Composition II †Mid Term Exam

Composition II – Mid Term Exam Free Online Research Papers Composition II Mid Term Exam Part One: Correct or mark mistakes of all and revise at least 10 of the following passages. Please number your answer by order. 1)In such situation, you will really wish that you had four stomachs like a cow. Usually, I will choose the romantic French restaurant, but the south American passion just gets into me. Well, we choose the grill, and the other one can be reserved for some other day†¦. And so here I am, enjoying the tasty barbecue. This is how my vacation on a cruise will go. Anyway, I bet it will be fun on this epicurean paradise. Of course, if it would be true. 2)Most of us love sweet food. When we walk by a bakery, we stop our feet and stare at the tasty cakes and bread. We imagine the sweetest taste and get our money out of packets to buy happiness, a piece of cake. Have you ever thought that we can make happiness or even give a surprise for our relatives and friends? 3)Not only does it tell us that we human beings might become cruel to the machines and robots in the future just because we think that they would not feel pain and sad, it also implies how we treat other races. 4)Will was sent to jail after he hit a cop. Lambeaua offered help for Will to get out of jail on the condition that Will had to study math with Lambeaua and met with a therapist. Lambeaua didn’t read many books and have the intelligence like Will, but he knew that Will was a genius who was quite different from others; he knew that Will would deserve a promising future, a much better life than any of his buddies’. 5)The heated bottom bulb will make the air expand in the bulb, and the expanded air consequently forces the water to go through the tube into the upper bulb. 6)Coffee has been planted in many countries, and we can find different tastes from different countries. If you feel that only drinking black coffee is too bitter, you can choose mocha that is very popular and has half of milk and without bitter taste. There are also people drinking coffee when they want to stay up late. Coffee is really miraculous to people. But who found it? There are two famous legends of it. 7)She’s the person who understands me most, the only one whom I truly trust. I want to thank her for all the help, encouragement and happy times she gave me. I want to tell her for the 1,001th time how much I cherish the relationship with her. †¦But when I sang in front of the people, who really cared for me? To be specific, I can’t recall even once. 8)The pretty woman stayed in town and spent the rest of her life, as most women would do: marrying the man she loved, having children, taking care of the house, etc. As to the two writers, they both left the town for different places to learn the skills for making better music. They set apart from each other and finally lost contact. Although their friendship could not last forever, the funny love story that happened among them would be known and passed down to their offspring through the song. 9)Every one has his own position, so does a country. Most of the western countries might think of themselves as delivers to people in the deep distress when they invade the miserable countries. It might be right in a sense. However, when it comes to the position of the dwellers in Iraq, they think the western countries just take advantage of them with some elegant and stately excuses. Take the revenge of US for the 911 attack as an example. At that time most of the world, narrowly speaking, except the so-called Third World, opposed to it. But people who get used to the capitalism would stand on the side of US in a beneficial point of view. 10)For example, do you know that after a person listens to heavy metal music, he would eat double amount of food than usual? Does this knowledge amaze you? If yes, then I bet that you will find more surprise in Discovery Channel. 11)I have a dream, a dream of having a husband whom I want. I often dream about the situation in a movie â€Å"Sweet Alabama†. In the movie, the protagonist is a fashion designer in New York, and she comes from Alabama. She makes her name for herself in fashion circle and does a good job. A senator’s son falls in love with her. He proposes to her and lets her choose the ring she wants in Tiffany shop on the 5th Avenue. 12)Eventually, Chihiro didn’t look back and went through the tunnel smoothly. When I saw this scene, I felt kind of familiar to me. And then I found that I had read a story that had the similar situation: the story about Orpheus and Eurydice in Greek mythology. 13)There will be no one who can make his or her records continue like Yanzi, a beautiful and talented singer. Except herself, no one can replace her status. 14)Deborah is one of my classmates in the university. From once chatting with her, I find how special she is. She is a devout Christian who I have never known before, and so are her families. In her opinion, God is the power to everything. If she is lazy or hesitant to do something, she will recall God’s words or discipline to deal with the problems. Therefore, God plays an important role in her life, affecting her personality and philosophy of life. She is also deeply influenced by her parents. 15)When I first met her I got an impression that she was a long hair, tall, and elegant girl who seemed to be about my age. But to my surprise, after a pleasant talk, I knew that she was nearly in her thirties! Her name was Bellona, an expansive and outspoken girl to talk with. 16)The first time when I watched this program was seven years ago. I was board with two teenaged daughters then in New Zealand. On weekend nights, the two girls would show up in the living room on time, waiting for the show to start. At first, I couldn’t understand their strange behavior. I even doubted whether it was worthy to be watched or not. 17)Both of us were tired so we went to bed soon after taking showers. 18)Parrots are strongly fond of snacks, especially the nuts and sunflower seeds. You can simply call their names and give them food. As time goes by, they will get used to your whispers. Part Two: Choose one from the following topics to write a short essay (around 1000 words, viz., about two pages). Be sure your composition is in standard English, well organized, and free of mistakes either in grammar or spelling. (title 5%, content 15%, diction 5%, structure 15%, style 10%, 50% in total) 1.Look at your future. What will, might, should it be like? Write about what you should, must, can do now in order to make your life what you want it to be. 2.Describe an ideal person, place, or object, for example, an ideal leader, an ideal world (a Utopia?), an ideal cell phone, etc. Be sure to give details and specifications (say, geography, climate, social customs, rituals, and so forth). 3.Write about SAARS, the War in Iraq, or any kind of crises. How to deal with the problem? Give explanations, solutions or advice to your reader. Use pronouns â€Å"I† and â€Å"You† in your essay. 4.Write about two historical figures from our country. Give your reader information about their lives and accomplishments. Compare or contrast them. 5.Introduce some people who were/are popular in Asia (e.g., singers, movie stars, political figures, etc.). Assume your readers are completely unfamiliar with them. Research Papers on Composition II - Mid Term ExamThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyCapital PunishmentComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHip-Hop is ArtMind TravelWhere Wild and West Meet19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Spring and AutumnThe Hockey Game

UNH Admissions Data and Acceptance Rate

UNH Admissions Data and Acceptance Rate With an acceptance rate of 76 percent, the University of New Hampshire is accessible to many applicants. Students with good grades and test scores are likely to be admitted.  To apply, interested students will need to submit an application, official high school transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and a letter of recommendation. Art and music students will need to submit additional materialscheck the schools website for more information. The school accepts the Common Application, which can save applicants time and energy when applying to multiple schools that use that application. W ill you get in? Calculate your chances of getting in with this free tool from Cappex. Admissions Data (2016) University of New Hampshire Acceptance Rate: 76  percentGPA, SAT and ACT Graph for UNHTest Scores: 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 490 / 590SAT Math: 500 / 610SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanNew Hampshire colleges SAT comparisonAmerica East Conference SAT score comparisonACT Composite: 22 / 27ACT English: 22 / 27ACT Math: 22  / 27What these ACT numbers meanNew Hampshire colleges ACT comparisonAmerica East Conference ACT score comparison UNH Description The University of New Hampshires main campus is located in Durham, a seacoast town with a population similar to the university. Boston is about an hour away, as is excellent skiing in the White Mountains. The university has an 18 to 1  student/faculty ratio, and high achieving and motivated students should check out the opportunities available through the Honors Program. For its academic strengths, UNH was awarded a chapter of  Phi Beta Kappa. In athletics, the UNH Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division I  Colonial Athletic Association  for football, and the  America East Conference  for many other sports. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 15,188 (12,857 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 46 percent male / 54 percent female97 percent full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $17,624  (in-state); $31,424  (out-of-state)Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $10,938Other Expenses: $2,438Total Cost: $32,200  (in-state); $46,000 (out-of-state) UNH Financial Aid (2015-16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 85  percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 70 percentLoans: 71  percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $12,196Loans: $10,169 Academic Programs Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Business Administration, Communication Studies, English, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Nursing, Political Science, PsychologyWhat major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation, Retention and Transfer Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 86  percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 67 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 78  percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Mens Sports:  Football, Ice Hockey, Skiing, Basketball, Cross Country, SoccerWomens Sports:  Lacrosse, Skiing, Soccer, Basketball, Gymnastics, Field Hockey If You Like UNH, You May Also Like These Schools: University of Vermont: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphQuinnipiac University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBoston University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphRoger Williams University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBoston College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphEndicott College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSyracuse University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPlymouth State University: Profile  University of Connecticut: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUMass - Amherst: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Maine: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

A Close Look at Background Investigations Term Paper - 1

A Close Look at Background Investigations - Term Paper Example It goes on to look at the legal position of background information and checks and then examines the limitations and sensitive issues relating to background investigations. Keywords: background, checks, investigations, recruitment, selection, employers, prospective Background The recruitment process seeks to attract the largest pool of potential employees as possible to apply for a given position. Typically, this involves the communication of the job vacancy far and wide to ensure that a lot of people get to know about the vacancy. After recruitment, there is the selection process which entails the choice of the best candidate amongst the group that applied or showed interest in a job that is on offer by an organization. The selection process therefore emphasizes on choosing the best individual(s) to fill a particular vacancy. This is because there is a vast pool of talented individuals who have the propensity so the management can make the choice of the best option available and offe r an employment to such a person. Additionally, in the selection stage, a prospective employer has the right to identify the best candidate and take vital human resource management decisions that can be positive for the organization in the future. Prospective employers therefore use the best and most scientifically efficient tools to ensure that the best employees are selected. As a rule of thumb, most organizations therefore seek to acquire sufficient information about the applicants so that they make a decision about the best applicant and employ him/her. Due to the fact that there is no way of predicting what would happen in the future, it is imperative on employers to understand the history of a prospective employee in order to assess the possible behavior of a person when s/he is employed in the future. It can be pointed out that the normal organizational selection process is not rigorous enough for businesses to assess and understand the true nature of their prospective employ ees. This is because a business cannot really get the true picture of a person's character through the conventional interviewing process. It is therefore necessary for employers to make an extra effort to identify the true nature of a given candidate for a position before offering him or her a job. It must be pointed out that the need to understand the nature and character of a prospective employee varies, depending on the nature of the job at hand. One of the best ways of doing this is to undertake a background investigation of the prospective employee. The need for background information varies with the sensitivity of the role of an organization and it is often varied in respect to the sensitivity of the role a prospective employee is expected to play when employed. Clearly, hiring an operative who plays a minor role in the organization does not require to much background investigations. On the other hand, hiring a person for an important employee like an airport staff or CEO requ ires a lot of scrutiny to identify the background of the individual. The findings from a background information can aid in the decision making process of whether to hire an applicant or not. This is because it determines the kind of person the individual is and enables employers to identify how such people managed things in their past and how it is likely to benefit the business in the future. Additionally, background investigations of prospective applicants enables an employer to be released from the issue of negligent hiring. This is because most employers are ultimately responsible for the actions of their employees so they have an obligation to check the backgrounds of an applicant before

Inter Personal Communication between people from different cultures Essay

Inter Personal Communication between people from different cultures - Essay Example It also increases the levels up to which people tend to during communication in various cultures and ethnic relationships. Communications keeps happening. As the saying goes, 'you cannot not communicate'. On analysis of the interview the people from the Asian cultures provided to me and the answers that could be obtained from them with regard to the effective communication methods among the community was found to have the following: 1. Interpersonal communication in most of the Asian countries follow a formal structuring. The teacher in the community is addressed as 'sir' or with a respect over tone and not by his her name. This is valid for all seniors in the household, neighbors and other senior people whom the person comes across. Whereas, in contrast, the American way of addressing such people is by their name with a Mr or Ms or Mrs as the case may be and this considered as lack of respect in case of the Asian communities. The same becomes valid when you are a senior person, an American may not mind it rather would like you to address him as Mr Senior Person, but in the case of the Asian Community if a person is addressed so or with the first name, it was always found that the people tend to take offence. 2. In America when one meets the person he wants to discuss business with, it is done immediately on meeting the person. The welfare of the person or the family or other such things which are extraneous to the topic of the meeting is hardly discussed. It is normally to the point. In case of the Asian communities, the tendency is to first create a personal rapport before commencing the business talk. Pleasantries will be exchanged to a greater degree trying to know the welfare of the person, his family; may be his parent was sick and the person will be asked about all these. This is considered as a part of the involvement in the deal. After getting so much closer, the logic is one does not try to cheat the other. Getting directly to the point might appear snobbish to people from these cultures. 3. Interpersonal communication tends to be more personal and develops a rapport in most of the Asian cultures, whereas in the case of American cultures the relationship is more business like. There is no 'face' lost in the business or linked to the business in case of American businesses. In the case of Asian businesses, it is more often the face that matters and the kind of relationships that one develops over a period of time. This possibly is the reason why develop or getting into Asian markets is stiffer for new comers whereas it is not so for the American markets. 4. When meeting a stranger, the touch is not as much a part of the Asian culture as it is in the case of the American or European cultures. Some of the Asian cultures do practice a culture of embracing when a stranger is met for the first time, while certain others do only a folding of the arms or bending the body to the front in solemnity. Most of the Asians do not touch a stranger when they meet for the first time. Though of course, when they meet the second time, the embracing or the holding of the hand does take place. Touch of the hand is more of a solidarity indication as

Deforestation in Indian Essay Example for Free

Deforestation in Indian Essay The best known case of this is the Chipko movement in the Himalayas (Hegde, 1998; Weber, 1987). The villagers rallied together to save their forests by hugging the trees from the axe of the contractors who were issued licenses without the consent of the local people. Much earlier to this movement, though similar in its action is the story of the Bishnois in the desert state of Rajasthan (CSE 1984-85). The religious tenets of the community prevent them from causing any harm to any living thing. A few centuries ago a situation arose when the ruler ordered the cutting down of the trees of the area. The people of this community protested. They hugged the trees to protect them and in the process paid a very heavy price. The kings men ruthlessly chopped down the protesters before chopping down the trees. Even today the villages of the Bishnois are a pleasant sight where trees 76 IGES International Workshop grow all around inspite of the desert like environment and various animals like the endangered Blackbuck find freedom and safety in a peoples sanctuary. In addition, across the country there are innumerable sacred groves (Gadget, 1975; Gadget and Vartak, 1976; Induchoodan, 1991; WWF, 1996); patches of forests that have had a sacredness and sanctity attached to them for centuries. Often it is a forest dedicated to the local deity and in many places like in the western ghats these remain the only surviving examples of the rich and virgin forests that once clothed the mountains. More recently we come across the well-documented cases where communities are taking the initiative in protecting their forests. For instance Jardhar (Kothari, 1995) is a village in the Garhwal Himalayas about 12 hours drive away from New Delhi. Here the village has come together on its own initiative to protect the forests on the hills around their village. With the help of the Delhi based environmental group Kalpavriksh they have even prepared a community register of their biological, ecological and environmental knowledge. Additionally they have a Beej Bachao Andolan (Save the seeds campaign) wherein the villagers have taken it upon themselves to save the great agricultural diversity of their area and have started a seed bank on their own. Similar is the case in the Alwar district of Rajasthan where the coordinated action of a series of villages; protecting the forests, preventing grazing, tree cutting, and building a series of small bunds across the water streams has actually brought the river Arvari back to life (Patel, 1997). The river which had over the years turned into a seasonal stream now once again flows perennially. Enthused by the initiative of the villagers the government too responded positively and schemes like those under Joint Forestry Management are being implemented in the area.

Introduction Essay :: essays research papers

Who Am I? My name is xxxxx xxxxx. I am XX years old, married, and have three sons. I was born in Greensboro, NC and lived there until I was 19. I attended XXXX with the intention of getting an Associate's Degree in Commercial Art and Advertising Design. I was gifted in and loved drawing and painting. It never occurred to me that I would have a career in anything else. The summer after my first semester at XXXX, my parents saw an advertisement in the newspaper for those interested in a career as a flight attendant. My parents pressured me to go to the airline's open house. I flat out refused. After all, I was 19 and madly in love with my unemployed 30 year old boyfriend who still lived with his parents. I went to the airline's open house and there were hundreds of women there. Some of us, including myself, were chosen to speak in front of the mass audience of candidates. The next day, an airline representative called me and asked me to fly to Chicago the following day for a formal interview. I did not want to go at all! I was petrified of getting on an airplane. My boyfriend didn't want me to go. Most of all, I was going to be a graphic artist and had never even considered this job in my life. Through many interviews, six weeks of training away from home, several bouts of tearfully begging my mom to let me come home, I became one of the first 19 year olds to become a flight attendant. I absolutely loved my job and the freedom it gave me. I was able to travel to places I never had dreamed of going. I did my job well and was enamored and confident with the different people I met. I planned to retire as a flight attendant. But things change when husbands and babies come along. When I had my first baby and had to leave him for the first time, I cried uncontrollably the entire trip. My feelings of missing him only grew. Several times, I broke down in the middle of a service when I saw a child. When my second baby came along, I decided that I could no longer have both this career and a family. Introduction Essay :: essays research papers Who Am I? My name is xxxxx xxxxx. I am XX years old, married, and have three sons. I was born in Greensboro, NC and lived there until I was 19. I attended XXXX with the intention of getting an Associate's Degree in Commercial Art and Advertising Design. I was gifted in and loved drawing and painting. It never occurred to me that I would have a career in anything else. The summer after my first semester at XXXX, my parents saw an advertisement in the newspaper for those interested in a career as a flight attendant. My parents pressured me to go to the airline's open house. I flat out refused. After all, I was 19 and madly in love with my unemployed 30 year old boyfriend who still lived with his parents. I went to the airline's open house and there were hundreds of women there. Some of us, including myself, were chosen to speak in front of the mass audience of candidates. The next day, an airline representative called me and asked me to fly to Chicago the following day for a formal interview. I did not want to go at all! I was petrified of getting on an airplane. My boyfriend didn't want me to go. Most of all, I was going to be a graphic artist and had never even considered this job in my life. Through many interviews, six weeks of training away from home, several bouts of tearfully begging my mom to let me come home, I became one of the first 19 year olds to become a flight attendant. I absolutely loved my job and the freedom it gave me. I was able to travel to places I never had dreamed of going. I did my job well and was enamored and confident with the different people I met. I planned to retire as a flight attendant. But things change when husbands and babies come along. When I had my first baby and had to leave him for the first time, I cried uncontrollably the entire trip. My feelings of missing him only grew. Several times, I broke down in the middle of a service when I saw a child. When my second baby came along, I decided that I could no longer have both this career and a family.

In the Country of Men Course Notes Essay

Thorough and insightful understanding of the ideas, characters and themes constructed and presented in the text. Complex discussion and critical analysis of the structures, features and conventions used to conduct meaning. Complex analysis of the ways in which social, historical and/or cultural values are embodied in the text. Construction of a sophisticated interpretation, which demonstrates an understand of ways in which the text is open to different interpretation by different readers. Considered selection of significant textual evidence and highly appropriate use of relevant metalanguage. Highly expressive, fluent and coherent writing. Hisham Matar Born NY 1970 Returned to Libya as a 3yo Father a diplomat Accused of opposition of Gadhafi’s revolution In 1979 family escaped to Egypt Father kidnapped by Egyptian security in Cairo and handed over in Libya Never heard of again – 2 letters in 1996. Matar biographical details Personal experiences provide a real link to the events of the novel Father of young Libyan captured by security forces and detained for his opposition to a regime which he claims oppresses freedom This novel is NOT a biography, rather a reflection of his own experiences, particularly his relationship with his mother. Matar’s messages uses his own experiences, or memory of these, to illustrate ideas about family and, to a lesser extent oppression. Where is Libya, North of Africa, surrounded by Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Algeria. Near Turkey and Iran. The Problems with Libya Libya was often occupied during its history – Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans all colonised Libya in ancient times – archaeological sites still there 7th century Arabs introduced Islam religion and culture early 20th century Italy colonised Libya after an agreement with British and French to carve up north Africa Italian influence still strong in Libya – evidence in text – Signor II Calzoni, Faraj reads and swears in Italian Post WWII Libya divided up between French and British Given independence by them in 1951 King Idris 1 ruled 1951 onwards Oil discoveries in 1959 made Libya a very strategically important and potentially wealthy country GADDAFI 1969 Muammar el Gaddafi (Qaddafi), a military officer, headed a military coup against the autocratic King Idris – popular uprising Gaddafi known as The Leader Of The Revolution or The Guide Erratic Ruler, became more and more autocratic himself Strange man Formed in the 1980s – Amazonian guards – personal bodyguards – all women Gaddafi claimed that they would be the perfect guards because Arab gunmen would not fire at women Many claimed that the guards were an example of his eccentric showmanship and that he enjoyed being surrounded by beautiful young women He always travelled surrounded by the Guard Women were very well trained in martial arts and were apparently hand picked by Gadhafi himself They had to take a vow of chastity After he was deposed, many claimed they had been raped by him Shades of 1984 Living in Libya, under Gadhafi Most industries and media were controlled by state Most aspects of peoples lives controlled Telephones tapped, sometimes tapper intrudes on conversations ITCOM Easily identified secret police roam the streets watching people ITCOM Extensive surveillance systems – 20-30% of people worked in surveillance for the Revolutionary committees which oversaw and infiltrated every part of Libyan Society. They are able to walk into people’s homes and look for evidence of ‘disloyalty’ ITCOM Press was silenced University students silenced Public excecutions of ‘enemies’ of state, often televised ITCOM People lived in fear of being accused of crimes against the revolution Gadhafi had dissidents living overseas assassinated. His power is evident not just in Libya but also in Egypt where the Matar family escape to, but Gadhafi’s supporters in Egypt capture the father and hand him over to Gadhafi’s regime. Libya was known as a pariah state for many years – one which acts in a brutal way against its own citizens Libya often shunned by other countries because of active promotion of, and sanctuary given to, terrorist groups. Big Brother Cult of personality built around Gadhafi (Recall 1984) Referred to himself as The Guide of Libya, rather than the leader. Called himself a socialist, an Arabist, an African and a Muslim at various times in his rule. He changed according to which way the political wind was blowing and his actions were always about maintaining power. Libya Mainly a Muslim nation. People called to daily prayers from loudspeakers in mosques. Drinking and eating of prok prohibited. Often women are required to cover up in public. Like all religions, followers range from strictly observant to those who are Muslim in name only. Suleiman’s mother drinks when father is away but doesn’t go out when she drinks because alcohol is prohibited (ITCOM) Alcohol is prohibited by both the Koran and the legal system. Arranged marriages (ITCOM) blood feuds, arguments common, particularly in underdeveloped areas What ideas are these covers trying to convey? Cover 3 bleak, dark, tree represents shelter mulberry tree, tree of knowledge. Storm clouds suggest bad luck is coming etc. again the contrast  looks very western Cover 4. Plain white and blue almost white and blue collar shirts, the smart and the dumb, the rich and the poor. and the boy being in the middle almost a shadow, not 100% there. Red the colour of anti revolutionary. How are the colour font and other visual aspects used to convey meaning here? The white colour reflects the hotness of Libya and the shadow of the boy reflect that he’s not entirely there, the colour use of red is anti revolutionary, symbolic of blood. Why do you think that the author chose the title IN THE COUNTRY OF MEN for this book? Muslim way of life, women are almost lesser important, symbolizes no freedom or mention of women at all, almost symbolizes the WWI as WWI was for men only and women didn’t fight at all. What questions are raised about concepts of country, manhood and humanity? The country of men means its really a man dominant country, there is no such thing as a woman almost. Very sexist society How does the title tie in with the themes of the novel and the position of the characters as they struggle in their environment? How does the author use contrasting imagery in the opening passage to set the tone of the book? How does the image of people seeking mercy from the heat reflect the broader condition of the characters? HOLIDAY HOMEWORK How is betrayal shown to be a strong force in the lives of the characters in the country of men? In the country of men suggests that people cannot avoid brutality in a country under a dictatorship. Discuss. What forms of imprisonment are depicted in the novel? How do the characters experience and react to a lack of freedom? Through the mothers alcohol, women are imprisoned by men, in the country of men, means no voice for women. What can we infer about the lives of women in Libya during the time period represented in the story? They are in a mans world with no control. Throughout the novel, Suleiman refers to his mothers alcoholism as her ‘illness’. How accurate is this observation? Do you feel it is a reflection of Suleiman’s naivety in youth or a kind of wisdom about her actual condition? In the Country of Men Themes Narrative voice The novel is written in first person narration, largely through the eyes of 9 year old Suleiman, but with comments at times from him as an adult. Much of it is internal monologue, one of the reasons that matar created Suleiman as an only child. As he had no one to talk to he internalises his experiences, hence making for a more reflective novel. The child-like commentary allows for readers to understand things that Suleiman does not: for example, Mama’s ‘medicine’ and her ‘illness’. Names Names and naming are important in the text. Interestingly, Suleiman’s name can be traced back to Suleiman the Magnificent, the emperor of the Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century who expanded the empire significantly and instigated enormous social and cultural developments. He is also known as â€Å"Slooma† a family name which is appropriated by Sharief and ‘habibi’ by his mother which means â€Å"my darling† â€Å"beloved† or â€Å"baby† (Innocence) SETTING The setting of Lepcis Magma is used symbolically as a fallen civilization, an example of how every society will one day decay and die. The concerns of its people have long disappeared into time. MOTIFS The heath/summer is a motif running through the novel. At times it represents hell, as Suleiman tries to avoid hell by practising running over the bridge to paradise. Other times, its glare stupefies the people and pushes them indoors, leaving only the children to jostle each other outside. The long days of summer without school also allows for Suleiman to have the freedom where he observes the adults more than usual. The sea is also another motif, the beautiful blue ocean just at the end of the road. At times Suleiman swims in it looking to be cooled and cleansed from the dirty activities he faces day-to-day. He tries to take Kareem into it to seek some solace from his grief but Kareem resists. Interestingly, it is here where he almost drowns Bahoul the beggar, exerting his power and giving into the base urges that he sees in his society SYMBOLISM The symbolism of replacing the picture of Baba with an enormous picture of the Guide in the reception room, shows loyalty to the regime and the strains on family relationships. Also showing that they have nothing to hide to show loyalty. Shows their not related to what Baba did, and the guide is now their father and father of Libya. The games played by the boys, games such as ‘My land, Your Land’ where they try to take power by gaining more land, represents the political ‘games’ of the older men around them. The squabbles and fights are also a microcosm for  the violence in the country in which they are growing up. Much is made of the power of words in this novel. In an act of resistance to the dictatorship. Nasser is seen running through Martyrs’ square after Faraj, clutching a typewriter used for producing subversive pamphlets. In another scene, Najwa and Moosa burn all Faraj’s books to save him from incrimination; however, the image of books burning is redolent of violent regimes trying to rid themselves of intellectuals who might question them. Moosa is a poet and lover of language; he is also closely tied with dissident acts. Linked to this idea, is the power of storytelling. Ironically, Najwa condemns Scheherazade for being ‘a coward who accepted slavery over death’ pg15. She berates her for not standing up to her husband, for staying to look after her children, for being thankful for her life. The irony is that Najwa appears to be restricted as Scheherazade was and she also seems to fall in love with her husband over time. To Suleiman though she is a hero; that she managed to keep telling tales without giving in to fear amazes him. Also, he is a storyteller too, as is Mama. Loyalty and Betrayal: the novel addresses the issue of loyalty. How do the characters experience loyalty and betrayal? Discuss some examples. What do you think is the main cause of some of the betrayals that occur? In chapter 5, Moosa says â€Å"its our obligation to call injustice by its name pg53† Suleiman’s mother replies â€Å"go call it by its name in your country. Here it is either silence or exile, walk by the wall or leave. Go be a hero elsewhere.† What does she mean? Who is right? How do the different characters in the novel face injustice and what are the consequences? Point of view? How does the point of view of the story affect the way that we see the injustices represented in the story? How might this be different if the narrator were an adult? Hisham Matar has much in common with Suleiman. Both left Libya where they were children, although unlike Suleiman, Matar was  accompanied by his parents. In 1990, Matar’s father was kidnapped while living in exile in Cairo and was returned to Libya, where he was tortured and imprisoned. He has not heard from him since. How does knowing the similarities between the author and protagonist affect the way you think about the novel? Role of women Do the women in Suleiman’s life have any true power, and if so, from where is it derived? How has Suleiman’s opinion of his mother changed by the time he reaches the novels closing scenes? Insight into the text What is the effect of reading about this episode in history through a child’s point of view? What clarity does it bring? In what ways do a child’s impulses muddy the truth? When the students visit Lepcis Magna, Kareem states, â€Å"Children are useless in a war.† Do you think this is true? What might the authors point of view be? What profession does Suleiman ultimately choose? Why do you think the author decided to have Suleiman choose this profession? Pg 232 He chose the profession of medicine, being a pharmacist. It reflected the influence his mother had on him with her illness and helped him to understand what it really was. Gadhafi is the most important character in the novel, despite his absence. Do you agree? The novel examines the futility of resisting oppressive power. Discuss. How does Matar use both tension and narrative point of view to engage the reader? How is tradition shown to be a powerful force in the lives of the characters in In the Country of Men? How does Matar develop a sense of time and of place in his novel? Along with confusion, pain and despair, there is a strong message of hope in Matar’s novel. To what extent do you agree? Corruption is not only isolated to the Libyan dictatorship. To what extent do you agree? In the Country of Men suggests that life demands a choice between resistance and surrender.’ Discuss In the Country of Men demonstrates that it is a man’s actions that deï ¬ ne him.’ Discuss In In the Country of Men, Matar shows more sympathy for women than for men. ’Discuss. â€Å"Why does our country long for us so savagely?† Matar’s love of his country and his fears for it permeate his novel In the Country of Men. Discuss. How does Suleiman’s view of the world change during the course of the novel? ‘Despite the horror of the political regime, this is still a novel about the power of love.’ To what extent do you agree?

Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008

Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008: Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership Although the corporate strategies implemented by Netflix and Blockbuster have allowed them to become leaders of competitive advantage in the movie rental industry, they sometimes encounter strategic issues that slow down their product and services process. My research of Netflix and Blockbuster will enable me to present a SWOT analysis and recommendations for each company. Netflix, founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings, has achieved its goal of becoming the largest online movie rental service in the world. By the end of 2007, Netflix recorded revenues of $1. 2 billion. With a library of 100,000 movie titles and a subscriber base of over seven million, they had become the leaders of the movie rental industry (Gamble & Thompson, 2011). Netflix’s business model of internet subscription enabled them to compete in the movie industry. Consumers love going to the movies, but with increasing theatre prices found it too expensive to attend public viewings. Netflix provided an inexpensive way to view movies which could be done from the comforts of home. According to the text, (Essentials of Strategic Management, 2010), â€Å"Netflix’s success is due to its six-pronged strategy of providing comprehensive selection of DVDs, easy way to choose movies, fast delivery, no return due dates, and convenient drop in mail movie returns† (Gamble & Thompson, 2010). In an online survey by Nielsen Online, Netflix was rated number one for three years and for nine consecutive periods by Forsee/FGI Research (Netflix, 2009). Netflix Strategic Issues Blockbuster, Netflix’s fiercest competitor, experience many rental issues until 2007 when they regained market shares forcing Netflix to reduce subscription prices. Not only did Blockbuster gain presence, other competitors like Redbox also gained presence in the market due to new technologies (VOD & DVR) that are influencing the business environment. The business model used by Netflix caused a stir in the market industry. However, the damage control strategies of competitors and competitor recapture of market shares is threatening Netflix’s competitive advantage. Netflix has to change with the times. Competitive Forces Netflix and Blockbuster are affected by the five forces of competition which are potential new entrants, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of substitutes, and rivalry among existing competitors (Gamble & Thompson, 2010). The companies must understand how these forces work and affect their operation. Threats of New Entrants -In the home video/game industries, new entrants must own large amounts of movies/games for rental or sale to fulfill customers' demands. Meanwhile they have to build up various distribution channels for products to reach customers in a very quick way (Xie & Lin, 2008). Bargaining Power of Suppliers -The inputs of suppliers in the home video/game industries are very important and since there are only a few qualified suppliers in the industry, their bargaining power is high. Netflix acquires its movies from movie studios and distributors, buying DVDs on a fee-per-DVD basis, paying license content fees, and signing revenue sharing agreements. Blockbuster also has revenue sharing agreements with its suppliers. To some extent, these agreements reduce the bargaining power of suppliers. In terms of the computer system, Blockbuster is using Provia's Viaware warehouse management system (packaging, sorting, and distributing rental products) in its supply chain management to keep costs down (Xie & Lin, 2008). Threats of substitutes -Substitutes include movie theaters, satellite TV, and cable TV. Customers can go to movie theaters and enjoy the vivid atmosphere. Alternatively, they can order â€Å"pay-per-view† or subscribe â€Å"on-demand† from satellite TV and/or cable TV providers to watch movies at home. Users can watch anytime they want. Satellite and cable TV offer sufficient selections of new releases and are is easy to watch with just click on remote. Netflix and Blockbuster compete for customers by offering various kinds of movies and internet access (Xie & Lin, 2008). Rivalry among industry competitors – Netflix and Blockbuster are in a highly competitive industry. Competitors include merchant retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target; video and game store like Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, and Game Stop; supermarkets, convenient stores such as Publix, and McDonald's. The significant rival is Hollywood Video which offers movie and game rentals (Xie & Lin, 2008). Bargaining power of buyers -Buyers are not in concentrated groups and do not buy in large amounts. However, within the entertainment industry, customers have a lot of alternatives and have no switching cost. However the introduction of DVDs, influenced customers to purchase DVDs since the cost is almost the same cost of rentals. This makes buyer power moderate (Xie & Lin, 2008). The five forces of competition of the movie rental industry presents little force against a competitor’s market position based on buyer power, supplier power, and new entrant threats. However, threat of substitutes and rivalry among competitors can affect the amount of profits a company will gain and retain. Netflix SWOT Analysis The presence of Netflix and Blockbuster in the movie rental industry has assisted me in developing this analysis of each corporation’s strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as followed: Netflix’s strengths are: Good reputation, unlimited movie rental subscription, no due dates or late fees, easy website access, and large movie selection. Netflix’s weaknesses are: Limited to internet rental access, and long waiting period for new releases. Netflix’s opportunities are: To provide Video on Demand media access, music and movie download, and acquire partnership with gaming industry. Netflix’s threats are: Low DVD rentals, government regulation of rental distribution, high level of competition, and new movie media technology. Blockbuster SWOT Analysis Blockbuster’s strengths are: national and international recognition provides movie and game rentals, various vices for rental access (i. e. stores, kiosk, and internet), offers snacks and beverages for purchase in stores, and accommodates all customer types. Blockbuster’s weaknesses are: Poor distribution process, increased operating expense, decreased reputation, limited new released video games, unable to compete with game distributors (i. e. GameStop), and constant rental policy changes. Blockbuster opportunities are: Unlimited access to downloadable media libraries, increased production of brand movie rentals, and partnership with gaming system industry. Blockbuster’s threats are: New video formats, decreased DVD movie rentals, increased competition, and government regulation of movie rentals. The SWOT analysis shows that Netflix and Blockbuster have strong strengths and opportunities, however in order to Netflix to maintain its competitive advantage there needs to be an upgrade in innovation and technology that will strengthen their reputation and reliability. Blockbuster’s loss in reputation will continually plague their ability to remain competitive and maintain the customer base that they have. Blockbuster will continually face challenges until they upgrade their innovation and technology to level where they will enter into recovery mode. As I studied the financial information presented in the text, it appears that Netflix has been able to offer customers the benefit of low rental fees because they have been able to maintain a low level of expenses. The benefits offered to customers have increased the amounts of net income and movie rentals. Netflix prides itself on promoting customer satisfaction and meeting demands of its internet base. According to the numbers presented by Internet World Stats, the percentage of internet penetration by the North American population was 74. 2 percent in 2009, which was a 134 percent increase from 2000. At this rate, Netflix could secure an internet rental customer base of 74. 2 percent which would strengthen its success (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2009) Blockbuster’s biggest challenge is development of a viable strategic approach to price setting. When Netflix entered the game, Blockbuster began to lose profits. In an attempt to recoup some of its losses, Blockbuster presented campaign where the rental policy constantly changed leaving customers confused and unsure of the rental process. Although Blockbuster has a large selection of movie titles and global presence, its reputation of dissatisfied customers and inefficient distribution has caused its overall cost to rise significantly. Blockbuster’s competitive advantage is that it offers various channels by which customers can access entertainment media. According to Blockbuster, â€Å"The same customer can choose different ways to access media entertainment on different nights† (Blockbuster, 2010). Recommendations In order for Netflix to maintain its competitive advantage there must be an adjustment of their strategy. Customer satisfaction should be a key factor of its strategy. I recommend that they base their marketing promotions on increasing customer awareness of the variety of accessible content offered. They should also implement the availability of music content and digital media to their library. The development of an award program for customers with lengthy memberships would influence word of mouth recommendations. Most of all, Netflix must continue to offer their customers the benefit of more titles at modest cost subscription memberships. In order for Blockbuster to regain its competitive advantage and reputation there must be the development of a strategy that will increase their profit. They have to become more innovation in internet and in-store rental process. There should be monitoring devices placed on scanner registers and mailed movie rentals to better track returns in order to keep their cost at a minimum. Staff should be trained and monitored on a constant basis to ensure that customer satisfaction is the key priority. Blockbuster must implement policies that will be enforced and understood by customers. They should also team up with gaming system producers to ensure that they will be supplied with current games and possibly offer gaming system rentals. Most of all they should find their own niche market which will provide them with a specialized competitive advantage. The information researched on Netflix and Blockbuster has enabled me to conclude that competition in the movie rental industry is highly competitive. There are new companies entering the market that have a competitive advantage whether it consist of internet rental, vending machine rental access, or in-store rental access. Netflix and Blockbuster have taken the lead in providing thousands of movie title to be viewed in the comfort of our own homes without the expense of movie theatres. Although both companies have a competitive advantage, they each have a following of dedicated customers who will stay with them because of familiarity. Through my research I have learned that consumers are the controllers in the movie rental industry. If consumers dislike the way they are serviced or the cost of movie rentals they will most certainly move on to a company which will cater to their movie wants and needs. However, the movie rental industry must stay up on new innovations and technologies in order to remain competitive, profitable, and maintain modest levels of overall costs.

Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation for Individuals with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain essays

Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation for Individuals with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain essays This article on the multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of musculoskeletal pain was of particular interest to me. In my practice, I deal with many patients who have chronic pain. Sometimes the pain the experience is an element of physical disease. Sometimes the pain is an element of psychosocial distress. Often times my severely depressed patients present which chronic pain issues. Depending on the patients insight into his or her disease, it may be easy to address the psychological elements of pain. Other times, patients seek relief via escalating doses of narcotic pain medication, whether prescribed or illicit, in an attempt to numb the pain, caring little from where the pain comes. There is often times a disconnect between me and the patients medical provider regarding treatment, so an article which recommended a multidisciplinary approach was of specific interest to me. In this article, it was noted that in more than 90% of the cases of chronic musculoskeletal pain there can be identified no organic reason for the pain. The researchers identified several associated secondary stressors with chronic pain such as unemployment, interpersonal problems, sleep disruption and psychosocial disruption. Depression and anxiety were noted to be the most common psychological problems associated with chronic pain. These mood issues can also effect the patients perception of the disease in their present life. Anxiety related to pain can often be traced to the patients fear that the pain represents an underlying element on ongoing damage to the body. The patient may then limit activity, fearing harming the body further. In this study it was believed that the better the patient was able to understand his or her symptoms and the impact of his or her symptoms on daily life, the better the patient would be able to function and remain healthy as possible physi cally, mentally and spiritually. For ...

10 Tips About Basic Writing Competency

10 Tips About Basic Writing Competency 10 Tips About Basic Writing Competency 10 Tips About Basic Writing Competency By Mark Nichol Here are ten areas to be sure to attend to if you wish to be taken seriously as a professional writer. Formatting 1. Do not enter two letter spaces between sentences. Use of two spaces is an obsolete convention based on typewriter technology and will mark you as out of touch. If editors or other potential employers or clients notice that you don’t know this simple fact, they may be skeptical about your writing skills before you’ve had a chance to impress them. 2. Take care that paragraphs are of varying reasonable lengths. Unusually short or long paragraphs are appropriate in moderation, but allowing a series of choppy paragraphs or laboriously long ones to remain in a final draft is unprofessional. 3. If you’re submitting a manuscript or other content for publication, do not format it with various fonts and other style features. Editors want to read good writing, not enjoy aesthetically pleasing (or not) manuscripts; efforts to prettify a file are a distraction. Style 4. Do not, in rà ©sumà ©s or in other text, get carried away with capitalization. You didn’t earn a Master’s Degree; you earned a master’s degree. You didn’t study Biology; you studied biology. You weren’t Project Manager; you were project manager. (Search the Daily Writing Tips website for â€Å"capitalization† to find numerous articles on the subject.) 5. Become familiar with the rules for styling numbers, and apply them rationally. 6. Know the principles of punctuation, especially regarding consistency in insertion or omission of the serial comma, avoidance of the comma splice, and use of the semicolon. (Search the Daily Writing Tips website for â€Å"punctuation† to find numerous articles on the subject.) And if you write in American English and you routinely place a period after the closing quotation mark at the end of a sentence rather than before it, go back to square one and try again. 7. Hyphenation is complicated. In other breaking news, life isn’t fair. Don’t count on editors to cure your hyphenation hiccups for you; become your own expert consultant. (In addition to reading the post I linked to here, search the Daily Writing Tips website for â€Å"hyphenation† to find numerous articles on the subject.) 8. Avoid â€Å"scare quotes.† A term does not need to be called out by quotation marks around it unless you must clarify that the unusual usage is not intended to be read literally, or when they are employed for â€Å"comic† effect. (In this case, the implication is that the comic effect is patently unamusing.) Usage 9. For all intensive purposes, know your idioms. (That should be â€Å"for all intents and purposes,† but you should also just omit such superfluous phrases.) On a related note, avoid clichà ©s like the plague except when you don’t. They’re useful, but generous use is the sign of a lazy writer. Spelling 10. Don’t rely on spellchecking programs to do your spelling work for you, and always verify spelling (and wording) of proper nouns. 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 Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph ExamplesConfused Words #3: Lose, Loose, LossBail Out vs. Bale Out

The Labor Supply and China Economics Term Paper

The Labor Supply and China Economics - Term Paper Example This paper will discuss labor supply in China. It will highlight the concept of wages and employment in the Chinese economy and the outcomes of human resource development. Discussion Wages and Employment in the Chinese Economy The economic transitions that China has experienced in recent years are characterized by the adjustment of wage and employment by private enterprises in order to maximize profits. The government controls the wages and employment of the enterprises that are owned by the state. This is in an attempt to improve the quality of the income for the workers and to curb inflation. The government achieves this through setting a wage ceiling for each enterprise. The wages of the enterprises that are better performing are regulated strictly (Chow 53). Despite the strict regulation of the wages and employment for these enterprises in China, the firms have some influence on the wage and employment. The determination of wage and employment is like a bargaining process with th e social security and labor bureau playing a huge role. In the process, the government aims to lower wage and higher employment while the enterprises aim at reaching huge profits (Chow 53). Collective Bargaining and Its Effects on the Wages and Employment Collective bargaining has been used in many economies as a means of regulating wages and employment conditions. This instrument has been used in China to address the issue of decreasing labor supply, which needs immediate attention. It has become the most important source of strategies for the regulation of conditions relating to wages and employment in countries such as China. The coverage of the bargaining agreements is very high in China with the public sector witnessing the coverage of all the wage earners in all jobs. The private sector has a lower coverage of the collective agreements with this coverage varying significantly between various branches and employee categories. The corrective bargaining agreements contain compreh ensive regulations for the relationship of the employment with the inclusion of aspects that are regulated in other countries through the constitution or various statutes. Trade unions are of great importance in the achievement of the collective bargaining agreements as their importance is not limited to the establishment of conditions in the employment and wage sectors but they are also important in application and supervision of law in the firms. Employees are unlikely to realize their contractual rights in the absence of support from the trade unions (Li and Zax 3). In China, the collective bargaining agreements became the main form of regulation for wages and employment in the 20th century with the first agreements offering price lists for various kinds of work. These agreements became more comprehensive later as they encompassed rules that not only included time but also work rules, work time, freedom of association and peace obligations. The collective bargaining agreements we re at first concluded at the local basis, which covered limited enterprises. During this period, the collective bargaining concept had not been integrated into China’s legal system. Henceforth, individuals were not aware of the legal status and effects of such agreements (Ni, Wang and Yao 19). Macroeconomic Outcomes of Human Resource Development