Free Essays on The Virginian

The Virginian’s Growth as a Character Good novelists carefully develop their main characters. Events and other characters in the novel shape the personality of the main character. In his novel, The Virginian, Owen Wister’s main character, the Virginian is bland and unattached early in the story, but gradually develops a complex personality. The Virginian is portrayed in the beginning of the story as just another cowpuncher with no apparent personality other than a boring rustler. As a guest of Judge Henry’s arrives in Medicine Bow, the Virginian is sent to greet him. As he introduces himself to the guest, he demonstrates the obvious attitude of a hired hand. He carries himself in a rough, straightforward manner. He is a man used to hard work and a hard life. To the guest, the Virginian describes the next leg of the journey in such a matter of fact fashion that the guest is shocked to learn that this next step is 263 miles. The guest sees a â€Å"handsome, ungrammatical son of the soil†(9). At the same time, however, the Virginian’s courtesy and ability to take social cues from the guest, leads the guest to decide that the Virginian is one of â€Å"the creature[s] we call a gentleman†¦. that are born without chance to master the outward graces of the type† (10). Wister reveals both s ides of the Virginian’s personality by allowing the Virginian to be aware of things other than the immediate concerns of a cowboy. Wister shows the cowboy’s versatile mentality as he notices â€Å"pleasant trees of the ranch† (194) and follows the code of chivalry, â€Å"Stand on your laigs†¦ and say you’re a liar!†(71) while protecting the integrity of the teacher. At some points the cowboy may lose his temper, while at other times he sits and stares at the open landscape, dreamy eyed as the prairie flows to the mountainside. Wister further reveals the growth and development of the Virginian through his letters. The letter he wr... Free Essays on The Virginian Free Essays on The Virginian The Virginian’s Growth as a Character Good novelists carefully develop their main characters. Events and other characters in the novel shape the personality of the main character. In his novel, The Virginian, Owen Wister’s main character, the Virginian is bland and unattached early in the story, but gradually develops a complex personality. The Virginian is portrayed in the beginning of the story as just another cowpuncher with no apparent personality other than a boring rustler. As a guest of Judge Henry’s arrives in Medicine Bow, the Virginian is sent to greet him. As he introduces himself to the guest, he demonstrates the obvious attitude of a hired hand. He carries himself in a rough, straightforward manner. He is a man used to hard work and a hard life. To the guest, the Virginian describes the next leg of the journey in such a matter of fact fashion that the guest is shocked to learn that this next step is 263 miles. The guest sees a â€Å"handsome, ungrammatical son of the soil†(9). At the same time, however, the Virginian’s courtesy and ability to take social cues from the guest, leads the guest to decide that the Virginian is one of â€Å"the creature[s] we call a gentleman†¦. that are born without chance to master the outward graces of the type† (10). Wister reveals both s ides of the Virginian’s personality by allowing the Virginian to be aware of things other than the immediate concerns of a cowboy. Wister shows the cowboy’s versatile mentality as he notices â€Å"pleasant trees of the ranch† (194) and follows the code of chivalry, â€Å"Stand on your laigs†¦ and say you’re a liar!†(71) while protecting the integrity of the teacher. At some points the cowboy may lose his temper, while at other times he sits and stares at the open landscape, dreamy eyed as the prairie flows to the mountainside. Wister further reveals the growth and development of the Virginian through his letters. The letter he wr...

How to Manage and Identify Sourwood

How to Manage and Identify Sourwood Sourwood is a tree for all seasons and is found in the forest understory, along roadsides and a pioneering tree in clearings. A member of the heath family, Oxydendrum arboreum is primarily a hill country tree that has a range from Pennsylvania to the Gulf Coastal Plain. The leaves are dark, lustrous green and appear to weep or hang from the twigs while branches droop toward the ground. Branching patterns and persistent fruit give the tree an interesting look in the winter. Sourwood is one of the first trees to turn fall colors in the Eastern forest. By late August, it is common to see foliage of young sourwood trees along roadsides beginning to turn red. The fall color of sourwood is a striking red and orange and associated with blackgum and sassifras. It is an early summer bloomer and gives fresh flower color after most flowering plants have faded. These flowers also provide the nectar for bees and the very tasty and sought out sourwood honey. Specifics Scientific name: Oxydendrum arboreumPronunciation: ock-sih-DEN-drum ar-BORE-ee-umCommon name(s): Sourwood, Sorrel-TreeFamily: EricaceaeUSDA hardiness zones: USDA hardiness zones: USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 9AOrigin: Native to North AmericaUses: recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway; shade tree; specimen; no proven urban toleranceAvailability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree Special Uses Sourwood is occasionally used as an ornamental because of its brilliant fall color and mid-summer flowers. It is of little value as a timber species but the wood is heavy and is used locally for handles, firewood and in mixture with other species for pulp. Sourwood is important as a source of honey in some areas and sourwood honey is marketed locally. Description Sourwood usually grows as a pyramid or narrow oval with a more or less straight trunk at a height of 25 to 35 feet but can reach 50 to 60 feet tall with a spread of 25 to 30 feet. Occasionally young specimens have a more open spreading habit reminiscent of Redbud.Crown density: denseGrowth rate: slowTexture: medium Leaves Leaf arrangement: alternateLeaf type: simpleLeaf margin: entire; serrulate; undulateLeaf shape: lanceolate; oblongLeaf venation: banchidodrome; pinnateLeaf type and persistence: deciduousLeaf blade length: 4 to 8 inchesLeaf color: green Fall color: orange; red Fall characteristic: showy Trunk and Branches Trunk/bark/branches: droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; not particularly showy; should be grown with a single leader; no thornsPruning requirement: needs little pruning to develop a strong structureBreakage: resistantCurrent year twig color: green; reddishCurrent year twig thickness: medium; thin Pests and Diseases Pests are usually not a problem for Sourwood. Fall webworm can defoliate portions of the tree in summer and fall but usually control is not needed. As far as diseases, twig blight kills leaves at the branch tips. Trees in poor health seem to be more susceptible. Prune out infected branch tips and fertilize. Leaf spots can discolor some leaves but are not serious other than causing premature defoliation. Culture Light requirement: tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows in full sunSoil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; acidic; well-drainedDrought tolerance: moderateAerosol salt tolerance: moderate In Depth Sourwood grows slowly, adapts to sun or shade, and prefers a slightly acid, peaty loam. The tree transplants easily when young and from containers of any size. Sourwood grows well in confined soil spaces with good drainage making it a candidate for urban plantings but is largely untried as a street tree. It is reportedly sensitive to air pollution injury Irrigation is required during hot, dry weather to keep leaves on the tree. Reportedly not highly drought tolerant, but there are beautiful specimens in USDA hardiness zone 7 growing in the open sun in poor clay with no irrigation.

Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 4

Media - Essay Example Drury (2008) further elaborates that the social networking sights, such as Facebook and Twitter, are two important platforms where people have created virtual identity for sharing different types of content and interacting with each other; thereby, social media democratises the content in its all forms. The scope of this paper is to elaborate on the news consumption and translate that consumption into further interaction and into tangible form such as buying or subscribing to news and information. In this regard, it is essential to highlight that the news dissemination purpose is to increase awareness and enable consumers to make well-informed decisions relating to products and services which are being offered through marketing on social media and other forms which disseminate information and news. Keeping this view in mind, the social media, particularly the role of social networking sites will be closely discussed for producing, marketing, distributing and consuming the news. For this objective, following sections will highlight the role of social media with the above mentioned aspects of news. First, social media and production of news section has been given. It is followed by social media and marketing of news part has been included. Subsequently, social media and distribution of news segment has been incorporated. Before the conclusion part, social media and consumption of news section has been provided. Social media facilitates and empowers the rise of citizen journalism. Citizen journalism refers to individuals, who are not formally member of any news agency, produce, report, and upload any news through using the medium of the Internet and more specifically the social media sites (Bryant, 2006). Silverblatt (2013) differently describe the use and prominence of the citizen journalism on the land of the social networking sites by explaining that the citizen journalism refers to

Strategic Analysis and Choice Invastigation Essay

Strategic Analysis and Choice Invastigation - Essay Example This is done through strategic management in order to contemplate its resources and exploit its opportunities. An example of organization facing these challenges is the coca-cola company, which is a multinational company. This paper will give an analysis of its strategic choices as the company strives to compete with others to win the majority of the customers. Coca-cola Company is one of the most successful companies that need to lay down some fundamental strategies in order to promote its growth and sustainability. It is the leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverage in the world. The company believes that consumers are the life of their business. It operates in more than two hundred countries with four hundred brands. These brands include water, juice drinks, coffees, teas, sports drinks, energy drinks, diet beverage and many others. They connect to future consumer by providing high quality products. Their employees are skilled and the materials they use are of high quality. The Company can collaborate with other bottling organizations to venture into many countries with maximizing value through affordable price and volume approach. In order to develop its marketing strategies, the company has integrated its operations into a single unit. This has been done through management approaches that enable the company to realize the business objectives and promote quality customer relationship. The marketing strategies are essential to fulfill the vision in the future and to fulfill the need for a complete drink taste in all the countries. They have successfully communicated to the market status for the required development of the company in many countries since the company has produced excellent operating revenues as it continue to outpace the cola soft-drinks. Its top management has promoted increase in sales and market shares with strong business presentation (Daniel, Wassell, & Gilligan 1999, 46-8). The new marketing platform 'Real' coca- cola will help in enhancing the image of the brand, especially among teens and adults worldwide through reinforcing a genuine connection to the customers and partnership of other sectors. The enhanced brand will provide better market opportunities for their products and hence the company will create enthusiasm for their business partners and retailers. They have also customized flavors and packaging styles with the brand maintaining the premium price comparative to the competitive brands. Good marketing strategies and planning are essential for the company's development so that the company gives its best to their business in its totality. Quality management would ensure that the company is well-positioned hence meet the customers' needs and continue to experience strong growth through new goods and stretched distribution. Coca- cola may highlight their operating sector to work with other partners like bottling partners in order to accomplish the price strategies that would reinforce their financial results, provide customers with choices that would satisfy their needs and deliver value for the consumers. The coca- cola company can integrate the possible required steps for the development of effective strategies that is responsive to the needs of the customers worldwide. Their perfect structure reflects the way

Cyber Bullying Essay Example for Free

Cyber Bullying Essay Cyber bullying has become an increasing issue in the last few years in the United States. The reason why this type of bulling is the worst because the bully could come from someone anonymous as well as it could come from any place and at any time. As a result, the victim that is being bullied will suffer some short and long term problems such as: mistrusting of others, anxiety, depression, poor performance at school, and can result in suicide. Due to the increasing number of teenagers being cyber bullied, it should be a criminal, punishable offense in the United States in order to protect the Nation’s children and teenagers. What is Cyber Bullying? In the rapid development in technology, there have been some issues that have come to light about the use of these products in the hands of adolescences. It has been found through some research that cyber bullying is a new form of violent behavior (Bendixen, Endresen, and Olweus, 2003). Cyber bullying behavior is described as violent behavior that is against an individual or group that is demonstrated through the usage of internet and mobile phones (Vandebsch and Cleemput, 2008). This type of violent behavior includes an individual hacking onto another individual’s personal website, leaking out damaging information through the use of communication technology such as: mobile phone, email, and sending messages. The Effects of Cyber Bullying Although cyber bullying does not occur in person, it can still have the same emotional and psychological effects of regular bullying. A child that has been bullied/cyber bullying more than likely to experience loneliness, unhappiness, anxiety, depression, and problems sleeping (Keith Martin, 2005). Many times the effects of bullying often go unnoticed due to the fact the victim feels embarrassed and/or afraid the bullying will continue. Often times, the victim tends to act anxious, less confident, and become very quiet in class (Keith Martin, 2005). As a result, the child has a significant hurdle in their development and it also can be a hindrance in their academic success. They have a fear that anything they put on any social site may be used against them by individual they know or don’t know. Punishing Cyber Bullying Cyber bullying has become a serious widespread problem that has become more savage than a schoolyard bullying (Vandebsch Cleemput, 2008). The adolescents lack the maturity to understand the consequences of their actions and feel that it is okay to retaliate without being caught (Vandebsch Cleemput, 2008). The increase stories of tragedies where children being bullied over social media sites have also increased in awareness. Stories such as Amanda Todd are coming out more and more in which the child has been bullied and the child commits suicide. Such tragic stories and nothing was ever done to the bullies or the bully was never found. As a result to the recent deaths of these children that have been bullied, many parents have pushed the government officials to do something and to criminalize cyber bullying. Amanda Todd’s mother is one that has established the Amanda Todd Trust Fund in which the donations is used to support and educate anti-bullying awareness. Many states like California has a law that makes it a misdemeanor to impersonate anyone through the web on social sites with the intent to threaten, harm, or intimidate other individuals (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). It is very difficult to make cyber bullying a federal crime in which the bullied committed suicide. The legal system is built to where the punishment fits the crime. Although cyber bullying does have its consequences and some cases do end in suicide we as a society, we must find a way to punish those that commit these crimes. Conclusion There are many different ways in how they’re exposed to the harsh life lessons of this world from predators to scam artists. Cyber bullying has come to light and it has many parents worried. One thing is for sure, it’s important for parents to be aware and learn how to navigate social media in order to help their children avoid cyber bullying and to be safe. The reason is that in the adolescence’s life, the most important stage is the period in where they develop relationships among their peers. They become more aware f issues in trying to have a place in their social world. This has a huge effect on their psychological development. Therefore, if adolescence has a positive relationship will lead to them having a successful identity and live in harmony with society (Sahin, Aydin, Sari, 2012). On the other hand, if the adolescence has a negative relationship such as bullying from their peers will harm their emotional, social, and psychological development (Sahin, Aydin, Sari, 2012). Therefore, as a society we should try the punishment that fits the crime.

Communication Reflection Essay -- Business

Introduction On Monday, November 14, 2011, Terry Burnham, Shawn Carlson, Roger Chikamura, Heidi Davidson and Natasha DeJesus were assigned membership of Team 1 for a virtual team project. The purpose of the project was to conduct a leadership analysis of a world-renowned leader, to be presented in the form of a narrated PowerPoint presentation. Areas of organizational behavior to be analyzed include: leadership of diversity practices; leadership values, personality and decision-making; leadership of organizational culture; leadership of follower motivation; and overall success as a leader. Team 1, by mutual consent, chose to use e-mail as the primary means of communication. Although, the planning and execution of the project, was carried out efficiently and considered a success by all members of the team, there are still a number of lessons that were learnt for future projects. Virtual Teams According to Kurland and Bailey (1999) a virtual team â€Å"consists of team members who are geographically dispersed and who come together by way of telecommunications technology. Each team member may be located in a traditional office setting, but the offices are not proximate to one another† (p. 56). This definition is supported by Berry (2011) who adds that the two main differences between virtual and regular teams are that the members of virtual teams may be dispersed geographically and rely predominately on computer-mediated communication. As stated by Robbins and Judge (2011) virtual teams face a number of particular challenges. Members experience very little social interaction and do not feel the benefit of the usual give-and-take experienced by teams. They tend to be more task-orientated and members often report less satisfactio... ...n be taken away from this project is that virtual teams work well when members are motivated and focused. But, had one, or more, members been uncommunicative, unreliable, or comfortable with the use of email as a primary means of communication, the team may have struggled to reach its goal. Other means of communication would have been required, and a more authoritarian form of leadership needed to keep the whole team focused. â€Æ' References Berry, G. R. (2011). Enhancing Effectiveness on Virtual Teams. Journal Of Business Communication, 48(2), 186-206. doi:10.1177/0021943610397270 Kurland, N.B., & Bailey, D.E. (1999). Telework: The advantages and challenges of working here, there, anywhere, and anytime. Organizational Dynamics, Autumn, 53-68. Robbins, S.P., & Judge, T.A. (2011). Organizational behavior (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall

Burt’s Bee’s: Leaving the Hive

Burt’s Bee’s: Leaving the Hive 01-26-2013 Burt’s Bee’s is committed to providing the best products for its consumers by ensuring they are 100% natural and produced in environmentally friendly conditions. I believe it is possible for the company to become the â€Å"Starbucks of personal care† without foregoing the initial values established by Roxanne Quimby. Roxanne’s original vision was making Burt’s bees a big brand, not an exclusive brand, and so moving into the mass market sector is in-keeping with this idea.Arguably, moving away from a specialty and health product, to a mass market brand is risky and results in specialty stores pulling back and reducing shelf space. However, the company today is very loyal and focused on their core values. They insist on only developing products that serve an explicit healthful purpose. They delayed launching the shampoo, for example, because they wanted to create a natural, cleaner shampoo that a lso lathered, to meet customer needs.The company pursued products other firms didn’t, like carrot lotion, adding to Burt’s authenticity. As well as this, they make all their packaging from recycled materials and encourage customers to reuse or recycle shampoo bottles for example. I believe that if they keep this up, they can definitely become the â€Å"Starbucks on personal care† without foregoing the values and narratives that made the brand successful. In my opinion this model is replicable. All Burt’s Bee’s is trying to do is what’s best for consumers and the environment.No matter how big the brand gets, no matter how much profits increase by, the firm in question should try follow in Burt’s Bee’s footsteps, and continue focusing on their core competencies and outsourcing tasks where they are not as efficient. In Burt’s Bee’s case, by fully disclosing ingredients, they promote transparency; by not testing their products on animals they communicate their values to the consumer; finally, by striving to use 100% natural ingredients in each of their products, they are upholding the firm’s original values.The model is easy to replicate as long as the firm is committed and loyal to the core values. I think Burt’s Bee’s have done a very good job so far. Seeing as packaging is not their core competency, they outsourced it to contractors thus minimizing waste and boosting efficiency. Herbs used in their products can be used for bio-fuel and are actually used by the employees as substitute fuel. All packaging is made from recycled materials and they encourage customers to reuse or recycle shampoo bottles.In addition to this they have shortened their supply chain by selling directly to all of their accounts. By cutting out the middle channel of distribution, they effectively reduced Burt’s Bee’s carbon footprint and saved money at the same time making them more env ironmentally and economically sustainable. The risks involved with this acquisition are many. As stated in the article, Clorox plans to turn Burt’s Bees into a mainstream American brand sold in big-box stores like Wal-Mart.Already, the move from specialty health stores, to Walgreens and CVS has had an impact on Burt’s Bee’s shelf space in these smaller specialty stores. The risk is that if they move to the other extreme, they may no longer be viewed as the quirky authentic firm that was initially established. The link to Clorox alone will bring Burt’s Bee’s under a lot of scrutiny, given the fact that they aim to provide the best and most natural products for their customers, and the consumer perception of Clorox is the total opposite. However, there are also a lot of opportunities Burt’s Bee’s will gain from this.With Clorox’s help, they can really strive to be a national brand, and increase their already growing market share in natural personal care. The resources Clorox will provide will boost advertising spending and increase the firm’s power when negotiating with suppliers and retailers. In addition to this, as the competition in the industry grows, having Clorox’s funds and support will go a long way for Burt’s Bee’s. And with Clorox’s Green Works initiative, the public’s perception may improve and so loyal customers will remain loyal.

Costco Value Chain Analysis Essay

Introduction The aim of the SSP is to identify a firm in a competitive industry, and propose solutions to the problems it faces.   The paper covers corporate strategic thinking, complexity analysis, systems thinking, and sustainability analysis. The major problem addressed in the paper is Costco’s ability to develop a suitable value chain, which can increases profitability and maximize shareholder’s value.   Costco is one of the leading global retailers, specialized in selling a wide range of merchandise, ranging from local to international brands. The tools presented in this paper provides Costco with an opportunity for transforming its business activities relative to the industry rivals, with the aim of creating profits and raising the company’s value. Executive Summary The paper has two major parts. The first part applies traditional strategic thinking, which includes applying the complexity analysis of key issues affecting Costco and a sustainability analysis. These tools address the challenges surrounding Costco’s business operations and profitability.   The first part includes stakeholder identification and value analysis, general forces analysis, value chain analysis, SWOT analysis, key factors to success analysis and Porter’s five forces analysis. The second part is a complexity analysis of Costco, which includes industry evolution modeling, action plan analysis, Boid analysis, Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainable Framework Analysis. Analyzing the Company Strategy Type Action Plan Analysis Costco’s current strategy originates from its mission and vision. The company pursues three of the four generic strategies, which are low cost leadership, customer relationship and differentiation. These three exposes the company’s strategic intent thinking to achieve global leadership.   A keen Alignment and Goals analysis shows that employees at Costco support the company’s strategy. However, the employees have the required skills to make the strategy work, and on top of this, they are well paid and motivated. Costco’s action plan analysis can increase profit margin to 18 percent and operating profit margin to 10 percent by 2017 (Farfan, 2010). Boid Analysis Industry Evolution Modeling The Boid analysis reveals three major rules governing the retail industry, which Costco values. The first one is to have a customer driven focus through adding value to the product mix. The second one is to maintain a flexible pricing strategy, and offering promotion services to customers. The third one is to adopt global cultural changes through adapting to clients preferences changes. This means delivering specific services and products to a particular culture or country. The Industry Evolution Modeling analysis reveals Costco’s determination to advance and match with the new ways of doing business. The company can improve its industrial positioning by coming up with premier membership requirement. It is clear that Costco forgo short-term profits for long-term stability and viability and increasing shareholders’ wealth.   In addition to this, Costco slowly adopts new technology that draws customer attention and can expand development initiatives and research (Bloomberg, 2011). Life Cycle Assessment Sustainable Value Framework Analysis The Life Cycle Assessment for Costco shows that Costco understands the environmental risks which originate from warehouse operations.   Costco tries to mitigate the risks associated with the environment such as loss of reputation caused by not obeying environmental rules. Costco monitors the reports on four major greenhouse gases which are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons and methane. The Sustainable Value Framework provides an internal and external focus for what is happening today and what might happen tomorrow. This roadmaps a given strategy and drives success and is associated with a given payoff. Costco’s internal sustainability for today is to prevent pollution, minimize material consumption, and reduce waste. The payoff is reducing business costs and risks. For tomorrow, Costco’s internal strategy must reduce carbon footprint, create a cleaner technology, and avoid environmental disruption. The payoffs for this are competitive repositioning and further innovation (McKinsey, 2012). The external sustainable for today focuses on transparency, connectivity and drawing attention of the civil society. The pay offs are social legitimacy and increased brand reputation. For tomorrow, the external strategy ought to address depletion of resources, poverty and climate change, and the payoffs would be trajectory for permanent growth. Detailed Analysis of All Quadrants The information presented above reveals that Costco can improve its profitability by focusing on the four quadrants. To achieve permanent growth, the company must participate in campaigns that are aimed at preventing resource depletion and climate change. This way, Costco’s brand image will become popular among the members of the public, which can increase its customer base and hence profitability. Table 2: Sustainable Value Framework    Today Future External Strategy: Sustainability Vision- Costco’s code of Ethics, Community relations, Greenhouse Gas Elimination Programmes. Payoff: Sustainability in long-term growth. Strategy: Product Stewardship- Costco’s sustainable Packaging and Reducing materials Payoff: Increased reputation, and Brand Legitimacy. Internal Strategy: Clean Technology- building Construction mission, and Silver LEED Certification Payoff: Strengthening positioning and innovative buildings for future viability. Strategy: Preventing Pollution- Costco Energy programme. Payoff: Low costs associated with warehouse facilities.    Conclusions Costco tries to operate in accordance with its mission and vision in order to meet performance goals. The company strives for sustainable future. It does this by coming up with programs that can cut costs and reduce pollution. Costco’s expansion to global markets seems limited. In addition the company has a strict Code of ethics when establishing partnerships. Costco continuously offer discount services to its buyers. From the above analysis, it is clear that Costco aims at long-term growth other than short-term profitability. This explains why it short-term profits margins are smaller compared to that of its competitors, Wal-Mart and Target Corporation. References Bloomberg Business Daily (2011, November 24).  Costco Wholesale Corp.  Retrieved from http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/financials/ratios.asp?ticker=COST Farfan, B. (2010, September 10). 2012 Retail Store Closings Roundup: U.S. Retailers Closing or Liquidating Stores: Complete list of U.S. Retail Chains Downsizing or Going out of Business in 2012.  About.com. Retrieved from http://retailindustry.about.com/od/storeclosingsandopenings/a/2012-Store-Closings-US-Retail-Industry-Liquidations-Roundup-Chains-Going-Out-Business.htm McKinsey & Company. (2012). The value proposition in multichannel retailing. Retrieved from https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/The_value_proposition_in_multichannel_retailing_2800      

How to Write an Instructional Outline

How to Write an Instructional Outline Before writing a set of instructions or a process-analysis essay, you may find it helpful to draft a simple instructional outline. Here well look at the basic parts of an instructional outline and then examine a sample, Breaking in a New Baseball Glove. Basic Information in an Instructional Outline For most topics, youll need to provide the following information in your instructional outline. Skill to be taught:Â  Clearly identify your topic.Materials and/or equipment needed:Â  List all the materials (with proper sizes and measurements, if appropriate) and any tools that are needed to complete the task.Warnings:Â  Explain under what conditions the task should be carried out if it is to be done safely and successfully.Steps:Â  List the steps according to the order in which they are to be carried out. In your outline, jot down a key phrase to represent each step. Later, when you draft a paragraph or essay, you can expand and explain each of these steps.Tests:Â  Tell your readers how they will be able to know if they have carried out the task successfully. A Sample Instructional Outline: Breaking In a New Baseball Glove Skill to be taught:Â  Breaking in a new baseball gloveMaterials and/or equipment needed:Â  a baseball glove; 2 clean rags; 4 ounces of neatsfoot oil, mink oil, or shaving cream; a baseball or softball (depending on your game); 3 feet of heavy stringWarnings:Â  Be sure to work outside or in the garage: this process can be messy. Also, dont count on using the glove for about a week. Steps: Using a clean rag, gently apply a thin layer of oil or shaving cream to the external parts of the glove. Dont overdo it: too much oil will damage the leather.Let your glove dry overnight.The next day, pound the baseball or softball several times into the palm of the glove.Wedge the ball into the palm of the glove.Wrap the string around the glove with the ball inside and tie it tightly.Let the glove sit for at least three or four days.Wipe the glove with a clean rag and then head out to the ball field.

Useful Mandarin Phrases for the Mid-Autumn Festival

Useful Mandarin Phrases for the Mid-Autumn Festival One of the most important holidays in Chinese culture is the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival. Since the Moon Festival is at harvest time, it is a good occasion to celebrate the abundance of Mother Nature. Moon Festival is a time to gather with family and friends under the full moon sky while eating moon cake, pomelo fruit, and barbecued delicacies. Moon Festival Date Moon Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, so the date on the Gregorian calendar is different from year to year, but it is always on the full moon. The dates for Moon Festival are as follows: 2018 - September 242019 -  September 132020 - October 12021 - September 212022 - September 10 History of Moon Festival As with most Chinese festivals, there is a story to go along with Moon Festival. There are many versions of the Moon Festival legend, but most of them involve the archer Hou Yi and his wife Chang’e. Many years ago, there were ten suns in the sky. Crops could not grow and rivers ran dry, so the people were dying of hunger and thirst. Hou Yi took his bow and arrows and shot down nine of the ten suns, saving the people. As a reward, the Western Queen Mother gave Hou Yi a potion. If Hou Yi shares that potion with his wife, they will both live forever, but if only one of them takes the potion, he or she will become a god. Hou Yi and Chang’e plan to take the potion together. But one of Hou Yi’s enemies, Feng Meng, hears about the potion and plans to steal it. One night, on a full moon, Feng Meng kills Hou Yi, then forces Chang’e to give him the potion. Rather than give the evil man the potion, Chang’e drinks it all herself. She starts to rise into heaven, but she feels a close connection to the world of the mortals, and wants to stay close to them, so she stops at the moon, the closest body to earth. Moon Cakes The traditional food of Moon Festival is Moon Cake, which is a pastry stuffed with filling such as egg yolk, lotus seed paste, red bean paste, coconut, walnuts, or dates. The tops of Moon cakes usually have Chinese characters representing longevity or harmony. Moon Festival Vocabulary Here are some Mandarin phrases for Mid-Autumn Festival: Audio links are marked with ââ€" º English Pinyin Traditional Characters Simplified Characters Moon Festival zhng qi ji Hou Yi Hu Y Change Chng moon cake yu bng admiring the moon shng yu reunion tun yun barbecue ko ru pomelo fruit yuzi give presents sngl

Foreign Direct Investment in Burkina Faso Essay

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