The Balance Scorecard - Advantages & Disadvantages To Orchard Decisio

Question: Write an essay on Developing the Balance Scorecard ? Answer: Executive Summary This research paper focuses on developing the Balance Scorecard (BS) business model and system for the Anthony's Orchards in order to enhance and improve position in the competitive market. Anthony's Orchards main aim behind developing and implementing BC system is to enhance the level of income and revenue of $25 million dollars by the year 2015. Moreover, Anthony's Orchards also adopt significant strategy to enhance key area of business associated with internal business system process, Financial Management, customer and learning and growth. At the same time, the company also focused on creating IT infrastructure and IT network so it can maintain communication with customers and stakeholders. In the same way, BS helped the company in developing or maintaining relationship with its key stakeholders. Furthermore, Anthony's Orchards also considers the strategy of introducing new and already existence products in order to bring improvement in the products for the purpose of competitive position in the worldwide market. In addition to this, balanced scorecard is one of the significant way that provides feedback to the management of the company in the context of about the effectiveness of internal processes and external outcomes that helps it to enhance performance and results. Introduction Balance Scorecard (BS) is known as a performance management method or procedure that used by the management of the organization in order to assess or gauge the exercises as well as day to day activities of employees. Additionally, the BC is the reflection of financial and non-financial measures to target value within a compact report. Furthermore, in the current time, the administration of the company is utilizing BS to analyze the overall performance including financial (Huang, 2009). This paper focus on creating as well as developing a strategy map and balanced scorecard for Anthony's Orchard by considering the key objective of the organization that is to surpass income of $25 million dollars by the year 2015. Anthony's Orchards is a family- owned 6,000-section of land plantation arranged in Wenatchee Valley that is delivering apple for more than 60 years to the customers. In the same way, in the context of this paper, the different performance measurement criteria in the four diff erent key areas of the company including financial; customer; internal business processes; learning and growth notes. Balanced scorecard In the time of globalization, balanced scorecard is used by todays profit and non-profit organizations as a strategic planning process and management activity in order to support organizational activities related to business and operations with their strategic vision, mission and strategic goals. It displays the criteria of performance that can help administration of the company to evaluate and keep up the execution as per the mission and vision of association. Balanced scorecard is also known as tool of management that is utilized by management to improve as well as maintain the performance of a company as per organizational core strategies, strategic mission and vision (Huang, 2009). Balanced scorecard also improves organizational performance in the different business areas by giving proper response and feedbacks about the viability of interior procedures and outside results that helps management to enhance core and strategic performance. The balance scorecards (BSC) includes to making the structure of measuring the key point of view, for example, monetary, client, inside business process and learning and development. The imperative piece of BSC idea that it stretched out on building up the harmony between four sort estimations that is: Short and Long term, exterior and interior environment Most important indicators and Lagging needle Objective measures and Subjective measures for generating ideas (Source: Martin, 2008) Developing a Balanced Scorecard In the current time, different kinds of ways, strategies and methods are considered in order to develop the balanced scorecard. Hence, it can be said that, the following are the key steps that would be considered by the Anthony's Orchards to improve the performance of the company in different areas of business operations. Assess the mission and goal of the company: This is first key step in creating an effective balanced scorecard which the organization will need to define organizational aims and objectives by building up the business method viably. For example, in this step, Anthony's Orchard would define its organizational vision, mission, objectives, goals and challenges and the management of the company would analyze the organizational capacity to accomplish mission or objectives (Huang, 2009). Anthony's Orchard key objective is surpassing income of $25 million dollars by 2015. Concentrate on Client Necessity: In this phase of BS, the organization would adopt an innovative and precious strategy to address the issue and desire of customers or clients. In the same way, this strategy would help the company in deciding the value, quality, and costs of the items to its clients in order to accomplish the vision, mission and objectives (Blokdijk, 2008). Interior Business Processes: In this step, organization of Anthony's Orchard must focus on the process of internal business and adjust the objectives and task with the strategic paln of the company. According to this, the organization must need to see on the specific exercises and practices that will most influence results. Strategy Maps out the process. As per this step, the administration of Anthony's Orchard would utilizes strategic mapping to in order to analyze how the developed strategic plan would fulfill the objectives of the company in an effective and proper manner. It incorporates specific values that the association will convey to their clients, customers and shareholders (Rampersad, 2006). In this procedure, the management of Anthony Orchard would make plans and develop innovative strategy to enhance overall organizational core objectives, mission and vision. Assign initiatives and implement process: According to this step, the management of Anthony Orchard would need to provide directions to their employees and management about their duties, roles, functions and responsibilities and how they can be able to fulfill the performance goals properly. For case, the employees or team members would also need to understand the role and importance of strategic, objectives, goals and strategic plan for the total success of the organization (Niven, 2011). Cascade the scorecard: This is the next step in which the company would consider various tools and procedures of measurement in the context of all the objectives. Moreover, the the previous and current market situation of the company would be considered in order to produce quality products to the customers. On the other hand, it should also be noted down that, the company Anthony Orchard would also focus on the following given area of business operations in order to improve the overall performance. Anthonys Orchard Financial To capture the extra market growth Comparison to growth of the apple market or need of the apple related products Maintain the base of business effectively Volume trend line and gross profit margin Expansion of the business operations in the worldwide market Ratio of domestic to international sales Commercialize new ingredients and services that are profitable Gross profit from new products Customer To providing the quality products and services with a wide range of variety at the lower costs To focus on various strategies that can help the company in maintaining the quality of its product in the market. Customization of wide range of goods and services in order to fulfill the requirement of local customers Enhancement in the % of products in R D in test phase To enhance the level of Customer satisfaction Customer surveys Internal Business Processes To providing the product at the cheapest price Total cost of product relative to competition To continue reliable production First pass success rate Enhancing the efficiency of distribution system Percent of perfect orders Developing ability to monitor profitable products and services Modification in the economic value Incorporate acquisitions Revenues per salary dollar Learning Growth Notes Linking the business strategy with the reward system Net income per dollar of variable pay Innovative culture and development To focus on annual assessments as well as Quarterly reviews Creating competencies critical to overall gaps that must be filled Percentage of competency deployment filled on tracking matrix (Source: Tracy, 2011) Evaluate the scorecard and the process: The four particular measures that may be utilized to track performance of the company effectively. For example, the financial execution may be utilized to track performance of Anthony's Orchard in the terms of working edge, gross overall revenue, return on capital utilized, net revenue, others key bookkeeping proportions and accomplishment of offers or income objectives. Furthermore, Customer area may be utilized to track performance of organizational total sales on the premise of sales information, customer complaints, and surveys and puzzle shopping. Additionally, internal business process would consider the organizational performance on the premise of stock level, stock return, efficiency, floor space use and individuals profitability (Wisner, 2011). Moreover, learning development notes measures through utilized of follow development of Anthony's Orchard in the terms of capacity to accomplish development and surpassing income of $25 million dollars. . In the present time, there are different successful procedures, strategies and routines utilized by the business association to modify the balanced scorecard process. In the same way, it is suggested that, Anthony's Orchard ought to take after the given techniques and systems in a powerful and more extensive way (Blokdijk, 2008). These are proposals are given underneath: It is suggested that, the administration and organization ought to concentrate on building and creating individual and organizational qualities The organization should also use viable rules and methodologies in adjusting the BSC process (Friedrichs, 2011) The organization and the administration should also concentrate on creating trust; relationship and pride within the association so that BSC procedure can be alter in a powerful way. The organization must also offer highest HR quality services on the grounds that it would minimize organization's danger and assign the organization's assets methodically (Khosrowpour, 2006). Moreover, management and employees to must also be considered in the prcoess of BSC for the smooth functioning of the procedures. Subsequently, these are various rules and techniques that must to be used by the company management, organization and individuals appropriately to adjust the BSC's procedure. The BSC methodology was actualized at Anthony's Orchard framework as a result of a present culture change program. The primary target of cultural change project is to accomplish the organization's objectives and mission through strengthening its five essential qualities (Blokdijk, 2008). The senior administration of the Anthony's Orchard decide to execute change program at Anthony's Orchard framework by considering different aspects as generate competitive benefits for the entire enterprise, reducing dependence on managerial authorities, develop formal rules and procedures and narrow division of work in between the employees. Besides, the principle purpose of this change project was Anthony's Orchard's equalization scorecard implies the BSC was focus to the association's control framework (Murby Gould, 2005). Moreover, to accomplish the targets of this change program the accompanying seven stages were trailed by the organization: Review of competitive position Involvement of senor employees in decision making Create share vision (Fisher, Lauria, Chengalur-Smith, 2012). Overall vision of company is communicate with employees Create and plan for short-term performance goals Embed cultural change To maintain the link in between the cultural change project and organization competitive success (Murby Gould, 2005) The Anthony's Orchard's balanced scorecard and change project methodology sways on the management control arrangement of the organization. Additionally, through utilized the BSC, NAE frameworks empower to report the month to month aftereffects of the scorecard through outwardly showing up method for on the web. Besides, the data was partaken in the middle of the every one of the organization's workers and saw by administration. The BSC gives criticism of the top administration about the adequacy of inside procedures, representative execution, association society and outside results that helped administration to enhance vital execution (Blokdijk, 2008). This BSC methodology sways on the workers' execution on the grounds that representatives are guarantee that their execution is not going waste and its execution would be considered by the administration amid evaluation and execution estimation. The organization's representatives would be acknowledged the BSC activities in light of the fact that it helps them to accomplish its own goals through give great culture and workplace at working environment (Han, Kamber, Pei, 2011). Also, after Anthony's Orchard's framework executed BSC approach then it was centered around measuring and overseeing execution as per the present day bookkeeping execution measurements and additionally looks at the non-money related qualities identified with execution that persuades the workers to acknowledge the BSC activity (Huang, 2009). Furthermore, this methodology permitted representatives to view information from a top-down viewpoint and in addition distinguish the variables those contributes its execution and their work adds to the execution of specialty unit or association, so workers would be acknowledge the BSC approach. The workers may be trusted that their endeavors paid off by the association and its execution considered by the administration while choose installment level, so they are acknowledge the BSC activity (Huang, 2009). Advantages and Disadvantages to Anthonys Orchards Decision to not use BSC The decision to not use a balanced scorecard approach as an performance management tool is aasociated with the different benefits and limitations for Anthony's Orchard's. For instance, the primary benefits of this is that, the organization can utilize BS as a strategic planning instrument that can help in enhancing the decision making inside of the association in a compelling and more thorough way. Interestingly, the choice to not utilize balanced scorecard as an performance tool has disservices. For instance, the organization would not have the capacity to embrace this for the enhancing different business region of an organization successfully including fund, promoting, operation, client administrations and so on (Mather, 2005). Moreover, in today's all the more difficult and focused business time, balanced scorecard methodology is utilized by the business firms for the distinctive purposes so that the upper e competitive advantages can be achieved over the competitors in a viable and fitting way. Then again, by utilizing BSC, Anthony's Orchard's can also enhance its market share, efficiency, productivity and enhance consumer loyalty in the overall industry. In the same way, BSC gives a considerable measure of advantages to Anthony's Orchard's in enhancing its operational, strategic and regulatory performance in a viable and fitting way (Chai, 2009). For instance, balanced scorecard methodology gives a complete examination about diverse zones of business to an association adequately. For case, by utilizing and actualizing an balanced scorecard approach, Anthony's Orchard's future ready to assess and recognize the distinctive particular are of execution. Notwithstanding this, this methodology will likewise address every all the areas that need concern. That is to say, an organization can enhances its HR, fianc, marketing, operational division, division in a more far reaching way (Grembergen, 2004). The other principle points of interest of utilizing BSC methodology is that, it helps the Anthony's Orchard's in amending the diverse divisions. For instance, in the present time, in the association the administration of an organization creates and makes the goal or focus to the firm. Thusly, with the assistance of this, the administration of the Anthony's Orchard's would likewise have the capacity to audit authoritative key vision and mission viably. By taking the another illustration, if the administration of the Anthony's Orchard's finds that the work is getting hampered because of the breakdown of a key machine, it steps to either repair the machine or supplant it (Demirkan, Spohrer Krishna, 2011). (Source: Grembergen, 2004). This tool can likewise be utilized by an organization as a comparison device. For instance, by utilizing this, the Anthony's Orchard's can be able to assess and look at the past, present and anticipated exhibitions at the foreordained time period and in an extensive way. This point of interest of BSC approach unmistakably demonstrates that, the Anthony's Orchard's future ready to evaluate the past highs and lows in execution successfully. J Integration of different functions is another primary point of interest of utilizing balanced scorecard approach. For case, this balanced scorecard methodology helps the Anthony's Orchard's and administrations in incorporating every one of the capacities and also capacity of an organization in deliberate way (Grembergen, 2004). In the same way, the management of the Anthony's Orchard's would likewise have the capacity to design and implement different organizational function in a more particular way. Subsequently, it can be inferred that, by utilizing a balanced scorecard approach, a firm can take different benefits and advantages. The strategic objectives are essentially considered as the measures of achieving vision and mission of the organization in the business. Nonetheless, these strategic objectives can be produced in a BSC to see effectively. The BSC is a device that serves to analyze the condition of the company and their items in the business sector and vital change if there should be an occurrence of necessities (Jarke, 2003). The primary qualities and Weaknesses are given underneath: Strengths: It offers an unmistakable picture about the advancement of an organization in the setting of key vision, mission and destinations. It gives positive course to the organization for the satisfaction of hierarchical long haul objectives in a compelling and more complete way. This prepare likewise concentrate on the nature of merchandise, and administrations so it is extremely profitable in enhancing the consumer loyalty successfully (Wrembel, R. Koncilia, 2007). Balance scorecard procedure is likewise viewed as a standout amongst the most critical apparatuses for the business firms to enhance inward business forms. This procedure is additionally vital and viable for the organizations in enhancing the diverse regions of business adequately, for example, money and operation Weaknesses: Ignoring of competitors Exclusion of suppliers (Withee, 2010). Lack of Community and environmental Incomplete information This process takes more time, cost, and price Conclusion On the conclusion's premise, it can be inferred that the BSC approach usage of Anthony's Orchard would proper of them to enhance their general execution. Also, this methodology would be acknowledged by the workers in light of the fact that they trust that their execution has not given waste after actualize of this methodology and their endeavors paid off by the association. Furthermore, BSC methodology is enhanced inside and outer capacity of the Anthony's Orchard that helps it to accomplish development and surpassing income of $25 million dollars. The BSC is additionally one of the powerful devices or strategy that likewise concentrate on the quality change by diminishing an extensive variety of expenses connected with the item or administration. With the assistance of BSC, Anthony's Orchard would have the capacity to concentrate on the distinctive regions of business viably. For instance, with the assistance of this, monetary, clients, interior and so forth ranges would be enhanced by the organization that is essential in improving the quality effectively. References Blokdijk, G. (2008). Balanced Scorecard 100 Success Secrets, 100 Most Asked Questions on Approach, Development, Management, Measures, Performance and Strategy. USA: Lulu.com. Blokdijk, G. (2008). Balanced Scorecard 100 Success Secrets, 100 Most Asked Questions on Approach, Development, Management, Measures, Performance and Strategy. Lulu.com. Chai, N. (2009). Sustainability Performance Evaluation System in Government: A Balanced Scorecard Approach Towards Sustainable Development. USA: Springer. Demirkan, H., Spohrer, J.C. Krishna, V. (2011). Service Systems Implementation. USA: Springer. Fisher, C., Lauria, E. Chengalur-Smith, S. (2012). Introduction to Information Quality. USA: AuthorHouse. Friedrichs, C. (2011). An analysis how the Balanced Score Card approach could enhance the personal contentedness considering the change in the society from a Work/Life balance to a multi-duty-life of individuals in consulting companies in Germany. USA: Diplomarbeiten Agentur. Grembergen, W.V. (2004). Strategies for Information Technology Governance. UK: Idea Group Inc (IGI). Han, J., Kamber, M. Pei, J. (2011). Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques: Concepts and Techniques (3rd ed.). USA: Elsevier. Huang, H.C. (2009). Designing a knowledge-based system for strategic planning: A balanced scorecard perspective. Expert Systems with Applications, 36 (1), 209218. Huang, H.C. (2009). Designing a knowledge-based system for strategic planning: A balanced scorecard perspective. Expert Systems with Applications, 36 (1), 209218. Jarke, M. (2003). Fundamentals of Data Warehouses (2nd ed.). Germany: Springer. Jill, D. (2000). E-Data: Turning Data Into Information With Data Warehousing. USA: Addison-Wesley Professional. Keyes, J. (2005). Implementing the IT Balanced Scorecard: Aligning IT with Corporate Strategy. USA: CRC Press. Khosrowpour, M. (2006). Emerging Trends and Challenges in Information Technology Management: 2006 Information Resources Management Association International Conference, Washington, DC, USA, May 21-24, 2006. UK: Idea Group Inc (IGI). Martin, J.R. (2008). Summary of the Balanced Scorecard Concepts. Retrieved from: https://maaw.info/BalScoreSum.htm Mather, D. (2005). The Maintenance Scorecard: Creating Strategic Advantage. USA: Industrial Press Inc. Murby, L. Gould, S. (2005). Effective Performance Management with the Balanced Scorecard: Technical Report. Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Retrieved from: https://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/ImportedDocuments/Tech_rept_Effective_Performance_Mgt_with_Balanced_Scd_July_2005.pdf Niven, P.R. (2011). Balanced Scorecard: Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies (2nd ed.). Canada: John Wiley Sons. Rampersad, H.K. (2006). Personal Balanced Scorecard: The Way to Individual Happiness, Personal Integrity, and Organizational Effectiveness. USA: IAP. Smith, R.F. (2010). Business Process Management and the Balanced Scorecard: Using Processes as Strategic Drivers. Canada: John Wiley Sons. Wisner, J.D. (2011). Principles of Supply Chain Management: A Balanced Approach. USA: Cengage Learning. Withee, K. (2010). Microsoft Business Intelligence For Dummies. USA: John Wiley Sons. Wrembel, R. Koncilia, C. (2007). Data Warehouses And OLAP: Concepts, Architectures And Solutions. UK: Idea Group Inc (IGI).

Japan Essays (1727 words) - Empire Of Japan, Aftermath Of War

Japan The occupation of Japan was, from start to finish, an American operation. General Douglans MacArthur, sole supreme commander of the Allied Power was in charge. The Americans had insufficient men to make a military government of Japan possible; so t hey decided to act through the existing Japanese gobernment. General Mac Arthur became, except in name, dictator of Japan. He imposed his will on Japan. Demilitarization was speedily carried out, demobilization of the former imperial forces was complet ed by early 1946. Japan was extensively fire bomded during the second world war. The stench of sewer gas, rotting garbage, and the acrid smell of ashes and scorched debris pervaded the air. The Japanese people had to live in the damp, and col d of the concrete buildings, because they were the only ones left. Little remained of the vulnerable wooden frame, tile roof dwelling lived in by most Japanese. When the first signs of winter set in, the occupation forces immediately took over all the s team-heated buildings. The Japanese were out in the cold in the first post war winter fuel was very hard to find, a family was considered lucky if they had a small barely glowing charcoal brazier to huddle around. That next summer in random spots new ho uses were built, each house was standardized at 216 square feet, and required 2400 board feet of material in order to be built. A master plan for a modernistic city had been drafted, but it was cast aside because of the lack of time before the next winte r. The thousands of people who lived in railroad stations and public parks needed housing. All the Japanese heard was democracy from the Americans. All they cared about was food. General MacAruther asked the government to send food, when they refus ed he sent another telegram that said, "Send me food, or send me bullets." American troops were forbidden to eat local food, as to keep from cutting from cutting into the sparse local supply. No food was was brought in expressly for the Japanese durning the first six months after the American presence there. Herbert Hoover, serving as chairman of a special presidential advisory committee, recommended minimum imports to Japan of 870,000 tons of food to be distributed in different urban areas. Fi sh, the source of so much of the protein in the Japanese diet, were no longer available in adequate quantities because the fishing fleet, particularly the large vessels, had been badly decimated by the war and because the U.S.S.R. closed off the fishing g rounds in the north. The most important aspect of the democratization policy was the adoption of a new constitution and its supporting legislation. When the Japanese government proved too confused or too reluctant to come up with a constitutional reform that satisfied MacArthur, he had his own staff draft a new constitution in February 1946. This, with only minor changes, was then adopted by the Japanese government in the form of an imperial amendment to the 1889 constitution and went into effect on May 3, 1947. The new Constitution was a perfection of the British parliamentary form of government that the Japanese had been moving toward in the 1920s. Supreme political power was assigned to the Diet. Cabinets were made responsible to the Diet by having the prime minister elected by the lower house. The House of Peers was replaced by an elected House of Councillors. The judicial system was made as independent of executive interference as possible, and a newly created supreme court was given the power to review the constitutionality of laws. Local governments were given greatly increased powers. The Emperor was reduced to being a symbol of the unity of the nation. Japanese began to see him in person. He went to hospitals, schools, mines, industrial plants; he broke ground for public buildings and snipped tape at the opening of gates and highways. He was steered here and there, shown things, and kept muttering, "Ah so, ah so." People started to call him "Ah-so-san." Suddenly the puybli c began to take this shy, ill-at-ease man to their hearts. They saw in him something of their own conqured selves, force

Perceptions of the Elderly toward the New Generation

Perceptions of the Elderly toward the New Generation Introduction The past couple of decades have seen the world’s population adopt various aspects of changes in terms of the food people eat, the entertainment activities they engage in, the modes of communication they use, their interests and other lifestyle changes. The main architects and pursuers of these transformative endeavors are the youths and the young adults.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Perceptions of the Elderly toward the New Generation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The ways in which people conduct their businesses have also changed. The new Japanese business trend is a good case study that can attest to these changes. However, during this rush to embrace new modes of lifestyles, there seems to be a whole generation that has been left behind, which is the elderly. This group of people played a very crucial role in the past, by offering wise counsel to other members of the society. They were heavily consulted when making important decisions, especially those that significantly affect the society. However, this is not the case today as the present young generation have not only ignored the elderly but also considered their counsel irrelevant (Borovoy, 2008, p 568). The Thesis Statement The aim of this research proposal is to study the relationship between the present younger generation and the elderly in the Japan’s family setup and establish their correlation. Methodology Each member will be issued with a questionnaire that he or she will give to the oldest member of the family to fill. In case where the oldest member of the family is unable to understand the contents of the questionnaire, then another literate member of the family will read it loudly and interpret it to him or her. Discussion In collaboration with twenty nine other students from my class, we shall undertake to conduct a study that is aimed at ascertaining the roles played by the elderly in Japa nese households. The study will require each member of the team to perform interview tests to the eldest members of their families based on a couple of predetermined subjects. This study will generally be concerned with the perception of the younger generation towards the elderly generation. In order to effectively establish this, we will seek to find out the roles the elderly can play in their households so as to influence the perceptions of the younger generations towards them.Advertising Looking for proposal on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is common knowledge that the global economy has recently faced some hard times, normally characterized by recessions and depressions. In essence, there have been a lot of worries across many generations, on the best economic practices that can be applied to evade these scenarios. It is also important to note that the elderly in most households are people w ho are either headed for retirement or who have recently retired. They are therefore in great positions to offer sound counsel to their families on issues such as the global economic recession. On the other hand, there are new and bright market leaders who are not only young but also capable of understanding the global market trends. We shall seek to find out the views of these two groups of people on this issue. In this regard, we shall be on a mission to establish if the elderly people could offer wise and up to date counsel that can accurately help address the prevailing situations. According to the available demographic statistics, the population of the world has increased tremendously over the past three decades. This has led to the introduction and adoption of new concepts of family planning. The prevailing family trends indicate that the now elderly population had relatively large numbers of children, and some of them were even in polygamous marriages. But with the prevailing economic constraints, the few jobs that are hard to come by and the huge responsibilities that are involved in bringing up children, these patterns have significantly changed over time. In this respect, this study will focus on finding out the perception of these two generations toward family planning. Data Analysis The data that will be acquired from this research study will be sorted out and categorized as either quantitative or qualitative. Analyzing the quantitative data will involve the interpretation of the raw and tangible components of the information that has been obtained from the study (Grbich, 2007, p. 120). This data will include the number of the elderly people who can authoritatively offer sound counsel to their families on global economic conditions and the number of the currently educated young people who can care to listen to their elders as they talk about this issue.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Perceptions of the Elderly toward t he New Generation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The number of elderly people who support family planning, a viable option for addressing the unsustainable population growth, will also be enumerated against that of the younger generation. The analysis of the qualitative data on the other hand will involve interpretation of the intangible components of the information obtained from the study. Conclusion The views held by the aged and the young generations on some topics, can be greatly influenced by age, exposure and level of education (Postigoa, 2010, p. 341). As much as this concept is true, some elderly individuals can be reluctant to embrace ideas that come from the younger generation for fear of abdicating their roles. Younger people, especially the educated ones, always assume that the counsel offered by the elderly, has been overtaken by events and is therefore not of significant importance in solving most of the present day’s problems. References Borovoy, A. (2008). Japan’s hidden youths: mainstreaming the emotionally distressed in Japan. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 32(4), 552-576. Grbich, C. (2007). Qualitative data analysis: An introduction. London: SAGE Publications. Postigoa, J. M. (2010). The co-residence of elderly people with their children and grandchildren. Educational Gerontology, 36(4), 330-349.

Best Analysis Valley of Ashes in The Great Gatsby

Best Analysis Valley of Ashes in The Great Gatsby SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In The Great Gatsby, between the glittering excitement of Manhattan and the stately mansions of East and West Egg, there is a horrible stretch of road that goes through an area covered in dust and ash from the nearby factories. Why does the novel insist on spending time in this depressing place? Why, instead of simply calling it Queens, or giving it a fictional name, does Nick refer to it by the vaguely Biblical-sounding "valley of ashes"? In this article, I'll dissect this potent symbol of the failure of the American Dream, analyze the places it occurs in the text, figure out the characters who are most closely associated with this location, and give you some tips on writing essays about this image. Quick Note on Our Citations Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book. To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text. What Is the Valley of Ashes in The Great Gatsby? The valley of ashes is the depressing industrial area of Queens that is in between West Egg and Manhattan. It isn't actually made out of ashes, but seems that way because of how gray and smoke-choked it is. This grayness and dust are directly related to the factories that are nearby- their smokestacks deposit a layer of soot and ash over everything. The valley is next to both the train tracks and the road that runs from West Egg to Manhattan- Nick and other characters travel through it via both modes of transportation. The area is also next to a small river and its drawbridge, where the products of the factories are shipped to their destinations. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Key Quotes About the Valley of Ashes Before we can figure out what the ash heaps mean as a symbol, let's do some close reading of the moments where they pop up in The Great Gatsby. Chapter 2 About half way between West Egg and New York the motor-road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile, so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes- a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air. Occasionally a line of grey cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud which screens their obscure operations from your sight†¦ The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour. There is always a halt there of at least a minute and it was because of this that I first met Tom Buchanan's mistress. (2.1-3) After telling us about the "fine health to be pulled down out of the young breath-giving air" (1.12) of West Egg in Chapter 1, Nick shows us just how the glittering wealth of the nouveau riche who live there is accumulated. Much of it comes from industry: factories that pollute the area around them into a "grotesque" and "ghastly" version of a beautiful countryside. Instead of the bucolic, green image of a regular farm, here we have a "fantastic farm" (fantastic here means "something out of the realm of fantasy") that grows ash instead of wheat and where pollution makes the water "foul" and the air "powdery." This imagery of growth serves two purposes. First, it's disturbing, as it's clearly meant to be. The beauty of the natural world has been transformed into a horrible hellscape of gray ashes. Not only that, but it is turning regular humans into "ash-grey men" who "swarm" like insects around the factories and cargo trains (that's the "line of grey cars"). These are the people who do not get to enjoy either the luxury of life out on Long Island, or the faster-paced anonymous fun that Nick finds himself enjoying in Manhattan. In the novel's world of haves and have-nots, these are the have-nots. Second, the passage shows how disconnected the rich are from the source of their wealth. Nick is annoyed when he is a train passenger who has to wait for the drawbridge to lead barges through. But the barges are carrying the building products of the factories. Nick is a bond trader, and bonds are basically loans people give to companies (companies sell bond shares, use that money to grow, and then have to pay back that money to the people who bought the bonds). In the 1920s, the bond market was fueling the construction of skyscrapers, particularly in New York. In other words, the same construction boom that is making Queens into a valley of ashes is also buoying up the new moneyed class that populates West Egg. "Oh, sure," agreed Wilson hurriedly and went toward the little office, mingling immediately with the cement color of the walls. A white ashen dust veiled his dark suit and his pale hair as it veiled everything in the vicinityexcept his wife, who moved close to Tom. (2.17) In the valley, there is such a thick coating gray dust that it looks like everything is made out of this ashy substance. It's important to note that from a general description of people as "ash-grey men" we now see that ashy description applied specifically to George Wilson. He is covered in a "veil" of desolation, sadness, hopelessness, and everything else associated with the ash. Also, we see that Myrtle Wilson is the only thing that isn't covered by ash. She visually stands out from her surroundings since she doesn't blend into the "cement color" around her. This makes sense since she is an ambitious character who is eager to escape her life. Notice that she literally steps towards Tom, allying herself with a rich man who is only passing through the ash heaps on his way from somewhere better to somewhere better. Chapter 4 "I'm going to make a big request of you today," he said, pocketing his souvenirs with satisfaction, "so I thought you ought to know something about me. I didn't want you to think I was just some nobody."... Then the valley of ashes opened out on both sides of us, and I had a glimpse of Mrs. Wilson straining at the garage pump with panting vitality as we went by. With fenders spread like wings we scattered light through half Astoriaonly half, for as we twisted among the pillars of the elevated I heard the familiar "jugjugspat!" of a motor cycle, and a frantic policeman rode alongside. "All right, old sport," called Gatsby. We slowed down. Taking a white card from his wallet he waved it before the man's eyes. "Right you are," agreed the policeman, tipping his cap. "Know you next time, Mr. Gatsby. Excuse me!" "What was that?" I inquired. "The picture of Oxford?" "I was able to do the commissioner a favor once, and he sends me a Christmas card every year." (4.43-54) While West and East Egg are the settings for the ridiculous extravagance of both the old and new money crowd, and Manhattan the setting for business and organized crime, the valley of ashes tends to be where the novel situates the grubby and underhanded manipulations that show the darker side of the surrounding glamor. Check out just how many unethical things are going on here: Gatsby wants Nick to set him up with Daisy so they can have an affair. Mrs. Wilson's "panting vitality" reminds us of her thoroughly unpleasant relationship with Tom. A policeman lets Gatsby off the hook for speeding because of Gatsby's connections. Nick jokes about Gatsby's shady-sounding story about being an Oxford man. Gatsby hints at doing something probably illegal for the police commissioner (possibly supplying him with alcohol?) that makes the commissioner be permanently in his pocket. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Chapter 8 Wilson's glazed eyes turned out to the ashheaps, where small grey clouds took on fantastic shape and scurried here and there in the faint dawn wind. (8.101) This brief mention of the ashheaps sets up the chapter's shocking conclusion, once again positioning Wilson as a man who is coming out of the gray world of ashy pollution and factory dust. Notice how the word "fantastic" comes back. The twisted, macabre world of the valley of ashes is spreading. No longer just on the buildings, roads, and people, it is what Wilson's sky is now made out of as well. At the same time, in combination with Wilson's "glazed" eyes, the word "fantastic" seems to point to his deteriorating mental state. No telephone message arrived but the butler went without his sleep and waited for it until four o'clockuntil long after there was any one to give it to if it came. I have an idea that Gatsby himself didn't believe it would come and perhaps he no longer cared. If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream. He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered as he found what a grotesque thing a rose is and how raw the sunlight was upon the scarcely created grass. A new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about . . . like that ashen, fantastic figure gliding toward him through the amorphous trees. (8.0) The final reference to the ash heaps is at the moment of the murder-suicide, as George skulks towards Gatsby floating in his pool. Again, the ashy world is "fantastic"- a word that smacks of scary fairy tales and ghost stories, particularly when combined with the eerie description of Wilson as a "gliding figure" and the oddly shapeless and out of focus ("amorphous") trees. It's significant that what threatens the fancy world of the Eggs is the creeping encroachment of the ash that they so look down on and are so disgusted by. But, truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of dust getting into my house either. The Meaning and Significance of the Valley of Ashes in The Great Gatsby In the world of the novel, which is so much about the stark differences between the rich, the strivers, and the poor, the valley of ashes stands for the forgotten poor underclass who enable the lifestyle of the wealthy few. The people who live and work there are the factory employees whose production is driving the construction boom that supplies the residents of West Egg with wealth and also allows the criminal underclass to prosper by creating fake bonds to cash in (this is the illegal activity that Gatsby tempts Nick with). This region of industrial production is shown burying its inhabitants in the polluted byproduct of its factories: ash that covers everything from cars to buildings to people. This literal burial has a symbolic meaning as well, as those who cannot connive their way to the top are left behind to stagnate. The valley is a place of hopelessness, of loss, and of giving up. Highlighting this is the fact that Myrtle Wilson is the only ash heaps resident who isn't covered in the gray dust- she has enough ambition to try to hitch her wagon to Tom, and she hopes to the very last that he will be her ticket out of this life. On the other hand, although Wilson also tries to leave the ash heaps by moving to a different part of the state, his defeatist attitude and general weakness doom his escape attempt to failure. At the same time, the phrase "the valley of ashes" connects to the Biblical "the valley of the shadow of death" found in Psalm 23. In the psalm, this terrifying place is made safe by the presence of God. But in the novel, the valley has no divine presence or higher moral authority. Instead, the ashes point to the inexorable march toward death and dissolution, linking this valley with the Anglican burial services reminder that the body is "ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Even when George tries to sense a divine presence through the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, the fact that no one else is impacted by this billboard's inanimate presence ultimately dooms George as well. Characters, Themes, Motifs, and Symbols Connected to the Valley of Ashes George Wilson: George Wilson's garage is right in the middle of the valley. He is so strongly identified with this place that by the end of his book he is described as an "ashen figure"- he is almost made out the dust that covers everything in this Queens neighborhood. He is also the book's weakest, most hopeless, and least ambitious character- traits that doom him in the cynical, self-serving, amoral world that Fitzgerald is describing, and traits that align with what the ash heaps represent. Myrtle Wilson: George's wife remains vibrant and colorful despite her years living in the middle of the ash heaps. Her dreams of escape enable her to avoid being covered with the dust that ends up burying everyone else. However, because her path to leaving centers on Tom, the valley of ashes ends up being Myrtle's death trap. Society and Class: Everyone who can afford to move away from the dirty and depressing valley does so, which means the only people that left to live and work there are those who have no other options. The state of this area shows what happens in a culture where getting ahead is valued above all other things: those who cannot succeed on these vicious terms have no recourse but being buried alive by pollution and misery. The Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg: The billboard that features the strikingly disquieting disembodied giant eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg is located in the middle of the valley of ashes, right next to Wilson's garage. Just as the ash heaps reveal the huge gulf between the poor and the rich, so the eyes stare at the devastation that heedless capitalism has created. This stare seems accusatory, but of course, the eyes are completely inanimate, and so whatever guilt they produce in the person they are looking at dissipates almost immediately. The eyes speak to the lack of God/religion in the novel, and that how George is the only one who outwardly grants them any larger significance beyond Nick and Tom's half-hearted discomfort under their stare. Symbols: Colors. Fitzgerald doesn't deviate from the standard association of the color gray in this novel. It describes things that are dirty, unpleasant, dull, uninteresting, monotonous, and generally depressing- all qualities that are associated with the ash heaps as well. When this color is combined with the ashes, it also stands for death, decay, and destruction (all the fun "d" words). Motif: Cars. Although most of the time, the novel treats cars as a dangerous, exciting, and liberating mode of transportation, these positive qualities fade away whenever cars enter the valley of death: On the more benign end, there is permanent traffic. (Nick complains about waiting for barges to cross under the drawbridge.) There is also the threat of running out of fuel. (Tom, Nick, and Jordan stop at Wilson's gas station to fill up because Gatsby's fake warning about the empty tank makes Nick nervous.) And of course, there are frequent wrecks (as evidenced both by the drunken accident Nick sees leaving Gatsby's party, and Tom's gleeful exclamation that a wreck means more business for Wilson's garage when they are nearing the scene of Myrtle's hit-and-run). Finally, the ash heaps are the scene of Myrtle's death by car, as Daisy runs her over, which leads us right back into the novel's ongoing theme of death and failure. This might well be the first time a drawbridge was directly connected to murder... Essay Ideas and Tips for Writing About the Valley of Ashes Now that we've explored the layers of meanings behind the valley of ashes, you're in a good place to think about how to write about this symbol. Tips for Writing About Symbols Here are some tips for how to write an essay about the role of a symbol in a novel, including the valley of ashes: Build from the text out. In this article, I first looked at the valley of ashes as it appears as a location for events in the novel, and only afterward wrote about its general meaning and connections. The same approach is good to remember for your own essay. Work from small ideas to big ones, and you'll be supporting your argument. Make an argument. It's not enough to just describe the symbol and explain its possible meanings. Instead, you have to make sure that you're making some kind of point about why/how the symbol works. How do you know if you're making an argument and not just saying the obvious? If you can imagine someone arguing the opposite of what you're saying, then you've got an argument on your hands. Don't overthink it. Sure, the ash heaps can be said to represent lots of things: the failure of the American Dream, the low position of the working class in the novel, or the way death underpins the glittering high life in Manhattan and the Eggs. But that doesn't mean that it also stands for doomed love, Gatsby's mysterious past, or international cooperation. In other words, watch out for stretching your symbol analysis too far from what the text is telling you. Essay Ideas for the Valley of Ashes Here are some possible essay arguments. You can build from them as-is, argue their opposite, or use them as jumping-off points for your own interpretation. The valley of ashes shows what happens to people who try to pursue the American Dream through honest hard work- they end up nowhere. The valley of ashes is only the most obvious site of decay in the novel. In reality, all of the places show signs of rot and decomposition which underpins the seemingly glittering lifestyle of the rich characters. For Myrtle, the valley of ashes is as inescapable a trap as the Buchanan mansion is for Daisy. The whole place might as well have barbed wire around it for how easy it is to escape. The Bottom Line The valley of ashes is the depressing industrial area of Queens between West Egg and Manhattan. It isn't actually made out of ashes, but seems that way because of how gray and smoke-choked it is. The valley is mentioned in: Chapter 2, where Nick describes what this place is like at length before he goes there to meet Tom's mistress Myrtle. Chapter 4, where it's the place Gatsby can flash his mysterious get-out-of-a-ticket-free card at a cop and also ask Nick to set him up with Daisy. Chapter 8, where a beaten down and despondent Wilson looks at the ash heaps to try to find divine moral guidance. This symbol is connected to discussions of: Class division, since it stands for the forgotten poor underclass who enable the lifestyle of the wealthy few. The way the working class is left behind, since this place is both literally burying its inhabitants in the polluted byproduct of its factories and figuratively burying those who cannot connive their way to the top to stagnate in hopelessness and despair. The absence of a moral value system, which is notably lacking in the valley, which has no divine presence or higher authority beyond a creepy inanimate billboard. The characters, themes, symbols, and motifs most closely connected to the valley of ashes are: George Wilson, whose garage is right in the middle of the valley. Myrtle Wilson, who remains vibrant and colorful despite her years living in the middle of the ash heaps. Society and class, since everyone who can afford to move away from the dirty and depressing valley does so, which means the only people that left to live and work there are those who have no other options. The Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, a billboard that speaks to the lack of God or religion in the novel. The motif of colors, where gray describes things that are dirty, unpleasant, dull, uninteresting, monotonous, and generally depressing. The motif of cars, which lose their usually positive associations whenever they enter the valley of death. What's Next? Revisit Chapter 2, Chapter 4, and Chapter 8 to see the context surrounding mentions of the valley and its ash heaps. You can even explore why the valley of ashes almost made it into the title of the novel here. Consider the characters of George and Myrtle Wilson to understand why he succumbs to the ash heaps and she rises above them. You can also read about all the other symbols in The Great Gatsby. While the Valley of Ashes is all about imagery and tone words, there are several other literary elements at play in The Great Gatsby. Learn how to spot personification and rhetorical devices in action with our guides. Need to review your knowledge of literary devices and poetic terminology for an English/Literature class? Read up on assonance, iambic pentameter, and point of view. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Peer Pressure on Teenagers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Peer Pressure on Teenagers - Essay Example Indeed, peer pressure is closely linked to human behavior that tries to rationalize the factors that have significant impact on the human psyche which promotes the process of rational or irrational thinking. The impact of peer pressure is critical to the overall development of an adolescent and the paper would be discussing its pros and con. Peer pressure can broadly be defined as the influence of friends, acquaintances, elders and other on the behavioral pattern of the people, especially adolescent children and teenagers. Peer pressure is a specific instance of social influence, which typically produces conformity to a particular way of acting or thinking (Csikszentmihalyi & Larson, 1984). It tends to change the attitude, behavior and moral actions of the person as per the diktats of the peer group. Peer pressure is a common factor amongst the people in general and everyone, at some time or other is influenced to some extent by the people or group to which he or she may belong. Indeed, construction of social identities is often influenced by hordes of issues, which are defined by individual ideology, group representation, professional competencies, intercultural compulsions etc. They facilitate better understanding and access to networking with organizations and groups in order to avail the emerging opportunities for t heir vested interests and boosting of self esteem. Peer pressure in the recent times has catapulted into serious concern for the parents as it adversely impacts the personality traits and behavior of children. It often adversely influences the psyche of the adolescents when they fail to see the long term consequences of their actions and behavior. It may also become detrimental to the overall development of the children and make them irresponsible. Their foray into drug abuse, smoking, sex, violence etc. are few of the areas which are highly damaging and therefore, require careful guidance and intervention during growing up period of

Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 - Essay Example The event is of tremendous strategic importance for it had great impact on shaping international relation, foreign and economic policies and also affected both countries on a sociological front. The essay will analyze the significance and the magnitude of its impact that on global politics. Cuban Missile Crisis I. Background Cuban Missile Crisis was just another outcome of the Cold War that existed between the two superpowers of that time, Unites States and Soviet Union. However, the crises were mainly after the liberation of Cuba by Fidel Castro. 1The United States were already ambivalent about their involvement in Cuban politics and were particularly happy about the coup held by Castro but soon enough, the Cuban leader fell out of favor with the Americans for his alliance with the Soviet Union and the Americans began to fear the formation of one more communist nation. Cuba’s associations with the communist bloc were feared by then president Richard Nixon in confidential memo randums issued for the CIA. Cuba was declared a socialist nation by Fidel Castro on 1st May, 1961 and its affiliation with the communist bloc was further consolidated. ... Therefore, the tension between Cuba and America intensified ever since and the situation became even worse when the American intelligence began intercepting messages and satellite pictures showed establishments of arm bases around the island nation. In 1962, the United States established military bases in Turkey armed with Nuclear Missiles that were clearly meant to keep Soviet activity at bay. 3This move was defended by the United States as precaution against the military bases in Cuba that were quickly becoming a rising threat for the Americans. One of the biggest turning points preceding the main crises were the alleged training of 1300 Cuban exiles by the CIA in order to stage a coup against the Castro regime. However, this particular move by Americans led to a conflict in the Bay of Pigs that ended up in a major fiasco for the American side and subsequently shamed the entire American intelligence and the president in front of the whole world. Therefore, in 14th October 1962 the Soviets granted full arms support to Cuba against any further threats by the United States and so there were satellite images found by American intelligence that showed missile sites around Cuba that had missiles pointing towards every single major town in the United States. President Kennedy was forced to issue a public announcement acknowledging and admitting to the immediate threat that the entire country was now under and therefore, these small conflicts had now eventually been turned into one major crises situation that brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. II. Game Theory and Cuban Missile Crisis Considering the initial premise of the crisis, the entire event has been described by scholars as both sides had completely turned a blind side to

Without Seeing The Dawn Essay Example for Free

Without Seeing The Dawn Essay Babies are born with an inherent drive to learn. Your challenge as the parent of a child with learning or attention problems is to help him build what Drs. Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein (Raising Resilient Children: Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child) call islands of competence, to offset the frustrations and low self-esteem that can result from his learning struggles. The goal is to find subjects or activities where he is self-motivated to learn, enjoys the process of learning, and sees the value of what he learns. Deborah Stipek, Ph.D, Dean of the Stanford University School of Education, is an expert in the subject of motivation in young children. Shes also a mother, so her latest book, Motivated Minds/Raising Children to Love Learning, is full of practical advice. Dr. Stipek says kids will be self-motivated to learn when they: Feel competent about something Have some choice and control over their learning Believe that intelligence isnt fixed at birth Feel loved and respected by their parents Help Your Child Discover His Passions Help Your Child Discover His Passions One way to build a sense of competence in your child is to encourage his passions. Theres an academic payoff to building competence this way. Dr. Stipek says, The good news may seem paradoxical: research has shown that the indirect strategy of helping your child enjoy learning and see its value is the best way to improve your childs grades and raise his test scores. If your child has a particular strength in school, such as being a math whiz, find ways outside of school to expose him to math in the real world computers, hands-on science museums, and math camps. If he struggles with most school subjects, look elsewhere for his passions. Pay attention to whatever makes your child perk up. Is it animals? Plants? Music? Art? Dinosaurs? Video games? Skateboards? To play on these passions, help your child deepen his knowledge. For example, if your Internet provider allows you space for a family website, let the child help build one on his favorite subject. He could research and write abou t the foremost skateboard athletes in the world. Post his drawings of himself skateboarding the galaxy. List  unanswered questions about skateboards. Let family and friends interact with the website, too what else would they like to know from your in-house skateboard expert? Give Your Child Some Choices All of us thrive when we feel were acting of our own volition. Children with learning and attention difficulties are no different. For example, when we offer them a choice between two acceptable alternatives, such as doing either their math or social studies homework first, they feel a sense of control over their own world. This leads to greater pride and self-motivation. Dr. Mel Levine, author of the set of tapes called Developing Minds, says, Help children develop a sense of control by presenting things they do not want to do as choices. For example, let a child decide whether to do homework before or after dinner. At school, consider letting a child who dislikes chorus participate in the spring performance by selling tickets. Help Your Child Develop Persistence Dr. Stipek reports on experiments that reveal a childs beliefs about intelligence affect his motivation to succeed. If he believes intelligence is fixed at birth and he missed out, he is liable to quit without trying. If, on the other hand, you help him to understand that persistence is more important than the luck of the draw, you promote a child who can learn to succeed on his own terms. This is the struggling child who changes from saying, Whats the use? to Ive learned how to slow down and double-check my work. Dr. Stipek says, Emphasize notions of flexible intelligence. Tell your child, in every way you can, that brainpower is something you acquire. Make the following sayings (or their age-appropriate equivalents) your family mantras: Success is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration. Geniuses are made, not born. Let Your Child Know You Love and Respect Him Every child needs to feel that his parents are on his side. You can demonstrate your love and respect for your child with learning problems by accepting, connecting, and supporting, no matter what. You still love him, even when he forgets his assignment. Youre interested in the details of each day. And when hes upset, you help him to give words to feelings.  Respect your child by helping him understand not only his specific learning difficulties, but strategies for coping in school. For example, if your child cannot hold multiplication facts in long-term memory, he may not do well on a standardized math test. He needs both a strategy to practice his math skills and a strategy to take the test. He may need different ways to drill multiplication, such as tactile manipulation of objects, drawing pictures, or saying the tables out loud. He may also need more time on the test. Help Your Child Identify Steps to Success Our culture reveres inborn talent and luck. Unfortunately, that can leave out the child who struggles in school. He begins to believe that no matter how hard he works, school success is outside of his control. If you help him identify small, concrete steps to reach his learning goals, you can recognize each accomplishment along the way, nor matter how big or small. Then the effort of learning is valued as much as the outcome in school. Help your child learn to set attainable learning goals, such as studying a math concept from a variety of angles until he understands it. This might mean that you must be content with something like a C grade in Math but an A+ in Effort. It will be important to communicate regularly with your childs teacher so all of you (parents, teacher, and child) can work as a united team. With the teachers help and ideas, your childs learning goals will be supported both at school and at home. You also want your child to learn that making mistakes is a natural pa rt of the process of learning. Thomas Edison, said to have tried 10,000 times to perfect the light bulb, said, I didnt fail. I just discovered another way not to invent the electric light bulb. Foster Long-term Motivation Research tells us that parents who encourage a childs self-sufficiency often have children who are motivated from the inside, out. This means holding back a little before you jump in to help your struggling child. Children with learning disabilities are especially vulnerable to developing perceptions of themselves as academically incompetent and to develop low expectations for success, Dr. Stipek says In an effort to ensure success we sometimes provide more help than children with learning problems or AD/HD actually need. This takes away from their own pride in accomplishment and  the enthusiasm that a sense of achievement and competence can produce. Children with learning difficulties often have a marvelous ability to see the world in new ways. When you guide your child to pursue his interests, operate from his strengths, and not shy away from challenges, you help him build a positive cycle of accomplishment and self-motivation. Celebrate each hard-won stumbling step your child ta kes on the way to learning and developing strengths, so that in the long run, he can sustain his motivation and passion for learning.