Trends in contemporary society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Management Process Paper Essay Example for Free

Key Management Process Paper Essay The vital administration process comprises of four significant segments; they are natural checking, methodology definition, procedure execution, and assessment and control. They each are separated into their particular jobs inside the key administration process. The Environmental Scanning is the observing, assessing, and spreading of data from the outer and inward situations to key individuals inside the enterprise. A simple method to utilize this segment would be SWOT, this abbreviation represents Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats and it shows the key elements for every individual organization. The following part of the procedure is the Strategy Formula and that is the advancement of long-extend plans for the successful administration of nature openings and treats, considering corporate qualities and shortcomings, this procedure additionally relay’s on the SWOT procedure. This procedure characterizes the corporate crucial, indicates reachable targets, creates methodologies and helps setting strategy rules. Methodologies Implementation is the procedure of which systems and polices are placed without hesitation through the improvement of projects, spending plans, and strategies. This procedure can make changes occur inside an organization, for example, by and large culture, structure, and the board arrangement of the whole association. At the point when a corporate wide change is required the usage of procedure will be led by the center and lower level administration, and afterward the higher supervisory group would audit those changes. This can be called operational arranging too and that would execute everyday changes. The last procedure of the vital administration process is assessment and control; this is the procedure which corporate exercises and execution results are observed with the goal that the exhibition that is going on now can be contrast with what is normal. This would apply to chiefs on all levels andâ they utilize this data to make restorative move and resolve any issues. This piece of the procedure can likewise pinpoint shortcomings in past executed key plans and can make the procedure start from the very beginning once more (Wheelen Hunger, 2010). Vital administration is significant for some reasons. Above all else these procedures help pioneers to execute the vision and strategic the organization, and what objectives are expected to get the organization where it needs to go. Normally made by the proprietor or top administration in an organization, the key administration plan offers course and direction to the workers, sets up quantifiable objectives and timetables and assigns obligations of all staff. Showcasing and deals projections are remembered for the key arrangement just as plans to survey the accomplishments of every division (Ray, 2012, p.1). BMW Strategic Process BMW is a German car and cruiser producer. BMW autos are viewed as extravagance vehicles with unlimited measures of choices and costly sticker prices. The organization, which was one after another was seriously battling monetarily is very effective. The association keeps on selling more consideration consistently, made solid brand acknowledgment, and an unwavering client following. BMW made what they call corporate Strategy Number One; this incorporates plans for the future, overview results, and execution assessments. The reason for the procedure is to seek after the vision of being the main supplier of premium items and premium administrations for singular portability (BMW Group†, n.d.). The methodology keeps on depicting the goal and how BMW plans to arrive at those targets. To explain the association incorporated the outcomes from reviews dispersed to investors and representatives. The difficulties the organization faces were likewise unmistakably spread out, alongside past accomplishments. End In the wake of looking at all the vital components to a key administration process one can comprehend why each is important to make progress. The components cooperate and when done appropriately do as such with little exertion. Notwithstanding, to redirect any difficulties from rivalry the components need looking at as often as possible to check whether changes are vital. BMW furnishes an excellentâ example of an association with strong vital administration. The association has obvious procedures and assesses current procedure and is looking to what's to come. References: Wheelen, T. L., Hunger, J. D. (2010). Ideas in Strategic Management and Business Policy Achieving Sustainability (twelfth ed.). Recovered on September 15, 2014 from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. Beam, L. (2012). Vital Management Process, eHow Contributor. Recovered September 15, 2014 from http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4964358_strategic-the board process.html BMW Group. (n.d.). Recovered on September 15, 2014 from http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/verantwortung/publikationen/sustainable_value_report_2008/_pdf/SVR_2008_engl_Kapitel_1.pdf

Introduction To Politics Example

Introduction To Politics Example Introduction To Politics â€" Essay Example > Introduction to Politics In classical forms, principle of sovereignty is used to describe a world where the supreme power is being exercises within a certain territorial unit. This essay shall discuss the problems of the idea of citizenship in modern globalized world. It shall then seek to justify whether state should interfere with the liberty of an individual. State is governed through a constitution. The essay shall seek to identify how important a constitution is in making a sovereign state legitimate. It shall then seek to identify whether politic is a science or an art. Citizenship describes the procedural legal relationship between an individual or person and the policy. For a very long time, the theories of citizenship have been based on the idea of politically independent and self-governing policies. The relationship between citizenship and politics forms source of most problems associated with citizenship. Citizenship is conceived from political institutions which are li berated to act according to the will, interest of authority over their citizens. The rank of citizenship in democratic societies is often regarded as legal. It often intended to be associated with the progressive projects which are of broad concept of membership in the community. At the same time it is difficult in such a community to assume that every member has equal rights. Some members will enjoy more privileges than others, due to the status and hierarchy they are in the society. Formal equalities like travel and voting rights, economic positions and social cultural fall short for different citizens enjoying the same membership. This inequality also results to the notion of having second-class citizens. Citizenship should not discriminate on gender, class or race, but should be neutral to all the people. However, positions taken by different people and groups within the states globally, have allowed discriminations in to take sides in these areas. It is evident throughout the ages the membership of citizenship has experienced challenges over time. Globalization then accelerates the tension of citizenship in the concept of equality based on the membership. Globalization puts emphasis on different identities of the membership custom. This makes it harder to utilize a citizenship as singular notion or as a single legal status that links directly to nation state which is the centre of domestic and international law. While it is supposed to identify citizens’ responsibilities and rights by the virtue of legal citizenship, its social, political and legal rights are determined through other alternatives that are based on the framework of the state. Responsibilities like voting, political rights and representation in the democratic systems, mobility, travel and social rights are some of the rights infringed in this case. In defining citizenship, the definition is linked to nationality and the international law. The international law affirms that the country or the state can determine who is to be considered the citizen of that state and who should not be. In domestic laws, the law concerning who will and who will not be determined to be a citizen of a country vary from one country to another. This leads to many people acquiring different nationality and even in some situations some may acquire more than citizenship in different countries just by fulfilling formal requirements. Most of the problems associated with citizenship are due to states government. The liberty of the citizens is held by this state organ.

Big Brother Is Watching You Essay - 1770 Words

â€Å"Big Brother is Watching You,† is the famous quote from George Orwell’s 1984, where the government regulates everything and the Thought Police could be reading the minds of the citizens at any moment. Many people fear big government; the world has experienced the destruction of fascists, dictators, Marxist socialism, as well as other dangerous political ideologies. More recently, people have been worried about the demagogue that has become our next president and ATT selling information to law enforcement. It is contended that any problems brought on by a large government are internal problems of self-regulation; for example; the revolving door between special interests and politicians, as well as the problem of career-politicians. Despite the problems that come with a big government, namely higher taxes, it is far superior to a smaller federal government, and far better than a nonexistent federal government, where the states decide laws individually. There are many different political ideologies that purport to be the best, but in the end a healthy mix of different governing styles has been proven to best suite the masses. it is true that big government can be done wrong - North Korea is the most prominent modern example, but in countries like Denmark (known as the happiest country in the world), Finland, and Switzerland, large government, in the form of socialism, works out very well. Ultimately, there are many benefits to large governments such as responding to issues onShow MoreRelatedBig Brother Is Watching You1106 Words   |  5 Pages AP US Government Mrs. Bradshaw 25 August 2014 Big Brother is Watching You 1984 is a novel that takes place in a Totalitarian dystopia named Oceania. The story follows a member of this futuristic society named Winston Smith, who is strongly opposed to the omniscient and oppressive â€Å"Big Brother† who runs the country. Winston works for the government in a division called the Ministry of Truth. He is responsible for altering history in the government’s favor. The government attempts to control theRead MoreIs Big Brother Watching You725 Words   |  3 PagesMark Horton AC1208870 EN130.1.1 English Composition II Assignment 7 Argument Essay 03/03/13 Is Big Brother Watching You Employers want their employees to feel safe at the work place. After all a safe, happy worker is a productive worker. Today companies spend millions of dollars annually on security systems and security guards. Some companies even check the purses and bags of its employees as they enter and leave the workplace. Many employees feel that this is necessary. However, weRead MoreBig Brother Is Watching You2232 Words   |  9 PagesBig Brother â€Å"Big Brother is watching you† (Orwell 2). Orwell’s simple phrase in his novel, 1984, has become the backbone of modern-day conspiracy theorists’ discussions. While Orwell may have been writing this novel for cautionary purposes, he is far closer to reality than he might have thought with his prophesies of the future and what would come of the government. Surveillance is one of many topics that Orwell’s 1984 incorporates into its fictional tale of a robotic society held under the strongRead MoreBig Brother Is Watching You Essay880 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU† (p. 1). Headed by a sacrosanct leader identified as Big Brother, the Party’s solitary goal is to retain absolute power over Oceania. The citizens are subjected to constant supervision and incessant propaganda via telescreens that not only monitor the citizens’ actions and thoughts but also rectify them to suit the Party’s invidious desires. The Party is even developing a new language called Newspeak, which eliminates abundant verbiage from the dictionary, to narrow theRead MoreBig Brother Is Watching You1186 Words   |  5 PagesWhen people talk about government snooping or spying on Americans the big thing they really have a problem with is the Patriot Act. What this act did was give sweeping surveillance and domest ic gathering powers to law enforcement in the name of fighting terrorism. I wonder if you take a poll between the people who have suffered through a terror attack and the people who have not, how much off a difference in opinion there would be. The debate has heated up over the last few months thanks to an individualRead MoreEssay on Is Big Brother Watching You?1669 Words   |  7 Pagessome point were considered impossible. The concept of having a personal computer was once impractical because the computers were just too big for the average home, now we can just about fit them in our pockets. What happens when that kind of innovation and creativity is turned against you? What if someone else was watching you through your computer without you ever knowing? Government surveillance has always been an issue in the past, a touchy one at that; people love their privacy however withRead MoreBig Brother isnt watching you- analysis961 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Big brother isn’t watching you Big brother isn’t watching you, is a commentary written by comedian, actor, writer and musician, Russell Brand. The commentary is about the 2011 UK riots, also called the â€Å"Blackberry riots† because the riots were organized with social media and mobile devices, such as the phone Blackberry. Russell Brand critiques the behavior from his countrymen and the riots make him go through his memories from his time living in London (Essex). He now resides in Los Angeles,Read MoreEssay about Big Brother Is Watching You763 Words   |  4 Pages Big Brother Is Watching You nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;My name is Winston Smith, a man of 39 living in Oceania, and I am the last sane man on earth. I believe the date to be 1984, even though I have no real proof of it. London, as I know it, is a place devastated by hunger and disrepair. A place where every action and thought are closely monitored. For as long as I can remember, the Party has been in control. The principles of Ingsoc1 and Big Brother have been dictating public interest hereRead More 1984 Big Brother Is Watching You Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pages Someone has always been there to tell you what to do in life. As a young child, you were told to behave properly and not to eat too many sweets. As you grew older and older, it seemed as if the responsibilities became greater and greater in number. Even as an adult, there was always an officious boss telling you what to do. There was always some higher force that bound your actions. Authority was the major theme in the novel 1984, by George Orwell. Authority was also a profound factor in StanleyRead MoreTotalitarian Government In George Orwells Big Brother Is Watching You1276 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1984, â€Å"Big Brother Is Watching You.† One can not take two steps without bumping into a poster of a stern-looking man seeming to stare into the soul of the viewer. Big Brother acts as a Godlike figure to the citizens of Oceania, a super-nation constantly at war with the two super-nations. The government of Oceania, the Party, keeps citizens in a vice-like grip through constant surveillance and laws placed on every aspect of human existence. The only loyalty allowed is to the Party. They control

Climate Change Whos to Blame - 1008 Words

Climate change is defined as the alteration in patterns in temperature and weather. A new wave of climate change, bringing warmer temperatures and more extreme storms, began to catch the attention of scientists sometime in the late 20th century. It is blamed perhaps on the increased burning of fossil fuels, contributing to the greenhouse gases that harm the environment (â€Å"Climate Change,† CQ). On the contrary, it is something that simply occurs naturally. It occurs over long periods of time and has several years of increased change. For example, one extremely cold winter that occurs only once does not indicate climate change (â€Å"Climate Change,† Berkshire). However, having hotter summers than ever before for long periods of time, as we are†¦show more content†¦One piece of research provides that the movement of continental plates affects the climate. These movements change the contours and shape of the ocean floor, which alters currents which can indeed have an impact on weather patterns. The Earth has had many alterations of climate in its lifespan, all of which have been due to natural cycles. There have always been fluctuations in temperature, bringing heat waves and ice ages. Why is our current pattern considered different? It could be that the Earth is changing again, as it does every so often. Although the increase in temperatures can be blamed on what we have done to our atmosphere, the colder winters can only put natural processes at fault. If humans are not behind global warming, they are not obligated to fix the problem, nor do they feel that they are. In fact, they do not see climate change as a problem that needs to be fixed at all, simply because it is part of the nature of our planet. Just as it has always been capable of, life will adapt to the changes and continue surviving, most likely with little realization that it is even happening. Model projections, which are used to validate man made climate change, do not a ctually mean anything. They disregard the processes and cycles that may occur rarely in the atmosphere that have an effect on temperatures. Therefore, these models are not realistic to predictingShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of The Healthcare Crisis Essay934 Words   |  4 Pagesand fighting climate change. All important issues, to be sure, but why isn’t more attention being given to something that could bankrupt millions of Americans and cause a crippling shortage of practitioners in the very near future? Who’s to Blame for the Healthcare Crisis? That depends on who you ask. If you ask physicians they’ll quickly point the finger at the insurance companies. If you ask the insurance companies, they’ll blame the bureaucrats, and if you ask bureaucrats they’ll blame Dr. SeussRead MoreThe Hemorrage in the Democratic Party624 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Congress is completely out of touch with the low income working class.† This statement is something that we all have known for quite some time but something we painstakingly became more aware of since The Great Recession of 2008. But can we really blame them? 46 percent of members of Congress are millionaires with preferential job benefits and top of the line health insurance. How can we possibly expect these members of congress to understand what the common low wage worker wants? How can we expectRead MoreLiterature Review On Energy Poverty1632 Words   |  7 Pagesabout 30 per cent of world’s total energy. Energy crisis for the poor sector of the population, in other words can be known as energy poverty. There are many different visions of energy poverty. According to Eguino article, he’s referred to Reddy who’s defined energy poverty as: â€Å"The absence of sufficient choice in accessing adequate, affordable, reliable, high quality, safe and environmental benign energy services to support economics and human development†. Analogously, Awan, Sher and Abbas statedRead MoreAnalysis Of John Hawthorne s White Whale 1284 Words   |  6 Pagescomplex, and puzzling as Melville s white whale in Moby Dick. A moral story in writing is a story where characters, articles, and occasions have a shrouded importance and are utilized to present some widespread lesson. Hawthorne has an immaculate climate for the images in The Scarlet Letter on the grounds that the Puritans saw the world through moral story. For them, basic examples, similar to the meteor streaking through the sky, got to be religious or good understandings for human occasions. ItemsRead MoreThe Global Polio Eradication Campaign1808 Words   |  8 Pagesthe impossible goal of eradication. It is of the culture of the WHO to nurture optimism, goodwill and an attitidue of unparallel efficacy. However, unbridled optimism has its drawbacks; it blurs reality and impedes problem-solving and organizational change. Ultimate triumph, great zeal, confidence, better future are some the beliefs we often associate with optimism. Studies of the human psyche suggest that individuals with positive outlook of the future, who perceive themselves having greater controlRead MoreEnvironment and Ethical Issues in The Book by John Broome Essay1788 Words   |  8 Pagesthe earth by emitting CO2 in the air, global warming will continue to melt the polar ice caps; we face a crisis that can potentially kill off thousands of people. Broome’s main issue in the book Climate Matters is the moral injustice of Knowing we are doing something wrong and not doing anything to change, because of our transgressions. Broome believes; many people throughout the world will be displaced, because of the constant rising seawater, and many people will die if we continue down this pathRead MoreWhat Are the Causes of Poverty in Philippine Economy?4902 Words   |  20 Pagesbetter living nor somehow eliminate poverty? But the biggest question left unanswered. Can we still eliminate poverty? Was there a chance for survival? Most of all the huge echo that stroke us left our hearts with pain and hope. Who’s to blame with our sufferings, which’s to blame with our unending despair? Is it the government fault? Or are we all responsible for these shame and despair we’re facing? II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 1.Why Philippines is drowning in poverty? 2.Are you experiencingRead MoreWhat Are the Causes of Poverty in Philippine Economy?4887 Words   |  20 Pagesbetter living nor somehow eliminate poverty? But the biggest question left unanswered. Can we still eliminate poverty? Was there a chance for survival? Most of all the huge echo that stroke us left our hearts with pain and hope. Who’s to blame with our sufferings, which’s to blame with our unending despair? Is it the government fault? Or are we all responsible for these shame and despair we’re facing? II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 1.Why Philippines is drowning in poverty? 2.Are you experiencing lackRead MoreEssay about Explanation for Criminality from a Sociological Perspective4008 Words   |  17 Pagesexistence before any particular actor came on that scene. In lay language, sociological explanations of crime place the blame on something social that is prior to, external to, and compelling of any particular person. Sociological explanations do not deny the importance of human motivation. However, they locate the source of motives outside the individual and in the cultural climate in which they live. Political philosophers, sociologists and anthropologists have long observed that a condition of socialRead MoreFrom a Sociological Perspective Essay4053 Words   |  17 Pagesexistence before any particular actor came on that scene. In lay language, sociological explanations of crime place the blame on something social that is prior to, external to, and compelling of any particular person. Sociological explanations do not deny the importance of human motivation. However, they locate the source of motives outside the individual and in the cultural climate in which they live. Political philosophers, sociologists and anthropologists have long observed that a condition of social

Cabbage vs. Lettuce Free Essays

Not knowing the difference between the two is enough to irritate ere, and mistaking them for the other is a whole different level of anger and f rustication that could possibly awaken from a pet peeve. It was important enough for her to make a whole blob post on the subject. Natural curiosity got the best of me as I then began to research the e differences and similarities of these vegetables. We will write a custom essay sample on Cabbage vs. Lettuce or any similar topic only for you Order Now Tang 2 Cabbage and lettuce are actually from two sign efficiently different plant families to begin with. From first glance it is slightly difficult to immediately tell which of the Greg en’s it is in a dish because of how similar their colors and shapes are when cut, cooked, and pre eared. Starting off with the cabbage, according to Bruce of weeklies, it comes from the brassier CAE family of flowering plants otherwise known as mustard flowers or the cabbage family. Other welkin species within the family include broccoli, cauliflower, radish, and turnips. Cab pages are often in the form of a decently large, round flower bud of leaves. It looks similar to its notorious cousin, the Brussels sprout, but only more sizable. The cabbage leaves are compact, the kick, dense, and fibrous, so it is not as easy to bend anywhere or else it would break in half. W hen grown at a arm or at home, cabbages grow in a whole flower formation With extensive Ii eaves encircling the middle. To harvest it, people naturally cut the cabbage Stem at the base, leave Eng the large outer leaves still intact to the stem, to collect the middle bud. As for lettuce, they come from the assistance family, also known as the sinful rower family. The other welkin species within assistance include chrysanthemum m and artichokes. Lettuce commonly share a similar small cone shape with the artichoke, but the eye can come In a more sphere shape like the cabbage, as seen with the iceberg lettuce. The lea eves are more flexible around the outer parts but a bit thicker along the middle, so it can be utilized as a wrap for some dishes. They can also be easily separated by simply pulling each leaf apart. When harvested, the whole lettuce plant is either dug up or cut off near the soil. As a result, the main aesthetic differences to note are the shape before and oaf term harvesting, and the thickness or compactness of the leaves’ composition. How ever, they do not only differ aesthetically but also in taste and smell. The lettuce has a much high her water content Tang 3 Han cabbages, and that gives it the refreshing feel when bitten into. Consensus entry, having a high water content, lettuce cannot be easily preserved through freezing canning, o r drying. On the bright side, that means it is also served fresh and majority of the time. Sadly, c Babbage may have a bitter taste and smell to them when either raw or cooked, but that does not stop us from making great dishes with them. On account of the previous stated facts, each vegetable serves its own special place in cooking. Majority of lettuce is eaten raw in salads and sandwiches, or used as Arians like cilantro on tacos. The reason for not using lettuce in cooking is mainly due to I TTS high water content. Cooking it in some ways may give some undesirable results such as b Ewing too soggy. Chime is a common Korean recipe that serves as a fermented vegetable side dish with multiple seasonings that utilizes cabbages often. The cabbage is able to maintain its cry mushiness and absorb flavors through its density. The same could go for other dishes such a s the popular coleslaw. If you were to substitute the cabbage shreds with lettuce, the texture e of the meal would to have the chunky and crunchy feel, but a more wet and soft texture through hoot. Although, cabbages may win in cooking versatility, it does not render the lettuce as been g inferior. Going past the cooking and looking into the nutrition facts, the natural coma session of both the cabbage and lettuce speak for their nutrition. With the greater density y, the cabbage packs the higher calorie and dietary fiber count at nearly three times the ammo aunt the same serving of lettuce can provide. Each of the greens are also great sources of vitamin A ( helps maintain lathe vision, white blood cells, and skin tissue), vitamin C (helps maintain he althea skin, bones, metabolism, and immune system), and potassium (assists with protein for blob odd and bones). How to cite Cabbage vs. Lettuce, Papers

The Achievement Gap free essay sample

This term paper is broken down into three parts. In Part I, I will address the causes of the achievement gap and why it is so difficult to overcome for certain underperforming subgroups. I believe that the underlying factor causing the achievement gap is money. In a direct sense, it is clear that having money is a big advantage for students and not having money creates a host of challenges. The economically disadvantaged achievement gap is created when economic factors cause poor students to begin school behind the curve and then pose obstacles to closing the gap as they get older. There is an achievement gap for ethic groups, as well. Part of this gap can be explained by the fact that historical factors have led to African American and Hispanics being overly represented in the economically disadvantaged category. There are also social and cultural factors that lead to discrepancies in achievement, but tracing these back far enough will show that economic factors played a role in shaping the social and cultural climate. We will write a custom essay sample on The Achievement Gap or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The gap is extremely difficult to close because the current systems do not close the gap, but, instead, perpetuate a cycle of underperformance. In Part II, I will look at some raw testing data from Rancho Milpitas Middle School. This data supports the idea of the achievement gap numerically and provides some specific areas of concern. In Part III, I will describe some methods I would use to try and address the achievement gap in an individual classroom. I will use the data from Part II to focus my specific methods and decisions on Hispanic, specifically ELL, students. ? Part I. Causes of the Achievement Gap One of the major issues in American public education right now is the significant and persistent gap in achievement between certain subgroups and the rest of the population. Two of the major gaps occur for the subgroup of economically disadvantaged students and ethnic students, specifically African American and Hispanic students. The achievement gap is an extremely nuanced and complicated issue that would be impossible to break down completely, but the underlying and overwhelming factor causing the achievement gap is money. Economic disadvantage produces a number of factors that create an achievement gap. Certain ethnic groups have achievement gaps because historical context has led to those groups being economically disadvantaged. Economic disadvantage also influences the social and cultural factors that create achievement gaps for ethnic groups. Money also causes the achievement gap to be extremely difficult to close. The socioeconomic factors that cause the achievement gap all stem from the wide gap in wealth that exists across our country. Being poor does not directly cause students to struggle or make them less capable. A higher income, and the resources it can buy, creates an atmosphere much more conducive to student development and learning. Before school even begins, students who grow up in economically disadvantaged homes are less likely to have access to books and educational materials, and technology. They are less likely to have educated parents to read with them and less likely to have a full-time parent at home. This means most economically disadvantaged children are growing up in a less enriching and stimulating environment during early childhood. Economically disadvantaged students also have less access to health care and proper nutrition which are both important to healthy brain development. These early contributors lead to an observable gap in student test scores before they have even entered kindergarten. Before one day of school has taken place, economically disadvantaged students are starting off behind their peers. As they get older and progress through school, economically disadvantaged students continue to be subject to an unstable environment. There are a number of distractions associated with this environment. Students may be worried about their basic needs, like food, water, shelter, clothing or personal safety. School and education are always going to be sacrificed at the expense of basic human needs and desires. Economically disadvantaged students may also have less time to devote to school. It is possible that poor students have to work or look after younger siblings after school to help out their families. This does not leave a lot of time for school work and studying. Being in the economically challenged subgroup creates a gap in achievement before the start of school and forms an environment that serves to maintain that gap or even widen it. There are also noticeable achievement gaps between different ethnic subgroups, specifically African American and Hispanic students. These ethnic groups are much more likely to be economically disadvantaged, and, as previously discussed, being at an economic disadvantage is directly linked to lower achievement in school. There are obvious historical hurdles that have created economic disadvantages for these groups. Slavery, persecution, and unfavorable laws for both African Americans and Hispanics goes back many years and put these subgroups on the lower tiers of American society. Since their introduction to this country, these subgroups have been disproportionately economically disadvantaged. Today, many of the laws that perpetuated this persecution are now gone. Racism is declining and cultural acceptance is on the rise. There are new laws that legally protect people from being persecuted on the basis of race. Even with all of this progress, the wealth gap still exists for these ethnic groups. Just because the major agents that caused the gap have been eliminated, it does not instantly level the playing field. Because of the high correlation between economic advantage and superior achievement, the richer and higher achieving groups tend to stay richer and high achieving. The historical disadvantage is extremely difficult to overcome. Aside from economics, there must be other factors at play. Even at the same economic level, there are achievement gaps between different ethnic subgroups. There are certain social and cultural factors that lead to the achievement gap for African Americans and Hispanics. Many of the social causes of the achievement gap stem from the way people view and treat African Americans and Hispanics. It would be naive to believe that racism no longer plays a factor in our society today. On the overt side, there still exist people who believe certain races are inferior and will deliberately try to keep these races from succeeding. This mindset is not as common today and does not make the same major impact that it did fifty years ago. It still, however, can lead to decisions that put African Americans and Hispanics at a disadvantage. It could involve something as small as a business owner deciding who to hire or as large as policy makers continuing prejudiced practices. More prevalent is the covert type of racism that leads to stereotypes and low expectations. People’s stereotypes and assumptions about race make a huge impact on the way they treat members of those subgroups. Teachers could have lower expectations for African American and Hispanic students, letting these students off the hook. These assumptions are often self-fulfilling. Making excuses and lower expectations for certain students gives them an excuse to work less and, ultimately, causes them to fall behind. By setting lower expectations, teachers are not helping students feel better, but actually causing students to underperform. When people ignore historical and economic factors, they often blame the achievement gap solely on race. This stereotype that certain races are underperformers seeps into the cultural consciousness. This stereotype can lead to these subgroups being passed up for desirable jobs. Lower paying jobs cause more economic disparity which continues the cycle of the achievement gap. Many of the cultural factors that cause the achievement gap come from within the culture of the underperforming subgroup. Different cultures can place different levels of importance on education and getting a degree. If much of the older generation did not graduate from high school, a culture may focus on graduating high school as the ultimate goal. Meanwhile, mainstream culture is completely focused on kids getting a college degree. There is also an argument that standardized tests can be culturally biased. Students from certain ethnic backgrounds miss out on the cultural references that are required to answer some questions. If the test is biased culturally, the achievement gap can’t close until the culture changes. There is also a common cultural idea that succeeding in school is â€Å"acting white† and looked down upon. This is an extremely difficult cultural hurdle to overcome. The goal of succeeding in school is not embedded in the cultural framework and, instead, is discouraged by it. Even though these are all factors that come from within the culture itself, it is important to remember that these are cultures forged in times of racism, persecution and poverty. It is not surprising that something seemingly unattainable years ago, equal success with white students, is not valued by those cultures. The cycle of poverty has affected the cultural ideals and values. Trying to close the achievement gap is not a new phenomenon. There are countless theories on what policies and practices are best close the gap. There have been numerous large-scale and small-scale attempts to bring up the underperforming subgroups. Even if attempts have had some success, there does not appear to be a plausible and identifiable solution available right now. The only conclusion that can definitively be drawn is that the achievement gap is extremely difficult to close. This difficulty stems in part from the way public schools are organized, the current economic situation in the country, and the fact that even good teaching or policies may raise overall achievement, but not necessarily narrow the gap. A major problem with closing the achievement gap is the way public schools are funded. Much of the funding is based on property taxes in the area. This ensures that economically advantaged areas will have the best schools and that economically disadvantaged areas will have the worst schools. With less money, schools in poor areas have higher student to teacher ratios, older materials, fewer extracurricular activities, worse facilities and less access to services. It also means teachers will be paid less. This discourages the best teachers from going where they are most needed. With this set up, children with rich parents go to best schools, succeed, and make more money in the future. They can now buy houses in affluent areas and continue the cycle. This is an oversimplification, but illustrates the cyclical nature of the system currently in place. Another problem is the overall economic status of the country. We currently have a shrinking middle class. As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, it is becoming increasingly difficult for families to improve their economic situation. Education is supposed to be an equalizer that gives everyone opportunities, but students are starting on the most uneven playing field in recent history. It’s nice to believe that students can be whatever they want in the future, but socioeconomic mobility is getting harder and harder. Until students can start on a relatively level playing field, the odds will always be stacked against some students. A final challenge to closing the achievement gap is that good teaching practices and good educational policies may be very successful at improving student performance, and, yet, still do nothing to narrow the gap. How is this possible? Good teaching practices to help those on the bottom of the gap will ultimately benefit the students on top, as well. As all students improve, the gap remains, just at a higher level. ? Part II. Middle School Data I collected data for Rancho Milpitas Middle School in the Milpitas School District on the California Department of Education website. Table A: Proficiency for Select Subgroups % Proficient or Above% of Enrollment EnglishMath All Students74%69%93% Not Disadvantaged83%78%54% Disadvantaged61%58%40% Fluent English84%73%77% ELL23%51%17% White86%84%10% Asian84%88%35% African American82%63%3% Filipino72%71%20% Hispanic50%39%21% Not a High School Grad50%50%10% High School Grad63%63%19% Some College76%68%25% College Grad84%78%25% Post Grad91%90%9% Table B. Breakdown of Ethnic Groups and Economics Not DisadvantagedDisadvantaged % Proficient or Above% Proficient or Above EnglishMathEnglishMath White86%92%**** Asian94%89%64%86% African American******** Filipino75%73%67%67% Hispanic56%41%52%38% ** Not big enough to be statistically significant The data in Table A tells a couple stories in relationship to the causes of the achievement gap. For this school, the gap between economically advantaged students and economically disadvantaged students is 22% is English and 20% in Math. This is a significant gap and reinforces the persistent problem of poverty on school performance. There is an incredibly large gap in between fluent students and English language learners (ELL). The gap is 61% in English and 22% in Math. A larger gap would be expected in English versus Math because the subgroup is specifically students who struggle with English. This gap is incredibly large, however, needs to be addressed. For different ethnic subgroups, the data supports the idea of an achievement gap for Hispanic students. There is a 36% gap in English and a 45% gap in Math for Hispanic students versus white students. The gap between African American students and white students is 4% for English and 21% for Math. The 4% in English is not a significant gap and, even though there is a 21% gap in Math, the Math achievement is only 6% less than the school average. In addition, African Americans only make up 3% of the school population. This is not really a significant subgroup for this particular school. This fact could also imply that some of the cultural factors may not be in play without a large African American community. For Filipinos and Asians there even less of an achievement gap. Clearly the most significant ethnic gap at this school is for Hispanic students. The final set of data in Table A serves to demonstrate the cyclical nature of the achievement gap. It is apparent that parents’ education directly correlates with the students’ achievement level. It is easy to imagine the cycle repeating and the next set of children having similar achievement to their parents. The data in table B shows a breakdown between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students by ethnic group. White and African American groups do not have big enough populations to be statistically significant. The relevant data demonstrates a clear drop in achievement between the rich and poor, even within the same ethnicities. It also shows that within the same economic group, there is discrepancy between ethnicities. Table B illustrated the dual causes of the achievement gap, economic factors and sociocultural factors. ? Part III. Strategies to Close the Gap in My Classroom In my opinion, the best approach to the achievement gap is good teaching practices and strategies to close the gap in my own classroom. I believe that individual teachers, starting small scale, will ultimately be the force that drives the vehicle of change. Because of the data collected in Part II, I will aim my strategies at helping Hispanic, specifically ELL, students. Most of these strategies could easily be applied to other subgroups or to any classroom as good teaching practices. An initial hurdle to closing the gap in my own classroom is getting to know my students, both personally and as learners. Getting to know students personally is an important part of teaching any student to create an environment of trust and approachability. I especially want this for ELL students. It is important that they feel comfortable enough to ask me to slow down, repeat things, or say things another way. To help accommodate for language difficulties I will incorporate a glyph project as an introduction. In this activity, students make a name tag with a lot of identifying information, but it is all nonverbal. Students draw pictures, shapes, and use color coding to convey personal information. I like the idea of learning about my students, but taking the writing and language skills out of it. It also serves as a mathematical exercise as students try to logically break down and interpret other people’s name tags. Along with personal information, I want to get to know my students as learners. This will help inform my instruction and give me insight into how to best help certain students. I will employ daily checks for prerequisite skills, prior knowledge and misconceptions into each lesson. This is a good teaching practice regardless, but is vital when dealing with ELL students. I don’t want to assume that I know where they are at and I want to find specific points of understanding that I can build off. When language is limited, it is really important to have a comfortable starting point from which to work. After I get to know my students, I want to make the curriculum accessible to them. I believe the most important part of making curriculum accessible to ELL students is taking the time to list, define, and connect with the academic vocabulary. A simple mistake could be assuming that all students will know or have experience with the necessary academic vocabulary for a lesson. It is quite likely that students, especially ELL students, don’t have this vocabulary or have heard it used in a different way. My strategy to avoid making this assumption is to make a list of all necessary vocabulary for the chapter. As a class, we will define the terms in student-friendly wording. I will also make an effort to connect vocabulary terms to concepts and words that I know my ELL students are already comfortable with. I believe that starting the chapter with a set of important words that they understand, is a great jumping in point for ELL students and reduces the barriers for those students to engage. I also want to make the curriculum relevant and engaging. I will attempt to do this by adding visual or multimedia components to each lesson. I think adding images, photographs, movies, or any other non-written information is a great way to make lessons more relevant and exciting for students. The non-written aspect of these additions will obviously be to the benefit of ELL students. If they are unsure of the context or specifics in the description of a lesson, the visuals can bring them back in. Even loosely associated graphics can get students interested and talking about the lesson. Not everyone gets excited about a physics word problem, but an introduction with video of a rollercoaster can help relate the material to real life and engage all students in the lesson. Part of making a curriculum successful is choosing the proper materials and strategies for students. One skill that ELL students may not have, or be very weak at, is note taking. Note taking is something teachers can take for granted. Students with weak English skills will take a lot longer to take down notes and may lose the ability to follow along with the lesson as a result. To combat this, I will give the students’ full teacher notes that they can just annotate, partial notes where they fill in pieces, or just blank sheets. The level will depend on the students’ individual needs. I will also incorporate a lot of graphic organizers. These are great tools for describing relationships, hierarchies, processes, etc. without using words. ELL students can find these tools invaluable for making sense of the lesson. I think assessing student learning poses the biggest challenge and can be the top cause for student frustration. Some students won’t really feel behind or struggling until the first assignments are graded and returned. If students fail because the assessment is flawed, it will cause them to check out and give up. I think the most important part of assessment is to keep the main goal in mind. My goal is for students to learn the material. How they demonstrate that learning should be secondary. Often, it is the method of assessment that ELL students struggle with, not necessarily the actual content being assessed. My strategy would be to give multiple options for how students can complete assessments. Instead of an essay or written explanation, I can give students the opportunity to make a movie, create a piece of art work, perform a song, make a flow chart, or any other way of demonstrating knowledge. When students can be free to use the assessment means of their choice, I think it gives the teacher a chance to genuinely assess what students know. It also can be a way of making assessments more accessible, engaging, and relevant to students’ lives. I find classroom management to be a difficult part of teaching any class. I think ELL students can be especially challenging for two possible reasons. First, it is possible that ELL students have already checked out of the lesson because they don’t understand what’s going on, or have gotten lost. If the methods above are successful, this should not be an issue. Secondly, language barriers could prevent the ELL students from knowing what is expected. To combat this, I will print out classroom rules with simple language and post them alongside some descriptive images. I want my expectations and rules to be clear to all students, regardless of level of English fluency. Another way to help with classroom management is using partner and group work. Placing an ELL student with students that I know understand the procedures will help make it clear what is expected. This will also help bolster language skills as ELL students interact with their classmates in a casual setting. A final method of improving classroom management is to simply speak slower and use gestures to describe what I mean. I think giving plenty of time to ELL students will allow them to process what I’m saying. Body language cues can clarify in the place of words that are confusing.