work in Unit’s 1 and 2 to revise and add detail. Assessment: †¢ Composition: Jung’s Archetypes in Literature †¢ Composition: The changing language of the women’s movement †¢ Composition: Analysis in style of either Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses or e. e. cummings †¢ Timed Writing: 2004 AP English Literature and Composition Free-Response Questions (Form B) †¢ Argument Analysis: â€Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Women† by Mary Wollstonecraft †¢ Project: Use Feminist Literary Criticism to analyze a children’s picture book. Writer’s Workshop: Detail Unit 4: Person vs. Himself 6 weeks Readings: †¢ King Lear by Shakespeare †¢ Sylvia Plath poetry †¢ â€Å"The Jilting of Granny Weatherall† by Katherine Anne Porter †¢ â€Å"Fate† by Ralph Waldo Emerson †¢ Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad †¢ â€Å"An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness† by Chinua Achebe †¢ â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† by George Orwell Viewings: †¢ Excerpts from Apocalypse Now Discussion Topics: King Lear will b egin with family conflicts but by the end of the play, we will see a new type of conflict arise.Lear will have to grapple with his failing sense of reality and atone for what he now sees as his past sins. Katherine Anne Porter’s short story will also show the failure to grasp reality. Through the stream of consciousness point of view, the reader will feel like they are losing their grip on reality as well. Emerson’s poem will help us to understand if Lear’s problems were fate, or if fate merely took the fall for Lear’s bad judgment. Heart of Darkness is tied very closely to two types of conflict: person vs. himself and person vs. society. We will see how Kurtz’ descent into madness (yes!There will be many descents into madness in this unit! ) was caused by the evils of colonialism. Achebe argues in his essay â€Å"An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness† that while Conrad was arguing against imperialism, he was doing so from a racist standpoint. We will analyze Achebe’s argument. Orwell will close out the unit by illustrating his own personal conflict with duty and attempt to â€Å"avoid looking a fool† in imperialist times. The Writer’s Workshop will focus on conventions, specifically advanced punctuation and its uses.Assessments: †¢ Composition: Characterization. Choose a character from King Lear, The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, or Heart of Darkness. Analyze the literary techniques that are used to illustrate insanity and the onset of madness. †¢ Composition: From the 2004 Exam- â€Å"Contemporary life is marked by controversy. Choose a controversial local, national, or global issue with which you are familiar. Then, using appropriate evidence, write an essay that carefully considers the opposing positions on this controversy and proposes a solution or compromise. †¢ Timed Writing: 2003 AP English Literature and Composition Free-Response Questions †¢ Argument Analysis: â€Å"An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness† †¢ Project: Using the class copy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 1994, create a power-point presentation that diagnoses either Lear or Kurtz with a particular mental illness. †¢ Writer’s Workshop: Conventions Unit 5: Person vs. Society 6 weeks Readings: †¢ The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien †¢ Political Cartoons from the Vietnam Era †¢ â€Å"Mutual Deterrence† Speech by Sec. f Defense Robert McNamara †¢ War Poetry Selections: â€Å" Dulce Et Decorum Est† by Wilfred Owen; â€Å"The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner† by Randall Jarrell; â€Å"An Irish Airman Foresees His Death† by William Butler Yeats; â€Å"My Father Leaves for Vietnam† by Lenard D. Moore; â€Å"Palestine† by Lorna Dee Cervantes; â€Å"The Daisy Cutter† by Louise Rill †¢ The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner †¢ â€Å"Living Under Circe’s Spell† By Matthew Soyster Viewing: †¢ â€Å"The War in Vietnam- A Story in Photographs† from The National Archives †¢ Excerpts from â€Å"Reporting America at War: The Reporters† from pbs. org †¢ Excerpts from The Fog of WarDiscussion Topics- We will begin studying person vs. society by examining how the life of a soldier is deemed honorable and sometimes necessary by society, but often looks mundane and horrific on an individual level. The Things They Carried will take us to one of the more controversial wars, Vietnam. By looking through collections of war photography from the National Archives and watching evening news broadcasts, we will determine what role the media had on the society’s opinion of the war. By reading a collection of war poetry, we will look at the emotional toll that war exacts on individuals.Then, we will shift gears and begin reading The Sound and the Fury, a novel where each character struggles against societal norms that no longer fit the family’s reality. Finally, we will read Soyster’s essay on disability and the struggles associated with it. The Writer’s Workshop for this unit will focus on broad, thematic revision by evaluating the effectiveness of our thesis statements in our portfolio. Assessments: †¢ Composition- Research Topic: Choose one form of media. (Some examples could be television, movies, internet, telephones, etc.You may not choose photography. ) Research and examine the chosen media form’s impact on modern warfare. It should include both positive and negative impacts. †¢ Composition- Persuasive essay: Where should we draw the line with war photography? †¢ Composition- Literary analysis of symbolism in The Sound and the Fury. †¢ Timed Writing- 2001, Question 3- the Sontag photography piece, On Photography, 1977. †¢ Argument Analysis- â€Å"Mutual Deterrence† Speech by Sec. of Defense Robert McNamara †¢ Project- We will create a family tree that spans back 3-4 generations.As a class, we will discuss what â€Å"societal values† are family tree puts on us. We will take a particular look at any â€Å"values† that are placed there because of our blood and not because of our reality. †¢ Writer’s Workshop- Thesis Revision Unit 6: Resolutions 5 weeks â€Å"Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die. – Howard’s End Readings: †¢ Howard’s End †¢ â€Å"Cathedral† by Raymond Carver †¢ â€Å"On Self-Respect† by Joan Didion †¢ Poetry of Kahil Gibran †¢ Faulkner’s Nobel Acceptance Speech †¢ Woody Allen’s â€Å"My Speech to the Graduates† Viewings: †¢ Howard’s End 1992 version †¢ Discussion Topics: We will end the year with a Victorian class study in the novel Howard’s End. With a host of characters, we will see how some are able to overcome the conflicts and others do not. We will also look at â€Å"connecting the prose with the passion† as we reflect on our studies this year.Before exams, we will take a full week to do practice exams and prepare the final touches on our AP experience. Finally, we will read several writers who focus on resolution rather than conflict. Through emotional experience, logical thinking, and even humor, we will see how characters and people in real life live and deal with conflict. Assessments: †¢ Composition: Analyze the role the house plays in the novel Howard’s End. †¢ Composition: Write a mock graduation speech that includes at least 4 quotes from readings throughout the year. †¢ Composition : â€Å"A picture is worth a thousand words. In our age of information, is a picture/movie/symbol worth more than the written word? Use the Rogerian style to persuade your audience. †¢ Timed Writings: Students will choose 3 timed writings to practice from released exams. †¢ Project: Collage. As a class, we will create a pictorial collage that represents conflict in the literature we have read and in life. We will then put quotes and phrases from the literature and essays we have read that illustrate overcoming conflict. The last part of the collage will show representations of different resolutions in life.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Annual Catholic Appeal

Part of our obligation as Catholics is to grow in prayer, and participate along with contributing to your parish. Another part of our duty to participate in the parish is to give back to the Lord financially. The Archdiocese of St. Louis has looked out for each other for many years through the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) by the help of their stewardship and generosity. Archbishop Robert J. Carlson also specifically states that â€Å"Taking stewardship seriously means giving thanks to God through prayer, participation and generosity. The ACA calls us to fulfill these obligations that were made recognized by Archbishop Carlson by giving back to the Church once a year since the Catholic Church has given so much for us after all. In just a short time period in the springtime, the ACA calls the Catholic church to fulfill their duties as Catholics with their generosity. For every dollar that is donated to the Annual Catholic appeal, only 9 cents is kept by the organization.Through the ge nerosity of the Catholic community, the ACA can accomplish incredible things in Catholic communities. Through the funds the ACA receives, students can create remarkable foundations for the rest of their lives in the Catholic Schools by which the ACA donates to Catholic Schools annually. Not only do the funds provided by the Archdiocese of St. Louis help provide excellent educations to the youth, the also go toward helpingretired priests, feeding the hungry, and giving shelter the homeless.But these are just a few of the praiseworthy things that the ACA accomplishes, there are many unseen remarkable things that the ACA helps conquer such as sparing the life of an unborn baby! The Catholic Church teaches to love one another as the good Lord Jesus loves you, which is why Catholics, in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, should answer their call to stewardship by giving just a mere 15% of their annual income to the ACA. When one puts it in perspective, God sacrificed his son, Jesus, so that h umanity could be freed from sin and be granted eternal life so is 15% of a person’s income to much to ask for?Since Jesus gave his life, Catholics should willingly give back to their community so that the homeless can seek shelter, the priests can can live a good retirement, the hungry can find food, and children in Catholic schools can receive solid foundations to the rest of their lives. Given these ideas, I often wonder if I truly and willingly answer my call to stewardship? Do I help give back to the community since the community has given so much to me? Am I grateful for all the great things that God has given me? Do I give back to God?God gave me life, and I cherish that gift by respecting it and being prayerful that I remain safe so that I can continue to live this awesome life that God gave me. I never abuse my life nor do I abuse the lives of others. I respect all of God’s creations and even attend my obligation to attend Sunday Mass regularly. But do I really show that I’m Catholic? It’s thoughts like this that, even when I do think I am living a life of stewardship, I wonder if I am even close to fulfilling my obligations as a Catholic. But, I can model my life after others that significantly answer their call to stewardship.I can constantly remind myself of what Jesus would want me to do. I can think from my heart to help out others in any way that is recognizable by others. I can give thanks to God by being generous and conversing with God through prayer. I can also give back to the Church with generosity, just like the other members of the Catholic community. If the ACA can give generously, how come we are not as generous at times? The ACA counts on the community within the Archdiocese in order to fulfill its goal each year. With everyone's generous contributions, the ACA always receives more than enough to fulfill their goals.The ACA gave more than $30,000 to help immigrants and refugees, along with giving over $25,00 0 to food pantries within the Archdiocese parishes. They help criminal justice systems by giving over $20,000 and the ACA significantly helps out the area schools by giving substantial amounts to the Catholic schools. But, not only does the ACA give generously to all of these organizations, they give over $1,100,000 to tons of other Catholic charities! If the ACA is this generous, we should be just as generous by answering part of our call to stewardship and giving back to our community through the help of the ACA.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

A Call for Foreign Intervention essays

A Call for Foreign Intervention essays The world as we know it is a tumultuous place of anarchy, malevolence, and controversy occasionally inhabited by able intermediaries and keepers of the peace. Within societies, due to what appear as irreconcilable differences, periods of discrepancy arise. These divergences sometimes can result in bloodshed, war, harsh economic recession, or callous purging of the basic rights of man. Under the milder of these crises, outside involvement is superfluous, for time usually heals the tide conflict, and foreign intervention may sometimes only add fuel to the fire of hate. However, when man is alienated from his basic rights and left unable to break free, it is the obligation of those sovereignties in able position to come to the aid of the torn people using any means necessary, and not to rest until harmony has been restored. Otherwise, the end of a people may be at hand, and the ignorance of the world may be more heinous than the problem itself. This imperative is evident among the myriad of civil conflicts in the ocean of time, each obstruction but a drop among countless others. Yet certain controversies of scandalously monumental magnitude sometimes stick out among scores of others because of their overwhelming heinousness. Two such atrocities include The Holocaust: result of total ignorance, internal and throughout the national community and the present Yugoslavian conflict in Serbia and minor Kosovo, the harvest of centuries of bickering in an area populated with similar people who are yet so irreconcilably different. These two conflicts show how intervention can be such a necessary element of world peace. As we entered the camp, the living skeletons still able to walk crowded around us and, though we wanted to drive farther into the place, the milling, pressing crowd would not let us. It is not an exaggeration to say that every inmate was insane with hunger. Just the sight of an American brought cheers, groans,...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Wet Seal Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Wet Seal - Case Study Example The product will be a success because, as Maxwell (2008) says, the market is turning from synthetic juices and turning to more organic foods and drinks due to health needs. According to Evanson (2012), market data indicates that an increasing number for people are willing to pay more for a drink as long as they can be sure that it is an organic drink. This, as Stevenson (2011) asserts, is very important in the marketing of natural organic drink because the production of such drinks is more expensive as opposed to the synthetic juices and this is an important factor because the prices for the product have to meet the production costs and the profit margin. The main challenge in marketing Fruto Natural Drink will be overcome market barriers caused by customer loyalty to the existing products. According to consumer insights, a great number of Americans are loyal to specific brands and find it hard to change from one brand to another (Wilson, 2009). However Fruto Natural Drink will be able to overcome this problem because it will be targeted to the younger people who are more willing to explore more possibilities. This will however not be a complete advant age in itself because once these customers have switched to Fruto Natural Drink; the challenge will be to make them loyal customers as the product grows. Fruto Natural Drink will benefit from the previous success of ClaraFoods and the wealth of management and marketing skills of ClaraFoods management. Fruto Natural Drink will also benefit from the strong brand of ClaraFoods and this will give it an opportunity to have a strong start in the market. The increasing concerns by the public on the kind of food they eat will also be another positive point in marketing Fruto Natural Drink because it is a natural and organic drink. Fruto Natural Drink will therefore take advantage of the fact that more and

Saturday, November 2, 2019

On Golden Pond Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On Golden Pond Film - Essay Example The chief protagonist’s roles are played by ace actor and actress – Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn. ‘On Golden Pond’ is based on an affectionate and loving couple who spend their twilight years with each other and the different experiences that come in the wake of their life. The film portrays the difficulties faced by this couple in old age and how despite these difficulties they maintain their dignity and respect right through the end of the film. The thing that makes the film all the more interesting is that the audience can easily relate to it and identify themselves in similar situations. The inherent sentiment in the film is greatly enhanced and reinforced through the visual metaphor of a beautiful sunset over the Golden Pond. The breathtaking beautiful natural scenery of New England highlights the concept of emotional sentiment between the elderly couple and how they interact towards each other in specific situations. ‘On the Golden Pondâ₠¬â„¢ is all about real – life relationships and personalities which is what makes it much easier for the audience to connect and relate to. The filmmaker draws from the extensively publicized problems that were faced by Henry Fonda with his son and daughter. However, the central theme of the film is all about how a college professor and his wife take the much deserved privilege of a holiday in this idyllic spot to explore â€Å"life’s inner meaning†. The main plot of the film involves contrasting male senility against female strength. Though the characters are vulnerable to their situation, yet they do not appear to be so, due to Rydell’s technique of using high angle and bird’s eye shots that helps to maintain the illusion of his characters. This technique helps the characters to integrate and adapt themselves well with their environment. Rydell’s female protagonist, Katherine is a very devoted wife who is quite a free- spirited and carefre e character who even goes singing in the woods and picking up firewood, strawberries and flowers for the home. As a female pillar of strength, she forces the audience to understand the reversal of gender roles and their consequences. On the other hand, the male protagonist Fonda is always seen bemoaning his uncertainty of life because he is faced with the fact of gradually losing his memory and the deterioration of his physical health. The conflict between the Fondas emerges quite early in the film as Henry’s mental health seems to be getting even worse. For example, he accuses the operator of having called them a classic ‘Exhibit A’ memory loss. He also looks at an old photograph of him and his wife with their child Chelsea and enquires who that child was. In Fonda, we could understand the serious consequences of retirement that manifests itself through unpleasant confrontation with his daughter and constant nagging which he uses as a recourse to be in control o f his status and situation which becomes more complex as he increases in age. He is unable to accept the reality of his situation and a feeling of uselessness creeps over him. These behaviors are exhibited by the character Norman due to aging according to his chronological age and also due to the fact he is unable to accept the fact of aging, retirement and other physical and mental disabilities that accompany it. On close observation of this character we come to understand that he is unable to come to terms with himself by accepting his infirmities and