Compare, Contrast and Evaluate the Sociological...

The role of education is to educate individuals within society and to prepare and qualify them for work in the economy as well as helping to integrate individuals into society and teach them the norms, values and morals of society. Yet there are three sociological theories that differ greatly between them on the role of education. These are Functionalism, Marxism and Liberalism. Functionalists view the role of education as a means of socialising individuals and to integrate society, to keep society running smoothly and remain stable. Emile Durkheim, creator of the Organic Analogy, was a functionalist during the 1870 s. Durkheim believes that society can only survive if its members are committed to common social values and that†¦show more content†¦Liberalism is unlike either of the other views; it contrasts sharply with the individual Marxists and Functionalists views on the role of education. The liberal view of education rests on the assumption that individuals should be free to determine their own destiny. Liberalism concentrates on the individual rather than society as a whole and that education should consider individual strengths not impose the same curriculum on everyone and presume that it would be suitable; education should bring out a persons strengths. Ivan Illich, writer of ‘Be-schooling Society (1971) says that formal schooling is failing most children and that schools over concentrate on paper qualifications, which do little or nothing in themselves. He also suggests that formal curriculum s should be abolished and set lessons made non-compulsory and that education should find children s strengths, not impose vague notions on what the government wants. Illich also suggests that the school indoctrinates pupils through the hidden curriculum and cares more about control of the pupils then their actual learning. An application of the liberal view to education was the fee-paying school created by A. S. Neill, headmaster of Summerhill School in theShow MoreRelated Compare, Contrast and Evaluate the Sociological Perspectives on the Ro1259 Words   |  6 Pagesrole of education is to educate individuals within society and to prepare and qualify them for work in the economy as well as helping to integrate individuals into society and teach them the norms, values and morals of society. Yet there are three sociologic al theories that differ greatly between them on the role of education. These are Functionalism, Marxism and Liberalism. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Functionalists view the role of education as a means of socialising individuals and to integrateRead MoreSociology Essay20437 Words   |  82 Pagespermission to use copyright material: Crown copyright  © material is reproduced under Class Licence No. CO1 W 0000195 with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen’s Printer for Scotland; Guardian News and Media Ltd for extracts from Ros Taylor, ‘Classes in non-traditional family life proposed by government’, The Guardian, 12.05.00. Copyright  © Guardian News Media Ltd 2000; Will Woodward, ‘Testing †¦ testing †¦ testing’, The Guardian 20.05.00. Copyright  © Guardian News Media LtdRead MoreOperational Management36687 Words   |  147 Pagesoutput is bread which equals 10 000 loaves And our input is man hours which is 500 workers x 8 hours per day = 4000 man hours So if you calculate 10 000 4 000 the answer is = 2.5 This means nothing at this stage, unless you have something to compare it with e.g. Bakers Bread plans to produce 12 500 loaves of bread per day using 480 workers each working 8 hours per day. Therefore the Plan Productivity is 12 500 3840 = 3.26 Actual versus plan = 2.5 3.26 x 100 1 = 76.6 % Read MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagesstrength of customer spending, especially when times are tight. Study of the current economy indicates that when today’s consumer is completely satisfied with his or her product or service purchase, he or she tells six other potential buyers. In contrast, a dissatisfied consumer informs 25 other potential buyers. That is the leverage of quality in shaping consumer sentiment, which is vital in powering the two-thirds of the American economy that is consumer-driven. Therefore, as companies again go

Sanger Automotive Companies the Fisker Franchise Decision

National Agro-Food Policy (2011-2020) in Agriculture Sector In Malaysia, agriculture remains an important sector and it plays role as food providers, create employments and generate earnings from export products. The development of the agricultural sector is generally governed by a comprehensive and market driven agricultural policies. The agricultural policies were formulated and have enabled the agricultural sector to grow sustainably and also contributed to economy development in Malaysia. The agricultural policy set the direction for the agricultural sector. As a result, this sector has been transformed from a conventional and passive sector that focused on single commodity to a dynamic, diversified and modern sector. There are†¦show more content†¦Under National Agro-Food Policy, agriculture sector has been identified as a National Key Result Area. Under this initiative, the agriculture sector is targeted to increase the Gross National Income by RM28.9 Billion (USD9.1 b illion) to reach RM49.1 billion (USD15.4 billion) by 2020. The agricultural sector is also targeted to create more than 109,000 job opportunities by 2020, primarily in the rural areas. The National Agro-Food policy has incorporated strategies that are in line with the nutritional aspects of the food system. The programs implemented under the policy include increased food production through optimization and sustainable land, development and upgrading agriculture infrastructure and increase the quality and safety of food by expanding the compliance of standard. Efforts have also been taken to strengthen human capital and to ensure sufficient skill labor force in the agricultural sector. This includes the use of modern technology and mechanization to reduce the dependency of manpower. The government also provides sector-based incentives to encourage the private sector to invest in the agriculture and agro-based industry. The development of the agriculture sector is an ongoing process to promote to Malaysia’s economy. However, the agricultural sector is facing new issues such as changes in global economy and trade liberalization. The agricultural sector requires new strategies that can address issues in orderShow MoreRelatedSanger-Fisker Case1482 Words   |  6 PagesMKT 412A-CE | Sanger-Fisker Case | Philip Carr | 10/28/2014 10/28/2014 Major Issue or Decision: The two parties up for question in this case study are the Sanger and Fisker Automotive Companies. Sanger is a privately owned company that currently maintains eight highly reputable dealerships in the Florida and Georgia area, most of which fall into the luxury car category. The Sanger Automotive Company has been able to position themselves as a well-known and trusted car dealer in the areaRead MoreEssay on Mr. Jason935 Words   |  4 PagesMBA 5240: Sanger Automotive Companies Problem Sanger Automotive Companies, Inc. is one of the most successful auto dealers in the United State.  In September 2011, the executives met a problem that whether or not to pursue an exclusive franchise for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were in the embryonic stage of the product life cycle. This decision is a complicate one which the executive must find the sufficient evidence to support. SWOT Analysis Strengths

Accounting in Context

Questions: 1. When you think of the accounting profession what comes to your mind? 2. What contextual factors do you think could influence the accounting profession? 3. Describe the people you expect to interact with as an accountant? 4. What role do you think you should play in contributing to your community as an accountant? 5. What might the clients and fellow employees expect of you as an accountant? 6. What skills do you think you should possess to be a successful accountant? Answers: 1. In the beginning of the semester, when I thought of the accounting profession, the initial idea that strikes my mind is related to technical jobs. As I have accumulated knowledge regarding accounting information system in my course, the accounting profession was about operating various complex accounting systems and handling technical work like making journal entries, evaluating financial information and developing financial reports. However, during my course of curriculum, I have learnt that the profession of accounting is much more in contrast to technical jobs. At present, whenever I think about this particular profession, the initial thing, which comes into mind, is the top four accounting organisations. Moreover, the accounting profession also covers various aspects like auditing, taxation and assurance. Thus, seeking entry into one of those organisations has become my dream. Along with this, after listening to the Xero presentation, I am aware of the rising significance of technology in the profession of accounting and thus, the trend of future development is accounting information system and cloud computing. 2. According to the past learning, I have a thought that the single contextual factor affecting the profession of accounting is the prevailing regulations. In Australia, the accounting profession and organisations need to follow the requirements laid down on the part of Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Besides these, an accountant is required to take into account the influence of policies and rules. However, I have now realised other contextual factors like economic environment, politics, society, culture and globalisation have direct influence on the accounting profession. Thus, a broad group of contextual factors in both external and internal environment of the profession of accounting and the accounting professionals have direct influence on the same. 3. As an accountant, I could interact with my fellow colleagues and managers, as teamwork plays a significant role in the process of accounting. As I came to know about the top four accounting firms in my college seminars, I recognised that effective interaction with the clients is crucial for an accountant. This is because these organisations carry out the accounting activities, which are one-to-one, based with specific clients like auditors, shareholders and suppliers. 4. In order to carry out my accounting work, I believe delivering accurate and faithful financial information is necessary for the users for making decisions regarding the organisation. As per ACCA, the accountant role has been increasing with respect to technical demand and conformance to the financial reporting standards. In addition, the current day accountants are encouraged with ambitions of higher career coupled with career progress prospects. This knowledge has been obtained from the seminars because of the industry partner address. In addition, an accountant needs to possess effective leadership skills and the role of the individuals in performing accounting work. Furthermore, according to CIMA, the accountants now-a-days are focusing on building analytical skills rather than entering data and developing financial reports. 5. I need to behave ethically for assuring the interest of the firm in order to meet the expectations of the clients and fellow employees. Along with this, these individuals have some sort of expectations regarding my competence, technical ability, interpersonal skills and leadership abilities. An accountant is needed to maintain effectual time management and balance of work life to carry out different accounting activities. Finally, it is crucial for me to understand the significance of cultural differences and needed skills for preparing presentations. Such presentations would deliver greater value in the current business environment. 6. According to ACCA, I have accumulated knowledge regarding the various issues, which an accountant face for maintaining balance of work life, idleness and gap in market of service demand. The other issues faced on the part of an accountant are related to cyber safety, sustainability, ethics, digital commotion and reporting standards. In addition, the challenges also arise for the accountants based on their specialisation areas. For instance, an accountant doing taxation specialisation would keep a record of the annual regulatory changes, which the government of Australia undertakes. Hence, the above-mentioned skills are needed in order to be successful as an accountant.

Path to Success free essay sample

A team is made up of focused individuals all trying to achieve a common goal. Personalities, Individual skills and trust can often prevent team success. A team charter Is one method of defining team goals, team skills, ground rules, a code of conduct, and conflict management. The charter Is the opportunity for the team members to agree to their objectives, Identify challenges, potential conflicts, record their responsibilities to the group, and chart the course that lay ahead.A successful team will use the charter as a developmental tool to improve performance and team unity. Assessment Our team has completed three personality assessments: Whats my Jungian 16- Type Personality? ( Marcel,1 989), Do I trust others? (Glenn Pod, 1 989), and How good are my listening 1957) In an effort to gain a better understanding of ourselves and each other. These tools aided In the creation of our learning charter, defining strengths and weaknesses of each Individual adding depth to the skills Inventory section. We will write a custom essay sample on Path to Success or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One key point to note Is that the charter does not tell the team how to solve the problem or what a solution should look like. The charter sets the process n motion, establishes key milestones and desired outcomes, but does not suggest a solution path(Wilkinson Moran, 1998). In having this information, the team can create a charter that will best cater to the needs of the team and the relative performance of the team. Performance Each member of the learning team Is enrolled In this course to learn and expand their views about business.In this course and In business, team members are measured by how well or poorly they perform. The team charter helps the team by defining what is acceptable or unacceptable performance, how the team members ill interact with each other and how conflict will be resolved should it arise. Each team member contributed to the formation of the team charter, voicing opinions, personal preferences and engaging in debate over topics of concern. During the formation process, team members begin learning about each other, building trust, and forming relationships.The result is a charter that is representative of each member of the group. The charter serves as a benchmark that the members can measure their interaction with the team and overall performance against. Each ember has agreed to fulfill specifically defined goals and be held accountable for maintaining the goals as defined by the charter. The charter provides a cornerstone to which the team can build upon, pulling on each of our strengths so the group can perform at peak levels.The charter clearly defines expectations removing any ambiguity or misinterpretation by each member as to expected outcome of a project, Conclusion As the team progresses through this course, the members will gain each others trust, learn to listen to differing viewpoints, and learn why other people make decisions and how they come to a conclusion. What makes good team members are individuals who are able to work well with others and understand how their behaviors affect the teams performance.In other words, having a high level of emotional intelligence or empathy separates high-performing teams from lesser- performing teams(Snow Mullioned, 2002). The team charter outlines how the team will interact with one another, giving each team member an opportunity to express viewpoints in a team environment. Without the charter to define how the team should interact, set team goals, how conflict will be managed or how decisions will be dad, the team would spend more time ineffectively communicating, have no formal direction, and be unsuccessful in accomplishing any goal set before them.

harveythe play essays

harveythe play essays Campbell Universitys Department of Theater Arts Presented Harvey on April 7th and 8th and from the 13th through the 15th. The play was first presented in the early 40s. It is also set in this time period. It is a very care-free, take your mind off of your worries comedic work. The main character, Elwood P. Dowd, has a invisible friend, a pooka named Harvey, who accompanies him during his daily activities. A pooka is a mythical creature who appears here and there, where ever it pleases, and to whoever it pleases. In this case, the pooka has taken the form of a rabbit who is six feet, one and a half inches tall. Mr. Dowd lives in a large mansion with his sister, Veta Louise Simmons, and her daughter Myrtle May Simmons. Mr. Dowds family does not see Harvey at first, but they Elwood interacting and talking to Harvey. They become extremely worried about him seeing an imaginary rabbit and him spending all of his time with someone who doesnt even exist. As difficult and humiliating as it is for her, Veta Louise is forced to take Mr. Dowd to Chumleys Rest, an psychiatric facility on the outskirts of town where he can receive treatments for his problems. This faculty was founded by renowned psychiatrist William R. Chumley, MD. Dr. Chumley only sees few cases when time permits. Veta Louise, as any good sister would, only wants the best for her brother and insist that Dr. Chumley handle this case personally. His assistant, Miss Kelly, denies this request, but reassures Veta Louise that her brother will receive top quality attention. She is referred to Dr. Lyman Sanderson, MD, a doctor who also practices out at Chumleys Rest. Veta Louise describes her situation and Elwoods case to Dr. Sanderson, but as she is doing so, ...

20 Quotes on Writing From Famous Authors

20 Quotes on Writing From Famous Authors What is writing? Ask 20 writers and youll get 20 different answers. But on one point, most seem to agree: writing is hard work. Richard Peck ï » ¿Writing is communication, not self-expression. Nobody in this world wants to read your diary except your mother. Toni Cade Bambara Writing has been for a long time my major tool for self-instruction and self-development. William Stafford I dont see writing as communication of something already discovered, as truths already known. Rather, I see writing as a job of experiment. Its like any discovery job; you dont know whats going to happen until you try it. Sherley Anne Williams I think writing is really a process of communication... Its the sense of being in contact with people who are part of a particular audience that really makes a difference to me in writing. Ursula K. LeGuin Writing makes no noise, except groans, and it can be done everywhere, and it is done alone. Robert Heinlein Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards. Franz Kafka Writing is utter solitude, the descent into the cold abyss of oneself. Carlos Fuentes Writing is a struggle against silence. David Sedaris Writing gives you the illusion of control, and then you realize its just an illusion, that people are going to bring their own stuff into it. Henry Miller Writing is its own reward. Molià ¨re Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.† J. P. Donleavy Writing is turning ones worst moments into money. Doris Lessing Ive always disliked words like inspiration. Writing is probably like a scientist thinking about some scientific problem or an engineer about an engineering problem. Sinclair Lewis Writing is just work- theres no secret. If you dictate or use a pen or type or write with your toes- its still just work. Suze Orman Writing is hard work, not magic. It begins with deciding why you are writing and whom you are writing for. What is your intent? What do you want the reader to get out of it? What do you want to get out of it. Its also about making a serious time commitment and getting the project done. Gabriel Garcia Marquez Writing is [like] making a table. With both you are working with reality, a material just as hard as wood. Both are full of tricks and techniques. Basically very little magic and a lot of hard work are involved... What is a privilege, however, is to do a job to your satisfaction. Harlan Ellison People on the outside think theres something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isnt like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and thats all there is to it. Catherine Drinker Bowen Writing, I think, is not apart from living. Writing is a kind of double living. The writer experiences everything twice. Once in reality and once in that mirror which waits always before or behind. E.L. Doctorow Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. Jules Renard Writing is the only way to talk without being interrupted.

Project Level 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Project Level 4 - Essay Example The academy needed an injection of cash to help refresh the campus and offer another two main courses. Information Technology and Nursing were decided to be the most in demand courses in the area and specifically I.T. so with the help of a local venture capitalist, who lives in the area, have decided to build three new state of the art buildings, one at each site, each with 10 classrooms with new computers and network. The expectation is to design the infrastructure of each site so that it is secure, reliable and inter operates with all of the other sites where necessary. There are 1200 students expected on the I.T course broken up into 30 classes of 20 over two (a morning and an afternoon) sessions each day. As well as a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) option for people who are unable to attend college. East Anglian Academy has approached me as a consultant to design and implement a computerised system that will enable students and teachers to access resources both locally and re motely from anywhere with an Internet connection. Other staff there includes a Human Resources department, Accounts, and Security. The budget set aside for the project is ?2 million but with some movement if necessary. Initial time plan and estimated project costs February 1st initial proposal planning February 8th initial proposal planning February 15th initial proposal planning February 22nd initial proposal planning February 29th complete proposed project March 7th research March 14th research March 21st research March 28th research April 4th research April 11th research April 18th analysis and design April 25th analysis and design May 2nd analysis and design May 9th analysis and design May 16th interim submission May 23rd costing May 30th costing June 6th costing June 13th complete project report and present to class The estimated initial project costs are as follows Computer Costs: ?390000 Server Costs: ?49000 Routers Costs: ?8000 Switches Costs ?60000 Cabling Costs ?25000 Labo ur Costs ?100000 Total Project Cost: ?632000 Allocated Budget: ?2000000 Justifications Security –separation from the students, teachers and office staff data, so each person can only gain access to what they are authorised to. Shared resources – all sites will be able to access resources across all three sites if authorised Offload the time and labour intensive tasks, like backups, to third party companies Reduce costs – all of the systems implemented will be on an IP network and can leverage its functionality by putting the latest technology on it for things like telephones, video cameras, door entry system, building controls like heating and lighting, and also allow for the management of it all from any locally connected administrator computer Have fixed IT budget moving forwards Functionality The new system for Anglian Academy will do the following Link all sites as one network Centralise all management to the HQ campus but allow micro managing at the branch campuses where necessary for local issues Gigabit local area network speed Wireless connectivity throughout the campuses Move all HR data to the HQ campus Link all security cameras to the HQ campus Make available online course material for students (VLE) Give redundancy at each campus in the event of

Service Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Service Reflection - Essay Example I once worked at an after school child program where it was my responsibility to help children with their homework. Being a person without very good English skills, I was worried that the children would not understand what was being said, so I was only able to help with mathematics. Mathematics is a universal language so I thought this would make up for my lack of English-speaking skills. It was my responsibility in this role to help children achieve their greatest successes, even when the children were difficult and hard to manage. This is part of Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership: To do unto others as one would have done unto yourself. I tried to remember this when working with small children, as they need a person who is willing to provide patience and understanding even when they are naughty. By not immediately responding to my own attitudes and concerns about my own weaknesses in English teaching skills, I realized that the children had many positive qualities that would help me reach them better. If I had not drawn on these teachings provided by the Holy Bible, I would not have been able to drop my own fears about insecurity. This is why I am thankful for having servant leadership qualities that were given to me by faith and conviction. When working with the children, I realized that they had many needs. Some of these needs were emotional and others were to have help in order to give them better academic successes. Only a good leader that understands the servant leadership beliefs of religion would be able to reject their own needs in order to provide a better learning experience for the small children. When working with one specific child named Patrick, who was very difficult to teach because of his behavior and attitudes, I realized that the many lessons inspired by Jesus Christ would help me to reach him better. I suddenly realized during the experience that this child needed someone who would be tolerant

Group Presentation Essay Example for Free

Group Presentation Essay 1. Watch two of Pal’s commercials. What do they emphasize? After watching two of the commercials for Pal’s you see that they emphasize a lot on how fast their product is made and how popular their food products are too many people including old to young. Pal’s product line consists of a focused group of food, hamburgers, ham and chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, French fries, and breakfast biscuits and beverages, soft drinks, tea, coffee, milk shakes with a unique flavor profile designed to meet their customers taste requirements. Pal’s has developed the ability to effectively integrate manufacturing, service, and retail into its operational systems. They have also learned to apply world-class management principles and best-in-class processes that cause other companies emulate to our systems. 2. What type of waiting line model is found at Pal’s drive-thru restaurants? Pal’s drive-thru facilities have been designed to be efficient and effective. The equipment, facilities, and technologies that Pals uses to meet customer needs are components that serve our manufacturing, service and retail needs through ongoing use of our Benchmarking, Innovation and Product/Service/ Process Introduction processes. Their process layout is designed so that raw materials enter through a delivery door and are worked forward through the store with one process serving the next process in the processing/assembly/packaging line until a finished product is handed to an external customer. The major technologies involved are order taking, cooking, holding, filtering, order delivery, and packaging. They have developed proprietary state-of-the-art technology to achieve product and service quality and to provide efficient product flow. 3. What waiting time do you think is acceptable at a drive-thru restaurant? What order accuracy? I would think that anytime from 5-7 minutes would be acceptable wait time for a drive-thru restaurant. I did some research and it said that in 2011 Wendy’s is fastest once again with an average time of 145.5 seconds, while Taco Bell is second at 146.7 seconds and McDonald’s has the longest time at 184.2 seconds. Though the benchmark brands have not increased their speed over past years, all the operators who commented for  the study say they are working to improve the efficiency of their drive thus so that the speed can improve. Order accuracy should be almost always correct. By getting customer orders correct it will make them have a good experience with your company and they will be happy with your business, making them want to come back. 4. From the Baldrige award data, what is the average order speed at Pal’s and at its best competitor? What other things does Pal’s measure? In customer satisfaction, including food quality, service, and order accuracy, Pals is outperforming its primary competitor. For example, customer scores for quality in 2001 averaged 95.8 percent, as compared with 84.1 percent for its best competitor. Pals order handout speed has improved more than 30 percent since 1995, decreasing from 31 seconds to 20 seconds, almost four times faster than its top competitor. Errors in orders are rare, averaging less than one for every 2,000 transactions. The company aims to reduce its error rate to one in every 5,000 transactions. In addition, Pals has consistently received the highest health inspection scores in its market and in the entire state of Tennessee. Pals aims to provide the quickest, friendliest, most accurate service available. 5. What influence do you think Pal’s name has on customer expectations of service? I believe that the name of a company has a lot of influence on how customers think about them. If you are known for your fast service and good food your name will be popular and be advertised a lot which will help your business grow. If you have a good name you want to keep it and make sure to keep customers satisfied and happy with your service. 6. What factors associated with order completion time are beyond Pal’s control? Pals is exhaustive in its pursuit of useful data, the basis for sound planning and decision-making. Owner/operators also maintain a communications log. They record what they have learned about sales, expenses, customers, staff, products, services, equipment, and suppliers, and they list ideas for improvement. Weekly logs are sent to senior Pals executives, who comb the entries for issues and opportunities to be addressed at formal monthly management reviews of organizational and  business results. Data are gathered systematically at all levelsprocess, shift, individual store, and entire business. The companys enterprise resource planning system, SysDine, is a key tool, generating store-level and company-wide data on sales, customer count, product mix, ideal food and material cost, and turnover rates. This information supports daily operational decisions. It also is used to update Pals Balanced Sc orecard of Core Performance Measures, which links directly to its key business drivers: quality, service, cleanliness, value, people, and speed. Managers regularly review the value of the data collected, and the company employs an outside statistician to evaluate the type of information tracked, how it is used, and how it is collected. 7. How does Pal’s â€Å"drive-thru only concept† affect speed of service? The quick-service restaurant business, the facilities and equipment must be capable, reliable, and sanitary. The drive-thru facility at Pal’s has been designed to be efficient and effective. The equipment, facilities, and technologies that Pal’s uses to meet customer needs are components that have been determined to serve the manufacturing, service, and retail needs by our staff through ongoing use of our benchmarking, innovation, and product/service/process introduction processes. Pal’s has created an environment that promotes continual improvement. Pal’s leadership supports this environment by being a role model for its systematic evaluation and improvement processes. Because of the management-led and organization-wide focus on continual improvement, major results are improving. 8. What are Pal’s core values? How does employee training differ at Pal’s? The companys Business Excellence Process is the key-integrating element, a management approach to ensuring that customer requirements are met in every transaction, today and in the future. Carried out under the leadership of Pals two top executives and its 17 store owner/operators, the Business Excellence Process spans all facets of the operationfrom strategic planning to on-line quality control. Every component process, including those for continual improvement and product introduction, is interactively linked, producing data that directly or indirectly inform the others. Developed with the aid of benchmarking studies, the companys training  processes support improvement in operational and business performance. Owner/operators and assistant managers have primary responsibility for staff training. They use a four-step model: show, do it, evaluate, and perform again. Employees must demonstrate 1 00 percent competence before they are certified to work at a specific workstation. Initial training for all employees includes intensive instruction on effective listening skills. In addition, in-store training on processes, health and safety, and organizational culture is required for new staff at all facilities via computer-based training, flash cards, and one-on-one coaching. Cross training is required of all store-level staff to ensure their complete understanding of all production and service procedures as well as quality standards. Recognizing that most of their front-line workers are first-time entrants into the labor force, Pals management believes it has responsibility to help its workers develop knowledge and skills that can be applied in future jobs. This approach, along with competitive wages and financial incentives, has made the restaurant chain a desirable place to work for high school and college students. Pals has leveraged its reputation by implementing a statistically controlled, talent-based hiring system that helps managers identify applicants with attributes associated with effective job performance and customer satisfaction. 9. How does Pal’s use technology? Pal’s Leadership Team members partner with three information technology firms to maintain awareness of currently available and emerging technologies and methods for making information and data more reliable, accurate, available, and usable. Input from these partners is considered during strategic planning where their data capabilities and requirements are aligned with their business objectives and action plans. At Pal’s, they ensure that hardware and software are reliable and user friendly by using established standards and specifications in the selection of each of the computers and point-of-sale terminals they use in all operations. Their standards and specifications include strict criteria to review reliability and user friendliness. They also test new systems in advance before installing them in all of their stores. During use, they measure and review mean time  between failures on their systems components, and we routinely assess whether they have sufficient redundant backup. To help assure the reliability of the software, they also have strict controls over who can make changes in the programs. Changes are tested and verified prior to being used on a production basis. They review the way their systems perform within operations with the people who actually use the equipment and programs. They also keep abreast of technology changes through their partners, trade shows, and publications. During strategic planning they use this input to analyze how their systems are meeting all current user requirements. They also assess what is needed to support our strategic objectives and action plans.

Hunter S. Tompson and Gonzo Journalism Essay -- Gonzo Journalism Argum

Hunter S. Tompson and Gonzo Journalism In the late sixties a young journalist and free-lance novelist named Hunter S. Thompson (HST) emerged with a new, crazed and exaggerated brand of reporting. It was sooner or later referred to as â€Å"Gonzo†. HST’s own definition of gonzo has varied over the years, but he still maintains that a good gonzo journalist â€Å"needs the talent of a master journalist, the eye of an artist/photographer and the heavy balls of an actor† and that gonzo is a â€Å"style of reporting based on William Faulkner’s idea that the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism†(Carroll, page 192). Gonzo journalism has also been referred to as outlaw journalism, new journalism, alternative journalism, literary cubism, and other words better not repeated here. With such high profile stages for his writings in Rolling Stone Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, Esquire and Vanity Fair, HST has proven that his exaggerated gonzo journalism is as relevan t (or even more so) than that of conventional journalists. In this essay, the concept and development of gonzo journalism and its relevance to media and reporting will be thoroughly explored. Dr Hunter S. Thompson is a man of great wit and charisma. He is 6’2† tall, and, due to the fact that one leg is longer than the other, he tends to bob back and forth. He is apparently always thirsty, and his favorite drinks are known to be Wild Turkey and Chivas Regal. Besides being a writer and failed politician, HST is also a collector of peacocks and guns. HST is also happily divorced with one son, Juan. Dr Thompson’s journalism career began in the daily columns of small town newspapers, but because of differences in personality, opinion and style, he did... ...elevant as any other anchorman’s daily news report. Bibliography Carrol, Jean E. Hunter: The Strange and Savage life of Hunter S. Thompson. New York: Plume, 1993 Thompson, Hunter S. The Great Shark Hunt. New York: Fawcett Popular Library, 1980 Thompson, Hunter S. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. New York: Vintage Books, July 1989 Thompson, Hunter S. Songs of the Doomed: More Notes on the Death of the American Dream. New York: Summit, 1990 Thompson, Hunter S. Better Than Sex: Confessions of a Political Junkie. New York: Ballantine, 1994 Thompson, Hunter S. Generation Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the ‘80’s. New York: Summit, 1988 Thompson, Hunter S. The Curse of Lono. New York: Bantam, 1983 Wolfe, Tom: The New Journalism. New York: Harper & Row, 1973

Farmers dbq Essay

In the late nineteenth century, twenty years after the Homestead Act, farmers used their land in the western plains to produce both crops and profits. The farmers of this time struggled in the agricultural way of life by facing economic and political obstacles that were impossible to avoid, requiring them to do something about their complaints. Although the farmers had plausible arguments for most of their criticisms, their beliefs of the silver standard and overproduction sometimes could not be backed up. However, farmers continued to struggle between inevitable issues like the currency debate, constant debt and rising costs. The debate over United States currency was a huge obstacle for farmers to overcome because they were in direct relation to the money crisis. In 1890 and 1892 with the Ocala and Omaha Platforms, farmers wanted free and unlimited coinage of silver so they could pay off any debt. A chart showing United States Population and Money in Circulation in 1865-1895 (Document C), shows how after a period of less money in circulation in the 1870s was resolved in the 1880s by the Bland-Allison Act which was later replaced by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1890. Both of these acts were passed in Congress to provide free coinage of silver. The reasoning for the silver standard in the Populist platform in 1892 (Document A) was justified by the same reasoning as William Jennings Bryan in his â€Å"Cross of Gold† speech. Both describe how the conspiracy that the gold standard is better because England still uses it questions why America became an independent nation. However, the farmers still remained defeated on the currency debate because of the gold bug president gaining control of office. One of the biggest struggles for the farmers was not being able to pay off debt. They borrowed extravagant amounts of money from the bank at high interest rates, but this complaint was reasonable because one could not be a farmer without taking these risks. During Grover Cleveland’s second non-consecutive year in office a horrible four-year depression occurred called the Panic of 1893. This panic was caused by over speculation in the stock market and over expansion of railroads; both of these decisions made by the eastern president, Cleveland. As depicted in A Farmer’s Voice, a Chicago newspaper, (Document D) an eastern leader, Cleveland, takes his western slaves, the farmers, to the courthouse because the farms have been foreclosed. Farm foreclosures, a twenty percent unemployment rate and the cause for Cleveland to return to the gold standard, were effects of the Panic of 1893. Ultimately, this depression added to the unavoidable obstacle of debt.

Canada History Essay

Everywhere you might hear the roll of the drum, and there was no family but had its soldier, and few that did not have their dead. There were a score of thousand British troops in the Northern provinces, and every week brought rumors and alarms, and portents of victory or defeat. The haggard post-rider came galloping in with news from north and west, which the anxious village folks gather to hear. There have been skirmishes, successes, retreats, surprises, massacres, retaliations. In 1867 the Canadian history was the people’s ancestors who become American Indians (North American Indians) that first entered North America from Siberia some time around 14,000–15,000 years ago. A wave of further migrations from Siberia, beginning about 4,000 years ago, brought the Inuit people, who settled across the whole of Arctic North America, from Alaska through Northern Canada to Greenland (Fregault, 1969). The European discovery is where Europeans sight North America were the Vikings in 986. An expedition led by Leif Ericsson sailed from Greenland, visited Baffin Island, and sailed down the Labrador coast to Newfoundland, which was named Vinland. The remains of a Viking settlement have been found on the island, but it would seem that the Viking colony was short†lived. The Viking discovery was forgotten in Europe, and it was 500 years before another European, John Cabot reached the shores of Canada (1497). In 1534 Jacques Cartier, a Frenchman, undertook a voyage of discovery along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and on his second voyage (1536–37) discovered the St Lawrence River and travelled as far as the Huron capital, Hochelaga (the site of Montreal). Some small settlements were made by the French, but have been abandoned it after two years (Hayes, 2002). The French and British rivalry was until 1608 that Samuel de Champlain, who had visited the country in 1603 and subsequent years, founded the city of Quebec. The St Lawrence region formed a French colony under the name of Canada for the next century and a half. Meanwhile, the English formed the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1670 and began to trade with the American Indians that is now the Northwest Territories. A French colony, known as Acadia, had also been established in Nova Scotia at the beginning of the 17th century, but the arrival of English and Scottish colonists led to a long†running conflict for possession until the territory came they became under British control by the Treaty of Utrecht (1713). Finally, in 1749 the British founded the settlement of Halifax and installed many British colonists, and the following year the French settlers were expelled for refusing to swear loyalty to the British crown. Many of these Acadians subsequently settled in Louisiana, where they became known as Cajuns (Eccles,1969). Louis Reil is perhaps the most controversial figure in Canadian historiography. He is a leader of his people in their resistance against the Canadian government in the Canadian Northwest. His life and deeds have spawned a massive and diverse literature. He was born in the Red River Settlement (in what is now Manitoba) in 1844. He is a promising student and was sent to Montreal to train for the priesthood, but he never graduated. An attempt at training as a lawyer, and by 1868 Riel was back in the Red River area. Ambitious, well educated and bilingual, Riel quickly emerged as a leader among the Metis of the Red River. In 1869-1870 he headed a provisional government, which would eventually negotiate the Manitoba Act with the Canadian government. The Act established Manitoba as a province and provided some protection for French language rights. Riel’s leadership in the agitation, especially his decision to execute a Canadian named Thomas Scott, anti-Catholic and anti-French sentiment in Ontario. Although chosen for a seat in the House of Commons on three occasions, he was unable to take his seat in the house. In 1875, Riel’s role in the death of Scott resulted in his exile from Canada. These years in exile would include stays in two Quebec asylums and the growing belief in Riel that he had a religious mission to lead the Metis people of the Canadian northwest (Chartrand, 1999). Riel was the undisputed spiritual and political head of the short-lived 1885 Rebellion. He never carried arms and hindered the work of his military head, Gabriel Dumont. Riel was increasingly influenced by his belief that he was chosen to lead the Metis people. On May 15, shortly after the fall of Batoche, Riel surrendered to Canadian forces and was taken to Regina to stand trial for reason (Lloyd, 1959). At his trial, Riel gave two long speeches which demonstrated his powerful rhetorical abilities. He personally rejected attempts by his defense counsel to prove he was not guilty by reason of insanity. On 1 August 1885, a jury of six English-speaking Protestants found Riel guilty but recommended mercy. Judge Hugh Richardson sentenced him to death. Attempted appeals were dismissed and a special re-examination of Riel’s mental state by government appointed doctors found him sane. He was hanged in Regina on 16 November, 1885. His execution was widely opposed in Quebec and had lasting political ramifications (Lee, 1986). While in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, this was also known as the Battle of Quebec, this was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years War (referred to as French and Indian War in the United States). The confrontation, which began on 12 September 1759, fought between the British Army and Navy, and the French Army, on a plateau just outside the walls of Quebec City (Stuart, 2003). The battle involved fewer than 10,000 troops between both sides, but proved to be in the conflict between France and Britain over the fate of New France, influencing the later creation of Canada (Casgrain, 1964). The culmination of a three-month siege by the British, the battle lasted less than an hour. British troops commanded by General James Wolfe successfully resisted the column advance of French troops and Canadian militia under Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm (Hibbert, 1959). The two generals were mortally wounded during the battle, Wolfe died on the field and Montcalm passed away the next morning. In the wake of the battle, France’s remaining military force in Canada and the rest of North America came under increasing pressure from British forces. Within four years, nearly all of France’s possessions in eastern North America would be ceded to Great Britain (Anderson, 2000). The battle itself has bind Montcalm and Wolfe. Montcalm has been treated leniently by history he was indeed a brilliant and heroic soldier, and he had the crowning honor of dying bravely at Quebec, but he cannot be held blameless in this affair. He had taught the Indians that he was as one of themselves, had omitted no means of securing their amity had danced and sung with them and smiled approvingly and he had no right to imagine that they would believe him sincere in his promise to spare the prisoners. The two military leaders of the French and British fought the battle as the most promising event in their lives. The two generals leave a legacy to the Plains of Abraham. Bibliography Anderson, Fred. 2000. Crucible of War: The Seven Years War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766. New York. Casgrain, H.R. 1964. Wolfe and Montcalm. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Chartrand, Rene. 1999. Quebec 1759. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. Eccles, W.J. 1760. The Canadian Frontier. New York: Holt. Fregault, Guy. 1969. Canada: The war of the Conquest. Toronto Oxford: University Press. Hayes, Derek. 2002. Historical Atlas of Canada. Vancouver: Douglas & Mc Intyre Ltd. Hibbert, Christopher. 1959. Wolfe at Quebec. New York: The World Publishing Company. Lee , Kenneth. 1986. The French armies in the seven years war. University Press. Lloyd, Christopher.1959. The Capture of Quebec. London: B.T. Batsford, Ltd. Reid, Stuart. 2003. The Battle that Won Canada. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.   

Free Essays on The Midwifes Apprentice

The Midwife’s Apprentice Alyce was no one but â€Å"Dung Beetle† to the world, a homeless young girl in medieval England. Then, a midwife named Jane Sharp found her sleeping in the cold and called the young girl to be her apprentice. Soon, Alyce learned more about the life of a midwife, in time able to deliver a baby by herself. But when Alyce fails at her second delivery attempt, she runs away, trying to find a place in this world, only to discover that the only place she belongs is by the midwife’s side. The medieval time period in the book is obvious throughout. Alyce was a mere preteen and the adults that lived in the community around her treated her as if she was an adult. In those days that was very common. For instance, children would have to find jobs just as Alyce did to support themselves. If they didn’t and they were without a place to stay, the children would be thrown on to the streets. If this were to happen, one would have to beg for food and lay on the cold ground or waste piles to sleep. It was not a healthy life to live. Medical treatment was not sanitary at that time. For example, after a newborns’ umbilical cord had been cut (using string and a carving knife from the kitchen) if certain herbal oils weren‘t readily available spit was used as an alternative. It was implied in the book that when Alyce delivered a child she didn’t have clean hands. In contrast to that, in recent times most doctors don’t even use their bare hands to deliver a baby. Also, instead of advanced painkillers for delivering a baby, herbs, witchcraft and prayers were used as an aid to the mothers giving birth. Most of any medieval midwife’s knowledge of delivering a child centered upon herbs. When a midwife would pick herbs for delivering a child first she would pick them and then prepare them using ancient rituals. The ritual depended upon where the herbs were picked, what they looked and tasted like, and what the ruli... Free Essays on The Midwife's Apprentice Free Essays on The Midwife's Apprentice The Midwife’s Apprentice Alyce was no one but â€Å"Dung Beetle† to the world, a homeless young girl in medieval England. Then, a midwife named Jane Sharp found her sleeping in the cold and called the young girl to be her apprentice. Soon, Alyce learned more about the life of a midwife, in time able to deliver a baby by herself. But when Alyce fails at her second delivery attempt, she runs away, trying to find a place in this world, only to discover that the only place she belongs is by the midwife’s side. The medieval time period in the book is obvious throughout. Alyce was a mere preteen and the adults that lived in the community around her treated her as if she was an adult. In those days that was very common. For instance, children would have to find jobs just as Alyce did to support themselves. If they didn’t and they were without a place to stay, the children would be thrown on to the streets. If this were to happen, one would have to beg for food and lay on the cold ground or waste piles to sleep. It was not a healthy life to live. Medical treatment was not sanitary at that time. For example, after a newborns’ umbilical cord had been cut (using string and a carving knife from the kitchen) if certain herbal oils weren‘t readily available spit was used as an alternative. It was implied in the book that when Alyce delivered a child she didn’t have clean hands. In contrast to that, in recent times most doctors don’t even use their bare hands to deliver a baby. Also, instead of advanced painkillers for delivering a baby, herbs, witchcraft and prayers were used as an aid to the mothers giving birth. Most of any medieval midwife’s knowledge of delivering a child centered upon herbs. When a midwife would pick herbs for delivering a child first she would pick them and then prepare them using ancient rituals. The ritual depended upon where the herbs were picked, what they looked and tasted like, and what the ruli...

The Anthropos Family

The Anthropos Family The Anthropos Family The Anthropos Family By Mark Nichol The Greek noun anthropos, meaning â€Å"male human being† or â€Å"man,† is the root of some familiar and not-so-familiar English words, which are listed and defined below. The best known of these are likely anthropology, which literally means â€Å"the study of humans† and refers to just that- especially in a cultural and social context (and, in a distinct theological sense, to their nature and origin)- and philanthropy (literally, â€Å"love for man†) which pertains generally to promoting the welfare of humans but usually is employed in contexts in which funding or gifts is provided for humanitarian purposes (or for cultural enrichment). The adjectival forms are anthropological and philanthropic, respectively, and those who practice such endeavors are anthropologists and philanthropists. A misanthrope, meanwhile, is unlikely to undertake either one pursuit; a misanthropic person (who practices misanthropy) has contempt or hatred for humans. Apanthropy, meanwhile, refers to the love of solitude or an aversion to human interaction. Anthropic means â€Å"relating to humans or to their time on Earth†; the term is part of the phrase â€Å"anthropic principle,† which refers to the belief that the universe, from the subatomic level to the scale of galaxies, was designed with humans in mind, though the conditions that make human life possible also make all known life-forms possible. (This is also known as the strong anthropic principle, to distinguish it from the weak anthropic principle, which reasons that this idea was able to be formulated only because a life-friendly universe allows sentient minds to observe and reflect on it.) The phenomenon of ascribing human attributes or forms to nonhumans, whether animals, gods, or objects, or to nature, is anthropomorphism (literally, â€Å"the idea of human form†). Cartoon characters who display human characteristics, therefore, are anthropomorphic. Anthropathy (literally, â€Å"human feelings†), meanwhile, is a related concept: that divine beings have emotions. An anthropoid is a primate that more or less resembles a human being, though the term has also been used pejoratively to describe people of inferior breeding or intelligence. On a related note, pithecanthropus (â€Å"ape man†) is the label for one of two extinct anthropoid species. Zoanthropy is a mental disorder in which a person believes that he or she has become an animal and behaves like one; lycanthropy originally referred to a delusion that one is a wolf, though it usually is associated with werewolf folklore. Anthropophagy (â€Å"man eating†) is a fancy synonym for cannibalism. (One who practices cannibalism is anthropophagous.) Anthropolatry is deification or worship of a human. By contrast, psilanthropism (â€Å"the idea of being a mere human†) is a rejection of the divinity of Jesus. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and Numerals34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better Writer10 Functions of the Comma

In Mexico, Wal-mart is defying its critics Article

In Mexico, Wal-mart is defying its critics - Article Example However, when everything had been considered, it became clear that microeconomics and macroeconomics had made people (especially those in small towns) poorer. The solution was to improve their purchasing power by offering them commodities at the lowest possible prices, lower than what local retailers were offering. In retrospect, it is safe to say that macroeconomics and microeconomics had a huge impact on Wal-Mart’s strategy in Mexico. The biggest retailer in the world had to develop a pricing strategy that would enable it to enter and remain in the Mexican retail segment. It is not often that a scenario like this is witnessed, especially when a large company like Wal-Mart is involved, but the economic conditions in Mexico meant that the company had to conform or go and try its luck elsewhere. Its pricing strategy is particularly damning evidence that the target market always dictates company approach and business strategy. Poor Mexican people were not going to work harder in order to afford Wal-Mart’s products; the company had to conform to their needs by formulating its pricing and accessibility around them and their purchasing power. That is the influence of macroeconomics and

Financing Options for Larger Purchases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financing Options for Larger Purchases - Essay Example It is like a contract between two parties written for engaging in a transaction. The selling party must fulfill all the obligations written in the contract for the transaction while the buyers must also engage themselves in the particular transaction. Different financing options have different prices depending upon the value of the asset which is to be bought or sold. Usually the values of asset are currency or bonds or it may be future contracts along with a premium package till the expiry of the contract. When the option is exercised within due time, the other party collects its premium from the buyer & deliver the asset to the buyer. If the option is not fulfilled into the due time of expiry, the contract is considered void. There are such types of options too in which the actual buyer of an asset sell it to someone else, this is known as the exchange of option. Usually, all kinds of financial options are provided by finance corporations or by investment banks. Whenever there is a contract held between two parties considering any of the financial options, the terms of the option are required to write down. It must always mention the quantity & type of asset to be purchased & at what value it is going to be sold out. The expiry date is also mentioned in the contract & also some other terms & conditions upon which the whole contract is written, like the premium amount, the interest rate etc. The options are mainly of two types, the exchange-traded options which have a set of pre-defined contracts like stock options, bond options, index options etc, & the over the counter option which is not on an exchange & is simply between two parties. There can be as many terms & conditions in the latter one as both the parties want, depending upon their particular situation & the kind of valuable asset. There are also employee stock options typically in US which are in a form of an incentive from a company to its employees (PETCHERS. 2003). Purchasing of a house or a car o r something big like these always require some time to stop & think deeply what & which kind of financial option will suit according to the current situation anyone is facing. They are a real necessity & thus cannot be avoided. On the other hand, one must look into his/her budget & the actual need for that very item. One should not get tempted from the luxurious items which are out of range & should not get over spend. The one who has the money should be the one to decide what option will better suit him/her & what will not. At what interest rate can anyone afford the installments & thus before signing over any contract the details must be well read by the purchaser. Personal finances such as house, car, large electronic appliances etc need a lot of financial planning with respect to the budget & savings & considering future financial risks. Several ways to earn right amount of financial assistance at right time include insurance policies, investments in some business or in stock ma rket, social security plans & benefits, saving accounts & consumer loans etc. When looking for financing of  large purchases, the easiest & the best way is the exchange-trade option, which is always standardized & the set of rules is pre-defined very clearly so that there would be no ambiguity remains in the contract. There can be installments procedure in which there are 3 months, 6 months or sometimes a 9 month installment can be made in order to cover the whole price of the asset. As there has been throughout computerized

Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Strategy - Essay Example strategic decisions which an organization has to make relating to factors such as the direction of an organization in the long run, the scope of its activities, stakeholders’ values and expectations, responding to the ever changing business environment, building on its capability as a business entity, and acquiring a higher market share relative to its competitors. These decisions tend to be complex as they have to be made in an uncertain situation. The discussion section of this essay focuses on strategic management with respect to merger between two companies such as Cranberry and GreenHealth. The organization Cranberry is considered to begin its operations in the year 1980. The organization is the process of manufacturing beauty products. It experienced significant growth on a year on year basis. The organization is considered to be cash rich as compared to its numerous competitors. The company is on the lookout for opportunities to expand on a global scale and also to grow its core business and broaden its horizon. It seeks to identify such opportunities which complemented its existing business. GreenHealth is considered to be an organization which focuses on manufacturing of herbal supplements, minerals, and vitamins. The organization used to be bureaucratic in nature in a sense that it consists of a lot of processes. The average age of employees in the organization is considered to be over 45 years and many of its employees have worked for the company for their whole careers. GreenHealth is considered to develop its employees and promote them from within the organizat ion. The products that are manufactured by the organization are considered to be modern but the ethos is traditional and crafted. Employees of GreenHealth do not like change and are considered to do things the same way for about 100 years. It is considered as a source of pride for the organization and is not seen as a source of criticism. Both the organizations such as Cranberry and

A Contrastive Analysis Of Vietnamese And English English Language Essay

A Contrastive Analysis Of Vietnamese And English English Language Essay No one can deny the fact that cultural values have a strong influence on the use of language, especially speech acts. Many researchers have conducted the studies of the contrastive analysis of speech acts between learners native language and the target language for the purpose of helping learners improve their communicative competence. In my essay, I have the attention of doing a research on the speech act of permission in Vietnamese and English because the speech act of permission is widely used in everyday interactions and plays a major role in communication. Specifically, I focus on the way to ask for permission and some expressions of giving permission to point out similarities and differences in terms of syntactic and semantic formulas between Vietnamese and English. In Vanderveken s view, By uttering sentences in the contexts of use of natural languages, speakers attempt to perform illocutionary acts such as statements, questions, declarations, requests, promises, apologies, orders offers and refusals. (Vanderveken, 1990, p. 7). They are called speech acts. It may not be an exaggeration to say that mastering the use of speech acts is essential and practical. More importantly, the cross- culture study of speech acts needs to be invested because the cross-culture study of speech acts is vital to understanding of international communication (Eisenstein, 1989, p. 199) and Rosaldo also cautions that Violations of cultural norms of appropriateness in interactions between native and nonnative speakers often lead to sociopragmatic failure, breakdowns in communication and the stereotyping of nonnative speakers. (Rosaldo, as cited in Hinkel, Long, Richards, 2006). Thats why permission which is one of the commonly used speech acts should be considered in all respects. According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2000), the noun permission has two meanings. It is defined as the act of allowing somebody to do something, especially when this is done by somebody in a position of authority. Besides, another meaning of permission is an official written statement allowing somebody to do something. In my essay, I just focus on the first meaning to discuss permission speech act which makes up a high proportion in every interaction. So, asking for permission is the act of wanting to know whether a person can do something or use something or not. Ex: Can I use your bike? In Vietnamese dictionary (2010), the definition of asking for permission (xin phà ©p) is quite similar to English definition. It is also used to make sure that a person is allowed to do something. Ex: Tà ´i cà ³ thà ¡Ã‚ »Ã†â€™ sà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ­ dà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¥ng mà ¡y tà ­nh cà ¡Ã‚ »a bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c khà ´ng? In daily life, whenever a person wants to do something or uses something that belongs to another person, its important to ask for permission. It is because asking for permission shows his/ her respect for others and increases the chances that his/her request will be granted. However, the expressions of asking for permission are differently expressed by different people in different cultures. The speech acts of asking for permission is indeed confusing and complicated. Therefore, the addressers should pay much attention to the asking for permission expressions so as to make a polite permission that will be granted by the authority and avoid creating a permission which will be assumed as joking, rudeness or sarcasm. Also, utterances used to give permission should be deeply concerned in order to know the intentions which the addresser actually wants to say or to do. These intentions are revealed in the asking for permission expressions. In the previous studies, researchers take asking for permission into consideration. They investigated some unique factors involving in the way to ask for permission from others. They are: ethnic difference, gender difference, situation difference or social status difference. There is no doubt at all that The way people ask for permission, to greater extent, is affected by the situation in which asking for permission is expressed different cultural background of the speakers. (Soehartono Sianne, 2003). In other words, cultural values or norms of behavior are likely to be responsible for producing different ways of asking for permission. After investigating the utterances expressed by the Chinese and Javanese students of SMU Krisyen petra 3 in asking for permission for taking leave, Soehartono Sianne explain that Each ethnic has different opinion about what politeness is (Soehartono Sianne, 2003). Actually, according to Samovar and Porter, the notion that is deeply rooted in the English speaking culture is individualism (2000, p.67). One of the characteristic of individualism is that people in English speaking culture, especially the American believed all people have personal privacy. For instance, anybody mustnt step into anothers house without permission. Nobody has the right to read any others letter even parents mustnt read their childrens private letters. That is the reason why people should ask for permission regardless of age, social status and relationship. People will be punished if they infringe upon any others personal privacy with the motivation of curiosity, profit or malice. It is because personal privacy is respected highly and protected by law in these countries. Similarity, the Vietnamese also highly regard asking for permission. In the past, Vietnamese ancestors create many valuable folk songs, proverbs in order to teach posterity how to behave well, establish and maintain social rapports. For example: Hà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ c ăn, hà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ c nà ³i, hà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ c gà ³i, hà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ c mà ¡Ã‚ »Ã… ¸ Another proverb: Ä i thÆ °a và ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  trà ¬nh Moreover, Huynh explains that: In Vietnamese society, the predominant sentiment in the relation between members of a social group is respect. This is particularly evident in the attitude towards older people. Respect and consideration for old age no doubt derive from the obligation of filial piety that requires young people to respect and love their parents and parent-like members of the family. (Huynh, n.d.). Therefore, no one can deny the fact that people have to ask for permission to get married, stay overnight at the friends house, ect even though they are old enough to make decisions. Vietnamese people believe that if young people disobey the elders advice, they will suffer bad consequences of their actions Cà ¡ khà ´ng ăn muà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Ëœi cà ¡ Æ °Ãƒâ€ Ã‚ ¡n Con cà £i cha mà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¹ trăm Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ng con hÆ ° The elders are actually the carriers of the tradition and the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom. (Huynh, n.d.). In general, asking for permission in Vietnam and English speaking countries play the important role in every speech situation irrespective of culture. Regarding the frequency number of language functions, Soehartono Sianne show that There are four language functions that never occur in the permission utterances expressed to the teacher as the superior (Soehartono Sianne, 2003). They are: (1): Suggesting a course of action (2): Requesting others to do something (3): Advising others to do something (4): Instructing / directing others to do something By having analyzed the data, Soehartono Sianne find out the predominant function seeking permission and conclude that: Seeking permission function is followed by apologizing function that uses to show that they are in the lower position and reporting function that is used to convince the authority. (Soehartono Sianne, 2003). When it comes to this essay, its purpose is to systematically examine Vietnamese and English asking and giving permission to draw out some similarities and differences in terms of syntactic and semantic formulas and meet the requirements of language teaching and learning. In English language, the most familiar syntactic patterns are Can I borrow your pen? Could he use your phone charger? (Question head + S + Verb phrase with bare infinitive?) Would it be OK if I borrow/ borrowed your pen? Would it be alright if he uses/ used your phone charger? (Question head + S + Verb phrase with simple present or past subjunctive?) Do you mind if I borrow/ borrowed your pen? Would you mind if she uses/ used your phone charger? (Question head + S + Verb phrase with simple present or past subjunctive?) Meanwhile, syntactic formulas employed to ask for permission in Vietnamese language is quite limited. The most commonly occurring patterns are: (1) Tà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ º dà ¹ng Ä‘ià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n thoà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡i cà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ­u nhà ©? (Can I use your cellphone?) (2) Em ngà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬Å"i Ä‘Ã ¢y Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c khà ´ng chà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¹? (Would it be ok if I sit here?) (3) Con cà ³ thà ¡Ã‚ »Ã†â€™ Ä‘i chÆ ¡i và ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºi bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n mà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â€ž ¢t chà ºt Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c khà ´ng mà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¹? Con sà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ½ và ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  lià ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ n. (May I go out with my friend for a while, Mom? I promise to come back home soon.) In Vietnamese language, there is a low frequency of the structures containing if. Even they are never employed. For Vietnamese people, the most commonly used syntactic patterns in English Would it be ok if I borrow your pen? or Do you mind if I use your phone charger? are the unusual patterns for the speech act of asking for permission. It is because that we can not translate two above utterances into Vietnamese Would it be ok if I borrow your pen? ( Cà ³ Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c khà ´ng nà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿u mà ¬nh sà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ­ dà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¥ng bà ºt mà ¡y cà ¡Ã‚ »a bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n?) Do you mind if I use your phone charger? (Bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n cà ³ phià ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ n khà ´ng nà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿u mà ¬nh sà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ­ dà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¥ng cà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¥c sà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡c Ä‘ià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n thoà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡i cà ¡Ã‚ »a bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n?) It sounds unnatural and clumsy. Thats the reason why Vietnamese people seldom use these utterances to communicate. Instead, they have a tendency to say: Mà ¬nh mÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £n bà ºt mà ¡y cà ¡Ã‚ »a bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c chà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ©? Mà ¬nh sà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ­ dà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¥ng cà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ¥c sà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡c Ä‘ià ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ¡n thoà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡i cà ¡Ã‚ »a bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c khà ´ng bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n? When using these expressions to ask permission, Vietnamese people never forget to smile. It seems that they want to create intimacy and friendliness. Thanks to that, they can erase the strangeness and increase the possibility of granting. In term of semantic formulas, almost all the English expressions of asking permission contain modal verbs: can, could, may, might,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦However, the choice of the appropriate modal verbs depends on age, social status, degree of acquaintance, respect, situation, ect. Ex- In the shop: a conversation between clerk and customer Clerk: May I help you? ( Tà ´i cà ³ thà ¡Ã‚ »Ã†â€™ già ºp gà ¬ cho bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n?) At school: a conversation between two friends (they have close friendship) P1: Can I use your pen? (Tà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ º dà ¹ng vià ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¿t cà ¡Ã‚ »a cà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ­u Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c khà ´ng?) P2: Of course. (Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c mà  ) Moreover, when asking for permission to do something, the English usually use the word please to make the request sound more polite. Its not grammatically necessary to use please but a person may sound rude if he/she doesnt use it. Please can be put in different places: at the start, end or before the verb Ex: Please can I borrow your car? Can I please borrow your car? Can I borrow your car, please? In addition, a more important way of showing politeness is the tone of intonation and voice. Even if a person use the word please, he/she can sound rude if his/her pronunciation is not correct. One characteristic difference from asking for permission in English is the word cà ³ thà ¡Ã‚ »Ã†â€™ (can, could, may, mightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) used in Vietnamese. It doesnt mention different degrees and types of modality. It just makes the permission more polite. Ex: Tà ´i cà ³ thà ¡Ã‚ »Ã†â€™ già ºp gà ¬ cho bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n? (May I help you?) Furthermore, its interesting to note that, on the semantic level, the word xin phà ©p is used not only to ask for permission but also to convey the meaning of saying goodbye. The expressions containing the word xin phà ©p are employed to ask for permission from the authority, elder and superior. Ex: Em xin phà ©p thà ¡Ã‚ ºy cho em ra ngoà  i à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡? (May I go out?) In other cases, Vietnamese people want to show the courtesy and respect when saying goodbye. Therefore, they use expressions like this: Ex: Xin phà ©p bà ¡c con và ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚  (It means: chà  o bà ¡c con và ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ .) Xin phà ©p mà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ i ngÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ i mà ¬nh Ä‘i trÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â‚¬ ºc (It means: chà  o mà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ i ngÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ i mà ¬nh và ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ .) They are not expressions of asking for permission. Surprisingly, they are greetings. People often say these expressions with a smile or nod. When it comes to giving permission, Vietnamese people express a preference for these words or expressions: à ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ª, Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c, Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c mà  , khà ´ng sao Ä‘Ã ¢u, cà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ © là ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¥y Ä‘i, cà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ © là  m Ä‘i, cà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ © tà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ± nhià ªnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ More interestingly, they also have the habit of adding the words including particles which express attitude and feeling toward the addressee: dà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, và ¢ng, à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, à ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ , à ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ «aà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Ex: Dà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡! Meanwhile, in response to asking for permission, people in English-speaking countries seem to use these expressions frequently. (1) Yes: used when you are giving permission (2) Of course: used for giving someone permission in a polite way (3) Certainly: used for expressing agreement or giving permission (4) All right: used for saying that you will allow someone to do something, or you do not mind if they do it (5) If you want: used for giving permission or agreeing with a suggestion that someone has made (6) By all means: used for politely agreeing with someone, giving permission or saying yes (7) As you wish: used for telling someone that they can do or have whatever they want (8) I dont see why not: used for saying yes when someone asks for your permission (9) Help yourself: used for giving someone permission to do or use something (10) If you (really) must: used for telling someone that it is all right to do something, even though you does not want them to do. Its interesting to note that in English, people can not know the power relations (social status or age) and relationship (close, normal or distant) between two speakers because the word yes can be used to give permission in all cases. In contrast, in Vietnamese, people may focus on the words dà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, và ¢ng, à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, à ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ «, à ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to know power relations and relationship between interlocurs. Ex: A conversation between grandparent and nephew Grandparent: Nà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â€ž ¢i và  o phà ²ng con Ä‘Æ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £c chà ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ©? (Can I come in?) Nephew: Dà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, nà ¡Ã‚ »Ã¢â€ž ¢i và  o Ä‘i à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡! (Yes) Ex: A conversation between two close friends F1: Bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n cho mà ¬nh mÆ °Ãƒ ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ £n tà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ­p nghen? (Can I borrow your book?) F2: à ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ ª, bà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡n là ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¥y Ä‘i (Yes) In Vietnamese culture, people are willing to avoid unpleasantness by giving permission although they dont want. This contradiction can lead to great misunderstandings. Therefore, Yes may not mean Yes. When Vietnamese people say: No problem, it can mean Yes, there is a problem. (Vietnam, n.d.). In this case, double and even triple check should be kept to maintain social rapport Its clear that the English and the Vietnamese pay regard to the custom of asking for permission. They consider the choice of expressions very carefully. The way English people and Vietnamese people employ asking permission speech act is influenced by two factors: power relations (social status or age) and relationship (close, normal or distant) between interlocutors. However, the characteristic feature which makes English different from Vietnamese is the use of modal verbs. They are used to ask for permission with different degrees and types of modality. Meanwhile, Vietnamese people have a habit of adding the particles dà ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, à ¡Ã‚ »Ã‚ «, à ¡Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¡, nhà © to the expressions of asking and giving permission to show respect, courtesy or intimacy. One another difference between Vietnamese culture and English culture which affects the use of language is that Vietnamese people rarely refuse permission. They dont want to create unpleasant and threatening atmosphere during conversation. Sometime, they give permission to maintain social rapport and satisfy the addressers positive face. To some extent, this should be avoided because it can cause great misunderstandings. In conclusion, Language is a system of signs that is seen as having itself a cultural value (Kramsch, Widdowson, 1998, p. 3). Vietnamese culture is quite different from English culture. Thats why the way people ask for permission and give permission are not similar. Learners should take notice of that to achieve the success in learning the target language. When it comes to learning a second language, one of the problems learners have to face with is the influence of the first language and culture on the second language use. As a consequence of this problem, learners are not confident when communicating or even cause pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic failure. To overcome the above difficulties, I would like to discuss some implications for language teaching and learning based on contrastive analysis between Vietnamese and English asking and giving permission. Firstly, it is necessary for English teachers to raise students awareness of culture similarities and differences between patterns of asking and giving permission in English culture and Vietnamese culture. Teachers can combine many suitable teaching ways to help learners understand the conflicting patterns. For example, teachers can explain, describe, illustrateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Learners must be well aware of the influence of the culture on language to avoid communication breakdown or offence and converse with native speakers of English successfully. Secondly, English teachers should supply input as much as possible in order to improve students ssociopragmatic and pragmalinguistic competence. Teachers can apply the progress of technology to language teaching. Teachers compile and design real situations based on the Internet, on TVà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦for use in class. Besides, teachers need to provide more options for asking and giving permission to satisfy the requirements of everyday interaction. Finally, teachers should create communicative opportunities for students to practice asking and giving permission in English. Through role play, interview, dialogue, survey,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, students have chance to use the expressions they have learnt in real situations. Significantly, they know how to choose suitable expressions in different situations. Thanks to that, students are able to engage in successful communication with native speakers. These are some suggested activities I collected on the Internet to serve the needs of language teaching and learning. Activity 1 : Work in pairs and practice the dialogues For the lower level students: F1: Can I move your card? F2: Yes, you can. (b) F1: May I move your card? F2: Yes, you may. For the middle level students: (a) F1: Is it ok if I move your card? F2: Yes, it is ok. (b) F1: Do you mind if I move your card? F2: No, I dont mind. (c) F1: Would it be okay if I move your card? F2: Yes, it would be ok. For the more advanced level students: F1: Would it be alright if I moved your card? F2: Sure, itd be alright -OR- Of course itd be alright. (b) F1: Would you mind if I moved your card? F2: No, I wouldnt mind. (c) F1: If you dont mind, Id like to move your card. F2: Sure, I dont mind. (d) F1: Would it bother you if I moved your card over there? F2: No, it wouldnt bother me at all. (e) F1: Is it alright to move your card so I can pick up my card? F2: Sure, its alright Activity 2: Many times, hotel staff will find themselves in situations where they will have to take some action that will effect  the guest. In these cases, the staff should politely ask the guest for their permission before taking any action. The  guest may also ask permission to do something. It is only polite to ask for their permission before doing so. There  are several expressions that can be used for asking for permissions. Look at the expressions below.   Expressions Possible responses Is it OK if . . .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I really wish you wouldnt.   Do you mind if . . .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   No, I dont mind. Go ahead   May I . . .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sure, no problem.   Would it be a problem if . . .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   No problem at all.   Would it be OK if . . .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   No, please dont     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I would prefer that you didnt.   Dialogue: Work in pairs and practice the dialogue (a) Staff: May I pour you more wine, maam?   Guest: Sure.   (b) Staff: Do you mind if I clean the room now, sir?   Guest: Actually, would it be possible for you to come back in half an hour?   Staff: No problem, maam.   (c) Guest: May I borrow you pen.   Staff: Absolutely sir, here you go.   (d) Guest: Would it be a problem if I left my luggage here for a few minutes?   Staff: No problem at all, sir. Ill, keep on eye on it.   (e) Staff: Is it OK if I make a copy of your passport?   Guest: Sure, whatever you need.   Conversation Activities 1. Practice using the above expressions by having a dialogue similar to the ones above with a partner, one  partner taking the role of the guest and the other the role of the staff. For additional practice, switch roles.  Practice the dialogue several times, trying to use all of the expressions noted above.   2. Role play the following situations with a partner, one person taking the role of the guest and the other person  taking the role of a hotel staff.     Permission by Staff   Move some luggage out of the passage way   Open a window   Refill a coffee cup   Pull down a shade   Get their room key or card   Permission by guest   Leave bags behind a counter   Smoking in a restaurant   Borrow a pen   Take newspaper from lounge to read in room   Leave a message for a friend  

Review of Rudy Tomedi’s No Bugles No Drums :: Rudy Tomedi Bugles Drums Essays

Review of Rudy Tomedi’s No Bugles No Drums Rudy Tomedi presents his audience with a different view of the Korean War; one that is up close and personal. The oral histories told through edited transcripts in No Bugles No Drums: An Oral History of the Korean War, show the reader the Korean War through the eyes of the men who were active in combat. However, as Tomedi puts it, â€Å"firsthand accounts have their limitations, but they also catch things that often fall through the cracks of a conventional history† (Tomedi, vi). Tomedi provides his reader with a short background of the situation, placing the interviewee into context within the war. This ultimately gives the reader a little insight into the position the person was in and clarifies some parts of the following interview. One limitation Tomedi’s book has is that it is very subjective, allowing the reader to only see a portion of the war through a single person’s view. For example Fred Lawson, an interviewee, stated â€Å"We has no idea what was happening over on the other side of the mountain† (Tomedi, 87). Tomedi does not present his readers with a story of â€Å"what was happening over the mountain.† The book also neglects various perspectives, such as officers and women in the war. The compilation of stories strictly focuses on combat veterans, many of whom did not know what was going on; they were simply â€Å"a bunch of kids†¦trying to do [their] job† (Tomedi, 8). Despite these minor flaws, the book has many positive aspects to it. Probably most important, the book gives the reader an up close and personal account to the war. Each battle comes alive for the reader as a veteran vividly describes what he experienced. For example Vincent Walsh describes his first encounter with a violent death as follows: â€Å"we had occasion to pick up a dead pilot. They fingerprinted him and then he was wrapped in a piece of canvas and he went into a meat box† (Tomedi, 155). Lines such as this, puts a personality behind the speaker and makes it more personal. Also, the stories in the book present the same situations as other oral history novels. A good example of this is when Robert Roy claims â€Å"†¦I could see a line of tanks coming down the road, which we never expected†¦I could see the rounds explode against the tank, but the tank just kept going† (Tomedi, 10-11).

Local Literature of Sales Inventory System Essay

Computerize sales and inventory system Computers began from a wild imaginative idea to the world’s highly prioritized tool. Computers today are now used as a substitute to manual processes and other past inventions like the radio, television, etc. It is now used by people for much simpler, easier and faster way to do things. Some used it as a hobby, and some use it as a job. Technology has never stopped from advancing through the years. Its new innovations helps answer the people’s further complex questions. Why not use these advantages to benefit ourselves? Many people use computers in their daily lives. Some use it for transactions, some use it for educational purposes and others use it for data storage. Though it might sound unnecessary but in some cases when storing a file for such a big company, can you manage it properly? Organizing, finding a file, etc. With computers, it can help you simplify the process of storing and managing the files you need for future use and make finding files easier than the manual process. A Proposed Sales and Inventory System In business like merchandising, Sales and Inventory system plays an important role. It is used to track all the transactions made by the business and responsible for monitoring the items supplies. All the business transactions must be properly recorded and must be fully secured by password. A Computerized system is the best solution and most innovative answer for their needs. The researchers had been motivated to do a study on this topic according to the above observation. The result may help others to understand more about computer-generated data processing, especially on how to deal with computers in terms of speed, accuracy and data security. Monitoring the transactions and other significant information regarding the customer is the main concern of this study. Also covered in the study are saving of information and transaction records with the customers. The Sales and Inventory System is concern with the processing of the transactions of the customers and owner and saving the sales records at the same time. These saved records area filed and stored for future use. This computerized system is important to a company because through it, the owner can easily assist the customers and store data safely. And also the monitoring of stocks is the most important part of this system.

How far did Stalin’s social policies change

How far did Stalin's social policies change the lives of women and children In the years to 1945? Following Stalin's succession to power in 1929, once again, Russia was transformed. As part of Socialism In One Country, Stalin focussed his intentions internally. This involved the notorious industrialisation and collectivisation drives which were intended to reform the economy. Nevertheless, do so, Stalin realised he would have to create a more ordered and disciplined society.Consequently, as part of the Revolution from Above and what was deemed by Sheila Fitzpatrick as the â€Å"great etreat†, where Stalin turned away from the policies of his predecessor, Stalin embarked on numerous social policies which focussed on the reforms of education and family life. Consequently, Stalin's legislation on the one hand, changed the lives of countless Soviet women and children. Nevertheless, it is also argued that his policies were no similar to previous social legislation under the Tsar an d Lenin.Consequently the extent of change and the significance of Stalins policies remains in Following the Russian revolution, Lenin assumed the Premiership of question. Russia and redefined the social polices experienced by women and children. In terms of policies which affected women and the family, Lenin was comparatively Liberal compared to Tsarist Russia. He considered traditional marriage to be slavery, economic and sexual exploitation. Robert Service has argued that as a result, official spokesmen began to urge wives to refuse to give â€Å"automatic obedience to husbands. Lenin went against previously traditional conservative policy and legalised divorce as well as abortion. Lenin attempted to free women from their domestic roles under Tsarism by requisitioning large scale provision of facilities such as canteens, laundries and cr ©ches as party of what is argued by Corin and Fiehn as the â€Å"socialisation of domestic services. † Although, In retrospect, this po licy was unaffordable, costing well over the national budget and consequently, the socialisation was not universal, reducing overall change.Nevertheless, Lenin did Implement legislation previously unthinkable to allow free love. as well as the creation the Zhenotdel, which gave opportunity for the first time for women to be involved in the running of the state. Additionally, Lenin reformed the education ystem which ultimately Impacted heavily on children. Lenin focussed on an industrial education which made use of apprenticeship schemes, but to the detriment of a broad education. Yet, also as part of his liberalising of once Tsarist Russia, he took the power to discipline away from teachers and scrapped the examination and homework methods of education.He also denounced all university lectures as members of the bourgeoisie and members of a hostile class in the education was more liberal than anything previous children had ever seen. Under Stalin, the changing of social policies and their effect on women were numerous. Stalin as part of industrialisation put greater emphasis on Job opportunities for women, by 1940 for example, nearly 41% of heavy industry workers were women. Although, in retrospect, women were still underpaid, receiving only 60-65% of a mans salary in the same Job, reducing overall change.Nevertheless, in contrast to Lenin and Tsarist Russia, Stalin put even greater focus on educational opportunities for women, increasing places for the number of women in colleges and universities. Although, again, these courses were purely focussed on industry, reducing overall change from Lenin. Although, as part of urbanisation, women btained greater opportunities to work in agriculture and by 1945, 80% of workers on the collectives were female. Stalin also placed even greater emphasis on propaganda compared to Lenin and employed the Stakhanov spirit in the female working environment to ensure maximum potential.Women also saw greater opportunities to serve i n the armed forces and by 1945, half a million Soviet Women had served. However, Stalin did abolish the Zhenotdel, formed under Lenin, reducing women's ability to be involved in the running of the state once again, as under Tsarism, reducing the breath of change in overall opportunity. Additionally, Lynch argues that he increase in women into the armed forces, whilst increased their equality, increased their likelihood of â€Å"mistreatment† and â€Å"sexual abuse†, especially by senior officers.This bears similarity to pre-Leninism where abuse of women was commonplace, reducing overall significance of Stalin's social policies effect on changing the lives of women for the better. Although, the state under Stalin compensated the abuse of women in the home itself by introducing a series of social polices which championed the revival of marriage. For example, the state now promoted marriage, legalising wedding rings which had previously been made illegal nder Lenin. Stali n in contrast to Lenin who legalised divorce, limited the availability to end a marriage.This has the effect of reducing the number of women and children becoming impoverished, under Lenin and his policy of free love. Women and children would no longer be left to fend for themselves if a husband chose to divorce. Local Party officials would in addition seek out any husbands who absconded from their marital obligations ensuring this change would be successful and significant. Women were also encouraged more to increase their reproductivity. This was due to greater amounts of women in work as part of industrialisation.Stalin introduced incentives to women with a certain amount of children-7 would gain 2,0000 roubles per year for 5 consecutive years. However, this increased the likelihood of pressure being put on women from their male counterparts to terminate their babies as had been the case when Lenin previously legalised abortion, suggesting a reduction in overall change for the be tter. Although, Stalin did put in place laws to punish such offence with two years imprisonment and made termination illegal.However, ultimately the banning of abortion was an infringement on civil liberties, similar to that of Tsarism, reducing verall change. Additionally, Stalin reverted back to the traditional role of the women in the home. Whilst his changes meant they could work and could receive state support and were compensated by his promotion of the Women's Activists Movement their own family as a â€Å"good Communist† should rather than socialise the entire family as Lenin argued. Stalin therefore reverted back to the traditional view of the purpose of women. He however, gave them two roles.Essentially, as Geoffrey Hosking argues â€Å"the fruits of female emancipation became the building blocks of the Stalinists neopatriarchal society. In terms of Stalins social policies and it's effects on children for the better, they are arguably of less significance. Whilst S talin continued to run the education system via the state as Lenin condoned, Stalin controlled the education of children to a precedent unseen before. Stalin condoned the more extensive regulation of education in order to shape the next younger generation of society, whom could be easily influenced, into the Communist way of thinking.This was seen most notably in 1935, when Stalin brought the original Tsars Imperial Academy, or Soviets Academy of Sciences under direct state control forcing ersonnel to produce work only in line with Stalinist views. Stalin also reintroduced discipline into children's lives, giving power back to teachers which had previously been taken away under Lenin. He also further tightened the regulations imposed on children in terms of appearance, such as school uniforms, to surpass Lenin's attempts to create a truly egalitarian society.Stalin also changed the material in lessons, introducing a new curriculum in 1935 which was created by the state which was acc ompanied by State prescribed textbooks through which children would now earn; a valuable method in the influencing of the next generation of socialists. Although, in retrospect, it could be argued that state influence in children's education was not a vast change. Lenin himself had requisitioned a book entitled A Brief History of Russia by Bolshevik Pokrovsky which was acquired as the Soviet School Text Book. Although, state influence in education under Lenin was rather in terms of class struggle.Stalin changed this to an overall insight into the positive age of the Russian past, focussing on fgures such as Peter the Great. He also made it compulsory along ith homework and exams to in fact go to school. Whereas Lenin saw it as a mere obligation to learn the basic aspects of reading and writing, Stalin saw education as essential in breeding a new generation of productive and capable workers and consequently provided free schooling for the first time time up to the age of 15. For exam ple, between 1929 and 1940, the number of children attending school rose from 12 to 35 million.Although, in retrospect, whilst there were grants, most parents of children in secondary education were still expected to pay and certainly could not ttend higher education without such a financial contribution, reducing overall change in terms of opportunity for children. This change is made more insignificant by the fact that ironically, whilst the Russian revolutionaries had poured scorn on the bourgeoisie governing elites that monopolised power previously, Stalin continued to produce an equivalent and did not change this hypocrisy.Party officials were allowed the right for their children to have the best training to give them access to higher education and were often given the best places, similar to the Tsarist elite, and going against Lenin. For example, in the period from 1928-1932, a third of all undergraduates were Party nominees. Essentially, Stalin did not change the existence o f a ruling class which allowed their children to dominate the education system. Lynch even argues that, â€Å"it enhanced Stalins power by creating a class of his creatures. In conclusion, essentially, Stalin did make extensive changes in social polices which effected the lives of countless women and children. Authority, discipline and effort were now championed in a drive to become a truly independent Socialist State. In terms of children and their education, Stalin, although he continued ith state intervention, undeniably made changes to allow compulsory education to all which made the literacy rate rise significantly from 51% in 1926 to 88% in 1940, allowing a new breed of educated workers to run the economy.However, Stalins changes to the lives of children are however inevitably undermined by the fact that he did nothing to prevent an intelligentsia forming once again which was allowed to dominate the nomenklatura. Not only was education still streamlined as it had been under L enin and even under Tsarism in the universities, but ordinary children were till prevented from top posts and were confined to be â€Å"cogs† in the industrialisation process.