Biography of William Wordsworth Essay

William Wordsworth was conceived April seventh, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumberland. He went to class at Saint John’s College, University of Cambridge. He was said to have cherished nature. During school breaks he visited places known for their beautiful magnificence. While in France, he experienced passionate feelings for Annette Vallon. They had a girl in December of 1770, without further ado before he moved back to England. Wordsworth had composed verse while he was as yet a student, yet none of his sonnets were distributed until 1793.His originally distributed sonnets were An Evening Walk and Descriptive Sketches. These sonnets show the impact of the proper method of verse in England all through the eighteenth century. Wordsworth had met Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a kindred artist, and in 1797 Woodsworth moved to Alfoxden, Somersetshire, close by his sister Dorthy. Their living arrangement was close Coleridge’s home in Nether Stowey. This move made a continued kinship among Wordsworth and Coleridge, and the two of them took a shot at a volume of sonnets entitled Lyrical Ballads, which was distributed 1798. Melodious Ballads is said to have demonstrated the start of the Romantic Movement in English verse. Wordsworth composed most of the sonnets in the book, for example, â€Å"Tintern Abbey†. Coleridge’s primary commitment was Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Melodious Ballads was met with antagonistic vibe from most pundits, as it spoke to an uprising against contemporary English verse. In defense of his whimsical way of thinking of verse, Wordsworth composed a â€Å"Preface† to the second release of Ballads, which rose in 1800. His thought was that the premise of graceful validity was the genuine event of the sense. He said that verse gets from â€Å"emotion recalled in tranquility.† He demanded that the scenes and activities of consistently life and the discourse of average citizens were the essential material of which verse ought to comprise of. Preceding his distribution of the â€Å"Preface†, Wordsworth went with Coleridge to Germany in 1798-99. During this timeframe, Wordsworth composed some of his best melodious sections. Numerous pundits consider proposals stanzas as Wordsworth’s most noteworthy work. William and his sister came back to England in 1799, and moved to Dove Cottage in Grasmere, Westmorland. This region is close to the English Lake District. Robert Southey, another artist, and Coleridge, lived close by. Wordsworth, Southey, and Coleridge got known as the Lake Poets. Wordsworth wedded Mary Hutchinson in 1802. She was a beloved companion, who was delineated in â€Å"She was a Phantom of Delight†. Sonnets in Two Volumes was distributed in 1807. Wordsworth’s beautiful capacity and understanding got dull as he got more seasoned. His later verse can't match the verse composed during his childhood. Wordsworth was granted an administration benefits in 1842. He passed on at Rydal Mount, on April 23rd in 1850. He was covered in the Grasmere burial ground.

The effects of mental health stigma in the media and society

The impacts of psychological wellness shame in the media and society Psychological wellness StigmaSuraya YosofAllison GreenEnglish 205The Effects of Mental Health Stigma in the Media and SocietyIf somebody is determined to have a physical sickness or viral disease, we anticipate that them should get treatment until it's relieved or it isn't hurtful to the person in question. In the event that somebody had malignant growth or Tuberculosis we don't just advise them to forget about it or you needn't bother with assistance with that. However with regards to psychological maladjustment, individuals experiencing it are required to simply forget about it and not get treatment. Society doesn't acknowledge nor comprehend the treatment of psychological instability. The media places disgrace and victimization individuals with dysfunctional behavior. That individuals who are experiencing psychological sicknesses abstain from getting treatment for their disease; so as to not be marked as insane or being socially unsuitable. Albeit physical and psychological instab ilities are not the equivalent; dysfunctional behavior can likewise have extreme outcomes, for example, disengagement, self-mischief and death.Society and the media assume a gigantic job in emotional well-being shame among patients with mental turmoil, and their refusal and evasion of accepting psychological well-being care.Stigma is characterized as imprint a disfavor towards a specific gathering base on a specific situation or quality (Oxford dictionary).There are two sorts of disgrace encompassing psychological instability; the first is open seen disgrace. This is the open basic convictions and generalizations towards psychological sickness. It is likewise the regular open reaction to individuals who look for help for mental issues (Bathje, Pryor, 2011, p.161). The subsequent one is self-disgrace is the perspectives held by the person that the individual in question is socially unsatisfactory and acknowledges how the open apparent mental illness.(Maier, Gentile, Vogel, and Kaplan , 2013, p. 239)I've had my own understanding of the shame encompassing mental...

Book Riots Deals of the Day for January 31, 2020

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Rhetorical Analysis Of On Compassion - 1233 Words

Rhetorical Analysis: ‘On Compassion’ People tend to brush off something or ignore something that we do not understand or like. Many Americans do this. So if most of America does this, then what gets done with that problem? Nothing! Barbara Lazear Ascher’s ‘On Compassion’ shows this to a new level. She shows us how the homeless is struggling and everyone turns their heads about it even though it is a big problem in New York City. Ascher’s use of good logos, pathos, and ethos comes together to show people what we are all guilty of at some point in our life. She shows us how the person s reaction of a homeless person is to how the homeless person reacts to them. Ascher convinces her audience of how to persuade them that these people are†¦show more content†¦She is saying to us that she does not agree with this opinion and it is not ok. Ascher uses compassion to make us feel sad for the homeless man at the end of the story by showing us a great deal of pathos. This is when she really st arts to get you thinking. She says â€Å"Could it be that this was the response of the mother who offered the dollar, the French woman who gave the food? Could it be that the homeless, like those ancients, are reminding us of our common humanity? Of course, there is a difference. This play doesn t end- and the players can t go home† (3). Following this, she is trying to get us to understand where these people really trying to do acts of kindness or were they just trying to get this poor man out of their heir. She makes you think how their expressions and actions tie into this and if they are a trying to get him out of the way, why? We need to help them. Another way the author makes us feel bad for the homeless is by saying â€Å"His hands continue to dangle at his sides. He does not know his part. He does not know that acceptance of the gift and gratitude are what make this transaction complete. The baby, weary of the unwavering stare, pulls its blanket over its head. The ma n does not look away. Like a bridegroom waiting at the altar, his eyes pierce the white veil. The mother grows impatient and pushes the stroller before her, bearing the dollar like a cross. Finally, a black hand rises and closes aroundShow MoreRelatedJfk Inaugural Speech Rhetorical Analysis Essay729 Words   |  3 Pagesbeholds. He entices readers by the use of strong rhetoric techniques. His inaugural analyzes style of writing, such as diction, tropes, schemes, and syntax, and applies the concept of it effectively throughout the speech. A reader performs rhetorical analysis to examine how authors attempt to persuade their audiences by looking at the various components that make up the art of persuasion. Moreover, it is most essential to be able to understand the relationship among the speaker, subject, and audienceRead MoreOutsourcing: Lets Get It Right Essay1208 Words   |  5 Pagescannot ensure this trust. This paper provides rhetorical analyses of two presentations pertaining to outsourcing. Neither particularly opposes outsourcing, yet each provides information addressing two different outsourcing concerns. Kibbe’s 2004 article â€Å"Outsourcing: the good, the bad and the inevitable† focuses on United States (U.S.) job impact. Van Heerden’s 2010 speech â€Å"Making Global Labor Fair† focuses on human rights impact. Rhetorical Analysis: Kibbe (2004) â€Å"Outsourcing: the good, the badRead MoreAnalysis of William Faulkners Nobel Prrize of Literarure Speech1012 Words   |  5 PagesCaitlyn Buteaux Mrs. Parham English III AP 1st block 4 February 2013 Analysis of William Faulkner’s Noble Prize of Literature Acceptance Speech William Faulkner was an often misunderstood writer of many novels and short stories. (William Faulkner’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech ) It was not until 1949 and after his death when he was given the Nobel Prize in Literature that people began to acknowledge him and his works. (William Faulkner) In his Nobel Prize of Literature acceptance speechRead MoreAsylum Seeker Language Analysis856 Words   |  4 PagesLanguage Analysis ‘Australia still dancing to Howard’s tune on asylum seekers’ The piece written by Michael Gordon in The Age on October 19 2011, argues that ten years after the Australian federal election that sparked the asylum seeker controversy, asylum seekers are still being demonised and alienated by both of Australia’s major political parties. Gordon writes in an assertive, controlled and a somewhat concerned tone throughout the article with his target audience aimed at ‘The Age’ readersRead MoreThe Cove Analysis Essay example1445 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cove: Analysis of Rhetorical and Cinematic Strategies The general reason for a documentary is to put forth factual information while attempting to convince the viewing audience of a specific point of view. The film crew behind ‘The Cove’ does this in a way that is informative and accurate, while presenting the information in a manner that allows the viewer to draw their own opinions. ‘The Cove’ follows famous Dolphin Trainer-turned-activist Ric O’Barrey into the dangerous land of Taiji, JapanRead MoreHockey Concussion : Is It Child Abuse?900 Words   |  4 PagesGet Hit with the Rhetorical Analysis of â€Å"Hockey Concussion: Is It Child Abuse?† And â€Å"Lives Shattered by Concussion: Former NHL Players Share Their Stories† In the article, â€Å"Hockey concussion: Is it child abuse?† Chris Hemond of the Canadian Medical Association (2012) aims to educate his audience of officials, coaches and players, on the developing concern for concussions in minor league hockey. Compared to TSN Senior Correspondent, Rick Westhead, whose article â€Å"Lives shattered by concussions: formerRead MoreMalala Yousafzai ´s Speech Essay1087 Words   |  5 Pagesis a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Islam says that it is not only each childs right to get education, rather it is their duty and responsibility.† Malala Yousafzai. Ethos, Pathos, and Logos There are three essential elements in rhetorical strategies. These elements are ethos, pathos, and logics. Ethos is defined as affording an image of honesty and reliability ( Williams, 2012). It is also concerned with the appearance and charisma of the speaker. (Oring, 2008). I believe that theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis ive been to the mountaintop1624 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Rhetorical Analysis: I’ve Been to the Mountaintop Martin Luther King, Jr. was the predominant leader of the Civil Rights Movement to end racial discrimination and segregation in the latter half of the twentieth century. As a world-renowned spokesperson advocating nonviolent protest, many of his speeches were centered on peaceful ways to change the unfair treatment and segregation of blacks. His hope was to use these methods of nonviolent protest so that one day all of God’s children, whites andRead More##hetorical Analysis Of David Zinczenkos DonT Blame The Eater1598 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Don’t Blame the Eater† Analysis Essay Increasing the options of fast food restaurants in America gave society different choices of where they can choose to go eat. Some restaurants may be cheaper than others, but what society didn’t realize was the cheaper the restaurant the more calories the food contains. The consumers didn’t seem to realize or have a problem with these cheaper companies until some consumers sued the company for getting them fat. This caused children to sue Mcdonalds the companyRead MoreOf Mice And Men Rhetorical Analysis1458 Words   |  6 Pages Of Mice and Men Rhetorical Analysis Adrian Blackstone Mrs. Adkins AP Lang Comp 3/5/15 In 1929 the effect of The Great Depression echoed throughout The United States. Forcing many farmers to sell their farms and give up on their pursuit of the widely sought after American Dream. Although in third person Steinbeck centers the novella around the two main characters George, and Lennie. Using strong rhetorical strategies such as diction, imagery, novel structure, and literary devices. Steinbeck

The World During World War I - 1645 Words

The world experienced life changing inventions and events during the time of World War I, such occurrences influenced the literature and the authors of the time. The time the war took place, the world experienced technological advancements at an unimaginable pace. In addition to technology, the war also changed the fashion in which society worked. Women became more independent as more jobs were offered to them in order to aid the war cause. In addition, countries such as England experienced extreme poverty during and after the First World War occurred. This shaped the manner in which the people thought about their lives and their governments. Furthermore, a significant amount of the men of England were sent to fight in the war. The battlefront, along with to horrible health conditions, lead to an immense death count of men in the battle field. Such changes in the world as well as society inspired several works of art and literature at the time. Artist and writers wrote about the war and its effect on the people. Their works reflected the perspective of civilians and soldiers alike in order to relate to the public. Such artists include Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg, and William Yeats, who wrote about the war abroad as well as in their home country, England. The works of Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg, and William Yeats were affected by events, ideologies, and experiences from the period of World War I. This is seen in their poems as they often parallel events fromShow MoreRelatedWarfare During World War I1472 Words   |  6 PagesCivil War and the start of World War I. Within those years numerous technological advancements took place. Many of those advancements directly impacted the warfare in the First World War. The Civil War, also referred to as the first modern war, gave way to an even more modernized style of warfare used during World War I. Much of this modernized technology of warfare had a great impact on how tactics and strategies were used th roughout the First World War. Toward the beginning of the Civil War mostRead MoreTechnology During World War I1571 Words   |  7 Pagessoldiers employed methodical tasks they had learned in their training. A quick glance over the parapet showed the brutality of war, as this is the day-to-day life of a soldier in the trenches. During World War I new scientific know how allowed for the development and introduction of numerous types of weaponry for use in battle. Advancements of technology during World War I led to a higher number of casualties than what was otherwise possible. The technologies included guns, tanks, explosives, barbedRead MoreThe Events During The World War I1662 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The First World War went down in history as one of the worst wars ever to be fought, owing to the magnitude of destruction and loss of life it left in its wake. The war started in 1914 ending in 1919, and has been described variously as the à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Great Warà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½the War of Nationsà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ and the à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½War to End All Warsà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. (Dwight E, 1966) It was fought by many nations around the world, with Europeans being the main players, and is very significant for the way it shaped the continents yearsRead MorePropaganda During The World War I1442 Words   |  6 Pages World War 1, a war starting in 1914 and ceasing in 1918, was a time when Britain took advantage of many types of warfare, such as aviation technology and chemical warfare, no exception to these more physical types of warfare was the increased use of propaganda. In Britain propaganda became an extremely effective tool of non-physical warfare, and the government and war offices used the resource to its full extent in many different ways. Although many uses for propaganda in war one were availableRead MoreA Soldier During World War I754 Words   |  4 Pages Romero Global History 10/19/2015 A Soldier During World War I To Sarah and all my loved ones, I miss you all dearly. I am writing to you knowing my time is almost up. This war has been tough, and I am no longer in great condition. Looking back over what I have done for my country, I feel proud knowing I fought in the beginning of the war. We set base near the water in order to go through with the Schlieffen Plan. It was around May when I first arrived at the camp. The first three months onRead MoreEducation During World War I2213 Words   |  9 PagesEducation has an importance in the world that cannot be matched. By learning new things and applying them to everyday tasks, the world has rapidly advanced over the past century. However, in the beginning of the 20th century, there were not many educational opportunities for the public, but with the help of World War I (WWI), changes were made. Even though there were not immediate impacts after World War I, the war set the stage for the development of education in the United States because womenRead MoreNursing And Medicine During World War I959 Words   |  4 Pages Nursing and Medicine During World War I Sydney DePaolo Ms. Beck Honors World Cultures Period 3 19 May 2017 â€Æ' Women in Nursing and Medicine in World War I All the principals on the western front drew on large numbers of nurses to serve in military hospitals during World War I. Women played an essential role in helping and saving other’s lives. They often performed dangerous work and experienced the horror of the war first hand. There were thousands working as untrained midwives and nursesRead MoreThe United States During World War I1506 Words   |  7 Pages The United States during World War I extended their â€Å"military, economic, and/or political control† to other weaker countries like, Hawaii, Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico. They were following the policy of Imperialism.1 Imperialism allows for nations to be able to trade with one another and businesses preferred it because it helped the United States economy. Nationalism is when the people of a nation are under one government and this played a key factor in starting world war one. There was tensionRead MoreThe United States During World War I906 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States had many reasons for growing around the war. They were involved with different ways to assist the economy, politics and economy. Economy around Word War I was booming for the United States. It was not only a great time for industry and manufacturing but also the American people. Women were not thought of as capable of doing most work. During this time women were being neglected for their rights. How ever, due to the draft in World War I it caused for many shortages in workers. Allowing womenRead MoreThe Role Of Women During World War I845 Words   |  4 Pagesto the war effort. While women only recently have been inactive military duty on the battle field, they ve acted as factory workers, nurses, recruitment as well as many aspect as they filled in the gap that men left at war. They that kept the war going. Without the support of the women, the men on the front would not have been about to continue fighting. Wars can not be fought with out weapons and military tools. During World War One, with the inability of men to both fight in the war and produce

Midterm part 2 Free Essays

Imagine a government beholden to corporate interests, in which private corporations write laws favoring themselves to the detriment of the citizenry and small business, where the wealthiest corporations are unregulated and are taxed at extremely low rates while average citizens are required to foot the costs of an expensive and questionable war and government imposes policies in which they have little – if any – say. Imagine large chain stores moving into towns in which they drive all the smaller merchants out of business, then suck up local revenues which are sent to owners and stockholders far away, contributing virtually nothing to the local economy. While this may sound like the last five years of U. We will write a custom essay sample on Midterm part 2 or any similar topic only for you Order Now S. history, it was also true of the years leading up to the Revolution.   These were the economic issues that eventually led to rebellion and ultimately, independence from Britain. Tensions between the colonists began almost twenty years before rebellion finally broke out in 1775. During the â€Å"French and Indian War†Ã‚   (also known as the Seven Years War), the British military was known to â€Å"impress† locals into combat service against their will, and confiscate what they needed from private citizens without payment (Zinn, 67). Britain triumphed and gained territories in present-day Canada, but the cost was high. Parliament’s decision to the decision to tax the colonies directly was the culmination of a long power struggle between the merchants and the landowners in the legislatures. The former believed that the Crown should go further in insuring that the colonies served the best interests of â€Å"the mother country,† i.e., themselves, since much of their livelihood was dependent upon trade with and imports from the colonies. Eventually, these mercantilist policies were instituted, which gave the Crown an excuse to exercise greater power in the colonies than it had before. Britain meanwhile issued the Proclamation Line in 1763, prohibiting settlement west of the Allegheny and Appalachian Mountains. The official reason was to keep peace between colonists and indigenous peoples. In reality, it was intended to favor large corporate interests in England, allowing them to monopolize trade with Natives as well as engage in land speculation. This was only the first of a series of laws favoring corporate interests over those of individuals. The following year, the British government passed the Sugar Act, which imposed a tax on molasses from the British West Indies as well as on several additional products. The purpose was to raise Crown revenues, but to the colonists, it was taxation to which they had not consented (Fone, 150). This was followed by the Stamp Act. This had a dual purpose: to raise revenue, and to â€Å"gag† the North American press, which was circulating information regarding these increasingly repressive tax policies. This Act galvanized the resistance as a delegation sent a petition to King George III insisting that the colonies could be taxed only by their own consent. Parliament was forced to back down, repealing both the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act. These were replaced however with high duties on glass, lead, paper, cloth and tea. The colonists responded with a boycott which sharply reduced the number of British goods coming to the colonies – and greatly hurting mercantile and corporate profits. Corporate interests appealed to Parliament to rescind these duties. Parliament agreed to end all but one: the Tea Tax. While tensions between Britain and its North Americas colonies were growing throughout the region for various reasons, the issue of the Tea Tax turned out to be the spark that finally lit the fuse leading to the explosion of open rebellion. What is odd is that the colonists – hardly united, and descended from peoples that had â€Å"classes† and â€Å"orders† ingrained into their culture – would have ever gotten it in their minds to rebel in the first place. In fact, the colonists did not necessarily wish to break with Britain; they simply wanted the rights they were entitled to as British subjects, which they believed they were being denied. However, there was a philosophy that had been around for well over a century. The basis of modern democracy actually originated in the writings of Thomas Hobbes, who wrote of the â€Å"social contract,† and more importantly John Locke. Around 1680, he had written that government of a people has legitimacy only as long as it has consent of the people it governs, and only as long as it protected those innate, or â€Å"natural† rights that every person has by virtue of being born. Locke listed these as the rights to â€Å"life, liberty and property.† By the time his words found their way into the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"property† had become â€Å"the pursuit of happiness.† Locke’s interpretation of the â€Å"social contract† theory stated that when government failed to guard those rights and no longer had the consent of the governed, it was the â€Å"natural right† of the people to overthrow it. Locke’s philosophies were very influential on French writers Voltaire and Rousseau – whose nation was instrumental in securing the colonist’s victory – as well as the writings of Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin. In Common Sense – a pamphlet that was circulated widely in the colonies – echoed Locke when he called up upon the colonists to â€Å"†¦oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!† (Foner, 4)   Paine was also one of the first to point out the heterogeneous makeup of the colonies, being composed of peoples from several different nations, arguing that the â€Å"birthday of a new world is at hand, and a race of men.† Works Cited Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History.   New York: W.W. Norton,   2006. Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of The United States (3rd ed.) New York: Harper Collins, 2003.    How to cite Midterm part 2, Essay examples

Intercultural Communication Quiz free essay sample

Intercultural Communication Quiz Underline the best answer to the following 32 multiple choice questions. MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Cultural demographics in the United States have changed due largely to ___a__. a. a decrease in the European-American population b. government efforts to increase immigration from Central American countries c. reorganization of neighborhood boundary lines d. an increase in the Latino and Asian American populations 2. Communication is defined as ___c__. a. symbolic b. a process c. involving the creation of shared meanings d. all of the above 3. Culture is taught by the explanations people receive for the natural and human events around them. This process is an example of how culture ___d__. a. is a set of shared perceptions b. involves beliefs, values, norms, and social practices c. is learned d. affects behavior 4. A term used to refer to a wide variety of groups who share a language, historical origins, religious traditions, and identification with a cultural system is __b___. We will write a custom essay sample on Intercultural Communication Quiz or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page a. ethnicity b. subculture c. race d. coculture 5. Intercultural competence can improve __a___. a. business ventures b. learning experiences . foreign student exchanges d. all of the above 6. Who ultimately determines if someone has communicated competently in an intracultural context? a. Observers within a 20-foot range b. The actual participants in the communicative event c. A person trained in conducting cross-cultural research d. Someone who was close enough to hear the entire conversation, but was not a participant d 7. Shared interpretations about what the world is, what it should be, how people should behave, and people’s predictable behavior patterns are called ___b__. . cultural patterns b. territorial maps c. cultural beliefs d. intercultural manifestations 8. What are the four components of cultural patterns? a. peripheral beliefs, central beliefs, norms, and values b. peripheral beliefs, central beliefs, morals , and values c. values, norms, ethics, and social pra ctices d. beliefs, values, norms, and social practices c 9. High-context cultures transmit messages whose meanings are _c____. a. explicitly stated within the words uttered by participants b. not clearly communicated c. f significance for only a short period of time d. implied from the physical surroundings 10. One suggestion proposed by Lustig and Koester to help improve intercultural competence involves a willingness to _a____. a. discard one’s cultural categories b. reflect on one’s personal preferences c. admit that one’s culture is imperfect d. accept cultural customs even if a person believes them to be unethical 11. One benefit of interaction within one’s own culture is that it __b___. a. increases the need for uncertainty reduction behaviors b. decreases the chance of success . reduces uncertainty d. heightens interpersonal awareness 12. The tendency to use the categories and values of one’s own culture to evaluate the actions of others is called __a___. a. prejudice b. ethnocentrism c. racism d. stereotyping 13. During an intercultural interaction, the unique speech patterns of members of cultures who are subordinate to institutionally and economically dominant cultures can be ___c__. a. emphasized b. deemphasized c. both emphasized and deemphasized d. overshadowed by the speech patterns of members of the economically dominant culture 4. Which of the following is likely to lead to positive attitudes in intercultural communication? a. All negative feelings are dealt with through open communication. b. At least one group perceives a benefit from the contact. c. Someone in authority supports intercultural contact. d. There is a strong but friendly atmosphere of competition. a 15. According to Lustig and Koester, language __a___. a. determines our reality b. shapes and influences our thoughts and behaviors c. creates modes of thinking from which there is no escape d. all of the above 16. The term used to describe nonverbal behaviors that have a direct verbal counterpart is _c___. a. illustrators b. regulators c. adaptors d. emblems 17. The term used to describe nonverbal behaviors that are used to emphasize, explain, or support words or phrases is __c___. a. illustrators b. adaptors c. regulators d. emblems 18. Which statement will help you use your knowledge of nonverbal communication to improve your intercultural competence? a. Learn the prescribed set of universal nonverbal behaviors before interacting with members of another culture. b. Monitor your emotional reactions to the differences in nonverbal behaviors during the course of a conversation. c. Skillful interpretation includes observation of general tendencies; therefore, focus on what the members of the other culture prefer and the ways in which they typically behave. d. All of the above. b 19. In U. S. English, the features of a well-organized speech or essay typically include the following except ___c__. a. the development of a specific theme b. the elaborate description of contextual points before advancing the thesis c. clear and specific thesis statement d. a linear organizational pattern 20. The term â€Å"face† refers to _____d. a. a social image b. an impression held by others c. desired favorable social attributes d. all of the above 21. Competence in developing and maintaining intercultural relationships requires which of the following? a. knowledge of differences b. a willingness to consider and try alternatives c. the skill to enact alternat ive relational dynamics d. all of the above d 22. John does not like the fact that his home town is invaded every summer by strangers. He knows that the town’s economy is dependent on tourism, but he keeps his distance by avoiding contact with them. John’s attitude toward tourists demonstrates a _a____ attitude of residents toward tourism. a. resistance b. revitalization and adoption c. boundary maintenance d. retreatism 23. Costa Ricans have embraced tourism, particularly eco-tourism, as a means of stabilizing their economy. The benefits have bee so substantial that many residents of communities near tourist attractions have accepted tourism as part of their social and cultural fabric. The Costa Ricans have taken a __c___ attitude toward tourism a. revitalization b. retreatism c. boundary maintenance d. resistance 24. Which of the following is not a symptom of culture shock? a. different climate conditions b. anger or frustration with service people c. complaints about the sights or smells d. a patronizing attitude toward the local culture d 25. Omar is confused by his new boss, Ted, who does not seem to act like a boss. â€Å"He’s always asking for suggestions and told us to call him by his first name,† he told a colleague. Do you think he really knows what he is doing? † Omar probably comes from a culture which values ___a__. a. low power distance b. collectivist orientation c. high power distance d. individualist orientation 26. Ke Guiwen is visiting the United States from China. As he visits several companies and talks to both workers and managers, he is surprised to realize that although U. S. workers seem to have more autonomy than the emp loyees in his company, they tend not to work together to complete tasks. Ke Guiwen’s surprise is probably due to a/an __b__ in his culture. a. ollectivist orientation b. communist orientation c. high power distance d. individualist orientation 27. In which value dimension is one person allowed to make decisions for the group? a. collectivist b. low power c. high power d. individualist d 28. A person with a ___c__ style of communication would probably not feel comfortable giving straightforward information in a problem situation. a. direct b. indirect c. formal d. informal 29. Colleges which require courses that focus on Western views of history and literature tend to be _____c. . eurocentric b. classical studies c. inclusive d. afrocentric 30. Jim, a white American, believes that some college admission policies disadvantage him and others like him and that they ought to be reformulated on the basis of economic need. Jim is concerned about _b____. a. reverse discrimination b. admission standards c. the reformulation of the SAT d. colonialism 31. For patients communicating in a second language _c____. a. it is advisable to speak louder b. medical terminology can be confusing c. t is best to bring in a translator d. the medical vocabulary is fairly standard 32. Anahid is a Muslim immigrant who finds herself in an emergency room in the U. S. A male doctor and a male nurse attend to her. When her husband arrives he is enraged to learn that her modesty has been violated. Anahid’s husband’s reaction is probably the result of __d___. a. her husband’s inability to speak English b. the imbalance of power in health communication c. the desire for religious freedom d. religious differences relating to gender roles

Tips for Working With Students With Severe Handicaps

Tips for Working With Students With Severe Handicaps Typically, children with severe handicaps have behavior concerns and minimal ability or cannot perform or havent yet learned many of the basic self-help skills. Some sources of research estimate that somewhere between 0.2-0.5% of school-aged children are identified as having a severe handicap. Although this population is low, times have changed and these children are rarely excluded from public education. They are, in fact, a part of special education. After all, with the incredible growing technologies and trained professionals, we can hold higher expectations than previously possible before. Handicaps Usually, children with severe handicaps are born with it, some of the etiologies and causes include: Chromosomal abnormalitiesPostnatal difficultiesGestational (prematurity)Maldevelopment of the brain and or spinal cordInfectionsGenetic disordersInjuries from accidents Problems With Inclusion There are still major issues related to inclusion of students with severe handicaps. Many teachers dont feel they have the professional training required to meet their needs, schools are often not adequately equipped to meet their needs, and more research needs to be done to determine how best their educational needs can be met. However, the reality is that these children have a right to be included in all aspects of society. Teacher Tips for Working with Children with Severe Handicaps Prior to supporting the specific goal, it is important to make sure you have their attention. Typically, youll be using a very direct teaching method.As much as possible, use grade appropriate materials.Identify some clear goals/expectations and stick with it. It takes a great deal of time to see success in most cases.Be consistent and have predictable routines for everything you do.Make sure that everything is relevant to the child you are working with.Be sure to track progress carefully, which will help you define when the child is ready for the next milestone.Remember that these children dont often generalize, so be sure to teach the skill in a variety of settings.When the child has reached the goal, be sure to use the skill regularly to ensure mastery of the skill continues. In summary, you are a very important person in this childs life. Be patient, willing and warm at all times.

Medium and Its Large and Small Relatives

Medium and Its Large and Small Relatives Medium and Its Large and Small Relatives Medium and Its Large and Small Relatives By Mark Nichol Medium is taken directly from Latin, where, stemming from the adjective medius, it meant â€Å"middle,† â€Å"center,† or â€Å"interval.† It preserves that meaning but also acquired the sense of â€Å"intermediate agent† or â€Å"communication channel.† The primary connotation is now of a substance through which something else moves, whether in a scientific context or in terms of the form in which art is conveyed or content is delivered. (Medium is also used in the sense of conveyance for a person who supposedly channels messages from the spirit world.) As an adjective, medium refers to something between large and small. The plural form of medium is media, and art made of multiple materials or content available in several forms is called multimedia. The journalism industry is referred to collectively as mass media, and conventional, corporate journalism is labeled, often pejoratively, mainstream media. The phrase â€Å"in media res,† taken directly from Latin, literally means â€Å"in the midst of things.† Other words based on medius include mediate (meaning â€Å"arbitrate† or â€Å"negotiate†) and its noun forms mediator (meaning â€Å"negotiator†) and mediation (meaning â€Å"the act of negotiation†), as well as intermediate, meaning â€Å"someone in the middle,† whether in the context of communication or in terms of skills; it serves also as a verb (meaning â€Å"come between†) and an adjective (meaning â€Å"in the middle†). (Moderate has a meaning similar to mediate and looks related but is akin to the Latin word modus, meaning â€Å"measure.†) Other forms are intermediation and disintermediation. Mediocre, meaning â€Å"ordinary† or inferior,† is related to medium; the original, neutral meaning was â€Å"halfway up a mountain,† and it only later acquired a disparaging connotation. (The second half of the word, meaning â€Å"jagged peak,† is cognate with acrid, which refers to a sharp smell or taste.) Medieval, referring to the middle of history, between ancient and modern times, is also cognate with medium. Medial, an adjective meaning â€Å"in the middle,† and median, which serves as both an adjective and a noun, are also descended from medius. (Remedial, from remedy, is unrelated; the medial syllable in that word has the same etymology as the first part of medical and medicine.) Median originally had an anatomical connotation, referring to arteries, veins, and nerves; now, it refers mainly to an area between lanes of traffic, though it also has the mathematical sense of the middle number in a series. Mean, the same word distilled in French, has the distinct meaning of â€Å"average†; the mean is derived by adding a series of numbers and dividing the sum by how many numbers there are. (In lay usage, it more informally refers to something intermediate or midway.) The senses of mean pertaining to definition or intention and to being cruel or stingy are unrelated, but means- as in â€Å"by any other means† (meaning â€Å"any other way†), â€Å"by means of† (meaning â€Å"through the use of†), or â€Å"by no means† (meaning â€Å"not at all†), as well as â€Å"a person of some means† (meaning â€Å"someone with material resources†) is ultimately derived from medius. (So are meantime and meanwhile.) Another French word that pertains to the middle is milieu, meaning â€Å"environment† or â€Å"setting†; the second syllable, meaning â€Å"place,† is the same element seen in lieutenant and â€Å"in lieu of.† Moiety, though it means â€Å"half† or â€Å"part† rather than â€Å"middle,† is related as well. Medium’s Germanic cognate, middle, also serves as both a noun and an adjective; another adjective, middling, refers to something of average or mediocre quality. Middle is used in various compounds such as middlebrow (referring to someone or something of merely moderate sophistication) and middleman (a go-between in a transaction). Mid, originally a stand-along adjective meaning â€Å"among† or â€Å"with,† is loosely related to middle; it survives only as a prefix (as in mid-air) or as shortening of the preposition amid (amidst, in British English). Midst is also used sometimes in the latter sense, though it usually serves as a noun meaning â€Å"the middle part† or â€Å"the time while something is happening.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Possessive of Proper Names Ending in SFlier vs. FlyerThe "Pied" in The Pied Piper

Three useful knots for camping (demonstrate) Essay

Three useful knots for camping (demonstrate) - Essay Example An example of shoe laces can be taken here when the laces are crossed against each other. Similarly another overhand knot is tied to put the left end of the rope over and under the right one. The ropes are pulled together to form a square knot afterwards (Filip 2013). Clove Hitch is another knot which is used to hold objects to where they are required. The object to be roped is first taken and the rope is passed beneath it to give it a wrap. The rope is then crossed for a second time to give the second wrap in the form of an X so that both the wraps leap each other. After that a third wrap is given and the end of the rope is put in between of the X. Both the ends are then pulled to give a Clove Hitch (Filip 2013). The last know is known as Bowline and is very helpful for the campers and mountaineers. The rope is first taken and a loop is made by the rope itself. The rope end is then put through the loop and then put again in the loop to align with the main end. The rope is then pulled to give a tight knot known as Bowline (Filip 2013). Tkaczyk, Filip. "Camping Knots for Wilderness Survival."Â  Wilderness Survival School | Alderleaf Wilderness College - Survival Courses. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.

NASA Strategic Plan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NASA Strategic Plan - Case Study Example For a strategic plan to be achievable, it has to be clear such that one can easily understand what it is all about. NASA’s 2011 strategic plan lacks any form of clarity. There are no specific goals and objectives and one would argue that it is just a list of a few nonspecific and unformulated ideas. In addition, the mission statement for the company should be for specifically aimed at the employees, the customers, the stakeholders and partners to the organization. It should be short and clear-cut provided the message is passed understood by recipients. The vision statement should be a bit longer and detailed as this is gives the employees, stakeholders, and customers and partners an idea of what the company is working towards and the means through which it hopes to get there. In NASA’s strategic plan, the vision statement is short and rather vague while the mission statement is a bit more detailed than should be the case. In addition, the mission statement does not express a particularly unique mission that is unique to the agency. Both of the mission and the vision statement could probably apply to any government agency that deals in research and development as there is no mention of aeronautics or space. This could in away lead to a misunderstanding of the agencyâ€⠄¢s general tactical direction (National Research Council, 2012). A strategic plan for any organization should involve all the members of the organization, at every organizational level. This insinuates that all the members of the organization should be able to understand the plan for them to be capable of playing part in the attainment of the organizations goals and objectives. When setting goals and objectives, one has to involve everyone at every level in the organization, as they will all be helpful in working towards the realization of the company’s mission. Secondly, the strategic plans for NASA are a bit far stretched considering the

Strategic Decisions for Sustainable Competitive Advanatage

Strategic Decisions for Sustainable Competitive Advanatage Introduction Competitive Advantage According to Daft, strategy is the plan of action that allocates resources and activities and aims at dealing with the environment, achieving a competitive advantage and attaining the organisations goals. Competitive advantage refers to what sets the organisation apart from others and provides it with a distinctive edge for meeting customer needs in the marketplace (Daft 2006, p.274). The choice that will make the organisation different is the essence of formulating strategy (Porter 1996). In order to remain competitive, companies need to focus on core competencies, develop synergy and create value. According to Kotler, competitive advantage is a companys ability to perform in one or more ways that competitors cannot or will not match (Kotler 2006, p.150). A competitive advantage is said to be sustainable when it has the means to edge out rivals when competing for the favours of customers (Porter 1980). Although sustainability is the ideal case for advantages, the most common competitive advantages are leverageable, which means that a company can use them as a catalyst to new ones. The competitive advantages that companies develop will fail if the costumers do not value them as important. Therefore companies must focus on building customer advantages. Porter argues that competitive advantage results from a organisations ability to perform the required activities at a collectively lower cost than rivals, or perform some activities in unique ways that create buyer value and hence allow the organisations to command a premium price (Porter 1991, p.102). This report will try to investigate the strategic decisions to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Four different theories will be examined: The SCP paradigm, Porters generic strategies, the resource-based approach and the core competences model. These theories, along with the the compliance and choice paradox will be tested through application in practice at the industry of gaming consoles. The SCP framework In the structure conduct performance (SCP) framework (Anonymous 2007), the way in which the organisation acts is determined by external forces in the industry (market or industrial structure). This school of thought argues that the structure of an industry will determine the strategies (conduct) and that this in turn will determine performance. Market structure: the degree of market concentration, product differentiation, barriers to entry and exit, vertical integration and diversification. Conduct: goals of the organisations, strategies, anti-competitive practices, research and innovation, advertising etc. Performance: a number of performance indicators, output growth, sales revenue growth, profitability, technical progress, employment, efficiency, added shareholder value, added economic value. Therefore, the structure of the industry is the key parameter in the formation of strategy. Not all strategies are appropriate for all industries, Successful strategies may fail (not produce the intended outcome) if applied as-is in a different environment. However, this linear paradigm proves itself too deterministic. When strategic managers apply this approach, they take the industrial structure as a given. In this way, their job is to respond to the external forces and plan their strategies in an automated way by analysing the competitive environment. However in many industries the environment follows turbulence change. Strategists tend to change the environment by designing strategies that will shape it to their needs and their advantage, instead of being spectators to the change. In these cases, the industry structure is being shaped by the strategies, and not the other way round as the SCP paradigm argues. Five Forces and Generic Strategies Michael Porters (Porter 1980) work is organisationally rooted in the SCP paradigm. According to his approach, two factors underlie the choice of competitive strategy. Industry attractiveness and the factors that determine it. The determinants of relative competitive position within an industry. In order to analyse the industry attractiveness, Porter developed the Five Forces model. According to that, in any industry competition is mutually influenced by five forces: The entry of new competitors, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of buyers, the bargaining power of suppliers and the rivalry amongst the competitors. Although the Five forces model roots within the SCP approach, Porter differentiates in that he argues that an organisation is not a prisoner of its industry structure. Through their strategies, organisations can shape industry by influencing the competitive forces. For example, industry leaders can influence buyers, suppliers and other competitors, and subsequently shape the underlying industry structure. Competitive strategy is also influenced by the specific relative position within the industry. Through positioning, organisations can possess two basic types of competitive advantage: low cost and differentiation. These types of competitive advantage result from the ability to cope with the industrial forces better than the competitors. Porter introduces three generic competitive strategies for achieving above-average performance in an industry. Cost leadership, when the organisation tries to become the low-cost producer or operator of the industry. Risks associated with cost leadership include: Changes in technology allow new entrants to become themselves the cost leaders. This risk is minimised by constant research and development, but obviously such investments require rise of costs. Margins fall when costs rise (by internal or external factors). In such scenarios, the differentiation advantage may overcome the cost leadership one. Differentiation, when the organisation seeks to be unique within the industry along some dimensions that are valued by buyers (higher quality, more functions etc). If it succeeds, it is then rewarded for its uniqueness with a premium price. However, when choosing to differentiate, companies should seek appropriate ways that lead to a price premium greater than the cost of differentiating. Risks of this strategy include: Costumers may choose another differentiated product which they value more, or their needs change over time. Costumers may choose the low-cost products, especially when the price difference tends to be high. Other competitors may imitate the chosen differentiation. Focus, which rests on the choice of a narrow competitive scope within an industry and the optimisation of the strategy for the target segment. In cost focus an organisation seeks a cost advantage in the target segment. In differentiation focus, the organisation seeks differentiation in the narrow segment. Risks associated with focus are: The focus strategy is imitated. In order for this to be avoided, entry barriers are required (e.g. assets valued by the costumers such as customer care services, reputation, etc). The target segment becomes unattractive. Broadly targeted competitors dominate the segment. Again, entry barriers will sustain the competitive advantage experienced. Organisations that try to position on more than one generic strategy but fail to achieve any of them are stuck in the middle. Not only they do not possess a competitive advantage, but they are in a disadvantage situation, since the cost-leader, the differentiators or the focusers are already better positioned. Although Porters positioning framework is an industry standard for more than twenty years, Mintzberg (1998) argues that it constrains creative thought. Strategists do not think outside the box and the given options (cost leadership, differentiation and focus) tend to minimise the process of strategic thinking. Resource-based view According to Barney (1991), the environmental models of competitive advantage have assumed that organisations within an industry are identical in terms of the resources they control and the strategy they pursue. Further, they assume that if resource heterogeneity develops within an industry, it will not last long since strategic resources are highly mobile (they can be bought and sold). The proposed resource-based view substitutes these assumptions. The model assumes that strategic resources can be heterogeneous and that these resources may not be perfectly mobile. Organisations resources include all assets, capabilities, processes, attributes, information, knowledge, etc, controlled by an organisation that enable it to implement strategies that promote efficiency. In order for a resource to hold the potential of sustained competitive advantage, it must have four attributes. It must be valuable, exploiting opportunities and neutralising threats. It must be rare among existing and potential competitors. A valuable resource cannot be considered as a source of competitive advantage if it is shared amongst a large number of organisations, because all organisations will have the capability to exploit it and will be lead to a common strategy It must be imperfectly imitable. Valuable and rare resources can only be sources of sustained competitive advantage if competitors that do not possess them cannot obtain them. There cannot be strategically equivalent substitutes. Organisation resources are strategically equivalent when they can be exploited separately to implement the same strategy. That is, an organisation may be able to substitute a similar resource that enables it to conceive and implement the same strategy. Further, very different resources may also be strategic substitutes. The proposed framework reasons that resources heterogeneity and immobility within an industry allow organisation resources to be valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable and not easily substitutable. Such resources will then lead to exploiting opportunities and neutralising threats, in order for sustained competitive advantage to be achieved. It should be noted that a distinction is drawn in the literature between resources (tangible) and capabilities (less tangible) (Anonymous 2007). The framework of Barney unites both resources and capabilities under the umbrella of resources. Core competences There are some capabilities that are much less visible and they are more difficult to imitate and establish competitive advantage. These are referred to as core competences (Anonymous 2007). Phahalad and Hamel (1990) take the resource-based approach one step further, through the notion of core competencies. They argue that in the long run, competitive advantage depends on the ability to build core competencies at lower cost and more speedily. Management should consolidate corporate-wide technologies and production skills into competencies that empower individual businesses to adapt promptly to environmental changes. Three criteria are being used in order to categorise a capability as a core competence. A core competence should provide potential access to a wide variety of markets. It should make a significant contribution to the perceived customer benefits of the end-product. Finally, it should be difficult for competitors to imitate. Examples of core competencies include Apples ability to create from scratch and innovate and Sonys ability to miniature. According to this framework, the common mistake that companies do is to outsource and finally lose their core competences, led to this by the strict perception of competitiveness in terms of price/performance. Although a more competitive product may result, competitiveness cannot be sustained as core competences will be surrendered. Another common mistake is that companies often miss opportunities to establish competences that are evolving in existing business. At the Strategic Business Unit level, existing core competencies are often being sabotaged by underinvestment and improper allocation, which may result in atrophy and missing opportunities. Case study: Seventh Generation of video gaming consoles The seventh generation of video gaming consoles is a competition between Sonys Playstation 3, Microsofts Xbox 360 and Nintendos Wii and started on November 2005 with the release of Xbox 360. Although gaming is the main characteristic and attribute of these products, the war of High-Definition (HD) video formats between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, two incompatible formats that tried to improve and replace the DVD standard, affected the industry (ref: wikipedia HD war). Microsoft and Sony approached the market with cutting-edge graphics and expensive technology as well as HD video capabilities. Both consoles target hard-core and casual gamers. Microsoft, being a member of the HD-DVD alliance chose to offer the HD-DVD option as a peripheral for its device, while Sony, a founding member of the Bly-ray alliance chose to integrate the Blu-ray player within PS3. On the other hand, Nintendo chose to differentiate. Nintendo did not take any sides at the format war. Wii targets a broader demographic than that of Microsofts Xbox 360 and Sonys PlayStation 3, as Nintendo planned to attract current hard-core and casual gamers, non-gamers, and lapsed gamers by focusing on new gameplay experiences and new forms of interaction with games. The differentiating feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect acceleration and orientation in three dimensions. Positioning of the rivals Competitive Scope: As analysed before, Microsoft and Sony both targeted the hard-core and the casual gamers. Nintendo on the other hand targeted broader demographic including non-gamers and lapsed gamers. According to Porters framework, the generic strategies can be divided into two categories in terms of the competitive scope: Broad Target and Narrow Target. Therefore, in the console industry Nintendo can be positioned within the Broad Target while Microsoft and Sony are positioned within the Narrow Target. Cost: The choices of the competitors regarding their hardware shaped their manufacturing costs to a great extent. Indeed, Sony chose to compete using a new cpu processor (Cell) with a high production cost as well as by integrating the newly arrived Blu-Ray technology. Thus, Sony became the high-cost producer of the industry, with each console costing around $800 to produce (ref:Joystiq). Microsoft utilised industry standard high-end CPUs and GPUs and although they strongly supported the success of the HD-DVD format, they decided to offer the HD-Dvd option as a peripheral component. This resulted in Microsoft being the low-cost producer of the Narrow Market (Cost Focus). Nintendo managed to keep the manufacturing costs very low by not following the path of high-end graphics. Wii (ref: Kotaku) is not only the console with the less production cost, but it is the only one that has an actual profit from every unit sold (Cost leadership). Differentiation: In the Narrow Target, Sony is the company that differentiates its products with the integration of the Blu-Ray drive, which enables the consumers to enter the High Definition video era (Differentiation Focus). In the Broad Target, Nintendo differentiates the whole idea of gaming experience and fun by installing the Wii Remote (Broad Differentiation). The success on the Nintendos case is that the company differentiated the attributes but the costs did not rise. What is clear from this table in combination with the actual sales numbers is that Nintendo managed well in positioning in more than one generic strategy. That of course was a risk, as Porter (1985) claims that achieving cost leadership and differentiation is usually inconsistent, and may lead to stuck in the middle situations. Also, it should be pointed out that the type of Differentiation that Sony chose (Blu-Ray integration) involved high risks. At the time of the launch the battle for the domination of a new HD format had just started. In the case of a possible win of the HD DVD format, it is obvious that Sony would lose that differentiation competitive advantage and would need to re-plan its strategy. On February 2008 Toshiba, HD DVDs creator, announced plans to cease development, manufacturing and marketing of HD DVD players and recorders, giving an end to this war and announcing Blu-Ray as the winner (ref:wikipedia HD war). Its obvious that Sonys differentiation policy will start to pay-off from now on, but until Toshibas announcement the differentiation policy was not valued highly by the consumers, thus not constituting a competitive advantage. Compliance and Choice: The Nintendo case A question is raised on whether or not an organisation should attempt to shape its industry. If an organisation can lead industry developments, the results will be attractive. If the industry norms that are being questioned prove themselves immutable, the attempt might prove suicidal. When the structure of the industry cannot be influenced, compliance to the industry norms is the strategic rule and managers should adapt the organisations to the industry context. On the other hand, when they have the ability to influence the industry structure they should break industry norms by exercising their freedom of choice. In this case managers efforts should be on the direction of changing the terms of competition on their own advantage (De Wit 2004). Up to the seventh generation of video gaming consoles, the industry rules dictated that the consoles should compete in a range of different characteristics such as graphics power, cpu power and exclusive game titles. If a company could top these characteristics, their console would dominate the industry. Sony dominated the sixth generation taking advantage of their ability to have a wide variety of anticipated exclusive game titles. At the seventh generation, Sony and Microsoft compete by following the industry recipe of cutting-edge graphics and exclusive titles. Nintendo tried to shape the rules, by choosing not to compete on the graphics war, but instead pushed the industry to another direction. The Wii Remote controller makes games more fun and gamers experience new forms of interaction (ref: wikipedia 7th generation). The reception of the console by the press was a great success. The console received many different awards, including an Emmy for Game Controller Innovation by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, a Golden Joystick for Innovation of the Year 2007 at the Golden Joystick Awards and the award in breakthrough technology by Spike TVs Video Games. The reception by the market was even greater. Wii is the best selling 7th generation console worldwide. It even outsold Microsofts 360, which launched a year earlier (ref:wikipedia Wii). Nintendos choice of not following the industry recipe paid off. This move granted a competitive advantage because consumers valued the industry shift. If Nintendos estimations regarding the perception of the value were wrong, the company would have failed in this generation. But since they proved correct, they can claim that they are the 7th generation industry leaders. Microsofts Resources and Core Competences Microsoft decided to seek competitive advantage in the industry by utilising their capabilities and competences. One of the main capabilities of Microsoft is creating operating systems and software. Therefore, they developed the Xbox Live service (ref: wikipedia Xbox Live), a unified online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service which integrated many different features that added value to the console, including Friends list and Recent player list Windows Live messenger integration Voice and Video Chat Video Chat Multiplayer online gameplay Parental controls, limiting childrens exposure to other users (Family Settings) This capability of Microsoft is a core competence because it fits the description: It provides potential access to a wide variety of markets (software market, services market, gaming industry). It makes a significant contribution to the perceived customer benefits of the end-product. Finally, it is difficult for competitors to imitate, since neither Sony nor Nintendo have software expertise. They both developed online services through outsourcing but they still have not managed to make them as unified and full of features as the Xbox Live. Competing with Sony for the hard-core and casual gamers, Microsoft used its core competences and resources and finally managed to gain competitive advantage. The task was not so easy because the brand name of Playstation was almost a synonym for gaming console in the previous generations. However, the sales numbers indicate that Sony is far behind Microsoft in the 7th generation consoles war. Conclusion The search for competitive advantage is of great importance for every organisation. This report investigated the strategic decisions to achieve sustainable competitive advantage through the examination of four different theories. The SCP framework is a deterministic approach. It is argued that the structure of an industry will determine the strategies and that these in turn will determine performance. Porter, although routed in the SCP framework, recognises that an organisation is not imprisoned by the structure. He introduces the Five Forces framework to analyse the industry attractiveness which plays an important role, but also argues that an organisations competitive success depends on the competitive position within the industry through three generic strategies: Cost Leadership, Differentiation and Focus. However, Mintzberg criticises in that the given options of generic strategies minimise strategic thinking. The resource-based view and the core competences models argue that sustained competitive advantage resides on the development and usage of resources, capabilities and competences. In the 7th generation of video gaming consoles the three competitors tried to gain competitive advantage through different ways. Microsoft utilised its core competences (software development) and resources and established an online environment to support its Xbox 360 console. On the other hand, Nintendo achieved competitive advantage by positioning at both Cost Leadership and Differentiation. In addition to that, Nintendo risked by choosing not to comply with the industry norms of high-end graphics but to try to shape the industry towards innovative gameplay experience. As the numbers indicate the competitive strategies chosen by both Nintendo and Microsoft have paid-off. Sony risked by choosing to differentiate with the integration of the Blu-Ray optical drive. If the format war had ended in favour of HD DVD, Sonys differentiation would have been vanished. In addition, the differentiation introduced by Sony was not highly valued by the consumers while the war was in progress, and th e numbers indicate that Sony has already fallen behind. The application of the theories in practice revealed that differentiation strategies involve high risks. However, if successful, the rewards can be enormous. Not following the industry norms is again risky, but managing to finally shape the industry will show the way to the market leader position. References Anonymous (2007), Strategic Analysis and Choice Module Book Edition 12, Management Centre, University of Leicester Barney, J. B. (1991), Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage, Journal of Management, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 99-120. Daft, R. L. (2006), The new era of management, International Edition, South-Western, London De Wit, B. and Meyer, R. (2004), Strategy: Process, Content Context 3rd edition, Thomson Learning, London Joystiq, http://www.joystiq.com/2006/02/18/playstation-3-estimated-to-cost-900-per-unit/, [25 February 2008] Kotaku, http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii/wii-autopsy-discovers-manufacturing-cost-221736.php, [25 February 2008] Kotler, P. and Keller, K. L. (2006), Marketing Management 12e, Pearson Prentice Hall Mintzberg, H., Ahlstrand, B. and Lampel, J. (1998), Strategy Safari: A Guided Tour Through the Wilds of Strategic Management, Simon Schuster, New York, NY, 1998, p. 119. Phahalad, C. K. and Hamel, G. (1990), The core competence of the corporation, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 68, No. 3, May-June, pp. 79-91 Porter, M. E. (1980), Competitive Strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors, Free Press, New York Porter, M. E. (1985), Competitive Advantage: Creating and sustaining superior performance, Free Press, New York Porter, M. E. (1991), Towards a Dynamic Theory of Strategy, Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 12, 1991, pp.95-117 Porter, M. E. (1996), What is Strategy?, Harvard Business Review, November December 1996, pp.61-78 Seekingalpha, http://seekingalpha.com/article/34357-game-console-wars-ii-nintendo-shaves-off-profits-leaving-competition-scruffy, [25 February 2008] Wikipedia 7th generation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_%28seventh_generation%29, [25 February 2008] Wikipedia HD war, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_high_definition_optical_disc_formats [25 February 2008] Wikipedia Xbox Live, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_Live, [25 February 2008] Wikipedia Wii, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii, [25 February 2008]

Rising Unemployment in Pakistan

Unemployment is enforced idleness of wage earner who is able and willing to work but cannot find jobs. In societies like Pakistan where most people earn their living only by working for others being unable to find a job is a serious problem. In Pakistan population pressure lower the economic growth rate and resulting in poor or slow growth of country economy. According to the survey report the rate of unemployment in 1998 was 5. 50 percent which increased to 7. 82 percent by the year 2003. Thus the rate of unemployment in rural areas was 5 percent which increased to 69 4 percent, while the rate of unemployment in urban area was than 9 percent which increased to 9. 9 percent by 2003. In Pakistan 50 percent of our population is composed of women who are treated as out of the work force. Unemployment in Pakistan is increasing due to various causes but if these things can be controlled than unemployment rate can automatically decline. Rapid Population Growth: Rapid growth in the population is the main factor which is worsening the situation, but Pakistan is one of the most populated countries of the world with annual growth rate being nearly 3 percent. It means that about 1 million workers are added yearly to the existing labour force which calls for creating job opportunities. Increase in population contributed much in rising unemployment rate in Pakistan and if the population growth keep on increasing with the same ratio than it will create more problems. Uncertainty and unrest in the country: Uncertainty and unrest in Pakistan and the worsening law and order situation has played an important role in transferring the business to other countries, no foreign investors feel secure in investing in such a country in which their businesses are not secure. In Pakistan due to weak political system and unstable government structure. No foreign companies want to invest in unrest environment which become the cause of unemployment because of lack of jobs opportunities in the country. Karachi is the biggest industrial base of Pakistan, but investors are reluctant to invest there because of unrest and violence. If we really want to reduce unemployment rate in Pakistan so first steps should be taken for controlling the worst law and order situation in the country. Education system of Pakistan Deplorably low rate of literacy and deterioration in standard of education in the educational institutions contributed much in increasing unemployment rate. Our educational system is also responsible for increasing unemployment rate among the educated youth. Education system is divided into different categories. Students studying in government institutions will be less aware about the new technologies, ideas for surviving in this competitive world and unemployment rate is higher among such students. Besides education the attitude of our youth towards the choice of a career is unrealistic and unproductive. Rapid mechanization and computer technology also causing unemployment. Pressure on one Industry: In country like Pakistan where resources are not equally distributed in all sectors of the industry so in this way pressure on one particular industry and profession is a natural outcome. Previously for girls medical profession was the best choice and for boys engineering was the best options but now with the industrialization and urbanization things are changing with the boom of new technologies new industries are emerging and making the values in the market, I. T field is one of it and majority of the young generation want to join I. T industry and want to pursue it as a career because of availability of resources and it’s rising scope. So things are not handled in appropriate manner, as the vacancies are less but job seekers are more than. After I. T young generation are running behind commerce industry and majority of them have the degrees of MBA and BBA but their degrees are not paying them despite of the fact that they had paid huge fees and time in completing the degree and hoping for the better future in this field, but in return they didn’t get the 100 percent results which was expected by them. So, pressure on few industries results in lack of opportunities and work force in other sectors and they become the neglected sectors of society because no one is willing to pursue the career in them. Importance of all industries should be highlighted and equal opportunities and facilities should be provided in all sectors so that no particular industry or profession face the burden which later on results in job shortage and unemployment. Economic Depression: Another reason why unemployment occurs is when there is a great economic depression, or now becomes famous with the term â€Å"global recession†. When economy fall down, many are becoming affected, most especially the employees. During this kind of situation, employer and other business owners will be force to reduce their workers in order to cope up with the right wages of the workers. There are so many causes why people become unemployed. However, the answer to this problem is still within your decision. Bear in mind that being unemployed can be voluntary or involuntary, thus, you can still make the best choice for your life, and that is to be employed or to remain unemployed and jobless at all. Whatever the cause of being unemployed if a person will still pursues to look for a job and become employed then there is no reason for you to stay unemployed. Some Suggestions: Economic Revival package should announce by the government for the revival of industries sector, to stimulate production and investment. Government should try to boost exports through broadening the tax base and lowering tariffs. Government should announce multiple packages for the development of agriculture sector. A number of fiscal and monetary measures should take attract industrialists and particularly foreign investment. Technical training facilities should be provided. In this way unemployed people will get a chance to enhance their skills and become able to earn more reason able income.

The Cold War The Cia Versus The Kgb - 1781 Words

Lauren Mason Chris Kidder Lessons in Vietnam and International Relations 29 May 2015 Espionage During the Cold War: The CIA versus the KGB The year was 2007. The fall of the Soviet Union occurred about sixteen years prior, and according to all international governments and news sources, the Cold War was over. The hostility between two superpowers had thawed, but upon closer inspection, this was not true. Based on counterintelligence acquired by the CIA, the Russian spy population in the United States had reached Cold War levels. Three years later, in 2010, a ring of ten Russian sleeper agents were discovered to be living normal lives in the northeastern part of the United States. However, these people were deceiving their friends†¦show more content†¦Communist and Soviet allied nations such as Cuba reported to the KGB, or the Committee for State Security of the Soviet Union. While its main job as a militant commission was to maintain the integrity of the nation it represented, its actions as an intelligence agency were quite sinister. The KGB was respo nsible for keeping the Soviet Bloc intact and crushed rebellions such as the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and the Prague Spring of Czechoslovakia in 1968. There have also been suspicions that they carried out countless assassinations both within and out of the Soviet Union. Its initial formation occurred in 1954 after the dissolution of its predecessor, the MGB, and the current Soviet leader wanted it to spread public support for his country and purge anybody who supported a different leader. Later on, it was involved with operations in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. While it was not regarded as a major organization within the government, it had special privileges that allowed it to act autonomously without much control from outside influence. It is estimated that almost one million Soviets worked for the KGB during its existence and to this day it is difficult to find information on the organization due to classification. When it came to espionage operations, the organization quickly became a thorn in the United States’ side even

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay - 1602 Words

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Summary The story begins in King Arthurs court, where he and the Knights of the Round Table are celebrating New Years. While they are enjoying their feast, a gigantic Green Knight rides in on a green horse with an immense axe in his hand to offer them a challenge. His offer is: I shall bide the fist blow, as bare as I sit†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.., but in twelve month and one day he shall have of me the same. (Norton Anthology,208) After a moment of consideration, Sir Gawain accepts the terrifying challenge. As he tries to perform the first part of the challenge, he stumbles into an even bigger surprise. As Gawain hits the Green Knight with an ax, the head of the Green Knight falls on the floor. Instead of the Green†¦show more content†¦Ahunting I will go while you lie late at rest†¦., and Gawain, agree to this what ever I win in the woods I will give you at eve, and all you have earned you must offer to me.(Norton Anthology,225) This Gawain agrees to do for three consecutive nights. Thus, for three days the host and Gawain exchange their winnings. On the first eve the host gives Gawain the deer that hehas hunted, while Gawain gives the host a kiss to return what he has received from the hosts wife. The second day the same procedure takes place; a hunted boar on the hosts side is exchanged for two kisses on Gawains part. All is well until the third day. On the third day Gawain deceives the hos. Instead of giving the host all that he has acquired (the three kisses and the magic girdle), he hides the magic girdle and only gives the host the three kisses that the hosts wife has given him in the morning. Finally New Years day comes. Gawain arms himself, puts on the magic girdle and sets out on his journey to the Green Chapel. After the difficult and dangerous journey, Gawain finds the cave whre the Green Knight appears. The game begins at once. At the first blow Green Knight misses Gawain. The second time the Green Knight also misses him. But the third and the final time the Green Knight nicks him on the side of the neck.(NortonShow MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. 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