Swot Analysis Of Petco Company s Strengths, Weaknesses,...

A SWOT analysis looks at a company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The following is a SWOT analysis of Petco, a well known company that provides the common products that pet owners would need. Taking a deeper look into how they got started, what their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are in the prosperous market place that has a high demand for pet products in today’s culture that are reliable and inexpensive. Petco originally known as UPCO was started in 1965 as a mail-order veterinary supply business in San Diego, California. The name changed from UPCO to Petco in the late 1970s and began to expand their business. Their first store was established in Tigard, Oregon in 1980. Latter in the late 1980s the company had a major growth in retail when Petco acquired two pet supply chains, WellPoint and the Pet Department allowing them to expand their products. This allowed them to triple there store numbers from forty to one hundred and thirty expanding from Oregon to Washington and Texas. After that their store in Santa Monica California started selling fish and many other animals soon followed. In the early 1990s Petco introduced their logo mascots red ruff and blue mews. Soon after they opened a store on the east coast in New Jersey, growing there total number of stores to two hundred and eighteen in thirteen states. They then started providing a grooming service in the mid 1990s in stores nationwide, committing themselves to animalShow MoreRelatedGardner Distibutinc Company Swot Analysis977 Words   |  4 PagesGardner Distributing Company SWOT Analysis Gardner Distributing Company purchases, sells, and distributes Iams premium pet food products (68 percent of sales), pet supplies (14 percent of sales), and lawn and garden supplies (18 percent of sales). The management team has developed a purpose, mission, and objectives; but the strategies of the firm are not clear. Defining the firm s strategies will require an understanding of the business and the two industries in which the firm operates. It willRead MoreCase Study : Blockbuster And Blackberry Essay1610 Words   |  7 PagesChange is an important to every business. Companies that don’t change become obsolete and susceptible to being irrelevant. Blockbuster and Blackberry are perfect examples of adapting to opportunity which ultimately was the reason they went out of business. Netflix and Apple are companies that capitalized on changes in the marketplace and were able to profit on the mistakes of the competition. The manner that a company presents change is an important part of its success. When leaders developed theirRead MoreSummary Of Phoenix Arizona, Petsmart Essay2300 Words   |  10 Pages For example, the top three major competitors of PetSmart include Petco, Pet Planet and Pet Supermarket (Owler, 2016). Abraham (2012) observed, â€Å"In any industry regardless of the degree of regulation, firms compete with each other to sell more products or services to customers; their purpose being to â€Å"capture more of the customer’s dollar†Ã¢â‚¬  (sec. 1.2, p. 7). Therefore, even the online pet supply giant, the Petsho Shop Company, is a rivalry and boasts annual sales of twelve point three millionRead MoreAnimal Food Products For The United States1735 Words   |  7 Pagesthe food packages. With that many pets in the U.S some well-known companies that manufacture food for our four-legged companions use cheap and harmful products. One such company is Royal Canin. The company has been under attack lately for the use of controvers ial ingredients in their food that make dogs sick. Royal Canin specializes in dog and cat dry high-nutrition food products for the high-end market serving worldwide. The company was first established by the veterinary surgeon Jean Cathary inRead MoreMarketing Analysis : The Pet Product Industry2248 Words   |  9 PagesSituation Analysis IFetch has positioned themselves very carefully when it comes to their products. ICatapult is an innovative product that addresses a major complaint of dog-owners better than any of the competitors. The strategic marketing plan will be based on making this information available to the primary target market visually by point-of-purchase displays and graphically through creative advertisement through social media and magazines that sponsor innovative pet products. This strategicRead MoreJohnson and Johnson Analysis9749 Words   |  39 Pagesallows for greater focus as the company blankets 250 countries across the world (Johnson and Johnson - Strategic Planning). For the last 120 years, Johnson and Johnson have been on the forefront of innovation for each of its three divisions, but it must continue to develop and grow in order to maintain its position for the future. This report will investigate, assess, and put forth recommendations to ensure continued success for Johnson and Johns on. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS 2009 Revenue In 2009, JohnsonRead MorePetsmart Analysis5575 Words   |  23 PagesA Financial Ratio Quarterly Trend Analysis of Petsmart, Inc. Stock symbol: PETM Listed on the Nasdaq Prepared for: In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the course: By: 1.0 Introduction This report provides a financial quarterly trend analysis for Petsmart, Inc. The U.S.-based company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of products, services, and solutions for pets in North America. The company offers consumables, which include pet food

Theme of Love in Much Ado and Twelfth Night - 1783 Words

AS English Literature – Unit 2 (Coursework) EXPLORATIVE STUDY Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is studied and his Much Ado About Nothing is used to explore the theme of love. Performances are referred to. Shakespeares romantic comedies explore love, the â€Å"divine passion†, in all its moods and intensities. Most characters in these two plays are in love, find love or seek it. Twelfth Night, reputedly the most mature of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies, weaves several such love stories into an intricate collage to explore different types of love and its easy descent into pain or folly. John Gross, in a 1991 review of Twelfth Night in the Sunday Telegraph, said â€Å"Twelfth Night is about true love and its egocentric counterfeits.† Orsino’s†¦show more content†¦The Viola-Orsino and Benedick-Beatrice loves are comparable, since both are constant, clear-eyed, and more based on a weathered and thorough understanding of each other than on mere physical attraction – theirs is the ‘marriage of true minds’. Even true love could be silly though, as Kenneth Branagh, playing Benedick in his 1993 version, displays in his antics when bitten by the lovebug; Newsweek, in a 1993 review of this adaptation, aptly judged it as portraying â€Å"the absolute absurdity and absurd absoluteness of love.† In comparison, though Claudio is genuinely attracted to Hero, his love seems fickle, jealous and immature. Claudio, a ‘sensible’ conventional wooer, first verifies Hero’s social and financial compatibility (â€Å"Hath Leonato any son...?†), but their relationship lacks trust and instinctive understanding of each other. This is the reason Claudio believes Don John’s intrigue, though Hero, being sweet and submissive, remains true to him regardless of his treatment of her. Their union therefore seems less sound than Beatrice and Benedick’s and less acceptable to a modern audience, which is probably why, in the 2005 Shakespeare Retold version of Much Ado, Hero declines Claude’s second offer. Sebastian and Olivia’s love too, though true, doesn’t seem on par with the Viola-Orsino and Beatrice-Benedick loves in terms of depth and appreciation of each other. Despite falling in love in a flash and being united only by a â€Å"floodShow MoreRelatedThe Aspects of Love in Twelfth Night Essay633 Words   |  3 PagesThe Aspects of Love in Twelfth Night The main theme in Twelfth Night is love. It is announced at the beginning of the play ‘If music be the food of love play on’ and from this you know that love will be a main aspect in Twelfth Night. In Elizabethan time ‘love’ as we know it today was very different. You could not love anyone outside of your social status, marriages were almost always arranged on how the social status could improve the current standing of oneRead MoreCommon Features of a Shakespeare Comedy1745 Words   |  7 Pagesclever word play, metaphors and insults. 1. Love: The theme of love is prevalent in every Shakespeare comedy. Often, we are presented with sets of lovers who, through the course of the play, overcome the obstacles in their relationship and unite. Love in Shakespearean comedy is stronger than the inertia of custom, the power of evil, or the fortunes of chance and time. In all of these plays but one (Troilus and Cressida), the obstacles presented to love are triumphantly overcome, as conflicts areRead MoreEssay about Film Versions of Shakespeare Comedies2208 Words   |  9 Pagesadaptations of Shakespeare’s comedies, Trevor Nunn’s Twelfth Night and Kenneth Branagh’s A Much Ado About Nothing [‘Much Ado’]. Although both films can to an extent be seen as comedies with serious, almost tragic aspects inherent throughout, Nunn’s film deals with these serious facets as central to the depiction, whereas Branagh, although not entirely ignoring the deeper issues, prefers a more light-hearte d and visually attractive adaptation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Twelfth Night has been described as ‘like Hamlet in a comicRead MoreTwelfth Night by William Shakespeare Essays448 Words   |  2 PagesTwelfth Night by William Shakespeare The complex plot - full of mistaken identities, misdirected passions, high comedy, low tricks, and unexpected poignancy - begins as a ship, carrying the identical twins Viola and Sebastian is wrecked off the coast of a fictional country, Illyria. Viola is washed ashore on this alien coast and becomes convinced that her beloved brother is dead. She learns that she is near the home of Olivia, a young countess whoRead MoreThe Foolishness Of Love Is A Force That Exceeds Our Rational Judgment1440 Words   |  6 PagesViktoryia Hvozdz Professor Bradley Irish English 321 8 October, 2015 The Foolishness of Love Romantic love is a force that exceeds our rational judgment. Out of nowhere, it descends upon us and destroys our previous notions of ourselves, making us act in uncharacteristic ways. We do not choose whom and when to love; and falling in love reminds us of how little control we have over our lives. In spite of this, romantic love is often viewed today as a sure path to ever-lasting happiness. Shakespeare, howeverRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Much Ado About Nothing And King Lear3685 Words   |  15 PagesName: Instructors’ Name: Course: Date: Analysis of Shakespeare’s powerful female characters in the play â€Å"Much Ado about Nothing† and â€Å"King Lear Introduction Shakespeare is seen to value the role of women as his plays often portray women as heroines. These women have strong characters that endear them to readers. Readers in our current world, and especially women, are encouraged to be self-assertive in demand for equal treatment in our society. This has been the tradition for women in the WesternRead MoreShakespeare s Twelfth Night ( C. 1600-01 )2907 Words   |  12 PagesINTRODUCTION Twelfth Night (c. 1600-01) is a complicated play which deals with the nature of love, gender role and the intricate comic and tragic experiences of love. The characters have multiple layers of gender roles and sexual attractions which makes the issue of gender identity more complex. For example, Viola, the heroine of the play is dressed as a male, Cesario, throughout most of the play. As a male, Viola woos Olivia for Orsino, resulting in Olivia falling in love with Viola-as-Cesario.Read MoreNature of Shakespearean Comedy1436 Words   |  6 Pagesaction turns out happily for the chief characters. Abrams specifies several different types of comedy ‘within the broad spectrum of dramatic comedy’, including romantic comedy, satiric comedy, the comedy of manners, farce and ‘high’ and ‘low’ comedy. Much comedy, however- and this is particularly true of English works as opposed to the more genre-conscious productions of classical and French literature- is a mixture of many, if not all, these kinds. Verbal wit is often juxtaposed with the rough-and-tumbleRead MoreThe Dramatic Importance of Act 1 Scenes 1 and 2 of William Shakespeares Twelfth Night4384 Words   |  18 PagesThe Dramatic Importance of Act 1 Scenes 1 and 2 of William Shakespeares Twelfth Night The title Twelfth Night seems to suggest that Shakespeare, who wrote the play around 1602, wanted it to be performed on the twelfth day after Christmas; the festival of the Epiphany. This day formally marked the end of the Christmas season, which at the time was celebrated as a special festival. In addition to eating, drinking and generally over indulging, the performance of plays wasRead MoreThe Cohabitation Of Tragic And Comedy1830 Words   |  8 PagesHelen because we believe she deserves Bertram. But, comedy arises from watching her try to reach her goal. We are upset by the way Bertram treats Helen, but find amusement in his attempts to resist. It is through this that the plot develops and becomes much more interesting and complex than would otherwise have occurred. The audience’s expectations are also inverted as this play starts in the middle, not the beginning, of the comic cycle. We expect to open on a content social environment which will

Product Lifecycle Management Paradigm †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Product Lifecycle Management Paradigm. Answer: Introduction: Resolute Winery is one of the family businesses dealing in selling wines to people. The company is headed by Mr. Main and oversee everything in the organization. Resolute started a long time back by Mr. Main's grandparents, who later handed the business to the leadership of Mr. Main's father, and now he is Mr. Main who is in charge. The business has eight more employees who work hand in hand to deliver services to their customers. The business has a hierarchical type of organization structure where the juniors have the bosses whom they report to. The structure, leadership, operations and the general culture of this company proof the hierarchical of the organization. Currently, Resolute Winery has dropped in its performance and its general productivity. In comparison to the previous days of the leadership of Mr. Mains grandparents, the organizations sales have dropped, and this is disturbing the companys president, Mr. Main. For some time now, he tried out various strategies, but most of them failed. Now, he has decided to hire a consultant to work for work for the organization. The approach seems to be more appropriate to handle the situation in the company (James, 2014). Problems and Challenges Facing Resolute Winery At the moment, various challenges are facing Resolute Winery. The organization is experiencing sluggish sales that are attributed to many issues. Firstly, there is a high turnover of members who are not from the family. Resolute Winery is one of the family businesses is greatly affected by this issue. The members who are not of the family feel that those from the corporate family have more opportunities than them. This has dragged the productivity of Resolute Winery. Also, the company experiences some family problems in its operations (Hanssan, 2012). There has an emotional, financial and physical effect among many others in the business. Mr. Main brings this out when he seems to be disturbed by a high turnover of people from outside the family. It affects the daily business of this organization. The company also has a problem of the space for operation. Dr. Marlena Michaels has observed that the organization has a problem of space. Space is small, and there is need to move to a better spacious room. This will help the organization to increase its productivity. It is also evident that Resolute Winery has a problem of the informal culture and structure (Blythe, 2009). The structure is not clear, and this affects the operation of this organization. The company lacks a formal mission, and this has an effect on the culture of this company and thus influences how the company does things. Also, the employees in this organization lack training. Some of them do not have the skills to pour wine for the customers which are a challenge to the company (Karniel Reich, 2011). Besides, the business lacks a plan for the next person to take over the business. There is no clear documentation that specifies the structure and flows on who takes over the business after Mr. Main. This affects the employee's performance because of this uncertainty. Mr. Main claims that the company is a family business and yet he does not have a supporting document regarding this claim. This is challenging and risky to the company since employees can team up to apply for the business (John, Katherine Jocz, 2012). SWOT Analysis for Resolute Winery SWOT analysis is one of the techniques used to evaluate the position. The technique focuses analyzing the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats that the organization has. The analysis is important because it helps the management of the business to be in a better position to establish to make right decisions that help the business to grow. Firstly, Resolute Winery has many areas of strengths that can help it positively (Chermack Bernadette, 2007). The business has a big market and thus many customers. There is no point when the room has run out of the people who want to take wine, and this is a strength of the business. Also, the business has won two prizes which are important in the field. This is a strength of the organization and has a positive impact on its performance is used well (Mankiw Taylor, 2011). Resolute Winery, just like any other business also has its weaknesses. Being a family owned business, the organization has many weaknesses related to the ownership. The organization is affected by the emotional, physical and other challenges related to family issues (Charles, 2012). Also, the business lacks space to cry out its business. More often, the customers required space, and the saving room seemed to be more congested. This is a weakness of this company. The company also has some opportunities for its well-being. The market of the wine business is wide and thus presents an excellent opportunity for this organization to capitalize. The business is old in the market which is also an opportunity to this business. The company also enjoys a good political state and social state and has not had any bad issues from these aspects (Wooliscroft, 2011). Lastly, Resolute Winery also has some threats. The business is in danger of competitors in the field. Other organizations operating the wine business can take the market from Resolute Winery thus a threat. Recommendations and Conclusion As a recommendation, there are various aspects that Resolute Winery needs to consider for its development. The company needs to consider the structure and also train more employees to handle various tasks in the business. This is evidenced by the fact that wine pouring responsibility has been left for some employees and this reduces the profitability of the business. Also, Mr. Main should develop a willingness to handle the feedback from the customers and the employee in a better effective way. It is also recommended that Mr. Main should seek documents to proof that the business is family owned. This will reduce the risks of being overthrown by the ill intentioned people. It is also recommended that the business adopts a mission to guide in its business. The organization lacks a formal mission and vision statement which reduces the motivation and performance of the employee. Resolute Winery should consider incorporating this into its culture. Also, Mr. Main never enters the serving room and should change this habit towards improvement. He should increase the supervision in the operation room and correct where necessary to improve efficiency and effectiveness which in turn increases the organizations productivity. In conclusion, businesses can perform better if the well managed. The success of every business organization is greatly determined by the strategies that it takes in its operation. It is important to establish the strength and weaknesses to the efficient development of a given business enterprise. Also, organizations should conduct SWOT analysis to understand their internal environment. Considering these factors can have a positive impact on the productivity of the business enterprise. References Blythe, J. (2009). Key Concepts in Marketing. London: Sage Publications. ISBN978-1-84787-498-6. Charles, L. (2012). Essentials of Marketing (7ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Chermack, J. Bernadette K. (December 2007). "The Use of and Misuse of SWOT analysis and implications for HRD professionals." Human Resource Development International.10(4): 383399. Hanssan, A. (2012). "Tax policy and the entrepreneurship: empirical evidence from Sweden." Small Business Economics. James, W. (2014). Your Small Business Adventure: Finding Your Niche and Growing a Successful Business. ALA/Huron Street Press. ISBN978-1-937589-44-8. John A., Katherine E. Jocz (2012). All Business is Local: Why Place Matters More than Ever in a Global, Virtual World. Penguin. Karniel, A. Reich, Y. (2011).Managing the Dynamic of the New Product Development Processes. A new Product Lifecycle Management Paradigm. Springer. pp.13.ISBN978-0-85729-569-9. Mankiw, N. Taylor, M. (2011). Economics (2nd ed., revised Ed.). Andover: Cengage Learning. Wooliscroft, B. (2011). Marketing Theory as History. Marketing Theory, 11(4), 499-501

The Harlem Renaissance Brought About Many Great Changes. It Was A Time

The Harlem Renaissance brought about many great changes. It was a time for expressing the African-American culture. Many famous people began their writing or gained their recognition during this time. The Harlem Renaissance took place during the 1920's and 1930's. Many things came about during the Harlem Renaissance; things such as jazz and blues, poetry, dance, and musical theater. The African-American way of life became the"thing." Many white people came to discover this newest art, dancing, music, and literature. The Great Migration of African-American people from the rural South to the North, and many into Harlem was the cause of this phenomenon. Harlem was originally a Dutch settlement. Harlem became one of the largest African- American communities in the United States, and during the Harlem Renaissance became a center for art and literature. Many great writers came about during this time, one of which was Langston Hughes. Hughes was born in 1902 with the name James Langston Hughes, and died in 1967. He lived most of his adult life in Harlem. He grew up without a stable family environment. His father moved to Mexico, and he never really saw much of him. Hughes was often referred to as "Harlem's poet" (Haskins 174). Hughes had and still has a great influence on poetry. Hughes poetry was a reflection of the African-American culture and Harlem. He wrote many poems, and continued to write even after the Harlem Renaissance. He loved Harlem that was his home. He watched it decline with the onset of the Great Depression. He saw Harlem turn into a place to be feared by many. It was a sad and dangerous place to be, after the depression. Hughes described the impact of the Great Depression upon African-Americans, "The depression brought everyone down a peg or two. And the Negro had but a few pegs to fall" (Haskins 174). Langston Hughes valued the teaching of children. Many of his poems are children's poems. He often traveled to schools and read his poetry. His first published works were in a children's magazine during the 1920's. He published a book of ABC's called The Sweet and Sour Animal Book. He wanted to inspire the youth, and make them feel good about themselves. He did not only write poetry, but that is what he is famous for. Much of his poetry talks of the hardships, poverty, inequality, etc. of the African-American people. His work has inspired many people, and is read by many students and scholars. He is a great positive role model. I personally love his poetry. It describes these problems within our society that still have yet to be resolved. It opens the reader's eyes to the many disadvantages that many people have suffered through and are still trying to overcome. Hughes writes about how the African-American people have been all over the world. In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" he talks about them bathing in the Euphrates, building huts by the Congo, and singing of the Mississippi. I think that this poem is showing how these people are everywhere. That in America we act as if they are subordinate, but he is saying to the white people, look at all my race has accomplished. "We" built the pyramids, and we have been around as long as these rivers. This is a positive poem. It does not talk directly about racism nor puts down the white race for being prejudiced (Lauter 1612-13). In the poem, "I, Too" he describes how he is also part of what America is. Even if he is sent to eat in the kitchen, he is as much a part as anyone else. One day he will not be made to hide and eat in the kitchen. One day people will see that African-Americans are beautiful people, and will be ashamed of how they were treated. This poem gives hope to the black community. It makes them yearn for the day when equality will come and racism will end. Too bad that the day has still not yet come in this century (Lauter 1618). In his poem, "Harlem" this is addressed. He wonders what happens to dreams that are deferred. How long must one still dream of something that seems like it will never come. The African-American people have been waiting to be seen as equal for many years, yet it still seems so out of reach. His poetry seems to address this over and over again (Lauter 1619). In "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,"

Persuasive Essays Are Pointless

Persuasive Essays Are Pointless The definition of "persuade" in Webster's New College Dictionary is: To induce one to believe or do something; to argue into an opinion or procedure; to plead with, urge. I have always thought that someone who let his own opinion be changed by someone else is a person who lacks a strong will. I understand that some people have a certain talent for convincing other people, but I personally would not change my mind about a subject unless I was unsure about that subject in the first place.I became aware of one personal trait when writing this paper that is I do not really care about much. I have no intention of letting other people know about the few things that I do care about either. I found it pointless to try to write a persuasive essay about a subject for which I do not care. The only thing I could think to try to convince people to do was to refuse to write a persuasive essay ever again.Deutsch: Titelblatt des dritten Bandes der Essais ...I faced a kind of moral paradox with this , though. If I wrote a persuasive essay telling people not to write persuasive essays, what kind of example would I be? I was convinced that I was not going to do this paper, but in a showing of my own lack of will, I was bribed into writing this essay. (I find myself getting bribed into doing a lot of schoolwork these days.) I realize that teachers would be angry about this somewhat counterproductive essay, but nevertheless students should refuse to write persuasive essays unless their own will convinces them to do so.People of my age do not really have many reasons to complain. Most persuasive essays written by adolescents are fluff in the eyes of...

One day in the 16th through 17th

One day in the 16th through 17th centuries the pilgrims met in thechurch of England. They met there because they didnt have their ownreligion, they had to follow the England religion. they were planning to movesomewhere where they could have their own religion. They were building a ship called the Mayflower to come to America,so that they can be free in practicing their religion. When the ship wasfinished they put it in the water and waited to leave. They all met where theship was. Then they all boarded the Mayflower and set off. It was a rough journey coming to America. The pilgrims all had to eatfish every day. The food that they brought rotted. They all ate during thenight because they didnt want to see what was crawling on their food. Atnight when they slept there was not enough room so they were very tight. They all had to sleep together and some had to sleep on the floor. All of these hardships were because of the religious problem inEngland. America was their only hope. America was a free country and that A kid on the Mayflower was playing with gunpowder and almost blewit up. Luckily he did not. They made it to America and built homes and grewfood. They had some trouble with the winter and the Indians, but theysurvived, and were free to practice their religion. The Pilgrims finally were able to have their own religion. They didnthave any more problems trying to have their own religion, and the Pilgrims

Learn to Cherish Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Learn to Cherish - Essay Example Unable to cope with the loss, my father swiftly degenerated into a hopeless drunkard. Friday morning was the last time we would see him in the week. After work on Friday he no longer came home. Instead he went on a drinking spree with his friends, a spree that would last till Monday morning. Then we would come back home very early in the morning to take a shower, change and go to work. Apart from paying the bills and buying food, he simply no longer cared about what was happening at home. From what I heard, he had become irresponsible even at work and was threatened with being fired anytime. For me, and I guess for the whole family, what made the experience even more painful was the knowledge that my mother had eloped with a man who was not just our neighbor, but also the father of my childhood friend and first playmate. I hated her passionately. Given the worsening situation at home, one of our maternal aunties took custody of our last born while one of our elder sisters, already married at the time, took me in. As I left home I could not help but worry about my father. My younger sibling and I had found refuge in my aunt and sister, respectively. As for my father, now left alone at home, no one seemed to care for him; it was though he had been left to drink himself to death. In the few months that followed my leaving home, I learned from my sister that my uncles had tried to intervene in my fathers situation, but given up shortly afterwards after they had concluded that he could not be helped. In the days and months that followed, my sister avoided my fathers story every time I brought up: she was not interested. She was even opposed to me visiting him. For the decade that followed my mother’s elopement, I have since lived with two of my sisters and a host of other relatives. In all my wanderings amongst my siblings and relatives, I will never forget the unceremonious way in which my first sister who took me in

The Problem of University Student Debt in the UK Essay

The Problem of University Student Debt in the UK - Essay Example Although student debt cuts across all levels of education, the main issue in this report will be dealing with university student debt. The research paper discusses about the problem of university student debt in UK. It specifically provides an analysis of the current debate on whether the government should or should not pay for all students especially in Higher education. It shows the current implications of the problem especially effects on the UK's education system. It will also concentrate on the specific programs and initiatives that the government is undertaking in order to ensure that there is equity among the diverse student population both domestically and international students. The report has been produced for my lecturer for this module. The actual period taken to produce this is report is two weeks and is approximately (5,139) words long. It has also been presented within the specific formats and styles required by the lecturer and in conformity with the university's academic writing specifications. The report examines the current situation of student debt in UK and if the government driven initiatives will in future solve the problem of university student debt. The report is suitable for all th... t is suitable for all the stakeholders in the education sector, students themselves and the government education officials reviewing the matter at the moment. It will help them understand the implications of the high student debt in their performance, attitudes, future careers etc. 4.0 Methodology/Procedures Owing to the need to have more facts concerning the current situation of student debt and the debate that has been going on for sometime on whether government should pay for all students or not, an extensive research work was done to gain knowledge and gather information/facts of the problem of university student debt. The effect and the impact on both students and quality of education are the main issues that will be looked into. To enable the researcher obtain the required information a variety of resources were used for this purpose; Books- this was one of the important resources that provided information on the history of university student debt in UK and the concerns others have raised on the issue. It also provides government information on their plans for future mitigations. The books were sourced from online book libraries which include; UT electronic libraries, Safari Online Book Centres, EMU, CG1, IPL among others. Journals- journals provided a good source of information for the statistics on the university student debt and previous studies conducted by other people on the subject. The Journals were obtained online from the following; Washington Journal library available online, Hein, Questia, High-wire journals and School library journals among others Websites-this provided information on public opinion and relevant need for the studies and the subject. Most of the websites were related to the education financing in UK and the websites of student

Personal Responsibility Essay Example for Free

Personal Responsibility Essay Achieving college success can be accomplished in several ways by oneself. Taking steps to exceeding, developing set goals, time management, and personal responsibility goes hand in hand. Although, if one does not follow these steps or stays true to themselves, life could become overwhelming, stressful, and chaotic. By doing this he or she cannot only achieve success in college, but also in his or her personal life. Meaning Merriam-Webster (1995) defines responsibility as the quality or state of living responsible, for something which one is liable to answer for one’s acts or decisions. When hearing the above an individual has to believe by having any success in life, person responsibility goes hand in hand. Achieving college success or personal success in life one has to take action for any decisions, choices, or actions that are made. It takes much strength for someone to stand up for his or her own beliefs and actions. When someone has plans to achieve college success or success in anything in life; plans and goals should be set before expecting any type of success. Some may view personal responsibility different from the person next to them; one thing that is truly the same is the effort to achieving success in his or her own life. Everyone is ultimately responsible for everything in their lives, pointing fingers at others is giving excuses on why one cannot achieve success. Success in college can be seen in several ways. He or she can measure college success in all types of ways; by achieving good grades, learning new knowledge, learning how to speak to others, working together as a team, and the final result a college degree. To accomplish such goals, he or she first must know what they are wanting out of college. With this personal responsibility comes into play; by not staying true to themselves the accomplishments will not be rewarding nor fulfilling. Someone who wants to succeed in college will do what is expecting and more to achieve the success. Teachers and family members have little effect on one’s college success, but it is the individual’s own personal responsibility for achievements in college. Although one may disagree with Mr. Awender, as there is no relationship between developing a college success and the success in the business would. There can be a relationship between having an educational success and with success in a b usiness world; he or she just needs to have personal responsibility while achieving it. Careers can also have many successes. For an individual to be successful in the business world, they have to start from the bottom and work themselves to the top of the ladder. Personal responsibility and motivation are a key factor in climbing the business ladder. But not acquiring the motivation and determination along with goal sitting to strive to be the best, he or she will always be on the bottom. Working with team members can at times make you think or compare yourself to other co-workers. When you are trying to be successful in your career, he or she should not compare how his or her own success towards other people’s success in their career. This could lead into discouragement in oneself, and the ability to focus on the goals at hand, and the accomplishments may become hard to achieve. This could postpone or delay the career success he or she is looking for. In 1972, Max Gunther points out there fifteen â€Å"successful man† with a network ranging from $100 million than to a billion dollars, only four of those mean have either a college or a university degree (Gunther, 1972). One can only realize that with a high level education there is a high level business success. This is true in most cases, but there are those times that business experience can play a role into achieving success through a career. Some may argue that success is often found within a career that the position is that of a head manager is the top of success. Experience, age and even seniority can play a toll in how much someone is paid or the level he or she achieves in that career field (Awender, 1985) . Preliminary plan Having a preliminary plan is the starting foundation of creating success in college and in life. Personal responsibility is one of the things, where he or she is willing to take the necessary steps to succeed. Having high goals and dreams means keeping with the goals and doing can be done making sure that he or she is achieving the goals and dreams they have set for themselves. Things happen in life to where someone may encounter problems or setbacks while achieving success. With that one will need keep an open mind and stay positive to any negative while moving forward toward any goals. Realizing that goals can and will need to be changed or adjusted while he or she keeps heading towards the ultimate goal. Time management is a piece in the preliminary plan to achieve overall success in life. Having to balance his or her own personal life, work life, school life this is going to take personal responsibility to be able to stay on top. Most college students that are returning back to school are either married, have kids, a full time job that require a good portion of their time. You will have to be ready and prepared to sacrifice some things to succeed in school or life. This is why having time management and personal responsibility will come into play. Procrastination will make life hard for the one who is achieving success. This is where his or her own life will become overwhelming, stressful, chaotic. To conquer these aspects of procrastination one has to be responsible for their actions. According to (Klingsieck, Fries, Horz, Hofer 2012) Up to 70% of university students consider themselves procrastinators and 50% procrastinate consistently and problematically. Some students have reported that procrastination typically accounts for more than one third of their daily activities and is often carried out through sleeping, reading, or watching TV (Klingsieck, Fries, Horz, Hofer 2012). Conclusion  One should take personal responsibility for their own actions so they can lead themselves on a pathway for success. Having to decide how to manage his or her own time between personal responsibility and college success is a major factor in achieving ones goals. One must learn how to prioritize their lives in a way they can balance all factors into achieving the overall goal; becoming successful in college and a career by using personal responsibility.

The Colonization Of Stevens :: essays research papers

The Colonization of Stevens In the year 1954, two years prior to the setting of Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, the Suez canal was returned once again to the government of Egypt putting an abrupt end to the English imperialism and colonialism that had extended throughout centuries. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro serves as a conceit for the rejection of the British Empire by its colonized subjects. Much like the narrator of the novel, Stevens, personifies the dynasty of the British Empire, his realization of the extensive price his â€Å"dignity† has cost him symbolizes the colonial subjects’ realization that their freedom was bought at a price as well. By succumbing to his â€Å"dignity†, Stevens, the ‘great’ English butler also loses much of his self-rule, as did the colonies of the Empire. The subjects of these colonies were led to believe that their voices were heard and valued, as in a democracy, but once acquired the English Parliament paid little attention to the citizens other than as means to a profit. Just as the colonies realized the extent of their dependency on the British Empire, Stevens too realizes the impact of placing his whole existence into the misguided hands of Lord Darlington. Stevens finally admits the foolishness of his devotion to Darlington, a devotion that cost him much of his life. â€Å"Lord Darlington wasn’t a bad man. He wasn’t a bad man at all. And at least he had the priviledge of being able to say at the end of his life that he made his own mistakes. His lordship was a courageous man. He chose a certain path in life, it proved to be a misguided one, but there, he chose it, he can say that at least. As for myself, I cannot even claim that. You see, I trusted. I trusted in his lordship’s wisdom. All those years I served him, I trusted I was doing something worthwhile. I can’t even say I made my own mistakes. Really- one has to ask oneself- what dignity is there in that?† (p. 201) Stevens believed in the end that he had made his life a waste by placing it in the hands of his social betters.

Product Design Coursework

The aim of this report is to carry out a feasibility study for the development and the manufacture of a novel synthetic fibre to be used to make leisure clothing aimed at the spring and summer market, as asked by our board of directors. I will present a report addressing the project in terms of the Innovation Cycle for product development. This shall cover the definition and evaluation of the products, their form, market and manufacture in terms of the Product Innovation Major Steps, which include: Needs: What needs should the product fill? Ideas: What different products could satisfy these needs? Selection: What ideas are the most promising? Manufacture: How can we make the product in commercial quantities? Innovation Cycle: Product Innovation involves the introduction of a new good or service that is new or substantially improved from previous versions. Innovation is not just about new products, it is a whole new approach to business. The novel synthetic fibre that I will analyse is Nylon with main uses in clothing and footwear. Nylon is a commodity chemical as it is produced in high volumes and yields low profits and so it has a low added value. There is no large scale need for chemists and engineers in commodity chemicals. Needs: What needs should the product fill? The product should fill the customer's needs and to find the needs of the customer, we need to do market research and ask the customers directly what they require through questionnaires or interviews. This is known as primary research as answers are directly answered to the companies needs. Once loads of information has been collected, the customers needs have to be interpreted and taken into consideration. This information can then be used into product specifications and therefore products are produced depending on customer needs. For example, customer needs for the manufacture of Nylon to produce leisure clothing. Essential: o Light weight o Strong o Comfortable Desirable: o Wear resistance o Long lasting o Easy to wash o Easy to iron Useful: o Cheap Specifying a benchmark would be one of the final stages in the needs. The new developed product must meet up to standards with either existing products or an idealised product. If this is not the case then and the benchmark cannot be achieved or surpassed, then it is not worth developing the product. Ideas: What different products could satisfy these needs? The next step in the innovation cycle is to generate ideas. Most of the source of ideas comes from the: > Development team. These people research into the product into great detail and most of the ideas are generated by the developing team. > Customers. Questionnaires and interviews are analysed and a different view of ideas are produced. The interviews and questionnaires can be very important as the customers will be the ones who buy the products at the end and they may also be using similar or existing products. Although questionnaires can sometimes be unreliable if not enough data is collected. > Competitors. Useful data can be obtained if you as a company are selling similar products. > Consultants. These are often not as useful as customers or the development team. > Literature. This will have a large range of views and if researched into properly, books, patents and trade information will produce some excellent ideas. Product development teams generate ideas by brainstorming which is a group exercise and mind mapping which is usually done individually. In developing a product, it requires up to one hundred ideas to find an idea which is really worth going for. To reduce the amount of ideas we have to only the good ideas we have to organise ideas into specific categories which may require more brainstorming. The more ideas are organised, the more we would be able to realise if they are strengths or weaknesses in organisations. Selection: What ideas are the most promising? From all the ideas we have generated, we only take very few good ideas to take forwards for production. To select these few good ideas to take forward we need a Screening Criteria which would select the best ideas. This selection process now would require scientific and engineering judgement. These are: o Safety – Make sure that the product (nylon) would be safe to produce and wear. o Low environmental impact – Make sure that nylon produced clothes and any by-products are not dangerous to the environment o Low cost – Make sure that the method of producing nylon is the cheapest with the highest return for money o Minimum risk – Make the manufacture of nylon economically feasible o Engineering ease – Make the manufacture of nylon technically feasible After the screening process and choosing the best ideas, we now need to do a risk assessment. This will identify and catalogue all risks of producing the product (nylon). Eliminating the risk will be the most important thing and then we can compare quantitatively the terms of the cost and time. Risk management also need to be put in place as to reduce risks or possible risks before proceeding, or accepting the risk and proceeding. This decision is based entirely upon management and the best option will be chosen for the organisation at that time. Manufacture: How can we make the product in commercial quantities? At this stage we are now ready to decide how to produce the product. We have the chemical product we need to manufacture; we have identified customer needs and generated enough ideas to fill this need. When considering the manufacturing process we need to take into account: o Raw materials o Demand for supply o Time taken for product to reach the market o Size of plant o Labour o Operating and capital costs of plant After the manufacturing costs of the product (nylon clothes), we need to consider the packaging. This should be: o Attractive o Waterproof to prevent water ruining the nylon After the packaging, we can finally sell the product. To get the product out onto the market we could: o Advertise in clothes shops o Advertise on TV After advertising, the product would have reached out to a far reaching population.

The Role of the Economy in Presidential Elections

There are many factors that can influence a presidential election in the United States. One of the most important factors is the economy. It is always one of the top debate topics which candidates must pay close attention to. What makes it such an important issue is that it does not matter what state the economy is. Whether it is in good shape or bad shape, it is still going to play a major role. However, if the economy is suffering than is going to be an even bigger talking point.When the economy is not doing well, voters become more concerned about it, which means that the candidates need to have a good plan on how to fix it. Otherwise, they will lose a lot of support. People are always concerned with money, which is why the state of the economy always plays a role in presidential elections. Although, how big of a role it plays does vary. Even though it does vary, it is always going to be an important issue in presidential elections. Money and our economy are things that voters are always going to be concerned with.That is why in this paper I am going to discuss the role of the economy in presidential elections by comparing and contrasting its role in the 2008, 2004, and 2000 elections. In doing so I will show that the economy plays a major role in presidential elections, but that that role does vary depending on the state of the economy. The 2008 United States presidential election was a very exciting and ground breaking one. There were many issues that played an important role in this election, but one of the biggest was the economy. It played the biggest role in this election compared to the 2004 and 2000 presidential elections.It was considered one of the central issues of the election. The reason why it was such a big issue is the fact that the economy is in the worst shape it has been in since the Great Depression. This caused it to be a central issue which meant that each candidate was going to have to make sure that they had a solid economic plan. Bot h of their plans needed to appeal to the voters. Each candidates plan on how to help out the economy was one of the first things that people would look at. The United States has the biggest deficit that it has ever had. This played into what plan each candidate came up with.It caused the candidates to change their stance on some issues. For example, Obama has plans to create a national healthcare system for those who cannot afford it (Skarda 2008 1). However, due to the fact that the deficit is so great, this plan would call for increased spending which would only add to the deficit. He then said that he would wait for the market to begin to stabilize before he would implement his plan. During a time of economic crisis like this, it is important for candidates to not have any plans to raise taxes. This would result in making them unpopular.It is something that they need to pay close attention to. Many people become unsure in times of such economic crisis and are going to look to the candidate who they believe has the best plan and seem the most confident in carrying out that plan. The candidates needed to make this a top priority because the country is in tough times economically it becomes a major issue. Under these circumstances, people continue to grow unsure of the economy and their own future. They do not know whether or not they are going to lose their job, be able to pay their bills, or even support their family.So when it comes to deciding which candidate to vote for, they are going to look at what each candidate’s plan to fix the economy is. They are going to want to vote for the candidate who seems most concerned about fixing the economy. As a result of all this, the economy played a very big role in the 2008 presidential election as it was one of the top, if not the top issue in the election. Also it played a much bigger role when compared to the 2004 and 2000 elections. Like during the 2008 presidential election, the economy also played a ma jor role in the 2004 election.Although it was not as major as in the 2008 election, it was still very important and not too far behind. And it played a bigger role in this election, than it did in the 2000 election. It was not as big of an issue due to the fact that the economy was not in as bad of shape as it was in 2008. However, it was still a central issue in the election. Also, it was over shadowed by the events that occurred on September 11, 2001. After the terrorist attacks, people became very concerned with issues of national security, so that became a big issue in the 2004 election.But like always, voters were still very interested in the candidates’ plans to help the economy. The Republicans believed that the improving economy would help President Bush win reelection, while the Democrats believed that there was no economic recovery due to the number of jobs that were lost. Also they argued that President Bush was leaving a growing national debt for future generation s because of his tax cuts. The Bush administration argued back claiming that the tax cuts have spurred the economy and will help boost the government’s income (O’Sullivan 2004 1).As a result, the candidates’ plans for the economy became an important issue. In addition, the candidates needed to have a good plan for how to handle the economy when the â€Å"baby boomers† reach retirement age (O’Sullivan 2). That was an important issue to many voters and each candidate needed to be aware of that and have a good plan. But the biggest economic issue was the loss of jobs in recent years. But in the end, economic issues along with all the other issues were trumped by national security issues. Voters were concerned with the war and the protection against future terrorist attacks first and foremost.As a result, the role of the economy was downsized and was not able to have as big of an impact. So despite not being the main issue of the 2004 election, it was still a major issue, but was not able to play as big of a role due to the war. During the 2000 presidential election the economy played the smallest role when compared to the 2004 and 2008 elections. The reason for this is that during this time the economy was booming and there was low unemployment. Due to the fact that there were few economic problems, issues on the economy were on the back of people’s minds.Also, there was not much either party had to do with economic issues. The Democrats were just able to point out how good of shape they got the economy in. Since the economy was doing so well, the Republicans could not attack it or come up with any plans to improve it that voters would really care about. Although the economy was in good shape, it still could have been used as a major tool in getting elected for the Democrats. Al Gore did not utilize the good economy in gaining support to its full potential (Cain 2001 2). Had he done this, perhaps it would have helped him gain enough votes to win.While at the same time, this allowed George W. Bush to have one less issue to worry about since people really were no concerned with it. He was able to focus on other issues and promote his ideas on those issues more than he would have been able to if the economy had played a bigger role. Unlike the other elections, Bush had a better chance of winning election by not talking about the economy. This is opposite of the 2008 election were one of the first issues that voters wanted to know the candidates’ plans for was the economy.And had they not talked about the economy as one of the top issues, they would have had no chance of winning election. The 2004 election is similar to the 2008 election in this aspect. This is one of the few elections where the economy was not one of the top issues at the forefront of the election. While compared to the 2008 and 2004 elections, the economy during the 2000 election had the least important role. In summation, the economy played the biggest role in the 2008 presidential election. It played the second biggest role in the 2004 election and the smallest in the 2000 election.Even though it played a different sized role in each of these elections, it was a major issue when compared to other issues. The economy always plays a major role in presidential elections. But as I have just shown, it plays a much bigger role when the economy is suffering compared to when it is doing well. By comparing the different roles the economy has played in recent elections, it becomes clear that the economy has played a major role in presidential elections and will continue to in future elections.

Second Grade Map Project Ideas

Second Grade Map Project Ideas Here you will find a variety of map project ideas to correlate with your map skills lesson plans. Mapping My World This mapping activity helps children understand where they fit in, in the world. To begin read the story Me on the Map by Joan Sweeny. This will help students become familiar with maps. Then have students cut out eight different colored circles, each circle should progressively get bigger than the first. Attach all circles together with a keychain circle holder, or use a hole punch and a piece of string to attach all of the circles together. Use the following directions to complete the rest of this activity. On the first smallest circle - A picture of the studentOn the second, next biggest circle - A picture of the students house (or bedroom)On the third circle - A picture of the students streetOn the fourth circle - A picture of the townOn the fifth circle - A picture of the stateOn the sixth circle - A picture of the countryOn the seventh circle - A picture of the continentOn the eight circle - A picture of the world. Another way to show students how they fit into the world is to take the concept above and use clay. Each layer of clay represents something in their world. Salt Dough Map Have students create a salt map of their state. To begin first print out the state map. Yourchildlearnsmaps is a great site to use for this, you might have to tape the map together though. Next, tape the map to cardboard then trace the outline of the map. Remove the paper and create the salt mixture and place on the cardboard. For an extension activity, students can paint specific landforms on their maps and draw a map key. Body Map A fun way to reinforce cardinal directions is for students to create a body map. Partner students together and have each person take turns tracing the body of their partner. Once students have traced each other then they must place the correct cardinal directions on their own body maps. Students can color and add details to their body maps as they wish. Discovering a New Island This activity is a great way for students to practice mapping skills. Ask students to imagine that they have just discovered an island and they are the first person to have ever seen this place. Their job is to draw a map of this place. Use the following directions to complete this activity. Create an imaginary island. If you like hockey create a Sabre Island if you like Kittens create a Kitty Island. Be creative. Your map should include: A map key with symbolsA compass rose3 man made features ( a house, building, etc)3 natural landscape features ( a mountain, water, volcano, ect.)A title on the top of the page Land-form Dinosaur This activity is perfect to review or assess landforms. To begin have students draw a dinosaur with three humps, a tail, and a head. Plus, a sun and grass. Or, you can provide them with an outline and just have them fill in the words. To see a picture of what this looks like visit this Pinterest page. Next, have students find and label the following things: islandplainlakerivermountainvalleybaypeninsula Students can then color the rest of the picture after it is labeled. Mapping Symbols This cute mapping project was found on Pinterest to help reinforce mapping skills. It is called Barefoot Island. Students draw a foot with the five circles for the toes, and label the foot 10-15 symbols that would typically be found on a map. Symbols such as, school, post office, pond, ect. Students must also complete a map key and compass rose to accompany their island. For more mapping project ideas visit my Pinterest page, and to view a few mapping activities read this thematic unit in mapping skills.

Should You Drop A Class Does It Look Bad Why

Should You Drop A Class Does It Look Bad Why SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you struggling in a class or simply not enjoying it and wondering if you should drop it?Are you worried about how this might look to colleges and future employers? Should you drop a class? Read this guide to learn about the benefits and drawbacks to dropping and how to decide whether or not you should drop a class. What Does It Mean to Drop a Class? Dropping a class means that you have chosen to unenroll in that course. In order toofficially drop a class, you often have to visit your academic counselor or the school office and fill out a form thatmay need to be signed by the teacher of that class. Many high schools only allow students to drop a class before a certain deadline. This deadline varies by high school and can sometimes be a month into the semester, halfway through the semester, or a different cutoff date.If you’re thinking about dropping a class, first make sure it’s still an available option. Ask your academic counselor or look at your school’s student handbook to find information on drop deadlines. Once you have dropped a class, you no longer have to attend it, and you will no longer receive a grade in that course. Instead, there will usually be a â€Å"W† (for â€Å"Withdrawn†) next to the course’s name, instead of a letter grade, on your transcript.This â€Å"W† will not affect your GPA.If you drop the class early enough, usually within the first few weeks, your transcript may not even show the dropped class. However, if you miss this deadline, your transcript will show that you withdrew from the course, even if you sign up for a new course in its place. If you drop a class and later decide to retake it, you will have to retake the entire course, no matter how far along the course was when you dropped it.Also, your transcript will usually show that this wasn’t your first time enrolling in the class and that you retook it (sometimes with an â€Å"R† next to the letter grade received). After you drop a class, you may need to enroll in a new course to take the place of the one you droppedin order to have enough credits to graduate on time, but this isn't always required. Your advisor will explain if this is something you need to do. Why Might You Want to Drop a Class? There are a number of reasons a student may want to drop a class, including: You signed up for too many honors or AP courses and don't have enough time to devote to all of them. The course you signed up for is not what you expected it to be, and you no longer find it interesting or useful. You signed up for too many classes above the normal high school course load and need to drop one. You don't like the way the class is being taught and feel you won't learn much from it. The class you signed up for is too challenging, and you don't think you'll be able to pass it or get a good grade in it. Your interests or future college major changed, and you decided to take classes in a different field. The class you're in is too easy, so you are dropping it and changing to a more advanced version of the class or the next course in the sequence. Why Might Dropping a Class Be Bad? Students often worry that dropping a class will hurt their chances of getting into their top colleges. They may think that colleges will see them as quitters or not intelligent if their transcript shows that they dropped a class or classes. Students may also worry that dropping a class will prevent them from graduating high school on time because they won't be taking enough credits that semester. Why Might Dropping a Class Be Good? Dropping a class is much better for your GPA than failing a class or getting a C or D in it isbecause a dropped class does not affect your grade point average. Dropping a class may also raise your GPA because itcan allow you to spend more time on other classes and raise your grades in them. If you are really struggling with a class, dropping it can also significantly reduce your stress and anxiety. Should You Drop a Class? Clearly thereare positives and negatives to dropping a class. So when does it look bad to drop a high school class?Read through the next section, asking yourself the seven questions listed below, to help you decide whether it would be best to drop a class or stick with it. Consideration 1: What Grade Are You Getting in the Class? If you believe you will fail the class or get a low grade no matter what you do, it is usually better to drop it, because getting a C, D or F can significantly hurt your GPA and usually looks worse to colleges than dropping a class does.If you just happened to get a low score on one test or project, you may want to talk to the teacher about the probability of improving your grade before dropping the class. It could have been just an exceptionally difficult assignment, and there will be chances to raise your grade in the future. If you are trying to get a perfect or close to perfect GPA and are worried that one somewhat low grade on your GPA will hurt your chances of getting into top colleges, it is generally OK to drop one class for that reason, but colleges would prefer to see a few B’s on your transcript rather than a lot of dropped classesbecause the latter may cause them to think you have difficulties completing things. Consideration 2:How Have You Tried to Raise Your Grade? If you are thinking about dropping a class because you are not getting a good grade, first ask yourself if you have tried to improve your grade.This can include studying more, setting aside more time to work on the class, and speaking to the teacher about ways to improve your grade.If you have already tried to raise your grade but are still close to failing, it is usually better to drop the class. If you think there are ways you can raise your grade, you may want to try those methods and see if they improve your grade before dropping the class.However, be aware of how much time is left in the semester. It’s much easier to raise your grade three weeks into a class than when the class is more than halfway over. Consideration 3:Is the Class Affecting Other Areas of Your Life? If the class you are considering dropping is so challenging or time-consuming that it is causing your grades in other classes to suffer, it’s better to drop the class.This will strengthen your transcript in the long run because, after dropping the class, you’ll have a better chance of getting good grades in the rest of your classes. The same is also true if you find a class so overwhelming that it causes you a lot of stress, anxiety, or worry. Feeling this way can cause other areas of your life to suffer, and that isn’t worth it just to stick with one class. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Consideration 4:Do You Need to Know the Material the Class Covers for Future Classes? Will the information you learn in this class be used for future high school or college classes?Not understanding the material well now, even if you pass the class, could hurt your future grades. If you are taking a class that is important to your academic and professional future but feel like you don'tunderstand the material, it may be better to drop the class and take it again in the future if you think things will be better the next time.This is a key consideration. Don’t expect to retake a class again and get a higher grade or understand the material better if the only change is the semester you took it. Potential changes that could justify retaking the class a different semester include: having the class taught by a different teacher, having more time to focus on the class because your other classes or extracurriculars will be less time-consumingthan they are now, or knowing thatyou’ll study the subject between now and the time you retake the classso that you start the class with an introductory knowledge of the material. Consideration 5:What Other Class Options Are There? Are there other similar options for the class, such as taking it at a regular level instead of honors or AP?If so, this may make it easier to drop the class and switch to a less demanding variation of it. This is an especially good option if you need the class in order to graduate because it allows you to complete the requirement, but usually with a higher grade than you would have received if you’d stayed in the original class.Colleges also prefer that you take a lower level course and get a good grade than take an advanced level with a very low grade. Consideration 6:Will Your Transcript Show That You Dropped a Class? Many high schools offer a period (often up to the first two weeks or month of class) when students can drop a class without it showing up on their transcript at all.This allows students to try out classes in a low-risk way. If this is the case for you, and you find yourself in a class you either don’t like or can’t manage during this add/drop period, you should feel free to drop the class.There will be no mark on your transcript, so colleges won’t ever see or know that you dropped the class.If you drop a class early on in the semester, try to add another class in its place so you still have a full schedule and can be sure of meeting the number of credits required for graduation. If this is a class you are required to take but found too challenging, be sure to be more prepared the next time you take it.Talk to the teacher about materials you can review before you retake the class so that the information is more familiar and you have a head start. Consideration 7:Have You Dropped Other Classes Before? Is this the first class you have dropped? If so, it is usually fine to drop the class if you find it overwhelming or not what you thought it would be, even if the dropped course shows up on your transcript.Having one dropped class on your transcript will almost never have an effect on your chances of getting accepted to colleges. College admissions officers are generally very understanding, and they know that if a student dropped one class in high school, they may have simply taken on too much or misjudged what a class would cover. However, if you have dropped more than two classes, this may be concerning to colleges because it may show a habit of giving up or not seeing things through.If you have dropped multiple classes before, try to figure out if there’s an underlying reason. Do you sign up for too many classes and find yourself overwhelmed? Do sign up for honors or AP classes but find them too challenging? Figure out why you have dropped multiple classes and work to end the cycle, whether it’s by taking fewer classes, taking more introductory classes before moving on to advanced levels, or another method. If you are worried about multiple dropped classes on your transcript affecting your college applications, you can attach a note to your application, explaining the situation and the work you’ve done to stop the pattern and improve since then.If you are an underclassman thinking about dropping a class, be aware that students often find the classes they take their junior and senior years to be more difficult, so if you drop a class or two as an underclassman, it may make deciding whether to drop an additional class later on a more challenging decision because your transcript will already show that you have dropped classes before. Summary: Should You Drop a Class? So, if you're struggling with a class or just really not enjoying it, is it OK to drop it? As mentioned above, in most cases it's OK to drop a class, especially if you haven't dropped a class before. Colleges understand that sometimes circumstances change, and having one dropped class on your transcript won't hurt your college applications. However, there are still some considerations to keep in mind. First, if you drop your class too late, you may get a low or failing grade for it, which could really hurt your GPA. Second, dropping a required class could mean you need to retake it during the summer or risk not graduating on time. And, finally, if you've dropped multiple classes already, that could negatively impact your college applications since schools may think you're not capable of following through with things you started. If you're still struggling to decide whether to drop a class, set up an appointment with your guidance counselor or academic advisor. They'll be able to look at your complete situation and help you make the best decision. What's Next? Wondering what colleges look for on high school transcripts and how strong yours is? Read our guide to learn what a transcript includes and why it’s often the most important part of your college application. Trying to decide how strong your GPA is? Learn what a good GPA is, what a bad GPA is, and where yours stands. Wondering which classes you should take in high school?We have a guide that lays out the high school classes you should take in every major subject area,as well as electives, in order to impress colleges. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Final self reflection report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final self reflection report - Essay Example (pp.2-3). Organizational Behaviour is a social science discipline, using scientific method to establish truth and to validate its theories. (Miner, 2002, p.3). Three organizational behaviour issues that I feel I can demonstrate as enabling me to apply my knowledge of organizational behaviour, are: *Learning, *Personality and *Teams and Groups. .Experiential Learning Process: The Kolb’s Learning Cycle (1975): All learning begins with a concrete or real-world experience. Then, through reflections, the learner makes abstract generalizations about the experience and finally plans a new course of action as a result. (Cundell; Gray, 2004, pp.44-45). The following is a Self Reflection Report based on the four phases of Kolb’s Learning Cycle, which identifies how I have applied the knowledge and skills of Organisational Behaviour issues learned in the module. 1. LEARNING: The outline of a learning experience that I had recently is as follows: I had wanted to learn the art of lettering, where the letters of the alphabet are modified and presented in a stylised version, as in ornamental calligraphy. Since this art would always come in handy for using in greeting cards and other jobs, I approached a friend of mine who was knowledgable in the matter to learn how to create the lettering. My direct experience of learning by receiving sensory information on the creative procedure, combined with verbal transmission of information and the re-organisation of known information in a new configuration, resulted in my successfully learning the new style of lettering, as theorised by Dixon, 1999, (p.39). Learning is central both to bringing about the massive re-organisation that causes us to have a new sense of self in relation to the world, and to constructing a satisfactory existence within our current frame. This need to learn serves many important ends for us human beings, including survival both as individuals and as a

My life as a water molecule in human body Term Paper

My life as a water molecule in human body - Term Paper Example In the subsequent sections I will briefly discuss some of the important functions of mine in human body. Regulation of human body temperature is very essential as rate of biochemical reaction is very sensitive to the temperature and if the temperature is not regulated properly it is fatal to human life. Fortunately, I have high specific heat (~ 1 cal / gm) and latent heat of vaporization (~ 536 cal/gm) and this helps me in regulating human body temperature by sweating out in case the external temperature is very high. However, sweating leads to my loss (dehydration) and this may be fatal to an individual; therefore, one must ensure that he / she is maintaining sufficient intake of mine. When you are facing heat, just take me inside. There are many biochemical reactions required to sustain life in any living organism including human body. I act as a medium for almost all of these reactions. I play a very important role in all these reactions due to my ability to dissolve the ions and molecules relevant to biochemical reactions. Some important reactions are digestion of food, storage of energy in the form of ADP and ATP molecules etc. and all these reactions cannot be accomplished without myself acting as the medium of the reaction. In human body communication between a body parts to the brain is through electrical signals involving Na and K ions and these ions are dissolved in water. If I am not there these ions cannot exist and therefore, no signaling will be possible. Thus, it is me which facilitates communication system of human body. In the course of biochemical reactions inside human body, many harmful chemicals like urea etc. are produced. These chemicals need to be removed for the safety of life. I dissolve these harmful chemicals and brings them out through urine or sweat and thus I helps in cleansing of human body as well. Based on the

Middle-Range Theory of Chronic Sorrow Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Middle-Range Theory of Chronic Sorrow - Essay Example This is the theory in a nutshell and the article expands and repeats it throughout, using certain keywords: Antecedents, Loss Situations, Disparity, Trigger Events, Affected Individuals, Family Caregivers, Bereaved Individuals, Management Methods, (Internal and External). Most of what is written is easily understood and contains a great deal of common sense. The repetitive nature and volume of information may actually only serve to confuse that understanding. Taking each keyword and explaining it simply makes the article more accessible and easily absorbed. Antecedents: These are basically the events leading up to chronic sorrow developing. They have similarities with loss situations, disparity and triggers, all seem to be intertwined resulting once again in confusing repetitions. A good explanation of these by Lindgren et al ., (1993) and Teel, (1991) is as follows: Loss Situations: Only three are emphasized, these being, ongoing or chronic loss, (described as 'ongoing') such as chronic illness or having a physically or mentally disabled child; loss suffered by caregivers as they watch loved ones suffer and deteriorate, and also their own loss of a normal life; finally, loss through bereavement, (described as 'circumscribed), death of a a loved one and the change of roles the sufferer may encounter as a result of this loss. Disparity: The Disparity: The person's current reality is different from what they would like it to be. A gap between the 'actual' and the 'desired' state exists, and as the loss may be experienced periodically, so too is the grief. The gap cannot close and so the grief keeps returning. Trigger Events: Closely linked to disparity, these are situations that bring the realization of the loss into focus and depend on whether the loss is chronic for an individual, or as a caregiver, or due to bereavement. A chronic illness which causes deterioration may bring on the sorrow for that person. Parents seeing a disabled child failing to reach 'normal' milestones will suffer, as will a bereaved person on the anniversary, birthday etc. of the lost loved one. Affected Individuals: As has already been stated, these are sufferers of chronic loss conditions, caregivers and bereaved individuals. The article is repeating the model, key factors and concepts, when it has already identified the people and conditions which bring about chronic sorrow. Management Methods - Effective Internal and External: Once again, the common sense of these is almost lost by the huge amount of words used in the article. However, the information on coping 3. mechanisms is well presented, giving the reader easy access to vital tools for identifying ways to help and support, as well as understanding of the condition and the needs of individual sufferers. Internal Management Methods: These include a

African American Athletes Essay Example for Free

African American Athletes Essay American student athletes have always faced stereotypes in and out of the classroom, being seen as self-segregating or dumb jocks that really wouldnt be at school if it werent for their athletic ability. Although these stereotypes are applied to both white and black athletes, African American students, especially men, feel it more than their white counterparts. African Americans are already, for the most part, seen as intellectually inferior, so when they are seen in an academic environment they are automatically judged. If they didnt get into school just for being black, they got into school for being a black athlete. Excuses are made as to why African American student athletes and pro athletes dominate in the world of sports in general. From the time the black athlete stepped into the sports arena and began to compete with whites, white people have been looking for an explanation. In his article Sailes looks into the myths and stereotypes surrounding African American athletes, most of which have been created by whites. In loosely replicated the experiment that Sailes conducted with his students and in doing so I found that the stereotypes he discusses do exist and many people strongly believe in some of the myths. I interviewed both male and female athletes and non-athletes alike and surprisingly most of their answers to my questions were the same. I asked them all the same five questions; 1. Do you think African Americans dominate in sports? 2. Which Sports? 3. Are there certain positions they are better at? 4. Why? 5. Is their demeanor on the field or court different than that of a white athlete? and 6. Have you heard any myths about why black athletes are better? Interviewee #1, A white female on the basketball team at Gettysburg College felt that black athletes were better at all sports and in all positions, but particularly in basketball and football. She has learned from experience that black athletes are more loud and aggressive. It was her belief that African Americans are better at sports because of genetics. She also said that it could be because historically they have done hard labor and had menial jobs, so their physical condition has evolved. The one myth she has heard is that African Americans have an extra bone in their leg which makes them capable of jumping higher and running faster. Interviewee # 2, an African American football player stated that blacks are better at all sports, but especially football, in such positions as cornerback, running back, and wide receiver. When asked why he felt that this is true his answer was because were just nasty like that. In regards to myths he recalled one of his high school classmates expressing to him that the reason blacks were better was because they still had some monkey left in them. Interviewee # 3, a white college graduate, non-athlete articulated that blacks are better at any sport they try but not in any positions that require brain power or thought. He said that they are not usually good quarterbacks because they arent smart enough. When I asked him why, his response was, because they are dumb Ns. He believes that they become athletes because they have no other options to get a job or get rich, unless they can rap. He also stated that the reason they can run so fast is because they are used to running from the cops. Interviewee # 4, A white male who is a former athlete said that he believes that African Americans are superior in all sports except for lacrosse and hockey, and that the reason for this is because they are much more expensive to start up and maintain- as opposed to soccer/football/basketball where all you need is a ball really. He thinks black people on the whole start out life economically feeble compared to whites and believes in the myth that they have been evolved into more muscular and stronger people because of the process of natural selection during slavery where the slave owners bought the biggest and strongest, and theyre offspring are the ones that created the people that are dominating in sports now. My last interviewee was a female African American basketball player who felt that African Americans dominate in football and basketball because it is the only sport they want to play so they strive for it. She also said that blacks are more aggressive because it means more to them. In the majority of my interviews the participants mentioned what Sailes referred to as the Mandingo Theory, in which the physical superiority of African Americans is attributed to the selection and so called breeding process along with the manual labor performed during the days of slavery. The psychological and dumb jock theories were also articulated in the answers I received from the white students for they all said at some point or another during the interview that African Americans are intellectually inferior and all they have going for them is sports, and even in the world of sports there are positions that they are mentally incapable of occupying. The one thing that I believe all the participants agreed on both black and white is that African Americans are somehow genetically different. I was really taken aback by my findings. Even though I have learned throughout this semester that people are more racist than I ever thought they were, I didnt realize that this racism is existent in literally everything. Im not really into sports and do not pay attention to them, so I had no idea that people felt this way about African American athletes. So, it seems as though African Americans are battling this war on racism on yet another front.

Many Lives, Many Masters Essay -- essays research papers

Many Lives Many Masters Many Lives, Many Masters is a book about a psychologist Brian L. Weiss, who by helping his patient he helps himself as well. Through Catherine he learned that his conventional approach through the scientific method and medication was not the proper way to heal his patients. Catherine comes in with anxiety, panic attacks and phobias and wants a way out of it all. Dr. Weiss approaches the situation in a scientific manner as he does with all of his patients, he doesn’t get very far until he decided to use hypnosis. He would have liked to use medication but her fear of swallowing pills prevented that. During hypnosis she begins to remember her childhood but not this childhood her past life. At first Dr. Weiss is very skeptical I mean there is no scientific explanation for this but he decides to continue. In her past lives he begins to discover why she has so many of the fears and phobias that she has. As well, during hypnosis she begins to identify others in her life now as some f rom her past lives. During one of these hypnosis after her death a different voice begins to speak. This voice knows things about Dr. Weiss’ past that no one else would and could know because he never shared the details with Catherine about his personal life. This Masters begins to tell him about his meaning in life, a message. One that through his religious beliefs as well as through his scientific methods he could not understand. The Masters spoke of many plains that were reached throughout your past lives. You could only reach these plains if you solved the problem you had in your life. For example, if you leave a life and never learn to trust in your next life, you must learn to trust. If this is achieved you would be able to reach to the next plain and receive more knowledge. He began to believe and listen. Through this listening, he began to have new meaning in his life and learned how to help Catherine through hers. He than began to try to reach the end of Catherineâ⠂¬â„¢s lives to get to the end in the hope that the Masters would relay another message through Catherine. The masters did not appear every time that Catherine remembered a death in her past life only when they decided to relay this message. These messages then stopped and Catherine was cured. Then years later Dr. Weiss believed it was time for him to pass this message to others through his b... ... was a phase in my life, which I had to learn from as difficult as it was for me it made me a much stronger person. They chose before they were born what they were to accomplish and when they should leave. The full meaning to why they passed away so young I don’t think I’ll fully be able to understand now but in time I will. Time should not be of so much importance to me. The idea of forever I think is the hardest for me to understand. I think even Marlo in Mutant Message didn’t fully understand the definition brought about by the â€Å"Real People.† It is also something, which in time we will be able to understand. I have to forget the past and worry about now and not that I won’t have time to do everything I want to do. I have a meaning and that is what I should focus on what I came to this life to do and learn. Only then will I be able to focus more clearly on what is important and not clutter my mind with everything that is going around me. I do think though that my meaning or at least on is to help people to be the alternative to medication as Dr. Brian Weiss believes now. I believe that through music therapy I will be able to help others and teach them to help themselves as well.

Food Quality Essay

* Relates to excellent product or services that fulfills or exceeds our expectations Food Quality * Includes all attributes that influence product’s value to the consumers. This includes, Negative attributes (e. g. spoilage, contamination with filth, discoloration, off odors & flavors; Positive attributes (e. g. origin, color, flavor, texture and processing method used. -Food Quality is a term which may refer to several things: ¦ the extent to which food contains the nutrients that match the kind and quantity of the nutritional needs of the person consuming the food  ¦ the extent to which the food is attractive in appearance & taste  ¦ the extent to which food is free from pathogenic bacteria & undesirable materials such as insecticides & antibiotic residues, etc FOOD QUALITY 1. Composite of characteristics/ attributes which differs from one unit to another 2. Totality of features/ characteristics of a product that bear on its ability to satisfy a given need: Needs: Safety Usability Availability Economics. Maintainability Environment Reliability 3. Uniformity, consistency and conformity to a given standard or specifications 4. A statement of what the user wants & what the manufacturer can provide 5. â€Å"Fitness for use†, â€Å"satisfaction level of costumers† Other Ways of Describing Quality 1. Fast selling brand of a food product might be labeled as â€Å"Extra Special Quality† 2. Products that are sold abroad may be termed as â€Å"Export Quality† 3. Some consumers may gauge quality in terms of brand popularity 4. From the large producer’s point of view, quality may mean product reliability. Small manufacturers – reliability may not be a concern, their concern is more on sell of the products. 5. In a seller’s market situation, product availability means quality Quality of Food is Based on the following: 1. Raw material – the quality of finished product is dependent on the quality of raw material 2. Sensory quality – food quality detectable by our senses can be categorized into 3: – appearance – texture – flavor 3. Microbiological quality – raw material and products should be free from toxin-producing microorganism QUALITY CONTROL Is Doing Things Right. THE FIRST TIME AND EVERYTIME Quality Control can also be defined as a. maintenance of specified finished product characteristics every time it is manufactured b. efficient control of raw material and of production process c. object of quality control is to produce a quality which: – satisfies the consumers; as cheap as possible; can be delivered in time to meet delivery requirement d. is the function or collection of duties which must be performed throughout an organization in order to achieve its quality objectives Stages of Quality Control 1. Set the specifications. a. Exactly what the customer or market expects b. Price at which product can be sold c. Delivery date d. Capability of equipment/ machines e. Capability of available inspection and test equipment 2. Prepare to manufacture a. Decide how to process the product b. Decide what equipment to use c. Specify the quality of raw materials and possible suppliers d. The in-line personnel e. Plan inspection and in-process quality control 3. Actual Processing/ Manufacture 4. Correction of quality defects 5. Provide long-term quality control planning Defects in Foods Defect. – perceptible deviation from product specs that makes product less fit, or unfit for consumption – the lack of something essential or required; or an imperfection – can occur singly or as a composite of several deviations Sources: 1. Raw material – biological system that deteriorates over time. 2. Personnel – staff’s commitment to their work and their ability to perform their task well. 3. In-process problems – quality loss due to poor understanding of processing methods and use of inadequate machines – due to lack of staff training Evidences of Defects Prevention Program: 1. Quality raw materials 2. Reduction of processing losses 3. Drop in the volume of rejects What is HACCP? * Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points * Prevention-based food safety system * A systematic approach to the identification, assessment of risk, and severity and control of biological, chemical and physical hazards associated with a particular food production process or practice (US FDA CFSAN, 2000) Two Important Terms * HAZARDS * CRITICAL CONTROL POINTS HAZARDS * Any biological, chemical, or physical property that may cause an unacceptable consumer health risk. * 3 major hazards. * Biological * Chemical * Physical -Biological Hazards * These organisms are commonly associated with humans and with raw products entering the food manufacturing facility. * Bacteria, foodborne viruses, parasites * Examples: * Salmonella, Listeria, Staphylococcus * Hepatitis A and Norwalk Viruses * Trichinella -Chemical Hazards * Chemical contaminants may be naturally occurring or may be added during the processing of the food. * Naturally Occurring Chemicals * Toxins from molds (aflatoxin) * Allergenic Proteins * Added Chemicals * Agricultural chemicals * Industrial chemicals. * Ingredients: Flavors enhancers, colors, preservatives -Physical Hazards * Foreign and extraneous materials * Foreign Materials * Anything that does not naturally occur in the food material * Hair, fingers (fingernails), plastic, metal filings, jewelry, gum etc. * Extraneous Materials * Anything that naturally occurs in the food but should not be there * Pits, seeds, peel, stems Critical Control Points * CCP’s * Process steps in specific food systems in which loss of control may result in an unacceptable health risk 7 Principles of HACCP: 1. Identify hazards in the system 2. Determine critical control points 3. Establish critical limits 4. Establish monitoring procedures 5. Establish corrective actions 6. Establish verification procedure 7. Establish record keeping and documentation procedures Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) – set of sanitary guidelines and control for compliance to assure safety and wholesomeness of foods. Concerns: 1. Personnel 2. Plant and grounds 3. Sanitary operation 4. Sanitary facilities and control 5. Equipment and utensils 6. Process and control Cleaning and Sanitization Cleaning – an operation that will remove at least 90% of the soil or dirt. Sanitization – application of sanitizers Sanitation – over-all cleanliness of the surroundings or anything that surrounds the food Steps: a. remove the debris b. pre-rinse c. application of cleaning aids d. post rinse e. sanitizing rinse FOOD SPOILAGE / DETERIORATION Food Spoilage/Deterioration -Includes losses in organoleptic desirability, nutritional value, safety and aesthetic appeal of the food -Food is subject to physical, chemical and biological deterioration, which go hand in hand Causal Factors: -Temperature (heat and cold) * Oxygen * Moisture * Light & radiation * Time. * Natural food enzymes * Micro- and macro- organisms * Industrial contaminants * Some foods in the presence of other foods In general, deterioration is slowed down when the food is low in moisture, high in salt/sugar or acid Shelf-life and Dating of Foods Shelf-life – is the time it takes a product to decline to an acceptable level – time a product remains saleable MAQ – minimum acceptable quality for the product must be defined by the manufacturers or retailers Actual length of shelf-life is dependent on a number of factors : 1. processing methods 2. packaging. 3. storage conditions Dating – provides consumers some indication of the shelf-life or freshness of the products they buy Type of code dates include: * date of manufacture (â€Å"pack date†) * date the product was displayed (â€Å"display date†) * date by which the product should be sold (â€Å"sell by date†) * last date of maximal quality (â€Å"best used date†) * date beyond which the product is no longer acceptable (â€Å"use by date† or â€Å"expiration date†) Major Causes of Food Deterioration -often the following factors do not operate in isolation -as such, effective preservation must eliminate or minimize all of these factors in a given food to prevent/minimize deterioration 1. Growth activities and activities of microorganisms – Bacteria, yeasts, molds – Microbial growth curve * Conditions necessary for microorganisms to grow: * Source * Food residue * Moisture * Time * Temperature * Invasion of microorganisms is due to contamination which can be avoided by sanitary practices and proper processing procedures and packaging * Not all microorganisms can cause disease or food spoilage, others are useful for food processing * Food borne diseases – special kind of deterioration that may or may not alter a food’s organoleptic properties 2. Infestation by insects, parasites and rodents. * Insects destroy 5-10% annual grain crops (US), in other countries (50%) * Parasites Examples of Parasites: * Trichinella spirallis, enters hogs eating uncooked food wastes; nematodes, penetrates hog intestines and find way into the pork – Entamoeba histolytica, parasite associated to raw human excrement and can infect crops when raw human excrement is used as fertilizer -can cause amoebic dysentery * Rodents – can consume large quantities of foods and they can contaminate food by filth they carry – can spread diseases like: Salmonellosis Leptospirosis Typhoid fever Plague 3. Activities of food enzymes and other chemical reactions within food itself * food enzymes are natural in healthy, uninfected foods * activity is intensified right after harvest * activity is sometimes desirable * can be inactivated by heat, chemicals and irradiation, etc. 4. Inappropriate temperatures (heat and cold) for a given food * heat and cold – can cause deterioration if not controlled; 10-38 °C (normal working temperature) * excessive heat: denatures protein, breaks emulsion, dries out food by evaporation and destroys vitamins * uncontrolled cold: FAV are frozen – discoloration, changes in texture. – can break emulsion such as in milk – denatures milk protein – chill injury 5. Either the gain or loss of moisture – Aw and Moisture Content (needed by microorganisms for growth and by different chemical reactions) 6. Reaction with oxygen * can cause chemical oxidation of nutrients, colors, flavors * required for growth of some microorganisms * can be excluded by vacuum packaging, addition of oxygen scavengers 7. Light * can destroy some vitamins (riboflavin, A and C); deteriorates many food colors * in milk – can cause â€Å"sunlight flavors† (induced fat oxidation and changes in CHON) * Can be minimized by opaque packaging 8. Time * quality decreases with time * object is to maintain and capture freshness of foods * to prolong shelf life – adequate processing, packaging and storage Spoilage of Different Kinds of Foods 1. Bread Mold: results in discoloration of the bread Ropiness: soft and sticky to touch, caused by sporeforming bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis 2. Honey * high sugar(70-80%) and acidic (pH= 3. 2-4. 2) * chief cause of spoilage : Zygosaccharomyces mellis 3. Candy * not subject to microbial spoilage (high sugar and low MC) * except chocolate with soft centers (burst and may explode), cause by Clostridium spp. 4. Fruits and Vegetables * spoilage due to physical factors, action of their enzymes, microbial action or combination of these agents * microbial spoilage may be due to plant pathogen and/or saprophytic microorganisms * general type of spoilage: * bacterial soft rot (Erwinia caratova) * gray mold rot (Botrytis cinerea) * rhizopus rot (Rhizopus nigricans) * anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) * blue mold rot (Penicillium) * black mold rot (Aspergillus niger) 5. Fruit Juices * acidic (pH 2. 4-4. 7), all contain sugars (2-17%) * molds. * alcohol fermentation 6. Sauerkraut * inferior quality due to abnormal fermentation: high temp; low temp; too long fermentation * surface spoilage (destroy the acidity, permit other microorganisms to grow, softening, darkening and bad flavors) 7. Fresh Eggs * Defects: cracks, leaks, dirty spots on the exterior (will favor spoilage on storage) * Changes caused by microorganisms during storage: * green rot (Pseudomonas fluorescens) giving green color of the egg white * colorless rot (various microorganisms): yolk is affected 8. Meat and Meat Products. * raw meat: enzyme, microorganisms, oxidation of fats * beef: moderate amount of autolysis is desired to tenderize it, excessive autolysis (souring) * general principles: * Factors influencing invasion of tissues by microorganisms: * load in the gut of the animal * physiological condition of the animal before slaughter * method of killing and bleeding Factors affecting the growth of microorganisms in meat * kind and amount of microorganisms * physical properties of meat (exposed area, grinding) * chemical properties of the meat (MC, protein, CHO, pH). * availability of oxygen * temperature General types of spoilage in meat * aerobic condition: * surface slime (Pseudomonas, Achromobacter, Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, Bacillus, Micrococcus) * surface discoloration (Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus/Flavobacterium) * oxidation of fats * stickiness (molds) * whiskers (Thamnidium elegans, Mucor mucedo) * anaerobic condition: * putrefaction, souring Cured meats: addition of nitrates inhibit growth of microorganisms, spoilage same with fresh if stored improperly 9. Fish and Other Seafoods. * spoiled by autolysis, oxidation or bacterial activity * factors influencing spoilage: * kind of fish: flat fish vs. round fish, fatty fish deteriorates faster * condition of fish when caught: exhausted spoil rapidly * kind and extent of contamination of the fish flesh with bacteria * temperature * use of an antibiotic ice or dip evidences of spoilage: * brightness fades and dirty, yellow discoloration appears * slime on the fish increases * eyes gradually sink * gills: light pink to grayish yellow * softening of the flesh. * development of off-colors 10. Poultry * chief source of spoilage: bacteria * bacterial growth takes place on the surface and any cut surfaces and the decomposition products diffuse slowly into the meat * off-odor is noted when the bacterial count is at 2. 5 x 106 cfu/cm2 * Psuedomonas and Achromobacter * Micrococcus, Flavobacterium and Achromobacter * Surface of skin becomes slime, acid/sour odor 11. Milk Chief type of spoilage : * Souring or acid formation * Gas production * Proteolysis * Ropiness * Surface or throughout the milk.