The Wretched of the Earth

The Wretched of the Earth Colonialism is an integral part of the history of the planet. It is the reason why so many nations have stark cultural similarities with others. Colonialism is responsible for many people being able to understand each other through speaking the same language. Colonialism was the start of the recent phenomenon called globalization. This earth has seen colonialism for many centuries as far back as ancient Greek and Egyptian civilization. Colonialism, as we know it today however is the domination, acquisition, exploitation, or expansion, of one territory by another territory.This usually means the colonist and the colony are in two separate regions or even two separate continents. It typically includes the subjugation of the people of the land being colonized. This colonizing behavior dates back to the early 1400’s with its roots in Europe which began with the Portuguese and the Spanish. Although colonization was the early globalization, it did not have such a positive impact on everyone as globalization has today. Colonization only benefitted the colonists which are the nations seeking and dominating other lands.Successful colonization meant colonist control of the government, the economy, the labor force, and essentially the lives of the colonized. Unfortunately, not everyone benefitted from this colonization. Those colonized were forced often enslaved and exploited for their nation’s resources. If their military forces were not as powerful as the colonists, they had no chance of keeping their rights as free people. Frantz fanon was born in 1925 in French- ruled Martinique, a small Caribbean island.He was raised in a family that was the equivalence of the bourgeoisie social class. The people in this social class were advocates for White- French assimilation. After being taught the philosophy of negritude, he did not wish to remain a part of this social class. He left Martinique in 1943 to help the Free French fight World W ar III. After this war, Fanon studied Psychiatry at Lyons University in France where he experienced extreme volumes of racism. Fanon accepted a position as ‘Chief of Staff’ in a psychiatric ward of a French hospital.He was responsible for treating distressed officers and soldiers who had been affected psychologically by the Algerian conflict. By 1956, Frantz discontinued his work for the French government in Algeria because of the negative effects their colonization had on the people. He could no longer treat the French in the hospital he worked when they knowingly inflicted torture on the people of Algeria. Once he officially stopped working for the French government, Fanon joined the fight for Algerian independence.During this time, he traveled different nations in Africa to help build their resources. It during this time he published a series of works that were in favor of national rights and anti-colonialism. He wrote the Wretched of the Earth within the last year o f his life. The purpose of this piece was to expose the savagery and the atrocity of colonialism. It explored the psychological effect of colonization and racism as well as a movement to decolonization. In this book, he argues that violence is necessary for independence.The very first chapter of the book, ‘Concerning Violence’, explores several topics. In the first sentence Fanon states, â€Å"National liberation, national renaissance, the restoration of nationhood to the people, commonwealth: whatever may be the headings used or the new formulas introduced, decolonization is always a violent phenomenon. † He is not endorsing violence; he is just letting us know that it is inevitable with liberation as the cause. Fanon teaches us that decolonization sets out to change the order of the world.It is the substitution of one species for another and brings new men, new language and a new humanity. Fanon identifies the different parties of the natives who are involved i n decolonization. These parties are the politicians, the bourgeoisie, and the peasant. The politicians only want to reform colonization not remove it while peasant are the most revolutionary being that they have nothing to lose and the most to gain. According to Fanon, decolonization is the physically removing the control of territory from the colonist back to the people.When Frantz Fanon discusses violence, he means force or aggression. By violence he means something that causes injury whether it is physical or psychological. In all of his descriptions of decolonization, he maintains that violence is a component in achieving them. In our society violence is something that should be avoided by all means necessary. We believe today that violence terminates basic human rights. Fanon openly accepted violence as an ingredient in successful decolonization while others tries to reach that conclusion peacefully.For his open and honest opinion on his take on violence, Fanon is viewed as con troversial. There are many that strongly disagree with his opinion and there are some that believe that his thesis is true but for extreme cases only. The final chapter of the book, ‘Colonial War and Mental Disorders’, Fanon describes his studies in the psychiatric ward of the Algerian hospital. In this chapter he notes how the nature of colonialism affects mental health by describing some of the patients he came in contact with.He used the cases to show the scope of disorders between the colonists and the colonized. He provides multiple series of cases, series A through D. Series A has five cases that all display Algerian or European people who had clear symptoms of the reactionary type of mental disorder. Series B displayed cases that rose while Algeria was in total war. The first case in series B is particularly interesting. It deals with 2 Algerians boys that murdered their European friend. Their reasoning for this was simply because Europeans killed arabs.It is cle ar from these cases why Fanon believes that violence is necessary to overthrow foreign government and for a nation to be independent. The revolutionaries will always meet opposition by the perpetrators of colonialism when fighting for freedom. It is very rare that colonist will give up their colony without a fight. Due to their military strength and technology, colonist can easily stop the freedom fighters but they will not give up without a fight. Without returning the violence, the revolutionaries would not be able to gain and maintain power of their land.When violence occurs in the struggle for freedom, revolutionaries become united. With the continuous build up of tension and advantaged treatment, I believe that violence is inevitable as well. Though this book was a little difficult to get through, the benefit of taking the time to understand is large. I enjoyed learning about world history especially colonialism from a psychological point of view. I would recommend this book to anyone that is completing studies in anything from psychology, politics, sociology, rhetoric and certainly history.

Warrior Leader Course Pa

December 2008 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD SUBJECT: Warrior Leader Course Welcome Letter 1. Congratulations on your selection to attend the Warrior Leader Course at the 3rd BN, 166TH Regiment at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. You will report between the hours of 0800 and 2200 on the ATRRS report date. 2. Effective 10 August 2006 soldiers attending WLC are still required to meet the APFT and HT/WT requirements.However, soldiers who meet academic course requirements, but fail the APFT or HT/WT standards, will be considered a course graduate under the category of marginally achieved course standards. 3. Soldiers that have returned from OIF/OEF within 90 days of reporting to WLC are required to take the APFT. However, prior to the test you will have the option to have the PT test count towards your academic average or not. Soldiers in this category need either their DD 214 or a memorandum from their commander stating that they returned from deployment with in the last 90 days. . Physical re quirements for this course are very demanding. Students must be able to pass the APFT, meet HT/WT standards, carry a 50 pound combat load, low crawl, high crawl, rush for three to five seconds, walk a minimum of 2 miles with combat load and negotiate rough terrain under varying climatic conditions. 5. Soldiers who have a permanent profile designator â€Å"3† or â€Å"4† must include a copy of their DA Form 3349 and the results of their military medical review board (MMRB) as part of their course application.Soldiers who have met the previous criteria may attend WLC and train within the limits of their permanent profile, provided they can otherwise meet course prerequisites and graduation requirements. Soldiers with temporary profiles, with the exception of shaving or nonperformance deterring profiles who have participated in OIF/ OEF can attend WLC provided they have a copy of their current profile and memorandum bearing the commanders signature stating that the tempor ary profile exists as a result of injuries during participation in OIF/ OEF.

Development of Greek Architecture

Same for Doric Style Visual Comparison -List the differences, similarities -Were the circumstances vastly different during the time periods of each (war, peace, etc. )? Conclusion Development of Greek Architecture: The Doric and Ionic Orders Undoubtedly, most eople have had the experience of driving around neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights with their family. We have all seen those humongous, beautiful houses or churches with the winding driveway, tall windows, or columns framing the face of the house.However, very few people may stop to actually examine the homes and wonder about why they were made the way that they were. People may not know of the architectural structures from hundreds of thousands of years ago that are influencing those modern buildings. Columns, for example, are remnants of an era that changed the way that many cultures build structures; the height of Ancient Greece. The Doric and Ionic orders arose during that time and remain a staple in structural design . I will explain the two orders as well as compare them using two different, specific temples.I will also give background information on the architects of each temple, on new ideas that sprung up during this time, and on events that could have influenced the development of structure in Greece and surrounding areas. During the Orientalizing Period in the seventh century, the Greeks built a temple at Prinias that resembled the Mycenaean megaron which travelers may have seen uring a Journey for trade. However, in sixth century BCE, known as the Archaic Period, Greek architects began to look to Egyptian structures such as the columnar halls in Karnak.With these in mind, they began to build the stone columnar temples that have become the iconic Greek style and have influenced architecture throughout the Western world. The basic Greek peristyle temple was put under the intense study of architects and philosophers who were trying the find a way to construct the ‘perfect temple'. Vitr uvius, a Greek writer, documented that both doric and ionic types eveloped while architects were trying to translate the styles of temples that were made of wood, mud bricks, and other less durable materials into stone and marble temples.These would undoubtedly last longer and if they could discover the optimal proportions, they could potentially build their ideal or ‘perfect' temple. People started searching for a mathematical formula that could be used to calculate the correct balance for all parts of the temple, which reflected the thinking of philosopher Pythagoras of Samos. He believed that that beauty resided in the harmony of ratios, so a Greek architect named Iktinos came up with a set roportional scheme that resulted in a formula for the best balanced temple.Within the bounds of this formulaic approach, there developed two systems, or orders of designing the three parts of ‘elevation' in a Greek temple. The three parts are the platform (stylobate), the colonnade , and the superstructure (entablature). The Doric order and the Ionic order differ in the detail and proportions of these parts. Their names are derived from the cultures and areas from which they supposedly originated (Dorians in central and southern Greece and Ionians in Athens and ‘Ionia', the west coast and Asia Minor).Both systems had the basic elements of a Greek temple (elevation from a platform, columns with a fluted shaft and a capital, entablatures with a frieze, a pediment, so on and so forth). The striking differences occurred in the designs ot these elements The Doric order was the tirst to develop during the 6th century. It had a much sturdier, squat look than the later ionic styles. The columns were thick, immense stone cuts that sat atop the stylobate. The fluted shafts were topped with a pancake-looking, simple capital that had a rectangular slab (abacus) between it and the bottom of the entablature.Resting on the columns is the entablature which includes an a rchitrave (closest to the columns), a frieze, a cornice, a pediment, and a raking cornice. (All of these describe the order of the temple from bottom to top). A distinctive feature of the doric order is that the frieze is broken up vertically by triglyphs and metopes. The plain, flat capital also marks a difference between the doric system and other styles. An example of a classic Doric order temple would be the Temple of Hera I which is located in Paestum, Italy (see Image #1).It was constructed around 550 BCE and is 80 feet tall and 170 feet wide. Also referred to as the ‘Basilica', its thick columns (nine across the front and back and eighteen down both sides) are closely spaced and resemble the shape of a cigar because they taper in slightly at the top. They are topped with the flat, circular capitals. Although almost the entire collection of columns remains, the majority of the entablature is no longer there. The Ionic order developed a little after the Doric Order, in th e a different area.The system began with the same basic structure of temple, including a platform or stylobate, columns (which occasionally had a base hat stood out from the shaft), a capital, and an entablature with an architrave, frieze, cornice, and pediment. However, the columns are slightly farther apart from each other and they are also more slender than the doric style. A good way to imagine an ionic temple is of it having ‘lost weight'. They are not significantly taller, but may appear so because thinner columns and spacing. The capital is made of two volutes and resembles the curling ends of a scroll.Some other distinct aspects of the Ionic system are that the frieze is left open and undivided, and also that the architrave is generally subdivided into three bands. As I previously mentioned, ionic temples also had columns with a base that was distinguishable from the fluted shaft. The Temple of Athena Sounias, located at Cape Sounia, still stands with a full entablatur e (see Image #3). You can see the volutes on the capitals of the slender columns. However, the frieze is divided up by triglyphs and metopes, and you can also see the smooth architrave.Both of these reflect the elements of the original doric craftsmanship, so this piece of architecture cannot be considered exclusively ionic, as it has some doric influence. This temple was built in the middle of the 5th century, which would xplain the dualism in the style of attributes on the temple. A more modern, but basically accurate example of the Ionic style would be the University of Oslo in Norway (see image #4). The frontal steps lead up to a colonnaded porch, with columns reaching from their bases to their scroll-like capitals. The architrave is banded, but the frieze is completely smooth and open.The pediment is also filled with figures all positioned so that they fit into triangle shape but still maintain proper proportions, which was used in previous eras. The temples themselves had vari ous internal structures which varied depending n the architect, the region, or the purpose of the building. Some temples had columns that only went across the front (prostyle) while some had them across the front and back (amphiprostyle). Temples like the Temple of Athena Sounias and the Temple ot Hera I are reterred to as ‘peristyle' because they nave columns all the way around the cella (inner sacred room) and the porch area.However, all of the distinctive qualities of both the Doric order and Ionic order are mainly centered in features at the front of the temples, as well as their columns. The Greek architects' insistence on proportional harmony was the driving force ehind many styles between the sixth and fourth centuries. The closest that they ever came to achieving a ‘perfect temple' was the Parthenon, built on the Acropolis of Athens in the mid-flfth century BCE (see Image #5).

Alcoholism Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Alcoholism - Personal Statement Example Emotional distress and parental influence was the main reason to start off with the habit. In order to handle the increasing misery which was caused due to many problems (financial and family) I resorted to the drinking of alcohol. At first it provided me a sense of relief but a point came when the distress began to mount all over again. It started as fun, took over me and began killing me slowly. In other words it can be said that Alcohol is just like a slow poison. I realized all these negative features of Alcohol after a great demise of my father's life. I have lost my father because of this slow poison. He was suffering from Cancer but we couldn't realize it until his health got so severely damaged that he could not recover. Young individuals are more responsive to the positive effects of drinking, like feeling of being comfortable in social situations. They may have a relatively large amount of alcohol than adults because their maturing brain does not accept any reality unless they experience it. Their brain does not understand the possible devastating loss but consider the positive social experiences. Alcohol consumption does not only harm an individual but the society. Alcoholism is a great threat to the youth and must be stopped for a brighter future of the youth, their family and the whole country.

Do Organisations Need Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Do Organisations Need Managers - Essay Example Currently, debates have risen as to whether organizations really need managers for the purposes of achieving their goals and objectives. This paper is to examine the functions and purpose of managers in organizations and there relevance in organizations. Traditional and Modern Managers Managers have existed in traditional and modem organizations and there are certain conventional functions and roles that such managers were executing. The conventional activities that managers are involved in organizations including building and maintaining relationships, getting and giving information, influencing people and decision making (Waldron, Vsanthakumar, & Arulraj, 2011). The functions and purpose of managers in the traditional management was restricted to the liaison between the owner and all the staff of the organization (Cieslinska, 2007). According to traditional and modern management principles, the functions of a manager are identified as interpersonal, informational, and decisional. I nterpersonal roles entail the development, building, and maintenance of contacts and relationships with variety of people both within and outside the organization or department. Interpersonal role requires managers to acts as a symbol for their organizations or departments and to liaise with other people outside the department or organization. The informational role requires managers to monitor and assess organizational operations through data collection and analysis and disseminating information to employees and other stakeholders and acting as a spokesperson for the organization (Puckett, Byers, & Green, 2004:32). Managers are also charged with decisional role where they are required to make innovative decisions, handle conflicts, and resolve problems and resource allocation (Yadav, 2009). Planning Managers are involved in the planning of the business environment in organizations. The planning aspect for managers entails the identification of goals and objectives that the organiza tion seeks to achieve. They also determine the methods and strategies to be used in the achievement of the pre-set goals and objectives of the organizations in which they head (Rondeau, 2011). It is the responsibility of the manager to ensure that the goals and objectives of organizations are met and achieved within the stipulated time frame. To ensure that the objectives are realized, the managers ensures that the organization runs smoothly and any impediments and obstacles that might derail the organization from achieving its goals and objectives are removed. In the traditional organizational management system, managers were preoccupied with the running of the day to day business with the sole responsibility of increasing profitability for the organizations. The responsibility of meeting the organizational goals such as the provision of safe place for employment, provision of quality products, adherence to the mission, vision and values of an organization and providing the expecta tions, wants and needs of customers squarely lies within the functions of managers (Puckett, Byers, & Green, 2004:37). The current environment in which most organizations

Study of World Cultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Study of World Cultures - Essay Example They include the involvement with cross-functional groups, coordination of order specifications with suppliers, supervision of work across cultures or countries, negotiation of terms with offshore business partners, expanding operations to new countries and forming mergers with competitors. Boundaries come with challenges, which managers need to understand. Boundaries can cause investment losses, customer service failure, and unmotivated employees who are unwilling to span boundaries. The factors contributing to the emergence of boundary problems in organizations relate to Cultural Communication Dimensions and Hofstedes Cultural Dimensions. The most important cultural communication dimensions relate to language and cultural differences. As such, various people in the entrepreneurial world have different languages of communication. Moreover, they also have their cultural alignments, which may not permit cross-cultural communications. Cultural obstacles at the micro and macro scales can deter boundary spanning. At the macro level, cultural issues occur when firms communicate across their territorial boundaries. It may include instances when international corporations work with units from other nations. For instance, the United States may outsource Indian experts to offer IT services. Micro-cultural issues refer to the corporate culture created in the various departments of an organization. The communication pattern is one cultural dimension that affects the working relationship between Westerners and Asians. While the westerners often prefer communicating through verbal signs, the Asians opt to be non-verbal. Westerners and North American cultures value clarity and directness. By contrast, Asian cultures value ambiguity, politeness, and indirectness. Asian and American business cultures also differ on the cultural dimension of action. For instance, Asians will not openly reject a proposal since they value

Summary and critical analysis of an article i will attach Assignment

Summary and critical analysis of an article i will attach - Assignment Example Miller further asserts that Target meets the needs of its guests by striving to invest in new product development and conducting brand research. Target’s efforts in achieving the best quality have made it a weekly destination for shoppers. The article further introduces Target and its private label brands, asserting that the Minneapolis-based store offers discounts to its guests in recession, making it a hit with customers. Target takes a non-traditional approach to take private label to a brand level. Target’s private label strategy revolves around consumer research, marketing through national ads and in-store displays, and strategic thinking. Jim Hertel, managing partner with Willard Bishop, asserts that Target focuses on its store image rather than price image, which increases its appeal for the consumers. This strategy makes Target work with the slogan of â€Å"Expect More, Pay Less†. In 2009, the company put off its label and bull’s eye image form the household items that the consumers considered as basic. However, it was accepted as a mistake because no other marketer was doing so, and the change was adjusted in the new up & up household products, which were launched in June 2009. But the Target brand name was replaced by the up & up line in these products. Target also promoted couponing in the up & up line that could be printed from the Web. This proved to be a good marketing idea. The couponing was targeted on baby wipes, which attracted the mothers’ interest. Target also moved upscale by marketing brands like Choxie chocolate line. It distinguished Market Pantry from Archer Farms. Target also faces some challenges like rolling out its PFresh food format across it store network. It has to spend more than $2 billion to refurbish 740 stores to make them incorporate the PFresh fresh products collection. The article is an excellent introduction to Target’s private label brands. It

Naturalistic Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Naturalistic Philosophy - Essay Example Plot characters development showed the degree of control that man had over their destiny. American realizes that the power of outside forces is what limited humanity’s freedom of choice, to them individuals had no choice since their lives dedicated to only hereditary and external environment. To naturalists, humanity was helpless and wholly dependent on nature’s favors. American naturalism got to its peak at around the beginning of the nineteenth century. Charles Darwin’s theory of phylogeny also played a great role. Malcolm Cowley states that years between the first and second world wars were a flourishing time for the American writers. American literature had attained a new maturity and an abundant diversity. Marked by the publication of several works? It was at this time that memorable works published though they were not up to standard an excellent number became influential and were later in time criticized. Most novels that were written around this time majorly based on the war that had just ended. It was only by means of civil war that the young country could achieve both unification and peace. Stephen Cranes, The Red Badge of Courage, illustrates an actual description of fighting in the civil war that ended up leading their country to victory. Novels about the war have been the most reliable ways of writing about the war life. Some permeated with a lot of protests, therefore, they were named war books in general. In the history of America, war writings are considered to have taken a greater part of the portion when all books put together. It was around this time that Stephen Crane’s The Red Budge was written and published for the first time. Its location is the battlefield, Crane attempted to explain and draw the picture of what was happening during the war and in the lives of the soldiers.  

Relationship Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Relationship Marketing - Essay Example Relationship Marketing: Relationship marketing is more about making a customer relationship and encouraging consumers to have a broader purchase rate and more satisfaction with their products. Typically relationship marketing is pitched towards long-term growth. Since the newspaper has not thought about relationship marketing the visitors make one buy and are never seen or heard from again. The newspaper continues to spend huge amounts of money in order to attract customers and has very little repeat business. Relationship marketing is all about the repeat business. Relationship marketing is a cost-effective method that finds to retain visitors (Goldglantz, 2007). The advantage of relationship marketing is that it aids retain the successes the newspaper has already attained. For example, a huge amount of visitors can be converted to a huge amount of return visitors. These return visitors can be examined for characteristics and traits. The disadvantage is that relationship marketing that seems inward (to current customers) does not attract new customers on a large scale. The advantage of traditional marketing is that it draws its net wide like a fisherman hoping to attain as many customers as possible. The broader the net the more fish and more markets we can dab into. The disadvantage of traditional marketing is that most organizations (newspapers) cannot simply keep paying high advertising costs to assert an expedient customer flow. Relationship and traditional marketing can be best applied when in conjunction. One exploits new markets and draws in first-time visitors while the other retains the customers as long as possible. The best the relationship, the best the sales results of the newspapers (Hunter & Perreault, 2007). Thus newspapers should conceive developing their marketing program so that it attains sales on the front end and the back end. Here we are considering two organizations. One organization use relationship approach with their customers and the other organization use traditional approach with their customers and here we are considering organization as a newspaper. First, describe the different activities of that newspaper which is using relationship approach with their customers. Relationship marketing: Definition: Relationship marketing is defined as the building of long-term, loyal, committed and economic relationships with potential and existing customers through communication and the provision of quality products and services. Relationship marketingis a type ofmarketingdeveloped from direct response marketing campaigns carried out in the 1970s and 1980s which emphasizes customer retention and satisfaction, rather than a dominant focus on point-of-sale proceedings. Relationship marketing is different from other forms of marketing in that it recognizes the long term value to the business firm of keeping customers, as opposed todirector "Intrusion" marketing, which focuses upon accomplishment of new clients by targeting majority statistics based upon prospective client lists. Development: Relationship mark

Inflation and Government Economic Policies Essay Example for Free

Inflation and Government Economic Policies Essay Inflation is described as the process by which prices are continuously rising or the value of money continuously decreases (Consumer Price Index Frequently Asked Questions, 2013). As the definition explains, this is not something that would be desirable for the government or its citizens. For example, Germany during the 1920’s experienced a period of hyperinflation. Germans literally had to carry wheel barrels of money to buy groceries. The price of a loaf of bread rose from around 200 Marks to over 200,000,000,000 Marks. Inflation is measured in several ways including Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index, Employment Cost Index, Gross Domestic Product Deflator, and several other methods (Consumer Price Index Frequently Asked Questions, 2013). Inflation can be caused when the demand of goods and services cannot be met. Since demand cannot be fulfilled, manufacturers can increase the price of goods, thus causing inflation. Inflation can also be caused when there is too much money in circulation. Money can lose its value if everyone has too much of it. In order to try to control inflation, the government can regulate fiscal policies. Employees’ wages can play a big role in inflation. If everyone is making a lot of money, then prices can increase. Lower incomes actually help governments avoid inflation. Another method of regulating/manipulating inflation is by controlling aggregate demand, the number of goods and services requested at the given price point. Aggregate demand can be altered by either imposing taxes or decreasing and restricting government spending. According to BLS.gov, CPI, or Consumer Price Index, is the means by which we measure change in prices urban consumers pay for goods and services in the market basket. This measures what consumers pay on a daily basis for goods and services. Since 2000, CPI has been increasing. CPI can change due to shifts in population or buying habits of consumers. If the economy is up, people will most likely spend more money, and inversely if the economy is  down, consumers will spend less. New trends in technology or even fads can also change CPI. If consumers are influenced by media on alternatives to goods and services that buy and use, this too causes changes in CPI. CPI directly impacts the economy because it is used to determine the amount of government assisted people can be given such as Medicaid benefits and Social Security Benefits. The graph below shows the changes over time since January 2000 to January 2014 (Consumer Price Index Chained Consumer Price Index, 2014). CPI from January 2000-January 2014 PPI, or Producer Price Index, measures the changed by which producers sell their products (Producer Price Indexes, n.d.). This measures inflation at the beginning stages, ground level, from the manufacturers’ standpoint. Since 2000, PPI like CPI has also increased. Both of these measurements go hand in hand, as the price the manufacturers’/producers charge for their goods and services increases, the amount consumers are paying for these said items also increases. The difference between the two however can include taxes imposed on both producers and/or consumers alike. PPI can be used to determine at what point prices need to escalate. The following graph shows changes in PPI since 2000 (Producer Price Index-Commodities, 2014). PPI from the Year 2000 to the Year 2014 Consumer Expenditure Survey, CE, is defined by BLS.gov as the â€Å"program consists of two surveys, the Quarterly Interview Survey and the Diary Survey, that provide information on the buying habits of American consumers, including data on their expenditures, income, and consumer unit (families and single consumers) characteristics. The survey data are collected for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau†. CE has also been increasing since 2000 to present day. CE is pivotal to government fiscal policies because it is the only measurements that shows us not only the amount of money consumers earn and spend, but also consumers spending habits  and trends that we observe. CE is used by policymakers to study the effects of their policies on economic groups and by the Census Bureau to determine Supplemental Poverty Measurements, Like CPI, new technology greatly impacts CE. In the 1980’s, spending on computers and hardware were not as prominent as they are now. According to BLS.gov, changes in internet services and cellphones were also not as prominent in the 1980’s (The Consumer Expenditure Survey—30 Years as a Continuous Survey, 2010). Increases in income and the amount of money consumers spend change CE. The graph below shows these changes (Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2014). Consumer Expenditure Survey 2000-2012 Throughout the last fourteen years, the different units of measurement use to determine inflation have all increased. As the standard and cost of living increases, and as minimum wage continues to increase, all of these units will also increase. This has helped to prevent inflation and hyperinflation. If the prices of goods increase while the income people are bringing in stays the same, this would lead to inflation. As income decreased in 2008-2009, the CPI, PPI, and CE also decreased. The more money we are circulating, the more producers’ will be able to increase the price of goods and services, and the more consumers are going to pay for them. This cycle will continue to grow exponentially. As I stated earlier, there are different methods and fiscal policies governments can implement to avoid inflation. Like Keynesian economics, some of which are based around limiting and controlling government spending. References Consumer Expenditure Survey. Retrieved August 20, 2014 from http://www.bls.gov/cex/ Consumer Expenditure Survey. Retrieved August 20, 2014 from http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet The Consumer Expenditure Survey—30 Years as a Continuous Survey. Retrieved August 20, 2014 from http://www.bls.gov/cex/ceturnsthirty.htm Consumer Price Index Chained Consumer Price Index. (August 19, 2014). Retrieved August 19, 2014 from http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet Consumer Price Index Frequently Asked Questions. (August 15, 2013). Retrieved August 19, 2014, from http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpifaq.htm#Question_1 Producer Price Index-Commodities. (August 19, 2014). Retrieved August 19, 2014 from http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet Producer Price Indexes. Retrieved August 19, 2014 from http://www.bls.gov/ppi/

Aboriginal People In Canadian History And Culture History Essay

Aboriginal People In Canadian History And Culture History Essay Canada has provided a home for settlers ever since the first inhabitants arrived on the continent. Each of these groups of settlers had contributed to the rise of the country in several ways. Among the many inhabitants throughout the history of Canada, Canadian Indians had one of the greatest influence on the countrys economy and provided a very rich cultural heritage. Many experts think that the first Indian settlers had migrated to Canada during the last Ice Age, leaving their previous homeland, Siberia. After the ice had melted, only people could cross to Canada through the Bering Strait, while land animals had to stay behind.  [1]  Therefore, Canadian Indians had to establish their villages and society without the help of the most common European domestic animals such as donkeys, horses or oxen. Despite the fact that their domestic animal resources were limited, early Canadian Indians were very successful farmers. During the period between 500 BC and 1000 AD, each of the numerous Indian tribes had their own developed culture, customs and beliefs. Their food sources varied according to the geographical features of their living areas. In the northern areas of the country, fishing and hunting were the most popular means of acquiring food. The tribes living there, for example the Inuits, hunted for whales, thus they introduced a sea-hunting culture to the area. Moreover, among the Inuits, there were several fishermen who fished for salmon in the cold rivers surrounding their villages. The weather around the Arctic was quite harsh, especially during winter when the seas froze and snow covered everything, which made it necessary for the Inuits to develop new objects, such as the dog sleds, or the snow houses  [2]  , which are in use even in present day. The arrival of the European conquerors brought a huge change into the lives of the native people of Canada. As the members of the First Nations were skilled hunters and fishermen, they had resources and useful goods to offer to the Europeans. Among these goods, the most important one was animal fur (first the fur of beavers). Europeans and the native people made contact with each other with the help of trading goods. Europeans traded metal tools (which were very much needed by the Indians) for highly expensive animal fur. The limited cultural background of the North American hunting peoples provided an insatiable demand for the products of the more elaborate cultural development of Europeans. The supply of European goods, the product of a more advanced and specialized technology, enabled the Indians to gain a livelihood more easily to obtain their supply of food, as in the case of moose, more quickly, and to hunt the beaver more effectively.  [3]   As a result, several trading posts had been set up, which later evolved into towns, thus helping the development of Canadian settlements. The most active fur trading tribes, such as the Algonquians and the Hurons had an enermous role in the establishment of the very first trading stations and colonies. They hunted for food which they provided for the colonists, even if they had to carry these goods several hundreds of kilometers to be able to sell them. With the help of these tribes, the French colonists managed to establish the colony of Quebec, the first colony of Canada, in 1608. If it had not been for the help of the Algonquian and the Huron tribes, the French may have not been able to hold their stand on the continent. Due to the fact that the aboriginal inhabitants of Canada had been living in the country for a long time, several geographical areas were named by them, and many of these names are still in use in the present day. Actually, the name Canada originates from an Iroquoian word that means village or settlement  [4]  , which was later adopted by French settlers like Jacques Cartier. Other provinces and territories whose official names are aboriginal in origin are Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut.  [5]  Also, there are thousands of towns or cities with their names originating from aboroginal names, which indicates the huge impact of the aboriginal culture on present day Canada. The art of the indigenous people of Canada also largely contributed to the countrys cultural heritage. The most important art had been created before the European settlers arrived, and these artifacts have very unique characteristics. The most popular artifacts produced in that time were the totem poles, which had animals, such as eagles, bears, ravens or legendary creatures depicted on them. Many of the aboriginal people were skilled sculptors or painters, and after the Europeans arrival some of them started to make art for a commercial purpose. As a result, more and more aboriginal art had reached a wide variety of audience, and the Indian art became more and more popular. The culture of the aboriginal people had a huge effect on the contemporary theatre, too. Many stories featured in plays or dramas were based on aboriginal stories told by Indian storytellers. Each tribe had its own creation story or myth that was told orally to the members of the tribe for hundreds of years, and especially during ceremonial occasions. These stories preserved the spoken language of the tribes, and added them to the cultural heritage of Canada. Today, there are several languages still spoken by indigenous people, and the most widespread ones include Anishinaabe and Cree, with several hundred thousand speakers; also Inuktitut, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and Mikmaq.  [6]   One of the most important contribution of the native people to the economy of Canada was the use of the canoe throughout the trading period of the 17th and 18th century. As the European colonists could not navigate the area, they often hired aboriginal guides to help them find their way, and to mediate between trading tribes. The canoe (usually made from birch bark) was the fastest means of transport through the rivers of the country, and due to its design and structure, it could carry a huge amount of goods, such as fur, food, or the metal and iron tools that the native people were given in return. There had been several examples of a single native person carrying goods on his canoe from the eastern part of the country to the west. This journey consisted of several thousand kilometers, and the importance of keeping the trade routes active was recognised both by the colonists and the Indians. The native people of Canada contributed to the military successes first against the British, then later against the United States. During the war between the French colonists and the British, the Iroquis had trained the French soldiers in guerilla warfare, which was a great advantage. New France (the French colony in Canada) also had allies among the Algonquians, and they proved to be a great asset. The French had very close trading (hence military) ties with the Abenakis from Maine, many of whom had sought refuge in Canada and with the Micmacs and Malecites in the Maritimes. France also had loose alliances with the Great Lakes Algonquians: the Ojibwa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Miami, and Illionis. Moreover, the Canadian fur traders and fort commanders, unlike the land-hungry English settlers, cultivated a friendship of the Algonquians by giving the Indians gifts and presents.  [7]   One of the most important Indian war heros was named Tecumseh, leader of the Shawnee tribe, and a large contributor to the success of the war against the Americans. He was later considered a folk legend, and many Canadians remember him as a hero for the defense he did to their country, even today. Apart from cultural and military contributions, the aboriginal people in Canada invented several of the now everyday items and activities, such as maple syrup, tug of war, lacrosse, the toboggan, snowshoes. Lacrosse is now a very popular sport in Canada, while maple syrup is considered one of Canadas national products. The aboriginal people showed the settlers how to make maple syrup, or itsinzibuckwud, as the Alqonquians called it, which meant drawn from wood. In the early days of colonization, it was the Natives who showed French settlers how to tap the trunk of a tree at the outset of spring, harvest the sap and boil it to evaporate some of the water. This custom quickly became an integral part of colony life and during the 17th and 18th centuries, syrup was a major source of high quality pure sugar. Later, however, they would learn to bore holes in the trees and hang their buckets on home-made spouts.  [8]   In modern day Canada, Quebec produces the largest amount of maple syrup in the world, followed by the United States. In conclusion, the native peoples contribution to the economy and cultural heritage of Canada is very important. Not only did the aboriginals made it possible for the European settlers to establish a country in the continent, but they also introduced them to the typical food and tools of the native people, which made the life of the settlers easier. With the help of fur trade, the early Canadian economy was flourishing, and the alliances between the European settlers and the Indians helped Canada obtaining its independence.

Financial Decision Making, Easyjet in comparison with Ryanair

Financial Decision Making, Easyjet in comparison with Ryanair The purpose of this report is to prepare an analysis of the financial performance and position of Easyjet plc in comparison with that of Ryanair plc. The CORE model approach was used in preparing a review of each airlines annual accounts with selected ratios applied to evaluate compare, contrast their financial performance. An analysis of Easyjet plc performance and position against Ryanair plc confirms the following key findings. The principal finding from this report is that the current finance strategy for Ryanair plc is not sustainable in the long term. Easyjet plc diversification into ancillary activities has incurred costs which will be recouped over a period of time and reflect a positive investment strategy during and after the economic downturn. Furthermore, Easyjet will achieve additional savings if an optimum hedging policy is implemented during the current economic downturn. Introduction An appreciation of the European airline industry was considered in relation to Easyjet plc current financial positioning and brand recognition as the preferred low cost airline provider. The financial performance and position of Easyjet plc was appraised against Ryanair plc through application of the CORE (Context, Overview, Ratio, Evaluation) model. Context establishes the market share and European airline environment from an internal and external perspective that the two plcs operate and compete within. Overview is an appraisal of the financial performance between the two Plcs in relation to similar operational activities and qualifying their accounts and strategic approach during the current economic downturn. Ratio analysis establishes the relationship between stated totals within the Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement and Income Statement to establish the base of Evaluation for financial performance between Easyjet plc (Easyjet) and Ryanair plc (Ryanair). Evaluation of the two accounts is an integrative component of the CORE approach based upon the three previous stages to assist with identifying an overall conclusion from the analysis. The overall conclusion may then be drawn as to the degree of success of the organisation in terms of the implementation of the corporate strategy for customer, competitors and suppliers according to the specific focus of the analysis (Moon Bates, 1993). Context (Internal): Each airline as their primary activity provides international and regional low cost airline fares within the European airline industry. Both airlines are recognised within the market and operationally focussed towards a low-fare strategy. Sustainability and success of providing low cost airline fares is critically dependent upon retaining a low cost base especially during the current economic downturn to protect long-term viability. The global duopoly of Boeing and Airbus within the European airline industry influences the high fixed costs relative to variable costs that is inherent to airline pricing and generates the operational focus towards retaining a low cost base. Reducing operational costs provides each airline with flexibility to offer lower ticket fares, issue dividend shares or retain earnings for future investment as part of their competitive advantage over a rival (Brassinton Pettit, 1997). From a media perspective and operational approach, Ryanair has successful introduced a low cost base through staff optimisation and promoting www.ryanair.com for online ticket sales. Application of the airlines website can provide an integrated marketing communications strategy as well as introducing an effective management information system to co-ordinate revenue activities. Ryanair is reputed to have achieved  £22 million pounds in reduced sales and distribution costs through application of their web-based management information system (Done, 2008). Additional operational savings to establish a low cost base have been generated through Ryanairs standardisation of their airline fleet to Boeing 737s. Standardisation provides lower staff training and maintenance costs due to familiarity and inventory considerations. Both airlines target the European short-haul city break market segment and utilise a system termed yield management to allow seats to be priced according to supply and demand (Ryanair Plc, 2008). Ryanair and Easyjet focus upon an optimum turnaround time at each due to empty planes being non-revenue generating. To maximise profits, fixed and variable costs are regularly challenged to introduce further savings which establishes the rationale as a low cost airline provider not to be forthcoming with compensation to passengers for flight cancellations. It is therefore an operational priority to ensure service delivery with minimal lost baggage claims and flight reliability exceeds the industry standard in relation to key performance indicators. Dependent upon the size of the aircraft purchased or leased from Boeing and Airbus, economies of scale can be achieved to increase the operating profit margin of the airline. Establishing a sustainable low cost base can increase the projected operating profit, increasing the airlines purchasing power to negotiate preferential commercial arrangements with suppliers. Furthermore financial success in one industry sector provides opportunity to develop activities in another sector using ancillary partners. In relation to each airline generating ancillary revenue, Easyjet activities have diversified into various market segments and achieved higher revenue returns beyond that of Ryanair, as detailed within each airlines Income Statement. Both the airlines have expanded their ancillary activities with Easyjet achieving a 115% improvement for ancillary services including Car rentals, Hotels, apartments, Travel Insurance and Airport Parking as recorded within their respective company accounts.Ultimately, Easyjet is expanding the portfolio of activities during the economic downturn to develop the brand and establish complimentary ancillary services to mitigate against revenue loss in a specific sector such as Passenger flights. In contrast, Ryanair has generated a 23% improvement in their ancillary services with passenger service the primary focus to achieve revenue (Easyjet Plc, 2008). As a short term strategy, this has possibly generated the concern that Ryanair performance has improved over Easyjet, yet as a long term approach the approach is not sustainable. This is due to all operational activities having a specific cost threshold and in a fare war contest it may become necessary to subsidise activities from other more profitable ancillary activities. The current approach by Ryanair in the economic downturn is therefore considered prejudicial against their long-term viability. Each airline primary assets are detailed within the Income statement that reflects the substantial capital outlays in relation to the purchase of aircraft fleet for both providers. In the long term this approach can be beneficial due to reduced future costs associated with leasing as well as minimising interference from external financing companies concerning pricing tactics with possible withdrawal of finance due to perceived negative publicity of the airline. Ownership of aircraft establishes a tangible asset and brand platform that can be applied to increase shareholders and investors confidence. The accumulation of assets establishes a long-term investment strategy that requires operational maintenance and management depreciation consideration. Ownership of the asset ultimately provides each airline with the opportunity to select without constraint their service partners for maintenance, cleaning and insurance coverage. As previously mentioned both airlines target the short-haul city break markets and utilise the yield management system to allow seats to be priced according to supply and demand therefore exercising full control of their marketing mix to the consumer (Airlines, 2006). Recorded revenues of  £2,171 million was achieved by Ryanair during the financial year ended on March 2008, representing an increase of 21.3% over 2007 and generating 37.6% of the total revenues in 2008(Ryanair, 2008) in comparison recorded revenue was  £2,362.8 million in September 2008 generating an increase of 31.5% compared to their performance in 2007 and reflective of a sustainable corporate strategy to protect the viability of Easyjet during the economic downturn(Easyjet Plc, 2008). Easyjet completed the acquisition of GB Airways in January 2008 with Ryanair attempting a similar corporate acquisition that was rejected by Aer Lingus. Currently no progress has been achieved from the Aer Lingus rejection of the offer yet the collapse of buget airlines Sky Europe in 2009 with previous budget airlines also going into administration does not provide the consumer with confidence in low cost fare providers (PIGNAL, 2008). Context (External) According to Datamonitor (2008) by 2011 the airline industry is forecast to have a value of  £89 billion with 773.5 million passengers anticipated to use airline travel on an annual basis. Competition amongst the two airline providers is increasingly focused towards cost and brand marketing. Various management cost reduction initiatives with provision of only one class of service have developed each airlines reputation as a no-fill providers due to costs being charged for all non-essentials. To assess the external profile of Easyjet in comparison to Ryanair a SPECTACLES approach is applied with consideration towards the various categories as well as applying Porters five forces model (1980). Social considerations include recognition of both airlines as market leaders with strong brand identification for low cost fares. Furthermore, both airlines have developed a reputation for reliability through punctuality of flight times, minimal flight cancellations and reduced lost luggage claims. Political considerations include all regulatory constraints that may apply to both providers such as airport charges which are generally levied through regulation rather than commercial negotiation. Economic considerations include the economic downturn, reduced disposable income and expenditure of customers together with increasing fuel costs due to global conflict and fear of terrorism attacks. In addition, global events have increased insurance provisions and requirements within the airline industry. Cultural considerations include the perception that low cost airlines provide an inferior service in comparison to traditional flag carrier and charter airlines that concentrate upon a differentiation competitive advantage. Technological considerations include the recognition that safety is a main consideration and cost aspect with all aircraft parts have a defined life-span before replacement is required. The replacement of prop aircraft to jet engines as part of fleet modernising as well as increasing safety requirements requires airlines to a continual review of their projected capital and maintenance allowances. Aesthetic considerations include the preference for one airline over another with Easyjet achieving a global focus due to broader activities in comparison to Ryanair. Both airlines provide the same class of service on all flights with emphasis upon low costs. Customer considerations include ease of on-line booking together with ticket costs combined with reliability of each airline operating the prescribed flights and minimal loss baggage claims. Against Easyjet, Ryanair has achieved significant short-term success in this category at the expense of generating a love/hate relationship with the public. Legal considerations include the regulatory constraints for passenger safety, security provisions, noise reduction, and environmental issues. In addition, to employment and aviation law, there is competition and liability legislation that restricts the operating activities of each airline. Environmental considerations include all regulatory constraints that may apply such as noise reduction, emissions and fuel efficiency, reduced energy, water and material consumption and air traffic congestion. Sectoral considerations include review of competitors and future regulatory considerations to enable a competitive advantage to be developed over rival airlines. In many respects review and implementation of Porters (1980) competitive forces provides the sector framework for analysing the intensity of competition to the profitability and attractiveness within an industry. The below five forces diagram illustrates the relationship between the different competitive forces (Porter, 1980). Adapted from Porter (1980) Five Forces Model Threat of new entrants low The preference for lower air fares generated the business opportunity for Easyjet and Ryanair to compete against traditional flag carrier and charter airlines. A high capital investment and legislation requirement combined with competition for additional airport slots/positions creates physical and financial barriers for new operators within the airline industry. Bargaining power of customers increasing Availability of constant information through the World Wide Web provides information of which airline has the cheaper fare and within an economic depression, the preference of the customer is generally towards the cheaper service provider. Bargaining power of suppliers strong but limited The price of aviation fuel is directly related to the cost of oil, as an individual company Easyjet and Ryanair does not have the power to alter this. The impact of the supplier depends on the availability of alternative suppliers and product substitutes (Dibb Simpkin, 2001). The more these airlines expands the more power it will possess over its suppliers Threat of the substitute products or services low There are no tenable threats from other modes of transport as distances are too great except from London to Paris, which can be reached by Euro Star. Current competitors Easyjet and Ryanair sustain a cost leadership advantage over all other operators including traditional flag carrier and charter airlines that utilise a differentiation rather than a low cost base. Overview: Both Ryanair and Easyjet have membership of the European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) to assist with their equal representation within the airline industry. According to ELFAA (2009) statistics Ryanair provides 1,200 daily flights in contrast to the 1,000 daily flights provided by Easyjet. As a consequence of providing a higher volume of daily flights than Easyjet, the passenger load factor for Ryanair is lower at 81.4% according to the June 2009 ELFAA statistics. The passenger load factor of 85.2% for Easyjet identifies on average their passenger occupancy per flight which can be compared to the break-even point to identify the profitability of a specific flight (ELFAA, 2009). The below table provides an insight of each organisation in relation to their operations and company profile. RYANAIR EASYJET ESTABLISHED 1985 1995 ANNUAL TURNOVER 2171 million 2,362 million OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE Ryanair Holdings Plc Easyjet Plc NO OF AIRCRAFT 220 165 MAJOR FLEET TYPE BOEING A320 ;BOEING MAIN HUB LONDON, STANSTED LONDON, LUTON AIRPORT H/Q DUBLIN, IRELAND LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM NO OF ROUTES COVERED 950 400 NO OF COUNTRIES COVERED 147 COUNTRIES 28 COUNTRIES EMPLOYEES 5920 6107 PASSENGER VOLUME 60 MILLION 43 million PASSENGERS 5.12 million 3.53 million PUNCTUALITY FLIGHTS ON TIME 88% 80% ACQUISITION MERGERS FAILED TO ATTEMPT AER LINGUS ACQUIRED GB AIRWAYS EXTERNAL AUDITORS KPMG PRICEWATER COOPERS AIRLINE PASSENGERS PER EMPLYOEE 9679 6772 Source : Easyjet plc 2009 Ryanair plc 2009. Both the airlines follow the going concern basis in preparing their financial statements which have been certified by independent respective external auditor as being a true and fair status of the companys financial overview. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting standards (IFRS) as adopted by European Union (EU) and effective from March 2008; as applied in accordance with the prevailing Companies Act legislation. Both airlines amended their accounting policy in 2005 from UK GAAP to International Financial Reporting Standard (Ryanair Plc, 2008 Easyjet Plc, 2008). Both airlines are successful in strategising for revenue generation with Ryanair maximising its profit through effective control of operating expenses in comparison to Easyjet. An example is Ryanairs effective fuel hedging policy which allows the airline to allocate fixed fuel costs without surcharge to the customer whereas Easyjet varies their fuel surcharge to the customer. The turnover for Easyjet is  £2,362 million (2008) from  £1,797 million (2007) which is a 20% increase in the turnover. Unfortunately due to the increased administration expenses incurred profit margins have not been maximised due to staff, marketing and fuel costs. These costs cumulatively represent a total cost increase of 28% in 2008. The final outcome was a decrease in profit margin from 11.23% from 4.66%, which trails far behind Ryanairs profit margin (Easyjet plc, 2008). Ryanair in comparison to Easyjet has increased its turnover to  £2,171 million (2008) from  £1,789 million (2007) which is a 13% increase whereas their administration costs increased by 13% from last year. This has led to Ryanair capitalising on the increase in turnover to profit (Ryanair plc, 2008). Airline passenger per employee for Ryanair is greater in comparison to Easyjet and reflects an optimum utilisation of resources. Ryanairs punctuality of flights on time is 88% when compared to 80% of Easyjet which demonstrates the operational efficiency of staff. The customer base has increased for both airlines with Ryanair achieving greater customer retention through market domination of the short haul flights. The addition of 16 more aircrafts through Easyjets acquisition of GB airways to 165 aircrafts amounted to a capital expenditure of  £118 million (Easyjet plc, 2008). Ryanair took the delivery of 30 new aircrafts bringing its total to fleet of 220 aircraft which amounted to  £97.1 million towards capital expenditure incurred for the year. Both the airline has an expansion plan which clearly shows in their adding of more aircrafts to their existing fleet. Ryanair has raised finance through the mortgage of their aircraft, with a book value of  £3,061.5 million as collateral security for finance generated through loans for purchase of next generation 737-800 Boeing aircrafts (Ryanair plc, 2008). Ratios The calculated ratio analysis establishes the relationship between stated totals within the Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement and Income Statement to establish the base of Evaluation for financial performance between Easyjet plc (Easyjet) and Ryanair plc (Ryanair). The three main areas of Strategic analysis include Profitability, Liquidity and Efficiency as well as Gearing and Investment. Consideration of the ratios reflects the performance of Easyjet in achieving strategic goals in comparison to Ryanair and other rivals. The ratios are in the table format and the implications are discusses below (Moon Bates, 1993). Ratios RYANAIR EASYJET 2008 2007 2008 2007 Profitability ROCE 9.20% 9.86% 5.78% 12.08% Net Profit Margin 16.17% 20.16% 4.66% 11.23% Goss profit margin 19.79% 21.09% 3.85% 9.57% ROSF 15.61% 17.15% 6.51% 13.22% Liquidity Current Ratio 1.53 Times 2.02 Times 1.56 Times 1.88 Times Acid Test Ratio 1.53 Times 2.02 Times 1.56 Times 1.88 Times Gearing Ratio 47.55% 44.47% 41.53% 39.19% Interest Cover Ratio 5.53 Times 5.09 Times 3.36 Times 6.70 Times Efficiency Ratio Earnings per share 20.67 22.56 19.84 36.61 Wage Cost (%) 10.51% 10.13% 11.14% 11.36% Other ratios Debtors Collection days 4.6 days 3.82 days 21.55 days 34.2 days Creditors Payment days 17.39 days 8.94 days 11.97 days 8.04 days Source: Easyjet Plc.2008 Ryanair Plc, 2008. The financial ratios provide a quick and relatively simple means of assessing the financial health of the organisation (Atrill Eddie, 2006). Evaluation: To complete the CORE model an evaluation of the two airlines has been prepared with a succinct summary of the main findings of the report including key recommendations identified. Both airlines have reduced profit margins with Easyjets profit margin gap is significant in compared to Ryanair. The decline in the profit is mainly due to an increase in administration cost as previously reported. The main contributing factor is 66% increase in the fuel cost when compared to 2007 whereas Ryanair had only 14% in increase in fuel cost due to its effective (73%) hedging policy on fuel charges. Neither airline released dividend payments for 2008. To reduce short-term earnings volatility Easyjet has put the following fuel and currency hedging positions in place: 66% of anticipated 2009 funding requirement is hedged at  £1.96/ £,an additional 5% of requirement are hedged with collars with average floors of  £1.73/ £ (of what Shinde per sq metre); 56% of 2009 capital expenditure relating to aircraft deliveries hedged at  £1.97/ £; 81% of anticipated 2009 euro surplus hedged at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.24/ £. (Easyjet plc, 2008). Easyjet has also achieved a positive trend through reduced wage costs in comparison to Ryanair, which is a consistent consideration to maintain during an economic downturn to ensure competiveness with Ryanair. The operating profits for Easyjet were lower due to incurred advertising costs which were high in comparison to minimal advertising costs incurred by Ryanair and recorded as zero within the Income Statement. Online booking for Ryanair is greater than 90% which results in a small operating expense towards marketing. In contrast to Ryanair, Easyjet is applying a long term strategic approach to maximise revenue through advertising in the media and other channels to inform customers of their service value with competitive low fares. The acquisition costs for integrating GB Airways costed at  £12.9 million in 2008 which is going to reflect as an expense on next years income statement will assist Easyjet to increase profit margins. Easyjet has also increased ancillary revenue which will assist the company to mitigate its corporate risks through diversification of activities. Both airlines use the straight line method for calculating depreciation due to which Easyjet is showing 33% increase in its depreciation cost versus Ryanair 22% increase in depreciation. In relation to Easyjet the depreciation cost is high due to the acquisition of GB Airways with additional assets to be depreciated. The interest cover ratio, which is used to determine how easily either airline can pay interest on outstanding debt, was calculated by dividing each airlines revenue before interest and taxes with ratio. The interest cover ratio has declined dramatically for Easyjet by 3.34 times when compared to Ryanair which increased by 0.44 times. Thus the decline in Easyjets interest cover ratio can be explained through an increase in borrowing and combined with a dramatic decline in profitability in 2008. The lower the level of operating profit coverage, the greater the risk to lenders that interest payments will not be met, and the greater the risk to the shareholders that the lenders will take action against the business to recover the interest rate. Whilst Ryanair has its maintained a preferable interest cover ratio in comparison to Easyjet due to the profit  £429,664 achieved despite high borrowings. Easyjets Interest cover ratio was not as favourable due to their profit margins of  £910,000 despite achieving a preferred gearing ratio in comparison to Ryanair. The gearing ratio refers to the relationship between the amount of fixed interest capital and the amount of equity within each airline. Ryanair has increased from 44% (2007) to 47% (2008) primarily due to an increase of long term debts at 13% in 2008. When the value of debt capital is more than the value of equity as in Ryanairs situation the organisation is highly geared due to significant borrowings of  £1,814.57 increasing the risk of becoming insolvent in the medium to long term particularly if the economic downturn continues. Ryanair is raising finance for operational activities at the expense of an increased gearing ratio from 9.32% in 2007 compared to 39.96% in 2008 due to a decrease in profit margins (Ryanair Plc, 2008). Whilst, the gearing ratio for Easyjet increased to 41.53 % (2008) from 39.19 % (2007) this is primarily attributed to the acquisition of GB Airways. The future gearing for Easyjet will reduce due to consolidation of activities whereas Ryanair increased gearing is attributed to the intended acquisition of Aer Lingus, purchase of market shares and investment within operational activities. It would therefore appear that Ryanair have exhausted the potential to achieve future funding due to their current gearing ratio whereas Easyjet focus is towards consolidation of activities with an increase in profit margins anticipated in 2009/10. Easyjet have increased current liabilities in terms of aircraft maintenance cost and derivative financial instruments (hedging losses) that have generated a reduction in the current ratio combined with the acquisition of GB Airways. Whilst Easyjet can access significant cash and liquid investments to mitigate the risk of business disruption events of approximately  £863 million as at 30 September 2008 this excludes restricted cash of  £66 million for short-term liabilities. Whereas the cash balance for Ryanair has improved it is only through analysis of the ratios that a downward trend is developing due to an increase in current liabilities within derivative financial instruments. Ryanair utilises derivative financial instruments to hedge against losses by anticipation of future price increases concerning predicted variability in cash flows of an asset, liability or a highly probable forecasted transaction. A significant contribution for an increase in the current ratio for Ryanair is the increase in maturity of debts. Both Ryanair and Easyjet have a similar acid ratio due to absence of stock or inventories within their published balance sheets. The sales revenue per employee ratio identifies how each airline is utilizing their employee productivity with an increase generally reflective of efficiency with management establishing additional key performance indicators for staff to achieve. As previously detailed on the ratio comparison table, Ryanair has increased sales revenue per employee. Return on capital employed identifies the relationship between the operating profit and average long term capital invested and is significantly reduced for Easyjet due to long term liabilities yet this is recognised as a temporary phase following the GB Airways acquisition as well as undertaking airline operations within a competitive market. Achieving a profit within an economic downturn combined with adjustment of the hedge reserve will enable Easyjet to improve their effectiveness in 2009/10. In contrast, the capital redemption reserve for Ryanair has increased due to purchasing previously released equity shares as well as increasing long term liabilities with various financial institutions and established primarily on the basis of guarantees granted by Export-Import Bank of the United States to finance the acquisition of 107 Boeing 737-800 as a next generation aircraft. Whilst having less favourable ratios than Easyjet the funding provided by the Export-Import Bank of the United States for Ryanair is attributed to the bank emphasis to support the financing of U.S. goods and services (Trade Finance, 2004). It could also be suggested that the purchase of previously released shares by Ryanair was implemented to prevent another airline purchasing Ryanair shares due to their perceived vulnerability since the continued reduction of operational costs is not a sustainable activity. The Debtors Ratio identifies the effectiveness of a debt collection routine and within the competitive low fare airline industry, efficient ratios would be anticipated especially when the focus is towards cost reduction measures and borrowing finance is a chargeable activity. Ryanair has an excellent debtor collection policy with a minimal increase 0.78 days in 2008. This could also be reflective of the absence of available liquid reserves within a business to increase the availability of working capital and reduce finance borrowings. In contrast, Easyjet debtor ratio can be optimised from 12.65 days in 2008 to improve the availability of working capital within the business and limit borrowings. In comparison of the two airlines, Easyjet could improve their debtor ratio to seven days for efficiency purposes whereas Ryanair requires a constant focus on their debtor ratio analysis due to availability of working cash and requirement to minimal all non-essential costs. The Creditors Ratio provides an alternative perspective on how the two airlines consider their debt considerations. Ryanair creditor payment period is 8.45 days and therefore due to the volume of activities there is the availability of finance for other activities for an average of 8.45 days until payment/settlement is issued. Through utilising the credit payment period as a temporary borrowing option there is the perceived high risk that funds for payment could become committed and rather than generating revenue growth, funds are being juggled. In contrast the creditor payment period for Easyjet is 3.93 days restricting the availability of working capital to be paid to creditors rather than using it for day to day operations. In summary of the ratios selected for comparison the creditor and debtor ratios is reflective in general of how each airline is approaching their activities. Ryanair is quick to require settlement from debtors due to their restricted borrowing availability and uses a period of 8.45 days as an opportunity to generate additional revenue prior to settlement. Depending upon the volume of finance available within this period, Ryanair is anticipating the generation of additional revenue through hedging activities and received interest returns. In contrast, Easyjet is quick to make settlement as a creditor and less e

Essay on John Milton’s Paradise Lost - Defense for the Allegory of Sin

Defense for the Allegory of Sin and Death in Paradise Lost Milton claims his epic poem Paradise Lost exceeds the work of his accomplished predecessors. He argues that he tackles the most difficult task of recounting the history of not just one hero, but the entire human race. However, he does not appear to follow the conventional rules of an epic when he introduces an allegory into Paradise Lost through his portrayal of Sin and Death in Book II. Some readers denounce his work for this inconsistency, but others justify his action and uncover extremely important symbolism from this "forbidden" literal device. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines an epic "a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero" ("epic," def. 1) and allegory as "the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence" ("allegory," def. 1). Based on these definitions, it is unclear whether allegories fit into a true epic. From one perspective, such extended symbolism is not appropriate because it relies on "fictional figures" whereas an epic is based on a "historical hero". For this reason, some readers may dislike Milton’s extended symbolism of Sin and Death since it violates the traditional form of an epic. However From another point of view, an allegory is an acceptable literary component to an epic because it is considered an element of "elevated style". Therefore, other readers may see nothing wrong with Milton’s literary decision. Milton’s poetic license entitles him to write as he pleases and therefore justifies his adaptation of an allegory into his epic. It is clearly apparent that Milton recognizes this privilege when... ...ilton relies heavily on the Bible for much of his information. With Milton’s timeframe and era for writing Paradise Lost in mind, we can justify his choice to incorporate an allegory into his epic. Allegories present meanings on two levels, one literal and the other hidden, which often expresses a moral or idea produced by the author. With this in mind, the allegory is key to understanding many parts of Paradise lots since Milton addresses so many issues in this one scene. Within the allegory alone, we discover extensive symbolism and wonder if there are more details to be uncovered each time we study the epic. Milton effectively elicits his readers’ attention by raising such controversy and holds our fascination with his intriguing hidden ideas, meanings, and symbolic relationships. Works Cited Milton, John. Paradise Lost. New York: W.W. Norton, 1993. Â  

Essay --

A person that avoids any animal products, as in any meats or animal-derived foods is considered a vegetarian. This is the general classification of a vegetarian. It is a challenge to classify a vegetarian; many variations were created to suit certain diets. Lactovegetarians are vegetarians that consume milk and dairy products. Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but no dairy products, and some do consume honey. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians exclude meats and seafood’s but consume dairy products and eggs. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian eating pattern also consists of legumes, seeds and nuts. Vegans are the only pure vegetarians; they exclude all animal derived foods. There are also people that classify themselves as near vegetarians, for example macrobiotic diets. The macrobiotic diet consists mostly grains, legumes and vegetables and limited amounts of fish. There is also an instance where people will adopt being a vegetarian occasionally; this is called being a flexitarian. Appropriately planned vegetarian diets can be essential to any one, in any stage of their life. Vegetarian diets are associated with lower risks of cancer, death from ischemic heart disease or any cardiovascular disease. Also lower body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, low blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension than those of which are non-vegetarians. Kidney and liver conditions can tell a person whether or not adopting a vegetarian diet can be helpful for their conditions. Those that exhibit lower levels of protein, phosphorus, sodium, manganese, and have an abundant amount of zinc and potassium are better suited to diets that focuses on meats, those that show signs of the opposite levels, are better suited to adopt vegetarianism. However it ... ...results in longer lives. There are many factors to why some want be vegetarians. Many believe that it is more ethical to become vegetarian. That warm-blooded animals being slaughtered have emotions and connections and are sacrificed to satisfy the decedent meat eating lifestyle. Or let it be that we are supporting many genetically modified crops and feeding them to the animals we eat; only supporting an artificial lifecycle. Many vegetarians are born into the lifestyle; most people from India are vegetarians because of the animals they worship. It is called the Asian –Indian diets, which is predominantly lacto-vegetarian. Many choose the lifestyle because of health concerns and concerns of the environment; that we are a product of our environment. What ever we take from the world or put into it is the reason there are so many health problems, like a circle of life.

Bilingual Person Essay

Decades ago, being bilingual was an aspect of an individual that made them stand out from the others and be different. What if I tell you that in this modern society, being bilingual is just being one of the many thousands? A bilingual person is one who has the knowledge or intelligence of knowing two or more languages. However, there are different levels and stages of bilingualism. There is individual bilingualism which is when a person knows his/her mother tongue and another language that is used in society, as well as elective bilingualism which is a person who chooses to learn a new language. There also is circumstantial bilingualism which describes a person that learns another language in order to survive, and many others. Even though, bilingualism has a variety of degrees and aspects; it simply describes those persons who can speak two or more languages. In today’s society, bilingualism is being misunderstood since people think that a person who is bilingual is a rare phenomenon. In fact, studies have shown that more than half of the world’s population is currently bilingual. For example, I am currently living in Venezuela (Spanish speaking country) from which I am now blogging in English. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that being bilingual isn’t a quality that people have acquired, in my point of view, I call it a gift. An interesting fact of bilingualism is that it is currently found in all parts of the world and it isn’t stereotypical of any culture or society. In fact, bilingualism can be found at all levels of ethnic groups or society and in all age groups. Being a bilingual myself, I can speak from personal experience that becoming bilingual isn’t the hardest barrier that one will have to cross through life. It is indeed a smooth ride to another culture and dialect that will be helpful whenever it isn’t expected. Bilingualism doesn’t make you stand out. However, you feel excited and confident just like a little boy with a new toy to be able to communicate with several people from different parts of the world. It makes you feel intelligent and important. I believe that those people who are bilingual are more confident and secure of themselves when they have to travel to an unknown place. This is because those who are bilingual have the ability to defend themselves in different languages which one could speak in that unknown place. For those people who are bilingual and feel alienated because of their insufficient language ability, you must re-establish that thought and raise your confidence. I have had the opportunity to travel to many different places in the world. This has allowed me to utilize my quality to the world and thus aiding myself in various scenarios. I have used my English skills to communicate in France, England, China my Spanish in Angola, United States and even in Italy. The point is that in today’s society bilinguals are being misinterpreted due to their lack of confidence. That quality of being bilingual is being lost throughout the years due to people’s negative characteristics and personalities such as discrimination. There is a phenomenon known as code-switching which bilinguals tend to suffer from. I find very interesting how some bilinguals are often code-switching from one language to another. Code-switching is a verbal skill that requires an extensive degree of linguistic competence in more than one language, rather than a defect arising from insufficient knowledge of one or the other. Even though code-switching goes beyond that imperfection of linguistic competence and inadequate knowledge, it is commonly used in that sense. I have been several times in those situations that I have had to use another language in order to express myself. As stated before, this is caused because of the insufficient knowledge of one language. I clearly remember this instance I code-switched in France. I was at a restaurant, and I wanted to ask the waitress what was the meaning of a word in the menu but my English just didn’t come out. I remember I started speaking in Spanish then I switched to Portuguese until I finally spoke in English and found out what I needed to know about the menu. It was a very embarrassing moment that I will always remember. However, I did feel embarrassed but, luckily I am a bilingual and I was able to go through this experience. You consider yourself one of the other millions or billions? Don’t, you must be proud of what you know and of what you have improved throughout the years. Yes, you are a well-rounded bilingual! If you feel indifferent or just one more in the world, imagine what those people who aren’t bilingual think of their selves. Are they chipmunks? Are they cannibals? No, they are normal people that unfortunately don’t have the extraordinary quality that you have which is being bilingual. In other words bilingualism is a gift, a personal enrichment and a passport to other cultures. One never regrets knowing several languages but one can certainly regret not knowing enough. That is why if you have struggled or worked your way in order to learn a new language, be proud of yourself and embrace the world with your quality.

Astro Boy

Environmental destruction is an important and persistent theme hon. throughout the film Astrology, mainly expressed through the use of technical codes. A number of scenes have displayed an inner meaning through technical codes, such as the scene where the Surface and Metro City are compared with an extreme longest. In this scene, the viewer can tell that there is a large social divide as Metro city is situated directly above the Surface. The extreme longest used, allows the viewer to see the damage caused by the careless, thoughtless and disrespectful actions of Metro City and Its people.This scene Is essential because It proves that the Surface Is Insignificant and Is considered as a Junk yard through the eyes Metro City. Good versus evil Is one of the mall themes explored throughout the entirety of Astrology, shown by using written codes. One of the few obvious instances was found in the scene where a billboard with candidate Logan on it is knocked over by President Stone. When pre sident Stone knocks over the billboard it shows the he feels the need to be in control, and to be the person with the highest level of power. It also proves that he doesn't want peaceful person (Logan) to be in control of the city.This scene is vital in the feature film Astrology as it shows the personalities of both characters, as well as the role that President Stone plays In the film. The father/son relationship Is a theme that is constantly looked at with the helping hand of symbolic codes. There has been a myriad of symbolic codes used In Astrology, one of the most palpable examples being the hologram scene. In the hologram scene, Toby Is seated as far to the left of car and Dir Team as far to the right as possible, In hologram Oromo. The atmosphere is also extremely tense and almost uncomfortable.This scene is so important because it shows the viewer that Taboo's father prefers to be more involved with his work life, more than his own son's life. It also shows the viewer that Dir Team often leaves the responsibility of his child up to that of a robot and is becoming less and less of a father figure to Toby. Equality and inequality is one of the main themes discussed in the film Astrology, and is displayed through the audio code of dialogue. Dialogue is used to show the viewer that the level of education on the Surface is of such a small amount that Zany can't even read a small and simple sentence.In this scene Azans tells Astor that he cannot read by saying â€Å"almost makes me wish I could read. † This scene is significant because It shows the economic disparity between the Surface and Metro City, as well as proving that the education and future of a ‘Surface kid' Is less Important as Metro City has not done anything to change this situation. In conclusion, film codes are vital in forming the viewer†s o show the damage caused by Metro City's actions, and written codes were used to show that President Stone is dependent on control and power, as well as his sinister nature.Symbolic codes were used to prove that Dir Team, Toby father, does not play a major part in his life as he is not there for him physically and emotionally. Audio codes were used to show the large social divide, and that there is almost no form of education on the Surface.

The Knot

The Knot Case Study i. Opportunity analysis of People, Opportunity, Context and Deals. a. People: i. David Liu, Chief Executive Officer 1. Nine years of digital production and management experience 2. Managed staff of forty at video production company 3. Founded CD-ROM development firm ii. Rob Fassino, VP of Marketing 4. Eight years of advertising experience 5. Founded digital division of advertising company 6. Produced TV commercials iii. Carley Roney, VP of Creative Development 7. President of RunTime, Inc. 8. Six years as creative director and editor 9. M. A. in Cultural Studies v. Michael Wolfson, VP of New Business Development 10. Founded production company 11. Co-founded digital media division with Fassino v. Russ Casenhiser, Director of Operations 12. Co-founded Bridal Search, Inc 13. Developed industry’s largest searchable database of bridal gowns 14. Co-owned La Galleria – women’s apparel store 15. M. B. A. vi. Becky Casenhiser, Director of Merchandising 16. Co-founded Bridal Search 17. Maintained relationships with bridal gown manufacturers 18. Co-owned La Galleria – managed buying, sales, customer service 19.M. B. A. vii. Erik Herz, Director of Advertising Sales 20. Six years of sales experience in publishing industry 21. Helped launch Marie Claire in the American Market viii. Partnerships: 22. Online: a. Excite i. Features partner/ lifestyle channel b. AOL ii. Featured wedding resource iii. Exclusive honeymoon resource iv. Featured wedding content partner c. Yahoo! v. Developing Yahoo â€Å"I do† weddings 23. Marketing partnerships: d. Bloomingdale’s vi. Online and in-store marketing e. 1-800 Flowers vii. Marketing and promotion partner f. Atlantic Records viii. Marketing and promotion partner . Great Bridal Expo ix. Featured online wedding resource h. Museum of the City of New York x. *The Future of Weddings* i. Harley Davidson Cafe xi. Special promotions, live events j. WEDCOM ‘97 xii. Keynote speake r/online partner b. Opportunity: ix. What is The Knot selling? 24. Online content dealing with various issues in the early parts marriage k. Second marriages, elopement, same-sex marriages, premarital pregnancy 25. Provide convenience l. Wedding-planning m. Fashion n. Beauty advice o. Grooms p. Travel q. Gifts r. Home 26. Gift shop 27. Gift registry x. Customer: 28.People looking to get (re)married. 29. People looking for wedding gifts 30. Wedding-related services xi. Is this service/product a compelling purchase? 31. Yes. People don’t skimp on weddings 32. Recession-proof: 2. 4 million weddings a year/ 34 billion in annual sales and services 33. xii. Can The Knot grow? 34. Yes. Its online well established base will allow it continue growing at a faster rate than any of its competitors xiii. How fast? 35. xiv. How will The Knot reach more customer segments? 36. Not by magazines high cost of infrastructure and development 37.Continue to adapt to technological changes and trend s in the industry 38. Venture into wedding related markets (pregnancy, planning resources for people without money for huge weddings, etc) 39. Offer evolving and compelling information 40. Create new strategic alliances 41. Strengthen user loyalty 42. xv. What are The Knot’s economics? 43. P20 xvi. What stands in the way of success? 44. Competitors 45. Wedding planners 46. c. Context (factors that inevitably changed, but can’t be controlled by The Knot): xvii. Regulatory environment xviii. Interest rates xix.Demographic trends xx. Inflation d. Deals: ii. How much money should they raise? For what purpose? e. Money: f. Purpose: xxi. Increase investment to further develop the brand xxii. Maintaining relationships with advertisers xxiii. Build technological infrastructure xxiv. Launch sites in other countries xxv. Develop gift registry business (p7) xxvi. Develop technology xxvii. Protect trademark/trade names iii. From whom should they raise money? On what terms? g. Whom : xxviii. Venture capitalists 47. Well known team 48. Wedding market has a high growth potential 49. xxix. Strategic partners . Terms: xxx. Provide limited strategic decisions xxxi. Unlimited cash flow iv. What should David Liu and Carla Roney do? Why? i. What to do: xxxii. Continue to provide a wide range of products that keep the customers’ interest xxxiii. Broaden customer base launch sites in other countries j. Why: xxxiv. Maintain/develop technology xxxv. Keep current relationships with advertisers, customers, and retailers xxxvi. Maintain position above competition xxxvii. Respond effectively to competitive pressures xxxviii. Attract advertising from various industries

Standardized Tests Have Been Criticized Education Essay

In California, appraisal of ELLs regularly occurs in order to guarantee that ongoing educational patterns are run intoing the pupils ‘ demands. Both province and local testing are of import because they non merely supply answerability, but besides show student accomplishment. When assessment portfolios are included, schools can place and run into the demands of a diverse pupil population that includes ELLs ( O'Malley & A ; Pierce, 1996 ) . The intent of the portfolio plan must be good established prior to its execution because the portfolio ‘s intent will find what type of work should be included. For illustration, if portfolios are to be used merely for schoolroom appraisal, they may so concentrate in merely one country of linguistic communication development, such as vocabulary. If, nevertheless, the portfolios are meant to demo an ELL ‘s growing in both English and the capable affair countries, so the portfolio should include illustrations of how good an Ell can utilize English in these countries instead than the content itself. For illustration, stuff gathered should demo how good an ELL has learned the scientific discipline vocabulary and semantics needed to understand scientific discipline books, non how good the pupil can execute a specific experiment ( Gomez, 1999 ) . Both the instructor and the pupils should make up one's mind what types of stuff to include in the portfolio. Including the ELL pupil in the decision-making procedure will offer more of a â€Å" buy-in † by the pupil. Furthermore, this will do the whole procedure more student-centered, which will motivate the pupil to take more duty for his or her acquisition. Reading – the appraisal of reading includes a broad assortment of constituents. Both the instructor and the pupil will desire a assortment of pieces of pupil work included. The instructor may desire to include: 1. ) Runing records 2. ) Reading stock lists, and 3. ) Similar steps utilizing ELL text. Cloze exercisings may besides be included that focal point on vocabulary and grammar. Cloze exercisings are particularly of import because they can show how good a pupil can foretell the following word when reading analogues degrees of proficiency ( Gomez, 1999 ) . A pupil might desire to take reading logs, book studies, and reading responses. Both the instructor and the pupil may desire to include storytelling that includes testing. Students must to the full understand that the instructor will be looking for betterment and higher reading proficiency to happen, and this must be apparent in the portfolio from the beginning to the terminal of the appraisal. The usage of rubrics and checklists will help both the pupil and the instructor. The pupil will profit when he or she understands the standards needed to carry through a undertaking, while the instructor will be able to supply more consistent scaling within the schoolroom. Writing – Of all the linguistic communication conventions combined, composing is likely one of the easiest to document in a portfolio scene. All types of authorship, including those that demonstrate grade degree proficiency, can be included in an appraisal portfolio. Furthermore, criterions established through published province models can include non merely drawings and simple linguistic communication exercisings for the early primary classs but besides diaries, essays, and more advanced research documents at the junior and senior high school degrees. Portfolios can be used to demo pupils ‘ growing in composing as their vocabulary matures. In add-on, many civilizations use different methods and signifiers of logic while supplying information and depicting things or state of affairss. This is easy recognized in a pupil ‘s authorship. This is particularly true for ELLs who are literate in their L1. Portfolios can besides measure an ELL ‘s proficiency and apprehension of composing conventions when grammar exercisings, spelling trials, and self-made lexicons are included ( Gomez, 1999 ) . In order to show growing, instructors must include composing samples from the beginning, in-between, and terminal of the term or school twelvemonth. Again, rubrics and checklists should be included to help both the pupil and the instructor. As mentioned earlier, both rubrics and checklists will do outlooks clear for the pupil, while leting the instructor to measure and rate more systematically within the overall schoolroom environment. Talking – Speaking is seldom included in portfolios because many instructors find it hard to recite speech production qualities. In add-on, many might reason that merely qualitative informations, instead than quantitative informations can be gathered to measure address. However, it is still possible to acknowledge growing in talking accomplishments if the instructor has identified speaking/speech ends. The instructor can measure a pupil ‘s address during either a study or presentation given before the category while pupils are working in braces or in a concerted acquisition environment. Again, both rubrics and checklists should be used by the instructor in order to show speech production accomplishments and growing. Listening – For the same grounds as speech production, many instructors exclude listening as an assessable constituent within a portfolio. However, with more easiness than is required for speech production, a instructor can measure hearing accomplishments through more assorted agencies. For illustration, pupils can be called upon to react to an unwritten presentation or narrative. Here pupils would compose the response after holding carefully listened to either a narrative or presentation. In this scenario, a â€Å" whole linguistic communication † attack would be employed to depict the cardinal points heard and understood from a presentation or narrative. Transcripts of treatments between other pupils could besides be included in a pupil ‘s portfolio. The Content Areas – Aside from the inclusion of the linguistic communication humanistic disciplines, instructors can besides profit by including work from the content countries. Teachers can take two attacks for the appraisal and the inclusion of the content countries in a portfolio. First, instructors may be concerned that their ELL pupils are able to use their linguistic communication accomplishments in the content countries. If this were the instance, so instructors should include illustrations that show how good any ELL pupil can utilize English in these countries. Here, instructors would concentrate on how good English is applied across the course of study instead than the content country itself. While many instructors have played down the inclusion of listening accomplishments within a linguistic communication arts portfolio, they would, on the other manus, be concerned their ELL pupils are able to understand unwritten instructions and accounts of math in English. To further this attack, an ELL instructor should teach his or her ELL pupils to take notes during a math instructor ‘s unwritten presentation/explanation of a math job. These notes would be gathered in intervals over clip from the beginning to the terminal of the term or school twelvemonth. On the other manus, and particularly in the upper classs, instructors may desire to concentrate on how good their Ell pupils are able to get the hang constructs in scientific discipline, math, and societal surveies. Rating and appraisal of a portfolio can be much easier in the content countries because there is frequently merely one correct reply in the scientific disciplines and math. Although multiple-choice inquiries often appear on a societal surveies test, frequently a richer apprehension of the topic ‘s content will be required, and consequently, must be displayed in either a short reply or paragraph length response. In this scenario, an ELL pupil will be required to non merely map good in English, but besides get competence in the content countries. Again, this divide between linguistic communication proficiency and capable affair competence narrows as ELL pupils matriculate toward the upper classs. In a math portfolio, pupils can include day-to-day work and undertakings separated over clip. Ideally, day-to-day work should besides demo how word jobs have enhanced problem-solving accomplishments. It is of import that self-assessment be included in a math portfolio. In a scientific discipline portfolio, an ELL pupil should include illustrations of his or her experiments, studies, and undertakings. A image accompanied with a brief account can be substituted whenever a undertaking or experiment is either excessively cumbrous or two lengthy for inclusion in a portfolio. Self-assessment should be used to demo the pupil how they have experienced growing and gained cognition in scientific discipline. Daily work separated overtime should be gathered that demonstrates how cognition has been obtained through a scientific discipline text edition. In a societal surveies portfolio, ELL pupils could follow the same format as they would for both a math and scientific discipline portfolio. They would, nevertheless, supply more written responses to information gathered from text and related articles. Reports and undertakings could besides be included in a societal surveies portfolio. Keep in head, nevertheless, that it is of import that the work be separated into intervals spaced over clip, from the beginning to the terminal of the term or school twelvemonth. By making this, an ELL instructor could break measure his or her pupils ‘ advancement in both the content countries every bit good as in English. As can be seen in a linguistic communication arts portfolio, the usage of rubrics and checklists are every bit of import for usage with content country portfolios. Whether or non an ELL pupil is schooled in a home room ELL category or a â€Å" pull-out † environment, it is still the duty of the ELL instructor to â€Å" shepherd † his or her pupils in both the linguistic communication humanistic disciplines and the content countries. For this ground, it ‘s imperative that ELL instructors retain an unfastened duologue and co-ordinate frequently with the content country instructors.Guidelines for utilizing portfolios.1. ) Determine the goals- ELL instructors and other module members must make up one's mind what types of information demands appraisal. Consequently, the instructors must acknowledge how the information can be provided. 2. ) Design the portfolio – Ell instructors and other module must make up one's mind what types of merchandises to be included in the portfolio. 3. ) Establish marking and rating standards – Both rubrics and checklists must be developed that support the criterions of public presentation, every bit good as promote acquisition and growing. 4. ) Establish and identify undertakings that support criterions and course of study – The ELL instructor and other module must aline assessment undertakings to their province ‘s model for content criterions. 5. ) Establish explicit standards that is student-centered – All stuff within a portfolio must incorporate pupil work that allows for self-assessment and self-reflection. 6. ) Elevate the importance of the portfolio – Students must acknowledge that portfolios represent the incarnation of their surveies. Portfolios should be contained in an attractive, yet lasting folder/binder. Portfolios should be housed in one distinguishable country of the schoolroom, surrounded by attractive, yet formal trim. 7. ) The assemblage and inclusion of stuff – The ELL instructor must denominate certain plants for inclusion in the portfolio. One must maintain in head that stuff should be included in intervals get downing from the beginning to the terminal of the term or school twelvemonth. 8. ) Self-assessment – Students should be able to reflect upon their work in order to place what they have learned, every bit good as what needs redress. Self-assessment should happen upon the completion of a undertaking, every bit good as in intervals in order to uncover growing. 9. ) Parental engagement – Parents must be kept good informed of portfolio assignments. In add-on, parents need to hold full entree to the portfolios contents, every bit good as to the progress/growth that each portfolio shows. Leting the pupils to take their portfolios place could be hazardous due to possible loss and/or harm. For this ground, the instructor must denominate certain yearss within the term or school twelvemonth for parents to physically see their kid ‘s portfolio. An surrogate means for portfolio reappraisal must happen when a parent ‘s agenda conflicts with a category visit. 10. ) Portfolios benefits toward larning and growing – A. ) A tabular array of contents must be included for organisational intents. B. ) A description of pupil advancement as it relates to each assignment ‘s standards, rubrics, and checklists, and this should happen throughout the term or school twelvemonth, marked at regular intervals that reflect the pupils ‘ ongoing phases of learning/growth. ( O'Malley & A ; Pierce, 1996 ; Gomez, 1999 ) Classroom clip and infinite for portfolios Teachers must acknowledge that portfolios follow pupils work, non frailty versa. That is, one should non schedule portfolio work every hebdomad on of any peculiar twenty-four hours. This is obvious for a figure of grounds. First, portfolios are intended to demo growing of larning over a longer period of clip ( term to term, or get downing to stop of school twelvemonth ) . Second, by adding material hebdomadal, both the instructor and the pupil will happen it hard to foreground growing. Third, frequently, blocks of instructions can widen over clip. If a peculiar twenty-four hours has been designated for portfolio work, both the instructor and the pupils might happen themselves halfway through a undertaking, therefore doing it hard to include that undertaking or separate a breakage point. On the other manus, the portfolio would go meaningless if the stuff were gathered indiscriminately. If the portfolios are meant to expose work from merely one category, so both the instructor and the pupils can hold more leeway make up one's minding how to divide and include pupil work. In this type of scenario, adding stuff to the portfolio monthly or quarterly would let growing to be observed. Aside from ongoing trials, monthly and/or quarterly inclusions would show how a pupil is bettering his or her grammatics, vocabulary, and eloquence. A instructor will hold to set his or her instruction calendar in order to conform to external timelines if the school or territory has mandated portfolios ( Gomez, 1999 ) . As mentioned earlier, portfolios should be housed in a peculiar country of the schoolroom, surrounded by attractive, yet formal trim. Attention should be made to curtail entree to portfolios. Students will break appreciate and work more responsibly when importance has been added to the portfolios. The location and design of the portfolio ‘s place should include an facet of formality. Therefore, promoting the portfolio ‘s importance in the eyes of the pupil. Parental engagement with portfolios Parental support and engagement is equivalent to any pupil ‘s acquisition. In respects to parents, all excessively frequently they are left unaware of the portfolios purpose, contents, ends, and ways for supplying appraisal. For this ground, it is imperative that the parents be included in the portfolio procedure ( Hill & A ; Ruptic, 1994 ) . Schools or instructors should denominate peculiar darks within a seven-day timeframe for informal presentations. Merely one dark would be necessary to go to, yet schools could break suit the parents ‘ agenda when offering a presentation on assorted darks within the hebdomad. The presentation should focus on on the intent and ends of the portfolio. Teachers can besides include the advantages, projected results, format, and features of a portfolio. By making this, parents will be better informed of the portfolios intent and procedure. By including parents, pupils will be better able to show the positive effects of their schooling. Parents will besides develop a deeper apprehension of how linguistic communication proficiency and capable affair competency develop over clip through assorted agencies of direction and stuff. Furthermore, parents will appreciate how their kids have developed, and will be more willing to back up a instructor ‘s agencies for direction and appraisal ( Tierney, Carter, & A ; Desai, 1991 ) . Student appraisal of personal portfolios One of the chief advantages of assessment Portfolios is that it promotes student self-evaluation, critical thought, and contemplation. Students, whether general or ELL understand their capablenesss, every bit good as what challenges them. Sadly, all excessively frequently, they are left out in the development of processs and patterns for the appraisal of their acquisition. Often, the patterns and processs that are employed to rate their acquisition rely straight on prescribed information or blink of an eye callback. Seldom do they rate what pupils understand about themselves and their acquisition. Seldom are pupils able to reflect on their acquisition and growing, and rarely are pupils called upon to utilize what they know by showing that growing and apprehension ( AMLE, 1999 ) . Leting pupils to take an active portion in the planning, preparation, and appraisal of the portfolio changes all of the above. Through pupil appraisal, pupils will hold the chance to link and do sense of their work and their acquisition. Students must be able to utilize their accomplishments and cognition, while showing their apprehension of issues and thoughts ( AMLE, 1999 ) . In a pupil led portfolio conference, both the instructor and the parents should sit-back and let the pupil to explicate their acquisition and how the stuff that has been included demonstrates their growing. Both instructors and parents can inquire inquiries, and of class offer counsel to the portfolios organisation, they would, nevertheless, want the pupil to presume full duty and ownership for the portfolio and its contents. Checklists, which will be described subsequently, offer yet another manner for pupils to pull off non merely their acquisition but besides their inclusion of stuff into a portfolio.