Analysis Of Walmart Grocery Retail Chain

Wal-Mart is engaged in the retail and wholesale operation around the world. The company is known for offering assortments of merchandises and other services at an everyday lower rate. In the recent time, the retail giant has more than 11,600 stores worldwide and deals with products ranging from electronics, clothing, foot wear, health and beauty along with grocery products. It is the world’s largest company by revenue that is approximately $480 billion as well as the largest private employer hiring more than 2.3 million employees (Anselmsson et al., 2016). The retail company undertakes many business strategies in its business activities including generic strategy and competitive strategy that has actually contributed to the success of the business. The successful business strategies of the organisation include product differentiation and the cost effective measure against the products. The study below consists of the analysis of Walmart grocery retail chain on the issues that the human resources department undergoes. Many big warehouses and stores are run by Wal-Mart stores. Walmart store was founded almost fifty years ago by Walton and his brother Bud in Bentonville USA hence named after their names. Yearly it sells over 300$ billion, hence considering it to be one of the most valuable companies in the world. In many times it has been considered to be one of the biggest employer with more than one and half million workers globally. It is estimated to have more than 11600 stores globally of which 80% are in USA. Studying the economic environment of Wal-Mart will be a key in addressing the analysis of the business. Also the macro and micro analysis due to its running worldwide will also be necessary. Furthermore, strategies which are operational will be necessary in knowing how Wal-Mart is run. Another area is the marketing mix with the four factors being the 4Ps that is the price, product, place and the promotion factors which will help in explaining both the successes and failures of Wal-Mart. Next, is the study of how the human resources of Walmart is managed. The main idea here being to understand the exact area because criticism has been brought about that Wal-Mart doesn’t do well with its employees. Later, before i recommend on the case study, a SWOT analysis is done which will help in looking into Wal-Mart failures and the critics. The last step in the case study will be the conclusion, where there is a summary of all the issues studied and in existence in Wal-Mart company. The below highlighted objectives will be illustrated in our study. How importance each sector is to economy? Operations of Walmart and its Processes analysis Management of human resource and job quality analysis   Weakness studies and how to handle them PESTEL analysis will need to be made that is the Political, Economic, Social and technology factors that influences Wal-Mart directly or indirectly. In real world there exist so many forces that make a company to be more or less appealing in terms of industrial gains. This will be approached with use of five porter’s forces. Many retail companies such as Wal-Mart act within a macro-environment meaning that the scope of what happens in the outside depends on how the company runs. Unlike in micro environments the company with the retail store cannot change as these change occurs but in macro environment they adapt to the change as they occur and according to business rules and objectives. The following below is a PEST analysis explanation. Law enforcement in USA is in charge of local police, while the police of the states provides services at the border. In our case regarding the legal and political laws that affect the retail industry we consider such  (Jonathan, 2016): America is mostly occupied by the white as the majority, followed by the blacks and the rest take the other percentage. The makes the US consumer to be determined and characterized for it being so powerful or even having greater demand. The launching of products depends on the fashionable style it is created upon and products consumer centric, hence creating an engagement with the customers. Walmart is facing a lot of competition from many different countries who have different types of competition. With the use of specialization strategies stores like Target, Kmart, ShopKo will compete successfully against Walmart  (Shelly, 2014). This will be explained in to details using the porters five forces. One of the problem faced by Walmart is that it has very big retail stores but physically small in terms of size. Other retails have been competing with Walmart in Way that they specialize with one product with a motive 0f covering a wide range. This means that what one retails offer is likely to be found in other stores. This bring to an understanding that the retailers offering goods that are unique have an added advantage compared to their rivals. Walmart should be aware that the E-commerce and M-commerce has competition that’s high as we have very many new entrants. Entrance of new companies to the market may threaten the existence of those companies that have been there for a while. The expansion in the whole world is making Walmart to face a lot of competitors from countries that are different. When it comes to individual they have very little bargaining power with the retail stores. Force involved here makes buyers to put Walmart under pressure making it to relate to the laws within those specific territories in which Walmart operates.   Walmart size can break a small supplier. This is because many companies depend on Walmart in buying their product and this makes the suppliers to have very little power against Walmart. The workforce of Walmart is about 2.2M globally. Walmart has encountered many issues and lawsuits with its employees overall. The issues appointed and raised ranges from conditions which are poor for workers, Union that are have policies that are against Walmart, Little amount of money is paid as wage to its employees and lack of enough health care being just some of the bigger issues with relations to how Walmart relates to its employees. In addition to this, it has also been found that Wal-Mart does not pay the farmers well and in fact exploit them in terms of making payment to them (Sparrow, Brewster & Chung, 2016). All these issues have led to massive rebellion among the employees and have questioned the HR policies of the organisation. Thus, it can be said that Wal-Mart is facing human resource issues related to the employees of the organisation that needs to be sorted out. High employee turnover rate of about 70% indicates that many employees employed by Walmart leaves the retail one year after employment, hence explaining the above mentioned issues to being experienced in Walmart by the employees. Wage issue is a very big concern as many are employees are connected by the employer through the salary they receive from the work done. The main issues affecting Walmart is wages rates. When compared to other companies working as retail such as Shopko, Target and others their wage rate is very good and appealing when working with them unlike in Walmart where there is greater workforce but with less employee wage hence many workers are not able work for long. The working conditions in Walmart has also been described as an issue in human resource as , it has been described and reported that Walmart has very small physical stores but very large stores of goods being squeezed in those stores. The mixing of different products and commodities within the same store has made the working condition unconducive in such a manner that the space is small but a lot need to be done within the small space. Third issue is the violation of child labor whereby there has been cases of Walmart being sued for employing children’s who are under 18 to work in their retails. Globally in most countries one is considered mature and ready to work after an age of 18 years. Globally attempt to exploit the young children through employment at tender change is violation on children and this termed as child labor. Fourth issue brought about by Walmart is employing workers who are illegally not allowed to work in those departments in different retails national wide or globally. By illegal workers we mean those workers who doesn’t the specific skills to handle such outlets. This has been experienced in Walmart as many strives to make their end meets. Employing illegal workers put the lives of the customers or consumers of their goods, products or commodities at risk for the lack of knowledge might lead to misunderstanding between them and hence tarnishing the business name. Fifth issue is the opposition from the labor union. Walmart has been on the frontline to be criticised by Labor union in USA. The opposition from labor Union which is mostly due to results of Unsatisfied employees reporting them to the trade union for labor. Gender discrimination in Walmart is also another issue. This has led to day to day rebellion within its employees as women are paid less as their work entails much of sales associates. This highest level of discrimination has led to Walmart being one of the largest discriminatory retail in terms of gender. Last issue and not least is the health insurance issue. Insurance cover for the employee working with Walmart has been an issue for a very long time. Retail is not a secure job because sometimes the materials or products handled might be toxic, flammable, poisonous, fragile etc. and this might need some cover as it is a risk one is taking to be part of the organisation that provides this services. Walmart failure to cover some of its employees and many issue arising when need for cover arises has been termed as a major issue in human resource. The graft for clients appreciative is its solicitation to developing a strategy and implementing it. Once the client understands the process completely then the team that takes part in organizing the strategy will need to receive, then digesting it and then apply what they found in their analysis. Strategic planning context understanding through which a customer or client may think is through understanding the one way or of conducting the SWOT Analysis  (Goodstein, 1993). This is client or customer way of understanding, as this analysis will provide the uniqueness in viewing Walmart retail store through its Strengths, weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats – from mostly the client’s point of view. Maintaining and solidifying current customer value and developing tactics for meeting unanticipated emerging needs provides the basis for either developing or modifying an organization’s strategic plan. It is this application that makes the customer understanding The issues brought about above are clear and evident that there is necessity of undertaking severe action in order to improve the human resource strategy in the organisation. As it has been found that the organisation has faced law suit for its ill behaviour and treatment against the employees, it is highly recommended that the HR policies should be developed keeping the employee guidelines of salary and their welfare. The human resource strategy should also include the training of the workers in order to increase their efficiency at work  (Ravi.S.P, 2015) (Ravi, 2015). If there remains the opportunity, the management needs to consider the transfer of knowledge as well that would eventually help to improve the performance of the employees in the organisation. In addition to this, the company should also consider the importance of gender equality in the organisation that would help to overcome the blames that Wal-Mart is facing in the recent time. Walmart should address and adapt a corporate attitude that is friendly, because it has damaged its image because of its laborsuits towards their suppliers  (Walmart, 2016). Another recommendation that should be considered is participating in charitable events as this will show some kind and make the world to be better. Lastly just like any other organization no matter how small or big it may be either nationally or globally, safety and health of the employee should be given priority. The priority here should be updating their health and medical insurance cover at all times as they might have issues that may arise during working hours and this covers will be highly needed. The working conditions of the employees should be large such that the stores and office have enough room for movement within as this will reduce the congestion that has been experienced in the already existing stores of Walmart globally. Walmart should have initiated its business at a scale that is lower. This mistake led to the situation that it could not cope up with the benefits of economies of scale. Walmart by the name and looks have been seen as one of the best retailers in the world but in real sense it has led to many quitting jobs in other sectors so that they can be employed by them, to end up jobless as their needs and expectations are not met after being employed by them. In conclusion with regards to the issues studied and researched that seems to be experienced by Walmart human resource department, Walmart should take in to considerations of the above recommended solutions to issues brought about and this will eliminate most problems and make Walmart a better retail chain store. Jonathan. (2016). Government Laws affecting retails. Retrieved from small business: www.smallbusiness.chron.com/government-regulations-affect-marketing-retail LLP, T. R. (2013). Punitive Damage and When to Seek Them. JDSUPRA. Ravi.S.P. (2015). Technology Solutions for Sustainable Business Practices. Stakeholder perception in Walmart, 106-108. Shelly, B. (2014). Walmart notches against its rivals. wall street journal. Walmart. (2016). suppliers standards. Retrieved from walmart: https://corporate.walmart.com/global-response/ethical.htm Whaples.Robert. (2007). Modern Hr Economic issues. Walmart growth and Prodctivity. Gorze?-Mitka, I., & Okr?glicka, M. (2014). Improving Decision Making in Complexity Environment.  Procedia Economics And Finance,  16, 402-409.   https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s2212-5671(14)00819-3 Sparrow, P., Brewster, C., & Chung, C. (2016).  Globalizing human resource management. Routledge. Kumar, N. P. (2014). Human resource management in future an obstacle of champion of globalization.  Human Resource Management,  1(1), 49-57. Anselmsson, J., Anselmsson, J., Bondesson, N., Bondesson, N., Melin, F., & Melin, F. (2016). Customer based brand equity and human resource management image: Do retail customers really care about HRM and the employer brand?  European Journal of Marketing,  50(7/8), 1185-1208.

Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Project - Essay Example But in Balanced Scorecard the performance of an organization is looked into from a broader angle which spans over perspectives like: Financial, Customer, Internal business process, Learning and growth. This is done to integrate the various complexities in the operating environment of a modern-day firm and so that the along with the financial model other factors which have crucial effects on the firm are taken into account. This tool evaluates performance of an organization and provides a framework for guidance. This system is used by organizations, private, governmental and non-profit to examine their performance in relation to their strategic objectives. Using the balanced Scorecard system, it is possible to measure and evaluate the process which is responsible for present and future value creation. This also acts as a guiding framework for managerial decision making in context of areas to be focused upon and resources to be put into in order to create value. Analysis through this system brings forth the ‘value drivers’ in an organization (Balance Scorecard basics, 2009; Kaplan R.S. and Norton D.P., 1996). The main angles or points of discussion for the organization under the ‘customer perspective’ are identification of their target customers and also their won value proposition which would attract the customers. Identification of the value proposition is crucial because otherwise the organization would surely loose focus. Value propositions might emanate from: Operational excellence- These kinds of organizations get their value proposition from excellence and primary focus only on their operations and generally offer no-frill products or services. Example: EasyJet the European low-cost airline. Leadership through product- These firms depend on constant innovation and research to deliver better products to their customers. They become product leaders and lead the way in the market by always striving to and delivering

Statement Personal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Statement Example It is my dream and objective to be the best in my field of experience and offer the best I can to others. In order to achieve this objective, I have to gather all the information and acquire all the knowledge I can through pursuing my education to the highest level I can. Competition is the other name for today’s world and in order to fit well, I have to be the best competitor above all the others. This therefore requires not only mediocre knowledge but knowledge that is the best and that can only be got from the best educational institution which offers all rounded education. This includes life lessons like skills inculcation through practicality. This will enable me be the best competitor around. I aim to be an employer and teacher and not an employee and listener. I believe that by the time am through with my graduate studies in this institution, I will be fully equipped to not only listen but to also tutor and share my knowledge with others. This is a way of me giving back to the society which will have played a big role in enabling me achieve that level of education. In addition to the above mentioned, I aim to change people’s perceptions and attitudes about graduates. This is especially so among the minority group who do not have higher education. These individuals are usually discriminated by the elite and they in turn develop stereotypes about them. I want to change that so that they can aim to also have the higher education to change their socialization and lifestyle. I will have the power to read and write and change all I can and that will be part of fulfilling my professional objective. Lastly, I aim to be a researcher on several unsolved theories in my field if education and especially the puzzling and contradicting issues. The aim of this is to ensure that the generations behind me pursuing the same field have an easier time of understanding the

The Decision Making Process Essay Example for Free

The Decision Making Process Essay Abstract As a senior, the decision on whether or not you want to go to college comes out being the hardest decision some students make. I have made the decision that I want to go to college. Going to college will get me where I want to be. Not only that, but it will further my education. The decision that I need to make is whether or not I want to play volleyball in college or not. Colleges have given me several opportunities to do this. However, it just comes down to me making the decision. Not only just a decision, but the right decision. This decision will have an affect on several different things throughout the rest of your pathway. This is why it is important to make the right decision. Introduction When you make your decision this way, you think it out before you make your final decision. Two ways to make a decision include rational and emotional. When you make a rational decision, you think it through and when you make an emotional decision, you just up and decide without thinking it through. Seven steps will lead to a smart and successful decision. First, you must define your problem. Next you will gather information, which becomes an important step. Third, you will identify your choices. Fourth, identify advantages and disadvantages of each choice. This will also be a big part of your decision-making. Fifth, you will finally make a decision. The sixth step, making a plan to get there. Last but not lease, you will evaluate your decision. Define Your Problem I have made the choice that I want to attend college after I graduate from high school. The problem that I have comes down to whether or not I want to play volleyball in college or not. I have loved playing volleyball ever since I started when I was little. I would love to continue to keep playing after high school. The only thing that stumps me is the fact that once you join a college sport, it then becomes a job. This choice remains to stand the hardest decision for me. I want make the best decision I can because if I don’t, I know I will regret it. I will use the seven steps to make the best decision. Gather Information Next, I must gather information about me problem. We all know that college is the complete opposite from cheap. Many students have to pass up the opportunity on going to college because of the cost. Scholarships come in handy for this. If I would go to college and want to play volleyball, it will still cost me a lot of money. However, if I can get a vast scholarship to go play volleyball for a college, I’m more likely to jump on that opportunity. According to the Chadron State website, the estimated cost to attend CSC to fit my needs, it will cost me $5,032.20 per semester. This is including room and board and also a meal plan. Now on the other hand, if I were to get an offer to go play volleyball somewhere, some of that money would be waived. This is defiantly an advantage in the long run when I am paying college off later on in life. Paying off college will take awhile if you don’t apply for scholarships. However, if I apply for scholarships and receive them as well as get a volleyball scholarship, it would be to my advantage. List Options When you look at my options, I could have several different ones. It just depends on which choice I am leaning closer to. If I do want to play volleyball in college, I would have options to which schools I want to go to. It will narrow down to which schools accept me. Not only that, but also which schools will offer me a scholarship. I think it would be awesome to receive a full ride to one of my top choice; however, I need to have a backup plan. My other options consist of if I don’t get a scholarship to the schools I want to go to, if I will even play volleyball in college. Advantages and Disadvantages There remain several advantages and disadvantages to each of my choices. One of the advantages that I consider the biggest stays getting a scholarship. Like I said earlier, college stands far from cheap. Yes, you can apply and receive scholarships, but that will not cover everything. If I would receive a major scholarship to go play volleyball and also receive other academic scholarships, paying for college would become easier. Another advantage is playing a sport would push me to keep my grades up. This would also force me to maintain a certain GPA to stay a member of the team. Therefore, I would have excellent grades. On the other hand, playing a sport in college can also come with some disadvantages. One of them includes that the sport becomes your second job. You leave for college sooner so you can train for your sport. You also have late practices, leaving little time to study. The disadvantages won’t faze you if you are dedicated to that sport. Make a Decision and Explain Why Having much time to think this through, I have made a decision. However, there are some twists and turns to my decision. It will depend on what all happens in the future. I feel that I am dedicated enough to the sport to play it in college. After attending try-outs for one college, I have found out it’s at a whole different level. I will have to not only prepare myself physically, but also mentally. I have come to a choice that if I receive a big scholarship, I will play volleyball in college. I know that it may be difficult my first year. Havening to manage not only my studies but also volleyball. I have thought about this long and hard and realized that I am capable of doing this. I am doing my best to get recognized by my top colleges for volleyball but if it’s not my top choice that does, I will evaluate that college and make my choice. My choice is well thought through and I am able to make a wise final decision. Make A Plan of Action Making a plan of action becomes the most important step. Several people have goals that they want to reach in life but they never have a plan of action to get there. When people don’t have a set plan, most of the time they never reach their goal. My plan of action can become a little flexible. My first step, I have already completed. That step remained applying and getting accepted into colleges. I have gotten accepted into UNK, CSC, Colby Community College in Kansas, and University of Wyoming in Laramie. My next step, to determine which school will give me the best offers based around my nursing major. Then, I will narrow it down to two schools. My last step stays that if one of those colleges offers me a scholarship to play volleyball, I will go play for them. Having a set plan will help you get to your goal. So make sure you make a plan of action to reach your goal or it’s possible you won’t get there. Evaluate The Decision I think attending college on a volleyball scholarship will remain the best decision. I feel that way because it will become much easier to pay for college. Also, I would love to continue playing volleyball. This would stay the best choice for those reasons. If I am able to do so, it will hopefully give me a whole new experience. It is much different than high school level. This remains why it would benefit to play volleyball in college. Conclusion In conclusion, the decision making process has several steps to it. First, you must define your problem. Next, you need to gather information about your problem. Then, you will need to list your options. Fourth, you have to find the advantages and disadvantages about each of your choices. Fifth, you must finally make a decision. Sixth, you must make a plan of action. This step can become the most important part because you need to make a plan on how to get there. Last, you need to evaluate the decision after it has happened. Decide whether your decision was a good or bad choice. References Retrieved from http://www.csc.edu/

Scuba :: essays research papers

Scuba diving is an activity enjoyed by people all over the world. Scientists use it to study underwater life, police use it to train in case of emergencies, and many others do it just for fun. What many people don't know, though, is that scuba diving would be impossible without physics. Pressure, buoyancy, and force are big parts of diving. Pressure, the weight pushing on something, is a vital part of scuba diving. As a diver sinks deeper into the water, the pressure pushing on the person's lungs pushes harder. This can be very dangerous to a person's safety. While the water is pushing on the outside of the lungs, pressure in the inside of the lungs is pushing out. If this pressure isn't the same as the weight from the water pushing on the lungs, the diver could have breathing problems and possibly die. To equalize these two pressures, modern scuba gear is equipped with a device attached to the air hose called a demand regulator that controls the flow of air getting to the lungs, changing the pressure inside. Buoyancy, how easily a person sinks or floats, is definitely a huge part of scuba diving. It determines how deep a person stays underwater. To control this, divers wear weights and inflatable neckwear called buoyancy compensators. Depending on how many weights a person is wearing; they sink to a certain depth and stay there. The more weights, the farther down they go. The buoyancy compensator, once inflated, rises the person back up to the surface. The more accessories, such as weights, a person wears, the lighter they feel in water and the easier they sink. All kinds of forces can be associated with scuba diving. For instance, when a diver kicks his fins to move, he is applying a force on the water behind him. In turn, the water is applying a force back on him, causing him to move. Pressure is a force that pushes on a diver's lungs, air tank, and everything else in the water.

Information Technology Acts Essay

The invention of the internet and the growing use of it by children caused for implementation of new protection acts. Among these acts are the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which passed into law in 1998, and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which became law in 2000. This paper will discuss the advances in information technology that resulted in new ethical issues necessitating the creation of these acts. Children’s Online Protection Act (COPPA), 1998 As the internet grew in popularity among the public, children began to use it more and more for everything from homework, to communicating, to searching for whatever information is out there (surfing). In most cases, websites required the users to put in their personal contact information and, in many cases, allow the website upload tracking cookies to the user’s computer. Almost anyone could then find, buy, and/or use that information for whatever reason. Children’s personal information could be accessed by pedophiles, bullies, or any other type of creep. According to L. Fair of the Federal Trade Commission, COPPA puts parents in control of what information children put online. Whether studying, shopping, surfing or chatting, today’s kids take advantage of everything the Internet has to offer. But when it comes to their personal information, who’s in the driver’s seat? Parents, according to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA ) and regulations enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. If you operate a website directed to children under 13 that collects personal information – or if you operate a website directed to a general audience and have actual knowledge you’re collecting personal information from kids – you must comply with COPPA’s two main requirements. First, you must prominently post your information security practices on your homepage and wherever you collect information from kids, including the kinds of information you collect; how you collect it (for example, directly from the child or passively, say, through cookies); how you use the information; whether you disclose it to third parties; and the procedures parents can follow to exercise their right to review their child’s personal information, refuse to allow its further collection or use, or have it deleted. Second, before collecting, using, or disclosing a child’s personal information, COPPA requires you to notify parents and get their verifiable consent (Fai r, n.d.). Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), 2000 As the use of internet by children increased so did concerns about the safety and wellbeing of those children. When searching the internet using an online browser, anyone could type in the word â€Å"sex† or â€Å"porn† and be bombarded with pictures, videos, and websites depicting inappropriate and often offensive content. With e-mail, chat rooms, and other types of e-communication becoming more popular among children, the personal safety of those children became a major concern. There was no way of knowing for sure whom the child was communicating with or what that person’s intentions were. There have been cases of children meeting up with someone they met online and getting raped, kidnapped, and even killed. There was also the concern about what the children were doing online; there was no way of preventing children from hacking or doing other illegal activities on the internet. The government needed to do something to help ensure the safety of children using the internet at school and at the library. To address these concerns, Congress passed into federal law, the Children’s Internet Protection Act. According to the Federal Communications Commission: The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements on any school or library that receives funding for Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program – a program that makes certain communications technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the FCC issued rules implementing CIPA. Schools subject to CIPA are required to adopt and enforce a policy to monitor online activities of minors. Schools and libraries subject to CIPA are required to adopt and implement an Internet safety policy addressing: (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet; (b) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications; (c) unauthorized access, including so-called â€Å"hacking,† and other unlawful activities by minors online; (d) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and (e) measures restricting minors’ access to materials harmful to them. Schools and libraries are required to certify that they have their safety policies and technology in place before receiving E-rate funding (Federal Communications Commission, n.d.). Conclusion With the popularity of the internet among minors came concerns about the children’s safety, wellbeing, exposure, and behavior. To address those concerns the government enacted a federal law that requires websites to get permission from parents before taking personal information from a child under 13 years old. Another law was implemented that protects and monitors the children using the internet at school and at the library by requiring schools and libraries to block access to inappropriate material. Under this law, schools and libraries are also required to implement a policy that addresses the safety and security of children using any form of direct online communication, addresses the illegal use of the internet by children, and addresses the safety of the children’s personal information.

Metaphysics; Plato and Aristotle Essay

a. Introduction As a major assignment for this course, you are to write an essay paper on a topic relating to the subject matter of the course and drawing on course material. This should be a new paper, written by you individually, specifically for this class. You have two options to do this assignment. First option: You can write an essay paper in a rather classic style by selecting one of the listed topics in part b. If you decide to do the first option, you are required to pick one of the listed topics and write a philosophical essay according to the description provided for each topic. Second option: You can conduct a philosophical project and write an essay on the findings of the project. For this option, you need to become an â€Å"undercover philosopher† and interview 5 different people on a philosophical topic given in part c. The final outcome of your project should include the interviews results and your own analysis. Regardless of the option you choose you are required to follow these criteria: You are required to do only one of the mentioned options. But it is better to make decision as soon as possible since it will take time to accomplish either of them. This assignment is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 28. Late papers will only be accepted with an appropriate excuse and a point deduction. Your paper will be submitted via TurnItIn through the Blackboard site for the course. Just so you are aware, TurnItIn automatically checks your paper for plagiarism and will catch it if you try. No email or paper submission will be accepted. You should use the MS Word template file provided in your Blackboard. Papers not prepared in that format will not be graded. The final paper should be named as: Your Last Name_Your EU ID_Your Course Section.DOCX o For example if your last name is Jones and your EU ID is mhj034 and you are in PHIL 1050 section 001 then your file name should be: Jones_mhj034_001.docx. Another example: Ahmadi_kia9801_002.docx for student named Ahmadi with kia9801 as EU ID taking 002 section of the course. There must be â€Å"_† (underline) character between name, EU ID, and class section. o EU ID is the ID you use to login to your Blackboard account. You can find your class section by looking at the title of the course listed in your Blackboard account. Your paper must be no less than 1000 and no more than 1500 words (this is content only; this is not counting name, title, footnotes, bibliography, etc.) Papers with less than 1000 or more than 1500 words will be graded with a point deduction. You may find a PDF copy of Writing Philosophy on Blackboard, it is strongly recommended that you utilize this resource to help you write a good paper. All sources, including assigned readings, must be formally cited according to the Chicago Manual of Style (resources for which can be found online). Use of secondary sources is strongly encouraged but not required. Remember that failure to cite sources technically constitutes plagiarism! For further information, you can review the university’s policy on academic integrity at: http://www.vpaa.unt.edu/academic-integrity.htm. Regarding citations, long quotes of 4 or more lines are not allows and will result in a noticeable point penalty if used. Remember also that not only direct quotes also paraphrasing of another person’s material must be formally cited. All sources must be listed as footnotes. No bibliography or reference list at the end of the paper is required. Further details about citation can be found in the MS Word template file in your Blackboard account. This assignment makes up 25 out of 100 points for your final grade. You will be graded equally on writing, your summary of material, and your own critical response. Beyond these you can lose points for having a paper that is too short, failing to cite sources, or in any other way failing to adhere to the instructions and criteria for the assignment. Grading Criteria: An â€Å"A† paper is one that follows all format requirements, is at the standards of college writing, contains an excellent summary of course material, and  shows careful thinking about the topic. A â€Å"B† or â€Å"C† paper is one that follows most format requirements, is at or near the standards of college writing, contains a summary that shows a good or at least basic understanding of course material, and shows your own thinking about the topic. A â€Å"D† or â€Å"F† paper is one that is well below the paper requirements or the standards of college writing, contains a summary which shows a poor understanding of course material, and/or where any thought of your own on the topic is lacking. And, of course, any paper containing plagiarism will receive an â€Å"F†. Given that this a college course, it is expected that all students are capable of a certain level of writing quality. If you feel that your writing skills are not the best, I would strongly encourage you to seek help from the UNT Writing Lab (http://www.unt.edu/writinglab/). b. First Option: Classic Essay For your essay you may select from a list of topics below. Your topic will involve two aspects. First, you should summarize a theory or set of theories of philosophy that we have learned or discussed in class. Second, you should give your own argument for what is the proper view regarding that topic. Your paper must have both a summary of course material and your own original thinking on the topic, in roughly equal measure. Essay Topics: If you decide to write a classic essay paper you are required to choose one of the following topics. Otherwise you could do the second option described in part c. (1) Metaphysics; Plato and Aristotle: First,  summarize Plato’s theory of the Forms as ultimate reality (â€Å"The Republic†). Then, summarize Aristotle’s theory of the four causes and form/matter as ultimate reality (â€Å"Physics†). The second half of your paper should critically compare and contrast the two, and give your own argument for which you think is more correct, and ultimately state and argue for what you think the true nature of reality is. (2) Knowledge; Descartes and Hume: The first half of your paper will involve summarizing Descartes’ view of knowledge (â€Å"Meditations†), then summarizing Hume’s view of knowledge (â€Å"Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding†). The second half of your paper should critically compare and contrast the two, and give your own argument for which you think is more correct, and ultimately state and argue for how you think we acquire true knowledge and what the limits of knowledge are. (3) Cogito; Argument and Counter-Argument: The first half of your paper involve summarizing Descartes’ arguments in support of Cogito and philosophical implications of it (â€Å"Meditations†), then summarizing an strong counter argument from another philosopher (Modern or Contemporary) against Cogito and its implications. The second half of your paper should critically compare and contrast the two, and give your own argument for which you think is more correct, and ultimately state and argue for the relevance and validity of Cogito argument. (4) Ethics; Aristotle and Kant: The first half of your paper will involve summarizing Aristotle’s virtue ethics (â€Å"Nicomachean Ethics,† books I and II), then summarizing Kant’s deontological ethics (â€Å"Foundation for the Metaphysics of Morals†). The second half of your paper should critically compare and contrast the two, and give your own argument for which you think is more correct, and ultimately state and argue for what you think is the proper approach to ethics, including whether ethics should be approached through good character or rules for action. (5) Knowledge and Method; Aristotle and Descartes: The first half of your paper will involve summarizing Aristotle’s view on knowledge and method (â€Å"Physics†), with emphasis on the Empiricist method and his teleological account of nature; and further will involve summarizing Descartes’ view (â€Å"Meditations†), with emphasis on the Rationalist method and Cartesian doubt. The second half of your paper should critically compare and contrast the two, giving the pros and cons of each as well as your own  critical reflection on the proper approach and method for knowledge. c. Second Option: Philosophical Project For this option you are required to interview five different people on a philosophical topic listed below. First you need to understand the topic well in order to conduct your interviews. Then you pick your interviewees and ask the questions. You need to accurately record their answers. Then you summarize each interviewees’ responses in a very concise but clear paragraph. To do this you need to extract the philosophical core implied in the answers. You should not simply write down everything they say, because only philosophical arguments of their responses are important and relevant to this work. You should ask your questions is a way that makes interviewees reveal their principles or assumptions regarding the topic. Then you give your original thinking on those philosophical arguments and principles by comparing, criticizing, and challenging them. Generally speaking, your essay should include at least 8 paragraphs. First paragraph should include the questions you asked in your interviews. Five next paragraphs could be dedicated to the summaries of five interviews, and one paragraph for comparing the philosophical arguments and criticizing them, and one last paragraph for presenting your original thoughts on the issue. You should be creative in your questions and let the interviewees speak in their own voices. However you should guide the interview so that you can grasp the underlying philosophical principles. You should not include the interviewees name or identity in the paper. This is absolutely against UNT regulations for such research. Also you don’t need IRB approval since this is only a class assignment and the results will not be published in any way. Interview Topics: (1) Ethical relativism. The main question is â€Å"is ethics relative or absolute?†. However in addition to this question you should ask more questions to make the interviewees clear about their idea of ethical principles. You should ask interviewees to explain their reasons with examples. Also you can challenge their responses by giving them counter-examples. For example, for a person who thinks ethics is relative, a  counter argument could be â€Å"then everything is correct at the same time† or â€Å"why killing innocent people for fun is always wrong then?† Or for a person who believes that ethical principles are absolute, a counter example is â€Å"what if an ethically wrongdoing (such as lying to a murderer, or torturing a terrorist) is the only way to stop a disaster?† (2) Absolute Truth. The main question is â€Å"is there an absolute truth?† You should ask interviewees to explain their reason. Also you should ask them if absolute truth de pends on human mind or whether or not is attainable by human mind. A challenge to people who believe in absolute truth is â€Å"how exactly they know there is an absolute truth?† or â€Å"how can they justify their position?† On the other hand, if they believe in relativity of truth, then the challenge is â€Å"then everything can be true or false at the same time and this is contradictory (isn’t it?)†. Also you can ask if scientific truths are relative in their opinion or not. In addition, they should make it clear on what parameters truth depends (e.g. social contract, power, culture, personal preference, utility, etc). And also if truth is relative then why do we think we know the physical world better than ancient thinkers (don’t we?) (3) Environmental Ethics. The main question is â€Å"do we have moral duty to nature and environment?† You should ask questions such as â€Å"are we morally responsible for nature and environment?†, â€Å"is there anything morally wrong about destroying nature (intentionally or unintentionally)?†, â€Å"what if destroying nature is necessary for human life?† and â€Å"what makes us responsible for nature?† You can also ask questions about what elements and aspects in nature makes us responsible. For instance, we are responsible because it is useful for us, or because it is beautiful, or because animals and plants are alive (like us), or it is because of the next generations that we are responsible? Or combination of them. You should clarify what sort of ethical relationship each interviewee is assuming between them and nature. Also do they think that human is just a plain member of ecosystem or special member who stands above everything because it is human being? Also â€Å"to what extent we should care for nature?† (4) Existence. The main question is â€Å"what makes our existence valuable?†. You may ask questions such as â€Å"why we are here?†, â€Å"why we should not kill ourselves?†, â€Å"what is the most valuable in human life?†, â€Å"what makes life worthy of living?†, â€Å"what is  valuable about existence?†, â€Å"is the any purpose in human life?† and â€Å"is there any meaning in human existence?†. (5) Being Human. The main question is â€Å"what is human being?† Under this topic you should ask the interviewees to give a very clear and concise definition of human being and then ask them further questions to challenge their definition. For example, if human being is defined as a rational animal, then why we consider mentally impaired humans as human being? The main concern in this topic is to clarify the essence of human being. Also you should ask them to explain how philosophy/science/religion can help us understand the nature of human being. Also you may ask them to clarify whether or not human being has a fixed nature /essence. In this regards you can ask â€Å"do you think human beings have changed in their nature/essence over the course of history?† Also you may ask them how can we grasp the truth about human nature. P