As public pressure for corporate accountability and ethical behavior increases, businesses and industries are putting more emphasis on establishing and publicly sharing their codes of ethics with stakeholders. Businesses adopt these to help guide corporate decision-making, but they can be used against them when businesses stray from their stated codes. For instance, Enron’s 64-page code of ethics was Exhibit #1 at the trial of its CEO, Ken Lay, after the company imploded. Stuart Gilman, president of the Ethics Resource Center in Washington, D.C., said that, for Enron, “ethics was simply a piece of paper with three Ps—print, post [in the company lunchroom], and then pray that something is actually going to happen.”

In order to complete this discussion assignment, you will need to:

Select a company that you are familiar with as a customer, employee, or investor.
Locate a copy of the company’s code of ethics. You can generally find this on their Web site in the “About Us” section of the site. Make sure to get the link/URL for the code of ethics when you are there, because you need to include that link in your initial post.
Do some general research about the company you selected regarding possible activities by the company or its leadership that either violates or supports this code of ethics. You will use this information to support the position you take in your initial post.

In order to complete this discussion assignment, you will need to:

Select a company that you are familiar with as a customer, employee, or investor.
Locate a copy of the company’s code of ethics. You can generally find this on their Web site in the “About Us” section of the site. Make sure to get the link/URL for the code of ethics when you are there, because you need to include that link in your initial post.
Do some general research about the company you selected regarding possible activities by the company or its leadership that either violates or supports this code of ethics. You will use this information to support the position you take in your initial post.

Word totals for this post should be in the 100–200-word range. Whether you agree or disagree, explain why with supporting evidence and concepts from the readings or a related experience. Include a reference, link, or citation when appropriate.

Watch this movies/videos and take brief notes (200 words maximum) on its main points. You can watch item 1 online.
1. “Legacy of a Dream” (a short documentary film on Dr. Martin Luther King): You can watch it online.
2. Analyze the painting known as “American Progress.” It is about what is called “Manifest Destiny.” Include in your analysis any relevant historical facts. Comment on the word “Progress.” In what ways was there “progress” and for whom? Which are the groups that must have seen this phenomenon as the opposite of progress and for what reasons? (250 words)
American Progress painting, Manifest Destiny, Unit 2
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/American_Progress_%28John_Gast_painting%29.jpg (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
You need to see this painting with all of its details clearly visible to get the impact. The smaller image that I could fit on the preceding page has the details, but in a miniature form.

Writing a persuasive recommendation—university tablet computers. Has to be in email format. Doesn’t have to be a full page just enough information to fully answer the question. Provide subject line, salutation, name (mine is Ryan Alvelo) and a complimentary closing.

A friend attends Northern State University (NSU), where all students receive a tablet computer as part of their tuition. Many of the classes at NSU use e-books, which significantly reduce textbook costs. You believe the students at your campus would benefit from the savings as well as the technology. You want to persuade your school’s administration to become a “tablet campus.” However, you predict many objections. The costs to purchase and maintain the tablets are an obvious concern. Other potential problems include theft and misuse. Additionally, some faculty may not want students to be distracted by web browsing and social networking during class. To prepare a persuasive communication, first identify possible concessions or refutations for these and other objections. Then focus on audience benefits and other persuasive strategies you learned in this chapter. Compose a message requesting a meeting to discuss the program in more detail, and then draft a presentation to use during the meeting.

 

Nicholas Carr puts into writing what many may not notice in his piece titled “Is Google Making Us Stupid”. Carr opens with an analogy, quoting from the film “A Space Odessy” when a robot speaking to his human counterpart says “brain. Dave, my mind is going, … I can feel it. I can feel it.” (Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey). Carr relates to that dialogue by responding “I feel it too”. (Carr) He goes on to introduce his main idea, that technology is causing a disconnect between us and our brain. He explains that technology today, particularly speaking about the internet (Thus, Google) is such an essential tool but it has changed how our mind works. Carr gives examples of how his attention span has shortening and how he struggles to maintain focus on long documents or article. He shared some examples of his friends that also support his thesis. Carr chooses to expound of this with another analogy saying that he likens his reading to just zipping across the surface of the ocean with a jet ski rather than diving deep into its depths like a scuba driver would. (Carr). Carr explains that he holds the mind in very high regard and considers education and intellect to be of utmost value. He believes that the internet has changed the way we seek, process, and interpret information. It’s his belief that as the internet expands, it will replace other technologies. He warns that the internet may one day replace the human mind. He fears that we will allow technology to become such a part of our lives that we will lose the mental capacity that makes us human.

I believe Carr’s Article is striking and sobering. The imagery and analogies used by him really put into perspective how serious of an issue this is. Obviously, the topic at hand is personal to Carr and his emotional stance rings clear through every paragraph written. Many different emotions and thoughts come to my mind after reading.
It is a wake-up call to many of us who mindlessly go through the motions every day. Personally, it opened my eyes to how much I use the internet every day. This morning, my alarm clock went off. The alarm clock was my cell phone, through an app that redirected me to local news after I dismissed the alarm. This instance is one of many examples of how the internet is engrained even to very insignificant portions of my life. I’m sure this is the same for many others, too.
It’s concerning to acknowledge how the internet has changed how we process information. For me, that the internet has reshaped mental processes is more bothersome than any other factor. Like Carr, I consider the human mind to be our most prized possession. I’d take a well exercised mind and intellect over material possessions. It’s startling to consider Carr’s valid point of artificial intelligence replacing our own.
What if it were true? If internet continues to grow as is has, and Carr is correct in his prophetic statements about artificial intelligence, will the definite characters of human kind cease? We will still be intelligent, emotional beings who connect with one another on a personal level sharing our thoughts and desires? Or will we be simply networked together by fiberoptics and wireless communication exchanging data and bytes?

Application Opportunities 1-3: Current Cases in Mass Media and Popular Culture
For each Application opportunity, please write a 375 to 425 word response based on the prompts below. You may do one, two, all three, or none, but know that you will need to complete a total of five out of at least eight opportunities that I’ll provide this semester.

1. Use recent ideas about the sports industrial complex to analyze the Colin Kaepernick, athlete protest controversy. How do you see the mass media and popular culture responding to this “crisis in hegemony?” What key terms can you use to make sense of what we are seeing? What about representation of race, class, and gender?

2. Lots of recent TV and Film seems to blur the taken for granted categories of race, class, and gender, or some may simple reproduce the stereotypes and traditional forms of dominance. Choose a show or movie, and describe how you see the race, class, and/or gender representations as either hegemonic or counter-hegemonic, and why. How do they open up or shut down new possibilities for complex person hood?

3. In the political realm, and the news cycle, we see the supreme court controversy and mass protests and arrests over the Kavanaugh appointment, allegations of rape, and his record of 83% of the time voting against the public interest. Where do you see the media leaning right/conservative, supportive of the Drumpf presidency and pick, or where do you see the media leaning left/progressive, calling into question the various trends under this regime? You may also choose the #metoo movement in the news, or the separation of families and immigrant detention centers as they are appearing in the news.

For this assignment, you will be creating a PowerPoint presentation. Three cases are listed below. For each case, you will provide a background and then apply at least the 4 basic ethical principles reviewed thus far in the course; you may research and apply additional ones. For each principle, explain why it was violated in this case. If you do not believe that the principle was violated, explain why. This should not be opinion, but should be your analysis of the cases and the principles; do not use first person.
Your slides should be in presentation format and your text should be in your speaker’s notes. You must include speaker’s notes. Remember to cite your sources.

You will need to research the cases below. Be sure that you are using reliable sources for your information; peer-reviewed articles, academic books, government web pages and documents. You may use newspaper articles, but these should not be your principle and only source to discuss an individual case.

The Tuskegee Experiment
Henrietta Lacks and the development of the HeLa cell line
Nazi Medical Experiments

Persuasive action Speech outline on the promotion of sex education in schools: Please see below for format needed:

Specific Purpose: Formulated into one sentence, the specific purpose identifies the precise response the speaker desires from the audience (change in behavior). Do not use infinitive phrases, i.e., “to inform” or “to persuade.” Place the label for the specific purpose sentence flush with the left margin.

Thesis Sentence: The thesis sentence (addressed to the audience, not the instructor) summarizes everything the speaker intends to say during the speech. Place the label for the thesis sentence flush with the left margin.

The introduction should gain attention, orient the audience by stating the topic, offer a reason for listening, and preview the body of the speech. The introduction (which may be outlined or written word-for-word) is designed to
gain the attention of the audience;
establish the speaker’s credibility; and
orient the audience to the body of the speech.
Do not say “I will tell the story of ____,” or “I will do X, Y, or Z.” Actually outline or write the story here in the Introduction, such as “Have you ever found yourself repeating mistakes you have made before?” Actually outline or write the question here. Enclose transitions within parentheses ( ) on a line or lines separate from the rest of the outline. Transitions may link major sections OR main ideas OR subordinate ideas within the body of the speech.

The body must contain 2-5 main points using patterns of organization covered in the textbook; other patterns of organization must have prior approval by the instructor. Each main point must be well supported by 2-5 1st-order sub-points designed to illustrate the main points (examples, illustrations, facts, quotations, etc.) Don’t overload the audience with information. Move from simple to complex ideas. Move from familiar to unfamiliar ideas. Define your terms.
The body develops your ideas, condenses your thinking and research, ensuring that you have done an adequate job of preparation. The entire outline should contain more material than you have time to use in your speech and must be at least 3 pages in length [2 full + 1 partial). You must use two-five (2-5) main ideas and two-five (2-5) subordinate (sub-points) points for each main point or higher-level sub-point. The conclusion should restate or summarize the main points and communicate a sense of finality (verbally or nonverbally indicate that you have finished talking). You may end with a story or quotation.

The conclusion (which may be outline or written word-for-word) is designed to
provide the audience with a sense of finality,
leave the audience in the proper mood, and
focus the audience’s thinking on your topic.
Bibliography: The bibliography reports where you found the information for your speech. There are two general sources of information: your own personal experience and what you have learned from outside sources (reading or interviewing). You must indicate where you obtained your information. You are expected to provide at least six sources for this speech.
If some of your information came from your own experience, specify that personal experience in the bibliography. For example, “I based this speech on water safety totally upon my personal experience as a lifeguard at Norms’ Resort, Cottage Lake, for the seven summers from 1959 until 1965.” Your personal experience will count as only one of six or more sources of information required.
You must include and cite properly (in APA format) at least one source from the Columbia College library database. Do not use Wikipedia as a source of information. However, if you cite electronic sources, provide enough information so that I could duplicate your search. Include at least the author or editor, title, date, publication medium, publisher, and the Universal Resource Locator, which includes protocol, site, path, and file.

Please see attached file for a previous outline that was completed on the same topic. This will give a better idea of the assignment.

At The Bottom Of Retail Pricing Holes: (https://www.forbes.com/sites/nikkibaird/2018/05/25/at-the-bottom-of-retail-pricing-holes/#1232a54d5fd5)
In this article the author brings up the issues surrounding retailers and the promotions that use to
stimulate sales. The author begins to talk about how she believes a lot of retailers are actually too
reliant on promotions and could be doing a bit more harm than good when it comes to sales. She
suggests that customers have become to expect promotions too much and that the change to targeted
promotions is not causing a significant lift in growth of promotions for retailers. The author spoke with
Justin Sargeant the CEO of Nielson to try and look at promotions in a new way and it is revealing and
fresh to think about targeting blocks of items in this way. Nielson suggests that every item that a retailer
stocks has two elasticities one for the base price that the item is being sold at and one for the
promotional price. The article uses one of the examples we had in class discussing the elasticity of some
items such as gas and how regardless if price is up across the board consumers will still end up buying it
because they need it. Although, the article goes even deeper in that there is a base price and
promotional price matrix that retailers should look at when promoting brands or products. The first one
if low base price low promotional elasticity. This means consumers are going to buy these items no
matter what. Nielson suggests that 57% of grocery items fall into this category, and promotional budgets
should not be used for items like these because they giver margin back to the consumer. Nielson’s study
found that 58% of the most highly promoted items fall into this category so it is actually not helping
sales when grocery stores promote these items to consumers. The next category is high promotional
elasticity and low base price elasticity. These items need to be included in promotional budgets because
the programs will in fact stimulate sales. Retailers need to do a better job of identifying these items
because according to Nielson they total only 7% of items that retailers stock but will do the bulk of the
work in creating a promotional life to sales. The article also talks about a promotional “rules of thumb”
in that 10% of promotions on items deliver the bulk of results when stimulating sales (these 7% of the
items represent this percentage of promotions for this rule), then there is 30% of items do not make
money but also to not lose money, and the remaining 60% of items left are giving away margin back to
the consumer and shouldn’t be promoted. Since only 10% of items deliver a majority of promotional
success it is paramount to identify these items for promotional programs, or a retailer could run the risk
of losing out and promoting items in the undesirable 60%. The next category on the elasticity matrix is
low promotional elasticity and high base price elasticity. These items make up about 20% of retailer
offerings and are usually highly recognizable brands that are bought often. These products are good
candidates for EDLP offerings because the items are well known to consumers, so they are inclined to
buy them already and an EDLP would give them the same feeling of savings that a promotion would but
the retailer can keep more margin on these items because the price is in fact the promotion here. The
last quadrant was high promotional elasticity and high base price elasticity these items are more
seasonal type items in which there is a high demand period for these, but after that period ends
consumers would need a convincing reason to buy these types of items. This quadrant is where a lot of
loss leaders would operate and is a dangerous place to have a high percentage of your offerings in. The
article suggests that retailers need to hold steady and stop the “addiction” of providing promotions to
the 60% of items that are not actually providing any promotional lift. Although, the author also suggests
that this is not an easy thing to do because it could turn consumers off the store and not just the brand.
This ties into class with the BC Ferry case in that the company was struggling to find ways to justify to
consumers the hike in the ride rate and grocery stores could see a similar issue if they were to drastically
change promotional spending on items consumers are used to getting.

Weatherspoon, Dave; et al. “Price and Expenditure Elasticities for Fresh Fruits in an Urban Food Desert,” Urban Studies, June 2012

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/environment/food-agriculture/price-elasticities-fresh-fruit-urban-food-desert

 

This article focuses on “food desert” community who wants to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating more fruits. However, due to having a low income they are not able to afford it. That’s why community leans more towards eating fast food and living an unhealthy lifestyle. The data also showed that if the consumers spent more than the demand for fruits went high. For example, 1 percent rise in spending caused 1 to 2 percent increase in fruit purchase. Similarly, if the prices for fruit went high, then fruit purchase dropped but not as much as the price increase. This shows how demand for fruit is inelastic. The other data talks about the smaller price elasticities and larger expenditure elasticities. Since the price of elasticity directly impacts the demand.  Especially in this community which has most minorities price will play a significant role, compare to average American. This issue can be resolved if local produce provides the quality product with competitive price or an opening additional store to bring more competition. This can help “food desert” community to increase fruit consumption and live a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

profile essay is a portrait of a person, place, event, or thing. It “presents the subject in an entertaining way that conveys its significance, showing us something or someone that we may not have known existed or that we see every day but don’t know much about” (Bullock and Goggin 224). A profile essay is an attempt at showcasing a person, place, event, or thing. A profile essay is not an overt analysis of something (I liked, didn’t like, etc.) Think documentary film or newspaper profile. Use significant details: What or whom is your profile about? Why is a profile on this topic important?
• Always keep in my mind: why does this matter? Or as we sometimes say in the creative writing world: “So what?”
• Organize the profile clearly, stay focused on the significant details
• Remember that writing is a process. Allow yourself to time to interview, research, draft, brew, and stew

Argumentative essay topics
Choose one topic below.
You may also devise your own topic. Have at it!
1. Argue for or against whatever interests you, per the argumentative mode instructions on the previous page.
2. There are some clichéd, stale topics about which you may not write: abortion, marijuana, drinking age, same-sex marriage, the death penalty, and vaccines.
3. Think of something specific and meaningful, whether serious or light-hearted, that you like to debate or about which you are conflicted.
4. Don’t be afraid to tackle a controversial topic. Just handle the subject matter respectfully.
If you can’t think of anything original that you want to write about, then choose one from among the topics below.
● Amazon.com is good / bad for book culture.
● An employer should / should not be able to fire an employee for expressing beliefs and opinions, however abhorrent, in his or her private life.
● The Game of Thrones TV series is better / worse than the books (titled A Song of Ice and Fire, btw).
● Profanity does / does not deleteriously affect children.
● Social Security is / is not doomed.
● So-called “hate groups” should / should not have the right “peaceably to assemble” in public, per the First Amendment.
● American tourists abroad do / do not deserve their reputations as loud and uninformed.
● Cinemas are / are not going extinct.
● Marriage is / is not an obsolete institution.
● Confederate statues should be removed from public parks / should be left up as historical reminders.
● Couples should / should not live together as a compatibility test before getting married.
● The US should / should not preemptively strike North Korea.
● High schools should develop a vocational track for students uninterested in college / should prepare all students for college.
● Contemporary country music is quality / sounds manufactured.
● Tax rates should go up / down for the upper class.
● _____ is the best band or musician of this generation, and here’s why.
● _____ is the best novelist / poet of this generation, and here’s why.
● California community colleges should raise / lower tuition.
● White nationalists are / are not rebranded white supremacists.
● CSUs are better for community college transfers than are UCs, or vice versa. (It’s a competition between the two CA public uni systems, in other words.)
● Non-human mammals (e.g. dogs, pigs, chimps, cattle) do / do not have consciousness.
● The US should / should not merge with Canada and/or Mexico.
● Age gap does / does not matter in romantic relationships.
● Humans did / did not create God.
● The Democratic and Republican parties are fundamentally the same / different.
● California, with English as its official state language, should / should not add Spanish as a second official language.
● Parents should / should not be able to engineer their children genetically.
● Sexual orientation is a choice / is biologically determined. OR Sexual orientation is fixed / fluid.
● Polygyny and/or polyandry should / should not be legal.
● Adolescents should / should not be prescribed medication for hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders.
● The state should / should not intervene to reduce the number of liquor stores and fast food restaurants in impoverished areas.
● Senior citizens over a certain age should / should not be prohibited from driving in urban areas.
● Music education should / should not be funded at the level of athletics.
● Youths of a certain age should / should not be required to do a period of community service.
● High school should / should not increase from 12th grade to 14th grade, after which students would attend college for only two years to receive a bachelor’s degree.
● The homeless should be provided basic food and shelter / should endure the consequences of their life choices.
● Parents should / should not spank their children.
● Food stamp and welfare programs should / should not be reformed.
● It is / isn’t desirable for someone to know when he or she will die.
● Voting does / does not impact modern American society.
● Women should / should not be allowed in combat.
● The government should / should not intervene on behalf of a terminally ill child when the parents’ religion dictates that they use alternative healing methods.
● The 2028 LA Olympics will / won’t be worthwhile for SoCal.
● Hormone tests should / should not be used to separate athletes into male and female categories.
● Girls should / should not be allowed to play on boys’ sports teams.
● Affirmative action in university admissions should be based on economic class / on race.
● Transgendered persons should / should not be able to serve in the military.
● Affirmative action in university admissions does / does not unintentionally discriminate against Asian and Asian-American students.
● The depiction of Jesus as Nordic is / is not historically accurate.
● An actor should / should not be cast to portray a historical figure of a different race.
● Meritocracy in the US is / is not a myth.
● Most US politicians do / do not choose party over country.
● The US should keep / should abolish the Electoral College.
● The US would function better / worse as a parliamentary government than as a republic.
● Couples should / should not sign a prenuptial agreement before getting married.
● Clear affirmative consent should / should not be required of unmarried adults before they have sex.
● Colleges / police departments should conduct investigations into felonies purportedly committed by students.
● Americans who cheer for another World Cup soccer team against the US team are / are not unpatriotic.
● California should / should not secede from the union.
● It is wiser to attend the 10th-ranked university and graduate in the bottom 10% / to attend the 100th-ranked university and graduate in the top 10%.
● Asian students are justifiably / unfairly labeled “the model minority.”
● Adults should / should not be given a test of basic civic awareness before being allowed to vote.
● Prospective parents should / should not get a license before they procreate.
● “War crimes” is / is not an arbitrary label imposed by victors to punish further the vanquished.
● Machines have largely replaced factory workers; advanced computers will / will not soon replace college-educated, service-sector workers, too.
● People do / do not segregate themselves into neighborhoods based on their racial identification.
● Passive resistance does / does not bring about change more effectively than violence.