Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Guide to Writing an Argumentative Essay in Marketing Smart Pieces of Advice

Guide to Writing an Argumentative Essay in Marketing Smart Pieces of Advice What Is an Argumentative Essay in Marketing? To begin with, an argumentative essay is an essay that discusses different sides of a specific issue. Presentation of the ideas can be equally balanced, or one view may be depicted as more convincing in comparison to others. The writer’s position should be specific and clear. An argumentative essay aims to examine the problem from various perspectives in order to provide a clear argument. The writer needs to conduct in-depth research, evaluate evidence, and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner. Accordingly, an argumentative essay in marketing concerns different concepts, including advertising, market research, segmentation, positioning, or targeting. A strong argumentative essay provides reasonable arguments and analyses the strong and weak sides of the issue. Choosing a Topic for an Argumentative Essay in Marketing Selecting a topic for an argumentative essay in marketing is not a difficult task because there is a wide variety of acute themes that can be discussed. Moreover, the writer should find a topic that would interest the audience and present new information. It would be beneficial to choose a subject that is not widely discussed in order to attract readers. Additionally, the writer can demonstrate an advanced approach to the common problem. The following examples may help to choose the topic for an argumentative essay in marketing: Successful Marketing Approaches Can Break Strong Market Monopoly; The Role of Social Media in Marketing Campaigns; The Ways of Increasing the Brand Value of the Product; The Threats of Global Marketing for Small Enterprises; Is Black Friday Sale an Effective Instrument for Real Estate Industry? The Factors That Influence the Buying Decisions of a Family; Marketing Ethics of the Pharmaceutical Industry; An Effective Website for a Startup Company; Can Smartphones Facilitate Communication Between Clients and Companies? Marketing and Promotion in the Restaurant Industry. Pre-Writing Tips First of all, the selection of an issue for discussion is a significant step in the pre-writing process in case the professor has not provided students with the topic. It is important to keep in mind that the selection of an issue for an argumentative essay in marketing has some peculiarities. For instance, in order to avoid biases, the writer should not be passionate about the subject. Furthermore, arguments should be based on precise data, facts, and researches that present relevant information to the audience. Up-to-date references will assist in supporting the main ideas of the essay. In addition, the writer needs to avoid unnecessary details and general facts. Focusing on a narrow and specific topic is the most effective way to write a strong argumentative essay in marketing. The writer should take into consideration that an argumentative essay involves detailed and thorough research. Accordingly, there is a need for extensive analysis of published materials. In order to collect the required data, the student should analyze interviews, surveys, and experiments. Such research will help to learn more about the issue and understand different points of view regarding the topic. Another critical point is that the student should not overestimate his or her knowledge on the subject. It is significant to gather information and conduct detailed research to broaden understanding. It would be beneficial to use articles from business journals in order to support the ideas. The writer needs to remember that a successful argumentative essay is based on information and data that comes from credible sources. Consequently, finding relevant sources is a crucial step in a pre-writing process. In terms of the organization of the writing process, a short outline will also be helpful. A student can write a sentence for each section of the essay, including a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Moreover, it is necessary to find the sources that would support the claims. The writer should focus on presenting the most crucial details that are based on in-depth analysis. After the research of the topic, it will be useful to write down the main claims in order to present information in a consistent and coherent manner. Structure of an Argumentative Essay The structure of an argumentative essay in marketing reflects a typical structure of an academic essay. Accordingly, the paper starts with an introduction that discusses the relevance of the issue. A thesis statement, which is the most significant part of an introduction, is the last sentence of the first paragraph. Body paragraphs aim to discuss different sides of the topic. Consequently, they should include background information, supporting evidence, and counterarguments. As a rule, an argumentative essay consists of three body paragraphs. However, complex topics require detailed essays, so an argumentative essay that discusses several research sources may include more than three body paragraphs. The last part of the paper is a conclusion that provides a summary of the presented ideas and restates the thesis statement. Introduction An argumentative essay in marketing starts with an introduction that reviews the topic in a general way. The first sentence of an essay should not include any specific details. The introduction aims to attract the audience’s attention and state the main argument. Moreover, the writer should explain the importance and topicality of the issue. Presentation of background information will help readers to understand the writer’s claims. Students need to remember that an argumentative essay in marketing has to include explanations of the applied key terms and concepts. The last sentence of an introduction is a thesis statement that presents the main argument of an essay. It explains the topic in a clear and unbiased manner and does not reflect the author’s personal opinion on the subject of the work. The examples of correct and incorrect thesis statements will help to understand how to write a strong thesis. Incorrect: ‘Social media plays a significant role in marketing campaigns.’ This thesis statement is too broad and fails to explain the topic of the paper. Correct: ‘Social media like Instagram and Facebook has become an effective tool for startups that creates advanced opportunities for advertising with maximum target customer reach.’ Accordingly, this thesis statement demonstrates the narrow topic and presents the issue in a clear manner. Body Paragraphs First of all, the body paragraphs of an argumentative essay should be logically organized and have a clear structure. Each of the body paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence that demonstrates the readers its main idea. Moreover, one paragraph should be dedicated to the discussion of one general idea that will make an essay clear and concise. The writer needs to keep in mind that body paragraphs should be logically connected to the thesis statement in the introduction. As a result, a strong argumentative essay should consider different points of view concerning the issue. It would be useful to discuss conflicting sides of the topic. Each of the body paragraphs should also present the supporting details of the central point mentioned in the topic sentence. The claims can be supported with outside sources, including marketing books, articles, and studies. It is important to use relevant sources in order to make the paper more effective. Consequently, supporting details that follow the topic of the work assist in writing a persuasive argumentative essay. The first of the three body paragraphs is the background part. It provides readers with the necessary knowledge of the issue. It can also include the explanation of the marketing theories, concepts, and definitions of specific terms. In addition, the writer can summarize the used sources to provide the basis for claims. The second body paragraph aims to support the argument and prove the presented idea. The supporting details will help the audience to understand the issue more profoundly. In order to provide them, one should use in-text citations from credible sources and explain and interpret them to prove the arguments. This paragraph should be well-structured and demonstrate the readers the peculiarities of the topic. The last paragraph of the body part is a counterargument paragraph that aims to present the opposite view of the issue. Additionally, it makes the essay unbiased and objective. It is essential to demonstrate to the readers why the argument is more reliable than the opposing view. Nevertheless, the writer should avoid considering opposing views as wrong because, according to the format of an argumentative essay, they should be considered and reasonably refuted. Conclusion The conclusion is the last part of an argumentative essay. It provides a summary of the central topic of the work. The writer should restate the argument and the supporting evidence to remind the readers of the main points. However, students should keep in mind that the conclusion should not present new information or the evidence that was not previously mentioned in the essay. It would be advantageous not only to restate the thesis statement but also to demonstrate specific insights into the topic. Moreover, at the end of the paragraph, there is a concluding sentence that explains the readers the value of the provided argument. Additionally, the writer can mention further research that can be done on the topic according to the results of the work. Post-Writing Tips When a draft of an argumentative essay is finished, the writer needs to read it once again in order to check grammar and vocabulary. Additionally, it is important to pay attention to the coherence and consistency of the work. The language should correspond to the academic level of the students. Correct punctuation and spelling are essential for a strong essay because proper grammar assists the writer in persuading the audience. For logical consistency, students may use transitional words, like ‘furthermore, additionally, accordingly, or nevertheless’ that help to keep the right flow of the valid argument. The next step can be asking peers for an objective review of the essay. It would be helpful in terms of checking grammar, vocabulary, and content. The peers’ insights may assist in understanding whether the essay is written in a logical manner. Moreover, the reviewer can indicate the marketing terms or concepts that are not explained thoroughly enough. While rereading the paper out loud is an effective strategy to check whether the sentences make sense, and the structure is logical. The writer needs to self-check the essay for coherence by answering particular questions. For instance, the questions that can indicate whether the essay is written correctly include: Does the thesis statement of the work represent the issues that have been discussed? Is the thesis statement clear and understandable? Did I include relevant information that I found during the pre-writing process? Is there enough supporting evidence for the central claim in each body paragraph? Are there smooth transitions between the paragraphs? Are the sources credible and cited properly? Does the essay explain mentioned marketing terms and concepts? The list of questions can vary depending on the topic of an essay. It is also necessary to check the in-text citations, direct quotes, and the reference page. The writer should keep in mind that all quotes should be cited because, in the case of plagiarism, the essay cannot have good results. Properly formatted quotes allow the audience to find the information that the writer refers to in the paper. In addition, there is a need to check the formatting style, whether it corresponds to the professor’s requirements. The essay should be checked for widely-spread mistakes that are typical for an argumentative essay. For instance, the writer should avoid repetitions and use of similar points in different body paragraphs. Furthermore, there is a need to check whether the main subjects and the evidence are connected consistently. The last significant step is to make a final version of an essay considering all the notes and changes. When the paper is ready, the writer can look through the essay and correct minor mistakes that were not observed previously. Accordingly, the essay can be submitted as soon as the writer has checked the final version of the work. References Argumentative Essay (n.d.). Retrieved from https://literarydevices.net/argumentative-essay/ Argumentative Essays. (n.d.). Owl Purdue. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html Argumentative essay Writing Tips (2019). Retrieved from https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/for-students-and-parents/argumentative-essay-writing-tips.html How to Write a Successful Marketing Essay (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ozzz.org/marketing/ How to Write an Argumentative Essay Step by Step (n.d.). Retrieved from https://owlcation.com/academia/How-to-Write-an-Argument-Essay

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Definition and Examples of Metanoia

Definition and Examples of Metanoia Metanoia is a  rhetorical term for the act of self-correction in speech or writing. Also known as  correctio or the figure of afterthought. Metanoia may involve amplifying or retracting, strengthening or weakening a prior statement. The effect of  metanoia, says Robert A. Harris, is  to provide emphasis (by fussing over a term and redefining it), clarity (by providing the improved definition), and a sense of spontaneity (the reader is thinking along with the writer as the writer revises a passage) (Writing with Clarity and Style, 2003). EtymologyFrom the Greek, change ones mind, repent Examples and Observations Kreuz Market is the ultimate barbecue restaurant- no, scratch that- barbecue experience in Central Texas (and therefore the world).You might have heard a pin fall- a pin! a feather- as he described the cruelties  inflicted on muffin boys  by their masters . . ..(Charles Dickens,  Nicholas Nickleby, 1839)To Put It a Better Way . . .  [W]ithout that association, that sense of membership in something- or to put that a better way, without a sense of belonging and participation in a group effort, the employee loses focus on what were trying to accomplish.(Unnamed president of a media company quoted in The Servant Leader, by James A. Autry. Prima Publishing, 2001)Let Me Correct That . . .Shortly after I came to Washington I was told in a way that showed me it was no loosely thought out- let me correct that statement. I was told in a serious way that Mr. Finletter- or rather, I was told by Mr. Finletter that he had serious question as to the loyalty of Dr. Oppenheimer.(David Tressel Griggs, witness at physicist J. Robert Oppenheimers hearing before the Atomic Energy Commissions Personnel Security Board, May 1954. In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer: The Security Clearance Hearing, ed. by Richard Polenberg. Cornell University Press, 2002) Or More Properly Speaking . . .The meal, when beaten up, is used for thickening broths, and rolled up into bolsters about a foot long and two inches in diameter, and then wrapped in plantain leaves, and tied round with tie-tie and boiled, or more properly speaking steamed, for a lot of the rolls are arranged in a brass skillet. . . . [T]he whole affair is poised on the three cooking-stones over a wood fire, and left there until the contents are done, or more properly speaking, until the lady in charge of it has delusions on the point, and the bottom rolls are a trifle burnt or the whole insufficiently cooked.(Mary H. Kingsley, Travels in West Africa, 1897)For my own part, cried Peregrine, with great eagerness, I appeal to Miss Sophys decision. But why do I say appeal? Though I am conscious of having committed no offence, I am ready to submit to any penance, let it be ever so rigorous, that my fair enslaver herself shall impose, provided it will entitle me to her favour and forgivenes s at last.(Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, 1751) The Persuasive Value of Metanoia- Metanoia can have mild persuasive value. The speaker may utter a less controversial claim, then revise it to make it stronger. This brings the reader along more gently than announcing the stronger claim on its own. Or conversely the stronger claim may be offered first but then reduced to something less ambitious that seems easy to accept by comparison. . . .Metanoia can create an impression of scrupulousness, as the speaker starts to say one thing but then feels obliged to take the initiative in correcting it. (It also can suggest overscrupulousness, as when the speaker fusses too much.)(Ward Farnsworth, Farnworths Classical English Rhetoric. David R. Godine, 2011)-  Metanoia can serve a variety  of rhetorical ends. Stopping to correct oneself disrupts the flow of discourse, drawing attention to and emphasizing the revision.  Or, in a move similar to  paralipsis, retracting a statement allows the speaker to introduce an idea or claim and then avoid responsibility for having done so.  Sometimes strengthening an  initially mild or uncontroversial statement (or qualifying an initially strong one) can persuade an audience by making the speaker seem more reasonable.(Bryan A. Garner,  Garners Modern English Usage. Oxford University Press, 2016) Finding the Right Word[I]t seemed to me that there was a safe and unassailable foundation for our claim to interfere on behalf of British subjects, and that was the right which every State possesses to protect its subjects in another State from wrong. That was a right which we possessed in an unusual degree in South Africa owing to the peculiar position of the country- a country where there were two races side by side, both of them determined in their opinions, with a history of their own, and jealous of their independence. Perhaps independence is not the right word to use. I mean, rather, jealous of the equality of their rights.(John Wodehouse, Earl of Kimberly, Address in Answer to the Queens Speech, Oct. 17, 1899)I Should Say . . .I rather was minded to make known to you that I- or, I should rather say, we, and Mr. Crawley pointed to his wifeshall not accept your plainness of speech as betokening aught beyond a conceived idea in furtherance of which you have thought it expedient t o make certain inquiries.I dont quite follow you, said the major.(Anthony Trollope, The Last Chronicle of Barset, 1874) Pronunciation: met-a-NOY-ah

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Natural environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Natural environment - Assignment Example Another equally disastrous effect of man’s unlimited usage of energy will be exhaustion of earth’s natural resources. Each human activity today will have its repercussions tomorrow. The manner in which man’s life might change because of the change in the environment is complex and quite unpredictable. The rapidly changing climate will have an impact on a person’s life by endangering life itself through natural disasters. It is not only the poor countries that will suffer but rich countries will suffer as well evident from instances such as Katrina and Aila leading to a crash in the world’s economy and creating economic problem for each individual . Problems in crop production might lead to market politics and decrease in food security. Famines might also result from this. Bad air and water quality will affect a person’s health and reduce the quality of life. Man-wildlife conflict is bound to harm man’s life as well with rapid urbanization and an increase in stress factors on wildlife (Hunter, 2007, p316). Another major problem will be scarcity of water because of rapid decrease in potable water leading scientists to predict as 3rd World War over this precious resource. Exhaustion of natural resources would bring man’s life to a stand-still since man is over dependent on resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. Since man’s future depends on the present activities, mitigation efforts and plans need to be constructed to help restore the environmental quality and control anthropogenic activities thereby ensuring continuation of life on

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

America Shopping Cart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

America Shopping Cart - Essay Example Thirdly, it saves on parking and petrol costs that would have been incurred if one went out shopping the traditional way. In addition, there are no salesmen involved in the process of shopping online, which implies that there are no additional costs. Moreover, online shopping provides a good shopping environment where one has the freedom to shop the way they wanted to shop. Finally, online shopping assists in the case of buying presents to people overseas if one shops online, which eliminates the cost of importation. Despite these disadvantages, online shopping has varying disadvantages. In this case, that it takes a longer period of time in delivery of products bought online than traditional shopping. Secondly, the shopper does not get the advice they may need on the product which is mostly provided by the seller unlike in the case of traditional shopping. Thirdly, the buyer may get the rejected products that have been brought back by other buyers. In addition, the buyer incurs expenses in postage of the product to his residence. It is not possible to test the products hence they is a high risk of purchasing a wrong product. According to (Popcorn and Marigold), traditional shopping was mainly used before the emergence and innovation of online shopping. Like online shopping, traditional shopping has some advantages although they differ from advantages of online shopping. First, the fact that one can see and test the product they want to buy before they actually buy the product makes an individual make an informed decision. Secondly, one gets the product immediately they purchase it, which is crucial when the goods are needed urgently. In addition, traditional shopping provides for direct communication between the seller and the client and this provides a better chance for bargains and in-depth details about the product. Moreover, this

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Intro to Finance Essay Example for Free

Intro to Finance Essay An efficient financial system promotes intermediaries that successfully link â€Å"savers† from â€Å"borrowers† (Mankiw). There are two widely-known financial intermediaries namely the banks and mutual funds. Banks are highly accessible to the general public are generally more cost advantageous that direct lending. Generally, the banks main purpose in the economy is to take in deposits from savers and â€Å"use these deposits to make loans to people who want to borrow† (Mankiw, N. Gregory, 2001, Principles of Economics, p. 557). Banks incur costs by paying interest on these deposits and earn from these by charging higher interest rates on loan borrowers. Second to this, banks play an important role in the economy as they â€Å"facilitate the purchases of goods and services by allowing people to write checks against their deposits† (Mankiw, N. Gregory, 2001, Principles of Economics, p. 557). In this manner, the economy benefits from banks by this accessible medium of exchange. Unlike stocks or bonds which are not as immediate, checks make it easier for the public to exercise their monetary transactions. Mutual funds, on the other hand, are institutions that use the proceeds of selling shares in buying portfolios of stocks and bonds where they derive their profits. The financial markets become more accessible and efficient because mutual funds allow people with small savings to become owners and creditors of numerous companies. Also, mutual funds allow its shareholders the benefit of risk diversification wherein a single fund can carry a roster of diverse portfolios in stocks and bonds. A broker can either be an individual or a corporate entity that earns a fee-based profit by performing buy and sell orders from investors and/ or clients. A good example of this is a brokerage firm that specializes in trading company stocks and securities. A broker’s main functions in the financial market would include basic execution of buying and selling shares, and financial advisory to clients regarding the management of their shares/ stocks. With the emergence of automation and popular online brokerage firms, traditional brokers have redefined their place in the industry. Most popular online brokerage firms such as Ameritrade and E*Trade offer lower fees to investors as opposed to traditional brokers. Financial and Investment Advisory are also automated online via innovative investment software tools. With information becoming more accessible because of the internet, traditional brokers are now transitioning into online brokers wherein online orders are still routed to and monitored by them; and with reduced client-interface for advisories.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The 1948 Tucker Torpedo Essay -- Business Analysis

Every so often a man or women has an idea that is innovative, amazing or in some cases far ahead of its time. Unfortunately it is far too common that these ideas are lost or stifled by people who are afraid of the change they may bring. Since people also tend to believe if something seems too good to be true it probably is, these ideas may not get enough good attention until it is too late. Preston Tucker was one of these innovative people with a great idea. In 1944 he began work on a car that was safe, reliable, and groundbreaking. So far ahead of its time it made the wrong people nervous. The car was first christened as the Tucker Torpedo but due to concerns over torpedo not sounding safe, it was changed to the Tucker 1948. These amazing cars turned out to be one of the most revolutionary automobiles ever made and would have remained so if it weren’t for a slander campaign by the United States government. Preston Tucker’s dream above all other things was to make a safe car. Because of this the Tucker 1948 had many revolutionary safety features. Some of these features wouldn't be used for some time by other manufacturers. Every detail mattered so with safety being most important the engineers designed some new components. The instrument panel had all the controls within easy reach of the steering wheel and the dashboard was padded. The initial plans for the car also included a steering wheel that would retract in an accident. Kenneth Lyman even filed Patent number 2511165 for it on Dec 5, 1947 on behalf of the Tucker Corporation (Lyman, n.d.). This device unfortunately never had a chance to make it into the 50 vehicles produced. Even though it was symbolic of the innovative ideas they had. Some of them due to time constraints... ...e of Challenges and Changes (pp. 264–265). Lincolnwood, Illinois, United States: Publications International, Ltd. Lyman, Kenneth E.. (n.d.). COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN - Google Patent Search. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://www.google.com/patents?id=tCpwAAAAEBAJ&zoom=4&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Pearson, C. T. (1960). The Indomitable Tin Goose. Minneapolis, MN: Motorbooks International Publishers & Wholesalers Inc. The Showroom of Automotive History: 1948 Tucker. (n.d.). . Retrieved February 18, 2010, from http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/showroom/1948/tucker.html. Tucker, P. (1948, June 15). Open Letter. The Official Tucker Club of America . Retrieved February 18, 2010, from http://www.tuckerclub.org/html/openletter.html. Windsor, H. H. (1947, September). Popular Mechanics. Popular Mechanics, 88(September 1947), 136-138 236 240.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Economic Contribution of Migrant Workers in Bangladesh

Introduction Bangladesh is located in South Asia. It is the seventh most populous country in the world and is mostly densely inhabited. The poverty level, however, has fallen by more than 20%, helped by its prominent agricultural sector. The Bangladeshi economy is helped by its big garment sector, which contributes more than two-thirds of the country’s trade. The major challenge to prosperous growth is the vulnerability of the land to cyclones and floods. However, even with such challenges, Bangladesh has experienced a growth rate of 5% since 1990.This growth has been helped by remittances from expatriates as well. Since 1975, there has been a two-fold increase in the per-capita GDP. During the 2008 global economic recession, Bangladesh managed to stay flexible. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), there was an increment of $62 in the per capita GDP in FY2009 from US$559 at the end of FY2008. Fiscal 2009 registered per capita income of US$621. About 25% of t he country’s GDP in 2009 came from remittances of expatriates, totaling $9. billion and garment exports worth $12. 3 billion. The increasing foreign direct investment highlights the growth rate of the Bangladesh economy and remittances from overseas Bangladeshis, totaling $11 billion in FY10, accounted for almost 12% of GDP. Scenario of migrant workers in Bangladesh is given below throw a chart. [pic] Economic Contribution of Migrant workers in Bangladesh Remittance is the life line of Bangladesh economy. Some 4. 5m nonresident Bangladeshis are working abroad, and sending home hard earned foreign currencies.It is believed that the actual number of Bangladeshi migrants, both legal and illegal, would be close to 7. 5 million. In the first 10 months of FY 2006-07, number of manpower export stood at 0. 42m, showing 83. 14% rise, compared to 0. 25m in FY2004-05. In FY2005-06, the number stood at 0. 29m, current year to year growth is around 16%. In addition to achieving higher exp ort earnings, the country witnessed a 44 percent growth in remittance earnings during the first quarter of 2008-09 fiscal year compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.The other records of remittance earnings in a single month are $820. 71 million in July and $808. 72 million in March of year 2008. A total of 9,81,102 Bangladeshi people went abroad in 2007-08 fiscal year which is about 74 percent above the previous fiscal year figure. According to the statistics, on monthly average basis more than 81,000 Bangladeshis went abroad in 2007-08 fiscal year. The figure was 46,000 in the previous fiscal year. Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) sent $2. 45 billion to Bangladesh between July and September of 2008, according to the Bangladesh Bank statistics. Meanwhile, private bank officials said the global economic slowdown, mainly in the US and European countries, is yet to impact the remittance inflow. They, however, apprehend that if the crisis continues it may have a negati ve impact on the inflow. The remittance market of Bangladesh has been showing a steady growth in terms of incoming remittance volume.Considering the current macro-economic indicators, it seems that this growth run will continue in the coming years. Central Bank predicts that our annual incoming foreign remittance will touch $10 billion in the next 3 years. The reasons for such robust growth can be summarized as: †¢ Stable macro-economic indicators including GDP growth, †¢ Steady growth in manpower export specially in the middle east †¢ Substantial devaluation of the local currency †¢ Rapid urbanization Development of new remittance corridors in Australia and part of Europe and Africa †¢ Increased focus of Central Bank and the Government to channel funds through formal channels †¢ Increased competition among financial institution to grab market share †¢ Aggressive marketing policy adopted by Banks to increase their share of wallet †¢ Expansion of branch network of various commercial banks †¢ MFIs involvement in channeling remittance funds in remote areas †¢ Participation in the UN peace keeping missions Anti-Money Laundering rules and regulations came in force However, the market is still far from perfection in terms of service quality, cost structure, and transaction risk aspects. Among all, the biggest impediment is the speed of transactions and cost of transaction. In cases, it takes more than a week to send a foreign remittance to beneficiary. Average cost is 20 SAR for a remittance from Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh. Banks drives the legal channel for remittance mobilization.Top 3 remittance receiver banks in market are given in Table 1. 1. Table 1. 1 Monthly Inward Remittances | |Sl. |BANK |August, 2008   (in USD Million) | | | |1 |Sonali Bank |104. 700 | | | |2 |Agrani Bank |66. 091 | | | |3 |Janata Bank |64. 50 | | Whilst data on Non Resident Bangladesh (NRB) remittances coming into Bangladesh are readi ly available, projections for local remittances are difficult to determine. The figures in USD given in the Table 1. 2 are approximate. Table 1. 2: Local and Foreign Remittance Comparison in USD | |07-08 (No. ) in USD |2008-9 (No. ) in USD |2009-10 (No. ) in USD | |NRB Remittances |7 million |8. million |10 million | |Local Remittances |14 million |17 million |20 million | Most of the remittances sent to our country are for various livelihood purposes, such as disbursement of Small loans, living expenses, business start up costs, medical treatment and funds for asset purchases. This highlights the importance of fast disbursement of money that e-Remittance System promises to deliver. The system will help attract new un-banked customers who have previously depended upon informal channels.At present, only a fraction of remitters send their money through banking channels. The e-Remittance system will also provide the right platform for handling the substantial market for within country remittances. Source Countries of Remittance From Saudi Arabia, over a million workers sent $1,312 million during July-March period of 2007. In the same period The United Kingdom came out as the second biggest source of remittance with Bangladeshi Diaspora sending home $657 million to their relatives at home, closely followed by $656 million from the United States of America.Non-resident Bangladeshis remitted $559 million from the United Arab Emirates and $494 million from Kuwait in July-March period of 2007. Economic Benefits Remittance has economic benefit both at macro and micro level. In 2004, the formal remittances contributed 6% of GDP. If informal channels were included this contribution reaches 9-10% of GDP. In 2004-2005 fiscal year remittance was 44. 47% of export receipt. The proportion of foreign aid was only 38. 74% of remittances in 2004-2005 fiscal year and foreign direct investment was only 13. 58% of remittances in 2003-2004.The remittance has significant macroeconomi c impact at household level. The majority of Bangladeshi migrants abroad is unskilled, and originates from rural areas and poor community. The poorer the household, the more impact or benefits remittance income can have alleviating poverty. Remittances allow the poor people to increase expenditures on both durables and non-durable products, and provide them with protection against negative income shocks. Statistics between growth of migrant workers and growth of remittances are mention bellow. [pic] Migrant workers drive economyBangladesh's economic development largely depends on remittance sent by migrant workers, which is one of the sources of earning foreign currencies. A third of the 18 lakh people who enter the job market a year go abroad for work, adding that remittance inflow will increase significantly if the figure can be increased to 10 lakh in five years. We hope the remittance inflow would cross $14 billion mark this year. The incumbent government sent about 2 million Ba ngladeshis from January 2009 to October 2012 and the country received around $44. 22 billion in remittances during the period.Expatriates' contribution to the national GDP (gross domestic product) is 11 percent. Over 30,000 female workers go abroad a year to work, and the government has been working to transform them into skilled hands to create more jobs. The government has also taken some steps, including rehabilitations of the returned migrant workers and scholarships for their children, to ensure better facilities for the expatriates and their families. Around 25 percent of the total employment comes from overseas employment, which should be increased to 50 percent in five years. Conclusion According to the World Bank, Bangladesh has achieved a growth rate of 5. % in FY2009. The country has registered significant expansion in its middle class. The consumer industry has grown considerably. The increasing foreign direct investment highlights the growth rate of the Bangladesh econo my. At present situation when political imbalance of our country, violation of law in every sector, corruption, price hiking, lack of electricity, gas etc creates thousands of problem in economy of Bangladesh, and in this situation contribution of migrant workers strengthen the growth rate of Bangladesh economy. That’s why Bangladesh's economic development largely depends on remittance sent by migrant workers.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Howard Gardner -Theory Essay

Most learning institutions generally focus education on the linguistic and mathematical intelligence. Children in pre-school are first taught to know their ABCs and to count from one to ten. Those who can recite the alphabet well are considered bright students. Learners who can do addition at an early age are placed on the honors list. It had been that intelligence is measured using IQ tests. The higher the IQ is the smarter the person is. But the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, proposed by Howard Gardner in the year 1983, states otherwise. The theory basically implies that other than linguistic and mathematical competence, there are other or multiple aspects of the learning that should be considered as intelligence also. Likewise, the theory points out that standardized IQ tests is not a sufficient measurement of smartness or dumbness of a person. Gardner’s theory stirred the psychological and educational communities. It received varied reactions. Some were impressed and readily accepted the theory as it explains the differences of each students. Yet, some raised their eyebrows and issues sprouted as questions of validity and empirical evidences of the theory may not sustain the claims of the theory. There have been a lot of debates pertaining to multiple intelligences. Several writers have also expressed their varied opinions regarding the topic. Indeed the theory   proves to be an interesting milestone in the study of human learning and cognitive sciences. It also gives a lot of insight on how education in the future would affect the different abilities of each person. The theory, which is more than 20 years old, is already accepted and even integrated in some school but at the same time still in the middle of scrutiny. Howard Gardner was born in 1943 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His parents   were originally from N ‘rnberg, Germany. They went to the US in 1938 with their three-year old son Eric. Before Gardner was born, Eric died in a sleighing accident. These were not known to Howard during his childhood but have a fairly significant impact upon his thinking and development. He was discouraged from trying risky physical activities and was rather   encouraged to develop his creative and intellectual abilities. As he began to find out his family history, he realized that he was different from his parents and friends. For his education , he went to a preparatory school in Kingston , Pennsylvania against his parents wish to send him to Phillips Academy in Andover , Massachusetts . After that, Gardner attended Harvard University and took up a course in history in preparation for a career in law. In Harvard he was able to study under scholars like Eric Erickson, sociologists David Riesman and cognitive psychologist Jerome Burner. Howard Gardner’s theory on multiple intelligences attempts to provide a comprehensive view of intelligence. In the psychological era where the single theory prevailed, Gardner broke away and stopped from settling with just a single factor to be held responsible for intelligence. He rejected the idea of measuring intelligence through IQ tests. According to Howard Gardner, human beings have nine different kinds of intelligence that reflect different ways of interacting with the world. Gardner developed the well-known theory of eight multiple intelligences, consisting of verbal/linguistic, musical, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and naturalist intelligences. For Gardner, a person must satisfy a range of these criteria in order to quality as a person possessing intelligence. This is a much better theory, because it does not limit itself to a single entity. Compared to a single theory of intelligence where the theorist must restrict himself into choosing one that would provide the answer to measuring a person’s knowledge and abilities, Gardner’s theory opens itself to the possibility that there could be many areas where a person could demonstrate his skills and knowledge. The advantage of Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences lies in its being an â€Å"account of human cognition in its fullness†. It takes into account that man is equipped with a basic set of intelligences and that each man is unique with respect to which different components of the set of intelligences he may possess. This leads to the notion that man has the opportunity of taking advantage of his uniqueness by tailoring his education in accordance with his strengths and weaknesses. Howard Gardner introduced his theory of multiple intelligences in 1983. Multiple Intelligences is a theory about the brain that says human beings are born with a single intelligence, that cannot be changed, and is measurable by a psychologist. Gardner believes that that there is eight different intelligences in humans. Most intelligence tests only one or two intelligences, usually language and logic. Six others according to Gardner are musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. Gardner believes that everyone acquires all eight of these intelligences, and through environment, genetics, and different experiences no two people have the same make up of intelligences. Because of these differences we need to look at educating students differently. We can either overlook these differences in our students and teach them all the same way, or realize that all students have different intellectual strengths and weaknesses, and factor these differences into the way we teach our students. Unfortunately in our schools if a student has an understanding of the intelligences language, and logic, than they will have no problem passing the kind of tests that are given in school, which in turn will make them feel that they are very smart. But another student who may have weaker language, and logic intelligences but is altogether just as intelligent as the other student, will never is able to pass the tests required in our schools. And in turn these students will grow up feeling as if they are not smart, when in fact they can be extremely intelligent. Some students may have a better understanding of subjects if only they were taught to use any other of their intelligences to understand a particular subject. Students and educators need to figure out how a particular mind works, for them to better learn and understand. If a student at an early age feels that they are not as smart as the other students, it will affect them for their whole lives. They will feel differently about themselves, and school. This will also cause a low self-esteem which will hurt them, and keep them from reaching their full potential. Gardner believes that a student first needs to try to improve their language, and logic intelligences, but if they can’t they should know that they still have the ability to learn, and should try using many of their other intelligences. Basically educators and students need to realize that no two people think the same way, and need to modify the curriculum to help every student learn and understand. Gardner believes that elementary school should not be a time of strict, disciplined learning, but a time to teach the joy of learning. Young children need to learn the differences between, opinions, beliefs, and evidence, and this will carry them throughout the later education years.   I think that in our schools we have some a few programs like classes for gifted students, and classes for slower students. But when it comes down to it everyone is taught the same material in the same way, and is everyone is expected to pass the same test. I think that seeing what Gardner believes in our classrooms today would be encouraging, and wonderful. But I also think that realistically it would be very difficult to be carried out in all of our schools. But when it comes down to it we as a nation needs to realize that our children are the future of our country. Resources: Website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/education/ed_mi_overview.html July 19, 2010 http://www.thelearningweb.net/chapter10/page365.html

Thursday, November 7, 2019

About the Supplemental Security Income Program - SSI

About the Supplemental Security Income Program - SSI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal government benefit program providing cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter to persons who are blind or otherwise disabled and have little or no other income. Monthly SSI benefits are paid to persons with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children, as well as adults, can qualify to get SSI benefits. How SSI is Different From Retirement Benefits While the SSI program is administered by the Social Security Administration, the way in which SSI benefits are administered is very different from how Social Security retirement benefits are paid. SSI benefits do not require and are not based on the recipients prior work or a family members prior work. In other words, no current or prior employment is required to qualify for SSI benefits. Unlike Social Security benefits, SSI benefits are funded by general funds from the U.S. Treasury generated by income taxes paid be individuals and corporations. Social Security taxes withheld from workers paychecks under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) do not help fund the SSI program. Total SSI funding, along with maximum monthly amounts to be paid to SSI recipients, are set annually by Congress as part of the federal budget process. SSI recipients in most states can also have their benefits supplemented by Medicaid to help pay for doctor bills, prescriptions and other health care costs. SSI beneficiaries may also be eligible for food stamps in every state except California. In some states, an application for SSI benefits also serves as an application for food stamps. Who is Eligible for SSI Benefits Anyone who is: aged (age 65 or older);blind or disabled. And, who: has limited income; andhas limited resources; andis a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens; andis not absent from the country for a full calendar month or for 30 consecutive days or more; andis not confined to an institution (such as a hospital or prison) at the governments expense; andapplies for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible, (for example, pensions, Social Security benefits); andgives SSA permission to contact any financial institution and request any financial records about you; andfiles an application; andmeets certain other requirements. What Does  Ã¢â‚¬ËœLimited Income’ Include? For purposes of determining SSI eligibility, Social Security counts the following as income: money you earn from work;money you receive from other sources, such as Social Security benefits, workers compensation, unemployment benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs, friends or relatives; andfree food or shelter. What  Are ‘Limited Resources’? For purposes of determining SSI eligibility, Social Security counts the following as limited resources: cash;bank accounts, stocks, U.S. savings bonds;land and real estate;vehicles;personal property;life insurance; andanything else you own that could be converted to cash and used for food or shelter. NOTE: For complete details on the SSI program, including qualifications and how to apply for benefits, see the  Understanding Supplemental Security Income home page on the SSA website.   SSI Payment Details Amounts of SSI benefit payments are set annually by Congress and are typically adjusted every January to reflect the current cost of living.  Maximum (SSI) payment amounts increase with the cost-of-living increases (COLA) that apply to Social Security retirement benefits. Some states provide supplemental SSI benefits. SSI benefit payments are not taxable. Possible Benefit Reductions Exact benefit amounts paid to individual SSI recipients may be less than the maximum depending on non-SSI income, like wages and other Social Security benefits. Persons living in their own home, in the home of another person, or in a Medicaid-approved nursing home may also have their SSI payments reduced accordingly. The monthly amount is reduced by subtracting monthly countable income. In the case of an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, the amount payable is further divided equally between the two spouses.   Updated current maximum and average SSI payment amounts can be found on the SSI Statistics web site. SSI Work Incentive Programs Helping people with disabilities achieve independence by taking advantage of employment opportunities is one of the Social Security Administration’s highest priorities. SSI’s work incentive programs help disabled and blind SSI recipients to continue to work while minimizing the risk of losing their SSI or Medicaid benefits. Certain work incentive programs allow SSI recipients to exempt some of their work income from their list of resources. Others allow SSI recipients to continue to receive Medicaid coverage even though they are not receiving monthly SSI cash benefits. SSI recipients may be eligible to take advantage of more than one work incentive program. As with Social Security retirement benefits, working can reduce the amount of the recipient’s SSI benefit payments. Complete information on SSI work incentive opportunities can be found in the SSA’s â€Å"The Red Book - A Guide to Work Incentives.†

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Soft Determinism Explained

Soft Determinism Explained Soft determinism is the view that determinism and free will are compatible. It is thus a form of compatibilism. The term was coined by the American philosopher William James (1842-1910) in his essay â€Å"The Dilemma of Determinism.† Soft determinism consists of two main claims: 1.  Determinism is true.  Every event, including every human action, is causally determined. If you selected vanilla rather than chocolate ice cream last night, you could not have chosen otherwise given your exact circumstances and condition. Someone with enough knowledge of your circumstances and condition would have been able, in principle, to predict what you would choose. 2.  We act freely when we are not constrained or coerced. If my legs are tied, I am not free to run. If I hand over my wallet to a robber who is pointing a gun at my head, I am not acting freely. Another way of putting this is to say that we act freely when we act on our desires. Soft determinism contrasts with both hard determinism and with what is sometimes called metaphysical libertarianism. Hard determinism asserts that determinism is true and denies that we have free will.  Metaphysical libertarianism (not to be confused with the political doctrine of libertarianism) says that determinism is false since when we act freely some part of the process leading up to the action (e.g. our desire, our decision, or our act of will) is not predetermined. The problem soft determinists face is that of explaining how our actions can be both predetermined but free. Most of them do this by insisting that the notion of freedom, or free will, be understood in a particular way.  They reject the idea that free will must involve some strange metaphysical capacity that each of us has–namely, the ability to initiate an event (e.g. our act of will, or our action) which is not itself causally determined. This libertarian concept of freedom is unintelligible, they argue, and at odds with the prevailing scientific picture. What matters to us, they argue, is that we enjoy some degree of control over and responsibility for our actions. And this requirement is met if our actions flow from (are determined by) our decisions, deliberations, desires, and character.   The Main Objection to Soft Determinism The most common objection to soft determinism is that the notion of freedom it holds onto falls short of what most people mean by free will. Suppose I hypnotize you, and while you are under hypnosis I plant certain desires in your mind: e.g. a desire to get yourself a drink when the clock strikes ten. On the stroke of ten, you get up and pour yourself some water. Have you acted freely? If acting freely simply means doing what you want, acting on your desires, then the answer is yes, you acted freely. But most people would see your action as unfree since, in effect, you are being controlled by someone else.   One could make the example still more dramatic by imagining a mad scientist implanting electrodes in your brain and then triggering in you all sorts of desires and decisions which lead you to perform certain actions. In this case, you would be little more than a puppet in someone else’s hands; yet according to the soft determinist notion of freedom, you would be acting freely. A soft determinist might reply that in such a case we would say you are unfree because you are controlled by someone else. But if the desires, decisions, and volitions (acts of will) that govern your actions are really yours, then it is reasonable to say that you are in control, and hence acting freely.  The critic will point out, though, that according to the soft determinist, your desires, decisions, and volitions–in fact, your entire character–are ultimately determined by other factors that are equally outside your control: e.g. your genetic make up, your upbringing, and your environment.  The upshot is still that you do not, ultimately, have any control over or responsibility for your actions. This line of criticism of soft determinism is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"consequence argument.† Soft Determinism in Contemporary Times Many major philosophers including Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, and Voltaire have defended some form of soft determinism. Some version of it is still probably the most popular view of the free will problem among professional philosophers. Leading contemporary soft determinists include P. F. Strawson, Daniel Dennett, and Harry Frankfurt. Although their positions typically fall within the broad lines described above, they offer sophisticated new versions and defenses. Dennett, for instance, in his book Elbow Room, argues that what we call free will is a highly developed ability, that we have refined in the course of evolution, to envisage future possibilities and to avoid those we don’t like. This concept of freedom (being able to avoid undesirable futures) is compatible with determinism, and it’s all we need. Traditional metaphysical notions of free will that are incompatible with determinism, he argues, are not worth saving.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Miss Lonelyheart and the Depression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Miss Lonelyheart and the Depression - Essay Example West illustrated such aspects of life evolved during the depression era in his novel Miss Lonelyhearts. The novel is of relevance today as the global economy showing a sign of depression, which may in turn lead to the great depression II.Even though the events and circumstances described in the novel are from a period of a century ago, the theme of the novel has relevance in this modern age. â€Å"Miss Lonelyhearts† the son of an England priest, is involved in giving advice for reader’s distressing letters.These hurting stories which he receives are depressing and eventually he also becomes depressed by reading the painful letters. He started heavy drinking and occasional bar fights.William Shrike, editor of the New York newspaper where Miss Lonelyhearts works, uses the column to boost up the circulation. The characters of this novel do not possess moral qualities, or they do not have any strong spirituality, which may be the result of depression era. They are not reall y concerned about social values (Martin, 1970). For example, Miss Lonelyhearts was not sincere as a columnist. At the beginning Miss Lonelyhearts started as a columnist in a style existing at that time with a superficial way of analysing and solving problems of individuals in society. In the society of that time where people suffered from financial and economic problems, actual religious and spiritual values did not affect them. When Miss Lonelyhearts received hundreds of letters from people of all walks of life describing their individual problems of many types he became astounded on going through the actual life problems. The letters contained plights of diverse people. For example, the novel describes a letter by a 16 year old girl who was born without a nose. Her life was pathetic because her parents felt guilty and shamed of their daughter, and this girl wanted Miss Lonelyhearts to tell her if she should commit suicide. When Miss Lonelyhearts understands the problem, he gets a sense of shock, which is a clear contrast to the attitude that the editor William Shilke shows. This contrast is very true of the media in the modern world. Over the years, media has become insensitive and focuses more on getting the sensational news out just to get more publicity and increase their profit. Just like Shilke, many media houses put immense pressure on the journalists to compromise on their ethics and values, just to get more attention from the public. This results in a breakdown at some point, just that Miss Lonelyhearts faced in the novel. Therefore, the approach of the editor to exploit the current situation is very similar to the way in which media sensationalizes the news in today’s era. In addition, in today’s society, depression is often taken out by certain methods that are not moralistic, such as getting involved in extra marital affairs or taking refuge in drugs. For Miss Lonelyhearts, he chose to overcome this depression by indulging in an extr a marital affair with one of his readers and with the wife of the editor. Only a very drastic situation, such as an encounter with the crippled husband of Mrs Doyle can bring out repentance in Miss Lonelyhearts. In real life too, only a very tragic instance gets the people to come out and remorse as most people do not understand their mistake unless the situation is very grave. Even though this work is a piece of fiction, it is very reflective of the current situa