time management Essay - 708 Words

Time Management nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The way a person manages time effects the efficiency of their life. There are many ways that will help in time management. College students for example have many responsibilities. The top priority being school. Students must have time to go to class and show their best of their abilities to finish all work that needed to be done. Some students may have to fit work into their daily schedule. As Rock-Richardson describes,  ¡Ã‚ §As an undergrad, I put my self through two solid years of full-tuition college by working as a daycare provider [ ¡K] ¡Ã‚ ¨ (Rock-Richardson 12). In order to be successful at the tasks the student must eat properly and get enough sleep. The one thing that should be learned is†¦show more content†¦The feeling of organization brings a feeling of understanding. Goal setting is another main issue in managing time. Goal setting for grades has been proven to be very helpful. Once a goal has been set figure out the time it will take to achieve the goal. Setting priorities is a main key in making time. The understanding of what needs to be done and what can be done will make a big difference. If parties are number one then how is an  ¡Ã‚ §A ¡Ã‚ ¨ expected when every party is attended. Something as simple as a list can be extremely useful. Taking the time to make a list helps to clear the mind and organize thoughts rather than keeping a mess jumbled in the memory. Being realistic will prevent unwanted stress. Getting a weeks worth of work done in one day is very unlikely. Procrastination is a very big problem in time management. Never put anything off until the last minute or you will fall further and further behind. Don ¡Ã‚ ¦t give up on school or anything that need to be accomplished. At times things may seem impossible and overwhelming, but if organized right there will be no problems. When all goals have been met and everything has been completed there will be no regrets. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In completing this task I learned a lot of helpful hints. The first step I took was to write it down. This way it would not be easily forgotten. Once written down IShow MoreRelatedTime Management And Its Impact On Students862 Words   |  4 PagesMany students find it hard to manage their time well; whether they are trying to juggle academic responsibilities such as just getting to classes, trying to keep up with the continuous demands of each class like studying, or with trying to complete multiple assignments that have to be completed before the deadline. It can be onerous. Especially, in college, there are so many distractions: different clubs, sports, and other campus activities that you can participate in such LEAD helping the communityRead MoreTime Management1233 Words   |  5 PagesTime Management By: Time management is often thought of when describing task related to business management or executive positions; those who have meetings and appointments related to business deals as well as meeting deadlines and time lines. However, time management is something everyone will have to deal with no matter the task or job. The following essay will describe time management and its importance in the work place as well as its importance for those who use it on a more personalRead MoreTime Management1058 Words   |  5 PagesTime Management is the control and focus of a person’s actions for the purpose of improving efficiency. 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Developing effective study habits is important as they will help me to use my study time more productively and will also help to handle stressRead MoreTime Management At The Same Time701 Words   |  3 PagesTime Management I can hear some moms already groaning. Time is a scarce resource for many moms. In the course of any given day, I keep wishing for more hours. However, every one of us has been given the same number of hours. It’s up to you to organize and prioritize your activities for maximum success. If you don’t know how to multi-task, I suggest you learn how to do it. The ability to multi-task will serve you well. I completed a few online tests while breastfeeding at the same time. The key wasRead MoreTime Management1901 Words   |  8 PagesTime management in the business world – research paper outline Kaynnera T. Capers Organizational Management Time Management in the Business World It is true that the majority of the time, people learn to manage their time the proverbial hard way (i.e. working late at night, trial and error, barely meeting deadlines, etc.). The definition of time management can be stated to be the process of both controlling and understanding the time spent on a variety of activities. Time management is by andRead MoreTime Management And School / Life Balance1156 Words   |  5 PagesCompleted Training: Time Management and School/Life Balance Based upon Ms. Mendia’s recommendation, I enrolled in and successfully completed the course: Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal Professional Productivity under Coursera a UC Irvine Extension that was offered online (enclosed number 5 please find a certificate of course completion). I have learned to make a schedule of tasks, to prioritize my tasks and goals by categorizing them under personal and professional, groupRead MoreThe Importance of Time Management1424 Words   |  6 PagesSPC Becky Geiger 5 April 2013 Corrective Training The importance of time management. Steps to take to avoid or prevent tardiness. There are many reasons that time management is important. For example, if your unit was getting ready for deployment, you would need to be at the right place at the right the time, to receive any information you or your fellow soldiers may need to know before you leave. If you weren’t there when you were told to be then you would fall court martial under articleRead MoreTime Management At The Workplace1675 Words   |  7 PagesTime Management at the Workplace and The Importance of Being on Time Hunter J. Bullock 4th Ranger Training Battalion Time Management at the Workplace and The Importance of Being on Time â€Å"The average person uses 13 different methods to control and manage their time.† Wetmore, D. E. (1999, August 23). Time Management Facts and Figures. Retrieved from http://www.balancetime.com/articles/tm_facts_and_figures.htm It is imperative to arrive on time to anything and everything that has been pre-plannedRead MoreReflection On Time Management1081 Words   |  5 PagesTime management seems to be an issue that many people struggle with. It is important to learn to balance work, school, and familial responsibilities. I plan to utilize any free time to work on school work, implementing Pareto’s Law, and looking at the big picture. Recently, a friend and I were planning our annual summer trip, which is the only time we see each other each year. I told her that there is only one weekend in which I will not be in the middle of school. She responded by saying, â€Å"That’s

Humanism during renaissance Free Essays

Renaissance is a term used to describe ‘rebirth’ (in French), which began in Italy in late middle age and then spread to other parts of Europe. During the Renaissance people to question the Scholastic methods of that time and their questioning resulted as the birth of humanism. Humanism goes along with secularism in the sense that it makes humans beings, not God, the centre of attention. We will write a custom essay sample on Humanism during renaissance or any similar topic only for you Order Now People began to do things because they enjoyed them rather than for God’s glory. It was responsible for the change in the medieval education system, emphasizing on rational and racial thinking. Humanism emphasizes on the importance of knowledge, as well as on the potential of the individual and civil responsibility. This concept of humanism became the core of renaissance style. It was in this age that people began to reason and think rationally. Even the term used for the Renaissance philosophers, ‘humanists’, shows how the focus of the people’s attention had shifted from Heaven and God to this world and human beings. Individualism takes humanism a step further by saying that individual humans were capable of great accomplishments. Renaissance philosophers saw humans as intelligent creatures capable of reasoning (and questioning the authority) rather than being mindless pawns helplessly manipulated by God. Humanism profoundly affected the artist community and how artists themselves were perceived. The medieval mind viewed artists as humble servants whose talent and ability were meant to honor God. This is evident in the work of medieval artists adoring churches and cathedrals. Renaissance artists, in contrast, were trained intellectuals – well versed in the classical and mathematical principles. And the art that they created reflected this newfound perspective. In art, linear and aerial perspective developed and artists considered their canvases to be windows to the natural world. Their task became to portray the natural world as realistically as possible. Renaissance art portrayed the human body as a thing of beauty in its own right and not like a medieval comic strip character whose only reason to exist was for the glory of God. People were often conceived as nudes covered in real fabric rather than the medieval concept of clothes with a head and ands showing. Painters eliminated extra features and details so that the viewer’s attention would focus on the theme of the painting rather than be distracted by details. Paintings became balanced and started to express emotions. During the middle age, saints in paintings wore halos around their heads; saints would also look larger in size than the humans. As humanism became popular the size of the saints began to look more human, halos became fainter and then eventually disappeared. The media of art evolved as well. Early paintings were usually done with egg tempera, which dried fast and created a flat rough surface. Oil paint was introduced in the early 1 5th century, and became immensely popular as it dried slowly and was translucent, allowing light to shine through the paintings. Humanism freed remarkable individuals and geniuses such as Leonardo ad Vinci to live up to their potential without being held back by the medieval society that discouraged innovation. Other ways in which individualism is seen during Renaissance is that the artists started signing their paintings, thus showing individualistic pride in their work. During the Renaissances, architects trained as humanists helped raise the status of their profession from skilled laborers to artists. Renaissance architecture shows clarity as it emphasizes on clean lines, geometrical shapes, symmetry, and was very systematical. When comparing the Gothic architecture and the renaissance architecture, the Renaissance architecture seems to be more practical in terms of height, and spacing. As in the classical world, Renaissances architecture is characterized by harmonious form, mathematical proportion, and a unit of measurement based on human scale. Patrician man The drawing is based on the ideal human proportions with geometry described by the ancient Roman architect Vitreous. He describes the human as the principal source of proportion among the classical orders of architect. The image of the man exemplifies the blend of art and science during the Renaissances. An example of the proportions found in the Patrician man – The drawing the length of the outspread arm is equal to the height of a man, from the hairline to the bottom of the chin is one tenth of the height of the man, and from below the chin to the top of the head is one eight of the heights of the man form. Above the chest to the top of the head is one- sixth of the height of the man form and from above the chest to the hair line is one – seventh of the height of the man. The maximum width of the shoulder is a quarter of the height of the man. Temple fronts. His keen understanding and observation of classical architecture is also seen in the Church of Santa’ Andrea in Mantra. The columns in this building are not used decoratively but functional as lord bearing support. For Albert’, architecture was not Just creating building but to give a meaning. How to cite Humanism during renaissance, Papers

Knowledge Management and E-Commerce Business

Question: Discuss about the Knowledge Management and E-Commerce Business. Answer: Introduction The aim of the report is to discuss on the e-commerce business of an organisation and effectiveness of knowledge management. The chosen case study is Kogan, a leading e-commerce company in Australian. Kogan has business in Australia, New Zealand and United States. Kogan supplies products online to the customers. The product line of Kogan includes electronic goods such as TV, tablets, phones and an extensive range of home appliances of kitchen, gardening, lighting, fitness tools and many more (kogan.com, 2017). During 2015, the company has started to expand business in other segment such as grocery products. This firm operates in competitive market as online business is popular business in Australia. Potential competitors of Kogan are Temple Webster, Catch of the Day, The Iconic, JB Hi-fi and others. In order to perform online business effectively, Kogan used to keep good relation with the suppliers, importer, wholesaler, distributors in the supply chain. Defining ecommerce and knowledge management As defined by Wong et al. (2015), ecommerce is the business conducted through electronic mode especially through internet. E-commerce gives a platform to the buyer and the seller without physical presence. E-commerce sites play an intermediary role between buyer and seller. In case of international e-commerce business, International Consumer protection and Enforcement Network regulates the e-commerce business in order to protect consumer rights. In Australia, business firms have to follow the guidelines of Australian Treasury and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. In the view of Garca-lvarez (2015), e-commerce business facilitates trade and growth of the economy. This is an effective platform to promote the products of small and medium enterprise. Moreover, consumers get choices in a wide range within a reasonable price. Leong et al. (2016) stated that dependence of e-commerce companies on knowledge management system is growing in now a day. Knowledge management facilitates the growth, customer acquisition and retention and cost management. Chiu et al. (2014) stated three main components of knowledge management such as creation, transfer and application. Knowledge creation is the process of acquisition, validation, processing of new knowledge and integration with existing knowledge. Knowledge transfer is addressing the question of how, which, what, when and whom to deliver the knowledge. Knowledge application refers to the functionalism of the company in order to employ knowledge. While a conventional stores offer a limited number of the items, online store offer a large number of items. Therefore, knowledge processing tools are helpful for this organisation to handle large number of data. A large e-commerce company needs to store and manage a large number of demands on available commodities at a glo bal scale. Analysis of contextual factor affecting the business Customers are important factor, who affects the e-commerce system of Kogan and knowledge management technique of its e-commerce business. Knowledge management tool gives reliable information about the customers and the suppliers. Knowledge management in the e-commerce organisation provides an environment that the company, where a supplier and the customer can influence the action of each other. This influence in turn goes directly to the supplier and the customers and mediated into the system (Chua Banerjee, 2013). Other influential factors on Kogan business are economic policy, technology, fashion trend, cultural event and weather condition. Knowledge acquisition is required on different consumer choices, ongoing trends in the market. Wang, Wang Liu (2016) opined that statistical outlier can be used as an automated knowledge processed tool. Knowledge management in this business involves creation of new knowledge regarding market, customer, and depreciation of irrelevant information and deletion of dead knowledge. Information can be collected in two ways: online and offline. Data collected through online mode is less costly and less time consuming, whereas, the off line data collection method is complex and time consuming as well. Impact of technology is essential factor for knowledge formation and the expansion of e-commerce business. As this type of business is based on use of modern software, innovation in technology improves the business performance. Data management regarding quality of services, timeliness, and returns of the products, and responsiveness to feedback becomes easier (Qu et al. 2015). Data warehouse of Kogan guarantees customer privacy and offers a convenient mode of payment. The information technology software used by Kogan needs to be updated with the changing business environment. As mentioned by Fang et al. (2014), seasonal changes in demand have effect on the business of Kogan. Seasonal change in demand in daily, weekly basis affects the sales of the company. However, the affect is less on online stores than the bricks and mortar stores. When there is adverse whether condition outside, sales in online stores increases. Moreover, the demand for gardener products increases when there is warm weather outside. Major domestic and international contextual factors Major domestic and economic policy that an affect the business of Kogan are as follows: Political environment: The political environment of Australia and its trading partners affect the business of Kogan. Change in political power may bring change in relevant business laws and application of regulation on business. Moreover, Leong et al. (2016) explained that the bilateral trade relation of Australia with other countries affect the import of foreign brand by Kogan. Bilateral trade relation facilitates trade in terms of lower tariff, which helps the company to provide sufficient discount on the imported products. Furthermore, Kogan has to abide by the regulations of Australian Intellectual property laws. Economic environment: Government policies regarding direct and indirect tax rate such as corporation tax rate and sales tax. As ecommerce business is very popular in Australia, companies like Kogan makes huge revenue annually. Therefore, a significant amount of corporation tax has to give to the government. Moreover, as Kogan operates in US, it has pay a portion of the profit to the US government. Therefore, any change in taxation policy affects the e-commerce business of Kogan. Furthermore, change in inflation rate causes fluctuation in price of the product. As mentioned by Chiu et al. (2014), changes in the exchange rate affect the price of the imported product. Any appreciation of the domestic currency makes imported goods cheaper and hence increases demand for the product. On the other hand, depreciation of the Australian currency makes Australian product cheaper to the foreigner. Hence, exchange rate fluctuation affects the sales revenue and the business strategy of Kogan. Environmental factor: Reduction of carbon foot print is now a growing challenge for the business enterprise. This is even relevant for the e-commerce business. As stated by online retail stores use 30% less energy compared to a traditional retail stores. However, as Kogan sells the electronic product, these products generate e-waste substantially. Therefore, Kogan has responsibilities towards society and environment for the reduction of the e-waste. Hence, this company can take possible steps such as recycling of the used products and package to reduce the impact on the environment. This step can enhance the CSR impact on the stakeholders and may create positive effect on sales of Kogan (Reddy, 2012). Social factor: Per capita income of Australia and the countries, where Kogan operates affects the demand for the products sold by the company. Demanded for product varies across different income group in the relevant economy. Therefore, Kogan keeps products within an extensive range of price. Australian culture is diversified and therefore, choices are also diversified. They prefer both local and imported brand. Kogan has to set its marketing and product development strategy based on the fashion trend, culture, preferences and income of the consumers (Wang, Wang Liu, 2016). Legal factor: Kogan has to operate under the regulation enforced by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Along with this, Australian government legislation, state and territory laws have to be maintained determined for consumer protection. The company has to maintain workplace safety laws for the employees of the administrative office. There are regulations in Australia such on unfair contract terms, consumer rights guarantee, product safety laws and others (austrade.gov.au 2017). Market competition: Growing competition in the e-commerce business affects the business performance and the strategy of Kogan. As profit in the e-commerce industry is always remaining positive, entry in this market is easy. Therefore, number of competitors in this market is large such as Temple Webster, The Iconic, JB Hi-Fi, Red Balloon, Amazon Australia, Target Australia, Pet Circle, Stylerunner, Appliances online, Dick Smith and many others (Khan, 2016). Any change in business strategy of the competitors has effect on the business of Kogan. Conclusion The report highlights that Kogan is a successful e-commerce business in Australia, although younger. This study has analysed the effect of knowledge management on the e-commerce business. It has been studied that knowledge management enhances the growth of the company as this tool manages a large number of data regarding suppliers, customers and competitors. Knowledge management techniques are facilitated through improvement in technologies. The factors affecting the knowledge management and ecommerce business are technology, local culture and weather condition. As Kogan operates in the international context and engages in import of product from foreign countries, both national and international political, social and economic environment affects the business. The effect of legal and environment aspects have been highlighted. It can be mentioned that as Kogan is a younger company and operates in a competitive environment, it needs to be strategic if wants sustainability in long run. The company has to emphasis on the knowledge management as it has greater impact on online business. Data collection and management is easier through knowledge management tools and use of integrated software. As discussed earlier, Kogan may emphasis on the reduction of ecological foot print and product recycling to increase reliability of the stakeholders and improvement of the business. References austrade.gov.au (2017). Invest in Australia, Guide to investing Retrieved 21 January 2017, from https://www.austrade.gov.au/International/Invest/Guide-to-investing/Running-a-business/Understanding-Australian-business-regulation/Australian-business-and-environment-laws Chiu, C.M., Wang, E.T., Fang, Y.H. Huang, H.Y., (2014). Understanding customers' repeat purchase intentions in B2C e?commerce: the roles of utilitarian value, hedonic value and perceived risk.Information Systems Journal,24(1), pp.85-114. Chua, A.Y. Banerjee, S., (2013). Customer knowledge management via social media: the case of Starbucks.Journal of Knowledge Management,17(2), pp.237-249. Fang, Y., Qureshi, I., Sun, H., McCole, P., Ramsey, E. Lim, K.H., (2014). Trust, Satisfaction, and Online Repurchase Intention: The Moderating Role of Perceived Effectiveness of E-Commerce Institutional Mechanisms.Mis Quarterly,38(2), pp.407-427. Garca-lvarez, M.T., (2015). Analysis of the effects of ICTs in knowledge management and innovation: The case of Zara Group.Computers in Human Behavior,51, pp.994-1002. Khan, U. I., (2016). Top 20 Ecommerce Sites in Australia. 2016. The Official Cloudways Blog. Retrieved 21 January 2017, from https://www.cloudways.com/blog/top-20-ecommerce-sites-in-australia/ kogan.com. (2017). About Kogan.com Retrieved 21 January 2017, from https://www.kogan.com/au/about/ Leong, C.M.L., Pan, S.L., Newell, S. Cui, L., (2016). The Emergence of Self-Organizing E-Commerce Ecosystems in Remote Villages of China: A Tale of Digital Empowerment for Rural Development.Mis Quarterly,40(2), pp.475-484. Qu, W.G., Pinsonneault, A., Tomiuk, D., Wang, S. Liu, Y., (2015). The impacts of social trust on open and closed B2B e-commerce: A Europe-based study.Information Management,52(2), pp.151-159. Reddy, R., (2012). The Environmental Impacts of E-Commerce - A Greener Way to Shop? Retrieved 21 January 2017, from https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/robbie-reddy/the-environmental-impacts_b_1750438.html Wang, W.T., Wang, Y.S. Liu, E.R., (2016). The stickiness intention of group-buying websites: The integration of the commitmenttrust theory and e-commerce success model.Information Management,53(5), pp.625-642. Wong, K.Y., Tan, L.P., Lee, C.S. Wong, W.P., (2015). Knowledge management performance measurement: measures, approaches, trends and future directions.Information Development,31(3), pp.239-257.

The Aesthetic Movement

Introduction Just like every other area in life that has movements which advocates for the rights of people who have subscribed to the movement, the concept of art also has its own movement which is known as the aesthetic movement.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Aesthetic Movement specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The core values that govern this movement have no strict definition with the movement encompassing the various art fields like metalwork, woodwork, fine art, literature and textiles. The argument that was fronted by this movement was that art was not established or did not come into being for the purpose of being useful in the practical perception but instead was meant to be an independent or autonomous part of human life which ought to be allowed to exist independently as such. The cult of beauty on the other hand is an exhibition that is one of its kind which hopes to showcase the various types of artistic nature in various parts of the world and also seeks to show that art is a part and parcel of the day-to-day life. This discussion takes an in-depth look at this exhibition while it is analyzing its form and content. Key Characters of the Aesthetic Movement According to pioneers of the aesthetic movement art needed not be didactic. This means that art need not serve any particular purpose but it only needs to be beautiful. There was a lot of emphasis as far as feminine beauty is concerned. The art from Japan is said to have greatly influenced the movement of aestheticism. The cult of beauty was therefore a concept that was developed by aesthetes who saw beauty as the basic element in art. The key characteristics of the aesthetic movement include: Using symbols massively Making suggestions rather than making statements Sensuality Ensuring that there is rhyme between colour, words and music. Looking at various pieces that have been made by various artists, they are inspired by various themes which include literature, influence from Japan, wood that has been ebonized, porcelain and earthenware. The aesthetic movement greatly influenced dress, decoration and what is considered as lifestyle today. Aslin (1981) indicates:Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"Artists and writers of the Aesthetic movement period maintained the belief that art should provide refined sensuous pleasure, rather than convey moral or sentimental messages. They believed that art did not have any didactic purpose; it need only be beautiful.† This exhibition also helps us appreciate the fact that art has come a long way back in the days when not so many people really understood what art was about until the present when exhibitions such as this can now be held. The exhibition has actually been divided into four different phases to show how art has undergone metamorphosis o ver the years to get to where it is today. This exhibition therefore gives a true historical perspective of the kind of growth that art has undergone. Art and its growth has influenced and been influenced by various aspects of life including politics. This exhibition seeks to recognize those who have been instrumental in bring changes in the country through their political will to cause changes in the perception that people had previously about art (Wilson 1989). Recognition must also be given to the fact that the Royal Academy back in the 1800s contributed largely to the growth of art by encouraging people to express their ideas through art. Culturally, this exhibition helps people appreciate the various cultures that the world embraces and the uniqueness of each culture. It is without a doubt that each culture has something to showcase and this can best be done through art. It is also a learning experience for many people who get to experience fast hand the culture of other people .Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Aesthetic Movement specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The culture of beauty began regaining recognition in the mid 1800s with pioneers such as Gabriel Rosetti, James McNeil and Edward Burne exploring all ideas and concepts that surrounded the beauty of a woman. Later, the idea of beauty was to be extended beyond that of a woman and this saw the culture of beauty grow into interior design and architecture. This saw a collaborations between experts in these two fields. Whistler who was an architect and Godwin who was designer collaborate in the design of the present day White House as well as furniture which was used back in the days and today as well (Thackara 1988). It is after this that those who were good in painting and combing painting and decoration of houses brought out a perfect outcome which attracted a large number of people including those who were initially opposed to the idea (Zukowski 2006). These people were on great demand at the time as the wealthy who wanted to have their houses decorates always engaged their services at a hefty cost. Companies in the manufacture of furniture at the time realized that they could make a kill by hiring this people and by then art had already gained wide recognition. It is during the final reign of Queen Victoria that the aesthetic movement gained yet another feather on its cap. This is when drawings were also included to become part of the great works of arts. While great progress has been made since the aesthetic movement was first established, it must recognized that the growth of this movement was not without its fair share of challenges. The various periods that exhibition is divided onto based on chronology is a clear indication that it has not always been a smooth ride for this movement that is now recognized as one of the greatest movements of the time.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Images to be displayed Every year the culture of beauty showcases various images and this year is no different. One of the images is ‘Bocca Baciata’ Dante Gabriel Rossetti which is one of the greatest works of art ever done by Dante Gabriel Rosette. Rosetti was one of the pioneers of art and brought a whole new meaning to painting which was not only provocative but sensuous as well. This great piece of art was done back in 1859 in London. It will be a perfect way to compare where art came from and how it has advanced over the years. (Laumbrone 1996; Parker and Pollock 1981). ‘Bocca Baciata’ Dante Gabriel Rossetti London 1859 Oil on panel Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Call I follow, let me die is yet another image that will be showcased in cult of beauty. This image was done by Julia Margaret Cameron back in the year 1867 in London. It is a portrait that is unconventional which shows Mary Hiller who was a maid of a parlor in Cameron. Mary Hiller is shown as h eroine who attained her status tragically belonging to the legend of Arthurian. The title of this portrait is drawn from the poem of Tennyson, Idylls of the King. With the display of this images people will have an opportunity to reflect the varying practices and principles that guides the schools that train in art. They will also be in a better position to make comparisons on the various changes that drawing has undergone from the 19th century to present day (Aslin 1981). â€Å"Call, I follow, I follow, let me die!’ Julia Margaret Cameron London 1867 Conclusion Art has come quite a long way. It may not appear so today, but the pioneers of what we are proud of as art fought great battles to bring art to where it is today. It was not easy but it was about convincing the rest of the world that it was something worth paying attention. The organization of the cult of beauty is great indication of the great steps that art as an aspect has made to come this far. It is thus import ant for those who are able to attend this exhibition to do so this and each and every year. There is always something new and unique and this gives people an opportunity to learn what they did not know and also give an insight to new ideas that people had not thought of. The aesthetic movement was a great idea and the cult of beauty was an even greater idea whose timing was perfect. It would have not come at a better time. With the culture of beauty people are now able to gain an in-depth understanding where the various types of beauty that women adorn originated from. From ornaments, to their kind of dressing to how they wear their hair all can be traced back to the pioneers of the aesthetic movement. This exhibition also recognizes the great efforts of those who have brought art to where it is now. References Aslin, E. (1981) The aesthetic movement: prelude to Art Nouveau. California: Excalibur Books. Laumbrone, L. (1996) The Aesthetic Movement. Michigan, Phaidon. Parker, R. and P ollock, G. (1981). Old Mistresses: Women, Art and Ideology. London: Routledge Kegan Paul. Thackara, J. (1988) Introduction Design After Modernism London: Thames and Hudson. Wilson, E. (1989) Through The Looking Glass: A History of Dress from 1860- present. London: BBC Book. Zukowski, K. (2006) Creating the artful home: the aesthetic movement. New York: Gibbs Smith. This essay on The Aesthetic Movement was written and submitted by user Raul C. 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.

About Seppuku and Samurai Ritual Suicide

About Seppuku and Samurai Ritual Suicide Seppuku, also known less formally as harakiri, is a form of ritual suicide that was practiced by the samurai and daimyo of Japan.  It usually involved cutting the abdomen open with a short sword, which was believed to immediately  release the samurais spirit to the afterlife. In many cases, a friend or servant would serve as a second, and would ritually decapitate the samurai to provide release from the terrible pain of the abdominal cuts. The second needed to be very skillful with his sword to achieve the perfect decapitation, known as  kaishaku, or embraced head. The trick was to leave a small flap of skin attached at the front of the neck so that the head would fall forward and look like it was being cradled by the dead samurais arms. Seppukus Purpose Samurai committed seppuku for a number of reasons, in accordance with bushido, the samurai code of conduct. Motivations could include personal shame due to cowardice in battle, shame over a dishonest act, or loss of sponsorship from a daimyo. Often times samurai who were defeated but not killed in battle would be allowed to commit suicide in order to regain their honor. Seppuku was an important act not only for the reputation of the samurai himself but also for his entire familys honor and standing in society. Sometimes, particularly during the Tokugawa shogunate, seppuku was used as a judicial punishment. Daimyo could order their samurai to commit suicide for real or perceived infractions. Likewise, the shogun could demand that a daimyo commits seppuku. It was considered far less shameful to commit seppuku than to be executed, the typical fate of convicts from further down the social hierarchy. The most common form of seppuku was simply a single horizontal cut. Once the cut was made, the second would decapitate the suicide. A more painful version, called  jumonji giri, involved both a horizontal and vertical cut. The performer of jumonji giri then waited stoically to bleed to death, rather than being dispatched by a second. It is one of the most excruciatingly painful ways to die. Location for the Ritual Battlefield seppukus were usually quick affairs; the dishonored or defeated samurai would simply use his short sword or dagger to disembowel himself, and then a second (kaishakunin) would decapitate him. Famous samurai who committed battlefield seppuku included Minamoto no Yoshitsune during the Genpei War  (died 1189); Oda Nobunaga  (1582) at the end of the Sengoku Period; and possibly Saigo Takamori, also known as the Last Samurai  (1877). Planned seppukus, on the other hand, were elaborate rituals. This might be either a judicial punishment or the samurais own choice.  The samurai ate a last meal, bathed, dressed carefully, and seated himself on his death cloth. There, he wrote a death poem. Finally, he would open the top of his kimono, pick up the dagger, and stab himself in the abdomen.  Sometimes, but not always, a second would finish the job with a sword. Interestingly, ritual seppukus were usually performed in front of spectators, who witnessed the samurais last moments. Among the samurai who performed ceremonial seppuku were General Akashi Gidayu during the Sengoku (1582) and forty-six of the 47 Ronin in 1703. A particularly horrifying example from the twentieth century was the suicide of Admiral Takijiro Onishi at the end of World War II. He was the mastermind behind the  kamikaze  attacks on Allied ships. To express his guilt over sending some 4,000 young Japanese men to their deaths, Onishi committed seppuku without a second. It took him more than 15 hours to bleed to death. Not for Men Only Seppuku was by no means a solely male phenomenon. Women of the samurai class often committed seppuku if their husbands died in battle or were forced to kill themselves. They also might kill themselves if their castle was besieged and ready to fall, so as to avoid being raped. To prevent an unseemly posture after death, women would first bind their legs together with a silk cloth. Some cut their abdomens as male samurai did, while others would use a blade to slit the jugular veins in their necks instead. At the end of the Boshin War, the Saigo family alone saw twenty-two women commit seppuku rather than surrendering. The word seppuku comes from the words setsu, meaning to cut, and fuku meaning abdomen.

Punctuation of Appositives

Punctuation of Appositives Punctuation of Appositives Punctuation of Appositives By Mark Nichol Consider the sentence â€Å"The site’s editor Mary Smith wrote an opinion on the topic.† The lack of supporting punctuation in the identification of the writer of the opinion is an error. This mistake is common when appositives are involved. An appositive is a word or phrase that is equivalent in meaning to another; in this case, â€Å"the site’s editor† and â€Å"Mary Smith† are different ways of referring to the same person, so they are appositives. (Similarly, in â€Å"The car, a brand-new Tesla, attracted much attention,† â€Å"the car† and â€Å"a brand-new Tesla† are appositives.) â€Å"The site’s editor, Mary Smith, wrote an opinion on the topic† and â€Å"Mary Smith, the site’s editor, wrote an opinion on the topic† both present additional information that is not essential to the sentence (and therefore is set off parenthetically by a pair of commas). Each one also unequivocally identifies Mary Smith as the sole editor of the site. (However, whether that means she is the only person who edits content on the site or she holds the specific position of editor and supervises one or more assistant editors is not certain; it would be better, if the latter is true, for her to hold a more distinctive title, such as â€Å"editor in chief.†) By contrast, the original wording is flawed, in that the appositives, or equivalent phrases, â€Å"the site’s editor† and â€Å"Mary Smith,† butt up against each other without intervening punctuation. (In the preceding sentence, appositives and â€Å"equivalent phrases† are themselves appositives.) The similar-looking but distinct construction in â€Å"Site editor Mary Smith wrote an opinion on the topic,† however, is correct, in that â€Å"site editor† is a job description that is essential to understanding Smith’s role in writing the opinion, rather than a parenthetical explanation that can be omitted. This version, though, also makes it unclear whether Smith is the only editor; is she the editor, or an editor? To indicate the latter, â€Å"Mary Smith, one of the site’s editors, wrote an opinion on the topic† or â€Å"Mary Smith, a site editor, wrote an opinion on the topic† is better. The original problem is related to that inherent in a sentence such as â€Å"John’s sister Jane is getting married.† The sentence may not accurately reflect how many sisters John has. As it is written, Jane is only one of two or more sisters; the lack of a comma between sister and Jane indicates that her name is essential information: The sister of John who is named Jane is getting married. â€Å"John’s sister, Jane, is getting married,† on the other hand, includes an optional parenthesis: John’s sister, whose name is Jane, is getting married. Depending on context, appositives may or may not be set off from each other by commas or other punctuation. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point Arc80 Idioms with the Word TimeHow to Send Tactful Emails from a Technical Support Desk

DQ 4 Secondary Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DQ 4 Secondary Research - Essay Example Misleading - Secondary data is often misleading for the researcher as it is that this data had been collected for another purpose. It is merely the interpretation of primary data. The researcher should look from this point of view to understand the difference. Non-updated - Secondary data is collected from old sources. Therefore there sources may not be applicable for current needs. The researcher should check the date and time of publishing to find if the research still applicable or not. Difference in units of measurement - A researcher may mistakenly use the secondary research in his/her own units of measurement without realizing that they were in different units. The researcher should convert the units into the ones that he/she requires. Accuracy - The quality of secondary data depends on who had collected the data and how it was collected. The researcher has to be sure of the accuracy of the data before using it. Therefore the researcher should use renowned sources only to maintain the accuracy of the research. Costly - If secondary data is taken from corporate libraries or archives, the researcher would have to spend hefty sums to gain access to such libraries and archives. Non-paid websites and other sources can be used however authenticity and reliability must also be checked for. UWB is trying to launch a new product and for that purpose it hired a

Discuss the importance to businesses of having a good knowledge of Essay

Discuss the importance to businesses of having a good knowledge of elasticity's for planning and pricing policies, using examples and diagrams as appropriate - Essay Example th a price elasticity of 1.5, a 10 percent increase in the price of a bar of bath soap would cause a 15 per cent drop in the quantity demanded of the product based on the formula E = ΔQ / ΔP. The demand is relatively elastic (the demand curve is somewhat flat) if it is greater than 1, such as the one shown in the graph below, and relatively inelastic if less than 1, such as 0.9. Cross elasticity of demand is used when one products affects another because they are either complements or substitutes. An example would be coffee and sugar which are complements because an increase in demand in coffee raises the demand for sugar. So instead of the quantity demanded of coffee changing as its own price changes, we measure the quantity demanded of coffee to a change in the price of sugar. If we take another example, such as a cross elasticity of 2.0 for PC in relation to a printer. If the price of computer printers fell 3 per cent, demand for laptop will rise 6 per cent because the cross price elasticity is -2. These products are complements. In case of substitutes, a drop in the price of Japanese cameras will cause the quantity demanded of American cameras to drop. 1.3 Income elasticity of demand. When an individuals income increases, his demand for a computer laptop, for example, increases if the product is a normal good. If it is an inferior good such as canned sardines, an increase in income will reduce the quantity demanded of sardines because the individual might prefer to consume steak or chicken instead. If the demand is very elastic - that is, the elasticity is much higher than 1.0, lets say 3.0 - any increase in the price of a commodity or service would result in a loss of revenues for the marketer. This is because a 10 per cent increase in price would trigger a reduction in quantity demanded of 30 per cent. On the other hand, if the firm reduces his price, this can result in a three-fold increase in the quantity demanded, and therefore he makes more

College Education Essay Example for Free

College Education Essay In his essay entitled â€Å"How to Get a College Education†, Jeffrey Hart described the negative effect of Allan Bloom’s book The Closing of the American Mind on his Dartmouth freshman composition course students. These students, Ivy-leaguers and top test scorers, disliked the book’s criticism of their mentality but at the behest of Hart’s impromptu oral quizzing, could not adequately discuss historical figures and events. Although Hart’s freshman class realized the gaps in their education, Hart asks what a real college education is, deplores the advent of specialization, and discusses what does or does not constitute real education. Hart’s concern with education lies with the end result: to produce a citizen. But while Hart gives excellent examples for what subjects he thinks constitute a real education in light of telos, a goal, he implies, rather than specifies, that such an education must cater to proactive, independent thought over ideologically based curriculum and courses. It is through well-rounded, balanced independent thought, Hart argues, that a citizen who can â€Å"recreate his civilization† be made. In the first example, Hart names a curriculum engaged in â€Å"so-called post modernist thought† as something to avoid. It is one of the three â€Å"intellectual fads†, in which the use of the word â€Å"fad† describes a fashionable conduct as enthusiastically followed by a group. This way, Hart indirectly refers to post modernist thought as ideological and lacking in independent thought. The second â€Å"fad† refers to Affirmative Action, which Hart describes as an â€Å"ethos† or â€Å"mentality†. â€Å"Ethos† describes the disposition of a culture or a group, and â€Å"mentality† refers to the set of a person or a group’s mind; and both words conjure a certain blindness that Affirmative Action is supposed to fight. Again, Hart reflects on the dearth of nuance and consideration in such courses. Thirdly, Hart directly mentions ideology when he writes about Marxism, victimology, and identity politics, in which â€Å"scholarly pursuit† is put aside in deference to â€Å"’Studies’ programs†. Hart calls many of these courses â€Å"nonsense† and â€Å"distraction†, but fails to directly write that the single underlying theme of such courses is that because they operate under an ideology, they do not foster free thinking and independent rationality. Hart underlines his position for independent rationality by going on to discuss courses and curricula that he thinks support the end goal of citizenship. Rationality is implied when Hart takes on the subject of requiring a student to know and understanding themes in civilization, a task that maneuvers beyond mere adherence to ideological standards. The student must know his civilization: â€Å".. its important areas of thought, its philosophical and religious controversies, the outline of its history and its major works. The citizen need not know quantum physics, but he should know that it is there and what it means. Once the citizen knows the shape, the narrative, of his civilization, he is able to locate new things — and other civilizations — in relation to it. † By referring to controversies, major works, and narrative, Hart’s stance on education is of well-roundedness, independent thought, and being comfortable on differing sides of issues—a stance not suitable to the ideologically minded. Hart makes connections to Athens and Jerusalem in order to outline how a student may develop her college education. Both Athens and Jerusalem were and are centers of independent thought. Athens refers to the ancient Greek capital in which rational thought, philosophy, and democracy were birthed; it was the birthplace of philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle: Of things useful and necessary only those that are free should be taught, and the young should partake in nothing of a vulgar, mechanical sort or that will render body, soul, or thought unfit for virtue. (Philips 154). Jerusalem, since the reign of Solomon, has been the spiritual capital of three major religions in the world today. Independent thought emerges out of Jerusalem in the guise of Abraham who sought argument with God, and Jesus, who argued and fought with the spiritual leaders priests and scribes, or Pharisees and Sadducees—of his day (Columbia). A student, dynamically engaged with both scientifically rational and enlighteningly spiritual sides, can succeed in mastering themes of his or her civilization with independence of thought rather than subsisting on an ideological track. Such a student would be able to carve for him or herself a true education with a goal of not being simply educated, but a goal of becoming an involved, active citizen of society, and of a civilization. Hart discusses China as a final example to his essay. Hart reminds us that one could consider China, who has lacked the dynamic interaction between science and spirituality, and who is world renowned for its collectivist culture, one in which independent thought is frowned upon. Again, Hart does not directly mention this, but references it with mentioning China with its â€Å"symbols†: Great Wall and Forbidden City. REFERENCES Jerusalem. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2007. Philips, Peter L. The Politics of Aristotle. University of North Carolina Press, 1997

Ah, Woe Is Me :: essays research papers

Ah, Woe Is Me A) Summary of The Story: In the beginning of this short story we are introduced to Sarah, an aging black servant living in South Africa. She works hard for an upper-class white family and spends all of her money on education for her three children who are sent to a boarding school. They come home once a year at Christmas, and the first time the narrator meets the children, she is surprised at their well-mannered behaviour. She finds, however, that Sarah is a bit harsh towards them, and she comments on this. Sarah tells her that it is better to learn the lesson now and grow to accept one's fate later. In the course of the following year, Sarah must give up her job because of her legs, and one day her daughter comes to the house. Slowly she tells her story to the narrator. How the younger brother is working now, and how she is taking care of Sarah. The narrator offers her some clothes and some money and invites her inside for a cup of tea. When she is about to leave, she starts crying and can only mutter that her mother is very ill. Unsure of what to do, the narrator hands her a handkerchief. B) An Essay About the Text: The setting in this story is South Africa in the 1950's. Apartheid and segregation are words that describe the conditions under which the blacks (the native Africans) live perfectly. The blacks nearly have no rights and must accept being oppressed by the whites. Sarah is only one of many poor blacks who only just manages to earn a living by working as a servant for a rich white family (the narrator). Slavery does not exist anymore, but it can be difficult to distuingish the life of a slave from that of a native African in the 50's except from the fact that they do after all get paid for their work. Sarah is very concerned about her children getting a good education. She probably wants them to have a better life than she has had so far, and while that is a very noble thought, the facts speak against it. Her children do not at this time have a very good (if any) chance of getting a good solid education because it is very expensive, and their mother does not make that much money. Even if she did make enough money, her legs are bad, and at the end of the story, she has to give up her job (and thus take her children out of the boarding

Two stories that show divisions or conflicts within communities

Both of the stories ‘The train from Rhodesia' and ‘Leela's Friend' illustrate divisions of classes and some of them result in conflicts. ‘The train from Rhodesia' is in an allegory form to convey the deep hatred of the author towards her racially divided home country – apartheid. ‘Leela's Friend' shows the class division by demonstrating the prejudice that people have on those who are low in hierarchy. ‘The train from Rhodesia' is about a train from Rhodesia ‘calling' into the station with all the white passengers on it and there are the vendors who crowd round the train trying to sell their wares. The train is personified by using verbs such as ‘creaking, jerking, jostling, gasping' and saying it has ‘a dwindling body behind it'. This emphasizes the classes divisions between the rich passengers on the train and the poor sellers in the station. The poverty of black people seems to be the reason for division. The ‘creases' in stationmaster's uniform and his ‘barefoot children' all give the impression of scarcity in the people inside the station. However, the girl on the train was ‘throwing' a ‘hard kind' chocolate to the dogs. This use of antithesis here accentuates the division – not only in class – but also in poverty. There is also contrast of the attitudes and feelings of the young man and the young woman. The twist of story at the end is that the young woman's rejection of the lion carving which her husband has bought for her and which she obviously admires. The man is ‘arguing with him for fun' while the woman's face is ‘drawn up, wryly, like the face of a discomforted child'. The use of oxymoron in the epiphany of the woman and the shocked man here show another division due to the different views and opinions upon the way of treating poor black people. Gordimer describes the people and the setting in the third-person but does show us the young woman's point of view on several occasions. For instance, in line 168-169 there is no subject ‘she' in the description of shame upon her. This emphasizes the guilty among some white people about the exploitation of the country and also made the reader feel empathetic towards the young woman. The ‘majestic' and ‘heraldic' lion was ‘fallen on its side in the corner' lead the main theme of the story – the richer and privileged white European arrive and exploit South Africa's labour and move on, they are never really part of the country as the train symbolizes. The central narrative question in ‘Leela's Friend' is ‘Did Sidda steal the gold chain? ‘ He is been prejudiced by Mr. and Mrs. Sivasanker for the missing chain of Leela just because he is the only one servant of the house. The story circles around the sense of hierarchy and honesty and directness of children. The sense of level is shown in the beginning of the story while ‘Mr Sivsanker was standing in the front veranda of his house. ‘ Also, verbs such as ‘send' and ‘keep' imply a pet imagery of Sidda and this highlights the class divisions among the servant and his master. Narayan use an irony in positioning him in the house: ‘she made him squat on the floor'. Even a 5-year-old child can decide to have Sidda stay and ‘command' him to do whatever you want. This imagery is more symbolized in line 79 and 80 where Leela is represented as ‘little princess' while Sidda is described as her ‘pet'. ‘He looked at her mutely, like an animal. ‘ This pet imagery is used by Narayan throughout the story. The golden chain, the running away, not permitting to sleep in the house all accentuate his level and hierarchy comparing to the owner of the house. He is prejudged as he is ‘already looked queer' when Mrs Sivasanker knows that the chain is missing. Even he has been proved that he has not taken the chain; Mr Sivasanker still calls him a ‘criminal'. All these ironies of prejudice show that the class division within this community and all the cause of this is that Sidda is in a position of servant and therefore loses his right. Both of the stories accentuate the unfairness and injustice upon the weak class as the result of class division and their poverty. ‘The train from Rhodesia' uses the woman's point of view and her epiphany to make the reader feel sympathetic towards the vendor. ‘Leela's Friend' uses the pet imagery to emphasize the idea of classes and prejudice on poors.

Entertainment V. Addiction Essay

There is a definitive and quite distinct difference between wholesome, quality entertainment and addiction. In the novel Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury very clearly states the variation among the two. Through his examples and characters in his story about a very realistic society, he expresses his opinions and almost foresees something quite relevant to society today. However, there will always be those select few who will recognize the worthlessness of mindless propaganda that seems to infect the minds of humankind. Television takes a prominent role in the script of everyday life. Additionally, it takes an even larger role in the lives of the citizens of Bradbury’s metropolis. Actually, it is more of a brain cell cemetery. For example, Mildred, the main character’s (Montag’s) wife, is constantly bombarded with television and radio programs. In fact, three walls in the parlor of the couple’s home have been converted into giant television screens! For Mildred, however, this is not good enough. She whines that having a fourth wall installed would make her happy, and that she couldn’t possibly be happy without it. Her argument is that the installation would only be $2,000 and that in order to earn this money they could just â€Å"do without a few things†. This could be considered addictive, taking into account that she is willing to give up part of the way that she lives in order to further intoxicate her mind and make her even number to the world around her . And as a result of this constant flow of trivial nonsense into her system, she is made to feel as though she is thinking for herself, acting for herself, and having a wonderful time. During the time that Ray Bradbury had written this book, television was a brand new invention. It was not too terribly popular yet, but he thought that it posed a problem. In Ray’s mind, people would be consumed by irrelevant and insignificant programs, which may become habit-forming as time progressed. He wrote of enormous televisions, which we can relate to modern-day flat screens. Bradbury foretold of people becoming reliant on technology, and not being able to ponder life and all of its questions†¦ to just stop and smell the roses! This is all very relatable to modern society,  and it is easy to see where it fits into everyday life. Clarisse, a seventeen year old girl in Fahrenheit 451, is able to show Montag that life does not have to be lived in such a way as to think that being unaware of the world is a good thing. She is able to show him that there are ways to enjoy one’s self without needing anything but an open mind. Clarisse is one of those genuine people who are able to think for themselves, who asks the â€Å"why† instead of the â€Å"how† of things. Furthermore, the intellectuals that Montag meets also have that same zest for life. They are able to understand the importance and necessity of the thoughts of others in the past. These intellectuals realize that a better understanding and perception of life can come from theminds of others. Faber, an exceptionally odd character, is also one of those remarkable people. He is able to realize that true entertainment comes from enjoying life and exploring its mysteries. He is able to find joy in free-thinking and learning in a way that is completely separate from the superficial way of his society. Montag also slowly comes to this great discovery throughout the book. It starts with him just being curious. But isn’t that all it takes to do something great, a spark of curiosity? In conclusion, Mr. Bradbury’s position is clear as crystal in his novel Fahrenheit 451. Entertainment consists of inspiring and enlightening ideas and activities, while addiction can come easily and swiftly from those things that will deaden the mind and will bring nothing of value into the thoughts of mankind. And even though they can be rare, those who are able to look past those things and find the worthwhile substance in life will gain more out of life by being able to look at the world in new ways.

8+ Free Old Official SAT Practice Tests

8+ Free Old Official SAT Practice Tests SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In March2016, the SAT underwent a completeredesign, concentrating more on testing reasoning skills than on obscure vocabulary knowledge. So how do you study for theSAT now thatthere just aren't that many practice tests available? After all, there’s nothing quite like taking actual official SAT tests to get you ready for the real thing. The good news is that many of the questions that appeared on the old SAT format are still completely relevant and a great resource for practicing your skills! In this article, I'll tell you all about which old-format questions to seek out and which to skip. Then I'll give you a huge list of the best places to find free official SAT tests to use for studying. Feature Image:Ed Schipul/Wikipedia What’s the Difference Between the â€Å"Old† and New SAT? Big-Picture Changes The SAT no longer tests your knowledge and skills in isolation. Instead, the College Board has madecontext and reasoning matter much more for questions. For example, instead of testing whether you know a grammar rule by giving you several unrelated sentences, multiple grammar questions now come from a single passage. Also, there areno â€Å"trick† questions - in other words, questionswith purposefully confusing wording meant totrip you up even if you did actually know the skill being tested. To see a detailed explanation of all the changes, check out our extensive guide to the new SAT. Small-Scale Changes On a more granular level, although each SAT section has been redesigned, different sections have been changedin different degrees.This is great news!For many new SAT sections, old SAT question are still a relevant and useful study resource. In the restof the article, I will go through each section and explain which old SAT questions you can use to study. But first, I have some general advice about how to get the most benefit out of the old SAT as you prepare for your SAT exam. It's the small things that make up the big things. Like the yellow flowers in that bouquet. (E.mil.mil/Wikipedia) Can You Really Use the Old SAT to Study for the CurrentOne? However you end up studying for the SAT (check out our guide to finding the best testing strategy for you), you will certainly use these two techniques: boosting weak skills by practicing many questions that test those skills simulating testing conditions by taking a full SAT test in one sitting Because the format and timing of the old test arefairly different, it can't really help you with test-day conditioning – use the currentSAT tests for that. But since many of the questions and question types remain the same, the old tests are excellent for honing individual skills. As much as possible, you should use official SAT tests from the College Board rather than those written by other companies. Because they have gone through the same writing and editing process as the questions you'll encounter on the actual test, these old tests come closest to reproducing what you will encounter on test day. Also, because they have been officially released by the College Board, there is no question about their quality. On the other hand, it's not always clear whether another company can sufficiently mimic the College Board's approach, style, or wording. By sticking with the official tests, you don’t have to worry about evaluating third-party work. Finally, please note: the SAT underwent a big redesign in 2005 as well. So when talking about the old tests below, I will say "pre-2005" and "post-2005" todifferentiate between the two old versions of the SAT. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today! Which Sections of Old SATs Should I Use to Study? Here’s a breakdown of all of the SAT sections, in order from least to greatest difference between the old and currenttests, as well as explanations abouthow you can effectively use older tests to study. Math Section The math section is the most unchanged. There is less geometry on the current SAT than on the old ones, and some basic trigonometry has been added. Also, there's now a no-calculator section. Current SATQuestion Types: a small number of trigonometry questions more questions about interpreting graphs and charts multiple-step questions based on a real-world scenario Old Questions to Study: Almost all math problems from old tests.There's no need to pick and choose very much, so feel free to study almost allmath questions you come across. Old Questions to Skip Entirely: Comparisons (pre-2005 tests).These are questions that ask you to compare the value of two boxes: Logic puzzles (all old tests).These are questions not directly based on math you learned in school. If you can confidently identify these types of questions, skip them because they donot appear on the currenttest. For example: After public resistance, the controversial new "do a long jump while computing the distance of your long jump" task has been tabled for now. Writing and Language Section The old Reading and Writing sections are now onesection called "Writing and Language." It still has questions about reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary. But all questions arepassage-based and rely on your ability to determine meaning from context. Current SAT Question Types: all reading questions are based on passages grammar and writing logic questions are also all passage-based some questions require interpreting data (in graph or chart form) Old Questions to Study: Passage-Based Reading (all old tests).The current-test version of these isnot exactly the same, but theyare still great practice for learning to quickly find the meaning and argument structure of a given passage. Improving Paragraphs (post-2005 tests). These ask you to read a passage and then edit its grammar and logic: Old Questions to Use to Brush Up on Key Concepts: The old isolated-sentence grammar and syntax questions are nowless helpful, but you can still use them to refresh your understanding of proper usage, grammar, and punctuation. Just don't use them as real test practice. Sentence Errors (post-2005 tests). These ask you to identify a grammar or punctuation mistake in an isolated sentence: Improving Sentences (post-2005 tests). These ask you to edit isolated sentences: Old Questions to Skip Entirely: Analogies (pre-2005 tests). These ask you to compare the relationships of paired words: Sentence Completions (post-2005 tests). These ask you to find the best words to fill blanks in sentences: Feel free to also skip any questions from the pre-1369 A.D. version of the SAT. The Essay Section The current essay is 50 minutes long, andit ismuch closer to the kind of analytical writing you've been doing in high school all along. The essay gives you a passage and thenasks you to write abouthow theauthor builds theargument.This is one place where the old tests simply will not help. Instead, you should brush up on your understanding of rhetorical devices, structure, and the uses of evidence. The study of rhetoric apparently involves both a book, an enormous fighting staff, and maybe... a feather on your head? You've been warned. Free Old Tests From the College Board Post-2005 Tests: SAT Practice Test (2013-2014)Test | Answers SAT Practice Test (2012-2013)Test | Answers SAT Practice Test (2007-2008)Test | Answers SAT Practice Test (2005)Test | Answers Pre-2005 Tests: SAT Practice Test (2004)Download | Answers SAT Practice Test (2003-2004)Download | Answers SAT Practice Test (May 2002)Download SAT Practice Test (October 2001)Download Other Potential Sources of Old SAT Tests The bookThe Official SAT Study Guide, Second Edition, which features 10 more official SAT tests from the College Board. The book is not free (it's currently $45 new on Amazon, though you can get it for much cheaper used). On the other hand, the internet is a vast and wondrous place, and you may be able to find slightly less authorized but nevertheless completely official old SAT tests if you poke around a little. Try searching for "free old SAT tests" and looking past the first couple of pages of Google results to the less commercial corners of the web. "Which corner isleast commercial?" asked the fly. "Try the middle," replied the spider. Conclusion Old SAT tests still have an important role to play as you study for the SAT. To simulate test-day conditions, definitelyuse currentofficial tests. Butold tests are perfect for extra practice with realistic reading passages and math questions. What’s Next? Wondering how best to study for the SAT? Download our dedicated guide to figuring out which SAT prep method is best for you. Worried that the SAT is not the right test for you altogether? Let us help you decide between the SAT and ACT by explaining which students should take which test. 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Accounting Investors and Earnings Management

This study deals with analyzing the current issues in accounting field (Miller and Power 2013). In this particular assignment, emphasis has been given on bringing out the real causes behind the collapse faced by Dick Smith Electronics. The current segment discuses various accounting related issues that Dick Smith had to face because of unpredictable situations that come their way. This particular company is based in Australia and deals in selling electronic products to the potential customers (Messier 2016). One of the major issues that the company faced is the excess stock-in-hand that was not required by them. They faced several complaints from the customers claiming that delivery was not done for weeks. This present segment elucidates bringing together all the potential issues faced by the company and the reason for the cause at the same time. At the end, proper recommended actions have been given that will help Dick Smith in getting over with this situation within a short span of time (Lukka and Vinnari 2014). Dick Smith Holdings Limited is one of the Australian-based retail chain companies that sell consumer electronic goods, electronic project kits as well as hobbyist electronic components (Dicksmith.com 2017). This particular company had expanded in New Zealand as well as other countries. By the year 2016, Kogan, an online retailer has traded under the brand name (Dick Smith) and started online operations and covering countries such as Australia and New Zealand (Jindrichovska and Kubickova 2015). This report will be discussing the current accounting related issues faced by the retail giant who sell electronic components known as Dick Smith (Hunton, Mauldin and Wheeler 2015). This company was alleged by many people after the Collapse. This study will discuss regarding what made Dick Smith face the issues and the reason behind the same (Dicksmith.com 2017). Below is the reason with proper justification: From the administrator statement, it is clearly mentioned by McGrathNicol who sets out opinion on the reason for business falling for some time (Hunton, Libby and Mazza 2015). In this case, receivers as well as administrators work with the wreckage of Dick Smith collapse. Addition to that, the responsibility of rebates from suppliers majorly influences administration while undertaking purchasing decision. It requires understanding their capability to mask the actuality of income information in a clear manner. In the year 2014-2015, more than $72 Million reported as earnings before interest, reduction as well as tax and amortization. After excluding rebates and promotion subsidy, this figures will be accustomed to a $ 119 Million EBITDA loss (Henderson et al. 2015). The auditors signed off on Dick Smith financial records in the year 2015. This reveals that intentional administrators were selected for treating the accounting concepts in the recent field of secretarial (Gupta, Chiles and McMullen 2016). There was lot of consequences found at the time of accounting treatment of rebates as a part of Dick Smith collapse. Rebates were one of the current issues that are faced by Dick Smith (Dicksmith.com 2017). In the recent financial year, Target was in spotlight by their accounting team by way of treating rebates resulting to inflated earnings. Addition to that, Wesfarmers Limited had investigated the issue whereby several staff members left the organization at that time (Francis, Hasan and Wu 2013). In Britain, one of the giant retailers named as Tesco Multinational Corporation was alerted to issues with the secretarial action of rebates in the year 2014 after whistleblower contacted with the corporation universal counsel (Elliott et al. 2013). Tesco Multinational Corporation flagged it as presenting the overstated figures of first half profits. This was found at the time when it has viewed from an exaggeration of level of presentation for prior three monetary years. In this case, Tesco Multinational Corporation is still under examination by Serious Fraud Office as well as Financial Reporting Council (Hunton, Mauldin and Wheeler 2015). Some of the issues arise from interpreting accounting standards resulting from numerous entities especially in frequent jurisdiction. These are well known as well as unstated within the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) framework (Deegan 2013). The ubiquitousness of the problems as well as subjectivity of global accounting standards is consistent in nature (Coad, Jack and Kholeif 2015). This ensures high level of consistency as well as apparent submission is likely to little console to Dick Smith. This company has 3300 former human resources based in Australia as well as New Zealand or the investors who are set for losing their cash. Management at Dick Smith is anticipating the possible consequences that need to be considered as far as possible (Dicksmith.com 2017). According to Professor, they had flagged the audit quality as a problem. These professors were of the opinion that audit profession for understanding the addressed shortfalls in audit quality (Christensen, Nikolaev and Wittenberg?Moerman 2016). Addition to that, new accounting standard will definitely clarify the principles for revenue recognition that will be affected by 2018. In this theory, it will mainly address the issues concerned with the treatment of rebate. Therefore, it mainly relies upon introducing new accounting standards (Dicksmith.com 2017). The accounting occupation will be bound by code of principles that mentions accountants act meeting the public attention for a good reason (Bonin 2013). In other words, the code provides principles as supported by professionals who are responsible for navigating in the complex business environments. This will help in taking business decisions like treatment of revenue as well as inventory that will fulfill with strict request of standards and law. This will comply with the spirit for achieving the objectives (Bebbington, Unerman and O'Dwyer 2014). Most of the company faces failure that has the potential for undermining the profession constant whereby principles relies upon based approach and more on regulations (Beattie 2014). In other words, there is no doubt that increased regulation will reach at the tipping point. It strongly depends upon the warning against the tick the box mentality as well as potential for more adverse outcomes. It is the fact whereby financial regulators are getting frustrated from the content of intervention by the government (Hunton, Libby and Mazza 2015). Addition to that, accounting profession will bring value as well as expertise to business and society in broadly aspect. This majorly occupies the position of trust in and among the community people. It means being entrusted with such social science that take place from huge responsibilities as well as high expectations (Ball 2013). As rightly put forward by Deegan (2013), it was announced by the Senate regarding an injury in terms of orientation that majorly covers up the collapse of Dick Smith Electronics. There had been lot of senators who pore over ways that floated towards failure of Dick Smith. As far as economic theory is concerned, it explains the failure of Dick Smith as it is consistent with a dynamic economy (Dicksmith.com 2017). Addition to that, it is necessary in understanding the business that do not particularly utilize economic resources in an efficient way as compared to its competitors. Therefore, the failure is widely linked with the series of ugly looking proceedings that are conflicting in a inefficient market. According to Deegan (2013), Senate discuses on the good opportunity that needs to be discussed by considering issues that make Australia like a nasty place for investing in shares. This includes: In the year 2012, it has been viewed that Anchorage Capital had purchased Dick Smith business from the other retail giant in Australia known as Woolworths Limited amounting to $ 115 Million (Hunton, Libby and Mazza 2015). By the year 2013, Dick Smith was floated with market capitalization amounting to $ 520 Million. This float was from the greatest private equity heist whereby the Founder of Dick Smith gets involved in describing the utter greed and unethical in their practices (Dicksmith.com 2017). There is divergent of financial information surrounding sale of Woolworths Limited of Dick Smith business to Anchorage (Hunton, Mauldin and Wheeler 2015). This reveals the fact that the parties did not agree on the book values of Dick Smith record at that particular time of sale transactions. Addition to that, the parties have irreconcilable accounting at those particular transactions. It has been reported that Woolworths Limited claims it by making it a small gain after a sequence of devaluations as well as requirements. Therefore, Anchorage claims for making gain of $ 146 Million as it brought business in a given reduction to the fair value of net property (Lukka and Vinnari 2014). There has been subsequent financial information that concerned inventory in timely manner. In the year 2015, Dick Smith astonished the market by declaring the company requires inventory write-down of $ 60 Million for 3 months as mentioned in the financial statements. In the same year, it was found that the company was audited bit with no adverse findings (Hunton, Libby and Mazza 2015). Most of the retail industry including Dick Smith is accused of chasing rebates by way of inflating profits at faster pace (Hunton, Libby and Mazza 2015). Addition to that, Australian retailers had even experienced a tough year by way of facing severe competition by tumbling prices as well as weekly dollar. It is also noticed that there is huge pressure on the Senior Management leader within the retailers who are turning those business with a view to become successful in shorter period. Even though, new accounting standards that will be coming up by the year 2018, will give clear idea on how revenue such as rebates will be best accounted for in any situation (Hunton, Mauldin and Wheeler 2015). Some of the protected creditors decide regarding whether offers for selling a commerce can be satisfactory or not (Hunton, Libby and Mazza 2015). This can be understood as only banks and receivers will have actual information regarding any types of offers. This means economic incentive of banks in a given company will find ways for maximizing their payoff and come at a cost for the sake of other stakeholders. It requires more number of days when receivers as well as administrators will appoint Dick Smith. This will take place by collecting financial information from shareholders as well as unsecured creditors in the most appropriate way (Lukka and Vinnari 2014).   The collapse of electronics retail sequence named as Dick Smith has sent shockwaves from the retail business. Some of the recommended measures are mentioned below that will help in overcoming the current situation. Inventory Management- Managing Inventory is essential for solving the issues faced by Dick Smith. Dick Smith inventory problems started to increase in the second half of 2015. This company had even revealed the fact that they would write down the value of its inventory at 20% amounting to $ 60 Million. The company declared that they bought stock anticipating of certain level of sales that they will achieve in near future. They failed in achieving the sales target and they are finding ways for clearing the stock as far as possible. Dick Smith followed the write down and labeled a mammoth clearance sale. They had prices on old stock slash by more than 70%. Addition to that, Dick Smith had explored alternative funding. Even though the directors of the company was of opinion that alternative funding will not be supported by short-term funding requirements as well as allows Dick Smith in ordering required stock for next 4 to 6 weeks. Therefore, Dick Smith had struggled enough in clearing out excess old inventory as well as securing finance for purchasing new stock. Role of private equity floats- This explains that role of private equity group Anchorage Capital in Dick Smith aims at providing essential context to the retailer collapse. This indicate that private equity floats that cannot be otherwise visible. Addition to that, Anchorage purchased Dick Smith business from the Australian retail giant (Woolworths Limited) for $ 115 Million in the year 2012. They aid $ 20 Million upfront as well as floated the company on ASX by the year 2013. They had the market valuation of $ 520 Million. Management of Dick Smith discusses in undertaking turnaround programs for bringing improvement in company cash flow problems. Within the time span, Dick Smith debuted on ASX listings staring with a price of $ 2.20. Initial public offering of Dick Smith was overvalued at first place. Customer Service is important in a competitive market- It is essential in considering the fact that consumer electronics market is Australia is extremely competitive market whereby customer service plays major role. In one of the case, it was posted on the Facebook by an angry customer who claimed that online orders had not been delivered. This was for a week’s whereby customer representatives hung on phone for resolving the query. There will be lot of complaints by the customers that needs to be resolved by the retailers who compete in this global marketplace. Most of the retailers receive high volume of customer complaints at the time of busy trading periods. This will take place whereby company running in a huge sale but it is the responsibility of the representatives in solving the query of customer without any delay. In this case, Dick Smith faced the same query by the market at the time of downgrading of market values. At the end of the study, it is concluded that Dick Smith faced various accounting issues that is needed to be resolved at urgent note. Dick Smith had fallen by more than 80% at the time it got listed in Australian Stock Exchange. This company was even placed in liquidation by their creditors as they were suffering a loss of $ 260 Million. Finally, the founder of Dick Smith dismay at the closure as well as put it down to the utter greed of modern capitalism. The above analysis had given detailed presentation of the issues with recommended actions. These actions should be taken into consideration by Dick Smith for bringing smooth operation of business enterprise. In case of Dick Smith, the court heard that the management selects its products for maximization of rebate. This is the money that retailers will get from the suppliers for keeping the stock as well as promoting the goods at the same time. Ball, R., 2013. Accounting informs investors and earnings management is rife: Two questionable beliefs.  Accounting Horizons,  27(4), pp.847-853. Beattie, V., 2014. Accounting narratives and the narrative turn in accounting research: Issues, theory, methodology, methods and a research framework.  The British Accounting Review,  46(2), pp.111-134. Bebbington, J., Unerman, J. and O'Dwyer, B., 2014.  Sustainability accounting and accountability. Routledge. Bonin, H., 2013.  Generational accounting: theory and application. Springer Science & Business Media. Christensen, H.B., Nikolaev, V.V. and Wittenberg?Moerman, R., 2016. Accounting information in financial contracting: The incomplete contract theory perspective.  Journal of Accounting Research,  54(2), pp.397-435. Coad, A., Jack, L. and Kholeif, A.O.R., 2015. Structuration theory: reflections on its further potential for management accounting research.  Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management,  12(2), pp.153-171. Crawford, E.R. and Lepine, J.A., 2013. A configural theory of team processes: Accounting for the structure of taskwork and teamwork.  Academy of Management Review,  38(1), pp.32-48. Deegan, C., 2013.  Financial accounting theory. McGraw-Hill Education Australia. Dicksmith.com. (2017).  Dick Smith Automotive Group serving Columbia, Lexington, St. Andrews, Greenville, Charleston, and Moncks Corner, South Carolina. [online] Available at: https://www.dicksmith.com [Accessed 17 Jan. 2017]. Elliott, W.B., Jackson, K.E., Peecher, M.E. and White, B.J., 2013. The unintended effect of corporate social responsibility performance on investors' estimates of fundamental value.  The Accounting Review,  89(1), pp.275-302. Francis, B., Hasan, I. and Wu, Q., 2013. The benefits of conservative accounting to shareholders: Evidence from the financial crisis.  Accounting Horizons,  27(2), pp.319-346. Gupta, V.K., Chiles, T.H. and McMullen, J.S., 2016. A process perspective on evaluating and conducting effectual entrepreneurship research.  Academy of Management Review,  41(3), pp.540-544. Henderson, S., Peirson, G., Herbohn, K. and Howieson, B., 2015.  Issues in financial accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU. Hunton, J.E., Libby, R. and Mazza, C., 2015. Retraction: Financial Reporting Transparency and Earnings Management.  The Accounting Review,  90(4), pp.1711-1711. Hunton, J.E., Mauldin, E.G. and Wheeler, P.R., 2015. Retraction: Potential Functional and Dysfunctional Effects of Continuous Monitoring.  The Accounting Review,  90(4), pp.1709-1709. Jindrichovska, I. and Kubickova, D., 2015. Czech accounting academia and practice: historical roots and current issues.  Accounting and Management Information Systems,  14(2), pp.328-361. Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015.  Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Lukka, K. and Vinnari, E., 2014. Domain theory and method theory in management accounting research.  Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal,  27(8), pp.1308-1338. Messier Jr, W., 2016.  Auditing & assurance services: A systematic approach. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Miller, P. and Power, M., 2013. Accounting, organizing, and economizing: Connecting accounting research and organization theory.  The Academy of Management Annals,  7(1), pp.557-605. End your doubt 'should I pay someone to do my dissertation by availing dissertation writing services from

ART 101 MOD 3 SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ART 101 MOD 3 SLP - Essay Example Abstract method can be described as a matrix. Some identifiable common characteristics include: Keith Garrow, born in England in 1962 is a modern-day abstract artist. He graduated in Fine Art in Nottingham in 1987. His work primarily is heavily influenced by American Abstract Expressionists like Jackson Pollock gives equivalent importance to both the finished work itself as the expressive, creative process behind it. Despite the ambiguity synonymous to all abstract work, his composition stands out for me since the abstract forms can be clearly seen in the final work and evokes different reactions and meanings to different people. The abstract forms revolve between abstraction and figuration, providing to the observer a launch pad for their imagination to tap into deeply buried personal past events as well as emotional resonance. This piece immediately captured my attention. In the painting, I perceive two persons, a pool and a snake. Viewing the painting horizontally from left to right and imposing some sense of geography in the same order, you can see the snake with its fangs widely stretched Spitting blue-like poison. Slightly above and below the pool is a boy. The painting draws to mind events of the unfortunate pool incident that cost the life of my beloved childhood friend, John. Ten years ago, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, while swimming, as was our tradition, John bizarrely started oozing blood from his nose. The pathologist was later to affirm that he died of an acute heart attack caused by rupture of the heart’s wall. I remember vividly how I had vowed not to lose the lap race and was so consumed with this, as not to notice when john almost 3/4 pool length ahead of me was struggling. The red anvil like object almost intuitively takes the form of my selfishness, and how it lies above the head of the boy pain-strikingly evidence of my guilt for losing him. Can you spot me, the white girl doing a stroke? I have

Being Aware of Effective Leadership Research Paper

Being Aware of Effective Leadership - Research Paper Example However, even those theorists have not come up with conclusive evidence as to who is an effective leader. For example, trait theorists cannot explain how individuals with similar traits perform differently in different situations or an agreed set of traits that make up great leaders. This paper will try to discuss effective leadership using one of the great leaders in history; Bill Gates. The Microsoft Corporation was founded in 1975 by two young individuals Bill Gates and Paul Allen and has grown to be a giant in the industry. William H. Gates III was born in October 28, 1955 in Seattle Washington. He was the only son of William Gates II a well known and accomplished attorney. Since his early childhood gates was very intelligent and astonished with computers. His parents wanted him to pursue a law career but that was never to be as he was more interested in computers. He was enrolled in a public school but was later transferred to lakeside school since his parents wanted him to have a more challenging environment which matched his exceptional abilities. It was while there that Bill began his journey as an inventor and a great entrepreneur. He and his friend Paul Allen took time to study computer programming by themselves and began writing computer programs (Wallace, 1992). Gates was enrolled in Harvard University in 1973 where he continued pursuing his interest in computer programming. When an opportunity arose, he quit college to pursue his career. This came about through a cover story on popular electronics magazine which carried a cover story on a microcomputer, the Altair, made by the MITS firm in New Mexico. He and his colleague Allen offered to develop an interpreter for the program; Microsoft BASIC interpreter. In 1975 they founded the Microsoft Company which is now the largest personal computer software company (Gates, 1996). He became the chief executive officer, chief software architect, chairman and the largest individual shareholder until the year 2000 when he stepped down as the CEO but retained the chairmanship of the Board. He was recognized by the times magazine as one of the 100 people who most influenced the 20th century and one of the 100 most influential people of 2004, 2005 and 2006 (Wallace, 1992). In 1994, he was recognized as the CEO of the year by CEO magazine and in 2011, he was the fifth most powerful person in the world (Forbes, 2012). This is in addition to the numerous honorary degrees he has received from various universities for his exemplary work. Bill Gates has played a great role in driving Microsoft Corporation to where it is today. First, through his efforts and that of Allen they founded the company from scratch with their skills. He was involved in designing software which was the key task in the newly formed company. They started by developing the BASIC interpreter for MITS which allowed individuals to play games among other functions. He also began the idea of charging for the use of software. Tho ugh his idea was unpopular, he persisted and later it became the norm for software developers (Gates, 1996). Gates also developed the Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS) for IBM one of the computer giant companies but retained the right to license other manufacturers. Soon the operating system became the universal standard for personal computers. He was also involved in

Swot analysis Walmart Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Swot analysis Walmart - Research Paper Example Introduction and Overview In this paper, I will focus upon a strategic and comprehensive analysis of the business tactics, market trends and economic trajectories of Wal-Mart, by attempting a SWOT analysis of the company’s pros and cons. Every successful business has their upsides as well negative aspects. A qualitatively superior standard of operation and well-sustained market shares can only be maintained through a balanced adaptation of both to suit particular business issues and requirements. As a leading brand, Wal-Mart has been the center of several business economic, socio-economic and political economic studies and research. An updated analysis of the company’s market strategies, trends and business highlights will be the primary focus of my paper. While Wal-Mart still retains an amount of prestige and holds a position in the market, it cannot be denied that it is no longer the sole retail giant in America. In a global age, the rapid increase of consumer demand has given rise to numerous small, medium and large retail corporations to provide products and customer services with the required speed ad ease to cause serious business threats to Wal-Mart. For more than 45 years, Wal-Mart has been able to remain successfully in the running against stringent rivalry and rising competing foreign market retailers. Its growth has suffered in the past years. Recent figures and statistics are not reassuring. While assessing the company’s varied and diverse business aspects, I will attempt to provide a detailed reading of the same by utilizing the simple but effective SWOT model of business analysis. 2. Methodology and Procedure As stated in the Introduction, the SWOT method of business analysis is simple but highly effective in producing a detailed, comprehensive and objective research on the four major aspects of any, small or big, business: the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. With this methodology, I will attempt a study and analysis of the inner workings and the relevant problems in the operations of Wal-Mart. The effectiveness of the SWOT method lies in its operational dynamics. It penetrates inward into the basic working and process involved in running the companies, ranging from the production to public relations to retail. I intend to apply this procedural business analytic model because I believe every little aspect of a business can be summed up under the four general headings that are the purview of the SWOT model, as mentioned above. In context of Wal-Mart, this method is particularly pertinent as a comparative study of the strengths and weaknesses of a business yields a greater economic and strategic perspective of current market trends. (Pahl & Richter 7) The company gains from an analysis of competitive advantage that is directly relatable to a firm’s performance in the market. A well-balanced and well-thought theoretical methodology ultimately has the capacity to lead to greater prod uctivity and client satisfaction, all resulting in more generation of revenue. (Hao 15) 3. SWOT Analysis of Wal-Mart: A Comprehensive Business Study Before attempting an application of the SWOT model, I will briefly give an overview of the company’s past and present profile. Figure 1. Company Overview (2012) Name Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Industries served Retail Geographic areas served Worldwide Headquarters Bentonville, US Current CEO Mike Duke Revenue $ 466.950 billion (2012) Profit $ 15.699 billion (2012) Employees 2.2 million