Writing an Inquiry Business Letter for ESL Students

Writing an Inquiry Business Letter for ESL Students When you want to ask a business for more information concerning a product or service or for other information, you write an inquiry letter. When written by consumers, these types of letters are often in response to an advertisement seen in a newspaper, magazine, or commercial on television. They can be written and mailed or emailed. In a business-to-business setting, a companys employees can write inquiries to ask the same types of questions about products and services. For example, a company representative may want information on buying products wholesale from a distributor, or a growing small business may need to outsource its bookkeeping and payroll and want to contract with a firm. For further types of business letters, you can find examples of  different types of business letters to refine your skills for specific business purposes, such as making inquiries, adjusting claims, writing cover letters, and more. Hard-Copy Letters For professional-looking hard-copy letters, place your or your companys address at the top of the letter (or use your companys letterhead stationery) followed by the address of the company you are writing to. The date can either be placed double-spaced down (hit return/enter twice) or to the right. If you use a style that has the date on the right, indent your paragraphs and do not put a line of space between them. If you keep everything flush to the left, dont indent paragraphs, and put a space between them. Leave a line of space before your closing, and four to six lines of space for you to have room to hand-sign the letter. Emailed Inquiries If you use email, its easier on the readers eyes to have paragraphs with a line of space between them, so flush everything left. The email will automatically have the date of when it was sent, so you do not need to add the date, and youll need only one line of blank space between your closing and your typed name. Place your company contact information (such as your  telephone extension so someone can get back to you easily) at the bottom after your name.   Its easy to be too casual with email. If you want to appear professional to the business youre writing to, stick with the rules and tone of formal letter writing for the best results, and proofread your letter before sending it out. Its so easy to dash out an email, hit Send right away, and then discover a mistake upon rereading. Correct errors before sending to make a better first impression. Important Language for a Business Inquiry Letter The start: Dear Sir or Madam or To Whom It May Concern (very formal, used when you do not know the person to whom you are writing). If you know your contact already, thats better than being anonymous.Giving reference: With reference to your advertisement (ad) in... or Regarding your advertisement (ad) in...  Give the company context to why youre writing, right away.Requesting a catalog, brochure, etc.: After the reference, add a comma and continue could you please send me information on...Requesting further information: If you have more that youre seeking, add, I would also like to know... or Could you tell me whether...Summary call to action: I look forward to hearing from you... or Could you please give me a call between the hours of...Closing:  Use Sincerely or Yours faithfully to close.Signature: Add your title on the line following your name. An Example Hard-Copy Letter Your NameYour Street AddressCity, ST Zip Business NameBusiness AddressCity, ST Zip September 12, 2017 To Whom It May Concern: With reference to your advertisement in yesterdays New York Times, could you please send me a copy of your latest catalog? Is it also available online? I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, (Signature) Your Name Your Job TitleYour Company Name

What Are College Prep Courses and Classes

What Are College Prep Courses and Classes SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips College prep is a confusing term because it can refer to three different things! Sometimes, calling something a college prep class is just a way to differentiate it from remedial classes on the one hand, and honors/AP classes on the other. Other times, college prep is a way of describing a bunch of government or private programs that are designed to increase access to college for those who would ordinarily be unlikely to go. And finally, college prep is a short name for high schools that place an overwhelming emphasis on getting their students into college. But don’t worry. Whether you want to read about standard high school classes, learn about programs that will make college easier, or are curious about public and private high schools that really stress college admission, you've come to the right place. #1: College Prep = Standard Core High School Curriculum Since the goal of high school is to prepare students for college, it makes sense that the classes that you take in high school are called "college prep classes." After all, the way you get ready for college is by learning what there is to learn in high school! Actually, those are books - they're for reading, not chinups. So, the first and most common definition of the term "college prep" is the core requirements of a high school education. They differ from school to school, but typically go something like this: 4 years of English 3 years of math 3 years of science 3 years of social studies In states and districts that require a high school exit exam in order to graduate, these are the subjects that this exit exam is based on. For example, Massachusetts doesn’t let students graduate unless they can pass the MCAS exam in English, math, and one science or technology subject. College Prep vs. Honors/AP vs. Remedial Classes Because "college prep" refers to the coreset of high school classes, this term has basically become the way to identify the standard class level. College Prep is the class you will take when you are not being challenged by the honors or AP version of a class, and when you are not placed into the remedial version of the class for catch-up. College Prep Classes and the Big Decision When you start planning your high school curriculum, you'll face a tough decision. Should you stick with the standard (or college prep) classes in order to have a higher GPA, or should you challenge yourself and take the Honors or AP course where you’ll probably do a little worse? The answer is: challenge yourself - within reason. Typically, you should go with the harder level class if you think you can earn a B or higher because generally,most colleges would rather see a B in an Honors or AP course than a set of straight A's in college prep classes. Straight As in all college prep courses looks like you are avoiding the challenge of honors/AP, and colleges don’t like challenge-avoidance in their applicants. Don't get trapped by the lure of easy A's! The idea is to demonstrate that you are challenging yourself, and also that you are mastering the material.Getting a B grade says â€Å"I’m just very slightly reaching past my grasp.† On the other hand, avoiding honors or AP classes where you will most likely geta C or D shows self-knowledge and mature judgment - another thing colleges tend to value. Taking too many honors and AP classes and ending up with mostly C's and D's implies that the standard classes would have been a better fit. So what should you do? Our advice is to try to take 1-2 of honors or AP courses, maybe in subjects you feel most comfortable in, or those where your strengths lie, or those you’re most interested in pursuing further. To check out the different options, check out our guides that break down each core subject progression: The high school math classesyou should take Thehigh school English classesyou should take Thehigh school science classesyou should take Thehigh school history classesyou should take #2: College Prep = Programs to Increase College Access Sometimes the term "college prep" is a way of referring to a set of programs that work to increase college access, especially for students who are least likely to enroll. These programs focus on building academic skills, handle college admissions or financial aid, involve families and mentors, and sometimes incorporate service projects. With the right support, anything is possible. Here are some examples, divided into federal, state, university, and community-based categories. The Federal TRIO Programs These programs are targeted to assist low-income, first-generation, and disabled students. Upward Bound is for students from low-income backgrounds that have inadequate secondary school preparation. Students from traditionally underrepresented groups areexposed to a simulated college experience that is rich in academic and motivational support. Students receive tutoring, counseling and individualized instruction to help get ready for college. Talent Search serves low-income, first-generation students. The program provides a range of counseling services to help students graduate from high school and earn a college degree. The Student Support Services Program (SSS) helps low-income, first-generation and disabled students attain a college degree. Support services provide students with needed help through academic advising, career counseling, mentoring, tutoring, financial aid guidance, and some financial aid. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). GEAR UP works to increase college awareness and preparation among low-income and minority students from seventh grade through high school graduation, providing them with intensive tutoring, mentoring, college/career planning information, and sometimes also scholarships. State Programs New York, California and New Jersey'sEducational Opportunity Programs serve students who have shown potential for success in college but have not completed typical college preparatory programs in high school due to economic or personal disadvantages. New York also has thePre-Collegiate Preparation Programs which develops collaborative partnerships between colleges, schools, community organizations, parents, students, business, and government so thatstudents in New York State have every opportunity to be successful learners. California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) seeks to raise the achievement of low-income and first-generation K-12 students and provide them with the opportunity to attend higher education. Florida’s College Reach-Out Program (CROP) provides educational support to low-income, academically disadvantaged students in sixth through 12th grade by helping students develop and maintain the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to successfully pursue and complete a college education. University Programs The University of California Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) is a pre-collegiate student academic development program that provides academic enrichment, entrance exams preparation, academic advising, and college knowledge. The University of Colorado's Pre-Collegiate Program is an academic enhancement program designed to motivate first-generation and underrepresented students middle and high school students to pursue higher education. Community and Nonprofit Programs Sometimes a little local support is what you need. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a program to prepare mid-rank fifth to 12th grade students for college, bringing out the best in students and closing the achievement gap. The "I Have a Dream"Program helps children from low-income areas reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring and enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher education. ENLACE increases opportunities for Latinos to enter and complete college. #3: College Prep = Schools Focusing on Successful College Application Finally, "college prep" can refer to a specific type of high school, where lots of focus is placed on the concept of college. These schools can be public, private, boarding, parochial, and charter schools - just as long as what they most emphasize is getting into and graduating from college. College admission - and graduation - makes the world your oyster. Here are some examples of these kinds of schools: At Gateway High School, a charter school in San Francisco, all 9th gradersvisit a college on their first day of school. At Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School in St. Louis, students earn up to 18 hours of college credit before they leave high school. At the Gary Lighthouse Charter Schools, every student researches colleges and develops a list of reach and safety schools and writes a paper outlining their plan for applying to college. In fact, students don’t earn a high school diploma if they aren’t accepted to at least one college. What’s Next? Interested in learning more aboutcollege preparatory programs in your state? The best place to start is searching NACAC'sdirectory of college access programs. Want to see how rigorous a curriculum you should go for? Check out our discussion of what makes course load challenging. Worried your GPA is too low to try for an honors or AP course? See how your numbers stack up in our good GPA/bad GPA roundup. Exploring your less-competitive college options? Learn about your options for the best colleges with low GPA requirements. 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: Get eBook: 5 Tips for 160+ Points // Free eBook: 5 Tips to 4+ Points on the ACT //

Cognitive Psychology take-home final exam Essay

Cognitive Psychology take-home final exam - Essay Example Perception not only helps a person in gathering the information regarding the objects, patterns, people and events around him, but also helps in making sense of the gathered information by attaching meaning to it (Galotti, 2008, p.56). In the process of perception, it is mind who gives meaning to sensed objects. Hence, as mind of a human being functions on the basis of past information, there are also chances of occurrence of errors in perception. It is important to note that people are highly influenced by the past learning and experiences they have. The past experiences have a great influence on the interpretation of the information that people gather through sensory stimulus (Galotti, 2008, p.57). Visual and spatial errors take place as people, due to the influence of past experience, sometimes perceive what does not exist in the environment and other times, they are not able to recognize the object which is right in front of them (Sternberg, 2009, p.76). In the process of perception, mind plays an important role as it is the mind that gives the meaning to the spatial and the visual objects that are sensed by human beings. According to Peterson (1999), the perceptual illusions that lead to visual and spatial er rors occur because the mind has a tendency to manipulate the information provided by the sensory objects and provide different meanings to â€Å"objects, properties, and spatial relationships of our environments† (Sternberg, 2009, p.77). According to Tarr and Bulthoff (1998), the viewpoint developed from the previous experiences affect the process of perception of the objects (Sternberg, 2009, p.77). Hence, as the mind has a tendency to manipulate the information provided through sensory objects, human being makes error in visual and spatial perceptions. Answer 2 :The cognitive aspects of language acquisition are â€Å"receptive comprehension and decoding of language input and expressive

Environmental issues in China and the role of government Essay

Environmental issues in China and the role of government - Essay Example From this book, we can learn that the Chinese government is reluctant to reduce the rate at which its companies are engaging in manufacturing and other forms of production. This is because these companies contribute to the development of the Chinese economy, reducing their operations will lead to a fall of its economies. It is on this basis, that the Chinese foreign policy is formed. This source is important in explaining the source and origin of Chinese environmental problems. This source is very useful because it analyzes the various government policies in regard to industrialization and environment. However, there are some biases in this source. The bias emanates from the notion that it is the Chinese government that encourages environmental destruction through its internal and foreign policies which are meant to protect their companies. These companies are the main sources of carbon emissions in the air. To counteract this bias, I am going to look for a book that identifies some achievements of Chinese companies, and their environmental policies. Economy, Elizabeth. The river runs black: the environmental challenge to China’s future.Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2004. Print. The book explains the various environmental challenges that China faces. This book explains the role of invasive plant pathogens in causing an environmental disaster in China. This book also explains the role of Chinese large population in creating environmental problems in China, and the one child policy that the government of China initiated to solve the problem under consideration. It also addresses water pollution, and its impact on the Chinese people. This book explains in detail the various policies of the Chinese government in tackling environmental degradation. It analyzes these policies, with the intention of finding out whether they are effective or not. This book tries to give a prediction of the Chinese environment in the coming years, and the prediction is on the negative. That is the Chinese environment will be heavily polluted. This book is useful because it identifies the various factors that lead to environmental degradation in China. It also explains in depth the various policies that the Chinese government has initiated for purposes of tackling environmental pollution. However, this book has a bias. Its main bias is that it fails to recognize the efficiency of some Chinese policies in tackling environmental pollution. To counteract this bias, I will have to look for a book that identifies and explains the successes of the various Chinese policies on the environment. Marks, Robert. China: its environment and history. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2012. Print. This book identifies the historical evolution of China, and the various methods that guide the Chinese government into formulating policies. Of major concern in this book, is its identity of the Chinese industrial economy. One major theme identified is the role of industries in the destruction of the environment. However, this book identifies the various policies of these industrial companies, and how they help to solve the problems of environmental pollution that emanates from them. This book identifies the role of the environmental civil societies in promoting effort to conserve the environment. This book denotes that these efforts are successful, and the government usually implements policies that are lobbied by these groups. The government usually conducts checks to identify if the policies they have

Indigenous Tradition Essay Example for Free

Indigenous Tradition Essay In the past people have mistaken about their tradition Indigenous originality or occurring naturally (country, region etc) To be indigenous kinship (relation to one another) and location(connection of particular place) Indigenous religion beliefs, experience and practices concerning non-falsifiable realities of people who have kinship and location Syncretism: Syncretism merging of elements from different religions. Eg : north American tradition have been influenced by Christianity, some African rituals are influences by Islam. * Change occurs everywhere. * Traditions are less authentic (accurate) than thousands year ago Indigenous can be found anywhere: * Anishinaubae: drumming ceremony in Toronto * Yoruba: Funeral rites in London * Maori: Purification ritual in opera house Sydney Australia Misconceptions * Common to Indigenous traditions is colonialism * Oglala (Indigenous community) – a theorist explained them as â€Å"warriors without weapons basically they were incapable to adapting a new economy lifestyle they focused on how to make them â€Å"modern Indians† * Outsider lack insider knowledge. * Scholars often used terms such as fetish, myth, mana, taboo to explain Indigenous traditions. * Eg â€Å" Indigenous stories are called myth where the bible is considered to be true. Primitive Cultures that are unchanged from the beginning primitive Christians, who believed in god and their tradition, had superiority and began to spread their religion to who didn’t know about gospel Indigenous traditions are tend to think more primitive Due to non-literate * But writing to not better than oral speaking * Mayan did use writing * Most Indigenous people are very literate. Indigenous tradition are tend to think more primitive – consider everything to be sacred (untrue) * Eg : Navajo : ceremony that transforms normal house into a scared place. So everything such as eating, sleeping is considered to be sacred. * Australian aborigine knows where to pray(know the difference between sacred and non sacred mountains) Primitive term is now disagreeing by many scoloars Mohawk and Cree (Dr Clare Brant) Mohawk: Indigenous traditions who give more food to their guest to show their wealth. Cree: Indigenous tradition who eat all the food offered to show scarcity. These two traditions did not go well together and this shows that Indigenous traditions are different from each other. Another point is that we see other cultures according to our own cultures. Gender roles: * Male: hunting and warfare * Female: healing and food preparation * Maori carvers were men and weavers were women. Bunu men frow cotton and women turn it into clothes. * Sometimes the roles switch just like other traditions * Usually religions practices are different for men and woman too. Power of speech Oral speaking is very imp for Indigenous traditions things are passed down oraly. Many people think oral primitive (untrue). Both Quran and Bible was passed down orally before written into text Stories : After life : * Kewa: a man finds a tunnel where his dead people wre living together and they gave them many things and asks him not to speak of it. When he goes and tell everyone about the tunnel, he breaks the promise and when he returns the tunnel is gone. * Anishinaubae : young man fiance died, and he go on a journey to find her and when he found her , he returns home heartbroken, keeping his promise. * These stories tell us about importance of relationships tell us about how we should live than about dying Writing stores often â€Å"fixed in time†. Trickster: * Considered as â€Å"culture heroes† because they are the central figures in many stores * Usually shape shift usually into animals * Can change genders sometime biological and sometime just clothes changing * Outer form is reflected into infidelity * They can appear as fools, selfish, kind, scandalous etc. * Usually driven by self interest alone * Trickster stores show us how we should behave and how we should not * The stories often explain the origins of world and connect to a community more deeply. * Embodies the extremes of humanity: human weakness and strength Practice (rituals). Indigenous tradition rituals are very similar to our traditions * Rituals remind us on what is imp in our life. * In religious terms, rituals, communicate some ways with gods, ancestor and spirits. * Rituals are roots in the human needs and relationship Rituals : * Every rituals varies * Usually involves food Muslim and Jews have specific food eating habits * Many Buddhist set food portions aside for ancestors * Anishinaubae put small amount of food for the spirits * Some rituals are more complicated * Such as marriage, death, birth * Sometimes these rituals mark transformation and sometimes they help to bring the transformation about. * Indigenous tradition rituals serve in some ways to recreate some aspects of the world, order and life Journey: * Going on a journey/quest: rites of passage * Journey to a new place is where a transformation occurs. * The person returns home with physical change, such as tattoo, scar or a body part to symbolize their new self. * Pondos: moved into a special hut to become sacred healers- if they go into town before they must be covered in white * White usually symbolize the color of transformation in Africa * Anishinaubae vision quest – yong man travels far away from home only with water and be completely alone. Then late he become a â€Å"adult man† and comes home with food and the ritual is complete . Sacrifice Mel Gibson: sacrifices in Indigenous traditions are vey common Bear sacrifice: raise a young cub, and raise it for two day and kill it. Head is emptied and filled with flowers and then the animal is cooked and eaten. They think that the bear is the gold’s spirit and they see it as freeing the spirit. Sun dance : dance till days and community provide support. Some sun dance involves sacrifice . the pole and lodge are buil to show the creation of the world Nuer : sacrifice ox for healing. Xhosa : when a woman fall ill the community gathers and kill a cow and do many rituals. This is due their thinking that the ancestor or spirit is angry with the women. * above rituals shows the involvement of community even though there is sacrifice involved. * The rituals ultimately brings people together * Sacrifice like rituals create order and meaning * Those rituals join people to the past and respond to current situation Cultural Expression What you see is not always what you get Art in Indigenous traditions is aout relationship objects are coonected to people Weaving : * Intertwine and connect * Weavers work together , helping one another , passing knowledge. * Shows bonds among people Maori Tradition : * All weavers are female * A girl is said all about weaving more said more discouraged if people saw true commitment then they let the girl into whare pora(caretakers of the weaving) * Whare pora have rules no sex before dying, no food allowed during weaving, special garment should be weaved during the day and not strangets can view the weaving * Traditional colors : black, red and white * Sacred thread is sewed on all garments to show the bond Underlying cloth : * Clothing declare who we are and how we fit into social fabric * Has two side : can hide much as it reveals and help us create a public face * Lady gaga : he masks and clothes hide part of her but also reveals her identity that she wishes to show * Special clothes are associated with imp rituals * Bunu : believes that the special clothes are kind of womb, enveloping the body as like a fetus is being born. Clothing only wears it does not die old cloth is replaces by new, as old spirits is reborn Spirit basket : * Oldest arts * In pomo community men makes the heavy basket for hunting and fishing * Women were responsible for religious baskets. * Mable mckey : was a traditional healer in pomo community and famous basket weaver in the world. Masks : * Masks are used in imp rituals wedding , funerals, hunting celebration etc * Masks are ment to ring spirit into the community lesser deities (gods) * Mask represent certain animals does not mean they worship the animal * Epa mask in Yoruba community extremely heavy show the strength require to dance with the mask and enter the adult hood with responsibility. * Carvers are usualy male Totem poles : * Very specific to each communities * Function of totem poles also varies in each tradition. * Meaning varies serve as a supporting structure or grave makers and other as a symbol for power * Most also tell stories such as historical, achievements and religious * Grizzly bear at the base holding a human represents self-preservation or survival. Moko * Maori carvings are less likely to be displayed outside the original physical context * Moko tattoos * In the beginning the women were only allowed tattoos around their lips and chin where men can have tattoos all over their face * Moko story remind the Maori people their ancestor and importance of meeting ones obligation and treating one another with respect Ancestoral House. * Marae Maori religious and social home. Site of wedding , funeral, celebration. * Authority is held by community elders where they use the space to pass n traditions, stories and arts, carving, weaving. * If the artist when wrong painting the place, they could be put to death. * Location is very imp it must be located in a place where the previous generation carried out the religious and social activities. * Whare Whakairo physical form which represents the body of the ancestor * The building is divided into body parts of the ancestor Three points and Shrine : * Some traditions are very plain, harder for an outsider to see * Three issues : * Most rituals are performed outside * Think bout the function of religious structures that are used in the rituals * What you see is not often what you get * Mbari shrine : represents the founder of the community, a great healer and was forced to flee because they were attacked by another community. Elder stands her to protects the shrine all the time. * The guard signify the change modern development Hogans * Navajo Hogan traditional living space as well as the site for many rituals. * It is the site for daily activities and some are religious and some are not * Before new Hogan is occupied a song is performed. * Known as Blessing way ceremony four divining earth, mountain woman, water woman, corn woman also the song speaks everyday things * According to them world is structure – Hogan All these things symbolizes: * Link btw past and present * Btw community and place * Btw our world and world of spirits Colonialism * Colonialism process where people from one place maintain a settlement in another and to the effects of people who were already there. * Changes include – subjugation or removal , new laws, social practices and new economy. * Power and profit are factors that drive colonialism. * Religion is also one of the reason Colombus : * He destroyed a community Arawaks * He wanted to tell him where the gold was people who gave him gold were left alive and people who didn’t were killed(by cutting hands) * Then he realized that the most valuable are the people, so he sent them back to Europe by the boat land. Genocides : * 20 million African were taken as slave and only 11 million returned * 96% od aboriginals were dead in Australia * factors of depopulation : military action, torture, starvation, suicide and slavery. * More aboriginals are killed when the Americans want more land Masters of continent : * As settler population growed the indigenous population reduced less friendly for land * Terra nullius no ones land was the phrase that European settlers used no owner ship primitive – they do not count as people Conversion : * Many converted to different religion due to colonialism * In Indonesia indigenous tradition is not recognized by lay so all are counted as muslim Loss of religion : * Europeans tried to convert them into chistianity rarely worked * Europeans used military strengeth and religion â€Å"our people is tronger because our god is stronger â€Å" * Missionaries. * Also sometimes the colonial government made the indigenous religion illegal * Eg : potlatch and sundance was made illegal ? Die to the felf harm and economic hardship is potlatch(poverty) * Colonialism lead to patriarchy The potlatch : * Feast that are hosted by a family and hosting family presents the guests with gifts * Demonstrate hospitality and redistributing wealth. Loss of language : * Colonialism language disappeared forever * 20 languages extinct * when communities died, the languages died with them * children’s were forbidden to speak their own languages â€Å"Stolen generation† Loss of Land: * Many religious and indigenous land were taken and was destroyed * Two problems that non-indigenous people had: * Very common belief, no specific belief and are mostly about practice * Religion such as Christians can pray anywhere but indigenous people had to pray at a specific site Identity : (the sympols of indeginous people in sports) * Cleveland Indians play at Atlanta braves : it’s a reminder of ongoing colonialism that has been taken from the indigenous people. * Indigenous oriented names : â€Å"eskimo pie† to market the products evoke a primitive stereotype that is best suited for the product.

The Mexican Revolution: An Overview Essay -- Essays Papers

The Mexican Revolution: An Overview Throughout its history Mexico has had many revolutions. The most famous perhaps is the Mexican Revolution from 1910-1920. The people of Mexico were getting tired of the dictator rule of President Porfino Diaz. People of all classes were fighting in the revolution. The middle and upper classes were dissatisfied with the President’s ways. The lower and working class people had many factors such as poor working conditions, inflation, inferior housing, low wages, and deficient social services. Within the classes everyone was fighting; men, women, and children all contributed to the fight for freedom from Diaz (Baxman 2). This revolution proved to be the rise and fall of many leaders. In the beginning of his reign, Diaz was almost ideal and had great intentions for Mexico. He created a more stable government and got rid of crime. The quality of life was improved. The government was made stronger by dispatching governors to the various areas of Mexico. The army was also made stronger by professionializing it. The police force readily enforced Diaz’s laws. Diaz also relied on a group of aristocrats as advisors. As Mexico grew, structurally and economically, foreign films invested in the area. The money from the films helped Diaz to build highways, railroads, telegraph lines, oil fields, and rejuvenate the mining industry. New industries were also created and in fifty years Mexico had transformed itself from a third world country to the ideal model of a developing country (Summary 3-4). Although these things helped to build up Mexico, they also were the factors in the destruction of Diaz. The people in power became wealthy but the rest of the population remained impoverishe... ...r lifestyle (Baxman 2-3). Everyone in Mexico was affected by The Mexican Revolution. Whether they were fighting for their freedom or wanted to escape the chaos, they were affected by the rise and fall of power. It also affected some people in the United States as Mexican immigrants came into the U.S. People fought for their freedom and after many years of fighting were able to achieve that. Sources: Author Unknown. Summary of the Mexican Revolution. [Online] http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/9980/PAPER.HTML,year unknown. (Accessed 3/12/99). Baxman, Cindy. History of the Mexican Revolution, 1910-1920. [Online] http://ac.acusd.edu/History/projects/border/page03.html, 1998. (Accessed 3/12/99). Consul General. The Mexican Revolution. [Online] http://www.mexconnect.com/MEX/austin/revolution.html, 1996. (Accessed 3/12/99).

Black man and white women Essay

Black man and white women in dark green row boat The story â€Å"Black Man and White Women in Dark Green Rowboat†, written by Russell Banks, is about an interracial relationship on the brink of disaster. The story opens up on an extremely hot day in August at a trailer park that is right next to a lake with a variety of people who live there. I was not immediately aware that the black man and the white woman were the focus of the story, but those characters gradually emerged and that’s when things started to get interesting. It becomes very obvious that white women want to control everything in the relationship and doesn’t iew the black man as an equal partner. Before they meet at the beach, the white women walks up in her bikini holding her towel, fashion magazine, and tanning lotion with her blonde hair swinging side to side. I automatically start to view her as an egotistical person. When the white women encounters the black man at the beach, she helps him push the boat to the water, but instead of helping him push the boat all the way from shore, she hops in it before her feet had even got wet. He was left to not only push the boat himself, rolling his pant legs up, but also pushing her in it as well. While he is rowing the boat he realizes he didn’t bring a hat and he is sweating. He wraps his shirt around his head and she explains to him that he looks like a sheik and a galley slave. To me this shows how she thinks of him as her own romanticized slave that she can control. She even reassures him that she was not kidding by saying â€Å"no really. Honestly’. (68). The man continues to row and she says she’s starting to put on weight and then she tells the man that she told her mother about them and their situation, but she never looked at him when she was talking to him. Her eyes were closed and directed oward the sun. She isn’t treating him like she cares; she is Just caring on with her sun bathing. Then she tells him that she is going to have an abortion that afternoon. She does this without even asking the man if that’s what he wants to do. Even after he expresses hatred towards the situation and basically tells her he wants her to keep the baby she doesn’t listen. She Just insists that everything will return to normal when it’s done. He asks her what happened and she brushes the question off and explains her mother is 0k with him. You can tell he cares about her mother’s opinion f him as he wants the reassurance that her mother actually likes him. The woman explains her mother Just thinks she is fragile from depression. Honestly I feel like the women had had other abortions and Just didn’t want to be honest with the man. After some time had passed, the woman asks him how long he was going to fish. He tells her about an hour and offers to row her to a swimming spot if she would rather swim. She turns down the offer and makes appoint to mention the fact that she has to be back in time to make it to her abortion later that afternoon; again aking it known she is making this decision on ner own. The women sta rts looking through her magazine while the man continued for a few more casts then he finally gave up and said, â€Å"No sense fishing when the fish ain’t feeding. The whole point is catching fish, right? † (71). This is the man’s turning point. I think he realized that the relationship he was in was kind of like fishing, there was no point in him being with her if she didn’t want to move on to the next level. Before rowing back into shore, he said he wished he could Just leave here there. She gets very nervous when he said hat and tells him they have to go back. That’s when the man decided that it was time to move on with his life and he said, â€Å"You mean, you have to go back. † (71). He rows back and all the people are carrying on like they were before except now things are changing for them. The White woman goes with her towel and magazine to have her abortion and back to living with her mother, while the Black man goes on his own separate way while watching the women leave.

Global Warming Paper Essay

Global temperatures on the Earth’s surface have increased by 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit during the last century, faster than any time in the last 1000 years (Rauber 41). Consequently, the 1990s was the warmest decade in the last 1000 years (â€Å"Global Warming†). As humans emit fossil fuels, greenhouse gasses slowly warm the Earth’s atmosphere (â€Å"EPA Global†). This gradual process is known as global warming. As glaciers begin to melt, sea levels rise and coastal areas in Florida may suffer immense losses (â€Å"Beach Erosion†). Florida’s tourist economy may also suffer a tremendous loss, as well as agriculture (â€Å"Florida Scientists†). With a warmer atmosphere, disease will spread quicker and human health will be threatened throughout the state (â€Å"Global Warming†). Serious action needs to be taken in order to slow the process of global warming. Global Warming is an increase in the temperature of the Earth due to the use of fossil fuels and industrial processes that build up to the emission of greenhouse gasses, mostly carbon dioxide and methane (â€Å"Global Warming Threatens†). As energy from the sun strikes the surface of the earth, it turns into heat which, in turn, releases the heat as long-wave infrared radiation (Crowe). Gasses in the air, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor, trap some of this radiation as it tries to make its way back out to space (Olgesby). These gases trap in heat as do the windows of a greenhouse; therefore, they are called greenhouse gases (Elston). As an excess amount of these gasses are emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere by industries and fossil fuels, the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere gradually increases (Oglesby). Humans escalate the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and by many manufacturing processes (Crowe). In the U.S., from 1990-1997, carbon dioxide emissions have increased 10.7 percent (Elston). This activity and a warming atmosphere are causing drastic changes around the earth, especially in Florida. Global warming poses a threat to Florida’s beaches and freshwater supplies due to a rise in sea level (â€Å"Southeast†). Warming the atmosphere will raise sea levels by expanding ocean water, melting mountain glaciers, and melting parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet (â€Å"Beach Erosion†). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the local sea levels may rise 8 to 30 inches by the year 2100 (â€Å"Global Warming Threatens†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). The horizontal advance can be 150 to 200 times greater than the sea level rise, and even greater in areas with a moderate sloping shoreline (Alvarez et al). Consequently, saltwater will be forced to move landward, which shifts the border between saltwater and freshwater inland and causes the encroachment of saltwater into groundwater aquifers (â€Å"Southeast†). Over the longer-term, a three-foot sea level rise could be disastrous for aquifers in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Homestead areas, which are locat ed on the low coastal ridge (Alvarez et al). In addition, rising sea levels put at risk the stateÐ ¢s number one status as a retirement and tourist destination (â€Å"Global Warming Threatens†). Hotels, homes, and property within 200 to 250 feet of the current shoreline may be flooded (â€Å"Florida Scientists†). This, in turn, will alter the $51 billion annual revenue from Florida’s tourist economy (â€Å"Florida Scientists†). According to the stateÐ ¢s tourist development agency, 71 million people visited Florida in 2000 (Alvarez et al). Miami Beach alone generates $2 billion a year in tourism revenues, and the Florida Keys generates $1.8 billion annually (Alvarez et al). The state’s economy will suffer significantly as higher seas flood all property on these beaches (â€Å"Global Warming Threatens†). Many of Florida’s cities by the sea, including Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, Palm Beach, Clearwater, Key West, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Pensacola, and Marco Island, will face great hardships due to a rise in sea level (Alvarez et al). A warming atmosphere will also lead to changes in Florida’s agriculture which is highly sensitive to changes in weather and climate (â€Å"Southeast†). The production of citrus, sugarcane, and tomatoes adds billions of dollars to Florida’s economy (â€Å"Florida Scientists†). Global warming’s effects on agriculture will vary by location and on the specific crop (Alvarez et al). Warming temperatures and carbon dioxide fertilization will increase citrus production by about 6 to 20 percent in Florida over the next 40 to 50 years (Alvarez et al). Although citrus will benefit in the short-term, its productivity in the long-run will suffer (Alvarez et al). Citrus yields will begin to decrease once temperatures have gone past the nominal growing range and soil moisture has been reduced from the heat (Alvarez et al). Sugarcane is a $437 million industry in Florida and is mostly located in Palm Beach County (â€Å"Southeast†). Global warming may sever ely impact the production and sales of sugarcane (â€Å"Southeast†). If sea levels rise 18 to 20 inches, flooding will intensify and decrease sugarcane yields due to nutrient pollution problems (Alvarez et al). This will decrease sugarcane growth by about 20 percent (â€Å"Southeast†). Florida is also the nation’s leader in tomato production (Alvarez et al). However, a warming atmosphere could decrease the state’s tomato production by about 44 percent as a result of shortened growth cycles (Alvarez et al). Global warming will definitely lead to changes in how and where Florida farmers grow crops (â€Å"Southeast†). With some crops these changes may be beneficial and with others it may be detrimental. Global warming poses several potential health threats to the population of Florida. The first potential health threat is that of bad air quality (Elston). Higher temperatures increase the rate of smog formation, and increased use of fossil fuels could increase a range of air pollutants (â€Å"Global Warming†). A major component of smog, ground-level ozone, is formed from nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (Epstein 51). As the atmosphere warms, this reaction speeds up and produces more smog (Epstein 51). Chronic respiratory diseases and obstructive pulmonary disease can be made much worse by breathing ozone (Elston). Carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide, and nitrogen oxides worsen existing cardiovascular diseases and may produce lung irritation and reduced lung function (Alvarez et al). Seniors, constituting 18 percent of Florida’s population, the young, and those with existing cardiovascular diseases are predominantly at risk (â€Å"Florida Scientists†). Many of the germs that cause waterborne diseases, such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, survive longer in warmer water (Epstein 55). Serious diseases like hepatitis, cholera, and yellow fever will more easily be transmitted as the lack of clean water and waterborne diseases spread (Elston). The lack of clean water in a drought causes bad hygiene and unsafe rehydration for people who have lost a lot of water from diarrhea or fever (Alvarez et al). Droughts, caused by global warming, favor waterborne diseases, wipe out supplies of safe drinking water, and, thus, concentrate containments (Epstein 55). In addition, vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, encephalitis, and dengue fever, will be more common as a result of a warming atmosphere (â€Å"Southeast†). Vector-borne diseases are spread by mosquitoes, rodents, ticks, and other insects and animals (â€Å"Global Warming†). Rising temperatures will expand the range of many vectors and can play a role in the transmission of the disease itself (Alvarez et al). This is due to the fact that a warmer atmosphere will provide more area in which the mosquito and many other vectors can survive (Epstein 50). Today, 45 percent of the world’s population live where they might get bitten by a mosquito carrying malaria (â€Å"EPA Global†). However, that percentage may increase to 60 percent if temperatures rise (â€Å"EPA Global†). The total number of deaths related to heat waves is estimated to double by 2020 (Epstein 50). Florida’s population, especially the senior population, is a great risk due to the health risks of global warming (Elston). Florida is faced with serious challenges as a result of global warming. These challenges threaten the stateÐ ¢s natural areas, economic prosperity, agriculture, and human health. The state can avoid such harm by taking action before it is too late. Some solutions include driving efficiently, taking public transit, walking, or using a bicycle (Rauber 41), limiting the burning of fossil fuels for energy (Epstein 57), using compact fluorescent light bulbs, because each can prevent 400 pounds of coal from being burned to make electricity, buying a car which meets one’s needs, yet is very efficient (Rauber 41), and, finally, plant a tree or protect a forest (â€Å"Global Warming†). Trees absorb carbon dioxide and can offset some greenhouse gasses (Olgesby). Serious action needs to be taken now to avoid such devastating harm.

Is mental illness real Professor Ramos Blog

Is mental illness real Growing up I would feel sadness that would always linger, I would tell my parents how I felt and my mom would reply† It’s all in your head, you’re okay.† I then just brushed off this feeling for many years, thinking it’s not a big deal. Did you know approximately 1 out of 5 adults is affected by a mental illness? According to Szasz, â€Å"Mental health exist and like other illnesses.† Many people suffer from some sort of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. To some, it is crippling, to others they can still function through the day. There are some options to choose if you ever want to get help such as medication or talk therapy.   Sometimes people don’t get the help they need because they don’t accept that they are living with a mental illness or they can’t afford it. There are many reasons why people don’t seek the help and treatment they need. Not only is it affecting a dults but children too. Less than 20% of children don’t get the treatment they need and about 50% of mental illness begins by the age of 14 years old. Mental illness has no preference, you can be any race, age, social class or religion. Growing up I would feel sadness that would always linger, I would tell my parents how I felt and my mom would reply† It’s all in your head, you’re okay.† I then just brushed off this feeling for many years, thinking it’s not a big deal. Did you know approximately 1 out of 5 adults are affected by a mental illness? According to Szasz â€Å"Mental health exist and like other illnesses.† Many people suffer from some sort of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. To some it is crippling, to others they can still function through the day. There are some options to choose if you ever want to get help such as medication or talk therapy.   Sometimes people don’t get the help they need because they don’t accept that they are living with a mental illness or they can’t afford it. There are many reasons why people don’t seek the help and treatment they need. Not only is it affecting adu lts but children too. Less than 20% of children don’t get the treatment they need and about 50% of mental illness begins by the age of 14 years old. Mental illness has no preference, you can be any race, age, social class or religion. As stated by Feldman in the article Is mental illness real?   mental illness is real and we need to understand it in a more complex way, because having a mental illness isn’t like having a virus because with a virus you get symptoms. Rather than when you are being diagnosed by a psychotherapist there are certain guidelines you need to meet before you are diagnosed. Even after you’ve been diagnosed it won’t explain why you feel a certain way because you have other factors to take in consideration such as genetic or environmental factors. For example, past trauma such as being abused when you were a child. Taking a closer look at your family history to see if   maybe someone in your family has a mental illness. Even by your location, where you live can contribute to your mental health. By coming to terms with these factors you are a step closer to getting the treatment you need or not if you choose not to seek any help. According to Dr. Cornwall in I don’t believe in mental illness, do you?   He states that â€Å"I don’t believe in mental illness. I believe we are sovereign souls that should not be imprisoned or be given forced treatments or offered any treatments that do us any harm when we are suffering human emotional suffering or madness.†   He feels that people have many experiences of human emotional suffering that he considers it â€Å"madness.†Ã‚   Cornwall believes that forced medication, restraints and medication for children and adults are violating human rights.   Instead of taking medication to numb our emotions, we should just show love, compassion and respect. Because that is the way our body is telling us that you’re okay. â€Å"Does mental illness have a physical, material cause, in the same way as cancer or a broken leg? Can it be tested for, diagnosed and treated with the same certainty as a physical disease? Whatever the answer to that question, it should cast no doubts or aspersions on the very real suffering of people with mental health problems† (Watts) Many people still believe that it’s just a phase or your just making excuses and that you’ll get over it but that isn’t always true sometimes doing nothing can make it worse.   People also assume that if you have a mental illness that you are crazy. For example, there’s always that cat lady with a billion cats that talks to herself. That right there is an example of someone with a mental illness, we all would immediately refer her as â€Å"crazy† but she’s just mentally ill. It is a medical condition and it affects your brain and it is treatable. There is a lot of stigma about mental illness in today’s society. By not taking care of our mental health it can affect us later on in the future such as, it can lead to suicide. Suicide is the tenth leading causes of deaths in the United States. More than 41,000 American lives are lost each year. Men are also three times more likely than women to take their lives. Many people believe that if you have a mental illness that you are weak and that you’re just lazy. Another reason, would be people think just because you are mentally ill that you can’t hold down a job. People who suffer a mental illness are actually more productive. Another factor is people with a mental illness are violent which is also a myth, they are no more violent than we are. Acknowledging your mental illness is important and it is a step to help you get the help you need. We need to be more aware of mental illnesses, educate others about it or talk about it more. Many people might be ashamed to speak about it but by speaking up about it breaks the social norms. Many people feel this way and its okay, because it isn’t easy but you have to remember that you are not alone. There is help if you seek for it but if you don’t you won’t feel any better you have to make an effort to want to change. By sharing your story of struggling with a mental illness it can be helpful to other people who are going through the same thing. We also need to learn the warning signs for someone with mental health problems such as abusing drugs, feelings hopeless, mood swings and thoughts of harming themselves. By learning this problem that affects more than 44 million people we are bringing awareness to it. So next time if you are feeling a little sad or even suicidal talk to someone you might never know they could be going or has gone through the same thing you’re going through. As stated by Feldman in the article Is mental illness real?   mental illness is real and we need to understand it in a more complex way because having a mental illness isn’t like having a virus because with a virus you get symptoms. Rather than when you are being diagnosed by a psychotherapist there are certain guidelines you need to meet before you are diagnosed. Even after you’ve been diagnosed it won’t explain why you feel a certain way because you have other factors to take in consideration such as genetic or environmental factors. For example, past trauma such as being abused when you were a child. Taking a closer look at your family history to see if maybe someone in your family has a mental illness. Even by your location, where you live can contribute to your mental health. By coming to terms with these factors you are a step closer to getting the treatment you need or not if you choose not to seek any help. According to Dr. Cornwall in I don’t believe in mental illness, do you?   He states that â€Å"I don’t believe in mental illness. I believe we are sovereign souls that should not be imprisoned or be given forced treatments or offered any treatments that do us any harm when we are suffering human emotional suffering or madness.†   He feels that people have many experiences of human emotional suffering that he considers it â€Å"madness.†Ã‚   Cornwall believes that forced medication, restraints and medication for children and adults are violating human rights.   Instead of taking medication to numb our emotions, we should just show love, compassion, and respect. Because that is the way our body is telling us that you’re okay. â€Å"Does mental illness have a physical, material cause, in the same way as cancer or a broken leg? Can it be tested for, diagnosed and treated with the same certainty as a physical disease? Whatever the answer to that question, it should cast no doubts or aspersions on the very real suffering of people with mental health problems† (Watts) Many people still believe that it’s just a phase or your just making excuses and that you’ll get over it but that isn’t always true sometimes doing nothing can make it worse.   People also assume that if you have a mental illness that you are crazy. For example, there’s always that cat lady with a billion cats that talks to herself. That right there is an example of someone with a mental illness, we all would immediately refer her as â€Å"crazy† but she’s just mentally ill. It is a medical condition and it affects your brain and it is treatable. There is a lot of stigma about mental illness in today’s society. By not taking care of our mental health it can affect us later on in the future such as, it can lead to suicide. Suicide is the tenth leading causes of deaths in the United States. More than 41,000 American lives are lost each year. Men are also three times more likely than women to take their lives. Many people believe that if you have a mental illness that you are weak and that you’re just lazy. Another reason, would be people think just because you are mentally ill that you can’t hold down a job. People who suffer a mental illness are actually more productive. Another factor is people with a mental illness are violent which is also a myth, they are no more violent than we are. Acknowledging your mental illness is important and it is a step to help you get the help you need. We need to be more aware of mental illnesses, educate others about it or talk about it more. Many people might be ashamed to speak about it but by speaking up about it breaks the social norms. Many people feel this way and its okay because it isn’t easy but you have to remember that you are not alone. There is help if you seek for it but if you don’t you won’t feel any better you have to make an effort to want to change. By sharing your story of struggling with a mental illness it can be helpful to other people who are going through the same thing. We also need to learn the warning signs for someone with mental health problems such as abusing drugs, feelings hopeless, mood swings and thoughts of harming themselves. By learning this problem that affects more than 44 million people we are bringing awareness to it. So next time if you are feeling a little sad or even s uicidal talk to someone you might never know they could be going or has gone through the same thing you’re going through. Cornwall, I don’t believe in mental illness, do you?   https://www.madinamerica.com/2012/03/i-dont-believe-in-mental-illness-do-you/ Szasz, The myth of mental illness (1960)   Ã‚  https://numerov.com/dspace/es/io29r3y9c.pdf Mental health myths and facts   https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts Is mental illness real? You asked google- here’s the answer https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/12/is-mental-illness-real-google-answer

Definition and Examples of Prescriptivism

Definition and Examples of Prescriptivism Prescriptivism is the attitude or belief that one variety of a language is superior to others and should be promoted as such. Also known as  linguistic prescriptivism and purism.  An ardent promoter of prescriptivism is called a prescriptivist or, informally, a  stickler. A key aspect of traditional grammar, prescriptivism is generally  characterized by a concern for good, proper, or correct usage. Contrast with descriptivism. In a paper published in Historical Linguistics 1995, Sharon Millar defined prescriptivism as the conscious attempt by language users to control or regulate the language use of others for the purpose of enforcing perceived norms or of promoting innovations (Language Prescription: Success in Failures Clothing).Common examples of prescriptive texts include many (though  not all)  style and usage guides, dictionaries, writing handbooks, and the like.   Observations [Prescriptivism is the] policy of describing languages as we would like them to be, rather than as we find them. Typical examples of prescriptivist attitudes are the condemnation of preposition stranding and of the split infinitive and a demand for Its I in place of the normal Its me.  (R.L. Trask, Dictionary of English Grammar. Penguin, 2000)A prescriptive grammar is essentially a manual that focuses on constructions where usage is divided and lays down rules governing the socially correct use of language. These grammars were a formative influence on language attitudes in Europe and America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Their influence lives on in the handbooks of usage widely found today, such as A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (1926) by Henry Watson Fowler (1858-1933), though such books include recommendations about the use of pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary as well as grammar.  (David Crystal, How Language Works. Overlook Press, 2005)I think sensible prescr iptivism  ought to be part of any education.(Noam Chomsky, Language, Politics, and Composition, 1991.  Chomsky on Democracy and Education, ed. by  Carlos Peregrà ­n Otero. RoutledgeFalmer, 2003) Verbal Hygiene [T]he overt anti-prescriptive stance of linguists is in some respects not unlike the prescriptivism they criticize. The point is that both prescriptivism and anti-prescriptivism invoke certain norms and circulate particular notions about how language ought to work. Of course, the norms are different (and in the case of linguistics they are often covert). But both sets feed into the  more general arguments that influence everyday ideas about language. On that level, description and prescription turn out to be aspects of a single (and normative) activity: a struggle to control language by defining its nature.  My use of the term verbal hygiene is intended to capture this idea, whereas to use the term prescriptivism would just recycle the opposition I am trying to deconstruct.  (Deborah Cameron, Verbal Hygiene. Routledge, 1995) Language Wars The history of prescriptions about Englishof grammar texts, manuals of style and O tempora o mores-type laments- is in part a history of bogus rules, superstitions, half-baked logic, groaningly unhelpful lists, baffling abstract statements, false classifications, contemptuous insiderism, and educational malfeasance. But it is also a history of attempts to make sense of the world and its bazaar of competing ideas and interests. Instinctively, we find the arbitrariness of existence hard to accept. Our desire to impose order on the world, which means inventing the forms of language rather than discovering them, is a creative act. Furthermore, the quarrel between descriptivists and prescriptivists ... is a sort of mad confederacy: each party thrives on lambasting the other.   Ã¢â‚¬â€¹(Henry Hitchings, The Language Wars. John Murray, 2011) The Problem WIth Prescriptivists [G]eneral ignorance of grammar allows prescriptivists to impose nonsensical mandates and allows test-makers and test-takers to focus primarily on superficial error in language use.​(Martha Kolln and Craig Hancock, The Story of English Grammar in United States Schools. English Teaching: Practice and Critique, December 2005) Pronunciation: pree-SKRIP-ti-viz-em

Compare and Contrast of Renaissance Furniture Research Paper

Compare and Contrast of Renaissance Furniture - Research Paper Example The chairs had turned legs which were also carved by hand. Drawer fronts and doors were also carved delicately. This comparison gives us the idea that renaissance furniture was at first influenced by the Roman and Greek designs, and sooner they were adopted by the Italian craftsmen. The Italian renaissance furniture influenced many other styles as well as the Art revival period led to the enhancement of a different and unique style. The Italian renaissance furniture further inspired the Dutch furniture. Overall, the renaissance period had different periods in which different styles of furniture were present. All of the furniture pieces were carved and painted using themes of culture and history. The antiques were greatly inspired by historic and cultural symbols such as palaces, buildings, figures, flowers, and other significant figures. The renaissance furniture shows the transformation from Gothic designs, to historical and methodological, to cultural. Early furniture pieces were made and designed for the wealthy and royals while later it was seen that more domestic and original designs wer e made. With great changes in the renaissance era seen in education, arts, and literature, there was also significant change seen in the furniture characteristics. History of Furniture Design in the Renaissance. (n.d.).  History of Furniture Design in the Renaissance. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from

You are asked to analyse current developments in Canadian cultural, Essay

You are asked to analyse current developments in Canadian cultural, political and economic business environment impacting investment plans of a German-based luxury car manufacturer - Essay Example This paper will explore current developments in Canada’s cultural, political and economic business environment and how they affect Audi’s investment objectives. With its stable democracy, economy, and culture, Canada ranks high on the list of ideal investment locations in the world. The economy has been thriving since the end of World War Two, and the country has been in the good books of major international organisations for as long as it has existed. The country’s middle class has been growing steadily over the years, and there are no signs that it will shrink anytime soon. The number of wealthy citizens has also increased significantly in the past two decades, creating more spending power and expanding the market for luxury goods (Anastakis, 2013:21). Like all manufacturers of luxury products, Audi seeks to move as many of its goods as possible in the cheapest and most effective way possible. Audi has had operations in Canada since 1971, and it was one of the first automakers to venture into a market that was relatively unexploited at the time. As at January 2015 Canada had made almost 15% of the automobiles assembled in North Ame rica. The Economist has also rated the country’s business scene as the most conducive among G7 countries that produce vehicles. Canada has recognised its automobile industry as a key sector in its current and future growth plans. As such, it has put in place measures to support manufacturers in the country. Although Audi does not have an assembly plant in Canada, it still exports a significant amount of vehicles to the country, and operates dealerships that cater to the needs of its Canadian customers (Peters, 2013:26). A core aspect of supporting automakers is guaranteeing a global market for their goods. Using the Global Markets Action Plan, the Canadian government has signed 7 different free trade agreements with thirty-eight nations. In addition, it has signed or adopted