Sample Application Essay for College Admissions

The sample application essay below was written by Felicity for personal essay option #4 of the pre-2013 Common Application: Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence. With the current Common Application, the essay could work well for essay option #1  that asks students to share a story about something that is central to their identity. Note that Felicitys essay is from before the Common Application implemented the current 650-word length limit. Felicitys College Application Essay Porkopolis In the South, where I grew up, pork is a vegetable. Actually, it’s used as a â€Å"seasoning,† but so commonly that it’s almost impossible to find salad without bacon, greens without fatback, white beans free of pinkish shreds of ham. It was difficult for me, then, when I decided to become a vegetarian. The decision itself, made for the usual reasons of health, ethics and ecological conservation, was easy; putting it into practice, however, was another matter. At every restaurant, every school lunch, every church potluck, every family gathering, there was meat—in the entrà ©e, the sides, the condiments. I suspected even innocent-seeming pie crusts of secretly harboring lard. Eventually I worked out a system: I brought my own lunches to school, asked servers about the broth used in the soup of the day, avoided the usual suspects of beans and greens. This system worked well enough in public, but at home, I faced the challenge of respecting my parents and harmoniously sharing meals with them. They were excellent cooks, both of them, and I had always enjoyed the country-fried steaks, burgers and ribs they’d served to me for so many years—how could I now say â€Å"no† to those delicacies without angering or inconveniencing them, or, worse, hurting their feelings? I couldn’t. And so, I backslid. I’d manage to live a pure, meatless life for a few weeks, subsisting on pasta and salads. Then, Dad would grill an especially juicy teriyaki-marinated flank steak, look at me hopefully, and offer a slice—and I would accept. I’d mend my ways, steam rice and stir-fry snow peas with mushrooms . . . and crumble at the first whiff of the Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven and the proud smile on my mother’s face. My noble goals, it seemed, were doomed. But then, I found a role model, one who demonstrated to me that I could live without meat and still be a functioning member of society, eschew my parents’ pork chops and fried chicken without giving offense. I wish I could say that I was inspired by one of history’s great artists like Leonardo da Vinci, or a leader and inventor like Benjamin Franklin, but no. My inspiration was Lisa Simpson. Let me pause here to acknowledge how absurd it is to be inspired by an animated sitcom character, albeit one as smart and together as Lisa. Yet it was the very absurdity of feeling, somehow, moved by Lisa’s resolve and strength of character, her refusal to compromise her beliefs, that convinced me I could follow her example. In the pivotal episode, Lisa is tortured by visions of the lamb whose chops provide her family’s dinner. â€Å"Please, Lisa, don’t eat me!† the imaginary lamb implores her. She is moved by ethics, yet almost breaks her resolution when Homer prepares a pig roast and is hurt by his daughter’s refusal to partake. Like me, Lisa is torn between her convictions and her fear of disappointing her father (not to mention the undeniable deliciousness of pork). But she manages to explain her beliefs to Homer and show him that her rejection of meat is not a rejection of him—that she can share his table and his love while still living according to her principles. Again, I admit—as inspirations go, this one is a little ridiculous. No imaginary lamb-conscience spoke to me, and unlike Lisa, I was not able to celebrate my vegetarian lifestyle by triumphantly singing with Quickie-Mart manager Apu and guest stars Paul and Linda McCartney. But seeing the very obstacles that stymied me being overcome by a yellow-skinned, spiky-haired caricature was so silly that my difficulties, too, seemed silly. â€Å"Well heck,† I thought, â€Å"if Lisa Simpson—a cartoon character, for heaven’s sake— can stick to her guns, then so can I.† So I did. I told my parents that I had decided to really commit myself to vegetarianism, that this was not a passing phase, that I was not judging or seeking to convert them, but that this was simply something I had decided for myself. They agreed, perhaps a bit patronizingly, but as the months went on and I continued to forego the chicken in my fajitas and the sausage gravy on my biscuits, they became more supportive. We worked together on compromise. I took on a larger role in preparing the meals, and reminded them to please use vegetable stock in the potato soup and to reserve a separate pot of plain spaghetti sauce before adding the ground beef. When we attended a potluck, we made sure that one of the dishes we brought was a meatless entrà ©e, so that I would be guaranteed at least one edible dish at the pork-laden table. I did not tell my parents, or anyone else, that Lisa Simpson had helped me say no, forever, to eating meat. Doing so would cast the decision, one that many teenagers passionately make for a few months and then abandon, in the light of well-intentioned immaturity. But Lisa did help me live a more healthy, ethical, and ecologically sound life—to say no to pork, in all its guises. Critique of Felicitys College Admissions Essay Overall, Felicity has written an excellent essay for her Common Application. She does, however, take a few risks that could backfire. The comments below examine the essays many strengths as well as a few of the potential problems. The Essay Topic Felicity has certainly avoided some of the worst essay topics, but when students are asked to write about a fictional or historical figure for an application essay, admissions officers expect to find an essay on one of the likely suspects like Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, or Albert Einstein. For fiction and art, applicants tend to think big—a Jane Austen heroine, a Monet painting, a Rodin sculpture, a Beethoven symphony. So what are we to make of an essay that focuses on a seemingly trivial cartoon character like Lisa Simpson? Put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer. Its tedious reading through thousands of college applications, so anything that jumps out as unusual can be a good thing. At the same time, the essay cant be so quirky or superficial that it fails to reveal the writers skills and character. Felicity takes a risk in her essay by focusing on a rather silly fictional role model. However, she handles her topic well. She acknowledges the strangeness of her focus, and at the same time, she produces an essay that really isnt about Lisa Simpson. The essay is about Felicity, and it succeeds in showing her depth of character, her inner conflicts, and her personal convictions. The Essay Title Titles can be difficult which is why many applicants skip them. Dont. A  good title  can grab your readers attention and make him or her eager to read your essay.   Porkopolis doesnt make clear what the essay is about,  but the strange title still manages to make us curious and pull us into the essay. In fact, the titles strength is also its weakness. What exactly does porkopolis mean? Will this essay be about pigs, or is it about a metropolis with too much pork-barrel spending? Also, the title doesnt tell us what character or work of art Felicity will be discussing. We want to read the essay to understand the title, but some readers might appreciate a little more information in the title. The Tone of Felicitys Essay Among the essential writing tips  for a winning essay is the inclusion of  a little humor to keep the essay fun and engaging. Felicity manages humor with wonderful effect. At no point is her essay shallow or flip, but her catalog of southern pork dishes and introduction of Lisa Simpson are likely to receive a chuckle from her reader. The essays humor, however, is balanced with a serious discussion of a challenge Felicity faced in her life. Despite the choice of Lisa Simpson as a role model, Felicity comes across as a thoughtful and caring person who struggles to mesh the needs of others with her own convictions. An Assessment of the Writing Felicitys essay is from before the current 650-word limit on Common Application essays. At about 850 words, the essay would need to lose 200 words to comply with the new guidelines. When it was written, however, Felicitys essay was a good length, particularly because theres no obvious fluff or digression. Also, Felicity is clearly a strong writer. The prose is graceful and fluid. The mastery of style and language marks Felicity as a writer who would be capable of performing well at the countrys  top colleges  and  universities. Felicity grabs our attention with her humorous first sentence, and the essay holds our interest throughout because of the shifts between the serious and the whimsical, the personal and the universal, the real and the fictional. The sentences mirror these shifts as Felicity moves between short and long phrases and simple and complex sentence structures. There are most likely strict grammarians who would object to Felicitys liberal use of the dash and her lack of the word and to introduce the final items in some of her lists. Also, someone might take issue with her use of conjunctions (and, yet, but) as transitional words at the beginnings of sentences. Most readers, however, will view Felicity as a dexterous, creative, and talented writer. Any breaking of the rules in her writing works to create a positive rhetorical effect. Final Thoughts on Felicitys Application Essay Like most good essays, Felicitys is not without risk. She could run up against an admissions officer who thinks the choice of Lisa Simpson trivializes the purpose of the personal essay. However, a careful reader will quickly recognize that Felicitys essay is  not trivial. Sure, Felicity may be grounded in popular culture, but she emerges from the essay as a writer who loves her family but is not afraid to stand up for her own convictions. She is caring and thoughtful, playful and serious, inward- and outward-looking. In short, she sounds like a great person to invite to join ones campus community.

Financial Article Review - 713 Words

Financial Article Review The topic of Taylors keynote speech is not an original one: he wants to know, share, and understand how the financial crisis in the first decade of the 21st century occurred. The method or approaching in tackling this issue is more original: he contends that some of the greatest factors influencing the onset of financial catastrophe is due to policies. At the heart of Taylors argument is the presence of policies that created a sort of breeding ground for such a crisis to occur. The time period of his focus are the years 2000 2008. Taylor refers to a loose-fitting monetary policy as one of the catalysts for the crisis. Throughout the speech, there are charts and graphs that reflect, analyze, or synthesize the text/speech, so as to avoid redundancy. He states that a loose-fitting monetary policy contributed to the historic drops in interest rates from 2001 2004, improving by 2006, but never reaching the heights seen in 2000. He contends that the choice to lower the interests rates wer e in response to counteracting the problem of deflation, from which Japan suffered in the 1990s. After spending some time deliberating upon the local reasons why the crisis occurred, he expands his search for the reasons of the financial crisis on a global scale. Taylor explains the logic behind how the investment choices of companies, markets, governments, and industries influence and connect with the policy-making that lead to the crisis. Though Taylor isShow MoreRelatedArticle Review : 3 Steps Toward Financial Freedom Essay771 Words   |  4 PagesJoined: July 11, 2013 United States 3 Steps Toward Financial Freedom By Beth Marshall | Submitted On October 11, 2013 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook 1 Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ 1 Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Beth Marshall I created a queryRead MoreArticle Review: Customers Ways of Making Sense of a Financial Service Relationship Through Intersubjective Mirroring of Others1444 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Journal Article Review: Eriksson and Soderberg (2010) Customers Ways of Making Sense of a Financial Service Relationship Through Intersubjective Mirroring of Others. Journal of Financial Services Marketing 2010) 15, 99-11 A. Material Evaluation Introduction The focus of this study is the review of the work of Eriksson and Soderberg (2010) which examines the importance of the existing relationships between the buyer and the seller in marketing research. Reported by Eriksson and Soderberg (2010)Read MoreA Review of Kacperczyk and Schnabls Article When Safe Proved Risky: Commerical Paper during the Financial Crisis of 2007-2009668 Words   |  3 Pages Authors note Article Review Kacperczyk Scnabl trace the financial crisis of 2007 2009 via commercial paper. They describe the important role commercial paper played during the financial crisis. The working definition for commercial paper with respect to finances used in this article is as follows: Financial commercial paper is issued by large financial institutions. In contrast to asset-backed commercial paper, financial commercial paper is issued by the institution directly and not viaRead MoreFinancial Services Essay707 Words   |  3 PagesA very warm welcome to the final issue of the Financial Services Newsletter for 2017. It is hard to believe the year is already drawing to a close! Our holiday edition of the newsletter is one of our biggest. This month’s articles will stimulate our minds by providing timely commentary on recent regulatory developments and useful guidance on handling legal and commercial issues in practice. Let us begin with an article on the hot topic of ICOs. ICO stands for Initial Coin Offering. EditorialRead MoreBasel III1155 Words   |  5 Pagescase method, to review â€Å"How to Write a Case-Based Essay† [by William Ellet - provided]. Assignment questions 1. Discuss the relationship between the capital base of banks and the 2007-2010 global financial crisis. Using your own research, cite at least two examples of real world financial institutions. 2. Why is there a perceived need of counter-cyclical buffers. Define and discuss how counter-cyclical buffers might best be structured. Cite at least two peer-reviewed journal articles in providingRead MoreThe Effects Of Mobile Money Services On The Performance Of The Banking Institutions1527 Words   |  7 PagesARTICLE REVIEW 1 ‘THE EFFECTS OF MOBILE MONEY SERVICES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BANKING INSTITUTIONS: A CASE OF KAKAMEGA TOWN’ PRESENTED BY: TIIGAH AZARE JUSTICE (MBA, PROJECT MANAGEMENT) AN ARTICLE REVIEW PRESENTED TO THE TEXILA AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. July, 2016 Source The International Journal of Engineering and Science (IJES), ‘The Effects of Mobile Money Services on the Performance of the Banking Institutions: A Case of Kakamega Town’, April 2014, Vol. 3, ISSN (e): 2319 – 1813 ISSNRead MoreEssay Ethics Article Review886 Words   |  4 PagesEthics Article Review Ethics Article Review The topic of ethics usually revolves around business practices. Included in these businesses practices are accounting and financial decision-making. Both of these require high standards of ethics as many people rely on the information produced by them. The lack of ethics results in misinformation and the lack of trust. This paper will first provide a brief summary of an article that discusses ethics in accounting and financial decision-makingRead MoreAccounting Essay1440 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Accounting sector, there is a vast number of Accountants in Canada, an article by Randstad Interim Inc. reported that â€Å"Over 675,000 finance and accounting professionals live in Canada. At any given time, there are approximately 16,700 active job posts in the field and that the average job takes about 45 days to fill up† (Randstad Interim Inc., 2017). These statistics indicate that Canadian business sector has many Financial and Accounting experts and that demand for Accountants in Canada is alwaysRead MoreThe Effect Of Internal Controls On Corporate Governance Associated With The Revelations Of Internal Control Material Weaknesses And Their Subsequent Remediation812 Words   |  4 PagesArticle Critique #1 The first article researched was Changes in Corporate Governance Associated with the Revelation of Internal Control Material Weaknesses and Their Subsequent Remediation. The abstract discusses the problems associated with the lack of internal controls within a company. Additionally, the abstract discusses how fraud and material weaknesses can occur without the implementation of the proper internal controls. Johnstone, Li, and Rupley (2011) disclose that internal controlsRead MoreCPA REPORT Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ CPA Report ACC 545 September 30, 2013 CPA Report The manager of a large organization has asked the CPA to provide information to outside CPAs examining a subsidiary that has been set up as a corporation. As a part of their review, the outside CPAs want to be provided with the several explanations. The CPAs want to know the methodology used to determine deferred taxes and the procedures for reporting accounting changes and error corrections. The CPAs also want to know the rationale

Alice Sebold free essay sample

Alice Sebold once said, â€Å"But it was later now, and I live in a world where the two truths coexist: where both hell and hope lie in the palm of my hands.† Hope is defined as a feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. While hell is being defined as a place or state of turmoil or destruction. These two words fit together in the adventures of Alice Sebold. Alice Sebold was born on September 6, 1963 in Madison, Wisconsin. She was raised by both academic parents; a father with a Spanish literature and a journalist mother. Her parents gave her the knowledge and confidence that she can become whatever her heart desired. In 1980, Sebold graduated from Great Valley High School and left home to start a new life as a student in Syracuse University. From there, her life went tumbling down. Alice Sebold is considered the one of the emotionally strong people in the world because she dealt with hard times like her and family not being close, her m other’s drinking problem and also her rape when she attended Syracuse University. During her path of recovery, she began writing novels which today are considered most popular novels to read. These novels were great inspiration to girls all around the world. Her memoir Lucky and novel, The Lovely Bones taught them the dangers of talking to strangers, and the understanding of death and heaven. Alice Sebold’s met on a blind date and actually hated each other. As time went by they eventually fell in love through her father’s dedicated pursuit. Her father had a Ph. D in Spanish literature from Princeton and began his first job at Duke University. Her father most of his time at Duke University which caused Sebold’s mother, Jane to become lonely and alienated with people. Soon after her mother used alcohol as her way of feeling less lonely, eventually Jane became a full- blown alcoholic. This is one of the many reasons why Alice Sebold is considered one the emotionally strong people in the world. In 1977, her father went away to Spain for months, leaving her mother extremely anxious and causing her and sister, Mary becoming caretakers of their mother. As time went on Mary gave up on her mother by becoming less compassionate and more embarrassed towards her mother’s drinking problem. Unlike Mary, Alice was the one to reconcile with her mother, meanin g she soothed her mother and belittled her sister. Since the day she belittled her sister, her family became distant towards each other. â€Å"I described myself as too loud, too fat, and too arty.† During Alice’s teenage years, her family was falling apart. She often argued with her parents about her mother’s drinking, her father not being around and Mary’s embarrassment of her parents (mainly her mother). â€Å"I wanted to be the moron of the family, because morons seemed to have more fun, more freedom, and more personality.† The constant bickering gave Alice Sebold the idea to move away after high school in 1980. In the fall, Alice attended Syracuse University leaving her family still arguing with each other. In all areas of life, Alice had to drive to make herself the way by following others guidance who have become the same in different attitudes of their lives physically, mentally, and emotionally. She was born this way because she was made that way! You find people you consider strong and that’s why many people consider Sebold the strongest of them all. Even though she didn’t admit that her family wasn’t like any other family. Deep inside, she couldn’t accept the fact that her mother was an alcoholic, her father not being around and her sister not caring about this family. There was only one way to avoid the stress and that was to move away from her family and start on her own so she can discover who she really is. After her freshman year of college at Syracuse University, her journey went plummeting down earth when she was attacked. During her semester at Syracuse, Sebold was raped in a tunnel . She tried to fight off her rapist, who constantly fought and beat her. Shewas brutally raped, forced to kiss the man who urinated on her and eventually left her to crawl away. She then reported her rape to police, later they told her she was lucky because a few month early before her rape, the rapist raped another girl but unfortunately she was killed and dismembered in the same tunnel. â€Å" I had changed. The world I lived in was not the world that my parent still occupied. In my world, I saw violence everywhere. It was not a song or a dream or a plot.† Staying strong, Alice Sebold stayed at Syracuse and continued her creative- writing program to help relieve the pain from her incident. She began letting her anguish out in her writing and wrote dark novels. She felt the affliction of trying to write a story that would strike all rape victims’ stories, that recent story became a novel. This novel soon be came popular and was names the book of the year award for adult fiction in 2003. That novel was The Lovely Bones. Her other novels were also relating to rape and murders because of these novels, her readers became more aware of their environment. Not everyone in this world seems to be who they are. Alice Sebold’s writing made us have this awful picture in her heads of innocent people getting raped and murdered and teaching us to be more cautious around people. And for that, she is the emotionally strong person in the world. For the those who wanted to know what happened to her rapist. A few months after the rape, she recognized her rapist while walking down a street. She brought her rapist to court and caught his conviction. Today her rapist is out of prison but Sebold says she has not kept track of where he is.

Tone and Theme in Hughes Poems free essay sample

Explains how Hughes `Ballad of the Landlord and Madam` and the `Rent Man` use similar voice, tone, and theme, to illuminate the African-American condition of the 1940s. This is an essay on two poems of the prolific African-American writer, Langston Hughes: Ballad of the Landlord and Madam and The Rent Man. It focuses on the fictional elements of voice, point of view, tone, and theme. The meaning is illustrated through examining the words of both poems. Langston Hughes uses a strikingly similar voice in Ballad of the Landlord and Madam and the Rent Man. The point of view of both poems is first person, which greatly increases the believability of both poems tone. The attitude is one of anger and despair, and its this attitude that conveys the meaning Hughes is trying to make. His meaning has to do with race and class issues. Hughes is illustrating the frustration of oppressed African Americans and the racial prejudice and social injustice they face. We will write a custom essay sample on Tone and Theme in Hughes Poems or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Introduction of RFID Technology in Wal

Executive Summary In the recent years, there has been a growing concern over the reduction in sales and downturn in growth in Wal-Mart. An analysis of its existing information technology is done in this project report, with a SWOT analysis of the same being done.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Introduction of RFID Technology in Wal-Mart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It concludes that despite the system being successful over the years, traditional and newer competitors have managed to build a matching system that has helped them reduce the price difference between them and Wal-Mart. Therefore, the goal is to create a better system that allows the retention of a large price difference through the reduction in operating costs. This project proposes a change in the management of the supply chain and billing in the organization through the introduction of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) expertise in Wal -Mart. The report concludes that the use of RFID will allow the organization to increase its output by reducing queues at the points of sale. Background Wal-Mart is one of the most successful organizations in the United States and the world. Since its inception, the management has embraced information system to stay competitive. Wal-Mart first opened its doors in 1962 as a small discount store located in Arkansas (Vance, Roy, 1994). The founder, Sam Walton, wanted to provide low-cost goods and services to the population around as a way of improving its social status. His belief was that the people around deserved better services in terms of the quality and prices of goods that were sold. The company later assumed the current Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 1969. It entered the New York Stock Exchange list as a public company in 1972 (Vance, Roy, 1994). The company currently has over 9,500 retail stores in more than 25 nations, employing over 2 million people worldwide, with the bulk of t hese employees being in the US (Vance, Roy, 1994). The company has also topped the Fortune 500 list of the most successful and profitable organizations. It reported yearly revenue of $431.87 billion in 2010 (Vance, Roy, 1994).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wal-Mart has pioneered in the use of information technology to remain competitive and/or stay ahead in terms of competition in the retail industry. The main utility of information system at Wal-Mart is to lower the operational costs, hence attaining more profits than any other organization of its size (Vance, Roy, 1994). Wal-Mart uses a well-orchestrated information system in its organization. The system maintains its stock and ensures that prices are lower in relation to those of its competitors. Many individuals have described Wal-Mart as using its inventory replenishment system to move up to the current histor ical success (Troy, 2003). This system works through the automatic ordering of new merchandise once the customers have purchased a single item at the retail outlets. The system automatically orders these items from the suppliers through the transmission of the product information from the point-of-sale to the central computer at the organization’s headquarters (Troy, 2003). The suppliers can get the information about the orders on the internet where they access information regarding the amount of products and the retail centers where they are needed. This system will eliminate the maintenance of large stocks at the company’s warehouses (Ravichandran, Lertwongsatien, 2005). Figure: Supply chain such as used by Wal-Mart-Auto-ID: Managing Anything, Anywhere, Anytime in the Supply Chain, Bose and Pal, ACM Source: (Bose, Pal, 2005)Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Introduction of RFID Technology in Wal-Mart specifically for you for on ly $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another example of how Wal-Mart uses technology at its retail centers is the use of self-check-out, which allows customers to avoid the long queues at the points of sale (Vance, Roy, 1994). The company has also established strong presence in the online shopping market. Through this e-commerce, customers can purchase their desired items on the internet (Ravichandran, Lertwongsatien, 2005). This service has allowed Wal-Mart to expand its services to the populations in some geographic areas that it does not cover (Troy, 2003). Although Wal-Mart is a good example of companies that utilize information technology to stay competitive, some challenges are still evident in its effective use of the technology. Statement of Problem Wal-Mart remains the single largest retail outlet company in the United States and in the world. However, the growth that the company has experienced and the policy of providing low prices of goods and service have work ed against the company. The company has been made to put in place a series of measures to ensure that the competitive edge is retained over the other competitors (Troy, 2003). In the last decade, the double-digit growth that Wal-Mart was previously experiencing began to decline, with this decline causing worries in the management and other stakeholders (Troy, 2003). The company was seen as experiencing problems mostly in its inventory management and cost control (Wang, 2006, p. 45). Recent studies indicate that the price advantage that Wal-Mart held over its competitors and the perception that consumers had are diminishing (Wang, 2006). Consumers are increasingly seeing the organization as being as expensive as any other outlet, with recent studies also showing a narrowing down of the price differences between Wal-Mart and its competitors (Troy, 2003). The observation of the price changes is worrying for the organization that has built its business based on this â€Å"low priceâ₠¬  advantage for a number of years. The concept was the main offer that customers relied on from Wal-Mart. Strategy Developed A number of strategies have been analyzed and put in place at Wal-Mart to stem the negative growth that is likely to be observed over the next few years. The publicly traded company has the executives increasing the share purchases in the attempt of increasing the earnings in the share sale (Wang, 2006).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other area of focus that the organization has majored in is the international market. Wal-Mart has made a number of acquisitions in the international market, with this move being aimed at buying revenue and increasing its total revenue as a result (Wang, 2006, p. 51). The other measure that the company has undertaken to maintain the low-cost advantage over its competitors is the reduction of the workforce and initiation of measures to increase labor productivity (Quinn, 2000). However, the measures have been criticized because of the effects that it has in reducing the number of experienced workers in the organization, the introduction of inventory problems that were not a traditional problem, and the loss of revenue. The company has lost revenue through the inadequacy of staff during peak hours at the registers due to few sales floor associates (Roberts, Berg, 2012). Therefore, Wal-Mart needs an efficient method of conducting business in the current financial dispensation to r emain productive and/or retain the brand image that it has created over the years (Wallace, 2012). The problem can be solved through the efficient use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID is a newer form of technology that has the capability to allow the organization to carry out billing, supply chain management, and tracking of supplies with less human intervention as compared to barcodes (Bose, Pal, 2005). A SWOT analysis will be important to assess the state of the information technology system at Wal-Mart stores. SWOT Analysis Strengths The suggested information system at Wal-Mart exhibits a number of strengths The company’s image is the biggest beneficiary of the IT strategy. The system will facilitate its market as the company that provides the cheapest goods in their retail stores. The strategy has the strength of creating a cost advantage for Wal-Mart over its competitors in the industry (Laudon, Laudon, 2010). The system will also create an efficient dist ribution system for the organization, thus ensuring goods are replenished immediately. The brand image for the company, which is â€Å"We Sell for Less† will significantly be built of this information technology strategy. Wal-Mart is will be able to utilize economies of scale in its supply chain, with the utility of the information system mainly being in the distribution of the inventory to the warehouses and retail outlets. Weaknesses However, a number of weaknesses in the current IT strategy are evident in the organization. The weaknesses are currently being observed in the latest problems that the organization is facing in its price difference with its major competitors (Roberts, Berg, 2012). The company has experienced high turnover rates, with the annual rates being about 45% in the recent past (Laudon, Laudon, 2010). There has been a growing concern also that the organization that is present in a number of regions across the US has had a weaker presence in the major m etropolitan areas as compared to some of her competitors. The stagnant technology use in the organization has also ensured that its competitors copy the technology, with some being more advanced than Wal-Mart in the use of technology in their operations. The major weakness that the suggested IT system will have is the substantial amount of time is needed to have it introduced and used by the organization’s staff. Besides, the use of this technology would be a bit expensive to introduce at the organization, but this would only be in the initial stages of installation. The application will see the reduction in the operating costs for the organization, hence improvement in the overall performance. Opportunities The use of this technological system at Wal-Mart has several opportunities for the organization, especially the use of the internet. The system will allow Wal-Mart to expand to other geographic areas in the US and around the world. There is also the opportunity of acquisi tion of smaller organizations in the industry, and especially those operating similar IT systems, with this being a growth indicator and reduction in competition (Quinn, 2000). The alliance of Wal-Mart with IT companies is another opportunity that will see the expansion of its operations on the online stage (Fishman, 2006). These opportunities provide a stage for the expansion of the organization and a reversal of the decrease in growth observed in the last few years. Threats Wal-Mart and its IT strategy face a number of threats in the contemporary global economic age. One of the threats is the increased competition from a number of old and new competitors, with these organizations being able to apply the same technological advantages to catch up with Wal-Mart (Quinn, 2000). Wal-Mart is likely to experience a number of setbacks in its application of technology, with one of these being the lawsuit such as the one that was filed in the federal court with the allegations that the organ ization was exhibiting discrimination against women in its operations (Roberts, Berg, 2012). The information age has also worked against the organization, with bad publicity being the result of the advances in the informational age in terms online of operations (Roberts, Berg, 2012). Goal of the Technology The goal of the project is to create an effective IT system in Wal-Mart. According to Wallace (2012), the system is able to complement the existing IT infrastructure and enable the organization to save on the much-needed operational costs. The organization has developed a network that is based on the efficiency of its information system. Hence, the problems that are currently being witnessed may be resulting from the failure of some components of this system. The suggested solution should be sufficient to enable improved data storage, distribution, and inventory replenishment as previously experienced in the organization (Wailgum, 2007). The goal is to replace the billing system at Wal-Mart with a smarter way of billing, which must be efficient enough to allow effective logistics management. The billing system that is currently in place in Wal-Mart is partly effective, with its application being only in the supply chain. The use of the barcodes constitutes the main application of technology at the points of sale. Despite the barcodes traditionally being used by the organization to manage the sales, the supply chain management is a crucial role that is not efficiently being undertaken in the organization (Wailgum, 2007). There is the need to substitute this technology with a more advanced and efficient one to capture a larger market and organizational capacity. Solution Due to the problems raised above in the information technology department in the organization in the use of barcodes in the management of sales, this project proposes the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) at the points of sale in the retail outlets in the organization (Bose, Pal, 2005). The wireless device that is associated with this technology can significantly reduce the workload in the organization. It has a large capacity for data as compared to other similar billing and supply chain management methods (Bose, Pal, 2005). The device is built on the concept of allowing identification of tagged objects. Unlike the use of barcodes, it does not require the objects to be in the line of sight (Bose, Pal, 2005). Fig: RFID Device-The Magic of RFID, Roy Want, Intel Research Source: (Bose, Pal, 2005) The ability of the RFID to read and identify objects while they are not necessarily in the line of sight constitutes the single most important advantage of using the device over barcodes (Bose, Pal, 2005). This means that at the point of sale, employees can increase their speed by scanning a number of items at the same time. Besides, items that are hidden can also be identified (Bose, Pal, 2005). In the management of the supply chain that is needed at the momen t in Wal-Mart, the use of RFID can be utilized to make it more efficient. The use of a serial number in the products has an added advantage in the supply chain since more information is available about the product in the supply chain as compared to that which would be carried by other non-specialized barcodes such as those used in European Article Numbering (EAN) and Universal Product Codes (UPC) (Bose, Pal, 2005). Fig: Three Levels of SCM Auto-ID: Managing Anything, Anywhere, Anytime in the Supply Chain Source: (Bose, Pal, 2005) Apart from the use of FRID to monitor the sales in the organization, it can also complement other systems in place to monitor theft of the merchandise at the retail centers. The system also enables easier classification of items and especially in the assessment of the freshness of perishable products, hence the use of first-in-first-out (FIFO) strategy (Bose, Pal, 2005). The suppliers can also be given information on the retail conditions of the product s they supply more efficiently. Figure: Future of SRFID ARM research, 2005 Source: (Bose, Pal, 2005) Conclusion Since the introduction of a centralized supply chain and efficient technological supply chain management policies, Wal-Mart managed to lower the prices of the goods that are sold at its outlets. This project has proposed a change in the management of the supply chain and billing in the organization through the introduction of RFID to increase output by reducing queues at the points of sale. The introduction of this technological innovation would also provide more information on the organization’s supply chain since more information would be stored in the gadgets. Reference List Bose, H., Pal, D. (2005). Auto-ID: Managing Anything, Anywhere, Anytime in the Supply Chain. ACM Digital Library. Communications of the ACM, 48(8), 100-106. Fishman, C. (2006). The Wal-Mart effect: how the world’s most powerful company really works– and how it’s transf orming the American economy. New York, NY: Penguin Press. Laudon, C., Laudon, P. (2010). Managing information systems-managing the digital firm. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Quinn, B. (2000). How Wal-Mart is Destroying America and the World. Berkeley CA: Ten Speed Press. Ravichandran, T., Lertwongsatien, C. (2005). Effect of Information Systems Resources and Capabilities on Firm Performance: A Resource-Based Perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems / Spring, 21(4), 237-276. Roberts, R., Berg, N. (2012). Wal-Mart: key insights and practical lessons from the world’s largest retailer. London: Kogan Page. Troy, M. (2003). Logistics still cornerstone of competitive advantage-Wal-Mart The Category King: A new era of excellence. Business Library. Web. Vance, S., Roy, S. (1994). Wal-Mart. A History of Sam Walton’s Retail Phenomenon. New York, NY. Twayne Publishing. Wailgum, T. (2007). 45 years of Wal-Mart history: a technology time line. Web . Wallace, P. (2012). Information Systems in Organizations. London: Prentice Hall. Wang, J. (2006). Economies of IT Systems at Wal-Mart: A Historical Perspective. Academy of Information and Management Sciences Journal, 9(1), 45-66. This term paper on Introduction of RFID Technology in Wal-Mart was written and submitted by user Damion Rivera to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Essential Amino Acids and Their Role in Good Health

Essential Amino Acids and Their Role in Good Health An essential amino acid may also be called an indispensable amino acid. This is an amino acid that the body cannot synthesize on its own, so it must be obtained from the diet. Because each organism has its own physiology, the list of essential amino acids is different for humans than it is for other organisms. The Role of Amino Acids for Human Beings Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are essential to  forming our  muscles, tissues, organs, and glands. They also support human metabolism, protect the heart, and make it possible for our bodies to heal wounds and repair tissues. Amino acids are also essential for breaking down foods and removing waste from our bodies. Tryptophan and tyrosine are amino acids that produce neurotransmitters. Tryptophan produces the mood-regulating chemical serotonin and can make you sleepy. Tyrosine is essential for the production of norepinephrine and adrenaline and makes you feel more energetic.The amino acid arginine is essential to the production of nitric oxide which lowers blood pressure and helps to protect the heart.Histidine makes the enzymes needed to produce red blood cells and healthy nerves. ]Tyrosine is used in the production of thyroid hormones.Methionine makes a chemical called SAMe which is essential for the metabolism of DNA and neurotransmitters. Nutrition and Essential Amino Acids Because they cannot be produced by the body, essential amino acids must be part of everyones diet. It isnt critical that every essential amino acid be included in every meal, but over the course of a single day, its a good idea to eat foods that include  histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine,   tryptophan,   and valine. The best way to ensure that you are eating a sufficient quantity of foods with amino acids is to complete proteins. These include animal products including eggs, buckwheat, soybeans, and quinoa. Even if you dont specifically consume complete proteins, you can eat a variety of proteins throughout the day to ensure that you have enough essential amino acids. The recommended dietary allowance of protein is 46 grams daily for women and 56 grams for men.   Essential Versus Conditionally Essential Amino Acids The essential amino acids for all people are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Several other amino acids are conditionally essential amino acids, meaning they are required at some stages of growth or by some people who cannot synthesize them, either because of genetics or a medical condition. In addition to the essential amino acids, babies and growing children also need arginine, cysteine, and tyrosine. Individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) need tyrosine and also must limit their intake of phenylalanine. Certain populations need arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine, histidine, proline, serine and tyrosine because they either cannot synthesize them at all or else are unable to make enough to meet the needs of their metabolism. List of Essential Amino Acids Essential Amino Acids Non-Essential Amino Acids histidine alanine isoleucine arginine* leucine aspartic acid lysine cysteine* methionine glutamic acid phenylalanine glutamine* threonine glycine* tryptophan proline* valine serine* tyrosine* asparagine* selenocysteine *conditionally essential

Reading Response 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading Response 5 - Essay Example The rule is to use a singular verb with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject. However the tricky part is to identify the subject and recognizing it as singular or plural. The next step is then to use the appropriate verb. If the subject is singular, an ‘s’ is added at the end of the verb. For example, in the sentence, ‘The cat chases the birds’, ‘Cat’ is the subject which is singular and hence the verb used is ‘chases’ rather than ‘chase’. There are some rules which are important in recognizing the subject as singular or plural. They are listed below: A paragraph is a collection of many sentences that are carefully organized and talk about the same subject. A paragraph talks about a single idea which is stated clearly in the topic sentence. The topic sentence can be at the start of the paragraph or anywhere in between. All paragraphs follow a certain structure, mainly the introduction, body and the conclusion. The introduction usually contains the topic sentence along with other sentences that provide the reader with the background information. After the introduction, comes the body of the paragraph that talks about the topic introduced earlier. It builds up the topic using facts, arguments, examples or other information. In the end comes the conclusion which is necessary to wrap up the whole paragraph. The conclusion summarizes the main ideas stated in the paragraph and may talk about the implications of the topic