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Edmontonia - Facts and Figures

Edmontonia - Facts and Figures Name: Edmontonia (from Edmonton); pronounced ED-mon-TOE-nee-ah Habitat: Woodlands of North America Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (75-65 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and three tons Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Low-slung body; sharp spikes on shoulders; lack of tail club About Edmontonia Edmonton in Canada is one of the few regions in the world with two dinosaurs named after itthe duck-billed herbivore Edmontosaurus, and the armored nodosaur Edmontonia. However, you should bear in mind that Edmontonia was named not after the city, but after the Edmonton Formation where it was discovered; theres no evidence that it actually lived in the environs of Edmonton itself. The type specimen of this dinosaur was discovered in Canadas Alberta Province in 1915, by the swashbuckling fossil hunter Barnum Brown, and initially assigned as a species of the nodosaur genus Palaeoscincus (ancient skink), a classification that fortunately never caught on. Naming issues aside, Edmontonia was a formidable dinosaur, with its bulky, low-slung body, armor plating along its back, andmost intimidatinglythe sharp spikes jutting out from its shoulders, which may have been used to deter predators or to fight other males for the right to mate (or both). Some paleontologists also believe Edmontonia was capable of producing honking sounds, which would truly have made it the SUV of nodosaurs. (By the way, Edmontosaurus and other nodosaurs lacked the tail clubs of classic armored dinosaurs like Ankylosaurus, which may or may not have made them more vulnerable to predation by tyrannosaurs and raptors.)

Zara Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Zara Analysis - Research Paper Example Inditex’s portfolio includes eight retail brands including Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Zara, Zara Home, Oysho, Uterque, Stradivarius and Pull & Bear. Although each of these brands pertains to retail textile and distribution, for Inditex each one represents a different strategic business unit. The flagship brand however, is Zara. According to Reuters, Zara’s owner Inditex reported 32% increase in profit in the first half of the year 2012, sales worth of 7.2 billion Euros and EBITDA of 1.6 billion as compared to forecasts of 7.1 billion and 1.6 billion respectively. The percentage of operating expenses from sales reduced to 37.16 percent as opposed to 38.04% last year, this indicates that there is a higher percentage of revenue keeping other factors same. According to BBC website, the net sales have risen by 17% to 7.2 billion Euros. The opening of new stores by 2012 has also increased by 7%, thus now Inditex has 5,693 stores in 85 countries (www.bbc.co.uk). The company has also invested extensively in their home market of Spain, with the hopes of upgrading the commercial and logistic activities to boost their world-wide operations. Since Zara has presence in more than 85 countries of the world, the brand needs to adapt to the political environment of the country they are operating in. For France is particular Zara needs to consider the following aspects of the macro environment: The European financial crisis and the fluctuating value of the Euro have a strong impact on fashion apparel retailers. However as opposed to high-end French fashion brands, Zara is a medium tier brand. So the fashion-conscious target audience has also become price sensitive, this works in favor of Zara France is one of the best developed economies in the world. Thus the women in France are very internet savvy, so Zara needs to utilize the vast possibilities of online retailing as well. According to Annual Report 2011, social media and

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Art - Essay Example It is here that the actual relevance of intention of one’s understanding of art lies. Spectators ignore the intentional contribution of the photographer, devalues the art representation and its creator, as a medium of artistic creation (Jonathan Friday, p.67, 2002). One of the most well-known and controversial artists of contemporary world goes by the name of Yoko Ono. Born in Japan, Yoko Ono is known more because of her marriage to John Lennon. However, one cannot take away the brilliance of this artist, who through her art embraced a wide range of media; defying traditional boundaries and creating new forms of artistic expression. Her works include, objects and installations; film and video; music and performance art. YES YOKO ONO was one exhibition where Yoko’s talent was on display. It offered for the first time, a comprehensive reevaluation of Ono’s works, exploring her position in postwar international avant-garde, and her critical and influential role in originating forms of cutting-edge art, music, film, and performance. The exhibition portrayed Yoko’s role in Fluxus, an avant-garde movement in New York in the early 1960s, her contributions to Conceptual art in New York, London, and Tokyo, her concerts, films, vocal recordings, public art, which included her works made with John Lennon, and finally, her interactive installations and site-specific art. The exhibition, YES YOKO ONO, is on an interactive installation known as Ceiling Painting, a work where, the viewer is invited to climb a white ladder, on the top of which is a magnifying glass dangling by a chain from a frame on the ceiling. The viewer has to use the reading glass to read the ‘instruction’ beneath the framed sheet of glass, which says, ‘Y E S.’ It was through this work that Ono met her future husband and longtime collaborator, John Lennon. The Installation for the Ceiling

The Influence of Media on Perception of Beauty Essay Example for Free

The Influence of Media on Perception of Beauty Essay Defining beauty is not without its challenges: look up the definition of beauty in any english dictionary and one will be met with an ambiguous description similar to this: A combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense (Newman 2010) acknowledges the dilemma in asking what beauty is. She maintains we grope around the edges of the question as if trying to get a toe-hold on a cloud. We know it when we see it, or so we think. Philosophers construct beauty as a moral equation (Newman 2010). Plato once said that what is beautiful is good. Poets reach for the lofty, according to (Newman 2010). Jean Pullman wrote true beauty is how she acts, true beauty is inside. Others are more definite in their definition. When people approach plastic surgeons and announce make me beautiful what they are asking for are high cheekbones and a stronger jawline (Davis 2011). Scientifically beauty is seen as health. According to (Newman 2010): Its a billboard saying I am healthy and fertile, and I can pass on your genes. Our personal perceptual process plays a large part in what we deem to be beautiful. Perception refers to the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses (Merriam-Webster 2010). The sensory receptors that are involved are skin, mouth, ears, nose and eyes and they inform our sense of touch, taste, hearing, smell and sight. The media has brought with it wonderful advantages in certain aspects of peoples lives but it has also brought with it a very alarming detriment, and this is a change and influence in societys perception of beauty. Through the media unrealistic images of western ideals of beauty are transmitted out all over the world. Advertisements, magazine articles and modern hollywood are the driving force behind the influence of the publics perception of ideal beauty (Hoffman 2004). From magazines and billboards to film and television advertisements, it is fair to say that images of unattainable body ideals are everywhere for all to see. The age of technology has meant that there is more access and exposure to these images. According to (Tornambe 2010) movie icons in the 1950s and 1960s that appeared on the silver screen were admired and adored, but never copied like today. Because it was understood that they lived a life far different from the average person. Fast forward to the present, where people are bombarded by images of the daily life of celebrities thanks to online social media websites like twitter and facebook, blogs and online magazines. This has created an intimate relationship between celebrities and the public (Tornambe 2010). This relationship has changed societys view on beauty because now that celebrities are on our level, doesnt that mean we can be like them? Women in particular experience the brunt of media pressure. From reading magazine articles and advertisements that feature women that are models who are underweight and beautiful, they feel that they need to look like that to be happy and successful (Hoffmann 2004). This can create an unhealthy body image for women. Body image is the perception that one has about oneself (Martin 2009). This perception can be either positive or negative.The average height of a female fashion model is 5 ft 10 inches and weighs 110lbs (Waltz 2004). The average woman is 5 ft 4 inches in height and weighs a healthy 145lbs, yet the media glorifies the former as ideal. The perception that to look like a model will make one happier and confident has led to an increase in eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, as women starve themselves or make themselves sick to aid in faster weight loss (Waltz 2004). Unsurprisingly, eating disorders are a growing epidemic and since 1970, the number of those with eating disorders has increased by a staggering 400% (National Eating Disorder Organisation 2011). Eating disorders account for more fatalities than any other psychological illness (National Eating Disorder Organisation 2011). Genetically some women are not meant to be very thin. The death of American singer Karen Carpenter shocked the world in 1983 when it was found that her death was caused by complications due to anorexia. Her death essentially opened the eyes of the world to this disease, because many had not heard of it as it was rarely talked about (Schmidt 2010). Karen became the first celebrity victim of anorexia. As one half of the band The Carpenters she was a regular in the spotlight and felt the pressures from the media to be thinner. Naturally curvaceous and weighing a healthy 140lbs, she began extreme dieting and starvation in 1967. Her body suffered from the lack of food and many doses of laxatives and thyroid pills and she had fainted many times on and off stage. Her heart, weakened from the stress she placed on her body, eventually gave up and she died from cardiac arrest.The dark side of beauty is apparent. But according to (Newman 2010), studies suggest that beauty is regarded as more than a confidence booster: attractive people make more money, get called on more often in class, receive lighter sentences, and are perceived as friendlier Evidently beauty is so highly regarded that there is an immense expectation for women to conform to impossible standards. According to (Chapman 2011) women are made to feel ugly and ashamed if these standards are not met. For years the ideal beauty in women was considered to be white skin, light eyes and blonde hair, as dictated by the media. Superior race is the most oppressive of beauty ideals which continues to dominate the media (Stephens, Hill and Hanson 1994). According to (Kite 2011) images of white women dominate the media, which creates a negative impact on women who are not of a white ethnicity. Celebrities such as Beyonce Knowles and Aiswarya Rai who are successful actresses in their own right, have experienced what is known as the whitewashing of the media (Beauty Redefined 2011). In advertisements and magazine features these women have been subjected to this harmful media representation where their dark skin has been noticeably whitened before publication. See Figure 1 and 2 where you will see two photographs of both women, one of before each were whitewashed and one afterwards.The media digitally lighten both the skin and hair colour. The transformation of both women is very disturbing. The actresses are considered beautiful women but when they are respresented as beauty icons in the media, they fit the white ideal – light skin, light-colored hair and lightened eyes (Beauty Redefined 2011). In Killing Us Softly, a documentary made by Jean Killbourne in 2010, Jean confirms this. In it she says that women of colour are considered beautiful only if they fullfill the white ideal that is light skin, hair, eyes and caucasian features (Kilbourne 2010). In Asia beauty is often equated with white skin. In fact it has spawned a lucrative and dangerous industry of skin-bleaching products (Hwang Lynch 2011). According to (Hwang Lynch 2011) the preference for pale skin is equivalent to the American obsession with tan skin. 70% of the Asian cosmetic and skin care market is made up of bleaching and whitening products aimed at women who want to artificially lighten their skin(Hwang Lynch 2011).Whilst most products perform safely, they have been linked to the death of a 23 year old Cambodian woman in 2010 (The Guardian 2010). The coined phrase dying to be pale rings true. The search and pursuit of ideal beauty spans centuries and countries. Cleopatra famously wore black kohl made from minerals around her eyes to accentuate them. In the court of Louis XVI, women drew blue veins on their necks to emphasise their noble blood (Newman 2010). In the 18th century women used vermilion rouge that was made of a dangerous chemical compund made up of sulfur and mercury. So dangerous, it caused women to lose their teeth and some to lose their life from being poisoned. The pursuit of ideal beauty is also very costly. According to (Kilbourne 2010) what is most important to women is how we look and that we make the effort to look good: The media surround us with images of the ideal female beauty and we learn from an early age that we must spend enormous amounts of time and money striving to achieve this look and feeling ashamed when we fail. Failure is inevitable because it is impossible to attain this ideal (Kilbourne 2010). Advertisments for cosmetic and skincare products contain models that have been made to look flawless via digital enhancement. The advertisments base their ideal on complete perfection. There are never any natural lines or wrinkles on the models that would be clearly visible without artificial enhancement. The flawlessness advertised by these cosmetic companies simply cannot be achieved (Kilbourne 2010). Nobody looks like these models, not even the models themselves. Kilbourne (2010) discusses female sexuality in her documentary. She says that from an early age girls learn that appearance and sexualised behaviour are rewarded by society. Whilst she claims there is nothing wrong with wanting to be sexy, she believes it is wrong that this is emphasised for women to the omission of other important attributes, such as having a genuine personality. (Wolf 1991) summed up the insecurities felt by young girls: Their [girls] sexual energy, their evaluation of adolescent boys and other girls goes thwarted, deflected back upon the girls, unspoken, and their searching hungry gazed returned to their own bodies. The questions, Whom do I desire? Why? What will I do about it? are turned around: Would I desire myself? Why not? What can I do about it?. Defining beauty is not without its challenges but according to (Englis, Solomon and Ashmore 1994) people actively look for it based on what is thrusted to them by the media. Female consumers are on the lookout for the latest products that will help them look beautiful. Marketers capitalise on this with advertisments depicting unattainable beauty that tricks consumers into buying their product. In the USA in 2011 six billion dollars was spent on fragrance and another six billion on makeup (Newman 2010). Hair and skincare products amounted to eight billion dollars each. 20 billion dollars was spent on diet products and services, and this is in addition to the billions spent on health club memberships and not forgetting cosmetic surgery. Conclusion It is clear that we live in a society and culture that values appearance, and the media bombards us with an array of images of ideal appearances for both men and women on a daily basis. This isnt helped by the fact that we live in the digital age and images are thrusted in our purview through more mediums. The media is such a consistant member of our lives and is so dominant that we consciously do not understand the strong influence and control it holds over our perceptions of beauty. With every passing year and decade our perception of what is ideally beautiful changes as a result of what we are being fed by the media (Salome 2009) No doubt many women will continue to suffer because of it and strive to try and achieve it. Of course there are many of us who will sooth ourselves with cliches like its only skin deep and beauty is in the eye of the beholder but for better or worse beauty matters and has always mattered. The media need to completely change their input in influencing our perceptions. They need to advertise women with realistic and healthy bodies that are beautiful. They must stop featuring unhealthy, underweight models in advertisements – they are not beautiful, they need help and it is wrong. Yes, beauty will always matter. But lets appreciate and embrace being different and renounce any ideal. The media sends out messages to women that beauty is a central aspect to their identity and their sex (Salome 2009). It is extremely damaging for young impressionable women that attach easily to this notion. A genuine personality does not sell a product it seems and instead sex sells. The notion that in advertising and also in the film industry that sex sells, is a powerful force that keeps us trapped in crippling defintions of femininity and masculinity (Kilbourne 2010). According to Jean Kilbourne (2010) what is at stake in this debacle is a womans ability to have an authenthic and fr eely chosen life.

Bird Imagery in Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Essay -- essays

Bird Imagery in Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man The works of twentieth-century Irish writer James Joyce resound vividly with a unique humanity and genius. His novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, published in 1916, is a convincing journey through the inner mind and spirit of Stephen Dedalus. Portrayed with incredible fluency and realism, imagery guides the reader through the swift current of growth tangible in the juvenile hero. Above all heavy imagery in the novel is the recurring bird motif. Joyce uses birds to ultimately relate Stephen to the Daedelus myth of the â€Å"hawklike man;† however, these images also exemplify Stephen’s daily experiences, and longing for true freedom . By using imagery of birds as threatening, images of beauty, and images of escape, the reader can unify the work and better understand Stephen’s tumultuous journey through life. The opening scene of Chapter one portrays a conversation between a very young Stephen and Dante, Stephen’s nanny. She scolds him for an unconventional thought, warning him that â€Å"the eagles will come and pull out [your] eyes†. This obviously graphic image suggests to Stephen the threatening presence of eagles that are minding all his thoughts. Joyce’s vividness with such gruesome imagery has a real effect on Stephen; he repeats Dante’s caution in his childish song, chanting: â€Å"Pull out his eyes, Apologize†. A playful, yet sensitive Stephen must immediately conformeven his innocent unorthodox actions in fear of the threatening phantom eagles to save the consequences they will bring. His thoughts are threatened again by birds when he meets an acquaintance named Heron when walking down a dark street. Stephen immediately notes the peculi... ...of how the creatures of the air have their knowledge and know their times and seasons because they, unlike man, are in the order of their life and have not perverted that order by reason†. In order to seek true emancipation, Stephen â€Å"must go away for they were birds ever going and coming...ever leaving the homes they had built to wander†. Stephen resolves to leave his Irish homeland; free and wild as his images of the birds. The attributes which mold Stephen Dedalus’ growing integrity and life decisions stem from the actions which surround him. The reader associates Stephen by the images he encounters and his reaction to them. In James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen’s connection with bird imagery helps to define his search for a role in his society, and helps readers define and identify with his quest.

Environmental Sciences Cover Letter

Manar Mansour Beirut, Lebanon To whom it may concern, I am highly interested in the practice of improving the public wellbeing. Through my research, I have learned that this is a rapidly expanding field, and that your esteemed company is a leader in this domain. I am interested in a public health related job, in which I can utilize my analytical skills and inclusive education for our mutual benefit. I recently graduated from the American University of Beirut, having served an internship at AUB as well.During my internship, I gained valuable knowledge of public health while helping to evaluate and report various health oriented practices of several industries, and their abidance by internationally agreed upon standards and guidelines. I also participated in a community based study in an underprivileged Lebanese village, in an attempt to assess particular health related concerns and help propose and facilitate the necessary measures to be taken. Besides, my coursework has enhanced my s tatistical analysis skills, which are crucial to data interpretation and research.In the meantime, I was elected as a committee responsible for three consecutive years for one of the active clubs in AUB, which gave me the opportunity to build administrative and organizational skills, and participate in large scale community service activities as well, such as public awareness campaigns in poor camps, charity activities with children with disabilities and elderly, as well as providing children in underprivileged areas with the necessary education.My goal is to get experience in a public health related field toward solving today’s related problems. My skills and experience will enable me to address the current challenges in delivering efficient product to its seekers. Please find attached my CV for additional review. I appreciate your time and consideration. Yours Sincerely, Manar Mansour October 15th, 2012

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Monomaniac's â€Å"Games For Change Keynote† lecture is about how much of an influence games have on society and the impact it can bring. Her two main questions to answer during this lecture are â€Å"What can games change? † and â€Å"What do games change? † MacDougal presents a list of some people's twitter responses to what games do for them. The first few responses refer to ones emotional state. People with Initial negative emotions such as sadness and anxiety can play games and end up feeling much better. Another change she presents Is â€Å"mental resilience†.This refers too arson's mindset and how it Is altered with games. It Is possible for people's confidence and performance levels to Increase after some time playing games. The next thing MacDougal talks about Is â€Å"social resilience†. How people socialize and Interact with the people around them can change with game play as well. For example, many of the games In the present day are mul tilayer and present an option to connect with players around the world. This creates socializing and Interacting with other online players who may even be real life friends.Before she alas about the science and data behind her lecture she gives us a list of how we can measure these changes when playing games. The list includes analyzing emotional, mental, neurological, social, self-efficacy, and engagement levels. In more general terms, MacDougal believes that â€Å"games can change your life. † MacDougal talks about an interesting mission of hers for this talk, which is to â€Å"increase the lifespan of everyone in this room by seven and a half minutes† and even provides a formula to show where she got that specific number.A good point she brings up is that on our deathbeds, many people may end up regretting all the time they devoted to playing games. Many people will say that the time spent in front of a game console or computer controlling a virtual character could have been used more wisely. She presents to the audience a list of the top five regrets people have. These regrets are working too hard, not staying in touch with friends, not allowing yourself to be happier, not truly expressing yourself, and not living the life that stayed true to your ideas. MacDougal goes on to say that each one of these regrets can be answered by laying games.The first regret of working too hard can be because people wish they had spent more time with their family and kids. Games are the perfect solution for this regret. Playing games with friends and family can definitely strengthen bonds and relationships. The second regret of not keeping in touch with friends can also be fixed through social games. MacDougal gives the example of social games such as Words with Friends and Formative that keeps people connected with others. The benefit games also produce Is that no matter how distant two people are, they canInteract with each other by these games. Games are al so scientifically proven to fix the third regret, which is not letting yourself be happier. MacDougal provides data from an East Carolina university stating that online games have actually outperformed clinical activities of depression when It comes to making someone happier. The fourth regret of not expressing yourself more can be solved by creating virtual avatars and characters that can be molded and shaped Into whoever you desire. The last regret on the list is not living a life true to your dreams.

SAT Preparation - PrepScholar 2016 Students Encyclopedia

SAT Preparation - PrepScholar 2016 Students' Encyclopedia SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips There are numerous and diverse resources for students to prepare for the SAT. Preparing for this important exam has been shown to be strongly correlated with scoring highly and improving scores between test administrations. Because the SAT largely differs in question type and pacing from most classroom exams, students tend to benefit from familiarizing themselves with the test before taking it. Note: this article is a series in the PrepScholar2016 Students' Encyclopedia, a free students' and parents' SAT / ACT guide that provides encyclopedic knowledge. Read all the articles here! How many points can SAT prep help? Studies have shown various levels of score improvement following SAT preparation courses. According to the Johnson San Francisco study in 1984, students showed an average increase of 178 points on a 1600 SAT scale following a 30 hour prep course. On a 2400 SAT scale, the equivalent is an SAT improvement of 267 points. A study from Ohio State University showed that students achieved score improvements of greater than 60 points following SAT review. Despite many rigorous scientific studies showing SAT score can be improveddramatically by prep,the College Board maintains its official politically motivatedposition that the SAT cannot be prepped. The College Board benefits from the position that the SAT cannot be prepped so it can maintain the image of the SAT being fair, a key requirement colleges, who are a main driver of College Board's customers. To support the claim that the SAT is uncoachable, it cites research studies that show only about 10 to 20 point score improvements per section following preparation. These studies, however, have raised questions of bias as many werecarried out by College Board and its partner organization, the National Association of College Admission Counseling. Sources of Prep Questions College Board, the nonprofit organization that develops the SAT, releases official practice tests for students to take, some of which are previously administered tests from years past. In addition to these official practice questions, students can find practice questions from various sources, including test prep companies and online classrooms, like Khan Academy. Since SAT prep is a large and varied field, students must be discerning about the quality of SAT practice materials and lessons. Online Preparation Due to advances in educational technology, online SAT courses are a burgeoning method of test prep. Online courses have proven popular among students due to their ability to track student progress, diagnose students' strengths and weaknesses, and customize study plans to individuals. Online prep programs may also offer one-on-one tutoring. Other methods of test prep include one-on-one tutoring, self-study from books, and classes. These methods have varying degrees of effectiveness depending on their quality and the learning styles of individual students. Many students prefer the convenience of online SAT preparation programs, which can be accessed anywhere with Internet. The lessons may be scaffolded to target each student's needs. Students benefit from using a customizable program with high quality content, practice questions, and test-taking strategies. Online programs that incorporate one-on-one tutoring tend to excel in blending the strengths of technology with the benefits of connecting with a tutor. The most effective tutors tend to have extensive teaching experience and to combine individualized instruction with student support. Other Preparation Methods Some students opt for one-on-one tutoring as their main method of SAT preparation. The most helpful tutors thoroughly understand their students' academic profile, map their progress, and created individualized study plans. The least effective tutors simply sit beside students as they do practice problems and lack the ability to communicate clear explanations or effective strategies. One common downside of one-on-one tutoring is its high cost, with many tutors charging hundreds of dollars per hour. Another method of SAT preparation comes in the form of classroom courses. Students may gather for a number of weeks to learn about the SAT, take practice tests, and learn lessons. While SAT preparation classes can be useful to many students for covering the basics andexposing students to SAT practice, they are often lacking in individual instruction and can be relatively expensive. Finally, many students self-study from SAT preparation materials and books. College Board's Official SAT Study Guide, commonly referred to as the "Blue Book," is a key resource due to its ten official practice tests, though most SAT tutors agree that it is lacking in content review and test-taking strategies. This mode of SAT preparation requires independence, self-discipline, and self-directed study habits. To effect score improvements, students must ensure that they are using high quality resources with relevant information and practical tips. Read more from theSAT Encyclopedia! Further Reading Complete Official SAT Practice Tests, Free Links The 10 Best SAT Books Recommended for SAT Prep How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by a 2400 Full Scorer

Teaching Question Tags

Teaching Question Tags If we want to ask for information we usually use the standard question form. However, sometimes we just want to keep a conversation going, or confirm information. In this case, question tags are often used to solicit input or confirmation to what we are saying. Using question tags well also promotes a keen understanding of the use of various auxiliary verbs. Aim: Developing active and passive knowledge of the use of question tagsActivity: Gap-fill followed by sentence matching and, finally, an oral practice exercise to promote active usage of question tagsLevel: Pre-intermediate to intermediate Outline: Activate target area by asking students simple yes/no questions insisting on the correct use of the auxiliary verbs. For example: Do you play tennis? - Yes, I do. Have you been to England - No, I havent.Introduce the idea of question tags by asking students questions using information that you already know about them. For example: You are studying English, arent you? - He didnt go to New York last year, did he?Explain the usage of question tags to students and when they are more preferable than direct questions.Divide students into groups of 3 - 4 and have them complete the gap-fill exercise.Give each group the sentence halves (which you have cut into strips prior to the lesson) and ask them to match them.Correct the sentence matching as a class.Focus on pronunciation by demonstrating the different meaning indicated by a rising voice (asking for more information) and a dropping voice (confirming information).Practice using the question tag examples with both types of intonation.  A sk each student to write his/her name on a piece of paper followed by five simple statements about him/herself. For example: I have been married for four years. I live in San Francisco. etc. Collect the statements and re-distribute the sheets to different students. Make sure that the students keep the sheets upside down until they are called on.Each student then uses the statements to form question tag questions asking the student who has written the statements. For example: You have been married for four years, havent you? You live in San Francisco, dont you? Question Tag Exercises Put the following question tags in to the correct gaps. Each question tag is used only once. isnt it?, has he?, were you?, arent you?, doesnt he?, do you?, is she?, didnt you?, did she? She didnt watch the film last night, ________Its great to see each other again, __________He comes every Friday, _________Youre married, __________You went to Toms last weekend, _________You dont like tripe, ___________She isnt much of a cook, ________He hasnt lived here long, ________You werent invited to the party, __________ Match The Sentence Halves Sentence Question Tag They enjoy playing footballShe isnt thinking of movingHell go to universityShe hasnt studied for very longJack bought a new car last weekThey arent seriousYou live in an apartmentShe doesnt speak RussianThey wont shut upHe isnt concentratingThey hadnt visited you beforeThis music is fantastic is shedoes shehad theydont theywont hedont youwill theyhas shedidnt heisnt itare theyis he Answers They enjoy playing football, dont they?She isnt thinking of moving, is she?Hell go to university, wont he?She hasnt studied for very long, has she?Jack bought a new car last week, didnt he?They arent serious, are they?You live in an apartment, dont you?She doesnt speak Russian, does she?They wont shut up, will they?He isnt concentrating, is he?They hadnt visited you before, had they?This music is fantastic, isnt it?

IKEA General international markets activity Essay

IKEA General international markets activity - Essay Example Hence, purpose of this essay is to understand marketing environment of Indonesian furniture industry and assume what can be plausible marketing strategy of IKEA to achieve competitive advantage over existing player in Indonesian furniture market. Understanding strategic dimension of international marketing mix of IKEA will help the study to predict viability of any marketing strategy of the company from international perspective. The study will also try to understand existing international marketing and strategic activities of the company in order to validate the proposed international marketing mix for IKEA in Indonesia. There are two major limitations are associate with this essay, 1- the researcher has used statistical data prior to recession in order to decrease the scope of outlier intervention in the growth projection and 2- the researcher has only relied on secondary data in order to prepare this report. Business Background of IKEA IKEA is renowned Dutch furniture retailer wit h Swedish origin and the company has established its presence over 30 countries across the globe. The company is headquartered at Delft, Netherlands and it was established by Ingvar Kamprad in the year 1943 (IKEA PS, 2012). The furniture retail giant has established its strong presence across 35 countries with the help of more than 300 retail outlets. According to report published by Euromonitor International (2009), IKEA is the biggest furnishing retailer in the world and earns annual revenue more than â‚ ¬20 billion from its worldwide operation. IKEA offers customized home furnishing solution, readymade furniture, and functional home furnishing products to customers. Scandinavian design and low price are the unique selling proposition (USP) of the Swedish furniture manufacturer (IKEA PS, 2012). Target customer of the company includes middle income families, couples, young people and students (IKEA, 2013a). According to report published by Euromonitor International (2009), IKEA targets those customers who are ready to participate actively in the sales cycle process, for example, self transporting the furniture parts, self-assembling different parts of the furniture etc. These customers are ready to engage in the service delivery matrix of IKEA in order to get quality furniture in affordable price. Business Operation of IKEA- International Context IKEA used centralized business model in order to maintain its international operations. International operation of the company is channelized and monitored by headquarter of the company whereas product development activities are monitored from Almhult, Sweden. According to IKEA (2011) has reported that, more than 600 million people across the world visit IKEA stores throughout the year whereas there are more than 700 million online visitors of the company website. IKEA maintain an international supplier base of more than 1000 in order to maintain its value chain operation. These suppliers belong to 55 different co untries and help

The Effect of Marital Interactions on Martial Satisfaction Research Proposal

The Effect of Marital Interactions on Martial Satisfaction - Research Proposal Example Researchers have classified different types of marital relationships based on a wide number of relationship variables. For example Miller and Olsen (1990) classified various couples according to their conflict and task leadership, while Gottman (1979 classified them according to ther communicative skills and interactions in problem – solving. In yet another study Shostrum and Kavanaugh (1971) categorized couples based on their anger – love and strength and weakness dimensions. Though Leo Tolstoy in his classic novel ‘Anna Karennia’ has stated that â€Å"All happy families resemble one another, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way†, yet research studies have proved that both happy and unhappy marriages are not alike. Marital satisfaction depends very much on the individuals involved and is of utmost importance for a steady marital relationship. Such a relationship builds strong bonds between couples and families leading to a good sense of well being and happiness. Marital satisfaction is measured as the degree to which spouses perceive that their partners meet their needs and desires (Bahr, Chappell, & Leigh, 1983; Bohlander, 1999; Fields, 1983) We will review the current state of research on marriage, marital satisfaction and interaction patterns exhibited by martially satisfied spouses as compared to martially distressed partners. We will take into account both the positive and negative interactions between couples which reflect the level of marital satisfaction they experience in their relationships Olson and De Frain (2003) contend that communication is the core centre of all intimate human relationships – and is the foundation on which all else is built and in marriage, which can be described as a linking or joining of two independent people in order to create something of value to both. Good communication skills hold the