The Bonesetters Daughter | Character Analysis

The Bonesetters Daughter | Character Analysis LuLing: Ruths mother. She immigrated to United States from China through her sister, Gao Ling. She shows how her life had changed through her writings in part 2. She is very emotional character who loves and acts passionately Ruth: LuLings daughter (of course). As her mother loses memory, she becomes more considerate about LuLing, and searches for her memory instead. This eventually helps Ruth grow mature and find her own identity. Theme Finding Identity Through searching mothers history, Ruth finds out the background of her immigrant mother. This eventually builds up Ruths maturity and her identity as a Chinese Woman. Chapter Notes Part 1 Chapter 1 Ruth Young lost her faith on August 12th for eight years. It happened first at Arts house in San Francisco. August 12th was a day shooting stars fell. Her mother took this as an omen and told Ruth that they were actually melting ghost bodies. Ruth was a book doctor and she had daughters named Dory and Fia. Ruth always looked her day through fingers of her hands, listing from 1 to 10. One day, Ruth couldnt memorize what nine was. Art, who Ruth had met in a yoga class 10 years ago, complained about making things too much complicated. Ruth finally remembered her number 9 was to take her mother to the doctor. Chapter 2 When Ruth was young, she loved spicy turnips instead of junk food. She had imagined through the limited space, which she continued to present. Everyone looked down at her job, for she made it seem easier. She helped to write The Cult of Personal freedom, The Cult of Compassion, The Cult of Envy, The Biology of Sexual Attraction, The Physic of Human Nature, and The Geography of the Soul to make books more interesting. One of the clients had a pseudonym of Agapi Agnos with real name of Doris DeMatteo. Gideon described her so accommodating that would bend backwad. LuLing was very healthy except that she had a type of memory loss that Ruth thought about taking her to the therapist. She always tried to teach Ruth with Chinese. GaoLing and LuLing were two different women who sometimes fought, and sometimes went along. Two sisters had married to brothers named Edmund and Edwin. Edwin died in a car accident. Luling always lamented on her great husbands death. Her mothers health was getting w orse. Chapter 3 Luling asked about Fia starting sixth grade while it was actually Dory. Luling had forgotten that her cat, Fu-fu, died by a dog. Dr. wHuey examined Luling. On documents, Lulings birth year was 1921, but she told him that its 1916. Ruth got frustrated by the complex questions doctor asked the mother. Luling said she had seen O.J. kill his wife in real life. The doctor suggested that Lulings might have Alzheimers. Ruth told Art about this in Chinese, but her children complained about speaking in Chinese. Arts daughter calls Luling Walpo Ruth remembered her past when her mother talked to her in Chinese. Ruth just decided to be silent while her mothers treated. Lulin brought a sand tray and a brush to make Ruth write. Lulings call Precious Auntie as Doggie and asked for forgivenesss. Ruth invited Miriam, Arts divorced wife, to Moon Festival dinner. Chapter 4 On the night of Full Moon Festival, Ruth excitedly picked a place called Fountain Court, which her mother disliked. Dinner went on as the Chinese style of Thanksgiving. There were Billy with his four children, Sally the aeronautical engineer, and George the Violinist of SF Symphony. None of the children liked the dinner for its looks. Gaoling told people about the incident when Luling persisted to say she had paid the bill. Ruth gave out a speech and presents to her family. Ruth was satisfied with dinner. Luling was in confusion and said Precious Auntie was her real mother. Luling gave Ruth the necklace that Ruth had given her for present. Ruth was about her mothers symptoms. Chapter 5 Ruth insured Luling that she was alright, and Luling said she wasnt afraid of death. Luling now visited her for dinner every day. Ruth realized that her mother was mentally ill. Luling became angry when Ruth treated her as a special client. Luling often threatened to kill herself, as if she had no reason to live on. Ruth hired maids and housekeepers, but they all quitted for Lulings violent behaviors. Ruth had a plan to go to Hawaii within few days, but she decided that she would stay with her mother. One of Ruths clients named Ted fired Ruth as a ghost writer. Ruth went to her mothers house, but she was found through calling cops. LuLing was trying to go to grocery store. Ruth finally asked GaoLing to help take care of her mom. Chapter 6 When Ruth was young, she often thought about death. She and her mother used to live at the flatlands of Berkeley. There was a couple named Lance and Dottie. Ruth had a crush on Lance, who was as handsome as a celebrity. Ruth convinced her mother that she got invited to watch the Wizard of Oz together, Ruth put herself right on toilet which had Lances urine and thought she was going to be pregnant. Dottie found out about this, and the couple divorced in confusion. Ruth apologized to Lance, but Lance tried to rape Ruth. Ruth told her mother that Precious Auntie wanted them to move to San Francisco. Chapter 7 Ruth began to clean the house. Ruth threw away everything her mother had been saving. She found a diary on cupboard. She once got into a huge fight with her mother about smoking cigarettes, which had Ruth to write harsh things on the diary. When Ruth arrived home, she found out that her mother fell off out of window and broke her bodies. Ruth regretted what she had written on the diary. Ruth and LuLing frequently got into fight still. Ruth found mothers writings and decided to translate them to learn more about her past. Part 2 Luling was raised by the Liu Clan within the village called Immortal Heart. Precious Auntie called Luling a doggie. After ancient tree died, the fame of the village had declined. The family was working in ink-making, and was successful enough. About thirty people lived together. Precious Aunties father had a ability of bonesetting to heal bones. He was so good that patient came from everywhere. One day, coffin maker and Baby Uncle saw their fortunes. Precious Auntie was a rooster, while Chang was a snake, which was a great match. Precious Auntie however, turned down Chang to marrie Hu Sen. Chang killed her father during the marriage, and Hu Sen died from Horse kicking him. Precious Auntie tried to commit suicide by drinking burning oil, but it only left her scarred. In 1929, scientist went to Dragon Bone Hill. Rumors said that scientists were buying the bones with a good price. Precious Auntie put back the bones to where they were found. Scientists were looking for Peking Man. Precious Auntie, however, didnt say where the bones were, while everyone was so eager to sell bones. One day, Chang came and LuLing accidently told she knew where the bones were. Few days later, Peking asked LuLing to come over for marriage arrangement. LuLing ignored Precious Aunt and went to Old Widow Laus house for preparation. Even though LuLing felt uncomfortable, she could make everyone happy with the meeting, except for Precious Auntie. Since Changs asked LuLing to be their family, Precious Auntie stopped to help LuLing. Precious Auntie gave LuLing a writing that said how she was LuLings real mother. LuLing, however, couldnt finish it, and never got to discover the truth. Precious Auntie was found dead after LuLing announced her future marriage with the Changs. LuLing, in sadness, cancelled the marriage and left for the End of the World to search for corpse of Precious Auntie. The familys ink shop burnt down by the ghost of Precious Auntie. The officials came to inform father about the damages he had done to the neighbors and asked for payment. Father called for a priest to capture the ghost, and sent LuLing to orphanage to stop ghost from returning. LuLing was influenced by some foreigners in the orphanage that she changed her religion to Christianity. LuLing was one of the few who could read and write, among seventy children. When there was a good weather, Teacher Pan took the girls to Dragon Bone Hill. The girls helped scientists when they were asked to. Precious Auntie had left oracle bone and small photograph of her for LuLing. One day, LuLing found a letter from Gao Ling that she wasnt satisfied with her marriage to Chang. Kai Jing, Teacher Pan, and LuLing made a banner for New Year, and took it to the fair. Kai Jing explained how magnificent the banner was. LuLing fell in love with Kai Jing. LuLing and Kai Jing tried to make love, but the storage room was so filthy. The news that there will soon be a war against Japanese reaches the orphanage. GaoLing came over and talked how the priest was actually a fraud. She stayed at the orphanage, and built a friendship with Sister Yu. LuLing and Kai Jing married. Even though the war was still held, Kai Jing went to dig for dragon bones. He and other men got caught by soldiers to join army against Japanese. They soon found out that Chinese were captured, and soldiers were shot one by one. Japanese soldiers occupied the orphanage and forced men to speak where the communists were. Japanese people kill every single man except for Teacher Pan. LuLing and other girls faked to have diseases with chicken bloods to go to Peking. Teacher Pan and girls continued on with the ink shop to live on. War finally ended in 1945. Miss Grutoff was sick and she needed to go to America for treatment. Gao Ling promised to invite LuLing and followed Miss Grutoff as an assistant. Teacher Pan also planned to marry. LuLing received a letter that Miss Grutoff had died and that LuLing had to wait until Gao Ling became a citizen. LuLing decided to move to cheaper house to support herself until Gao Ling invited her. LuLing had internal conflict of selling oracle bone, but she decided to just keep it. She became a made Miss Patsy and Lady Ina. This improved LuLings English skills. Gao Ling sent a letter indicating their future husbands. Fu Nan came in to ask for money, threatening their situations. With the money LuLing had been earning and by selling the bone, she could buy the ticket and flew to United States. Part 3 Chapter 1 Ruth asked Mr. Tang to translate her mothers paper. She discussed about staying with her mother with Art, who disapproved the plan. Ruth tried to make her mother to draw things that could bring her memory back. Twice a week, Ruth went to Vallejo Street for dinner. Art wanted Ruth back, but Ruth was trying to take care of her mother. Mr. Tang finished his work and gave the paper to Ruth. LuLing actually enjoyed a talk with Mr. Tang. Ruth was surprised by the paper that had been translated. Art suggested moving LuLing to assisted-living residence, but LuLing refused. So they brought up a plan of radon leak to deceive LuLing to move to Mira Mar Manor. Chapter 2 The Young Family gathered to celebrate Gao Lings 77th (or 82nd) birthday. Ruth and Gao Ling talked about LuLings writings. Ruth said LuLing was moving into safer home. Gao Ling explains some stories like how Chang was executed for cheating on people and the origin of name Ruth, which came from Miss Grutoff and Sister Yu. There was also stock market money LuLing had saved for Ruth. LuLing had fallen into the pool and almost drowned herself, which drove Ruth to sadness. Ruth and Art had their anniversary dinner at Brunos supper club. Chapter 3 Ruth visited Asian Art Museum with her mother, Art, and Mr. Tang. Mr. Tang showed the Oracle Bone. LuLings family name was Gu, which meant bone. Ruth finally found that Precious Aunties real name was Gu Lix Xin.

TQM in Accounting Essays -- essays research papers

Accounting 43 Cost Accounting Costs of Total Quality Management Submitted By: August 4, 2004 Morris De Rosa Total Quality Management or TQM is a management strategy to embed awareness of quality in all organizational processes. The philosophy of TQM goes back to the 1940’s when Dr. Deming started his quality endeavors in Japan. TQM is an approach for continuously improving the quality of goods and services delivered through the participation of all levels and functions of the organization. TQM aims to do things right the first time, rather fix problems after they emerge or fester. ‘TQM is a management philosophy which seeks to integrate all organizational functions (marketing, finance, design, engineering, production and customer service†¦) to focus on meeting customers’ needs and organizational objectives)’ (Hammett 1). TQM may operate within quality circles which encourage the meeting of minds of the workforce to improve production and reduce waste. In a manufacturing organization, TQM generally starts by sampling a random selection of the product. The sam ple is then tested for things that matter to the real customers. The causes of any failures are isolated, secondary measures of the production process are designed, and then the causes of the failure are corrected. The statistical distributions of important measurements are tracked. When parts' measures drift out of the error band, the process is fixed. The error band is usually tighter than the failure band. The production process is thereby fixed before failing parts can be produced. It's important to record not just the measurement ranges, but what failures caused them to be chosen (Barfield 306). In that way, cheaper fixes can be substituted later, (say, when the product is redesigned), with no loss of quality. After TQM has been in use, it's very common for parts to be redesigned so that critical measurements either cease to exist, or become much wider. It took a while to develop tests to find emergent problems. One popular test is a "life test" in which the sample pr oduct is operated until a part fails. Another po... ...ld 318). The costs of a quality system must be managed so a reasonable value-to-price-relationship can be achieved. High quality will help a company increase profits through lower costs. It is critical that management focus on long term objectives instead of taking a limited outlook on growth and market share. The strategy of focusing on the customer and quality will equate to greater market share and higher profits. Reducing costs should be part of the continuous improvement process. Strategic cost management is the process of utilizing cost information to formulate and communicate strategies to all levels of the organization. A balance must be obtained to provide the customer with a quality product at a cost that provides for a profit for the company. The potential customer is becoming more and more conscious of quality. It makes sense for a business to cut their costs by improving the quality of the product thereby enhancing the appeal of a product or service in the market pla ce. The challenge is for each business to strive for the kind of business culture that will succeed in spite of the unknown and the unknowable. The quality management philosophy searches for this culture. TQM in Accounting Essays -- essays research papers Accounting 43 Cost Accounting Costs of Total Quality Management Submitted By: August 4, 2004 Morris De Rosa Total Quality Management or TQM is a management strategy to embed awareness of quality in all organizational processes. The philosophy of TQM goes back to the 1940’s when Dr. Deming started his quality endeavors in Japan. TQM is an approach for continuously improving the quality of goods and services delivered through the participation of all levels and functions of the organization. TQM aims to do things right the first time, rather fix problems after they emerge or fester. ‘TQM is a management philosophy which seeks to integrate all organizational functions (marketing, finance, design, engineering, production and customer service†¦) to focus on meeting customers’ needs and organizational objectives)’ (Hammett 1). TQM may operate within quality circles which encourage the meeting of minds of the workforce to improve production and reduce waste. In a manufacturing organization, TQM generally starts by sampling a random selection of the product. The sam ple is then tested for things that matter to the real customers. The causes of any failures are isolated, secondary measures of the production process are designed, and then the causes of the failure are corrected. The statistical distributions of important measurements are tracked. When parts' measures drift out of the error band, the process is fixed. The error band is usually tighter than the failure band. The production process is thereby fixed before failing parts can be produced. It's important to record not just the measurement ranges, but what failures caused them to be chosen (Barfield 306). In that way, cheaper fixes can be substituted later, (say, when the product is redesigned), with no loss of quality. After TQM has been in use, it's very common for parts to be redesigned so that critical measurements either cease to exist, or become much wider. It took a while to develop tests to find emergent problems. One popular test is a "life test" in which the sample pr oduct is operated until a part fails. Another po... ...ld 318). The costs of a quality system must be managed so a reasonable value-to-price-relationship can be achieved. High quality will help a company increase profits through lower costs. It is critical that management focus on long term objectives instead of taking a limited outlook on growth and market share. The strategy of focusing on the customer and quality will equate to greater market share and higher profits. Reducing costs should be part of the continuous improvement process. Strategic cost management is the process of utilizing cost information to formulate and communicate strategies to all levels of the organization. A balance must be obtained to provide the customer with a quality product at a cost that provides for a profit for the company. The potential customer is becoming more and more conscious of quality. It makes sense for a business to cut their costs by improving the quality of the product thereby enhancing the appeal of a product or service in the market pla ce. The challenge is for each business to strive for the kind of business culture that will succeed in spite of the unknown and the unknowable. The quality management philosophy searches for this culture.

Marketing for Volkswagen Essay

Introduction The Volkswagen Group, one of world`s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. The Group operates 48 production plants in thirteen Europe countries and a further six countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Around the world, more than 360,000 employees produce almost 25,400 vehicles or are involved in vehicle-related services each working day. The Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in more than 150 countries. Recently years, global warming has become an international problem. The co2 from the vehicle is one of the most direct courses. Now, as the leader of the automobile manufacturers. Volkswagen pools all of its eco-friendly innovations under an umbrella brand that signifies efficiency: Blue Motion Technologies. This year, the vehicles labeled with Bluemotion tag is going to sell in eastern china and shanghai. Main body 1. Marketing concept of the Volkswagen Shanghai 1.1Original ideals A company always needs original ideals. Especially a big company like Volkswagen. The market changes everyday, people`s consumptive ideas changing everyday also. So, original ideals can help the company catch its old customers and attract new customers. 1.2 Be a civic-minded company Always pay more attention to the environment and do more public activities. Volkswagen is a big company, but also a part of the society. As a automobile manufacturer, should always pay attention to the environment. The vehicles it makes will produce much waste gas. So, pay attention to the environment protection can show the responsibilities of the society and its customers. 1.3Customer-focused Customer is the source of life of the company. A company always needs to take care of the customers. Give them best vehicles, never cheat them. Never let them lose the trust of the company. Good after-sell service is also needed. No one can promise the vehicle won`t have problem after the customer bought it. Fix it and a sincerely apologize can solve many unnecessary problems. Focus on the customer can also make a good benefit. For example, the Touran from Volkswagen has a good humanistic design. This car have a perfect order of its seats. The car itself is not big, but this design makes the space inside much larger than any cars in the same size. This makes Touran be the best choice for the middle class and makes a lot of money for the Volkswagen. 2. Market positioning Eastern China and shanghai is the richest place of China. This part produce the largest part of GDP in China. This is the best place to sell the vehicle with bluemotion technology. But not everyone in eastern China and shanghai will be interested. Here is the positioning of the market. 2.1 Market classify 2.1.1 Market in single people By the great economic growing in China, more and more people can by a private car. This would be a great market for the vehicle with bluemotion technology. 2.1.1.1 Classify by sex Most males have a great interested in the vehicle, a large part of them would like the big vehicle with a strong power. Many cars in Volkswagen, like Lamborghini. A supercar. Many men dreamed to have one. Females would be interest in a small and good looking vehicle. The Volkswagen Beetle`s streamlined outlook and colorful appearance is the best choice for a women. 2.1.1.2 Classify by age In technically, the Volkswagen car is suitable for very level of age, someone who can drive a car. But the main level is the people from 25 to 60, who have ability to buy a car by himself. So, the main market is the adult from 25 to 60. 2.1.1.3Classify by income The vehicles produce by Volkswagen are in the medium and high grade. The bluemotion technology is mainly use in the vehicles better than average. People with low income will not able to afford it. People with high income would like to buy the cars in top grate. So, people`s income between 5000-10,000RMB per month will be interest in the vehicle with bluemotion technology. 2.1.1.4Classify by the road condition Road condition is a major determinant of the vehicles. Road in downtown will be suitable for the vehicles produce by Volkswagen. Countryside is also all right, but not a best choice for it. 2.1.1.5Classify by the occupation Eastern China and shanghai have a large territory and have a big amount of occupations. Most occupations need a transport. Someone who lives away from his company will need a economical and environmental vehicle. The vehicle with bluemotion technology will be their best choice. Above all, a person, no matter a woman or a man, age between 20 to 60, who have a driving ability, can make money between 5000 to 10,000 per month, need a vehicle to go to work and live in a place with good road condition, will be the market of the Volkswagen`s car with bluemotion technology. 2.1.2 Market in public transport 2.1.2.1 Public transport is the mainly transportation in a big city. Most city in eastern China and shanghai have a mature public transport system. Includes: subway, bus, ferry, light railway and taxi. Bus and taxi should use the vehicle and the vehicles with bluemotion technology is the best choice for taxi. 2.1.2.2 Every taxi company have their own needed and choice. Vehicles from Volkswagen with bluemotion technology is suit for the companies which needs lower fuel cost, more steady fuel supply and of course ,better environmental protection. This technology make the car to use diesel oil and make the much lower oil consumption. It also provide lower co2. This is good for the environment . Above all, the taxi company which need needs lower fuel cost, more steady fuel supply and better environment protection will need the vehicle with bluemotion technology . 2.1.3 Market in collective Collective is a big market for vehicle selling. Almost every collective need some vehicles for transport. No meter a factor or a government department. 2.1.3.1 First, a collective should be a large collective that can afford the cost of the cars and the fuel the cars need. This a large money if there is a large amount of cars. 2.1.3.2 Second, the collective should have enough environmental awareness. The main aim of bluemotion is environmental protection. The collective which have environmental awareness will like to try the vehicles with this technology. 2.1.3.3 Third, the collective should have the wish to buy a car. Many collectives have saturated with the cars already. The Volkswagen should find out the collectives which still need cars. Above all, the collectives which have enough fund, environmental awareness and willing to buy a car is the main market for the Volkswagen. 2.2 Market positioning In the end, the main market for the vehicle from Volkswagen with bluemotion technology is: the people no matter a woman or a man, age between 20 to 60, who have a driving ability, can make money between 5000 to 10,000 per month, need a vehicle to go to work and live in a place with good road condition, the taxi company which need needs lower fuel cost, more steady fuel supply and better environment protection, the collectives which have enough fund, environmental awareness and willing to buy a car. Conclusion The Volkswagen should focus on the customers and always have original ideals. The market positioning is also very important. The Volkswagen should always know where the customers are and who is the customer. This will help the Volkswagen to sell the vehicle with bluemotion technology a lot. Reference http://auto.china.com http://www.vw.com.cn

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon According to legend, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, considered one  of the  seven Ancient Wonders of the  World,  were built in the 6th century BCE by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his homesick wife, Amytis. As a Persian princess, Amytis missed the wooded mountains of her youth and thus Nebuchadnezzar built her an oasis in the desert, a building covered with exotic trees and plants,  tiered so  that it  resembled a mountain. The only problem is that archaeologists are not sure that the Hanging Gardens ever really existed. Nebuchadnezzar II and Babylon The city of Babylon was founded around 2300 BCE, or even earlier,  near the  Euphrates River just south of the modern city of Baghdad in  Iraq. Since it was located in the desert, it was built almost entirely out of mud-dried bricks. Since bricks are so easily broken, the city was destroyed a number of times in its history. In the 7th century BCE, Babylonians revolted against their Assyrian ruler. In an attempt to make an example of them, Assyrian King Sennacherib  razed the city of Babylon, completely destroying it.  Eight years later, King Sennacherib was assassinated by his three sons. Interestingly,  one of these sons ordered the reconstruction of Babylon. It wasnt long before Babylon was  once again flourishing and known as a center of learning and culture. It was Nebuchadnezzars father, King Nabopolassar, that liberated Babylon from Assyrian rule. When Nebuchadnezzar II became king in 605 BCE, he was handed a healthy realm, but he wanted more. Nebuchadnezzar  wanted to expand his kingdom in order to make it one of the most powerful city-states of the time. He fought  the Egyptians and the Assyrians and won. He also made  an alliance with the king of Media by marrying his daughter. With these conquests came the spoils of war to which Nebuchadnezzar, during the course of  his 43-year reign,  used to enhance the city of Babylon. He built an enormous ziggurat, the temple of Marduk (Marduk was Babylons patron god). He also built a massive wall around the city, said to be 80 feet thick, wide enough for four-horse chariots to race on. These walls were so large and grand, especially the Ishtar Gate,  that they too were considered one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World until they were bumped off the list by the Lighthouse in Alexandria. Despite these other awesome creations, it was the Hanging Gardens that captured  peoples imagination and remained one of the Wonders of the Ancient World. What Did the Hanging Gardens of Babylon Look Like? It may seem surprising how little we know about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. First, we dont know exactly where it was located. It is said to have been placed close to the Euphrates River for access to water and yet no archeological evidence has been found to prove its exact location. It  remains the only Ancient Wonder whose location has not yet  been found. According to legend, King Nebuchadnezzar II built the Hanging Gardens for his wife Amytis, who missed the cool temperatures, mountainous terrain,  and  beautiful scenery of her homeland in Persia. In comparison, her hot, flat, and dusty new home of Babylon must have seemed completely drab. It is believed that the Hanging Gardens was a tall building, built upon stone (extremely rare for the area), that in some way resembled a mountain, perhaps by having multiple terraces. Located on top of and overhanging the walls (hence the term hanging gardens) were numerous and varied plants and trees. Keeping these exotic plants alive in a desert took a massive amount of water. Thus,  it is said, some sort of engine pumped water up through the building from either a well located below or directly from the river. Amytis could then walk through the rooms of the building, being cooled by the shade as well as the water-tinged air. Didthe Hanging Gardens Ever Really Exist? There is still much debate about the existence of the Hanging Gardens. The Hanging Gardens seem magical in a way, too amazing to have been real. Yet, so many of the other seemingly-unreal structures of Babylon  have been found by archaeologists and proven  to  have really existed. Yet the Hanging Gardens remains aloof. Some archaeologists believe that remains of the ancient structure have been found in the ruins of Babylon. The problem is that these remains are not near the Euphrates River as some descriptions have specified. Also, there is no mention of the Hanging Gardens in any contemporary Babylonian writings. This leads some to believe that the Hanging Gardens were a myth, described only by Greek writers after the fall of Babylon. A new theory, proposed by Dr. Stephanie Dalley of Oxford University, states that there was a mistake made in the past and that the Hanging Gardens were not located in Babylon; instead, they were located in the northern Assyrian city of Ninevah and were built by King Sennacherib. The confusion could have been caused because Ninevah was, at one time,  known as New Babylon. Unfortunately, the ancient ruins of Ninevah are located in a contested and thus dangerous part of Iraq and thus, at least for now, excavations are impossible to conduct. Perhaps one day, we will know the truth about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Research Paper Writing Checklist

Research Paper Writing Checklist A research paper checklist is an essential tool because the task of putting together a quality paper involves many steps. Nobody writes a perfect report in one sitting! Before you get started on your project, you should review the checklist on ​research ethics. Later, once you have finished the final draft of your research paper, you can use this checklist to make sure that you have remembered all the details. Research Paper Checklist First Paragraph and Introduction Yes Needs Work Introductory sentence is interesting The thesis sentence is specific The thesis statement makes a clear declaration that I back up with examples Body Paragraphs Yes Needs Work Does each paragraph begin with a good topic sentence? Do I provide clear evidence to support my thesis? Have I used examples with citations evenly throughout the work? Do my paragraphs flow in a logical manner? Have I used clear transition sentences? Paper Format Yes Needs Work Title page meets assignment requirements Page numbers are in the right location on the page Page numbers start and stop on the right pages Each citation has a bibliography entry In-text citations checked for proper formatting Proofreading Yes Needs Work Ive checked for confusing word errors Ive checked for logical flow My summary restates my thesis in different words Meeting the Assignment Yes Needs Work I mention previous research or positions on this topic My paper is the right length Ive used enough sources Ive included the required variety of source types

Financial Statement Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Financial Statement Analysis - Essay Example The company’s revenue was up and down during period. A clearer picture of these changes is provided in the charts labelled Figure 1. The information in Figure 1 shows that Dixon Retail experience higher levels of turnover in nominal terms than Home Retail during the five year period. The trend was similar up to 2012. However, Home Retail’s revenue continued to decline in 2013 while Dixon Retail’s Revenue increased. When the figures are adjusted for inflation the picture is somewhat different. (See Table 2 in the Appendix.) Figure 2 illustrates the trend for both companies in real terms. The information in Figure 2 shows similar trends for both companies for both companies over the first four years – a slight decline in revenue in real terms between 2009 and 2010; a significant decline between 2010 and 2011; and a moderate decline and increase between 2012 and 2013 for Home Retail and Dixon Retail respectively. A companies cost of sales is the cost of raw materials and other costs necessary to get the goods to the customer. The common size cost of sales for Home Retail group shows a continuous increase from 65.69% of turnover in 2009 to 68.37 in 2013. This is an indication of rising costs of goods without a similar increase in price. The information for Dixon Retail was somewhat different as the common size cost of sales ranged from 92.48% to 94.86%. These two percentages were recorded in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Figure 3 shows the information for both companies. Figure 3 shows a bar graph of common size costs. The graph shows that the common size costs for Home Retail showed an upward trend while that for Dixon Retail remained fairly stable with an obvious slight decline in 2010. A company’s gross profit represents the difference between its sales revenue (turnover) and its cost of sales. The gross profit as a percentage of sales was much higher for Home Retail – above 30% than for

Outline for renewable energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Outline for renewable energy - Essay Example This also ensures energy security. Renewable energy is, therefore, sustainable. Renewable energy also creates employment opportunities due to the fact that the labor and materials needed to establish and sustain renewable energy facilities need workmanship. This also boosts the economies of regions making use of renewable energy sources. Renewable energy is also considered safer, compared to the safety concerns and risks such as explosions associated with fossil fuels and collapsing of coal mines. Before the development and extensive use of coal as a source of energy in the 19th century, almost all the sources of energy that were used were renewable. Wind and solar energy were among some of the oldest sources of renewable energy in history, apart from biomass. European Union countries are considered number two in the world when it comes to developing and applying renewable energy (Bradford 3). These countries include Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal and Lithuania. 20% of Germany’s energy needs, by the end of 2012, were provided by renewable energy. The largest contribution of this was from wind energy. Portugal also heavily relies on renewable sources. In 2010, more than 50% of the electricity generated in the country came from renewable source, with wind energy taking a significant portion. The same could be observed in Spain, with more that 15% of the energy produced in 2010 coming from wind energy. The entire EU hopes to acquire more than 20% of its energy from renewable sources, at least by 2020. This will enable the region to reduce greenhouse emission and lessen its dependence on imported energy. It will also create more employment opportunities, as well as foster technological creativity and