Friday, August 21, 2020

Samples of Essays on Chinese Art Museums and Exhibitions

Samples of Essays on Chinese Art Museums and ExhibitionsWriting a brief essay about Chinese art museums and exhibitions is not very hard, if you are good at doing research and analysis. You can also use it as a way to enjoy a well-written short essay on different topics. You will surely love to be able to write about a variety of subjects as you move to the next part of your formal education.When you are assigned to write a sample of an essay about a Chinese art museum or exhibition, the assignment may seem too easy. To make it more challenging, you have to first identify the facts that you would like to include in your essay. Do you want to write about contemporary art? Are you interested in the history of art in China?There are other details that you need to research if you want to fully understand the topic. Another thing you need to consider when writing about a Chinese art museum or exhibition is the importance of the materials that the art museum or exhibition wants to show. Yo u should always know about the quality of the items displayed in the exhibit.If you do not think that the fact about the art museum or exhibition can be researched on your own, there are some other sources that you can use to help you out. One of the best samples of an essay on a Chinese art museum or exhibition is a student resource guide from your school or college. This resource guide will include sample essays that you can use to expand on your own essay.Although student resource guides can be useful, they are usually written by professors. These guides tend to have a lot of examples that are not related to their own subjects. Therefore, they have to re-write all of their examples to make them relevant to their own essays.Because writing short essays is what you want to do when you first start studying, you have to do all the work on your own. Besides, you do not want to be criticized for your writing if your essay was not as comprehensive as it could have been. Aside from the r esource guide, you should also ask your teachers or other lecturers for some samples of essays on various topics.In addition to making sure that you get your homework done, these samples of essays on Chinese art museums and exhibitions can also help you learn how to write about a Chinese art museum or exhibition. In addition to learning how to write about a Chinese art museum or exhibition, you can also be assured that you are learning about the facts that you should write about. You can even teach yourself a few things so that you can even improve your own writing skills.When you are assigned to write a sample of an essay about a Chinese art museum or exhibition, it is a good idea to take some time to research and write about the facts that you need to cover. This will make it easier for you to start on your assignment and is also something that you can share with your friends. For sure, this sample will make it easier for you to write about the information that you need to write a bout in a sample of an essay on a Chinese art museum or exhibition.

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Should Euthanasia Be Legalized Essay Samples

Should Euthanasia Be Legalized Essay SamplesWriting an essay on euthanasia is not as easy as one might think. There are a lot of considerations that should be considered in order to avoid being too pro- or anti- euthanasia. A good and neutral essay will make it easier for you to succeed in your endeavors. Let's take a look at some of the things that you should consider when writing such an essay.First of all, remember that a eulogy is not a lecture. It is not to be a form of propaganda. So no matter how much you know about euthanasia, keep it in mind that this should be a matter of eloquence, not facts. It is better to let the emotions flow than trying to write too much information down in a tedious manner.Even if there were an actual occasion where a person was euthanized, do not go into details about it. Remember that you are supposed to convey how difficult it is to find good people who want to give up their lives on Earth. Try to keep the focus on the individual's passing. You sh ould also try to keep the topic happy and lighthearted so that you do not bore the audience out. Remember, your goal is to provide those who will read it with comfort and understanding rather than presenting a negative or depressing message.The next thing that you should be careful about when writing about euthanasia is the subject of death. You should not bring up the subject of having to choose whether to go the organ donor route or choose euthanasia. If the subject of death is brought up in the essay, then it will be hard to draw an audience in without bringing up the subject too often.Try to discuss euthanasia in an indirect way. Be sure to speak of how euthanasia works and not how it should be done. Think of how a regular doctor would speak about what to do when a patient suddenly has a sudden seizure. Talk about the ways that a doctor can help the patient through the stages of recovery and discuss all of the emotions that are involved with dealing with a patient's condition.Al though the objective of writing a short eulogy is to make a statement, the subject of euthanasia is not a subject that is appropriate for a short eulogy. Those who are against euthanasia should not have a hard time finding something negative to say about you and your writing. The longer the eulogy is, the more difficult it will be to find someone who will criticize you for your views.When writing the eulogy, the writer's goal should be to write the best possible statement on euthanasia that will benefit the family and perhaps provide comfort to the person who has passed away. Keep in mind that you should never come off as a complete zealot for euthanasia. Try to incorporate all of the points above, but do not portray yourself as an expert.Lastly, keep in mind that the ending is everything. If you feel like you are coming across as harsh on the person who has passed away, then you should be careful not to come off as harsh on the reader. Remember that this is a personal eulogy, so ta ke care in how you present your views.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Affirmative Action Was Created By Universities - 2060 Words

Throughout its earlier beginnings, Affirmative action was created by Universities who were obliged to improve the educational opportunities of groups who have experienced prejudice in the past, however defies the basis of American civilization. The leading figures in American Independence battled adversity to create an equal chance for all people. â€Å"Martin Luther King, Jr., said in 1963, ‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold those truths to be self evident’, that all men are created equal† (Pearson). In the effect of these leading figures in the revolution of independence, there were dreams to create a different nation, where freedom and were the basis for right and wrong. Ideals of people have allowed for constitutional changes over the course of history. Martin Luther King, Jr., became one of the larges advocates for liberty. His credibility flowed from his pure dream with good intent ion. Throughout time, leaders, like him, have worked to give equal opportunity to young adults everywhere. In the more recent times, Presidents have labored to pass legislation to prohibit racism. A historian, Anne Stokely stated that â€Å"Affirmative Action in the United States dates from the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson in the early 1960s. After signing the Civil Rights Act into law in 1964 prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin, President Johnson went one step further†Show MoreRelatedAffirmative Action Should Not Be A Program1540 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern American government and yet is still very active today. Affirmative action is defined as â€Å"the practice of improving the educational and job opportunities of members of groups that have not been treated fairly in the past because of their race, sex, etc† (Merriam-Webster). Affirmative action creates a blatantly unfair advantage in college and job app lications to non-minority races and is ultimately a racist law. Affirmative action is most prominent in the College admission process, where itsRead MoreThe Founding Years Of America1692 Words   |  7 Pagesgender, or sexual orientation are created equal, without preference to some groups, until the day that preference to race and gender began to occur within the education frontier. In the hopes of improving chances of like-minded individuals who experienced direct discrimination, Universities were obliged to improve educational opportunities of groups who have experienced prejudice in the past, though a practice called Affirmative Action. The Civil Rights Act was created in 1964 to prohibit discriminationRead MoreAffirmative Action : The Education System And Job Market1284 Words   |  6 Pagesprogram affirmative action was instilled into universities around the nation, it set different qualifications for minority applicants and assigned points based off race. With these new c riteria instigated, people saw the program as alluding to the notion that if you came from a particular race, the bar was no longer set at a high standard and therefore no need to work as hard as before. Others saw it as a great step forward to helping those who needed the extra assistance. Affirmative action beganRead MoreWhat is Affirmitive Action?934 Words   |  4 Pages Affirmative action or sometimes known as positive discrimination have been an issue that has going on around the world. Even though the policies vary from country to country, with some having quotas and others offering preferences in the selection process, the idea of providing special opportunities to a disadvantaged group remains universal. Our group choose this topic as we all have a personal interest in affirmative action and have had some form of affiliation with it in our lives. It can beenRead MoreEssay on Against Affirmative Action584 Words   |  3 PagesAffirmative action was created to assist minority groups against discrimination, but affirmative action does more harm than what it can do to help. Affirmative action was created with the intention of leveling the playing field so that everyone can have an equal opportunity to be hired or accepted in to a school, but it does the opposite of what it is meant to do. Affirmative action is reverse discrimination against white males, lesser qualified people are admitted into jobs and colleges, and notRead MoreUnderlying Reasons for Affirmative Action1442 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The issue of affirmative action has existed for around forty years, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the idea may be coming to an end (Sander Taylor, 2012). The reason for this is that while the idea of affirmative action originated for positive reasons, it has also had some negative side effects. In light of the possibility that affirmative actions are unwound, it is necessary to consider what might happen if that were to occur. This essay will consider precisely that issueRead MoreThe Precedency: Supporting the Affrimative Action Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative action is a government policy that gives opportunities to minorities, women, and any group who has been the victim of discrimination in the past. Affirmative action is the outcome of the 1960’s Civil Rights movement, growing out of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or gender. It was the 1978 Supreme Court decision, The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which allowed for the use of race-based preferences as a means ofRead MoreAffirmative Action in Universities728 Words   |  3 PagesAffirmative Action in University Admissions All across America, universities have been denying highly qualified applicants to accept minorities who are usually less qualified. These admissions processes misuse the basic principle of affirmative action. Affirmative action is a mandate that says that minorities should be given special opportunities. In 1952, when President D.W. Eisenhower was in office, he decided to let the states decide whether or not to use affirmative action (AffirmativeRead MoreAn Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It?1706 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It? An Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still Need It? Abstract This paper discusses the importance of affirmative action in today’s society and the ethical role it plays when Employers and Universities are considering entry to their respected places of establishment. The paper will conclude with what America will face in the future in terms of affirmative action. An Ethical Dilemma: Affirmative Action, Do We Still NeedRead MoreAffirmative Actions Have Consequences Essay example1219 Words   |  5 Pagesclaims to have suffered unfair treatment from the University of Texas. After being denied acceptance, presumably because of her racial aspects, Fisher decided to take her case to a higher power. In a story covering the initial hearing, a reporter describes the scene. Fisher’s lawyer argued against affirmative action on the grounds of unfair treatment. Some sided with Abigail, but all those who opposed her case said nothing about affirmative action as a means to increase fairness; their only claims

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Operations Management Quality Improvement Initiative Essay

Learning Plan 5 Quality Improvement Initiative Identify a business that has recently launched a quality improvement initiative (Harley Davidson would be just one of many examples). Your business could be one that is primarily product-providing or one that is primarily service-providing. Do some independent research in order to provide an overview of this initiative and the results of their efforts. The overview should take the form of a two-page paper. Within that assignment, cite examples of any control costs or failure costs that you can identify, in addition to prevention costs, appraisal costs, internal failure costs, and external failure costs (all of these terms are defined in considerable detail in section 8.8 of your textbook).†¦show more content†¦Thus the customer service initiative. In this initiative, customers are randomly called after they have been in the branch and are asked to rate their experience with Chase personnel and their visit to the branch. They are given a rating scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, 1 being the worst. Every Chase employee is highly aware that the rating received must be either a 9 or a 10 or it is counted as a zero. Consequently, the emphasis of each employee is to go above and beyond what is expected for every customer. Another change Chase made is they re-designed their portfolio of accounts to retain and acquire the most satisfied customers possible. Many changes have taken place in the product selections over the last few years. The products have been geared to meet the needs of the customers while also keeping the bank profitable. Chase, like other banks, has sought to increase the methods of payment processing available to the general public and business clients. These products include debit cards, prepaid cards, smart cards, and credit cards. However, with convenience of easy credit, there is also increased risk that consumers will mismanage their financial resources and accumulate excessive debt. Banks make money from card products through interest payments and fees charged to consumers and transaction fees to companies that accept the credit- debit - cards. This helps in makingShow MoreRelatedNissan S Operations Management Essay1127 Words   |  5 PagesOperations management 1. One of the improvement initiatives that helped to win the Sunderland plant a new model was a four-year programme. It started eight years before the new model was due to start production. Why do you think it takes eight years for initiatives like this to come to fruition? Definition Operations management focuses on carefully managing the processes to produce and distribute products and services to its users. A great deal of focus is on efficiency and effectiveness ofRead MoreThe Case for Change1270 Words   |  6 Pagesengagement was needed. 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Customers tend to seek for higher quality of care when choosing treatments, providers, and health plans. For healthcare organizations that desire to provide high quality care and compete in the global market, choosing a quality management program to implement is critical for performance and efficiency. Many studies have been conducted to analyze

Strategic Management Civil Conflict

Question: Describe about the Strategic Management for Civil Conflict. Answer: Introduction The aim of this report is to critically analyze the merger and acquisition deals that have taken place between the years 2014 and 2016. The years were crucial for the energy industry as there was a price drop in oil affecting profit margins and spending on projects (Cimilluca 2015). The oil drops might have put a damper on the energy industries but it did not stop them from making merger and acquisition deals. The emerging economies such as India, Russia and Brazil experienced economic trajectories in the beginning of the century (Bowler 2015). However, the same countries experienced dropping oil prices with the ravenous demand from the year 2014 onwards (Bowler 2015). The merger and acquisition activities have continued despite 60% decline in oil prices in the year 2014 (Cimilluca 2015). The main reason of merger is to expand market and ensure better client base. The existing situation and performance of the companies could be improvised due to which the merger and acquisition deals could prove beneficial (Cimilluca 2015). Several organizations went through merger and acquisition deals in the two years such as Energy Transfer Equity LP acquired operator Williams Cos., Schlumberger Ltd and Cameron International Corp, Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group (Cimilluca 2015). This report focuses on the merger case between Suncor Energy and Canadian Oil Sands. Critical Analysis of Mergers and Acquisition Every organization has certain strategy or motives for merging and making acquisitions. A few common reasons are that the company get tax advantage from its location to another. It also increases liquidity of the owners. The acquisition of a certain company could be more appealing for gaining the market share. The merger and acquisitions could initiate a new form of growth for the company. It could enable healthy liquidity position thereby providing financial advantage. The company shall get a benefit in terms of synergy, which would enable the sum of performance after the acquisition (Brakman et al. 2013). The most important concern that rises in todays economy is the impact of deals on merger and acquisitions. There has been a significant rise in the merger and acquisition deals in the energy industry. This section critically analyzes Suncor Energy and Canadian Oil Sands internally and externally using appropriate academic models. Suncor Energy and Canadian Oil Sands Suncor Energy is a Canadian company that specializes in production of synthetic crude from oil sands. Their vision is to be trusted and deliver economic value, healthy environment and improved social living (Suncor.com 2016). The company was established in 1967 and it has grown to be a competitive company producing heavy crude oil, conventional oil and natural gas (Suncor.com 2016). Canadian Oil Sands Limited is a Canadian company and has a Syncrude Joint Venture. This is an oil sands mining facility holding a significant market share and has the largest stake of any joint owners (Suncor.com 2016). In the year 2015, Suncor Energy acquired Canadian Oil Sands at $4.9-billion (Water et al. 2016). The shares were significantly discounted and amalgamation was bad timing according to a few shareholders (Water et al. 2016). Suncor revised its deal and lowered the threshold of support for ending a public feud betweenthe partners in the Syncrude Canada Ltd. mining and upgrading project (Lewis 2016). Reasons of Merger There are a few key reasons that explain why Suncor wanted Canadian Oil Sands (COS) so much. Suncor has been involved in the oil sands business and it was likely to increase from 80% to 83% after the acquisition (DiLallo 2016). Suncor would get control of 37% interest that COS had from Syncrude oilsands (The Canadian Press 2016). The company had the intention of decreasing the cost and improving the operations at Syncrude after it had more control (Mancini 2016). It could bring better reliability. It would allow Suncor to acquire the company when Canadian Oil Sands price would be low (Mancini 2016). It shall set up a higher return when price rises. The differential between West Texas and Western Canadian Select could be eliminated (Mancini 2016). COS agreed to the deal as the share price is more directly tied to oil prices. If the oil prices would fall, the share price for COS would drop significantly. It would be harmful for the company so the merger was the best way out. The deal w as beneficial for both the companies as Suncor was getting the assets and COS was getting increase in the offer (The Canadian Press 2016). Benefits Experienced The deal has made support to both the companies that are Suncor and the Canadian Oil Sands. The transaction gave an excellent value to Canadian Oil Sands shareholders. The merger has strengthened the financial position of both the companies. Currently, the breakeven price of US$31 per barrel grew at US$37 per barrel making the operation lower cost (DiLallo 2016). Suncor could also improve Syncrudes performance from 12% to 49% with time (DiLallo 2016). The overall benefits obtained are lower cost per barrel and better return for the shareholders (DiLallo 2016). Suncor was actually offering to pay more for Canadian Oil Sands. The acquisition would prove to be a better asset in the long-run that made Suncors bid fair. Canadian Oil Sands investors were appealed by the deal as the Syncrude asset was underperforming at 67% (DiLallo 2015). At that time, there were no alternative measures or competing offer that they were aware of. The oil prices had sharply declined recently. Also, with Suncors diversified portfolio and strong financial figures, it would be easier for COS to handle the risk of a low price environment. The decision on merger could either make or break COSs future (DiLallo 2015). Challenges Faced Canadian Oil Sands resisted the bid while the merger was offered. Suncor faced pressure from its shareholders and lost their support when it decided to take over Canadian Oil Sands. The bid was extended twice as the company was threatened by its shareholders. The company also faced diminishing prospects and resistance (Lewis 2016). The shareholders said that Suncor was trying to pull a fast one and the company was trading at less than US$40 a barrel (Denning 2016). Canadian Oil Sands investors are thus in the unenviable position of knowing that they are being low-balled but running a risk of further pain if they dont sell (Denning 2016). The shareholders of Canadian Oil Sands further urged to reject Suncors merger offer as the deal was claimed as entirely opportunistic and saying it "substantially undervalued" the company (Williams 2015). SWOT Analysis trengths Suncor has a strong global presence and holds a high rank in the market. Suncor collaborates with strong brands for strengthening its operations. The company merged with Petro-Canada in 2009 and Total EP Canada in 2011 (DeBlois et al. 2014). Suncor has a strong balance sheet that helps them expand business, grow and increase profits (Wan Ahmad et al. 2016). The superior technology helps in meeting the needs of customers that are difficult for the competitors to imitate. The technological advancements have helped in reducing emission and pollutants. The technology reduces overall environmental impacts and enhances reliability and profitability. The shaft failures are also eliminated (Sustainability.suncor.com 2015). Suncor has a strong resource base with over 14,000 employees (Sustainability.suncor.com 2016). The core business is oil sands and they are developing the worlds largest petroleum basins, Athabasca oil sands (Sustainability.suncor.com 2016). With a strong transportation network, Suncor can transport natural gas to its oil sands that is operated in Albersun pipeline. Suncor owns a pipeline with a capacity of 110,000 bpd for transporting synthetic crude oil from Fort McMurray to Edmonton (Suncor.com 2016). Weaknesses Suncor is highly dependent on the American market. If the American market does not demand Canadian oil, the price drop will lead to a series of events and new project development would slow down (McCullough 2013). Canadian Oil Sands faced competitive disadvantage due to its small size in the large pool of competitors (Radnejad and Vredenburg 2015). The company is dependent on oil sand segment on up graders. The nature of operations degrades the environment and invites environmental compliance (Sustainability.suncor.com 2011). Suncor Energy experiences high staff turnover as they are poached by competitors and contractors (Sustainability.suncor.com 2016). Opportunities There is an opportunity for development of Firebag oil sands to conserve the environment (Cowie et al. 2014). Suncor can also develop alternate energy sources. The wet crushing technology at Canadian Oil Sands is a competitive advantage over other competitors (Spence et al. 2015). There is opportunity for high margin in conventional oil and natural gas for production in White Rose, Hebron, Terra Nova and various others (Paine et al. 2014). There is significant opportunity in reducing the carbon dioxide emissions There is a scope to increase the pipeline capacity. Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has offered 56 exploration licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) in its latest licensing round (Offshore Energy Today 2016). This opportunity can be utilized by Suncor for exploration. There is an opportunity for developing in-situ projects, investments and ongoing production in international and offshore operations. Threats The organization faces intense competition with other market players in terms of geographical reach and financial resources such as Exxon (Hume 2016). The fluctuation in oil and gas prices can impact the operations cost (Wan Ahmad et al. 2016). The economic slowdown affects the efficiency and profitability of the company (Leach 2014). The pipeline damage might be a threat as the transportation of natural gas is through it. If the pipeline does not function well, it may negatively affect the overall operations of the company. Oversupply from the oil sands could decrease the premium (Hume 2016). Labour shortage could also affect operations as the company experiences high turnover. Suncor may be affected from changes in environmental health, and safety (EHS) regulations (Du and Vieira 2012). Michael Porters Five Forces Analysis Five Forces High/ Low Analysis Bargaining Power of Suppliers Moderate Suncor is a leading company with well-organized markets. They focus on low production cost for achieving economy of scale. There is limited bargaining power. A focus on low production costs to achieve economies of scale is a requirement needed to be achieved.The power of suppliers has low impact on the oilfield service industry as it depends upon quality of the product, price and timely delivery (Yusuf 2014). The strong management, financial strength and operational skills reduce the threat of suppliers over the organization. However, suppliers require a high level of technical knowledge and competencies in this industry which increases their bargaining power (Spence et al. 2015). Bargaining Power of Buyers Moderate With the advanced technology, Suncor provides cheaper yet high quality of products and services. The company has a large pool of customers that allows in successful operations and capturing market share (Hiatt, Grandy and Lee 2015).The buyers have a positive relationship with the organization due to which there is shift of power between the company and supplier (Hiatt, Grandy and Lee 2015). The buyers have a positive relationship when they find greener alternatives. The buyers have moderate bargaining power as the oil companies bid with each other to get contract of buyers. The companies deliver efficient quality of services at low prices to gain customers (Yusuf 2014). Intensity of Existing Rivalry High The companies that are exploring or extracting oil are direct competitors. There is intense competition in terms of price and product differentiation. The company faces tough competition from EnCana Corporation, Chevron Corporation and ConocoPhillips (Sueyoshi and Wang 2014). The industry indicates high intensity as the buyers have low switching cost and there are low levels of product differentiation. The market is more volatile than it appears. These factors foster more intense rivalry (Hiatt, Grandy and Lee 2015). Threat of Substitutes Moderate There is a tendency for the customers to prefer alternate sources such as coal, solar power, hydro power that may be commercially feasible (Hiatt, Grandy and Lee 2015). However in the short run, the threat of substitutes is low. There is a tendency for the customers to prefer alternate brands. The customers may switch to substitutes due to the price offered. However, the product cannot be fully replaced keeping in mind its quality and utility (Hiatt, Grandy and Lee 2015). Threat of New Entrants Low It is not easy to enter into the industry as Suncor has high reputation in the market. The leadership in the Canadian industry forms a solid foundation and reduces the threat of entrants. There are other factors such as technology, corporate reputation, code of conduct and sustainable practices that make it difficult for the other firms to enter. The barriers to entry further include political and governmental pressures, large capital investments, physical hazard and risk and requirement of highly trained workers. Oil drilling could be hazardous (Hiatt, Grandy and Lee 2015). Conclusion There has been a significant rise in the merger and acquisition deals in the energy industry. The above report critically analyzes a few companies in the energy industry that have undergone organizational changes. A few common reasons are that the company get tax advantage from its location to another. It also increases liquidity of the owners. The acquisition of a certain company could be more appealing for gaining the market share. Companies expect that the merger and the acquisitions would enable to get a benefit from the competitive landscape. In the year 2015, Suncor Energy acquired of the Canadian Oil Sands at $4.9-billion. It could bring better reliability. Suncor Energy is a Canadian company that specializes in production of synthetic crude from oil sands. Canadian Oil Sands Limited is a Canadian company and has a Syncrude Joint Venture. This is an oil sands mining facility holding a significant market share and has the largest stake of any joint owners. COS agreed to the dea l as the share price is more directly tied to oil prices. It allows Suncor to acquire the company when Canadian Oil Sands price would be low. Suncor can also develop alternate energy sources. The merger has strengthened the financial position of both the companies. The acquisition would prove to be a better asset in the long-run that made Suncors bid fair. Also, with Suncors diversified portfolio and strong financial figures, it would be easier for COS to handle the risk of a low price environment. The bid was extended twice as the company was threatened by its shareholders. References Abreu, M.C.S., Albuquerque, S.C. and Oliveira, M.C., 2016. Institutional pressures on disclosure of carbon control issues by oil and gas companies. BASE-Revista de Administrao e Contabilidade da Unisinos, 13(1), pp.79-91. BBC News, 2016.Falling oil prices: How are countries being affected? - BBC News. [online] BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-35345874 [Accessed 19 Jul. 2016]. Bell, C. and Wolford, S., 2015. Oil discoveries, shifting power, and civil conflict. International Studies Quarterly, 59(3), pp.517-530. Bowler, T., 2015.Falling oil prices: Who are the winners and losers? - BBC News. [online] BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29643612 [Accessed 15 Jul. 2016]. Brakman, S., Garretsen, H., Van Marrewijk, C. and Van Witteloostuijn, A., 2013. Cross-Border Merger Acquisition Activity and Revealed Comparative Advantage in Manufacturing Industries.Journal of Economics Management Strategy, 22(1), pp.28-57. Cimilluca, D., 2015.Energy MA Surges Despite Oil Slump. [online] WSJ. Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/energy-m-a-surges-despite-oil-slump-1443629069 [Accessed 15 Jul. 2016]. Cowie, B.R., James, B., Nightingale, M. and Mayer, B., 2014. Determination of the stable isotope composition and total dissolved solids of Athabasca oil sands reservoir porewater: Part 2. Characterization of McMurray Formation waters in the SuncorFirebag field. AAPG Bulletin, 98(10), pp.2143-2160. DeBlois, E.M., Tracy, E., Janes, G.G., Crowley, R.D., Wells, T.A., Williams, U.P., Paine, M.D., Mathieu, A. and Kilgour, B.W., 2014. Environmental effects monitoring at the Terra Nova offshore oil development (Newfoundland, Canada): Program design and overview.Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography,110, pp.4-12. 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Thursday, April 23, 2020

Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Essay Example

Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Essay Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is a popular science book published in 2005. The subject is the ‘human adaptive unconscious’, which is the cognitive phenomenon behind quick, frequent and automatic processes in the mind. Gladwell’s central thesis is that our minds can make fairly accurate judgments, without consuming much time and information. Gladwell goes on to present several supporting evidence to back up his thesis. These include verifiable cases from the domains of gambling, speed dating, strategy video games and malpractice suits. And I have to admit that most of them are quite convincing. Gladwell describes the phenomena as ‘thin-slicing’, which humans employ most of the time as a way of de-cluttering the mind from the abundance of information available to it. According to Gladwell’s thesis, ‘thin-slicing’ is as good a strategy (if not better) than comprehensive analysis of an occurrence/situation. Hence, spontaneous decisions tend to be as good as deliberate, thought out ones. Gladwell presents numerous examples from the fields of marketing, medicine, science and popular music to illustrate his point. On the nature of human decision making, Gladwell notes, â€Å"Our world requires that decisions be sourced and footnoted, and if we say how we feel, we must also be prepared to elaborate on why we feel that way. I think that approach is a mistake, and if we are to learn to improve the quality of the decisions we make, we need to accept the mysterious nature of our snap judgements. We need to respect the fact that it is possible to know without knowing why we know and accept that — sometimes — we’re better off that way.† (Gladwell, 2005) We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Reading Response to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer What convinced me about Gladwell’s thesis is his choice of examples. The decision of a fire lieutenant in Cleveland to order his men out of an un-abating fire (on the basis of an extra-sensory perception of danger) is one of many persuasive cases the author presents. This decision saved their lives, as the floor on which they were dousing fire collapsed within a few seconds of the decision to recall personnel. The case of dubious originality of the statue Getty Kouros is another classic example, where experts ‘sensed’ from their very first sighting something fishy about the work’s authenticity. Another example that stuck in my mind is that of marriage expert John Gottman, who can make largely accurate predictions on the durability of marriages by simply watching the couple speak for an hour. Hence, my overall impression of the book is one of assent, as supporting evidence for the thesis seemed fairly robust. But there are a few flaws and deficiencies as well. Firstly, Gladwell seems to claim that ‘thin-slicing’ is a fairly robust and dependable way of arriving at spot judgments. But this goes against the grain of conventional wisdom as many key decisions in life have to be deliberately considered and decided. The tendency to ‘thin-slice’ suppresses our critical thinking faculties, which is a more dependable tool in the long run. For example, the author seems to suggest that the subconscious, intuitive and the paranormal should occupy a higher place than rationality and rigorous reasoning: â€Å"There can be as much value in the blink of an eye as in months of rational analysis†¦ research suggests that what we think of as free will is largely an illusion: much of the time, we are simply operating on automatic pilot, and the way we think and act – and how well we think and act on the spur of the moment – are a lot more susceptible to outside influences than we realize.† (Gladwell, 2005) But the dominance of the adaptive unconscious and the threat of ‘analysis paralysis’ should not dissuade us from eliminating valuable information from the decision making process. In this aspect, I would say that the author’s emphasis on the validity of ‘thin-slicing’ and the power of the unconscious is exaggerated. Barring the few criticisms pointed to above, the book is a valuable addition to collegiate libraries. This book is relevant to the classroom, for it exposes students to off-beat occurrences and unusual phenomena which do not usually feature in their textbooks. This will widen students’ intellectual horizons and also sharpen their perceptive ability. Ideally, the book could be incorporated into the psychology/sociology curriculum as an ‘elective’ subject, where interested students can take up credits. Work Cited: Gladwell, Malcolm, Blink, published by Back Bay Books in 2005, ISBN 0-316-17232-4