The Sources of International Competitive Advantage of Vw free essay sample

Interconnectedness of Resources and Capabilities9 4. Conclusion10 5. 0 Bibliography11 6. 0. Appendix13 1. Introduction: 1. 2 Company Portray: The Volkswagen Group is one of the leading automobile producers in the world, delivering more than 9 million cars, generating sales of â‚ ¬193 billion and profits of â‚ ¬21. 9 billion in 2012 (Volkswagen Group, 2013). The group markets low- consumption small cars, luxury cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles under its 12 brands: Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, MAN, Bentley, Scania, Bugatti, Lamborghini Porsche, Ducati and Volkswagen commercial vehicles. The group employs 550,000 people worldwide and operates 100 production facilities in 27 different countries, while selling its products in 153 countries (Volkswagen Group, 2013). The Group has recently launched â€Å"Strategy 2018†, with the goal of becoming the biggest automotive company in the world in terms of volume, by selling more than 10 million cars and trucks annually. Additionally the group seeks to elevate its profit margin to 8% (Taylor, 2012). Given Volkswagen existing strength and its ambitions for the near term future the firm must be regarded as one of the world’s most potent transnational companies. 1. Method of Analysis: An international competitive advantage can either be derived from the external environment a company resides in, or through its internal strategic and structural orientation (Sitkin and Bowen, 2013). To fully appreciate and understand the formation of the Volkswagen Group’s international competitive advantage it is essential to analyse its external sources first, scrutinize their interplay within Michael Porter’s ‘Diamond’ structure, and subsequently take note of the internal choices and decisions the managers of Volkswagen face in the quest to generate a sustainable international competitive advantage. . 0 External Sources Michael Porter has identified factor conditions, demand conditions and supporting and related industries as the three primary external sources of competitive advantage. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry complement Porter’s ‘Diamond† structure and aim to describe the impact the environment has on the internal orientation and disposition of a firm (Sitkin and Bowen, 2013). Thus it evaluates external circumstances’ direct impact on a company’s structure. Porter’s Diamond of National Competitive Advantage Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry Demand Conditions Demand Conditions Factor Conditions Factor Conditions Related and Supporting Industries Related and Supporting Industries Adapted from (Porter, 1990) 2. 1 Factor Conditions Factors of production at their most basic level constitute labour, land natural resources, capital, and infrastructure. According to traditional trade theories unlimited access to these basic factors marks a substantial advantage for industries (Porter, 1990). Today’s notions however, place significantly more emphasis on highly specialized, productivity-enhancing factors, resulting from sustained and heavy investment, as a source of competitive advantage (Porter, 1990). Germany offers two factors that are particularly appealing to the automotive industry: a highly specialized work force and an internationally renowned infrastructure. Of Germany’s 40 million people strong workforce 80% have enjoyed vocational training or hold an academic degree (Appendix 1). Scientists and engineers constitute around 6. 7% (Appendix 2) of the countries total workforce and 31% of all university level students are engaged in scientific or engineering studies giving further evidence for the workforce’s high compatibility to the needs of the automotive industry (GTAI, 2013a). Germany also offers an internationally unique dual education system, which combines on-the-job and vocational school training, thus guaranteeing industry relevant and specific training (GTAI, 2013b). Volkswagen has also benefited from stable labour costs and gradually falling unit labour cost of roughly 0. 3% a year between 2005 and 2010 (Appendix 3). This trend has led to a considerable competitive cost advantage for all German manufacturers (GTAI, 2013a). Germany’s infrastructure ranks second in the world in terms of quality behind Hong Kong’s (Appendix 4). This state of the art infrastructure allows Volkswagen to quickly and reliably move its in- and outputs. Additionally Volkswagen benefits from its relative proximity to Bremerhaven, the world’s largest carport for vehicle traffic (GTAI, 2013f). 2. 2 Demand Conditions Domestic demand has the potential to be an effective source of competitive advantage. Highly informed and demanding customers will exercise significant pressure on companies to continuously innovate and upgrade their products and services (Porter, 1990). Furthermore, a competitive advantage can arise from a customer base that is indicative of global demand trends, or better, shapes customer needs and wants elsewhere. If these conditions are given a company will be pushed to generate the most advanced products or services prior to demand spreading elsewhere in the world (Porter, 1990) The German consumer is probably the most demanding and sophisticated automobile consumer in the world. German consumers have traditionally set high standards in terms of engineering, design and safety, but due to rising fuel prices and environmental concerns in Germany, the spectrum of demands has grown even wider (The Economist, 2007). These high standards have enticed innovations in the past resulting in developments such as the four-wheel-drive system and continue to push VW ahead of its international competitors (Taylor, 2012). In an effort to tackle environmental concerns the VW Group recently committed to reducing the average emissions of its Volkswagen fleet to just 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre by 2020 (Volkswagen Group, 2013). It has also launched an ambitious project to produce the world’s most fuel-efficient car; the XL1, underlining the impact he German consumer has on Volkswagen’s goals and innovative spirit (Taylor, 2012). 2. 3 Related and Supporting Industries A close relationship with related and supporting industries, which are internationally competitive themselves, can reap rich rewards for firms (Porter, 1990). Through the formation of ‘clusters’, which are interconnected businesses and institutions working in close proximity to one another, firms can source the most cost-effective inputs in an efficient and quick manner (Sitkin and Bowen, 2013). More importantly, companies benefit from a rapid and constant exchange of information over new innovations, technology, and industry and consumer trends. The exchange of information coupled with very close personal relationships existing within clusters greatly improves a company’s prospect of attaining an international competitive advantage (Porter, 1990) The related and supporting network for the automotive industry in Germany is particularly strong. A total of five distinct automotive clusters exist in Germany (Autoanalysis, 2005). It is an international technological leader in crucial supporting industries to the automotive industry including machine building and electronics (GTAI, 2013b). Volkswagen derives particular advantage from the existence of the ‘Silicon Saxony’ cluster, which is located in its neighbouring state and currently ranks among the top five semiconductor clusters in the world (GTAI, 2013c). Furthermore Germany is the unquestionable world leader in machinery and equipment production, compromising almost 6,300 companies along the value chain and accounting for 17% of the world’s global machinery trade share (GTAI, 2013d). The automotive and electronics sector are also two of the biggest customers of the machine and equipment sector, demonstrating the strong cohesion of the German industrial sector (GTAI, 2013d). Volkswagen also derives great benefit from the existence of cutting-edge logistic firms in Germany, which spur the rapid and efficient transport of in-and outputs (GTAI, 2013e). 2. 4 Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry The national environment a firm resides in has a significant influence over the firm’s structure, strategy and nature of rivalry. Different cultural backgrounds favour varied managerial approaches and firm structures, which may be suited better to one industry rather than another. A competitive advantage can arise where a firm’s managerial practices, as favoured by the country it resides in, are particularly well suited to respond to the demands of the industry it competes in (Porter, 1990) Domestic competition is arguably the most important factor of Porter’s ‘Diamond’ model, due to the influence it exercises over the remaining facets. Fierce rivalry forces companies to continuously innovate and upgrade to remain in a competitive position nationally. Domestic competition not only toughens companies prior to international expansion, it is frequently the cause for their expansion (Porter, 1990). German culture favours hierarchical organisational structures and technical know-how is widely dispersed throughout top management. In return German companies have traditionally excelled in technically complex industries, where precision is a major determinant of success (Porter, 1990). These set of values and expertise have evidently backed Volkswagen’s path to becoming one of the premiere car manufactures and aided in its accumulation of unique resources and capabilities. Germany has traditionally been home to fierce domestic rivalry in the automotive sector. The Volkswagen Group competes intensively with its Audi and Porsche brands against BMW and Mercedes. The prestige of building the best car in Germany is immense and hence the competition is beyond financials and defiantly carries a personal note. 2. 5. VW ‘Diamond’ System It is critical to assess each of the determinant factors as part of the system of the ‘Diamond’ model. None of the determinants on its own is likely to result in a significant competitive advantage, as the state of one factor depends on the state of another (Porter, 1990). As all the individual determinants for VW are favourable, they perform a self-reinforcing cycle, where the benefits of innovation are spread across the entire automotive cluster. 3. 0. Internal Sources The foundation for developing competitive advantage internally lies with the managers’ ability to generate unique firm-specific resources and capabilities (Duhaime, Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012b). Performance And Competitive Advantage Performance And Competitive Advantage Market Position, Resources, Capabilities Market Position, Resources, Capabilities Feedback Feedback Decision Making Decision Making Managers’ Mental Models Managers’ Mental Models Adapted from (Duhaime, Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012) Such resources and capabilities need to be valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Valuable? Rare? Inimitable? Non-substitutable? Sustainable Competitive Advantage Not a resource Competitive parity Temporary Competitive Advantage Temporary Competitive Advantage No No No No Valuable? Rare? Inimitable? Non-substitutable? Sustainable Competitive Advantage Not a resource Competitive parity Temporary Competitive Advantage Temporary Competitive Advantage No No No No Adapted From (Warner, 2010; Hoskisson amp; Co, 2008) Duhaime, Stimpert and Chesley (2012b) indicate that through the utilization of the factors of time, building on past success, interconnectedness of resources and capabilities, investment and casual ambiguity managers can back the resource accumulation process and support the development of sustainable competitive advantages. Volkswagen’s international success in recent years can be attributed to two primary internal factors: the firm’s unconventional organisational structure and its tremendous interconnectedness of resources and capabilities. 3. 1. Decentralized Structure The Volkswagen Group’s corporate structure is highly decentralized and grants large autonomy to each of its 12 individual brands. Each brand is treated as a stand-alone company with its own board of directors, annual reports and individual design, engineering and manufacturing facilities (McElroy, 2012). While this approach contradicts general corporate notions, which encourage centralization to eliminate duplication of work and cut costs, VW is the world’s most profitable car manufacturer (McElroy, 2012). In fact its structure is strikingly similar to General Motors’ under its illustrious CEO Alfred Sloan. Sloan’s concept was based on offering GM’s various brands at different, yet overlapping price points (Duhaime Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012b). The idea was to offer an ascending range of cars and allow a customer to gradually mount GM’s product scale over the course of his life (Duhaime, Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012b). Similarly the Volkswagen Group offers an ascending and differentiated product range that allows consumers to upgrade over the course of their life and still remain customers of the Volkswagen Group. This poses a substantial competitive advantage, as none of VW’s international or domestic competitors offers an equally diverse and differentiated product range. 3. 2. Interconnectedness of Resources and Capabilities The more interconnected the resources of a firm are the more likely it is for the firm to use them in an efficient manner that will enhance the company’s overall performance. Similar to the existence of clusters in the external environment firms benefit from an intensive internal exchange of information and cooperation to foster innovation (Duhaime, Stimpert and Chesley, 2012a) Despite the Volkswagen Group’s decentralised corporate structure its resources and capabilities are highly interconnected and centralized. This interconnection is essentially the key to the company’s significant competitive advantage, and allow for the decentralized structure to work so effectively. Under its ‘toolkit strategy’ VW uses the same basic components for numerous models consequently lowering engineering, procurement and manufacturing costs (Taylor, 2012). Hence the key to its competitive advantage lies in differentiating its brands while using the same components in production and successfully employing economics of scale. As a result of the modular longitudinal matrix (MLB) introduced in 2007, Audi is now able to produce its entire product range with the same basic parts. Moreover VW will launch a new program called the modular transverse matrix (MQB) that will standardize critical parts in more than 40 small cars. When the integration is complete and successful it is estimated that VW could realise annual savings of $3 billion and further boost its scale and cost advantage (Taylor, 2012). 4. Conclusion The Volkswagen Group has been tremendously successful in generating an international competitive advantage over recent years. By productively utilizing Germany’s favourable external environment and through unconventional strategic and structural implementations the Volkswagen Group has become the most profitable automaker in the world. Strategy 2018† and the implementation of the modular transverse matrix (MQB) are bound to enhance VW’s advantage over its competitors even further. Therefore, its goal of becoming the biggest automaker by volume in 2018 seems all but certain. 5. 0 Bibliography AutoAnalysis, 2005, Benchmarking Study of European Automotive Clusters. pp. 16 Duhaime, I. M. , Stimpert, L. amp; Chesley, J. A. (2012)a. Strategic Thinking Todays Business Imperative. Ne w York: Routledge. pp. 29-32. Duhaime, I. M. , Stimpert, L. amp; Chesley, J. A. (2012)b. Strategic Thinking Todays Business Imperative. New York: Routledge. pp. 128. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)a. Labor Market Availability. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Business-location-germany/Business-climate/labor-market-availability. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)b. Automotive Industry. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/Logistics-mobility/automotive. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)c. Electronics amp; Microtechnology. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/electronics-microtechnology. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)d. Machinery amp; Equipment. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/machinery-equipment. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)e. Logistics amp; Mobility. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/machinery-equipment. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)f. Infrastructure. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Business-location-germany/Business-climate/infrastructure. html. Last accessed 8 April 2013. Grant, R. M. (2010). Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 7th ed. Southern Gate: John Wiley amp; Sons Ltd. pp. 217 McElroy, J. (2012). How Volkswagen is run like no other car company. Available at: http://www. autoblog. com/2012/12/06/how-volkswagen-is-run-like-no-other-car-company/. Last accessed 8 April 2013. Porter, E. M. (1990). The Competitive Advantage of Nations, pp. 79-86. Harvard Business Review (online). Available at: http://kkozak. wz. cz/Porter. pdf. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Sitkin, A and Bowen, N (2013). International Business: Challenges and Choices. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 38-39. Taylor, A. 2012). Volkswagen: Das auto giant. Available at: http://management. fortune. cnn. com/2012/07/10/global-500-volkswagen/. Last accessed 8 April 2013. The Economist. (2007). The big-car problem. Available at: http://www. economist. com/node/8738865. Last accessed 8 April 2013. Volkswagen Group. (2013). The Group. Available at: http://www. volkswagenag. com/content/vwcorp/content/en/the_group. html. Last accessed 8 April 2013. 6. 0. Appendix Appendix 1: (Adapeted from Germany Trade and Invest) Appendix 2: Appendix 3: (Adapted from Germany Trade and Invest) Appendix 4:

Women in Literature an Example by

Women in Literature Some critics claim that early American literature focuses on men, overlooking or devaluating the role of women and womens perspective. The response to this claim will presuppose profound analysis of some literary work of that time period. We will thus concentrate on Hannah Fosters The Coquette, which has become one of the brightest representations of the then literature. Need essay sample on "Women in Literature" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Based upon the discussed reading, it is definitely impossible to state that literature of the analyzed period was devaluating women, though such claim has the objective right to exist among scholars. It would probably be more correct to assume that devaluation of women, which the authors of early American literature were depicting in their works, was caused by the real life conditions in which they lived. Thus, devaluating women was not the initial purpose of the early American writing; in pursuing realism and the truth, the writers were undeservingly labeled. However, this misinterpretation cannot be totally false. Through the prism of literary criticism, the character of the protagonist Eliza Wharton is certainly described in rather mournful colors. What is usual for us seems absolutely unacceptable in the world in which Eliza found herself. Thus, it would be more objective to analyze Fosters novel not from the viewpoint of devaluating women, but from the viewpoint of the then soci ety devaluating and not accepting their freedom, as was reflected in The Coquette. Reading The Coquette, we come to the question, whether Foster was depicting a true womanhood, and how a woman of her status could feel in the society and people by whom she was surrounded. It is difficult to deny that Eliza Wharton was initially overlooked as a personality by her companions, friends, and was truly judged for her actions and manners. Of course, what we see in Eliza does not surprise us, but her behavior could not be called traditional through the prism of the then manners. The true woman of that time had to possess several integral features, out of which virtue and domesticity were the most meaningful. Moreover, in case a woman did not possess those features, or was not willing to follow the principles of the society, she risk being abandoned, being stigmatized, and being called the enemy of all polite people. Through the entire reading of The Coquette I was accompanied by the thought that it would be improper to state, that Foster was devaluating women. I think that the author had devoted the whole story to the inner perplexities of the female character. The writer has exercised an extremely visible and wise tool for creating and objective (and simultaneously, subjective) picture of the reality. We see the development of Whartons affair with Major Stanford, and simultaneously we have an access to the inner world and inner conflicts of each of the characters in the novel. Devaluating women is more seen not in the way Foster depicted Eliza, but in the way Eliza would be treated in the society of her time. Simultaneously, Major Stanford is considered to be rejected by a virtuous society for having seduced women and being known for his bad reputation. It is even more surprising that Stanfords behavior is not equal to devaluating women; but the reaction of the society to Whartons behavior is. Objectively, Foster was focusing on how men perceived the reality, and how they perceived women around them. Through the correspondence between several men in the novel we are capable of making an insight into their souls. However, in the context of the reality which Foster described in her work, focusing on men was a literary necessity, and limiting my research by this work of writing is not sufficient to conclude that the claims of critics towards devaluating women in literature are at least relevant. Eliza in Fosters world has become the embodiment of violating the norms of the society in which she lived. She was the proof that the society was constantly devaluating women. She has become the bright revelation of the then female world. She has a difficult marriage, through which she did not experience any warm feelings to her ceased husband, but whom she had to marry upon her parents request. Mr. Haly was a man of worth, a man of real and substantial merit. He is therefore deeply, and justly regretted by his friends; he was chosen to be a future guardian, and companion for me, and was, therefore, beloved by mine. As their choice as a good man, and a faithful friend, I esteemed him. But no one acquainted with the disparity of our tempers and dispositions, our views and designs, can suppose my heart much engaged in the alliance. (Foster 807) Being similar to Major Stanford in her temptations, even he had to admit the conflict of her inner identity with the society: Her sagacious friends have undoubtedly given her a detail of my vices. If therefore, my past conduct has been repugnant to her notions of propriety, why does she act consistently, and refuse at once to associate with a man whose character she cannot esteem? (Foster 863). In her grief for losing husband, she was not looking for consolation, but was realizing the fact of her ultimately being free of those connections. Moreover, she was seeking consolation not among her friends, but in the fact of being free to choose; in this she was completely different from her female friends, and was constantly judged and warned against Major Stanford. Of course, she was seduced by him, and he never realized the seriousness of his claims on Eliza. She in her turn did not understand that she was misled, and had to abandon her traditional pathway of virtue (so valued in the then society) to be with that man. It was not that Foster was devaluing Eliza, but she was trying to remain within the limits of the traditional society; she could not allow herself openly declaring the fact of Eliza being correct in her moves. This is why the author had to use implicit tools and literary devices for us to understand the true meaning of her writing. The visible devaluation of Eliza was actually the expression of her strength against the widely accepted (and often absurd) norms. In one of her letters, Eliza was writing: Should it ever be my fate to wear the hymenical chain, may I be thus united! The purest and most ardent affection, the greatest consonance of taste and disposition, and the most congenial virtue and wishes distinguish this lovely couple (Foster 813). These were Elizas ideas about her happy union with some man. And while come critics might claim that the image of a woman in early American literature was at least neglected, it can be easily argued. What Foster was aiming was to display the societal constraints in which the woman of her time had to exist. For Eliza this hardly looked like existence, being similar to surviving. Her mind was disconcerted with the emotional agitations, and she could not find moral satisfaction in any of the two men with whom she communicated. it is understandable why Foster depicted both Boyer and Major Stanford in so many details: we needed to have a detailed understanding, why the woman could not have any affecti on towards any of them, especially of Boyer. Boyers character consisted of traditional virtues praised by society: he was striving for domestic and loving wife, who would not allow going out or having friendship with men. He could not also understand her patience and indecisiveness towards his personality. The meaning of the name The Coquette was brilliantly expressed in Elizas interactions with Boyer and Major Stanford. The name of the novel has become the sign of the false appearance we attribute to people whom we dont really know, or do not want to understand through the existing social norms. She was far from being a coquette; she was looking for the person who could comply with her social demands and who could not restrain her social strivings, but she found none, being dishonored and finally led to death. Devaluation of a woman was shown by Foster as punishable even within the described societal constraints. Both Boyer and Major Stanford were virtually punished for misunderstanding the true identity of Eliza Warton. Hannah Foster has created a perfect image of all three characters, letting us into the hidden world of concealed emotions and cherished emotions. Surely, she had displayed the situation of a woman when being dishonored and obviously devaluated by those who surrounded her, but the writer herself did not devaluate Eliza. On the contrary, she seemed to having achieved the aim of her writing: she was sincerely mourning the death of her protagonist. Foster succeeded in depicting the possible tragic consequences of the societal norms impact on peoples lives. No one could predict that Elizas striving to be social would lead her to being called the Coquette, but the society did not leave any other choice, and Eliza would have to live with that stigma. Moreover, Boyer did not also leave Eliza any options except for writing her a farewell letter and expressing his extreme dissatisfaction and anger with her behavior; however, and in the context of the contemporary society, we should think what right he had to intrude into Elizas life. Thus, the devaluation of the womens perspective is not viewed in the early American writing itself, but in the real situation of women in the then society, which the writers had to evaluate and judge. Conclusion Critics have the right to claim the position of a woman in the early American literature is devaluated. However, it was more real than neglected. The example of Fosters The Coquette we come to understanding the inner force of the woman in trying to break the societal norms and failing to do so. Hannah Foster has succeeded in creating an image of a woman new to her traditional society, being devaluated by it, but not by the realism of Fosters writing. Works Cited Foster, H. W. The Coquette: or, the History of Eliza Wharton. In Baym, N. (eds.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 7th edition. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, pp. 807-904.

Danger Signs on Research Paper about Education Sample You Must Know About

Danger Signs on Research Paper about Education Sample You Must Know About A paper could have several appendices. To compose an outstanding paper, you should thoroughly select your topic. Therefore, if you'd like to use some more helpful materials, don't be scared to purchase customized essays at EssayBasics. An education essay is essentially a paper, which talks about various facets of education. It serves to create room for technological advancements in the field of medicine and agriculture. Quite simply, it's only reasonable to say that education is essential. Receiving an internet education is becoming increasingly more popular because of large number of advantages it has over traditional instruction. Back to the students, among the wonderful benefits of on-line education is that learners can study at their own speed. Focusing on a particular part of education will produce the work less cumbersome and you'll have a specific direction for youreducation essay. It is one of the most diverse disciplines that any college has to offer, and there are numerous ways to go about creating an education paper. Possessing an education offers you the wisdom and skills essential to excel in a skilled and work atmosphere. The Research Paper about Education Sample Chronicles You may limit the reach of your paper by numerous factors, for instance, time, personnel, gender, age, geographic place, nationality, etc. If a person is bordering the poverty line, they couldn't afford to dwell in urban areas solely with their earnings. If there's a meeting between two individuals who belong to completely different cultures, but have the exact same amount of education, they'll be able to comprehend each othernot when it comes to language, but concerning outlook. The freedom to select your educational path is an enduring quality of on-line education. Research Paper isn't a task for a single day. An individual should realize that every Research Paper is a sophisticated writing because it must contain distinctive research and distinctive idea. The more you comprehend the simpler it's for you to compose a thriving research paper. During your freshman year or when you start to believe that you may choose to go to graduate school, you should approach faculty to enter their laboratory during the academic calendar year. Normally, schooling is quite vital to human life since school is viewed as an institution which works with youth to increase society or help students realize their individuality. Education plays a critical part in shaping successful men and women. Our education is truly worth investment. On-line learning is recognized and opposed in many pieces of the planet. E ducation is a rather popular topic in the modern society since it is a source of frustration for taxpayers. Possessing an education is great for everybody! Even in case you have necessary data, it can be pretty tricky to present it in an appropriate systematic manner in line with the rules of formalization. Sources presenting inaccurate and old information regarding the subject at hand weren't employed for the aims of the research. Create guidelines of what you would like to achieve in your research. When conducting an internet research the relevancy of the data used have to get confirmed. The short-term wealth-making effect brought by cryptocurrencies has a terrific impact, but in the future, it might be only a splash. It's essential that you narrow down the reach of your work so that you could have a certain direction for approaching the subject. As an example, for an adult person a week is an incredibly brief time period, while for an infant a week is a really significa nt period. There are quite a lot of explanations for why sex education is relevant from a young age. After you decide upon your thesis, you ought to make sure to put it in the proper spot the previous sentence of the very first paragraph. You might also see resume outline. Aside from a report outline and a presentation outline, a research paper outline is among the most frequent types of outlines you're most likely to encounter in any particular field. By studying various outline samples, you're guaranteed to come up with the ideal research paper outline in virtually no time.

What Words to Avoid With First Person in College Essay

What Words to Avoid With First Person in College EssayIt is quite common to find people who write essays in first person writing style and this is acceptable in many places such as within an essay for college. However, if you are doing a college writing course, you should take into consideration the rules and regulations that pertain to writing essay topics in first person. In this article, I will discuss the first person rules.When writing an essay using first person, the rules vary depending on what you are writing about. If you are writing about your own life, then you are not required to use first person pronouns. However, you may write in a way that looks as though you are describing a time when you were living someone else's life. Therefore, you should consider first person pronouns as a suggestion, but be careful to follow the proper format.For example, if you are writing about a trip to New York or San Francisco, you will be writing about two different locations. Therefore, y ou should put each location in a separate paragraph. Do not put one location in between the next two locations. For example, if you were traveling to New York, then you should place it at the end of the first paragraph and then place the next location in between the next two paragraphs. If you were to use the first person, you would place each location in a separate paragraph between the New York location and the next location.It is also important to make sure that you understand the rules of college essay writing when using first person. You should read each chapter carefully to make sure that the rules apply to you and your essay. You should also learn how to properly use the correct terms and punctuation when writing in first person.In order to ensure that you are following the rules of first-person essay writing, you should have an idea of the audience for your essay. For example, if you are writing for your own college, you should consider what they expect to read in your essay . Therefore, if you are writing about a book that you are reading for your class, you should write about your character's perspective. When writing for your own college, however, you should give respect to your professor by using first person to describe how your character felt.You should also make sure that you do not violate any rules or break any sentence structure. It is not unusual for students to break the rules when writing for their own college. This is not the type of essay that should be censored or edited.Although some writers enjoy using first person in their student's essay, this is generally discouraged because the rules are rather strict. There are many places that do not allow first person writing in college writing. Although it is a good idea to always remember the rules when writing in first person, it is a little bit harder to enforce the rules if the writing is for your own school.In conclusion, you should consider the rules regarding first person in your essay a nd be aware of the rules when writing your own student's essay. You should always consider your audience and understand how to format your essay so that it is consistent. In this way, you will be able to use the first person in your essay and do not worry about breaking any rules or ending up in trouble for your essay.

Interesting Comparison and Contrast Essay Topics

Interesting Comparison and Contrast Essay TopicsAre you a student of Comparative Literature and the English Lit survey program? Would you like to write an interesting and entertaining essay or two on interesting subject matters but would like some perspective from your fellow students as well?Those students who are interested in writing interesting and worthwhile essay topics can be assured that there are several methods available. These methods include...* Writing and rewriting your essay based on your own research. Writing based on your own research will definitely make it interesting for your peers and can be a big boost to your self-esteem. But, while this can certainly help make your essay interesting, I would strongly suggest that you should avoid rewrites and focus more on brainstorming with your peers.* Showing your writing to others to see what they think about it. Your writing should speak for itself and you should not spend a lot of time editing or reading criticism in ord er to perfect your writing skills.* Assessing your own work. In other words, critique yourself.* Discussing your essay with others. While reading an interesting essay or two may be fun, it can also help you see your fellow classmates' point of view.* Knowing when to improve your writing skills. A quick internet search of the words 'essay topic ideas'writing skills' will reveal countless sites and e-books dedicated to improving your writing skills and presenting interesting topics and ideas to students.You have just learned about three things which will help you write more interesting and informative essay topics. If you are really determined to make a difference in your classor if you are just learning how to use these techniques properly, I suggest that you start applying them now.

Tips to Write an Essay About Being Absent Minded

Tips to Write an Essay About Being Absent MindedWhat is the essay on being absent minded about? You are probably quite annoyed to be thinking of the title. Well, let me tell you that there are multiple stories on how to write a college essay about being absent minded about.There are a few common stories where someone who knows that he/she is not supposed to be thinking of something other than what is required will just be told off by the teacher for not being able to write the essay, right? It happens all the time. So, if you want to avoid this type of situation then you can do this. Set the assignment to one simple task and do the work right.Writing a college essay about being absent minded about is not easy tasks and you have to keep in mind that many things are required in order to make it worth doing. You will not be able to complete the assignment with any ease if you do not think in the short term and in the long term.There are a number of strategies to choose from when writing a college essay about being absent minded about. One strategy you can try is that if you cannot get out of the room and do something else, find out which other activities will occupy the person for a few minutes. Or if you feel like being active, you can ask yourself if you can spend the afternoon exercising.Whatever you decide to do, do it with complete concentration. The essay should not have any grammatical errors. If it does, do not worry, as the essay is already over with.Another important tip to remember is that you should only copy and paste your work. You may also think of editing it a bit. Be sure to include all of the required information and a summary. Do not let any irrelevant information go to waste.In order to finish your college essay about being absent minded about, you can even use online calculators. These are not always accurate, but they may prove to be a great help. They may also be useful for determining how to use them effectively.

The Battle of Ayn Jalut, 1260 - Mongols vs. Mamluks

The Battle of Ayn Jalut, 1260 - Mongols vs. Mamluks At times in Asian history, circumstances have conspired to bring seemingly unlikely combatants into conflict with one another. One example is the Battle of Talas River (751 A.D.), which pitted the armies of Tang China against the Abbasid Arabs in what is now Kyrgyzstan. Another is the Battle of Ayn Jalut, where in 1260 the seemingly unstoppable Mongol hordes ran up against the Mamluk warrior-slave army of Egypt. In This Corner: The Mongol Empire In 1206, the young Mongol leader Temujin was declared the ruler of all the Mongols; he took the name Genghis Khan (or Chinguz Khan). By the time he died in 1227, Genghis Khan controlled Central Asia from the Pacific coast of Siberia to the Caspian Sea in the west. After Genghis Khans death, his descendants divided the Empire into four separate khanates: the Mongolian homeland, ruled by Tolui Khan; the Empire of the Great Khan (later Yuan China), ruled by Ogedei Khan; the Ilkhanate Khanate of Central Asia and Persia, ruled by Chagatai Khan; and the Khanate of the Golden Horde, which would later include not just Russia but also Hungary and Poland. Each Khan sought to expand his own portion of the empire through further conquests. After all, a prophecy predicted that Genghis Khan and his offspring would one day rule all the people of the felt tents. Of course, they sometimes exceeded this mandate - nobody in Hungary or Poland actually lived a nomadic herding lifestyle. Nominally, at least, the other khans all answered to the Great Khan. In 1251, Ogedei died and his nephew Mongke, Genghiss grandson, became the Great Khan. Mongke Khan appointed his brother Hulagu to head the southwestern horde, the Ilkhanate. He charged Hulagu with the task of conquering the remaining Islamic empires of the Middle East and North Africa. In the Other Corner: The Mamluk Dynasty of Egypt While the Mongols were busy with their ever-expanding empire, the Islamic world was fighting off Christian Crusaders from Europe. The great Muslim general Saladin (Salah al-Din) conquered Egypt in 1169, founding the Ayyubid Dynasty. His descendants used increasing numbers of Mamluk soldiers in their internecine struggles for power. The Mamluks were an elite corps of warrior-slaves, mostly from Turkic or Kurdish Central Asia, but also including some Christians from the Caucasus region of south-eastern Europe. Captured and sold as young boys, they were carefully groomed for life as military men. Being a Mamluk became such an honor that some free-born Egyptians reportedly sold their sons into slavery so that they too could become Mamluks. In the tumultuous times surrounding the Seventh Crusade (which led to the capture of King Louis IX of France by the Egyptians), the Mamluks steadily gained power over their civilian rulers. In 1250, the widow of Ayyubid sultan as-Salih Ayyub married a Mamluk, Emir Aybak, who then became sultan. This was the beginning of the Bahri Mamluk Dynasty, which ruled Egypt until 1517. By 1260, when the Mongols began to threaten Egypt, the Bahri Dynasty was on its third Mamluk sultan, Saif ad-Din Qutuz. Ironically, Qutuz was Turkic (probably a Turkmen), and had become a Mamluk after he was captured and sold into slavery by the Ilkhanate Mongols. Prelude to the Show-down Hulagus campaign to subdue the Islamic lands began with an assault on the infamous Assassins or Hashshashin of Persia. A splinter group of the Ismaili Shia sect, the Hashshashin were based out of a cliff-side fortress called the Alamut, or Eagles Nest. On December 15, 1256, the Mongols captured Alamut and destroyed the power of the Hashshashin. Next, Hulagu Khan and the Ilkhanate army launched their assault on the Islamic heartlands proper with a siege on Baghdad, lasting from January 29 to February 10, 1258. At that time, Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasid caliphate (the same dynasty that had battled the Chinese at Talas River in 751), and the center of the Muslim world. The caliph relied on his belief that the other Islamic powers would come to his aid rather than see Baghdad destroyed. Unfortunately for him, that did not happen. When the city fell, the Mongols sacked and destroyed it, slaughtering hundreds of thousands of civilians and burning down the Grand Library of Baghdad. The victors rolled the caliph inside a rug and trampled him to death with their horses. Baghdad, the flower of Islam, was wrecked. This was the fate of any city that resisted the Mongols, according to Genghis Khans own battle plans. In 1260, the Mongols turned their attention to Syria. After only a seven-day siege, Aleppo fell, and some of the population was massacred. Having seen the destruction of Baghdad and Aleppo, Damascus surrendered to the Mongols without a fight. The center of the Islamic world now drifted south to Cairo. Interestingly enough, during this time the Crusaders controlled several small coastal principalities in the Holy Land. The Mongols approached them, offering an alliance against the Muslims. The Crusaders erstwhile enemies, the Mamluks, also sent emissaries to the Christians offering an alliance against the Mongols. Discerning that the Mongols were a more immediate threat, the Crusader states opted to remain nominally neutral, but agreed to allow the Mamluk armies to pass unhindered through Christian-occupied lands. Hulagu Khan Throws Down the Gauntlet In 1260, Hulagu sent two envoys to Cairo with a threatening letter for the Mamluk sultan. It said, in part: To Qutuz the Mamluk, who fled to escape our swords. You should think of what happened to other countries and submit to us. You have heard how we have conquered a vast empire and have purified the earth of the disorders that tainted it. We have conquered vast areas, massacring all the people. Whither can you flee? What road will you use to escape us? Our horses are swift, our arrows sharp, our swords like thunderbolts, our hearts as hard as the mountains, our soldiers as numerous as the sand. In response, Qutuz had the two ambassadors sliced in half, and set their heads up on the gates of Cairo for all to see. He likely knew that this was the gravest possible insult to the Mongols, who practiced an early form of diplomatic immunity. Fate Intervenes Even as the Mongol emissaries were delivering Hulagus message to Qutuz, Hulagu himself received word that his brother Mongke, the Great Khan, had died. This untimely death set off a succession struggle within the Mongolian royal family. Hulagu had no interest in the Great Khanship himself, but he wanted to see his younger brother  Kublai  installed as the next Great Khan. However, the leader of the Mongol homeland, Toluis son Arik-Boke, called for a quick council (kuriltai) and had himself named Great Khan. As civil strife broke out between the claimants, Hulagu took the bulk of his army north to Azerbaijan, ready to join in the succession fight if necessary. The Mongolian leader left just 20,000 troops under the command of one of his generals, Ketbuqa, to hold the line in Syria and Palestine. Sensing that this was an opportunity not to be lost, Qutuz immediately gathered an army of roughly equal size and marched for Palestine, intent on crushing the Mongol threat. The Battle of Ayn Jalut On September 3, 1260, the two armies met at the  oasis  of Ayn Jalut (meaning The Eye of Goliath or Goliaths Well), in the Jezreel Valley of Palestine. The Mongols had the advantages of self-confidence and hardier horses, but the Mamluks knew the terrain better and had larger (thus faster) steeds. The Mamluks also deployed an early form of firearm, a sort of hand-held cannon, which frightened the Mongol horses. (This tactic cannot have surprised the Mongol riders themselves too greatly, however, since the Chinese had been using  gunpowder weapons  against them for centuries.) Qutuz used a classic Mongol tactic against Ketbuqas troops, and they fell for it. The Mamluks sent out a small portion of their force, which then feigned retreat, drawing the Mongols into an ambush. From the hills, Mamluk warriors poured down on three sides, pinning the Mongols in a withering cross-fire. The Mongols fought back throughout the morning hours, but finally the survivors began to retreat in disorder. Ketbuqa refused to flee in disgrace, and fought on until his horse either stumbled or was shot out from under him. The Mamluks captured the Mongol commander, who warned that they could kill him if they liked, but Be not deceived by this event for one moment, for when the news of my death reaches Hulagu Khan, the ocean of his wrath will boil over, and from Azerbaijan to the gates of Egypt will quake with the hooves of Mongol horses. Qutuz then ordered Ketbuqa beheaded. Sultan Qutuz himself did not survive to return to Cairo in triumph. On the way home, he was assassinated by a group of conspirators led by one of his generals, Baybars. Aftermath of the Battle of Ayn Jalut The Mamluks suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Ayn Jalut, but nearly the entire Mongol contingent was destroyed. This battle was a severe blow to the confidence and reputation of the hordes, which had never suffered such a defeat. Suddenly, they did not seem invincible. Despite the loss, however, the Mongols did not simply fold their tents and go home. Hulagu returned to Syria in 1262, intent on avenging Ketbuqa. However, Berke Khan of the Golden Horde had converted to Islam, and formed an alliance against his uncle Hulagu. He attacked Hulagus forces, promising revenge for the sacking of Baghdad. Although this war among the khanates drew off much of Hulagus strength, he continued to attack the Mamluks, as did his successors. The Ilkhanate Mongols drove towards Cairo in 1281, 1299, 1300, 1303 and 1312. Their only victory was in 1300, but it proved short-lived. Between each attack, the adversaries engaged in espionage, psychological warfare and alliance-building against one another. Finally, in 1323, as the fractious Mongol Empire began to disintegrate, the Khan of the Ilkhanids sued for a peace agreement with the Mamluks. A Turning-Point in History Why were the Mongols never able to defeat the Mamluks, after mowing through most of the known world? Scholars have suggested a number of answers to this puzzle. It may be simply that the internal strife among different branches of the Mongolian Empire prevented them from ever throwing enough riders against the Egyptians. Possibly, the greater professionalism and more advanced weapons of the Mamluks gave them an edge. (However, the Mongols had defeated other well-organized forces, such as the Song Chinese.) The most likely explanation may be that the environment of the Middle East defeated the Mongols. In order to have fresh horses to ride throughout a day-long battle, and also to have horse milk, meat and blood for sustenance, each Mongol fighter had a string of at least six or eight small horses. Multiplied by even the 20,000 troops that Hulagu left behind as a rear guard before Ayn Jalut, that is well over 100,000 horses. Syria and Palestine are famously parched. In order to provide water and fodder for so many horses, the Mongols had to press attacks only in the fall or spring, when the rains brought new grass for their animals to graze on. Even at that, they must have used a lot of energy and time finding grass and water for their ponies. With the bounty of the Nile at their disposal, and much shorter supply-lines, the Mamluks would have been able to bring grain and hay to supplement the sparse pastures of the Holy Land. In the end, it may have been grass, or the lack thereof, combined with internal Mongolian dissension, that saved the last remaining Islamic power from the Mongol hordes. Sources Reuven Amitai-Preiss.  Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War, 1260-1281, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995). Charles J. Halperin. The Kipchack Connection: The Ilkhans, the Mamluks and Ayn Jalut,  Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 63, No. 2 (2000), 229-245. John Joseph Saunders.  The History of the Mongol Conquests, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001). Kenneth M. Setton, Robert Lee Wolff, et al.  A History of the Crusades: The Later Crusades, 1189-1311, (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2005). John Masson Smith, Jr. Ayn Jalut: Mamluk Success or Mongol Failure?,  Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Dec., 1984), 307-345.