Classification Of Rape Article Review - 1042 Words

Classification of Rape: Article Review Natalie Romero SYG 2000 â€Å"Preferred Labels and Penalties for Forced Sexual Intercourse† Robert T. Sigler International Journal of the Sociology of Law (1995) The definition of rape is still debated in today’s society. Considering this, it’s not hard to believe there was confusion around the 1990s, when rape had just begun gaining importance. The new emphasis on rape and sexual assault can be tied to the emerging feminist movement. Date rape was a term coined in the 1980s vaguely used to describe rape between acquaintances or rape occurring between two individuals who have been on a date. The term â€Å"acquaintances† was interpreted differently across the nation, therefore making it difficult to have a basic protocol for punishment. Furthermore, because some interpreted date rape differently than others (acquaintance rape or rape between people who have been on a date), there was confusion regarding what serious or legitimate rape was. Preferred Labels and Penalties for Forced Sexual Intercourse revolves around the different classifications of rape and the legal approach to them by different college students. Using th is sample, Robert T. Sigler finds trends in the classification of rape and the appropriate punishment within the framework of gender and fraternity or sorority affiliation. Summary Over time, attitude towards rape (or forced sexual intercourse) has changed greatly. By the 1990s, rape had generally gained importance andShow MoreRelatedThe Problems with Statutory Rape Essay examples1006 Words   |  5 Pageslaws surrounding statutory rape. Although the laws are in place to help people, many people see them as unfair and they believe that there are changes that could be made to help improve these laws. A major problem with statutory rape laws is that each state has a different law. 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The Civil War The American Revolution And The Secession...

Americans before the Civil War came to the United States to acquire self-preservation and to explore the foundation of capitalism. Songwriters such as Stephen Foster, felt the American people needed an image to follow a need for Puritan mentality. Without a doubt, music purposely expressed these movements by the usage of musical lyrics to analyze the discrimination against African American slaves and the secession of the United States, which reflected the turmoil of the separated Puritan communities. In short, after the American Revolution, many Americans feared the idea of self-preservation within communities, expressing that Americans had no real endeavor in working together. Moreover, writers like J. Hector St. John de Crà ¨vecÅ“ur, practiced to establish a diverse America, not only to separate Americans and show how different they act according to their surroundings, but helped to express how an environment can change one’s self-preservation. 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Environmental Management for Sustainable Development Oil and Gas

Question: Critically analyse alternative means available to ensure the sustainable development of oil and gas industries. Evaluate and contrast actions by consumers and governments to strengthen measures for sustainable development of oil and gas industries. Answer: Introduction The global energy market revolves around oil and gas exploration and has been an essential means to ensure economic growth and social development all across the world. Oil and gas fulfills the energy requirement of the people and it is predicted by International Energy Agency (IEA) that it is going to meet more than 48 % of the total energy demand of the world by the year 2035.(Barrow (2006)) Owing to the increase in the worlds population and improvement in the standard of living ,the demand for oil and gas is increasing by leaps and bounds which leads to its continuous exploration putting a huge challenge in the path of sustainable development of resources and minimizing its impact on the environment. The activities performed in oil and gas sector are prone to high risk and has detrimental impact on environment. Today the petroleum industry has been modernized and is fetching the even increasing revenue and is helping the society to grow but like many other natural resources oil and gas reserves are also vulnerable to exhaustion but also there is a demand from the industry to turn towards sustainability and also the requirement of adherence to the legal and regulatory framework to achieve the right balance between the industrial advancements and achievement of ethical standards and corporate governance.(Barrow (2002)) Need for Sustainable Development Oil and gas industry in todays time is facing a huge challenge to adopt strategies for sustainable development due to the rising demand of the fuel as they are playing eminent role in providing safe, emission free fuel at the reasonable cost. United Nations has launched a program by the name of Sustainable energy for everyone to ensure the global access to safe energy sources, increasing the market share of renewable energy and advancement in the technology for harnessing the fuel efficiently. (Welford (2000))The three objectives which UN has laid down can be achieved by oil and gas companies and companies can look forward to increasing their market share in the renewable sources of energy by the adoption of advanced, innovative eco- friendly technology for the generation of bio fuels rather than relying upon only the oil and gas productions. Alternatives ways to ensure sustainability of oil and gas One step taken by the oil and gas industry which has led to the achievement of one of the goals of UN is the reduction in the gas flare which posed a major problem contributing more than 1% of the emission of greenhouse gas. Research has shown that gas flaring has been reduced to more than 20 % to around 130 billion cubic meters from 172 within 5 years from 2005 to 2010.Firms in oil and gas industry has been reported to take steps to ensure sustainability for the social and environmental stability .Many oil majors have become members of oil and gas industry association for social and environmental issues (IPIECA) to establish framework of sustainability ,adhering to the guidelines and provide reports on the impact of firms operations on the environment, health and society.(Shell Global2014).Also these firms are providing information to the agency on their performance in relation to the environment and society. (higgins (2014))Oil and gas industry is supplying the major proportion of energy resource that is needed to fuel the economic and social development and will continue to do so along with extending their efforts to manage their operations in a safe and efficient manner there by reducing the greenhouse emissions and striking the right balance between the economic prosperity, social development at the same time fulfilling the social and environmental responsibility. Measures adopted by the Government and others agencies for realization of sustainability goal Firms need to devise ways to provide the fossil fuels as well as the alternative sources to energy to meet the ever increasing demand of the society in an ethical and sustainable ways. Few areas that can be focused by the firms to resolve sustainability issues have been illustrated below: Managing their operations in a safe manner minimizing its impact on the environment Contributing towards the development of framework for sustainable development and its adherence as a part of ethical and social responsibility(ScienceDirect (2000)) Adopting efforts to increase the value of the resources, minimizing its environmental impacts and finding ways for the development of alternative sources of energy by diversifying their existing product line.(Mitchell (2012)) Providing support to the oil exploration projects in the other developing countries of the world. Utilizing the hybridized system technology for the development of alternative sources of fuel and also providing support to the projects on the development of alternative sources of energy and its utilization. Various organizations have come up like Sustainability Accounting Standard Board (SASB) to advice the firms on the standards and the board has set the benchmark and provides expert feedback on the corporate governance and providing range of investment options for the development of alternative sources of energy.(dunlap (2014)) According to the sustainability accounting standard board, there are problems which have become a major environmental concern these days like global warming, scarcity of natural resources including clean drinking water. Also authorities are concerned about the environmental impact of the extraction processes of the oil and gas and its utilization and thus board is trying to put before the industry the material sustainability problem and thus investors should look into more holistic performance of the oil and gas exploration firms rather than performance confined to few attributes like production, valuation. Competitiveness of the oil and gas exploration will now be driven by the factors like carbon emission, corporate governance and the success of the companies in mitigating the impact of the exploration processes on nature. From the past few years concern over the ecological impact of the exploration processes have grown manifold and companies are making huge investments to discover commercially viable oil and gas fields. More than 65 % of the oil and gas producing companies are the members of OPEC which stands for organization of the petroleum exporting companies , however the share of the OPEC firms have been declining over the past few years and have reached below 40%. Steps taken by the companies and the Governments Companies have started utilizing the advanced technologies for the navigation of the risks involved while exploring the new oil fields and also adhere to the regulatory framework and have to comply by the government norms to manage the key issues of the industry, the major issues these days are the concern for global warming, ecological conservation, protection of natural resources, wildlife etc. Companies are asked to report their performance in these areas too and the new concept of sustainability reporting has come up where they provide information about the steps taken by them towards the management of each sustainability issue.( ConocoPhillips.2013). Firms are utilizing advanced systems like ERP softwares for the measurement, management and reporting of the vital information in the form of sustainability reports which can be accessed by the stakeholders anytime. Oil and gas industry is trying to find out the ways to align the industrial development with the ecological protection in an effort to achieve sustainability although filling the peoples demand and at the same time trying to mitigate the environmental impacts of the exploration poses enough challenges before these companies as the promotion of sustainable development is one step ahead than simply adhering to the legal and obligatory norms devised by the governments of different nations and the concerned authorities. Owing to the problems that are associated with the oil and natural gas exploration there is a complicated legal and regulatory framework under which oil producing firms are operating it for example EPA is one such regulatory agency that provides the guidelines and regulations and controls the environmental impacts of the oil exploration processes. Different states where the companies are situated all across the globe have their own regulatory agencies that provide the rules and regulations which the firms must adhere to for the protection of environment thereby achieving ecological sustainability. In United Kingdom in the year 1995, regulations on off shore installations were introduced which provide provisions for the workers on health and safety norms to be adhered to and sets out the objectives of achieving the highest standards of safety and the statuary guidelines which the oil and gas firms must follow. Legislative Policies and Procedures Many national legislations have also been put on the oil and gas firms which regulate the activities of the exploratory nature at each and every step and also laid down the goals of addressing the influence of the off shore exploration on the environment and thus controlling and monitoring of each step from exploration to the dismantling. Companies also need to sign the regional agreements where they are operating in thereby protecting the rights of the locals and adopting steps towards the conservation of bio diversity and demonstrating high level of legal and ethical standards. There are certain voids in the legal framework at the international level which has led to the development of regional agreements which can be signed easily and implemented in a better way .(Rochette et al, 2014) Recommendations Environmental sustainability aims to at achieving the development of human society along with the judicious utilization of the natural resources ensuring their supply generation after generation. The oil and gas firms can adopt environmental friendly, safe systems for oil drilling and dismantling which is not only safe from the environment point of view but also minimizes the risks of oil spills, greenhouse gas emissions and many other problems(Jad Mouawad.2010).Also the governments of various countries can adopt measures towards the adoption of equitable distribution of resources from the oil and gas fields that is one step towards solving the problem of inequality in the society driven by the exploitation of natural resources by few hands. Full disclosure of the companys accounts and accessibility of the records of companies achievements in all terms to the stakeholders adds to the transparency leading to the maintenance of effective monitoring systems and balances .There is a requ irement of effective management strategies that need to be practiced at all the levels towards the establishment of sustainable ways of achieving the oil and gas production and utilization. Conclusion We cannot deny the fact that oil and gas industry is the core of the worlds energy market and the robust population growth and improvement is the standard of living has led to the increased demand of the fuels but at the same time oil and gas production firms are facing challenges to stay competitive and attain growth as most of them are under the stiff scrutiny of their concerned governments and they also have to abide by the legislative procedures and regulations for striking the right balance between the social ,economic development and environmental protection. The realization of the strategies for the production and utilization of the alternative sources of energy are still far away and oil and gas companies plays a crucial role in taking sustainable energy production initiatives. Firms can develop innovative, eco-friendly technologies to reduce their cost of operations and can also diversify their product range towards non- conventional energy resources. Companies can also impr ove their environmental performance by adopting innovative strategies and technologies that emphasize on the production of fuel through sustainable ways which will help it in highlighting its contribution towards fulfilling environmental and social responsibility.(IMF, Country Report ,March 2011).Within past few years oil and gas majors has achieved significant success in the improvement of their production processes and subsequent reduction in gas flaring. Gas flaring being one of the major problem and its reduction is one of the objective of UN sustainable energy for all initiative as it contributes towards more than 1 % of the greenhouse gas emissions. Now the greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced to the extent of more than 20% in between the years 2005 to 2010.In order to fuel the industry growth and development and at the same time meet the challenges of sustainability it is essential that firms invest heavily on the development of innovative technologies based on sustaina ble development of resources that increases the efficiency of the core processes and at the same time helps in managing the operations in a safe manner ,mitigating the environmental impact of the oil and gas production. Bibliography Barrow, C (2002), Environmental Management, Routledge. Barrow, C (2006), Environmental Management for Sustainable Development, Taylor Francis, 2006. dunlap, R (2014), Sustainable Energy - Page xiiix, Timonthy Anderson. higgins, K (2014), Economic Growth and Sustainability:, Elsevier Inc. Mitchell, J (2012), What Next for the Oil and Gas Industry?, Unknown Publisher, 2012. ScienceDirect, E (2000), Energy policy[ - Page 139, McGraw Hill. Welford, R (2000), Corporate environmental management 3:, Earthscan, 2000.

Organisational Analysis Max Brenner Company

Company Overview Max Brenner Company was established in 1996 in Israel in a town outside Tel Aviv. Its name is derived from its founders who were Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner. However, Fichman is not part of the company any more since Brenner bought out his shares in the company. He also later sold it to Strauss-Elite and become a consultant and a shareholder of the company.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Organisational Analysis: Max Brenner Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since its inception, the company has spread to other countries including the US, Australia, Philippines and Singapore. The vision of the company is to spread its chocolate culture throughout the world. The company operates as a restaurant which mainly deals with chocolate products. Its menu contains hot chocolate drinks, desserts, chocolate waffles and wine among many others. It also offers cocktails, breakfast and many more. It sell s its products online and through stores. Max Brenner was incorporated into Strauss Group Ltd 2001 and today, it operates as a subsidiary of the company. Strauss Group Ltd. is also an Israel company which focuses on food products. Max Brenner International Inc. has continued to open up new branches and boutiques with the latest one being the 143-seat restaurant that was recently opened in Boston in the US and to increase the exports of its products. The 143-seat restaurant alone employs 112 workers. Its rapid expansion reflects Max Brenner’s confidence in chocolatier. It is the first chocolate company ever in New York. The company’s international expansion was intended to pave the way for spreading the brands in America and its products across the globe. The company’s 2010 third quarter sales increased by 4.4% having sold ILS 29 million from its previous quarter which was ILS 28 million (Max Brenner International Inc. 2011). In 2006 and earlier years, about 40% of Strauss Group Ltd. Per annum turnover which is approximated to be around $1 dollars is from other countries (Halili 2006). In 2009, its total sales revenue stood at about $32 million (Max Brenner International Inc. 2011). Products and services Max Brenner International Inc. mainly focuses on chocolates; however, its menu has a variety of food products which include chocolate drinks and waffles, sweets, tea and coffee, ice creams, appetizers, wine, desserts and many more. In addition, the company offers cocktails, breakfast as well as well as brunch cocktails. Its menu also contains entrà ©e salads, chocolate martinis, crepes as well as sandwiches. Its hot chocolate comprise of vanilla cream made in Italy as well as red chili from Mexico. The dark chocolate contains about 70% cacao which is used to improve its taste. Max Brenner also offers salad products. According to Halili (2006) the company owns Sabra which has been a very prosperous salad making company in the US. Its hummus has been the second most sold in the US.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Among the most recommended chocolate products customers is chocolate fondue. Its Chocolate Bars allow customers to experience its chocolate that has not been mixed with anything. Customers have a chance to experience chocolate in its melted form. The chocolate bars offer customers a relaxed modern environment where they can indulge. Max Brenner makes a variety of cold as well as hot chocolate beverages which are served in its cafes. According to The Nibble (2008) the kind of preparation given to the beverages can not be matched by any done anywhere meaning that anybody buying chocolate powder to prepare the same at home can not achieve similar results. Max Brenner is well known for its specialty in Chocolate beverages as well as some selected deserts. Max Brenner is aware that chocolate is secondary an d therefore it ensures that its packaging and design is excellent. It packages its products in beautiful reusable tins as well as sassy boxes. The company places much emphasis on service and in its restaurants and cafes, every menu entrà ©e comes with a detailed explanation. It also provides for online services which include online reservations to any of its restaurants. One can also make online shopping from its stores. The company offers delivery services to online shoppers. Its websites provide customers with information about all the products that it offers. It also provides opportunity for customers to have a live chart with its customer care. This enables customers make informed choices and also make reservations. The company also offers corporate gifts as well as wedding favors. Corporate gifts are mainly offered when one makes a large volume order or in corporate orders. They also offer services during weddings. Aspects of international business Max Brenner International In c. applies several aspects of international business. It applies the legal aspects of international business which includes business structure and contacts. In its legal business structural aspect, it operates as an exporter while in its legal business contacts aspects, it operates as a freight Forwarder and also employs commercial bank to help it in its international trade. It uses letters of credit to make its transactions. The company uses documents to secure its underlying transactions especially when it is making shipment to its customers. Commercial Letters of Credit guarantees the seller that the delivered goods will be paid for. The use of commercial letters of credit has helped Max Brenner to open new markets in other countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Organisational Analysis: Max Brenner Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company uses trade regulations to protect its intellectual prop erty and trade secrets as well as wrongful trade. It applies trade secrets to protect its chocolate culture from being stolen by competitors. In addition, it uses trademark and corporate name to protect its products. This means that it is also protected by the international agreements which offer international protection given that it is an international company. Max Brenner has also adapted the cultural aspects of international business. It extends its chocolate culture through its restaurants across the countries it operates in. It has also adopted the European style of making coffee and brought it to its US restaurants and cafes not only to attract the Europeans in the US but to bring a unique experience to all its customers. It understands the cultural differences that exist across the globe and therefore employs people from the particular regions of operation. Besides, it has franchises to enable its customers to be served by those who understand their habits better. The compan y owns franchise in its countries of operations which it rents out to other companies. In Philippines for example, MAC-CO Holdings Inc, operates all its exclusive franchise in Philippines. Therefore, its success lies in the special character of these companies that operates the franchises. Max Brenner assures its customers of the expertise of each of its employee on chocolate. It also ensures that these companies operate the franchises according to the chocolate culture of aesthetics, experience, knowledge as well as artisanship and that the quality remains the same everywhere. Strengths of Max Brenner Max Brenner has adopted modern technology especially in its marketing and sales thereby providing solutions to its millions of customers across countries and continents. Its website provides the customers with the details they need and also provides an opportunity for live chart through the internet. Customers are therefore able to shop or make corporate purchases online and even make reservations to its restaurants and cafes. The online shop has been extended to offer corporate gifts, spa collections as well as wedding favours among many others. The company has contracted an ecommerce agency to provide them with technical expertise and creativity in marketing of their products and services and to provide support and maintenance to its website. Its waiters are also specially trained to serve the customers with passion and to understand the needs of very customers. All the waiters are made to understand the professionalism of the job so as to maintain and attract customers. Other employers in charge of manufacturing of products as well as the chefs are also trained to always maintain the quality and increase creativity.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Weaknesses of Max Brenner The company only manufactures most of its chocolate products in Israel and not in all its countries of operation. This means that it has to incur the costs of shipments and customs which could have been reduced if it were to open other manufacturing companies in these countries. It would also reduce the risks that are associated with shipments. Reference List Halili, Y., 2006, Israel chocolate hits big apple. Web. Max Brenner International Inc., 2011, Company overview. Web. The Nibble, 2008, Max Brenner, chocolate by the bald man. Web. This essay on Organisational Analysis: Max Brenner Company was written and submitted by user Rosa K. 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.

TalibanStripping the Indentities of Afghanistan Women Essays

TalibanStripping the Indentities of Afghanistan Women Essays TalibanStripping the Indentities of Afghanistan Women Essay TalibanStripping the Indentities of Afghanistan Women Essay Imagine if you will a group of taking over our country and banning the female population from having any place or participation in society. By this I mean as a woman you are no longer to be seen, you are no longer to be heard,you are no longer to work outside the home, you are no longer to be educated, and you are no longer to have access to health care. This idea to most women is an unthinkable nightmare. For the women in Afghanistan it has become their sad reality. The women of Afghanistan are not only being denied the bare necessities of life, but have also been striped of any identity they once had. The group of men that has taken over the nation of Afghanistan is known as the Taliban. The Taliban is a fundamentalist Islamic regime, and in the name of Islam has place ungodly restriction on the lives of Afghan women. The Taliban came from a background of systematic deprivation and manipulation without recource to cultural and family norms of human development(Peshawar 5). According to Physicians For Human Rights, no other regime in the world has methodically and violently forced half of its population into virtual house arrest, prohibiting them on pain of physical punishment from showing their faces, seeking medical care with out an escort, or attending school(PHR 2). As women they are not respected nor appreciated for their contribution in society, but rather abused and tortured for being the gender they are. In order to fully understand the harsh extent of the situation it is important to know the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on Afghan women. According to the R. A. W. A. (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan), Taliban treat women worse than they treat animals. They have declared keeping of caged animals and birds illegal while they have imprisoned women inside the four walls of their own homes. Except for producing children or satifying their sexual needs or drudgery or everyday housework there is no importance for women in their eyes(R. A. W. A/ homepage). The list of retrictions listed by the R. A. W. A. includes a complete ban on womens work outside their houses. Complete ban on womens movement outside their houses without a father, brother, or husband. Ban on dealing with male shopkeepers. Ban on being treated by male doctors. Ban on studying at schools. Compulsory wearing or a long veil which covers a woman from head to toe. Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women are the penalties for not following the rules. Whipping women in public for having non-covered ankles. A public stoning of women for talking or shaking hands with non-related males. The list given is long, but not inclusive. It is obvious that there are many implications that come with each of the restrictions. The restriction of health care by the Tabiban is the most shocking. According to the P. H. R. , More recent United Nations surveys estimate that only ten percent of Afghan women recieve any type of formal parental or maternal care and less than six percent of deliveries are attended by trained birth attendents(P. H. R. 70). The future of healthcare for Afghan women is an even sadder state. Under the current system of which no women are being ecucated, there will be no health care for the next generation. Despite the obvious physical danger the women in Afghanistan are in, there is also the sad reality that all of these women have been stripped of their identities. These men have taken from them everything that was once theirs including their sense of self. These women are tragically taking their own lives in fear and desperation, or just simply losing their minds from the trauma they witness on a daily basis. It is shocking that this tragedy has been allowed to continue for the past three years. It is shocking that the rest of the world has not seen this brutality and stepped in. It is even more shocking that we live in a world of mass communication and most people I know are unaware that this situation is even taking place. Bibliography: Belquis, R. A. The Words of Afghan Women. Brussels, Belgium. March 1998. R. A. W. A. Revolution Association of the Women of Afghanistan. University of Iowa. March 26 1999 rawa. org/. The Country that has Declared All-Out War on Women. Glamour 1999 United States. Physicians for Human Rights. The Talibans War on Women; A Health and Human Rights Crisis in Afghanistan. Washington, 1998.

Second Grade Science Fair Projects

Second Grade Science Fair Projects Second-graders tend to be very curious. Applying that natural inquisitiveness to a science fair project can yield great results. Look for a natural phenomenon that interests the student and have him or her ask questions about it. Expect to help a second-grade student plan the project, and offer guidance with a report or poster. While its always nice to apply the scientific method, its usually OK for second-graders to make models or perform demonstrations that illustrate scientific concepts. Here are some ideas appropriate for second-graders: Food These are experiments with things we eat: What factors affect the rate at which foods spoil? You can test heat, light, and humidity.Identify the characteristics that distinguish a fruit from a vegetable. Next, use these characteristics to group different produce items.Test eggs for freshness using the float test. Does it always work?Do all types of bread grow the same types of mold?What is the best liquid for dissolving a gummy bear? Try water, vinegar, oil, and other common ingredients. Can you explain the results?Do raw eggs and hard-boiled eggs spin the same length of time and number of times?A mint makes your mouth feel cool. Use a thermometer to see if it actually changes the temperature. Environment These experiments focus on processes in the world around us: Put a pair of old socks over your shoes and go for a walk in a field or a park. Remove the seeds that attach to the socks and try to figure out how they attach to animals and what the plants they come from might have in common.Why doesnt the ocean freeze? Compare the effects of motion, temperature, and wind on freshwater compared with salt water.Collect insects. What types of insects live in your environment? Can you identify them?Do cut flowers last longer if you put them in warm water or cold water? You can test how effectively flowers are drinking water by adding food coloring to it and using white flowers, such as carnations. Do flowers drink warm water faster, slower, or at the same rate as cold water?Can you tell from todays clouds what tomorrows weather will be?Collect a few ants. What foods most attract ants? Least attract them? Household These experiments are about how things work around the house: Do clothes take the same length of time to dry if you add a dryer sheet or fabric softener to the load?Do frozen candles burn at the same rate as candles that were stored at room temperature?Are waterproof mascaras really waterproof? Put some mascara on a sheet of paper and rinse it with water. What happens? Do eight-hour lipsticks really keep their color that long?What type of liquid will rust a nail the quickest? You could try water, orange juice, milk, vinegar, peroxide, and other common household liquids. Miscellaneous Here are experiments in various categories: Do all students take the same size steps (have the same stride)? Measure feet and strides and see if there seems to be a connection.Do most students have the same favorite color?Take a group of objects and categorize them. Explain how the categories were selected.Do all students in the class have the same size hands and feet as each other? Trace outlines of hands and feet and compare them. Do taller students have larger hands and feet or does height not seem to matter?

Global Marketing Assignment 2 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Marketing Assignment 2 - Case Study Example Networking helps the new brands to improve their sales and markets. The networks expand the market segments for the new brand to increase the customers and reach the targeted customers (Philip & Keller, 2005). Thus, it is significant to have the connections to increase the market awareness of the brand. Lastly, there are enough infrastructures in place to make sure that there is efficient movement of the products. Honey needs good storage facilities to be in place. There is also need for transportation requirements to reach the customers. The Korea market has enough transport modes, roads, and railways to enhance the movement of the foods. Thus, the Korean foods have the advantage of the efficient infrastructure to improve its connections. There exist factors in the same market that make it unfavorable for the Korean honey. First, is the less experience on circulation of the products in Korea. The Korean culture and the environment of business are somehow different. The Korean food has only done some few exporting to Japan; thus, the Korean market does not do much international marketing. The globalization involves advertising the products overseas past Japan. As a result, it may provide great business to the business through broadening its customer base and improving the reputation of the Korean food brand. Customers prefer a brand that is selling in various markets to be of better services and higher quality than the other brands, in this case, the food markets. It may also provide opportunities for future opportunities in the international Korean market (Adcock & Al Halborg, 2001). Secondly, the Korean food act as an intermediary and not the producer. Thus, it has less control over suppliers in crucial factors such as quantity, quality and packaging technology. Managing of suppliers makes them improve their quality of their products, and it is the important factor in selecting a supplier (Kerin, 2012). Having control

European Integration Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

European Integration - Research Paper Example The Second World War had ended in 1945 and the effects were devastating. The economies were shattered, there was resentment against the enemies, people died etc. Generally, the outcomes of the war were negative. Therefore, there was a need for reconciliation and this need was able to bring forth the idea of European integration. The national governments saw that the enmity that had taken them to war had to be buried with the end of the war and forge new relations through integration and union. This was a rational choice in deed. The idea of European integration, in turn, led to the formation of the European Council in 1949. The University of Zurich Speech offered by Winston Churchill in 1949 called for the creation of the United States of Europe through the institutionalization of the Council of Europe (Wendell, 1998). This speech called on the European states to make rational choices and integrate their efforts to the formation of the European Council. The Council’s main achi evement was seen in 1950, exactly one year after inception when it held the first European Convention on Human Rights where the European Court of Human Rights was formed and stationed in Strasbourg. This court was to be the major de facto Supreme Court for both the human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the entire Europe. Other institutions that have since been conceived under the European Union have been the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the European Social Charter which help protect the human right throughout Europe. (Cini, 2007: pp86-89). It is important to note that the European Council holds most of its conventions which are mostly focused on the achievement of legal integration. The legal integration is possible through conventions on legal assistance on issues such as corruption, doping in sports, money laundering and internet crimes among other legal issues. There has also been cultural cooperation under the council. For instance, the 1954 Cultural Convention and other subsequent conventions which focused on issues such as university studies and diplomas as well as the development of minority languages was a clear demonstration of Cultural integration and cooperation. The member state had to cooperate to support this initiative of cultural integration under the umbrella of the European Coun

Christianity Essay Example for Free

Christianity Essay Followers of Jesus, a Jewish man, started a new religion, Christianity. Christianity started to grow during the Pax Romana, a period of peace in Rome. The Pax Romana lasted from 27 B. C. E to 180 C. E. and during it government improved, literature prospered, engineering improved, and laws formed. The peace during the Pax Romana provided a time for Christianity to rise. Christianity spread rapidly and successfully in the 1st through 3rd centuries because it appealed to many people, missionaries could easily travel and spread the message, and because of the events taking place in Rome. The Christian message, a universal message, appealed to many people. In the Sermon on the Mount, the only full sermon existing from Jesus, a section called â€Å"The Beatitudes† lists all of the blessed people. Jesus blessed the oppressed, the hungry, the merciful, the peacemakers, and the pure in heart in his sermon. The Christian message of hope appealed to those out of power and suffering under the rule of the Roman authority, because the Christian message gave people hope and a thought of salvation. The Sermon on the Mount, given by Jesus, encompasses the Christian message of hope. In addition because of the simplicity and directness of the Christian message, people could easily catch on to the message. In addition to those suppressed by the Roman government, Christianity also appealed to gentiles, non-Jews. Paul, a missionary, preached Christianity to the gentiles and compromised with them. Originally following the strict rules such as circumcision and eating Kosher showed to be a roadblock to the gentiles. Paul and Peter argued over whether or not the gentiles should have to follow these rules, and Paul won, so the gentiles that converted to Christianity did not have to adhere to any rules of dress, eating Kosher, or being circumcised. This allowed for Christianity to appeal to the gentiles. Christianity also appealed to widows. In Roman Civilization those that had been widowed had a low place in the social hierarchy and people looked down on them. However, in Christianity widows were honored and called brides of Christ. The charity work that the Christians did also made Christianity an appealing religion. Christians set up hospitals for the poor and homeless. Hospitals gave the homeless a place to become comfortable before they died. In addition to the charity work that Christians did, Christianity emphasized peace, love, and brotherhood, which appealed to some. In the 1st-3rd centuries C. E. the message of Christianity could also be spread quite easily throughout the Roman Empire. The 200,000 miles of roads built in Rome helped Christianity spread throughout the entire empire. The roads allowed for missionaries to travel throughout the empire easily so that they could spread and preach Christianity. The Pax Romana, a period of peace, also allowed for the roads to be safe for the missionaries to travel and spread the word without the fear of being attacked. The many different cities helped spread Christianity rapidly because of the great amount of people in a small area. In addition Christianity could catch on faster and reach more people. Missionaries also had an easy time getting across the message because of the use of only two languages. In the eastern half of the Roman Empire the people mainly spoke koine Greek, and in the western portion of the Roman Empire the people mostly spoke Latin. Because no language barrier existed, missionaries could spread Christianity with fewer difficulties. The events taking place in Rome helped the Christian message to spread rapidly and successfully. The old Roman religions started losing their vitality setting the stage for new beliefs and giving way to the rise of Christianity. Unlike other cults, like the cult of Isis or Mithras, Christianity was freer and adaptable. The loosely organized internal structure of Christianity allowed for Christianity to adapt to people. The persecution of Christians led to the organization of Christian ideas and thoughts. The persecution of the first Christians led to the idea that the ideas of Christianity should be written down and organized. The two groups of Christians, the Apostolics and the Gnostics, had similar but different views on Christianity. Irenaeus, an Apostolic Christian, wrote the first book of the Christian Church titled Against the Heresies. Irenaeus thought that the Gnostics did not represent the true teachings of Jesus, and that the Apostolic Christians represented the teachings of Jesus more than the Gnostics. The Apostolic view of Christianity became the mainstream Christian view and people recorded the Apostolic ideas in the Bible. The persecution on Christians led to the spread of the message of what the Christians died for. Christianity spread due to many factors including roads, missionaries, and the honoring of widows. The timing of the rise of Christianity helped Christianity spread and rise rapidly and successfully. The period of peace in Rome, the Pax Romana, helped Christianity flourish. Christianity at this time grew as older Roman religions started to decline, missionaries preached Christianity to many people, and the Christian message of hope gave hope to those who needed it. These factors along with the rise of Christianity during the Pax Romana helped Christianity spread and continue throughout the Byzantine Empire and beyond.

Research on Best Buy Co. Essay -- Best Buy Business Management Electro

Research on Best Buy Co. The roots of Best Buy Co., Inc. can be traced back to St. Paul, Minnesota. This is where founder Richard Schulze opened the doors of his Sound of Music store in 1966. Understanding a demand for consumer audio components and systems in the St. Paul area, Schulze managed to provide a combination of great prices and excellent service, thus building a strong customer base, which quickly prompted an expansion into home appliances and video products. The eighties prompted change as well as the opening of Best Buy’s first superstore. During 1983, a new corporate name was approved and the Sound of Music Company became known as Best Buy Co., Inc. With mounting consumer support Best Buy continued its road to expansion by opening an additional five stores. In 1985, the newly named company was being publicly traded under the symbol BBY. The late eighties brought forth additional change for the continuously growing company. Best Buy adopted a new concept in retail merchandising with the opening of massive superstores. The new concept shifted the placing of all inventory on the sales floor and hiring a specialized staff of non-commissioned service representatives (FAQ). Such adaptations have fueled the company into progression and continued to promote the company’s corporate vision of â€Å"Making life fun and easy†(Fact Sheet). Philanthropy plays a huge part in the success of Best Buy Co., Inc. During 1994, The Best Buy Children's Foundation was founded (FAQ). The foundation offers support to communities by way of contributions to several organizations found nationwide. This support strengthens communities by integrating interactive technology into everyday experiences. All of the programs funded by the Best Buy Children’s Foundation are easily accessible to students. These programs also provide social services and disaster relief support in connection with non-profit organizations like the Red Cross and United Way. They also offer and support community volunteerism. Best Buy Children's Foundation also has a scholarship, which offers scholarships to students who have exceptional academic achievement and outstanding community service. Annually more than $2 million in scholarships are granted to over 1,300 students. The scholarships are evenly disbursed in each U.S. Congressional District and the Distr ict of Columbia. Three students who will be ... ...ips to residences and businesses. They are most widely recognized by their clip on ties-- truly carrying around the persona of a Geek. But don’t be fooled by appearances, their knowledge on computers is in no ways lacking in abundance. With the passion for the latest and greatest technological knowledge, and the charisma and devotion towards the youth, Best Buy is sure to continue on the high road to success. Best Buy will be changing and advancing to accommodate the ever-changing field of technology. They are truly a testament to upholding and exceeding their vision statement of â€Å"meeting the customer at the intersection of technology and life† (FAQ). Works Cited Best Buy â„ ¢ â€Å"Fact Sheet Fourth Quarter- Fiscal 2005 (ended Feb 6, 2005)† 6, 200 ) http://www.bbycommunications.com/newscenter/FY05_Fact_Sheet_Q4.pdf Best Buy â„ ¢ â€Å"FAQ† 6 www.bestbuy.com Star Telegram â€Å"BEST BUY GEEKS TO RUN AMOK† 4/28/05 www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/11511402.htm WCCO  © 2005 The Associated Press â€Å"Best Buy Expansion Plans Include China† 4/27/05 http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_117101956.html Yahoo Finance- â€Å"Quotes & Info- Best Buy Co Inc (BBY)† http://finance.yahoo.com/a/ct?s=BBY&annual

Rhetorical Analysis of “The Responsibility to Conserve Wild Species”

Rhetorical Analysis of â€Å"The Responsibility to Conserve Wild Species† â€Å"The responsibility to conserve wild species – A Consideration of Policy Implications: A Panel Discussion – In the Company of Animals† appears in the scholarly journal. Author, John G. Robinson, holds a Ph. D. in zoology and he is an active member and prominent position holder in several conservationist organizations including the Wildlife Conservation Society. He argues from his self-proclaimed conservationist viewpoint that all interventions to preserve wild species are justifiable.In the article, the milestones are fairly clear and seeing the issue occurs in the first paragraph. The author explains how the roles between human beings and wild animals have changed over time. He points out that most of us do not have frequent interaction with wild animals but asserts that we should care about the question of urban society intervening in the lives of wild animals. We should not o nly care about this question but care enough to take responsibility and action because of our increased presence in their lives.Judging by the author's persuasive pleas, this article is written to people who do not already share the author's views entirely or in part. The journal, Social Research, is primarily written to scholars and learned individuals, but I think the general population just does not have enough knowledge on wild species and/or the direness of their situations to feel greatly motivated to act. Here, he could have supplied more information for the less knowledgeable majority, though it is not really necessary because of the journal's target audience.In his writing, I think that Robinson assumes that humans want to take responsibility for dwindling numbers of wild species. This article would benefit here with logos. By using statistics as solid evidence he might supply an impetus for action. Robinson defines the problem beginning in paragraph two and continues throu gh the sixth paragraph. He first uses ethos in the form of a citation from Aldo Leopold: â€Å"A thing's right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. † Robinson supports the idea from two perspectives.First from the utilitarian point of view, he explains that not attempting to conserve wild species jeopardizes resources that humans depend on. The second view, the bio centric position, he emphasizes that wild species have an ‘inherent right to exist. † Are there any other viewpoints that he ignored or tiled to see? I think there are, but Robinson does not even acknowledge the existence of other points of view. I think that to him there are just no other options and he does not want readers to begin to consider not intervening in the lives of wild animals in order to conserve them.Other than this, he does an excellent job of defining his position and then conservationists' ideas of integrity, stability and beauty. He moves on to claim that â€Å"human beings are the single largest contributor to this global degradation (of natural systems and biological diversity). † In the third paragraph, Robinson addresses the faulty ideas of words such as â€Å"pristine,† â€Å"undisturbed,† and even â€Å"wilderness. † These words refer to an unattainable ideal in our modern world. Humankind is everywhere and making an impact always. Throughout the paper an underlying persuasive argument is taking place.If you accepted Leopold's premise, then logically you should accept the idea that humans' primary responsibility â€Å"is to ensure the survival of species in nature. † This necessary acceptance that follows from logic is a little tricky. In the fourth paragraph, beginning the milestone of choosing a solution, Robinson shows us the faulty path of the least intrusive action of establishing protected areas. The return paths appear in the ne xt paragraph along with an example pertaining to mishaps experienced by the United States National Park Service and the Forest Service.Robinson shortly suggests a second solution but then quickly dismisses it. From my understanding, this solution is based in the first solution, and then the author expands upon it by offering to enlist the help of local communities. The fault in this solution lies in that the community would have to value the animals and thus they would become a resource. This would essentially destroy the goal of conservation in the first place. I believe the author could have expounded on this point and further explored details of this option.Is it really a good idea or a bad idea? Should we research this idea more for ourselves? At last, a final and most intrusive proposal is made in the sixth paragraph. Bringing wild animals into captivity is an area most all of us are familiar with because of our childhood visits to zoos and wildlife parks. This paragraph could incite some pathos which I believe the author should have capitalized on. He gives us three good reasons for supporting this option and even uses a bit of logos, though more would be appropriate in my opinion.In the second to last paragraph the author emphasizes from his conservationist perspective that all kinds of interventions are justifiable for the conservation of populations or species. In the concluding paragraph Robinson proposes the paradox of the current argument, â€Å"The more humans intervene, the more responsibility they must assume †¦ but to do otherwise is irresponsible. † I think this truly is the heart of the argument though sadly it is cyclical. From my point of view, the author could have addressed some more faulty paths, especially those of the opposing viewpoint.Robinson never even touched the idea of not intervening to conserve wild species except to say that letting nature take its course would not suffice for a solution. I think that overall, Rob inson made a good argument although he failed to elaborate on some key points. ? Work Cited Robinson, John G. â€Å"The responsibility to conserve wild species – A Consideration of Policy Implications: A Panel Discussion – In the Company of Animals†. Social Research. 1995: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. 31 Mar, 2012.

Reading and Books Essay

Despite the vast, growing and active educational reforms continuously being modified and implemented in today’s Philippine Educational System such as MTB – MLE and K+12 education curriculum, there are still 6. 2 million Filipino youth who does not receive proper and formal education in the classroom, which includes the Out – of – school children and youth. Specifically, according to the 2010 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS) of the National Statistics Office (NSO) released November 2011, one out of eight Filipinos aged between 6 and 24 is an out- of- school youth(OSY). Current estimates further indicate that 7. 8 million Filipinos or 16. 2% of the population are not functionally literate. About 3. 9 million of them are out of school youth. The Philippine government defines an out –of- school youth (OSY) as someone who is not attending formal education and/or not gainfully employed in the case of youth 18 to 24 years old who have not finished college or even a technical vocational course. The government further explains that the primary reasons for these out of school youth for not attending school is poverty and lack of personal interest. On the other hand, out- of- school youth are vulnerable people who have special needs too. Nobody can deny the hard fact that education is still an extremely important factor for bringing change in the lives of these individuals. It has universally been recognized as the most powerful instrument and pre – requisite for gearing up the socio – economic development of a nation. This is why investment in education is considered to be so vital for human resource development and enhancement of the quality of manpower. In the history of humankind, there is an established fact that a certain level of literacy in population is an essential pre – requisite for precipitating the process of development in a country. It is emphasized therefore that the most active part in the socio – economic development of any country or region always consists of the adolescents. Moreover, many people have a misleading impression of the abilities and capacities of â€Å"out – of – school youth†. It is generally assumed that this group needs to re – do and re – learn the most basic literacy skills. Hence, they are marginalized and ostracized. In fact, out – of- school youths do have some experience of learning within the formal system. In addition, many of them have gained rich learning experiences from their environment and culture. Thus, basic literacy does not necessarily mean teaching literacy in its most basic forms. However, the acquired skills and knowledge need to be recognized, tapped into and enhanced. Out- of- school youths may have failed to complete their education in the formal system due to various reasons, such as socio – economic or health issues, urbanization, teacher – teaching factors or curriculum problems but UNESCO still has enumerated and emphasized the basic literacy for out – of- school youth development which involves the acquisition of the basic skills needed to cope with the complex and technological world, including IT and computer skills, communication skills – listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, critical thinking and many others. Moreover, developing the literacy of OSY’s is a complex process, which involves enhancing the knowledge and capacities that they have gained over the years and providing them with access to challenging learning opportunities. The Philippines through the initiative of the Bureau of Alternative Learning System formerly called the Bureau of Non – formal Education (BNFE) is responsible for contributing to the improvement of the poor including the out – of school youth and drop outs through literacy and continuing education programs. Its aim is to focused basic services to the more disadvantaged sections of the population to improve their welfare and contribute to human resource development. This was done to respond to the need of a more systematic and flexible approach in reaching all types of learners outside the formal school system. The Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a parallel learning system that provides a viable alternative to existing formal education instruction. It encompasses both non – formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills. Certification of learning for out – of –school youth and adults , aged 15 years and over, who are unable to gain from the formal school system and who have dropped out of formal elementary and secondary education , is ensured through the Alternative Learning System Accreditation and the Equivalency (ALS A &E) System. The system of certification is done through successful completion of the ALS and A & E test at two learning levels – elementary and secondary. Those who pass the test have to undergo counseling to explore their oppurtunities, be it a return to the formal school system or the option to enter the world of work. (UNESCO Bangkok, 2009). The ALS eSkwela program has five main learning strands: Communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving, sustainable use of resources and productivity, development of self and a sense of community, and expanding one’s world vision. Since ALS is a module-based learning system, students come in on a set time and choose a module to read. A quiz is given after each module to test their learning. Instead of teachers, facilitators are always present to answer any questions and sometimes lecturers would discuss a certain module. Apart from the major aim and objective of the system, the ALS Project was conceived to respond to many grassroots learning needs and at the same time fulfill the following key social development objectives of EFA: †¢Functional Literacy: Current estimates indicate that there are 7. 8 million Filipinos or 16. 2% of the population who are not functionally literate. About 3. 9 million of them are out of school youth. †¢Family Literacy: Many parents want to develop functional reading, writing and numeracy skills and knowledge so that they can help their children do their homework. †¢Community Participation: †¢ Continuing Education: Many people who have obtained literacy skills and want to continue learning should be given the means and tools to return to formal schooling or go on learning on their own. †¢Empowerment: Out-of-school youth and adults living in economically depressed communities need to develop communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and learning-to-learn skills and competencies which will directly help them raise their standard of living and improve their quality of life. Functional basic education should empower them with better health practices, better food, increased income, improved family life, more direct civic and community participation and more opportunities for wider life choices. It is noted that the ALS learning modules constructed by SEAMEO Innotech experts are freely chosen, used and read by the students. It is true therefore that through the skill called reading, any idea or module given to them are enlightened. On the other hand, observations show that are still many problems and issues encountered along the Reading performance and proficiency of the out – of – School Youth which includes vocabulary, comprehension, study skills and others. Even the (UIS, 2011) stated a very alarming issue that seven hundred and seventy-five million adults all over the world cannot read. Many of these OSY’s too are unemployed, underemployed adn lacks basic English language literacy skills specially reading and writing. In addition, UNESCO also emphasized that the basic English literacy skills development is too considered as a means of widening the experiences of learners and allowing them to communicate effectively in their everyday life as well as in their future lives as responsible citizens and professionals. Accordingly, woven into the framework of the basic English Literacy skills is also the development of critical thinking skills. Thinking critically would mean grasping the complexity of the world and questioning how others think in order to clarify and improve one’s own understanding. Although, schools and learning institutions clearly neglect the development of critical thinking, there is much evidence to show that students’ reading and writing abilities are linked to their ability to question facts and information. Literacy is briefly defined as the â€Å"ability to read and write†. When we think of literacy, we think of reading. But being able to read does not mean someone is necessarily a literate person. In the 21st century, literacy encompasses the skills youth and adults need to be functional in the society, including numeracy and reading and writing skills. Most learning is dependent to reading. As the learner advances in the educational ladder, more complex reading skills are required of him. Effective reading requires from an individual the ability to locate keywords in a sentence, locate the topic sentence in a paragraph and understand and interpret what is read. Reading, therefore is an important skill a child must developed in order to cope to the very fast, changing and difficulties the world offers. Of many skills it is cited that it is one of the first skill a literate person must acquire. Likewise, there were many studies and projects that responded to the many goals of ALS and UNESCO in general, specifically along the communication skills strands. One of which is the Project EASE. This study made use of a Reading Comprehension and writing composition test to assess the basic communication skills of the students. Unfortunately, there were only few qualifiers for the said program the rest did not qualify. Most of the non – qualifiers came from the lower sections where the pressure to earn was much stronger. The non – qualifier was given another chance. They were administered with an alternative cloze type of comprehension test carefully made by the SEAMEO Innotech experts. The program such as EASE was pronounced. (add facts) Another is a study on the Attributes of High School Student – qualifiers in the Accreditation and Equivalency Program (AEP) which was done as Basis for a proposed Action Program by Rarang in (1999). The study made use of the public high school students in the fourth congressional district of Pangasinan during the school year 1997 – 1998. The study was done for the purpose of creating appropriate action programs that could increase the probability of prospective PEPT examinees to qualify for promotion or year level acceleration. The result of the study revealed that out of the 86 respondents who took the 1997 PEPT only four qualified for the acceleration or promotion to the next higher level in high school. Furthermore, the research made use of the Descriptive Method with a pre and post enrollment attributes of the student – qualifier in the AEP as data gathering instrument. It was found out that there was more male drop – outs that females and their dropping age ranged from 13 to 17 years old and that before the respondents dropped out from school, the last level they completed was Grade VI. The findings of the study also revealed that the main reason for the learners dropping out is due to financial difficulty. They also vary in their performance in the last year level they attended with 89. 13% as the highest average grade and the lowest grade at 68. 25%. More so, the study discovered that the contributory factor in the acceleration and promotion of the students to the next level are their reading activities done during their free time like reading magazines, newspapers, books, pocketbooks and even their old notes. Accordingly, reading is the most important factor in achieving promotion and acceleration. Many reading researches have shown that learners and OSY’s reading skills literacy performance is always at risks. Firstly, in the second Readership Survey made by SWS survey commissioned by NBDB floated all over the Philippines revealed that reading has slightly declined in our country. Only 92 percent of the 1,200 respondents say that they read, down to two percent from the first Readership survey done in 2003. In the literacy field, comprehension is primarily identified as the goal of (Duke & Pearson, 2002; Duke, Pearson, Strachan, & Billman, 2011). While many agrees comprehension is of utmost importance, many still argue that in this many classroom context, focusing on students’ fluency did not limit students’ development as readers, particularly for those who were asked to read aloud. The findings of this study also pointed out the importance of teachers examining the learners own perceptions about reading and reading instruction (Edwards, Martin, Protacio, & Razali,2010). Furthermore, (Biancarosa & Snow, 2006; Joftus, 2002) exclaimed that even among students who do graduate from highschool, inadequate reading skills are a key impediment to success in postsecondary education (American Diploma Project, 2004). Students who struggle with reading of ten lack the prerequisites to take academically challenging coursework that could lead to more wide reading and thus exposure to advanced vocabulary and content ideas (Au, 2000). The 2006 report by ACT, Inc. , Reading Between the Lines: What the ACT Reveals About College Readiness in Reading, describes even more troubling trends. Only 51% of students who took the ACT test in 2004 were ready for college-level reading demands (ACT, Inc. , 2006). The reading skill levels of the out-of-school youth population have remained  low, especially in comparison to the rising skill demands of employers. Although this report cannot summarize the changing qualifications, a number of indicators suggest a serious shortfall between the skills of out-of-school youth and job requirements. Dropouts and other out-of-school youth are reported to be unable to attain basic levels of math and reading proficiency are certainly much higher. White Paper further explains that young people leaving the educational system at 16, or more likely 19, must at least have the requisite literacy and communication skills to be employable and to be effective in life. Since reading is linked to writing, students write about what they read. Young and adults who are behind in reading and writing simply have not had as much experience reading and writing as young adults who are proficient readers and writers. Moreover, out – of- school youth who are behind have also not leaned the strategies that proficient readers and writers use to understand text and communicate their ideas in writing. This means that explicitly the strategies that proficient readers and writers use and providing guided practice are the keys to improving these skills. It has been proven that Out – of- school youth possess a broad repertoire of knowledge and skills that simply needs to be recognized, tapped into and enhanced in order for their abilities to improve. Indeed, there is a need to place a greater emphasis on developing and enhancing quality English language literacy skills training, programs and instructional materials for Out – of – School youth development. The conception of the ALS program or the Alternative Learning System is a great endeavor that caters to the needs and improvement of Out –of-School youth in the City Schools Division of Dagupan City. The ALS DEpED Dagupan City Division is one with the government in the active fulfillment of its task to reach and educate the OSY’s in the City. In fact, there have been many OSY’s who benefited from the program. Latest report says that ALS students in Region I show positive interest in this endeavor. Dagupan City Schools Division is composed of five Districts. From all over the city, there have been many Out – of –school youth coming from the 31 barangays of the city who enrolled in the said program. With the initiative of teachers and volunteers who facilitates the program, the actual teaching and learning is collectively done with the help of the module based learning materials. Furthermore, in the case study conducted by the Accreditation and Equivalency System of the Non – Formal Education Project clearly encourages service providers like educational institutions to identify and make use of variety of enriching materials both print and non – print in addition to the prescribed NFE and A & E Learning modules provided by the SEAMEO – INNOTECH. With the encouragement of the BNFE or the ALS calling to different service providers to respond and create instructional materials that the OSY’s can benefit, the researcher will study on the present Reading Comprehension Skills Levels of the Dagupeno OSY’s particularly on the Reading Comprehensions Skills Level of the ALS students presently registered and attending the regular Eskwela ALS program in the City schools division of Dagupan during the calendar year 2013– 2014 and envisions to create a Self – Learning Reading Material that will better improve and enhance the Reading Comprehension and in general proficiency of the ALS learners. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This study aims to analyze the Reading Comprehension Skills Level of ALS students in the city schools division of Dagupan. Specifically, it will answer the following questions: 1. What is the performance of the ALS students in the reading Comprehension Test in terms of the: a. Total scores they will obtain from the Reading Comprehension Test? b. Specific scores they will obtained in the following reading Comprehension levels: Literal Reorganizational Inferential Evaluational Appreciational? 2. What is the extent of performance of the ALS students in the reading Comprehension test in terms of: a. Total scores they will obtain from the Reading Comprehension Test? scores they will obtained in the following reading Comprehension levels: Literal Reorganizational Inferential Evaluational Appreciational? 3. What instructional material will be proposed to address the reading comprehension inadequacies of the ALS students? SUBJECTS The subjects of the study will be the ALS students of the city schools division of Dagupan enrolled in the five districts of the division. There is a total of 447 ALS students in the division and they will be randomly selected from among the districts of the division. The respondents of the study will be elementary drop – outs, secondary drop – outs, non- passer of previous ALS A&E Test/s, Learners/Completers of the ALS programs and Youth and adult drop – outs. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS/ Assumptions The study will be anchored on the following assumptions: 1. The total test scores and the scores in the specific skills areas of the ALS students will reflect their reading comprehension performance. 2. The ALS students’ responses to the items in the test must truthful and accurate SCOPE AND DELIMITATION The study will be conducted to determine the reading comprehension performance and skills of the ALS students of the city schools division of Dagupan during the S. Y. 2013 – 2014. The respondents of the study will be elementary drop – outs, secondary drop – outs, non- passer of previous ALS A&E Test/s, Learners/Completers of the ALS programs and Youth and adult drop – outs in general. A constructed Reading Comprehension Test will be used as instrument in gathering data pertinent to the study. The Reading Comprehension test will be carefully validated, tabulated and interpreted to arrive at accurate and precise results that will help as basis for the creation of a self- learning reading material for ALS students. Definition of Terms The following terms are carefully defined in the context of the study to provide a common understanding and frame of reference between the researcher and the readers: Reading both a process and a product and it involves bringing the individual’s entire life experiences and thinking patterns to understand what the writer has written (Aukerman, 1981). Reading Comprehension refers to the ability to understand text read by means of constructing meaning with the use of some clues in the text and the schema or background knowledge of the reader about the text. Reading Comprehension Abilities, also referred to as reading comprehension skills, refer to the five(5) reading levels (Toffelson, as cited by Tuvera, 1993) of reading comprehension, which include (1) Literal Level;(2) Reorganizational Level; (3) Inferential Level; (4) Evaluational Level; and (5) Appreciational Level. Specific Comprehension Skills refers to the specific skills that make up the different reading levels. Literal level of reading refers to the reading level that enables the students to recognized and/or recall details, main ideas, sequences, comparison, cause and effect relationships, character traits and recall author’s organization and explicitly stated information in the reading selection (Toffelson, as cited by Tuvera, 1993). Reorganizational level of reading refers to the reading level that enables the student to classify or group, outline or specify, summarize and synthesize text that has been read (Toffelson, as cited by Tuvera, 1993). Inferential Level of reading refers to the reading level that enables the student to infer supporting details which require the making of a hypothesis on an information that might have been included in the text; infer the main idea; infer a sequence which requires the student to make a hypothesis about what might have occurred in addition to the already explicitly stated events and making a hypothesis in events beyond completion of the text. Other skills also included are inferring, comparison, cause and effect relationships, charater traits,  author’s organization, figurative language and predicting outcomes (Toffelson, as cited by Tuvera, 1993). Evaluational level of reading refers to the reading level that enables the student to make a judgment of reality and fantasy and judgment between fact and opinion (Toffelson, as cited by Tuvera, 1993). Appreciational level of Reading refers to the reading level that enables the student to have emotional response to the text and determine an author’s purpose, mood, tone and point of vies (Toffelson, as cited by Tuvera, 1993). Performance is defined as a manner of functioning: the manner in which something or someone or somebody functions, operates, or behaves (Microsoft Encarta 2006. 1993 – 2005 Microsoft Corporation). In this study, it refers to the number of correct answers of the ALS students an all the specific levels of the reading comprehension test to reflect the students’ reading comprehension abilities. Extent of Performance refers to the reading comprehension abilities of the students based on a scale of scores to describe the level of reading comprehension of the ALS students. The scale will consists of three (3) levels: High , for scores equivalent to 75 percent – 100 percent; Moderate, for scores equivalent to 50 percent – 74 percent; and Low, for scores equivalent to at most 49 percent of the total point and of their points in the different specific reading comprehension skills areas. Total Scores obtained refers to the raw scores of the students which will correspond to the number of the correct answers of the ALS students in the reading comprehension test. Specific scores obtained refers to the raw scores of the learners in the different specific skill areas which correspond to the number of correct answers of the students in the specific skill areas. Self – Learning Reading Activities are activities involving processes which will enhance the reading performance and improve the five levels of reading comprehension of the ALS students . It also encourages students to gain more interest in reading with the aid of the designated activities. Analysis refers to the process of categorizing the performance of the students in the reading comprehension test in its totality and in the specific reading skills according to the extent of their performance. Out – of School Youth ALS ALS Learners ALS Implementers Conceptual Framework The objective of all readers should be comprehension of what they read. Comprehension is understanding. Understanding involves abilities to explain, interpret, apply, have perspective, empathize, and have self – knowledge (Wiggins and Mctighe,1998). Reading is both a process and a product ant it involves bringing the individual’s entire life experiences and thinking patterns to understand what the writer has written (Aukerman, 1981). When good decoders have problems with comprehension, they need help in developing language proficiency and listening comprehension. Teachers can help them develop the corresponding skills by combining vocabulary and comprehension strategy instruction with encouragement to enhance their reading of different materials Dymock, 1993). Reading comprehension can be effected by background knowledge. This concept is proved that when readers possess rich prior knowledge about the topic of a reading material, they often understand the reading material better than readers with low prior knowledge. That said, readers couldn’t always relate their world knowledge to the content of a text because they are not able to, even when they possess knowledge relevant to the information it presents. Often, they do not make inferences based on prior knowledge unless the inference are absolutely demanded to make sense of the text (Mckoon % Ratcliff, 1992). The study is anchored on the core concept that reading difficulties encountered by learners can be addressed by an appropriate learning material in the form of a self – learning reading material which will address their difficulties to be assessed using the reading comprehension test. Research Paradigm Figure 1. Paradigm of the study Figure 1 above illustrates the prerequisites in the development of a Self – Learning Reading Materail to improve the reading comprehension ability of ALS learners in the city schools division of Dagupan. CHAPTER II Review of Related Literature and Studies This chapter presents studies and literature which are seen to be significant that can give light to the completion and conduct of the research. FOREIGN Educational research has become a global enterprise, with researchers recognizing the need to be aware of educational practices in other countries. Burbules (2002) notes that this international context makes possible the sharing of knowledge and experience gained in relation to reform and evaluation in different countries. Recent studies show that seven hundred and seventy-five million adults cannot read (UIS, 2011). According to the study conducted by Glewwe and Kremer, (2006 ) a major factor in the poor reading problem is the poor quality of public schools in developing countries. Many peoples understanding of the educational production function, however, is still limited. Providing resources to schools with no other inputs rarely improves overall student performance and that if resources are paired with a larger array of inputs, students’ test scores do improve, he exclaimed. Unfortunately, the exact kind of additional support is necessary to make additional resources effective. For reading in particular, a number of studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of large comprehensive changes. Banerjee et al. (2007) studies an Indian remedial education program. The intervention itself causes students’ reading skills to improve, but because the intervention changes the educational environment along multiple dimensions – additional teachers, new pedagogical methods, new curriculum, changes to organization of the classroom, and additional resources – it is impossible to identify which components are necessary. In addition, a Case Study of Reading Instruction in a Philippine Classroom was also conducted by Protacio and Sarroub, (2013) where the reading practices in a public and high-achieving 6th grade English classroom in the Philippines were used as subjects of the study. The study utilized a four resources model, the different roles that students assume in this classroom was also clearly discussed. The students in the class are describe mainly as code breakers and text users and have limited opportunities to assume the other two roles of the four resources model. The study also provides a different view of reading, specifically a view of a culture of reading wherein higher status is given to oral reading performance rather than comprehension. The results of the study further revealed that reading is perceived as an oral performance activity by Filipino students because reading aloud is used frequently to negotiate the lack of resources in Philippine public schools. Comprehension does not matter as much to these students; rather, they are concerned with how they are perceived as oral readers in English, which is their second language. The case study findings provide a different view of reading, specifically a view of a culture of reading wherein higher status is given to oral performance rather than comprehension or fluency. The data also reveals that the predominant emphasis on oral performance satisfies only two roles or family of practices in the â€Å"four resources model of reading†: code breakers and text users. All of the students in the pilot section were not afforded opportunities by the teacher to fully engage with the four resources, as the class focused mostly on oral recitation as the main indicator for reading well. Students in this class infrequently assumed the role of meaning-makers and text analysts (Luke & Freebody, 1999; Underwood, Yoo, & Pearson, 2007). Instead, both students and teacher privileged correct pronunciation and reading correctly aloud—getting the accent right determined who the best students were in the class. Though, Philippine literacy scholars have commented on the emphasis on performance and reading aloud. Maminta (1982) discusses how reading as a subject was relegated to the background as the curriculum emphasized speech improvement with most of the class time being spent on pattern drills, mimicry, and memorization. Even though Maminta’s article focuses on speech improvement as being the emphasis three decades ago, it seems that it still characterizes classroom practice in the Philippines today. In the pilot section, the students themselves seemed to be the ones placing the emphasis on speech improvement. In the literacy field, comprehension is primarily identified as the goal of reading (Duke & Pearson, 2002; Duke, Pearson, Strachan, & Billman, 2011). While many agrees that comprehension is of utmost importance, many still argues that in this classroom context, focusing on students’ fluency did not limit students’ development as  readers, particularly for those who were asked to read aloud. What we do feel strongly about is the importance of providing all students opportunities to assume the role of readers in this classroom by giving all students a chance to read aloud in class. However, we noticed that, sadly, this was not the case. The findings of this study also point to the importance of teachers examining their own perceptions about reading and reading instruction (Edwards, Martin, Protacio, & Razali,2010). Moreover, Reading fluency is the point at which beginning readers rely less on the phonemic decoding to recognize individual words and begin to recognize whole words, allowing for an increase in reading speed and comprehension. Meyer and Felton (1999), for example, define fluency as â€Å"the ability to read connected text rapidly, smoothly, effortlessly, and automatically with little conscious attention to the mechanics of reading, such as decoding. † Also, a study on the Effective Reading Programs for Middle and High School synthesized by Slavin, Cheung, Groff and Lake was published in 2009. This is a collection of many reading programs that systematically reviewed research on the achievement outcomes of four types of approaches to improving the reading of middle and high school students: specifically on the (1 ) reading curricula, (2) mixed-method models (methods that combine large and small-group instruction with computer activities), (3) computer-assisted instruction, and (4) instructional-process programs (methods that focus on providing teachers with extensive professional development to implement specific instructional methods). The collective synthesized study found out that students who enter high school with poor literacy skills face long odds against graduating and going on to postsecondary education or satisfying careers.