Imigration From Mexico

Imigration From Mexico Free Online Research Papers Imigration is the process of moving away from your home country. Mexicans are well aware of the number of fellow citizens moving north. In August 2007 the El Paso Times reported that The United States is becoming more minority-dominated as the Hispanic population continues to grow through high birthrate and an immigration surge that experts say is changing the country’s cultural fabric. In statistics released, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates more than half of the population is considered a racial or ethnic minority. Mexicans working in the United States are a huge source of income for Mexico. In 2004 alone, Mexicans received over $16 billion in money sent over the border. These remittances are Mexico’s second largest source of foreign currency, after oil exports (â€Å"Mexico Warns U.S.†). Vicente Fox, who was Mexico’s president from 2000-2006, strongly opposed a stronger wall being built across the U.S.-Mexico border and had, stated that it will â€Å"fall like the Berlin Wall.† Fox claimed that the wall would only cause more immigrant deaths near the border. Mexico’s human rights commission has said that if the proposed wall passes the Congress, they will distribute 70,000 maps that show wall openings and nearby water sources in order to prevent deaths (â€Å"Mexico Warns U.S.†). In 2005 alone, 500 died along the border, and two Mexican migrants were recently shot and killed by U.S. forces (â€Å"Mexico Warns U.S.†). Unless a prison-style wall was constructed between the entire border of Mexico and the United States, a wall would be an ineffective way to control migration levels, because of Mexico’s plans to distribute maps and guides to cross through rough terrain. Even if an indestructible wall was built, migrants could always get to the United States by boat. Stopping illegal migration by force is an impossible task that will only result in more deaths and a negative relationship with Mexico. Legal Immigration There are three main reasons why immigration controls are in place. First, there are not enough jobs available for everyone who wants one. Second, immigrants can increase the burden of government-funded programs, such as education and health care; and thirdly, to ensure the safety of US citizens. Those who want to enter the United States legally are required to undergo a long and complicated process in order to gain citizenship. The problem is that the United States does not have unlimited spaces available. Currently, there are over 3.5 million qualified people waiting to receive visas. Sometimes, the wait can be decades long, especially for those without a family member living in the United States. Mark Krikorian, the director of the Center for Immigration Studies, says that an immigrant applying for a visa today can expect to wait 40 years. To accommodate the extreme demand for United States citizenship, the supply of available visas needs to be raised. This policy is not working and only forces people into illegal status. By 1997, only 15% of Mexican immigrants had become US citizens. The Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that about 1/5 of immigrants were illegally living within the US. A visa is a document required to enter a country for a certain period of time. In the United States, there are several types of visas available. The most commonly used types are transit visas, tourist visas, business visas, student visas, and immigrant visas. A transit visa is valid for less than three days, and is usually only used for passing through a country to get to another. A tourist visa is allowed only for vacationing, and prohibits any business activity. A business visa allows engagement in commerce, and is valid for a longer period of time than a tourist visa. A student visa is issued for students who are attending a higher learning institution. An immigrant visa, or a green card, is issued to those who intend to permanently stay in the country. Immigrant visas are issued for a short period of time, and assume that the resident will be issued a permanent resident ID card at a later time (â€Å"US Immigration Policy†). Another way immigrants become US citizens is through a process called naturalization. Naturalization occurs after a person has resided in the US for over five years. They also must demonstrate proficient English skills through the written history exam and have no criminal record. Immigrants must go through a multi-step process to become a legal immigrant. First, USCIS (US Citizen and Immigration Services) must approve a petition for immigration, which is usually done by a relative of employer living within the United States. After the petition is approved, the immigrant must apply for an immigrant visa. If a visa is available, the person can apply for permanent resident status. Permanent resident status can be obtained if an immediate family member living in the US petitions on the immigrant’s behalf, if a US employer petitions on your behalf, if a visa is awarded through the â€Å"visa lottery† program, or if the person has resided in the United States since Jan 1, 1972. If the immigrant then passes an immigration test, which includes basic questions about US history and government, then they can become a legal US citizen. Illegal Immigration An illegal immigrant is a person who has either entered a country illegally or overstayed their legal available time. For Mexicans, the sheer number of people wanting to immigrate presents a challenge of moving legally. Currently, over 3.5 million qualified people are waiting to receive one of the available visas to immigrate into the US. Sometimes, especially for those lacking a family or employer to sponsor them, the wait can be decades long. This wait causes many to turn instead to illegal immigration. When an illegal immigrant is discovered, an apprehension is made, which is the act of capturing or arresting. This can result in a court date, deportation, or nothing at all. To make apprehensions along the 1,952 mile stretch of the US-Mexico border, officials usually request â€Å"voluntary deportation† of illegal immigrants. Voluntary deportation does not involve any transportation of illegal immigrants. It relies on the assumption that they will return to their homes, or attend their scheduled court dates. However, many of the people apprehended annually do not follow the directions of officials. In fact, three out of four illegal immigrants are not even caught Immigrants can be deported within the United States for two reasons. One, entering without inspection; or two, overstay of time in the United States. By 1996, the INS reported that 60% of immigrants entered illegally and 40% stayed illegally Because Mexico is so close, Mexican immigrants are inspected more thoroughly than immigrants from other countries. Mexicans only make up about half of the illegal immigrant population, 90% of those here illegally are from Mexico. (De Laet 54) Immigrants who are caught living within the United States are required to leave the country and wait 10 years before applying for a VISA. As with apprehensions, few immigrants are actually deported because the process is slow and costly. In the 1980s, court fees and manual deportation (driving or flying the person across the border) cost the government $35,000, which is more than a year of an Ivy League education Legal Immigration vs. Illegal Illegal immigrants can only receive Medicaid and limited food benefits. Because the government has no record of these people, they have little risk of federal detection. The benefits of legal immigration seem to strongly outweigh the disadvantages of it. Legal immigration allows benefits like social security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, food stamps, a minimum wage guarantee, and all rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The only drawback of legal immigration is tax payments. However, illegal immigrants are often paid lower wages â€Å"under the table,† which results in a lower gross income than the minimum wage with taxes. For a lower class immigrant, the amount required to pay in taxes is far less than the money they can receive in federal benefits. Many immigrants choose to enter the United States illegally before they can receive an available visa. Based on a New Immigrant Survey, which studied a sample of 1,134 immigrants who received permanent visas in 1996, 54% of them were living here illegally at an earlier date, either by crossing the US border (41%) or by overstaying their temporary visa (13%) (De Laet 34). This proves that over half of Mexican immigrants who became legal would rather wait through the process illegally in America than in Mexico. Living illegally in the United States presents a variety of problems. First, the only employers willing to hire an undocumented person usually pay below the minimum wage. Living off an income below the minimum wage, especially with dependents, almost always means poverty. In addition, there is always the risk of detection and deportation. Assimilation Many Mexican immigrants immigrate through a process called chain migration. Because this process allows large communities of immigrants to form, many hold on to the culture of Mexico and do not adapt to American culture. Assimilation, or a lack thereof, has caused much controversy within the United States. Some groups argue that America was built on immigration and cultural differences, while others believe that immigrants who do not learn the language and culture are actually deteriorating the culture of the United States. In order to become a legal US citizen, immigrants must prove an adequate proficiency in English through their US history exam. However, many are still more comfortable speaking their native language. To address concerns, several members of Congress have spoken about making English the official language of the United States. Currently, 23 states have adopted English as the state language. Arizona, which houses the third largest number of illegal immigrants, legally requires all government officials to speak English at all times in the workplace. Opponents of the law have called this a violation of the right to freedom of speech (â€Å"US Immigration Policy†). The poverty rate of foreign-born Americans is 70% higher than those born in the United States (De Laet 82). Because undocumented workers are usually not paid the minimum wage, they are often forced into poverty. The average migrant worker in the United States has an annual income of only $10,200. (De Laet 39) In conclusion, immigration has become a major problem in the United States. Living in El Paso I see this a lot on our news as well as in person. A big issue was that there were families crossing the border illegally just to gain access to social welfare here in the United States. Because of this, those who are legal citizens are getting their benefits lowered. This is a very controversial issue, and I too have mixed feelings about it. I think it’s good that these people want to come to America to have a better life and that they have somewhere to turn to for help. However, I don’t think it’s fair to those who live here and need help, to be turned down because there are so many more people needing help. Bibliography http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/05/content_5170147.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Fox De Wenden, Catherine Wihtol. (Spring 2007)A world without borders? (International migration). In Queens Quarterly, 114, p8(4). Retrieved August 10, 2007, from Expanded Academic ASAP via Thomson Gale: http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?contentSet=IAC-Documentstype=retrievetabID=T002prodId=EAIMdocId=A164424500source=galeuserGroupName=nm_a_nmlascrversion=1.0 Meritz, D. (2007, August 10). Census Bureau: Minorities dominate 10% of U.S. counties, El Paso Times. americanprogress.org/issues/domestic/immigration?_kk=immigration%20policies_kt=d58ce4d1-7dde-4b0a-aa62-623a20b24e87 De Laet, D. (2000) U.S Immigration Policy in an age of rights, Greenwood Publishing Group Inc., Westport, CT nationalreview.com/comment/krikorian200401070923.asp uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis Research Papers on Imigration From MexicoThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraQuebec and CanadaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropePersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyTwilight of the UAWMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export Quotas

Book Review of Aleph by Paulo Coelho

Book Review of 'Aleph' by Paulo Coelho Paulo Coelhos (The Alchemist, The Winner Stands Alone) novel takes readers on an adventurous journey that spans all 9,288 kilometers of the Trans-Siberian railroad from Moscow to Vladivostok, and a parallel mystical journey that transports its narrator through space and time. In his most personal novel to date, Coelho presents himself as a pilgrim seeking to regain his spiritual fire, much like Santiago, the beloved main character of his runaway bestseller The Alchemist. Paulo Coelhos books have sold more than 130 million copies and have been translated into 72 languages. Besides The Alchemist, his international bestsellers include Eleven Minutes, The Pilgrimage, and many other books whose characters grapple with seemingly simple spiritual themes: light and darkness, good and evil, temptation and redemption. But never before has Coelho chosen to place himself as a character so profoundly in the midst of that struggle - until now. In Aleph  (Knopf, September 2011), Coelho writes in the first person, as a character and a man wrestling with his own spiritual stagnation. Hes 59 years old, a successful but discontented writer, a man who has traveled all over the world and become widely acclaimed for his work. However, he cant shake the sense that hes lost and deeply dissatisfied. Through the leadership of his mentor J., Coelho comes to the conclusion that he must change everything and move forward, but he doesnt quite know what that means until he reads an article about Chinese bamboo. Coelho becomes inspired by the thought of how bamboo exists only as a tiny green shoot for five years while its root system grows underground, invisible to the naked eye. Then, after five years of apparent inactivity, it shoots up and grows to a height of twenty-five meters. Taking what sounds like the advice hes written in his previous books, Coelho begins to trust and follow the signs and live [his] Personal Legend, an act that takes him from a simple book signing in London to a whirlwind tour of six countries in five weeks. Filled with the euphoria of once again being in motion, he commits to a journey through Russia to meet with his readers and to realize his lifelong dream of traveling the entire length of the Trans-Siberian railroad. He arrives in Moscow to begin the journey and meets more than what hes expecting in a young woman and violin virtuoso named Hilal, who shows up at his hotel and announces that shes there to accompany him for the duration of the trip. When Hilal wont take no for an answer, Coelho lets her tag along, and together the two embark on a journey of much greater significance. By sharing deeply profound moments lost in the Aleph, Coelho begins to realize that Hilal can unlock the secrets of a parallel spiritual universe in which he had betrayed her five hundred years earlier. In the language of technical mathematics, Aleph means the number that contains all numbers, but in this story, it represents a mystical voyage wherein two people experience a spiritual unleashing that has a profound impact on their present lives. Sometimes throughout the story, Coelhos tendency to describe spiritual concepts in simple terms borders on clichà ©. A life without cause is a life without effect, he repeats, along with other pithy sayings such as Life is the train, not the station. These sayings take on greater depth, however, as this storys narrator travels back in time and returns to the present with experiences that give them new meaning.The tension in Aleph builds as the train nears its destination at Vladivostok, the final stop on the Trans-Siberian railroad. The narrator Coelho and Hilal have become entangled in a spiritual web that must be broken if they are to continue on in their separate lives. Through their delicate negotiations, readers will come to understand the interconnectedness of people throughout time and find inspiration in this story of love and forgiveness. Like many of Coelhos other novels, the story in Aleph is one that will appeal to those who view life as a journey. Just as Santiago of The Alchemist sought the fulfillment of his Personal Legend, here we see Coelho writing himself into the fabric of a novel that traces his own spiritual growth and renewal. In this way, its the story of Coelho, the story of his characters, and the story of each of us who read it. Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

The Alienation in Urban Taipei in Tsai Ming-liang's Film Essay

The Alienation in Urban Taipei in Tsai Ming-liang's Film - Essay Example (Rivire, 1999, p 81) As he moved to Taiwan at the age of 20 years and chose film direction as profession his filmmaking style-both in terms of the plots and portrayal of characters-largely reflected the sense of alienation experienced by him in youth days as emigrants in Malaysia and the initial and subsequent impressions about the microcosmic and paced worlds of large urban centers rushing headlong toward emotionless and cruel uniformity. Reality probing was a favorite with Tsai from these early years. "I think European films are closer to me because they are about modern life and ordinary, modern men," Tsai told Nanouk Leopold. "And I have the idea they are more realistic, true to life." (Nanouk, 2002) Tsai began with TV dramas (1989-'91) and went to make a TV documentary, about AIDS (My New Friends, 1995), and some features, notable and well known among them being: Rebels of the Neon God (1992), Vive l'Amour (1994), The River (1996), and The Hole (1998). All of these features are set in backdrop of modern day Taipei and have remarkable branding with the primary issue of metropolitan loneliness and isolation. These exceptional and highly critically acclaimed films whose constant refrain reverberate with the reality of emptiness and nothingness in today's urban lives as central theme, invariably leave characters isolated in lonely madness pursuing routine without making much meaning of the numerous developments happening around them in fast paced metropolitan worlds. His above films set in clearly that the protagonists are mesmerised and confused by half grafted Western values in the pursuit of a modern capitalist lives, in fast paced transformation facing their societies which are now torn with occidental and oriental contradictions. The apparent conflicts between age-old Eastern values and traditions and the fast paced West aping civilization and the telling impact of such conflicts on urban dweller of today in term of heightening alienation has been portray ed with startling clarity in these films. This paper examines in detail the sense of alienation portrayed in the above mentioned films of Tsai Ming-liang's. Alienation in The HoleThe Hole catches action in the events that are supposed to have taken place in penultimate days of the year 1999, when an unexplained and mysterious end-of-the-millennium virus affliction with which causes people to behave like cockroaches has compelled the government to quarantine (and stop servicing) large sections of Taipei metropolis. Two characters - played by Lee Kang-sheng and Yang Kuei-mei - live in one apartment complex on flats located on successive floors, and a plumber's fault instead on mending a leak results in a gaping hole between the flats which is the main cause of concern and distress for theses two central actors. The film's landscape is writ with urban desolation and commences in a ramshackle movie theater exhibiting a non decrepit show with little attendance. The backdrop is equally desolate in that it is night and raining hard with not a soul on deserted streets of Taipei. All these i.e... the

Reason and democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reason and democracy - Essay Example In his speech on (2009), the united state president Barrack Obama claimed that, American presumes no knowledge of everyone's needs, but he believes that everyone yearns for certain things in life. These things include; the ability to share their thoughts on how they are governed; the ability to confide in the judicial system. In addition, citizens need to have a government they can confide in with their resources, and for the freedom to live as they may choose (Obama's Speech in Cairo 2009) In this sense, a true act of democracy must be supplied by reason. Democratic state, government in office are open and ready to supply all the essential facts of their actions to their citizens. This builds the citizens trust on the government in managing their resources, in the judicial system and their freedom to make their own chooses without state manipulation or threats (Obama's Speech in Cairo 2009).. If an individual believes that they are entitled to certain aspects in life, if one can clearly elaborate the reasons as to why they enjoy such rights as opposed to if they were not entitled to them, hence, they believe in democracy. In a judicial system, every judgment ought to be backed by reason. It is only in such circumstances that democracy is fulfilled. If a judge were to pass judgment on individuals without clarified reasons, then this would defile the aspect of democracy. Acts of democracy should be justifiable based on reason. In a dialogue between; Theseus from a democratic city, and Theban Herald from despotism city.

Coral Reef and Australia Essay Example for Free

Coral Reef and Australia Essay The great outback! Hey mate! Ever wanted to take an adventurous trip somewhere, but you’re not sure where? Well Australia would be the perfect place to start! Three reasons why Australia should be the first place you visit are for starters, the amazing scenery and beauty of the country, Secondly the exquisite variety of food, and lastly, the unique culture. Australia has one of the most breath taking sceneries in the world, all the way from the Great Barrier Reef to the city of Melbourne. The Great Barrier Reef is known for being the largest coral reef in the world; it is so incredibly vast that it can even be seen all the way from outer space. It is also unbelievably beautiful. Other beautiful places to visit in Australia are the Sydney harbor, which was the first settlement in Australia and you can also find the iconic Sydney opera house there, the beautiful island of Tasmania which is the most mountainous region of Australia and is dotted with beautiful flowing rivers and waterfalls, and also another iconic symbol of Australia the Uluru rock, this rock is famed for its amazing color changes as the sun sets and rises. Australia has so many beautiful sights to visit, which is one fantastic reason to visit Australia. Australian cuisine can vary from your common everyday food that we have here in America, to all kinds of interesting and exotic foods native to Australia. The term â€Å"bush tucker† is used to describe a certain type of cuisine in Australia, that is made up of the native foods in Australia, such as kangaroo, emu, or even crocodile. A lot of foods in Australia contain seafood, as Australia is the third largest fishing zone in the world. Some iconic foods of Australia are, for one, the Chiko roll, a deep-fried savory roll that is also similar to a spring roll. Other iconic foods are vegemite, macadamia nuts, violet crumble, cherry ripe Jaffa’s, and many other different foods. The food in Australia is often described as exotic and delicious. This stimulating food variety is just another great reason why Australia should be at the top on your list of places to visit. The culture in Australia is very interesting and fun, especially if you’re into surfing and water sports, which are very big in Australia, along with other sports such as rugby, cricket, and soccer. Australia is also big into country music, which may come as a surprise to some people, but some great country singers have come from Australia such as Keith Urban. The common apparel in Australia is called surf wear or bush wear, and is very popular among many of the Australian people. As far as religion goes, Australia has no official one, but according to the Australian census, most people are either Christian or irreligious. Most of the Christian are either Roman Catholic, Anglican, or apart of the uniting church. As you now know, Australia has a very interesting and diverse culture, which is the last reason why you should make visiting Australia a priority. In conclusion, Australia is stunningly gorgeous and has many captivating sights and historical scenery to visit while you’re there. It also has a very unique and beloved cuisine that is unlike any other in the world and accordingly very great tasting. Lastly, the variety of culture is just amazing and so fascinating. These are the three main reasons why your next vacation should be a trip to the great outback! See you ther!

A Clockwork Orange: Review Of Book And Firm Version Essay -- essays re

A Clockwork Orange: Review of Book and Firm Version In A Clockwork Orange, Alex, the narrator and the main character, tells the story of his teenage years, starting at fifteen. He begins his tale as the leader of a small gang that spends its evenings pillaging and wreaking havoc on the town until the gang mutinies and "Your Humble Narrator," as Alex refers to himself, is caught by the police. From there, Alex travels to State Jail 84F to serve 14 years, but receives an offer from "the Government" which entails undergoing experimental treatment in return for early release. He seizes what seems to him an opportunity, but is horrified by the "cure" he endures. The new "good" Alex that is released unto the world is depressed, frustrated, and lonely, although no longer violent. A radical political group then exploits him as an example of the cruelty of "the Government." This faction tries to force Alex to suicide in order to gain a martyr, but Alex's attempt fails and he is nursed back to health and his natural mental state by the Government, who in the end comes out on top. Alex, whose last name is not mentioned in the book, is a violent, aggressive teenager of fifteen, who is the leader of a four-person gang. He truly enjoys violence, reveling in the sight of blood or weapons. Alex's love of hate is not simply a rebellious emotion, but as he explains, it is his very nature, and he could not change it if he wanted to. Despite his passion for what most see as ugly and disgusting, Alex does have a great appreciation for classical music, especially Beethoven. Alex's main conflicts are both external and internal. His external conflicts are between him and the members of his gang. Dim and Georgie, two of the members of Alex's gang, are unwilling to accept Alex's leadership. They challenge his authority, and Alex reacts rashly by trying to re- establish his dominance through defeating both of his aggressors in fighting. This confrontation only raises tensions within the gang, and leads to a betrayal which results in Alex's capture on the charge of murder. Alex's main internal conflict is a physiological one. The Government's experimental treatment which Alex undergoes involves conditioning to produce a feeling of nausea and ove... ... because of their forceful sound, as a symbol of the attitude of the nadsats, or teens. For example, "grahzny bratchny" sounds much more harsh than "dirty bastard," although one is a literal translation of the other. This is similar to Gene Roddenberry's creation of the Klingon language, which sounds very much like Russian, in his series "Star Trek," although this may have been due to a cold war stereotype. This symbol, although it was attempted in the film, did not work well. It seemed that dropping words like "droog, tolchock," and "zooby" in the middle of a sentence of otherwise perfect English only confused the viewer, especially without any reference to the nadsat language. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess, presents an issue that should be discussed in schools, although the book may be too potent for some. The film, however, is definitely too focused on plot and the portrayal of destruction and violence, without enough of a focus on theme. I would recommend reading the book; its social commentary is much more relevant now than when it was written in the sixties. A Clockwork Orange: Review Of Book And Firm Version Essay -- essays re A Clockwork Orange: Review of Book and Firm Version In A Clockwork Orange, Alex, the narrator and the main character, tells the story of his teenage years, starting at fifteen. He begins his tale as the leader of a small gang that spends its evenings pillaging and wreaking havoc on the town until the gang mutinies and "Your Humble Narrator," as Alex refers to himself, is caught by the police. From there, Alex travels to State Jail 84F to serve 14 years, but receives an offer from "the Government" which entails undergoing experimental treatment in return for early release. He seizes what seems to him an opportunity, but is horrified by the "cure" he endures. The new "good" Alex that is released unto the world is depressed, frustrated, and lonely, although no longer violent. A radical political group then exploits him as an example of the cruelty of "the Government." This faction tries to force Alex to suicide in order to gain a martyr, but Alex's attempt fails and he is nursed back to health and his natural mental state by the Government, who in the end comes out on top. Alex, whose last name is not mentioned in the book, is a violent, aggressive teenager of fifteen, who is the leader of a four-person gang. He truly enjoys violence, reveling in the sight of blood or weapons. Alex's love of hate is not simply a rebellious emotion, but as he explains, it is his very nature, and he could not change it if he wanted to. Despite his passion for what most see as ugly and disgusting, Alex does have a great appreciation for classical music, especially Beethoven. Alex's main conflicts are both external and internal. His external conflicts are between him and the members of his gang. Dim and Georgie, two of the members of Alex's gang, are unwilling to accept Alex's leadership. They challenge his authority, and Alex reacts rashly by trying to re- establish his dominance through defeating both of his aggressors in fighting. This confrontation only raises tensions within the gang, and leads to a betrayal which results in Alex's capture on the charge of murder. Alex's main internal conflict is a physiological one. The Government's experimental treatment which Alex undergoes involves conditioning to produce a feeling of nausea and ove... ... because of their forceful sound, as a symbol of the attitude of the nadsats, or teens. For example, "grahzny bratchny" sounds much more harsh than "dirty bastard," although one is a literal translation of the other. This is similar to Gene Roddenberry's creation of the Klingon language, which sounds very much like Russian, in his series "Star Trek," although this may have been due to a cold war stereotype. This symbol, although it was attempted in the film, did not work well. It seemed that dropping words like "droog, tolchock," and "zooby" in the middle of a sentence of otherwise perfect English only confused the viewer, especially without any reference to the nadsat language. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess, presents an issue that should be discussed in schools, although the book may be too potent for some. The film, however, is definitely too focused on plot and the portrayal of destruction and violence, without enough of a focus on theme. I would recommend reading the book; its social commentary is much more relevant now than when it was written in the sixties.

Dominos Case Analysis

Strategic Profile and Case Analysis Purpose Dominoes was found in 1960 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Domino’s Pizza Inc. is the market leader in the United States pizza delivery and second largest pizza company in the world based on number of units. The company offers a wide variety of pizza products as well as pasta, bread sticks, boneless chicken and wings, desserts and soft drinks. As of the beginning of this year, 2012, Domino’s had 394 company-owned stores and 4,513 franchised Domino’s units in the U. S. and 4,835 franchised stores internationally.Domino’s strategy is to use its superior supply-chain to provide its franchises with lost cost inputs so the franchises may focus on sales and service. Through the online world, Domino’s customers began to share their dissatisfaction with Domino’s products, such as pizza lacked taste and quality and poor quality delivery pizzas. Over the past 3-5 years Domino’s has made an ef fort to improve the palatability of their core products, and in 2009 introduced a new and redesigned crust recipe, fresh ingredients, a new sauce, and real shredded cheese.This effort, along the successive marketing campaigns has increased brand loyalty and customer preferences which has had a profound effect on increases in revenue and number of franchise openings. I believe that this strategy that is currently implemented is working, but for Domino’s to remain an industry leader and prolong the current trend of success, Domino’s needs to focus on the demographic and technological changes in the market. Focusing on the changes and reevaluating their current strategy will help Domino’s remain a leader within the industry. Situational AnalysisGeneral Environment Analysis: Demographic | -Pizza remains a very popular product appealing to a wide demographic of Americans that consider restaurants an essential part of their lifestyle. -According to Rasmussen Reports 4 0% of American eat pizza at least once per month w/adults ranging 30-49 yrs. of age; 21% of young adults (18-24) purchase pizza more than three times a week. Pizza is an integral part of American culture and shows no sign of exciting the market. | Economic | Domino’s is not immune to market trends; its revenues are directly affected by how the economy is doing.As the labor force progresses closer to full employment, consumer spending will increase and real GDP will be boosted. As a result, Domino’s Pizza will benefit from the increase of consumer spending as more consumers will likely spend more money at quick-service restaurants than dinging at home. To retain consumer’s quick-service restaurants should not worry as much about pricing but about expanding their menus. | Political/Legal| The political and legal conditions that could affect the business of Domino’s Pizza are the policies of the local and national government towards business.If the governmen t is more open to the establishment of numerous restaurants, then more restaurants will be established. Laws in favor of employees will be a factor for Domino’s. In each state/country they operate in they will have to provide proper employee training, as well as the minimum wage that are in compliance with state and federal regulations. Wages increasing can have a negative impact on revenues. | Sociocultural| Households are more likely to have a double income these days, resulting in families going out to eat more often. No time to cook at home) Media is growing at a fast pace means that Domino’s need to be part of this trend and keep up with the technological changes when comes to their online and app. options. Providing healthier options can be a potential competitive advantage for Domino’s. More people are concerned with their health and are becoming more aware of nutritional facts. Organic and gluten free products are gaining popularity. | Technological| The fast changes in technology nowadays have far-reaching effects.The factors that have a huge impact are: research and development, internet and e-commerce, and new technologies. The research and development has effects on Domino’s Pizza because through R&D new products are developed for the business, the internet and e-commerce also contributes to the technological factors because through them customers can give feedback regarding the products. Technology will assist in developing the firms’ strategies and strategic competiveness. | Global| More and more industrialized countries are emerging.Current and potential political events can affect the potential growth of Domino’s. | Physical| Creating and using products that are bio-gradable and promoting recycling can save Domino’s money, and differentiate themselves from their competitors. | Industry analysis: The restaurant industry was projected to have $604 Billion sales in 2011, which is approximately 4 per cent of the projected total GDP of the United States according to the estimate from National Restaurant Association. The industry has been expanding since the 1960s, mainly due to the boom of quick service restaurants such as Yum!Brands Inc. and McDonald’s. The long term expansion of the restaurant industry is expected to continue as the major players in this industry are focusing on providing healthier and less expensive food for both Americans and customers’ abroad. The restaurant industry provides two categories of services: fast food and full-service restaurant. The fast food restaurants mainly serve products including sandwiches, and pizza. Those restaurants attract customers by offering convenient, inexpensive and appealing foods.Fast food restaurants will still perform comparatively well during financial downturn (see graphs below) because customers will switch from full-service restaurant to the cheaper fast food restaurants. Threat of new entrants| ? Economies of Scale: The saturation of the pizza industry is a huge limiter of how much an advantage can be attained by economies of scale.? Product Differentiation: Differentiation is a necessary expense in the pizza industry but it is not difficult to overcome so we can say it is not a significant barrier to market entry.?Capital requirements will dominate the formation of new, national competitors, but is not a significant barrier to private startups.? Cost Disadvantages: The extreme saturation and similarity in product offering make convenient locations essential for quick service restaurants large and small. This is a significant barrier to entry.? Distribution Channels: Speedy and reliable channels are essential among all firms in the industry, they are not necessarily difficult for new comers to attain. Due to the lack of any of the barriers to entry being so significant, we feel the threat of new entrants is high. Power of suppliers| The bargaining power of suppliers shapes the restau rant industry by determining the food commodity costs. Restaurant operators usually negotiate on their purchases through future contracts; however instability in food goods costs can constrain the power to price their products. Suppliers for Domino’s pizza have low bargaining power, due to the high volume of products and the low differentiation level. There are also many substitutes for any particular input. | Power of buyers| Price is a key factor for customers in choosing restaurants.Consumers compare the values of food and what they pay for the food. Domino’s Pizza customers bargaining power and switching costs are low since a costumer can find a second option easily (frozen pizza or other pizza restaurants and chains). Differentiation levels are created by the consumers and include style of pizza, atmosphere, and location. | Threat of product substitutes| One reason for high competition in the restaurant industry is similar menus among the companies in the restaura nt industry. Few restaurants have successfully differentiated menus from others.The threat this poses on the industry’s’ profitability depend on the price-to-performance ratio, it is also affected by switching costs. Since there are so many firms offer the same basic need the consumer is looking for it results in low switching costs and a high threat of substitution. | Intensity of rivalry among competitors| The rivalry in the restaurant industry is high and gives firms more incentive to differentiate themselves form its competitors and meet customers’ needs. Firms in this industry are competing for the same market share.Since the customer base is not growing as fast the industry, the growth is slow. | Competitor analysis: With Domino’s Pizza competing in the domestic and global market, its main competitors globally are YUM! Brands, McDonalds, and Wendy’s. Many of these fast service chain restaurants are expanding internationally at a rapid rate. E ach competitor offers wide array of products to its consumers, so Domino’s has had to make many menu changes to help keep their loyal customers satisfied. Domino’s main U. S. competitors in the pizza delivery service market are Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, and Little Caesars.Domino’s is in an industry where it must use its valued brand name as a way of competing with its competitors around the globe. Locally, Domino’s uses its trademark â€Å"Domino's Pizza: You Got 30 Minutes†20 to remind consumers that they are the number one pizza delivery company in the U. S. and use this as a competitive edge against its aggressive competitors. Pizza Hut The number one competitor for Domino’s is Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut operates under Yum! Brands, which also includes four other restaurant chains. Pizza Hut is only two years older than Domino’s and has over 13,000 store locations in 95 different countries.The main focus of Pizza Hut is letting their customers customize their pizzas; each location is designed to tailor to local tastes and culture. They serve a variety of products ranging from specialty pizzas to pasta, sandwiches and chicken wings. In 2010 the brand reported a 4. 7 percent increase in revenues and sales for Pizza Hut increased by 8. 8 percent in the US. Though Domino’s remains the leader in the US delivery segment, Pizza Hut maintains the top spot in the US pizza segment with a 13. 78 market share as of late 2009.Pizza Hut’s goal is moving forward, they want to be known not as a pizza restaurant, but as a â€Å"pizza, pasta, and wings† brand. To complete their transformation Pizza Hut is working to make its menu items more competitively priced and improve their service times as well as focus on great customer service. Lastly, to help gain market share throughout the world, Pizza Hut is focusing its expansion plans on China, one of the world’s rapidly growing marketplaces. Papa Johnâ €™s Papa John’s is considered the world’s third ranked pizza delivery and carryout restaurant behind Pizza Hut and Domino’s.Currently it owns and franchises 3,646 restaurants in which 612 are company owned and 3,034 franchised in all of US and 32 countries worldwide. Papa John’s was founded on the premise that if you make the best pizza and price it competitively, you can sell it. Some of their major products include pizza, bread/cheese sticks, chicken strips, winds, dessert, and beverages. Papa John’s operates through six segments: domestic restaurants, domestic franchising, international operations, variable interest entities, and â€Å"all other† business units.In 1999 Papa John’s took over the number three spot in the US market from Little Caesars. But in the early 2000s, Papa Johns hit the wall and put a break on its expansions plans. The economic recession caused a dip in revenues for year-end 2009, and 2010. In effort to re -energize its brand during this period, Papa invested heavily in advertising, becoming the official sponsor for the NFL and the next three super bowls. In addition, Papa John’s launched a highly successfully promotion for consumers, these efforts helped Papa John’s maintain its market share.Little Caesars Family-owned Little Caesars Enterprises, Inc a subsidiary of Illitich Holdings owns and franchises over 2,600 units in the US and 11 other countries. As of 2010, it owned 4 percent of the US pizza locations and was a major competitor of Domino’s despite its lack of delivery service. It’s considered by Technomic Inc to be the fastest growing pizza restaurant chain in the US. Approximately 80 percent of Little Caesars locations are franchises with many stores located in strip malls or other popular shopping areas.Little Caesars offers pizzas, crazy bread and sauce, cheese bread, Caesar dips and churros as well as it offers party catering service. Littler C aesars has been following the same marketing campaign since the 70s and is known for its two-for-one â€Å"Pizza! Pizza! † Little Caesars has topped a host of â€Å"Best Pizza Value in America† lists for years and years in a row and, despite some setbacks in the 90s as Papa John’s climbed the ladder, continues to offer some hard- to- beat competition. Internal analysis Tangible resources:Domino’s low cost deliver-oriented store design is a tangible resource. Domino’s franchises approximately 90 percent of their 5,155 stores in the US. The stores are decided small with a focus on delivery, which allows them to cut the cost of having the typical large pizzeria type restaurant. Domino’s also uses their company owned stores as testing facilities for new products and technologies, this allows them to cut cost on having to rent out additional stores. Domino’s has its own supply chain for domestic and internationally franchised stores.This o peration consists 17 domestic facilities/6 international facilities that distribute food, equipment and supplies to the franchised stores nation and worldwide. Having their own supply chain gives Domino’s an advantage, it means automatic delivery of ingredients to stores which eliminates wait time and adds freshness, allowing the store team to focus on its sales and customer service. The vertically integrated supply chain allows Domino’s to leverage the purchasing power of thousands of privately owned and franchised stores nationwide to help food costs low.Domino’s new smart-phone â€Å"pizza tracker† application that is also available on their website, shows customers where the pizza is in the process, and how long it will take for the pizza to be ready and/or delivered. This allows customers be more involved in the process and allows instant communication between the two. In result this will help decrease the number of employees that Domino’s nee ds to hire, which will increase revenues as well as focus more on the food making process. Intangible resources: Domino’s has multiple intangible resources.Firstly, Domino’s focuses as a company on two core strengths: high quality pizzas at a competitive price and a fast delivery time, both that are intangible. Secondly, Domino’s strong brand image results in many loyal customers even with the new introductions made to the menu. Lastly, Domino’s has a worldwide presence and have pioneered the pizza delivery industry giving them a strong reputation. Capabilities: Domino’s has five capabilities that were discussed in the analysis. The first is their vertically integrated supply chain. Domino’s is able to drive sales up and costs down.Secondly, Domino’s focuses on adapting each location to its surrounding environment, such as changing menu options in other countries to adapt to the taste preferences of the population. Thirdly, the new sm art phone application, which allows customers order as they go and have more of a connection during the process. Having a strong brand image is another capability of Domino’s, its what allows them to be a direct competitor in the restaurant industry. Lastly, Domino’s is very cost effective, they pre-cut and pre-package all the ingredients, which allow them to be competitive in the market, and in the price they charge their customers.Core competencies: The last four decades Dominos has proven to be a top leader in the pizza industry, and has created several core competencies. Strong brand presence is what created brand loyalty with their customers and lead them to be one of the major competitors in the industry. Their focus on fast delivery is the foundation of their daily profit margins. Expanding internationally and incorporating online services as well as smart device application is another factor for them staying competitive. Also, Domino’s has a cost leaders hip business model which allows them to sell their products at a competitive rice. Sustainable competitive advantage: Domino’s has expanded their opportunities for more profit by opening over 3,000 locations internationally. They have built a strong brand image; by incorporating online technology they were able to stay competitive and ahead of some of their competitors. They have sustained their competitive advantage with the incorporation of Internet services as well as their strong brand image, as well as their expansion to over 70 countries. Since 2009, Domino’s stock has grown a remarkable 233 percent by 2011.SWOT Analysis Strengths| Weaknesses| -Delivery leader in the industry. -Has a strong and diversified franchising network around the world-Massive growth in its expansion across the globe; Dominos international network grew 48% from 2,987 stores to 4,442 stores-Strong brand equity. Known as the â€Å"Mega Brand† as defined by advertising brand magazine. Its positive brand image leads to dependable and trustworthy customers -Technology savvy: Online menus, as well as a Domino’s application for the iPhone and iPod.Helps customers order quickly and choose to have food delivered; pizza tracker allows the customer to the progress of their food being delivered. | -Compared to competitors it lacks menu options -Weak international presence as compared to peers-Lacks significant amount of profit it earns outs the US compared to its competitors-Weakening bottom line| Opportunities| Threats| -Expand its product outside of its stores and into the frozen food market can be quite profitable and beneficial (good for top line growth)-Introduce new healthier options: organic toppings, gluten free, etc. Entry into expanding markets will like boost revenue growth-Sales growth from online orders and smartphone application| -Faces high competition among other pizza companies domestically and globally. Constantly dealing with new product innovati on techniques and pricing pressure among the pizza delivery industry. -Strict govt. regulations poses threat to company’s development plans-Social media can result in a threat due to more people sharing their experiences-bad experiences can influence a prospect client to go elsewhere -Consumers growing more heath conscious| Strategy FormationDomino’s prides itself on its consistency and logistical operations that keep overhead costs down and provide less expensive pizza. Due to the current demographic changes and methods of communication changing, Dominoes must make changes to it s current cost leaderships strategy in order to gain more market share and stay a top competitor in the industry. Strategic alternatives: A strategic alternative for Domino’s to pursue would be a differentiation strategy. Domino’s could gain more customers from segments of the market that had not considered Domino’s as an adequate meal choice.If Domino’s chooses to focus on even a lower cost leadership strategy it would help them maintain its current customer base and possible gain more bargain shopper customers by exploiting its already known capabilities and core competencies, resulting in even more market share form this market segment. Pursuing an integrated cost leadership and differentiation strategy, Domino’s will still be able to maintain its competitive pricing while creating new products that will attract new segments of the market. Alternative evaluation: The first strategy that Domino’s could pursue is the differentiation strategy.Pursing this strategy would mean that Dominos would need to look for new suppliers to obtain higher quality ingredients. The finance support in the value chain would have to examine to see where capital could be found and allocated to make this strategy work. For Domino’s to change to the differentiation strategy, they would need to gain new tangible and intangible resources to achiev e this strategy as well as to create new capabilities that would lead to new core competencies, resulting in a competitive advantage in the market. Secondly, Domino’s could purse a even lower cost leadership strategy.To pursue an even lower cost leadership strategy, Domino’s would have to cut mores cost in areas such as food quality and choice of supplier. This could lead to fewer costs for them but may result going back to their â€Å"tastes like cardboard† negative image. Due to the taste aspect of their product, it would be safest for Domino’s to look to make cuts else where such as marketing and advertising in order to keep their even lower cost leadership strategy. Lastly, Domino’s could pursue the integrated cost leadership and differentiated strategy.This strategy would be the strongest strategy for Domino’s, it could allow them to be the first mover in the industry to use healthier, organic ingredients which would attract a new segme nt of the market as well as those who might have decided to go else where. Alternative choice: I would choose the integrated cost leadership and differentiated strategy from the three options I listed above. I believe that this strategy allows Domino’s to use its current core competencies and helps develop new capabilities that could lead to even stronger core competencies and a higher competitive advantage in the industry.Strategic Alternative Implementation Action items: In order for Domino’s to implement an integrated cost leadership and differentiation strategy and gain a competitive advantage in the industry it will need: suppliers that will sell quality ingredients at a reasonable cost, a new structure that is supported by the company, and lastly having the current leader initiate and encourage these changes, or put a new leader that will help implement these changes.Actions plan: In order for Domino’s to take on an integrated cost leadership and different iation strategy, they should use their existing connections with suppliers that will help them find new suppliers who can deliver organic, high quality ingredients at a reasonable price. This will assist with Domino’s becoming the first mover in the industry towards healthier, high quality pizzas.Though this may lead to an increase of price, I believe that because of the current organic foods sector recent growth sprit in our society, there won’t be much of a negative reaction to the price. The current hybrid functional/multidivisional structure may be able to hand the strategy change, but modifications to the value chain would need to take place. Less focus on cutting costs, more of a focus on differentiating the product.Last of all, the current leader or a new leader would need to me a transformational leader, that would implement and encourage the strategy switch from cost leadership to integrated cost leadership and differentiation. Pursuing this new strategy would lead to numerous opportunities, and benefits for Domino’s now and the future. It would allow Domino’s become a first mover in the industry, and create a new market for other fast food restaurants.

Food and Street Foods Essay

Introduction Bulacan was officially called â€Å"Bulacan Province†, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region (Region 3) in the island of Luzon, North of Manila (the nation’s capital), and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region. Bulacan pries itself for its rich historical heritage. Bulacan has fast become an ideal tourist destination, owing to its vital role in Philippine history, and its rich heritage in culture and the arts. The province is popularly known for its historical sites; nostalgic old houses and churches; idyllic ecological attractions; religious attractions; colorful and enchanting festivals; swimming and various themed attractions; and a wide selection of elegant native crafts and sumptuous delicacies. It is also home to numerous resorts, hotels, restaurants, and other recreational facilities. (Wikipedia). The briskness of Street foods in Bulacan can be measured by the long queue of consumers’ everyday in the food outlets in strategic places where street foods like: â€Å"lugaw† or Rice Porridge, goto, mami, fish balls, barbecued banana, salted peanuts and chicken pops. (Toledo, 1988) Street Foods is a â€Å"Survival Meals†, maybe because it satisfies the gustatory sense for a temporary period of time. (Soledad Leynes, 1986) In such case, eating away from home due to the changes in occupation and activities created a demand for cooked meals and snacks at a cheaper and affordable price that are served quickly. Dual career, parents and small families who really have no time to prepare their meals at home resort to street foods for convenience. These people seem not to care for the food source whether it comes from the legitimate food merchants or from the informal sector, otherwise called black market. (Soledad Leynes, 1986) Street foods, whether snacks or meals are affordable and always available, which are very popular among the low income households to a large extent and increasingly a daily fare among the middle income groups. Households with working mothers are afforded ready to eat meals without the burden of cooking at home. Street food caters to the needs of the urban poor population by making food readily available and at low cost. Thus, street food vending is a traditional activity which can be considered a coping mechanism of the urban poor. Street foods are ready-to-eat foods and beverages prepared and/or sold by vendors or hawkers especially in the streets and other similar places. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) They represent a significant part of urban food consumption for millions of low-and-middle-income consumers, in urban areas on a daily basis. Street foods may be the least expensive and most accessible means of obtaining a nutritionally balanced meal outside the home for many low income people, provided that the consumer is informed and able to choose the proper combination of foods. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Statement of the Problem. This study was conducted to assess the Quality of Food Products of Street foods sold by the ambulant vendors along the busy streets and sidewalks of Bulacan. 1. What is the status of the ambulant vendors of Bulacan in terms of: 2. 1. Gender 2. 2. Age 2. 3. Civil Status 2. 4. Income 2. 5. Family size 2. 6. Educational attainment 2. What is the nutritional quality of food products sold by the ambulant vendors in Bulacan in terms of: 3. 7. Food Supply 3. 8. Food Preparation 3. 9. Food Handling 3. What orientation program could be proposed to the ambulant vendors to improve the nutritional quality and safety of the food?

LABOUR LAW PROJECT Essays - Law, Family Law, Government, Family

LABOUR LAW PROJECT Essays - Law, Family Law, Government, Family 3 LABOUR LAW PROJECT ON MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT SUBMITTED BY: STUTI PRIYA (00516503813) R.SHRAVYA (09116503813) B.A.LL.B. 8TH SEMESTER INTRODUCTION In the ancient time, the employer thought that maternity was a state of disability for woman workers from doing any work during the few weeks immediately before and after child birth. The employer tended that this period is wastage of both time and money, so simply they terminated the services of woman workers when they inferred any maternity situation. They didn't provide any type of wages or benefits to their woman workers. Therefore, many woman workers had to go on leave without any payment of their salary during this period in case if they didn't want to lose their job. Many others had to bear a heavy depression to keep their efficiency during the periods of pregnancy, which was very harmful to the health of both, the child and the mother. To remove this concept of the woman workers, the concept ofmaternity benefitcame about. It aims to regulate employment of women employees in certain establishments for certain periods before and after childbirth in order to enable the woman workers to carry on the social function of child; bearing and rearing without undue strain on their health and loss of wages. Maternity benefit is one that every woman must be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit, which is the amount payable to her at the rate of the average daily wage for the period of her actual absence.. WHAT IS MATERNITY BENEFIT? Maternity leave is a paid leave that an employee is entitled to, in order to care for their newborn or recently adopted child. The period of such leave varies in different countries, and generally includes both a legally enforceablematernity leaveandmaternity pay.Some employees have employment contracts that are more generous. Maternity leave and pay were primarily designed to: protect the health of mothers and children by providing adequate medical and nursing care in childbirth, to lessen the financial burden of childbearing and ensure a reasonable period free from excessive labour They vary from systems which consist primarily of paid time off work to those which include medical, nursing and in some cases, help with domestic labor. WHY THERE IS NEED FOR MATERNITY BENEFITS? In the present scenario women workers form a major chunk of labor market which in turn in dominated by the young women in urban areas . And it is known fact that Post- maternity, women work participation rate is negatively affected in labor market. Since India is committed to creating a gender friendly labour market environment, there is increasing realization to provide a conducive working environment. Looking at the large number of women employment in broad occupational categories, it was but natural to provide some conditions which are suitable for the needs of women protect and safeguard their health in relation to Maternity and the children. The fundamental purpose for providing maternity benefits is to preserve the self-respect for motherliness, protect the health of women, complete safety of the child etc. The objective of maternity benefits is to protect the dignity of "Motherhood" by providing the complete health care to the women her child when she is not able to perform her duty due to her health condition. There is need for maternity benefits so that a woman is to be able to give quality time to her child without having to worry about whether she will lose her job and her source of income. The vast majority of women want to have children at some time in their lives. Childbearing is biological role which is to be performed by women and hence it shouldn't be made an impediment in their economic growth. They have taken enormous strides toward gender equity at work, but to tackle the traditional gender ideologies , sex-typed stereotypes, roles, and status beliefs they need provisions like maternity benefits to be able to continue in the business . LEGAL SCENARIO INTERNATIONAL POSITION International recognition for maternity benefit was achieved by the efforts of the International Labour Organization ("ILO"). It was during the first International Labour Conference (ILC) in 1919 that the first Convention on Maternity protection, Convention concerning the Employment of Women before and after Childbirth, 1919 was adopted.It provided that "no woman

How to Prepare for the ACT Ultimate 10-Step Guide

How to Prepare for the ACT Ultimate 10-Step Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips So you need to take the ACT, but you don’t anything about it. What now? How do you go about preparing for the test? If you’re not sure how to prepare for the ACT, we can help! In this guide, we outline a ten-step process to preparing for the ACT. Then, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of some of the major methods that students use to prepare. We’ll close out with a brief roundup of helpful ACT prep resources that you might find helpful. How to Prepare for the ACT: 10 Key Steps This section lays out the ten main things you’ll need to accomplish to be prepared for the test- from registration all the way to test day! This description is primarily targeted for those who are self-studying, but a good tutor or program will guide your prep in this same overall sequence. #1: Register for the ACT If you haven’t registered for the test yet, you can take care of test registration at the ACT website. Registering for the test will include creating an account on the ACT website if you haven’t done so already. When you select a location, try to pick a location that’s not too far away, since you’ll have to drive there the morning of the test! When you pick a date, make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare. I would advise picking a date at least three months in advance if you’re totally unfamiliar with the test to give yourself adequate breathing room for studying. That said, don’t panic if you have to work on a compressed timeline because of application deadlines! In that case, you’ll need to spend more time preparing every week for a shorter number of weeks. If you need more help with registration, check out our guide to registering for the ACT. Make sure you have enough of this! #2: Become Familiar With ACT Structure and Format The next step after registration is to get familiar with the overarching structure and format of the ACT. The ACT is out of 36 points. It consists of four multiple-choice sections- English, Math, Reading, and Science, each scored out of 36 points. The rounded average of these four section scores becomes your composite score. There’s also an optional Writing essay test, scored out of 12 points. Writing is not factored into your composite score. Here’s a chart with the order, number of questions, time, and question format for each test. Order Section Number of Questions Time Question Format 1 English 75 45 minutes Multiple choice, 4 choices 2 Math 60 60 minutes Multiple choice, 5 choices 3 Reading 40 35 minutes Multiple choice, 4 choices 4 Science 40 35 minutes Multiple choice, 4 choices 5 Writing (optional) 1 40 minutes Essay prompt Total: 216 2 hours 55 mins (without writing); 3 hours 35 minutes (with writing) #3: Get Oriented With the ACT's Content and Question Styles The different sections of the ACT each test different knowledge and skill areas. Hence, how to prepare for ACT English will be different from how to prepare for ACT Math, and so on. Additionally, the ACT has its own particular question styles and formats that you’ll want to become familiar with before test day. Otherwise, you could be thrown by some questions even if you know the content! See our guides for more information on what’s tested on each of the ACT’s sections, and how that content is tested. What’s Actually Tested on the ACT English Section? What’s Actually Tested on the ACT Math Section? What’s Actually Tested on the ACT Reading Section? What’s Actually Tested on the ACT Science Section? The Complete Guide to Enhanced ACT Writing Expect to see some of this! #4: Identify Your Weaknesses After you have an overall idea of what and how the ACT tests, you’ll want to establish a baseline of your own skills. The most important component of this is identifying your weaknesses, so you can target them in your prep. The most reliable way to establish a baseline is to take a complete, timed ACT practice test. Fortunately, ACT. Inc, has released six free and official practice tests- one online and five in PDF form. Take advantage of this! When you take your initial practice test, be sure to find a quiet testing environment. Additionally, bringnumber 2 pencils and an approved calculator! You want to create conditions as close to the real test as possible. Note that the ACT doesn’t allow additional scratch paper because they expect you to write in the test booklet. If you’re signed up to take the Writing section, you should also take a practice writing section when you establish your baseline. If you aren’t sure whether you need to take the ACT with Writing or not, see our complete guide to deciding on ACT Writing. Once you’ve taken the practice test, use the scoring guidelines provided in the back of the test booklet by ACT, Inc. to figure out your score. This will tell you what sections you’re weakest in, what you’re strongest in, and where your overall starting place is. Your highest-scoring sections are clearly your best, and your lowest-scoring sections are the worst. However, it’s best to get more detailed than that. Examine your incorrect answers to identify patterns. Did you flub all the questions on the scientific method on the Science test, or completely miss all the â€Å"big picture† questions on the Reading test? You’ll know that you need to work on those things. The ACT also gives you subscores in particular areas on 3 of the 4 tests, which you can calculate with their guidelines in the back of the test booklet. The English subscores are in Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills. The Math subscores are in Pre-Algebra/Elementary, Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry, and Plane Geometry/Trigonometry-based problems. The Reading subscores are in Social Studies/Natural Sciences and Arts/Literature. Science has no subscores. These subscores will help you figure out what content domains you are strongest and weakest in within a section. So if you got a high score on English Usage/Mechanics subscore but a low score on Rhetorical Skills, you’ll know to focus more on Rhetorical Skills to improve your score. #5: Set a Target Score After you’ve gotten a sense of your initial skill baseline, set a target score for how much you want to improve. Your target score should be something you can realistically accomplish in the time frame you have. 1-2-point improvement from your baseline in a month is totally reasonable. A 6-point improvement in that time frame? Not so much. Keep in mind that you’ll have to put in more time for more point improvement. See our rough estimates for how long it takes to get certain point improvements: 0-1 ACT Composite Point Improvement: 10 hours 1-2 ACT Point Improvement: 20 hours 2-4 ACT Point Improvement: 40 hours 4-6 ACT Point Improvement: 80 hours 6-9 ACT Point Improvement: 150 hours+ In addition to something you can realistically accomplish, you goal score should also reflect the schools you are interested in. If possible, you want your ACT score to be within the middle 50% range of the schools you want to attend. The middle 50% describes the score range of the 25th-75th percentiles of admits to a particular institution. For example, if a school’s middle 50% is 30-34, that means 25% of admits scored below 30, 50% scored between 30 and 34, and the top 25% scored above 34. See our guide to what makes a good ACT score here for more guidance on setting target scores that take your chosen schools into account. Get ready to hit your target. #6: Create a Study Schedule The next step is to create a consistent study schedule. It’s best to spend a consistent number of hours every week preparing until you take the test to avoid needing to cram close to the test date. So to determine how many hours you should prep each week, divide the total number of prep hours you think you need by the number of weeks until the test. Thus, if you need to study 80 hours and there are 12 weeks until the test, you should try to study around 6 hours and 40 minutes every week. Its also best if you determine consistent days and times that you are going to study every week. So maybe you’ll study an hour every day except Sunday, when you’ll study for 40 minutes. Or maybe you’ll study 3 hours and 20 minutes on Friday and Sunday afternoons. This helps you keep consistent. You should also make sure somebody else knows your study schedule and is willing to hold you accountable! You can get more advice on making an ACT study schedule here. You can also check out our 10-day ACT cram guide if you’re on a constrained schedule! #7: Learn Essential Test Content Once you have a goal and schedule, it’s time to learn content! â€Å"Content† refers to the knowledge you need to answer ACT questions. So that will include learning grammar and mechanics for English, brushing up on functions for Math, reviewing how to write a hypothesis for Science, and so on and so forth. You’ll need to learn any material tested that you don’t know yet. But you should also review what you already know.It’s fine to devote the bulk of your time to prepping for Math if that’s your weakest area. But you should still spend a little time preparing for the ACT English section even if it’s your best subject to prevent backsliding. Only you can best determine how to learn and review content most effectively for your own learning style. However, we have some methods and resources you may want to consider in sections below. You might want to take neater notes than this. #8: Practice Test Strategies Knowledge isn’t enough to succeed on the ACT- you also need to learn the most effective strategies to approach the test. â€Å"Strategy† refers to things like learning how to eliminate wrong answers, guess when you need to, manage your time, and additional section-specific tips. With expert guidance on the best strategies, you’ll be able to come up with your own personal best approach to all parts of the test. Here are some of our ACT strategy guides: Overall ACT Strategy How to Ace the ACT: 6 Top Tips for Success The 21 ACT Tips You Should Be Using Today SAT/ACT Exam Time Management The Secret to Getting a Perfect SAT/ACT Score ACT English Top 9 ACT English Strategies You Must Use The 8 Most Common Mistakes You Make on ACT English The Best Way to Approach ACT English Passages How to Get 36 on ACT English: 9 Strategies from a Perfect Scorer ACT Math The Secret to ACT Math: Mastering the Time Crunch How to Guess Strategically on ACT Math Plugging in Numbers: a Critical SAT/ACT Math Strategy Plugging in Answers: a Critical SAT/ACT Math Strategy ACT Reading How to Answer ACT Reading Questions: 5-Step Guide Top 10 ACT Reading Tips The #1, Critical, Fundamental Strategy of ACT Reading How to Stop Running Out of Time on ACT Reading ACT Science The ACT Science Strategies You Must Be Using The Hardest ACT Science Questions and Strategies to Solve Them Time Management and Section Strategy on ACT Science The Best Strategies for Reading ACT Science Questions ACT Writing ACT Writing Rubric: Full Analysis and Essay Strategies ACT Writing Tips: 15 Strategies to Raise Your Essay Score Why You Shouldn’t Copy Skeleton Templates for the SAT/ACT Essay Strategy: first you'll turn on the lightbulb, then turn the gears, then put together the puzzle... #9: Use Practice Questions and Tests If I could only write one step in â€Å"how to prepare for the ACT,† it would be â€Å"practice!† Of course, you want to practice smart. There are two key parts to practicing for the ACT: practice questions and practice tests. You can use practice questions to target the skills you need to hone for the test. You should practice the specific question types, topics, and/or entire sections that you need more work on. Be sure to really work through questions you get wrong to understand your errors so you can correct them in the future. The second part of ACT practice is completing at least a couple of complete test practice runs. When you do a complete test practice run, use an official practice test and test yourself under the same conditions that you’ll be in on test day. You may even want to try starting at the same time your test will really start for at least one of your practice runs to really get the full experience. Be sure to include breaks and a snack! #10: Be Ready for ACT Day! To give yourself the best chance to succeed on test day, be sure to engage in all your best test-taking practices! So get lots of sleep the night before, have a balanced, protein-packed breakfast, and pack your bag with pencils and an approved calculator! Catch all your zzz's the night before the test. 4 Methods of Preparing for the ACT and How to Pick the Right One for You We provide pros and cons to the most commonly used methods to preparing for the ACT here. Self-Preparation Many students prep for the ACT primarily on their own, using prep books, online resources, mobile apps, and so on. Pros You can easily tailor your studying program to your own needs, because you have control over what and when you study. Of course, you need to have a good idea of exactly what you need to work on for this to be a real advantage. This is the cheapest option out there. It can even be free if you use free resources and get prep materials from the library. Cons It can be hard to stay motivated. It’s helpful to have someone else holding you accountable, so tell a parent or trusted friend when you plan to study so they can check in with you. It can be a lot of work to design and implement your own study plan! You need to figure out your own weaknesses, track down resources, look up answer explanations, and so on. You have to be willing to put some extra investment into planning and implementation with this prep method. It may be hard for you to self-diagnose your own weaknesses, especially if you have a lot of improvement to make. Even if you know that you’re, say, very weak on math, you may not know exactly where to begin or how to attack the situation. Sometimes guidance is necessary! Online Test-Prep Program The online program is a relatively new innovation in test prep. But is it legit? Can it really help you succeed? Pros The truth is that a high-quality online prep program can be a great asset to your test prep. How will you know if it’s high-quality? It will accurately diagnose your strengths and weaknesses and assign lessons and practice problems based on those strengths and weaknesses. It will help you create a study plan and track your progress. It will have high-quality, clear content review and practice questions. A good prep program will even teach you the best ACT strategies! Here at PrepScholar, we have a comprehensive online ACT prep program that is customized to your needs. In general, online programs are much more affordable than hiring a private tutor or taking a prep course. Cons Not all online prep programs are created equally! The wrong online prep program is a massive waste of time and money. A big mistake students make is assuming that an online program is good just because it comes from a big-name test-prep company. Make sure you know what you’re really getting for your money before you commit to a program. A good online prep program won't make you do this. ACT Prep Course Twenty students in a high-school classroom after hours, listening to an ACT prep teacher drone on about trigonometry. Is this a good prep method or bad one? Pros If you have trouble motivating yourself to study, the schedule of the class forces you to stay on track with the pace the class sets. Cons There’s very little personalization to your needs and pace. For the most part, you’ll need to proceed with the class, whether you know the material being covered like the back of your hand or you’re completely lost. So a class can both waste your time and not give you enough help all at the same time! The quality of the teacher also makes a huge difference in the quality of a prep course, and you don’t usually have any control over whether your teacher is good or not when you sign up for the class. A teacher who is invested in everyone’s experience and tries to adjust curriculum to meet class needs can help you improve your score. A bad teacher may just stand in front of the class reading out essay prompts for two hours. Test prep courses are expensive! It can be more expensive than hiring a private tutor for a limited number of hours, which may frankly be more worth your money. Hire a Private Tutor Having your very own tutor for the ACT sounds like test-prep dream, right? Well, here are the pros and cons. Pros A good tutor is truly invaluable. They’ll help you make a study plan, identify your weaknesses, explain concepts you’re shaky on, and help you come up with an ACT strategy that works best for you. From a high-quality tutoring professional, tutoring both provides you with an expert to guide you and takes the guesswork out of creating a study plan. Additionally, a tutor can help keep you motivated and support you throughout the prep process. Cons A sub-par tutor is a serious waste of time and money. If they aren’t a high-scorer (think 95th percentile at the very least) who’s also a great teacher, it’s just the blind leading the blind. You want a true professional who knows the test inside and out, and is a great teacher. Try to get recommendations from friends or references from past clients if possible. Private tutoring is expensive! This option just isn’t available to everyone. You wouldn't know by looking at him, but Mr. Whiskers comes highly recommended. Key Resources for Preparing for the ACT There are a variety of high-quality resources out there that you might want to use for your ACT prep. Here’s a roundup of some of the best ones. ACT Practice Tests and Questions Practice tests and questions are the single most important resource for preparing for the ACT. You want as much practice that’s really like the ACT as you can possibly get! The absolute best source of practice tests is the six free ACT tests from ACT, Inc. They make the test, so their practice tests are the most like the real deal! You can also check out additional official and unofficial resources at our guide to all the practice question sources out there for the ACT. Remember that official content is always best! ACT Prep Books A good prep book can help you out with lots of aspects of test prep- strategy, content review, even some practice! See our list of the best ACT prep books to help you decide on which ones might work for you. Applications and Tools for Prep There are also a variety of online tools and mobile applications for learning and practicing ACT material. Check out our guide to the best ACT prep games to check out some good ones! Online Guides to Content and Strategy You can also find a lot of information on ACT strategy and content for free online. Check out other articles on our SAT/ACT prep blog for comprehensive guides and advice on every ACT-related topic you can imagine! If I had a fancy desk like this, I would study all the time. Key Takeaways: How to Prepare for the ACT Here’s how to prepare for the ACT in ten overarching steps: Register for the ACT, if you haven’t yet. Become familiar with ACT structure and format Get Oriented ACT content and question styles Identify your weaknesses Set a target score Create a study plan Learn essential test content Practice test strategies Practice questions and tests Do you best on test day! There are a variety of methods you could use for preparing for the ACT, including self-prep, an online program, a prep class, or a private tutor. Each method has some pros and cons (although some, like prep classes, have a lot more cons). Regardless of your study method, there are tons of resources out there for students to use, like practice tests, prep books, apps and tools, and online guides like ours! What's Next? Wondering if the ACT is hard? Check out 9 key factors for assessing the ACT's difficulty. Do you even need to take the ACT? See 9 reasons why it could be important for you to take the test. Applying to college? See the average ACT scores for colleges, and check out how to figure out the minimum ACT score for college admission. Also see a list of great colleges with automatic admission for certain ACT/SAT scores. If you're too young to worry about the ACT, see our guide to the PreACT test. Or see what makes a good 9th grade ACT Aspire score and what makes a good 10th grade ACT Aspire score. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Managing Professional Services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managing Professional Services - Essay Example They emphasize the central role of customer expectations in this context and describe the need for managing them, i.e. setting them to appropriate levels.    Thakor and Kumar discuss their research into consumers' perception of what characterizes professional services. Consumers consider those services to be 'more professional' that are perceived to require higher levels of expertise and lower levels of manual labor, and that possess higher levels of credence qualities. Similarly, 'more professional' services are deemed more critical; recommendations play a more important role in service selection, and involve a higher lack of clarity as to the nature of service actually required. McLaughlin, Yang and van Dierdonck (1995) provide a detailed discussion of focus in professional service organizations. Drawing on empirical research of outpatient surgery centers, these authors define the notion of focus, discuss benefits and disadvantages, and develop a framework aiding managers in maki ng micro-focus decisions. Ojasalo (2001) investigates the specific nature of customer expectations in the context of professional services and describes them as often being fuzzy, implicit, and unrealistic. He describes the potential effect of such expectations and professional service providers' failure to meet them on perceived service quality. The author discusses the potential negative effects of appropriately managing such expectations on â€Å"perceived short-term quality/satisfaction and the related potential positive effects on long-term quality/satisfaction†.    Goldstein et al. (2002) describe the service concept's role in driving design and planning decisions at all levels of new service development. The service concept is described as essential to creating organizational alignment by linking a service organization's strategic intent to its customers' needs, and as linking the 'how' and 'what' of service design. Kwortnik and Thompson (2009) research the case of ' Liberty Cruise Lines' to understand the service operations challenges originating from service design decisions taken from a service marketing perspective. They advocate the use of the service operations model, which includes the service promise and concept as one of its essential elements. The authors emphasize the need for coordination between service marketing and operations during ongoing operations rather than only during new service development. Furthermore, they suggest bridging the service marketing-operations gap with service experience management, a new function integrating service operations and marketing. Malhotra and Sharma (2002) agree that the interface between service marketing and operations is critically important. They emphasize the importance of cross-functional interactions and joint decision-making across these disciplines, and introduce a simple marketing operations integration framework, which identifies opportunities for inter-functional integration. A cross -functional approach to service management is seen as essential for effective service design and delivery.    Heskett et al. (1994) describe the ser

Business financial management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business financial management - Essay Example In the year 2004, this amount increased by about 9%, while in 2005 it fell by 19%. This suggests that this amount responded as the sum of long-term debt fluctuated. Also, the company's gearing policy, as suggested by above ratio is to maintain a mixed structure of capital and rely on equity funds more than the borrowed capital, because debt demands fixed payment of interest to the lenders whereas dividends are decided by the management according to their future plans. The gearing ratio of Baa plc reveals that the company's debt at market value is about 95% of the total funds invested by the shareholders. It also means that the company has kept the level of debt slightly below the equity capital so as to avoid interest payments. Koch and Shenoy (1999, p18) posit that, "an increase in leverage due to a debt offering will initially provide more cash for possible over investment, but over time the higher interest expense will decrease the cash available for over investment". Hence, the company might have adopted this strategy to keep the interest payment at a minimum level. The gearing policy of the company as illustrated in part A also reflects that the company has opted to continually decreas... In the year 2004, this amount increased by about 9%, while in 2005 it fell by 19%. This suggests that this amount responded as the sum of long-term debt fluctuated. The amount of long-term debt was 49% of the total capital invested in the company for the year 2003, which rose to 53% in 2004 and declined to 52% in 2005. This suggests that about half the company's total capital comes from external sources i.e., lenders and other outsiders. This in turn also reflects the gearing policy of the company to keep the level of long-term debt in the company at a balanced level Also, the company's gearing policy, as suggested by above ratio is to maintain a mixed structure of capital and rely on equity funds more than the borrowed capital, because debt demands fixed payment of interest to the lenders whereas dividends are decided by the management according to their future plans. Part B: Gearing Ratio Baa Plc 2005 Market Value Debt 4,150 = 95% Total Shareholders' Equity 4,374 The gearing ratio of Baa plc reveals that the company's debt at market value is about 95% of the total funds invested by the shareholders. It also means that the company has kept the level of debt slightly below the equity capital so as to avoid interest payments. Koch and Shenoy (1999, p18) posit that, "an increase in leverage due to a debt offering will initially provide more cash for possible over investment, but over time the higher interest expense will decrease the cash available for over investment". Hence, the company might have adopted this strategy to keep the interest payment at a minimum level. The gearing policy of the company as illustrated in part A also reflects that the company has opted to continually decrease the percentage of long-term debt in the total