5 Mixed-Up Malapropisms

5 Mixed-Up Malapropisms 5 Mixed-Up Malapropisms 5 Mixed-Up Malapropisms By Mark Nichol It’s almost impossible to speak or write English without dodging a misnomer or a malapropism at least once in your lifetime. A misnomer (the word is derived from the Latin for â€Å"incorrect name†) is forgivable usually, it’s merely a matter of retaining an obsolete description, as in â€Å"pencil lead† for the graphite used in writing instruments, or referring to the United States as a democracy, when it’s technically a federal republic but a malapropism is a bald sign of carelessness or overreaching for elephants. Eloquence. I meant eloquence. Sometimes, of course, it’s used for comic effect. (That’s where we get the word malapropism. It comes from malapropos, the Latin for â€Å"inappropriate,† entering the English language when playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan used it as the name of a character who, out of ignorance, uttered humorous inanities.) Here are some examples of malapropisms to avoid: 1. â€Å"Her plans didn’t jive with his ambitions.† Jive means â€Å"to deceive†; the writer meant jibe, â€Å"to coincide†: â€Å"Her plans didn’t jibe with his ambitions.† 2. â€Å"Who was the first Englishman to circumvent the globe?† In one sense, circumvent means â€Å"to go around,† so it superficially works here, but the most common meaning is â€Å"to evade,† so, unless the Englishman was a fugitive astronaut, circumnavigate is the word the writer is looking for: â€Å"Who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe?† 3. â€Å"In outrage, she responded vehemently to the anti-Semitic epitaphs at the rally.† An epitaph is a commemorative inscription or comment about a deceased person. The correct word is epithets (an epithet, in this context, is an insult): â€Å"In outrage, she responded vehemently to the anti-Semitic epithets at the rally.† (Epithet can also mean a substituting word or phrase such as â€Å"the Father of Our Country† or, in biology, a term in a taxonomic name.) 4. â€Å"I awaited her arrival with baited breath.† Baited means â€Å"lured† or â€Å"teased† (or â€Å"attacked,† â€Å"harassed,† or â€Å"persecuted†). The writer should have written bated (â€Å"withheld†): â€Å"I awaited her arrival with bated breath.† 5. â€Å"I wouldn’t step foot in there if you paid me.† This substitution of step for set is a minor flaw, but the latter word is the standard idiom: â€Å"I wouldn’t set foot in there if you paid me.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of Phrases50 Diminutive Suffixes (and a Cute Little Prefix)

20 Words with More Than One Spelling

20 Words with More Than One Spelling 20 Words with More Than One Spelling 20 Words with More Than One Spelling By Mark Nichol When the dictionary lists two alternate spellings of a word, should you use your judgment (or is that judgement?), or is there some other criterion for selection? Most dictionaries describe what is, rather than prescribe what should be hence the alternatives but they usually favor one form over the other. For both convenience and consistency, follow the dictionary’s indirect dictates. In printed dictionaries, the preferred form will have the full definition, while the runner-up will be cross-referenced to the winner. Online, the spelling in the Web page’s heading indicates the preference, though the other choice will likely also be listed. Here are some common entries with more than one orthography: 1. Acknowledgment/acknowledgement: Acknowledgment, though it looks awkward because the spelling implies that the g is pronounced hard, rather than (correctly) soft, is the preferred spelling, at least in American English. 2. Adviser/advisor: Adviser is the preferred spelling, though it is inconsistent with the spelling of the adjectival form advisory. 3. Aesthetic/esthetic: Aesthetic is the preferred spelling, a rare case of the digraph retained in American English in favor of a single-vowel spelling. (See also amoeba/ameba and archaeology/archeology.) 4. Ameba/amoeba: Amoeba is the preferred spelling. It also has variant plural forms: Amoebas is acceptable in all but the most strictly scientific contexts, where amoebae is preferred. 5. Amok/amuck: Amok is the traditional spelling, preferred to amuck. 6. Among/amongst: The -st extension is, in both American English and British English, widely considered an unnecessary appendage. (The same preference applies for amid/amidst and while/whilst; whilst is, at any rate, rare in American English.) 7. Analog/analogue: Analog is one of fourteen words in which the original -ue ending is clipped. Whether one form or the other is preferred varies depending on not only the word but also, occasionally, on which part of speech it represents. Most one- and two-syllable words ending in -ue have no truncated variant; prologue is the exception. 8. Archaeology/archeology: The version with the ae digraph is preferred over the single-vowel form. 9. Ax/axe: Ax is the preferred spelling, alone and in compounds (axman, battle-ax). 10. Collectable/collectible: Collectible is the preferred variant. 11. Barbecue/Barbeque: Barbeque is a variant of barbecue influenced by the truncation BBQ. 12. Disc/disk: Disc is a variant of disk, though it has valid status in the â€Å"phrase compact disc† and references to similar media. 13. Donut/doughnut: Donut is an informal variant of doughnut. 14. Enquire/inquire: Inquire is the preferred American English spelling, but in British English, enquire prevails. 15. Flier/flyer: Spelling depends on meaning. See this post, in which I conclude that pilots and passengers are fliers, and posted papers are flyers. 16. Gray/grey: Gray is the preferred spelling in American English; British English favors grey. 17. Nite/night: Nite is an informal variant of night. 18. Theater/theatre: The former spelling is preferred in American English, though the latter form sometimes appears in proper names. 19. Toward/towards: In American English, towards and other similar words are considered informal variants of the forms in which the s is omitted. 20. Whiskey/whisky: The former spelling is more common in the United States (as well as in Ireland), though usage in labeling varies. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing a Reference Letter (With Examples)Yay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other Acclamations7 Other Types of Pronouns

Realism in England and France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Realism in England and France - Essay Example The French were able to take a hard look at the effects of the industrial revolution at the end of the Napoleonic wars. Appalled by the blighting effects of technology, misery of the lower class and the industrial smog of London, the French decided to approach modernism carefully. The British workers were more educated and more productive than the French were. The French slowed down industrialization contrary to England, a nation that transformed itself from a rural community to a more urban community and from an agricultural to an industrial nation. By the year 1840, England's agriculture was overtaken by industries in prominence but it was until 1950 when the rural way of life predominated in France. As an outcome of its economic policies, French was spared by industrial pollution that had made life in England a dark shrouded nightmare. The difference in artistic content between the French and English Realist artists is explained by their contrasting economies. Most artists were mi ddle class aged, and they were financially secure enough to criticize the prevailing establishment by depicting their own age. They painted from a protected privileged position. The lower classes did not represent themselves because they were represented in terms of needs and attitudes of the dominant class. E.g. in France, Jean-Francoise Millet was from a wealthy background and concentrated on peasant life.In France, illustrating peasants were quite extensive with risk for an artist. Outside Paris, the lower classes were resistant.

How does New Mexico's (Albuquerque and Santa Fe) media (newspapers) Essay

How does New Mexico's (Albuquerque and Santa Fe) media (newspapers) portray issues of drought and water allocation in the state o Geography of Albuquerque and Santa Fe - Essay Example The Albuquerque MSA population includes the city of Rio Rancho, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, a hub for many master-planned communities which are expected to draw future businesses and residents to the area. According to the United States Census Bureau, Albuquerque has a total area of 181.3 square miles (469.6km). 180.6 square miles (467.8km) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6km) of it (0.35%) is water. The metro area has over 1,000 square miles developed. Albuquerque lies within the northern, upper edges of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, based on long-term patterns of climate, associations of plants and wildlife, and landforms, including drainage patterns. Located in central New Mexico, the city also has noticeable influences from the adjacent Colorado Plateau Semi-Desert, Arizona-New Mexico Mountains, and Southwest Plateaus and Plains Steppe ecoregions, depending on where one is located. Its main geographic connection lies with southern New Mexico, while culturally, Albuquerque is a crossroads of most of New Mexico."(Albuquerque, 2007) Wikipedia goes on to further detail the geography of the region as follows: "Albuquerque has one of the highest elevations of any major city in the United States, though the effects of this are greatly tempered by its southwesterly continental position. The elevation of the city ranges from 4,900 feet (1,490m) above sea level near the Rio Grande (in the Valley) to over 6,400 feet (1,950m) in the foothill areas of the Northeast Heights. At the airport, the elevation is 5,352 feet (1,631m) above sea level. The Rio Grande is classified, like the Nile, as an 'exotic' river because it flows through a desert. The New Mexico portion of the Rio Grande lies within the Rio Grande Rift Valley, bordered by a system of faults, including those that lifted up the adjacent Sandia and Manzano Mountains, while lowering the area where the life-sustaining Rio Grande now flows".( Albuquerque,2007) Santa Fe is located within the same region .Santa Fe is situated in the northern part of the Rio Grande Valley which essentially falls at the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains. It enjoys an area of 37.33 square miles and is situated at an elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level. The city is located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, and has a dense pine forest on the outskirts which can be reckoned as near to the city. Mountain terrains enforce a kind of semi arid continental climate in Santa Fe and due to this climate the city has moderate summers and winters. In general the humidity is experienced at low levels and the bright sun shine is present almost 300 days per year. However Santa Fe receives very good snowfall and the annual average is clocked at 32 inches with deeper snows remaining fast at higher altitudes during the winter. General Climate of Albuquerque and Santa Fe Albuquerque and Santa Fe represent arid to semi arid kind of climate .Wikipedia describes the climate of Albuquerque as follows: "Albuquerque's climate is usually sunny and dry, with low relative humidity. Brilliant sunshine defines the region, averaging more than 300 days a year; periods of variably mid and

Literature Review Essay Example for Free

Literature Review Essay Abstract The primary role of literature review in a quantitative research study to gain information on the subject of your research question and identify unbiased and valid studies connected with your research question. For instance, my quantitative research question is â€Å"all other factors being equal, do high school students reading popular fiction achieve better Language Arts test scores than high school students reading curriculum-required fiction? † My hypothesis is that high school students reading popular fiction will outperform the students who read curriculum-required fiction, because if you enjoy reading you will perform better. Then I need to do a literature review to discover if my question has already been answered and I may need to modify it or if there are related studies to my research question that can provide quantifiable research. Introduction Quantitative Research involves collecting numerical data though content analysis, performance tests, personality measures, questionnaires, etc. This type of research procedures include an objective/unbiased approach to collecting numerical data from a large number of participants and analyzes these numbers using statistics in order to answer a specific, narrow research question. As part of research, a literature review is required. A quantitative literature review is an extensive review of literature that may or may not influence the study and your research question (UOA 2013). The primary role of literature review in a quantitative research study to gain information on the subject of your research question and identify unbiased and valid studies connected with your research question. For instance, my quantitative research question is â€Å"all other factors being equal, do high school students reading popular fiction achieve better Language Arts test scores than high school students reading curriculum-required fiction? † My hypothesis is that high school students reading popular fiction will outperform the students who read curriculum-required fiction, because if you enjoy reading you will perform better. Then I need to do a literature review to discover if my question has already been answered and I may need to modify it or if there are related studies to my research question that can provide quantifiable research. Why This Research Question This research question â€Å"all other factors being equal, do high school students reading popular fiction achieve better Language Arts test scores than high school students reading curriculum-required fiction? † needs to be answered. There is a controversy over what types of literature is acceptable for students to have access. One of my favorite book series (Harry Potter) is a banned book in certain states. This research question would add to research already completed. Methodology in the Research Question This research question â€Å"all other factors being equal, do high school students reading popular fiction achieve better Language Arts test scores than high school students reading curriculum-required fiction? † is an experimental research question and a casual research question. An experimental research question tests the cause and effect and a causal research question that test for a cause and effect relationship between variables. The variables in this research question are the independent variable (IV), age, ethnicity, and gender, the dependent variable (DV), assigned popular fiction and curriculum-required fiction, and the covariant (CoV) socio-economic status. Additionally, this question has ratio data. Ratio data is continuous. Ratio data rank order, but also quantify and compare the sizes of differences between them. Ratio data has an absolute zero and allows for how many times greater. The research question can discover how many times greater or less are the test scores of high school students who read popular fiction than those who read curriculum-required fiction. Supporting Research My hypothesis of the research question is that high school students reading popular fiction will outperform the students who read curriculum-required fiction, because if you enjoy reading you will perform better. The other similar research found during the literature review relates to my research. Although, my specific research question has not been fully researched. Other research relates to my question. According to the article, Impact of Students Reading Preferences on Reading Achievement, middle school students in Canada found â€Å"The most significant indicators were reading novels or fictional texts, informative reading or non-fiction, and reading books or other texts from the school library. In-class reading and participation in discussions pertaining to school-related reading were also shown to enhance reading achievement. These results are somewhat surprising in that research documenting this subject mainly emphasizes the use of pedagogical material corresponding to the interests/needs of students to foster achievement in reading† (Bouchamma, et al. 2013). This research shows that reading achievement can come from both required and optional reading. Moreover, according to the article, Reading Attitude and its Effect on Leisure Time Reading, â€Å"gender, educational level, age, and amount of spare time have a positive effect on reading behavior† (Stokmans 1999). Additionally, there is â€Å"a positive relationship between time spent reading fiction and educational level† (Stokmans 1999). This research shows that reading fiction relates positively to reading level. Additionally, according to the article, Popular Publications May Help Students Reading Scores, â€Å"We are concerned about the struggle to increase scores that children are posting on state-required exams not because of the scores themselves, but because they are strong indications that state students may not be gaining the thorough and analytical skills they need to become successful readers† (Michigan Chronicle 1997). This newspaper article shows that popular publications may help students on their reading score. Conclusion This research question â€Å"all other factors being equal, do high school students reading popular fiction achieve better Language Arts test scores than high school students reading curriculum-required fiction? † needs to be answered. This research question addresses the controversy over what types of literature is acceptable for students to have access to. Moreover, this research question would add to research already completed. It would allow  administrators and other educators to decide if certain books can be helpful in high school students learning environments. Bibliography Bouchamma, Y. , Poulin, V. , Basque, M. , Ruel, C. (2013). Impact of students reading preferences on reading achievement. Creative Education, 4(8), 484-491. Retrieved February 6th, 2014 from: http://search. proquest. com/docview/1441488139? accountid=28844 Mia J. W. Stokmans, Reading attitude and its effect on leisure time reading, Poetics, Volume 26, Issue 4, May 1999, Pages 245-261, ISSN 0304-422X, Retrieved February 6th, 2014 from: http://dx. doi. org/10. 1016/S0304-422X(99)00005-4 http://www. sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S0304422X99000054 Popular publications may help students reading scores. (1997, Oct 01). Michigan Chronicle. Retrieved February 6th, from: http://search. proquest. com/docview/390200035? accountid=28844 University of Arkansas Libraries (2013, Oct. 30) Literature Reviews. LibGuides. Retrieved February 6th, 2014 from: http://uark. libguides. com/content. php? pid=110370sid=1384703

The Scarlet Letter Essay example -- Literary Analysis, Hawthorne

In the first chapter of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, a solitary rosebush stands in front of a gloomy prison to symbolize "some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow" (Hawthorne 56). Serving as a symbol of beauty and solitude, this rosebush foreshadows the dismal tone that will preside over the remainder of the novel and illustrates the beauty of confession and growth in contrast to the suppression and decay apparent within the prison. Hester can be compared to the rosebush due to her growth and inner beauty following her confession of having committed adultery and because she shows passionate and brazen countenance in the face of stern rigidity. On the contrary, Dimmesdale is the prison, confining his guilt of having committed adultery within himself and thus allowing the decay of his soul. It is through immense symbolism, contrasting imagery, and Biblical allusion that Hawthorne creat es both a critical and gloomy tone while speaking to the ubiquitous theme that unconfessed sin destroys the soul. Hawthorne employs Hester's scarlet letter, her punishment for committing adultery, as a powerful symbol that juxtaposes the concealed letter that Dimmesdale must face due to his hidden guilt. In the first scaffold scene, before the crowd has even witnessed Hester or the affliction that is affixed to her breast, some of the women of the town gossip over her punishment. One young woman tells her neighbors, "Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart," (60) illustrating the fact that Hester feels shame whether or not she is forced to wear the mark. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, does not confess his sin and... ...ul conception. Pearl also provides the only bright and hopeful tone in the novel by personifying the purity associated with confession. It is Hester's confession and freedom from guilt that provides for Pearl's innocence and purity. Through pervasive symbolism, contrasting imagery, and Biblical allusion, Hawthorne creates a critical and gloomy tone and speaks to the omnipresent theme that unconfessed sin destroys the soul. Through the novel, Hester is a symbol of growth due to her freedom from the torment of unconfessed guilt while Dimmesdale represents the decay of the human spirit that results from unconfessed sin. It is Hawthorne's dark and gloomy tone regarding Dimmesdale in contrast to the hopeful and accepting tone regarding Hester and Pearl that clearly personifies his belief that confession of sin revives the soul and allows for personal growth and empathy.

Nelson Mandela Essay

South African Anti-Apartheid leader and first black President Nelson Mandela. Pictured burning his â€Å"pass† which was required for blacks to carry with them to identify their race and area of the country. They were not permitted to leave to travel to another region without a passport. Nelson Mandela is South Africa’s most influential leader. Nelson Mandela was a dominant figure in the South African liberation movement, burning his pass as a peaceful protest. The twentieth century in South Africa is something that unfortunately cannot be retrospectively looked at with pride, because of the practice of apartheid. Apartheid had similarities to segregation in the American South, but was much worse. In addition to not being able to vote and separation from the whites in public businesses, blacks (which made up seventy percent of the population) were forced to live in a small area of the country, and could not leave without a â€Å"pass,† which very few people had and were very hard to get. Also, apartheid laws were explicitly stated laws, not just de facto rules that society followed, which South African blacks were forced to follow for nearly fifty years. Nelson Mandela rose up as leader of the African National Congress and major speaker against the evils of Apartheid, becoming the voice of the movement to end apartheid. The use of passes came into effect when Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd developed the policy of separate development, in which the nine African groups that lived in South Africa were moved from the urban areas into the country areas. If the Africans wanted to travel anywhere, or work, they needed a pass showing that they were allowed out of their designated section. If found without their passes, or traveling outside of the regulated boundaries, they were arrested and put in jail for a minimum of 30 days. These passes were used to keep the Africans in check, to regulate their ability to move and their freedom. To the people of South Africa, the passes represented lost freedom. Nelson Mandela’s contribution and dedication to South Africa’s struggle in achieving freedom and equal rights for every South African led to his popularity and respect in South Africa. In the 1950’s, Mandela began working on ending the apartheid. In 1964, he was arrested and imprisoned for trying to overthrow the government, but continued his fight even from his prison cell. After his release in 1990, Mandela traveled throughout the world trying to earn money to support the anti-apartheid movement. Mandela continued to advocate equality for all South Africans regardless of their ethnic backgrounds. In 1993, Mandela earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in improving human rights. In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first black South African to be elected as president of his country. His presidency was characterized by the successful negotiation of a new constitution for South Africa, but his main focus was the restructuring of South Africa after the damage done by the apartheid. The picture as a whole is significant to South Africa because it showed the people that they could stand up for themselves and fight against their oppression. Nelson Mandela presented the people of South Africa with a leader in their struggle, providing the inspiration needed for a drastic change. He planted the idea in the people that there was something they could do about their situation. Mandela would do anything to win the battle. The picture is significant to the twentieth century because it provided yet another example of the common theme of the struggle against oppression and the fight for freedom. It may be possible to oppress a group of people, but it is impossible to oppress the spread of ideas. Once the idea of freedom is sparked it can spread like wildfire. Therefore the picture represents the fight and struggle that people will go through no matter what the cost might be. In Afrikaans apartheid means ‘separateness’. In South Africa it grew to be a system of governance that discriminated against black South Africans. Nelson Mandela and people such as Ahmed Kathrada fought long and hard against this discrimination. From 1948 until early 1994 Apartheid was made law in South Africa, even though it is considered to have been a violation of international law. The idea of ‘grand apartheid’ was essentially one of political separation, while ‘petty apartheid’ had more to do with segregation. People in South Africa were segregated into categories of white, black, Coloured, Indian (or Asian). In 1958 Blacks were deprived of their citizenship. There were separate schools, buses, shops and hospitals for blacks and coloured people and the services available were well under the standard provided for the minority whites. Even laws were different. A black man found raping a white woman for example could expect years in prison, whereas a white man raping a black woman would probably be charged a small fine. The black and coloured people of South Africa protested against this inequality led by the likes of Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada. Most of the initial protests were in the form of passive resistance. In one protest against apartheid Mandela publicly burnt his ‘pass’. These passes had to be carried by all black men and they were not allowed to leave their own district without a pass. There was much unrest among the black community when the government tried to force the carrying of passes to include women. Working with the ANC (African National Council) Nelson Mandela apartheid efforts increased and he himself began to realise that passive resistance was not winning the fight. Plans were made to bomb places of significance to apartheid, but these were always planned to avoid anyone being hurt or killed. Nelson Mandela was tried for treason and at one stage was acquitted. In 1964 though, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Under apartheid Mandela served nearly 27 years in prison but he never gave up the fight. When Mandela was imprisoned at Robben Island he continued his work and teachings. In South Africa and around the world, Nelson Mandela’s anti-apartheid messages gained in popularity. There is probably no one who has done so much to end the rule of apartheid as Nelson Mandela. He has been the voice of the people and made the message heard right around the world. Certainly Mandela did not act alone but his voice and actions held real power and the battle was eventually won. After his release from prison in 1990 Nelson Mandela went on to become president of South Africa. Apartheid was officially ended though there is no doubt that much of the racism is still deeply rooted in the country. While Nelson Mandela is no longer president, he is highly respected and his voice is still heard. As a leader and a peacemaker Nelson Mandela was the leading force in the battle against apartheid. A battle worth fighting for and a battle won. In his household, he never asked his parents a question, he must learn it himself. There were many stories passed on from generation to generation depicting Xhosa warriors. The stories all had a moral, mostly depicting virtue and generosity. The Xhosa childrens’ lives were shaped by custom, ritual, and taboo. Men followed the path of their fathers, women did so with their mothers.

A Project Dilemma At Canadian Shield Insurance Essay

Introduction After reading the case, you ought to realize that our protagonist, Seamus Reynolds, is between the proverbial â€Å"rock and a hard spot† and you are probably thinking â€Å"I would hate to be him†. Guess what? You are going to be him in this assignment. There is quantitative data in the case that we can analyze; however, we are also going to â€Å"quantify† the qualitative data provided – think of it as reducing numerical and non-numerical data to a set of numbers we can use to make a decision. Yes, you read that correctly, attach numbers to data without numbers. Exhibit 3 of the case will accomplish this for us and is called a Scorecard. A bit of history on this method from your â€Å"long in the tooth† Instructor. Scorecard analysis was made popular by a Kepner Tregoe decision making model dating back to the 1950’s. In essence, a decision is made by gathering information, prioritizing it and then evaluating it. The following link provide a quick primer on the method: Kepner Tregoe Decision Making We are going to use a scorecard to assist in the decision about which of the 3 information systems Seamus should recommend to upper management. One of the scorecard inputs (called â€Å"NPV† in Exhibit 3) involves the cost for each system (capital cost and operating costs). Here we will take the present value of the Year 1 to Year 5 operating costs and add them to the Year 0 capital cost (if applicable) to get a TCO. In these calculations we will be ignoring sunk costs (hint: Google sunk cost). In addition to the above decision making criteria we will take a look at the human side of â€Å"sunk costs†, learn from IS implementations, IS â€Å"make vs. buy†Ã‚  and determine who should be making a crucial IS decision for an entire company. Lab Assignment Questions 146 Marks in Total 1. Open the Excel file â€Å"Lab Assignment 6 PV and Scorecard Template.xlsx† and select the â€Å"PV Costs† worksheet. After inputting the table data (6 marks), calculate the PV to Operate System for all 3 scenarios provided (30 marks). 36 marks total 2. Select the â€Å"Scorecard† worksheet. Assign a Weight to ? scorecard items, then calculate the scores for the 3 IS options. 45 marks Answer the following questions on a new worksheet in the above Excel file and when done, upload to the designated Sharein folder. 3. Based on your calculations in (1) and (2) above, which IS Option would you recommend that Seamus select? 5 marks 4. Should the decision to select an IS option be left solely to Seamus? Explain. 10 marks 5. The concept of sunk costs is simple to apply in theory. Explain applying this theory to the calculations in (1) above from a Capital Cost and People point of view. 10 marks 6. Read the â€Å"Qualifiers vs. Competes.pdf† file. In light of what the file says, comment about the scorecard that the Ivey case writers compiled. 10 marks If you believe there an alternative or 4th solution that Seamus might recommend, what might it be? Explain. 10 marks 7. Read the â€Å"IT Value Metrics_ How to Communicate ROI to the Business.pdf† file, in particular the chart on Page 5/6. Next, open the file named â€Å"Investing in the IT That Makes a Competitive Difference.pdf†, go to Page 5 and study the charts and their message (and any accompanying prose in the article). Based on these 2 files and the case data, is it crucial that Canadian Shield Insurance â€Å"keep up with/get ahead of the Jones’s† (i.e., keep up/get ahead of the competition)? Explain. 20 marks

There must be reform essays

There must be reform essays There must be reform! At the rate the United States of America is evolving at, it wouldnt be a surprise if it is on its way to becoming an oligarchy. This country is governed by the dollar, not by the president or even the people. The campaign for the presidency is becoming like a campaign for president of the student council-it is a popularity contest. The president is no longer elected due to his credentials and beliefs; his is elected by how much in can get into the publics face and make them smile. Presidential candidates say whatever will please the public and win them some votes, this is no surprise and this isnt really the bad part. The bad part is money controls the means for a candidate to even gain enough recognition and notability to arouse the publics interests. This stands true for not only presidential elections but also Senate and House campaigns. Being the year 2001 candidates now have more options available to them to make themselves known. The only problem is, all these new methods (television, radio, the Internet) cost money to use. This immediately brings up two problems. The first being that the candidate with the most funds has a great advantage to winning just based on their ability to gain exposure. The second is that campaigns (presidential or otherwise) turn into a race for money and valor rather than for the benefit for the country and the people residing within. The lack of money can make a good candidate fail miserably if they do not have the funds to support themselves and on the opposite end of the spectrum, it can make a horrible candidate the victor due to an unequal advantage. The object of democratic elections is to allow the people of the United States vote for whom they feel would be best to run their country, not to coerce them to vote for the guy that had the most media appeal (for example, Pre sident Reagan). The road to reform is the road to recovery for ...

Pre-2013 Common Application Personal Essay Tips

Pre-2013 Common Application Personal Essay Tips Important Note for 2019-20 Applicants: The Common Application essay options have changed twice since this article was written! Nevertheless, the tips and sample essays below will still provide useful guidance and essay samples for the current Common Application, and both the old and new applications include the topic of your choice option. That said, be sure to read the most up-to-date article on the 2019-20 Common Application Essay Prompts. ________________________________ Heres the original article: The first step to writing a stellar personal essay on your college application is to understand your options. Below is a discussion of the six essay options from the Common Application. Also be sure to check out these 5 Application Essay Tips. Option #1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you. Note the key word here: evaluate. You arent just describing something; the best essays will explore the complexity of the issue. When you examine the impact on you, you need to show the depth of your critical thinking abilities. Introspection, self-awareness and self-analysis are all important here. And be careful with essays about the winning touchdown or tie-breaking goal. These sometimes have an off-putting look how great I am tone and very little self-evaluation. Read Drews essay, The Job I Should Have Quit, for an example of option #15 tips for essay option #1 Option #2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you. Be careful to keep the importance to you at the heart of your essay. Its easy to get off track with this essay topic and start ranting about global warming, Darfur, or abortion. The admissions folks want to discover your character, passions and abilities in the essay; they want more than a political lecture. Read Sophies essay, The Allegany County Youth Board, for an example of option #25 tips for essay option #2 Option #3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. Im not a fan of this prompt because of the wording: describe that influence. A good essay on this topic does more than describe. Dig deep and analyze. And handle a hero essay with care. Your readers have probably seen a lot of essays talking about what a great role model Mom or Dad or Sis is. Also realize that the influence of this person doesnt need to be positive. Read Maxs essay, Student Teacher, for an example of option #3Read Jills essay, Buck Up, for another example of option #3Read Catherines essay, Diamond in the Rough, for yet another example of option #36 tips for essay option #3 Option #4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. Here as in #3, be careful of that word describe. You should really be analyzing this character or creative work. What makes it so powerful and influential? Read Felicitys essay, Porkopolis, for an example of option #4Read Eileens essay, Wallflower, for another example of option #47 tips for essay option #4 Option #5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. Realize that this question defines diversity in broad terms. Its not specifically about race or ethnicity (although it can be). Ideally, the admissions folks want every student they admit to contribute to the richness and breadth of the campus community. How do you contribute? Read Carries essay, Give Goth a Chance, for an example of option #55 tips for essay option #5 Option #6. Topic of your choice. Sometimes you have a story to share that doesnt quite fit into any of the options above. However, the first five topics are broad with a lot of flexibility, so make sure your topic really cant be identified with one of them. Also, dont equate topic of your choice with a license to write a comedy routine or poem (you can submit such things via the Additional Info option). Essays written for this prompt still need to have substance and tell your reader something about you. Read Loras essay, Eating Eyeballs, for a sample of option #6

Valuation and Investment Analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Valuation and Investment Analysis - Term Paper Example Due to the slow U.S. economy, Best Buy has been plagued by declining sales during the last few years. Although the company reported losses of 2.4% for 2012, it was primarily due to the buyout of Best Buy Mobile for $1.3 billion. For 2013 the company reported a 0.5% loss, but the company was able to record a net profit of 1.3% in 2014 for the first time in the last three years. The company has been working hard to change its operating strategy and trim operations in order to turn around their financial performance. In 2012, the company hired new CEO and turnaround expert Hubert Joly which revised the companys strategy, closed down many of the less profitable big-box store, expanded many of the smaller retail store outlets, expanded their mobile best buy store outlets, streamlined and improved their online operations. Amid competition from giant retailers like Amazon.com and Wal-Mart in the consumer electronics business, Best Buy is looking to redirect their strategy through acquisitions and further expanding their mobile phone business in China and Mexico through their new venture of Best Buy Mobile. The company’s new strategy for their electronic business involves increasing the total number of retail stores, while decreasing their overall square footage in order to decrease fixed costs. The company seeks to improve their on-line revenues and customer experience by offering free shipping and more competitive pricing. By analyzing the companys overall financial performance, financial ratios and performing a valuation analysis this paper will determine whether Best Buy is a good long term investment. In order to evaluate the companys future financial performance I will need to calculate the companys growth rate and average discount rate. The growth rate was calculated by multiplying the return on operating capital by the retention rate. Based

In what ways can Australia, as a middle power, use multilateralism to Essay

In what ways can Australia, as a middle power, use multilateralism to effectively pursue its foreign policy objectives - Essay Example In the international system, it is as well the prerogative of each nation to fight for their space on the decision making table. Multilateralism as an effort to coordinate the policies of two or more nations together can hence be used by Australia (Beeson 2011). This is supported by the fact that the hierarchy places Australia at a point where it is able to bring together the lower power and the top power as an intermediary. Australia’s diplomatic practice has a strong foundation and has existed for a very long time; it is possible to discern Australian diplomatic elements, which could be said to emphasize on idealism an even legalism (Sampson & Woolcock 2003). Using the available advantage of multilateralism, Australia attempts to achieve its pursuit of foreign policy objectives in the international arena competing with not only other middle power states but also the great power states (Ball 1997). In its quest, Australia faces quite a number of possibilities as well as limit s and constraining factors. Through multilateral corporation of Australia as a middle power, the country is able to direct its efforts of whatever manner in trying to maintain international peace and security. This is one way of penetrating it policies in the international platform (2013). It is prudent to note at this point that middle power status has always defined quality of Australian foreign policy a fact that has always made Australia be a very strong negotiator and protector of its rights without simply obeying the great and mighty (Ball 1997). Such capability also makes Australia a force and to the countries advantage, they are able to bring in their policies onto the international platform. Another way in which Australia is able to use multilateralism to further its foreign policy objectives is through the application of the principle of creative middle power diplomacy. This has an extended impact of aiding the country to enhance its interests (Sampson & Woolcock 2003). Au stralia, as a middle power state, should be strategic in its alliances, as this will affect its pursuit of foreign policies. With other grater layers in the field, Australia must strive to keep up with these powers, as they are the main influential factors in the pursuit of foreign policy objectives. This has been the case with Australia as seen in various instances where Australia allied with other great powers (Ball 1997); including the USA, the super power in a strategic attempt to promote its foreign policy objectives; one notable instance is the support of Bush’s presidency in the USA by Howard’s government (Beeson 2011). The system of interdependence is an important factor that sustains interaction between states in the international syste