Rich Dad poor Dad

Rich Dad poor Dad Summary Written by Robert Kiyosaki, ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ is a story that explores one man’s journey from ten cents an hour to financial independence. Unlike many of other children, Kiyosaki had two fathers- the biological poor father and the ‘financial icon’ father.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rich Dad poor Dad specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The author compares the approaches for success that each of the two fathers taught him. He compares their financial intelligence and business skills; qualities that his real father, the poor but highly educated man, lacked. In Chapter 1, Kiyosaki tells of his early life with his friend, Mike, as boys growing up in Hawaii. Fortunately, meeting mikes father changed Kiyosaki’s destiny for he learned of priceless money principles that he applies in life even today. Mike’s father employed the author and Mike in a grocery store where they worked for peanuts. Unsatisfied with the pay, Kiyosaki asked for a pay rise but received a pay cut instead. As the two boys almost ran out of patience for a pay increase, they managed to meet their boss (Mike’s father) only to accept a moral lesson and forgo a pay increase. They both opted to learn the moral of the lesson despite the rich dad giving them a significant pay increase as an option. They learnt the important lesson that, the rich do not work for money; no, money works for them by employing other people to work for them In Chapter 2, the author explains the importance of financial intelligence in achieving financial success. He argues that wealth lies in the ability to identify opportunities and utilize them. He compares the rich and the poor in terms of risk-taking, whereby the poor and the middle class prefer to play it safe and avoid risks. He explains that investing in assets and minimizing one’s expenditure contributes to financial success. The po or on the other hand spend more than they can keep. In Chapter4, the author explains that for individuals to become financially sufficient, minding one’s own business is important. Focusing on nurturing one’s own businesses instead of the employer’s business contributes to financial independence. Another important lesson described in the book is that taxation only affects the poor. The rich avoid heavy taxations through corporations, which offer tax exemptions and protection from litigation. This phenomenon offers an ideal way for the rich to protect their wealth. The author also explains that self-confidence in business and financial literacy involving investments is more important than saving small sums of money monthly. The author also describes the importance of working to acquire skills instead of working for money.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Skills in accounting, market trends, and business laws enable the rich to achieve financial success. The author also describes the importance of education in business and describes the skills such as management skills that individuals need to achieve success. In addition, the author describes the obstacles including human traits that hinder financial success and offers the tips for expanding personal wealth. Analysis The author believes that for an individual to achieve financial success, he or she must strive to own his/her businesses instead of working for employers. He feels that the poor work hard for less while enriching the employers. About financial literacy, the author stresses the importance of accounting and proper management of one’s expenditure as a way of achieving financial success. In addition, the author holds the opinions that individuals should invest more in solid assets and cut down liabilities to achieve financial prosperity. Interestingly, the a uthor depicts the poor dad as well-educated but lacking business skills showing that education is less important in achieving financial success. Later, in Chapter 6, he stresses the importance of education and training to enhance business and investment skills. He also recommends that education make one a better investor coupled with increasing one’s financial intelligence. This contradicts the picture created by the author’s biological dad who was poor despite being highly educated. In addition, the author recommends that financial success can be achieved through employing intelligent and trained minds. The idea that financial literacy leads to financial independence concurs with the story of the two dads. The poor dad is a highly educated professor who lacks financial literacy skills. As a result, he never makes it financially despite working hard while the rich dad, who was financially intelligent, invested in assets, undertook risks, and achieved great financial su ccess. The poor dad emphasized on education as a way of achieving financial success. However, the rich dad groomed the author on business skills that turned out to be important in achieving financial success. Reflection In the story, the author explains that the rich do not work for money; instead, they hire intelligent minds to work for them. In my opinion, I think the rich also need to work to some extent particularly in managing workers and their investments.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rich Dad poor Dad specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, I think the idea of minding one’s own business is a noble one. By investing in assets and businesses, I can become self-employed and avoid exploitative, unrewarding, unsatisfying jobs. In addition, financial literacy is an important lesson for professional individuals. Understanding basic financial skills can help one create and grow wealth. However, the author did not come out clearly on how training or education helps an individual to develop financial intelligence. Conclusion Rich Dad Poor Dad provides vital lessons and tips to the reader on attaining financial success without much struggle. In addition, it outlines the necessity of financial literacy as a vital tool of success. However, it fails to accord importance to training or education. In a scale of 1-10, I would rate it eight.

3 Major Changes Happening in Retail in 5 Years

3 Major Changes Happening in Retail in 5 Years Are you currently employed in a retail position or looking to find one? If so, and you’re in it for the long haul, you can expect to encounter some big changes across the industry in the next several years. This is due to a variety of factors- from technological innovation that’s reshaping how consumers purchase products, to changes in the global economy and individual spending habits. 1. Basic Industry TrendsHere are some of the basic trends that are expected in retail over the next several years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:Retail employment is projected to grow at a rate of 2 percent. This is slower than average, but opportunities will be available, largely due to the high employment turnover that’s characteristic of the industry.The greatest concentration of retail employment will be on the east and west coasts of the United States; the states with the highest employment levels will likely be California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois. Places with the highest annual mean retail wages will likely be the District of Columbia, Washington, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.Industries with the highest levels of retail employment will likely be general merchandising stores, clothing stores, building supplies dealers, sporting goods and hobby shops, and car dealerships.2. Changes in Hiring ProceduresDo your memories regarding the retail positions you’ve held throughout your career involve walking into various stores, completing paper applications, and submitting it to an employee or manager? If so, then you can expect to notice a change in how hiring is done over the next few years. Expect the slow, old â€Å"paper and pen† application process, which often meant weeks of waiting for a response while mountains of applications were reviewed, to be replaced by a more computerized and efficient hiring process- from applying to onboarding and everything in between.Many of the components of hiring are b eing automated and shifting to computers, allowing for a faster turnaround time. Savvy and progressive-minded companies are realizing that satisfied and well-adjusted employees (from day one, when they’re still candidates) are crucial to their success, and are focusing on improving the â€Å"candidate experience,† which means making the hiring process as easy, transparent, and confusion-free as possible. Some are even embracing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen candidates and keep them updated throughout the hiring process faster and better than ever before. The ultimate goal here is for companies to attract and retain the best available talent to staff their teams, which will ultimately benefit their bottom lines and long-term success.3. Growth in E-CommerceThe shift in consumer purchasing and spending habits from brick and mortar stores to online shopping is undeniable- and has impacted every aspect of the retail sector, including job opportunities. As mor e people choose to shop online, expect to see less of a need for physical stores to connect with customers. As a result, we can expect to see a portion of the retail staffing needs of companies shift from in-store employment to online positions, including customer support, warehousing and inventory tasks, and more.Therefore, tech-savvy candidates with computer skills under their belts will likely have the best chances of obtaining the retail jobs of the future. If this sounds like you then you should be in good shape, but if your computer skills need some work then it might be a worthwhile investment to get them up to speed.There it is- a glimpse at some of the changes that you can expect to see in retail hiring and employment over the next 5 years. Use this information to help you prepare for the retail world of the future, and avoid any big surprises. Good luck!

Genetic testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Genetic testing - Essay Example In this essay, I will describe advantages and disadvantages of DNA testing and demonstrate why the test should not be put into practice. Firstly, genetic testing has a benefit of enhancing medical technology. Over the last few decades, scientists discovered more about genetics, which enabled humans to get a better understanding of genes. Running a genetic testing, compared to gene discoveries, would be an articulate evidence of proving how efficient genes are in terms of healing. Also gene tests determine how far we can utilize genes under difficult conditions such as cancer or other incurable diseases. On the contrary, there is a great risk of failure in the test. Despite recent genetic findings, most people are still unaware of the term â€Å"gene† and there are complications in technology with respect to treatment. Even specialists lack enough experience on dealing with ways and problems that are possible during real gene testing. Secondly, genetic testing is a relatively new field in medicine. This is advantageous because it is seeking for a new method since there has never been this type of testing. It also has a high possibility of success in the future. Clearly, genes are the most accurate form of extracting information about an individual’s trait. So, altering the harmful genes into good ones is the most effective ways of remedy. Nevertheless, it is difficult to afford the supplies required for genetic testing. For the genetic testing to flourish in the future, the process during the test should be without any oversights. But, the payment of laboratory, chemical supplies requiring special disposure, and hiring educated scientists, are requirements worth millions of dollars for an average conductor to officially run and examine genetic testing. Thirdly, genetic testing allows humans to have knowledge of the possible diseases and risks they will have

Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman Essay

Compare and Contrast Oedipus the King and Death of a salesman - Essay Example Both plays have got ends that have got tragedies that are followed by accidents. For instance the act of putting the queen to death looks like just a mere twist of fate but it is in fact a catastrophic act that is faced by Oedipus in future. Wily’s death is a tragedy whereas his son’s failure to embark on business is a catastrophe (Cohen, 2003).Both plays draw the concentration of the audience in appreciating the manner in which human behavior can have profound emotions on a person. Oedipus after discovering the truth blinds himself, whereas Willy maintains that his son must become a businessperson even after finding out that his son is not interested in business at all. In both plays, the key characters are portrayed as having heroic qualities. Oedipus is a hero in his own right and there is no doubting that. This becomes evident and clear when he refuses to be victimized at all and instead chooses to remain totally loyal to Thebes people.Willy on other side kills himself for the noble cause of making sure his family is develops. In both plays, the key protagonists are tragic heroes. Both plays represent cultures and lifestyles settings that are completely different. Death of salesman represents a present day tragedy whereas Oedipus represents an old heroic tragedy.Willy’s story is about present day activities like insurance and sales, unlike the story of Oedipus which is told in a traditional setting. In Oedipus, the main protagonist is the king who is painted as a very confident, however the feeling that he portrays of himself to the audience about the real self is quite different. Oedipus on other hand is so full of himself and feels outstandingly perfect(Cohen,2003).Although Willy looks like he was treading on the right course in his activities just the way Oedipus did, he does not live to face the outcomes of his activities like Oedipus. While

The First Day of High School Essay Example for Free

The First Day of High School Essay Right when I got out of the car, I had no clue where to go, I’m accustomed to walking through the middle school doors and going to unite with all my friends after a thrilling summer, but today was different. It was my first day of high school and I was about to go on an adventure. I finally reached my destination, the freshman courtyard, and I walked into my first period class. I sat down, looked around and thought to myself, â€Å"I know absolutely no one! † Then the bell rang and my teacher walked in. First thing that came out of her mouth was, â€Å"So who has their summer reading assignment?! and I sat there in astonishment. In middle school, on the first day, it’s usually all about rules, rules, and more rules! And how the classroom should be, but no! Not in high school. It was more of, â€Å"You’re in English honors, let’s get to work and write an essay! † Well wasn’t that a surprise. Later throughout the day, I finally saw some of my friends and felt more comfortable that there were people I knew. I was starting to enjoy my classes, and I got to know my teachers a little more, but now it was 5th period lunch and Man was I hungry! When I walked into the lunchroom, I stopped in bewilderment on where to go; there were swarms of people everywhere I turned, freshman, sophomores, juniors, and even seniors. There was a snack line, soda machines, and an abundance of tables that filled the cafeteria. You could even sit outside! It was a humongous difference from middle school; we have so much more freedom. Speaking of freedom, did I mention how spectacular it is in high school compared to middle school?! In class, we get to work together and have immense amount of free time; we can also take our phones and iPods out more often. During passing we can have our phones out and can’t get in trouble for it! The best part of all is we can have any  electronic devices out at lunch and we can go to two different places, the media and the learning lab. It is so much more suitable than being locked up in captivity all day long. Some people would expect high school to be stricter than middle school and have countless rules. Actually, it is uncomplicated, less strict and more intriguing. When I was in middle school I still felt like a little kid, but now that I am in high school I feel like I am turning into a mature adult.

Graffiti is a Beautiful Crime Essay example -- Argumentative Persuasiv

Graffiti is a Beautiful Crime Graffiti is a form of art that people use to express themselves and to convey various messages to people in a particular community. In the movie "Graffiti Verite':. One of the graffiti artist explained that his purpose in doing graffiti is that it allows him to "express his anger' on the wall. Another kid by the name of "Jipsie" said that graffiti is a "form of growth". There were several different explanations that artists shared as well as several different reasons why they like graffiti. The common theme among the graffiti artist and taggers was that graffiti is simply a form of self-expression (Bryan). At the end of the film one tagger made a comment and said, "graffiti is not vandalism, but it is a beautiful crime". This comment did not make sense to me. Committing a crime, a hideous act, is not a beautiful thing to do by any means. Graffiti does not mean people can go around and draw and spray paint on other peoples property. Regardless of what types of graffiti are being expre ssed by the tagger, this type of self expression is considered vandalism when people decide to draw, destroy, or violate any persons property without consent. As a result of taggers committing the crime of vandalism, property owners, concerned citizens, and law enforcement officers spend too much time, money, and energy trying to put an end to the unlawful act of vandalism. Looking from the taggers' point of view, one can understand why taggers and graffiti artists draw and do graffiti, but this does not justify the fact that often times this form of self-expression is not acceptable when it is done on other peoples property. Having the opportunity to listen (film, class, talk show) to why taggers and graf... ...erent meanings and different types of self-expression. "The simplified imagery of graffiti has become attractive to certain professional fine artists in various areas around the world" (Philips). The point that I am making is that various forms of graffiti are beautiful and the need to express ones' self is part of what being a human being is all about. I don't see a problem with the reasoning behind why graffiti artists do graffiti and why taggers tag. It becomes a problem when they use other people's property (including public and city property) to express themselves via graffiti and tagging. Work Cited Bryan, Bob "Graffiti Verite'" (Movie), 1996. Epstein, Edward. "SF Takes on Urban Scrawl". San Francisco Chronicle April 1, 1999. A17, A22. Philips, Susan A. Graffita Defanition: The Dictionary of Art. London: Macmillan Publisher. On press), 1996.

Teaching Pragmatics

Teaching Pragmatics explores the teaching of pragmatics through lessons and activities created by teachers of English as a second and foreign language. This book is written for teachers by teachers. Our teacher-contributors teach in seven different countries and are both native-speakers and nonnative speakers of English. Activities reflect ESL and EFL classroom settings. The chapters included here allow teachers to see how other teachers approach the teaching of pragmatics and to appreciate the diversity and creativity of their endeavors. Taken together, the activities constitute a spectrum of possibilities for teaching pragmatics. Each submission provides novel insight into the ESL/EFL classroom and demonstrates that there is no single approach to the teaching of pragmatics. The variety of approaches means that pragmatics can be integrated easily into any classroom, whether traditional or communicative. What is pragmatics? The study of pragmatics explores the ability of language users to match utterances with contexts in which they are appropriate; in Stalnaker's words, pragmatics is â€Å"the study of linguistic acts and the contexts in which they are performed† (1972, p. 383). The teaching of pragmatics aims to facilitate the learners' ability to find socially appropriate language for the situations they encounter. Within second language studies and teaching, pragmatics encompasses speech acts, conversational structure, conversational implicature, conversational management, discourse organization, and sociolinguistic aspects of language use, such as choice of address forms. These areas of language and language use have not traditionally been addressed in language teaching curricula, leading one of our students to ask if we could teach him â€Å"the secret rules of English. Pragmatic rules for language use are often subconscious, and even native speakers are often unaware of pragmatic rules until they are broken (and feelings are hurt, offense is taken, or things just seem a bit odd). Neither does pragmatics receive the attention in language teacher education programs that other areas of language do. Nevertheless, rules of language use do not have to be â€Å"secret rules† for learners or teachers. A growing number of studies describe language use in a variety of English-speaking communities, and these studies have yielded important information for teaching. From the teacher's perspective, the observation of how speakers do things with words has demystified the pragmatic process at least to the point where we can provide responsible, concrete lessons and activities to language learners. We are in the position to give assurance that they can learn pragmatics in their second or foreign language and be â€Å"in the club† of English speakers. Teachers can successfully decode the apparently secret rules for classroom learners. Why teach pragmatics in language classes? We advocate teaching pragmatics because, quite simply, observation of language learners shows there is a demonstrated need for it, and instruction in pragmatics can be successful. Learners show significant differences from native speakers in language use; the execution and comprehension of certain speech acts; conversational functions, such as greetings and leave takings; and conversational management, such as back channeling and short responses. (See, for example, Bardovi-Harlig, 1996, 1999, 2001; Kasper & Schmidt, 1996; Kasper & Rose, 1999. Without instruction, differences in pragmatics show up in the English of learners regardless of their first language background or language proficiency. That is to say, a learner of high grammatical proficiency will not necessarily show equivalent pragmatic development. As a result, learners at the higher levels of grammatical proficiency often show a wide range of pragmatic competence. Thus, we find that even advanced nonnative speakers are neither uniformly successful, nor uniformly unsuccessful, but the range is quite wide. The consequences of pragmatic differences, unlike the case of grammatical errors, are often interpreted on a social or personal level rather than as a result of the language learning process. Being outside the range of language use allowed in a language or making a pragmatic mistake may have various consequences. As the teachers contributing to this volume point out, a pragmatic error may hinder good communication between speakers (Takenoya), may make the speaker appear abrupt or brusque in social interactions (Lee), or may make the speaker appear rude or uncaring (Yates). Gallow points out that maintaining a conversation in English requires underlying knowledge of responses that prompt a speaker to continue, show understanding, give support, indicate agreement, show strong emotional response, add or correct a speaker's information, or ask for more information. Berry discusses the importance of learning how to take turns and demonstrates that listening behaviors that are polite in one language may not be polite or recognizable in another. Unintentional insult to interlocutors (Mach & Ridder) and denial of requests (Weasenforth) have been identified as other potential pragmatic hazards. Left to their own devices with respect to contact with the target language in and out of the classroom, the majority of learners apparently do not acquire the pragmatics of the target language on their own (Bouton, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, Bardovi-Harlig, 2001; Kasper, 2001). What makes pragmatics â€Å"secret† seems to be in some cases insufficient specific input and in others insufficient interpretation of language use. Language classrooms are especially well suited to provide input and interpretation. Instruction addresses the input problem by making language available to learners for observation. Some speech acts, such as invitations, refusals, and apologies often take place between individuals, so learners might not have the opportunity to observe such language without being directly involved in the conversation. Some speech events, such as office hours and advising sessions, are generally not observed by a third party, but closed events need not be as private as going to the doctor, as one of our graduate students pointed out: A person might want to know the conventions for talking to a hair stylist in a second language, something equally difficult to observe! The second problem of input that instruction addresses is salience. Some necessary features of language and language use are quite subtle and not immediately noticeable by learners, such as the turns that occur before speakers actually say â€Å"goodbye† and the noises they make when encouraging other speakers to continue their turns. Differences in making requests, such as by saying â€Å"Can I? † (speaker-oriented) instead of â€Å"Can you? † (hearer-oriented) might not be immediately salient to learners. By highlighting features of language and language use, instruction can inform the learner. Finally, the classroom is the ideal place in which to help learners interpret language use. Instruction can help learners understand when and why certain linguistic practices take place. It can help learners to better comprehend what they hear (â€Å"What does this formula mean? â€Å") and to better interpret it (â€Å"How is this used? † â€Å"What does a speaker who says this hope to accomplish? â€Å"). A classroom discussion of pragmatics is also a good place to explore prior impressions of speakers. For example, Americans are often thought of as being very direct. As Howard reports, her learners often tell her that â€Å"you don't have to be polite in English. † Instruction provides the opportunity to discuss the absence of some types of politeness markers in English and the presence and function of others that may not be immediately recognizable to learners. As discussed above, the need for pragmatics instruction is fairly easy to document. Recent studies suggest instruction benefits pragmatic development, both in production and comprehension. (For overviews see Kasper, 1997a, and 2001. For a collection of studies see Rose & Kasper, 2001. For individual studies see Bouton, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994). What are the goals of teaching pragmatics? What are the ultimate benefits to learners? The chief goal of instruction in pragmatics is to raise learners' pragmatic awareness and give them choices about their interactions in the target language. The goal of instruction in pragmatics is not to insist on conformity to a particular target-language norm, but rather to help learners become familiar with the range of pragmatic devices and practices in the target language. With such instruction, learners can maintain their own cultural identities (Kondo), participate more fully in target language communication, and gain control of the force and outcome of their contributions. Kondo notes that â€Å"successful communication is a result of optimal rather than total convergence† (Giles, Coupland, & Coupland, 1991). Expanding upon this view, the authors included in this volume point out that exposing learners to pragmatics in their second or foreign language helps the learners to expand their perception of the target language and those who speak it.. The classroom provides a safe place within which learners can try out new forms and patterns of communication in an accepting environment. They can experiment with unfamiliar forms of address, attempt shorter conversational openings or closings than they are used to, or try longer openings or closings that initially might feel too drawn out-just to get the feel of it. The instructor and other student participants can provide feedback. Instruction should allow students to choose how much of the pragmatic norms of the culture they would like to include in their own repertoire. As a result of the activities suggested in this book they will be better able to interpret the speech of others and, therefore, to decide what they feel comfortable adopting. They will also enjoy greater insights into the target culture. Equally important, we believe that students genuinely enjoy learning about pragmatics because it is like being let into a secret! How can pragmatics be taught? We emphasize that there is not a single best way to teach pragmatics. The teaching activities we have included here represent a wide range of teaching styles and approaches. Regardless of method, however, the activities share some important pedagogical practices. Readers will find that 1) awareness activities generally begin the units described in the chapters, 2) authentic language samples are used as examples or models, and 3) input precedes interpretation by learners or production activities. Instruction in pragmatics may utilize the learners' first language as well as the target language. Awareness raising activities can profitably involve demonstrations in the L1 or L1 language samples. Demonstrations may include the use of space, such as where people stand in a line, or nonverbal gestures that accompany certain types of talk, such as shaking hands during greetings or introductions. In Berry's lesson on listening behaviors, students demonstrate active listening behavior in their own language(s) before observing native speakers. L1 language samples can serve to introduce learners to ideas in pragmatics in a context in which they have native control of the language. The samples can also serve as the basis of L1-L2 comparisons, as in Howard's lesson on politeness in which L1 and L2 business letters are compared. All languages have pragmatic systems, and with a little encouragement all learners will recognize that their L1s also have â€Å"secret rules. † Pragmatics is an area of language instruction in which teachers and students can learn together. The use of authentic language samples in this volume is important because, as Wolfson (1988) points out, in contrast to intuitions about language form or grammar, the intuitions of native speakers regarding language use are notoriously poor. Moreover, the use of authentic language included herein makes possible the teaching of pragmatics by nonnative speakers of English. Throughout this volume, the teacher-authors demonstrate many ways to collect authentic language samples on which to base lessons, including -to name just a few- tape recording messages on answering machines, using internationally broadcast English language talk shows, showing educational films, exploring appropriate world wide web sites; and saving letters and correspondence. The presentation of authentic language samples generally precedes interpretation or production activities, thus giving learners something to build on. It is important to take into account the fact that, just as teachers cannot rely on their intuition in teaching pragmatics, neither can learners do so in their second/foreign language prior to instruction. Pragmatics can be integrated into the English-language curriculum at the earliest levels: There is no reason to wait to introduce learners to the pragmatics of a second language. In fact, the imbalance between grammatical and pragmatic development may be ameliorated by early attention to pragmatics in instruction. Kontra's lesson shows how pragmatics can be introduced to learners even at beginning levels. Contents and organization Each chapter has five main sections: description of the activity, procedure, rationale, alternatives or caveats, and additional pedagogical resources. The chapters specify the level of the learners for whom the lesson was designed, the time required to conduct the lesson, resources needed, and the goal of the activity. The chapters open with a description of the activity, followed by the step-by-step procedure for implementing it with language learners. In the rationale sections, teacher-authors review the reasons behind the development of the activities. Applications of the activities to other learners, settings, modes, or areas of pragmatics; ways to expand or elaborate the activities; and caveats associated with the activities are all included. Examples appear throughout the chapters, with worksheets and overheads following the chapters. This book is organized into five main sections. The chapters in each section are ordered according to the level of the learners for whom the lesson was designed, beginning with activities for the lowest level learners and progressing to advanced learners. The first section, Awareness, presents teaching activities that focus on raising learners' awareness of pragmatic differences between languages. The sections following Awareness offer production activities. The activities that focus on production are organized by the area of pragmatics they address: conversational management, conversational openings and closings, requests, and daily life. Conversational Management includes activities that address the mechanics of conversation, such as turn taking, active listening, relevant short responses, and using hesitation markers. Conversational Openings and Closings deals with the boundaries of conversations: how to begin and end conversations both in person and on the telephone. Requests deals with the specific speech act of asking someone to do something. Finally, Assorted Speech Acts presents a variety of speech acts, including complaining during service encounters, turning down invitations, complimenting, and responding to compliments. Finally, the book has an index designed to help teachers find activities appropriate for their students. To make this easier, the index is organized around major features, such as level of learners, type and content of activity, computer use, and nonverbal communication.

Diversity: Culture and America Essay

Beginning with the prospect of the American dream, diversity has been one of the most dominant characteristics of American society. During the nineteenth century, America was deemed a melting pot: a place where people of different ethnicities could co-exist. The idea of people being able to embrace commonalities without letting go of their culture has been the basis of the America that we live in today. This sense of collaboration, which comes with diversity, has created outlets for our citizens and opportunities for those foreign to our country. Diversity is one of the most beneficial aspects of not only America’s history, but its present and future. Diversity is what makes America unique. As said in Mirror on America by Leonard Pitts, â€Å"America is everyone else, a nation composed of other nations, a culture made of other cultures, a history built of other histories.† (Pitts, 82) Pitt’s statement clearly depicts the fact that although America is independent from other countries geographically, the integration of different ethnic groups defines American history. The acceptance of other cultures in America has not only brought over people from different countries, but also their: ideas, beliefs, and opinions. The rewards that we reap from foreign contributions are, but are not limited to, food variety, technological advances, open minded citizens and overall a more tolerant country. America is a place characterized as the land of the free; the diversity in our country is what keeps that statement relevant. Due to the effectiveness of diversity in the workplace, industries and organizations have spent an abundance of time incorporating diversity into their own companies. With the incorporation of diversity in advertisements, employees, and superior positions today’s workplace is more diverse than it has ever been. These implementations of diversity benefit companies by creating a comfortable environment for their buyers, thus stimulating the economy. Although some may argue that companies have not reached the goal of total equality, it has been said that immigrants do have a positive effect on America’s workplace. â€Å"Since the early days of the Republic, talented foreigners have streamed to our shores to till the soil, build industries, and turn the country into a scientific and technological powerhouse. They converted the U.S. into the first global nation, giving us adaptability, an intuitive feel for other cultures, and an innovative edge,† said David Gergen. ( Gergen, 93) In America, we have many immigrants who come here with the hope of becoming successful; those who strive to create a better America by working hard tend to achieve that goal. Those who are able to succeed in their endeavors have provided Americans with the adaptability that Gergen explains. Immigrants have been the brains and ideas of big named, American companies such as Intel, AT&T, Kraft, Google, Yahoo!, and eBay. To understand how immigrants make such an impact on America’s workforce and economy, one needs to think about why they come here in the first place. Immigrants leave their homelands to come to America because they think and believe that their skills will be put to the test. As also said by Gergen, â€Å"Talented foreigners are job creators, not job takers.† (Gergen, 94) Immigrants do bring new ideas and skills which can further create more, successful jobs. Based off of a June 2012 study published by the Fiscal Policy, they report that 18% of small business owners are immigrants. The same report found that among small businesses, for which at least half of the founders were immigrants, employed an estimated 4.7 million people. This diversity benefits America because it puts foreign skills and talents to the test in order to stimulate jobs as well as our economy. In conclusion, with allowing diversity to continue to be a part of America, we can encounter many things other countries cannot. We can continue to accept different people and their ideas to create new jobs and opportunities. We can also accept their opinions to allow America to grow and continue being a strong nation. Last but not least, we can give people from all around the world the â€Å"American dream.† Works Cited Gergen, David. â€Å"A Smart Exception.† Mirror on America: Essays and Images from Popular Culture. 5th ed. Ed Mims, Joan T, and Nollen, Elizabeth M. Boston: Bedford St Martin’s, 2012. 93-94. Print Pitts, Leonard Jr. â€Å"History Tells Hard Stories of Ethnic Clashes.† Mirror on America: Essays and Images from Popular Culture. 5th ed. Ed Mims, Jonas T, and Nollen, Elizabeth M. Boston, Bedford, 2012. 81-82. Print Denhart, Michael. â€Å"The U.S. Needs More Immigrants to Grow the Economy and Create Jobs.† Huffington Post 26 September 2012. Web

Apple Corporation Social and Ethical Responsibility

Apple Corporation Social and Ethical Responsibility Introduction The Apple Corporation is a multinational company that specializes in different types of electronics, among them computer software, commercial servers, phones, and also personal computers. In 2006, Foxconn, one of Apples final assembly supplier in China, faced press allegations of poor working and living conditions. As a result, Apple had inspections conducted at 11 factories. Since then, Apple has conducted supplier audits of all its suppliers.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Apple Corporation Social and Ethical Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper examines Apple’s ethical and social responsibilities and their impacts on its reputation. The paper will further discuss the methods Apple can utilize to make sure its standards on wage and benefits are adhered to, determine the impacts of increased prices of goods on customer purchasing behavior, and provide an analysis o f Apple’s current marketing strategy. Apples Current Position on Ethical and Social Responsibilities In all its annual Supplier Code of Conduct reports, Apple states its ethical and social responsibilities. The latest report elaborated the company’s commitment to openness and transparency, accountability, labor, and human rights, worker empowerment, environment, health, and safety. Ethical Responsibilities Apple has a set of standards that govern its suppliers ethical conduct. The company has set standards to safeguard its workers’ health and well being by establishing safety standards to improve workplace conditions. The company also empowers its workers technically and professionally. In its responsibilities to protect its workers human rights, Apple has put measures to protect labor and human rights. In conformity to international standards on labor, the report limits a week’s work to 60 hours and voluntary overtime (Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, 201 3). Further, the company empowers its workers by providing free educational opportunities and training. As pertains the workplace environment, Apple strives to ensure workplace safety by improving working conditions, offering training on hazards, and working with the academic community (Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, 2013). Social Responsibilities The company commits itself to the protection and conservation of the environment. The report states that ‘we take great care to design environmentally sound products’ (Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, 2013, p. 25). Apple commits itself to ensure that all suppliers conserve the environment: ‘we work with suppliers to make sure they are using environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever those products are made’ (26).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apple has continuously be en fulfilling its ethical and social responsibilities. To maintain its progress, the company conducts audits of all its suppliers. Audit results, published in the 2013 Supplier Code of Conduct reports, indicate that the company has observed its ethics and responsibilities. Audit results conducted on all its facilities indicate that 77% of its suppliers complied with labor and human rights. In instances that suppliers did not comply with the set standards, the company safeguarded the right of the employees and demanded compensation and other necessary actions (Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, 2013). The company has so far continued to observe its ethical and social responsibilities. This can be measured by the following examples of actions taken on suppliers who did not adhere to set standards. The elimination of child labor by Foxconn supplier. The Apple Supplier Code of Conduct (2011) recorded a decrease in child labor cases in its Foxconn supplier. The termination of its business with a facility that presented falsified payroll records and provided misleading interview answers during an auditing (Apple Supplier Code of Conduct, 2011). Impact of the Publication on Ethics and Social Responsibility on Apple’s Reputation Although Apple has suffered press allegations and NGO criticism on its practices, it is highly ranked by its customers. The fact that, in a survey on Corporate Reputation and Social Responsibility Rankings (2010) in U.S Apple was rated six by consumers, pertains its social responsibility. Its diversity of products also made it difficult for its consumers to adapt their consumption. This character was outstanding and acted as strength to winning consumer loyalty (Yoffie Renee, 2010). A report by Students Scholars against Corporate Misbehavior found that publication of suicide in Foxconn in 2010 by various media houses and blogs did not have any effect on Apple’s revenue levels (Workers as Machines: Military Management in Foxconn, 2010, para.2). Another indication that the company’s reputation was not affected was the launch of a new product, the iPhone 4 less than four months after the publications. The product’s uniqueness and functions led to huge sales (Diaz, 2010). The launch of the new product into the market sold the masked news on the harsh living and working conditions of workers who designed the products.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Apple Corporation Social and Ethical Responsibility specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Suppliers adherence to wage and benefits standards In its commitment to safeguarding its standard on wage and benefits, the company can apply the following methods to ensure that its suppliers adhere to stated standards. Application of compliance monitoring Although an audit is conducted annually, several compliance checks would be necessary to ensure that the company’s regulations are followed. The application of announced and unannounced compliance monitoring will keep its suppliers at its toes and ensure that it complies with all stated regulations. Introduction of strict penalties Application of heavy penalties would make sure that suppliers pay their employees’ wages and benefits. Companies that do not want to be penalized would make sure that they adhere to the stated rules. In cases of gross misconduct, the company could terminate its services with the retailer completely by giving them a grace period with assurance or termination of services. No supplier would want to lose their contract. Impact of Increase in Products Price to Customers I believe that the increase in the price of products would not affect computer buying trends largely. The company has so far managed to meet the consumer demands of the public. The uniqueness and advancement of products have led to the creation of loyalty among consumers. Thus, it caters for consumer needs in the ma rket, a factor that makes it outdo other companies. With innovation, Apple can easily apply the value culture to its targeted customer. According to this culture, when customers are satisfied with a certain product, they would be willing to pay more for the perceived value of the product. As a matter of fact, with innovations, I strongly believe that the company would increase the selling price of its products to improve the remuneration of its members of staff. Apple can apply the philosophy of value culture versus cost culture. This philosophy does not necessarily consider what is thought as fair, but what is competitively achievable, and especially for goods sold at a high price and relatively lower value of products made (Sethi, 2012). Consequently, I believe that despite the competition, Apple is capable of setting new unequaled standards and price that perfectly suits its target class and at the same time generates revenue and increases the wages of its members of staff.Advert ising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apple’s Current Marketing Strategy Apple does not rely on media advertisements marketing strategy. Its greatest market strategy is based on selling value and not the price. The product itself acts as a marketing tool and work of mouth on the goodness of the product is all that markets products from Apple. Marketing strategies employed include: Branding Apple has employed the use of emotional and hopeful messages to promote consumer perceptions of its brand. The Company employs advertisements that bring out peoples’ emotions. The color and presentation of their products make people want to be connected with the company. The brand represents a lifestyle, innovation, dreams, and technology power that makes many people want to relate to Apple. Quantity versus Quality The company’s approach to quality, seen in varieties of commodities in the market, remains more quality and less in quantity. Apple’s ability to innovate and sustain varieties of its products to cater to consumer needs is seen as the ingestion of its products rise. They have different products offering almost the same services. A person would be spoilt for choice in buying an iPod, iPad, or iTunes. Innovation Through its innovativeness, Apple creates a competitive environment for its rivals. The company invests in time, packaging their products. They make sure that designing and packaging is impressive and satisfactory. This has led to the introduction of impressive products into the market that would make one not think about their prices but the quality and service. Consumer Needs Another marketing strategy employed by the company is considering customers’ needs and creating a communication to cater for their needs using innovative products. Apple combines the striking jargons for those who prefer, but they go beyond that and focus more on the beneficial outcomes than the customer. For instance, they do not just show catchphrases like ‘glass that it edge to ed ge’ retina and so on, but their presentation is more of captivating to learn not to fear. Recommendations To improve its competitive environment in the global market, Apple needs to make a more user-friendly application system. Applications that can run with its operating system can only be downloaded from an application store. This makes its users lack the choice of varieties. Its introduction would encourage the use of different applications of its products. Android, Apple’s competitor, has products that have more distribution channels, making their products more user-friendly in terms of accessing applications. The company should also strive to eradicate the anti-capitalist idea associating its products at high prices. This can be accomplished by introducing the production of cheap and quality merchandise. The achievement will cater to all groups of interests in the market. Android, a vital competitor in the market, has products retailing at from 65$ to 500$. Androi d has created a general impression in the society that the company recognizes all groups of people. As a result, it serves people from different economic capabilities. Conclusion Apple’s achievements root in their competence in innovativeness. This has led to consumer satisfaction. The company offers products that cater to the technology needs of the existing marketplace. The originality of their products also increases consumer consumption rates. Originality also makes consumers increase their confidence in the company’s quality of merchandise. References Apple Supplier Responsibility: 2011 Progress Report. (2011). Web. Apple Supplier Responsibility: 2013 Progress Report.(2013). Web. Corporate Reputation and Social Responsibility Rankings. (2010). Web. Diaz, J. (2010).â€Å"iPhone 4: The Definitive Guide.† Web. Sethi, P. (2012). Two Faces of Apple. Web. Workers as Machines: Military Management in Foxconn. Students Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior. (2010) . Web. Yoffie, B. Renee, K. (2010). Apple Inc. in 2010. Web.

Collecting and Preparing a Sycamore Seed for Planting

Collecting and Preparing a Sycamore Seed for Planting The American sycamore tree flowers in spring and completes seed maturity in the fall. Ending the maturation process as early as the first of September and continuing through November, the sycamore seeds ripen and are ready for collection and preparation for planting. The fruiting head is persistent and will delay seed drop out of the fruiting ball until January through April. The best time to collect the fruiting balls or heads, usually directly off the tree, is just before they begin to break up and the hairy-tufted seeds start falling. Easier picking is after the fruiting head turns brown but waiting to just after leaf fall. Because these seed heads are persistent on limbs, collections can be made into the next spring and usually make sycamore the last fall-maturing species to be collected in the Eastern forest. The California sycamore matures much earlier and should be collected during the fall season. Collecting Sycamore Seed for Planting Picking fruit heads by hand from the tree is the most common method of collection. At the northern and western limits of the range of sycamore, intact heads can sometimes be found and collected off the ground late in the season. After collecting these fruiting bodies, the heads should be spread in single layers and dried in well-ventilated trays until they can be broken apart. These heads can look dry on collection but layering and venting are essential, especially with fruit heads that are collected early in the season. Early ripening seed can have moisture contents as high as 70%. Seeds from each head should be extracted by crushing the dried fruit heads and removing the dust and fine hairs that are attached to the individual achenes. You can easily do small batches by hand-rubbing through hardware cloth (2 to 4 wires/cm). When doing larger batches, it is advised to wear dust masks as the fine hairs that are dislodged during extraction and cleaning are a danger to respiratory systems. Preparing and Storing Sycamore Seed for Planting Seeds of all sycamore species do just fine in similar storage conditions and can be easily stored for long periods under cold, dry conditions. Tests with sycamore seed have shown that at moisture contents of from 5 to 10% and stored at temperatures of 32 to 45  °F, they are suitable for storage for up to 5 years. American sycamore and naturalized London plane-trees have no dormancy requirements and pre-germination treatments are usually not required for adequate germination. Germination rates of California sycamore do increase from moist stratification storage for 60 to 90 days at 40 F in sand, peat, or sandy loam. To maintain low seed moisture under moist storage conditions, the dried seeds must be stored in moisture-proof containers, such as polyethylene bags. The rate of germination can be easily tested on wet paper or sand or even in shallow dishes of water at a temperature of around 80 F over 14 days. Planting Sycamore Seed Sycamores are naturally sown in the spring and you should mimic those conditions. Seeds should be placed in soil no deeper than 1/8 inch with each seed about 6 to 8 inches apart for proper spacing. Small, shallow starter trays with potting soil can be used to start the new trees and adequate soil moisture must be  maintained and trays placed under indirect light. Germination will take place over approximately 15 days and a 4 seedling will develop in less than 2 months under optimal conditions. These new seedlings then need to be carefully removed and transplanted from trays to small pots. Tree nurseries in the United States typically outplant these seedlings at one year from germination as bare root seedlings. Potted trees can go for several years before re-potting or planting in the landscape.

Connection journal about food webs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Connection journal about food webs - Essay Example At the bottom of any food chain are producers. These are the food makers, that is, they have food production ability. These are primarily plants, which convert light energy into food through photosynthesis (Basic ecological concepts, 1). Next after producers are the primary consumers. These are the organism, low on the food chain, which depends on the producers for survival. These organisms include grazers, and herbivores. After primary consumers follow the secondary consumers. These organisms feed on the primary consumers. At the top of the food chain are the tertiary consumers that feed on the primary consumers in the food chain. They include carnivorous animals. In a food web, a delicate balance exists between organisms at the different levels (Basic ecological concepts, 1). The tertiary consumers at the top of the food chain cannot survive without the producers at the bottom. Likewise, the absence of secondary consumers would result in an imbalance of the food chain, with the death of tertiary consumers. The primary consumers would also increase at a high rate, which would put pressure on the producers, depleting them. Therefore, a balance of organisms at every level of the feeding chain is important and must be maintained. Just like the removal of a level, the increase or decrease of organisms in a level offsets the balance of the whole ecosystem. Removal of the producers kills the whole ecosystem. Increase in any other level of the food chain results in a decrease in the level below it, and a corresponding increase in the level above it due to increased consumers and food respectively. The highest level must be at minimum to have adequate food supply (Basic ecological concepts, 1). Further, the lowest level must be at all high to ensure adequate food supply to the system, forming an energy pyramid (Basic ecological concepts,