Sleepy Time Gal Essay Example

Sleepy Time Gal Essay The stories Sleepy Time Gal by Gary Gildner and Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood have an array of interesting characters that are portrayed using many devices such as actions, words, reputation, other characters and direct comment. The first story Sleepy Time Gal by Gary Gildner is about a man named Phil, his girlfriend and how they did not end up together. Two characters will be discussed from this story due to their relevance in the portrayal of the other. They are the narrator’s mother and father. The narrator’s father was is a practical person. This was first made known by the narrator to the readers when he described his father â€Å"gentle, but practical†[1] to forewarn the readers of the type of observations his father will contribute to the story. This direct comment helped in emphasizing this characteristic which, without it, will not be easily be noticeable. Moreover, while the claim that his father is gentle and practical comes from the narrator alone, it may be claimed that such comment is the general reputation of the father based on the way it was written. The text reads, â€Å"I have to break in here and say that my father, a gentle but practical man†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [2]. The description was stated as a matter of fact, and not of a personal opinion, as if people around them will not disagree to the fact of such description. We will write a custom essay sample on Sleepy Time Gal specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sleepy Time Gal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sleepy Time Gal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer However, the portrayal of the father’s characteristic did not stop here. It further used words by the father and comparison with other characters to prove and highlight the fact of such characteristics. As regards words, the narrator emphasized the fact that the father tend to focus more of facts and practical matters such as the great Depression. This fact was shown further later on in the story. While the story the father was telling his son is about his friend’s life and love, an account that is supposed to be emotional to some extent, the focus of his observations are not the emotions, but the events. This point will be made clearer with the discussion of how the character of the father is portrayed through other characters. At this point, it will be necessary to introduce the second character from the story. She is the mother of the narrator. It is her through her contributions in the story that she portrayed. She is also portrayed through her use of words and narration. She uses words that are more poetic such as â€Å"got tears in her eyes† instead of crying and â€Å"see it in their eyes†[3]. Even the narrator seems to find his father incapable of such words that when the words â€Å"see it in their eyes† were used in the story, he found it important to note that such was not â€Å"in [his] father’s telling†[4]. Contrary to what the father is, the mother is less practical and is rather more romantic and emotional. She sees the emotional parts of the story that the father tends to skip. Therefore, while the father is remarking on how â€Å"Phil spent his week’s pay on a new shirt and tie, the first one he ever owned†¦.† the night before Philâ€℠¢s girlfriend left for college, his mother is talking about how â€Å"[t]he women got tears in their eyes when Phil played her song†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [5]   Oftentimes, their statements come one after the others’, thus making the difference between their perspectives more marked and noticeable, making each of them a perfect tool to portray the other. This brings us to the second story Happy Endings, which is about happy endings that are not endings because they turn sour again for the characters in the story until they die. In this story, the most interesting character to discuss is the narrator. There are many characters used in the story. There are John, Mary, Madge, John, James and Fred. However, they are not portrayed in the story in the sense that they are not relevant as characters. They are merely tools to portray the narrator. Again, they were just â€Å"used†. They were only used to portray the narrator’s view about happy endings. There is no happy ending. Just when the characters finally have a happy ending of their own, the narrator will twist it to make it sour, sad and complicated. This change may still end in another happy ending, but that second happy ending will again be made sour, sad and complicated. This cycle continues until the character dies. Such belief shows cynicism on the part of the narrator and portrays him to be an unhappy person. He is one who believes that what happy ending he may have will not last because he does not believe in happy endings. The only true ending is death and all the others are fakes. For him, happy endings are j ust fake endings â€Å"either deliberately fake, with malicious intent to deceive, or just motivated by excessive optimism if not by downright sentimentality†[6]. Her character is also portrayed by the words he used in telling John, Mary, Madge, John, James and Fred. Their stories were told through a series of events as if these events ordinarily happen in everyone’s lives, devoid of any emotion and sentimentality. They are just facts about certain people’s lives. Each story ends with a happy ending, at least before they turn sour again, but these happy endings are not told in a happy way unlike how other happy endings would be told.

Ghost of Christmas present Essay Example

Ghost of Christmas present Essay Example Ghost of Christmas present Paper Ghost of Christmas present Paper Essay Topic: A Christmas Carol We have four ghosts in A Christmas carol. There is Jacob Marley. He is a ghost who has come back to warn scrooge that three ghosts are coming to see him. The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. He is also warning him that he will, like Jacob, be made to wear the chain that he forged in life. The chain is described as vividly in the text, and it all linked because of Scrooges job. It was made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses wrought in steel. Jacob is described with a pigtail, usual waistcoat, tights, and boots; the tassels on the latter bristling, like his pigtail, and his coat-skirts, and the hair upon his head. The second of the ghosts is the Ghost of Christmas Past. This too is described vividly, but in a different way to Jacob Marley. It was a strange figure- like a child; yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a childs proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderness bloom was on the skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like those upper members, bear. It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. : But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprang a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm. The light and the cap that springs from the head can be interpreted as different things. Its job is to show Scrooge some upsetting memories from past Christmass. He is a reminder ghost, who is making him feel guilty. The third ghost is the Ghost of Christmas present. This one is a different kind of description. It was clothed in one simple deep green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark-brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it. And the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust. This is once again a warning ghost. A ghost who is there to warn scrooge what his actions are doing to other people. The last of the ghosts is the Ghost of Christmas yet to come. Like all the other spirits this is described in tremendous detail, but in a slightly different way to the others. The others were definitely impressive, but the last one is shrouded in mystery and the classic tension and atmosphere starts to build-up. This is how it is described. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible, save one outstretched hand. But for this, it would have been difficult to detach its finger from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded. We now get into the more eerie feel. If we look at the characters which are not ghost but highly needed in the story we have the victims. There are two of these in A Christmas Carol. They are Bob Cratchit and, of course, none other then Ebenezer Scrooge. Although Bob isnt a victim of the hauntings.

English Law of Contract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

English Law of Contract - Essay Example The government of Zanzibar wanted to purchase an executive jet for the use of their president. In the year 1992, a contract was signed between the Government, British Aerospace, and CIBC Finance PLC. After using the plane, it was found to be defective. The government returned it back to British Aerospace for repairing it. But even after repair, the fault continued. The government stopped lease payments. CIBC took possession of the plane and sold it, in order to recover the cost incurred. The government of Zanzibar had initiated an action against British Aerospace accusing false representation of the airworthiness, reliability and defect-free nature of the plane, as claimed by British Aerospace. They wanted to cancel the contract or alternatively, to get compensation of the damages, according to the English Misrepresentation Act, 1967. Subsequently, British Aerospace claimed that restoring the jet to its original position and return it back to the Government cannot be possible because it had already been sold. (England and Wales High Court Decisions. 2000) The government of Zanzibar proposed that the contract signed between Government, British Aerospace had hidden misrepresentation of claims made by British Aerospace. The untrue statement about was made by British Aerospace. According to English Misrepresentation Act 1967, British Aerospace had disclosed half-truth, and thus the contract is voidable. The government claimed that the contract with British Aerospace is subjected to fraudulent misrepresentation (deceit). In this case, the Government claimed that rescission must be made, and they appealed to rescind the contract and put them back to the pre-contractual position. It could be by returning the plane to the Government in its original position or compensation for damages due to misrepresentation. (Weitzenboeck, 2012)

APA Annotation for 4 articles Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

APA Annotation for 4 articles - Research Paper Example The paper succeeds in demonstrating that the perception of Muslim women that is portrayed in the book undermines the need to address the patriarchal societies that make it difficult for the girl child to be empowered. Instead, it shows that the background of the author and financial motivations mostly drives the message. The paper is useful when evaluating the situation of Arabic Muslim girls in the United States of America. Although the paper serves as a strong critique of the book, it has failed to appreciate the truths in the novel. The Breadwinner has succeeded in contributing to the conversation about the role of religion in undermining the faith for equality in the society. The Arabic students in the country would identify with the argument made in the paper. In particular, they will identify with the fact that the institutional structure and culture where they learn often undermines the role of women. Moreover, they will agree that the ‘girl in need of salvation’ narrative that is present in the book undermines their quest for recognition in the society. , Erick and Zaidi focus on how the media covered the murder of a young Muslim girl in Mississauga, Ontario. The incident occurred in December 7. In particular, they have focused on how the media shifted the conversation from concerns over a tragic family event to a larger topic, the clash of civilizations. The authors also focused on tolerance and the negative effect that the term has on the society. The paper has highlighted the cultural implications involved in the debate over the hijab. Since Canada and America share many cultural similarities, the paper will be informative in shaping conversations on the topic in America. The paper highlights the ethical implications in the society. The authors have succeeded in highlighting the impact of an event in

Managerial Decision Making Bachelor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managerial Decision Making Bachelor - Essay Example The focus will be on the need for heart failure specialist nurses in the community and how they can improve health care in the UK. The 80-year-old female patient I have chosen to discuss here appears to fit the overall criteria for the above study, which was mainly focused on previously hospitalized patients with interventions through specialist heart failure services in the community. My client was diagnosed with heart failure two years ago and had one additional admission to hospital about one year ago for exacerbation of her heart failure. She felt she had not been given adequate information on her condition. She was referred to community heart failure nurses for education, management and titration of Carvedilol 6.25mg bd. Other heart failure medication prescribed included furosemide 80mg mane, spironolactone 25mg mane and ramipril 5mg bd. The spironolactone was stopped due to increased potassium, urea and creatnine, a decision based on the RALES study (2003). After another admission for chest infection, she was discharged without furosemide, and I was assigned as a community heart failure nurse. She was con cerned about having her furosemide discontinued, and it was recommenced after I contacted the physician. The client feels more secure knowing she has someone to contact rather than "bothering" her doctor, and we have developed a good rapport. I am working with her on pharmacology issues, making sure she is responding well to her medications as well as taking the right medications. Heart Failure - Major Health Problem Heart failure has continued to be an escalating public health problem. Chronic heart failure is the "syndrome of breathlessness, fatigue and fluid retention resulting in impaired ability of the heart to pump properly" (Sanderson, 1994, par. 1), often following a heart attack. By the end of the 1990s, 5% of all medical admissions to hospital in UK were related to chronic, or congestive, heart failure (Bosson, 1997). The Department of Health considers it a major concern because there is no cure at present. It therefore has a dramatic effect on the quality of life, and if not properly managed in the community it can also place very heavy pressures on hospital beds through emergency admissions and re-admissions (DOH, 2003). Local GPs in a 2005 clinical audit who had access to a specialist CHF nurse considered the service far more important than did the GPs without a specialist nurse. Even with the existence of guidelines, the treatment for heart failure in UK continues to be suboptimal, a concern which makes the specialist CHF nurse increasingly valuable (Leslie, 2005). The 80-year-old female client whose care I am monitoring no doubt will find herself increasingly dependent on others, and if she doesn't have proper treatment her quality of life will be greatly diminished. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether this type of care in the community not only will lessen the need for hospital inpatient care but ultimately will

Business Plan For Early Intervention Education Essay

Business Plan For Early Intervention Education Essay The purpose of this paper is to show the need for early intervention for infants and toddler with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. Kitkat the Educators program will prepare disabled students to excel at a young age, by teaching, training stimulating the mind to create an atmosphere to function outside of ones self. Kitkat is not like the competitors, this school will focus and offer advance communication skills (technology) to encourage speech, physical strength, academics, top of the line technology, after school tutorial, recreational, craft and dance. This disability has created a need for quality child care development and training to help children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities to be successful in life. Also, the owner focuses on parent trainings, parents turn to for support, reassurance, and hope when faced with the uncertainty of their childs future. It is important for parent participation as long as their child receives services from the school. This program will focus on parents learning all techniques use in the classroom in the home, and community. History of Organization Kitkat is a privately held corporation run by its owner, Cathy Austin, who has 20 years of experience teaching students with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and Autism (A). The owner is certified as special education teacher and highly qualified by the State of Georgia. The owner currently has a bachelor degree with a concentration in mentally retardation. Which is now known as intellectual disabilities? The owner will be supported in daily operations of the school by a consultant, a campus director and certified educators with experiences in the child care field. Intellectual disability (ID) is now more common amongst autistics than in the general population. Overview: According Ackerman, (2011) The increasing prevalence of Autism has been recognized as the fastest growing developmental disability in the nation, affecting one in 88 children. It is now the third most common childhood disorder, more common than Down syndrome and childhood diabetes combined. In turn, parents need to be informed of the assessment, treatment, and intervention resources available to help their children if diagnosed with autism. At the center of KitKat the Educator, we want to reassure parents that there is hope, and through our services, individuals will be able to maximize their potential. KitKat has established itself as the institution that parents turn to for support, reassurance, and hope when faced with the uncertainty of their childs future. We want to reassure parents that there is hope, and through our services, individuals will be able to maximize their potential. To most effectively meet the needs of children with autism and their families, KitKat the Educator has developed a training and education center scheduled to open in 2013. Ackerman states (2011) this new initiative will create a more timely early diagnosis screening for infants and toddlers who may be afflicted with Autism. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP) will be hired to meet the ever-growing demand for extensive evaluation, assessment, and treatment services. KitKat will work collaboratively with local service providers, and school systems, to create a progressive and comprehensive treatment facility to best serve childrens needs (Ackerman TACA, 2012). According to Berkell, Z. D. (1999), a Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Blueuler was the first to use the name Autism back in the early 1912s. The reason for early intervention today is to help Autistic children function much better in society (Berkell, 1999). In the 1940s, researchers in the United States began to use the term autism to describe children with emotional or social problems (Berkell, 1999). Kanner, Leo a doctor from Johns Hopkins University, used the word autism to describe the withdrawn behavior of several children he studied (Berkell, 1999). Also Han Asperger a scientist in Germany, identified a similar condition thats now called Aspergers syndrome Aylott, J (2011). According to Aylott, J (2011) Han Asperger found several types of autism: Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS)- Aspergers syndrome Rett syndrome Childhood disintegrative disorder How Is Autism Treated? Leo Kanner treatments for autism vary (Aylott, 2011) depending on the needs of the individual. Kanner, (2011) treatments fall into three categories: Behavioral and communication therapy Medical and dietary therapy Complementary therapy (music or art therapy, for example) The Owners Journey The journey as teacher did not begin immediately after college. Cathy Austins degree in special education B. S., as an Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and Autism (A) teacher for DeKalb County School District. The owner has 21 years of experience working with children with ID and Autism. The owner worked with Children diagnosed or identified with autism, cerebral palsy, Mental Retardation, intellectual impairment, physical impairments, learning disabilities and Down syndrome. The owner believes that providing structure and visual supports can help to alleviate problems that may arise. Thus, allowing individuals with disabilities to demonstrate to others their capabilities. Teaching is actually a second career for the owner; the owner worked in the health care in the as a nurses aide for 4 years. The owner was trying to run from the calling of God. On the job doing the daily routine the voice of God spoke and said this not what I told you to do! Then God said I told you to teach children with special needs. Limited with only being a nurses aide, the owner decided to apply for college to get a degree to teach. The owner was unemployed for five months and then got an opportunity to go to college and get a Bachelor Degree in Special Education (Mentally Retardation). The first teaching job was as a special education teacher for homebound. The owner wanted to do something to help and to make a difference in the lives of these young children. The Owner moved from homebound to teaching in the classroom started in 1991. The owners favorite project is walking for March of Dimes Autism, and Cerebral Palsy. What can you do to strengthen and improve the childs life? The Owner enjoys being involved in educating the community about our children and being an advocate to support the parent. The Owner always wanted to have a school for children with disabilities. Now I can see the dream happening more now than ever before. Kitkat is a childhood nickname. So the Owner decided to use kitkat as the name of the school. The teaching profession can be strengthened by additional parent-involvement. The students whose parents are involved and vigilant about seeking opportunities to further expand their childs learning and abilities are the most successful students. The art of learning does not occur solely within the confines of the classroom, but it includes life-lessons and cultural experiences. The parents who ensure they are providing these additional resources for their children help not only the child, but the teacher who can draw from these experiences to illustrate key points in the child and parent life. Philosophy The Owners philosophy of teaching is very simple. It is simply to go beyond the standards, improving inappropriate behavior and communication skills. One needs heart and compassion to teach and reach children with special needs. Having the desire to get to know the students and actually listen to them is a major part of learning. The students respond better when they know others care, and care enough to watch their patterns and identify the times when they are not themselves and need help beyond the lesson for the day. The Owners thoughts are what can one do to strengthen and improve one is to evolve as a teacher. Children are changing. Curriculum and techniques is changing. The world is changing, so for one to remain the same and not evolve with the changes of society and the people in it does not help children. The overall goal in education is to help children and in order to do that, one need to constantly reevaluate ones lessons, approach and delivery as a whole. As a teacher you learn so much from your peers, but one will continue to watch and learn from the students as well. It is honestly believed that one can make a difference in the life of a child, every day. My Career and Educational Experience B.S. Degree in Special Education MBA Degree in February 2013 2 + years Adult Workshop 2 years Georgia Regional (skilled area) children Intellectual Disabilities 3+ years supervisory experience of staff 20+ years teaching Intellectual Disabilities/Autism experience Past strategic choices- Through the DeKalb County School District, Clayton County Adult workshop, and Douglas county workshop my work experience are as follow: Homebound- providing service to disabled students not able to attend public school system due to medical and fragile situations. Clayton County Respite care to children with Intellectual disabilities. Parent Conference meeting with parent for concerns and information Atlanta Group Home for Jewish Down Syndrome adults. Current Position in the Market Location of Business The future home for the business will be 748 Flat Shoal Road, Decatur, Georgia. This business will start in the old Y building on Candler road and my pursuit for a loan of $300,000.00 for the building. This building is in the heart of the business district of Candler Road. It is one mile from Flat Shoal Elementary School. The Owner will offer after school program to disabled and non-disabled school aged children. Some of the best years in life are the time spent as a child and later our adult yearsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. As working adults in a fast paced society, we sometimes forget just how precious and fleeting those years are. With that in mind, imagine an alternative to traditional infant, day and after school care that not only met your child care needs, but also provided an activity based learning environment that mirrors those used at public schools. Professional care givers with the credentials to not only enhance your childs early social and motor skills, but to also teach them advanced studies in the arts and academics found at institutions of higher learning. A curriculum based curriculum tailored specifically for children, taught in a fun, nurturing care giving environment. Now imagine this at a cost less than that of the combination of conventional training services and specific interest based children programs. Kitkat the Educator is an early intervention comprehensive developmental and educational program, exclusively for children with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism, ages new born to 7 years old. The school dedicates its efforts and resources toward ensuring top rated care giving services coupled with a high quality activity based learning environment tailored for children in these age groups. The school will respond to the needs of its parents and students with excellent care giving and instruction an advanced curriculum, flexible programs, local community involvement and business partnerships. The Kitkat School has a strong commitment to accessibility and diversity. Its open door policy embraces all who desire to provide a better quality of care, preparedness and education for their children. The school works to provide affordable, first clas s care giving and education by providing a broad range of integrated programs and services and innovative learning approaches. The school is committed to taking a leadership role in child care services, higher learning, community services and promoting cultural diversity. Kit Kat directs its activities towards student success. Campus Direction Sign Campus Office Classroom Recreational building Keys to Success The keys to success for chitchat are: Marketing: differentiating care giving and education and interest activity programs. Service quality: care giving and educational programs provided by degreed and certified educators, child care workers, tutors and technology. Reputation: maintaining a highly regarded reputation for excellence in care giving, education and community involvement and being the employer of choice in our market for child and educational talent. Profitability: controlling costs and managing budgets in accordance with company goals, adhering to strategic business plans for growth and experience and reinvesting in the business and its employees. Start up Summary: As I pursue investor to invest into kitkat business, the first location may start in my home. As the number of children increase and the fund are available then the Shoal road facility will be a dream comes true. Reaching into some of my retirement money, it is possible to use funds from my 401to start the business in my home. The school founder and president, Cathy Austin, will oversee fiscal responsibility, employing an CPA for financial oversight. A campus Director will be hired to handle day to day operations and will work collaboratively with the silent partners and other campus personnel to ensure a successful business venture. As reflected in the table below, the estimated startup cost for kitkat will be $39,450. These costs will be financed solely by the owners personal cash funds and optional credit lines. An anticipated $60,000 SBA guaranteed 5 year loan will be used as working capital. Future expansion, growth and franchising strategy will be self financed. Start Summary Utilities 300.00 Legal 2000.00 Furniture 6000.00 Toys 2000.00 Playground Fence 500.00 Rent 0 Brochures 350.00 Business printing paper 300.00 Insurance 3000.00 1 Teacher Assistance 2000.00 Built one room on house 5,490.00 Student supply 2000.00 Lab tops (4 to 5) 1250.00 Food 5000.00 Recreation equipment 5000.00 Total $35,190.00 Enrollment will be at least six children per quarter: First quarter expecting 6 children Second quarter 6 more children Third quarter 6 more children Fourth quarter 6 more children Total of 24 children As the children increase then staff will increase to help teach in a small group to focus more 1 to 4 children in a classroom. Objectives By the end of Year 2 expect sales increasing almost double. By the end of Year 1 maintain a high raw gross margin. By the end of Year1 expected to open second campus. By the end of Year 3 will attempt to franchise. Pricing Strategies Kitkat must charge appropriately for the high-end, high-quality educational and care giving services we offer. Our revenue structure has to support our cost structure, so the salaries we pay to assure quality services must be balanced by the revenue we charge. We will be price competitive in the market we serve; however, we will not subscribe to the low price leader concept. The quality of our service will support the prices we charge. Affordable Price The price for service for each child is $350.00 weekly, paying in advance by check, cash or money order. The payment policy is expected to be followed and payment is due on every Friday. Promotion Community Involvement Educational Curriculum Support Service Behavior Specialist, Occupational/Speech/Physical Therapist, Autism Specialist, Employment policy and Procedures, Job description, Safety fire, Recruitment and training Open House Tornado drills The type of services that will be offered: Full time child care Part-time/After school activities After school Tutoring Parent training and support Homebound Service Vision Statement: To enhance the life of the disabled child in socially, emotionally, academically, recreational and physically. Mission Statement: The act of learning should not occur solely within the confines of the classroom, but includes life lesson and cultural experiences. The overall goal in educating is to help disable children improve and progress socially, emotionally and communicating. One must learn to make a difference in the life of a child every day. to teach the parents increase data driven teach and reach a child to teach the child the curriculum based activity External Threats: the economy condition can be threat to profit (state funds to children with disabilities) competitors can be a threat global move External Opportunities in the community for exposure and direct mail campaigns Community Involvement Advertisement Direct mail Sales Brochures Open House Internal Strengths and Weaknesses SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Top of the line Curriculum and Training Trained/Certified Staff Small class session Required Parent training and support groups Quality care and service Not enough funds Right location Get the right people on the bus Someone stealing your idea Advertisement Community involvement Open house Direct mail Sale Brochure Parents State License and approval Economic conditions competitor Opportunities Threats Expense Table Expenses Expected Monthly Cost Expected Yearly Cost Rent Salaries and wages Supplies: Technological, Equipment, furniture, computers, software, copy machine, desks, chair, etc.) and other Advertisement and other promotions Utilities, Heat, Electricity, etc. Telephone and Internet Insurance Other (specify) Other (specify) Expected Revenue June July August Sept. Oct. Dec. Yearly Revenue (Sale) Category 1 Category 2 Total Revenue (Sales) Cost of Goods Sold Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) Factor Weight Rating Extended Strengths Well known for quality reliable service 0.16 4 0.64 Low turnovers provides continuity customer knowledge 0.07 3 0.21 Represent a full line of top quality component manufacturers 0.15 4 0.60 Strong balance sheet with very little debt 0.11 3 0.33 Almost 60% of customers come from referrals 0.13 4 0.52 Weaknesses Strictly a local company 0.05 2 0.10 Unknown to the general public 0.02 2 0.04 Use distributors for parts purchases, incurring higher cost 0.08 2 0.16 Provide many benefits to employees that raise coat 0.13 1 0.13 Less than 5% if customers buy service contrasts 0.10 1 0.10 Total 1.00 2.83 Company Summary Kitkat first school will be located North Druid Hill, Atlanta. The school will employ six fundamentals that will serve as the driving force for the services offered. Premier care giving services An activity based, children structured curriculum Advanced technology and developmental programs Continuing education mentoring and tutoring Learning services Community advancement and involvement Company Ownership Company Ownership Kitkat developmental and training school is a privately held proprietorship owned in majority by its founder. There are also two silent partners, neither of whom own more than 10%, but will be active participants in daily operations, management decisions and consulting though they do not own a financial stake in the company. Once the operation reaches its anticipated growth and profitability goals, the school plans to franchise and will register as a limited liability company or as a corporation, whichever will better suit the future business needs. Services KitKat training school offers quality child care services and a curriculum based designed for kids new born to 7 years old and pre-k to second grade. Normal operating hours will be 6:45am to 6:30pm. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday with observance of all major legal holidays. Early drop off service will be offered as needed. KK exists to provide premier child care services that are aimed at enhancing traditional day care methodologies and integrating extracurricular interests (such as arts and crafts, gymnastics) into one comprehensive program. Our activity based curriculum is specifically tailored for children. We offer state of the art technology programs in leading edge facilities which help prepare students through main school homework assignments and provide a base of understanding and interaction to ensure success in future educational endeavors. Finally, our developmental program reinforces basic social, listening, independence and motor skills and prepares studen ts for future related interaction. All of our learning and child care services employ technology, partnerships, professional services and other activities that support and promote higher learning. In addition to the extensive services and curriculum offered, each campus will also offer weekend specialty classes for children and adults and planned family activities in the community it serves. KK will also offer children birthday party hosting services, providing great activities for kids and an easy experience for parents. Activity instructors will be assigned for these events and will lead the activities, ensuring a memorable celebration Services Description Upon its opening, Kitkat Developmental and training services will offer four basic services in the Atlanta area: Full time child care Part-time/After school activities After school Tutoring Prior to opening, the school will have a two month enrollment drive. Based on the market reaction to the drive, these services may be altered to meet the needs of the community. The school will always remain nimble enough to respond to the needs of the community in which it serves. Support Service Offered Early Intervention starts with a committee meeting to determine what services a child may need. The team will take the time to evaluate child to see if they need any of the following listed below: Psychologist the referral for a psychologist is to obtain a current intellectual functional level of the child. During this process a parent questionnaire must be complete by the parents. This is for background information; the childs birth, prenatal development, weight at birth, complications at birth; medical history such as; asthma or food allergies; and behavior. The types of testing instruments the psychologist use for evaluation is: Brigance Inventory of Early Development this instrument test self-care, gross motor, cognitive/social, communication, perceptual/fine motor and this instrument checks the age equivalent in years and months of a child. Assessment of Intellectual Functioning- the purpose of the evaluation is provided and estimation of the childs intellectual ability as a comparison against actual academic achievement. Determining cognitive strengths and weaknesses also helps to evaluate learning potential and guide recommendations for the use of specific instructional strategies and intervention techniques. Stanford-Binet Intelligence scales: Fifth Edition (SB: 5) is an intelligence measure that consists of nonverbal and verbal tasks that assess skill in five domains. The SB: 5 yield composite scores in each of these domains as well as a nonverbal Intelligence Quotient (NVIQ), a verbal intelligence Quotient (VIQ) and a Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) that represents an estimate of the childs overall level of functioning. Speech therapy When a child who needs speech therapy received speech in the early stages to promote your childs development, it is a support system not only for the child, but also for the family, and finally it gives your child the abilities to become a functional member of society. Development Research has shown us that most of a childs learning and development happens in the pre-school years, which is why the timing of intervention is so important. All children have what we call stages of readiness to learn, and if you miss these stages, your child may have difficulty in learning particular skills later on. Support system This is extremely important for any family with a special needs child. We have a lot to cope with in the early days, after a diagnosis, disappointment, frustration and helplessness. Many families of handicapped children also have to deal with divorce and some degree of social isolation. Thats why stepping in early can definitely give your family the tools to h ave a better attitude within the family and towards the special needs child. Your therapists can provide you with information and skills to teach and help your child t best of your abilities, thereby relieving a lot of stress and feelings of helplessness. Take advantage of friends and family who offer to help, you need to take time out, you are after all more than just a mother and a wife. Society We would all like our children to become functional and contributing members of society, so start implementing the skills your child needs to do this, as early as possible. Become involved in your childs treatment, and implement all the skills that your therapist suggests to improve their overall communication skills. The speech teacher works with the child; to assist the child in developing the ability to understand basic concepts, when shown two pictures, the child will understand the difference between the two concepts; to assist the child in identifying pictures describing basic concepts; to understand the concept of sequencing with 10%, 20% etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦; the child will begin to understand sounds, temporal sequencing; the child will develop the ability to make sound, position lips, and tongue; assist the child in matching and sorting pictures with association relationship; Expressive Language-increase expressive language skills that are needed to facilitate effective daily communications; to produce his own name; name body parts; imitate sounds, intonations and words; name common objects and pictures of objects; assist the child in expressing needs through words; use eye to face contact when speaking needs through words; decrease echolalia and preservation speech; develop self confidence in verbal encounters; develop volume that is appropriate to the listeners need; participate in group activities that involve turn-taking and observation of rules; develop reasoning in cause and effect relationships; identify the object described when presented aloud with the definition; carry on a conversation in a socially appropriate manner; tell about recent and past experience; to correctly produce one-word utterances; name object and person; say words to call attention to an object; say two words to indicate the recurrence of an object; say two or more word utterance which contain an adjective and a n oun; say two or more words to show disappearance of an object; say two or more words to show emotion; use verbs appropriately; name pictured verbs; described actions performed by himself/herself; describe actions performed by others; use categories and association appropriately; name member of the category when presented with the category title; imitate the model as they point to peers possession; respond orally with the correct possessive form in short phrases as the speech teacher points to peers; respond to wh questions; answer what, who, where, when, why, and which, questions; Competitive Comparison The child care industry as a whole is saturated. However, based on US Census 2000 data, DeKalb County child care services provider listing is growing and has few licensed developmental and training centers for disabled children. Kitkat School intends to fill this local market need. In the Atlanta area North Druid Hills subdivisions mostly have retired resident homes respectively (Margret Harris Comprehensive school). There is only one other developmental facility in the North Druid Hills neighborhood. This one is on knob Dr. There is also three family child caregivers listed in the area, but none in the immediate community. Kitkat will differentiate itself from its local competitors by offering an alternative to these traditional day care approaches. The kitkat school market strategy is based on providing an activity based learning environment that is used in many major public schools. We will offer the community of professional caregivers with the credentials to not only enhances a childs early social and motor skills, but to also teach them advanced studies in cognitive and social skills. Technology Since the school founder has an extensive information Technology background, its only natural that Kitkats school will employ and maintain the latest technology to enhance its curriculum, office management systems, payment processing and record keeping. Marketing Analysis Summary Kitkats developmental and training program offers services which are vitally important in todays fast paced, dual-income world. As an increasing number of families have become dependent on one income, the need for quality child care has skyrocketed. According to Atlanta Business Statistics, 84.6% of licensed child care facilities succeed and make a profit in their 1st year of operation. Nationally, this number is 66.7%. There is no doubt, in the North Druid Hills area, that there is room and a need for a school for disabled children. Market demographics to support this statement can be found below. Target Market Segment Strategy The target market for Kitkat is full-time workers. Referral marketing, direct-mail campaigns and Referral marketing, direct mail campaigns and community activity days will be the primary types Of marketing strategies utilized. Maintaining and enhancing its reputation with families and in the community will be crucial in obtaining the planned market share growth of this target market. Market Segmentation Kitkat has a focus on meeting the local community need for child care services within the 5 mile radius of downtown Atlanta. Students will taken in flexible on either a full time or part- time basis. Full-Time Worker The school will establish a significantly large, full-time, regular client

A Million Miles from Home - Original Writing Essay -- Papers

A Million Miles from Home - Original Writing The dismal black forest hid the house in its shadows. The house appeared empty; its impression of wealth and elegance had faded. The iron gates were drenched in dead roses, making the house unattractive. The path had been swallowed by the trees until there was no path at all. Everything seemed bleak, and death mourned upon the house. She cried for months, not knowing how to occupy her self. As it grew inside her, she felt she has less reason to stay in this realm. She knew the mutation which was occurring inside her womb, but her mind failed to accept it. She could not appreciate that everything had malformed; her husband left her and the unborn child she had carried was due to be present to the world. A Tuesday morning of 1959, she awoke with discontent. She stood, holding the posts of her bed, finding the weight of her body too much for her legs. Her legs trembled and her hands grasped tighter. The pain became unbearable, as she started to scream. She fell to the floor, pulling the drapes off the bed, smashing glass into a million and one pieces. She crawled to the bathroom, gasping for air. The pain became subtle. She knew that the last nine months of her body’s transformation depended on this moment. Now she had to accept, she was in labour. She walked to the kitchen for towels and hot water. The wooden floor on her feet was unusually cold. There was a peculiar smell as she entered the corridor, which seemed abnormally dark. She got to the kitchen, the door was ajar. She pushed through effortlessly and, curiously, there was a chair backed up against the door. There w... ... The picture was happy, so very happy. â€Å"This is your bloody mother, she ruined your father, and she deserved to be in the situation she is now. You are so like her!† Geraldine could not keep her mouth shut. She grasped the racket tightly in her hand. Geraldine stood up behind Indie. She lifted her arm back and swung through the air. Indie fell to the floor. . . . . . Indie stood up, she tuned to face Geraldine but she had already left. She turned to help her mother. Indie picked the woman off the floor, but she stood up. The woman faced Indie, and held her child in her awaiting arms. Indie had never felt so belonged in her whole life. The baby began to cry, Indie placed the baby in her arms and uncovered the sheets. The blood had cleared from the wall, and everything was perfect, absolutely perfect.

Small Economic Activity in Rural Area

Background of the studyEconomic activity refers to the consumption of goods and services and activities in which money is exchanged for product or services (Hendricks, 2017). It was performed for the purpose of making money, gaining wealth, creating and producing items that can be offered to the public for sale. Pavlov (2000) also argued that economic activity defined as any activity consisting in offering goods and services on a given market. The outcome of economic activities is measured monetarily (Hendricks, 2017). According to Fisher (1933), economic activities classified into three main sectors which are primary sector (consisting of agriculture), secondary sector (formed by industry) and lastly is the tertiary sector which are incorporating all other activities that did not fit in the first two sectors. Cari data statistic economi Malaysia?In business scope?There are several types of economic activities including business, professions and employment. Restaurants, large retailers and even small businesses engage in economic activities every day. Business is one of the economic activity. Whether it is a formal business, an entrepreneurial venture or a small lemonade stand in the front of yard, the economic activity of business is any activity where goods and services are exchanged for the earning of money. High cost living?Rural area refers to nonmetropolitan areas (United States Department of Agriculture, 2003). According to Office of Management and Budget United States (2013), nonmetropolitan areas are outside the boundaries of metropolitan areas and have no cities with 50,000 residents or more. Department of Statistic Malaysia (2010) stated that Lawas, Sarawak only had the total population of 38,385 in 2010. It can be categorized as the rural area because the total population less than 50,000 populations. In the next 10 years, the total of population in Lawas, Sarawak expected will be increase in 2020 (Population and Housing Census of Malaysia, 2010). According to Malaysia Labour Force Survey Report (2002:17), rural area defined as all the gazetted areas consisting of less than 10,000 people and all of the areas that are not gazetted. It also argued by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development which simply defined rural as an area with population of less than 10,000 people. In 2002, out of nine main economic activities in rural areas, agriculture-related activities including hunting, forestry and fishing contributed 38.5% of the employment as compared to 18.2% in manufacturing and 9.8% in wholesale and retail trade (Malaysia – Labour Force Survey Report, 2002). Problem statementBusiness growths in Lawas town lead to raise the economic development in rural area. However, there are some issues that are often said. The local authority gives less attention to small-scaled business especially retailing business. This has been a challenge to small business owners to develop their businesses because of competition from large-scale business. Additionally, the lack of special sites for traders, particularly in stall business and renting business, has resulted in irregularities. It causes the huge problems for the urban environment such as creating a less attractive, hygiene problems and congestion, especially in Lawas town. These problems occur due to the weakness of local authorities in implementing the regulatory, guidelines planning, standards of planning, control activities, employee attitude and lack of financial. The local authorities mostly give attention to the issues of getting the appropriate site, the size of the building site, the provision of the perfect garbage disposal facility, the absence of special units or sections to implement the rules thoroughly in the context of actual planning. Informal businesses operating not only in town areas but also occurred in the village area. There are several issues that viewed from the informal sector businesses such as stalls and hawkers. It found that several stalls and hawkers had physically dilapidated conditions, built in unsafe business area and the absence of adequate public facilities have affected the unpleasant scenery. Several stalls or hawkers were too close to the road reserve. The selection of a location informal business has to take seriously. It is because, informal sector mostly happen found on parking lot area, roadside and in sidewalk of the stores. To improve this situation, the Lawas District Council will take enforcement action such as seizing business equipment, revoke licenses or impose fines. Occasionally, the Lawas District Council also handed over enforcement notice to close business or relocate stalls and hawker centers temporarily in a more organized and secure area.Research questionsResearch objectives The purpose of this study is aimed to analyst and evaluates the problems and growth of small-scale business in Lawas. Thus, consideration should be given to this aspect when discussing and evaluating the challenges of development. The objectives of the study are as follow:To identify the need of small-scale business in an economyTo determine the various problems faced by the local communities in the study areas from the perspective of the small-scale businessTo suggest more appropriate and effective ways to overcome this problem.The findings of this study will help the policy makers in identifying problems relating to the institutional arrangements of rural development agencies. Consequently, it will help in introducing more effective institutional arrangements in delivering or implementing rural development programmes in order to tackle rural development problems.Significance of studyThere are three factors that have driven the researcher to engage in the research. Firstly, there is a need for balance in development between rural and urban areas. Secondly, rural development is particularly important for the political stability of a nation, and thirdly, rural communities that typically form the majority of population in most developing countries are mostly poor. Therefore, rural development is part and parcel of the nation's development. It cannot be sidelined even though it possesses diverse and complex problems.

Mcdonald’s in China

McDonald’s: Is China Lovin' it? Executive Summary This case studies McDonald’s’ business model as it develops to achieve success in the Chinese market. Issues addressed included how to retain McDonald’s’ image of cultural Americana, yet adapt to satisfy pallets and appeal to patrons in Chinese culture. 1. What is the purpose of conducting an external environmental analysis? What are the general environmental forces that could influence or have influenced McDonald’s development in China?The purpose of conducting an external environmental analysis is to obtain information on the forces outside of a company that will help to determine how the company will operate. A successful company cannot operate only in its internal environment and must be aware of the external factors that will further shape the business. Company strategies must take these factors into account in order to match their internal strengths and weaknesses with their external thr eats and opportunities. With McDonald’s expansion in China, external environmental factors did play a key role.One major environmental force came from American company KFC. KFC entered China in 1987 and it was important for McDonald’s to analyze the factors that had been successful and unsuccessful at KFC. Another environmental force that played a large role in McDonald’s growth in China was local Chinese quick service restaurants where customers could buy local cuisines such as noodles and dumplings. Other pertinent environmental factors that McDonald’s was forced to address in China were the effects of the growing middle class and a more affluent population.This lead to other types of local and foreign restaurants attempts to capitalize on this growing wealth, generating further competition. The external environment has also shown force by consumers demanding higher standards in the McDonald’s restaurants as well as resistance to the restaurantsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ high prices. Buyers’ desires also affected the external environment, which caused McDonald’s to increase operating hours to 24 hours, implement home delivery service and drive thrus in many location.Suppliers were integral elements of the external environment as well and McDonald’s grew to source 95% of their food from local growers and suppliers. 2. Based on the external environmental analysis, what are the opportunities and threats presented to McDonald’s operations in China? The external environmental analysis reveals several opportunities in China on which McDonald’s can capitalize. Annual per-capita disposable income has increased an average of 22. 18% for urban households and 64. 62% for rural households per year over the last 20 years.The general trend during this time has been movement from rural to urban population centers where disposable incomes are higher[i]. The increase in disposable incomes has helped contribute to the fast f ood industry boom. These trends promise to continue as the Chines economy evolves. Tier pricing can be leveraged to help McDonald’s reach customers of different income levels in locations at different levels of development. Additionally, as the Chinese economy continues to develop, improvements to local infrastructure may create opportunities for an improved supply chain.As of 2006, 95% of materials used by McDonald’s in China were locally sourced. McDonald’s will likely benefit as local suppliers employ more advanced technology and management processes. There are also untapped opportunities for franchising. China created the legal structure for foreign franchisors in 2004 and, as of February 2007, only one of the 879 McDonald’s restaurants in China was franchised while KFC, their largest competitor, franchised 37 of their 1700 restaurants. Increasing the number of franchisees will allow McDonald’s to expand to new locations while minimizing risk.I n addition to expanding their franchising operations, McDonald’s has opportunities to take advantage of changing Chinese preferences by expanding store innovations and local partnerships. Drive-thrus, 24-hour restaurants, delivery, and even more upscale casual dining restaurants may help the chain improve their appeal with young people as would further partnerships like that created with Taobao. com in 2007. Several threats were also revealed by the external analysis including intense competition in the Chinese fast food market from both foreign and local chains.McDonald’s was a relatively late entrant to the market allowing competitor KFC to enjoy first mover advantages. Because barriers to entry are relatively low several other foreign chains have expanded to China including Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut, and Japan’s Mo’s Burgers and Ajisen Ramen. Local chains including Malan Noodles, Hong Kong’s Cafe de Coral, and Taiwan’s Dicos contribu te to an intensely competitive market. The threat of new entrants remains and, as Chinese industries become more advanced and familiar with Western management and operations practices, is significant.McDonald’s operations in China may also be threatened by new trends in the casual dining industry and rising expectations of customers who may be less willing to pay luxury prices for what they are learning many Americans consider a downscale product. Finally, increasing social criticism over health, environmental, and wage concerns will also pose a threat to McDonald’s in the future. 3. Discuss the five forces of the industry environment of McDonald’s China and comment on the competitiveness of the company in relation to each of these forces.Michael Diamond’s Five Forces Model of Competition includes the following forces: Existing competitive rivalry between suppliers: There are many fast food options in China. McDonald’s is the second largest fast fo od provider and their primary rival is Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Other competitors in China in the fast food industry include noodle and dumpling stalls. Local Chinese restaurants sell light and simple food such as noodles, dumplings, wantons, and steamed bread, which are all becoming part of the fast food culture in China. Rivalry is a strong competitive force.Threat of new market entrants: After numerous attempts in the 1990s by various local and regional Chinese fast food chains, some successful and some not so successful, many companies could not compete in this environment. In the mid-2000s, new market entrants into the Chinese fast food industry were U. S. -based Burger King, and Subway and Japan’s Mo’s Burger. Themed restaurants and Starbucks also entered the mix of new entrants. Although these new entrants offer a different experience, the growing middle class of China still wants McDonald’s to be a Western brand. The threat of new entrants is a mode rate competitive force.Bargaining power of buyers: Buyers do not have any switching costs. The buyers just simply go to a different fast food restaurant, a traditional Chinese meal served on communal plates, or cook at home. Buyers can purchase from several sellers. Buyers are a strong competitive force because they have a lot of leverage. McDonald’s has recognized this and has offered tiered pricing, altered their menu, trained their staff to ensure quality and consistency, and updated their decor. Power of suppliers: McDonald’s set up its own internal supply network to sell to both the domestic and export markets.Chinese partners created joint ventures with McDonald’s and strengthened McDonald’s supply chain. The supply chain created by McDonald’s has created 95% of the materials needed. It would be costly for McDonald’s to switch suppliers because of the joint venture that they entered into with their Chinese partners. This makes the supp liers a strong competitive force. Threat of Substitute Products: Many substitute products exist in the fast food arena. If you look at McDonald’s as a hamburger fast food restaurant, substitute products would be noodles, dumplings, sandwiches, chicken, and pizza.Traditional Chinese restaurants and home cooked meals are also substitutes to the McDonald’s hamburger. There is a vast array of substitute products available for the Chinese consumer. This makes substitute products a moderate competitive force. 4. What are the strategic groups in the fast-food industry in China? In which strategic group does McDonald’s China compete most in China. A strategic group as defined by Michael Porter is â€Å"a group of firms in an industry following the same or similar strategy along strategic dimensions†.In other words, a Strategic Group (SG) is a group of businesses that function in a similar way with respect to specialization and vertical integration. The strategic groups in the fast-food industry in China all have the following characteristics in common: fast food, efficient self-service, standardized servings and systems, less reliance on utensils, clean/comfortable atmosphere, and local menu additions. McDonald’s obviously excels at all of these characteristics world-wide and took it a step further by promoting the Western traditions by marketing the â€Å"Window to the West†.This particular type of western-influenced fast-food is the primary strategic group that McDonald’s competes in even today. Western-influenced fast food was not new when McDonald’s arrived on the scene as KFC arrived in 1987, a full five years ahead of McDonald’s. KFC did so well that their success lured McDonald’s and Pizza Hut to follow suit beginning in 1990. However, â€Å"fast-food† in China wasn’t new when KFC entered China as they had noodle and dumpling stalls. KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut all want ed to capitalize on the rapidly-expanding middle-class economy in China with their new-found increasing disposable income.KFC was able to do this the best as their primary offering is chicken-based whereas both McDonald’s and Pizza Hut had to add local dishes to go along with their mostly-beef menu. All three of the western brands (KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut) were considered luxury-type restaurants and as such were able to charge higher prices as well. Fast forward to present times, according to William Mellor of the Bloomberg Markets Magazine[ii] we see that Yum! Brands now has 3,200 KFC’s and 500 Pizza Hut’s in China whereas McDonald’s is striving to get to 2,200 stores by 2013.As you can see, KFC and Pizza Hut are well ahead of McDonald’s in terms of penetrating the Chinese market but that isn’t deterring McDonald’s from moving forward. ———————– [i] Ko, Stephen. McDonal d’s: Is China Lovin’ It? Asia Case Research Centre. The University of Hong Kong. December 2, 2008. [ii] Mellor, William. McDonald’s No Match for KFC in China as Colonel Rules Fast Food, Bloomberg Markets Magazine. January 26, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2011 from http://www. bloomberg. com/news/2011-01-26/mcdonald-s-no-match-for-kfc-in-china-where-colonel-sanders-rules-fast-food. html.

Grant Writing Courses You Can Take Online

Grant Writing Courses You Can Take Online Grant writers connect people and groups seeking funding with funding sources. They work in a wide range of settings including nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local governments, and businesses. If youre interested in a career in grant writing, consider developing your skills through an online program. Grant writing is the process of completing applications for financial grants, which are non-repayable funds provided by organizations such as government departments, corporations, and foundations. Before choosing an online grant writing program, assess your finances, available time, and career goals. Are you looking to earn a certificate or degree in grant writing as a step towards a future career, or are you mid-career and seeking to improve your grant writing skills? Once youve answered these questions, you can easily determine which program is best for you. Free Online Grant Writing Resources You can find plenty of grant writing tips, general information, and even a few classes online for free. These resources rarely offer official certification, credit, or continuing education units. However, if youre good at independent learning or are simply looking to beef up your existing skills, the following options might work well for you. Coursera Coursera is home to a grant proposal course created by the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. The course carries a fee if you wish to have graded assignments and earn a course certificate, but you can audit all of the course videos for free. MIT Open CourseWare The Massachusetts Institute of Technology provides a wide range of classes for free through MIT OpenCourseWare. The institutes graduate level Advanced Writing Seminar covers much more than grant writing, but youll find some excellent lessons on grants as well as writing and presentation tips that can improve your grant writing skills. Minnesota Council on Foundations The Minnesota Council on Foundations guide, Writing a Successful Grant Proposal, provides an overview of the key elements of a successful grant application. Nonprofitready.org If youre working for a nonprofit, nonprofitready.org offers two free online courses: Getting Foundation Grants and Grantsmanship Essentials. Youll need to create a free account to take these courses. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The United States Environmental Protection Agencys EPA Grants 101 Tutorial walks you through four steps of the grant application process. While the tutorial is focused on applying for EPA grants, the advice is useful for many other types of grant proposals. Online Grant Writing Classes You can find many reasonably-priced options for online grant writing courses. Below, youll find some examples of these courses, along with course descriptions and costs. University of Georgia The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education offers two courses: an introductory-level course called A to Z Grant Writing, and a higher-level course called Advanced Grant Proposal Writing. Each course provides 24 hours of instruction for a cost of $159. The classes are offered on the ed2go.com platform. Udemy Udemy delivers over a dozen courses on different aspects of grant writing. Options range from introductions to the grant writing process to more specialized classes on nonprofits and NIH grants. Courses are broken down into short lectures, and total course time ranges from 45 minutes to 5.5 hours. Each course costs $10.99. University of Wisconsin The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee offers an Introduction to Grant Writing course for $150. The course covers fundraising strategies and explores the six stages of grant writing. The class carries .5 continuing education units. Online Grant Writing Certificate Programs Many colleges offer online grant writing certificate programs. Costs vary, with typical prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to about $1,500. The required time commitment also varies significantly across courses. These large variations in cost and time commitment reveal one of the problems with certificate programs: they tend to not be accredited programs, and some of the certificates merely represent that you paid for a program and made an attempt at completing the instruction modules. When choosing a program, look carefully at the curriculum and the depth of the instruction to ensure that the course is worth the investment. Start your research with this list of examples: University of South Carolina USCs Grant Writing Certificate Program involves thirty hours of classes covering four courses: Introduction to Grant Writing, Needs Based Assessment, Intermediate Grant Writing, and Program Development and Evaluation. Both online and classroom options are available for a fee of $1,322. Arizona State University Arizona State University offers two levels of grant writing certificates: Grant Development- State and Foundation Proposal Certificate for $999; and Advanced Grant Development- Federal Proposal Certificate for $1,175. The courses take six weeks, and students can expect to spend 12 to 15 hours a week on coursework. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs UCCS offers an intensive credit-bearing certificate program, Graduate Certificate in Grant Writing, Management, and Program Evaluation. To apply for the program, students must hold a bachelors degree. Completion of the certificate requires a grade of B- or better in four courses: Evaluation, Grant Writing, Grant Management, and an elective. Both classroom and online options are available. University of Central Florida The University of Central Floridas Division of Continuing Education, in partnership with ed2go, offers a non-credit Certificate in Grant Writing and Nonprofit Management. The program includes four courses: Introduction to Nonprofit Management, Marketing Your Nonprofit, Writing Effective Grant Proposals, and Advanced Grant Proposal Writing. The cost is $465. Fort Hays State University Fort Hays State University offers an Eight-Week University Grant Writing Certification Program for $175. The class meets online for two months. Participants must receive a score of 70% or higher on the final exam to earn a certificate. Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist University offers a Grant Research and Writing Certificate Program through WorldEducation.net. This is a more thorough (and more expensive program) than many others with 150 hours of instruction at a cost of $2,995. To earn a certificate, students must complete five courses: Introduction to Grant Research, Introduction to Grant Writing, Specialized Techniques for Grant Writing, Technical Writing, and Advanced Grant Writing. The program can typically be completed in six months. Online Grant Writing Degree Programs Grant writing is generally not offered as a college major, so you wont find many degree programs focused solely on grant writing. Instead, grant writers tend to major in writing-focused fields such as English, marketing, or communication studies. That coursework is then supplemented with specialized coursework, a certificate program, or internship experience focused on grant writing. One exception, however, is the MA in Grant Writing, Management and Evaluation program offered at Concordia University Chicago. Concordias program takes an multidisciplinary approach to grant writing that includes collaboration with your student cohort and partnering with organizations relevant to your professional goals. The program is 100% online, requires 30 credit hours of coursework, and can be completed in 20 months. The cost is over $13,000, but unlike many graduate programs, financial aid is available.

Political science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Political science - Essay Example As Hoffman and William say. A further reason why the Middle East is becoming more important is high oil prices. Although oil prices are far below their 2008 peak of US$147/bbl, they are expected to remain high due to rising demand from China, India, and other emerging markets. Despite efforts by international oil companies to tap into new sources, such as the Caspian Sea, West Africa, and Brazil’s offshore deposits, and despite moves to develop alternative energy sources, oil is likely to remain paramount. Meanwhile, the windfall of high oil prices should continue to boost investment in the Middle East, making it an important economic region. Apart from Israel, Lebanon and Turkey, no Middle Eastern state has an entirely democratic political system. Iran has competitive elections, but ultimate power rests with the ruling clerics. The other countries are all absolute monarchies or led by authoritarian presidents, although there are varying degrees of parliamentary representation. As a result, most leaders have questionable legitimacy. Opposition groups tend to be suppressed, and governments maintain powerful security services to keep their populations in line. This system of government has fostered patronage and corruption, in turn adding to public dissatisfaction. Arguably, the biggest question for the Middle East is whether it can continue to be an exception to the spread of democracy worldwide or whether democracy will eventually take hold. As per Wunderle openion. Over the coming decade, we expect several Middle Eastern states – notably Egypt and Saudi Arabia – to face succession issues, as incumbent heads of state pass from the scene. In Egypt, the outlook is highly uncertain, amid signs that President Hosni Mubarak is grooming his son Gamal to succeed him and opposition to this. In Saudi Arabia, the succession procedure is clearer cut, but a power

Is the capacity to acquire language also available for acquiring an Term Paper

Is the capacity to acquire language also available for acquiring an additional language - Term Paper Example It is more effective in children due to the concept of tabula rasa that portrays the brain as an empty slate of content which can be educated accordingly. Linguistic ability develops uniquely in every child depending on the real circumstances of the situation. It is implied by a number of argumentative theories that putting in place certain considerations such as innateness of a person to language and the extent to which it upholds. Second language acquisition theories Second language acquisition involves a number of ideas both from the theories of nativism by Noam Chomsky to conflicting notions against it. These theories, woven into one aspect of secondary language acquisition, explain need for education in acquiring a second language. It emphasizes that language cannot be achieved without further tutelage. The nativists argue that acquisition of a language is determined by inherent factors of human ability to learn language. These skills are ‘programed’ and well-struct ured in the minds of human beings before they are born. It implies that we can learn language entirely by ourselves after birth and express ourselves. However, linguistic knowledge requires communion for expression to be meaningful and for communication to be achieved. Need for such supportive factors as other people to converse with in a language beckons ideas of second language acquisition. It requires further that individuals be informed more and educated on language. These factors revolve around a built in ability that human beings gain before birth and that pre-disposes us to language acquisition. Noam Chomsky proposed that this language is achieved by a genetic provision. Every human being therefore is born with an LAD language acquisition device that provides them with knowledge of a language. It is therefore possible for children, according to Noam’s theory, to acquire their native language with ease and without any training. He argues further that second language can be adapted with no difficulty through the same LAD mechanism.The LAD disregards the language to be deciphered and provides comprehension despite the tongue being adapted whether it is English, Chinese or any other known dialect. LAD aids their comprehension and pragmatic interpretation of words they have not heard before. The human capacity to acquire linguistic knowledge as per Noam Chomsky is fervently countered by other theories of acquisition. Such theories emphasize that while an infant’s mind may possess leaning abilities; such ability is developed from the period before its birth by development of its auditoria system. This development allows the child to learn language while they are still unborn. Its brain is therefore as an empty slate in the process of formation that learns and unlearns matters. The brain is dependent on training in order to learn any language and does not depend on a natural device to gain linguistic wisdom. Such arguments persist that Noamâ€⠄¢s nativism is not necessarily wrong but it is obscured by vagueness and assumptions. Thus, the human mind indeed has learning potential but no actual content in it. Any linguistic content or skill obtained is learned in the womb as soon as hearing features begin to develop. The infant is trained by its mother’s own voice and that of the people around him in the period of gestation. Moreover, ability acquired in the womb is barely language itself but hearing skills