Critical Analysis Critical Literacy - 888 Words

Critical literacy is the ability to read a text and connect it to a deeper meaning or to a social construct. Elizabeth Bishop (2014) writes, â€Å"Critical literacy uses texts and print skills in ways that enable students to examine the politics of daily life within contemporary society with a view to understanding what it means to locate and actively seek out contradictions within modes of life, theories, and substantive intellectual positions† (p. 52). Bishop is explaining the importance of taking what is discussed in the text and applying and comparing it to the aspects of everyday life as well the set social paradigms of the current and past social constructs. Bishops emphasizes the importance of actively seeking out the differences in opinions and viewpoints of others in order to expand the student’s overall understanding of a subject. According to Giroux, literacy â€Å"is not reduced to learning simply how to read, write, or listen. As part of a broader politi cs of difference, it also serves to focus attention on the importance of acknowledging that meaning is not fixed and that to be literate is to undertake a dialogue with the multiple languages, discourses, and texts of others who speak from different histories, locations, and experiences†(p. 2). Giroux echoes Bishops ideas that critical literacy helps to understand a text across multiple aspects of life and is not a singular fixed message. The pedagogy of Critical Literacy can be broken down into five dimensions:Show MoreRelatedCritical Analysis : Critical Literacy Essay1582 Words   |  7 Pagesoriginality, humor, and positive messages. However, one can also find their subtle meanings of the commercials by using Charles Temple analysis. Charles Temple’s â€Å"Critical Literacy† is used in this context to analyze and better understand the ideas behind the messages conveyed in a particular Coca- Cola advertisement. The ad contains components of â€Å"Critical Literacy† that can be used to better understand the student learning outcome (SLO) by illustrating the feeling of winning, and the student performanceRead MoreDiscourse Features Of Mental Health1658 Words   |  7 Pagesinteraction and of the interaction between other health care professionals and their clients. The research of online community that has gained increased attention by public media and health experts (Wolf et al, 2013) appeared, and there was also critical discourse analysis on the pro-anorexia movement (Knapton, 2013). From these researches, I am able to see that discourse features tend to be different due to different participates, for example, people who are suffering from eating disorder and those who recoveredRead MoreUse Of Technology And Digital Devices2192 Words   |  9 Pagesat how students and teachers view the use of digital devices in classrooms, ethnography using participant observation to assess how students and teachers interact in digital and non digital environments. To further answer this question discourse analysis would be applied to understand how technological devices are viewed and subverted by language. Undertaking this research will allow schools to provide students with the best possible learning tools to potentially enhance their education and prospectsRead MoreEssay on Critical Literacy and Pedagogy1412 Words   |  6 Pagesthat we get our knowledge through, critical literac y is a valuable tool and ability that should be recalled and available for all readers. More specific, it should be transferred by teachers to students in all educational environment. It is an important ability for students to have towards texts. And redefining texts to any devices or materials that we are getting the knowledge from, is the first step toward understanding critical literacy. Beside how critical literacy spreads the awareness of lookingRead MoreLesson Plan: Critical and Response Perspectives1164 Words   |  5 PagesLiterate Environment Analysis Presentation By analyzing the research-based literacy practice that I conducted through this course, I gained many valuable insights about how to create a literate teaching and learning environment. It not only enables me to get to know more about my literacy learners but also how to select appropriate texts, include interactive, critical and response perspective in my literacy instruction. Moreover, I gain insightful feedback from my supportive colleagues by sharingRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography of Articles Related to Media Literacy902 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Boske, C., and McCormack, S. (2011). Building an understanding of the role of media literacy for Latino/a high school students. High School Journal 94(4), pp. 167-186. In a qualitative study of a small group of Latino/a high school students, the researchers found that students perceived negative cultural messages in media they were asked to watch. The messages were not obvious to the teachers who selected the media and who were not part of this ethnic group. The study serves as a cautionaryRead MoreCritical Reflection On The Course Experience Essay1197 Words   |  5 PagesDee Cornell Instructor Thomas Riddle Hum 115 –FJT -06 April 29, 2016 Critical Reflection on the Course Experience in Humanities 115 I have not always been a critical thinker, but throughout my course of study at Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), I have considerably progressed in academic discipline that allows my critical analysis skills from the beginning of the semester flourish to now. Taking Humanities 115, critical thinking enable this success throughout my semester courses. It wasRead MoreA Digital World Of Information And Communication1625 Words   |  7 Pagescommunication, it is imperative for us to begin thinking about reading and literacy in a new way. Our students must be proficient in what scholars describe as â€Å"new literacies.† This relatively new perspective in literacy instruction acknowledges and investigates the literacy practices that are borne out of digital technology (Houtman, 2013). In today’s world, being a proficient learner requires more than the traditional literacy skills of reading and writing. Students must gain adeptness with the toolsRead MoreEvidence Based Medicine, Literature Review1433 Words   |  6 Pagesapplication of their health literacy skills. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which an individual is able to access, understand, and communicate information in order to promote and maintain their health [1]. However, a third of U.S. adults—77 million people—would have difficulty with common health tasks, such as following directions on a prescription drug label or adhering to a childhood immunization schedule with a standardized chart [2]. Limited health literacy has frequently been foundRead MoreReflection About Media Literacy Reflection1416 Words   |  6 PagesMedia Literacy Reflection What was the most useful part of the week for you? Media education is an important aptitude for anybody today, particularly for more youthful ages, who are investing increasingly energy devouring the media. The Kaiser Family Foundation as of late found that people going from 8 to 18 years of age spend a normal of 7 hours and 38 minutes expending media. This is a hour and seventeen minutes longer daily than five years prior, a hop which the Kaiser Family Foundation puts down

René Descartes Argument on the Existence of God Essay

Renà © Descartes Argument on the Existence of God The problem with Renà © Descartes argument about the existence of God has to do with his rationalist deductive reasoning. Descartes deduces that truth about the existence of God lies within his idea of a perfect God and Gods essence (as a perfect being who must exist in order to be perfect). A rationalist philosopher, Descartes discounts human knowledge as a product of our sensory data (our senses) but supports the epistemological stance that our knowledge is obtained through the reasoning processes of our own minds. Because Descartes believes deductive inference is the only path to absolute certainty, he endeavors to use logical arguments and principles (a mathematically natured†¦show more content†¦or exist. He writes, ?What about thinking? Here I make my discovery: thought exists; it alone cannot be separated from me? (65). Descartes deductive arguments about his own existence seem valid and convincing. Once Descartes proves his own existence, he attempts to prove Gods divine attributes by looking at his own creation and origin. Descartes discounts the idea that he created himself by writing, ?if I got my being from myself, . . . I would have given myself all the perfections of which I have some idea; in so doing, I myself would be God? (78). But if Descartes was not responsible for his own creation, who was? He writes, ?because I am a thinking thing and have within me a certain idea of God, it must be granted that what caused me is also a thinking thing and it too has an idea of all the perfections which I attribute to God? (79). He makes this assumption on the basis that ?there must be at least as much in the cause as there is in the effect? (79). This cause-and-effect principle is similar to laws of energy in Chemistry or equal and opposite reactions in Physics. Energy never totally vanishes; it just transforms from one form to another (like kinetic energy to heat energy, etc.). If Descartes parents created Descartes through sexual reproduction, some thinking being must have created them and so on and so on until there is no other being than God, the ?supreme deity, . . . creator of all things other than himself? (73). This logicShow MoreRelatedThomas Aquinas vs. Descarates Essays673 Words   |  3 Pagesphilosophers Thomas Aquinas’s and Rene Descartes used the method of ontological argument for the existence of God and used intuition and reason alone to get to each other’s theory. Rene Descartes wrote out several mediations, but the one we’re going to touch base on is meditation III that he wrote in the 1600’s; While Thomas Aquinas’s wrote his five proofs of God in 1270 that specifies God’s existence in each proof; the one that gives the best argument is the existence of God in his III proof. While bothRead MoreA Brief Look at Rene Descartes829 Words   |  3 Pages Rene Descartes was a brilliant man who came up with many inventions and thoughts to put in people’s minds and let them ponder off and question life in itself. In one of the many things Rene Descartes created, he wrote a book called Discourse on the Method and Meditations. Descartes discusses how there are two main proofs of God’s existence, the casual argument in meditation three and the ontological argument in meditation five. There are a few differences between these two meditations and one isRead MorePropelling Rational Thought Over Compelling Empiricism1459 Words   |  6 Pages In this paper I intend to examine the rationalist philosophy of Rene Descartes and fundamental empiricism of John Locke’s philosophical arguments, in particular their ideas relating to the science of man, his identity and attempt to explain distinctions between the two. As I lay the framework of my argument it is important to understand the precepts that serve as the underpinning for the views considered by Descartes and Locke respectively. Rationalism and empiricism are two modes of thoughtRead MoreDescartes : The Father Of Modern Philosophy1055 Words   |  5 Pagesthe fact that I am something.† (Descartes, â€Å"Meditations on First Philosophy,† 182) Rene Descartes is widely considered the father of modern philosophy. He created many new ideas about the self, which is something that has been contested since the dawn of philosophy. Even now, the world is nowhere near a unified thought on the soul. Descartes is most famous for addressing this, and is often summarized by the famous â€Å"Cogito Ergo Sum (I think, therefore I am)†Descartes offers a great deal of importantRead MoreRene Descartes Ontological Argument957 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Cogito ergo sum† (â€Å"I think, therefore, I am†) (Descartes, Miller, Miller, 1983). Renà © Descartes was a philosopher of the 17th century who made major contributions to the field. Everything from his metaphysical arguments of existence of man to his proofs for the existence of God are still discussed and debated today. In the field of religion, most famous is his Ontological proof for the existence of God. In other words, proof that one can know God a priori, with n o experience whatsoever. FollowingRead MoreAnalyzing the Surprise Ending in Descartes Discourse on the Method and the Meditations1051 Words   |  4 PagesSurprise Ending in Descartes In the book Discourses on the Method and the Meditations, author Rene Descartes famously questions the existence of humanity. His most famous quotation, the one for whom he is most remembered is I think therefore I am (Descartes 11). According to this idea, so long as a being has the ability to think then they existed. Animals have brains and therefore they must exist. In order to truly, exist, to be a thinking entity, a person or organism must utilize the abilityRead More Descartes Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pages In the early 17th century a philosopher named Descartes, questioned his existence. His life was dedicated to the founding of a philosophical and mathematical system in which all sciences were logical. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Descartes was born in 1596 in Touraine, France. His education consisted of attendance to a Jesuit school of La Fleche. He studied a liberal arts program that emphasized philosophy, the humanities, science, and math. He then went on to the University of Poitiers whereRead MoreDescartes and God Essay820 Words   |  4 PagesDescartes and God Everywhere in this world there are debates on many things. Logic is often employed in order to understand and come to an agreement on these debated topics. One such topic, which is arguably the greatest topic of debate occurring in modern day, is the existence of God. Sure, many people believe in some sort of higher being, but how many of them try and use logic and rational thought to prove the existence of God. Many probably, however we will only look at one such person.Read MoreDescartes Mind and Body1480 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’ Mind Body Dualism Rene Descartes’ main purpose is to attempt to prove that the mind that is the soul or the thinking thing is distinct and is separate from the body. This thinking thing was the core of himself, which doubts, believes, reasons, feels and thinks. Descartes considers the body to be an extended unthinking thing; therefore it is possible that one may exist without the other. This view is known as mind-body dualism. He believes that what he is thinking in his mind is what GodRead MoreProposed Seven Philosophers On The Existence Of God And Their Development Of These Ideas1413 Words   |  6 Pagesand (7) Rene DesCartes. The specific three I want to focus on being; St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and Rene Descartes. Lastly, I will proceed to relate their ideas on the existence of God and their development of these ideas. St. Augustine s epistemology is rationalization. In his argument for the existence of God, he is referring to varying degrees of perfection otherwise know as, an Ontological argument. He believed that in pursuing truth, it would lead to the epicenter of all truth, God. Upon

Democratic Government A System Of Checks And Balances

Wichita Area Technical College Democratic Government: A System of Checks and Balances Kyle Wiebe American Government LeArta Watkins 2/11/2016 In America today, most people are familiar with the president and his role in the country. What other people are less familiar with, however, are the other branches of government that play a significant part in the decision-making process of our country. The government is divided into the three branches: the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch. The president, who is the head of the Executive Branch, plays arguable the most important role of any one-person in the United States. However, the Legislative and Judicial branches are very important too. The Founding Fathers created this country’s political system in such a way that the government could operate effectively, but no one branch would have an advantage over the others. Each branch has its own responsibilities, and its power is checked by that of the other branches. The first branch to discuss is the Executive Branch. The Executive Branch is comprised of the President, his cabinet, and other government agencies. One of the President’s main jobs in the White House is to carry out the laws of the country. He is able to do this because he is in control of many governmental agencies; some of these include the CIA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Defense (The Executive). The President can either pass or veto billsShow MoreRelatedThe Constitution Of The United States1593 Words   |  7 PagesConstitution of the United States that established the national government and certain basic fundamental laws apart from guaranteeing some basic rights to the citizens of the United States. The first Constitution of the United States was the Articles of Confederation which had to be ratified in 1781 because the nation was nothing more than a loose confederation of some states each of whom operated like as if they were independent countries. The government at the Center comprised of one legislature, the CongressRead MoreThe And Its Impact On Society1707 W ords   |  7 Pagesgoing through democratization where closed systems are becoming more open. Therefore, now social change is originating from the masses unlike in the past. Today democracy is not just a form of government it is a way of life. For example, a singer that is more popular is also more successful. Large groups of people are what create change. Even capitalism is becoming more democratic. 2. Zakaria defines constitutional liberalism as the goals of government such as protecting the rights of its citizensRead MoreWhat are the key features and limitations of a liberal democratic state?1600 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy is a frequently used word but its meaning is rarely fully understood. A democratic political system is one in which the ultimate political authority is vested in the people. The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos which means the people and kratos which means authority. Democracy first flourished in the ancient polis of Athens, where huge gatherings were held in order to vote on certain issues. Liberalism is a political view that seeks to change the political, economicRead MoreA Presidential System For A Parliamentary System862 Words   |  4 Pages In a presidential system an independent congress from the executive office allows for a wider range of policy to be addressed and passed than that of a parliamentary system. As Mainwaring and Shugart explain because congress is separate from the executive office they can act on legislation deemed necessary rather than worrying about the stability of the government. Thus the priority of congress is exactly what it should be, to purpose and pass legislation, this allows for more serious issued toRead MoreDemocracy Outweighs The Other Forms of Goverment Essay1288 Words   |  6 Pagesof countries shifting to democracy. This transition to democracy has sprung up a debate over its appropriateness as a system of government, with some supporting it as an ideal system while others coining it as the vilest form of government. Although it is argued that democracy and economic growth do not go hand in hand, nevertheless, democracy is not the vilest form of government because it provides better governance, protects individual liberty and rests sovereignty with the people. Firstly, democracyRead MoreDifference Between Democratic And Liberal Views On Governing879 Words   |  4 PagesPaper Two I.) When Schmitt speaks of an identity of governed and governing, he means a system of government in which the mechanisms of the state only carry out the will of the people, without any interference from liberal deliberative bodies or aristocratic political influences. For example, in a democracy possessing the identity of governed and governing, the governing are obligated to only execute the will of the governed, not to pursue autonomous idealistic notions of right action or moralRead MoreThe Constitution Of The United States1632 Words   |  7 Pagescreating a new government for the people of the American colonies. The Founding Fathers first created the Articles of Confederation but after much criticism the Founding Fathers met again and created the Constitution of the United States. The Founding Fathers wanted to form a government that was unlike the British government they broke away from. They set up a government that had checks and balances so that one government branch wo uld not grow too powerful and take over. A federal government and stateRead MoreHow Democratic The European Union1645 Words   |  7 Pagespaper will address the question of how democratic the European Union is by analysing each of its institutions and the decision procedures in the European context. It will take into account the special role of the European Union as â€Å"a system of polycentric governance† (Garner, 2009: 230), and the complex relationships between its institutions and the institutions of its member countries. Hereby taking into account that the â€Å"EU can be characterized as ‘a system of network governance’ in which ‘the ‘‘state’’Read MoreThe U.s. Political System877 Words   |  4 PagesThe U.S. political system was planned out in the Constitution. This is a living document that can be amended and that is still constantly up for interpretation. The document has seven articles that lay out how the government is set up, plus 27 amendments. The first ten amendments make up the Bill of Rights. It is significant that our political system includes the Bill of Rights because it illustrates how we not only set up our government to govern but how we also set it up in a way that inherentlyRead MoreThe Revolution Of The American Revolution Essay1446 Words   |  6 PagesAfter the American Revolution, the formation of a new government was precedent. Federalists were afraid of disorder, anarchy, and chaos; the unchecked power of the masses, and sought for the constitution to create a government distant from popular passions. On the other hand, antifederalists were more concerned about the dangers of concentrated power. Equally, the antifederalists opposed the constitution because of the obstacles between the people and the exercised power, which is why federalists

American Dream or American Damned - 1835 Words

Living the American Dream is becoming something farther and farther out of reach for our society, and many don’t even realize it. The current teenage population is projected to be less successful than their parents are. Poverty circumstances that many citizens are born into are increasingly harder to overcome. How can young adults escape the poverty levels in order to become competitive in the professional world when the opportunities are slimmer than ever? American society is becoming harder for those to get ahead and live the American Dream; living above the status quo takes dedication, perseverance, and tenacity. Poverty has many different meanings throughout the world, to some, poverty is a third-world country; however, in America†¦show more content†¦All throughout the world poverty exists, but it is recognized in many different ways. In third world countries it can be someone who literally has nothing, however in the United States it could be someone going throu gh bankruptcy due to lack of medical insurance or losing their job. A small town in Findlay, Ohio has always had programs in place for those affected by poverty. However, the programs were spread throughout the town making it difficult for those in need to reach them all. In order to fix this problem, they combined all their outreach programs into one building in order to make it much easier for people to reach it. The largest obstacle that those in need of these programs face is being able to have the humility to go and ask for help; some people view this as embarrassing. The programs include medical care with pricing based on income, dental work, career assistance, and also food and clothing donations. Programs like this are beginning to have more and more publicity which opens doors for others to give to them. Although programs like this have their limits, they still help those in need at least get a start towards a better life - and also give them something to hope for. Schools have worked towards reforming their student requirements in order toShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"The American Dream has become a death sentence of drudgery, consumerism, and fatalism: a garage800 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The American Dream has become a death sentence of drudgery, consumerism, and fatalism: a garage sale where the best of the human spirit is bartered away for comfort, obedience and trinkets. Its unequivocally absurd.† –Zoltan Istvan. In both This Side of Paradise and This Beautiful and Damned, F. Scott Fitzgerald comments on the corruption of the American Dream. Throughout the beautiful text and prose of his first and second novels, respectively, Fitzgerald mocks the ghastly nightmare the AmericanRead More Setting and Its Effect on Understanding Young Goodman Brown Essay824 Words   |  4 Pagesin the godless wild. The devil has earned a reputation of being the worst of all tricksters. On the worst night of the year, along the scariest path outside of t he birthplace of American witches, Young Goodman Brown met the devil and the devil played a terrible trick on him, or did he? Whether this apparition was a dream or a reality, the devil cursed Young Goodman Brown with a life long distrust of all those around him for his troubles. The setting of Young Goodman Brown is essential in achievingRead MoreAmerican Dream Failure Essay1092 Words   |  5 PagesFailure of the American Dream The American Dream; a reality chased by Americans for centuries, based on the ideas of liberty, happiness and equal right to success for all. But, for F. Scott Fitzgerald the American Dream was a materialistic world of permanent riches and fortune. This distorted perception of the American Dream, shared by many others, resulted in the failure of the real American Dream, a reality where one can live comfortably and safely. Instead, the American Dream became this unattainableRead MoreAmerican Idealism in F. Scoot Fitzgerald ´s The Great Gatsby847 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Gatsby is in modern times the central artistic expression of the American experience.† According to Ross MacDonald, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, was about â€Å"American idealism destroyed by American greed†. (Thompson p.152) This theme of a misinterpreted American Dream was portrayed throughout what is said to be one of Fitzgerald’s most influential works, The Great G atsby. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in the great capital of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Born into an upper middleRead MoreResponse to Hunter S. Thompsons Ferar and Loathing in Las Vegas1180 Words   |  5 PagesLas Vegas is a travelogue of sorts, due to the blurred lines between fiction and non-fiction, which deeply explores the status of the American Dream during the early 70’s, specifically 1971. Thompson states this purpose within the first three chapters of the book in the line, â€Å"Because I want you to know that we’re on our way to Las Vegas to find the American Dream.† (Famp;L pg 6) Although Thompson states in the beginning of the book that, â€Å"Our trip was different. It was a classic affirmation ofRead MoreAnne Rice: A Brief Biography750 Words   |  3 Pageswritten other books. Rice’s books have sold on the verge of 100 million copies, which placed her amongst the most appreciated authors in American history. Her mate was Stan Rice who breathed his last breath from brain cancer in 2002 at age 60. Anne Rice had two progenies: Michelle Rice, which months before Rice’s daughter became ailing, Rice had a divinatory dream that declared that there was â€Å"something wrong with her blood.† Michelle breathed her last breath from acute granulocytic leukemia onRead MoreFear, Loathing, By Hunter S. Thompson s Novel, Fear And Loathing1390 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Dream is the phrase and trademark of American society today that many hope to achieve in some point in their lives. In Hunter S. Thompson’s novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, readers follow Thompson depicted as Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr. Gonzo in hoping to find the American Dream. It uses Gonzo Journalism, a style that is an adaption of Picaresque narrative to document his drug-induced experiences traveling through 1970’s Las Vegas. The Picaresque novels are composed of first-personRead Mo rePuritanism And Its Impact On Society1508 Words   |  7 PagesEngland in the late 16th century. Nobody could suppose that its followers would define the destiny of the United States of America. Puritanism should be recognized by people as a phenomenon that provided the ethical basis of this country because the American society in a way everyone can see it nowadays takes roots in the times of British colonization. Puritans Migration The teaching of Puritanism arose in the British Isles around 1560, â€Å"when dissident members of the Church of England, still the motherRead More Death Of A Salesman - Minor Characters Essay565 Words   |  3 Pagesrepresent two aspects of Willys ideals. Howard, Willys boss, functions in order to heighten the destruction of Willys dream. The characters Ben, Charley and Howard are influential in the plays outcome and help develop the main character, Willy. Ben is a figment of Willys imagination who represents his idealistic view of prosperity. Ben is symbolic of the success of the American Dream. quot;when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was richquot;(48)Read MoreThe Great Gatsby Modernism1513 Words   |  7 PagesOne strong theme of modernism in literature is the attack and or decline of The American Dream. The American Dream is the idea that everyone, men, and women, have an equal opportunity to achieve wealth, success and or happiness through determination, and hard work, in other words, the pursuit of happiness. Two writers that illustrate this theme of modernism are F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, and Ernest Hemingway, author of The Sun Also Rises. From the outside, one may think The

Food Culture Difference Free Essays

? ? ? ? ? ? Differences Between Chinese and Western Food Culture ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Abstract Food plays an irreplaceable role in the development of society and the progress of human civilization. It is an essential prerequisite for human existence. However, different nations have different food and food habits. We will write a custom essay sample on Food Culture Difference or any similar topic only for you Order Now That is because they have different culture, especially food culture. Only within the context of each individual culture can food and food habits be best understood. This thesis expounds the important function of food culture between different countries’ cultural communication by analyzing Chinese and Western food culture. By examining these differences, we can improve our ability in cultural communication. Food culture is a special cultural phenomenon. By the process of people’s studies, people know food culture from one side to the study of different culture backgrounds, customs and historical environments. This thesis endeavors to analyze the cultural differences and their root causes in Chinese and Western food cultures from the perspective of concept, etiquette and content, and points out that with the development of cross-cultural communication, more communication and interaction will arise between Chinese and western food cultures and they will develop together. Key words: value conception; feature; etiquette; Chinese food culture; western food culture ( : 3-5? , , ; , ; , , ) ? ? , , , , , , , , , : ; ; ; ; ( , 3-5? , , ; , , ) Contents Abstracti ? ? ii 1. Introduction1 2. Different Values in Chinese and Western Food Culture1 . 1 Collectivism in Chinese food culture1 2. 1. 1 Collective orientation1 2. 1. 2 Collective orientation in Chinese food culture2 2. 2 Individualism in western food culture2 2. 2. 1 Individualistic orientation2 2. 2. 2 Individualistic orientation in western food culture3 3. Different Features in Chinese and Western Food Culture3 3. 1 Extravagance in Chine se3 3. 2 Simplicity in western food culture3 4. Different Etiquette in Chinese and Western Food Culture4 4. 1 Different time-conceptions in Chinese and western food culture4 4. 1. 1 â€Å"M-time† and â€Å"P-time†4 4. 1. 2 Lateness in Chinese food culture4 . 1. 3 Punctuality in western food culture5 4. 2 Different seating arrangement5 4. 2. 1 The south and north seating arrangement in Chinese food culture5 4. 2. 2 The right and left seating arrangement in western food culture6 5. Different Consents in Chinese and Western Food Culture6 5. 1 Different drink in Chinese and western food culture6 5. 1. 1 Liquor and tea in Chinese food culture6 5. 1. 2 The wine and beer in western countries7 5. 2 Different main food in Chinese and western food culture7 5. 3 Different banquet course in Chinese and western food culture8 5. . 1 Banquet course in China8 5. 3. 2 Banquet course in western food culture8 5. 4 Different tableware in Chinese and western food culture9 5. 4. 1 Chopstick s in Chinese food culture9 5. 4. 2 Fork and knife in western food culture9 5. 5 Different cuisine naming10 5. 5. 1 Cuisine naming in China10 5. 5. 2 Cuisine naming in western food culture11 5. 6 Different healthy conceptions in Chinese and western food culture11 5. 6. 1 Healthy conception in Chinese food culture11 5. 6. 2 Healthy Conception in western food cultures12 6. Conclusion13 Bibliography14 Acknowledgements15 : , ;1. 5 ? : ( ) , , , ; ? , ; ? 1. Introduction Culture is a historical phenomenon. It is the summation of civilization and a mental picture which can be created in the progress of a nation’s development. This thesis expounds the important function of food culture between different cultures by analyzing Chinese food and Western food. By examining these differences, we can improve our ability in cultural communication. The contact between different countries becomes much tighter through the incorporation of a global economy. At the same time, the cultural communications become more important in the big distance between these two cultures. The distinction between cultural communications become more and more evident and the study of Chinese and Western food culture is an important part of it. Food is a special phenomenon, people having knowledge of food from one side of the study of different cultural backgrounds, customs and historical environment by study. We all know that different nations have different cultures. This thesis focuses on the different food cultures in Chinese and western countries. Chinese food culture in this thesis mainly refers to the one in the Han nationality. As we know, China is a nation with 56 ethnic groups, each of which has its own unique food and food habits. The Han nationality and its culture are the mainstream in China due to historical, political and economic reasons. Western food culture in this thesis is mainly concerned with the British one due to the fact that its cultural pattern and influence have become dominant in the west, which is generally recognized by the world. 2. Different Values in Chinese and Western Food Culture 2. 1 Collectivism in Chinese food culture 2. 1. 1 Collective orientation In China, collective orientation with deep roots can be traced back to ancient time. Confucius points out, â€Å"If one wants to establish himself, he should help others to establish themselves at first. † in which collectivism is appreciated. â€Å"Even the dog swaggers when its master wins favor† shows the fact that everything in China is branded with collectivism. In such collectivistic culture, a â€Å"we† consciousness prevails, and people are expected to be interdependent and show conformity to the group’s norms and values. Group goals usually take precedent over individual goals, and the primary value is to seek harmony with others. Actually, group harmony is so highly valued that obedience to, and compliance with, in groups pressures is routine. (Neuliep, 2000:33) 2. 1. 2 Collective orientation in Chinese food culture This collectivistic orientation also plays an important role in Chinese food culture. Normally, Chinese people would like to take the style of â€Å"sharing† when they have a dinner together, whether at home with family members or outside with friends. As Vera Y. N. Hsu describes, â€Å"The typical Chinese dining table is round or square. The ts’ai dishes are laid in the center, and each participant in the meal is equipped with a bowl of â€Å"fan†, a pair of chopsticks, a saucer, and a spoon. All at a table take from the ts’ai dishes as they proceed with the meal. Good eating manners require each participant take equally from the different ts’ai dishes, so that all will have an equal chance at all the dishes. † (Chang, 1977:304) When the dinner starts, the host usually shows a menu to guests asking them to order the dish they like before making the final decision. When a dinner comes to an end, participants always strive to pay the bill unless someone has claimed it in advance. The â€Å"truth of sharing† reflects almost everywhere from the dinner start to the end. 2. 2 Individualism in western food culture 2. 2. 1 Individualistic orientation It is well known that Great Britain tends toward individualism. Individualism refers to the doctrine, spelled out in detail by the seventeenth-century English philosopher John Locke, that each individual is unique, special, completely different from all other individuals, and â€Å"the basic unit of nature†. (Samovar 2000:62) Therefore, in individualistic culture, an â€Å"I† consciousness prevails, and emphasis is placed on an individual goal over group goals. This value orientation stresses individual initiative and achievement, and individual decision-making is highly appreciated. 2. 2. 2 Individualistic orientation in western food culture Western food culture is characterized by the â€Å"separated’ style because of the great influence of the individualistic orientation. It is contrary to the â€Å"sharing† style in Chinese food culture in many ways. For example, westerners do not take the ts’ai dishes from the public plate, but have separate individual plates. The way of â€Å"going Dutch† is widely taken when the bill is to be paid, which means everyone pays his own share. The role of individualism in Western food culture is obvious and its influence is self-evident. 3. Different Features in Chinese and Western Food Culture 3. 1 Extravagance in Chinese Chinese food culture is probably much older than any other kind of food cultures. Few cultures are as food oriented as Chinese culture. The most common example is the greeting used among Chinese people when they encounter: â€Å"Have you eaten? † food plays so important a role in people’s daily life that it inevitably becomes an ostentatious way because of face (or â€Å"mianzi† in China). So the extravagance and exquisiteness become the main features of Chinese food. Face in China involves a claim for respect and dignity from others. Losing one’s face is one of the worst ways to injure one’s self-esteem. The banquet is also influenced by the â€Å"face† system. They are no longer a social occasion just for meeting or eating, but to some extent, a good chance for the host to show off his power and earn his face. The more expensive or precious the food is, the more dignity the host has, the more the quantity of dishes in a banquet, the warmer hospitality can be shown, and the more â€Å"face† he can earn. In this sense, formal banquets in China have one thing in common: there should be more than enough food on the table. Otherwise the host will lose face. That leads directly to the extravagant food culture. 3. 2 Simplicity in western food culture Compared with extravagant banquets in China, the scale of banquets in western countries is much smaller. That is because the belief in food in western countries is mainly focused on function as necessity for human beings survival or a way of communication. For example, in a party, the host usually does not prepare food and drinks and serves some simple food only like cheese, sandwiches, fruits etc. For most Westerners, this is a good opportunity for communication and reunion, or a great occasion where they can strengthen relationships and make new friends. What they actually care about is the casual, harmonious and joyous atmosphere, the maximum freedom and relaxation they can enjoy at the banquet. 4. Different Etiquette in Chinese and Western Food Culture 4. 1 Different time-conceptions in Chinese and western food culture 4. 1. â€Å"M-time† and â€Å"P-time† Edward T. Hall, who is well known for his discussion of time across cultures, proposes that cultures organize time in one of two ways: either monochronic (M-time) or polychronic (P-time) (Hall, 1989:46). He also points out that M-time is the characteristic of people from western countries, while P-time is the characteristic of people from Asia, Africa and Latin Amer ica ( ,1999:93). The two conceptions are incompatible. We can see the sharp contrast between P-time and M-time from the lateness in Chinese food culture and the punctuality in western food culture. . 1. 2 Lateness in Chinese food culture People in the P-time cultures do not emphasize scheduling by separating time into fixed segments. They treat time as a less tangible medium so that they can interact with more than one person or do more than one thing at a time. Therefore, in these cultures, personal interaction and relationship developments are far more important than making appointments or meeting deadline. China is a country with P-time. Chinese people are usually a little later than what is scheduled when participating in some activities like banquets. Normally, they would be half an hour late. The host will arrange some entertainments, such as playing cards or chatting. Tea and various desserts like candy, cakes etc. are served for the guests who have arrived on time to kill time. Both the host and guest get used to that and would not interpret this kind of lateness as an impolite behavior. However, this conception changes sometimes. With the development of cross-cultural communication, more and more Chinese people, especially the young, are gradually influenced by the M-time in western countries. 4. 1. 3 Punctuality in western food culture Unlike Chinese people, people in M-time cultures tend to follow precise scheduling. Once the time is set, it is rarely changed, and people should take it seriously. Usually, everyone is supposed to arrive on time when attending a formal meeting or banquet. It is also acceptable that people can be a little late sometimes, but no more than 10 minutes, otherwise this behavior will be regarded as inappropriate by both the host and other guests, and one will have to give a proper explanation. The one who violates the rule of punctuality shall be punished seriously in M-time culture. 4. Different seating arrangement Samovar pointed out that â€Å"Culture influences even the manner and meaning in seating arrangement†. So seating arrangement is an important means of giving different explanations on social status or interpersonal relations. With regard to seating arrangement in a banquet, there exist some major distinctive disparities between Chinese and Western food culture. 4. 2. 1 T he South and north seating arrangement in Chinese food culture In China, the seat facing south in a banquet is usually regarded as the most important, while the seat facing north is comparatively less important. It is because of traditional Chinese culture. China is an old country with a long history of more than five thousand years. There used to be many dynasties. Whatever the dynasty, the emperor always sat with facing south during the ceremony of the royal inauguration or in the process of discussing governmental affairs with ministers. On the other hand, the ministers were all facing north when they met the emperor. Gradually, the word â€Å"south† has been elevated into a position relatively high in Chinese people’s minds, and it symbolizes the supreme authority, power and position. By contrast, the position of the word â€Å"north† is much lower. Therefore, in a formal banquet, the seats that face south undoubtedly will be reserved for those who are respectable or powerful. 4. 2. 2 The right and left seating arrangement in western food culture In Western countries, the seating arrangement is quite different. In the past, the most distinguished guest was seated on the left side of the host. The reason is that in ancient times there were many assassinations for political and social reasons, and assassins held daggers in their right hands to attack. It was convenient and easier for the host to protect the guest who was on his left hand when the assassin attacked. However, with the development of civilization, this old style of assassination has been extinct for a long time and the seating arrangement also changed. Nowadays, what Westerners are most concerned about is the perspective of psychological need instead of physical security when they arrange seats in a banquet. The result is that the seat at the right side of the host is more honorable than the one on the left side in the widely recognized rule. 5. Different Consents in Chinese and Western Food Culture . 1 Different drink in Chinese and western food culture 5. 1. 1 Liquor and tea in Chinese food culture Liquor and tea are two kinds of main drinks in Han nationality. It is known to all that China is the hometown of tea, and one of the countries which invented the earliest brew technology in the world. Wine culture and tea culture have long history in China and they have become an essential part of Han national food culture in the past thousands of years. They greatly influence other countries all over the world. There are many kinds of tea and liquor in China. Different kinds of tea and liquor have different functions, so people drink different tea and liquor in different seasons to keep healthy. Normally, people drink three kinds of tea in four seasons. In spring and autumn, people drink tea, which was made of various flowers to make them more beautiful and active. In summer, green tea is the best choice. It is a special kind of healthy drink and has many unique functions, such as refreshing oneself, removing strain, preventing heatstroke, cooling, caring for eyes etc. Most people choose black tea in winter because it is fermenting and not belonging to cold. It can not only foster your stomach, promote digestion and your appetite but also help to strengthen the cardiac muscles. Chinese people always drink beer in hot summer and liquor in winter. Liquor has thousands of year’s history in China and it creates a unique style in the world. It is fragrantly pure and has flavors. Drinking a small cup of liquor everyday could promote digestion, whet appetite and keeps one warm. 5. 1. 2 The wine and beer in western countries The grape wine and beer are common drink in western countries. People in some cold area even drink sherry everyday to keep themselves warm. In Britain, bars meet your eyes everywhere on the streets and become second living rooms. The British are experts in drinking and beer is their favorite drink. Normally, there are three kinds of beer which are divided by flavor: Bitter, Lager and Cider. In recent years, it has come into vogue to drink wine and the wine consumption in Britain is the greatest in the world. Simultaneously, juice is also a very popular drink in western countries. Usually people drink juice at breakfast. Juice gets unique welcome in Britain, the annual average consumption amounts to 19. 1 liters in Britain. 5. Different main food in Chinese and western food culture Rice and cooked wheaten food are two main staple foods in the Han nationality. The southern and northern regions cultivate rice, and rice has become the main nourishment in these areas. The northeast and northwest regions cultivate wheat and give first place to cooked wheaten food. Also, other kinds of cereals like maize, Kaoliang, grain, tuber crop have become staple food, in different areas as well as coarse cereals. The Han nationality’s staple foods have colorful and various cooking methods and has hundreds of kinds of rice and wheat products. Nowadays, the northeast regions in China still give first place to cooked wheaten food. Meat, milk and bread are the staple food in western countries. A common meal usually consists of soup, bread and butter. There are also various roasted foods besides the brown bread. Another staple food in Western countries is the potato. To westerners, potato is as important as rice to Chinese. You can often see that the British move packages of potatoes in shopping carts in the supermarket just like Chinese people buying rice. 5. 3 Different banquet course in Chinese and western food culture 5. 3. Banquet course in China Generally speaking, a formal banquet in China consists of six major courses served in turn, including a hand plate, cold dish, hot dish, staple food, soup and dessert. A hand plate is for the guests who come early. Traditionally, it usually consists of candied fruit, traditional cake, but now, tea and melon seeds. I have mentioned that lateness is the traditional time conception in China. The hand plate is made ready for the guests and host when they chat or play cards to wait for other guests. Cold dishes are often served as the beginning of a banquet, which usually consists of a ariety of small dishes and snacks. Actually, a cold dish is not for food but for beauty. Then, come the hot dishes, which are the most weighty and richest part of the whole. Staple food is also an indispensable component, which is rice or noodle in most cases. Soup is another important course. Unlike a western banquet, Chinese soup comes as a later course but not at first. Finally, comes dessert, which is composed of various finely made cakes, nuts, pastry, fruits etc. Only after the six courses are served will a formal Chinese banquet have come to an end. It is also interesting to note that different from Chinese banquets which tend to break up immediately after the last course is served, Westerners may linger for hours after the completed meal in elevated and animated discussions. 5. 3. 2 Banquet course in Western food culture A formal banquet in western countries usually comprises four major courses, including soup, a subsidiary dish, a main dish and dessert. Soup is the first course, probably because westerners want to refresh themselves with some soup before the meal, and taking soup will help to whet their appetites. The subsidiary dish is the second course. It is usually composed of various types of fish for fish is easy to digest. The main dish is a heavy weight in a Western banquet, and it is often composed of meat, especially beef sticks or fish together with vegetables. Salad, which is composed of lettuce, tomato, cucumber and asparagus etc. dessert come lastly. Western dessert includes all food after the main dish, such as cakes, biscuits, cheese, pies, pudding, fruits, ice cream etc. Sometimes, people drink coffee or tea with sugar and milk while they have dessert. 5. 4 Different tableware in Chinese and western food culture 5. 4. Chopsticks in Chinese food culture In China it is usually thought that people are an inherent part of nature. Many scholars pointed out that the traditional attitude of Chinese people toward universe or nature is â€Å"Oneness between Man and Nature. ( )† ( , 1997:59) Under the influence of this orientation, Chinese people attempt a balanced act with nature and try to live in harmony with it. Chin a is also a traditionally agricultural country. Since Chinese people mainly live on rice and wheat as their staple food by cultivating the farmland, the harvest of the crops depends on nature. Therefore, in such cultural context and natural environment, people tend to live and work in peace. The application of chopsticks as the chief tableware can be traced back as early as the Shang and Chou periods, although hands were probably used more often than chopsticks (Chang, 1977:35). When Chinese people use chopsticks, they usually appear to be cultivated and their attitudes toward food are gentle and kind. Roland Barthes, a famous French literary critic, once talked about the usage of chopsticks, and he remarked that unlike fork and knife, chopsticks were not used to cut, poke or stab food. Therefore, â€Å"food was no longer the prey suffering the human beings’ violence but turned out to be the substance passed harmoniously through them. † ( , 2002:74) In this sense, chopsticks are the gentle medium between man and food, and they reflect the harmonious relationship between man and nature. 5. 4. 2 Fork and knife in western food culture Many Westerners think that people are dominant over nature. Quite different from China, the ancestors of many western countries lived by hunting due to some ecological and historical factors. Of course, meat was their basic food source and gradually took the place of staple food. In order to survive in severe and harsh environments, they tried their best to be good at hunting, such as the use of some weapons like knives, forks and arrows etc to fight with or kill animals. That resulted in the aggressiveness and the adventurous sense in their temperaments. Compared with chopsticks, it is not exaggerating at all to say that knife and fork represent the violence and cruelty to food without any concealment. The way of eating in western countries actually reflects human’s conquest over nature. 5. 5 Different cuisine naming 5. 5. 1 Cuisine naming in China Cuisine naming in China differs from place to place. Generally speaking, there are three kinds of cuisine naming in China. The first cuisine naming method is, according to Professor Wang Fengxin’s research, the name of an ordinary Chinese dish usually contains four parts: main ingredients, subsidiary ingredients, way of cutting and way of cooking. They constitute the primary motivation of Chinese cuisine naming. (Wang, 1999:220) He also believes that the naming of Chinese home-style cuisine is based on the primary motivation. Take the Chinese cuisine â€Å" , Stir-fried Shredded Pork with Green Pepper† for example, its main raw material is â€Å"? ,pork†; its subsidiary raw material is â€Å" green pepper†; the result of cutting is â€Å"? , shred†, and its way of cooking is â€Å"? , stir-fried†. Certainly, not every Chinese cuisine naming should follow the pattern of â€Å"main ingredients—subsidiary ingredients— cutting method — cooking method†. For example, †Å" , Fried Scrambled Eggs with Tomato† is the pattern of â€Å"main ingredients—subsidiary ingredients— cooking method†. The second cuisine naming method is: usually, Chinese people eat for not only consumption but also many other purposes. In such a situation, they would like to have more refined and graceful names than the plain names for the food served. The secondary naming method consists of the initiator’s name, the animal’s name and the plant’s name. As a matter of fact, Chinese cuisine naming after initiator’s name usually involves much Chinese culture or historical information and the cuisine naming after the animal’s name or plant’s name may give rise to cultural implications. For example, Chinese people will naturally associate â€Å" , Dongpo Meat† with Su Dongpo, the initiator of this dish, who was a famous poet in Song Dynasty. It is said that Su Dongpo created this dish when he was relegated to a local government. He did many good things for the local people, so they decided to give the dish a name after him as a kind of commemoration. The cuisine â€Å" , Lotus Soup†, will remind Chinese people of lotus, which has been taken as a noble plant for its purity and freedom from dirt. Actually, it is a kind of soup which is made with eggs. In Chinese cuisine naming, â€Å" † stands for egg-white because of its shape and color. The third cuisine naming method is: in order to attract more customers, some restaurants or hotels give some common dishes very fantastic names, which originate from some Chinese legends or allusions. For example, the cuisine name â€Å" , Turtle and Chicken Meat† originates from a famous historical allusion in ancient times that a famous general was surrounded by his enemy and had to bid an emotional farewell to his beloved concubine. Although the name is really attractive, the content is nothing new at all. 5. 5. 2 Cuisine naming in western food culture The feature of cuisine naming in Western countries is straightforward, which is similar to the first cuisine naming method in China. Time is money in Western people’s eyes, and they think people should not waste too much time on trivial things like eating and dining. Therefore, from this point of view, the first and foremost requirement for the cuisine naming should be straightforward and simple. For example, â€Å"Black Pepper Steak, † , â€Å"Stewed Seafood Combination with Lobster Sauce, † etc. You can easily perceive the meaning of the cuisine and know what it is. Sometimes, even the name of some restaurants, such as â€Å"KFC† (Kentucky Fried Chicken) will reveal the information about the cuisine they serve. Undoubtedly, straightforwardness is much more suitable to the Westerners for their fast pace of cooking and living. 5. Different healthy conceptions in Chinese and western food culture 5. 6. 1 Healthy conception in Chinese food culture Chinese food and drink usually contains little sugar, which will not lead to getting fat. But there are more and more fat people in China while our living standard has improved. China enjoys a good reputation for its plentiful and splendid cuisine. Chinese people have many complex coo king methods, such as braising, boiling, braising with soy sauce, roasting, baking, grilling, scalding, deep-frying, steaming, drying, salt-preserving etc. (? ,? , ,? ,? ,? ,? ,? ,? ,? , and the Chinese cuisine is always exquisite and tastes excellent. But much nutrition is destroyed because of such complex cooking methods. Simultaneously, Chinese people share dishes when they have a meal. Everyone’s chopsticks touch the same dish and that highly increases the probability of hepatitis. 5. 6. 2 Healthy Conception in western food cultures Nutrition and balance are greatly cared for by westerners when they have a meal. An interesting phenomenon in western countries is the nutritional information on the food label, by which people’s concern about nutrition is clearly reflected. A look at information like the number of calories per serving, grams of fat, sodium, fiber and sugar content will make you more knowledgeable in selecting foods to reduce your nutritional health risk. In addition, the balance in diet structure is also essential to Westerners. Nowadays, more and more westerners are starting to worry about their weight for their diet containing too many calories. This is evident in menus in many restaurants offering â€Å"low calorie† or â€Å"weight watchers† meal. The vegetable and fruit salad served to westerners all year around because they have low calories and high vitamin. In conclusion, it is by the influence of pragmatism that westerners are inclined to take the food into consideration basically from the nutritional perspective. In their eyes, food or eating is just a way to keep health and thus what the westerners care about most is the nutrition contained in food and the balance of the whole structure. When they have a meal, they use separate plates for each other, which usefully guard against the probability infection. 6. Conclusion By comparison and analysis we have made so far, one conclusion may be drawn that Chinese and Western food culture reflect each other’s cultures with their own unique features. They are neither superior nor inferior to the other and should deserve the same respect from each other. Certainly, for the process of globalization, Chinese and Western food cultures do not exist in isolation. It is well known that globalization has been becoming an inevitable trend around the world and an inexorable force to influence people’s life in almost every aspect. In other words, the wheel of human history has moved as inexorably forward from isolation to integration. Due to the open policy, Chinese people and Chinese culture have more and more chances of contact with foreigners and foreign cultures. People of different cultures can learn from each other. When Chinese culture is learning or adopting something new or different from foreign cultures, we should remember that Chinese culture is also being learnt and adopted by them at the same time. A good case in point is that, nowadays, more and more people , especially the young people, have been fond of the typical western fast food like KFC or Macdonald’s, while on the other hand, more and more Chinese foods have been welcomed by foreigners, and it is said that where there are people, there are Chinese restaurants. In a word, Chinese and Western food culture will develop together by the cross-cultural communication. Bibliography [1] Chang, K. C. Food in Chinese Culture: Anthropological and Historical Perspective [M]. USA: The Vail-Ballou Press Inc. , 1977:35~304 [2] Chen, G. M. Starosta, W. J. Foundations of Intercultural Communication [M]. USA: Allyn Bacon Press, 1998: 3 [3] Hall, E. T. Beyond Culture [M]. New York: Anchor Books, 1989: 46 [4] Neuliep, J. W. Intercultural Communication: A Context Approach [M]. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000: 33 [5] Samovar, L. A. Porter R. E. Intercultural Communication: A Reader [M]. USA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2000: 62 [6] Samovar, L. A. , Porter R. E. Stefani L. A. Communication Between Cultures [M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching Research Press, 2000:165 [7] Wang Fengxin. The Cultural Implication of the Chinese Cuisine Naming [M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching Research Press, 1999: 220~222 [8] . [M]. : ,1999: 93 [9] . [M]. : , 1995: 59 [10] . [M]. : 2006: 203 [11] . —— [M]. : , 2002: 74 [12] . [M]. ,2004: 16 [13] , . [M]. : ,2006: 8 [14] . [OL]. http://www. wfcyw. com/cywh/yswh/ 200608/22. html, 2007-04-16/2007-05-4. [15] . [OL]. http://www. ilib. cn/A-bflc 2003 02028. html, 2007-03-16/2007-04-08. Acknowledgements The thesis has been completed. I want to express my gratitude to my tutor *******. I received Mr. Zhang’s instruction in the writing of the thesis many times. I appreciate the tutor’s concentrated guidance and help not only in the selection of m y title, required materials of the thesis, but also in the research writing. I can say that it is very difficult to have completed the thesis without his guidance. I wish to take this opportunity to express the hearty thanks to his advice. I want to express sincere gratitude to teachers and friends who cared about and supported my thesis. Here, I appreciate my classmates who helped out with my thesis. Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to Mr. Zhang again for his careful instruction of my thesis. ———————– Times New Roman? , , Times New Roman 1. 5 4-5 Times New Roman , Times New Roman â€Å"Key words:† , 1. 5 â€Å" :† , Times New Roman Times New Roman Times New Roman Times New Roman Times New Roman ( ); Times New Roman 1. 5 4~5 ( ) Times New Roman Times New Roman ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )? : , , ( ) Times New Roman 1. 5 Times New Roman Times New Roman 1. 5 4~5 Times New Roman How to cite Food Culture Difference, Essays

Strategic Management Formulation - Implementation - and Control

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Management for Formulation, Implementation, and Control. Answer: Introduction Amcor limited is a public limited manufacture company. It produces and sells large variety of paper, plastic and metal packaging materials. The products produced are used as paper wrapping, rolling and solid fiber containers, hard plastic containers, plastic bags and tubes, and canes for processed food packaging. Amcor is also indulging in pulp, paper and other forest products for tissue and personal care markets. It also trades and distributes paper and pack-aging products. The company is operating in about 43 countries with more than 31000 employees (Amcor, 2016). It has expanded its product line to beverage, food, household, hospital packaging, medical devices, personal and homecare, pharmaceuticals, tobacco and several other products. Amcor is regularly expanding with the focus of leadership in the fields of packaging. It provides all types of packaging solutions to several parts of the world. It has adopted expansion strategy with mergers, acquisitions and divestments (Business standard, 2015). It acquired several companies in the last decade and expanded its business in many new packaging lines. It provides packaging solutions to wide range of products such as soft drinks, water, juices, sports drinks, wine beer, pharmaceuticals and plastic caps for beverage applications. Over a period of time it has excellence in the field of packaging. The employees are motivated to minimize waste and are trained for waste Management; the focus is on regular product innovation (Eagle, 2017). The team of researchers is implied to put their extensive knowledge to develop innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. There are several customer meets to take review to identify and develop lower impact solutions through material reduction and post recycling. Objectives and strategic advantages to Amcor: The objective is to continue to grow earning and maintain a high level of returns over long term. To provide packing solution not only for the business but to ensure product reach to the consumer. To minimize wastage and recycle products with use of latest technology for innovative designs. To become leader in the field of packaging and paper based products. Amcor is a leading packaging solution provider with the specified objectives. It is focusing on continuous improvement since it started. Over the period of long time it has adapted and changed its products development and product material to avoid the emission of carbon and the various wastes, which pollutes the environment. It has acquired several companies of different countries to expand its business. This leads to bring extraordinary achievements for the company. It has extended product lines in such a manner that the customer is attracted from the products as it provides different varieties of same product to satisfy all the demands of business (Arbor and Michigan, 2016). Amcor is also focused on divestment of the certain units which they think are becoming burden on the company. It has acquired and divested several companies in past few decades. These strategic decisions helped it to become leader in the field plastic packaging and containers. It supplies large number of plasti c bottles to various lines of businesses from health and medicine to shampoo, oil and conditioners and beverages such as soft drinks, juices and beer (CanTech International, 2012). Amcor implemented its objective as a powerful tool to support quality and profitability. It manufactures quality products, which ensures proper hygiene and leakage proof solutions to the clients all over the world. The continuous innovation and development helped Amcor to provide different segments of packaging products which are used by large number of population in their day to day life. Amcor is also organizing events and competitions at various colleges and universities for new ideas and designs. It is nurturing new talent and innovations which may help Amcor in near future to develop some extraordinary products. It has organized such events at China, Thailand, Germany and several other countries (Amcor, 2013). The currently aligned strategy has helped Amcor to be a market leader in the field their business. It has evolved with the packaging requirements, paper products and the plastic products which are produced it is the largest producer of Polyethylene terephthalate, which is a thermoplastic polymer resin used in fiber made clothes and containers for food and liquefied products. The acquisition strategy provides further opportunities to expand Amcors customer base. It helps to capture high growth markets of different continents and subcontinents to create unique value and preposition (Burke, 2012). In recent years Amcor is moving towards Asian and European markets as there is lots of potential in these markets. The population is very high and the demand of FMCG and health care products is increasing day by day. Amcor has achieved 10% reduction in green house gas emissions from year 2011 to 2016. Amcor reduced green house gas emission by 28% through energy saving projects, machine temperature optimization, and upgraded equipments in year 2016. Amcor measure the involvement and track progress towards environmental improvement. Sources of indirect emissions include purchased raw materials, energy and outsourced activities, such as transport, recycling or recovery, and waste disposal. For the majority of green house emission the raw materials used for manufacturing processes are the greatest contributors. Amcor also tried to reduce 50% in waste-to-landfill intensity from year 2011 to 2016 and Zero waste to landfills as long term goal (Sustainability Review, 2016). Amcor total waste from operations for year 2016 was 287,334 tones, more than 80% of waste was recycled. Amcor have achieved a 62% reduction in waste-to landfill, significantly better than 50% target. Amcor achieved it through aligned recycling, improved material Management, and improved sorting at production centre (Johnson, 2014). Fifty-four sites sent no waste to landfill. 100 % Amcor sites had water management plans since end of 2016. Amcor water usage intensity decreased by 25%, and total water use decreased 5% compared to base 2011. Most of water is used for cooling processes in the manufacture of rigid plastic packaging. Acquisition strategy a step towards success: Acquisitions and mergers are strategic decisions used to expand the business to capture market share, product differentiation, improving supply channels, entering new markets and many more. Amcor is also implementing acquisition strategy in a very effective manner from last 10-15 years. It has continuously acquired different companies sometimes to enter new market, sometimes to capture customer base. Amcor has expanded to various countries such as USA, New Zealand, India, Thailand, China etc. Amcor is acquiring different companies and expanding day by day, but the revenues and profits are comparatively low due to several acquisitions with in years. There are several reasons for the fluctuation in profits. There is lots of financial support is required for acquisition of companies which results to highly affect the financial statements. But when we compare the financial statements for a longer period of time, then it is observed that the profits are increased year by year. Likewise th e price of shares is also showing an increasing trend, it is almost doubled in year 2014 (Binsted, 2014). The return on capital is also increased from 10 to 19 per cent during the financial period of 2014-15 which is a good growth indicator; it is almost double from last year. Amcor also addressed more than 20 acquisitions including the transformational $2 billion purchase of Alcan's packaging assets in 2009, Ball Plastics in 2010 and Aperio Group in 2012 (Mitchell, 2015). Its acquisition strategy is also supported by the shareholders the share prices are regularly increasing and still the demand of shares is continuous which is taking share prices on new heights. Amcor is also declaring dividend 19.5 (Cent) a share same as declared last year. This shows support of the stakeholders towards Amcor. The negative fluctuation in profit is due to the price rise in material and labour cost and due to change in the international market exchange rates. There are certain external factors whic h influences profits and business. . Amcor is also collaborating with startups to help them innovating and developing elastic and low price packaging solutions. This will help Amcor to enter into developing markets having high demand of packaging goods and plastics (Arbor and Michigan, 2016). Amcor is growing with very fast pace but still they have to focus efficiency in the production of the packaging goods. The expansion over the long period of time is continue with the same pace as there is large demand and scope of packaging business in Asia and Europe especially India and China are the good prospects for Amcor. So the company is focusing towards these areas as new market place for the packaging and distribution network. Amcor is also facilitating small businesses and startups with the innovative products and designs. Its strategy is to support regional and new brands with its innovative products so that they grow at good speed. This will help Amcor to build relationship with small brands, startups and small businesses for long period of time and growth in business. And by the time these brands grow in size than this relationship will positively increase profits at higher rate over long period of time. Components of strategy execution and recommendations for better strategy execution Goal-Setting: The purpose of goal-setting is to clarify the vision for any business. It is just to draw a diagram on the paper or we can say that planning for any type of decision and drawing the road map to achieve is termed as goal setting. Amcor is already taken its planning step it has grown over the period of time and become leader in the paper, plastic and packaging industry. But in this context goal setting refers to new acquisition assessment, the budget needed for the acquisition etc (Wheelen and Hunger, 2011). Analysis: it can be understood as the practical approach to attain the Goal which is settled n the first step. The actual features and the requirements such as capital, plant machinery, and financing are part of analysis. In case of Amcor the analysis may be analysis of the firms they are going to acquire or the business units they wants to dispose off. Strategy Formulation: after deciding and analyzing the plan then the proper road map is prepared it is a strict process which is followed during the whole process of strategic planning and execution. Amcor is regularly planning for acquiring some new companies, they are continuously focusing on acquisition strategy for expansion and side by side they have to plan for controlling the pollution, wastage of material and the acquired business unit performance. Amcor is successful in following the process as it has controlled the green house gas emission, solid waste, water pollution and increased recycling products. (Alkhafaji, A. F. 2011). Strategy Implementation: Implementation is the realistic approach of doing the formulated plan. It includes the actual decision making and taking those decisions to the desired targets. In case of Amcor the strategy implementation may be a new product launch, acquiring of a new strategic business unit (Binsted, 2014). It is used to explore new market and to capture more and more customer and market sales. Evaluation and Control: it can be under stood as a comparison between the actual and the planned road map. In case there is a difference in the road map then control is needed and again whole process starts from analyze, plan, implement and control otherwise, the same process ends with achievement. Amcor can also evaluate the decisions and depending upon the decisions it decides to continue or dispose-off the sick strategic business units (Mitchell, 2015). It is a continuous process takes place during whole strategy implementation process. Amcor is taking quick decisions in shorter periods of time. They have focused their goals towards minimizing costs. Low cost can be obtained, when the raw material is obtained at low prices. Amcor has worked over a long period of time and find a new solution that is recycling papers and plastic products. This has helped them to reduce cost of production. The other factor is to minimize pollution and wastage. Amcor is regularly working on waste management. It has improved in cutting down the waste to very low extent it has introduced short term goals to decrease pollution and waste management (Government of South Australia, 2017). Currently about 60 % of the Amcor sites are having environmental management system. Environment safety plan was introduced for short term and long term targets to avoid waste to landfill, green house gas emissions, and goals for water management. The acquisition strategy puts lots of financial burden on the company results to decreased profits. So the Amcor should focus either on strategic alliance or they should enter in joint ventures with the new companies at a particular market. The other strategy they can follow is to expand the acquisition time period from short term to a longer one. They should first operate and run the already acquired units and when the acquired unit provides higher profits then they should plan for the next acquisition (Simons, 2013). Conclusion From the above report it is observed that Amcor is implementing continuously acquisition and divesting strategy to achieve its desired objectives. It has designed its paper, plastic and resin products according to the changing needs of the businesses. Packaging industry is also having huge competition the businesses need new designed products to attract the customers. So Amcor have to work regularly on product innovation and design (Qureshi, 2016). Amcor also needs to minimize waste and pollution emission. Its various acquired companies are contributing to expansion strategy. The profits are fluctuating but still the share price is regularly increased in the long terms it has just doubled from that in year 2012. But before 2012 they were below the launch price for about 4 years. It is recommended that Amcor should focus on Acquisition but should wait for a period of 3-5 years for every acquisition. As there are lots of resources and capital is required in acquisition and maintain the new units. On the other side it has innovated itself in such a manner so that recycling and least wastage are obtained. It has focused on minimizing green house gas emission. New product designs are introduced with different features such as gripping, airtight and recycled bottles to attract the businesses. It is innovating and developing new products to fulfill the emerging needs of the consumers and it is possible that soon they will introduce packages which are self destroyable. They already introduced products which are very light weight and cheap in comparison to aluminum or metal cans (Hubbard, et, al., 2014). References Alkhafaji, A. F. (2011) Strategic Management: formulation, implementation, and control in a dynamic environment. Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, 25(2), pp. 13-28. Amcor (2013) Amcor Announces the Winners of its Innovation Packaging Contest. [Online]. Available at: https://www.amcor.com/about_us/media_centre/news/amcor-announces-the-winners-of-its-innovation-pack (Accessed on 11 May 2017). Amcor (2016) Annual Report. [Online]. 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