Monday, November 25, 2019

Should Young People Learn History Essay

Should Young People Learn History Essay Should Young People Learn History Essay Example Should Young People Learn History Essay Example Today, history is one of the most widespread and popular subjects for discussion worldwide. There are different approaches both to the essence of history and its teaching methods. For instance, young people have expressed diverse concerns toward the meaning of this subject at school curricula.. There are people who support the idea that children should learn from the past stories facing valuable life lessons. They believe it helps preserve the culture and teach teenagers vital life skills drawing on the examples of their ancestors. Besides, this subject could be really interesting and breathtaking, presented in a playing form by experienced instructors. However, this point of view also has its opponents and counterarguments.   The following paper gives a vivid description of the arguments that affirm the need to let juveniles learn stories of the ancient times. Should Young People Learn from Past Stories Educating children by means of presenting different life lessons learned by their ancestors has always been considered as an issue of vital importance. However, the study of history has become a controversial topic especially among the young people. There are two distinct opinions about the significance of cultivating this particular subject among the children. There are those who believe that history is critical to their ultimate well-being. Consequently, the lessons of history empower children to lead a balanced life in the future. On the contrary, some feel that history is composed of past events that intimidate their progress in contemporary life. Thus, it is critical to have clear perspective on this issue. The following paper discusses the supporting arguments on why young people ought to be taught history. Preservation of Culture A number of reasons prove the significance of history for the younger generation. Understanding one’s Origin Firstly, the analysis of the past is imperative in helping the community to preserve their traditions and beliefs. History could assist children to understand their origin, as well as build the systematic view of the world. Through the learning of the history a person could put together comprehensive world view, as well as find their place in it (Corfield, 2008). The sense of belonging could not be overestimated. In fact, history gives people self-identity that enables them to co-exist peacefully with other members of the society.. When young people gain knowledge on how their communities came into being, they will definitely appreciate their own existence more. Consequently, they will be able to share their vast experience with the future generations, continuing the traditions and the name of the game. Knowledge of Cultural Practices Secondly, when young people study history, they become familiar with the cultural practices of their community. Mc Farland (n.d.) emphasizes that it is only through comprehending the older generation’s way of life that young people could gain insight into their own experience. In other words, it unravels the mystery of mankind’s existence. For instance, there are communities in the developing world that practice circumcision. It used to be a rite of passage that transited a boy into the adulthood. However, currently, male circumcision is carried out as a means of reducing the rate of HIV. Moreover, despite the modernization that characterizes this cohort, some cultural practices are vital in helping people know the pillars that held their forefathers together. Past Challenges Thirdly, historical education is imperative for the young people as it highlights the numerous challenges that the community encountered. It is vital to note that people nowadays have lower level of resilience to problems as compared with their ancestors. Nevertheless, studying their origin modern people could plunge into the atmosphere of hard times that were habitual for their forefathers. Wolfe (2002) elaborates on the wars and conflicts that have cyclic nature and could eventually pass from one epoch to another. Thus, learning history young people are prepared to face possible difficulties with stamina. Sources of Entertainment Heroic Messages Nothing has been found to be more glorious and entertaining as the stories of the past. The young generation is separated from their ancestors with hundreds of years where totally different lifestyle and values were possibly common. Thus, it is a great chance to look into the ancient times and learn the examples of famous personalities. For instance, olden stories narrate the heroic figures that brought immense changes to the society. The South Africans still idolize the sacrifice their great leader had to give in order to attain the independence of the nation. The example of a person who was jailed for twenty seven years in severe conditions nurturing the idea of national pride of the Africans has inspired many a generation. Wolfe (2002) put the special emphasis on the encouragement of the young people with historical heroic figures: â€Å"It exposes the youthful person to the heroic aspect of possessing your thoughts and ideas.† Thus, the history is also important in the con text of the spiritual education of the youth. Comprehension History also enables a person to visualize the experiences of the people from the past. In other words, it acts as a connecting gear of past, present, and future generation. It is significant to note that at every stage of life, an individual face the people who appear to be older that they. Nevertheless, a person is expected to communicate with them despite the huge generation gap. By learning the stories from the past, youth can comprehend how to appropriately interact with older people. Corfield (2008) reaffirms the point noting that every human being is a living history. In essence, our great grandchildren will also desire to learn the way we lived in our time. It will give them an opportunity to appreciate the value of technological progress that changes the world beyond recognition. For instance, while right now passing of information is one minute act, history teaches us how messengers would spend numerous miles on a journey to deliver a message. Therefore, one gets to appreci ate life in its dynamics Captivating Features The stories of the old times are also presented in a simple and clear manner in the course of the history. In fact, contemporary era is full with complexities of different kinds. Consequently, teenagers are bound to find their ancestors’ lifestyle calm and quiet, as well as easy to perceive. However, one must have a positive attitude towards the learning process. Empowering the Youths with Vital Life Skills Enhancement of Thought Life Learning the course of the history has been found to enhance brainwork of an individual. Reese (2013) highlights that children who are exposed to knowledge of the ancient days demonstrate a better understanding of other people’s views. In fact, the skill is imperative in the school life of the child. For instance, it is apparent that some of the lessons that children learn in school are very complex. There are particular subjects that are challenging to most of the children. However, the research indicates that the awareness gained through the history studying sharpens one’s learning skills. Children are able to face the complexities in elementary institutions bravely. Moreover, they can easily join the university without much hindrance. Acquisition of Virtues There are life virtues that an individual acquires in the process. It is essential to bring out that success in life is greatly dependent on habits and characters of an individual. Reese (2013) notes, â€Å"Adolescents with a stronger knowledge of family history have more robust identities, better coping skills, and lower rates of depression and anxiety.† In other words, one gets to know how to manage the frustrations and stressful situation in their lives. Needless to say, the present generation is full of immense challenges that an individual is to accept. Harmonious Community Living Finally, history proves that youth can emulate their forefathers’ example. It is important to note that most of the teenagers are trained toward self-independence. In fact, they do not know how to live harmoniously with the rest of the society. Most of them display rebellious behaviors towards parents who try to correct their behavior. However, Corfield (2008) emphasizes that history gives children an opportunity to understand the broad span of human life. They find out what every member of the society needs in order to live well. From the supportive arguments highlighted, it is clear that young people ought to learn from the stories of the past. Besides preserving the communities, history is a source of entertainment and vital life skills. Consequently, I believe the education system should embrace it at every level. After all, it is strongly desired to have the society that is rich in all its dimensions.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

MGM625-0903A-01 Applied Finance for Decision-Making - Phase 1 Essay - 2

MGM625-0903A-01 Applied Finance for Decision-Making - Phase 1 Individual Project 2 - Essay Example difference between the current assets and the current liabilities, in other words, the assets set aside by the company in order to run the day to day operations (Samuels et al, 2000). The working capitals for the three years are computed as follows: The working capital of the firm is sufficiently higher than the current liabilities and it has remained almost steady for the three years, with a slight decrease in 2003. In case Superior Living is planning on entering new projects and investments, it will be essential to increase the current level of working capital. The current ratio of the company is the ratio of the current assets to the current liabilities. It indicates the liquidity position of the firm and its ability to cover the current liabilities with the liquid assets. The quick ratio is computed as the ratio of the ready cash assets (current assets – inventories – prepaid expenses) to the current liabilities. The liquidity ratios for Superior Living are computed as follows: It is evident that the current ratio is around 2 for the three years, indicating the strong liquidity position of the company. It is interesting to note that the inventories form a large portion of the current assets and they cannot be readily liquefied. The quick ratio is around 0.55 which is much lower than the ideal 1:1, indicating that the short term cash needs in case of solvency will not be met (Burks and Wilks, 2007). Hence the company needs to improve the cash assets. The short-term (due within a year) and long-term debts (due in more than one year) of the Superior Living are listed in the table below. The debt to equity or the gearing ratio is computed as the ratio of the long-term debt to the equity (Samuels et al, 2000). The values are tabulated below: The gearing ratio of the company is very low (2% - 3%) over the three years. Though the long-term debt has increased by $400,000 over the three years, the debt to equity ratio has not increased. The company is not

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Role of Corporate Governance Mechanism of Independent Directors Essay

The Role of Corporate Governance Mechanism of Independent Directors - Essay Example The mechanism suggests that the Board of Directors should comprise of an equal numbers of executive and non-executive (independent) directors. Executive directors are responsible for the management of the company’s operations whereas the non-executive directors, which are appointed by the shareholders, are responsible for the supervision of the executive directors’ performance as a whole. Under the framework, the independent directors are responsible for setting up board committees, which govern the performance of the board. These committees include audit committee, remuneration committee and nomination committee. The audit committee supervises the reporting of the financial statements between the management and the shareholders of the company, remuneration committee is responsible for devising remuneration packages for the executive directors of the board after considering their performance and the nomination committee is responsible for nominating directors that can b ecome the part of the board after elected by the board of directors. This whole framework is then observed in the real life examples of various organizations in UK, so as to see how effectively the mechanism has been applied and how well it is performing in achieving the main purpose of the framework. The Role of Corporate Governance Mechanism of Independent Directors According to the Cadbury report (1992), Corporate Governance has been defined as ‘the system by which companies are directed and controlled (P 15, paragraph 2.5).’ The system states that the board of directors is assigned the responsibility of governing the companies on the behalf of the shareholders, whereas the shareholders are in charge of appointing a board of directors along with auditors, so that they can be satisfied that a suitable system of governance is in place. In this paper the mechanism of independent directors, defined by the Corporate Governance, will be discussed to see how this mechanism works for the effective execution of governance. The concept of independent directors was originally acquired from the Anglo-American model of Corporate Governance, where there was a unified structure of board of directors. The main reason behind the concept was to apply checks and controls where there was a separation between ownership and control of the organization (Ali and Gregoriou, 2006). Recent progress in economic theory suggests that the appointed board of directors play a vital part in the effective governance of a corporation. With the authority to hire, fire and compensate the senior management of the company, the board of directors ensures that the problems relating to the conflicts of interest among the shareholders and the management are resolved and controlled. This contributes to economizing the transaction costs (also called the agency costs) that arises as a result of the separation of ownership and control, thus facilitating the existence of an organization as an open corporation (Baysinger and Butler, 1985). The basic agency problems that arise as a consequence of the separation of control and ownership include; managers acting in order to serve their personal interests, non-transparency of financial performance between the managers and the shareholders in ord er to portray a better picture of the company’s performance by keeping the shareholders in the dark and the management’s motivation to focus on short term performance and manipulation of the financial performance in order to secure incentives (Rezaee, 2007). In order to overcome these issues corporate governance defined a framework of board of directors to introduce independent direc

Monday, November 18, 2019

Strategic Plan Report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Strategic Plan Report - Research Paper Example ale organizations have strategic plans to guide them towards achieving their short term and long term goals, and the United States of America Department of Veterans Affairs is one of them. The Veterans Affairs department is the second largest, the largest being the Department of Defense. This department currently has an approximate number of 280, 000 employees (Longman, 2012). Founded over eighty years ago, this department has many roles and responsibilities, goals and objectives, all of them are centered towards the well being of USA veterans. This department, being a major one, operates with an approximate budget to the tune of $ 80 billion (Longman, 2012). The VA helps take care of veterans patient care, some basic family needs, compensation for those veterans injured during their line of duty, provision of education needs and provision of manageable home loans. The department also takes care of the veterans’ surgery and rehabilitative needs, funeral and bereavement provisions among others. The department’s short and long term goals demand a strategic plan. In the healthcare sector, the main short term goal is to be able to provide cheap affordable yet quality medication for the veterans. This definitely requires a very appropriate strategy, since the provision of healthcare is very vital to any country and its citizens well being (Panangala, 2011; Peter et al, 2013). The aforementioned operational activities form the short term goals of the department. In addition, it also aims at improving its service delivery, reducing the paper work and making disability claims easier for the veterans. The use of more specialized IT in the healthcare sector is also another goal of the organization (Longman, 2012). The department also has some long term goals, one of them being the goal to reduce and eventually get to zero cases of homelessness among the veterans. The department realizes that some of the veterans who spend their life fighting for their country, both

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Quality Assurance Of Teaching Education Essay

Quality Assurance Of Teaching Education Essay The divisions of rules that exist in the university curriculum-making authority are distributed as follows. Curriculum design is done by a team at the program-level in which courses design is in draft form. Then, as a draft of curriculum it should be approved by the department and faculty academic senate before it finally passed by the chancellor as formal curriculum for each program. This arrangement is suitable with the hierarchy of stakeholders of the institution within the university. It defines that the Faculty is organizing stakeholders and or academic activities in specific disciplines and can consist of one program or several program of study. Department is the organization of academic resources for the development of science, education and implementation of academic, professional and or profession, in part or one branch of science, technology, art and culture. The Program is the integrated study plan as guidance and academic education or profession conducted on the basis of a curriculum and aimed so that learners can master the knowledge, skills and attitudes in accordance with curriculum objectives. Based on this definition, the program is the stakeholder which takes main responsibility of curriculum design and evaluation. As will be elaborated below, the process of curriculum development involves many parties in which the program holds main duty that is initial design and determining course structure jointly with the department. Curriculum Design The formulation process of the curriculum at the program level is carried through several steps: (i) define the graduate profile, (ii) define their competences, (iii) map and translate the learning process that needed for achieving these competences in the course design, (iv) arrange the courses in suitable order and reasonable time study, (iv) synchronization of the course design with related programs. This duty is carried by the curriculum design team at the program level in which consist of: Head of the program Group of lecturers who represent each of specialization area Academic staff of the department Historically, the curriculum design has been evoluted following the rule set by directorate of higher education, Ministry of Education. It had involved three curriculums, namely curriculum 2007, curriculum 2009 and the current/undertaking revision: competence-based curriculum. Shortly, current undergoing  changes in  the curriculum  is a shift from  the target  mastery of science  and technology  into  the  emphasis on  the education process  that refers to the  context of culture  and  human  development  in a comprehensive,  global  /  universal. The target now is to produce  graduates who are  cultured  and able to  play a role  in the international world.  This is known  as a  competency-based  curriculum. The curriculum development is started by formulation of descriptive profile of the graduate. Referring to the current rule, as stated in the Chancellor decree No.897/SK/R/UI/2009 in article 2 about the objective of the program, it is stated: To generate economic undergraduate economics courses that have the ability and skills analysis of both micro and macro economics to meet the needs of analysis and research in government institutions, research institutes, banking and capital markets. According to this definition, the graduates are those who should master ability and skill as junior economist. In order to achieve this profile of competence, the entire representative of lecturers of each are/courses was involved to design the appropriate course structure. Internal course area meeting In this meeting each courses area design three important documents: GBPP(Garis-garis Besar Program Pengajaran), SAP(Satuan Acara Perkuliahan) and the syllabus. In the new term GBPP and SAP are recognized as BRP(Buku Rancangan Pengajaran) and BPKM(Buku Pedoman Kerja Mahasiswa). During the last revision this process have been conducted for . (isi tanggal rapat koordinasi internal tiap konsentrasi dan matakuliah wajib). Within the program, the area is a group of specialization in economics area. The following is the lists of area and lecturers responsible for each area. Monetary economics: Prof. xxx, Dr. xxxx International economics: Prof. xxx, Dr. xxxx Industrial organization: Prof. xxx, Dr. xxxx Public economics: Prof. xxx, Dr. xxxx Human resource and labor economics: Prof. xxx, Dr. xxxx Environmental and natural resource economics: Prof. xxx, Dr. xxxx Regional economics: Prof. xxx, Dr. xxxx Work meeting (Rapat Kerja) In order to create a good coherence and mapping of each course with the graduate profile, jointly work meeting were carried. For the last curriculum revision this meeting conducted on (Raker Bandung). The result of these process is summarized in the following tables. Table 1 Sequence of Courses of Economic Undergraduate Program (EUP) Based on Curriculum 2009 Table 1 Sequence of Courses of Economic Undergraduate Program (EUP) based on KBK The detail of the connection between each courses and competence aimed from each course is in the Appendix. Users Involvement In the curriculum development, jointly with the department, the program  also  involves users as the  important stakeholders. One of the example is during the develpment of 2009 curriculum, a focus group discussion with stakeholders were conducted on December 10, 2008. To accommodate the various type of organization of workplace for graduates, the meeting invited participants from Ministry of Finance and National Planning Agency who represented government institution, NC Sekuritas, Mandiri Sekuritas, Bahana TCW Investment MGT, Danareksa Persero, and PT Pefindo as private instituion representatives, participant from the Bank Indonesia (Central Bank), and LPEM FEUI and LD FEUI as research institution representative. From this session, there were valuable inputs as a based to revised the competence profile in order to be suitable with the users need. For example is the focus on the mastering quantitative software, loyalty, English proficiency and writing skills. As the result, wit hin the compulsory 144 unit of courses now students are required to participate more on the quantitative laboratory session, minimum of 15 unit English-based course, and the academic writing course. Students Involvement In addition, the students  involvement in the course development also considered as important as other stakeholders. Especially, the students are the main party of the curriculum implemetation. For this reason, the program also conducted several meeting with each of students bagde, e.g. meeting December 19, 2011. In this meeting there are some feebacks including the continuous improvement of writing skills which then be accomodated in the KBK curriculum design. The Curriculum Dissemination and Implementation After the curriculum is finalized as formal document of the university, the faculty has been disseminating the curriculum for all stakeholders, mainly it targets students and lecturers. This was done by two handbook: Buku Panduan Akademik and Buku Katalog Mata Ajar. In addition, the program also uses program website to inform lecturer and students about the curriculum. Figure 1 The Website Course and curriculum evaluation The role of UPMA and BPMA Specifically, the university manage teaching and learning process by the role of quality assurance body BPMA(Badan Penjaminan Mutu Akademik) at university level and UPMA(Unit Penjamin Mutu Akademik) at faculty level. Curriculum implementation then will be monitored and audited by these units. The cycle of curriculum monitoring started by formulation of quality standard then followed by monitoring, internal evaluation and finally the development and enhancement of the curriculum. In addition to the role of internal evaluation, the implementation of the curriculum is also influenced by external evaluation such as national accreditation (BAN PT) and AUN itself. Figure 2 Cycle of Curriculum Quality Assurance In Handbook of Quality Standard published by university, within the quality standard, it is stated that the curriculum component should meet the criteria of: mention explicitly the graduates competence, list of learning materials, appropriate grouping of courses, has three main documents of BRP, BPKM and syllabus, and exhibit well connection between courses to meet the required competence as the learning objectives. In addition to this indicator it also should show indicator of the availability of course reference in the library, delivery method, time study allowed and the spread of workload and student evaluation system. The cycle is summarized in the following figure. detail of audit process Once the audit by quality assurance bodies was carried, and at the same time it is the period of curriculum evaluation, the faculty will appoint a team to review and develop new curriculum. Historically we have two consecutive revision, in 2007 and 2009. detail of the 2007 and 2009 revision KPTS/449/D/2006: Prosedur Pengembangan dan Perubahan Kurikulum KPTS/29/D/2008: Pembentukan Panitia Pengembangan Kurikulum FEUI Student evaluation The monitoring from student point of view to academic progress is carried over following processes: EDOM EDOM(Evaluasi Dosen oleh Mahasiswa) is one of the formal intrument to monitor teaching process within university. This system is implemented based on the Chancellor decree number (isi SK rektor tentang EDOM). While the name of the system suggests that the evaluation is mainly on the performance of the lecturers, the evaluation components are not limited to individual lecturers evaluation but also teaching and learning in various aspects. Evaluation aspects in EDOM includes: Course content delivery of course by the lecturer Class management Course assessment Course content: evaluating the availability of course syllabus, information of references, textbooks and other leaning resources, as well as relevance of assignments with the course objectives. Delivery of course by the lecturer: evaluating the delivery methods (including the implementation of active learning methods, discussion methods), relevance of course materials with the syllabus, consistency among lectures within teaching team, encouragement by the lecturer Class management: evaluating the punctuality of sessions, learning atmosphere, the use of supporting facilities, lecturers attitudes towards feedback and support for students with problems. Course assessment: evaluating the relevance of examination and assignment with the course contents, feedback and discussion on the results of assignments and examination. Analysis based on EDOM Pros: ? Cons: it is not completely reflect student opinion rather than obligatory fill in to see their course grade Academic Councelling (Bimbingan akademik) In addition to feedback from EDOM, the program evaluates the curriculum based on the feedback from students during the consultation with the academic supervisor. This is a non-structured feedback from student that ocasionally gives valuable input, epecially related to course assesment and course management. Evidence

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essay on Setting in Poes The Masque (Mask) of the Red Death :: Mask Masque Red Death Essays

Use of Setting in The Masque of the Red Death  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "...In the black chamber the effect of the fire-light that streamed upon the black hangings through the blood-tinted panes was ghastly in the extreme, and produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered, that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all" (210). This quote serves to demonstrates Edgar Allan Poe's descriptive abilities. In "The Masque of the Red Death" Poe gives much detail about the setting. Poe uses detail about the setting to make the story believable, to add irony to the story, and to create an atmosphere appropriate for the appearance of the "Red Death."    In retrospect, "The Masque of the Red Death" is not a vary believable story. However, Poe's description of the setting presents the reader with such a realistic image of the scene that the reader cannot help but believe the story when first it is first read. The reader is manipulated by the author into believing that the story could actually be true. Poe accomplishes this manipulation by describing the setting in great detail. Seemingly half of the story is setting, rather than actual action. Poe begins with description of the 'Red Death,' proceeds to describe the 'castellated abbey,' and finally the 'imperial suit.' By paying such close attention to detail, the author has created a believable image in the mind of the reader. The creation of such believable aspects of the story is important. Within this believable image, the unbelievable arrival of the masked figure (the "Red Death") gains credibility. Without such believable aspects, the arrival of such a presence would not be credible.    Poe uses setting to create irony in the story. The description of the castellated abbey includes the facts that, "a strong and lofty wall girdled it," and that the gates had been welded shut (209). Both the high wall and the welded gates were intended to keep the Red Death out of the castle, when, ironically, they actually trapped it inside. Poe leaves clues to the reader that this may occur. He includes the statement that the welded gates prevent "egress" as well as "ingress." Furthermore, a girdle is typically used to hold something in, rather than keep something out.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Poverty is one of the worst issues in the United States

Poverty is one of the worst issues in the United States. Despite this, poverty has potential to be fixed. Poverty as Capability Deprivation introduces â€Å"capability deprivation† as a method for lowing poverty and strengthening society. Amartya Sen emphasizes social gender roles and other countries’ prioritization on health, education, and job training. We are told that these are areas where United States lacks focus. In The Capabilities approach and Social Justice By Martha Nussbaum, similar issues are addressed and the text supports the same claims that Sen introduces. Nussbaum, however, goes further. She moves into the areas of social justice, gender justice, and the central human capabilities. She proves that central human capabilities are important traits that we have within ourselves, but fail to strengthen due to the lack of experience, skills, and resources. In the last reading, Swamp Nurse by Katherine Boo, we see an example of a case study that took place in Louisiana. This case study focused on what can be done for the part of the population living in poverty. The article examined programs made to help these people in poverty and enhance their skills so that they can find a job, properly care for their children, and take care of themselves. These programs are centered around steps and lectures on health, education, and social skills. Capability deprivation is a more powerful approach to fighting poverty than focusing on the income of the poor because it creates an independent population rather than a government dependent population. At current, low income people are dependent on the government without earning it. They are forced to rely on the government because they do not have the skills, jobs, or means to provide for their families due to their impoverished situations. If we raise the incomes of the poor we would have more balance in our society. Ideally it would be best to raise the income slightly as well as creating programs to teach the poor new trades and skills because this would open more opportunities for people that are in poverty. Capability deprivation is the key for helping fight poverty because it empowers poor people to motivate themselves to get out of poverty. Sen begins to explain ways to enhance capabilities and how other countries show importance to education and health as he says† Asian economies – first Japan, and then South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and later post-reform China and Thailand and other countries in East Asia and southeast Asia- have done remarkably well in spreading the economic opportunities through an adequately supportive social background, including high levels of literacy, numeracy, and basic education; good general health care; completed land reforms; and so on†( Sen 3). Sen states that in the Asia countries they are more focus on providing education and health care for free then providing just and people depending on government help. This is not only in Asia countries but in Latin America countries. Having Cuban roots my family tells me how things are different from the United States and some of the things that the Cuban society focused on. For example my aunt has never paid school tuition and she went to school to be a doctor. She is very proud that she is and can provide for her family. Another big thing is that they do not pay for health care, its free for her and her family. In many Latin Americas this follows as well. Sen believes in capability deprivation and proves facts that this can lower poverty in many societies, Sen states â€Å" Better basic education and health care improve the quality of life directly; they also increase a person’s ability to earn income and be free of income-poverty as well. The more inclusive the reach of basic education and health care, the more likely it is that even the potentially poor would have a better chance of overcoming penury† ( Sen 3). Sen is explaining that we have many different always to improve poverty and isn’t just providing people with financial help from the government but, its providing them with the basic educational skills, health care and social skills. To have a foundation of basic knowledge to help provided for yourself, to find jobs, know how to take care of yourself and family. Making the society dependent on government help is not going to help these people in the long run because they have become so dependent on getting financial support that it makes it hard to become independent. The government should provide for more programs to enhance the human inter capabilities that we already instinctively have. In the Holy Bible there is a passage where John teaches the people how to fish rather than just giving the hungry people dinner. You are teaching a group of people to fend for hemselves, to acquire what they need by means that they have learned. In giving the poor skills to raise their income, or the ability to do so, you are eradicating poverty. You are not treating it like a chronic disease you are curing it. By the government providing necessary services that accentuate people’s natural abilities capabilities, they are creating a society that tries to help itself rather than relying on just funding. That goes next to what Nussbaum discusses about the central human capabilities that we have. These categories are: life, bodily health, bodily integrity, senses, imagination, thought, emotions, practical reason, play, control over one’s environment and affiliation. Each of these categories has its own meaning and is a natural aspect of our lives that we understand innately. Nussbaum specifies that not everyone reaches these capabilities. Out of the ten capabilities, the three most important are: â€Å"control over one’s environment†, â€Å"bodily health† and â€Å"sense and imagination. The environment includes one’s political view, being able to participate effectively in political choices that govern one’s life having the right of political participation and protections of free speech association. Bodily health includes staying healthy and taking care of one’s body. This also includes being adequately nourished and having adequate shelter. Lastly, sense, imagination and thought exist as senses we use. To imagine, think and reason and to do these things in a â€Å"truly human† way, a way informed and cultivated by an adequate education, including basic mathematical and scientific training are all part of this category. This also includes using imagination and thought though experiencing and producing works and events. Why does Nussbaum think these human capabilities are important? She states â€Å"Central human capabilities as a focus both for comparative quality of life, basic political principles of the sort that can play a role in fundamental constitutional guarantees. These ten capabilities are supposed to be general goals that can be further specified by society. In some form, all are part of a minimum account of social justice: a society that does not guarantee these to all its citizens, at some appropriate threshold level, falls short of being a fully just society, whatever its level of opulence† ( Nussbaum 5). This statement demonstrates that it is not only important to further education, but Sen and Nussbaum are also implying it’s often the most basic aspects of life that are forgotten. Certain programs would help to enhance people’s lives and help them become independent. Nussbaum says that you have to be dependent before becoming independent.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

4 Steps to Figure Out What Any ACT Math Question Is Asking

4 Steps to Figure Out What Any ACT Math Question Is Asking SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips ACT Math questions can be confusing. Many leave readers wondering what's being asked and where to start. That's why it's such a good idea to have a reliable method for dissecting these questions in your back pocket. That way, whenever you sit down to a confusing ACT Math problem, you know where to turn. In this artcile, I outlinefour fool-proof steps to clearing up what a question is asking, as well as offering a few other tips for attacking ACT Math. 4Steps to Understanding ACT MathQuestions The point of these steps is to discover what the question is really getting at. Often, some of the multiple-choice answers you're offered are the right answers to the wrong questions, and you don't want to be duped into selecting one of these red herrings. Instead of panicking over how confusing it all is, stay calm and start with this method. 1. Read the Problem Just read, and see where you stand as far as sizing up the situation. Take a look at this question: Now, it may look intimidating, but it's pretty clear what the actual question is: what is $c$? From there, we can plug in what we know ($f = 450$ and $d = 10$),and we get: $450 = c(10)^3 = 1000c$ Divide to isolate the variable, and $c = 0.45$ Yes! We figured it out! Alright, that was actually fairly straightforward. How about this one? There's more going on in this question. An initial read does, though, reveal a couple ofthings: This question will require further attention. We're talking about functions on a graph. At least we know basically what we're dealing with as we proceed to the next step. 2. Find the Given Information This includes question and command terms. Now, not all questions will be technicalquestions; some will contain command terms, likefind,state, oridentify. Pick outwhatever it is that tells you what's being looked for. In the above problem, I see the wordwhich: "Which... describes a true relationship...?" Basically, this question is just asking which of the following statements is true! Also identify any given information, including stated quantities such as dimensions or simple numbers. This includes units- it's not much good to know there are 15 unless you know 15 ofwhat. Also look at any other labels that give you information about the quantities in question. In the question above, I see $f(x) = (x - 3)^2 + 2$ and $g(x) = 1/2x + 1$. No units, but that's okay; we're working withfunctions on a graph in a purely abstract sense- not quantities in the real world. If there's any extraneous information, you can eliminate it this point. For example, take a look at this problem: Look at the question: "When $a$ is multiplied by 2, what is the effect on $p$?" To answer the question, do we really need to know what the formula represents (a short-term loan)- or what any of the variables mean? Not really! So, we can eliminate everything but the formula itself and the last sentence. From there, we can see that we could rewrite the formula as $p = a({1/2ry+1}/{12y})$. Getting back to the original question, multiplying $a$ by 2 results in multiplying the whole right-hand side of the equation by 2, as follows: $2a({1/2ry+1}/{12y})$. What you do to the right side you must do the left, so $p$ is also multiplied by 2 at this point, making the answer D. It's sort of like finding clues- you're a math detective! 3. Look to the Answer Choices What differs from option to option? Whatever's changing is what the question must be testing. If you're still not sure what the question is, look at the answer choices and ask yourself what question they could answer. Units are hugely helpful in this: "25 miles" will not answer how many more cookies Sam has than Lucy, but it might answer how far Sam's house is from Lucy's. In the question about the two functions on the graph, we're looking for a true statement among answer choices, so of course we have to examine those answer choices to see what we're working with. Answer choice (F) is true, and none of the others are, so that settles that: The graphs touch at two points. The one is sometimes lower, sometimes higher than the other. The graphs are very different; they do not look like direct inverses of each other. Sometimes, the answer won't fall into place just yet. In that case, continue on to the next step. 4. Rephrase the Question to Make Sense For instance, we could say for the graphing question, "Which statement is true about this graph?" You've dissected a lot about this problem; now, put it all back together.At this point, you can pretty much ignore the original, convoluted wording (keep it around for reference just in case)- stick to what you've boiled it down to. Now, go forth and solve! You're on a quest to conquer the mathematical dragon of the ACT! Other Tips for Working with ACT Math Problems Here are a few pointers to working with all ACT Math problems, including those that are hard to parse. Recognize Information Stated Different Ways There are a lot of ways to say the same thing: the ability to recognize the same info in different forms is key. For instance, be very handy with mathematical vocabulary and the symbolic/numeric representations that are often used. When you see $y = f(x)$ on a graph, it means essentially the same as, "The graph of $f(x)$ is shown on the xy-coordinate plane above." Merewording can also contribute to difficulty in understanding a problem, so keep track of unnecessarily florid terminology as you go; note where a problemsays "increases" instead of "grows", etc. Take Things One Step at a Time You don't need to see all the way to the end result when you're beginninga problem; just take the next available step and see where it leads. The great thing about deductive disciplines such as math is that they proceed relatively linearly; one piece of information allows you to advance to the next until you get to the end. If you're in a factored form, expand; if you're in the expanded form, factor. Do whatever's available to you, and see what you glean. Work Backwards If You're Not Sure Where to Go Next This is a multiple-choice test: plug answers in and try them out. Start with any answer you like and treat it as the answer. Stick it into the problem and see if it works out. If it does, great! If it doesn't, go ahead and try it with another answer choice. Your options for a correct answer are limited; take advantage of this fact and apply process of elimination. Ferret Outthe Information You've Been Given There isalwaysenough information to answer the question. Unless there's an answer choice that specifically says, "Not enough information is given," you can find a concrete answer to what's being asked. You may need to use information to find other information that you then use to solve- the path is not always perfectly direct, but there's always a path. If there's one piece of information that you really need to solve and the test doesn't give it to you, there must be a way of figuring it out. The information has to be here somewhere! "If" Is Not an Option Ifdoes not indicatea mere possibility. When the ACT says, "If Bob invests $500 in his bank account...", the ACT means, "Bob invests $500 in his bank account, end of story." For the purposes of a math problemif indicates something that's known to be true. Don't let that throw you off- when you seeif, you can trust that information: no need to doubt it. Notice the "Notes" "Note" means you should pay attention. Some problems will give you a note about a formula or conversion factor that you'll need to use. Don't ignore it- it's a freebie. It's easy to skim over the note at the end, but that would be a mistake. It's definitely true that there's always enough information to answer the question, but you do have to search for it and not skip over what you're given. Start Somewhere Get your pencil moving. The main thing is to start a problem and get over that initial momentum hurdle. Once you're working, it's a lot easier to keep going than it was to get started. Try something. Make a note. Plug in a number. Just get started with something, follow the tips outlined above, and don't let a problem stop you in your tracks. At least toy with a questionbefore you jump to guessing. Conclusion When you're working with a confusing math problem, stay calm and come back to the information you've been given. Read the problem, identify the given information, look to theanswerchoices, and rephrase the question. Also, keep the big picture in mind: there's a whole section's worth of math problems to be solved. That means there are many more opportunities toshine; it's OK to skip a problem and come back to it later- or even guess. Unless you're confidently aiming for a perfect 36, no one question is going to make or break it all. Do your best, but don't beat yourself up if your best isn't perfect; master what you can as you progress. Respect your own journey. What's Next? Getting stuck happens. Accept that it's going to happen to you, and read about how you can work with that experience. Practice with some really tough problems; that way, you'll be prepared for the worst of it on actual test day. You might also want to spend some time thinking about word problems, as these are often some of the trickiest to work though in terms of figuring out what's being asked. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Life Work of Japanese Artist Hosoda Eishi Essay Example

Life Work of Japanese Artist Hosoda Eishi Essay Example Life Work of Japanese Artist Hosoda Eishi Paper Life Work of Japanese Artist Hosoda Eishi Paper The Japanese art form of woodblock printing, Ukiyo-e, is the most universally known form of Japanese art. It originated in the mid-seventeenth century and lasted through the mid-nineteenth century. This time period is described as the Edo Period. Hosoda Eishi was one of the artists in Ukiyo-e School. He has done pieces in both printing and woodblock printing. To understand and gain respect for the art of Hosoda Eishi, we need to talk about Ukiyo-e. In essence, Ukiyo-e reveals much of the rich history of Japan. This paper will first talk about the background of Hosoda Eishi, then an overview of Ukiyo-e and the works of Eishi will be covered. Eishi (Chobunsai) Hosoda Eishi Hosoda, also known as Chobunsai, was born in 1756 as the son of a noted Samurai family. He was the eldest son and his future was assured in the form of an annual stipend from the shogun (Evan 1975). He was appointed to a high rank at the court. He first studied Kano and served as an official painter to the shogun for several years. Then, around the age of thirty, Eishi gave up his heritage and turned to the plebeian Ukiyo-e prints that had been his first love for some years. It was said that for the tolerance of his family he was allowed to make this drastic step down into the masses without complete ostracism or even direct government interference (Evan 1975). Indeed, he was even allowed to retain his art name Eishi (He Glorifies) which had been bestowed on him by the shogun himself. Eishi had been a senior apprentice of Eisen Kano before he followed Bunryusai to learn Ukiyo-e. Trained in the Tori-style, he produced highly praised works. His favorite subjects were Bijin which means beautiful women. Moreover, he developed an interest in painting prostitutes, and A Beauty in the Snow was one of his mature pieces. He also produced some prints with landscape and historic subjects. Unlike most of the ukiyo-e artists, who were typically born into the merchant class, Eishi was born into a noted samurai family. Eishis early prints date from the period of Kiyonagas dominance, yet already reveal a refined sweetness that was to remain his trademark (Percival 1978). Like his later mentor Utamaros work, Eishis work was devoted principally to designs of beautiful female figures, whether courtesans of the Yoshiwara or idealized maidens in idyllic surroundings. His women are refined, elegant, quiet, and like a doll, they are motionless. Eishis women do not show their feelings. It is said, that was because Eishi was a samurai, his view of women was strongly influenced by the ideal of samurai women (Percival 1978). He was also a master of erotica. Eishi was not only one of the most successful and popular artists of his day, but was also a very influential teacher who had many pupils and followers. History of Ukiyo-e Ukiyo-e is traditional wood-block printing art of Japan. The appealing art of the Ukiyo-e woodblock print is undoubtedly the most universally known of all Japanese arts. This particular style of art flourished in Japan during the period from the mid-seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century. The word Ukiyo was originated from a Buddhism term this transitory world lasting for ones life until death. However, the meaning was changed later with an optimistic view of life that one should enjoy his life anyhow one passed through the transitory world, while the word e means a picture or drawing (Percival 1978). The art of Ukiyo-e, now usually means pictures of the floating world, originated in the metropolitan culture of Edo (modern day Tokyo) during the period of Japanese history when the political and military power was in the hands of the shoguns, and the country was virtually isolated from the rest of the world. It is an art closely connected with the pleasures of theatres, restaurants, teahouses, geisha and courtesans (Pekarik 1991). Also Ukiyo-e took on the role of mass media for the community. Many Ukiyo-e prints were in fact posters, advertising theatre performances or idol portraits of popular actors and beautiful teahouse girls. But this more or less sophisticated wor ld of urban pleasures was also animated by the traditional Japanese love of nature. Some of the popular art pieces by Eishi are The Thirty-Six Immortal Women Poets which is a poetry album with illustrations by Eishi, Shizuka in the Shizutama-ya, which was made around 1794 or 1795 when his art was at its best. It is from the set, Six Select Beauties in the Gay Quarters (Seiro Bijin Rokkasen), Courtesan on a Spring Evening and Oiran with Two Kamuro Strolling under a Cherry Tree were both handscrolls with ink and colour on silk. Some woodblock prints like Kisen Hoshi, from the series Six Immortal Poets, Echizenya Morokoshi, from the series Six Beauties from the Pleasure Quarter and Hanogi, Yoshino and Tatsuta from the Ogiya Establishment are example of the work by Eishi. Conclusion In Japan, painting is the preferred artistic expression practiced by amateur and professional alike. Until modern times, the Japanese wrote with a brush rather than a pen, and their familiarity with brush techniques has made them particularly sensitive to painterly values. Undoubtedly, the artwork of Eishi and the influences of Ukiyo-e on him have been significant in the history of Japanese art.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Corona in the Global Beer Industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Corona in the Global Beer Industry - Case Study Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that the key success factors for firms in the global beer industry include good distribution strategy as well as a good marketing strategy. Since a beer is not consumed because of its taste, crafting a solid marketing strategy that would focus more on the consumers as to the image of the beer, creates a demand for it and strengthens the brand. Then companies have good distribution systems in order to make the beers available to consumers. The strategic group map of the global beer industry with dimensions such as beer quality and market volume, Grupo Modelo would be on the lower right side, Heineken at the upper right side, with the rest of the industry at the middle. Grupo Modelo is positioned in the industry with its escape positioning. This has given the company an edge over its rivals in the US market. However, in the global market, its positioning is quite shaky as this image is not embodied in the global brand as a global strategy. In terms of local operations, Grupo Modelo fares better than FEMSA as apparent in its market share. Internationally, FEMSA does not fare as good as Grupo Modelo as FEMSA has failed on its international venture. In comparing the positioning of Grupo Modelo to Heineken, Grupo Modelo has a positioning that targets a wider market, as it is based on the image that is associated with it, in contrast to Heinekens premium claims which is more based on taste. Because taste is not the most important attributes that beer and non-beer drinkers put a premium on, Grupo Modelos positioning is on a stronger ground.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

C5 - Managerial Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

C5 - Managerial Economics - Essay Example The objective of the paper is to provide advice to a large travel agency of Hong Kong from an economic point of view in order to reassess the company’s business strategies. Relevant official data available in the government sites, the local airlines, and travel agencies will also be collected to facilitate the analysis in this study. Our prime focus will be to provide an in-depth analysis of the pricing strategies adopted by the local airline industry by using the concepts of market structure, cost and revenue structure and price discrimination. With this purpose, an in-depth analysis will be conducted through literature review describing the current business environment of Hong Kong airline industry. 2 Background 2.1 Theoretical Background Evidences have revealed that economic factors have a significant influence on the business environment of any and every region (The Times 100, 2008; Kitching & Et. Al., 2009; Floyd & Wooldridge, 1997). Based on this concept, experts have fi rmly stated that macro and micro economic factors, both play a crucial role in influencing the pricing strategies of an industry. Besides, the macroeconomic environment which may greatly affect the demand side of the market, the micro economic factors can be witnessed in terms of the market structure of the industry, the price discrimination taking place in the market scenario, its cost and revenue structure as well as the demand elasticity observed in the industry (Nadar & Vijayan, 2009). Musonera & Ndagijimana (2001) stated that the pricing strategies of an organisation depend largely on the political, economical, technological and social factors. For instance, when the economic factors tend to be highly fluctuating, the pricing strategies of organisations are developed to be flexible which can effectively deal with the economic variations. It is in this context that the aforementioned factors create a string impact on the market structure of firms in an industry which in turn inf luences its pricing structure (Mazzucato, 2000). Hong Kong airline industry is scrutiny by various regulatory bodies, such as Civil Aviation Department, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airport Authority Hong Kong and others. These regulatory bodies deliver the industry with a strong and well-organised structure (Information Services Department, 2010). The initial factor that will be considered in this study is the influence of market structure on the pricing strategies of the airline industry. Market structure relates to various elements existing in the business environment such as product differentiation, market concentration, economies of scale, vertical integration of the competitors in the market and other similar aspects that in turn define the market structure of an industry. Therefore, market structure can be defined as â€Å"the organisational characteristics of a market that largely determine where it fails on competitive spectrum between monopoly and compe tition†