Letter Grades †Not Good for Measuring One’s Potential

A letter grade, such as an A, B, C, and everything in between, has long been used by educationists and academia to calculate a student’s educational aptitude. This most basic factor of an education norm has become iconic with pop culture, movies and media all highlighting the power behind these alphabets. ‘She got a D in math.’ ‘He’s a straight A student.’ In short, to quantify the efforts and understanding a student has over their chosen field of study, no artifact of modern formal learning has more staying power than the letter grade. In one fell swoop, an alphabetical letter has the power to open doors and opportunities for you in the future. If one wanted to delve into how these grades are calculated, the situation becomes†¦ a tad bit confusing. Some institutions calculate a student’s aptitude and prowess in a variety of subjects, handing out numerical scores and then converting them to a grade. Some institutes tend to turn these letter grades into averages of letter grades, thereby befuddling and confusing students and their families in the process. ‘He’s got a 3.0 GPA. Can he get into an Ivy League school with that?’ This sort of arbitrariness that accompanies grades is widely criticized. Many people are clamoring about the efficacy of grades in determining how better they are suited for professional life. There should be a fairer and equitable criteria for judging how an individual qualifies for future opportunities, be it playing sports, getting into their college / university of choice or just plain determine if they are ‘smart’ or not. Many parents expect their offspring to score As and Bs in their academic tests because according to them that’s all there is to pursue in life. As the biggest stakeholders in the system, they want their children to perform optimally. However, more people are becoming unconvinced of its veracity as education and awareness about the over-simplified process of awarding grades comes to the fore. People are questioning the system and rightfully so. Education has to be more than doling out stellar grades to a few students. It has to be inclusive and help students explore their strengths to the fullest. This is why educationists are experimenting with new grading systems that give a better perspective on a learner’s potential. Here are some of them: Gamification What if pursuing education was more like a game? That’s where the word gamification comes from. Students could be graded just like they are based on their performance and achievements in the video game. They can be awarded badges, trophies and achievements by completing a certain feat (educationists can determine what these feats are, ranging from downright easy to prohibitively difficult) they complete. Think of it like objectives and bonus tasks in a game. This system is precise and helps uncover the more nuanced characteristics of an individual out. A letter is too simple, on the other hand. Live Feedback Imagine a system where there were no grades or scoring or iteration involved, but a system that would still make students learn from their mistakes and get more attention from their lecturers? Only feedback on what you have done. Verbal and written feedback that serves to help you improve immediately is the core objective here. Instead of waiting for the grades to be calculated and forgetting about your mistakes in all that time, live feedback is more about a hands-on learning experience. Standards-Based Reporting Switching the letter grade for numbers, this method tends to give a much better picture of a student’s aptitude than the over-simplified alphabetical letter grading process. Concluding Thoughts These alternatives to a simple letter grade succeed in painting a better picture of a person’s strengths and weaknesses. A good education is supposed to do just that, to highlight these discrepancies and offer corrective measures to allow students to become well-learned and cultured people who are equipped to deal with life’s myriad challenges. This is how stakeholders get a say in their future, by accurately determining how well they are doing in their scholastic pursuits, anything but a letter grade.

African American Culture Essay - 1025 Words

African American culture contains aspects of both African and European culture at its roots. While there are claims that all traces of African heritage were beaten and stolen through processes of acculturation, I believe that the foundation, as well as a significant portion of practices and behaviors can be found in African culture. Many slaves held on tightly to their African heritage, while a slave culture sought invisibility through assimilating into European American culture. These major influences helped shape modern African American culture. I will use resources provided to me in the form of articles and films to provide evidence of African and European influences in African American culture. First I will explain basic concept of†¦show more content†¦African culture came into contact with European culture largely and most prominently during this slave trade. As this pro slavery narrative of black inferiority among white superiority progressed, African Americans learned to observe their white masters. Upon viewing the punishment endured by fellow slaves, they began to conceal their African heritage around white people. In order to survive, it was necessary to muffle and conceal their emotion, and in other words mute their culture. It is at this point that black masking and black acting begin to become a part of African American culture that is still present today. To understand exactly how this incursion on freedom was so widely accepted, we may look to observations from Jefferson in his â€Å"State of Virginia†. â€Å"All men are created equal† in the context of the slave trade era in North America sounds fatally contradictory, therefore in order to push the pro black slave agenda, Jefferson penned an argument against the humanity of blackness that set in motion a narrative that would continue to form over the next four centuries. Essentially â€Å"all men are created equal† was upheld, but if it could be proven that black pe ople have no humanity, then they are not equal, therefore black slavery is justified. Jefferson argued the difference was biological rather than cultural as in the case of Native Americans, leading to a shift in factors of status from religion and wealth to physical appearance. I think that thisShow MoreRelated Essay on African American Culture2045 Words   |  9 PagesEssay on African American Culture Works Cited Missing African American culture is defined as the learned, shared and transmitted values, beliefs, norms, and life ways carried by this group of people, which guides their decisions, thinking, and actions in patterned ways. The individual in society is bound by rules of their culture. Culture of people are different in that the same events that maybe fear- inducing in one culture, maybe anger-inducing in another culture (Leiningers, 1991). Read More African American Culture Essay668 Words   |  3 Pagessafe to assume that all human beings desire peace. What is not always very clear is what each person means by peace and how it can be attained and maintained. Religion and peace in an African culture have been almost natural companions in the minds of humans in different periods of history and in different cultures of the world. This is because, although far too many adherents and leaders of the different religions in the world have disrupted the peace in the society by promoting violence and warsRead More African American Culture Essay example963 Words   |  4 PagesAfrican American Culture Culture is not a fixed phenomenon, nor is it the same in all places or to all people. It is relative to time, place, and particular people. Learning about other people can help us to understand ourselves and to be better world citizens. One of the most common ways of studying culture is to focus on the differences within and among cultures. Although their specifics may vary form one culture to another, sociologists refer to those elements or characteristics thatRead MoreAfrican American Culture in 1860 Essay769 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿AP United States History African American Culture from the Early to Mid-1800’s Throughout American history, African Americans fought to establish their own culture. Even though they were silenced by white laws and stereotypes, African Americans created their own distinct culture, to a certain extent from 1800 to 1860. By mixing their African American traditions and Christian ideas, they formed a religion, their own version of Christianity. African American rebellions, though small and infrequentRead MoreHarlem Renaissance: African American Culture Essay1181 Words   |  5 Pagesto arise. This movement known as the Harlem Renaissance expressed the new African American culture. The new African American culture was expressed through the writing of books, poetry, essays, the playing of music, and through sculptures and paintings. Three poems and their poets express the new African American culture with ease. (Jordan 848-891) The poems also express the position of themselves and other African Americans during this time. â€Å"You and Your Whole Race†, â₠¬Å"Yet Do I Marvel†, and â€Å"TheRead More African Minkisi and American Culture Essay6248 Words   |  25 PagesAfrican Minkisi and American Culture I. Introduction nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;African Minkisi have been used for hundreds of years in West Central Africa, This area where they are traditionally from was once known as the kingdom of Kongo, when Europeans started settling and trading with the BaKongo people. Kongo was a well-known state throughout much of the world by the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The BaKongo, however, had probably long used minkisi before ethnographers and anthropologistsRead MoreEssay on African American Athlete: Their Role in American Culture3741 Words   |  15 Pagesrole in American history and culture. Baseball provided an escape from the stress and frustration of WWII, a beacon of light during hard times and later helped influence integration. Athletes became symbols of what being a true American meant and many sports enhanced American culture. One of the most prolific changes sports brought to our society was the beginning of racial equality on the field. It encouraged and aided the fledgling equa l rights movement that evolved in the 1960s. African AmericanRead More African American Culture through Oral Tradition Essays3405 Words   |  14 PagesAfrican American Culture through Oral Tradition African American folktales have origins rooted in West African literary and cultural forms of expression. When Africans were taken from their homeland and brought to America as slaves, they also brought with them their individual cultures, languages and customs. However, their white slaveholders suppressed this part of their heritage in them. Thus they had to find other ways of expression, mainly story telling and songs. It is incredible to see howRead More Food: A Link in African American Culture Essay1793 Words   |  8 PagesFood: A Link in African American Culture Four different people, four different lifestyles, all with at least one thing in common—their races (or so we have yet to discover). I began my interviews wanting to show the similarities and differences in eating habits and traditions with the African American perspective in mind. Although race is used as the combining factor in this situation, each individual’s lifestyle, cultural behavior, and even eating habits are all very unique. My intervieweesRead MoreEssay on The Impact of African-American Sitcoms on Americas Culture977 Words   |  4 PagesThe Impact of African-American Sitcoms on Americas Culture Since its start, the television industry has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about African-Americans through characterizations, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the area that has seemed to draw the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s in the 1970s to The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms

Study Guide for the Second Exam Aggregate Production Planning (APP) Free Essays

Study Guide for the Second Exam Aggregate Production Planning (APP) 1. What are the major inputs, constraints, and outputs of the aggregate production plan (APP)? 2. Does APP have to be in terms of a real product? 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Study Guide for the Second Exam Aggregate Production Planning (APP) or any similar topic only for you Order Now Where does APP fit in the hierarchy of plans? 4. What is a pure strategy? What is a mixed strategy? Give examples? How do we determine (judge) whether one plan is better than the other? 5. What is relevant (incremental) cost? Does it exist in accounting books? 6. Is it appropriate for a company, which competes on the basis of quality, to construct a chase plan? Explain and give examples if necessary? 7. What is the major cost (excluding regular production cost) for the level plans? 8. Describe the (computational) steps involved in constructing a level plan? 9. What is the major cost (excluding regular production cost) for the chase plan? 10. What is backordering? It is usually mixed with what other type of strategy? (Hint: The example on the handout. ) 11. Arrange in order of increasing cost (left to right, from least to most expensive): overtime, subcontract, backorder ? 12. Describe the APP strategy (including their competitive priorities) Japanese car manufacturers used in 1980s. 13. All the problems assigned and/or done in class. Concentrate on the practice problems (for the test) and problems on the handout. Do not worry too much about the problems in the book. But read the book. Forecasting 1. Do forecasting accuracy increase or decrease as the planning horizon increases? 2. Do forecasting accuracy increase or decrease as items are grouped (aggregated? ) 3. What is Delphi method? What makes it work? 4. What problems do you see with sales force composite estimate? 5. What is causal (associative) forecasting? 6. What is time series forecasting? . What are the components of time series? 8. Which statistic do we use to choose between two forecasting methods? 9. In using simple exponential smoothing, what do we do if we do not have a forecast for the first period? 10. Which component of time series do we smoothen with exponential smoothing? With moving averages? 11. As a forecasting technique, is exponential smoothing a lways better than moving averages? 12. What happens when we increase alpha[pic]? Are we giving more or less weight to more recent data? 13. In general, do weighted moving averages give more or less weight to more recent data? 4. What is the difference between MAD and MAPE? 15. All the problems (assigned and/or done in class. ) Inventory Management 1. What does inventory do for a company? Why do we carry it? 2. What is dependent inventory? What is independent inventory? How do you plan and control each? 3. What is EOQ? How does an EOQ/ROP system work? 4. What is the relationship between annual ordering and carrying costs? Why? 5. What is ABC analysis? 6. Describe Wheeled Coach’s ABC classification. How do they use it? (Hint: Cycle counting)? 7. What is cycle counting? Why do we do it? 8. Do you forecast the demand for components? Why (Why not? )? 9. Where do EOQ, optimal annual ordering, optimal annual carrying, and optimal (minimum) total (annual) inventory costs go on the cost profile? Know the graph for the cost profile for Exam II. 10. All the problems (done or assigned. ) Also, the computation of the optimal total cost, optimal number of orders per year, order cycle time and deterministic reorder point. 11. What is the formula for the reorder point? What are the two major categories? * MAKE SURE YOU PUT ALL YOUR FORMULAS ON YOUR COPY SHEET * How to cite Study Guide for the Second Exam Aggregate Production Planning (APP), Essay examples

Medical Terminology free essay sample

Medical terminology is a language for accurately describing the human body and associated components, conditions, processes and process in a science-based manner. Medical terminology is important in the medical field because it allows healthcare professionals to interact at all levels and details of the patients can be discussed with ease. The benefits of knowing medical terminology are that one can document faster and easier and communicate faster about a patient’s records and illness. One health occupation that interests me is Physical therapists. I think it would be a very rewarding occupation. Physical therapists care for people of all ages who have functional problems. They oversee physical therapist assistants and aides and they consult with specialists, surgeons, etc. Physical therapists work with patients at having more active and healthy lifestyles, helping to prevent loss of mobility. Physical therapists set up plans with patients, help them set goals for themselves, and in some cases help them achieve their goals. We will write a custom essay sample on Medical Terminology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Physical therapists definitely make a big difference in the medical field. Physical therapists typically work in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, and private offices. In order to become a physical therapist, one would be required to have a postgraduate professional degree. Most programs require a bachelor’s degree for admission and many require specific prerequisites. Some important qualities one should have if going into this field are compassion, detail oriented, dexterity, interpersonal skills and physical stamina. Physical therapy is a very helpful part of the health field.

Analysis and Interpretation of Short Fiction

Toni Cade Bambara and Joyce carol Oates, the authors of the allegorical stories the lesson and where are you going, where have you been respectively describe the epiphanies of the principal characters.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis and Interpretation of Short Fiction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through her interaction with Miss Moore, Sylvia is able to awake to the reality of the socioeconomic class that exists in her community. Initially, Sylvia seems to be happy with her lifestyle but when she realizes her level of poverty, she becomes angry. Miss Moore is a figure that represents the fight for minority like blacks against racism and discrimination especially in America. On the other hand, Connie’s personal experience with a stranger Arnold who forced her to lose her sexual innocence awakens her into the reality of oppression, abuse, and discrimination of women in the society. Besides, th e epiphanies that occur in the lives of the main characters like Sylvia and Connie opening them up to the bleak future in a discriminatory or oppressive society, have comparison and contradictory elements. Sylvia’s exposure and observations about the other side of the town puts her in somber mood while Connie’s personal experience with Arnold puts a permanent mark in her life. Sylvia is a tough, witty, or distrustful Harlemite girl. She is also bright and her trip to Manhattan exposes her to the injustices and discrepancies or inequality in her society. Her hometown is filthy, dirty and only occupied by uneducated blacks who live in abject poverty. Their playground is not safe because it is not only a waste disposal ground but also acts as urinal thus producing a bad odour. Although she is an American, discrimination has divided the society in two diverse worlds. On their way to Manhattan, Sylvia and her friends gape at the dressing and the lifestyle of the whites. Due to cultural differences, she is unable to comprehend why the white people wear stockings or fur coats during summer. At the toy store, Sylvia and her friends become perplexed at the elegant but expensive toys, which cost more than they can afford. Only the children of the white people can afford such expensive toys, which may not live forever. The white community lives in a lavish lifestyle while the black anguish in poverty. Finally, reality dawns on Sylvia that she can neither touch nor buy the toys at the store. Instantly, she becomes mad not because that she hates anybody around her but because of the poverty, discrimination, and oppression in her society.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She feels that due to racial discrimination and that she is unable to afford or live the same lifestyle as the majority in the society. Her observation, wittiness and intelligent compels he r to hate the discriminatory nature in the society. Her anger is symbolizes that she is ready to fight for her rights and that of the minority people in the society. Furthermore, her moment of epiphany gives her the urge to come out of the prison she lives. For instance, her happiness mood changes to sadness and she tells her friends â€Å"let’s go† (Bambara par.12). This means that she does not want to continue being a prisoner or see the inequality that exists in her society. Thus, Sylvia’s brightness opens her to a future that is full of obstacles but her anger is a symbol of determination that she is ready to fight on. On the other hand, Connie is a beautiful but disobedient girl in her adolescent stage. She listens neither to her mother nor to her aunties who want her to change her mannerisms and attitude towards life. Her dressing, walking and laughing styles are ways to seek attention from members of the opposite sex (Oates 2). Regrettably, one of the mal e figures she attracts turns out to be violent, which leads to a conflict and eventually to rape. Connie is unable to resist Arnold’s advances due to his threats and leaves with him to unknown destination (Kurkowski par.2). Nevertheless, the conflict, rape, and forceful eviction from her home open her to the reality of oppression, sexual or physical abuse and disrespect women undergo in the society. If Connie had listened to her parents and accompanied them to the barbecue party, she would not have had the awful experience. Therefore, Connie’s moment of epiphany comes in a form of a fight and personal experience that leaves her distressful while Sylvia’s moment of epiphany is through an observation that indirectly touches her life compelling her to fight for her rights. Sylvia’s moment of epiphany has both a social and political orientation. All the leaders in either public or private institutions are from the majority group or race. Miss Moore symbolical ly represents the black people in the society who have risen above all odds to fight for their rights. She mainly speaks for the author when she enlightens Sylvia and her friends about the division of the world into social classes (Brandon par.1). She is both educated and has relevant information about the social, political and economic state of her country thus volunteering to give lessons to poor black children. Through Miss Moore, the moment of epiphany in Sylvia’s comes through a learning process that makes her envy the white people or the majority group in the society. Moreover, Sylvia is able to realize the political, social, and economic status of her society through Miss Moore, which was the aim of the author.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis and Interpretation of Short Fiction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the contrary, the epiphany moment in Connie’s life is only socially or iented. Connie’s transition from adolescent stage to adulthood seems to have thrown her into confusion leading to frequent fights with her mother. Arnold appearance puts her into fear and when he forces himself into her, he not only makes her frightened but also enables her to understand the level of inhumanity in her society or in the world. Although the author does not give the fate of Connie, the rape and harassment from Arnold are a premonition of the bleak future that lay ahead of her. Therefore, through Connie, the author is able to highlight the social discrimination and traumas women or poor people undergo in hands of men while through Sylvia the author mainly focuses on racial discrimination in the society. The moments of epiphanies in the main characters are similar because they not only occur to young girls but also change the course of their lives. Additionally, their social nature makes them to interact with strangers who give their lives a different direction. A lthough Connie resists the advances or the oppressive nature of Arnold, eventually she has no choice but to follow his footsteps. Therefore, Connie succumbs to Arnold when she realizes her feminine nature and the society’s perception of women as inferior cannot save her. In addition, she realizes the world is full of evil people because she is unhappy and Arnold forces her to smile when he says† let’s see a smile try it â€Å" (Oates 9).Similarly, Sylvia’s poor living conditions and lack of adequate education gives her the urge to fight the oppressiveness, discrimination or inequality that prevails in the society. Moreover, Sylvia asserts, â€Å"ain’t nobody is gonna to beat me at nuthin†, which means she is ready to fight for the rights of the minority in the society (Bambara par.12). Therefore, the moment of epiphanies in the two principal characters reveals to them about the unfairness that is in the world they live in. Therefore, the aut hors of the two books use the youth to enlighten the society about feminine rights. In summary, through the description of the way of life of the main characters, the authors are able to describe their epiphany moments, which reveals to them the inhumanity, oppression and discrimination that exists in their world. When Sylvia realizes about the discriminatory nature of the black people in her society, she decides to fight for equality. On the contrary, although Connie is able to learn about the poor perception of women and the poor people in her society, she is unable to fight for her rights. Sylvia’s moment of epiphany has political, social, and economic orientation while Connie’s epiphany is mainly socially oriented especially on the aspect of poverty and women. The similarity in the epiphany moments in the two cases is that it not only occurs to youths but also transforms the daily lives of the young girls. Finally, Bambara uses Miss Moore to highlight explicitly th e political, social, and economic situation in her country.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Works Cited Bambara, Toni. The lesson, 1972. Web. Brandon, Martin. ‘The Lesson’ as an Analysis of Societies Economic Differences, 2009. Web. Kurkowski, Clifford. A Psychological Analysis of Connie: A Feminist Viewpoint of â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? N.d. Web. Oates, Carol.   Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† Ed. Elaine Showalter.   New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1994. This essay on Analysis and Interpretation of Short Fiction was written and submitted by user Delaney U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Unfolding as he Should essays

Unfolding as he Should essays Andrew is a, finally, content six year old. His introduction to school, junior kindergarten, wasnt an enjoyable or enriching experiencing and senior kindergarten wasnt much better. Andrew is a socialite who loves to talk and laugh and because of this was labeled a trouble maker throughout kindergarten and treated with indifference by his teacher. Getting him to school each day was a struggle for his single mother, as he feared another day of being singled out and scolded by his teacher. Finally, in Grade 1, he is happy. He has an understanding teacher, nice friends and is excelling at the new challenges Grade 1 has to offer. Andrews parents separated when he was just two years old. He doesnt remember that they ever lived together, but often expresses a wish that they would, so that he could be with them both all the time. This does at times cause a struggle when he has to leave one parent to visit with the other. He lives with his mother full time and visits his dad every other weekend. However, this arrangement is very open and if his father wants to spend more time with him or have him two weekends in a row, this is ok. His parents are now good friends; it took a few years to establish this but is a definite advantage for him. His mother and father, along with his fathers new girlfriend, often have dinner together and recently spent Thanksgiving together. His parents have also worked at establishing and maintaining a standard of discipline throughout both households, enforcing similar punishments and requiring the same level of behavior. For instance, he is expected to keep his room clean, put his toy s away at the end of each day and treat everyone in the family with respect this means listening and responding when asked to do something. Andrew doesnt get into trouble very often, but when he needs to be punished, he loses a toy and gets a talking to about what he did that was wrong and...

Organism patenting in Africa Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organism patenting in Africa - Coursework Example They practiced these methods using DNA that was recombinant. Sometime after, Organism patenting was allowed after certain methods were seen fit to help with development and inventions. Patenting was allowed with one cardinal rule; that the patenting of living organism was and should be man-made. Since 1980, there have been many experiments that have been the result of patenting of the genetically modified organisms. Patenting of an organism includes the use of bacteria, viruses, certain seeds and plants. Another group of organisms that can be used is non-human species, particularly animals (Kankanala, 127, 2007).  Patenting does not only occur to the above named species. They can also occur from human cells, though these have to be in an isolated and manipulated state. Plants that are seemingly new and their seeds can be patented. Patenting does not come without its cost. There have been controversies that have gathered up from the time patenting occurred and has mostly been influe nced by the concern over the expense of certain patented medicines and other tests. There have also been concerns with genetically modified food which has brought concern as to whether the food originated from genetically modified seeds. Another main concern has been whether the farmers who plant the seeds of these plants have a right to harvest and plant the seeds. Each state has their own law regarding patenting rights, and some may allow certain patenting methods and organisms to be used while others may not. In this essay, attention will be paid towards patenting in Africa. Africa has been known to have issues with food, disease and health. Patenting in Africa is brings about stability and improve the living condition by ensuring that organisms patented can be able to survive; that plants can be able to tolerate the unfavorable conditions of the soil topography (Kankanala, 158, 2007).   There is one issue however; organism patenting seems to do more harm than good. This is bec ause despite the development of these organisms in order to make them more enhanced and beneficial, certain setbacks have proven to shake the foundation of the patenting scheme. For the negative feedbacks that are gotten from these experiments, it is the end user who is suffering, not the inventor. Take a case where certain bacteria is modified, patented and is introduced into a community that has had problems with the plants systems and animals, in that their survival is challenged. If the modified bacteria solution does not go as planned; say after harvesting the crops and consuming them, those who will suffer the most will be the end users. What this means is that scientists are just using people as experimental objects. They do not take responsibility and they must be liable to pay for their wrong doings. In a seemingly good society, they have introduced and organism that instead of doing a positive thing has turned out to be hazardous. It can be argued as a violation, but then again they may argue that it was just an experiment gone wrong. When patenting is done, it is done with the intention of making things and the lives of people more comfortable and lively. When this does not happen; when the opposite of good happens, responsibility is not taken by anyone. Many individuals have become ill because of the consumption of patented bacteria; have become more ill because maybe the virus that was patented has not served its purpose, or

Globalization and Poverty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Globalization and Poverty - Essay Example Consensus is there regarding the mission plan of these strategies for the eradication of poverty however the various different actors in the scenario do not agree on the framework and the methodologies in which these strategies have to be implemented for achieving the goal. According to Kanbur the reason behind this trend is the fact that the people who are at the forefront of this cause are themselves not sincere to it and are more concerned about their own interests (1093). There exists an evident difference of opinion between the two parties involved in the process of eradication of poverty in various regions of the world. The various institutions involved in the process of eradicating poverty have been divided into two groups by Kanbur, one who control the policies and play the decision making part in the process include the IFI’s, banks and financial ministries. ... itely the most pivotal in the whole scenario and must be addressed if a consensus has to be developed, so Kanbur’s analysis can be utilized to find out the root cause of the whole situation. Milanovic however argues that the ideology behind the whole process has been shaped by the IFI’s and the banks and there is nothing wrong with the whole idea of eradicating poverty but the only issue is the correct implementation of this idea which is not being done at present. Milanovic has very effectively pointed out the deficiencies of the current approach with the help of facts and figures which show that despite the continued involvement of IMF and other International Financial Institutions the results are not very encouraging. Not a single African country has managed to increase its GDP while working under the IMF and other international bodies, while some of the countries have hit new lows in their history since 1960’s. Milanovic has also mentioned the other factors w hich are responsible for the poverty of various communities living in rich economies. Europe made economic progress when it managed to attain roughly a uniform culture in all the countries and that’s why we cannot find the native culture of various regions anywhere. But the various communities like the Chinese and the Muslims who migrated to the European countries were never accepted by the native communities and were not allowed to prosper well (669). With the popularity of the concept of globalization, the international financial organizations (IFOs) are increasingly involved in determining the economic policies of countries. The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other bodies of the United Nations (UNDP etc.) have their own poverty reduction plans for different countries according to the

Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Biology - Essay Example Creatine Phosphate also called as creatine is a source of energy which on reaching the muscle is converted into phosphocreatine. It provides energy during heavy work out when there are depleted levels of ATP and acts as a major source of energy. 5. During short bursts of extreme muscular activity, lactate (lactic acid) can build up to high concentrations in the muscles and blood. the reason usually given to explain this accumulation is during strenuous work out sessions the oxygen present in the blood cannot produce energy that can satisfy the demand of the body so, there are other processes that start functioning in the body that operate in the absence of oxygen to produce ATP for which lactic acid is the end product. During exercise the energy stores in the muscle are depleted and the energy is derived from other process which are biochemical and metabolic in nature. They tend to release substances like lactate which accumulate and lead to generation of muscle fatigue because the muscle cannot excrete the metabolites compared to the speed at which they are produced. 6. Mitochondria are an essential part of the cell structure which is responsible for generation of energy. Mitochondria Cytopathy is a disease that affects the mitochondria leads to decrease in production of energy leading to multiple organ failure.

Porters Diamond Theory Analysis

Porters Diamond Theory Analysis CRITICALLY ANALYSE PORTERS DIAMOND THEORY. APPLY IT TO EXPLAIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF AN INDUSTRY OF YOUR HOME COUNTRY. Overview of Porters theoretical perspective The theory of Porter is a study which works as a tradition that is related to the neo-classical economics with the nature of self adjusting nature of markets. The theory of Porter places innovation and industrialisation of geographic which is one of the number of theories for competitive advantages which aims at the process and development (OConnell et al., 1997). The industries which work within the nations are focused by the Porters theory. Competitive advantage is given by the home nation with certain characteristics and concentration of geographic and this process is enhanced by the rivalries. The systemic character of the Porters Diamond Model is shown in Figure 1 which outlines the components of it. Although, determinant of diamond theory interact each other but the systemic natures variable in diamond theory. The arguments on two elements are raised by the Porter which are concentration of industry geographic and the domestic rivalry and these two elements has simply a great power to make a system by changing this diamond. It promotes the entire national diamond upgrading because of this domestic rivalry. The Porter theory translates it into system because of its magnifying principle of the interactions in the geographic concentration. The final stage of the Diamond Porters Model is the linkage between the industries and it promotes clustering to the systemic nature (Clancy et.al., 1999). Competitive Advantage, Marketing and Porter: Any firm which achieve success is known as Competitive advantage which is not a domain of any of the single academic discipline in it. Thus through a review which reveals that marketing plays a central role in building up a competitive advantage. A number of popular approaches include: strong market positions with products and services are not easily substituted, entry- barriers, strong bargaining position, balanced portfolios; mobility barriers; core competencies, innovation and speed or time based competition (Eccles and Nohria, 1992). Here security in market positions, maintains the stable flow and enhance the emphasis of predominance. As per within the organisations, competitive advantages is first related to the marketing function. The work of Michael Porter exaggerated marketing as an extensive in order to address competitive advantage. Porters five model (Porter, 1985) provides the basis for structural analysis of industries in most texts (Baker, 1992; Bradley, 1995). The doma in of macro- economists was aimed in such a way that was highly popularised by the Porters model, mainly the study of competitiveness. This shows that the study of firm advantage needs to take place in the context of a national environment. The name Diamond was tagged for four determinants (and 2 exogenous variables) which was conceptualised by the national environment. Thus, increasingly, marketing courses and texts incorporate the diamond as part of the analysis of industry (Baker, 1992). The important innovation in Porters work for business researchers across various sectors is a translation into a framework of ideas and concepts from different fields. The dynamic and evolutionary view represents the model as the creation of firm advantage depending upon a number of traditions; for example- the theory is based upon the resource and industrial organisational economics. Porter not only provides a point of reference for analysing the research but also a model for strategy research. Analysis with Porters Diamond Framework: The enabling environment providing the competitiveness only helps the firms to leverage its competitive advantage whose are supporting the activities of the firms. Porters Diamond theory reflected all these fundamental concepts in its model and in every question put by the Porter lies under the elements which are categories under four in his model. He considered that the companys analysis should not be done by the approach of backward looking but should be considered by the view of looking forward. But this forward looking approach creates an idealistic scenario rather creating of an realistic approach. Although taking into consideration the future perspective, an assumption is being mounted by Porter, the Diamond Model functionality accommodates experiences of the past which indicates the flexibility. Thus, the model is created considering the perspective to be balanced which combines the past experiences with the future expectations. In the four elements of the analysis one more el ement Government is added as this element plays a vital role in competitive environment nationally for the industry. Indian Shrimp Industry on Porters Framework: In the world of Shrimp productions India occupies top five positions. After china in the production of aquaculture it is the second largest producer of aquaculture. Contribution of aquaculture is 21.56% by volume and by value its 49.76% of overall seafood export production whereas by volume of farmed shrimps it contributes 76% and 83% by value of exports of shrimps (Rajitha et al., 2006). The current exploitation for shrimp farming in India is only 16% which is out of 1.2 million hectors are available for farming. In the country 90% of the shrimp farming are owned by the farmers of small and marginal levels. The black tiger shrimp is the major cultured spices (Penaeus Monodon). According to the research 58% of the total export values, in the export basket frozen shrimps is the largest items, of which the cultured shrimp shares above 80% (MPEDA, 2006). With the help of Diamond model of Porters the national competitive environment and the Indian shrimp industry van be assessed and is p resented in Figure 1. Strategies of Firm, Rivalry and Structure: The farmers, exports and processors and the allied players are comprised under the Indian shrimp industry. 30 million is the capacity of production average in hatcheries of over 290 shrimp and 30 feed mills with a installed capacity of total annually of 250,000 metric tonnes. From a area of brackish water production of shrimp in India is 1, 43,000 metric tonne within a field of 140,000 hectares (MPEDA, 2006). In the mid 1980s the production of shrimp farming started in India and there is a rapid growth of cultured farming of shrimp through 1990s (Kumar et al, 2004). Only 2.0 hectare area of water is own by the more than 90% of the aqua farmers. In the country farms below 5.0 hectare of the total shrimp area farms occupies 65%. Among the 500 leading companies in India only 10 companies are involved in aquaculture. These 10 companies occupies 1898 hectare of land, of which shrimp farms contributes 758 hectares. The water spread in total is constituted just 0.54% of this which is out of the 140,936 hectare in country is developed for culture of shrimps. On the front of the processor, there could be an either exporter only or the processor cum exporter. The Indian shrimp company has most marginal players except the large player handful. The Indian company of shrimps does not seen interested in foreign investors except Thailand. Except few of the companies like the ITC, Hindustan Liver Ltd etc. most of the companies are oriented family based. The growth which has evolved from the last few decades created this situation. The holdings on an Average basis are small and policy meyaking is fragmented and difficult to make implementations. Factor Conditions: The entire coastal belt of India comprises of 369 freezing plants which are spread over these belts in which India has a v well developed infrastructure. The processing of fish is mainly from exports. India needs to develop its infrastructure for maintaining the quality for leading in the processing facilities. In India one can reduce the production cost easily because of the availability of the cheap labour for the shrimp which is one the amongst all the shrimp producing countries. The women workers are mostly more recruited in shrimp industries because of the dealt skilful hands of the womens workers. Although these womens are not professionally trained but learn how to do the work after bringing them into the factories. The two of the most important factors are rendered in a scenario of flexibility which are support and labour and development support- which are required for the technology development and advancement of knowledge which are presented for good measure. Demand Conditions: According to Porter (1990) one can be demanding if the buyers have an international outlook with the home base buyers. Their demands are really sophisticated and demanding. They need the product to be highly standardised and need to be full of quality. In India, these kind of businesses like exports and marine exports does not exist. These kinds of reasons are responsible for which India does not able to value chain move up. Customers export bulk quantities from India for shrimps and sold it to the other destinations after repackaging like USA, Europe and Japan. Retail packaging is different from export packaging in bulk. After Thailand, India is the second largest shrimps exporter in the world but shrimps of India does not able to create its own brand like Thailand in the global markets. Therefore, the exporters get little exposures because of the less demanding market and hence cannot get the proper international exposure to compete in the international conditions. This lead to the opportunities to be limited and limited challenges in an international competition to understand. In this conditions, exporter just follow certain forms of rules for exports, starts losing the opportunities but learns new facets about international trade and tries to spread the business. Government Interventions: The support and government intervention to the shrimp industry generally comes majorly through Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) especially for exports, under the government under industries of India and Ministry of Commerce and some of institutions of marine research. The policies related to export are recommended by MPEDA to the Commerce Ministry of the central government and the decisions foe the policies are taken by the MPEDA. In financial institutions this body acts like a liaison agency between prawn and shrimps stakeholders and farmers entrepreneurs and farmers etc. Conclusion: In the conclusion, it is clearly indicated that the government intervention plays a significant element for the study as Porter considered this element to be the choice of optimism. The developing countries generally face these kinds of scenarios. The concepts like international success, national environment and the competitiveness are the concepts who have references of several parameters. Although to understand these kinds of parameters, the theory of flexibility is useful but somehow Porters Diamond Theory also suggests about these parameters. The research showed data about the shrimp industry of India with their business environments. The importance of this essay limits only to the shrimp industry, preliminary understanding of competitiveness of shrimps to various export sectors of India. This competitiveness is in the context of environments to be taken nationally. The scope for the future research is based on the detailed empirical research in the context of diamond model analysis.

Creation verses Evolution Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many beliefs about how we came to be. There is the religious belief, there is the â€Å"Big Bang† theory, and there is the belief that we evolved from lower life forms. Its hard to say exactly how life came to be and who have the right answer. A person can take one of the two views on the origin of life. Either they believe there is a creator (creationist) or they believe (evolutionist) but with a thorough examination of scientific evidence one must believe that evolution is the basis for our existence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The idea of creation varies with each of the world’s many religions; not providing creationists with a stable ground to inform on. Creationist’s believe in a supreme creator, who is responsible for the universe and everything natural that it contains. Creationists believe in Genesis to prove that evolutionists’ theories are false. Mostly everyone know the book they refer to The Holy Bible, and in the book of Geneses chapter 2 verse 19 â€Å"and out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air† is what the creationist whole true. Although evolution is seen throughout nature and proven by ancient fossils, they still disagree with the thought. Creationists include a type of evolution as necessary in their studies. This form of evolution is called â€Å"micro-evolution†, or variation within a type of organism occurs. This means that small changes take place like a frog grows web feet to swim b etter. Large-scale change of one type of organism to another is known as â€Å"macro-evolution†; apes changing to humans. Creationists believe this type of evolution is beyond the ability of mutation or natural selection which the evolutionists believe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Creationists believe that Adam and Eve were the first human beings to walk the planet, and each of us is a descendant of the two. Evolutionist challenge this because Adam and Eve could only be one race but there are several different race of people – in a wide range of colors. There are too many unanswered questions to support the theory of creation but taking the evolutionist point of view can clear things up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Evolutionists believe in their experiments and sciences to prove the creatio... ...oubts the fact of evolution is adequately clear. We do not need a listing of evidences to demonstrate the fact of evolution no more than we need to demonstrate the existence of mountain rangesâ€Å". (Wysong 23).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Theodosis Dobzhansky a geneticist who was quoted saying â€Å"Evolution as a historical fact was proved beyond a reasonable doubt not later than in the closing decades of the19th century. No one who takes the trouble to become familiar with the pertinent evidence has at present a valid reason that the living world, including man, is a product of evolutionary developmentâ€Å". (Wysong 23) Works Cited Hyperspace. A BBC video. With Sam Niel. Jason Browning, Dr. Gerald Lenner, Mark Rajock. Creation Science. 1997 http://emporium.turnpike.net/C/cs/ Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Did man get here by Evolution Or by Creation?. Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and International Bible student Association. Life how did it get here. Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. Wysong, R.L. The Creation Evolution Controversy. 1st ed. 1976. The Holy Bible, King James Version.