Tall Story Essay Example For Students

Tall Story Essay Billys Tall Story begins with his mother bringing him breakfast in bed. He has bacon and egg and bread and a big pot of tea. But in actual fact Billy doesnt get much breakfast at home, for this reason he has to steal and evade, even his own brother: Billy bolted it into his mouth, slid off his chair and turned it over as soon as Jud came for him And he also steals from his employer, an old newspaper shop owner: Billy reached out and lifted two bars of chocolate from a display table at the side of the counter We will write a custom essay on Tall Story specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now He even steals from a Milk Float that his sees in the morning on his paper round Billy even has a secret pocket sewn into the inside of his coat to make stealing easier for him. So there is no wonder that Billy decides to include food in his Tall Story, as it is one of the main needs of a person. He describes is ideal home in great detail and it is exactly the opposite of his own house. He wishes he had carpet on the stairs and in the hall. This must mean that Billy doesnt already have carpet in these places. Also in Billys Tall Story, he talks about his older half-brother Jud. He mentions that when he comes downstairs, he asks his mother where Jud was and she tells him that he has gone to join the army and puts him at ease by telling him how his father has returned once again. This shows us that Billy doesnt like Jud, so much so that he would throw him out of his ideal life by sending him to the army. Billy mentions the army for no obvious reason, except for the fact that it is just an excuse to get out of his life. The simple truth is that Billy doesnt want Jud around. And quite frankly I dont blame him. Jud makes Billys life a living hell. He torments and hurts him physically and mentally in every way that you can imagine. This instance below is a classical example:- He rushed over to the settee and jumped astride Billy, pushing his face into the cushions and forcing one arm up his back in a half-nelson And Jud doesnt take any of Billys health hazards into consideration Gioer, Jud, tha breaking my arm! Billy One major part in his tall story is the fact that his father returns. Billy talks about how his mother gives up her job and they all live as one happy family again. He talks about they do what all the other families do, like go to the pictures and have ice cream at the intervals. So in other words, Billy wants everyone to treat him with love and care and look after his well-being. Billy mentions how he goes to school and all the teachers were good to him and asked him how he was doing at school and patted him on his head. This, quite clearly what Billy expects from his teachers but the mere fact is that they couldnt care less about him. Billy demands attention and affection from the teachers in the school. Even a Good Morning, Billy would not go amidst in Billys books. He also mentions that when he comes home from school, he has chips and beans for his tea. Well, its no secret that even the poorest people can afford chips and beans for their tea. So why has Billy included this in his Tall Story? Bill quite clearly doesnt get even the basic meals and this causes him to long for these things. Overall, Billys Tall Story is very basic. It includes all the things that other kids take for granted. .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e , .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .postImageUrl , .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e , .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e:hover , .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e:visited , .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e:active { border:0!important; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e:active , .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u80a9c453e4338efdeda192288c61870e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Brave New World Essay PromptsHe longs for his father to return, while kids who have a father to look up to dont even think about. He asks for bare necessities such as a carpet in his house to walk on, which again, most people wrongly take for granted, and quite plainly, if Billy had these basic provisions it would boost is confidence to the highest degree. He is, without a doubt, gravely displeased with his present lodgings. He longs to live in a bigger house to live in. He sees a house in an area called Moors Edge, where he does his daily newspaper round. He couldnt make the fact that he doesnt want his half-brother Jud around any clearer. He just wants all the things that normal kids his age have, nothing more. He wants a loving family who think the world of him and show it. He wants his teachers to treat him right and not to lash out at him all the time. He wants a pleasant home to live. He wants proper food on the table and wants to be able to give up stealing which he did to solely survive. Reading about Billys daily lifestyle and how it differs from the majority of the population almost brings a tear to they eye.

Analogous Structures in Evolution

Analogous Structures in Evolution There are many types of evidence supporting evolution, including studies in the molecular biology field, such as DNA, and in the developmental biology field. However, the most commonly used types of evidence for evolution are anatomical comparisons between species. While homologous structures show how similar species have changed from their ancient ancestors, analogous structures show how different species have evolved to become more similar. Speciation Speciation is the change over time of one species into a new species. Why would different species become more similar? Usually, the cause of convergent evolution is similar selection pressures in the environment. In other words, the environments in which the two different species live are similar and those species need to fill the same niche in different areas around the world. Since natural selection works the same way in these environments, the same types of adaptations are favorable, and individuals with favorable adaptations survive long enough to pass down their genes to their offspring. This continues until only individuals with favorable adaptations are left in the population. Sometimes, these types of adaptations can change the structure of the individual. Body parts can be gained, lost, or rearranged depending on whether their function is the same as the original function of that part. This can lead to analogous structures in different species that occupy the same type of niche and environment in different locations. Taxonomy When Carolus Linnaeus first began classifying and naming species with taxonomy, the science of classification, he often grouped similar-looking species into similar groups. This led to incorrect groupings compared to evolutionary origins of the species. Just because species look or behave the same doesnt mean they are closely related. Analogous structures dont have to share the same evolutionary path. One analogous structure might have come into existence long ago, while the analogous match on another species may be relatively new. They may go through different developmental and functional stages before they are fully alike. Analogous structures are not necessarily evidence that two species came from a common ancestor. It is more likely they came from two separate branches of the phylogenetic tree and may not be closely related at all. Examples The human eye is very similar in structure to the eye of the octopus. In fact, the octopus eye is superior to the humans in that it doesnt have a blind spot. Structurally, that is the only difference between the eyes. However, the octopus and the human are not closely related and reside far from each other on the phylogenetic tree of life. Wings are a popular adaptation for many animals. Bats, birds, insects, and pterosaurs all had wings. But a bat is more closely related to a human than to a bird or an insect based on homologous structures. Even though all these species have wings and can fly, they are very different in other ways. They just happen to fill the flying niche in their locations. Sharks and dolphins look very similar due to color, placement of their fins, and overall body shape. However, sharks are fish and dolphins are mammals. This means that dolphins are more closely related to rats than they are sharks on the evolutionary scale. Other types of evolutionary evidence, such as DNA similarities, have proved this. It takes more than appearance to determine which species are closely related and which have evolved from different ancestors to become more similar through their analogous structures. However, analogous structures themselves are evidence for the theory of natural selection and the accumulation of adaptations over time.

Case study methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Case study methods - Essay Example Researchers form part of the primary audience for any kind of case study research.   Normally, case study research is formulated to respond to a particular question (Yin, 2012). It involves collection of relevant data, which is followed by analysis to validate any findings.   In business, a case study research might involve studying a particular phenomenon in a given place like a company, country or industry.   One of the most important aspects of case study research is that it emphasizes that a phenomenon must be studied in its natural setting.   A researcher takes time to visit the natural setting of phenomenon and study the different actors as they go about their normal duties. Case study research can be exploratory or explanatory depending on what the researcher seeks to understand. Exploratory research cases aim to discover a given phenomenon or concept. On the other hand, explanatory case study research explains, tests or compares different occurrences. Clarity is essen tial in all types of case research studies.  In most questions, case study research answers questions that start with words like why, how and who. It investigates an event as it occurs in its natural setting.   For example, a researcher can decide to undertake a research that answers the question: How does Unilever treat its employees? This means that the researcher will have to visit Unilever and study the treatment of employees in its contemporary setting. In business, case study research makes use of empirical evidence to study a given subject matter.

A Comprehensive Classroom Management Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Comprehensive Classroom Management Plan - Essay Example In addition, the psychosocial transition model would also be effective approaches to helping students discern both their internal and external environments more carefully (Jones & Jones, 2010). The method of applying consequences can prove to be fair and consistent if only all the students are well aware of the consequences imposed for different types of misbehavior. In addition, I will demonstrate fairness in applying consequences by ensuring that each student faces the consequences of his or her actions without exceptions. Excluding some students from facing the consequences imposed introduces a measure of bias. Therefore, all the standards in applying consequences should be applicable to each student depending on his or her actions (Sayeski & Brown, 2014). When working with individual students in an effort to correct misbehavior, the first step I should take involves approaching the specific student and relating the specific misbehavior in a firm manner. I should also emphasize on the high expectations of proper behavior. In addition, I will stress on why it is wrong to indulge in bad behaviors. After clarifying the misbehavior, I would then impose a consequence. On the other hand, handling cultural differences in a classroom setting requires a proactive approach. As a teacher, I should introduce all my students to cultural diversity and help them appreciate diversity. I plan to help my students recognize and celebrate cultural diversity. In the case of learning ability differences, I plan to understand the potential so f each student and give more attention to those with learning challenges. When students with learning challenges receive the relevant support from the instructor, they are more likely to improve (Jones & Jones, 2010). When solving problems in the classroom, I will rely on the standard procedure that involves identifying the problem and gathering information about the

Business Ethics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Business Ethics - Case Study Example He was also supposed to decide whether the company would sell their apple juice from the finished products manufactured by the PAI trade group. There was a lot of supposition  that the juice was adulterated with water and sugar syrup instead of pure apple concentrate. The CEO was supposed to determine the faults in the product lifecycle and still maintain a good relation with the nestle company. The CEO was required to clear the adulteration accuse of the company and make it regain its normal sales and market share. He was required to identify the faulty areas in the company, but the route he followed awoke the crisis. He called a meeting with the department heads and stakeholders and expected that they would give him an insight to the problem. The CEO handled the problem by considering perspectives of stakeholders rather than identifying the problem and dealing with it (Burke 1988). He was morally obligated to follow a certain procedure while making decisions. However, the issue at hand demanded better handling of the problem. Bruce McIntosh was responsible for ensuring that the products met the set quality standards. He believed that the PAI test was bias and was aimed at supporting domestic apple growers. He argued that the tests done by the detectives were not passed by the government agencies and hence he supported filing a lawsuit against universal. His perspective was to follow the ethic of quality set by nestle. Tom Storer was the head of operations and Canajoharie plant and was responsible for ensuring plants operated efficiently and profitably (Burke 1988). He supported cutting the cost of raw material on the expense of having pure materials. He signed contractual agreements with universal and hence authenticated the materials used. He did not take note of any previous warnings by their former supplier (Haskins), and he defended universal’s purity and price. He was

Factors Influencing Academic Performance | Literature Review

Factors Influencing Academic Performance | Literature Review Ema Marie Attard Extra (or essential?) Curricular Activities As stated by (Goldberg, 1946), extra-curricular activities, before they act as and become potentially enhancing to something else, we could say that they are beneficial in themselves. We can say this because they seem to present substantial values and skills to the participant, whatever the extra-curricular activity is. Whether the activity is sports or drama, dance or music, a successful participant of this activity will, at the very least, endure â€Å"satisfaction and joy for its own sake† (Goldberg, 1946). That being said, there are ‘secondary’ uses (so to speak) for these extra-curricular activities and studies (Miller, Moyer Patricl, 1956, Sybouts Krepel among others) have proved and seem to be continuing to prove, the effects of these extra-curriculars are real and valid. So much so, that they might even lead us to temporarily forget the aforementioned intrinsic value of said activities. In fact, advocates of extracurricular activities (Fozzard, 1967; Miller, Moyer, Patrick, 1956; Sybouts Krepel, 1984) claim that this less formal aspect of education is partially responsible for contributing to the development of good citizens, the development of a healthy approach to life, both mentally and physically, the direction of use of an individual’s leisure time, the development of personal interests and talents, as well as a positive outlet for creative expression. The belief in the significance and validity of extra-curricular activity involvement pervades many academically respected institutions. For example, as McCormick (1999) noted, the University of Chicago’s undergraduate admissions could fill the ‘freshman’ class to come entirely with Valedictorians, however the university specifically chooses not to do so in favour of opting for those students who possess more than just a high academic performance. That being said, the idea that extra-curricular activities are essential for important skills is not a view that is shared universally. There is a long-standing question if extra-curricular activities have any value at all (Coleman J. S., 1959). Some research actually states that extra-curricular activities may serve for little other than social function and detracting from more important academic work (Gose, 1996). Impacts of Extra Curricular Activities on Academic Performance Immediately what comes to mind when thinking of extra-curricular activities is the idea that participation in an extra-curricular activity could potentially help a student adjust to working within a team, help build and increase his/her self-confidence, learn to become more efficient and more social (Goldberg, 1946). We can also propose that it helps reap tangible rewards; such as the payments of a service given, or merely the satisfaction of, say, a public performance. Not to mention the fact of the possibility of hobbies becoming careers (the tennis player becomes the coach) and the friendships that stand the test of time and somehow enrich the individual’s future (Goldberg, 1946). We can also talk about the discipline it requires to properly engage in an extra-curricular activity and the added discipline it takes to maintain it whilst maintaining a satisfactory academic performance. That being said, the exact opposite has also been argued; the fact that extra-curricular activities are a distraction, that they split focus, are too demanding in of themselves and are a general waste of time. In fact, one of the foremost beliefs about extra-curricular activities is that they should, whenever it was deemed possible â€Å"grow out of curricular activities and return to curricular activities to enrich them† (Millard, 1930). However, as time passed activities which were not directly related to the academic were being perceived as frivolous and were beginning to be deemed as disadvantageous and detrimental to academic achievement (Marsh Kleitman, 2002), which then led to them starting to be discouraged. Another point that could also be made is that it is those adolescents who already have more developed interpersonal skills choose to participate in extra-curricular activities and therefore such activities are not necessarily responsible for the development of the skills (Rubin, Bommer, Baldwin, 2002). It has only been in more recent years that we have come full circle and educational researchers are, once again, taking a more favourable approach to extra-curricular activities and their effect on accomplishments in academia (Marsh Kleitman, 2002). According to Broh (2002), total extra-curricular activity participation (TEAP) is in fact correlated to an improved grade point average (to use American jargon), decreased absenteeism and also elevated academic goals and aspirations.. Although we can argue that, for the most part, researchers agree that extra-curricular activities do have an impact on academic performance, the National Educational Longitudinal Study found that while participation in select activities improves achievement and performance, participation in others reduces it. As cited by Broh (2002); Eccles (2003) and Marsh Willis (2003) found that participation in sports had a consistently higher rate for enrolment in colleges. Synder Spreitzer (1990) also found that college attendance was significantly higher for those who participated in sports than those who did not; to use their words â€Å"the athletic role enhances the academic role† Extra Curricular Activities Formal Education We live in a world in which it is the norm and tendency to view formal education as a place where information is simply passed on to students. These students are seen as no more than passive recipients who merely absorb and gather this knowledge which has been passed on to them. In an article, Swanson (2002), attempts to change the perspective on students’ behaviour as he begins to look at it from the point of view of â€Å"purposive action†. This view is one where both the formal as well as the non-academic pursuits serve as resources in which adolescents may deem fit to invest in, with the intention of attaining any possible future goals. In other, older, studies (Winner, 1923), emphasis is placed on the structure of schools and the formation of extra-curricular activities within the school. However, more recent literature wants to call attention away from this and focus on the possibility (and probability) of a wider selection of activities that could have a significant effect of the achievement of educational aims that occur outside the formal educational system, in other words: the classroom. At this point we have established that the way in which adolescents decide to use their free time will somehow probably affect their performance academically in some way or other. Schlesser (2004) states that students who participated in co-curricular activities were three times more likely to have a higher grade point than those who did not participate in extra-curricular activities (Schlesser, 2004). The National Centre for Educational Statistics (1999) also reported that students who used their time by engaging in extra-curricular activities had a significant (positive) difference to those who did not engage in extra-curricular activities. Factors such as unexcused absences, skipping class were significantly lower in students who participated in extra-curriculars, it was also found that theses students not only did well academically but were ranked in the highest quartile on math and reading, not to mention the fact that they were expected to earn a Bachelor’s degree or hig her. The Centre for Comprehensive School Reform (CCSR) carried out another study which talks about the correlation between the student involvement in activities and their performance in the classroom. It states that activities aid the students in forming strong and successful relationships among adults and peers alike, an attribute that is of the utmost importance both within a classroom and to the outside world. They also state that activity programmes help foster within individuals more personal expectations of excellence and dedication to academic success. Not to mention, of course, the fact that they promote a positive psychological, social, emotional and healthy well being all around. Adolescents as Rational Actors Investors Returns on Investment If when examining social behaviour we choose to take a rational choice perspective we are implying that, the reason for an adolescent taking any form of action is due to an intention of somehow increasing, to the fullest extent, that adolescent’s own personal interest in goals of importance to them. We are aware that in this respect, adolescents states of mind are more normally portrayed as being the result of their surroundings and their all-encompassing environment rather than being self motivated â€Å"rational actors† (Swanson, 2002). Despite this pre-conceived notion, as Swanson continues to argue, the decisions adolescents are confronted with, for example, in terms of time management and motivation, can in fact be seen as influential in their capability of fulfilling important milestones in their lives. Findings show that participation in activities shows criteria of both social exchange and that of investment. In the previously cited study done by Swanson (2002), there was evidence supporting high returns for college enrolment when there was involvement in both the official academic curriculum as well as in extra-curricular activities. In  economics, the law of diminishing returnsis understood to be the decrease in theoutput of aspecific production  process as the quantity of a single  factor of production  is gradually increased, while the amounts of all other aspects of production stay constant. The law of diminishing returns states that in most productive processes, increasing more of a particular factor of production, while keeping all others stable will eventually produce lower returns per unit. So, in tandem with Swanson’s idea of return on investment, when associations with overinvestment (of extra-curricular activities) were made, indications of diminishing returns were seen. The Zero Sum Hypothesis This ties in, naturally, with those studies that propose that not only do extra-curriculars not have a positive effect of academic outcomes but rather that extra-curricular activities are in fact, a hindrance to any positive educational outcomes. This hypothesis is largely credited to James Coleman (1961) who, in The Adolescent Society, is often referenced as the source on the ‘zero-sum’ model of transaction between extra-curricular activities and academics (Holland and Andre 1987; Marsh 1992). A very watered down explanation of the concept of the ‘zero-sum’ hypothesis is that one investor’s profit mirrors another investor’s loss (whereby for every 1 euro someone makes, somebody loses 1 euro). In his study, Coleman investigated the social order structure of students in the typical American High School. He notes that whereas popularity is pre-eminent (leading to participation in activities such as athletics and cheerleading), academic excellence is a ‘secondary consideration’. The zero-sum logic is very typically used in studies about participation in extra-curricular activities whereby time is a fixed commodity split among a various number of activities, due to the nature of the formulation (that there are only two competing alternatives) and that the total amount of time available is constant, the individual must reduce the time spent on one activity in order to increase time devoted to the other. Time The Zero Sum Hypothesis Hence, according to Coleman (1961) time used on extra-curricular pursuits must necessarily diminish any and all academic pursuits. We can also speculate that, it could be the case that time is not the most fitting variable to measure returns on participation in a particular activity. The amount of time dedicated to a pursuit in actual fact, tells us very little about the level of dedication the person has invested in it and even more so about how productive they have been during that time. An individual might use time from areas of strength in order to support possible weaker areas of performance. By doing this, we can see time is not a used like a ‘currency’ that can be spent on any activity but rather represents a ‘resource to invest’, used strategically on the activities that will knowledgably have the highest possible rate of returns on the investments. This idea problematises the straightforward relationship adopted by the zero-sum hypothesis regarding the return of extra-curricular activities and the time spent pursuing them (Swanson, 2002). That being said, other studies also support the idea of limiting time of extra-curricular activities so as not to encroach on time of studies. Laurence Steinberg (1996) in his book the Classroom: Why School Reform Has Failed and What Parents Need to Do, criticises the fact that a large amount of students are completely too wrapped up in extra-curricular activities. He even suggests to parents to limit the number of hours (not more than ten) that their children are allowed to take part in extra-curricular activities. However, another assumption of the above model is that all academic pursuits are uniformly beneficial versus the fact that all extra-curriculars are intrinsically disadvantageous. That said, years of research conducted have now consistently shown positive academic results associated with extra-curricular participation, thus increasing the tendency for the discreditation of the zero-sum model’s main predication. For example, the fore-mentioned Synder Spreitzer (199 0) study which showed that participation in Sports increases college enrolment, among others (Spady 1970, 1971; Otto 1975, 1976; Otto and Alwin 1977; Marsh 1992). Social Capital Cultural Capital Social Capital Mullis, Rathge Mullis in their study Predictors of academic performance during early adolescence: A contextual view (2003), attempted to decipher the relationship between academic performance in adolescents and their contextual variables. In particular, their study consisted of testing the idea that commonly known aspects of resource capital, social capital and student behaviour can in actual fact predict academic performance in young adolescents. Mullis, Rathge Mullis quantified social capital in two particular components; through parental networks and student activity networks. For the benefit of my study I will mostly be taking into consideration their findings and hypothesis on social capital in relation to student activity networks; whereby we mean student reports of school activities and non-school activities. According to their research conducted, the links between the idea of social capital and academic performance was not as significant as expected and documented in other research (Coleman, 1988; Schneider Coleman, 1993; Steinberg, 1996; Steinberg, Dornbusch, Brown, 1991) mentioned. What this research did state is that through these social networks, the student’s opportunities are somehow boosted which, in turn, could lead to a more favourable environments that lend themselves to achievement (Mullis, Rathge, Mullis, 2003). This means that, due to the fact that they have increased opportunities to succeed, they do in actual fact succeed more; however not due to the individual being more equipped to succeed but by just being more exposed to times when succeeding is an option. Cultural Capital Similar in terminology, though not so much in meaning; another concept is that of Cultural Capital. The term Cultural Capital references the social, non economic attributes that contribute positively to the idea of social mobility beyond financial means. For example, level of education, IQ and physical appearance. All these give a person advantages which in turn give them an elevated status within society. Pierre Bourdieu divided this idea of cultural capital into three subtypes: embodied, objectified and institutionalised (Bourdieu, 1986). Cultural capital is not something that one acquires instantaneously or at one moment in time. Rather, it is embedded over time as it leaves an impact on one’s ‘habitus’ (character and way of thinking). Exposure to different activities and different disciplines in the form of extra-curriculars may inherently add to the adolescent’s cultural capital by adding to their pool of knowledge and skills. At the more basic level, cultural capital refers to the understanding of the central conceptual and normative codes that are inscribed in a culture. In the article Does Cultural Capital Really Affect Academic Achievement (Jà ¦ger, 2011), Jaeger is reflecting on Bourdieu’s famous hypothesis that cultural capital is actually an important resources that adds to a person’s academic success. According to Bourdieu, as stated previously the cultural capital one has, i.e. knowledge, skills and general idea of knowing ‘the rules of the game’ is wh at in fact the educational system is after and rewards. This subject is one that has fascinated not only Bourdieu. In fact, a long series of quantitative research has been done and found that various measures of cultural capital are indeed correlated in a positive way to academic attainment and educational achievement. Among those who have researched said topics are DiMaggio, 1982; Cheadle 2008; Crook 1997; De Graaf, de Graaf, and Kraaykamp 2000; DiMaggio and Mohr 1985; Dumais 2002; Farkas et al. 1990 and van de Werfhorst and Hofstede 2007, among others. Even though we might be unawares, the educational system is in fact structured to recognise and reward cultural capital, whereby teachers and other individuals in the educational system misinterpret a child’s cultural capital as actual academic brilliance and hence encourage upwardly biased ideas of these children. In turn, these biases contribute to the possible positive returns the children with cultural capital receive as fruit of these perceptions and preferential treatment (Jà ¦ger, 2011). We could say that individuals are not academically stronger because their cultural capital has in some way affected their academic prowess but rather because their cultural capital sets them apart in terms of how their educators view them. This altered view, somehow induces preferential treatment from their teachers and peers which strengthens their academic development. Research has consistently found that participation in extra-curricular activities has had a somehow positive effect on academic achievement (Cheadle 2008; Covay and Carbonaro 2010; Lareau 2003). In terms of Jaeger’s research, he found that cultural capital has a causal direct effect of on academic achievement also, which is an important result due to the causality that is proven rather than merely an influence. Counterculture Analysis: Al Capone Counterculture Analysis: Al Capone Joey Hagel Al Capone was one of the most notorious leaders of a criminal syndicate in the 20th century (Biography). So how can Al Capones reputation as a gangster be interpreted as a counter culture? Firstly, a counter culture is a sub-culture that rejects the culture of the larger society (Thomas). Al Capone is notorious for his smuggling of alcohol during the Prohibition era (Biography). Establishing himself and the Chicago mafia as a counterculture (Biography). Alphonse Capone was an Italian immigrant living in New York at a young age (Biography). He dropped out of school during the sixth grade and joined Johnny Torrios street gang in New York City (FBI). After Johnny Torrio moved to Chicago Al Capone followed him there assuming the role as his right hand man (FBI). Torrio taught Capone the importance of an opulent and respectable front while running the businesses behind the scenes (Biography). Eventually Torrio retired giving the lead way for Al Capone to take charge after already establishing a fearsome reputation (FBI). It was the beginning of prohibition during the time Torrio retired and Capone took charge smuggling alcohol into the city conceiving the genesis of Capones fortunes (Biography). As a sign of his position Capone never walked around armed, he instead traveled with two bodyguards at all times (Biography). Capone eventually gained office in Cicero City after threatening voters with violence and kidnapped election workers (Biography). After the assassination of Capones mentor Johnny Torrio, Capone gained full titles as head of the mob, by owning Torrios nightclubs, whorehouses, breweries, and gambling dens and attaining a government position (Biography). After gaining power Capone was always out, unlike other gangsters, Capone was always well dressed and wanted to be viewed as a businessman (Biography). His bootlegging of whiskey and alcohol was making him rich, but a few incidents including the Valentines Massacre and the Adonis Club Massacre, Capone was blamed for these incidents but was never incarcerated due to lack of evidence (Biography). Finally, in October 1931 Capone was charged with tax evasion, but was never charged for smuggling alcohol (Berger). The Jury found him guilty on two misdemeanor and three felony counts (Berger). Capone was sent to Alcatraz until 1940 when he was released (Biography). The sociological perspective is a view that involves looking at social life in a scientific systematic way (Thomas). This view assists you in identifying the fact that all people are social beings, in finding a balance between personal desires and demands of your social environment, and in viewing your own life within a large social and historical context (Thomas). Using the sociological perspective one can develop a sociological imagination; which is the ability to understand your place in society and how your actions affect others in your society (Thomas). The actions of this counter cultural group has affected the American government immensely. Laws were changed due to the actions of the Chicago Mafia and Al Capone. By continuously smuggling alcohol into the cities of the United States and making a fortune for themselves, an amendment to the constitution was formulated in order to negate the amendment prohibiting alcohol (Constitution). This brought back the ability to sell liquor in the United States once again (Constitution). Not only that but they broke other important laws that brought attention to the government and fear to society (FBI). Ethnocentrism is the belief that ones culture is superior than other cultures (Thomas). Ethnocentrism is imminent in the larger society of America who restricts the sale of alcohol. Where Al Capone was smuggling and selling alcohol to the society that forbid the action to occur (Biography). The larger society of America established a law that prohibited the sale of alcohol in the United States (Constitution). Since the subculture, the Chicago Mafia, did not agree with the amendment they decided to sell the liquor illegally going against the norms of the larger society (Biography). So the larger society found this group as a counter culture for not only bootlegging alcohol, but for braking other laws and going against other norms as well. They have also murdered, ran a whorehouse, and frequently gambled (FBI). These actions have defied the laws that the larger society created and due to the attempt of their incarceration found themselves to be a more superior culture. Cultural relativism is judging a person with the standards of that persons culture not your own culture (Thomas). I believe that the Chicago Mafia acts the way they do because of the 18th amendment which prohibits the sale of alcohol (Constitution). Not only did they disagree with this they saw the opportunity to make profits off of this prohibition; which seemed to be quite fruitful considering Capone made millions of dollars (Biography). Due to the defying of these laws the U.S. government, or larger society, they attempted to incarcerate the people behind these crimes (FBI). Which brought on more crime from the Chicago Mafia involving murders and shootouts with cops (Biography). One of these shootouts resulted in the death of one of Capones brother which may have affected Capones choices of action during this time period (Biography). So due to the laws of the larger society, the Chicago Mafia made actions that defied these laws due to disagreement, desperation, and a chance at opu lence (Biography). Personally I agree with the philosophy of the sale of alcohol; although I do not agree with the direction of the actions that the Chicago Mafia underwent. I agree that the ethnocentric view from the larger society possessed its flaws through the prohibition of alcohol which could have made the government money instead Al Capone took advantage and made the profits for himself (FBI). I do not agree with the actions Capone took to have the ability to sell liquor (FBI). Some of those involving murders including some massacres (Biography). With a sociological imagination one can understand the emotions of the society Capone effected through his actions. Although by understanding cultural relativism one can understand Capones actions which involved the smuggling of alcohol into American cities (Biography). Through these sociological understandings one can understand the actions of the counter culture and the emotions and reactions of the larger society. Works Cited Al Capone. Biography.com. AE Networks Television, 03 Mar. 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2017. Al Capone. FBI. FBI, 20 July 2016. Web. 11 Mar. 2017 Berger, Meyer. The New York Times. The New York Times, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2017. Eighteenth Amendment. Constitution. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2017. LaVerne, Thomas. Sociology. N.p., 2003. Textbook. 11 Mar. 2017.

Trade Commission :: essays research papers

The Federal Trade Commission, in submitting a Request For Public Comment Concerning Guides For The Dog And Cat Food Industry, is asking the American Public to assess guidelines for monitoring the pet food industry that have been in place since 1969. Since the basic thrust of the original guidelines was to control misrepresentation in the industry, it is hard to imagine that the public would disagree with the original intent of the guidelines. It would also be prudent to assess whether a review of such sound guidelines would be either necessary or worth the cost of carrying out the assessment. On the other hand, it has been thirty years since the original guidelines were implemented, giving the public and the industry time to see if the guidelines have done their job in a cost-effective manner and whether or not they need to be retooled for an industry that has gone through considerable technological and economic changes. Therefore, it would seem reasonable to conduct a survey that wo uld target key areas, such as any overlapping of the guidelines with federal, state, and local laws, the integrity of industry self-regulation in a new era of economic and technological advances, and whether or not the guidelines have imposed undue cost to both the industry and the public. Few would argue with the points of the original guidelines, whether it is monitoring misleading claims in advertising, or monitoring the quality of the products themselves. Despite economic and technological advances that have taken place in the industry since 1969, the guidelines still hold up as sound. There are also federal, state, and local laws that attempt to insure the same integrity in the pet food industry. The pet food industry also closely monitors itself. Given all these factors, it would seem best to question the necessity of such a survey, or, at least, to limit its scope and cost. What could be unseen motives for initiating such a reassessment? The American pet food industry would certainly want to keep pressure on the government to regulate foreign competition, insisting that competitors meet the same stringent standards set for American manufacturers. The FTC would also stand to gain from the number of its workers that would be paid for conducting the reassessment and the power and prestige that such guidelines tend to give the FTC It might be useful to assess how much cost the original guidelines have imposed on the industry and the consumer in increased prices for pet foods and if the guidelines have added anything to federal, state, and local laws that already monitor the industry.

Means of Transport Essay

Along History, people have had the necessity and the curiosity of moving and changing from some places to others, and in this sense means of transport have played an important role. Nowadays, there is a great variety of means of transport and all of them have advantages and disadvantages. When we have to choose a mean of transport we usually take into account distance, speed, comfort and cost. But I would like to focus the discussion on transport in our cities and the question is: What do you think is better: to use public or private transport? Regarding private transport, I think that the car is the king. Cars provide autonomy and they are seen as being more convenient and reliable. They also provide access to more destinations than public transport. Besides, in another way, cars are seen to confer prestige and other socially desirable attributes. But, on the contrary cars are expensive to support. see more:public transport essay Owing a car means spending a lot of money in a garage, an insurance, fuel (petrol) and tax. In addition, the main problem is that cars pollute very much and this is a problem which affects us all, car owners and non-car owners. In opposite of this, I think that nowadays we can find very modern public transports as the tube, the tram, High Speed Train which are more ecological; they use less energy and make easier the traffic through the cities, among other advantages. Besides, in modern cities, bicycles are being introduced as a public transport because they are more efficient than some public transports in some conditions, as speed, flexibility and energy saving. But I wonder, is public transport really cheaper and more efficient? Is it promoted enough by governments? We should think about this, because it seems a contradiction. If you have seen the last news in Madrid, Barcelona and other big cities, the governments are asking people to use public transport because the level of pol lution is very high. But, on the other hand, governments promote the sale of cars because they consider it is necessary to help car industry because of the economical crisis.

Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay

Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Example Higher Education as A Wise Investment Essay Example The world is constantly changing, and people are changing with it. Even more, people are those, who create an impulse to alter the environment around them. That is why every person needs to have and use the possibilities to grow intellectually and receive the best tuition, because everyone has his/her own inner power to make the world better. According to a contemporary model of a liberal society, humans are placed in the center of the planet around them. They are not just observing what is going on, but also participating. They have the right to express their opinion. These ideas might seem to be not very related to an educational process. However, a basis of such concepts like a freedom of speech, a critical thinking and self-respect are formed at school and polished at higher educational institutions (Bronfenbrenner). Studying at the university or college is efficient for liberating the consciousness and developing the creativity of young people. Every person has a unique individuality. Thus, investing into a higher education might lead to efficient results in this sphere. The universities and colleges are considered to form free-thinking members of the democratic society. They will succeed in the further adult life and make the community around them better (Sokol). It is difficult to say that higher education is necessary for everyone in the society. It is a wise investment, regardless the personal circumstances. The tuition costs a lot; and not many people in the United States can afford it. The question is whether everyone needs it. There are many people that do not want to work as clerks at the offices or become scientists. It is possible to say that they do not need any higher education. From another perspective, higher education is another way to develop intellectually and culturally. It does not matter what the future professional plans of a person are (Bevilacqua, Giannetto, and Matthews). Even though the issue is worth a long discussion, I think that higher education is a very good investment for a number of reasons. Main Reasons Why Higher Education Is a Wise Investment The price of studying at the university or college is big enough to make the majority of the middle-class families take a loan in the bank. They could hope that their child will find a good work after the graduation. According to the information given in the article â€Å"Getting More Bang for the Buck in Higher Education†. Students are already borrowing about $113 billion a year, more than twice as much as a decade ago, and student debt now tops $1 trillion. The federal government accounts for nearly 90 percent of all student loans and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that students will take out $1.4 trillion in new federal loans over the next decade. (D’Andrea 2013). This statistics shows that higher education is still very popular among the Americans despite its high costs. It is necessary to note that the United States is a developed country. There are many workplaces that require a higher education to fit the standards. For example, it is impossible to work as a web-developer without a specific knowledge on the issue. It is surely rather complicated than a high school level. If there are not many professionals in the country, the company has to invite people from abroad to work for them. Nowadays, many American companies do it frequently. It supports an idea that people with higher education are needed. They will surely find a workplace after the graduation. Having a university degree is a sign for employees that a person obtains the premium qualifications for the work. There is no need to check his/her knowledge in all details in this sphere. It also increases the possibilities for a professional growth in the company. A university degree becomes an advantage in creating an image of a successful person. It is surely an intellectual achievement. It is a wide-spread idea that university graduates earn more during the lifetime. It may be explained by an idea that they do not work on lower positions like college graduates do. Of course, a financial well-being depends not only on the persons academic degree. Such issues like working productivity, energy and enthusiasm as well as luck are also very important. However, having a university degree increases the chances of an individual for a quick advancement by a career ladder. The article in The New York Times includes the following: A college graduate is almost 20 percentage points more likely to be employed than someone with a high-school diploma. Although the cost of a college degree is 50 percent higher than it was 30 years ago, the increase in lifetime earnings associated with a college degree is now 75 percent higher. (DAndrea) Another idea that supports the thesis that higher education is a wise investment is the following one. It shows employees and other people that the person with the degree is committed and knows how to set and accomplish goals. It addition, to have a degree shows that the person is able to work systematically while gaining the new knowledge and passing exams successfully. It might be incorrect to analyze the advantages of investing into higher education only from a personal economical point of view. It is necessary to note that it abolishes such serious problems in the society as a total ignorance, a fear of strangers, and their culture. Increasing an educational level of people is the best way of preventing racism and crimes. An educated person will not kill for fun, because he/she understands the value of the human life. He/she will be a better citizen that will help the poor, because he/she has an idea about humanism. People become better, no matter whether they are being skilled workers or professors. The humankind has made a long way from the ancient times to the 21st century and gained much knowledge in all spheres. It should be understood by everyone. This knowledge broadens the mind and creates a good basis for a further progress of human thoughts. Higher education is an attribute of a high social status. It can be called an achievement, in other words, and the prestige of the university degree attracting many people. The government gives to citizens a possibility to go to the university without paying all the money for the tuition as a reward (Nola and Irzik). This can be seen in an example of the U.S. army and the desire of people to get higher education. It is another argument that supports the importance of investing into the university degree. The U.S. Army: Supporting the Prestigious Status of Higher Education It is necessary to describe the overall situation connected with an army in the United States. It is the U.S. Military that faces numerous problems. The main problem it meets with is unwillingness of young people to serve the country and the lack of financing. That is why the military saves money, reduces some expenses on other issues, but leads an active advertising and promoting campaign. All this has made to create a new positive image of an American soldier. It should attract volunteers to the army. Re-branding of the U.S. Army is a main issue that managers want to achieve in their advertising and promotion campaigns. It targets mostly the young men from 18 to 24 years old that have been brought up on the TV culture. When those young men are asked to fill in the questionnaire, they describe the army as something with the dog soldier work, obstacle courses and in-your-face drill officers. The Army tries to make it more transparent for the American public. It creates an image of a strong young professional patriot, who goes to the military to serve the country. The situation with the lack of volunteers is so difficult, that the Army introduced a special army experience tour. The officers visit high schools on a recruiting truck and talk about the possibilities the military service can give to students (Baron). However, an issue that is connected with a problem of higher education is not the popularity of the military service. The main point that underlines the importance and prestigious status of the university degree are the perspectives the army opens for a young recruit. The military service gives a wide range of social opportunities for young people from lower classes. After the army, the person is able to get a higher education at a lower price. The person receives a good and cheap healthcare and a possibility to buy a house. That is why the advertising campaign targets high school and college students, mostly in the southern states. In these regions, there are more immigrants like Hispanics and blacks. According to the state program, such immigrants will be able to become the citizens of the country after the military service. The marketing strategy the army of the United States uses depends on the economic and social status of the target audience. The state program aims at increasing the popularity of the military service among people and promise to provide them with various profits in future. It is one of the most important features making the army so popular among young people of the lower class and immigrants. It is necessary to note that those young men who go to the army do not really have many opportunities to make their lives better to choose from. They do not have other ways to get education and social profits. As it has been mentioned earlier, higher education costs much even more for middle-class families. This sum is too much for a poor immigrant family or just for a family with many children. In fact, the soldiers that can be compared to customers do not have a choice. It is similar to arriving to the store where there is an only model of the mobile phone available. There is no competition at all (Garamone). The price for this mobile phone is extremely high, but it will be certainly bought. There is a lack of mobile phones. This example can be easily compared to the military. In reality, the army is a monopolist in its sphere. It is quite logical, because it is impossible to have several armies in the country. It might cost too much and lead to a breakup in the country in case some political problems arise. However, it is the only way to make the life better for a big number of young people. Our SamplesThe best way to know how to write good essays is by getting a sample of an essay from competent experts online. We can give you the essay examples you need for future learning. Free Essay Examples are here. Main Reasons why Some Think Higher Education Is not a Wise Investment Many college and university students complain that they need to take too many obligatory courses being not related to their major ones. The students have been writing petitions and discussing this question for many years. However, the majority of higher educational institutions create curriculums with general studies. Higher education supposes that a student will learn many disciplines on the higher level to become not only a professional, but also a well-educated cultural person (Dann). Many people claim that the university level is unnecessary for them. There is not much information about the major studies and too much information about philosophy, literature, rhetoric, and other general issues (Conerly). Even though I do not agree with the statement that there is no need to take the courses being not related to the one’s specialization at all, I will try to compare some arguments from both sides to make a situation clearer. The general education has an obvious advantage. It gives the all-round knowledge in different spheres of science and art. It is difficult to disagree with this argument because the basic knowledge in languages, art, and history is not redundant for engineers and managers. Perhaps, those who are good in programming have neither the desire nor much talent to learn foreign languages or even write essays in their own. They have a different way of thinking. In their logical world of codes, there is no place for a verbal beauty. The problem is that even great programmers need to communicate with people, write emails, and love writing letters to their girlfriends without mistakes as well as work abroad. Sometimes the knowledge of English is not a treatment for everything. That is why the universities make language disciplines obligatory for all students. According to the article â€Å"Dont Buy the Hype, College Education Is Not an Investment,† the majority of university graduates do not know much neither in their profile, nor in general subjects. More than a third of recent college graduates had coasted through without adding anything to their human capital. Reports that employers often find graduates applying for jobs to be weak in basic skills are numerous. If a college degree were a regulated investment opportunity, it would have to bear the standard warning that past performance is no guarantee of future performance. The future won’t be similar to the past for many college graduates and telling young people that college will be a good investment is careless and irresponsible. (Leef) There is a universal counter-evidence to this statement. There is always a possibility for self-education. Nowadays, there is no problem in finding information in the Internet and even in taking online courses. As a proverb says, â€Å"Where there is a will, there is a way.† Students should always be motivated to learn something (Conerly). They know for sure that they have to be good in their specialty because it is their future profession. However, they really do not understand why it is necessary to learn French if they can communicate perfectly in English. They do not intend to work in France. The lack of motivation makes those obligatory general courses ineffective. Thus, in the end, both professors and students lose their precious time. Another argument for attending the courses that are not related to the profile is that they teach students to think critically. It makes the brain work harder if a student needs to master a subject being not his or her initial specialization (Grove). However, this theory has more disadvantages than advantages in practice. Firstly, the ability to think critically does not depend upon the subject the person is learning. The only thing that is important is a process of learning and mental abilities to compare facts and make conclusions. Secondly, it often leads to serious psychological problems. If the person is a talented musician, and he/she is bad at mathematics, but still learns it, he/she constantly fails in this. It does not depend on the efforts put for learning. This state leads to depression, appearance of inferiority complex, and a decrease of self-rating. The next argument to support the idea of necessity of general studies in the university is that the variety of disciplines gives to students an opportunity to choose what they prefer more. It is good in the sense of self-determination. However, it causes difficulties with the employment after graduation (Genovese). Universities do not always filter the disciplines applicable to the real life. Students might have problems with the further professional adaptation. Time is very valuable. The majority of students want to get their profession as soon as possible. Another very important issue, which supports an idea that extra courses are not needed, is money. Many families cannot afford paying for the tuition. The general courses are costly, obligatory for all students, and, in addition, not related to their major course. It is evident that the question of money is an obstacle for the majority of students.The lack of money is not the only problem in the question of general studies. Another important factor is time. Many college and university students work part time or have family issues that do not allow them to spend at least four years for finding themselves. No matter how good this idea is in theory, the reality where the time and money are involved makes its corrections (Grove). It is possible to find a college with a flexible curriculum (Education Portal). One can always choose an institution to study at. This question is important, because there is no money-and-time-back system at colleges and institutes. That is why every student needs to understand what his/her aim is; whether it is to get a more generalized knowledge, or to pay more attention to the major subject. An opportunity to take the courses being related to the one’s specialization is more practical than studying the disciplines providing the basics of everything in the world to students. One of the main counter-evidences against getting a higher education, omitting if it is not a way for self-development but a wise investment, is that studying is not a financial operation at all. Forbes writes: When college cheerleaders say that there is an earnings premium for graduates, they make it sound just like investing in financial instruments. â€Å"Buy this bond and you get interest payments in return; buy a college degree and you get higher wages in return.† But that isn’t the case. No one receives any payment or premium merely for having finished college. Employers do not reward workers just for having passed enough classes to earn a degree. They reward workers for their productivity. Going to college might increase a person’s productivity, but it’s neither necessary nor sufficient for that. (Leef) In reality, the academic degree supposes that the person has done more of the individual work to get it. As a result, it might be just an advantage in the competition to gain the job. However, it is not another document that supports an idea that the person has a good professional pedigree. It is difficult to say for sure if the higher education is necessary for everyone in the United States. The tuition costs a lot of money. The majority of students have to take a loan in the bank to finish the university. There are both advantages and disadvantages in studying at the college or university. Higher education is a good investment into the future career, because a graduate might find a well-paid job. He/she might have good possibilities for the future career growth. In addition, higher education gives to students numerous possibilities for the personal intellectual and cultural growth. It might make their lives better in future. A free-thinking, creative, and intelligent person has more chances to succeed in life than those people selecting not to continue their studies. To sum up, the well-educated citizens are the developing power of each community and every state. That is why getting higher education is a wise investment both in the individual and state senses.

Free Essays on The Role of the Visual in Today’s Society

The role of the visual in today’s society is quite apparent. Beautiful, flashy images are everywhere in the media, and all of them serve the same purpose. The purpose of all of these images is to get you, the consumer to buy the product that is being sold, or at least buy into the idea that a particular product represents. The role of the visual in modern architecture is very much the same. The purpose of the visual in modern architecture is to publicize or privatize a building through any media necessary to create the desired representation, and thereby sell the idea. In the case of Le Corbusier, the goal was to create a very visual and public architecture. He recognized that not everybody would be able to go and personally see his buildings, thus he decided to bring his buildings to them. Obviously Corbusier believed very strongly in the representational value of his buildings, â€Å"I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies.† In this quotation Corbusier describes just how important the role of the visual is to him. Experience is not necessary, and neither is discussion, just visualization. In the case of Villa Savoye (Poissy, France 1928-1929) Corbusier created a building based upon his principles of architecture, and the idea of the house as a machine for living. These programmatic elements yielded a simple building that followed his five points of architecture (peloti, ribbon windows, a roof garden, free faà §ade, and free plan). The way in which he composes these elements and ultimately how he represents the building are what make this a truly interesting piece of architecture, instead of a place for storing hay (as the building was once used). The physical appearance of the building (what it would look like if we were to visit) was an attempt by Corbusier to create a truly mechanical building, â€Å"A house is a machine for living in†. The building is built in the middle of a... Free Essays on The Role of the Visual in Today’s Society Free Essays on The Role of the Visual in Today’s Society The role of the visual in today’s society is quite apparent. Beautiful, flashy images are everywhere in the media, and all of them serve the same purpose. The purpose of all of these images is to get you, the consumer to buy the product that is being sold, or at least buy into the idea that a particular product represents. The role of the visual in modern architecture is very much the same. The purpose of the visual in modern architecture is to publicize or privatize a building through any media necessary to create the desired representation, and thereby sell the idea. In the case of Le Corbusier, the goal was to create a very visual and public architecture. He recognized that not everybody would be able to go and personally see his buildings, thus he decided to bring his buildings to them. Obviously Corbusier believed very strongly in the representational value of his buildings, â€Å"I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies.† In this quotation Corbusier describes just how important the role of the visual is to him. Experience is not necessary, and neither is discussion, just visualization. In the case of Villa Savoye (Poissy, France 1928-1929) Corbusier created a building based upon his principles of architecture, and the idea of the house as a machine for living. These programmatic elements yielded a simple building that followed his five points of architecture (peloti, ribbon windows, a roof garden, free faà §ade, and free plan). The way in which he composes these elements and ultimately how he represents the building are what make this a truly interesting piece of architecture, instead of a place for storing hay (as the building was once used). The physical appearance of the building (what it would look like if we were to visit) was an attempt by Corbusier to create a truly mechanical building, â€Å"A house is a machine for living in†. The building is built in the middle of a...

Effective outsourcing allows companies to focus on their core business Essay

Effective outsourcing allows companies to focus on their core business - Essay Example For example India has about 5-6% of the global outsourcing market share and from it, it was able to generate revenue of US $ 10.9 billion in the year 2008 (Bijan 2009). By description, outsourcing is a process by which a company contracts a third party to perform for them a particular function that is not considered as one of the company’s core activities. The third party can be another company or a person. Outsourcing is more prominent in countries with high wage rates where companies outsource their non-core functions to countries with low wage rates for example China and India. The main advantages or reasons for outsourcing include gaining access to globally competitive capabilities, control and reduce operation costs, accelerate re-engineering benefits, share risks, and reduce time and efforts for marketing. It also enables a company to utilize resources that are not available internally, free their resources for development of other resources and improve their focus on th e core business activities of the company (Bijan et al 2002). The intention of this essay is to show how effective outsourcing enables/allows companies to keep a focus on their core businesses. Various writers have identified various dimensions that should be considered when making outsourcing decisions. This paper gives a discussion of four of these namely, core competencies, spatial, geographic and product innovation dimension. Under core competencies dimension, a company should not only consider growing in size and scope but it should also ensure that it maintains it specializes in and sustains focus on its core competencies. This means it should not only focus on repetitive tasks but extend to include a wider range of activities. These include knowledge-intensive tasks and sensitive functions for example R&D and design. This will enable the company to increase knowledge from external sources and hence be flexible in responding to challenges and pressures from competition (Stark et al 2006). According to (Bijan et al 2002) the process of outsourcing non-core activities allows a company to step up its resource allocation and managerial attention to those tasks it does the best. These tasks constitute the core business activities/core competencies of the company. This leads to workers and managers being more committed to the company’s core activities. This in turn increases flexibility and responsiveness which generate beneficial impacts on the performance of the firm. Such a specialization leads to high quality production. This is important in the current local and global sectors and markets characterized by very competitive pressures, complex technologies and short product life cycle. Another dimension to be considered in outsourcing decision making is spatial dimension. In this dimension, the company should explore the geographic span of the outsourcing activity. This includes the spatial distribution of all activities that are to be outsourced and the geographic extend of the value chains that will result from this. Dhanapal et al (20080 explains that this dimension has to receive adequate attention because it can result to larger inventories, greater flexibility and longer lead times. Larger spatial span can also result to coordination and communication difficulties and lowered advantage of costs that are fixed in nature. The company therefore has to consider the competitive advantages of the territories and competitive strategies of their firms. In the

College Transfer Quality Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

College Transfer Quality - Personal Statement Example In my first year in Miami University, I became a laboratory researcher in Dr. Lee’s laboratory, doing experiment on microbial ecology to explain the global latitudinal diversity gradient phenomenon – this experiment, which I deem simple, involved determining heterozygosity of E. coli bacteria in different temperatures. Additionally, I find pleasure in carrying out some little interesting experiments, for example creating microbial paintings by growing different microbial colonies, which exhibit diverse shapes and colors on culture dishes. I have a strong feeling that my career fulfillment lies within Microbiology and I like the experiences in the discipline. Primarily, Microbiology experiments enable me to combine conceptual and formal decisions in the experiment; that is, explaining the macro world phenomenon with a small-scale experiment in the micro world. This is especially so considering the fact that I am in charge of the entire experiment and my schedule. Secondly, Microbiology experiments boarder/bridge my interests from science to art – for instance, those microbial paintings enable me to makes friends with many art major students. Thirdly, I have come to realize and appreciate the fact that I am good at interdisciplinary inspiration and this encourages me the more to become a Microbiologist. What propelled me to choose the University of California is the fact that as compared to Miami University, this university offers more research opportunities for Molecular Microbiology, and has larger diversity culture, which denotes better chances for interacting with more professionals both from my specialty as well as from other areas of specialization. This would make me the best that I can be in Microbiology. In effect, the fact that the University of California is a larger university satisfies my interests