Influence of Media and Culture on Self Image - 1724 Words

Is culture today experiencing information overload leading to self confusion? Having access to information twenty-four hours a day does not necessarily have a positive impact on society and self image. Media content despite its public charge does not exactly mirror real self image. Mass communication with television ads and movies offer an unrealistic view of the everyday person in various aspects of life. Media can have a positive or negative influence on culture and the way people view their lives compared to those in the public eye. There is much speculation about how the media can affect self-concept, self-identities and self-evaluations. Media also has the power to sway beliefs, morals and behaviors. Research has shown how media†¦show more content†¦Ethnic groups relate to each other based on a shared sense of identity (Miller, 2007. pg 248). When groups in the media are portrayed unrealistically, the audience members who share characteristics with those persons (e.g., gender or ethnicity) may be disappointed. Negative erroneous images may affect people in the sense that the media has altered the real identity of the social definition of the group in question (Aubrey, 2007). A second major aspect of self is identity. Society puts people into categories, with a specific role already defined to that group so, if a person is not sure of who they are it would be difficult to fulfill the role defined (Miller, 2007 p. 244). Relating the self to society shows how over time people decide their likes and dislikes. The results of a media research were published in West Germany offer some insight to personal image. According to the research results, no person carries in his head the exact replica of their self image. For example, on some shows young women are shown to be very slim and always pretty. This image is not realistic to today’s women. The everyday women come in all shapes and sizes (Parlikar, 1972). The sense of self identity is critical to ones status as a person. One has to have a sense of self if in order to acquire and achieve good self esteem. Sexual identity and genderShow MoreRelatedWesternization Vs. Eating Disorders1645 Words   |  7 PagesWesternization Vs. Eating Disorders Historically, through an array of cultures worldwide, individuals have transformed their appearances in order to conform to the beauty ideal of relevant culture. Those that are apart of the Pa Dong Tribe, which reside among the boarder of Thailand, practice the elongating of the neck through the use of brass rings. African and Amazonian tribes consider beauty through the stretching of their lips that is achieved using large lip plates. Tribes in Africa striveRead MoreMedia Effects Body Image1656 Words   |  7 PagesApril 6, 2014 The Effects of Mass Media on African American Women Body Images Over the past 10 years, mass media and the access to social networks has evolved substantially causing the effects of negative self-image and what is considered beautiful. Body image expectations for both African-American male and female share the battles of society’s expectations, yet African American women body images come with a stricter and more unhealthy stigma; growth of social media such as Facebook, Instagram andRead MoreThe Factors That Shape An Individual s Self Concept Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pageslf-concept refers to the mental image or idea that an individual holds regarding themselves. An individuals’ self-concept continually develops in each of the life stages and is seen to be closely related to the social as well as the emotional development. As such, a person views themselves differently depending on the environment in which they are. Self-concept in an individual takes various steps to being formed. The most important step is the initial one which happens while one is still a childRead MoreThe Effect Of Media On Young Girls And Their Self Esteem1590 Words   |  7 PagesQualitative Research Project The influence media has on young girls and their self-esteem The media and advertisements are meant to influence our everyday lives in society. Young girls are being exposed today more than ever to the over sexualized images of women within the media, advertisements and in pop culture. Young girls are seeing these types of images everyday either in magazines, television shows, movies or fashion. The research questions I propose to explore: â€Å"Are the images that young girls are exposedRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On Body Image1538 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Over the time, the concept of body image is influenced by external factors as culture, society norms, especially with the development of modern social media, it has grown up to be an important element in affecting the perception of body image to shape the body image. The influence of mass media may be related to the social comparison process of appearance in female and male. The ideal media body image, it is easy to compare in everyday life, and that will result to dissatisfactionRead MoreEffect Of Gender And Gender Representation On Media1735 Words   |  7 PagesThe effect of gender and gender representation in media has been widely researched in various academic disciplines, including anthropology and communication studies. Similar gender role expectations are not just restricted to Western culture either. A study on gender representation in East Asian advertising by Michael Prieler is a demonstration of the influence of gendered communication. The research examines the male and female representation in the advertising of East Asian countries like HongRead MoreThe Effects Of Social Media On Young Girls And Women Alike1474 Words   |  6 PagesSocial media plays an immense role in the way that stereotypes about attractiveness is conveyed in regards to body image. As Gerbner and Gross wrote in 1976, the cultivation theory states that high frequency viewers of television are more susceptible to media messages and the belief that they are real and valid. The subjection to social media can cause an idealistic view amongst young girls and women alike. Among the mechanisms of human agency none is more central or pervasive than beliefs of personalRead MoreResearch Paper on the Effects of Mass Media on the Perfect Body Image1569 Words   |  7 Pagescan you determine what body image should be? The desire for the perfect body has been prevalent throughout society for a vast majority of time. What makes teenage girls feel the need to strive for this â€Å"perfect body†? Some have asked, â€Å"†¦a rapidly growing body of research addresses the question of whether body perfect ideals in the mass media are a core risk factor for negative body image, particularly in women† (Dittmar, Helga) My hypothesis is â€Å"Does the media influence adolescent girl’s weight concernsRead MoreShould Social Media Be The Increase Of Eating Disorders?1592 Words   |  7 PagesSocial media be the cause for the increase of Eating Disorders? In today’s world, the idea of the perfect body is displayed on an endless list of websites and on a variety of social media. The world is addicted to accessing social media every day and as a result we have been brainwashed into how a woman should look. When you consider those with eating disorders that are afraid to eat because they are concerned of becoming overweight. it is difficult not to feel hostile towards the media. ThereRead MoreThe Effects of Media on Adolescent Girls Essay1029 Words   |  5 PagesMedia has become a significant component within society. While media provides many pros, it supplies various cons as well. One very prominent fault that the significance of media has is its visual depiction of women. There is an abundance of media portraying women to have ideal bodies, and this undoubtedly has a negative effect on adolescent girls. Two of the many effects of media on females are depression and self esteem issues, as well as eating disorders. Unfortunate ly, body dissatisfaction caused

Jimmy Cross’s Final Decision in OBriens, The Things They...

In the story, â€Å"The Things They Carried†, author Tim O’Brien described specific items that each of his soldiers carried with them to the Vietnam War front. The items that the soldiers carried were for mental protection; they believed that the things they carried would take their minds off all the terror and violence that was going on around them. The protagonist, Lieutenant Jimmy cross, carries out letters from a girl named Martha, which leads to him losing his focus for the war and a lack of protection for his fellow soldiers. The death of Ted Lavender tested Lieutenant Cross’ loyalty to his men, his imagination of Martha, and the significance relating to each of the items the soldiers’ carry. Lieutenant Cross’ love for Martha’s†¦show more content†¦One of his biggest fantasies about Martha was her being a virgin. In his mind, it was as if Martha belonged to him already from the way he fantasized about her. The way he fanta sized about Martha can be described as â€Å"over the limit†. He often wondered who was taking pictures that Martha sent him because he could see the shadow of another person. All Lieutenant Cross wanted was to be with Martha on the shoreline of Jersey walking barefooted and caring about nothing but Martha. The author, Tim O’Brien gives us a detailed prescription of each item that the soldiers carried with them. â€Å"The things they carried were determined by necessity† (389). Each soldier took something that has huge significance and impact with them to the war front. Also a vivid description of the reason why what was kept where gave a better insight into how important each item was to the soldiers. The use of â€Å"slangs† to describe certain things, like MM, which meant medical supplies (392) is also a significant topic in the story. â€Å"what they carried varied by mission†, â€Å"When a mission took them to the mountains, they carr ied mosquito netting, machetes, canvas tarps, and extra bug juice† (393). The reality with which one can relate to soldiers’s reason for carrying what they carried, is vividly described by the author. It describes how â€Å"Kiowa always took along his

The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Work Places

Question: Non-Verbal Communication Is More Important Than Verbal Communication? Answer: Introduction Communication at work place is so important especially in the companies. This is because it gives companies good chances to be very productive and carry out its operations effectively. Many organizations fail to realize the importance of adopting effective communication strategies and this article therefore aims at highlighting how to utilize communication to improve organizational performance. There is an experience of some increase in commitment, morale and productivity by the employees provided they communicate well across the chain of communication in their places of work. The transmission of information among people in an organization is referred to as work place communication and this could involve the use of notes, one on one talks, emails, text messages etc. Arguments to be used Communication skills are very important at work place and this can be seen when the communication is good and of high quality. Meaning the kind of communication used should aim at preventing conflict, misunderstanding and miscommunication of issues (Burgoon, Blair, and Strom, p. 586). In this regard effective communication leads to productive work and performance which in the end has positive impacts on the companys bottom line. In order to increase the effectiveness of internal communication managers have to put in mind the relevance of effective communication. If communication at work place is poor employees are likely to quit job and seek for better working conditions (Hancock, p. 458). This is the reason why important communication skills are usually listed among the top job skills in determining both the employer and employee satisfaction. Increased stress and job dissatisfaction comes as a result of misunderstanding whatever is being said. Overview of verbal and nonverbal communication Good communication skills lead to better relations at work places and the stronger your skills are the better placed one is for hiring and job promotions. Effectiveness of verbal communication is more than just talking (Granhag and Vrij, p. 86). It involves both the delivery of messages and how one receives information. All workers that convey information in a clear and effective manner are highly valued by employers. All the employees that are good at interpreting messages and acting appropriately on the needed information are better placed in excelling at their jobs. Verbal communication takes place among different people at work place and its constituent depends on the relationship existing between the communicating groups (Granhag, p. 41).For the nonverbal communication which involves use of gestures, facial expression is very key in the day to day operations of an organization (Ekman, OSullivan and Frank, p 1315). These are also referred to as signals and they often give clues a s well as additional information and proper meaning to spoken communication. Importance of nonverbal communication in work places With non-verbal communication its easier to emphasize or even modify whatever has been said in words. For instance, if one is in agreement with something they simply nod their heads but if not in agreement they seem to shrug their shoulders with some sad or discontentment expression on their faces. This kind of communication also assists people to give some feedback to the recipient, regulate the flow of communication and give out information regarding their state of emotions (Egolf, p. 1419). If one is clearly tuned into the other persons nonverbal communication cues, then they can easily determine the true meaning of what they are saying and this goes beyond the words they are saying. Communication is very important in all the working environments and should be embraced by all employees and managers for proper functioning of the organization. Effective communication can be achieved either verbally or non-verbally provided the context of the message therein is clear. To a larger extend however nonverbal communication if done effectively is more important at work place compared to verbal communication. This is because if one is able to read the mood of an employee via the body language then a lot can be done to build on something good or rectify whatever is not right. This communication is very important to an organization as it makes it productive and allows it to operate smoothly. If the communication is effective it increases an employees job satisfaction, productivity as well as positively impact on absenteeism and turnover rates. Communication at work place can either be verbal or nonverbal. For verbal communication it involves use of sounds and language to pass on a message while nonverbal communication is simply the use of gestures, body language, eye contact, posture and facial expressions to convey a message. One may be agreeing with your communication verbally but in real sense from the clues such as fidgeting, avoidance of eye contact they are not. Therefore, its important to note if someones verbal and nonverbal communications are marching so as to tell whether they are in agreement with you (Bond and DePaulo, p. 480). If the body language is well understood, then it becomes important in helping one to agree with your points. The use of mirroring techniques assists in putting others at ease. This technique should however be used in a manner that the other person does not feel teased. It should also be noted that this kind of communication is not just relevant in face to face communication (Joseph, p. 61). It can be of importance even in situations wherepeople are talking on phone. Someone who has mastered the interpretation of nonverbal communication can decipher the real feelings of the other person on phone basically by being keen on the tone used in the conversation. Is the tone sounding satisfied, dissatisfied or just not at par with what you are trying to communicate? This can be evident via intonation, tone of the voice, pauses etc. through use of nonverbal communications and especially the body language strong messages can be sent regardless of what the words may be saying (Burgoon, Guerrero and Flo, p. 128). The tone in the voice, volume, pitch, quality and speed they all affect what one wants to say. The language of ones body can easily contradict what your words may be saying, repeat your words, substitute your verbal communication or simply reinforce what you are saying verbally by adding meaning. While using nonverbal communication one can make the verbal communication more or less relevant in one way or the other (Bollingmo et al., p. 68). For example, you cannot tell someone they have not performed well verbally at work by avoiding eye contact with them. In as much as verbal communication is widely used in almost all organization it has its own shortcoming this is because with verbal communication the real feelings or intentions of an emp loyee are not clearly brought out. This is different for the nonverbal communication where if the managers are keen at reading someones body language they can easily tell what they are communicating and act accordingly either to better a situation or rectify whatever the problem is. Through talking one may not really bring out all that they intent to unlike in the nonverbal communication where the feelings can be read from the mood or gestures (Granhag and Hartwig, p. 193). Therefore, nonverbal communication is very important at work places unlike verbal communication where one will only tell you what you need to hear and not the real information that can be read non-verbally. To enhance nonverbal communication at work place one has to be conscious of their feelings, and physicality. You need also to be keen on watching peoples facial expression, body languages and voice intonations. To be able to adapt quickly to any situation and kind of communication at hand is one of the skills that people continuously improve on with time. Among the two forms of communication its evident that nonverbal communication actually completes verbal communication. One can only be completely sure of the message that another person is trying to put across by being keen on the nonverbal cues which in most cases should tally with what is being said verbally. Therefore, at work places every person has to work towards mastering the art of interpreting nonverbal cues in order to decipher the real meaning of verbal communication in their conversations with their colleagues. This sends some signals that you are either not sure of what you are saying or in one way or another you fear the said employee and therefore not confident of reprimanding them. Nonverbal communication ensures workplace efficiency. Its of great importance in businesses and interviews. Most of the professions such as lawyers, teachers, journalists and even doctors communicate on regular basis and therefore if their nonverbal communication is not up to standards their work is likely to suffer (Bull, p. 201). For example, interviews and meetings require a lot of eye contact which is a sign of interest and confidence. Conclusion Effective communication is important in the success of any organization. Both verbal and nonverbal communications reinforce each other and therefore should be taken seriously in ensuring smooth operations in the work place. Anyone who is keen on reading the nonverbal communication of an employee such as facial expression and gestures is better placed in having a deeper understanding of what they sincerely intent to communicate to them. Interpreting nonverbal communication is something that one learns with time and its very important to any person who would like to achieve effectiveness in communication. One can only enhance verbal communication if they are good listeners. References Bond, C.F., DePaulo, B.M. (2008). Individual differences in judgingdeception: Accuracy and bias. Psychological Bulletin, 134,477492. Bull, P. (2009). Detecting deceit: Current issues. In T. Williamson,B. Milne, S.P. Savage (Eds.), International developments ininvestigative interviewing (pp. 19006). Cullompton, England:Willan. Burgoon, J.K., Blair, J.P., Strom, R.E. (2008). Cognitive biases andnonverbal cue availability in deception detection. Human CommunicationResearch, 34, 572599. Bollingmo, G., Wessel, E., Sandvold, Y., Eilertsen, D.E., Magnussen, S. (2009). The effect of biased and non-biased informationon judgements of witness credibility. Psychology, Crime Law, 15, 6171. Joseph A. DeVito (2012). Interpersonal Communication Book, The,13/E. Published 01/05/2012 Instock. P 56-70 Burgoon, J.K.; Guerrero, L. K. K. Flo (2010). Non verbal communication textbook. Pg 120-131. Publisher: Allyn Bacon, Incorporated Ekman, P., OSullivan, M., Frank, M.G. (2008). Scoring and reporting: A response to Bond (2008). Applied Cognitive Psychology, 22, 13151317. Granhag, P.A. (2010). On the psycho-legal study of true and false intentions: Dangerous waters and some stepping stones. The Open Criminology Journal, 3, 3743. Granhag, P.A., Hartwig, M. (2008). A new theoretical perspective on deception detection: On the psychology of instrumental mindreading. Psychology, Crime Law, 14, 189200. Granhag, P.A., Vrij, A. (2010). Interviewing to detect deception. In P.A. Granhag (Ed.), Forensic psychology in context: Nordic and Nonverbal and Verbal Lie Deection 115 international approaches (pp. 7593). Cullompton, England: Willan. Egolf, D. (2010). Phasing in Three Web-Based Assignments in a Nonverbal Communication Class. In D. Gibson B. Dodge (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology Teacher Education International Conference 2010 (pp. 1418-1420). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Hancock, J.T (2004). Verbal irony use in computer-mediated and face-to-face conversations. Journal of Language and SocialPsychology, 23 447-463.

Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing

Response I do not agree that the U.S. government should regulate offshore outsourcing. Although the practice carries both positive and negative consequences, benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. For companies in the United States to receive maximum gain from offshore outsourcing, the sector should not be subjected to government regulation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Specifically, offshore outsourcing refers to the practice of outsourcing work to suppliers in foreign countries, mainly to take advantage of low cost of labor. Through outsourcing, companies typically engage foreign suppliers to perform some or all business functions in a country other than the one where the product or service will be sold or consumed. It is, however, important to ensure that the overall cost of offshore business is less than the total expen se. In general, organizations turn to outsourcing in order to reduce costs, leverage themselves ahead of competitors, and to increase adaptability to changes in the market place (Cohen 250). Offshore outsourcing is a hotly debated issue in the United States that for a very long time has received wide coverage by the media. In 2003, just after the recession, lack of employment was still a concern and the blame was directed at offshore outsourcing as the major contributor to the reduction in U.S. output and the corresponding loss of jobs. Offshore outsourcing is currently being driven by the recognition by many companies of the benefits of outsourcing as a business strategy. To a large extent, this recognition has led to less emphasis on cost reduction and more emphasis on such benefits as flexibility and speed in delivering business solutions, access to new technologies and skills, ongoing productivity improvement, and enhanced training and development of employees. Offshore outsourc ing can also have an important effect on firms by helping them to accelerate the development of innovative products and services at far lower cost.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Arguments about Offshore Outsourcing An increasing number of companies in the United States have been made to believe that offshore outsourcing is critical for improving a company’s profitability. For most of these companies, failure to use offshore outsourcing strategies leads to loss of business to competitors. For a very long time, the United States and the West have reaped an excessive share of the wealth derived from the world capitalist system (Hira and Hira 118). However, with offshore outsourcing, long impoverished nations like China and India are now moving in the direction of obtaining and enjoying a larger portion of this wealth. While this undoubtedly lessens the American wealth and its standard of living, it is seen by many as an important aspect of global development. Apparently, greater global equality in wealth and standard of living is not only in the interest of nations like China and India. It could be argued that it is also in everyone’s interest. For one thing, greater global equality will likely lead to a more stable and secure world. For another, growing wealth in the Third World will greatly expand consumers and consumption and at least some of that increase will advantage the American business, economy, and society and may even lead to new kinds of jobs. Similarly, it could be argued that offshore outsourcing is good for the United States as it will force the country to continue innovating in order to find new sources of wealth and work (Ritzer 313). Why the US Government should not Regulate Offshore Outsourcing The U.S. offshore outsourcing industry is currently besieged by incoherent and confusing government regulations that hinder the effectiveness of the industry rather than promote it. Many outsourcing firms are so confused over recent legislation to the extent that their latest action has been to hire more lawyers to help determine if they should continue with offshore outsourcing strategies. According to Schniederjans and Schniederjans, research on motivations for offshore outsourcing indicates that many companies use offshore outsourcing to avoid compliance with the ever increasing regulation by governments (196). In view of these challenges and the many benefits associated with offshore outsourcing, it is necessary for the U.S. government to desist from interfering with the operations in the industry. Typically, firms opt for offshore outsourcing for a variety of reasons and the decision to outsource can be a critical one (Cohen 253). However, a firm that plans to outsource must first clarify its organizational goals and define what it wants to achieve through outsourcing. The goals of outsourcing may be t actical, such as to reduce or control costs or free up capital funds, or strategic, such as to access a specific technology.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Outsourcing is an effective cost saving strategy when applied properly and in some cases, it may be economically viable to acquire products or services from outside. A firm may decide to tactically outsource its bookkeeping function to an external accounting firm, as it may be more cost effective to do so than managing it internally with in-house accountants. Alternatively, firms may outsource activities that are not part of their strategic core competency and by diverting non-core functions, they are able to focus their limited resources on activities that are critical to the business. In this case, competencies refer to a set of skills that cut across traditional function s such as production, finance, and sales. Dell is an example of a company that outsources for strategic reasons. The company regards marketing and sales as its core competencies, which focus on what matters to its customers, and outsources virtually all manufacturing. With a direct sales model, the company concentrates on speeding products through its highly efficient supply chain. According to Hira and Hira, mainstream economists have focused on economic efficiency to explain why they believe that offshore outsourcing is beneficial for the United States (121). Unfortunately, this view is regarded as being simplistic and ignores the real, devastating effects of offshore outsourcing. Although economists assume that the U.S. workers who are displaced can quickly secure other better jobs, the reality is that most workers are forced to settle for lower paying jobs as a result of offshore outsourcing or fail to secure other jobs altogether. Conclusion As has been demonstrated in this pap er, any form of interference by the government in the offshore outsourcing business is unproductive and can easily stifle the growth of the sector. If handled appropriately, offshore outsourcing can have a positive impact on the economy of the United States as well as on its citizens. Rather than being subjected to strict government regulations, the offshore outsourcing industry should be allowed to progress at a steady natural pace. Works Cited Cohen, Eli. Information and Beyond: Part I, Santa Rosa, California: Informing Science Press, 2007. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hira, Ron and Anil Hira. Outsourcing America: The True Cost of Shipping Jobs Overseas and What Can Be Done About It, New York, NY: AMACOM, 2008. Print. Ritzer, George. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization, Malden, MA: John Wiley Sons, 2008. Print. Schniederjans, Marc and Dara Schniederjans. Outsourcing And Insourcing in an International Context, Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2005. Print. This essay on Should US government regulates offshore outsourcing? was written and submitted by user Marshall Phelps to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How does Aldous Huxleys Brave New World compare to the real essays

How does Aldous Huxleys Brave New World compare to the real essays How does Aldous Huxleys Brave New World compare to the real world? Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World in 1931. It is about a futuristic dystopia in which Huxley exposes the corruption and imperfection of the perfect world. It compares to the real world in that it bears similarities to real events in world history. Huxley tries to convey what might happen if the government could have total control over individuals lives. In Brave New World, Huxley deals with two themes: isolation and a decaying moral order. In fact, the novel is an example of a dystopia, a utopia in reverse. Huxley clearly describes a disappointed world that has become dehumanized by scientific advancement. The novel opens in the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. The year is a.f. 632, or 632 years "after Ford" (Huxley, A. 2). The Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning is giving a group of students a tour of a factory that produces human beings and conditions them for what their roles in the World State will be. He explains to them that human beings no longer produce living offspring. The Hatchery destines each fetus for a particular caste in the World State. The five castes are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon. The fetuses undergo different treatments depending on their castes: oxygen deprivation and alcohol treatment guarantee the lower intelligence and smaller size of members of the three lower castes. The process aims to make individuals accept and even like their unavoidable social destiny (Huxley, A. 9). By the time Huxley writes Brave New World, many of the advances described in the book had already been introduced. The cultivation of embryos of small mammals in vitro and the cloning of parasitic insects had already been accomplished in the scientific community by the time Huxley wrote the novel. Decanting is the name given to the completion of the artificial and mechanical stimulation of the em...

The An Lushan Rebellion in Tang China

The An Lushan Rebellion in Tang China The An Lushan Rebellion began in 755 as a revolt by a disgruntled general in the Tang Dynastys army, but it soon engulfed the country in unrest that lasted nearly a decade until its end in 763. Along the way, it nearly brought one of Chinas most glorious dynasties to an early and ignominious end. An almost unstoppable military force, the An Lushan Rebellion controlled both capitals of the Tang Dynasty for most of the rebellion, but internal conflicts eventually brought an end to the short-lived Yan Dynasty. Origins of Unrest In the middle of the 8th century, Tang China was embroiled in a number of wars around its borders. It lost the Battle of Talas, in what is now Kyrgyzstan, to an Arab army in 751. It also was unable to defeat the southern kingdom of Nanzhao - based in modern-day Yunnan - losing thousands of troops in an attempt to put down the rebellious kingdom. The only military bright spot for Tang was their limited success against Tibet. All of these wars were expensive and the Tang court was quickly running out of money. The Xuanzong Emperor looked to his favorite general to turn the tide - General An Lushan, a military man probably of Sogdian and Turkic origin. Xuangzong appointed An Lushan commander of three garrisons totaling more than 150,000 troops which were stationed along the upper Yellow River. A New Empire On December 16, 755, General An Lushan mobilized his army and marched against his Tang employers, using the excuse of insults from his rival at court, Yang Guozhong, moving from the area that is now Beijing along the Grand Canal, capturing the Tang eastern capital at Luoyang. There, An Lushan announced the formation of a new empire, called the Great Yan, with himself as the first emperor. He then pushed on toward the primary Tang capital at Changan - now Xian; along the way, the rebel army treated anyone who surrendered well, so numerous soldiers and officials joined the rebellion. An Lushan decided to seize southern China quickly, to cut off the Tang from reinforcements. However, it took his army more than two years to capture Henan, severely dampening their momentum. In the meantime, the Tang emperor hired 4,000 Arab mercenaries to help defend Changan against the rebels. Tang troops took up highly defensible positions in all of the mountain passes leading to the capital, completely blocking An Lushans progress. Turn of the Tide Just when it seemed that the Yan rebel army would have no chance to capture Changan, An Lushans old nemesis Yang Guozhong made a devastating mistake. He ordered the Tang troops to leave their posts in the mountains and attack An Lushans army on flat ground. General An crushed the Tang and their mercenary allies, laying the capital open to attack. Yang Guozhong and the 71-year-old Xuanzong Emperor fled south toward Sichuan as the rebel army entered Changan. The emperors troops demanded that he execute the incompetent Yang Guozhong or face a mutiny, so under intense pressure Xuanzong ordered his friend to commit suicide when they stopped in what is now Shaanxi. When the imperial refugees reached Sichuan, Xuanzong abdicated in favor of one of his younger sons, the 45-year-old Emperor Suzong. Tangs new emperor decided to hire reinforcements for his decimated army. He brought in an additional 22,000 Arab mercenaries and  a large number of Uighur soldiers - Muslim troops who intermarried with local women and helped form the Hui ethnolinguistic group in China. With these reinforcements, the Tang Army was able to retake both of the capitals at Changan and at Luoyang in 757. An Lushan and his army retreated east. End of the Rebellion Fortunately for the Tang Dynasty, An Lushans Yan Dynasty soon began to disintegrate from within. In January of 757, the Yan emperors son, An Qingxu, became upset by his fathers threats against the sons friends at court. An Qingxu killed his father An Lushan and then was killed in turn by An Lushans old friend Shi Siming. Shi Siming continued An Lushans program, retaking Luoyang from the Tang, but he also was killed by his own son in 761 - the son, Shi Chaoyi, proclaimed himself the new emperor of Yan, but quickly became quite unpopular. Meanwhile in Changan, the sickly Emperor Suzong abdicated in favor of his 35-year-old son, who became Emperor Daizong in May 762. Daizong took advantage of the turmoil and patricide in Yan, recapturing Luoyang in the winter of 762. By this time - sensing that Yan was doomed - a number of generals and officials had defected back to the Tang side. On February 17, 763, Tang troops cut off the self-proclaimed Yan emperor Shi Chaoyi. Rather than facing capture, Shi committed suicide, bringing the An Lushan Rebellion to a close. Consequences Although the Tang eventually defeated the An Lushan Rebellion, the effort left the empire weaker than ever. Later in 763, the Tibetan Empire retook its Central Asian holdings from Tang and even captured the Tang capital of Changan. The Tang had been forced to borrow not only troops but also money from the Uighurs - to pay those debts, the Chinese gave up control of the Tarim Basin. Internally, the Tang emperors lost significant political power to warlords all around the periphery of their lands. This problem would plague the Tang right up until its dissolution in 907, which marked Chinas descent into the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period.

Community and Domestic Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Community and Domestic Violence - Essay Example Also, they should concentrate on building a family time which allows the entire family to sit together and talk. This bonding with the family will prevent the young child from needing comfort or guidance outside the house as it will be readily available at home. Also, gang violence is presented as a romanticized idea in the youth culture today: songs, movies or books. Children are easily motivated to participate in an idea that is shown as being courageous. But, telling the child to stop listening to music or go to the movies will prove to be an unfruitful idea. Social scientists and criminologists have come to the conclusion that gang violence cannot be curbed through suppression.(Goldstein & Huff 1993) Instead, talk to the child of the cons of gang violence and emphasize the need to stay away from it. Thus, prevention and intervention will prove to be a far more successful communicator than force (Conley 1993). A lot of gangs are created as a need for the individual to be recognized. The young child might see the gang as his way to achieve three minutes of fame. Parents must ensure that their child has his priorities set straight. He must be taught the difference between famous and infamous.

Supply Chain Mgmt for Best Buy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Supply Chain Mgmt for Best Buy - Essay Example This may be achieved by addressing the customer issues relating to the size, specification and time of demand so that they meet their desires with convenience. This is possible by introducing online customer care services where customers can make enquiries from their homes and get appropriate feedback. This approach will help the company in tracking the behaviour trend of the clients in terms of needs. In-depth and long term relationship with the suppliers: Due to the prevailing global economic uncertainties, it would be safe for Best buy to adopt positive working relationship with the suppliers to track their ability in terms of reliable inventory stocking and ensuring that they have efficient modes of replenishing its stock. Deeper understanding of the supplier will help the firm to formulate and establish supply chain management system that suites the suppliers policies and system and this goes down to cut costs, improve efficiency and encourage innovation. Best buys should adopt a partnership policy that proposes use of same technology for easy co-ordination of supply activities in response to the market demand to avoid customer disappointment which will translate to financial and social cost to the firm. Internal control measures: Best buys need to consider developing sound internal control system that would give guideline on how to achieve its set goals. It is important that tit observe the minimal use of pricing as a competitive strategy but rather adopt other approaches that would give it optimal costing and revenues. To achieve this, they need to develop a system that will help all the management teams to retrieve any information and liaise with both suppliers and distributors. This would help in maintaining continuous flow of inventory thereby eliminating supply cut-off to the advantage of its online competitors like Amazon and EBay. Emphasis on IT technology

Responsible Borrowing Worksheet Essay Example for Free

Responsible Borrowing Worksheet Essay Many students borrow federal student loans to pay for college. The goal of this assignment is to help you learn how to borrow responsibly, which may mean that you do not borrow at all or that you borrow only what you truly need. To borrow responsibly, you must understand your options and establish a financial plan for your entire program. With that plan in place, you can then focus on your classes and making connections with instructors and other students. There are three steps listed below for this assignment. Respond to the questions for each step in this worksheet only and submit your completed document to the Assignment Files tab. Step 1 Watch the â€Å"Responsible Borrowing (Financial Aid)† video on the orientation website located here: http://www.phoenix.edu/student-orientation.html. Respond to the following three questions in the spaces provided below: What is financial aid? How do grants differ from loans? What effect does class attendance have on funding availability? Step 2 Navigate to the Personal Finance category of the GEN/127 PhoenixConnect ® Community. Explore the resources provided and view some of the discussions shared by the community members. Respond to the following two questions in the spaces provided below: What did you find about student loan repayment plans? Why is having an educational financial plan important? Step 3 Access the Financial Plan at www.phoenix.edu/financialplan. Enter your program and respond to the questions. Explore the information about options for payment, reducing cost, and military students (if applicable). If you have already completed the plan as part of the enrollment process, you can use those results for this step. Respond to the following two questions in the spaces provided below: Based on this plan, what is your estimated monthly payment when you enter repayment? As a result of completing the plan, what changes can you make to reduce the amount you may borrow? Why?

My Mom the Matchmaker :: Personal Narrative Profile

My Mom the Matchmaker I was walking around Fairfield High's Arts and Crafts show last weekend when I saw a mirror with that saying engraved around the edge. I didn't know whether to buy it for my mother or myself. I don't think many 17-year-old girls see a similarity between themselves and their mothers. That seems to come much later in life, if at all. But then again, most 17-year-old girls don't have a mother like mine. . . My mother made a list of colleges she wanted me to consider based on the ratio of men to women: Connecticut College was at the top. . . 600 male cadets right across the street. My mother is a professional matchmaker and my brother and I are her biggest challenges. Other third grade girls had arts and crafts parties, or pizza and video sleepovers. . . I had a boy/girl "silver disco" nighttime affair in my finished basement. Mom removed all the furniture, strung up white lights, pre-recorded all the music, and insisted that all the third grade boys arrive in ties and jackets. Their mothers said they would never come. Well, every one of them showed up, all decked out, to my mother's delight. My party was the social event of third grade. . . we still watch the video today! Mom just loves romance, what else can I say? She made her first match when she was a freshman in college, and they just celebrated their 27th anniversary. She also unknowingly fixed up my dad's gay roommate with her lesbian 2nd cousin . . .they actually dated for months before breaking the news to each other, and then to my mom. She even arranged prom dates for four seniors two days before the prom, and considered starting a venture called "Prom Partners." Not at my high school, I warned her. Back in seventh grade, when everyone was in the midst of their "first romance," Mom would always volunteer to drive the carpools home from school dances or the movies. If she saw a new couple sitting in the third seat in her rearview mirror and she thought, given a little extra time, that magical first kiss might take place, she would just keep driving around the block to give romance a chance. Needless to say, all of my friends loved her. My Mom the Matchmaker :: Personal Narrative Profile My Mom the Matchmaker I was walking around Fairfield High's Arts and Crafts show last weekend when I saw a mirror with that saying engraved around the edge. I didn't know whether to buy it for my mother or myself. I don't think many 17-year-old girls see a similarity between themselves and their mothers. That seems to come much later in life, if at all. But then again, most 17-year-old girls don't have a mother like mine. . . My mother made a list of colleges she wanted me to consider based on the ratio of men to women: Connecticut College was at the top. . . 600 male cadets right across the street. My mother is a professional matchmaker and my brother and I are her biggest challenges. Other third grade girls had arts and crafts parties, or pizza and video sleepovers. . . I had a boy/girl "silver disco" nighttime affair in my finished basement. Mom removed all the furniture, strung up white lights, pre-recorded all the music, and insisted that all the third grade boys arrive in ties and jackets. Their mothers said they would never come. Well, every one of them showed up, all decked out, to my mother's delight. My party was the social event of third grade. . . we still watch the video today! Mom just loves romance, what else can I say? She made her first match when she was a freshman in college, and they just celebrated their 27th anniversary. She also unknowingly fixed up my dad's gay roommate with her lesbian 2nd cousin . . .they actually dated for months before breaking the news to each other, and then to my mom. She even arranged prom dates for four seniors two days before the prom, and considered starting a venture called "Prom Partners." Not at my high school, I warned her. Back in seventh grade, when everyone was in the midst of their "first romance," Mom would always volunteer to drive the carpools home from school dances or the movies. If she saw a new couple sitting in the third seat in her rearview mirror and she thought, given a little extra time, that magical first kiss might take place, she would just keep driving around the block to give romance a chance. Needless to say, all of my friends loved her.

Literature Summative Assesment

Rules of the Game Pre Reading: A. Read the cartoon and answer the questions.1. What country do the mother and daughter live in? They live in America.2. Was the mother born there? How do you know? No, she wasn’t born in American. I know because in the cartoon the daughter asks the mother if she means America and the mother says no where we are from original, our mother country.3. Why is the mother angry? The mother is angry because the daughter doesn’t know her and her mother's origins.4. Why is the daughter angry? The daughter is angry because her mother keeps nagging her.B. The mother and daughter in this cartoon do not understand each other. In your opinion, which of the following factors are to blame for this lack of understanding? Explain. The different in their †¦. Language : the mother was born and raised in another country so her English isn’t as fluent as her daughter's, who was probably born in the USA, this may cause a â€Å"shortage† in com munication or embarrass the daughter. Culture : the mother probably comes from a more traditional culture, which may cause a conflict between her and her daughter. C. Do you think the same types of conflict between parents and children are common in our country? Why or why not? I think that the same types of conflicts exist in our country because it consists of different ethnic groups and minorities. Every generation differs from the one before it, especially when the parents are born and raised in other countries. For example, the Russian immigrants who have trouble learning the Hebrew language and their children who adjust more easily. Basic Understanding Part 1What lesson does the narrator learn from her mother? The narrator learned from her mother that she can get what she wants without nagging.What hopes does the narrator's mother have for her children? The narrator's mother hopes for her children that when they grow up they will learn in a University.Is the family poor? Does narrator think so? The narrator's family is poor because she lives above a bakery with two bedrooms flat, but the narrator doesn't think that her family is poor because she says that her bowl was always full and that she ate five meals a day.Do you think the narrator's memories of her childhood are pleasant or unpleasant? All in all, I think the narrator's memories of her childhood are pleasant. She fondly remembers her life in San Francisco's Chinatown, which were filled with games in back alleys, fragrance of Chinese food and the different shops in the area.Why do the children prefer the alley to the playground? The children prefer the al ley to the playground because its’ darkness gives a sense of mystery and adventures.Why is the narrator scared of the sanddabs? The narrator is scared of the sanddans because it reminds her story that her mother told her about a careless girl who ran into crowded street and was crushed by a cab.What joke does the narrator play on the tourist? The tourist asked the narrator and her brother to pose for a picture in front of the â€Å"scary† restaurant, and after he took the picture, she told him to have dinner in the restaurant. The tourist asked what they served, and she shouted: â€Å"Guts and ducks and octopus gizzards! † and ran off.How did the narrator get her name? What does this tell us about her parents' desire to adapt to their new culture? The narrator was named after the street that her family lived in, and it tells us that†¦What is the tone of this passage? The tone of this passage is deductive and defensive , the mother explains the many abilitie s Chinese people have.Vocabulary practice: Write a sentence about the story using each pair of words/ phrase. 1. Invisible / strength: Waverley's mother taught her the art of invisible strength. 2. Strategy / arguments: Waverly learned from her mother the strategy for winning. 3. Rise above / circumstances: Waverly’s mother wanted her family to rise above their circumstances. 4. Two bedroom flat / Chinese bakery: Waverly lived in a two bedroom flat that sat above a small Chinese bakery. 5. Alley / playground: the best playground for the Chinese children was the dark alleys. 6. Playmates / adventures: The playmates always find adventures in the dark alleys. 7. Named after / official: the narrator is named after an official name of a street. 8. Wicked / Chinese torture: the wicked people should be tortured in Chineseculture. Understanding the poem: Answer the questions. 1. Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. Whose point of view is rules of the game told from? The story is told by the narrator's point of view. 2. How did Waverly get her name? She was named after the street that her family lived in. 3. Where does the story take place? Copy and complete the chart. The setting City| San Francisco. | Neighborhood| China town. | Home| Jong family home| 4. What do we learn about Waverly's family? Waverly's family is a Chinese poor family that lives in Chinatown in San Francisco and in her home there is one girl named Waverly and her two brothers. Basic Understanding Part 2 1. What do we learn about Chinese culture from this incident? we learn from this incident that Chinese people attribute great importance to modesty and humility. It was shameful for the mother that her son was disappointed with his chip gift. 2. Is Waverly happy with her gift? How do you know? Waverly was happy with her gift which is life savers candy because she says that she kept eating them all the night because they were her favorites. 3. Why does Mrs. Jong tell Vincent to throw the chess set away? Mrs. Jong told Vincent to throw the chess set away because it was used before and he knows that because there are missing parts. 4. What is it about chess that attracts Waverly? She sees that the chessboard seems to elaborate secrets waiting to be untangled. 5. How does Waverly convince her brother to let her play chess? She uses the Lifesavers (her gift from the Christmas party) as a bribe to be let into the game. 6. Why do you think Mrs. Jong tells Waverly not to rely on other people to explain the rules? Because there is a sentence which says: â€Å"better you take it, find out yourself†. This means that it's better to find the answer yourself because Waverly has to learn to go forward alone without any help. 7. Why do Waverly's brothers lose interest in chess? Waverly's brothers lose interest in chess because they become more interested in roaming the streets in their Hopalong Cassidy cowboy hats. Vocabulary practice A. Which word in each group has a different meaning from the other two?donated / given / receiveddecent / poor / fineroken / lacking / missinggraciously / impatiently / politelyextra / replacement / substitutetactic / strategy / foresighthide / reveal / showadversary / partner /opponentB. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words from exercise A. There may be more than one possible answer. 1. The gifts at the Christmas party were given. 2. It would have been a decent chess set- except that it was obviously used. 3. Several of the chess pieces were missing, but Mrs. Jong accepted the gift politely. 4. Vincent wouldn’t let Waverly play until she offered her life savers as replacement for the chess pieces. 5. Waverly studied the instruction book and learned some important strategies for winning at chess. 6. She learned that chess is a game of secrets which she must never reveal. 7. Soon, Waverly wasn't losing any games -but she lost her adversaries! Understanding the story: Answer the questions. 1. Which gift does Waverly choose at the Christmas party? The gift that Waverly chose was heavy and compact one that was wrapped in shiny silver foil and a red satin ribbon. 2. Who gets the chess set? Vincent, Waverly's brother gets the chess set. 3. What is wrong with the chess set? The wrong thing about the chess set is that it was used before and there are missing parts. 4. How is the problem solved? The problem was solved by putting a buttons (Lifesavers) instead the missing parts. 5. How does Waverly learn to play chess? She learns the rules of the game and goes on to continue playing chess. 6. How old is Waverly at this time? Waverly is six years old. Basic Understanding Part 3 1. Why is the man surprised by Waverly's question? — 2. What are these the names of? â€Å"These† is the names of strategies in chess which Lau Po taught Waverly. 3. What do we learn about Chinese culture from Mrs. Jong behavior? We learned about Chinese culture that it is built on modesty. 4. What strategy does Waverly use to convince her mother to let her compete in the tournament? The strategy that Waverly used to convince her mother to compete in the tournaments is the art of invisible strength 5. Why do you think the boy wrinkled his nose? Because he is 15 years old and she is 9 years old and he thought that she is young to play chess. 6. What does the wind represent in this passage? The wind represents the thinking power of Waverly. 7. What does Waverly silence tell us about accepted codes of behavior in the Jong family? It's tells us about the respect and listening to elders and for what he says because he has more experience than us. 8. How does Mrs. Jong justify Waverly's special treatment? Mrs. Jong justified Waverly's special treatment by telling Vincent:† Waverly squeezes all her brains out for winning chess. You play, worth squeeze towel†. 9. How does Waverly behave at chess competitions? What does this tell us about her character? It tells us that Waverly is very smart because she made for her opponent a good measure and that will make him think less because he is thinking that he is going to win and then Waverly will win. Vocabulary practice: A 1. Form as many phrases as you can by combining words the box. You may use words more than once, but use each word at least once. *champion *game *regional *chess *grand master *smile *child *local *status *etiquette *national *tournament *exhibition *prodigy *triumphantnational championchess national championlocal championlocal tournamentchess gamechild prodigyhess etiquetteexhibition gametriumphant smilegrand master statusregional tournamentA 2. Complete the sentence with the words combinations you formed. You may use words more than once, but use each word at least once.Waverly learned the fine points of chess etiquette from Lau Po.After watching an exhibition game, a man suggested that Waverly should play in local tournament.Waverly said that she didn't want to play in the local champion, but she really did.After Waverly won an important national tournament, shop owners in the neighborhood decided to sponsor her in national champion.By her ninth birthday, Waverly was a national champion, but she was still 429 points away from grand master status.6Waverly had become a child prodigy and her picture appeared in life magazine.At the end of a game, Waverly would flash her opponent a triumphant smile.B. Match the words from A and B to form verb phrases. Use each phrase in a sentence about the story. Make any necessary changes. A B 1. Attend 2. Want desperately 3. Defeat an opponent 4. Display trophies 5. Do chores Understanding the story: Answer the questions.Who helps Waverley become a better chess player? Lau Po, an old man helped Waverley to become a better chess player.Who watches Waverly exhibition games in the park? Some of Chinese people and tourists watch Waverly's exhibition games.Why does Waverly think her mother will not allow her to play in chess tournament? Waverly thinks that her mother will not allow her to play in chess tournament because she thinks that her mother will not let her play with strangers.What does Mrs. Jong give Waverly at her first tournament? Why? Mrs. Jong gave Waverly a small tablet of red jade which the sun's fire to give her luck in the tournament.How do people in the neighborhood show their pride in Waverly's achievements? The Chinese bakery beneath their home displayed her growing collection of trophies in its window, a flower shop, headstone engraver, and funeral parlor offered to sponsor her.What concessions do her parents make to allow her practice? Her parents allowed her not to clean to allow her practice .At what age does Waverly become a national chess champion? Waverly became a national champion in age nine.How does Waverly dress for competitions? Waverly wears a crisp pink and white dress with scratchy lace for the competitions.Basic Understanding Part 4 1. Why does Waverly find it difficult to practice at home? Waverly finds it difficult to practice at home because her mother who stands beside her while she is trying to plan her steps in the game. 2. How do you think Waverly's brothers feel about her special treatment? I think that he feels so angry about that, because they do all the work in the home when she is practicing all the time. 3. Why do you think Mrs. Jong insists that Waverly accompany her to the market? Mrs. Jong insists that Waverly accompany her to the market because she wants to boast and show that Waverly is her daughter. 4. How does Waverly feel about her mother's boasting? Waverly feels embarrassed when her mother boasted her. 5. What do you think Waverly wants to escape from? I think that Waverly wants to escape from her mother's nagging. 6. How does Mrs. Jong react when Waverly finally arrives home? She says calmly:† we not concerning this girl. This girl not have concerning for us. † 7. Who does Waverly see as her opponent? Waverly sees her mother as her opponent in the chess game. 8. What do you think Waverly's daydream symbolizes? The imaginary game could symbolize the transition from childhood to approaching adulthood. Vocabulary practice: A 1. Match the sentence beginnings in A to the endings in B. 1. Mrs. Jong thought of herself as –Waverly's protective ally. 2. She had a habit of – standing over Waverly while she practiced. 3. Waverly's parents made many concessions – to allow her practice. 4. Waverly had to accompany her mother – to the market on Saturday. 5. Waverly thought her mother was using her – to show off. 6. She thought her mother's behavior – was embarrassing. 7. Waverly pulled away from her mother – and knocked into an old woman. 8. The woman's bag of groceries – spilled to the ground. 9. Waverly fled from the market – looking for escape routes. 10. When she finally returned home – the door was locked. 11. Waverly stood there and – waited for her punishment. B. Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words and phrases from the list. Advance * alone * angry black slits * chessboard * disappear * fly out* grow light * rise up * scream * triumphant smile. Waverly lay on her bed. In her mind she saw a chessboard her opponent was opposite her – two angry black slits on her face was a triumphant smile. As Waverly's opponent advance Waverly's pieces scream, retreated and fell off the board. Waverly felt herself grow light and she rise up into the air. She flies out of the window and over the city until everything below disappear and she was alone. Understanding the story Answer the questions 1. Why is it difficult for Waverly to concentrate at home? Waverly found it difficult to practice at home because her mother who stands beside her while she trying to plan her steps in the game. 2. What further concessions do her parents make to allow her to practice? She doesn't have to eat all the food that her mother made for her, she doesn't have to wash the dishes, and she doesn't have to tidy her bed. 3. What is Waverly's one obligation at home? The only thing that Waverly does at home is practicing chess. 4. How does Mrs. Jong show that she is proud of her daughter? How does Waverly react? Mrs. Jong shows her daughter that she is proud of her by insisting that she accompanies her to the Saturday market days walk with her proudly between the shops and saying â€Å"this is my daughter wave-ly Jong† to anyone who looked their way. One day Waverly tells her mother that she wishes she wouldn’t do that, and reproaches her mother that If she wants to show off, she should learn how to play chess. 5. Describe the scene that Waverly imagines at the end of the story. Waverly imagines a chessboard and her mother standing in front of her as her opponent and Waverly sees her white pieces falling off the board one by one and her mother's pieces are approaching her. Analysis and interpretation A 1. In this story the game of chess is used as a metaphor for life. Rules of the game† refers not only to the rules of chess, but also to the rules of life. Do you think this is a good comparison? Why or why not? It is a wonderful comparison; the rules of chess that Waverly learns are similar to the life skills for achieving success. This is the art of invisible strength. Examples: 1. Self control –†Bite back your tongue† â€Å"Vincent at first refused to let me play, but when I offered my Life Savers as replacements for the buttons that filled in for the missing pieces, he relented. â€Å". 2. Hiding your desires –†strongest wind cannot be seen† 3. Withholding knowledge – â€Å"I also found out why I should never reveal â€Å"why† to others. A little Knowledge withheld is a great advantage one should store for future use†. â€Å"It’s a game of secrets in which one must show and never tell. † 4. Foresight – â€Å"see the endgame before the game begins† â€Å"†¦ It is essential in the endgame to have foresight, a mathematical understanding of all possible moves. â€Å". 5. Planning –† the one who plays better has the clearest plans for both attacking and getting out of traps. † A 2. Answer the following questions, keeping the chess – life metaphor in mind. 1. When Waverly is six years old, her mother teaches her an important rule of life:† The art of invisible strength†. By this she means remaining silent, hiding her desire in order to get what she wants. How does this lesson help Waverly get what she wants from her mother? Give two examples from the story how does it later help her succeed at chess? Thus it is that Waverly, the protagonist and narrator of this short story, possesses a strange hybrid mix of values and lessons she has learned, some from her Chinese heritage taught to her by her mother, and some from her American heritage: her birth country. The art of invisible strength, then, is part of Waverly's Chinese heritage: â€Å"I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it at the time, chess games†. This â€Å"art of invisible strength† is described by her mother as not confro nting others openly. Instead, you must seem to go along with them whilst subtly leading them in the direction that you prefer. 2. Waverly says of chess:† A little knowledge withheld is a great advantage one should store for future use†. Do you think this is true in life as well? Explain. Yes, I think this quote is true in life as well as in chess. I think it's true because the more knowledge we have, the more we can make use of it in the future knowledge can be a weapon for the future. 3. At the end of the story, Waverly imagines a game of chess in which her mother is her opponent. Who is wining this game? How does Waverly react when she understands that she cannot defeat her mother? How does this imaginary game reflect what is happening in Waverly's life? In the game Waverly visions in her mind that her mother is her opponent and she is winning. When Waverly understands that she cannot win this game, she felt herself growing a light and suddenly flies out the window. This game reflects Waverly's life in the sense of the on-going conflict with her mother, in which she feels she cannot win, and prefers to run away. 4. When Waverly says at the end of the story † I closed my eyes and pondered my next move†, do you think she is talking only about chess? What else might she be referring to? What do you think her next move will be? I don't think that Waverly is talking only about chess; I think she is also talking about her next move at home if to apologize to her family or to keep on not talking to them, but I think at the end she will apologize to her family because she is still young and she still needs her parents. B 1. Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. One of the main themes of the story is the culture conflict between American- born Waverly and her Chinese- born mother. The chart below outlines some main differences between the two cultures. Read the chart and answer the questions that follow. Chinese people value †¦| American people value †¦| group cooperation | Individualism and personal freedom| maintaining â€Å"face† by showing respect and avoiding open confrontation or criticism | Open discussion and self- expression, even if it means direct confrontation and criticism| modesty, humility| Assertiveness| A formal social society in which status is based on age, gender and family| an informal society in which status is based on personal achievements, with equal opportunity for all| Respect for elders; obedience| Self- determination; independence| Mystery and magic| Rational thinking and logic| 1. What are some of the main differences between Chinese and American culture? The differences between Chinese culture and American cultures are: The Chinese culture in built on modesty, humility, Reciprocity and understanding between each other and also to give respect to elders. The American culture everyone has to go in his own way and to be assertive, to do the maximum to get to his/her goal even to â€Å"Run over† people. 2. Which aspect of each culture do you prefer? Explain. I prefer the American people's values because their cultures and values are liberal and are similar to the values that I was brought up on. 3. How is your own culture similar to / different from Chinese and American culture? My culture is similar to the Chinese culture in the aspect of giving respect to the elders and to be modesty. B 2. Which thinking skills did you use to answer the questions in B1? Explain. * Comparing and contrasting: finding similarities and differences and drawing conclusions. I used the thinking skill Comparing and contrasting because I was asked to find similarities and differences between a different cultures and the best way to finds differences between two categories are Comparing and contrasting. C 1. Now apply this thinking skill to the story. Copy and complete the diagram below with words from the list. How are Waverly and Mrs. Jong similar? How are they different? Support your answers with examples from the story. Waverly: mischievous, competitive, Americanized, independent and selfish. Mrs. Jong: modest, boastful, proud and superstitious. Both: strong-willed, traditional, clever, stubborn, determined, hard-working, confident, ambitious. Examples:Mrs. Jong is determined to teach Waverly the â€Å"art of the invisible strength†.Waverly is determined to learn how to play chess.Mrs. Jong is modest because when Waverly won her first game she said that it's luck.C 2. We often compare and contrast in our daily lives. Give one example of how you have used this thinking skill in the past few days. I used this thinking skill of compare and contrast that happened a couple of days ago between the choices of buying a new acoustic guitar or to continue practicing on my old guitar and when I will get better in playing the guitar I will buy a professional acoustic guitar. D 1. Imagine that a student from another country has joined your class recently. Although he seems bright, he doesn't pay attention in class, doesn't do his homework and doesn't interact with the other students. Which of the following might be connected to his behavior, in your opinion? Explain. He doesn't pay attention in class and he doesn't do his homework though he seems bright because he might have difficulties with the language and with new students whom he didn’t know. D 2. We can also use this thinking skill to gain a fuller understanding of people and events in literature. How is the characters' behavior in this story connected to their cultural backgrounds? Discuss the following, keeping in mind what you have learned about Chinese and American culture. (Page 78) 1. Mrs. Jong is showing her modesty by attributing Waverly's success in the chess game to luck rather than her excellent skill in playing chess. 2. Lao Po teaches Waverly to be humble and not announce the end of the game with arrogance and pride because she may be mistaken, and her opponent may still make a move and win the game. This saying also reflects a belief in mystery and magic, rather than logical reasoning. 3. Waverly cannot say anything to disagree with her mother, because in Chinese culture children show obedience and respect for their elders and do not contradict their parents. 4. When Waverly tells her mother that she can't practice when her mother stands over her, she is expressing her own feelings and asserting herself. This is an example of how her behavior has become Americanized. 5. Waverly is being impolite to her mother. She is showing her disrespect to her elders. This behavior contradicts the values of respect and obedience to the elders that is valued in the Chinese culture. Here Waverly shows the influence of the American cultural values of assertiveness and independence. D 3. Find additional examples in the story of how the characters' cultural backgrounds are reflected in their behavior. . One of the mothers at the Christmas party slaps her son because he did not show appreciation for her gift. His mother has to apologize to the crowd for his bad manners. 2. Waverly talks back to her mother and criticize her. She expresses her opinions openly- a quality values by the American culture. 3. Mrs. Jong gives Waverly a small tablet of red jade for luck before the chess tournament. This is an example of the importance of magic and mystery in Chinese culture. D 4. Tell your classmates about a time when you used the thinking skill of making Connections to help you to understand something better. Two weeks ago I saw a friend that Is walking and his leg is broken, I asked him what happened to him and he said nothing, two hours later other friend told me that they lost the football league game and his friend was quit the game after 30 min, then I understood that he was hurt in the game. E 1. Because of the cultural differences between them, Waverly and her mother view things from different perspectives. Decide whether each of them would agree or disagree with the following statements. Explain your answer. 1. Mrs. Jong would probably agree. Waverly would probably disagree. Waverly would think that children need to adopt the values of the culture they live in. 2. Waverly would probably agree. Mrs. Jong would probably disagree. Mrs. Jong would believe that cultural values should be passed on from generation to generation. 3. Mrs. Jong would probably agree. Waverly would probably disagree. Respect for parents and obedience is part of the Chinese culture. Waverly would think that children should express their own opinions openly and not have to behave as their parents wish. E2. Discuss the statements above with a partner. Whose perspective do you identify with- Waverly's or her mother's? My partner disagree with this statement because he think that if the children will obedience for everything which his parents says to him the boy will not be wrong and he will not learn from his mistakes. F. thinks back over the story. Answer the questions. 1. How is the theme of cultural conflict reflected in the story? The theme of cultural conflict is reflected in the conflict between Chinese-born Mrs. Jong and American born Waverly. Waverly and her family live in Chinatown in San Francisco. They live above a Chinese bakery, shop in a traditional Chinese stores (like the medical herb shop and fish market), go to the First Chinese Baptist Church and get presents from a Chinese Santa Clause. The Chinese immigrant parents want to preserve their traditional culture, whereas the children want to integrate in American society. Waverly's mother emphasizes traditional Chinese values of self-control and obedience, whereas Waverly wants to assert her independence. The young Chinese American fined them pushed away not only from American society but also from their Chinese parents and heritage. 2. How is the theme of conflict between mothers and daughters reflected in the story? This story is really one big struggle about independence between Waverly and her mother. Waverly, as the story progresses, becomes more aware of her talent, shows embarrassment at the way her mother takes pride in her and wants to exploit her gift and talent to bring attention to her: â€Å"My mother would proudly walk with me, visiting many shops, buying very little. â€Å"This is my daughter Wave-ly Jong,† she said to whoever looked her way. One day, after we left a shop I said under my breath, â€Å"I wish you wouldn't do that, telling everybody I'm your daughter. While the narrator enjoys the challenge of winning at chess for its own sake, clearly the mother enjoys the success of her daughter for the admiration it brings to her. At the end, the imaginary of the chess board in Waverly's dream is used to symbolize the conflict between Waverly and her mother, as each struggles for mastery over the other. The way that the story ends, with Waverly closing her eyes and â€Å"pondering my next move,† shows Waverly's desire to escape her mother and treats her conflict as a game of chess. Although Waverly has lost this round, she is considering how to ventually beat her mother and gain the independence she so desperately desires. 3. in the beginning of the story, Waverly is more in touch with her Chinese culture. How has this changed by the end of the story? In the beginning of the story, Waverly is more in touch with her Chinese culture because she is younger and her mother has more control over her. She lives and plays in a Chinese neighborhood. By the end of the story, Waverly is older and has been more exposed to American culture. She has attended chess tournaments, each one further away from home. As a result she is less in touch with her Chinese culture. 4. Mrs. Jong is upset because Waverly is becoming Americanized, but she herself adopts certain aspects of American culture. Find examples in the story. Mrs. Jong names Waverly after the street they live on. She takes her children to a Christmas party. She allows Waverly to play in the chess tournaments and she gives Waverly special privileges (according to the American rules). 5. Waverly sometimes sees her mother as her opponent. Are they â€Å"playing† by the same rules? Explain. How does this affect their relationship? Waverly learns the Chinese rules of behavior and uses them to get what she wants. For example she uses self-control and manipulation to get her mother to allow her to play in the local chess tournaments. However, as Waverly gets older, she and her mother don't always play by the same rules. Mrs. Jong plays by the Chinese rules of behavior, whereas Waverly has begun to reject these rules in favor of the American values of self expression and independence. This causes conflict in their relationship. 6. Explain the ending of the story. What does Waverly's daydream symbolize? Do you think it could be metaphor for growing up? Explain. At the end of the story Waverly imagines a chess game with her mother as her opponent. Mrs. Jong sits opposite from her, winning the game of inner strength. The chess game is a metaphor for her struggle and rebellion against her mother, and therefore for growing up. In her imaginary game, Waverly breaks free from her mother's influence. She leaves the safety of her home and neighborhood and floats above the city. She is free but also alone with no one to guide her or tell her what to do. She must now make her own decisions. Waverly has to plan her next move at home concerning her relationship with her mother. The imaginary game could symbolize the transition from childhood to approaching adulthood. G. Like the United States, Israel is a country of many immigrants. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever experienced a cultural conflict similar to the one Waverly experiences in the story? Share an example of this with your classmates. I had a Jewish friend that his parents came to Israel from Russia, but he was born here and was raised up on the Israeli culture. His parents want him to be surgeon so he could make the Russian community proud but he wants to be musician so he had many fights with his parents until they give up. Bridging text and context A. Read the background information. To what extent is the information reflected in the story rules of the game? (Page 79) The two stories is very similar because the two stories are about the Chinese immigrants families. and both families has one girl and two boys, in both stories the girls have Arguments with their mothers and there are conflicts between the American culture and the Chinese culture. B. How does reading biographical information about Amy Tan add to or change your understanding of the story? The author's difficult relationship with her mother is reflected in Waverly's difficult relationship with her mother, whom she sees as her opponent in the imaginary game. The culture's conflict that Chinese Americans experience is another theme that is reflected in the story. Waverly does not entirely identify with the American mainstream or with her parents' Chinese culture. C. Compare and contrast the fictional character of Waverly Jong with the author, Amy Tan. The character Waverly Jong is both similar and different from the author Amy Tan: 1. Both were the only daughters of Chinese immigrant parents and both had difficult relationship with their mothers. 2. Amy Tan became a successful writer, while Waverly became a successful chess player. Reflection 1. Did you enjoy reading the story? Why or why not? I enjoyed reading the story because it reminds me of myself, even though I am not an immigrant, but still there are many things that happened to Waverly that happened to me also, and it's good to see how people from different cultures react to similar situation, because if this kind of situations will return in the future, I will know how to deal with them. 2 . What did you found interesting or memorable about the story? What I found interesting in the story are the conflicts between Waverly and her mother because it happens to everyone, not only them but it's memorable because they have a different culture which will make them look differently from myself in a similar situation. What interest me is the comparison between their culture and my own.

Evaluate The Impact Of A Selected Business’s Ethical Behaviour On Stakeholders And The Business

In this report I will be looking at how my businesses activities and ethical behaviour affect different stakeholders with in my business. My organisation (RBS). Royal Bank of Scotland is one of the world’s top ten financial groups. The group employs 140,000 people across 30 countries and operates out of more than 2000 sites worldwide. Its subsidiaries include NatWest, Lombard, First Active and insurance groups such as Direct Line and Churchill. RBS’s aims and objectives are focusing on customers since the credit crunch in 2008 and they lost a large amount of customers since then.So their aims and objectives are to work harder to make cooperate banking better, to Provide service and support to make other businesses grow and provide them succeed in the most competitive markets and finally Improving customer service and gaining customer loyalty. As a financial institution it is necessary that RBS think and plan carefully before they make any decision or take any action in the business. They are dealing with financial products and service so they really need to focus on being ethical and behaving in a way that crime is not involved.Regulatory bodies work very hard to prevent any unethical behaviour that will not be tolerating by the authorities in charge for banking behaviour. Regardless regulatory bodies monitoring banking activities and putting laws and procedures in place for banks to abide by; unethical behaviour still takes place in banks often by individuals or groups or the bank as a whole. Looking at RBS’s history I have discovered RBS has had ups and downs during the previous few years. Unethical behaviour has taken place in RBS and their behaviour has had a huge impact on various shareholders in different ways.RBS just like many other banks has had history of mis-selling Payment Protection Insurance to customers. RBS and other banks who mis-sold PPI have had to pay back customers. PPI was a Payment Protection Insurance that is insuran ce on loans and other borrowings; people used this insurance so if the debtors die or lose their jobs then the insurance will pay off the loan. Customers bought this insurance knowingly or unknowingly but were not told clear information about what the real circumstances will be if the person is unable to pay the loan.This insurance only paid out minimum repayments for only a minimum time for about twelve months. Customers were tricked and they paid the PPI which was no use to them when they were unable to pay off their loan. RBS has already lost a lot of money paying back compensation. Since people are allowed to clam back their money on PPI and interests they were charged RBS has made an estimated loss of between  £580million and  £1. 3billion. At the moment they have kept an amount of  £500 million aside for future PPI compensation they may still have to repay.After the PPI loss they have really focused on how to prevent misspelling products so they will not have to face pay ing out compensations again. As the result of RBS misspelling PPI stakeholders were affected in in many ways. RBS’s shareholders are missing out on the high amounts of dividends they should have received. As RBS has to pay out the PPI fines they owe to customer from their profits. This means that because RBS’s profits have decreased then this will affect the amount of dividends shareholders receive as the dividend will also decrease.This is not a good image of RBS in front of their shareholders as they have disadvantaged their shareholders by decreasing their dividends. Customers have been victims of PPI as they have been paying extra charges on their loans and on other amounts borrowed from RBS . some customers struggle to even repay their minimum repayments; so PPI had made it harder for them to pay off their loans. Mis-selling gave people the wrong impression that they were insured if they lost their jobs or their source of income.People  lose trust in banking pro ducts as they expect to be assured in difficult times but when they find out they are not insured and will still have to repay loans they get mentally stressed and they feel like they can’t rely on banking products provided by RBS. The Financial service authority and other regulatory bodies also have also suffered financially as they had to pay employees at FSA to investigate the PPI scam. This is time consuming for them as they need to make sure that everyone who paid PPI is compensated.They have to spend time to investigate and fine banks so next time they will not do anything unethical again. After this incident FSA are being stricter on the way that banks operate and have amended laws regarding selling products to customers and banking what the bank is allowed to do and what they are restricted to do. The FSA is looking into how banks interact with customers and are paying more attention to all products that banks are selling. Most customers have been compensated by RBS; however I believe RBS’s trust bond with their customers has already been damaged.This influences customer’s behaviour before they buy and insurance products or additional insurance products as they will think twice before thinking of buying these products as RBS additional products may be seen as just another scam or unnecessary products. RBS needs to build up their trust with stakeholders again by providing them with information based on facts and only sell them with products that are relevant to individual customers depending on their needs.On 3rd August 2010 the FSA announced fines of  £5.6 million for RBS group for the failure in its systems and control with respect to the UK financial sanctions regime. UK banks and businesses are not allowed to provide financial services to people on the HM Treasury Sanctions list. The money Laundry Regulation 2007 states that RBS should have policies in place to prevent funding and services to people on the sanctions list, RBS is said to have not considered it important to investigate where the money was coming from into customers’ accounts. They did not look into customers to see the source of money they received or cashes out of their accounts.FSA believe that RBS funding’s could have facilitated transactions involving sanctions target and terrorist financing. After RBS admitted that they had made the mistake by not paying attention to these issues they were fined  £5. 6 million. This outcome influenced different stakeholders in different ways. When the word â€Å"terrorist† is used with an organisations name then people want to stay out of the story; this is why after RBS was fined for failing to screening procedures stakeholders did not want anything to do with RBS.I believe the main stakeholders that will influence RBS was their customers as they will stop opening accounts with RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank and Coutts and Co. this was because they thought that the money they dep osited in their accounts was being financed for criminal activities and financing terrorism activities. Customers stop using RBS and NatWest banking and moved their money into other banks. The number of people opening accounts with them decreased as they were named as terrorist financers by some people. RBS’s reputation will go down as people will think they are involved in criminal activities.RBS needs to make people have trust in them again and they need to take an action to prevent this from happening again. People stopped buying RBS market shares in the stock exchange and this left them with shareholders wanting to sell their shares as soon as possible. Shareholders suffered as share prices decreased and RBS’s reputation was bad which meant they lost value in the stock exchange. RBS profits decreased as they had to pay the fine from the profits; this means they will pay out less dividends to their shareholders.RBS have not been ethical all the time however they hav e worked to improve and build strong relationships with their stakeholders. RBS have done this by showing the community that they care about them and they have invested some profit towards the community. Corporate Social responsibility has been RBS’s strong activity which will make people they are ethical and care about the society. RBS has proved this by taking part in a number of activities and supporting projects to help the future working generation and support  projects that are operating to make the earth a better place to live. RBS has been working with The Princes Trust for more the 11 years they have financially supported the enterprise programme.The Enterprise Programme supports and guides people aged from 16 to 30 to overcome their personal barriers to success and achieve their goals. RBS has been helping young people develop their ideas and become entrepreneurs. RBS are doing this to show people that they care about the younger generation that they spend their p rofits on projects that help provide young people a promising future.They want to show society that they are helping build businesses and are helping the society as a whole by helping young people. They will be successful in winning customers trust and in bringing their reputation back up if they continue supporting the society. RBS have used 61% of their gas from natural gases in 2011. They are now lending massive amounts of money to organisations that are working on renewable energy. They spent  £50 million helping small businesses to start up their projects on renewing energy.They then lent out  £366 million pounds in 2011 to help renewable projects in 2011. RBS has also made other small changes to the way they carry out activities that have helped the environment a lot. They have showed that they operate ethically and that they operate ethically by doing simple things on a daily basis such as they have reduced the usage of paper by using electronic systems instead. RBS do no t send customers statements by paper anymore because they have started providing electronic statements.I believe by showing that they support the environment and practice ethically they have showed campaigns like Greenpeace that they are willing to help the environment and prevent global warming. In every success story at green peace projects; RBS will be mention for making it possible to prevent global warming as they have invested in these projects. I believe that RBS performing ethically and making the right decisions has a major impact on the Government. I say this because RBS was bailed out by the government in October 2008 after going bankrupt.The government bailed them out because they couldn’t afford an established bank to go down as this would affect so many things and create so much loss to the nation as a whole. RBS was bailed out because they are one of the main companies that operate in the UK and they will lose so much money. The government invested to bail out the bank so that they will have their say on the way the banks run and control over bonuses paid to management. Bonuses and dividends were cancelled by the government and RBS had to forcefully sell their shares to the government as no other investors were willing to invest.The government buying 605 of their shares meant that they were owners of RBS. This gave the government a better insight of how the bank operates and they are now able to order RBS of how they want it to operate. I think the bank has only invested in the banks so that they can make more money from RBS’s profits in the future. This will also allow them to have a better grip of the banks finances so they make profit and the shareholders majorly the government can get high dividends in return on the profit in the upcoming years.If the government let RBS get bankrupt then the government would suffer severely. RBS going bankrupt means the nation losing one of their well established banks that means staff will be made redundant. When they are made redundant these unemployed people will turn to the government for financial support in the form of various state benefits. In my opinion the government invested money to save the bank so that they can get a return on what they invest rather than just paying out benefits.Since the government has bailed RBS out of financial crises, I think there has been an improvement in the way they operate as the government is kept a close eye on RBS’s activities to ensure make a profit and are able to pay off tax payers. RBS has paid off  £163bn in emergency loan they received from US and British taxpayers during the financial crises. Of their loan to the government with high return as the interest charged on the loan. I hope after clearing off their loan they still behave ethically so that they can avoid paying out more compensation to people they have affected with their unethical activities.

Women too apologetic in the boardroom - Emphasis

Women too apologetic in the boardroom Women too apologetic in the boardroom The language women use in meetings could be holding them back in business, according to new research. The study, an 18-month long examination of the speaking patterns of men and women within seven major companies, was run by applied linguistics lecturer Dr Judith Baxter. The biggest difference Dr Baxter noticed between the sexes was womens tendency to use humour, self-deprecation and apologetic language, apparently to avoid conflict. Indeed, they were found to be four times more likely to employ these techniques than men, who tended to be more direct and openly confrontational. And this could be undermining their own authority and making them look weak and defensive. [Women] have to work really hard to hit the right note with their colleagues, says Dr Baxter. I have seen a woman use all the wrong linguistic strategies, and she lost the room. This problematic habit occurs most, it seems, where women feel particularly outnumbered by men in meetings. And given that only 12.5 per cent of FTSE-100 company board members are women, the issue looks to have the makings of a vicious circle.

Difference Between inure and enure

Difference Between inure and enure Difference Between â€Å"inure† and â€Å"enure† Difference Between â€Å"inure† and â€Å"enure† By Maeve Maddox inure: To bring (a person, etc.) by use, habit, or continual exercise to a certain condition or state of mind, to the endurance of a certain condition For example: Emergency room personnel become inured to the sight of blood. Scientists working in Antarctica become inured to the cold. Teachers in schools with weak principals become inured to indignities. enure: (legal term) to come into operation; to take place, have effect; to be available; to be applied (to the use or benefit of a person) For example, The new tax will enure to the benefit of all the inhabitants of Madison County. These examples from the web indicate that inure for habituate has become the most common spelling on both sides of the Atlantic: WE MUST NOT BECOME INURED TO YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE (The Boston Globe) Germans become inured to violence against foreigners (The Independent) Are we becoming inured to civil service carelessness? (The Telegraph) How Inured to Mass Shootings Have We Become? (The Huffington Post) Film audiences have long become inured to elderly actors being paired off with barely post-pubescent females. (The Guardian) In older printed works, the spellings inure and enure occur frequently with either meaning. Both the OED and Merriam-Webster offer enure as a variant spelling, but modern usage seems to favor inure for the sense of â€Å"habituate.† It may be useful to reserve the spelling enure for the legal term. Wordnik offers examples of the uses of enure and inure. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Congratulations on or for?â€Å"As Well As† Does Not Mean â€Å"And†I wish I were...