Oprah Winfrey And The Half Made Movie - 1490 Words

Jacob Lucas Miss Sibbach AP English III 12 December, 2014 Oprah Winfrey and the Half-Made Movie In the film adaptation of Their Eyes Were Watching God, Oprah Winfrey fails to produce a film that remains authentic to the original work. Janie’s character converts into one that seems entirely different, and her relationships exhibit alterations. Oprah’s fabricated love story completely shadows Zora Neale Hurston’s original theme, as well as her literary devices. The film parades falsified information, which degrades the original content of the novel. In the film version of Their Eyes Were Watching God, Oprah shifts the original theme of Hurston’s novel. She fabricates a love story to which the film revolves around recurrently and eliminates important elements. It was one of the most beautiful, poignant love stories I ve ever read†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dir. Darnell). Her theme entirely displaces Janie’s life journey, the essential idea of the work. Janie’s journey through life serves as the central theme in th e story; the novel illustrates how Janie matures as a woman, how she finds herself in life, and how she finds happiness. Oprah indubitably produces the picture to her misguided interpretation despite caring what Hurston originally wrote in the story. â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God is a complex novel that addresses issues of color, sexuality, community, and self-fulfillment. Oprah’s television adaptation does anything but† (Ceptus). These issues that Hurston includes in her famous workShow MoreRelatedOprah Winfrey s Influence On Law Enforcement And Schools Across The Country Essay1539 Words   |  7 Pagesdid it or not.† – Oprah Winfrey. Being born into an abusive family to a teen mother may hold some people from becoming successful, but not Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey uses her rocky past to motivate her to help others, and provide victims of sexual abuse with a safe haven. Winfrey has made an impact on America. The former pageant queen and talk show host helped establish the National Sex Offender Registry which made an impact on law enforcement and schools across the country. Winfrey also changed the faceRead MoreOprah Winfrey: Rise to Fame1664 Words   |  7 PagesKristina Giles Mr. Fiorelli Creative and Critical Writing 7 May 2011 Oprah Winfrey: Rise to Fame When people watch The Oprah Winfrey Show many never think that Oprah Winfrey would be a lady who experienced a disheartening childhood. We know she worked her way up the social mobility ladder and media industry but have people stopped to think about the specifics of how Oprah did it? What qualities did Oprah bring to her life and career that enabled her to move up the social ladder? Oprah’s childhoodRead MoreOprah Winfrey Research Paper1548 Words   |  7 PagesBrilliance that is Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey, is undoubtedly as superior leader. The type of leader mothers talk to their daughters about, the kind of leader that is one of a kind. The kind of leader that you can not even wrap your head around their strength and power. Oprah is also the kind of leader that came up from nothing. Born to a single, young teenage mother, Oprah has built and deserves everything she is now. A role model to any race, gender, or sexuality, Oprah Winfrey has captured theRead MoreCompare And Contrast Oprah Winfrey And Oprah Winfrey987 Words   |  4 PagesOprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres are two of the most successful and well-known women in today’s talk show hosts in the television world. Ellen and Oprah have many differences along with their similarities. Starting out they both won have won the People’s Choice Award for favorite talk show host. Both growing up with divorced parents, they made it through high school and received their diplomas, not letting that major issue keep them from being successful. After high school, they went to collegeRead MoreOprah, By Oprah Gail Winfrey1019 Words   |  5 PagesOprah Gail Winfrey is a television and film producer, along with being a talk show host. Through media, Oprah is known mostly for The Oprah Winfrey Show. It is the highest-rated talk show of all time, running for 25 years. She has dealt with many early life issues which has made her the tough, devoted, and inspirational person she is today. Oprah can be known as â€Å"The Queen of All Media.† Her loyalty to her audience has inspired many, along with the entertainment she gives her fans. Experts call herRead MoreOprah Winfrey3482 Words   |  14 PagesEvents in Singapore and Asia It is unbelievable the amount of influence that Oprah Winfrey has had over the lives of millions of people all over the world. She has become a demi-god in America. There are people who are ready to worship the ground over which she walks. She has lived the Great American dream, a veritable tale of rags to riches with the right amount of glamor added to it. Born in 1954 to unmarried parents, Oprah was raised by her grandmother on a farm with no indoor plumbing in KosciuskoRead MoreEssay on Racism in the Media: Misrepresentation of Minorities4157 Words   |  17 PagesMisrepresent can be defined as to give a false or misleading representation with an intent to deceive or be unfair. The United States is one of, if not the most, diverse nations in the world. It is often described as a melting pot because the country is made up of so many ethnicities and races. In spite of this diversity, the media still misrepresents different races in many ways. One common way is through the use of racial stereotypes. Another way is the amounts of news coverage different stories receiveRead MoreOprah Winfrey : The Creation Of A Legacy2307 Words   |  10 PagesOprah Winfrey: The Creation of a Legacy â€Å"Create the highest, grandest vision of your life, because you become what you believe† (Krohn 65). This quote was said by Oprah Winfrey to inspire others and show that anything is possible if one just believes. It was a belief she had throughout her childhood, and still today. This quote is important to her because she truly lives as an example of it. Winfrey did not have the perfect life that most believe. Winfrey grew up very underprivileged on a farmRead MoreWhy Do Entreprenuers Need Public Relations?5111 Words   |  21 Pagescommercials are some type of inspiration to have customers to buy and create products. Entrepreneurs with business companies (e.g. Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Steve Jobs, Percy Master P Miller, Sean P. Diddy Combs, Earvin Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey) are common because each of them has their own products. In addition, the Public Relation strategies they used for exposure are similar. Such strategies include using campaigns, promotion videos, and commercial ads in particular. Each product thatRead MoreMartin Luther King Day And Black History916 Words   |  4 Pagesand Black History Month, Blacks have made huge strides although coming from a past of inequality. I wasn’t particularly interested in seeing Selma because I knew what it represented. I feared to cry and get emotional over the hardships of post-slavery and the battles of the Civil Rights Movement. I knew it was going to be gruesome to watch because of its vivid depiction of how our nation used to be and a touch of reality of how it continues to become. The movie Selma had a different vision of who

Effects Of The Great Depression On Society - 1905 Words

The Great Depression occurred between the years 1929 and 1939 in America. The Great Depression was the longest-lasting economic downfall in America’s history. During the Great Depression there were approximately 15,000,000 unemployed Americans, which was about one quarter of America’s entire workforce. The effects that the Great Depression had on society where so massive that these effects can still be felt today. The causes of the Great Depression can be linked back to economic problems within America during the late 1920s, specifically â€Å"installment buying† and buying stocks â€Å"on the margin† which ended up bankrupting many homeowners and investors; as the stock market crashed in the year 1929. Following the stock market crash, arose bank failures, factory closings, and widespread unemployment. The stock market crash of 1929 occurred on a Tuesday and so this day was coined as â€Å"Black Tuesday†. The stock market crash on â€Å"Black Tues day† is considered by most to be the main cause of the Great Depression. However, there are many more factors to be considered before autonomous fault can be assigned to the 1929 stock market crash. Herbert Hoover was President during the 1929 stock market crash and beginning of the Great Depression. Herbert Hoover did not acknowledge the extreme depth of the crisis and assumed that America would quickly recover on its own, bringing the nation out of the disaster without the need for any federal intervention. Unfortunately, Pres. HerbertShow MoreRelatedEffects Of The Great Depression On Society1500 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican may remember horror stories of the effect the Great Depression had on society. Although devastating it was not the first time workers had the task to endure the financial difficulties of an impending recession. The Panic of 1792, where two situations occurred almost simultaneously which produced the first financial crisis. This was the first time wh ich Americans experienced a bank run when US securities and bank stock prices started to increase. During the Revolutionary war I, the USRead MoreThe Great Depression And Its Effects On Society Essay1548 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Depression began in 1929 and continued to ravage the families of New Zealand and the majority of the world until 1935, with devastating effects. The stock market crash caused massive economic downturn therefore generating unemployment on a scale never seen before, and negative impact on society. Political action and reform was required, though initially the government did not provide an adequate response to the problem. The group that was most affected was in fact men, which were in thisRead MoreThe Great Depression And Its Effect On Society1818 Words   |  8 Pages The Great Depression was a time of hard long working days , short sleepless nights , days without eating and a lot of traveling and today is much different with the new high tech technology people are creating to the money people receive and much more. Although the Great Depression was terrible time to live through , there is some similarities to today but not as significant from before. There are many elements on society that are different from the early 1930’s and today , 2016. Some prime examplesRead MoreThe Great Depression Affects The Americans1333 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Depression was one of the biggest events in the 1920s since it had huge effects both socially and economically.  Starting with the stock market crash, millions of investors were bankrupted and thousands of workers were unemployed. Over the next several years, not only did the consumer spending drop, the number of investment lowered as well. Until 1939, when the President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Relief and reform measures which finally help the economy to restart. ThroughRead MoreThe Assassination Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.1304 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Great Depression. Beginning in 1929, the Great Depression was present in every aspect of society from the richest CEO to the poorest pauper. Although the Great Depression dampened the American mood, it created a desire for security and stability in the United States while ultimately uniting the country politically through aspirations of reformation, economically through expanding Social Darwinism, widening the wealth gap, and socially through an optimistic attitude. The Great Depression beganRead MoreThe Great Depression ´s Impact on Gender Roles1482 Words   |  6 PagesLisa Cianciulli November 12th, 2013 The Great Depression’s Impact on Gender Roles Change and hardship go hand in hand, because when hard times emerge society is forced to change. During the Great Depression the idea of gender roles stirred up a great deal of controversy but it also opened the door for change. It gave society a push into a new direction. In order to survive, a number of people had to move away from their traditional way of living in order to take care of their household (GoutourRead MoreThe Shady Shift After World War I1166 Words   |  5 PagesBut while everyone enjoyed the new amenities and frivolous spending, no one knew what was going on with the banks. Most people were extremely overjoyed with all the money coming in, it hadn’t occurred to them what problems were happening. The Great Depression wasn t just caused by the Stock Market Crash but by false prosperity, and overproduction, which affected people s social life, banks, and unemployment across the country. It was only nine short years of prosperity until a dark cloud came rolling Read MoreCultural And Social Aspects Of The Great Depression1073 Words   |  5 Pagesonly as a nation, but also as a global community. Without people from the past not only would humans not be able to develop as a society, but they would not be able to learn from mistakes made in the past. This iconic period in American history, known as the Great Depression, truly did change the cultural and social aspects of the United States. In the Great Depression, pop culture provided an outlet for the millions of deprived unemployed Americans. Men commonly fled their homes and families outRead MoreThe Economy and Life During the 1920s635 Words   |  3 Pagesimbalance that society was unaware of including that not every citizen was experiencing this uncommon wealth. There were still 3 percent unemployed and even some of the employed members of society did not make enough to support a family and were considered homeless. It was in October of 1929 when this so-called luxurious lifestyle vani shed as the stock market crashed at a time when the stock market seemed it would never stop increasing. This caused an economic, downhill, rolling ball effect. Those whoRead MoreThe Great Depression1551 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Depression was one of the most devastating events recorded in history. The nation as a whole plummeted in one economic downfall. Few individuals escaped the effects of the depression. The hardship of unemployment and the loss of homes and farms were a large portion of the pain caused by the economic crisis. Through all of these sufferings, women had a large impact on society. Women faced heavy discrimination and social criticism during the Depression Even though through research it is proven

Charlie Chaplin and The Kid Essay Example For Students

Charlie Chaplin and The Kid Essay A great film should evoke more than one emotion. Through out history, filmmakers have shed light on the human experience by projecting everyday feelings and interactions on screen. When comparing the two films, â€Å"Stardust Memories† and â€Å"The Kid†, there is a certain similarity in their underlying message, being as though an act of humility can go a long way. However, the preferred readings of the two differ quite much. The preferred readings in â€Å"Stardust Memories† are simple. The movie primarily portrays a famous director that travels to an illustrious film conference of some sort and is being praised for his work and achievements in the film industry. He undergoes a series of interviews and sporadic encounters with his fans while he is troubled by his ongoing and newly discovered love interest. â€Å"The Kid† tells a slightly different story. Charlie Chapman plays a poverty stricken middle-aged man who finds an abandoned new born on the streets and after initially trying to get rid of it, he decides to nurture and raise the child himself. On the surface, these movies may not be appealing to certain audiences. However, the sub-textual readings are much more intriguing. â€Å"Stardust Memories† has a number of underlying messages translated through out the film. The story itself has different parallel story arcs. One on side, it depicts an artist feeling that his work is overshadowed by his fame and the limited minds of his audience. While he strives to create â€Å"true† art, he is expected to continue to create empty, meaningless comedy films. It speaks about how art in turn gets affected due to popular opinion. On the other side, it takes us through the life of a lonely man who’s desperately in search of his meaning and purpose. He looks to love for an understanding of life and undergoes an internal battle with his personal desires. In short, I feel like the story as a whole speaks about human attraction in general and how destructive and naive we are. The Kid has a slightly different tone. Although the story is primarily based on Chapman raising an orphan child, there is an ongoing religious undertone coming from a strong moral standpoint. Being kind to people, no matter their social class, seems to be the subtext through out the film. Over time, movies can be perceived in a different light from its original viewers. Times change, technology increases, and society evolves in general. The film Stardust Memories in its original release (1980) could have been perceived as a failure being as though Allen’s success up until then had derived from his comedy and more lighthearted films. In the present day, it has become an essential part of Woody Allen’s work and will be used as a film that captures a certain turning point of his career. Being as though technology has advanced so much, it’s an obvious difference in how someone today would view â€Å"The Kid†. Black and white films are now appreciated, as classic cinema while as back then it was just the standard. Film was still considered new and certain issues were still taboo which is why the religious standpoint had to be masked in such a way. If one were to categorize the two films, I think Stardust Memories could be considered a narrative film with a tone of aesthetic realism while The Kid would be considered a formalistic narrative film.

Identity Acting out Culture

These interviews explore such a concept as gender roles, especially the idea that men and women are often forced to adhere to certain norms, standards, and rules. Both Kate Bornstein and Michael Kimmel believe that such roles can actually limit the freedom of a human being and his/her ability to take independent decisions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Identity: Acting out Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the main issues is that sex differences can be social constructs that are imposed on individual. As a rule, they are not biologically determined (Bornstein unpaged). This is one of the main issues that people should take into account. Moreover, in many cases, such beliefs lead to the discrimination of a person who does not comply with the norms (Kimmel unpaged). Special attention should be paid to such problems as homophobia or sexism. To some degree, the questions discussed in these articles ar e related to my life, because I also have to adhere to certain standards and roles that are obligatory for my gender. For instance, I can say that males are supposed to possess such character traits as resoluteness or fearlessness. This is only one of one of the ways in which gender stereotypes can affect the life of a person. Furthermore, these interviews are related to the concept of identity. The thing is that people can perceive themselves in different ways, for example, they can attach importance to gender, nationality, or race. Such an approach does not appeal to me, because I think that the identity of a person is defined by what he/she does. In my opinion, this is the most important criterion. However, very often an individual can be forced to perceive oneself only as a male or female. Fortunately, my parents paid more attention to the talents, interests, or views of a person, rather than only gender. This is why I can say that the problems discussed by Kate Bornstein and Mi chael Kimmel do not significantly affect my life. So, in my daily life I do not pay much attention to gender differences or stereotypes. Nevertheless, I have to admit that there are certain gender norms that inevitability affect the behavior of an individual. A person, who wants to integrate into the society, has to comply with specific standards. For instance, one can speak about clothing that is often gendered. So, a man should be dressed in a certain way, if he wants to be accepted in a heterosexual community. I also have to follow these rules. This is how popular views on gender and sexuality can influence or limit the behavior or an individual. Another concept that should be discussed is border transgression or the behavior of a person that does not correspond to existing gender roles assigned to both men and women. For instance, according to a popular stereotype, males have to play the main role in decision-making. I do not share this belief because gender does not affect a pe rson’s ability to think or evaluate different options.Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some of my friends have a different view on this problem but this disagreement did not affect our friendship. So, the problems described by Kate Bornstein and Michael Kimmel are relevant to the life of the society. However, modern communities allow more freedom of thought or expression. So, such problems as sexism or homophobia are more likely to be resolved. Works Cited Bornstein, Kate. Gender Outlaw: An Interview by Susan Bridle. EnlightenNext. EnlightenNext Magazine, 2010. Web. Kimmel, Michael. Interview. Frontline. PBS, 2009. Web. This essay on Identity: Acting out Culture was written and submitted by user Alejandra Rutledge to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Write Dialogue Master List of Dialogue Punctuation Tips

How to Write Dialogue Master List of Dialogue Punctuation Tips How to Write Dialogue: Master List of Dialogue Punctuation Tips Learning how to write dialogue can be tough for some without the right guidance.But unless you plan on writing a textbook, you must learn how to properly write dialoguesThe one thing most writers get wrong when they’re first starting out is proper dialogue format.Sure, you could leave that up to the editor, but the more work for your editor, the more expensive they’ll be.Plus, it’s important that, as serious writers and future authors, you know how to punctuate dialogue no matter what.That also means editors will be able to focus on more complex edits instead of just punctuation.Dialogue punctuation is complex and takes some time to learn, understand, and master.Here are some dialogue examples of each and how you would punctuate them.Writing Dialogue Example 1 Single LineSingle lines of dialogue are among the easiest to write and remember. The punctuation for this dialogue is simple:The quotations go on the outside of both the words and end 2 Single line with t agIn this case, â€Å"tag† means dialogue tag.A dialogue tag is anything that indicates who said what and in what way.Here are some common examples of dialogue tags:He saidShe whisperedThey bellowedHe holleredThey snipedShe huffedHe cooedThey respondedIn the example below, you can see that the dialogue tag goes on the outside of the quotations, while the comma goes on the inside.This is the case with any dialogue tags that are used. You can also see how this dialogue formatting works with different types of sentences and different dialogue tags.Note that the tag, when following a comma within the quotation marks, is lowercase,as its a part of the overall sentence.Writing Dialogue Example 3 QuestionsBecause a question mark seems like the end of a sentence, it’s easy for most writers to get the format for questions when writing dialogue wrong.But it’s actually pretty easy. Essentially, a question mark will be treated like a comma or period. What changes the forma tting most is what follows the dialogue.Here are some examples of writing questions in dialogue:Will you ever stop being a child? she asked.What about that man over there? he whispered, pointing in a old gentlemans direction. Doesnt he look odd too?Whats the big deal, anyway? she huffed.Below is a clear breakdown of formatting questions in dialogue.In this example above, you can see that if there is a dialogue tag, the question mark will act as a comma and you will then lowercase the first word in the dialogue tag (unless it’s a person’s name).However, if there is simply an action after the question, the question mark acts as a period and you will then capitalize the first word in the next sentence.Writing Dialogue Example 4 Tag, then single lineWhen it comes to formatting dialogue tags before your character speaks, it’s essentially the same as when they come after, except backward.As you can see in the example above, the dialogue tag is in front, followed by a comma outside of the quotations. Then the quotations appear when the sentence starts with that sentence’s punctuation inside the quotations at the end.Here are a few more examples of this type of dialogue, as its very common:They hung their head and mumbled, Its fine if you dont want me to come.She huffed, Well thats just great, isnt it?He drew in a long breath and spoke, Im just not sure what to do anymore.Writing Dialogue Example 5 Body language within lineThere are a couple different types of body language dialogue formats to learn.Dialogue Variation 1: This is when the actions your character is taking comes between lines of dialogue but after a sentence is complete. In real life, this would indicate someone pausing to complete the action.Heres what this dialogue example looks like:Are you sure we should go this weekend? She shoved the curtain aside, sneering at the greying clouds. It could be a mess out there.Whats the big deal, anyway? He yanked the sheet from the enve lope. Its not like you cared for her all that much.Lets go to the moon! She twirled, her pale pink dress lifting around her. We could make it, I know we could.Below is a detailed explanation of how you would format this type of dialogue:Variation 2: With this dialogue formatting, it’s different because this is when a character does something while they are speaking, instead of pausing like in variation 1. The action happens in the middle of a sentence and has to be formatted as such.Here are some dialogue examples of this formatting:Its really just 6 Single line getting cut offSomething that happens in real life (sometimes an irritatingly large amount) is getting cut off or interrupted when you’re speaking.This typically happens when someone either doesn’t care what you’re talking about or when two people are in an argument and end up speaking over one another.You can see in this example that you place an Em Dash ( 7 Dialogue tag in the middle of a line Another common type of dialogue. This is essentially a mix of a single line with a dialogue tag.Mostly, you will use this type in order to indicate who is talking if there are more than two and in order to keep the focus on the dialogue itself and not the character’s actions.Writing Dialogue Example 8 Paragraphs of dialogueThere are certain situations that call for a single character to speak for a long time. However, grammatically, not all of what they say will belong in the same paragraph.Here’s how you would write multiple paragraphs of dialogue:For writing dialogue paragraphs, you want to leave the quotations off the end of the paragraph and begin the next paragraph with them in order to indicate that the same person is just telling a long story.[NOTE: These dialogue rules apply for American English. Other parts of the world may use different dialogue formatting, including single quotations and more.]How to Write Dialogue That’s Realistic and EffectiveGreat dialogue is hard to get right. For something we do and hear every day, knowing what to make your characters say in order to move the plot forward and increase intrigue isn’t easy.But that’s why we’ve broken it down in easy steps for writing dialogue for you.Here are some of the best tips for writing dialogue that feels real but is also effective for moving your story forward.NOTE: Was that enough to push you to get started right now? Learn more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Fiction Self 1: Dialogue tags in the front â€Æ'â€Æ'He spoke. â€Å"You’re one of the oddest people I know.† â€Æ'â€Æ'She replied, â€Å"Is that necessarily a bad thing?†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ' He smiled. â€Å"I didn’t say it was a bad thing at all.† â€Æ'â€Æ'She laughed. â€Å"Good.†Bad Dialogue Example 2: Action within dialogueâ€Æ'â€Æ' â€Å"I’m just not sure† 3: Tags in the middleâ€Æ' â€Æ'â€Å"I really wish you would just talk to me,† Ada said. â€Å"This silent treatment isn’t helping anyone.†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ'â€Å"It’s helping me,† he said. â€Å"Or does that not matter to you?†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ'â€Å"Of course it matters to me,† she replied. â€Å"It’s just not solving the problem.†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ'â€Å"I don’t think anything can solve this problem,† he murmured. â€Å"It’s permanent.† How to fix this: whenever you’re writing dialogue, switch the type of formatting you use in order to make it look and sound better. The more enjoyable it is to read, the more readers will become invested.One exception is when you have two characters going back and forth very quickly. In this case, a few lines of dialogue only, with no tags or anything, is acceptable.Fixing Dialogue Example: Variation is Keyâ€Æ'â€Æ'â€Å"I’m just not sure†- she grabbed a handful of see ds- â€Å"that you’re taking this seriously.†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ' He weaved between the overgrown plants, pushing them aside.â€Å"Why would you think that?†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ' â€Å"Becauseyou just ignore the important stuff unless it’s important to you only.†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ'â€Å"That’s ridiculous.†Ã¢â‚¬Æ'â€Æ' â€Å"No.† She plunged her finger into the pot with soil, dropping in a few seeds. â€Å"It’s true.†What’s Next?We have something for you- for FREE.â€Å"More than what you’ve already given me in this blog post?† you ask.YES! Continuing to learn is what makes the difference between okay writers and real, great authors-to-be.After all, Ernest Hemingways says it best: â€Å"We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.†But you can at least, become better with this free training.

Major Trading Partners, Demographics, and System of Governance between Annotated Bibliography

Major Trading Partners, Demographics, and System of Governance between the US and Canada - Annotated Bibliography Example By the end of 2009, the US government had exported about $1.6 trillion worth of goods and services to ten major trading partners of the world. The main exports from the US are capital goods which account for over 49% of the total exports. Industrial supplies account for about 26% while consumer goods account for 15% of the exports. Agricultural products like cereals account for about 9% of the total exports. The major trading nations that purchase goods and services from the US are, in descending order; Canada, Mexico, China and Japan.   Surprisingly, the US has its greatest importer of goods in its closest neighbor, Canada. Apart from Canada, other world top trading partners of the US are China, Mexico, Japan, Germany, UK, South Korea, France, Taiwan, Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, and Ireland. Canada, China, Mexico, Japan, and Germany are the top suppliers of imports to the US. Canada’s top three trading partners cut across many continents. In North America, US is Canada’s main partner while in Asia and the Far East, China is the major trading partner of Canada. Mexico is the major trading partner of Canada from the South American region. The US is Canada’s major trading partner. It affects Canada through trade, tourism, technology, history, and culture. There are distinguishing factors that have made the US stand out as being the lead actor in Canada’s trade operations. These factors are physical, economic, political and social. From 2005 to 2010, the US has remained as the best trading partner with Canada in terms of exporting goods and services. The United Kingdom and Japan complete the number 2 and number 3 slots. For example, in 20005, the export value of the US in Canada was over 368,000 million dollars. These standards have been maintained over the years. The US also remains as the greatest importer of goods of Canadian origin.

Assessing Benchmarking Efforts Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assessing Benchmarking Efforts - Coursework Example Benchmarking enables companies to identify the most successful strategies used by other similar companies, and then adopt appropriate strategies and measures to make their own programs more resourceful (Hinton et.al 2000, p. 53). For purposes of this study, we will examine the benchmarking initiatives adopted Xerox, one of the worlds top copier companies, through its Leadership through Quality program. We will consequently discusses the concept of benchmarking and its implementation in various processes including a customer satisfaction at Xerox and explore how the company presently uses benchmarks to align with international standards and lastly highlight the extent to which the existing benchmarks align with existing organizational goals. For Xerox Company, benchmarking came from a susceptible competitive crisis form Japanese and U.S competitors. According to analysts, the management failed to present the company a strategic trend. Xerox’s operating cost (and as a result, the prices of its products) was high and its products were of comparatively lesser quality compared to its competitors. The company suffered from its very centralized decision-making processes as well and because of this, return on assets dropped significantly to less than 8% and the copiers’ market share dropped sharply. The CEO David Kearns began emphasizing cutting of manufacturing costs and gave a new quality control by launching the Leadership Through Quality.’ Through this quality program, Xerox executed the benchmarking program. These incentives played a fundamental role in pulling the company out of crisis in future. Xerox even developed to become one of the greatest examples of the successful benchmarking implementation (McNair and Leibfried 1992, p.20). Xerox initiated a Customer Satisfaction Measurement System that incorporates customer research and benchmarking