Author Main Goal ACT English Questions

Author Main Goal ACT English Questions SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Generally, ACT English tests two things: grammar and reading comprehension. Author main goal is a specific type of reading comprehension question that appears frequently on the ACT. Having a systematic approach to correctly answer these questions will boost your score and help you maximize your limited time to complete the ACT English section. Read this article for a thorough explanation of and guidance on how to figure out author main goal questions. In this post, I'll do the following: Define author main goal questions. Provide example questions from actual ACTs. Explain the process to answer specific author main goal questions. Provide general strategies for answering author main goal questions. General Construction of Author Main Goal Questions Author main goal questions are all presented in the same way, displayed bleow. Knowing the type of question you are being asked will help you to be able to answer it. Suppose the writer had intended to write an essay about (something). Would this essay fulfill that goal? A. Yes, because... B. Yes, because... C. No, because... D. No, because... As you can see, these questionsrequire you to understand the main idea of the passage. To answer them, you first have to determine if the main idea matches the intended main idea that's presented in the question. Then, you have to determine why the passage fulfills the author's intended purpose or why it doesn't. Now, let's take a look at specific author main goal questions from actual ACTs. Real Examples of Author Main Goal Questions Here are examples of three different author main goal questions from the ACT English section. You'll notice that all of the questions have the same construction. Example #1: Example #2: Example #3: Now that you can recognize an author main goal question, I'll teach you the process to correctly answer any author main goal question you may encounter on the ACT. The arrow should be pointing down. Strategy for Answering Author Main Goal Questions On the ACT English section, always save the main idea questions for last. After doing the other questions, you should be able to more quickly determine the main idea and have a better sense of what the passage is about. Luckily, these questions are normally at the end of a passage's set of questions. Remember that time is precious on this test, so we want to make sure that we have a strategy for approaching these questions that will be as efficient as possible. I believe that following these steps will help you maximize your time and arrive at the correct answer. Step #1: Determine the Main Idea So, how do you determine the main idea? Well, you should not reread the entire passage. Doing so will take way too much time, and it isn't necessary. If you're unsure about the main ideawhen you begin to tackle an author main goal question I recommend usingthe following strategiesto quickly and efficiently identifyit: Look at the Title The title often gives an indication about the scope or focus of the passage, allowing you to more easily determine the main idea. In Example #1 from above, the title is "An American Griot". Therefore, we know the focus will be on a griot from America. The passage defines a griot so we can incorporate that information in determining the main idea. Sentence #6 in the passage from the first example question provides the definition of a griot: Indeed, she identifies strongly with the griots of West Africa- those village storytellers where they use songs, poems, and narration to help preserve and transmit culture and history. So, based on the title,we know that the passage is about an American storyteller. However, what should you do if you're still unsure about the main idea? If the Title Doesn't Give You the Main Idea, Reread the First Few Sentences of the Passage Here are the first couple of sentences from Example #1: [1] When storyteller Mary Carter Smith practices her art and everybody listens. [2] Wearing a brightly colored African dress, a large turban, and bracelets, the seventy-eight-year-old Smith seems to inhabit each of the different characters she describes. Given these two sentences and the title, we know that the passage is about an American woman named Mary Carter Smith who does a specific type of storytelling. In very rare instances, you may have to read more if you're still unsure of the main idea. Main ideas can also be found in the concluding paragraph or in the introductory sentences of other paragraphs. Remember, though, that you want to find the main idea of the whole passage. Just because something is mentioned in the passage doesn’t make it the main idea. After identifying the main idea, this is the next step: Step #2: Look at the Question Again Here's our question from Example #1: At this point we know the main idea and can use that information to answer the question. Identifying the main idea enables you to very quickly answer the first part of the question. Step #3: Start With Just the Yes or No Portion of the Question In our example, if we know that the focus of the essay is on Mary Carter Smith, who does a specific type of storytelling, would the essay fulfill a goal of focusing on the various ways that storytelling influences community values? No. Even though the ways that storytelling influences community values can be part of this essay, that’s not the focus. The focus is on Mary Carter Smith. After correctly answering the first part of the question, you have at least a 50% chance of getting the question right. Step #4: Eliminate the Two Choices that State â€Å"Yes† if You Know the Answer is â€Å"No," and Vice Versa In our example, we can immediately get rid of A and B. Now we're left with only two answer choices. All we have to do is determine why the passage doesn't fulfill the author's intended goal. Step #5: In Your Own Words, State Why "Yes" or Why "No" I would say that this essay wouldn't fulfill the goal of focusing on ways that storytelling influences community values because it focuses on Mary Carter Smith and her storytelling. Now that we have a reason, we can select the answer to the question. Step #6: Pick the Answer Choice That Most Closely Matches Your Reasoning Answer choice D most closely matches our reasoning. It's the only â€Å"No† answer choice that mentions that the essay focuses on a specific person, Mary Carter Smith, and her storytelling. While this may seem like a lot of steps, this whole process should take less than a minute, and these main idea questions typically take longer to answer than the sentence/paragraph reference questions in ACT English. Let's go through this process again with another author main goal question from an actual ACT. Unlocking the mystery of author main goal questions Another Actual ACT Example This is a real question from a real ACT. Check it out. First, we'll determine the main idea. The title of the passage is "Notes From Underground". From the title, we do know that the focus is about something underground. However, the title tells us little else, so we'll have to read the first couple of sentences. Here they are: A lot of people hate to ride the New York City subways, but I love them because I like to get places fast. A musician balancing a cello case, two Buddhist monks in saffron robes, and a group of stockbrokers in crisp, charcoal gray suits get on at Wall Street. Just from the first two sentences we know that the narrator loves the subway because it’s fast and there are many different types of people who ride it. After answering the other non-main idea questions, you would have probably noticed that the paragraphs are about the various people the narrator encounters on the subway. There's no mention of how economical the subway is in the introductory paragraph, so the focus is not that the subway is New York City’s most economical means of public transportation. Therefore, the answer is â€Å"no." Immediately, we can get rid of A and B. In our own words, the passage isn't about the subway being the most economical means of public transportation because it focuses on the author’s description of the many types of passengers on the subway and his encounters with them. Finally, we'll look at C and D to determine which answer choice most closely matches our own reasoning. Answer choice D is definitely incorrect. From the title and the first couple of sentences, we know that author is focusing on subways. Answer choice C matches our reasoning and is the correct answer. Let's review the process for answering author main goal questions. Quick Review of General Strategies for Author Main Goal Questions #1: Determine the Main Idea #2: Use the Title and the First Couple of Sentences to Determine the Main Idea #3: Answer "Yes" or "No" First #4: Eliminate the Two "Yes" or "No" Answers #5: Provide Your Own Reason for "Yes" or "No" #6: Pick the Answer Choice that Most Closely Matches Your Own Reasoning At this point, you should be much more comfortable with author main goal questions and one step closer to total ACT domination! What's Next? If you want to learn about another type of reading comprehension question on the ACT English section, check out this post on author technique. Also, as you continue your preparation for the ACT, you most definitely want to read these articles on the best ACT prep books and learn from a perfect scorer about how to get a perfect score on the ACT. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this English lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

The Chaco Road System - Southwestern Americas Ancient Roads

The Chaco Road System - Southwestern America's Ancient Roads One of the most fascinating and intriguing aspects of Chaco Canyon is the Chaco Road, a system of roads radiating out from many Anasazi  Great House sites such as Pueblo Bonito, Chetro Ketl and Una Vida, and leading towards small outlier sites and natural features within and beyond the canyon limits. Through satellite images and ground investigations, archaeologists have detected at least eight main roads that together run for more than 180 miles (ca 300 kilometers), and are more than 30 feet (10 meters) wide. These were excavated into a smooth leveled surface in the bedrock or created through the removal of vegetation and soil. The Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) residents of Chaco Canyon cut large ramps and stairways into the cliff rock to connect the roadways on the ridgetops of the canyon to the sites on the valley bottoms. The largest roads, constructed at the same time as many of the Great Houses  (Pueblo II phase between AD 1000 and 1125), are: the Great North Road, the South Road, the Coyote Canyon Road, the Chacra Face Road, Ahshislepah Road, Mexican Springs Road, the West Road and the shorter Pintado-Chaco Road. Simple structures like berms and walls are found sometimes aligned along the courses of the roads. Also, some tracts of the roads lead to natural features such as springs, lakes, mountain tops and pinnacles. The Great North Road The longest and most famous of these roads is the Great North Road. The Great North Road originates from different routes close to Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl. These roads converge at Pueblo Alto and from there lead north beyond the Canyon limits. There are no communities along the roads course, apart from small, isolated structures. The Great North Road does not connect Chacoan communities to other major centers outside the canyon. Also, material evidence of trade along the road is scarce. From a purely functional perspective, the road seems to go nowhere. Purposes of the Chaco Road Archaeological interpretations of the Chaco road system are divided between an economic purpose and a symbolic, ideological role linked to ancestral Puebloan beliefs. The system was first discovered at the end of the 19th century, and first excavated and studied in the 1970s. Archaeologists suggested that the roads main purpose was to transport local and exotic goods inside and outside the canyon. Someone also suggested that these large roads were used to quickly move an army from the canyon to the outlier communities, a purpose similar to the road systems known for the Roman empire. This last scenario has long been discarded because of the lack of any evidence of a permanent army. The economic purpose of the Chaco road system is shown by the presence of luxury items at Pueblo Bonito and elsewhere in the canyon. Items such as macaws, turquoise, marine shells, and imported vessels prove the long distance commercial relations Chaco had with other regions. A further suggestion is that the widespread use of timber in Chacoan constructionsa resource not locally availableneeded a large and easy transportation system. Chaco Road Religious Significance Other archaeologists think instead that the main purpose of the road system was a religious one, providing pathways for periodic pilgrimages and facilitating regional gatherings for seasonal ceremonies. Furthermore, considering that some of these roads seem to go nowhere, experts suggest that they can be linkedespecially the Great North Roadto astronomical observations, solstice marking, and agricultural cycles. This religious explanation is supported by modern Pueblo beliefs about a North Road leading to their place of origin and along which the spirits of the dead travel. According to modern pueblo people, this road represents the connection to the shipapu, the place of emergence of the ancestors. During their journey from the shipapu to the world of the living, the spirits stop along the road and eat the food left for them by the living. What Archaeology tells us About the Chaco Road Astronomy certainly played an important role in Chaco culture, as it is visible in the north-south axis alignment of many ceremonial structures. The main buildings at Pueblo Bonito, for example, are arranged according to this direction and probably served as central places for ceremonial journeys across the landscape. Sparse concentrations of ceramic fragments along the North Road have been related to some sort of ritual activities carried out along the roadway. Isolated structures located on the roadsides as well as on top of the canyon cliffs and ridge crests have been interpreted as shrines related to these activities. Finally, features such as long linear grooves were cut into the bedrock along certain roads which dont seem to point to a specific direction. It has been proposed that these were part of pilgrimage paths followed during ritual ceremonies. Archaeologists agree that the purpose of this road system may have changed through time and that the Chaco Road system probably functioned for both economic and ideological reasons. Its significance for archaeology lies in the possibility to understand the rich and sophisticated cultural expression of ancestral Puebloan societies. Sources This article is a part of the About.com guide to the Anasazi (Ancestral Puebloan) Culture, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Cordell, Linda 1997 The Archaeology of the Southwest. Second Edition. Academic Press Soafer Anna, Michael P. Marshall and Rolf M. Sinclair 1989 The great North Road: a cosmographic expression of the Chaco culture of New Mexico. In World Archaeoastronomy, edited by Anthony Aveni, Oxford University Press. pp: 365-376 Vivian, R. Gwinn and Bruce Hilpert 2002 The Chaco Handbook. An Encyclopedic Guide. The University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.

Why We Crave Horror Movies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why We Crave Horror Movies - Essay Example This is because they contain vampires, serial killers, zombies as well as werewolves leading to a cinematic blood bath. In as much as people, justify reasons for the continuous taste of horror movies there various underlying concerns that drive people to watch horror movies. â€Å"To show that we can, that we are not afraid, that we cab ride this roller coaster.† This forms the first reason why most people engage in horror movies. From this perspective, the continuous appetite for horror movies gets attributed to the fact that people want to overcome their fears and prove their capacity to the whole society. For instance, according to Stephen king, â€Å"It is true that the mythic â€Å"fairy-tale† horror film intends to take away the shades of grey. In addition, horror movies provide psychic belief to people a factor that acts as, a key driver to watch more movies. Subsequently, horror movies, â€Å"may allow our emotions a free rein... Or no rein at all†. ... It is from this perspective that people continue to watch horror movies despite the fears they experience. For example, Dawn of the dead is a horrific movie, which a normal person cannot watch; however, it forms one of the movies people scramble to watch. â€Å"Horror movies offer their teenage male viewers an illicit opportunity to revel in their feminine side. Contesting the claim that horror encourages a sadistic male gaze† it is in this regards that horror movies get popularity by teenage population. The teens as they call themselves like competition and comparison for watching movies. In addition, they like living a life up-to-date with current events leading to events of life transforming behaviors. Based on this reason, an increasing population gets realized towards watching horror movies. As an evidence, to support the argument, teens dress according to horror superstars with the sole purpose of escaping the villain and fitting into the society of horror movie harlequi ns. Subsequently, â€Å"horror movies are due not to whatever psychic substratum the monster represents, but rather to the peculiar curiosity it inspires.† Suspense as literature professionals would call it, is an indispensable device used by movie directors, which keep viewers with curiosity and urge for more. Horror movies are quite threatening; however, viewers always have the quench to know what would happen after killing of a person or horrific animal. Considering the change in movie production, where movie directors produce series movies; suspense continues to appear among viewers. The camera trick in horror movies remains another reason why a glamorous number of people continue to appear in horror scenes. This is because the tricks make the

Logistical issues in the Brazilian coffee supply chain Thesis

Logistical issues in the Brazilian coffee supply chain - Thesis Example is has been facilitated through an in-depth analysis of facts and figures related to production, exports, quality, logistics processes and problems associated with the coffee industry in Brazil. 1. Coffee Production in Brazil 1.1 Production Quantity & Trends Coffee is classified into two types of beans: arabica and robusta. Arabica is cultivated in majority of the coffee producing nations with its share accounting for about 80% of the production. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Brazilian coffee production is expected to reach about 3.78 million metric tons in 2012 (sfgate.com). Based on estimates for the year 2012 and actual figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the coffee production quantities (in million Metric Tons) are shown in the form of a graph below: Figure 1: Coffee Production: Brazil – 10 year trend (Source: Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2012) As it can be seen, the coffee production in Braz il has not changed significantly over the years. While the growth rate has been in the region of 2 to 4% annually, the only surprising spike observed (estimates for 2012) is for the year 2012, where almost 30% gain is expected to be reported over the previous year. It also helps to have an overview of the state wise coffee production in Brazil. Refer Table 1 for the state-wise production. (The values are in million 60-kg bags). Table 1: Brazil’s state-wise Coffee production trend (in million 60-kg bags) Â   MY 2001/02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Minas Gerais 16.20 26.70 14.40 21.40 16.30 23.70 18.10 25.75 21.00 Espirito Santo 9.70 11.50 7.90 8.10 8.40 10.00 10.40 11.80 10.40 Sao Paulo 3.20 5.90 3.10 4.90 3.30 4.90 3.10 4.85 4.20 Parana 0.50 2.60 2.20 2.60... This research will begin with the presentation of coffee production in Brazil. Coffee is classified into two types of beans: arabica and robusta. Arabica is cultivated in majority of the coffee producing nations with its share accounting for about 80% of the production. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Brazilian coffee production is expected to reach about 3.78 million metric tons in 2012. Based on estimates for the year 2012 and actual figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the coffee production quantities (in million Metric Tons) are shown in the paper. According to the research findings the coffee production in Brazil has not changed significantly over the years. While the growth rate has been in the region of 2 to 4% annually, the only surprising spike observed (estimates for 2012) is for the year 2012, where almost 30% gain is expected to be reported over the previous year. It also helps to have an overview of the state wise coff ee production in Brazil. Refer Table 1 for the state-wise production. (The values are in million 60-kg bags). It can be observed that the ratio of Arabica to Robusta is in the region of 70% to 77%. While Arabica is higher quality coffee beans grown at high altitudes, robusta is lower grade coffee beans which can flourish on medium and lower altitudes also. The state of Minas Gerais has accounted for maximum production of coffee, largely on account of its geography. Moreover, it was one of the earliest states to start production of coffee.

Defining Culture Essay Example for Free

Defining Culture Essay How can you define culture? What is intercultural communication? How much does the same language used by native and non-native speakers vary? This paper would attempt to answer. Three sources on the subject matter will be used. These are: Jan Blommaert’s â€Å"How much culture is there in intercultural communication? †, â€Å"Talking a Person into Interethnic Distinction: a Discourse Analytic Case Study† by Volker Hinnenkamp and â€Å"Rapport Management Theory and Culture† by Helen Spencer-Oatey. In the first article, Blommaert focused on what theory or theories in the science of linguistic would be most useful to obtain an accurate analysis of intercultural communication as well as the role to the study of linguistics plays in the study of intercultural communication. The author began the article with the thesis that the study of intercultural communication will pose challenges in the science of linguistics due to two reasons. One of these reasons is that each communication by two parties from two different cultures would have certain features that would make it unique that it would need a specific methodology and theory to be elaborated for every communication that occurs. The second reason is that the study of intercultural communication would need the knowledge of other branches of the social sciences such as social psychology and anthropology for it to be properly analyzed (13). Two concepts were used by the author in order to answer the questions stated in the article. The first is that culture is fundamental in the study of intercultural communication, and the primary cause for communication conflicts that may rise in intercultural communication. The author coined this as the â€Å"culture collide perspective. † This is because when two parties belonging to different culture groups meet, their cultures also come across and eventually collide with each other. One example provided by the author to support this is the conflict present in politics. The author considered this perspective as a crude approach in understanding intercultural communication since this concept follows that intercultural communication only occurs when conflict is present in the process and in order for the communication to be successful; the culture of any one of the parties involved would need to be managed. The concept is also seen by the author as ethnocentric in nature in that it assumes that one culture in the intercultural communication process is more superior to the other. Furthermore, it fails to take into consideration the fact that one or both parties involved will try to adjust to the situation prevent intercultural communication conflicts (Blommaert, 14, 17-20). The second concept analyzed in the article is that culture is incorporated into the communication process, depending on the circumstances surrounding the parties involved and represented clearly and without reservation during the process. This makes culture as not only a vital component to the identity of the parties involved, but the situation surrounding the communication in general (Blommaert, 21-22). Based on the information obtained, Blommaert concluded that the non-objective approach is the most appropriate linguistic method to be used in the analysis for intercultural communication. Furthermore, the study of linguistics in intercultural communication should be able to represent a collaborative accord between parties from different cultures (30). The second article is a case study an intercultural communication scenario between a Turk and a German. The case study aimed to show how communication problems arise when two parties communicate using a language which the native to one party and foreign to another as a result of on how the experiences of each party affect how they interpret the message being sent (Hinnenkamp, 91). According to Hinnenkamp, the culture of an individual affects various aspects of the communication process such as the degree of interaction permitted, how often will an individual will allow the other to respond, what topics to discuss, how direct he or she can be in addressing or questioning the other party, and their obligations in reference to their status. Should any of these aspects are not met; one or both parties would attempt to â€Å"repair† the communication by neutralizing and restoring the normative order as dictated by culture who considers the language being used as its native language. This is most exemplified in intercultural communication when an individual speaks in a language that is not native to him or her where the individual tries various methods like mimicking in order to make himself or herself understood (106, 108). The third article focused more on the reactions of the receiver of the message in a communication process. The article aimed to identify factors that affect the judgment of an individual involved interpersonal communication (Spencer-Oatey, 336-337). Spencer-Oatey defined culture as an indistinct collection of attitudes, beliefs, assumptions and values shared by a group of people which influence an individual’s behavior and how the individual views another’s behavior which has a major impact in scenarios where intercultural issues are present (338-339). Contrary to Blommaert’s statement, the author believes that culture is not always manifested depending on the situation when intercultural communication is present. She stated that on some occasions, certain very deep-seeded cultural traits will manifest itself in the intercultural communication process regardless if the situation makes it conducive or not (340). This is because individuals have the freedom to choose whether to uphold, modify or abandon his or her cultural practices when communicating. Culture, then is not manifested in a single encounter. Rather, it becomes only apparent when patterns in communicating develop (342). She did, however, agree that what goes on in an intercultural communication cannot be accurately predicted (345). In the article, John Gumperz specified the variation that occurs in intercultural communication between a native and non-native speaker are the â€Å"different conventions of communication, different speech styles, narrative patterns, in short, the deployment of different communicative repertoires† (qtd. in Spencer-Oatey, 343). The author concluded the article stating that more research is needed in order to fully understand intercultural communication. Unlike Blommaert who recommended that further research must concentrate in being able to gain an agreement between parties in the communication process to occur (30), Spencer-Oatey stated that in order to understand the process, the research should be continuous since intercultural communication occurs in relationships that have spanned for a long period of time (346). To summarize, intercultural communication refers to the interaction between two parties belonging to two different cultures where the culture of each party is manifested in the communication process depending on the length of time the interaction has been taking place and the situation surrounding the communication activity. Culture was defined in the texts as a vague group of attitudes, beliefs, behavioral principles, assumptions and values shared by a group of individuals that influence their conduct as well as how they interpret the behavior another. Finally, certain variations occur in intercultural communication between a native to the language being used and a non-native using the same language in order to be understood by the other. These variations include mimicking, speech styles and narrative patterns. Works Cited

Themes in Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby Essay -- essays research papers

In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, there are several themes. Some include The death of the American Dream, hope, and uselessness of women. These all are the three most important themes and expressed a lot throughout the story. Even though this whole story might seem like a romantic tale, one of the important theme’s is actually the death of the American Dream. F.Scott Fitzgerald shows this by showing us the people’s greed for money and decay of the moral values. One example that shows people’s greed is the way Gatsby acquired his money mostly from Dan Cody (pg 107) so he didn’t really have to work too hard for this fortune and thus, got in the habit of getting everything easily, and thus, started a chain of drug stores that were not necessarily legal, but he had done all that just because he though t it was the only way to achieve his American Dream. He had distorted the reality and actually thought Daisy would be his after he becomes rich. In the end, when his dreams were shattered, all that he could do was die, and even did. Daisy is another example, she is also responsible for the death of the American Dream. She was a materialistic person, all she ever wanted was luxury and comfort. â€Å"..with Daisy’s suggestion that we hire five bathrooms and take cold baths,..†(pg 133). She said this after they had all reached â€Å"the town† and after she had rejected Jordan’s offer to go and watch a movie because she felt hot. All she cares about is her own luxury. She had also lost all her moral values which is also why she was also why she had a big part in the death of the American D... ...he important themes of this novel. Lastly, another important theme in this novel is the uselessness of wome. Tom and Gatsby were both independent men. They did not need anyone else to survive even though they both fight over Daisy. Daisy on the other hand is dependent, mostly on Tom though. Infact, on one of the first meeting with Daisy, she had told Nick that she had a daughter and that, â€Å"..It’s a girl.And I hope she’ll be a fool-that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.† (pg 21) She, herself, admits that girls are fool. She feels that there is no point of them in the world. That is why she was so upset when she found out that she had a daughter, she knew that her daughter would have to go through the same misery that she had to go through because they are not self made and that is why this was also one of the themes of the novel.

How We Define Ourselves as Humans

How do we define ourselves as Humans? Name: Instructor or Class: September 10, 2009 This paper discusses what it means to be human, and the importance of the human’s responsibilities in life. It is important to fulfill the responsibilities as humans, and to explore all of the options and possibilities that the human’s short life has to hold. Plato saw man's true nature as rational and believed that civilized society must be organized, and civilized life conducted according to rational principles. Plato and Russell stated that to be human is to wonder and explore the intellectual possibilities of life. I believe that this is the correct philosophy on life, and the human race should wish to explore all of their intellectual possibilities and responsibilities. Plato once said, â€Å"Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge. † It is essential to understand why humans are here on earth, and what their responsibilities are. Humans desire to be healthy, happy and to have freedom. Russell said â€Å"happiness of mankind  should be the aim of all actions†. Humans use their emotions to express ones desire and to show others what they want and who they are. Humans use knowledge to live out their life goals and fulfill their responsibilities. I believe that Plato and Russell were correct in their statement, because to be human should be to explore all the possibilities that there are in the world. What would the world be if we did not try to understand life, and to make the most of oneself? Since the beginning of civilization, man has always been provoked and motivated by the need to make progress and development. This necessity has led to great advancement in technology and how the human race lives day to day. If humans did not have this motivation, they might all be cavemen living outdoors hunting for food and water. What would the earth be like if Thomas Edison was no motivated to create the light bulb? What would the world be like if people did not have the motivation to develop our basic necessities of everyday life? The â€Å"what if† questions could be endless in this topic, but the main explanation here is that humans have the need and responsibility to develop. Humans were made to wonder and explore life. The possible objections to Plato and Russell’s theory would be that humans are to live life under restrictions and follow what we are told to do. Some may say that the consequences of human actions may deplete our resources and kill off the human race. My rebuttal for this, is what if humans did not try? If someone did not try to make the world the best and strive for the best, humans might not have survived as long as they have. It is possible that without the technology that they have explored and created, the human race would not have made it this far and become extinct. For the people who strictly believe that the other philosopher’s statements that the instructor has allowed us to view are the only form of truth, are forcing humans to limitations. They say that humans must follow moderation and live to duty, which forms some truth, but not all. Humans have never or will never force themselves to limitations, because if they did people would have never created the vast life forms that they have. Humanity would possibly be without power, without running water, and without other every day necessities if they would have restricted themselves to moderation. This is common in third world countries that have not organized and developed themselves as far as the United States and other first world countries. People of the world have obviously agreed to this philosophy with or without knowing, because look at how the lives that they have developed as humans. Humans live day to day full of technology and necessities because the people of their ancestry have explored all of their intellectual possibilities and are striving to do more. In conclusion to Plato and Russell’s philosophy I would like to add that I feel that being a human means to live life to its fullest, be happy, healthy and find unconditional love. To find all of these qualities, the human race has to have wisdom and knowledge. It takes time to fulfill life’s goals and responsibilities, but as Plato once said, â€Å"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. † I feel that over time the definition being humans will change, yet the one part that will stay the same is that humans will always strive for excellence to find happy, healthy lives.

Andok’s Lechon Manok Essay

Andok’s Lechon Manok is one of the longest and most popular roast chicken in our country. This company was started by the so called father of â€Å"Litson Manok,† Leonardo â€Å"Sandy† Javier Jr. twenty years ago. He said that he encountered numerous disappointments and struggles in sustaining their business especially when they have a lot of competitors like Baliwag but he did not give up. He made his business his passion and was very determined to be successful. When he was still starting, he did not have the capital to start a business. He was forced to borrow twelve chickens from his mother’s friend. Unfortunately, he only sold two chickens. His struggles in life inspired him to strive harder and to be a better entrepreneur. He experimented with the different ingredients to capture what we know today as the trademark Andok’s taste. Before, he started with twelve chickens until it boosted its daily inventory to eighty chickens. His business started evolving because he said that he loves what he is doing and he believes so much in his business. Up to date, Javier continues to grow Andok’s with its menu expanding to include liempo, pork chop, sinigang, etc. Andok’s also opened its doors to franchising. Because of their efficient and systematic franchise support, an â€Å"AA† standard for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) has been obtained by their Metro Manila commissary and nominated â€Å"AAA† standard GMP for Iloilo commissary. For the consumer’s better access, Andok’s were strategically located in places where it is visible and accessible from major thoroughfares; passenger terminals of public utility vehicles; community centers or malls; near markets; commercial/ business district; and areas with high foot and vehicle traffic. To maintain the quality of the food being served, all stocks and ingredients will be supplied from the Andok’s production facility pre-portioned, marinated and ready-to-cook. Take-out franchise stores will be equipped with the standard rotisserie machine with hood and stainless steel chimney, stove, siopao steamer, cooking table, Dokito fryer, chiller boxes, freezers and other equipment. Here is the list of awards garnered by Andok’s through the years of service: 1999â€Å"GAWAD NEGOSYANTENG PINOY† Most Outstanding Food Retailer Operator given by NEGO-PILIPINO FOUNDATION, INC.and MORNINGS @ GMA 7 2002 DANGAL NG PILIPINAS BEST SELLING LITSON MANOK â€Å"CONSUMER’S CHOICE ANNUAL  AWARDS† Given by Organization For Peace and Progress Oriented Group, Inc. 2005PRODUCT & SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARDEE â€Å"BEST FAMILY-ORIENTED LITSON MANOK BRAND† PARANGAL SA PAMILYANG PILIPINO In conclusion, Andok’s has been operating effectively for over 25 years. Although a roasted chicken business meets a number of rivals in the market, Andok’s has made its stand to be one of the most successful brand of litson manok in the country. Despite having a lot of competitors, they try to innovate their products, add different products, and at the same time expand their company. They were able to overcome the struggles that they faced and be successful in their business.

Organisational Values case study on Poundland Essay Example

Organisational Values case study on Poundland Essay Example Organisational Values case study on Poundland Essay Organisational Values case study on Poundland Essay Theory Into Practice Project Organization Values Case Study On Poundland Table of content S. NO CONTENT PAGE NO Executive Summary 3 2. Introduction 4 3. A. ) Poundland 4. B. ) Organizational Values of Poundland C. ) Research Question 6. D. ) Research Aim 5 7 E. ) Research Objective 8. F. ) Research Method 9. G. ) What Follows 10. Literature Review 11. A. ) Organizational values 12. B. ) Importance of Organizational Values 13. C. ) Six Organizational values of Poundland 8 14. a. ) Customer First 15. b. ) Keep it simple 16. c. ) Treat every pound as your own 17. d. Recognition and celebration 9 18. e. Individual responsibility for team delivery 19. f. ) Respect each other Methodology 10 21. Result 11 Discussion 14 Conclusion Recommendation 16 24. Reference Bibliography 25. Appendix 17 Executive summary: The report reveals the organizational values importance in an organization. The role of these values in an organization is discussed. The aim and objective of the research is discusse d. The method to achieve the aim is also discussed in detail. Literature reviews were done to prove the importance of organizational values. Six organizational values of Poundland were discussed to prove the impact of rganizational values on individual and personal life . Sampling method is used in this research. Sample data from the colleague is collected from Poundland store and these data are processed. The survey result has been helpful in highlighting the importance of organisational values. The discussion was carried upon the result of the methodology, which was used to prove the necessity of organisational value in an organization. Appropriate recommendations have been given to implement these values in an organisation. Conclusion has been done to state the aim of the research as successfully completed to prove the need for the organisational value in an organisation. The main aim of this research is to evaluate the importance of organization value and why every organization is giving more importance to its organization value. Organization values are an important element in any organization. Before starting an organization, the company makes a clear organization values so the vision and mission of the company is carried forward without any deviation. In this report the organization values are critically analysed and the impact on the employee are also nalysed. The importances of organization values are explored and the impact of the values on the Business is analysed. For this case study POUNDLAND as an organization is been selected and its organization values are discussed in this report. Poundland has six organization values. This report will evaluate the values and impact on the employee and the result on the business. A. ) POUNDLAND: Poundland is Europes biggest single price discount retailer and winner of the 2011 Discount Retailer of the year. It has over 400 stores in the 13K, including Northern Ireland and sells quality top brands and own brand products for all for the single price point of El each, providing customers with amazing value every day. Serving over 4. 5 million customers every week, Poundland is an irresistible shopping experience where shoppers are guaranteed to find over 3000 quality products and over 1000 Top brands, across 17 shopping categories including food and drink, health and beauty, household, gardening, DIY, Pet, Stationery, books, DVDs and toys. With a growth strategy of at least 60 new stores every year, Poundland is again on track to create approximately 2000 new Jobs. B. Organization Values of Poundland: At Poundland, The Company expect every colleague to live the organization values, so it really important that every individual mean by them and know what they can do to show the company that they are up for the challenge. Poundland has six values they are Customers are our business, Keep it simple, Treat Every Pound as Your Own, Recognise and celebrate success, individual responsibility for team delivery and Respect each other. This values had a greater impact on every individual working in Poundland, this motivated in choosing this topic for the research. The real secret ehind the success of Poundland is this strategy of implementing the organizational value in an effective way. C. ) Research Question: This research is dealing with the organizational value and highlighting the importance of organizational values. The report will be fully focused on organizational values and the subject will be within the scope of organizational the business. This report will analyse the strategy of implementing the organizational values will affect the growth of the organization. Discuss the necessity of Organizational values in an organization and highlight the importance of Organizational values. D. ) Research Aim: Research aim is determine the need for organizational values in an organization. The research will also focus on the importance of organizational values and the impact it makes on organization. The aim is to project about organizational values and its importance in an organization. E. Research Objective: To critically evaluate academic and corporate literature in regarding with Organizational Values. To analyse the impact of Organizational Values in an organization and its importance. To examine the benefits that resulted on an organization by adopting Organizational Values. F. ) Research Method: Survey method is used in this research project. Six organizational values where used in the questioner and put across three store of Poundland. Data will be collected and processed and result will highlight the growth in the performance and moral disciplinary of individual in the organization. G. ) What Follows? : This research will continue with Literature review on Organization Values. This chapter will contain the proper definition of Organization values, followed by the importance of organization values. Then measuring Organization values will be discussed, followed by Methodology. The next chapter will follow with discussion to upport the Organizational value in an organization. The conclusion will be followed after the discussion. Literature review: Before moving into the literature review, we need to understand the term called Organizational values. Values are conceptualized as fundamental beliefs and unwritten standards that guide behaviour and Judgment across situation in an organization. Values are defined as fundamental beliefs and assumption that guide individual behaviour and Judgments across situation. Organizationally, values are indicative of the most defining characteristics of an institution. A. )Organizational Values: Organizational Values have long been consideration important to explaining action in and around organization. For instance, organization has been thought to reflect the values of their members, especially their founders and executives. The values must be followed by every individuals, the effective way to implement is that the top management must follow these value. So the values are carried from top to the lower level in an organization. So the action in and around the organization is focused and organization performance. So these values will come into action and the actions are the reflection of these values. These values must be priorities so that even the top management must follow these values in the organization. Organizational Values are a critical element of organizational culture and leadership, impacting both individual and organizational performance. Values have been associated with, for example Job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover, trust and performance. The role of organizational values clearly has a role to play in organization performance. This shows that these values can make an impact on the organization performance. This values also impact on the individual performance eading to organization result. These values have impact on Job satisfaction, if the employee is happy with the organization values and this will reflect on employee work environment. If the employee is comfortable with the organization process, then it will reflect in the employee performance. These values must mould the individual internally, so they all can contribute to the organization growth together. Many organizations emphasize promoting values such as openness, trust, autonomy, initiative etc. This can be seen in their mission, vision, and core values statements that they proudly display. The organization projects their mission and vision statement and their values are given more priority. This values are introduce first to any individuals who are about to Join the organization. Every organization creates their own mission and vision statement and they give importance in implementing these core values in the organization. The success of the implementation depends on way the employees are treated. Since employees are the face of any organization, it depends on them to reflect these values. The core values of the organization is very critical, so the message must be properly design that it may enable a employee who orks in the organization to have a clear picture about the mission of the organization. These statements must be simple to understand and must be powerful. The values must be implemented although the organization, so its followed although the organization. It should be so powerful, so every individual must be follow to achieve the organization goal together as a team. In support to the recent literature review, organizations place more emphasis on community problem solving, neighbourhood disorder, local crime rate and fear of crime as they assess the performance of individual officers. The individual personal discipline is moulded by the impact of the organizational values. Since the individual spends most of his time at work, he is living with the organizational values which internally discipline him. The individual maintain these good values within the community where he shares his time. Some values may influence individuals day today activity. These values reflect on the individual to have a self discipline life. This will reflect on the community where lives and for the people around him. These may enable an individual from eliminating bad behaviour and following good values. This will help the individual to have smooth life in the organization. Since the action of the individuals action in and out are reflected by the organizational values. The organizational value plays a major role in an organization and it is a necessity that every organization must have its clear organizational value. The core values are important since without these values there will not be clarity in organization procedure. As the organizations grow by the period, the individual numbers will also grow in an organization. So if every individual takes their own decision because they ont have any guideline to take decision making. So its necessary to give a procedure organizational value, so all the individual inside the organization will bide with these values and contribute to the organizational growth. Organizational values serve many purposes. It sets the tone of the environment, bonds people together, facilitates work behaviour and achievement of shared goals. It also represent the ambitions that people hold for the organization as a living system because values define who and what each person has to offer as a human being to the overall enterprise. Organizational values have been shown to be critical variables in the decision by firms to adopt environmental initiatives. The first author says that the organizational value set the tone of the environment. The value thus has an influence around the individual making a healthy environment around him and binds people. The second author says that the values are critical element in making a decision to adopt environmental initiatives. Thus the values serve as an important environmental element to set a better place to work in the organization. Thus enabling work behaviour in a healthy manner and achieving the organizational oal together. Organizational commitment is a key construct in organizational psychology and has been defined as a psychological link between an employee and his organization that makes it less likely that the employee will voluntarily leave the organization. The researcher says that the individual have a bond with the organization, since the individual have been influenced by the values. This may result in, that the individual from moving out of the organization. Organizational values more supportive of balance also reported greater Joy in work, less Job stress, greater satisfaction with heir Jobs, careers and family, less intent to quit, fewer symptoms and higher levels of emotional well being. The researcher says that the values make a balance in work pressure and satisfaction. The value increases the greater Joy in work and simultaneously decreases the Job stress in the organization. Thus these result in that an individual finds it hard to leave the organization. The importances of the organizational values are discussed by the researcher. These values make a healthy environment in and around the individual in an organization. Thus result in the individual to have a bond between the employees in the rganization. The values discipline the individual to make a sensible environment to work and have a peace of mind. The values give a greater Job satisfaction and allowing the individual to have less stress at work. The individual have less intent to quit since he or she is enjoying the time they spend in the organization. The organizational values are detail discussed and the importances of values are highlighted. There are numerous values from different organization. For this research six values are discussed in this topic. Poundland has six values and these are discussed using literature. Customers Service: Based on service related literature, the authors indicate that empowerment, service training, and service rewards are positively related to Job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Empowerment is a key factor to enhance Job satisfaction and organizational commitment of contact employees, because thereby they obtain the flexibility to make on the spot decision. An effective training program also affects service providers Job environment satisfaction and also increase their organizational commitment. The researcher says that for better service, and customer satisfaction, mpowerment and service training are needed. It has been found that the qualities considered most important by organizational customers are competitiveness, reliability and adaptability. The supplier must demonstrate an ability to resolve the customers problem. The researcher points the importance of understanding the customer requirement to provide a better service and the adaptability to change to situation. IF the requirement is received an accurate solution can be given and this will increase the customer service. This will promote the brand name, fame and reputation of the organisation. Keep it simple: The organisation always wants it values to kept it simple, so it easy to understand and follow them. The values must be designed in such a way that the least individual will be eligible to follow it without any difficulty. This will result in individual performance and in the environment around him or her. So simplicity of the values is really important, that this can be implemented easily in any environment and effective result can be obtained. Treating organization as Your Own: Treating organisation wealth as your own wealth, this will result in proper maintenance of the organisation. If a loose happens to the organisation, if this value is influence on an individual, he or she will automatically find a solution for the problem and try to recover from the fall. So these make the environment to trust Recognise and celebrate success: Recognition is still an important management tool it is slightly different. Usually it is a non financial award given to employees selectively, in appreciation of a high level of behaviour or accomplishment that is not dependent on achievement against a given target. Recognition can be as simple as giving someone feedback on what they have done right. It is about acknowledging effort, commitment and learning, even if the outcomes were not as planned and it is also about, most importantly celebrating success. The researcher says that recognition is need in an organization; it need not be financial benefit, but to recognise the quality of work at right time. This may lead to individual better performance and making a healthy work environment. There is a widespread recognition that the dimensions of performance are broader than financial performance alone, that financial performance indicators measures and make visible only limited aspects of an organisations performance. The author tells that the financial performances have limitation and recognition have broader scope. Recognition must be done at the right time and the success must be celebrated. So this will boost the individual confidence and enabling him to improve his core competency in future. It is necessary that individual success to be celebrated in the organisation, giving him or her a appropriate recognition. Individual responsibility for team delivery: The value of an artificial system lies in its ability to maximize quality of life while minimizing restrictions on individual human freedoms. Each individual have their wn responsibility in the organisation. If they fulfil their responsibility, these internally reflect on their success in the organisation. Abiding with the responsibility is very important for any individual in an organisation. Respect each other: Respect is a thin concept we qualify for respect simply in virtue of our humanity. All who meet this minimal condition are entitled to an equal share of respect. One important difference between esteem and respect is that while esteem is clearly an important good, we are not entitled to it. We cannot demand it of others rather, it must be freely given if is to be genuine. Treat everyone in the organisation as yourself. Do to other what you want the other to do to you. This will make the environment to have a bond between people in the organisation. Respect denotes the belief that the self is valued as a member of the organisation, which can be communicated for instance by Just treatment. Researcher says that the treatment which is share in the environment must be highly respectable and given more Methodology: A convenience sample consisting of 50 sales assistance, across Poundland. This sales assistance contributes around 75 percentage of the employee in each store. The ample are taken in Area 34 in which the following stores are include, Deptford, Greenwich, Peckham, Lewisham, Eltham, Catford and Woolwich. These sales assistance Jobs are to provide customer service, shop floor filling and maintain the sales. They work in warehouse and shop floor equally. The questioner was constructed using 18 values; the questioner table was based on the value table constructed by . The questioner was classified into three major values such as organizational values, personal values and professional values. In organizational values the questioners contain six values which they follow in the organization uring their work. In Personal values the questioner was design to touch the value that impact on their day to day life. In Professional values key elemental values were listed in the table, this is done to prove the impact of the organizational value on the professional life. The collected data were then processed by the team supervisors in order to check the data from the organizational values. Then the corrected data were taken to the store manager to get the approval that the processed data were correct. In the whole process the individual identification was not revealed. The data related o the individual were collect except the personal information such as name was excluded. The feedback was asked to rated in rank the importance of each value on a 7- point Likert scale (1 = the least importance; 7 = the most importance). Figure 1: Values of three components Results: Sample Profile: The questioner was circulated to store in area 34 and the supervisor was given guidelines to how to carry out the questioner section. A week time was given to the colleague to complete the questioner and return back to the supervisor. The colleague was very cooperative and the questioner was returned successfully. The

Important Facts About Quebec City, Canada

Important Facts About Quebec City, Canada Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Quà ©bec City is the capital city of Canadas Quà ©bec province. Known for its classical architecture and a distinctive European feel, like most of the province, Quà ©bec City (Ville de Quà ©bec) is the second most populous city in the province after Montreal and the eleventh most populous city in Canada. The Historic District of Old Quà ©becs fortified city walls are the only ones of their kind left standing in northern North America, and in 1985, were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quà ©bec Citys Early History Quà ©bec City was the first city in Canada  to be established with the goal of becoming a permanent settlement rather than a commercial outpost such as St. Johns, Newfoundland, or Labrador and Port Royal, Nova Scotia. In 1535 the French explorer Jacques Cartier built a fort where he remained in residence for a year. He returned in 1541 to build a permanent settlement, however, it was abandoned in 1542. On July 3, 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded Quà ©bec City, and by 1665, there were over 500 residents. In 1759, Quà ©bec City was taken over by the British who controlled it until 1760, at which time, France was able to regain control. However, in 1763, France ceded New France- which included Quà ©bec City- to Great Britain. The Battle of Quà ©bec took place during the American Revolution as part of an effort to liberate the city from British control but the Revolutionary troops were defeated. This resulted in the splitting off of British North America. Instead of Canada joining the Continental Congress to become a part of the United States, it remained under British authority. Around this same time, the United States began to annex Canadian territory. The land grab precipitated the construction of the Citadel of Quà ©bec which was begun in 1820 to help stave off the American incursion. In 1840, the Province of Canada was formed and the city served as its capital for several years. In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottowa to be the capital of Canada in edging out Quà ©bec City, which then became the capital of the province of Quà ©bec. Population, Economy, and Culture Today, Quà ©bec City is one of Canadas largest cities. As of 2016, it had a population of  531,902,  with 800,296 concentrated in its metropolitan center.  Most of the city is French-speaking. Native English speakers represent only 1.5 percent of the citys population. The city is divided into 34 districts and six boroughs. In 2002, several nearby towns were annexed to accommodate growth. Most of the citys economy is based on transportation, tourism, the service sector, and defense. Quà ©bec Citys main industrial products are pulp and paper, food, metal and wood items, chemicals, and electronics. As the capital of the province, the provincial government is one of the citys biggest employers. Quà ©bec City is one of the most visited places in Canada. Tourist flock to its various festivals, the most popular being the Winter Carnival. The city also boasts a host of historic sites, including Citadel of Quà ©bec, as well as and numerous museums. Geographic Features and Climate Quà ©bec City is located along Canadas St. Lawrence River near the confluence with the St. Charles River. Due to its location along these waterways, most of the area is flat and low-lying. However, the Laurentian Mountains north of the city offer increased elevation. The citys climate is generally characterized as humid continental but as it borders several climate regions, the overall climate of Quà ©bec City is considered variable. Summers are warm and humid, while winters are extremely frigid and often windy. The average high temperature in July is 77 °F (25 °C), while the average January low is 0.3 °F (-17.6 °C). Average yearly snowfall is about 124 inches (316 centimeters)- one of the highest amounts in Canada.

Haier Global Analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Haier Global Analysis - Case Study Example Yes. It took Haier some time to establish as a quality player in developed markets. But once it has established itself in those countries Haier was able to retain more margins and introduce some products that are suitable for special segments. This has helped in introducing more products with increasing revenues. It also helped Haier to enter into developing countries with an established reputation in developed markets.Yes. It took Haier some time to establish as a quality player in developed markets. But once it has established itself in those countries Haier was able to retain more margins and introduce some products that are suitable for special segments. This has helped in introducing more products with increasing revenues. It also helped Haier to enter into developing countries with an established reputation in developed markets.But it has faced problems in customizing its products to developing markets. As each market is different in its market characteristics Haier has to deve lop separate marketing strategies.Haier has developed its brand as a niche player in developed countries. This makes it to position in developing markets also easier.   The advantage of branding itself as a niche player and continuously maintaining quality will enable Haier to offer its product line at a premium as well as it can increase sales. The reputation in one product will help other product lines as well.†¢ Develop an International marketing strategy as well as standardization strategy.†¢ Focus on R&D to produce innovative products for customization for the local markets†¢ Focus on Brand promotion as a niche player as well as develop good distribution network for developing markets.As the focus on more number of countries increases, there is a need for developing an International marketing strategy. The International Marketing Strategy enables Haier to develop strategies that on a global level. This helps in identifying countries according their importance a s well as their markets. Identify the markets to understand customers according to their preferences. Key Point #2 Haier has introduced new and more innovative products as an entry strategy into developed markets. It has helped Haier to position itself as a quality player. So it can adopt the same strategy to enter into newer markets. There is also a need to develop customized products to several markets apart from standardized products. This helps it to understand its markets well.(fig: B) Key Point #3 Being a niche player as well as a developing good distribution network are key strategies to